The Green Life

Daily Tip: November 30, 2007

Support local farmers and eat great food by participating in Community Supported Agriculture. Here’s how it works: You buy shares in a participating farm near you, then you’ll start receiving fruits and vegetables each week from the season’s harvests. Not only will you be getting fresh and local produce, you’ll be supporting independent farm owners and decreasing food-transportation costs. Talk about a win-win situation.

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Design on a Dime

You won't find green bling at Solara, just practical and cost-effective features that make this 56-unit ecofriendly apartment complex near San Diego affordable for low- to moderate-income families. "Green doesn't have to look different," says project manager Mary Jane Jagodzinski. "It can fit into any community."

(Illustration by Rodriguez Associates Architects & Planners Inc.--click on the image to see a larger version)* * *

Breathe Deeply
Formaldehyde-free insulation keeps indoor air quality high.

Up on the Roof
Photovoltaic panels on roofs and carports generate all of Solara's energy, so residents have no power bills to pay.

Windows of Opportunity
Low-emissivity (low-e) windows reduce heat loss and gain and are positioned to allow maximum ventilation.

Healthy Living
Each family gets a shopping cart to take on walks to the farmers' market and other nearby conveniences.

Lush Life
Native plants make up almost half of the landscape. There's also an organic lemon grove and natural grasses instead of lawns.

Long May It Run

When a man writes a love song for his 1948 Buick, you know he's got a thing for old cars. But Neil Young's latest automotive exploit is no exercise in nostalgia--he's had his 1959 Lincoln Continental converted to a biodiesel-electric hybrid engine, and will be directing a film about the car as he drives it across the country to raise awareness about alternative fuels. My my, hey hey, hope that's an idea that's here to stay.

Daily Tip: November 28, 2007

If the recent news about lead in toys has left you wondering what gifts are safe for kids, do your holiday shopping at stores that feature fair-trade musical instruments and traditional (but still fun!) toys such as hand-puppets, wooden cars and blocks, puzzles, dolls, and clothing. The owners of smaller, locally owned stores are more likely to be able to tell you where their toys came from too.

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Your Gifts Are On Our List

Finding one of these presents under the tree could turn the most ardent Hummer driver into a tree hugger. What green gift would you be most grateful to receive?

FOR YOUR BROTHER
He'll have style and substance with a fresh renewable-energy T-shirt (pictured; organic and sweatshop free), hipster hoodie (made from organic fleece), rugged wallet (made out of discarded truck-tire inner tubes), geek-chic luggage tags (made of old circuit boards), or recycled messenger bag.

FOR YOUR SISTER
She'll toast your thoughtfulness when she unwraps this recycled-glass necklace (pictured) by artist Kathleen Plate. Or send her out on the town with a pull-tab clutch or shoulder bag and some ecofriendly lipstick to stick in it. Sis the shy and retiring type? Encourage her to express herself in a vintage-record-sleeve journal or one made from elephant poop (no, really).

FOR YOUR FOLKS
Decorative bowls woven from telephone wire (pictured) or vases made from recycled paper will add beauty to their home and benefit craftspeople in South Africa and Vietnam. Foodies or green thumbs will appreciate an herb-garden kit with organic seeds in a biodegradable pot.

FOR YOUR (FURRY) BEST FRIEND
Fido will drool his appreciation for a fabric chew toy made of recycled soda bottles (pictured) and rest easily on an organic, hemp, or recycled doggie bed.

Daily Tip: November 26, 2007

Get with the times and download new music instead of buying it on CDs. The “jewel cases” that CDs come in are usually made from polyvinyl chloride, a dangerous material that cannot readily be recycled. Downloading will also help cut down on the production costs and energy used to create the discs themselves. And many record labels (to use a quaint term) are making those clever liner notes available online.

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Things To Do This Weekend

Thursday: Enjoy your organic turkey, tofurkey, or other ecofriendly holiday meal while watching the carbon-neutral Lions-Packers game.

Friday: Avoid the hordes--stay home and buy nothing.

Saturday: Tune in to Sierra Club Radio for interviews with columnist Paul Krugman, global-warming leader Fran Pavley, and Cindy Kang of Green Corps, plus a political update from Carl Pope and some tips for heating water efficiently.

Sunday: Veg out. It's good for the environment!

