How many burgers?

 Everytime we were drive back from Tucson, we have to cross through Phoenix. It is big, busy, and boring. It was lunchtime and food was on our mind. "Man, there are a lot of advertisements for food" says Jim. "I wonder how many billboards there are in Phoenix just for fast food."

Well, like I said, we were bored. So we did some counting while crossing all of Phoenix; from Awatukee to Anthem. Drum roll please: We saw twelve billboards featuring GIANT hamburgers. There were also three just for coke (love the slogan for this one).

To be fair I decided to count billboards that advertised "healthy" food. I found two billboards, one for cuties tangerines and one for apples. Other billboards included lap band surgery, insurance for just about anything, outlet malls, online schools, and churches...

We also counted how many restaurants we could see from the freeway. Now this is for fast food only, we didn't even count chains such as Denny's or Swensen's. And this is only what we could see while driving 75 miles an hour. We saw 26 fast food joints (Burger King, McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, In N Out Burger, and Taco Bell).

No wonder people eat junk food while on the road. It's advertised everywhere and every single exit offers a nice selection of processed food options. Even the Dept. Of Transportation advertises for selected and usually unhealthy food options. They'll give you the exit number and point you in the direction of the nearest restaurant.

And rest stops offer vending machine "snacks" for the weary and hungry. Food is not just inside the Circle K, you don't even have to get out of your car to reach for the chips! We stopped for gas along the way and even then we were literally surrounded by food!

Another striking point of interest in my opinion is the incredible number of ads and billboards for hospitals. Maybe it's just me but I find the concept revolting. I mean the ads literally say something along the lines of 'you'll only get good ER care if you come to our hospital' and 'come to our medical facilities and you can kiss your cancer goodbye'. How sick is that? Anyway, I digress...

So 12 larger than life juicy hamburgers... The drive did go a lot faster than usual. And we didn't even count the delivery trucks and semis, which show things like this! [By the way, taking pictures of billboards and movng trucks while driving is a hard task!]

Any suggestions on what we should we count next time we're on a road trip?!

What the Heck is in Toothpaste?

Have you guys ever asked yourselves that question? Because up until now, I had never even thought about it. "Toothpaste? It’s blue, has baking soda to whiten your teeth, spearmint for fresh breath, fluoride for your enamel,… and that’s it."

Then I thought, we all a bunch of different toothpastes in our house, my daughter has the no-fluoride-baby-kind because she is under two. My son has the electric-pink-strawberry-kind with some kind of Disney cartoon character on it because we want him to want to brush his teeth. But do I know toothpaste really is? No idea. I use it twice a day, every day.

Will you promise to love it and use it for now and the rest of my life? I do.

You may now brush your teeth.

Maybe I should kind of figure this out.

So I bought the “all natural” Jason’s toothpaste to compare it to the usual stuff I use and did a little research about the various ingredients.

So first off, for both toothpastes, the entire list of ingredients is only listed on the box. The tube of Crest toothpaste itself only has the “active” ingredients. On the Jason toothpaste it just lists all the ingredients under the same category, no active/inactive.

The ingredients are in italics, with my detective work in brackets. Of course, this is my biased, unscientific research on all this.

Amazingly, the ingredient list is vastly different from one brand to another, besides water they only have two ingredients in common, silica and glycerin.

Anyway, here it goes:

Jason Powersmile, All-Natural Whitening Toothpaste

Calcium carbonate [Calcium supplement]

Aqua (purified water) [Enough said there]

Vegetable glycerin [Natural plant product usually made with soy and coconut oil, used to add smoothness and provide lubrication. Also used as sweetener]

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate [Natural plant extract made from fatty acids in coconut, used as foaming agent]

Mentha Piperita (peppermint oil) [Natural plant extract used for taste and fresh breath!]

Carrageenan [Natural plant extract made from seaweed used as a gelatin stabilizer and thickener]

Aloe Barbadensis (organic Aloe Vera leaf gel) [Natural plant extract used for antimicrobial properties and fresh breath]

Bambusa Arundinacea (bamboo stem powder) [Natural extract used for antiseptic and whitening properties]

Carum Petroselinum (parsley extract) [Natural plant extract used for antiseptic, reduces inflammation, boosts circulation for gums]

Perilla Ocymoides seed extract [Also called beefsteak plant, natural plant extract used for fragrance and antiseptic properties]

Sodium bicarbonate [Mineral compound with antiacid properties]

Silica [Mineral abrasive used for removing plaque and stains]

Stevioside [Natural sweetener made from the leaves of the Stevia plant]

Citrus Grandis (grapefruit seed extract) [Natural extract used for antifungal and antioxidant properties]

And

Crest Whitening- Plus Scope

Active ingredient

Sodium fluoride [Used to prevent cavities and strengthen tooth enamel. Classified as toxic if ingested. Can cause dental fluorosis in children, which alters the look of teeth. Ingesting several ounces of pure fluoride can lead to poisoning and death for adults]

