Green Apps for Droid Users

As I think about ads and products that I have seen for smartphones they are mostly geared towards the iPhone. But there are lots of other choices including the Android. Here some popular Green Apps for the Android Market.

• iamgreen (also available for Blackberry and the iPhone) 

This app teaches you to change the phone’s settings to maximize battery life while saving energy, time and money. As an added bonus a tree is planted for every download. Price: $2.99

•  CauseWorld 

CauseWorld allows you to donate to green causes by going into stores that you already frequent. You walk into a participating store, check-in on your phone and earn points. Once your points add up you can donate them to the green cause of your choice. Price: Free

• Seasonal Harvest

The Seasonal Harvest app helps you to locate locally grown food. This app will tell you what foods are in season and great dinner recipes. You can also search state by state for farmer’s markets. Price: The full app is $1.99 and there is a free version which provides less information.

• SugarTrip  (also available for the iPhone)

SugarTrip allows you to decrease your carbon footprint by helping you avoid traffic jams, saving emissions and reducing your commute time. This app has not been released but you can sign-up now! Price: Free

Source: Earth911.com

Photo: Camera Phone Plaza

Albert Einstein the Vegetarian

We all know Albert Einstein the scientist, but how much do you know about Albert Einstein the vegetarian? Mr. Einstein was a longtime supporter of vegetarianism and spent the last year of his life as a vegetarian.

He is quoted as saying, “Nothing will benefit human health or increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”

As declining health is frequently attributed to poor diet more people are embracing vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. What you think Mr. Einstein meant by this quote? Do you agree? Vegetarians and ”non-vegetarians” we would love to hear from you!

Source: International Vegetarian Union

Photo: Stumble Upon

Improve Indoor Air Quality with Houseplants

Indoor houseplants act as a natural air filter, cleaning the air and removing harmful pollutants from the air.

NASA conducted a study in which plants were tested for their ability to create oxygen and filter toxins. The intent of the study was to find the best plants to filter air in the space station. The study produced a list of the plants they found  filtered the air the best and recommended having 15-18 “good-sized” plants in a 1,800 square foot home.

 

The following plants made the top of the list:

English Ivy

Spider Plant

Devil’s Ivy

 Peace Lily  

Chinese Evergreen

Bamboo Palm or Reed Palm

Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue

Heartleaf philodendron

Selloum philodendron

Elephant ear philodendron

Red-edged dracaena

Cornstalk dracaena

Janet Craig dracaena

Warneck dracaena

Weeping Fig

Gerbera Daisy

Rubber plant

When choosing a houseplant remember to choose a plant that matches the growing conditions of your home. For example, you wouldn’t want a plant that requires full sunlight in a shady corner.  Do you have houseplants for their air filtering potential or for the ambiance it adds to a space?

Source: apartmenttherapy.com, treehugger.com

E-Book enthusiasts …What’s your story?

I was in a workshop recently where I saw a colleague reading an electronic book, on some sort of digital book reader. Unfortunately I’m not up to speed on e-book technology so I was unable to determine what type of device she was using. I thought it was an interesting concept but didn’t think about it again until reading an article in The Daily Green. 

The article points out that e-books have outsold paper copies on Amazon.com, and asks if this is good for the environment? My initial though was of course….you’re saving millions of trees. (Note: The actual number of trees saved annually was 125,000). But as I read further the article references a report by the Cleantech Group which looked at the environmental impact of the Amazon Kindle, an e-reader.

The report found that the carbon emitted in the lifecycle of the Kindle would be fully offset in one year and any additional years of use would result in carbon savings. Skeptics say that because the number of e-readers sold each year is relatively low (compared to traditional books) and that the resources used to produce e-readers is unknown, the jury is still out.

Tell us what you think. With all things considered, do you think that e-readers have less of an environmental impact than printed books? If you’re an e-book aficionado, why did you make the switch? Students, how would feel about electronic textbooks?

Photo: musicmeetsgirl

Dekalb Farmers Market: One of the World’s Largest

The Huffington Post  lists the Worlds Largest Farmers Markets and guess who made the list? The Dekalb Farmers Market (DFM) at #12. Located just 25 miles from Life University the DFM features a restaurant, fresh produce and seafood. 

The DFM produces a variety of specialty items which are all-natural and free of preservatives. This includes fresh and healthy pastas, soups, cakes, pizzas and sauces. While you’re there, look for the “Market Favorites” or “YDFM Brand”, which are made from scratch. The DFM prides itself in using organically grown and non-GMO ingredients. They also support small farms that employ humane, environmentally responsible and sustainable production methods.