Monday: Check back here for a gander at Sierra's green-gift guide. Yep, it's that time of year again.

Daily Tip: November 21, 2007

After you’ve finished baking, turn off the oven and open its door to let the heat into your kitchen. You’ll be amazed by how long the extra warmth lasts.

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Media Lounge

SEX IN A TENT
a book by Michelle Waitzman
Being dirty and talking dirty gloriously commingle in this guide to coupling in the great outdoors. Sprinkled with first-person accounts of how various folks got cozy during camping trips, Michelle Waitzman's book provides tips on "sexy tent games for a rainy day," how to make unwashed hat hair alluring, which clothing fabrics stink less after a few days' use, and which lightweight treats--such as licorice, chocolate, and cinnamon--help boost libido. For some backcountry foreplay, try salving your partner's mosquito bites or massaging his or her aching feet before skinny-dipping together. You may not learn how to pack economically, but you'll pick up some suave steps for a tent tango. --Marilyn Berlin Snell

Daily Tip: November 20, 2007

Planning a vacation? Skip the plane tickets and take a train instead. A transcontinental airplane flight that’s 80 percent full can generate 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. And we don’t have to tell you how bad driving is. Depending on the type of train and the length of your trip, train travel creates just 4 to 15 percent of the CO₂ emissions, per passenger, than going by plane. Plus it’s a great, safe, and unique way to see the country.

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The Sound of Salvage

A hush fell over the crowd. The conductor raised his arms and the orchestra began to play...not flutes and violins, but serving trays, garbage cans, pieces of pipe, and other materials gathered from the San Francisco dump. The composer of the eclectic, but engaging score, Nathaniel Stookey, had created the instruments (pictured) and written the three-movement piece during his stint at the Norcal Artist In Residence Program, which has given more than 50 artists over 17 years free reign over the city's discards as source material for amazing sculpture, clothing, and other artworks.

Stookey's "Junkestra" played to a large and enthusiastic audience Friday night at the storied Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, preceded by short films made by other resident artists and co-hosted by program coordinator Deborah Munk in a runway-worthy gown made from the plastic bags that newspapers get delivered in. (Seriously, it was gorgeous.) The wine served at intermission was from a local vineyard that participates in a Norcal program to turn food scraps from San Francisco restaurants into compost for growing grapes. Missed out? There's no more free wine, but photos and video of an earlier Junkestra performance are available online, along with audio tracks from a rehearsal.

Top Turkey-Day Tips

Enrich your Thanksgiving festivities--and give the planet something to be thankful about too--with these ecofriendly ideas:

• Opt for an organic turkey from a family farm.
• Buy fewer processed foods and more local and organic ones.
• Incorporate seasonal vegetarian dishes like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and root vegetables.
• Take the 100-Mile Thanksgiving challenge and join other "families and individuals [who] have committed to generating one dish, or even their whole holiday meal, from sources within 100 miles of their homes."
• If your table settings are in need of replacement, look for organic cloth linens and napkins.
• Uncork a bottle or two of organic wine.
• After the feast, do full loads of dishes instead of hand-washing and skip the drying cycle.

For next year, consider reducing your travel impact by carpooling or taking the train to your destination and holding your family get-together in a place that's central to the most guests. If you must fly to see the family, look for a direct flight, which minimizes both emissions--since a huge percentage of fuel is used on takeoff--and holiday hassle.

Daily Tip: November 16, 2007

Need to relax? Consider a green day spa, which are opening up in most areas of the United States. In Washington, D.C., there’s Nusta Spa, which uses all organic spa products and was awarded a Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its green facility. To find a sustainable spa near you, check out the Green Spa Network—an online organization of environmentally-conscious spas in California, Utah, Vermont, New York, and Georgia, with more establishments on the way.

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Elemental advice on fire and water

In the November/December 2007 issue of Sierra, Mr. Green figures out the most ecofriendly way to feed a fireplace and debunks beliefs about bottled water.

Curious, concerned, or just generally confused about environmental issues of all stripes? Send your thoughts and questions directly to Mr. Green, or weigh in in the comments section.

Daily Tip: November 15, 2007

It's true that the world's leaders and corporations could be doing more to curb global warming. But that doesn't mean we should all sit around watching movies and eating popcorn, thinking that our efforts to make a difference won't have an impact. Keep making those changes to reduce your carbon emissions.

