Monthly Archives: April 2008

How to: Offset your carbon footprint

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As seen on LifeGoggles, Joel Williams ramps us up on the first R of environmental responsibility: reduce. Of course the whole article is a must-read, so check it out. The jist of the post brings us tools to evaluate how large/small our carbon footprint is, and then gives us snappy ways to implement greener living from the comfort of our own home.

Joel’s words: Whether or not you believe carbon dioxide is the cause of global warming or not, it is harmful to the environment and reducing your carbon footprint is a great idea.

I evaluated myself at one of the several sites mentioned [Carbon Footprint], one that is based out of the UK but has data to compare me to my peers here in central U.S.A. The calculations for the primary emissions are based on a combination of metrics from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the UK’s Department for Transport, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). P.s. it was fun. :-)

I gave US dollar figures for various types of fuel (electricity, coal, natural gas, LP, others) use at home and the results:

Total for your home = 7.437 tonnes of CO2
Total for your cars = 3.124 tonnes of CO2
Total secondary footprint = 4.813 tonnes of CO2
Total = 15.374 tonnes of CO2

* The average footprint for people in United States is 20.4 tonnes.
* The average for the industrial nations is about 11 tonnes.
* The average worldwide carbon footprint is about 4 tonnes.
* To combat climate change the worldwide average needs to reduce to 2 tonnes.

The final stage of the evaluation reveals several options to donate to offset one’s personal carbon footprint!

I'm Only One Person- And Proud of It

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imperfect everything to everyone
Photo by Dez Pain

Eat your vegetables… exercise… don’t smoke… don’t drink… reduce your carbon footprint… give to the less fortunate… meditate… volunteer… don’t pollute… plant a tree… save the planet… buy organic… buy local… help fight injustice…

You do what you can, but in the end – you’re just one person. Although one person’s actions can change the world, you, being one person, can only do so much. You can only change but so many habits at once… if they stick.

Besides, your choices make you who you are. Being different is your strength. Choosing to be different is, in fact, a sign that you are an intelligent person.

At the end of the day, the best you can do is the best you can do. Focus your efforts on what will provide the greatest benefit, and don’t worry so much about being perfect.

“I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.”

Edward Everett Hale (American Clergyman and Writer 1822-1909)

Step into a Healthier, Green Lifestyle

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April 4th was National Walk to Work Day.  We might have missed it, but there’s no reason we can’t extend it to today and to places other than work.   As someone walks, he or she is saving money put into their vehicles (including costly repairs and gasoline) and spending a lot of their own energy instead - with each mile a person burns approximatly 100 calories.
According to the The Walking Site, burning  3500 calories is equal to one pound. Further, think of the amount of money and gasoline I’m saving!  I live about 1 mile driving distance from my school and lets say I go to school about 200 days of the year and that I live in a dorm.

200 days x 1 mile x 60 students in my school = 12,000 miles driven less this year!  That also means that collectively all the students have lost about 343 pounds!!!

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A Warm Reception for Eco-Weddings

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Wedding Eco-Chic Weddings: Have a Chic Green Wedding

As I plan my own wedding, I have been keeping an eye on my eco footprint my event will have.  While planning a wedding one is presented with an almost impossible number of options, as I keep an environmental eye on my selections, the choices are no less diminished.  You can buy earth-friendly napkins, invitations, flowers and apparrel.  Here are a number of useful tips and resources:

1) The Dress: I bought by vintage wedding gown on Craigslist for $30!  The alterations are costing me about a $150, but $180 for a wedding dress is a steal AND I will be ’reusing’ a perfectly good dress, instead of buying a brand new one.   Further, when you’re done with the dress, make sure to sell it or give it away.

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Spring cleaning- avoid a toxic dump

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Berks County (PA) historical home

Reading Eagle‘s Mike Urban said today it’s a good time to get rid of unwanted items, and disposing of them properly will help the environment, in his headline article “Green up your spring cleanup in Berks County.” The problem can be what to do with large, or chemical-based, or other stuff that shouldn’t –and sometimes must not– be simply thrown away on garbage day. Then there’s the stuff — like yard botanicals — that could be a benefit to the environment after its removal from where you don’t want it. There are safe, green ways to rid yourself of those items.

Green cleaning ideas from Mike Urban’s article:
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Get Over It Already: Cures for the Common Cold Part 2 of 2

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Blowing nose

Natural treatments for the common cold

  • Zinc: Research has shown that by giving zinc lozenges the duration of the cold can be reduced and severity can also be decreased.
  • Echinacea: Commonly called Purple coneflower, echinacea can also reduce the duration of illness and decrease the severity of cough, headache, and nasal congestion.
  • Garlic: A study found that a daily garlic supplement containing allicin, a purified component of garlic considered to be the major biologically active agent produced by the plant, reduced the risk of catching a cold by more than half.
  • Vitamins: Different studies have found that large doses of vitamin C may reduce the duration of a cold.
  • Chicken soup and fluids: It has been used for treating common colds at least since the 12th century. It may really help. The heat, fluid, and salt may help you fight the infection.
  • Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
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On new urbanism

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Katrina cottage

Anatevka move over. Concerns regarding the planet’s changing climate and the ills in the national housing market are serving to energize New Urbanism, says the Congress for the New Urbanism.

The movement’s holistic approach to building and rebuilding cities and towns – uniting the art of building, the creation of community, and the conservation of the natural world – is proving a rich source of solutions and long-term value in this time of significant change.

For the first time in Austin, Texas (hometown of our celebrated healthpatio denizen Eco Rock), the 16th Annual Congress for the New Urbanism was held from April 2-6, 2008. Katherine Gregor of the Austin Chronicle says the conference has a reputation for transforming thinking and land-use patterns in cities where it’s held. Cheers from HealthPatio for the 1,500+ planners, developers and others who gathered to promote the development of walkable neighborhoods and bring sprawl to a halt. (And jeers to the absent elected officials in city and county positions who neglected to sign up for even the introductory 101 session.)

Muggle housing But will it help keep Austin weird? I think so, considering the old urbanism of Robert Moses ala Long Island New York housing for muggles project.