Vertical Farms

If we continue to live vertically, we should begin to grow vertically. Vertical Farming shares this idea at the core of it's philosophy, it occupies less space than horizontal farming and has the potential to be as beneficial if not more, than traditional forms of farming.


If we look at the tags indicating where our food is grown, we would realize that a lot of what we eat is either shipped or flown to us from different states and many different countries. The amount of energy that these modes of transportation use and the number of trips needed to deliver our food grows as our population grows. The increasing development of urban centers leaves less and less room for the growth of vegetation in our cities. This begs for a solution like the one brought forth by professor Dickson Despommier at Columbia University with his concept of vertical farming.

Until now there are several proposed projects for vertical farming in the U.S., in places like Seattle, Las Vegas (of all places), New York, and cities outside the U.S. like Toronto in Canada.




























What about Boston?
Thankfully a lot of people in Boston are conscientious about where they buy their food. There are shopping centers like Harvest Co-op which buys products from local farmers and is a drop-off for CSA's. We can't forget Re-Vision Urban Farm in Dorchester, which we highlighted in our previous blog. Then of course, you have the Farmers Markets scattered around greater Boston which take place from May to November. Our local market is in Copley Square, but there are plenty in other neighborhoods. There are also websites like Boston Community Change which promote local small businesses.

Boston is a city that would welcome and benefit greatly from one of these projects. Having a self sustaining vertical farm to feed the urban population is something that more cities will be looking into as populations increase, and the cost of food rises. Although there are no set proposals for vertical farming in the city of Boston yet, we believe its only a matter of time before Boston has it's first self sustaining vertical farm!

A Farm Grows in Dorchester

Today members of the down:2:earth team took a field trip to reVision Urban Farm, we met with Matt Kochka, the farm manager who was kind enough to answer some of our questions and gave us a little tour. Arriving at the farm we saw a vast patch of land covered with green vegetables, this scene contrasted with the Dorchester triple deckers surrounding the plot and the McMansions that are being constructed just a block away. Farms in town - what a concept!

The main mission of the farm is to give shelter and hope to pregnant and parenting homeless women. Matt said that the average stay lasts from six to eighteen months. With that mission in mind, they have managed to do so much more than give hope. They grow organic food that is then sold to locals at discount prices, benefiting the local community. The woman staying at the house can help tend to the garden and gain important working skills. The food served at the house is healthy. Local volunteers can gain a greater sense of community and experience an urban farm. reVision is able to earn 20% of it's funding from the sales of produce.

After noting the significance of this income, Matt pointed out that they still need donations from individuals and labor from volunteers to survive. NOTE: Wednesdays are a great day to volunteer a few hours at the farm. Since they sell their produce on Thursdays, Wednesdays are busy preparing and much help is needed. Nathalie and Lorelei are looking into their busy urban schedules to see if they can get down to their roots once a week.

The farm grows collards, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, rasberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, and kale. They also have two green houses where we found Rachel Cory, their intern for the summer. We interrupted her while she was thinning seeds to plant mustard and lettuce. She is currently attending Bryan Mawr, enrolled in a program called Growth and Structure of cities, where she learns about issues of urban planning, economics and sociology. (Phew - someone is looking into this!) Her internship has been six months long and she said that she has enjoyed it very much.

Rachel and Matt both like having the opportunity to reach out to the community. The work they do at the farm is complicated in some ways, but in others it seems so fundamental. With the rise in food prices and health issues from pesticides and processed foods, this farm seems like a no-brainer. Why is it so unique? Well, it is a bit complicated and someone has to run it and fund it. If you want to donate - the parent organization is Victory Programs. You can donate right on their website.

We were very inspired by the initiative at the farm, which has been around for over a decade. We hope to go back in a couple of weeks and volunteer at the farm. Matt said that volunteers are always welcomed and participation is encouraged. You learn skills on how to grow your vegetables, and learn valuable life skills that benefit those that are interested in sustainability. And of course, you are part of a community when you volunteer. You meet interesting people and expand your world.

No appletini, thanks, but pass the organic wine!

Last night I attended one of the Boston Green Drinks events and thoroughly enjoyed the company. (Greater) Boston Green Drinks meets at a neighborhood pub on the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 6:30 — 9:30 pm; details of the meeting are sent out to subscribers approximately one week beforehand. If you have any questions or would like to be added to the distribution list to receive monthly reminders, send an email to bostongreendrinks@gmail.com. I highly recommend it!

I met people from all over the city doing great things; from the Charles River Conservancy to EarthWatch to our neighbor, the Lenox, to young students looking to meet professionals already in the sustainable business sector. Since our whole mission at D2E is to promote businesses that are abiding by the triple bottom line* while educating consumers about how to live sustainably in our urban/suburban environment, this was a great place to talk to people about interesting programming options. We always want to hear about the challenges and victories of individuals living in greater Boston. How do you commute? What recycling challenges are you facing? What is the best way for an apartment dweller to compost? We want to know. Send your ideas to info@d2eboston.com.

* Triple bottom line: Financial, social, and environmental effects of a firm's policies and actions that determine its viability as a sustainable organization.

Some green drinks from our exhibitors:

French Rabbit is changing the way wine is made and packaged.

Tetra-Prisma containers are state-of-the-art packaging that will revolutionize the wine industry. 100% recyclable, Tetra-Prisma containers reduce packaging by 90% in comparison to typical glass wine bottles. They may not look as romantic, but they work great for Shakespeare on the Common.

Kunde Wine Estates are looking at every aspect of their business.

For example, cover crops are employed to reduce energy usage, water conservation, control erosion, increase soil fertility, and create habitats for beneficial insects. Vegetation management and the placement of nesting boxes for owls and other raptors throughout the vineyards support a natural, pest free environment. These approaches to winegrowing create a naturally healthy environment which results in well-balanced vines and wines.

So if you like a glass of wine with your meal, consider your sustainable options!

Are the oil prices affecting you?

On my way to work this morning I stopped at a local gas station to put some air in my front bike tire (see photo above). I had to take a photo since the garage had a little moped in it instead of a car - sign of the times.

While there I got into a conversation with the station owner about the price of oil/gas. He had an interesting tip for those of us that heat our houses with oil: you can hook up your hot water heater with electricity so that you don't have to use any oil until the cold months come.

Obviously this is not a solution - but every little bit helps these days. Since I do not drive much, the price of gas does not make a big impact on my daily life. But my apartment is heated with oil and I felt the price increase this past spring when I had to re-fill the tank - OUCH! And like everyone else, I have felt the ripple effects with the increase in food costs and my vendors' fees.

Below are some excerpts from today's Globe article by Erin Ailworth.

The increase will have an especially dramatic impact on the nearly 1 million households that are heated with oil, which now sells for about $4.70 a gallon, up from $2.59 a year ago, according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Heating costs are expected to keep rising, the report says. The state's average household oil bill next year could top $3,000, according to the report by the UMass Donahue Institute, a university think tank. All told, consumers can expect to spend $4.45 billion for gas and oil heat in 2009 - a $469 million increase from 2008.

....

"Maybe the people who are very, very wealthy won't bat an eyelash. But for the regular people who are working from paycheck to paycheck and week to week, and don't have anything in the bank account, this is devastating," said Joseph P. Kennedy II, chairman of Citizens Energy Corp., a Boston-based nonprofit. Kennedy's company provides discounted oil to low-income residents and senior citizens. To help reduce bills, he said, the state should create an energy bank to finance energy-efficient home improvements.

An energy bank - that is an interesting idea. I also like the carbon taxes. We have a lot of work to do - time to get busy!

As always, if you have any interesting programming ideas, please let us know. We are booking speakers and workshops for the April Down:2:Earth event.

MIT Shares Solar Research

Check out this article in the Globe by Elizabeth Campbell.

We love reading about innovations in alternative energy - and it was especially heartening to read in this article that Daniel Nocera from MIT was able to check his ego at the door and publish his findings early. This way he is sharing his research with the greater science community and others can apply it to their own studies. He's basically bringing us closer to a society that is not dependent on fossil fuels.

Go Daniel!

"MIT researchers say they have discovered a way to use solar energy cheaply even after the sun goes down, which could make it a mainstream source of power within the next decade. ....

Nocera and the MIT research group said they opted to publish their findings to allow the science community to work on the technology.

"The challenges confronting the world in energy are too big to let anybody's single ego or money get in the way," Nocera said. "And we're talking about some really challenging problems.""

So nice to end the work week on a positive note!

Local Events Worth Noting

Thanks to the Harvest Coop e-mail newsletter, we are able to pass on the following local events.

1) Leave your car at home and reap the benefits with Go Green Streets
2) Join your community to help weatherize a neighbor's house
(yours could be next)
3) Jump on the bus and visit the Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival
4) Expose your kid to gardening at the Growing Center Playgroup
5) Put on your best bamboo shirt and attend the Boston Vegitarian Society Dinner

1) GO GREEN STREETS
Leave your car at home on August 29! WEAR GREEN and COMMUTE GREEN (walk, bike, bus, carpool)! Check out our website for this month's raffle items (including a $15 gift certificate at Harvest Coop) and discounts at other local businesses for those who participate! www.GoGreenStreets.org for more info or to sign up your company or school!

2) WEATHERIZATION BARN-RAISING
At the home of Steve Miller and Sally Benbasset
Sunday, August 10 3:00–6:00pm
92-96 Henry Street, Cambridge

If the federal government won't cut carbon, let's do it ourselves!
- Help to weatherize a neighbor's home (a skill you can take back to your own home), while you party with neighbors.
- Learn how to install pipe insulation, a programmable thermostat and more.
- Meet the brand-new CEO of Cambridge Energy Alliance in his first public appearance. Ask him about the direction of the Energy Alliance while drinking lime rickeys!
- Enjoy live music and pizza.

