CT Green Scene

Vermont: Not As Green As You Might Think

In a New York Times op-ed article posted on September 28th, it was reported that a wind turbine project meant to impact the effects of global warming will essentially do more harm than good. The project will not only destroy the existing eco-system around it but the electricity generated from it will not even significantly reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions. So, is this a green-gone-bad situation?

Read the excerpt below:

The Not-So-Green Mountains
By STEVE E. WRIGHT
Published: September 28, 2011

Craftsbury, Vt.---Bulldozers arrived a couple of weeks ago at the base of the nearby Lowell Mountains and began clawing their way through the forest to the ridgeline, where Green Mountain Power plans to erect 21 wind turbines, each rising to 459 feet from the ground to the tip of the blades.

This desecration, in the name of “green” energy, is taking place in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom on one of the largest tracts of private wild land in the state. Here and in other places — in Maine and off Cape Cod, for instance — the allure of wind power threatens to destroy environmentally sensitive landscapes.
Erecting those turbines along more than three miles of ridgeline requires building roads — with segments of the ridgeline road itself nearly half as wide as one of Vermont’s interstate highways — in places where the travel lanes are now made by bear, moose, bobcat and deer.

It requires changing the profile of the ridgeline to provide access to cranes and service vehicles. This is being accomplished with approximately 700,000 pounds of explosives that will reduce parts of the mountaintops to rubble that will be used to build the access roads.

It also requires the clear-cutting on steep slopes of 134 acres of healthy forest, now ablaze in autumn colors. Studies have shown that clear-cutting can lead to an increase in erosion to high-quality headwater streams, robbing them of life and fouling the water for downstream residents, wild and human.

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of thefutureofthings.com.

Toxic Chemicals in Common Laundry Products

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

The most common, name brand laundry detergents contain toxic chemicals. Some of the ingredients are even considered carcinogenic. And they don’t even have to be listed on the label of ingredients, according to Dr. Anne Steinemann of the University of Washington. (See a previous article on this site about toxins found in detergents and health and beauty products.)

Dr. Steinemann did two separate studies on the toxicity of laundry detergents. The first study was published in 2008 after she analyzed three laundry products: a laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheet and three common air fresheners. She found that about 100 volatile organic substances were given off by the products she studied and that none were listed on the products’ labels. She also stated that the fragrances of such products, including fragrances used in cosmetics, tend to cause the most problems for people's health. What's more, they aren’t required to be listed on the label.

Low Carbon Fun - Discover Hartford CT Parks Bike/Walk Tour 2011

Hartford, Connecticut – Saturday, October 22^nd, 2011 – Live Hartford’s bicycling and parks legacies.  Road, mountain, commuter, comfort, hybrid, racing, touring, single speed, hardtail, 3- speed, banana, cargo, whatever you pedal.  This is a fun loving urban parks tour - not a race. 10, 15, 25, and 40 mile bike tours will remind some of the routes of the 1990’s Hartford Parks Bike Tour but also feature miles new of riverfront trails and bike lanes.  Both guided and self-guided walks feature Hartford’s historic, architectural, and natural attractions, some free and some for free.  All routes depart and return to beautiful Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford.

Discounted online pre-registration is now open for the bike tour.  Walk tour registration is day of event only.  Remembering New York City ten years after September 11^th, and recognizing Connecticut First Responders’ service every day saving and protecting life on our roadways - complimentary day of event registration for Police, Fire, and EMT/Ambulance personnel in work shirt.

Proceeds benefit Bike Walk CT and the City of Hartford, Hartford Parks Trust Fund. “The stronger the roots, the sweeter the fruits.”

“I invite residents and visitors alike to explore and rediscover Hartford.  By touring our treasured and historic parks system, it’s easy to be in awe of the visionaries who founded our great city.  It also inspires us today to continue implementing our One City, One Plan for conservation and development as Hartford becomes a greener, grander, and choice destination,” said Mayor Pedro E. Segarra.

Bike Walk Connecticut's mission is to change the culture of transportation in Connecticut through advocacy and education by making bicycling and walking safe, feasible and attractive for a healthier and cleaner Connecticut.

