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Monday, March 23, 2009
First Lady to Add Organic Garden to White House
Just in time for the first day of spring, Michelle Obama is digging a 1,100-square-foot organic garden to promote locally grown fruits and vegetables to educate Americans about eating healthy.
The garden will feature 55 different types of vegetables, many at the request of the White House kitchen staff. All the crops will start with organic seeds, and the Obamas will use several methods to ensure the garden is environmentally-friendly:
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As the White House looks to set an example for the American people, home-grown goods and composting are new priorities. Photo: Thedctraveler.com
Instead of pesticides, the garden will feature integrated pest management to keep away pests, including the presence of “helpful” insects like ladybugs and praying mantises.
- Plants will be nourished using compost from the White House and crab meal from Chesapeake Bay.
The First Lady will be working with students from Bancroft Elementary School to dig up the soil and plant the seeds. Bancroft has had its own garden since 2001.
This will be the first vegetable garden planted at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden during World War II to provide food for troops.
“A real delicious heirloom tomato is one of the sweetest things that you’ll ever eat,” said Obama. “I wanted to be able to bring what I learned to a broader base of people. And what better way to do it than to plant a vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House?”
The White House doesn’t appear to be the only area where organic gardening is taking off. USA Today reports that home gardens will increase by 40 percent this year as families look for ways to save money on produce.
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A New Spring In Your Step With Rubbersidewalks
The “Company Profile” is an Earth911.com series highlighting consumer goods and services making a difference through product stewardship and recycling. Products and services featured do not pay for placement and are not endorsed by Earth911.com.
Tires are a common item for most people, but the issues surrounding their disposal might not be so common. In fact, every year on average, 290 million tires are disposed of. That’s about one tire per person in this country alone. About nine percent are said to be discarded in landfills. Not a large number? Well, since that equals about 27 million tires per year, it starts to add up. Where many see this as a problem, one company sees it as the foundation for their business.
With the help of Rubbersidewalks Inc., recycled tires are enjoying a fresh purpose - off roadways and onto walkways. Through tire waste, Rubbersidewalks Inc creates interlocking pavers that are intended, as the name suggests, for sidewalks.
To learn more about these innovative products, we spoke with Dan Joyce, sales director for Rubbersidewalks Inc. According to Joyce, while recycling used tires is a worthwhile endeavor, the product offers many other environmental advantages over traditional sidewalk surfaces, especially when it comes to protecting healthy trees.
The Background
Rubbersidewalks, Inc. was established in 2001 by Lindsay Smith, who previously initiated an effort to save trees slated for removal along a sidewalk in Southern California. Her interest in protecting trees led her to Richard Valeriano, a public works inspector for the city of Santa Monica. She was impressed with Valeriano’s concept for a rubber-based sidewalk and established her business to take the idea further.
Tire recycling by the public assisted Smith in launching the business, Joyce says. She was awarded a grant from her home state’s Intergrated Waste Management Board, which receives money from tire disposal fees.
The Tree Link
While using recycled tires is the foundation for the business, the desire to save trees is at the root of it. The original goal revolved around manufacturing a product that allows trees and sidewalks to co-exist safely. On traditional sidewalks, trees with bothersome roots sometimes lift and crack the concrete surface. Broken sidewalks are a maintenance hassle for municipalities, not to mention the danger they can pose to pedestrians.
The modular nature and flexibility of the interlocking rubber-based pavers allows workers to lift a section of paver, trim roots, then replace the paver, saving the tree while also saving the city a great deal of hassle.
In the future, the company is looking to use alternative fuels to manufacture its products, as well as find new uses for them.
The Products
Rubbersidewalks, Inc. manufactures a number of products to meet cities’ varied needs:
- Rubbersidewalks™ pavers, the original version, are made with 100 percent rubber from recycled tires. That amounts to repurposing about 98 tires for each 100 square feet of sidewalk, Joyce says. The pavers are manufactured in sheets sized to allow them to fit easily into most municipal sidewalks.
