Linda | 
12 31st, 2011| 
May You All Have A Prosperous New Year!
Dec
31
I hope everyone has fantastic plans for New Years Eve and that the weeks leading up to tomorrow gave you an opportunity to reflect on 2011 and all the possibilities that 2012 can hold for you. That is what I like about the new year. I like that it is a clean slate where you can set new goals (if you do that) and focus on what you want to accomplish in the year. But let's not set ourselves up for failure mmmmkay? Be realistic with your goals and you will achieve them.
One of my goals (from my 101 in 1001) was to set up a Facebook page for this blog. I was looking for an opportunity for us all to connect and chat about environmental issues that may not be big enough to warrant a full blown blog. Plus I wanted a place where you could post about what you are doing so we can all learn and grow together. So I set up the Facebook page. Come on over and 'Like' it.
Now let's talk about Google Friend Connect. Starting in March Google is discontinuing GFC for all non-Blogger blogs. This blog is on the Blogger platform so as far as I can tell GFC is safe and you will still get my posts dumping into your feed. But I think it is time to not rely on it so I will be removing it from the page. In its place I will be adding FeedBurner so you can subscribe in whatever manner you wish.
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Thank You!
101 in 1001 Update
Dec
29
Over the years we have perfected our gift wrapping abilities. Where we can we use gift bags that seem to circulate through the family year after year. Tissue paper is reused as well...until it gets to wrinkly and has holes in it. We used to use wrapping paper that was FSC certified and could be recycled after use. This year we made our own wrapping paper from paper we saved from packages we received.
But what is wrapped around the present is just the tip of the iceberg. There can be so much packaging on gifts (especially toys) that it can add up to a lot of waste at the curb the week after the holidays. Here are some tips so you can reduce the amount of waste at your curb:
* Look at the boxes and figure out if you can reuse them. Multiple uses = better
* Recycle gift tags or save them and use them for kids crafts!
* Recycle gift wrap and tissue paper that can no longer be used
* Save and reuse gift bags and tissue paper
* Save ribbons and reuse them next year
* All those plastic ties that hold toys in place in the box - hella annoying eh? - save those too. You can use them to tie power cords or keep bags closed in the pantry.
* Separate plastic from cardboard in the packaging. This will reduce the amount of contamination in each of those waste streams.
* Check to see what can be recycled in your area. You may be surprised. We were able to recycle all the packaging that came with every present we got.
Here is what our waste look liked this week. The green bin is 75% full and is from the full week (that turkey takes up a lot of room!). The garbage bag is 3 weeks worth of waste. The blue bins are 2 weeks worth of recycling and no we did not drink all that in the box on the far right. I was de-cluttering and got rid of our collection of wine/booze bottles.
How did you reduce the amount of waste you produced this holiday?
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Dec
29
How Fracking Can Destroy Your Well
First of all, just what is fracking? It is commonly referred to as “horizontal hydrofracking” or just “fracking,” deep-shale natural gas drilling uses high-pressure injection of water, sand, and chemicals to release the trapped gas. Now we all know that natural gas is environmentally friendly. But at what cost?
Chemicals used in the process are kept secret from the public, medical professionals, and even regulators, because fracking is exempt from key provision of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Every time a gas well is fracked, 4 to 9 million gallons of water are injected into the ground.
When the fractures creating by fracking intersect with existing cracks in the ground, chemicals and gas can “catch a ride” on underground streams, and wind up contaminating drinking water sources. In places affected by fracking, many residents have become sick from dangerous levels of volatile organic compounds, chemicals, and methane gas in their water. Methane gas is also responsible for the phenomenon of flammable tap water, and has even caused houses and water wells to explode.
Since this combination is really not good for the shortage of potable water across the world, there should be some other way to extract natural gas. Think about it. If you pump all of the above into the underground, then whatever damage has occurred, it is forever.
I know that in Texas, this is widespread. Just around where I live, there are approximately 15 natural gas wells that are monitored daily. Many water wells that current residents close to have been fractured due to this process. The drilling companies have had to hire water drillers to either fix the well or drill another one. Hmmmm, makes you think whether or not the water is good or not after that.