Discover Hartford Tour Website – www.hartfordbiketour.org

Discover Hartford Tour Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=159052354171214

Bike Walk Connecticut – www.bikewalkct.org

City of Hartford – http://www.hartford.gov/

Hartford Parks – http://www.hartford.gov/healthyhartford/OpenSpace/OSParks.htm

Fall Happenings at the Audubon Greenwich

Audubon Greenwich ~ Nature Programs & Special Events:

Saturday, September 24 to Sunday, November 20 

 

Saturday, September 24

TRIP:  Fall Warbler Tour in Central Park, NYC

7:00 am-4:00 pm

The perfect place for birders and photographers. Central Park is renowned for good views of good birds. Travel by van from Audubon Greenwich and spend the day in this birding hot spot.   The group will get lunch in the park and while racking up a good number of species passing through on migration. Space limited. $50 per person includes handouts and round-trip transportation. RSVP to Luke Tiller (luke.tiller@gmail.com).

*****

 

Saturday, September 24

Family Pond Exploration

10:30 am-12:00 pm

Hop around the pond with Audubon staff and get up close to the tiny creatures that call the nearby pond home. All equipment will be provided.  All ages. Space limited. RSVP to Store at  203-869-5272 x221.

*****

 

Saturday, September 24

The Amazing World of Spiders

2:30-4:00 pm

Head Naturalist, Ted Gilman, will share little known insights into the world of spiders during an indoor presentation and an outdoor walk through different habitats in search for the wide variety of spiders found on this Sanctuary. $5/person. All ages. Cameras welcome. RSVP to Ted at 203-869-5272 x230.

*****

  

HawkWatch Weekend Festival & Green Bazaar

October 1 & 2
11:00 am-5:00 pm

A family-friendly, green-themed celebration of the amazing raptor migration occurring above the Audubon Greenwich center each Fall. This special event will feature kids activities, great food, eco-friendly businesses, and of course, the famous live birds of prey shows presented by “Talons: A Bird of Prey Experience”. Save the dates and please pass the word to friends in the region. Festival Admission: $7 for youth/$10 for adults (Current or new Audubon members pay only: $5 for youth / $7 for adults). National Audubon Society family memberships (just $35) will be available at the Festival Gate.  To get involved as a festival volunteer, corporate sponsor, or as an eco-friendly vendor on-site, contact Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239.

*****

 

Saturday, October 9

BIRD COUNT: The Big Sit!

Join the CT Young Birder’s Club for the “Big Sit!”- a unique international birding event founded by the New Haven Bird Club. Guests will tally every bird species that flies by a 17-foot circle during a 24-hour period. Suitable for youth and teens. All details at www.connecticutybc.wordpress.com or call Brian at 203-869-5272 x228.

*****

MOVING FAIRFIELD: RIDING FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

Fairfield is moving. On Saturday, September 24, a community bicycle ride is scheduled as part of an international day of climate action. “Moving Planet” was conceived by 350.org, a global grassroots movement founded by noted author Bill McKibben, as a rallying call for the world to move beyond fossil fuels.

Two community groups, the Fairfield Bike Walk Coalition (FWBC) and the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force (CETF), have joined forces to organize the local event, which will feature a one-hour bicycle ride. The approximately 6 mile ride will begin and end at the Farmers Market at Brick Walk, 1189-1215 Post Road in Fairfield starting at 10 a.m.

Solar a bust?

The Solyndra debacle is giving solar energy a bad name. Fossil fuel companies are jumping on the I-told-you-so bandwagon. But the reality is, solar energy has done what other industries have not: provided jobs and lots of them. The Huffington Post has two commentaries the point out that fact--one from Brian Keane, the president of SmartPower; the other by David Fenton, CEO of Fenton, Inc.

Keane's main point is that we can't ignore the numbers. Solar energy employs people in all 50 states. In the past year, solar employment grew nearly 7% while jobs for the rest of the nation grew only 0.7%. Fenton's take on it has more to do with how the homeowner can use solar to save energy and reduce their costs. In about a dozen states, you can lease solar panels at no cost and see an immediate drop in your utility bill.

Is solar really a failure, then? See the excerpts below.

New Job Growth Numbers Tell the Larger Story of Solar
Posted: 9/20/11 10:40 AM ET
By Brian Keane, President, SmartPower

"Let's face it: Solyndra wasn't a winner. But it was the company's inability to keep up with rapidly declining solar panel costs -- not its focus on clean energy technology -- that led to its demise.

Nevertheless, the associated job losses and pique of political scandal have overshadowed the real story of the U.S. solar industry. The larger picture shows that solar businesses are growing -- and creating boatloads of jobs..."

To read more, click here.

Solar Through the Looking Glass
Posted: 9/18/11 10:04 PM ET
By David Fenton, CEO, Fenton, Inc.

"The bankruptcy of one company -- Solyndra -- is being used by oil and coal company agents to portray solar electricity as a failure. It's an outrage how this story is being spun upside down while solar's success is ignored...

