Fresh AIRE

Reuseable bags are great, but now where do I put the crap?

I, like many of you, have adopted the canvas bag for my treks to the supermarket and around town.  It appears that I have been so diligent that I have no more plastic shopping bags in my house.  I normally keep the used plastic bags stored in this holder (pictured below) under my sink.

These also happen to be the bags I use to scoop my cat's soiled litter into.  Today, either I need to teach my indoor cat to use the toilet or I need to find another way to dispose of the cat litter because I am OUT OF BAGS! 

On one hand I'm terrible proud of myself, on the other I don’t want to spend money on bags that I could get for free. I use these bags for all kinds of function like trash can liners, cat liter bags, doggie poop bags, putting my dirty soccer shoes in after a game, etc.   Is anyone else out there having the same dilemma?!

If so, leave a comment below and let our readers know what your solution is. 

21st Century ET

I’m talking about Energy Technology, not Extra Terrestrial, silly.  Seriously though, Thomas Friedman wrote an interesting piece for The New York Times last week.  The piece, entitled “Bailout (and Buildup)” presents a case about the price signal of gasoline and carbon.  The sudden drop in our gasoline prices to the lowest point in about a year undoubtedly sparked Friedman’s words, including “Why does this news leave me with mixed feelings?”  I was left with the same mixed feelings of Friedman when this price drop hit.  I mean, I was happy for the bit of relief at the pump, but a bit worried about how others would react.  I was delighted when I went to fill up my minivan last week for a mere $42…I had been paying over $70.  (Yes, I know, I drive a minivan…let’s discuss the environmental impacts of that part of my life in a later blog.)  In fact, I called my husband as I left the gas station to share this news.  In the next breath, I went on to say how this could prove to have more negative impacts than positive.  Will folks revert back to their gas-guzzling activities – driving more and using public transit less?  As an environmentalist and a realist though, I know that it will take something drastic, nearly catastrophic, for the world to make an honest change towards sustainability.  The rising price of gas was acting like such a signal; let’s not forgot that signal and all we changed as a result.  I think we’ve come a long way, but we’ve got much more road to cover, like investing in ET - energy technology!

Please don't hold 'em back!

A friend and co-worker just shared an interesting article with me.  It's about the next generation of environmentalists, termed "pint-size eco-police."  I found this piece both thrilling and frustrating.  It showcases some of the ways that today's youth is responding to the call for an environmental ethic and how their parents are reacting.  As an environmentalist, I find it so thrilling to see how so many of today's youth are grabbing the reigns on this topic, both in terms of their own actions and those of their families.  This is exactly what needs to be happening RIGHT NOW to ensure a healthy place to live, work, and play for many generations to come.  The frustrating part of this is that there seems to be an equal number of parents of this motivated youth responding positively and negatively.  Parents shouldn't be embarrassed by their child's motivation, but rather overjoyed at the fact that they are stepping up in ways that most adults haven't even done.   

One Innovative Arlingtonian

It’s so great to be involved with the Arlington community, especially on environmental topics.  The Fresh AIRE team recently learned about one of our residents and businessmen who is doing something truly innovative and out of the box. Jon Williams, Co-Owner of Restaurant 3 and Whitlows, got his 1995 Chevrolet Suburban outfitted with a conversion kit enabling him to use vegetable oil to run his truck.  This kit is called the Greasecar Vegetable Oil Conversion System and can be obtained in the region – Jon got his in Maryland. Jon is saving money and saving fuel.  He is not only saving money for his own wallet from the price of gas (his truck normally costs $170 to fill up), but he is saving money for his restaurant from the price of grease disposal.

So, environmentalists and French fry lovers unite!! 

Parc Rosslyn -=- Affordable housing never looked so good!

  One hundred or so camera-toting residents, project managers, contractors, architects, Arlington County board, County staff, and Congressman Jim Moran arrived en masse to tour and celebrate a pioneering 15 story apartment complex that's saving money and helping the planet: the Parc Rosslyn.