Like the "green stars" told us at the Environmental Media Association awards ceremony, "Everybody has behaviors that they can take another look at," and every little bit helps, whether it's recycling, driving a hybrid, using non-toxic household products...Watch this video from the awards night, and then do something: Sign our petition asking Congress to pass a clean energy bill.

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Meals to be Thankful For

Need some inspiration for your Thanksgiving feast? Ideal Bite readers are sharing their scrumptious-sounding menus for locally sourced holiday meals. Roast turkey with homegrown-sage stuffing; horseradish mashed potatoes; butternut squash, apple, and onion gratin; wild mushroom pie; olive bread; cranberry-pear crisp... mmmm.... seriously, don't click over there on an empty stomach!

Daily Tip: November 14, 2007

There's probably someone in your life who influenced you to care about the planet. If you're doing your best to live lightly on the planet, then you, in turn, are probably an inspiration to those around you--adults and children alike. Be sure to talk up what you're doing to protect wild places, conserve energy, and keep our air and water clean.

At the recent Environmental Media Association awards ceremony, the Sierra Club asked the stars to talk about who inspired them to be green. We heard it all, from their parents and children to Cub Scouts and Nobel Prize winners. Listen to their stories in this short video, and then for bonus points, take action and inspire your mayor to push Congress for a clean energy bill.

Our apologies -- yesterday's Green Tip had a bad link in it. Click here to call your member of Congress and ask for a clean energy bill.

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The Look...For Less

After inspiring eco-fashionistas everywhere, Goodwill itself is jumping on the cheap-to-chic bandwagon in an effort to upscale its image, reports the Washington Post. The DC branch of this international nonprofit hosted a virtual runway show and has its own hipster fashion blogger (at left) advising readers on the most stylish ways to wear their thrift-store finds.

What's the coolest piece of clothing you've ever picked up in a second-hand store? My favorite is a belted corduroy coat that I wore until the lining wore away... and will wear again once I find someone to fix it!

Daily Tip: November 13, 2007

Update: The link to contact your members of Congress has been fixed.

It might seem like a no-brainer to most of you, but if you aren't already, bring a reusable tote bag when you go shopping. Making disposable plastic bags requires energy equal to 4 million barrels of oil a year, while paper bags use up 14 million trees annually.

Speaking of bags, we asked Hollywood stars which they hated more: plastic bags or paparazzi. You'd think they would pick the photographers who hound them every minute of their lives, but plastic bags are the focus of these stars who say things like, They're the scourge of our society," and "I would love to see no more plastic bags anywhere ever again." Watch the video, and then, after hearing the stars voice their opinions, make your own voice heard to your members of Congress.

Follow these easy steps to call their offices, and then let us know what they said.

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Cutting Out Corn

Think you could go an entire month without eating any processed corn products? The co-stars of the amusing, engrossing new documentary King Corn (that's them clowning around at right) have taken up that surprisingly tricky challenge. Due to the prevalence of its byproducts in processed food and its use as feed for animals, no corn means no soda made from high-fructose corn syrup, no fruits or vegetables coated with a corn-derived wax, and no eggs or milk from corn-fed chickens or cows. Check out the duo's running commentary on their blog and sign up to join them if you're up for the challenge.

Trendsetter

Scott Pactor, age 36, owner
Appellation Wine & Spirits

On a sabbatical in South America, accountant Scott Pactor decided his passion was wine, which he began studying when he returned to New York City. After working as a sommelier, he opened Appellation Wine & Spirits, where nearly 70 percent of the wines are ecofriendly and employees use public transit to make deliveries. appellationnyc.com

Q: Why did you decide to focus on earth-friendly wines?

A: I was looking for wine with a sense of place and personality, and I kept coming back to the bottles that were organic or biodynamic. The fact that they're good for the environment is a bonus.

Q: Organic wine hasn't always had a reputation for excellence. Why was that?

A: In the past, a few producers marked their wine as organic, but they weren't necessarily making good wine. Others weren't storing their bottles properly. If the growing area has a propensity for rot, making wine organically does become more difficult.

Q: What regions should consumers look to for good organic wines?

