Greeneroo

This article is excerpted from the RePower America Newletter, Extreme Weather and Climate Change. To get your own copy sent to you, sign up!  The Repower America Web site is shared by the Alliance for Climate Protection and the Climate Protection Action Fund.
Learn more about the distinction between the efforts of these two organizations through Repower America.

Extreme weather is putting hundreds of thousands of lives and livelihoods at risk all around the world. In order to avoid the worst and most devastating impacts of the severe weather events that are consistent with climate change, we must begin to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more about climate change and extreme weather and make sure your friends and family get the facts.

Get the Facts: Extreme Weather and Global Climate Change

Pollution from human activities is warming our climate. The 10 warmest years on record all occurred since 1990, and the last decade was the hottest recorded since worldwide record keeping began more than 100 years ago. The period between January and June of 2010 was the warmest six months on record.
A warming climate increases the chance that we will experience extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and intense storms, and ramps up the risk that severe weather events will cause catastrophic damage.
The floods, fires and droughts we’re seeing in places like Pakistan and Russia are consistent with the effects of global warming, including temperature increases, increased precipitation in some parts of the world, and droughts in others.
In early August, a 97-square mile chunk of ice–the largest since 1962–broke away from the northwest coast of Greenland. (1) Canadian officials fear the massive “ice island” could pose a risk to ships and oil platforms. (2)
Unless we significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, we are likely to see even more extreme weather events and the consequences they bring.

References:
1. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Earth Observatory, “Ice Island Calves off Petermann Glacier,” August 13, 2010.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=45112
2. Randy Boswell, “Giant iceberg drifting toward Canada could threaten ships, oil platforms,” Montreal Gazette, August 10, 2010.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Giant+iceberg+drifting+toward+Canada+could+threaten+ships+platforms/3382103/story.html

Please feel free to share this LINK with people you know around the state and ask them to call.

Hi Everyone! This is one of our priority Sierra Club Calfornia bills for 2010. If we can’t get this bill passed, we might as well forget about saving the planet. Low hanging fruit, people. Let’s just make that call today. Thanks SO much.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Denny
Sierra Club California Executive Committee

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It is critical to get 7 yes votes out of the list of Senators listed below in order to get AB1998 to Gov. Swartzenegger’s desk (where he has promised to sign it).

We’ve heard that at least one Senator Leland Yee is concerned due to the effect on small minority businesses. I don’t have a perfect response to counter this argument other than saying if all businesses follow the same rules no one business is put at a disadvantage. One of the reasons grocers, including the Green Grocers Assoc. support this bill is it is actually easier on businesses to have one law regarding single use bags than for a business to have to follow all the locally enacted single use ordinances. So you could push that this bill will actually simplify the regulatory environment for businesses, at least in this one environmental area.

See the other talking points below.

Thanks in advance for your time in making that call. And Loma Prietans, I didn’t notice but our new Senator Sam Blakesley is on the call list so we can say we are Sierra Club and our Chapter supports this legislation and it is a priority Sierra Club California bill.

Ann Schneider
Chair, Loma Prieta Chapter Zero Waste Committee
Sierra Club

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Here is an email that you can use to ask folks to support AB 1998. Thx, Lesli

AB 1998 will eliminate approximately 19 billion plastic bags in California. Plastic bags are a primary component of urban blight and plastic marine pollution. Local government incurs significant costs to clean up plastic bag litter. And California families are unknowingly paying these costs in the form of higher fees and taxes, in addition to higher grocery costs. AB 1998 will encourage reusable bag use. AB 1998 bill will also conserve paper resources by requiring retailers sell recycled content paper bags.

This is our target list of Senators who need to be told to support and vote yes for AB 1998:

1. Gloria Romero (Azuza, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, La Puente, LA, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina) 916-651-4024
2. Lois Wolk (Davis, Fairfield, Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Vacaville, West Sacramento)916-651-4005
3. Ron Calderon (Montebello, Huntington Park) 916-651-4030
4. Lou Correa (Santa Ana/Fullerton) 916-651-4034
5. Tom Harman (Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa) 916-651-4035
6. Mimi Walters (Laguna Niguel) 916-651-4033
7. Roderick Wright (EQ) (Compton, Gardena, Hawthorn, Inglewood, Lawndale, Long Beach, LA, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro) 916-651-4025
8. Leland Yee (San Francisco) 916-651-4008
9. Gilbert Cedillo (Alhambra, LA, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena and Vernon) 916-651-4022
10. Denise Ducheny (Brawley, Calexico, Cathedral City, Chula Vista, Coachella, Coronado, El Centro, IB, Indio, National City, SD, San Ysidro) 916-651-4040
11. Dean Florez (Bakersfield, Coalinga, Delano, Dinuba, Fresno, Hanford, Lemoore) 916-651-4016
12. Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona) 916-651-4032
13. Alex Padilla (Canoga Park, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacoima, San Fernando, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Van Nuys, Winneka) 916-651-4020
14. Curren Price (Culver City, Hancock Park, Hollywood, LA) 916-651-4026
15. Sam Blakeslee (San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara) 916-651-4015

