In a recent article of Scientific American, their are growing concerns over the safety of natural gas drilling and its effects on the drinking water of the areas in which the drilling is taking place. While natural gas has become a huge resource in our country, the side-effects on other natural products, such as drinking water, is raising concerns with the Environmental Protection Agency.

According to the article, “Sublette County is the home of one of the nation’s largest natural gas fields, and many of its 6,000 wells have undergone a process pioneered by Halliburton called hydraulic fracturing, which shoots vast amounts of water, sand and chemicals several miles underground to break apart rock and release the gas.  The process has been considered safe since a 2004 study by the Environmental Protection Agency found that it posed no risk to drinking water. After that study, Congress even exempted hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Today fracturing is used in 9 out of 10 natural gas wells in the United States.”

A closer look and examination of the water in the Sublette County area has revealed serious concerns over the safety of the drinking water and the legitimacy and accuracy of the 2004 report by the EPA. What is frustrating about this situation is that there are not safeguards in place to properly understand what is going on in the drilling process that may or may not cause contamination in harm to our ever precious water supply. This type of ‘hydraulic fracturing’ is exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act and, “because the precise nature and concentrations of the chemicals used by industry are considered trade secrets. Not even the EPA knows exactly what’s in the drilling fluids. And that, EPA scientists say, makes it impossible to vouch for the safety of the drilling process or precisely track its effects.”

Isn’t our drinking water valued enough to have safety measures in place to be able to appropriately examine and understand the drilling process and its effects? Perhaps the EPA needs to re-examine their 2004 report and further investigate the issues that seem to be arising in different areas in relationship to drinking water and natural gas drilling. It would be a shame to continue to drill and harm our drinking water and underground water supply because the EPA or someone else was keeping the ‘trade secrets’ of a natural gas company under wraps.

What do you think? Post a comment below.

If you have ever journeyed down Mississippi Avenue in Portland, Oregon than you have seen The Rebuilding Center of Our United Villages! You can’t miss it, its true art, the front of this building is beautiful and so fun, even the kids will want to check out all the salvaged finds inside.

The Rebuilding Center, a project of Our United Villages, is vibrant resource working to strengthen the environmental, economic, and social fabric of local communities. Founded by volunteers in 1998, The ReBuilding Center is the nation’s largest non-profit reuse center for salvaged construction and remodeling materials. The Rebuilding Center includes DeConstruction Services, a sustainable alternative to conventional demolition, and ReFind Furniture, which offer a diverse line of green furniture and home accessories. They also offer a free-pick up service, numerous volunteer opportunities, donations of used building materials for community projects, as well as workshops and classes on how to safely and creatively work with used building materials.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS: The ReBuilding Center currently diverts 8 tons of reusable building materials from landfills each day (almost 6 million pounds annually).

GREEN BUILDING: The ReBuilding Center’s 53,000-square-foot warehouse is a national model for green building including onsite storm water management, a façade of 100% reused building materials, natural daylighting and ventilation, and grounds of 1000 native and hardy plants. Our recent office remodel features more than 90% reused materials—such as commercial solid-core doors as flooring and walls made from windows—the highest percentage of any office remodel of its size.

Located at 3625 N. Mississippi Ave. in Portland, Oregon. Open to the Public: Monday – Saturday 9-6, Sunday 10-5.

With school and fall now in full swing, its time for an update and examination of what your schools are doing to ‘go green’! Here are some updates from around the country, as well as some questions to ask your school district and schools to see if they are meeting expectations and forging ahead to both educate and exemplify environment friendly places of learning.

What does your school do with paper? How does your school value paper? Does it use recycled paper and teach students to properly dispose of and use effectively paper in the classroom? An article at SF Gate says, “”In America every year, we throw away approximately 1 billion trees’ worth of paper,” Moore said. “Schools are a good chunk of that.”  Schools go through tests, quizzes, homework, practice sheets, art paper, napkins, toilet paper, towels, and many other kinds of paper products. Make sure your school is striving to recycle and use paper in a green way.

What about science experiments? How about the lab rats and science experiments that go on at school and at Universities around the country? How are they working to protect the environment and do experiments in a green way. The University of California-Irvine has developed a coalition seeking to solve that probelm. “We have 1,041 fume hoods all over campus,” says Courtney Gill, lead intern for the program. “Their purpose is to cycle out the fumes scientists create when working with various pieces of lab equipment. But when they’re left open, the fume hoods continue cycling out all the air in the air-conditioned labs, wasting a lot of energy.” Check out UC-Irvine to learn more about the steps they are taking to make their science departments green.

Wind Powered Schools. Schools across the country are starting to use wind power to drive their lights and energy systems. The Department of Energy has begun constructing and using wind power across the country to make schools run more efficiently.

LEED Inspection and Rating. The LEED is an inspection and certificate program that evaluates schools, “Based on the LEED for New Construction rating system…it addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment…Green schools are healthy for students, teachers and the environment. Built right, green schools are productive learning environments with ample natural light, high-quality acoustics and air that is safe to breathe.  The U.S. Building Council is a great resource for school officials and parents in examining your schools and district to see if they might be eligible for inspection and certification.

