Sustainable C

Fertilized & sustainable crops, sanitary & sustainable cities

2012-02-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

What do you getwhen you take a Chinese, Japanese and Korean historic solution to sanitarycity living and use it as a modern solution for fertilizing the crops thatsupport cities? Humanure. The catch is that this is no joke.

Humanure is aword coined by Joseph Jenkins that refers to the idea that composting humanwaste for use as fertilizer may be the key to sustainable farming. What ismore, using human waste as fertilizer may be the key to sustainable cities,from a sanitary and environmental standpoint.

Though the ideasounds radical, it is in fact nothing new under the sun. At the turn of thelast century, the process was used in China, Japan and Korea. Entire(lucrative) markets were built up around so-called ”night soil”. It was one ofthe reasons that in the year 1900, Tokyo (then called Edo) was one of thelargest cities in the world. Folks living there did not suffer from diseases suchas cholera and typhoid because human excrement was not mixed in with otherwaste that ran through street canals. The city was therefore much more sanitarythan most and folks lived healthier lives.

What is the punchlinetoday? It is that these ideas could be used again to solve the problem of a growingworld population that requires increasing amounts of food to feed. After all,why let factories continue to mine and pump out fertilizers—nearly 100million tonnes of artificial nitrogen and 37 million tonnes of phosphates—whenfertilizers can be more easily obtained on the home front, quite literally?

All joking aside, we live in dramatic times. Dramatic times call for thinking out of the box, at least, and radical new solutions at best. For those interested in taking a closer look at theat-first-glance radical concept of using waste for sustainable agriculture andsanitary cities, Sustainable C highly recommends that read this excellent article by Kris De Decker.

Switching gears: Swedish policy and practice with respect to biofuels

2012-01-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

On January 1, 2012, Swedish tax rebates favoring ethanol and biodiesel-fueled cars came to an end. Rebates are still offered for plug-in hybrid and gas-driven cars. The shift gives rise to several questions at Sustainable C about biogas, including biogas used for cars as well as that used for heating.

Why the policy shift on ethanol-driven cars? According to one energy expert, the Swedish government is more pointedly moving towards a fossil-fuel independent fleet of vehicles by 2030. http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/fordon_motor/bilar/article3386365.ece The policy shift may also be inspired by close scrutiny of what goes into making the biofuel.

When the biofuel is made from crops such as corn, soybean, palm oil or other crops that directly replace food crops, such fuel may give rise to food insecurity.

Cultivating biofuel crops may also lead to “indirect land use change”. Indirect land use change refers to biofuel crops that take the land where food or other crops otherwise would have grown. When such biofuel crops are grown, farmers of other crops look further for land, sometimes expanding into climate crucial areas such as the Amazon rainforest or Malaysia’s tropical peatswamp forests. Some of these forms of biofuel may be even worse for the climate than oil from the Canadian oil sands, as leaked data from the European Commission suggest. http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/biodiesels-pollute-crude-oil-leaked-data-show-news-510437

But is all biofuel bad? No. In fact, a pitch should be made in support of biofuels made from waste. Farm waste, for example. One such project includes the waste-to-fuel project in Sweden’s Skaraborg municipality. http://biogasregionen.se/index.php?page=ide-fran-skaraborg-blir-eu-projekt These and other projects produce biofuel that is used for heating systems.

Sustainable C continues to watch these developments with interest, particularly biogas projects that take a climate problem like waste (which leaks methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere) and turns it into a climate solution. Sustainable C readers may also be interested in following EU policy on biogas. In spring 2012, the EU is expected to introduce new legislation concerning biogas and indirect land use change.

Taking Responsibility for a Livable Planet

2012-01-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

In the summer of 2011 when I was pregnant with my son, the thoughts that kept me up at night were what kind of living conditions my son would encounter here on earth during his lifetime.

This may sound like a far-fetched concern, but it boils down to simple questions. Will he be able to drink water from the tap? Will he live to see the great glaciers on the mountains where I grew up? Will he have the chance to snorkel at a coral reef? Will the earth and its ecosystems still support wild salmon, polar bears, bees and other animals that we have taken for granted?

A key year for policymakers, scientists and others engaged in finding climate solutions by 2050. That is the year by which the earth will have warmed by at least two degrees Celcius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), according to conservative estimates, if dramatic measures are not taken to reverse human-caused trends. This two degrees Celcius figure translates to a loss of coral reefs, glaciers and other ecosystems, a loss of polar bears and other species, and the destruction of cities and towns at sea level, among other severe effects.

For my son 2050 is the year he will be my age. By that time he will be facing the consequences of our decisions today. He will likely wonder what I did—what we all did—to help prevent the severe effects we know are coming in the absence of change. What conveniences did we let go? What innovations did we implement? What steps did we take to protect ecosystems?

Sustainable C is back to study and explore climate solutions that I—that we all—can live by. It is my attempt to develop answers. It is my attempt to take responsibility. It is my attempt to anticipate when my son is my age, and he asks me what I did to help.

Solar Flight in Sight

2010-06-12T09:50:00.001-07:00

If you're accustomed to flying for travel and are looking for a fast way to cut back your carbon footprint, look no further than the jet fuel that feeds your flights. Check nearly any carbon calculator, and you'll find that air travel is probably your biggest source of carbon emissions.

Is cutting back on such air travel an option? Yes, you can always buy so-called "green tags" to offset the emissions from your travel, find alternative modes of transportation (trains can offer a romtantic alternative in some regions), or organize "staycations" instead of elaborate journeys abroad. But for those airline trips where these options are out of the question, what else exists?

Commercially, current options are few and far between. But there is hope. This week I met the colleagues of a man, Bertrand Piccard, who plans to circle the world in a solar airplane called the Solar Impulse, stopping five times along the way to top up his hybrid solar battery. By day, the plane will absorb sunlight on its broad, solar-paneled wings by day, gaining altitude as it goes. By night, the plane will coast, slowly descending while propellors on the wings turn in the apparent wind, regenerating battery energy all the way. Mr. Piccard's purpose? To show that solar flight is possible.

Although solar flight may be far from commerciable at the moment, think what market change could come if investors prioritized this kind of energy over jet fuel. The concept of such change is not all that novel. On the contrary, Mr. Piccard's purpose should be familiar. On a field in Kitty Hawk, Arkansas, it was also the purpose of the Wright Brothers. And look what we're doing with their dreams now.

