Archive for September, 2007
September 14th, 2007
This Week’s Low Impact Products
Not a week goes by without one of us here stumbling across a green product that really piques our interest. For some, it’s the aesthetic values – beautiful countertop made from recycled glass, for instance. For others, it might be the pure utility – a backpack that charges your cell phone!
While I love those cool countertops, and I crave the latest solar gizmo, it is the simple things that often solve two or three problems at the same time that I really get charged up about.
One that recently came across our plate is the Sink Positive system. Basically, it’s a sink that replaces the top lid of your toilet tank. Every time you flush, fresh water passes through a faucet, into the basin built into the lid, and straight into your toilet tank. So, you wash your hands with the water that will be your next flush – an incredibly simple way to reduce water use AND increase hand washing! Supposedly such systems have been used for years in Asia, but I certainly haven’t seen them here until now.
Another addresses the perceived challenges of replacing recessed lights on dimmer switches with compact fluorescents. I can’t tell you how many people have told me that the main reason they don’t use CFLs is because they can’t be used in recessed lights. Well, it’s not true. Dimmable CFLs come in reflector bulbs perfectly suited for canned lights. I have to admit, though, that many don’t dim in the nice linear fashion of incandescents – at some point they just shut off well before the dimmer is at the lowest point. Cold cathode bulbs are even better – they fully dim, are more efficient, and last longer, but they aren’t as bright at full illumination.
Now, there’s another option – LED recessed light retrofits. They snap into the opening of the can, so from the room they look built-in. Above the ceiling, they have a simple adapter that screws right into the existing socket. No rewiring necessary. They dim courtesy of an integrated dimmable power source (most LEDs don’t dim). And, they’re bright, very directional, and they look pretty cool too. They’re perfect for lighting that wall display or artwork. Most important, they use even less energy than CFLs or cold cathode bulbs, don’t have mercury, and will easily outlast your tenure in your house.
These are all more expensive than your everyday incandescent heater masquerading as a light bulb, but between the energy savings and the reduced bulb replacement costs, they all pay off in less than five years. Of course, you’ll also be reducing your carbon footprint, especially if you live in a place with dirty coal power plants (scroll to the bottom).
(side note: how do I tell what size bulb I need? The number in the description of each bulb is eigths of an inch. So, an R30 bulb is 30 x 1/8 inch = 2.75″ across. The letter is also important. R or BR in front of the number are the bulbs with the rounded face. PAR bulbs are the ones with a flatter / flush face and are often somewhat shorter. As an example, a PAR38 bulb is a flat-faced 3.75″ bulb commonly used in outdoor spotlight applications).
September 13th, 2007
Green Cars for 2008 Go Vrroooomm
For those of us who looooove cars, it’s a special time of year. It’s the new model year roll-out season! That means we can get great deals on last year’s models and we can lick our chops at the new cars coming out. And naturally we are talking about hybrids and diesels (for use with biodiesel fuel) on the horizon. Gas guzzlers are so 1992.
In 2008 there will be the ever outstanding, super high-efficiency Toyota Prius and Camry and the Honda Civic. These will still be the leaders of the hybrid auto pack. But there will also be some new additions on the green road as well.
The 2008 Hybrids Are Coming
Mazda is coming out with an all-new version of the hybrid Tribute SUV. It will come in both two and four wheel drive version. The 2WD will get 34 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway (not too shabby) and the 4WD will get 29 city/27 highway. However, the Ford Escape SUV will still beat the Tribute’s fuel economy. Click here to learn about the Tribute.
Chevy is coming out with a Hybrid Malibu that will get 24 in the city and 32 on the highway (which is not too great, really when you compare it to the Prius or Honda Civic in the 50 mpg range– but hey, what do we expect? It’s from another US car company that’s been slow to embrace fuel efficiency!) Lexus is also coming out with luxury sedan, the LS 600h L. But, like Lexus’ previous hybrids, the fuel efficiency leaves a lot to be desired: the 600 only gets 20 in the city and 22 on the highway. We’d like to see some Lexus offerings that use the hybrid technology to focus on fuel saving rather than on increased performance. Call us dreamers!
We really like the looks and efficiency of the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is really sexy–some people call it the “poor man’s G35.” And its fuel performance is impressive, getting 42 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. To learn more about the Nissan Altima Hybrid, click here.
Do you want something zippy and cute and still highly efficient? Give the MINI Cooper a thought. It’s more green than you might think. It gets 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, which means its more efficient than some of the “hybrids” these days. And starting at $18,000, it’s quite a bargain.
Why Not Make the Switch to Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a wonderful alternative to standard gas. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that is produced from vegetable oils. Biodiesel is an appealing alternative fuel because it is made from renewable resources, and it is biodegradable, non-toxic and produces lower emissions. Biodiesels also typically get much better mileage per gallon of fuel. And fortunately biodiesel fueling stations are popping up all over the country.
