A company can begin to green their operations today with no capital investment

This is an article I wrote for the website (www.emqus.com) where I work.  I really liked it, and I wanted to put it in my blog too.  It is amazingly simple to start greening a company.  And little steps that can be taken now with no cost whatsoever can turn into bigger steps that cost money in the beginning, but pay for themselves and then start saving the company money in the long-term.  

There are a lot of ways a company can go green.  Most of them require an initial investment.  A company could buy newer, more energy-efficient IT infrastructure, invest in CFL or LED lighting, invest in power management software or consolidate servers to ensure that they are running at their maximum capacity.  

All of these things net a positive return on the initial investment, but they do require an initial outlay of cash.  If an organization that wants to go green simply cannot find any money in the budget to begin the process, here are some things that they can do today to help the environment and their bottom-line at no cost.  

1) Turn computers off at the end of the day.  Leaving PCs on all night wastes energy, costs organizations millions in electricity costs and contributes to carbon emissions.

2) The last person to leave any room, be it the server room, the conference room or their office, should be responsible for turning off the lights.  Using less electricity means emitting less carbon, but it also means a smaller electric bill.

3) Think before printing anything.  Can it simply be saved in a folder? Made into a PDF?  Paper comes from trees, and the fewer trees we have, the less carbon dioxide they are scrubbing from the atmosphere.

4) Reuse paper from printers, copiers and fax machines.  Often, documents print incorrectly or a document is put in the copier upside down.  Reuse that paper.  Simply put it back.  In addition, if a hard copy of a document is necessary, but it is for internal use only, why not print it on remnant paper?  Turn that unwanted document over and print on the other side.

5) Recycle.  This does take a little effort, but really, how hard is it to have a few bins around the office where people can put paper, plastic, aluminum, batteries and even printer cartridges?  If an organization makes it standard procedure to recycle, then it will just become second-nature for people to do it. 

6) Encourage people to bring in unwanted coffee mugs, dishware and cutlery for the office kitchen instead of buying one-use paper, plastic and styrofoam products.  

These are just a few of the ways that companies can go green at no cost.  This is not an exhaustive list.  The possibilities are endless. Get employees excited about being green.  Have a brainstorming session and ask everyone for their input.  Each organization has an opportunity to make an investment in the future with no money down.  

Tips for saving on winter energy costs

Believe it or not, these tips came from a bank e-mail newsletter.  I thought they were useful, and who doesn't want to save some money?  

• Replacing or cleaning old furnace filters can reduce dust and save 5% in heating costs.
  
• Opening up drapes and blinds on windows with a southern exposure lets the sun in, heating your home for free.
  
• Fireplaces pull heated air out of your house so use it sparingly and be sure the damper is closed when it's not in use.
  
• Moister air feels warmer, so by using a humidifier, you can set your thermostat lower to help you save money.
  
• If you want to know if your doors have air leaks, there is an easy way to do it yourself--no expert needed.  Simply place a piece of paper between the door and frame and shut the door. If you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you should weather-strip around the door.

Here are some money-saving tips that I have learned from living in Chicago, which gets very cold in the winter.  

• Always wear socks on your feet, especially if you have tile or hardwood floors.  Cold feet make you feel colder.
  
• Put lots of blankets on the bed.  You are going to be asleep anyway, so why not pile on the blankets and turn the thermostat down.
  
• Wear a robe/sweater around the house.  You wear more clothes outside when it is cold, so why not add an extra layer of warmth inside too.
  
• Drink lots of warm beverages--hot cider, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, warm milk.  Keeping your insides warm will help you feel warmer.
• If you live in an apartment, put plastic over your windows to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.
• Live in an apartment/house that is just the right size for you. If you don't have a lot of empty space, your home will feel warmer with less heat. 
• Get an apartment with radiator heat.  You will not be paying an enormous gas bill in the winter.   

Finding a mattress that is good for you and the environment

From the October 2008 issue of Body + Soul, there is an article on finding an eco-friendly mattress.   However, these sites offer more than just mattresses.  And beware of the cost of organic and all-natural bedding, because it is prohibitively expensive for many people, especially in challenging economic times such as these.  Try acquiring a piece or two at a time. 

Innerspring Mattresses

Lifekind, Nautral Rubber/Innerspring Combination Mattress

Good Night Naturals, The Dream

Solid Foam Mattresses

Green Sleep, Vimala Sleep System

Savvy Rest, Organic Tranquility

Simmons, Natural Care

Mattress Toppers

Furnature, Natural Rubber Topper

Vivetique, Wool Topper

Eco News

www.sustainabletable.org  provides a wallet-sized cheat sheet to take with you to the grocery store or farmers market, with a list of questions to ask about meat and dairy products.

www.centerforfoodsafety.org  provides a ready-to-send electronic form letter you can send to your elected officials and the FDA concerning food safety with the click of a button.

Sears.com and VenJuvo.com launched the Trade4Credit online program giving customers Sears store credit in exchange for unwanted electronics, including first generation Apple iPhones, digital cameras, digital camcorders, MP3 players, GPS systems, gaming systems, or any pre-owned electronics that are determined to still have value.  In addition, the Trade4Credit program offers participants free recycling and free shipping.

In praise of a vegetarian diet, or at least cutting back on meat consumption.  According to an article in E: The Environmental Magazine entitled "The Meat of the Matter"   

• "If all the grain currently used to feed livestock in the US was consumed directly by people, the number who could be fed is nearly 800 million."
  
