Heal Your Home

Co-op America, has created a great primer for making healthy environmental choices in your home. The section called "Heal Your Home" is broken down into Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom, Exterior, and Overall Health Homes and includes a glossary and additional related articles. You can browse the articles online HERE or download the entire thing as a PDF.

Green Drinks

Looking for a low key way to connect with fellow environmentally sensitive business folks? The Green Drinks networking group brings together diverse folks in a variety of industries in informal settings across the globe. There are nearly 400 groups in over 30 countries (each self organized) so there's probably one in your neck of the woods. Find out more HERE.

Thanks Carra & Scott!

Environmental Reality TV

A local cable station in Boston has created Energy Smackdown a reality TV show about families competing to see who can reduce their carbon footprint the most. You can watch episodes of the series HERE. And find out who won and how they did it HERE.

No More Paper Catalogs!

Catalog Choice is a free service that helps you get rid of unwanted catalogs in your mail. By utilizing customer codes that are printed on catalogs you can even get rid of ones that come in someone else's name to your address! Find out more and sign up HERE.

Free Wayfinding Graphics

I recently discovered that the classic wayfinding graphics, seen in most American airports and other transportation hubs, are available as free vector art from the AIGA.

The icons were developed by the AIGA in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation and were originally released in 1974 and added to in 1979. The entire set of symbols are Copyright Free(!) and can be downloaded HERE.

News Roundup

Sorry for the long quiet from me, I've got a bunch to post and hope to be updating more frequently in the coming weeks. First off some news clippings I've been collecting...

From the Christian Science Monitor:

Ethiopians tradmarking coffee to ensure Fair Trade.

Eating "green" at environmentally friendly restaurants.

Study finds White House manipulated climate science.

Africa begins banning plastic bags.

Compact Fluorescent Recycling

You now have another way to recycle your dead compact fluorescent light bulbs, you can take them with you to Ikea. The store's new program allows you to bring in any brand of CFLs thus preventing the toxic mercury within from ending up in landfills.

via EcoGeek

News Roundup

Several great articles have appeared in recent issues of the Christian Science Monitor:

Ugandan women improve their lives making paper beads.

Green roofs appearing on New York houses.

Trash ovens in Kenya save trees.

Reducing the racist disparity between crack and cocaine sentencing.

And from Mother Jones:

Chinese toy imports and the lack of U.S. safety regulations.
Which is followed by a short list of stories about the problems with a self-regulating industry including this gem:

HASBRO EASY-BAKE OVENS In 2006, Hasbro overhauled its iconic oven with a new design and heating system. By the following February, the company had to recall nearly 1 million ovens because children had suffered burns after getting their hands caught in them. Rather than taking the ovens back, Hasbro got the cpsc [consumer product safety commission] to sign off on an easier fix: It would send a repair kit to any consumer who requested it. The ovens were recalled again this July, after 77 kids had gotten burned; one five-year-old had to have a finger amputated. This time, consumers got to return their ovens—for a voucher, good only for another Hasbro product.

21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle

The current issue of Co-Op America Quarterly gives a quick overview of recycling options for just about everything you can think of (from Appliances to Tyvek Envelopes) in "21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle". It's pretty basic, but if you know someone who is just getting becoming more environmentally concerned it's a good starting place. Get the entire list of 21 things here.

Anita Roddick 1942-2007

Say what you will about the Body Shop, but there is no denying that the store's founder Dame Anita Roddick was a pioneer in the world of socially conscious business and a tireless activist with a true interest in doing good in the world. Our condolences to her family, she will be missed.

Read her obituary in the New York Times and via BBC News.

PARK(ing) Day: September 21

Started in San Francisco in 2005, PARK(ing) Day is now an international event of small proportions. City dwellers worldwide are encouraged to build a mini-park in a parking spot to draw attention to how streets are utilized and the lack greenspace in urban areas. Find out more and directions for making your own Park(ing) Space here.

Thanks Mim!

Clothesline Activism

It may seem ridiculous, but homeowners in many areas are actually restricted from doing a simple activity that can help the environment while saving money and energy. Yep, the old fashioned clothesline has been banned in communities across the US as an ugly blight on neighborhoods (and more specifically on property values). Happily there are some folks that are working change the situation. Project Laundry List is spreading the word about the benefits of air drying and the bigger issue of unsustainable energy consumption, while working to change the laws that prohibit drying clothes outside. Find out more and how to get involved here.

