Introducing the Mustard Seed...C'est Moi

In honor of this special week of Thanksgiving, where we give thanks for all we have and celebrate with food - new foods, traditional foods, and even exotic foods, perhaps...I thought it appropriate to bring in my mustard seed post, in celebration of all things sustainable. This was originally used for a food blog in a different format, so I bring you the original in all its glory. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire you to whip up a little mustard sauce or some such concoction. And as is the case with most things I start writing about, I don't really appreciate how great they are until I'm finished.
So Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy.

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am the mustard seed, and I come in two main types: brown- brassica juncea (pungent and heady) and yellow/white- brassica hirta (milder) the type most commonly used for the mustard you all use on your hot dogs and such. For Indian or Chinese dishes, brown seeds are what works best. The yellow is common for most dishes.

In ancient times, I originated in the northern hemisphere (they don’t know exactly where, it’s sad, really). Today, I am mainly imported from Canada, and next to peppercorn, am the #1 most popular spice in the U.S. , if I say so myself.

I have been around a while, I get around, and I’ve been thrown around a lot-- in a good way. The French have been tossing me into their dishes since 800 AD to spice up their meat, and the Spanish explorers took me along with them in the 1400’s to help mark their route. Pope John XXII was so fond of me, he created a new position at the Vatican, “mustard maker to the Pope.” That’s “Grand Moutardier du Pape,” to you. I also have a reputation for being an aphrodisiac, but hey, what happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen. There’s a famous parable about me that says “good things come in small packages,” and I’m here to attest to that. I’m famous for my great healthy properties, like increasing circulation, helping digestion and respiration, and helping with skin disorders when I am in powder form, not to mention warding off evil spirits – that was for the Egyptians. I told you, I get around.

You can use me whole as a seasoning for salad dressings, meat and poultry dishes, chutneys, soups, and stews. My good friend Bobby Flay has an excellent coriander and mustard seed chicken recipe, in which I am sautéed in a skillet along with white wine and coriander. Delicious. The drama really starts when you crush me. Use a blender, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle (I like this best, it feels more holistic), and mix me with a cold liquid such as water and vinegar to make a mustard paste. You can also add other ingredients such as shallots ,honey, and herbs, to flavor me. If you’re not making mustard, you can also use me as a paste or powder (just leave out the liquids) to add delicious flavor to any dish.

Here’s the rub. Dry, I don’t really taste or smell like anything. Toasted, I have a nutty flavor and aroma. Crushed, that’s when my oils come out and I am hot and tangy to the tongue, with slightly horseradishy overtones.

So there you have the scoop. Have a good eco-holiday, and hey, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t cut the mustard.

Sunrise Advisors Homepage Guidance Validated In Best Legal and Investment Practices

From our reading and field research, we hope to have mutually value-added interactions with the Sustainable Business Practice Group at the law firm of Hanson Bridgett. We have rarely seen as "to the point" and value-added reporting on the effective convergence of strategic marketing, legal, and financial considerations for the kind of clients with whom we at Sunrise Advisors (literally) seek sustainable relationships.

We thank, praise, and fully credit (and give attribution for the "knowledge capital" that follows) the San Francisco-based (also with Silicon Valley office) Hanson Bridgett, from their Sustainable Business News -- an E-zine for Sustainable Practices.

HANSON BRIDGETT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE GROUP

Client in Focus: Investors' Circle

The growth of the green economy has created a new type of entrepreneur—one that resonates well with the members of Investors' Circle. Not only are these entrepreneurs motivated to make a difference, but what they make and how they make it can be just as revolutionary. Consider:

* A beverage maker claims that for every two servings you drink per day, you help protect about one acre of rainforest a year (Guayaki).
* A manufacturer of eco-friendly plant food not only made of waste, but packaged in waste, as well (TerraCycle).
* An organic meat producer who designed a simple company label on her home computer and set out on a mission to "eat well, save the earth, and the small farms on it" (Wholesome Harvest).
* A manufacturer that uses 100% recycled glass in its products, thereby diverting hundreds of tons of glass from landfills each year (IceStone).

The entrepreneurs who started these companies were not just driven by profit. They had a vision for protecting the environment and promoting sustainability. They also had the help of Investors' Circle, a group of investors who shared their vision.

Investors' Circle is one of the largest angel groups in the United States. The group uses private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy, a goal consistent with Hanson Bridgett's mission to foster the growth of the sustainable business movement overall. Since its inception in 1992, Investors' Circle has helped bring over $130 million to more than 200 companies and small funds that address social and environmental issues. Their network is composed primarily of angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices.

Members of Investors' Circle invest in five categories: Energy & Environment, Food & Organics, Education & Media, Health & Wellness, and Community & International Development. The group hosts national venture fairs where companies come to "present their case for capital," according to Woody Tasch, Chairman. To date, 480 companies have presented at their venture fairs and 200 have received capital.

For more information about Investors' Circle or their upcoming Fall Conference, November 10-12 in Boston, please visit www.investorscircle.net.

Our Role
Hanson Bridgett attorneys have formed some of the leading investment funds in this space and represent these investment funds in the sustainability area on an ongoing basis. In addition, we have been a proud sponsor of the Investors' Circle Conference and have served as judges in the selection of early stage companies and small funds that are featured at the Conference. As a firm, we have embraced sustainable principles and are always looking for ways to do more—for ourselves, our legal practice, our clients, and the entire sustainable business community. Hanson Bridgett is the only law firm in the nation certified as a B Corp and we are green certified by the City of San Francisco.

Attorney Profiles
Scott Smith understands how investors can have an effect on more than the bottom line. "I saw first-hand how large scale efforts by entrepreneurs and companies could have a positive effect on social and economic issues within communities that needed the investments most," said Scott, a corporate attorney at Hanson Bridgett who works with Investors' Circle.

Jonathan Storper works with Hanson Bridgett's sustainable business clients. He believes that representing these clients fits in well with his own values of social responsibility. Jonathan has volunteered extensively with the Investor's Circle—and this experience enables him to better serve his sustainable business clients.

Copyright © 2008 Hanson Bridgett LLP

The above has been sent as a service by the law firm of Hanson Bridgett. The content enclosed is not intended to provide legal advice or to create an attorney-client relationship.

