Extend Your Twitter Profile July 4, 2008

One of the reasons I use Twitter is to gather bits of information during the course of the day. I might see a new post or a link to something interesting on the web. Today I saw several tweets from Darren Rowse of ProBlogger fame, which piqued my interest. The tweets were links to articles about using the background picture on Twitter to create an extended profile - an opportunity to display a bigger or different picture of yourself, display links to other social networking sites and related websites.

Techie Buzz has a “How To” article that I used to create my own version of an extended profile. I downloaded and used Paint.net to create the background image as recommended by Keith Dsouza. The program has a lot of the same features as Adobe Photoshop but is free. That tip alone was worth it.

For examples of extended Twitter profiles see:

• @verdavivo
• @problogger
• @rickmahn
• @waynesutton
• @keithdsouza
• @vrreddy
• @livingfree
• @gogirlsmusic

Resources:

• Mashable.com: Make Twitter Your Social Aggregator: Create An Extended Profile
• Techie Buzz: Give A Personalized Touch to Your Twitter Page [How To]

10 Things You Can Like About $4 Gas July 3, 2008

What are the benefits to high gas prices?

According to Times.com, there are 10 Things You Can Like $4.00 Gas.

1. Globalized Jobs Return Home - The cost of shipping to and from overseas makes the U.S. a more attractive place to manufacture goods.
2. Sprawl Stalls - Housing closer to jobs is in demand; home buyers are looking to move closer to cities. High gas prices are not conducive to an one-way, hour-long commute.
3. Four-Day Workweeks - There are benefits in energy savings as well as employee turnover. And then there’s that little thing called spending time with your family.
4. Less Pollution - When people drive less, there are fewer vehicle emissions.
5. More Frugality- Companies look to optimize delivery routes; individuals switch to alternative modes of transportation or try hypermiling. Scooter sales have increased while SUV have dropped.
6. Fewer Traffic Deaths - Driving less and driving more slowly translates to fewer traffic deaths.
7. Cheaper Insurance - Driving less may mean reduced insurance premiums.
8. Less Traffic - Travel on all roads dropped in the first few months of 2008 in the U.S. More people are switching to public transit where it exists.
9. More Cops on the Beat - Bike and foot patrols have increased, car patrols have dropped.
10. Less Obesity - Bike sales are up; walking and biking are on the upswing. 

My daughter already has felt the pinch of high gas prices and just moved to within walking/biking distance of her work. I drive less, consolidating errands and grocery shopping so I make fewer trips to town.  What do you do?

Resources:

• Time.com: 10 Things You Can Like $4.00 Gas

Related Posts:

• 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles 
• Gas Prices Impact Driving - Get a Bike! 
• Hit the Road for Less 
• Hypermiling - More Miles from a Gallon of Gas 
• The MPG Illusion 

Depaving Paradise in Portland July 2, 2008

Joni Mitchell was right when she wrote the lyrics for “Big Yellow Taxi”

                            ”Don’t it always seem to go
                      That you don’t know what you’ve got
                                      Till it’s gone
                                  They paved paradise
                              And put up a parking lot”

Now it seems that depave.org is working to reverse the trend.

Depave was created to inspire and promote the removal of unnecessary concrete and asphalt from urban areas. Depave is a project of City Repair, a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon. Their vision is simple: “Livable cities where people and wildlife coexist and thrive amidst clean air, clean water, and an abundance of plants, trees, and vegetation.”

The Fargo Gardens project will transform a 3000 square foot asphalt parking lot in North Portland into a community greenspace with vegetables, fruit trees, native plants, and sitting areas. Removal of the parking lot will reduce pollution, and provide land for bird and butterfly habitat, gardens, native vegetation and beauty in an urban neighborhood. The completed site will be used to educate the public about pavement removal and storm water drainage management.

Nearly 150 volunteers showed up for the depaving. The majority of the volunteers were also attendees at the eighth annual Towards Carfree Cities conference. This is the first year that the conference was held in the United States. The asphalt and gravel underneath were loaded into containers and hauled away for recycling. Nothing was wasted.

