The Death of a Yard Sale

Often being eco-friendly is cheap. By reducing, reusing, and recycling, people can save a lot of money. So, why don't all people follow the R's?

1.) Knowledge: if people don't know how to reduce, reuse, or recycle, they won't. Simple enough.
2.) Ease: it's just too darn easy to stop-by WalMart to get what you need.

Craigslist, however, is a great tool to help people reuse. Two out of three of the couches in my living room are Craigslist purchases. With Craigslist people can find each other's old things and make them their treasures.

Pre-CL (Craigslist) Era, people has to wake up early on summer weekends and scurry around town trying to find a worthwhile yard sale. Craigslist is like a yard sale from the comfort of your own home.

And Craigslist would surely put a smile on Mother Earth's face. Pre-CL Era people's old stuff most likely got tossed in the garbage. Now, people can sell their "junk" and keep it out of the landfills.

It's all about reusing!

Green Power

I hate wind. I have always felt it is the most useless weather element. Who needs wind? Well, turns out, it's a pretty good alternative energy source.

And by filling out a simple application, Fort Collins residents can power their homes with alternative energy sources such as wind as part of the city's Green Energy Program.

Wind is probably the most common alternative energy source, but several other alternative energy forms exist. Water, for example, is another great source.

According to the City of Fort Collins Web Site, 83 percent of the renewable energy comes from wind sources and 17 percent comes from landfill gas.

Residents simply pay an extra 1 cent per kilowatt hour to subscribe to the program and green their living habits.

Agreement forms can be found on the city's site.

On a windy day, rather than shaking your fists at the sky, subscribe to wind power and rejoice!

I Want to Ride my Bicycle: A Tribute

My bicycle. It's not the greatest bike in the world, but it has offered me so much through its amazing attributes:

1.) Its bike bell: fun and functional
2.) Its ability to never get a flat (I'm knocking on wood right now)
3.) Its positive effect on my health
4.) Its positive effect on my wallet
5.) AND, its positive effect on the environment

Bicycle riding is quite possibly the most fun "green" activity out there. The City of Fort Collins, a "bike friendly town" has been a wonderful arena for my bicycle passion. Bike lanes, bike trails, bike breweries, bike shops, bike rentals, bike coffee shops...oh yes, and the other bike lovers.

So, thank you Fort Collins, and thank you to the bicycle. Go forth, be green, listen to Queen, and ride you bike.

Eating Green...Not the Vegetables

Spring is in the air, and it's time to purchase your share...of a CSA farm. Eating local and organic is one way to green your eating habits.

One way to eat local and organic is to become a member of a Community Suppoted Agriculture (CSA) farm. So here's how it works:

-buy a share of the farm for set fee, essentially investing in the farm
-then, each week head to a pick-up location to get a week's share of locally, grown, organic produce

In Fort Collins, the main CSA is Grant Family Farms. It was the first farm in Colorado to be certified organic. Located in Wellington, the farm grows an array of herbs,root crops, traditional vegetables, and even flowers. These are the items to epxect in the pick-up box. The pick-up dates for Grant go from June-December. That's 26 weeks of fresh produce!

CSA farms are not the cheapest option ($725 for a family share). But, you get what you pay for. Along, with quality, CSA farms also ensure socially and environmentally responsible practices. Fewer pescticides, fewer food miles, and fair wages are just a few benefits of CSA's.

I can't wait to get my share; or rather my portion of my parent's share.

Every Day is Earth Day

Watercolored blobs of blue and green painted on a paper bag....maybe a little chat about recycling. This is what Earth Day meant to me as a child. But over the years I have learned the true meaning of Earth Day.

Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson in a series of movements in the 1960s leading to the first official celebration in 1970. The thought was more attention needed to be directed towards environmental issues. Earth Day is a day to celebrate Mother Earth and create conversation concerning ways we can preserve it.

One way people can practice preservation is with their consumption practices. With "green" being the latest trend, there are plenty of resources and entire web sites dedicated to educating consumers on how to lessen their impact. Here's a few resources:

1.) Treehugger: I frequent this site. There's news on green events, green products, green vacations, green celebrities. Treehugger is all about the earth.

