We all heard it growing up. You are just about to head out the door with snow sled or surfboard in hand and you hear your mom say, “Don’t forget to turn the lights off in your room”. You turn around, go back to your room, turn off the light and wonder how much energy you are really saving.

Turns out, you can save a bundle! Lighting accounts for 11 percent of the home energy use and while compact florescent bulbs are more efficient than traditional bulbs by up to 75%, nothing beats the energy efficiency of a light that isn’t using energy at all. By simply turning off or reducing the number of lights on in a room you can dramatically affect your electrical bill and reduce your overall home energy usage.

The Department of Energy has a great article on how much energy and money you can save on a monthly basis. By turning off a single 60 Watt bulb for one hour a day, 22,000 watts of energy per year could be saved. That?s enough energy to power one months worth of evening TV viewing!

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This post is Part 2 of my holiday gift to readers and to other environmental researchers and writers that spend their time trolling through the web in search of good sites.

Consumerism

GreenerChoices.org – Published by the folks who bring us Consumer Reports, GreenerChoices.org is an online initiative designed to inform, engage, and empower consumers about environmentally-friendly products and practices. The site includes product ratings, calculators, eco-label information and buying guides to help steer your eco-dollars in the right direction.

Knowmore.org – A resource for those looking for information on Ethical Consumerism. Initially compiled as a wiki by volunteers, Knowmore.org runs the “Behind the Logos” project to help consumers understand the corporate practices of the world’s most profitable companies.

The Center for a New American Dream - An organization with the mission to help Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. The Center identifies environmental issues facing consumers and provides tools, resources and solutions to help Americans change their ways.

Directories & Guides

Local Harvest – Local Harvest is a comprehensive directory for?small farms, farmers markets, and sustainably grown foods. Whether you’re looking to find a farmer’s market where you’re going to be vacationing or are interested in learning more about CSA programs, you can find what you need by visiting the Local Harvest site.

MetaEfficient – Dubbed “the guide to highly efficient things,” MetaEfficient publishes lists of all kinds of highly efficient and green goods. From broad product categories like “Furniture,” to niche goods like earpods, MetaEfficient finds the most sustainable goods and delivers the scoop in their guides.?

The Green Guide?- Find out how to incorporate “green” into every area of your life with National Geographic’s Green Guide. The Green Guide is updated regularly with tips, products, companies, services and advice on going green, and is a reputable source of information for all things green.

Online Communities/Social Networks

Huddler’s Green Home – If you’re looking for a community full of like-minded eco-individuals, consider joining Huddler’s Green Home. You can submit product reviews, contribute to the site’s green wiki or engage in any number of green forums on this eco-focused social networking site.

MakeMeSustainable – MakeMeSustainable is an online community that provides individuals and businesses with the tools necessary to identify and accomplish their sustainable goals. Members can calculate and track their carbon emissions, encourage others to join the movement, and build a network of individuals, businesses and organizations that are committed to achieving a sustainable future.

People For Earth – People for Earth members work together to take action, learn, share, connect and collaborate on projects that promote eco-friendly living while addressing the serious issues related to the future of the planet. Community members can launch and join groups, post content, engage in debate and network with others who share their goals and ideals.

Research Resources

CorpWatch – The CorpWatch website is packed with information, links and research that citizens, journalists and organizations can use to hold corporations accountable for their actions. In an effort to aid researchers and keep an eye on big companies, CorpWatch provides news, analysis, research tools and action alerts about corporate practices around the globe.

The University of Michigan: Statistical Resources on the Environment – This no-nonsense site is a portal for statistical information related to the environment, global warming, climate change, pollution, alternative energy and other eco-topics. Use this site to find facts that back up your claims and fight propaganda and incomplete arguments with concrete data.

USGBC Green Building Links – The USGBC has compiled an extensive list of green and sustainable building resources. You can use this site to find organizations and governments that have implemented sustainable practices in the planning and development of their communities.

Think Tanks & Research Centers

RAND: Energy & Environment – RAND works to solve complex social, economic and governmental problems using scientifically-backed research and quality analysis. Drawing on multiple departments within RAND, the Energy & Environment group compiles research and works toward developing solutions that balance environmental concerns with economic development and social needs.

Union of Concerned Scientists – The Union of Concerned Scientists is a science-based alliance of citizens and scientists working together for environmental solutions and responsible change in government policy. Combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development, and effective citizen advocacy, the Union of Concerned Scientists strives to achieve practical environmental solutions.

