GreenFixes

Work From Home. Save Some Green. Save The Planet.

2009-03-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know about any of you, but I know that I have spent many hours driving to and from work or even to business meetings. Not only have I spent a lot of time, but in doing so I have spent a lot of money in my effort. In addition to those negative aspects of my daily commute, I have also produced a lot of CO2 emissions as I burned fuel to travel the distance each day. I can't help but think that all Americans could benefit from driving less each week to work. As we will see below, it can lead to less stress, additional money in our pockets, a better environment, and more productivity in our jobs.

According to this 2005 ABC News Poll Americans spend an average of 52 minutes or an average of 32 miles each day on the road in order to get to work. So if your car gets an average of 20 MPG and gas costs $2.00 per gallon, then you are spending $800 per year just to drive to work. This also adds up to more than 200 hours spent driving...in traffic...not being productive. Lastly, according to CarbonFund.org's carbon calculator, my car would have emitted 2.84 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. There has got to be a better way.

Is it truly worth it to go into the office each day of the week? Yes, the interaction with coworkers is important to establishing team unity, friendships, and the all important networking. But what if we could work from home 20% of the time or maybe even 40%. If we worked from home two days a week then we could almost cut the above numbers in half. Traffic would be reduced since less cars are on the road, employees would be more productive, and the employees and employer would save money each year.

There are a multitude of services out there which would allow employees to access there work computers from home. The most popular being GoToMyPC. This low costs service is easy to use and makes it entirely possible to work from home and have access to all the same information on your work computer without any security risk. Also, for those business meetings with clients that can take you across the county, state, or even country the same company makes a product called GoToMeeting. With this product companies can hold employee training sessions, sales meeting, client presentations, etc. without ever leaving your home or office.

Another option that is gaining traction is the option to work only 4 days a week, 10 hour per day. This allows employees to accumulate the same amount of hours per week, but ultimately have 3 days off each week. I know that city workers, like police officers and fire man, have always had this option available, but now may be a good time to introduce into your company.

Have any other ideas for ways to drive less each week and to have more free time to your yourselves?

Is the Public's View of Global Warming Shifting?

2009-03-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

Lately, it has seemed as if the public's attention and the media's coverage of global warming and environmental issues has shifted. You just don't hear about it as much anymore. At least not as much support or unity in the fight against global warming. The economy has clearly dominated the news headlines for the past 6 months or so, but has the view of global warming and the need to prevent further degradation of the environment taken a negative turn in that same time frame?

Recent news articles in the past week have covered topics such as:

Global Tropical Cyclone Activity is Lowest in 30 Years
Gallup Poll: U.S. Still Skeptical About Global Warming - 41% of Americans said they are doubtful that global warming is as serious as the mainstream media reports.
New Study Claims Earth is Undergoing a Natural Climate Shift - Scientist have concluded that the warming trend over the past 30 years has stopped and in fact have leveled off since 2001.

When President Obama was elected president, environmentalist around the world rejoiced because a large part of his campaign platform was centered around our need to get away from fossil fuels and to fight global warming. Obama has plans for a new cap and trade system, his recent budget included increased spending in clean tech and bio fuels, etc. Has this all been overshadowed by the slow down in hurricanes, decrease in gasoline prices, the recession, and a list of other issues? If so, how do we ensure that Americans do not lose sight of the importance to keep environmental issues at the top of the list of our collective priorities?

The Last Frontier

2009-03-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

Nearly 150 years ago, Henry David Thoreau wrote, "...in Wilderness is the preservation of the World." Thoreau meant this statement literally. He saw that his countrymen had become disconnected from the natural world and that they were naturally impoverished as a result. Thoreau's words are even more relevant today. Scientists warn us that global warming presents an unprecedented challenge to humanity and that we must take action quickly to slow its progress.

It is even more relevant as we see plants and animals face growing threats all over the world. Some scientists calculate that thousands of species become extinct every year. Fortunately, mountain ranges provide a vital refuge for plants and animals that used to flourish over wider areas. Even in these bastions, though, pollution and human encroachment post a threat. Perhaps nowhere else is this more evident than in Europe, one of the most densely populated parts of the planet.

In Pyrenees, several national parks serve to provide refuge for the local flora and fauna. In such protected areas as these, visitors get a chance to see what has become a last frontier for many endangered species.

Species fighting for survival:

Flowers. Some of the most beautiful wildflowers grow at altitudes above 5,000 ft. Snow gentians and trumpet gentians with their vivid-blue petals, carpet slopes well above the tree line. Farther down the slopes, nestled among beech trees, a grove of endangered lady's-slipper orchids flourish. Hundreds of visitors come here every year just to view the beautiful flowers.

Butterflies and Bees. Unspoiled alpine meadows with abundant wildflowers like the above mentioned provide refuge for colorful butterflies. The large Apollo butterfly, with its vivid-red wing spots, fly here freely. Smaller flowers receive constant visits from blue butterflies and copper butterflies of the Lycaenidae family. Painted-lady and tortoiseshell butterflies briskly patrol the higher slopes. The air also is a-buzz with bees flying from one flower to the next pollunating them. Each species share this amazing world with the other.

Animals. Many of the larger animals of Europe once roamed over vast tracts of the continent. But some have been hunted almost to extinction. Wolves, bears, lynx, bison, chamois, and mountain goats are just a few that now survive in just a few mountain ranges or only found in the far north regions.

The majestic animals, plants, and insects in these Pyrenean reserves offer a reminder of the wildlife that once abounded in these mountains. It makes those who are visiting wonder what the future holds for the few that remain.

Is "Cap and Trade" the Best Method of Reducing Carbon Emissions?

2009-03-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

If you have watched the news on TV or picked up a newspaper this week there seems to be a new issue on the hot seat. That issue is whether or not establishing a "Cap and Trade" system in the US to reduce carbon emissions is good for the ailing economy and whether or not the system will ultimately help in reducing CO2 emissions.

