Living off the grid can bring amazing gifts

My guest blogger this month is the inspirational John Wells and his Field Lab. John sold his home in upstate New York to live off the Grid in Texas.  He has found a completely new life filled with deep connections and meaning.

the Field Lab blog he writes on is filled with amazing stories of how he is creating a sustainable and energy independant life.  The stories of his friends (two legged and four), his photographs and his perspective are worth taking a look at.  He is living proof that within us all is the ability to get up and change our lives, be creative, be challenged and find happiness in simpler things.

Need just a little bit of what his wide open space looks like?

When the allure of cramped apartment living has worn off, when you've been bumped one too many times from texting pedestrians, and when grimy post winter potholed NYC streets is just too much to bear, check out John's live webcam

Penelope Green of the NY Times traveled to visit John and published his story in last weeks NY Times Home section.  I love the idea that John lives quietly with 500k+ virtual visitors, living through his eyes and seeing how one man decided he could change his life and create a magnificent happy and peaceful world.

John has an artists eye in everything he sees.  As a photographer his images capture a magical world he has created. check out his lovely postcards.

Read about his story and follow links to his site and be inspired.

John and Goldie

 

 

Public Library with miles of books

Today I heard that Borders is going bankrupt.  Apparently they are losing 2 million dollars a day in the NYC stores they will be closing.  Okay I'm not a mathematician, but I always thought the rise of the mega bookstore was somewhat out of balance, so I'm not surprised with the news.

Yesterday I did something empowering and fun.  I walked into my local public library and took out some books.  It has been years I must admit and have felt guilty many times running into a Borders or Barnes and Noble when I could have easily checked out a book from the Library.  When did we stop collectively caring about the Public Library?

Here's my sustainability tip: Don't fret over the closing of Borders, go to your local library.  Here's a link to the NYC Public Library locations. 

And if you really want to own a book or give a gift, instead of ordering online where books need to be packaged and boxed and shipped, consider buying from an independently locally owned book store.  A used book is even better. Here in NYC we have the amazing Strand Books. 

The Public Library is a beacon of hope, support it to keep it before it's too late.

Winter time care for your Guitar

Since it's time to check on the humidity in your guitar I thought I'd repost this great tip.  Especially in over heated NY apartments, can you say dry, dry, DRY?

A sponge, plastic cover, string and a plastic baggie, all could have gone into the garbage.  I certainly could have bought a 'new' guitar humidifier made in some far away place in a nice package that would have lasted as far as the store to my garbage. A humidifier like many things doesn't need to look nice, it needs to be efficient. The inside of a guitar isn't thinking about style, it wants a drink.

There are endless ways we can reuse, reduce and recycle!  What's one of Yours?

Resolution 2011 Reduce Reuse and Recycle

If you're someone who likes to make New Years resolutions, here's one that worth sticking to. Learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle in NYC. The Lower East Side Ecology Center is just the place to show you how.  Their mission is to work towards a sustainable New York City. If you're like me, you cringe every time you see the curbs full of garbage that could and should be recycled, and transformed into something else.  I've seen far too many garbage trucks filled with easy recyclable items heading to landfill because so many citizens of this amazing city can't be bothered.  The city is growing and with it a huge amount of construction creating vast amounts of waste. There should be a comprehensive plan to reduce, reuse and recycle the tons of construction debris leaving sites heading for burial and not rebirth. And why is it that office buildings having the lion share of waste are not mandated to recycle?

Funny how another term for garbage is refuse, is it because we refuse to accept our responsibility for dealing with our own excessive waste? Why are we so apathetic? Waste has to got to go somewhere, and in the city we cart it away making grotesque toxic mountains in a whole lot of someone else's back yards. Or it's shipped onto floating barges to nowhere-and if some "accidentally" gets dumped into the sea, who's being held accountable? Garbage costs the city=us so much. We waste with our waste. But wait, there's money in them thar hills and garbage islands floating off the starboard bow!

The city's waste should be revenue based. It's a mountain of a challenge (pun intended) but we have to be up to the task, because sooner or later we'll come to our collective senses and see the value in making our city landfill free.

