green lifestyle

Live Like Ed?

jchatraw — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:56:36 -0400

I can think of a hundred more enticing titles than "Living with Ed" for a TV show, but the concept is still a good one: Watch Ed Begley Jr. and his lovely wife Rachelle go green. It's a take off on his book by the same name "Live Like Ed! A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life" and is as informative as it is entertaining.

I'm a sucker for reality shows but really don't like the fact that it's always about trying to connive behind everyone else's back to move ahead in the game. But a reality show where we learn what it's like to be more green? Sign me up with soy ink on post-consumer recycled paper.

Here's a tidbit from Ed that goes beyond the recycled tips:

Recycle Your Fiber

Everyone knows they should recycle their paper & plastic, but recycling your clothes and other fiber materials can also save energy. Shirts, jackets, hats, and even carpets made from recycled materials are now available.

Going for the Gold

jchatraw — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:33:49 -0400

As I was sitting on the couch last night watching Michael Phelps win another Olympic gold medal by beating a field of swimmers that looked so slow in comparison that maybe they were wearing floaties, my wife organized our cutlery drawer. The ensuing conversation went something like this:

Me: “Look, honey. Michael Phelps just won another gold medal! This dude is amazing!”

My wife: “Look, honey! I just organized all our forks and knives!”

I had goosebumps as Phelps took the stand for the national anthem; my wife expected me to place a medal around her neck for her monumental achievement as well.

Before you think I’m ripping on my wife, you have to understand that I equate physical feats of dominating the world in a certain sport with one’s ability to organize, particularly a cluttered drawer. Last night, my wife took gold, too--only her veins didn't bulge out of her neck as she celebrated, unlike Phelps.

So, how exactly does clearing out our clutter translate into eco-friendly living and a greener lifestyle? Janet Luhrs reminds us in “The Simple Living Guide: A Sourcebook for Less Stressful, More Joyful Living” that removing the clutter and keeping it out of our lives helps us avoid buying unnecessary items:

“’Equilibrium’ means that things are balanced. It applies to clutter in a big way. Once you complete your search-and-destroy mission in your house, keep things in equilibrium by never bringing in more than you take out. Take your hall closet, for example. After you have simplified and organized it, do not, I repeat, do not buy anything new in that department until you remove the same number of things as you plan to bring in. Why do you need another jacket or hat anyway? Think of each space (closets, shelves, drawers) as finite. Nothing else will fit in them. Period. If you take this rule to heart, it will stop you in your tracks before you go out and buy more stuff.”

For me, that means giving away clothes the next time I want to buy something new. For Phelps, it means removing those silver medals from the house to make room for the gold.

Small Acts of Anonymous Mercy

jchatraw — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:30:00 -0400

I often get overwhelmed when a seemingly insurmountable problem looms over me. It’s not that I really think most problems are insurmountable, it’s just that I see them taking way longer to resolve than I want to work on them. Yes, I admit it—I am a product of our fast-food world.

But I would like to change that. I want to make a difference with my life instead of idly standing by and watching the world spin out of control. I may not be able to do much, but a lot of people doing a little can make a difference.

That’s what Thom Hartmann calls us to do in his book The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late. He realizes the environmental problems in the world right now seem overwhelming; however, while his call for personal responsibility may not be heeded by all, if enough people choose to make a difference then a difference could be made.

Here are some of his thoughts on the topic:

“So where do we begin?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pointed out that when we do “good works,” we should do them without other people knowing that we did them. This is a difficult task: you have to continually keep an eye out for such opportunities.

Many people, looking at the enormity of all the problems facing the world, feel depressed, overwhelmed, and apathetic. They often give up.

But there is great spiritual and cultural power in performing small acts of mercy. They echo farther than most people realize, and begin a “morphic resonance” process of putting out into the air—in a way that becomes culturally contagious—the millions of small steps that must be taken worldwide to save our planet and our species.

On some level, we are all connected. When you save the life of another living being—even a worm or a weed—you are putting into the air the saving of lives. Small acts of mercy are among the most transformational spiritual activities a person can engage in, which is probably why Jesus and those teachers and prophets before him repeatedly put such emphasis on them.”

Jimmy Carter Gives a Dam about Saving Water

jchatraw — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:57:11 -0400

Jimmy Carter may have presided over one of the darkest times in our nation's history, but he's determined to be remembered for something other than being a lousy president. Now the former president is building a legacy that may prove he had the foresight necessary to force his home state into creating real solutions rather than temporary fixes.

As someone who lived in the Peach State for many years, I cringed along with many other fellow Georgians when Carter's name was raised in most circles. But it's nice to know that he's doing some things now that Georgians can be proud of—he's fighting to help conserve water.

While you may not be able to slay government plans that lack foresight into the ever-changing environmental issues like Carter, Steve Creech has some great suggestions for you to conserve water in the book Hold Your Water: 68 Things You Can Do to Keep Our Planet Blue. This particular suggestions starts off by relaying the story of how the town Stigomta, Sweeden, has an annual "Pee Outside Day" that asks people not to flush their toilets. This book's suggestions are not only fun but practical, too:

"The average toilet flush uses three to seven gallons of water. We're not saying never flush. (In certain circumstances a double flush may even be required.) But, well, you decide.