Ok so the government, starting under President Bush, made a bad bet on Solyndra, which was hurt precisely by the rapidly falling prices of other solar technologies. But it was only 1 percent of the DOE loan program -- every venture capitalist makes bets that fail. Meanwhile, the small government subsidies to solar have enabled booming demand and rapid price reductions. I feel like Lewis Carroll -- the world is truly upside down. Success is failure.

And dare I mention that this technology, when widely adopted, might save New York from building sea walls from climate change or save Rick Perry's state from becoming toast? And that solar creates seven times more jobs than fossil fuel investments? And that its cost can never go up, as the fuel is -- oh my goodness, another free lunch statement -- free?

Isn't it ridiculous that we let the dirty fuel propagandists have the upper hand, and that someone has to intervene to keep the discussion honest? Or maybe we should just give the Saudi Arabia of the future to China."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of www.sierraclubgreenhome.com.

The Long Revered Green Tea

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

Green tea is another big seller on the market today promoted for its effects on weight loss, cancer and the cardiovascular and nervous systems. It is also a delicious, healthy addition to the diet that was first recorded 4,000 years ago in China. The longer, healthier lives of Asian populations partially attests to their tea drinking habits.  Let’s look at both the old claims and the new research promoting this ancient herb.

Green tea comes from the same leaf as black tea, Camellia sinensis. The leaf is just not left to oxidize as black tea leaves are which allows breakdown of the pigments in the leaves, among other components. One of the things that lack of oxidation does to the leaf is allow the polyphenols, or antioxidants, to remain unprocessed. Antioxidants squelch free radical damage that promotes aging and cancer. They also help the immune system to function better.  In ancient China, green tea was thought to enhance beauty and longevity, which can be attributed to the polyphenols found therein.

Bike Share comes to NYC

Looks like the summer of 2012 will have more in store than just hot weather. Mayor Bloomberg has approved a bike share program with a company based in Portland, Ore. Now, it's just a matter of working out the details. Once implemented, it will become the largest bike share program in the country. Will it work, or will this just be one more opportunity to loot the merchandise and ruin the good green vibes?

See the excerpt from The New York Times below:

New York Chooses Company to Run Bike-Share Program
By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY
Published: September 14, 2011

"The Bloomberg administration announced Wednesday it had selected a Portland, Ore., company to run an ambitious bike-share program in New York City, but don’t break out the spandex cycling shorts just yet.

Amid unease about exactly how the city will integrate 600 rental stations and 10,000 bicycles into the crowded streets and sidewalks of New York, the official rollout date of the program has been pushed back until the summer of 2012.

Big Cats at Fairfield University

On Thursday, September 29, at 4:00 p.m., Fairfield University invites you to participate in THE BIG CATS INITIATIVE.  Esteemed wildlife photographer, Evan Schiller, will be leading a discussion about the plight of big cats around the world and will share some of his world-class,  award winning photos of endangered big cats. Come learn about the global dangers facing lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars and other members of the big cat family.

THE BIG CATS INITIATIVE is a global public awareness campaign sponsored by the National Geographic Society that supports on-the-ground conservation projects, education, and economic incentive efforts to prevent the extinction of big cats.

Date – Thursday September 29, 2011

Time – 4:00 p.m.

Location – Gonzaga Hall Auditorium (Fairfield University)

Free to the Public

Gonzaga Hall (#39) - Located across campus circle.

Use main entrance on North Benson Road.

Use parking at the Kelly Center.

For directions and campus map see below or go to: http://www.fairfield.edu/about/about_directions.html

 

Is Going Green Just Wishful Thinking?

We do all those things that we're told make a difference to our environment. Recycling, conservation, you name it. But does it make a difference, or are we just fooling ourselves? See the excerpt below from The New York Times.

Going Green but Getting Nowhere
By GERNOT WAGNER
Published: September 7, 2011

"YOU reduce, reuse and recycle. You turn down plastic and paper. You avoid out-of-season grapes. You do all the right things.

Good.

Just know that it won’t save the tuna, protect the rain forest or stop global warming. The changes necessary are so large and profound that they are beyond the reach of individual action.

You refuse the plastic bag at the register, believing this one gesture somehow makes a difference, and then carry your takeout meal back to your car for a carbon-emitting trip home.

Say you’re willing to make real sacrifices. Sell your car. Forsake your air-conditioner in the summer, turn down the heat in the winter. Try to become no-impact man. You would, in fact, have no impact on the planet. Americans would continue to emit an average of 20 tons of carbon dioxide a year; Europeans, about 10 tons...