- Terrewalks™, a freshly released version, are a hybrid that use a blend of recycled tires along with recycled agricultural plastic irrigation waste. These pavers are lighter, easier to install and allow for variations in texture and hue, Joyce says. They fit together by joining interlocking tabs. “A 10-year-old could put together the pavers,” he added.
- EZ Bricks™, shaped like standard bricks, are made of 100 percent recycled tires.
The Right Stuff
While concrete is less expensive initially, Rubbersidewalks, Inc.’s products are more economical when you factor-in maintenance and repair costs in the long-run, said Joyce.
Also, unlike concrete, the recycled pavers capture rain water and allow it to seep through the seams to reach groundwater supplies. Additionally, fewer fuel-powered vehicles and equipment are needed to install and maintain the product than would be needed for traditional concrete sidewalks. While most uses are on paths adjacent to trees, some buyers incorporate the pavers into other types of projects, including green roofs, Joyce says.
Making a Difference
Since 2002, Rubbersidewalks, Inc. has installed about 500,000 square feet of rubberized pavers in more than 100 cities. That equates to reusing about 2,200 tons of recycled tire rubber.
Favorite ‘R’
Joyce’s favorite “R” is recycling, because he appreciates that the recycling industry is “finally coming mainstream.” He also added that,“There are so many innovative products that are using recycled materials.”
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Cruise Into Recycling
Folks who enjoy vacations at sea should be pleased to note that some luxury liners are stepping up efforts to protect the planet. Though a cruise is by no means the most eco-friendly vacation type, if you are going to go on one, taking the time to look at the line’s environmental policies is a must.
Many are choosing to not just pamper their passengers, but also sort their recyclables, lower energy use, reduce waste and boost water efficiency.
In an effort to satisfy environmental regulations, as well as incorporate even stronger voluntary standards, the industry - from ship design and maintenance to on-board activities for kids - is trending toward a greener approach.
An island getaway doesn't require leaving eco-initiatives at home. Photo: Cruise-addicts.com
“Ship to Shelter” Program
Ever taken home those tiny bottles of lotion or shampoo from your state room? Holland America Line is putting leftover toiletries and other excess shipboard items to good use in various parts of the world.
Along with mini-packets of bath gel and shampoo, the donations from Holland America’s Ship to Shelter program include such items as towels, bed sheets and kitchen utensils. Among the recipients is a social-service organization in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that provides hot showers and food to financially strapped families. Marti Forman, who runs the Cooperative Feeding Program, is delighted to distribute the much-appreciated bounty. Even simple items like disposable packets of soap are a luxury, Forman said, for some of the people served by the programs.
Sometimes, the ships’ loot includes offbeat items like exercise weights and silver-plated ice buckets. Those, she said, are great for fundraisers.
Taking Advantage of Sunshine
Celebrity Cruise’s ship, the Solstice, is equipped to create its own energy from the sun’s rays. Its 216 solar panels produce enough power to handle 7,000 LED lights, or to run the cruise ship’s passenger elevators throughout the trip.
Other ships with the Celebrity Cruises fleet are also enjoying some green modifications. They include:
- Replacing halogen and incandescent light bulbs with more efficient sources of light, like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent bulbs.
- Adding higher-efficiency appliances. The ice makers, for example, use 65 percent less water and about half the energy of previous equipment.
- Conserving water in various areas, from efficient shower heads to the use of river rocks, rather than ice, in buffet displays.
- Painting hulls (the body of the ship, part of which is underwater) with an environmentally safe product that creates a smoother surface, aimed at improving fuel efficiency.
- Teaching crew members to work toward reducing air-conditioning waste in areas that are not in use.
Zero Waste Overboard
Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises are two lines that are going above and beyond: They exceed environmental regulations and do not permit any type of disposal at sea, according to Tim Rubacky, director of corporate communications for Prestige Cruise Holdings, which owns both the lines.
