Website Wink: Blue Egg
You can find out what others are doing including corporations, small businesses and eco-individuals. Learn different steps you can take toward a greener life with the ‘what you can do’ section or peruse the tip of the day category for quick eco-living tips. And you can sign up for Blue Egg’s weekly e-newsletter - which is so much nicer than daily, I think.
There’s a great glossary with short, descriptive definitions of anything related to the environment from acid rain to bagasse (I had to look that one up recently) to fiber-cement siding to xeriscape. Apparently there’s no eco-terms that start with y or z, weird. Find the glossary here.
It’s a great site! Check it out here and it’s on the Daily Tomorrow blogroll.
Tuesday Travels: A Toast to Sustainable Drinking
On to the news…
Travelers to the UK will find something wonderfully sustainable brewing…renewable energy-powered pubs! Yes, a toast is in order for the sweeping endeavor to green UK pubs with the installation of solar roofing tiles, and a little extra help from Darrieus-type wind turbines - the coolest things blowing.
TreeHugger published this bubbly news about Solarcentury:
Now we hear that these UK pioneers of clean energy are helping green the greatest of all British institutions, the pub. Working with major pub chain JD Wetherspoons, Solarcentury have provided their solar roofing tiles to the Kettleby Cross, a groundbreaking ‘green pub’ that also features a wind turbine (which looks from the picture to be the long-awaited Quite Revolution vertical axis turbine.
The move to renewable energy will touch JD Wetherspoons 648 pubs. That’s a lot of beer-drinking in the name of sustainability, and I like it. Read the full story at TreeHugger and if you’re traveling to the UK be sure to put a clean energy-powered pub on your lunch out list.
Via TreeHugger
New Feature: Green Building 101!
While this is a science blog, I’m from the school of multi-disciplinary thought - specifically Environmental Science and Sustainable Design. The two are intertwined and interdependent because unless we solve the problem of how to house the millions of people on the planet without destroying the ecosystems we depend on we have got a problem, and so do all the plants and animals.
We are constantly reminded of this challenge in big events like hurricane Katrina, the 2007 wildfires in California or the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest. But we also see it in small events like the appearance of a coyote or bear foraging for food in our backyards.
I’m a scientist, nature lover and green building advocate - they all go together. That’s the reason for Green Building 101 here on Daily Tomorrow. From now on every Monday will be dedicated to the science of green building and how, together, we can build better, live better and protect the environment.
Next week, on Monday, will mark the official start of Green Building 101. In the meantime you might enjoy these links…
Some of my latest green building articles on Inhabitat:
- ASAP House: House About Saving a Planet
- Integrating Habitats: A Design Competition
- Prefab Fridays: pieceHomes
- HOK’s LEED Gold-certified Straw Bale Building
And some of the leading resources for green building:
- U.S. Green Building Council: creators of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program
- Building Green: one of the oldest and most highly regarded green building resources in the United States, publishers of Environmental Building News and the GreenSpec directory
Get Out, Get Green
Upcoming Green Events & Festivals
Social Accountability International 10th Anniversary Conference (Nov 5) New York, NY
Purchasing Practices Promoting Ethical Workplaces; Remediation at the Site; Partnerships to Implement Workplace Standards; Governments Advancing Social Standards. Contact Matt Daly (212) 684-1414 or mday2@sa-intl.org.
Greenbuild 2007 (Nov 7-9) Los Angeles, CA
The nation’s premier green building conference. Presented by the US Green Building Council. Contact (202) 828-7422 or info@greenbuildexpo.org. www.greenbuildexpo.org
Clean Power in the West Summit (Nov 7-9) San Francisco, California
Join leading regulators, utility policy and planning executives, developers and financiers to discuss obtaining required renewable and clean fossil energy in the West. www.infocastinc.com
2007 Green Festivals (Nov 9-11) San Francisco, California
Experience the emerging green economy. Present by Co-op America and Global Exchange. www.greenfestivals.org
Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition (Nov 11-14) Washington, DC
The Alliance to Save Energy’s inaugural conference will serve as the premier gathering and showcase for the energy-efficiency industry, attracting industry professionals, academics and policy makers from around the world to promote the efficient use of energy through a curriculum aimed at sharing best practices and unifying the public and private sectors. Presented by the Alliance to Save Energy. Contact (202) 857-0666 or events@ase.org.
