The Brown Thumb: An Environmental Blog

Just Throw it in The Bag (for $0.05)!

2010-08-29T21:09:00.000-04:00

Almost a year ago the D.C. City Council imposed a 5 cent tax/charge on plastic bags for customers who buy consumables in the district. The purpose behind the bag tax is 2 fold. One, the council wants to raise money to help clean up the Anacostia River. Second, the council wants to use the tax as a first step towards reducing the use of plastic bags and bottles in DC.

When I heard about this initiative I actually thought it was a good idea. We all know the issues that face the Anacostia River, and we know that plastic bags are bad for the environment since they are non-biodegradable, and are light weight and hard to keep in one place (like a landfill). But as time has gone on and I still see people "buying" plastic bags, I wonder if the tax has been beneficial since plastic bags are still available and used regularly. Could the council have taken this whole bag thing a step further and just removed plastic bags from all businesses? Could they have charged more than 5 cents for a plastic bag? Could they do more PR on the reasons why plastic bags are so detrimental to the environment, and specifically the Anacostia River?

If the whole purpose behind this tax is to reduce the use of plastic bags, I really think people have to have a shift in the way they live to fully make this change. They have to understand that although plastic bags are convenient, there are other options, and people need to know why this is so important to the environment. I'm not sure that the average DC resident (or anyone for that matter) is going to get all that just by forcing them to pay an extra 5 cents for a bag.

Brown Tip

Reduce, recycle, reuse: If you have plastic bags, it's OK, but reuse them instead of throwing them away and buying more. And just about everyone and their dog has reusable bags now, so load up on those instead of the plastic.

Don't Top Off!!!

2010-08-22T14:52:00.000-04:00

This is a special blog of all my Jersey peeps! You ever notice how when you go to the gas station to fill up the attendant is anxious to add that extra $0.20 worth of gas to your tank after the pump has already stopped? We all know this technique as "Topping Off" and even people who self pump (like us Marylanders) do it as well. But did you know you actually don't get any gas?!

Topping off is a complete and utter waste of money and gas vapors. Topping off your gas tank only makes you pay for gas that's automatically fed back into the pump. When the pump clicks, your tank is at capacity, so there's no need in you basking in the joy of seeing the number round up to $35.00 because your only paying the gas station for this happiness. Additionally, you need the extra room in your gas tank for the gas to expand anyway, so there is no need to try to fill every nook and cranny of your tank.

Brown Tip:

Save yourself some money and tell the gas station attendant "Don't Top Off!!!" (Jersey accent added).

Dumpster Dive

2010-08-15T07:50:00.006-04:00

The summer of 2010 has been one of the hottest summers ever. During these times, most folks escape to the beach or a local pool for relief. But what about people who don't have access to a car to get to a beach or a pool? Enter the Dumpster Pool.

Throughout this summer in NYC there have been 4 reconfigured old trash dumpsters roaming around the city disgusted as pools. The creator of the pools wanted to figure out a way to reuse underutilized materials to spur urban renewel.

What a great idea. This dude not only figured out a great way to recycle something that people would usually just discard but he's also providing a resource to the community.

Brown Tip

Find ways to reuse items in your neighborhood. You can reuse tires as planters, old cans for arts and crafts for children, or donate old tools to a local church or community organization.

I'm Not a Greenie I Just Recycle A Lot

2010-08-12T17:08:00.008-04:00

I came across this article on Yahoo! called "Signs of a green hypocrite" and it was hilarious. But then I thought, am I a green hypocrite? I yell at people for recycling, but I have an SUV. I use reusable bags but sometimes I don't leave them in my car and use plastic. Does this make me a sinner? Can I ask for forgiveness from mother nature?

The truth is it's hard and expensive to be green, and while I think we could all do better, we are doing better than before. I bought a Brita water pitcher so now I save water and money. Yea I drive a SUV, but I only fill up on gas every two weeks and I take the Metro to work. And yes sometimes I use a plastic bag but I reuse it at home for other stuff. So I guess we are all hypocrites in some way, shape, or form. But isn't it better to be hypocritical than be inactive?

Brown Tip:

Damn it is hot as hell and we all could drink more water. Why not get yourself a Brita or Pur filter and a reusable bottle (non-BPA!). This will save you tons of money and help save space in the landfill.

In Those Jeans

2009-09-16T12:53:00.006-04:00

I cleaned out my closet the other week and noticed I had a lot of old, unwearable jeans. My first thought was to donate them to the Salvation Army or a Goodwill. But what about the old jeans with paint stains or rips in them? I can't give those away right?!

