Schools Earn Green Awards Through U.S. Department of Education Program

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School will be starting in just a few weeks, and now is a great time for parents, teachers and students to focus and commit to a green project to be incorporated into this year’s learning experience. We see department stores and grocery chains gearing up their cash for schools projects that award money to neighborhood schools in exchange for loyalty shopping. We also are familiar with the yearly competitions to be named an area blue ribbon school for academic excellence. Now there is the green ribbon school award, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

The green ribbon school award honors schools that are:
• Exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs;
• Incorporating curricula and programs to improve the health and wellness of its students and staff;
• Providing effective environmental and sustainability education, incorporating STEM, civic skills and green career pathways.

Participation in this competition requires nomination from state education agencies. To be eligible to participate in the 2012-2013 competition, a state education agency must indicate its intent to nominate schools in its district by August 30, 2012 via email at the site listed below. Any school interested in being nominated should contact its state education agency for specific application information.

An excellent place to start to gather general information on this program is the following website: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/index.html. Please remember to contact your school to express interest in this program and request that your state education agency be notified to file the necessary intent to nominate by the aforementioned deadline. This then presents an opportunity to coordinate with school officials to put a program in place. This is a wonderful way bring together the community, including parents, students and teachers to learn green, live green, be green.

Think Green When Buying Computers

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As the summer vacation winds down, consumers are turning their attention to return to school and businesses. For many students, especially those heading off to college, computers represent a major part of the purchases needed to be prepared for the school year. While cost and functionality of computers and peripherals are important, so must sustainability and environmental impact be part of the decision to buy a computer. Three major computer companies have detailed information on green initiatives. They are Dell, Hewlett Packard and Apple.

A review of the Dell Computer website reveals very specific information, including statistics on the company’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. Dell has reduced its facilities’ carbon footprint by up to 16% for FY08-12 and drove toward zero waste by recycling or reusing 98% of its nonhazardous manufacturing costs. In 2012, Dell reduced the size of packaging by more than 12%, increased the amount of recyclable or renewable content in packages by 40% and ensured that 75% of its packaging is recyclable at curbside. More information on Dell’s sustainability efforts can be found in its 2012 press release on Corporate Responsibility.

The second noteworthy company is Hewlett-Packard (HP). Its website discloses its environmental programs and initiatives. As an added extra, HP includes an interactive feature that allows consumers to configure computers and peripherals and to calculate the carbon footprint based on their prospective purchases. This company also details specifics on offers for trade-ins, recycling, returns for cash and donations both in the United States and worldwide.

Thirdly, Apple Computers features the efficiency of the Mac on its website. These computers carry an Energy Star qualification with a rating of 5.2, which sets higher limits for power supplies and aggressive limits for the computer’s overall power consumption. The company touts the Mac to be free of harmful toxins, including mercury, arsenic, BTRs and PVC. Made from aluminum, the Mac is more likely to be recycled and reused at the end of its productive life. Apple also provides free recycling for old computers with the purchase of a new Mac. Of note, in mid-July, Apple removed its name from EPEAT, the green registry that tracks the environmental impact of computers. As a result, some local jurisdictions, such as San Francisco, have deemed Apple computers as not green enough to buy and have suspended contracts with Apple for the city’s computers. It is Apple’s contention that it no longer needs to be enrolled in EPEAT because it meets strict environmental standards, including the government’s Energy Star program, which exceeds EPEAT.

In conclusion, when shopping for a computer, green factors should be a major consideration alongside cost, processor speed and hard drive size. The impact of computers on the environment is very important. So as you venture out to buy a new computer, be sure to shop green, live green, be green.

Majoring in Sustainability

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Here at Live Green, Be Green we are always advocating for younger generations to get involved in the Green Movement, especially those studying in colleges and universities. In fact, a couple of weeks ago we wrote about changing the way curriculum is taught in these locales to involve sustainability. So it comes with great delight to see that the University of Utah is implementing such changes within their coursework. Now students at the university have the opportunity to earn an Integrated Certificate in Sustainability as a degree. Students who choose this discipline are required to complete a 23 credit-hour program with one required introductory course and upper level courses located outside of the main campus. 