Here's one action to start the New Year: learn how, where and when you can recycle your e-waste. Make it a point to collect your junk together and instead of easily dumping onto your sidewalk, take a tiny bit more time and take your stuff to one of the listed e-waste locations. Feel good about being part of the solution.

The Ecology Center offers free public compost collection and education, electronic waste recycling, stewardship of public open space, and environmental education. Their programs focus on offering opportunities for all New Yorkers to learn about environmental issues facing NYC and to take responsibility for solving those problems.

So here's to the resolution to think before you throw away, and my bet you'll have a better time sticking to this resolution than giving up chocolate and you'll feel much better for it.

Eat what you already have in stock

 

I follow Sam Davidson's educational Cool People Care site, where he proves that with only 5 minutes out of your life you can make a difference.  Here's to the New Year and reducing food waste right in our own homes. Here in NYC many people I know use their oven for storage-no kidding. Maybe it's time to change that and actually cook something in it, think of the savings.

Follow his hyperlinks below to discover more tasty stuff that you can do to make your world=our world healthier, happier and less wasteful.

5 MINUTES OF CARING THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011

Don't Shop By Sam Davidson 

If you've managed to keep your New Year's Resolution of saving money because you haven't been to the store yet, see how much longer you can keep it up. Chances are, you've got plenty of food sitting right in your pantry - why go to the grocery store? Unless you need perishable items, commit to eating everything in your pantry and fridge until you restock. You'll be surprised at how long it will last, and if you're not going to eat something (and it hasn't expired), donate it to your local food bank. An uncluttered house never tasted so good!

support your local economy

What is the 3/50 project?  

Think of 3 independently owned stores you'd miss if they were gone...the idea is you spend $50 at each, and in the process help save your local economy.

How about doing the same for your local non-profit?  Small arts, education, animal rights, and community organizations were hit really hard by the recession, including dried up grants, reduced donor support and economic tightening of expenditures. They truly need your support now more than ever.  I have a friend who explains it this way, "in these tough times I give 'til it hurts and it hurts, but I can't imagine my community without these organizations, so I give."  Consider splitting up your donor giving pie into smaller pieces by giving to the international organizations you believe in, but also add to it the local ones you might not realize you take for granted and would certainly miss if they were gone.

So with the concept of the 3/50 project in mind, why not think about 3 local organizations you would really miss if they were no longer around and give $50. And don't forget to let them know how much they mean to you.  


 

UN meeting Climate Change 2010 Cancun, Mexico

 

Global Climate Change action in Cancun, Mexico seems to be for the most part stuck.  As it was sadly inefficient last year in Copenhagen, will those that are meeting this year finally agree that humanity is as stake?

here's a blog post by Richard Leigh from Urban Green Council (UGC)

We can and should do so much more.

I've learned from Radiohead's website that UK Prime Minister David Cameron is not attending.  Why is it that heads of state find it so hard to understand that leadership means thinking about the future of our future.  I do hope that US Energy Secretary Steven Chu's warnings of our own hiding under a rock while other nations charge forward into newer technology's will hold sway.  It's a new millennium folks, call it whatever you'd like, Greentech, Green jobs, but developing and funding alternatives to petroleum and coal are healthier and more sustainable for our environment while being very financially appealing.

United Nations Climate Change Conference Cancun - COP 16 / CMP 6

The United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010. It encompasses the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), as well as the thirty-third sessions of both the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and the fifteenth session of the AWG-KP and thirteenth session of the AWG-LCA.

Eve Ensler V-Day and V-Girls

What does Eve Ensler and V-Day the non profit created to stop violence towards women and girls have to do with Sustainability?

EVERYTHING!  Pure and simple, without women we can't sustain life.

Eve's book 'I Am An Emotional Creature' should be required reading for EVERYONE.  Bullying/Sexting/Peer Pressure is an issue facing schools today.  Eve's book empowers girls to have the courage to voice emotions and affirm that they are not alone.

Join the V-Girls movement, make a difference, be a star.

