Image by Atli Haroarson / Creative Commons

For 42 years Earth Days have come and gone. What makes this one any different? To start, today there are more than 22,000 Earth Day Network partners in 192 countries participating in the Earth Day mobilization movement. In addition, more than 1 billion people around the world will be taking part in this year’s Earth Day activities and events.

All in all, Earth Day is a great way for the people of earth to join together in a common purpose to “help Mobilize the Earth™”. It is one day when “People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection.”

I, for one, am all behind doing that because I truly enjoy certain aspects of this planet and I want my children and their children to be able to enjoy them too. Unfortunately, after Earth Day is over, many people are going to go right back to their “normal” non environmentally-friendly habits and routines.

There are a few actions, here and there, that will seep in. Actions that people will take home with them. One of the simplest things EVERY person on the planet can do though, is to pledge to do an act of green. I don’t mean you should make a one time pledge, but rather a pledge to do an act of green that you can continue to do each and every day throughout the year. Here are some examples of pledges you can make this Earth Day:

• Reduce your food waste. (Tip: It all starts with planning)
• Plant and maintain a vegetable or herb garden.
• Plant a tree.
• Set your thermostat to save on energy costs associated with running your air conditioning (recommended is 78 when you’re at home and 85 when you are away).
• Save water. Try these 10 simple ways to conserve water.
• Make more fresh, local and organic meals at home.
• Go for a walk every day.
• Help keep your park and neighborhood clean.
• Donate your unused clothes and household items.
• Carpool or take public transportation at least once a week.
• Switch to natural cleaning supplies to clean your home.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. Here are a few more energy-saving tips that will also help you get through Spring and into Summer. (I know it feels like Summer here already.)

It all starts with making one simple pledge, one simple change in your life and lifestyle. Then this time next year you’ll be a lot further along and you’ll probably find your simple “act of green” has become the new normal.

Almost 993,000,000 people have pledged to do an act of green this Earth Day. What act of green are you pledging to do this Earth Day and beyond?

Image by Alex Healing / Creative Commons

With the recent earthquakes we’ve been experiencing and hearing about in the news, I thought it would be a good opportunity to touch on whether or not global warming, or climate change, could be contributing to the seemingly increased quake activity and how we can be prepared in case of an earthquake.

Now to start off, you’ve probably heard about the recent magnitude 8.6 earthquake off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, followed by an 8.2 aftershock.

Image from USGS

You also may have heard about the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Mexico that could be felt all the way to Mexico City. Did you hear about the magnitude 5.9 earthquake off the coast of Oregon? And what about the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Gulf of California? How about this morning’s 6.0 in Iwaki, Japan or the 5.7 in Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Mexico? Just take a look at the number of earthquakes that are happening on a daily basis. This graph is a clear indication of the location, magnitude and frequency of earthquakes around the world over the past five years.

Accordingly to the USGS, and as of this writing, there have been more than 7099 earthquakes in the last 30 days alone. In the past seven days over 280 of those earthquakes were magnitude 2.5 or greater.

But if you take a look at the graphs below, you’ll see that we are not experiencing any dramatic increase in seismic activity, especially from larger magnitude earthquakes. In fact, the USGS states:

“We continue to be asked by many people throughout the world if earthquakes are on the increase. Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant.”

That means there is no real indication that global warming, climate change, or any other significant man-made factor is triggering more earthquakes. Not to say those things aren’t contributing factors to the stress of the planet, or that they won’t be a significant contributing factor in the future, but at this point none of them are THE factor behind earthquakes.

The fact is that the planet is billions of years old, spinning through space, with an inner core reaching temperatures of up to 9800°F. The Earth is constantly changing. Of course, with more than 7 billion people inhabiting the planet, we are bound to have some kind of an impact on those changes.

That is why it is important to take care of this planet, because it’s the only one we’ve got right now. Earthquakes will continue to happen though, regardless, so while we take actions to reduce, reuse, recycle and care for the Earth, we also need to ensure we are prepared for when those earthquakes do happen.

