Trees and shrubs provide shade to help keep your home cool

Its summer and its hot!  We all know that its important to stay cool when the mercury rises.  But if you don’t have the resources or space to install air conditioning, how can you keep the heat down?

Passive solar could be the answer to your home cooling needs!

There are some easy ways to utilize cool morning breezes and landscaping outside your home to keep things comfortable inside.  By making a few easy changes to your daily routine, and maybe planting some trees or shrubs, you won’t be sweating the small stuff for long.

Consider these simple solar home design tips:

• Plant trees on the north and west sides of the property to buffer from chilling winds
• Overall landscaping with trees and shrubs can provide shade and cooling during summer months
• Make sure that “warm” rooms like the kitchen and laundry room are located on the north side of the property to provide heat where your home gets coldest
• Install drapes or shade cloths on windows to both block the sun through the summer, and trap heat inside (insulation) over winter
• Open windows over summer nights (and definitely in cool mornings) to circulate cooler air throughout your home

Its really that simple!  Implementing these easy passive solar steps can help you, your family and pets stay cool this summer.

Become a fan of solar cooling

Other ways to reduce the temperature in your living space:

• Clear space in front of air vents – don’t block with furniture or area rugs
• Close your fireplace flue to prevent loss of cool air
• Grill outdoors instead of using a hot oven or stove inside
• Minimize use of other hot appliances (dishwashers, washers and driers) during the day
• Line-dry clothing either on a clothesline or on drying racks in the laundry room
• Avoid using hair dryers – air dry, or style when damp instead
• Take a cool shower instead of a hot one in the morning
• Turn off incandescent lights – they generate nearly as much heat as light!

Beyond these tips, be sure to stay well hydrated, apply sunscreen and avoid going out in the heat of the day (10-2), if possible.  Wearing loose fitting clothing also can help you stay cool no matter where you are.

For most of us, summer lasts only a few months!  We’ll soon be looking for ways to stay warm before you know it…. (unbelievable, right?!)

*wiping the sweat from my brow*

Keeping bags out of waterways may require a plastic bag ban

In recent years, governments have flirted with the idea of banning plastic bags from use by consumers at grocery stores and similar retail outlets.  Relatively “green” Seattle, Washington failed to convince its voters that a tax on plastic bags (20 cents per bag) was a good idea last year.  But when the Oregon Legislature convenes in January 2011, state lawmakers may be considering outlawing the use of plastic bags to carry groceries across the entire state.

What’s really at stake?

To begin with, plastic bags are made from petroleum – you know, the stuff that is floating up on Gulf Coast beaches.  Even though they are cheaper to produce than paper bags, consumers rarely recycle or re-use them. Once they have served their single purpose, they take 500-1000 years to decompose.  And that’s just the bags that make it to the landfill.

Plastic bags are deadly when they find their way into rivers, streams, lakes and the ocean.  The Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the North Pacific Gyre is a man-made monstrosity, fueled by endless plastic waste that has been carried by ocean currents to an area the size of a continent.  Tiny, floating pieces of plastic are mistaken by wildlife as plankton and ingested.

We are literally choking on plastic waste in our environment

Oregon certainly would not be the first governmental entity to take action to cut down on plastic waste.  According to a related article:

Australia, South Africa, India, China, Italy, Bangladesh and Taiwan have banned, or instituted partial bans on plastic bags to combat the serious environmental threats they pose. Ireland imposes a tax on each bag, which is another way to slow down their use (after the tax, consumers’ usage dropped 90%). In March 2007, the City of San Francisco was the first major United States city to ban plastic bags, and Oakland soon followed suit

Consider this illustrative video with some startling facts about plastic bag impacts solely in the San Francisco area:

The potential Oregon plastic bag ban has evolved from a narrower, city-wide ban proposed in the state’s major Portland metropolis.  Mayor Sam Adams will be bringing a resolution to the Portland City Council requesting the Oregon Legislature to enact a new law prohibiting major grocery retailers from bagging items in plastic bags, and imposing a 5 cent surcharge on the use of paper bags.  In short – consumers should be prepared to bring their own re-usable bags to the store, or pay more.

Re-useable tote bags - so much more hip than plastic!

