Archive for January, 2008
January 30th, 2008
Buy Green Power from Your Utility
Every once in a while we stumble upon something so good from the US Government that we’re amazed that so few people know about it! If you are not yet aware of the fact that you can buy green power from many utility companies around the US, now is the time to check it out. Many utilities are now offering their customers the opportunity to pay a small extra fee (like a few bucks a month) to subsidize renewable power generation.
The US. Department of Energy has created the Green Power Network to help support adoption of renewable power across the country. They have created a very handy map feature on their site that allows you to search for green power programs by state. You simply click on your state, look for your local utility company, and they quote the source of the renewable power and the rates.
For example, Austin Energy in Texas offers the GreenChoice program where you can buy wind power for the small premium of 1.85 cents/kWh. In Los Angeles, the Department of Water and Powe will sell you green power for a premium of 3 cents/kWh. In Florida, the Tampa Electric Company offers green power at a 2.5 cents/kWh. There are options like this all over the country.
So click on the link above and find the green power options nearest you!
January 30th, 2008
Disposing of Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Many of you out there seem very spooked by compact fluorescent bulbs. We have received numerous emails from people saying “CF bulbs contain mercury– we should not use them!” or “How can I get rid of my CFs safely!??!” You are right to be concerned, but we do want to say that you absolutely should use CF bulbs and they can be disposed of safely.
Why Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Are Worth Getting
Compact fluorescent bulbs are overall wonderful and you should use them. These bulbs use roughly 1/4 the electricity of normal bulbs and they can last up to 10 times longer. Using CF bulbs will reduce your power bills and also lower your contribution to global warming. So get them! (You can get them here.)
Mercury Content
CFs do contain mercury. A very, very small amount of mercury. According to the EPA, they contain an average of 5 milligrams sealed within the glass tubing. Older thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury, so one thermometer is equivalent to 100 CF bulbs! Don’t let the mercury spook you– if you learn how to deal with it, you’ll be fine.
What do I do with a broken CF bulb?
If a CF light bulb breaks in your home, you do need to be careful because of the mercury. You don’t want to breathe the mercury, nor do you want to handle it with your bare hands. Open the windows and air out the room for 15+ minutes. Then read these instructions from the EPA.
What do I do with a CF bulb that has burned out?
You do need to dispose of CF bulbs with care. To transport your burned-out bulbs, put them in a plastic bag and seal the bag. (That way if the bulb breaks the mercury is sealed inside the bag.) States and cities deal with CF bulb disposal differently, so you need to check for your local rules and sites. Please click here to search the EPA’s mercury-containing bulb recycling outlets. Or, if you don’t find a place near you there, please try searching by your zip code at Earth911.org.
Now please go ahead and get those CF lights! The planet will thank you.
January 28th, 2008
How To Tuesday: Green Grocery Shopping
When you think about it, we support a pretty huge amount of environmental destruction when we shop at our local grocery store. We burn fuel getting there, we buy things wrapped in plastic shipped from all over the world, we create a steady stream of trash after we have consumed the items we bought– hey we may even bring home some toxic chemicals to spray around our homes! So there are plenty of ways in which we can all learn to reduce the environmental impact of our grocery shopping, and make ourselves healthier in the process. Here are 10 ways to get started.
1. When possible, go to your local farmer’s market rather than the big chain store. The farmer’s market offers primarily local produce, which means you won’t be buying blueberries shipped from Chile. And you can almost always find organic items, which means you are supporting chemical-free agriculture– that’s better for the Earth and for your health. Find a farmer’s market near you using the excellent site Local Harvet.org.
2. Buy as few things in plastic as possible– opt for metal or glass containers whenever you can. Plastic is made from a non-renewable resource (petroleum) and is often not fully recyclable (depending on where you live). Metal and glass, however, can be fully recycled almost everywhere.
3. Buy in bulk. Can you buy a big box of raisins rather than a lot of little boxes? Can you buy multiple servings of chicken and freeze some rather than buying lots of single servings? Remember that lots of little packages typically means lots of paper and plastic.