Ms Angela Goldsmith, of Goldsmith Properties, was originally planning to put a tri-plex in the same parking lot. When approached by depave.org to turn the spot into a green space, she felt that the idea was a “no-brainer”. The garden will be open to the public during the day, and rented out for private events at night to help generate income to cover operating costs, Goldsmith said.

Check out the video of the project from StreetFilms.

Resources:

• depave.org
• JoniMitchell.com: Big Yellow Taxi
• StreetFilms

WEE Can’t Afford To Be Green July 1, 2008

I got excited when I saw the new “Wee Generation eco-diaper bag”. I thought, that will be perfect for my daughter who is having her first baby this October! Until I saw the price tag. What in the world would make it cost $200? Okay, so 100 percent of profits benefit Healthy Child Healthy World. That’s laudable. Plus, the first 500 bags come with Seventh Generation baby products. I guess you’re out of luck if you buy bag number 501. The bag is made from designer upholstery fabric made out of 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles (Cradle-To-Cradle Certified fabric by Designtex). Judging from the comments on their blog, most other moms thought the price tag a little steep too. 

Let’s talk reality here. My daughter also needs a crib and mattress, bedding, car seat, stroller, baby clothes, and diapers among many other things. Oh yeah, and she still has to buy groceries and pay the rent. A fancy-smancy designer green diaper bag is not at the top of the wish list. I’ll be honest, if I bought absolutely everything green, first I would go crazy trying to research the greenest possible option and second, I’d go broke because buying green is invariably more expensive than “regular” stuff. I’m like anyone else, I have to pick and choose what I think I can afford and have to let the rest go. In other words, I do the best I can.

Maybe it’s time to Get Ready to Rethink What it Means to Be Green: 

1. Live in Cities - Urban Living is Kinder to the Planet Than the Suburban Lifestyle. That makes sense, urban density equals efficiency. My cousin, who lives in NYC, hasn’t owned a car in decades. My step-son, who lives in southern California and bought a house where he afford it, has a 1 hour commute to work depending on traffic. Which is more energy efficient? 
2. A/C Is OK: Air-Conditioning Actually Emits Less CO₂Than Heating. It takes less energy to cool a house by 1 degree than it does to heat it. Thank goodness, it would be pretty unbearable to leave the AC off when it’s over 100 degrees outside.
3. Organics Are Not The Answer: Surprise! Conventional Agriculture Can Be Easier on the Planet. Well, that depends on whether you buy local or not and whether your diet is the typical American, meat-heavy diet. Ever since the biggest ground beef recall in history, I just can’t stomach eating a hamburger. I always think of it as crawling with sh*t.
4. Farm the Forests: Old-Growth Forests Can Actually Contributeto Global Warming. What many people consider old-growth forests are actually pioneer and early-successional species or even second-growth, a forest that was cut and then replanted. Forests are successional with a climax forest being a temporal phenomenon. Natural catastrophes - tornadoes, hurricanes, fire, insects, and disease - tend to topple climax communities. The fact is, animals such as moose, deer, woodcock, ruffed grouse and a variety of songbirds prosper only in a young forest. Woodpeckers, porcupines, squirrels, and other songbird species are typical of old stands. Both can be managed.
5. China Is the Solution: The People’s Republic Leads the Way in Alternative-Energy Hardware. This one makes me cringe. They’re dealing with air and water pollution as a result of industrialization and all the while they’re becoming the number one exporter for green products. 
6. Accept Genetic Engineering: Superefficient Frankencrops Could Put a Real Dent in Greenhouse Car Emissions. Plant breeding has been practiced for thousands of years. Optimizing food crops to feed 6 billion people on this planet is a good thing. I do object when companies like Monsanto patent their GE seeds, forcing farmers to sign “technology use agreements” meaning they can’t reuse seed from this year’s crop. All so they can monopolize the market in the name of greed.
7. Carbon Trading Doesn’t Work: Carbon Credits Were a Great Idea, But the Benefits Are Illusory. My opinion, carbon offsets are feel-good trade-offs and don’t resolve the real problems. If you really want to do something, plant your own tree.
8. Embrace Nuclear Power: Face It. Nukes are the Most Climate-Friendly Industrial-Scale Form of Energy. Yeah, but I still don’t want to live next to one. Unfortunately, wind, solar and water power have not proven themselves to be economically feasible nor sustainable.
9. Used Cars — Not Hybrids: Don’t Buy That New Prius! Test-Drive a Used Car Instead. The energy savings of a new car might not offset the energy required to make it. Additionally, personal economics means you should pay cash for your car.
10. Prepare for the Worst: Climate Change is Inevitable. Get Used to It. ”The worst that could happen is the extinction of the human race”, says planet Earth in an article dubbed I’ll be just fine, says Planet.