Main Talking Points:

1- The problem is global and permanent:

a. RECYCLING IS NOT THE ANSWER. Four years after the passage of AB 2449, mandating recycling systems at all large grocers, only 1-5% of plastic grocery bags get recycled. We need source reduction—the first “R” of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”

b. PLASTIC IS HARMING OUR ENVIRONMENT: Plastic bags are blight to our communities, and harm the environment.

c. PLASTIC AFFECTS HUMAN HEALTH AND IS CONTAMINATING OUR FOOD CHAIN:

2- AB 1998 will save taxpayers money; plastic bags cost cities money in disposal, recycling and cleanup

3- Cities are already moving to ban bags and we need AB 1998 to create a uniform policy throughout the state that stops single-use bag pollution once and for all.

4- AB 1998 is good for green jobs. Most manufacturing facilities in California make dozens of different products – not just plastic bags. They will not have to close their doors. AB 1998 will create opportunities for green jobs in CA.

5- We have a unique group of stakeholders supporting: environmental groups, local gov’t, grocers, (including the California Grocers’ Association), retailers, UFCW

Lesli Daniel
Sierra Club California
lesli@sonic.net
209-337-8648

Many of the green initiatives are focused on owners rather than renters. Buying solar panels can make sense to add to your home, and energy star appliances ARE a great idea, but places come with refrigerators, water heaters, windows, washer/dryers etc when you rent. And in alot of apartments there isn’t much incentive to take the time and money to make these big green efficiency improvements. Landlords might get a little cranky if you start remodeling and replacing things, (sure!) but there is alot you can do.

You can ask! Yes, ask for a clothesline, or double paned windows or having broken single paned windows replaced with double paned. Maybe a patch of unused land can be converted to tomatoes and basil. Containers on the roof? Saving rain water in barrels? Who knows?  Go ahead and ask, be your own best advocate. And many rental agencies are responding. Green, saves them money too.
You may not have your own plot of land, but investigate to see if there are community gardens near you, or you can go to a you-pick garden, or try container gardening. There are option, be curious, explore.
In Palo Alto, here is what they do:

The Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC) has taken on that responsibility. The largest low-income housing organization in Palo Alto, PAHC has implemented many green practices and components throughout their complexes.

Georgina Mascarenhas, PAHC director of property management, said that most units have weatherstripping on doors and windows to save on heating and cooling costs, low-flow toilets to decrease water bills and drought-resistant landscaping. All laundry machines are EnergyStar-rated. PAHC is also looking into solar power and Mascarenhas said that the Alma Street location is ideal for harnessing energy from the sun’s rays.

PAHC also signed a new contract with Quick Light Recycling from Brisbane, which conducted recycling presentations, provided larger communal recycle bins and gave personal recycle bins to residents.

“I think (residents) do want to be green.” Mascarenhas said. “For the most part, it is all about education.”

Mascarenhas said the main green thing PAHC residents can do right now is recycle. She also said that PAHC provides a written conservation plan with suggestions on energy-saving methods, such as setting the thermostat to automatic mode.

“Nobody wanted to take time to sort through the recycling before,” she said. “But, now that it is more convenient, more residents are doing it.”

To save a lot of water and receive an easy reminder to water your plants, put a plastic pitcher in your shower to catch the cold water while you wait for the warm water. This is especially great for seedlings which need a gentle water flow to start out or house plants. Next time you jump into the shower, if the pitcher is full, you can water the plants right then.

If it takes “forever” for the water to get HOT for your shower, consider a tank-less water heater, which is typically located close to bathrooms and delivers hot water quicker. Also make sure to check on any TAX CREDITS that may be possible on installing a energy-efficient water heater (rebates can be substantial, up to $1500).  Find details at energystar.gov.

