No sooner did I see this article from PDX Green about what they are doing to encourage people to buy local in Portland, then I discovered that the Seattle area is doing the same thing (although I hadn't heard anything about it).
Called "Celebrate local" here's a link to a blog that talks about it. While Portland's event runs Nov 29- Dec 7, our event apparently was only officially one day, but I think, with or without an official event, it's a fantastic idea (and you're less likely to get trampled or shot!).
In addition to the above link Greenopia has a list of "green businesses" as do my friends from KPTK's blue pages, and I'm sure there are others (let me know if you know of any good lists of local businesses). But the point is, while you're considering gift options this year, to "think local" and be sure to tell those businesses WHY you are shopping with them so that maybe next year, this can grow.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
More on LED Lights
Green Human's recent post caught the attention of reader (and PSE spokesguy) Andy Wappler who was kind enough to send over a list of local events that are using LED lights.
According to the PSE press release. "More than 1 million LED light bulbs are decorating the region's trees and public walkways, such as Bremerton's Harborside Park, Vashon Island's Ober Park, the "Festival of Lights" and "Lighting of Langley" on Whidbey Island, Redmond's Holiday Tree, Bellevue's "Garden d'Lights," Kent's downtown buildings and Town Square Plaza, Mercer Island's tree at Mercerdale Park, and the Governor's Mansion in Olympia."
PSE's energy saving statistics of "75 percent less energy" pretty much agreed with my estimate although they put their estimated life at 10 years compared to the five I'd read elsewhere. They also pointed out the fact that PSE has donated 3,000 strands of lights, or 300,000 LED holiday light bulbs, to cities and communities with large outdoor displays. For every hour of operation, these 3,000 strands will collectively save communities approximately $3,000 on electricity bills compared to using traditional holiday lights.
My biggest disappointment with LED lights so far has been finding the darn things - possibly because of consumer demand.
We went shopping for the larger size C-9 lights last weekend (anything smaller is not going to look good on my house). The Issaquah Home Depot had ONE two hundred strand left, the LED shelves were essentially bare. I had high hopes for Costco but they had zero! Good ole Fred Meyer came thru with strings of 26 lights, but it's going to take a lot of strings that length to do the job. So if you do find them, buy them!
Assuming it doesn't rain too much this weekend, I'll let you know how they look on my house and if I had any unanticipated issues putting them up.
According to the PSE press release. "More than 1 million LED light bulbs are decorating the region's trees and public walkways, such as Bremerton's Harborside Park, Vashon Island's Ober Park, the "Festival of Lights" and "Lighting of Langley" on Whidbey Island, Redmond's Holiday Tree, Bellevue's "Garden d'Lights," Kent's downtown buildings and Town Square Plaza, Mercer Island's tree at Mercerdale Park, and the Governor's Mansion in Olympia."
PSE's energy saving statistics of "75 percent less energy" pretty much agreed with my estimate although they put their estimated life at 10 years compared to the five I'd read elsewhere. They also pointed out the fact that PSE has donated 3,000 strands of lights, or 300,000 LED holiday light bulbs, to cities and communities with large outdoor displays. For every hour of operation, these 3,000 strands will collectively save communities approximately $3,000 on electricity bills compared to using traditional holiday lights.
My biggest disappointment with LED lights so far has been finding the darn things - possibly because of consumer demand.
We went shopping for the larger size C-9 lights last weekend (anything smaller is not going to look good on my house). The Issaquah Home Depot had ONE two hundred strand left, the LED shelves were essentially bare. I had high hopes for Costco but they had zero! Good ole Fred Meyer came thru with strings of 26 lights, but it's going to take a lot of strings that length to do the job. So if you do find them, buy them!
Assuming it doesn't rain too much this weekend, I'll let you know how they look on my house and if I had any unanticipated issues putting them up.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Josh Tickells critically acclaimed film "Fuel" comes to Seattle November 21st.
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This week, as the Senate listens to the Big Three Auto Makers plead their case, and President-elect Obama talks about the importance of "green jobs", we have an opportunity to see Josh Tickells new film: "FUEL" at Seattle's Varsity Theater.
The film sold out in Portland recently and is coming to the Varsity Theatre in Seattle 11/21/2008 - 11/27/2008. This film has received critical acclaim and was winner of the "Audience Award for Best Documentary" at the Sundance Film Festival.
The cast includes everyone from Richard Branson to Barbara Boxer, Cheryl Crow, Robert Kennedy Jr and even our own Jay Inlsee!
Even better, they'll be Q&A with Director Josh Tickell following the 7pm on Friday, 11/21/08 and Q&A with U.S. Representative Jay Inslee following the 7pm show on Saturday, 11/22/08
Showtimes for the week of 11/21/08
Fri-Sat 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:40
Sun 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:25
Mon-Thur 7:00, 9:25
A synopsis of the film and more information can be found here.