Included as part of Obama's recent budget plan is an estimated $78.7 billion in new revenue starting in 2012 that would be generated through a carbon emissions trading system. While Democrats have traditionally been more proactive in endorsing legislation that seeks to protect the environment, it seems like there are even Republicans, such as John McCain, who support such a system as long as it is done in an economically responsible manner.

According to the Obama Administration, some of the benefits of this type of system include:

It is estimated that this program will generate $645.7 billion in new funds that will be reinvested into "clean" energy projects and will help low to middle income families offset higher energy costs.
This will be the first nationwide system implemented in the U.S. that aims to reduce carbon emissions, which many scientist say are contributing to global warming and rising sea levels.
In order to reduce emissions, this system will encourage carbon emitting companies to reduce their carbon footprint and will hopefully increase investment in clean energy sources.
Some companies welcome the new plan in order to help them prioritize their sustainability initiatives and plan for new business investments in green technology.

While there are some potential benefits to this type of system, there are also others who believe that this system is not ideal for the following reasons:

Many Republicans will likely reinforce the Bush Administration's opinion that this system will cost jobs and increase energy costs for consumers.
Democrats in states that rely heavily on manufacturing and coal production will likely also put up some resistance to this plan in an effort to protect their regional industries and jobs in the current recession.
Obama has also admitted that this plan will likely cause a spike in energy costs and will plan on using $60 billion a year to help offset costs through tax credit programs.
Some analyst estimate that this Cap and Trade system will cost taxpayers as much as $330 million per year.
Some lawmakers feel the plan will be ineffective in reducing carbon emissions as evidenced by the performance of the current European emissions trading program.

Legislation will have to be passed in the next year or so in order for the program to be in place by 2012 and Obama's goal is to see carbon emissions reduced by 84% by the year 2050 from the 2005 levels. This plan will continue to be a source of contention by lawmakers since there are clearly pros and cons on both sides.

So what do you think? Is this plan coming at the right time given our current recession and the potential for increased energy costs and potential for lost jobs? Can we wait any longer in developing a comprehensive, nationwide carbon reduction plan given the environmental concerns we all face?

Food For Thought Part I: What is your carbon footprint?

2009-03-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia defines carbon footprint as "the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product (UK Carbon Trust 2008). The concept and name of the carbon footprint originates from the ecological footprint discussion. The carbon footprint is a subset of the ecological footprint. An individual, nation or organization's carbon footprint is measured by undertaking a GHG emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it."

So, what is your carbon footprint?

It's a question that's being asked more and more of both large and small companies. And it can be tough to answer, as most companies still don't have a basic understanding of what "carbon footprint" means and how to even begin measuring it. To start of with, there is no standard definition or measurement of carbon footprint. In some contexts, it simply refers mainly to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions: what an individual or company is emitting to contribute to the greenhouse gasses would be this carbon footprint definition.

In others it refers to the full measure of impacts involved with designing products, sourcing materials, sales, IT departments, etc -- and in deeper depth, the use and disposal of products or the manufacturing and distribution of products. In either case, figuring out what to count involves several layers and deeper understanding of science.

Many companies are assessing their footprint today, especially for carbon, and a few are disclosing them publicly. It is becoming more and more the trend for companies to disclose their environmental and corporate social responsibilities. Soon, it will be a required feature for company's, not just a nice-to-have function that raises their brand awareness and creates a positive rapport. It is a promising trend. As companies begin to fully understand their impacts, they will be better able to find opportunities for reducing emissions and costs, and their customers will be better able to make smarter choices, reducing their impacts and raising their knowledge and awareness on environmental policies, too.

So...what's your carbon footprint? What's your company's carbon footprint? Will you be able to answer those questions when asked?

And the WINNER of our One-Year Anniversary Contest is....

2009-02-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Tisa, one of GreenFixes' readers who participated in our contest. She won the eco-friendly gift basket that we were giving away for our one-year anniversary!

**The gift basket contained an eco-friendly shopping bag and features the DVD "The 11'th Hour" along with a host of healthy, organic, and environmentally friendly packaged goodies and kitchen towels made from bamboo. Two bottles of Beckmen wine are also included - this is a favorite, as their wines are made by implementing biodynamic farming methods and all grapes are estate grown, as well as an organic cookbook.**

Thanks to everyone else who participated! We look forward to future giveaways. Remember to spread the blog to your friends...

Voyage For Clean Energy: 2041

2009-02-23T06:23:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to attend an environmental lecture last May in Santa Barbara, CA and although I am only now writing about it, the subject of the lecture has stuck with me all these many months. A few years earlier the issue of Global Warming seemed to have hit the main steam with the release of the film, An Inconvenient Truth, and since then it has been a topic of conversation, conflict, and concern with us all. If you did not know any better, then it would have seemed as if this issue was only a few years old and that Al Gore was the only person working to solve this problem. When in reality there have been many others who have devoted their lives to bringing about global awareness and solutions to environmental issues.

Well, on May 21 of last last year the lecturer was Robert Swan. He is a polar explorer, environmental leader, motivational speaker, and the first man ever to walk to both the North and South poles. On that day he was speaking about his history, past experiences, and most notably his ongoing effort to preserve Antarctica, earth's last untouched wilderness. Currently, the development of Antarctica is prohibited by the Antarctic Treaty of 1991. April 2008 marked the beginning of Robert's 5 year Voyage for Cleaner Energy on his boat, the "2041",that will culminate with his report to the U.N. at the 2012 World Summit on Sustainability. His primary goal is to ensure that the Antarctic Treaty is renewed for at least another 50 years and I think the quote from Robert below sums it up best:

His boat, the "2041", is powered by 100% renewable energy including solar panels, bio-fuels, and wind turbines. Also, through his partnership with the Coca-Cola Company, it is also the only boat in the world with a sail that is made from recycled plastic bottles.

