2,000 Re-Uses for Beer Boxes!

This morning, a friend sent me a link to what might be the cleverest uses of beer boxes I have ever seen.

Earlier this summer, German architecture students at the University of Applied Science in Detmold designed (website in German), realized, and constructed BOXEL.  The pavilion is constructed in one week by students out of over 2,000 beer boxes that have each been in use for over 10 years donated from a local brewery; the boxes will be recycled when the pavilion is disassembled.

Boxel was conceptualized by Henri Schweynoch in his response to an impromptu competition from Prof. Marco Hemmerling.  The building shape is based on a minimal surface and is organized along free form geometry.  The structure is held together by a series of slats and screws with the additional support of bracings in some of the upper areas.  The three base points of the structure also are concrete lined boxes as load-bearing points.

These students have demonstrated (even unintentionally) great ways to reuse common items.  Organic Bug supports reusing and recycling objects in useful ways.  After 10 years of use, these beer boxes were given one last task before they find themselves recycled – what a great example of being green.

Plastiki, please!

So plastic floats, we all know that. Well did we also know that plastic when applied correctly and with the right amount of experts can complete a voyage across the Pacific? Probably not. Take a look at David de Rothschild’s project, Plastiki. The Plastiki is a distinctive, one-of-a-kind 60-foot catamaran made out of 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles and other recycled PET plastic and waste products. The craft was built with many renewable energy systems, including solar panels, wind and trailing propeller turbines, and bicycle generator and was inspired by the cradle to cradle philosophy.

On March 20, 2010, the sailing vessel set off from San Francisco to sail the Pacific. The team plans on landing in Sydney, Australia and is planning to visit sites that are related to environmental importance. The locations all are sites of environmental susceptibility with issues such as global warming, rising sea levels, ocean acidification and marine pollution.

Plastiki arrived in Sydney Harbour at 11.10 am Australia time on July 26, 2010.

Green Your Clutter

Who ever thought that gutting out your space could make you greener? It seems that simplifying your life and clearing out the clutter can be a greening experience. By implementing simple lifestyle changes such as saying no to junk mail, using the library more for reading vs. buying books and simplifying grocery shopping to reduce waste are all great ideas.

Once you get in your home and see now what needs to be cleared out can be a daunting experience. Here are some simple ways to keep you focused for your road to liberation.

Get your boxes ready

Make sure that you have plenty of space to put the things that you are ready to get rid of. Go to your local grocery or liquor store and get their old boxes. They usually have them sitting outside or go to a clerk and ask them if they have anything in the back that you can use for your new liberation.

Recycle, donate, keep

When you are clearing out the crap make sure that you are prepared with your piles and make sure not to confuse any of them! Separate your piles into the recycle or toss pile, donation pile and your keep pile. This allows for you to just throw your items where they belong and to move on. For the recycling pile, not everything can be recycled. What you can move on to a recycling bin is preferred, but what you absolutely cant toss it!

Move on!

As hard as it may be parting with some of your items, know that not only are you doing well for yourself and your mind, but you are also doing well for your planet. By cutting the clutter and donating what is not used you are allowing for new space, new things, new ideas. But more importantly you are living hopefully a simpler life. By living this way you actually are reducing your carbon footprint in the fact that you are taking up less space (reduce), letting others use what you don’t need (reuse) and moving on the parts that you don’t need to better places (recycle)

Mother Nature’s Party Planner

This summer you are going to be throwing many lavish, fun amazing parties, right? Of course! Well to be a gracious host(ess) it is important to make sure that you are going green so that you know not only you but all of your thankful guests are helping reduce carbon emissions into the beautiful atmosphere. Check out some ways to stay on the environmentally side for your summer party hosting.

Ball Mason Jars

Although the upfront cost is more than plastic, the overall reward out gives plastic or paper cups a run for your money. Not only are these jars surprisingly sturdy and tough to break, they allow people to party without ditching their one time use paper or plastic cup. If you are hoping that people can get their names on them, then set out some masking tape and a sharpie, have people label them. After the party you can use the jars as leftover containers, flower or candle holders or even a pencil cup.

Recycle, of course

The morning after clean up can be much easier when you are using green goods. Not only can you quickly chuck the bottles and cans into recycling along with all of the necessary paper and throw away products.

Cloth Napkins

This is not only an amazing way to wow your guests by showing them your snazzy style, but also is a way to save money (in the long run) and to help out your environment by saving a couple trees. It adds a true element of elegance to the party for everyone to enjoy. Throw them in the washer and fold them for your next use.