A group of Cambridge-area residents has come together to form an Energy Co-op. Our goal is to work together to make our neighborhoods more energy efficient. We are also exploring possibilities for district energy systems in which neighbors share renewable local energy.
We're looking for the next home to weatherize. You supply the materials and pizza. We do the work. Come talk to us about it.

For more information contact Steve Morr-Wineman at swineman@gis.net.

3) RED FIRE FARM TOMATO FESTIVAL
TOMATO FESTIVAL - Red Fire Farm has been putting on a tomato tasting for eight years now, and it's grown into a huge event on the farm with three live bands, four chefs, crafters, local producers with samples, food vendors, 75 tomato varieties to taste and lots more going on. A highly recommended time to visit the farm!

Saturday, August 23rd, 12-5pm
Barn Contradance (with some of the members of Wild Asparagus, I hear!) 7:30-10:30pm
Check out the Tomato Festival page of the website for more details.

4) GROWING CENTER PLAYGROUP
Every Friday through August 29 (except July 4); 10 am-noon
Play! Play! Play!...at our drop-in playgroup. For children age 0-5 years of age and their caretakers. For more information, contact Aileen Bellwood at 617-623-0097 or growingcenter@aol.com

5) BOSTON VEGETARIAN SOCIETY DINNER
Join the Boston Vegetarian Society at Veggie Planet for a delicious four-course vegan dinner among friends new and old.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008
Veggie Planet, 47 Palmer Street in Club Passim
Harvard Square, Cambridge

6:40 PM - Arrive, check-in, socialize
7:00 PM - Chef Amy Swanson introduces the menu
7:10 PM - Dinner begins

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Please email Info@BostonVeg.org and give name(s).
"Plethora of Zucchini" MENU - using the freshest locally grown ingredients available.
- Salad of Zucchini and Yellow Squash Ribbons with a Fresh Herb Vinaigrette
- Chilled Zucchini Soup topped with Fried Basil Leaves
- Entrée of Baked Stuffed Zucchini with a White Bean, Local Bread and Herb Filling accompanied by a Farm Fresh Tomato Ragu
- Dessert of Chocolate Zucchini Cake and a Special Non-Zucchini Surprise

No animal ingredients
$25 includes tax and beverage. Service is extra. Pay on site after the meal. Cash or check (made out to Veggie Planet) only; No credit cards.

Meet others in BVS - never hesitate to arrive alone to a BVS dinner!

Love all the great things happening in our area!

Taking Action

In my busy life, trying to run a business while keeping my husband, my dog and myself happy, I find it hard to be an activist. I am so active trying to make a living while enjoying my own life, the thought of getting politically involved is daunting. But I try to stay aware and be active when I can. I read the Globe every day (okay, I scan it and read the articles that interest me) and I read the Boston Business Journal each week (this one I actually read from cover to cover). I read the NY Times on the weekends, I subscribe to a few blogs and I get the David Suzuki and 350 newsletters.

Through these news outlets, I have become 'sort of' active and I have become aware of others that are much more active. My 'sort of' activeness began with No Impact Man when he made it easy to send a letter to his congressman and now I am getting involved with 1 Sky.

My business is all about promoting sustainable businesses and educating people about how to live a more sustainable life in our urban environment, so I am lucky in that my job is involved in the effort to help make our economy and our lives more sustainable.

This morning the Globe published a piece titled "Breaking a town from the center", written by Bill McKibben and Sue Halpern about how their little town in Vermont unified to keep their post office from closing down. This is a great story about how individuals can help make a difference. It is also an insight into how the commercial parts of our towns and cities are so important to our communities.

On my end, I am going to sign up with 1 Sky and see what I can do while my congressional representatives are home for the summer. I'm sure they'd love to hear from me during their summer vacation!

Eco-friendly Dry cleaning

Sustainable Tip of the Week:
Don't dry-clean all your clothes!

Sounds bizzare I know, I didn't want to believe it either especially because many of us are so reliant on these services. I don't intend to persuade you to stop using dry cleaning services altogether, but rather persuade you to use eco-friendly dry cleaners. You may want to after you learn of the effects dry cleaning has on our environment and your health.


Here are the facts:

• Of the 35,000 dry cleaning business in the U.S. 85% still use the toxic solvent perchloroethylene (perc) known to cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and which has been linked to reproductive problems, as well as disorders of the central nervous system.

• International Agency for Research in Cancer has labeled perc a probable human carcinogen, as has the EPA in a recent Cleaner Technology Substitutes Assessment.
  

