Update on Ecological Footprint

When I first calculated my Ecological Footprint, I was using 3.2 planets! I decided to rethink some of my daily activities to try and decrease my consumption.

I started to use my recycle mug more often, and I bring my cloth bag in to the grocery store, and even when I shop at the mall! I also started to by a lot of my groceries at the Co-Op so that I could buy more bulk items to reduce packaging. I also eat all locally grown organic fruits and vegetables.

I was able to reduce my planet size from 3.2 to 2.7

I will be able to continue my process on reducing my carbon imprint. I will also try and influence other people, like my friends and family to also do the same!

I also want to reduce my water use. I do take long hot showers and am now realizing the water depletion in other countries. Another thing I want to do but will be hard, is buying more sustainable clothing. Its still very expensive since the demand is down, but I will try and look for more options when shopping.

The one thing that might take me awhile to do is reduce my meat consumption. I tried the vegetarian thing for a few months but I just couldn't do it.

After taking my Marketing and Sustainability class I have been a lot more conscience on my daily activities. I also feel bad when I throw anything away I can’t recycle.

Goolge search "Know What Your Wearing"! Our cotton website shows up!

Or click HERE!

Greenwashing at WWU?!?!

In this weeks Western Front, there is an article pertaining the the new "biodegradable" plastic cups, that I normally buy my Iced Vanilla Latte when I forget my reusable mug and don't feel as bad.

According to this article each month Western sell about 9,000 of them!

The good thing is that it uses 65% less fossil fuels to produce compared to regular plastic cups, and also produce 80-90% less greenhouse gasses.

The "greenwashing" part of it all is what conditions it needs to be able to biodegrade. The cup "must be in an environment that is capable of reaching temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 consecutive days."

Especially in Washington when will it ever get to 140 degrees Fahrenheit... Maybe soon enough with the way our garbage habits our.

But the major problem is "where do we compost on campus?" I can think of two places Artzen and the VU. But there are so many lazy students... including me who don't want to walk all that way just to compost my coffee cup. According to the article "The compost bins are not found in more locations around campus because they are more expensive for Dining Services to keep than normal waste bins."

I like how our school is claiming to be "Green" parse but weren't not doing enough. I can think of numerous small things we could implement, instead of all these million dollar projects our university is spending on such as Replacing the Bricks!

Definitely go to this link to read the article because it's very interesting

BioMimicry

A new wave of air planes???

This is interesting I read this article on GreenBiz.com about how they are researching a way to reduce airplane emission by emulating "tiny ridges found on sharks' bodies, which can reduce skin-friction drag by about 5 percent. But Lockerby's team thinks the micro-jet system could end up reducing skin friction drag by as much as 40 percent."

This is a huge step in finding a way to reduce greenhouse gasses from airplanes. This would make flying way cheaper and use less gas. By boyfriends day is an airplane pilot and he said that it takes 10,000 gallons of gasoline to fly an airplane from Minnesota to Amsterdam.

Researchers believe they can have the new wings made by 2012. "The United Kingdom's air industry has set a goal of reducing its emissions per passenger by 50 percent in 2020"! Thats amazing, the US needs to step up their game!

Keep it Unplugged!!

After doing research and hearing about all sorts of ways on how to reduce my carbon footprint, one I came across surprised to me. One thing I read about was when you leave your phone charger plugged in the wall, even when you’re not charging your phone it’s still using electricity to charge. So you’re pretty much charging the air, which is going to waste and contributing to your carbon footprint.

Another fact I read was that the major parts of your house that contribute the most to carbon emission is the office and entertainment center. These parts of your house are full of electronics and most of the time they are in standby mode. Again, just because these electronics are in standby “phantom” mode they are still eating up electricity. The TV and DVD player use more electricity in a year in standby mode, then they do when you are actually using it.

I think by encouraging college students to reduce their carbon footprint by unplugging their electronic devices; we would see a huge drop in carbon emissions. I don’t consider myself tech savvy or anything, but I do own a lot of electronics. I’m sure there are many college students who own more electronics then I do, and with all the school and homework we do I bet the electronics are all on standby mode. That’s why a “Keep It Unplugged” campaign would be great to target WWU students.

The overall objective would be for student to become aware of the fact that when your electronics are plugged in, you are using electricity even when they are turned off. I want them while their leaving the house to think “Did I unplug my computer…..my entertainment center?”


"Cell phone chargers, TVs, DVD players, stereos, microwaves and other electronics with transformers continue to draw power, even when they're off or not charging anything, as long as they're plugged in. In the U.S., such "phantom electricity" emits about 12 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere a year, according to Conservation International." (Los Angles Times)


So it's easy.... Unplug your appliances when your done with them, or use a power strip and click the off button to save on your electric bill!

Do It Yourself House Hold Cleaners!!!

I read this article on some cheap and green ways to clean your house.
Nowadays were are being bombarded with all sorts of information and ways to read household cleaning product labels. Basically don't use a product if you can't pronounce the ingredient.
Here are some basic products, you probably have under your kitchen counter that can be used to clean your home safe and cheaply without the worry of picking the "right" green product. All's you need is a couple old rags, keep those old tooth brushes for hard to reach areas, and even reuse old spray bottles!

Here's what this article says.....

Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water, vinegar or lemon by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning times
Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry mixes
Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, as these might stain surfaces
Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although you might need to use bit more to get the same results
Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work well
Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose cleaners
Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature. Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and drug stores.

WHOLE HOUSE

All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon hot water

Mix in pail (or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle: 1/8 cup borax to 1 quart of hot water) dissolving the borax completely; wipe clean with rag.

Floors

Wood
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Linoleum
1 cup white vinegar
2 gallons warm water

Mix in mop bucket, rinse afterwards.

Furniture Polish
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil

Mix and apply with a clean rag to dust and polish. Reduce the olive oil if wood looks too oily.

Metal Polish

Copper and Brass
2 Tbsps salt
White vinegar

Add vinegar to salt until you've created a paste. Adding flour will reduce abrasiveness. Apply with a rag and rub clean.

Stainless Steel
Baking soda
White vinegar

Apply baking soda with a damp cloth, using the vinegar to eliminate spots.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/cleaning/diy-cleaners

Update on Ecological Footprint

So after recalculating my ecological footprint, I am now down to 2.7 planets...
I've been bringing my reusable mug to school, way more often
I've left a reusable bag in my car
I pretty much eat all organic fruit and vegetables, unless someone else has made dinner for me.

My next step is to rethink the way I buy my articles of clothing.
My group is currently doing an awareness project on the real facts on cotton, and how unsustainable it is on our planet. My new goal is to be more cautious on the way I spend my money on clothing.

I also need to work on lessening my consumption on eating meat. I really don't like the taste of tofu, but I know I need to work on trying new things. I'll start by purchasing a vegetarian cook book and start experimenting and let you know how I'm doing an post some favorite recipes.