Living Green
From Co-op America

Dear Co-op America,
Please settle an argument between my wife and me. Which rechargeable batteries are better for the environment: NiCads (my pick) or NiMHs?
– Joe and Jessica, Milwaukee, WI

Looks like your wife wins this time. Both nickel cadmium (NiCad) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeables can be recharged more than 500 times, but the toxic cadmium in NiCads makes their disposal problematic. Instead of cadmium, NiMHs use metal hydrides, which are less harmful to the environment. Both are, of course, much more eco-friendly than single-use alkalines, as they last a lot longer. They also outperform rechargeable alkalines, which can be recharged only 50 times.

Performance wise, NiMHs have an edge over NiCads, too, with their lower discharge rate. Over a 60-day period, NiMHs on a shelf will experience only a 15 percent energy loss, compared to NiCads which will lose 60 percent.

Because of their long life, less-toxic innards and solid performance, NiMHs are your best bet for most uses. Consumer Reports testers say NiMHs even perform better than single-use alkalines in high-power drain electronic devices such as digital cameras, flash cameras or camcorders. (For emergency equipment, such as flashlights, single-use alkalines are best as they will not lose their charge by just sitting there.)

When it is time to dispose of dead batteries, be sure to recycle them. If your local recycler does not accept batteries, Battery Solutions (800/852-8127, www.batteryrecycling.com) will recycle your used alkalines and rechargeables. You do have to pay a small fee, but they provide discounts for large quantities.

Dear Co-op America,
Do you know where I can find eco-friendly clothes for older kids? Everything I'm finding seems to be for babies.
– Concerned Mom in Kansas

When it comes to outfitting growing children, nothing beats reuse in terms of saving money and resources. Swap with friends and scour garage sales and secondhand stores for cheap, quality items. Online auction sites can yield bargains in bulk: enter your child's size and gender on eBay.com's search engine, for example, to find entire lots of nearly new clothes for sale.

When buying new items, look for children's clothing made from eco-friendly fabrics, such as organic cotton, hemp, linen and wool, which are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The sheep from which organic wool comes are fed organic feed and are not treated with synthetic hormones or pesticides.

When shopping for organic fabrics, remember that federal organic standards cover only raw fiber harvesting. Once the organic fiber leaves the farm, there are no standards preventing it from being treated later in the process with chemicals, such as bleaches, dyes or finishers. Many clothing companies that belong to the Organic Trade Association (OTA) (413/774-7511, www.ota.com) have embraced their voluntary-production standards to minimize chemicals, and other green companies have enacted similar standards. Be sure to ask before making a purchase.

Garden Kids (800/620-7388, www.gardenkids.com) and Green Babies (800/603-7508, www.greenbabies.com) are both members of OTA and offer organic cotton clothing for kids of all ages. Also, there are dozens of companies in our National Green Pages™ that offer eco-friendly children's clothing. Visit www.greenpages.org and search the clothing categories, or call us at 800/58-GREEN to get a paper copy for $11.95.

Living Green is brought to you by Co-op America, a national non-profit that provides green living, purchasing, and investing tips and resources. To join Co-op America and get a free copy of the National Green Pages™ directory of green businesses, call 800-58-GREEN, www.coopamerica.org. E-mail “Living Green” questions to livinggreen@coopamerica.org.