Weirdest Commute Contest
September 30, 2007
Posted by CindyC in : Communities , 1 comment so far
I saw this random news clip about the Weirdest Commute Contest held is Austin this weekend: sort of a wacky way to bring car alternatives to the public. There were some viable ideas like the smart car but this barstool entry made me laugh.
*A video clip can be found at News Austin8
CindyC atOrganicpicks
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Issue#1: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Blog Carnival
September 28, 2007
Posted by OrganicpicksTeam in : Gems from Others , 1 comment so far
Two weeks ago, we announced our very first green blog carnival, focusing on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Thanks everyone for participating in this community-based conversation and sharing great personal experience and tips.
Beth from Fake Plastic Fish avoids plastic products (including bags) in general, but offers practical advice on what you can do with old plastic bags. Additionally, not to be missed, she provides comprehensive tips on what recyclable really means to you on a day to day basis. Instead of researching on the web for 10 hours, you can read her great post.
Annette from Crafters Journey shares her 10 crafty ideas on how to recycle greeting cards. Keep them in mind as the holiday months approach.
Tiffany from Nature Mom recommends First Alert Motion Sensing Light Socket for those of us who don’t always remember to turn off our lights.
Todd from We the Change believes individual actions do matter. Imagine if every family signs up with a local energy company that provides 100% renewable power. He also links to a map for you to check local service providers who sell reusable energy.
Reduce, reuse and recycle not only do good for the environment, but also for your pocket book. Scott and Aaron from College and Finance present ways for students to save the environment and their finance. Stephanie from Stop the Ride shares some of the things that she repurposed around the homestead, such as old tire as a swing and old wooden board split as tomato stakes.
In case you want to reduce the usage of plastic bags, and still want to be super stylish, Doris recommends a couple of cool and funky bags.
A big thanks to all the contributors and if you have other ideas to share, please let check out our 3R Blog Carnival for submisson details for our next issue.
Organicpicks Team
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Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Tesla Delays Delivery of Electric Roadster
September 27, 2007
Posted by CindyC in : Transportation , add a comment
Earlier this week, Tesla Motors delivered some mixed news for green car enthusiasts: a delay in shipment but improved mileage per charge for its highly anticipated electric Roadster.
According to Tesla’s letter to customers, full production of the Roadster has been delayed to first quarter of 2008. The company hopes to build a small production batch (about 50) this year and deliver them early 2008.
Earlier testing on the prototypes found the distance range had dropped from the original 250 miles estimate to about 200 miles per charge. The company has since addressed some design and efficiency issues and in recent tests, the Roadster went 245 miles on a single charge (235 for highway and 255 for city driving).
The Tesla is currently priced at $98,000 with a wait list. If you had plunk down a $50,000 reservation, you became a Premium Club Member and have priority claim on production cars. If you could only afford $35,000, you have to be patient and wait behind the Premium Members. Just to get on a waiting list now (with no guarantee of delivery) will cost you $5,000.
Although the Tesla is a testament that electric cars can be beautiful, sporty and in-demand, for an average family like mine, it’s still just something to gawk at in the showroom. By the way, for those gawkers living in the Bay Area, Tesla will be opening a new showroom in Menlo Park in 2008. I think that’s as close as I am ever going to get to a Tesla….
CindyC atOrganicpicks
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Living with Ed: Crazy Green or Just Crazy
September 26, 2007
Posted by CindyC in : Opinions & Thoughts , add a comment
This past month, I finally caught a couple episodes of Living with Ed on HGTV. Although being touted as “possibly the greenest guy in Hollywood”, I always thought of Ed Begley as the poster child of ridicule by the Environmental Browns or Blacks. After all, some of the initial trailers included Ed peddling his bike to generate energy to power his toaster and displaying his Emmy on the shelf above his cat litterbox (as they lack space in his 1200 sq. ft house). Does this really project a positive image of green living? After a whole season of neglect, I approached the show’s current season with some skepticism.
