October 24th, 2007

Buying Green Power from Your Local Utility

by Cassie Walker

Before 1997, utilities were monopolies that faced no competition - where you lived was the sole determinant of who provided your energy. Since then, 18 states have opened their markets to competition, and six more are on that path. In addition, 15 states require power companies to produce at least some of their energy from renewable sources, like the sun, wind, and water.

What does this mean for you, the consumer? Namely, choices. In many places you can choose to pay a bit more, usually an additional $.01 to $.03 per kilowatt hour, to have renewable energy added to the grid, replacing some of the more polluting (and finite) fossil fuels typically used to generate power. By purchasing “green power,” you also support the development of more facilities that generate electricity from renewable resources.

Specifics vary by city. We will cover New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Miami here.

New York City

According to Con Edison, if a mere 10% of the households in New York bought green power, it would prevent the release of nearly three BILLION pounds of carbon dioxide, 13 million pounds of sulfur dioxide, and nearly four million pounds of nitrogen oxides each year. That would be a major reduction in the state’s contribution to global warming.

As is common in competitive electricity markets, New York’s service is split into two parts: supply and delivery. You can select a supplier of green energy for all or part of your electricity, but Con Edison will continue to deliver it and will respond to any outages or emergencies.  

Con Edison itself offers wind power through their ConEdison Solutions program. In addition, several green power suppliers have kept it simple and arranged for their customers to receive one bill for both supply and delivery, through Con Edison. These suppliers include:       

• – Accent Energy: wind and water generated exclusively in the state of New York·         
• – Econnergy: wind power    
• – IDT Energy: blend of wind, water, solar, and biomass 

Los Angeles

Though California’s energy market is regulated, the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power (LADWP) sponsors a green power program available to both residential and business customers. In return for paying a slightly higher price for your power, you are guaranteed that your power will come from renewable sources. This sort of “green pricing” program is typical in many large municipalities in regulated states. An important point about this optional program is that your green power purchases count above and beyond commitments the LADWP has made to secure 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2010. So, you are truly helping to stimulate the construction of green energy facilities above what the LADWP already has planned.

The extra cost of $.03 per kilowatt hour is at least partially offset by the free energy efficiency products and serviced provided by LADWP when you sign up. Besides, that additional $.03 translates to only $3 per month more, based on a selection of 20% green energy and a monthly bill of $50. Currently, the fees are used to purchase small hydroelectric and wind power on the open market, as well as for the development of a new renewable energy plant in Los Angeles.

San Francisco

In San Francisco, they do things a little differently…which is why we love San Fran so much in the first place, isn’t it? Power supplier PG&E touts its accomplishments in increasing the amount of clean and renewable energy supplied to its customers – in 2006, 12% of its electricity came from renewable sources, particularly hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal. A whopping 86% came from nuclear, large hydroelectric projects, and natural gas, though these sources certainly have their drawbacks. Notably only 1% of the power is supplied through the most common source of energy in the US: coal.  PG&E also encourages and assists individuals in setting up solar systems and other means of self-generation.

But instead of offering additional green power to individuals, PG&E’s ClimateSmart™ program allows customers to offset their electricity usage. As we’ve discussed in prior articles, offsetting means that by paying a small fee you contribute to projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With ClimateSmart, PG&E calculates the dollar amount needed to “neutralize” your greenhouse gas emissions caused by your energy usage. This fee, typically less than $5 per month, is simply added to your bill and funds new emissions-reduction projects.

Chicago

Like in New York, Chicago’s power supply is split into multiple parts – in this case supply, delivery and metering. Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) will always be responsible for the delivery portion, but since they don’t offer green energy themselves, you’ll have to find a supplier that does.

Fortunately, ComEd provides a list of suppliers that have been certified to supply electricity in the area. To determine which supplier has green energy available, you’ll have to contact them individually, at least for now. It’s a bit of a hassle up front, but considering the long-term benefits, we think that it’s worth it.

