A Green Way to Dump Those Old Books

There is something sophisticated about surrounding yourself with a bunch of old books. The sight of stacks and stacks of books triggers thoughts of intelligence and worldliness. This is why lawyers stand in front of full book shelves in their commercials rather than a monitor with Lexis Nexis on the screen.

Eventually though, all those books become a nuisance. They take up a lot of space and God forbid you ever have to box them up to move to a new home. But what are you supposed to do with all of those old dusty books once you're done with them?

1. Start with the website Bookcrossing, where you can input the ISBN number and title of your book, then choose a location where you are leaving the book (freeing it!) so other people can come and claim it. When they do, they'll notify the site so you can track where it is, how far its gone and how many owners it gains.
2. There are other websites where you can post the books you're disposing of and you will gain credits whenever you send a book to an interested person. These credits are used to select books from other members for yourself...FREE! One great site is PaperBackSwap
3. Of course you can always sell your books on eBay or Amazon
4. You can also take your book to a local used book store where they will either give you money or credit for it.
5. Plenty of places would love to receive your books as donations. Make sure you are including books in good shape that people would actually want to read. Bring them to thrift stores, libraries, schools, etc. Just call ahead of time and make sure they have a demand for books. Many of these places have their own book sales every year to raise extra money.

Apple a Little Greener This Year

Greenpeace produces a guide every year that ranks and scores the major electronics manufacturing companies based upon their commitment to a healthier environment. You can read the full Greenpeace Guide HERE.

In the beginning years of Greenpiece's guide, the computer/iPod maker Apple scored a pathetic 2.5/10. Within a year Apple improved its score to 5.5. A few months later, that score went up to 6.7. This month, Apple tied with Sony, Ericsson, LGE, FSC, and HP with a score of 6.7. The highest scoring companies were Toshiba and Samsung.

How did Apple improve its numbers? It started by promising to eliminate the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated fire retardants (BFR) from the materials in its computers by 2008. These two toxic ingredients are hard on the environment in production and disposal. So far, Apple has nearly cut out usage of PVC and BFR, they haven't reached their goal of total elimination quite yet.

In addition, the introduction of the MacBook Air in January took Apple in a new ecological direction by completely eliminating mercury and arsenic from the laptop's parts.

Apple has also greatly expanded its recycling program and now accepts cell phones and iPods for free recycling.

Obviously there are several things Apple can do to improve its score even more on the Greenpeace Guide. In the meantime, at least they are showing a genuine interest in making positive changes.

NPR Story: Plastic Bag Bans Gaining Popularity

From NPR: "In San Francisco, the age-old question "Paper or plastic?" was answered one year ago this week. The city banned hard-to-recycle plastic bags in grocery stores, and so far, that translates into 5 million fewer plastic bags every month. Now, other cities are considering similar bans, and companies are developing alternatives to disposable bags."

Listen to the full story by clicking HERE

Do It Yourself: Window Insulation

Many modern homes, and some older ones, contain a significant number of windows. While this is a great way to let in natural light and see the outdoors, the drafts coming in will put a huge strain on your air conditioning/heating. Anything that puts a strain on your AC/Heat is also going to put a strain on your wallet when that utility bill arrives.

There are a lot of ways to stop those windows from affecting the indoor air temperature. You could buy double-paned windows that reduce air movement, you could buy heavy drapes to hang in front of your windows, or you could plant trees in front of the windows. If you are looking for a simpler solution that is more cost effective, check out Henkel Duck Shrink Window Film.

You can buy a kit from Amazon.com that will insulate 5 standard 3x5 windows. Essentially, the three things you do to apply the insulation are: 1) clean the window, 2) tape the film to the window, and 3) blow dry the film to the window so it sticks to the glass.

If you follow the instructions carefully, you will avoid any kind of problems. Do not allow the double-sided tape to touch painted or dry-walled areas as it may peel them off. Its better to attach the tape to the aluminum frame around the window pane. You will notice that any drafts from your windows disappear instantly and your utility bill will likely decrease.

Energy Reform = Space Race

Last night I attended a rally for Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. Hillary has been an advocate for real energy reform for years. One of the pillars of her Presidential platform is a "strategic energy fund" that would act as a source of funding for research into renewable and sustainable sources of energy. The money in the fund would come from rolling back tax breaks and subsidies given to oil and gas companies, since they're currently earning record profits and probably not in need of such corporate welfare.

