Spinning Green

Hey……….

I had a DJ ask me how to be a “GREEN Wedding DJ”?  Other that using solar powered instruments, string instruments, etc., What can I tell him?   Any suggestions?

Dianne

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Dear Dianne,

That is so fun. I love to see how people are trying to make green their own. That is so exciting.

Here is a starting place.

1. Consider using equipment that’s energy efficient. Look for the Energy Star brand. According to EPA, Energy Star products “use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.”
2. Examine how you get to gigs. Do you drive a diesel vehicle?  Why not use biodiesel made out of left over restaurant grease?  Local biodiesel suppliers exist all over the U.S. Click here to learn more about biodiesel.
3. Having an outside event that requires a generator? Use a green generator rather than a traditional diesel generator. Tree Sound Studios offers a totally green power solution. The Tree Power and Sound Equipment harnesses wind and solar to power your music. Consider renting this for your next event.
4. Many musicians and DJ’s require a rider. Ensure your rider seeks eco friendly solutions. Low level packaging, local/organic/in season food, tap not bottled water, etc.
5. Be sure not to idle your vehicle when you’re loading and unloading.
6. Buy carbon offsets for your travel to gigs.

Have other thoughts? Know a DJ who is embracing green?  Let us know by adding a comment below!

Rock on!

Mandy

(image used under Creative Commons License by Auroramixer)

Great use for your retiring towels

It is inevitable that friends and family will throw you showers and parties to celebrate your upcoming big day. All of those registry items will start coming back to you disguised in beautiful wrapping paper topped with bows and ribbons. It is an exciting time, but with that comes stress. The consumer conscious and eco chicks sometimes don’t know what to do with all of their old items that are replaced with shiny new products. 

We have your answer! Well, we have an answer to at least one of your dilemmas. It is almost certain that you will end up with some new towels as wedding or shower gifts.  As you are going through your old towels wondering what to do with them – don’t fret! We have a place that will gladly accept all of your old towels. They will even take the stained and tattered ones with your monogram that you received as a high school graduation gift from your loving grandmother.  Local humane societies welcome towel donations that they utilize to line and clean the kennels as well as bath the animals.  We promise that the dogs will not mind a nail polish stain, a tear or festive color. Plus you can feel good about recycling your weathered towels while enjoying your vibrant, soft, stain-free new ones. 

In addition to towels, they also accept newspapers, newspaper bags, toilet paper rolls & paper towel rolls.  The cardboard paper rolls make excellent “new” chew toys for puppies.  

If you’re in Atlanta- the Atlanta Humane Society is located at the corner of Howell Mill Road and 10^th Street in Midtown.  The Atlanta Humane Society is open seven days a week, so drop by at your convenience and be sure to say “hi” to the adorable puppies and kittens awaiting their new forever home.  

To find your local human society visit: http://www.hsus.org/

by Erin Clark & Beth Ament

Protect and Serve the Environment?

Q: Dear GoGreeninStyle:

My husband and I went into my local coffee shop the other day and hung out for about an hour.  As we walked in, I noticed a police car was parked out front and running but no officer was in the car. It turns out, the officer was in the coffee shop having a cup of coffee. He was still there and the car was still running when we left. The car must have been running over an hour!  It makes me sick because I know he’s polluting but even worse- he’s wasting tax payer dollars.

Is there a good reason he’s leaving the car running?  What is going on?

Frustrated,

Amy

A: Dear Amy,

As Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta, I see this problem first hand all the time with our employees. I understand your sentiment. It is very frustrating.

I have asked a number of experts and here is what I’ve learned. Police have devices like computer that require the car to be running when in use. Often times you’ll see a policeman working on the computer with the car running. From what I can tell, that’s a legitimate reason.  Good news is that there is growing innovation in solar technology that will power such devices and allow for the car to be turned off.

Police departments and fire departments are steeped in tradition. Changing culture, habits and mindsets in these organizations is not easy.  Idling vehicles falls in the category of an old practice.  In the case of the behavior you witnessed, the explanation given is that the officer needed to have the car on in case he needed to respond immediately.  You probably think- turning the car on is instantaneous and won’t prevent him from responding immediately.  And you are correct.

The question becomes, how do we change the culture so that the myth is busted? My belief is that the top of the organization, ie the Chief of Police, must drive the change through example and mandate. We, the citizens, must be a part of the solution as well. We must ask individual officers, the organization’s leadership, and elected officials to enact and enforce an aggressive no idling policy.  Praise and appreciation goes a long way too. When you see an officer who is not idling, be sure to thank him.

Thanks for asking the questions the need to be asked!

Mandy

Disposable Plate Dilemma

Q: Which is better for the environment – using disposable plates that I throw away or washing re-usable dishes?

- May

A:  Dear May,

People may think using disposable plates is better for the environment because they don’t use water for washing. Take a step back and think about the lifecycle of what you are using. While that paper plate is being washed and therefore not using water, it’s going right into the landfill where it will reside for a very long time in its plastic coffin. Also think about the natural resources used in production and the fuel used to for transportation to the store, to you, and to the landfill.

