Greening Your Commute – Take Advantage of Bike-Sharing Programs August 27, 2009

This month, Washington D.C. will celebrate the first birthday of its pilot bike-sharing program, SmartBike D.C., which has not only been welcomed by the public, but has greatly succeeded. Within the first ten months of their introduction, the fleet of 120 bicycles had made more than 11,000 trips throughout the District. In reaction to the ready acceptance of the program, city officials have decided to increase the fleet by 400-percent, with rental locations spread throughout the city. Of the 40 new terminals currently being planned, 28 have gotten final approval to build, and should be operational by Fall 2009, expanding service into the District’s outer-reaches.

Many of these new terminals will be located near pre-existing transportation hubs, giving customers a varied array of transit options including busses, trains, and the metro. Given these improvements, the program is expected to gain even more momentum, gradually replacing cars and taxis on the Capitol’s streets with SmartBike’s signature red and white bikes.

Similar to other bike-share programs throughout Europe and Asia, SmartBike requires that users subscribe to the service, a cost of forty dollars per year, giving them unlimited use of the bikes. After signing-up, a customer is issued a SmartBike card that can be swiped at any terminal, allowing them to take or return a bike to any of the secured bike racks.

A list of the District’s bike laws, and maps of bike routes can be found here, and SmartBike D.C.’s homepage can be found here. Lastly, the nation-wide cycling promotion group, Critical Mass, has a rapidly-growing branch in the District. They coordinate regular rides throughout the city, and their webpage can be found here.

The Forgotten Farmers March 13, 2009

We are now used to hearing about the greening of the economy. In principle, we would imagine green collar jobs would include local organic farmers, sustainable loggers, and others working closely with the land along with its cadre of workers in the green building and development, renewable energy, and transportation fields. But recently, these latter categories are dominating our sense of green collar jobs. They are the beneficiaries of venture investment and government subsidies. These are laudatory efforts, but we put ourselves and the planet in peril when we forget those who supply our basic needs in an ecological way.

This bifurcation in the green economy movement between technologists and land workers is both obvious and easily overlooked. Krupp and Horn’s “Earth: The Sequel” enumerates the millions of dollars Silicon Valley is pouring into its new favorite industry – renewable energy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus bill) provides billions of dollars for renewable energy investment, rail and mass transit projects, weatherizing homes, and other energy and infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, farmers are losing their land or forced to become as industrialized as possible. Not surprisingly, the tailspin of rural communities, beginning decades before our current economic troubles, has not ceased. Indeed, many local organic farmers must find a niche or produce value-added products in order to survive.

We urban and suburban folks hear very little about who is investing in and helping those who work closely with the land. The fact is renewable energy has more market potential than tomatoes. Venture capitalists will never throw money at small organic farmers. Fine, but if we have learned nothing else, it is that normal market principles are not so compatible with healthy, local, organic food. Even if we are on our way to recognizing this, our attention to the glamour of technologists and large investments reinforces our tendency to overlook the essential services and land-based knowledge of country folks.

Renewable energy technology is undoubtedly essential, but most would agree food is important too. And since growing food will always be around, making it as sustainable as possible is also important. This is not just because we need to eat, but also because farms and forests are an intersection of many of our environmental problems. It is in these locales that we can begin to restore ecosystems. This should matter to anyone who is concerned about environmental degradation, thriving rural areas, and human health. Industrial organic agriculture, for all its merits, still falls short of our vision for a healthy and sustainable food supply. But local organic farmers improve soil, water, and air quality. They promote wildlife and ecosystem integrity, which is responsible for invaluable ecosystem services that we depend on. They help create and maintain local economies and communities. They provide scenic and recreational opportunities.

