30
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Going Green, Monday Mitzvah
“Eating 6.6 lbs. less of red meat a year is equivalent to reducing household water use by half.” Rebecca Blackburn, Green Is Good: Smart Ways to Live Well and Help the Planet
Americans eat roughly eight ounces of meat a day which is approximately twice the global average. To put that in perspective 2.2 pounds of beef burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for nearly 20 days. Gidon Eshel, a geophysicist at the Bard Center, and Pamela A. Martin, an assistant professor of geophysics at the University of Chicago, calculated that if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20% it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan, i.e. Toyota Camry, to a Prius. So instead of buying that new hybrid you have been eyeing an even better way to contribute to the health of the planet is to eat less meat.
The mitzvah this week is to consciously reduce your meat consumption. You don’t have to go to the extreme and become a vegan or a vegetarian. Just try to cut back a bit. Americans consume approximately 110 grams of protein a day which is about twice the recommended daily allowance. About 75 grams of that comes from animal protein. You could safely cut that down to 30 grams of plant protein a day and have a healthy diet. The best source of plant protein is the legume family which includes lentils, kidney beans, peanuts, peas and edamame.
Minimizing meat is a low impact way to have a high impact effect on the world. In January, Rajendra Pachauri, who is the head of the United Nation’s Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on climate change, asked the world to “please eat less meat.” His team considers climate change the planet’s biggest problem and points to eating less meat as one way to help.
Let’s really support each other in minimizing the meat in our diets. My strategy is to not build my meal around the meat. In America we tend to make meat the focal point on the plate with vegetables and starch as the “side dishes.” One way to minimize the meat is to reduce the meat portion and make the vegetables and starch the main attraction. If I make desirable veggie, rice, potato and bean dishes, I won’t miss the meat as much.
How are you minimizing the meat? Your strategies will inspire us all.
27
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Environment, Going Green
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| The average American receives over 800 pieces of junk mail every year. According to the Privacy Council about 100 million trees are ground up each year to produce junk mail which is the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. These are staggering statistics. Not only is all of this junk mail killing trees but it is also producing mass waste. Approximately 40% of the solid mass that makes up our landfills is paper and paperboard.
One of the Simple Ways to Help readers, Kathleen Shecter, suggested we discuss how to reduce the onslaught of junk mail in our mailboxes. Kathleen is an avid recycler and environmentalist. She launched a personal campaign to get junk mail out of her life. She shares her experience with us today.
Junk mail is a problem, a big one. It wastes our natural resources. It stuffs our mailboxes, ends up in the landfill (for those who are not recycling) and is a general pain in the butt. No more! I have successfully managed to alleviate all unwanted mail. It took some phone calls and letter/email writing but after about two months (it takes awhile to get out of the systems of some of the larger places) it tapered off and then just disappeared. The following are the places I contacted:
1) OptOutPrescreen.com: (888) 567-8688. This is a centralized service to accept and process requests from consumers to “Opt-Out” of unsolicited credit card offers. Very important to avoid identity theft!
2) ADVO: (888) 241-6760 to delete all those unwanted grocery circulars. These guys are the largest private customer of the USPS! They have a free online form to fill out. It takes about 5-6 weeks to get you out of their system. Call again if it doesn’t work after that.
3) Harte Hanks Communications: (800) 422-4116. These folks send out that “Pennysaver” pamphlet. With Ebay available who needs a printed ad?
4) Val Pak: (800) 237-6266. That packet of coupons that comes once a month.
For addtional resources check out http://www.stopjunkmail.org. Also, whenever I get a new catalog that I did not request I immediately call and ask to be removed from their mailing list. Everyone is willing to help. They don’t want to waste the money if you aren’t interested. With a little time and energy you can stop the waste and keep your mailbox from being stuffed with junk you don’t want. It feels great to open the box and only have two pieces of mail! Now if I can only stop the bills.
In addition to Kathleen’s great suggestions there are a number of companies that purchase and collect information from government records, telephone books, consumer surveys, product registration forms, etc. and sell the lists. To be removed from the mailing lists of some of the major data compilers, contact the following companies.
Thank you, Kathleen, for suggesting this topic and sharing your experience. It is always motivating to hear about how people have taken steps to be green in their lives.
In what ways have you elimated waste in your everyday life? Your stories will inspire us all.
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26
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Environment, Going Green, Recycling
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Would you rather have a root canal without Novocain or fall down a flight of stairs? Would you rather breathe second hand smoke or get an X-ray without the lead protective vest? Would you like paper or plastic?