The first and second phases of his voyage have passed, but if you have the opportunity to attend any of his stops in Phase 3 (Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, etc.) or Phase 4 (Europe, Middle East, Asia), I highly recommend it. If you have any concern at all for ensuring that our children will have a clean earth to live in for centuries to come, then hearing Robert speak may be that spark that ignites in you the motivation to take action and help spread his word.

WorldOfGood.com does well...a World of Good!

2009-02-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know what WorldofGood.com is, it is a website created by eBay which enables the individual purchasing an item to make a difference. It is the first online marketplace where thousands of eco-minded persons and eco-friendly sellers of eco-friendly products all converge at one place.

The best part of this website is the community where every person is entitled to share their thoughts and opinions on the products being sold. This keeps organizations true to their green eco-friendly missions and allows the individual purchasing an item from an organization to confirm that they are truly green and not just greenwashing.

Another great feature is that you can choose to shop at WorldofGood.com by your purchasing impact. This means that you can purchase something and know what impact you are having by doing so. There are four categories that the site goes by: People Positive, Eco Positive, Animal Friendly, and Supports a Cause. Also, since the site is like eBay and each seller is an individual organization it is hard to verify if they are truly promoting an item for the social good. This is why the Trust Provider Directory was set up. The trust providers are a total of 22 organizations that verify the activity of all members of WorldofGood.com and their products foster commerce that maintains and encourages transparency, sustainability, economic empowerment, and ethical business practices. Each seller, product, and producer on WorldofGood.com must maintain a verified relationship with at least one Trust Provider, and is reflected in every listing.

WorldofGood.com's motto on their pages states, "Where your shopping shapes the world..." It's nice to know I can shop online and be able to deal with individual sellers or non-profit organizations and still make a difference in the world just by understanding where my purchasing power lies by using this site. The site definitely lives up to it's motto of where YOU make a difference with every single purchase. Check it out!!

Important Reminders from GreenFixes

2009-02-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are only subscribed to our RSS feed or don't visit our website very often, here are a few important reminders of what is coming up this month:

1. Our third environmental webinar is coming up on Wednesday, February 18'th, one week from today. Register now, as seating is limited.

You'll learn how changing your business travel to become more sustainable allows you to leverage:
•More man power and resources
•Positive environmental impact – how this increases your company’s market strength by producing a positive public image and competitive advantage by brand differentiation
•Profit growth

So join us for our webinar: "From Commuting to Caribbean Getaways: Greening Business Travel." Register here.

2. Our one-year anniversary contest is still going strong! Win an eco-friendly gift basket, with tons of goodies. Click here for our official post on the contest. You have until February 23'rd to get your entries in.

Don't miss out...check out our site now and subscribe to our events for this month.

Greener Computing

2009-02-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

As I sit here and type this blog post on my own personal computer, I wonder: How does my personal computer use harm the environment? This got me thinking and with as much being said about the energy consumed by worldwide computer manufacturing and the new upcoming trend of greening IT in company's, I wondered what harm I was doing to the environment by using a computer on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

Whether you are an occasional online gamer or a heavy computer user for work purposes, it seems our use of computers definitely leaves a negative environmental mark. Until only recently, July 2007 to be exact, the Energy Star requirements only measured a computers energy use while in standby mode, which allowed many computer manufacturers to be able to brand their computers as green. Depending on when it was made and designed, your standard desktop PCs energy consumption ranges from between 60-300 watts when it's in use. The newer gaming PCs actually consume a ton more of energy: almost as much as 750 watts. This amount is what a normal refrigerator uses for power. Consider that the next time you go to play a game on your new PC and stop by the fridge to pick up a snack...

You can use the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) to help to set up your system more efficiently and even assist you in purchasing a greener computer. Another way to help offset your computer's energy usage is by setting it to be able to "rest" automatically when it hasn't been used for more than 15-30 minutes. On some of the newer computers, they even have options that are labeled "power saver" to lessen the amount of energy the computer is using.

Bear in mind that not all 'screen savers' are energy savers necessarily. Its worth noting that LCD monitors do not need screen savers. While PCs use a small amount of energy when started up, it's considerably less energy used than when it remains on for long periods of time. The best option of all is powering the computer down when you are not going to be using it in a prolonged amount of time. Consider also turning off the monitor if you aren't going to turn off the computer completely but are not going to use it for more than 20 minutes. You should also note that laptops use 15-45 watts less than a desktops CPU, before you take into account the monitor usage, printer, speakers, modem, router, etc. which also uses energy even while they're not in use.

So all in all, we are harming the environment by using our computers. But we can offset what we do by following the above tips. Remember, there is always a way we can offset what may be harming the environment!

Business Snapshot: NatureWorks, LLC

2009-02-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

As I was about to log into my iTunes account to use a gift card that I received over the Holidays, I noticed a little symbol right above the scratch off redemption code. It said, "ingeo - plant-based card". In seeing this, my interest was piqued and I put my investigative hat on to conduct a little more digging. I was pleasantly surprised to see that "ingeo" is a natural plastic that is produced by a company called NatureWorks. It is apparently made from plants instead of oil.

According to the website, NatureWorks' goal is to produce a plastic that is "derived from 100% annually renewable resources such as plants" and their product, Ingeo™ "is the world’s first polymer showing a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions." It can be used today in order to produce clothing, electronics, appliances, and many other products currently using plastics. To see a full list of companies or partners leveraging Ingeo™ you can take a look here.

As this Target product listing also states, "Ingeo™ Fiber is an environmentally friendly, renewable resource that is at the heart of the Pacific Coast Ingeo™ Fiber Natural Living Fiberbed. The creation of raw material-based Ingeo products requires about half the energy needed to make polyester, and it emits 50% fewer greenhouse gasses than polyester production." These are pretty impressive stats and if this product catches on it could really make a large impact in reducing carbon emissions and our dependence on oil.

