Kindermusik green

"The Greenest Thing Ever To Happen to Retail"??

2009-07-14T11:50:00.002-05:00

Walmart's Sustainability Index could be the greenest thing ever to happen to retail.

Interesting. Walmart's still no good for Main Street, but as one of a half dozen stores that can actually change WHAT is manufactured and HOW, this truly is a staggering step.

Not only would products' environmental information be labeled; the idea is that Walmart would also exercise its purchasing power BASED ON this data. Meaning products and companies with bad environmental records and effects would be LABELED as such if they were in the store, but might also not even make it into the store in the first place.

A story worth following.

Could You Use a Green Tax Break?

2009-03-30T15:36:00.003-05:00

In case you haven't heard, the oft-mentioned but not-as-oft understood Stimulus Package includes a variety of tax credits for qualified energy efficiency improvements.

Some highlights that could affect YOU include tax credits for:
-materials costs (not labor) related to more energy efficient insulation, windows, furnace, boiler, and A/C installed in 2009.
-up to 30% of some larger energy-efficiency projects.
-geothermal heat pumps and small wind turbines.
-plug-in hybrid/electric cars and motorcycles, vehicle fuel cell systems

These are national tax credits. State-by-state tax credits and incentives have also been funded, so be sure to check out your own state's allocations and requirements.

If you have some energy-efficiency projects in mind for your house or car, this could very well be the perfect year to make them reality.

Specifics and qualifications will vary according to state, income, and project, so you'll have to take it from here, but here are a few good places to start your research:

Energy Star
Department of Energy
Alliance to Save Energy

St. Patrick's Green-o-Meter Off to a Good Start

2009-03-17T06:57:00.003-05:00

A follow-up, about 15 hours later, at the close of St. Patrick's Day: how? How could they resist? Maybe everybody blew all their "green" jokes on St. Patrick's Day last year? I'm so...is it disappointed or proud? Hard to say.
Molly

* * *

Let's have some fun. How many "Go Green for St. Patrick's Day" list-serv messages do you think I'll receive today? Me, I'm guessin'...5, without even looking outside of my Inbox. Ready? Ticker starts NOW.

1. National Wildlife Federation

You don’t need four-leaf clovers to go green this St. Patrick’s Day. Just follow these easy steps and you’ll be reducing your impact on mother nature in no time.

1. Fix that drip. Water dripping from a
leaky faucet can waste up to 5,000
gallons of water a year. And, a leaky
toilet can waste a whopping 25,000
gallons a year.
2. Keep your tires properly inflated to
save the planet…and about 12 cents a
gallon!
3. Install a programmable thermostat.
Adjust the temperature for maximum
energy savings when you aren't home.

These are just a few of many tips that can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint this spring.

And, if you’d like to know how your daily actions can add up to make a real impact on our environment, become a Good Neighbor today. When we all combine our small actions together, we make huge strides for the planet and those who will inherit it.

Plus, with a $15 donation, you’ll receive our popular Good Neighbor benefits package (see sidebar). So, let's get started!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Attention eBay shoppers!

2009-03-12T11:39:00.005-05:00

I'm curious to hear people's reactions to eBay's new "Green Team" initiative. I haven't swum the deep waters of eBay yet as a buyer or seller, though I know I should and also know lots of people who love it.

I'll tell you that as someone who researches environmental and greening claims and is deeply attuned to "greenwashing" (false or exaggerated greening claims for marketing purposes), I have to say that at first glance, the eBay stuff looks pretty good.

What I see at first glance is (a) an open forum for discussion of environment-related topics, (b) a "Green Team" forumyou can join, (c) greening tips and tales from Daily Green, and the (by my estimation) most interesting and laudable parts, (d) tips on selling green and (3) tips on buying green.

Of course. eBay is a naturally mixed bag. The great side is - when you're finished with things, give/sell them to someone else! Reduce/re-use at its best. Saves you from making trash, saves the person buying from buying new. Great! Thumbs up! Fabulous! The shipping, of course...it would be better if we were all doing this in our own communities...but how picky can we be? And not all eBay stuff is used... But the point is that eBay's new "buy green" features enable and encourage you to find things that are "green" because they are used, "sustainable" (sounds like this is used to describe things that are new but created using sustainable materials), or "resource-saving" (i.e., energy-efficient).

But their "selling green" section (while not revolutionary, making good but not-new suggestions like "recycle" and "save and reuse packaging") does a very nice job of laying out some details about green packaging, green shipping, and even green marketing.

Anyway, I'll be quiet and let you
check it out.

Green FAQs - the best post all year!!!

2009-02-26T11:24:00.003-06:00

This is a GREAT POST on Grist. Check it out - I bet you'll learn at least one thing.

Just the FAQs
Answers to readers' most frequently asked questions about green dilemmas
By Umbra Fisk
26 Oct 2005

Should I use paper or plastic bags at the grocery store?
Neither one is better. Best choice: bring your own cloth bag.

Should I dry my hands with paper towels or the electric blow dryer?
Use the dryer if you can't drip dry.

Should I wash my dishes by hand or use the dishwasher?
If you and your dishwasher are efficient, by all means bypass the sink.

Is it better to leave [lights, cars, computers] on when I'm not using them, or turn them off and restart them?
Restart! Whether you're driving, defeating darkness, or doing work, it takes more energy to keep your power-suckers running than it does to turn them off and on.

