Chu Offers Common Sense Approach to Climate Change

Paint it white.  White roofs and pale roads will reflect the heat.  Seems so simple, doesn’t it? Energy Secretary Steven Chu says that taking these measures would have the same affect as removing every car in the world off the road for 11 years.

I think this is decent idea – it makes a lot of sense – the rays go right back up to the sky rather than soaking in and creating more energy use. I highly doubt most homeowners associations would allow it. If you had a flat roof on a building – then by all means – go for it. You’re throwing your money away if you don’t. Here’s a metal roof on a house rather than traditional shingles. Doesn’t look too bad to me…

Green Festival Comes To Chicago This Weekend

The smell of Spring is in the air, I went to my first farmer’s market of the season and that must mean it’s time for the third annual Green Festival in Chicago. This will be my third year attending and I can’t wait.  The first year it was enlightening to see so many people who held similar interests to myself.  I was amongst peers who shared my passion.  I learned a lot and was inspired.  Last year I went and took some time to listen to more speakers and stop and talk to the vendors. This year I’ll be on cruise control – learning and enjoying the day.

My recommendation if you’re going and have time – scout out some speakers to listen to.  They’re very informative and some of the best  and brightest in the green community.  Last year I had the privilege of listening to Jodi Murphy of Murco Recycling and host of Wrecklamation, Graham Hill – founder of Treehugger.com, and the ever lovely and passionate green advocate, Sara Snow.  Here’s some of that action from last year.  There are a lot of great speakers this year, too.  Check ‘em out over at http://www.greenfestivals.org and watch past speakers in the TV section.

While it’s okay to be a gawker and just kinda do a drive-by of the various booths – don’t be shy to go up and have a conversation.  You’d be surprised how friendly these folks are and how much you could learn.  One more tip – bring extra cash.  There are a lot of vendors who sell items cheap at the Green Fest – like $10 organic cotton polo shirts or the baby outfits.  Or just have cash on hand for that “must-have” green item.  I’m not advocating consumerism, but if you’re going to buy something anyway – get it from a small business and get something you can respect – vote with your dollars, right?  Oh – and while there are lots of yummy samples out there – check out the organic food vendors and stuff your face with goodness! 

Photo gallery of 2008 Green Festival

The skinny:

Event Details:
Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Avenue, Chicago

Saturday, May 16: 10:00AM – 7:00PM

Sunday, May 17: 11:00AM – 6:00PM

$15 for two days/$10 for seniors, students, and all who arrive by bicycle or public transit

FREE: Children 18 and younger, Green America or Global Exchange members and volunteers, those who bring three or more books to donate to BetterWorldBooks

PS – Be sure to stop by booth 1405 to visit our friends at RecycleMe Organic Tees

Zero-Emission Home Being Built in Chicago

I’m singing to myself now “if I had a million dollars…” or maybe “if I had $1.6million dollars…” This house is pretty damn sweet. It’s targeted to be LEED platinum. This is a good example of a home that has it all, but you could easily pick your battles and start implementing the smaller things one at a time.   I hope to do things slowly – I’d love to go hog wild, but the budget just isn’t there – like most folks.

Here are some examples:

• passive solar
• geothermal
• grey water
• solar hot water
• solar panels (photovoltaics)
• rain collection
• thermal mass
• argon, triple pane windows
• no VOC paints/adhesives/etc
• dual-flush toilets

Thanks to my old friend Charles from Kickstarter for the link!

Greasy Rider Winner

Congratulations to Marleen from Lemon Grove, California on being the big winner.  Special thanks to Algonquin Books for providing Greasy Rider!

We’re giving away a copy of Earth Talk from E-Magazine. Look for that in the coming days.

How do we pick the random winner? With random.org.

Go Green FAIL

Courtesy of FAILBlog.org.

US Drought Is A Reality

Living amongst the peeps of the midwest, we often forget that drought is prevalent in the United States.  I believe that I recently heard a statistic where 38 states will experience drought in 2009.  If you don’t live in a drought zone, water is still a precious resource.  Conserve it.  It’s spring.  It’s supposed to be wet – and it definitely is where I live.  Check out this US Drought Map for the past 12 weeks.

Green Pizza Box of the Future

Happy Earth Day

Earth Day Must Be Upon Us – Ads Say Buy Green

The Sunday paper came and my wife made a comment that you could tell it’s almost Earth Day because all the stores have their “green” sales.  To be honest – I’ve noticed this too.  She even pointed out the new Ziploc Evolve bags that use 25% less plastic (oooh, ahhhhh..ughhhh).  Sure – there is a less plastic and a 100% recycled cardboard container, but it’s still oil-based plastic and not PLA or something.) Everyone is having a eco-friendly sale.  Target is selling Loomstate organic cotton products – but only for a month. Even  Amazon.com is having an Earth Day sale. Macy’s is turning over a new leaf. Walmart is even having “Earth Month.” Of course the Disney Store is cashing in, too 8:-)

Where should my heart lie?  Is the recyclable glass half empty or half full?  Should I be happy that there are some sustainable products being marketed heavily right now or should I be a pessimist because they’re trying to capitalize off of Earth Day? The ones that piss me off are ads like Target – where they boast “in honor of earth week, our ad is made from 50% recycled fiber.” Why aren’t they printed on 100% recycled paper all the time (or even their boastful 50%)?  So they’re saving some virgin trees…for this week at least.

If you really want to honor Earth Day – try not participating in consumerism – or buy something used (novel concept).  The fact remains that we’re all consumers – so pick wisely, do a little research, and do your best not to be green washed.  If you have to buy something new, I’d rather you buy something remotely sustainable.  That’s the best advice I can give you. Consume wisely.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Reject.

Ben Folds – All You Can Eat

TAPPED: Documentary on Bottled Water

Do you drink bottled water? Do you know people who drink bottled water? Watch this trailer to the new doc called “TAPPED.”   I hate that there is a generation of children being raised right now that only knows bottled water.  WTF people – it’s called an immune system.  You’ll be okay if you drink tap water.  Really – you’ll live.  Your kids won’t be mutants.  Well – maybe they will from ingesting so much plastic from the bottled water. 

Yeah – I know – there are cons to municipal treated water as well, but I think the pros definitely out weigh the cons.  Let’s look at bottled water. Most of it comes in plastic bottles.  Plastic is made from oil.  Plastic leaches into the water.  A lot of bottled water is just repackaged tap water (i.e. Dasani and Aquafina). Water is heavy to ship, thus using more oil.  If you’re a fancy pants, you’re not drinking this “tap water.” You opt instead for Fiji water because it comes in a fancy square bottle and is shipped from Fiji (where a large percentage of islanders don’t have access to safe drinking water).  Perhaps you are even more fancy pants than that and you drink San Pelligrino.  Oooh…but glass recycles better than plastic and doesn’t leach.  Correct – but it’s heavy – damn heavy!  Oh…and it’s a Nestle brand…like they need another water brand.  Nestle is like the Phillip Morris of water.  San Pelligrino, Perrier, Vittel, Ice Mountain, Deer Park, Poland Spring, Deer Park, Zephyrhills, and of course, plain old Nestle. 

When I was growing up, no one drank bottled water.  Some might have taken old milk jugs to the grocery store to fill up for $0.25 from their filtered water.  Perrier and Evian were the only bottled waters you could buy. Then sometime in the late 80′s it started catching on more and more. At some point there was a mindset projected on the population that you were a bad person if you didn’t drink bottled water.  I just don’t understand it. 

Water is a precious commodity – protect it – drink it – from the tap.  I know it’s hard to believe here in the good old U.S. of A. that there will be wars fought for water, but there will be.  It’s the next oil, you know (which we need to package the water for you).  

Here’s your moment of Zen: