Will the new recycling carts be rolled away just as Chicagoans were getting used to their benefits?
Since recycling helps the environment, cuts back on landfill waste and promotes a sustainable lifestyle, you would think cities would make it as easy as possible for businesses and residents. In Chicago, think again.
According to the Chicago Reader, city officials recently said they were willing to expand the bluecart program, but the verdict is out on whether the proposed expansion was incorporated in the new budget. Looks like the future of a greener city will come down to money the 2008 city budget and people are not reluctant to voice their opinions.
One blogger wrote:
If the plan is approved when the City Council votes on the 2008 budget ordinance Wednesday, the city’s source-separated recycling program, in which residents served by city garbage crews place all of their recyclables into blue containers in the alley, will be extended to an 131,000 additional households on top of the 81,000 already included. That would mean that about 30 percent of the 700,000 residences with city garbage service–all Chicago dwellings with four or fewer units, known as low-density residences–will be covered by the program.
In addition, The Chicago Tribune states, “If Daley is serious about going green, he should stop finding excuses to stick with the blue.”
The Chicago Sun Times weighs in with, “The city needs to deliver a recycling program that makes sense. It’s not rocket science — it should be easy being green. ”
You be the judge.
November 20 2007 | Green Lifestyle | No Comments »
Want to make your Thanksgiving a little more environmentally-friendly?
World Wildlife Fund offers some easy steps to make your celebration more sustainable:
1) Purchase locally grown, seasonal produce in the bulk bin. Locally produced products require less gasoline to ship to market — and usually taste fresher too. Local seasonal produce can include root crops such as potatoes, turnips, beets, rutabaga, parsnips, salsify, pumpkins and squash. Use bitter greens and hardy vegetables that are available in the fall, such as collards, kale and Brussels sprouts. They’re good for you and good for the planet. Look for them in the bulk bin to cut down on individual packaging waste.
2) Buy organic foods — turkeys, produce such as apples, celery, and many of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner trimmings are now available in organic version, usually better for the environment as they reduce the use of pesticides.
3) Shop online or order by phone and save the gas you’d burn driving from store to store. It saves the planet from exhaust emissions, which add to global warming.
4) Look for natural materials such as pinecones, dried leaves, Osage oranges, and other natural materials from your own backyard to make your holiday centerpiece.
5) Serve tap water instead of bottled at your holiday table and cut down on plastic bottles which will need to be discarded.
6) Purchase ingredients with a minimal amount of packaging around them. Cardboard and plastic packaging just ends up in the waste basket.
7) Serve wine sealed with a cork not a plastic stopper. Cork extraction is one of the most environmentally friendly harvesting methods, and cork production provides a sustainable livelihood for people in many parts of the world.
Although Thanksgiving is supposed to be a feast, don’t prepare more food than will be eaten. American’s throw out nearly 40 percent of their food. This year, encourage guests to clean their plates.
9) Remember — leftovers are half the fun! Find new and interesting ways to serve leftovers.
10) Share food with those that have less and invite people for Thanksgiving that don’t have anywhere else to go. Sustainable societies are built on sustainable agriculture and food systems but also sustainable communities — be part of one.
With these tips, the holidays can no longer be an excuse to flush your green lifestyle down the toilet.
November 20 2007 | Green Lifestyle and Green Food | No Comments »
People hear a lot of hype about saving energy by switching to CFL light bulbs. Does this small step really help? It’s seems easy enough.
Rebecca Smith answers this question and several others in a Wall Street Journal article. Her answers somehow makes going green seem less daunting.
Take a peek.
• I’D LIKE TO START SMALL. HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN YOU REALLY SAVE WITH LIGHT BULBS?
A lot. A 25-watt compact fluorescent produces about as much light as a 100-watt conventional bulb but uses only one-quarter of the electricity. Because of that, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average 25-watt compact fluorescent will save the equivalent of 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. That’s about as much as a car generates driving 93 miles, assuming it gets a typical 23.9 miles per gallon.
And compact fluorescents won’t cost you an arm and a leg. In California, for instance, utility rebates and volume discounts have driven down the cost of a four-pack of 25-watt compact fluorescents to about $2 — versus $40 or more for the 100-watt equivalents in 1999. Prices have gotten so low that some compact fluorescents pay for themselves in energy savings the first month.