I did a little research and found out that there is a push for old blue jean recycling! Since blue jeans are 100% cotton, they can be recycled into other items that use cotton as well. Companies like Bonded Logic (http://www.bondedlogic.com/) are recycling old blue jeans into insulation for houses! The new insulation is very environmentally friendly since no chemicals are used to develop the insulation, it takes less energy to produce, and the old jeans are being put to use rather than sent to a landfill. Furthermore, people who use jean insulation can get tax credits since it's an energy efficient technology. YAY!

Brown Tip

Give Me Those Jeans

If you have blue jeans that would like recycled into insulation, send them to:

Fair Indigo Denim Drive

c/o Green Jeans Insulation Inc.

1109 W. Milwaukee St.

Stoughton, WI 53589

Electric Boogie

2009-08-29T19:37:00.005-04:00

In the wonderful spirit of environmentalism, Chevrolet has taken a major step by developing the first US produced electric car, the Chevy Volt. The Chevy Volt boost a fuel economy of 230 miles per gallon! OMG!!!! Let me just put this in prospective for you all. This car gets on 2 GALLONS of gas what a Civic (which is a very fule efficient car) gets on an entire tank! The car also gets 40 miles without any gas and a full electric charge!

When I saw the Volt debut I almost cried. OK, that's going a little too far, but I was very proud for a couple reasons.

1. This is an American made car. For the past 20 years American made motors have been out smarted and out sold by the likes of Honda and Toyota. The fact that an American car company has taken on the idea of going green in a way that far surpasses foreign automakers is wonderful because it shows that we, as a country, are getting on board globally with environmental protection.

2. The economy is bad and people in the automotive industry have seen it most. With people world wide becoming more environmentally conscious maybe this will boost sales for Chevy and bring jobs back to America.

3. Dude, could you imagine putting $5 worth of gas in your tank and it lasting you for 2 weeks! This car can save us sooooo much money! And even though the final cost of the Volt has not been publicized, it's estimated it will cost around $21,000, which is less than a Camry or any other car in it's class.

Overall, the Chevy Volt is a win win for the US and the environment. Now, as with anything there will be some issues with the first generation of Volts. However, given the current state of the economy and the environment, I think it's worth more than a test drive.

Brown Tip
I'm Thirsty!

Did you know plastic water bottles are beginning to surpass newspaper as one of the most recycled materials? This might sound nice but wants would be even nicer is if we would use bottles that can be reused (like reuseable plastic bottles or reusable aluminum bottles) or get a Britta or Pur water filter. To reduce the amount of materials going to be recycled which reducing whats going to landfills, we take going green a step further.

RIP MJ

2009-06-27T14:05:00.010-04:00

With the passing of Micheal Jackson this week many people have taken a moment to reflect on his music. It is only fitting that this week's Brown Thumb be dedicated to MJ.

I have ALWAYS loved the Earth Song and I truly believe MJ was ahead of his time with this song.

Michael Jackson - New Music - More Music Videos

Brown Tip
Be Like Mike

MJ did so much for other people through his music. Let's take a lesson and help others the way MJ would.

Get Smart!

2009-06-19T11:29:00.005-04:00

About a year ago I started noticing Smart Cars, the little 2 passenger cars, all over DC. I would laugh when I saw large men in these cars and just swore they were the most uncomfortable and unsafe things on the road. Even a co-worker of mine at EPA said, "They might be good on fuel, but wait until it gets hit by a Hummer!". LOL.

Even though it seemed like they came out of no where, Smart Cars have been a hit overseas since 2000. I think the fact that the Euro folks have embraced the Smart Car says a lot about how different they are as consumers. While we roll around in our Hummers and SUVs, our friends across the pond have embraced this little car as being hip and cool, and why not?! The car gets 33/40 mpg, has 70 horsepower, gets up to 90 miles per hour (which is good enough to keep up with the nice folks on the NJ Turnpike), and is made of 100% recycled synthetic materials. And while this car might seem like it should be a great deal since it only seats two people, the cost of the car is quite high at $13,000-17,000. Not too surprising considering it is produced by Mercedes Benz.

To be honest, as great as the Smart Car is on the environment, I'm a little upset it can't be made more affordable. Especially since going green is usually associated with being thrifty. I would love to have one, in addition to my SUV, for communiting purposes but I am not big mama money bags. But hey, if you can afford it and don't have kids, by all means, buy one!

Brown Tip
Take a hike!

This is not really a brown tip but I want to encourage folks to get out there and get active. More and more researchers are beginning to look at the impact of obesity on the economy and the environment as it relates to the increased cost of health care and resource availability. Furthermore, obesity and health conditions associated with obesity amoung African Americans are on the rise. Lets take some time out from our desks and couches and get some exercise. It doesn't have to be a marathon, but lets do something more for our health.

My President is GREEN!

2009-05-29T22:26:00.010-04:00

I'm really excited about the new mileage standards introduced by Pres Obama. With gas on the rise and the economy in the dumps we could all save a little money. And isn't it great that we can help the environment at the same time?!