• "The methane that cattle and their manure produce has a global warming effect equal to that of 33 million automobiles," the Center for Science in the Public Interest reports in its book Six Arguments for a Greener Diet. 
  
• Raising livestock for human consumption occupies 26% of the ice- and water-free surface of the planet, and the area devoted to feed these animals amounts to 33% of arable land.
• Livestock production consumes 8% of the world's water, causes 55% of land erosion and sediment, uses 37% of all pesticides, directly or indirectly results in 50% of all antibiotic use, and dumps a third of all nitrogen and phosphorous into our fresh water supplies.

Eco-Guilt

I left the house on Friday morning to get a cup of coffee at a great local place called Metropolis, and I did not take my stainless steel coffee mug.  I was so mad at myself.  Any time I forget my mug, get my leftovers in a styrofoam container, forget my canvas bags when I go to the grocery store, I feel guilty.  Really guilty, as in single-handedly feeling responsible for the demise of the planet guilty.  I can't help it.  

Even now, as I look around my living room, I see a lot of things that are unnecessary.  We are such a materialistic society, and even though people are now beginning to feel the effects of over-consumption, we still consume A LOT.  We use a disproportionate amount of resources in this country.  We take our lives for granted, but there is a reckoning that awaits us.  And it is going to be much sooner than people like to think.  Water shortages and food shortages and severe weather and ever-increasingly energy-intensive endeavors to extract resources are all a reality today.  

I should feel eco-guilt.  More people should feel it.  If we aren't going to do the right thing because we should maybe we WILL do it if we feel guilty enough.   

The Best Green Places

According to Yahoo Real Estate, the Best Green Places to live are:

Burlington, VT

Ithaca, NY

Corvallis, OR

Springfield, MA

Wenatchee, WA

Charlottesville, VA

Boulder, CO

Madison, WI

Binghamton, NY

Champaign-Urbana, IL

Ann Arbor, MI

San Diego, CA

La Crosse, WI

Pittsfield, MA

Eau Claire, WI

Durham, NC

Norwich-New London, CT

Eugene, OR

San Francisco, CA

Chico, CA

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

Barnstable Town, MA

Utica-Rome, NY

Missoula, MT

Asheville, NC

I would say that Greensburg, KS should be mentioned here too. If you do not have the Planet Green channel which airs Greensburg , check out Greensburg's website.  

Though not in the US, I will put a note in here about a village in the United Kingdom, Ashton Hayes, that is striving to be the first village in the UK to go carbon neutral.  

I hope this list grows exponentially larger every year as people become increasingly concerned with their impact on the planet.   

Green Links

Courtesy of my mom, who is always sending me environmental info. I was raised to care about the environment.

www.ElementEcoWear.com Clothes made from organic bamboo, cotton and soy

www.ecobags.com Bags that are good for the planet

www.necartographics.com Envelopes and stationery made from outdated US Gov surplus maps

Green mattresses: 

Ikea

Keetsa 

Lifekind Products 

Tomorrow's World

Eco News

If you want to know what is really going on today regarding the environment and the economy and energy and how they are all interrelated and all in trouble, go to ChrisMartenson.com and check out The Crash Course. 

Check out the Chicago Honey Co-op.  It is a 4 acre bee farm located in the North Lawndale neighborhood.  They sell their products at the Oak Park, Logan Square and Green City farmer's markets.  If you want to find the full list of stores and restaurants that carry or use their honey, visit wwwchicagohoneycoop.com.   

If you want to know what businesses are on the forefront of environmental stewardship, check out GreenBiz.com and sign up for their newsletters.

If you want to find a business using the Green Pages instead of the Yellow Pages, go to this website.

Speaking of the Yellow Pages, who really needs a physical phone book anymore when we have the Internet.  So save some trees and opt out of getting phone books.   

 

Energy-Efficiency Is An Easy Way to Save You Green

In these challenging economic times, a few dollars saved is a very good thing.  So if you can save some green while being green, then it is a bonus.  And there are lots of ways people can save green by being green.  One way is to control the amount of energy that your household appliances use.  Something that many people do not realize is that appliances use electricity even when they are shut off. Energy experts call these appliances vampires because they are plugged in to the wall socket sucking electricity all day and all night.  

I came across this cool diagram today illustrating the common household vampires and how much energy and money they drain.  If you want to find out how to make your home more energy-efficient, check out this website.  

The best way I have found to save energy is by unplugging unused appliances and shutting off the power strips for the TV and its peripherals and the computer and its peripherals when not in use. There are power strips you can buy that turn off after a certain period of inactivity.  

Always make sure to turn your computer off when not in use.  This is one of the most overlooked energy vampires. People leave their computers on for hours on end, and some people never turn them off at all.  And if your computer does not come with some form of power management capabilities, there is free power management software you can download. This will enable you to set your computer to shut off automatically after a specified period of inactivity.  

I have Windows Vista on my laptop, and I set the power management settings for both when plugged in and when powered by the battery to shut the computer down after 10 minutes of inactivity. And it will shut off, but if I just stepped away for a bit, it takes mere seconds for my computer to "wake up."  When done for the day, I simply shut it off and turn off my power strip.                