2.) Ecologue: This site is less newsy, and has more general information on living the green life. For example, there are sections on how to save energy, conserve water, and reduce waste.

3.) GenGreen: First off, it's a Fort Collins-based company! Pretty meat....anyways, they provide info on how to be green in your specific community. You can find a job with a green company, learn what local businesses are green, or perhaps find a recycling center.

With a little education, its easy to be green not just on Earth Day, but every day.

Would You Like Your Groceries in Paper or....Your Pockets?

Like small children awaiting the arrival of Jolly Ol' St. Nick, hippies and environmentalists are abound with anticipation for the arrival of Earth Day, just one week away.

Some people may choose to ride their bike on Earth Day. Others may attend an Earth Day Event. If you're Whole Foods, you may decide to no longer offer customers the plastic-bag option.

Last year Whole Foods celebrated the holiday by handing out free cloth bags to customers. This year, they will celebrate Earth Day by no longer giving customers the old-age option, "paper or plastic."

The decision to no longer offer plastic was announced by Whole Foods in January. Ten million bags will be kept out of the environment as a result of this move, said a January article in USA Today.

I wonder how many paper bags will end up in landfills. How many trees will be cut down to accomodate the paper demands of Whole Foods?

Save the Poudre

Audio Lab Assignment #2

http://www.box.net/shared/mf959f0g0c

Enjoyers of Beer, Beware of Global Warming

Mother Nature has finally started to retaliate against humanity. First the price of hops went up, now the price of barley is set to go up. And it's all because of global climate change...

According to a story posted on Treehugger.com, Jim Salinger, a climate scientist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, says that climate change will affect barley crops in New Zealand and Australia.

Although Salinger only speculates about the beer prices in the land down under, beer prices could rise worldwide as a result of barley prices and climate change.

Beer companies in the United States have already seen the effects raising prices for hops, according to Treehugger. Some companies have sold their share of hops to other copanies for profit.

According to Fox 12 in Portland Oregon, "the shortage of hops caused the price[of beer]to shoot up two to five times what it was in 2006."

One place has found a way to make the most out of their climate's warming. In Greenland a brewing company began brewing beer using water that's melted from the island's ice cap, according to National Geographic. The beer supposedly has unparalleled freshness.

When life hands you lemons...

VIP: Hybrids Only

We may see a rise in obesity in environmentalists.

According to an article published in today's Denver Post, the Sunflower Farmers Market location in Denver has six new VIP parking spots for customers driving hybrid cars.

These new parking spots are of aimed at promoting hybrid cars. But, I would like to ask Sunflower Market, what about all of us who can't afford to buy our dream, cherry-red Prius?

I can't wait until VIP spots show up at Fort Collins Sunflower Market. Each time I go to Sunflower I can be reminded as I walk by the VIP section that I'm not part of this elite social group. Not by choice, but because I'm a college student and I have no money for such luxuries. Oh how I'd love to have a car that doesn't guzzle gas.

I doubt this VIP parking spot craze will encourage shoppers to buy hybrids. I can imagine it; a lady walking to her car thinking, "If only I had a hybrid I wouldn't have to walk that 20 extra feet."

I commend Sunflower for supporting hybrids. Keep on supporting hybrids. But don't privelge them.

Also, I contend that bike racks will always be superior to hyrid-only parking...a closer spot and no obesity threat.

No Lights, No Effect?

Last Saturday night from eight to nine, my friends I crowded around my living room table...in the dark. A few candles allowed us to locate our wine glasses, but that was the only light source.

Million and maybe billions of people participated in Earth Hour last Saturday night. The event's purpose was to make a statement about global climate change by collectively not using electricity for one hour, one night of the week, one week a year.

This left people wondering, what was the effect? In Sydney, Australia it was expected that energy use would go down five percent that night, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

It's been criticized that the event has no real impact in terms of energy use reduction. But, really it was more of a social movement. It allowed socially conscious citizens to feel like they had an impact.

While it was fun, and my roomates and I continue to hang out by candle light for amusement purposes, I can't help but feel that the whole event was a bit pointless. Those who care about the environment participated, those who don't care didn't participate.