4. No surprise, bring your own shopping bags. To the question “Paper or plastic?” say “Neither.” Find reusable bags here.
5. Don’t use the plastic baggies for produce either– you can get great reusable mesh sacks for your greens. See them here.
6. When possible, buy organic and locally-sourced items. If you can’t get everything you need at a farmer’s market (most of us can’t), then try to do some reading at the grocery store. Can you buy food from your state rather than from across the globe? That means less fuel has been used to get it to you and less carbon has gone into the atmosphere. If your store doesn’t carry these items, tell them you want them to!
7. Buy less meat. Raising livestock is an incredibly resource-intensive process, and it also accounts for a very large part of our carbon emissions problem. To learn more about this issue review this United Nations report. Embracing a more veggie-focused diet is better for the environment and better for you health.
8. Cut down on disposables. Can you use a dish cloth rather than paper towels? What about cloth napkins? Do you really need to get paper plates for that BBQ? How about using a damp mop rather than a Swiffer?
9. Don’t buy toxic air fresheners and home cleaners. Do your family a favor and don’t poison them with chemicals. Find greener cleaners here.
10. Finally, any chance you could walk or take your bike to the store? If so, you get a big green star! And an excuse to eat an extra cookie.
Do you have other ideas? Please share them in the comments section.
January 27th, 2008
Rammed Earth: Timeless Green Building
Rammed earth may be one of the oldest building technologies on earth–and it happens to be an outstanding green building technique. The technique originated in dry climates where wood was often not plentiful. The resulting structures are incredibly beautiful, durable and environmentally sustainable. We’ll explain what rammed earth building is, why it is green, and show you some great examples of residential rammed earth architecture.
How Are They Made?
Rammed earth building, also known as pise de terre, involves using a damp mixture of dirt, clay sand, and gravel to create the structure of the building. Traditionally lime was often added to the mixture as a stabilizing element, but today cement is typically used. The builder creates a wooden form for the walls, and then adds the earth mixture into the frame. Typically the walls are 5 to 12 inches thick. The moist mixture is compressed– or “rammed”– into the frame by a tamper. After a load of material is rammed, then more of the damp mix is added and it is compressed again. This process is repeated until the wall reaches the appropriate height. The frames are then removed and the walls are left to dry or “cure.” The walls need to dry in warm weather for several days– but full curing can take up to two years. After the curing process is complete, the structure is as strong as if it were built of rock.
What Makes Rammed Earth Green?
Rammed Earth is considered a good green building technique for several reasons. First, the main ingredient–earth– is readily found close to the place where the building is to be constructed. Thus building the home does not require importing or transporting large amounts of building materials. Second, the use of earth for the structure means that very little wood is needed for the building, which is good as wood is a scarce resource. The forms used to build the structure are often made of wood, but these forms can be used again on another project. Third, rammed earth structures have great “thermal mass” which means that they keep indoor temperatures relatively stable; this reduces the need for excessive heating and/or cooling. Fourth, rammed earth structures are naturally fire-retardant. As an extra bonus, they are also bug-resistant. All told, rammed earth homes are built from natural, local materials and have excellent energy-efficiency properties, making them solid examples of green building. (And the striations of the layers of earth make them uniquely attractive as well.)
What Do They Look Like? Who Builds Them?
There are several firms that specialize in rammed-earth design and building. Not surprisingly many of them are located in the Southwestern United States, where adobe building has been used for thousands of years.
Soledad Canyon Earth Builders is based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They design custom rammed earth and adobe homes for their clients (they also do traditional frame/stucco designs). The homes they design have a distinctly Southwestern flair and they are gorgeous. They also factor in passive solar and natural breeze capture into their designs. Be sure to check out their photo gallery.
Rammed Earth Solar Homes, based in Oracle, Arizona, also has a stunning portfolio of residences. They build rammed earth homes, offices, and gardens. They lead builder, Quentin Branch, is available to consult with architects on projects as well. They also teach “Rammit Yourself” courses is you’re interested in building your own structure.