Some of the wastewater that’s treated on-board is reused for such things as washing the decks or cooling the engines, Rubacky said.
Recycling Ahoy
In 2007, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) kicked off a project to include used cooking oil among its recyclables. More than 15,000 gallons went to an organic farmer in Vero Beach, Fla., who converted the oil to 870 gallons of fuel for his farming equipment, according to the cruise line.
Other items recycled by NCL that year include:
- 96 tons of cardboard
- 206 tons of wood pallets
- 364 tons of plastics
- 909 tons of scrap metal
- 1,813 tons of glass
Some of NCL’s other environmental endeavors include:
- Crew members commitment to separate recyclable materials from regular trash.
- The Kid’s Crew program for children includes environmental topics in its games and activities.
- Some projects for teens offer community service hours applicable for their high school requirements.
Disney Cruise Line also supports recycling on-board, totaling about 405 tons a year. Part of that tally includes plastic film containers from tourists’ cameras. About 50,000 used canisters - 900 pounds worth - are collected and recycled.
Disney Cruise Line also:
- Recycles used cooking oil from the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ships. The oil is used to help power some maintenance vehicles on the ships’ private island, Castaway Cay, saving up to 8,000 gallons of traditional fuel annually.
- Staffs ships with Environmental Officers to promote green practices at sea.
Eco Travelers
It is important to let the people who you are traveling with as well as travel agents and cruise staff, know that these eco-friendly procedures are a must for you. Discuss that aspect in comment cards, conversations and e-mails. The more demand for environmental responsibility, the more the industry will work to comply.
Additionally, keep in mind that even though you’re on vacation, stick to your waste-saving routines like you would at home. In the space of a relaxing retreat, you don’t want to forget simple acts lik e turning off lights when you leave a room, water when you brush your teeth or reusing towels and sheets.
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Repower America: The Power of ‘We’
As awareness of environmental issues grows, more and more people are beginning to take steps to shrink their carbon footprints. Many of these changes, from energy efficiency to local eating and transportation, involve adjustments to our personal habits; however, if we are going to be successful in the long run, our infrastructure is going to have to change as well. The federal government, as well as private industry, will need to move towards clean energy solutions in order to prevent the environmental damage that is predicted at our current levels of consumption.
Enter Repower America, part of Al Gore’s “We” campaign to solve the climate crisis. The focus of Repower America is to shift 100 percent of U.S. energy consumption to clean sources in the next 10 years. The plan is bold, but it has the support of prominent scientists and energy experts. Between the green energy industry, government support and incentives and individual action, a green energy future is within reach.
What Industry is Doing
The clean energy industry is fast approaching the critical mass required to really take off. With the Obama administration committed to supporting green energy development, it is a good bet that you will see continued development in wind, solar and geothermal technologies. According to Repower’s site:
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Advanced technologies, like solar-concentrating cells, will improve our use of renewable energy sources. Photo: Defenseindustrydaily.com
From Delaware to South Dakota to Texas, wind farms all over are coming online over the next few years that will provide enough electricity to power millions of homes across the country.
- U.S. and international companies, particularly in the sunny Southwestern deserts, are increasingly harnessing that great, big, free source of energy: the sun.
- Nearly 100 geothermal projects, which convert heat to electricity, are currently underway in the U.S. Even better, improvements in extraction technologies mean that we are just getting warmed up in this area of generation.
What the Government is Doing
- You may have heard of the stimulus plan that recently passed in Congress. Somewhere between $20-60 billion of the nearly $800 billion initiative is set aside for renewable energy projects and development.
- Congress is likely to propose a series of tax incentives for clean energy this spring, which will likely include cap and trade provisions that tax emissions from fossil fuel plants and subsidize wind solar and geothermal projects.