Earth Hour was more a statement of personal beliefs than a statement of societal, political, and economic change. Our society and economy is structured in a way that we will continue to degrade the environment. It makes me wonder, was it more symbolic that we turned off the lights for an hour, or more symbolic that we turned them back on for the remainder of the year?

Material Girl Fails as Image of Green

Spring is here. Daffodils are pushing through the ground and Vanity Fair's third annual "Green Issue" is just hitting news stands.

I enjoyed the past "Green Issues" which on focused environmental issues and included bits about green celebrities. But after seeing the cover and reading the cover story of this years issue, I am unimpressed.

At first glance I noticed the lack of the actual color green on the cover.

-The 2006 issue featured Al Gore, Julia Roberts, Robert F. Kennedy, and George Clooney in green attire nestled amongst mossy rocks and vines.
-The 2005 featured a quite possibly photoshopped Leo DiCaprio standing on an iceberg. Green appeared in fonts on the cover.
-This issue features a small green leaf hanging off the title.

I guess the silver statue of the earth which Madonna poses against is somewhat an image of the environment. But, the statue has more to with Madonna "taking over the world" than her eco-friendliness.

The cover story titled "Madonnarama" soley focuses on Madonna's career. I anticipated learning what makes the "material girl" green. It never happened.

I was left wondering how this story not only made it into the "Green Issue," but also how it became the cover story.

Enjoying My Chai Even More

The City of Fort Collins may have yet to ban bottled water, but in the famous words of Bob Dylan, "The Times They Are A-Changin'."

In a recent trip to the concession stand at Edora Pool and Ice Center(where I work), I was astonished. While new recycle bins had recently been placed in the facility, also to my approval, I never expected to see sustainability at the "snack bar."

Rather than the usual stryofoam cup I receive my chai in, my frothed chai was dispensed in an Eco-Product brand cup.

"Made using a PLA bio-plastic inner lining, these paper hot cups are fully compostable," according to the companies web site.

Eco-Products is a Boulder based company which specializes in selling sustainable food service products, janitorial supplies, and household supplies. According to their site they have:
1.) Saved 1,837 trees
2.) Prevented 6,484 pounds of greenhouse gases from being emitted
3.) And, saved enough oil to drive from New York to LA 303 times

I will now enjoy my chai to greater extent, if possible. And, I am anticipating the arrival of the Eco-Product plates to the Epic snack bar. According to an inside source they're coming soon...

City of Seattle Slams Bottled Water

Last week the City of Seattle announced they will stop purchasing bottled water to cut down on monetary costs and environmental impacts, according to the Seattle Times.

The city is expecting to save up to $58,000 annually with this move. Seattle tap water, coming from rain and snow pack in surrounding natural areas, costs much less per gallon, according to the Times.

This isn't by any means a ban on bottled water all together.

Employees can still drink bottled water and vendors are still allowed to sell bottled water in machines located on city property, said the Times. But, don't expect to be handed a bottle of Dasani at a city event. Perhaps, you'll be handed a Dixie cup instead.

Seattle isn't the first city to boot bottled water. Santa Barbara and San Francisco have also recently banned bottled water purchasing, and other cities are considering similar actions.

Of course there are critics. According to a piece written for the Business and Media Institute, in an interview with CNN, Greenpeace Energy Policy analyst Samantha Powers questioned the bans. While she acclaimed San Francisco for their efforts, she believes city's must do more the environment.

While this may be true and it is quite evident that bottled water bans will not solve the nation's environmental problems, small steps are better than no steps. I give Seattle two thumbs up.

Have Yourself a Very Green Spring Break

Spring Break; it is maybe one of the most anticipated weeks of the year for college students. Planning began months (or maybe just a few days ago) and the countdowns are fast approaching zero.

Itineraries have been filled with travel, sleep, and possibly a beer or two. It's a time to let loose and a time to relax. And although it's probably not a time you want to be thinking about depressing subjects such as global climate change, here are a few ways you can enjoy the pleasures of break with a green attitude:

1.) Traveling "Green":
Unless you plan on biking to the mountains or canoeing to Cabo, you're probably going to make some pollution with your chosen transportation mode. Carpooling however is a viable option for those wishing to reduce their carbon footprint. So stuff the car like a can of sardines and hit the road!