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It’s possible to stay true to your eco-beliefs this holiday season by giving gifts that aren’t actually things. Instead of buying clothes or books or electronics for your loved ones, consider investing in non-profit organizations that are working to preserve, conserve, and protect open spaces, watersheds, parks and wildlife habitats across America. By giving gift memberships, having trees planted in honor of your friends, or buying from merchants who give a percentage of their profits to environmental organizations, you positively impact the environment and stand up to consumerism and excess.

There are all kinds of organizations that are committed to protecting, preserving and restoring the wildlife, forests, open spaces and bodies of water in this country. Before buying your friends and family more stuff that they may or may not need, consider giving your money to one of these organizations and using your consumer power to do good now and throughout the coming year.

For Hikers: With a mission to the preservation and management of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail’s natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources, a gift membership to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy helps provide primitive outdoor-recreation and educational opportunities for Trail visitors. Membership includes a subscription to A.T. Journeys: The Magazine of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, as well as discounts at the organization’s Trail Store and an Appalachian Trail Conservancy decal and patch.

For Bird Lovers: If you have loved ones who spend their weekends trekking through wetlands in search of elusive birds, a Gift Membership to the National Audubon Society might be the perfect gift this year. Having advocated for the preservation of natural habitats and wildlife for over a century, Audubon lobbies Congress to preserve and protect wildlife habitats, and restore already damaged ecosystems by building parks and wildlife preserves. Members receive a subscription to Audubon, the organization’s bi-monthly magazine, as well as access to Audubon sanctuaries and preserves around the country.

For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Founded in 1922 to save outdoor America for future generations, the Izaak Walton League is dedicated to restoring watersheds, reducing air pollution, protecting open spaces, and instilling conservation ethics in outdoor enthusiasts. Your gift of a Membership will help further clean air and energy campaigns, wilderness and public land protection programs, and efforts to save vulnerable watersheds and streams. The Izaak Walton League offers members discounts on publications and merchandise, and provides subscriptions to their quarterly publication, Outdoor America, to thank members for supporting the organization.

For Urban Adventurers: The Central Park Conservancy works to restore, preserve, and maintain Central Park as a beautiful place for leisure, recreation, and the appreciation of nature. If you’re looking for a unique way to support the organization’s objectives and beautify the city, you can purchase daffodil and tulip bulbs and have them planted in honor of those special people in your life.

For Boaters:The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is the only independent non-profit that is dedicated to saving and restoring the Bay and its tributaries, and has worked non-stop to “Save the Bay” for over 40 years. You can honor a loved one this holiday season by having a tree planted in the Bay’s watershed by donating $25 to the organization.

For Arborists: You can help protect the forests and ecosystems of America when you donate money to American Forests as this holiday season. The organization plants trees “in the right place, for the right reason,” and one tree is planted for every dollar you give. American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration, a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry, and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests.

Happy Holidays!

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Although the environmental movement has been around for years, many communities are just starting to understand the importance of incorporating green practices into urban planning, business practices, and governmental regulations. Large and small cities have started writing green policies into their planning and development codes, and citizens are petitioning to get green initiatives on local ballots.

By demanding the incorporation of green practices and environmental regulations in planning and development decisions, environmental advocates are affecting how sustainability is incorporated in their towns and cities. When looking at cities across America, it’s easy to see that there are plenty of cities who have been “going green” for years (such as Portland, Oregon), and other communities that are just stepping up to the green challenge. Regardless of what cities have done in the past, the fact that so many cities are taking steps to build sustainability into their communities is good for everyone. In an effort to find the greenest places in America, I’ve compiled a list of the greenest American cities using surveys from Country Home, SustainLane, Popular Science and Our Green Cities.

Methodology

Though focused on the same end result (the greenest American city), each of these 4 organizations used different criteria in determining what makes a city green. In compiling their list, Country Home looked at the official energy policies, green power, green buildings, and the availability of fresh, locally grown food in each community. I was disappointed that the Country Home data wasn’t explained in greater detail, but also found it interesting that the cities on their list were comparable to the cities selected by the other organizations.

Popular Science provides the detailed methodology used in determining their top 50 cities, which includes a ranking of sustainable practices in the Electricity, Transportation, Green Living (buildings, construction, development), and Recycling/Green Perspectives of each city. If you’re interested in learning exactly how Popular Science selected their 50 greenest cities, make sure you check out these case studies that break down the methodology used in the survey.

