Go Green Intown

Go Green blog has moved!

2009-07-31T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Go Green blog has moved to its new home at www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com. Please bookmark the new site.

Go Green Blog Change This Friday!

2009-07-27T10:34:00.001-04:00

When we launch our new website on July 31, our blogs will be incorporated into our new site at www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com. We will still be updating Go Green on a regular basis with news and tips on how you can live eco-friendly. Our new website will be a daily one-stop to find out what's happening in the community, the latest from local restaurants, tips and information on living green, updates from the real estate community, links to all the stories that appear in our monthly print edition and you can follow our Twitter feed from there, too. Bookmark www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com now and get ready for a whole new experience this Friday!

999 Peachtree Leads the Pack in Energy Efficiency

2009-07-27T06:00:00.005-04:00

Jamestown Properties' 999 Peachtree, a 28-story building located at the intersection of Peachtree and 10th Street, is providing Atlanta businesses with a shining example of what it means to be "green."

The building was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency's Energy Star, recognizing it as one of the top 25% of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency. Most buildings gifted with the Energy Star use an average of 40% less energy and release 35% less carbon dioxide than "typical" buildings.

With LEED certification as its ultimate goal, 999 Peachtree has taken on multiple energy-efficient initiatives, including installing energy-efficient lighting, saving 476,203 kilowatt hours, upgrading teh energy management system that controls the HVAC, allowing for tighter air temperature control. 999 Peachtree estimates that it has saved a total of $56,000 in energy costs.

In addition, 999 Peachtree has recycled more than 40 tons of paper, saving 686 hardwood trees and 4,360 cubic feet of landfill space and supplies its offices with sustainable materials.

Many of the companies headquartered at 999 Peachtree are green themselves, including Green Street Properties, responsible for the development of Glenwood Park, ERS Global, and Flad Architects.

999 Peachtree encourages the use of public transportation and carpooling, and employs Zipcar. Additionally, the building has a Bike Share Program that allows employees to "rent" communal bikes for lunch breaks or local errands.

For information on leasing office space in 999 Peachtree, call (404) 407-2354 or for retail space call (770) 955-2434. Visit 999 Peachtree Online at www.999PeachtreeStreet.com.

Annual Malaysia Fest Celebrates Culture, Conservation, and Community

2009-07-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

To celebrate Malaysia's Independence Day on Saturday, August 15th the Malaysian Association of Georgia will host its annual Malaysia Fest at Zoo Atlanta.

With Zoo Atlanta as a venue, event attendees will have a unique opportunity to observe Southeast Asian wildlife exhibited there and to enjoy a simulation of the tropical Malaysian environment. In addition, this year's Malaysia Fest is a "green" event, featuring wildlife conservation efforts, recycling, and low carbon initiatives by event hosts. The event will make use of recyclable materials and will use as few non recyclable materials as possible.

The festival has two main components: exploration of the Zoo's exhibits during the day (10 am - 5 pm) with children's activities and cultural activities and events, and an evening on the Panda Veranda with a Malaysian-inspired earth-friendly, completely vegetarian buffet and a recreation of Malaysia's most well-known Night Market, Pasar Malam.

This event is open to the public. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit www.Malaysia-GA.org. Zoo Atlanta will be open to the public for normal business hours during the festival.

Eco Showhouse Open for Tours

2009-07-24T11:42:00.001-04:00

Visit www.greenhavenhome.com for more details.

ARC To Announce First Green Communities Certifications

2009-07-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

This January, the Atlanta Regional Commission, responsible for organizing Atlanta's ten counties, began accepting applications from local governments for Green Communities Certification. The Green Communities Certification is designed to recognize local governments that set the bar when it comes to environmental leadership and sustainability. The Certification program is the first of its kind in the country.

The first Green Communities Certification will recognize some as-yet unannounced jurisdictions at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 22 at 1 pm at the Atlanta Regional Commission Board Room, 40 Courtland Street, Atlanta, 30303.

Green Chamber of the South July Seminar

2009-07-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Southeast Green is proud to announce its sponsorship of "Growing Green - The Art of Marketing Your Green Business," a Green Chamber of the South marketing seminar to take place on July 20th from 5 - 7 pm at Nelson Mullins Law Firm.

Featured experts to attend the event and provide insight about how advertising, branding, PR, and new media can advance your business include: Beth Hawks of CoreComm PR, Jim Newbury of Tin Roof Advertising, and Harry Hallman of Octane Interactive. The event will be moderated by Linda McCulloch of Design That Works.

Admission is $15 for Green Chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Nelson Mullins Law Firm is located at 201 17th Street on the 18th Floor. Register to attend the event here.

Enviro Expo USA To Move To The World Congress Center

2009-07-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

The second annual Enviro Expo will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center, the center of Atlanta's Zero Waste Zone, in order to serve as a case study for the Department of Natural Resources to determine the event's carbon footprint and measure the amount of recycled waste that the Expo saves from going to landfills.

Enviro Expo is scheduled to take place on November 14th and 15th from 10 am until 5 pm each day in honor of America Recycles Day (November 15th). Admission is free and attendees will have access to a full spectrum of eco-friendly products and services.

New eco areas to be featured include an EcoGarden created by Legacy Landscapes, a "Tying the GREEN Knot" wedding area, the Kids Zone, the Chef's Corner highlighting local restaurants and caterers, and holiday "green" shopping in the newly expanded Marketplace. The event will also feature a series of speakers, including discussions on Conservation, Home and Garden, Recycling/Composting and the Green Town Hall Meeting. In addition, Justin Cave, star of Ground Breakers on HGTV will host a presentation.

For more information, visit www.EnviroExpoUSA.org.

1180 Peachtree Wins BOMA Award

2009-07-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

Each year, the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) gives out a regional Office Building of the Year Earth Award that recognizes one building that leads the pack when it comes to sustainable building operations and being "green." This year, the award went to Atlanta's own 1180 Peachtree, a 41-story, 670,000 square foot Class A office building owned by an affiliate of the General Electric Pension Trust, advised by GE Asset Management and managed by Hines.

Designer Pickard Chilton incorporated state-of-the-art HVAC equipment, energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures and clean power to all tenant outlets into the building's construction. The building received an Energy Star certification rating of 92%.

In addition, the building has other significant sustainable features including: a system to recycle 25% of storm water run-off and all cooling tower condensation for irrigation use, underground or enclosed parking spaces and covering 76% of the roof areas with either vegetated or reflective albedo materials to reduce "heat islands" that impact human and wildlife habitats, use of green cleaning products and a recycling program, and bicycle racks with shower/changing facilities and fueling stations for electric vehicles to encourage alternative transportation.

Changes Coming to Go Green

2009-07-14T12:12:00.001-04:00

Eco-Friendly Decorators' Show House Opens Friday

2009-07-07T16:21:00.001-04:00

Pace Homebuilders is proud to present Greenhaven, the first LEED certified, eco-friendly Decorators’ Show House in Cobb County. Open to the public this Friday, July 10 – August 9, 2009, Greenhaven will showcase the latest in green building techniques, sustainable interior design, state-of-the-art technology and energy efficiency. The home will feature over 20 of Atlanta’s top interior designers, each with a fresh and unique perspective on eco-friendly design. From a healthy home nursery and eco-pet suite to a green “tween” room and fly fishing experience, guests will enjoy an exclusive tour of the most innovative and sustainably designed interior spaces in Atlanta.

To complement the inspiring design, Greenhaven will be an archetype for maximum sustainability and energy-efficiency. The implementation of state-of-the-art technologies in the design of Greenhaven will create a smart and functional home to evolve with the needs of today’s family. Greenhaven will carry 7 earth-friendly certifications including the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, Earthcraft House, Energy Star, Health House, NAHB, PATH Partner and Builder’s Challenge.

Other innovative features of the home include:
New LED lighting and fixtures
Soybean spray insulation
Touch panel energy monitoring system
River reclaimed pine floors
Solar tubes
Greywater System
Non-PVC and Vinyl-free recycled decking
Eco-friendly modern “open” fireplace
Tankless water heaters
Green Technology Room
Teaching that eco-living is attainable even in the suburbs, Greenhaven will host a series of eco-educational seminars, trunk shows, fashion shows, book signings and green landscaping events.

Tickets are $20 per person and benefit the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. To purchase visit: www.greenhavenhome.com or call 404-492-5508. Free parking and a free shuttle are available from the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Georgia, 30062. Tickets are also available at the door the day of the event.

Fashionable Notes Launches New Line of Market Bags

2009-07-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Reusable shopping bags are all the rage these days, so Fashionable Notes, a local stationery company that designs notecards and gifts to appeal to the "fashion-conscious" consumer, has recently introduced its own line of eco-friendly bags. The sturdy bags, which come in three sizes with two logo styles to choose from, are made from 100% cotton canvas.

The intention behind the new bags, explains Fashionable Notes owner Aubrey Lenyard, is to make environmental responsibility "hip". Lenyard plans to release three new fashion-inspired logos this season, including one designed to appeal to men.

For more information, visit www.FashionableNotes.ETSY.com.

Post-Drought Care for Trees

2009-07-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

As you have no doubt already heard, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has recently called an official end to the drought that has plagued Georgians for almost two years. Recognizing that our trees and shrubs may need much more time to recover from the dry years, Trees Atlanta has released some advice for caring for post-drought care of your trees.

Stephen Johnston, Vice President and Division Manager of Bartlett Tree Experts, warns plant-owners who may be inclined to move tree care lower on their list of priorities that trees and shrubs may continue to feel the effects of the drought, despite the record levels of rainfall that our state is experiencing this season. According to Trees Atlanta, our trees may still be fragile and weak as a result of overexertion of their carbohydrate deposits during the drought.

Though you may not be able to see the effects of drought on your trees and shrubs immediately, these effects may manifest themselves over time. Most experts recommend that you have your trees and shrubs examined regularly by a certified arborist. In addition, make sure that your trees are getting proper care to encourage maximum growth, including irrigation that provides at least 1 inch of water per week, mulching that covers the ground around the tree in a 2 inch-thick layer, soil nutrient management as assessed by your County Extension Service, pruning to remove dead limbs that may harbor disease, and pest control.

For more information about maintaining and improving the health of your trees and shrubs, contact the Georgia Urban Forest Council, Georgia Arborist Association, or Trees Atlanta.

Rainwater Harvesting Conference

2009-06-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

The 2009 American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) National Conference will be held September 13-16 at the Holiday Inn of Decatur, GA.

During the conference from noon until 4 pm there will be a public open house and self-guided tours of the RWH Installation Site. The conference will teach participants about the benefits of rainwater harvesting and will show how many of our water issues can be fixed by utilizing this renewable resource. The open house includes access to the exhibit area, as well as access to presentations by the University of Georgia, RainTube, Blue Scope Water, Rain Harvest Systems, BRAE, Rainigator, and Rainwater Management Solutions.

For more information, visit www.ARCSA.org.

Atlanta Girl Scouts Chosen to Pilot Environmental Community Action Project

2009-06-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta have been chosen to be one of 30 Girl Scout organizations to lead Girl Scouts of the USA's Community Action Project: Forever Green. Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta was selected for the education program they are creating during the construction of their new Girl Scout Service and Business Centers in Cobb County. The Business Center is hoping to receive a Silver LEED Certification and the pre-existing building that will house the Service Center has been remodeled with green materials. The organization has also created a "Green Team" to develop green programming for the new facilities, including an Environmental Patch for scouts to and a podcast virtual tour of the new buildings to feature information about the green methods used in their construction. The program will be monitored by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Forever Green is designed to encourage Girl Scouts to use their skills to help the environment by working with schools and communities to improve air quality, energy use, water use, waste management and use of green space.

ICS Contract Services' Cleaning Service is the Southeast's First Green Seal Program

2009-06-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Altanta's ICS Contract Services has recently been awarded Green Seal Certification. The Green Seal was given to ICS to reward its Sustainable Services Program, a custodial management program that uses environmentally friendly chemicals, equipment, and operating standards and that currently cleans 17 of Atlanta's premiere real estate properties with the program. The Sustainable Services Program makes use of only scent-free chemical solutions that are free of carcinogens and toxins, and hypoallergenic vaccums that collect 99% of dust particles in the air.

The ICS is the first company in the Southeast with a cleaning program that is officially accredited after an assessment by Green Seal. The ICS will be evaluated annually to make sure that its methods are still certifiable. In addition, the program makes use of daylight hours to clean so as to reduce electricity usage.

Go Green Expo Discount UPDATE

2009-06-24T10:38:00.003-04:00

The Go Green Expo is coming to the Cobb Galleria Center this weekend, June 26-28, with a host of seminars, lectures, events and entertainment. Atlanta INtown's own Green Insider, Laura Turner Seydel, is a keynote speaker along with actress, model and activist Mariel Hemingway. Tickets are $10 for a full weekend pass, $5 for Students & Seniors with proper ID; Children 12 and under are free. Pick up a copy of the July issue of INtown and take the advertisement on Page 19 with you to get 50% off admission!

BCB and BATMA Encourage Atlantans to Bike to Work!

2009-06-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Buckhead Community Bank announced a new partnership with the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA) that will give commuters who open a MAX Reward Checking account that opportunity to apply for a 12-month, 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) loan towards the purchase of a bicycle up to $2,500.

The MAX Reward Checking account pays 4% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to $100,000, has no maintenance fee, and provides account holders with free access to ATMs anywhere. To earn the 4% APY, account holders must meet three requirements during each billing cycle:

1) Make 10 signature based debit card transactiosn

2) Receive monthly statements electronically through Online Banking, and

3) Make at least one Direct Deposit or Automatic Payment.

BATMA is offering various incentives and programs to encourage commuters to bike to work in order to reduce their carbon footprint, increase physical fitness, and loosen traffic buildups. New bike commuters can earn $3 a day up to $100 ove a three-month period. Cyclists who commute to Buckhead by bike three or more days a week can also earn a $20 gift card each month. In addition to all of this, biking commuters are eligible to receive up to five free taxi rides home in the case of inclement weather or emergency.

For more information about BATMA and its programs, visit www.BATMA.org, or to oepn a MAX Reward Checking account, visit www.UpgradeYourBank.com or call (404) 231-2265.

Georgia DCA Launches New Recycling Initiative

2009-06-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has launched a new recycling campaign that is designed to spotlight non-recyclers and their excuses for not recycling. A recent study determined that approximately 40% of waste produced by Georgians is actually recyclable, and with a recycling industry the scale of which is second only to California, Georgia needs the recyclables that its residents are throwing into landfills.

Gloria Hardegree, executive director of the Georgia Recycling Coalition, cited the nation's failing economy and the worldwide "war on climate change" as key reasons to recycle. She hopes that the new campaign will show Georgia residents how easy it is to recycle.

As part of the campaign, a cast of characters proudly don the "I don't recycle!" slogan on their t-shirts and paint a picture that supposedly reveals what non-recyclers look like to their families and friends. The campaign will rely heavily on community support and use, and is just one tier of a comprehensive strategy to boost Georgia recycling. The strategy also includes the development of regional Recycling Hubs for material collection and transfer, and an event recycling grant program designed to capture materials from special events and venues.

For more information on the new campaign, visit www.YouGottaBeKidding.org.

EarthShare of Georgia Wants Your Georgia Nature Photos

2009-06-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

EarthShare of Georgia is looking for photos of residents exploring the outdoors with family and friends in Georgia. Selected images will be featured on EarthShareOfGeorgia.org.