Have a good weekend!
Friday Favorites: Hungry Ladybugs, Fuel Economy, Rocking in the Hybrid World and more…
Ladybugs are being ‘employed’ for natural pest control by one of Manhattan’s largest apartment complexes
720,000 ladybugs land in Manhattan: huge apartment complex is using them as natural pesticide
NEW YORK - It sounds like a horror movie: 720,000 ladybugs on the attack in Manhattan. In this real life story, however, the red-and-black bugs have been unleashed on the 80-acre grounds of one of New York’s biggest apartment complexes with a mission: eat pests infesting the neatly landscaped property…read more at MSNBC
The Top 10 Ways to Reduce Your Gasoline Consumption
Unfortunately, this year it looks like we’re not going to be able to count on a nice drop in gasoline prices during the fall and winter. With crude oil futures sitting at $90 a barrel and demand for both oil and gasoline going nowhere but up, it looks as if gasoline may test the $3 per gallon mark within the coming weeks or months…read more at Daily Fuel Economy Tip
Neil Young’s Silver Seed Comes to Visit
Last week, we had the distinct pleasure of a visit by rock legend Neil Young. Neil is touring the country in a soon-to-be converted 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV named Linc-Volt, spreading the word about plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and vehicle-to-grid technology. As part of the trip, Neil and his crew are filming a documentary of their travels and the folks they meet along the way…read more at Google.org
Can Biofuels Save Rural Towns?
A major political selling point of ethanol production is the possible salvation it offers small towns in the center of the United States. But does “the biofuel revolution” actually benefit these communities or just Vinod Khosla? That’s the topic that Kansas State researchers will tackle with the $696,000 grant they received last week from the Department of Energy…read more at Earth2Tech
‘Bird-friendly’ call for gardens
UK householders can halt the decline of many birds by making their gardens more wildlife-friendly, a charity says. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said simple measures can help preserve populations of house sparrows, starlings and song thrushes…read more at BBC
Biofuels ‘crime against humanity’
A United Nations expert has condemned the growing use of crops to produce biofuels as a replacement for petrol as a crime against humanity. The UN special rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, said he feared biofuels would bring more hunger…read more at BBC
Dress for Success: Making a Difference with Up-cycled Clothing
I’m big on de-junkifying my space but I’m always uncertain what really happens to my unused duds. Mostly I hope they are truly donated but sometimes it’s hard to tell.
I’ve done the eBay thing many times with bigger items, like a gold leme prom dress that was hard to part with but obviously had not found a second purpose in my well-past-prom-age life. It was bittersweet for me but a new prom-bound teenager fell in love with online. Who would’ve guessed gold leme is back in style? Or ever was for that matter.
Recently I discovered an organization that has an eye on giving clothes new life and truly bringing a boost to someone’s life: Dress for Success. Founded in New York in 1997, Dress for Success helps disadvantaged women overcome the barrier of not having appropriate clothes to enter the workforce.
Here’s how it works: Dress for Success supplies an interview appropriate suit or outfit. When the job-seeker is hired she can return for a week’s worth of business wear and is invited to join the Professional Women’s Group (PWG).
The program has to date suited up more than 350,000 women with 80% going on to retain their jobs. Other life-changing improvements related to the apparel program include improved credit scores and an increase in further education. Pretty impressive considering that the recipients were all living below poverty level and 70 percent are single mothers.
Giving green at its best is more than just an environmental cause, it’s a social commitment. That’s what Dress for Success is all about - upcycling clothes and having a positive effect in the lives of women who are working their way out of poverty.
Via Vegetarian Times
Daily Detox: Behold the Pumpkin Facial
If I had found this Pumpkin Facial Recipe before serving or carving up my last pumpkin of the season, I would’ve set a few aside to try this…
From Country Home, Whip up your own pumpkin-powered mask:
Combine 3 teaspoons pumpkin, 1/2 teaspoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon milk. Apply mixture to face (avoid eye area) and leave on for ten minutes. Rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer.
