Oberlin College a Green Leader

Oberlin College is know nationally (and possibly internationally) as a green leader. It's Center for Environment Studies (left) is an amazing - and georgous - building that operates on three fundamental principles of nature:

- waste equals food

- use current solar income

- respect diversity.

Building designer William McDonough led a workshop that I attended at Cleveland Clinic last year and presented this building as a best practice in green facilities.

From what I've read, the key to Oberlin College's success is its students. They are committed to making a positive impact on the environment. For example, the SEED House (Student Experiment in Ecological Design) is the home to eight sudents to strive to be environmentally conscious by using vermicomposting, timing their showers, sharing refrigerators and more.

The New York Times wrote a wonderful story and video about the house. To read the story, click here.

To find out how you can adopt some of the practices in use by the SEED House, click here.

A Halloween Tip: Reduce "Vampire" Electronic Waste

Appliances, cell-phone chargers and electronics consume energy even when they’re not in use. This flaw has earned these items the nickname “vampire” sources, because they are believed to contribute to as much as 10 percent of a household’s energy use. And not only does this wasted energy cost you money, but it contributes to our pollution problem. Unplugging items that are not in use is the best way to control this unnecessary waste and cut costs. New “smart” power strips on the market also help reduce energy waste via a variety of techniques, but ultimately, your electronics turn on when they’re needed and don’t use energy when they’re turned off.

Find out more at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/smart_power_str.php

**This tip is produced as part of my role as a member of Cleveland Clinic's Office for a Healthy Environment. As the editor of our weekly newsletter for employees, I often include information about our Office for a Healthy Environment. I'm also a member of our green team, which is working to make healthy changes for our employees, patients and environment.

The Tragedy that is the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch"

Texas - it's a pretty big state, right? The second largest in the United States and the equivalent size of the country Spain.

Imagine a floating mass of plastic trash twice the size of Texas. Unfortunately this isn't a hypothetical - it's what has been named the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The enormous stew of trash - which consists of 80 percent plastics and weighs about 3.5 million tons, say oceanographers - floats where few people ever travel, between San Francisco and Hawaii. Plastic is the main contributor and most commonly ends up in the garbage patch one of two ways: litter on land goes down a sewer and ends up in the water stream; or, boats dumping into the ocean.

As you can imagine, the impact on marine species is devastating. Sea turtles mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish. Birds swoop down and swallow indigestible shards of plastic. The petroleum-based plastics take decades to break down, and as long as they float on the ocean's surface, they can appear as feeding grounds. Animals die when plastic fills their stomach, and Greenpeace found that at least 267 marine species suffer from ingestion or entanglement with marine debris.

As our marine ecosystem continues to become more frail and more species are added to the endangered list each day, we must work to end plastic and other trash from finding its final resting place in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Unfortunately, in a story I read, experts say that there's not much they can do it clean the mass up. What's there now will stay there till it biodegrades - releasing toxic chemicals into the ocean, creating a toxic sludge.

But, environmentalists say that there are ways to prevent more trash from causing the garbage patch to grow:

- Use a reusable shopping bag when possible, and limit your use of plastic bags.

- Take trash with you when you leave the beach.

- Buy products in bulk to reduce packaging.

- Use reusable containers and drinking bottles whenever possible.

- Most obvious: DON'T LITTER; DO RECYCLE!

To find out more, visit http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/

Time to Brag...

My parents are huge fans of gardening, and I picked up the green thumb when I moved out on my own. Last year's garden was in a different location. This year's garden is in the place of the above-ground pool our house had when we moved in. After lots of TLC, the soil turned out great. We added top soil, contents from our compost pile and nearly 20 bags of manure (my Dad did that part!)

Below are pics of the garden and our first crop from a few weeks ago. The garden is in full swing now. Last night I canned about 30 Hungarian hot peppers. We also have eggplant; green, yellow and red bell peppers; zucchini; cucumbers; butternut squash; green beans; and TONS of tomatoes (we have about 30 tomato plants).

This is Morris (on the left) and Zoe, our new dogs. They are too cute for words, so I needed to upload a picture of them, too!

An Answer to the Great Phone Book Question

I've wondering for years why there are separate phone book recycling centers and phone book round-up days. Did you know that you can't recycle phone books with regular paper recycling? Neither did I!

According to one of my favorite green websites, http://www.earth911.com/ : Make sure you keep phone books separate from other paper recycling, because these books have shorter fibers and are recycled differently than the rest of your paper. You don’t want to contaminate your recycling by mixing them together.

