Greeneroo

It is easy! Nothing smells better than line dried clothes. I even enjoy the stiff scratchy towels that come off the line. It is about the same as a loofah sponge.
Clothes lines don’t have to be an eyesore either. There are several kinds available for outdoor and even indoor drying:

• Retractable lines that roll back into their container. Whitney Design makes one for $25, take a look.
• Low tech? Check out a drying rack, these come in a million sizes and shapes from bathtub size to free standing.
• Still not convinced? Think of the energy savings! Imagine your home 5 degrees cooler without a dryer running. Imagine the silence without the pesky tennis shoes banging endlessly on the dry cycle. Ahhh.
• Minimalist clotheslines with twisted elastic cord that don’t even require clothes pins. And of course it is easy to install. You can find these at travel stores and hardware stores
• If you are leaving the line up, get the regular coated clothesline – it will last longer and not mark your clothes. Bring your clothespins inside though, otherwise they get covered with dust, spiderwebs and other bits of undesired “stuff”.
• Radial Clothes driers look like bicycle spokes and offer a lot of drying space in a compact area, usually aluminum & lightweight, these open / close like an umbrella. Crawford-Lehigh makes a deluxe one, you can check it out online. There is a Greenway bamboo radial fold up clothes line for $130 and a basic model for $99 at Target.com.
• Look at Lowes, Best Buy, Home Depot or OSH for more varieties than you can imagine!

I still have such fond memories of the clothes hanging out between the homes in Venice, flapping in the breeze, a bit like prayer flags in more colors and sizes.

Even Palo Alto Online got into action on this idea, here is a excerpt from them:

The following are just a few of the many benefits of using a clothesline:

Save money. A typical clothes dryer can consume nearly 1,000 kWh of electricity per year for an average cost of $100.

Environmentally friendly. Clotheslines use less energy and lower your carbon footprint.

Clothing lasts longer. The intense heat used to dry clothes can be hard on many fabrics. Clothes dried on the line can last longer and they have an appealing fresh scent.

Healthy. Carrying clothes outside and hanging them on the line is a light aerobic activity. You can enjoy time outdoors and contribute to your good health.

Clotheslines are simple to make, of course; just attach a line between two stationary objects. Clothesline kits are available for purchase at many home and garden stores or online. Retractable clothesline and post sets are also available, which can be moved out of the way when not in use. In inclement weather or winter climates, outdoor line drying may not be an option. In these cases, an indoor drying rack can be used. While not as effective as outdoor drying, it still provides an environmentally friendly option for drying your clothes. With smart use of air-drying, you can reduce or even eliminate your need for an electric dryer.

Corporations can make great GREEN contributions. Does your company do this?
Look for these kinds of green activities, when you find them >>

• Corporate Matching Grants for donations
• Environmental Commitment Statements
• Environmental Affairs Groups or departments
• Green Groups or Action Committees (employee created and run)
• Volunteer Days for clean up or increasing awareness
• Corporate policies to reduce waste
• Green Best Practices
• Green Contests (with prizes?!)

There are many examples, here are some inspirational efforts from Wells Fargo:
++ Team members used matching funds to create a new 40 acre park in Michigan
++ Matching funds were used to fund environmental education in Los Angeles
++Matching funds were used to restore fish populations in the Lewis River Systems in Southwest Washington with the group Fish First
Wells Fargo has a 10 point environmental commitment and they have created a fund specifically to fund the “green requests”. They are also a supporting organization of the Environmental Council. Getting things organized in advanced certainly makes the process go more smoothly and helps to get energized employees on the fast track to seeing big green wins! Congratulations Wells Fargo!

Many other corporations do this in the Bay Area. If you want to share a great green story let us know!

Saluting Pedal Power!
There is a “Ride your Bike to Work” day and gas prices help us “convert” from our cars to bikes everyday! Pedaling can be a mere method or it can be an experience.
Take a look at the BUSCYCLE for inspiration! I have gotten to be part of the pedal team, lumbering along at a top speed of 5mph or maybe slower, it was GREAT. Highly recommended. You can see it at Palo Alto Music events during the summer.
Take a look at their gallery: http://www.buscycle.com/gallery.html

With the Toyota Prius being the darling of the Hybrid movement, there are more innovations on the way. The styling, cost, range, battery life are all considerations, but more offerings are always good news.  p.s.  Felix Kramer is a local guy, an amazing innovator pushing forward with plug in Prius cars. See Cal Cars.

GM Chevy Volt, due out 2010, estimated price $40-50K

Nissan Leaf, due out late 2010, 100 mile range

Tesla Roadster, available now for $109K,  240 mile range, Show Room in Menlo Park on El Camino Real, and many other events. 2X more efficient than a Prius.  (I can dream!)

Dodge Circuit EV, 150 mile range, no cost data yet

Mini-E, 150 mile range, price rumored to be $35K with a lease possible, has the same great Mini Cooper look

Since 1993, Friends of Edgewood docents have led free walks in the hills near Edgewood Road. They are also working on making a Nature Center, and always meet their mission of introducing us to our beautiful open space. For a docent led walk — check out the online schedule and events. Walks are usually around lunch time on both Saturday and Sunday Edgewood County Park, Redwood City. There are photos and more information on their site.
The walks are spectacular during the spring when the wildflowers bloom, however it is nice to enjoy the rolling hills, bay trees and views of the golden grass hills in the summer.  Check out their calendar.

Gamble Garden Volunteers  are always needed, they do tours, education and occasional lunches /events here. This garden is easy to find, off Embarcadero Road and close to Town and Country Shopping Center.  It is the best thing you can do for your well-being, your brain, your attitude…. spend a little time outdoors.

Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden Center, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. (650) 329-1356, Ext. 306. www.gamblegarden.org

I have an electric scooter that I love. It is bigger and heavier than a Razor. Although not as “green” as a human powered conveyance, it zooms quietly, moves quickly and really extends my mobility. I bought it years ago, and it has been easy to maintain and use. It was less than $400.

I wanted to check out the new stuff, so I found Green Rides — they offer an entire array of things – scooters, cars (personal rides) and little trucks. They advertise good clean fun — I applaud this of course. The prices are in the thousands, so I won’t be adding another fun item soon, but check them out.  Located at 20 Railway Avenue in Campbell.  Phone 408-871-0500

• Converted Cars – a VW electric Bug for $26K, it looks like it was meant to be electric
• Zenn Car, for $16K
• Golf Carts, converted and complete with Flame detailing!
• Scooters, 3 models shown including a trike
• Electric ATV
• My electric scooter was not shown on the green rides site. You might want more information – -  it is A BRIGHT red CURRIE (no seat), you balance and stand, it goes about 15 mph and it feels faster, they are sold at Best Buy, and here is a Currie Customer Service number for questions 877-284-BIKE ( 877-284-2453 ).

There are many Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds… how do you pick? We have a great local group, Nelson Capital Management,located in Palo Alto on 1860 Embarcadero Road, Lloyd Kurtz, a principal at NCM discusses green thoughts. This is one of the many criteria that I have on my checklist that NCM meets with flying colors, they were established by a Nelson, have been in Palo Alto for two generations AND Nelson Capital Management is part of Wells Fargo. They have an investment in this community and they are “long-timers”. I like that!

According to the article on SF GATE,

“There are at least 25 “green” funds that invest in companies based in part on their approach to environmental issues. More than half of them didn’t exist two years ago. Interest in green investing has blossomed, thanks largely to Al Gore’s 2006 documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” and soaring oil prices, which have fueled a sharp rise in alternative-energy stocks.”

Read more in the article in SF GATE.