New Video! Slow Food Nation Food Pavilion

All around us, 50,000 people (give or take) were tasting, sipping, smelling, talking about food, and listening to ideas about food (no to industrialization, yes to eco-friendly), all surrounding the first ever Slow Food Nation festival. The Food Pavilion recognized most of the major sustainable food categories, including specifically designed pavilions highlighting fish, charcuterie, honey, cheese, bread, chocolate, coffee, tea, and wines and beers.

"There are consequences to the decisions we make everyday about what we eat. If we support the people who take care of the land, cook the food ourselves, and come back to the table, we will discover a delicious way of life," said Slow Food Nation's founder and renowned chef, Alice Waters, in a USA Today article from August 28.

The Slow Food International Movement was launched by Carlo Petrini in 1986, who protested fast food chains pushing out small family restaurants in Rome.

If you would like to get more involved in this issue, see the following links of interest:

slowfood.com
sustainabletable.org
eatwellguide.org
foodroutes.org
foodandwaterwatch.org

New Giveaway Announcement! Eco Camera Bag!

Here's the deal. When we were at Eco Tuesday, (see previous blog and video) we got these great camera bags from a company called Lowepro. We thought they were cool. So even though it was really late and we were a tad tired, we were so excited that we analyzed them on the way home, and took note of the fact that they were so eco it was amazing. Here's the product description:

Terraclime 30 is a soft-sided, protective, multi-purpose pouch designed expressly for the eco-conscious, fashion-savvy consumer. It reduces environmental impact by virtue of its materials—over 95% recycled. All of the fabric is 100% post-consumer Cyclepet®: recycled 16 oz. PET bottles turned into sturdy, water-and-abrasion-resistant material (3.5 bottles in Terraclime 30). Features include memory card pocket, adjustable/detachable shoulder strap, belt loop, and double-loop hook closure (made of plastic regrind to help reduce waste). Multi-purpose styling makes it easy to carry compact point-and-shoot cameras as well as small personal electronics and gear. A portion of the proceeds from each bag goes to Polar Bear International (PBI) to help in efforts to save polar bear habitats from the impact of climate change.

So we decided in light of the polar bear issue and other factors, we really should share the joy, so we have 2 bags to give away. To be eligible, you must be a subscriber both to this blog, sunriseadvisors.blogspot.com, and the carrie freelance e-newsletter, which you can sign up with on the home page for carriefreelance.com, you'll see, it's a Constant Contact kind of thing. All current and new subscribers as of December 31, 2008 will be eligible. Good luck to the winners! And hey, if you send us your photos with the camera bags featured in the photo, we will publish them on our blogs, etc.

Just a quick note on who we are:

Sunrise Advisors: eco consulting, small business services for sustainable businesses, including communications, marketing, coaching, income generation, etc.
Carrie Freelance: writing, editing, pr coaching, e-newsletters, web site content, content management solutions
Carrie's newsletter features guest interviews, movie and book reviews, online discoveries, and other interesting items, including why I love food and hate waiting on line.

New Video - Eco Tuesday and Guest Speakers Sheryl O'Loughlin, founder of Nest Naturals

Sunrise Advisors (www.nonprofitsunrise.com), a client of Carrie Freelance, attended their first ever Eco Tuesday event in San Francisco the other night, a networking event that brings together leaders in green business. The event typically features a guest speaker, and then an inspired "let's make a circle," where all participants have one minute or less to say what they are passionate about regarding sustainability. I said my passion was in writing and communicating about sustainable issues, as part of the Sunrise mission! It was quite an interesting group, everyone from design and marketing firms, to independent consultants, accountants, recent college graduates, teachers, and of course, eco entrepreneurs.

The guest speaker, Sheryl O'Loughlin, was amazing. In fact, she was one of the best speakers I ever heard, as she described having moved from being one of the top execs at Clif Bar, to founding her own company, Nest Naturals, (20 million in venture capital) which brings sustainable foods together under one roof. She talked about everything from venture capital, to learning about packaging, to sourcing food, to going from inspiration to funding and the realization of a dream. She got a standing ovation and rousing applause, and what really came through was her dedication to sustainability and her honesty and integrity as she talked about the challenge of staying true to oneself in the face of business dilemmas.

The video includes segments of her fantastic speech, as well as a promo for the new eco camera bag giveaway we are launching. See details in the video and the next blog post to come for more details!

Hold that Shampoo! A Natural Products Scare Comes to Light

An article in this month's Common Ground highlights a scary development in the natural products aisle: 1,4 dioxane, a known carcinogen, is found in 46 out of 100 personal care products marketed as organic or natural. Top-selling brands such as JASON Pure Natural & Organic, Giovanni Organic, and Nature’s Gate Organics were among the culprits. The tests were conducted by author David Steinman and the non-profit organization Organic Consumers Association (OCA). The news came to light apparently in March at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim.

“These companies got caught with their pants down,” says David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and longtime critic of natural brands who make misleading organic claims. “There is an expectation they’re held to a higher standard, and they’re not living up to that expectation.”

In Bronner’s view, products claiming to be “organic” should not contain carcinogenic petrochemicals, and should instead meet the criteria of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program — a standard created for food that some companies feel is too strict for personal care products.

There are some shockers in this new development, with even Stella McCartney's organic line coming under scrutiny for not being truly organic, and Whole Foods having to revamp its natural body care line to rid it of this known carcinogen.

What's in your shampoo? It may be time to check the bottle. By the way, the article suggests the following substitutions:

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Shower Gel: 20.1 ppm* (substitute EO Nourishing Shower Gel or ZIA Fresh Cleansing Gel With Sea Algae instead)

Alba Passion Fruit Body Wash: 18.2 ppm (try Burt’s Bees Body Wash, Desert Essence Body Wash or Terr- Essential Organic Cool Mint Body Wash instead)

Citrus Magic 100% Natural Dish Liquid: 97.1 ppm* (swap for Aubrey Organics Earth Aware Household Cleanser)

Nutribiotic Super Shower Gel Shampoo with GSE (fresh fruit): 32.2 ppm (for a cleaner clean, try EO Voluminizing Shampoo, Dr. Hauschka Apricot and Sea Buckthorn Shampoo or Head Organics Clearly Head Shampoo)

*parts per million

Sustainable Transportation Conference Upcoming in Ithaca NY

PLANNING FOR ECOLOGICAL CITIES

Is the auto the most convenient and efficient way to move people around inside our cities? Does increasing car traffic diminish the quality of life in our neighborhoods and city centers? Is the use of the automobile sustainable in a future of climate change and escalating energy costs? Has the automobile actually become a limit to economic growth and urban vitality? You are invited to attend an international gathering in Ithaca, NY, that will consider these questions and explore alternatives to car-dependent mobility which will significantly contribute to the evolution of sustainable cities.