Apple has gotten a bad rap in recent months and we even discussed a while back about Dell's apparent unhappiness with their marketing tactics, but this is another sign that Apple is attempting to reduce the negative environmental impact that their products and services generate by partnering with innovative companies like NatureWorks. Kudos to both companies for partnering together.

Valentine's Day: Green Gift Guide

2009-02-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, don't rush off to the store and buy just another bouquet of roses and candy. Well, you could still do that, but why not get a little more thoughtful for your eco-friendly lady or man? This year, show you care about your significant other AND the environment at the same time...See below for a list of websites we feel can help aid you in your search for that most-amazing eco-friendly Valentine's gift.

Green Gift Guide for Valentine's Day:

**Autonamie Project: This site contains fair trade fashion and footwear products. Enjoy browsing through their many pages of sneakers, t-shirts, and accessories.

**Brilliant Earth: This website has amazing silver pendants and jewelry that you can create yourself. Best of all, it is conflict free diamonds - meaning that the company is on a mission to serve the socially conscious consumer and support communities harmed by the diamond trade. They believe that luxury goods should not come at a great human or environmental cost. This is definitely one website worth looking into if you are looking to buy jewelry for Valentine's Day! Blow her mind away at the fact that YOU created the jewelry design AND that it is a conflict free diamond!

**Divine Chocolate: If you decide on just buying roses and chocolates, at least take a look at this site. They have fair trade chocolates for sale which help benefit the smallholder cocoa producers in West Africa.

**Endangered Species Chocolate: This site offers organic, natural chocolate Valentines day collections including recycled Valentine's day cards. Not only do they have eco-friendly gift ideas, but 10% of all net profits are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity. Their site is also hosted with 100% solar energy. Pretty cool!

**Patagonia: Purchase something special for your significant other through Patagonia. Summer is coming up, but in other parts of the country- it may still be chilly. Patagonia is perfect for year-round clothing picks...from organic light cotton clothing for those summer days or sportswear/outdoorswear for the rugged outdoor mountain man.

**Pangea Organics: If you want to opt for something different, try going with organic bodycare products. Pangea offers a ton of bodycare products that smell good, are organic, and will nurture and nourish your loved ones skin.

**Organic Bouquet: If your significant other cannot live without flowers, then think about purchasing them from Organic Bouquet. This site offers flowers that are sustainably grown and certified Organic, VeriFlora or FlorVerde. They have the finest eco-friendly flowers to ship to your loved ones.

**Zheny's Gypsy Tea: Instead of buying chocolates, try purchasing premium organic fair trade teas and herbs. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it helps to promote good health by gently cleansing your system. Purchase the new pink superberry tea for a perfect Valentine's day gift.

Do you have any suggestions for green Valentine's Day gifts? Feel free to share your ideas and leave a comment.

One-Year Anniversary Contest - Win an Eco-Friendly Gift Basket!

2009-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Leave a comment for your chance to win! Read on for bonus chances!

We're celebrating GreenFixes 1 year anniversary by giving away a eco-friendly gift basket from Cornucopia! It's been a great first year for our blog. We would like to thank everyone who has commented on posts so far and subscribed to our RSS feed and we look forward to your participation in the contest.

This gift basket contains an eco-friendly shopping bag and features the DVD "The 11'th Hour" along with a host of healthy, organic, and environmentally friendly packaged goodies and kitchen towels made from bamboo. Two bottles of Beckmen wine are also included - this is a favorite, as their wines are made by implementing biodynamic farming methods and all grapes are estate grown, as well as an organic cookbook.

Contest Eligibility: If you can read this post, you're eligible! The prize is the above mentioned gift basket.

How To Enter: To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a relevant comment on any of our posts and that you'd like to enter into the contest. Please remember to leave your email address at the end of your comment so we have a way of contacting you if you win. That's it! But wait, there's more...there are more ways you can get an extra entry into the drawing!

BONUS Entries: You can get entered into the contest more than once- You have a chance to have 6 entries! See how below:

1. Subscribe to our RSS or email feed for a bonus entry!

2. Got a blog? Link back to us for another bonus entry! If you have your own blog, write a post spreading the word about this contest and site or add GreenFixes to your own blogroll.

3. Tell a friend about our site and have them enter the contest. If they comment, they will need to state that they were referred by you.

4. Make an additional comment on a different post within the 1 month contest period and be entered twice!

5. Sign up and attend our February webinar, "From Commuting to Carribean Getaways: Greening Business Travel".

...And the WINNER is....check back February 23'rd for our announcement on who won the gift basket. This gives you an entire month to get your entries in for this contest! Good luck and can't wait to see our readers' participation!

**Gift basket is from Cornucopia, a local Santa Barbara gift basket company. They create custom made gift baskets with healthy, natural products. They use locally produced products and send in containers that are wooden boxes that can be reused as storage bins or containers that are made from renewable resources and recycled materials. The company also is environmentally friendly as they recycle packing material and boxes, and request reusable, recyclable packing material in the shipments they receive (they do not accept anything shipped in a styrofoam container).**

Climatic Disaster: Future Global Warming or Ice Age?

2009-01-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

While many scientists and journalist discuss the current trend of global warming, on the back-end there are a few who are looking at the other spectrum for a future ice-age era. The cold winter temperatures have definitely been noticeable in areas of the country this year and last year, record cold temperatures were recorded all around the world, leaving many to question global warming and turn to an ice-age explanation. In this recent article, the cold temperatures around the globe are discussed:

"Parts of Alaska have experience temperatures reaching 78 degrees below zero, North Dakota has record December snow, a Minnesota sled-dog race was actually cancelled due to heavy snow, and Ohio ski resorts have called a recent winter snow, a 'stimulus package for their industry'."

