The City of San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted today to approve a proposal by Gavin Newsom of the toughest recycling and composting law in the United States. And city residents and businesses should be sure to follow it. If they don’t, they could actually pay a price… to the tune of $100 or more. Read the story at SFGate.
Your July 2009 Member Guide
June 15th, 2009In our May guide, I announced our decision to use less pages, therefore less paper, which included discontinuing the alphabetical program listings usually found at the end of this guide, and I asked for your feedback. I ‘d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that responded. And to let you know that your comments and suggestions were truly appreciated and that you have been heard.
While we will not be bringing back the a-z program listings in the paper guide, we do make them available, as well as the entire guide, as a download at our website at www.kcsm.org/tv. Additionally, if you decide that you prefer accessing On Air by download each month, you may always request to discontinue receiving the guide by mail. Simply email your name and address to me at green@kcsm.net with “Opt Out” in the subject line.
The other comment that I heard from many of you was that the late night programs were no longer listed anywhere in the guide. This was definitely an oversight and we appreciate that you brought it to our attention. We have adjusted the format from two to three columns and added the overnight listings. I hope that these changes have addressed all of your concerns adequately.
You may have noticed a little extra green in the paper guide this month. Our long time printer, Descalso Lithograph was recently purchased by GPM Print*Mail*Solutions in Rohnert Park. While meeting with GPM, they suggested that we take advantage of the possibility of using color on pages other than the cover at no additional cost. The printing process involves using plates on a 4-color press. And since the plate that includes the cover is printed using color inks, we could easily incorporate color into other pages on the same plate. This is why you will only see color on certain pages throughout. And we use soy-based inks that are much more ecologically friendly than traditional commercial inks. Also, GPM is committed to operating an environmentally friendly manufacturing plant with many recycled papers available and an extensive waste recycling program.
We are continually working diligently at improving the quality and content of On Air for you while keeping in mind the environmental impact of producing a 40 page guide. Make sure to do your part by dropping it in the recycling bin when you have finished with it each month.
As always, thanks for your continued support of KCSM. And keep living green!
Green Your Summer Vacation: GO LOCAL!
May 18th, 2009
Summer is nearly upon us and for many this means it is time to begin thinking about the annual family vacation. This could be a challenge during such trying economic times. And for those concerned about global climate change and weighing the environmental impact of a travel-heavy excursion, there are even more considerations to account for. The good news for Californians is that opportunities for a fulfilling break from the everyday grind are plentiful, all within driving distance.
Have you considered visiting one of the over 260 California Parks this year? The beauty and serenity of nature may just be the respite that you are looking for. And it’s an excellent opportunity to learn more about nature, history and conservation.
To help you plan your trip, this month KCSM TV is featuring California’s Golden Parks. Let Huell Howser take you on a personally guided tour of some of the majestic natural wonders that our state affords us, every Monday & Tuesday at 5:00 pm. Learn more about Joshua Tree, Big Basin, Bidwell Park, Columbia Diggins, Alum Rock, Año Nuevo State National Reserve, Carrizo Plain National Monument and the Yosemite Falls Trail.
And on Thursdays at 11:00pm, it’s all aboard with Huell as he takes you on a tour of some of California’s historic railway lines. Visit the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, take the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad through the Sierra National Forest or ride the Skunk Train following the coastal Redwood Route.
Also, by staying closer to home, you are lowering the carbon footprint of your trip. The shorter the distance traveled, the less fuel burned and the fewer carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. So forego the flight to Paris this year and drive your family to one of the many amazing destinations that our own state affords us. And to help you get the most from your vehicle, check out the list below for some tips on how to improve your gas mileage.
I will be posting more information and links to all of these magnificent parks, as well as tips on how to plan an environmentally friendly vacation so check back soon.
Good luck in your travels. And have a happy, healthy summer.
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By implementing the following suggestions you can maximize your fuel economy and save yourself some green while lowering your carbon emissions.
Tips for Improving Gas Mileage 
- Change your vehicles air filter. Changing a dirty air filter can increase your fuel efficiency by up to ten percent.
- Be sure that your tires are properly inflated. Be keeping them at the correct pressure, you can increase your mpg by up to 3 percent.
- Get a tune up. If it has been awhile since your vehicle has been attended to, there can be many things that once corrected could significantly increase your fuel efficiency.
- Take it easy and use cruise control. Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration and braking) can lower your gas mileage as much as 33% at highway speeds.
- Drive the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, assume that for each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional XX.10 per gallon for gas.