• IT SEEMS LIKE MY REFRIGERATOR IS A BIG ENERGY HOG, BUT IT’S SUCH A COSTLY ITEM TO REPLACE. WHEN DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BUY A NEW ONE, AND SHOULD I PAY EXTRA FOR AN ENERGY STAR MODEL?
First, let’s clear up a misperception. Compared with other household systems, refrigerators don’t use that much electricity. In fact, they account for only 8% of an average household’s annual electricity use, behind items such as water heating (13%). And they’re dwarfed by real hogs like climate-control systems (45%).
With that in mind, here’s a rough guide to replacing your fridge: If your unit was manufactured before 1993, it’s probably time to make the move. Today’s Energy Star models are twice as efficient as the average older unit, according to the EPA, and will make up for their higher initial cost within five years. In places where energy costs are high, they may completely pay for themselves in energy savings within 10 years. On average, you’ll likely save $40 to $90 annually in electricity bills.
Plus, a new unit that uses half the power of an older unit is responsible for about half the greenhouse-gas emissions. Of course, the actual environmental impact depends on where you live. States with a lot of coal-fired power plants have higher carbon-dioxide emissions per kilowatt-hour of power consumed than states that rely more heavily on nuclear power, hydroelectricity or natural-gas-fired plants.
• HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN I SAVE BY TURNING DOWN MY THERMOSTAT ON WINTER NIGHTS?
A rule of thumb is that a two-degree reduction in the temperature setting on your furnace cuts energy use by 1%, the EPA says. Moreover, houses that are well sealed and insulated, including heat ducts, use less energy because the furnace doesn’t have to run as hard.
You might also consider replacing an old furnace. Replacing a 1980s furnace with an Energy Star model costing $4,000 could produce $3,269 in net savings for a New England family, according to an EPA calculator at energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=furnaces.pr_furnaces. The move would also cut lifetime carbon dioxide emissions by 96,450 pounds — equivalent to the output of a car for 10 years.
November 14 2007 | Green Trends and Green Lifestyle | No Comments »
How much energy do you save by switching light bulbs? Should you replace your refrigerator?
The Wall Street Journal’s Guide to Going Green answers these common questions. Some of the answers might surprise you.
Here’s a preview of Rebecca Smith’s article:
We hear the message day in and day out: It’s time to go green. But figuring out where to start can be daunting.
When you look for advice, you often find wildly impractical schemes about remaking your entire life to reduce your “carbon footprint.” Or you end up having to sort through heaps of perplexing statistics about power usage and efficiency.
Meanwhile, it can be tough to track down what most people actually need: a clear statement of the carbon consequences of, say, switching your light bulbs. And you’ll rarely find out if you’ll save enough on your energy bills to recover the cost of buying new appliances or changing your habits.
With that in mind, here are some answers to some commonly posed questions about what to do — and what not to do — to get greener.
Question 1: What are the simplest - and cheapest - things I can do to cut emissions?
Smith’s answer:
The most important thing to remember as you’re getting started is that you don’t have to change your whole life to make a difference.
“You can go crazy and get lost in the details and completely miss the point that every little bit helps,” says Carl Zichella, regional director in Sacramento, Calif., for the Sierra Club.
So where do you start? Here are just a handful of things that may be obvious — and yet so many people don’t do them. Heat or cool your home less. Drive or fly fewer miles. Run electrical equipment less and use less water since pumping water takes a lot of electricity. Buy more locally grown foods and goods that are manufactured nearby; they’re typically made with cleaner U.S. manufacturing processes, and companies use less fuel to transport them.
Plus, buy the most energy-efficient devices you can afford. For instance, look for appliances with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star label. Since the program started in 1992, the EPA says, it has helped Americans save $14 billion on energy bills and cut emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles. The EPA now includes more than four dozen types of products in the program, everything from DVD players to air conditioners.
In addition, the EPA has a useful calculator that allows you to create a customized plan for reducing your environmental impact.
Don’t worry - more questions and answers are to come.
November 14 2007 | General | No Comments »
America Recycles Day is Nov. 15.
Hundreds of events will be held across the United States to raise awareness about the importance of recycling at home and work and buying recycled products.
According to the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), 20 years ago, almost 1,000 curbside recycling programs existed in the U.S. Today, there are more than 10,000 curbside recycling programs across the nation, and Americans recycle 33 percent of their waste, a rate that has almost doubled in the past 15 years.