One thing that Hillary said in her speech that struck a chord with me was the fact that as America fails to embrace renewable energy sources, our research, patents, intellectual property and trained scientists are being recruited away from us by European and Asian companies or governments. We are exporting our knowledge for free rather than our products for money because other nations are ahead on these issues.

Hillary compared this challenge to the "space race" of the 1950's to 1970's. At that time, our opponents in the Soviet Union were making huge strides in developing satellites and space exploring vehicles. This development was undermining U.S. security, technology and reputation.

As the United States struggled to compete with the Soviets in developing space technology, President Kennedy proposed the Apollo program. His goal was to ultimately land a man on the moon's surface. It took just 8 years from the time Kennedy proposed the program in 1961 to the day Neil Armstrong stepped out onto the moon's surface in 1969. Not only did this program accelerate our country's science and technology development, but it also instilled a great deal of national pride in the American people.

While we watch as our reliance on foreign oil dictates our foreign policy and makes significant impacts on our domestic economy, we all must wonder how we are going to face these challenges in the short term. A significant change in U.S. energy policy that puts renewable energy development at the forefront would allow us to compete head-on with other nations. This effort would also create new jobs in the manufacturing and services industry. Most importantly, it would give Americans the sense of pride that comes from being the leader in the development of new technologies.

I hope that all of the Presidential candidates adopt the policy of creating a modern Apollo program for the development of renewable energy sources. Our nation's security, economy and environment are at stake.

Please take a second to sign the petition asking McCain and Obama to make their campaigns carbon neutral. They must know now, not later, that we are serious about real energy reform.

Whole World Invested in U.S. Election

This post doesn't directly relate to the environment, but some stories are too amazing too overlook.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that the world's nations are as split on the Democratic race as the United States is. According to the story, Barack Obama scores high amongst Europeans, specifically Germans. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is popular in China and Mexico.

Barack Obama's background as the son of a non-practicing Muslim Kenyan & a Kansan, who also lived briefly in Indonesia as a child, has attracted a great deal of attention throughout Africa and the Middle East. In Kenya, for instance, people supposedly order Senator brand beer by asking for an "Obama."

Hillary Clinton is viewed by nations with specific national security challenges, like Columbia and Israel, as being more capable on these issues. Former President Clinton's pro-trade position attracts the support of China and Mexico.

Support for Barack Obama among Europeans is part of a romantic fascination with his roots, according to the article. Despite their affection for Obama, there is skepticism that Americans will really vote for him.

To read the full Wall Street Journal article, go HERE
To see a comparison of Obama & Clinton's environmental record/platform go HERE
To tell Obama & McCain to make their campaigns carbon neutral go HERE

Ice Shelf Breaks Away 15 Years Early

A chunk of Antarctic ice cover, seven times the size of Manhattan, is dangling off the Wilkins ice shelf. The 160-square-mile piece of Midwestern Antarctica could be hundreds to thousands of years old and began moving away from the ice shelf in late February.

Scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado say that once these pieces begin to break off, the cracks fill with water, escalating the speed of the split. Scientist David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey had predicted that this collapse would happen fifteen years from now and blames the increased pace of melt on global climate change. The chunk that is breaking off of Antarctica represents 4% of the total shelf. Its movement away from the shelf will set in motion additional breakage.

Scientists fear that the rest of the Wilkins ice shelf, the size of Connecticut, is now also teetering on the brink of collapse. This new piece's movement will only help to increase the rate of that break.

Read the full Washington Post store HERE

Spring Cleaning Round-Up

I'll be frank, I often find myself writing the same blog posts over and over again. Its just very difficult to find new ways to make Oscar Parties, Super Bowl Parties, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Flag Day, etc. "greener."

When I decided I wanted to write a post about Spring Cleaning, rather than re-writing the same tips I've posted in the past, I chose to to create a guide to my old posts that will help you clean your home in a non-toxic way and make it more energy conscious for the warmer months.

Here we GO!

• Start by making your own homemade cleaning products from healthy, natural, non-toxic materials you can find in your kitchen that are just as effective as store-bought cleaners. Here is a great recipe for cleaning your oven without toxic fumes. Avoid using bleach!
  

• Next, Collect all those random shoes, printer cartridges, electronics, batteries, etc. and find out where you can recycle them. Don't forget that both Apple and the United States Postal Service have recycling programs as well.
  

• Re-landscape your yard using plants and stones that won't require fertilizers, pesticides and excessive watering. Or, if you live in the city, grow your own vegetables and plants organically, right on your window sill.
  