The discipline will be available with the commencement of the upcoming academic year and will allow freshman to be fully engaged in matters of sustainability immediately. As stated in our previous article, the green movement needs to infiltrate colleges and universities to incite others to not only spread the ideals of the movement, but to lead using values of social responsibility and sustainability. It is refreshing to see a university place such value on sustainability in that they not only have placed it within the coursework, but have also carved out a specific degree tailored to the green movement. Such initiatives are sure to catch on, especially at this stage in the game, as universities are always looking to differentiate themselves in order to bring in a diverse student body. As evident from the news, green initiatives are rising to the forefront on college agendas, and these initiatives will help to lay a great foundation of knowledge to be passed on to the next generation of leaders. Hopefully, this will help to promote a lifestyle in which we all live green, and be green. 

Here at Live Gr…

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Here at Live Green, Be Green we are always advocating for younger generations to get involved in the Green Movement, especially those studying in colleges and universities. In fact, a couple of weeks ago we wrote about changing the way curriculum is taught in these locales to involve sustainability. So it comes with great delight to see that the University of Utah is implementing such changes within their coursework. Now students at the university have the opportunity to earn an Integrated Certificate in Sustainability as a degree. Students who choose this discipline are required to complete a 23 credit-hour program with one required introductory course and upper level courses located outside of the main campus. 

The discipline will be available with the commencement of the upcoming academic year and will allow freshman to be fully engaged in matters of sustainability immediately. As stated in our previous article, the green movement needs to infiltrate colleges and universities to incite others to not only spread the ideals of the movement, but to lead using values of social responsibility and sustainability. It is refreshing to see a university place such value on sustainability in that they not only have placed it within the coursework, but have also carved out a specific degree tailored to the green movement. Such initiatives are sure to catch on, especially at this stage in the game as universities are always looking to differentiate themselves and bring in a diverse student body.

will.i.am “Just Can’t Get Enough” of the Green Movement

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Nowadays, musical artist will.i.am is always in the spotlight. (Dare I say it he “Just Can’t Get Enough”). Besides performing at the Superbowl halftime show alongside the “Black Eyed Peas” he has also turned himself into quite the actor, where he has appeared in films such as Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Date Night. However, this entertainment cameleon’s most important contribution to society occurred yesterday when he teamed up with Coca-Cola to launch a green business known as “Ekocycle.”

The new brand will offer high quality products generated from recycled goods. In starting the company, will.i.am is focusing on generating buzz and popularity within the mainstream around sustainable, yet visually-stimulating products. In a recent interview the artist stated that the current market for recycled products are not “cool” and stressed, “You have to bring some art and fashion sensibility into this technology that turns a bottle into something cool.” The company will offer an assortment of goods including Dr. Dre’s “Beats” headphones and a clothing line, all made from recycled goods.

Ekocycle’s other founding partner, Coca-Cola, has been a pioneer in recycling efforts through its “Give It Back” and “Recyclebank” programs. (For more info check out the link below). In order to promote the sustainability movement, the company has vowed to donate a portion of its licensing products (a minimum of $1 million) to charities involved in recycle and community engagement. Such a partnership is a win-win for the green movement as the high-quality and aesthetics of the Ekocycle brand will draw consumers in and engage them in the movement. In addition, having will.i.am as not only a spokesman but founding partner will engage the youth in a movement which requires energy and influence. Despite not being a favorite artist of mine, the key in will.i.am’s  involvement is that he can draw in an audience that is poised to make a difference in the world. His popularity among the youth will inspire others to commit to the green movement via the Ekocycle brand. A celebrity advocate such as will.i.am is a necessary cog in achieving global sustainability, and will help draw the movement closer to a day where we can all live green, and be green.

http://www.livepositively.com/en_us/recycling/#/recycling

 

Plastic Bag Bans Heat Up Local Politics

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A rippling effect of the green movement has witnessed many cities either imposing taxes to consumers on plastic bags or banning them altogether. This movement has triggered a change in behavior for many consumers and businesses. Some establishments have responded by offering for sale customized reusable cloth bags that not only are trendy, but also offer advertising for companies. Some shoppers now opt out of plastic bags and request paper bags.

