Archive for environment

Greening Your Valentine

January 31, 2008 at 5:10 am · Filed under Going Green, Green Living, Healthy Living, Live Green, Organic, Sustainability, World of Green, environment, green, green gifts ·Tagged , , , ,

Want to wow your valentine and save the planet? Try a few of these gifts. They’re sure to impress.

Valentine’s Day. For most it conjures up fond memories of romance, chocolates, sweet cards, flowers… and a bit of pressure. We’ve all felt the pressure to get a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s gift without breaking the bank and (for all of us eco-conscious folks out there) not hurting the planet. Fellow Valentines, have no fear. We have a few options for you to Green Your Valentine. Just make sure you order in time to avoid the Valentine’s Day rush!

CHOCOLATE

No Valentine’s Day would be complete without chocolate. But chocolate has a not-so-romantic history which is why it is important to buy your chocolate organic and fair trade. Fair Trade ensures that your chocolates come from farms that support the human rights of their workers and Organic ensures sustainable farming practices for the environment. For the chocolate lover in your life, we highly recommend the following: Theo Chocolate. A few suggestions for every price range: (3400 Phinney Nib Brittle Dark Chocolate Bar ($3.25 each), 6 or 12 piece collection box of confections, ($12 to $24) or the Aphrodisiac Confection Collection ($40) created especially for the Valentine’s holiday.

FLOWERS

If your special someone is fond of gifts of a more floral nature, we suggest Organic Bouquet. Organic Bouquet’s selection of flowers, plants and gift baskets is strictly devoted to organically grown, sustainable and environmentally friendly gifts. Consider giving a plant (a miniature Tuscan olive tree, $64.95) or flowers in a bulb bowl (Paperwhites in a bulb bowl $16.95), to add an extra dimension of sustainability to your gift.

CANDLES

If candles are what your sweetheart wants, consider Novica’s artist from Thailand Kasarin Krisanamis, whose original and thoughtful designs will please and inspire any Valentine. We particularly like Cinnamon Parade ($24.95) and Wonderful Blue Corner ($62.95). Novica specializes in gifts from artisans around the world which are brought to market in a sustainable, ethical and fairly traded fashion.

If you are still stumped for gifts for your sweetie, nothing beats time spent with your loved one and a good, old fashioned card (preferably a homemade or recycled paper card) with a few sweet sentences attached. In fact, no matter what you do, make sure that quality time with your loved one and some heart-felt appreciation is part of your celebration.

Written by Penelope - the Newbie at We Can Live Green

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Poudre School District - Greening Leader in 2007

January 21, 2008 at 3:03 am · Filed under Allie - Reporting Green, Climate Change, Going Green, Green Building, Green Living, Healthy Living, Live Green, Sustainability, environment, green ·Tagged , ,

If you are in need of a model school district for a greening initiative in your state, look no further. Poudre School District is leading the charge on greening initatives. With an energy conservation plan dating back to 1994, Poudre School District in Fort Collins, Colorado has paved the way for like-minded schools.

A few stats about Poudre School District (PSD):

1. PSD is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, 40 miles north of Denver.

2. PSD covers 1,800 square miles, 48 schools and 3 charter schools and 24,500 students.

A few stats to wow you:
1. PSD has completed 139 energy efficiency projects since 1994.
2. PSD has completed Energy Star benchmarking of all schools and adminstrative offices.
3. Ongoing yearly savings from these projects is $400,000 per year.
4. PSD has recycled over 300 tons of paper, cardboard, magazines, aluminum, plastic, glass, technology and wood in fiscal year 2007 alone.
5. PSD is one of the first to have Silver and Gold LEED certified schools built in their school district.

For more information, go to Poudre School District.

Written by Allie, Reporting Green at We Can Live Green

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Auld Lang Syne…and Going Green in 2008

January 8, 2008 at 5:05 am · Filed under Chase - Die-Hard Greenie, Climate Change, Fair Trade, Going Green, Green Building, Green Living, Healthy Living, Live Green, Organic, Sustainability, environment, green

Who doesn’t love the sweet, reminiscent sound of Auld Lang Syne at the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year?