My old [car, refrigerator, washing machine] isn't energy efficient. Is it worse to keep using it, or to toss it and buy a new one?
In general, it's better to upgrade (whether washing machine, fridge, dishwasher, or car) -- but make sure your old machine is reused or recycled if possible.

Should I use cotton or disposable diapers?
I know you worry, parents, but honestly, it's a wash. Here's an idea: go diaperless!

Is it better to buy organic food from far away, or non-organic food grown locally?
Ideally, buy food that is both organic and local -- but if you have to choose, local is the way to go.

I want to follow your recommendation and buy compact fluorescent lightbulbs, but I've discovered they contain mercury. What should I do?
Buy them anyway -- the small amount of mercury (less than in a watch battery) can be handled by a hazardous-waste facility.

Which plastics are OK?
We don't like plastic, in general. But just make sure you avoid #3.

Which is better: Diesel? Biodiesel? Straight vegetable oil? Hybrid?
They're all bad. Stop driving!

But while you work toward that goal, here are thoughts on some of your quandaries: diesel vs. regular gasoline; converting to biodiesel; converting to veggie oil; biodiesel vs. veggie oil; and hybrids vs. veggie oil.

Can I put my [milk carton, stapled paper, nose wipe tissues, number 17 bottle] in the recycling?
I don't know. The only people who know are those running your recycling program -- usually your municipality. Those same people should be able to answer questions about why certain objects are accepted and others are not.

What's the one thing I can do to help the environment?
Watch out, helping the environment becomes addictive. There's no one answer, but try to limit your consumption and keep the big picture in mind.

"Green Living" Children's Books

2009-02-24T11:28:00.005-06:00

I haven't checked all of these out, but they seem worth investigating! Feel free to post reviews if you know anything about these books.
Molly

* * *

February 23, 2009
Top Green Living Childrens' Books of 2009, from Earthly Happenings

This is a list of four fabulous new books for young readers. Published in 2009, they all teach kids about fun gardening, delicious organic food, easy recycling, nature, and environmental sustainability. They show the ties between our food, our environment, and ourselves. All come highly recommended by teachers and parents:

Two Old Potatoes and Me is a lovely book recently featured on Reading Rainbow by Lavar Burton. It tells the story of a little girl who finds two old potatoes in her father's kitchen. She and her father go through the process of planting the potatoes, growing a whole crop, and eating the results. Vibrant colors, rhythmic prose, and a recipe for mashed potatoes with nutmeg make this an inspiring and educational read.

Eddie's Garden How to Make Things Grow uses prose and beautiful illustrations to tell the story of how a little boy and his mother plant a vegetable garden.

Diary of a Worm explains what earthworms do and why they are so important. Written in fun-to-read diary form from the point of view a young worm, this book sheds a whole new light on a creature that spends most of its life underground.

365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School, or at Play--Every Day! teaches children about organic food, reducing pollution, environmental protection, and more. Complete with tips for every day of the year (and activities for home, school, and during playtime) this book reveals how easy it is to grow up eco-friendly.

Here's the original posting.

Who's Not Keeping Up?

2009-02-23T10:59:00.006-06:00

These days, more and more consumers are using their purchasing power to make decisions about companies whose philosophies they want to support. In terms of climate control, here are a few that CERES has identified as "Climate Control Laggards" - either falling behind on sustainable retrofitting and innovation - or actively hampering improvements in this area.

Environmental Group CERES Identifies "Climate Control Laggards"

Are you signed up for Earth Hour yet?

2009-02-20T13:36:00.008-06:00

Earth Hour 2009 will occur on March 28th from 8:30-9:30pm, local time, wherever you are in the world. Mark your calendars! And although (of course) you don't have to be signed up to turn off your lights, getting yourself on the list is a good way to show just how many people are joining forces, as the folks at Earth Hour say, "to show that it's possible to take action on global warming."

Kindermusik is, of course, signed up - and I just got this exciting update:

* * *

Dear Kindermusik,

Excitement is building all over the US and around the world. Here's a quick update on what's developed this week for Earth Hour:

More cities turning out: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis and the Village of Homer Glen, Illinois. We've heard rumblings from Houston and Seattle as well and would also love to get Washington, DC on board. If you're a DC resident, let Mayor Fenty know you want the city to turn out!

Help us turn out the lights on the US Capitol Dome—write to your Senators or Member of Congress.

What goes on in Vegas doesn't always stay there: Earth Hour officially launched in Sin City at a press event featuring a Panda Bear and Vegas showgirls. The Strip will indeed go dark for the full 60 minutes—the only time the lights have been dimmed except briefly in 1998 in honor of Frank Sinatra's death.

Other city news: Chicago held its official launch event last week, with Mayor Daley again pledging his support. Next up? Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas!

The city of lights goes dark: Paris and 27 other French cities announced they'll take part in Earth Hour, with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame going dark. A total of 405 cities in 74 countries have pledged to participate—double the number of countries from last year.

And don't forget to mark your calendar...Earth Hour is March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm. Turn out. Take action.

Thanks!

The Earth Hour Team

Sign up here

Five Recycling Mysteries Solved!

2009-02-07T11:35:00.006-06:00

Five Recycling Mysteries Solved!
By Lori Bongiorno

Wondering what to do with your stash of old batteries or the cans of unneeded paint taking up space in your garage? You know you shouldn't throw them out, but it really is time to get rid of them.