If you happen to be in or near Canada, Terra Firma Builders builds spectacular rammed earth homes up North. They employ a more modern aesthetic– and to beautiful effect. They are also winners of Western Living Magazine’s Residential Design Awards overall prize for Best Environmental Design in the small, medium and large home categories.
January 25th, 2008
Guerrilla Gardeners – Eat Your Heart Out
Growing organic food in your back yard is the most environmentally sustainable way to source fresh, affordable and delicious produce. With a little time and ingenuity, almost any urban, suburban or rural patch of land can supply food. Environmental activists have illustrated this point for decades through guerilla gardening, planting unwanted gardens on vacant public and private land.
I recently met three clever young women in Los Angeles who found a way to promote urban agriculture - without offending the law. Sara Carnochan, Kathleen Redmond and Megan Bomba are founders of Heart Beet Gardening, a garden service that promotes food security, urban agriculture and seed preservation. They design, build and maintain organic vegetable gardens for busy, earth-friendly clients in the Los Angeles area.
Back yard gardens liberate Heart Beet customers from commercial food systems and give them easy access to healthy, non-GMO, pesticide-free produce. If that was not enough, these do-good entrepreneurs promote bio-diversity by helping clients exchange seed varieties and they pick-up kitchen scraps once a week for members of their Compost Co-op.
We hope Heart Beet Gardening has big plans, as I have visions of franchises planting organic gardens in every major U.S. city. If you know of a similar service in another metropolitan area, please support urban agriculture and tell us about it!
January 23rd, 2008
Green Events: Late Winter 2008
If your New Year’s resolution involves green professional development, then this schedule of events is for you. We found eco trade shows for fashionistas, journalists, product manufacturers, builders and energy professionals. For those who resolved to work less, we thought you might enjoy contemplating spring flowers and summer vegetables at garden events and workshops in Illinois, California, and Florida. Prefer to stay out of the cold and rain? Take a free online Introduction to Organic Gardening course from award winning garden author, Doug Green, at www.simplegiftsfarm.com
**Do you have a green event coming up? Please let us know by emailing info@lowimpactliving.com.
New York, NY – Greener Gadgets Conference, February 1st, 2008
Greener Gadgets is a one day conference featuring key representatives from some of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world, innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups focused on renewable energy, and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech. For more information go to www.greenergadgets.com
Las Vegas, NV – ECO Wholesale Trade Show, February 11-14, 2008
The show is meant to connect green and conventional buyers with eco and health suppliers and to explain to conventional retailers why to go green…in an extraordinarily fashionable way! The Global ECO Trade Show is a one-of-a-kind wholesale show, focused on earth-friendly fashionable clothing designs, sustainable textiles, eco products and green information.Venetian Hotel, Marco Polo Ballroom, Las Vegas, NV. For more information visit www.globalecoshow.com
Los Angeles, CA - Green Drinks, hosted at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, February 21
Green Drinks is a wonderful organization and the Los Angeles Green Drinks for February will be held this month at the gorgeous new store of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. This is a great event to attend to meet other people in the green community in LA. It starts at 7PM and goes until 10PM. To RSVP please call 866-671-9663 or email doneill@wideplankflooring.com. The location of the store is 405 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048.
Caledonia, IL - Planning Your Organic Garden Workshop, February 23, 2008
Lift the winter blues in this workshop on designing an organically managed home vegetable garden. We’ll talk about various methods for building soil, plus planning for space needs and crop rotation. Especially for beginning gardeners, or those ready to convert to non-chemical techniques. Bring your dreams for this year’s garden, and leave with a garden map and planting calendar. We’ll share a potluck lunch. Please pre-register (815) 389-8455 or visit: www.learngrowconnect.org/node/366.