In addition, make sure to take advantage of what ComEd does offer: reduced prices for compact flourescent light bulbs (CFLs). Lighting is one of the biggest users of energy in a home – CFLs use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Switching to CFLs can have a big impact in your electricity usage, and thus, your bill.

Dallas/Fort Worth

Texas, with its competitive energy market, provides choice in suppliers. In the D/FW metroplex, TXU Energy holds the lion’s share of the market. Fortunately, they offer a plan called 100% EarthWise, which provides for 100% of your power to be generated by Texas’ renewable power sources. This is a big improvement in a state where, according to TXU, 59% of the energy comes from natural gas, and another 27% from coal.

Another option comes from supplier Green Mountain. Headquartered in Austin, the company provides direct access to green energy through a combination of hydroelectric and wind sources. TXU continues to deliver the electricity, and Green Mountain customers only receive one bill. In regulated markets outside of Texas, Green Mountain also partners with utilities to offer renewable energy products to their customers.

Miami

Though Florida’s electricity remains regulated, consumers still have the ability to green their power. Florida Power and Light(FPL) has partnered with Texas’ Green Mountain to provide Sunshine Energy®, a program designed to increase the amount of solar power generated in the Sunshine State. For a flat rate of $9.75 per month, FPL will produce 1,000 kWh of green power for use in Florida and neighboring states. The fees also go towards new solar arrays to be built in Florida, including one in Sarasota that will be one of the largest arrays in the southeast.

In addition, FPL offers financial incentives for residents to install their own solar systems, and they even provide a free metering system to measure any excess energy you create. This excess energy is essentially sold back to FPL, through credits to your bill. What could be better than that?

If your city is not covered here, please look online for your local power utility and see what green power options they may offer. But please also remember that the first key for lowering your environmental impact will always be to Reduce Your Consumption. Conserve as much energy as you can by insulating your home, lowering your thermostat in the winter, and installing compact fluorescent light bulbs. Making these changes will save energy, slow the pace of global warming and save you money.

October 23rd, 2007

How To Tuesday: Get Your Garden Ready For Winter

by Jason Pelletier, Low Impact Living

Preparing Your Garden For Winter

Fall is a critical time for lawn and garden care - if you live in a cold climate, then it’s time to prepare your plants for the difficult winter season, while if you live in warmer (or western) areas, it’s the best time to start planting for next year. Unfortunately, there’s often much waste and damage done during this time as well - leaves bagged and hauled off to the dump or burned in the back yard and fertilizer applied just in time for winter storms to wash it off are a couple of examples. So, we’ll offer a few how-to tips that will keep your garden healthy and lower your impact on the environment.

- Use your leaves for mulch. If you’re lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall, then you’re also unlucky to have to clean them up once they’ve fallen! Leaves left on the ground can harm your lawn and gardens. Not only can they smother plants below them and cause plant disease, but they also serve as a great place for rodents and pests to nest comfortably once it gets cold. The best answer, though, is not to cart them off to the dump or burn them. Those leaves can perform a valuable service, insulating your most delicate plants during the long harsh winter and providing nutrients in the spring. So, collect them after the first frost, grind them up with a leaf grinder or lawnmower, and then cover your vegetable and flower gardens and shrub areas in a 6-12 inch layer of leaf mulch.

- Start a compost pile. Do you have leaves left over after mulching, or have some trimming from your perennial plant pruning? Don’t throw them out but instead put them in a compost pile. Build your own using stakes and chickenwire, or use this simple version as an easier alternative. You’ll have a great load of compost waiting for your spring planting.

- Redirect landscape lighting. Did you know that landscape lighting can actually harm your plants before winter? Those bright lights can “trick” your plants into delaying the transformations that prepare them for winter such as dropping their leaves. So, make sure your brighter lights aren’t pointed directly at deciduous trees or shrubs. Better yet, turn off all but pathway and accent lighting - you won’t be spending as much time outside anyway, and you’ll save energy to boot!