What Eve has accomplished is super human and you know what?  We all have that ability within us, maybe it's to be just like Eve, a leader, or maybe it's to be able to talk about it to friends and family.  Maybe it's about talking to your senator, congressional member, local mayor. Or doing something you never imagined you could do.  The first step is right in front of you.

Get the facts

For me  "I Am An Emotional Creature" is the 21st century version of "Our Bodies And Ourselves." 

 

e-waste something you can do

Tekserve in NYC has regular e-waste drives.  Saturday October 9th is the time to recycle your e-waste. NYC'ers clean out your limited space and instead of throwing away electronic dinosaurs, recycle them.  It's easy and you will feel good about ridding yourself of last years cell phone, computer, fax machine, printer, game, what ever, that just fills up your very expensive space.

here's the link for details

from tekserve website:

Why Recycle Your Electronics?

The components in many electronics can be incredibly hazardous to the environment - contributing up to 70% of the toxins found in landfills - so it's important that they are properly recycled. Find out more through our links to articles on computer recycling. Sponsored collection events, like this one, are one of the easiest ways to properly dispose of your old gadgets in NYC. Due to funding constraints, the city's electronics recycling events and the Build It Green electronics drop-off program have been suspended.

September Garden Under The Spell

I'm  gardening  with  a  sad  heart  near  the  end  of  this  season.

 

I've  battled  the  heat,   drought,   ticks,   sunburn,   backache  and weeding boredom.

 

Now  I'll  have  to  garden  without  the  nursery  I've  come  to  depend  on.    

 

I  suppose  most  gardeners  go  through  an  end-of-season  burnout,   like  some  kind  of

 

addiction,   where  I  want  to  stop,   but  the  gardens  keep  pulling  me  in,    like-

 

'Look,  Weed  Me.'     ' Pretty  Plant  For  Sale.'     ' Redo,   Dig  Up  Everything.

 

It's  hard  to  stop  the  obsession  even  when  I  want  to.    The  thing  is, gardens give  

 

me  great  pleasure.    Pleasure  that's  almost   all  visual,   without  real  practicality  and

 

benefit,   aside  from  feeding  a  few  insects  and  deer.    Just  like  flowers  you pick  for

 

the  house,   which  live  a  few  days  and  then  die,    gardens  are  similar,   a  little longer  lived,  

 

but  not  by  much  if  you  stop  tending  them.

 

I've  come  to  see  gardens  as  a  human  extravagance,   something  only  we  do.

 

Maybe  it's  part  of  what  makes  us  what  we  are,    beings  that  labor  for something  

 

that's  only  beautiful.

 

I  believe  I  will  always  be  under  the  spell,    but  I  don't  know  how  I'll  work  it  into  my

 

life,    if   I'll  keep  pursuing  it  professionally,   or  just  indulge  in  my  own  backyard.

The  'Gardener's  Rehab'  is  around  the  corner,    5-6  months  without  digging  into the  earth,  with  lots  of  time  to  daydream.

Read More

Passive House in NY

What is a passive house? It's a house that is designed to use 90% less heating energy, 17% total energy of conventional 3 bedroom house without the use of photovoltaic, geothermal or wind turbines.  I was invited to the 'barn raising' and experienced the amazing moment of joy working together to pull up the trusses. To listen to Dennis Wedlick architect describe in lay men's terms how it works was like watching a master class, yet it was so simple. Using a drawing of a coffee cup he asked, "how can we design this cup to continuously not only have hot, but fresh coffee all day long?" Using the same principles of keeping that coffee hot and fresh, that's how he designed a house to stay an even temperature year long and with constant fresh air.  How? Proper house siting, insulation, and a 'magic box' (air ventilator) that circulates the air whether warm or cool.

 

 

 I like to shine the spotlight on people who I feel balance a life of creativity with integrity and who strive to make this planet more sustainable. Dennis Wedlick architect and Bill Stratton builder are doing just that.

I've copied an article from The Architects Newspaper Blog  07.26.2010, about the first Passive House in NY. article by Julie V. Iovine   Read on

Bill Stratton and Dennis Wedlick

Broadway, Climate Change and the White House

What do Broadway, Climate Change and the White House have to do with each other? This months Guest Blogger comes from Allen Hershkowitz, NRDC Senior Scientist, NYC and throughout the world.  I thought I'd also share it here on my sustainability blog. Allen writes so clearly, carefully and passionately about how Broadway has corrected inappropriate policies that once affected negatively but now help to reduce the impact of Climate Change. 