With the cold winter months looming, energy consumption will rise. Talk to your local school board and officials and find out what they are doing to protect our environment and save energy during this winter.

I recently visited an elementary school in my area, and was surprised because the first thing I saw was a recycling area designated for ink cartridges and cell phones. The school encourages parents and staff to recycle these two items.

In fact, the school benefits from the items donated! The school is later paid for the old cartridges and cell phones. The recycling center actually doubles as a fundraiser for the school. I thought this to be a very creative fundraising tactic as well as instilling the importance and benefits of recycling in young students.

I recommend contacting your local school district and finding out if they provide a drop off center for these cartridges or cell phones. If you are a parent of a student or involved in the education system it would be an admirable thing to head up. You would just need permission from the principal, a container to place the recyclables in and designate a person willing to collect and ship off the items or do it yourself.

If you have a group that could use extra funds or want to recycle on your own check out ecycle group. I checked out the price list (that they will reimburse) for cell phones and cartridges, the lowest I found was .05cents and the highest was $35! Recycling does pay. This organization allows any church, school, business or individual to recycle through them. There is a minimum requirement of 10 cell phones, 20 inkjet cartridges and 10 laser cartridges. The products have to be on the list, undamaged and not previously refilled.
Have you already started this fund raiser? If so, how much money have you raised??

As I was leaving Starbucks today after our Tuesday meeting, I was throwing my coffee cup away and saw a sign taped to the garbage can that read “Got Plastic or glass…. give it to us and we’ll Recycle it for you.” I was so excited because I often wonder why companies who are claiming to be green aren’t doing a better job at recycling. I don’t know if this is a store by store thing or if all Starbucks are following suit and recycling these products but even if its just one, I am sure more stores will follow.

Starbucks has made huge strides in the ways of green living. Here are just a few ways Starbucks works to be green.

Coffee Grounds – You can pick up a large bag of coffee grounds for your garden. Starbucks coffee grounds recycling program is a grass roots effort that was started by customers many years ago. Spent coffee grounds are complimentary upon request at Starbucks retail locations and are available year-round as they are generated. Grounds are packaged in reused coffee bags and sealed with the Starbucks coffee grounds as compost sticker.

Environment Commitment – Striving to buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products, Sustainable Packaging and Paper Initiatives, Recycling, Reusing and Waste Reduction Initiatives and greening their stores through design.

Check out your local Starbucks and if they haven’t started recycling their plastic and glass, ask them if they would think about doing that. If this small town can do it, any town can!

Share with me your thoughts on recycling, do you have any great ideas for companies and how they can implement recycling into their daily routines?

Most Farmers Markets or Saturday Markets are running through October, some until Christmas time, making their delicious, organic, food and local arts available for another month or so. Get out there and take advantage of the wonderful bounty that awaits you.

Some may ask how going to a Local Farmers or Saturday Market is green. Well I am here to let you know just how green it can be.

Buying Locally – Buying locally is a great way to cut down on greenhouse emissions and pollution because so many of our fruits and veggies, even some organic, are trucked in from 1,000s of miles.

Being Outside – The Farmers Markets are all located outside, saving energy and getting you out of your house to enjoy the outdoors and the wonderful smells of the fresh flowers and food. And by getting you out of your house, your using less energy too.

Buy Organic – Buying organic supports small scale farmers that don’t use earth destroying chemicals on their fruits and vegetables, which in turn is good for the environment.

Ride Your Bike – Riding a bike is very green by cutting down on pollution and greenhouse emissions. Make sure your bike has a basket, to carry all your goodies home from the market. Remember: Safety first, always wear your helmet, I know it smashes the hair but it could save your head from permanent damage.

Friday is typically our day to ‘Go Amish’ and shut down all of our electronics such as our TV, Wii, CD player, MacBook, etc. in order to reduce phantom power and help our environment by limiting the amount of electronics that we have plugged in and are not using. Friday’s have helped bring awareness into our home about just how many electronics we hardly ever used that are plugged in all the time at home and at the office. It has been a small, yet productive step in becoming more aware of our effect on the environment around us.

Yet Amish Day took on a new meaning when I read an article this morning about the revitalization of Amish Farms at Fresh Plaza which reveals that, “More than 110 Amish farmers, many from Wayne and Holmes counties (Ohio), have formed Green Field Farms, a nonprofit organic food cooperative, and are finding their niche as U.S.D.A.-certified organic farmers.” We always knew that our buggy-driving friends were cooperative and kind to the environment around them and definitely don’t need to worry about ‘phantom’ power in their homes. But this move has shown great economic foresight and a glimmer of hope for the ever-diminishing locally-owned farmer and his crops.