New York, NY– Green Products Expo, A Media Only Event, February 28, 2008
Be a part of the Green Products Expo and introduce your products to the top consumer, trade, TV and newspaper editors. The tabletop show will be limited to 50 exhibitors. The show is designed for media and exhibitors to have conversations about products and trends in the marketplace. Editors such as Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, Men’s Health, Family Circle,and others could attend. Where: Marriott Marquis in Times Square. For more information visit: www.greenproductsexpo.com
Davis, CA – Green Home and Garden Show, March 15-16, 2008
Get ready for the most anticipated home and garden show in the Sacramento Valley. Not only will this show feature over 230 exhibitors with everything for your home and garden, but this spring event will also focus on “green” solutions, ideas and companies to help you in your home and garden. Thousands of items will be featured including: outdoor barbeque islands, carpet, pottery, statuary, plants, landscape supplies, painting services, windows, doors, garbage cabinets, closet organizers, recreational vehicles, cookware, kitchen knives, hot tubs, saunas, pool tables, art, watercolors, photography, flooring, concrete overlays, getaways and vacations, patio covers, awnings, pest control, contractor referral services, countertops, floors, roofs, ceilings, building supplies, rental companies, and the newest and latest gadgets to make your project around the house easier. For more details visit: http://www.davishomeshow.com/
Anaheim, CA – Natural Products Expo West, March 13-16, 2008
Natural Products Expo West, the largest natural and organic trade show, brings you a World of Goods – thousands of new products, cutting-edge trends, engaging speakers, informative seminars and endless networking opportunities. Get face-to- face with more than 2,800 exhibitors, sample tons of new products and explore new ideas and information, all designed to help you get ahead. Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA92802. For more information visit: www.expowest.com
Austin, TX– Globalcon, March 19-20, 2008
Globalcon 2008, presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, is designed specifically to facilitate those who need to get up to speed on the latest developments in the energy field, explore promising new technologies, compare energy supply options, and learn about innovative and cost-conscious project implementation strategies.The multi-track conference covers a variety of topics, and gives you the opportunity to hear first-hand from some of the major players in the energy field. The Globalcon Expo will emphasize four critical areas of leading edge technology and related services: HVAC and Smart Building Systems; Renewable & Alternative Energy / Onsite Generation; Lighting Efficiency; Plant and Facilities Management. For more information visit:www.globalconevent.com
Sarasota, FL – Green Roofs and Living Walls Seminar, March 22-23, 2008
The seminar is designed to clarify the definition of the term “green” and to inform homeowners and others about the rapidly expanding array of green products and efficient home and garden related systems available for the residents of West Coast Florida. Those interested in reducing their own environmental impact on our community and the world should not miss this opportunity to learn how to save money, and substantially reduce their reliance on energy, water, and potentially harmful or polluting chemicals. Subjects to be addressed by experts include: smart landscapes, green roof systems, green building construction, high efficiency design, local resources and products that promote efficient resource use, healthy homes, local incentives, rebates, and the certification process to make it green Many of the products and services described by seminar speakers will be on display, some available without charge. Time will be allowed for attendees to ask questions during a wrap-up panel discussion. Seminar admission is $25 per person. Bring your own lunch or purchase lunch for an additional $10. Attendees will receive a 10% discount at the gift shop and one free general admission pass to visit the Gardens again at a later date, valued at $12. Those interested may register by calling 941-366-5731, extension 239. For further information call Donna Krabill at 941-366-5731, extension 237.
Portland, OR – Energy Trust Better Living Show, March, 28-30, 2008
A reinvention of the consumer show in a city whose favorite color is clearly green. The Energy Trust Better Living Show is a three-day festival that provides an entertaining setting to explore sustainable choices for your home, garden and life. The event will feature companies and organizations with products and services in eight core areas: lifestyle, food and beverage, transportation, conservation, home and garden, eco adventure, clean tech, and recycling. The Better Living Show is here to celebrate what people and businesses are doing right and encourage everyone to improve life today for a positive impact on tomorrow. There will be thousands of earth-friendly products and services, local and organic foods, workshops, music, activities for kids and much more. For more information, go to www.betterlivingshow.org