In the 121-page draft report released by the EPA said that the contamination near the town of Pavillion, Wyo., had most likely seeped up from gas wells and contained at least 10 compounds known to be used in frack fluids.
Some of the findings in the report also directly contradict longstanding arguments by the drilling industry for why the fracking process is safe: that hydrologic pressure would naturally force fluids down, not up; that deep geologic layers provide a watertight barrier preventing the movement of chemicals towards the surface; and that the problems with the cement and steel barriers around gas wells aren’t connected to fracking.
Finally, the EPA is doing what it is supposed to do. Exposing the drilling industry nasty little secret.
What can you do? Take action today by signing the petition to tell President Obama to ban this now.
Fracking … as the green future unfolds.
Dec
28
This is the first snow man I have ever built (and same with B).
Dec
27
How often do you look under your bed? I can't remember the last time I looked under there...and I mean really looked not just looking a few centimeters under while looking for a lost elastic or something. Yesterday I was looking for something for Joey and on a whim I decided to look under the bed. It was right near the edge so I didn't have to look very far but once we opened the box we found these little bugs on one of the bags. I lost.my.shit. I went upstairs and vacuumed the crap out of our room. I got right under the bed too, not just the edges. I found all kinds of stuff under there including feathers from our pillows, pennies (finding these means clearly I can retire early), cat puke (dear lord how long has that been there??) and freezie wrappers. I did not find any bugs thankfully so they must have been from within the package itself.
Ensuring you have a clean home (not military clean because come on....that just isn't going to happen) will ensure that you are reducing any negative health implications onto your family. Dust in the air can affect your respiratory tract, cause dry eyes and lead to an excessive amount of boogers. Which in our house means a certain little boy has his finger up his nose far too often.
Do you know what dust is exactly? It is made up of many things including dead skin cells, hair and POOP. Dust is in the air, on the floor and on furniture. This means dust mites are also on the floor and furniture. Cleaning often will probably not get rid of them completely but it will reduce the number that you have. Dust mites gross me right out so I have upped my cleaning schedule. What I like about it is that I don't spend very much time cleaning. That deep clean of our bedroom yesterday took me 35 minutes. My goal is to clean for 1 hour a day (doesn't have to be all at once). 30 minutes of that is the every day cleaning like dishes and wiping counter tops. The other 30 minutes is spent deep cleaning other rooms in the house. I do 1 room/area every day which means that each room/area is deep cleaned every 10-14 days.
You don't need any chemicals to keep your house clean either. Use steam cleaners (not the one I have), vinegar, baking soda, non toxic cleaners and vacuums with filters. There is absolutely no sense in have a clean house that got that way by using toxic chemicals. You are just trading one health hazard for another.
Cleaning is Step 1 in our journey to a healthier home. I don't think it is the most important decision we will make but I do think that it is the cheapest and easiest transition to make.
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Dec
24
Merry Christmas to You and Yours. Special Thanks, to those who serve our country, and those who gave it all, for our freedom. It is great to have you Home, to enjoy Christmas with your families. You all hold a special place in our hearts! Enjoy, “The Christmas Song,” by Alan Jackson.
Dec
23
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Is your office cube (cubical) depressing you, so much so, that you hate going to work? Well,you can change all of that, starting today! What a great way to treat yourself in the New Year! [...]
Dec
23
A few Christmases ago, I published this email from Santa, which arrived on the night before the night before Christmas. Readers had so much fun with it, it's become an annual tradition. Enjoy!
And have a Happy Holiday.
Scott, aka The Green Skeptic
_______________________
TO: Global Warming Skeptics
FROM: Santa Claus
DATE: A few nights before Xmas
SUBJECT: My Christmas List
_________________________
This is Santa, writing from the North Pole. Soon I'll be gathering all the toys for all the good little girls and boys and packing them in my sleigh to begin our journey, our night of nights.