I had no idea. For years, I've been contaminating my recycling. Now I know - and you know, too.

Is it Time to Moo-ve Over to Organic Beef and Dairy?

I don't know about you, but salmonella, E. coli and mad cow disease freak me out! I don't eat beef (and haven't for more than 10 years), but I often get asked about buying organic beef and dairy products.

I've done some research, and here are some highlights on all things cow:
- Buying organic beef eliminates mad cow disease, which is a result of cows eating other cows. The disease causes brain damage and nervous system damage in cows and can be transmitted to humans.
- Organic beef and dairy are antibiotic- and hormone-free. Animals raised organically are not allowed to be fed antibiotics, the bovine human growth hormone (rbGH), or other artificial drugs. The animals are raised in a healthier environment, fed organic feed and often eat a wider range of nutrients than those raised in factory farms.
- You CAN buy non-organic beef and dairy products that are antibiotic- and hormone-free. Just check the packaging.
- Free-range and pasture-grazing animals are treated more ethically. Again, if you don't care about the treatment of animals, this may not be important to you. However, animals that live a more natural lifestyle and aren't cooped up in cages or pens are healthier. You're eating them. You decide if you want to put an unhealthy animal into your body.

So what's the verdict? Risk of mad cow or E. coli is probably low in both organic and conventional meat. Organic may be worth buying if you are concerned about antibiotic use. If you are concerned about growth hormones, there may be cheaper alternatives to organic - read the label.

Rising Gas Price Are Fine By Me...

I was talking with a nameless family member last week who voiced his dismay over rising gas prices. Although I wanted to tell him he had no one to blame but himself for voting for "W," who has sent our economy into the crapper and is spending billions of dollars on a so-called war - I took the green approach.

"I love rising gas prices," I said.
"What? Are you kidding me?" he said.
"Nope," I said. "Think about what rising gas prices mean. Less Hummers, less yachts; more high-mileage compact cars and more public transportation."

I read a statistic today today saying that Americans drove 11 billion fewer miles in May of 2008 when compared to the same month last year. 11 billion fewer miles! And all because of rising fuel costs.

You know, the little things we do each day - composting, using canvas shopping bags and reusable coffee cups - help. But really, we need big changes.

If you'd like to voice your opinion and stand up to make a difference, visit http://www.wecansolveit.org. Become a more-informed citizen and take action.

An Intro to the gDiaper

So one of my good work buddies, Jackie, is pregnant with twin girls! She's due in a couple of months and is having the moral dilemna of sending thousands of diapers to the landfill. Although I've never used the gDiaper (since I don't have kids), I've heard others rave about it.

The concept is simple - gDiapers consist of a washable, cotton outer layer and a plastic-free flushable insert. The outer layer is made of washable material, and the inner layer can be flushed down the toilet.

To watch a video on the gDiaper or learn more, visit http://www.gdiapers.com/. If you use the gDiaper, let us know what you think.

Organics You Should Purchase

Now that you know how to save money on foods that you don't need to purchase organically, here's a list of organic foods you should purchase:

1. Tomatoes 6. Celery

2. Potatoes 7. Peppers

3. Grapes 8. Apples

4. Lettuce 9. Peaches

5. Strawberries 10. Pears

Most of these fruits and veggies have thin skin that is easily punctured and doesn't act as a barrier. Can't afford to purchase all these items organically? Purchase one organic item from this list and one regular item from the list below. Swap out items in recipes and be inventive!

Top 10 Safest Non-Organic Produce

Save some money - these 10 fruits and veggies have the lowest levels of pesticides and don't absorb pesticides like other produce. Save your grocery money for produce you should buy organically, such as apples, lettuce and celery.

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados (pesticide can't be absorbed through thick skin)
3. Bananas (pesticide remains on the peel)
4. Broccoli (crop faces fewer threats, farmers use less chemicals)
5. Cabbage
6. Kiwi fruit (thick peel, again)
7. Mango
8. Onions (few threats)
9. Papaya
10. Pineapple

You can see, most produce with thick skin doesn't absorb the pesticides. However, it's important to wash your produce well so you don't spread the chemicals onto your hands or onto the produce when cutting it.

(Info taken from TheDailyGreen)

In Loving Memory

You may have noticed that I've been on a posting hiatus. Unfortunately, Dan and I lost our precious Skiddles to cancer a few weeks ago. He was only 3 years old and we loved him dearly. Needless to say, I've been rather apathetic about most things that aren't obligatory.