The Wastefulness of Air Conditioning

Why do I go to work every day and freeze my buns off in the middle of the summer? Because my office must have the thermostat set to 60 degrees. I actually cannot wait to get outside after sitting in arctic temperatures for six hours. I do not have air conditioning at home, only a fan, and it is has not been that bad. I live on the 12th floor of an apartment building right by the lake, so there almost always seems to be a nice breeze blowing in. So I started wondering how much wasted energy was going into running the central air in the building, and how much CO2 it was putting into the atmosphere.

According to the Oregon Environmental Council, the average heating and cooling of the air in your office accounts for 39% of energy use in a typical setting. They say that if you adjust the thermostat by three or four degrees, you can save up to 10%. Simply being comfortable as opposed to being cold would no doubt save my office a great deal more than 10%. No one should have to wear a sweater in the summer.

Check the Code to Ensure That You Are Getting Organic Produce

I only learned this recently. Look at the stickers stuck on the produce.

9-If the PLU code has 5 digits beginning with a 9, then it is organic.

8-Genetically-engineered produce has 5 digits beginning with an 8. This is the only genetic engineering label in the US.

3 & 4-Conventially grown produce will only have a 4-digit PLU code.

Go here for a complete list of PLU codes.

I noticed my very first genetically-engineered produce today while I was shopping at Dominick's. They had grapes with a PLU code beginning with an 8.

Also, watch out for unlabeled produce. I predominantly shop at Whole Foods for my organic produce, and I have noticed that there will be conventional produce mixed in with a batch that is labeled organic on the sign posted above. Or there will not be a sticker on the produce at all. I want organic, so I am not going to buy otherwise. Paying attention to the PLU codes on the stickers is the best way to ensure you are getting what you paid for.

The Bush Administration Strikes Again

I wish I could say that nothing the Bush Administration does shocks me anymore.  But I cannot.  I admit it, I am still flabbergasted by the devious, underhanded, corrupt, double-dealing, country-crushing, soul-crushing deeds of the current Administration.  In fact, the mere thought of the havoc that those nuts are wreaking on this country, and the entire world, with their hair-brained, self-aggrandizing schemes, makes me want to throw up.  I want to be a role model to people with how I live my life-simply and sustainably and soulfully. I want to be a good person. I really do.  But Bush and his Administration is really pushing my limits.  

Here is the latest news from the AP about how the chief of staff of the pollution enforcement division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actually had the balls to send out a memo to his staff telling pollution enforcement officials not to talk with congressional investigators, reporters or even the agency's own inspector general. Read the full story here. That really sounds like a memo from someone who wants to hide something.  Or a lot of somethings-maybe a bunch of corporate polluters getting away with mucking up the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.  

This country needs to wake up!  There are no representatives for the people in Washington DC. The only people who get represented are the people with the most money to buy off the greatest number of politicians.  Washington DC does not give a damn about everyday, working class people.  We need to stand up and fight for ourselves now, or there is not going to be a world left to finally stand up and fight for when we finally decide to do what is right.

Recycling In Chicago

Did you know that the City of Chicago's blue bag program (ending this summer), run by the Department of Streets and Sanitation, serves only residential buildings from single family homes to four-unit apartment buildings?  If you live in an apartment complex five units or larger (like I have for most of the 14 years I have lived in Chicago), your recycling will be taken by a private contractor, not by the City, and they are not required to recycle the blue bag contents.  Well, I did not find this out until last week.  I have always suspected that the Blue Bag program was ineffective, but it was the only method of recycling available to me.  I don't have a car, so I put my recycling in a blue bag, and then the garbage truck came and took it away. Tragic waste.  How many people long to recycle like me? 

Well, Chicago is finally rolling out its new recycling system called the Blue Cart program. People are getting blue carts to put their recycling in, and the city will pick it up once every two weeks, separate from the regular trash.  But there are two major problems with this program.  One, it has only rolled out to a few wards thus far. Two, only residential buildings with four units or less get the blue carts. What are the thousands of people living in high rises supposed to do? What are businesses supposed to do?  

Come on, Chicago, if you want to be one of the greenest cities in the United States, you have got to come up with a more convenient way to recycle for everyone.  I will be walking my recycling to Uptown Recycling, but what about people who are not nuts about the environment like I am.  If you need more information on recycling in Chicago, check out the Chicago Recycling Coalition's website (not the City of Chicago's website).  You can find everything from what is recyclable to where you can drop off your recycling. 

A few more things the city needs to do:

• Provide a means for businesses to recycle, not only everyday items like glass and aluminum, but things like old office equipment, computers, desk chairs, etc.
• Provide recycling receptacles for aluminum cans and plastic bottles along the streets with the regular garbage cans.  In San Francisco, they make garbage receptacles that include a slot for aluminum cans and plastic bottles right on top. 
  
• Ban plastic bags.  They are harmful to the environment, and their production requires petroleum and often natural gas, both non-renewable resources.  Several cities in the US, San Francisco being the first, have banned plastic shopping bags. Some countries have even banned them, including China.                         
  

Watch Al Gore's Energy Independence Speech

Al Gore gave a very impassioned speech last week about how the US needs to take on the challenges we face today-energy independence and climate change-head on and tackle them like we did when we put a man on the moon in the 1960's.  He issued his 10 year challenge.  And I, for one, would be proud of this country if we could take a stand and declare that we want to lead this world again and show them that we can reduce our impact on the climate and we can be energy independent, and we can do it if we work together. Join We Can Solve It today, and let your representatives in Congress know, let the current Administration know, let the candidates for President know that we as a people want to solve this crisis.  And take steps to reduce your own energy dependence and your own carbon footprint.            