Blog Action Day: October 15th

There a lot of talk about the power that bloggers wield, so the folks behind Blog Action Day decided to test it out. Their simple plan: to have as many bloggers as possible post about environmental issues on October 15th. Will it make a difference? Wait and see or participate and see. More info here.

Rough Guide: Shopping with a Conscience

I recently picked up the Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience and I can't say enough great things about it. Rather than a listing of "green" stores, this handy guide gives a thorough and well-reasoned overview of the issues that face consumers who are interested in consuming from an ethical perspective. From food and household goods to travel and investing, the guide gives a fair assessment of the pros and cons of the different options that currently exist (including opting out) as well as plenty of resources for further investigation. The introduction clearly sets the tone:

"Socially responsible shopping – and ethical consumerism in general – is about taking responsibility for you day-to-day impact upon the world. It doesn't mean deluding yourself into thinking that shopping with a conscience can solve all the world's problems, or that the check-out is the new ballot box. And it doesn't mean following a prescriptive list of evil companies and countries that need to be boycotted. It means taking the time to learn a little about how your lifestyle affects people, planet and animals, and making your own decisions about what constitutes an ethical or unethical purchase."

I couldn't have said it better myself! And unlike the similar, but much heftier tome from World Changing, The Rough Guide is easy for someone new to the issues to pick up and read without feeling daunted. Plus the small size makes it more likely to get thrown in a backpack and carried on shopping trips. I highly recommended it for new and seasoned ethical shoppers alike.

Find out more or purchase it at the Rough Guide site or ask for it at your local bookstore.

Freitag's Recycled Shipping Container Store

Freitag, Swiss manufacturer of sexy recycled bags, has built a new flagship store in Zurich out of recycled shipping containers! More details at Telstar Logistics.

via Superuse.org

The First Zero Emissions Computer

EcoGeek has a review of the Zonbu, the first zero-emissions computer. The small PC, which has no moving parts and runs on Linux seems to be a good choice for basic computer users. The one catch is that you are required to subscribe to their service for storing files online, since internal memory is limited (though they explain why this might not be a drawback). Read the full review here.

What's wrong with Ethanol.

Co-op America's new exposé on corn ethanol gives a detailed explanation of why it will not be the environmental panacea that the U.S. government touts it to be and how it could actually make the situation much worse. Get the facts here.

Carbon Conscious Consumer

New American Dream wants you to become a Carbon Conscious Consumer. Their site posts monthly challenges (last month's was to eat one pound a week of local food) and lists the carbon emissions saved by the folks who pledge to participate. They're even offering eco-friendly prizes to folks who get the most people involved in the campaign. Find out more here.

News Roundup

A few more great stories from the Christian Science Monitor:

• The Donkey Health and Welfare Project helps the often under appreciated pack animal in Ethiopia.
• Chocolate, yet another product that fuels war in Africa.
• "Can 'Green Chic' save the planet?"

About the Monitor

Computer Recycling Made Easy

The Computer Take Back Campaign has made a simple downloadable PDF of the latest information on recycling old computers for individual consumers. If you're ready upgrade grab this handy guide here (PDF updated March 07). And if you want to learn more about or join the campaign to encourage computer manufacturers to take more responsibility for the products they create visit the Computer Take Back site for details.

Wolfgang Puck wants animals to be happy.

World-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck writes in a recent Newsweek article about his growing interest in animal welfare (as well as promotion of organic non-GMO food and reduced reliance on disposable packaging!):

I've been thinking a lot lately about how it's up to chefs like me to help everyone stay healthy. It's not just about reducing obesity and diabetes, though that's obviously a priority. It's about getting every one of us to eat the right foods. That means buying produce from responsible farmers who grow fruits and vegetables that aren't covered with pesticides or genetically modified. It means getting meat from ranchers who not only shun the use of antibiotics and growth hormones, but also raise their animals humanely in a free-roaming environment. I'm not going soft, or, heaven forbid, vegan. I'm just trying to be more accountable to myself, my customers and to those who are farming responsibly. And if it means being nicer to animals along the way, well, that's a big bonus.

Read the entire article here.

Thanks Mica!

WSJ on Organic Lawns

The Wall Street Journal discovers organic gardening...

Hop on the Green Train

It seems Amtrak has jumped on the Green bandwagon with the most recent issue of their Arrive magazine (which is in seat back pockets on their Northeast lines). Titled "Special Green Issue" the cover announces that it was printed on recycled paper (only 10% post-consumer waste and paid for by an advertiser) and contains articles on subjects like "Recyclable Shopping" (flea markets!), "Sustainable Dining" (seafood specifically), "Environmental Investing" (land conservation) and an interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The rest of the issue is their standard fare and I assume they'll go back to non-recycled paper next issue. Definitely not the most progressive take on environmentalism, but it's a start. I look forward to the day that "Green Issue"s are the norm and not "special".

