Welcome to your new Green Life in 2010

I found a really great article in last year's National Geographic Green Guide describing the day in the life of someone that pulls in all the pieces of a newly-converted environmentally conscious person. (Italicized and bracketed comments are mine). Here's the highlights:

7:00am:  Read the morning paper online.  Reading a year's worth of newspapers on your computer saves 520 pounds of paper, or about three trees per year.  (And, no stepping outside in your bathrobe frightening the neighbors)

7:15am:  Shower with a low-flow showerhead.  Because low-flow showerheads reduce water consumption, they can save up to 10% on water-heating costs.  (Alert:  money saver!)

8:25am:  Pack your lunch in reusable containers.  Containers and packaging make up one-third of municipal solid waste, more than any other category.  (Again, a money saver.  No purchasing baggies or expensive, often-unhealthy, restaurant food for lunch.)

8:45am:  Brew a cup of eco-friendly coffee at home and pour into a reusable mug.  Because conventional coffee is grown on clear-cut land and requires loads of chemical fertilizers, each household that switches to organic, shade-grown coffee helps protect more than 9,000 square feet of rain forest.  Plus, Americans toss out 16 billion disposable paper cups per year.  (Eco-friendly coffee is often a better quality brew as well.  If you're a coffeehouse addict, purchase their coffee and brew it at home.)

8:50am:  Power down before you leave the house.  TVs, stereos, chargers, and most appliances with clocks drain energy when they're plugged in - even if they're not on.  Its called "standby power" and it accounts for 5% of residential energy, costing US consumers over $4 billion per year.  Plug them into power strips that you can switch off easily. 

9:00am:  Carpool to work.  According to the California Air Resources Board, approximately 50% of air pollution comes from automobiles.  (Depending on where you work, this can either be really smart or rather difficult.  Weigh your options and make changes elsewhere if carpooling is not viable.)

9:30am:  At work, fire up your laptop.  Laptops require much less energy than desktops.  (When your firm makes a change in their technology, suggest laptops all around.  Don't forget to donate your used computers to a non-profit or to a school.)

11:00am:  Print on both sides of the page, single-space your files and decrease the size of margins.  Americans use 5.4 million tons of office paper every year.  You use four times less paper when you print single-spaced and on both sides.  Save even more by shrinking the margins to .75 inches from the standard inch.  (Again, your mileage may vary on this one, depending on layout requirements and readability.  But, at the very least keep a basket near the copy machine for accidents and overruns to be used as scratch paper.)

3:30pm:  Schedule a conference call with a client instead of a face-to-face meeting.  Conference calls cost a fraction of site-to-site travel and save a significant amount of energy.  Replacing one cross-country trip with a conference call saves 0.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide and enough energy to power 7,000 hours of videoconferences.  (With programs like Skype and the availability of webconferencing, you can still experience face-to-face.  Invest in a really good quality web-cam and highest speed connection to make it work at highest efficiency.  If your best client is on the fence, spring for a webcam for them, too.  Low cost gift for them and it shows your commitment to reducing your carbon footprint.)

5:55pm:  Plug your computer into a power strip and switch it off at the end of the day.  Over the course of one year, you'll save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and reduce standby power loss.  (And the boss will love you for working to reduce their energy bill.)

6:00pm:  Text your partner to say you're on your way home.  Text messages sent from a cell phone use 30 times less energy than sending an email from a desktop computer.  (Before you start the car, though...  Don't text and drive!)

6:15pm:  Bundle your evening errands to save gas and reduce pollution.  Starting a car with a warm engine emits one-fifth the pollution created by starting a cold engine.  (And you can get to your dinner and movie quicker by effectively planning your time.)

6:20pm:  At the gas station, tighten your gas cap.  In the US, 147 million gallons of gas evaporate every year from cars with gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing.  Make sure your gas cap is tight by turning it until it clicks three times.  (My dad told me that I had to tighten the cap or the car would explode.  In retrospect, I think he was trying to scare me into doing it.  But, since he isn't an 'environmentalist', I'd say it was probably a cost-saving measure.  What doesn't evaporate, stays in the tank to work for you.)

6:25pm:  At the ATM, say no to a receipt.  It takes two billion feet of paper to create receipts for the eight billion ATM transactions that occur each year in America - most of which end up as litter.  (Really...   are you going to write it down when you get home anyway?)

