EcoHour
Learn ways to Reduce your Impact at Home
EcoHours are 1 hour web talks on environmental topics in everyday life to help you make more informed choices and reduce your environmental impact.
EcoHours are free and open to the public.
EcoHour talks begin promptly at 12:05pm and end at 12:55pm when scheduled.
Register to attend by emailing us at p2iecohour@rit.edu.
Spring 2012 Series Schedule 
March 20 Healthy Homes
Erica Hernandez & Kate Winnebeck, NYSP2I
Is the air inside your home more toxic than outside? Find out how to reduce your exposure to toxics found in cookware, plastics, and furniture and how to properly dispose of hazardous materials at home, including pharmaceuticals.
April 24 Green Cleaning
Bobbi Chase Wilding, Clean & Healthy New York
Many household products are effective cleaners but can be toxic to your health. Learn how to understand cleaning product labels and how to make non-toxic alternative cleaners to make healthy cleaning choices for you and your home!
May 22 Eco-Healthy Child Care
Kate McArdle, Child Care Council, Inc.
Eco-Healthy Child Care providers are committed to reducing children's exposure to toxics and other environmental health hazards. Learn about this third party designation, what to look for when evaluating child care providers, and locate an Eco-Healthy Child Care center near you!
Fall 2011 Series Schedule
September 14 The Hidden Dangers of Personal Care Products
Kate Winnebeck, NYSP2I
What’s in your shampoo? Learn about chemicals typically found in personal care products along with resources to help you select environmentally friendly products. Click here for the presentation.
Resources for more information:
- FDA Cosmetics: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/default.htm
- Environmental Working Group’s SkinDeep Database: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
- GoodGuide: http://www.goodguide.com/
- The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: http://safecosmetics.org/
- Environmental Working Group & the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Not so Sexy: Hidden Chemicals in Perfume & Cologne: http://www.ewg.org/notsosexy
- National Health Nail Salon Alliance’s Nail Polish Guide (wallet card): http://nailsalonalliance.org/storage/Nail_Polish_walletcard.pdf
- Environmental Working Group’s shopper’s guide to safe cosmetics (wallet card): http://www.ewg.org/files/EWG_cosmeticsguide.pdf
October 18 Children’s Environmental Hazards at Home
Karen Miller, Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Inc.
Lead, Endocrine Disruptors, Air Pollution, and Pesticides are toxins children and adults are regularly exposed to. Learn how to identify and reduce these environmental health hazards in your home. Click here for the presentation.
Resources for more information:
- Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition http://www.hbcac.org/
- Look Before you LEAP (including LEAP activity book, game, reference cards, & fact sheets) http://ribbet.org/home.html
- Healthy Stuff http://www.healthystuff.org/
- Safer Products http://www.saferproducts.gov/
November 15 Toxic Toys: Playing with Danger
Kate Winnebeck, NYSP2I
Join P2I to learn what chemicals have been found in toys, why they’re a problem, and how to avoid them. Click here for the presentation.
Resource for more information:
- Product testing: Healthy Stuff www.healthystuff.org
- Product recalls: Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov & Recalls.gov www.recalls.gov
- Product recalls & to report an unsafe product: Safer Products.gov www.saferproducts.gov
- Washington State Toxics Coalition Safe Start for Kids: www.watoxics.org/safer-products/safe-start-for-kids
- Environment California Stop Toxic Toys www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys
- Healthy Child Healthy World http://healthychild.org
- US Public Interest Research Group www.uspirg.org/issues/toy-safety
- Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org
Have a question or a suggestion about an EcoHour topic?
Please email all questions and suggestions to us at p2iecohour@rit.edu. We will respond to them and post all responses on the Question and Answer page for each presentation on this website.
Can’t make it or missed an EcoHour?
All presentations are posted on this webpage the day of the EcoHour.
Please contact us for more information at p2iecohour@rit.edu or by phone at 585-475-2512.