The Economist, at least, seems to think sufficiently well of the project to cover it in the Economist Technology Quarterly. My hope is that such options will soon spring from the pages of such magazines to the market. http://www.economist.com/node/16295620?story_id=16295620

A made-for-Hollywood type video promoting the project, or at least its daytime attributes, is online at http://www.solarimpulse.com/.

Sustainable Humanity and Energy Policy

2010-05-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

There is more than one price to pay for our energy choices. The most obvious prices are listed on utility bills and legislative budgets. Less obvious is the price people pay for living near mining operations and power plants with deficient environmental management. Less told is the story of people who live with toxic air, poisoned water and contaminated soil.

On a road tour dubbed "Cleaning the Air," a group of concerned individuals set out on a ten-day, nine-city tour around Earth Day 2010 to explore this untold story and set the record straight. The tour was an intiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Little Village Environmental Organization and the Envirnonmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative. The tour precedes a report ranking the nation's coal power plants based on their emissions of air pollutants (nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide) in proximity to low income communities of color.

Read more about the climate justice initiative on the NAACP website here, http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/04/22/naacp-honors-earth-day-with-climate-justice-initiative-videos/. To follow the tour from your computer, check out Jacqui Patterson's blog and interviews here, https://climatejusticeinitiative.wordpress.com/.

The Cleaning the Air Road Tour raises key questions of equity and human rights. It names the price people have paid, and should mobilize action toward cleaner, healthier, more equitable energy policies.

Sustainable Humanity

2010-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

There is more to sustainability than cutting back on waste and making efficient energy choices. Look behind all of our agencies, departments and institutions, and you find regular people. You and me. This week’s Sustainable C focuses on just that – sustainable people, sustainable humankind. For me, the sustainability of people – of humankind – rests on respect for and improvement of human rights.

In this entry, I proudly share a letter from my mom to the editor of the newspaper she reads every day. I am moved by the sustainable humanity of her purpose.

“I was very saddened to read in your newspaper on May 21, 2010, that a gay couple in Malawi was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor. It is important that you have brought this to the public’s attention, and it is important that we speak out against such abuse of human rights.

As a mother of a lesbian daughter, I am speaking out. My daughter cannot live in Oregon with her partner because her partner is from Sweden. They cannot be married in Oregon making residency for her partner impossible unless she finds a job in her field. As a couple, they have chosen to live in Sweden where same-sex marriage is officially recognized along with all the benefits of marriage.

Amnesty International said of Governor Patterson’s support for same-sex marriage in New York, ‘Marriage equality is a basic human rights issue. Until same-sex couples are able to marry, they will continue to face discrimination in housing, health care and on other critical matters directly tied to familial rights.’ So many gay people face discrimination in one form or another in many places around the world. It is deplorable and it limits our ability to move forward as productive societies. It is a shame that our society is among those that has such limits.

As human beings, our most important job is to be loving toward our family and others. When we see abuse of basic human rights, it is also our job to speak out. One voice does matter, especially in today’s world of technology where words are transported electronically with ease. Be loving, be generous and please speak out against abuse of human rights such as those taken from Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza in Malawi who were sentenced to 14 years of hard labor simply for celebrating their engagement. Join me as I speak out for equal rights here at home, as well.”

Is the Generation of Nuclear Energy Sustainable?

2010-05-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

From all accounts I have read, the world is nearing an energy crisis. Oil supply has peaked, compelling oil companies to last-resort, environmentally-disastrous measures, such as steam blasting bitumen out of the Canadian oil sands. Water supply is of increasing concern. National Geographic’s April 2010 edition focused on dwindling sources of clean water, and The Economist is poised to follow suit next week with a special report on water…”finite, vital, much wanted, little understood.” http://www.economist.com (print edition for week of May 15th-21st 2010). Despite its toxic profile, nuclear energy is increasingly at the top of many countries’ energy agendas.

But is it sustainable?

The trouble with nuclear is that every step in its production chain is severely toxic to wildlife and human life. From the uranium fuels nuclear generators to the water-intensive cooling towers used at the power plant, and from the disposal of spent uranium to the ultimate decommissioning of the plant, nuclear business is deadly business.

This is a topic worth exploring in detail. As a starting point, let’s take the first step in the process of nuclear fuel cycle – uranium mining. Uranium is a radioactive material that fuels nuclear power plants. Uranium mines operate in 70 different countries, with a majority of operations in developing countries, where hazardous waste regulations are relatively lax. http://www-nfcis.iaea.org/UDEPO (registration required).

The uranium mining process unsheathes high concentrations of radioactive elements and other elements that can wreak havoc on people’s health near the mines. These elements include uranium decay products such as radon, thorium-230 and radium-226, as well as heavy metals (copper, manganese and cadmium) and poisons including arsenic. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to these materials has been linked to cancer, leukemia, birth defects and genetic mutations. www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/understand/health_effects.html.

One detailed example of how a uranium mine has poisoned human habitat is featured in Greenpeace’s recent report titled, “Left in the dust: AREVA’s radioactive legacy in the desert towns of Niger.” www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Left-in-the-dust/. This report leaves the reader begging the question, “Why? Why nuclear?” For those of us who engage our elected officials on the topic of energy, and certainly for our elected officials, this report should be recommended reading.

More of the nuclear fuel cycle could be explored, but the basic point is this. Before we choose nuclear—whose fuel cycle is proven to be disastrous to human health—it is vital that we exhaust all other options. The ongoing health and sustainability of humankind depends on such well-reasoned policy choices.

BP Oil Spill and Our Energy Choices

2010-05-09T04:51:00.000-07:00

On April 20, 2010, two days shy of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, an offshore oil rig exploded off the Louisianna coast, killing 11 workers on site and erupting thousands to millions of gallons of oil into the tender Gulf waters. The severity of the incident and its consequences raise a number of questions about our energy choices.