BONUS TIP: Place a sealed plastic bottle in your toilet tank. Keep it safely away from any operating mechanisms and save up to 15 percent of the water you use with each flush."

From Green to Greenest

jchatraw — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

I'm sure we all have friends who just aren't quite there with the green lifestyle. Maybe just convincing them to recycle is like trying to persuade the Pope to become a protestant--it's a waste of your breath. Or maybe you have friends who have waded into the kiddie pool but aren't sure just how deep they want to go with this eco-lifestyle thing.

Well, here comes Lori Bongiorno's new book Green, Greener, Greenest: A practical guide to making eco-smart choices a part of your life to save the day. In the book, Bongiorno takes everyday products and consumer choices and shows you ways that you can be green, greener or greenest. It's non-threatening and isn't in the least bit condescending--definitely a breath of fresh air among some of the green brow beatings going on in the book realm. Everyone can feel good about taking a step forward and becoming more green.

Here's a green nugget from her book:

Most of us are aware of the dangers of overexposure to the sun, and it's pretty common knowledge that we need to seek out "broadspectrum" sunscreen—products that protect us from both the ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. However, a 2007 study by the Environmental Working Group says we may not be getting all the protection we need, even if we use sunscreens with high sun protection factor (SPF) ratings. That's not the only concerning news that came out of the EWG report. The bottom line: only 16 percent of the products on the market today are both safe and effective, meaning that they block both UVA and UVB radiation, remain stable in sunlight, and contain few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards. ...

Green
Use the best sunscreen to fit your needs. Because there are so many factors to consider when purchasing sunscreen and the stakes are high, the best thing you can do to find the safest and most effective products is to visit www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Greener
Don't rely only on sunscreen. Follow this advice from the American Cancer Society:
* Limit exposure to direct sunlight from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun's ultraviolet rays are most intense. The sun's rays are strongest if your shadow is shorter than you are. UV radiation can also pass through water and reflects off of sand and snow.
* Wear a hat with at least a two- to three-inch brim all around or shade caps, which look like baseball caps with a long piece of material draping down the sides and back. ...

Greenest
Urge the FDA, www.fda.gov, to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards, develop UVA standards, and approve new effective and safe sunscreens in the United States.

Great Bleach Alternatives

kbutler — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

So last weekend, prepping for the arrival of an out-of-town guest, I set out to clean my apartment. Not “straightening up” cleaning – you know, when you move books, clothes, magazines from one side of the room to the other – but more “scrubbing the kitchen floor on your knees a la medieval fairy tale” cleaning. I was serious about getting the mold out of my tiles, so I was using serious cleaners – meaning bleach, bleach-based, and bleach-infused cleaners. And by the time I got to my bath tub, I was more light-headed than the time I attempted my first inverted yoga pose.

A few minutes later, my friend Suzanne (not the out of town guest, just a concerned citizen) arrived on the scene. Upon entering, she said “Why does it smell like bleach in here?” followed by “What aren’t the windows open?” and finally “I can’t believe you’re not dead.” After helping me fumigate my place, Suzanne helpfully pointed out that bleach alternatives do exist, and that maybe I should consider them next time.

So consider them I did. Using our handy friend Google, I found the Happy Slob’s Guide to Housekeeping, which listed some fantastic bleach alternatives for the laundry, like using 1/2 cup 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in the rinse cycle and 1/2 cup washing soda to warm or hot water wash cycles and 1/2 cup lemon juice in the rinse cycle. The Green Clean site lists “two great alternatives to chlorine bleach for laundry and household use: oxygen bleach and hydrogen peroxide-based bleach. Recommended oxygen bleaches include Bi-O-Kleen's Oxygen Beach Plus and Earth Friendly Products' Oxo-Brite.” And finally, Seventh Generation Free & Clear™ Chlorine Free Bleach “gets whites and colors their brightest without chlorine”. No dyes, no fragrances, no chlorine bleach, no phosphates, no near-death experiences.

Clearly, there are alternatives to turning your brain cells to mush every time you want to address the mold in your life. Now if only I had a solution for not passing out during every downward-facing dog.

Turn Green into Gold

ecoperks — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:31:12 -0400

The new EcoPerks experience (www.EcoPerks.com) officially launches in Beta today offering simple ways to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle while earning EcoPoints to be used toward valuable rewards. This exciting online platform is a unique blend of cause, commerce, content, community and carbon offset tools tied to the most generous rewards program on the Internet. EcoPerks.com has an unmatched range of products, information and functionality designed to promote carbon neutral living.

Today, there are more than 1.3 billion loyalty program participants in the United States. “EcoPerks.com is different. Earning and redeeming points means helping our planet,” states Donna Boesky Mastropasqua, CEO of EcoPerks. “We’ve created a currency that has the potential to do so many positive things for our members and the environment,” she continued. Mastropasqua, a customer loyalty expert and founder of Perks.com, has developed rewards programs for a diverse list of companies including Citigroup and American Express.