What You Can Do
- Nearly 30 percent of the projected cuts in carbon emissions will come from increased efficiency, and this is where individuals can make a big difference. Steps like converting to energy-efficient appliances and bulbs at home, driving efficient cars, using mass transit and encouraging energy-saving practices at the office add up when multiplied by the millions of Americans who make the shift.
- Join the more than two million people who have pledged their commitment to Repowering America by signing a pledge.
- Use Repower America’s state-by-state guide to get the latest on clean energy developments in your area and the jobs being created by the new green economy.
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The Green Future of Community Living
You’ve probably heard your fair share of talk about the idea of “green building,” but how does it apply to those who rent instead of own? Homeowners may pursue solar panels and low-flow toilets, but is living green restricted to the single-family home? Not necessarily.
If you prefer to dwell in a community-living development (like apartments or condos), there is much you can do. Let’s break down several key aspects, discuss where they are now and investigate what eco-friendly options you can look forward to in the future.
Location, Location, Location…
… is the first rule of real estate, because where you live matters. Believe it or not, the location of your development also affects its eco-impact.
Where It’s At: When urban sprawl was at its heyday, it generally received negative publicity from an environmental standpoint. The idea of spreading new development out into the suburbs meant more land being used, more cars on the road, longer commutes and a decrease in land and water quality. But cities have begun to draw people back to their centers again.
In a recent study, the U.S. EPA found that building permits doubled for city redevelopment in the last nine years. Cities are building closer to not only incentivize residents to stay near, but also to bring back those who left. As more cities try to improve their downtowns and add amenities from sports stadiums to theaters, residential development continues to follow.
Redeveloping existing land makes environmental sense, because there’s less need to use new resources to create new structures and foundations and install power lines and water pipes. It generally follows that updating an existing structure requires less energy and materials than a new one.
Where We’re Headed: Expect more of the centralized residential building boom in cities, as it currently accounts for over one-fourth of new residential construction in places like Chicago, Miami and San Francisco. It might not be ideal for single-family homes, but apartment high-rises near city landmarks show no signs of slowing down.
Worried about traffic? The development of new and improved public transportation compensates for less available parking. Phoenix opened a light-rail system in December 2008, and Charlotte is in the process of expanding its LYNX light-rail service to reach more of the city by 2015.
Handling Your Trash
One of the typical perks of single-family housing is the presence of curbside disposal. In many cases, separate trucks pick up recyclables as well as trash. But how do you recycle in a shared space?
Where It’s At: For those who live in community-living developments, recycling isn’t as widespread as it is in traditional neighborhoods. The current solution for recycling is most likely to find a nearby drop-off location for anything you’re looking to recycle. For example:
- Paper recycling bins can often be found in school or grocery story parking lots
- 11 different states currently offer redemption centers for beverage containers
- Retail stores accept everything from electronics to CFLs
Where We’re Headed: In some communities, curbside recycling is offered, but complexes may not be taking advantage of these services. For instance, the City of Tampa charges a one-time fee of $100 for a 14-gallon recycling bin, and picks it up for free. But in 2007, only about 20 percent of multifamily buildings took advantage.
Some landlords note potential contamination (ie: residents placing non-recyclables in the bins, resulting in warnings or fines from collectors) and space issues as deterrents for recycling programs. But, if you don’t ask, you’ll never get what you want. It can often be as simple as discussing recycling options with a landlord or management company. If enough residents show a desire for recycling, it will likely be investigated.
Community Features
While you may not be moving to Germany any time soon, living roofs and less wasteful set-ups like these are the future of community dwellings. Photo: darmstadt.de
When you’re deciding where to live, what are the must-haves on your checklist?
- A pool and fitness center?
- Covered parking?
- An outdoor picnic/barbecue area?
In eco-friendly communities, you can have everything on your checklist without compromising your earth-friendly ideals.
Where It’s At: One of the easiest ways to go green is to plant green. Trees and gardens not only brighten the appearance of developments, but they absorb toxins and improve air quality. Also, communities that use native vegetation will save on water expenses, a cost usually left for residents to pay.
