Earthlab Pledges, Phase 1

So as part of Earthlab, I need to make 10 pledges a month on ways to become more green (well, not need to but it's requested, and kind of fun too).

So here's my first round of pledges, all promises of things to change this month, some things I already do since the live earth concert. Maybe you might find some good ideas here if you want.


#1: "I will adjust my thermostat according to ambient temperatures" - Something I already do and will keep doing, basically, keep the thermostat at bareable temperatures, not freezing and turn up when away for long periods of time (or the exact opposite in the winter).
#2: "I will always recycle" - No more lazy "I don't feel like rinsing it", I'm going to recycle whatever I can
#3: "I will call to stop unnecessary paper mail" - There's an 800 number you can call to request help in reducing your junk mail, I'm going to call them.
#4: "I will iron less by hanging my clothes in the condensation filled bathroom while I shower" - This is a neat tip and I hate ironing so I'm going to try it out!
#5: "I will load the dishwasher with consideration to additional resources I could avoid using" - This basically means no pre-rinsing and wasting water, let the dishes dry naturally, use light water settings if possible for the load.
#6: "I will purchase and begin brewing with reusable filters with my next trip to the store" - Already do this, will keep doing it, coffee tastes better anyway.
#7: "I will recycle my newspaper, and encourage others to do so" - Okay, I don't personally get the newspaper but someone on my floor keeps leaving theirs by the garbage shute so I'm going to start picking them up and taking them to our blue box.
#8: "I will switch to a biodegradable dishwasher detergent" - Need to find this product but I'll use it when I find it.
#9: "I will take shorter showers and install water-conserving fixtures" - Already done, all heads are water savers and my showers are down to 4.5 minutes flat including brushing my teeth (well, 4 minutes since I cut my hair).
#10: "I will unplug my cell phone charger when not in use" - Gotta remember to do this, but a great tip.
#11: "I will use "green" cosmetics and facial products" - Oddly enough, already do this, and didn't realize until today when I looked!
#12: "I will use biodegradable and otherwise "green" cleaning products" - next time I run out, I will do this. And I've already switched to Tide and Downy cold water products to help there too.
#13: "I will use natural hair products" - I'm already good at this, except my mousse, I need to find natural mousse for curly hair. Anyone know any brands?
#14: "I will use the "Kill Switch" on the power strip" - Started doing this, it's so easy!
#15: "I will use the least amount of energy when drying my dishes" - Time to stop being lazy Tia, pull out the teatowels and do some work or let them air dry, no more heat settings.
#16: "I will use the lowest settings reasonable for my refrigerator/freezer" - I do this already (just cool enough to keep food fresh/frozen and beer slightly below room temperature) and was happy to find out that all my appliances are energy efficient Whirpool appliances since I really don't have the option of replacing any appliances (I don't own them).

So that's my pledges for this month (somehow I snuck an extra 6 in there but no worries). I need to report back to the website when I have made each change and my pollution score will drop depending on what I've done. Next month I get to choose 10 more things to change, although, there is nothing stopping me from starting them right now too.

Hopefully you all found some useful tips in this and I'll let you know next months which new pledges I choose.

Earthlab is Launched!

So I check my email today and find an email from Al Gore. I immediately start to mark the email as junk mail and then realize that it's not a joke, it really is an email from Al Gore! Wierd....

So I open the email and find that it's a nice little email from Mr. Gore praising me on being so far below the average ECP and Carbon output score for London. I mentioned in an earlier post that the live earth website offered a quick little test to see where you stand on pollution and now, EarthLab has been launched to help us even further. You can check it out a http://www.earthlab.com/ and sign up. It not only gives you general suggestions on way to be green but specializes a plan for you based on your individual score.

When I logged in, it told me that my score was 247 and London's average was 306. I produce 9 tons of Co2 each year and the average is 13 tons. So now, I'm reading my full report and checking out my specialized "green" plan. The website asks that we retake the quiz in three months and in 6 months for an update on how we are doing. I'll let you know the results then.

I found it really interesting, maybe you will too. Check it out!

I'm not the only one concerned!!!

Okay, you all know that my secret desire is to some day marry Ewan McGregor, but as far as liking actors for their talent, their personalities, and what they stand for, one of my favorites has always been Leonardo Dicaprio.

I have always thought that Leo was an amazing actor, and even own What's Eating Gilbert Grape to prove it. For many years now, Leo has been a big advocate of the environment and has done a number of projects recently that focus on this passion.

A couple of years ago, I stumbled across Leo's website and began to watch it closely for the changes. Along with constant updates on his work as an actor, the website evolved more and more and Leo's passion for our home became even more evident and I started to follow his life more closely. It does help too that he's talented, rich, a genuinely nice guy, gorgeous, single and my age....hmmm.

For some exclusive previews on his upcoming "11th Hour" and some links to great ideas on helping ourselves, check out Leo's myspace website at http://www.myspace.com/leonardodicaprio or go to http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/ to see his previous documentaries on the environment.

