Calgary Herald (Alberta) - A 12-step program for planet junkies
Filed under: Earth 911 - March 24, 2007
12-Step Program to Going Green at Home and Saving Some Green
Marni Jameson, For The Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald (Alberta)
March 24, 2007 Saturday
If friends of the planet are like flowers, then I’m a dirt clod. I have painted with toxic paint, taken long showers, left the lights burning in rooms long abandoned and run the air conditioning when I could have opened a window. I’ve done loads of laundry for only three items, used a 100-watt bulb when a 60 would suffice, driven when I could have walked and dumped chlorine bleach straight down the drain. Now the ice caps are melting, and it’s all my fault because I’m guilty of everything. Al Gore says so.
I recently came out of my blissful state of being a planet pariah and noticed everything around me was green. Not just because spring is here, but also because green is all anyone in the home design and building world is talking about. Magazines are launching green editions; builders are hosting green conferences. I’ve even heard talk of painting the White House green, with low-volatile-organic-compound paint, of course, to form a Green House, for the soon to be installed Green party, which will win for the first time in the next election thanks to a certain Inconvenient Truth posed by Al Gore, who really is a member of the Green party, but won’t admit it.
Anyway, call me late to that party, but this spring, I’m turning over a new leaf, a green leaf, an eco-friendly leaf, possibly from a bamboo tree, bamboo being an incredibly sustainable wood source since one stalk can grow a metre in one day, like an adolescent.
But back to my guilt trip. Realizing I’m helpless in the face of my addiction to water, energy and certain chemical substances (like paint), I knew I couldn’t detox alone. I’d need a support group. First I reached out to a green book, The Earthwise Home Manual — Eco-Friendly Interior Design and Home Improvement (Green Home Publishing, 2006), by Kristina Detjen.
This clarified my crimes and deepened my resolve to get green and sober. Then I called Detjen and said I needed a 12-Step program for planet junkies. She said she would see what she could do. I also asked John Dunnihoo, general manager of West Coast Green, the America’s largest residential green building trade show, for help.
I confessed to both I was skeptical of the whole green movement. I don’t want to slide back to the ’70s when people talked to their plants to help them grow. I’m sorry, that was just bizarre. However, I do want to do my part to preserve the planet, make a better world for my children, leave a softer footprint on the Earth and all that. Detjen and Dunnihoo graciously accepted my skepticism. (Denial is common among planet abusers, they said.) And they took on the challenge of making me greener at home. Recognizing me for the hedonist I am, Detjen let slip that by going green I could also save some green — money, that is. Now she really had my attention.
Together they offered the following green tips, which I fashioned into a 12-Step program:
12-Step Program to Going Green at Home and Saving Some Green
1. Admit you are powerless over your need to consume wastefully.
2. Give over to the higher power of your global community. Acknowledge that only through collective effort will we restore the planet to a balanced state.
3. Agree to replace all light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs. Accept that though CFLs cost more, they last 10 times longer and use one-fourth the electricity.
4. Commit to actually use your home’s programmable thermostat the way it was intended. If you don’t have one, buy one. Promise to never again run the air conditioning when there’s a breeze outside.
5. Dedicate yourself to only running full loads of laundry, using the coolest water possible. Don’t over-dry clothes, and hang them to dry more often.
6. Search for the Energy Star label when buying a new appliance. (The label is the Environmental Protection Agency’s stamp of approval for energy efficiency.)
7. Use more cloth napkins and towels, fewer paper ones.
8. Fully acknowledge the limits of our water supply. Scrape plates rather then rinse them when loading the dish-washer. Install a drip system for watering outdoor plants, and put a water-saving device (a capped jug of sand) in the toilet tank.
9. Choose paints with low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Accept they may go on runnier, but they won’t hurt the planet or give you a paint hangover.
10. Recycle everything you possibly can. If you don’t know how, check www.earth911.org.
11. Strive to repair, refinish or restore furniture you have rather than buy more. Or even better, buy more antiques.
12. If you fall off the wagon, get back on.
Marni Jameson is a nationally syndicated columnist who lives in the Denver area.
You may contact her at www.marnijameson.com.
US State News - SIX REASONS TO SWITCH LIGHT BULBS
Filed under: Earth 911 - March 12, 2007
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued the following news release:
US States News
March 12, 2007 Monday 1:38 AM EST
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Commerce remind homeowners, apartment dwellers and businesses of the advantages to replacing incandescent lighting with ENERGY STAR labeled compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).
