CT Green Scene

Climate Summer

by Eileen Weber

A little over a week ago, five college-aged bikers whisked through New Haven. Why, you ask? They’ve been on a more than 900-mile journey as a statement of solidarity against the burning of fossil fuels, of course.

In a day and age in which the tangible signs of environmental damage—from climate change to air pollution and everything in between—the danger of fossil fuels is all too real. And these students are trying to make that point on two wheels instead of four with an exhaust pipe.

Some of the riders are from the Northeast region; some are from as far away as Singapore. But like any self-respecting environmentalist, they are all united on the concept that we must change the way we live in order to preserve our planet for future generations.

“Instead of being dependent on fossil fuels, we should be dependent on each other and rely on renewable resources,” said team member Tara Escudero in a recent press release.

Hartford's Summer of Solutions

Every summer, youth gather in communities across the nation for the Summer of Solutions — a project of the non-profit Grand Aspirations that serves as a training ground for its participants and a launching pad for solutionary visions. With the support of local partnerships and a national network of fellow solutionaries, participants create self-sustaining projects that have a direct impact on their communities and that serve as models for others to build on.

The Summer of Solutions is a grassroots, volunteer-based, people-powered program, and we rely on people just like you for just about everything — from the project expertise, to the local partnerships, to the financial support for the young people dedicating their summer to building solutions.

Are you under 30? Have you done something amazing to make a difference in our environment? Then this contest is for you! Sponsored by Ecover, a California-based company launched in 1980 that produces sustainable cleaning products, it ends in another 15 days. There's still time to enter! See details below.

Grand Prize
The grand prize winner of the Thirty Under Thirty contest will receive a choice of a 6’ Santomer Dining Table + 2 Paulista benches or a Santomer Bed + a 2 Drawer End Table by Environment which are made from pieces of Peroba Rosa recovered from an old Brazilian coffee factory. To learn more about Environment and the grand prize, visit http://environmentfurniture.com.

2nd Prize
Our Thirty Under Thirty finalists will win Ecover products for a year! Visit our website to pick your favorites: http://www.ecover.com/us/en/

Prize Eligibility
Only persons residing in United States who are between 18 and 29 years of age can enter.

Contest Starts
September 01, 2010 @ 12:00 am (EDT)

Contest Ends
September 30, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (EDT)

For more information or to enter the contest, check out their web site.

All around Connecticut: 350.ORG

by Heather Burns-DeMelo

It was difficult to ignore the collective buzz around the state Saturday, as groups of all sizes and compositions gathered together to express their creative vision and commitment to spreading the word that 350 ppm is the safe upper limit of CO2 in the atmosphere. Why is that the number? Click here to find out.

Politicians, world leaders, scientists and environmental groups will meet in Copenhagen in a mere six weeks to agree (we hope) on a climate policy that is clear, fair and binding. As it stands, 350 ppm is the number that is in the draft agreement. Today, our ppm is 386 and rising. This is a number we share with the entire planet -- that is, the United States, China, and Micronesia all must work together on a collective goal. It's no longer a case of pointing fingers or being able to seek out reprieve while others suffer: it's everyone's problem.

For many people, a random number that counts a gas we can't see is a bit of a stretch. But to thousands of people living and working in Connecticut, it represents the fact that climate change isn't just something we need to do something about in 25 or 50 years, it's something we must tackle TODAY. 

Thanks to all of you who submitted photos of your creative, bold and inspiring events. 

Shop Dava, New Haven

Photo: Coleen Campbell

 

Yale Forestry School students created this 350 Noah's ark from mostly
salvaged materials in front of Kroon Hall. Animals represented included
everything from the humble ant to the mighty giraffe to the beautiful
capybaras of South America and the polar bears made out of used Styrofoam
containers. Although 35 people are pictured here, the previous night, at
least 90 people turned up to help build the ark and the animals. We chose
this action in part because synagogues around the world happened to be
reading the Noah's Ark story in the Torah on Oct 24th, and in part because
climate change puts 15-37% of all known plant and animal species at the risk
of extinction by 2050. Photo: Grady O'Shaughnessy and Gabriel Mejias

 

Hundreds of people donning Bridgeport Sound Tigers/350.org t-shirts
walked onto the ice during the game's second intermission to make the
number in support of preserving this favorite winter sport.  Photo: Rick Stieglitz