To figure out their list of sustainable cities, Our Green Cities applied their own “Index of Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously,” a checklist that looks at smart growth activities, land usage, transportation, energy policy, pollution, and sustainable projects taking place in each of the cities. If you’re interested in what makes a city sustainable according to Our Green Cities, you can read their definition here.

SustainLane applied an impressively comprehensive method of determining the greenest cities in America, and offers an in-depth explanation of their methodology on their website. Using primary and secondary research to compile their list, SustainLane analyzed data collected from NGOs, city and state governments, federal agencies, their own interviews and surveys, and public data sources (such as academic research and media studies) to find the top green cities in America.

And the Winners Are…

1. Portland, Oregon

2. Greater San Francisco Bay Area, California

3. Seattle, Washington

4. Chicago, Illinois

5. Boston/Cambridge

6. Boulder, Colorado

7. Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

8. Eugene, Oregon

9. Denver, Colorado

10. Albuquerque, New Mexico

The cities on this list have worked hard to incorporate green building practices, renewable energy sources, and innovative land use policies into their communities. Portland has 35 LEED certified buildings and strict limits on development, while San Francisco has planted fruit trees on city streets and made recycling a top-priority. If you’re interested in learning more about the eco-policies that guide these cities, check out the SustainLane rankings. SustainLane provides a wealth of information on each of their top 50 green cities, and you might just find ideas on how you can get your own city on the list in coming years.

Additional Resources on Sustainable/Green/Eco-Friendly Communities

Center for Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Measures: Sustainable Community Indicator Checklist

Regional Environmental Center Sustainable Cities Project

The Institute for Sustainable Cities

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During the Presidential campaign, Barack Obama touted the creation of green collar jobs as one of the primary objectives of his environmental agenda. If Obama stays true to his word, and Congress works with the new President to pass his green initiatives, I would expect a plethora of new green jobs to spring up over the next few years.

Some companies have already created green collar jobs, and there are plenty of people in America doing eco-related work today. To help environmentally comitted companies connect with the next generation of green employees, green-focused job sites have sprung up all over the Internet. If you’re interested in working for a company that is passionate about environmental issues, that develops green, cleantech and renewable energy technologies, or is looing to move into the green sector, you might find your next job on one of the following sites.

Coop America’s Green Business Network is a network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses that are focused on helping businesses with deep social and environmental commitments emerge and succeed in the marketplace. In addition to offering support and information to small and medium green-growing businesses, the Green Business Network has a job board with links to green job hunting sites.

Greenbiz.com is a news site that publishes information geared toward helping companies align their environmental responsibilities with business success.TheGreenbiz.com job board is populated with job openings from companies focused on implementing and promoting green, cleantech, and sustainable business practices.

Green Business is a news and information blog that highlights current events and news as it relates to green business, and technology. A section of the site is focused on green jobs, and you can find links to green job boards in various posts.

The Green Careers Center (formerly known as the Environmental Career Center) is an eco-focused job site that promotes green employment by connecting eco-employers with like-minded job seekers. Green Careers Center has been working for the betterment of the environment for over 25 years, and their job board reflects theircommitment in the quality and diversity of available positions.

Green Careers on MonsterTrak is the first green job site that is geared toward college students and recent graduates that are interested in finding green collar work. By partnering with job-giant Monster.com, green marketing guru ecoAmerica, and the Environmental Defense Fund, Green Careers on MonsterTrak offers a comprehensive list of entry-level, part-time and internship opportunities for green job seekers looking to jump into new roles.

Idealist is a global non-profit organization that promotes dialog and action between people and businesses interested in making this world a better place. While not all of theinformation on Idealist is green-centered, they have increased their green content and seem to be focusing more on environmental issues than they had done in the past. The Job Board on Idealist includes non-profit jobs, volunteer opportunities and internships all over the world.

RenewableEnergyWorld.com is a news and information site that strives to educate and inform people and companies on all issues related to renewable energy. RenewableEnergyWorld.com has a Job Board that helps green professionals track down jobs related to the development and production of renewable energy technologies.

Sustainable Business is a news and networking organization that promotes sustainable business practices and provides resources to help companies integrate sustainability in their business practices. Sustainable Business connectseco-employers that meet their “seal of sustainability” standard, with job seekers via the Green Dream Jobs board.

