A Little Bit Greener :: Environmental Blog

Gas vs. Charcoal Grills: The Battle Rages On

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:27:00 +0000

Last week, I gave into the peer pressure of suburbia and kept up with the Joneses by purchasing a gas grill. I just plain wanted one. After I got home and realized it would take three hours to assembled, I began to wonder if a propane grill is an awful carbon dioxide emitter. Well, according to this ultra-perky video from TitansGreens, yes there is a significant carbon impact from the propane grill, but it's not quite as bad as charcoal and lighter fluid. Check it out, Web Nerdz!

Carbon Map of U.S. Skewed By Geek's House

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:38:00 +0000

A bunch of scientists at Purdue university have produced an updated map of U.S. carbon emissions. As you can see from the red blotches, densely populated areas generally produce a lot of pollution, with the east coast emitting more than its fair share. What's surprising is that one of the largest blotches of carbon pollution appears to be blooming directly from my own home.

How do I know for sure that my house is to blame for all that carbon? Well, I knew it for sure in January, when I opened my gas bill and saw that I owed more than $250. < highpitchedscream > What?????? < /highpitchedscream >. And then I knew it again in February. Keep in mind that my winter thermostat is set at 62 while I'm awake and 58 when I'm asleep. That's not too warm, folks. I can't go any colder without endangering my pets.

I'm a quasi-environmentalist! I have a green-colored blog! How can I have $250 energy bills?

The answer to that question is both complicated AND annoying. First of all, the price of natural gas is really high right now. As I am not an energy trader, there's nothing I can do about that except to reduce my consumption. And since I refuse to turn the thermostat any lower, that means plugging leaks. Here is a short list of all the drafts I found in my home:

Windows: Lead paint-sealed-shut ancient in some cases. They do have storm windows, but they aren't helping much.
Electrical sockets: I could feel cold air blowing on my hand through the little holes.
Doors: Weatherstripping is worn away or missing. Letter slot is uninsulated.
Ductwork: Duct in unheated garage is leaking hot air and the insulation is ripped and falling apart.
Walls: Cold to the touch, possibly indicating that they lack sufficient insulation

That right there is a lot for a less-than-handyman with limited funds to tackle, but I'm trying. Stay tuned for updates on my progress. And yes, some progress has been made. But not much.

BTW: You can view the real carbon map here.

Philly Cleanup a Sparkling Success

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:41:00 +0000

If there's one thing I hate, it's people who disrespect their own community and chuck their refuse on the ground. This goes for everyone from the mom who tosses her Macdonald's bag out of her car window to the lawyer who drops his cigarette butt onto the sidewalk as he enters his office building. (How come if you're a smoker, the world is your ashtray? Can someone explain that to me?) Bottom line: litter sucks. It turns cities into garbage dumps, hurts tourism, lowers property values and encourages crime. It damages the human environment, which just happens to be the one in which we all have to live.

That's why this past weekend I was happy to participate in Philly Cleanup, a one-day city program promoted by Mayor Michael Nutter to pick up some of the litter and trash across Philadelphia. On Saturday morning, I headed out with a group of my coworkers at Philadelphia Tourism to beautiful FDR park in South Philly, where volunteers handed out gloves, rakes and trash bags. We were given a tough assignment, which was to walk over to the skatepark under Interstate 95 and clean up some of the trash. And boy was there ever trash to clean. Thousands of plastic bags chucked from car windows. Hundreds of bottles and cans chucked by kids. Car tires. Candy wrappers. Newspapers. A real mess. I even found a parking meter that had been liberated and cut in half for whatever coins it once held. But no decayed bodies--thank Jeebus.

When we first got to the area, I thought we wouldn't even make a dent. I was wrong. Even though there were only nine hardy souls in our group, we managed to pick up at least ten large bags of trash and recyclables. Within a couple of hours, the place actually looked decent (for a skatepark underneath an interstate highway). We even saw a living creature in the sea of detritus--a little snake curled up in the sun. He seemed happy to see us cleaning up his home.

Thank you Mayor Nutter, for showing us what we could accomplish with a little elbow grease and a few hours of our time. Let's keep this going and have another cleanup day in the summer and then every warm season after that. I'll show up and I bet a whole bunch of my fellow citizens will as well. It's time to clean up Philadelphia's act for good! Huzzah!