The New Obama mileage standards, which will take effect in 2012 (which is not that far away), will require cars and light trucks to get an average of 35.5 miles per gallon. DAYUM!!! Right now the only kind of vehicle that gets that type of mileage is a hybrid or smart car. But imagine being able to get that mileage in a car you WANT to be seen in!! I mean, I don't mind hybrids personally. But honestly folks, can you pick up dudes (or females) in a hybrid? They just don't have any swag. Now lets flip it and make it so your BMW 3 series now gets 30 mpg. WHAT!? That will be sooo tight!

But seriously folks, most countries in the world already have more stringent mileage standards in place. So in actuality, we are just playing catch up. As you can see on the chart above, the only folks we are doing better than on our projected mileage standards right now is California, go figure! And of course this will cost us something ($1500 extra per vehicle) but would you rather pay for it in your car payment now or in your taxes later?

Brown Tip
Wind Power!!!

I joined a program through my power company (BGE) to get wind power and it's about a penny cheaper than regular electric! Check it out http://www.cleancurrents.com

(Plastic) Baggage

2009-05-13T22:06:00.005-04:00

Two weeks ago I took a trip with the Commission (the Prince George's County Solid Waste Commission that is) to the county landfill and composting facility. The purpose of the trip was to give the Commission a better idea of how the county manages it's solids waste. Both facilities were pretty cool and the tours were very informative, but there was something(s) that just kept bothering me. THESE DAMN PLASTIC BAGS!!!! (in the mommy dearest wire hangers voice)

There were plastic bags everywhere! I can't say I was surprised to see them there but I was surprised to find out how much they cost the county. At the composting facility, the managers had to buy a special plastic bag shredder (about $500K worth of equipment) and use workers to collect the bags. At the landfill, the managers have a difficult time keeping the bags on the landfill because they are so lite they can just fly away, so they too have to take extra time (and money) to collect the bags around the landfill.

I understand some people think that outright banning plastic bags and making people pay for reusable bags is not the answer. But I would ask those people this: do you want to pay for the bag now in the store or pay for it later in taxes? You decide.

BROWN TIP
"I brought my own bags, thank you!"

Reusable bags are so cheap now, most companies give them away for free. Keep them in your car, at your desk, or even in your purse. Just use them! They really do make all the environmental and economic difference.

Encounters

2009-05-03T18:20:00.003-04:00

This past Earth Day, I had the pleasure of participating in a clean-up at Anacostia Park. Now I know what your thinking, "How can THAT be pleasureful?!" but it really was. Outside of me getting to know Styrofoam plates and the tips of black and mild cigars way too well, I met some young people that take part in the Earth Conservation Corps (ECC).

ECC is a non-profit that works with at risk young adults (17-24) in Washington, DC. They teach the ECC participants about the environment while giving them life skills. The program lasts a year and, according to one of the program managers, there is a waiting list to get into the program. To teach the participants about the environment they do neighborhood clean-ups, discuss the importance of environmental protection, and hold workshops so the participants can get green job skills.

During the clean up I talked with a 21 year old girl named B (not her real name) and asked her how she felt about the program and why she joined. She told me the program saved her life! B had been in and out of jail (12 times) as a young adult. She said she had no motivation to do anything but get money illegally and hang out. But then she got tired. She said she never really thought about what she was going to do with her life until she got in ECC, and it has kept her off the streets. Once she finishes the program she going to get her GED (which ECC will help her with) and start running her own ice cream trucks. She said she wanted to be a better person for her sister, who is starting to go down the same path as her. DAYUM!!!!

Dude, programs like this really get to me. There is one thing to save the environment, but to do that while saving a life...... I could really really appreciate that. There are so many young people lost in this world, and if teaching them about the environment helps them find themselves then I would say that's a win win for all of us.

Brown Tip
Give Back!

If it's the environment, mentoring, helping old folks, whatever you are good at, do something! In these hard economic times people really need to see peoples goodness and showing it doesn't cost anything.

Earth Day Resolution!

2009-04-20T19:58:00.006-04:00

Hey folks! It's been awhile since we've talked! I wanna take this time to make a resolution to you (and myself of course) to do better for the environment. For those of you who know me, you know I'm pretty serious about recycling and making sure I take the reusable bags to the grocery store. But I want to take things a little further.

I started this blog to inspire people to be more environmentally aware. I feel like I've lost a bit of that focus. So today, I'm resolving to be a better blogger and environmental advocate. Now, I'm not going to get out on the corner and try to sign you up like the folks at Greenpeace (shout out to Greenpeace!) but I will stay fully committed to this blog and it's purpose. So with that being said......

Earth Day is upon us!!!!!