"350.org activists brave rain and heavy winds on the historic New Haven Green to form a human 350, with the historic downtown churches and Yale College Old Campus in the background." Photo: Vladimir Jankovic, New Haven Independent. Background information: http://www.350.org/newhaven

 

David Bedell, Cristian Aldana, Natalie Johnson, Ted Hanser, Jane Weston, and Richard Duffee.
Ferguson Library, downtown Stamford. For more information, contact Hector Lopez lopez_hector_l@sbcglobal.net

 

Whole Foods Market, West Hartford

 A giant 350 on the roof of the Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University was part of a larger project entitled "The Bird's Eye View," which built a network of similar installations, globally. Photo credit goes to the Fairfield Fire Department, who got up on a truck ladder to get our "bird's eye view" shot, and Fairfield U students who put the installation together. For more information, click here.

Back Away From The Dunkin' Donuts~Green Coffee in our Blue State

by: James Simpkins

Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I thought Dunkin’ Donuts was a throwback to the 1980’s—somewhere you stopped under duress in Podunk, West Virginia. Moving to New England a few years ago, the dream I was living became a nightmare: Not only was Dunkin’ Donuts not an Atari-like icon of a bygone era, but it seemed to have become the default coffee for millions of people living in the Northeast. And no one seems to care a lick that it sucks. And I’m not just saying that as a guy who’s from out of town, I say that as a coffee lover and aficionado. It’s really bad! However, walking around Yale’s campus a couple weeks ago, my luck changed for the better.

After the results of the 2004 elections, Andrew Ruben and his father, co-owners of Blue State Coffee in New Haven (and RI), were licking their Democratic wounds while in line for a couple lattés. Andrew casually mentioned how coffee might offer an opportunity to place some extra funds in the coffers of progressive causes. His old man knew a good idea when he heard one, and with the help of friends Blue State Coffee was born some three years later, originally as a website where you could order genuine Organic, Fair Trade coffee beans. As ideas tend to do, the concept of a Green, sustainably produced coffee eventually created a life of its own in the form of a retail shop where the idea really took root.

Blue State Coffee first store opened on Thayer Street in Providence, Rhode Island. They now have the original location as well as a spot in the Brown University Bookstore, and the location that I stumbled upon in New Haven. It figures that a good cup of coffee is needed at stellar, modern campuses like Brown and Yale, but how did the whole “Drink Liberally” entendre sit with the old, stodgy right-wingers that those two campuses are also known for? Ruben says it’s going just fine, thank you. Two and a half years in and all three locations are profitable, steadily increasing sales since their openings. Ruben, for one, is psyched. And he should be---he’s still in college (at Yale) and already has a bright future ahead of him. Like so many of us gone the way of the Humanities, that glowing future is completely unrelated to the American Studies degree that he is working on. Well, almost.

Ruben’s timing for his opening could not have been better. Well, maybe by a week or so. The first store opened a week after Obama’s inauguration and attracted quite the following. Al Franken even stopped by and gave a speech on his long road to becoming a U.S. Senator. Good press is also helping Blue State along with Ruben’s ideals being featured in places like Vanity Fair and the Hartford Courant, as well as local papers. What’s driving the interest seems to be the intention to be what Andrew refers to as a “zero-waste business”—striving to recycle, reuse or compost everything they sell. As Ruben says, “Basically, the goal is to remove the trash cans from all of our facilities.”

 Blue State also sources as many products as it can locally. While the coffee isn’t grown around here (I asked just in case) it is roasted by New Harvest Coffee Roasters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The milk in your latté is from The Farmer’s Cow, a Connecticut based six farm cooperative--and the food they sell is made and delivered daily by La Cuisine in Branford. This is all in line with today's progressive consumer demands. Because of the (correct) popular consensus that we have taken a wrong turn somewhere in our commercial enterprise, the Green concept is something that truly stretches across to our friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Kind of like a good cup of coffee. And this website.

 It’s not all roses, however. Ruben tells me that while each of the locations are making money, even while the economy is turning somersaults, Blue State costs more to operate than it would without the commitments that are behind it. Here’s the Mission Statement:

Our Mission:

• To offer organic, fairly traded coffee, roasted to perfection

• To donate 5% of sales to local and national causes that reflect our progressive values

• To run a zero waste, environmentally sustainable business

• To unite a group of people committed to bettering our communities and our country.