Pictures can be submitted to Earthshare via Flickr. New pictures will be posted on the new and improved EarthShare of Georgia website launching in July 2009 and in some printed materials. All you need to do to submit your photos is to add them to the EarthShare of Georgia group on Flickr and tag them "EarthShare of Georgia-09". Flickr is an online photo sharing web site made up of many groups. To add your photos, simply follow these steps:

1.        Log on -- To submit your photos via Flickr™, use your Yahoo!® ID to login to www.flickr.com. If you do not have an account, you can sign-up for free.
2.        Join the EarthShare of Georgia Flickr group - If you are not already a member of the EarthShare of Georgia's group on Flickr™, join by clicking "Join this Group?" on the group's homepage.
3.        Upload an image - After logging in, upload your images using the form provided. (Please submit photos sized 1280 x 1024 pixels minimum.)
4.        Send the Image to Our Group - Browse to the image you wish to submit for the contest, and use the "Send to Group" function above the image to add your photograph to the EarthShare of Georgia's photo pool.
5.        Tag it! -- Once added to the group, tag each photo with EarthShare of Georgia-09 through the "tag" feature in the right-hand column of the individual photo's page.

Legal Details // Your Rights
You will retain all rights to any photograph you submit -- including ownership if applicable -- other than those rights licensed in the next sentence.
By submitting your photo to our EarthShare of Georgia photo effort, you hereby grant to EarthShare of Georgia (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display and publicly perform the photographs you submit to EarthShare of Georgia, and (ii) the right to use your name, city, state and country of residence in promotions and other publications.

For more information on how you and your company can help carry on the Earth Day message throughout the year, call EarthShare of Georgia today at 404-873-3173, or visit www.earthsharega.org.

Lovett Gets National Recognition for Conservation Programs

2009-06-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

Atlanta's Lovett School was recognized by CNN for its environmental sustainability efforts. To see the coverage, click here. The school's initiatives include:

A mini-refinery on campus to convert the waste cooking oil from the school kitchens into bio-diesel fuel
On a monthly basis, Lovett recycles 1.6 tons of paper and cardboard, the equivalent of saving 325 trees. In addition, more than 380 pounds of plastic and 160 pounds of metal are recycled monthly on average. The school also recycles 9-volt, AA, AAA, and vehicle batteries.
Students and faculty have begun conserving paper by turning in papers and assignments electronically, and most of the paper used in the school's printers, copiers, and publications is recycled post-consumer waste. The majority of Lovett's printed publications are produced on environmentally-friendly paper.
The school has its own organic garden on campus.
Lovett's dining hall has reduced its usage of frozen fruits and vegetables, instead utilizing locally grown produce, and it has stopped using trays.
The school has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP). The Lovett School is the first in Georgia and the twelfth school in the nation to receive this honor.
Lovett's Physical Plant has installed a wind turbine to generate electricity on campus.
The school is seeking LEED silver certification for its new Middle School and has a Sustainability Committee that includes faculty, administrators, students, parents, and representatives from the business community. The Committee's mission is to develop a sustainability plan for Lovett and to support its efforts to raise environmental awareness.

Go Green Expo, June 26-28

2009-06-10T12:31:00.002-04:00

The Go Green Expo is coming to the Cobb Galleria Center June 26-28 with a host of seminars, lectures, events and entertainment. Atlanta INtown's own Green Insider, Laura Turner Seydel, is a keynote speaker along with actress, model and activist Mariel Hemingway. Tickets are $10 for a full weekend pass, $5 for Students & Seniors with proper ID; Children 12 and under are free. Here's a rundown of the weekend.

Weekend Activities:
• Interactive Seminars / Speeches
• Acoustic Musical Performances
• Free Yoga Sessions
• Rock Climbing Wall for Kids & Adults
• Free Organic Food Sampling
• Hybrid Car Test Drives
• Eco-kids Zone & Organic Garden & more

SPEAKER SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JUNE 27

11:00am - City of Atlanta Sustainability Initiatives
Mandy Mahoney - City of Atlanta, Director of Sustainability

2:00pm - Green Building
Ben Taube, USGBC Atlanta / Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Matt Hoots, The Hoots Group
Susan Inglis, The Sustainable Furnishings Council

3:30pm - The Economics of Greening Your Business
Lewis Perkins, The Mohawk Group
Jeff Hix, Indoff
Chris Gravagna, Print Responsibly
Roxanne Peyeser, maurgood, llc
Sandra Cummins, Southeast Green
Charisse McAuliffe, GenGreen
Kim Carlson, Green Your Work

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

11:00am - Greening Your Home & Body
Laura Turner Seydel

12:30 PM - Healthy Lifestyle & Wellness Through Nutrition
Mariel Hemingway, including a book signing of her new book Mariel's Kitchen

2:00pm - Sustainable Investing
Peter Krull, Krull & Company
Jean Jerome Baudry, Think Green Alliance / Cybernomics
Jackie R. Cabe, Cabe Asset Management
Michael Whelchel, Watershed Capital
Lisa Robinson, Appalachian Community Enterprises

3:30pm - Conservation & Environment
Kathy Nguyen, Gerogia WaterWise Council
Terry Janssen, EcoTech Water, LLC
George Dusenbury, Park Pride
Jack C. Dozier, Georgia Association of Water Professionals
Cheryl Kortemeier, Trees Atlanta

5:00pm - Working Towards a Greener Ethiopia
Dave Deppner, Trees for the Future
Bedru Sultan, Environmental Advisor to President Girma Woldogeorgis of Ethiopia, Director of GREENER ETHIOPIA

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

11:00am - Sustainability in Africa
Rob Holmes, The Green Living Project

12:30pm - Residential Green Building
Carl Seville, Seville Consulting

2:00pm - Green Jobs
Ralph Avallone, The Green Energy Council
Gayle Oliver-Plath, CareerEco
Jodi Helmer, Author & Eco-Expert
Scott McKye, Kleertech

3:30pm - Creating Farms and Products for the Earth and its People
Farmer-D, Farmer-D Organics

Terra Sage Launches New Website

2009-06-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

Terra Sage has announced the official launch of its new website through Atlanta-based ShopVisible.

In celebration of its online grand opening,Terrra Sage is offering special discounts on selected items through July 4th. To check out all that Terra Sage has to offer, visit www.terrasagestores.com.

Pace Homebuilders Announce Greenhaven "Green Team"

2009-06-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

Pace Homebuilders, a leading green homebuilding company, has just announced the names of the twenty interior designers that it has chosen to aid in completing its Greenhaven project.

The list of designers, chosen based on the merit of their environmental respect and committment to sustainable design, is as follows:

Alejandra Dunphy – Woman’s Study & Bathroom
Alexis Veremakis – Mud Room, First Floor Powder Room & Back Hallway
Barbara Dornbush – Nursery & Bathroom
Cinda Boomershine – Dining Room
Emmye Otto Cherry – Kitchen & Butler’s Pantry
Jack Poles – Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom & Laundry Room
Jaya Rose – Craft Room & Bathroom
Jennifer Spears – Stylist: Kitchen, Butler’s Pantry & Serving Bar
Jessica Duncan – Guest Haven & Bathroom
Joycelyn Hairston – Art Studio
Justin Cave – Outdoor Landscape Design
Karen Raymer – Kitchen Nook & Pantry
Kristi Westlake – Builder’s Suite
Laura Walker Baird – Great Room
Laurie White – Media Room
Naomi Mann – Teen Girl’s Bedroom & Bathroom & Pantry
Sandie Hurlburt – Fly Fishing Room
Shawn Alshut – Terrace Level Powder Room
Susan Chambers – Command Center
Tam Goins – Eco Pet Suite

These top designers will work with local vendors to utilize and showcase the latest in eco-friendly home decor. The new innovations in paint, lighting, art, furniture, linens, tile, flooring, etc. will be on display throughout the house and during eco-interior design workshops, seminars, book signings, and trunk shows.

Once it is completed, Greenhaven, Cobb County's first eco-friendly LEED-certified decorator and show home, will be open to the public from July 10th until August 9th. Tickets for the home tour are $20, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. For more information, please visit www.GreenhavenHome.com.

Greening the Capitol, June 3

2009-06-02T16:30:00.003-04:00

Coca-Cola Recycling LLC, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and the Georgia Recycling Coalition will sponsor “Greening the Capitol – Recycling Expansion Day” on Wednesday, June 3, from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m.

The event marks the official launch of recycling bins in the Capitol and an informal introduction of the “You Gotta Be Kidding” statewide recycling campaign created to boost recycling and keep valuable recyclable materials out of the landfills and back in Georgia’s local mills and factories.

Following a recycling rally on the Capitol, approximately fifty Coca-Cola Recycling associates, will disperse to spread recycling bins and recycling information. The interactive Coca-Cola Recycling Education Vehicle will also be on hand with recycling games, videos and prizes.

For more information visit www.yougottabekidding.org.

7th Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference

2009-06-02T11:46:00.002-04:00

Atlanta's Hyatt Regency will host the 2009 Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Award, and Training this June 3rd-5th.

Conference highlights include a keynote presentation on Friday by 2009 National Green Roofs Award Winner Dr. Timothy Carter (UGA), Green City Tours of fifteen of Atlanta's most innovative Green Roof projects, and the inaugural Green Roof Professional Exam (GRP).

Architects, government officials, and building owners should view the conference agenda here. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.GreenRoofs.org.

Renewal System Solutions Offers Home Energy Assessments

2009-06-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

Renewal System Solutions, a sister company to Renewal Design-Build, offers Home Performance with Energy Star, a comprehensive home assessment that can reveal where and why a home is not energy efficient. Renewal uses diagnostic equipment to determine a home's problems and to suggest solutions to alleviate your home's environmental footprint.

Services offered by the company include energy efficient renovations, HVAC systems, duct systems, crawl space encapsulation, insulation and air sealing, replacement windows and doors, and combustion safety. Such improvements result in improved energy efficiency and even lower utility bills. Homeowners can also save money in the form of Home Performance rebates offered by Georgia Power or other federal tax credits available to green homeowners in 2009 and 2010.

For more information on having your home assessed, visit www.RenewalSystemSolutions.com.

Earth Talk: Combing Crops & Fleas

2009-05-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: I want to start an organic vegetable garden in my yard and I would like to know how to combine crops to make better use of time and space. -- Val Thomason, Denton, TX

Most commercial farms concentrate on growing a few select crops to supply a wide variety of customers, but gardening at home is a different story entirely. Most backyard food gardeners are looking to augment their family’s diet with a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs throughout the growing season.

For those of us who face time and space constraints in our gardening endeavors, combining crops within the same planting areas makes a lot of sense. Such techniques are particularly well-suited to organic gardens where chemical fertilizers and pesticides aren’t used to artificially boost crop productivity.

The most common way to combine garden crops is via an age-old technique called interplanting, which in essence means planting various garden edibles with different growth and spacing attributes together in the same soil beds or rows. One example involves combining fast-maturing vegetables, such as lettuce, field greens or beets, with slower-maturing ones like winter squash or pole beans. According to the informational “Our Garden Gang” website, mixing tall plants, like sweet corn, peas or staked tomatoes, with low-growing crops such as melons or radishes, is another way to maximize diversity and yield.

Building on the idea of interplanting, Better Homes & Gardens magazine suggests that gardeners combine plants that produce vines and can be grown on trellises or fences along with low-growing crops. So-called “vertical gardening” concentrates much more production into each square foot of planting area. Also, the magazine reports, crops grown off the ground “tend to be healthier because they are less likely to contract fungus infections or soil-borne leaf diseases.” Tomatoes, pole beans, cucumbers, snap peas, melons and winter squash are all examples of crops suitable for vertical gardening if staked or supported properly.

Another common technique often employed by “weekend” gardeners, organic or otherwise, is succession planting, which entails replacing a finished crop with a different one, or planting a single crop in small amounts over an extended period of time. One example would be to replace a spring crop with a summer crop, such as planting cucumbers—which thrive in warmer weather—where the peas had been growing earlier. Another form of succession planting involves staggering the planting of seeds from one specific crop throughout its growing season to ensure a continuing supply as long as possible.

Some crops particularly well-suited to succession planting include bush beans, lettuce, spinach and radishes, each of which have long growing seasons but can be harvested after only a few weeks. A related technique would be to plant both early- and late-maturing varieties of the same type of crop around the same time, and harvesting the resulting crops successively. Tomatoes and corn, for example, each come in varieties that ripen at different times during their respective growing seasons.

And while it may be easy to get carried away with edible gardening, don’t forget to plant a few flowers to spruce up the look of your garden and also attract bees to help pollinate your food crops. Marigolds and sunflowers are good choices as they are relatively easy to grow organically and tend to attract lots of bees.

Dear EarthTalk: Are there any flea and tick products out there that don’t contain toxic chemicals? --Ewan Locke, Madison, WI

Harmful pesticides in mainstream flea and tick products are indeed hazardous to more than insects. The active substance in most of these products is likely one of seven common organophosphate insecticides (OPs), which work by interfering with the transmission of nerve signals in the brains and nervous systems of not just insects—most of whom die on the spot—but to a lesser degree in pets and humans as well. While it would certainly take an awful lot of exposure to OPs to affect a full-grown healthy human adult, no one is sure how the chemicals might affect children or those with pre-existing nerve disorders.

The non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which authored the 2000 report “Poisons on Pets” (results are online at the group’s GreenPaws.org website), reports that “studies with lab animals have raised concerns among scientists that children exposed to certain of the pesticides in pet products—even at levels believed to be safe for adults—face much higher risks, not only for acute poisoning, but also for longer-term problems with brain function and other serious disease.” The group adds that children’s behavior—notably toddlers’ hand-to-mouth tendencies and the fact that kids play where such toxins often accumulate—makes them more vulnerable to ingesting OPs than adults in the same household.

The magnitude of the potential risk to public health is what makes the inclusion of such chemicals in pet products so troubling: Surveys show that as many as 50 percent of American families report using some kind of flea and tick control product on pets, subjecting untold millions of children to toxic chemicals on a daily basis. Initial research also shows that thousands of pets may be sickened or die each year as a result of chronic low-dose exposure to OPs through their flea and tick collars.

Fortunately, several non-toxic alternatives to OP-laden flea and tick control products are now available. NRDC tested upwards of 125 pet-oriented flea and tick control products for its Poisons on Pets report and found less than two dozen that don’t contain harmful chemical compounds. Stripe-On formulations from Adams, Breakthru, Demize and Scratchex get high marks from NRDC for low-toxicity, while tabs (pills) from Comfortis, Program and Sentinel also make the safety grade. Hartz, which uses OPs in most of its product line, also offers some safer formulations (Spot-On, Advanced Care and Ultra Guard) for cats and kittens. These products rely on insect growth regulators, which arrest the growth and development of young fleas, rather than pesticides to simply kill them. NRDC notes, however, that even these safer formulations contain chemicals, and that all such products should be used with caution.

One way to treat your pet but avoid chemicals altogether is to go the essential oil route. Oils from cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary or thyme have all been shown to be effective, when used sparingly, to keep fleas and ticks away from pets and their favorite haunts. Of course, a little conscientious legwork can obviate the need for any kind of topical or pill-based flea and tick control products, toxic or otherwise. According to NRDC, frequent washing and combing of pets and vacuuming carpets and furniture can bring mild flea infestations under control and help avoid outbreaks altogether.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php

Bamboo Studio's New Line of Biodegradable Dinnerware

2009-05-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

Bamboo Studio has just launched a brand-new line of environmentally-friendly biodegradable dinnerware in Atlanta. The multi-purpose line of plates, bowls, serving trays and accessories is made from the discarded sheath of bamboo plants making them durable and allowing for minimal energy usage during production. The manufacturing process does not require harsh or toxic chemicals, which enables the entire line to biodegrade without leaving harmful effects on the environment. They are perfect for the eco-conscious homeowner, event planner, or restaurant!

To view the collection and to learn more, please visit www.ecobambooware.com.

Generation Green to Recognize Mandy Schmitt Mahoney

2009-05-27T06:00:00.001-04:00

Atlanta's Mandy Schmitt Mahoney, Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta, has been selected by Generation Green to receive their 2009 Longleaf Award recognizing her as an emerging environmental leader. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 18 during the organization's "Verde" Summer Soiree at the Brookwood on Peachtree.

"Verde" is co-sponsored by SweetWater Brewery and The Brookwood. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Georgia Conservancy's work to protect the Georgia environment. Tickets are $30 for members of the Georgia Conservancy and $50 for nonmembers, and include food, drink, entertainment, and a one-year membership for nonmembers. Complimentary valet parking will be available the night of the event.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.GeorgiaConservancy.org.

