I have recently made a change in my work schedule so that I can focus more of my time on the main problems I have been writing about here for the last few years. I plan to start a new website allowing people interested in acting on something green. To do this, I have been learning a new programming language and framework (Ruby on Rails) and a number of other new things that come along in the bargain. My company DigitalAdvisor (where I’ll still be working, but fewer hours) is working on an entirely new project, stretching my awareness even further beyond what I would do normally.
Keeping up with what is new requires a great deal of effort. I think this is relevant to the topic of this blog: we need to keep sharp, and understand nuances: every moment of the world is new, and we are now faced with the necessity (no longer the option) of change. Those who are mentally agile, and expect and are willing to work will be able to keep up.
As my 47th birthday approaches, I have become acutely aware of the effort required. Perhaps it’s the mid-life-crisis talking (more…)
Whole Foods continues to be a cool company. This April, they will no longer offer plastic bags to shoppers. We have been re-using their reusable bags for a good long time now (and not just when we shop at Whole Foods). They work better than paper or plastic, and they last a long time. It can take a while to remember to bring them with you, but there are pretty much no other negatives I can see.
I wonder how it came to be that paper or plastic bags were so ubiquitous? (more…)
As we are faced with large challenges like rising energy costs and global warming, we need to reconsider the things that have insinuated themselves into our lives over the years and step back and think a little, or a lot. Consider these facts. (more…)
Theresa found a site called “C3″ for Carbon Conscious Consumer. They have monthly pledges and contests with friendly competitions. For example, this month’s is Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB). They recorded a bit under 20,000 pledges and have simple, doable tasks, each month.
It’s a nice, simple concept and recognizes an important aspect of this whole thing: if we are going to make changes, some will require us to get into new habits and patterns. A contest and a shared mission with others is a fun way to make an idea more than just something we read and forget.
Check it out!
The stock markets are down, reflecting the impact of a weak American economy. The weak American economy is attributed to the sub-prime housing bubble, and energy costs. President Bush is responding similarly to this crisis as he did to Katerina: denial, with a smattering of acknowledgment wrapped as “economic stimulus” which is translated as “more money for the rich”. But this is not a political polemic. Been there. Done that. This is a little reminder that the 10% drop in the markets witnessed in these last few weeks is just one of the many signs of a fragile economy. And of course I think that fragility stems from two related issues:
- Our Dependence on Excessive Consumption
Oh, hmm, yeah, that’s only one thing. The whole energy thing, and that pesky Iraq war thing, and that gnarly global warming thing, a nation that is grossly overweight — these are all just outcomes of our excessive consumption.
But why do we consume so much? (more…)
My whole family is very impressed with the Evolve Roadrunner shower head. Evolve Roadrunner provides a very, very nice shower experience that is comparable to regular shower heads. To my surprise, I really like the “ShowerStart” feature.
And yes, the Roadrunner also uses a lot less water than typical shower heads, although you would never know it. We recommend the Roadrunner. If you’re worried about the price, don’t: the payback could be a lot faster than you think.
Greenwashing, or Washing Green?
A few weeks ago, I was bashing this company’s marketing message (more…)