The USGS recommends you have these supplies on hand in case of an earthquake. Here are also a few other eco-friendly items you might want to have in your earthquake kit. If you have pets, don’t forget to have a pet survival kit for them as well. Your pets will have needs, as you will, so it is important to be prepared to care for them. Just in case, you might want to get a waste bag kit and some poo powder too. You never know how long you’re going to be without standard amenities after an earthquake.

When it all comes down to it, while global warming may not be triggering more earthquakes, earthquakes are going to continue happening, so are other natural disasters. The important thing is to be prepared. Are you prepared? If not, what are you waiting for?

Image by Craig Mayhew and Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC / Creative Commons

Saturday, March 31st at 8:30pm marks Earth Hour 2012. Will you be there? Will you be joining in? Will you be going dark for an hour to show that when we, as individuals, ban together we can make a difference? Well…I will if you will.

First of all, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Earth Hour started back in 2007 as a way to show parents, kids, entrepreneurs, employees, businesses, politicians, governments and others that we can make a difference and change the world we live in. Last year, hundreds of millions of people, in more than 5000 cities and towns, in over 135 countries across the globe participated in Earth Hour.

Although Earth Hour is only for one hour, it gives the world a chance to unite under one common purpose to fight man-made global warming and climate change.

No matter what your views are on climate change or whether or not you feel mankind plays a role in global warming, you probably have noticed that things are continuously changing on this planet we live on. Knowing that, it is kind of hard to argue with the fact that there are changes we too could make to lessen the impact, so to speak.

This year’s Earth Hour is a little different however, because in addition to joining the millions and millions of people around the globe who will be turning their lights off at 8:30pm on Saturday, March 31st, people around the world are daring others to make a difference that goes beyond Earth Hour.

Take a look at this challenge from supermodel and Earth Hour global ambassador, Miranda Kerr:

Then there is this one from Australian actress, Isabel Lucas:

This one comes from Guinness World Record holder, base-jumper, Heather Swan:

Here’s another one, this time from foodie, environmental writer, wine enthusiast and a personal friend, Jerry James Stone:

Go here to take a look at some of the other challenges and then either accept one of the “I will if you will” challenges to go beyond one simple hour and do something that will make a difference., or upload your own challenge. As WWF says “Do something awesome for the environment. Get something awesome in return.”

Even the kids can get involved! The Lorax says he’s going to change his moustache green for a whole day if at least 500 children promise to turn their lights off during Earth Hour. And as The Lorax tells us, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

I look forward to seeing some of the other challenges. If you have a good “I will if you will” challenge either share it in the comments below or send it to me on Twitter so I can retweet it for you. Remember to use the #earthhour hashtag when you do. And remember to spread the word.

In this day and age, finding ways to lower our environmental impact are front and center not only in the minds of individuals around the world, but at the state, federal and international level as well. In fact, actions are being taken across the globe to combat the impact we are having on the environment by improving sustainability worldwide.

One of the first steps designers, builders, home owners and others can take is to get educated on, and learn more about the sustainability options that are available. Sustainability comes in many shapes and sizes, so we can all take measures to improve our quality of life, make us less dependent on the finite resources the Earth offers, and make us more independent and self-reliant.

In order to provide a little inspiration for those who are interested in living a little more sustainably, here are some examples of creative sustainable homes:

1 – This first one is a zero-energy home designed by LivingHome and priced with a single couple or small family in mind. It is officially known as the C6, and a portion of the proceeds from each sale go towards supporting “Make It Right“. The best thing about it? The fact that it is easy to build and is “the first Energy Star certified production home with a LEED Platinum level environmental program” makes this home quite a winner. Here is a video of the installation of the Home Depot LivingHome C6 in Long Beach:

2 – This next sustainable living project is titled “Containers of Hope” and involves the use of 40-foot shipping containers to build affordable and sustainable homes. One of the many features that makes these homes sustainable is the incorporation of enough windows to allow the home to have a refreshing level of natural light and a connection to the great outdoors.

Image from benjamingarciasaxe.com

3 – This is one of my favorite ones. It comes from urban designer and architect, Mitchell Joachim, and it involves growing your own home rather than hiring a traditional contractor to build it. Just take a look at the video and you’ll see what I mean:

4 – This next one comes from Habitats Hawaii and is a cool example of sustainability in a small, comfortable and mobile fashion. With an outdoor shower and composting toilet, these types of homes may not suit everyone, but you do have to admit they are pretty cute.

5 – The “Freedom House” comes courtesy of a JMU Alum. This house is a much larger house than the previous one, however due to some key innovations it has been designed and build to be extremely efficient and free from the electric and water grids. Maybe add a living wall out back and you would be good to go.

6 – This next home was a finalist in the Queensland Premiers Climate Smart Awards of 2011. It comes from Wagtail Homes and is built to maximize solar energy, natural ventilation, energy efficiency, material selection and more. Each home is tailor-made to owner specifications and strives to be stylish, unique and most importantly, sustainable.

7 – Now, I know this is more than one home, but I read this article the other day and thought these green portable homes were just too cute to pass up. To me these seem to be designed with the traveling single or nature-loving couple in mind. Even someone who simply wanted a little change of pace could probably find at least one of these to fit their needs.

8 – This last one is from Silicon Valley. I see it as kind of a hybrid home. It has been touted as “The World’s Greenest Home” with all manner of sustainable features including solar panels, rainwater collection, natural and recycled building materials and much more. In addition, it has been fitted with a hi-tech control system geared to keep the entire house functioning smoothly and energy-efficiently.

Most people think about solar panels, rainwater harvesting, wind energy, urban gardening and more when they think about how to become more sustainable. There are, however, so many different ways homes can be made more sustainable. Homes can be built using energy-efficient bricks made from industrial waste, from home-grown mushroom bricks, from recycled materials, from natural materials like seaweed, with living walls and more.

When it comes to sustainability, the possibilities are endless. I personally look forward to seeing Damien Hirst’s plans to build 500 sustainable homes in Devon come to fruition. When it all comes down to it, the key is making the decision to take that first step away from dependency and closer to independence and sustainability.

Image by Charles Cook / Creative Commons

With Google recently investing a hundred million dollars into the world’s largest wind farm, alternative energies continue to be a hot topic amongst environmentalists, businesses, corporations, governments and investors alike. Opting for a greener, more environmentally-friendly method of powering our world is something many people are actually beginning to take seriously.

Wind and solar power are two of the front-runners when it comes to alternative energy, although there are a variety of other energy sources which could prove viable. Each major source of alternative energy has not gone without its critics however, and freak accidents such as this tend to inspire people to look for safer and greener options:

Incidents like this should not discourage people from seeking out wind energy collection systems which can prove, and in some instances have proven, to be safe and environmentally-friendly. Here are a few examples where wind energy collection goes far beyond the traditional turbine:

The first is a design which was done for the Solar Parks Works – Solar Highway Competition. It is a bridge aptly titled the “Solar Wind“. The bridge consists of a solar roadway on top, for the cars to travel across, and a selection of 26 different sized turbines below, which also serve to decorate the lower portion of the bridge. This combination bridge is estimated to be able to produce enough electricity to power 15,000 homes a year.

Image from the Solar Park South Online Competition

This next wind turbine design recently won a CleanTech Open sustainability award. “Invelox” is a truly non-traditional turbine which has the appearance of a gigantic phonograph, and with its velocity increasing features, can produce 3x the power of a traditional turbine. It also has the capability to capture wind when the speeds are as slow as 2mph.

This next is an interesting idea centered around the idea of getting further off the ground in order to tap into the constant flow of the wind. Although I’m not completely sold on this particular wind energy collection system, you have to admit, it is an innovative idea.

The Gullwing Twin Wind Towers are a creative idea to combine wind collection within the structure of a building. Instead of requiring a large, empty space to place tall turbines out in the open air, the turbines are fitted to the outside of the building. Placed on circular guides, which are then moved by the strength of the wind, these turbines can then power the buildings they encircle.