For those of you who don't know, let me give you a quick history lesson. Earth Day, April 22nd, was started about 40 years ago by a peace activist (you know the hippies had something to do with this) named John McConnell to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment. Over the years, Earth Day has evolved from a day of teach-ins to a day of service around the world.

I want to ask all of you, especially EPA employees (cause I know some of you read this blog), to get out and do something for the environment for Earth Day. It doesn't have to be a big thing like buying a hybrid or chaining yourself to a tree (but if that's your cause by all means...), but something that shows mother Earth that you appreciate her. And to help you out here's a link to a list of Earth Day activities:

http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

Restoring Intergrity!

2009-01-23T13:28:00.005-05:00

This message was sent to all EPA employees from our new Administrator, Lisa Jackson. It's a bit long, but I really feel like she sums up what we've all been thinking over the past 8 years.

DATE: January 23, 2009

TO: All EPA Employees

FROM: Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator-designate

I can think of no higher calling or privilege than rejoining EPA as your Administrator. I am grateful and humbled that President Obama has given me this honor. With his election and with my appointment, President Obama has dramatically changed the face of American environmentalism. With your help, we can now change the face of the environment as well.

During my 21 years in public service, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and professionalism of EPA’s workforce. Thousands of committed, hard-working and talented employees for whom protecting the environment is a calling, not just a job, have made EPA a driving force in environmental protection since 1970.

EPA can meet the nation’s environmental challenges only if our employees are fully engaged partners in our shared mission. That’s why I will make respect for the EPA workforce a bedrock principle of my tenure. I will look to you every day for ideas, advice and expertise. EPA should once again be the workplace of choice for veteran public servants and also talented young people beginning careers in environmental protection – just as it was for me when I first joined EPA shortly after graduate school.

In outlining his agenda for the environment, President Obama has articulated three values that he expects EPA to uphold. These values will shape everything I do.

Science must be the backbone for EPA programs. The public health and environmental laws that Congress has enacted depend on rigorous adherence to the best available science. The President believes that when EPA addresses scientific issues, it should rely on the expert judgment of the Agency’s career scientists and independent advisors. When scientific judgments are suppressed, misrepresented or distorted by political agendas, Americans can lose faith in their government to provide strong public health and environmental protection.

The laws that Congress has written and directed EPA to implement leave room for policy judgments. However, policy decisions should not be disguised as scientific findings. I pledge that I will not compromise the integrity of EPA’s experts in order to advance a preference for a particular regulatory outcome.

EPA must follow the rule of law. The President recognizes that respect for Congressional mandates and judicial decisions is the hallmark of a principled regulatory agency. Under our environmental laws, EPA has room to exercise discretion, and Congress has often looked to EPA to fill in the details of general policies. However, EPA needs to exercise policy discretion in good faith and in keeping with the directives of Congress and the courts. When Congress has been explicit, EPA cannot misinterpret or ignore the language Congress has used. When a court has determined EPA’s responsibilities under our governing statutes, EPA cannot turn a blind eye to the court’s decision or procrastinate in complying.

EPA’s actions must be transparent. In 1983, EPA Administrator Ruckelshaus promised that EPA would operate "in a fishbowl" and “will attempt to communicate with everyone from the environmentalists to those we regulate, and we will do so as openly as possible."

I embrace this philosophy. Public trust in the Agency demands that we reach out to all stakeholders fairly and impartially, that we consider the views and data presented carefully and objectively, and that we fully disclose the information that forms the bases for our decisions. I pledge that we will carry out the work of the Agency in public view so that the door is open to all interested parties and that there is no doubt why we are acting and how we arrived at our decisions.

We must take special pains to connect with those who have been historically underrepresented in EPA decision making, including the disenfranchised in our cities and rural areas, communities of color, native Americans, people disproportionately impacted by pollution, and small businesses, cities and towns working to meet their environmental responsibilities. Like all Americans, they deserve an EPA with an open mind, a big heart and a willingness to listen.

As your Administrator, I will uphold the values of scientific integrity, rule of law and transparency every day. If ever you feel I am not meeting this commitment, I expect you to let me know.

Many vital tasks lie before us in every aspect of EPA’s programs. As I develop my agenda, I will be seeking your guidance on the tasks that are most urgent in protecting public health and the environment and on the strategies that EPA can adopt to maximize our effectiveness and the expertise of our talented employees. At the outset, I would like to highlight five priorities that will receive my personal attention:

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The President has pledged to make responding to the threat of climate change a high priority of his administration. He is confident that we can transition to a low-carbon economy while creating jobs and making the investment we need to emerge from the current recession and create a strong foundation for future growth. I share this vision. EPA will stand ready to help Congress craft strong, science-based climate legislation that fulfills the vision of the President. As Congress does its work, we will move ahead to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision recognizing EPA’s obligation to address climate change under the Clean Air Act.