First a brief recap for those who have not seen or heard of the show. Ed Begley (most famous for his role on St. Elsewhere) has been an environmental activist for many years, way before the current green rage. Ed tends to go to extremes for his green beliefs and hopes to live off the grid at some point, something that his wife Rochelle shudders at just the mere thought. The basic hope of the show (I think) is to dole out tips and highlight green products to a mass audience, in a light, comedic way.
So what’s my verdict after viewing 2 episodes? Well, still mixed. The show obviously plays up Ed’s eccentricity against Rachelle’s green skepticism and her desire to be mainstream Hollywood. The theme this season is to showcase not just Ed but other celebrities who have taken the green path. However, it’s a bit hard to swallow when these stars live in mansion-sized homes (excluding Ed and Bill Nuyes – the Science guy) and then tout the virtues of CFLs or composting.
I do have to admit that the show makes a good effort of combining inexpensive tips with major projects. Actions like composting, energy efficient appliances and lighting are fairly doable for most folks. I was particularly fascinated by Solatube, an efficient and aesthetically pleasing alternative to skylights as it (re)directs light and reduces the need for lighting. If you are considering a skylight, Solatube seems like a way better option. The second episode I watched also highlighted these beautiful solar tiles that can used as canopy to shade patios as well as provide solar energy. Obviously a more extensive investment but demonstrates that green can be functional and attractive.
What I find most interesting and encouraging is the online discussion that the show generates. I logged onto the HGTV discussion forum and noticed that there were some very active discussion forums on the products and tips introduced on the show. The site also lists the showcased products (for obvious commercial reasons) so viewers can find them easily. I’m still not sure whether Living with Ed is good or bad press for green living but I’m willing to give another couple of episodes a try.
Living with Ed is on Monday nights at 10:30pm PST.
CindyC atOrganicpicks
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All-purpose cleaner really is all-purpose, non-toxic kind too
September 25, 2007
Posted by CindyW in : Fresh Look , 4 comments
An average American family’s cleaning supply most likely include all-purpose cleaner, glass & surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, floor cleaner, shower cleaner, toilet cleaner and more. Bottles of chemistry lab solutions sit in the dark of a typical supply closet. About three years ago, I realized that common household germs and dirt were actually less insidious compared to the chemicals found in my common household cleaning products. Ever since then I have been experimenting with cleaning products and realized a few things:
- All purpose cleaners really are all-purpose. Forget all the room specific cleaners. I think it is just a marketing trick to get people to buy more stuff. Gone were the kitchen counter cleaners, bathroom cleaners, shower cleaners and others. Really all-purpose cleaners do a great job in different rooms.
- You can clean your windows with water. If you don’t trust the magic of water, add a few drops of vinegar. The result? Squeaky clean windows. Even if your windows have not been cleaned for 6 months, applying water and vinegar solution twice will still result in squeaky clean windows. My sister-in-law apparently loves the smell of Windex. Well, I think that maybe a whole different matter. Ammonia hydroxide addition? Me? It makes me nauseated.
- Homemade solutions for the most part are as good as stored bought kinds, as long as you clean more than once every couple of months. Water and vinegar usually do the trick with a few pennies. Okay, maybe I am just cheap. I like a clean house without negatively impacting my healthy or my pocket. Here are some tested homemade recipes.
But for convenience, sometimes, I do break down and buy all-purpose cleaners. Have I mentioned that you really only need all-purpose cleaners? My favorites are: Seventh Generation all-purpose for spray and wipe; Bon-Ami for scrubbing surfaces with splatters, spills and sticky messes.
I use Seventh Generation all-purpose cleaner everywhere. It has not disappointed me, even on our greasy stovetop and carpet stains, yep carpet stains. I also use it to clean my toddler’s crusty and food-stained high chair. Very effective without selling like artificial cleaning solutions. All ingredients are disclosed, none nasty. Friends have told me that “green” cleaning products often do a poor job. I usually recommend Seventh Generation, free and clear kind or the citrus kind. Apparently using on brass is not recommended.
Bon Ami polishing cleanser is an awesome product. It is made from calcite & feldspar mineral abrasives and biodegradable detergent, so it does not give out the unbearable chlorine fume like Comet does. You can use it to clean counters, scrub dirty sinks (without scratching the surface), and perform the touch job of getting rid of crust on the bottom of burned pots or pans. And it costs less than $1.50 in most supermarkets! Effective, cheap, non-toxic, versatile. What else can one ask for? I love it so much that I force it upon all my friends.
I am clearly opinionated on this topic. But I am sticking to it. For other people’s views, check out a wide variety of all-purpose cleaners and their reviews.
Related posts:
My favorite laundry soap
CindyW at Organicpicks
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Green Journal: Recycling with Kids
September 24, 2007
Posted by CindyC in : Green Journal , 4 comments
It seems like most preschool kids, including my own, are fascinated with trash. The awe on their faces (when the garbage or recycling trucks come by) is really quite humorous. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard kids boast about their future sanitation worker ambitions and a GARBAGE MAN (with super hero punctuation) costume is actually in the plans for the neighborhood Halloween parade.
My daughter and I have running conversations about reusing and recycling, after I realized that she loves to indiscriminately “throw things in the trash”. Every time I work in the kitchen, she tries to identify whether an item should go into the recycling box, green/compostable can or the trash. And then she gets to put these items in the appropriate pile/container until we can take them outside. Along with her standard shapes, she proudly told her teachers during “Shapes Week” about the recycling triangle that she learned at home.
Now that school is back in session, the steady wave of art projects and work samples has returned as well. I used to secretly sort through her projects and put all but a few in the recycling bin. However, given her currently interest, I gave my daughter her own recycling bin, for which she is solely responsible. She can decide which projects to keep or hang on her wall and which goes into recycling; I put great emphasis that the recycled artwork is not less important but will make materials for new artwork. She is really excited about her new box - which gave me great relief from worries about potentially marginalizing her creations. In fact, when she put a pair of outgrown pants in her box, we started a bag for old clothes and toys as well.
This action cost me no money and only a few minutes to find a cardboard box to hold papers in. Plus, I now know that even at age 4, she has begun to internalize the values we are teaching her. That is something you can’t put a price on.
CindyC at Organicpicks
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PARK(ing) For A Day
September 22, 2007
Posted by CindyC in : Communities , 1 comment so far
Yesterday was National Park(ing) Day, a one day event (centered in San Francisco) to temporarily transform 50 parking spots into parks and garden. The main goal is to demonstrate how collective effort can turn something (as ordinary as parking spaces) into beautiful and sustainable spaces. Looks pretty cool to me.
For more information and photos, please visit Park(ing) Day
CindyC atOrganicpicks
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Water-powered gadgets - cheap tricks or real inventions?
September 21, 2007
Posted by SeanS in : Opinions & Thoughts , 1 comment so far
So I was browsing the web the other day and came across a water powered clock. The description claimed that the clock’s “internal converter simply extracts electrons from water molecules… acting as a fuel cell to generate power…” Sweet! 
Water as a fuel? How did I miss this amazing development? Further surfing turned up a plethora of other water powered gadgets, from calculators to cars. Just add water and go! But is it that simple?
Of course the answer is no. Take the water powered clock. Extract electrons from water molecules? Last I checked, water liked to hold on to its electrons. So just how does this gadget work? It runs on the same principles as an ordinary battery, using metal electrodes and water as the electrolyte. You can construct a similar battery by sticking a penny and a nail in a 
potato (here the potato takes the place of the water as the electrolyte). These types of batteries, while certainly more environmentally friendly than your standard Duracell, are limited to very low power applications. Or are they? Turns out a water activated battery technology has been developed in Japan that uses carbon based compounds and that can produce the same amount of energy per kg as a normal battery. And because they are made of abundant carbon instead of processed metals they have the potential of being cheaper, non-toxic, and taking less energy to produce.
But what about the water powered car? I came across a video which makes it look like water powered cars (and indeed water powered everything) are right around the corner. But when you strip away the hype all you are left with is a car that increases combustion efficiency by burning a form of Brown’s gas – a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. As with hydrogen fuel cells, the byproduct of this reaction is water – making it an entirely clean process. But also as with hydrogen fuel cells, the real problem is where to get the hydrogen. It takes more energy to split apart the hydrogen and oxygen atoms of water than you get when you recombine them, so the idea of having a car where you put water into the gas tank, split the water apart to form hydrogen and oxygen, then recombine them via combustion or a fuel cell, is totally infeasible. The only way to make this process totally green is to use some sort of renewable energy source – solar or wind, for example – for electrolysis (splitting apart the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water), and then using the resulting hydrogen as a fuel. Until we have the infrastructure in place, pipe dreams like the water powered car will remain YouTube video fodder.
Sean, gearhead at large
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*water clock picture courtesy of www.Thinkgeek.com and potato battery courtesy of www.pbskids.org
Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Upcoming Art & Fashion Events
September 20, 2007
Posted by CindyC in : Communities , 1 comment so far
If you are looking for some interesting evening events for the upcoming weeks, here are a couple that may appeal to the artist or fashionista in you.
Nemo Gould’s “Waste Deep” Exhibit
Nemo Gould is the latest artist to complete the Artist In Residence (AIR) Program hosted by the SF Recycling & Disposal Center. His work, made by recycled metals and other refuse materials, will be on display on Friday, Sept. 21st from 5-8pm and Saturday, Sept. 22nd from 1-5pm. The studio is located at 503 Tunnel Ave. in San Francisco and admission is FREE.
The AIR Program aims to encourage reuse through creative and inspiring art. The Center provides local artists with access to collected materials, studio space and monthly stipend for a termed residency. These artists not only work on their craft but also conduct tours about “the experience of turning trash to treasure”. An exhibit is held to display the artist’s work at the end of the residency and many of these pieces find permanent homes in the garden of the Center’s Transfer Station for all to enjoy. For more information about the program, exhibits or any of its previous and upcoming artists, please visit AIR.
Eco-Chic Shopping Event
If you are looking for some new pieces for fall (after combing through the consignment and thrift shops), Appel & Frank is hosting a Eco-Chic Shopping Event on Thursday, Sept. 27th from 5 to 9:30pm at the Regency Center in San Francisco. Admission is $10 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Urban Forest. The event will include 65 designers but only some of them are organic, sustainably made or earth friendly. Eco- friendly designers include Anna Cohen, Del Forte Denim and Ecogirl. You can browse the full list of designers and the eco-friendly ones are listed in (what else) green.
Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Will ridiculous bottle water marketing schemes ever end?
September 19, 2007
Posted by CindyW in : Rants & the Ridiculous , 3 comments
I came across an absurd full-page ad in a magazine, titled “Our new Eco-Shape bottle is getting quite a reaction”.
In the picture a young man is standing next to a tree and chugging a bottle of Arrowhead water. The CREEPY part is that his shoulder is being patted by a tree branch. “Good job! Thanks to people like you, the plastic waste is now eco-shaped.” PLEASE! The ad is making me nauseous.
The ad claims that the new “Arrowhead Eco-Shape” bottle uses 30% less plastic. That maybe true, since I have no way to substantiate or disprove it. But, label the bottled water eco-shape? If this is not an unadulterated form of green-wash, then I don’t know what is! Unfortunately there are as many ploys of selling tap water as ways of greenwashing products.
How about drink out of your tap water - filter or not, for free? No need to label yourself eco, because you are.
Related posts:
Myth and Reality of Bottled Water
Reusable Sigg Bottles
CindyW at Organicpicks
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