Betterworldbuys.com founder, Katie Eames (aka this blogger), decided over the summer to move forward on a solar installation to power residential and home office electricity needs. In a blog from July, the decision making process and the solar tracker device used to determine the best location for the installation were discussed.
The last several months were spent on the lengthy and labor intensive permit process. PA’s Sunshine Fund approval finally came through last month, but then there were local permits, fees and engineering inspections to deal with. Thankfully, our contractor, John O’Boyle of Halo Energy, has handled all the logistics. Despite an additional $1000 in fees and permit costs, we are finally ready to proceed.
A new roof was laid to support the garage based installation, trenches were dug, and wiring installed. The panels are due in next week, and the project is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving. Solar power; now that is something to be grateful for!
In my last blog, I wrote about Vampire Bats, but what about some vampires still lingering in our homes after October 31st? It’s the vampire drains on our electrical bills I’m referring to.
PCWorld’s JR Rafael reported on the topic and shared that one of the worst offenders is, “A plasma TV, (which) costs a whopping $165 a year for its standby power consumption alone.” Rafael goes on to note the common energy sucking costs (“based on applying the national average electricity cost of 11.8 cents per kilowatt-hour to the electricity consumption of each device”) of other household vampires: cable box $10.33, CRT TV $5.16, VCR $3.10, Desktop computer $6.20, Laptop (fully charged) $2.06, LCD computer monitor: $1.03, Wireless router: $4.13, DSL modem: $5.16, Computer speaker system: $5.16, Inkjet printer: $4.28, DVD player: $3.60, Powered subwoofer: $15.50 and the good old fashioned Microwave oven: $2.48 (Raphael, 2008). These costs are per year but when added up and considered along with all the other plugged in appliances such as cell phone chargers, DVR’s, stereo receivers, and others, they can become a figure we would like to banish using more than garlic and wooden stakes.
A quick solution would be to rid yourself of these phantoms by unplugging appliances not in use. For other more technical solutions to ridding yourself of these unwanted energy suckers, consider purchasing items with the Energy Star approval or referring to Rafael’s article for details on some energy saving devices that might help. Additional tips are available from Lori Bongiorno at her blog “The Conscious Consumer”.
Video of the bats at the Congress Street Bridge in Austin TX
OK, I know that when kids show up at your door to trick or treat they are expecting goodies. Why not take advantage of a teachable moment, however, and “treat” them to some interesting information about some spooky Halloween favorites?
My little ones were inspired to love bats on a bat boat ride in Austin TX two years ago. You can check out the video link above to see the spectacle of the Austin bats yourself.
When children show up on my doorstep this year, they can pick up a handout about bats from Bat Conservation International which tells them why bats hang upside down, how they move in the dark, what they eat, where they live and many more fun facts on these furry winged friends. Also posted on the door will be information on the endangered Vampire Bat, and a large stuffed Vampire Bat from the World Wildlife Fund. The stuffed bat came with our family donation to “adopt a vampire bat” along with information about the endangered species.
Not to worry little tricksters, I also have a multitude of sour gummy bat candies to dole out!
Here are some fast facts to drive you Batty:
• There are over 1,100 different species of bats in the world!
• Bats are not blind, but some use echolocation (a special sonar system) to fly around in the dark.
• Many small insectivorous bats can eat more than 1000 mosquito-sized insects in one hour!
• Bats are not birds! They are mammals and are warm-blooded, have hair, bear live young and feed their babies milk.
• Vampire bats really do suck blood (but they only take 2 Tablespoons at a time) and a component of their saliva has been recreated artificially and used in medication for human heart patients!
With preparations for Halloween underway, I’ve been thinking about more macabre topics. As I contemplated making a faux cemetery of recycled cardboard on the front porch for the trick or treaters, questions about the earthly remains of the departed came to mind.
I mistakenly thought cremation was the most eco-friendly method of disposing of human remains. When my mother brought up the topic prompted by a recent article by Susan J. Tweit in Audubon magazine, I realized I had much to learn. From Tweit’s article, it seems that the ashes to ashes concept has many more consequences in terms of fossil fuel consumption and air pollutants emitted than I suspected. In her Dying to Be Green article, Tweit reports that approximately 350 pounds of carbon dioxide are put off per cremation in addition to “soot particles, sulfur dioxide, and trace metals…Then there are the fossil fuels consumed in heating the ovens” (Tweit, 2010).
Traditional burials turn cemeteries in to toxic waste sites. After being “pumped full of formaldehyde-based embalming fluids, which cause elevated rates of cancer in workers who handle them every day…our remains are often sealed inside “decay-proof” metal caskets, and entombed in concrete vaults”. As if this weren’t enough, we need to consider the upkeep of the cemetery grounds which can require a host of pest and weed controlling chemicals (not to mention the use of fossil fuels for mowing, digging, etc.)
Opting instead to be buried in a simple shroud without embalming fluids in a natural preserve is becoming an increasingly popular (and less expensive) option, but one which requires planning. Talking to loved ones now about these important choices can help us carry our green values to the grave and beyond.
For more information on this interesting matter of life and death, check out the Green Burial council or Mark Harris’s blog, Grave Matters.
This month at betterworldbuys.com, we are thinking of how frightening the conclusion of October can be… This reminded us of other things that scared us (the dark, spiders, war, famine) and how horrifying the world might be if so many concerned individuals didn’t try every day to make the world a better place.
With these thoughts prompting us, we’ve created the October challenge! Respond to this blog post with details of how you make the world a better place, and we’ll say “Thanks” with a coupon good for $5 off of a $25 purchase, $10 off of a $50 purchase, or $20 off purchase of $100 or more at betterworldbuys.com (good through December 31, 2010!).