Minnesotans are also reminded that fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should not be placed in the garbage. CFLs are considered a household hazardous waste and need proper disposal and recycling.
Six big reasons to make the switch today are:
1. Save money.
You can save $30 or more during the life of each light bulb. Start by replacing the bulbs in the rooms you use the most. Reduce your electricity costs right away by replacing incandescent bulbs before they expire. The price of CFLs has dropped dramatically during the last few years, increasing the affordability of switching. Don’t forget, they last longer, too. The ENERGY STAR standard for CFL life is 8,000 hours while a standard 75 watt bulb may only last for 750 hours.
2. Brighter light.
While early CFLs didn’t match the brightness of old fashioned light bulbs, newer models are brighter and available in different shades. Pick the right light for the job. Today’s ENERGY STAR labels show accurate equivalent replacement wattage. Choose a higher lumen, cool colored bulb for task lighting and use the warmer tones for general lighting. A home lighting guide is available by calling 800-657-3710 or visiting the Department of Com-merce Web site at www.commerce.state.mn.us and searching for, “home lighting.”
3. More choices. The variety of CFLs available has greatly expanded. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and fit more fixtures than ever. Outdoor lights and dimmer models are now available. For more information on ENERGY STAR lighting visit www.energystar.gov.
4. Save energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, “If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year.”
5. Improve the environment. The EPA and DOE also note that if we all change one bulb Americans would “pre-vent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.”
6. Recycle. Don’t toss old CFLs in the trash - it’s against the law. Contact your county household hazardous or solid waste management office for disposal options in your area. You can also call 800-CLEANUP or visit www.earth911.org for recycling locations.
Because fluorescent lights contain a very small amount of mercury, they need proper disposal and recycling. No mercury is released with proper use. The environmental benefits of using CFLs far outweigh the use of mercury in their production. A coal-fired power plant emits more than four times the mercury to power an incandescent light than is used in a CFL.
Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii) - Dump your e-waste where it can live on
Filed under: Earth 911 - March 11, 2007
ROBBIE DINGEMAN
The Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii)
March 11, 2007 Sunday
When the University of Hawai’i recently offered residents the chance for “earth-friendly disposal” of computers and other unwanted electronic waste, organizers figured they’d get a good response. They collected an eye-popping 1.2 million pounds’ worth.
State Health Department officials see that response as proof that there is a need in the community and that people would prefer an alternative to tossing old electronics in the trash.
Steven Chang, chief of the solid and hazardous waste branch for the state Health Department, just received the tally a few days ago from that Oct. 28 “eWaste” drive. He said it resulted in the shipment of 51 40-foot-long containers to the Mainland, or 137,000 cubic feet of unwanted equipment that otherwise could have gone into the rubbish.
Larry Wiss, of UH Information Technology Services, helped coordinate that drive with the help of Apple Inc. as the sponsor that paid to ship everything to the Mainland for recycling.
“We received such an incredibly enthusiastic response,” Wiss said. He would like to see an annual event like that to help with the problems of disposal in an increasingly electronic-oriented society.
As of last year, the federal Environmental Protection Agency identified most computer monitors and TV screens as hazardous - cathode-ray tubes for lead and flat panels for mercury, Chang said. Businesses and government are banned from throwing away their old gear but residents can still discard old TVs, outdated computers and other equipment including fax machines, printers and scanners.
Wiss said he knows people are more environmentally aware and want to do the right thing. “E-cycling is the answer. More options are needed,” he said.
Zac Appleton of the EPA in San Francisco said national estimates indicate that in 2005, 250 million personal computers were considered obsolete by their owners. Appleton and the Health Department’s Chang said many people stash their old equipment in a closet or garage.
In 1998, only 6 percent of obsolete computers were recycled, and since then, “this probably hasn’t grown beyond 10 percent,” Appleton said, which means the remainder goes to landfills.
“Consumers should be concerned about disposing of their old monitor or TV set in the landfill-destined trash can, because they contain numerous toxic chemicals, such as cadmium, lead, chromium VI and other contaminants of con-cern like brominated flame retardants,” Appleton said.
Experts estimate each cathode-ray tube contains four to six pounds of lead, which is considered a hazardous waste. Many states have proposed legislation that would ban CRTs, including computer monitors and TVs from landfills.