And who doesn’t love the promise of starting fresh in the new year?

I’ve always been a fan of the song (which roughly translated means “times gone by” - more directly, “old long since”) and I’ve been an even bigger fan of the prospect of starting fresh on January 1.

What will 2008 bring to America and the planet? My hope is a renewed commitment to our home, planet Earth. I encourage everyone out there, in whatever capacity is possible for you, to make ‘going green’ (or ‘going greener’ for those of you well on the path to a greener lifestyle) your New Year’s Resolution.

At We Can Live Green, we’ve devised a 365 Day Pledge to Go Green. You don’t have to start it at the beginning of a new year. But if you’re searching for a New Year’s Resolution, why not try it? You can find the pledge at 365 Day Pledge.

Good luck!

Chase the Die Hard Greenie, We Can Live Green

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Our Quest for a New Vehicle - Week Three

December 23, 2007 at 11:21 pm · Filed under Climate Change, Green Living, Healthy Living, Jim & Marina - Newly Married and Newly Green, Live Green, Sustainability, alternative fuel vehicles, environment, green, green pioneers, hybrid ·Tagged , , , ,

We’ve been scouring the California countryside for the perfect hybrid car. Last week, we drove the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. This week, the Honda Civic hybrid.

Marina: The Honda Civic hybrid is gorgeous and drives so well! With a reported
40 mpg city and 45 mpg highway, the Civic is comparable to the Prius, except it is roomier and feels safer.

Jim: The Honda Civic has a 5 star crash rating for frontal and side-impact crash testing. Safety is my number one concern and Honda definitely passes the test.

Marina: The mpg is great! Fuel efficiency is my biggest concern.

Jim: At first glance, it seems that Honda might be our car.

Marina: Except the Civic isn’t roomy enough for our trips to the mountains and to the oceans.

Jim: We need clearance for the snow and the ability to get where we need to get in the mountains. For our days at the ocean, we need room to store our surfboards.

We found a great document to review that gives the scorecards on all 2008 hybrid vehicles. It also breaks down the different rating systems for the hybrid vehicles. Take a look.

While we are excited about the Honda’s mpg, safety and track record, we are still looking for just the right fit for us. We both secretly have our preferred vehicle but we will keep looking. We only have a few more cars we are considering. We’ll keep you posted!

Jim and Marina - We Can Live Green

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Hugo, Our Faces Love You!

December 17, 2007 at 2:01 am · Filed under Going Green, Green Living, Healthy Living, Live Green, Organic, Penelope - the Newbie, environment, green, green gifts ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

I am admittedly the biggest Hugo’s Natural Botanical Apothecary products fan ever! And when I saw Hugo this weekend at the EcoGift Expo, I was starstruck. The man is amazing. And humble. And brilliant. And he creates extraordinary products.

Hugo Natural Botanical Apothecary

Which brings me to a sample he gave me to try. Hugo’s Lip Balm in pineapple and coconut scent. I hope he gave it to me to try out of the kindness of his heart and not because he could see the sad, wintry chapped lips I have right now. But none the less, I was given lip balm. And I tried it.

Not that I would have expected anything less from Hugo, but I love the lip balm! My personal experience with lip balm is that your lips feel great for about half an hour. Then, before you know it, your lips are back to being chapped again. That is not the case with Hugo’s Lip Balm. (Again, I am not surprised. My personal belief is that Hugo is part-magician, as his products work miracles!) I put on lip balm at 7:00ish last night and it is 5:45 p.m. on Sunday. I haven’t reapplied lip balm since yesterday. It works that well! And the flavors are delicious…just don’t eat them. I mean it.