Resources:

• Seventh Generation: WEE Generation Diaper Bags Are Here!
• Wired: Inconvenient Truths: Get Ready to Rethink What It Means to Be Green

 

What’s Up, Tap? June 30, 2008

When I chatted with my father on Father’s Day, we talked about bottled water. He’s 85 years old and darn proud to say he’s never purchased bottled water. Now, whether it’s because he’s just too cheap or environmentally aware the result is the same. I’ll take what I can get.

A recent article in the Arizona Daily Star points out that Aquafina, the top-selling brand in Tucson, begins its life as Tucson municipal water. Okay, sure, they filter it but considering that the cost difference is $1.39 per half-liter bottle at a convenience store compared to $.01 for over 6 gallons of water, you could invest in your own home water filter and save yourself some bucks. In addition, you won’t be wasting the oil resources used to make and transport water bottles, and the waste they create, to buy the same water you can get from your tap!

Many people erroneously believe that bottled water is safer and cleaner than tap water. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water. There are hundreds of federal and state employees dedicated to tap water regulation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water and has less than one full-time employee dedicated to compliance with bottled water rules. The FDA also says its rules do not apply to water packaged and sold within the same state. So where do YOU think the majority of bottled water companies source their water? According to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 60-70 percent of the bottled water sold in the United States is exempt from the FDA’s bottled water standards because the water is sourced in-state.

The NRDC completed a four-year study of the bottled water industry, including its bacterial and chemical contamination problems. During testing of 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of water, the NRDC found that about one third of the bottled waters tested contained significant contamination (i.e., levels of chemical or bacterial contaminants exceeding those allowed under a state or industry standard or guideline) in at least one test.

The bottled water industry tempt us with pictures of glaciers, mountain springs, and virginal forests. The reality is that just because you purchase water in a bottle doesn’t make it any better regulated, purer, or safer than most tap water.

Resources:

• Bottled water losing steam
• Natural Resources Defense Council: Bottle Water - Pure Drink or Pure Hype?
• Tappening

Related Posts:

• Bling H2O
• Bottled Water
• Water at $55 a Bottle

Company Scorecards - The Best and the Worst June 27, 2008

Climate Counts released their second annual Climate Counts Company Scorecard in May 2008. The scorecard measures how serious companies are about stopping climate change - and how they compare to their sector competitors. These are the self-reported efforts of companies to address climate change so if a company scores low, well, shame on them.

Climate Counts evaluates the climate actions of the world’s largest companies, not necessarily the world’s greenest companies. According to Climate Counts, if the world’s 100 largest companies reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by just 5%, it would be like taking 25 million cars off the road. Okay, that’s a lot.

Climate Counts use a 0-to-100 point scale and 22 criteria to determine if companies have:

• MEASURED their climate “footprint”
• REDUCED their impact on global warming
• SUPPORTED (or suggest intent to block) progressive climate legislation
• Publicly DISCLOSED their climate actions clearly and comprehensively

As a consumer, you can do more than switching to a compact fluorescent lightbulb, buying recycled, carpooling or bringing your own bag to the store. You can support companies who are taking a leadership position regarding climate change. You can let companies who are “stuck” know that you expect them to do better. Each company scorecard allows you to view their company profile and contact them via email.

Climate Counts believes business should innovate, government should regulate, and consumers should motivate. Vote with your dollars, and companies will listen.

You can print out a Pocket Guide or view a Summary. I listed the companies by Rank, Sector or Alphbetical order to get the best and worst.