Reuse those utensils

If you are on the party train to Greensville, then pack on some more and let it ride! Check out Preserve On The Go Cutlery ($5.50 for 8 sets, preserveproducts.com). It’s reusable, recyclable, made from BPA-free recycled plastic, and dishwasher-safe. Make sure to let your guests know that they are not the usual throw-away kind of plastic cutlery.

Compost your plates

Sometimes paper is the only way to go. You don’t want to risk breaking your nice plates or having to go out and buy mismatched plates from the thrift store. Only in this case, check out the green paper plate option. Preserve On the Go plates are compostable plates that let you chuck them straight into the composter.

Vegan Living, Vegan Food

Some people shift into a vegan diet slowly, starting with vegan ‘analogues’— plant-based foods whose taste resembles animal products. Others simply take out the animal products from their diet and replace them with plant foods with which they’re already familiar. Still others concentrate on experimenting with entirely new vegan foods, often from international cuisines. Thankfully, there is no shortage of vegan foods to help make the transition. In fact, most of the food we eat is vegan, without us knowing it!

Eggs are a popular product that vegans do not partake in. If you are making the transition or are looking for more options, check out below for substitution options:

•              Ener-G Egg Replacer (follow directions on box)

•              1 banana (for cake recipes)

•              2 Tbsp corn starch

•              2 Tbsp arrowroot flour

•              2 Tbsp potato starch

•              2 Tbsp soy milk powder & 2 Tbsp water

•              2 Tbsp mashed silken tofu

Your local grocery store likely carries veggie burgers and vegan hot dogs. Alternative milks are also available ranging from rice to almond. There are also vegan alternatives for butter and cheese. Try them all to see what you like best.

Dining out doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you are vegan. Check out the menu for asterisk and footnotes describing whether they have vegan dishes or alternatives.  If you’re on a fast food schedule, pizza places, Taco Bell, and Subway all have vegan options. Check out VegDining.com for a vegan restaurant near you!

Here is a video that shows you how to easily make delicious chocolate chip cookies vegan style! Courtesy of Everyday Dish TV.

What is going Green, Anyway?

As the world turns, life is in fact getting greener. Homes are getting powered more and more by solar, people are buying more organic and local food and of course people are starting to buy non-toxic, sustainable and responsible products. Although this is a fantastic leap in the right direction, we all must slow down for a moment and make sure that we understand….why?

If all people understand why “living green” is so important for our species and for the world at large, it may just be the difference between the continuity of “living green” and letting it fizzle out as just another fad.

Going green is essentially the promotion of life. It promotes things like paying people the fair wages that they deserve and giving them a shot at building their own communities world wide. It promotes the protection of our ecosystem at large, this includes everything from animals, to plants, to outer space, to our air that we breathe everyday. It promotes the fair and equal treatment of all beings on earth whether we be a duck or a human. It promotes the growth and protection of our forests and wildlife areas and everything that lives in them.

Ok so now you may ask, how is me buying “green” contributing to all of this. Well, that is an excellent question. By buying, living, thinking and acting green in every move that you make you are basically creating a domino effect. You buying a head of organic locally grown broccoli is not going to save mother earth. But it is a statement amidst a large speech that they world is listening to. Not only that, but when you live and buy green, you are basically asking for the demand to raise for responsible, green products. You are asking other people to innovate and create more green companies and ideas that will further the protection and sustainability of our planet.

Companies more and more are doing things like printing on recycled, post consumer paper. Or only selling non-toxic, sustainable and fair trade products. Or even nearly halting the amount of green house gasses that are currently put out everyday with a machine. Or offsetting the carbon that they do put out into the world, kind of a “payback” system.

No matter which way you look at it, going green makes sense, but understanding why and setting the intention can make the largest difference in the history of the world. So, push the domino over and get started.

Sheryl Crow, Green Rocker Mama Extraordinaire!

With a new album on the way, rockstar Sheryl Crow is the epitome of a green celebrity living the true sustainable life (for a rockstar).  Not only is the green mother of two committed to mother earth, but also is committed to rocking our socks off year after year. In honor of a music legend releasing yet another (now here 7th) album, 100 Miles From Memphis, this is a little something recognizing her efforts.

●     From flights to ground transportation, the entirety of the carbon footprint of her tour is neutralized with the support of renewable energy source.

●     All food provided is organic, locally sourced and packaged in biodegradable/compostable containers.

●     Ms. Crow is a founding member of the Green Music Group, a group committed to rallying the music community to take environmental action.

●     Water stations with reusable water bottles have replaced plastic bottles,  for crew members and band.

●     Non-toxic supplies clean Crow’s tour buses and bathrooms are furnished with post-consumer recycled bathroom tissue.