Improving air quality. The nation continues to face serious air pollution challenges, with large areas of the country out of attainment with air-quality standards and many communities facing the threat of toxic air pollution. Science shows that people’s health is at stake. We will plug the gaps in our regulatory system as science and the law demand.

Managing chemical risks. More than 30 years after Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act, it is clear that we are not doing an adequate job of assessing and managing the risks of chemicals in consumer products, the workplace and the environment. It is now time to revise and strengthen EPA’s chemicals management and risk assessment programs.

Cleaning up hazardous-waste sites. EPA will strive to accelerate the pace of cleanup at the hundreds of contaminated sites across the country. Turning these blighted properties into productive parcels and reducing threats to human health and the environment means jobs and an investment in our land, our communities and our people.

Protecting America’s water. EPA will intensify our work to restore and protect the quality of the nation’s streams, rivers, lakes, bays, oceans and aquifers. The Agency will make robust use of our authority to restore threatened treasures such as the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay, to address our neglected urban rivers, to strengthen drinking-water safety programs, and to reduce pollution from non-point and industrial dischargers.

As we meet these challenges, we must be sensitive to the burdens pollution has placed on vulnerable subpopulations, including children, the elderly, the poor and all others who are at particular risk to threats to health and the environment. We must seek their full partnership in the greater aim of identifying and eliminating the sources of pollution in their neighborhoods, schools and homes.

EPA’s strength has always been our ability to adapt to the constantly changing face of environmental protection as our economy and society evolve and science teaches us more about how humans interact with and affect the natural world. Now, more than ever, EPA must be innovative and forward looking because the environmental challenges faced by Americans all across our country are unprecedented.

These challenges are indeed immense in scale and urgency. But, as President Obama said Tuesday, they will be met. I look forward to joining you at work on Monday to begin tackling these challenges together.

WHEW!! I feel GOOD!

Brown Tip
Wash Them Dirty Draws!

A good friend of mines is expecting her first baby and has decided to use cloth diapers. I am soooo happy about this. Regular diapers are not biodegradable so they stay in landfills FOREVER, take up lots of landfill space (for those of you who hate the thought of a landfill exspanding), and pose threats to clean water from runoff. Cloth diapers can be used forever and simply washed in the washing machine. I know what you're thinking, "I'm not putting crappy diapers in my washing machine!", well you don't have to. There are pleanty of wonderful diaper services that do nothing but wash poopy diapers for you.

Change Agents

2008-12-16T21:21:00.005-05:00

The election of Barack Obama is truely one of the greatest moments in American history. As he prepares to embark on one of the toughest jobs in the world, Barack Obama has done something even greater with the people he has chosen to serve in his cabinet by nominating Lisa Jackson to serve as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. This is a very big deal because she, like Barack Obama is black and, if confirmed, would be the first black Adminstrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The fact that Lisa Jackson is black is one thing, but I truely believe the fact that she grew up in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans, is something even greater. No one can deny that what happened to the people of the lower ninth ward, and all of New Orleans for that matter, during hurricane Katrina was horrific. But what has happened to them after Katrina in terms of environmental injustice is a tragedy.

Since Katrina is no longer front page news, we have turned a blind eye to the environmental impacts on the people of New Orleans. Residents still have to ask themselves; is the soil clean enough to build my house on, can this happen again, are they going to redevelop my neighborhood for someone else? And politically the silence is almost deafening (when was the last time you saw a bill/law/legislation that even mentioned Katrina?).

I refuse to set myself up to think that Lisa Jackson will be the savor of all evironmental issues. I don't for a moment think that she will welcome all the Siera Clubs of the world into EPA for a "tell me whatever you want and I'll do it" meeting, or appoint Al Gore as her confidant, or reduce the size of the hole in the ozone layer. It's just not possible because she is a POLITICAL appointee. But I do hope that Lisa will galvanize us brown people and make us a little more green for the environment and for our fellow brown people.

BROWN TIP
Each one, teach one.

This is such a historical time, our children must know that they are a part of history. Please, teach the children well!

Gasoline Confusion

2008-09-14T18:19:00.004-04:00

I was so excited on Friday, at around 10:00am, to see that the price of regular at the gas station around the corner from my house had dropped to $3.47 a gallon. I swore this was a wonderful sign of things to come and just knew it would go down to about $3.25 by the end of the month. So imagine my dismay when I came home later that night and saw that price had gone up to $3.57!!!!

Apparently, this is all due to the hurricanes. Hurricanes disrupt gasoline and electricity production because most of our gas refineries are located in or near the gulf of Mexico. This hurricane season has seen 2 major hurricanes strike the gulf region and cause the cost of gasoline to go up almost $1.00 in some places. And although disruption of gas production is very real, a lot of what drives the price of gas up is actually fear and price gouging.