Another concept embraced by many complexes is timed lighting. Keeping the complex well-lit at night is important for safety reasons, but putting these lights on a timer saves energy and keeps electricity bills lower during daytime, peak hours.
Where We’re Headed: It’s estimated that 50 percent of homes built in 2010 will be green. But community-living developments often take better advantage of their sometimes limited space, even if it’s on the roof to incorporate these green features.
For example, in Pittsburgh, a condo development called E Lane is equipped with outdoor features like native plants, rain barrels to capture and reuse rain water, an organic vegetable garden and compost area for food waste.
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‘Threadless Loves Green’ Design Challenge
With Earth Day 2009 just a month away, the folks at Threadless thought they would drum up some friendly competition with a creative apparel design challenge. Threadless is a community-centered online apparel store whose designs are submitted by artists worldwide.
Artists who submit winning designs selected for printing are awarded cash prizes. In this contest, Threadless would like to know what being “green” means to you… in the form of an awesome T-shirt design.
Threadless shipping bags are made from 25 percent recycled material and are completely recyclable. Photo: Threadless.com
“Threadless Loves Green” is part of a challenge series put on by the Web site, where designers can submit their creations based on a theme. The challenges are sponsored by companies relevant to the theme.
T-shirt submissions can be made through April 6 and must be original, creative and focused on thinking green this Earth Day. The winning designer will receive:
- Their design printed on American Apparel Organic tees
- An Origins organic gift bag worth $275
- A $500 Threadless gift certificate
- $2,000 cash
- A digital painting and portrait of themselves
- Many other goodies provided by sponsoring companies, as well as Threadless community members
Additionally, Threadless supports its own green efforts, with the company recently announcing the use of recycled and recyclable bags to ship purchased items to consumers, decreasing the environmental impact associated with traditional packaging.
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Connecticut Aquarium Holds Scrap Sculpture Contest
The Mystic Aquarium is encouraging artists to explore reuse through art with a new contest that calls for marine-themed sculptures made of at least 75 percent reusable materials.
The Scrap Art Sculpture Contest ends on April 17, and is open to individuals or groups of all ages. Aquarium visitors during the Earth Day festivities on April 18 and 19 will choose the winner. First prize includes a trophy and behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium.
A beach strewn with trash in Manila, Philippines. Photo: Tamara Thoreson Pierce for The Ocean Conservancy
While the Aquarium doesn’t recommend any particular materials to use, it’s required that the sculpture stand on its own and be under 25 pounds. These requirements encourage participants to learn about the materials they choose, such as plastic bottles weigh less than glass, while aluminum and steel cans may allow for a sturdy foundation.
The Mystic Aquarium has also scheduled a coastal clean-up of Bluff Point State Park on the 19th. Last year’s event collected over 7 million pieces of debris. No matter where you live, chances are there are Earth Day festivities to get involved.
Programs like these can help raise awareness about the effects of trash on marine life. Recently the Ocean Conservancy held its 23rd Annual International Coastal Cleanup, where almost seven million pounds of refuse was collected from the world’s waterways. Recycling trash, and keeping it from being improperly disposed of, is a necessary action in ocean preservation.
If you’re looking to participate in the Mystic Aquarium’s competition, exhibits must be registered by April 10 via email to educationinfo@mysticaquarium.org.
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7 Million Pounds of Trash Removed From International Waterways
The Ocean Conservancy recently announced that during the 23rd International Coastal Cleanup, 6.8 million pounds of debris was collected along the world’s waterways. The 2008 event involved 6,485 individual sites in 104 countries and 42 U.S. states, with nearly 400,000 volunteers participating - the largest event of its kind.