I predict a sell out so get your tickets now.
This week, as the Senate listens to the Big Three Auto Makers plead their case, and President-elect Obama talks about the importance of "green jobs", we have an opportunity to see Josh Tickells new film: "FUEL" at Seattle's Varsity Theater.
The film sold out in Portland recently and is coming to the Varsity Theatre in Seattle 11/21/2008 - 11/27/2008. This film has received critical acclaim and was winner of the "Audience Award for Best Documentary" at the Sundance Film Festival.
The cast includes everyone from Richard Branson to Barbara Boxer, Cheryl Crow, Robert Kennedy Jr and even our own Jay Inlsee!
Even better, they'll be Q&A with Director Josh Tickell following the 7pm on Friday, 11/21/08 and Q&A with U.S. Representative Jay Inslee following the 7pm show on Saturday, 11/22/08
Showtimes for the week of 11/21/08
Fri-Sat 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:40
Sun 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:25
Mon-Thur 7:00, 9:25
A synopsis of the film and more information can be found here.
I predict a sell out so get your tickets now.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Holiday Lights: Incandescent vs. LED
A story from PDXgreen about how the city of Portland's business association is switching all the downtown Christmas lights from incandecent to LED caught my eye. First, because I swore last year that I would change my house lights (I am sick and tired of trying to figure out which little bulb is burning out) and second, because of the apparently amazing energy saving - the story mentions 80% less energy.
80% LESS ENERGY??? That's huge!
The story links to an article from Consumer Report which tested a 50 foot string of LED's against incandescent blubs in three sizes (mini, C7 and C9) with LED's using 1 to 3 kilowatt hours compared with 12 to 105 kw of hours for the incandescents! Where LED's were slightly more cost than incandescents, (only slightly) they quickly paid back in the energy savings.
The best part? The LED bulbs were still working after 4,000 plus hours, where each string of incandescents had one or more bulbs burn out before 2,000 hours. You can read the full report here but the bottom line is: they don't cost much more (if anything), they run cooler, reducing fire risk, and last longer.
The Portland downtown business owners paid $180,000 for the new LED lights, but expect to recoup $100,000 of it from a state business tax credit for energy - efficient improvements. I'm going to see if I can find out if Washington State has this type of tax credit available and also which group locally are using these types of lights (a trip to the Downtown Seattle Association website indicates that at least some of their lights are LED's.)
And what did Portland do with the 22,000 strands of incandescent lights? Recycled them of course!
80% LESS ENERGY??? That's huge!
The story links to an article from Consumer Report which tested a 50 foot string of LED's against incandescent blubs in three sizes (mini, C7 and C9) with LED's using 1 to 3 kilowatt hours compared with 12 to 105 kw of hours for the incandescents! Where LED's were slightly more cost than incandescents, (only slightly) they quickly paid back in the energy savings.
The best part? The LED bulbs were still working after 4,000 plus hours, where each string of incandescents had one or more bulbs burn out before 2,000 hours. You can read the full report here but the bottom line is: they don't cost much more (if anything), they run cooler, reducing fire risk, and last longer.
The Portland downtown business owners paid $180,000 for the new LED lights, but expect to recoup $100,000 of it from a state business tax credit for energy - efficient improvements. I'm going to see if I can find out if Washington State has this type of tax credit available and also which group locally are using these types of lights (a trip to the Downtown Seattle Association website indicates that at least some of their lights are LED's.)
And what did Portland do with the 22,000 strands of incandescent lights? Recycled them of course!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Seward Park Gets $58,888 Grant to "Restore Ecosystems". Now, They Need Volunteers - For the Poetry Slam & Dance Contest!
In what has to be one of the "quirkier" press releases I've received lately, Seattle's Seward Park has been given a grant to restore eco-systems in the park.
According to the press release: "Untapped citizens of Seattle will be at the heart of a conservation effort to restore the native ecosystems of the city's 277-acre Seward Park. The park supports several habitats, including one of the only remaining stands of old growth forest in the city, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna."
Okay, sign up and do some trail work at the Park. Simple enough, on the surface. But wait, it gets better. Way, waaaayyy better!
The money for the project is an "innovation grant" from TogetherGreen, the Audobon Society and Toyota. Apparently the "innovation" needed to win this grant was to employ both traditional and non-traditional outreach techniques.
The release goes on to list some of these "traditional and NON traditional techniques". Among them: (a) Displaying accurate images and decals of local flora and fauna AT TATTOO PARLORS AND NAIL SALONS. (b) Holding POETRY SLAMS, RAP CONTESTS, and MODERN DANCE performances with NATURE THEMES. "
So the Seattle Parks department is going to hold RAP contests to attract volunteers from the Tat Parlors and Nail Salons to help plant trees? Uh...... okay I guess....... if that's what it took to get the money. (I'm sure they're nice enough - and it is a worthy cause).