- Water plants deeply one or two more times. Surprisingly, your plants can use a good dose of water before winter sets in. Trees or plants stressed by drought conditions are better able to fend off freezing temperatures if they’ve had a good dousing with water. As with all plant watering, it’s better to water very deeply with less frequency. You’ll help your plants build deeper roots that make them more drought-tolerant and stronger, and you’ll also be helping them survive those brutal cold snaps.

- What about fertilizer? Many people also fertilize their lawns in the fall. There are two things to look out for here. One, you might actually be hurting your lawn by helping it grow faster when it should be shutting down. So, if you are going to fertilize, make sure your turf grass is a cool-season variety (fescue, ryegrass, bluegrass) that should be growing in the fall / winter months. If it’s Bermuda, Bahia or another warm season variety, hold off on the fertilizer and wait until next summer. Second, make sure you use lower strength organic fertilizers according to the directions. The worst thing of all is when that large dose of lawn fertilizer is washed off by that first big storm, especially if it’s a high-strength chemical or steer manure fertilizer (yuck!). You might not be in the river or ocean this time of year, but our animal friends still are.

- Reset / turn off irrigation controllers after the first rain. In the winter, even in warmer climates, irrigation needs go way down. Plants use less water, there’s more rain, and evaporation drops with the reduced daylight. So, don’t forget to adjust or even shut off your irrigation controller. Most controllers have a seasonal setting that makes changing your program a one-click operation - use it!

- Last but not least, if you live in most parts of the country, fall is a great time to plant new plants. We hope you’ll consider plants native to your area. They only need the water and nutrition that your local climate and soils provide, wildlife loves them, and they can be stunningly beautiful and different from the more common non-native plants on your block. For some help, check out our selection of regional landscaping books here. Or, consider planting some of the bulbs described in this article from Sunset Magazine for some beautiful springtime color.

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful and take the opportunity to enjoy some outside time before the truly cold weather sets in!

October 22nd, 2007

Is Your Furnace Ready For Winter?

by Jason Pelletier, Low Impact Living

As cold weather approaches, we’re going to start helping you understand how to prepare your home and yard for the winter season.

To start, we’ll cover a couple of relatively easy tips to make sure your furnace is operating in tip top shape. Two simple projects, replacing or cleaning your furnace filter and having your furnace maintained by professionals, can shave 20% from your heating bills this winter. This is no small savings - if you heat with natural gas, you can save $300 or more this winter and keep two tons of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. If you heat with oil, the savings are even greater - $400 or more and 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide.

Inspect and Replace That Dirty Filter

So, first things first - your furnace filter has been sitting in place all summer and perhaps getting used if you have a central air conditioner, so take it out and inspect it. In general, furnace filters should be replaced at least every three months if not more often during the heating / cooling seasons. If your filter is located in the furnace unit itself, make sure you shut off the power at your circuit breaker before doing anything for safety reasons. The filter should be relatively clean and free of dust and debris.

If it isn’t, then it’s time for a new one.  Make sure you measure the filter before you go to the store or buy one online.  They come in many different sizes that can be confusing if you aren’t completely sure. Look for pleated filters that have a MERV rating (a measure of filter efficiency) of eight or higher. They may be more expensive, but they’ll more than pay for themselves through less wear and tear on your furnace and through healthier air and less sickness / allergies for your family. We have used and can recommend Filtrete filters from 3M and EZ-Pleat filters from Filterra. When you replace the filter, make sure that the arrows on the filter point in the direction of air flow.

If you go this route, make sure you keep up with your filters and stick to your monthly inspections. These high-efficiency filters work very well when clean, but if they get plugged they block airflow and your heating bills may rise as a result! 

If you happen to have a reusable filter, clean it every month or so. Make sure it is completely dry before you put it back in. Otherwise it can lead to mold in your ductwork - a very unpleasant situation!

Furnace Maintenance - A Job For a Pro 

It also pays to have your furnace maintained, especially if you haven’t done it in awhile. This is usually a professional job, as the wrong moves can be dangerous to you and can damage your furnace. A heating professional will check for many common problems, from making sure your furnace ignites properly to checking the seals where your furnace is attached to ductwork to inspecting the blower compartment for debris. He/she will also clean the burners and possibly lubricate the bearings in the blower motor. Last, they will make sure your furnace is burning cleanly by monitoring the levels of carbon monoxide. To find local HVAC contractors in your area, click here. The DIY Network has a good step-by-step description of the process.