Eco News

From the August 2008 issue of Body + Soul magazine:

The United States consumes an average of roughly 30 million trees a year to make books.  

According to Food & Water Watch, the average American uses 1,190.5 gallons of H2O a day (spent on energy, cleaning, and eating). To calculate your water usage and learn how to reduce it, go to h2oconserve.org.

Check your local cable provider for the just launched Planet Green channel.  

Don't throw out that old pair of Crocs.  You can recycle them.  The company recently launched a humanitarian shoe-recycling program called Soles United.  They reuse the Croslite material from old Crocs to create new pairs for those in need around the world.  In 2007, Crocs gave away 1 million pairs of shoes through this program.

  

      

Tips On Driving Green

Beyond buying a more fuel efficient car, here are some tips on driving green.

• Keep your vehicle well-maintained with regular servicing to keep it operating at its peak efficiency.
• Drive slower and with more patience.  The slower you drive and the less you accelerate, the less fuel you will use.  
• Get a membership with the Better World Club (the environmentalist's AAA).
• Keep your car clean without using a drop of water. "Waterless" cleaners save up to 100 gallons of H2O per typical driveway car wash and prevent pollutants from entering streams and groundwater supplies.  Some examples of cleaners include No-Wet Green and Clean Waterless Wax & Wash, Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash, and Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash + Polish. 
• Plan out your car trips in advance to ensure you maximize your time while minimizing your mileage.  
• Carpool with coworkers, friends, neighbors and family. 
• Consider renting a car when you really need one instead of owning one.  Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis are good places to start.  I-Go Car Sharing is an organization that allows members living or working in the same area to have access to cars within a short walking distance.   
• Check out greenercars.org.         
  

Fun fact: Using a proprietary software to map out the routes for its fleet of 95,000 delivery trucks, UPS has cut out some 28.5 million miles, 3 million gallons of fuel, and 31,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by optimizing the most efficient routes for delivery.  And this includes taking few, if any, left turns.      

Natural Remedies

Nature has provided us with everything we need.  Unfortunately, we have really gotten out of touch with her.  If you are trying to reduce the amount of chemicals in your life like I am, here are a few natural remedies I have gathered from various sources.  

Aloe Vera: Heals cuts and burns faster when applied to the affected area.  

Also makes a great gel for your eyebrows or hair.  

Can also be used as a shave cream.

Catnip Oil: Is ten times more effective against mosquitoes than DEET.  In a spray bottle, shake 6 drops of oil in 3 ounces of water for your own repellant.   

Green Tea: Sipping at least 1 cup of the decaffeinated kind between workout sessions may help pounds drop off faster.  Scientists say compounds in the tea may help convert flab to fuel.

Recent research suggests that consuming green tea daily may provide protection against skin cancer.    

Honey: Makes a great moisturizer.  Apply a small amount to the skin and rub in.  Rinse off after a few minutes.     

Lemon juice: Spray on hair for natural lightening.  

Papaya and Pineapple: Cut open the fruit and rub the fleshy part onto the sore spot of a bee-sting or bug-bite.  These fruits contain enzymes that break down the protein toxins in venoms that cause pain and swelling.

Olive Oil: Oleocanthal, a natural compound in extra-virgin olive oil seems to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving powers similar to ibuprofen.  Apply where it hurts.  

Olive oil is also a great moisturizer for your skin.  Apply a small amount to the skin and rub in. Rinse off after a few minutes.

Sea salt: To get natural waves, in a spray bottle mix 2 t. fine sea salt, 1 c. warm water, and 4-5 drops essential oil and shake well. Spray on hair and work through strands.  

Also makes a great exfoliating scrub when mixed with a moisturizer like honey or olive oil.  

Sugar: Makes a great exfoliating scrub when mixed with a moisturizer like honey or olive oil.

Vinegar: Lowers the pH level of skin on contact, which helps to lessen venom's toxicity and provides itch relief on a bite or sting.

Also makes a great toner for oily skin.

Environmentally Responsible Beer

Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer 

This is a USDA Organic certified beer.  It is by the same people who brew Fat Tire.  It is really tasty.  

The company that brews the beer, New Belgium Brewing,* is the first wind powered brewery in America.  It is located in Fort Collins, CO.  They are also a member of 1% For The Planet, an organization whose members donate 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world.    

The carton the beer comes in is 100% recycled paperboard.    

*Note: This is a website that requires your computer have a Flash player.   

It's Not Always Easy Being Green-Part III

Made an unexpected shopping trip to the Clybourn Corridor.  There are a lot of home stores, so I figured I could look for an organic shower curtain.  First I went to Z Galleria.  They have interesting stuff but nothing organic.  Then I tried Crate & Barrel, and they have the same stuff in every store, so they do have organic towels and bath mats, and some bamboo accessories, but no organic shower curtains.  My last stop before going home was the Pottery Barn.  At first, all I found was organic towels and bath mats, but after asking a sales associate for assistance, I found that not only do they have 100% organic cotton shower curtains, but organic bedding as well, and in the fall they are expanding their organic offerings and are even going to have organic furniture. No surprise that Pottery Barn is taking the initiative to stock more organic goods because their headquarters are in San Francisco.  I still want to find a 100% organic cotton comforter, but that is for another day.     