What doesn’t surprise me is that a company with commitments like these is more expensive to run. What does surprise me about Blue State Coffee is that when it comes down to making some money vs. a lot of money, those commitments still run the show. But, unlike your local Dunkin’ Donuts, there is no consortium of global private equity firms (like the one that owns DD) trying this and that to add a penny’s more worth to a weakened portfolio. There’s just a smart, driven college junior, his (clearly cool) dad, and a bone to pick with conservatives. Like one of the numerous Blue State double entendres states--“You’re on political grounds.”

I’m not asking you to give up your Dunkin’ Donuts-quite the contrary; go ahead and pick one up. Then stop by Blue State Coffee in New Haven for a comparison. But no dilly-dallying…it won’t be long before you’ll have to look outside their store for a trash can to put that cup in. Their cups are made from corn and can be composted along with the grounds from the beans. How about your Dunkin’ Donuts cup? Is that…styrofoam?  That is so 1985.

See? I knew it.

Blue State Coffee Locations:

·        Blue State Coffee @ Brown University Bookstore

244 Thayer Street | Providence, RI 02912

·        Blue State Coffee New Haven/Wall Street

84 Wall Street | New Haven, CT 06511

·        Blue State Coffee Providence/Thayer Street

300 Thayer Street | Providence, RI 02906

Lessons from a 6th Grader in Greenwich

Student writes her local newspaper with an important message for her town: Green Homes are Good for our Community

Staff Reports

To the editor:

As a sixth-grader at Eastern Middle School, I am concerned about the energy being carelessly wasted and the growing pollution around the town. To improve this, I support the modus operandi of "green building" and modifying homes to be more Earth friendly.

Increasing green homes will have remarkably positive effects.

The town's picturesque parks and landscapes are extremely valuable. The streets are lined with scenic houses and even some historical sites. If we don't put a stop to the constant release of fumes and greenhouse gases, the exquisite reputation of this community may collapse dramatically. Installing more energy-efficient and solar-powered homes will secure a prosperous and efficient status. Also, green homes are becoming quite luxurious, and such additions would be a notable avowal for Greenwich.

Standard houses have negative effects on the environment. Air pollution, water pollution, indoor pollution and stormwater runoff are all harmful to the Earth. Eco-friendly homes are designed for creating a healthy indoor air environment and adequate ventilation in a natural way, and use heavy insulation to reduce rising energy usage within the house.

These houses have very efficient appliances and construction. For instance, there are triple-pane windows, low-energy lighting, ground-source heat pumps, solar panels and de-chlorinating shower filters. These elements together guarantee a healthy lifestyle for the average Greenwich house.ecological house would be well adapted to the community and very beneficial to the economy. Those houses specialize in carefully making the best of all resources and avoiding waste. By switching to this type of houses, you're helping all parts of the world.

I've lived in Greenwich long enough to appreciate its outstanding reputation. I am certain that expanding the quantity of energy-efficient homes would be extremely advantageous to the economy, households and the dazzling image of Greenwich.

Eco-friendly homes are the way of a cleaner, greener future. So I urge the people of this town to use green building technology when building or renovating their homes.

Thank you for reading my letter.

Gianna DeMasi

Greenwich

Want to Understand Your Carbon Footprint?

by Tracey Finch

Then read the Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon (Orchard Books/Scholastic $15.99 and worth every penny).  Oh yeah, and don't forget that this is supposed to be a children's book. But the book should be required reading for all kids 8-100.

This colorful and nicely designed book is a must read for children and yes, even adults who could use an easy-to-read primer on today's environmental problems. If we want to educate ourselves and our children, this book covers the science of global warming, the effect on our weather, the impact on plant and animal life and the many steps we can all take to help reverse global warming.

When asked about her favorite green products, author Cambria Gordon said, "My favorite green products are bio-bags . They are completely bio-degradable and great for lining trash cans in the house.  I also can't live without my SIGG stainless steel water bottle.  Mine says "Simply ECO Logical."

Common' FDA! Look Who You're Letting Down

Green Beyond their Years

Some of you may remember Jordan and Alex from the March GreenDrinks event at iPark...

By Brian Lockhart

Staff Writer

Stamford Advocate                

WINDSOR - Of the nearly dozen individuals, including Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, the state honored yesterday for helping the environment, two were barely tall enough to peer over the podium to deliver acceptance speeches.

Two Wilton boys, Jordan Reichgut, 10, and Alex Scaperotta, who told the crowd he is almost 10, were presented with leadership awards by the Governor's Steering Committee on Climate Change.

The third annual ceremony was hosted at the Windsor offices of ING Financial Services, honored for its green architecture and conservation initiatives that include urging workers to use coffee mugs at work and recycle office supplies and paper.

When they were 8, Jordan and Alex and their parents founded Little People, Big Changes, a club that encouraged 120 Wilton households to sign up for the state's Clean Energy Options program.

The program allows customers of Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating to pay a voluntary clean energy surcharge to help fund wind, hydroelectric and landfill gas projects that contribute to the nation's electric grid.

Anne George, commissioner of the state Department of Public Utility Control, presented the boys with their award, saying the state has many programs to help residents conserve energy and it is important to spread the word.

George said state officials launched Clean Energy Options with trepidation, knowing Connecticut residents pay high utility costs.

"I can only hope my children start taking on some of the activities Alex and Jordan have," George said. "When I was 8 years old, I was just running around the neighborhood, playing."

The boys also launched a "no idling" campaign in Wilton to reduce auto emissions and have made several presentations to schoolchildren and officials.

Don't Use Your Dryer on National Hanging Out Day

By Alex and Jordan of Little People, Big Changes

Did you know that the electricity your dryer uses takes up about 6% of your electricity bill and that there are 88 million dryers in the world! 

In fact, the average American uses more energy running a clothes dryer than the average African uses all year round for their energy needs.  We can all save a lot of electricity by using the wind and the sun to dry our clothes instead of a machine.

April 19th is “National Hanging Out” Day! Show your support by hanging an item of clothing from a pole in front of your house or simply hang your laundry out to dry on a line to show that you are willing to change little things in order to help reduce carbon emissions.  Our planet needs you! If you absolutely must use your dryers, there are still things you can do to help.  Lower your temperature settings and for your washer, use warm water instead of hot when possible.  Make sure your washer or dryer is full before running it.  Clean your dryer filter after every use.

We hope to see you in your long johns on April 19th! Your friends, Alex and Jordan

Student group at SCSU to be acknowledged for outstanding environmental activism

New Haven- The Environmental Futurists at Southern Connecticut State University are being recognized by State Representative Toni Walker and the Connecticut Legislature for their tireless efforts to protect the environment on the SCSU campus and beyond. The New Haven delegates will present the citation to members of the Environmental Futurists in the Deputy Speaker's Conference Room of the Capitol Building (listed as Capitol Room 103) on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:30am.

Will Connecticut Ban Plastic Bags?

It seems there's another battle being fought, though both sides appear to agree on one thing: plastic bags = bad news for the environment. Retail stores seem to favor incentives such as charging for using plastic, or rebates given for plastic bags that are returned to the store, but lots of people think an outright ban is the way to go.

What's most interesting is yet again, our youth in Connecticut is leading the charge!

According to this article in The Day...

On Monday, the growing movement to curtail the use of plastic bags by grocery stores and other retail outlets gained a foothold in Connecticut when the legislature's Environment Committee heard testimony on a bill that would ban the use of non-biodegradable bags by 2010. Americans use an estimated 50 billion to 80 billion plastic bags annually, only a small fraction of which get reused or recycled.

“Life will go on without plastic bags, as it did for thousands of years,” said Emily Rintoul, 15, of Portland, one of several youths who urged lawmakers to push Connecticut to become the first state to enact a law to ban or discourage their use. “Please don't pass this burden of these bags onto my generation.”

Eleven-year-old Malaika King of Hartford, who preceded Rintoul with similar testimony, concluded by handing out nylon reusable bags to each member of the committee. Her mother, Imani Zito, sells the bags in her store, The Green Vibrations Alchemy Café and Eco Boutique in Hartford.

Kids Campaign: If You're Stopped for More Than 10 Seconds...

Alex Scaperotta and Jordan Reichgut noticed that many people in the school pick up lines idle their cars.  They learned through research that unnecessary idling wastes gasoline and releases CO² into the atmosphere, which accelerates global warming.  They thought that a good place to start would be to get parents of Cider Mill School students to commit to not idling their car in the pick up line or anywhere else. Their message is simple:  IF YOU IDLE YOUR CAR FOR TEN SECONDS OR MORE, YOU ARE USING MORE GAS THAN TURNING YOUR CAR OFF AND ON.  In addition, they learned that idling is unnecessary to “warm up” your car (the best way to warm it up is to drive it) and idling is in fact harmful to engines – causing more gasoline residue to build up in the engines, exhaust system rusting, and more.