2.) Eco-Drinking:
It's no secret that college students drink. It's also no secret that college student (on average) drink more than usual during Spring Break. But drink your beer in an ecological fashion. Choose beer from breweries that practice sustainability. Try Brooklyn Brewery beer if you're on the east coast. Try Full Sail if you're on the west coast. If your travels to you just as far as the slopes, there's the always trusty New Belgium.

3.) Beach Baths:
If your travels take you beyond the grid-iron borders of 'Merica where sustainable beer flows like summer rains in the Sahara, there are other options. Say you're going to Mexico or Hawaii, showers can be substituted with a dip in the ocean. Similar eco-bathing can be accomplished in rivers, lakes, and streams. I would not recommend employing this practice for the entirety of break.

4.) Books on Tape:
It's a great way to save paper and a great way to kill a few hours on that road trip. Also, who likes to read when they're on break? Perhaps listen to a book about the environment such as The World Without Us.

With these steps you'll most definitely change the world. Actually, that was a complete lie. But, with these steps you can at least change the way you think about the world.

Have fun, be safe!

Speak for the Trees: No More Junk Mail

The excitement of retrieving the mail is unsurmountable. It parallels that of a dog waiting for dinner. But, often this unsurmounted excitement is burdened by the inescapable doom of junk mail.

Not only does this junk mail provide disappointment for the anxious awaiter-of-fun-mail, it unnecessarily kills trees. Recycling junk mail, although helpful, is not cutting the carbon footprint . The journey of junk mail from the sender to the disappointed receiver results in plane, semi-truck, and car emissions being expelled into the atmosphere. Also, the chopping down of the trees to make the paper, to make the junk mail, has obvious environmental impacts.

As Dr. Seuss's The Lorax once said, "I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues." And with the program Green Dimes, you actually can speak for the trees. Sign-up for Green Dimes and they will track down the junk mail senders and have you taken off their 'sender lists.'

Of course there are monetary costs associated with this program. The idea of never again receiving junk mail with no strings attached would surely be too good to be true. But, one of the strings that is attached to this program is the planting of trees. When you enroll in the program you will not only be taken off dozens of mailing lists, the organization will plant five trees.

A counter on the sidebar of the website shows that about one million trees have been planted to date and almost 4 million pounds of junk mail have been stopped.

While the 20 bucks seems pricey, maybe it's worth the end of the annoyance of junk mail and then end of paper waste.

Be Green for Free Jack Johnson Tickets

Reduce your carbon footprint and win free tickets to see Jack Johnson.

This is what KBCO is advertising in their latest giveaway announced today via e-mail to their "Interactive members." You can e-mail KBCO saying what you do to help the environment and possibly win the chance to see Jack Johnson's August 17 show at Red Rocks. Or, if you're really lucky you may get to see him at the Kokua Festival in Hawaii.

Jack Johnson is known for his green lifestyle. This laid-back singer and surfer has also converted his touring into an eco-friendly event. Johnson sells eco-friendly merch, rides in a bio-diesel bus, and donates to environmental groups.

For his summer 2008 tour, Jack Johnson will also be keeping track of the environmental impact of his tour. Throughout the summer a few items indicating green practices will be tracked. This includes:

-the pounds of waste recycled and composted by venues
-the number of voters registered
-money raised for loacl non-profits
-tons of CO2 reduced by All at Once efforts

So Mother Earth and Jack Johnson fans alike, register to win your free tickets!

City of Fort Collins Fights Carbon Emissions

The City of Fort Collins didn't make it on last year's list of "greenest cities" as listed by Popular Science magazine. But, maybe next year.

Climate Wise, a volunteer-run program operated by the City of Fort Collins, is gaining steam.

The goal of the program is to promote minimal polluting practices in local businesses and churches and consequently reduce carbon emissions. It is part of the city's Local Action Plan developed by the City Council.

Climate Wise aims at "promoting waste reduction, energy savings, alternative transportation, water conservation, and practicing pollution prevention," according to the City's Climate Wise site. On-site assessments determine whether the businesses meet certain standards.