My opinion?  I shop for a family of 6, and we live in Oregon.  I have a stash of re-usable bags in the back of my car (probably nearing 15 or so).  I bring them in when I shop, and after I unload the groceries, back into the trunk they go!  Its easy, convenient, and more groceries fit in a single tote bag than a series of plastic bags, too!

Will a plastic bag ban require us to alter our habits?  Of course!  But I’m old enough to remember when seat belts and bicycle helmets were not required by law either.  You get used to it.  And it feels so much better not to be wasteful.

What do you think about the potential Oregon plastic bag ban?

Mike's hanging planters created from recycled soda bottles (photo credit Mike Lieberman)

Growing plants is one of my kids’ favorite, healthy summertime activities.  Fresh, home-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs can be incorporated into your own recipes for tasty family meals.  But what if you don’t have room in your yard for a plot?  Why not use recycled soda bottles to grow your own hanging plants?

My friend Mike Lieberman has a great idea that he’s described at his website, The Urban Organic Gardener.  As demonstrated on the YouTube video below, all you need to grow an easy herb garden using soda bottles are: (1) 2-liter plastic bottles; (2) duct tape; (3) twine; (4) potting soil; and (5) selected herb seeds.  Smaller vegetables (zucchini, tomatoes) will work, as well.

Note:  Children under age 13 will need adult assistance, and should not use knives or razors on their own!

Read Mike’s entire post at the Urban Organic Gardener here.  Have fun growing your own hanging plant garden!

The Nissan Leaf will change our electricity consumption habits

You might have heard a lot about electric cars this year, especially with the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf hitting the market.  But how much of a benefit to the environment are EVs?  After all, isn’t most electricity from fossil fuels?

Fortunately, eco-friendly charging of electric vehicles is possible and practicable!  The U.S. is actually lagging behind other countries when it comes to plug-in vehicles, as well as the power that will drive them.  In fact, the very design of EVs lends itself well to reliance on renewable energy and a smart grid.  As Dominick Noeren of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE notes, a change from a “push” to a “pull” system on our energy grid is what is required, and that “electric cars are best equipped to meet this challenge.” This is because electric cars are parked up to 20 of 24 hours in a day, which allows ample recharging time over hours during which electricity demand is lower than average.

Solar and other renewable energy can re-charge electric cars

The new smart charging station designed by Fraunhofer directs consumers as to the ideal time to recharge EVs when system load is low and the share of energy from renewable sources is highest.  This allows load peaks to be avoided, while the draws on solar and/or wind power is greatest.  Noeren states:

“For us, it is important that end consumers are completely free to decide when they want to recharge. We do not want them to suffer any disadvantages from the controlled recharging of their vehicles’ batteries.”

Eco-friendly charging of electric vehicles is possible when you plug into a smart charging station.  You can choose between charging right away, or waiting for a less peak time for recharging.  The charging station takes care of everything from calculating the cost and controlling the recharging process.

We’re just helping to minimize the potential reasons you might be thinking an EV is impractical.  Truth be told, its actually much more reasonable (and cheaper) than looking around for a gas station and comparing prices around town…. Don’t you think?

Let's help our kids go green

I had a friend once say to me that “its not what we say, its what we do,” with respect to raising children.  Of course, that all sounds good, but do you ever have a moment when you want to instruct your kids, “do what I say, not as I do”?

Some of our most effective communication comes indirectly.  Our actions speak louder than our words.  That’s why its important to set a good green example for your kids.  Fortunately, its easy to do!

At our home, we always are looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

When we shop at the grocery store, I explain to my kids why we purchase organic produce and meats.  We also compare and contrast packaging and look for items that not only can be recycled, but also have the least amount of cardboard or plastic.

Instead of purchasing bottled water, our family uses BPA-free reusable containers to tote fresh, clean tap water or other beverages.

Throwing things away just isn’t in our vocabulary.  Clothes that we have outgrown either go to friends or family or the Goodwill!  Just about any consumer-based goods can be put into our single-stream recycling bin.  From glass to newspaper to cardboard and more, we all rest a bit easier knowing that our waste is kept from landfills.  This summer, we’ve even started our own compost bin.  Let’s put decomposition to work for a better garden!

My youngest son is super excited about garage sales.  And, quite frankly, if we are not re-selling items that our family has outgrown, why not scour second-hand sites for replacement items for growing children?  From bicycle helmets to baseball gloves, handing things down is a great way to both go green and save money.

I am very excited about this next generation growing up with a good green example of how to live comfortably without spending unnecessary money and using up resources.  Perhaps those of us who came of age in the 70s and 80s can learn something from today’s kids.

No need to waste resources or energy to produce new goods when there are plenty of items that can be re-purposed today.  Plus, growing organic and conserving resources with re-usable canvas bags is more the norm these days rather than the exception.

I’m sure my own mother is wishing it was easier to set a good green example for us when I was growing up!

Relax - you're staying at an eco-friendly hotel!

When planning a vacation, there are a number of considerations that come into play with respect to lodging: price, location, amenities and – these days – environmental practices.  Fortunately, its easier than ever to find eco-friendly hotels.

If you want to ensure that your hotel is green, there are several ways to check.  First, see if the property is a member of Green Hotels Association.  Members have pledged to conserve resources through low-flow showerheads and recycling (among other things) and to use energy efficient measures to cut down on electricity usage.  Second, the hotel may be constructed to meet LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – standards, as certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Finally, even if the hotel is not a member or otherwise certified, you can still check up on their practices through Internet reviews, or simply by picking up the phone and calling the resort.

For example, we did a search for eco-friendly hotels in Orlando, Florida (we’re thinking about a trip to the Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Studios).  We got a wide range of results, but most were pretty impressive.  In fact, some hotels are proudly outlining their green practices in order to entice potential guests, like this page for Gaylord Palms.  Less expensive rooms at the Embassy Suites also proclaim their inclusion in the Florida Green Lodging Program.  Hotels must be certified by the state, which can be earned by water and waste-reduction, recycling programs, environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies and re-use of linens, among other things.

The Comfort Suites near Universal Studios in Orlando

No matter where you choose to spend the night, you can still make your stay at a hotel a little greener.  Request that your linens not be changed more often than every other day.  Cart out your own recycling if bins are not available.  Adjust the thermostat during the day when you are out of the room.

When you know where to look, however, its easy to find eco-friendly hotels.  A little advance planning for your vacation will help leave only footprints in the sand – and not a carbon footprint at your destination!

Emirates Airline has made some changes to go green

We’ve blogged about the giant carbon footprint of taking a plane flight.  Yet, instead of entirely giving up on this mode of travel (and let’s face it, most of us will not stop flying), why not explore how an airline can go green?

In the UAE, Dubai’s airline, Emirates Airline, has been working to become a green airline.  In a region that is fueled largely by oil fortunes, it might come as a surprise to you.  But visit Dubai these days, and you’ll see that, regardless of the extravagant lifestyle of many people there, there is still a sensitivity to environmental resources.

Since early 2009, the Emirates Airline has been taking the following steps for a greener, more environmentally-friendly flight:

• Agreements with Russia, Iceland and Canada were negotiated so that a more efficient polar route – which takes less time and less fuel – between North America and the Middle East could be achieved.
• Planes that are parked in Dubai are plugged in so that they rely on electricity rather than fuel.
• Air traffic controllers in Dubai grant priority to landing of large jets in order to cut down on fuel-wasting holding patterns.
• The Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft is washed with a silicone-based liquid prior to takeoff in order to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
• Emirates Airlines recycles its cabin waste, separating out glass, paper and metals to send to recycling plants for re-purposing.

Of course, when you arrive in Dubai, you’ll be able to marvel at the new Dubai airport.  Some of the improvements are already open to the public and the rest will be ready for your enjoyment in early 2011.

Chevy Volt - from the showrooms to the roads later this year!

This year is the big test for electric vehicles.  Sure, there are a few that are already on the road, but mostly super expensive versions like the Tesla (over $100,000) and cars that have been converted to electric with DIY instructions.  But later this fall, Chevrolet is releasing the Chevy Volt!  The plug-in electric hybrid vehicle will go on sale in California, Michigan and the Washington, D.C. area in October 2010.

In what looks to be part marketing ploy and part demonstration, President Obama got a much anticipated Chevy Volt ride last week when he visited the Compact Power battery plant in Michigan.  The parent company of Compact Power, LG Chem, is manufacturing battery cells for the Volt.  Turns out, they were more than happy to give the Commander-in-Chief a front-row seat for the new technology that promises to change the way Americans drive and consume fossil fuels.

Unlike other “pure” electric vehicles hitting the road this fall, the Chevy Volt is a hybrid electric vehicle.  That means that you can drive approximately 40 miles on 100% electricity (if you have a shorter commute, you can be fully electric powered).  If your trip takes you farther than that, the car’s engine/generator kicks in seamlessly to extend the driving range another 300 miles.  For people that have “range anxiety” about electric cars, the Volt is your answer to a relaxing, virtually emissions-free trip.

Charge up your commute with a Chevy Volt

The nation is eagerly awaiting the release of the new Chevy Volt.  An April 2010 report revealed that the first 100 Chevy Volts sold would be to the Obama Administration for official use.  Last month, GM announced that it partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to give away a free home charging station (retail $2000) to the first 4,400 Chevy Volt owners.

Looks like Obama is sold on the idea of electric cars in America.  The real test will be whether U.S. residents get charged up about the new technology.

Water purification systems in Africa

Water shortage is a growing crisis, particularly in African countries where women spend hours traveling each day in search of water – time that could be spent pursing vocations or raising their children.  And speaking of children – estimates are that 5,000 children die each day due to parasites, bacteria and silt in their water.  Over a billion people worldwide are impacted.  As we noted in a related post:

Every 15 seconds, a child dies from lack of potable water, from preventable diseases like diarrhea.  Millions lack the conveniences we take for granted, like toilet facilities.

A group of Oregon teens right here in my hometown are working to make a difference to help bring clean water to affected regions. Fund-raising this week will help provide water purification systems to Tanzania.  You can help!

These young Central Oregonians are hoping that their efforts can both raise awareness and make an important difference when it comes to potable water in a number of African countries.  Ryan Rudnik is an 18 year old high school graduate in Bend, Oregon.  Despite his young age, the budding engineer researched and helped design a water purification device that can deliver 8 gallons of clean water per minute.  In order to get the device to Tanzania, they need to raise $4,000.

For my readers who are local, you won’t want to miss Drinks on Bend: A Benefit Concert and Art Auction for Clean Water in Africa, on July 30, 2010 from 6-10 p.m. at the Life Amphitheater (21720 E. Highway 20).  For just $10 a person ($7 for students) you can enjoy Rootdown, Tim Bach, The Snag and Chris Chabot.  You can RSVP to Drinks on Bend on Facebook.

Perhaps more importantly, anyone – anywhere, can support bringing clean water to Africa.  Simply go to On Track Ministries to make an online donation, and be sure to note Africa Water Project.

Here’s why:

Make sure your lipstick isn't made with toxic ingredients

That new eye cream you just bought could take years off your appearance.  Or maybe it will take your life?

In a new book, No More Dirty Looks and its supporting blog, a pair of journalists uncover the secrets lurking in your beauty bag.  Toxic cosmetics – from hair products to makeup – may contain mercury, tar, formaldehyde, lead, petroleum and hormone disrupters.

Can you imagine?

You wouldn’t ingest that stuff willingly, but when you put it on your lips, skin and hair, you do!  Not only can these carcinogens seep in through pores, but they are also unknowingly inhaled and even eaten (ever wonder where lipstick goes) by consumers.

Although the sunscreen industry has worked to remove parabens from its products (which potentially disrupt hormones, damage sea life and cause cancer), the rest of the mainstream hair, makeup and skin care companies need to follow suit.

According to authors Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt, the cosmetics industry is filled with toxic products and is not well-regulated at all.  Unlike groceries and prescriptions that are subject to oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is really not an umbrella organization watching out for our health as we strive to look good.

Could your makeup be making you sick?

Your best bet when it comes to natural beauty is to… well… go natural.  Sure, you could stop using cosmetics overall.  But by purchasing organic alternatives or even making your own homemade products, you’ll soon discover that “green” is beautiful and healthy!

We’ve found a few companies/websites that offer organic cosmetics:

• Saffron Rouge
• Afterglow Cosmetics
• Lavera
• Sephora
• Living Earth Beauty
• Eco Bella

For more tips on green beauty and cosmetics, be sure to visit No More Dirty Looks blog!