Under the Influence

My boyfriend once told me I’m easily influenced by things. Incidentally I was buying a canvas bag at Albertsons at the time.

See, I’ve learned a lot about being green, and without even noticing it, my life has been influenced with what I’ve learned.

And I’m OK with that.

This week alone — while NBC is gathering its networks for a campaign called Green is Universal — I’ve realized there is no better time for me to get involved in the fight against environmental naysayers (like the boyfriend).

It seems like every other commercial is a new green household or beauty product, or a new green tip that everyone should live by or at least know by now.

Granted, some things these tips cover include turn off the lights when you leave a room or only run a dishwasher when it’s full.

Umm, duh, I thought.

But then again I can’t say I turn out my bedroom light and TV off when I go to the kitchen to make a meal or grab a drink.

The most important thing I’ve learned during this time, though, is that living this lifestyle is about doing the little things, like turning off the lights.

I’m not living in a solar-powered house with denim jeans for insulation, but I do go the extra mile to recycle even though my apartment complex does not offer a recycling program. I’ve also cut plastic bags out of my life, and I try to limit myself to one trip in my car from home to work every day.

Not to mention, Fair Trade certified coffee just tastes better. So my regular cup of Joe has switched from Starbucks — which just introduced a new organic flavor — to Breuegger's Bagels. (Trust me, its Island Coconut is truly a trip to the islands in a cup. I’ve done plenty of taste tests.)

Anyway, in what could be my last blog post, I leave you with a list of resources that have proved very helpful to me:

• Treehugger.com
• Green is Universal
• Whole Foods Market
• Whole Foods Premium Body Care
• Planet Green
• University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Center
• University of Arizona Campus Sustainability
• Fair Trade/Transfair
• National Center for Atmospheric Research

There’s a good chance the list will have additions, as I could end up in Colorado eventually, meaning it will be almost necessary for me to stay on this path.

Until then, pull me over, I’m under the influence.

Sitting Green

Soon you can be living green from your living room couch.

The Discovery Channel recently announced the addition of a new network to its TV family: Planet Green. The idea for the channel, which will launch in June, stemmed from Discovery’s purchase of Treehugger.com, a well-known source for green living information.

As it stands now, the Planet Green site is a beta site with loads of information on fashion and beauty, food and health, home and garden, technology and transportation, travel and outdoors and work-related tips. It even has a Planet Green shop that sells entertainment, clothing, books, toys, technology, etc.

Also, when the channel launches, fans of Food Network hotshot, Emeril Lagasse will bring his BAM-good recipes and insight to his own show. (There are other on-air personalities, but I couldn’t tell you who they are. Emeril is definitely the biggest draw.)

One show being pushed heavily by Discovery is Greenovate. The developers of The Learning Channel’s Flip That House created the show, which will “flip” rooms from unfriendly to eco-friendly in a matter of days.

There’s even a slideshow with photos of rooms already greenovated, and the show is currently being previewed on TLC, a Discovery sister network.

Here’s a preview of the show:

The Apathetic Goes Political

It’s election season — my favorite time of year. (Can you sense the sarcasm there?)

Yes, I’m a little apathetic when it comes to politics, but recently I finally found an article about the candidates that sparked my interest.

The cover story of the April 14 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands last week) featured a story about the “greenest candidate” entitled “Just the Tree of Us” by Jerry Adler.

While most of the article focused on the Republican candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, there were some numbers that seem to represent a change in perception of many voters on environmental issues.

Here is a couple I thought I’d highlight:

• “The environment … has emerged as a leading issue in this election cycle; last year more than three voters in 10 said they would take a candidates’ green credentials into account … up from just 11 percent in 2005.”

• “The current tally shows that of 3, 231 questions by the leading political reporters from five networks, exactly eight concerned global warming.”

The most interesting and informative part of the article was the graphic (“Who Would Be the Greenest?”) — which I could not find online — that breaks down each candidates’ views on many different environmental issues. The topics included greenhouse-gas emissions, fuel-efficiency standards, renewable energy, biofuels, coal and nuclear energy.


