Your Ecological Footprint November 29, 2009

So you’ve got a handle on what your carbon footprint is and how you can go about reducing it. But what about your Ecological Footprint? The difference is more than semantics.

Your Ecological Footprint measures the area of land it takes to sustain your lifestyle. It is a measure of the land or marine area required to produce the food that you eat and the resources that you consume on an annual basis. The measure also takes into account the land required dissipate or absorb the waste that you produce. This measure goes beyond one year, as well. When an ecological footprint is calculated it based on the acreage needed to be able to sustain your needs year after year. If you calculate the global population and the planet’s total acreage, you find that each person has approximately 1.8 Global Hectares (gha) to use and live off of without exhausting our resources.

A comprehensive look at our actual resource use reveals a startling trend. Sometime in the late 1980’s the total of our collective Ecological Footprints exceeded the actual acreage of the planet. So what does that mean? Put simply, we are using more resources than we have, and can be reproduced, on our planet. That means it’s only a matter of time before we exhaust many of our resources. The guilty parties reside mainly in developed Western countries. The average US Ecological Footprint is 9.6 gha, compared to an average Footprint of 1.6 gha in less developed China.

So what can you do? For starters, you should determine your own Ecological Footprint. A great place to start is the Global Footprint Network, they have quizzes and suggestions for how you can lower your own use of resources. Many pioneering sustainable communities have been able to find creative ways of lowering their footprints as well. A list of some good resources is included below. Good Luck!

Precautionary Principle November 10, 2009

An additional alternative approach to environmental governance is the precautionary principle. Although it tends to garner very little support in the United States, it has made some headway in Europe. Much of the debate over the use of the precautionary principle has come out of a debate over the use of Genetically Modified Organisms or Foods (GMO) and the use of hormones in animal products. Europe’s use of the principle has, in fact, led to a ban on 7 different US foods. However, the discussion of stevia enhanced strawberries or rBGH induced cows will have to wait for another entry into this blog. For now, let’s explore what the principle is and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

The precautionary principle, at its root, is one that seeks to protect the stakeholders of society from the potential negative externalities (unintended consequences) of actions , whether those actions be related to the environment or the food industry. As a result, the precautionary principle is a moral and political principle that emphasizes the need for scientific evidence that reflects reduced risks given the desire for action–precluding that action being taken. Central to this thesis is the notion that the burden of proof is not specifically the responsibility of the objector to an action but now the responsibility of the proponent of an action. If a company wants to produce pig-gene tomatoes, they have to prove without a reasonable doubt that there are no significant risks.

Advantages: At first glance, the precautionary principle provides policymakers with a simple common-sense approach to evaluating actions. Very simply put, if we are embarking on something new, we should think very carefully about whether it is safe or not, and we should not go ahead until we are convinced it is. This approach allows for, I believe, government regulators to catch up with private enterprise; allow government to create appropriate plans of action given “good” information; allow regulators the chance to examine the far-reaching effects of proposed action prior to that action being taken; allow for greater protection of the consumer and environment.

Disadvantages: There has been significant academic work on the precautionary principle. Much of what has been written relates to an ambiguity in notions of a weak vs. strong precautionary principle (see Cass Sustein’s Law of Fears).  Also, many advocates of agro-business, bio-chemical industries and pharmaceuticals put forward an import thesis regarding, what I consider, an important disadvantage of the principle. Basically, given the increased rigor of regulatory demands for proof of limited to no risk, many health related products may be kept from the market. There could be a potential drug that could be used to help cancer patients; however, it has not shown significant results in limited risks–although there are clear benefits–and is kept from the market. This raises the question: how much risk must be eliminated? Are all risks foreseeable?

Ultimately, as an alternative to the current command-and-control regime, precautionary principle does not stand firmly on its own, but would function best when coupled with the sustainability approach. In cases where consumer and environmental safety and sustainability are at risk, the principle would due well to address the concerns over such actions. However, in order to ensure the maintenance of well-being, precautionary principle could be avoided in instances of national security or health/life emergencies. Of course, defining such emergencies remains ambiguous but the point is that no policymakers, even the ones we disagree with, should be permitted maneuverability on issues like the environment that are continually changing.

