Sensible Green Tip #2

Conserve H2O
Again, this tip sounds so cliché but I feel it's one that really needs to be emphasized. With water being a finite resource it's going to run out someday. So in order to meet the demand of the planet scientists created water purifying processes like desalination. However, these advanced processes require a lot of energy, a lot. So to save water in the present, these little tips do a lot.

• Shorter Showers - yes, taking 1-minute less showers can save up to 60 hours of running water each year (assuming you shower every day). Think about it the next time you decide to daydream at that sea-shell wallpaper.

• Dishwashers - If you have a recent model (past 7 years or so) using this can actually save you up to 1000 gallons of water per month. So instead of washing dishes by hand, put them in the dishwasher. You'll save time and effort, too. (Be sure to only run the dishwasher on a full load; otherwise you'll waste water.)

• Car Wash - Instead of washing your hybrid in the driveway, go to a car wash instead. The water that runs off your driveway can contaminate the local watershed, assuming you use soap and what not. Most car washes recycle their run-off or properly dispose of it through the sewer system. Be sure to visit the car wash when you're off doing erronds since you're out and about anyways.

• STOP USING THOSE AWFUL PLASTIC BOTTLES - As you may have heard on the news, most water bottling companies just use municipal water. Also, the plastic can leach potentially harmful BPA (Bisphenol A) that can disrupt your hormones (and who knows what else). So to save money and your health, buy a reusable water bottle. Nalgene bottles are a good choice, but only the ones that are BPA-free. They sell them at Target stores and Dick's Sporting goods. An even better choice (since Nalgene is plastic) are stainless steel bottles like Klean Kanteen and SIGG.

So these are some very useful tips that I use all the time. They are also the most sensible and easy-to-do ones I know. So do the planet (and your wallet) a favor and follow these simple steps.

Sensible Green Tip #1

Here's the first of many "Sensible Green Tips." There are probably many that you've heard before but I will try to make them sensible and simple. Most of these I will have tried or done myself so as to provide proof that they do work. Here's the first, and probably most important, tip:

CFL Bulbs

Yes, this has practically become cliché nowadays but I feel it is one of the most sensible ones so far. These truely do save a lot of energy and last a whole lot longer than normal incandescent bulbs. I installed four of them in my room and I haven't had to replace them for over a year and a half. To clear up any foul air about these wonderful bulbs, here's some simple misconceptions debunked:

• Yes, these bulbs do contain mercury, a hazardous and toxic substance...if you are exposed to it. The mercury is what causes the bulb to last so long and be so energy efficient. However, the amount of mercury in each CFL bulb is barely enough to cover the tip of a sharpened pencil. So, contrary to popular belief, when these bulbs break, there's no need to call 911 for the haz-mat team. Just open a window to allow circulation. Wait 15 or so minutes then put the bulb in a paper bag and then put that in a plastic grocery bag. Search Earth911.org for a local recycling center to dispose of the waste. DO NOT send these bulbs in the trash, thus sending them to the landfill. The mercury can contaminate surrounding ecosystems and watersheds.For more detailed disposal instruction, go to the EPA's following link: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/index.htm

• Many people complain that they take a long time to reach their maximum brightness. Yes, the earlier did take a long time. But relatively, the ones on storeshelves today have a shorter start-up period. My CFLs only take 10 or so seconds to reach their maximum brightness, and even then it's barely noticable. Search google to find the best ones. BE SURE they are certified Energy Star CFLs, too.

• People also complain of their odd swirling shape. Many don't mind, but even more find it "ugly" and unaesthetic. However, there are plenty of brands out there right now that enclose the swirly shape inside a normal-looking incandescent bulb. Check your local hardware store. (Of course, check their website first to check if they carry CFL bulbs so you don't make an unnecessary trip to only discover they don't have them.)

So hopefully this will convince many people that CFLs are our future....for now. I will blog later about the even better benefits of LED lighting.

Greenwashing: Better than Nothing?

Greenwashing is a term used quite often these days. To many, it's hard to tell. Here's a dictionary definition (dictionary.com) of Greenwashing:

the practice of promoting environmentally friendly programs to deflect attention from an organization's environmentally unfriendly or less savory activities.

[gotta love the use of "savory"]

Example

A common one that people are starting to see more and more every day is those "eco-shape" water bottles. Many claim to use "15%" less plastic and are "environmentally friendly.

Does anything sound fishy about that? Maybe the fact that they're still made of plastic. As people should know, most plastics are not environmentally friendly at all, and can take over 100 years to decompose in our landfills. In addition, they're made of that non-renewable resource we know as petroleum.

Now, yes, it's nice that they are attempting to green up their otherwise environmentally unsustainable industry, however it is not right to label themselves as eco-friendly. It's one of those industries that would be better off going out of business since plastic bottles don't belong in our more sustainable future.