At a CAKE concert at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia I was pleased with the musical performance, the vibe of the crowd, and also in the green efforts made prior to the close of the concert.
Lead singer, John McCrea did a fabulous job engaging in the audience in sing-a-long participation segments. The crowd was moved and rocked along with the band for the duration of the double set of tunes performed.
Prior to closing the show (with an amazing Encore of “The Distance”), McCrea – standing next to an apple tree seedling that was a bit taller than he was – asked for a volunteer. He was specific, however, that the volunteer needed to be willing to commit for 20 years (at a minimum) and be able to tell what type of tree seedling was being offered.
The volunteer also needed to have a yard in which he could plant the tree, own that land and commit to the responsible cultivation of the seedling. After announcing that the tree was a Fuji Apple Tree, the singer noted that whoever volunteered would need to be willing to share the fruit of the tree (with anyone that was at the concert and someday needed/wanted an apple!).
One lucky guy was chosen, but the entire audience was part of the commitment to support the growth of the tree.
I know it’s only one tree. But the green movement is all about people making small individual commitments that lead to a collective and positive environmental impact.
Thanks CAKE for the reminder of the power of music to bring people together and for your efforts to build a green community conscious following!
PS: Check out the CAKE website under “News” to get information on obtaining your own free tree, carpooling and even a link to register to Vote!
While on vacation at Yellowstone National Park, I took a Hot Springs Discovery walking tour of the Mammoth Hot Springs area and learned some amazing facts about the thermal features there. The Ranger guiding the tour emphasized her theme of the importance of water to all life. As we walked along viewing the magnificent hot springs, vents and mud pots that comprise the area, we learned about the heat loving (thermophilic) bacteria that give the springs their dramatic colors, the power of water to mold and shape landscapes, and the essential link between water and life.
At the conclusion of the talk and walk, the Ranger took out a large 16 oz (reusable) water container and poured off all but about 1 oz. This she said represented the fresh water in the world if we were to eliminate all the salt water. From this meager 1 oz, she poured off all but a few drops. These, she dramatically concluded are all we have not so severely polluted which we can still live upon. Her message was clear. Protection and conservation are needed not only to sustain our fresh water supplies, but life on our planet as we know it.
This tongue in cheek animated short includes both ridiculous (and viable) causes for global warming. I’ve heard some absurd theories on climate change stating that believers in climate change are part of a liberal cult, that the science regarding climate change is fraudulent and that if there is truly global warming there will at some point be beneficial effects such as reduced deaths due to colder temperatures and lower energy utilization for heating of homes.
What are the most compelling (or absurd) arguments contesting or supporting climate change that you have heard?
I may be a little outdated in my cinematic experiences but I recently received the movie Avatar as a gift. With a large pile (or 5) of laundry to fold and three plus hours of time at my disposal, I plugged in the television, switched on the DVD and hit “Play”.
Better late than never. My next several hours vanished into thin un-breathable air on a distant planet populated by large blue human like creatures.
I resisted the film at first for several reasons. These included, a lack of free time to watch movies, the price of admission at the theater, and the peer pressure to go see it. In addition, the film seemed to be so grossly over-marketed that I resented the push to view what I perceived to be an animated kids flick.
I couldn’t have been further from being correct. Avatar was not only a delight of visual imagery, but it carried a strong message of humanity, greed, and environmental and social irresponsibility. Aided by technology, we have the power to do right or wrong but as the principal at my child’s school can be constantly heard saying, “we need to make good choices.”
The lack of awareness in our society make it easier for us to ignore making these choices. If you haven’t seen this blue vision of a sister planet, I (like those who suggested it to me) encourage you to set aside the three hours you’ll need to enjoy the message of interconnectedness and environmental and social responsibility that run throughout this film. If you saw the movie, what did you think of its ability to raise our awareness of issues outside the theater (or living room, as was my case)? If not, what are you waiting for???
Note: If you go to the Avatar website, they have a Home Tree Initiative whereby they launched a worldwide effort to plant one million trees. When I checked there were 233,515 of 1,000,000 adopted. You can search the site to see where the most trees have been “adopted” and join the effort by adopting your own home tree.
During a recent girl’s weekend in Chicago, this blogger enjoyed several glimpses of “green” in the go. Enjoying the public transport around town and covering quite a bit of ground by foot, there were several highlights worthy of suggestion to any interested in future travels to the windy city.
The first evening we commenced our gathering at Berghoff’s restaurant whose menu highlighted some local food options. My local selection was the Roasted Sweet Potato Panini which was specifically and sustainably succulent. After a filling dinner inspired by Deutschland, we took a walk to see what sights were nearest to our hotel and discovered the beautiful Chagall mosaic and the nearby Eye before returning to our hotel to plan our next few days.
Our second day began with some light exercise and a visit to the Green Mart of Chicago. This farmers market near Lincoln Park offered the most delicious crepes and organic fruits and berries which we procured for consumption on the grassy park area surrounding the Mart. The people visiting the market were equipped with reusable bags and totes and acoustic music could be heard from just beyond many of the outdoor vendor stalls. It was a refreshing gathering topped by a fantastic drink of Maple Water which from what I understand is filtered both by the Maple tree and the evaporative process involved in the creation of maple syrup. The water was clear, refreshing and left no aftertaste.
Our guide for the architectural tour pointed out many of the green architectural initiatives ongoing in the city and indicated some of the major efficiency efforts underway to improve upon buildings that predated the conscious current in architectural awareness.
Though a small book could likely be drafted on all of the fun eco-savvy travel tips for a visit to Chicago, these were a few of the highlights that were worthy of mention from my most recent weekend trip. Click here for some more insight into green Chicago travel or post your tips for green summer getaways to Chicago and beyond?
