11th Hour Opens Today
The film is charged with images of today’s environmental problems and dialogue from experts including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey, sustainable design gurus William McDonough and Bruce Mau. Leading scientists and environmental leaders discuss the issues facing the planet and, most importantly, what we, as the “pivotal generation”, can do to change the course.
Reviews:
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: It is our astonishing capacity for hope that distinguishes “The 11th Hour” and that speaks so powerfully, in part because it is this all-too-human quality that may finally force us to fight the good fight against the damage we have done and continue to do. As the saying goes, keep hope alive — and if you’re holding this review in your hands, don’t forget to recycle the paper.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times: It would be a mistake to dismiss the valuable environmental documentary “The 11th Hour” as a mere redux of “An Inconvenient Truth.” Whereas the 2006 Al Gore-starring film, which won an Academy Award for best documentary, focused intensely on global warming, “The 11th Hour” takes a broader approach in examining Earth’s ills.
Learn More:
A little green eye candy from TreeHugger
Looking for something gorgeous and green? TreeHugger, House & Garden magazine and Teragren have teamed up for a series of video podcasts “all about the fabulous world of green”…
Hosted by TreeHugger’s own Jacob Gordon and featuring green all-stars like Summer Rayne Oakes, Josh Dorfman and Greg Kiss, the “Green & Gorgeous” podcasts delve into subjects like fashion, beauty, furniture and architecture, each with a green twist.
Visit TreeHugger or House & Garden’s site to learn more and watch the videos.
Daily Detox: Take it down a notch
Do you think you could tell ambient temperature within a degree or two? I for one cannot so 76 degrees could be 78 or even, dare I say, 80 before I would even think twice or reach for the thermostat. Your HVAC system is much more sensitive and each degree or two that you take off its heating or cooling burden adds up to savings, both energy and money.
For optimum energy efficiency, the US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) program recommends 68F for heating and 78F for cooling during waking hours. They also tout the benefits of lowering heating or cooling demand by 10-15 degrees while you are sleeping or out of the home. If over an 8 hour period, this decrease in energy demand can save you 5-15% on your annual heating and cooling costs.
The best way to keep your home comfortable and energy efficient is to use a programmable thermostat. Fiddling with the thermostat wastes energy and money so let these smart little fixtures keep thermal comfort constant.
Read more:
- Take it up a notch at Ideal Bite
- Thermostats and Control Systems at EERE
- Programmable Thermostats at Energy STAR
You Are What You Drive
Not only is the air inside your home a potential health hazard, the air inside your car may be more polluted than you think. Another term for that “new car smell” is off-gassing, chemicals to be precise.
A recent study by the Ecology Center has yielded the first-ever guide to toxic chemicals in cars. Among the substances that may be hitching a ride on your commute: chlorine, bromine, arsenic and lead.
In their press release, Chemicals Released from Indoor Auto Parts Contribute to “New Car Smell” and Serious Health Concerns for Drivers & Passengers, the Ecology Center says:
Over 200 of the most popular 2006- and 2007-model vehicles in the U.S. were tested for chemicals that off-gas from indoor auto parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests and seats. These chemicals become part of the air we breathe contributing to “new car smell” and a variety of acute and long-term health concerns. Since the average American spends more than 1.5 hours in a car every day, toxic chemical exposure inside vehicles is a major source of potential indoor air pollution.
To help consumers clear the air they drive in, the Ecology Center has ranked cars according to their indoor air quality. Full reports on toxic chemicals in cars are available at HealthyCar.org but here’s a snippet (via ecocenter.org) of the top ten best and worst:
Read more:
It's All About Aloha
The Big Island, Hawaii, is very near and dear to my heart so since the tropical paradise is currently getting an extra helping of Mother Nature’s fury in the form of a 5.6 quake and the looming Category 3 Hurricane Flossie, today is all about aloha. More specifically, how to live it when you visit Hawaii.
Now it may seem that Hawaii was put on this Earth solely for the enjoyment of vacationers, but it wasn’t. It is a natural wonder that has existed long before it became known as the 50th state. And the extensive cultural history dates back well beyond the arrival of Captain James Cook. That said, Hawaii deserves respect and care.
Don’t trespass: There are many Hawaiian lands that have sacred cultural significance regardless if this is recognized by the federal or state government. There are plenty of public beaches, hiking areas and sights to see without trampling private land so stick to the path and don’t jump the fence.
Don’t harass wildlife: When dolphins and other marine mammals venture into protected bays it is to rest, not to be chased down by diesel spewing tour boats. You are more likely to see these wild creatures if you stay still on shore or try a kayak. Just don’t chase them, they really hate that.
Play by the rules: Listen to the wealth of information that is given to you. The reason you are getting it is for your own safety and for the health of the ecology. Islands are particularly vulnerable ecosystems and what seems like a small disturbance can have a huge environmental impact. Park rangers and other professionals specialize in protecting the islands so play, but by the rules.