Penelope, the Newbie - We Can Live Green

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California Community and City Council Come Together for Compromise on Open Space

December 16, 2007 at 9:03 pm · Filed under Allie - Reporting Green, Healthy Living, Live Green, Sustainability, environment ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

The Thousand Oaks city council agreed to compromise on a plan to develop Broome Ranch (aka Rancho Potrero) due to a stunning and eloquent community outcry. The original Broome Ranch development plan called for a 200 person plus pavilion to be developed in land that adjoins the Santa Monica National Park system, in addition to smaller structures and parking lots. This plan was met with strong disapproval from the community, which like many other communities in California have seen their national wild lands whittled down over the last twenty years for residential and commercial building projects.

Save Open Space

A final stand was made the evening of December 5, where community members from all professions and walks of life voiced their concerns in front of a focus group, related agencies and city representatives. In a truly moving and eloquent display of environmental stewardship, members of the community pleaded with city officials to consider the short and long-term impacts of disrupting one of the last untouched ecosystems in the state of California. Biologists warned of ecological disruption on endangered and declining species in the region. Parents begged to keep Broome Ranch wild. Children stood up and spoke about their love for the area.

And, it appears, the city council listened. A compromise was reached and will go before the Thousand Oaks City Council, Conejo Recreation and Parks District and the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency.

“In wildness lies the preservation of mankind.” Henry David Thoreau

Allie - Reporting Green at We Can Live Green

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California Does It Again…the Green Schools Summit

December 14, 2007 at 4:37 am · Filed under Allie - Reporting Green, Climate Change, Going Green, Green Building, Green Living, Healthy Living, Live Green, Sustainability, environment, green ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Green Technology, in conjunction with the state of California, held the first California Green Schools Summit last week. The Summit, aimed at furthering Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s green building initiatives in California schools, brought together state officials, environmental leaders, green products and services companies and a host of celebrities in a three day summit held December 4-6, 2007 in Pasadena, California.

The summit featured:

  • 75 educational workshops and sessions
  • an exhibition floor complete with a model green school building and more than 200 companies offering green products and services
  • a special “Student Summit” featuring green-school projects for California high school students
  • keynote speakers
  • an awards ceremony to celebrate sustainable schools throughout the state.

As Secretary Rosario Marin and State Architect David Thorman wrote in a recent commentary for the Summit, ” A school is not just a building, as any parent or teacher can tell you. Our schools provide an environment that fosters learning and provides young people with knowledge and experience that enable them to imagine their futures.” Indeed, it is no minor task to create a school that facilitates learning and provides a safe and healthy environment for students to learn. Add in the moral mandate we all have to build in an ethical, sustainable and socially responsible fashion, and one can quickly ascertain that the task set before Californians for greener schools is an immense challenge.

But it is not an impossible challenge, as evidenced by the tremendous number of exhibitors, state officials, educators, students and community members who participated in this event. California has set the pace for other states in recent legislation titled Proposition 1D, which allocated $100 million to assist the process of greening California’s K-12 schools.

Never one to shy away from leading the rest of the country, California is setting the pace once again.

For more information on the Green Schools Summit, please go to Green Technology.

Allie - Reporting Green for We Can Live Green

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Our Quest for a New Vehicle - Week Two

December 10, 2007 at 5:44 am · Filed under Climate Change, Going Green, Green Living, Healthy Living, Jim & Marina - Newly Married and Newly Green, Live Green, alternative fuel vehicles, environment ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

We drove a few hybrid models this week. We focused this week on Toyota - so we tried the Prius and the new Highlander Hybrid. We had mixed reviews on both based upon our goals of fuel efficiency (Marina) and safety (Jim). Following are a few of our thoughts:

Jim: The Prius gets great gas mileage, but when driving in it, I felt a bit like it is a deathtrap on wheels. You’d have to drive the Southern California freeways to get what I mean here. Any one out there that does knows that safety is always a concern when driving on the freeways. Speaking of safety, the crash test ratings are great for the vehicle. However, these crash tests are always measured as a straight on or direct side collision with one object stationary. Accidents don’t happen that way and the laws of physics will definitely be in the favor of a larger vehicle if this Prius gets hit on the road. There’s got to be a safer option out there.

