Category Archives: The Eco Lifestyle

{Editor’s Note: this is Day 4 of the EcoChallenge through the Northwest Earth Institute. You can read about the kickoff here or register here.} ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WATER CONSERVATION As I’m writing this, some lovely men are installing our new, energy-efficient, front-loading washing machine. It is not our first front-loader. We bought one a few years ago, but that particular brand had some issues and several repairs. It was enough to make me rethink the front-loading option because the problem revolved around the piston and bearings that hold up the tub. One repairman claimed it was a common problem with front-loaders. The other pro for reverting to a top-loader was money. We had $500 credit for the replacement, and the store carried a $500 Maytag top-loader for just that price. It wouldn’t cost us a thing (except buying a new product service plan). The lowest priced front loaders were $799 including an LG we … Continue reading →

{Editor’s Note: this is Day 2 of the EcoChallenge through the Northwest Earth Institute. You can read about the kickoff here or register here.} So the EcoChallenge begins, and I am filled with motivation. I’ve shepherded my family into this (some less willingly than others) as we follow the green-brick road to sustainable living. We generally do a good job of keeping our footprint small, but I have this vision of ultimate greenness. My vision isn’t completely formed yet (I do know it does not involve living in a tent in the woods while foraging for dinner), but I am determined to march forward until we achieve it. I’ve decided to do one green thing each day during this two-week challenge. How hard can that be? Toronto columnist Vanessa Farquharson did it for 365 days and wrote about it in her book “Sleeping Naked is Green.” Now that’s impressive. Of … Continue reading →

Don’t forget to register yourself, your family or other group for the 2012 EcoChallenge, sponsored by the Northwest Earth Institute. It starts this Monday, October 1 and runs for two weeks. That’s two weeks of focused effort on reducing your carbon footprint in a particular area. Two weeks to start a green habit. Even when you’re already fairly green, it’s easy to fall back into old—perhaps more convenient—habits. Like forgetting to take my reusable bags into the grocery store. Too often, they languish in my car while I leave the store with more plastic. That’s the kind of behavior I hope to address during the Challenge. Two weeks ago, I signed my family up for all five categories (water conservation, energy efficiency, trash reduction, sustainable food options and alternative transportation). I printed out NWEI’s suggested list of actions and posted it on our refrigerator — the best spot in our … Continue reading →

I’ve just registered my family for this sustainability challenge. While I’ve been making eco-friendly changes for years, there’s always more to learn, and I sometimes find myself getting a little lazy! The 2012 EcoChallenge sponsored by Oregon’s Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) is a chance to push myself to get a little greener and to connect with others doing the same thing. Won’t you join me? An annual event, the EcoChallenge asks people to select one area in which to reduce their environmental impact for two weeks. Choose from water conservation, energy efficiency, trash reduction, sustainable food options and alternative transportation. NWEI provides you with lists of possible actions to take within each area. You can even select all the categories or create your own. The point is to use those two weeks to create new habits, recommit to a greener lifestyle and find inspiration from others while doing it. The … Continue reading →

Inspired by Elin Kelsey’s picture book Not Your Typical Book About the Environment, I share with you some inspiring actions and unique inventions sure to put a smile on your face. (If, like my daughter, you are just interested in the poop part, please scroll down Who knew thinking green could be so fun and trendy? Perhaps you or your child might come up with the next innovative earth-saving idea. FASHION FORWARD Mom, can I eat my seat, please? Rohner Textil AG, a Swiss fabric company once facing bankruptcy due to the high cost of disposing of its toxic waste, re-engineered its product to create fabrics so clean, they’re edible. Some Lufthansa airplanes now use this fabric on their seat covers. I wonder if they taste better than the peanuts… In the drive to develop more eco-friendly fashion, American scientists are experimenting with producing fabrics from farm byproducts like chicken … Continue reading →