The two Democratic candidates — Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — have very similar stands on each issue, which reflects a main point of the article: Traditionally, Democrats are more open to implementing changes for the good of the environment.

On the other hand, McCain is on the fence on every issue, except for nuclear energy, which he is is favor of. He has said he supports changes but does not give specifics as to what he would do to implement changes.

I’m not the one to tell you who to vote for — believe me, I’m no expert. But if you’re interested in voting green, check out the candidates’ Web sites or Project Vote Smart for an unbiased opinion.

CHECK THIS OUT:

OK, so the article in Newsweek was informative if you're into politics. But for you're into shopping, the most interesting part was the opening advertisement.

The front and back cover of the issue is dominated by Target ads as part of its “Love your mother (earth)” campaign.

By just performing four easy steps, the company will send you a coupon for its “Retote,” no purchase necessary. Here are the instructions given by the ad:

1. Remove cover of magazine
2. Fold cover inside out and tape sides and bottom
3. Fill pouch with used Target plastic bags
4. Seal top of pouch and drop it in any U.S. Postal Mail Box by the end of May

Sounds easy enough, right?

Right now, it looks like the offer is only available in this issue of Newsweek.

My Almost Trip to NCAR

BOULDER, Colo. — During my 14-hour drive from Phoenix to Colorado, I began to wonder what part of my trip could possibly be green?

As I've already experienced, Boulder is an already Earth-conscious city (see Greenings from Boulder!). At the heart of this lifestyle, though, is the National Center for Atmospheric Research, or as it is more fondly known as NCAR.

While I had every intention of moseying around for an hour or so, the center's exhibit was closed for maintenance. It was disheartening to say the least, not only because I thought I lost my blog material but also because that's all my boyfriend talked about all day.

So I got on the Internet to see what I was missing.

NCAR’s research was more extensive then I had first imagined. I had always just seen the center’s building overlooking the city and never understood what it really consisted of.

I checked out the research overview on the center’s Web site, where I found studies on climate, weather, social impacts, pollution, the Earth system and sun and space weather.

I also took a gander at what I could have done if the center was open Saturday.

It offers many different tours throughout the week, unorganized and organized. The sign on the door said the exhibit is open everyday to the public, but there are also guided tours that can be scheduled.

Most of NCAR's exhibits are hands on, like the Weather Gallery. It also has a new exhibit called the Climate Gallery that shows three different eras of climate change.

Looking for even more interaction? Try the Weather Trail, an outdoor exhibit with information about Boulder's weather along with views of the city below.

I guess I will have to kick myself until I get to go to Boulder again. I just might have missed out on another lesson on the way to my green lifestyle.

Photos by Melissa Krueger

Weekly Random Green Observations

After making the cashier at Safeway roll his eyes at me in the express check out lane because I asked for paper instead of plastic, I began to look at all the green around me.

It started with plastic bags. I preached the importance of my canvas grocery bag to my friends and gave them the facts about how you can’t recycle plastic shopping bags. You can only reuse them. My friends gave me the same look as the cashier.

Simply asking for paper bags over plastic is a necessary step if you care about the state of the environment — even if it bothers a cashier or two. You can also take the paper bags back to the grocery store if you’re not into buying a canvas bag (which is only about $1 per bag).

But what if you want to reuse the plastic bags you have? Target puts its ideas for reuse right on the bag.

Here are its 10 ways to reuse a Target bag (printed on the side of each one):

1. Tiny Trash Can Liner
2. Doggy Duty
3. Water Balloon
4. Road Trip Rubbish
5. Soggy Laundry
6. Ice Pack
7. Toiletry Tote
8. Kitty Litter Liner
9. Tomorrow’s Lunch Bag
10. Care Package Padding

If you’re like me, you already use these tips in your everyday life and don’t even realize it.

My next observation came while I was watching the NCAA tournament — or the many repetitive commercials that air during timeouts.

One advertisement stuck out in my mind: Chevy’s hybrid Tahoe.

The gargantuan Tahoe recently won the Greenest Car of the Year award from Green Car Journal.