Doesn’t that sound deliciously indulging? Homemade pick-me-ups are great because you control the ingredients meaning no chemicals, raw foods come with less packaging, you can buy local and organic and it’s less expensive. Living green can be so aaaaahhhh, don’t you think?
Tuesday Travels: Energy Goblins
Yes, the holidays are upon us and for many that means a bit of travel. So, when it’s time to head over the river and through the woods to grandma’s leave your house efficiently vacant and avoid the energy goblins.
This time of year, when temperatures drop, a little green goes a long way. These quick steps will make a difference and they don’t take much time.
- Unplug your appliances including TVs, DVD players, microwaves, computers and any other non-essential electronic devices. Even when off, these devices can eat electricity and are among the hungriest energy goblins.
- Lower your thermostat to avoid wasting fuel and money. If you’ve got an energy-saving programmable thermostat you can set it to warm the house a bit before you arrive home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat now is the time to get one.
- Turn the hot water heater down or off while you are away. Heat loss from hot water storage tanks is a huge energy drain. Your hot water heater won’t know you’re gone so it will keep working to keep water hot, and that heat will just go to waste. While you’re at the tank do yourself a favor and check for any signs of expansion or rust.
Get Around: Be sure to check out Transportation Tuesday at Inhabitat!
Step It Up with Greenpeace
Greenpeace wants you to Step It Up in the fight against global warming. On Saturday, November 3 - The National Day of Climate Action.
The organization has launched a nationwide campaign to engage people to send a message to politicians that cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, increased fuel economy standards, and investments in renewable energy are priorities.
There are events going on all across the U.S. at all sorts of venues. For example in my home state of Connecticut there’s Cool Down Connecticut in Hartford, The Demand a Bus March in Middletown, Organic Harvest Festival in New Haven and Building Community One Neighborhood at a Time.
Through the Greenpeace website, citizens have invited state representatives to join them at these events. You can invite your politician to a November 3rd Climate Action in your state here.
There are Climate Actions happening on Saturday in every state except North Dakota. You can find out what’s happening nearby at the search here or organize an event in your community. Local events, National impact. If clean energy, clean air and fuel economy are important to you, let your politicians know!
Step it Up! website
Get Out, Get Green
Upcoming Events & Workshops
2nd Annual Investing in Solar (Oct 29-30) Las Vegas, Nevada
Discuss methods to expedite the commercialization of solar technology and projections for the market; Innovative financing, regulatory and market approaches. Presented by Financial Research Associates, LLC. Contact Sarah Dunnam (704) 889-1290 or sdunnam@frallc.com.
The Current (Solid) State of LED Lighting (Nov 1) Jessup, Maryland
This class will discuss current LED technologies (the good, the bad, and the expensive) and applications for residential and commercial uses. Presented by the Green Building Institute. Contact Leslye Wilson (443) 733-1234 or info@greenbuildinginstitute.org.
2007 International Conference on Business & Sustainability (Nov 1) Portland, Oregon
Theme: Sustainability in the Supply Chain. Presented by Portland State University School of Business. www.bizandsustainability.org
Context Sensitive, Sustainable Design and Construction for Infrastructure Development (Nov 2) Portland, Oregon
A one day workshop focusing on defining the concepts and teaching the fundamentals of diagnosing your project’s opportunities and concerns. Presented by University of Oregon Continuing Education. Contact Ruta Stabina (800) 824-2714 or rstabina@uoregon.edu.
Friday Favorites: A Splashy Commute, Speedy Solar, Green Jobs and more…
Canada’s Esteban solar car ‘Esteban IV’ competes in the qualifying laps for the World Solar Challenge race in Darwin October 20, 2007 (Reuters)
A man from the San Fernando Valley triumphs over gridlock freeway traffic by kayaking to work in Long Beach — 52 miles downstream on the L.A. River. LaLa Times (via TreeHugger - Go watch the video)
Solar Cars Race from Australia’s Top to Bottom
Sun-powered-car enthusiasts from around the world raced into the Australia outback on Sunday at speeds nearing 100 kilometres-per-hour at the start of the World Solar Challenge…read more at Reuters
Policymakers Recognize Value of ‘Green’ Job Creation
Policymakers around the world increasingly recognize that adopting sound environmental policies can promote, not hinder, economic growth and job creation…read more at WorldChanging
The Energy Solution: Do Something
Carl Pope, the executive director of the Sierra Club, likes to say that the environmental challenge can be boiled down to a pretty simple question. How are we going to fit a billion new rising consumers — mostly from India and China — into a biosphere that is increasingly full? If the world can make room for the newcomers, then we should be able to make it through the 21st century…read more at Time
Happy Friday!