If you want to embrace biodiesel, why not get a great used Mercedes? Or if a new car is on your mind, Volkswagen has Jettas and Beetles and soon more models coming out in diesel versions. They are apparently already available in some states (although not yet in California, sniff sniff), so call your local VW dealer to see what models they have.
Green Car Resources to Check Out
Have you used Yahoo’s green cars site? It’s very helpful. You can find info on pretty much every hybrid, natural gas, diesel (for use with biodiesel gas), electric and green concept car under the sun. You might also want to check out the EPA’s FuelEconomy.gov site, which has excellent information on hybrids, tax incentives, and allows you to do good side-by-side car comparisons. We dig it.
Be safe and have fun on the road!
September 12th, 2007
Green Scene: Green Events Across the US
This Fall is ripe with opportunities to participate in green events. You can learn something, find like-minded people, or just have a good ole’ green time. (We go from West to East.)
Have an event you want us to list? Send it to info@lowimpactliving.com and please include “event for listing” in the title of your email.
San Francisco: West Coast Green, September 20-22, Bill Graham Auditorium
While new green events emerge every year, West Coast Green represents the largest milestone yet in the residential green building movement. Never before has a conference and expo provided access to such comprehensive state-of-the-art resources, impactful presentations, and rewarding opportunities for business development in the residential green building field. You’ll find over 250 exhibitors showcasing the latest in resource-efficiency among a stunning array of green and healthy building products. For more details visit http://www.westcoastgreen.com/
Seattle: Discover Brilliant, September 17-19, Downtown Sheraton
Discover Brilliant 2007 is an international conference and exposition celebrating brilliant innovations and approaches that generate more value, while reducing waste and negative environmental impacts. In a world driven by economics, it is not enough to just be green. This event focuses on leading ideas and the best examples of brilliant solutions in communities, businesses, buildings, utilities and transportation that are more economically valuable, environmentally sound and secure. For more information visit http://www.discoverbrilliant.com/index.php
Seattle: An Evening with Wangari Maathai, September 19, S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium at Benaroya Hall Music Center
Seattle Arts and Lectures 20th anniversary season opens with Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize 2004. In her memoir Unbowed, Maathai recounts her extraordinary journey from her childhood on a subsistence farm in Kenya to the world stage. Employing networks of the rural poor, her Green Belt Movement has planted millions of trees in Africa and simultaneously embraces democracy, human rights, and women’s rights. For tickets and information visit http://www.lectures.org/boxoffice.html
Los Angeles: Green Business Networking, October 9, The Ambrose Hotel
Providing the owners and decision-makers of socially- and environmentally-consciousness businesses a time and place for connecting, sharing, deal-making and networking. No need to RSVP - just show up and feel free to bring a friend or two. GBN takes place on the second Tuesday of every month.
Chicago: GreenBuild, November 7-9, McCormick Place West Building
This is the largest green building conference in the US this year, hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council. If designing, building, living, and working in green buildings is important to you, you’re in good company. Come join 18,000 other people who agree that green building is a good idea and good for business at the GreenBuild International Conference and Expo. At GreenBuild 2007 we’ll explore “Accelerating Green Communities” with outstanding educational sessions, exciting speakers, special events and tours, and their largest exhibit hall ever. http://www.greenbuildexpo.org/
Boulder: ECOARTS, September 14 – October 6, 2007
EcoArts is a new event, a new model, a new way of thinking bringing together people from all walks of life – to investigate the realities of climate change and celebrate the delights of a sustainable future in a conversation sparked by the arts. The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, in collaboration with EcoArts, presents “Weather Report: Art and Climate Change,” an exhibition curated by the art critic Lucy Lippard. More than 50 artists from around the U.S., many collaborating with climate change scientists, will present their work at a variety of indoor and outdoor locations in Boulder. Subject matter includes desertification, floods, changing watersheds, global warming, renewable energy, carbon profiling, reforestation, species transformation, the ozone layer, ocean acidification, soil subsidence, and renewable energy. For a full schedule visit www.ecoartsonline.org.
Houston: AIA Houston Home Tour, October 27-28
Nine architect-designed houses will be featured on the 2007 AIA Houston Home Tour, which will take place Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28 from 12:00noon – 6:00pm each day. Tickets for all 9 houses are $25.00 per person. No individual house tickets will be available. Rusty and Rame Hruska are Tour Chairmen; Michael Strickland Design Studio is the Graphic Designer. For more details visit www.aiahouston.org.
