March 12th, 2009

Preservation: The Greenest Building is the One That’s Already Built

by Alan Shannon

Tearing down our homes seems to be almost a national pastime. Americans have always viewed anything old with suspicion, and that makes sense when we’re talking about outdated concepts of governing such as having an inbred, pinky finger-wagging king tell us what to do. But when it comes to the architectural legacy left to us by preceding generations of Americans, this approach not only robs us of unique neighborhoods and our history, but also is insanely destructive to the environment.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, rehabbing old buildings is the ultimate form of recycling. The Trust’s president, Richard Moe, says, “The greenest building is one that’s already built.”

Think about it: when a building’s torn down, where does all that rubbish go? Maybe the bricks are recycled along with a few architectural elements, but where do the dumpsters full of the rest of the refuse go? Why to a landfill, of course. According to Preservation Magazine, 136 million tons of waste are created from teardowns—annually. Even a brain as agile as Einstein’s would have a difficult time comprehending just how much garbage that is. In addition, existing buildings represent an investment in energy of around 5 to 15 gallons of gasoline per square foot.

And then there’s all the waste associated with the construction of a new building which can easily fill an additional dumpster. The Trust cites figures showing that an average 2,000 square foot home generates the following waste: 3,000 pounds of wood, 2,000 pounds of drywall and 600 pounds of cardboard. That’s a hell of a lot of garbage.

Ignoring the dire environmental affect of our profligate ways in this area is akin to the elder Hiltons sending their wayward, party-happy daughter Paris to dry out on Bourbon Street with a case of booze, a clutch of friends, and a film crew from Girls Gone Wild.  Seriously, we can do better and we should.

Some might argue that rehabbing old buildings isn’t a good investment, but there are plenty of examples of the opposite being true. In Charleston, S.C., it’s the quaint antebellum quarters that attract millionaires, while in Boston, the Federalist townhome-studded Beacon Hill remains the city’s most desirable neighborhood.

Moreover, older buildings are, by and large, built to endure. And while it might seem counterintuitive, most aged buildings are actually better poised to withstand a fire.

According to Matt Picard, a Delavan, WI, firefighter and Chicago carpenter, new construction typically utilizes petite, lighter wood that catches fire more easily and burns faster. Moreover, the toxic glues, particle board and trusses seem to nearly dissolve during a fire, rendering newer buildings much more susceptible to fire. An older, masonry building with plaster walls, lathe, old-growth beams and individual floor and ceiling joists can burn for hours and still be salvageable.

Older buildings certainly are not the most energy efficient, but they can be brought up to date and made green with far less waste and damage to the environment than tearing them down and starting over. To make an old or historic building eco-friendly, check out our guide to green architects here, or you can also find a green builder or remodeler here.

Our country’s older structures, often constructed by highly-skilled craftsmen who built exactingly and to last, will likely survive another century (if they can avoid the wrecking ball). And saving and rehabbing them is one of the greenest – not to mention patriotic - things we can do.

Popularity: 4% [?]

March 11th, 2009

Pizza Box and Other Recycling Mysteries Solved!

by Jessica Jensen

Even for the most eco-minded among us there are often lingering questions when it comes to recycling.  “Can I put that used pizza box in the recycling bin?” is a big one.  Also, “Do I need to rinse that plastic tub or that glass jar?” is another common one.   Let’s get to the bottom of these mysteries, shall we?

Thanks to Earth911.com, they have solved the pizza box puzzle for us in a recent excellent piece on that topic.  I knew that you can throw out clean cardboard, but you can’t throw out a pizza box that has cheeze and sauce remnants on it.  But I didn’t know WHY– and now you can too!  Here’s the scoop:

“Food is one of the worst contaminants in the paper recycling process. Grease and oil are not as big of a problem for plastic, metal and glass, as those materials are recycled using a heat process. But when paper products, like cardboard, are recycled, they are mixed with water and turned into a slurry. Since we all know water and oil don’t mix, the issue is clear.”

So if you are able to rip out the parts with food trash on them, then good on you. If not, sadly that cheesy box needs to go in the trash.  So sad.

Now on to the rinse-out questions.  Keep in mind that glass and metal are both more recyclable than plastic– with plastic you have to check the numbers on the containers and make sure your local recycling accepts those types of plastic.)  For both glass and metal: you do not have to clean the heck out of them before throwing them in your bin.  You also don’t have to remove labels. The heat used in the recycling process deals with contaminants easily– and you get to save water!

For plastic you do need to rinse it more thoroughly. Oils and food debris foul up the plastic recycling process. So give those tubs a good rinse– and do a particularly good job if there are cleaning or hazardous materials in there.

What about recycling Styrofoam?  Earth911.com has done an excellent piece on this as well– read about recycling Styrofoam here.  As you guessed, it’s not an easy answer. It depends on where you live– in Los Angeles for instance we can toss our clean Styrofoam right in our recycling bin. But that is definitely not the case in a lot of cities. As always, you need to check with your municipal waste service for clear recycling guidelines.