Steps forward that's all we can ask for and try to accomplish.  Kudos to BGA for making a difference.  Their work teaches others through observation and then action.

Broadway Goes To The White House   read the blog

NYC Subway Girl's tips for a cooler summer

This summer if you're serious about doing your part to reduce energy consumption due to the horrific oil spew in the Gulf, consider how much our energy use produces heat.  We heat things up artificially and then we need to cool them down artificially.  Sounds crazy but true. A life lived with concern for sustainability starts with reason. Reducing waste and energy is a reasonable place to start.

Here are NYC Subway Girl's top ten things you can do to keep things cooler AND reduce energy consumption this summer:

1) Turn off lights when not in use.  

2) Do you know how much heat comes off incandescent lighting? One solution is to switch to LED or CFC compact fluorescent bulbs (Kudos if you've already switched).  A quick solution is to pay closer attention to #1 above.

3) Turn cooling units to realistic temperatures. Just because you can, don't cool to need to wear a parka. 

4) Install programmable thermostats.  They come cheap and easy to program, set for moderate temperatures when away or asleep.  Portable A/C units come with programmable features too-upgrade it's worth it which leads me to #5.

5)  replace older model refrigerators, A/C units and other small appliances.    If you're reading this you're on a computer.  Imagine if you were still using a computer from 2000?!  Why hold onto your antiquated energy eating monsters just because "they're still humming"  That hum is the sound of heating up your room, a huge energy and money waste.  Remember anything that has to cool puts out heat. (ever stand near any one of these units you'll know what I mean).  Energy Star is a must, for A/C units look for ratings above a #9, #10+ is best. Refrigerators look at the listed annual cost of electricity posted inside the unit.

6) Close refrigerator door.  Don't poke around with the door wide open for longer than it takes to remove something. The unit will have to re-cool everything and the motors will heat up.  And keep the temperature reasonable, it's fun I guess, but ice-cream isn't supposed to be put in a microwave (wasting more energy in the process). 

7) Do not idle car while sitting in it, unless it's 105 degrees outside and your grandmother or elderly pet is with you forget about it.  The heat that is produced is excessive and the harmful emissions are not worth it. 

8) Unplug chargers and computers when not in use, they really heat up a lot and waste energy.

9) Do not use a dryer for your clothes. Hot, hot, and hotter.  Especially in summer, clothes dry quickly on a line, hanging over a shower curtain rod, or be cool and purchase a drying rack.

10) Turn off water when brushing teeth, soaping dishes, even washing your body in the shower. Water needs pumps, pumps use energy.  Hot water needs to be heated.  So, be mindful of excess water use. Replacing older model dishwashers and washing machines reduce water use by as much as 50%.

Update

on 2010-07-15 20:29 by NYC Subway Girl

How to dispose of all those old electronics you've collected known as e-waste? 

It's important to recycle all appliances.  Most states and local communities have designated e-waste drop off days easily searchable online. Here's some info for New York  Before discarding appliances containing CFC gas or freon (such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, or dehumidifiers), you must schedule an appointment to place the item at the curb for CFC recovery. You can make an appointment on the Sanitation website or call 311. For safety reasons, the law requires doors to be removed from refrigerators and freezers before placing at the curb.

I found Green Up USA while trying to learn more about e-waste. Green Up USA Inc. is a non-profit, electronics recycling organization reaching out to organizations and communities to heighten environmental awareness through recycling and disposal fundraising events to support charities.  

Cool People Care features NYC SubwayGirl

Cool People Care is an amazing company based out of cool Nashville, who help nonprofits do what they do better. Their website has a weekly series called "5 minutes of Caring."  This week NYC subwaygirl is thrilled to be featured.  'What's Your Inspiration' and 'Sustainability Matters' is something they feel worth sharing on their website.  They've even included my fun video blog about How to Humidify a Guitar with recycled materials.

check it out:   Cool People Care and NYC Subway Girl featured

Not to mention they have co-branded a t-shirt with NYC Subway Girl, which you can order online.

