"As we continue to tackle our environmental challenges, it’s clear that change won’t come from Washington alone. It will come from Americans across the country who take steps in their own homes and their own communities to make that change happen."
-President Barack Obama
Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. In 40 years time, we have seen a lot of changes for the better when it comes to the environment (at least in America). We have seen the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, we have seen tougher restrictions on chemicals, emissions, fuel standards for cars (thanks Obama!) and even the "green revolution." These have been some phenomenal changes, but don't let that cloud your judgment. Now, more than ever, we need to protect the environment.
Population increases will continue to stress our food supply, and destruction of the environment will continue to occur to meet the demands of the Western world. If you really want to do something helpful for Earth Day, commit yourself to reducing your "need" for "stuff" in your daily life. Rethink your purchases and tell others to do the same. Spend your money on trips with the people you care about or donate it to charitable organizations. Buying more clutter won't fill the voids you feel, and it won't help the environment. When possible, always buy locally made products or those made in America. It keeps jobs in our area and protects the environment buy reducing the energy required for transportation costs.
There are other things you can do to make a difference as well. Walk or bike to your destination instead of driving. Only keep essential appliances plugged in all the time. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Use more efficient products (see previous blog entry), and carpool or use public transportation when walking or biking isn't an option. Use canvas or tote bags (preferably biodegradable or recyclable ones) instead of paper or plastic. There are many ways you can be more environmentally friendly and reduce your carbon footprint and encourage others to do the same. We only have one Earth. It's important to remember that. Rethink: Green. Money saved by not buying unnecessary things is resources saved!
There are many organizations that are running special Earth Day features, stories, highlights, actions you can take, and even contests you can enter.
Check out:
The Sierra Club
The Environmental Defense Fund
Rock the Earth
Free National Park Entrance
Earth Day Network
EPA Earth Day
Planet Pals- For educators
Whitehouse Earth Day
In recognition of Earth Day, Amazon.com's "Goldbox deal of the day" and "Lightning Deals" are all environmentally friendly products. Check it out!
There are countless other interesting websites to check out too. Feel free to suggest some in our comment box below.
Do your part, rethink green, and spread the word. If we all act alone, together we CAN make a difference.
Happy Earth Day!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Is environmentally friendly product packaging an oxymoron?
After learning of the compostable bag created by Sunchips for their chip products, I became curious as to what other manufacturers were doing to make their product packaging more enviornmentally friendly. Clearly, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the concept of "green," and manufacturers are responding.
According to a New York Times article, even beauty supply and cosmetic companies are revamping their product line to include sustainable packaging and environmentally friendly (natural and organic) products. I personally have seen and purchased products that are sustainable, and am more drawn to reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging for any product that I buy. I recently came across a great blog on the topic, that has many insightful articles about biodegradable and recyclable packaging, and even offers great ways to reuse packaging or make it more stylish.
It will be interesting to see how the market continues to respond to consumers' damands for more sustainable packaging of their products. I recently read that 70% of the material in landfills is product packaging. 70%! That number is amazingly high! Considering what packaging is made of (usually plastics, which are made of toxins), that number could have been easily avoided through more conscious design of product packaging.
The United States is still likely many years away from any legitimate and worthy legislation to address the issue of product packaging (manufacturers' pockets are deep, no doubt), but other countries are taking steps to address the issue.
Germany is one of the first countries to regulate product packaging. Currently, German law dictates that any product sold or manufactured (even imported) in Germany must comply with German packcaging regulations. These regulations require suppliers to take back and recycle up to 70% of their packaging and submit audited documents as proof. Noncompliance can lead to fines of £30,000.
Germany has also developed alternatives to suppliers taking their products back. Companies have the option to participate in the "Green Dot" program. The program is run by Duales System Deutschland AG (DSD). DSD is a not-for-profit organization that independently recovers and recycles packaging put into circulation in Germany on behalf of those participating in the program. Everyone wins. Do you think a system like this could work in the US? I'm sure many would be against it, but we have seem some states and municipalities ban the use of plastic bags in stores, so who knows. I sure hope so.