Resist the temptation to toss them in the trash anyway. The reason: They (and everything on the list below) contain toxic chemicals capable of contaminating the environment if not disposed of properly.

Unlike items that are picked up at the curb, you'll have to make a special effort to unload these ones responsibly. But, with a little advance planning and some good info, you'll see that it's really quite simple to dispose of these seemingly mysterious items. Here's how:

* Batteries. Recycling rechargeable batteries is fairly easy. Home Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and other retailers take them back free of charge. There are fewer options for single-use batteries, but look for bins at your local Whole Foods Market, Ikea, or library. Otherwise, your best bet is the local household hazardous waste drop-off site. Where is it and what are your closest drop-off options? Search here for answers.

* CFLs. These energy-efficient bulbs are becoming easier to get rid of. Just drop old bulbs off at any Home Depot or Ikea for free recycling. Or ask about CFL recycling at your local Ace Hardware or home improvement store. You can search for other nearby solutions.

* Electronics. Every retailer that takes back rechargeable batteries also accepts mobile phones, as do most wireless providers. For computers, cameras, televisions, and others it's worthwhile do a little homework because some stores charge fees depending on item and brand. Check out Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot to see what's the best fit. Some places, like Radio Shack, have trade-in programs where you can receive store credit for your old gadgets.

* Motor Oil. In case you need some motivation, consider this factoid from Earth911: Every gallon of used motor oil that's improperly disposed of can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water. Bring it to Wal-Mart, Autozone, Jiffy Lube, or search online for more convenient choices.

* Paint. It's among the harder items in this group to dispose of, but it's worth it and totally doable. If the paint is still in good shape, consider donating it. As of now, there aren't any retailers that accept used paint so you'll need to make a special trip. Search Earth911 for a comprehensive list of options.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

Doodle 4 Google!

2009-02-05T10:35:00.001-06:00

You've probably seen this already, but Google today has this announcement:
"Your child's design could be our logo and appear in the National Design Museum".

Check it out . . .

Welcome to Doodle 4 Google, a competition where we invite K-12 students to play around with our homepage logo and see what new designs they come up with. This year we're inviting U.S. kids to join in the doodling fun, around the intriguing theme "What I Wish for the World."

These are exciting times and both our country and the world are on the brink of significant change. At Google we believe in thinking big, and dreaming big, and we can't think of anything more important than encouraging students to do the same.

Registration closes at 11:59:59 PM Pacific time on March 17, 2009 and entries are due by 11:59:59 PM Pacific time on March 31, 2009. Teachers, you'll find everything you need to get started on the Registration page. Only teachers or school employees should register. Parents or students who are interested should contact their teacher to register them.

What I Wish For The World?

… we use plants for electricity
… we make college free for everyone
… we give health insurance to all who need it
… we connect everyone by cell phone or computer

Every little bit counts...

2009-02-03T08:44:00.005-06:00

Just got this in the mail. I've never shopped here, but we can all use coupons, right!?

* * *

myEARTH360

Free shipping on your first order!*

From the eco-practical to the eco-chic, everything you buy counts for the earth. A portion of all sales are donated to the National Environmental Education Foundation and support the "I Count for myEARTH" campaign.

*For orders $50 or more; shipping promo code: CSBAFS.

Contact: Lynn Hasselberger
(773) 573-0583
Go to My Earth 360 site.

10 Disposable Things You Never Have to Buy Again

2009-02-02T15:15:00.004-06:00

10 Disposable Things You Never Have to Buy Again
Ditch these 10 disposable items to help cut the clutter

by Collin Dunn

One of our favorite green philosophies goes something like, "Less stuff = more good." While that seems simple enough, cutting back on the amount of stuff you use every day can be trickier than it sounds. One of the easiest ways to do this is to cut back on the disposable stuff you buy. Here are then things that you never have to buy disposable again.

Bottled water
Indeed, there are a world of reasons to ditch bottled water, but here's the best one: The same stuff comes out of your tap at home. Tap water is one of the most rigorously regulated substances on the planet (even in New York), so, at least here in the States—and most of the rest of the developed world—tap water is the healthy, nutritious, green way to go. Not sold? Here are five reusable alternatives that'll make you forget the wet stuff ever came in disposables.

Paper towels
It might not seem like a big deal, but since we all prepare and eat food several times a day, this one really adds up; even just one roll per week is hundreds of sheets that used to be a tree (yep, even when you buy the recycled variety. By the numbers: it takes 544,000 trees to feed Americans' paper towel habit each year; throw in disposable paper napkins, and that number tops 1 million according to the National Resources Defense Council. Don't become a statistic; opt for tea towels and microfiber instead.

Wrapping paper
Though the big wrapping season has just passed, this is one worth keeping in mind all year 'round. While Sunday comics and other paper flotsam lying around the house have long been popular, we're bigger fans of the themed material over more traditional wrapping paper. Giving a kitchen gift? Wrap it in a new tea towel (made of organic cotton of course). And, of course, one can never have too many reusable tote bags. Bill Nye has some green wrapping tips to keep your giving at its greenest.

Individually-wrapped foods
To see a bunch of the million-and-one examples of individually-wrapped foods that have infiltrated our lives, just walk down an aisle at the grocery store. Seriously, does anybody really need individually-wrapped prunes? Didn't think so. From fruits and veggies—sorry Trader Joe's, we're looking at you—to "convenience packs" like Jell-O and "Go-gurt" (whatever that is), there are a multitude of foods that can easily be replaced with goodies in the bulk aisle. And, as a bonus, note that some quality bulk sections will let you bring your own reusable containers from home, so you don't have to use another ubiquitous plastic bag.