Marina: Yes, it is a smaller car. I happen to think they are cute. And I love what they stand for. Freedom from the gas pump. I like feeling like I am making a strong statement every time I get in my car. The Prius feels like a taller vehicle inside than I imagined. The only thing I really didn’t like was that I felt very vulnerable in the event of a side crash. There’s not much between the occupants of the car and the world outside. I don’t like that. Also, no more trips to the mountains (snowboarding) or oceans (surfing) with this car.

Jim: Now the Highlander Hybrid is a different story for me. It’s safe - all five star crash test ratings except for the passenger side which received a four star crash test rating. It’s a little bulkier. Due to its size, it should survive a crash better, and there are front and side curtain airbags. It would fit our lifestyle, Marina’s interest in fuel efficiency and my goal of safety.

Marina: I liked the way the Highlander Hybrid drove. Very smooth. It has a great feature where I can monitor my fuel efficiency as I drive. The Highlander Hybrid is an SULEV which means it is 90% more fuel efficient than an average vehicle. The Prius has a PZEV rating and it is 95%plus more efficient than an average vehicle. I don’t know how much difference that 5%plus makes. I’m looking that up this week. The Highlander Hybrid does feel safer and it fits our lifestyle. I think we are both interested in the Highlander, but I want to explore all options first.

Until next week -

Jim and Marina, Newly Married and Newly Green, writing for We Can Live Green

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Our Quest for a New Vehicle - Week One

December 2, 2007 at 11:51 pm · Filed under Climate Change, Going Green, Green Living, Healthy Living, Jim & Marina - Newly Married and Newly Green, Live Green, Sustainability, alternative fuel vehicles, environment, green, hybrid

We’re relative newcomers to the world of green. So, we’ve been spending a lot of time trying to find the ‘perfect’ solution to our transportation needs. A little about us…we are married couple in our thirties, with two careers, a dog, student loans and a mortgage. We love the outdoors and spend a lot of time in the mountains and in the water. We are looking for a more energy-efficient vehicle that can support our outdoors lifestyle.

We have spent the last nine months or so researching vehicle options and have settled on a hybrid as our next choice. Jim will be ready for another car in a couple of years, and we hope there will be better options for electric, hydrogen or biodiesel. We are excited about the prospect of electric vehicles, but as of December 2007, there are no affordable ($30,000 or less) highway-worthy (drive 60 mph or above) vehicles. If any electric car manufacturers are out there reading, we are ready and waiting! Until then, a hybrid is the choice for us. The next question is, which hybrid?

Jim: My number one issue is safety. I want a vehicle that is safe for my wife and for our future family. We also need a car that can take us to the mountains or ocean.

Marina: My number one concern is fuel-efficiency and smog emissions. I can’t stand paying so much for gas and I hate being a part of the climate change problem!

Jim: I appreciate Marina’s concern about fuel-efficiency. I feel the same way except I don’t want to compromise safety in this process. Car accidents are so common here in Southern California where we live, and I want to make sure we are as safe as we can be when we drive.

Marina: I know safety is important. But I just feel guilty not doing as much as I can to help our planet.

This week, we’ll start test driving hybrids. We’ll keep you posted. Wish us luck!

Jim and Marina, We Can Live Green at http://www.wecanlivegreen.com

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Green Gift Ideas

November 24, 2007 at 8:43 pm · Filed under Allie - Reporting Green, Fair Trade, Going Green, Green Living, Healthy Living, Live Green, Organic, environment, green, green gifts, green holiday shopping

The holiday season. For most it conjures up fond memories of warm family moments, childlike joy and…sheer panic. We’ve felt the sheer panic at trying to find the right gift for our special someone without breaking the bank and (for all of us eco-conscious folks out there) not hurting the planet. Holiday shoppers have no fear. We have a few options for you that are sure to please. Just make sure you order in time to avoid the holiday rush!