Image from Giacomo Sanna’s Portfolio

The world’s first official wind tower comes from ZENA System, however. It doesn’t surround an office or residential building, but it does allow the power of the wind to be captured from any direction. Some of its key features are:

• It is a 360-degree hexagon that can capture the wind from any direction,
• It is relatively easy to maintain, thus lowers maintenance costs,
• It is 2.5x more efficient than a standard turbine, and
• It is a safe and flexible alternative energy storage system.

Image from ZENA System Co., LTD

In terms of a personal wind turbine design, this particular turbine is good for both rural and urban settings. The fact that it is relatively quiet is no longer a bonus, but a must in this day and age.

This is something I’d like to see, a solar-wind hybrid turbine. Why simply harvest wind energy when you can harvest solar energy at the same time? It is also easy to clean and maintain. Sounds like something we should see a lot of, don’t you agree?

Here is another extremely innovative wind collection system in that it not only collects wind energy and solar energy, but hydro energy as well. A trifecta if you will. Designed by JMDesign, the Skydrain is “an energy collection product that is focused on providing clean renewable energy to the existing sprawl condition and other urban sites“.

Image from JMDesign

The ideas and designs shown here go to show that the ability to come up with innovative collection methods for wind energy has gone far beyond the traditional turbine. The options are limitless. As the world leans more and more towards alternative energy sources, wind energy can and more than likely will, play a key role in our future.

Image by U.S. Army Environmental Command / Creative Commons

To many, recycling e-waste ranks right up there with going to the dentist and protecting your compost pile from marauding wildlife. But leaving a 36-inch TV on the curb really is not the best way to ensure it’s going to find a safe afterlife. E-waste is defined as televisions, computers, laptops, printers, cables, VCRs, cell phones, copiers, fax machines, stereos, and electronic games. If this goes into a landfill, its toxic component goes into our water table. In many states, such as California, it is illegal to place your e-waste in with the regular trash. So how to ensure our electronics are being disposed of in a responsible manner?

You can sell your electronics to recyclers via the web. Sites such as Gazelle.com will buy your old electronics off you, compensating you by Paypal. Gazelle allows you to donate your proceeds to charity. Other companies doing similar work are Nextworth.com, which allows you to recycle your electronics for cash. YouRenew.com does the same for your “old” iPods, mp3 player and more.

But what if your product is broken or otherwise unusable? You can find a responsible recycler from e-Stewards who will make sure it is disposed without harm to developing nations. Sometimes, old products are shipped to developing nations, where they are dismantled without concern for workers and communities absorbing the toxic materials from the products. This leads to a chain of waste containing PVCs, lead, mercury, and solvents, all which poison communities, workers, and ultimately, the planet.

Finally, feeling altruistic? You can always drop your e-waste at your area Best Buy. The giant chain of electronic stores offers up a substantial electronics recycling program at store locations through a program of responsible recycling. Give them your tired, your poor, your huddled 2003 iPods, yearning to breathe free. Best Buy will take them. Here’s a complete list of what Best Buy will accept into their e-waste program.

Want to learn more about e-waste? Check out Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Electronics”. In this clip, Leonard explains the “design for the dump,” or when companies design our electronics to be thrown away quickly into our landfills.

Many thanks to Katherine Butler (whose regular articles and posts can be found on MNN, EcoSalon, and 89.3KPCC) for this timely guest post. With the holidays approaching and the possibility that Santa, or maybe a loved one, will bring you one or more of the latest electronic gadgets, now is the perfect time to recycle your existing e-waste.

Image by Stu Smith / Creative Commons

Thanksgiving is upon us. While some consider the day as a holiday to take time off work, enjoy a hearty meal, and spend time with family, Thanksgiving can and does mean so much more. With the state of the world, and the environment in the condition it is currently in, why don’t you take a little time and green up your day. Here are a few tips for greening your Thanksgiving:

Image by Lori Ann / Creative Commons

1) Opt for fresh food and avoid the canned goods. BPA is found in the lining of many canned products. Why put you and your family at risk of BPA exposure, when you can have better tasting and healthier food by going fresh? Let’s face it, BPA is an uninvited Thanksgiving guest.