The fear that the availability of gas will somehow disappear and we will be sitting in long lines at the gas station like in the 70s is a bunch of BS. Not only does the US have strategic oil reserves that we can tap into in emergency situations, but 58% of all our oil is imported. Hmm, doesn't that mean that more than half of the oil we use isn't even affected when there is a hurricane? Furthermore, there are a couple of the oil reserves located in areas that have not been affected by Gustav or Ike.

This all leads me to believe one thing, these gas stations are gouging the hell out of us!! What other reason would there be for gas to go up to $4.99 in Knoxville, TN or $5.50 in Tallahassee, FL over night!!!??!!

If you or someone you love have been price guoged, please report it to your State's Attorney General. It's illegal and unfair.

Brown Tip

Walk it out!

Sept. 22nd is World Car Free Day. So do the world a favor and walk, bike, skip, take metro, tumble to work on that Monday. It's good for you and the environment.

Politics of the Environment

2008-09-07T19:00:00.007-04:00

Over the past 2 weeks we've had the American pleasure of witnessing the Democratic and Republican National conventions. Both conventions served as a platform for each party's nominee to explain what exactly are they going to do for the country.

On the environmental side of things, I found the Republican ideas on oil drilling very interesting. During her acceptance speech, Sara Palin said under the McCain administration they would promote drilling in Alaska and other parts of the country, opening up more oil reserves, and promote clean coal. However, she did not talk about conservation or the impact of these policy choices on the environment. I understand the need to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources, but is drilling everywhere really the solution?

Furthermore, does it really matter how much more oil and energy we can produce if we (Americans) continue to use too damn much if it? After all, oil IS NOT A RENEWABLE RESOURCE! This all just makes me wonder if politicians, or their speech writers, think through environmental matters the same why they think through economic and homeland security matters. Just one to grow on.

So my summer vacation is over and I'll see you next week.

Brown Tip:

CFLs not NFL

During this NFL season, I'd like to challenge you to replace all of your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use less power and last longer than regular light bulbs thus allowing us to conserve more energy. Although CFLs are a bit more expensive you can usually find a coupon or rebate on them at your local home depot or Lowes.

Something Looks Smoggy........

2008-08-11T18:27:00.013-04:00

So the Olympics are here and it has basically taken over the news for the past 2 weeks. All the rivalries (US vs China), the Opening Ceremony (which was off the damn chain), Visas being revoked, how much money was spent on all this, and of course the environment.

If you haven't heard China, Beijing specifically, has a very bad Smog problem. If you watch the Olympics during the day (around about 12am-3am our time) you can actually see the Smog hanging over Bob Costas' head like a thick piece of white construction paper. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) expressed concern for the athletes competing in outdoor games (marathon, cycling, etc) just 1 week before the opening ceremony took place. And, in the picture seen around the world, some of the athletes showed up in Beijing with personal protective equipment (re: breathing masks).

I think the thing that gets me the most about all this is that the IOC and the Chinese government knew 5 years ago, when the Olympics were awarded to Beijing, how bad the air was.

Beijing is in the middle of an industrial revolution. Imagine the Olympics being held in Pittsburgh, PA in 1890! Well, that's Beijing. The city is in the process of expanding its technological reach in the world. To do so it has to expand its industries by increasing energy production and relying heavily on coal (because it's cheap, available in large quantities, and is easy to convert to electricity). To boot, more and more people want in on this "industrial boom", so more people are moving to Beijing.

Now Beijing knows this is a problem so to prepare for its world neighbors visit, they did a couple things. They moved some of it's heaviest polluting factories out of the city or shut them down completely; they told people they could only drive on certain days of the week; they came up with a "rain maker" which sends nitrogen up into the atmosphere (via a rocket luncher) to help seed clouds with rain to help sweep the smog away; they made people buy reusable bags at the grocery store to reduce the amount of waste that goes to their landfills; and they planted some trees.

This is all fine and dandy for the Olympics, but folks none of this is sustainable (except the trees). Once the Olympics leave, factories and people will be back to business as usual and the smog will probably get worst. So I guess you have to wonder, how much of this is really about the environment or is this just putting lip stick on a pig? The pig is still Smog and this pig ain't going nowhere! Now, where's that lipstick??

Brown Tip:

Plant a Tree!

Trees not only provide shade and make things look a little nicer, they also produce oxygen and absorb pollution from the air. Don't believe me? Go to the middle of DC (I'd say Pennsylvania and 12th) at about 5pm (during rush hour) and try to breathe on a hot and humid day. You'll be wishing for a tree!!!