Click here to read our full recycling guide– it covers batteries, paint, and much more. Or if you’re looking for a recycling center in your area, search our nationwide database of recycling centers.  Thank you for all of your hard work to recycle to the max!

Popularity: 3% [?]

March 10th, 2009

Green Home Contest Winners: Serious Low Impact Livers!

by Jessica Jensen

As you may recall, we launched a Green Home Contest a while back, which comes with a truly outstanding prize provided by Joie de Vivre Hotels, the leading green hotel chain.  Well we have our winners!  We are inspired and awed by Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne, who truly embrace the Low Impact Living lifestyle in their home.  We all have a ton to learn from them.  Erik and Kelly win a fabulous 3-night stay at the very environmentally-friendly Hotel Carlton in San Francisco– and boy do they deserve it!

Erik and Kelly own a small bungalow in Los Angeles.  Not only do they live in a very sustainable home, the also do their own farming and raise chickens at home!  The two of them live in a 1,000 square foot house, which they have outfitted with numerous green features.  Here’s their impressive list:
 

• Low-flow showerheads, toilets and sink aerators
• 95+% CFLs indoors
• Drip irrigation and no grass
• Rain shutoff on irrigation system AND smart irrigation controller
• Shade trees planted
• Compost vegetable wastes at home
• Rain barrels & rain gardens to capture runoff
• Programmable thermostat
• Graywater system(shhh…don’t ask to see the permits)
• Purchase green power from their utility

In addition to these very efficient green-home features, Erik and Kelly also keep their carbon footprint low by driving and flying very little.  Erik is a committed biker. He bike commutes and rarely uses a car.  His wife, Kelly, owns an older Acura but only drives it 4,000 miles per year (which is much lower than the 10-12K miles/year American average!).  They also only make one airplane flight each year– don’t forget that the emissions from air travel are a major contributor to global warming.  So Erik and Kelly really have low non-home carbon footprints, which is excellent.

What is even better is that this amazing green duo also publishes an outstanding blog– the cleverly titled Homegrown Evolution.  They write about such engaging topics as urban gardening, raising chickens, making beer, and much more.  Definitely spend some time on their blog– it’s a great read.  And I’m also excited to check out their book– The Urban Homestead, which is “your guide to self-sufficient living in the heart of the city.”  They say they are now working on a second book. This is one productive pair!

We respectfully tip our hats to Kelly and Erik, and we hope they have a wonderful time in San Francisco.  Thank you to all who entered the contest– we’re very moved by the work you are doing to live more sustainable lives.  The planet needs you!

Popularity: 7% [?]

February 26th, 2009

Buy Green: Vote with Your Dollars

by Cassie Walker

Considering our country’s current economic woes, it stands to reason that most of us are cutting back on our discretionary spending - in layman’s terms, we’re buying less stuff.  And though we’ve been told that buying more stuff supports our economy, it doesn’t necessarily support our environment.

That’s why it’s more important than ever to make those purchases count.  Not all companies are created equal when it comes to sustainable business practices, and many people underestimate the power that they have as consumers. And, though November’s elections were certainly historic, your right to vote didn’t end there.  Vote with your dollars!  Supporting companies that are doing the right thing by adopting eco-friendly practices, or “buycotting”, will help ensure that those companies make it through these tough economic times.

So how do you determine which companies deserve your hard-earned dollars? How do you spot those greenwashers? It’s not always easy, but fortunately there are some resources that can help.

Turn to the Experts

Recently, a couple of studies have been released that identify specific companies as tops in their class when it comes to sustainable practices.

First up, The Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the World, a list of publicly-traded companies that best manage the environmental, social and governance risk associated with sustainability. Brought to us by Corporate Knights: The Canadian Magazine for Responsible Business and Innovest Strategic Value Advisors the fifth annual list includes familiar American companies like Amazon.com, Coca Cola, Dell, Nike, and Walt Disney. (Note that these are all large, international, publicly-traded companies – no Tom’s of Maine here!)

Having a bit of info regarding these large companies’ efforts in sustainability can, and should, influence your buying decisions. Drop your laptop in the bathtub? Think Dell. Desperate for a carbonated caffeine jolt? Consider Coke.

But, when you make these purchasing decisions, just make sure that you keep the bigger picture in mind – do you really need a new computer? Updating your old one is a greener option, as is bringing water in a reusable container, washing those old sneaks, or borrowing books from the library – regardless of the sustainability efforts of Dell, Coke, Nike or Amazon. Vote with your dollars when it’s appropriate to do so, remembering that even the “greenest” of products do not actually help the environment – they just hurt it less.