6:30pm:  Take canvas bags to the supermarket.  In the US, we use 11 million plastic shopping bags every hour.  The trick to using your own bags is to put them back in the car as soon as you've unpacked your groceries - they won't do any good if you leave them at home.  (Target offers a $0.5 discount if you bag your items in a recycled bag.  Hey, 5 cents is 5 cents....  good for them.)

7:15pm:  Before you head to dinner and a movie, print the tickets from your desktop.  Movie tickets printed at home are easier to recycle than the paperboard used to print tickets at the theater.  (And breeze by the line!  That's my favorite part!)

8:00pm:  Eat dinner at a restaurant that serves locally grown, organic food.  Check gengreenlife.com for a list of eateries and food stores that sell environmentally friendly vittles in your zip code.  Or, if you eat at home, choose the right burner and don't preheat the oven until you're ready to cook.  If the circumference of the burner is larger than the size of your pan, you're leaking unused heat into the air.  The longer an oven is turned on but not used, the more energy it wastes.  There's no need to preheat if you're cooking foods for longer than 20 minutes.  (Ahh, our grandmas would be so proud of our frugal methods!  She don't care what we call it...  green, sustainable, eco-friendly.  She calls it frugal.  And she's right.)

-Kate Hanley, National Geographic Green Guide

One other great idea I found was to create a "Going Green" kit and give as gifts to clients, customers, friends, and family:

• Reusable tote bag
• Stainless steel water bottle
• Travel coffee mug
• BYO-lunch supplies - an insulated carrier, untensils, and aluminum foil (instead of plastic wrap)
• Compact fluorescent light bulb

Brainstorm for other items to include in your Kits and share the sustainability!

Have a great week!

Greening in the New Year

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

In only a few days, we will ring in 2010.  Many of us will marvel at what we accomplished, but most of us will fret over that which was left on the table.  We will labor over the goals which were set and just narrowly missed, or those that seemed so lofty even eleven months ago that we knew there would be miles to go as the year closed.
 
For those of us that greeted 2009 with the desire to make significant progress towards a more sustainable future, we are now faced with an equally daunting task in 2010.  How do we save the planet this decade?
 
Ouch.  That's a big pie right there.  Pollution.  Carbon emissions.  Energy.  Waste.  Those are big.  Naysayers would pipe up to say that we can't make a big enough impact to cause significant change.
 
Hmmph.  Them thar's challenge words....
 
Let's play a numbers game here.  So, according to Google's data, there were 304,059,724 people in the US in July of 2008.  For ease of crunching, let's assume we're at around 305,000,000 right now. 

• If half of us gave up disposable cups:  Average cup weighs 5g each.  152,500,000 people not using 5g of waste a day.  762,500 kilograms out of the landfill each day.  278,312,500 kg out of the landfill a year.

Hmmmph.  No impact, eh?

• According to the 2007 census, there are 111,162,259 households.  Again, let's round to 112,000,000 for ease of math.  If each household goes to the grocery store once a week and bags their groceries in 6 plastic bags what could we save?  52 weeks x 6 bags = 312 bags per household a year.  In the US alone, we're using around 34,944,000,000 bags a year.  *cringe*  So, if we all brought our six reusable bags to the store each week, we'd divert literally TONS of trash from the landfills.

Seeing a trend here?

Do ONE thing in 2010.  You don't have to change everything about your lifestyle, nor give up some of the luxuries of life.  But you can do just one thing.  Choose one thing and stick to it throughout the year.  Here is a list of suggestions:

• Bring reusable bags to the grocery store every time you shop.
• Say no to bottled water completely.  Carry your reusable bottle and fill up at water fountains.  (Umm, this one saves you money!  Hello!)
• Avoid seafood that is over farmed or unsustainable.
• Use a coffee mug from home every day at work.
• Never put paper in the trash.  Recycle it (or hold onto it until you can get it into a recycle bin).

Make this your New Year's resolution and then make it a habit in your household.  Share the habit with friends and family and impress it upon your children.  Change the next generation and ensure these habits are carried into the future.

That's impact right there, boys and girls.   As was said so beautifully, be the change you wish to see.  Don't wait for someone else to do it first.  And certainly don't use that sad old excuse that one person can't make a difference.  You know it ain't true.  If the numbers don't convince you, let the stories of Ghandi and Dr. King remind you.