Could the explosion have been avoided? Yes, it could. Starting in July 2007, the US Department of Interior (DOI) had data featuring a history of accidents, fires and even deaths at offshore drilling sites. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/gulf-oil-spill See, for example, DOI's performance data and analysis 2007. http://www.doi.gov/pfm/par/par2007/par07_2c_resource_use.pdf (scroll to "composite accident severity ratio," p. 135). One must question whether BP used the best available technology, and whether DOI's offshore oil drilling regulations were sufficiently stringent in light of data it had on previous accidents, fires and deaths.

Could the offshore drilling itself have been avoided? Yes, it could. The US is a country known as much for its affluence as for its ability to devise innovative solutions. What is so crazy about the energy questions the US faces at this juncture is that the most obvious solution is also the simplest. Energy efficiency.

This point is appreciated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which recently formed a Climate Change Work Group to take a closer look at greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions under the Clean Air Act. In a recent presentation to the EPA, the Climate Change Work Group underscored the importance of one particular best practice: energy efficiency. http://www.epa.gov/air/caaac/climate/2010_02_PresentationtoCAAAC.pdf (see recommendations on last page of presentation)

As a result of the drilling, and the explosion and massive leakage of oil into the Gulf waters, wildlife, human health and livelihoods are at risk. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/28/us/20100428-spill-map.html Even in this week's issue of The Economist magazine, the bottom-line focused editorial team steps outside its usual business focus to detail the environmental distress: "Dead jellyfish and turtles are now washing up on the beaches, and fish are suffocating. When the oil starts to wash up in quantity, the greatest environmental threat will be to the Louisiana Wetlands." http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=16059982

So long as we can still do more to increase energy efficiency, we can and should resist drilling in areas vital to wildlife and human life. Examples of other energy choices are abundant. Consider, for example, this suggestion from the non-profit organization Environmental Working Group: "The best way to control energy prices and foreign dependence is by reducing demand with immediate, major and mandatory investments in conservation measures such as mass transit, higher mileage cars, improved building codes, tougher efficiency standards for appliances and lighting, and through the promotion and development of available alternative energy sources like solar and wind." http://www.ewg.org/reports/comingupdry (scroll to article, "Despite Increased Drilling in the West, Gasoline and Natural Gas Prices Have Soared").

Two days shy of Earth Day 2010, this event should raise serious concern about our energy choices: our individual choices, as well as the choices we condone through our elected representatives.

* * *

For more information on the spill and to track day to day developments, see the NY Times' interactive map. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/28/us/20100428-spill-map.html Greenpeace also offers historical and contemporary coverage from the perspective of our environment. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/gulf-oil-spill Information on one part of the US government response can be found on the first page of the Department of Interior website. http://www.doi.gov/

Framework for Sustainability: The Natural Step

2010-05-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Methodologies for planning and implementing a more sustainable way of doing business abound. However, some methodologies are the topic of more water cooler conversations than others. A good example of one methodology that has received raving endorsements is The Natural Step.

The Natural Step provides a framework for businesses, organizations and agencies to brainstorm, plan and implement more sustainable practices. It works like this.

Take, for example, Municipality ABC. It's the 1990s, and ABC faces severe economic downtown, job loss, brain drain and low morale. Its policymakers decide that the solution lies in creating a sustainable environment for businesses and residents. ABC policymakers meet at a retreat to brainstorm their options for economic development using The Natural Step's four guiding objectives:

1) Reduce our community's contribution to fossil fuel dependence and to wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals.
2) Reduce our community's contribution to dependence on persistent chemicals and wasteful use of synthetic substances.
3) Reduce our community's contribution to encroachment upon nature (e.g., land, water, wildlife, forests, soil, ecosystems).
4) Meet human needs fairly and efficiently.

Using these guidelines to help spark their brainstorming, ABC policymakers develop plans for sustainable practices in the following areas. Examples of their plans, marked according to the guideline that inspired them, include the following:

- selectively develop public transportation (including public transportation, pedestrian walkways, bike trails and schemes for vehicle sharing) (1,3,4)
- improve commercial and residential building function and design to use passive solar energy, to incorporate renewable energy for heating and cooling, and to eliminate toxic building materials (1,2,3,4)
- improve agricultural methods to eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides (1,2,3,4)
- update municipal purchasing guidelines to reflect new sustainable practices and policies (1,2,3,4)
- revise urban planning regulations to support preservation of open space, forests, natural waterways, and habitat (1,2,3,4)
- update sewage treatment techniques to reuse greywater and treat blackwater (3)
- affordable housing (4)

ABC policymakers develop and implement new practices and policies in ABC municipality that boost morale while creating new jobs and cultivating a more desirable living environment. The municipality becomes a model for a new way of life and doing business.

This is the story of some Swedish businesses, municipalities and organizations in the 1990s. New methodologies abound, of course, but the old methodologies, including The Natural Step, deserve thoughtful reflection. My own reflection on this particular approach to sustainability is that more than a few businesses and municipalities that have benefited from The Natural Step continue to thrive.

* * *

Most of the information in this entry of Sustainable C derives from the book, The Natural Step for Communities: How CIties and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices (ISBN 978-0-86571-491-5).

More information on The Natural Step today can be found by running a web search of "The Natural Step" or "Det Naturliga Steget."

An entertaining two-minute video on The Natural Step can be found here, courtesy of Youtube:

How Sweden Leads Sustainable Practices

2010-04-21T02:07:00.000-07:00

A light April snow falls over Stockholm as I reflect on the successes of sustainable development in Sweden. By sustainable development, I mean development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." See http://www.un-documents.net/a42r187.htm (the definition is informally known as the Brundtland Commission definition).

This general concept framed discussions yesterday at Sweden's Sustainability Day 2010, a nationwide conference held in Stockholm to celebrate and promote sustainable development in Swedish businesses and industries. http://miljoaktuellt.idg.se/2.1845/1.291059 At the conference, that which astounded me was not emergence of new achievements, but rather the ongoing successes of old ones.

Already in the 1990s, municipalities and corporations in Sweden were using sustainable development-driven solutions to pull themselves from negative balance sheets to soaring profits. These solutions were based on a process called The Natural Step (in Swedish, Det Naturliga Steget). For more information read the book, The Natural Step for Communities: How CIties and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices (ISBN 978-0-86571-491-5).

