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.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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?
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?
Thursday, February 21, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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....
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....
Thursday, February 14, 2008
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
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
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.
">
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?"
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.
">
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?"
Thursday, February 7, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