Making Your Food Purchase a Little Greener: October 12, 2009

I think that it can be agreed upon that food is a pretty big part of our lives. Because food plays such a large role in our existence, it’s not hard to imagine that the production and transport of our food is a big contributor to our overall carbon footprint. Being a conscious shopper and consumer of food is a great way to lessen your impact on the globe. Here are a few things to consider the next time you are in the grocery store:

1. Transportation - Transporting the food that we eat is one of the biggest contributors to the foods carbon cost. When thinking about the carbon cost of a food, it is important to take into account not only the distance that a food has traveled, but also how that food traveled. That is to say, it most likely takes far less fuel to ship French wine by sea to the east coast of the US than it does to ship the same amount of wine from California by land.

2. What goes into the food – Both ingredients and energy input are important to consider in this category. A product that uses many different ingredients will most likely be far more costly than a food that uses fewer ingredients. This is because in addition to the fuel it takes to gather and transport all of the ingredients to a central production site, it takes even more energy to put the ingredients together into the final product. It is also important to consider the environmental cost of the food. For example, beef is a more costly source of protein than beans for several reasons. First of all, the beef accrues the carbon cost of the feed that it eats, while the beans get their energy from the best know renewable energy source, the sun. Secondly, beef has the negative environmental impact of its methane production, while beans have the positive impact of photosynthesis. Third, the production of beef has many more steps and by-products than does the production of beans. Finally, the run-off from feedlots is far more harmful than any by-product of bean growth.

3. Size of operation – Generally speaking, food that is produced by smaller operations will have a smaller carbon cost than food that is produced in larger businesses. We will use the example of vegetable growth to illustrate this point. Larger operations will most likely use more large machinery in the growing and harvest process than will smaller operations and this means that larger operations will use more fuel. Larger operations are also more likely to use larger and more general applications of things like fertilizer and insecticides than will smaller operations. It is also important to think about the size of the provider. Large grocery store chains usually send all of their products to a central distribution site where it is stored and then redistributed to regional branches. Smaller groceries most likely do not have redistribution centers and this cuts out a leg of transportation, which ultimately saves fuel. In addition to added fuel costs, keeping produce cool and fresh while in storage uses energy and chemicals.

While it is true that no one factor is a good benchmark for judging a food’s greenness, using what information you know about a product, you can make informed choices that will help to decrease your carbon footprint. Generally speaking, food that travels a shorter distance, uses fewer total ingredients in its production, and is produced and/or provided by a small organization will be a good choice.

DC Green Festival is this weekend! October 5, 2009

If you are in or near the Washington DC area, or the East Coast for that matter, come join us at the Green Festival this Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th. The Festival has lots of information on green living, opportunities for green shopping (get your holiday shopping started early!), and food sampling. If you are there, stop by our booth, 646, to say hi!.

Exploring The Future of Green Housing – Solar Decathlon 2009 September 10, 2009

For the fourth time since 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy will be hosting the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from October 9th-18th. The purpose of the Decathlon is two-fold: 20 universities from around the world compete to design and build the most sustainable solar-powered single-family home, while the public gets a chance to tour the complex of houses, catching a glimpse of what housing may look like in the future. The competition was founded as a means of helping solar-power technologies break into the mainstream market.

Two years before the competition begins, the student-founded teams begin to design their entry into the competition, then build it on site, and later transport it to the National Mall (some from as far away as Madrid, Puerto Rico, and Munich), where it will be judged in ten different fields, including architecture, lighting design, communications, hot water, comfort and market viability. While the competition is taking place, the public is encouraged to walk through the houses and better see what scientists, engineers, and designers are envisioning as the building norms of the future.

The number one reason that the competition has been made public is to show the greater population that it is possible to power every part of a home through wind and solar energy, as each house is built entirely off the grid. Building materials also play a huge role in the competition. Many entries from previous years relied heavily on recycled materials like shipping crates, as well as sustainable materials like bamboo to earn extra points from the judges. Passive heating and cooling measures, as well as solar water heaters, are staples in the design of most of the houses.

For more information about the houses, the universities involved, or the Solar Decathlon in general, visit the USDoE’s website.