Chang said the pace of electronic equipment growth continues with U.S. Census figures indicating that TV sets outnumber family members in the average household. He said 2003 statistics said the average U.S. household had 2.55 people and 2.73 TV sets.
Currently, there’s no scheduled free and official green way for residents and small businesses to dispose of un-wanted electronics. Some choose to pay private companies for the disposal. But at an average cost of a dollar or more per pound, that can get expensive.
Chang’s office checked some average weights and discovered: a tube-type computer monitor weighed 35 pounds; a flat panel weighed 20 pounds; and a 32-inch TV came in at a hefty 75 pounds. With a brand-new monitor selling for $79, he said it’s easy to see why people would throw away the old one. “It just comes to a matter of cost,” he said. “It’s better to put it in the trash than dump it by the side of the road, which, unfortunately, we see people do too much of,” Chang added.
Chang said the government debate on what laws to pass to help push better disposal usually splits between two general approaches: producer responsibility (the manufacturers establish take-back programs for their equipment) and an advance recovery fee (charged to the customer at sale, generating funds for government to use for recycling collection and processing).
A recent survey indicated that by the year 2007, 500 million personal computers would be obsolete. In 2004, California set up an advance recovery fee to subsidize costs of recycling. Last year, Washington state set a different program, Chang said. State Rep. Hermina Morita, chairwoman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, this year introduced a bill to create “a state program for collection, recycling, enforcement, and monitoring of covered electronic devices” that would have stopped short of an extra fee at purchase like California. But she also agreed to postpone action this year. She said the measure lacked enough support now but she’s hoping to work with those interested to find a better solution next year. “It’s a growing problem because the obsolescence of equipment is happening so quickly,” she said.
City recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones said people are more environmentally conscious, but it’s difficult to cope with the big shipping costs of transporting everything to the Mainland to be recycled. The city used to help coordinate collection drives like the one at UH but stopped when the companies - Island Re-cycling and Lenox Metals - no longer were able to help at no cost, she said.
She encourages people to use their individual power as consumers:
- Hold on to a computer as long as you can. If you don’t need it, find out if someone in your family, neighborhood or community could use it - “even on a personal pass-it-around level.”
- If you’re buying a new computer, find out what its maker can do to help. Some offer generous takeback programs, some don’t.
- Tell the companies what you expect from them. “I think these companies are realizing that the consumers have these expectations, especially with the prices we pay for computers and other electronics,” Jones said.
For Wiss, the need is clear: “We’re still receiving calls weekly: ‘I’ve got this computer … ‘ ”
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
Drop-in:
TRYING TO RECYCLE COMPUTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS IN HAWAI’I?
Here’s a summary of the latest information provided by the city’s Department of Environmental Services (also available on the Web at www.opala.org):
- Hawaii Open Source Education Foundation
HOSEF will accept functioning CPUs (Pentium II minimum), Macs (G3 minimum), monitors (17 inches and larger, unless LCD), and peripherals. HOSEF is a charitable non-profit whose mission is to promote and sustain the use of free and open source software in Hawai’i.
Through two programs, Computer Guts and their Gnu Linux Edutainment Learning Centers, they are able to re-cycle most e-waste and provide it to schools, non-profits and individuals in need. By partnering with the McKinley Community School for Adults, HOSEF provides classes and workshops to sustain its donations. To learn more go to www.hosef.org, e-mail R. Scott Belford at scott@hosef.org, or call 689-6518.
- Aloha Computers for Education in Samoa
ACES collects and refurbishes used computers from Hawai’i for donation to rural schools in Samoa. It is looking for working desktop PCs (no Macs) that are Pentium III or better. It takes laptops of any kind. Contact Shawn at info@aces-samoa.org or visit the Web site at www.aces-samoa.org
- Computers to Classrooms
The “Computers for Kids Program” is coordinated by the Honolulu Metro Rotary Club. Sixteen schools throughout the state rebuild used personal computers for use in the classroom. You may call the program coordinator, Dr. Ken Goldstein, for a drop-off location nearest you. Neighbor Islands can e-mail the “Computers for Kids Program” at cfk@catii.com. The program accepts only Pentium III and above models. Dr. Ken Goldstein, 521-2259, Program Coor-dinator
- Computer Recycling for Businesses & Householders
Old computers can be recycled for their plastic, aluminum, gold, silver and copper components. But it’s not free. Companies must ship the materials, and state health officials said it charges between $1 and $1.50 a pound for disposal.