But hold on, it gets even quirkier. In addition, volunteers can experience "hands-on science exploration trips where we'll be taught how to use GPS technology, track urban wildlife and conduct DNA profiling, and . " WHOA. DID SOMEONE JUST SAY DNA PROFILING? I sincerely hope they're talking about the testing tree DNA. Question: do Trees even have DNA? Or maybe we're going to catch squirrels and test their DNA?
Oh, and according to the website, you can also WIN PRIZES! WHO KNEW TRAIL WORK COULD BE SO MUCH FUN?
Okay, I don't know if was the NATURE RAP CONTEST, the tracking of Urban Wildlife or the FREE PRIZES that got me hooked, but as long as it's not my DNA that's being tested, I'm in!
So I do give them props for " innovation". Except here's the problem. As far as I can see, there is no where to sign and the Calendar of Events doesn't have any events listed for Seward Park! There does look to be some trail work events planned in Tacoma, but unfortunately they don't look to include the dance contests or DNA profiling.
Guess I'll have to keep checking back.
Bummer.
According to the press release: "Untapped citizens of Seattle will be at the heart of a conservation effort to restore the native ecosystems of the city's 277-acre Seward Park. The park supports several habitats, including one of the only remaining stands of old growth forest in the city, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna."
Okay, sign up and do some trail work at the Park. Simple enough, on the surface. But wait, it gets better. Way, waaaayyy better!
The money for the project is an "innovation grant" from TogetherGreen, the Audobon Society and Toyota. Apparently the "innovation" needed to win this grant was to employ both traditional and non-traditional outreach techniques.
The release goes on to list some of these "traditional and NON traditional techniques". Among them: (a) Displaying accurate images and decals of local flora and fauna AT TATTOO PARLORS AND NAIL SALONS. (b) Holding POETRY SLAMS, RAP CONTESTS, and MODERN DANCE performances with NATURE THEMES. "
So the Seattle Parks department is going to hold RAP contests to attract volunteers from the Tat Parlors and Nail Salons to help plant trees? Uh...... okay I guess....... if that's what it took to get the money. (I'm sure they're nice enough - and it is a worthy cause).
But hold on, it gets even quirkier. In addition, volunteers can experience "hands-on science exploration trips where we'll be taught how to use GPS technology, track urban wildlife and conduct DNA profiling, and . " WHOA. DID SOMEONE JUST SAY DNA PROFILING? I sincerely hope they're talking about the testing tree DNA. Question: do Trees even have DNA? Or maybe we're going to catch squirrels and test their DNA?
Oh, and according to the website, you can also WIN PRIZES! WHO KNEW TRAIL WORK COULD BE SO MUCH FUN?
Okay, I don't know if was the NATURE RAP CONTEST, the tracking of Urban Wildlife or the FREE PRIZES that got me hooked, but as long as it's not my DNA that's being tested, I'm in!
So I do give them props for " innovation". Except here's the problem. As far as I can see, there is no where to sign and the Calendar of Events doesn't have any events listed for Seward Park! There does look to be some trail work events planned in Tacoma, but unfortunately they don't look to include the dance contests or DNA profiling.
Guess I'll have to keep checking back.
Bummer.
Eat More Greens, Save More Green! Yes, You Can!
No sooner had I read the article in last Sunday's paper about Whole Foods and other organic food stores struggling now that the economy is in the tank (the idea being that people are cutting back on "organic food" because it costs more) than my wife simultanously announced that, in addition to ourselves, we were going to put our weekly food budget "on a diet".
So here's the question: Can you cut out more expensive "organically grown food" but still eat healthy? Our family is going to give it a shot.
We think the answer lies in farmers markets, which, even though we're heading for winter, we hope we'll still be able to find.
Here's a link to an article from Treehugger on "getting the most from shopping at the farmers market". If you haven't tried it yet, is really is a great combination of (a) buying local, (b) eating healthy, (c) supporting local small businesses, (d) carnival type fun. I also think there is another benefit (e) saving money!
Here's a list of local Farmers Markets in the greater Seattle area, a surpising number of which are open year round (if you're somewhere else you can google and easily get a list).
I'll let you know how it goes.
So here's the question: Can you cut out more expensive "organically grown food" but still eat healthy? Our family is going to give it a shot.
We think the answer lies in farmers markets, which, even though we're heading for winter, we hope we'll still be able to find.
Here's a link to an article from Treehugger on "getting the most from shopping at the farmers market". If you haven't tried it yet, is really is a great combination of (a) buying local, (b) eating healthy, (c) supporting local small businesses, (d) carnival type fun. I also think there is another benefit (e) saving money!
Here's a list of local Farmers Markets in the greater Seattle area, a surpising number of which are open year round (if you're somewhere else you can google and easily get a list).