Check out this link for the rest of the article...

An Oldie but a Goodie

2009-01-30T11:02:00.010-06:00

If you've never seen this, I can't recommend it enough. It's 20 minutes, but divided into seven short chapters so you can do a little bit at a time. Try this: make next week your "Story of Stuff" week. You won't regret it.

www.storyofstuff.com

Paper, Paper, Paper

2009-01-22T08:39:00.010-06:00

Wanna cut through the paper confusion? Ok - two minutes - lend me your ear and let's talk terms:

100% recyclable
Well, this is great - but I mean, shouldn't all paper be recyclABLE? If it's not recyclABLE, it means the maker has mixed in some material that prevents the recycling process. (Speaking of which, did you know that Post-Its are not recyclable? The glue in the sticky part not only makes the paper non-recyclable - but if Post-Its go into a batch of paper to be recycled, often the glue actually gunks up the whole batch, rendering it trash, after all the effort people took to recycle it.) Anyway - yes, of course, recyclable is good. But if something is marketed as "100% recyclable" - look more closely. It could be that they're hoping to confuse people into thinking they're 100% recycl-ED. Which is different.

Recycled
Recyclable can mean lots of things. Virgin paper is recyclable. Recycled paper is, too. What you're really looking for is paper that is both. But let's talk more about THAT, too.

100% recycled - You'll sometimes see paper that contains 100% recycled content. Great. This means NO virgin paper was included in the source material used to create the paper. This paper tends to be more expensive, but sure feels nice knowing no forests were involved.

Some other percentage recycled - It's sometimes difficult to create paper fully out of recycled materials. Each time paper is recycled, its fibers get crushed and shortened - meaning at some point, they just don't make good paper anymore. So many materials and papers only contain a percentage of recycled material. This is fine, of course. Do be wary of companies sending you glossy catalog after glossy catalog (some companies are still really bad about this) touting 10% recycled material. Come on. They can do better than that - and they can also send fewer catalogs. I have a personal mission to cancel every catalog that comes to my house. If I want something, I'm gonna look online anyway, right? When's the last time you actually ordered something from a 1-800 number from a catalog?

Ok - so you'll see 20%, 40%, and upwards of recycled material. You may also sometimes see content differentiated as "post-consumer" and "post-industrial". The main detail here is that post-consumer has been SOLD. Newspapers, books, office paper, all that is post-consumer. Post-industrial includes many of these same thing - particularly newspapers and magazines that have been printed but not sold (these businesses are horrendous about this - some even say they overprint vastly in order to report their "circulation" as high, while up to half of those printed materials are never expected to sell). Post-industrial material also includes waste from the actual paper-making process, which is essentially then just rolled back into the front of the machine. In all, if you're choosy, post-consumer is preferable, though both labels are a little sticky.

Aaaaaah, so if you've read this far, you must really be interested in paper and recycling - or at least annoyed enough at all these opaque labels. Ok, so let's take it one step further:

Ecolabels

What does it mean when you see a label on a magazine that says "Mixed Sources" or "FSC" or "SFI" or "100% recycled paperboard", for instance?

**See FSC icon at right**

The FSC, or Forest Stewardship Council, is the most respected “eco-label” at the moment. They have three labels:

1) 100% - this means all of the material is virgin, but from FSC certified, well-managed (both environmentally and socially) forests.
2) Mixed Sources – though it might sound lesser, actually Mixed Sources means the material is from FSC forests and/or recycled.
3) Recycled – the wording on this is a little tricky, but my best translation is that products with this label are made with post-consumer recycled material. (It’s unclear to me whether all of the material needs to have come from sources that were originally FSC-certified, if that makes sense.)

You may sometimes also see this label

The SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) is a far less respected entity, criticized frequently for having broad, vague certification parameters designed by lumber and paper companies to approve most of the procedures already in place in the logging and paper-making industries. In other words, SFI certification is cheaper and easier. Be wary of this certification, or do your own research. Some of my sources are a couple of years old, but more recent ones seem to echo their predecessors.

Grist

TreeHugger

Credible Forest Certification

Now if you’ve FedExed anything recently, you’ve surely seen this one:

**See 100% Recycled Paperboard icon at right**

I happen to be a big fan of 100% Recycled Paperboard. Do know, however, that 100% Recycled Paperboard isn’t always recycl-ABLE, so keep your eyes open. It needs to be uncoated, for instance. You can pick your battles here, but I want you to know what’s what. I’m still investigating whether it’s possible to get FSC certification for 100% Recycled Paperboard since the original sources can’t often be certified and approved – but this may be more detail than you’re interested in...

Ok. I’m guessing I’ve exhausted the curiosity of even the most steadfast among you. But since you’ve read this far, now just start keeping your eyes open. It’s interesting to see which companies are choosing to do what (and not everyone opts for an eco-label, either – and some are even choosing FSC papers and printers but not including the label on their product), and it will continue to be interesting to watch how this industry unfurls and selects its standards.

So...Which Is It? (part 2)

2009-01-15T17:37:00.004-06:00

(For part 1 – See November 13, 2008: Which is it? Diapers: Cloth or Disposable?)

Is it just me, or does it seem like environmental research seems to change its mind a lot? Opinions on water have swung widely in the last 20 years since the huge American shift into the bottled water crazy. So you may be asking…okay, greenies…which is it? Bottled or tap?