New York: Road to Energy Independence, New York City’s Alternative Transportation Future, October 5, Titanic Center for Sustainable Energy, Bronx Community College
The Center for Sustainable Energy convenes its 3rd Annual Conference on Alternative Vehicle Technology on the historic campus of Bronx Community College. Coinciding with the College’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Conference brings the best of the past together with the technology of the present on our way to a sustainable energy future. The Road to Energy Independence is a gathering of alternative vehicle policy makers and stakeholders focused on getting energy efficient vehicles on New York City’s vast network of streets and highways. This conference will bring together New York City’s alternative vehicle community to take stock of the progress made toward sustainable vehicular transport. For more details visit http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/institutionalDevelopment/cse/events.cfm?page=191
Washington, DC: GreenFest 2007, October 6-7, Washinton D.C. Convention Center
There will be 350 exhibitors, 100 speakers, and a green film festival. It will also include community action organizations, yoga and movement classes, and a career center specializing in environmental opportunities. For more details visit www.greenfestivals.org.
Atlanta: Green + Design Conference, October 1-2, Hyatt Regency, Atlanta
Green + Design is about combining green principles with utility, economy, practicality and beauty. The inaugural Green + Design Conference and Expo will be the design industry’s most comprehensive educational and trade event focusing on integrating the principles of sustainability into project designs. For more details visit http://www.greendesignexpo.com/gdcexpo/index.jsp
Across New England: Green Buildings Open House, October 6
Over 400 buildings open for tours throughout New England, NY, PA, NJ, and DE! The 2007 Green Buildings Open House, presented by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association as part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, offers a unique opportunity to see first-hand how clean renewable energy and green building practices are working for your neighbors. Homeowners and facilities managers will be available to answer questions about their experiences, and offer practical insights into the decisions, planning, and benefits of “going green.” To find open house sites near you or to register as a host site, visit www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse or email sherron@nesea.org.
Miami: Sierra Club and Beer (Miami Green Drinks), Tuesday September 18, Titantic Brewery in Coral Gables
Sierra Club and Beer is a great way to learn about environmental issues that effect Miami and South Florida residents, while having fun and getting to meet like-minded people. All are welcome, but only 21 and over will be served alcohol. Contact Mike Matthews at anakanpa@yahoo.com or Ken Smith at (305) 801-6876 for more information. For green drinks dates and locations your city visit http://www.greendrinks.org/.
September 10th, 2007
How To Tuesday: Cut Your In-Home Water Use by 50%
Energy use and global warming get a lot of attention these days (and they should!), but water conservation is an equally important environmental issue. Significant portions of the United States are facing serious water constraints and we all need to do our part to save water. Did you know that the average American household with three members uses over 300 gallons of water per day, both inside and outside?
Inside of our homes, toilets, clothes washers and showers are the largest water users, representing 20, 15 and 12 gallons per person per day respectively. By making some behavior changes, and by adding some new fixture attachments and appliances, an average water-conserving home could cut the 300 gallon daily average to less than 150 gallons with no sacrifice in comfort or performance. Let’s get to it!
How to Do It
We’ll go in order from least expensive (free!) to most costly.
1. Only run full loads of dishes and laundry. This is the most efficient from a water and energy-saving perspective.
2. Don’t hand wash your dishes or clothing. You’ll use more water that way rather than using your machines–particularly if you have newer, Energy Star machines. And you could be wasting a lot of water rinsing off your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. Most dishwashers can wash your dishes clean even if you haven’t rinsed them first.
3. Make sure to fix any leaks. Do you hear your toilet running all the time? Is there a drip, drip, drip in your tub? The water volume from these leaks will really add up over time. Leaks can account for as much as 10% of your indoor water use! These are often undetected because they are small, hidden in water fixtures, walls and basements, or happen underground. Check your water meter to see if you have any leaks (shut off all water uses in your house for an hour, and see if your meter moves).
4. Turn off your faucet while you brush your teeth, scrub your hands, and wash your face.
5. Get high efficiency shower heads. These are really amazing: you’ll still enjoy a luxurious, powerful shower stream but you will save thousands of gallons of water per person per year. You can also get a small sink-faucet attachment which works the same way and will really cut your sink water use. See our selection of shower heads and faucet attachments.
6. Get low-flow toilets. Today’s high efficiency toilets not only save water and energy, but also perform as well as their water-guzzling predecessors. You may be wasting tens of gallons a day if you live in an older house with old toilets. Many cities offer rebates on low-flow toilets, too. Make sure to check with your local power, gas and water companies because the may all offer rebates on the same product.
7. Get a recirculating water pump. Such a system can save 10 gallons of water or more per day depending on your piping layout. It will also give you hot water as soon as you turn on the tap. However, make sure you use versions with a motion or switch activator, as those with timers can increase hot water energy use. Check out the recirculating water pumps from Got Hot Water.
8. If you have some money to spend, or if it’s time for new machines, it’s a very good idea to get an Energy Star approved laundry machine and dish washer. See our selection of Energy Star appliances. These machines save a significant amount energy and water and they will save you money over the long run. There are also rebates available for these appliances, too.
