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High Tech Solutions for Low Tech Green Problems
Tweet Share on Facebook November 11, 2008 Comment (1)Simple solutions are within reach for a lot of consumer-related green issues, but flashy new gadgets are just more fun. Do we really need them? Treehugger offers a run-down of how to save money with low-tech solutions that eliminate overrated technology:
- Overrated: E-books, like the Kindle, and e-newspapers
- Underrated: Going to the library.
- Overrated: Home energy monitors
- Underrated: Just unplugging stuff
- Overrated: Composting machines
- Underrated: Yard compost piles
- Overrated: Recycling
- Underrated: Precycling (or, taking measures to avoid creating waste)
- Overrated: Power-saving computer equipment
- Underrated: Your computer's existing power-saving settings
- Overrated: LEDs and CFLs
- Underrated: Switching off the lights
Read their full analysis here. Can you think of any others?
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How Green is Your Gum?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 10, 2008 Comment (1)Overheard this weekend at D.C.’s Green Festival: “Is gum really green?”
Good question. At Green Festival, where product demonstrations and samples took up much of the convention center's floor, free samples were as much a part of this expo as any other. Free samples also, necessarily, create a lot of waste, as plastic and paper cups and toothpicks are necessary for sampling organic granola (yeah, stereotype, I know) and fresh greens with hemp salad dressing and whatnot. Green Fest made sure that most of these samples came in containers made of recycled material, and that the plastic was compostable. They even had trash stations where latex-gloved helpers would assist festival-goers in getting rid of their trash in one of several containers for paper, recyclable plastic, compostable, and the dreaded bin labeled "landfill." The compostable bin at every station was always overflowing.
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Stick Inducted Into Toy Hall of Fame
Tweet Share on Facebook November 7, 2008 Comment (6)It's a wand, a snowman's arm, a drawing tool for sand, or, if you're an antagonistic little brother, a sword. Either way, it's a simple toy for complex imaginations. CNN tells us that the ecofriendliest toy of all - the simple stick - has earned a place of honor in the National Toy Hall of Fame. The stick joins such favorites as Mr. Potato Head, the kite and Atari as a favorite toy of all time for children (and canines).
"It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price -- there aren't any rules or instructions for its use," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections. I'm willing to bet that a greener toy doesn't exist.
I wonder, though - how many kids still play with sticks? My vote for the next Toy Hall of Fame inductee is another green pick - the leftover washing machine box. What's yours?
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Get Fresh Greens Tweets on the Green Festival
Tweet Share on Facebook November 7, 2008 CommentThis weekend, I'll be going to Washington, D.C.'s Green Festival, and I'll be twittering about my experience there. Follow my tweets here. Green Festival, sponored by Global Exchange and Co-Op America, the festival features 150 speakers and 350 green businesses, from food to fashion to green jobs and education. A few things I'm looking forward to:
--Fair trade chocolate
--Meeting other green bloggers
--Hearing from speaker Barbara Ehrenreich
--Learning about the greening of the beauty industry
--An environmental film festival
--Bicycle safety workshops
--And of course, organic beer and vegetarian food.
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How Obama Will Tackle the Environment
Tweet Share on Facebook November 6, 2008 Comment (4)Yesterday, enviros were congratulating Obama on his victory. Now, they're looking ahead. Here's some post-election chatter:
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Environmental Groups Congratulate Obama on Victory
Tweet Share on Facebook November 5, 2008 Comment (3)Among the many celebrating Barack Obama’s victory today are environmentalists. Here's what some have to say:
Sierra Club: “During the past two years of campaigning, Barack Obama has spoken often and eloquently about the need to invest in clean energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, kickstart our economic recovery, create millions of jobs, and curb climate change. He has pledged to make clean energy his top priority. He declared in his victory speech: ‘We cannot go back to the old way of doing things.’ We agree and promise to do all we can to help this transformation come to pass.”
Environmental Defense: “Elections are about change and this election offers us the greatest opportunity we have ever had to change course on global warming.”
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Environmental Ballot Initiatives to Watch This Election Day
Tweet Share on Facebook November 4, 2008 Comment (1)Washington, D.C., is buzzing with a collective OMG-Election-Day-is-finally-here vibe right now (and the lines are as long for the "I voted" freebies as they are for the polls), but in addition to the big show, I'm paying attention to some of the ballot initiatives around the country that have environmental ramifications. Grist has compiled a list of all of them and will be checking off the results as the night goes on. Here are a few to watch:
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Carpool to the Polls to Cast Your Vote; Get Free Ice Cream
Tweet Share on Facebook November 3, 2008 Comment (1)No matter whom you plan to vote for tomorrow, Live Earth hopes you'll do your part to reduce emissions in the process. Since record numbers of voters are expected, the organization has partnered with Zimride's carpool Facebook application to help people organize ride-shares to their nearest voting site. Carpool to the Polls will help you find your nearest polling station (through Google Maps) and also find others who are headed your way (You can find other green Facebook applications here). If you vote late in the day, your carpool can stop at Ben & Jerry's, which is giving all voters, carpool or not, a free scoop of ice cream after 5 p.m. Ben & Jerry's is making strides in greening their operations - last month, they unveiled a freezer that doesn't release environmentally harmful hydrofluorocarbons, which is just one small part of their sustainability plan - read it here.
So, get to your polling place, preferably in a low-impact way. Vote. Then, top off your green election with a free scoop, and cross your fingers for your guy.