Over The Water

2008-08-03T20:15:00.004-04:00

A couple months back my toilet started to run. Now I'm no plumber but I knew it probably needed a new ball or chain for the inside of the tank. So I did what any good wife would do and ask my husband to fix it.

After a couple of Heathcliff Huxtable fixes, the hubby and I went to home depot and got a new flapper part for the tank. We thought this would solve the problem. Unfortunately, it didn't and the toilet continued to run. About a month after the initial discovery we got our water bill............

Our bill was about $185, a whole $130 more than usual. Needless to say we needed to did a little more research. We found out the ball and lever both needed to be replaced and we did that expeditiously. We just got a newest bill and we are back down to $50!!!

Brown Tip:
Get Out Your Tool Belt!

We all waste water but when it starts touching our pockets, then it's a big problem. I'd encourage all of you to take a look at your toilets, kinda leaky faucets, and drippy pipes and fix them! More than likely its a really easy and quick fix that can save you some money. Most of all though, since we are brown thumbs and this is really about the environment, it can save some couple hundred gallons of water.

Killin Me Softly

2008-07-21T11:58:00.006-04:00

I love crabs. I could sit for hours on my deck with a cooler full of Coronas and just break crabs all up with my teeth (those little wooden mallets are for suckas!) and enjoy the sweet juicy meat inside. When I was little, it was a summer time ritual to eat crabs wrapped in newspaper on one of the apartment buildings stoops. All the kids in the neighborhood (about 13 of us) would pool our money and get as many crabs as we could from the neighborhood bar on Thursdays. Crabs then cost $0.50 each.

Lately I've been reading articles and catching news reports about the decline in the crab population along the Chesapeake Bay. I have learned, since moving to the DC area, that the Bay itself is in danger due to the increase in pollution to the Bay, mainly agricultural pollution.

Delaware and Maryland have always been great places for farming communities. However over the past 40 years there has been increase in large production farms. Not your "Mom and Pop" farms where you can go get some milk and ice cream (like Broom's in Bel Air, MD) but your big assed farms like Purdue and Morningstar Farms. These place have hundreds of thousands of animals (chickens and cows) and all of them need to shit, and need to have grain and corn to eat (which are treated with pesticides and other chemicals). These chemicals and shit unfortunately end up in the bay when heavy rains come and washes them away into streams or when they are mismanaged and seep down into groundwater below the farms.

I know what you thinking, "WTF does this have to do with crabs?!". It's simple, polluted water= warmer waters= less crabs being produced. Just like people, crabs have to have the right environment to reproduce and the Bay right now is not the right environment.

People in the crab industry thought this was part of the crabs cycle. Crab populations decline sometimes but they usually come back within a couple years. The decline we are in now started in the early 1990's and has contributed to a 65% drop in crab production! Right now, they say there are about 43.5 million pounds of crabs available Bay wide. You know how big the Bay is?! It stretches over 6 States!!!

I see bumper stickers all the time that say "Save the Bay!". They even have the Save the Bay Maryland License Plate , where proceeds from the purchase of the plate goes towards saving the Bay.

But folks, even if you can't relate to saving the Bay, we can all relate to saving some crabs!!! Damn I'm hungry........

Brown Tip

WIPE ME DOWN!!!

Stop washing your car in your drive way! Since most of us live along the Bay (yes the Potomac leads to the Bay so it's the same thing) when we wash our cars outside the pollution from your dirty cars and it's oil goes down the sewer to.... the Bay! Taking your car to the car wash can save water and reduce pollution runoff to the bay since most car wash places (not the shady ones) have storage tanks under the facility for wash water.

I just could not resist

2008-07-06T20:30:00.009-04:00

Last Sunday I bought an SUV. Not the Lexus RX 330 that I talked though. I bought a Ford Edge, which is a wonderful piece of SUV. It has all these bells and whistles like a panoramic roof, fake leather seats, sirus radio, and sync technology. I totally enjoy driving the truck and it has already been used to DJ an impromptu party.

I have driven the car much more than I would usually drive just to get used to it. I drove it to work (something I never do since it cost $20 to park downtown), I visited a couple extra friends to floss a bit, I even drove to Rockville during rush hour to meet up with Bonna (something else I usually would not do since people on the beltway lose all common sense during the 3pm-6:30pm hour).

But all this joy riding comes at a price. I have only had the truck a week and already spent $60 to fill it up. This gas experience helps me to better understand the "pain at the pump" some people deal with everyday, like those who commute long distances or who have lots of kids to shuttle around. I'm pretty blessed that I can afford to fill up for $60, but trust and believe this will not be a weekly occurrence. So if you haven't seen the car and want a glimpse, you'll have to stop by the Hopkins House or see me at the Landover metro station.

And since I am a brown thumb I did manage to get the Edge model which meets the California Emissions Standards, which are stricter emissions requirements than the federal government (EPA) requires.