With benefits such as these, those who work close to the land deserve more of our attention and resources. There are economic and non-economic ways of correcting the focus of the green economy movement. Economically, we can use our buying power. It sounds sentimental to patronize sustainable agriculture and forestry. But the point is that we can choose the economics of care, which is healthier for everyone and everything involved, over the economics of growth. This would give much needed clout to the forgotten farmers. Beyond economics, there are conservation and planning measures that we, as citizens, can take to preserve our rural lands and promote healthy farming. The American Farmland Trust is a national non-profit dedicated to this cause, and in the DCmetro area, we have the Piedmont Environmental Council. There are also state conservation programs and county planning boards which need citizen response. By getting involved in these ways we can avoid the risk, so often taken in the past, to overlook the humble and irreplaceable sectors of our economy.

Green Cooking December 29, 2008

Environmental friendly cooking involves making many choices that go beyond picking the right ingredients.  It includes green kitchen utensils, eco-cooking methods, efficient water usage and proper disposal of food leftovers.   Here are some simple green cooking tips to help you make more informed choices.

Shopping for a Green Cuisine

The best foods are local and organic since organic standards prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers, toxic pesticides, and antibiotics. Growing and transporting food not only consumes a significant amount of water and energy, but also contributes to air pollution and global warming.  Therefore, buying locally and eating with the seasons promotes many environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing carbon emissions and supporting small farms.   To locate a farmers market near you, check out the local harvest website.  Also consider joining a CSA.

When shopping at the grocery store for your ingredients, your environmental impact can be significantly reduced by adhering to these basic rules:

• Buy as few things in plastic as possible– opt for metal or glass containers whenever you can (and don’t use a plastic bag for fruits or veggies – you’ll need to wash them anyway when you get home).
• Buy in bulk.   Remember that buying many little packages wastes paper and plastic.
• Use your own shopping bags (I know you’re heard this one many times, but it bears repeating).
• Buy less meat.

Green Kitchenware

Equip your kitchen with “green-ware” and utensils made from porcelain enamel, glass and bamboo.  When possible, purchase kitchenware that is reusable and/or made from recycled materials.   By using reusable housewares, you not only save money, but also conserve natural resources.    Examples of reusable kitchenware include:  cloth towels, cloth napkins, reusable baking pans, reusable lunch box containers, glass jars and cloth bags for grocery shopping.

Make sure your dinnerware is lead-free.  Plates and dishes now sold in the United States are subject to federal regulations for the maximum amount of lead they may contain. The federal standards require that plates contain no more than 3 ppm (parts per million) lead, and pitchers and other “hollow ware” that hold liquid can contain no more than 0.5 ppm.  If unsure of the lead content of your dishware, contact the manufacturer. Check out our kitchen gadgets blog for more thoughts on this.

Ovens

The best way to conserve energy in the kitchen is to use the smallest oven possible since it takes less energy to heat it to the proper temperature.   To ensure that heat is not wasted when the oven is in use, make sure that the burner fits the pan and use a lid when heating items on the stove. If you have a smaller item to heat or cook, consider a toaster oven – these use about a third of the energy of conventional ovens. Here are some tips for buying a new oven.

Water conservation

Reducing water usage in the kitchen before and after cooking has both financial and environmental benefits.  These are the easiest ways to conserve water:

• Don’t let the sink water run when rinsing dishes.
• Install a water saving aerator on your kitchen sink’s faucet.  Water saving aerators are helpful in reducing the amount of water you use when rinsing your dishes.
• Install a water efficient, Energy Star rated dishwasher.
• Repair leaky water faucets.  If your faucet is dripping one drop per second, you’ll waste as much as 2,700 gallons in a year!

Leftovers

If you do all of the above, but throw out your leftovers in the garbage, you are skipping one of the most important steps in green cooking.   Food debris has no access to oxygen once it reaches the landfills and therefore emits methane, a toxic gas.  The best way to get rid of food waste is by composting it – recycling food scraps by allowing it to naturally break down and turn into nutrient rich soil.  Donating your food waste is another option; there are food rescue programs that specialize in redistributing leftovers.