It's Not Always Easy Being Green-Part II

I went to Green Mango Goods on Thursday afternoon to try and find a 100% organic cotton shower curtain.  They are located at the Andersonville Galleria on Clark St.  While I was disappointed that Green Mango Goods turned out to be a stall in a bazaar type mall with a select few items, and there were no shower curtains to be found, I did find a lot of eco-friendly shops all in one place, however small they may be.  Though I did not find a shower curtain, I did get a cute pair of black pants made out of bamboo from a store called Earthgirls Eco Boutique.  

I went to Target today, and though I still did not find an organic cotton shower curtain, I did buy a 100% organic cotton sheet set and some organic food items.  They actually have a decent selection in store, but an even better selection of organic items on-line.  I only have one shop left to try for my shower curtain-A Cooler Planet, but I cannot go until Tuesday because they are closed for the July 4th holiday.            

Eco-Friendly, Green Shopping in Chicago

Here are some stores that I have patronized and/or read about in Chicago.  Two of the stores are in Evanston, but it is just north of Chicago and accessible by the CTA.  

A Cooler Planet

2211 W Roscoe St 

Chicago, IL 60618

Eco-Pet

2950 W Cortland St, #3 

Chicago, IL 60647

Ethical Planet

1110 W Davis St

Evanston, IL 60201 

For Dog's Sake

1757 N Kimball

Chicago, IL 60647

Goodness Greeness

5959 S Lowe Ave

Chicago, IL 60621

Green Grocer

1402 W Grand Ave 

Chicago, IL 60642

Green Heart

746 N LaSalle Dr

Chicago, IL 60610

Green Mango Goods

5247 N Clark St 

Andersonville Galleria, Mezzanine Level

Chicago, IL 60640

Healthy Green Goods 

702 Main St

Evanston, IL 60202

The Fair Trader

1623 E 55th St

Chicago, IL 60615

There is always the stand-by of Whole Foods if these stores cannot meet your eco-friendly needs.   There are several Whole Foods stores in the Chicago area.  If there are any stores that I have left out, please leave me a comment with its name and address and website (if available).    

It's Not Always Easy Being Green

For instance, I have been searching high and low for a 100% organic shower curtain.  I had no idea it was going to prove to be so difficult to find one.  This past Saturday, I went to Evanston and went to two different "green" stores.  The first one, Ethical Planet, is an all vegan general store, but it is small and does not carry things like sheets, towels, clothes or shower curtains. The second store, Healthy Green Goods, had one type of shower curtain.  It was 100% organic cotton, but it was not my style at all.  I even tried Cost Plus World Market as well.  They had 100% cotton shower curtains, but they were not organic.  

The reason I want an organic cotton shower curtain is because cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop grown on the planet. Check out the Organic Consumers Association for more troublesome facts about cotton, a fabric that people assume is "natural."  However, cotton shower curtains are better than vinyl shower curtains-the cheap, plastic-feeling shower curtains you can get for a few dollars from just about any store.  Check out the toxicity of vinyl here.  

Yesterday, I was downtown and decided that I would try and find a 100% organic cotton shower curtain again.  I tried Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens and Things and Crate & Barrel.  The first two stores were extremely disappointing.  Crate & Barrel did have a lot of organic towels and bath mats, they also had a lot of bamboo products.  They had 100% cotton shower curtains, but they were not organic.   

So I am going to try Target on Friday.  They have a lot of organic bath products on-line, so I am hoping to find an organic shower curtain in the store.  If I can't find one at Target, there is one more store I can try called A Cooler Planet.  I would much rather patronize a local store and save a ton of carbon emissions then buy an organic shower curtain on-line and have it shipped across the country or even the world.  I feel like that really defeats the purpose of being green. I am not just doing it for myself but for the planet as well.                          

Eco News

I read a lot...books, magazines, the Internet.  I seem to spend a lot of my reading time lately on environmental issues.  It is something I am really interested in learning more about.  I want to be educated on what I can do to make a difference.  Here are some of the more interesting bits of info I have read recently.

From Self magazine's July 2008 issue: Clif bar and TerraCycle have a program called the Wrapper Brigade.  The nationwide initiative recycles packaging that consumers submit and is weaving it into material for backpacks, gym totes and other products to be in Target stores next year.  Wrapper Brigade also donates two cents per wrapper to a charity of your choice. 

From Self magazine's July 2008 issue: 61% of women agree that it is difficult to tell which beauty products are natural or organic, a study from the Benchmarking Company, a research firm in McLean, Virginia, reports.  Look up eco-friendly products at GreenerChoices.org. 

From Body + Soul magazine's July 2008 issue: Two companies give new life to old clothes-

The Urban Renewal collection by Urban Outfitters features pieces constructed from discarded clothing and accessories.  

Goodwill Industries teamed up with designer Nick Graham to create William Good, a repurposed clothing line that aims to save 100% of unsold donated items from landing in the trash.  Find current styles at ecocitizenonline.com or, next spring, at retailers around the country.

From Body + Soul magazine's July 2008 issue: If we recycled 100 million unused cell phones, we could save enough energy to power 194,000 homes in America for a year.  To find an e-cycler, visit epa.gov/cellphones.        