Be in the know: Before you go, check out some of the national organizations that are keeping an eye on the islands wildlife, land and resources. The more you know before you go, the more you will appreciate everything Hawaii has to offer. Good places to start: Hawaii Ecoregions Sierra Club, Hawaii Endangered Species Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy Hawaii
Get out eco-style: eco-tourism is a buzz word but don’t take it at face value. There are great travel resources to help you get to Hawaii and leave it just as, or maybe a little better, than you found it: Sustainable Travel International, Travel Lightly WorldChanging to name a few
Back to School Eco-Style
Your kids likely know more about the environment than most adults. Still, they could use some help getting on their green way. If you’re looking for ways to make buying back-to-school supplies a little eco-friendlier, you are in luck.
National Geographic has just released the Green Guide Eco Checklist 2007: Green Gear for the Back-to-School Blues, as well as a bevy of more school supply resources for environmentally conscious students young and old. As have several other leading eco-living sources - from packed lunches to PCs, find your green school gear with these helpful links:
Green Yahoo! & You
If you’ve got a creative side why not put it to good use for the environment. Yahoo! wants you to design a green icon to flag eco-friendly ideas throughout their network. The winning design will be used throughout the Yahoo! network of 500 million people - major bragging rights. And Yahoo! will award a $20,000 grant to the environmental nonprofit of your choice.
Two runners up will also get the chance to give $5,000 grants to the charities of their choice. Entries must be received by September 18th so go to Yahoo: Be a green icon! to learn more and get the creative juices flowing.
Daily Detox: Tread Lightly
I was bit by the travel bug early and the more adventurous the vacation the better. The upside to seeing other places is always a new perspective and understanding. The downside is that how and where we go for leisure can have negative impacts, both environmental and social. The good news is that responsible travel is possible, the trick is to open your eyes to the resources available before you hit the road.
Here are my top picks for resources that help you tread lightly:
- Ideal Bite: Go Wild
- World Changing: Travel Lightly
- Ideal Bite: Yankee Doodle Vacay
Daily Detox: Soak it up
Stormwater runoff sounds like a natural process but it’s not. It is an interruption of the hydrological cycle caused by rain falling on impervious surfaces, like pavement. The water runs over man-made surfaces, collecting any chemicals along the way, and then charges sewers, streams, lakes, rivers and eventually the ocean where it causes flooding and pollution.
You can help alleviate stormwater runoff and water pollution. Check out these great resources:
- Earth 911: How to prevent water pollution due to stormwater
- EPA: What you can do to prevent NPS (non-point source) pollution
- Ideal Bite: Ear to the pavement
Another easy way to help prevent water pollution is to build a raingarden. This bowl-shaped landscape element helps soak up rainwater and get it back to nature. They are easy to create and a beautiful way to soak it up.
Day at the beach no vacation
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released the 17th annual beach water quality report “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches” earlier this week. Using data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the NRDC found that the “the water at American beaches was unsafe for swimming a record number of days last year.”
More than 25,000 closing and health advisory days were recorded at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches in 2006, double from the previous year. The highest risk beaches were found in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island and Minnesota.
The record beach water pollution can be blamed on “aging and poorly-designed sewage and storm water systems” that were overloaded by record rainfall. The other major contributor is urban sprawl that depletes natural buffer zones, areas were stormwater is normally filtered through the ground and vegetation.
The health hazards include gastroenteritis, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments and other serious health problems. These are especially dangerous for senior citizens, small children, and people with weak immune systems.
The NRDC advises beachgoers to “Call your local public health authority. Ask them if the beachwater is safe for swimming. And there is any doubt, or if the water smells bad or looks dirty, stay out of it.”
At a glance:
Beach Buddies: Monitored beach water quality regularly, violated public health standards less than 10 percent of the time, and took significant steps to reduce pollution:
- North Carolina: Kure Beach and Kill Devil HillsBeach
- Wisconsin: Sister Bay Beach and North Beach
- California: Laguna Beach
- Michigan: Grand Haven City Beach and Grand Haven State Park beaches
- Maine: Libby Cove, Mother’s, Middle, Cape Neddick, Short Sands and York Harbor beaches
Beach Bums: Violated public health standards 51 percent or more of the time samples were taken:
- California: Avalon Beach (north of Green Pleasure Pier) (53%) and Venice State Beach (57%)
- Maryland: Hacks Point (60%) and Bay Country Campground and Beach (56%)
- New Jersey: Beachwood Beach West (60%)
- Illinois: Jackson Park Beach (54%)
Further reading:
Daily Detox: Keep it cool
I recently visited the Northeastern US and it was unbearably hot so the din of air conditioners could be heard everywhere. While it’s great to get some relief from hot, sticky weather it doesn’t always require cranking up the AC, which accounts for half the energy in a US home during the hot months.
Personally, I grew up without AC and I don’t consider it a necessity. Instead, I like to keep it cool with these tricks:
- Plant deciduous trees on south facing facades
- Use overhangs, like pergolas and awnings, to keep windows shaded
- Use light colored exterior finishes, including the roof
- Choose low-e windows to prevent heat transfer
- Install paddle fans and set them to draw air up
- Consider a whole house attic fan
- Take advantage of cross and stack ventilation
- If you use AC, choose Energy Star and use a programmable thermostat
Daily Detox: Down the Drain
It’s inevitable that at some point you will find yourself with outdated, unused medicine of some form deep within the corners of your bathroom cabinet. Your allergies didn’t act up this year or you gracefully avoiding travel ills, even though you were prepared for the worst. There’s a better way to dispose of old meds than sending them down the drain.
If you flush, rinse or even put old meds in the trash, those man made compounds find their way into aquatic ecosystems and drinking water. Most rivers contain synthetic substances like antibiotics and birth control hormones. And water treatment plants can’t filter these out so they return to the source no matter how many gallons you send them off in.
If you’ve got unused meds, make them go round in other ways. Contact your local pharmacy to see if they will accept them or check with these programs:
Check out this and more healthy medicine tips at Ideal Bite
Hope for heavy metal clean-up
There is a glimmer of hope for heavy metal clean-up from polluted waterways, according to the Environmental News Network. An aerogel, “a type of rigid foam made from a gel in which most of the liquid has been replaced by gas” was tested by US researchers and found to effectively soak up metal ions from a liquid. The compound holds the potential to remove heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, as well as organic compounds from water.
Mercury is a serious pollutant because it is toxic, bioaccumulative and difficult to clean up. In ocean and other water ecosystems, mercury becomes methylmercury (the organic form) where it works its way through the food chain, compounds in each organism and into the diet of fish eating wildlife and people.
The Mercury Policy Project reports that:
Mercury exposure can cause severe learning disabilities and other neurodevelopmental problems in babies and young children. Recent Centers for Disease Control findings indicate that 8 percent of woman of childbearing age in the US have unsafe mercury levels, translating into over 300,000 babies born at risk each year.
Learn more:
Upcoming Green Events
Upcoming Green Events & Workshops
How to Buy a Solar Electric (PV) System: (8/4) Portland, OR
This workshop will help you learn about types of solar panels, how to analyze your site, how to size a PV system, expected performance, financial incentives and local case studies. Everything you need to know to go solar with confidence. Solar Oregon
Green Home Expo: (8/5) Berkeley, CA
Learn about free services and programs to help you save energy and money. Get informed about climate change and reduce your global carbon footprint. Guest speakers and information on local programs for free ways to save energy and conserve resources. City of Berkeley Green Home Expo
Toxic Waste Collection: (8/5) at the Green Home Expo in Berkeley, CA
The Teleosis Institute (Health Professionals in Service of the Global Environment) will be hosting a FREE Safe Medicine Disposal drop-off and Mercury Thermometer Exchange. Rid your home of toxic waste including unused medicines, mercury thermometers, old batteries, electronics, computer monitors and more! at the City of Berkeley Green Home Expo
Building Green: (8/8) Menlo Park, CA
Hear from a number of green building specialists, including: What is Green Design? - Susan Davis, Spectrum Fine Homes; Building Science - Matt Golden: Sustainable Spaces; Building Performance - a foundation for Green Remodeling and Green Building; How do you Build Green? - David Edwards, PhD.: Earth Bound Construction; True Solar Cities - Brian Sullivan: Solar City. There will also be table displays by Eco Design Resources, Solectric Electric, Green Building Exchange, Harrell Remodeling and City of Menlo Park. At Kepler’s Books and Magazines
Strategies for Managing Environmental Health and Safety Business Risks: (8/8-8/9) St. Louis, MO
Come see how other companies are managing and prioritizing Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) risk from the plant floor to the enterprise level and understand how this information is being presented and used by senior management. NAEM
Daily Detox: Slice it Green
I grew up next door to a house full of golf enthusiasts. I never did master my swing but I still dig the game. And now even more so since getting out on the links can be good for the environment.
Golf courses can boost conservation efforts by providing nature preserves, wildlife area, and protecting forests, marshlands and waterways. Audubon International awards certification to members of the Audubon Certified Golf Courses program for their efforts to protect the environment, conserve natural resources and provide wildlife habitat.
The programs are so successful that avid golfers can tee off nationwide on greens that won’t tick off Mother Nature. Now all you have to worry about is your game.
Certified golf courses and Certified Cooperative Sanctuaries (pdf)
TreeHugger Lights Up Burning Man
Got a great eco-idea? Then show it off! TreeHugger and Current TV are running a joint contest - Participate! - to give inventive greenies the chance to get some shine time.
The winner will receive 2 tickets to the Burning Man where all eyes will be on their innovative eco-idea that will “change the way we live, eat, drive, etc.”
Cool.
What is Burning Man, you ask? In short, Burning Man is “an experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance.”
Trying to explain what Burning Man is to someone who has never been to the event is a bit like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind…to truly understand this event, one must participate.
Thus the TreeHugger contest. This year’s Burning Man art theme is the Green Man. And you could be there to see him lit up. The event will be held in the Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada, from August 27 - September 3rd so start brainstorming and visit TreeHugger for more details:
Daily Detox: Go Native
There’s a reason why many meticulously landscaped suburban areas look unnatural - they are created from non-native plants. And it takes a lot of time, energy, water and fertilizer to achieve that “exotic” look.
If you’ve reached the point in your summer where you actually have time to devote to the garden, think about native plants. Choosing plants that are already accustomed to the regional climate yields a healthier garden that uses less water, requires less energy and doesn’t need chemical intervention.
The result is a beautiful, hardy landscape that doesn’t need artificial life support. Plus, native plants grow with less toll giving you more time to, well, stop and smell the flowers.
Just keep in mind that native is not the same as wild. Ripping healthy stock from a wild landscape depletes natural ecosystems. Check with the local nursery or start a seed swap with a gardener friend to get native plants without the bad eco-karma.
Clean health: household hazards
The fact that most chemical cleaners can fume you out of your own bathroom is more than a temporary inconvenience. A new report by the Women’s Voices for the Environment (WVE) sheds light on the health issues linked to commonly used household products.
Household Hazards: Potential Hazards of Home Cleaning Products was released this month as part of the WVE’s Safe Cleaning Products Initiative. The Health and Environment Alliance points out the disproportionate exposure rates between men and women - women, and children, are more impacted than men:
The report examines 5 types of chemicals commonly found in household cleaners and points to the mounting evidence linking exposure to chemicals in cleaning products and rising health problems.
Drawing information from over 75 reports and scientific studies, the study illustrates the pervasiveness of health concerns associated with household cleaning products, in particular asthma and reproductive harm. Potentially hazardous chemicals include monoethanolamine (MEA), glycol ethers and benzalkonium cholride.
The report aims to increase public awareness and instigate better product labelling, drawing out some of the “hidden ingredients” in household cleaners that are potentially harmful.
Personally, I’m a clean freak but I can’t remember the last time I poisoned myself to get the house sparkling. My favorite for everything clean: Seventh Generation. They’ve got a product for every cleaning task and are widely available, easily found in most grocery stores.
Learn more:
Daily Detox: De-junk the trunk
It’s summer and time for golf but using your car’s trunk as storage for the irons is a sure fire way to use more gas. The heavier your car, the more fuel it needs to travel so lighten up the load.
Sierra Club’s Ten Ways to Save Money at the Pump says (you might want to sit down for this) ”the President has even gone so far as to recommend that Americans attempt to conserve energy.”
Number 8 on their list of gas conserving tips:
Pack Light. According to the Department of Energy, a loaded roof rack on your car can decrease fuel economy by approximately five percent. Also, every 100 pounds you carry in a car reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by one to two percent. So, when you go on vacation or a long car trip, put everything you can inside your vehicle, and pack light.
Bottom line: less carry, less burden.
Buzz off, naturally
Apparently mosquitos don’t mind if you smell like garlic, according to a study at the University of Connecticut. Despite the belief that ingesting garlic helps keep the biting summer pests away, the researchers and garlic-eating, mosquito-bitten subjects, say otherwise.
Tuesday’s NYT article The Claim: Eating Garlic Helps Repel Mosquitos reported that the best way to repel mosquitos is DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide):
Typically, mosquitoes locate their victims by seeking out body heat, lactic acid and carbon dioxide. People who are attacked less, studies show, appear to have genes that make them better able to disguise themselves. So far, the substance known to block mosquitoes’ powers of detection the best is DEET, which acts by blinding their senses.
While deemed safe by the EPA, DEET has been linked to severe adverse reactions. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that DEET exposure can be toxic:
Case reports of toxicity from DEET exposure have been documented in the medical literature, and range in severity from mild skin irritation to death.
While the excuse to eat more garlic seems to be fading, it’s not time to reach for the synthetic poisons. Dr. Weil’s all natural answer to Bugged by bugs?
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) now lists oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant-based product registered with the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Registration indicates that the active ingredients in the repellent have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human safety when used as recommended on the label. When oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the United States, it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.
Personally, I break it down like this: Amazon jungle, a little DEET exposure is the least of your worries. Backyard New England, all natural works.
My favorite skeeter patrols: