We CAN Be Green

#Green News: Organic Dairy Farmers In Trouble: Twitter Nation To The Rescue

According to this article in the NY Times, American organic dairy farmers are facing an uncertain future due to rising organic feed costs, the recession and American families cutting costs wherever they can. Nationwide, organic dairy farmers have been told to reduce production by 20% and many others have been forced to shut down.

This is truly a shame as most farmers who converted to organic farms had to spend around $500,000 to do so. These farmers are now heavy in debt with their cash flow down significantly. Where is the bailout for those that were doing something good for our country and our environment? Since our government will not do it, I am calling on Twitter Nation.  It is quite simple and falls in line with doing one small thing to help our environment.  I am calling on all of Twitter to go out this weekend and the next 10 weekends and buy one gallon of organic milk for your family.  It should only cost you about $2 more a week...If you will have trouble swinging that, skip that trip to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks.

What do you say Twitter Nation?

Follow me @jaygregory

#Green News: NRDC Emergency Contribution Request to Save Polar Bears

I just received the following email from NRDC asking for emergency donations.  Please, if you have the means, make a donation today.

Dear Jason,

I have to share bad news. We have been hoping that the Obama Administration would come to the polar bear's rescue by reversing the Bush Administration's "polluters first" policy on polar bear protection.

But instead, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has just cut the polar bear's lifeline. He adopted a Bush policy that refuses to use vital Endangered Species Act protections to save the polar bear from the deadliest threat it faces -- global warming pollution, a danger made even worse by rampant Arctic oil development.

Letting these loopholes stay in place is like sending a leaky lifeboat to save drowning polar bears. It simply won't protect them -- and may even accelerate their rapid slide toward extinction.

That's why I'm asking you to give an emergency contribution to help NRDC fight this dangerous and illegal plan in court. We simply must have your support if we are to win uncompromising protection for the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act.

I'm sure you share my disappointment that the Obama Administration -- which has launched the most ambitious green energy program in history -- would allow polar bears to suffer and die by embracing this throwback to Bush's pro-polluter agenda.

And I'm sure you agree we must not let this disastrous plan go unchallenged -- especially since the Obama Administration has pledged to base its environmental policies on solid science.

We're fighting in federal court to overturn this Bush-era policy and compel the Obama Administration to throw polar bears a strong lifeline. But to wage and win this life-or-death case, we need your emergency donation right away.

Thanks to your past support, we've come so far in our campaign to save the polar bear. As a result of three years of legal pressure -- and our grassroots Polar Bear S.O.S. campaign -- the Bush Administration was forced to protect the polar bear as a "threatened species."

But that protection is NOT enough to save polar bears from extinction unless the Obama Administration closes these disastrous loopholes for global warming polluters and oil companies.

Without uncompromising protection, the polar bear is likely to become extinct in Alaska by 2050 -- along with two-thirds of the world's entire polar bear population -- as the Arctic sea ice it depends on for survival melts away.

I'm counting on you to make an emergency contribution for the sake of polar bear survival.

Right now, as the Arctic summer sea ice retreats, polar bears will be forced to swim ever greater distances in search of food -- and more are likely to drown. These magnificent Arctic creatures deserve the strongest protection our country can provide -- and your support can help NRDC win it for them.

Thank you for helping us answer the polar bear's S.O.S.

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

P.S. Please give your most generous emergency gift now -- because NRDC's fight in federal court is the last and best line of defense for the polar bear. We must win a swift victory -- because, otherwise, Alaska's polar bears could be wiped out by 2050!

Green Quick Tips: Energy Conservation: 5 Ways To Save Electricity #Green

Here are some easy ways to save electricity:

• Do a home energy audit

• Buy programmable thermostats

• Buy Energy Star products

• Turn lights, appliances, electronics, etc. off when you're done using them

• Change your bulbs to compact fluorescents

#Green News: EPA Announces Energy Star label for Computer Servers

On May 18, 2009, the EPA announced Energy Star requirements for computer servers that will protect the environment and result in significant energy savings. On average, computer servers that earn the Energy Star label will be 30 percent more energy efficient than standard servers. 
 