TreeHugger is a mainstream media outlet that prides itself on “helping the masses get hooked on sustainability,” by providing news, information, “how to guides, and multimedia related to green living. Users can search the Green Job Board for global environmental employment, just be aware that the search functionality is limited and doesn’t let you view all of the open positions at once.

Additional Sites

ClimateChange.org Job Board

Common Good Careers

Environmental Career Opportunities

Environmental Jobs

Green Collar Economy

Grist Jobs

Just Means

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When you consider how you live your life, what principles you hold dear to your heart, and the intersection of your actions and beliefs, does everything add up? There are many of us out there who are truely committed to sustainability, yet still struggle to incorporate the concepts into our everyday lives – and that’s OK. As I mentioned in a previous post, there are plenty of eco-sins that I’m constantly trying to overcome, but I still haven’t broken all of my bad habits. And while I feel guilty when I continue to commit actions that impact the Earth negatively, I also understand that my ability to achieve a wholly sustainable lifestyle is tied both to shifts in my thoughts and actions, and also to shifts in how society as a whole thinks and acts.

To better explain this concept, I went in search of organizations that actively promote sustainability. The Sustainability Institute (an organization focused on understanding the root causes of unsustainable behaviors in complex systems, and shifting society toward sustainability) has developed a philosophy that I think defines and explains this concept clearly:

“…unsustainability does not arise out of ignorance, irrationality or greed. It is largely the collective consequence of rational, well-intended decisions made by people caught up in systems – ranging from families and communities to corporations, governments and economies – that make it difficult or impossible to act in ways that are fully responsible to all those affected in the present and to future generations.”

The EPA has basic information about sustainability available on their website, though I must admit that I no longer fully trust the organization’s integrity and commitment to creating and disseminating unbiased scientific information. I loath to make such a statement, and hope that my feelings of mistrust toward the civil servants who work at the EPA will end once this administration is removed from power.

In determining whether my current lifestyle is sustainable, I decided I needed to first ask myself what it means to live sustainably, and from there determine if my lifestyle choices fit the model.

Here are the questions I have been pondering – I haven’t answered all of them for myself yet, but plan to write more about this as I figure out what sustainability means to me. Take some time and ask yourself the same set of questions, let me know if I have missed anything in my list, and feel free to share your definition of what it means to live a sustainable life.

Food: What do you eat? Where are the foods and beverages you consume grown, manufactured, processed and packaged? Where do your food dollars land once spent? Is your food money removed from the local economy and sent to some faceless corporation, or does it benefit others in your community? How is the food you eat produced? Have you ever met any of the people responsible for growing or making your food? How often do you eat out? Do you use reusable mugs for coffee and other drinks? Are fossil fuels used to make,? process, package, distribute what you eat?? How much waste is produced as a result of your food purchases? Do the foods you consume nourish you or simply feed you? Do the foods you eat contribute to your overall mental and physical health?

Housing: How do you live – alone or with others? Do you live in a new building or an old building? Is your building energy efficient? What kind of energy powers your home? How much energy do you use on a monthly/yearly basis? Do you have excess electronics in your home that increase your energy bills? Do you use any reusable resources to power your home? Do you have more space than you need in your home? Do you take measures to ensure you are not wasting excess energy in your home? What products and chemicals are used in the upkeep and maintenance of your home? Do you use eco-friendly products in your home when possible? Do you have a yard? If so, how is it maintained? Do you have grass that needs to be mowed and fertilized? Do you have a garden? Do you use chemicals to maintain your outdoor space? Do you use water to feed the grass and other plants? When working on your home or outdoor space, do you consider the environment and select materials accordingly?

Transportation: How do you get around? Do you walk, bike, take public transportation, drive, carpool, fly? How often and how far do you travel when you leave home? Do you own a car? If so, what kind of gas mileage do you get, how efficiently does your vehicle burn fuel? If you own an older car, does it meet emissions standards? Where do you go and why do you go there? Do you ever carpool? How far do you live from the places you visit the most often? Are there car trips you take that are unnecessary? Do you walk when you need to go someplace within a mile of your home? Have you taken steps to reduce your reliance on petroleum as a fuel?

