Average Joe Goes Green - Part 9 - Greening Your Holidays

During the Holiday season, our thoughts are turning to plans for celebration with good friends and family. We started wondering how we could combine the Holiday festivities with Going Green. After doing some research, we came up with a few ideas:
The results of our research estimated that in America alone, over 2 billion holiday cards will be printed and mailed, over 38,000 miles of ribbon will be used, and more than 50,000 square miles of wrapping paper will decorate all of those presents Santa will deliver to all of the good boys and girls. (Hmmm...I wonder if reindeer powered sleighs are eco-friendly?) And what about the traditional Christmas tree? Millions of those will be left on curbs, and hundreds of thousands of artificial trees will find their way to landfills. So how can we all enjoy our Holidays and be still green conscious?

Here are a few tips:

No Plastic Bags - we didn't mention those in the above estimates but Americans send over 350 million tons of plastic bags to landfills each year! (The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 500 billion and a trillion plastic grocery bags are consumed worldwide each year). Plastic bags are petroleum based, the inks used may contain lead, and are not recyclable through residential or most commercial recycling programs. Many end up as litter, negatively affecting our wildlife on land and in our waters. So we decided to keep a supply of reusable fabric bags in our family car, and have used them even when we shop for gifts. After the holidays, they make heavy duty carriers for our food shopping, at the home improvement store, and everyday use.

No Artificial Trees - these are also made from petroleum products and are not recyclable. We bought a live tree and have a spot picked out to plant it in our yard after the holiday. What about a cut tree? Unfortunately, most conventional tree farms use large amounts of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. A better option, if it is available in your area, is to buy an organically grown cut tree. Green Promise has compiled a list of organic growers. Regardless of which cut tree you buy, many municipalities now collect these and turn them into mulch.

Go e-Cards - Traditional paper cards not only take a toll on our trees, but also add huge amounts of carbon to our atmosphere to process the pulp into paper. Most of the inks used are solvent based and contain toxins which can find their way into water supplies. There are so many great interactive e-cards you can buy online, or better yet, create your own with family photos, music and even videos. We did. Try creating one free at Save A Tree Cards or 123Greetings. Save trees, save paper and with no postage required, save money!

Go Real for Tableware - This holiday, we used real plates and silverware. We did just purchase a new Energy Star efficient dishwasher. If you must use disposable items, make sure they are recyclable. Check the number in the triangular recycle logo. If it is a 3 or less, chances are it can be recycled IF you make sure it is not "contaminated" with food. Avoid buying Styrofoam, as this normally cannot be recycled and is also a petroleum based product.

Wrap it Up - Have any magazines, decorative paper bags or old posters around the house? Here's your chance to reduce your clutter and put it to use as wrapping paper. If you must have traditional wrapping paper, you can purchase recycled paper and cotton ribbons (some are also made with non-toxic soy based inks) online at Fishlips Paper and Paper Source. You can even use fabric as a wrapping materials and add a "legacy" tag where you can write on a list showing the gift, date, and name of the recipient.

Let It Shine - With the popularity of LED's, you can now purchase strings of lights and even decorative ornaments made with these ultra low power Light Emitting Diodes. These use much less power than traditional bulbs, (about 60-80% less), thereby not only reducing your Holiday "carbon footprint", but also reducing your energy costs. You may also want to consider purchasing a timer to save even more!

Joseph Winn is the President/CEO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Joseph at jwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 8 - Renovations

We had been considering buying a new and larger home. However, due to the economic conditions facing most of us today, and the depressed housing market, purchasing a new home is just not in the cards for us right now. With two growing kids, we certainly could use the extra room so we began to consider renovating our home by adding on a new family room. We did find that due to the downturn in housing construction, there are many good contractors looking for work, and actually were able to hire one at a very reasonable price. Of course, we decided to go as green as possible.

First thing we did was to check with our local financial institution on financing. Again, we found home improvement loans at very low interest rates. We had heard that some banks and credit unions were offering “green home improvement” loans. These loans have special interest rate discounts when they are used for purchasing energy and water saving products, such as solar and wind systems, Energy Star appliances and products, low flow water and sensor systems and more. As these green home loans are not yet available from most institutions, we had to search around a bit before we closed on a loan with an institution which could fully accommodate our needs and budget.