Green Rant

With gas prices now topping out over $4/gallon, and food prices soaring ever higher, families are feeling the pinch now more than ever before.  Add to the mix the housing crisis, and you have a lot of people learning the hard way how to live with less.  And it is a terrible thing that people are losing their homes.  It is also terrible that unemployment and homelessness is on the rise. People have to choose between eating and filling up their car with gasoline.  But we brought this mess upon ourselves.  We learned nothing from the oil crisis of the 1970's.  As soon as the oil started flowing cheaply again, people chose to forget about the fact that petroleum is a non-renewable resource.  It is not in unlimited supply.  So people bought their SUVs, and they moved to the suburbs where they could have a giant house with a giant yard.  And they filled their McMansions with mounds of stuff.  

Then the bills came due.  The credit card bills, and the mortgage, and the car payment and most important of all, the environmental cost of all that greed and waste is coming due.  And the human cost. While the middle class was busy stuffing its face with cake, the rich ran off with all of the real money and the government in their pocket. So now the environment is in shambles and the rich don't care because they have raped and pillaged and gotten what they needed out of the Earth, and they can afford to buy gas and food and pay their mortgage.  With the middle class becoming more and more the lower class, the rich are going to have everything.  The lower class is going to have no choice but to be slaves for the upper class.  

There are 10.1 million people worldwide with at least $1 million in assets as of 2007.  They have a combined wealth of $40.7 trillion.  It is expected to be around $59.1 trillion by 2012. They represent a mere 0.15% of the world's 6.7 billion people.  33% of these millionaires live in the United States.  

What kind of a world do we live in where a few people have everything and billions of people are living in the depths of poverty and despair?  Sometimes I wonder why humans are so selfish and soul-less.  We are neglecting our fellow human beings, and we are letting the Earth fall apart right before our eyes, and we could have done something about it, but it was too much trouble.  It would have put a cramp in our consumerist, greedy, self-righteous lifestyles.  

Every Day Is a Chance to Live Green

I strive to live every day by my motto that "less for me means more for others."  By this I don't mean that people should take more than their share of resources because others are doing without.  I mean that if each and every one of us made small changes to our lifestyles, we could save countless resources for others. 

• According to Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe, if you sit down to an 8 oz. steak, the "feed cost" of that steak is 45-50 people with empty bowls in front of them, bowls that could have been filled with a full cup of cooked cereal grains.
• If we recycled 100 million unused cell phones, we could save enough energy to power 194,000 homes in the US for a year.  
• We go through 100 Billion plastic bags per year in the US, less than 1% of which get recycled.  An estimated 12 Million barrels of oil is required to make them, and the annual cost to US retailers of giving them out is estimated at $4 Billion.  
• The chopsticks that you get with your Chinese takeout cost China approximately 25 Million trees a year to make.
• Americans consume an estimated 70 Million+ water bottles a day, and only 14% get recycled. 
• Each person in the US uses an average of 700 pounds of paper products per year.

So I don't eat a lot of red meat.  I do eat it, though, I won't deny it.  I know being a vegetarian would be even better for the planet, though. I have had the same cell phone for a little over two years.  It is only the second one I have ever owned (I lost my first cell phone).  When this phone finally does need to be replaced, all I have to do is return it to AT&T, because the carriers recycle used cell phones.  

I carry a reusable bag with me absolutely everywhere.  They make them to fit on your belt buckle or key chain.  

My boyfriend and I rarely if ever order takeout.  It is environmentally disastrous, not to mention lazy and bad for your waistline.

I rarely drink bottled water.  On occasion I have bought a bottle of water or juice while out, but I ALWAYS recycle the bottle.  

We do not keep paper towels or paper napkins in our apartment.  I use sponges and old socks for cleaning, and we simply wash our hands after a messy meal, or if really necessary, wipe our hands on a cloth towel.  

We swapped out all of the regular light bulbs in our apartment with CFLs.  I turn off the lights when I leave a room, and I shut off and/or unplug appliances I am not using.  

For every bag of garbage we make, we make 2-3 bags of recycling.  

We eat as local and as healthy as we can afford to-organic as much as possible.  

We don't own a car.  We both own a bicycle, though.  And we both walk a lot and use a fair amount of public transportation.  

We don't have an air conditioner.  We have a ceiling fan and a window fan, and we turn them off when we are gone.

I just live this way because I feel it is the right thing to do.  I don't feel like I am sacrificing anything.  I feel blessed by what I do have and feel that everyone should have the chance to experience abundance in their lives.  If everyone on Earth consumed the way we did in the US, we would need 5-6 Earths just to satisfy the demand for resources.  I personally think that says that we, as a country, are thoughtless and greedy.  The Earth is not ours to plunder.              

Where Can I Recycle _____________?

Do you live in a town or city with no recycling program?  Or maybe you even live in a town with a recycling program for things like cans, plastic, and paper.  But what about batteries, CFLs, cell phones, electronics, shoes, etc.?  Where can I recycle things like that?  The following list is by no means all-inclusive.  You can always give stuff away that you no longer want anymore.  Click here to find a recycling center in your area.  Click here to find a list with descriptions of some things that can and cannot be recycled.  

• Plastic Bags-never put these in with other plastics.  Many grocery stores have drop-offs for plastic bags.  If you are unsure, find one in your area that does.
• Printer Cartridges-take them to an Office Supply store where you will get store credit, or you can send them back to the company that makes them.  Sometimes you will have to pay for the postage to send them back but often times the cartridge comes with a prepaid return envelope or box.  Best Buy recycles ink-jet cartridges-look for kiosks right inside their stores.
  