Have a wonderful New Year and go out there and make a difference!

Have a Cool Holiday!

With one week left until Christmas Eve, many (if not all) of us are still shopping around for last-minute gift items for friends and family. Take a moment to consider what we can do during this time of excess and indulgence to conserve and protect our natural resources and the environment.

The National Resource Defense Council has offered a few hints on how we can continue to be good stewards of our environment during the holiday season:

1. Ground Shipping: The early bird... cuts pollution? It's true: Do your online and catalog shopping early and you'll be able to request ground shipping. It is six times more efficient than overnight air shipping. It saves fuel and reduces global warming pollution.

2. LED lights: Holiday lights are a fun way to make your home feel festive, inside and out. But to save energy, remember to turn them off when you're not at home and before you go to sleep. Shopping for new lights? Energy-efficient LED lights are the best choice, and they're not available at most major retailers. LED holiday lights use about 90% less energy than conventional lights. They'll help make the season bright while substantially lowering your holiday electric bill. (From the PG&E website: Based on annual operation costs of 225 hours of use (5 hours a day for 45 days), large incandescent holiday lights cost approximately $70 to run, mini-incandescents $5, and LEDs $0.45. Big difference there!)

3. Energy Star: Hoping to unwrap a computer, TV, washing machine, or dishwaser this year? Make sure your loved ones know about the Energy Star label. Home appliances and electronics bearing this label must exceed minimum standards for energy consumption; an Energy Star appliance can lower your utility bills and help reduce the heat-trapping pollution that causes global warming at the same time. (Also, from today's Times-Union, watch out for those snazzy flat-panel TVs: a 28-inch convention television set containing a cathode-ray picture tube, often uses about 100 watts of electricity. A 42-inch LCD set requires about 200 watts of electricity. a 42-inch plasma set sucks up 200 to 500 watts. A 60-plus-inch plasma screen can consume 500 to 600 watts, depending on the model and programming. In the biggest screen sizes, a projection television consumes about 150 to 200 watts. All according to the EPA.)

4. Environmental gifts: Stumped on a gift for that neighbor or second cousin? How about a hand-cranked radio or flashlight? They're climate friendly, and outdoorsy types swear by 'em -- no need to worry about batteries. Also, consider gifts that encourage connecting with nature, like national park passes, binoculars, or a holiday wreath made of birdseed and fruit for birding in your backyard. For a bit of 'good feeling', purchase a TerraPass for your SUV-driving family-member with all the kids. They'll feel better about their impact (even if it isn't much consolation at the pump).

5. Reusable or recycled packaging: When you're stocking up for a holiday feast, look for products that go easy on the packaging, or come in reusable or recyclable wrapping. You'll save the energy that would be used to manufacture and ship the ecess packaging, and shrink your personal contribution to global warming.

6. Hybrid cars: Put a hybrid car on your wishlist this year! It might be a long shot, but if it works out you'll get a shiny new car and the satisfaction that you're really making a difference. A hybrid car saves big money at the pump, and is much more climate friendly than the car it replaces.

7. Remember to recycle: Holiday enertaining can leave behind lots of cans, bottles, and cardboard. Recycle whatever you can in your area to make your home more climate smart. Use recycled paper to wrap your presents. Or, if you're feeling artistic, don't buy gift wrap at all. Get creative with old newspapers, magazines, or fabric, and you'll add a little extra personalization to each present. And be sure to recycle your Christmas tree, which can be turned into mulch for the spring. Go to Earth911 to find a local tree recycler in your area.

8. Beat the traffic: Share a ride or take public transit while doing your holiday shopping. If you must drive to get to the shops, bring a friend or two along. Cars are responsible for 20% of the CO2 pollution the US produces, so carpooling really helps (And you'll get to swap gift ideas with your shopping buddies.)

9. E-mail: Instead of mailing holiday cards and letters to loved ones, try using e-mail. You'll save paper -- and the carbon-sequestering trees it is made from -- and reduce emissions from delivery vehicles. You'll reach your friends and family faster, too. While you're at it, browse through NRDC's Earth Action Center and send a heart-warming message to your elected officials expressing your concern about global warming, air pollution, and other environmental issues.

10. Give a gift: Another way you can make a difference is with a gift to NRDC (or an environmental stewardship organization close to your heart). A membership makes a great gift for an environmentally conscious friend or relative, or a great treat for yourself -- either way, you're giving the Earth a gift too.

