Plastic Diet: It’s time for a purge November 9, 2009

I’ve had it with plastic food storage containers. Glass makes much more sense since there’s no chance it will react with food. I should have purged a long time ago. Plastic is convenient (it doesn’t break for one!), but there are too many potential downsides. We just don’t know the full story when it comes to chemical leaching, particularly when the containers are used to microwave food. And it’s obvious that the story keeps changing (check out the recent news about BPA in plastic water bottles). Plus we certainly don’t need any more plastic in the world (remember, it never really goes “away,” and sadly, much of it ends up polluting the environment). Glass can be used in the microwave and freezer, and some types (Pyrex) can even be placed in the oven. Okay, so most of these containers do have plastic lids (glass lids aren’t air tight), so just make sure the food doesn’t come in contact with them. You can avoid plastic altogether, by storing leftovers in empty pasta sauce (and other food) jars with metal lids. Small glass containers are also great for stowing cheese and foods that you might otherwise wrap in plastic bags. Sur la Table sells a number of different glass containers. The Glass Grid Bowls with Lids are a favorite. My husband likes the French Working Glass since they’re dual purpose (Sur la Table doesn’t sell the lids online so I ordered the glasses and lids from Fishs Eddy in New York City; but beware, you may spend hours online looking at all of their cool stuff). So what should you do with all of those leftover plastic containers? Don’t throw them away. They’re great for storing anything other than food, such as sewing items, nails, coins, or whatever.

International day of Climate Action on YouTube and Flickr + take the 350 Pledge October 28, 2009

Have you heard about the number 350? Everyone should understand its significance. According to scientists, it’s the safe upper limit in parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The problem is, we’re already at 387 ppm!! To make everyone aware of the HUGE issue we’re facing, the world celebrated the International Day of Climate Action this past Saturday, October 24. The day has been hailed as the “World’s most widespread day of political action,” with 5245 actions in 181 countries—from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the pyramids in Egypt to my hometown of Palo Alto, California. You can check out a video of the day on YouTube and see photos shot around the globe posted on Flickr. Be sure to visit the website 350.org and sign the 350 pledge. The signatures will be joined with those on other petitions and delivered to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

October is Energy Awareness Month October 20, 2009

President Obama proclaimed October 2009 as Energy Awareness Month with a theme of A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together. Here’s a poster that you can hang at work or school. For materials and ideas to promote energy-saving practices, visit the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) website. Another great resource is the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) new energy education resource site for teachers and students, called Energy Explained; Your Guide to Understanding Energy. Here you can learn about nonrenewable energy sources (gasoline, diesel, heating oil etc) as well as renewable ones (eg. geothermal, solar, wind), and get lots of facts and statistics. You can even search by state to see what kind of energy is produced there. Lucky Washingtonians get most of their power from hydroelectric, not dirty coal, as in many eastern states. Take a cruise around the site. It’s fascinating! And while you’re at it, don’t forget to turn off those unused (compact fluorescent) lights…and use mass transit… and drive a fuel-efficient car (only when necessary, of course)…and buy Energy Star products!

Plastic Diet: Make-Your-Own Green Cleaners October 16, 2009

Like me, a friend has been struggling to reduce the amount of plastic in her grocery cart. So she came up with a great project for her kid’s middle school green team: Make-your-own non-toxic cleaning solutions. Every time we purchase ready-to-use cleaning products (whether “green” or not), it means we’re buying one more plastic bottle. By making our own, we can reuse our old bottles and subtract more plastic from our carts. Care2 offers an extensive list of recipes for non-toxic cleaners made from everyday ingredients, such as baking soda, distilled vinegar, and lemon. The project was definitely a win-win-win for the school, since the teachers had previously been using environmentally unfriendly Clorox wipes purchased in plastic tubs. What’s the third “win”? It was a fun learning experience for the green team!

Plastic diet: The perfect bowl for a party October 10, 2009

I attended a buffet lunch following a photojournalism forum at my son’s high school yesterday (check out photographer, Ed Kashi’s, disturbing photographs and book Curse of the Black Gold about oil production on the Nigerian Delta), and discovered a fabulous alternative to disposable paper, plastic or styrofoam plates: Ikea’s 10-inch-wide, colored glass bowl. They can be used as a bowl or plate, are highly decorative, and stack compactly. And you can’t beat the price ($2.99 ea). In case you don’t have access to Ikea, this isn’t the only option out there. For instance, Target offers some great-looking (and inexpensive!) clear glass bowls and plates. The holidays are coming—which often mean large gatherings for family and friends. Before you reach for the disposable plates, consider an attractive, reusable alternative (and don’t forget to take the Plastic Diet Pledge!).

Support the Clean Jobs and American Power Act. Contact your Senators now! October 9, 2009

Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer introduced the Clean Jobs and American Power Act last week. Here’s a summary:

“In this time of economic challenge, we have a unique opportunity to put Americans back to work and take charge of our security, our energy future, and the fate of our planet. We have the chance to reclaim our energy destiny…This bill will get tough on corporate pollution and put American ingenuity to work to dramatically improve every facet of the way America generates and uses energy. It will create millions of new, good-paying jobs, protect our air and water from dangerous pollution, and secure our children’s future by making America energy independent. And it does not raise the federal deficit by one single dime.” Read more here.

It’s critical that this bill pass, so now is the time to let your senators know that you support it! You’ll find lots of information about the bill on the web (check out Kerry’s website), and plenty of supporters, including President Barack Obama, Al Gore, and Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire. Click here to find out what they’re saying. For information on how to contact your senator, click here.