2) Cut down on food waste by making less food in the first place. I know there are a lot of people who dream of tables filled with turkey, rolls, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce, gravy, salad, and other foods, when they think of Thanksgiving. But take a moment and think about how the table traditionally looks AFTER the big meal. Is there a lot of food left over? If you actually need all that food, then fine, but the key is not letting any of it go to waste (or is that not letting it go to your waist). Either way, take a look at some of these facts on food waste if you need help cutting down.

3) Give up the traditional holiday candles, that are commonly known to cause indoor air pollution, and opt for more environmentally-friendly candles. If you want to use candles to add to your holiday atmosphere, that is fine, but it is safer to use beeswax or soy candles. Indoor air pollution is a problem most people are unaware of or ignore. Learn more about indoor air pollution and candles before you add candles to your holiday decor.

Image by Sheena Carmichael / Creative Commons

4) Remember to air out your home the natural way. Over the holidays, homes can get stuffy and dry. Opening the windows and letting some fresh air in will help let the indoor air pollution out. Don’t forget to also turn your thermostat down. There is no reason to pay to heat your home when your guests will generate additional warmth. Natural heat/air is better for the environment anyway.

5) For those of you who like to drink a little wine during the holidays, check out some of these inexpensive, eco-friendly wines for Thanksgiving.

Image by V Miramontes / Creative Commons

6) Take steps to reduce, reuse, and recycle over Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. According to the EPA, the volume of U.S. household waste increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Here are some tips to help you recycle, reduce and reuse.

Image by Russ / Creative Commons

I hope that each of you will be able to incorporate at least one, or more, of the above tips during the holidays. They are simple things designed to help you green your Thanksgiving and your life. Then keep in mind, there are so many people and things to be thankful for in this world. Let each of us do our part to show our gratitude through our actions, not just words.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

Image by Jaine / Creative Commons

Although November 15th, 2011 is the official America Recycles Day, there are actions each of us can take every day of the year to increase recycling and reduce waste. You are probably already aware of the importance of recycling and why it is better for the environment. Maybe you even take steps now and again to recycle. The question is…how can you contribute today, right now, to the recycling movement?

Here are 5 easy ways to contribute on America Recycles Day:

1) Take the America Recycles Day pledge: New Year’s resolutions, personal declarations, and all manner of decisions start with a pledge. Pledging you will do something is one of the first steps towards reaching your goal.

2) Get yourself a recycling bin: Think about it. Whether large or small, a recycling bin serves to remind you, on a daily basis, that you should recycle certain items rather than trash them.

3) Get educated: Learning what can and cannot be recycled is key. There are many things people throw away which could in fact be recycled. Take a few minutes and get yourself educated.

4) Switch from disposables to reusables: Go through your home and find one-use, disposable items. Figure out what reusable items you could use instead and use those. In other words, instead of grabbing a bottle of water, grab a reusable water bottle. Instead of using paper towels to wipe up every kitchen mess, use a washable rag.

5) Reduce your waste: The best way to reduce waste is to not buy as much in the first place. This is a key point, especially with the holidays coming up. Why buy tons of new things, just to have them lying around, when you can reuse existing items or buy/trade to get gently used items.

As americarecyclesday.org says:

“One day to educate. One day to motivate. One day to make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year. Get Involved!”

What steps do you take to recycle or contribute to generating less waste? Even the little actions add up quickly and can make a big difference. So, in honor of America Recycles Day, take a few minutes and make a decision to change how you think about recycling.

Image by Paul Swansen / Creative Commons

Every week I run across environmental and green articles that catch my attention for one reason or another. This week I came across a number of recycling articles that I thought were worth sharing. So, without further ado, here is the recycling edition of the Weekly Greens:

1) 10 Things You Never Dreamed You Could Recycle: Most people recycle at least one or two items on a regular basis. Some toss their bottles and cans in recycling bins, while others have and use an at-home recycling container. Here are a few things you may not realize you can recycle.

2) New Merger of Recycling Pioneers Holds Promise for a Greener Future: It looks like Recyclebank and Greenopolis have joined forces in order to raise consumer awareness about recycling, and spark innovative ideas which could take recycling technology up to a whole new level.

3) Get Creative! 5 Easy, Inexpensive DIY Decorating Ideas: There is more than one way to recycle items. Even at home you can recycle, or reuse, items in order to make inexpensive decorations. Not everything needs to be purchased new. Some of the best decorating ideas come from recycle items and giving them new life!

4) The Caesars Foundation Brings Clean the World Recycling Center to Las Vegas with $150,000 Grant: It looks like many of those Las Vegas hotel room soaps and hygiene products are going to begin making their way to a new recycling center for non-profit Clean the World. The non-profit organization works to save lives by providing hygiene education and products to those in need.

5) Leading Brands to Pilot New Recycling Label in 2012: The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has come up with a new label to more clearly show consumers how a product is to be recycled after it has been used. Costco, Microsoft, Seventh Generation and other leading brands have all committed to using the new labels on select products.

6) Turning Bras Into Fuel: Well, it looks like Japanese underwear makers are finding a better option for women who would rather not have their bras left sitting in a landfill somewhere. Why not turn them into fuel…of course.

7) Next Ford Escape to Use Recycled Plastic Bottles for Carpeting: Although there is no mention of Ford using bras, or any other underwear for fuel in their Ford Escape, they have reported they will be using plastic. The next generation Escape will have 25 recycled bottles in the carpeting of each vehicle. And that’s just one of their many innovative recycling ideas.

Image by COP10 Japan / Creative Commons

These various articles go to show how many different ways and ideas there are for recycling. It is not just about taking your bottles, cans and newspapers to the recycling center anymore. There is so much more that can and is being done. What steps are you taking to recycle?

Image by Lida Rose / Creative Commons

Believe it or not, autumn is here and the year is almost 3/4 of the way over. With school back in, work piling up and holidays looming on the horizon, it may be hard to keep up on the latest news. Even some of the most interesting green viewpoints and articles may be missed completely in favor of other news or work.

So, in honor of Autumn showing its face, let’s get right into this week’s weekly greens:

1) Going green and getting EVERYwhere: Every green step you take makes a difference. Whether it makes a difference in your own life, in the life of your family, your friends, your neighbors or the world around you, each step makes a difference. It is the combined efforts of everyone which will bring about a broad change.

2) Plan B: A Roadmap for Stabilizing the Climate: Plan B is a movement set out to stabilize both population and climate. It is geared towards cutting carbon dioxide emissions, stabilizing population, eradicating poverty, and restoring the Earth’s natural systems.

3) Moving Planet: In case you missed it, Moving Planet was yesterday. Organized as a worldwide day to move beyond fossil fuels, there were over 2000 events in 175 different countries. Take a look at the photos, videos and demands for the future of the planet and its people. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to keep things moving forward.

4) How Biomimicry Drives Sustainability: From Fish-Inspired Wind Turbines to the Future of 3-D Printing (Video): The numbers of inventions and innovations that have been inspired by nature may astound you. But why not use nature as a guide? If you are looking for sustainable ideas, you don’t need to look far. Here are 15 of the coolest cases of biomimicry.

5) Worldwide Car Free Day was September 22nd: Did you participate? If not, have you ever considered getting out of your car and opting for a different, hopefully more environmentally-friendly mode of transportation? Even if you decide to opt for public transportation, ride your bike or even walk 1 to 2 days a week, it can make a difference.

6) Autumn is leaf-raking season!: Even though we know this time of year is the time when the leaves change colors and litter the ground as far as the eye can see, times are changing. Raking isn’t the chore it once was. Leaves can provide a lot of nourishment to your garden and should be USED in all their natural beauty.

7) Canadian Study Shows Geothermal Potential at One Million Times Current Energy Demand: Think about it…one million times the current energy demand. That’s a lot of energy. Even if only 40 percent can currently be extracted, don’t you think it’s worth further research and investment?

Well, there you have it. Although it’s just a drop in the environmental bucket for the week, if you’re looking for more green and eco-friendly news, you can follow me on Twitter. Until then, have a wonderful, biofriendly day and week ahead.