Here is just one of the commercials, in which children learn about the car and about hybrids:



These were my observations. Look around you, and you'll see green all around, too.

Getting Back to Green

After my eco-UNfriendly spring break where I flew to San Francisco and drove about 18 miles from my boyfriend's house in Tempe to my parents' house in Chandler twice a day, I decided to get focused on my original goal of this blog.


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During my break, there was a lone green instance where my mother and I rode our bikes to the local Whole Foods Market. While looking for my mom's favorite flavor of Celestial Seasonings brand tea — which uses only natural products — I noticed the vast amount of skin products and makeup the store carries.

Each product has the market's stamp of approval — the Premium Body Care symbol. After two years of research, the company created the standard for more than 1,200 beauty and skin care products.

The market's Web site also reveals the falsities that surround natural products:

• The U.S. government does not require health studies or pre-market testing for personal care products.

• There are many non-natural components and processes in most U.S. body care products. Even those labeled "natural" may contain harsh preservatives or ingredients with environmental concerns.

• Sunscreen is recommended by experts, yet many chemical sunscreens have been shown to have questionable safety. Our Premium standard allows only those that physically screen sun as a safer alternative.

• Science never stops. Our customers trust us to stay on top of the latest breakthroughs, so the Premium standards are designed to evolve as new science-based studies and research come to light. We are excited to consider them as a starting point, a work in progress, an opportunity to raise the bar ever higher.

There is even a video, in which people were asked what they think natural means when it comes to skin products.



I just hope that these products will get me back on the right track after I fell off the wagon during my break.

A Water Shortage in the City by the Bay?

SAN FRANCISCO — I'll keep this entry short because a) it's St. Patrick's Day and I plan on practicing green living with green beer, and b) it's spring break.

A Green 5-year-old?

My nephew turned five this weekend, and while I was sitting at his pirate-themed party, I started to realize the amount of waste it produced.

Between the gift-wrap, tissue paper, party favors and plates and napkins, it was far from a “green” event.

And as my faux pirate tattoo is still flaking away, I started researching alternatives to a wasteful and an eco-unfriendly birthday party.

Gift-wrap

While doing research, I found a lot of stories about parents who asked their children to choose to give gifts to the less fortunate or back to the Earth.

This would not fly with my nephew. He’s not a dumb 5-year-old and made the connection of “birthday means presents” a long time ago.

So I began to look at the gift-wrap.

Paporganics offers Hemp Wrap blends hemp with recycled fibers to create a thicker product than straight recycled material. There were only a handful of prints available with nothing that could appeal to children ($4.99 for two sheets).

The company also sells 100 percent biodegradable ribbon called Natural Ribbon.

Gift bags are easily recyclable. Instead of throwing them away after the tissue paper is strewn about, keep them and use them next year or for other people’s birthdays. The tissue paper can also be saved, granted the child does not rip the paper apart.

Party favors

It was very difficult to find aesthetically pleasing parting gifts.

“Green” toys would not appeal to children because they usually don’t feature the latest movie or toy craze. There are some choices on Green Living, but they are more expensive than toys that can be bought in bulk.

Some forums and blogs online suggest staying away from plastic gift bags and products made in China.

Also, having the children do take-home crafts while at the party is also a better alternative.

The cake

Ideal Bite suggests three different types of organic cakes from a pre-made mix.

• Dr. Oetker Cake and Icing Mixes: approximately $5 at most health food stores, available in chocolate or vanilla
• Pamela’s Products Luscious Chocolate Cake Mix: approximately $5 for this gluten-free mix
• Goodbaker Chocolate Cake and Cupcake Mix: approximately $5 for this whole-wheat, vegan mix

Cutting back on the fumes

OK, this is one green offense that I’m definitely guilty of.

I drive my car back and forth to school every day — sometimes twice a day. But since I live almost five miles outside of campus and work long hours into the night, what’s a girl to do?

Well, in light of the fact that oil is passing the $102-per-barrel mark of last week and the price of unleaded is creeping past $3 a gallon, I decided to do something about my driving habits before my tank hits empty.

