Kick plASStic

Now that's a granola phrase if I've ever written one. But seriously, we just simply use - most often waste - far too much plastic and other disposables. Reusable Bags, which is a great place to get shopping bags, mugs, and other reusable goodies, estimates that over 1,000,000 plastic shopping bags are consumed per minute.

The latest site to promote the BYO lifestyle is aptly called Bring Your Own. Check them out and learn something about the problem, the impacts, and some solutions. Thanks TreeHugger.

I'm having a hard time deciding how to take on three huge topics: our disposable lifestyle, energy (oil) security, and waste. My challenge is delving into each while highlighting how intertwined they are, and how political they are. Any suggestions or discussion starters are welcome.

Gigoit

Huh? Gigoit is an acronym for "garbage in, garbage out", followed by an "it". It's a new free garbage exchange (one man's is another's treasure, after all) site that simplifies the models used by Freecycle and Craig's List (which I mentioned here). You don't need a user ID or PW, or have to search through posts to see if the item you want is still available. It's in beta, and there aren't many items listed yet, but keep an eye on it.

Reuse is unquestionably our most efficient mode, at least until the rethink catches on, and you can bet that is a long way off. Thanks TreeHugger.

TreeHugger Hit It

Here's another lazy copied post for you. I think this TreeHugger post captures the heart of the current environmental movement - or at least my current mindset. Here's part of the post:

"TreeHugger was conceived with the intent of showcasing those cool products and services which could help the hesitant move toward a more sustainable lifestyle, without feeling they’d have to revert to hippydom. But from the outset we were very aware that it is simply not possible to buy a greener life. Money can open up choices, but it cannot be traded for core values or attitudes. And this is one of the determining factors for the dilemma we find ourselves in. We are conditioned by advertising, TV, cinema, and so on, to believe that more stuff will make us blissful. If the glow of owning a new plasma TV wears off, we jet away to the Bahamas, or buy another pair of shoes to fill that gnawing happiness void. (It is the materials extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use and subsequent disposal of all this desired ‘stuff’ that is at the root of our environment (and social) woes. Yet, while it has been long studied and reported that there is no link between wealth and happiness, we still pursue them. Recent related research now suggests that wealth and longevity are not good travelling buddies either. The US is up the top of list when it comes to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the measure of a country’s ability to spend money. But it ranks way down in 30th spot for life expectancy."

While my family still buys our share of stuff, we're doing some things differently: really thinking about whether or not we need the item, looking for the most environmentally sound choices, looking for something made locally, and looking for the item used on Freecycle, Craig's List, or Ebay. It is difficult to fit in (keep up with the Jones') when you show up with a beaten and faded slide for your kids while the neighbors have a new Rainbow Play Set, but the feeling of doing something positive for the environment while saving money is really starting to feel good.

Geothermal Energy

NPR had a bit about a new geothermal energy study performed by MIT which claims that "...mining the huge amounts of heat that reside as stored thermal energy in the Earth's hard rock crust could supply a substantial portion of the electricity the United States will need in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact." So all we need to do is drill down a mile, inject water which is boiled by the earth's heat, and channel the steam back to turbines on the surface. Sounds great.

There are a few drawbacks, among them being a shortage of water in the parts of the country where the hot spots are most readily available (west), and the possibility that drilling into and fracturing rock may cause earthquakes like this one in Switzerland.

I honestly haven't heard of this type of geothermal energy before, but am familiar with the geothermal heating and cooling available in all sizes. I've been in a home equipped with a system that simply had the pipes laid underground throughout the yard. I've also seen them work very well with the pipe coils in nearby ponds or lakes. I commented on TreeHugger here about how geothermal deserves a lot more press.

Fort Wayne is actually home to a large geothermal company called WaterFurnace International, as well as some smaller businesses.

If you are in the market, please do a little research on geothermal for your heating and cooling. You will be amazed at what it has to offer.