6 Six Sins of Greenwashing™

TerraChoice, an environmental marketing firm, released a study in 2007 that detailed the "6 Sins of Greenwashing." The study found more than 99% of 1,018 common consumer products randomly surveyed for the study were guilty of greenwashing. A total of 1,753 environmental claims made, with some products having more than one, and out of the 1,018 studied only one was found not guilty of making a false or misleading green marketing claim. Here are the "6 Sins:"

1. Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off - 998 products or 57% of all environmental claims committed this Sin. Example: an electronic product that claims to be energy efficient but consists of environmentally hazardous materials.
2. Sin of No Proof - 454 products or 26% of environmental claims committed this Sin. Example: products claiming to be organic or 100%-degradable with no proof or certification.
3. Sin of Vagueness - 196 products or 11% of all environmental claims committed this Sin. Example: products that claim to consist of only natural products when in fact many naturally-occuring substances are hazardous and harmful to the environment.
4. Sin of Irrelevance - 78 products or 4% of all environmental claims committed this Sin. Example: products that claim to be CFC-(chlorofluorocarbons) or DDT-(Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) free when in reality those substances have been illegal for quite some time.
5. Sin of Fibbing - 10 products or less than 1% of all environmental claims committed this Sin. Example: products that falsely claim certification by environmental standards such as Energy Star.
6. Sin of Lesser of Two Evils - 17 products or 1% of environmental claims committed this Sin. Example: organic cigarettes, eco-friendly pesticides.

Conclusion

However, in the end, it's better than nothing. Eco-shape bottles that use less plastic is better than bottles that use more plastic. Pesticides with less harmful chemicals are better than pesticides with more harmful chemicals. But these companies should not label themselves as totally "green" or eco-friendly when in reality the very nature of their business harms the environment in some way or form. So, before you go out and buy a new "eco-friendly" product, do a little research on it; you may find a Sin.

Vegetarianism: Why and Why Not

A growing trend in environmentalism and the green movement is becoming a vegetarian. Vegetarianism, as many people know, is a diet in which meat, poultry, and fish are not consumed due to various reasons, including, but not limited to: social, religious, moral, cultural, ethical, environmental, or economical.

The people who do it for environmental reasons usually do so because the meat industry (more specifically cattle) is said to be responsible for 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalents. By comparison, all of the world's transportation (including all cars, trucks, buses, trains, ships, and planes) emits 13.5 percent of the CO2. Animal farming produces 65 percent of human-related nitrous oxide and 37 percent of all human-induced methane. Now, to a person who believes in the effects of Global Climate Change this is a very disturbing fact.

However, another environmental reson for a person to go Vegetarianism is that animal agriculture can be (and usually is) environmentally unsustainable. According to the United Nations, the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide, and modern practices of raising animals for food contributes on a massive scale to deforestation, air and water pollution, land degradation, loss of topsoil, climate change, the overuse of resources including oil and water, and loss of biodiversity. The important fact here is that this includes the harvesting of animal feed. That is where a lot of these problems originate.

Types of Vegetarianism

There are several types of vegetarianism, and you probably know one of them already, Veganism. The others are: Lacto, Ovo, and Lacto-ovo Vegetariansim. Here's the breakdown:

• Lacto Vegetarianism - no to meat, poultry, fish, or eggs; yes to dairy and honey products.


• Ovo Vegetarianism - no to meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products; yes to eggs and honey products.


• Lacto-Ovo Vegetarianism - no to meat, poultry, and fish; yes to eggs, and dairy and honey products.


• Veganism - no to meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy and honey products; also, no animal products or clothing/accessories (i.e. leather, animal-tested shampoo, etc.).
  

Cons

(Coming Soon)

Introduction

Hello everybody my name is Anthony and I created this blog to offer, along other things, an aspect to the growing environmental/green movement. I believe protecting the environment and conserving its natural beauty and resources should be our main priority in this day and age. It doesn't matter whether or not you believe in Global Warming or Climate Change (we won't know 100% sure until it is too late), we can all agree that the detiorating state of our planet caused by overpopulation, increasing pollution, and the unwise use of our natural resources is a problem that needs to become our top issue.

It's not a matter of "saving our planet," as others put it, but rather saving "ourselves." We can drive this planet to the point of filth and pollution but ultimately we'll be the ones to go "extinct" one day. However, no matter what the news bodes Earth will remain and will eventually return to normal. So in essence, we need to save ourselves BY protecting our planet and conserving its precious resources for later use, also known as Stewardship.

So in conclusion do not expect alarmist Global Warming predictions or armageddon-like but rather ways for us to "go green" as they say and intellectual discussions on why we should focus on action rather than blabbing.

Thank you to all who take time to read this.