●     The carbon footprint of Crow’s touring vehicles are nearly non-existent–they all use B20 biodiesel.

●     All of Sheryl’s concerts feature a Reverb Eco-Village offering attendees the opportunity to meet with local non-profit groups and access an on-line carpooling service.

●     A comprehensive recycling/waste reduction system has been implemented backstage and on her touring vehicles.

●     Concert programs printed on, Forest Stewardship Council paper — an eco-friendly, responsible resource that uses soy inks.

Thank you to Sheryl Crow for showing all of them out there in the music land how living responsibly and kindly to the environment is done! Check out her video to learn more about her efforts.

What Does it Mean to be a Woman of Green? Check Out the Organic Bug Spotlight of the Month

When Mind Over Markets co-founder Carolyn Parrs spoke at Green America’s Green Festival in San Francisco; she asked a group of women “What does it mean to be a woman of green?”

She shares the answers on her site: Women of Green; a podcast and online community designed to give women a voice on behalf of our planet and future generations:

It means to be a woman who is willing to stand up and to speak out behalf of the earth and the people of the earth against so many of the thoughtless wrongs that are being perpetuated.

It means you are conscious about what you are doing.

It means changing habits a little at a time.

A woman a green is a woman who is connected to her heart and to her womb.

It means to be empowering and empowered and to be able to speak your voice about the things that are important to you.

It means to motivate people and inspire them to make a difference.

Carolyn’s vision has led to a wonderful online resource for business owners, entrepreneurs, parents, teachers, writers, activists- ANYONE who wants to help make a positive change for our environment. 

Women of Green is our “Organic Bug Spotlight” of the month and I encourage you to tune in so we can, as Carolyn says, “Turn Up the Volume” and add to the conversation!

Be Aware: VOCs and Your Home

Don’t believe the old adage “if you can’t see it, you can’t believe it”. When it comes to VOCs, this is absolutely not the case. In fact, they are very real and very dangerous. VOCs or volatile organic compounds, and are a wide range of carbon-based molecules (organic compounds) used in a wide range of products that find their way into our homes (but often undetected by ingredients). Under normal conditions they vaporize, effectively leaving their host and entering the air where they combine with other airborne compounds to form ozone, which isn’t good to breathe, hence ‘volatile’.

Although VOCs exist everywhere in the environment, the most common of them is methane, which we all know comes from everything from wetlands to cow pies and other types of gases. They are important in our lives because of the damage they can cause to us indoors. Where can you find these invisible agents of toxicity? They can be introduced via paint, carpets, furnishings, and cleaning agents.

VOCs contribute to poor indoor air quality, (which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says is often two to five times worse than the air outside), and contribute to concentrations of VOCs of up to 1,000 times more indoors than outdoors. Used in many glues and adhesives, one of the common VOCs includes formaldehyde. That means your wood veneers, plywood and particle board, and polyurethane; which is used in many types of foam, paints, varnishes, and construction sealant and is all contributing to your home’s indoor toxicity.

At high concentrations, some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects; others are known carcinogens. But even low to moderate levels of multiple VOCs can produce acute reactions. Bottom line: Avoid volatile organic compounds as much as possible.

There is hope to avoiding VOC-ridden products. Products such as water-based glues, adhesives, finishes, and soy-based foams will help keep VOC levels to a minimum in furnishings and decor. Buying green cleaners helps ensure that you aren’t adding toxins to the air when you clean them.

Check Out Blue Gold: World Water Wars

As a world we are rapidly losing our fresh water supplies and as with anything, there are massive politics behind ownership and distribution. This factor naturally worsens the situation due to the unfair distribution and withholding of water to those in need. The questions and scenarios of what will happen as water becomes increasingly scarce is answered in the documentary Blue Gold: World Water Wars.

The documentary looks at how we are using up water faster than it can be replenished through natural systems – we are mining as much as 15 times more groundwater than is being replenished, at the rate of 30 billion gallons a day. To add insult to injury, we are polluting it beyond use, destroying the wetlands that are natural filters, and blocking the rivers that carry nutrients that keep the water healthy and lands fertile. To top it all off, leading scientists state that we are essentially decertifying the world and are approximately 50 years away from a water crisis.

The solutions we’ve come up with are addressed as well. Anything from shipping water to desalination and the side effects that negate the benefits is documented and looked at.

We have to completely overhaul the way we use water if we want to avoid serious wars over this precious resource in the near future.

Our only choice as individuals is conservation, being an advocate for the world’s resources and for our future. Ultimately, the world’s water supply is at risk of disappearing rich or poor alike. If you are interested in getting informed and involved, we highly encourage you to watch this film.

Next Page »