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Just doing a little research

Yes, it's late Monday night and I'm working on my weekly blog. So, I'm trolling my email and different web sites, trying to find something enlightening to share with you.

I found a little something about the EPA launching a web portal of green resources specifically for retailers, but I can't find anything on EPA's web site about it.

I did find a little irony, though. Under Industry Partnerships, there's a link for "Best Workplaces for Commuters." The link doesn't work. Living here in the DFW area, I find that to be very apropos.

Here's another little nugget for you: The Food Service Warehouse has developed the Certified Green Commercial Kitchen Program. All of these green certifications are getting to me, though.

First of all, this program is lacking third-party verification. Second, one of the requirements is "purchase green products." And gee, that's exactly what this "certifier" sells! According to their web site, "FoodServiceWarehouse.com carries a full compliment of equipment and supplies that will help any commercial kitchen slash energy costs, conserve water, and reduce their environmental impact. Our program is free, easy to implement, and will show incredible benefit to anyone willing to commit to a more sustainable future."

In other words, buy our equipment and we'll give you a certification and a logo you can plaster all over your menus, napkins and advertising.

Looks a lot like greenwashing to me. What do you think?

Magazine is unapologetic about "green" coverage.

I loved the Editor's Letter in the September 2008 issue of Fast Company magazine.

A reader had written to complain about the volume of green-related coverage in the magazine and the reply from the editor is validation of the green movement for the sake of the environment, not business greed: "…there may not ultimately be enough resources on the planet to meet everyone's needs -- unless drastic actions and dramatic innovations are embraced."

Editor Robert Safian explains, "We try to avoid the crystal-ball business and prefer to emphasize the positive potential embodied in new ideas and new technologies. But a trend this big, this important, that affects every business and individual and goes to the core of so many of our activities and assumptions -- well, we cannot help but pay it some mind."

A friend of mine gave me this subscription to Fast Company as a gift. At first I was sure I didn't have time to read one more magazine. But once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. It's many references to green business practices just make sense. The business community is realizing that this isn't just a passing fad; it's a necessity and the responsible way to run a business.

Safian closes his editorial by saying, "Sustainability is one of the most critical stories of our age. We would be shirking our obligations if we ignored it."

Amen.

Read the entire article here.

Then be sure to read about the Sierra Club's controversial alliance with Clorox, the limitations of recycling, solar power in California and Timberland's commitment social responsibility.

What have you read lately?

Little black mask as a fashion accessory?

Have you seen the photos of Team USA bicyclists, arriving in Beijing wearing black face masks? When I first saw them, I thought, "Good heavens! Why in the world are the Olympics being held in such a polluted place?" (Did China really think that they could shut down half the factories and take half the cars off the road in mid-July and the air would be clear by the opening ceremonies?!(

But today...today was the kicker. Are you ready for this? According to an article published this morning on Advertising Age's site, those little black masks could become...choke...trendy!! Huh?

Now, I know that the air quality in the DFW area isn't the best, but can you see Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief or Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert sporting one of these?

Don't worry though, says Jason Christopher on his fashion blog, "…I think it's likely we'll see brands rolling these out in multiple colors."

Whew! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find one to match my green handbag...

I can't believe summer's almost over, already! Thank goodness for a couple of projects that are keeping me in front of the computer for a few more weeks...where it's cool...and my kitten sleeps on my lap.

The Interfaith Stewards project with the City of Irving wrapped up in June. Now I'm working on pulling together all the materials Fran Witte and I presented from the last year into one notebook and a DVD. Not as easy as it sounds, believe me. The final product will be presented to the Irving City Council this fall and and a distribution plan is in the works. It was an amazing project and I can't wait to share it with everyone soon!

At the same time, the Green Teens project with Birdville High School and the City of North Richland Hills will launch in September. Another year-long project that will teach me a thing or two about social marketing. And who best to learn from than teens?

With a peer-to-peer teaching approach, I (and other green experts) will be teaching the Green Teens. In turn, I will help the GTs develop a "message" that will be transmitted to their peers via their own web site, MySpace page, video email and text tree messaging. They will also develop spots for NRH's community cable station.

Halfway through the year, the teens will learn how to "green" a small business. They will develop criteria and a plan to help small businesses in NRH become "Green Teen Certified."

I have a question, though. How many of you would be interested in an Ecological Compass podcast? What would you like to hear more about?

I've truly enjoyed developing the weekly eco-tips and I hope you've implemented at least a few into your homes and businesses. But those tips come out of my pointed head or are jump-started by something I read or hear about on NPR. What would you like tips on?

So, here's my official request for feedback...

• What would you like to learn more about in the Tuesday Eco Tips?
• Would you download (and listen to!) an Ecological Compass podcast?
• If yes, what topics interest you?

I can't wait to hear from you, so be sure to contact me soon!

Search engines galore...and a green one, too!