The t-shirts were designed by Mary Neufeld and made with earth friendly inks by Friendly Arctic.   Cool People Care member and Social Media guru Nancy VanReece  stopped by Friendly Arctic shop and spoke with owner Andy Bird, she videoed his Inspiration, Nashville Style.  Check it out!

Be Inspired@NYCsubwaygirl

about Cool People Care 

 

 

Energy consumption in the midst of Oil Spill

If the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico does one thing it should be a wake up call to consider all the energy we waste.  I walked past a store today on Broadway (it's 90 degrees) and the AC hit me on the sidewalk like a huge slap in the face.  You might say, get over yourself NYC Subway Girl, didn't it feel like a cool pick me up? But at what cost? It's time we start adding up cause and effect. Okay it's also shameless marketing, and now it's more than that.  It's even illegal, but stores still do it to tempt people inside. If you see a store with its doors open remind them of the crisis we are in. If enough people complain, things do change.  Why turn a blind eye on this simple act of closing a door?

Turn off your computer and lights and gadgets when not in use, and chargers when sitting idle. 

In the work place, if you notice everything left on all night long when no one is there, start a campaign to change this wasteful policy. It’s easy to install timed sensors that go off when not in use.  At least turn off the computers!

Little things add up to a mindfulness of right action.

Humidify Guitar Tip with Recycled Materials

A sponge, plastic cover, string and a plastic baggie, all could have gone into the garbage.  I certainly could have bought a 'new' guitar humidifier made in some far away place in a nice package that would have lasted as far as the store to my garbage. A humidifier like many things doesn't need to look nice, it needs to be efficient. The inside of a guitar isn't thinking about style, it wants a drink.

There are endless ways we can reuse, reduce and recycle!  What's one of Yours?

Chopsticks

Chopsticks like so many throw away items are more wasteful than you think. Bring your own and refuse the throwaway kind. Why consider taking them in to-go bags if you already have 400,000 at home, okay I exaggerate, but still… take the 2 seconds to say no thank you to the systematic filling of your lunch bag with extra stuff you know you won’t use.  And keep those extras in your pocketbook or briefcase, or save for parties, or that fun picnic you decide to take.  I’ve used them for paint stirrers, left over string bobbins, or poking a hole to plant seeds.  Just throwing them away because, well, you used the plastic fork instead, is somehow odd.

Regarding these choices to consider:

Call it sacrifice,

learn to embrace it, or

better yet, find a solution. 

Doing nothing is the wrong option.

June 5th World Environment Day = WED

You know about Earth Day, but do you KNOW about World Environment Day? Read on, make a choice to do at least one thing, start a conversation with your kids or neighbors about what you=we can do make this world cleaner, healthier and saner.

World Environment Day  WED

World Environment Day (WED) 2010 is aimed to be the biggest, most widely celebrated, global day for positive, environmental action.

Commemorated on 5 June since 1972, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

Through WED, we are able to give a human face to environmental issues and enable people to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.

WED is also a day for advocating partnerships among all stakeholders or perhaps, even more correctly, among all species living on this one planet and sharing a common future.

WED 2010 is aimed to be the biggest WED celebration ever and we count on you to make this happen! We call for action – organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, plant a tree or better yet organize a collective tree planting effort, walk to work, start a recycling drive . . . the possibilities are endless.

Whatever you do, tell us about it. We will post your activities on this website and make it part of the ‘Wide World of WED’ map.

More greener life tips, Printing and Paper

  • When you print documents use the font Century Gothic. 
A Wisconsin college did a study that shows Century Gothic uses 30% less printer ink than Arial.
  • Certainly if you have to print, there’s no excuse not to use both sides.
  • I save paper by reusing the old.  Unless the dog ate it! Here’s what I do with junk mail, or any paper with a blank side, I rip or cut into sheets for scrap, notepaper.  My scribbling and song ideas, notes to self, reveal on the other side a funny strange time capsule of marketing campaigns, old drafts and my world is full of them stuffed here and there.