- Don’t be idle. When sitting still with your engine running, you are getting zero (O) miles to the gallon and using up to 1/8 gallon of gas every ten minutes.
- Pack lightly. Every extra one hundred pounds of cargo will cost you 1 mpg.
- Use your vehicle’s air conditioner on the highway to cool off. True, using the air conditioner can reduce your fuel efficiency by up to ten percent, but when traveling over 40 miles per hour the drag caused by open windows will actually lower fuel efficiency even more.
- Go to the car wash instead of washing by hand. Most professional car washes use 60% less water and recapture some for reuse. Also, the water that does go down the drain is treated to be less environmentally damaging.
- Purchase carbon offsets to balance out your vehicles global warming emissions. When you purchase these offsets from organizations (such as TerraPass.com) your money is invested in clean energy projects that “offset” your carbon emissions by producing green, sustainable energy that replaces other non-sustainable energy sources.
It’s Earth Day!
April 22nd, 2009Happy Earth Day Everyone! How do you plan on observing it this year? Leave a comment and share your plans with us all….
Visit Earth Day Network for more information on Earth Day 2009 and how you can get involved!
RECYCLE!
April 1st, 2009In honor of Earth Day this month, I am “recycling” an article that I wrote and previously appeared in the May 2008 issue of “On Air.” I hope that it helps to emphasize the importance that each of us make a commitment to Mother Earth of not being wasteful.
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Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Chances are you have heard this mantra in the very recent past. But do you know what it means? It is known as the waste hierarchy, voiced in the order of environmental importance.
First, we must minimize the depletion of natural resources as much as possible. To be good stewards of our planet, we should lower our level of consumption. Buy less, use less, waste less: reduce.
The next best action? Use what we already have more than once, preferably several times. A good example would be to use a travel mug to fill up on your morning coffee and forego the paper cup: reuse.
Last on the hierarchy, yet still of immense importance: recycle. When we are unable to reduce the amount we consume, and can’t reuse something that we have, we must do our best to increase the useful life of disposables by recycling anything that can be repurposed or remanufactured. This is a good place to start if you have been thinking about what you can do to begin having a more positive relationship with the environment. I’ll be talking more about the waste hierarchy in future columns, but this month I want to focus on the simple act of recycling.
The more that you are able to recycle, the less waste ends up in overflowing landfills, and the more energy is saved by not having to produce aluminum cans or plastic bottles or other consumables from raw materials. If every person were more conscious of the impact that we all have on our world, and made a concerted effort to fill-up their blue bin instead of the trash can, we would see a significant, positive change in the quality and sustainability of the environment.
The list below has just a few suggestions of ways to recycle that you may not have thought of. Challenge yourself to see how many of these you can implement into your life today.
RECYCLING 101 - DO TRY THIS AT HOME:
o Do you recycle all of those empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls? How about the box that your toothpaste comes in? Think of keeping a small recycling bin or basket under the bathroom sink for all that cardboard and recyclable paper that makes its way into the trash in your loo. When it fills up, just empty it into your regular paper recycling bin.
o Plastic recycling can seem to be a more daunting process. But once you learn the rules, it becomes second nature. Containers that are recyclable will have a number between 1 and 7 surrounded by a recycling symbol, usually on the bottom. Not all kinds of plastic are recyclable in all areas. To find out which plastics are recyclable in your community, check with your local curbside recycling provider.
o Donate your unwanted or excess household items to charity. Many charitable organizations are more than happy to accept your used items and many will pick them up from your home. Not only do you keep unnecessary waste out of a landfill, you are helping others that can really use what you no longer can, not to mention that the value of your donation is tax-deductible. EVERYONE WINS!
o Electronics should never end up in a landfill as they contain toxic elements such as mercury, lead and chromium that can leach into our water and environment. Both Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul accept used electronic items such as computers, monitors, printers, cell phones, televisions and most other electronics, working or not, at no cost to you. They then sort these items for reuse or recycling.
o Visit your local used bookstore. You’ll be amazed at the huge selection of books available at much less then retail prices. You can often find beautiful editions of your favorites that you won’t find at retail stores. Also, many used bookstores will buy back, or issue store credit for, books that you no longer want to keep.
o Try buying used furniture the next time you’re in the market for a chair or a bookshelf. We are fortunate in the bay area to have such wonderful thrift and antique shops, and you’ll love the gorgeous craftsmanship. By purchasing furniture that has already been built you will be saving trees from being cut down, as well as the energy expended to create new, mass-produced furnishings. And you will have a unique piece that your friends and neighbors won’t.
o Complete the loop and buy recycled products! All of that cardboard and paper that you so diligently placed in the blue bin has magically been reborn as recycled paper. When you go to the office supply store, opt for products that are made from recycled materials. The greater the demand for recycled goods, the more incentive manufacturers will have to find ways of creating quality recycled products.
My Bibliophilia
March 25th, 2009
I LOVE BOOKS: the words, the paper, the typeface, the cover art, the sound of the turning page. I even enjoy the slightly musty smell of a well-worn tome. Besides the enduring love of my spouse, William, little else in the world offers me more passion, exhilaration and escape than that of picking up a good book and engrossing myself in a new adventure.
A quick glance around my home office would testify to this. While I tend to be more of a minimalist when it comes to personal belongings, I already have hundreds of books, mostly hardcovers, in my personal collection and there are many, many, many more to be added, along with the occasional and necessary new bookshelf. I simply can’t resist buying a beautiful edition of a favorite classic or a newly discovered author.
Many of the books in my collection I have purchased second hand. While paperbacks abound at stores that sell new books, it can be difficult finding a new hardbound copy of works published more than a few years before. Besides, knowing that the book in my hand has previously sat on someone else’s shelf and been held in someone else’s hands while soaking up the literary juice holds a special feeling of camaraderie for me while I am absorbed in the very pages that have enamored those before me.
It is nearly impossible for me to pass by a used bookstore without going in and leaving without a new purchase in hand is almost unheard of. Strolling the aisles is not unlike a treasure hunt for me. The anticipation can be exciting and I can grow anxious while searching the stacks, hoping that I will come across that beautiful leather bound edition of The Great Gatsby, or a well travelled, charmingly beat up copy of On The Road. Often a visit to these shops leads to a conversation with a well-read bookseller and I have discovered new favorite writers from these informal literary discussions over the years. Roger from one of my favorite haunts, The Great Overland Book Company in San Francisco, turned me on to Roberto Bolaño a few years ago and I have since collected and read many of his works.
I usually exhaust all the possibilities of my favorite local shops when looking for a specific book. However, when I just am totally unable to find that certain sought after book, I turn to the plethora of used booksellers online. Websites, such as Abebooks.com and Alibris.com, as well as the Marketplace at Amazon.com allow thousands of used booksellers to sell their wares without having to invest in costly and time-consuming websites of their own. Another great resource that I use is Powells.com, the online site of Powell’s City of Books in Portland Oregon. I visited Powell’s, the largest used and new bookstore in the world, for the first time seven years ago and was totally overwhelmed by the shear volume of books. It is virtually indescribable. It’s the Disneyland of booklovers.
And I don’t rule out Flea markets, thrift stores or garage sales when on the hunt. I’ve been quite surprised at what I have found with a little patience at these unlikely literary stops.
An added bonus of buying used books, especially during these challenging economic times, is simply that the price is right. I have found many gorgeous books that were under five dollars each, which is an astonishing value when I consider the payback of the knowledge and the art. The words become a part of the very fabric of my being. I am currently halfway through my 600-page edition of East of Eden by John Steinbeck and I feel myself grow as a person with each chapter.
As I sit here, surrounded by the many books that I have read, along with many more still to be experienced, I am comforted by the stories, the characters, the lessons learned and to be learned. And I rest in the fact that I am among greatness.
Green-er Consumption
March 4th, 2009The consumer decisions that we each make individually can have a much broader impact on our world collectively. Of course eating organic fruits and vegetables is very important for the betterment of the environment and for personal health, as is using natural, biodegradable cleaning and personal care products.
But lets take greening our consumption a step further. There are many products that we all purchase that are not necessarily a necessity. Im talking primarily about items that would fall under the heading of discretionary spending. And in the current economic climate, a lot of us are already being more deliberate about where and when to spend our money. Why not consider the environmental impact of our purchases while we are at it?
I try to maintain a stalwart awareness of my own environmental footprint but I cannot claim to be free of sin. I already have embarrassingly more clothing than two or even three people could ever possibly need, yet sometimes I just cant curb the compulsion for a new t-shirt or pair of jeans. Im reminded of an old joke about a beauty pageant contestant. And the crown would have been hers if only she had answered world peace instead of fashion first! So whats a certifiable eco-freak like me to do?
Ive made a personal commitment to make smarter purchasing decisions in my life. The first question I ask myself is Do I really need this? If I can say no then I ask myself a follow-up question: Do I REALLY WANT this? If I answer with another no, then I forgo the momentary high that a session of retail therapy offers. However, if I answer with a resounding YES! then I try to determine which brand or product will have the least impact environmentally and will fulfill my needs and wants.
An example of this practice in action is a recent addition to my closet. I wanted (really wanted) a new pair of casual, everyday sneakers. But more importantly, I wanted to walk the walk so I set out to find an environmentally friendly, comfortable, attractive pair of kicks. And I believe I was successful on all fronts.
They are manufactured by Simple Shoes and contain no animal byproducts or even regular animal products. These shoes are vegan friendly and veggie friendly, and made from some interesting and unexpected resources. Hemp and organic cotton make up much of the shoe, but the pedbeds and laces are actually made from recycled water bottles and the outsole from a recycled car tire. You can even see the tire tread on the bottom of the shoes. Far less newly produced resources had to be used in the production of the shoes. And by reusing already available, discarded materials keeps old tires and plastic bottles out of our landfills and give them a new, useful life.
Not only did I fulfill all of the criteria that I had established for myself, whenever I wear these shoes, I feel very proud of the purposeful process that I went through in buying them. And I love and appreciate them each time I put them on.
There are many products available today that would easily pass the same test. Sure, it takes a bit more effort to search them out, but the reward is sweet and well worth the effort. And some of these new, greener goods are very cool to boot.
So try it out for yourself. First decide if your next purchase is really, truly necessary. After all, the greenest consumption is no consumption. But if you decide it is time for a new pair of jeans, shoes, a bag or a purse whatever it is that you really, really need or want, try to find one produced by a company that shares your commitment to Mother Earth. Just think how many water bottles and used tires would be spared from the trash of we all bought our own ecoSNEAKS.
Green Your Clean
January 26th, 2009With spring cleaning right around the corner, now would be a great time to start learning how you can green your cleaning closet. The old tried and true bottle of Super Duper Miraculous Magic Clean that is under your kitchen sink may be doing you, your family and the environment more harm than good. Sure, it will get the toilet bowl sparkling, but the negative impact on our bodies and on our environment can be destructive.
Many of the products you can use to start a green cleaning regimen may already be in your kitchen cabinets. Baking soda is great for removing odors. It is also good for scrubbing. Olive oil is a wonderful wood polish. Vinegar is extremely versatile as a kitchen and bathroom cleaner and as a clog buster. Mix a half vinegar, half water solution for the best glass cleaner youve ever used. Creating your cleaning solution can even be fun. You can customize the scent by choosing different essential oils to add to your mixtures. You can find different recipes for cleaners in books, on the internet, even in some cookbooks. Or, it could be as easy as a phone call to your grandmother. Chances are she has been green-cleaning her entire life and didnt even know it.
However, if making your own cleaning products isnt for you, there are many fantastic eco-friendly products currently available and many more all the time. Several of the products that we all grew up with, and that we still use simply because we always have, are riddled with dangerous toxins and chemicals. Check your local grocery store the next time you shop. You may be surprised that tucked among all the toxic cleaners, an environmentally friendly, biodegradable, safe option is there. And most of these products are no more expensive than their traditional counterparts. As more and more customers demand green products, stores will begin to carry more. If you are unable to locate green products at the store in your neighborhood, ask the store manager to start carrying them.
There are many great books available to help you learn about green cleaning. One that I highly recommend is Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning by Deirdre Imus. I found it to be not only an extremely useful tool for learning how to clean in an environmentally responsibly way, but also a great resource for products and chemicals to avoid. Also, all of the authors profits from the book benefit the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.
Now the fun part: Get cleaning!
Resolve to be Green
January 15th, 2009With the beginning of a new year upon us, we look forward and make our ceremonious New Years resolutions. Im sure that a lot of you will pledge to start exercising more, or maybe finally write that great American novel. Maybe you will resolve to clean out the garage, to spend more time with your family and friends, to stop smoking, to eat healthier, to lose weight.: all fantastic options.
Perhaps this year, with our struggling economy and with so many environmental challenges facing us, (global warming, air and water pollution, water shortages, overpopulation, depletion of natural resources, and the list goes on) you might consider adding a green resolution to your list: one that will help to save you money while helping to save the planet.
Below is a list of easy, attainable changes that you could make without major effort. By altering habits and making some slight changes in the way we live, we can all easily contribute towards the solutions that are so necessary. And because these suggestions are so easy to do, it may be the first New Years resolution that you have ever been able to keep!