**Thanks to Rawle for the photos.

Ice Shelf's Death is a Wake-Up Call

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Yesterday I read that an Antarctic ice shelf the size of Manhattan is collapsing into the ocean. The shelf was so massive, old and permanent-seeming that it had a name: Wilkins. Poor icy Wilkins is now all sad and busted up. Seems the temperature around the western Antarctic peninsula has been rising a rate of nearly one degree Fahrenheit per decade over the past 50 years.

I think most of us know what killed Wilkins. We did.

Luckily our old friend Wilkins was already floating, so there won't be any change in sea levels. That won't always be the case. Higher tides are coming with the warmer days ahead. We may not all end up drowning like polar bears, but the temperatures, they are a-changin'.

Wilkins' warning woke me up from my blogging slumber. Despite some frustrating setbacks that I will write about later, I'm still trying to get a little bit greener and I hope you are too. Let's work this problem together. It's too late for Wilkins, but it might not be too late for us.

Conserve Water With the Lowest of Low Flow Shower Heads

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:00:00 +0000

If you're like me, you love a nice hot shower, and sometimes you enjoy a loooong hot shower. It's one of life's simple pleasures, and something that few of us would be willing to sacrifice. But of course, there's a price to be paid for every hot shower. Fresh water is precious and showers can use thousands of gallons per year in a typical household. On top of that, every time you turn on the hot water, your water heater has to kick on, burning gas or electric energy. All of that comes out of your pocket, even if you forget the environmental ramifications.

So, short of taking shorter, colder showers, what's a green person to do? Install a fantabulous low flow shower head, that's what! Now I know what you're thinking: I don't want some pansy-ass dribbly fixture ruining my showers. Well, I'm here to tell you that I installed a very inexpensive water conserving shower head last night, and this morning's shower was better than ever. It was hot, strong and satisfying. I'm a clean dude today, trust me.**

What is this miracle shower head? It's the $12 "Lowest Flow Showerhead," and you can order it from Gaiam. I learned about the device on Treehugger and it really seems to work. According to Gaiam, the head's "maximum flow is 2.25 gallons per minute (gpm) at 80 psi, and 1.2 to 1.4 gpm is about average for most folks." Just to compare, the maximum allowed by law is now 2.5 gpm, so you're beating the average by quite a lot.***

The device even has a handy pause button that lets you cut off the water while you lather up. Oh, and did I mention that it has a 10-year guarantee? All for a measly $12 investment. That's one hott shower head.

According to the EPA, here's how to see if your shower head needs to be replaced:

1. Get yourself a bucket and a stopwatch--anything with a second-hand. It helps if the bucket has lines indicating gallons.

2. Hold the bucket directly under the shower head and turn on your normal water pressure.

3. Time how long it takes for the water to hit the one-gallon line.

4. If it takes less than 20 seconds to fill a gallon, go ahead and install a low flow shower head.

Note: If you don't have a bucket with gallon lines, just collect water for 20 seconds and then pour it into a measured pitcher or something. If you collected more than a gallon of H20--bingo. Get the new shower head!

TreeHugger's take on the Lowest Flow Showerhead
Buy it on Gaiam
EPA Consumer Guide to Conserving Water

**Except for my mind.
***There are a few shower heads out there that claim to have lower flow rates, but I don't know of a better value than the one I'm recommending.

Macbook Air is as Green as it is Thin and Awesome

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:03:00 +0000

Most of my friends, enemies, and even some of my frenemies know that I love Apple products. I've used their computers since I was a wee lad, and I'm one of the many fanboys who sits at work furiously reloading macrumors to get the latest updates whenever Steve Jobs gives one of his famous keynote speeches at the Macworld Convention. I just plain like Apple gear. It makes me happy.

So, of course I was all geeked up to learn about the spankin' new Macbook Air that was announced yesterday. I read every speck of information about the new notebook on Apple's site, even knowing full well that I can't afford the darn thing. Well, here's a speck of information for you. Buried on the technical specification page for the Macbook Air, Apple included a little "Environmental Status Report":

"MacBook Air embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It consumes the least amount of power of any Mac and is also designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

Highly recyclable aluminum enclosure

Mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass

PVC-free internal cables

Largely recyclable, low-volume packaging

Meets ENERGY STAR requirements

MacBook Air received a Silver rating from EPEAT"

What are we to make of this information? Apple hasn't had a particularly good reputation for its environmental responsibility and Greenpeace pummeled it in 2006, ranking it lowest among top tech manufacturers for their actions and policies. They cited the company's weak (at the time) take-back recycling program and lack of timelines for eliminating yucky polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs).

