Conservation 101: the Compete to Conserve Blog

photo credit: StuSeeger

This week, SustainLane released their annual ranking of city sustainability of the fifty most populous cities in the nation, with Portland, Oregon placing first, followed by San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago - each holding onto their same spots as last year.  My native city, New York City,  moved up one notch into fifth place.  Mesa, Arizona came in last.  The most improved city from the study was Columbus, Ohio, moving up to 37th from last place last year.  Las Vegas dropped the most, moving from 27th to 47th place.

Each city in this study was ranked according to the following criteria.  I’ve noted the city that ranked highest in each category:

• Air Quality (Honolulu, HI)
• City Commuting (Washington, DC)
• Energy & Climate Change (San Francisco, CA)
• Local Food/Agriculture (Minneapolis, MN)
• Green Building (Portland, OR)
• Green Economy (Portland, OR)
• Housing Affordability (San Antonio, TX)
• City Innovation (Portland, OR)
• Knowledge Base (Portland, OR)
• Metro Street Congestion (Cleveland, OH)
• Metro Transit Ridership (New York, NY)
• Natural Disaster Risk (Mesa, AZ)
• Planning/Land Use (New York, NY)
• Waste Management (San Francisco, CA)
• Tap Water Quality (Kansas City, MO)
• Water Supply (Chicago, IL)

(more…)

photo credit: thebittenword.com

This week’s round-up focuses on the edible side of an eco-conscious lifestyle.  Chew on this:

1. Planet Green shared some inventive ways to reuse stale bread.
2. The Daily Green advised on foods that pregnant women should eat organic.
3. Eat. Drink. Better. gave tips on growing food anywhere with an organic grow box. 
4. Groovy Green taught us how to tap maple trees for syrup.
5. And last, my favorite of the week - Green Daily uncovered a weird scoop about a Swiss restaurant serving breast milk! 

photo credit: charles chan *

When I first moved to Los Angeles from New York City,  I was taken aback by the taste of the tap water.   After being spoiled by the refreshingly crisp taste of NYC tap water, I couldn’t bring myself to drink the water in LA, except under dire circumstances.  I resorted to purchasing bottled water - large jugs that I would refill at the Glacier water stand in front of the local supermarket or 24-packs of bottled water (yes, shame on me).

I’m not proud of the water habit I acquired in my new habitat and have recently opted to use a Brita filtration system at home in lieu of purchasing bottled water.  Little did I know, however, that while I was eliminating a large chunk of plastic bottle waste, I began amassing new plastic waste! 

I was unaware that Brita (owned by Clorox) does not have a recycling program in place in North America as it does in Europe, which means that every used-up filter cartridge across the United States and Canada ends up in landfills.  The amount of waste resulting from this cartridge pile-up seems quite staggering when you consider the fact that Brita has the #1 market share of pour-through filter cartridges in the U.S. and Canada.  It is also the #1 faucet-mount filter in Canada and the #2 faucet-mount filter in the U.S (according to Clorox’s 2007 Annual Report).

Since Brita filters are recycled in Europe through its own private collection and recycling system, it should be possible for Clorox to implement a similar system here, right?  So, what can we do?

For those of you that enjoy Brita-filtered water, but are hesitating to throw your filters away into your trash can, check out this organization I found - TakeBackTheFilter.org - and join their campaign to urge Clorox to develop a take-back recycling program.  You can sign their petition; write a letter to a Clorox executive; or send in your used filter cartridges that they are collecting to deliver to Clorox en masse at some point in the future.  How cool is that!?!

This week, we take a peek into the eco-blogosphere at some sleek clothing and accessories that are paving the way toward a “greener” wardrobe for the eco-conscious style maven:

1. green LA girl unveiled a hip “bottles to bags” eco-line from Shoreline  that is made entirely of recycled PET plastic (aka recycled water and soda bottles).
2. TreeHugger brought us to the runways of NY Fashion Week, where the Be EcoChic campaign was launched, featuring earth-friendly, designer clothing modeled by celebrity models and actresses.
3. Sprig.com’s Eco Scoop revealed Sheryl Crow’s design of a limited edition, reusable shopping bag for Whole Foods’ A Better Bag campaign in support of the National Resources Defense Council’s Simple Steps program “to encourage shoppers to embrace simple steps in their everyday lives to reduce consumption and consider the environment.”
4. Style Saves The World introduced us to the really sweet  Yuko Collection of headbands from Lucy Notions, made of of vintage silk kimonos.
5. For mothers-to-be, Eco-Chick introduced us to a chic line of maternity wear, designed by Jessica Scott.

photo credit: Nicholas_T

According to a recent report from iSuppli, U.S. automakers are falling behind foreign suppliers in the manufacturing of eco-friendly electronics for cars.  While it is a shame that our country is behind the curve in this area, it is comforting to know that our options for ecologically friendly, fuel-saving driving have expanded beyond the hybrid car.  And let’s not forget - this isn’t the first time foreign carmakers have been ahead of the Americans in the realm of fuel economy.   Remember the Toyoto Prius? 