Alternatives and Why They’re Better:

Liquid CO2 is created by obtaining CO2 emissions from previous industrial and agricultural processes and putting them under high pressure until it compresses into liquid form. CO2 is an abundant and renewable resource, and its production does not contribute to global warming.
In liquid form, it carries biodegradable soaps as water does in a washing machine. Once the process is over, the CO2 turns back into a gas and over 90% of it is reused.

Unfortunately, this process is more expensive than traditional dry cleaning, and even though the machines used save a business money by requiring fewer employees to use it, businesses are reluctant to buy and utilize the machines because they cost over double what traditional dry cleaning machines cost. The biggest proponent of liquid CO2 cleaning is a company called Hangers which has franchises all over the country.

Wet-cleaning uses water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergents to clean fabrics. It is a straightforward process to perform, but because the process uses just water and soap, more time and skill is needed to clean the clothes effectively and carefully. Some of the waste products, such as steam, get reused later in the process. Wet-cleaning is less expensive than other “green” dry-cleaning methods such as CO2 cleaning.

GreenEarth (liquid silicone dry cleaning solution) is the brand name for a liquid silicone dry cleaning solution. Silicone is a naturally occurring substance, primarily in the compound form SiO2, or sand. Silicone is used in many other consumer products such as shampoo, soap, and lotion. After it’s been used, the silicone decomposes into three natural substances: sand, water, and carbon dioxide. The process has done very well in consumer satisfaction reviews and isn’t exceedingly expensive. People like that their clothes come out odorless, softer, and the colors seem more vibrant.

“Organic” Cleaners- Many dry cleaners try to market themselves as environmentally friendly by calling themselves “organic.” However, this doesn’t mean they’re actually being green. Some “organic” dry cleaners are trying to be more eco-conscious, but the solvent they use is still very harmful. The most common “organic” dry cleaning agent is DF-2000. It is less toxic than perc, but it is petroleum-based and it contributes to global warming. Under this process, the clothes are cleaned with DF-2000 vapor, so the clothes never get wet. This saves energy because the clothes don't need to be dried but the agent itself isn't very eco-friendly.

Here is a list of some Places Around Boston that are Eco-Friendly Cleaners:

Corner Cleaners
1301 Washington St. Newton,
MA 02162 Phone: 617-969-1711

Moonie's Cleaners
233 Bowdoin St. Dorchester,
MA 02122 Phone: 617-282-1046

Natick Cleaners
13 Watson St. Natick,
MA 01760 Phone: 508-655-8200

Kelly Green Cleaners
266 Hyde Park Ave. Jamaica Plain,
MA 02130 Phone: 617-522-5961

Bush Cleaners
0219 Newbury St,
Boston MA 02116

Clevergreen Cleaners
Beacon Hill
109 Charles street
Boston, MA 02114 617-523-6925

If you go to any of these dry cleaners drop us a line and let us know what you think of their services.

Until next time.

Sustainably yours
Nathalie Zegarra

Ride Bikes!

Today is officially BIKE FRIDAY! So I grabbed my bike at 7am and made my way from Arlington to City Hall Plaza where Nicole Freedman, Boston's Bicycle Tzar and head of Boston Bikes, met me with some great bike schwag and breakfast. It was a perfect morning for riding to work, and I was joined by hundreds of other Bostonians, Newtonians, Lexingtonians, etc.

Cities really are just a bunch of neighborhoods, and this event made me feel like I was part of a community. I loved it. I met the people from Greenstreets, a great grass roots organization that is promoting alternative forms of transportation. They were happy to see that I wore green and I was happy to support their cause.

The next Bike Friday event is August 22nd, but don't wait until then to get out your bike. It feels great to get into work with your adrenalin pumping. Ride bikes!


Zipcar was represented - we love Zipcar.

There's good big business, and then not-so-good

At D2E we get über excited about the little things. We applaud printing on both sides, we love hearing that local restaurants are sourcing from local farms (I ate at Hungry Mother last night) and we love seeing people walking down the street with their reusable mugs. These little deeds go a long way. We also love to see big businesses strive to make a difference. These efforts need to happen and below are two examples; Timberland and Dunkin Donuts. One is great, the other, not-so-great.

Timberland
Yesterday I attended an Ad Club event that highlighted Timberland's 2007 Earth Keeper campaign. This was a great example of a big company making a big difference. I had seen their billboards and posters all over town last year, but I did not know about what they did on the back end. Below is a short list to give you an idea of how a media company (Mullen - Media Hub) and a big retail company can put their heads together and come up with some great sustainable marketing ideas.

- All billboards were re-purposed and made into reusable tote bags, sold at Timberland stores. (They raffled two off, but I wasn't so lucky.)

- The energy used to run their TV ads was offset, meaning that the money was invested into renewable energy.

- The Earth Keeper shoe was made with recycled materials (old tires and plastic bottles).

- Recycled materials and soy based inks were used in the packaging. (They put these requirements in their RFP's when looking for vendors.)