Washing dishes have a much smaller impact. Less production, less transportation, less waste to the landfill. The water you are using is being treated and injected back into the river or reused.

If you’re trying to reduce your water use, use your dishwasher rather than hand washing and scrape off dishes rather than rinsing them off.  Next time you’re shopping for a new dishwasher, look out for one energy and water efficient by buying one that is certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as Energy Star.

Other things to think about- are you composting what’s left on your plate? Are you using environmentally sound dish detergent?

For more tips on saving water at home, visit the EPA’s Water Sense website.

To learn more why using a dishwasher is better than hand washing, check out this page from About.com.

Happy Washing,

Mandy

Wrapping paper’s bum rap

Q: Dear GGIS,

Christmas is almost upon us. Every year we have tons of wrapping paper and other gift wrap left over. What is the green solution?

Swimming in bows and ribbons,

Sean

 

A: Dear Sean,

Bags and bags of wrapping paper. My memory is of my dad playing basketball with the wrapping paper into the garbage bag. WOW. That’s a lot of recycling is my first thought.

1. Wrapping paper: Recycle it as though you would any other paper in your house. OR create a fun new tradition- make it a contest to see who is the best at unwrapping their gifts without tearing the paper. Then you can reuse it next year!
2. Tissue Paper: Tissue paper cannot be recycled but it’s great to add to your composting or reuse again.  Red will be great for Valentines in little over a month.
3. Bags and bows- Reuse, reuse, reuse. A little tape on the back and your bow is as good as new.

If you’re still shopping for gift wrapping- strive for wrapping that is more eco friendly.  Look for recycled content wrapping paper at places like Target or make your own out of paper grocery bags.

Have a blessed holiday!

Mandy

Soy Candles

 Q: Dear GoGreenInStyle:  I read that I should use soy candles when I entertain because they are a greener alternative. Why is that?  Are they greener than beeswax?

Thanks,
Sam

A: Dear Sam,

Soy candles are a good green alternative to your normal wax candles like those that are paraffin based.  Soy candles are plant based whereas paraffin is made of fossil fuels.   But you’re right, beeswax candles, especially locally made ones, are on par or greener than soy candles.  You may choose soy over beeswax because you have a wider variety and soy will often be less expensive.

Thanks,
Mandy

Disposal Drama

Q: Dear GoGreenInStyle,

Is using my garbage disposal good for the environment?

Signed,

Lynn

A: Dear Lynn,

A garbage disposal is the not the environment’s friend. Stuff we run through our garbage disposal or flush down the toilet goes straight to the waste water treatment facility. At the treatment facility, the water is separated from the waste.  The waste is separated off and incinerated to ensure that it is not harmful, toxic, and [insert any other word meaning dangerous to human health]. Incineration uses a lot of energy and it spews lots of yukky stuff into the air.  After incineration, the waste is sent to the landfill (to live forever).

Consider composting so you can avoid the landfill all together.  I also suggest reading the following article to learn more about this topic:

Garbage disposal guilt – disposal vs. the trash can for perishable wastes

Vegetarian Times,  Jan, 1996  by Jeanne Rattenbury

Mandy

Programmable Thermostat

Q: Dear GoGreenInStyle:

I have a condo and live alone.  I am in the market for a programmable thermostat so that I don’t have to worry about remembering to adjust my thermostat.  Is there a specific kind/brand I should be looking for?  Is there a brand that’s EnergyStar sufficient?

Thanks,
Lindsey

A: Dear Lindsey
Other than being an Energy Star unit, other important considerations are:

1. User-friendliness:  If you and/or others who occupy the residence are technologically-challenged, I would choose the simplest model, and be sure to keep the programming instructions handy just in case.  Or if you prefer lots of buttons and features, don’t worry about simplicity…
2. 7-day vs weekday/weekend:  If you have the same occupancy schedule for weekend days, and the same general schedule for weekdays, then a unit that has only these two modes might be good for you.  However, if the schedule of occupancy differs from one weekday to the next, a 7-day unit would give you tighter control (more savings).  I don’t really think that the 7-day units are more expensive anymore.  The advantage to the weekday/weekend version is the simplicity of having to program only two day types (weekend or weekday) versus programming each day separately.

Jean Pullen

Idle or turn-off

Q: Dear GoGreenInStyle:

I have heard it is bad for your car to turn your car off when you have to run inside somewhere quickly. Is that true?

-Bill

A: Dear Bill,

It’s a commonly held myth that it’s better to leave your car idling than turn it on and off.  Unless you’re car is really old, turn it off! The wear and tear is negligible. After 10 seconds of leaving your car running, you’ve wasted more fuel than you would have used by turning your car off and on. Furthermore you’re sending a lot of carbon into the environment.

I recommend taking your carbon footprint to better understand the impact of your daily activities on the environment.

For more information visit The Truth about Idling by the Clean Air Campaign.

Thanks,
Mandy