Inactive ingredients

Sorbitol [Artificial and sugar-free sweetener, also used to add smoothness]

Water [Same as Jason’s]

Hydrated Silica [Same as Jason’s]

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate [Chemical thickening agent]

Flavor [Geesh… this could mean anything and everything. Your guess is as good as mine]

Sodium lauryl sulfate [Chemical emulsifier and foaming agent. Can be linked to canker sores due to dryness properties and harsh chemicals]

Disodium pyrophosphate [Chemical preservative]

Alcohol (0.7%) [Used as odor-preventing and antibacterial]

Xanthan gum [Used as a thickener]

Sodium saccharin [Chemical artificial sweetener, delisted from the carcinogenic list since 2000, now deemed safe for human consumption]

Glycerin [Vegetable or animal? Sweetener. Also used to add smoothness and provide lubrication]

Carbomer 956 [Used as a chemical thickening and emulsifying agent]

Poloxamer 407 [Chemical dissolving agent, can be linked to high cholesterol]

Polysorbate 80 [Chemical emulsifying agent]

Sodium benzoate [Also called E211, used as a preservative. Can be linked to hyperactive disorders when found with artificial coloring. Carcinogenic substance when found with Vitamin C]

Cetylpyridinium chloride [Antiseptic agent, prevents plaque and helps fight gingivitis. Can be toxic if swallowed]

Benzoic acid [Another form of sodium benzoate, see above]

Titanium dioxide [Also called food coloring E271, classified as carcinogenic]

Blue 1 [Artificial food coloring, can be linked to cancer, studies in progress]

All in all, I am not sure what to think about all this, to tell you the truth. We use not only toothpaste, but mouthwashes, rinsing solutions, and strips to whiten our teeth. All of these things have similar agents and ingredients than the Crest toothpaste. Millions of us use those things every day and have for quite a while.

Does it make it ok?

I do believe in medical testing, EPA findings, and the overall medical and health fields.

If they say it’s ok, it’s ok right?

Except that they change their minds in terms of what is deemed safe and hazardous, they revise their findings, and reevaluate their standards. As one should in science.

So yes, the all natural toothpaste is more expensive ($5.59!). But how often does one need to buy toothpaste? It would probably cost my about $10.00 per year to upgrade to the all natural kind. I think I can afford that. I think for now I’ll stick to the more expensive and less threatening-looking toothpaste.

Seaweed extract gel (left) is more alluring to me than titanium dioxide (right).

 

By the way, here is an interesting link I found listing all the various food additives found in processed food and cosmetics, with a brief description of each one and an associated health rating. Very useful and quick way to see what-is-what when looking at weird ingredients:

http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm

Love Thy Honey

Alright, if Winnie-the-Pooh has not convinced you yet, honey is awesome and this is why:

- It is an all natural, raw food!

- Honey can provide a local source of sugar instead of using either sugar beets, processed corn syrup, or far-away cane sugar.

- Honey comes in a variety of nuances based on the types of plants/flowers available to those lil’ bees. You can also get creamed butter, flavored honey (i.e. maple, vanilla), honey combs, propolis, and crystallized honey.

- Honey is easier to digest than sugar and contains more energy.

- Honey is a huge source of calcium, Vitamin C, and iron, whereas sugar has close to nothing. It is also full of antioxidants to improve your immune system.

- Honey itself can be used as an anti-septic, antibacterial agent, is good for healing skin wounds, reduces inflammation, helps if you have a sore throat, and smells good!
-Bee pollen contains Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, helps with reproductive health, allergies, and boosts your immune system. The sap that bees use to help the structure of their hive is called propolis. It has many medicinal uses, including helping to fight cavities and to relieve burns.

The list of benefits is really endless.

Bee pollen, just eat it raw!

- Oh and one more thing, honey literally NEVER goes bad. It is purported that when archaeologists uncovered several Egyptian tombs, they found 3,000 year old honey that was still perfectly good.

*Make sure you buy the local, unprocessed honey products so they don’t lose their goodness through over-processing.

The only downside is if you are allergic to bees!

So when you can, cook with honey instead of sugar.
Just use half the amount of honey than sugar. Here is an easy and delicious honey-based recipe:

Winnie the Pooh’s Cheesecake

In a blender mix together

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

½ cup honey

1 cup cream cheese (neuf chatel, or mascarpone cheese works too)

1 cup sour cream

Put all the ingredients in a buttered Crockpot and cook on low for about 1-1.5 hrs depending on your Crockpot. Voila!