There are a few alternatives that piqued my interest: a shuttle that runs to and from my apartment, the public transit route, investing in a bicycle or setting up a carpooling system with my roommates.

Many apartment complexes that are located beyond a square mile of the university offer shuttles that take about 20 students to and from the University of Arizona in 20-30 minute intervals throughout the 8-5 p.m. school day.

It isn't rare to see students outside the Communication Building waiting for the next pick up (see photo).

Some student apartment complexes that carry this service include Gateway at Tucson, The Reserve at Star Pass and NorthPointe.

I’ve lived at The Reserve at 41 S. Shannon Road for almost three years, and over time, I find myself using the service less and less. This trend is due mostly to my schedule.

If you have a set schedule daily that ends around 5 p.m., this is a great service. I still use the shuttle to cut out a second midday trip to my apartment — in case there is a need for a quick nap before my workday begins.

Unfortunately, Tucson is not San Francisco. There are no BART or MUNI systems. Tucson does, however, offer Sun Tran, a public transit bus route. The system-wide transit map shows that the routes range all over the city, from the east side to the west side — stopping right before my apartment complex.

Yes, buses can be very intimidating. But here’s hoping that all of those preconceptions are just stereotypes.

I’m not really into the bus system, though. These are the days that I wish I still owned a bicycle — and still knew HOW to ride one. It could be a decent investment, especially since the weather is becoming more cooperative.

It's been catching on for years too, as many bike racks around campus are relatively full throughout the school year (see photo)

But if a bike is not in the cards for you, one other suggestion is to create a carpooling group. I’ve never been too shy to mooch a ride home with one of my gas-guzzling roommates.

Whatever the solution, there are many out there. Check out Clean Air Online for even more suggestions.

Until then, I’m going to be avoiding the gas station.

A New Cup of Joe

Like many people, I rely on coffee to get me through the day.

It really doesn’t matter what kind: Circle K, Dunkin Donuts and the occasional (and very rare) cup of Starbucks.

I soon realized that in my quest to become “green” I should probably reevaluate my coffee habits. So it is my goal for the next week to only drink Fair Trade Certified coffees.

The term “fair trade” means that consumers are guaranteed, “that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product,” according to the organization’s Web site. The producers must consider sustainability as a whole, meaning fair prices, fair labor conditions, community development, etc.

And since I practically live on campus between classes and working at the student newspaper, I knew I would have to find places that offer the coffee near or on the University of Arizona campus.

During my research, I was happy to find that Bruegger’s Bagels at the Park Student Union, 601 N. Park St., carries Fair Trade flavors. Outside the store, there is a sign advertising its coffee with Fair Trade’s logo: “Great coffee makes a world of difference.” The company brews Green Mountain Roasters coffee daily in decaf, French Roast, Hazelnut and the new (and very good I might add) Golden French Toast.

It's safe to say you will be seeing more of me at Bruegger's as well as my favorite coffee place on campus, Canyon Café and Bistro at the Student Union Memorial Center.

While it will be difficult to stray away from my usual Cinnabon-flavored cup of coffee, Seattle's Best Coffee offers an organic French Roast that is certified. Not to mention, it fits into my budget. My usual tall (medium) size coffee is only $1.25.

When I ventured off campus, I found that Dunkin Donuts on University Boulevard has espresso that is Fair Trade Certified, while even Starbucks offers an organic flavor in whole bean, pound bags for sale called Café Estima.

Here’s the complete list I found on Fair Trade’s Web site:

• Bruegger's - Ask for their daily Fair Trade Certified brewed coffee.
• Caribou Coffee - Ask for the Fair Trade Blend.
• Dunkin' Donuts - Order any hot or iced espresso drink.
• Einstein Bagels - Ask for their Global Village Fair Trade Blend.
• Noah's Bagels - Ask for their daily Fair Trade Certified brewed coffee.
• Peet's Coffee and Tea - Ask for the Fair Trade Blend.
• Seattle's Best Coffee - Ask for the Fair Trade Certified Organic French Roast.
• Starbucks Coffee - Ask for Cafe Estima.
• Tully's Coffee - Order any hot or iced espresso drink.

