My Green Switch Was Flicked On

I was watching Live Earth, I said, Self, what can you do for the environment? So I created this blog. I do a fair bit but I'm running out of ideas. I'm hoping people post comments or suggestions. Let's all do a couple of things to make the EARTH better.



Things I've done to help the environment:

1 Replaced 21 light bulbs with CFL's.
2 Put a few lights on motion detectors.
3 Use a real coffee mug and silverware at my desk.
4 Only buy fair trade and/or organic coffee.
5 Only buy organic produce and meat.
6 On the 100 mile diet. (90% Compliant)
7. Use my own grocery bag.
8. Try to buy products with less packaging.
9. Switched to paperless banking/bill payment.
10 Don't use air conditioning.
11. Take public transit.
12. Unplug instant on stuff, except for VCR and alarm clock.
13. Buy only sustainable power from Bullfrog.
14. Switched to Ice Melter instead of salt.
15. Offset the rest of my emmisions with a carbon credit.

Green things I still need to do:

1 Get rid of my extra beer fridge. (I don't know about this because I brew my own and it need's to be refrigerated.)
2. Quit smoking. (OK, so I'm working on this now)
3. Buy a hybrid. (So, I couldn't buy a hybrid this time cause I had to get a work truck but, I'll limit my driving and will buy a hybrid for personal use at a later date)

Please Note: I am not a writer. Most of these articles are shared from other sources. Please use the links provided to get the whole article from the source site. Please support these sites too! We all have a role to play.

Where I'm At Now

I've decided that organic may not be the way to go. What's the sense of shipping an organic product 3,000 miles if I can find a locally produced item? OK, so it may not be organic but I guess it's a balance between chemicals to grow or chemicals to ship. I've actually found local chicken, beef, pork, lamb and goat, all naturally raised, antibiotic free and free range where applicable. I've managed to find local potatoes, yams, carrots, onions and garlic all winter. I also have a local hydroponic lettuce grower and besides lettuce he grows cucumber, bell peppers and tomatoes.

I've switched to Bullfrog Power. Bullfrog uses only environmentally sustaining power sources like wind as well as low-impact hydro-electric.

I've also discovered Guerrilla Gardening. Take over an abandoned patch and make it grow. Stay tuned.

Well this year, I've decided to post more about what I'm doing. I'll still have cool products once in a while, especially if I've tried or switched to them.

Friday, February 29, 2008

New York's Black Taxis to Go Green


NYC (TGW) – New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg unveiled new fuel emissions standards for the city’s 10,000 black taxis that will compel the owners to buy more fuel efficient cars. Read more here, http://thoughtsonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-yorks-black-taxis-to-go-green-cut.html

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Energy From Banana Waste to Fuel Cars in Australia


A plant in Australia will use methane from banana waste to power cars.
Still in the prototype stage, the factory, built by Growcom, will transform banana waste into biomethane, which will then be used in vehicles powered by natural gas.
Read here, http://thoughtsonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2008/02/energy-from-banana-waste-to-fuel-cars.html Press release, http://www.ngvglobal.com/en/technology/banana-biomethane-project-progresses.html

Monday, February 25, 2008

African Town Gets Wind Power and Knowledge


The people of Cameroon, Africa will soon learn how to construct their own wind turbines and hydroelectric plants using local materials in a pilot project organized by Munich, Germany-based Green Step. Read here, http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=51394

Saturday, February 23, 2008

The Pentagon Warns Climate Change Will Bring Global Catastrophe


In a secret report,President Bush has been warned that rioting, nuclear war, rising seas that will sink costal cities are just a few of the calamities the will befall earth in 20 years if global warming continues. Read the story here, http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-pentagon-warns-climate-change-will-bring-global-catastrophe/

Friday, February 22, 2008

Water-Activated Generator


Hydrogen fuel cells may be decades away from widespread use in cars, but later this year, consumers will be able to buy a fuel-cell generator that's light and compact enough to grab off a shelf during a blackout--or even take on a backpacking trip. Check out the site here, http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/20238/

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Morality and Markets: The Depth of our Carbon Footprints

Change your lightbulbs, buy local food, keep your tires properly inflated: all of us in the green publishing space, both online and off, promote such actions as ways for all of us to live greener lives, and, more specifically, to cut our carbon footprints. But, the "simple actions" approach to sustainability also runs the risk of becoming simplistic, and even moralistic. Read here, http://sustainablog.org/2008/02/18/morality-and-markets-the-depth-of-our-carbon-footprints/

Monday, February 18, 2008

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Who Owns Your Favorite Organic Brand?

