Comments on: Safer Ways to De-ice http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html Musings, tips and hard information on green living Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:49:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: NS http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-26249 NS Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:51:17 +0000 I like the idea of radiant heating under sidewalks. They do it in bathrooms,why not under sidewalks, powered by Solar collectors much like the ones for outdoor lighting. I like the idea of radiant heating under sidewalks. They do it in bathrooms,why not under sidewalks, powered by Solar collectors much like the ones for outdoor lighting.

]]> By: gb http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-22587 gb Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:32:49 +0000 Geez, well you're shooting down every suggestion in your response. Anything that's added to the environment will have some impact or consequence. Even if it's just dirty or messy to use. So then are you promoting CMA? It has absolutely no downside, like all the others you listed off. That's hard to believe considering all the reasons you just stated for the other items. I've just been reading about a product called IceClear, a sprayed on liquid and preventative, which is supposed to be environmentally sound and is not messy either. Unfortunately lots of $$ lost spending money on shipping costs because it's not readily available locally. But I might give it a shot. They do a lousy job of clearing walks around here. Geez, well you’re shooting down every suggestion in your response.
Anything that’s added to the environment will have some impact or consequence. Even if it’s just dirty or messy to use. So then are you promoting CMA? It has absolutely no downside, like all the others you listed off. That’s hard to believe considering all the reasons you just stated for the other items.

I’ve just been reading about a product called IceClear, a sprayed on liquid and preventative, which is supposed to be environmentally sound and is not messy either. Unfortunately lots of $$ lost spending money on shipping costs because it’s not readily available locally. But I might give it a shot. They do a lousy job of clearing walks around here.

]]> By: Anonymous http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-38 Anonymous Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:55:00 +0000 My city grinds recycled glass. Would that help with ice on streets instead of sand? My city grinds recycled glass. Would that help with ice on streets instead of sand?

]]> By: Sheryl http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-39 Sheryl Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:30:20 +0000 If you can't find booties locally, try buying online. You'll find lots of sources if you search on "dog booties." If you can’t find booties locally, try buying online. You’ll find lots of sources if you search on “dog booties.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-40 Anonymous Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:45:00 +0000 In your latest email re: de-icers, it's suggested that you put booties on your dog. Where can one buy booties? (This is for a small dog - a chihuahua.)<br/><br/>Thank you. In your latest email re: de-icers, it’s suggested that you put booties on your dog. Where can one buy booties? (This is for a small dog – a chihuahua.)

Thank you.

]]> By: Sheryl http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-41 Sheryl Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:41:07 +0000 I'll address a few of these comments all at once.<br/><br/>Bird seed - I couldn't find any research on this so I don't know if there would be unintended consequences. Overfeeding birds? Poisoning them from the motor oil that drips onto the seed from the underside of your car in the driveway? A reduction in oxygen in nearby water bodies as a result of bird seed runoff and decomposition? Just throwing possibilities out there by way of example. I would think that if you wanted to try bird seed, the safest approach would be to sweep up and discard the leftovers afterwards.<br/><br/>Beet juice - Yes, a number of municipalities are trying this now. The product goes by the name of Geomelt or something like that. (There may be other beet juice products, too.) Unfortunately, this could also lead to the oxygen depletion problem in water. <br/><br/>Epsom salt - I don't know anything about its use/effectiveness as a de-icer.<br/><br/>Solar or wind-powered radiant heating elements - Please point me to information about this.<br/><br/>Ashes - I recommended against ashes because of the mess. However, there is another potential problem with its use -- ashes are alkaline and can raise the ph of nearby soil, which might be an issue for your vegetation. I'm guessing ash runoff into lakes and streams could be problematic for the same reason.<br/><br/>Biodegradable cedar kitty litter - Biodegradable things can cause problems too (see above). I suggest sweeping up after use. I’ll address a few of these comments all at once.

Bird seed – I couldn’t find any research on this so I don’t know if there would be unintended consequences. Overfeeding birds? Poisoning them from the motor oil that drips onto the seed from the underside of your car in the driveway? A reduction in oxygen in nearby water bodies as a result of bird seed runoff and decomposition? Just throwing possibilities out there by way of example. I would think that if you wanted to try bird seed, the safest approach would be to sweep up and discard the leftovers afterwards.

Beet juice – Yes, a number of municipalities are trying this now. The product goes by the name of Geomelt or something like that. (There may be other beet juice products, too.) Unfortunately, this could also lead to the oxygen depletion problem in water.

Epsom salt – I don’t know anything about its use/effectiveness as a de-icer.

Solar or wind-powered radiant heating elements – Please point me to information about this.

Ashes – I recommended against ashes because of the mess. However, there is another potential problem with its use — ashes are alkaline and can raise the ph of nearby soil, which might be an issue for your vegetation. I’m guessing ash runoff into lakes and streams could be problematic for the same reason.

Biodegradable cedar kitty litter – Biodegradable things can cause problems too (see above). I suggest sweeping up after use.

]]> By: Sarah http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-42 Sarah Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:39:00 +0000 There is wonderful fine cedar kittie litter (Cedarific is one brand) that gives tranction, is biodegradable and won't hurt anything. Keep an extra bathmat or washable rug at each outside door so you can take off boots or shoes without having to track the outdoors in..... There is wonderful fine cedar kittie litter (Cedarific is one brand) that gives tranction, is biodegradable and won’t hurt anything. Keep an extra bathmat or washable rug at each outside door so you can take off boots or shoes without having to track the outdoors in…..

]]> By: Anonymous http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-43 Anonymous Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:31:00 +0000 Ashes may be messy, but for those of us with woodstoves they are a cheap material that helps prevent unpleasantness on paths and sidewalks. Because it's dark colored, it also takes advantage of sunshine to diminish snow pack. Joan Ashes may be messy, but for those of us with woodstoves they are a cheap material that helps prevent unpleasantness on paths and sidewalks. Because it’s dark colored, it also takes advantage of sunshine to diminish snow pack. Joan

]]> By: Anonymous http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-44 Anonymous Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:01:00 +0000 Try these very friendly environmental solar powered and wind powered radiant heating road, highway, sidewalks, steps, driveways, and many others that can melt these snow without using these salts, deicers, any harmful chemicals, snowplows, etc. Do your math for these government budget with these comparison as above. Try these very friendly environmental solar powered and wind powered radiant heating road, highway, sidewalks, steps, driveways, and many others that can melt these snow without using these salts, deicers, any harmful chemicals, snowplows, etc. Do your math for these government budget with these comparison as above.

]]> By: Anonymous http://thisgreenblog.com/2009/01/safer-ways-to-de-ice.html#comment-45 Anonymous Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:39:00 +0000 What about the use of Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate)? What about the use of Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate)?

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