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There is no good answer to any of these questions. When the perky cashier at the local grocery store asks if we want paper or plastic bags, she might as well be asking us about a root canal or second hand smoke. Yes, shopping bags come with a lot of …baggage. There is no good answer to the dreaded question of paper or plastic bags. If you choose paper you are killing trees. If you choose plastic you are using petroleum and contributing to the depletion of a scarce natural resource. Not to mention that the plastic bags will end up in landfills where they will never decompose. Sigh!
The manufacture of both paper and plastic bags consumes large amounts of natural resources and both can be recycled to some extent. Paper bags consume more natural resources to produce but they are more recyclable than plastic especially since paper bags can be composted. I always thought paper was the more eco-friendly friendly choice but apparently plastic bags are the clear winner at the cash register. In California, we are using 600 plastic bags per second. So many that a California law has been passed requiring implementation of a statewide plastic bag recycling program.
Now I must admit that I have seen those plastic recycling bins and I have never taken the time to take my plastic grocery bags back to the store to recycle them. I guess I am in good company since only 1-4% of plastic bags in California are recycled. My local curbside recycling service does not accept plastic bags which I did not know until recently. The last time I went to Safeway they must have given me 10 plastic bags for about 25 items. I felt sick with guilt.
So the next time you are asked, “Paper or plastic?” the best answer is, “Neither.” The greenest choice is a reusable bag. The biggest challenges I have found with reusable bags are:
1. not bringing enough bags to fit all of my groceries
2. forgetting the bags in the car (which is how I ended up with 10 plastic bags the other day.)
I would recommend buying a set of six bags right from the start to avoid falling short at the checkout stand. For example, you can purchase The Planet Bag Set of Six (6) 100% Cotton Cloth Grocery Totes from Amazon.com which are 100% cotton and can be machine washed. If you are going to purchase a reusable bag you might as well do it right and get a bag that is naturally cotton rather than one made with synthetic fabric or synthetic polypropylene (plastic.) I have not figured out a good way to remember to bring the bags into the store. My new strategy is to make sure my bags are in my line of vision at all times so that when I am climbing out of the car I see the bags. If they are buried in the back of the car under a mound of sweaters I always forget.
What strategies have you devised to remember to bring your reusable bag into the store? I have found setting up a system is one of the most important parts of going green.
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23
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Environment, Going Green, Monday Mitzvah
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“Trees are the best monuments a man can erect to his own memory. They speak his praises without flattery, and they are blessings to children yet unborn.” Lord Orrery, 1749 |
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What do you think it would take to soak up the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by Russia in one year? One tree per person. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has organized a tree planting drive with the goal of seven billion trees by November 30, 2009. Seven billion trees is the equivalent to approximately one tree per person alive on the planet and would offset the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by Russia in one year.
Trees help the environment in many beneficial ways. Not only are they beautiful, but they can also reduce your heating and cooling costs, reduce noise pollution, improve air quality, help conserve water, provide shelter for wildlife and add value to your home. Temperatures near trees are cooler. The larger the tree, the greater the cooling effect will be. The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the winter trees can function as windbreaks thereby reducing your heating bill. Over the course of a year, the average home could save between $150 and $250 on energy costs through strategic landscaping.
If you live in a condo or there is no place in your backyard for a tree the UNEP has organized a program called Plant for the Planet which encourages schools, members of the community and the private sector to become involved in tree planting. Organizing a tree planting project in your condo complex or neighborhood is a great way to connect with neighbors to do a community good deed. It is also a good way to model for your children how one good deed makes a difference to the planet.
If you want to do this Monday Mitzvah from your office, the U.S. Forest Service has a Plant a Tree Program that accepts donations. This program qualifies as a charitable deduction for the Internal Revenue Service and can be donated in honor of someone or a special event.
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20
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Environment, Going Green
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If you are like me and live in an older home without central air conditioning, this is probably the time of year when you start contemplating installing an air conditioning unit. It is 95 degrees today where I live in Silicon Valley so air conditioning is on the forefront of my mind.
The best green solution is to do what I am doing today which is to keep the shades down and the doors closed. I have a fan blowing directly on me and am considering putting a bucket of ice water in front of it. Isn’t that how they used to stay cool in the deep South?
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However, despite the carbon footprint if you really want to stay cool air conditioning is obviously the way to go. Energy Star air conditioners are the most energy efficient option. If you already have an air conditioning unit and are thinking of replacing it with an Energy Star unit, consider the following:
- Is your air conditioning unit more than 10 years old? If so, Energy Star air conditioners can save you up to 20% on cooling costs.
- Do you use your entire home? If there are certain rooms that you don’t use, you may be better off purchasing a window-unit or portable AC.
- Is your AC the right size? Replacing your old AC with one that is the same size can often be a mistake. An AC that is too big or too small will be inefficient and waste energy.
- Is your home energy efficient? Make sure your home is insulated and all air leaks are sealed. This will have an impact on the size and cost of the new air conditioning system.
