Archive for June, 2008
June 30th, 2008
8 Ways to Green Your Independence Day!
Written by Trey Granger, courtesy of Earth911.org
The Fourth of July: summer’s most famous holiday. Fireworks, barbecues and a day off to enjoy the sunshine. But can you make America’s birthday Earth Day as well? Here’s eight steps for an eco-friendly Fourth.
1. Celebrate Outdoors
Whether you’re traveling for the three-day weekend (the Fourth is on Friday this year) or celebrating at home with family, have an outdoor celebration to minimize energy use. Better yet, check out a large gathering nearby where your personal energy use will be negligible.
2. Drink Lots of Water . . . In Large Containers
Depending on where you live, temperatures could reach triple digits on Independence Day. It’s important to stay hydrated, but plan ahead. Buy a reusable container to fill with water for your family so you won’t be buying and disposing of individual water bottles. You can also refill these containers at drinking fountains.
3. Know Before You Go
The beach may be a popular spot for your Independence Day getaway, but make sure it’s open before you head out. Use Earth 911’s sister site Beaches911.com to monitor the beach closures in your area. This will save you gas on a potential drive down the coast just to picnic in the parking lot.
4. BBQ With Propane
Wood and charcoal may seem like more natural fuel sources, but propane burns cleaner. You’ll get less smoke and you’ll have less of a challenge keeping a fire going. Make sure that you refill or recycle your propane tank once it’s empty using Earth 911.
5. Reuse Plates and Cups
If you’re celebrating at home, just use normal tableware and napkins that can be washed. At an outside celebration, pack up your disposable cups and plates and rinse them off when you get home. You can use the same set again next year, or recycle them.
6. Eco-Friendly Fireworks
Naturally something that explodes, creates lots of light and leaves a cloud of smoke also comes with pollution. Fireworks also release heavy metals like lead into the air. Of course, a Fourth of July without fireworks seems unnatural, but if you do put on a backyard show look for fireworks rich in nitrogen. These may cost a little more, but you’ll have less smoke.
7. Be Pet Cautious
Believe it or not, dog and cat ears are not made for the loud noises of fireworks. If your pets hear these noises, they might go running off. Then you’ll be using unnecessary paper for lost flyers.
If you live near a fireworks show, make sure your pets are shielded from the sound. If you lose a pet this July 4, visit Earth 911’s sister site PETS911.com to help find it.
8. July 5 is Cleanup Day
Independence Day events will produce lots of trash, much of which could probably be recycled. Head over to a nearby area this Saturday that held a July 4th celebration and pick-up some of the inevitable litter.
This story is part of Earth 911’s “Green Eight” series, where we showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas. Click here to see Earth 911’s “Green Eight” archive.
June 29th, 2008
Wall-E: Robotic Ode to Environmental Protection
As I waited in line on opening night on Friday to see Wall-E, I thought it would be something of a robotic version of Nemo. Having loved Nemo, I was excited to detach from my work-week stress load and calmly watch the movie.
Little did I know I was in for one of the most moving, gorgeous, and dare I say “important” movie experiences I have had for a long, long while. This movie is a blatant and powerful indictment of our environmental destruction, and it is also a completely entertaining and warm love story. I humbly encourage everyone to see it.
**While this will be a glowing review, please scroll down to read my two complaints about the film as well.
Wall-E is the last remaining trash-collecting robot left on an abandoned planet Earth. He roams the smoggy, trash-covered landscape of our destroyed planet, crushing refuse and hanging out with his only friend, a plucky cockroach. But Wall-E has a video of Hello Dolly that he watches on endless loop, and he longs for something more: singing, dancing, and inter-personal (or inter-machine) contact. In short, he is love-sick.
Where have all the humans gone? We learn that they were forced to flee their dying planet over 700 years ago in a huge space-craft called The Axiom. On the ship they have become obese, immobile blob-beings who can only sit in their spaceship deck chairs and consume what is shown to them on their personal video monitors. The scenes on the Axiom are scarily reminiscent of present-day Las Vegas: the over-fed humans are detached from their daily cares and are free to sit on their backsides, consume, and be constantly entertained.
I won’t spoil the plot for you, but let’s just say that a beguiling robot named Eve comes from the Axiom down to Earth in search of life forms. She and Wall-E meet and indeed find a little sprout of a plant growing in an old boot. Life blooms on Earth, love blooms for Wall-E and Eve, and great changes befall the humans quietly sipping their smoothies on the Axiom.
But I do have two beefs with Wall-E:
+ Why did Pixar pass up the opportunity to help people learn what they can do to become better stewards of the planet?? The movie is an inspirational environmental call to action, and yet there is no mention of HOW or WHERE people can learn to cut carbon emissions, save water, reduce their trash production, etc. Why didn’t Pixar put up a simple screen with “ten recommendations for loving planet Earth” at the end of the film– or a link to a site with educational information? It pains me that MILLIONS of people will see this movie and learn nothing about what they can do to save the planet!