I’m sure the automakers in Detroit will eventually catch up on the latest technological advances to meet the demands of the American consumer.  But until they do, here is a glimpse into some of the latest options their foreign counterparts are bringing to the market place:

Better Gas Mileage Tools:

• The 2009 Kia Lotze is the first domestic vehicle in South Korea to feature an eco-driving system on the instrument cluster that color-codes driving patterns to help drivers get better gas mileage. This system is similar to the solution from Japanese OEMs, such as Nissan and Honda.
• The new-generation Honda Accord features an eco-driving system with an eco-lamp on its instrument cluster. The engine’s Engine Control Unit (ECU) calculates the Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) information, variable cylinder information and torque-for-MPG information, and the eco-lamp turns on when the vehicle is in its most fuel-efficient mode.
• Nissan just recently debuted the Eco Pedal, the world’s first system to actively monitor fuel consumption and encourage more efficient acceleration by adjusting back pressure on the accelerator pedal (See Craig’s HyperMiling posting).

Instruments That Monitor Your Driving Habits:

• The Fiat Blue&Me-based system records the consumption and emissions of each trip taken. The data then is recorded on a USB pen drive and can be analyzed on a home PC via EcoDrive software that conveys detailed information on the performance of the car, including carbon dioxide emission levels. After analyzing the driver’s style, the software generates recommendations on how to modify that style to achieve carbon reductions.
• Audi has a new application that allows drivers to choose not only the fastest or shortest route but also the most fuel-efficient path.  According to Audi officials, by avoiding upward slopes, city streets and stoplights as much as possible, overall gas consumption can be lowered by up to 5 percent.  Audi recently announced that this feature will first be built into the navigation system of its next-generation Multimedia Interface (MMI) slated for the A8, A6, and Q5.

In the mean time, before you run out and trade your car in for the latest eco-technologically advanced automobile, check out some simple driving and car maintenance tips from EcoDrivingUSA.org to start reducing fuel and carbon emissions today.

For those of you who read Green Cinematic Happenings Coming Your Way, posted on August 23rd, I have updates for you:

The title for FIELDS OF FUEL has been changed to FUEL.  The film will be released in Los Angeles on October 12th so look out for it!

Also, as a part of Slow Food Nation ‘08, Participant Media unveiled clips from the upcoming FOOD, Inc. To learn more, check out this report from The Daily Table.

At CTC, we can’t get enough of the cool earth-saving inventions and ideas that keep popping up all around us.  Here are some of our favorites of the week brought to you by our fellow eco-bloggers:

1. TreeHugger informed us of Coca-Cola’s new “eKOfresh” vending machines that were exhibited at every Olympic venue in Beijing.   
2. The Budget Ecoist discussed a new motion-powered cell phone charger to be released next year by M2E Power.
3. EcoGeek shared another kinetic energy concept — The Revolution Door from Fluxxlab — generating energy from revolving doors.
4. Environmental Graffiti introduced us to the Green Microgym — a new human-powered gym in Portland, Oregon.
5. While this GreenUpgrader posting is technically from last week, I couldn’t resist including the really hip, yet eerie invention — ARKA Ecopod, a compressed recycled paper coffin!

photo credit: lumaxart

Paper, plastic, aluminum… sounds simple, right?  The general population has grown accustomed to recycling at home and even at work (hopefully).  But when my boyfriend threw an empty cigarette pack into my bag full of recyclable items that I was gathering for the week, it made me question the common recycling knowledge I thought I had acquired over the years.  The truth is, outside of soda bottles, beer cans, and newspapers, there is a plethora of items are questionable. 

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind the next time you question whether or not something should be dumped with your trash or sent out to a recycling center.  I recommend checking out your city’s guidelines for additional clarification on which items meet the requirements for curbside recycling programs. 

PAPER:

All Clean Dry Paper: computer, ledger, wrapping, arts and craft paper, unwanted mail, flyers, telephone books (separate the spine from the pages), note cards, newspaper, blueprints, magazines, file folders, paper bags, Post-it notes, catalogs; and all envelopes including those with windows.

All Cardboard Boxes and Chipboard: cereal, tissue, dry food, frozen food, shoe, and detergent boxes; paper and toilet rolls; and corrugated boxes broken down and flattened.  These should not be recycled:

1. Pizza boxes (grease contamination) - consider composting methods if you are a Pizza Hut junkie!
2. Boxes that have not been flattened and emptied out
3. Wet Boxes

METALS:

All Aluminum, Tin, Metal, and Bi-Metal Cans: rinsed if possible, soda, juice, soup, vegetables, and pet food cans; pie tins; clean aluminum foils; empty paint and aerosol cans with plastic caps removed, and wire hangers.