Program note: we met the manager of the conference, Christer Lindstrom, last year in Irvine when he gave a fabulous presentation on the use of podcar transportation and how energy efficient it is. Christer Lindstrom is the founder of IST - Institute for Sustainable Transportation, co-founder of the General Transportation Fund and Encitra LLC. Christer is also a member of the Swedish Center Party, and is currently managing the Ithaca Conference.

Podcar.org has more information on this exciting transportation alternative.

Planet Green

A recent post from ecofabulous highlights Planet Green, the first 24 hour eco lifestyle network hosted by Discovery Channels and Treehugger. Featured are eco chefs, health and lifestyle experts, fashionistas, and more. A new show starring Chef Emeril premiered on July 14th, highlighting slow foods and sustainable cooking. We are interested in your opinion of this station. Are you watching, and what's your favorite show or segment?

Viral Marketing in Green

An excellent article in a recent online post from greenbiz.com discusses the importance of user generated content in cause related marketing. "Today, more and more marketers are trying to launch campaigns that have the twin goals of increasing consumer engagement and viral marketing impact. For many marketers, it often appears that achieving these goals is more a matter of art. Yet, platforms such as Brickfish are emerging that are rapidly turning such an approach into a science," says writer David Wigder. Several eco brands such as Origins, Honest Foods, and North Face have used Brickfish as a platform to involve the end user, including voting on existing content, sharing content with others, and competitions for prizes for "most viral" entries.

We are intrigued by this concept and plan on exploring further. We are interested if anyone has tried this approach and what the results were???

Picnic Green Challenge

Picnic Green Challenge


2007 winner Igor Kluin flanked by award creators and Richard Branson, jury chair.

We found the following of interest as highlighted on Treehugger. If you have any climate friendly ideas, now would be the time to put them into action."Give us - or rather the PICNIC Green Challenge - your best climate-friendly, greenhouse-gas-cutting idea, and it could be worth a $750,000 cash prize sponsored by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.
While that may seem like an offbeat organization to be dabbling in eco-entrepreneurship, it's no joke. Last year's winner Igor Kluin (pictured above accepting his prize) revved up his company Qurrent with prize winnings, and is well on his way toward launching a system for connecting and managing local area networks of renewable energy. Translation: small groups of homes or businesses can maximize their wind turbines, heat pumps and solar installations by sharing energy and having a computer-controlled 'brain' keep track of usages and implement efficiencies.

Directly reduce greenhouse gases
Judges for the PICNIC competition will choose three to five finalists, and coaches will give the finalists a few days of intense preparation on presenting their business idea this September - Igor Kluin has said the coaching helped him marshal his thoughts to present Qurrent's concept in an entirely new way. In addition to a product or service that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, judges are after concepts that can be implemented within two years (by you or your company), and that score well on convenience, quality, and design."

Don't wait, formulate your eco-friendly idea now
But act now, the Challenge deadline is July 31. While that's a tight timeframe, Qurrent's Igor Kluin wrote his proposal in one day and still managed to impress from among the 439 other entries. Go straight to the entry form at Green Challenge. Via ::PICNIC

More:
PICNIC Green Challenge: It's Time To Act
Win 500,000 Euros With Your Green Idea

10 Ways to Save on Energy Use and Eco Drying the Laundry

Co-Op America had a recent post on 10 ways to save on energy use. Some of the tips we had seen before, but others were new, such as getting an energy audit for you home. Other good ones are not setting your dishwasher for the dry cycle, but letting the dishes dry on their own. We tried a good compromise on our last load of laundry, by cutting short the drying time and letting the clothes complete drying in the sun. It worked out well, and everything had a nice fresh scent. We have also been staying away from dryer cloths, as they have found to contain many toxic ingredients. Trader Joe's sells lavender drying sachets which are all natural and lend a nice softness to your clothes. We are on the lookout for any other natural products out there that do the trick...do you know of any?

Eco-Friendly Customized Prefab Homes Gain Popularity

A Home a Long Way from Home

An article in Plenty Magazine online previews an interesting new exhibit at MOMA highlighting eco-prefab homes. “Everyone thinks prefab is just a big chunk of house you dump on a site and then you bolt it down,” says Douglas Gauthier, one of several architects chosen from nearly 400 to present a full-scale dwelling at the Museum of Modern Art’s prefab show, “Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling,” which opens July 15. “Ours is a little bit more like an Ikea project. It’s thousands of pieces that can all be handled and stitched together on site.”

Traditionally, prefabricated structures are built off-site and delivered almost entirely assembled. The Burst system uses powerful software to design and calibrate all of the structural components to a specific site and project, from the number of screws needed for assembly to the cuts of all the material. Advanced CAD systems and a highly efficient milling process for the plywood enable the team to create a structure with very little waste. “The machine nests so efficiently, you end up with very little extra. Construction waste can account for as much as 20 percent of a project, but we’re down below the 5 percent range,” says Gauthier.

The article describes the technologically advanced Burst 003, on exhibit from Australia: "Burst*003, aka Parish House, was designed for a family of five and is sited on a suburban cul-de-sac in North Haven, just minutes away from the north coast of New South Wales. The house is purposely designed in an understated form and with modest materials to capture the spirit of the traditional Australian beach shack. A mostly undifferentiated façade (in other words, no front doors or mullioned windows) is topped off with eye-popping roofing that borrows its pattern from a floral bikini. Structural joists are designed to store surfboards and bikes. And as of 2006, it was the only house in the neighborhood to actually meet the flood standards required of houses built so close to the water.