• CFLs-these contain mercury and should not go in the landfill. Try your local hardware store or recycling center.    
  
• Computers-put that old computer to use---not in a landfill. Give it to a non-profit, school, or someone who really needs it.  
• Electronics-getting new gadgets is great, just be sure and recycle the old ones.  
• Batteries-Find your nearest Radio Shack to recycle regular batteries like AAs.  Best Buy recycles rechargeable batteries-look for kiosks right inside their stores.  Get a kit from Battery Solutions for your home or office and mail them in.
  
• Cell Phones-you can usually drop them off where you bought them or mail them in to your wireless carrier.  Click here for more information on mailing them in.
  
• Clothes-places like Goodwill , The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities will gladly accept your clothes donation. Just make sure the clothes are clean.
  
• Shoes-Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program accepts all brands of sneakers.  They recycle them to create tracks, fields, and playgrounds.  
  
• CDs/DVDs/Floppy Disks/Tapes-if they are not worth selling or giving away, take them in to a recycling center in your area.  Or contact Green Disk.   
• Furniture-if it is not worth selling or giving away, contact your local recycling center.
  
• Food-composting is the best way to use most of your food wastes.  Even if you live in an apartment with no yard, you can still compost.  Check out the NatureMill.      

If there is something you don't see on this list, check out Earth 911.  

   

Why Are There Genetically Modified Organisms in My Food?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are found in six out of ten processed foods at the supermarket.  Genetically engineered crops became available to farmers in 1996.  70% grow in the US.  81% of soybeans, 71& of cotton, and 40% of corn grown in the US is genetically engineered.  

Corn, soy, canola, and some cottonseed turn up in processed foods as oils.  Biotech soy binds hot dogs and is in some nutritional supplements such as protein extracts and Vitamin E.  Ground corn is in foods like taco shells and chips.  Other corn-based ingredients include cornstarch, flour, dextrose, maltrose, baking powder, and high-fructose corn syrup.  Most corn and soybeans end up in animal feed, so meat and poultry comes from animals raised on biotech feed.  

Buying organic is one way to avoid genetically engineered foods. Another way is to shop at the three chains that refuse genetically modified ingredients in their private-label products-Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's.  Yet another is to shop local.  Go to Farmer's Markets and get to know the people producing your food.

Check out these websites to become better informed about your food:

Environmental Working Group

Food First

The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

Organic Consumers Association 

If you want to download a Shopper's Guide listing non-genetically engineered foods, go to http://www.TrueFoodNow.org.        

Tips When Shopping for Food

Shop the perimeter of the supermarket and ignore the middle.

Go directly to the sections devoted to organic produce and natural products.

Buy organic foods.  However, if that is not possible or affordable, you can cut your exposure to pesticides by 90% by buying the following foods organic only :

• Apples
  
• Bell Peppers
  
• Celery
  
• Cherries
  
• Grapes
  
• Nectarines
  
• Peaches
  
• Pears
  
• Potatoes
  
• Red Raspberries
  
• Spinach
  
• Strawberries
  

Buy organic versions of the foods you eat the most.

Shop at natural food stores such as Whole Foods or Wild Oats.

Buy locally produced foods and fresh local produce in season, whether they are organic or not.

You Are What You Eat

This is as true today as it has always been.  But today we have so many options now that it seems overwhelming at times to pick the right foods for your body.  So it makes sense that the more natural your food is, the better it will be for you-but also the planet as well.  

We should all be concerned about where our food is coming from-we should be more aware of the process from planting to picking, from birth to slaughter and even in the handling and transportation. There was the spinach scare of 2006.  The on-going recalls of products coming in from China-but most especially the contaminated seafood.  Then there was the meat plant that got shut down in California for torturing its animals.  Now there is the tomato and now bagged lettuce recalls going on right now.  It is enough to make you want to stop eating. However, all you have to do is know how your food was treated before you bought it.  Greater care=greater nutrition.    

Going to Farmer's Markets is the best way to get to know your food. You can actually talk to the people who own and work the farms to find out what practices they use to grow and cultivate your food. There are a few websites to check out to find one near you.  

• http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets
  
• http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets
  
• http://farmersmarket.com

If there is not a Farmer's Market near you, then check out the Local Harvest website.  You can have food delivered right to your door, or you can find a grocery store in your area that sells locally farmed products.  The Land Connection can connect you with local food as well.  

Buy organic.  If the product is organic, then you know it is better for you.  Studies are being done to bear this out.  Organic foods are free of the harmful chemicals, but they are loaded with more of the nutrients than their non-organic counterparts.  Organic foods just taste better too.  If you are unable to find organic, look for all-natural, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, cage-free. When shopping for seafood, look for sustainably harvested.  Check out Seafood Watch for more information. 

Remember, you are what you eat.  The better your food is treated, the better it is for you and for the planet.  And companies that treat their food well will be proud to tell you about it-in person, on their packaging, on their website, etc.  Get to know your food.     

Things Are Not Made to Last

You may hear older people say this from time to time, but it is actually true.  Companies don't make nearly as much money if they make things to last.  We have become a consumerist, throw-away society, but it was not always this way.  Check out the Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard for some eye-opening statistics and the real cost of our consumerism culture.  I will summarize the story here.  

• In the United States, we only have 5% of the world's population, but use up 30% of its resources and produce 30% of the world's waste.  
  