GLASS:

All Glass Bottles and Jars: rinsed if possible, soda, wine, beer, spaghetti sauce, pickle jars, broken bottles, and etc.  Note - most recycling programs will only accept glass containers because products such as drinking glasses, light bulbs, mirrors and Pyrex have been treated with contaminants when manufactured.

PLASTICS:

All Clean Plastics 1 Through 7
Empty Plastic Containers: rinsed if possible, soda, juice, detergent, bleach, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, dish washing liquid bottles, milk jugs, tubs for margarine and yogurt, plastic planters, food and blister packaging.

All Plastic Bags and All Film Bags: grocery bags and dry cleaner bags, and all clean film plastic.

All Clean Polystyrene (Styrofoam®): Styrofoam® cups, containers, and packaging such as Styrofoam®   egg shell cartons, Styrofoam® block packaging, and Styrofoam® clamshell packaging.

Miscellaneous Plastics: Plastic coat hangers, non-electric plastic toys, plastic swimming pools, & plastic laundry baskets.

HAZARDOUS WASTES AND ELECTRONICS:

Automotive Products: motor oil, brake and transmission fluid, antifreeze and car batteries, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, car wax with solvent, and windshield wiper fluid.

Home Improvement Products: paint, varnish, stain, paint thinner, paint stripper, caulk, adhesives, primer, rust remover, turpentine, mineral spirits and glues.

Household Cleaners: drain cleaners, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, spot removers, silver polishes, furniture polishes, window cleaners, bleach, dyes, tub and tile cleaner, and ammonia.

Pesticides: insecticide and insect repellant, weed killer, rat and mouse poison, pet spray and dip, flea collars, mothballs, ant/roach killer, garden fungicides, slug poison, wood preservative, and banned pesticides.

Other household hazardous products: certain electronics, batteries, aerosol products, air fresheners, smoke detectors, shoe polish, cosmetics, pool chemicals, lighter fluid, prescription medicines, and arts and craft materials.

In addition to donation centers and municipal programs, many manufacturers and retailers have begun their own recycling programs for electronic goods.  The EPA’s website has a ton of resources to assist you with “e-cycling” as well as disposal of hazardous waste.

And for those of you that were wondering if cigarette packs are indeed recyclable, the answer really depends on your local municipal waste center’s regulations.  I did find out that most cities in Rhode Island do not accept cigarette packs in their recycling programs.  The Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation’s website did not specify. 

Additional Resources:

Earth 911 - http://earth911.org/

City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation - http://www.lacity.org/SAN/index.htm

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

As we get ready for a work-free, eco-friendly Labor Day weekend, CTC would like to take a moment to point out some of our favorite ”green living” tips of the week across the web.  Enjoy!

1. Before you fire up the barbecue grill this weekend, check out the “Green Grilling Guide” on The Huffington Post.
2. For the ladies, Planet Green suggests a really cool and economical way to make homemade blush out of strawberries. 
3. The Daily Green shows us a fantastic and simple way to clean your windows with vinegar and newspaper.
4. GreenStrides touts hemp as the optimal bed linen fabric for your earth-friendly bed.
5. And last, in honor of Labor Day, Ideal Bite advises those who can work from home to do so at least one day a week - save fuel and sleep in!

Environmental issues took center stage in Hollywood when Al Gore’s AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH came out in 2006 and won the Oscar for “Best Documentary” the following year.  It wasn’t the first film to draw attention to the alarming ecological issues our world is facing today and certainly not the last.

For all you eco-enthusiasts who are hungry for more ”green” cinematic fare, here is a glimpse at some of the latest offerings to hit theaters soon:

FLOW

Opening in NY and LA on September 12th (then rolling out into other markets)

Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

FLOW Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGd9D4J0lag

FIELDS OF FUEL

Opening this Fall/Winter 2008/2009 (TBD)

This documentary, directed by environmental activist Josh Tickell, exposes the problem of America’s dependence on foreign oil and explores the use of biodiesel as an economical and sustainable alternative fuel as a solution to the looming energy crisis we are facing. 

This highly anticipated film, won the “Audience Award” for Best Documentary at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and is sweeping the film festival circuit across the nation on its way to a theater near you.

FIELDS OF FUEL Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAqmw0cyRco

Also, be on the look out for Participant Media’s FOOD, Inc. which will have its world premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival. 

In FOOD, INC., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that’s been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.

Featuring Eric Schlosser (”Fast Food Nation”), Michael Pollan (”The Omnivore’s Dilemma”) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms’ Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms’ Joe Salatin, FOOD, INC. reveals surprising — and often shocking truths — about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.