The reindeer, however, are starting to complain about hoof-rot. Apparently, they've been standing around in too much slush. This has put me in a decidedly prickly mood this Christmas.
You know me; I'm not a single-issue guy. I believe that as long as you are good, and I mean good for goodness' sake, you deserve some slack on the other stuff. I'm an equal opportunity distributor. I know whether you've been bad or good or just plain evil. You also know I'm not one to discriminate against one group of people or another, believers or non-believers.
But this year is different. This year, I'm making a few changes to my list. I'm checking it twice and have decided that the naughty include any one of you out there who do not believe in global warming. All you climate change skeptics out there, you are on the naughty list this year.
Oh, you know who you are. And I've got one special gift for you: Nothing but COAL. You like the stuff so much -- and it's such a big part of what's leading to climate change -- you might as well have bags and bags of it and nothing more.
Make no mistake. Global warming is happening. You don't have to show me any scientific reports, although some nifty ones have shown up in my email box lately, sent to me from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
No, you don't have to convince me; I'm a believer. All I have to do is look out my window to my back yard, what's left of it! It's a soupy mess out there.
We usually have a good bit of ice up here at the North Pole -- and early. That's important, too; you see, every year the elves and I construct a temporary workshop up here where we make the toys and assemble the other goodies. The earlier the ice, the sooner we get started.
Although I have figured out a way to deliver the entire shipment of gifts on my list in one night, I still haven't perfected the manufacturing process. I can't speed it up. (Some of that I blame on the unions.) We need all the ice we can get up here for there is no solid ground.
But this year, the ice cover was the lowest it's been in almost 30 years. And at least one of those science groups studying this stuff tells me that, according to their models, by 2040, we'll have mostly open water up here. (They sent me this short animation clip, which sends chills up my spine: Arctic Ice Melt.)
Mrs. Claus has even started looking for Houseboats on Craig's List!
So, dear boys and girls, you better not pout or cry or whine or deny climate change any longer. And I'm telling you why: because climate change is coming to town. Time's a wasting. We need to do something about this now, before it's too late. Or before I have to move all of my operations to the South Pole!
Here's wishing a carbon-neutral Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
S. Claus, North Pole
And have a Happy Holiday.
Scott, aka The Green Skeptic
_______________________
TO: Global Warming Skeptics
FROM: Santa Claus
DATE: A few nights before Xmas
SUBJECT: My Christmas List
_________________________
This is Santa, writing from the North Pole. Soon I'll be gathering all the toys for all the good little girls and boys and packing them in my sleigh to begin our journey, our night of nights.
The reindeer, however, are starting to complain about hoof-rot. Apparently, they've been standing around in too much slush. This has put me in a decidedly prickly mood this Christmas.
You know me; I'm not a single-issue guy. I believe that as long as you are good, and I mean good for goodness' sake, you deserve some slack on the other stuff. I'm an equal opportunity distributor. I know whether you've been bad or good or just plain evil. You also know I'm not one to discriminate against one group of people or another, believers or non-believers.
But this year is different. This year, I'm making a few changes to my list. I'm checking it twice and have decided that the naughty include any one of you out there who do not believe in global warming. All you climate change skeptics out there, you are on the naughty list this year.
Oh, you know who you are. And I've got one special gift for you: Nothing but COAL. You like the stuff so much -- and it's such a big part of what's leading to climate change -- you might as well have bags and bags of it and nothing more.
Make no mistake. Global warming is happening. You don't have to show me any scientific reports, although some nifty ones have shown up in my email box lately, sent to me from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
No, you don't have to convince me; I'm a believer. All I have to do is look out my window to my back yard, what's left of it! It's a soupy mess out there.
We usually have a good bit of ice up here at the North Pole -- and early. That's important, too; you see, every year the elves and I construct a temporary workshop up here where we make the toys and assemble the other goodies. The earlier the ice, the sooner we get started.
Although I have figured out a way to deliver the entire shipment of gifts on my list in one night, I still haven't perfected the manufacturing process. I can't speed it up. (Some of that I blame on the unions.) We need all the ice we can get up here for there is no solid ground.