5 Tips On How To Green Your Kitchen

After reading many articles on how to "green," one's home, I decided to try it out, taking one room at a time, starting with the kitchen. I found that many of these greening techniques were fairly easy to implement and made a lot of sense. So try them out and let me know how it goes!
1. Reduce use of plastic water bottles:
After reading so much about how wasteful plastic water bottles are, I invested in a Brita water filter system, which I had had before but not used recently. This enables me to use water from the tap and pour it out of the Brita, which eliminates many of the contaminants. I have also noticed that several bottling companies have switched to glass, so I'm currently exploring this option as well.
2. Reuse, recycle, and donate plastic bags:
Between farmers's markets, the supermarket, the drugstore, and just about every kind of store, I end up coming home with as many as a dozen plastic bags a day. Of course, on the days I remember to bring a reusable bag to the store, this does not happen, but let's face it, occasionally, we all forget. So I always reuse the bags, as liners for the bathroom garbage, as food protectors for vegetables and fruits, and to help organize coupons and other papers in my purse that I need to set aside. I have also noticed that in my town, the local thrift shop, regular supermarket, and Trader Joes, all collect and resuse the plastic bags, so I have a place to take them when they begin to swallow up my storage drawers.
3. Use eco-friendly dish detergent for the sink and dishwashing machine, and other ecofriendly or homemade cleansers throughout the kitchen:
There are many great brands of eco cleansers out there, that contain none of the harsh ingredients that can cause breathing problems, not to mention a host of other health problems. Many of them cost the same as traditional brands, and last a long time. I also like using natural ingredients such as baking soda and lemon to scrub butcher block, kitchen counters, and sinks.
4. Reuse sponges: Old sponges have great multiple uses. I have found them useful to place into flowers pots, for example, to make creative floral arrangements and help with the placement of stems. They are also a good place to store thumbtacks and keep a ready supply without accidentally prickling your fingers.
5. Limit dishwasher use and replace paper towels with cloths or real towels: I only run the dishwasher when it's full, and I use the Water Saver mode which cuts down on water usage. I cut down on paper towels by keeping a real towel in the kitchen for cleaning spills and wiping counters, or using organic cloths. After a few days, I add them to the laundry. This has saved me at least one roll a week!
Got any other tips? Share them here....

View First Video from The Alliance for Climate Protection

This is the first video produced by The Alliance for Climate Protection, the environmental group led by Al Gore and based here on the peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. It features narration by William Macy, and while it is short, we find it very effective. Let us know your thoughts!

Note, checkout web link above connected to the title to view the latest activities of wecansolveit.org, a subgroup of the Alliance.

View First Video from The Alliance for Climate Protection

Oberlin College New Sustainability House Featured in NYT Times

I was thrilled to see that my alma mater, Oberlin College, was featured on the front page of the May 26th NY Times, in an article and video (click on "This Green House" in archives) by Sara Rimer that highlighted the college's new sustainability house - SEED (Student Experiment in Ecological Design). In the article, "How Green is the College? Time the Showers," the SEED house was called a microcosm of a growing sustainability movement in college campuses nationwide.

"While previous generations focused on recycling and cleaning up rivers," the article states, these students want to combat global warming by figuring out ways to reduce carbon emissions in their own lives, starting with their own colleges. They also view the environment as broadly connected with social and economic issues, and their concerns include the displacement of low-income families after Hurricane Katrina and the creation of green collar jobs in places like the South Bronx. The mission is serious and yet, like life at the Oberlin house, it blends idealism, hands-on practicality, laid-back community and fun.

Life is certainly different there. The appliances are disconnected, the showers are short, rainwater is repurposed, and organic gardens abound. Call it innovative now, but this may just be a dress rehearsal for the way we really have to live in the near future if the global warming climate crisis is not reversed.

Additional Oberlin "eco" news is a completely "offset" carbon footprint for its 175th green commencement, held last weekend, including the use of all local foods for commencement activities, composting, recycling, and the use of "bioware" plates and flatware. Wow!

An Amazing Pangea Day

   

Sunrise Advisors was thrilled to take part in the San Francisco Pangea Day celebration held at Architecture for Humanity in downtown SF. Several hundred people gathered to watch the live 4-hour screening, which was shared with over 1,000 screenings, events, and parties throughout the world. In 2006, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize, an annual award granted at the TED Conference. She was granted $100,000, and more important, a wish to change the world. Her wish was to create a day in which the world came together through film. Pangea Day grew out of that wish. 24 short films were selected from an international competition that generated over 2500 submissions from over 100 countries. We found them amusing, entertaining, at times heart wrenching, and throughout, fulfilling exactly what they set out to - making us feel connected to humanity through our experiences, emotions, and the details of daily living. Perhaps the expression, "I laughed so hard I cried," was never so fitting for this occasion. 

from the Pangea Day home page....

"Pangea Day's fabulous line-up of thought-provoking, inspirational speakers produced no less stellar a collection of memorable quotes and priceless bits of wisdom. A small sampling of what we heard:


"By sharing stories, we've started the process of turning strangers into friends." - Filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, TED Prize winner and founder of Pangea Day

"We have a repsonbility to expose ourselves to our world, to see our common humanity, to learn about other people -- not only in times of war, but in times of peace. " - Ishmael Beah, former child soldier and advocate for peace

"When we look at the earth from space, we can see ourselves, our species, in its brave struggle. Yes, we're troubled inhabitants of a small planet, but we're also dreamers of dreams." - Planetary scientist Carolyn Porco

"Humans are -- and must be -- sensitive to differences. But we should find hope in realizing how rich and numerous our commonalities are." - Anthropologist Donald Brown, author of Human Universals

"If we are to prosper together in our increasingly small world, we must listen to -- and learn from each other's stories" - Queen Noor of Jordan

"When we laugh, we change. And when we change, the world changes." -- Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the International Laughter Club

"I feel like a hack... I feel I could be doing more... I feel sexy... I just want to feel alive for the first time in my life... I feel so much of my Dad in me that there isn't room for me." -- A selection of feelings, sampled live from the Internet, by conceptual artist Jonathan Harris

"We have the capacity and tendency to separate 'us' from 'them.' Once established, we're more tolerant to those we call 'us' and more brutal toward 'them.' But increasingly, science shows there's no limit to who we define as 'us.' Eventually, someday, there might not be any more 'thems.'" - Psychologist Robert Kurzban

"How can films change the world? They can't, but the people who watch them can. By changing minds, we change the world." - Actress Cameron Diaz