All told, the furnace inspection and cleaning will probably set you back about $100 - $200, depending on where you live and the complexity of your system. This may sound steep, but you’ll generally earn this money back in better performance within the year. And, you can sleep comfortably on those cold winter nights knowing that your system is safe, healthy, and contributing less to global warming!

October 19th, 2007

Beep Beep: Alt-Car Expo in Santa Monica This Weekend

by Jessica Jensen

What are you doing this weekend? Sleeping in, reading the paper and trying to avoid running errands to pick up toilet paper and toothpaste?

NO– you’re going to the fabulous Alt-Car Expo!

This is the show where you can see what is at the cutting edge of eco-friendly and just plain wacky automotive design. There will be more than 150 exhibits on vehicles and transportation technologies–including electric, natural gas, biodiesel, hydrogen, ethanol, propane, hybrid and other zany stuff!  We went last year and it was amazing. If you like cars, you will love it.

Alt-Car Expo is at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica on the 19th and 20th from 10AM to 5:30PM. Admission is FREE FREE FREE. Did I mention it’s free?

To learn more please go the Alt-Car website by clicking here.

October 18th, 2007

Eco-Fashion: Go Vintage, Dahling

by Monica Schenk

Fashion and the fight to end global warming do mix and the evidence is mounting. Many green fashion boutiques have opened shop online, like The Green Loop, BTC Elements and Kaight.  Eco-fashion designers like Linda Loudermilk and Amanda Shi are showing collections in New York and Los Angeles, while online periodicals dedicated to sustainable style like SASS and Style Will Save Us are helping us stay abreast of the latest trends in green fashion.

We didn’t think it appropriate to mention eco-fashion without a nod to vintage, which has never been so “in”. Movie stars and fashionistas are wearing vintage like a badge of honor, because it’s a great way guarantee a truly unique ensemble. Retro 1980’s Gucci bags and 1960’s dresses by Givenchy have a certain something that you just can’t find in a new purchase - and it’s not just the zero impact. Indeed these are high-style-impact/low-environmental-impact masterpieces.

Many of today’s hottest fashion trends are inspired by previous generations, so staying ahead of the latest craze is one of the best ways to score a vintage treasure at your local thrift shop. Mini-dresses, high-waisted pants and short shorts did not originate post-millennium. You can do homework at your local library, where late issue fashion periodicals like Vogue and Harper’s Baazar can be read without adding another mag to your recycling bin.

Websites like eBay and Hooked On Vintage make the internet a low-carbon way to find vintage clothing. (How about a gorgeous vintage tux, you green guys?? Hooked on Vintage has lots!) If you prefer to touch, feel and try-on clothing you can visit vintage retail stores like The Paperbag Princess or The Way We Wore.  You can also find local thrift stores by going to www.thriftshopper.com.

If you have a favorite store near you, please share it will all of us in the comments section!

October 17th, 2007

Low-Impact Lounging: Green Furniture is So Groovy

by Jessica Jensen

What is the most popular product category here at Low Impact Living? Okay, no fair, you got a hint from the title of this article. Yes, it’s eco-friendly furniture! We all to look at furniture, don’t we? In this newsletter we want to show you some of the amazing green furniture designs and craftspeople we have come across in the last few months. Take a seat and feast your eyes!

We did a newsletter last year on the environmental impacts of furniture (shocking, really) and on how you should really seek to refurbish and reuse your existing furniture, or buy used furniture whenever possible. So please if you did not see that article, go back and give it a read. But in this article we will be highlighting new, sustainable furniture.

And what exactly do we mean by “sustainable furniture,” pray tell?

Basically we’re looking for furniture made from recycled, reclaimed and/or renewable materials. We also want furniture that does not contain harmful chemicals which off-gas and lower our indoor air quality. So here are the types of factors we look for:

• - Woods that are certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or are reclaimed or come from a rapidly-renewable source such as bamboo;
• - Metals that are recycled or reclaimed (like recycled steel or copper, or metal fittings that have been reused from other pieces);
• - Paints, stains and finishes that contain low or no volatile organic compounds (aka VOCs). Good, VOC-free options include such items as natural shellac, beeswax, and milk paint;
• - Reduced use of glues, sealants and no formaldehyde;
• - Natural fabrics such as organic cotton and wool, and recycled fabric content and toxin-free upholstery;
• - Natural latex foam;
• - Use of materials that can be recycled in the future;
• - Minimal packaging;
• - Local manufacturing, which saves fuel and the associated emissions.

So keeping those factors in mind, we have selected a range of companies that are making some glorious sustainable furniture– from the very modern to the more traditional. They are all eco-friendly, healthy for your home and family, and will bring you years of green enjoyment.

Whyr’hymer Furniture

Brandon Morrison designs and builds beautiful Whyr’hymer Furniture with absolute comfort in mind. He believes that what is inviting to touch and feel should be inviting to use. And the furniture is absolutely gorgeous– rich, sturdy beds, tables and amazingly creative light fixtures. Morrison uses only certified, reclaimed or plantation-grown hardwoods in all of his work, as well as natural oil and wax finishes.

And if you mention Low Impact Living, Brandon will give you a 15% discount. Quite nice of him, no? 

Urban Woods

Another furniture line we adore is by Urban Woods.They strive to improve the environment not only by creating beautiful, beneficial furniture but by doing so in a manner which actually improves the environment. Their new collection is eco-contemporary and includes timeless designs. The furniture has sleek lines and rich finishes that fit seamlessly into today’s home environment. This collection is made exclusively of reclaimed woods, organic cottons, and water-based finishes.

If you saw the recent episode of Living With Ed titled “Helen Hunt Gets a Green Audit” (aired on October 15), then you couldn’t help but notice the beautiful furniture that Shayna Prunier of Low Impact Living helped the Sharp family pick out for their green bedroom makeover. Well, that furniture came from the workshop of Urban Woods, and there’s plenty more where that came from!

Put Some Cisco Home in Your Home

We also love the work of Cisco Home.(Also see the photo at the top of this piece.) Cisco Home founder Cisco Pinedo is proud to be a part of a cultural evolution toward a sustainable future by producing custom, fully upholstered, hand-made furniture.  Cisco Home has been making furniture in Los Angles since 1990. The company embraces the use of natural, pure materials, such as wool batting, hemp, jute, cotton, and FSC Certified and reclaimed hardwoods. Take a look and we’ll sure you’ll agreen that their furniture is elegant and highly eco-friendly. You can find Cisco Home products in New York at ABC Home and in California at their own line of stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pasadena and Laguna Niguel.

Looking for sustainable home office furniture? Let us tell you what’s Knú

We recently found Knú at the West Coast Green show, and we Knú we loved them immediately. The fine Midwesterners at Knú Furniture make wonderfully modern, useful desks, bookcases, cabinets and more. Knú is a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council and they use FSC wood.

Organo

You may have heard of Kirei board, but you may not have heard of Organo. Organo is a line of sustainable home furnishings that relies on heavy incorporation of Kirei board– an amazing material made of reclaimed agricultural fibers and compressed into a gorgeous alternative to wood. Organo also uses sustainably harvested woods, recycled steel and non-VOC finishes to create their functional, unique and inviting tables, mirrors, frames and other eco-home accessories.

Kiddies need groovy green furniture, too

Have you seen the adorable furniture from Lilipad Studio? Well if you haven’t it will brighten your day and put a silly smile on your face.  This is a line of eco-friendly, hand-crafted, hand-painted furniture for kids.  They do little chairs, tables, foot stools and beds. The designs are bright and cheerful and you and your kids will love their designs!

And remember that ,we have many more sustainable furniture selections in the furniture section of our site, so please be sure to take a look!