+ I also find the message at the end of the film a bit troubling. The humans return to Earth and it seems as if everything will just be hunky-dory. Yes they have some clean up to do, but it won’t be that bad. I was sad to see that Pixar took this easy out; we don’t need to be telling Americans that our environmental practices can be swept away with some kind of simple big broom.
Please share your comments on what you thought of the movie!
June 29th, 2008
NAU You Can Save Big on Eco-Friendly Fashion
Cutting-edge sustainable fashion design house Nau sadly announced over a month ago that they were closing their doors. Those of us in the green community were shocked and saddened. To learn more about this store, click here. To learn more about Nau’s commitment to sustainability, click here.
But NAU they’re open again– hurray!
They’ve been bought by apparel company Horny Toad, and they are relaunching the Nau brand. But here’s the great news– all current Nau clothing is 50% off through July! Click here to shop Nau now.
June 27th, 2008
The Bottom Line: Green Home Upgrades & Home Values
With many cities experiencing a real estate “slump”, homeowners around the country are looking for ways to stand out from the slew of homes on the market, while improving their home’s resale value. Other homeowners are planning for the future: a future of ever-rising energy prices.
Regardless of your situation, you may be asking yourself if green home improvements increase the home’s value. The answer isn’t as straight-forward as some might hope.
The old rules still apply…
Before we dive in, there are a few things to consider when thinking about making home improvements – green or not. First, remember the three rules of real estate: location, location, location. The return on your investment will depend on the value of your house and others in the neighborhood, as well as your local housing market. Other factors like the quality of the workmanship, and how soon you move after making the improvements weigh in as well.
One man’s treasure…
That said, there are actually two different values to consider when judging the return on home improvements, according to Dr. Harold Hunt, a research economist at the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University: value in use and value in exchange.
To explain these concepts, let’s use a little story. Ted owns a home, but is looking to move soon. Ted is concerned about climate change. After some research, Ted decides to make a few eco-friendly improvements around his home that will increase its resale value, including a new energy-efficient air conditioning system and installing bamboo floors. This is exciting to Ted. He looks forward to bragging about going green to all of his friends, and selling the house at a premium.
Bill is looking to buy a house. Bill wants to get the best deal that he can on a new home, closer to work. When Bill sees Ted’s house, he is excited – with high energy costs, the new air conditioning system will save him money. Bill looks forward to seeing how much smaller his energy bills will be in his new home. Oh, and the new floors look nice, too.
OK, back to reality! Ted provides a very good example of value in use. His satisfaction in the green improvements can be measured in both monetary terms (saving money on energy) and non-monetary terms (reducing his impact by using bamboo versus hardwood flooring, and bragging to his friends). Unfortunately, Bill may not value the non-monetary rewards enough to pay a premium for them, illustrating value in exchange.
So how does Bill and Ted’s adventure apply to you? If you’re not planning on moving any time soon, invest in changes are eco-friendly and that you’ll most enjoy. Until green features become mainstream – and corresponding increases in home values can be measured – it’s hard to know what buyers will be willing to pay for. Just keep in mind that come moving time, green amenities and features may not appeal to everyone, but energy- and money-saving green features will.
Hedge your bet…
If you’re building a new house, or diving into a significant remodel, you might want to consider getting it certified as green. Come resell time, certification can provide buyers interested in all kinds of green benefits assurance that they are getting what they paid for.
Nationally, the US Green Building Council, developers of the LEED rating system, have put forth a new residential certification called LEED for Homes. LEED certified homes use less energy, water and natural resources, and their construction creates less waste, among other benefits. LEED is probably the most well-know certification standard in the US, mainly due to its widespread commercial acceptance. Certification by LEED comes with a significant amount of cache, though some feel that the requirements need refinement and that the registration process is cumbersome.
Other nationwide programs include the Environments for Living certification, which includes an energy usage guarantee, and the EnergyStar program, which focuses on home energy efficiency.
Other programs exist locally, like Austin Energy’s Green Building Program and Earth Advantage in Oregon and Boston. For homes certified green by Built Green in Colorado, Countrywide Home Loans even offers ½ point off for home buyers. There is also the Build It Green program in California. For links to programs in your state, check out the Public-Private Partnership for Advanced Housing Technology.
The Big Question: Solar
One of the biggest dreams that many green homeowners have is living “off the grid”, meaning that they can supply all of the energy needed to power their home. If you dream of this, or even if you just dream of reducing your electricity bills, solar is usually part of the equation.
Residential solar installations have always been an expensive prospect, but as technologies have improved and costs have come down, solar has become feasible for many. Still, full systems can cost upwards of $30,000, so it’s important to understand the economics up front. Fortunately, some incentives exist at the state and federal level.
June 27th, 2008
Cities Changing Zoning Laws for Wind Power
Written by Kristin Dispenza, courtest of GreenBuildingElements.com
Residential applications for solar panels have been making news for several years. But as rising fuel prices spur consumers to look for alternate energy sources, another clean power source is beginning to get attention: wind energy.