The Best 5:

1. Nike - Apparel/Accessories | score: 82  (Up +9 from 2007)
   Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley, Nike
2. Stonyfield Farm - Food Products | score: 78  (Up +15 from 2007)
   Brown Cow, Stonyfield Farm Organic, Stonyfield Yogurt
3. IBM - Electronics | score: 77  (Up +7 from 2007)
4. Unilever - Food Products | score: 75  (Up +4 from 2007)
   Amora, Axe, Becel, Bertolli, Blue Band, Calvé, Cif, Close Up, Comfort, Country Crock, Domestos, Doriana, Dove, Flora, Heartbrand, Hellman’s, Knorr, Lifebuoy, Lipton, Lux, Omo, Pond’s, Radiant, Rama, Rexona, Signal, Slim-Fast, Sunlight, Sunsilk, Surf, Vaseline, Wish-Bone
5. Canon - Electronics | score: 74  (Down -3 from 2007)

The Worst 5: Note that four of the five worst are in the food services sector. I knew there was a reason I don’t like fast food or chain restaurants.

1. Yum! Brands - Food Services | score: 1 (No change from 2007)
   A&W Restaurants, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell
2. Burger King - Food Services | score: 0  (No change from 2007)
   Burger King, Hungry Jack’s
3. Darden Restaurants - Food Services | score: 0  (No change from 2007)
   Bahama Breeze, LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille
4. Jones Apparel Group - Apparel/Accessories | score: 0  (No change from 2007)
   A | Line, Albert Nipon, Anne Klein (various collections), Bandolino, Bandolinoblu, Dockers, Easy Spirit, Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Erika, Evan-Picone, Givenchy Jewelry, GLO Jeans, Gloria Vanderbilt, Grane, J.G. Hook, Jeanstar, Joan & David, Jones New York (various collections), Judith Jack, Kasper, Le Suit, Mootsie Tootsies, Napier, Nine & Company, Nine West, l.e.i., Norton McNaughton, Pappagallo, Rena Rowan, Sam & Libby, Westies
5. Wendy’s International - Food Services | score: 0
   Pasta Pomodoro, Wendy’s

We Don’t Know How to Go Green June 26, 2008

Maybe it’s because I’m focused on “all things green” and continually research ways to reduce my enviromental footprint, improve health and keep the change in my own wallet. To me, the ”environmental sustainability” message is everywhere so I was surprised by the results of a recently released Harris Poll.

The good news is that 53% of Americans say they have done something to change their lifestyle to make it more environmentally sustainable.

What Lifestyle Changes are People Making?

• 91% recycle
• 73% pay bills online and/or receive paperless statements
• 49% buy more locally produced food and/or goods
• 47% buy green household products
• 46% have installed resource friendly appliances
• 30% no longer purchase plastic water bottles
• 16% carpool

What’s not working?

The following environmentally friendly changes are essentially overlooked. In the land of cheap energy and water, people apparently haven’t felt the need to conserve either. However, small changes add up. And who wants to pay more each month for gas, electricity and water?

• 5% drive less (combine errands, walk more, etc.)
• 4% have reduced utility use
• 3% have changed their light bulbs to CFLs
• 2% conserve water

Of those who have not changed their lifestyle:

• 34% say they do not know what to do
• 29% think it won’t make any difference
• 22% forget until afterwards to do something differently
• 19% think it is too expensive
• 10% say they don’t have the time

The Nature Conservancy attributes these numbers to “getting lost in the maze of information on how to lessen our environmental impact” and advises that even the smallest changes can impact the planet as well as your own pocketbook. 

And if you’re into politics, when it comes to making changes, Independents are the most likely to have done so (63%), followed by Democrats (57%) and Republicans (44%). Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.

Resources:

• The Nature Conservancy - Do Americans Know How to Go Green?
• Harris Poll - The Environment…Are We Doing All We Can?

Website of the Day: Ideablob June 25, 2008

Ever secretly have a great idea that you just know would take off if you had some “seed” money? Or maybe you’re already a cash-strapped struggling entrepreneur.  Well then, ideablob may be just the ticket.

ideablob is a community of small business owners and entrepreneurs who bounce ideas off each other. They give feedback, advice and encouragement. Every month, the community votes on the best idea. The winner gets $10,000 to help their idea grow. The community was launched in September 2007 by Advanta, one of the largest credit card companies in the U.S.

