The Green Life

Recyclops Takes Over The Office

Watch out office workers... Recyclops is on the loose! The character Dwight Schrute from NBC's The Office is part futuristic robot, part green crusader in tonight's green-themed episode. Fans of the show know that Dwight runs a small beet farm, so he's already scoring points when it comes to local foods. But tonight's episode takes it to a whole new level -- a level we don't recommend when you're trying to green your own office.

It's green week on NBC, part of its parent company Universal's "Green is Universal" campaign. Many of NBC's shows are getting out the green message, but we're not sure any of them can match the hilarity of Recyclops.

If you are looking to get your co-workers involved in green workplace solutions, check out our 10 ways to green your workplace and tips for getting your boss on board. 

--Kyle Boelte

Corporate Demand Grows for Green Hotels

Rarely are the terms “eco-friendly” and “business travel” mentioned in the same sentence. But now companies are urging their employees to seek green alternatives, especially when it comes to booking hotels. The motivation for such a shift has its perks; companies can say they are environmentally conscious, while hotels are rewarded for going green and earning LEED certification.

According to USA Today, the increased interest in green hotels has some companies checking lodging properties' green practices -- such as how much water and energy are conserved and how often towels are replaced -- before signing contracts. Helping this transition is the Green Hotels Association, a group of hotels that promote environmentally responsible ways of operating.

Of course, being picky about where you stay isn't the only way to green your business travel. You can also pack light, decline the napkin, and recycle. Consider taking public transportation to and from the airport, and for sightseeing purposes. Finally, flying can seriously deepen your carbon footprint, so look into carbon offsets. But as always, watch out for greenwashing, which is rampant in the travel industry.

--Michael Mullaley

Weathering the Storm on Two Wheels

Sure, biking is easy when the sun is shining and the road is dry. And commuting by bike is fun—you show up to work feeling great, you get to skip morning traffic, and maybe you even lose a few pounds. But as the days get cooler and cold weather looms, you wonder if you can keep it up. You can. Here’s how.

It’s not all or nothing. Don’t think that just because you can’t bike every day or every week, you should give up on bike commuting altogether during winter. When a snowstorm hits, or you have extra responsibilities at home or work, taking off a few days is fine. No one’s judging you. Just remind yourself how much you love biking to work when things clear up, and then get back in the saddle. Remember, people bike in Minneapolis (in what locals call Minnesnowta) all year round!

Rain, rain. You wake up and it’s raining. Should you leave the bike at home? Not necessarily. Rain isn't a major problem for bikers, as anyone who's ever been to Portland, Oregon, knows. Just wear appropriate clothing (raincoat, rain pants, gloves) and give yourself a little extra time. Bike slower than usual since the roads are slick and your stopping power is reduced, and take the turns with caution. Paint on roads is slicker than the blacktop when wet, so stay away from paint when possible.

Becoming a Bike Commuter

Fall is an excellent time in many areas to bike to work. It’s not too hot, not too cold -- just right for biking. But how do you actually go about doing it? You could just head out the door and make your way to work like any other day, but we think you’ll have a better time if you do a little planning.

Bike are not cars. Don’t assume that the route you use in your car is the best one for biking. Many cities have bike maps published by either the local city government or a bicycle advocacy group. Pick up a map at your local shop or find it online (Google “Atlanta Bike Route Map” and you get the A-Train.) Now, create a route using the most direct streets with bike lanes and bike paths, if they exist. If you live in a city with a lot of hills, take them into consideration. Going a little out of your way might be worth it to keep away from monster climbs. There are great bike route maps for San Francisco and other cities that allow you to enter the maximum incline you want to climb.

Your first day is your second day. Now that you have a route figured out, try it out on a weekend instead of on Monday morning. That way you can time it so you show up to work relaxed and on time Monday morning. Just remember that there will be more traffic on a weekday, though bike riders rarely get stuck in traffic (another big perk!).

Walking Hard for the Money

To the avid multitasker/workaholic who spends hours each day sitting at a desk staring at a computer screen (but who also likes to squeeze exercise into the day): Your life just got easier. You can now burn calories and lose weight without ever having to leave your desk. Check out the chuckle-worthy video above to see how.

The human body has evolved the ability to walk 30 miles per day, but the average American walks only two. TrekDesk has the good intentions of reducing obesity and cutting healthcare costs with its desktop work station that attaches to a treadmill. People can meet their walking, fitness, and health goals all while staying at their desk.