Some scientists are just now starting to jump on board with the ice-age theory. Science has already originally found that Earth experiences 1500 year cycles of warming and cooling. We are now beginning to experience longer "seasons", of which we experience a slight increase in global temperature, also known as global warming. However, at the end of each "extended season", the increased temperature ends and the Earth should return to ice-age conditions for an estimated 100,000 years.

Scientific evidence is showing more and more signs that we may in fact be entering into ice-age conditions. For one, even though many have read that polar bears are on the endangered species list, polar bears are in fact actually thriving in population, which challenges the global warming theory that they are supposedly affected by. The number of polar bears is five times greater than it was 50 years ago, increasing from 5,000 to around 25,000. Canadian biologist Dr. Mitchell Tayler, one of the foremost authorities on polar bears states: "We're seeing an increase in bears that's really unprecedented, and in places where we're seeing a decrease in the population, it's because of hunting and human interference in their environment, not directly related to climate change." According to other studies, polar bears have actually thrived in warmer weather in their environment in the past.

I would agree that all aspects of nature should be taken into consideration before we all jump onto one main train of thinking. If we only worry about one thing and not take into account there might be another vicious thing nature can attack us with, we will not expect nature's attack of a coming ice-age. It is not a matter of how it will happen, but when. We already know the Earth's past season cycles and understand that warming and cooling periods happen...so we need to be prepared and what better way to predict the future than to learn from past Earth cycles. Experts are divided in determining whether we are entering a global warming period or an ice-age. We just need to be ready for both and understand them both, no matter what, so in the end the experts need to come together to figure out what our issue is so we can fix it. This is just a reality check that we still don't have a full understanding on what is going on with Mother Nature...What do you think: Are we entering into a global warming period or an ice-age era?

Top 4 Green New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-19T06:57:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again when we all have to take a look at the past 12 months and decide what we would like to change or do differently next year. Maybe you would like to lose some unwanted pounds, quit smoking once and for all, or take up a new hobby. Well, I think that we can make positive changes for ourselves while still doing a little something to help the environment in 2009. Below is a quick list of 4 things we can all do to make a positive impact on our health, business, and environment. These examples are not groundbreaking by any means, but they are simple things that would not be too hard to implement.

Make a commitment to ride a bike, commute, or take public transportation as often as possible. By leaving your car at home, it will not only benefit the environment, but you will find additional personal benefits. By riding a bike you improve your health and your pocketbook by spending less on gas. By commuting you can reinforce good relationships with friends and coworkers.
Try to implement eco friendly habits at work. For example, if you find that your company doesn't have a recycling program for old paper, cans, bottles, etc, then talk to HR about making the change. Does your company use energy efficient office products and lighting? Organizing a small "Green Team" made up of like minded individuals is an easy way to brainstorm and discover simple ways to help your company become more sustainable.
Replace old electronics or other household appliances with more efficient, eco-friendly ones moving forward. Make a commitment to looking for energy star labels or research how environmentally responsible the companies are before making your next big purchase. You will find that these new products may not only be cheaper, but they will also save you money in the long run.
Lastly, the number one theme for 2009 is to "save green, while going green." With a lingering recession it will be important to make wise purchasing decisions. Save money, for example, by buying a refurbished TV instead of a brand new one, save raw materials by resurfacing your old kitchen cabinets, or even reupholster your old couch instead of buying new products and dumping the old ones in our landfills.

Have you made any resolutions that have a positive effect on the environment? If so, please share your tips and ideas.

What to do when trying to go green doesn't take hold in your life

2009-01-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Every now and again, I hear from frustrated eco-friendly people who are trying to change their daily habits and install green changes within their lifestyle. They’re frustrated that the habits don’t seem to change and take hold as fast as they want or thought they would, that the new ways of life aren’t working the way they want them to. They tend to get down on themselves when they catch themselves doing something not eco-friendly.

The kneejerk rejection is always the same: Forgot it! I can’t do this! Go back to the old ways of how I used to live, not needing to be careful to being green! Enough with this nonsense! The new habits didn’t work, I need the old way of reacting to things.

This is an age-old struggle everyone has with changing old habits. But the good news is that we can all have the power of being in charge of at least one thing: what we do. In this sense, we are strong enough to have the motivation and determination to keep ourselves in check with the little things in our life that we have the power to change. There are many things in our lives that we cannot change, however this is one of the biggest issues for future generations that we do have the power to help change and be proud that we were a part of it.

From the start, you have to choose a path and stick with it. Whether it is being on the path of remembering to recycle or sort our items when throwing things away to purchasing carbon offsets to help offset our own carbon footprint, we all can do something to help. Old habits are hard to change, but once they do you will have new eco-friendly habits formed in their place. Keep up the hard work and keep going with those changes in your daily habits!

Don’t get stuck in the middle. It’s painful. When the new habits don’t work right off the bat, don’t give up – do the new habits MORE and BETTER. You’re prepared…just embrace it in your life and soon you’ll notice a change in your lifestyle that’s there for good. Here’s to 2009 with new, better, eco-friendly green habits!

Green with Envy: Disney gets greener

2009-01-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

"Environmentality" has long been Disneyland's mantra. Disney has been green for a long time now and actually getting greener. Rumors have it that Walt Disney himself used to walk through Disneyland picking up trash. These days, custodial workers scoop up the unsightly debris. But what else does Disney do that make it a true "green" pioneer and not just "green-washing"?

Frank Dela Vara, the resort's director of environmental affairs and conservation, helps to point out some of the green innovations Disney has. At the 'Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage', Dela Vara shows that the colorful coral display is not paint, but actually recycled glass. He states that the 30 tons of crushed glass won't break down from UV light or chlorine and exceeds all Air Quality Management standards. A walk down the streets of Disney show that the paint on all Main Street buildings contain no volatile organic compounds. Another green aspect of Disney are the Jungle Cruise boats and the Columbia sailing ship all run on compressed natural gas.