Product packaging is important to consider when making purchases, especially when it comes to nonessential items, where consumers have the most power. By purchasing only those products that have environmentally friendly packaging, you can do your small part to encourage more companies to follow suit and create a better and safer world for us all.
Do you pay attention to product packaging? What are some of your favorite products that have sustainable, biodegradable, or recyclabe packaging?
Feel free to share your comments below.
According to a New York Times article, even beauty supply and cosmetic companies are revamping their product line to include sustainable packaging and environmentally friendly (natural and organic) products. I personally have seen and purchased products that are sustainable, and am more drawn to reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging for any product that I buy. I recently came across a great blog on the topic, that has many insightful articles about biodegradable and recyclable packaging, and even offers great ways to reuse packaging or make it more stylish.
It will be interesting to see how the market continues to respond to consumers' damands for more sustainable packaging of their products. I recently read that 70% of the material in landfills is product packaging. 70%! That number is amazingly high! Considering what packaging is made of (usually plastics, which are made of toxins), that number could have been easily avoided through more conscious design of product packaging.
The United States is still likely many years away from any legitimate and worthy legislation to address the issue of product packaging (manufacturers' pockets are deep, no doubt), but other countries are taking steps to address the issue.
Germany is one of the first countries to regulate product packaging. Currently, German law dictates that any product sold or manufactured (even imported) in Germany must comply with German packcaging regulations. These regulations require suppliers to take back and recycle up to 70% of their packaging and submit audited documents as proof. Noncompliance can lead to fines of £30,000.
Germany has also developed alternatives to suppliers taking their products back. Companies have the option to participate in the "Green Dot" program. The program is run by Duales System Deutschland AG (DSD). DSD is a not-for-profit organization that independently recovers and recycles packaging put into circulation in Germany on behalf of those participating in the program. Everyone wins. Do you think a system like this could work in the US? I'm sure many would be against it, but we have seem some states and municipalities ban the use of plastic bags in stores, so who knows. I sure hope so.
Product packaging is important to consider when making purchases, especially when it comes to nonessential items, where consumers have the most power. By purchasing only those products that have environmentally friendly packaging, you can do your small part to encourage more companies to follow suit and create a better and safer world for us all.
Do you pay attention to product packaging? What are some of your favorite products that have sustainable, biodegradable, or recyclabe packaging?
Feel free to share your comments below.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
In honor of "Tax Day"
As you may (or may not) know, today is tax day. You have until midnight to postmark your taxes (very soon!) so make sure they are done! I realize it's a little late to discuss this, but it may be helpful if you are one of the last minute preparers of this evening (or if you plan to do this before 2010 or 2016, check the dates of the credit you are interested in)...
Some energy efficiency tax credits are available if you have upgraded an old furnace or water heater, installed new windows, re-insulated your house, or changed to a renewable energy type for your electricity needs. Energy efficient products are a great way to save money, especially in the long term. The immediate cost may be high, but lower energy bills will benefit you in the long run as less waste will occur, meaning less money wasted too!
How can you know it will help you? If you wonder if your home is wasting unnecessary amounts of energy or wonder where drafts are coming from, you can easily find out! For a low cost (and sometimes free, depending on the provider), you can receive an energy audit for your home or business. You can find areas where insulation is not sufficient or does not exist, or find out information about the efficiency of your current appliances and even examine your windows and doors for weather sealing ability.
The US Department of Energy website has a lot of detailed information about these assessments, links for what to look for yourself, and links for professional energy audits. If you find yourself wanting to make your home more efficient but do not have the money, check out the Keystone HELP program (in Pennsylvania, varies by state) to see how you can get a low-interest loan from the government for approved energy efficiency projects in your home. These programs, and the tax credits offered for EnergyStar appliances and solar or other renewable power can make energy efficiency affordable for everyone.