Probably in response to the activist pressure (which Jobs once called BS), Apple has improved its practices and Mac nerds in the United States can trade in their old computer to be recycled for free. You even get a 10% discount on a new iPod when you trade in the old one. Apple has also commited to completely eliminate PVC, BFRs and arsenic from all of its products by the end of this year. It's hard to believe that I've been buying computers full of deadly ARSENIC and other carcinogens for so many years, but thank God that's going to stop.

What do I think about Macbook Air? If you're choosing a notebook computer based upon its green properties, the Air isn't a bad choice. In fact, it may be the greenest laptop currently on the market. It uses less power due to its LED display backlighting; it has less PVC and BFRs than previous models (but not none); and its aluminum enclosure is ripe for recycling. If you have $1,799 hidden under your mattress and your old lappy is truly obsolete, then I say trade the old one in and go for it. I'll grit my teeth and stick with my 2000 Pismo Powerbook for now. Must... resist... new... toys...

Apple's Recycling Program
Apple's Official Environmental Stance
Macbook Air is Greener (GreenTech)
Macbook Air: Green Equals Sexy (Eco Chick)
Macbook Air is Greenest Apple to Date (Ecofriend)
Apple Grows Greener (Earth2Tech)
Apple Gets Greener (Inhabitat)
Your Computer is Bad for You (Wired)
Greenpeace's Take on Macbook Air

Mailbag: Recycling Microwaves & Printers

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:03:00 +0000

Chris Mesure from Philly asks:

"I have an old Microwave and Computer printer, both of which I am trying to dispose of in the most earth-friendly way I can. Do you know of any recycling, or disposal program in Philly (or the area) for both?"

Thanks for the question Chris. If your printer and microwave are still in working order, my first recommendation would be to try Freecycle, a global grassroots network where you can list items that you have to give away, as well as items you're seeking. Phillyfreecycle has a very active membership, with more than 8,000 participating, so if you have working appliances, there is a good chance you can find someone to happily take them off your hands.

I have not personally tried Freecycle, but I have friends who swear by it. It takes 100% less energy and raw material to reuse than to recycle, so by all means take advantage of any opportunity to give your old items new life in new homes.

Now if your electronic gadgets are all busted up, you can head over to Pottstown and take them to Recycling Services, Inc. RSI is a non-profit organization that accepts many, many materials for recycling, from wire coat hangers to clothes to used fishing line. God bless them!

You'll have to fork over an $8 donation for each carload, and $5 extra if you're dropping off something really large, like TVs, copiers and computer monitors. This covers the cost of recycling your junk and I think it's a small price to pay for a clear conscience. RSI is open for collection on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Recycling Services, Inc.
365 Elm Street Pottstown, PA 19465
Phone: (610) 323-8545

View Larger Map

Please keep the questions coming! They makes me a happy eco-nerd.
blukas (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Blog Roundup: From Balls to Cork to Crystal

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:46:00 +0000

Eco Balls Clean Laundry and Make Me Giggle (got2begreen)
Moscow to Host Monstrously Wacky "Crystal Island" Building (got2begreen)
Watch the Story of Stuff. Seriously. Go Watch It. (La Marguerite)
These Cleantech Ideas Could Be Huge in '08 (Sustainablog)
Cool, Yet Pricey Cork/Rubber Floors Worth a Peep (Jetson Green)
Meet the Future of Solar Panel Technology (Practical Environmentalist)

Also, I've added Scream to be Green to my blogroll. It's a relatively new blog (like this one), so it's not on too many blogrolls yet, but I think that will change. The content is good and he has a sweet template. Go ahead and take a look-see.

I Will Attempt to Answer Your Burning Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Dearest Reader,

Since you've found your way to this blog, I think it's safe to assume that you care about your impact on the environment and you're striving to make a difference. However, you've probably figured out that the "right" thing to do is not always so clear. Paper or plastic? Fake tree or real tree? Bamboo or cork? Sprite or Sierra Mist? Can you recycling a milk carton with a built-in plastic flange? Just how clean do your used cat food cans need to be? Mulch your grass clippings or rake and compost them? And on and on.