SOME SUGGESTED GREEN RESOLUTIONS:
→ ALWAYS RECYCLE! Not only does recycling keep waste out of our already overflowing landfills and helps to conserve our natural resources, it also takes less energy to collect and reconstitute recyclable material than it does to mine and produce new raw materials.
→ Change your bulbs. One of the easiest and least expensive changes that you can make is changing your household light bulbs from traditional incandescent to CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights.) CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents. And, less energy used equals lower power bills!
→ Wait to do laundry until you have a full load, and then wash using the cold water cycle. A washer takes between 30 to 60 gallons of water per load. You will save energy and water, and even more money!
→ Install low-flush toilets or place a plastic bottle filled with stones in your existing toilet tank. Both will reduce the volume of water stored in the tank and used per flush, but will still be adequate for flushing.
→ Keep your vehicle tuned up, check that your tires are properly inflated and replace your air filter. These minor changes can improve your gas mileage by up to 4%, 10% and 3% respectively.
→ Shop for fruits and vegetables at your local farmers market. By supporting your local growers, you can have a positive impact in many ways. You are keeping your dollars within your own community to help the local economy. Many fruits and vegetables at farmers markets are grown sustainably and/or organically, keeping pesticides and other chemicals out of the soil, air and water supply. The energy used to transport your produce is much lower than produce shipped across the world. And the best part is the taste: absolutely amazing! Most fruits and vegetables available at a farmers market are picked fresh, many times just hours before you purchase it. Also, its a great way to interact with your friends and neighbors.
→ Purchase carbon offsets from organizations that invest in clean energy projects. Did you know that PG&E customers can zero out the carbon emissions that their power and natural gas usage creates for just a few more dollars added to your bill each month? Visit PG&Es ClimateSmart program at www.wecandothis.com for more info.
Green Your Holiday Gift Giving
December 20th, 2008Its the holiday season again and many of you are wondering how to give gifts to your loved ones that show your appreciation of them while staying true to your ecological convictions. And with the economy being as challenging as it currently is, chances are that you probably have much less money to go around this year. The good news is that you dont have to spend a lot of money to give an absolutely wonderful gift. After all, the best gifts dont have to be expensive to show how much you love the recipient. A well-thought out personal gift can mean so much more to someone than a high-ticket item. It may be clich but it really is the thought that counts. You can demonstrate your love and admiration best by showing that you care enough to give a gift that truly reflects their interests and personality. And, you can be green while doing it.
So, what exactly is a green gift? It is a gift that is created, transported, wrapped and given with minimal environmental impact. You can even green it up a little more by purchasing from environmentally conscious companies and organizations. Tickets to a concert, ballet, opera, football game, museum, or many other options make a fantastic green gift. And it can take as little as an envelope to wrap. Homemade gifts are another great option and very personal. My grandma, Rosella, sends me cookies from Washington State from time to time and there is no gift that I enjoy more. With every bite I think of how they were made with love and affection for me. Gift certificates can actually be very thoughtful gifts too if they are chosen well. For instance, a gift certificate for yoga classes for a friend that has wanted to try it out would be a great gift and motivation at the same time.
Donations can also make a surprisingly heartfelt green gift. More people than you might realize truly appreciate a gift given to a charitable organization that reflects their own beliefs and passions. Last year, I gave gifts to Heifer International in the names of many of my friends and family members. These gifts of chicks and ducks, llamas, goats, and sheep are provided to help needy children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. They provide beautiful, unique gift cards for you to give to announce the donation, and I was sometimes surprised at the sheer delight people exhibited when they opened their gift and realized that they had, in effect, given a flock of geese to a family in the Philippines for instance.
The list below offers a few suggestions of green gifts for the holidays. Use it as inspiration to spark ideas of your own. There is no science to green gift giving: the two main factors in the equation are environmental awareness and thoughtfulness.
And remember, when wrapping gifts always use recycled wrapping paper or other reusable items; get creative! I always use grocery bags and raffia or twine when I wrap gifts, and I frequently receive comments on how beautiful the packages are. Sometimes simplicity can be the most elegant.
Have a wonderful, festive, green holiday season.
Some Green Holiday Gift Ideas
- Charitable donation to a favorite charity
- Used books, beautiful collectible editions
- Framed personal photo
- Homemade baked goods and jellies
- Handmade items such as a Knitted Scarf
- Basket filled with organic fruits, coffees, teas, nuts
- Gift certificate (thoughtfully chosen of course) to a favorite boutique, restaurant, yoga studio
- Tickets to a concert, opera, ballet, sports event
- Clothing made from organic cotton or recycled materials