GreenMarble.com

Give Yourself an Earth Day Gift: An Energy Audit

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:11:00 +0000

OK, so it's Earth Day again and you're asking yourself this question, "What about me?!" I know, it's soooo difficult to give up even one day of self-indulgence and consumption. That's why I'm here to tell you how you can do something for the Earth AND its most important inhabitant--you! It's true, and it will even leave you with enough cash to get those extra accessories on the 2010 Prius you're going to buy yourself NEXT Earth Day.

What is this magical gift that keeps on giving you ask? It's called a home energy audit, and it's something you can do for yourself, or if you have a little extra cash and not much time, you can hire someone to do it for you. Done right, this simple exploration of your home's energy profile will identify all the ways you can save energy, save money, and lower your carbon profile. Some localities are even considering subsidizing these audits, and the energy efficiency improvements you discover while doing an audit.

So do yourself and our planet a favor this earth day. Set a time or make an appointment for your home energy audit--you'll be richer for the experience.

Check out these resources to learn more about home energy audits:

Energy Star
Daily Green's DIY Home Energy Audit
Energy Auditing Tips

Kick Your Gas Mower to the Curb

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:44:00 +0000

OK, so you're not ready to give up your lawn and go to xeriscaping yet, but you still want to travel a little more lightly on this earth? Your first step should be to trade your loud, carbon belching gas mower in for a clean quiet electric model.

Until recently, electric mowers simply could not compete in terms of price and performance. However, recent developments have changed all that. First of all, there are now many, many excellent quality electric lawn mowers. Second, and most exciting IMHO, is the development of trade-in programs in hundreds of communities. My recent online search yielded hundreds of programs in the US alone, and these programs seem to be growing as fast as the grass on my acreage.

So get out there and get rid of that gas mower. Your lungs (and your neighbors) will thank you.

Oh, and uh, if that seems like too much work, get rid of your lawn all together!

Super Green Household Cleansers

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Just the other day, my friend Lachlan posted this not on his Facebook profile. The ideas are so great and simple, I had to share... here they are. I've also added an additional tip for eco-toothpaste that was added as a comment to his post... Enjoy, and use in good health!
_________________________________________________________________
Hey all!

I have now been keeping my home clean for over 2 years with just the following ingredients, and it's just as clean as it always was (no jokes about the "always was" part, now! Just hold your tongue!), so I am saving the planet, AND LOWERING MY RISK OF CANCER AND SAVING MONEY, without losing any quality of life. It just doesn't get any better than that!

Please consider shaking off old, chemical habits that were sold to you by Madison Avenue. Stock up on these items instead, and have fun mixing your own concoctions! Unlike chemicals, you can experiment with these without blowing anything up!

Below are the ingredients, followed by a few answers, followed by a few recipes.

Thanks!

Lachlan

-2 or 3 spray bottles
-White Vinegar (anti-bacterial, grease cutter)
-Lemon Juice (strong grease cutter)
-"CitraSolv" (orange peel oil and coconut soap) ((VERY strong grease cutter - the main ingredient of the industrial solvent "Goo Gone" is orange peel oil!))
-Baking Soda (abrasive, but don't use with the vinegar)((Duh. I've done it TWICE. Always surprises me!))
-Coarse Salt (abrasive to be used with the vinegar)
-Coconut Oil (protect your leather and wood)
-Olive Oil (for wood and other surfaces)
-Grapefruit Seed Extract (VERY strong anti-fungal)
-Eucalyptus oil (insect repellent, great for your bottle of kitchen cleaner!)

White Vinegar does NOT stink up your house. The smell is gone in minutes.

Citrasolv is available at any good sized market. It is expensive, but don't be shy, you only use a TEENSY bit in your spray bottle. I have had the same bottle for almost two years and it is not even half empty! And I use it to mop the floors too!
Coconut oil is so useful! You can cook with it (at lower heat) and use it as a hair conditioner and gel. I love this stuff.