I do want to explain one thing. I know I'm not perfect when it comes to being energy concious, but I try. I'm not trying to be in anyone's face about environmental issues, it's just my opinion. I'd love hear other's opinions, and I want to make sure that those with similar feelings get a chance to see some of the websites that Jingle and I have found. This also isn't anything new to me. I've been concerned about the environment for years. Like I said, I'm not perfect, but I do consider it and try, naturally, to do things that are better for us. I don't believe we are as dire as "others" say, but I do believe that if we don't start making changes, we will eventually be in trouble and I personally want to try to allow my future family to live indefinately. So please don't think I'm doing the last few blogs just because of the sudden flux of "green is good". It just happens that now, I have a means to express.

And Dad, I especially want to see comments from you. I know our opinions are a little different on these issues and I love our debates. Bring it on.

Enjoy you all! There are many more interesting sites out there and I'll slowly bring you what I've found.

A Climate in Crises!

July 7th, 2007 was Live Earth day. A 26 hour, 10 city, 7 continent concert to raise awareness for the strugles that our earth and future are facing.

So let's start with the concerts. I actually really enjoyed all the concerts. I'm writing about this 5 days late because it took that long to watch all the concerts. I found them entertaining. I liked seeing bands I had never heard of from other countries. I liked seeing my favorites.

Bon Jovi and Metallica rocked New York and London. Of course, Bon Jovi performed from Giants stadium in Jersey. They are the original Jersey boys and never hesitate to be the first ones signed up for charity events like these. And Metallica just rocks, period.

Obviously, many more groups and individuals performed but once Bon Jovi appears on screen I sort of forget anything else thats going on. They just have that way about them.

There were some great speakers too. Cameron Diaz said some nice things, Al Gore was there too, Leonardo DiCaprio spoke his mind from London, again, the list go on.

But the day was about more than entertainment. A lesson needed to be learned, a slap in our faces made. Okay, so most of us realize that if we turn off lights when we leave a room, we save energy. But obviously, the vast majority of the public don't do this, or they wouldn't have mentioned it. There is a huge difference being between knowing and doing.

The little things are what matters. A small change here or there equals a big change for everyone. And it's easy to do the small things. Some of the suggestions they made I thought were excellent, and simple things that most of us don't think about.

We all know about turning lights off, but how many us actually turn off the power bars our electronics are plugged into? You probably just press the power button on that remote and that's it, but hydro still pours into that power bar non-stop. Shut it down! And energy efficient bulbs are just a great idea all around and so much cheaper!

I was really bad for this, I admit. But no more. How many of us leave our small appliances and charges plugged in all the time? Why plug it in when not using it. If you are one of those people that absolutely needs to set the coffee maker timer every night then fine, but why do we need to keep a toaster or a blender plugged in? And why not consider appliances that are energy efficient over those that aren't. Until I was reminded about it, I never thought about unplugging my massage chair when I was just sitting in it. I only plug it in now when I'm actually using it for a massage.

Walking, biking, public transport, carpool. Not everyone can do this, not all the time. We need vehicles in this day and age. But we can all try to get a little more exercise. Why drive to the corner store, walk (unless you're in the country and the corner store is 8 kms away).

In the age of IPOD galore, why do we still need to purchase cd's? Do you really need to buy a song online and then pay for it again when you buy the cd? Now a days, extra hardrive space is cheap, online music is much cheaper than cd's, and online buying means no trucks delivering hard plastic discs. No trucks, no pollution, no plastic dics, no landfill waste when the group splits up and everyone throws them away. Let's reduce this bit. Besides, it's so much easier to just hit the delete button when an artist pisses you off then to get up and walk to the garbage to throw the disc away. And if you are still worried about the cost of buying music online, then I'm sure you'll manage to find it free.

Reusable containers. That's all I'm going to say about that, it's a no brainer!

Plant a tree. Again, no brainer, nuff said!

Rechargeable batteries, cheaper, lasts longer, and reduces waste.

Buying food locally. Why do we drive to the grocery store to buy the produce that was shipped that morning from other countries while that same morning, the local producers shipped they product out to export countries? What's the point? Buy local whenever possible, keep the majority of our food in our country.

And the list goes on, and on. Any of us doing just one of these things will make a difference and not one of these things were hinder our day to day lives. If you want more ideas on what you can do, or to pledge to the world that you will make a change, then visit http://www.liveearth.org/ to learn more.

You can even take a quiz to find out how efficient you are, how much carbon dioxide you as an individual contribute to our pollution annually, and what you can do to improve your score. The scores range from 100-900 and the lower the score, the better. I took the quiz. The numbers are a little off for me because they didn't have a smart car as an option and the next closest ehicle isn't half as efficient as my car, but nonetheless, my score was 247 and I contribute 9 tons of carbon dioxide to our environment every year. With the average scores so far being around the mid 500's you gotta think, not bad, but it could be better. I'm making some changes for myself, and I think it's time to plant a tree.

Where do you stand?