Hang-Up the Rag and Bucket – Tips for Sustainable Car-Washing September 3, 2009

Washing the family car in front of the house seems like a great way to save money on a professional car wash while spending some time in the sunshine, right? What you may not realize is that with every wash, you are sending upwards of 120 gallons of soapy, toxin-laden water directly back into the watershed. Furthermore, studies show that washing you car by hand wears away at the finish on your car much faster than with a professional wash.

Since the water that runs off your driveway and into the sewer isn’t sent to a water treatment plant the soap, gasoline, oil, and heavy metals that used to be on your car are put directly into streams and rivers. Conversely, professional car washes are required by law to sent their run-off to a water treatment plant. Furthermore, your average professional car wash uses between eight and 45 gallons of water – drastically less than what you would use at home. Lastly, the cloth that is used in the overhead and side rollers in professional car washes is designed specifically to minimize damage to the car’s finish. Though they can be more expensive than their home-based counterparts, these car washes are not only better for the environment, but also better for maintaining your car’s appearance.

In the instance where a professional car wash isn’t an option, some steps can be taken to minimize your impact on the environment. A wide array of green cleaning agents can be used to take care of the car’s body, windows, hubcaps, and tires. Using a pressure-washer instead of a garden hose greatly reduces the amount of water needed to get the job done. Washing the car on a permeable surface like gravel or grass greatly reduces the amount of run-off that makes it into fragile ecosystems. Finally, instead of finishing by dumping the bucket of soapy water into the gutter, pour it into the toilet to ensure that it makes it to a water treatment facility.

Bring food, not waste, to school August 20, 2009

It’s back-to-school time again, as can be seen from the lines at supply stores, and children walking around with their lists of items to purchase, not to mention the prominent new backpacks displays and stores touting ‘back to school specials’. While the focus is on buying new, some moms are wondering how they can decrease waste and reuse what they have. One way  is by minimizing waste associated with making children’s school lunches.

Using one time use lunch packaging, or pre-packaged meals, such as the beloved “Lunchable”, is a matter of convenience and habit. However, hardly any busy mother stops to think about the waste these products create.  The typical American school kid creates 67 pounds of discarded school lunch packaging waste per school year. That’s a lot of plastic and paper in the landfills! It is time to push the brown bags and paper napkins aside for reusable packaging.

The waste created by school lunch packaging fills our landfills and garbage incinerators with plastics, and create hazardous emissions. Plastics can also leach chemicals into the food, and can actually hurt the children that the lunches were made for in the first place. So while shopping for a new Spiderman backpack or a new school outfit, consider buying reusable drink and food containers, cloth napkins and metal silverware, as well as lunchboxes. This will not only help the environment, but also help your wallet and keep your kids safer in the long run. Some fun options include lead-safe lunch bags, Laptop Lunches,  Citizenpip, stainless steel boxes, LunchSkins, and Wrap-N-Mat. There are many alternatives out there once you start looking, and your child will enjoy having a fun lunch box or sandwich wrap instead of a brown paper bag to bring to school. Cloth napkins and silverware also make lunch feel more like a ‘real’ meal.

Lids and Caps- To be or Not to be Recycled? August 13, 2009

Recycling is now commonplace in many areas – that is, recycling of plastic, metal and glass bottles and containers. But what about the accompanying lids and caps? Those should be recycled, correct? Not necessarily – it can actually be harmful to both the usability of the future recycled product and to workers in the recycling plant.

Usually, lids are not made from the same kind of plastic as the bottles they top. Therefore they should not be recycled together. When two types of plastics are mixed, one material can contaminate the other and make the process to reuse these products more difficult. In addition, because of their size, many lids do not compact properly. Finally, if the lid is still tightly fastened, it can explode as the temperature increases in the recycling process, potentially harming anyone standing nearby.

Many recycling programs do not accept the lids and caps that accompany recycled products. However, if this distinction is not made, you should check with your local program. And spread the word that recycling lids and caps may actually cause more harm than good.