But this year, the ice cover was the lowest it's been in almost 30 years. And at least one of those science groups studying this stuff tells me that, according to their models, by 2040, we'll have mostly open water up here. (They sent me this short animation clip, which sends chills up my spine: Arctic Ice Melt.)
Mrs. Claus has even started looking for Houseboats on Craig's List!
So, dear boys and girls, you better not pout or cry or whine or deny climate change any longer. And I'm telling you why: because climate change is coming to town. Time's a wasting. We need to do something about this now, before it's too late. Or before I have to move all of my operations to the South Pole!
Here's wishing a carbon-neutral Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
S. Claus, North Pole
Dec
23
I have always hated New Years resolutions. I used to make them every year and they would last maybe a month and then I would be done with them. I am sure I am not alone in this. A few years ago I started doing the 101 in 1001 instead of making New Years resolutions. I liked this idea because it meant I could make a list of meaningful list of 101 things I wanted to accomplish over 1001 days. More time is exactly what I needed. Also I didn't feel the pressure to make it big things like I typically tried to do with New Years resolutions.
Earlier this year I came to the end of my first 1001 days with somewhat mixed results. I didn't accomplish all 101 items and really I was okay with that. I carried some over as I made my new list of 101 items and made more realistic goals this time around....things that didn't rely as heavily on step 1-3 happening first.
I have completed 5 items already and have 19 others that are in progress.
Blog - There will be some changes in the new year...I am excited about starting them and hope you will be too. Just time for some spring cleaning and a new face lift! I'm also branching out into Facebook so we can all chat a bit more. Look for an announcement on that in the next few weeks!
Family - We have been trying to have more date nights. Whether that means we go out or stay in...it still counts and I love that we are trying to make more time for nights like this.
Fitness/Health - We have a little Healthy Holiday Challenge going on at work right now that is really helping me with a couple of the items in this category. If you follow me on Twitter you may have noticed that basically I abruptly stop tweeting around 11:15 every night. That is because one of my goals is to be in bed by 11:15 5 nights a week and because I get points for every night I do this I literally run up the stairs and jump head first into bed at 11:14.
Food - Lots going on with this category. In the new year I will be talking about finding a CSA that works for you and also looking for farmers that you can buy direct from.
Home - We have lots of projects on the go and we are considering our environmental impact on all of them. I will share our success and hilarious failures as we finish them up.
Okay, so what are some of your goals for 2012? Or are you doing the 101 in 1001? If so link it up so I can see what you are working on!
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Dec
22
Texas Is Still In Drought Conditions Despite Rain Falling
agnewsarchive.tamu.edu
All around Texas, there continues to be dangerous water conditions – even with the recent rain. According to experts, Texas would need 6 more months of rain like they’ve had in the past few weeks to just get out of the current drought.
This isn’t a surprise to the residents of Groesbeck, a small central Texas town that could run out of water by Christmas. Or in Austin, where it is expected to hit stage 3 restrictions by April, resulting in an outdoor water ban. And at least a dozen other cities have already told state officials they don’t have enough water to make it till spring.
After the summer wildfires, the soil in the burn areas is very susceptible to erosion by downpours. The rains so far has caused erosion in some areas and in others, the water is just being soaked up by the soil as if it were a sponge.
Luke Metzger, Environment Texas Director has announced the launching of the Water Our Future campaign. Their goal is to raise $18,000 by December 31. They will be working feverishly through the end of the year to make sure they have the resources in place to hit the ground running on the first day of the new year.
Please make a generous year–end donation before 12/31 to help us reach our $18,000 goal.
This is the worst drought Texas has seen since 1789, and too many people think there’s nothing that can be done. They couldn’t be more wrong. You and I may not be able to make rain fall, but researchers have identified numerous ways to save water and cut waste.