Well, some of these debates are a toss-up (see “So . . . Which Is It? (part 1) Diapers: Cloth or Disposable?) - but by most accounts, the great water debate isn’t one of them.

Bottled water:

o Is insanely expensive, both to produce and to buy.
o Is no purer or safer than tap water. Both are imperfect, but heavily regulated.
o Comes in plastic containers that require petroleum – and water - for their manufacture.
o Is heavy. And shipped. From other places. To a store. Where you buy it. And bring it home. To your house. Where clean drinking water comes, for free, out of the faucet. Check the carbon footprint on that one.
o Comes in plastic containers that are, yes, usually recyclable, but are also
(a) only occasionally recycled (Can you stand it!?) and
(b) so plentiful they end up cluttering landfills and floating in oceans.
The ones that do get recycled, well, great – but it takes energy to collect, transport, and convert recyclables. Couldn’t we just skip the bottles in the first place?

So, my opinion:

1) If you’re in the desert and stop at a gas station and you don’t have your special SIGG eco-thermos or access to a water fountain, yes, for Pete’s sake, and by all means, get a bottle of water and recycle the bottle when you’re done. But if you’re at work, at home, or on the town? Just go tap. No bottle making, filling, capping, shipping, docking, unloading, stocking, choosing, buying, toting home, disposing, recycling, and refabricating. Just water. So easy.

2) If you must, MUST have bottled water, you simply cannot abide by tap, consider getting larger sizes. The smaller the size, the more we need and the more we throw away.

Bottom’s up!

Molly

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-12T18:20:00.002-06:00

This Grist post got me thinking about resolutions. Ok, I'd already put some thought into resolutions. It's January 12th, of course, so I've forgotten most of them already, but I do remember spending some time thinking about it in December. In any case, this got me thinking. The combination of environment-crisis-must-be-dealt-with-NOW and economic-crisis-must-be-dealt-with-NOW may, in the end, be the very combination I (we?) needed to start putting our ideals into practice. Will 2009 be the year I (fill in wish to simplify life, slow down, appreciate the little things, eat organic/vegetarian, bike to work, etc. here)? Hard to say - but the conditions, to be honest, have never been better. It's an interesting post, anyway - take a look - and if you've had interesting thoughts about your own (or someone else's) resolutions, don't hesitate to post them here!
Molly

Got resolutions?

Some ideas for green resolutions that are achievable, meaningful, and maybe even novel

by Adam Stein (Guest Grist Contributor)

New Year's resolutions, as we all know, are almost entirely pointless -- made in one breath, forgotten in the next. So in that spirit of general futility, I offer a few ideas for green resolutions that, either through novelty or just ease of use, may inspire more than a passing commitment. Please leave your own ideas below.

Idea #1: help make "livable streets" a reality in your community

All politics is local, said Tip O'Neill, but most of us still don't pay much attention to local politics. Issues at a community level are often driven by the triumvirate of homeowners, business owners and car owners -- good people, no doubt, but narrow in their interests.

This won't change if you don't help make it change. Happily, a thriving network of community organizers is doing great work to promote a people- and environment-centered development agenda, ranging from this new bus system in Cleveland to this bike-sharing program in Tulsa to this massive street festival in New York.

Support their good work! A few ideas for getting involved:

1. Get smarter about development issues by spending some time with the great resources at the Livable Streets Network. Subscribe to their blog, subscribe to an affiliated blog focused on your community, watch their films, or read and contribute to their wiki.
2. Find or start a local group using the Livable Street Network's online tools.
3. Get involved with a local organization like Transportation Alternatives (based in New York). Or support them financially by attending some of their fun events.

Idea #2: eat more plants

I'll take it as given that no one is going to adopt vegetarianism as a result of this blog post. But, speaking as one omnivore to another, perhaps I can convince you that reducing the environmental impact of your diet is both easy and enjoyable. The carbon footprint of food is an insanely complicated topic, so I'm going to organize these food-related resolutions around a radically simple proposition: eat less beef. Some possible resolutions:

1. During your weekly shopping, substitute chicken, pork, or fish for beef. Better yet: beans, pasta, or veg.
2. Spend the few minutes necessary to figure out the provenance of your non-beef meat, and find a convenient source of stuff that isn't evil.
3. Read anything by Michael Pollan. If your Pollan library is full stocked, start working your way through Taras Grescoe.
4. If you cook, learn one new vegetarian entree per month.
5. If you don't cook, start. Make one dinner per week from scratch. No burgers.
6. Pick one day a week to go fully veggie.
7. Or go completely meatless for all your lunches.
8. Etc.

Idea #3: downgrade your gadgets

I hesitate to post this, because, well, it smacks of treacly feel-goodism. But anyway: I recently lost my spiffy web-enabled cell phone. I replaced it with a comically out-of-date, refurbished flip phone, with the intention of riding out the last few months of my service contract and then getting a shiny, shiny iPhone.

Here's the heartwarming bit. Since switching to the junky, used phone, my quality of life has gone up appreciably. Turns out that when you're stripped of mobile email and web, your heart rate decreases, you have more serendipitous encounters with puppies and wonder-filled children, and your bursitis goes away. I miss the mapping functionality of my web phone, but I find the survival skills I honed during my pre-mobile-internet years slowly returning.

