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Earth Day turns 40:

It’s official, Earth Day turns 40. The people of American have been celebrating this tribute to our planet for four decades now. Earth day was created by a Wisconsin senator and has gone on to be a major component in the environmentalism movement. It has now gone on to be celebrated in over 180 countries around the world.

If you haven’t already done so, today would be a perfect time to start a green/sustainable practice. Vow to start recycling, or reducing your consumption of wasteful products. You could also seek out a organization or group in your community that is dedicated to some aspect of green living or environmentalism, if you can’t find one consider starting one amongst friends and family. Remember even small steps towards sustainable living add up in numbers to create great change.

So go ahead and make your Earth Day resolution, but try to keep it longer then your New Year’s resolution.

If you want some great history on the start and evolution of earth day, here is a great article from National Geographic: History of Earth Day.

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Source reduction basics:

What is source reduction? Well, it is reducing the amount of materials or energy in the manufacturing process, distribution, or packaging of a product. Source reduction cuts down on waste from the start, and therefore less possible trash is produced and more resources are conserved. Source reduction is a main goal of EPA solid waste program.

In terms of packaging alone, there are many ways companies have cut back on the materials used in packaging products.

• Lightweighting. This is when packaging is redesigned to use less material and becomes lighter. For example, 2 liter bottles have become 25% since 1977, reducing 250 million pounds of plastic waste a year.
• Concentrates. Basically it is making a product stronger, so you can use less to get the job done as well as reduce the package size.
• Redesign. A rework of the size, shape, or material used to reduce material needed to package a product as well as reduce the distribution costs by more efficient shipping. Both Square and flat boxes pack much better then round ones and reduce fuel consumption during shipping.

Source reduction doesn’t just apply to manufacturers though, consumers can also apply a few rules to their use of products to “reduce” the amount of waste they produce.

• Select non-hazardous alternatives. By doing so you reduce the toxicity of your waste load. Cleaning products are one area where this really counts.
• Completely use up a product or share/give it away to others to use it up entirely.
• Use the right amount. Follow instructions so you are not over using a product, this is especially important when using a “concentrated” product.
• Use refills. If possible buy refills for your product as they often use less packaging throughout the life of a product as well as saves you money.

So next time you go shopping try to remember to look for products that will reduce your waste stream.

Look for concentrates, refills, and flat packed or square shaped products when you can. By doing so you are reducing that amount of material that you need to recycle or throw away, as well as probably buying a product that was source reduced during it’s production.

For more informaton of Source Reduction check out some of these sites:

EPA Source Reduction http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/rrr/reduce.htm

ULS Sustainable Packaging Certification

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Exciting News!

You may have noticed that lately there has not been a lot of new activity on UrbanGreenSpot lately. That’s because there has been a lot of planning to make an even better UrbanGreenSpot.

In addition to the planning there has been an expansion Minneapolis, MN. I am excited to announce UrbanGreenSpot’s expansion to include Minneapolis and Minnesota green/sustainable events in addition to keeping up with local Chicago events.

With Earth Day rapidly approaching, now is an excellent time to gear things back up and get back to providing the green and sustainable news that we all desire. We are excited about some of the great new things coming to the site including a lot of local organizations and some great new green technology reviews.

Stay tuned and stay green!

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Earth Hour is today at 8:30pm central time. For those of you that don’t know, Earth Hour is a time to help show support for energy conservation and green living changes. During the hour turn of your lights, tvs, and anything else electronic you have. In doing so, you are not only saving energy but showing commitment to the greater cause of preventing climate change.

During last year’s Earth Hour, over 80 million people worldwide participated in the event. It’s not just individuals showing support either,  for example in Chicago this year, the lights at the Navy Pier, Chicago Theater, and the Willis Tower will be turned off to observe this special hour.

This year take time to unplug from the grid for a hour and have some fun with it as well. Enjoy a candle light dinner, or a drink by the fireplace, or come up with some fun games all while showing your commitment to a reduction in our carbon footprint. Don’t forget to take some time to think about ways you can contribute in your everyday lives as well such as using less water, walking rather than driving more  or just turn the lights off more often.

For more information visit: EarthHour.org

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Fun Recycling Facts:

In order to help people realize the importance of recycling, here are some interesting facts about recycling various materials such as aluminum, glass, and paper. Also be sure to check out the links to some useful websites and resources on recycling.

Aluminum cans:

Used aluminum cans can be recycled and returned to store shelves in as little as 60 days.

Between 100,000-200,000 cans are recycled every minute in America.

24 years ago a pound of aluminum made 21 12-ounce cans, today through source reduction technology that same pound of aluminum makes 31 cans.

The energy saved when 1 aluminum can is recycled can power a TV for 2-3 hours.

Aluminum can be recycled endlessly.

Glass:

The energy saved from recycling glass bottles can power a 100 watt bulb for 4 hours.

Recycling glass bottles reduces air pollution 20% and water pollution 50% compared to producing a new bottle.

Glass bottles take over 4000 years to decompose and much longer if in a landfill; you might as well recycle them.

Paper:

Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.

The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year.

Construction costs of a paper mill designed to use waste paper are 50 to 80% less than the cost of a mill using new pulp.

Other Facts:

About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material. We should strive to recycle more packaging, and buy products with less packaging. Also consider using packaging that is flexible instead of rigid. For more information on the benefits of flexible packaging check out the Flexible Packaging Association.

The EPA estimates that 75% of the trash Americans throws away could be recycled.

To find centers to drop of your recycling items try Earth911.

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Green Tips For Renters

Going green is possible for renters just as much as it is for homeowners. While renter’s often can not make the large home improvements such as solar water heaters and new energy star appliances, there are so easy things that can be done. I have come up with a short list of things that can be done to both save money and improve indoor air quality for renters.

1. Use CFLs.

Today this seems to be the most popular tip for going green. CFLs have the benefits of reducing energy use and reduce heat generation. Bulbs come in all sizes, shapes and wattages so finding ones to fit your need is rather easy. Just make sure you dispose of them properly as they do contain trace amounts of mercury.

2.Install black out curtains.

These are useful year round because they keep cool air in during the summer and hot air trapped inside during winter months. With potential to save as much as 25% on your energy bill, black out curtains could be a great investment.

3. Keep house plants.

If you find yourself running noisy, energy hogging air purifiers, you may consider adding some house plants around the apartment. Plants also clean the air of Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, and Volatile Organic Gases (VOCs) that most air filters do not absorb. Plants can clean about 10 square yards per plant. A list of the top 10 best air cleaning plants is at Care2.

4. Maximize heating and cooling flow.

Make sure all air registers are clear of furniture so that air can circulate freely. If your apartment has radiators place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.

5.Get a Green Shower Curtain.

Go natural with a hemp or organic cotton shower curtain paired with a nylon liner. It’s healthier than a PVC-coated curtain (PVC offgases potential hormone disruptors) and can be tossed in the washing machine for easy mold-preventing cleanup.

6. Use Soy Candles.

Soy candles do not contain petroleum unlike normal wax candles, and produce almost no soot. If indoor air quality is a concern make the switch to the much cleaning burning soy candle. They also burn about 50% longer than conventional candles saving you money as while providing cleaner air. The cost for soy candles is also getting close to the same as conventional candles so you don’t have to pay much more to get the benefits. More soy candle information.

7. If possible, install a programmable thermostat.

When used properly, a programmable thermostat with its four temperature settings can save up to $150 a year in energy costs. Proper use means setting the thermostat at energy-saving temperatures without overriding that setting. You should also set the “hold” button at a constant energy-saving temperature when you’re away or on vacation.

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