Reusing and reinventing clothing has been a big part of the fashion scene. Goodwill encourages this trend with the Eco Chic Fashion Show. This year’s 2010 event will be held on OCTOBER 8 in downtown San Jose. There will be several themes: “little black dress challenge” and a “mayoral design challenge” Contestants will have a budget and pull together an amazing outfit at any local Goodwill Store.

Goodwill Special Events Director, Susan Lucas, gets a chance to show-off her re-purposed clothing, and inspire us to stop and think before we say…. “We don’t have anything to wear”!

According to the EPA Americans throw away about 70 pounds of clothing a year per person. Clothing and textiles are helping to clog our landfill comprising about 4% of munincipal solid waste.

The Goodwill Green pages are very informative and have several hints, links, and ideas. Carpet Recycling is a great idea you can find on this page.  Here is an excerpt from Susan Lucas’ blog:

From the September 2009 Eco Chic Fashion Show Event: Join us at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The proceeds will be used to create jobs for the disadvantaged and disabled by providing them with vocational and occupational training. In this economy, Goodwill is one of few companies actually hiring and placing people in new jobs! So consider donating a dress that doesn’t fit, a bag that you’re tired of and shoes that hurt your feet! These will benefit many people and you will be green! Simply fill some bags and drop them at any Goodwill location.

Thanks for writing off your old perception of Goodwill!

For more information contact Susan Lucas at: susanl@goodwillsv.org

If you are looking for the varieties that you found in Grandma’s garden, take a trip to the Petaluma Seed Bank. They are a retail outlet for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and company from the Ozarks. All the seeds carried at the Seed Bank are heirloom, some have been handed down by families.
You’ll know they are NOT Genetically Modified Organisms – GMOs-  in disguise!   There is a huge variety of more than a thousand vegetables and flower seeds too.
Call them at 707-509-5171 or go to their site, at rareseeds.com

Everyone wants to be green, but what does it really mean? Newsweek recently ranked the top 500 companies on their “Greenness”, here is CONSUMER REPORTS review on that award.

The top five were

1. Hewlett-Packard
2. Dell
3. Johnson & Johnson
4. Intel
5. IBM

Significantly, four of the top five companies on the list were from the electronics/technology sector, that really makes me want to know more!  Of course, in any kind of contest, rankings can change wildly depending on WHAT you are ranking. In all this back patting, there is one true thing… we still have a long way to go, and many green improvements and processes to implement. Ponder this:

In studies that have considered a range of other factors, including recycling practices and management of greenhouse gases, the companies have fared inconsistently. The Greenpeace electronics guide lists Apple in ninth place and Sony in third. But Apple placed 133rd in the Newsweek listing. (Sony, as a non-American company, is not listed.)

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. THIS may be the easiest energy saving solution, besides sitting in the dark!!

At home, you can assess your energy use and ways to cut bills. Renters can take action too! This guide  includes a home energy yardstick to compare efficiency with similar homes in your area, and detailed help to seal and insulate, and heat and cool efficiently. Or use this interactive tool  from NPR.

There are gizmos to help you measure your use. One such device is Kill A Watt EZ  it plugs into the outlet then you pug your equipment into it. It shows:

• Operating costs of your household appliances (if you put in your electrical power rate)
• Caluculates cost by hour, day, week, month and year
• Displays eight critical until of measurement-  voltage, Current (amp),watts, kilowatt hrs (KWH), wattage, frequency of electricty (Hz), Volt amps (VA), Power Factor (PF) and elapsed time.

Devices that measure what equipment is consuming in power will help you locate devices that use power while in “sleep” mode or use large amounts of power to run. You’ll be a savvy consumer and be able to make decisions on what that old refrigerator is really costing you.

HINT: when replacing appliances, make sure to look for Energy Star rebates and refunds for buying more efficient appliances, toilets, heaters and coolers.

Many Team lunch rooms have multiple refrigerators. Think about what capacity you need. Remove or combine refrigerators in your area that are underused. Set kitchen refrigerators, including freezer units, to the “normal” temperature setting. Place refrigerators six inches from the wall to allow ventilation.
Simple fix:

• Clean the coils in back.
• Organize the food by shelf
• Post a throw out day (don’t through out containers though, empty them, rinse, and leave in sink)
• Always buy “energy star” appliances to replace the old ones.

Since we are discussing the lunch room… Remove vending machines that are underused; they consume large amounts of electricity. Or you can give your vending machine a ‘make over” adding healthy popular snacks to the candy bar options. (juice, almonds, raisins, granola, trail mix, peanut butter and crackers, pita chips, for example).