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

E-Waste Limits Landfills June 11, 2009

Electronic waste (also known as e-waste) has been and continues to rapidly add to the stream of municipal solid waste from frequent purchases and upgrades of various products such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, audio equipment, and printers.  E-waste is very problematic because finding new methods and locations for disposal are lacking.  Furthermore, e-waste is laden with toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that can leach into water, soils, and the atmosphere, posing significant environmental and human health risks.

The high toxicity of electronic waste makes its safe disposal expensive, especially in countries with strict environmental regulations.  Industrialized countries often circumvent these high costs by selling electronic waste to developing countries where environmental standards are low or nonexistent and working conditions are poor.  However, most developing countries lack the waste removal infrastructure and technical capacities necessary to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous waste.  As a result, e-waste has been linked to a variety of health problems in developing countries, including cancer, neurological and respiratory disorders, and birth defects.

The 1992 Basel Convention is an international treaty signed by 169 countries to regulate the international trade of hazardous waste from its production to its storage, transport, reuse, recycling, and final disposal.  However, illegal trading is pervasive and those who benefit from the waste trading continue to strongly oppose a global ban.

E-waste can be disposed of by landfills, incineration, reuse, or recycling.  Landfills are problematic due to potential for toxic chemicals to leach into surrounding soils and water, which has caused many European countries to ban the practice as a precautionary measure.  Nevertheless, the problem exists in developing countries where many people live close to the boundaries of landfills.  Incineration release heavy metals and highly toxic fumes into the air, which cause respiratory and skin problems to those exposed.  In developing countries where organized trash collection is often absent, it is typical for people to burn garbage in their backyards or neighborhoods.  Reuse is common in developing countries where there is high demand for inexperience, second-hand electronics.  However, 25-75 percent of used electronics shipped to developing countries are obsolete.

To date, recycling electronics for valuable raw material is a profitable endeavor in developing countries where the costs of recycling are lowest.  Most recycling is done by hand in scrap yards, however, exposing workers and neighboring communities to significant health risks.

Recent reports suggest that the efforts of nonprofit groups and the media to expose the effects of e-waste dumping have influenced original equipment manufacturers and recyclers worldwide to make an effort to clean up their act.  Nevertheless, a major driver of the growing e-waste problem is the short lifespan of most electronics – less than two years for computers and cell phones. In addition, consumers have few incentives to reuse or recycle used electronics equipment.  In most countries, it is still too easy and relatively inexpensive to throw e-waste in the trash.  Inconsistent legislation, minimal controls on the recyclers, and little enforcement has also led to widespread and inappropriate dumping of e-waste in developing countries.

Be a responsible consumer and find out if you can recycle your e-waste from the company or place it was purchased.  For easier methods, search the internet for local/state recycling centers or check out the following web-site to guide you at Earth911 . The Basel Action Network also certifies responsible e-waste recyclers with their E-Stewards program, so when in doubt, ask the recycler whether they are part of the network!

Cost-Free Strategies to Becoming Greener May 9, 2009

There are many changes an individual can make to become more environmentally friendly.  However, changes like switching to solar panels or buying a hybrid car costs money and may not be momentarily feasible for some people.  Nevertheless, an individual can become more environmentally friendly just by making simple cost-free strategies through minor lifestyle alterations that will save money and offset carbon.  We’ve listed some of these in other blogs, but it’s always good to have a reminder. Also – let us know which ones you’re doing and which ones you’d like to try out next. It’s always great to hear everyone’s progress – we’re all still learning!

• Unplug electronics, such as PC’s, TV’s, DVD’s, stereos, etc.  These consumer electronics are responsible for approximately 15% of household electricity use, even when on “off” or “standby” mode.  If you unplug such devices, you may save up to $10 a month on your utility bill (Per DoE.)  This may also offset your carbon by about 1000lbs. per year (Per World Resources Institute.)
• Practice temperature control with your heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) system, especially for periods away from home.  Programming your thermostat to certain levels can save you about $180 in energy costs every year (Per Energy Star.)  These combined efforts can reduce your carbon emissions by 20% to 50% (Per DoE.)
• Adjust your current water heater to no more than 120 degrees, which is sufficient for most households.  Each 10 degrees reduces about 500lbs. of carbon per year (Per World Resources Institute.)
• Most washers’ energy consumption goes to water heating.  Washing two loads a week in warm or cold water will reduce emissions by about 500lbs. per year (Per World Resources Institute.)  Also, air dry your clothes to save energy otherwise used during machine drying.
• Run your dishwasher with a full load of dishes. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher goes to heat water.  Avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features. Instead use your dishwasher’s air-dry option (Per Energy Star.)
• Reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator uses by setting the temperature between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while positioning it away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.  Make sure the door seals are airtight and minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open (Per Energy Star.)
• Recycle products from paper to electronics.  Products made from recycled paper, glass, metal, and plastic reduce carbon emissions because they use less energy to manufacture than products made from completely new materials.  For instance, you will save two pounds of carbon for every 20 glass bottles that you recycle (Per Nature Conservancy.)  You will also save 17 trees by using 1 ton of recycled paper (Per World Resources Institute.)
• Take fast showers and turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, washing your hair, lathering your hands with soap, washing dishes, or washing food. This could save up to 25 gallons of water per month (Per National Conservation Campaign.)
• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it’s even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
• Walk or bike instead of driving to add to your health benefits.   The effort would save energy costs and save one pound of carbon for every mile travelled (Per Nature Conservancy.)

For additional information and references visit:

• Energy Star
• National Conservation Campaign
• Nature’s Conservancy
• U.S.  Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• World Resources Institute