California Clean Technology Event at SRI

We were thrilled to attend the California Clean Tech event held in Menlo Park at SRI headquarters on Thursday evening. Several hundred people ranging from entrepreneurs, to students and scientists interested in entering the upcoming Clean Tech Competion, came out to hear speakers from several leading laboratories and research facilities, who discussed their upcoming initiatives, ranging in innovations in lighting, to water treatment and filtration, to maximized use of solar power. On the program were:

Opening Remarks by Ben Matteo, Innovation Partners Program Chair
• Speaker Introductions by Mark Goldman
• Alex Beavers, SRI International
• Denise Koker, Sandia National Lab
• Leah Rogers, Lawrence Livermore National Lab
• Robin Johnston, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
• Meg Arnold, UC Davis InnovationAccess
• Luis Mejia, Stanford University OTL
• Mike Cohen, UC Berkeley OTL
• Tom Anyos, Technology Ventures Corporation
• Nitin Parekh, Palo Alto Research Center
• Ammi Amarnath, Electric Power Research Institute

In a highlight of the evening, Sunrise co-founder Emmett Pickett was interviewed about Sunrise and its activities by Ke Yuan, reporter for New Tang Dynasty Television, and the segment was scheduled to air the evening of Friday, May 2. We will have a link available shortly to share with those who would like to view it.

The California Clean Tech Open is an independent effort by entrepreneurs, researchers, environmentalists, investors and others to create economic growth and environmental sustainability by sparking a clean technology cluster in California.

Five Top Earth Day Selections from the Web

In honor of Earth Day, I decided to put together some web highlights that I felt were original and creative approaches to dealing with the environment and sustainability, a topic which unfortunately can be cheapened with easy solutions, like changing your lightbulbs and buying hemp t-shirts. Not that there's anything wrong with these, but the overall message that needs to be conveyed is that we need to do more. We need to do 10 things, not 1 thing, if we really care about the planet. So here are Carrie's top 5, please let me know what you think and feel free to addd...
1. The Women on the Web, the new women's web site currently in beta focuses on current events and women's issues, and offers a celebrity editorial lineup including Candice Bergen, Marlo Thomas, Leslie Stahl, Whoopi Goldberg, and others, features a cartoon essay by Jane Wagner that offers a refreshing look at some serious problems. Check it out!

2. With the same humor and humanity he exuded in An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore spells out 15 ways we can address climate change, from buying a hybrid car to inventing a hotter brand name for global warming. First, though, comes a hilarious set of stories from The New Gore, who turns out to be a stand-up comedian. The former Vice President has plenty of joke material, and he's funnier than you've ever seen him. Then he gets down to grittier matters with a list of actions ordinary people can take to stem the tide of global warming. His message: Doing something is easier than you think. This is from February 2006, at the annual TED conference in Monterey.


3. Michael Pollen's "Why Bother" in the Sunday magazine Green Issue of The New York Times, offers fresh insights into why we should bother to take steps now to help avoid the calamities of global warming, but also affirms our tendency to do the easiest thing and why we have to resist. He uses the metaphor of gardening to get us back to our "roots," so to speak, and discusses everything from photosynthesis to Wendell Berry, to cheap energy consumption. "The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world," he states.

4. The Sundance Channel Eco Biz site features some great videos, including a new one profiling Mark Spellun, editor of Plenty magazine, that covers all issues green. The video highlights how the magazine is put together and what issues they focus on.

5. Also from Plenty: "Spring is HERE and in honor of Earth Day, Jessica Tzerman shared a roundup of Plenty’s favorite “green gear” picks for the season. Need a new umbrella to stay dry in April showers but don’t want it to end up in a landfill when the umbrella inevitably breaks or gets lost? Try the biodegradable Brelli. When it’s nice out, a set of reusable, stackable lunch carriers keeps your picnic on the green and narrow. Just make sure to remember Ella Vickers’ recycled sail tote when you’re grocery shopping. Looking for other ways to take advantage of the sunshine on a Saturday afternoon? Why not break in a pair of Simple’s new eco-sneaks with a walk in the park. You can even catch up on phone time with Iqua’s new solar-powered Bluetooth headset—the first-ever—while you’re out there. Or if you’re feeling active, grab a few friends and a fair trade football or basketball. And as long as you’re out and about smelling the flowers, snag a bloom or two (with permission, of course) to bring home with you. With Ron Gilad’s VaseMakers, you can turn any can, jar, or cup into a receptacle worthy of any flower’s power.

Happy reading, viewing, and recycling, and Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is Coming...April 22! 500,000 Expected to Attend Green Apple Festivals Throughout US

Earth Day is April 22nd, and there are a host of activities all over the country in celebration. EarthDay.net is an excellent web site that highlights many new and ongoing initiatives. The following press release highlights this year's events:

"On Sunday, April 20 Earth Day Network is spearheading one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in U.S. history - major day-long events on the National Mall in Washington, DC and seven other cities, 1,000 college campuses, and hundreds of community events that are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of participants and rally support for immediate and equitable national action on global warming. The flagship event on the National Mall is free and will feature elected officials and candidates, community speakers, celebrities and major musical acts as well as educational displays and voter registration. Simultaneous free events will be held in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas and Miami. The events are being produced by Green Apple Festival and sponsored by Chase.

All the activities are being coordinated by Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that mobilizes 17,000 organizations worldwide and 5,000 organizations in the U.S. Earth Day Network was founded by the organizers of the original Earth Day in 1970.

“This Earth Day, it’s time to change the forecast for global warming,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “Climate change must rise to the top of the national agenda this election year. On April 20th, Americans will be hearing our global warming message and we will be mobilizing support for solutions.”

“Our events are about highlighting solutions to help overcome the significant environmental challenges we face today,” said Peter Shapiro, Founder & Executive Producer of Green Apple Festival and producer of the new U2 3D film. “By bringing together live music, education, and a wide range of non-profit organizations in America’s most prominent parks, we hope to draw significant attention to the most important issue of our time.”

The 2008 Earth Day events will include a voter registration component, especially in low income communities. Studies have shown that minority and low income populations are the most impacted by global warming. The solution is a new energy future based on renewable sources that will mean less greenhouse gasses, spur jobs and stimulate the economy.

In addition to the free events on the Mall and seven cities, April 21st there will be a day of action. For the second year in a row, Earth Day Network is sponsoring Earth Day on the Hill, which will bring community leaders from all over the U.S. to lobby Congress on the issues of global warming and environmental justice and equity.