Buying E Green

I just wrote about buying green, and then today found this great post on TreeHugger. It's so in line with what I'm into that I don't need to paraphrase or reword; I'll just copy:
"Working from the idea that electronics are both ubiquitous and helpful in our everyday lives, they don't want you to quit using them (and certainly don't want you to just throw them away); myGreenElectronics hopes to help you learn more about minimizing the environmental impact of these gadgets and toys through responsible use, reuse and recycling. They've also added a fourth "R" to the common Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra that gets bandied about these pages: Rethink, and we think that's a biggie. By considering the environment before you ever go shopping, and then finding electronics and accessories that use less energy, are made with recyclable and recycled materials and are easier to upgrade, fix and recycle, you make it easier on yourself, your energy bill, your conscience and your planet."

I love the 4th R: Rethink. In fact, it should be the 1st R.

For more e-recycling ideas and information, including where to take your used electronics, go to the EPA Plug-In to eCycling pages.

PC Energy Use

I wrote before about a few ways to measure your energy usage. One user that you probably haven't thought too much about is the very thing you're looking at right now - your computer. Many people leave their PC powered up, on screen saver, when not in use. Multiply that usage by the number of computers in the US or world, and you're talking a huge amount of electricity. TreeHugger has been talking a bit about it lately, and in the post you'll find a link to a nice little energy calculator that will let you know how much you're expending.

2 Suggestions: power down when not in use, and set the monitor to turn itself off instead of going to screen saver.

The Start

I've been concerned about / interested in helping to protect the environment since probably elementary school. I was active in school organizations where we talked a lot and did just about nil, but my interest was always there. I planted 100+ trees as part of my eagle project. I decided to major in environmental chemistry in school. I got a job as an environmental engineer. I took a masters in environmental science and management. I've talked to kids about Earth Day and did water sampling with them.

So my formal studies and work, for the last 11 years (since high school), has been somehow related to environmental protection. Yet I still struggle every day to protect the environment.
A year ago, or so, I stumbled upon a blog at treehugger.com that kind of pushed me to the point where I'm really (finally!!) changing my focus and my habits. It's a good site with mainly really good posts. They present everything from dream-on-never-going-to-be-able-to-afford new inventions to anyone-can-do-this-at-home ideas. They present really-green things and just-a-little-bit-green things. The comments aren't filtered so you get honest and sometimes emotional views. Do I sound like an add for them? Yep. I think anyone who is interested in making a change in their life should view sites like theirs. If you want to make a change, and know how to find the url bar on your browser, you're smart enough to decode what is extreme and what is feasible for you.

The bottom line is that you don't have to be a vegan living in an off-grid straw-bale house and only motivate by bike to help the environment. Any little change you can make will help, and only the combination of those little changes by the masses will make the real nation- or world-wide differences we need. As you change, you'll learn. Then you'll change again, and learn some more. Before long, you'll seem like a real hippie to your neighbors. And before long, they'll be asking you how they can do those things too. Trust me, I'm experiencing it right now in my great little neighborhood with super nice people that just don't know how to change; they just need a little push and guidance.

The First

I want to discuss, hopefully with more than ... well ... myself, how a guy like me can keep working towards a sustainable existence while raising two small kids while living in the suburbs while working in foundries.

For the past 2+ years my absolute obsession has been by kids. My little man is now over 2 years old and is an absolute universe of fun, adventure, emotion, and amazement every day. My second, a little angel, is just over 2 months and has a heartbreaker's smile. My wife of 4.5 years is the engine and control system of our little spaceship of a family.

We live in an association in the suburbs of Fort Wayne, IN. Don't be impressed by "association". Our home is only 1350 sq. ft. with little attic and no basement. Our lot is something like 1/4 acre. The home is 4 years old and in good shape. Very little landscaping until we moved in in June and started tearing up the lawn.

Foundries. Are you starting to piece this non-sequitor blog title together? I work for a company that currently runs 5 gray and ductile iron foundries in the US. Foundries are of course widely (mis)understood and extremely dirty and polluting. Ok, they are dirty, and do pollute, but less than one might think. Less polluting, that is; they are usually quite dirty.

My intention in the forthcoming posts is to explore the challenges that my blog title invites, and hopefully solicit solutions for and discussions on those challenges.