Trash on a beach in Kamilo, Hawaii. Photo: Suzanna Frazer for The Ocean Conservancy
The report on the event, A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris and What We Can Do About It, features the organization’s annual Marine Debris Index, the world’s only country-by-country, state-by-state analysis of trash in our ocean and waterways. This year’s report focuses on the hazardous impacts of trash on wildlife and the resilience of our ocean in the wake of rising sea levels, warming and acidification.
“This report – analyzing nearly seven million pounds of trash – is a global snapshot that shows how we are part of the marine debris problem—and a key to the solution. By changing behaviors and policies, individuals, companies, and governments can help improve the health of our ocean, the Earth’s life support system,” said Vikki Spruill, president and CEO of Ocean Conservancy.
Among many actions named in the report to reduce marine debris, the report highly recommends individuals recycle, reuse or properly dispose of trash to keep these items out of the ocean to begin with.
By the Numbers
Among the findings in the report, some highlights include:
- The amount of waste removed (6.8 million pounds) is equivalent to the weight of 18 blue whales.
- Volunteers collected 11.4 million items in all, from cigarette butts to grocery bags to food wrappers.
- The same percentage and types of items found along the ocean were found in inland waterway cleanups. According to the U.S. EPA, more than 50 percent of marine debris starts out on land.
- Leaky paint cans, empty yogurt cups and abandoned fishing gear can lead to entanglement and suffocation of wildlife. Ingested trash can also cause choking, blockage of the digestive system or toxic poisoning.
- Volunteers collected 1,362,741 cigarette butts in the U.S.; 19,504 fishing nets in the U.K.; and 11,077 diapers in the Philippines. This information can help planners at local, regional, national and international levels tackle specific marine debris problems.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, “Keeping our ocean free of trash is one of the easiest ways we can help improve the ocean’s resilience as it tries to adapt to the harmful effects of climate change such as melting ice, rising sea levels, and changing ocean chemistry […] Life in the ocean will be healthier, more resilient and better able to adapt to climate change in the absence of debris-related impacts.”
The 24th International Coastal Cleanup will be held around the world on September 19, 2009.
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EPA Encourages Water Conservation With Fix a Leak Week
The U.S. EPA designated March 16-20 as the first “Fix a Leak Week” to remind Americans that minor water leaks in the home account for 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, if one faucet in your home dripped once per day for a year, over 34 gallons of water would be wasted. Photo: www.canpages.ca
The week-long campaign is sponsored by the EPA’s WaterSense program, which has been helping consumers identify water-efficient products through labeling and certification since 2006. A few of the highlight include:
- The WaterSense pledge to fix a leak in your home
- A widget for sites to display water efficiency tips
Locations of potential water leaks include toilets, showers, faucets and outdoor water use. It can also be an economical issue, as fixing water leaks can save as much as 10 percent on a water bill.
Another way to preserve water is by not dumping surplus household waste down the drain, which includes everything from household cleaners to paint to unused medications. Your local community should offer events or programs to properly dispose of these items.
You can also preserve water sources in your area by recycling your waste. According to a recent report, over 1.3 million plastic bags were collected from international waterways during the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup by the Ocean Conservancy.
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Happy St. Paddy’s!
As the old Irish adage goes, “There are only two kinds of people in the world: the Irish and those who wish they were.”
No matter which category you fall into, you’ve probably got some plans to observe St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, National Geographic estimates that over 17 million people worldwide will celebrate this traditional Irish holiday that was actually made popular by Irish-Americans in the 18th century.
If parades, parties and a little bar hopping are on your agenda today, Earth911.com has everything you need for an eco-friendly day of shamrocks and libations.
According to some estimates, over 13 million pints of Guinness alone will be consumed today. Considering recent reports that glass bottles have almost twice the environmental impact as aluminum cans, knowing how you can reduce your St. Paddy’s day impact is a must for a truly “green” holiday.
Also, if you can’t travel all the way to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone (which, legend has it, provides those who kiss it with eloquence and charm), get your own “charm” with some cool green drinking tips from Grist.org’s Umbra. Sláinte!