So no iPhone for me. The key to this act of voluntary simplicity was making it involuntary. Resolving to spend less time stating at little screens never would have worked.

Do you have a love-hate relationship with any electronic encumbrances? Now is as good a time as any to cast them off (read: recycle them). The environment may or may not benefit, but your pocketbook probably will, and your sanity almost certainly will.
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/1/4/103253/4022?source=living

Great Q&A on Children's Art Supplies

2008-12-15T14:28:00.002-06:00

Poster Child
On children's art supplies
By Umbra Fisk
15 Dec 2008

Hey Umbra,

I've got a niece with a second birthday coming up and I'd like to get her a present that doesn't involve sitting in front of a computer or TV. So, I thought, how about an art set? What better way to get those creative juices going at an early age than some finger paint and crayons? But crayons must have some crazy toxins in them, and what about finger paint ... do I need to be concerned? I've heard about veggie paints, but don't know where one can find them -- or how to make them. Ideas please!

Sudha N.
Seattle, Wash.

Dearest Sudha,
Children's art supplies are a fabulous gift idea, and if you follow a few simple guidelines, there's little need for concern. The bigger problem with child art is that the freeform techniques of the toddler atelier may freak out neatnik parents and cause many opportunities for battles of the will. If your relations are fastidious, may I suggest including a smock in the kit? Perhaps a miniature dropcloth and several large sponges? Maybe a large fence, to create a hermetic seal around the art area? Plus a parenting book helpful in the toddler years -- such as Becoming the Parent You Want To Be?

The toddler art set should include modeling clay, crayons, paints, and colorful papers, with glue, tape, and scissors for the overseeing adult. Kids also love stickers.

The reason kids' supplies are differentiated from adult supplies is that "adult" art stuff often relies on harmful ingredients. Paint dyes can contain heavy metals; there are solvents in paint, glue, and markers; modeling clays contain vinyl; powders and sprays pose inhalation hazards, etc. Obviously all these problems aren't so great for grown-ups either, but we are larger, don't randomly eat our toys, and have the option of turning on ventilation, wearing protective gear, and making our own choices about danger.

Shop at a store that sells children's art products. The products should be certified as non-toxic. At a minimum they should bear two seals: the federally mandated "conforms with ASTM D-4236" (meaning they have been properly labeled as to their chronic health hazards) and a seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute. The ACMI seals will say either AP for approved product, or the older but similar CP for certified product. Do not buy any art supplies with a Warning, Caution, or Danger label -- or a Poison label, of course.

Crayons aren't too complicated -- Crayolas are made out of paraffin wax and pigment, and the label is stuck on with cornstarch and water. There have been a couple scares about lead and asbestos in crayons. I truly believe that the major child craft manufacturers are doing their best with quality control -- any bad toxics incident would put them out of business -- but sometimes things appear where you least expect them. The asbestos was related to a talc used in the crayons; it's debated as to how bad it was, and of course it has been eliminated.

That said, if you can find craft supplies that have few ingredients, and list all of them, they are likely less potentially hazardous than those peddled by the mainstream manufacturers. Beeswax crayons are one example. The trouble is, these "natural" supplies can be quite expensive. I would find them at my local hippie/hipster toy shop, or by searching "natural art supplies for kids" online.

For more details in each category of art supply, our friends at the Washington Toxics Coalition have a handy chart of what to avoid and to choose. They have links to a dough recipe, and finger paint recipes abound on the www, with easy-to-find ingredients and ideas for vegetable-based dyes such as onion skins and beets.
Your idea is a great one, and there's no need for concern, just basic common sense. Don't forget to spend time making art with your niece. Toddlers need companions to encourage, teach, and assist them. And people of all ages need some low-pressure art time.

Artistically,
Umbra

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/12/15/?source=ask

No More Junk Mail . . . ?

2008-12-11T10:56:00.004-06:00

Do you guys know about these? Here are a handful of resources for stopping junk mail from coming to your house. Just think of how much waste is generated by a single credit card company by all those offers.

https://www.41pounds.org/signup/?grist (This one costs $41 but is a great organization.)

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt063.shtm (Free information)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16531776/ (An article with a handful of resources)

Post comments if you know of other good options!

Sustainability 2008: Kindermusik's 2008 Sustainability Report

2008-12-08T12:51:00.009-06:00

Get your own - Open publication

We're proud to release our first Sustainability Report!

2008-12-08T12:51:00.008-06:00

For 30 years, Kindermusik International has created and brought to classrooms the world over a body of work that has transformed music education and informed teaching methods and parenting skills. Yet we have come to know we have a responsibility beyond the classroom. We want to become a small company that is truly a model for others who seek to make a responsible profit while honoring its people and its planet. We are guided by core values at Kindermusik International, the first of which is “We do what is best for the parent and child.” In these days in which so many companies are focused on the “quick buck,” we consistently strive to make choices for the long term.

Discover more about our commitment to sustainability in our first Sustainability Report (below), detailing our commitment to the environment through measurement, impact reduction, education, and activation.

How do you save 1% on national CO2 emissions and $3 billion in energy costs with the push of a button? According to some studies, just wash in cold!

2008-12-04T14:01:00.001-06:00

Here's an easy one!
Molly

* * *

Most of us are unaware of the full extent of energy required to wash our clothes. A staggering 85-90% of this energy is used by the water heater. Only 10-15% actually goes to running the washing machine. A switch of all U.S. washers to cold water would mean a savings of about 30 million tons of CO2 per year.