“We will be creating surround-sound on the issue of global warming,” said Rogers. “Our leaders will hear from us on the National Mall, in the halls of Congress and in the news media. We will be making a lot of noise this Earth Day.”

Earth Day Network will also be calling for people to take personal steps to fight climate change, such as taking public transportation or carpooling to Earth Day events, as well as signing Earth Day Network’s Sky Petition at www.earthday.net. The solutions-oriented Sky Petition calls for a moratorium on new coal-burning plants, a move toward a renewable energies, a demand for new buildings to be carbon neutral, and protection for the poor and middle class from unfairly assuming more than their fair share of the costs of the transition to a green economy.

Earth Day Network is also working with religious and faith-based communities to support sermons in thousands of churches, synagogues and mosques.

Campus action will be a major component of Earth Day 2008. Earth Day Network believes strongly in creating personal responsibility for the environment among students around the world. In line with the groundswell of activism on college campuses, over 1,000 of them will be featuring Earth Day events. Earth Day Network is one of the sponsors of Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming, a contest that recognizes campuses and campus leaders for their efforts to solve climate change issues. On April 16, Earth Day TV will host the Chill Out broadcast. Earth Day Network has also signed a Green Schools initiative with President Clinton and works with more than 25,000 K-12 teachers.

Earth Day Network encourages groups to hold their own Earth Day events in their communities and to register them at www.earthday.net.

About Earth Day Network

Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, politics, cultural events, and consumer activism. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world."

Disturbances in the Field

The story that broke this week about the detection of pharmaceuticals in the water supply is just another scary turn in what seems to be a host of disturbing developments on the environmental front lately. The massive beef recall. More spinach scares. In every story, we look for something to feel good about, to maybe reassure ourselves, "it won't affect me." But there is something about water - it is indeed the great equalizer. We all need it, we all get it from different places, and yet the contamination is all permeating. It is found even in bottled water, in the US, Europe, and worldwide. Antibiotics in Tucson, sex hormones in San Francisco, mood stabilizers and anticonvulsives in New York, and anti anxiety medicines in southern California, are just some of the findings, and although it's only "trace amounts," I do not find this reassuring, do you? According to the AP story, "recent laboratory research has found that small amounts of medication have affected human embryonic kidney cells, human blood cells and human breast cancer cells. The cancer cells proliferated too quickly; the kidney cells grew too slowly; and the blood cells showed biological activity associated with inflammation. Also, pharmaceuticals in waterways are damaging wildlife across the nation and around the globe, research shows. Notably, male fish are being feminized, creating egg yolk proteins, a process usually restricted to females. Pharmaceuticals also are affecting sentinel species at the foundation of the pyramid of life – such as earth worms in the wild and zooplankton in the laboratory, studies show."

Why are we only hearing about this now? It's time that the government began regulating the water supply for these toxic elements as well as expanding its testing, before we all become test tube trials.

Living Like Ed - The Real Deal

One of the recent online newsletters on powells.com features an essay by famous actor/environmentalist/all around fun guy Ed Begley Jr., who has a new book out, Living Like Ed, A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life. While new books on green living are being published all the time, we've no doubt that Begley's stands out in the crowd, if for no other reason than he's the real deal - a practicing "ecoist" since the 70's, when his experience of the first Earth Day proved a life-changing one. In his essay, Begley describes growing up in the polluted San Fernando Valley, where ...the smog was so thick you couldn't see the hills or mountains on either side of the valley unless you drove right up next to them. I couldn't run from one end of the block to the other without developing a horrible wheeze that made it impossible to breathe.

Begley writes in his essay about learning to conserve early on in life, as his father, a child of the Depression, taught him about conservation and frugality at home. He also talks about buying his first electric car, his first wind turbine, and installation for solar electricity. In contrast to many of today's nasayers, it is refreshing that he is pleased at the progress we have made, and talks about "challenges" we face, rather then calling them problems, as he believes they are surmountable.

We are starting to live in a world in which there is widespread agreement that issues like global climate change, reduction in fisheries, air pollution, water resources, and dependency on MidEast oil cannot be ignored. And for the first time, we are recognizing that these challenges don't reside on one side of the political aisle or the other — they affect each and every one of us, and are inspiring all of us to make changes in the way we live.

Dolphins and Whales 3D:Tribes of the Ocean

We are really looking forward to seeing this new 3D underwater documentary presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau that recently launched in theaters. The film focuses on humpback whales, manatees, dolphins, and others in exotic locales from the Bahamas to the Tonga.

Going Green, or Else

We found this animation from the sundance channel particularly effective. Makes you think twice about driving 20 blocks for a pint of ice cream...???

Setting the Eco Bar Too High?

A recent New York Times article highlights the challenges of keeping up with the eco-friendly Joneses in today's marketplace, illustrating the need for cities to have a uniform standard when it comes to sustainable programs and services, buildings, transportation systems, and others. Even in relatively green cities such as Arlington, VA, Providence, RI, and Austin, TX, the average citizen is having trouble keeping up with city legislation regarding green requirements and initiatives.

“We have been doing things like filling potholes and reducing crime since cities began,” said David N. Cicilline, the mayor of Providence, R.I., but energy efficiency requires “a whole new infrastructure to evaluate and measure.”

Ann Hancock, the executive director of the Climate Protection Campaign, a nonprofit based in Sonoma County, a wine-growing area north of San Francisco, said that the county and its nine municipalities signed climate-protection agreements with enthusiasm more than five years ago, committing to bringing down greenhouse-gas emissions. Then they tried to figure out how.

“It’s really hard,” Ms. Hancock said. “It’s like the dark night of the soul.” All the big items in the inventory of emissions — from tailpipes, from the energy needed to supply drinking water and treat waste water, from heating and cooling buildings — are the product of residents’ and businesses’ individual decisions about how and where to live and drive and shop.

“They’ve seen the Al Gore movie, but they still have their lifestyle to contend with,” she said.

“We need to get people out of their cars, and we can’t under the present circumstances,” because of the limited alternative in public transportation, Ms. Hancock said. And the county’s many older homes are not very good at keeping in the cool air in the summer or the warm air in winter. “How do you go back and retrofit all of those?” she asked.

Do you have any ideas to make it easier for municipalities to incorporate green initiatives more readily, and to create a more standardized solution?