Grapefruit seed extract (from the health food store) is VERY expensive. But, like the Citrasolv, a little dab'l do ya! Or skip it altogether.

Eucalyptus oil (also from the health food store) is not as expensive, but again, it is optional.

The only place where I notice having to work harder is in cleaning mirrors and windows. I am considering buying some rubbing alcohol to add to some vinegar so it will not take extra work. But really, it's just a little more rubbing. Like in Karate Kid... "Wax de car... Paint de fence..."

Here are some basic Lachlan mixes:

Bathroom cleaner/sanitizer-
mostly vinegar
couple tablespoons of coarse salt
cap of Citrasolv
drop of GSE
shake before use (for salt)

Kitchen cleaner-
half vinegar and half lemon juice
couple tablespoons of coarse salt
cap of Citrasolv
several drops of eucalyptus oil
shake before use (for salt)

Soap scum/tub cleaner-
Lemon juice
cap of Citrasolv
a few drops of GSE
separate shaker of baking soda or put it right in the bottle (might clog?)
(I spray the surface, then sprinkle the soda. You won't even need to scrub! Just wipe in a circular motion and rinse!)

From a mutual friend Jody: Here's a neat recipe for toothpaste.

Ten Green Tips for the New Year

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:31:00 +0000

OK—it’s a new year with a new administration. We’ve all voted, so now we can stop working and worrying and let Uncle Sam take over and do everything for us, right? Wrong. Real environmental change starts at home, so get crackin’ on these simple things this year!

1) If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down. I realized it’s kind of disgusting, but the amount of water you’ll save is immense-- about 3 gallons per flush. You’ll also save some money as an added benefit.

2) Offset your carbon at one of the many good carbon offset sites. It’s a real cheap insurance policy against a real huge disaster for our species.

3) Don’t listen to all the naysayers who say global warming is hoax cooked up by environmentalists looking for a handoun, blah, blah blah…I’d include a link, but why give traffic to these kooks. Suffice it to say, they are in bad company.

4) Compost your table scraps and green waste.

5) Find ways to creatively re-use household items that cannot be recycled or composted.

6) Work toward totally eliminating household trash.

7) Walk more, drive less.

8) Freecycle items instead of throwing them in the trash.

9) Get items from other freecyclers.

10) Eliminate bottled water and plastic grocery bags from your life .

Saving Money While Saving the Planet

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:13:00 +0000

I've thought this for quite some time, but here is further proof that you can do well by doing good. Enjoy!

Great Fall Footage

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:07:00 +0000

This is a post just to share some great fall colors we published on another blog... Enjoy!

Amazing Photos from Yann Arthus-Bertrand

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:14:00 +0000

I just got sent these photos from a friend and they are absolutely stunning-in every sense of the word... Enjoy!

The (LED) Light Went On

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:24:00 +0000

Well, it's been a busy summer in GreenMarble land. We've made a move to the country and are working to get our new digs off the grid--can I get a witness?!

Sorry for the long delay in posts--all this moving and getting set up has left little time. Never you fear, however, we're back and ready to rock the greenhouse!

As we're getting set up, I thought I'd share some of the green home innovations we're putting in place. Up first: LED Lighting. If you're old like me, you'll remember (barely) the first digital watches that came with a red LED display. If not, don't worry, today's LED lights don't resemble that in the least. In fact, the latest LED lighting is the hottest concept in low energy lighting and comes in an unbelievable range of shapes and sizes.

Why so green, you ask? Well, there are two huge reasons these little lights are the best thing since non-gmo soy milk for your organic latte. First off, they use an incredibly low amount of electricity for the amount of light they emit. Second, they don't contain mercury like their fluorescent cousins, so they are much more earth friendly on that distant date when they stop working.

The bottom line: Next time you need to replace a bulb, try out an LED.

Top 5 Green Ways to Spend Your "Stimulus" Check

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:48:00 +0000

OK, so if you're like me, you're more than just a little cynical about the check you are about to receive from the government. First off, is sending every taxpayer $600 really going to help the economy?! If past history is any indication, the answer is maybe, at best. If the US government was truly interested in stimulating the economy, why not spend the money on building a green economy? If you think about it, the roughly $168 billion they spent on sending checks would buy a lot of solar panels (look no further than Germany for an example of this.)

So what's the answer? Take matters into your own hands and do what they should have done when you get your check. It's no coincidence that tax day and Earth Day fall in the same month so go out and put that ill gotten government green to some good work. (OK--really it IS a coincidence, but don't let that stop you!)

Here are the top 5 green things you can do with $600:

1) Buy energy efficient bulbs and eliminate incandescent bulbs in your home.
2) Buy re-usable water bottles and stop buying bottled water
3) Replace an old appliance with a new energy efficient one
4) Buy some re-usable shopping bags made from recycled materials
5) Buy some good food at a farmer's market near you

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ecobookers: Weird and wonderful eco-friendly accommodation!

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Thinking about doing some eco-travel? Check out this cool little blog!

ecobookers: Weird and wonderful eco-friendly accommodation!

Almost Eco Mom Speaks Out!

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:37:00 +0000

This is a post I had sent to me by a mother of two who wishes to remain anonymous....

Any parent knows that living a green or eco friendly lifestyle can be tricky at first, especially as you get started and change family practices. Pre-packaged water, juice boxes, and fast packaged snacks can be a huge time saver with kids getting home late and needing a quick fix to get through homework, music lessons or sports practice. My advice, start slow, baby steps and you’ll soon find that healthier choices for our planet make healthier children.

Ok put up or shut up. Here are my quick tips:

Purchase reusable water containers like these. I bought a couple extra for the tag along school friends and if one is in the wash we always have a replacement. Not only are these great for the environment, it really helps cut down on purchasing plastic bottled water and with sport tops my kids don’t spill drink everywhere. Cheaper and less messy. One down.

This next one is a little type A, but has created some extra jobs the kids can help me with. Tired from work with the kids begging to watch TV, I sit them down at the kitchen table to make snack packs. Healthy dry cereal, nuts, raisins and small crackers all packaged nicely in little reusable containers. The kids sort and create their own snack packs. This gives me about 20 minutes to throw dinner together and if they eat a few along the way it takes the pre-dinner crabbiness away. Also after grocery shopping the kids can wash the produce and make grape or carrot snack packs. Also great for the lunch packing craziness on school day mornings.

Final quick tip everyone says clean your house with natural items like vinegar. I’m not a big fan of cleaning with a product that leaves the house smelling like a salad or an Easter egg coloring fiasco. There are many green, earth friendly products out there that are safe for use and don’t have this unpleasant after smell. I don’t know how you all feel about shopping at Trader Joe’s but they have many earth friendly cleaning products or try this site.

I don’t profess to being the most environmentally savvy mom on the planet, but I’m making smarter and safer choices and my kids are learning about keeping our planet healthy.

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Explosion in Green Content

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:52:00 +0000

I've been spending a lot of time lately (probably too much time!) checking out all of the great green content online and I have to say I am impressed. I mean, if all of this content translates into some tangible action, things are really looking up!

Here are a few of the great sites I've found:
The Digital Composter
The story of stuff
8 Ways to Green Your Recycling
Top 10 simple actions you can take...Earth Day is Everyday!

There are many more out there, but these are the ones that caught my eye in the last few days.

Also, as a word of warning, there are many, many "green" sites being put up by people who want to green their image instead of greening the planet. Companies like GE and Clorox are cynically trying to use the power of green marketing to fool consumers into thinking that their companies are not major polluters and makers of brown products. Be wary when a company that makes parts for nuclear power plants or bleach starts touting things like "eco-magination"...

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"Green" Products from "Brown" Companies

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:22:00 +0000

I just came across a post from a major consumer products company touting it's new line of products (sorry, but I won't link to it...) It made me think. Is it good that a major company is launching a "green" product line and their marketing muscle may get more people to buy good products instead of bad ones? Or, is it bad because it's just a cynical attempt to clean up a "brown" image among consumers? Is this grass or Astroturf?

This line of questioning can be extended to other things as well. For example the power company that discounts compact florescent bulbs but, at the same time burns coal and runs nuclear power plants--are they good, bad, or both? Another example is the major retailer that is "going green" but still remains an unscrupulous company when it comes to labor issues and purchasing practices.

How should we feel about this? What's a conscientious consumer to do? What is your opinion?

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What do you want to see?

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:55:00 +0000

In the coming months we are planning to take GreenMarble.com to new and exciting places with new video content, new posts, new links and even Green Commerce. This is an exciting change, but not without challenges. As we make this transition, we want to make sure the site reflects your values and desires. So, we ask you the following questions:

1) What type of content would you like to see more of?
2) What should the tone of the content be?
3) What type of shopping and products would you like to see?
4) What would you definitely not like in terms of content?
5) What would you not like in terms of shopping and products?

Thanks in advance for your comments--with your input, we hope to make GreenMarble.com the best Green Portal on the web.

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Go Offline and Change the World

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:22:00 +0000

In today’s Web 2.0, everything online world, I often forget that one of the best ways to get connected, inspired and motivated is to connect with like-minded people in the real world. This post will focus on a couple of great groups in my area and direct you to some national organizations that may have local chapters where you live.

First off, I have to admit that the idea for this post came to me when a friend of mine mentioned that a friend of hers was putting together an “ecosalon” just for women in our area. This struck me as an awesome idea and a great way to get like-minded people together in a simple and powerful way.

With that in mind, (and since I happen to be in the 50% of people not included in that group) I set out to find other places people could get together and get green. I found a great local organization called UrbanTilth that is focused on creating urban gardens in our area. They are actually part of a national movement that is dedicated to producing 5% of our food supply in our local communities. Our family has gotten directly involved in Berryland, their urban garden project in the Richmond (California) Greenway. Even my little ones have gotten involved helping to shovel dirt for the berry plants.

Here’s a great clearing-house site where you can find organizations that get your juices flowing! So there's really no excuse--Get connected, get empowered, and go change the world!

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What would you give up?

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:07:00 +0000

“OK,” you say, “Now you’ve finally converted into a standard left-wing enviro-terrorist blog bent on denying hard-working Americans the creature comforts to which we have become accustomed. I knew it would happen sooner or later!” Not so fast—this isn’t the typical rant against the Consumerism we have come to see as our God-Given right. In this post, I will attempt to consider a very difficult question posed to me by a well-meaning friend, and, with some help from you, maybe we can come with some ideas, if not answers to this question.

The question (paraphrased) was this. “If typical first world per capita energy consumption is more than 30 times third world per capita consumption, what are you, my good green friend, willing to give up to create a world capable of sustaining human life in the long term?” His point was this: We can all install compact fluorescent lights and drive Priuses (Prii?!), but we will never get where we want to go without a major change in lifestyle.

This set me to thinking. What would I give up? What would my family give up? Do we really have to give things up to create a sustainable model? Here are a few ideas I have:

1) I would be willing to give some or all of the electrical appliances in my house including the coveted dishwasher, in favor of manual alternatives.

2) I would be willing to get rid of one gas only car and get an all electric vehicle for local trips and errands.

3) I would be willing to pay an additional 10% tax on gasoline as long as it was coupled with a windfall profit tax on petroleum companies and the money was invested in an Apollo project aimed at making sustainable energy the foundation of our national energy usage by 2020.

What would you be willing to do? What ideas do you have?

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Top 3 Simple Green Tips for the New Year

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:16:00 +0000

Since this is the blog for simple green living, we thought we'd close out the year with 5 simple things you can do in the new year to make a difference. They are all good things to do and are presented in no special order.

1) Eliminate bottled water. I know this sounds like heresy to those of you in the well-hydrated set, but hear me out. You can be well hydrated AND stop using those poisonous globes of fossil fuel as containers. It's really simple to do--buy a stainless steel container (I like the ones from Klean Kanteen) and fill it with tap water (you can filter the water to improve taste if your municipality's water tastes like monkey butt, however most city tap water is held to a higher standard of purity than bottled water anyway...)

2) Paper or Plastic? How about neither?! Buy re-usable cloth bags and keep them handy so that you always have them available for last minute shopping trips. Keep a couple in your vehicle, a couple at home, and maybe one a travel bag so you never have to make that horrible decision at check out time. "Hmmmm...let's see...is it better to chop down a tree use the bag once and recycle or use a bag made from fossil fuel that will never bio-degrade..." I like the ones from ReusableBags.com because their selection is awesome and there are even ones made from recycled materials like juice boxes, but there are any number of places you can get bags that suit your fashion sense and budget.

3)Buy and consume less, and when you do shop, buy from people and companies aligned with your beliefs. For example, I get health products from Wellcorps not only because their products are great, but because they are dedicated to environmental education (see their excellent "News to Use" section on their site.)
That's all for now. We'll be back in 2008 with more tips for simple green living. Have a happy and green holiday season!

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Custom vs Generic Mynt Minutes

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:12:00 +0000

Last month, we completed a custom Mynt Minute for junk mail elimination service 41Pounds.org, which you can view here:

41Pounds Mynt Minute

We think these custom Mynt Minutes are a great way to get the message out about key environmental issues and are also a great way for leaders in the environmental community to generate action. However, since we are always looking for ways to reuse and recycle, we will also make generic "non-branded" versions of the Minutes so the information will find a wider audience. Often, these generic versions will have a similar look, feel, and concept to the "branded" version, but will have the message slightly shifted so that more resources can be promoted. Check out the generic version of Mynt Minute Episode 5 here:

Mynt Minute Episode 5

or here, on YouTube:

If you would like to sponsor a Mynt Minute, or have an idea for a Mynt Minute subject, let us know here or email: mynt@framebyframe.com.

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The Newest Mynt Minute is Out-Junk Mail Elimination

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:35:00 +0000

As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental and green living programming, Frame x Frame Productions has just completed a completely custom Mynt Minute for junk mail elimination service, 41Pounds.org. This custom 1 minute program which was created in partnership with Green Wave Strategies, delivers a memorable message about the negative impact of junk mail and allows users to sign up for 41Pounds’ service to stop junk mail now. Frame x Frame provided, writing, video production, post production, motion graphics, and compression and distribution for the project.

The video, which is being advertised on Treehugger and Grist can be viewed on a special page on the 41Pounds website here:

41Pounds Mynt Minute

It can also be seen on YouTube here:

41Pounds Mynt Minute on YouTube

This is the first of many partnerships we are developing for our Mynt Minutes and we are looking forward to bringing this content to every corner of the Green community. Our experience in film and video production combined with our passion for the environmentalism makes this kind of work the most gratifying thing we can do.

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Ecological Footprint Quiz is Eye-Opening

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:29:00 +0000

Wow! I just took the Ecological Footprint and was shocked to find the it would take 2.7 Earths to support the earth's population if everyone lived like me. The scary thing is, I am a vegetarian who lives close to work and bikes at least 2 times a week rather than driving. As it turns out, this makes my footprint about half of the average American's--however, last time I checked, there is only one earth for us to live on.

You can take the quiz here:
Ecological Footprint Quiz

After feeling totally bummed about my "excessive" lifestyle, I was heartened to find the section where they show you ways to lighten your footprint. It's nice to see the Green Movement coupling solutions with descriptions of the problem. This is what we hope to do with Mynt...

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Mynt Minute Now on ITunes

sean@framebyframe.com (Frame By Frame Productions, Berkeley, CA) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:40:00 +0000

Subscribe to Mynt Minutes on ITunes here:

Mynt Minute Episode 1