It was refreshing to hear a big business talk about the environmental impact and the social impact that their company makes. Timberland was completely honest and upfront with the audience, making no claims to be perfect. They are doing their best to treat the world, the way they would want to be treated.

Dunkin Donuts
On the not-so-warm-and-fuzzy note - our office is in the same building as a Dunkin Donuts store. The store is currently being remodeled, so there is a lot of construction going on outside. Yesterday as I was walking to work, I saw that the crew was disassembling the signs. So I asked if they would be recycling them or just throwing them out. The answer was that they would be trashed. So, since I am a quirky graphic designer and I collect old signs, I offered to take them. I wanted to put the big "715" sign on our office wall, since we are located at 715 Boylston Street and I love this sort of re-purposed/found art. How cool would that be? To have a big 715 sign on our wall? Pretty cool. And I figured I could take the old Dunkin Donuts sign and add it to my personal collection. I assured them that I would not have these signs in public, that they were for our office and my private collection. (I'm not yet able to begin an art collection, so I focus on old signs.)

Alas, I heard through the construction super that they feared there would be a liability issue. Does this seem like a knee jerk fear reaction from corporate America? The owner did not even call me to have a conversation. I think that is what bothered me the most. I had given my card to the construction crew supervisor and he passed it on to the owner with my request. I did not even get a courtesy call to say "Thanks for taking an interest in our brand, but..." And to boot - we have given them a key to our office so that they can access our utility closet during construction. We went out of our way to help them.

I should note that the construction crew and the store manager have been exceptionally nice throughout this whole process. I have not met or spoken with the owner, so I can't speak for him/her.

As a designer, I can understand if this is a branding issue. They may fear that I would hang the sign on a public street or in an adult book store. But if the owner had called me it would have accomplished much more for the brand. I would have felt like a person, not just a number that adds to their bottom line. And there would have been a slight chance that we could have found a better home than the land fill for these signs. Perhaps this franchise owner could have put me in touch with corporate to see if there was a better solution.

Sustainable Carpets

Today Down:2:Earth has compiled a helpful list of sustainable carpet companies that are healthy for your home. The main problems with carpets is that once used, they generally end up in landfills. And some carpets contain backings with PVC's which contain petroleum and are a danger for your health, especially if they are in your home. Now that I think of it, whenever we find something that is bad for the environment, it is bad for us humans as well. So let's clean house!

Thankfully technology has brought the carpet industry a step further by implementing manufacturing processes that allow for more environmentally friendly productions. As consumers it is our responsibility to know how some companies are more sustainable than others, while understanding what goes into their manufacturing process, and the energy involved producing these carpets.

While these questions can't always be easily answered we have done some research to help you make up your mind for the purchase of your next carpet.

Lees Carpet/ Mohawk Carpets
These two companies have partnered up and are a leading sustainable carpet company. Some of their technologies, like Lees' Duracolor stain-resistant dye technology, will keep your carpet clean and make it last longer. Durability is something we look for. Most of their carpets are either made from recycled bottles or from recycled carpets - even better! Their backing system contains no PVC's and they make them from recycled materials such as window shield wipers. They even use tires to make outdoor carpets. Mohawk company shows to have a social commitment as well as an environmental commitment by donating 25 cents per square yard sold from selected carpets for cancer research. They pretty much recycle everything in their manufacturing process from beginning to end. Wow - we applaud this.

Milliken Flooring Company
Are sustainable in their attempt to reduce their energy consumption and water usage by 50% in their manufacturing process. Since 1999 they have had zero waste dumped into landfills. Their carpets have no VOC off gassing and their backings are PVC free. Milliken's Earth Square is a closed loop system where all carpets are made of 100% post consumer product.




Shaw Carpets
This company re-uses their carpets at a larger scale. They have a system where carpets are collected, brought to a central location where they are sorted into different fiber streams and then recycled to become new carpets. Their green label plus assures there is no off gassing emitted from their carpets. The fibers that they use for their carpets are nylon, polypropelyn, wool, and nylon type 6 which is used in their recycling system. As a company Shaw carpets has come up with green edge initiative which is a list of all the things they do as a company to be sustainable. For instance using dyes that are less toxic and need less water, and using epic hardwood floor made from recycled wood.


Interface Flooring Systems
Was the first company to come up with modualr carpet systems, this concept in environmental in and of itself because it eliminates the need to replace an entire carpet floor if there is only one section that is damaged. As a company they came up with Mission Zero which seeks to eliminate any sort of environmental damage the company may be causing by 2020. Finaly Interface uses recycled vinyl backing for their carpets which some claim is damaging to your health. They have great designs to boot - and we love that.






That's all for today, tune in next week to find out about more sustainable items for your home.