- Enviroservices: 839-7222. Contact: Curtis Laa. Commercial accounts and household accounts. Will do pickup of commercial and householders for a fee; computers, all e-scrap, copy machines, etc.
- Haztech Environmental Services: 671-1985 Contact: Scott Fraser. Commercial accounts only. Computers, all e-scrap, copy machines, etc. Pickup by appointment only.
- Pacific Commercial Services: 545-4599 Contact: Winnie-Hazardous Specialist
Hours: 8 a.m to 5 p.m., 5 Sand Island Access Road, Building 931. Commercial and household accounts. Com-puters, all e-scrap, copy machines, etc. Householders welcome to drop off for a fee.
- Lenox Resources, Inc.: 682-5539. Hours: 8 a.m to 5 p.m., 91-445 Komohana St. (Campbell Industrial Park). Commercial and household accounts. Computers, all e-scrap, copy machines, etc. Householders welcome to drop off for a fee.
- SD Systems Inc.: 836-7950. Contact: Dan Ikei, 852 Mapunapuna St. Commercial accounts and household ac-counts. Drop-off and pickup available. Computers, all e-scrap, copy machines, etc. Householders welcome to drop off for a fee.
Drop-in:
ONLINE
The EPA Web site gives tips on disposing of old computers:
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/bas ic.htm
Additional resources such as Earth911 and programs supported or established by electronics manufacturers can be found through eBay’s ReThink program: rethink.ebay.com
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) - Where to recycle compact fluorescent bulbs: Summit County: Household…
Filed under: Earth 911 - March 10, 2007
Where to recycle compact fluorescent bulbs:
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
March 10, 2007 Saturday
Summit County:
Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Center, 1201 Graham Road, Stow. Open April through September to Summit residents only. Hours: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays and 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays. No business, school or other nonresidential waste accepted. More information is at 330-374-0383 or www.saswma.org/hhwrc.htm.
Portage County: Portage County District Recycling Center, 3588 Mogadore Road, Brimfield Township. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to Portage residents only. More information is at www.recycle.4t.com or 330-678-8808.
Medina County:
The county expects to announce a recycling program within about a month. For information, call the Medina County Recycling Program, 330-769-1273.
Stark, Wayne and Tuscarawas counties:
Four collections of household hazardous waste, including fluorescent bulbs, will be scheduled this summer: in August at Stark State College of Technology in Jackson Township, at Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia and at the old Orrville Airport, and in September at the Timken Co. in Canton. Dates have not been set.
All four collections are open to residents of the three counties.
More recycling options, including centers that serve businesses, can be found at www.earth911.org.
Bradenton Herald: Don’t surprise dad with a pet
Filed under: Pets 911 - March 10, 2007
The Bradenton Herald (Florida)
March 10, 2007 Saturday
DEAR SAVVY SENIOR:
I have been thinking about getting a small dog or cat for my 72-year-old father. Since Mom died a few years ago, he doesn’t get out much and I’m worried about him. I think he would enjoy having a pet to take care of and keep him company. I’ve also read that owning a pet is good for your health. What do you think? -Pet-Loving Pam
DEAR PAM:
There’s no question that owning a pet is a good thing for many seniors, but is it right for your dad? Here are some things to consider.
Talk it over: Before you go out and buy your father a furry friend, you need to talk with him about it to be sure it’s what he wants and is equipped to handle. Do not surprise him with a pet. Pet ownership is a big responsibility and ultimately needs to be his decision. Here are some other points to think about.
Commitment: Does your dad have the health, energy and/or desire to take care of a pet? Cats and especially dogs can be a lot of work requiring food, water, exercise, care and companionship every day.
Space: Does he have adequate room for a pet, or if he rents, is he permitted to have one?
Costs: The cost of owning a pet is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. Can your dad afford this added expense? The annual average costs of what he can expect to pay for a small dog (including food, veterinary care, toys and license) is $420. Make that $620 for a medium dog and $780 for a large pooch. And the annual cost for a cat (including food, veterinary care, toys, treats and kitty litter) is around $550 per year.
Backup care: If your dad travels, who will take care of his pet when he’s gone? Animal boarding costs around $15 per day. And what happens to the animal if your dad gets sick or needs to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home?