- Is your outdoor (condenser) unit is mounted on the roof or in an attic? You may want to move it to a cooler location when you install a new unit. That alone can make a large improvement in efficiency.
When you replace an inefficient air conditioning unit with an Energy Star product, you not only save money on utility bills but you help keep the air cleaner by minimizing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As Martha Stewart would say that is “a good thing.”
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18
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Environment, Recycling
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I received the following question from Ritu in Connecticut:
“I am a mother of a newborn and time is a luxury! I have purchased paper plates to cut down on dishes. But, after reading your blog I was wondering if it is better to use paper plates and save the energy by not using the dishwasher or would I be better off using a regular plate and thus using the dishwasher. Please note: doing the dish by hand is NOT an option right now!”
Thanks for the question, Ritu. The best choice for the environment is to use porcelain (reusable) dishes and wash them in the dishwasher. Dishwashers use energy and electricity but at least the water can be treated and reused. Although convenient, paper plates require trees to be cut down and will eventually end up in landfills where they will never fully degrade.
If you are going to a picnic or find yourself in a position where you really need to use paper plates, purchase products made from recycled paper or better yet potatoes. EarthShell produces plates and bowls made from renewable corn and potato starch mixed with abundant limestone. Both Wal-Mart and Target offer EarthShell products at select stores.
This may surprise you but hand washing dishes is worse for the planet than using a dishwasher. Hand washing a pile of dirty dishes can require up to 20 gallons of water which is more than five times the water used by most Energy Star certified dishwashers in a single load. Rinsing your plates before putting them in the dishwasher is just as bad and can waste almost as much water. If your dishwasher is not strong enough to remove the food from the plates, use the dishwasher rinse cycle which remarkably still uses less water than hand-washing.
What green questions do you have?
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16
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Going Green, Humanity, Recycling, Weekend
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Every pair makes a difference. Let your worn out shoes play on!” Nike ReUse a Shoe Campaign Slogan.
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At one time, recycling was a pipe dream. Anything you purchased you threw out when you were done with it. Glass, tin, paper, etc all were shipped to the incinerator every trash day. Then, the concept of recycling was discovered and in time it was popularized. Yes, there were a number of people who shook their head at the notion of recycling bins. In time, however, people began to realize the benefit of this and recycling started to become extremely popular. In fact, so popular we are recycling many things we never thought could possibly be recycled. One such area is the world of shoes.
Currently, one of the biggest promoters of shoe recycling is the Nike Corporation. Nike has developed a Reuse-A-Shoe program that does with shoes exactly what bottling companies have done with bottles and cans. Well, almost…you see the shoes are not recycled into new shoes. They are actually “converted” into materials earmarked for other purposes. How does this work? Basically, the material in the shoes is first melted down. Then, they are shaped into new material for reuse in athletic surfaces such as basketball courts, tennis courts and athletic field. Yes, after trampling on these fields the shoe will suffer the poetic justice of becoming the surface.
Best of all, this Reuse-A-Shoe program takes discarded sneakers out of their original destination: landfills. Nike has locations throughout the USA, Europe and Australia. Clearly, the Reuse-A-Shoe Program is a huge plus for the environment. Nike really deserves a pat on the back for its efforts! |
13
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Fair Trade
“I guess people are just picky about how their coffee tastes,” Barista at northern California Starbucks. |
| I went to Starbucks this morning to buy a pound of Cafe Estima Fair Trade coffee. I asked the barista who rang up my order if Cafe Estima was popular. She said, “No. It is not even in the top ten bestsellers.” Considering I was standing in a Starbucks in Silicon Valley where the promotion of Fair Trade products abounds, it surprised me to discover it was not selling well. I asked her the reason for the poor sales. She shrugged and said, “I guess people are just picky about how their coffee tastes.”
This got me to wondering about the whole Fair Trade coffee situation. I happen to love the flavor of Café Estima so it is not a sacrifice for me to buy it. However, not everyone feels the same. I read on Berin Kinsman’s UncleBear blog that he thinks Café Estima tastes like “burnt ass.” Apparently, he is in good company.
As I investigated the “burnt ass” issue I learned that Fair Trade does not incentivize quality. Fair Trade farmers typically sell in both the Fair Trade and open market. The price in the open market is determined solely by quality so farmers sell their best beans there. Since there are price guarantees in the Fair Trade market, they dump their poorer beans there. The Fair Trade co-operatives mix all of the farmers’ beans together and the co-op receives the money so there is no incentive to individual farmers to improve the quality of their beans or experiment with new farming techniques.