See– that wasn’t so bad! You still have clean dishes, laundry, teeth and a nice hot shower. And you’ve saved over 50,000 gallons of liquid gold each year. Nice work!
September 8th, 2007
Solar Hot Water–A Great, Cheaper Option
While full-home solar PV systems are sexy right now, their price point is unattainable for most of us. While most people (including us) can’t afford the $20-30K cost of a full-home solar electric system, a solar hot water system can cost between $3-6K depending on where you live and how large your home is.
Surprisingly, the best way to capture energy from the sun is actually by using solar hot water. Solar hot water systems are over three times more efficient than solar PV systems in converting the sun’s rays into energy you can use in your house. And in many parts of the country hot water heating is the second or third biggest energy sink in your house (after heating and cooling), so this can lead to major savings.
You can check out this article from Home Power Magazine for more information.
And as always you can find solar power installers in your area by searching our nationwide green service provider listings: http://www.lowimpactliving.com/providers/Solar-Power/31.
Enjoy your sun-warmed shower!
September 8th, 2007
Eco-Travel Part 2: Green Hotels
Sometimes trends are mindless, or even downright annoying. (Beanie Babies, anyone?) And then there are the times when trends make so much sense, we wonder what took so long. One example: the hotel industry’s move toward environmental sustainability in the form of green hotels.
Hotels use massive amounts of resources. Think about it: they are generally big buildings that use a large amount of construction materials just to build, they require a lot of energy to heat and cool, and they need water for everything from laundry to bathrooms to dishwashing. According to the State of California’s Green Lodging Program, typical hotels use 218 gallons of water per day per occupied room and waste generation can be as high as 30 pounds per room per day. Then consider the energy use– the hospitality industry spends $3.7 billion a year on energy. All of these areas provide opportunities for hotels to reduce their impact on the environment.
So what can a hotel do? What makes a hotel green? Any hotel can, and should, take steps towards reducing their environmental impact. Those now-ubiquitous cards that allow you to indicate whether you need fresh sheets or towels each day are a prime example. By reusing linens, hotels not only reduce their water and energy consumption, but they also increase the efficiency of their housekeeping services– an added bonus!
LEED Rated Hotels: The Platinum Standard
The actions taken by individual hotels vary, to be sure. But fortunately now the LEED set of green building standards are being applied to certify hotels as “green”. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is designed and managed by the non-profit US Green Building Council. This system is in use for all types of buildings, including hotels.
As the nationally recognized standard for the design, construction and operation of green buildings, LEED takes a “whole-building approach” to sustainability by setting benchmarks in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
In practice, a building can be certified at one of four levels: certificate, silver, gold, or platinum. There are minimum requirements in each of the five categories, with the opportunity to accrue additional points to achieve higher ratings.
Currently, the highest rated hotel in the US is the LEED Gold-certified Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa (pictured above) in the wine country of Northern California (pictured above). Built of wood harvested from sustainable forests, the hotel also features carpets and tiles made from recycled materials, as well as solar panels for electricity generation. Compared to traditional hotels, the Gaia Napa Valley uses 26% less energy and 45% less water. The rooms even contain a copy of Al Gore’s book, An Inconvenient Truth, (in addition to the traditional Bible, of course).
There are three other LEED certified hotels in the US: The Inn & Conference Center in College Park, Maryland, the Hilton Vancouver in Washington, and The Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco (pictured at left). For those adventurous souls among us, there is also a LEED certified hotel in Dambulla, Sri Lanka: the Kandalama Hotel.
The Green Hotel Association
Hotels need not be LEED certified to have adopted green practices that can make a real difference. Many hotels have joined the Green Hotels Association. These hotels have adopted practices or technologies that reduce their impact on the environment, often well before it was common in the industry. To find green hotels across the U.S., visit our Travel & Tourism Section.
For example, Sadie Cove Lodge in Alaska, built in 1972, uses its own hydroelectric system to generate all of its own power, making it completely “off the grid”. Other hotels might use strategies that aren’t so obvious, like the use of local, native plants that require little watering, or a reflective roof that dissipates and reflects heat, reducing the “heat island” effect common in urban areas. Other green practices include using ecologically-sound cleaning products, instituting recycling and composting programs, and buying local food. The possibilities for hotels to improve on business as usual are endless!
When researching individual hotels, if you’re in doubt about a hotel’s practices, please ASK! The more guests express a desire for a green hotel, the more the industry will listen. And once you’re there, make sure to relax and enjoy your stay. That was the whole point of your trip, right?
So go ahead and book that green hotel! And tune in for our next issue, the third of this green travel series, in which we cover EcoTourism and the many eco-smart travel destinations and tours you can enjoy.
Cassie Walker, Low Impact Living, LLC