This list of green businesses includes Colorado State University, Hewlett Packard, and Ben and Jerry's among many others. All three of these businesses became part of the program in 2000, Climate Wise's first year of operation. And surprisingly, although Climate Wise is run by the City Of Fort Collins, the city became a partner just this last year. As of now, 70 businesses in Fort Collins are part of the Climate Wise program.

Last year more businesses than any year past became partners with the program. Since the beginning of this year five businesses have become partners with Climate Wise.

With more businesses going green, maybe next year Fort Collins could make the list.

Follow Hollywood; Stay Green and Clean

I recently saw 27 Dresses. It was a less than mediocre film. And the only reason I’m not calling it flat out awful, is because a certain product placement instilled a sliver of respect for the production.

We've seen ET eating Reese's Pieces. We've seen the cast of The Office sitting behind their HP computers. But Katherine Heigl using Seventh Generation products to clean her kitchen sink? That’s new.

It was only a matter of time. Hollywood is a bunch of liberals. Liberals like the environment. Seventh Generation likes the environment. It would only be natural for a Hollywood production to advertise Seventh Generation.

Seventh Generation is one of the major brands of eco-friendly cleaning products. Pretty much an entire aisle at Whole Foods is devoted to their products which include:
- Free and Clear Products
- Living Scents
- Laundry Products
- Dishwashing Products
- Household Cleaners
- Paper Products
- For Baby
- Household Supplies
- Personal Care for Women

Often people criticize the marketing of green products. These critics find fault in the advertisement of green products, because the goal of ads is to get people to consume. And consumerism is obviously not healthy for the environment.

But these products aren’t a consumption scheme. Not many people can live a sanitary life without the use of napkins and laundry detergent. So, if you’re going to buy these products in some form, why not be green in you purchasing?

The positive environmental impacts of these products are evident. The company website has in-depth analysis of evironmental issues and points to why their products are helpful to Mother Earth.

They even have an extensive "Chemical Glossary" which lists a bunch of household hazards.

Do you really want alkyl benzene sulfonates in your launrdy detergent? This brings us the old age question, do you really want to wear clothes cleaned with something you can't pronounce?

Vegan: More Than 'No Cheese'

I like cheese. A lot. A connoisseur to havarti, brie, and edam. I could never be Vegan.

Until recently I had only correlated the world of Veganism to a world without Ben and Jerry's. But I have learned that Veganism is not just what people eat, it's also what they wear.

Anti-leather and fur movements are by no means a new idea. Years back PETA practices became embedded in the fashion industry. A handful of designers, companies, and models threw away their mink coats and leather boots. Killing an animal for the sake of fashion was considered, well, bad. I like to think of these fashionistas as the vegetarians of the clothing industry.

But, what about all those wool sweaters? The sheep is not killed. You might ask, what's so bad about shaving a sheep? Vegans see this as "using" the sheep. Essentially its exploitation.

Also, there are often poor practices within the wool industry. Sheep are often shaved at the wrong time of year and end up dying from exposure to the heat and cold.

Veganism, related to both food and clothes, is considered to lead to a more healthy lifestyle for:
1.) The Vegan
2.) The animals
3.) The environment

The meat industry is after all one of the main hinderances to the environment. In order for people worldwide to enjoy their fav fast food burger:
- rainforests are cleared to make room for herds=obvious environmental implications
- cow waste=destruction of groundwater
- the beef is shipped to butchers, processing plants, and eventually restaurants=tons of energy use for transport

Vegans and vegetarians alike make sound arguments about the animal and earth friendliness of their practices. Sometimes I feel a little guilty. But for now, cheese will continue to be a part of my life.

WARNING: This video is graphic. It's titled "This is Why I'm Vegan." I'm not sure what I think of it. What do you think?...If you can stomach it.

New York City; America's Green City!

I've long grasped the notion that Boulder is one of the most hippie, green cities in the country. But, I guess I'm naive.

Popular Science recently compiled a list of "America's 50 Greenest Cities."... It wasn't the list I expected to see. Yes, Portland not surprisingly topped the list. But Boulder didn't even make the list, and Denver came in at #19, just one spot ahead of New York City. Yes, New York City made the list.