Many of the above brews can be found at your local supermarket if you have the time in the morning to make your own cup of Joe. If you're like me and you don't have the time, it's easier than you think to have a green and sustainable cup of coffee.

It's in the bag

Images from my childhood: My brothers and sister crammed into the car for another trip, our hands in our pockets while at the store and canvas bags with recycle logos.

Growing up, my mother always took canvas bags to the grocery store when she shopped. She always replied, “Paper” when prompted to by the box boy and then used those bags for the next trip.

Who knew my mom taught me something about being green?

Never to be called crunchy granola, the bags were more for convenience than conservation. Now, she says how happy she is that it’s “back in style,” since she’s been using these somewhat trendy bags since the 80s.

I finally followed my mom’s example (Ack! That’s exactly what we try to avoid!) and became a fashionable grocery shopper this weekend. I bought my first canvas bag from Albertsons, 1350 N. Silverbell Road, on Friday night.

And I hate to say it, but my mom was right.

It was completely worth it, despite the fact that I was thoroughly made fun of by my company at the time.

I found the bag near the check out lanes on a “10 for $10” rack, and for $1 I fit all my groceries — including the eggs, which were intact when I got home — in that one bag.

The purchase of the bag was a lot simpler than accepting that I’m slowly turning into my mother.

As a side note, don’t fret if an Albertsons is out of the question — many are going out of business. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market led the way in bringing these bags back. I’ve also seen people walk out of local Wild Oats Market with ones like my mom used to use.

But they can also be purchased at most supermarkets, including Safeway.

So don’t be afraid to spend an extra buck at the grocery store and maybe keep the bag in your car’s trunk at all times if you’re afraid you’ll forget it on grocery day.

At least, that's my plan.

Greenings from Boulder!

BOULDER, Colo. — One of the best ways to learn about green living is to see how other people do live the lifestyle. And what better place to do that than Boulder, Colo.?

Photo courtesy of ald.colorado.edu/

Nestled beneath the famous Flatirons, the small city takes pride in its commitment to make the Earth a better place to live.

This became very evident to me when I first arrived in Denver. It's funny that a restroom can tell you a lot about the place where you just landed. During my first trip to the Mile High City, I noticed the toilet seat covers in the ladies restroom were made of a completely different material than the one's in Sky Harbor in Phoenix.

Sure, it's a silly realization, but it says a lot about the state. If it cares so much about the decomposition of its toilet seat covers, how much care goes into its buildings or its roads?

After about a 45-minute trip via the E-470, I found myself in Boulder, and the realizations just kept coming.

While visiting University of Colorado, I was bombarded by recycle bins in the front of every building on campus. Again in the bathrooms, the paper towel dispenser prompted me to use less — a sticker with the words, "Watch Your Waste!" and "Please Conserve, Use Paper Towels Sparingly."

Then later on Pearl Street, which was reminiscent of University Boulevard or Mill Avenue in Tempe, the importance of sustainability was still evident among the street performers and college students.

Under a tree in the middle of the square, a sign advertised solar-powered wireless Internet for the area, a relatively new service introduced in summer 2007.

Through all this education I got courtesy of the city of Boulder, I was surprised to find that Starbucks was the coffee of choice in the area, as the company still does not brew Fair Trade certified coffee.

That's precisely why my latte while waiting for my plane in Denver came from Caribou Coffee, which is certified by Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance.

We can all learn a lot from Boulder and the entire state of Colorado, while becoming more conscious of our habits.

Super Bowl? How 'bout Salad Bowl?

Let's take a minute from improving our green lifestyle to the biggest news of the day — the Super Bowl. Maybe, we'll just learn a few things.

BATTERY-POWERED
After Tom Brady's final thwarted pass fell, and the Giants got into victory formation to win Super Bowl XVII, the (what I hoped was recycled material) confetti filled University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. I couldn't help but wonder how much energy the whole production used? More importantly though, how much did it save?

Amp Energy drink ensured that at least 30 minutes of the pre-game show on FOX saved some of that energy.