We miss you Skid-man!

All Plastics Are Not Created Equal

Plastic is the most widely used material in the United States, and it crops up in everything from toys to clothes to food containers. But not all plastics are created equal, particularly in regards to food storage: Some plastics can transmit chemicals into your food, while others are perfectly safe.
Before you know which type of plastic container to buy the next time you hit the store, you first need to know how to tell them apart. Plastics are typically classified by a number from #1 to #7, each number representing a different type of resin. That number is usually imprinted on the bottom of your container; flip it upside down, and you'll see a recycling triangle with the number in the middle.


Here's a quick breakdown of plastic resin types:
#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)Product examples: Disposable soft drink and water bottles, cough-syrup bottles
#2 high density polyethylene (HDPE)/Product examples: Milk jugs, toys, liquid detergent bottles, shampoo bottles
#3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)Product examples: Meat wrap, cooking oil bottles, plumbing pipes
#4 low density polyethylene (LDPE)Product examples: Cling wrap, grocery bags, sandwich bags
#5 polypropylene (PP)Product examples: Syrup bottles, yogurt cups/tubs, diapers
#6 polystyrene (PS)Product examples: Disposable coffee cups, clam-shell take-out containers
#7 other (misc.; usually polycarbonate, or PC, but also polylactide, or PLA, plastics made from renewable resources)Product examples: Baby bottles, some reusable water bottles, stain-resistant food-storage containers, medical storage containers


Now that you know what each of the numbers represents, here are the kinds you should look for at the store:


Safer Plastics
#2HDPE, #4LDPE and #5PP
These three types of plastic are the healthiest. They transmit no known chemicals into your food and they're generally recyclable; #2 is very commonly accepted by municipal recycling programs, but you may have a more difficult time finding someone to recycle your #4 and #5 containers.


#1 PET
#1 bottles and containers are fine for single use and are widely accepted by municipal recyclers. You won't find many reusable containers made from #1, but they do exist. It's also best to avoid reusing #1 plastic bottles; water and soda bottles in particular are hard to clean, and because plastic is porous, these bottles absorb flavors and bacteria that you can't get rid of.


PLA
PLA (polylactide) plastics are made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes and sugar cane and anything else with a high starch content. The starch is converted into polylactide acid (PLA). Although you can't recycle these plant-based plastics, you can compost them in a municipal composter or in your backyard compost heap. Most decompose in about twelve days unlike conventional plastic, which can take up to 100 years.


Plastics to Avoid
#3 PVC
#3 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is often used frequently in cling wraps for meat. However, PVC contains softeners called phthalates that interfere with hormonal development, and its manufacture and incineration release dioxin, a potent carcinogen and hormone disruptor. Vinyl chloride, the primary building block of PVC, is a known human carcinogen that also poses a threat to workers during manufacture.


#6 PS
Extruded polystyrene (#6 PS; commonly known as Styrofoam) is used in take-out containers and cups, and non-extruded PS is used in clear disposable takeout containers, disposable plastic cutlery and cups. Both forms of PS can leach styrene into food; styrene is considered a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It may also disrupt hormones or affect reproduction.


#7 PC
#7 Polycarbonate (PC) is found in baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, water-cooler bottles and the epoxy linings of tin food cans. PC is composed of a hormone-disrupting chemical called bisphenol A, which has been linked to a wide variety of problems such as cancer and obesity.

(Taken from National Geographic's "The Green Guide")

Why I'm Green

Whether you're black or white, a red Republican or blue Democrat - there's no reason you can't be Green. I think it's important I take the time in this blog entry to explain why I'm green and why I think each of us ultimately should care enough to go even a little bit green.

I was listening to a radio show the other day when one of the on-air personalities whipped out a "Top 10 Ways to Have Environmentally Conscious Sex" list. Tips included purchasing organic cotton lingerie, showering together to save water, etc. Albeit funny, this list was a bit ridiculous.

I'm not expecting myself or all humans to make unreasonable sacrifices to be a bit more green. But I do have a hard time hearing that some friends/family members don't do the easy green things, such as recycling and switching over to LED light bulbs. The way I see it, whether you believe in climate change or O-Zone depletion shouldn't effect your decision to preserve the environment. As far as we know, there's only one Earth. We certainly won't be around forever, but many generations will. Why not do something now to help protect this one Earth and preserve the generations of the future?

What's your reason for being green? Please share below!