Among all of these rides and concrete might lay Disney's brightest development. Dela Vara says, "Disneyland is an oasis of flora in a sea of urban concrete. [This is the reason for] the famous topiaries (sheared into festive animal shapes) that surround the exterior landscaping. Rather than using chemical pesticides and insecticides, we sought out nonpolluting methods." These methods included joining researchers from UC Berkeley to conduct the first release of Tamarixia in California. Tamarixia (stingless wasps) control aphid-like insects that live inside the flora at Disney, without any chemicals being used to rid the plants of these insects.

Not many people knew that the "kingdom" was green...but Disney had been contributing to the environment long before the current green trends took hold. Along with all the other key features they do, Disney also recycles 4,000 tons of waste materials per year. So, all in all, the above evidence proves that Disney is definitely being eco-friendly. Given it's economic footprint, going green only made good corporate sense. With its massive amount of visitors also demanding changes, Disney only cemented its commitment to the environment with these new changes. Our hats are off to you, Mickey & Disney!

Traveling Green in 2009

2009-01-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

As 2009 begins, many of us will make plans to travel and see what lays outside of our normal everyday world. Travel inherently has the potential to pollute and most likely does. Cars, buses, ships, trains, and planes all emit carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide, and hotels and resorts use energy to operate. But while these are all factors in traveling "green", you can see the world while still looking after it and travel in a way that's environmentally responsible.

In a poll conducted by the Travel Industry Association of America, more than half of U.S. adults said they'd be more likely to choose a hotel, airline, or rental car company that uses and practices more environmentally friendly products and processes. So what is a responsible traveler to do? Fortunately, it's easier than it once was to find travel companies, hotels, etc. with eco-friendly practices. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was a lonely beginner in 1990 when it first started to recycle materials in hotel rooms and offer guests the option to reuse towels and sheets more than once to reduce water usage. Now many others are following in their steps: Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Hilton all have green programs. And the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa opened in 2006 as the first hotel to be Gold-level certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

But hotels aren't the only ones instituting green practices. Cruise lines are getting "on-board" too, pun intended! Princess Cruise's ships dock and the ships plug into shoreside electricity for power in all ports of call. Most Holland America Line ships recycle all the vessel's water, including wastewater, which is then used for things like engine cooling.

So when you're getting ready to book a trip what should you be considering? Here are tips travelers can use to travel green in 2009:

Find a place you want to travel to through the 'Green' Map System. The green maps system is a locally-led system that communities put together themselves to chart their green living, natural, cultural, and civic resources. There are over 50 countries to explore. See more here.
Research online and through books on how to be an eco-friendly traveler. There are many other sites you can go to that have tips that can help you be prepared as a "green" traveler in 2009, such as the Traveling the Green Way blog and also the Green Passport site.
Visit Eco-Hotels to book your hotel stay. Eco-hotels is a website that you can go to that helps you find the hotels who practice being eco-friendly. Before booking your hotel ask these key questions: 1.) Is the hotel locally owned and operated? If not, then is it at least staffed by local employees? 2.) What kind of recycling program does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)? 3.) Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day? 4.) What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power? 5.) How does the hotel contribute to the local community?
Reduce carbon use. Use public transportation in cities. When renting a car, rent a hybrid or other fuel-efficient vehicle. If you cannot reduce carbon use, consider purchasing carbon offsets.
Conserve energy and water. Turn off all lights, heating, and air-conditioning when you leaver your hotel room. Use towels and sheets at least twice. Pack light- more weight equals more fuel.
Minimize bottled water use. In developing countries, sealed bottled water is probably still safest. But in developed countries, use tap water and refill your water bottle. Use recycling bins wherever you find them. You can still use less bottles if you are in undeveloped countries by purchasing water by the gallons and filling up your reusable water bottle when needed.
Stay in a national park. You'll find it easy to be eco-friendly in these refuges, which typically have recycling bins, low-flow water fixtures, and buildings designed for minimum impact. But visit off-season to ease overcrowding- fewer people means less of an impact on fragile ecosystems.
Be active. Opt for hiking or biking vacations. You'll not only cut down on pollutants, you'll also get a workout.

Making these efforts can build knowledge and help ensure that future generations will also be able to travel and enjoy the wonders of our world.

Another Alternative to Plastic...Algae

2008-12-29T06:50:00.000-08:00

When I began looking for other alternatives to plastic and what might take its place in the future, I came across more and more articles regarding algae. This new form of alternative "plastic" might turn out to be the world's best source for, well, saving the world. It turns out that algae - pond scum, kelp, seaweed, and the like- can be used for many a thing: the biofuel feedstock that saves the world without raising food prices, a possible vacuum that sucks up global warming carbon dioxide, and even a material that makes bioplastics, which disintegrate into compost rather than building up in a landfill.

In another sense, algae can now be considered the thing that is new from the phrase 'everything old is new again.' Algae grows quickly, with some species doubling in volume size overnight. And nearly half the body weight of some species may contain oil. With new technology, it is now easier to grow acres of algae in mass quantities. Today, some companies already commercially grow about six microalgae for thickeners, farmed fish feed, dental molds, adhesives, ulcer medicines and even fuel. The idea for using algae in a fuel capacity was actually tested about 50 years ago, thus this is not a new concept. With renewed interest, many companies have poured money into the algae biofuel industry. Bill Gates just invested in the San Diego start-up company, Sapphire Energy, which intends to make auto fuel from algae, expanding into developing gasoline equivalents such as diesel and jet fuel.

Pros of growing and using algae are pretty straightforward as shown above. But here are more:

*Algae can grow in wastewater- no need for freshwater being used and wasted.

*Algae uses carbon dioxide as it grows.

*Algae also produces fewer hydrocarbons when burned, providing a hedge against climate change.

*An acre of algae can possibly produce up to 100,000 gallons of fuel in a year. This figure compares favorably with the 50 gallons that an acre of soybeans produce.

