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...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
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!
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!
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