Say Yes to Tree-Free Billing and No to Junk Mail

It took me a while to get accustomed to online billing, but the benefits are two-fold: reduce paper waste and save a stamp! Switching over to online billing is easy (directions come on almost all paper bills), and both you and the planet will be happy you did.

Did you know? Nearly one billion trees-worth of paper are trashed each year in America, and almost 700,000 tons of waste are generated by paper bills.

You can reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by opting out to pre-approved credit card offers. I signed up and opted out about a year ago and receive hardly any credit card offers any more. Here's how the following site works: When you opt-out, the credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion) remove your name from credit card and insurance pre-approved distribution lists. Find and more and register at https://www.optoutprescreen.com/.

Wal-Mart's Saving Grace (Recycling Plastic Bags)

The time it takes consumers to travel from a store to their home is the average life span of most plastic shopping bags. Yet the bags last in a landfill practically forever because they don't decompose.

I have begun carrying reusable canvas bags, but sometimes it's nearly impossible to avoid the plastic bag. So what should you do with your bags?

I recently found out that Wal-Mart (along with Whole Foods, Giant Eagle and some other grocery stores) now collects and recycles plastic shopping bags and plastic dry-cleaning bags. This news is music to my ears as plastic dry-cleaning bags have been an Achilles heel of mine for a while (see the posting, "A List of Things I Hate"). While I am by no means a Wal-Mart shopper or supporter, I do applaud this decision - even if the motivation behind it not pure.

So when you're not recycling your plastic bags, how do you reuse them? I found out from my friend Kelly last night that she saves and reuses dry-cleaning bags to pack clothes that wrinkle when traveling. Apparently wrinkling is caused by friction; so save those bags for packing for your next vacation.

Composting Questions Answered

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to ask questions or make comments. I'm thrilled to help out however I can or make recommendations. Please feel free to continue sending in comments!

"How can I compost in a condo?" My sister Ashlee, who was one person who inspired me to blog and writes A Year in the Kitchen (a fantastic foodie blog), asked how someone who lives in an apartment or condo can compost. Ash, you may not be crazy about this answer, but here goes. Vermicomposting is using red earthworks or red wigglers to break down compostable material. The best - and pretty much the only - way to compost indoors is to use vermicomposting. Read more at Wikipedia (thanks Dave for the link!)

Personally I don't know if I could handle vermicomposting, so here is an alternative. You know how people often buy carbon offsets (e.g., because you can't stop driving, you essentially give money to a non-profit for how much carbon your car burns; the money is then used for alternative energy resources) - you could make a pledge to be more diligent in your recycling, purchase organic produce or begin using a reusable coffee cup.

"Are coffee filters really compostable?" Mrs. Riehle, from what I've found, coffee filters compost best when using vermicomposting. The worms need bedding, and it seems they love paper! However, if you're not into vermicomposting, I found a few reusable coffee filters online. Check these out - another simple change you can make each day:
http://www.ecofilter.com/
http://www.greenhome.com/products/kitchen/coffee_accessories/tea000001
http://www.greenfeet.com/itemMatrix.asp?MatrixType=1&GroupCode=6011-05890

How Old Nike’s Become New Playgrounds

Just because you’ve bought a new pair of athletic shoes doesn’t mean that the old ones should end up in a landfill. Nike’s created a solution that lets you recycle your old shoes. “Reuse-A-Shoe” is part of Nike’s LetMePlay campaign, where worn-out athletic shoes of ANY brand are collected, processed and recycled into materials used in sports surfaces like basketball and tennis courts, tracks and playgrounds. Find out more at http://letmeplay.com/reuseashoe.

Since its inception, Reuse-A-Shoe has recycled more than 20 million pairs of athletic shoes – giving thousands of children around the world access to new playgrounds and athletic facilites.

How do I recycle my shoes?
Visit http://letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/locations and find out if there is a location near you where you can drop off old shoes. Remember, Nike collects any brand of athletic shoes.

If there are no drop-off locations near where you live, send your old shoes to:
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

Who Throws Away Books?

I’m currently training for the Cleveland Half Marathon and was out for my longest run to date – 11.5 miles – on Friday. I was definitely feeling exhausted and was about ½ mile from my house when I came across something disgusting: children’s books in the trash. You read right; someone on my street had thrown away children’s books in their trash cans. They must have been at the bottom of the can because the garbage man already had come and the books were strewn on their tree lawn (FYI – Because I’m not a Cleveland native and didn’t know the definition of the word tree lawn until recently, it’s the strip of grass in between the sidewalk and grass.) If this many books were on the tree lawn, I can’t imagine how many must have been thrown away.