I'll let you know how it goes.
Seattle is now the proud owner of half a ton of political mail -really!
I just stepped on the scale. Not to weigh myself (you don't want to know) but to weigh the volume of political mailers I received this year. Okay, I'm in advertising and I get that "direct mail" (aka: junk mail) is a valuable tool to reach voters -especially for "local" candidates that don't have the big budget for TV (psst, ever hear of cable, if not, call me).
Seattle got a half ton of political mail. Literally.
First off, all total, my political mail weighed in at 2.6 pounds. In fairness, that included the "voters guide" which is the only actual piece of printed material I use (does any actually read all that other stuff?), but there was also an early wave of stuff that got tossed out that I'm not counting.
Figuring there are roughly 2 million households in the greater Seattle metro area, that would put the trash count at about 520,000 pounds, or about half a ton of this stuff.
In going through the mail, it was interesting to note that NONE (not one) of the pieces I received had "printed on recycled paper" on it (you'd think a smart candidate would put that on there to appeal to us greenies). Also, very little mention was made of the environment by ANY candidate.
So here's the question. Does all this mail influence your vote? Would "made with recycled paper" or any mention of the environment influence your voting decision?
Seattle got a half ton of political mail. Literally.
First off, all total, my political mail weighed in at 2.6 pounds. In fairness, that included the "voters guide" which is the only actual piece of printed material I use (does any actually read all that other stuff?), but there was also an early wave of stuff that got tossed out that I'm not counting.
Figuring there are roughly 2 million households in the greater Seattle metro area, that would put the trash count at about 520,000 pounds, or about half a ton of this stuff.
In going through the mail, it was interesting to note that NONE (not one) of the pieces I received had "printed on recycled paper" on it (you'd think a smart candidate would put that on there to appeal to us greenies). Also, very little mention was made of the environment by ANY candidate.
So here's the question. Does all this mail influence your vote? Would "made with recycled paper" or any mention of the environment influence your voting decision?
Choose a tagline for Seattle Public Utilities Garbage, Food and Waste Program.
Since I work in the advertising business and have to come up with product names and slogans all the time, I couldn't resist posting this email from the Seattle Public Utilities.
You can help the city pick a new "ad slogan" for their Recycling,Garbage, Yard and Food Waste program, as well as offer some input on their services via a short survey here. Should their program be named"Waste Not Seattle", "Routine Green" or "Recycle 2.0"? Or is the idea of branding trash a stupid idea?
Check it out. And I'll see if I can get them to send me the final tally.
You can help the city pick a new "ad slogan" for their Recycling,Garbage, Yard and Food Waste program, as well as offer some input on their services via a short survey here. Should their program be named"Waste Not Seattle", "Routine Green" or "Recycle 2.0"? Or is the idea of branding trash a stupid idea?
Check it out. And I'll see if I can get them to send me the final tally.
Underwater Turbines for Puget Sound?
Using the tides to generate power is being done or explored in a number of European Countries and the Puget Sound has been identified as one of the areas in the World where this technology could be economically feasible. You get clean power with virtually no environmental impact (depending on the turbine system you use).
With both Obama and McCain promising to develop "green industries" (and Gregorie and Rossi talking the same) what needs to happen to get something like this going here?
I don't know that much about this but from checking around on the net, there seems to be lots going on with it. We need to be involved here.
Here is a great link that explains the technology further from alternate energy news and here is a story from the New York Times on a project that occured in New York.
With both Obama and McCain promising to develop "green industries" (and Gregorie and Rossi talking the same) what needs to happen to get something like this going here?
I don't know that much about this but from checking around on the net, there seems to be lots going on with it. We need to be involved here.
Here is a great link that explains the technology further from alternate energy news and here is a story from the New York Times on a project that occured in New York.
Free Light Bulbs
My pal Andy at Puget Sound Energy is at it again. A program from PSE's residential customers allows you to exchange your incandescent portable lamps for free, efficient Energy Star table, desk or floor lamps and compact flourence lights while supplies. Call 800-562-1482 or click here for more.
Eco-Conscious Fashion Show
Fellow Seattle PI Blogger Courtney Russell sent me this so in the interest of being a good "fellow blogger' I'll post it here. "I have an upcoming eco-conscious fashion show in Fremont on 10.25, and I thought you might be interested in it. The goal of the show is to focus on local designers who are currently practicing or striving to implement environmentally friendly practices into their designs and help the "average" Seattle citizen to get more acquainted with affordable, fashionable eco-friendly garments. Based on your blogs, I thought you might be interested in the show. "
My eco-friendly clothing comes from Value Village so this is probably not for me, but if you're interested, check it out here.
My eco-friendly clothing comes from Value Village so this is probably not for me, but if you're interested, check it out here.
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