We know that walking improves health – studies by the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Diabetes Association prove that it reduces the rates of most cancers, the number of initial heart attacks, and the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and strokes.

But what this treadmill-turned-desk offers in convenience, it lacks in satisfying another basic human need: to push away from that ever-alluring desk and to put one foot in front of the other in the places in which we evolved to do so. In nature.

--Michael Mullaley

(School) Farm to School Cafeteria

America has been losing farmers for decades thanks to the tractor, fertilizer, and other hallmarks of industrial food production. But just as interest in farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) has grown in recent years, so too has student interest in local, organic agriculture. Many young people around the country are taking a second look at farm life. This year, almost 1,400 farms turned to young interns for help, almost three times as many as two years ago.

But the movement isn’t just taking place in remote pastures during summer months. Colleges such as Oberlin, Stanford, and many others have started their own on-campus farms and gardens where student volunteers can learn about small-scale agriculture. Some colleges offer course credit for work done on the farm and at least one, Washington State, offers an undergrad degree in Organic Agriculture.

So what do the students do with their harvest? The College of the Atlantic serves its student-raised produce in dining halls. And Bon Appetit Management Co., which provides food services for many campuses, offers a guide for student farmers interested in selling their produce to their school’s food-service provider.

--Kyle Boelte

Green Biz: The Eco-Coaching Trend

Living consumptively is losing popularity but remains a hard habit to quit. "Most people would like to go green but haven't made it a priority," says Rosamaria Caballero, cofounder of eco-consulting firm Green Irene. She and other entrepreneurs are making it their job to help clients lead more sustainable lives.

Green-living coaches' services vary. Anca Novacovici, founder of Washington, D.C.-based Eco-Coach, performs home or business "eco-audits" that analyze consumption and product use, then recommends specific changes, like buying natural personal-care products, installing efficient showerheads, and minimizing "vampire energy" wasted by appliances in standby mode.

Cristen Jester, owner of Organic Happiness, focuses on motivation. "Eco-coaching to me is more about reconnecting people with nature," she says--something she accomplishes through guided hikes, gardening, and other outdoor exercises. "As they begin to feel that connection, they want to take green steps in their lives and in their homes."

Organic Happiness sessions start at $70, Green Irene home makeovers are $99, and Eco-Coach audits begin at $200.

--Jamie Hansen

Spamming the Globe

Until now, we've thought of spam as virtual pollution. It turns out that all those annoying e-mails blight not only our inboxes but also the atmosphere. According to a report by McAfee, maker of spam-blocking software, Americans got 62 trillion junk e-mails in 2008.

All those male-enhancement testimonials and Nigerian investment opportunities wasted enough electricity to power 2.4 million U.S. homes for a year. The three seconds it takes to review and delete a spam message emits a 0.3-gram puff of carbon dioxide -- equal to driving a car three feet. Americans collectively spend 100 billion aggravating hours per year shedding unwanted e-mails.

--Avital Binshtock

Daily Roundup: August 10, 2009

Make the Save: The World Wildlife Fund urged Himalayan countries to develop a conservation plan for the biologically diverse region. Over the past decade, more than 350 new species have been discovered in the Himalayas. Associated Press

Wind Block: North Carolina's state senate voted to uphold a ban on large mountaintop wind turbines. Treehugger

All Shook Up: A tsunami watch was issued after a 7.6-magnitude quake struck in the Indian Ocean today. CNN

Coming Soon: Labor secretary Hilda Solis predicted that hiring in the alternative energy industry will increase within the next 12 months. Associated Press

Muddy Waters: Around 600 to 800 people in Taiwan are missing after mudslide triggered by Typhoon Morakot buried an entire village. BBC

--Della Watson

Rebuilding Environmental Journalism

We've reported on the troubling cutbacks in environmental and science journalism plaguing mainstream media outlets, but as social media and online reporting change the nature of the game, there's evidence that the next generation of environmental writers actually may have more options for delivering stories to the world. 

One promising example is the newly created News21 project, which arms the nation's top journalism students with new-media experience that will prepare them for a marketplace driven by blog traffic and Twitter feeds. Grants from the Carnegie and Knight foundations fund the ambitious project (the name is short for "News for the 21st Century: Incubators of New Ideas").