San Francisco was the first city to ban plastic shopping bags back in 2007. Since then, other cities have followed—Los Angeles, Seattle, Westport, Connecticut and the entire state of Hawaii. Other jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., find local councils embroiled in debates over taxes on plastic bags.

Unfortunately, some trade associations refuse to accept the fact that plastic bags are harmful to the environment because they take up valuable space in landfills and litter streets, streams and shorelines. One organization of plastic manufacturers now argues that the ban of plastic bags could threaten more than 30,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States. Donna Dempsey, the spokeswoman for the American Progressive Bag Alliance, even states that “the plastic bag has gotten a bad rap”. Dempsey goes on to say that 90% of consumers reuse plastic bags, that these bags require less energy to produce than paper bags and that they take up less space in landfills.

This is a very touchy issue. While no one wants to see any manufacturing sector decrease in size or disappear, one has to wonder why the experts in the plastics field would rather concentrate on portraying as a myth the hard facts about the negative impact of plastic on the environment as opposed to making a better product. We have witnessed other industries being forced to make drastic changes to stop pollution. For example, most localities have had to overhaul public transportation to provide clean buses and electrically powered trains. The auto industry has been forced to upgrade vehicles to use cleaner fuels. These changes actually have stimulated the economy in terms of providing new educational opportunities, jobs in research and development and employment implementing new technology in factories.

Let’s stop the politics here. Plastic bags are harmful to the environment. As stewards of this planet, let’s stand behind the movement to adopt alternatives to plastic bags. This movement begins with our refusal to use plastic bags. Let’s shop green, live green, be green.

Live Green With Sustainable Snacks

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Preparing homemade snacks for work, home, or outings is a great way to ensure that you are eating healthy while on the run and also saving money. As an added bonus, storing your snacks in reusable containers reduces your contribution to the ever-growing packaging waste problem. For this to work, it is important that the snacks you prepare are appetizing and not too labor intensive to prepare. Today we will take a look at some good, low-calorie snacks that the entire family will enjoy.

First is homemade granola. There are many variations for this nutritional staple with the basic two being rolled oats and honey. Then any recipe can be customized according to individual tastes and dietary needs with chopped dried fruits, nuts, flavors such as vanilla extract, and raw sunflower seeds. Granola bars are great snacks to curb the appetite and boost energy.

An interesting veggie snack to try is sea salt fennel chips. These are simple to make with the only ingredients being fennel, olive oil and sprinkles of sea salt. Instructions for these chips can be found at www.afullmeasureofhappiness.com.

A great snack to enjoy when entertaining or relaxing at home is vegan ice pops. The recipe includes roughly chopped berries of your choice, fruit juice, such as orange, grapefruit or mango, milk or a milk substitute, and the option of non-dairy yogurt. These popsicles have less sugar and fewer calories than store-bought brands. Additionally, reusable ice pop sticks serve to reduce packaging waste.

Finally, homemade hummus with fresh vegetables is a perfect skinny-waist snack. Hummus is made with chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, which are low in cholesterol and rich in protein. Several recipes for hummus are available online.

There are many delectable options to store-bought snacks. Do-it-yourself preparation of snacks for work and play presents an excellent opportunity to save money, eat healthy and customize your food to individual taste. Let’s snack green, live green, be green.

Increased Home Values Through Green Home Improvement

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Green living is recognized overall as the right thing to do to protect the environment, improve our health and literally to save our planet. As an added bonus, green home improvement can raise your financial bottom line by increasing the value of your home. Researchers at the Berkeley and Los Angeles campuses of the University of California conducted a study of 1.6 million single family homes in the California market sector that sold between 2007 and 2012 to analyze the value of green home labels. Of the homes in this sample population, 4,300 were certified with green home labels from EnergyStar, GreenPoint Rated or LEED for Homes. Results indicate that of the average California homes priced at $400,000, residences with green labels sold for about $34,800 more or 9 percent higher than homes without the green label.