Bottom line: If you like the taste of Fair Trade coffee, buy it. If not, this is one you can skip without feeling guilty. Buying Fair Trade coffee is not necessarily a good deed and is not worth the sacrifice if you don’t like the flavor. Local government politics are the real source of the poor coffee farmers’ plight and our Fair Trade initiatives do nothing to solve the core problem. All in all Fair Trade might just be a way for affluent coffee drinkers to make themselves feel better while sipping their half caf soy lattes at Starbucks. |
10
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Going Green, Weekend
Last weekend I went to the Greenfair Silicon Valley at the San Jose Convention Center. As I walked past the more than 150 exhibitors my energy began to drop and I started to feel depressed. Every booth was filled with salespeople who were passionate about their product and helping the world. There were so many good causes, so many earth friendly products and so many ways to reduce my carbon footprint that it made me want to run to my air conditioned SUV for cover.
Still reeling from the information overload of the weekend, today I received an email from a friend with a link to a website which traces the life of some consumer products from extraction to disposal. Check out http://www.storyofstuff.com if want a good cry. It is better than The Titanic.
When stricken with a bout of eco-overwhelm, the following five steps can help you regain a balanced sense of perspective:
- Pick one thing to focus on : One of the things that overwhelmed me at the Greenfair was the number of things the vendors were advising me to do.One vendor grabbed my hand and made me feel how lifelike artificial grass is and explained to me how much water it saves.Another stuck an elephant dung postcard in my face and said by buying his stationary I would be saving the elephants.Another good soul pulled me to the side to discuss building my own backyard compost.Just as I was getting ready to leave a rep from AAA stopped me in the aisle and enrolled me in a contest.I answered correctly and won a tire air pressure gauge because driving with full tires saves on fuel.I felt filled with hope.Making sure my tires are filled with air is something I can do.Elephants, composting, and artificial grass are too much right now.Tires I can handle.
- Get a green buddy : I have a friend who has made it her mission to recycle ALL things whether they go to a facility to be recycled or she finds a home for them with someone else. She has chosen recycling as one of her primary areas of focus to help the world.She and a friend joined forces to network and support each other in their recycling efforts.Their motto is “Nothing in the landfill.”Just like you are more inclined to workout if you have a friend waiting for you at the gym, it is easier to meet your eco goals if you have a partner in the effort.
- Just say no It is ok to say no : You can’t do everything.In order to say yes to your area of focus you must say no to all of the other causes trying to get your attention.I said “Yes” to focusing on full tires at the Greenfair and “No” to saving the elephants.The trick is not feeling guilty about the things you say no to. One way to work it out in your mind is that it is more effective to just have a few causes you focus on and really put some effort into rather than scattering yourself across a number of different green initiatives.
- Do the math : When you know where you are and where you want to go it helps reduce feelings of overwhelm.There are a number of carbon footprint calculator web sites where you can get a base reading on your energy consumption. One of the best is the Personal Emissions Calculator offered by the EPA. The calculator tells you where you are currently and how you compare to the American average. As soon as I saw my numbers in comparison with US averages, my competitive nature kicked in and I could see where I needed to improve and what I needed to do to get there.Instead of being overwhelmed, I felt challenged.
- Complete one task : Pick one thing on your eco to do list and do it.Fill up your tires with air.Clean out your closet.Go to paperless bill pay.It doesn’t matter how big or small it is.Just do something.It will make you feel better and get the momentum going.
Have you been struggling with eco-overwhelm? If so, how have you been dealing with it?
09
Jun
Posted by Djuna Woods as Environment, Going Green
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“Of course they cut down on energy. You can’t see a damn thing with these light bulbs.”
– an 80 year old woman overheard talking to her daughter in the light bulb section of a Safeway Supermarket in CA.
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It is well documented that greenhouse gas emissions are bad for the environment. It has also, however, been widely reported that there are ways to deal with and reduce greenhouse gases. One such way is choosing Energy Star qualified lighting fixtures and replacement bulbs.
Energy Star is a joint program that combines the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOA). The goal of the program is to promote energy efficient products and practices. Energy Star qualified lighting uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting, produces 75 % less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer.
I have to admit that the woman I overheard in the grocery store does have a point. It does seem like these bulbs are dimmer and take longer to turn on, but that is a small price to pay to help the world. Exactly how does it help? Well, if every American home replaced the bulbs in their 5 most frequently used light fixtures, (i.e. kitchen ceiling lights, outdoor porch and post lamp, floor lamps, family and living room lamps), with Energy Star bulbs, we would save close to $8 billion each year in energy costs. This is equal to the greenhouse gas emissions of 10 million cars.
The bottom line is that the energy used in the average home can equal twice the greenhouse gas emissions of the average car. Using less energy at home is a very simple way to help the world and it saves money as well. To calculate your exact savings you can use this light bulb calculator.
Challenge for the week: Replace 5 light fixtures with Energy Star bulbs.
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