And remember, recycle, reduce, rejoice this holiday season!

Start at Home

Today we are kicking off a guest columnist series where we will highlight the expertise, experience, and knowledge of some of our fellow green champions.

Marie Hurst, Principal with Studio Interiors, has written a piece on how to promote sustainable practices at home. She will revisit the topic in future blog entries which detail how we can be greener at home and in our business practices. Her ideas are straightforward actions we can take immediately to make a difference.

Her experience in commercial interior design and space planning spans the country and her commitment to sustainability, smart design concepts, and high-performance building is evident in her portfolio and in her passion.

And, here's Marie...

Start at Home

So what does it mean to go green? It means living in a way that reduces the burden we place on our environment. Going green does not have to break the bank…….here are some simple ways and easy fixes to incorporate green living into your life.


1. Move into the light! Switch out incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFL). Replacing one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light would reduce carbon emissions by half a ton. If every American home replaced their five most frequently used light bulbs with CFLs, it would save almost $8 billion in energy every year.
• Bulb life: Incandescent: 1500 hours ~ CFL: 10,000 hours
• Number of bulbs needed to produce 60,000 hours: Incandescent: 40 ~ CFL: 6
• Cost of bulbs for 60,000 hours: Incandescent: $53.80 ~ CFL: $17.88
• Kilowatts used for 60,000 hours: Incandescent: 3,600 ~ CFL: 840
• Electricity cost for 60,000 hours at $.23 an hour: Incandescent: $821.72 ~ CFL: $191.73
• Total cost for 60,000 hours: Incandescent: $875.52 ~ CFL: $209.61


2. Batteries not included! Use rechargeable batteries. It takes 1,000 regular batteries to equal the life span of one rechargeable battery.

3. Take time to unplug! Few appliances and electronics devices actually turn off anymore. Instead they go to standby. Unplug cell phone chargers, iPod chargers, energy bricks for your computer, stereo equipment, televisions, kitchen equipment, electric razors, and toothbrushes. They are sucking the energy from your home. The U.S. Department of Energy says that as much as 20 percent of a typical American homeowner’s electric bill comes from these energy drainers. If 10 percent of all cell phone users unplugged their chargers after charging their phones, we would save enough energy to power 60,000 homes a year.

4. Leave a message! If you still have an answering machine in your home…ditch it. Switch over to voice mail with your phone service provider. Because answering machines are on 24/7, they use more power in a year than laptops do.

5. Be cool and stay warm! Set your thermostat at 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter. Or even better install a programmable thermostat in your home. You can set the temperature to one setting when you are home, one setting while you are asleep, and another setting when no one is home.
• Change your air filters once a month, get annual maintenance on the system and make sure your air ducts are sealed.
• Close the damper in the fireplace when not in use. Open dampers let heat and A/C escape and can add up to $100 a year to your utility bill.
• Close air vents in rooms you rarely use. It redirects the heat or A/C to the rooms that really need it.

6. You can be a star! Upgrade your appliances to Energy Star appliances. You will use, on average, 30 to 40 percent less energy with one of these products than you would with the standard kind. Front loading washing machines use up to 60 percent less water than regular washing machines.
• Not ready to replace your appliances? Switch to washing clothes in cold water and only wash full loads. Air dry clothes whenever possible.
• Only run dishwasher when full and allow dishes to air dry.
• Unplug small appliances, secondary refrigerators and freezers when not in use.
• Insulate water heater and set temperature at 120.

7. Don’t be a drip! On average, Americans use 100 gallons of water a day. That is 400 gallons for a family of four. Almost a third of that is wasted by letting the faucet run while washing dishes or brushing teeth. Letting the faucet run for one minute uses two gallons of water. Only one percent of this planet’s water is available for human use, according to the EPA, so it is important we pay attention to how we use it.
• Install low flow devices on faucets and shower heads.
• Get a low flush or dual flush toilet. If you don’t have a low flush toilet, keeping a filled plastic container in the tank can cut the amount of water you use by 40 percent.
• Don’t let the water run while brushing teeth or shaving.
• Put food coloring in the toilet tank. If it shows up in the bowl, you have a leaky toilet to fix.
• Replace bottled water with purified water from your tap.
• Fix leaky faucets inside and out.
• Water your lawn only twice a week and install a rain sensor if you have a sprinkler system.