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.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Before You Trash that Old Computer or TV: Carrots and Sticks to Consider
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Not So Cool: Heating and Cooling Takes Up Half of Your Energy Bill
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
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
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