So why bother recycling or riding your bike to the store? Because we all want to do something, anything. Call it “action bias.” But, sadly, individual action does not work. It distracts us from the need for collective action, and it doesn’t add up to enough. Self-interest, not self-sacrifice, is what induces noticeable change. Only the right economic policies will enable us as individuals to be guided by self-interest and still do the right thing for the planet.

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of mindingthecampus.com.

Big Crop Loss from Hurricane Irene

by Eileen Weber

If nothing else makes it clear how difficult and tenuous farming is, the after-effects of Hurricane Irene should be a wake-up call. With 10 inches of rain or more, thousands of acres of crops were lost to flooding in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and western portions of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The vegetable delivery from my own CSA, Stoneledge Farm in South Cairo, NY, has been shut down for the rest of the season. With some portions of their crops under as much as 10 feet of water, the FDA declared it—along with produce from a number of other farms—a food safety risk and inedible.

“As much as we would like to keep delivering, our farm will abide with the FDA, NYS Ag and Markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension recommendation not to harvest the produce,” Stoneledge Farm posted on their blog. “Our farm needs to start to clean up and get back on track for next season. At the height of the harvest season, it is a difficult decision.”

Where are the green jobs?

In yesterday's New York Times, David Brooks' Op-Ed takes a look at jobs in the green industry. What in years past has been considered a market for growth, it is now just viewed as a disappointment. The Obama administration has been abysmal in keeping those promises made about growing green jobs, and many are angered by it. His approval rating has yet once again hit another low. (According to The Atlantic, his rating is over 50% and not the first time he's been in a slump.) Not a good sign going into the next election. Should we stop looking at this industry as the Great Green Hope? See the excerpt below:

Where the Jobs Aren’t
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: September 5, 2011

"A study by McKinsey suggests that clean energy may produce jobs for highly skilled engineers, but it will not produce many jobs for U.S. manufacturing workers. Gordon Hughes, formerly of the World Bank and now an economist at the University of Edinburgh, surveyed the landscape and concluded: “There are no sound economic arguments to support an assertion that green energy policies will increase the total level of employment in the medium or longer term when we hold macroeconomic conditions constant.”

Many of the most celebrated green tech companies are foundering despite lavish public support. Evergreen Solar, the recipient of tens of millions of dollars in state support, moved its manufacturing facility to China before filing for bankruptcy protection.

The U.S. Department of Energy poured $535 million in loans into Solyndra, a solar panel maker backed by George Kaiser, a major Democratic donor.

The Government Accountability Office discovered that Solyndra had been permitted to bypass required steps in the government loan guarantee process. The Energy Department’s inspector general criticized the department for not maintaining e-mails that discussed how the loan guarantee winners were chosen.

Late last month, Solyndra announced that it was ceasing operations, laying off its 1,100 employees. The Department of Energy placed the wrong bet, potentially losing the taxpayers half-a-billion dollars.

All of this is not to say that the government shouldn’t be doing what it can to promote clean energy. It is to say that the government isn’t very good when it tries to directly create private-sector jobs."

Click here to read more.

Image courtesy of www.thevividedge.com.

Coconuts, Part 3: Eco-friendliness of Coconut Trees

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

In parts one and two of my series on coconuts, I introduced you to two of the ways coconuts are said to improve your health. In this part three of the series, I will tell you how coconut trees are extremely eco-friendly and economical.

Coconut trees are found mostly in the tropics as they need to be in full sunlight and have lots of water.  They are called “Trees of Life” in the Philippines because so many of their parts can be used in daily life.

For consumption as food, the following can be obtained from coconuts:

• Coconut water
• Coconut milk
• Coconut oil
• Coconut sap (a great sugar substitute!)
• Honey
• an alcoholic beverage called Arrack
• Heart of Palm

For use in daily life, the following can be obtained from coconuts:

• Rope
• Brooms
• Timber
• Furniture/House ornamentation
• Fuel
• Gardening
• Hair & skin cosmetics
• Paper

The above uses of the whole coconut tree are how it’s been used for thousands of years in the Pacific Islands. What makes the trees even more amazing is how they will be used in the future.

One company, Whole Tree, Inc., is finding ways to use the discarded products of coconut farming to make packaging products. Another company is researching ways to make car parts that are both eco-friendly and help indigent coconut farmers in Asia and the South Pacific.  It has also been used as a biofuel in the Pacific Islands, though that might not be environmentally or economically beneficial in the long run if used worldwide.  

Overall, the coconut tree is an amazing work of nature.  The whole tree can be used to support life both inside the body and in its surroundings.  More research needs to be done in both these areas to make the most of this extraordinary tree.