I would love to make my home completely energy efficient to reduce my monthly bills, but since I rent, I do not really have the power to make those decisions. However, even if you do rent, your landlord may be willing to help you out. And if not, you can always do simple things to save energy and reduce waste in your home. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use (in some cases) over 10 times less electricity than standard incandescent light bulbs. You can also buy surge protectors that will cut power to your appliances when they are not in use. Did you know your TV and computer, and nearly every other appliance, use what is known as "vampire power," even when off? That's right, you may turn them off, but those little indicator lights, clocks, and memories require some (albeit little) power to run. Using a product such as the one below can save you money on your electric bill and still allow you to use your appliances easily. Installing water-efficient shower-heads and faucets can save you money on your water bill as well!
What other things do you do to conserve energy?
Some energy efficiency tax credits are available if you have upgraded an old furnace or water heater, installed new windows, re-insulated your house, or changed to a renewable energy type for your electricity needs. Energy efficient products are a great way to save money, especially in the long term. The immediate cost may be high, but lower energy bills will benefit you in the long run as less waste will occur, meaning less money wasted too!
How can you know it will help you? If you wonder if your home is wasting unnecessary amounts of energy or wonder where drafts are coming from, you can easily find out! For a low cost (and sometimes free, depending on the provider), you can receive an energy audit for your home or business. You can find areas where insulation is not sufficient or does not exist, or find out information about the efficiency of your current appliances and even examine your windows and doors for weather sealing ability.
The US Department of Energy website has a lot of detailed information about these assessments, links for what to look for yourself, and links for professional energy audits. If you find yourself wanting to make your home more efficient but do not have the money, check out the Keystone HELP program (in Pennsylvania, varies by state) to see how you can get a low-interest loan from the government for approved energy efficiency projects in your home. These programs, and the tax credits offered for EnergyStar appliances and solar or other renewable power can make energy efficiency affordable for everyone.
I would love to make my home completely energy efficient to reduce my monthly bills, but since I rent, I do not really have the power to make those decisions. However, even if you do rent, your landlord may be willing to help you out. And if not, you can always do simple things to save energy and reduce waste in your home. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use (in some cases) over 10 times less electricity than standard incandescent light bulbs. You can also buy surge protectors that will cut power to your appliances when they are not in use. Did you know your TV and computer, and nearly every other appliance, use what is known as "vampire power," even when off? That's right, you may turn them off, but those little indicator lights, clocks, and memories require some (albeit little) power to run. Using a product such as the one below can save you money on your electric bill and still allow you to use your appliances easily. Installing water-efficient shower-heads and faucets can save you money on your water bill as well!
What other things do you do to conserve energy?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Is technology really progress?
I must admit, that despite all of the years of environmental activism, education, and awareness that I have experienced, I have never read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. I read an excerpt of the book for the first time today, and I was in awe at her beautiful writing style and the simplicity with which she described how we poison ourselves with chemicals that we use to poison others (insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, items which Carson terms "biocides").
I had an enlightening discussion with someone earlier today about technology, and how generation Y will be the first generation to have grown up entirely with computers, wireless technology, and other "modern" appliances and conveniences. This same generation will be the first to show what a lifetime of exposure to these things will do to us. Perhaps sitting with a laptop in our laps and wireless on will draw unnecessary radiation to our reproductive organs, and make us all sterile. We can only hope not.
Carson’s view of the world, and mankind in particular, is not a positive one. She describes how people are willing to accept risks to themselves and future generations to eliminate a few “pests” in ways that are not natural. The question that Rachel Carson does not directly ask, but hints at, is: “does progress lead to self-destruction?” Maybe what we term “progress” is not really progress at all, but rather a step backwards. As we progress as a species, we are really destroying ourselves. Carson’s chemical culprits are not the true blame, but rather progress in general.