Sustainably Yours
Nathalie Zegarra

Bike Friday

One week from today - Friday July 25th - Boston will host an official BIKE FRIDAY! Tell all of your colleagues and choose your best bike/casual-Friday outfit for work. I am already thinking that my black and white checkered Sara Campbell dress (local designer) will be perfect with my circa 1970 red three speed (as long as my wrench husband can fix it next week since I rattled it a bit on my commute home the other day and had to McGiver it with one of my hair bands). The skirt is full so I can easily ride my bike with it, and it has spaghetti straps for these hot summer days.

Let's celebrate not using gas - exercising our bones - and good local fashion all in one day. Okay, not everyone has to wear a dress, but this is a great way to get into the habit of riding your bike to work. The website asks people to wear green - so I will have to look into my wardrobe to see what I have. I may end up with a green bow tied onto my black and white dress. Nobody's perfect.

I know you have been thinking about it, so you have one week to get the tires checked, grease the chain and make sure you can find your lock (I have no idea where I left my lock). If safety is your concern, we will be escorted by police! Do it just to feel like a president - it is an election year after all.

If you are riding from Lexington or Arlington, I will see you on the ride! Read the website for all the details - ride bikes!

Sustainably yours,
The D2E team

DIY is alive and well!

We had to share this great innovation that has been making it's way around the web. We discovered it on inhabitat, which is a great blog on sustainable innovation and design. They found in on flickr and unfortunately we do not know who created this wonderful contraption.

Spreading the love,

D2E team

Sustainable Flooring

If you're thinking of renovating your home, and installing new floors, but want to use sustainable materials, we have a solution for you.

Down:2:Earth has compiled a list of what flooring types are eco-friendly and sustainable.
First let me share with you some facts on why flooring isn’t good for the environment:

Traditional flooring negatively impacts the environment because it uses valuable natural resources and harmful chemicals. Its production can use wood and water at an extremely fast pace that often leaves the resources unsustainable. The production can give off dangerous petroleum by-products and the treatments and finishes for the wood can give off many volatile organic compounds that include carcinogens such as formaldehyde.

Some alternatives and why they’re better:

CONCRETE
Many homes have concrete bases underneath their floors. One new eco-friendly flooring trend is to leave the concrete exposed, stain it, seal it, and leave that as the floor. It never needs waxing, is easy to clean and removes the need for carpeting. It can also be energy friendly: during the day, concrete absorbs heat from direct sunlight, conserves it, and releases it through the night. Despite what many may think, concrete does not have to be dull. Check out this design on concrete from Transparent House.


BAMBOO
Bamboo’s vitality makes it a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional flooring. The plant is fully grown within three to five years whereas a hardwood tree can take 40 or 50 years to mature. If the plant is cut correctly and responsibly in a manner that leaves enough of the stalk and roots intact, the plant can regenerate. Also, the plant doesn’t need lots of chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides to grow. An important aspect of Bamboo, however is the that it grows in warm wet climates in Asia which means it has to be transported all the way from Asia which which has a significant ecological foot print. Nothing is perfect, but these are some better options to consider.


CORK
Cork can be a renewable and recycled alternative to traditional flooring. It is either harvested from a tree as bark and the tree re-grows the bark for the next harvest or it is made from the waste from wine cork factories. Cork is an excellent insulator so it conserves heat and has exceptional memory, meaning it retains minimal marks when dented. Air pockets in cork make the product soft to walk on and reduce the wear and tear on the floor since the cushioning prevents shoes from grinding on the flooring. A unique advantage is its noise-canceling, which is great for music studios.




RUBBER FLOORING
It is important to note that there are two types of rubber, one is synthetic made with petroleum, and the other is natural rubber, which is removed from the sap of the rubber plant. These rubber plants are found in sub-tropical climates like Brazil. The rubber is compressed then sold. It is important to know what part of the world the rubber comes from and it's manufacturing process because some rubber floorings may contain PVC, plasticizers, or halogens. Rubber flooring is ideal for high traffic areas, although not so much for kitchens where grease and water become slippery.



RECLAIMED WOOD
Reclaimed wood is wood that has been taken from existing buildings, which is then refinished and recut. It can come from old barns, factories, warehouses, boxcars, wine barrels, and from the bottom of riverbeds. Reclaimed wood is great for several things that range from making furniture to installing new floors. At the same time reclaimed wood can be regarded as reliable because it has already weathered the elements, so one can be sure of its stability. See this great example.


Good luck with the renovation! Hope this week's issue of sustainable home was helpful, until next week.

Sustainabily yours
Nathalie Zegarra

Policy and Art are alive in Boston

While reading the Globe this morning, in my effort to be more informed of our policy makers, I was again heartened to read not only about progress in our local government and non profit sector, but also I read about some great art. So this Monday morning I am feeling all warm and fuzzy about living in a city and state that is taking action and growing culturally. In this morning's Globe I found two articles I'd like to pass on. One about Green Collar Jobs and one about a local heavy metal artist, Skunk who makes robotic sculptures out of old bicycle parts.