Consumer Behaviors: What do you buy and why? Do you need all that you purchase? Do you reuse what you can and purchase new things only when you need to do so? Do you throw away things because they’re broken, worn, stained or old? Do you buy goods from environmentally-conscious companies? Do you consider the ecological footprint of your purchases, including the materials used and externalities created? Do you buy eco-friendly products? Do you consider the impact of your consumerism on the environment before you make any purchase? Where, and under what conditions, are the products you purchased manufactured? How far do those products have to travel to reach you? Are your consumer dollars used for corporate profits or are the people who make the products being paid a fair wage (or both, if possible)?

Waste: Do you recycle what you can? Do you compost your organic waste? Do you take the time to sort and process through all of your waste products in order to send as little as possible to landfills? Have you gone paperless in areas where it’s possible? Do you encourage recycling at work or other places you frequent and have an impact on policy? Do you pick up trash on the street? Do you refrain from throwing out recyclables until you can find a recycling container? Do you package food in reusable containers instead of one-use packaging? Do you use things until they can no longer be used? Do you make it easy and convenient to recycle at home? Do you have a dedicated space where you store recycling materials and do you have recycling tagged as a dedicated task assigned to someone each week? Do you resist the urge to print?

Family: Do you encourage your children to reduce, reuse and recycle? Do you feed, clothe and gift your children with organic and eco-friendly goods? Do you explain why it is so important for people to tread lightly on the Earth? Do you encourage eco-practices in your childrens’ classroom? Do you set a good example and practice what you preach to your children (and not just when they are watching)? Do you ever say no to buying things your children want because of the negative ecological impact those purchases have? Do you stick to your eco-principles when it comes to birthday parties, Christmas, and other “special events” and holidays?

These questions are by no means exhaustive – rather, they are meant to get you (and me) thinking about the everyday practices of sustainability, and help us define what we all need to do in order to live sustainable lifestyles. I certainly don’t have the answers to all of these questions, and I fear that some of my favorite things in life (chocolate, coffee) are generally not considered sustainable goods (in my defense, I buy mostly organic, fair trade chocolate). Living sustainably isn’t necessarily going to be easy though – it will require sacrifices and compromises. In an era of uncertainty and impending environmental degradation however, it’s time we all stood together and started making the hard choices and doing what’s not fun and what’s not easy.

Party’s Over Folks, It’s Time To Get Real!

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the Wikipedia entry for sustainability – there’s all kinds of information about the various types of sustainability, as well as links to scientific references, articles and websites.

After 9 months of writing for the Green Buy Guide, it dawned on me today that I’ve never actually defined what it means to be green! All this time I have been posting articles about green goods, green politics and lving a greener life with the assumption that there’s a single definition of what it means to be green, and that everyone reading knows what it is! The irony, of course, is that I don’t even really know what it means to be green – I have a pretty good idea, but when it comes to really promoting green living, I should probably be better informed.

Because of my lack of knowledge in this area, I’ve taken some time to research existing green standards and certifications, and hopefully shine a little light on what it really means when a company calls itself green.

Furniture & Home Furnishings

Green furniture manufacturers can apply for, and be awarded certifications by global not-for-profit organizations concerned with establishing standards for environmentally sustainable furniture production. The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world?s forests. According to their website:

FSC provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

The FSC is supported by all of the top environmental organizations from around the world, has certified businesses in 46 countries, and ensures the companies they certify comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. If a company wants to achieve FSC certification, they must conform with the 10 principles and 56 guiding criteria established by the organization. Once a company is certified, they can use the organization’s logos and branding in promoting their products, and sell their goods on the global markets (FSC certification removes all barriers to trading through the WTO).

Appliances, Electronics & Computers

If you’re in search of energy efficient household and business products, look for those that bear the ENERGY STAR label. A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on 35 product categories including computers, appliances, home construction and electronics. While complying with ENERGY STAR standards is voluntary, the program has proven to be highly successful among both manufacturers and consumers.

In order to promote ENERGY STAR standards, the EPA has allotted funds to remove cost-prohibitive barriers to producing and building energy efficient products and buildings. By lowering the initial costs incurred in the development of green technologies, the ENERGY STAR program enhances the market for energy efficient products and reduces the risks involved in developing efficient products.

Building & Construction

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices, and to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Comprised of 15,000 organizations from the building industry, the USGBC has developed the LEED Rating System to encourage sustainable building and design practices in commercial, governmental and residential construction. Although the LEED Rating System is a voluntary program, federal, state and local governments have started incorporating LEED standards in their new construction and working with LEED certified builders.