We sat down with our contractor, and gave him our ideas for the new green family room. As we had previously discussed size and budget, within a week, he came back with plan drawings and a list of some of the green materials we had discussed, plus others he had come up with. It was quite exciting. To start, the roof is to be composed of a unique “membrane” made in part from recycled plastic bottles. We also will have a small “green” roof area for special plants. Combined, these two methods will reduce heat and cooling loss. There will also be rain gutters which will empty into two large rain barrels, catching the rain water and dispersing it through our garden area to irrigate our plants and shrubs. The plans do include a solar hot water system, however even with various federal tax incentives, our budget would not allow for a full solar PV installation at this time.

All windows are to be Energy Star qualified which are also specially designed to reduce heat and cooling loss. The plans also detailed a SolaTube natural lighting system, which simply accumulates daylight and reflects and transmits it through a series of tunnels and mirrors throughout 4 “light openings” in the ceiling. For evening lighting, there will be two LED lighting fixtures. While these were more expensive than conventional lighting, LED’s can last 10-50 times longer, use 85% less energy, and emit no heat.

There are several green choices for flooring. We have the option of using recycled carpet, much of which is made from recycled plastic, or, if we want a wood floor, can opt for bamboo or hardwood. When it comes to hardwood, we want to be sure to buy only Forest Stewardship Council, or Rainforest Alliance certified, as that assures the wood has been grown, farmed and milled in the most sustainable methods. There are now also floor tiles available made from recycled glass.

The walls will simply be painted with no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint. All materials off-gas, and synthetic materials can off-gas chemicals which are toxic - even furniture. To ensure no or low VOC's, we look for the GreenGuard certification ensuring the furniture is low in toxicity. For us staying green with furniture is an issue. Not because it’s not available, but because of the cost..it’s still quite high for quality green furniture. So we decided we would seek out used furniture and simply “recycle” it by using it our home. This eliminates more landfill waste, and reduces our risk of VOC’s as most of the dangerous chemical compounds off-gas within the first year.

So we are off and running…I can’t wait to pick out our new Energy Star rated big screen TV…

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 7 - Landscaping

The grass is green, the flowers are in bloom, and my trees are providing that cool break area from the summer sun as well as resting areas for traveling and domestic birds. So what could be bad about that? In my search towards greenness and sustainability, I found sometimes a little knowledge can get you into trouble, and sometimes it’s so illuminating that when you understand the content, you can make changes which are wide ranging in their effect.

The lawn. Most lawns are made up of grasses particular to certain areas and regions of the country. It has been the homeowners goal to have a thick, dark green outdoor carpet, one in which your kids can run and play to their hearts content. However, there’s a dark secret about these lawns few are willing to share. First, lawn grass is a water hog. It requires large amounts of water to keep thick and green. As we all have learned, water, even though it is unnaturally priced, is a precious resource which requires substantial amounts of energy to process, creating millions of tons of carbon dioxide. Some new homes and businesses are using rain cache systems which capture rainwater and use that for irrigation. Unfortunately, not mine. Rain barrels are now available for purchase, but there are issues with cost and space.

Second, to keep that lawn green requires fertilizer and pesticides. Fertilizer production releases large amounts of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide into the air, and it’s runoff causes large scale water problems, such as the Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone”. Pesticides contribute to the water pollution issues.

Last, mowing the lawn. Gallon for gallon — or, given the size of lawnmower tanks, quart for quart — the 2006 lawn mower engines contribute 93 times more smog-forming emissions than 2006 cars, according to the California Air Resources Board. However, some help is on the way. New EPA regulations will force manufacturers to reduce these emissions by 35% beginning in 2011. In the meantime, here are some strategies you may consider:

· Reduce the square footage of your lawn area and replace with natural plantings using Xeriscape techniques.

· Try to find affordable organic fertilizers. If not, use time-release fertilizers which have less impact.

· If you are planning a vegetable garden, try to go as organic as possible.

· If your yard is not too big, use a manual reel mower. It’s great exercise. Otherwise, there are now several brands of electric mowers now on the market.

Our yards are our escapes, our secret gardens, the outdoor barbecues, and those special places where many of us have shared fond experiences with friends and families. Of course, I am not giving up my yard…nor should you. However, all of the above recommendations will not only help in working towards our communities and planet’s environmental issues, but also provide for a safer and healthier environment for our families.

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 6 - The Dreaded Garage

OK – It’s spring cleaning time. Before I get started in my yard, I had to tackle the garage. You know, it’s that forgotten storage area where everything you don’t want in your house, but you don’t want to throw away, ends up. So where do I start?

