Archive for January, 2008
January 30th, 2008
Buy Green Power from Your Utility
Stumble it!
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!
Popularity: 3% [?]
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.
Popularity: 4% [?]
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. Or, better still, learn how to make your own non-toxic cleaners. It’s also much cheaper!
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.
Related features:
What is Sustainable Cuisine?
How To Choose Sustainable Coffee
Nine Money-Saving Tips for Eating Greener
Popularity: 3% [?]
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.
Popularity: 4% [?]
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!
Popularity: 1% [?]
