CT Green Scene

My Favorite Green & Health-Promoting Apps

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

I don’t know what I would do without my iPhone. It helps me to stay organized and easily allows me to stay up to date with all my interests. But one of my favorite ways to use the phone is by using the amazing apps that make being environmentally friendly and healthier that much easier. I am not in any way an app expert, but as someone trying to make the world a better place, these are my favorites of the ones I’ve found.
 

1. The Greenpeace app isn’t a tool for better green living per se, but it is adorable and they have a news feed. And every download supports Greenpeace, which works for me!
2. The Dirty Dozen app from the Environmental Working Group is fantastic. The EWG did research on which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticide residues on them and which have the least. The “Dirty Dozen” are the produce they recommend buying organically whereas the “Clean 15” are the ones you can buy conventionally.
3. The Seafood Watch app helps you identify which are the most eco-friendly sources of fish to eat. You can search by location, ie the Northeastern U.S., then look up which fish are the most environmentally friendly, which are good alternatives and the types of fish that should be avoided. They also have a sushi guide within the app and important news about ocean conservation.
4. The GoodGuide is another tool not to live without. It allows you to scan or search products to see how healthy and environmentally friendly the company and its product is.
5. Green Smoothies are one of my favorite meals--and Victoria Boutenko’s app is based on her many years of teaching and research on the benefits of eating them. This app has good recipes and gives information about each ingredient she recommends.
6. As I avoid Food Additives whenever I shop, I don’t really need a list telling me which to avoid, but it does come in handy to help identify something I can’t figure out. It also tells you when an additive is banned in other countries, which I find interesting.
7. Animal Free lets you scan and search items letting you know if the products have ingredients that are derived from animals.  
8. The TreeHugger app is great for keeping you on top of environmental news. It also helps you to find local places to recycle.

I also just read about an app that is becoming available in March called EcoSpeed. It helps by telling you the best speed based on your car and driving habits to conserve the most fuel. I will look forward to trying that one out.
 

Using smart phones to be healthier and more environmentally responsible is an extraordinary use of technology and I for one am grateful for it!

Image courtesy of Wired.com. 

The Clean Plate Club

by Eileen Weber

Whenever I take the kids out to a family restaurant, they never finish their meal. Sure, we can take it home and have it for lunch the next day. But too often, our plates are cleared and taken to the kitchen where the leftovers are thrown in the trash. That’s a waste of food and money.

LeanPath, an organization founded in 2004, has developed special software for big and small operations alike to track how much food is going out the door. For large food operations, there is an automated system with a touch-screen terminal called ValuWaste that tracks food on a 24-hour basis. This is ideal for high-volume foodservice operations. But for smaller restaurants, caterers, and other companies, LeanPath’s PC-based WasteLOGGER tracks the food in the same way as the ValuWaste but on a smaller scale.

Why Wait? E-Cycle Now!

by Margaret Bota
 
On January 1, 2011, there will be a disposal ban for all e-waste in Connecticut. This means that you will no longer be able to throw your e-waste in the trash. Why have a restriction like this? Because too many people are dumping their electronics in the garbage. But the good news is we don't have to. Environmentally conscious citizens and businesses unite! E-cycle now!
 
The State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) plans to implement the bill for four years. While still in progress, this bill will do two things: Ban all covered electronic devices (CEDs) larger than a pager from landfills and incinerators; Change the way companies and consumers will dispose of their e-waste.
 
The reason for this ban is that lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants are among the toxins in e-waste. When these electronics become obsolete at the end of life (EOL), they can cause waste problems if not properly managed.

Green Gas

by Eileen Weber

For every car ride, bus trip, or vacation par avion, we expel greenhouse gases from fossil fuels into the air. We are heavily dependent on foreign oil. We still use coal as a source of power. We have irreparably changed our climate as a result.

But according to a Washington Post article dated October 20, 2008, there are some companies that are trying to make a difference. Alternative fuels such as ethanol derived from corn or diesel derived from algae are taking center stage.

But fuels based on crops like corn have their own environmental price tag. The farming process of those “macro-crops” uses fossil fuels to get the job done.

Companies like Florida-based PetroAlgae are working hard to find a sustainable solution to the problem. They produce “micro-crops” of algae that are broken down into a fuel source and a protein base. The product can be used to fire up a 747 or it can be extracted as a protein filler for animal feed. And who knows? Rich in amino acids, you may find these protein isolates in your next strawberry smoothie some day.

The crops are environmentally safe and sustainable. They are grown in raised pools with no toxic run-off. Almost all of the water that is used to irrigate the crops is recycled for the next crop. Nothing goes to waste.

According to the PetroAlgae web site, algae-based fuel is functionally identical to fossil fuels. And since the algae micro-crops consume twice their body weight in CO2, they’re carbon neutral as well.

Wants vs. Needs: What's the Diff?

by Heather Burns-DeMelo

About once a year I have to work hard to fight off a hankrin' (yes, I lived in Ohio for 10 years) to make a  large purchase. One year it was a new house in the country, last year it was a new Mac and this year, a spankin new Prius.