For the Chocolate Lover, try Dagoba Chocolates. Dagoba’s organic, full circle sustainability chocolates are a delight to the senses. Winner of the EPA’s Green Power Leadership Award, Food and Wines’ Tastemaker Award, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Best Dark Chocolate Award, these chocolates are a true work of ‘Art of Chocolate Alchemy.’ We recommend the Hot Chocolate Trio gift box for cold nights by the fire and the Dagoba Organic Dark Chocolate Lavendar Bar for a decadent afternoon treat. (http://www.dagobachocolate.com)

For the Spa Guru, try Hugo’s Natural Botanical Apothecary skin care and spa products line. Hugo’s exquisitely scented line of products are soothing, moisturizing, all natural, organic and vegan approved. Hugo Saavedra, owner and creator of Hugo Naturals says, ‘Be good to your skin, be good to the earth.’ With these fantastic products, who wouldn’t? Our favorites: the Brown Sugar and Kumquat Body Scrub, Lemon Verbena and Bergamot Shower Gel, and Vanilla & Sweet Orange Effervescent Bath Salts. (http://www.hugonaturals.com)

For the Highly Fashionable, try a design from Linda Loudermilk’s Fall 2007 collection. Her incredibly creative, always lovely and amazingly fashion-forward garments include such fabrics as sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell and soya. With her Luxury-Eco designs and fabrics, Loudermilk is proving that Going Green is necessary, attainable and hyper-cool. Check http://www.lindaloudermilk.com for stores near you.

For the Philanthropist in your life, try giving a charitable gift that will make a big difference - the gift of livestock. Heifer International, an organization committed to ending world hunger by providing needy families with livestock, focuses on providing communities sustainable resources so they can become more self-sufficient. Their specific focus is livestock, which are an integral part of the family unit, providing food security and nutritional self-sufficiency. To learn more, please visit http://www.heiferinternational.com.

For the Outdoorsperson, try the InfoMate World Band Solar/Generator Portable Radio, a solar-powered, compact and lightweight radio. You can listen to AM/FM radio, short wave foreign radio, VHF bands, television audio and the National Weather Service. Check http://www.survivalunlimited.com to order online.

For the Beer Lover in your life, try Wolaver’s Organic Ales. Located in beautiful Middlebury,Vermont, Wolaver’s Organic Ales blend a love for great ale with a love for sustainable production. Brewed in small batches to ensure freshness and quality, Wolaver’s Organic Ales are made with no less than 98% certified organic ingredients. For a retailer near you, go to http://www.wolavers.com.

For the Kid(s) in your life, try Progressive Kid. An amazing website with a tremendous assortment of eco-friendly, progressive and organic products for children of all ages. For more information, try http://www.progressivekid.com.

For the Pet Lover, explore EarthDog and Purrfectplay, two companies committed to making sure Fido and Fluffy are organic too! Their pet products include natural organic beds, organic toys and treats and much more. For more information, go to http://www.earthdog.com and http://www.purrfectplay.com.

For a New Baby in the family, shop at Little Twig. These fun and trendy items are great for baby and the environment. We suggest the Bath Time Basics Bath Kit, the Bumblebee Travel Basics Kit and Scrubby Bug Mitts. To order, go to http://www.littletwig.com.

For that Special Someone in your life, try Jurlique’s Almond Carrier Oil for massage and relaxation. Pair this with a little quality time, and your special someone is sure to thank you. Go to http://www.jurlique.com for more details.

For a Fabulous Stocking Stuffer, try the Go! Towel. This poker-sized 100% bamboo fiber towel expands to 14” x 20” when water is added. This natural antibacterial/microbial, organically grown, unbleached, undyed and unscented towel promises to revolutionize the way you look at tissues, paper towels and paper products in general. Oh, and did we mention they are machine washable and completely biodegradable? For more information, go to http://www.luxebamboo.com.

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