Take for example Scandic Hotels, a Northern Europe hotel chain celebrated for its sustainable practices and policies. In the early 1990s when the hotel faced bankruptcy, it employed company-wide sustainability training as part of an effort to turn the company around. During training, employees were invited to brainstorm how the hotel might function more sustainably. Management realized several of the suggestions, which ranged from using all natural materials in furniture and carpeting to installing wastebackets that easily help guests separate garbage, recycling and compost. Similar business plan overhauls were conducted by Statoil gas stations and the municipal government of Stockholm.

Nearly 20 years later, it is no surprise that these corporations and this government lead talks at Sustainability Day 2010. For example, the hotel director from Scandic Hotel/ Malmen was celebrated as a nominee for the Sustainability Leadership Award. Statoil was the primary conference sponsor. As a presenter, the municipal government of Stockholm shared news of its green building achievements and its "Stockholm Climate Pact" with business leaders. What do all of these business leaders have in common? Early in the game, they incorporated The Natural Step in their policies and practices.

In short, if you wonder why Sweden is perceived to lead the world in sustainability practices, The Natural Step offers some answers.

Next week on Sustainable C, I will explore what The Natural Step entails and how it has helped leaders create sustainable visions.

Sustainable Seafood

2010-01-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

I quit eating salmon a few years ago when the population of wild salmon that returned to spawn in the Northwest dropped to an all-time low. The alternative, of course, was to buy farm-grown salmon, but the arguments against that industry convinced me to give up salmon altogether. This was no easy separation, as I grew up fishing salmon on charter boats with my dad, and enjoying every sort of dish that can be made with our catch (salmon chowder, smoked salmon, salmon on the grill, baked salmon...you name it).

The convincing image was that of a Frankenstein salmon. The Frankenstein salmon is likely to escape into the wild, breed with wild salmon, and weaken the entire wild salmon population. I wanted no association with it. Though my image of the Frankenstein salmon is not entirely off-base (see the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Farmed Salmon Fact Card” at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_SalmonFactCard.pdf), it turns out that giving up salmon altogether is not necessary.

According to seafood-specific charts crafted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a well-respected research institute and educational facility on the West Coast of the U.S., some salmon consumption is sustainable (and some is not). See, for example, this one-stop-shop chart. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx?gid=17.. According to this chart, farmed salmon (except for tank-farmed salmon) is not sustainable, but wild-caught Alaskan salmon is.

Check the label for the salmon’s origin and ensure – if you can – that the labeling is correct. See salmon mislabeling case followed by attorneys at Stoel Rives, http://www.foodliabilitylaw.com/2009/01/articles/preemption-1/supreme-court-denies-certiorari-on-salmon-labeling-case/.

Other tools for responsible seafood shoppers, as well as some educational links, are available here: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations.aspx.

Friends, this post will be my last one for January. In February, I will take most of the month off to learn more about fish...from a snorkeler’s perspective. Consider this my Sustainable Living break. Please check back in late February and early March for the next edition of Sustainable C. As always, your comments are welcome.

Before You Trash that Old Computer or TV: Carrots and Sticks to Consider

2010-01-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), electronics waste is the “fastest growing waste stream in the U.S.” http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/OREcyclesDisposalBanQA.pdf, p.2. Electronics waste—including computers, computer monitors, and televisions—contain substances that “can be harmful to our health and pollute our environment if released into the air, water and soil.” http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/OREcyclesDisposalBanQA.pdf, p.2.

That is why in Oregon as of January 1, 2010, it is illegal to throw computers, computer monitors and televisions in the trash. The law has teeth. Each violation can lead to a $500 civil penalty. http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/459.html (see ORS 459.995(d)). But the law isn’t all stick. Lawmakers have provided a sort of carrot. They’ve made it easier for folks to comply with the new law by creating E-Cycles, a program that provides free recycling of computers, monitors and televisions at 220 collection sites statewide.

If you live in Oregon and are in search of one of these sites, call 1-888-532-9253. For more information, see DEQ’s online question and answer brochure at http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/pubs/docs/OREcyclesDisposalBanQA.pdf. If you live in Oregon and want to dispose of electronic waste other than computers, monitors or televisions, check out this list of other electronics recycling centers in the state: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecycle/consumers/otherrecyclers.htm.

If you live outside of Oregon, contact your city or county solid waste office to find out about similar programs in your area.

Not So Cool: Heating and Cooling Takes Up Half of Your Energy Bill

2010-01-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

According to the US Energy Information Administration, space heating and cooling accounts for nearly half of the energy use in your home. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=us_energy_homes (see also “How We Use Energy” earlier in Sustainable C). The bad news is that your heating and cooling is probably fueled (in part or entirely) by gas, oil, propane or electricity, all of which are energy sources that emit greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. The good news? You can make the most significant changes to your home energy bill—and your greenhouse gas emissions—by changing the way you heat and cool your home.

Before you run out and buy solar panels and double paned windows, consider starting with a simple energy audit. (If you rent, ask the homeowner or apartment building manager to allow you to deduct the cost of the audit from your rent payment.) The energy audit will help you pinpoint where you have leaks. The results can be surprising…and extremely helpful. For example, your audit may indicate that you need more insulation in your attic precisely when you thought you needed to re-insulate all the walls.

For those of us on a tighter budget, a few cheap and easy solutions will follow. For example, sealing leaky windows with plastic can shave off a significant bit of your bill. (Again, leaky windows are most easily identified with an energy audit.) You might also consider turning down the heat in the house and using a space heater to heat the room where you are spending most of your time. I use a space heater by my desk, so even if the rest of the house is chilly, it’s cozy in my study area.

For those with a more ample budget, look into a programmable thermostat (if you do not already have one). Programmable thermostats can take up to 10% off heating and cooling bills, according to the US Department of Energy. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720. For more ideas on where to save money (and reduce emissions), look into some of the recommendations on the websites listed below.

As you save energy, money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, you might even be eligible for tax credits in your state. To learn more, check out the Alliance to Save Energy at http://ase.org/section/_audience/consumers/taxcredits.

Other useful websites for improving your home’s heating and cooling performance:

US Department of Energy (selecting and replacing heating and cooling systems) - http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12310
Energy Star (heating and cooling systems) - http://www.energystar.gov/
US Green Building Council (overall building shell efficiency) – www.usgbc.org
American Architectural Manufacturers Association (window efficiency) – http://www.aamanet.org/
The Windows and Doors Manufacturers Association (window and door efficiency) – http://www.wdma.com

Copenhagen Accord

2009-12-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month, more than 15,000 negotiators met for two weeks in Copenhagen to hammer out the details of a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. What they produced is known as the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding agreement that falls well short of expected targets. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/application/pdf/cop15_cph_auv.pdf. What went wrong at Copenhagen, and what are the issues left unresolved for a future legally binding agreement?

The Economist magazine offers a good overview – from a business perspective – of what concerns were on the negotiating table. The magazine’s special report, published before the summit at Copenhagen and titled “Getting Warmer” (Dec. 5, 2009), is online at http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14994872. Even according to The Economist, concerns raised by developing countries comprised a core set of issues. However, these issues were largely left unresolved in the Copenhagen Accord.

For a closer look at some unresolved issues raised by developing countries and allies, and to counterbalance the business perspective raised by The Economist, take a look at Jacqui Patterson’s blog, Climate Justice Initiative, https://climatejusticeinitiative.wordpress.com/. Jacqui Patterson, a friend and inspiration, is the Director of the Climate Gap Initiative at NAACP. At Copenhagen, she followed issues essential to all of us, and particularly urgent for those of us living in developing countries: high rates of cancer and other illnesses connected to climate pollution, increasing displacement caused by catastrophic events, climate change adaptation, etc. Her blog offers unique illustrative interviews, actions, protests, and insights that you won’t find anywhere else, all of which is missing from the pages of The Economist.

Do you have thoughts and links to instructive websites and articles that contribute to this discussion going forward? Please feel free to leave a note in the comments section. In the meantime, as we kick off the New Year, I will continue to focus on what we each can do with or without a legally binding agreement on climate change: how we can sustainably use energy and other resources at home.

Merry Christmas and a Sustainable New Year!

2009-12-24T20:25:00.001-08:00

This week when I traveled to Washington, DC, for an interview, I visited my dad’s memorial headstone at Arlington National Cemetery. I also visited the graves of Edward, Robert and John Kennedy. This quote, etched in stone near the grave of Robert F. Kennedy, moved me to reflect on the grand significance of each of our contributions—big and small—to the beauty and sustainability of our world.

“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

- Robert F. Kennedy, South Africa, 1966

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and here’s to a Sustainable and Happy New Year! May we, together, send forth ripples of hope, energy and daring.

Saving on Lighting and Appliances

2009-12-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

According to the US Energy Information Administration, our lighting and appliances account for 26% of our home energy bill. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=us_energy_homes. By taking a closer look at the light bulbs and appliances we use and replacing them as necessary, we can achieve better water conservancy, less pollution, and save money.

With respect to lighting and appliances in the US, the key phrase to remember is Energy Star. Energy Star is a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), agencies that teamed up to promote more energy efficient products and practices.

Starting with lighting, Energy Star recommends compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). CFLs are long-lasting light bulbs that save about $30 over their lifetime and pays for itself in about 6 months. This is because CFLs use about 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent light bulb. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls. Incandescent light bulbs, which waste a lot of energy by emitting heat rather than light, should be dutifully replaced.

Still not convinced? According to Energy Star, “if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than $800,000 cars.” http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls (CFL Savings Facts and Figures).

As for appliances—including stoves, ovens, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers—the suggested rule is to replace any appliance that is (a) was manufactured before 2001, (b) not working efficiently anymore, or (c) cannot be repaired. http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2009/01/rules-of-thumb-on-when-to-replace-old-appliances.html.

When looking for a good replacement, check out Energy Star-certified models. Models that are certified by Energy Star use 10 to 50% less energy and water than federal standards require, and are generally 75% more efficient than models made 30 years ago. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_appliances. The Energy Guide label (associated with Energy Star certification) on an appliance makes you an instantly smart shopper. It gives you key figures on how much energy the appliance uses, how it compares with other models, and approximate annual energy costs of using the appliance.

What to do with the appliance you replace? If it still works, consider giving it away on Craigslist or Freecycle. If it cannot be repaired or is too old, check to see if there is an appliance recycling program. Some recycling programs will even pick up your appliance curbside.

How We Use Energy

2009-12-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

We use far more energy than necessary, given (1) the urgent need to mitigate global warming, (2) the current state of technology, and (3) the paradox that reducing our energy use can also help our pocketbooks.

The Department of Energy reports that the average American household spends approximately $1,900 per year on home utility bills. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf, p.1. This total cost is comprised of the following categories of expenses, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

41% Space heating ($779)
26% Lighting and appliances ($494)
20% Water heating ($380)
8% Air conditioning ($152)
5% Refrigeration ($95)

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=us_energy_homes.

What if you could take each of those dollar amounts and significantly reduce them? In the process, you can even claim that you are “greening” your home. There are a few websites with concrete ideas on how you can get started. (Please think twice before printing this information.)

The US Department of Energy’s “Energy Saver’s Booklet: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home” guides readers on how to create a whole house energy efficiency plan. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf. Follow the “Long-Term Savings Tips” to reduce your energy usage (and associated costs) by as much as 25%. My favorite sections in this booklet are the “Home Office” and “Driving and Car Maintenance” sections, giving you ideas on how to save big on less frequently targeted energy guzzlers.

If you plan to remodel a room or buy new furniture, you might also look into the Green Home Guide. http://greenhomeguide.com/. Check out the “Ask a Pro” section of the website that gives specialized tips on specific topics.

You might want to focus on energy savings at work. A good resource for that is Pacific Power’s Business Solutions Toolkit. To use the toolkit, register online at http://members.questline.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx%3faccountID%3d438&accountID=438. Once you’ve registered, the toolkit gives you baseline energy data, carbon calculators, and common ways to save energy in your particular industry (including everything from apparel retailers to schools to warehouses). Pacific Power also has an “Ask an Expert” function for more specific information.

In the next few entries of Sustainable C, we’ll take a closer look at each of the major categories of energy use and see how we can “green” them at home while also saving a buck or two. As always, your suggestions, ideas, criticisms and personal anecdotes are welcome.

Green Change Begins at Home

2009-12-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

The Copenhagen Climate Summit is underway. In the spirit of John F. Kennedy, the motto ought to be, “Ask not what more your planet can do for you, but what you can do for it.” Climate negotiators alone will not solve this problem.

The numbers behind the science explain why. The most frequently used numbers include “before and after” comparisons of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, global temperature increases, and basic probability. Along these lines, the Economist magazine reports that “[a]tmospheric concentrations of CO2 equivalent (carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases) reached 430 parts per million [ppm] last year, compared with 280 ppm before the industrial revolution. At the current rate of increase they could more than treble by the end of the century, which would mean a 50% risk of a global temperature increase of 5ºC [9ºF]…Such a rise would probably lead to fast-melting ice sheets, rising sea levels, drought, disease and collapsing agriculture in poor countries, and mass migration.” http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14994872

To stabilize the runaway effects of climate change, a movement is underway to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to 350 ppm by the year 2050. http://www.350.org/about/science. What does this mean in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions? “On the basis of the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s)] figures…emissions need to drop by 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020.” http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15017322

So far, neither the Kyoto Protocol nor the United States Congress has set sufficiently high goals to get us there. According to the Economist magazine, “[g]lobal carbon-dioxide emissions have risen by 20% since the [Kyoto Protocol] was signed in 1997…the plan has evidently not worked all that well.” http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15017322. In the US, the favored cap-and-trade legislation currently before the Senate, the Waxman-Markey bill, targets a mere 4% in cuts to greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2454 Greenpeace, along with a few other bold environmental groups, wisely opposes the bill in its current form because, with a target of only 4%, it falls miserably short of the 25-40% range required to insure against catastrophic events. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/press-center/releases2/greenpeace-says-waxman-markey

In plain English, this means that everyone must take initiative. For example, you can urge your US Senator to increase target cuts in the Waxman-Markey bill. At home and in the office, you can also set a range for cuts in your own carbon footprint. Start simple with 5% cuts through the New Year, increasing to 10% cuts by the end of 2010, and increasing again to 20% cuts by the end of 2011. Join me in achieving 50% cuts by 2020.

Do you need help or want company on your journey? Consider signing up for the next No Impact experiment, starting January 10. http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/ You might also consider leaving a comment on this blog, where we can initiate more specific discussions about personal goals, choices and challenges. To help get the conversation started, I will post two blog entries per week on facts and tips that help you and me consider ways to reduce our impact at home. Please, bring your own ideas and let me know how it’s going.

O, Christmas Tree

2009-12-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, an acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen for 18 people. http://www.christmastree.org/Recycle_start.pdf, p. 4. Friends who celebrate Christmas, ‘tis the season to think environmentally about gift giving and the tree you buy.

Earlier on Sustainable C, I listed one website where folks can buy environmentally friendly gift wrap, www.ecoshikis.com. A great alternative is making your own reusable wrap.

When it comes to finding a tree, the most environmental option is buying a living replantable tree. If you don’t have the space to plant the tree after the holidays, consider donating it to Friends of Urban Forests, http://www.fuf.net/, or a like-minded organization near you. You could also "rent" a living tree through http://www.livingchristmastrees.org.

If you absolutely must buy a cut tree, look for organic growers who avoid the use of pesticides. Once the holiday season is over, you may also want to consider “treecycling.” To find a treecycling center near you, check Earth911, http://search.earth911.com/?what=Christmas+Trees%3F.

For ideas on Christmas tree alternatives, please see the discussion in the comments section below.

Giving Back (Day 7)

2009-11-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

The challenge on Day 7 of No Impact Week was to “pay it forward” by giving time or money to an organization that promotes sustainability. A United States-based website, www.volunteermatch.org, helps connect volunteers to activities in their vicinity.

The connection was an easy one for me. For weeks I had been cycling past “Friends of Trees” signs in my neighborhood. I searched online for the name of the organization to find out more, and learned that Friends of Trees hosts a volunteer tree planting in Portland almost every Saturday. See them online at http://www.friendsoftrees.org/.

Being new to town, I reasoned that volunteering for Friends of Trees might result in a few new Friends of Carmen. It worked. About 20 volunteers showed up on a rainy morning at a city park near Portland.

We drank hot chocolate, munched on doughnuts, and got muddy while planting native trees, shrubs and ferns.

Our effort contributed to what Friends of Trees (and of Carmen) call Green Space Initiatives, reclaimed natural spaces in the city. According to the organization’s fall 2009 newspaper, Tree Connections, these planting expansions produce a visible greening of the city that is visible from space.

Once the ball was in motion, it was hard to stop volunteering. Word came from my family that my niece and nephew’s school needed a volunteer at the school’s butterfly garden. On a gorgeous sunny day in Portland, I joined a team of parents and students who weeded, shoveled and raked. Our goal was to help revive a garden of native plants that attract butterflies, including salal, milkweed and strawberry bushes. Students regularly visit the garden to learn about the life cycle of butterflies and the plants that support them.

No Impact Week has momentum. For me the week has stretched into a sort of No Impact Existence, where I am lined up for more volunteer activities than I bargained for and I have a heightened awareness that seems to color just about everything I do. I’m happy to say it might just result in a few more butterflies, as well.

Conserving Water (Day 6)

2009-11-23T17:23:00.000-08:00

According to the No Impact Project, “The average American uses 1,189 gallons [4 518 liters] of water per day. By changing the way you brush your teeth, water your lawn, or wash your dishes, in addition to using efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances, you can reduce your water footprint by 25%.” No Impact Experiment Manual, http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/your-how-to-guide/, p. 13.

My challenge on Day Six of No Impact Week was to reduce the amount of water I use. A Peace Corps memory came to mind. In 1995, I lived in an extremely arid region of the Dominican Republic. Water was scarce, and the municipal government sometimes shut down the city water pump for as long as a week at a time. All of the townspeople were forced to be creative about how we used and stored water. Keeping that memory in mind on Day Six of my experiment, I wanted to see how far I could stretch my water conservancy.

The hippest change I made was using my housemates’ rain catchment system (also referred to as “rainwater harvesting”). The concept is the same as the catchment systems I saw in the Dominican Republic, but my housemates' system had a unique twist.

Their twist was that the system relies on two wine barrels from a local Oregon vineyard. One barrel is stationed under the gutters in the front of the house, and another is stationed in the back. The rain in the gutter is routed so that it drips right into each barrel, instead of into the city’s over-burdened drainage system.

Installing a rain catchment system is a fantastic idea for a number of reasons. It helps reduce stormwater runoff pollution that threatens salmon and other habitat. Some cities offer incentives to homeowners who install a rain catchment system. http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=ecbbd&a=bbehfa (describing Portland, Oregon's rainwater harvesting program). It also gives my housemates and me a source of water. This week I used water from the barrel to wash mud off my clothes and bike after rainy rides through town. Starting in the spring, my housemates will connect a hose to the barrel for watering the flowers and garden.

Do you want to catch the rain falling on your roof? Check out the Simple Steps website on installing roof gutters and rain barrels: http://bit.ly/3arrKR. The following website gives a good overview of a larger rain catchment system, similar to the one my neighbors used in the Dominican Republic. http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/surv/raincat.htm

The second change I made was increasing my awareness. For example, when doing laundry, I resisted the urge to wash anything less than a full load in the washing machine. (Check out Simple Steps’ greenhouse gas calculator for washing machines: http://bit.ly/25pbGa.) Smaller loads I washed by hand. When brushing my teeth, rather than relying on the tap—which I tend to let run—I kept a cup of water next to the sink to rinse. When washing my hands or in the shower, I turned off the tap and soaped up while singing the now famous hand-washing song, “Happy birthday to me.” This song, when sung intelligibly, gives you just enough time to eradicate most germs.

A host of other great tips can be found in the No Impact Experiment Manual, available online at http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/your-how-to-guide/.

Sustainable C Recap and Tips: No Impact Week (Day 5 of 7)

2009-11-19T23:44:00.000-08:00

No Impact Week (www.noimpactproject.org) has been a week of awareness, an awareness that in some ways can be rightly called “painful awareness.” An overview of the week and each day’s challenge is a useful starting point for sharing lessons learned.

Sunday – stop consuming new goods
Monday – stop making trash
Tuesday – travel by sustainable transportation
Wednesday – eat locally
Thursday – use less energy

On the course so far, I have hit three major hurdles: (1) it seems everything I eat is packaged in a plastic baggie (or two, or three) such that filling my stomach coincides with heaping more trash on landfills; (2) eating locally, I have been buying vegetables with names that sound like different skin conditions (ruling out olericulture* as a future career move) and that are as foreign to me in the kitchen as they were in the store; and (3) I only reluctantly let go of luxuries when it comes to electricity. But I have forged on! Here are some tips that have helped me tackle each personal challenge.

[*I know, I know. Olericulture…I had to look this word up. It means vegetable cultivation. It makes me feel better to use a big word to avoid the topic of my ignorance when it comes to the names of plants and, er, vegetables.]

Sustainable C’s Tips for Using Less Energy

- Hang dry your clothes on any combination of hangers, foldable racks and clothesline. At room temperature, it takes 24 hours or less for most clothes to dry, and it will help prolong the life of the fabric.
- In your house, turn down the heat a bit each week, and add a layer of clothes to adjust. Reptilian sun-lover that I am, I used to love to keep a room at 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius) or higher. But now I keep it at 60 (15 Celsius) and wear a few extra layers.
- When you leave the house, turn the temperature a little lower.
- When you tire of staying at home alone with all your layers, go to a café and enjoy the warmth of a crowd. Enjoying public spaces is a great way to reduce your home energy use and meet other people.
- Keep major guzzlers (computers, plasma tvs, etc) on a power strip and turn off the power strip when the guzzlers are not in use. For example, I keep my computer, speakers and lights on a power strip that I turn off when I leave the room.

Gratuitous photograph of Jo the Hen, local egg supplier

Sustainable C’s Tips for Eating Locally (and Reducing Trash)

- The West Coast of the United States is a veritable bread basket. As far as I can tell, it is possible to maintain a varied diet with more than 50% of locally grown food from April to November each year. (I can’t comment on the other months yet, because I haven’t been this conscientious about buying locally before).
- Shopping locally is easy. There are so many options, including Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, farmers markets, farm stands, buying clubs and food cooperatives. For more information, see the Food Routes Network at http://www.foodroutes.org/doclib/faqs/faq13.htm.
- It’s a lot of fun to acquaint yourself with new veggies (even if they have names that sound like skin conditions), and the Internet will be as helpful as any expert olericulturist! In the Pacific Northwest, googling recipes for locally grown kale, beets, and lentils will help you find delicious recipes like “sautéed kale in a red wine vinegar,” “beet salad with goat cheese,” and “spicy lentil soup.”
- Buying your veggies with cloth produce bags and buying your grains and spices with bulk bins will help you cut down on trash. Note to gift givers—cloth produce bags and reusable bins are a great way to say “I care!”

If you are reading this and have a few conservancy tricks of your own, or if you are an olericulturist and want to help me shop, please let me know.

Facts and Tips (from Simple Steps)

2009-11-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

It’s Day Four of No Impact Week. Rather than sharing anecdotes on my new impact experiment, I am writing to share some inspiring facts and tips recycled directly from the Simple Steps website, http://www.simplesteps.org. These tips specifically address two of my biggest challenges in the first half of the week: buy local food and reduce trash.

Facts and tips on food

I am learning that the best local produce is grown and raised in the backyard, like the eggs laid by our very own hens, pictured here.

Fact: In North America, fruits and vegetables travel an average of 1,500 miles before reaching your dinner table.
Tip: Choose local produce, which cuts back on energy used in transportation and usually guarantees a fresher product.

Fact: If the average American replaced the beef and pork in their diet with poultry, he would save 1,555 pounds of heat-trapping pollutants from being emitted into the atmosphere each year.
Tip: Calculate your food footprint. (You can calculate your overall carbon footprint at The Nature Conservancy's website, http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/.)

Facts and tips on trash

Fact: Packaging makes up a third of all garbage tossed in the U.S.
Tip: Whenever possible, look for packaging made from recycled materials, and always check the plastic code to make sure the package is recyclable.

Fact: The average American uses 50 pounds of tissue paper per year.
Tip: Save trees by choosing products with the highest content of "post-consumer waste," or PCW.

Fact: Each year an estimated 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into the world's oceans.
Tip: Visit oceanconservancy.org to get educated and get involved.

Fact: Roughly 40% of heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium, in landfills comes from electronic equipment discards.
Tip: Look for electronic companies, like Dell, have take-back programs for used products.

Here are a couple of additional tips I received in an email from the No Impact Project. The website for the project is http://noimpactproject.org.

Paper phone books opt-out - http://bit.ly/2p5USA
Stop junk mail - http://bit.ly/4A9v5q

Talking Trash

2009-11-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

Being a consumer-mug carrying kind of gal, I really didn’t see the challenge in today, the "reduce trash" day…until I started counting the empty wrappers I leave behind in the wake of every meal.

Breakfast—simple corn flakes and milk—was served up in three different disposable packages. Of the cereal box, cereal bag, and milk carton, I would reuse or recycle most everything. But a better approach would be to avoid the extra packaging altogether by buying cereal in bulk with my own reusable plastic container.

Lunch—carrot and hummus starter, soup and salad—was shamefully worse. All in all, the meal came in a total of five plastic bags, two plastic containers and one glass jar, with a breakdown like this:

5 plastic bags, including:
1 bag of carrots
3 bags package the soup ingredients (noodles, spices, and oils)
1 bag of spinach

2 plastic containers, including:
1 round container of hummus
1 box of grape tomatoes

1 glass jar of olives

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shameless Defense of the Family Name

Having tarnished my family name with these trashy confessions, I can offer one thing in my family’s defense. Friends, I offer...my sister. Every birthday and Christmas, my sister is the reason we don’t have more balled up gift paper strewn about the house. Check out her family-name-redeeming (and re-usable, environmental) gift-wrapping goods at www.ecoshikis.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By dinnertime, I repented and ate leftover carrot soup (pureed veggies from the garden in a recycled Mason jar) and toast (…+1 plastic bag of bread).

Sigh. The lessons here are evident. I will use the rest of the week to see if I absorb them into practice.

Quieting the Tiger

2009-11-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

Already on day one of No Impact Week, when the mantra of the day was “buy no new goods,” all I could think about were shopping malls, online promotions and retail therapy. But when I finally quieted that tiger shopper in me, I learned a couple of things I think are worth sharing.

First lesson learned: When trying to consume less, my first reaction is to think of all the things I can’t live without. My second reaction is to get creative.

The mental list I made when the day started included a number of items I thought I needed: blank CDs, new notebooks, and house slippers with motion stabilizers in the heels, to name a few. The house slippers with motion stabilizers made the list after a health-focused website suggested that I have “activity-appropriate” shoes for all occasions.

According to Annie Leonard, who wrote The Story of Stuff (movie and book to follow), “we see more advertisements in one day than…people 50 years ago saw during a lifetime.” http://www.storyofstuff.com/pdfs/annie_leonard_facts.pdf. The trick is to get past their bait and hook unscathed, and this requires imagination. For example, why buy new notebooks when I can use scrap paper from the recycling box I keep near my desk? And why buy new house slippers when I can double up on socks to create the same warm and cozy effect? After careful contemplation, I crossed these two things off my list.

Second lesson learned: Time spent away from consumption allows more time to enjoy what is.

Before I could do any shopping damage, my housemates saved me by suggesting we go for a hike outside of town. Our destination was a woodsy stream known as Eagle Creek. Every year about this time, thousands of Coho salmon, red as raspberries, journey back to their origins to lay eggs and die. In the Pacific Northwest, these fish’s journey is a right of passage and a hallmark of autumn’s end.

Here are some photographs from our day, which I found I could enjoy more, having succeeded in my first day of No Impact.

Four Coho salmon make their way upstream. We could sometimes see them thrash about, knocking into one another like erratic underwater bumper cars. Apparently, they fought to protect their eggs, already buried in the river’s pebbly bottom. Learn more about Coho salmon from NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/cohosalmon.htm.

An ancient Douglas fir reaches up into the fog. I wonder if it absorbs sips of water directly from the clouds.

There's a certain soothing mystique to a foggy hillside.

Mirna (my dog) and I take a trailside break.

Interview with No Impact Man

2009-11-12T22:28:00.001-08:00

Gearing up for my one week with no impact, I wondered, what's it like to make no impact for a whole year...in New York City? Here's my answer, in part. Check out the interview with No Impact Man on The Colbert Report. (Kindly ignore Stephen Colbert's comment regarding burning tires.)

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/252016/october-08-2009/colin-beavan

No Impact Week

2009-11-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever felt resistance course through your body when the topic of conversation turns to personal responsibility for climate change? I feel it. My shoulders wind all the way up to my ears in tension. The tension is driven in part by an imaginary conversation. The year is 2050—the year so frequently cited in climate reports as a milestone year by which we humans must have significantly changed our consumption habits—and I am sitting with my grown children. What will I tell them I did to help?

When I am in denial, my knee-jerk response is to rest on my laurels. After all, I bicycle most places and use only re-usable grocery bags. Isn’t that enough?

For me, the honest answer is I can do more.

But where to begin? A recent story on NPR gave me a constructive starting point. The story featured Colin Beaven, also known as the “No Impact Man.” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112447407. A New Yorker, Colin eliminated all of his carbon dependencies for a year, together with his wife and daughter. Based on his experiment, he launched the “No Impact Project,” a web-driven project that challenges folks just like me to reduce emissions and waste while gaining health and time.

Ordinarily, I might be scared off from taking such a “change your habits” challenge. But this one is different. It is laid out in a neat “No Impact Week” with specific suggested steps. Over the course of the week, I’ll take a new step each day. By the end of the week, I will consume no new goods, stop making trash, switch to non-carbon transport, buy only local food, use less energy and waste less water. Taking a day at a time, this is an inviting way for me to ease into making a few changes for the better.

If your curiosity is piqued, here’s what you can do. First, you can, of course, test the experiment yourself by signing up at www.noimpactproject.org. Feel free to submit comments on Sustainable C about how it’s going. If that’s too much too soon, just follow along each day as I report through Sustainable C my reflections, particular challenges, and tips that make own habits easier to change.

Personal responsibility for the climate is a touchy topic because it involves so many of our creature comforts. I see no reason why we can’t experiment with how we interpret the idea of “comfort” to change patterns for the better. That’s the experiment that will give a jump start to Sustainable C. I hope you’ll join me.