This project is one of the first LEED certified affordable housing project in the Country.  <LEED Certification is pending, but it's all but certain>  The project saves water, energy, and is healthier for the occupants than a traditional building.  The driving force behind this 238 apartment building located within walking distance of the Metro is the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. APAH is a private non-profit organization founded in 1989 whose goal is to provide safe and affordable housing opportunities to low and moderate income families and individuals in Arlington.

APAH has truly set a high bar with the 90+ affordable units in this project and the County is proud of their lead to create green affordable housing.

Here are a few pictures to take a peak inside; affordable housing never looked so good.  Take note of the energy rating on the tankless hot water heater that is below the measurable energy guide range.

For more information please visit the links below:

http://www.parcrosslyn.com/

http://www.apah.org/

A thought to live by...

The other day, as I was sitting in the salon waiting to get my hair cut, I saw a headline on a magazine that caught my eye – living simple.  With the increasing pressures we all face in today’s society and state of economy, I had to read it.  The article was written by a woman who moved her family to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a slower, simpler lifestyle.  In this article, the author shared a wonderful quote that really struck a cord with me, "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or, do without.”  I think our society has gotten so wrapped up in new, new, new, that we don’t often think about how to reuse materials or even how to do without them.  So, think twice before your next purchase or your next toss in the trash.  You just might find a better way to pass that item on… 

Cycling for a (Green) Cup o' Joe

Vive le cafe...ok, pardon my French, but I've gotten so many comments on this little cup that I just had to write about it. And there's a new incentive now that it gets me a $0.25 discount at the local coffee shop. It's really nothing fancy - just an old cup but everyone seems to have something to say about it. One guy thought it was from the Civil War era! I was perusing the shelves at the Corner Cupboard (Washington Blvd. and Pershing St.) when I happened along this enamel-ware cup. So it now adorns my bike clanging from the carribener attached to my bike bag.

Now I don't normally drink a lot of coffee so a little bit goes a long way for me so my drink of choice is a double-espresso macchiato. Normally $2.25, I get it for $2 because Java Shack gives you a discount for bringing in your own tumbler (or whatever coffee-porting device you may have). So this little fella has paid for itself and I'm not wasting a cup. Although that doesn't matter much since the coffeshop already uses recycled/biodegradable cups. Sounds like it pays to be green too - they were recently certified as a Green Restaurant. I'll sip to that - vive le cafe!

Vive le cafe...ok, pardon my French, but I've gotten so many comments on this little cup that I just had to write about it. And there's a new incentive now that it gets me a $0.25 discount at the local coffee shop. It's really nothing fancy - just an old cup but everyone seems to have something to say about it. One guy thought it was from the Civil War era! I was perusing the shelves at the Corner Cupboard (Washington Blvd. and Pershing St.) when I happened along this enamel-ware cup. So it now adorns my bike clanging from the carribener attached to my bike bag.

Now I don't normally drink a lot of coffee so a little bit goes a long way for me so my drink of choice is a double-espresso macchiato. Normally $2.25, I get it for $2 because Java Shack gives you a discount for bringing in your own tumbler (or whatever coffee-porting device you may have). So this little fella has paid for itself and I'm not wasting a cup. Although that doesn't matter much since the coffeshop already uses recycled/biodegradable cups. Sounds like it pays to be green too - they were recently certified as a Green Restaurant. I'll sip to that - vive le cafe!

Holiday Savings! October is Energy Awareness Month - Purchase Wisely and Save Extra Dollars!

October was proclaimed Energy Awareness Month in 1991 by President George Bush and since then, the U.S. Department of Energy has been conducting energy awareness campaigns that promote the wise and efficient use of our nation's energy.  This year's Energy Awareness Month theme, Working to Secure a Clean Energy Future encourages everyone to work together to make wise energy choices. 

In the spirit of this holiday, Governor Timothy Kaine announced yesterday that Virginia’s second annual sales tax holiday on energy efficient products will take place October 10-13, 2008.  During this year’s holiday, Virginians will be exempt from paying sales tax on ENERGY STAR and WaterSense qualified products that cost $2,500 or less. These products include energy efficient products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, ceiling fans, clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators and room air conditioners, and water efficient products such as certain toilets and faucets.  So, if you're thinking about product replacements, consider this opportunity for saving a few extra dollars.