Current technology requires that those in the Western world have cell phones, computers, internet, cars, gadgets, televisions, and endless amounts of essentially unnecessary products. I call them unnecessary because they are not, in reality, truly necessary to survival. We don’t need coffee or cell phones or the newest fad item (iPad, anyone?), but modern society convinces us that we do. We don’t need 400 different types of utensils and kitchen appliances and devices, but fast-paced modernity’s need for convenience dictates that we do.
Even though we are well past the 1960s and the hazardous DDT that Rachel Carson was warning us about, we have not moved forward in a more environmentally friendly manner, as we would all like to think. Though environmental pollution laws in the Western world have reduced pollution in the West, that pollution has not been reduced, but rather moved elsewhere, where pollution laws are more lax and minority groups and poor or ignorant populations can be taken advantage of in the name of Western consumption and profit. We like to think that we have saved us from ourselves, but we have not. We have created a new type of problem by trying to mitigate the problem.
Technology is the modern-day deadly “chemical” that Rachel Carson describes as the death of us. In an effort to develop new “gadgets,” we have made old ones obsolete, and they end up in landfills. We have progressed at the expense of poorer, less-developed populations all in the name of technology. The ever-increasing number of electronic and plastic devices come from materials that are acquired through destruction of the natural environment and the exploitation of the Earth’s natural resources. Technology is not making the world more environmentally friendly, but is instead contributing to environmental destruction.
Even though Rachel Carson convinced us all of the error in our ways, she did not foresee the problems of the future. Though we are not directly poisoning ourselves with ultra-hazardous chemicals in the Western world any longer (at least we think so), we are still poisoning ourselves with technology. Only time will tell of the dangers that will be faced by the generations of people that have been raised in a world of “conventional pollution”, wireless technologies, and plastics combined. Will Carson’s warnings still hold true today, under a different guise?
I had an enlightening discussion with someone earlier today about technology, and how generation Y will be the first generation to have grown up entirely with computers, wireless technology, and other "modern" appliances and conveniences. This same generation will be the first to show what a lifetime of exposure to these things will do to us. Perhaps sitting with a laptop in our laps and wireless on will draw unnecessary radiation to our reproductive organs, and make us all sterile. We can only hope not.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Do you recycle?
Target Opens Recycling Centers in all 1,740 Stores
The article above talks about Target's new in-store recycling initiatives. Customers can now recycle all sorts of materials, ranging from cell phones and ink cartridges to aluminum and glass. This is great to hear. How often do you go to a store, only to leave with more bags then you know what to do with? Sure, you can use those bags for your small trashcans or picking up dog waste, but does that really keep them from ending up in landfills, where they will sit for thousands of years?
It's great to see that Target will be raising the bar, and only through time will we know if others will follow the lead. I'll bet Walmart won't be too far behind. Some stores already offer recycling, such as Ikea and many local grocery stores.
Recycling is something that seems so easy, and for some people it is habit. But there are many people who still don't recycle (I know, how is this possible in 2010? Haven't all the years of school lessons about recycling sunk in at all?) While it won't drastically change the world if you don't recycle, if we all don't recycle, well... could you imagine all the mess?
Does your favorite store recycle?
Do YOU recycle?
The article above talks about Target's new in-store recycling initiatives. Customers can now recycle all sorts of materials, ranging from cell phones and ink cartridges to aluminum and glass. This is great to hear. How often do you go to a store, only to leave with more bags then you know what to do with? Sure, you can use those bags for your small trashcans or picking up dog waste, but does that really keep them from ending up in landfills, where they will sit for thousands of years?
It's great to see that Target will be raising the bar, and only through time will we know if others will follow the lead. I'll bet Walmart won't be too far behind. Some stores already offer recycling, such as Ikea and many local grocery stores.
Recycling is something that seems so easy, and for some people it is habit. But there are many people who still don't recycle (I know, how is this possible in 2010? Haven't all the years of school lessons about recycling sunk in at all?) While it won't drastically change the world if you don't recycle, if we all don't recycle, well... could you imagine all the mess?
Does your favorite store recycle?
Do YOU recycle?
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