Well, I'm here to help. I want you, yes YOU, to send me your environmental questions, no matter how small, and I will do my best to answer them. If I don't know the answer, I will find someone who does. So, go ahead and fire me an electronic mail message and ask your eco-question. If you're curious about something, chances are other folks are wondering too.

One more thing: Happy Thursday.

Sincerely,
Brennen
blukas *AT* gmail (DOT) com

Review: Mike McGrath's Book of Compost

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:22:00 +0000

If you've ever listened to public radio on a Saturday morning, there's a good chance you've heard of You Bet Your Garden, hosted by the always-energetic, awesomely alliterative Mike McGrath. If you haven't caught the show, let me tell you this guy is an absolute walking Wikipedia of plant knowledge. He knows EVERYTHING you could ever want to know about organic gardening. The man won four consecutive Best of Show awards at the Philadelphia Flower Show. 'Nuff said.

That's why I was so excited when Santa (he reads my blog) brought me a copy of Mike McGrath's Book of Compost. The book is a slim and trim 120 pages and I tore through it in just a few hours. By the end, I was so excited about composting that I literally dreamed about shredding leaves that night. Sweet, nutrient-packed Fall leaves. Mmmmmmmm...

McGrath writes how he talks: with tremendous enthusiasm and copious dry humor, complete with plenty of italics, parentheses and all-caps. Normally these typeface techniques would irritate my inner English major, but in this case it just seemed to be part of the fun. Mike McGrath simply loves to compost and he's not afraid to SHOUT IT. I respect that.

The book makes composting dead, rotting simple. (Spoiler: all you really need for compost are shredded leaves.) You're not going to see charts with carbon and nitrogen ratios or anything of the sort. And if you're looking for elaborate explanations of thermophilic bacteria and the like, you should go elsewhere. Instead, what you'll get is a thorough schooling on how to compost, why to compost, and how to use compost in your garden while ditching harsh fertilizers and pesticides. Plus, don't forget the wonders of compost tea.

You'll come away a true believer that compost is the bees knees when it comes to gardening. As McGrath says, "Two to four inches of compost... will feed every single one of your outdoor--and indoor--plants; and it will feed them better than any chemical fertilizer (and better than just about any packaged organic one, too)!" As I read the book, I began to wonder if compost could cure cancer. Can someone look into that?

As an added bonus, McGrath even teaches you how to have the greenest grass in your neighborhood using only--you guessed it--compost. After you amaze and astonish your neighbors by taking all of their leaves off their yards in the Fall, you'll make them green with envy over your luscious lawn come Springtime. It's fantastic, and by golly I'm gonna do it! With Mike McGrath's help, I'm a real-life beginner composter and proud of it!

Mike McGrath's Book of Compost (Amazon)
You Bet Your Garden (WHYY)

Return Pot Turns PLA Plastic into Compost

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:19:00 +0000

The Philadelphia Inquirer had an interesting story this weekend about the Electrolux Design Lab competition. A number of interesting devices are mentioned in the article, but I'm most fascinated with the "Return Pot," which uses a magnetic field to turn polylactic acid (PLA) resin into compost for plants. Here's how it works:

"As the user spins the battery-less Return Pot, a ball bearing moves through a coil tunnel, creating a magnetic field that generates electricity to power the return cycle. The result is water, compost and a small amount of carbon dioxide, according to the inventor."

This is basically a home device that turns plastic into plant food. Wow. From a sustainability point of view, that's virtually a miracle. However, there is one major catch. The Return Pot decomposes PLA plastic, not petroleum-based resins, and there just isn't much PLA being used as of yet. D'oh!

If you haven't heard of PLA, it's a relatively new corn-based plastic that is very slowly being adopted in some packaging, such as water bottles and cups. On the downside, it takes corn to create the product, which could be used for food. Also, because the product decomposes, it can't be used in packaging that has to last a long time or stand up to very warm conditions. However, given the right conditions (heat, humidity and micro-organisms), PLA will fully decompose into nutrients for the soil.

I'm going to be writing more about PLA in the future, but in the meantime, do check out the Inquirer article to see the sustainable marvels that some very bright minds have created.