Here are some recycling sites for local programs:

• Washington DC
• Montgomery County
• Arlington County
• Fairfax County
• Alexandria
• Howard County
• Prince George’s County

Keeping Cool Without Harming the Environment July 24, 2009

Keeping cool can be a challenge, especially in the hot summer months. It is automatic for most Americans to turn to their thermostat and hike up the air conditioning to stay cold. But the environmental impact of blasting the air conditioning is large, not to mention the impact it has on your electric bill.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy the key to staying cool is not blasting the cold air, but concentrate on “the movement of air over the skin.” You can stay cool by noting which way the wind is blowing and getting a breeze flowing throughout the house.

If the natural breeze through open windows is not enough, fans can add additional wind, especially if strategically placed in front of windows. Ceiling fans can also be beneficial. It is also important to think about if you really need your air conditioner at night because the nighttime air is normally much cooler.

If you do not deem any of these options “cool” enough for your home, there are air conditioning options that are especially energy efficient. You can install single room air conditioning units and turn them on as need be, instead of cooling rooms in your house that you are not being used through central air. Also, if buying a new air conditioner, it is important to find federally labeled energy efficient models to save on the amount of electricity used. All of these methods are up and coming ways to keep cool without causing harm to the environment.

Check out some resources from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Composting Toilets: Easier Than You Might Think June 26, 2009

At first glance, a composting toilet seems eerily similar to the outhouses of centuries past, leaving many of those that hear of them entirely turned-off to this surprisingly green alternative. However, it is important to recognize that the modern composting toilet is as advanced and as user-friendly as its flushing counterpart. In an era where “out of sight, out of mind” is the status quo, flushing toilets are the obvious choice, yet few have discovered the benefits that an on-site composting system can bring to both the environment and your wallet.

A composting toilet is any type of toilet system that takes human waste, dehydrates it, and then breaks it down into organic compounds that can be used as soil additives. Very little, if any, water is used, so a connection to an expensive sewer line isn’t necessary. Furthermore, an extractor fan installed inside the toilet works to keep any unpleasant odors at bay, leaving a clean, pleasant, and eco-friendly bathroom.

When learning about composting toilets, it is important to recognize that there are two main types, each with different composting methods. A toilet with a batch system employs a number of rotating containers that are sealed for composting, and switched-out as one becomes full, and a new bin is then made at the ready. There are typically three or four bins in the cycle, and by the time a full cycle is complete, the first bin is ready to be emptied and refilled. Of the two, a batch system is typically more expensive, but allows for less frequent emptying of the compost. For this reason, a batch system is best for people that choose to install a composting toilet in a vacation home, a country cottage, or any other place where they don’t spend the majority of their time.

The second form of toilet is a continual process system. As its name eludes, a continual process system skips the rotating binsfor a single large tank that converts human waste into compost as it moves deeper down, and is prepared for harvesting. Complete decomposition takes between six and twelve months, depending on the conditions inside the tank. In both forms, elements can be added that breakdown the organic waste quicker and more evenly, including mixing blades, air injection systems, and the addition of worms or microorganism decomposers. Evaporators are also necessary to ensure that the waste gets sufficient oxygen from the air.

Switching from a standard flush toilet to one of these composting toilets proves beneficial for the user in many ways. For many a consumer, it is nice to know that they are helping to save the environment by reducing the amount of water they use, and recycling the waste they produce, but the most important factor is the amount of money they will save. Of the 70+ gallons of water the average American uses per day, nearly one-third of that is used to flush toilets. When considering how much money is effectively flushed town the toilet when gallons are converted to dollars, the reason for converting to a waterless system becomes clear. Furthermore, the average American household pays over $500 in sewer fees per year. By disconnecting from the sewer lines, your money stays in your pocket. The added benefit of having free composting material around will also help you save at the garden supply store.

Now, it is also necessary to recognize that composting toilets aren’t the best choice for every type of bathroom. Ideally, a toilet will serve a household, or a very small business, as it’s not yet adapted to take-on the high volume of waste that is produced by large businesses, shopping malls, and high-rise housing complexes. On the contrary they are perfect for campsites, outposts, and places with shallow bedrock or high water tables, as they require no connection to a sewer line, and little if ay digging into the earth.

For more information on composing toilets, or to find a retailer, check out the following links
www.compostingtoilet.org - A great source for aerobic decomposing practices
www.biolet.com – One of the largest composting toilet manufacturers
www.envirolet.com – Another great manufacturer