While the nation is doing better, is Chicago at the bottom of the heap?
A Chicago Sun-Times article addresses whether the city lags behind the rest of the country in recycling efforts.
November 14 2007 | Green Events | No Comments »
People across the nation are steadily becoming more interested in finding ways to buy local and organic produce. This week Chicago’s first permanent, year-round urban farm could make supporting local farmers a little easier.
Who: Growing Home, Alderman Toni Foulkes and Teamwork Englewood
What: Groundbreaking for Chicago’s First Permanent, Year-Round Urban Farm
When: Wednesday, November 14, 9:00 am
Where: Wood Street Urban Farm, 5814 S. Wood St., Chicago
Growing Home is a six-year old certified organic agricultural business with a social mission of providing transitional employment for homeless and low-income adults. Program participants are difficult-to-employ people, most of whom have criminal backgrounds.
The Wood Street Urban Farm is the third site for Growing Home, which also operates a 10-acre farm 75 miles southwest of Chicago at Marseilles, Illinois and a half-acre urban farm on the south side.
The new farm is a part of the larger Quality of Life Plan for the Englewood community, which calls for developing an Urban Agriculture District in Englewood that will lead to healthy and sustainable living among neighborhood residents.
According to the Growing Home website, the U.S. organic sector is expected to grow from $13 billion in 2003 to over $25 billion in 2007. However, less than 3 percent of organic produce available in Chicago is grown locally.
November 13 2007 | Green Trends and Green Lifestyle and Green Food and Green Farming and Green Events | No Comments »
As one of the greenest cities in the nation, Chicago has a lot to offer people who are interested in adopting a sustinable lifestyle.
Sometimes the cold frightens people from getting out, but this week you could…
…learn how to grow vegetables through the winter at a “Season Extension Workshop” at the Chicago Center for Green Technology Saturday, November 17.
Here’s a summary of the event:
Dr. John Biernbaum, Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University & Director of the Student Organic Farm will present a program on how to extend the growing season using hoophouses and unheated greenhouses. The Hoophouse Handbook can also be purchased at the event ($15). For More information and to register YOU MUST email or call our Chicago office 773-288-5462.
Cost: $20, includes materials.
November 12 2007 | Green Lifestyle and Green Farming and Green Events | No Comments »
Environmental issues trigger some common “buzz” words - such as green, sustainable, carbon footprint, etc. - but what do they all mean? To the average person, their definitions could seem hard to tackle.
Although different experts and environmentalists define each term a little differently, some basic principles can be pieced together.
Let’s start with sustainability.
The American Heritage Dictionary has the following definition:
sus·tained, sus·tain·ing, sus·tains
To keep in existence; maintain.
To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.
To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.
To bear up under; withstand: can’t sustain the blistering heat.
To experience or suffer: sustained a fatal injury.
To affirm the validity of: The judge has sustained the prosecutor’s objection.
To prove or corroborate; confirm.
To keep up (a joke or assumed role, for example) competently.
Still, where do you go from here?
The Foresight Design Initiative makes things a little easier and provides an online sustainability guide to living in Chicago.
The guide covers everything about sustainability from A to Z.
About the Guide
Sustainability is about making cities livable and equitable. It’s about creating and supporting an economy that nourishes people, fosters cultural diversity and protects the environment. It starts right here and now, with the decisions we make on a daily basis.
Now, not knowing the terminology cannot be an excuse.
November 09 2007 | General | No Comments »
For some people, going green revolves around food. Supporting sustainability and putting healthy, organic and local options on the table is often easier said than done.
Two Chicagoans are taking matters into their own hands and opening a gluten-free, vegan and organic restaurant in November. Pull up a chair and listen to the baker and executive chef discuss the logic behind taking eating green to a whole new level.
For further background, read the post in October about the Balanced Kitchen or the article on Medill Reports.
Listen to the audio interview.
Quicktime Audio Interview
Or read the following transcript.
1. So what is your name?
B: My name is Elizabeth Bell Elper, but you can call me Betty.
2. And how are you involved in the restaurant?
B: I am the baker and the owner.
3. And what’s your name?
Z: Zachary Bello, and I am the executive chef here.
4. So tell me, for people who don’t know anything about the restaurant, what’s the basic premise behind the development – or the restaurant?
B: Well we are the Balanced Kitchen, and we’re 100 percent vegan and gluten-free. And we’re just, you know, trying…
Z: That really is the focus – being gluten-free and vegan and green and natural.
B: Yeah, that’s the focus. As long as everything is that, we’re all right with it. We are also trying to be very local. With the food that we use and with the amount of business we want to do, we don’t want this, a lot of gluten-free business is distance. There are not very many local, gluten-free businesses. So that’s what we’re trying to do.
5. For someone who has no idea what gluten is, how would you describe it?
B: Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, malt, rye, kaput, spelt.
6. And, so what would you say are some of the things to avoid for the normal human being if they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance?
B: Things to avoid? Anything that has those products in it. Well the obvious is bread, pasta – no traditional bread and pasta. But there are so many things that have gluten in them. Like soy sauce, which is horrible. But you can have tamari, which is good. But wheat-free tamari. And most baked goods – and also with vegan – I mean there are lots of things that you can’t eat. But it’s not really about what you can’t eat. You’re only really cutting out a few things from your diet. There are so many more things that you can eat. And I don’t know, I mean – I like to learn about new foods and explore things. And I feel like as a vegan and someone who does have a slightly restricted diet, you have to want to explore. To be excited about it.
Z: Yeah, to keep the excitement and then especially as a chef and a vegan now, who relies on protein and meat – for their flavor – I mean that’s where they get the bulk of their flavor. And they’re sort of very reliant on that product, and so as a vegan chef, now I have to explore bringing more flavors from the vegetables. You know, I have to incorporate flavor in different ways.
B: You have to be more inventive.
Z: Yeah, I’ve really had to push myself very hard to – not necessarily be experimental – because that’s very easy to just go out and try things. As a chef, I would eat anything. But to cook without those things, which are the moneymakers for chefs, has been a real challenge. It’s been a lot of fun.
7. Is Chicago progressive in the sense that more people – I mean do you think more people are turning to a gluten-free diet and that’s why they’re demanding restaurants like this?
B: There’s a slightly more – I mean especially gluten-free is growing a lot.
Z: There’s a huge awareness because diagnosis is becoming an important thing, especially for gluten intolerance and celiac.
B: And just the word gluten is out there.
Z: Yeah, and also all the people who are living a healthy lifestyle are learning about what gluten does to their body and knowing that it’s not good for their body – and deciding to cut it out because they want to be healthy.
B: And I mean a lot of people are more interested in the environment. The average person is becoming more interested because of popularized movies but it gets them excited.
November 09 2007 | Green Places and Green Lifestyle and Green Food | No Comments »
Walmart hasn’t always been on everyone’s good side, but the conglomerate might be moving in the right direction by shifting toward sustainability. Eventhough there aren’t any stores in the city, Chicagoans might have noticed that the company has already changed its brand from “Everyday Low Prices” to “Save Money, Live Better.”
Its new five key initiatives include: sustainability, health and wellness, community, economic opportunity and value.
One blogger, Robert Johnson, writes the following:
Health and wellness kicked off with $4 prescriptions. In conjunction with its huge sustainability initiative, Wal-Mart recently held a conference in which it brought together CEOs from all over the country and announced that it was going to green its supply chain. That means if your company is a Wal-Mart vendor, or if you want to be one, first you must meet the company’s sustainability objectives.
That’s huge because Wal-Mart interacts with 80 percent of the households in the U.S. Anything Wal-Mart does affects most consumer brands and most manufacturers. For example, Wal-Mart now sells a reusable shopping bag for $1 that is made from 85 percent recyclable materials, carries the same weight as a plastic bag and replaces 50 plastic bags in its lifetime.
Six months ago Wal-Mart launched the “Live Better Index” to track its efforts.
The index charts the habits of American households in five major areas, including sustainability. At the six-month mark for the index, Wal-Mart reported that Americans had already purchased 100 million compact fluorescent light bulbs for a $1.5 billion savings on their electricity bills.
Why is this so important? Because Wal-Mart has already found that sustainability is not only cost effective, but it saves consumers money. And now they have decided that they are also going to save themselves and their supply chain money by extending their sustainability initiatives rather than drawing back from them.
We’ll see just how Walmart will sustain its new green approach.
November 09 2007 | Green Trends | No Comments »
« Prev - Next »