Amish farmers, who often have less than 100 acres, have felt the pinch of large corporate farming in the same way that non-Amish small-family farmers have. In only 40 years, the amount of Amish farmers has gone from 90% to 10%, the majority of the Amish  community now involved in business. But farming, the Amish argue, is a lifestyle that encourages a healthy relationship with the land and with family. Green Field Farms, therefore grow cabbage, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, potatoes, pumpkins and onions and many other organic produce in demand on the market today.

Another article about Green Field Farms in The Daily Record says that, “people looking for premium food products want it wholesome, safe and from people they can trust. And the Amish, with their land, farms, people, skills and heritage, are just the people to provide that.”

So keep an eye out for the rise of the Amish farm as they hitch the buggy to the ‘Going Green’ wagon and provide quality produce filled with the hardworking love of the Amish community.

The Green Microgym, in Portland Oregon, is one of the first fitness facilities in the world running on some of its own power and someday all of its power. They’ve opened a gym that uses a combination of solar and human power and is just as comfortable and effective as any other gym. Using a design that founder Adam Boesel engineered, exercise bikes connect to wind generator motors so that pedaling generates electricity that can power some of the facility’s needs. The environmentally friendly concept is inspired by Boesel’s interest in helping solve two of America’s greatest problems: obesity and global warming.

The Green Microgym is fully equipped with name brand cardio equipment, a full weight room, and a yoga/stretching, movement and core training room. Comfortable with amenities such as Sirius Satellite Radio, flat screen LCD High Definition televisions, and wireless Internet. They even offer outdoor workouts twice a week in the surrounding areas of where the gym is located.

Check out the The Green Microgym site for Fifteen ways our gym is green. They use recycled items, compact fluorescent light bulbs, Eco-power treadmills, non-toxic soaps and cleaners, and automated billing, to name a few.

Enroll now for only $29. a month for the life of the membership(limited time only). Free tours are available by appointment only and one day passes are available for $10. If you live in the Portland area and want to help the environment, check out this The Green Microgym, you are sure to love it!

What is Urban Farming? Urban Farming or Urban Agriculture, is the art of growing plants and the raising of animals within and around cities.

Urban farming tackles 3 big environmental issues we face today. If more people would be willing to put out some effort and start planting their own gardens we could relieve strain on the worldwide food supply, potentially driving down prices. Eating more fresh vegetables would help combat obesity and if you are shopping for food in and around your home the CO2 carbon footprint nearly disappears.

Urban farming consists of using the land you do have to grow vegetables, fruits and flowers. From container gardens for those that don’t have much space, to roof top gardens on apartments, to raised beds for those that have a backyard. Not only does the size of your living space and yard play into how you grow your plants but depending on where you live and what climate you live in, urban gardens vary considerably.

With the cities growing and the food and fuel prices rising, urban farming has become more and more popular. Community gardens are popping up all over too, with families working together to put food on their tables. The presence of vegetable gardens in inner-city neighborhoods is positively correlated with the decrease in crime, trash dumping, juvenile delinquency, fires, violent deaths and mental illness. Urban community gardens brings people together, building a stronger community.

Aside from the environmental benefits there are great health benefits to growing your own food. 1.) Exercise – Gardening is often over looked as a form of exercise but it is a great way to increase muscle strength and endurance. 2.) Nutrition – In a 10′X10′ meter plot can provide most of a 4-person household’s total yearly vegetable needs, including much of the household’s nutritional requirements for vitamins A,C, B complex and iron. 3.) Share – Gardeners share food with friends, families, and neighbors as well as members in the community in need providing a buffer against local economic insecurity.

Try to think of ways you can implement an urban garden into your house or yard, you will be amaze at what your own hands can grow. It takes time to understand how to get started but once you get it going, you will catch on very quickly and the rewards are limitless.

City Garden Farms will partner with you to farm your unused, underutilized lot, plot or yard to grow abundant amounts of local vegetables.

For all your urban gardening help check out this site.

For how to start a community garden check out OpenLands.com.

As I was looking through a magazine at the doctors office, I found an article on Mint Dental Works. Its the country’s first LEED certified Dental Office. LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Through rigorous planning and careful construction, they have created a high-performance green facility that is a healthy, productive place to work; less costly to operate and maintain; and reduces their environmental footprint. This office has made very effective choices for the good of their patients, employees and the environment.

Below is the list of environmentally friendly choices they made.

Improved Air Quality – Fresh air exchange and Co2 Sensors, 100% recycled cabinets and all paints, floor finishes, adhesives and furniture/fabrics were selected for their sustainable properties

Elimination of Toxic Materials – Mercury free office, only natural cleaning products used, no latex gloves used, and new digital Xray system exposes patients to up to 90% less radiation than a standard Xray system.

Waste Reduction – Recycled items all over the office, and they use alcohol hand rub to eliminate the use of sinks, faucets, paper towels, water and soap.

Energy and Water Efficiency – Florescent lighting, occupancy sensors, low flow fixtures, sensor operated faucets, and they purchase renewable energy from PGE.

I was impressed by this office, not only for the ways they are working to lower their impact on the environment but also for what they offer to their patients.