The drink company set up 42 bicycles hooked up to a rotor, which ran to a generator, which in turn sent that energy to charge batteries. It then recruited 1,200 people over the course of four days to produce the energy needed. See the process here.

For a Super Bowl that would be heavily scrutinized for what it can do to become more eco-friendly, producers took a step in the right direction.

GREEN ADS
Some people only watch the game for the commercials (which should be a crime). But only a few made a statement about green living.

GMC introduced its new full-sized hybrid SUV during the broadcast. The Yukon promises to have 50 percent less miles per gallon than other vehicles in its class.

The commercial is simple in nature. A drawing of Sisyphus, the man condemned by the gods to push a boulder up a mountain for the rest of his days, works a boulder up to the top of a mountain while a narrator talks about change.

The ad's slogan is "Never Say Never," alluding to the thought that an SUV can only be a gas-guzzling machine.

Though it was hard to be distracted from one of the greatest Super Bowl upsets of all time, if we look closer, we can learn something from the producers and ad executives about what it means to be green.

Being Green ... Starts in the Kitchen

Trying to go green on a budget? Are you finding that task almost impossible?
It may be easier than you think. You just have to know where to shop, and that might mean staying away from stores like Whole Foods Market (at 5120 S. Rural Road in Tempe). Supermarkets like Safeway (at 2140 W. Grant Road in Tucson) offer many of the same products at the same or lower price, while also offering sale prices on said items. With Safeway's exclusive line, O Organics, its stores carry over 150 different products from cereal to ice cream.
So here's the lowdown on prices of some of those necessary household products:

Produce:
Peeled baby carrots at Whole Foods: $1.99/each
at Safeway: $1.99/each ($1.79 on sale)
Fresh zucchini squash at Whole Foods: $3.99/pound
at Safeway: $1.79/pound

Dairy:
Clover Farms organic milk at Whole Foods: $6.69/gallon
O Organics milk at Safeway: $6.59/gallon ($5.99 on sale)
Large organic brown eggs (dozen) at Whole Foods: $3.99/each
at Safeway: $4.29/each (less than $3 on sale)

Meat:
Organic ground beef (93% lean) at Whole Foods: $7.99/pound
O Organics chicken tenders at Safeway: $8.99/pound

Hygiene:
Whole Foods Market brand toilet tissue (four rolls): $5.99
Nature's Balance toilet tissue at Safeway (six double rolls): $4.99 (less than $4 on sale)
Whole Foods Market brand paper towels (eight rolls): $6.99
Nature's Balance paper towels at Safeway (six rolls): $5.99 (less than $5 on sale)

Cleaning products:
Seventh Generation laundry detergent at Whole Foods (50 fluid ounces): $5.99
Tide high efficiency (HE, 100 fluid ounces): 13.99 ($10.99 on sale)

Of course this is just a short list of products available at these stores. While Whole Foods offers more diverse products, such as feminine hygiene products and organic makeup, if you're on a tight budget, supermarkets are answering the demand for organic and healthier choices. And while organic lipstick may be a stretch for Safeway, at least you can find organic food for your mouth.

Defining Green Living

It's about more than recycling and hybrids. It's about a lifestyle.
I, too, had a narrow outlook on being green before I started this blog. (Being green to me had a lot to do with Kermit the Frog.) Now, I hope through research and reporting I and my readers will have an understanding of what it truly means to be green.
I will look at what efforts are being made to accomplish a more earth-friendly lifestyle at a local, state and national level. I will report on Tucson's efforts, whether it be local businesses or organizations. A relatively envionment-conscious city already, I will find what new steps Tucson is taking toward green living in 2008.
And Tucson's greatest resource - the University of Arizona - will also be under my green microscope, as I look at how it is becoming more green-conscious. From asking questions about the solar panel project from a few years back to eating roasted corn at the farmer's market on the Mall, no report on green living at the UA will go unnoticed.
So I hope you check in every Monday to see how I'm learning more about this new lifestyle and how I'm applying it to my life. My greatest hope though is that you, too, will find something to add to your life.