My anger is what really got me through that last ½ mile. And my disgust at someone’s complete disregard for not only the environment but the millions of children who are in need of books locally and nationally.

Perhaps you’ve never thrown away books – but have you ever thrown away old clothing, garage supplies, school supplies or miscellaneous odds and ends? Spring cleaning is around the corner, and while you may be tempted to trash some items, don’t do it. There’s a way to donate almost anything.

Check out some of my finds:

http://www.freecycle.org/ – Give (and request) free stuff from your own neighbors. Each local Freecycle group works to “reuse and keep good stuff out of landfills.”
http://www.earth911.com/ – Find out how to dispose of various products (oil, paint, computers)
http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/ – Find out how to give away and dispose of items in Cuyahoga County (yard waste, books, paper). Don’t live in Cuyahoga County? Check your county’s solid waste district website.

It’s Easy Being “Clean”

I started using environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning products about six months ago after I heard about the danger of traditional cleaning products. Although I always thought that my house smelled so wonderful after it was cleaned using bleach and lots of chemicals, I came to find that these chemicals could actually be hurting me: http://www.thegreenguide.com/green-cleaning-products/

There’s a variety of brands I use now – including Ecover, Seventh Generation, Method and more. I was a bit skeptical of their power at first, but I’ve come to really enjoy green cleaning products. Give them a try: you’ll be helping your body, the environment, your pets and your loved ones. And green cleaning products cost about the same as traditional products.

My green cleaning product favorites:
- Ecos laundry detergent (at Costco)
- Ecover dishwasher tabs ($4.99 for 30)
- Method mint glass cleaner (as low as $2.50 at Target)

Websites to visit:
- http://www.methodhome.com/
- http://www.ecover.com/us/en/
- http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

The Better Toothbrush

So this blog is about making small changes. One of the easiest changes I've made is switching over to a different brand of toothbrushes, Preserve. Here's why a Preserve toothbrush is environmentally friendly:

• The toothbrush handle is made from post-consumer plastic, specifically yogurt cups. Since 2001 Recycline (the company that owns Preserve) has been teaming up with Stonyfield Farms to turn their used yogurt cups into Preserve toothbrush handles.


• Preserve generates no waste: When you buy a Preserve toothbrush, you receive free postage so that you can return your toothbrush to Preserve when it's time to buy a new one. The used toothbrushed are ground to make material for recycled plastic lumber. Even the packaging in which the toothbrush comes is recyclable.

Where can you buy Preserve toothbrushes? I've seen them at Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Nature's Bin (a small, locally-owned grocery store in Lakewood, OH).

Are they more expensive than regular toothbrushes? I've found these toothbrushes to be about $3, which is just a bit more than a typical toothbrush. But the benefit here is that Preserve toothbrushes have a complete lifecycle. The product never ends up in a landfill!

Where can I find out more? Visit http://www.recycline.com/index.html

A List of Things I Hate

- Plastic bags that come on dry cleaning. They can’t be repurposed.

- Leaving the lights on when not in a room.

- Watching people throw away recyclables without any regard for their second life.
- Styrofoam. Enough said.

- Dripping faucets and running toilets.

- Carry out containers. why is it that food for two people sometimes comes in three carryout bags? One carry out dinner sometimes generates enough waste to fill my kitchen trash bag.

What do you hate? Share with me in the comments section below.

The Garbage-less Lunch

I started a compost pile in my backyard last summer. It’s a fantastic way to avoid sending natural food waste to the landfill (where, contrary to popular belief, it is not helping other trash biodegrade). Yet even with a compost pile at home, I still threw away compostable lunch items while at work. That’s until I saw the light…

Last week, I realized that I can create a garbage-less lunch. Hear me out: I packed – in my reusable lunch bag – a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a reusable plastic container; an apple, banana, tangerine and diet pop. After I ate the sandwich, I put all the peels, seeds and cores from my fruit back in the empty plastic container. The pop can went back into my lunch bag with the fruit waste. When I got home that night, I put the can in the recyclables and the food waste in the compost pile. Voila…the garbage-less lunch.

During these times where typical Americans generate nearly four pounds of trash each day, I’m happy to say that I’m doing my part to bring down that average. Maybe you can’t bring home your compostables, but consider ways to reduce your trash output each day: Pack your lunch in a reusable bag; reuse plastic silverware; reuse your morning towel; use those orange newspaper bags to pick up dog poop – you get the point.