If all servers sold in the United States meet this new specification, energy cost savings would grow to $800 million per year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more 1 million vehicles.
 
Computer servers that earn the Energy Star label will include:
·         Efficient power supplies that generate less waste heat, reducing the need for excess air conditioning in the facilities where they are housed;
·         Improved power quality, which provides building-wide efficiency benefits; 
·         Capabilities to measure real time power use, processor utilization, and air temperature, which improves manageability and lowers total cost of ownership;
·         Advanced power management features to save energy across various operating states; and
·         A power and performance data sheet for purchasers that standardizes key information on energy performance, features and other capabilities.
 
Awarding the Energy Star label to computer servers is part of a broader EPA initiative to address growing national data center energy consumption. 
 
For more information on the new specification and all EPA’s data center initiatives please visit: http://www.energystar.gov/datacenters

Green Quick Tips: Reduce Pollution: #Green Commuting

As a lot of us know all too well, commuting to and from work is a fact of life.  However, there are ways to reduce our effect on the environment.

• Use public transportation
• Carpool
• Walk
• Bike
• Work from home, if possible

How do you reduce your commute's effect on the environment?

#Green Tips: Everyday Living: Greening up the BBQ

With the grilling season upon us, I wanted to see how I could green up my BBQ.  Aside from going meatless, which I am not ready to do, one of the most common suggestions was to use a propane grill instead of charcoal. If you can't resist charcoal, choose natural charcoal that doesn't contain coal, fillers or chemicals.

According to Treehugger, 63% of backyard BBQs in the U.S. use briquettes, but using them results in 105 times more carbon monoxide than if you cooked it on a propane grill.  When lit, briquettes also give off harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which lessens air quality.

What suggestions do you have to green up the BBQ this summer?

Green Product Review: OrganiGoGo.com Organic T-Shirts

OrganiGoGo, an online shop that sells all-organic apparel with eco-awareness themes created by independent artists committed to environmental issues, made its debut on April 11, 2009. Jean Roth, founder and graphic designer, says that OrganiGoGo's mission is three-fold. "One, I wanted to showcase a wide variety of designs that address a range of environmental issues, unlike so many online organic apparel shops that are limited in artistic scope. Two, I wanted all the clothing to be certified organic; and three, I wanted OrganiGoGo to be a viable economic opportunity for fellow designers at this difficult time."

The T-shirts on OrganiGoGo are largely from Econscious, whose t-shirts are made in factories that have been certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and American Apparel, whose Sustainable Edition is 100% USDA certified organic cotton.

For my review, I selected the Grow My Own Organic T-Shirt in size large. My first impression was WOW! I loved the simple but very effective design. I could also tell that high quality certified organic cotton was used in its creation; this is no flimsy mass produced shirt.

 

Although the price ($31.99) may turn some people off, you get what you pay for. This shirt should definitely be able to withstand frequent use and washing. Not to mention it should turn some heads and help get the Grow Your Own message out.

OrganiGoGo, has about 13 causes/themes to browse including Save Planet, Going Organic, Alternative Energies and Kid's Picks. The site is packed with original and inspiring designs created by independent artists who care about green issues.

For more information on OrganiGoGo, please visit http://www.organigogo.com/about.php.

You can follow the founder of OrganiGoGo, Jean Roth, on Twitter @JRotem and myself @JayGregory.

Green Quick Tip: Reduce Waste: Reusable Containers: #green

Instead of using plastic bags or plastic wrap for school or work lunches, use reusable containers for sandwiches and other items that do not need to be heated up.

Green Quick Tip: Use Less Water: #green

Use less water by taking showers instead of baths, fix leaky pipes and faucets, and turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth (teach your kids this too!).  Also, buy efficient fixtures,like this showerhead.