• All those electronics in your home that waste electricity when you aren't there, plug them into a power strip and turn it off while you are gone.
  

• Replace the garbage can in your kitchen with recycling cans. Also, replace your incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones.
  

• Stop the junk mail coming to your home that wastes valuable fuel and paper.

• Finally, make sure your dog's life is as green as possible.
  

• Ah, you're done, now give yourself an organic manicure.
  

There it is, my Spring Cleaning guide to making your home less toxic and more energy efficient. Good luck!

Buy "Simple Shoes" for the Planet

No this is not a paid post for the Simple Shoes company. I have to buy my shoes from them just like everybody else. But buying shoes from Simple Shoes is a really satisfying feeling.

Simple Shoes sells an assortment of sneakers, sandals, & bags all made from recycled products like tires and plastic jugs or from sustainable sources like hemp. I'll admit that not all the their stuff is sexy, but some of it is really nice and would match jeans, khakis or whatever.

Simple Shoes ships their products in biodegradable bags and shipping is free!

I just thought I'd share this great company with you.

http://www.simpleshoes.com/index.aspx

Cleaning a Broken CFL

Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are the corkscrew-shaped light bulbs you keep hearing about. They last for many years and use a lot less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. In the long run, you will definitely save money by replacing the old bulbs in your home with CFLs.

There is one complication when buying CFLs. Like all fluorescent lighting, they have small amounts of mercury in them. Of course, mercury doesn't stop us from buying thermometers and sticking them in all of our orifices, it shouldn't stop us from slowing global warming either.

The EPA has released step-by-step guidelines for helping you clean-up a broken CFL so that your family is not exposed to any mercury.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room

• Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
• Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

• Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

• Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
• Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

• Immediately place all cleanup materials outside the building in a trash container or outdoor protected area for the next normal trash.
• Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
• Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming

• The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
• Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

If you'd like to find out more about disposing of CFL bulbs, you can read the Energy Star FAQ's on CFL disposal (PDF) HERE

Flourescent CFL's Explained

Baby Bottles: Glass vs. Plastic

An article in today's Washington Post discusses a growing movement among new parents away from plastic bottles in favor of glass bottles for their babies. In general, choosing almost anything over plastic is better for the environment, but in the context of baby bottles, this is especially true.

According to the Post article, "Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a manmade chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, the material used to make most baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic food containers. Americans are widely exposed to BPA, but opinions on its safety are mixed.",

While the Food & Drug Administration currently approves of BPA in combination with food sources, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is slightly more apprehensive about BPA. Some studies show that the chemical has negative impacts on rat reproductive systems. Until additional tests can be preformed, the CDC is not fully supportive of BPA in baby bottles.

The Washington Post interviewed pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, author of "Raising Baby Green." Dr. Greene said that he cannot assure the parents of his patients that plastic bottles containing BPA are safe for babies. He goes on to say that he would use glass bottles for his own children.

All of this talk about plastic bottles and baby health has lead to a sharp increase in the sale of glass bottles. Current sales of glass bottles at Babies 'R' Us increased five fold in 2007. Baby bottle manufacturer Dr. Brown has begun manufacturing glass bottles after exclusively selling a polycarbonate bottle for a decade.

Keep in mind that glass bottles are recyclable and are not made using petroleum or toxic chemicals. Plastic bottles cannot necessarily make the same claim.

To read the full Post article go HERE

To buy Dr. Brown's glass bottles go HERE

Ralph Nader and the Environment

This blog has covered all the Presidential candidates and their various platforms & records on the environment. You can see comparisons between Hillary & Obama or Obama & McCain. You can read an interview with Ron Paul on the environment and you can sign a petition encouraging Obama & McCain to run carbon neutral campaigns.

Now that Ralph Nader has entered the 2008 Presidential contest, I feel obligated to include his views on environmental policy on the blog as well.

The important thing to know about Nader is that he has been working as a consumer advocate for decades. The issues he advocates for include corporate responsibility, consumer safety and environmental protection.

With this in mind, what would a Nader presidency include:

• A carbon tax on factories and energy plants to discourage release of carbon emissions.

• A timed phase-out of fossil fuel over the next 25 years, beginning with the worst offenders, coal and oil.

• A movement away from the current trend of government funding for corn-based ethanol and nuclear development.

• No more funding of "clean coal" technology because, despite what Obama believes, Nader says there is no such thing as clean coal.