Everyday People, Natural Heroes
If you’re looking for a little environmental inspiration you are in luck. Green Treks Network and the Rural California Broadcasting Corporation (KRCB) have launched the third season of Natural Heroes bringing to life the stories of ordinary citizens who are making a difference.
Natural Heroes tells the stories of everyday people from around the globe who are bringing clean air and water back to their communities, preserving open space, protecting endangered species and ensuring that their schools and neighborhoods are healthy.
Celebrity activists show their support in the 13 episode series including Cameron Diaz, Martin Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Julia Butterfly Hill and Willie Nelson. Above, Edward Abbey - the “Thoreau of the American West” - author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues and criticism of public land policies. The Natural Heroes film Edward Abbey: A Voice in the Wilderness as a biography of Edward Abbey as remembered by his family and friends.
More in the season three lineup:
A School in the Woods about outdoor learning centers where urban kids are inspired to lifelong environmental and community stewardship. Big Apples, Big Ideas about a new breed of American farmer - practitioners of a sustainable agriculture - who are defining a path of renewal through the “food connection.” Also Watershed Heroes, Wings over the Wild, Power Shift and much more.
The GreenTreks Network, Inc. is an award-winning non profit communications organization dedicated to educating people about the interconnectedness of environmental, societal, economic, and individual health. GreenTreks fills a vital role on behalf of the environment: Communicating the power of the individual in creating meaningful change.
The mission of KRCB is “In order to encourage full participation in society and community, KRCB provides educational, informational and cultural telecommunication services in partnership with our community.”
Together these presenters are bringing uplifting, innovative environmental activism to National Television, winning an Emmy along the way. Short film clips are available online and you can keep track of which TV stations are airing the third season here. If the films aren’t scheduled in your area submit a request online here. You can also watch Video on Demand from your computer. The films are really amazing and inspiring so if you need a break from doom and gloom environmental stories and a reminder about why green is good go check them out.
Get inspired:
Healthy People, Healthy Planet: At Home
Here at Daily Tomorrow we started the week looking at how healthy food choices are better for you and the environment. Continuing with the connection between healthy people and a healthy planet, it’s time to focus on the place that is meant to shelter us, keep us safe and nourish our health - home.
Today’s Focus: Where You Live
No matter where you live you can take actions towards a more energy-efficiency and less toxic home environment that will boost the health of you, your family, your wallet and the planet. Get an energy audit or a Home Energy Rating, check your water supply and opt for low-toxic cleaners to keep your home and the planet healthier.
Energy Audits and HERS
Most utility companies will do an energy audit on your home for free to help identify where you can make cost-effective changes to boost energy-efficiency. You can also do this yourself with the EPAs DIY home energy audit. You can also take it up a notch by hiring a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) professional to do a computer analysis of insulation, HVAC systems, windows and other energy related elements. A HERS report will give your home an energy score based on its current condition, a score based on suggested improvements and the cost-effectiveness of those improvements.
Getting a home energy audit or a HERS report will not only help identify ways to save energy and money, it will alert you to any potential problems with gas-fired appliances and help prevent one of the biggest dangers in the home Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
Water Issues
Get a report from your local water supplier. If your water comes from a municipal supply it is tested regularly by the water authority. Information about these tests can be obtained from your local water company. If your home is on a private well you can call the County Health Department or State Environmental Protection Agency to find out about groundwater quality and possible contaminants in your area. If your report is good you’ll have peace of mind. If it’s not good you can get involved with community efforts working to clean it up.
Naturally Clean
There are household hazards in cleaning supplies including carcinogens. For instance, formaldehyde which is a suspected carcinogen found in many cleaning products. Hydrochloric acid found in toilet bowl cleaners can burn eyes and skin. Other chemicals found in conventional cleaning products can cause damage to the nervous system, kidneys, liver and may cause birth defects. Natural, low-toxic cleaners are becoming more widely available and offer versatile products without the chemicals. Better yet, you can make your own from everyday ingredients found in your pantry. Try Earth Easy’s Non-toxic Home Cleaning guide.