In case you missed it, yesterday a possible contender in the search engine field entered the race for search domination. Developed by former Google engineers, Cuil (pronounced "cool") presents search results in a whole new way.

But my new favorite search engine is Green Maven. It focuses on "green, conscious and sustainable websites." Not only is it a search engine, it's also a "green zine" with links to lots of articles with an ecological slant.

I'm still playing with my new Kill A Watt tool, going around the house, measuring my electricity usage and looking for places to save $$. I'm working on a nifty chart that I hope to share next Tuesday.

But for now, order up some Ben & Jerry's® Organic Strawberry ice cream, settle in under a ceiling fan set on high and beat the heat!

Is eco-anxiety getting to you?

It was just a matter of time, and I think we all knew it would happen sooner or later. According to an article in the Columbia Journalism Review – "Green Fatigue" and "Eco Anxiety" – the general public's eyes are beginning to glaze over when they hear "green" lifestyles.

How do we move beyond the overkill that has become sustainability education?

It's true that everywhere you turn, the green marketing machine is hard at work, pushing unsubstantiated and unreliable "greenspeak" on the general public. So how do we educate the public on how to evaluate what's green and what's not?

How do we teach them to look for third-party certifications on products such as Green Seal, USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified?

How do we teach them that changing just a couple of daily habits can make a difference?

How do we keep the polar bears off the front pages (as cute as they are) and talk about the real issues facing our planet? Scarcity of drinking and irrigation water. Air pollution. Resource conservation? The list goes on and on.

Is that the problem? The list is never-ending?

Have we, in just the last 100 years, dug an environmental hole we can't get out of?

Just a little experiment

I can't wait until my two new gadgets arrive tomorrow!

In a continuous effort to reduce my energy consumption, I have purchased a Solio solar charger for my phone and bluetooth earpiece. During the day, I'm going to set it in the window to charge. Then at night, I'll charge my devices without using any electricity.

Yeah, I know that it's a minimal amount of electricity, but it adds up, right?

And just to provide that point, I've ordered a Kill A Watt Meter. According to the slideshow on TerraPass.com, I can enter in my current cost per kwh for electricity, then plug different items around the house into it. The Kill A Watt Meter will then tell me how much money I can save by unplugging that lamp.

In case you forgot, if it's plugged in it's sucking power. Vampire power. It's also called phantom power.

Is it going to save me a fortune? I can guarantee you it won't. Maybe enough to buy a tank of gas each year...but I'd really rather not even think about that.

I read an interesting article on Treehugger.com that pointed out that the vampire power used in one year by a cell phone equaled six minutes of driving or one warm bath.

So, in reality, I'm only saving enough to take a bath. Or two. Maybe.

But that's okay with me. At least I'm trying. It's driving my daughter nuts, but I'm trying.

What are you doing?

It's going to be a long, hot summer.

The stay-cation. A newly minted word which exemplifies our current...um...situation. I started to write "crisis," remembering the energy crisis in the early 1970s. I remember long lines at the gas station and being able to buy gas on even or odd days depending on your license plate number.

I often wonder why, if prices are so high because oil production is too low, we aren't instituting conservation measures. Is it because many people can still afford to fill up their gas-guzzling behemoth vehicles twice a week? "Hey, they're still paying for it; let's go up another 10 cents a gallon," the gas companies say.

But what about the majority of American workers. Those who are in the lower middle class are feeling the pain...badly. Can you even imagine having to choose between buying fresh food for your children or putting gas in the car? Guess what. It's happening every day in America.

But what did I read about in the newspaper yesterday? The stay-cation.

It's summer. Gotta have tourists in town to keep that economic development engine humming right along. But wait. Tourists aren't filling up their tanks to drive to entertainment venues. So let's target those who live right here. It's not a bad idea.

Instead of flying to Disney World, spend the day at Six Flags. They have all kinds of special deals right now. All tickets are the kid's rate. Last week they even announced a new ticket deal -- for about $49 you can visit six times on the same ticket. Wow!

So, Six Flags is our stay-cation destination for the summer of 2008. But if the cost of energy and gasoline continue to increase at the current alarming rate, the summer of 2009 might just be one day at home with the air conditioner knocked down to 80 degrees instead of our current 82.

Hopefully in 2010 we won't have to choose between air conditioning/food and putting gas in the car.

What do you think?

Are you a "greenfluencer"?

An "Eco Pulse" study recently came to some conclusions that don't surprise me at all.

Nearly half of the respondents to the survey don't "get" green. It's still this fuzzy, nebulous concept that they have decided is too hard and/or too expensive.

What can the environmental education crowd do to clear the air?

In addition, now that oil has hit $143/barrel (as of Monday, June 30), more and more folks are trading in their gas guzzlers for hybrids. But the tax credits Congress has offered for these high performing cars are getting ready to expire. Some expired in 2007.

Check out the latest information from the IRS. But if oil prices are really headed toward $170/barrel, an expired tax credit shouldn't stop you from moving to a more fuel efficient vehicle.