Within the building industry, there are organizations who have developed their own sets of green standards. While the development of green standards by industry groups is honorable, there could be conflicts of interest involved if the regulatory body is comprised of those being regulated.? One organization that has created their own standards is The Sustainable Furnishings Council, a non-profit industry association founded to promote sustainable practices among furniture manufacturers, and retailers. Comprised of 250 industry organizations, the Council is launching a public advertising and in-store tagging program for consumers to identify retailers and products which exceed their threshold of sustainability standards.

General Household Products

Green Seal is a non-profit organization that provides science-based environmental certification standards for cleaning products, paints and coatings, lodging properties and other household goods.? To gain certification from Green Seal, a product, service or property must be evaluated at every stage of its production – from the extraction of materials used in production, to the manufacture of the goods, and through the disposal and recycling of waste produced during manufacturing. The federal government’s green procurement program is closely aligned with Green Seal, and works with the organization in identifying and selecting environmentally preferable products.

A Note About Organic

The Organic Label is a whole different kind of green certification that really desearves its own article. I will write about the ins and outs of organic certification and labeling in a future post. If you’re interested in learning more about how the US Department of Agriculture certifies farms, crops, and foods, you can visit their website here.

In researching green standards, certifications and the organizations that oversee the programs, I’ve come to realize that we are still a long way from having a universal definition of what it means to be green. While the EPA is responsible for protecting the environment, they aren’t involved in the wholesale regulation of green goods, services and companies. I’m interested in learning more about this issue, so drop me a line if you are aware of certifications I may have missed or standards that I haven’t listed here.

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Ever since my parents moved to New England and purchased an antique colonial (built in 1739), they’ve spent their time, energy and money repairing, updating, and rebuilding this little piece of history. We all love the house (more so since the major renovations were completed in 2005), and my parents have worked hard to maintain the historical integrity of the structure while still adding their own touches and updating the space to suit their needs.

When planning the original renovations (which included the construction of a small addition, the complete remodeling of the kitchen, the replacement of 7 out of 10 corners of the house (!), new windows, the re-clapboarding of most of the exterior, and a new floor plan for half of the first floor), my mom and dad hired 2 amazing contractors who specialize in working on old houses.

The contractors – Robin and Bill – spent months ripping out rotted posts, fitting level windows into less-than-level walls, designing a functional staircase for the most frustrating space possible, figuring out how unsupported walls were still standing, building new bathrooms, and generally fixing every problem you could possibly imagine (boulders beneath the kitchen floor, rotted-out walls, antiquated everything). And while Robin and Bill did the heavy lifting (and hammering and building and installing), my parents did what they could to cut costs, speed up construction, and reduce the waste generated in the renovations.

One of my parents’ main concerns during the construction was in reducing construction waste, recycling what could be salvaged, and reusing materials whenever possible. Construction jobs generally generate lots and lots of trash (everything from old appliances to lumber tends to get tossed in dumpsters), but my parents were committed to making their project as green as possible. And they seemed to have succeeded in that regard – according to their contractors, the waste generated during the renovations of my parent’s house was about 50% less than the waste generated on their typical jobs.

One way that my mom and dad reduced their output was by reusing fixtures, doors, moldings and floorboards that were already stashed away somewhere in the house. Instead of buying new doors, they used doors that had lived in the attic for over 100 years. Instead of pouring a concrete walk, they built a path using bricks a friend had been planning on trashing. My dad cut down old doors and built a cover for their 50 X 55 inch fireplace, while my mom crafted a pot rack out of a discarded metal wheel she found on the side of the road.

My parents also visited salvage yards (specifically Antique Salvage Inc. in Exeter, New Hampshire) and bought columns for their front porch, floor joists, and a sink for their potting bench. The floorboards in their front hallway were the original attic boards, and are amazing foot-wide boards that you simply cannot buy. When the front porch was built, my mom had a massive stone (dug out during construction) hauled to the front of the house, and installed as a step up to the porch. My parents reused anything they could, and were able to incorporate their green principles into the structure of their home.

If you’re contemplating a home renovation, you may not have the same stock of stuff my parents had when they were working on their project (when you are married for 39 years, and you buy a 269 year-old home, you just have a lot of everything), but you can take baby steps to reduce your footprint in the process.