What do Coca-Cola, Kellogg and Dean Foods have in common, besides being marketers of some of the most popular food items found on grocery shelves? They all own organic brands. Read more, http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/02/10/who-owns-your-favorite-organic-brand/

Monday, February 11, 2008

Biofuels Emit 420 Times More CO2 Than Fossil Fuels

A new study from The Nature Conservancy and the University of Minnesota finds that many biofuels — seen by many as a potentially low-carbon energy source — actually emit more greenhouse gases than the fossil fuels they aim to replace. Read here, http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/features/art23819.html

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Judge: Bush can't exempt Navy in sonar

LOS ANGELES - President Bush cannot exempt the Navy from environmental laws banning sonar training that opponents argue harms whales, a federal judge ruled Monday. See the rest here, http://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080205/ap_on_re_us/navy_sonar_2.html

Wind Energy Grows 45% in 2007

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported last week record growth in wind power generation with 5,244 megawatts of capacity installed in 2007 – a 45% increase reflecting $9 billion in investment and 30% of all new power generating capacity in 2007. Read here, http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/wind-energy-grows-45-in-2007-002867.php

Monday, February 4, 2008

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Plastic Bag Use in Ireland Essentially Eliminated After Plastic Bag Tax

In 2002, Ireland put a tax on plastic bags because of environmental concerns. On a separate note, last year, the same country announced plans to tax cars based on lightbulbs and a decision to ban incandescent lightbulbs. Read here, http://thoughtsonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2008/02/plastic-bag-use-in-ireland-essentially.html
See the fact sheet on plastic bags here, http://thoughtsonglobalwarming.blogspot.com/2007/08/plastic-bags-statistics-and-theyre-not.html

Friday, February 1, 2008

I've Started The 100 Mile Diet

Here is a sample market run. Not all of this is available during the winter

All Produce was Local & Organic, Lettuce - Romaine, Red Leaf & Green Leaf
Celery, Peppers - Green, Orange, Red & PURPLE, Radish, Green Onion, Cucumber
(That's my weekly salad stuff)

Spinach, Swiss Chard, Peas, Corn, White and Sweet Potatoes
Onions, Apples, Pears
Lots more available but I didn't buy.

Dairy, All Local & Organic (Naturally Raised or Free Range)Milk (In Glass Bottles), Cheese, Butter, Eggs, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese,
Sour Cream & others available but I didn't buy.

Bread and Rolls, Organic but not all grains local. I've been baking my own too, using local if possible.

And for the Meat Eaters, All Local & Naturally Raised
Chicken - Whole, Boneless & Skinless Cuts (Other Cuts Available)
Lamb Chops (Other Cuts Available)Pork Chops (Other Cuts Available)
Beef - Steak, Ground (Other Cuts Available)
There were other products such as Goat, Emu and others that I didn't buy.

Now, I know not everything is available to all but if you can replace half of your grocery list with local products you would be doing what you can as well as telling retailers you want local products.
I know I'll have a challenge in February. There won't be as much local produce available.
I've committed to starting a greenhouse garden in my basement and growing my salad.I'll let you know how that works out.
Barry

Update: June 2,2008

February produce was a challenge but I found lettuce, bell peppers, cucumber and tomatoes, all grown locally the hydroponic way. At least I had a small salad every day.

I don't have a basement greenhouse yet but I do have a backyard garden.

More later.

Update, August 18th 2008

Well the vegetable garden was a bust. I put in a 10' X 12' garden but I don't get enough sun in my yard. We have tomatoes and peppers in containers and they are doing much better. Looks like I need a new plan.

Update, September 12,2009

So gardening at my house is out. Too shady.
I switched to Bullfrog Power a year ago. My hydro comes from wind and non destructive hydro-electric.
I gave up driving to work a year ago as well.

With a friend of mine, we started Earth Hour By The Dozen.
It's Earth Hour but we have it on the 4th Saturday of every month.

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