In regards to the green collar jobs, our job panel from this past year's show was a direct response to Van Jones' call for action. We at down:2:earth are trying to use our show as a forum for discussion and a resource center. So we brought together some young people working in the green sector with Galen Nelson from the City of Boston to talk about opportunities and to inspire people. We were surprised to see how many people over 20 years old attended the workshop, and that taught us that we should expand our job related event this year. D2E can't be the answer for every sustainable issue, but we offer a great opportunity for people to talk and learn. So please let us know if there is an issue that you want to be covered. We are working on our programming for the April 2009 show, and we want to hear your thoughts.

On Social Justice from today's article:
"We're going to need to see a lot more of this stuff on a much larger scale than we have before," says Penn Loh, executive director of Roxbury's Alternatives for Community & Environment, an organization focused on eradicating environmental racism that is also a member of Community Labor United. "This could be as big as the New Deal and the restructuring of the economy after the stock market crash and the Great Depression. We're at a turning point in human history."

On Skunk:
We love Skunk.

Policy and Pits

On the eve of celebrating our country's independence, there are two things on my mind; policy and pits. I should be thinking about the BBQ, sun, fun and fireworks. But I can't seem to get policy and pits off my mind. This is what happens when you are consumed with trying to figure out how consumers (like myself) can live more sustainable lives, thereby helping the world become more sustainable. You start to think about EVERYTHING!

Betty just came into the office talking about Genetically Modified Food and how our government will not pass a law that forces companies to label food that has been genetically modified. Great - now I have something else to think about.

Tip for fellow environmentalists, localvores, social thinkers, activists, and health nuts: Be careful about how you use your energy. Not everyone can take on all of the earth's problems, so be smart about how you educate others. Inch by inch, life's a sinch. Yard by yard, life is hard. We want everyone to drink the organic kool-aid, but we can't force it down their throats.

Policy.
I have always known that it is important to stay up-to-date on the dealings of our politicians. (I am talking about law-making, not love-child making.) That is something that every American learns in school. We are a democracy, and that means that each person has a say in how this country is run, well, sort of. We can all vote and we can organize ourselves to promote change. I do believe this. I do vote. But it is hard to keep up with politics when you are running your own life. That is why we vote in representatives that we trust, well, sort of. Because we are too busy to know everything.

In our exploration to learn how we as individuals can live more sustainable lives, I have come to learn that it is really important to have a grip on what your representatives are doing about the issues you care about. I know we all learned this in the first grade, but I am finally understanding that lesson. So it took 30 years, I'm a late bloomer.

So I was pleased to read the article in the Globe this morning about Governor Patrick's new energy bill; The Green Communities Act. In an effort to help spread the word, we are talking with the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships about having a panel on policy at Down:2:Earth next April. I am personally excited about having the opportunity to hear our own politicians talk about their work, and the ability to ask them questions.

Pits.
And now on to the pits. I have known since I was a teenager that I should not wear antiperspirant. My parents made it clear that we are supposed to sweat, and that we should not block our pores. I have learned as an adult that there is an issue with the Aluminum ingredient in antiperspirant products. From what I have read on the internet, it is controversial. But logic tells me that my Mom is right. We are supposed to sweat - so learn how to live with it.

I am currently weaning myself off of antiperspirant and trying out various types of deodorants, in an effort to not offend my co-workers. I will keep you posted on this most important subject, and I am going to investigate the issue further to see what more I can learn.

Stay tuned for more policy and pits!

B.Y.O.B

Here at Down:2:earth we try to come up with ways in which the average person could become more eco-friendly.

Sustainable Tip of the Week- Bring your own bag

If you haven't heard the facts about the plastic bag issue, it's worth investigating.

• According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.
• According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion.)
• Plastic bags are made of polyethylene
• Polyethylene is a petroleum product
• Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption
• Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year
• Americans use over 380 billion polyethylene bags per year
• Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year
• A plastic bag can take between 500 to 1000 years to break down in the environment.
• On average, we use each plastic bag for 12 minutes before discarding it. It then can last in the environment for decades.
• Plastic bag litter is lethal in the marine environment, killing at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year. After an animal is killed by plastic bags, its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environment, where it can kill again.

Until now Germany, Australia, China, and Uganda are some of the countries that have banned, or are working towards banning plastic bags. Although the U.S. has not banned plastic bags yet there are several companies taking a responsible approach to the issue.

What can we do? Say goodbye to plastic bags and say hello to stylish cloth bags...


EcoVixen made in the U.S from recyclable cotton. Left. " You don't want to return as a bag do you"?... Don't mess with Karma. Right. I'm not made in China. Made in the United States...and proud of it.
For a proud and responsible Bostonian. A product of Sea Boston USA made from 100% Cotton Canvas.

ECOBAGS EarthTone Cotton String Bag Set. These colorful cotton string bags are great to store away in your purse, great for your produce.