Choosing a pet: This is a very important decision and one that needs to involve your dad. Do some homework on different breeds and mixes to help him choose a pet with a personality that matches his lifestyle and living arrangements. For seniors, adopting a previously owned or older pet is a smart option because they’re usually calmer, already house-broken and not nearly as rambunctious as a puppy or a kitten would be.
Adopting: A great place to adopt a pet is at your local animal shelter or purebred rescue group which typically offers a nice variety at a low price. These pets are also likely to already be vaccinated and spayed or neutered. Many shelters may offer discounted or free adoption to senior citizens. Be sure to ask. To locate a shelter or rescue in your area look in your local yellow pages or visit www.pets911.com.
Health benefits: You’re right about pets being good for our health. Studies have shown that pet owners make fewer doctor visits, have shorter hospital stays and take less medication than people who don’t own pets. Pets can boost our spirits, encourage exercise and socialization and can even help prevent and relieve numerous medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and depression.
Savvy tip:
Retired or rejected service dogs also make great pets for seniors because they’ve been through basic obedience training and are usually already housebroken. Costs range between $100 and $600. To find this type of pet in your area, the American Dog Trainers Network (inch.com/~dogs/service.html) offers a directory of service-dog training organizations that are located in almost every state.
Send senior questionsto Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
SENIOR BEAT: Savvy Senior
The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK) - Disposing of outdated electronics not easy
Filed under: Earth 911 - March 8, 2007
Penny Cockerell, Staff Writer
The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)
March 8, 2007 Thursday
City Edition
Recycling hazardous materials properly protects environment
At some point, everything must go. But disposing of broken or outdated electronics is not as easy as throwing them in the trash. Below are some helpful tips from greenerchoices.org on how to dispose of electronic appliances the “green” way:
Televisions TV monitors with cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the technology used in non-flat screen TVs, contain 4 to 8 pounds of lead on average. Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors may also contain lead (though much less than CRTs), and older CRT models may contain cadmium. The EPA has identified electronic products as the largest single source of lead in municipal solid waste. Readers should be aware of these hazards when disposing of their sets.
Plastics used in the housing of many television sets contain flame retardants that are toxic and persist in the environment. Studies suggest they accumulate in household dust and in the food chain, and they have been detected in some fish.
When getting rid of the TV, consider these options: local community programs (ones in Oklahoma can be found at the Internet link below), retailer programs (places such as Best Buy and Office Depot have in-store collection events) and private recycling companies.
Computers
Instead of throwing away old computers, many options are available. One option is to donate it. Check with thrift stores and charities; many of them will take usable computers for groups and people who can’t afford their own. Web sites such as Earth911, TechSoup and freecycle.org can help point consumers in the right direction.
If donating is not an option, you can recycle your computer. Be sure to keep the following things in mind when recycling your computer:
Rechargeable batteries should be recycled to keep the heavy metals they contain out of landfills. The industry-funded Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. has more than 30,000 locations where you can drop off batteries for recycling. Those include many major retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Staples and Target.
Used ink and toner cartridges are easier for companies to recycle because they can be refilled and resold at a profit. Local charities often hold printer cartridge and toner recycling drives, and Staples offers drop-off boxes in each of its stores. Consumers may also be able to profit from selling their old ink cartridges and toners to recyclers. Recyclers USA offers up to $3 per cartridge.
Before you recycle your machine, make sure that you rid it of all traces of personally identifiable information that could be used for identity theft. For more information, go online to www.greenerchoices.org and search for “protect your identity” to learn how.
Other electronics
A coalition of environmental groups has recently established a voluntary program known as the Electronics Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship. The recyclers agree not to export hazardous electronic components to developing countries, not to dispose of equipment in municipal landfills or incinerators not equipped to handle it, and not to use prison labor, among other things. The program is relatively new, but the number of companies signed on is growing.
Child Life Magazine - Earth day 2007.
Filed under: Earth 911 - March 1, 2007
Child Life
March 1, 2007
There are actually two Earth Days celebrated.
The International Earth Day, sponsored by the United Nations and introduced in 1971, is typically celebrated on the first day of spring. California businessman John McConnell first came up with this idea in 1969.
The U.S. EarthDay celebration, the one begun by Senator Nelson, is held every yearon April 22. Senator Nelson died in 2005.
To find out more about Earth Day, log on to www.earth911.org and click on “Kids.”