First things first. I decided to check our air handler for our Air Conditioner unit. Not everyone has an air handler, but many homes may have hot air furnaces which like air handlers, draw in outside air and then distribute it through the house. I opened the door to the air handler and found that besides some extra floor tiles, a ladder and a baseball bat, there were about a dozen cans of paint. We all try to save the leftover paint and varnish from our projects, but that was simply not a good place for storage. Even closed, paint cans emit VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) which are then drawn into the house and combine with the air my family breathes. Not to mention, the word “volatile” being a fire hazard around any electrical unit. These had to go…place them somewhere else, or throw them away. Most waste collection companies require that old paint cans be brought to a special collection facility so as not to contaminate any landfills (yes, you actually can contaminate a landfill!).

After I removed the paint cans, I started on our closets. Being an amateur landscaper, I found that I had accumulated dozens of pesticides and fertilizers. After checking online, I was surprised to find that several of the pesticides I had purchased years ago, were now listed by the government as a “toxin” (not just to pests) and were no longer being sold. These had to go…but where? Again, you can’t just throw these in with your regular garbage. Like paint, this is considered hazardous material, so these will go to the special collection facility. The fertilizers I had were OK, but it’s preferable if you use a good time-release fertilizer, to lower the impact on underground aquifers. I’ll talk more about this when we talk about landscaping in future articles.

Car stuff. I love a clean shiny car. And I have all sorts of cleaners, polishes and waxes. Most of them are not “green”, but it’s just not economically feasible for me to simply trash them and go out and buy all new green products. Besides, disposing of all these at once adds to an already overtaxed waste stream. So I will transition towards sustainability in this area by using up what I have, and replacing them with newer green products.

Last, as I live in hurricane-prone region, I keep a generator ready to go should we lose power for an extended amount of time. The generator uses about 5-6 gallons of gasoline per day, so to be ready, we need to store at least 25 gallons. I’ve never been happy with storing gasoline, but until there is an economical clean power source (alternative generators are just starting to appear on the shelves…but not so economical), we have to deal with storing this fuel in a safe manner. This means approved containers and making sure each container has a tight seal and is far removed from any electrical source.

Well, that really wasn’t so bad! Next issue, we’ll go out and see how we can green up the yard. Until then, think Green!

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 5 - Our Family's Health

As you may recall, my last article focused on the health considerations of Going Green. It has become clear to me that in a totally free enterprise system, we cannot totally depend on our governments to protect us and we need to stay informed and educated. Many of you have written in asking me about the safety of specific name brand household items. Unfortunately, I cannot legally advise you on which products you should or should not buy, but I can give you some tips on what you can be looking out for when doing your shopping.

For example, there are many plastic products made from polycarbonates such as water bottles, food storage containers and children’s toys. One of the ingredients of polycarbonates is a chemical called Bisphenol A which in laboratory tests has been found to cause acute toxicity and what is known as estrogenicity as it’s effects can mirror hormones. While many government agencies worldwide such as Health Canada have deemed Bisphenol A as a “toxin” especially to infants and toddlers, and have banned this material from being used to produce baby bottles and toys, here in the U.S., our EPA has deemed the product “safe”. Fortunately, due to the media attention, several manufacturers (but not all), while not admitting there is anything unsafe about polycarbonates, are switching their products to other materials.

Another example involves the chemical Atrazine which is used as a commercial weed killer. Over 76 million pounds are applied each year in the US. Due to several independent studies showing adverse health indicators, the chemical was banned throughout the European Union several years ago. However, the product continues to be sold and used throughout the U.S. The irony is that Atrazine is manufactured and supplied by a large Swiss Agri-company.

So who would you believe? When it comes to my family, I choose to err on the side of safety. As long as there are proven safe and green alternatives to products we normally use, even if they may be slightly more expensive, that’s the road we are going to take.

Next issue: the dreaded garage. We all hate the thought of cleaning our garage, but it’s time for Spring Cleaning. I’ll let you know what I find in ours.

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 4 - Your Family's Health

I have read through perhaps hundreds of websites since our family started on our Going Green project. What started out as a simple idea to save energy and recycle, has now grown into an all-encompassing mission to not only save the planet, but also to protect the health of my family. How can Going Green be healthier than not Going Green? That would have been my question only a few months back, before I knew what I know now. That’s where our Going Green project started getting more complicated and serious…the information I uncovered revealed not only was the health of the planet at risk, including its many resources, but also my family’s health.