Other surprising cities that turned up on the list include Fort Worth, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The top 10 cities on the list include:
1.) Portland, Ore.
2.) San Fransisco, Calif.
3.) Boston, Mass.
4.) Oakland, Calif.
5.) Eugene, Oreg.
6.) Camridge, Mass.
7.) Berkeley, Calif.
8.) Seattle, Wash.
9.) Chicago, Ill.
10.) Austin, Tex.

And Boulder didn't make the list? !!! Well, it's all in the criteria Popular Science used for their list compilation. They looked at electricity, transportation, green living, and recycling. Also, because it is Popular Science magazine, eco-friendly technologies seemed to be highly considered.

For example, New York City is looking into hydropower as a source of energy. Which I guess makes them green. The polluted East River could actually be a source of sustainability! I still have a hard time grasping the fact that such an industrialized, dirty city could be considered green. Interesting fact though, the average New Yorker actually uses half the amount of electricity of the average San Fransiscan. Who woulda thunk?

I guess I have a lot to learn. A city of stillettos, cell phones, and skyscrapers is actually more green than a city of Chaco-wearing treehuggers. Or so some say....

Old Print Finds New Life

The after-life of a magazine most often culminates in a trip to the dump. If lucky, the magazine may find its way to a recycling center, awaiting re-creation into a second-life product. Few magazines find purpose in being reused.

A new line of mirrors and picture frames carried by Urban Oufitters re-uses old magazines in their funky design.

Old pages of magazines have been folded into quarter-sized, chip-like shapes which have been compressed and put together to form the edging for picture frames and mirrors.

These home-deco items are not only fun, funky, and colorful. They say, "hey, I like to recycle."...or rather reuse.

A group in San Fransisco-surprise, surprise-also supports the up-and-coming "Green Home-Decor Movement" which will quite possibly take over the home-decor market and eventually the world. Made from Scrap is a "re-source workshop warehouse, where recycling becomes everyday art." Essentially they hold workshops and classes in which they make art and deco's out of other people's waste. Neat!

Like my mother always said, "one person's trash is another's treasure." Or something like that...

Photo courtesy of: urbanoutfitters.com

It's probably the most consumer-driven, eco-hazardous holiday...following Christmas of course. I mean how many tokens of love(stuffed animals) do you think are thrown away at the demise of relationships? My pessimistic-self envisions landfills overflowing with pink and red bears.

In a recent discussion, or rather rant, about the silliness surrounding Valentine's Day, my friend said, "we want six daisies, not twelve roses!" The intent behind this statement was that we, girls, do not want to be put in a box. But could there be a more subliminal message hiding in this statement?

Roses. Some may call them a traditional symbol of love, some may call them a symbol of destruction in third-world countries. Kenya is the world's number one rose-exporter. But, this is not a claim to fame. Severe environmental implications are associated with the flower industry.

In Alan Weisman's book The World Without Us Wesiman points a finger at the flower industry's use of agrochemicals. He states, "the rotting tissues of hippo carcasses reveal the secret to perfect bouquets: DDT and, 40 times more toxic, Dieldrin." The illegality of these pesticides in other countries has led to Kenya's title, "Number-One Rose Exporter."

But these same chemicals have led to a loss of biodiversity in nearby Lake Naivasha and may have costly effects on the future of the lake.

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Recent discussions that have brought light to this issue have also fostered the organization of groups to fight the environmental and social problems embedded in the practices of the Kenyan flower industry. One such group is the Kenya Flower Council(KFC). They promote the interests of the flower companies while also promoting sustainable practices.

So you may ask, "what can I do to help this problem?" You could:
a.) do nothing and hope for the best
b.) become an activist
c.) or shun the practices of these companies and protest the consumeristic values of America by NOT buying that cute pink bear and a dozen roses

At this recent V-Day rant the only male at the table, somewhat jokingly said, "how about three dandelions?" And, now five-days post V-Day rant I would like to reply, "Why not?"

Walk the Walk with Eco-Treads

Now not only can you talk the talk, you can walk the walk. Simple brand shoes has introduced a sustainable-saavy line of kicks cleverly tagged "Eco-sneaks".