I should add that this recipe is from my friend Coralee Thompson who has some great ideas for yummy desserts!
Check out "Healthy Brains, Healthy Children: How Parents Can Raise Their Children in a Smarter, Healthier and More Natural Way" [Dr. Philip Maffetone (Author), Dr. Coralee Thompson (Contributor)]

Electricity Cost Savings Example over the Life of a Home Solar Panel System

As you may know from my previous post Sarah and I installed a 2.7kW solar panel system on our home last year. The system is warranted for 30 years (which is written in the contract). Our total out-of-pocket cost for the system (after utility rebates, and state and federal tax credits) was $9,030. I have run the numbers to show the actual cost savings of our system.

This year our panels displace $70 per month in electricity, or $840 per year

Next year: $74.20 per month or $890.40 per year

Year 2: $78.65 per month or $943.80 per year

Year 3: $83.37 per month or $1000.40 per year

Year 4: $88.37 per month or $1060.44 per year

Year 5: $93.67 per month or $1124.04 per year

Year 6: $99.29 per month or $1191.48 per year

Year 7: $105.28 per month or $1263.36

Year 8:  $111.60 per month or $1339.20 per year

The payoff period for our solar panels is right around 8 years (a bit less actually).

Now, this is when the real savings begin.

Over the next 22.5 years we will have free electricity. That is, we will have been paid back for our initial investment and, over those 22.5 years, we will displace a lot of money.

Let me get my calculator again…

Utility costs displaced by our solar panel system from years 9-30:

Year 9: $1419.60

Year 10: $1504.75

Year 11: $1,594.24

Year 12: $1,689.90

Year 13: $1791.29

Year 14: $1898.77

Year 15: $2012.70

Year 16: $2133.46

Year 17: $2261.47

Year 18: $2397.16

Year 19: $2540.99

Year 20: $2693.45

Year 21: $2855.06

Year 22: $3026.36

Year 23: $3207.94

Year 24: $3400.42

Year 25: $3604.44

Year 26: $3820.71

Year 27: $4049.95

Year 28: $4292.95

Year 29: $4550.53

Year 30: $4823.56

Total: $63,000

Total electric bill savings after the system payoff (year 7.5) is $63,000…WOW!!!

And, there are solar panel systems out there still going strong after 30 years.

Now, what are the opportunity costs of investing that $9,030? That is, what would happen if you invested that money somewhere else? You could of course invest in local utility (APS) stock, and (if you are lucky) stay neck-and-neck with the rising costs of electricity (ca. 6% annually). You might make a decent return, but that return would be eaten up as your rates increase (as they always will).

Have fun,

Jim

Solar Panels Home Economics

Sarah and I put solar panels on our home here in Prescott, Arizona last year. We signed the contract in October 2009. Here is the real-world information about the cost of our solar panels, current utility incentives, state and federal tax credits, and payback time.

The sticker price of our 2.7kW system, installed, was $8.10 per installed watt, or about $22,000.This was the sticker price of the system before local utility rebates, or state and federal tax credits.

Local utility rebates last year (in our case from Arizona Public Service [APS]) were $3 per installed watt, which equaled an $8,100 rebate on our 2.7kW system.

That left us at $13,900.

Then, a $1,000 Arizona State tax credit (not a deduction but a dollar-for-dollar tax rebate).

That left us at $12,900.

Then, a 30% federal tax credit (again, not a deduction but a dollar-for-dollar tax rebate).

That left us at a total out of pocket cost of $9,030

Our solar panels will offset approximately $70 per month in electricity costs today. That is, $70 a month we will not have to pay to your local utility company.

Now consider this: Electricity rates, on average, increase 6-8% a year (historic average over the past 30 years). This means that the $70 a month of electricity we are producing today will be worth $140 a month in ten years, $280 a month in 20 years, and $500+ per month in 30 years (the warranty on our system is 30 years).

System Financing: Let’s say that you finance that $9,030 system using a home equity line of credit (don’t laugh; some people still have home equity left). 5% annual interest on that $9,030 (amortized over thirty years) will cost approximately $49 per month.

So, you are saving $70 per month that is not going to your local utility company, but instead are paying $49 a month to your bank. This is a net savings of $21 per month! And ten years from now, you will still be paying $49 per month to your home equity loan, but that $70 monthly electric bill, increasing 6% annually, will now be at around $140 a month. You are now saving $91 per month or $1,092 a year.

Twenty years from now, you will still be paying $49 per month to your home equity loan, but that $70 monthly electric bill, increasing 6% annually, will now be at around $280 a month. You are now saving $231 per month or $2,772 a year!

Now, each year you will be saving more and more money relative to what you would otherwise be paying. In fact, over the life of the system, you will save tens of thousands of dollars in electricity.

Also, the above figures don’t include the added value, in real dollars, that your solar panel system has added to our home.It also doesn’t take into consideration that each year you will be stopping hundreds of tons of C02 from entering our atmosphere.

Current APS rebates have dropped from $3 per installed watt to around $1.75. However, the $8.10 per watt cost of our system has also dropped to around $6.50 per watt. So, our system, if we signed the contract today, would have cost us less than it did 16 months ago.

Have fun,

Jim