1. Consider buying light fixtures, doors, garden accessories, and lumber from architectural salvage yards. These businesses are repositories of all kinds of interesting, difficult to find, and antique building materials that are generally less expensive and more environmentally-friendly than buying similar new materials.

2. Think of your town or city’s transfer station (or dump) as a place to drop-off and potentially pick-up stuff. My parents rescued several plants that had been left at the dump – perfectly good plants that would have otherwise died, and which now thrive in their yard. You can sometimes find discarded bricks, lumber and other building materials at dumps too – just check with your city’s rules regarding removing materials from the dump.

3. While installing new windows and doors isn’t cheap, your investment will be repaid in lower energy costs and a cozier home once the weather turns cold. Make sure you replace windows and exterior door with energy efficient upgrades. My parents went with Marvin Windows for their home (specifically because they fit the architectural style of their house), but Pella and Anderson Windows also make energy efficient models.

4. Don’t just throw away appliances, building materials and fixtures that are ripped out during construction. While my mom got a beautiful new sink for her kitchen, she held on to the old sink and installed it in her art studio. You can breathe new life into light fixtures, doors, floorboards and other items by using them differently elsewhere in your home.

5. If you need specific items to finish a project, don’t just head to the store and buy something new. Post your need on a bulletin board like CraigsList, scour the classifieds in your local newspaper and in building publications (such as This Old House), and don’t be ashamed to grab discarded items off of curbs on trash day! One man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure, and people throw out all kinds of perfectly clean, usable items. Yard sales, flea markets and antique stores can be good places to find items you need to finish your renovations, so consider getting up early on the weekends before simply heading out to buy stuff at Target.

For too long we’ve been a society that’s ready to junk what’s old and replace it with newly minted products that aren’t made using sustainable practices. It’s time to change our habits and start redefining our definition of garbage. Home renovations are expensive to begin with, but you can cut costs and cut your waste if you take some of the above practices into consideration when you think about updating your home.

All photos courtesey of Ann & Charlie Bacon.

So I am headed out for the next week on a well-earned vacation to The Adirondack Park in upstate New York, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been vacationing on-and-off in the Adirondacks since I was an infant, and going back (after several years of not visiting) is like going home. Founded by the New York State Legislator in 1882, the Adirondack Park is unique among American parks, as it is a state park that encompasses 6 million acres, but includes plenty of privately-owned property mixed in with the state land.

Part of the beauty of the park is the overall commitment to minimizing development and returning previously developed lands to their original wild state. At the 1894 Constitutional Convention, the Legislature proposed (and passed) a covenant to achieve meaningful protection of the (Adirondack) Forest Preserve, this became the pledge that the park land be “Forever Wild.”

The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed.

While the state is able to develop land for recreational purposes, the majority of parkland is meant to be kept wild (really and truly wild). Because of this, when lands are donated to the park, the structures on them are often left to fall into disrepair, and eventually turn into ruins over time. Some of my favorite Adirondack memories are of hiking back old roads and stumbling upon long forgotten homes that are little more than foundations and fireplaces. Plants and animals reclaim what was originally theirs, and after enough time has passed, it’s difficult to tell that people ever lived on the land.

In consultation with the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack Park Agency formulated the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan in 1972 to accommodate outdoor recreation without diluting the intent of the “forever wild” protection of the Preserve. The state has, and continues to make improvements on the park in order to expand access for recreational purposes, and has classified the park land into the following classifications: Wilderness, Primitive, Canoe, Historic Areas, Wild Forest, and Intensive Use. In maintaining the land, the Adirondack Park Agency has built roads, tent platforms, telephone poles, boat landings and campsites (among other things) in an effort to accommodate visitors. In doing so however, the Agency centers new development around already developed properties, so as to limit the expansion of man-made structures within the park.

For a kid from the suburbs (more urban than not), going to the Adirondacks every summer was a way to truly connect with this earth, and to understand that just because I lived among so many people didn’t mean that the animals weren’t out there too. This time around it’s my 11-year old nephew’s turn to watch for bald eagles and loons, and I hope he’ll want to have the same kind of connection to his environment and the other animals that inhabit this world as I did when I was his age.

The wildlife in the park really is spectacular, and (according to the Adirondack Park website) includes: black bears, white tailed deer, common loons, mergansers, bald eagles, beavers, coyotes, fishers, bobcats, brook and lake trout, land-locked salmon and more. Personally, I’ve come face-to-face with an adolescent black bear at Camp Santanoni Historic Area, watched loons dive and surface for hours on end, and watched beaver families devour trees and turn marshland into ponds with their busy work.

