Really, Really Green (June 2008)

Reprinted from the June 2008 issue of Neighbors Newspaper.

Green is the new black. Or is it the new blue? It seems like green is everywhere these days. Sustainable. Natural. Environmental. Eco-chic. Whew, it can be exhausting just keeping up with it all. Fear not, this eco-series will help guide you through the ins and outs of how to go green. Each week we’ll tackle a different topic, and as the series progresses we’ll tackle the bigger things you can do to save the planet.

Let’s be honest, its great if you change a few compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), but it will take more than that to really help the planet. Here’s where I come in; changing your lifestyle does not mean going back to the dark ages. So let’s get started:

Week I. Baby Steps

Ditch the Plastic Bottles. Most bottled water does not go through the same stringent tests as tap water, due to FDA exemptions. Eight out of ten water bottles end up in landfills and are never recycled. Use a Nalgene, a Klean Kanteen, a Sigg or other portable water container instead and fill it with your favorite beverage.

Use Canvas Bags. Plastic takes 1,000 years to photodegrade – that means every piece of plastic ever made is still in the environment. Think about that for a second. Why are we producing more plastic, just to throw it away? Instead, choose a canvas bag that can be used over and over and over. Most grocery stores carry them today for cheap and many come in stylish designs.

Unplug Appliances. You may have heard of the term “phantom power,” where appliances still use electricity even though the appliance might be off. This means you are paying for electricity that you are not even using. Who can afford to do that? Instead, put all of your appliances on power strips or unplug them when not in use so you know you get what you pay for.

Take shorter showers. Most Americans use more than 1,000 gallons of water a day. Living in southern California, it’s an understatement to say that water is scarce, so in this case, every little bit counts. Try turning off the water when you’re sudsing up and make sure you keep your showers to 10 minutes or less. Try switching to low-flow showerheads; This will not only save water and money.

Support Local Farmer Markets. Local food is fresher and healthier as produce from the farmers markets is often organic. You also keep money in the local community. Farmers markets also have a smaller carbon footprint as food isn’t shipped from around the world before it ends up on your dinner table.

Recycle your toxic chemicals. Many of the cleaning products today have not been thoroughly tested to determine the long-term health effects on humans. Who wants to eat food off of a counter covered in poly-highly-toxic chemicals? No thank you. Instead, switch over to less toxic and biodegradable cleaning products. Many natural materials, such as vinegar and lemon juice, can be used to do the same job. Look for waste-recycling days where municipalities collect and recycle any toxic chemicals, paints and electronics that you have around your house.

Choose Drought-Tolerant Landscaping. Not to beat a dead horse, but clearly water is valuable in southern California. This is a pretty easy one as you can slowly change plants out over time and there is no shortage of hearty plants to choose from. Make sure that your sprinklers run at night when you will lose less water due to evaporation.

Resources:
Treehugger.com - particularly the How To Go Green series
Grist
Earth911.org - an extensive resource on recycling.

Save the Clean Energy Revolution with Music

Buying indie music will save the planet -



Hello=

Feist, Of Montreal, Bloc Party, The Appletrees, and some of the other
hottest indie bands out there right now LOVE us. And to show their love they
have teamed up with Green Owl records (an awesome new eco record label) to
put together a hot comp CD that will 100% benefit all the amazing work
Energy Action Coalition is doing for a clean and just energy revolution.

Be one of the FIRST people to have exclusive tracks from some great artists.
Go to Green Owl Records or Democracy in Action to
order your copy (or 3 or 5) of the CD today.

Buying the comp CD will not only help you pack your ipod with some great
exclusive tracks but it will also help you take on King Coal,
progress-blocking politicians, and get your school running on 100% wind and
solar. Not a bad deal.

The CDs are also available at Whole Foods and in local record stores around
the country, but why take your chances with it already being sold out? Order
your copy today online.
Go to Green Owl Records or Democracy in Action to
order your copy (or 3 or 5) of the CD today.

We also need help spreading the word about the CD. Tell your friends about
it, blog about it, brag about it, saturate Facebook with it. Let's make them
print MORE copies of this CD. Let's raise a ton of money to support the
youth climate movement. And let's dance.

To a clean energy revolution that's filled with music,
Aleli, Arthur, Brianna, Jessy, Kassie, Madeline, Ragini, Whit, and the rest
of the Energy Action Coalition team

And read the industry blurb here:

A two-disc CD/DVD featuring previously unreleased tracks from an eclectic
group of artists who've shared their music in order to support the good
works of the Energy Action Coalition. The EAC is made up of over 40
organizations from the US and Canada, founded and led by youth to help
support and strengthen the clean energy movement in North America. They're
currently working on the Campus Climate Challenge, which has committed over
450 college campuses to go climate neutral. They're also responsible for
Power Shift, the largest youth gathering and lobby day on climate change in
the history of the US. All profits from this release will support EAC's
efforts. Artists on this comp include The Appletrees, Feist, Muse, Of
Montreal, Pete Yorn, Bloc Party, Deerhoof, Satori, and many more.

solar panel maintenance

Solar panels.
Big. Quiet. Effiecient.
Oftentimes they're hidden from view and as long as that green light on the inverter is illuminated, you don't really pay them any mind.

...that is...until you get your electricity bill and its in the black. NOOO! Well, there is something you can do. Obviously take inventory of any usage changes in your electricity consumption. But if there is nothing to report, then its time to get the hose out and clean off those panels. Just a little soap and water (nothing abrasive and nothing scratchy to scrub those panels) is all you really need. Some areas (particularly neighborhoods in the desert or near new construction) might need biweekly cleanings. other areas may never need to clean their panels if they get regular rain.

Either way, just like your car or your teeth, your solar panels need to be cleaned. Those solar panels are pretty self-sufficient and don't need anybody for anything, but there is something you can do for them that they can't do for themselves. Just clean behind the ears every now and then. It'll do you and them a world of good.