Though it may take up to 10 years before the effect of algae is large enough to make an impact on the world and marketplace, it still is the best known solution to replacing a lot of the most toxic and polluting items out there, such as plastic. Hopefully it happens sooner than later, but it provides hope, at least for now.

**Reference: American Way Magazine, 12/15/08, Heather Millar

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all of our GreenFixes' readers....

Holiday gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend or love, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.
-- Oren Arnold

And to the Earth, the gentle touch of rebuilding what we have torn down, polluted and destroyed.

**Happy Holidays from the authors of the GreenFixes' blog**

Corporate Battle: Who is Greener...Dell or Apple?

2008-12-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

Following our recent webinar about Corporate Social Responsibility, I thought it would be a good idea to start taking a closer look at how large, Fortune 500 companies implement their environmental, social responsibility, and sustainable business strategies.

The first topic I wanted to focus on is in regards to ways we can separate marketing hype from reality. We have mentioned in previous posts that greenwashing, or the use of deceptive green marketing practices, is an ongoing concern of all consumers. We want to buy environmentally safe products that were produced responsibly, will use less energy, and make less of an impact throughout the product's entire life cycle. Unfortunately, as more emphasis is placed on the environment and the popularity of green marketing rises it is getting harder to make sense of all of the advertising claims made by leading companies who say they are going green...Are they being honest or are they merely stretching the truth?

As I started to review this topic, I quickly discovered that this is not only a concern of consumers, but it looks like companies in similar industries are making an effort to police each other. There are clearly selfish reasons for the companies to do this, but I thought it was interesting none-the-less. Currently, there seems to be a new debate hitting the web regarding Apple's new green marketing campaign for their line of Macbooks, which they claim are the "world's greenest". You can also see a video of their new commercial here. So the question is, are these claims legitimate? Are Apple's Macbooks really the greenest laptops in the market and what exactly does it mean to be green, in their opinion?

Given a recent blog post by Dell Computer's Bob Pearson, VP—Communities & Conversations, it seems like they feel the new ad campaign is misleading or at least not up to the standards Dell has set for itself with regards to environmental responsibility. This post has generated both positive and negative responses from readers, but Bob specifically suggests three points for us all to consider:

First, in his opinion Apple is not part of the conversation. They apparently don't have a blog, like the one powered by Dell, they don't let their employees comment in a public forum, and they generally just don't engage the environmental community about this very important topic. I don't think that a lack of communicating necessarily means that a company isn't trying to protect the environment, but it does make it harder for all of us, and in this case Bob from Dell, to understand exactly what Apple is doing to become more eco-friendly.
Second, he mentions that Apple hasn't set any Public goals about their environmental practices such as recycling or reducing harmful chemicals from their products, but they are instead simply making bold claims about the "greenness" of their products.
Lastly, he mentions that Dell is focused on action, not rhetoric. Dell has apparently become carbon neutral this year and ahead of schedule. They also offer free recycling for old computers and sell refurbished computers through their site. Dell even debuted their own "green pc" earlier this year. I wonder if he feels that this new pc is the world's greenest?

So these are some of the things Dell has to say about Apple's, and their own, environmental initiatives, but what does Apple have to say? Well, perhaps in light of this recent dust up over their new ad campaign, lack of messaging to the green community about their efforts, or the appearance that they are falling behind their competitors it looks like Steve Jobs has issued his own letter to environmental conscious consumers. In this letter Steve first highlights that Apple might not have the best environmental image to both consumers and shareholders and that Apple has purposefully never been vocal about future plans. He goes on to say that his goal is to change these facts moving forward and hopefully allow consumers to better understand what their current accomplishments are and what the future may hold. It is a good read and it does put Apple in a better light, in my opinion.

Now that we have heard from each company regarding their efforts to build sustainable businesses and products let's look at some independent sources. One of my favorite organizations is called ClimateCounts.org and they have already rated these two companies as well as others in the same industry:

Dell - It appears that Dell has received a score of 49 out of 100. It looks like they scored best in their overall transparency, or public reporting, of their green initiatives meaning Dell is doing a relatively good job of communicating their efforts. They scored lowest, however, in the "Policy Stance" category receiving a score of 1 out of 10. I guess Dell doesn't want the government mandating goals, but instead would like to leave it up to each company to develop their own initiatives.
Apple - On the other hand, it looks like Apple has scored an 11 out of 100 overall, which is the lowest of all the Electronics companies reviewed by ClimateCounts.org. They received two scores of zero in the categories of "Review" and "Policy Stance". The company scored best in the "Reduce" category showing that they have made some effort in reducing their overall impact on the environment. This is a poor score and it shows that Apple does have a long way to go in developing and communicating their plans to help keep the environment safe while still conducting business profitably.
Of the 12 Electronics companies reviewed by ClimateCounts.org, Apple and Dell surprisingly received the two lowest scores. HP, Canon, Sony, IBM, etc. all received higher scores with IBM leading the pack with an impressive score of 77 out of 100.

So what do you think; does either company have the right to claim "green" superiority over the other? Are both companies engaging in a certain level of greenwashing and do these ads affect the way you make your purchasing decisions?

Search for Environmental Contamination by Your Address

2008-12-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

In my weekly research on hot new environmental topics, I ran across this from 'The Good Human' blog. There is a website that allows you to enter in any street address and search for any documented signs of environmental contamination around the surrounding area. The EDR GreenScreener allows anyone to check and see if their property is free from potential environmental hazards. How awesome is that?!?

The EDR GreenScreener detects 5 different types of environmental concerns that may exist on or around the property. It also can tell you if there had been prior environmental contamination in or around the area and records of any environmental hazards are searched within 1/3 of a mile from the property. Where possible, the EDR GreenScreener reviews only active environmental concerns as defined by governmental agency records. Environmental concerns at these sites may or may not have been resolved, so further research may be required once you find out about any potential hazards. You can check out your own home or business address by clicking here and entering in your address information.