EcoPerks gives members a variety of ways to quickly earn large quantities of rewards by shopping from among more than 500 major retailers, purchasing eco-products and certified carbon offsets, taking surveys, sharing eco-tips or participating in their online community. The company matches rewards from all purchases, directing the cash value toward projects that protect the environment, reduce emissions and support renewable energy solutions.

“As the EcoPerks community grows, we will add more ways to earn and redeem EcoPoints giving members an even greater opportunity to live greener and combat climate change,” says Mastropasqua.

SAVE THE PLANET - GET THE PERKS

For every EcoPoint members earn they can potentially receive a minimum of double rewards – one for the member – the other for the planet. The points for the planet are automatically directed toward a variety of impact projects that re-wild damaged ecosystems and support renewable energy solutions that cut greenhouse gas emissions. “With virtually every click of the mouse, members can be confident they are doing something positive for the planet,” said Mastropasqua.

The rest of the points can be used to offset the members’ own carbon footprint and to redeem in the amazing EcoPerks rewards catalogue. One of the most unique and exciting programs of its kind, the selection of rewards includes cool green products, thrilling eco-travel opportunities, VIP tickets to concerts, sporting events and movie premiers, once-in-a-lifetime celebrity encounters, and other exclusive experiences.

EcoPerks also provides members with an easy way to calculate and offset their carbon footprint. Members earn EcoPoints for filling out simple questionnaires and purchasing carbon offsets directly from a list of projects using points or cash. EcoPerks.com’s offset projects are developed, monitored and verified by award-winning Sterling Planet (www.SterlingPlanet.com), one of the world’s most trusted providers of emissions solutions.

EcoPerks.com is also a premiere information resource with the latest eco-news, information and tips for greener living. Members of the Eco-Perks.com community can participate in special features aimed at expanding the eco-conversation. “We want to empower consumers to make better choices,” said Mastropasqua. “There are regular people out there who have simple, workable solutions we all can use to make a real difference.” says Mastropasqua.

Membership on the site is free and is required to earn rewards points. New members earn 100 EcoPoints just for signing up.

Great Green Guides

kbutler — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:21:55 -0500

So you’re a committed green warrior. You buy organic, you read Thoreau, you turn your nose up at anything with a hint of plastic. But let’s face it; living green all hours of the day can be difficult. Sometimes you forget your re-usable hemp carrier bag and – horror upon horrors – the grocer offers you recyclable paper or recyclable plastic. Or you’re super hungry and the only options are – can you handle it? – three different kinds of organic produce. What’s a greenophile to do with all these choices?

Luckily, easy answers are available! If you live in Los Angeles or San Francisco (and soon, New York City), you can consult the Greenopia Guide. Called “the definitive resource for eco-minded city dwellers looking for an easy way to access the…green markets in their area,” this book “contains (a directory for) everything from organic restaurants and grocery stores, to dry cleaners and organic pest control services, to sustainable building suppliers, landscapers and interior designers—whatever a consumer needs for every day green living and more.” Or in other words, have green questions, have Greenopia Guide, have answers.

So what to do if you’re outside the Greenopia coverage area? You can always throw a Go-Green Party. Msn.com recently listed a guide to educating the masses on green issues. Gather your friends and invite an energy expert to advise you all on how to unplug vampire devices (like the sinister DVD player that blinks the time at you). Msn.com further offers up a cool gift bag idea: reusable tote bags fill with compact fluorescent bulbs (which last up to ten times longer than regular bulbs). Like some guy in some movie probably once said sometime, “Knowledge is the key to victory.” So the next time your eco-warrior status is threatened, think green guides! (Okay, it sounded a little more heroic in my head.)

Photo by Josh Piha

Return To Simplicity

jchatraw — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Growing up in the low country of South Carolina, I dreamed of living in Atlanta. Yes, minutes away from a smorgasbord of my favorite pro sports teams. Mostly I just yearned to live in a place that was bustling with activity with as many people as the cotton plants I worked with each summer. Then I moved there after graduating from college ...

Cue the sound effect: a record screeching to a halt.

Horns honking. Dense smog. Mass of humanity. Allergens that envelope you. And with the exception of the Braves, the rest of my childhood teams have all but gone the way of the woolly mammoth. I probably should've realized the big city wasn't the utopia I thought it was when my first day on the job in Atlanta my boss said, "Get yourself good insurance and a good allergist—because you will get in a wreck and you will have allergies." She was right on both accounts.

What I've learned is that there is no utopia. However, for someone seeking to go green without the luxury of lots of green, downsizing to another community is the way to go. When it comes to being ecologically conscious, my wife and I found our almost-utopia in Boise, Idaho.

My current green lifestyle consists of reducing my carbon emissions by pedaling my bike to work along the city's glorious Green Belt, buying cart loads of locally grown produce and searching for an energy efficient home. And hours of pondering about what steps to take next. I'm on a journey of discovering what it means to live green and how best to do my part to a planet that desperately needs more of us. I hope others will find my trip encouraging and inspiring—that living green can be done and done now.