Even though the residential wind power sector has seen tremendous growth over the last decade, an article in The Arizona Republic estimates that there are still only 4,000 residential wind turbines nationwide. The primary reason that wind energy has been slow to take hold is that wind turbines are fairly visible, and therefore highly controversial, installations. According to the American Wind Energy Association, small wind systems (100 kilowatts or less) need to be at least 30 feet above barriers which might break the force of the air currents reaching the turbine. Right now, the industry recommends wind turbines only for sites that are at least one 1 acre in size. Consequently, wind turbines in urban areas are still quite rare. (In a September 2007 post, earth2tech featured a San Francisco home which sports a turbine, and pointed out that this may be the first urban wind turbine in the country.)
Unfortunately, individual efforts to experiment with wind power, even in outlying areas, have encountered a lot of roadblocks. Proposed turbine installations are usually evaluated by local governments on a case by case basis, since most city zoning laws have height restrictions which would implicitly prohibit turbines. Oftentimes, even if permission is granted and a turbine is erected, neighbors unite to fight the decision. (For individual turbine projects that have made news for seeking exceptions to local codes, see these articles on Wayne, New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia).
Some locales are at last beginning to address this issue in a more systematic way. In a Green Building Elements article last week, Philip Proefrock cited Chicago as an example of a city that has amended its building code to allow rooftop wind turbines. Similarly, San Francisco’s mayor recently formed a “Residential Wind Power Work Group,” which will research the feasibility of urban wind power installations and make recommendations on changes to local building and zoning codes. The Denver Post reported in January that the Denver City Council had enacted an ordinance that would significantly ease restrictions on commercial wind generators but would also give homeowners a break on property line setbacks from the current 20 feet to 10 feet.
Even some small communities seem to be taking a proactive stance by agreeing to examine local codes. Blaine County Commissioners in central Idaho recently agreed to look into changing their zoning laws. According to an article in the Idaho Mountain Express last month, this valley area is not particularly suited for utility-scale wind farms, but many homeowners have indicated an interest in supplementing their own power systems. In a February article in the Casper Star-Tribune, Natrona County, Wyoming, has also declared its support for residential wind power, although changes to the zoning rules have not yet taken effect.
See these sites for more information on small scale wind power generators:
- American Wind Energy Association FAQ pages
- Small Wind Basics on Southwest Windpower: Renewable Energy Made Simple
- E2T How To: Install a Wind Turbine on earth2tech
- Wind Turbine Buyer’s Guide on Green Building Elements
- Book Review: Off-the-Grid Homes: Case Studies for Sustainable Living on Green Building Elements
Read more about zoning changes which will help bring wind power to urban environments:
- Permitting Small Wind Turbines: A Handbook on the American Wind Energy Association
Click here to find wind power installers in your area.
Image Credit: Southwest Windpower
June 26th, 2008
How to Find Green Jobs
Post courtesy of Ecolocalizer.com
As a consultant who works with green companies, people often ask me how they can find a “green job”. Whether it’s alternative energy, transportation, green building, or any other industry experiencing a shift towards green, everyone wants to get involved. Fortunately, there are many resources both nationwide and here in Los Angeles that can help you on your quest. First, keep in mind that the best way to find out about any job, including green ones, is through networking. Most job seekers find new opportunities through people they know - many positions never even make it to the job boards. So get out there and meet people! Keep in mind that the key to good networking isn’t finding people who can help you, it’s finding people that you can help. By providing the information and making the introductions they need, you’ll form relationships with people who want to help you in return.
I’ve found green networking events to be great for this. My favorite one here in LA is Green Business Networking, which I wrote about a while ago. I’ve met many a client there, and have made some friends, too. It’s pretty casual, but business focused - make sure to bring plenty of cards. It’s fine to let people know what sort of job you’re looking for (how else can they help you?) but avoid the mistake made by one attendee, who moved from person to person asking if anyone worked in solar, then moving on quickly if not. Manners, people!
Nationally, Green Drinks is the go-to networking event for green. it guarantees a casual way to meet others interested in environmental issues; thus, the crowd tends to be a mix of all sorts of greenies. With a meeting every Thursday in different locales around town, there’s sure to be one near you.
Another organization appears to be growing around the country: Eco Tuesday. With a bit more structure, the event includes a new guest speaker each month, followed by brief introductions from the entire group, and then open networking. Other organizations, like the Sustainable Business Council of LA, host events on a regular basis, which usually include plenty of time for networking.
Of course, scouring job boards also provides an opportunity to apply directly to open positions. There are many out there, but I tend to keep an eye on these:
- Grist
- Sustainable Industries
- Care2
- Environmental Career Center
- Business for Social Responsibility
- Net Impact
- Green Biz
- Green Dream Jobs
- Idealist
- And, of course, Green Options Media’s Green Options Jobs
If you have other sources, I’d love to hear about them. Happy hunting!