More resources for healthy homes:
- RESNET Residential Energy Services Network
- EPA Indoor Air Quality
- EPA EnviroFacts on waste, water, toxics and more in your area
- How to Clean Up Our Water at NRDC
- Natural Home & Cleaning Supplies at Gaiam
- Seventh Generation Low-toxic, recycled cleaning supplies
Tuesday Travels: A Green Night Out by Bike
This past weekend I got together with some friends for dinner at their house. Between the wok, the wine and desert I was not even thinking green but as we pedaled our way home, somewhere between midnight and morning, I realized that we had done more for ourselves and the planet by making the simple decision to take the bikes.
Biking is very popular here in North Rhine Westphalia - the social acceptance is high and people tend to think bicycle before car. So without really thinking about the car me and my sweetheart got on our bikes, picked up two friends on their bikes, swung over to another friend’s house who joined us on his old bike and before you knew it we were five healthy adults riding along to dinner out.
The roundtrip was about 10 miles and on Saturday night these miles were pretty cold but we were all bundled up, chatting and keeping warm with a little exercise. Here’s a roundup of how biking made it better:
- A little indulgence: The hostess has family in Spain and had a fantastic lineup of after dinner drinks that everyone was free to try because nobody was getting behind the wheel, just the handlebars.
- Burn off the calories: Biking around burns about 175 calories an hour and that’s at a casual pace. Add in some cold temps and the legs move a little faster burning even more calories. I figure that extra piece of cake and the nightcap I had were both a wash.
- Save money on gas: The round trip by car would’ve burned through about 10 miles worth of gas which would’ve cost a couple of bucks. A small amount but still money I didn’t have to spend and over time, with enough bike nights out, a couple bucks adds up to some real savings.
- No Need For Neutral: If we had taken a car, our night out would’ve contributed somewhere between 10-15 lbs of CO2. Riding by bicycle was a no emissions deal so there’s no need to even think about Carbon Offsets.
Get around:
- Community Bike Share Programs
- Map of Community Bike Share Programs
- Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign
- San Francisco Thinks Big on Bikes
- Top 6 Sexiest Cycles on Transportation Tuesday at Inhabitat
Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Eating Well
A recent article in the BBC pointed to the threat that obesity posed to the UK population calling it a “potential crisis on the scale of climate change.” The alarming trends revealed by a government study said half the population will be obese within a quarter century. Other than the scale of the problem, the Beebs article didn’t make any further connections between environmental issues and health problems but the two are intertwined - a healthy lifestyle has some very eco-friendly benefits and vice versa.
The relationship between health and the environment plays out in a multitude of ways but it all comes down to choices. Most people would rather be fit and live on a healthy planet but, for one reason or another, the choices we make as individuals and as a society often deter both of those directives.
Sometimes these choices are beyond our control and this can leave us feeling disillusioned that our own actions make no difference. The reality is you are in control of your life and your choices. You can take control of your health and have a positive affect on the health of the planet at the same time.
Today’s Focus: What you eat
A healthy diet is central to our physical and emotional well-being. Eat more locally grown food, eat more fruits and vegetables and cook or make your daily meals to be healthier, save money and tread lighter on the Earth.
Locally Grown
Local harvests support community farmers and have lower embodied energy, the energy used for transport. Buying from a local farm supports the local economy, connects you to your community and helps you eat a more seasonal diet that is both fresher and more sustainably grown. You’ll experience a connection to food that is aligned with annual changes, in other words you’ll have a closer connection to nature.
Eat Your Veggies
Most Americans don’t get enough fruits and vegetables into their diet and are deficient in many minerals and vitamins. Eating more fruits and veggies is not only good for your body, it’s also good for the planet. Foods lower on the food chain have less embodied energy, this time in reference to the actual energy it takes to grow them. Meats are energy-intensive and have less benefits for your body.