Verde Bags were created by Gina Sample as a stylish statement against plastic grocery bags.
Happy Bags has a wide variety of bags with fun designs on them, some of them are even made from recycled water bottles.
Mini Maxi Shopper. Lorelei has this one and can vouch for how efficient it is. "I keep it in my purse because it can fold up to be a wallet sized pouch, and when I need it come grocery time, it's there."

This concludes our sustainable tip of the week. Tune in next week for more!

Sustainably yours
Nathalie Zegarra

Boston Green Building Resource

One of the advantages of having great board members is that we get invited to all of the sustainable events held in Boston. Nexus, a down:2:earth exhibitor, held an open house yesterday. The event was free and open to the public. The Showroom featured a series of companies that promote and sell sustainable building materials which ranged from carpets, to paints, to flooring materials that are sustainable for your home.

We were able to talk to the vendors one on one and ask about their products. The event had a great turnout and was very informative. Kudos to our friends at the Nexus center who did a wonderful job organizing the event.

Here are some photos of the exhibitors.

Boston Green Building






















Lees Carpets






















Phillips LED lighting


















EQcountertops


















Museum of Science - Green Trail























Bostik






















See you at the next event.
Nathalie Zegarra

Paint without Poison

This week we bring sustainability into your home. Today we blog on sustainable paints, what companies are sustainable, where you can find them, and how to get rid of the paint you don’t use.

If you are a homeowner or just renting something we all do is paint our house. Most people think about the color they would like and nothing else. They don’t think about the company they are buying the product from, or how the paint is made, or even what chemicals it may contain, and whether these are harmful to your health.

Sound familiar?

Take for instance Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). These compounds are solvents that are found in most paints and are emitted through fluids such as paints, varnishes, cleaning liquids, disinfectants, which all release organic compounds. These compounds have proven to be a public health hazard, and are a contributing factor to the ozone.

At d2e we think it’s important to question how sustainable your paint products really are, for this reason we have compiled a list of sustainable paint companies for your home.

Old Fashioned Milk Paint




Old Fashioned Milk paint contains only natural ingredients. The milk paint is made from milk protein, clay, earth pigments and lime. It is biodegradable and comes in 20 colors. It contains no VOC’s or harmful toxics whatsoever.







Benjamin Moore Aura Paints

What makes Aura paints eco-friendly is that when it dries, it releases only one third as much in VOC then your regular paints. Aura features something called Colorlock which means it has full washability in all sheens, and has minimal odor, and one hour recoat time. Best part is these are available in 3,300 colors.


Green Planet Paints




This company is run by Meredith Erinson was one of the first companies in the U.S that makes natural clay paints. These paints contain no VOC’s. Sustainability for this company comes for the shared responsibility of choosing premium raw materials to produce a product that does not harm the environment or the household in which it is used.

Green Planet Paints does not contain petroleum, in fact their paints are Soy-based and contain waterborne alkyd resins. Since it is a small company they produce small batches of customized paints so that the waste is minimal.

Yolo Colorhouse

They have paints for both interiors and exteriors, what makes this company sustainable is it’s use of clay paints, milk paint and lime plaster finishes. They have both low VOC, and zero VOC paints. As part of their theme on sustainability they feature natural colors for the home which can be viewed on their website. These paints are Green Seal certified and are a non-profit organization setting standard for environmentally responsible products.

Mythic Paint

All of Mythic Paints are low VOC’s their paint is both sustainable, and still has high performance. Their patented technology is scientifically formulated to offer qualities of water-based paints without the need for toxic solvents. This is what avoids the bad smell. Their paint does not contain lead, mercury, formaldehyde, or other known toxic materials.

Until next week!
Nathalie Zegarra

Celebrating 'til we're green in the face

As we walked out of our office for a mid-day coffee break (note: reusable mug in tote) we were reminded of the energy and excitement that is generated by a public event. We were also reminded of how lucky we are to work downtown. Not only can we commute via public transportation, every championship parade goes right past our office door. Gotta love that!

Everyone was in great spirits today. Even the Lenox Hotel across the street was sporting a sign that said "Congratulations Boston Celtics, From the Other Green Team in Town" referring to their sustainable status as a hotel.

After watching the parade we all came back to the office and talked about what a great experience it was. We realized two things: 1. These types of events are important for our culture, for our economy and for our basic human needs. Even though throwing a party or having a parade is not the most environmentally friendly thing to do, it is socially beneficial and hey - it's fun! So let's just try to create the least amount of waste possible when planning these events. 2. We need to work on the basic rule of thumb - No littering. As Betty put it, "Who didn't get the memo on No Littering?"

All around this was a great time and I was happy to be a part of it. We did not leave anything behind and we only took memories.

What a great season! Go Celtics!

Any chance this was biodegradable confetti?!?!?! I'm plagued by doubts!