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There are two sides to the green coin. On one side is the cheap and thrifty 4 R's: Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair. Some would consider this the boring, practical side of the green coin. As mind-numbing as it sounds, it is probably the side we spend the most time with. It's like the parent that pays the bills on time and scolds you when you don't do well on a test.
The other side of the green coin is the flashy, technological side. This is where you find your green bling like solar panels and attic fans and electric motorcycles. It is also the side where you find shopping, state-of-the-art, solar-powered backpacks, bamboo clothing and amazing gadgetry. This side of the green coin is the uncle who may have bought you beer when you were 19. I don't know if that happened, but you get the picture.
Both sides are important. But when you are venturing into that flashy side of the green, you are headed to the place where greenwashers dare to tread. How can you tell what is green and what is greenwashing without devoting your life to consumer advocacy? Is there no one who can help us?
Jumpguage.com has heeded that clarion call. There are thousands of products listed on their site. From tire gauges to T-shirts, you can find out if products are made of recycled materials, if they're made in the United States or if they are made of sustainable materials. You can shop to your hearts content without green guilt.
Jumpgauge also features product reviews and votes, so you're sure to know what products are lemons and what products are lemonade. Users are encouraged to shout shenanigans at the greenwashers, makers of shoddy items and useless-product merchants through comments and reviews. It's interactive, 21st-Century shopping.
More on Responsible Shopping:
How to Read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
How to Shop for Green Cookware
Buy Solar Powered Stuff on EBay
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