Archive for December, 2008
December 10th, 2008
… is starting to take shape. LikeI told you earlier.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama has selected a deputy mayor of Los Angeles to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality, transition officials said today. Nancy Sutley is the first prominent member of the gay and lesbian community to earn a senior role in the Democrat’s new administration.
With many of his top White House and Cabinet posts filled, Obama is focusing on fleshing out his natural resources and environment team, and could formally introduce his choices for interior secretary, energy secretary and environmental protection agency chief within weeks if not days.
December 10th, 2008
Well, according to The Onion he is (”Supreme Court overturns Bush v. Gore“).
Actually, lost amid the governor’s delicious scandal Tuesday is the meeting between Al Gore and Barack Obama.
While environment and energy posts are expected to be filled soon by our next president, Gore is not expected to be named. But he has “the ear” of Obama.
“We have the opportunity now to create jobs all across this country in all 50 states to repower America,” Obama said at a news conference after the meeting. “To redesign how we use energy and think about how we are increasing efficiency to make our economy stronger, make us more safe, reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
December 9th, 2008
The No Idle Zone is launching in Rockford this February in part to improve the air quality around our schools.
Interestingly enough, USA TODAY did this report finding widespread pollution at schools across the country, including Illinois (some, like Haskell, are in the worst list).
Air quality at my closest neighborhood school, for example, is pretty poor. What can you do? Here are at least a few answers.
Experts say even small amounts of toxic chemicals can do irreparable harm to children, who breathe more air per pound than adults do, and whose bodies process chemicals differently.
December 8th, 2008
I saw the Just Goods fair trade store “visiting” my church this weekend, and it reminded me you can go there, 201 7th St., Rockford, for jewelry, scarves, stationery and other neat stuff. A few weeks ago, the store was pretty busy when I stopped by.
Of course, Rockford Woman offered these ideas already.
December 3rd, 2008
Someone asked that question the other day. I stumbled upon this article, which can argue one way or the other.
On the one hand, driving to cut down a fresh tree every year leaves a carbon footprint since you’re using gas.
On the other, that artificial tree is going to end up on a landfill at some point, and it doesn’t decompose, so it’s probably the worst option (and follows logic).
The best option, of course, would be to plant a live tree with the root ball intact. Or at least to mulch your live tree.
Full disclosure: I grew up with real trees but have had the same fake one for more than a decade. If it ever “dies,” we can go for real, but we don’t even take the puppy apart anymore. We leave the lights on and cover it with a sheet in the basement.
December 2nd, 2008
Remember I told you about the students conducting the bus tailpipe experiments?
Well, the second one at Washington Academy took place Monday. You might of missed it because it was posted late. The quotes from the kids are priceless. For example:
“It’s looks like my feet after 20 days of the same socks,” said 9-year-old Darnel Royal Jr. — not that he’s ever worn the same pair of socks for 20 straight days, he clarified.
With the story you can see photos from Washington, plus a few from Spectrum School.
December 1st, 2008
Have you heard “LEED-certified” and didn’t know what that meant?
Well, BusinessRockford.com tackles that subject on this week’s magazine.
December 1st, 2008
… Otherwise known as Frustration-Free packaging, which is what Amazon.com offers.
Frustration-Free Packaging, a multi-year initiative designed to alleviate “wrap rage,” features recyclable boxes that are easy to open and free of excess materials such as hard plastic clamshell cases, plastic bindings, and wire ties. The product itself is exactly the same—we’ve just streamlined the packaging.
See the comparison. I’ll have to try this. Hopefully it catches on so we can avoid more victims of Wrap Rage — you know, plastic-induced frustration and injuries.
P.S. I noticed Amazon has a Green shopping section, too.
Twist ties! Noooo!
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