Make it yourself
Eating out is not only expensive, it’s also a practice that brings undesired “extras” like extra salt, extra sauces, extra calories. Takeout in particular is bad for the waistline and produces unnecessary paper and plastic waste. Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy snacks to bring with you on the go and pack meals from home in reusable containers for lunch. You’ll eat healthier and avoid adding to landfills.
More healthy, green ideas:
- 5 Ways to Save the World While Getting Fitter, Saving Money, Simplifying and Becoming Happier at Zen Habits
- Local Harvest find Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) near you
- 100 Mile Diet Local eating for global change
- Sustainable Table what’s in season
- USDA resources to find and learn more about CSAs
Friday Favorites: Green Halloween
Halloween is less than two weeks away so this week’s Friday Favorites is filled with some of the most ghoulishly green tips for your trick-or-treating little pumpkins.
Quick Ideas:
Buy locally grown pumpkins: Picking out the right pumpkin is vital to a Happy Halloween and a visit to your local farmer brings even more to the seasonal experience. Resist the urge to just grab any old gourd from a big box store and stop at a local farm to take in the sights, sounds and smells of a hometown pumpkin growing operation.
Bob for organic apples: Having a Halloween party with this classic splash maker? Be sure the goblins are diving for organically grown apples to avoid pesticides and chemicals from ruining the fun. Got a local grower? That’s even more in the Green Halloween spirit.
Don’t be scared of creativity: Avoid the expense and waste of mass-produced decorations by using your creativity. Anything goes at Halloween so use what you’ve got around the house, garden and inside your imagination to create the Halloween backdrop of your dreams.
In-depth Halloween Fun:
Tricks and Treats for Halloween: Halloween should give you some good scares, not actually anything to worry about. For a safe and eco-friendly holiday, try these tips from Sierra Club.
Five Super-simple steps to Green Trick-or-Treating: Getting your little ghosts and goblins ready for Halloween while attempting to minimize your impact might seem scarier than global warming, but it’s so simple: you’re probably already doing at least one of these things from Green Options.
Green Halloween: Bag the Habit: Before you send your little monsters scampering off into the night trolling for candy, be sure to deep-six disposable paper and plastic loot sacks in favor of hardier totes and buckets they can reanimate year after year. Here are some devilish ideas we’ve scared up from TreeHugger.
Green Halloween: Ghoulish CFLs: Energy inefficiency may spook your party guests, but you can still cast a frightful glow with orange and black mini compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at TreeHugger.
Keep Halloween Fair: Halloween should be scary, but only for a day. Unfortunately, holiday treats can contribute to a witch’s cauldron of frightening problems that persist long after the masks come off at The Green Guide.
Boo!
Bioneers 2007 Conference Starts Tomorrow
If you are interested in living a happy, healthy, sustainable life in an environmentally and socially just world (and are in the San Rafael, CA, area this weekend) The Bioneers 2007 Conference starts tomorrow. If your not familiar with Bioneers it is a forum for connecting the environment, health, social justice, and spirit within a broad progressive framework. Now in its 17th year, Bioneers has been a leader in connecting scientific and social innovators to share visionary and practical models that restore the Earth and communities.
The organization conducts programs in the conservation of biological and cultural diversity, traditional farming practices, and environmental restoration. With a holistic perspective, Bioneers looks at environmental issues through the natural landscape, cultivated landscape, biodiversity, cultural diversity, watersheds, community economics and spirituality. Their mission is to unite nature, culture and spirit and create economic models founded in social justice.
The Bioneers Conference is a highlight of the organization’s work filled with inspiring talks by visionary thinkers and doers from wildly varied fields, cultures and walks of life. In addition to talks, the conference will present green-living workshops, organic dinners, image festivals, networking receptions and performances.
Here’s just a few of the many scheduled presentations:
- Clean Tech Comes of Age
- Building Local Living Economies and Successful Social Ventures
- From Ecovillages to Ecocities
- No Nukes or Green Nukes? The Debate over Global Warming and Nuclear Power
- Gimme Shelter: Green Building in an Age of Mega-Cities and Meta-Collapse
And a sample of the speakers:
Van Jones (www.ellabakercenter.org), an activist working to combine solutions to social inequality and environmental destruction, founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, which promotes alternatives to violence and incarceration, in 1996. The City of Oakland has adopted the Ella Baker Center’s “Green Jobs Corps” proposal, and Van is pushing to create the first-ever Green Enterprise Zone in Oakland. More on Van Jones in National Initiative to create 250,000 Green-collar Jobs for Urban America at TreeHugger.