• Each person in this country produces 4.5 pounds of trash per day, twice the amount we produced 30 years ago.  
  
• 99% of the materials that go into making the stuff that we buy are trashed in less than 6 months. 
• For every 1 garbage can we produce, the manufacturers are producing 70 garbage cans.
  

Things were not always this way.  After World War II, corporations actively sought out a way to make more money.  Consumerism was the key.  This would help explain why the average person consumes twice as much today than they did 50 years ago, or the fact that the average house size has doubled since the 1970's.  Each person in this country gets targeted with 3,000 advertisements per day, more than people used to encounter in their entire lifetime.  

But money cannot buy you happiness.  National happiness has been steadily declining since the 1950's (when it peaked).  Is it coincidence that this was the beginning of our consumer-driven era?  Why would people want to work so hard just to buy stuff that they never really needed or wanted in the first place?  

Over the past three decades, one-third of the planet's natural resource space has been consumed.  In the US, we have only 4% of our original forests left, and 40% of our waterways are undrinkable. Industries here admit to releasing over 4 Billion pounds of toxic chemicals per year. Climate change is the consequence of our actions.  It is too late to stop it from happening, but we could keep it from getting worse.    

  

   

What Does Natural Mean When It Comes to Personal Care Products?

There are currently no governmental regulations defining natural. This means that some products you thought were "natural" may actually be filled with oil-based, synthetic ingredients. The Natural Products Association is working on a Natural Standard and Seal so that consumers can know what "natural" really is and how to identify the truly natural products.  Look for the Seal to begin appearing on products later in 2008.  

• One natural ingredient does not mean a product is all-natural.  Scrutinize personal care labels the same way you do your food labels, and pay close attention to ingredient order. The ingredients are listed from most concentrated to least.  
• Ingredients with long or scientific names are not always chemicals.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufacturers to use Latin and scientific names for ingredients.  Make it easier on yourself and learn what is safe by checking out the Cosmetic Database.
• Watch out for phrases such as "nature-inspired," "made with natural ingredients," and "natural origin."  This kind of language allows manufacturers to position their products as natural even though they may few natural ingredients.
• Even products with the USDA seal for Organic means that 97% of the ingredients used are certifiably Organic.  The other 3% could be synthetic and potentially harmful.
• Watch out for trademarked names using "natural" and "organic."  There are no laws on what a product can be called, only on how the product is used.
• There are certain ingredients that you should steer clear of and should never be used in something that is "natural."-

Parabens are synthetic preservatives and may be potential endocrine disruptors. 

Sulfates such as Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate are synthetic cleansing agents.  They potentially remove natural oils from the lipid layer of the skin.

Phthalates are fixatives of some synthetic fragrances that are potential toxins.

Petrochemicals, including petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin, are non-renewable by-products of crude oil with potential impurities.  

Fragrance is a term that any manufacturer can put on their label and the FDA does not require them to list the ingredients in it.

You have to be careful when you shop for personal care products. Look carefully at the ingredient list.  If you are unsure, be sure to look up the product and even the company that manufacturers the product.  Also, be mindful to buy products that are in environmentally friendly packaging-recyclable, biodegradable, and even compostable. If the packaging is just going to rot in the landfill, then it is not really a good product.  

  

12 Simple and Easy Eco Tips

1) Buy local and organic.  If your organic kiwi comes from Chile, then you are not a conscious consumer.  Though there are studies showing that organic foods retain more of their nutritional value than their non-organic counterparts, if you cannot get it local, find something else to buy.  

2) Look for concentrated products because they use less packaging. But also look for all-natural products in recyclable and/or biodegradable packaging.  If it is all-natural or organic, but does not come in environmentally sound packaging, move on to another product that does.

3) Switch your incandescent bulbs for CFL's (compact fluorescent light bulbs).  CFL's use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.  You will save an average of $30 per bulb.

4) Turn off the lights when you leave a room.  Also, turn off and/or unplug appliances that are not in use.  

5) Use reusable shopping bags whenever you go ANYWHERE. Grocery store, mall, wherever. The oil it takes to produce 14 plastic bags will power a car for a mile.  Plus, reusable bags are more study and comfortable.

6) Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.  You will save on average of 25 gallons of water a month.  

7) Reduce the amount of time in the shower, and never turn the shower on and just let it run. Turn the water on only after you are in the shower.  

8) Use all-natural, earth-friendly cleaning products.  Better yet, use products that can serve many purposes in the home: 

• Baking soda-You can use it as a deodorizer, to clean abrasive surfaces, to bake, and even to get rid of heartburn. 
  
• Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (liquid)-You can use it as a cleanser in the shower, or you can mix a little with some vinegar and water and clean your house with it. *This is real soap. Check out their website.  Dr. Bronner's rocks!
  
• White Vinegar-You can use it to clean, to cook, and to make vinaigrettes.   

9) Turn your thermostat down in the Winter and up in the Summer. Turn it off when you are not home.

10) Calculate your carbon footprint.

11) Walk or ride a bike to work and to run errands, or use public transport if it is available.  If you have to drive, make sure you run your errands all at once and in an order that makes sense-for example, drive to the farthest place and work your way back home. Better yet, carpool with co-workers, friends and neighbors.  

12) Give away used clothes and any other unwanted and unused items around the house.  Or barter.  Or sell.  Try Goodwill, Freecycle, Craigslist, and Ebay.  Even your local church will likely accept used clothing.