With your immediate financial support, Environment Texas can mount an aggressive push in the capitol and around the state to:
Increase badly needed funding and implement stronger standards for water conservation
Launch leak detection programs to curb water wasted en route to our homes
Audit the largest water users and issue incentive programs for conservation
Educate the public on how each individual can save water at home
By coming together today, we can guarantee water for communities desperate for relief. And our efforts will ensure Texas’ treasured lakes and reservoirs will still be there for future generations.
Thanks for doing your part,
Water is needed everywhere …. as the green future unfolds.
Dec
22
On Tuesday I sat down with Stuart Varney & Company on FOX Business to talk about wind power and the relative merits of distributed generation versus big wind farms, including the need for transmission and grid infrastructure improvements to make big wind viable.
Here's the video:
Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com
And here's a link in case the player doesn't work in your browser: Green Skeptic on FOX Business
Here's the video:
Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com
And here's a link in case the player doesn't work in your browser: Green Skeptic on FOX Business
Dec
22
This is just a fun little look at Santa’s not so green, and kinda bad behaviors. I wanted to pass along this fun holiday infographic that was recently produced for Ethical Ocean: Santa’s Carbon Footprint. While there, just click on What’s Santa’s Carbon Footprint, to expand the page. The graphic takes a close look at [...]
Dec
21
This time of year we all struggle to find that perfect gift for those who we love. For my family it is even worse though...because my birthday is only a few days before Christmas. So what does someone get an eco-chick? Not useless stuff that is for sure. This year Joe took me to the restaurant Borealis that serves all local food. I know that the asparagus in the chips we had with our spinach dip are from a farm a quick 20 minute walk from our home and that Joe's beer came from the city beside us.This restaurant is like a dream come true for me. I love knowing that I am eating local food and supporting our local farmers. Best of all the food was out of this world good.
I am a firm believer in supporting local businesses where possible and I know that can be really hard sometimes, especially depending on where you live. Food however can be much easier but usually just when we are looking to buy and prepare at home. I love that when we go out to eat we have an option now that reflects our lifestyle when we are at home.
I encourage you to look for restaurants similar to Borealis in your city. If there isn't one then look for restaurants that have local dishes on their menu and chose those options. The more demand there is for local dishes the more dishes will appear on the menu.
Picture from Borealis website
Have you been to Borealis or a similar restaurant? What were your thoughts? How do you ensure you eat locally when you are out at a restaurant?
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Dec
20
Do you ever just feel like a giant? It could be because you are wearing a kick ass pair of heels or because you are surrounded by 2 year olds or if could just be because you are driving a vehicle that is about 2318758238 times larger than your own. My car was due for its Drive Clean test and yesterday the results of that test were a big fat F. Everyone including the technician were shocked. I was pissed that I was potentially driving around a car that was spouting off 50% more NO emissions. Today Joey had to take my car in to get a diagnostic run so we could figure out why it failed and fix it. This means I had to drive his truck. Today my friends I felt like a giant driving to work. Each car I passed was like a little ant that I could squish at any moment.
Sometimes I feel like that in life. Like if I am not the perfect environmentalist that I am going to get a big fat F in the eyes of my eco friends. I am sure that we all feel that way sometimes. At points there are moments where I think 'OMG what if someone asks me something and I don't know the answer???' I wonder if I have set myself to fail by calling myself an environmentalist. If I am making myself a giant in a world full of 2 year olds.
As I reflect on the year passed I think about the successes and the failures we have had. I linger on those moments that make my sides hurt from laughing, those moments that we seriously high 5'd over. I don't think as much about what we did gloriously wrong because it really isn't worth the energy. There is no shame in not being the perfect environmentalist or not knowing all the answers. No one is perfect, not even the eco-hero's we all look up to.
Our day ended on a few positive notes. It turns out the car did not get a big fat F on the Drive Clean test...in fact it got an A+. You see something went wrong with the first test and the equipment malfunctioned resulting in the F. I also made it home tonight without squashing a single ant. And celebrate a day of feeling like a giant I made these.
My only little army of not caring if I am perfect 2 year olds.
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Dec
17
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. LG- stands for Life’s Good, and the high quality that goes into their products really fits the name. We know them mostly for their appliances. But now, they have entered the world of cell phones [...]