If you're interested you can read the entire Arrive Green Issue online here.

French (Bicycle) Revolution

Starting July 15th Parisians will have access to 10, 648 rentable bikes (going up to 20,600 by January). Rental stations will be situated so that none will 900 feet from anywhere in the city proper. Costs will be minimal with the project aimed at commuters over tourists. The only catch? It's being paid for by an advertising company in exchange for 1,600 billboards.

More details here.

A billboard I don't hate?

This billboard for South African Nedbank actually has solar panels on it that generate electricity for the kitchens of a neighboring elementary school.

Full details and more pix at Houtlust.

EcoGeek

EcoGeek is nother excellent addition to the green blogging world. They compile green technology stories from across the blogosphere and also provide original articles like "Ask the EcoGeek".

Thanks Jessica!

B Corporation

B Corporation is a new organization promoting a higher level of responsibility for businesses that want to be considered green. To be considered a B Corporation businesses must meet a comprehensive set of social environmental standards, plus institutionalize stakeholder interests. The organization is still in it's early stages, so it will be interesting to see if they can set a standard that is recognized and has an impact on the business world.

To Carbon Offset or Not To Carbon Offset

I've been debating the merits of carbon offsets and whether they are really helping to encourage greener living, or just encouraging people to throw money at a problem rather than acting differently (especially as I have been reviewing green hosting options). So I was happy to discover an article about just this topic in the current issue of Mother Jones (May/June), "Practical Values: Paying for My Hot Air" :

Because air travel is my biggest vice, I started by plugging a year's worth of flights into various online travel calculators. The cost of redemption for 34,000 air miles: $168, according to NativeEnergy; $160.89 per MyClimate; or $64.95 on TerraPass. When I added up my total carbon footprint (air travel, auto, and home energy), the price tags ranged from $180 to $408 per year. Why would anyone spend $408 when she could choose a $180 offset instead?

"As a tendency, the cheaper the program, the more likely it is that the quality is not very good," says Wolfgang Strasdas, who recently completed a study on carbon offsets for the International Ecotourism Society. Strasdas judged carbon-offset companies on three main factors: how credible they are, how they spend your money, and how they calculate emissions. The latter accounts for the major discrepancies in price, especially regarding air travel.

Read the entire article (along with a handy carbon offset comparison chart) here.

Bloomin' Business Card

I love this design for a business card that grows from Jamie Wieck.

via BoingBoing

Greener Technology

Green Tech is a new online guide to sustainable technology from CNET. Articles include 25 Ways To Go Green, Earth Friendly Downloads, Online Tools for Staying Green, and more.

Thanks Cory!

Community Supported Consumptiton

SustainLane is a new community based online directory of green products and services, where you can search for reviews and/or add your own. While still in it's early stages (a query for Sun Screen pulled up only 3 items), it has the potential to be a great resource for folks who want to know more before they shop.

The folks behind SustainLane also provide sustainability rankings for the 50 biggest US cities; as well as government focused site; and even an animated series called The UnSustainables.

Toxic Art Supplies

Co-op Ameria's: Real Money has an article on the potential toxic hazards of art supplies and how to identify and avoid them. They also provide a list of resources including a couple of recipes for homemade paints and dyes. Read the article here.

Groen!

Simple clear message from the Belgian Green Party.



Thanks to copywriter Filip Vandewiele for sending it along.

Green Hosting

For the first time in many years I need to find a new web host for one of my websites and I decided to review the socially conscious options. Happily it turns out there are a lot of green hosting services these days. I've listed a bunch of folks I found below. The hard part now is deciding whom to use (which is definitely better than having no options at all).

FYI most hosts that call themselves green have offset their energy consumption with pollution credits (also called going "carbon neutral") via businesses like green-e; AISO is the one exception I've found so far.

• Acorn Host is woman owned.
• Affordable Internet Services Online has actual solar panels (which you can watch via webcam).
• DreamHost is a hugely popular mainstream hosting service that is employee owned.
• Sustainable Websites gives you access to green marketing articles.
• ThinkHost will plant a tree for you.

I still haven't decided where to go do if you have any recommendations for any of them them or know of any others to check out please share your thoughts.