A: In France, the Loire Valley, Alsace, and the Burgundy region, and Oregon and California in the United States. And from Austria, we have a liter bottle of organic Gruener Veltliner for $10. People can't believe how good the quality is at that price.

Fast Fact

A biodynamic vineyard must be chemical free and almost entirely self-sufficient, requiring little to no outside inputs.

Fast Fact

Nearly 30 million pounds of pesticides are applied to fields of conventionally grown California wine grapes each year.

Daily Tip: November 12, 2007

Want to know how much impact your diet has on the environment? Check out the Eating Green Calculator to learn how your food choices translate into pounds of fertilizer, manure, and pesticides and acres of grain and grass for animal feed. The calculator also lets you see how the numbers would change if you reduced your consumption of a specific meat or dairy product.

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On a Winter's Day

With the price of oil approaching $100 a barrel, plenty of people are going to be looking for ways to save money at the gas pump. But residents of the Northeast, where heating oil is commonly used to warm homes in winter, may see their energy bills soar too. No matter where you live, you can save money and energy this winter by following a few simple steps:

Run a tight ship. Minimize the energy needed to heat your home by making sure your windows and doors are well-sealed with caulking and weather-stripping. This easy and inexpensive fix can save as much as 10 percent of winter heating costs.

Seal your ducts. Homes with forced-air heating systems can lose up to 40 percent of their heat if duct joints are poorly sealed. You probably want to get a qualified contractor to do this one, but some states will offer a tax credit to help pay for the work.

Watch your windows. Since most heat loss occurs through the windows, installing thick curtains and drapes can help keep you toasty. Open them during the day to allow warming sunlight to enter, then close them at night to keep the heat inside. Double-paned windows cost more but are worth looking into too.

Temper the temperature. Turning your thermostat down just 5 degrees can cut energy bills (and pollution) by 10 percent, so keep it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, and 60 degrees or less while you sleep. Chilly? Put on a sweater or add an extra blanket to your bed.

Fan the heat around. Running your ceiling fan clockwise, at a slow speed, recirculates warmer air that accumulates at the ceiling, reducing energy consumption by up to 10 percent.

Put on a greener log. Fireplaces aren't the most efficient--or cleanest--way to heat a home, but they can be awfully cozy. Look for artificial logs made of wood only, avoiding those that contain paraffin, a petroleum-based by-product with dubious emissions quality. (Duraflame has phased all petroleum-based waxes out of its logs). Some cool alternatives include fireplace logs made of recycled cardboard boxes, recycled-paper briquettes, and logs made of used coffee grounds, which burn hotter and longer than wood while producing fewer emissions and less soot.

Heating water is another big energy-hog year-round. A simple insulating blanket to improve the efficiency of your water heater costs only about $20 and is readily available at most hardware stores. Another way to save energy is to wash your laundry in cold water whenever possible. Since each load uses about 40 gallons of water, this small step can make a big difference: One household can eliminate more than a thousand pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in a year just by washing in cold.

Daily Tip: November 8, 2007

New models of automatic dishwashers can actually save water over hand-washing. According to the University of Bonn in Germany, an efficient dishwasher uses one-half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and far less soap than doing it the old fashioned way. Of course, you save the most by running the dishwasher when it’s full and skipping the (usually unnecessary) pre-rinse.

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Daily Tip: November 7, 2007

If your furry friend has a case of the fleas, try a less-toxic method of flea control such as ANTidote or Bio Flea Halt. If fleas have already invaded your home, applying Borax to the carpet is a fairly low-risk way to kill them off. (But be careful, Borax can be an eye irritant and should not be ingested in large amounts by your pet.) Or replace the chemical flea dip with this natural recipe from Care2: Cut up four lemons and simmer for about an hour in one quart of water, adding more water if necessary. Cool and strain the mixture before rubbing it into your dog’s coat. Be sure to avoid your pet’s eyes and exercise appropriate caution—citrus-peel extract products like this one can be very strong. Ventilate the room properly and do not use this solution if you’re asthmatic. And do not use this flea bath on cats!