To test your green-cooking skills, take the following quiz, “How Green is Your Cuisine?” from the Sierra Club. So…are you a Green Chef?

Metal Poisoning December 17, 2008

The increased use of metals or their compounds in our day-to-day lives has made them poisonous. Some of these metals have no biological role and categorized as toxic metals. Examples include cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, aluminum, and many more. Radioactive isotopes of lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium have been proven to be carcinogenic. Toxic metals are the most commonly prevalent occupational hazard. The severity of the metal poisoning varies from metal to metal. The process of detoxification is difficult especially if metal or its compound is not water soluble. They can accumulate in the living bodies for long duration and can easily be the part of food chain.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal on the earth. The compounds of aluminum are used commonly in antiperspirants, cleaning agents, baking powder and water purification. Many of cooking and baking utensils are made up of aluminum. Aluminum is connected to breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease. It accumulates in bones and decreases the calcium absorption. High doses of aluminum can cause growth retardation. The compounds in antiperspirants and food are considered as the potential sources of aluminum poisoning.

Cases of lead poisoning are the most heard stories because of recent litigation and recalls of products containing lead. Lead had been used in paints and fuel as an antiknocking agent for many years. The exposure to lead and its compounds can occur through inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. The metal affects the central nervous system and causes learning disabilities and schizophrenia among kids. It can contaminate the fetus if the mother has been exposed to it for a prolonged period of time.

Similar to lead, cadmium exposure can occur through air, soil and water. Both of these metals are commonly used in batteries. Tobacco smoking is also a significant source of cadmium. The metal can affect the respiratory bones, tract, kidney and liver. Mercury is used in fluorescent light bulbs, medical equipments and imported cosmetics. It is also found in seafood and has been seen the most common cause of mercury poisoning. The exposure to this metal can cause sensory impairment, lack of coordination. Children can show severe symptoms such as discoloration of body, loss of hair, teeth and nails, dysfunction of kidney and brain. To avoid the mercury poisoning, pregnant woman are recommended to avoid seafood.

Some essential metals such as iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum and zinc are desired for the proper functioning of human body, but excess of these metals can also be harmful. Even though U.S. government is putting in place regulations to control the toxicity of metals, this is still not being adequately enforced, especially with imported goods.

The term for the accumulation of toxins, including all toxic chemicals, not just metals, is ‘body burden‘. There are many studies that have shown how toxic chemicals accumulated in the body of adults and babies. Other studies focus solely on different types of toxins, such as pesticides. This is why a periodic detoxification program is important – it is not just the planet that is being affected, our bodies are as well!

What is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)? September 26, 2008

If you are a fan of fresh produce and farmers markets, look into supporting a local farm through a CSA (it stands for Community Supported Agriculture). CSA is a unique model of local agriculture that puts the consumer and the farmer into a mutually beneficial relationship. Members pay an annual or seasonal fee to receive a weekly basket of produce from the farm’s harvest directly to their front door, or to a convenient drop-off location.

Many farms offer a variety of subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, meats, or any sort of different farm products. There are over 2000 CSAs throughout the country so there is probably one near you – check out local ones at Local Harvest or get more information on the US Department of Agriculture site.

Green, From the Inside Out: The Benefits of Indoor Plants For Your Home or Office August 9, 2008

Research has shown that indoor air pollution is the cause of many of our common and even more serious ailments; from headaches, fatigue, and toxic and allergic reactions, to asthma, infections, and “sick building syndrome”, etc. Research has also shown that certain plants clean the air by removing carbon dioxide and dangerous airborne chemicals while releasing oxygen for you. But, the benefits of indoor plants don’t stop there. Additional benefits of indoor plants are as follows:

• Are welcoming and aesthetically appealing.
• Reduce light reflection and improve noise absorption.
• Soften harsh areas and hide imperfections.
• Can be used as banners to direct (foot) traffic or to partition off an area.
• Release moisture into the air.
• Can raise morale and reduce stress.
• Just might even enhance creativity and increase productivity.
• Just might make people feel calmer and more optimistic, and therefore, happier!
• Offer an inexpensive, easy to maintain, and locationally flexible way to have your very own “bio-filtration system” for your home or office.

A sampling of recommended indoor plants: Orchids, epiphytic bromeliads, anthuriums, snake plants, broadsword ferns, rubber plants, chrysanthemums, gerbera daisies, spider plants, majesty palm, spathiphyllum, golden pathos, and heart leaf philodendron. Most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, so why not make that air as clean and healthy as possible? Happy greening!

The Reel Deal in Lawn Care: Pushing Your Way to a Healthier Planet July 25, 2008

9 am- Saturday morning. You’re roused out of your deep sleep by the sound of your next door neighbor mowing his lawn with a gas powered mower. Ugh! Not only are gas powered mowers loud, but they are really bad for the environment! Well, what other ways are there to mow your lawn, you might ask? A great option is a manual (push) reel mower. A reel mower is a mower in which the blades spin vertically using a scissoring action to cut the grass. They typically have between 3 and 7 blades. They’re fairly inexpensive to buy, and easy to use and maintain.

Some good, green reasons to use a reel mower:

• Air Pollution- Every weekend, 54 million people mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants.According to the EPA, a traditional gas powered lawn mower produces as much as 43 new cars being driven 12,000 miles. Or put another way, 1 gas mower running for an hour emits the same amount of pollutants as 8 new cars driving 55 mph for the same amount of time.
• Noise Pollution- A bathroom exhaust fan noise level is 55 decibels. A snowmobile at 50 feet is 80 decibels. A reel mower noise level is 55 decibels, whereas a noisy gas powered mower noise level is 80 decibels. It would take 17 quiet reel mowers to make the noise of 1 of the quietest gas lawnmowers!

There are other options out there. If for some reason a reel mower does not work for you or your lawn, there are electric mowers. Electric mowers don’t totally eliminate pollution, but they produce no harmful emissions, are quieter than gas powered mowers, and eliminate gas spills, refining, and transportation.

That being said, a manual (push) reel mower is your best option. They’re better for the planet and better for you. With a 0 carbon footprint, the grass really is greener on the other (reel mower) side!!! Happy mowing…

Balcony Gardening: Have Your Green Space and Eat It Too June 25, 2008

There are few things in the world that are better than taking a big bite of a freshly picked home grown vegetable salad. The taste of a tomato that has been ripening on the vine up until only minutes before you eat it is worlds beyond anything that you would find in the store. This goes for basically any produce. Unfortunately, for many of us, having a garden in the backyard is simply not a possibility. Fortunately, vegetables cannot tell if the dirt that they are enjoying is part of a grassy expanse or five stories up on the balcony of an apartment. I know that many of you are currently pondering the pros and cons of filling your outdoor space with dirt, mud, worms, and plants, but before you start putting down that layer of manure based compost, consider for a moment the joys of container gardening.

Container gardening is pretty much just what it sounds like. Instead of growing vegetables in a garden, plants are grown in containers. There are several advantages to container gardening. First of all, you can have a container garden wherever the containers will fit and you can bring your garden indoors should inclement weather threaten your budding packets of nutritious deliciousness. Second, the only requirements for the containers are that they are big enough to hold adequate soil and that there is a hole in the bottom to allow for proper drainage. This means that you can recycle things from around the house, which will keep your waste production down. One thing to keep in mind is that you want to avoid using containers that previously held chemicals. Third, potting soil is less likely to contain weed seeds and pests, which means less time that must be spent weeding and grooming your garden.

One drawback to using “traditional” containers is that they will require watering about once a day. Luckily, the gardening industry has looked kindly on those of us who are too busy to let our green thumbs grow and has come up with the self-watering container. A self-watering container is a container with a water reservoir. The water reservoir supplies your plants with water for several days, which means that all you have to do is refill the reservoir.