It's Always Time for a Change - Slate Video

The one thing that never changes in presidential campaigns is the promise of change. In this "Damned Spot Classic," David Schwartz of the Museum of the Moving Image shows us how campaign spots dating back 50 years have used the same theme. As has been noted by many of the green bloggers out there, the candidates better start talking about the environment soon, or there won't be any planet left to change. Why have they all been so quiet on this? Why is Al gore the only one paying attention? Unfortunately, it seems like the impact of "The Inconvenient Truth" may have faded into the background, much like the melting glaciers, only to jarr us to a new reality soon enough.

10 Strikes Against Nuclear Power, from Co-Op America

Currently we draw electric power from about 400 nuclear plants worldwide. Nuclear proponents say we would have to scale up to around 17,000 nuclear plants to offset enough fossil fuels to begin making a dent in climate change. This isn't possible – neither are 2,500 or 3,000 more nuclear plants that many people frightened about climate change suggest. Here's why:

1) Nuclear waste –The waste from nuclear power plants will be toxic for humans for more than 100,000 years. It's untenable now to secure and store all of the waste from the plants that exist. To scale up to 2,500 or 3,000, let alone 17,000 plants is unthinkable. »

2) Nuclear proliferation – In discussing the nuclear proliferation issue, Al Gore said, "During my 8 years in the White House, every nuclear weapons proliferation issue we dealt with was connected to a nuclear reactor program." Iran and North Korea are reminding us of this every day. We can't develop a domestic nuclear energy program without confronting proliferation in other countries. »

3) National Security – Nuclear reactors represent a clear national security risk, and an attractive target for terrorists. In researching the security around nuclear power plants, Robert Kennedy, Jr. found that there are at least eight relatively easy ways to cause a major meltdown at a nuclear power plant. »

4) Accidents – Forget terrorism for a moment, and remember that mere accidents – human error or natural disasters – can wreak just as much havoc at a nuclear power plant site. The Chernobyl disaster forced the evacuation and resettlement of nearly 400,000 people, without thousands poisoned by radiation. »

5) Cancer – There are growing concerns that living near nuclear plants increases the risk for childhood leukemia and other forms of cancer – even when a plant has an accident-free track record. One Texas study found increased cancer rates in north central Texas since the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant was established in 1990, and a recent German study found childhood leukemia clusters near several nuclear power sites in Europe. »

6) Not enough sites – Scaling up to 17,000 – or 2,500 or 3,000 -- nuclear plants isn't possible simply due to the limitation of feasible sites. Nuclear plants need to be located near a source of water for cooling, and there aren't enough locations in the world that are safe from droughts, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other potential disasters that could trigger a nuclear accident. Over 24 nuclear plants are at risk of needing to be shut down this year because of the drought in the Southeast. No water, no nuclear power. »

7) Not enough uranium – Even if we could find enough feasible sites for a new generation of nuclear plants, we're running out of the uranium necessary to power them. Scientists in both the US and UK have shown that if the current level of nuclear power were expanded to provide all the world's electricity, our uranium would be depleted in less than ten years. »

8) Costs – Some types of energy production, such as solar power, experience decreasing costs to scale. Like computers and cell phones, when you make more solar panels, costs come down. Nuclear power, however, will experience increasing costs to scale. Due to dwindling sites and uranium resources, each successive new nuclear power plant will only see its costs rise, with taxpayers and consumers ultimately paying the price. »

9) Private sector unwilling to finance – Due to all of the above, the private sector has largely chosen to take a pass on the financial risks of nuclear power, which is what led the industry to seek taxpayer loan guarantees from Congress in the first place. »

And finally, even if all of the above strikes against nuclear power didn't exist, nuclear power still can't be a climate solution because there is …

10) No time – Even if nuclear waste, proliferation, national security, accidents, cancer and other dangers of uranium mining and transport, lack of sites, increasing costs, and a private sector unwilling to insure and finance the projects weren't enough to put an end to the debate of nuclear power as a solution for climate change, the final nail in nuclear's coffin is time. We have the next ten years to mount a global effort against climate change. It simply isn't possible to build 17,000 – or 2,500 or 17 for that matter – in ten years. »

With so many strikes against nuclear power, it should be off the table as a climate solution, and we need to turn our energies toward the technologies and strategies that can truly make a difference: solar power, wind power, and energy conservation.

The Daily Green Presents Happy Groundhog Day Video from Glen, the Global Warming Groundhog

Whole Foods to End Plastic Bag Use by Earth Day

According to yesterday's article on sustainablebusiness.com, Whole Foods will discontinue offering plastic bags at checkout effective this Earth Day. The first U.S. supermarket to commit to completely eliminating disposable plastic grocery bags, Whole Foods Market declared January 22 "Bring Your Own Bag Day" and distributed over 50,000 reusable shopping bags to customers at the checkouts to celebrate the announcement. A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, said "More and more cities and countries are beginning to place serious restrictions on single-use plastic shopping bags since they don't break down in our landfills, can harm nature by clogging waterways and endangering wildlife, and litter our roadsides. Together with our shoppers, our gift to the planet this Earth Day will be reducing our environmental impact as we estimate we will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of our environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone."

We have noticed that many supermarkets like Trader Joe's offer incentive to encourage customers to bring their own bags, such as drawings for grocery certificates. Whole Foods offers customers now a 5-10 cent refund at the checkout, but they would be well advised to offer similar promotions and contests for customers. Do you bring your own reusable bags, and how to you remind yourself each time you go shopping? Is your supermarket sustainable? We have been doing our part all this year by keeping extra shopping bags in the back of the car, and then we are "green to go." Happy green shopping!

Note: we recently read about the largest Whole Foods to open in New York City, in the Bowery, and plan on visiting next time we're in the city. The stores features an eco-friendly refrigerating system, recycled building materials, energy efficient lighting, and electricity purchased with wind energy credits. (There are also discounts on coffee if you bring your own mug and pies when you bring back the plates for the made-from-scratch pies.) At 71,000 square feet, you shouldn't have to worry about anyone bumping into your shopping cart.