Look for Green Brands

That said, you’re probably thinking, “When I think of a green beverage company, I don’t think Coca Cola, I think of Green Mountain Coffee.” Did I read your mind? Cool, huh? Actually, my source is a recent Earthsense report that takes another angle, examining consumer perceptions of popular brands.

Of 350 companies studied, 35 were singled out by consumers as tops in four categories:

• Sustainable business practices
• Product impact
• Investment likelihood, and
• Recommendation likelihood

The resulting list reads like a who’s who of companies for whom green is a big part of who they are. Topping the list were grocers Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, both of which achieved high marks on all four measures.  Other familiar brands listed as “standouts” include Earthbound Farms, Tom’s of Maine, Burt’s Bees, Kashi, and Fresh & Easy.  Google and Yahoo also made the list. You can download the entire report from GreenBiz.com.

On the flip side, check out Climate Watch’s list of “Climate Laggards” – those who are behind the curve on corporate responsibility and the environment. Who’s on it?  Exxon Mobile (no surprise there), General Motors, and home-builder Standard Pacific.

Though some carbon-intensive industries are over-represented on the list, some companies (like GM) were singled out due to their total inaction, as they lag behind their competitors, are unresponsive to investor concerns, and fail to report their environmental impact to the public. Sounds like the trifecta of unsustainable business practices.

Take Stock

According to many analysts, the hard-hit stock market is a great place to pick up some investments on the cheap. If you’re trying to live a green lifestyle, don’t you want your investments to reflect your values? Research continues to show that companies that are strong on sustainability outperform their counterparts financially.

If you’re looking to buy stock, or just want to find out more about a particular company’s environmental performance, check out the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility’s “climate risk profiles”. Covering more than 150 companies, the profiles are particularly useful because they compare companies within a sector. For more on green investing, check out last year’s post on the topic.

Buy Used Stuff

Supporting companies that get it is important when you need something new. But what if you need something that’s just “new to you”?  I’m a big proponent of thrift stores, garage sales, antique stores, libraries, Craigslist, borrowing, lending and dumpster diving (OK, so I’m not quite that hard core). If there’s a way to get it used, do it.  Not only will reusing or recycling something keep it out of the landfill, but it will avoid the environmental damage done by a new product, from raw material extraction to manufacturing to shipping and finally, disposal.  Plus, it’ll be easier on your wallet.

However you choose to go about finding the things that you need to get through life, just keep in mind that you have a lot of power in your bank account, even if your balance doesn’t make you feel so powerful.

Popularity: 4% [?]

February 6th, 2009

Greener Gadgets Design Competition: You Get to Vote

by Jessica Jensen

The 2nd Annual Greener Gadgets Design Competition is on, and there are lots of compelling, interesting, and just plain kooky designs in the mix.  Core 77 design magazine and Greener Gadgets host this competition to inspire outstanding design innovations for greener electronics. The top 50 entries are published online for voting and commenting.  You can vote for your favorites.  Voting ends February 20, so get on it!

One cool product is the eMetric. This is a wireless office power management system. Designer Jason Deperro contends that the eMetric “allows teams of conscientious workers to control and learn about their electronics’ energy consumption - saving energy and money.” We like the idea very much that teams of folks could instantly track their usage and then work to lower their power consumption. It’s e-Nifty.

One design we also like is the Indoor Drying Rackby Rob Podell.  First of all, it’s not electronic, so that’s cool.  Also, we’re big fans of air-drying laundry here at Low Impact Living (remember that your clothes dryer is one of the worst power-sucking, inefficient appliances in your home), so we think this drying rack is pretty nifty.  It folds down from the wall and creates an aerated kind of table for drying. Easy, attractive and electricity-free!

We also dig the CompostAll.  This kitchen device, designed by frog design, is a replacement for the home in-sink garbage disposal.  It allows food waste to be composted instead of sent down the drain.  The CompostAll saves mulched food waste in a removable container under the sink.  Frog design claims that the devise provides a convenient, discreet, and odor-free location for food waste.  What’s also pretty cool is that it comes with an alert light on the sinktop that tells the user the container is full.  Then you can just take the container out from under the sink and put the contents into your outdoor compost bin.  You already have one of those, yes?

In the kooky column, I’ll add the Guilty Wallet. Ruhel Mohammed has designed a series of wallets aimed at helping people cut our consumer culture (which he spells in ALL CAPS). He makes the interesting argument that we need fewer green gadgets and instead should all buy less. He goes on, “We spend for so many reasons, but it is undeniably true that we spend through one of these vessels: GREED, LUST, PRIDE, ROTH, SLOTH, GLUTTONY and ENVY. Although spending and debt are the foundations of the capitalist society, we should be careful of excessive spending or GREED.” Wow, don’t get Ruhel involved in a debate at a cafe– it will not be a short discussion. His wallets may not have much of an impact, but they do make you think about spending for a brief moment.

Popularity: 5% [?]