Dec
17
The Tianjin Eco-City: The New Wave of Green Living
As a culture we have become obsessed green living, and rightfully so. The amount of waste we have produced through our industrialization has greatly impacted our world’s natural balance and is literally sucking the life out of the resources that we have at our disposal. Decisions such as paper or plastic are becoming more crucial and simply switching your light bulbs to incandescents isn’t enough anymore.
People are now moving to build homes that are completely green, made of recyclable materials and run on solar power. Others are learning to recycle rain water and invest in geothermal technologies to power their homes. Communities as a whole are trying to become more sustainable, and even the state and federal governments are handing out incentives to do so. However, perhaps the biggest development in green living is the creation of the eco-city.
Tianjin Eco-City, located in China, is a 30 square kilometer city that will don the most premier green technologies in the world. Located just minutes from the Tianjin Economic-Development business parks, the community, which will house nearly 350,000 residents, will provide a quick commute and an escape from the pollution in which China suffers terribly from. The Eco-City will even have its own dedicated light rail system to reduce the number of cars on the road.
Designed by the Surbana Urban Planning Group, the Tianjin Eco-City should be open in 2020 and will be the first of its kind. In addition to solar and wind power technologies, the community will also utilize rainwater recycling, waste-water treatment, and desalination of sea water to create a completely sustainable community. Within the Eco-City, residents will also be able to enjoy various eco-landscapes such as a sun-powered solarscape and a greenery-clad earthscape. There will also be several public green spaces for regular enjoyment and leisure time.
Perhaps the most unique feature of the city is its layout. The city will feature 7 distinct areas: a Lifescape, an Eco-Valley, a Solarscape, an Urbanscape, a Windscape, and Earthscape, and Eco-corridors. Each area will serve a purpose that is specifically designed to aid in the city’s overall sustainability. The Lifescape, however, will be the only section of the 6 to provide a green area to offset the living and commercial areas in the other 6 sections.
While the Tianjin Eco-City is years from being completed, it is still a strong indicator of where green living and development is headed. As we strive to create the most sustainable living situations possible, we can expect to see sustainable power supplies, recyclable building materials, and reusable items become more of our everyday norm. In another decade, a city like Tianjin Eco-City may even become the new norm.
Tianjin Eco-City …. as the green future unfolds.
Dec
17
Why Do Some Homes Sell Faster Than Others? You may be asking yourself that very question of, Why Do Some Homes Sell Faster Than Others, if you have been trying to sell your home in this troubling economy. So, with that thought in mind, I’d like to share a new green infographic with you from [...]
Dec
16
On the way to work today I stopped to get some gas and this is what was on the pump. Okay this first picture is mine but I had to take it from the comfort of my car on the DL because the employee in the booth was giving me the stink eye (and because it isn't safe to use your cellphone whilst fueling your vehicle).
Also, seriously rain in December - COME ON MOTHER NATURE!!!
::blank stare::
Mother Nature's Fuel??? Notice the green leaves too...those are there so that you will think that this gas is eco-friendly. So why are such claims being made? Well the claim is that the fuel is blended with ethanol that comes from surplus grain and that fuel that contains plant bases reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Great that sounds awesome right! Sure but reading further I found out that the maximum amount of ethanol in the fuel is 10% meaning the other 90+% is coming from places like the Tar Sands and I am pretty sure Mother Nature is hella pissed about that project. Keep in mind that most provinces have regulations in place that mandate that producers put ethanol into their fuel anyways.
::more blank stares::
I'm all for making fuel burn more efficiently so that we do not create as many emissions while we try to find a way to stop our reliance on oil in the first place. And if that means adding more ethanol than what is mandated then that is fantastic but be clear with your branding and marketing. Don't change your colour to green (pumps used to be blue and red), add some leafs and throw in a catchy name to make people they are buying something that they aren't. Because what they aren't buying is a sustainable solution and they certainly aren't buying something Mother Nature would be proud to have her name on.
What Green Washing have you seen lately?
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I feel like I have been duped