The environment has long been on the minds of Simple. Their slogan "shoes for a happy planet" emanates this vibe.

Parallel in style to a pair of "chucks," the "Eco-sneaks" are constructed with a blend of edgy enviro-friendly components including hemp, recycled plastic bottles, and recycled car tires. Now that's a triple threat.

The "Eco-sneaks" are just the lastest line out of Simple. In fact, all of their products aim to be 100 percent sustainable. Other sustainable materials used to create their cool shoes include:

-organic cotton
-bamboo
-cork
-jute

Also, with a line of shoes called "Stop Global Warming" or "SGW," their company standards are anything but a secret. The shoe is advertised on their website with a line that reads, "71 percent of the population believe in global warming while the other 29 percent are still trying to resolve the earth is flat debate."

Like many green companies, the products aren't the only eco-friendly part of their practice. Simple shoes also practices "Eco-Ethics" in the day-to-day operations of their facility. Their "green" plant, located in Santa Barbara, Calif., is made with recycled materials and they are committed to recycling a greater amount of their own waste.

When buying new shoes, don't simply consider comfort and cost, think about style and sustainability.

College Campuses Get with the Green

Some college campuses are classified as more "hippie" than others. Berkley, Portland State University, and Colorado University are a few such campuses. But, nationwide more campuses are turning to the promotion of eco-friendly practices.

Jan. 31 marked the involvement over a thousand schools, churches, and community organizations in the National Teach-in day hosted by Focus the Nation, an organization aimed at stirring eco-centered conversation.

The blue went green when Duke basketball played North Carolina State University last Thursday as part of Focus the Nation Day. Fans promoted discussion about global climate change and sustainability by wearing green shirts, ribbons, and body paint.

Similar-untelevised, less noted, but just as important-efforts were carried out by other universities nationwide. Here at Colorado State Univeristy teach-ins were conducted last Thursday and Friday as part Focus the Nation Day. Between 35-45 professors and community leaders were expected to speak about sustainability and climate change issues.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama even plugged the event while visiting Clemson University.

College campuses have often been the source of societal change. Look back to the social movements of the 1960's. If students begin to think, speak, and act green, it's possible the rest of the nation will follow.

Save the Planet with Bikes and Beer

The words beer and responsibility don’t typically blend. However New Belgium Brewery http://www.newbelgium.com/index.php operates around practices of responsibility, social responsibility that is.

As a college student in one of the nation’s micro-brew hubs, I could not think of a better topic to begin this blog.

New Belgium supports sustainability through many different avenues:

• For starters, the brewery operates with the use of renewable energy. New Belgium was the first brewery in the country to subscribe to wind power as a source of energy. http://www.awea.org/.
• Additionally, the brewery was built with reclaimed timber, sensory lights, and recycled furniture, among a long list of other practices that follow the all important four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.
• The brewery was even covered on an edition of NBC Nightly News which highlighted the company in their series, "America Goes Green." http://www.newbelgium.com/sustainability_nbc.php

The logo of the company only further emanates the eco-conscious vibes of this groovy green company. The famous red bicycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle adorns the label of their most popular beer, Fat Tire, in addition to taking form on each bottle cap, bumper sticker, and bike bell put out by the company. When I see a red bike, I think New Belgium.

Speaking of bikes, New Belgium puts on some pretty neat events to promote alternative transport. Most famous is the Tour de Fat, a parade of costumed individuals pedaling through towns nationwide promoting biking as an alternative to fuel-hungry automobiles.

This combination of bikes and beer can't be beat, unless maybe some tasty grub and a drive-in movie is involved. Funny that New Belgium happens to offer such an event. Really only beneficial to residents of Fort Collins, the brewery hosts a weekly “Bike-in” for a set block of dates each summer. Participants ride their bikes to the brewery, camping chairs and picnic blankets in tow, and enjoy delicious food and beer while watching a classic movie underneath the summer skies. Now this is brewery has taste.

Not only do they create tasty beers which can be found on the shelves of liquor stores across the country, they have done so with mother earth in mind, and prove to be a fun company with stellar customer satisfaction standards.