Water heating accounts for approximately 19 percent of total home energy use, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.3. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using less water and using cooler water can both reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes. (In situations where hot water is necessary, for example, to clean diapers or bedding, just use cold water in the rinse cycle.)

Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3), a national climate campaign sponsored by the Center for a New American Dream, has issued a challenge: Wash at least four out of every five loads of laundry in cold water for a month. Push the "cold/cold" button on your washing machine for 80 percent of the loads you do this month, says C3, and you'll cut 72 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions this month alone.

If you keep washing 80 percent of the loads in cold water for a whole year, you can save more than $60 in energy costs for the year -- or $100 a year if you live in regions with high electricity costs.

If you’re in the market for a new washer or dryer, use Energy Star machines for greater water and energy costs.

Difficulty level: Easy

Material taken from:
http://www.terrapass.com/blog/posts/energy-tip-17-w
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/beat-the-heat-wash-in-cold.html

When Times Are Tight...

2008-12-04T11:24:00.005-06:00

I can't tell you how many times people have told me some variation of the idea that although they'd love to live more sustainably, they just don't make enough money to buy all those expensive green products. So here's where my eyes cross.

OK. So let's talk for a second.

There are TONS of really lovely organic, green products out there. Tons. And really, they're beautiful. I, personally, am setting up my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter with a twin bed for Christmas, so am deep into shopping for a mattress and bedding. To be honest, I would love to get her an organic mattress and beautiful sheets and blankets that are hand-loomed by Amish farmers and yadda yadda. Between you and me, yeah, I can't afford that. TJ Maxx for the sheets, JC Penney for the mattress, done. So Molly, I'm lost. What's your argument here?

My argument is this:
In times when money is tight - as it is for so many of us at the moment - it's NOT time to put your good green intentions aside, waiting for better days when you can go out and buy all the lovely green products you want, to make the planet a better place. The truth is, despite clever advertising, buying a recycled bottle of something doesn't save the planet. Buying a canvas bag doesn't save the planet. BUYING LESS saves the planet. A little bit.

A couple ways to be both money-conscious AND environment-conscious:

-Stop shopping to feel better. At the risk of sounding preachy, go to the library. Go for a walk. Cook something. Grow something. Paint something. Many of us admit (me, too) that STUFF makes us feel good. We get a secret little thrill when something breaks or runs out because it's just a little bit exciting to get to buy a new one. See if you can find another way to scratch that itch. Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.

-If something breaks, consider fixing it. In the world of Targets and Walmarts, it's sometimes the case that buying a new TV or bike or vacuum is almost the same price as getting an older one repaired. Plus the time and hassle - I mean, do you even know where you would get a TV repaired in your town? Well, here's the challenge: find out. And if you've bought the cheap version of something, fully expecting it to break within a year or two so you can just buy a new one, here's the next challenge: next time, buy a nicer one and keep it for longer.

-Drive less. I won't say much here because you know all about it - and because really, winter's not the time for me to get aggressive about putting people on train platforms. (I live in Chicago, for pete's sake.)

-Use the library! If you're a book-hound or have book-hound kids, you'd probably be astounded to add up your bookstore costs for a year. But hey, remember the library? No kidding - same books - FREE.

-Hand-me-downs. Yup - when times are swell, maybe you're too good for this - but now's a great time to start passing kids' clothes around with your friends or checking out second-hand stores nearby.

Remember, reduce first. Keep track of what you bring INTO your house and just try to bring less. Less packaging (buy bigger), less paper (go digital!), less stuff...

If you must buy something, plan to re-use it, to use it for as long as possible, to buy it used, and to pass it on when you're finished with it rather than throwing it away.

And if you must buy something that will get emptied, used up, and discarded, make it a top priority to buy only things that are (a) made of recycled materials and (b) fully recyclable. Both, if possible. I'll post more some other time on reading labels on bottles, jars, etc. so you know you're not getting duped - but the very short version of recycling-savvy is that the only items that are easily recycled and recyclable are #1 and #2. Steer clear of #7 - it is not recyclable. #3-#6 depends on where you live.

But now I'm off topic.

The point is: being truly friendly to the environment, if that's what you want, isn't to buy a cute dragonfly notebook with recycled paper and brown cardboard cover, or pottery barn sheets with 10% recycled content. The truly friendly choice is to write on the back of some of the hundreds of sheets of office paper you recycle or discard every day, or to hang onto your current sheets just a little bit longer.

Bottom line: A tight economy really doesn't have to mean you put your green goals on the back burner. Think green the next time you're doing your checkbook/credit card/budget mantra, "reduce, reduce, reduce".

So...Which Is It?

2008-11-13T10:38:00.006-06:00

Diapers: Cloth or Disposable?

There doesn't seem to be any way around it: diapers are plentiful and necessary (or at the very least, very, very welcome). But when it comes to cloth vs. disposable, the great diaper debate drones on.

The bad news:
Disposable diapers clog landfills.
Washing cloth diapers turns lots of clean water into detergent wastewater.

The good news:
Well, not good news exactly - but in terms of relative damage, it's really up to you to pick your poison. True "greenies" really shouldn't look at you askance either way, so pick what works for you, apply your choice responsibly*, and know you're doing your best.

Check this out:
http://www.grist.org/gristTV/umbra/2008/11/11/?source=daily

*(If you go with disposables, look for unbleached, organic, and/or recycled-content diapers. If you go with cloth, use hand-me-downs! Wash in cold, using eco-friendly detergents.)