Designed for Coexisting (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Electrolux Design Lab 2007

Green Blog Roundup: I Get Around the InterWeb

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:56:00 +0000

Here's your weekly grab bag of blog-a-licious goodness:

Detroit Whining That 35 MPG Standard Will Kill Muscle Cars (Wired)
Feel Like a Trashy Mayor today? Play the Garbage Game (No Impact Man)
Build Those Biceps While You Clean Your Jeans (Got2BeGeen)
Ireland Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs, Beers Other Than Guinness (Green Blog)
Is that a Giant Energy Tower or Are You Just Happy to See Me? (TreeHugger)
La Marguerite Honors Favorite Green Bloggers With Crazy Linkage

Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for a Greener 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:02:00 +0000

I've really enjoyed producing this little environmental blog over the past couple of months, and I like to think that I've offered some useful information for people. In the spirit of the holidays, here are the top ten environmental tips that I wrote about in 2007, ranked very (very) roughly by the amount of impact each one can have on your carbon footprint. If you keep your resolution to make even one of these little changes to your life in 2008, you'll have made a real difference.

1. Sign up for Peco Wind or your local alternative energy program
How easy is it? Very, very easy.
How much will it cost you? $5-$20 a month, depending on your energy usage

2. Wash (and rinse) your clothes with cold water
How easy is it? So easy you'll cry.
How much will it cost you? You'll save money!

3. Give composting a try
How easy is it? Easier than you think, but you'll need to read up on it. Don't worry--I'm going to have more composting tips for you in '08.
How much will it cost you? I paid about $200 for my Tumbleweed composter, but you can build your own bin for nothing.

4. Close your storm windows for winter
How easy is it? A lot easier than installing new windows. If you have storm windows, it's a cinch.
How much will it cost you? You will save a bundle in energy costs.

5. Bring your own reusable bags when you go shopping
How easy is it? Pretty darn easy. You just have to remember to do it.
How much will it cost you? A few bucks. Many stores will pay you a couple of cents a bag!

6. You can recycle more than just glass, paper and plastic 1 & 2
How easy is it? Just visit Earth911 to find out what you can recycle and where. It's a little tougher than dragging cans to your curb, but still not that hard.
How much will it cost you? Mostly just a little bit of your time. However, it's good for your soul.

7. Use revolving doors instead of swing doors when possible
How easy is it? Are you kidding me???
How much will it cost you? Maybe you'll burn two extra calories from pushing the door around.

8. Switch to rechargeable NiMH batteries
How easy is it? You do have to remember to keep your batteries charged, and also to unplug the charger when you're done. Other than that, it's a piece of cake.
How much will it cost you? Rechargeables are definitely more expensive than Alkalines right off the shelf, but they will save you lots of money over the life of the battery.

9. Make sure your car's tires have the correct pressure
How easy is it? Simple.
How much will it cost you? Maybe $10-$15 to buy a tire gauge and $.75 to fire up the air pump at a gas station. Wawa air pumps are free to use, much like their ATMs.

10. Don't get divorced
How easy is it? Possibly very hard. Your mileage may vary.
How much will it cost you? A lifetime of flowers, back rubs and dish cleaning.

There you have it, folks. Let me know if you make any of these resolutions for 2008. Best wishes for a green and happy New Year!

Recycle Your Christmas Tree in Philadelphia and Elsewhere

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:27:00 +0000

First of all, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Santa was very good to me this year, bringing me Guitar Hero III for the Wii, as well as several good books on environmental issues. I even got a little gadget that measures how much electricity devices draw when plugged into the socket. Very cool. I'll have in-depth reviews of all that good stuff, except for Guitar Hero. So far, I suck at Guitar Hero.

Second, I would like to weigh in on one of the greatest challenges facing the world today--what to do with used Christmas trees? If you followed my advice and got a real tree this year, pretty soon it's going to start turning brown and looking all ghetto in your living room. You can water it to forestall the inevitable, but sooner or later you're going to have to get rid of your tree. That beautiful formerly living thing is one of God's creatures and should return to the earth from whence it came.

Now, most towns have Christmas tree curbside pickup so you can just let the garbage dudes take it away. From there, one of three things is likely to happen:

The tree will be composted. (green)
The tree will be chipped up and turned into mulch. (greenish)
The tree will be chucked into a toxic landfill full of batteries and dirty diapers where its precious nutrients will never enrich the earth again. (not green)

I recommend checking with your local sanitation department to see which of these fates will befall your tree. If the answer is compost or mulch, go ahead and leave your tree on the curb on the assigned day and muse upon the rarely-seen wonders of effective government. If the answer is landfill, then you have to do a little due diligence. Chances are there is an alternative program in your area for recycling trees. You just have to find out where it is and when to haul your tree over there. And then somehow get all of the pine needles out of your car.* Sigh.

For example, in my hometown of Philadelphia, the city will indeed pick up your tree for no extra charge. However, they will dump it directly into a landfill after collection. You would have to do a little research in order to figure that out. You can't just assume that the tree is going to be recycled. Apparently, that's too much to ask. Fortunately Philadelphia does provide a tree recycling option:

"Citizens who wish to drop off their tree for recycling may take it to the Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Centers located at 3033 S. 63rd St. (entrance on 61st St. side), Domino & Umbria Lanes and State & Ashburner Roads during this week only. The sites are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday, January 7 through Saturday, January 12."

If you don't live in Philadelphia, I recommend running a Google search for "Recycle Christmas Tree [your city or state]". That should get you the answers you need. If not, you can always try the excellent Earth 911 database, which lists many of the tree programs across the country.

Finally, if you have a truck, you might offer to haul a couple of your neighbor's trees to the recycling center while you're at it. It might earn you an extra pile of cookies next year and I might also forgive you for owning a truck.

*Try to avoid using your household vacuum cleaner to suck up pine needles. It usually ends up clogging the machine and you end up with a bigger mess than you started with. Try a broom.

Philadelphia Streets Department Christmas Tree Recycling Information
Interesting Facts about Tree Recycling (Earth 911)

Attention Nerds: Correct Tire Pressure Saves Gas

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Since lots of folks will be hopping in their auto-cars this week to visit distant relatives, I figured it would be a good time to mention one of the fuel-saving ideas that I employ with my piece of junk Ford Focus Ultralemon 2001. This is a completely unsexy tip, but it's important to make sure that your tires have the correct pressure, especially before embarking on a long trip.

It takes a true nerd to go around testing the pressure in your tires with a shiny silver gauge, but that's what I do, and you should too. It's not good enough to eyeball the tires for signs of flatitude and the gauges at gas station air pumps are dodgy. We want precision! According to the Department of Energy, you lose about half a percent of your fuel efficiency for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Also, incorrect inflation will cause premature wear on your tires that will eventually force you to replace them sooner than normal. Not to mention the fact that low tires cause your engine to work harder and wear faster. Are you convinced yet?

Here's how to fill your tires to the correct air pressure, AKA, if you can dodge a wrench, you can fill your tires:

1. Drive your car to a place with a functioning air pump. Wawa has free ones in many locations. Otherwise, this exercise will cost you a few quarters. The closer the station is to your house, the better. You want to measure the tires cold, so that heat won't increase the pressure and skew your readings.

2. As you climb out of the car, take a gander at the inside of the driver's-side door. You should see a placard that lists the car's recommended tire pressure. This placard is sometimes inside the glove compartment door. A lot of people mistakenly use the pressure listed on the tire itself, but that's the MAXIMUM pressure and not what you want. Knowledge is power.

3. Walk around your car and take off the valve caps, remembering to put them in your pocket so you don't lose them as I almost always do. You want to take the valve caps off before you start the air pump, so you don't have to mess around with them while you're on the pump's clock. It sucks to have to stick more quarters in the machine to get it going again.

4. Whip out your trusty tire gauge and test each tire. If the pressure in a tire is a little too high, use the tip of the gauge to bleed of a little air and then retest. If the pressure is below what the placard (I love that word) recommended, fire up the pump and add air to the low tires. The pump's built-in gauge will give you a good idea of where you're at. When you're done adding air, retest the tires and bleed off any extra.

5. Reach in your pocket and put the valve caps back on.

6. Wink at the cutie walking into the station's Quickie Mart. Awww yeah. (optional)

One final tip here. If you get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube or some such place, they usually set the tire pressure at 32 by default, regardless of what's actually recommended. If you checked inside the door and your car needs a different pressure, be sure to let the attendants know. Oh, and if they try to change your air filter for you, say no. Buy one yourself and install it. It's super easy and much cheaper.

Happy Holidays everyone. Please drink responsibly, a lot. Responsibly.

More Tips On Getting Better Mileage From Your Giant SUV

I'm Fully Syndicated, Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:20:00 +0000

If you're an RSS-loving guy or gal, you might want to subscribe to my new blog feed. It's all tweaked out with the finest Feedburner features, and I've been assured that the feed burning is much greener than, say, coal burning.

xoxoxo
Brennen

Bringing Your Own Reusable Bags Does Take a Little Nerve

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:28:00 +0000

In my very first post on this blog, I mentioned that I am not a perfect environmentalist, eco-geek, greenie, tree hugger or whatever you want to call it. Far, far from perfect. Living a greener lifestyle has been a gradual adaptation for me and I think I'm still at the very beginning of my journey.

I will illustrate this imperfection over and over again in this space, but here's a glaring example. As I've ranted before, plastic bags suck and it's better to bring your own reusable bags when you go shopping. Basic, right? But I have to admit that I forget or ignore my own advice once in a while. There are two main culprits here:

I accidentally leave my reusable bags at home when I head out to the store
While I have gotten used to the idea of using my own bags at the grocery store, I still haven't quite accepted the notion of using my own bags at other kinds of retailers

The first culprit is easy to deal with. I now always leave the bags in the car (yes I drive a car sometimes) after I'm finished with them. If I forget to bring the bags into the store, I head right back out and get them. No excuses.

The second culprit is a little more complicated, but I think it boils down to the fact that it's kind of a bold move to whip out your own bag at Macy's or Target. In America, this behavior is still so rare that I sometimes feel a little silly doing it. In all likelihood, the cashier has never encountered someone who brought their own bag and it does tend to raise eyebrows and elicit comments. Usually there are a few moments of confusion as the checker figures out what I want them to do, and I have to explain it again. It's outside of the normal routine and it can slow things down a tiny bit. A conversation might happen, and it often ends with the checker or other people in line complimenting me on my choice. It's a good dialogue and it sets a good example, but honestly I don't really like the attention. I'd prefer to get in and get out with no fuss.

More and more, I'm gritting my teeth and doing what I know is right. My own pride and shyness shouldn't stop me from changing my behavior for the better. Maybe you're not as shy as me and this sort of thing doesn't bother you. But if it does, just remember that you're joining a quiet revolution and other folks like me are taking the bullet right along with you.

The last time I brought my own bag was to a Dollar Store this weekend. The cashier was totally unfazed and it went as easily as if she had used the normal plastic bags. God bless her. Maybe someday it'll always be as easy as that.

Danny at Simply Green has a lovely post about the joys and perils of bringing your own bag, and the many comments are worth reading.

Battery, O Battery, I hate to Chuck a Battery

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:15:00 +0000

If you're like me, you probably use AA and AAA batteries in a bunch of devices that you use daily. My list includes my beloved Bose headphones, PowerShot camera, electric toothbrush, Wiimotes, bicycle lights and of course a bunch of weird sex toys. Let's face it--if any of these mission-critical devices runs out of juice I'm in big trouble.

I'll tell you what I don't do anymore. I don't head to my local Radio Shack and buy a bunch of Alkaline batteries. Even though Alkaline batteries have much less toxic mercury in them than they used to, they're single-use and not widely recycled. I don't like chucking batteries into my local landfill and it's just plain expensive to keep purchasing new ones.

The new hotness in batteries is Nickel-Metal Hydride or NiMH. These puppies are rechargeable hundreds of times, long-lasting and recyclable. I routinely snap 100 or more pictures before they crap out on me. NiMH batteries are sweet. I honestly think that the industry doesn't really want to hype these awesome batteries because it will ruin the gravy train of single-use models.

There is, however, one major problem with rechargeable batteries: you need to have a recharger handy. How am I supposed to concentrate in my noisy office when my noise-reducing headphones have died and I don't have the charger with me? Devastating!

Check this out--a company called Moixa Energy has developed the USBCell Battery. These AA NiMH batteries have self-contained smart chargers that plug right into your USB port for charging. I bet your desk is just crawling with USB ports waiting to juice up your batteries. Moixa plans to sell other battery sizes including AAA and 9V. Never again will I have to endure the endless celebrity gossip of coworkers while my headphones are dead and useless.**

**Just kidding guys. You know I love Britney and Brangelina.

All About Battery Recycling (Earth 911)
The USBCell Battery from Moixa

Green Blog Roundup: Now Even Greenlier

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:31:00 +0000

It was a good week in environmental bloggy land. Here are just a few of the highlights:

2012 Ferrari is the new Prius (EcoGeek)
New Hydrogen-Powered Bike Promises 30% Less Exploding, 75% More Fun (Got2BeGreen)
Energy Efficiency Myths Get All Busted Up (Greenthinkers)
Amazing Planet Earth Series Comes Out on DVD and You Can Win a Copy (Groovy Green)
Will Al Gore Just Run for President Already--He Even Greened Up His Mansion For Gawd's Sake (TreeHugger)

Happy Friday everyone!

Global Warming Skeptic? These Panties Will Make You Believe

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:06:00 +0000

So, I was all set to do my Friday blog roundup--and I will--but this one deserves its own post. The undies pictured above have a magical map of the globe that turns completely blue when it gets hot, depicting the effects of global warming. And the only way to cool the climate carnage is to strip them there underpants off. Is there anything the British CAN'T do? Thanks Green Knickers, future Nobel Peace Prize winners!

Global Warming Knickers (Eco Worrier)

Green Quickie: Clean Clothes with Less Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:45:00 +0000

There are a number of ways to make doing your laundry more environmentally friendly, but I'm going to start with my favorite: cold water. According to the ever-helpful U.S. Department of Energy, "about 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water." You may want to read that sentence again. I'll wait. That's a 90% savings just for using cold water. All you have to do is turn the knob one click to the left. Boom. I won't even get into how much CO2 that click can eliminate, but it's a lot, Holmes.

There are plenty of cold water detergents out there now, but I believe the regular brands work just fine. I personally use cold water for all cycles and my clothes are as clean as ever. Now, I have a sweet Energy Star front-loading machine (more on this at a later date), but I'm sure cold water is perfectly adequate for regular old top-loaders as well.

Try it out. If you can't bear to go all the way cold, then go from hot to warm. Baby step it. Depending on your water heater, either your gas or electric bill will thank you.

Thanks for the Love

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:06:00 +0000

Just a quick shout-out to John Freeborn of johnfreeborn.com and Eric Smith of geekadelphia.com for supporting this blog with links and kind words. Every little bit helps at the beginning. Thanks guys. I'll turn you into hippies yet.

PECO Wind: Greening the Grid and Watching The Wire

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:06:00 +0000

If I could afford it, I'd buy a big bank of solar panels for my home--oh about yesterday. I'd be so happy watching Battlestar Galactica using the glorious power pouring down on us from space 24/7. And if I had the money, building permits and spousal approval, I'd be installing an industrial-sized wind turbine in my yard. Hopefully, it would make a satisfying WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP sound as its monstrous blades slice the slightly less polluted air. But this is all an idle fantasy for now.

I'm stuck with the regular old power grid provided to me by PECO, the lovely gas and electric provider for southeastern Pennsylvania. That means coal and nuclear power plants are powering my DVD player and television while I watch Season 4 of the best TV show ever made, AKA The Wire. Daddy no like coal and he's pretty sure he no like nuclear. What to do?

Well it turns out there is something I (and probably you) can do. I simply signed up for PECO Wind, a service in which you can pay a little extra for the power company to buy units of energy from wind farms instead of the usual dirty power plants. In other words, the big power company generally sells you the cheapest energy it can get (they gotta make the benjamins), but it will serve up cleaner energy if you pay for it.

I pay $7-12 a month so that all of my electrical usage is covered by wind. The net result is that I'm helping to encourage the growth of green power and neutralizing the carbon footprint created by my home's electrical use. According to PECO's environmental benefits calculator, my purchase of wind power is preventing nearly 4,000 pounds of C02 from spewing into the atmosphere or the equivalent of planting 268 trees. As philosopher Martha Stewart would say, it's a good thing.

Now this doesn't help you if you're not served by PECO. However, I have done some digging and come up with this possibly semi-comprehensive list of green utility programs running in America, courtesy of the Department of Energy. Please let me know if you know of a better resource. It wasn't easy coughing that one up.

PECO Wind
The Green Power Network (DOE)

We Are What is Wrong, and We Must Make it Right

noreply@blogger.com (Brennen) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:33:00 +0000

Yesterday, Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in raising awareness of global warming. Whatever you think of him as a person or politician, you might want to spend a few minutes reading his acceptance speech. As a person who cares about my personal impact on the environment and hopes for larger solutions, I feel like Gore's words crystallized my feeling of urgency. There is still time to prevent the coming disaster, but not a lot.

Text of Gore's Speech (Green Blog)
Video of Press Conference