Now that we have the dirt, one of the two most important factors to any successful garden, taken care of, we can move onto the next topic. The second, but equally important ingredient to your growing produce aisle, is the sun. Most balconies are going to be at least partially covered spaces, which means that there will be differential light distribution. To make sure that all of your growing green friends are fed and happy, the arrangement of your plants will have to conform to your light availability. While it is possible that plants as large as corn and squash can be grown in containers, it is more likely that the larger end of the spectrum will be in the range of eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers. It is very possible to grow all of the aforementioned plants in containers, but it is important that these containers are placed in full sun. For the shadier corners of your garden, try things like spinach, lettuce, bok choy, and other leafy greens.

With this new found knowledge, it is possible for even the busiest apartment dweller to scratch their green itch and grow some garden goodness. All it takes is a place to put some dirt and some sun. Container gardening is a great way to have your green space and eat it too. For more info on balcony gardening, check out this blog too. Happy gardening!

Creative and sustainable biking February 26, 2008

I have been an avid bike rider for years now, and I have used my bike to commute to work for the last several years. Last week I got several flat tires and realized that it was time for me to invest in some new tires that would be flat resistant. In trying to determine my options for what product to buy as well as what to do with my old tires, I couldn’t help thinking that this shouldn’t be any different than any other purchase I make or how I dispose of typical items.

Biking is considered a sustainable transportation option, but I wanted to know if there was a way to make the bicycle industry more sustainable as well. Typically bike frames and major components are made of metal and rubber, both of which aren’t sustainable materials because they incorporate non renewable natural resources and are very energy intensive to mold into bicycle parts.

I was pleased to find that there are other people out there that are thinking of this same issue, and one company that is leading the way is Calfee Design out of Europe. They produce bike frames out of bamboo, that’s right bamboo! They are each hand crafted and offer hemp joints as an alternative to the traditional carbon fiber. The first bamboo bikes were built in the 1890’s but the technology has advanced so much that the newer bamboo bikes have even won awards for best road bike and are used by some professional triathletes. Calfee Design has teamed up with Columbia University to create the Bamboo Bike Project which aims to create sustainable transportation for people in Africa. Carry Freedom is another company that is using bamboo for bicycle products, and has a website that shows you how to build your own bamboo bicycle trailer.

As for maintenance of bicycles, most greases, lubricants, and cleaners that are used are not very environmentally friendly. If we can come up with eco-friendly cleaners for our house, why not for our bikes? Well sure enough, there are several companies that offer alternative greases, lubricants, and cleaners that are derived from natural materials. Two such companies are Soy Clean, which offers a soy-based multipurpose lubricant, and Pedros, which offers a biodegradeable degreaser made form citrus extracts.

As anybody who frequently rides a bike knows, you tend to pile up a large quantity of bike parts and accessories that are no longer usable. So what should we do with all of our old bike tubes, tires, helmets, non compatible parts, old models, etc? Although it is still difficult to find a place to recycle many of these bike parts, the options continue to grow every day. Some of the unique and creative uses that people are finding for old bike parts now include:

- using bike tubes to make bags, belts, and wallets.

- using gears to make wall clocks, and tea light holders

- using chains to make bottle openers and picture frames (Resource Revival)

- using wheels, frames, and seats to make furniture (Frida Ottemo Kallstrom, Andrew Gregg, Bike Furniture Design) as well as pot racks

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute has good information and resources if you are wondering what your options are for recycling your old bicycle helmets. Repurposing items we buy is a great way to be more sustainable, so why not find some Maybe other uses for our bicycles than just for transportation purposes. Well, someone has even come up with a bicycle powered washing machine. Now that’s what I would call getting the most out of your bicycle.