Congrats and keep up the good work!! October 9, 2009

President Barack Obama just won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize! The Nobel Committee said that President Obama was honored “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples…,” that “The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons…” and that “Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.” Pretty impressive for a for a first-year pres who’s just a 40-something!! For more talk on Peace Prize and how it will affect his administration, check out the various links on CNN.com/Europe and Reuters.

Take the Plastic Diet Pledge October 6, 2009

You may have heard tales about the North Pacific Gyre (a.k.a. the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or Plastic Vortex)—which is a huge stretch of mostly plastic, floating debris northeast of Hawaii. The more I learn about it, the more disgusted I feel. Maybe depressed is a better word. Is there any hope for a world that’s literally awash in plastic? If you haven’t read about it, check out this article in the San Jose Mercury News about a team of Scientists from Project Kaisei that recently returned from a three-week expedition to the gyre. Mary T. Crowley, Project Kaisei co-founder sheds some light on the current situation: “More than 30 years ago, on my first trip to the North Pacific Gyre, I found a few glass ball fishing floats, one net, and there were, in four days, perhaps two pieces of floating plastic. Returning now…the marine debris situation shows a startling change…In 30 minutes one easily can count up to 400 pieces of plastic on the sea’s surface.”

Photo by Nhat V. Meyer

Water samples taken from the gyre and beyond were also contaminated with many tiny pieces of plastic that would clog their sieve as the scientists poured the water through it. After reading the article from the Mercury News, my friend Wako decided she was fed up with plastic, so she tried to eliminate it from her next trip to the grocery store. “It was impossible!” she exclaimed. I totally relate! I just returned from the grocery store and was completely frustrated by the experience of trying to avoid purchasing plastic. It was easy to pass on produce bags. And I always bring along reusable shopping bags (fortunately, my hometown of Palo Alto has banned plastic shopping bags, although not completely—drugstores and small stores can still offer them). But a trip down the dairy isle did me in. There’s no way to avoid plastic if you want to buy yoghurt or cottage cheese. Then there’s the milk dilemma. Our new city recycling service is very comprehensive, but it has one major flaw: it doesn’t accept waxed milk cartons (they’re accepted in our commercial compost program, but the city has chosen not to implement residential composting). So my only option is to purchase milk in plastic (okay, that’s a little white lie—one local dairy does sell milk in glass, but it’s expensive, plus the milk isn’t homogenized and my family dislikes it). So I came home with more plastic! But after reading about all of the plastic debris floating in the North Pacific Gyre, at least now I think about what I’m purchasing and always try to find an alternative to products sold in plastic. So next time you go shopping, consider taking the Plastic Diet Pledge: I will avoid plastic shopping bags, plastic produce bags, plastic water bottles, and all other products packed in plastic whenever possible. If you do purchase products packed in plastic, make sure to recycle the containers!

One small act of kindness goes viral September 22, 2009

Never underestimate the power of one small act of kindness—and social networking! You never know what will come of it. One particular act of kindness has resulted in the most remarkable viral event: the 93 Dollar Club, a fundraising drive that has become an national phenomenon. It all started when Carolee Hazard, a friend whom I met through an environmental leadership program, called Be the Change, was in the checkout line at her local Trader Joe’s and the woman in front of her discovered her wallet was missing. We all know how embarrassing that can feel—everyone’s waiting anxiously in line behind you while you tear your purse apart. Been there! Feeling her pain, Carolee came to the rescue and paid her $207 bill, not knowing if she’d ever get it back. Well, she did get it back, and then some—$300 (the extra, she was told, was for treating herself to a massage)! Carolee planned to just return the $93 when she decided to ask her Facebook friends what to do. Someone mentioned donating the money to Second Harvest Food Bank, another friend said he’d match it, and that’s when the 93 Dollar Club was born, with a mission of “Providing food to people in need in our communities.” On September 16, the fundraising club passed the $20,000 mark with donations coming in from all over the country—and even from around the world! You can become a fan of the 93 Dollar Club by logging onto Facebook. To donate any amount online, visit the Second Harvest website, select “Friends and Family Drive” and choose “Carolee Hazard $93 Drive.” Or you can donate to your local food bank. Afterwards, don’t forget to logon to Facebook and become a 93 Dollar Club fan!

More energy efficient TVs…coming soon September 16, 2009

Here’s a follow up to my Feb 12 blog, How Much Energy Does Your TV Use? Large (40- to 50-plus-inch), power hungry TVs are motivating the Environmental Protection Agency to take action. Earlier this month, the EPA announced that, starting next May, it will require Energy Star TVs to be 40% more efficient than conventional models to qualify for the Energy Star Label. By 2012, they will have to be 50% more efficient. What’s all the fuss about? Power authorities, such as The California Energy Commission, are concerned about the rising power usage of large TVs, DVD players, DVRs, and cable boxes—often found in multiple rooms around the house (eg. one for mom and dad, one for each kid’s room, one for the family room)—that together account for at least 10% of a home’s electricity use. According to the EPA, “If all televisions sold in the United States met the new Energy Star requirements, Americans would save $2.5 billion annually in energy costs while reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions of about 3 million cars.” So if you’re planning to shop for a large-screen TV, why not wait to make that big purchase until the new rules go into effect in May. If you can’t wait, check out the Energy Star website where you can search by brand, display type (eg. LCD), and screen size for current models that qualify for the Energy Star label.