 The DFM is open from 9am-9pm and accepts cash, debit, check and EBT.  

Takeout Containers: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Daily Green  has devised a list of the best (and worst) takeout containers in terms of the environment. As I read the article the first thing that came to mind was the aluminum container in our fridge that holds leftovers from our favorite Mexican Restaurant. I also often wonder about how much pollution is caused by those cute little boxes from Chinese restaurants. But I was surprised to learn of other containers which are bad for the environment.

1. Styrofoam (clamshell packaging, soup containers, coffee cups)-The Worst 
2. Plastic Containers (deli salad containers, yogurt cups, ice cream dishes) 
3. Plastic/Paper Bags (no explanation needed) 
4. Cardboard Boxes (chinese take-out, birthday cake) 
5. Bio-Products (Socrates Café) 
6. Aluminum Foil (burrito wrapping, baked potatoes) 
7. Recycled Paper Products (napkins, paper towels) 
8. Edible Containers made from food (bread bowl, ice cream cone, tortilla bowl/taco salad) 
9. Inedible containers made from food (banana leaves, cornhusk wrapped tamale) 
10. Bring Your Own (canvas bags, tupperware)-The Best

 As with any product there is good and bad….pros and cons. But how often do you consider how your food is packaged? Have you ever thought to ask that your baked potato come to your table aluminum foil free…or to bring your own container to the salad bar?

Photos: The WebstaurantStore, Keetsa

A Tax on Plastic Shopping Bags

 

No matter how environmentally savvy we are, at one point in our lives we have used a plastic shopping bag. Sometimes we reuse the bags, (I use them as trash can liners for smaller trash cans) but most often they end up in landfills. It’s become something you do without thought…you buy groceries and you carry them home in a plastic bag. But the way we think of these disposable bags could change if Georgia joins thirteen others states considering establishing a tax on plastic shopping bags.   

Currently Washington, D.C. is the only US city to successfully institute such a tax. In the first month the 5-cent tax brought in about $150,000 and nearly $1 million since January. Although the revenue brings in much- needed funds to the city, the most interesting statistic that has evolved is that plastic bag usage is down from 22.5 million bags per month in 2009 to only 3 million bags during the first month of the tax.

 

 So how does the tax work?  Every retailer that sells food or alcohol is required to charge a 5-cent fee per disposable paper or plastic bag. The business keeps 1 cent, or 2 cents if it offers a rebate when you bring your own shopping bag. The remaining proceeds (3 or 4 cents) are sent to the Anacostia River Protection Fund to provide reusable bags, education and environmental clean-ups.

Please share your thoughts on this issue? Would a 5-cent tax on disposable shopping bags move you to bring reusable bags? Knowing the benefit to the environment would you support such a tax? 

 Thanks to ABC news for sharing this story.

Website Alert: SustainableTable.org

SustainableTable.org  celebrates local sustainable food, educates consumers on food-related issues and works to build communities through food.  The website also includes a “Buy Sustainable” tool which will find local, sustainable and organic food within your zip code. Sustainable agriculture is a hot-button topic in today’s society….what does sustainable agriculture mean to you? Where do you get your favorite fresh, locally grown products?

Automobiles and the Environment

Many people would agree that in today’s society vehicles have become a necessity (especially in areas without mass transit). Although owning a vehicle may not be an option, choosing the type of vehicle you own is fairly up to you. Some people prefer the spaciousness and sense of safety that SUV’s provide, while others appreciate the comfort of a luxury sedan. Whatever you choose to drive, automobiles produce emissions. But just how much damage to the environment is actually caused by the vehicles we drive?  This graphic provided by AutoBlog Green make the facts easy to understand.

  What do you do to minimize your vehicles impact on the environment? Think about your next automobile purchase…would you consider a hybrid or electric vehicle?

Trash is to be recovered from the sea

Electrolux has long been a staple in the appliance industry. The company is looking to remain a contender by initiating the “Vac from the Sea Project” , taking plastics from the ocean to use them as material in their vacuum cleaners. Electrolux officials state that manufacturers complain about the lack of recycled plastic from land when the ocean is full of surplus material.

The plastic will be recovered by experts and volunteer divers form locations in the Pacific Indian and Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic, Mediterranean and North Sea. The methods of capture will vary from diving in after it to scooping it up from waves.

Electrolux’s “green” products currently contain up to 70% recycled plastic and their goal is 100%. Do you think its possible to make an affordable appliance with 100% recycled plastic?

 Check out this video which explains the program.

Want to learn more?