In other news......

My bad for not posting last week, seeing that I was being anything but an environmentalist at the time I should have been blogging.

Brown Tip:

Put your trash in the trash can or it will end up on your plate!

I don't think people really know where their improperly disposed street trash ends up. Well, FYI, the trash from the street here in the DC metro area ends up in the Potomac River. Yeah that may not seem like a big deal since none of us will be taking a refreshing dip in the river, but when your drinking water also comes from the Potomac River, I highly doubt you'd like to see a cigarette butt in your glass.

Gimme Da Loot, Gimme Da Loot!!!!

2008-06-23T07:01:00.004-04:00

When I brought my car 5 years ago it cost me $15 to fill it up with gas. Last week I paid $40. But you know what, I'm not going to bitch and complain about it.

I hear people all the time complain about how high the gas is and how messed up paying $4 a gallon is, and I agree it is messed up. But my co-worker from Dallas pretty much summed up the whole gas "crisis". He said, "...until gas prices get to a place where middle class people have to choose between gas and eating, the government will not do anything about it and people will deal with it. Besides, most of the people who are complaining are still taking summer vacations." We are consumers!

Saudi Arabia (the oil gods) just said yesterday that they would increase production of oil to meet the demand of the US, China, and India. This increase in production should help the cost of gas go down a whopping $0.10 per gallon!!!! Thank You Saudi Arabia!!! What would we do without you?!

Brown Tip:

Stop Bitchin and take metro!

I know y'all, metro is the worst. They are always late, broken, and completely unreliable. But you know what, I take metro to work everyday and I only have to fill my car up every 2 weeks! Taking metro helps to save gas and reduce CO2 emissions (this is an environmental blog after all). And if you work for the government, they give you metro checks which, if you are creative, you can flip for more money!

Tacoma, Washington

2008-06-15T22:19:00.008-04:00

I spent the majority of last week in Tacoma, Washington for a conference. During my time there it was pretty much cold and rainy everyday but the people were so nice and pleasant, like a little sunburst in the middle of a rainy day. One of the other things I noticed was the way the people in the Seattle area care for the environment.

The local power company, Seattle City Lights, has a program called Green Up where customers can choose to get a portion of their power from a renewable power source for an extra $3 to $12 dollars a month! WOW! And they advertise this on TV. What if Pepco or PSE&G, which serve 2 major metropolitan areas (DC and NYC), actually discussed, explained, and promoted the use of renewable energy to their customers? We could all be green thumbs with very little effort.

Also, I flew Alaska Airlines direct from Seattle to DCA. It blew me away that they recycle all the plastic cups used on board. Just think about how many drinks you have on a coast to coast flight that lasts about 5 hours...... now multiply that by about 70 (for your flight)..... then by 300 (for all the other flights).... You get the idea. I don't think people really understand the amount of garbage we generate, even in a short time period. Isn't it nice to know that there are places that take this into consideration.

Brown Tip:
Wash Your Cups!

I drink tea a lot and I know some of you drink coffee a lot. Instead of going to Starbucks and having your double mocha coco venti white chocolate latte in a paper cup, take your own reusable coffee cup or travel mug.

Most coffee and tea shops will give you a discount for using your own cup and, of course, it helps to reduce the amount of waste we generate.

I want an SUV?!

2008-06-08T00:22:00.005-04:00

I've been happy with my ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle) for the past 4 years. The civic has been very good to me; it's cheap, reliable, low on gas, and spacious for me. However, I feel like at this time in my life I need an upgrade. I don't like when Bonna has to squeeze into it. I don't like going home to jersey and not being able to take my family out all at one time. I don't like having to borrow someone else's truck when we need to go to Ikea or when Bonna has a gig. Lastly, I hate feeling like the world is advancing around me. You ever see someone with a old assed cell phone?! And you be like, damn that's a old assed phone, get a grown up phone like a blackberry. I need the blackberry equivalent to a car, and that car is the Lexus RX 330.

I know, I know, I can upgrade the civic with an Accord or some other car that is not a gas guzzler, and really be about protecting the environment, but that's the rub. How do I not sacrifice luxury (which I fee like I deserve, and I know this is very obnoxious) but at the same time not increase my harm to the earth. This would be easily solved if I got a hybrid. However hybrids are made for people who live in the city and helps them to save gas in stop and go traffic.

So what do I do? I think a lot of us run into this problem. You want to be good to the earth, but we have such bad habits (like feeling entitled) that we just can't seem to get over. Maybe I'll consider the hybrid.

Brown Tip:
Recycle Damn It!!!

Recycling cuts down on our use of natural and non-renewable resources and energy consumption.

Recycling is required in DC but not in Maryland. The recycle forms for PG and Montgomery County, MD only take a moment to fill out.