Another thing I learned about from my Adirondack vacations was the flora and fauna of the region. Both of my parents are “amature naturalists” (for lack of a better term I suppose), and can identify countless tress, plants, flowers and mushrooms. Hikes always involved my dad explaining the makeup of the forests – he would point out rare plants, identify trees, and explain how the old-growth forests developed over time. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that not all dads knew this kind of information, and that I was a really lucky kid for growing up with people who knew which plants were native to a region and which were imported. And while I could have learned this kind of stuff in Maine or New Hampshire, or any number of other forested regions of this country, we went to the Adirondacks, and I learned it there.

Clearly the park is a special place, though I will admit that I am a little nervous to go back there and see how much it’s changed – if trees have been cut down – if people have developed their own lands… Every region needs some development, and the Adirondacks has a year-round population who protect the land, but also need to make a living and feed their families. It will be interesting to check out what’s happened in the 5 years since I’ve visited the park – let’s hope that the mantra remains “Forever Wild.”

See you when I get back!

All Photos by Jessica Bacon

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• Look! Bright Colored Adirondack Chairs

Since adopting the practice of carrying reusable shopping bags with me wherever I go, I’ve only ever bought plain totes for pragmatic purposes. Of the 7-8 totes I own, most were purchased for under $5 a piece at my local grocery stores, and none could be considered stylish.

Recently though, I’ve been researching eco-products, and in doing so, have found all kinds of cool companies that are making reusable totes. So if you’re in the market for cool reusable bags, look no further – I’ve found them for you!

Bring Your Own Bag (B.Y.O.B) makes reusable totes that are both stylish and ethical. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, B.Y.O.B. believes that “living an eco-friendly life is essential,” and strives to design bags that are fun to carry while still being produced in a sustainable manner. With a selection of chic totes made from natural, recycled and certified organic cotton, switching from plastic shopping bags to these sustainably made, reusable bags will help to limit your impact on the environment.

The Bold Tote organic cotton tote (above) is 17” tall X 16” wide X 4” with a bottom gusset for added strength. With double reinforced 2 inch straps, you can comfortably carry heavy loads. An added pocket inside provides a convenient home for phones, keys, or wallets – and if the bag gets dirty it’s machine washable. This, and other bags from B.Y.O.B, are ethically made in Vancouver British Columbia and range in price from $25-$40 each. B.Y.O.B. is also running a “Buy 1-Get 1Free” sale on their Natural line of bags, which includes the Tweet tote (to the left).

Lightweight, waterproof and easily portable, bags from Envirosax can carry the equivalent of two supermarket plastic bags full of food. Envirosax is committed to, “…helping create a better future for our planet by spreading the environmental message through color and script using the Envirosax eco-friendly reusable bag as the vehicle, and donates a percentage of their proceeds to several environmentally-based charities.

This funky orange bag is one of the 30 designs available in the Graphic Series of totes – the bags can be purchased in sets of 5, or individually. At $8.50 a piece, these lightweight polyester bags aren’t much more expensive than the reusable bags available at grocery store checkouts, but they are more stylish and will probably last longer too. If you’d rather buy a reusable bag made from all natural materials, Envirosax also carries an Organic Series of totes that come in linen, bamboo and hemp.

Personally, I like the bags from Pretty Green. Made out of 100% cotton sateen with a heavyweight cotton canvas lining, these bags look like they’d be perfect for taking to the Farmer’s Market and filling with flowers and produce. Based in Orange Country, California, Pretty Green believes in making products that help people live more sustainable lives, and the company works within their community to cultivate new ideas and affect environmental change. The Zeko Bag (to the right) is 11″ x 14″ x 6,” with a 8.5″ loop handle, machine washable and a funky find at $19.99.

GreenOne is another small company that makes fun-to-carry bags using organic cotton canvas, twill, hemp silk. Each bag is 15L x 14H x 7D, replaces 2-3 plastic grocery shopping bags and comes with an inside pocket for keys and wallets or other small items. With large handles that can be swung over your handlebars, these bags offer functionality for both men and women. Check out the Follow Your Bliss bag, the design on the front is cool, and it’s a steal at $16.99.

Happy Shopping!

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