There are six days left in this month’s showdown. There are eight finalists competing for the $10,000 monthly prize.  The community will vote and the next winner will be announced on June 30 at midnight.
This month is particularly unique.  All eight finalists are women and they are all from different cities scattered around the country.  Environmental issues are well represented in the finals . . . .

• Elmidae: Eco Friendly Clothing Line
• Organic Fair Trade Dolls

Sign up to vote for your favorite.

The idea of the winner of last month’s contest idea was to expand his skateboard company’s line to include recycled products. He actually won $20k because he was also an Advanta cardholder. You can read more about his project here, http://ideablob.com/posts/259.

 

posted with vodpod

10 Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles June 24, 2008

A recent article at Car and Driver.com reviews the top ten vehicles for mileage. At $4.00 and up per gallon and no relief in sight, you might be considering a new car. If you are, check out their recommendations:

1. 2008 Toyota Prius $22,160 - 2.17 gallons per 100 miles
2. 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid $23,270 - 2.38 gallons per 100 miles
3. 2008 Smart Fortwo $12,235 - 2.78 gallons per 100 miles
4. 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid $26,140 - 2.94 gallons per 100 miles
5. 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid $25,860 - 2.94 gallons per 100 miles
6. 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI $22,640 - 2.94 gallons per 100 miles
7. 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid $29,000 - 3.13 gallons per 100 miles
8. 2008 Toyota Yaris $12,210 - 3.13  gallons per 100 miles
9. 2008 Mini Cooper/Clubman $18,700 - 3.13 gallons per 100 miles
10. 2008 Honda Fit $14,620 - 3.23 gallons per 100 miles

Gallons per 100 miles are based on the EPA’s combined miles/gallon. For an explanation of gallons per mile, read The MPG Illusion. The price reflects the base price of the car.

Note: gallons per 100 miles have been corrected.

Resource:

Car and Driver Stingiest Sippers: The 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles in the U.S. authored by Jared Holstein

Related Posts:

1. The MPG Illusion
2. Hit the Road for Less
3. Hypermiling - More Miles from a Gallon of Gas

Ban the Bike - Save the Environment June 23, 2008

If you take the premise that we (as in people, humans, us, you and me) are damaging the environment, then living longer may not be a prospect we should look forward to. The longer we live, the more energy we consume thereby inflicting more damage upon the world. According to Karl T. Ulrich of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, cyclists increase their longevity by 10.6 days for every year of cycling. His concern is that “the energy cost of increased longevity offsets the energy savings of human-powered transportation”.

His argument is based on the following premises:

• Bicycles can substitute for trips by single-occupant automobiles. This reduces energy consumption, even taking into account the energy required to provide for the increased need for food by pedal pushers.
• A substantial increase in the use of bicycles would engage a substantial number of currently sedentary people in physical activity.
• Physical activity by previously sedentary individuals increases their longevity, and therefore their overall energy consumption.
• There may be little net environmental benefit associated with an increase in the use of bicycles.

Now, I don’t know about you but I just don’t think substantial numbers of “previously sedentary individuals” are suddenly going to take up biking. No, these are the folks who idle their car for 10 minutes while waiting for your parking spot that is 3 feet closer to the store. Or, better yet, will park in the fire lane because they are just going to pop into the store for “just a second”. Does Professor Ulrich really think that the same folks who will borrow grandma’s handicapped sign so they can park closer to the door are going to pedal themselves anywhere? Maybe he thinks the foks who use the drive through at a fast food joint are suddenly going to switch to pedal power. I don’t think so.

Maybe we could get these folks to switch to an electric scooter to save gas and energy. According to Professor Ulrich, this is the best of both worlds. There are no health benefits to offset the substantial environmental benefits.

Resources:

• Ulrich’s paper - The Environmental Paradox of Bicycling
• Can Bicycling Really Damage the Environment?
• Everything good for you is bad for the environment