Of course there are also many programs in the country for recycling bicycles that either take unwanted bikes and give them to others who want bicycles, or disassemble the bikes and reuse the parts to create new bikes. When purchasing a bicycle, consider buying a used bike instead of a new one. I myself bought a used bike and was able to get a cheaper price, a good quality bike, and a good feeling about keeping an older bike out of the landfill.

Happy biking!

Take Care of your Skin but Don’t Skim the Environment January 11, 2008

“One must suffer to be beautiful.” This is one of those little sentences that you use when you are trying to brush the tangles out of your hair. But to what extent must we suffer? And… is the planet supposed to suffer too? Oddly enough we don’t use this sentence as much when it deals with applying our usual and apparently “innocent” cosmetics on our skin. Perhaps it’s because we are not aware of the potential damages they can cause.

The purpose of this article is not to list the harmful components present in some of the cosmetics that we can buy in every supermarket but to raise awareness about this not-so-well-known issue. To avoid using products that are damaging to your health, be informed! Indeed, it is important to note that the US Food and Drug Administration’s “legal authority over cosmetics is different from other products regulated by the agency, such as drugs, biologics, and medical devices. Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives.” Moreover ,“manufacturers are not required to register their cosmetic establishments, file data on ingredients, or report cosmetic-related injuries to FDA.” Those two points aim at underlining the potential danger that cosmetics can represent since regulations are really limited (even if, of course, a list of prohibited components exists but it is restricted to very few of them).

Some European countries have certifications for cosmetics and personal care products– some examples include Germany’s BDIH certification and France’s Ecocert Cosmebio label. However, in the US, no real “eco-label” exists. Consequently, there is no authority to assure products’ safety. So, when you look at brands presenting themselves as “bio” or “fair” or “eco”, you need to know what they mean by those terms (nobody is there to check for you). If you order your products on the internet, take a look at their philosophy and, if they list ingredients, what those ingredients are; if you buy them in specialized shops, don’t be shy about asking for information. Also, check out Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s guide to cosmetics and personal care product labeling.

When choosing a product, make sure that is does not include petrochemical products, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) or animal raw materials. In addition, check that it has been produced through eco-friendly transformation processes (with a restricted use of synthesis components as well as colorants and perfume). Just as important is the company’s social and environmental impact. Here are some basic questions to ask when choosing a product:

• What are the working conditions of people producing the cosmetics? Is the company ethical? Does the company provide accessible information about their suppliers and how it treats its employees?
• How are products tested? Are they tested on animals? Choose “cruelty-free products”
• What is the company’s sustainability policy? Are the ingredients used eco-friendly? Is the packaging made from recycled materials and recyclable? Is it kept to a minimum?

Let’s Shop Together!

Remember: It is always preferable to buy products that are locally produced or manufactured. If you decide to shop online, think about transportation and its cost in terms of carbon footprint. Hence, when you order some products, try to buy more of them once (instead of reordering the same cosmetics) three or four times a year.

Your Lips: What’s about the Body Shop “Lip Gloss Bloom” ? This gloss is a fair and supporting-community-trade product. Body Shop works with Eudafano Women’s Cooperative based in Namibia. This permits to more than 500 women in rural communities “who have very few opportunities to earn money” to “benefit from fair trade”.

Your Hands: It’s cold out these days, take care of your hands with Lush (Fresh Handmade Cosmetics). Lush products don’t contain petroleum oil and the moisturizing ingredients come from plant.

Your Cheeks: Check out Aveda’s Petal Essence Cheek Color . This is a talc and mineral oil-free products packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled clamshell and paper sleeve.

Your Lashes: Take a look at this Natural Mascara by Earths Beauty. This “mascara with organic beeswax builds thick, luscious lashes without lab-created chemicals!”.

Your Face: A Daily Face Cleanser by GrateFulBody only made of botanicals (no synthetics). All is biologically and environmentally sustainable in that product!

For more information, take a look at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Green Guide’s list of eco-friendly products that have some certification.

 

Take care of yourself, take care of the planet too !