All We Want For Christmas Is....Safe Toys

2008-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

As Christmas Day is approaching, parents are troubled as they see more health risks associated with imported toys. With unsafe Chinese-made toys being recalled in massive numbers, more parents are left unsure of what is safe, where to buy American-made products, and what to do if their child has been exposed to lead from an imported toy. While the focus is on imported toys, it is important to state too, that it is not just China that manufactures toys with toxic chemicals...there are some made directly in the U.S. as well.

However, approximately 80% of all toys imported into the United States comes directly from China, which is why there is such a huge focus on imported toys. That figure may alarm parents who have been reading news reports regarding the wide variety of problems associated with Chinese imports (from toxic pet food to children's toys). Some of the toys in the past that have been recalled have been Chinese-made Aqua Dots toys which contain a chemical, if ingested, that can turn into the date rape drug GHB, which induces seizures or comas. At least 2 children had fallen into a comatose state after coming into contact with these toys last year. Other leading offenders of products include Curious George Plush dolls (by Marvel), Dizzy Ducks Music Box (from Schylling Associates), and The Robot 2000 collectible figures. All of these products have contained harmful levels of lead.

Some of the long-term effects of lead poisoning include loss of IQ points, impairments in language fluency or communication skills, memory problems, attention deficiency and diminished manual dexterity. About 20% of toys tested this year by the Ecology Center (2008) found harmful levels of lead in them. The developmental and nervous system consequences can be irreversible. The Ecology Center also determined that 1/3 of the toys they tested had "high" or "medium" levels of chemicals of concern this year. The largest offender? Children's jewelry. It is most likely (about 5 times as much) to contain lead above 600 ppm (where the recommended ceiling for lead in toys is 40 ppm).

It's not just lead that is found troublesome in toys. 2.9% or roughly about 45 products, had bromine at concentrations of 1,000 ppm or higher (which indicates brominated flame retardants that pose harmful hazards to children's health- recommended ceiling is to severely restrict the use of this chemical). Arsenic was detected at levels greater than 100 ppm in 22 (1.4%) of products....289 however (18.9%) actually contained detectable levels of the chemical in toys. Mercury was also found above 100 ppm in 14 (1%) of products (where the recommended level calls for no more than 40 ppm of mercury or arsenic). Researchers have shown that the chemicals found in toys have been associated with reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable and actually have more chemicals in them due to the frequency of putting toys in their mouths.

No wonder why many parents have turned to American-made toy retailers, as the concern by certain recent recalls of imports have been raised. The good news is that 62% of the products tested contained LOW levels of chemicals of concern and 21% of all products tested contained NO chemicals of concern. There ARE options out there for safe toys free of unnecessary toxic chemicals, as well as proving that manufacturers CAN and SHOULD be making toys without toxic chemicals. HealthyToys.org is a site that has test results for more than 1,500 toys and children's products. This site can help better inform parents or anyone else buying for children on the safest healthiest choices for products.

So Santa, all we want for Christmas... is safe toys delivered please.

**References: 12/3/08, http://www.ecocenter.org/press/releases/20081203.php, 12/19/08

Top Item on My X-Mas List:

2008-12-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

We all have our Christmas lists written out by now. I have my mind, heart, soul, and eyes on one thing and one thing only. The new Tesla Roadster...

A sleek, sexy car, the Tesla Roadster is more than just orgasmic metal on the road, as my friends so nicely put it. Though a costly $100,000, the Tesla Roadster is 100% electric and considered one of the sexiest eco-friendly cars on the market today. Its stats are equally as impressive. It can travel up to 244 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack and goes up to 125 miles per hour. The tires and the battery of every Tesla Motors vehicle are also recyclable. Reuse is such a key part of Tesla's philosophy that they pre-arranged to have their car batteries safely recycled. Tesla's electronic vehicle is part of the most efficient line of cars on the road today. This means that they cost less per mile to drive, use less fuel per mile, and produce less pollution per mile. A girl can only hope right? :)

What are your eco-friendly products that you want this Christmas?

Holiday Giving: Donate to an Environmental Non-Profit

2008-12-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is the time of year when millions of Americans give to their friends, families, co-workers, and favorite charities. It is, without a doubt, when we are the most generous. Whether we drop a dollar in a Salvation Army bucket as we shop in the mall or we write a check to the telethon on TV, we give and we feel better for it. We are trying to make a positive impact on others and this world. While we are all in this spirit of giving I thought there would be no better time then now to remind all of you to keep your favorite environmental non-profit in mind. Below is a list of a few of the most popular non-profits that could use a little help to further their respective causes.

Amazon Conservation Association - They work to protect biodiversity by studying ecosystems and developing innovative conservation tools to protect land in the region while supporting the livelihoods of local communities. The amazon rain forest is one of our most valued resources and as we wrote in the last post, it is under attack.

World Wildlife Fund - As they state on their website, their goal is: "By 2020 WWF will conserve 19 of the world's most important natural places and significantly change global markets to protect the future of nature." 82% of your donation will go directly to their worldwide conservation activities.

Greenpeace - Some of the stated goals and activities include the banning of commercial whaling, helping to convince world leaders to end nuclear testing, protecting Antarctica, and much more.

Please at least take a look at these or any other environmental non-profits that fight for something you feel strongly about and consider making a donation this holiday season. You don't necessarily have to give money, but many of these organizations will also gladly accept your time and volunteering efforts.

Lastly, as we all drive to the local mall, ship an increased amount of gifts and packages with UPS or Fedex, throw away tons of gift wrapping and packaging, etc. we can also offset the carbon generated during these activities. CarbonFund.org is one such organization to help you do it and to date, they have helped offset over 4 billion pounds of CO2.

Happy "Green" Holidays from GreenFixes!