As consumers, my wife and I have always assumed that as long as a product was available on the shelf at our local supermarkets, building supply or department stores, or any retail store, they were completely, 100% safe. However, once we began reading the labels on these products, especially focusing on the “active ingredient”, we found that many contained pollutants and toxins and some even had carcinogenic qualities! I found the following from an article at Clean Link:

Most people have no idea about the active ingredient. “It’s irresponsible for us not to know. We’re not all chemists, but we better be that way fast,” states Lea Buburuz, corporation cleaning consultant for the British Columbia Buildings Corporation (BCBC) in Victoria, which provides real estate services to the provincial government and the public. Buburuz oversees cleaning operations, including chemical decisions, for more than 2,000 properties. Before allowing a new chemical into her inventory, Buburuz requests a full-disclosure Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the supplier. She maintains a list of banned substances, both by chemical and by brand name, and if any of the ingredients in the chemical are on the list, she won’t purchase it.

I looked up her sample excluded list on the website, and recognized several common active ingredients that I have seen listed on some of the products in my home. That’s when I decided to start a complete, whole house inventory.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is the name given to a syndrome now suspected of affecting millions of people. The following is an excerpt from Albert F. Robbins, D.O., MSPH, FAAEM, Board Certified: Preventive Medicine,Occupational/Environmental Medicine:

"I have updated my viewpoint on MCS because it is has become a serious but poorly recognized silent epidemic. Both the Yale Occupational Medicine Clinic in New Haven,Connecticut and the Mount Sinai Occupational Medicine Clinic in New York City increasingly diagnose and recognize this serious environmental illness. Over 20 states have proclamations signed by their Governors making May,2007 MCS Awareness Month throughout the U.S.A."

We also began to consider Indoor Air Quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.” In coming issues, I will share with you what we found by looking through the products in our garage, kitchen, bathrooms, closets and pantry and provide you with resources with which you can perform your own green audit and protect the health of your family.

In the meantime, if you have not already done so, you can start your Going Green process by making sure you recycle and changing out those spent incandescent bulbs with CFLs or better yet, LED’s. While you are at it, don’t forget to save paper by requesting e-statements from your bank or credit union.

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 3 - Goodbye Junk Mail

In my last article, I wrote about my family’s experience into Going Green and specifically, how we started to reduce our electrical usage by transitioning to CFL bulbs; reduced our water usage, and cut down on our paper usage. Almost immediately after publishing, we received inquiries on how to reduce junk mail, so I decided to dedicate this article to that subject.

To refresh our memories from my last article, most of us are aware that by reducing our paper use, we can also dramatically reduce greenhouse gases. For those of us who still do not understand the correlation between paper and climate change, here are a few facts:

It takes trees to make paper…lots of them. Trees are the planet’s “filters”. A tree takes in carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas which is the major factor in global warming) and produces live-giving oxygen. According to Conservatree, just 1 carton (10 reams) of 100% virgin copier paper uses .6 trees, and 1 tree makes 16.67 reams of copy paper or 8,333.3 sheets. Now, let’s factor in pulp processing. Besides the tremendous energy usage to operate these paper mills (that’s more greenhouse gases), the converting of pulp to paper takes a tremendous amount of water which also has to be reprocessed and re-filtered…again, more energy and greenhouse gases. And last, the inks. Most printing is still performed with petroleum and solvent based inks. Not only does that keep our country dependent on oil, but these inks contain toxins which can eventually end up leeching into public water supplies through old landfills.

So, let’s get back to how we can rid ourselves of the most common annoyance and help the cause: junk mail. Nobody wants it, we did not ask for it, yet it continues to show up in our mailboxes, day after day. In fact, the organization 41pounds.org estimates that weight to be the amount of junk mail every American receives in just one year. I even tried to sort through the junk mail for those mail pieces and catalogs that can be recycled, but this is time consuming, and I realized, most people simply will toss these items. Most junk mail gets thrown out with the trash, and ends up in landfills. Here is just some of the impact:
• More than 100 million trees are destroyed each year to produce junk mail. 42% of timber harvested nationwide becomes pulpwood for paper.
• The world’s temperate forests absorb 2 billion tons of carbon annually. Creating and shipping junk mail produces more greenhouse gas emissions than 9 million cars.
• About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted to produce and recycle junk mail each year.
There is an easy solution: www.catalogchoice.org offers a free service wherein you can use their website to unsubscribe from various mailings. As mentioned earlier, www.41pounds.org , also offers, for a nominal fee, a comprehensive unsubscription program to help you in stopping that annoying flow of unwanted catalogs, coupons, credit card offers, and just about anything else you do not wish to see in your mailbox.

You can do yourself a favor and help your community and planet in the process. Now, can someone tell me how I can stop that endless flow of junk e-mail? I will be looking for that answer! In the meantime, watch for my next article as it is not only about Going Green, but also includes little known health facts about many of the products we buy.

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .