Green Buckeye

Green Buckeye does not sponsor the events appearing on the calendar. We provide a link or contact information for the event if we have it. Please contact the sponsoring organization directly for the most up-to-date infomation about any event.

Labels: calendar, events

Over and over on green web sites and blogs I've read that one way to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and save money is to stop idling. They urge me to shut down my engine if I'm going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 10 minutes - none of them seem to agree on how long.

Frankly, I was skeptical. Even though I know that, "When you're not moving, you're getting zero miles per gallon," wasn't there some mitigating reason not to turn off the engine? Doesn't the engine need to be warmed up? What about the amount of gas it takes to start the engine - isn't that more than when the engine is running? What about the wear and tear on the engine with all that on and off? After all, I don't want to save a few pennies or emissions only to have to replace my engine early.

I decided to research a little more. Here's what I found.

Car Talk

• In Driving Tips for Treehuggers, Click and Clack reassured me that "Except in below-zero conditions, you can just start the engine and drive off." Unless I'm scraping ice off the windshield, looks like I'll be turning the key and driving off. Some of the other sources indicated that cars needed no more than 30 seconds of warm-up idling.

Edmunds

• I figured they would be the most mainstream and skeptical. Guess what? In What Really Saves Gas? And How Much? the Edmunds folks said you could improve fuel economy by as much as 19% by avoiding excessive idling. Their recommendation? Shut it down if you're stopping for more than a minute. This was the longest amount of time recommended by any of the media sources, which I would expect given their love of car culture.

California Consumer Energy Center

• This page busts several myths, and comes to the conclusion that "more than ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine." They also say that "component wear caused by restarting the engine is estimated to add $10 per year to the cost of driving," which they think will be recovered from the savings from not idling. According to this source then, I can go ahead and shut the engine off if I'm stopping for 10 seconds or longer, and I don't worry about the wear and tear. The Canada Office of Energy Efficiency backs this up, too.

So here are Tina's Green Buckeye guidelines for idling:

• Unless it's below zero, start the car and drive off. The most conservative recommendation for warming up the car is 30 seconds, so if you can't get out of the habit completely, warm up for 30 seconds.
• Except in traffic, if you're going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, shut off the car. You'll save money and greenhouse gases. You can take the Edmunds conservative recommendation of one minute, but you won't save as much.
• Park the car and walk into the fast-food joint or bank instead of using the drive-thru. It's better for you, it's better for your mileage, and it's better for the planet!

Labels: consumer choices, environment, tips, transportation

These articles, news items, and opportunities for action came to our attention this week:

• Sunflower Market stores going out of business (Dispatch)
• A pizza joint Al Gore could love might be coming here (Dispatch)
• MORPC seeking nominations for annual awards (ThisWeek Bexley)
• Smart Car dealership to open in Columbus (The Walker Evans Effect)
• Petition to support the Ohio Hub Passenger and Freight Rail Development plan
• Petition to Talk Show Hosts - What are they waiting for?
• Earth Hour 2008 - March 29, 2008

Labels: events, news

My baseline assumption about you, Green Buckeye reader, is that you are already convinced about the need for environmental sustainability or you wouldn't be reading this blog. For that reason I have typically refrained from posting items that aim to convince people that climate change is real, anthropogenic (caused by human activity) or needs to be acted on.

I've recently rethought that practice. The reason? I figure you have friends and family and colleagues who are not yet convinced, and that you may be looking for ways to convince them. So, I've decided to pass along information that you can use to support your own leadership efforts.

This short, entertaining video was produced by Greg Craven, a high school science teacher in Oregon. In it, Greg, aka wonderingmind42 on youtube, presents risk management arguments for acting on the global climate change issue. Hold on, I know you just glazed over when you read "risk management." Don't worry, Greg wears funny hats and runs pyrotechnics during the explanation, so I promise it isn't what you think!



Thanks to my blogging buddy Andy for pointing it out!

Labels: climate change, resources

To celebrate the holiday, I've chosen three unrelated quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to share with Green Buckeye readers. To some extent they reflect aspects of the philosophy associated with my efforts on this blog.

The first quote reflects on the problem of imbalance and unsustainable behavior:

"The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men."

The second quote provides inspiration for continuing to move forward, even when feeling tired and outnumbered.

"Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better."

And the third quote reminds us that fear is not enough to sustain change - we must also have hope in the face of adversity.

"Everything that is done in the world is done by hope."

Labels: about greenbuckeye, inspiration

Even though the pundits are saying Ohio's March 4th presidential primary comes "too late to matter," I'm reading up on the candidates' positions on energy and the environment.

Of the online candidate comparisons I've found, I like Grist's the best. It displays pictures of the candidates as a visual cue, and it divides the energy and environmental issues into a manageable level of granularity. Grist seems to have the most comprehensive coverage of this issue overall with their regularly updated article, "How Green Is Your Candidate?"

Another good comparison comes from the League of Conservation Voters. Click their 'Chart the Candidates' link for an easy-to-compare matrix like Grist's. This site also offers more in-depth coverage of each candidate as well as the candidates' responses to a set of questions.

An interesting take on a comparison matrix is Popular Mechanics' site Geek the Vote '08. The information on that site appears to come primarily from the policies posted on the candidates' web sites.

Depending on whom you consider the most credible source, you might also want to check out similar comparisons from NPR, the Pew Forum, or the Council on Foreign Relations.

Labels: 2008 Presidential Primaries, climate change, environment, renewable energy, resources

Sustainable Worthington is sponsoring a number of gardening programs this winter, including one that may result in a community garden for Worthington! If you're interested in eating locally, you can't get food much more local than the veggies you grow in your own garden.

Check out Sustainable Worthington's upcoming programs on their Meetings page.

Franklin Park Conservatory's Growing to Green program supports local efforts to create and maintain community gardens. You can also learn about community gardens and find a list of community gardens in Central Ohio at the American Community Garden Association web site.

Tags: community gardens Franklin Park Conservatory Sustainable Worthington

Labels: events, resources, sustainability

Central Ohio is the home of The Ohio State University, which provides us with lots of opportunities to benefit from research and higher learning. The Center for Resilience at OSU is one such hotbed of research that supports "resilience of industrial systems and the environments in which they operate" - in other words, industrial and environmental sustainability.

If your organization is looking for ways to improve supply chain resilience or to explore a by-product synergy network, you owe it to yourself to check out the work going on at the Center for Resilience.

The Winter 2008 issue (.pdf) of the Center's newsletter lists several other sustainability-based research efforts ongoing at OSU, and provides a brief explanation of by-product synergy (i.e., Bill McDonough's waste = food).

I heard Joseph Fiksel (.pdf), the executive director of the center, speak at a meeting of the Capital City Organization Development Network (CCODN) last year. He's very knowledgeable and dedicated to taking a systems approach to environmental sustainability.

Center for Resilience, Joseph Fiksel

Labels: research, resources, sustainability

Are you considering a Masters degree program that features sustainability concepts? The CWRU Masters in Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD) provides that focus, emphasizing ways to make change in business organizations.

One of the professors in the program is David Cooperrider, whose most recent focus is social entrepreneurship and sustainable design. On January 29 Professor Cooperrider will be featured in a free online workshop, where he will discuss Appreciative Inquiry, a strengths-based approach to initiating and designing positive change.

The workshop is a recruiting event for the MPOD program. It will be followed by an MPOD Open House hosted by program director Harlow Cohen.

If you're interested, please register at least 24 hours ahead of the event.

Tags: Appreciative Inquiry, David Cooperrider, MPOD

Labels: events, green business, learning

A guy named Steve Sherlock in Franklin, Massachusetts, is taking matters into his own hands in his town. Read about the small action he takes during his weekly walk around the neighborhood.

What small things are you doing to make your neighborhood better?

Labels: environment, leadership, recycling

Last week the Chinese government announced a ban on super-thin plastic shopping bags, and will forbid shops from offering free plastic bags.

Perhaps presciently, several days before that Jennifer Norman of the Go Green Charleston blog wrote a post titled, "Should Plastic Grocery Bags be Banned?" She has uncovered numerous reasons why she believes they should be banned, and it's a post that's well worth reading.

I don't do the regular grocery shopping at our house, but I do drop in to Kroger and Whole Foods on occasion. I know they offer canvas and other reuseable shopping bags for sale for what seems to be a reasonable price. I found these recycled cotton, fair trade tote bags on Amazon.com. You can often buy cute ones from local artists and crafters, too.

Labels: consumer choices

A group called 1000 Friends of Central Ohio invites you to consider "a future where streetcars, urban revitalization, cleaner air, walkable communities, lower costs of living, regional cooperation and high-paying jobs are central to the fabric of life in central Ohio."

At a meeting Tuesday, January 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the new offices of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, 1000 Friends of Central Ohio will announce a new campaign in support of Columbus streetcars. They invite you to join them at this free event to learn more about their organization and their plans to work for better regional transportation.

Tag: Columbus streetcars

Labels: events, transportation

Columbus attorney Doug Morgan bikes to work no matter the weather, but he says we don't have to commute by bicycle every day to improve the environment and our lives. Click on over to Two Wheeling, Doug's blog, to read his post.

Tag: columbus 2012

Labels: biking, transportation

If you're stopping by from Jason's blog, welcome! I hope you'll find something here that piques your interest, makes you think, sparks a conversation, or provides an outlet for action!



Green Buckeye does not sponsor the events appearing on the calendar. We provide a link or contact information for the event if we have it. Please contact the sponsoring organization directly for the most up-to-date infomation about any event.

Labels: calendar, events

If you haven't viewed The Story of Stuff yet, please take 20 minutes to check it out. It's an entertaining view of the systems we've created as a culture that are negatively impacting the planet. It's simple, but not simplistic, and it makes a clear case for sustainability.