So there you have it. Go forth and diaper.

Um . . . are you gonna throw that away?

2008-10-09T15:18:00.005-05:00

;Try this:
Just for a day, start turning things upside-down. Check out the numbers on the bottoms of recyclable things. You've seen them - they run 1-7 and indicate the type of material an item is made of, which also determines its level of recyclability.

I've been having fun educating myself on these categories (it takes a certain kind of mind, I know...) and in case you're curious, thought I'd put together a little primer. Enjoy!

You're good to go! These items are recyclable in most areas.
(But first...do you need it?)

1 (PETE: polyethylene terephthalate)
found in clear plastic bottles and jars

2 (HDPE: high-density polyethlylene)
found in non-clear plastic milk jugs, detergent/bleach bottles, shampoo bottles, some plastic bags

6 (PS: polystyrene)
found in white foam bakery shells and meat trays, packing peanuts, styrofoam insulation, disposable coffee cups and lids, disposable cutlery

Well . . . where do you live? These are only recyclable in areas that have recycling facilities big enough to manage them.
(Psst...check out your town's website to see what it can and can't recycle. And/or...can you find a more sustainable alternative?)

3 (PVC: polyvinyl chloride)
found in cooking oil bottles, shrink wrap

4 (LDPE: low-density polyethylene)
found in plastic grocery bags, Ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash bags liners, disposable Tupperware

5 (PP: polypropylene)
found in yogurt containers, plastic bottle caps, drinking straws, syrup bottles, diapers

You're pretty much out of luck.
(Pssst...can you skip this purchase?)

7 (Other) a combination of plastics; generally considered non-recyclable

(Data extrapolated from: University of Mississippi Polymer Education Center, 1998.)

And don't forget:
REDUCE your need for stuff first. Buy less. Want less. Bring less into your home, put less out on the curb. Find other ways to scratch the itch.
REUSE everything, even if it means spending more to get a better item the first time around, then fixing it instead of replacing it.
RECYCLING should be a last resort, and unless you plan on keeping something pretty much indefinitely, strive to get out of the habit of making, buying, or tossing anything that's not recyclable.

"A Good Beginning Never Ends"

2008-10-06T21:39:00.003-05:00

The theme for this year’s annual Kindermusik Convention (when Kindermusik educators come together from around the world) really couldn’t be more perfect. Not only is it a propos for Kindermusik International itself, 30 strong years later, but also a fitting “subtitle” for each child who has been given that good beginning - raised with thoughtful love and deliberate decisions aimed at opening his or her world to music.

Aaaaaand…it’s also the perfect definition of sustainability. What luck!

This November, as we celebrate Kindermusik’s 30th anniversary, prepare ourselves for the year to come, and honor and invigorate the educators who, sitting with children on floors around the world, make Kindermusik what it is, we’ll also be launching and announcing our commitments to sustainability.

As a company that honors every child and strives to create a world that honors their health, creativity, and happiness, we recognize that we must address our own environmental sustainability with clear eyes and seriousness of purpose. I can’t think of a more perfect place—or a more essential time—for us to make and announce this commitment. Stay tuned.

Our new (carbon) shoe size

2008-10-06T12:10:00.007-05:00

Ready, set, go! Kindermusik is going green. Not in the what-can-we-do-to-make-ourselves-look-green way, but really, truly, in the it’s-time-we-took-a-good-hard-look-at-our-impact-and-did-something-about-it way.

Kindermusik has such a positive impact on the planet in so many ways—giving parents and children the tools to connect, giving children the opportunity to grow and explore . . . but in the meantime, we run an office with lights, computers, hand soap, and paper; we ship boxes of instruments around the world; most of our employees drive to work five days a week . . . if only we could know for sure that it would all balance out to a net positive.

First step? Doing the math. We’ve just completed gathering data for our first-ever “carbon footprint”. Might not seem like a big step, but it is. Think about your own carbon footprint for a minute—the amount of CO2 (carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas) you produce in the course of a year through traveling by car, bus, train, and plane; through the electricity you use; through the things you send and receive by mail; through the products you purchase (including food) that have been shipped overseas or across the country, etc. It may be a bigger “shoe size” than you’d like to think about, or it may seem silly to calculate it if there’s nothing you can do about it...

But quantifying is the first step towards solving. The whole point of calculating these numbers, of course, is to change them. And when you really think about it, changing them isn’t actually all that hard.

At Kindermusik, now that we know that our headquarters used about 282,000 kilowatt hours of electricity last year, for instance, and our employees drove more than 12,000 miles just getting to and from work, it’s time to get to work. We can’t wait to tell you about our progress.

Calculate your own carbon footprint!
There are lots of “carbon calculators” online – just search “carbon footprint” and you’ll get thousands of hits. Here’s a good one created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

EPA's Carbon Calculator

And if you’re really interested . . .
Here’s an interesting article on carbon footprinting consumer products (cars, shoes, laundry detergent jackets, milk, beer):

Wall Street Journal article

Coming Soon!

2008-09-19T12:29:00.002-05:00

News on Kindermusik’s efforts to:

Incorporate renewable energy
Offer a carbon offsetting option for shipping
Green our in-house purchasing
Launch a brand new green packaging initiative
De-mystify industry terms (Offsets? FSC? BPA? Help!)
Help you integrate simple green principles into your own home and business
…and more