• A level playing field where oil and gas companies do not receive the lion's share of tax subsidies and tax breaks.

• Legalized industrial hemp for consumer products like paper, cloth, etc.

• In leiu of tax incentives or subsidies, tax penalties for failure to meet pollution standards as well as technology forcing technology supported by in-house government research and development.
  

• An end to mountain top mining where the tops of mountains are blown off to access coal at a inexpensive price.

• Reform of the 1872 Mining Law that allows mining of minerals for as little as $2.50 an acre. This law gives away our natural resources at incredibly low prices while forcing tax payers to foot the bill on cleaning up the mess from mining.

• An end to commercial logging on federal lands.
  

If you are interested in reading an interview with Nader on his '08 environmental platform and his background on environmental issues, go HERE

You can visit Nader's official campaign website HERE

The Feds Want Your Junk

I'm sure by now you know the danger of throwing your used electronics into the garbage. You know about the toxic materials and how they will seep into our ground water and pollute our air as they slowly disintegrate. Apparently, the United States Postal Service also knows about this danger.

The USPS is rolling out a new initiative that will allow you to mail in old cell phones and small electronics to be recycled for FREE. Thats right, free.

Ten cities and 1,500 post offices will participate in the pilot program. At these locations, you will be able to pick-up special envelopes that will hold printer cartridges, MP3 players, cell phones and other smaller products. Then, just drop the filled envelope in any mailbox anywhere in the country and they'll take it from there. If the program is successful, it will be expanded nationally later this year.

The company who receives your outdated junk is Clover, an electronics recycler. Clover recycles every part of these old electronic products for use in new products. Their goal is zero waste.

For more information, read the USPS press release HERE

Recycling the Apple Way

Its old news by now that Apple has transformed its brand over the past decade and is regarded as a realistic alternative to PC's by mainstream consumers. This is partly due to the huge popularity of iPods and to the ever-growing discontent with Windows. Throughout its transition from cult icon to pop icon, Apple has struggled to avoid being portrayed as an anti-environment company. Year-after-year environmental organizations like Greenpeace give Apple a thrashing for its use of toxic components. Finally, Apple is getting ahead of the game with its newer products like the Macbook Air. But...what is the most eco-friendly way to make the switch from PC to Mac?

If you are someone who wants to trade up from a PC to a Mac, Apple offers an incredible offer. Buy a Mac, recycle your PC for free!

• First, at the point you purchase the new Mac, you will be given the opportunity to choose to recycle your old PC (ignore the impulse to keep it, its just going to collect dust).
• Second, print out the email from Apple that contains shipping instructions for your old PC.
• Third, box up your old PC in an appropriate way so that it doesn't break in transportation.
• Fourth, take it to FedEx with your printed email. They'll handle it from there!

What if you have an old iPod or cell phone that you'd like to recycle? Apple will take care of that for free too!

• First, go HERE and fill out the form.
  
• Second, print out the mailing label.
• Third, package your items and bring them, with the mailing label, to your post office.

This is a great service for Apple to provide. You can also bring cell phones, batteries, and more to stores like Staples or OfficeMax to have them properly recycled. You can check with your local waste disposal company to find out if they have an electronics recycling program so you can just drop off an old computer or monitor there instead.

The most important thing to remember, NEVER throw electronics or batteries into the garbage. They contain toxic chemicals and metals that will endanger your health and the health of the planet.

Curb Carbon Emissions Without Hurting the Economy?

There are plenty of people out there who stand to gain financially from continuing to push fossil fuels. These are the people who love to make the claim that carbon caps will ruin the United States' economy. Of course, scare tactics often work, and that is exactly why oil & coal companies use them.

What is missing from their argument are those inconvenient facts that undermine threats of our economic undoing. Outside of the oil and gas universe there are many venture capitalists who are pouring resources into green energy development in technology centers like Silicon Valley. These are the same venture capitalists who became billionaires by funding development of personal computing technology. Obviously, these investors believe there is a bright economic future for the U.S. in sectors other than oil, gas & coal. Read more HERE

A glance at Germany's manufacturing sector shows how much opportunity there is for employment growth in the creation of renewable energy components. Tens of thousands of jobs have been created in that country as they have embraced solar energy. Plus, the development of solar panels in Germany have led to a huge growth in solar energy usage. Over 300,000 solar energy systems are installed throughout Germany to generate electricity for homes, businesses and industry. Read more HERE