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Walkin' the Talk

I don't think anyone likes to hear the phrase "do as I say, not as I do." But when you find yourself in the advice-giving business, as I now seem to be, it can be hard to have all of your own habits aligned with the practices you know are best for the planet. Take composting, for example. Although I live in an apartment with no yard, I knew that San Francisco offered a green-cart program for just such folks; that is, a bin to collect food scraps and yard trimmings that gets picked up along with your recycling one. The only problem? My building didn't have a green bin, and as a renter, I was a little bit reluctant to rock the boat. So I was totally gratified when I finally broached the subject with my landlord and he enthusiastically took it up with the homeowners' association. Now I've got a little green bin under my sink for food scraps--though truthfully, I don't cook much, so it's mostly full of coffee grounds--and a big one out back to empty it into. It was that easy.

Another little victory I had recently was figuring out what to do with the many promotional CDs and DVDs (not the fun kind with music or movies on them, which can usually find a new home) that often now accompany press releases. Green Citizen, a computer recycler just down the street from my office, happily took them--and some old floppy disks I'd been carting around for years--with a promise to demanufacture these items into their recyclable components without sending them overseas to developing countries with few environmental or safety standards. Got your own heap of obsolete electronic items lying around? Find a responsible recycler in your area through the Computer TakeBack Campaign. And let me know what new environmental accomplishments you're reveling in lately.

Daily Tip: November 6, 2007

If you’re a smoker, QUIT. It’s bad for your health and the health of those around you, not to  mention the environment. One cigarette butt alone can take ten years to degrade!  Land and marine animals can die from eating harmful butts, and many destructive  forest fires have started with one tossed carelessly from a car window. While  you’re on your way to quitting, dispose of your cigarette butts in an ashtray or safely in the garbage. Get a pocket-sized disposable ashtray for free by visiting http://www.nobuttsaboutit.net/.

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Five Stellar Cellular Apps

1. Track down alternative-fuel stations on the road by calling (866) 238-1137 or downloading earthcomber.com.
2. Mooing ring tones are used to safely attract and trap leopards near Indian villages.
3. Find out the water quality at California beaches by texting their names to 23907.
4. UC Berkeley researchers are developing wireless sensors for cell phones to detect pollution.
5. Look up a corporation's climate-change record as you shop by texting "cc [company name]" to 30644.

Daily Tip: November 5, 2007

When it comes to clearing the air, you should can the artificial sprays, gels, and plug-ins: Not only is the packaging wasteful, scientists now say many air fresheners can aggravate asthma and pose other health risks, including developmental problems in babies. Most fragrance products, including ones labeled “all natural,” contain dangerous chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, and phthalates. For a green alternative:

• Burn beeswax candlesticks or candles that are lightly scented without the use of chemical additives.
• Make potpourri out of dried flowers, cinnamon sticks, and essential oils
• Bundle sage or lavender and dry it, then hang it in any room or in the kitchen pantry.
• Collect fallen pine bows and pine cones and use as a tabletop “scenterpiece.”

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Daily Tip: November 2, 2007

Ceiling fans aren't just for summertime. You can utilize your fan in the winter to keep your home warm without using as much heat. By reversing your ceiling fan's motor, hot air that normally accumulates at the top of the room will be projected downward. This improved heat circulation will also help prevent "sweating windows" by discouraging condensation.

For more energy-saving tips, check out Flex Your Power.

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The Buzz

"Some things are important for the world to know . . . like how long I shower. Seriously. I take a three-minute shower. It's three minutes, or as short as possible, for a good reason."

--actress Jennifer Aniston in The Green Book (Three Rivers Press)

* * *

If we'd listened to Jimmy Carter, we'd have some great electric cars right now."

--actor Mark Wahlberg

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I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like to see things in skips [British for dumpsters]. I go past a skip and I'll say, 'I could use that. That's a cupboard; that's a nice bit of wood.'"

--Sir Paul McCartney on his dumpster-diving habit

* * *

Women say they like my sense of responsibility. The fact that I'm an activist--that's been attractive."

--eligible environmentalist Aaron Rourke, one of People magazine's six "Lean, Green, Sexy Machines"

Daily Tip: November 1, 2007

If you're already bringing your own mug to your favorite cafe, take the next step and encourage them to switch to organic or fair trade coffee and tea. As for the other meals of the day, eat in if you have time so you can use the restaurant's glassware and silverware. If you have to take it to go, bring along your own carton and reusable silverware, limit the use of paper napkins, and say "no thanks" to bags to carry food in.

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