Oberlin College Named #1 of Top 10 "Cool" Schools by Sierra Club Magazine

Congratulations to Oberlin College (full disclosure - my alma mater) which was named #1 by Sierra magazine on its list of Top 10 Cool Schools, with criteria ranging from green building policies and energy purchases to "the food served in their dorms," wrote Jennifer Jattan in the article "Go Big Green," published in the Nov/Dec 2007 isssue of the Sierra Club magazine, which has a circulation of 1.2 million readers. One-third of the food served in the dining halls is produced locally; the college hosts the first car-sharing program in Ohio; and a large portion of its electricity is from green sources. Writing about Oberlin, the editors also point out that “a real-time monitoring system tracks 17 dorms and displays how much juice all those laptops, blenders, and iPod chargers are burning at any moment. Last spring Oberlin held its first eco-friendly commencement, with biodegradable utensils and programs printed on 100 percent recycled paper.”

“Many young people see environmental problems—especially global warming—as the challenge of their generation,” write the editors, adding that 400 college and university presidents have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment to make their institutions carbon neutral; Oberlin was the first of its peer institutions to sign the pledge.

Oberlin is followed by Harvard University, Warren Wilson College, the University of California system, Duke University, and Middlebury College.

How does your alma mater rank in sustainability?

Sustainable Book Buzz

Two recent titles are tops on our reading list for '08. The first is Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto." According to the review on Amazon.com: "Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These 'edible foodlike substances' are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food."

While some of the reviews comment that the book is too short, for the most part the reviews have been favorable, stating that the book is insightful, extremely well written, and highly relevant. We'll get back to you with our official reviews, but in the meantime it looks like a promising read, and particularly important in the days of highly processed foods, food substitutes, and Madison Avenue marketing.

The second book is Gary Hirshberg's just published "Stirring it Up: How to Make Money and Save the World," which is being talked about us a must read for any CEO interested in the profitability/sustainability recipe for success. We are big fans of Hirshberg and have blogged about Stonyfield before. Stoneyfield is the market leader in organic yogurt, and his $300 million a year company was built with almost no advertising. Apparently, Hirsberg was inspired by a 1982 visit to the Kraft Pavilion at Epcot, and decided he wanted to have that kind of scope and reach for his audience. Now, ironically, Stonyfield has exceeded Kraft in volume, but also ironically, Kraft is introducing a new line of organics. I'm glad this isn't the traditional "here's how I became a successful green entrepreneur" approach, but has fresh insights about forcing businesses to behave better. Put that in your yogurt and eat it!

5 Eco-Friendly Tips for 2008

Many New Year's resolutions (you know... exercise more, lose weight, save money, eat healthier...) tend to go by the wayside after only a few short weeks. I've been reading lately about how the best way to stick to resolutions is to set goals that are realistic and attainable. In the same way, it is important now more then ever that we set green goals for ourselves that we can stick to. It's not only our health and well-being that's at stake, but that of the planet.
1. Avoid waste at the supermarket by taking your own bags with you when you shop anywhere. Some stores, like Trader Joe's, offer incentives, like a raffle for shopping coupons, if you use your own bags. If you do forget, at least find multiple uses for the bags you do bring home from the supermarket, like storage for items at home, use in your car, etc.
2. Print less paper: try to only print when you really need to, and use recycled paper whenever possible, being sure to reuse your own scrap paper if the quality doesn't need to be perfect. You'll save trees in the process, as well as money buying supplies like toner and cartridges!
3. Walk as much as possible: Bike, run, or walk to do your errands or to get to work, as much as possible, or use mass transit when you can. You'll save on gas, obviously, as well as carbon emissions and pollution, not to mention the cost of filling your tank all the time.
4. Be organic at home. Much has been written about the hazards of chlorine and other harsh chemicals, and there is really no need to use them when items like white vinegar, lemon, and baking soda work just as well. I have been using baking soda all year to freshen the sink and kitchen counters. I also use a combination of baking soda and lemon to freshen my wooden cutting board, and I don't have to worry about chemicals interacting with my food. Also, what kind of shower curtain do you have? If it's the plastic PVC kind, you'll want to switch to linen, organic cotton, or hemp. If you've ever noticed the smell of a new shower curtain, that's the PVC gases being released, and recent studies have shown that these can cause brain damage as well as damage to hormone function. Oh, and be sure to replace your incandescent bulbs (which are going to be phased out in a few years anyway) with CFLs, which are much more energy efficient and cost-effective.
5. Go unplugged...unplug appliances when you are not using them, including lamps, cell phone chargers, toasters, etc. Many people don't know that items such as these burn energy even when not in use, merely by being plugged in. Make sure to connect appliances to a power strip, so you can easily turn them all on or off at once. Help lower your carbon footprint.

Do you have more tips? Let us know and we'll post a running list....And Happy "eco" New Year!

The Daily Green

If you haven't already, visit The Daily Green, an excellent eco web site that features daily green tips, environmental news, recipes, food and green home tips, blogs, forums, and carbon calculators. Thedailygreen.com is the consumer's guide to the green revolution.The site offers information on all aspects of pursuing an Earth-friendly lifestyle. From the latest environmental news to local resources for hormone- and pesticide-free foods, The Daily Green features original content, links to relevant resources, as well as user-generated photos, ideas and eco-tips. The site is run by Hearst Digital Media.

Do you have a favorite green web site? Let me know and I'll include it in an upcoming post.

Video of the Rebuilding Center in Portland, OR

As part of the Dwell Magazine Design Leaders video series, Shane Endicott discusses the genesis and growth of the ReBuilding Center in Portland, Oregon. We thought this was an excellent video with a great story to tell about rebuilding a neighborhood with sustainable materials. From the rebuilding center web site:

* The Five Major Goals of The ReBuilding Center: Contribute to the sustainability and health of our environment by diverting for reuse waste that would otherwise have been discarded into landfills;
* Provide environmentally sound, affordable, quality used building and remodeling materials to people of all income levels;
* Create livable-wage, local jobs for people of all backgrounds in an economically depressed area of our region;
* Educate Oregonians about the environmental and community benefits of diverting waste for reuse and recycling; and
* Provide stable funding for Our United Villages' community enhancement work.

The ReBuilding Center plays an important role in the region's effort to maintain livable neighborhoods, preserve natural resources, and reduce reusable materials from entering the wastestream. With widespread community support, The ReBuilding Center diverts 4.5 million pounds of reusable building materials from entering our landfills each year.

Has anyone heard of any programs like this in your area?