Much to my dismay, I'm incredibly crafty when it comes to excuses as to why I NEED something, but like Sheryl Crow once said, "the trick is wanting what you have, not having what you want."

Now that I'm discovering the difference between necessity and desire and facing my somewhat tenuous financial circumstances, I must confess that my recent penchant for a hybrid is not being solely fueled by a desire to cut my personal carbon emissions. In fact, as the Editors of E Magazine point out, buying a new fuel-efficient car isn't always the greenest choice.

Field Test a MINI-E

by Heather Burns-DeMelo

I can't think of a better way to usher in the New Year than to be one of the 500 lucky ducks who will test drive a MINI-E for the next 365 days. And trust me, if I had a garage, OR $850 extra bucks a month OR more cash to upgrade my electric system, I'd do it in a heart beat.

So, those of you living in the NY/NJ metro area who meet the criteria, go for it. And don't forget where you read about it--hopefully it's worth you taking me for a spin!

Beware of Nukes!

PACE is a GREAT organization to get involved in Connecticut and a wonderful resource, should you have questions and/or want to organize an effort in your neighborhood!

TerraCycle Fights Back!

Check out their website and share your support: http://www.terracycle.net/

No Emission Lawn Mower--Powered by the Sun

Right out of some high society sci-fi movie, this solar-powered lawn mower, made by Husqvarna, is a home owners' dream! No carbon emissions to feel guilty about, and it's powered by the sun and automatic--so you can sit back and relax as this gadget does the work for you.

That's a good thing, too, since this article from the Associated Press found that: "The air in hundreds (345 to be exact) of U.S. counties is simply too dirty to breathe, the government said Wednesday, ordering a multibillion-dollar expansion of efforts to clean up smog in cities and towns nationwide."

So where can you get one of these magic lawn buddies? Butler Power in CT can help!

Thule Installing Solar Power At US Headquarters in Seymour

Thule Inc., best known for its vehicle roof rack systems, will install a 318-kilowatt solar power system at its U.S. headquarters in Seymour, Connecticut.

Thule’s system will consist of two separate arrays with a total of 1,876 solar panels mounted on the rooftop of the Thule Distribution Center. The PV system will supply an estimated 324,800 kWh annually, or about 26 percent of the facility’s electrical needs.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has approved a $1.3 million grant for the project. The project is organized as a power purchase agreement with Nautilus Solar Energy acting as the system owner. Under the PPA, Thule purchases the electricity produced by the system at a fixed price below its current utility rate, and Nautilus receives federal tax incentives, rebates and renewable energy credits associated with the project.

Take your spare room off-grid

Taking my house off-grid conjures up the most luscious words: independence, freedom, self sufficiency, intelligence.  Well, Off-Grid tells us how to start with just one room using a small PV system. Anyone out there tried something like this?

 

So, you want to go off-grid? Or maybe you want to find out what it’s like before taking the plunge? How about taking one room of your house off grid? It’s a less expensive way of learning the technology, before committing yourself.

We suggest starting with a bedroom. Look around your bedroom and see what devices you have that run on electric. As I look around my room, I see one table lamp, two floor lamps, wall lamp, digital TV, Stereo, satellite box, portable dvd player, vcr, and XBox. I also have a battery powered clock, powered by rechargeables, so I’ll add the battery charger to our list. There is also a curling iron, hair dryer, and ceiling fan with lights, but we will leave those items off our list for now.

Help the Planet and Our Students: Recycle Your Cellphones!

Image via TreeHugger

The average lifespan, in months, of a cell phone in the US, according to Earthworks' Recycle My Cell Phone. At that rate, 130 million cell phones are added to the waste stream in the US every year. Worldwide, according to CNN (and noted here on TreeHugger), global mobile phone use will top 3.25 billion users in 2007. Yikes.

Well, here in Connecticut...you can do something!

During the month of May (and year-round for those of you who are interested), The Metropolitan Learning Center Class of 2013 is sponsoring a collection of old and/or unused cell phones for recycling through Phoneraiser. 

Cell phones may be dropped off at MLC, located at 1551 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT.  Cell phones can also be given to any MLC student from Bloomfield, East Windsor, Enfield, Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks.  To arrange a collection box for your company/office or for pick-up of large quantity donations, call 7th grade parent representative Laurie Prouty at (860) 212-2383 or email MLCclassof2013@aol.com.

Eco-Friendly Device Helps Industrial Vehicle Engines Clean Themselves

By Hashim Rahman

Shelton based company, Oil Purification Systems, Inc., has developed an on-board oil refining system for industrial vehicles. The system, known as the OPS-1, uses advanced technology to eliminate solid waste and liquid contaminants from lubricating oil as vehicles are operated. The device extends the intervals between oil changes, reduces the amount of oil necessary to operate the vehicles, and decreases wear and tear of engines. It is currently installed in 150 million vehicles worldwide. http://oilpursys.com 

The importance of the OPS-1 has ushered a $750,000 pledge from Connecticut Innovations http://www.ctinnovations.com, a quasi-public authority responsible for technology investment. This funding will allow Oil Purification Systems to further develop the system and market it to a broader geographic area. Other recent support has also come from the Connecticut Legislature's Environmental Committee, which approved a program that provides financial incentives for private companies and municipalities to implement OPS technology.¹ http://www.cga.ct.gov. This legislation will dramatically reduce used oil waste generated by trucks, construction equipment, buses, and other such vehicles throughout the state.

Lighting the Path with Solar and LED Technology

EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I notice occasional solar panels on roadsides, powering individual streetlamps or signs. Is any research being done to expand on this idea and implant solar collectors in roads, parking lots or sidewalks to generate power in a similar but bigger way? -- Emily Eidenier, via e-mail

The concept of using road surfaces to generate clean solar power is actually already moving beyond the idea stage. Roads absorb heat from the sun every day and are usually free of sightline obstructions that could otherwise block the transmission of light rays. And if the roads built for cars and driving are partly to blame for global warming, why not make them part of the solution too?

Idaho-based company Solar Roadways is one of the trailblazers. Electrical engineer Scott Brusaw was inspired to start the company when he heard Caltech solar energy expert Nate Lewis suggest that covering just 1.7 percent of continental U.S. land surface with photovoltaic solar collectors could produce enough power to meet the nation’s total energy demand.

Brusaw put two and two together when he realized that the interstate highway system already covers about that much of the nation’s land surface, so he got to work designing a system that combines a durable and translucent glass road surface with photovoltaic solar collectors that could be wired directly into the electricity grid. Brusaw’s innovative design would also heat the roads in winter, thus providing a important safety benefit.

Electric Cars? Cooler than You Think!

Imagine turning the key in the ignition and not hearing a sound? Or zipping around town on errands and not emitting ANY carbon! That's what it's like when driving an electric vehicle (EV). GEM (Global Electric Motorcars) are available for sale here in Connecticut for around $8,000 and they plug right into an outlet. If you're signed up for Clean Energy Options, you'll feel great about using this to run around doing errands.

The feel of the interior is similar to a VW beetle, with large windows, a sun roof and lots of light. The gas and break pedals are the same as any other car, but the noise--or lack of--is what I found most amazing.

The GEM I drove tops out at 25 mph, but is a perfect alternative to my other cars when doing errands or traveling short distances. The only hang up...while GEMS are street legal in all 50 states, you can't register them in Connecticut. Go figure. The one I drove was owned by EV proponent, John Papa. His property in New York state allows him to register his vehicle there. "It's great as a second vehicle to use instead of a SUV. The guys at the gas station love it when I drive by," Papa says.

Let's hope the guys who own the automobile industry feel the same way.

Come test drive one for yourself at the March 12th Fairfield County GreenDrinks event at iPark in Norwalk!

The Greenest Candidate???

I don't know about you all, but I'm still largely undecided about who to vote for since up until this point, neither Obama nor Clinton have proven their eco-worthiness to me. This post on Greenbang certainly perked my ears up, but the fact that Obama's campaign is LARGELY FUNDED BY THE NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY, has me convinced that he'll have our environmental problems compounded in no time flat.

Source of the following: Greenbang
As the Clinton-Obama battle heats up, (Greenbang would like to put in a shout for a televised arm-wrestle to settle the matter) Obama is going for the green vote, showing off his eco-credentials as he toured a green building specialist last week.Apparently, Obama said if he were to find himself on the business end of the Democratic nomination, he would mandate carbon caps, greener cars and grants for families for personal green efforts, as well as chucking funding towards new green tech and biofuels.

“Washington is still turning a deaf ear toward the climate crisis,” Obama said.Obama said as soon as he wins the nomination he would convene a panel of experts to start working on a new national environmental policy. He promised to make the federal government carbon neutral by 2025 and make America 50 percent more energy efficient by 2030. He said he would personally reach out to the countries with the highest carbon emissions to encourage and help them improve their environmental records.

The Case for LEDs--Are They Ready?

The Holland Tunnel plans to retrofit their lamps with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which use 90 percent LESS electricity than CFLs, but DO THEY WORK?

Let's hope so.

"December 13, 2007 -- AP -- The Holland Tunnel has gone green. Crews overnight replaced fluorescent lights with light-emitting diode units. The LEDs distribute light more efficiently, require less energy and last 15 years, compared to 1.4 years for fluorescent. More than 1,700 LED fixtures replaced some 4,000 fluorescent ones in the tunnel. Port Authority officials say they'll save $340,000 each year in energy and maintenance costs. The George Washington Bridge's "necklace" of 156 mercury vapor fixtures are to be replaced with LEDs in January."

Some argue that they technology exists, but it is not yet available in Connecticut due to those with financial interests in keeping our current energy supply in tact keeping the lid screwed down tight on the technology.

Others claim that LEDs are in fact available, but they don't work.

The point here is that no matter how the cookie crumbles, we need LED technology if we're going to satisfy our energy needs with clean and renewable sources like solar, wind and small hydro. If not, we risk the nuclear power industry using carbon emissions from fossil fuels as an excuse to open up lots of plants that threaten our survival on Earth.