UPDATE
Thanks to scoid who pointed us to Ecologee.net, which has already done the hard work for us. The site tracks hosts that are using actual renewable energy (not credits) and is working to create an entirely "green internet"!

On Vacation(s)

My company and I are taking a holiday starting tomorrow. For a week and a half we'll be happily away from phones and computers. My sister Mica graciously agreed to take the reins and serve as guest editor here at Another Limited Rebellion blog while I'm away, so unless you're heading out on vacation as well, definitely keep checking back with us daily!

Speaking of which here are some links to eco-vacation resources for those of you who want to plan summer getaways from an environmental perspective...

The International Ecotourism Society - Promoting environmental travel. Their global conference is happening in Oslo, Norway right now.

The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations - Tons of well researched info.

Responsible Travel - Ecotourist holiday packages for folks in the US, UK, EU, and Australia.

Bulungula Lodge - Accredited Fair Trade tourist destination in South Aftica (shown left).

The above links were found accompanying this article on Geotourism in Ode Magazine.

Drug Testing vs. Soap Testing

Check out this awesome bit of bizarre news, turned into humorously positive marketing for the excellent Dr. Bronner's soaps...



via WFMU

Real Costs: The Plug-In

Dare you add the Real Costs plug-in to your browser (assuming it's Firefox) and discover the CO2 emissions reality of your travel plans? Right now it works with Orbitz, Delta, and United, but future versions will work with car direction, car rental and shipping sites. Download it and start cringing today.

via StayFree!

Farmers' Market(ing)

One of the things I do when I'm not running Another Limited Rebellion (the design studio AND blog) is help coordinate SPROUT a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Group that I founded. SPROUT provides organizational, administrative, and marketing services to small organic farms and/or gardens that are interested in starting a CSA, but either don’t have the time or resources to do so themselves.

Community Supported Agriculture is a form of mutual partnership between farmers and consumers. Rather than go through several layers of middle people, consumers make a commitment to directly support an individual farm by providing money (and sometimes labor) for their yearly operating budget. In exchange they receive a dividend of the freshest produce possible. Each supporter buys a “share” of the farm (not unlike a share of stock) and takes on some of the risks and benefits of growing food along with the farmer. CSA’s are a unique way for people to have a better knowledge of the food they put in their bodies and the process, people & land it takes to produce it.

This season SPROUT is partnering with Victory Farms, Inc., a small family run farm, which relocated from Phoenix, Arizona to Hanover, VA.

You can out more about CSA's via the Robyn VanEn Center at Wilson College, find a CSA in your area at Local Harvest, or if you're in the vicinity of Richmond, VA please consider joining SPROUT this season, an application can be downloaded here (PDF).

Ethanol Is Not Green

A recent report from Stanford University concludes that the much hyped corn based Ethanol is not only NOT a "clean-burning" eco-fuel, but that in the long run it may cause more deaths than traditional gasoline. According to Mark Z. Jacobson, the scientist that conducted the research:

"In our study, E85 increased ozone-related mortalities in the United States by about 200 deaths per year compared to gasoline, with about 120 of those deaths occurring in Los Angeles," Jacobson said. "These mortality rates represent an increase of about 4 percent in the U.S. and 9 percent in Los Angeles above the projected ozone-related death rates for gasoline-fueled vehicles in 2020."

Read more about the report's conclusions here.

Pledge to Live a One Planet Life

This Earth Day Care2 asks you to pledge to live a One Planet Life...

Hearst Gets Greener

Hearst made quite a statement last year with the opening of it's entirely green NYC headquarters.
This week they have announced a new consumer website which will be entirely focused on earth-friendly living called The Daily Green (link).

The Daily Green will be a one-stop Web destination where the fast-growing community of green consumers can find each other and everything they need to know to embrace a more energy-conscious, natural foods-oriented and environment-friendly lifestyle.

The Daily Green will feature daily eco-tips; the day’s key national and international environmental news; advice on how to enjoy a more sustainable life with smart energy and product choices; delicious recipes for meals and school lunches that are more hormone- and pesticide-free, compassionately raised and “as local-as-available”; and ideas for creating a more toxin-free home. While content will be an important element of The Daily Green, it is the community of followers of the green movement that will inform the sensibility of the site. For example, Weird Weather Watch, a user-generated photoblog of climate change snapped by backyard environmentalists and camera phone climatologists will be an important feature, as will user-submitted recipes and tips. In addition, the site will give a voice to the leaders of the country’s most important environmental organizations through blog postings and site links.

The beta