Tag: The Story of Stuff

Labels: sustainability

This weekend the Olde Worthington Farmers Market is sponsoring one of their indoor Winter Market days at the Griswold Senior Center. You can support local growers and crafters - read more about the market on the Sustainable Worthington site.

Labels: consumer choices

Strong Bad emails are an acquired taste. I offer no other explanation or apology.

Um, if you can't laugh at yourself or the environmental pickle we're in, please don't click this link!

Technorati tag: Strong Bad Email

Labels: fun

You can nominate a young person for MORPC's new Youth Advisory Council. High school juniors and seniors with an interest in environmental sustainability are eligible for nomination.

According to the annoucement:

Labels: kids, leadership, volunteering

Green Buckeye congratulates Central Ohio's MiraCit Development Corporation on garnering the 2008 Inspiring Energy Efficiency IMPACT Award from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance for the GreenView Estates "green" subdivision project. Partners in the project include the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Central Ohio, and the Affordable Housing Trust.

Dr. Edgar Posey of Miracit, Susan Ashbrook of the City of Columbus, and Meera Parthasarathy of Columbus Green Building Forum will accept the recognition at MEEA's annual conference in Chicago tomorrow.

You can read more about GreenView Estates and the award in the press release (opens a pdf).

Thanks to MiraCit, BIA, the Housing Trust, and other non-profits like Columbus Green Building Forum for "LEEDing" the way in energy efficient buildings for Central Ohio!

Labels: awards, green building, news

Columbus Green Building Forum is presenting a number of LEED workshops this year. Precise dates and times have not yet been announced, but you can check the CGBF web site for the latest details on these upcoming programs:

• LEED for Schools - Technical Review, March 2008


• LEED for New Construction - Technical Review, July 2008


• LEED for General Contractors/Construction Managers - Technical Review, September 2008

Labels: events, green building, learning

The city of Columbus turns 200 in 2012. In addition to the usual Bicentennial hoopla celebrating the past, city leaders and citizens are taking this opportunity to think seriously about the future they want to create.

Mayor Coleman and the 2012 Bicentennial Commission are inviting your participation in developing "projects, programs and priorities to enhance the quality of life throughout Columbus."

You can share your thoughts about the future of Columbus by joining the Mayor and Bicentennial co-chairs Gordon Gee, Abigail Wexner, and Bishop Timothy Clarke at the 2012 Citizen Summit the evening of January 29.

The commission promises inspirational speakers and some high-tech collaboration through wireless keypads. It's free, and you can register online here.

The commission has formed numerous focus areas, including Green Community. So sustainability has a legitimate place at the table right next to Arts and Culture, Jobs and Technology, and Downtown Revitalization. (I would argue that sustainability is the common philosophical ground that should unite all other efforts.)

This summit presents the opportunity for the green community to come out in force to "vote" for sustainability. Let your voice be heard!

Technorati tag: columbus 2012

Labels: events, leadership

Toby Boyce hosts the regional real estate blog Sadie's Take on Delaware Ohio. Recently Toby pointed out that AEP is making renewable energy certificates available to consumers. For less than $2 a month you can buy two "Green Product blocks" that support the production of about 200 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy from a landfill gas called methane.




Technorati tags: renewable energy certificates, American Electric Power

Labels: consumer choices, renewable energy, resources

This January 13 event isn't directly about sustainability or environmentalism, but it is about making change in Ohio. According to the announcement from ProgressOhio:

"RootsCamp is about Ohioans talking with Ohioans. It's an opportunity for open dialogue between Ohio's activists, field organizers, leaders, techies, fundraisers, bloggers - the whole team. We'll share innovations, failures, old wisdom and new discoveries, with an eye toward:

• Developing our skills to lead the way in 2008 and beyond


• Building sustainability in Ohio's growing progressive movement

RootsCamp is Participant-Driven. Anyone who wants to lead a session writes their topic on a large index card and tapes it to the day's schedule. Participants may add more sessions throughout the day as ideas are generated - a session may inspire an additional sub-topic, etc.

RootsCamp is Free. We provide a free breakfast and lunch for all participants, and there is no registration fee. However, we do accept donations from individuals and organizations to help defray the costs of the event. If you would like to donate to RootsCamp Ohio, please contact Abby Levine at ALevine@americavotes.org

RootsCamp: Come. Talk. Learn. Initiated by the New Organizing Institute, RootsCamps are self-organized. This open format never fails to yield an astounding exchange of information, spin-off projects, and cross-pollination among unexpected partners."

RootsCamp 2008 is an all-day event on January 13 at The Verne Riffe Center at the corner of High and State in downtown Columbus. You can register online here.

Labels: events, leadership, learning, media

The second Columbus "Get Green" Business Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13. The conference will highlight the goals and activities of Mayor Coleman's Green Team, and promises to provide businesses with ways to "assess their green status (waste and energy)" and to provide steps for saving money and becoming more environmentally friendly.

Labels: business, events, green business

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places - and there are so many - where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

- Howard Zinn

Labels: inspiration