Today, the EPA released an economic impact analysis for the Lieberman-Warner "Climate Security Act of 2008" that shows implementation of the law would not significantly harm the U.S. economy over the next 20 years. The "Climate Security Act of 2008" cuts greenhouse gas emissions 11% below 1990's levels by 2030 and 50% by 2050. The EPA predicts that the U.S. economy will grow by 80% between 2010 and 2030 under the new law. What is the predicted economic growth during the same period WITHOUT the new law? 81%. That is a 1% difference. The only caveat in the EPA's analysis is that energy costs will likely increase during the transition away from fossil fuels. This is debatable as the cost of renewable energy is dropping significantly every year and the price of gasoline is soaring with or without carbon caps.

There is a legitimate argument to be made that energy technology from previous centuries are not the most cost-efficient and economically viable options for America.

Natural, Organic Oven Cleaner

This weekend we decided to clean the gunk out of our oven that keeps causing smoke that sets off the smoke alarm. Unfortunately, our oven doesn't have a self-clean setting.

I think its widely acknowledged that most oven cleaners are very toxic with unhealthy fumes. Although these products get burnt-on waste off the oven walls, they probably burn a few brain cells in the process. What other options do you have when getting your oven clean?

Well, there are natural oven cleaners like "Restore" that use plant-based solvents and citric acid to break down stains. We used a mixture of vinegar and water to rub off the stains. It worked sufficiently. Below are some other recipes from THIS SITE

GRANDMA'S TRIED AND TRUE VINEGAR RECIPE

• 5T Baking soda

• 3 drops hand soap or liquid dish soap

• 4T White vinegar

Mix above ingredients until they form a thick paste. Apply paste to inside of oven and scrub with sponge. Wipe clean and rinse thoroughly.

CITRUS CLEANSER

• Use equal amounts of lemon juice and salt. Apply paste to stubborn stains and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. Scrub with brush and wipe clean.

NATURAL SCRUB CLEAN OVEN SOLUTION

• 4T Baking soda

• 4T Hot, steamy water

Make a paste with the above listed ingredients and apply it to the oven's cavity using an old toothbrush or soft-bristled cleaning brush. Allow solution to sit for 1-minute. Scrub with brush until oven is clean. Rinse with water and sponge until no traces of baking soda remain.

TOUGH STAIN REMOVER

• 1c Salt

• 1c Baking soda

• 1c Water

Make a paste using the ingredients above and apply it to the inside of the oven. Close door and heat oven to 500-degrees for 60 minutes. Turn off oven and allow to cool. Wipe debris from oven using a moist sponge. Rinse well.

Declare War on Oil

A must read...

http://www.newsmax.com/ruddy/oil_dependence/2008/03/13/80091.html?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=shoot3

Bush Personally Intervened With EPA Rules

The Washington Post is reporting today that..."EPA officials initially tried to set a lower seasonal limit on ozone to protect wildlife, parks and farmland, as required under the law. While their proposal was less restrictive than what the EPA's scientific advisers had proposed, Bush overruled EPA officials and on Tuesday ordered the agency to increase the limit, according to the documents."

Intervention by executive officials with sound science and research done within the EPA is becoming a trend. Last month, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson overruled the findings of his scientists to block California's request for stricter pollution rules. This was an unprecedented political interruption by an appointee of the President. Johnson's decision left California and EPA scientists bewildered. His explanation was vague and based on a political judgment rather than the results of scientific research.

Now, it seems the President is taking a similar role in EPA decisions by tweaking improved ozone limits to the benefit of his corporate friends. The EPA has two separate ozone restriction categories. First, there is a public welfare standard for minimizing long-term health impacts from high ozone levels. Second, there is the public health standard which sets limits on actual ozone levels in the short-term. Before the President intervened, the EPA had planned to make the first standard stricter to avoid long-term "adverse affects on agricultural crops, trees in managed and unmanaged forests, and vegetation species growing in natural settings."

The last-minute decision by the President to change the EPA's planned standards change created a lot of confusion for many in the Executive Branch. An EPA brief filed with the Supreme Court included the improved standards and had to be quickly amended by administration lawyers to avoid confusing the Court. A press conference scheduled to announce the improved standards was delayed so new talking points could be created.

In addition, President Bush's intervention may be a violation of the law. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council's reading of the Clean Air Act, Congress delegated its rule making authority to the EPA in cases like these, not to the President.

Read the full Washington Post story