Researchers have labeled this result the “Prius effect” wherein a higher premium was placed on houses with green labels. This finding correlates with the environmental ideology of the area measured by the registration of hybrid vehicles. In communities where “green thinking” predominates, ownership of green homes and cars is a status symbol and a source of pride.

In recent years, awareness of the extent of global warming and the increase of greenhouse emissions has impacted the housing market significantly. This is especially true in warmer areas of the country. Residents in hotter climates are paying extra attention to the benefits of green homes, which include lower utility bills due to greater energy and water efficiency, healthier indoor air quality and improved environmental features, such as convenient access to clean, eco-friendly transportation and close proximity to parks and shopping and entertainment facilities.

The Prius effect is proof that green initiatives at the community level are far-reaching. Improving communities one at a time leads to a change in mindset and ultimately to a revolution. Let’s live green, be green.

An Olympic Effort in Sustainability

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With the start of the 2012 London Olympics already underway, we here at the Live Green, Be Green Blog would like to turn our attention to the potential environmental ramifications an Olympic competition will have on an already bustling city such as London. Heading into these games, a huge cause for concern for the Olympic Committee in selecting London as a host city was the potential disastrous impact it could have on the environment. 

However, contrary to conventional wisdom, the city has been superb in limiting its carbon footprint. According to Michael McCarthy’s report over at Independent, these Olympic games are, to date, the greenest in its history. Renewable energy has constituted 11% of all the energy supplied at the games. In addition, when comparing the cities carbon footprint at the games with respect to 2009 estimates for the event, the city has beaten the estimates by around 20%. Such ambitious goals enabled the city to host the Olympic games, and is truly a testament to how the Olympic Committee and the city of London have put the event’s environmental impact near the tops of its agendas. Such actions speak to the impact we all can make as individuals as we all seek to live green and be green.

Global Warming Becomes Political Hot Button Topic

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With the Presidential and Congressional elections approaching quickly, globing warming and climate change are becoming hot topics. The League of Conservation Voters is targeting five House Republicans who either question or totally deny human links to climate change. The organization has labeled these Congressmen the “Flat Earth Five”. To date, two names have been released. They are Reps. Sam Benishek (R-Mich) and Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY). Three additional names will be forthcoming.
Despite the fact that hard science data proves that global warming is a reality, i.e., melting icebergs, severe storms, extreme heat and cold weather, and crop destruction, just to name a few, the “Flat Earth Five” Republicans state there is no climate change, and the notion of global warming simply is a liberal ploy to tax large oil companies. Rep. Benishek specifically says that global warming “is just some scheme” and is “all baloney”. Rep. Buerkle first voiced doubts about climate change in 2010. On the League of Conservation National Scorecard, she has a lifetime score of 9 percent out of a possible 100. This scorecard annually rates members of Congress on conservation and clean energy issues. Rep. Buerkle has the most conservative voting record of all New York Congressional members.
It is difficult to understand and disappointing to know that protection of the environment is caught up in the crosshairs of politics. It is mind boggling that this is such a political issue in this time when 77% of Americans believe that climate change is a reality and that we all need to make lifestyle changes to save the Earth. (http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/rep_ann_marie_buerkle_named_on.html)

It is promising to see schools incorporate green living standards in curricula and refreshing to witness families work to conserve energy and employ green and healthy practices in the home. Although we often have differing beliefs about environmental issues, the unifying belief should be that this is the only planet we have on which to live. We do not own the Earth. Rather we are the stewards. We work hard to provide a future for our children, and the protection of the environment must be considered a major component of that future.
In the upcoming elections, we must be mindful of the issues crucial to our very existence. The best way to do this is to educate yourself on the candidates and what they stand for. Researching scorecards and voting records is a great start in this endeavor. This is especially true for local and state elections. While we cannot change the whole world in an instant, we can band together and improve our communities through the creation of recycling programs, instituting clean water projects, constructing safe and healthy schools and building “green” neighborhoods. To be the building blocks of the green movement, let’s vote green, live green, be green.