Paul T. Anastas, Ph.D., widely considered the founder of “green chemistry” during his work for the U.S. EPA and as director of the U.S. Green Chemistry Program, is a professor at Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and also serves as the director of Yale’s Center for Green Chemistry.
Evon Peter, the chairman of Native Movement and former chief of the Neetsaii Gwich’in from Arctic Village in northeastern Alaska, has served as the co-chair of the Gwich’in Council International and on the executive board of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council. Evon is an advocate of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, youth activism and a balanced world, and is active as a speaker, strategist, writer, and organizer. His experience includes work with United Nations and Arctic Council forums representing Indigenous and environmental interests.
Ka Hsaw Wa, (www.earthrights.org) co-founder and executive director of EarthRights International (ERI) and a member of the Karen ethnic nationality, was one of the student leaders in the 1988 Burmese student democracy uprising and has been a human rights activist ever since, working to document and resist human rights and environmental abuses within Burma (and around the world).
The conference goes through Sunday and is sure to be an extremely interesting, positive and uplifting event. You can get more info at Bioneers.
Daily Detox: Be a Natural Beauty
We are all natural beauties, that goes without saying. Whether we believe it or not is another story and one that goes along with the reality that American women spend over $600 a year on cosmetics. Whether you dabble or dive into the cosmetics counter here’s a few tips to help make your beauty product lineup a little greener.
Before you buy check out the Safe Cosmetics website for the latest news about cosmetic companies, cosmetic campaigns, chemicals and ingredients safety. Safe Cosmetics is leading a campaign asking cosmetic companies to pledge to remove toxic chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives in every market they serve. As of August 2007, 600 companies have signed the Compact. You can check an online database to see if your favorite beauty dealer has signed on.
Co-op America keeps an online, searchable database of green products including personal care - National Green Pages - with listings of natural, organic and fair trade beauty products and much more.
Green Living Online has a very thorough breakdown of chemicals commonly found in beauty products with where they’re found and why they’re dangerous in 6 Makeup Chemicals to Avoid. And The Dirty Dozen Chemicals in Cosmetics is also a good reference for choosing clean and healthy cosmetics.
My favorites include Burt’s Bees, a company that is fun, ethical and environmentally aware. Burt’s does pretty much everything from chapsticks to foundations for everyone from babies to dads. Lavera uses organic plant oils, herbs, flower extracts and essential oils, their products are cruelty free and also free of parabens, petroleum and synthetic preservatives and fragrances, which I find extremely suitable to sensitive skin. I also like AVEDA, despite that they are owned by Estée Lauder. AVEDA has become a champion of sustainability with an all-natural product line, use of recycled paper, and promotion of the use of sustainably produced catalogs and magazines.
More tips:
Back Lash or Parabens Pretty Ugly both at Ideal Bite
Paper, Plastic or Reusable Tote? New Questions at Wal-Mart Checkout
Plastic bags are environmental evils. In the U.S. alone, we throw away 100 billion plastic bags each year — the equivalent of 12 million barrels of oil, yikes! - so it is good to see that one of the largest retailers in the country is (finally) giving consumers a more environmentally friendly option.
Wal-Mart is picking up on sustainability because of consumer demand but the corporation is making bonafide green decisions. Last week the company hosted the Wal-Mart Live Better Sustainability Summit with a long list of eco-heavies in attendance like Cradle to Cradle
Other changes to the retailer are in the product lines including sustainable electronics, organic foods and eco-friendlier laundry detergent.
via TreeHugger
Tuesday Travels: Top 10 Ways to Green Your Commute
We’ve all been there at some point, stuck in traffic alongside thousands of other morning commuters. It’s stressful for both us and the environment - wasting billions of hours of time and billions of gallons of gas. There are easy ways to take some of the burden of commuting out of your morning that can lead to a healthier, happier green you.
1. Carpool
Back in the 1970s, air quality was bad and the U.S. was experiencing an energy crisis with the Middle East oil supply. In response, the federal government created incentives for carpooling, like the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. The EPA recommended 1.5 people per vehicle to help ease America’s energy and air woes. By the early 1980s, the feds removed the incentives and Americans returned to their solo commutes. Well even in 2007, actually especially in 2007, the fact remains that carpooling still saves money, still reduces traffic and still helps reduce fuel consumption as well as emissions.
2. Bike or Walk
Sometimes we get so used to something that an alternative doesn’t seem possible. It just might be that way with driving to work. If you sat down and really considered how far it is from home to the office you might be surprised that you could easily walk or bike there, at least some of the time. Not only does this green up your commute, it puts some healthy mobility into your day which is always a good way to start.
3. Public Transportation
Sure, in the car you’ve got your radio, your special coffee place and all the junk that you might “need” throughout your day. The truth is most of the things that make your car comfortably yours are mobile and you can take them with you on public transportation. Like music, with your personal listening device of choice, your travel mug (is meant for traveling) and, well, most of the stuff in your car is just junk anyway. Lighten up, pack efficiently and take your morning show on the bus or train. It will take a load of the environment and you don’t have to manage the wheel. Bring a good book or the morning paper and let someone else drive.
4. Take the kids by foot
If you’ve got kids, you probably picked your neighborhood because you liked the nearby schools. In the hectic day to day mornings of getting everyone off to the right place it’s easy to overlook the fact that walking them to school instead of driving could actually fit into your morning routine. Think about it. You get up early trying to cram work, kids, laundry, meals and exercise into one day. Usually something falls off the “to-do” list and that something is usually yourself. Walking the kids to school gives you quality time, gives the environment a break and gets you some early morning exercise. Try WalkScore to find out just how walkable your neighborhood is.
5. Telecommute
Over 40 million Americans have discovered the benefits of telecommuting which include a very green morning commute walking from bed to the computer. The world has become virtually connected with instant messaging, video chat, teleconferencing and virtual private networks (VPN). Even if you need to be in the office for certain tasks, consider if telecommuting could work for part of your work week. Save gas and cut emissions, stay home in your jammies.
6. Go Neutral, Offset
Sometimes we just can’t avoid the fact that our business requires travel. Whenever possible use a green transportation choice. If you can’t, consider offsetting the trip with a carbon offset purchase. Try Clean Air Cool Planet’s Consumers Guide to Carbon Offset Programs (PDF).
7. Split the difference
If you live in the burbs or boonies and work in the city you might find transportation options limited. However, you might be surprised to find commuter parking lots, train stops and bus depots along your commute. Consider driving only as far as you need to and then either meeting up with a carpool, catching a train or hitching a quick ride on a bus. By cutting your solo commute in half you’re saving gas, emissions and money.
8. Drive Greener
If you’re in the market for a new car consider a hybrid car, these come in choices for almost any lifestyle from small sedans to SUVs. For the most part these vehicles outperform conventional cars on gas mileage and emissions. Hybrid not happening? What about biodiesel? Lots of diesel lovers are beating the gas rap by converting to biodiesel. You could also consider flex-fuel vehicles or just a vehicle with the highest gas mileage you can afford. Whatever you are driving, keep it well-maintained, tuned up and with clean filters and properly inflated tires. For maximum fuel efficiency do the speed limit and de-junk the trunk.
9. Park in the shade and use a reflective windshield shade
Cars and parking lots contribute to something called urban heat island. Cement, black top and other impervious manmade surfaces absorb heat from the sun and increase the ambient temperatures in cities which in turn puts a load on mechanical cooling. To help alleviate some of this park in the shade and help your car from becoming a heat bomb by using a reflective windshield shade. If there are no trees to park under talk to your boss about why it’s important to alleviate urban heat island with vegetation.
10. Move on Challenges
Public transit lacking in your area? Write your city council. Want to carpool? Spread the word at the office. Don’t know the train schedule? Look it up online from the comfort of your home. Don’t think you can bike or walk to work in time? Do a test run on a Saturday. Whatever is keeping you in your morning commute rut take some time to identify the issues and make a plan to change, or at least make a plan to give change a try. You’ll likely find that eco-friendly changes are easy, save you money and improve your health.
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