Atlanta Green Expo

2009-05-26T11:04:00.005-04:00

Atlanta's Green Expo will be held on May 30th and 31st at the World Congress Center from 10 am until 5 pm both days. Admission is $5 with children until 12 admitted free of charge.

The Expo will feature classes and workshops on how to reduce your carbon footprint, energy-efficiency demonstrations, organic beer, wine, and food tastings, and a raffle for a solar-powered car.

For more information, call 904.236.9966 or go email info@globalgreenup.com. Sign up online at www.atlantagreenexpo.com

Earth Talk: Bears & Biomass

2009-05-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: Some say that polar bears are going to disappear in 50 years, but Alaskan officials insist their populations are recovering. What’s the real story? -- Harper Howe, San Francisco, CA

There is no doubt that polar bears are in serious trouble. Already on the ropes due to other human threats, their numbers are falling faster than ever as a result of retreating ice due to global warming. The nonprofit International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which added the polar bear to its “Red List” of the world’s most imperiled wildlife back in 2006, predicts a 30 percent decline in population for the great white rulers of the Arctic within three generations (about 45 years).

The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity presents an even more pessimistic forecast. If current warming trends continue, they say, two-thirds of all polar bears—including all of Alaska’s polar bears—will be extinct by 2050. Both organizations agree that the species as a whole will likely be wiped out completely within 100 years unless humans can get global warming in check.

The erroneous notion that Alaska wildlife officials don’t believe the polar bear is in trouble was put forth by Alaska governor Sarah Palin when she initiated a suit against the federal government in hopes of overturning its decision to include the polar bear under the umbrella of endangered species protection. “I strongly believe that adding them to the list is the wrong move at this time,” Palin wrote in a January 2008 New York Times Op Ed piece. “My decision is based on a comprehensive review by state wildlife officials of scientific information from a broad range of climate, ice and polar bear experts.”

The real story is that affording the polar bear endangered species protection would bring further regulations capping greenhouse gas emissions, a threat to Alaska’s main economic driver: oil revenues. Alaska professor Rick Steiner uncovered the misinformation in Palin’s claims when he found evidence that the state’s top wildlife officials agreed with federal findings that polar bears are headed toward extinction: “So, here you have the state’s marine mammal experts, three or four of them, very reputable scientists, agreeing with the federal proposed rule to list polar bears and with the USGS [United States Geological Survey] studies showing that polar bears are in serious trouble,” said Steiner.

A solid link between global warming and polar bear mortality emerged in 2004 when researchers were surprised to find four drowned bears in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska’s North Slope. The meltdown of sea ice—the polar ice cap had retreated a record 160 miles to the north—forced the bears to swim unusually long distances to find solid ice, which they depend on as hunting and fishing platforms and for rest and recuperation. And more recently, USGS researcher Steven Amstrup published findings that polar bears are “stalking, killing and eating other polar bears” as competition for scarcer food heats up.

Beyond global warming, other risks to polar bear populations include toxic contaminants in the surrounding environment as well as in the fatty tissue of the prey they rely on, conflicts with shipping, stresses from recreational polar-bear watching, oil and gas exploration and development, and overharvesting through legal and illegal hunting.

Dear EarthTalk: There’s a lot of talk today about solar and wind power, but what about biomass? How big a role might this renewable energy source play in our future? Couldn’t everyday people burn their own lawn and leaf clippings to generate power? -- Deborah Welch, Niagara Falls, NY

The oldest and most prevalent source of renewable energy known to man, biomass is already a mainstay of energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of biomass resources is available—from trees and grasses to forestry, agricultural and urban wastes—biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world.

According to the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), biomass is not only a renewable energy source but a carbon neutral one as well, because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is burned, it releases the sun’s energy originally captured through photosynthesis. “In this way, biomass functions as a sort of natural battery for storing solar energy,” reports UCS. As long as biomass is produced sustainably—with only as much grown as is used—the “battery” lasts indefinitely.

While biomass is most commonly used, especially in developing countries, as a source of heat so families can stay warm and cook meals, it can also be utilized as a source of electricity. Steam captured from huge biomass processing facilities is used to turn turbines to generate electricity. Of course, biomass is also a “feedstock” for several increasingly popular carbon-neutral fuels, including ethanol and biodiesel.

According to the federal Energy Information Administration, biomass has been the leading U.S. non-hydroelectric renewable energy source for several years running through 2007, accounting for between 0.5 and 0.9 percent of the nation’s total electricity supply. In 2008—although the numbers aren’t all in yet—wind power likely took over first place due to extensive development of wind farms across the country.

According to the USA Biomass Power Producers Alliance, generating power from biomass helps Americans avoid some 11 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions that burning the equivalent amount of fossil fuels would create each year. It also helps avoid annual emissions of some two million tons of methane—which is 20-plus times stronger a “greenhouse” gas than carbon dioxide—per year.

The largest biomass power plant in the country is South Bay, Florida’s New Hope Power Partnership. The 140 megawatt facility generates electricity by burning sugar cane fiber (bagasse) and recycled urban wood, powering some 60,000 homes as well as the company’s own extensive milling and refining operations. Besides preserving precious landfill space by recycling sugar cane and wood waste, the facility’s electricity output obviates the need for about a million barrels of oil per year.

Some homeowners are making their own heat via biomass-fed backyard boiler systems, which burn yard waste and other debris, or sometimes prefabricated pellets, channeling the heat indoors to keep occupants warm. Such systems may save homeowners money, but they also generate a lot of local pollution. So, really, the way to get the most out of biomass is to encourage local utilities to use it—perhaps even from yard waste put out on the curb every week for pick-up—and sell it back to us as electricity.

Atlanta's Green Expo

2009-05-20T06:00:00.003-04:00

The Atlanta Green Expo is a business to business and business to consumer expo that is open to the public and will feature organic and healthy food sampling, locally grown organic produce, information from local green organization, low emission and hybrid car demos, going green tips for the home and business, solar and wind energy displays and demos.

If you would like for your company to have a booth at the Atlanta Green Expo, now is the time to register! Prices have been reduced from $700 to $400 per 10 by 10 booth. To obtain a booth at this special reduced price, interested parties will need to fill out the booth reservation form on the website and fax it to 904.371.2710, and then call the event coordinator to reserve your space. Visit AtlantaGreenExpo.com for more details.

Event Coordinator: Martin Kabaki, 904.236.9966.

Downtown Hotel Rewarded for Going Green

2009-05-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Downtown Atlanta's Ellis Hotel is one of only two hotels in the state of Georgia to be honored with the national Green Seal, Silver Level. To celebrate this accomplishment the hotel will offer guests a special "Go Green, Go" program with special rates starting at $111 per night through June 30, 2009.

The National Green Seal program promotes environmental responsibility and energy-saving practices among businesses. To obtain this award, the Ellis Hotel adapted to a list of requirements, implementing such practices as timed lighting systems and the use of 30% post-consumer recycled content based paper products.

The hotel also gives back to the community through donations to Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless. The Ellis Hotel's restaurant, Terrace, also supports local and regional farmers and producers by using locally-produced ingredients.

In addition, the Ellis has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Formerly the sight of the historic Winecoff Hotel (built in 1913), the 15-story hotel opened in October 2007 after a $28 million restoration. The hotel also recently received Atlanta's Downtown Design Excellence Award and Atlanta's Urban Design Commission Award for historic preservation.

Visit www.ellishotel.com for more information.

Atlanta's First Organic Hair Salon

2009-05-19T11:35:00.004-04:00

Clove Salon will soon open its doors on June 27th at 7 pm to welcome environmentally responsible Atlantans. The salon will utilize only products not tested on animals, and will implement a recycling program that covers highlighting foils and color tubes. Facilities will also include allergy free flooring, energy efficient lighting and appliances, low voc paints, and biodegradable cleaners.

Clove Salon has made a commitment to continuously seek new and better ways to conserve energy and to protect the environment.

The salon is located at:
165 6th St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.249.7855

For more information, please visit http://CloveSalon.com.

Earth Talk: Hybrid Cars & Wolf Gunning

2009-05-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: If you have an electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’re paying for electricity rather than gasoline all or most of the time. How does that cost compare to a gas-powered car’s cost-per-mile? And since the electricity may be generated from some other polluting source, does it really work out to be better for the environment? -- Kevin DeMarco, Milford, Connecticut

When you compare battery to gasoline power, electricity wins hands down. A 2007 study by the non-profit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) calculated that powering a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) would cost the equivalent of roughly 75 cents per gallon of gasoline—a price not seen at the pump for 30 years.

The calculation was made using an average cost of electricity of 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour and the estimated distance the car would travel on one charge, versus a car that gets 25 miles per gallon and is powered by $3 per gallon gasoline. Change any of those variables and the relative costs change. For example, substituting a car that gets 50 miles per gallon doubles the comparative electrical cost (though it still works out much cheaper than gasoline). On the other hand, in some areas where wind or hydropower is wasted at night—just when the PHEV would be charging—the utility might drop the kilowatt hour cost to two to three cents, making the charge much less costly.

And don’t worry that we’ll run out of electrical power: A 2005 study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory estimated that three-quarters of the country’s current small vehicle fleet could be charged by our existing electrical grid without building new power plants. (And if all those cars were replaced by PHEVs, it would eliminate the need for 6.5 billion barrels of oil per day, or 52 percent of current U.S. oil imports.)

Regarding environmental impact, charging up your car with electricity from the grid also wins handily over filling up at the gas station. In the most comprehensive PHEV study to date, released in 2007 by EPRI and the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), results predict that all greenhouse gases will be reduced as PHEVs begin to penetrate the car market. Estimated cumulative greenhouse gas reductions from 2010 to 2050, depending upon how fast PHEVs take hold, range from 3.4 to 10.3 billion tons.

More than one half of our national energy grid is powered by coal, and in areas where PHEVs are charged through coal-provided electricity, says NRDC, there is the possibility of increased levels of soot and mercury emissions. However, charging up can be much less of a guilt-ridden affair where cleaner electrical sources like wind and solar are available. The website HybridCars.com points out that as more power plants are required to develop green power and emit fewer greenhouse gases, the environmental and health benefits will further increase.

Dear EarthTalk: What is aerial wolf gunning and why does Alaska governor Sarah Palin endorse the practice? -- Vivian Anderson, Seattle, WA

Aerial wolf gunning involves stalking and shooting wolves from low-flying planes and helicopters. The practice yields better results than traditional ground-based hunting since it allows hunters to cover lots of ground quickly and track prey from an unobstructed “bird’s eye” vantage point. For these very reasons, some hunters—as well as many environmentalists and animal rights advocates—consider aerial hunting unsportsmanlike and even inhumane since it violates the “fair chase” ethic.

Aerial hunting is mostly forbidden on U.S. public lands per the Federal Airborne Hunting Act, passed by Congress in 1972. But individual states can allow it for the sake of protecting “land, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life or crops.” Alaska governor Frank Murkowski exploited this language in 2003 and signed a state bill allowing Alaskans to apply for permits to kill wolves—which some Alaskans’ fear take a large toll on the moose and caribou that hunters like to shoot—from aircraft.

But when Sarah Palin, herself an avid hunter, took over the governorship in 2006, she instituted a $150 bounty for any hunter who killed a wolf from an aircraft in select areas where moose and caribou populations were not as large as hunters would have liked. A state judge quickly put a halt on the bounty, ruling that the Palin administration lacked the authority to offer such payouts. But the judge was powerless to stop aerial hunting itself as long as it was done in a permitted fashion in the name of “predator control,” per the loophole in the federal ban.

Palin also approved a $400,000 state-funded campaign that helped undermine a recent ballot initiative to ban aerial hunting, and also introduced legislation to ease restrictions on the practice. In the four years Palin has been governor, upwards of 800 wolves have been killed by aerial hunting in Alaska. Palin has joined influential groups such as the Alaska Outdoor Council in maintaining that wolf populations need culling, as the great canines are literally stealing food from the tables of Alaska’s many subsistence hunters who rely on moose and caribou kills to feed their families through the long cold winters.

But Rodger Schlickeisen of the non-profit Defenders of Wildlife says that it is Alaska’s small but politically influential commercial hunting interests—not subsistence hunters—who want to keep aerial wolf-gunning alive in the 49th state. “Their clear intention is to eliminate as many of nature’s major predators as possible to artificially increase moose and caribou numbers where it’ll then be easier for urban and wealthy out-of-state hunters to shoot their trophy animals,” he says, adding that scientific data do not show the need for stepping up predator control efforts.

Schlickeisen insists that most regular Alaskans are opposed to aerial hunting, even for the purpose of predator control. “Twice in the past 12 years, Alaska voters have approved state ballot initiatives to limit the use of aircraft to kill wildlife—and twice the state legislature, encouraged and abetted by the [appointed] board of game, has overridden the citizen-passed laws to restore use of aircraft,” he says.

waterSmart Tips For the Environment and Wallets

2009-05-14T06:00:00.004-04:00

The Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority's waterSmart educational program has released a series of water conservation tips designed to change small daily habits that will have a dramatic effect not only on the environment, but also on your utility bills.

waterSmart offers up these tips to see savings and help conserve water:

Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Fixing just one leaky faucet in your home can save more than 20,000 gallons of water per year, or more than $70.

Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and washing your hands. This can save up to nine gallons of water each time you brush and more than 22,000 gallons a year for a reduction of approximately $77 on your water bill total.

Run your washing machine with full loads to maximize efficiency and save up to 700 gallons of water per month for a total savings of about $29 per year.

Cuting down on shower time by five minutes can save the average family 21,000 gallons of water per year, or $74. In addition, installing a low-flow showerhead will reduce water usage by 50% compared to a normal showerhead. This easy to install device can also save you up to 21,000 gallons of water a year for an additional water bill saving of about $74 per year.

"By implementing simple water conservation habits, people can reduce their water bill as well as ensure a sustainable supply of fresh water now and in the future." - Becky Mixon, waterSmart program director.

For more information on how to conserve water, visit www.waterSmart.net.

2009 Green Roofs Conference and Golf Tournament

2009-05-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

The 2009 Green Roofs for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards, and Trade Show will be held in Atlanta the weekend of June 3rd. The Conference will feature more than 45 internationally renowned speakers covering such topics as: Unraveling the energy/water/carbon conservation sequestration equation, Understanding plant survival and the role of climate, water and growing media, Green wall design optimization, and Integrated designs for water management. It will also host the inaugural Green Roof Professional (GRP) Accreditation Exam on Friday June 5.

Also, if you bring along a colleague to the conference, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities will reward you with a complimentary CD compilation of Green Roof's first five years of speaker presentations from past annual conferences.

June 3rd also brings the opportunity to participate in the first annual GRHC Golf Tournament at the Bobby Jones Golf Course. The event is open to all GRHC members, their employees, guests, spouses and prospective members. The cost to participate is $140 per person and covers green and cart fees, a six pack of beer, logo t-shirt, and barbecue dinner. Proceeds will benefit the Green Infrastructure Foundation. No clubs? No problem: clubs are available to rent for $35 per set. Sign up at www.greenroofs.org/atlanta.

For more information, visit www.greenroofs.org.

HGTV's Justin Cave Hosts Eco-Friendly Landscape Series

2009-05-12T11:41:00.005-04:00

From May 23-31, Justin Cave, host of HGTV's hit show Ground Breakers, will partner with Pace Homebuilders to host a series of free workshops designed to teach the benefits of drought tolerant landscaping and to provide tips for easy, do-it-yourself eco-friendly landscaping.

Landscaping techniques to be addressed include: installation of rainwater reclamation systems, the best plans and materials for a sustainable lawn, composting, eco-friendly paver installation, Rain Barrel installation, water gardens, erosion control and drainage, Xeriscape techniques, Container Gardening, Organic Vegetable Gardening and Backyard Wildlife habitat projects and certifications.

The series will take place at Pace Homebuilders' Greenhaven, a model for green building and sustainable design that will open to the public in 2009. Cave's innovations will help to make Greenhaven eco-friendly by incorporating indigenous plants and water saving techniques and technologies to create a drought-tolerant environment.

The workshops will be held May 23-31 at Greenhaven, 2380 Chelsea Landing Way, Marietta, Georgia, 30062.

Greenhaven will host a series of educational seminars for industry professionals as well as public tours benefiting the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. For a complete listing of events associated with Greenhaven's green landscape series, visit: www.greenhavenhome.com.

Underground Atlanta Hosts Green Rewards Festival

2009-05-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Going green means big rewards! Underground Atlanta and REI Present a free Green Rewards Festival in Kenny's Alley on May 16 with headliner Dionne Farris. The Festival will take place from 12 to 5 p.m. and Farris will perform at 3 p.m.

Celebrate the movement and reward yourself at the FREE Green Rewards Festival. The festival will celebrate the launch of www.GoGreenGetRewards.com, a volunteer rewards program created to support environmental non-profits and reward social activism. The event will feature live music with special performances by Grammy nominee Dionne Farris as well as the blues, jazz and funk band, Room 2 Groove.

What to expect:

* Children will enjoy creating crafts from recycled materials at the green kid zone while being captivated by the one and only Captain Planet.

* REI will present their PEAK program a fun way to educate and entertain children of all ages.

* Shop our green vendors to purchase environmentally conscious products.

* Presenting sponsor REI will host an "Eco-fashion show" featuring the latest in eco-fashions.

* Bring your old electronics for free onsite electronic recycling and take advantage of green giveaways throughout the day.

* Non-profits, including the Captain Planet Foundation, Sierra Club and Georgia Organics will be on site.

* Vendor giveaways, totaling more than $2,000 in FREE merchandise, will be up for grabs!

This green event strives to leave no footprint on the environment while simultaneously educating the public about the importance of environmental awareness. Ride Marta, bring refillable bottles for your drinks, electronic items to recycle, dress in your recycled best for the fashion show, or just show up to get your green rewards and enjoy the music and activities.

There are still opportunities to participate as a sponsor, nonprofit partner, and/or vendor.

Contact Tammy Allen at (678) 344-6032 or tammyallen1@comcast.net for more information

Earth Talk: Veggie Cats & Green Cities

2009-05-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: I don’t eat meat, for a variety of ethical and environmental reasons, and I’d rather not feed it to my cat, either. Do cats have to be carnivores? -- John McManus, Needham, MA

Unlike dogs and other omnivores, cats are true (so-called “obligate”) carnivores: They meet their nutritional needs by consuming other animals and have a higher protein requirement than many other mammals. Cats get certain key nutrients from meat—including taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A and vitamin B12—that can’t be sufficiently obtained from plant-based foods. Without a steady supply of these nutrients, cats can suffer from liver and heart problems, not to mention skin irritation and hearing loss.

As such, a cat’s ideal diet is made up mainly of protein and fats derived from small prey such as rodents, birds and small reptiles and amphibians. Some cats munch on grass or other plants, but most biologists agree that such roughage serves only as a digestive aid and provides limited if any nutritional value.

Of course, providing your domestic cat with a steady stream of its preferred prey is hardly convenient or humane—and cats can wreak havoc on local wildlife populations if left to forage on their own. So we fill them up on dry “kibble,” which combines animal products with vegetable-based starches, and meat-based canned “wet” foods, many containing parts of animals cats would likely never encounter, much less hunt and kill, in a purely natural situation. Most cats adapt to such diets, but it is far from ideal nutritionally.

Veterinarian Marla McGeorge, a cat specialist at Portland, Oregon’s Best Friends Veterinary Medical Center, argues that the problem with forcing your cat to be vegetarian or vegan is that such diets fail to provide the amino acids needed for proper feline health and are too high in carbohydrates that felines have not evolved to be able to process. As to those powder-based supplements intended to bridge the nutritional gap, McGeorge says that such formulations may not be as easily absorbed by cats’ bodies as the real thing.

Some would vehemently disagree. Evolution Diet, makers of completely vegetarian foods for cats, dogs and ferrets, says that its meatless offerings, on the market for 15 years, are healthy and nutritious, and, if anything, have extended the lives of many a feline and canine, even reversed chronic health problems. Claiming that most mainstream pet foods contain artery-clogging animal fat, diseased tissue, steroid growth hormones and antibiotics no less harmful to pets than to humans, its website posts testimonials from loyal customers who claim happy and long-lasting pets who look forward to their meals.

And Harbingers of a New Age, which makes “Vegecat” kibble and supplements that provide cats with nutrients otherwise only found in meat, says that its products allow owners to “prepare food in your own kitchen, choosing recipes that fit your lifestyle.”

The vegetarian pet debate is a contentious one among vegetarian pet owners and veterinarians and is one not likely to go away anytime soon. The best approach may well be to give some of the non-meat supplements and/or foods a try. If your cat won’t eat them, or does not do well on them—take kitty to a veterinarian for a check-up to see—you can always go back to what you were feeding her before.

Dear EarthTalk: What is the “green cities” movement? -- John Moulton, Greenwich, CT

Best described as a loose association of cities focused on sustainability, the emerging “green cities movement” encompasses thousands of urban areas around the world all striving to lessen their environmental impacts by reducing waste, expanding recycling, lowering emissions, increasing housing density while expanding open space, and encouraging the development of sustainable local businesses.

Perhaps the archetypal green city is Curitiba, Brazil. When architect and urban planner Jamie Lerner became mayor in 1972, he quickly closed six blocks of the city’s central business district to cars, delighting residents and business owners alike. Today the pedestrian-free zone is three times larger and serves as the heart of the bustling metropolis. Lerner also put in place a high-tech bus system, greatly reducing traffic, energy usage and pollution; the move also encouraged density around transit hubs and thus preserved open space in other areas that would have likely turned into suburbia. Today the bus system still goes strong, and three-quarters of the city’s 2.2 million residents rely on it every day.

Another green cities leader is Rekyjavik, Iceland, where hydrogen-powered buses ply the streets and renewable energy sources—geothermal and hydropower—provide the city’s heat and electricity. London, Copenhagen, Sydney, Barcelona, Bogota and Bangkok, not to mention Sweden’s Malmo, Ecuador’s Bahía de Caráquez and Uganda’s Kampala, also score high for their green attributes and attitudes.

Green cities abound in North America, too. In 2005, Portland, Oregon became the first U.S. city to meet carbon dioxide reduction goals set forth in the landmark (if ill-fated) Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement forged to mitigate the threat of global warming. Seattle, Washington also committed to meeting Kyoto’s goals and has persuaded 590 other U.S. cities to do the same under the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. And Vancouver, British Columbia draws 90 percent of its power from renewable sources while its metro area boasts some 200 parks and more than 18 miles of accessible waterfront.

San Francisco is a leader in green building, energy efficiency and alternative energy, and has been on the forefront of the battle to reduce plastic usage. Austin, Texas is fast becoming a world leader in solar equipment production and has made great strides in preserving open space. Chicago has invested hundreds of millions of dollars revitalizing its parks and neighborhoods, and has built some of America’s most eco-friendly downtown buildings. It is also working to provide affordable clean power to low-income families. Of course, many would argue that New York City—with its densely packed housing, reliance on mass transit and walking, and recent green policy moves by Mayor Bloomberg—may be the greenest of all.

While there is no formal green cities organization, per se, many groups have sprung up to help urban areas achieve their sustainability goals. GreenCities Events, for one, hosts conferences around the U.S. at which local experts, policymakers and business leaders share ideas for greening their region. And International Sustainable Solutions takes urban planners, developers and elected officials on tours so they can check out some of the world’s greenest cities to glean first-hand what works and what can be applied back home.

Learn to Live Greener at Atlanta Green Expo

2009-05-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

Atlanta Green Expo at the Georgia World Congress Center is approaching quickly. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st. The exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.

The Atlanta Green Expo is a business to business and a business to consumer expo; it's open to everyone.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
* Go green classes and workshops
* Organic and healthy food sampling
* Locally grown organic fresh produce
* Information from local green organizations
* Low emission and hybrid car demos
* Organic beer, wine and coffee tasting!
* Going green tips for your home and business
* Networking sessions to discuss green issues
* Environmental books and DVD's
* Solar and wind energy displays and demos
* Hourly Green Raffle

To become a sponsor, exhibitor, volunteer or attendee, please sign up online at: www.atlantagreenexpo.com

Alive Expo, May 16-17

2009-05-07T15:07:00.003-04:00

ALIVE! Expo is a two day health and wellness event for the entire family set for May 16 and 17 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Learn first hand about an alternative approach to health and wellness, get nutritional guidance, watch interactive yoga, pilates and fitness demonstrations, watch healthy cooking demonstrations, listen to lectures from industry health and wellness experts, sample great food, get free massages and go home with tons of free product samples.

Every year ALIVE! Expo brings together local and national natural product companies, alternative practitioners, chiropractors, health food retailers and community non-profit organizations showcasing information about their products and services to thousands of individuals interested in leading a healthy lifestyle.

This year there will be a "Green & Healthy Gourmet Lounge" offering a sampling of Atlanta’s organic menus from Destiny Organics, Ashiki's Ice Cream, Chow Baby, Dantanna's, Dolce Geisha House, The Sun Dial, Cecilia's Bakeshop, Genki, and 5 Seasons Brewery

For more information: www.AliveExpo.com

Earth Talk: Music & Global Warming

2009-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: I’m a musician and am curious about what the guitar industry is doing to ensure that the wood it uses is not destroying forests. -- Chris Wiedemann, Ronkonkoma, NY

Though it has not received a lot of press to date, the industry is on the case—in part for the sake of its own survival, and thanks to the hard work of a handful of green groups, guitar makers and wood suppliers.

In 1996, Gibson, one of the world’s premier guitar brands, became the first in the industry to make some of its instruments using wood certified as “sustainably harvested” by the non-profit Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). By 2006, some 42 percent of the wood purchased by the company for its Gibson USA electric guitars came from FSC-certified sources. By 2012, Gibson expects to increase that to 80 percent.

Gibson isn’t the only instrument maker greening up its footprint: Taylor, Fender, Martin, Guild, Walden and Yamaha, along with Gibson, have signed on as partners with the Music Wood Coalition, a project of the leading environmental non-profit Greenpeace. The coalition, which is also made up of a half-dozen tonewood suppliers, hopes its efforts will protect threatened forest habitats and safeguard the future of trees critical in manufacturing instruments of all kinds. Eco-advocates and guitar makers alike fear that the spruce, maple, mahogany, ebony and rosewood trees that have been the foundation of the wooden instrument industry for years are being cut down faster than they can be replaced.

The coalition’s initial focus is on halting the aggressive deforestation going on in Southeast Alaska. Greenpeace has been in talks with Sealaska Timber Corporation, one of the biggest logging operations in Alaska, to get 190,000 acres of the company’s privately owned Southeast Alaska timberland—a prime source of Sitka spruce, a wood coveted by instrument makers for its use in guitar soundboards—certified by FSC. Greenpeace Forest Campaign Coordinator Scott Paul views getting these forestlands certified as an important win-win opportunity for Sealaska, which wants to maintain a viable income stream, and for instrument makers who need a dependable source of resonant, durable and beautiful woods.

“These [private] lands are going to be logged,” says Paul. But with FSC oversight, he says, the forests can be managed sustainably. And the process is already underway, with the first part of the two-step certification process already completed. “Our goal is to create a demand…for FSC certified ‘good wood’ as the only acceptable music wood from the North American coastal temperate rainforest,” adds Paul.

Guitar makers know that the woods they’ve used for years might not continue to be had at the quantities and low prices they’re used to, but they are willing to adapt: “Alternative woods are the key to successful guitars,” says Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars, which has been a pioneer in the use of exotic and sustainably harvested tonewoods in their high quality acoustic guitars. “But the market needs to go there all together.”

Tradition is a huge driving force, agrees Paul. “Players expect a spruce soundboard, a mahogany neck, an ebony or rosewood bridge.” There needs to be a leap of faith in changing markets, he says, where people are becoming more environmentally conscious.

Dear EarthTalk: What are some of the leading proposed technological fixes for staving off global warming, and how feasible are they? -- James Harris, Columbus, Ohio

While most of the world fixates on how to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere, scientists and engineers around the world are busy working on various “geo-engineering” technologies—many of which are highly theoretical—to mitigate global warming and its effects. Many scientists oppose using new technology to fix problems created by old technology, but others view it as a quick and relatively inexpensive way to solve humankind’s most vexing environmental problem.

One of the theories proposed for reducing global warming involves deflecting heat away from the Earth’s surface with solar shields or satellites with movable reflectors. Computer models suggest that blocking eight percent of the sun’s Earth-bound radiation would effectively counteract the warming effect of our CO2 pollution. The idea was inspired by the cooling effects of large volcanic eruptions—such as Mt. Pinatubo in 1991—that blast sulphate particles into the stratosphere. These particles reflect part of the sun’s radiation back into space, reducing the amount of heat that reaches the atmosphere.

Another technological fix involves “sequestration,” the storage of CO2 either deep underground or deep in the ocean. Some of the nation’s largest utilities, which are also “washing” coal to filter out impurities, are working on ways to capture the CO2 they emit and store it miles below the Earth’s surface. Costs of such technologies have been prohibitive, but new regulations could force the issue in the near term.

Another leading theory, “ocean fertilization,” entails scattering iron powder throughout the world’s seas, providing nutrients to boost the amount of phytoplankton that thrive in the water’s upper layers. Through photosynthesis, these plants absorb CO2, which in theory stays with them when they die and fall to the ocean floor. Initial experiments have not lived up to the hype, however, but more research is underway.

Yet another take on altering the seas for the sake of the climate, “engineered weathering,” entails replacing some of the oceans’ carbonic acid with hydrochloric acid. This, the theory goes, accelerates the underwater storage of CO2 otherwise destined for the atmosphere. According to Harvard Earth and Planetary Science Ph.D. Kurt Zenz House, engineered weathering “dramatically accelerates a cleaning process that nature herself uses for greenhouse gas accumulation.”

While the cost of many of these so-called “geo-engineering” fixes would not necessarily be prohibitive in light of the cost of transforming our global energy economy, the risks of unintended consequences weigh heavily on even the researchers proposing them. “Personally, as a citizen not a scientist, I don’t like geo-engineering because of the high environmental risk,” Ken Caldeira, a researcher at California’s Carnegie Institution of Washington, told New Scientist. “It’s toying with poorly understood complex systems.” But he also wonders: “Is it better to let the Greenland ice sheet collapse and let the polar bears drown their way to extinction, or to spray some sulphur particles in the stratosphere?”

Trees Atlanta Mulching Project, May 9

2009-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

www.treesatlanta.org

Trees Atlanta Hosts Arboretum Conference, May 2

2009-04-28T11:00:00.002-04:00

Atlanta non-profit, Trees Atlanta, is hosting its first arboretum conference on Saturday, May 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. The conference is sponsored by The UPS Foundation and will include presentations from landscaping experts, community advocates and interpretive specialists. The event will be held at Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316.

The cost is $25 for members of Trees Atlanta and $35 for non-members. You can view and print the registration form at www.TreesAtlanta.org and then e-mail or fax (404-681-4909) your registration form and payment

An arboretum is a living “tree museum” – a collection of trees and other mostly woody plants that are cultivated for educational and scientific purposes. Famous arboreta include the Arnold Arboretum in Boston and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England. In Atlanta, Trees Atlanta has begun work on what will become the longest linear arboretum in the world: The Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. This ambitious and exciting project builds on Trees Atlanta’s success in working with seven neighborhoods and their Neighborhood Arboretum Committees– Inman Park, Sylvan Hills, Oakhurst, Cabbagetown, Midtown, Reynoldstown, and Virginia Highlands – to establish their own arboreta.

Through the “City in the Arboretum” conference, we hope to teach interested citizens how they can establish an arboretum in their own neighborhood. Presenters will include Steve Sanchez of HGOR, Inc.; UGA plant biologist Wendy Zomlefer; Shannon Kettering of ECOS Environmental Design; Atlanta History Center’s John Manion; Rob Brawner of BeltLine Partnership; Kevin Bourke of BeltLine, Inc.; Chris Hastings of Arbormedics; Scott Smith Vice President of Westview Community Organization; and interpretive specialist Faye Goolrick. Whether you wish to become an active participant in the Neighborhood Arboreta, or just want to learn more about common and unusual trees, this will be an educational and exciting day.

Ecco Earns Green Designation

2009-04-27T11:10:00.002-04:00

The Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA) has announced that Ecco, the popular eatery in Midtown, has become the first restaurant in the state of Georgia to receive the Green Foodservice Certification. As a result, Ecco and GFA are leading the way for greening the restaurant industry nationwide, uniting several foodservice organizations in the fight to incorporate environmental conservation practices into the daily operations of dining establishments.

Fifth Group Restaurants Partner Steve Simon helped to develop this program and now sits on the Green Foodservice Alliance Executive Committee. Simon strategized on the functionality of the certification requirements, providing input about what would be operationally reasonable and what would be discouraging for restaurateurs.

“It’s kind of like the first time you recycle at home; it’s not hard, you just have to retrain your habits,” says Simon of complying with certification standards. “What it comes down to is a choice, and how good you want to be at it,” he adds.

The Green Foodservice Certification program is brand new and will evolve to become more stringent each year for the next few years. While there are many more things that Ecco and other restaurants can do to be greener and more environmentally conscious, this is the beginning of an effort to drive the hospitality industry in Atlanta and the state of Georgia to greener practices. The 2009 certification requires that the restaurant adhere to the following practices:

· Recycle common recyclable goods such as aluminum, cardboard, plastic, glass and paper. The restaurant must report tonnage of recycled products hauled into recycling company on a monthly basis to the GRA.
· Spent grease must be used for the local production of biofuel.
· A written plan must be provided for donation of non-sellable but edible food to a local food bank, other charitable organization or some consumable source.
· A written plan must be provided for energy conservation (gas, electricity, water).

While these practices haven’t been a focal point in the past from an operational standpoint, Ecco was able to divert 65% of its waste immediately and reached 75% with more focus. Simon found the kitchen and dish room to be the most challenging areas of the restaurant due to lack of extra space, while the bar area proved to be more conducive to recycling.

As for energy conservation, Ecco’s energy consumption is monitored on a monthly basis, and the results are used to put operational procedures into effect in order for the restaurant to use less energy. Ecco has been adhering to these practices and the other certification stipulations for six months now, and Fifth Group is currently in the process of rolling out recycling procedures at the company’s catering arm, Bold American , and all of their other establishments including South City Kitchen Midtown, The Original El Taco, and La Tavola Trattoria , which is already part of the nation’s first “Carbon Neutral Zone” in Virginia Highland.

Alive Expo Comes to Atlanta

2009-04-24T11:21:00.004-04:00

For the fifth year, Atlanta welcomes the ALIVE! Expo event. It's a weekend filled with healthy living options including everything from fitness to organic and natural foods to eco-friendly household products and fashion. Attendees have the opportunity to explore the latest of what the health and wellness world has to offer.

The ALIVE! Expo brings together experts in the health and wellness fields who display product lines and services including vitamins and supplements, organic foods, anti-aging products, natural beauty products, organic wines, natural clothing, hyperbaric oxygen chambers and alternative medicines.

Throughout both days, educators will offer informative seminars designed to help listeners sift through the excess of facts and data available to find options that can actually work for them. The ALIVE! Expo event is good clean fun for the entire family!

The ALIVE! Expo will take place Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. One-day General Admission is $10 (ages 16 and under are free)

A VIP One-day ticket (limited) is $25 in advance, and $30 at the door. VIP tickets include: Exhibit Hall Admission, health lectures from top industry experts, healthy cooking demos, the Green & Healthy Gourmet Lounge from 1 to 5 p.m., wine tastings, and food sampling from local restaurants that support local farmers

Tickets are available at www.AliveExpo.com

The Event will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C1

285 Andrew Young International Blvd., NW
Atlanta, GA 30313-1591

Finders Keepers Save the Earth Campaign

2009-04-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

With Earth Day around the corner on April 22, Finders Keepers is participating in the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shop's (NARTS) Save the Earth Campaign. From April 20 to April 25 Finders Keepers will be collecting wire hangers to prevent them from ending up in landfills. Hangers may be dropped off at all three Finders Keepers locations: Fashions, Boutique and Furnishings.

According to Hanger Network, more than 3.5 billion wire hangers are dumped into United States landfills a year and it takes more than 100 years for these wire hangers to decompose. "People throw away their wire hangers because they do not know that they are bad for the environment and that it is just as important to recycle wire hangers as it is paper or plastic. Our goal is to not only provide our customers with a place to drop off their unwanted wire hangers, but to also educate them on different ways to dispose of their hangers that are safe for the environment," said Bonnie Kallenberg, Owner of Finders Keepers.

Consignment stores around the nation will participate in NARTS' Save the Earth Campaign. NARTS' goal is to collect a total of 100,000 wire hangers and save them from the landfills. Finders Keepers will donate their collected wire hangers to a local dry cleaner and whatever is left will be taken to a metal scrap yard.

For more information on Finders Keepers and directions to all three stores, visit www.fkconsign.com

Electronic Recycling @ Whole Foods

2009-04-20T10:05:00.004-04:00

The Whole Foods on Briarcliff Road will host a Spring Cleaning Electronics and Junk Collection from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22.

Spend some time Spring cleaning your home and bring your unwanted junk to the store. In an effort to increase proper disposal of waste Green Junk Removal will be here to collect your unwanted tires, batteries, paint cans, electronics, air conditioning units, bathroom fixtures, lawn and garden equipment, and much, much more. For more details on what items will be accepted please visit www.greenjunkremoval.com.

American Trade Products Presents Earth Plastics

2009-04-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

American Trade Products (ATP), an industry leader in thermoformed plastic products, introduced Earth Plastic, a revolutionary plastic material that is 100 percent biodegradable, made from recycled plastic and a proprietary blend of additives that enables it to break down
in landfill and compost environments. And of course, it is also 100 percent recyclable. Unlike traditional plastics which do not biodegrade, Earth Plastic additives enable microorganisms to break down the molecular structure of the plastic into soil-like material that is not harmful to the environment.

The first consumer products made with Earth Plastic are a line of 100 percent biodegradable paint trays and sundries currently available at The Home Depot, select Wal-Mart stores, and Sherwin-Williams across the country.

Earth Plastic can be used to manufacture thousands of eco-conscious plastic products which have the identical look, durability, function and shelf-life of non-biodegradable plastic products and are competitively priced.

Earth Plastic is a natural extension of ATP's 20-year commitment to providing consumers with earth-friendly yet competitively priced products. Whether disposed of in landfills, compost heaps or other locations, Earth Plastic products biodegrade within approximately two to five years
depending on conditions.

Earth Plastic additives have been tested and certified as biodegradable by independent laboratories using American Society of Testing Materials' (ASTM) standard methodologies. ASTM International is one of the world's largest and most reputable organizations for developing technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services.

www.americantradeproducts.com
www.earthplastic.com

Earth Day at Atlantic Station

2009-04-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

In keeping with the community's strong commitment to the environment, Atlantic Station is hosting its first annual Earth Day event on April 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. As the nation's largest urban brownfield redevelopment and as a national model for smart growth and sustainability, Atlantic Station provides the ideal location to host one of Atlanta's largest Earth Day celebrations.

For the event, Atlantic Station has invited local and national businesses into the sustainable mixed-use community to showcase how they are going green and to educate consumers how to lead a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Participants will share sustainable "how tos" unique to their own businesses, and which consumers can incorporate into their own lives.

The public is invited to attend the free event, which will be held in Central Park in Atlantic Station, to celebrate going green on Earth Day.

Since its opening in 2005, Atlantic Station has embraced the green movement through its one-of-a-kind environmental design and strategy. The mixed-use community utilizes an environmentally-friendly water cooling system that produces green energy, boasts LEED certified office towers, will ultimately include 11 acres of green space and encourages public transportation by providing a free community shuttle system.

Local and national businesses will be participating in Atlantic Station's Earth Day celebration, showcasing their own green products, distributing free samples to attendees and providing tips to consumers on how to go green in their own everyday lives.

Participants include Georgia Aquarium, How Stuff Works, Regal Cinemas, Publix, The Georgia Conservancy, Nestea, FUZE Beverage, Mission Zero, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed, and Atlantic Station's own ASAP+, Smart Wash and FIO 360, among others.

www.atlantaicstation.com

EcoManor Trunk Show, April 16

2009-04-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

Atlanta INtown's Green Insider, Laura Turner Seydel, will host the third annual EcoManor Trunk Show on Thursday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Celebrate Earth Month with a tour of EcoManor, the “greenest house in the South,” sample the latest organic cuisine and enjoy a day of earth-friendly shopping as you preview over 15 of the latest green fashion, jewelry, home décor, beauty/skincare and children’s products on the market today. The event is open to the public and free to attend. www.lauraseydel.com for more information.

Earth Day Belt-Line Bike Tour, April 26

2009-04-14T06:00:00.002-04:00

Experience Atlanta's BeltLine neighborhoods from the seat of a bicycle on April 26! Now in its second year, this ride will grow with the BeltLine, until one day it spans the full BeltLine loop. Kid's entry is $5, adults 18 and over pay $10, and families are just $20. The ride will start and Gordon White Park and use the new West End Trail, whose first phase is now complete.

Last year's BeltLine Bike Tour attracted a diverse group of 200 bicyclists. This year promises clearer routes and options better suited to a range of riders, from whole families with young children to recreational cyclists to dedicated bike explorers.

Come enjoy Whole Foods-sponsored rest stops and local nonprofits Trees Atlanta and Piedmont Conservancy. Learn about the BeltLine project, a 22 mile loop of transit, trails, and economic development encircling intown Atlanta, through BeltLine Partnership's maps and displays. BeltLine Partnership is also providing reusable drawstring bags, giveaways and coupons.

For more information and registration, visit www.atlantabike.org

Kroger Going Organic for Earth Day

2009-04-12T06:00:00.004-04:00

Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day? Consider going organic. This April, Kroger is making organics more affordable and accessible with Go Organic! for Earth Day, offering consumers major coupons and discounts, fresh details on the benefits of organic products and a chance to win a year's worth of organic groceries.

To find your nearest Kroger, and to learn about the healthful and environmental benefits of organics, visit www.OrganicEarthDay.org

Once at Kroger, individuals can pick up a booklet containing more than $12 in coupons on leading organic products. Consumers can also request their free coupon booklet by calling 1-866-446-6742.

On the Web site, consumers may register for a chance to win organic groceries for a year. Also at the site, visitors can sign up for an online newsletter containing organic tips, information and monthly giveaways.

Go Organic! for Earth Day is the largest-ever national effort to provide education and encourage organic purchases among consumers, with more than 3,500 food retailers, manufacturers and distributors taking part.

Go Organic! for Earth Day is a project of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), Earth Day Network and MusicMatters.

Beltline Cleanup Day

2009-04-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (AARPCV) and Keep Atlanta Beautiful, in conjunction with many others are planning a Beltline cleanup day on Saturday, April 18th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. So, put your work gloves on and get ready to show some much needed love and attention to our city's green space while we work with our friends and neighbors and dedicate a few hours to cleaning up around the Beltline.
Register individually at www.keepatlantabeautiful.org. Click on the link to "Register Now" and fill in your personal information. There will be a free t-shirt to all who volunteer and there
will be a free lunch with live music following the cleanup. Please don't forget to put "AARPCV" in as your organization name so that we can all work in the same general vicinity. Lastly, please shoot me a quick email to confirm that you will be attending, that way we will know how many folks to be looking for on the day of the event. (emilymartin_1@hotmail.com) Please plan on bringing sunblock and plenty of water. Also, for those not located within walking/biking distance, let me know if you need a ride to the event...and we can coordinate that as well. I hope to see you all soon!

Sponsors: Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Atlanta Toolbank, Historic Fourth Ward Conservatory, Trees Atlanta, Park Pride, Park Area Coalition, and Ponce Park.

The Virtues of "Green Cleaning"

2009-04-10T06:00:00.008-04:00

With Earth Day, April 22, right around the corner, the words green, environmentally friendly and sustainable are sure to be used in conversation in the near future. But while people may be talking about recycling their garbage, changing their appliances to energy efficient ones and buying hybrid automobiles, how many people will be talking about green cleaning? According to Jerry Thomas, Founder and CEO of EnviroClean USA, the answer is that they all should be, because green cleaning promotes healthier and safer environments. In fact, green cleaning of any facility has the greatest impact on indoor air quality, and it has been proven that good air quality can lead to substantial and measurable improvements in life expectancy, according to a
study by Brigham Young University and Harvard School of Public Health.

With more than a decade of experience in the service industry, Thomas sought to bring consistency and sustainability to the commercial cleaning industry after working for two of the largest international commercial cleaning franchise chains in the business. A combination of his own environmentally friendly practices around the home and his desire to make Atlanta companies healthier and safer for their employees, customers and visitors led Thomas to open EnviroClean USA in October of 2007. Since inception, the company has maintained a client retention rate of 100%, and Thomas feels now is the time he should be bringing the message of green cleaning to far more companies, particularly in light of the Obama administration's current focus on greening public buildings by making them more efficient, lowering operation costs and retrofitting them. Thomas says soon the private sector will begin to do the same, retrofitting older buildings to make them more appealing with LEED-EBOM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance) certification. Now that green cleaning has become a pre-requisite (requirement) for LEED-EBOM certification, EnviroClean USA can contribute up to eight points, or 30% of the total points, needed for this certification.

But Thomas says that even companies that are not seeking LEED certification should consider green cleaning. There are major tax and marketing advantages by having a green building, and choosing EnviroClean USA's services is the easiest and most inexpensive way for its customers to initiate sustainable practices. And while green cleaning services can be 10 to 20% more costly than traditional cleaning services, they have many hard and soft benefits that outweigh the initial investment. For example, the service lowers operating costs by saving the customer up to 80% of its water consumption for cleaning, saving up to 40% of its electricity consumption and providing additional savings associated with waste removal via recycling programs (landfill diversion). Some of the hard benefits are higher occupancy levels, increase in value of property and a reduction in maintenance costs. In addition, Thomas cites the soft benefits of his green cleaning service as enhanced productivity by his customers' employees, higher attendance rates and lower health care costs. The combined hard and soft benefits ultimately translate to a greater bottom line for a company.

Thomas's approach differentiates itself from all other competitors who are "green washing", which is simply making minor changes like recycling paper and then labeling the company green or sustainable. For its customers, EnviroClean USA uses only Green Seal approved chemicals, micro-fiber towels and mopping systems, Hepa filtration systems and low moisture extractors. The company also employs a consistent daily, weekly and once-a-month cleaning check-list to ensure that the work environment is healthier, from disinfecting telephone receivers and elevator buttons to sanitizing bathroom walls and janitors' closets. And, from utilizing a virtual office and paperless invoices to printing marketing materials on recycled paper and routing cleaning schedules to reduce carbon footprint, EnviroClean USA itself sets the standard for its industry.

EnviroClean USA's website is evolving into a live/work/play website teaching people how to live environmentally friendly lifestyles and providing green news and updates. To learn more about "going green" or for more information on EnviroClean USA's services, visit www.envirocleanusa.org

Earth Day Kids Fest 2009

2009-04-10T06:00:00.006-04:00

The 7th Annual Earth Day Kids Fest (EDKF) sponsored by Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) and Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) promises to be education and fun rolled into one! Taking place on April 18, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, this event is a unique and exciting hands-on environmental education event where we encourage youngsters to take the first steps in becoming environmental stewards. Through engaging activities and performances, kids are energized with empowering information, allowing them to lead the way in preserving and protecting our biological diversity and natural resources.

With a spectacular and diverse line-up of edu-tainment on the horizon, the entire day is sure to inspire children to take action, even in the smallest ways, to help save the planet! In fact, this your chance to meet Captain Planet live as he will be on-hand to take photos with budding Planeteers! CPF will have an example of their 2009 initiative, organic gardens as outdoor classrooms, on display as well as a planting activity for children. Attendees will also enjoy live musical performances from Laughing Pizza and Lil Peppi. The Think Swiss Climate Trail Exhibition will explain the causes and solutions to global warming. Live animal presentations will bring the outdoors up close and personal. Guests can even paddle a canoe on the CNC Beaver Pond.

Numerous other groups and environmental organizations will have booths to help everyone explore eco-themes and create special arts and crafts. Additionally, Freshens will provide refreshing smoothies for all kids. The price of admission is $5 per person and children under 2 are free. However, guests who ride their bikes from home will get in free! There will also be free shuttle bus service from St. Francis School near the corner of Willeo/Azalea and Highway 120.

Earth Day Kids Fest 2009 is being sponsored in part by Macy’s, the City of Roswell, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Freshens.

For more information on this annual family event, please contact Kristie Andrews at Captain Planet Foundation, 404.522.4270 or www.chattnaturecenter.org for more details.

Students Win Environmental Challenge

2009-04-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

A team of five students from Ben Franklin Academy’s Green Club, has won $10,000 in the first phase of the Water Competition of the Lexus Eco Challenge, a national contest that encourages middle and high school students to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities. Ben Franklin’s Green Club is one of seventeen winning teams in the country. All winning teams will be invited to participate in the Final Challenge during Earth Month in April 2009 for a chance to win a grand prize of $50,000 in grants and scholarships.

Ben Franklin’s Green Club, under the guidance of faculty member James Watson, recently launched the Saving Water in Georgia (S.W.I.G.) Campaign to increase awareness about simple steps that homes and businesses can take to reduce water consumption both in gardens and in homes or buildings. The initiative uses a website, www.savingwateringeorgia.com (hosted on the “world’s greenest web server”); social networking groups; as well as presentations and informative booklets to reach the local community and beyond with their message of conservation.

The Lexus Eco Challenge, created by Lexus, the luxury automaker; and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, was designed to educate young people about the environment and to inspire them to create a better world, one community at a time. The students at Ben Franklin Academy accepted the challenge to prove that a small group can bring big changes to the environment.

Backyard Ecosystem Workshop, April 18

2009-04-07T15:27:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Urban Forest Council, Inc. a nonprofit organization with the mission of sustaining Georgia’s green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees, will present a workshop, “Restoring Your Backyard Ecosystem” on Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the DeKalb Extension Service Office, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30032. The registration fee for the workshop is $25, and those new to the Georgia Urban Forest Council will receive a one-year complimentary individual membership. Group rates are available.

Speaker Eric King, RLA, ASLA, and 2009 President of the Georgia Urban Forest Council, will demonstrate how a natural home landscape offers advantages over a traditional high maintenance yard in several ways: 1) Natural plantings of trees can reduce energy consumption in summer by better shading the home; 2) natural plantings require less time and energy to maintain; and 3) natural landscapes provide a virtual outdoor classroom of biological processes to watch and enjoy. The challenge in moving from a high maintenance landscape to a more natural and sustainable one is to understand how your yard functions as its own ecosystem and then work with nature to restore the natural processes. Eric King has been designing gardens in Georgia for decades and has appeared on numerous TV/radio programs and in garden magazines throughout the country. He will demystify the process of natural succession and offer a better path to creating a more natural home landscape.

To register for GUFC’s “Restoring Your Backyard Ecosystem” workshop on April 18, please visit www.gufc.org.

Georgia Organics 12th Conference: A Success

2009-04-06T06:00:00.004-04:00

With more than 1,100 attendees, the Georgia Organics 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show was the largest in Georgia Organics history, demonstrating the growth of the good food movement in the South.

Held March 20-21 at Agnes Scott College, the conference saw two days of sustainable local farm tours, panel discussions, and in-depth workshops on subjets ranging from the science of composting with worms to food security, and culminated with the keynote speech of best-selling author Michael Pollan, who charged attendees to take advantage of the openness of the Obama Administration and push for meaningful, lasting agriculture reform.

Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, called for a new approach for the country’s agriculture industry, one that would link health, local economies, and food production for the first time.

“Here’s the core idea: we need to wean the American food system off its heavy 20th century diet of fossil fuels and put it back on a diet of contemporary sunshine. To the extent that we do that – at the level of policy and at the level of shopping for dinner – it diminishes the fossil fuel in our diet,” Pollan said. “This is easier said than done and will require changes at every link in the food chain: in the field, in the marketplace, and in the culture.”

In addition, Georgia Organics awarded its annual Land Stewardship Award, which was created by the Georgia Land Stewardship Association, now Georgia Organics, to honor an individual or individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the tenets of organic agriculture – soil fertility, biodiversity, on-farm recycling, and water quality – and also the larger community through leadership, education, and outreach.

The 2009 Land Stewardship Award was presented to Daniel Parson for his influential leadership and work with emerging farmers, 12 years of organic growing, and an incredibly popular mushroom workshop. Parson is a former Georgia Organics board member, and has worked with dozens of groups, promoting the health and environmental advantages of organics farming, including Team Agriculture Georgia, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, North Georgia Technical College, and the African American Family Farmers Foundation.

Parsons received the award from Cynthia Hizer, a farmer with Hazelbrand Farms, who received the inaugural Land Stewardship Award in 1997.

The conference also saw the presentation of a new Georgia Organics award. The Barbara Petit Pollinator Award honors an individual or organization for outstanding community leadership in Georgia’s sustainable farming and food movement. The award acknowledges exceptional success in advancing Georgia Organics’ mission by spreading—pollinating—the movement throughout community life, such as the food industry, faith communities, public agencies, schools, and institutions.

The award is named after Barbara Petit, a committed leader, culinary professional, and organizer who served as President of Georgia Organics from 2003-2009. She continues to serve the good food movement through her involvement in the Atlanta Local Food Initiative and Georgia Organics’ Farm to School program. During her term as president, the organization evolved from a non-staffed, member, and program-driven nonprofit to a professional group with expanded outreach, programs, and communications, 1,300 members and five full-time staff. Petit’s strategic drive, organizational tenacity and team-oriented approach shaped the organization in profound and lasting ways.

More Georgians then ever are choosing to eat local produce. The number of farmer’s markets across the state increased 588 percent between 2003 and 2008. There’s also been an explosion of interest in Community Supported Agriculture, which are grass-roots groups that directly link consumers to local farmers. There are 35 such groups in Georgia now, a 600 percent increase since 2003.

For more information about Georgia Organics and their upcoming events, visit www.georgiaorganics.org

C. Crane Company Presents the GeoBulbTM

2009-04-05T06:00:00.002-04:00

C. Crane Company, a pioneer in LED (light-emitting diode) flashlights, has developed the GeoBulbTM, an LED light bulb that uses half the energy of a compact fluorescent bulb, contains no hazardous mercury or lead and lasts for up to ten years of daily use. GeoBulbTM, the first high light output, direct-replacement LED light bulb that uses just 7.5 Watts of power to produce as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, is available now exclusively from C. Crane

GeoBulbTM brings LED light bulbs up to the brightness of incandescent bulbs, while maintaining the qualities that make LEDs so very exceptional:
- GeoBulbTM lasts 30,000 hours or up to ten years with typical use;
- GeoBulbTM generates very little heat and is not susceptible to vibrations or repeated on/off switching;
- Through quantum-well technology, the GeoBulbTM uses only about 10% of the power of incandescent bulbs and about half of a comparable compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

The retail price for GeoBulbTM is $119.95, with an over 30,000 hour lifespan, actually makes it less expensive to purchase and operate than a traditional incandescent bulb.

The GeoBulbTM has passed conductive and radiated emission tests from the FCC, also passed UL safety tests and is Lead Free, making it RoHS compliant. The GeoBulbTM is designed for indoor use only, in an open fixture and within a temperature range from 14-104°F.

www.ccrane.com

Earth Talk: Microfinance & Smart Grid

2009-04-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: What is “microfinance” and how does it help poor countries and preserve the environment? -- Eliza Clark, Seattle, WA

The brainchild of Grameen Foundation founder Muhammad Yunus, microfinance is a form of banking whereby financial institutions offer small loans to the poor. The idea behind the concept, which originated in Bangladesh in the mid 1970s, is that motivated and disciplined poor people could climb out of poverty if they had access to funding—even small amounts—that help get businesses off the ground. With access to revolving loan funds, these “micro-entrepreneurs” can build businesses, pay back the borrowed money, and continue to provide for themselves and their families in a sustainable manner.

A classic example would be a woman who borrows $50 to buy chickens so she can sell eggs to other members of her community. As her chickens multiply, she can sell more eggs, and eventually she can sell chicks as well. She pays back the money and has climbed out of a perhaps desperate situation financially—and the community benefits from having a new source of nutritious food.

“Having access to money to start a small business isn’t about fulfilling a dream, it’s literally about keeping their families one step ahead of starvation and putting a roof over their heads,” says Tracey Turner, founder of MicroPlace, an online “microfinance marketplace” launched by eBay in 2007. Individuals can put small or large amounts of money on MicroPlace and get a rate of return in the two- to three-percent range—better than a donation—and get the satisfaction of knowing that their cash is helping someone in a developing country improve their lot and that of their impoverished community.

On the environmental front, microfinance is, in and of itself, “green” in that it promotes businesses that can be sustained indefinitely. Example after example over the last three decades have proven the concept that when poor people are given opportunities to earn a living in a legitimate and sustainable fashion, they have little or no need to pillage their surrounding natural resources to shelter or feed themselves. Also, most of the financial institutions involved in microfinance hold up sustainability as a precondition for awarding loans. Others encourage greener businesses by offering lower interest rates to borrowers with sustainability-oriented plans.

While upstarts like MicroPlace and Kiva (which operates on a similar model whereby individual investors can get in on the microlending fun) are grabbing most of the microfinance headlines these days, Grameen Bank was the first microfinance lender in the world, initiating its first project in 1976 in the Bangladeshi village of Jobra. Today Grameen does a lot more than just offer small loans. It also accepts deposits and provides other banking services, and runs several development-oriented businesses including fabric, telephone and energy companies. And it has spawned thousands of other institutions doing similar things: World Bank statistics show that more than 7,000 microfinance institutions serve some 16 million people in developing countries with $7 billion in outstanding loans, 97 percent of which are repaid.

In 2006, Grameen founder Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Dear EarthTalk: What is the so-called “smart grid” I've been hearing about, and how can it save energy and money? -- Larry Burger, Litchfield, CT

America’s electricity grid is built upon what many consider to be an antiquated principle: Make large amounts of electricity and have it always available to end users whether they need it or not. It’s much like the way most home water heaters work in keeping water constantly hot even when it is not being used. It is also a strictly one-way relationship with utilities supplying power to end users, but not also vice-versa.

The smart grid concept is predicated on a two-way flow of energy—and information—between electricity generators and end users. The system not only delivers power to end users as needed, depending on demand; it also gathers power from end users that produce their own—homes and businesses that generate solar, wind or geothermal power themselves—when they have more than they need.

Some 42 states and Washington, DC already require utilities to have systems in place to buy excess energy generated by their customers. But, writes journalist Michael Prager in E – The Environmental Magazine, “because they can’t know in real time that power is coming in, utilities generate as much as they would have anyway.” He adds that when information flows both ways, end users will be able to send information back to the grid specifying how much power they need and when they will need it. They’ll also be able to communicate when they have excess power available to upload to the grid.

On the forefront of research into the feasibility of the smart grid on a large scale is the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center, established in 2008 by the National Science Foundation and headquartered at North Carolina State University. FREEDM is partnering with universities, industry and national laboratories in 28 states and nine countries to develop technologies they say will “revolutionize the nation’s power grid and speed renewable electric-energy technologies into every home and business.” So far, some 60 utilities, alternative energy startups, electrical equipment manufacturers and other firms have signed onto the new partnership.

One such utility, Colorado-based Xcel Energy, has even begun to put smart grid technology into practice on a trial basis for a small percentage of its customer base. The utility has spent some $100 million outfitting 35,000 homes and businesses in and around the city of Boulder with automation and communications capabilities to enable two-way communication of electricity needs.

Xcel won’t have enough data to assess energy and cost savings until early 2010, but analysts are optimistic that the utility’s costly experiment will reap benefits down the road for consumers, utilities and the environment. Indeed, environmentalists and economists alike have high hopes that widespread implementation of such “intelligent” systems could help usher in a new age of unprecedented energy efficiency, emissions reductions and cost savings around the United States and beyond.

April is National Car Care Month

2009-04-02T15:37:00.001-04:00

Georgia’s Clean Air Force (GCAF), in conjunction with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), celebrates April as National Car Care Month. GCAF, which administers the state’s vehicle emission testing program, reminds motorists that keeping a vehicle in top operating condition will save fuel, reduce long-term maintenance costs and minimize harmful exhaust emissions.

To help combat air pollution, GCAF tests an average of 2.5 million vehicles each year in metro Atlanta, and expects to prevent 4,700 tons of pollutants from entering our air in 2009. GCAF encourages metro Atlanta motorists to play their part in cleaning our air by following these vehicle maintenance tips, which also can help ensure a passing annual emission test:

1. Read the owner's manual carefully to become familiar with your vehicle's maintenance schedule and requirements. Maintenance varies widely from one vehicle to another and the manufacturer knows best.
2. In most cases, it is best to leave the servicing of your vehicle in the hands of trained automotive professionals. They have the knowledge and tools to diagnose and correct problems and to put you on the road to safe, fuel-efficient driving. For a list of qualified emission repair shops in your area based on the percentage of successful repairs, view the GCAF RepairWatch Public Report located at all emission inspection stations or at www.cleanairforce.com.
3. When purchasing motor oil, look for a brand that is rated as being “Energy Conserving.” Using the lowest multi-grade of oil recommended in your owner's manual can improve the fuel efficiency of the engine, particularly when starting it cold.
4. Virtually all of your vehicle's mechanical systems can affect fuel efficiency in one way or another if not properly maintained. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for engine, cooling and ignition system, brake, drive train and emission control system checks.
5. Operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by six pounds per square inch (psi) can reduce the life of the tire by more than six thousand miles and increase the vehicle's fuel consumption by three percent.

For additional maintenance tips, please review GCAF’s “Spare the Air and Your Wallet” resource, which is available at www.cleanairforce.com.

Rainwater Conference Set For Decatur

2009-03-31T15:13:00.001-04:00

The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), a non-profit educational organization with nearly 600 members across the world, will hold its national conference and membership meeting in Decatur, Georgia this September.

Decatur was selected as the conference location for numerous reasons: growth in membership in the southeastern states due to drought; the city’s green initiatives; easy access to and from the Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport; and a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere for shopping and dining.

Decatur resident and ARCSA accredited professional Russ Jackson of the Jackson Company, is conference co-chair. “Decatur is the place where the sort of innovation we practice in the rainwater industry thrives,” he said. “I am confident that the conference will be well-attended by everyone from homeowners and builders, to city officials and planners, partly due to our content, and partly due to the great location of the conference.”

The events begin on Saturday, Sept. 12 with a pre-conference workshop on the basics of installing and maintaining rainwater harvesting systems. The workshop is for beginners and for ARCSA members seeking accreditation. On Sunday, Sept. 13, workshop participants will receive hands-on training by installing a rainwater harvesting system on the City of Decatur’s Recreation Center.

A free open house for the general public will also be held on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Holiday Inn Conference Plaza in Decatur, the venue for the conference. Doug Pushard, ARCSA board member and conference co-chair from Santa Fe, New Mexico, said,” The open house will feature presentations from University of Georgia faculty and leading vendors in the industry, and a tour of the system being installed on the Recreation Center. The idea is to educate and excite. We want everyone to know rainwater harvesting is easy, cost-effective, and it can be attractive.”

The conference program, which will feature recognized water conservation leaders and rainwater harvesting experts from across the country, runs Monday, Sept. 14 through Wednesday, Sept. 16.

“People in the Atlanta area, whether they’re do-it-yourselfers or professional landscapers, should attend this conference because water conservation is very near and dear to our hearts with the ongoing drought,” Jackson said. “Rainwater harvesting is one step Georgians can take to ensure future generations will have enough water.”

For more information on ARCSA, visit www.ARCSA.org

Earth Talk: Car Rentals & Tissues

2009-03-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that most of the big car rental companies have gone “green” lately. What’s the story? -- Ari Zucker, New York, NY

No doubt, rental car companies large and small have responded to increased consumer demand for fuel efficiency in the last few years by stocking up on gasoline-electric hybrids and other vehicles with better mileage and lower emissions. But whether or not these companies will continue their commitment to fuel efficiency as gas prices fall and consumers begin to look again at bigger cars remains to be seen.

Hertz may have sparked the trend in 2006 when it launched its Green Collection, which includes thousands of fuel efficient cars such as the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Buick LaCrosse and Hyundai Sonata. These models, now available at 50 airport rental locations, average 31 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway, and most carry the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) SmartWay certification, indicating lower greenhouse gas and other emissions. In June 2007, Hertz bolstered its green offerings significantly by incorporating some 3,400 Toyota Prius hybrids into its American rental fleet.

Meanwhile, other companies are towing the line as well. Avis and its partner Budget offer 2,500 hybrids (Toyota’s Prius and Nissan’s Altima) for rent in the U.S. And Advantage Rent-a-Car, a smaller but up-and-coming player in the industry, has pledged to turn 100 percent of its rental fleet “green” by 2010.

Not to be outdone, Enterprise—the nation’s largest rental car company with a total fleet of 1.1 million rental vehicles—offers some 440,000 vehicles that get 28 mpg or better in highway driving. Some 5,000 of the total are hybrids (Toyota’s Camry and Prius and Ford’s Escape SUV), while another 73,000 can run on the ethanol-based biofuel or on regular gas. Customers of Enterprise (or one of its sister brands, Alamo or National) can also opt to pay an extra $1.25 per rental to offset their carbon emissions. (Funds go to Terra Pass, which funds clean energy projects.) And last year the company opened several new “green branches” where 60 percent of the vehicles for rent are hybrids or other fuel efficient models.

Of course, green car rentals do come with a premium. Renting a hybrid typically costs $5 to $15 more per day than an equivalent conventional car. In a recent comparison on overall costs (including gas expenses), SmarterTravel.com’s Sarah Pascarella figured that a two-day trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park was $55 cheaper in one of Hertz’s Hyundai Accent economy cars than in a hybrid Prius from their Green Collection. Comparisons with vehicles from Avis and others yielded similar results. “I found choosing an economy car over a hybrid was often the more economical choice,” she reports.

In order to encourage greener rentals despite the cost premium, San Francisco International Airport now offers travelers a $15 credit if they rent a hybrid from any of the companies operating there. Elsewhere, in-town rental locations usually offer better deals on hybrids, although customers should still expect to pay a premium for renting green no matter where they are—at least until both supply and demand for such vehicles rises, which will inevitably lead to price reductions.

Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching? -- Sylvia Comstock, Montpelier, VT

Not many. In fact, some of the biggest names in disposable paper products are the worst offenders. According to the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), forests at home and abroad are being destroyed to make toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels and other disposable paper products. Giant paper producers such as Kimberly-Clark (Scott, Cottonelle, Kleenex and Viva) and Procter & Gamble (Puffs, Charmin and Bounty) are, in the words of NRDC, “forcing the destruction of our continent's most vibrant forests, and devastating the habitat for countless wildlife species in the process.”

Much of the virgin pulp used by these large manufacturers comes from Canada’s boreal forest. Some 500,000 acres of boreal forest in Ontario and Alberta alone—key habitat for caribou, lynx, wolves and scores of birds—are felled each year to provide pulp for disposable paper. Beyond wildlife concerns, Canada’s boreal forest, which stretches from coast to coast, comprises perhaps the world’s largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon dioxide, so it is critical to keep it intact to help mitigate global warming.

Kimberly-Clark uses some 1.1 million cubic meters of trees from Canada’s boreal forests each year to produce 465,000 metric tons of pulp. Only 19 percent of the pulp it uses to make home use disposable paper products comes from recycled sources. Some of its brands, including Kleenex and Scott, contain no recycled content whatsoever. Nor do Procter and Gamble’s Bounty, Charmin or Puffs, says NRDC.

Another issue with tissue (and paper overall) is the use of chlorine for whitening. Chlorine used in many bleaching processes contributes to the formation of dioxins and furans, chemicals that end up in our air and water and can cause cancer. Safer processes use oxygen compounds and result in paper that is “totally chlorine free,” “process chlorine free” (chlorine free except for recycled fibers that were previously chlorine-bleached) or “elemental chlorine free,” which substitutes safer chlorine dioxide for chlorine.

NRDC and other groups are pressuring the tissue products industry to change its ways, and are working to educate consumers about their options when buying tissue paper products. NRDC’s online “Shopper’s Guide to Home Tissue Products” offers reams of free advice on which brands to look for—and which to avoid. Marcal is the only household name that NRDC rates high on paper sourcing (100 percent recycled and 40 to 60 percent post-consumer content) and chlorine use (process chlorine-free). Brands ranking highest (up to 80 percent post-consumer content and process-chlorine free) include 365 (the Whole Foods brand), Seventh Generation, Earth First, and Planet, among others. No brands are totally chlorine free.

In general, consumers should seek out brands that specifically tout use of 100 percent recycled materials with a high percentage (40 percent or more) of post-consumer waste, and not just keywords like “green” or “eco” on their labels, which may be misleading. Also, before you even purchase that next roll of disposable paper think about how you can reduce the amount you use in the first place. Paper tissues, towels and napkins, for example, have re-usable options in handkerchiefs and cotton towels and napkins.

Earth Hour This Weekend

2009-03-27T14:09:00.002-04:00

On March 28 at 8:30 p.m., local time, World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour -- Earth Hour -- to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate their commitment to finding solutions. Turn off the lights, unplug any appliances – mobile phone charger, TV, microwave, MP3 player, computer monitor,printer – that are not being used and are on standby. Appliances left on standby account for up to 10% of the average household’s electricity use. For more, visit www.earthhour.org.

Earth Talk: Volcanoes & Plastic

2009-03-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: Could it really be true that a single large volcanic eruption launches more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the amount generated by all of humanity over history? -- Steve Schlemmer, London, England

This argument that human-caused carbon emissions are merely a drop in the bucket compared to greenhouse gases generated by volcanoes has been making its way around the rumor mill for years. And while it may sound plausible, the science just doesn’t back it up.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the world’s volcanoes, both on land and undersea, generate about 200 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, while our automotive and industrial activities cause some 24 billion tons of CO2 emissions every year worldwide. Despite the arguments to the contrary, the facts speak for themselves: Greenhouse gas emissions from volcanoes comprise less than one percent of those generated by today’s human endeavors.

Another indication that human emissions dwarf those of volcanoes is the fact that atmospheric CO2 levels, as measured by sampling stations around the world set up by the federally funded Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, have gone up consistently year after year regardless of whether or not there have been major volcanic eruptions in specific years. “If it were true that individual volcanic eruptions dominated human emissions and were causing the rise in carbon dioxide concentrations, then these carbon dioxide records would be full of spikes—one for each eruption,” says Coby Beck, a journalist writing for online environmental news portal Grist.org. “Instead, such records show a smooth and regular trend.”

Furthermore, some scientists believe that spectacular volcanic eruptions, like that of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 and Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, actually lead to short-term global cooling, not warming, as sulfur dioxide (SO2), ash and other particles in the air and stratosphere reflect some solar energy instead of letting it into Earth’s atmosphere. SO2, which converts to sulfuric acid aerosol when it hits the stratosphere, can linger there for as long as seven years and can exercise a cooling effect long after a volcanic eruption has taken place.

Scientists tracking the effects of the major 1991 eruption of the Philippines’ Mt. Pinatubo found that the overall effect of the blast was to cool the surface of the Earth globally by some 0.5 degrees Celsius a year later, even though rising human greenhouse gas emissions and an El Nino event (a warm water current which periodically flows along the coast of Ecuador and Peru in South America) caused some surface warming during the 1991-1993 study period.

In an interesting twist on the issue, British researchers last year published an article in the peer reviewed scientific journal Nature showing how volcanic activity may be contributing to the melting of ice caps in Antarctica—but not because of any emissions, natural or man-made, per se. Instead, scientists Hugh Corr and David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey believe that volcanoes underneath Antarctica may be melting the continent’s ice sheets from below, just as warming air temperatures from human-induced emissions erode them from above.

Dear EarthTalk: It seems like more products are being packaged in #5 rather than #2 plastic today, and my local recycling agency won’t take #5. I’ve also heard that #5 plastics are more toxic, which concerns me more than the recyclability issue. Which plastic is the better choice? -- Janice Shaffer, Chillicothe, MO

Polypropylene, which is marked with #5 inside the “chasing arrows” symbols on the bottom of plastic containers, is a lighter-weight plastic resin commonly used in dairy and deli packaging. Some companies have chosen this lighter plastic because it has a lower environmental impact to produce and transport.

High density polyethylene (HDPE), which is marked with #2, is a stiffer resin used to package cleaning products and also some dairy products. The most widely used resin type for consumer food products is polyethylene terephthalate, or PETE, which is marked with #1 and used for soda and water bottles.

According to Consumers Union’s “Greener Choices” website, all three of these plastics are considered safe for their original use, though any of them can leak toxins when reused repeatedly. And all three can be recycled, though a lagging market leads some recycling locations to limit what they’ll accept. There is also concern that widespread plastics recycling encourages more use of plastics, and that efforts would be better spent getting consumers to buy fewer plastic-encased products. Some even criticize the chasing-arrow labeling system for implying a higher level of recyclability than is presently available.

Why is a lighter-weight plastic better? According to dairy company Stonyfield Farm, their #5 one-quart yogurt container uses 30 percent less plastic than a #2 cup. Since it takes less material to make a thinner container, it reduces the amount of resin that needs to be manufactured. Stonyfield estimates that the use of #5 over #2 prevents the manufacture and disposal of more than 100 tons of plastic per year.

But savings comes from more than manufacturing. The heavier #2 plastics require more energy to transport. It’s not only getting the yogurt from Stonyfield’s plants to your store, but also getting the containers from the plastics manufacturer to their dairies. In fact, the company cites a packaging study by the Boston-based Tellus Institute which found that 95 percent of the environmental costs of packaging lie in production and less than five percent are associated with disposal.

According to the website Earth 911.com, a national directory of recycling outlets, the best thing consumers can do is to choose items with less packaging and buy in bulk when possible. So the next time you reach into the dairy case, grab the quart or gallon-size yogurt instead of the single-serving cups. Then, make sure you recycle only the allowable plastics so you don’t contaminate the lot. While recycling is important, it may be okay to landfill a product’s packaging if it was created with an environmentally responsible plan.

Besides seeking alternatives to plastic packaging, consumers can affect overall plastic use by supporting legislation that would require manufacturers to take back their plastic packaging, which would encourage “cradle-to-grave” practices. Further, you can support legislation that mandates more use of recycled plastic content, which would reduce the overall amount of virgin plastic produced in the first place.

GSEA Welcomes New Members to Board

2009-03-20T06:00:00.007-04:00

The Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA), a non-profit that leads the statewide effort to promote solar energy through education, advocacy and industry support, recently announced its new Board of Directors for 2009. Individuals representing some of GSEA's member companies were recently elected by the membership to serve the organization. GSEA welcomes five new members and thanks its returning members.

New to the board are:
Chairman - Walter Brown, Senior Vice President of Development and Environmental Affairs, Green Street Properties
Vice Chair - James Marlow, CEO, Radiance Solar
Communications and Development Todd Patrick, Regional Director, Eco-$mart, Inc.
Director at Large - Charles Cone, Vice President of Marketing, Soenso Energy
Director at Large - Michelle Conlon, Manager, OneWorld Sustainable Energy, Inc.

Continuing their service to the board are:
Solar Tour - Vikram Sami (former chair), Senior Building Performance Analyst, Lord, Aeck & Sargent
Secretary -Ronald Cloud, CEO, Macon Automation Company
Treasurer - Laura Capps, Director of Residential Green Building Services, Southface
Director at Large - Kelly Provence, President, Solairgen, Inc.
Director at Large - Andy Cohen, EHS Professional II, Radiation Safety, Emory University
Director at Large - William Hosken, President, Solar Energy Marketing, Inc.

GSEA, a non-profit affiliated with the American Solar Energy Society, is supported by more than 140 members across the state (energy professionals and grassroots supporters) who are working together to help create a sustainable energy economy for Georgia.

For more information, visit www.gasolar.org

Casteel Launches CO Protection Program

2009-03-18T06:00:00.003-04:00

Marietta-based Casteel Heating and Cooling launches Casteel Carbon Monoxide Protection Program to educate consumers about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. The company is offering $1000 of free gas to one respondent of their Carbon Monoxide Survey during the month of March.

Following this month's release of the Consumer Report Survey stating that 48% of Americans do not have carbon monoxide detectors at home, Marietta-based Casteel Heating and Cooling launched the Casteel Carbon Monoxide Protection Program aimed at educating Atlanta residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. As a part of the new initiative, the 20 year old local company is releasing a survey that helps consumers determine whether or not they are at risk.

Participants in the 8 question survey, which ends March 31st, register to win a $1,000 gas card. The survey can be reached at www.casteelair.com

According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of fatal poisonings in North America and led to approximately 15,200 emergency room visits from 1999-2003. Although carbon monoxide detectors will be required in all new one & two-family homes built in Georgia after January 1, 2009, there are still many older homes where families are still at risk.

The company is encouraging Atlanta residents to take part in a short survey designed to help determine whether their families are suffering from poisoning due to a CO leak. Because carbon monoxide is particularly hard to detect due to the colorless, odorless nature of the gas, people often confuse symptoms of poisoning with those of the flu.

For further information about CO poisoning or to determine whether you are at risk, visit www.casteelair.com

City Announces Plan to Reduce Carbon Footprint

2009-03-17T10:20:00.003-04:00

Mayor Shirley Franklin released Atlanta city government’s first report on greenhouse gas emissions yesterday as the first step towards the goal of reducing emissions in the city seven percent by 2012. Also known as the “carbon footprint,” the figure was calculated with the help of a student-faculty team from the Georgia Institute of Technology and establishes a baseline to measure progress in Atlanta’s sustainability efforts.

“The City of Atlanta’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 came to 540 thousand metric tonnes, which is equivalent to the household energy use of 150,000 Atlanta residents or 98,000 passenger vehicles,” said Valerie Thomas, Anderson Interface Associate Professor at the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems at Georgia Tech and primary author of the report. “Having conducted an inventory and committed to reducing emissions makes the City of Atlanta a leader in the state and region and well ahead of federal action on climate change.”

“We know that the opportunities to reduce our emissions are great, particularly now with the federal administration’s focus on green job creation and green energy,” said Mayor Franklin. “With funding from the recently-passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Atlanta’s sustainability efforts will focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives which will create jobs, save money and protect our environment,” she said.

Determining Atlanta city government’s carbon footprint coincides with the release of the inaugural sustainability report for Atlanta. Produced by Sustainable Atlanta (a non-governmental partner to the city’s Office of Sustainability), the report compiles readily available data to create benchmarks for measuring Atlanta’s sustainability efforts, including the city’s carbon footprint. The report – available at www.sustainableatlanta.org – also provides best practices, context, proposed strategies and action in the areas of water; energy and climate change; parks and greenspace; and recycling and materials management.

“The Sustainability Report for Atlanta is both a map and milepost,” said Lynnette Young, executive director of Sustainable Atlanta. “It is a snapshot of Atlanta’s current status as it relates to sustainability and a context for future measurement and opportunity, determining what we can do together to help the city advance sustainable lifestyles for everyone.”
Launched in 2008 with support from the Kendeda Foundation, the Atlanta Office of Sustainability is working across city departments to “green” operations and at the same time, maximize efficiencies. Sustainable practices implemented at City Hall are already generating a 20 percent drop in electricity use, with a forecast of nearly $135,000 in annual operations cost savings.

With the municipal carbon footprint established, the next step will be to develop the Atlanta Climate Action Plan. "The Climate Action Plan will be our blueprint to guide all city departments so that current initiatives and near-term objectives are aligned with achieving the 2012 emissions reduction goal," said Mandy Schmitt, Atlanta’s Director of Sustainability. "This strategic effort to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions supports the ultimate goal of making Atlanta a community that lives within the self-perpetuating limits of its environment, while maintaining high standards for economic growth, environmental integrity, and social justice."
According to Schmitt, near-term goals for Atlanta city government to achieve by the end of 2009 include:

10 percent drop in energy use in general fund facilities through low/no-cost conservation measures yielding $300,000 to $500,000 in annual savings
Five percent drop in water use in general fund facilities
At least two renewable energy demonstration projects
Three percent drop in fossil fuels used by municipal fleet yielding $267,000 in annual savings
10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in general fund facilities

Atlanta’s greenhouse gas inventory was guided by a protocol developed by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. Atlanta is one of more than 1,057 cities, towns and counties worldwide that are members of ICLEI and that have made a commitment to sustainable development. Atlanta also hosts ICLEI’s Southeast Regional Office, and city staff shares office space with ICLEI representatives to maximize the organization’s resources in developing performance-based, results-oriented campaigns and programs.

For additional information regarding the City’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.atlantaga.gov/mayor/sustainability.aspx, and to learn more about Sustainable Atlanta, go to www.sustainableatlanta.org.

Keep Atlanta Beautiful Needs Your Contest Entries

2009-03-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Keep Atlanta Beautiful is now calling for entries for the Stepping Lightly in Atlanta Awards Contest, an environmental stewardship-based contest for individuals and groups aged 5-18 in metro Atlanta. The contest gives students an opportunity to be advocates for a sustainable environment. The grand prize winner will receive a $1000 scholarship from Keep Atlanta Beautiful to fund an environmental project in their school or affiliated organization.

Children and young adults are invited to submit entries for model projects that demonstrate how they have reduced their ecological footprint in their home, class, school or community. They can choose from a variety of environmental issues to concentrate on such as water conservation, waste reduction, energy and transportation. The deadline for applications is April 3, 2009.

Complete guidelines and examples of past projects can be found at www.KeepAtlantaBeautiful.org

Greening Your Facilities Conference

2009-03-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) and SoutheastGreen.com announced today that they will be hosting a Greening Your Facilities conference on March 20, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at First Baptist Church, 308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, Ga., 30030. Doors will open at 9 a.m.

The conference is an opportunity for any and all congregational leadership to learn ways to make their facilities more energy efficient and sustainable. This is a non-denominational event; all faith practices are welcome. Lunch will be served, and the event costs $15 per person.

Speakers and topics include: Defining your baseline-What is your congregation's carbon footprint, Safe playgrounds and Alternative Energy Options, Energy Savings and Cooperative Energy Initiatives, and Missions with a Green and Sustainable Message. There will also be a presentation on a Solar Panel Case Study by Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
Atlanta, the first faith community to install solar panels in the Southeast.

"This is not only an exciting opportunity for congregations to take the next step in energy conservation and living green, but to save money. We are thrilled to present the list of speakers and topics, they epitomize the values of GIPL," said Woody Bartlett, founder and Chair of the GIPL Steering Committee. "This conference should inspire some real change throughout the
faith communities of Georgia," she continued.

Registration for this event can be made at www.gipl.org.

Brown Middle School Teams Up With Trees Atlanta

2009-03-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

Trees Atlanta announced today a pilot environmental education partnership with the Atlanta Audubon Society and Atlanta Public Schools’ Brown Middle School, a City of Atlanta school located in the West End Community of Atlanta adjacent to the future Atlanta BeltLine. The partnership will focus on planting and caring for bird and wildlife-friendly trees and agro-forestry, the sustainable practice of growing food in a forest setting, within the setting of the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum, a proposed “outdoor living tree museum” around the Atlanta BeltLine. Additional partners include West End neighbors, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, and others. The project is supported by one of 41 national innovation grants provided by TogetherGreen, a group that funds and promotes conservation leadership training and volunteer programs designed to equip and engage diverse groups and individuals to take action today to shape a healthier tomorrow (www.togethergreen.org).

Trees Atlanta and Atlanta Audubon staff and volunteers will kick-off the project with a student-only tree planting on Thursday, March 12^th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Throughout the day, students will help install 1,000 trees and shrubs around the Brown Middle School Wildlife Triangle located at 765 Peeples Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30310. Before planting, the young people will receive interactive, hands-on training highlighting proper installation and benefits of native trees and plants, how to select and grow edible trees and shrubs, and creating a tangible community legacy. Students will also tour the Atlanta BeltLine West End Trail and learn about the community and human health benefits of trees by studying the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum’s unique collections adjacent to the school.

On the Saturday following the school project, March 14^th at 9:00 a.m., Trees Atlanta invites the community to get involved. Interested citizens are invited to RSVP by calling 404-681-4901. Volunteers will mulch and water the newly planted trees and plant any trees remaining from the students’ planting day.

Trees Atlanta hopes to replicate the program at other schools along the Atlanta BeltLine and throughout the City of Atlanta. Astrove concluded, “I hope students bring their grandchildren back to the school someday and say, ‘Look, I planted that tree.'"

Earth Talk: Green Drinks & Global Warming

2009-03-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

Dear EarthTalk: A friend of mine in Connecticut raves about the “Green Drinks” events she attends there every month to meet up with other eco-interested locals. How can I find out if there are any such gatherings in my area? -- Janet McIntosh, Dubuque, Iowa

Every month green-minded people in 460-plus cities around the world meet up at informal social gatherings called Green Drinks. Started in 1989 in London by Edwin Datschefski and friends, the concept has spread like wildfire, with some 350 different Green Drinks chapters worldwide today. The events are designed to be low-key, unstructured and welcoming of all viewpoints on environmental topics. Many participants have found jobs, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity and inspiration at various Green Drinks events.

In the U.S. alone, different Green Drinks events are held in 223 cities every month. The New York City chapter is the biggest in the world, with an invite list topping 10,000 people and typical attendance in the hundreds. Green Drinks events are also popular in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Chile, Puerto Rico and Australia. Melbourne, Australia currently holds the record for the world’s biggest Green Drinks event, with more than 1,700 participants showing up on the first night of the city’s February 2007 Sustainable Living Festival.

“People from different fields come together with a mutual interest in environmental issues and cross-pollinate and drink in a very low-key social atmosphere,” says Margaret Lydecker, who started New York City’s Green Drinks chapter in 2002 and currently serves as the U.S. point-person for the events. Lydecker—who has personally helped start upwards of 100 different chapters, including one in Kabul, Afghanistan—says the events have been a big catalyst for connectivity, community, collaboration and change in the environmental sector in New York and beyond.

In the U.S. and Canada, most mid-sized and large cities already have thriving Green Drinks chapters. You can likely find one somewhere near you, wherever you live, by searching under the “Find City” link on the GreenDrinks.org website, and clicking through until you get a schedule of upcoming events in your particular city. If there isn’t yet a Green Drinks chapter in your region, by all means start a new one.

Heather Burns-DeMelo, who had started a local/green happenings website for Connecticut called CTgreenscene.com, was inspired by Lydecker in 2007 to start a Green Drinks chapter where she lives in Connecticut’s Fairfield County so that green-minded people in the area could connect in person. “The web is great,” she says, “but face-to-face is key to growing the movement.”

According to Burns-DeMelo, setting up the chapter was easy—she just emailed Green Drinks founder Datschefski from the greendrinks.org website with a request to start a new chapter—but getting people to come to the initial events was more challenging. She and friends set up sign-up tables at local community events, found a restaurant willing to host, sent a press release to local papers, hung fliers and posted notices on her website and others. The hard work paid off: 65 people showed up at the first event on a gloomy Wednesday night, and the chapter has been growing by leaps and bounds ever since.

Dear EarthTalk: Which parts of the United States are or will be hardest hit by global warming? -- Aliza Perry, Burlington, VT

It’s difficult to predict which areas of the U.S. will suffer the most from global warming, but it’s safe to say that no regions will be unaffected. Scientists already point to increased severity of hurricanes on the East Coast, major Midwest floods, and shrinking glaciers in the West as proof of global warming’s onset.

Of course, America couldn’t have asked for a better poster child in the fight to stave off global warming than Alaska, which is undergoing dramatic landscape changes as a result of warming-induced temperature increases, glacial melting and sea level rise. Even Alaska’s conservative elected officials can no longer deny that human-induced warming is affecting their state. The picture isn’t looking too rosy in the western continental U.S. either, which is already facing some of the country’ largest temperature increases. The signature glaciers in Montana’s Glacier National Park may be all gone within just two decades.

A recent report by two leading nonprofits, the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council, details how the 11 U.S. western states together have experienced an increase in average temperature during the last five years some 70 percent greater than the global average rise. The hottest part of the region has been drought-stricken Arizona, where average temperatures have risen some 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit—120 percent greater than the global rise—between 2003 and 2007. Researchers also found that the West has experienced more frequent and severe heat waves, with the number of extremely hot days increasing by up to four days per decade since 1950.

In the Midwest, seemingly minor increases in temperature have already wrought major effects. In 2006 Lake Erie didn’t freeze for the first time in history, which led to “lake effect” snowfalls as more evaporating water was available for precipitation. Likewise, changes in the lake’s water temperature have begun to alter fish populations, which in turn affect birds and their migratory patterns. Despite localized heavier snowfalls, though, the region is generally suffering from a drying trend. Farmers worry that the result will be lower crop yields and thus more expensive food for American consumers.

On the east coast, coral reef bleaching, heat waves and increased hurricane intensity are just some of the warming-related hazards Floridians have had to deal with in recent years. Washington, DC’s famous cherry trees are now blossoming earlier due to temperature increases. Further north, milder-than-typical winter temperatures have been linked to subtle changes in ocean currents. In New York City, the average temperature has increased about four degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, and could get 10 degrees hotter by 2100, according to a study commissioned by the federally funded U.S. Global Change Research Program.

But the bigger problem for New York City, as well as other low-lying areas around the nation’s coasts, will be sea level rise: Climate models predict that sea level around the Northeast is expected to rise between ¾ inch and 3 ½ feet over the course of this century.

Earth Day Kids Fest, April 18

2009-03-12T10:49:00.003-04:00

Attendees will also enjoy live musical performances from Laughing Pizza and Lil Peppi. The Think Swiss Climate Trail Exhibition will explain the causes and solutions to global warming. Live animal presentations will bring the outdoors up close and personal. Guests can even paddle a canoe on the CNC Beaver Pond. Numerous other groups and environmental organizations will have booths to help everyone explore eco-themes and create special arts and crafts.

Additionally, Freshens will provide refreshing smoothies for all kids. The price of admission is $5 per person and children under 2 are free. However, guests who ride their bikes from home will get in free! There will also be free shuttle bus service from St. Francis School near the corner of Willeo/Azalea and Highway 120.

For more information on this annual family event visit www.captainplanetfdn.org or www.chattnaturecenter.org for more details.

GSEA Names New Members

2009-03-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA), a non-profit that leads the statewide effort to promote solar energy through education, advocacy and industry support, announced today its new Board of Directors for 2009. Individuals representing some of GSEA’s member companies were recently elected by the membership to serve the organization. GSEA welcomes five new members and thanks its returning members.

New to the board are:

Chairman - Walter Brown, Senior Vice President of Development and Environmental     Affairs, Green Street Properties
Vice Chair - James Marlow, CEO, Radiance Solar
Communications and Development - Todd Patrick, Regional Director, Eco-$mart, Inc.
Director at Large - Charles Cone, Vice President of Marketing, Soenso Energy
Director at Large - Michelle Conlon, Manager, OneWorld Sustainable Energy, Inc.

Continuing their service to the board are:
Solar Tour - Vikram Sami (former chair), Senior Building Performance Analyst, Lord, Aeck & Sargent

Secretary - Ronald Cloud, CEO, Macon Automation Company
Treasurer - Laura Capps, Director of Residential Green Building Services, Southface
Director at Large - Kelly Provence, President, Solairgen, Inc.
Director at Large - Andy Cohen, EHS Professional II, Radiation Safety, Emory University
Director at Large - William Hosken, President, Solar Energy Marketing, Inc.

The Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA) leads the statewide effort to promote the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy through education, advocacy and industry support. GSEA, a non-profit affiliated with the American Solar Energy Society, is supported by more than 140 members across the state (energy professionals and grassroots supporters) who are working together to help create a sustainable energy economy for Georgia. For more information, visit www.gasolar.org.

WicksteadWorks 2009 Renovator of the Year

2009-03-05T06:00:00.008-05:00

Southface and The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA) named WicksteadWorks as the 2009 Renovator of the Year. The Renovator of the Year award distinguishes an EarthCraft House renovator that has gone above and beyond the established measures to decrease energy consumption in an existing home. The annual EarthCraft House Awards honors the leading builders, developers, renovators and manufacturers dedicated to protecting the environment through sustainable design and construction of homes, communities and products. WicksteadWorks is an Atlanta remodeler that builds to a minimum standard of EarthCraft certification on all projects.

EarthCraft House is a voluntary, green building third-party validation program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment.

A team of EarthCraft House judges selected the nominees and winners for the EarthCraft House awards. The winners were honored at the annual awards ceremony earlier this month.

Since EarthCraft's inception in 1999, more 450 builders have become builder members, and more than 7,150 homes in the Southeast region have been certified to EarthCraft House standards.

As an experienced remodeling company, WicksteadWorks is able to provide solutions for all types of problems. For example, one renovation project of WicksteadWorks was for a family with two asthmatic children. After the project was completed, the children's asthma symptoms were completely gone due to WicksteadWorks' renovations of the crawl space and HVAC system. Once the renovations were complete, the house became EarthCraft certified.

For more information, visit EarthCraft House at www.earthcrafthouse.org. or www.wicksteadworks.com

Van Bekkum Leads Agnes Scott Sustainability Efforts

2009-03-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

After earning her bachelor's degree in psychology at Agnes Scott College, 2008 graduate Lies Van Bekkum returned to campus almost immediately as the college's first sustainability fellow.

Van Bekkum's recent college experience on campus at Agnes Scott is key to her new role in helping to build a "green" culture among the college's community of about 900 students. She is also supporting the effort to design and launch educational programs to foster personal and community sustainability at Agnes Scott.

Van Bekkum's role as Agnes Scott's sustainability fellow is shared with the city of Decatur where she works closely with the city's new Environmental Sustainability Board which held its orientation meeting in late January.

This partnership, according to college administrators, is just another example of how the college and city work well together. And is one of the reasons The Princeton Review consistently cites Agnes Scott and Decatur with having "a great town/gown relationship."

Agnes Scott Director of Sustainability Susan Kidd sees Van Bekkum's role as essential to the college meeting its goals for sustainability.

Van Bekkum was born and reared in the Netherlands, home of multiple man-made answers to environmental challenges. Fifty-five percent of the Netherlands sits below sea level while the same area is home to more than 60 percent of its people. In addition, that low-lying part generates 65 percent of the country's gross national product. Van Bekkum's formative years helped her understand the need to change how the college impacts its environment.

In Sept. 2007, Agnes Scott President Elizabeth Kiss became a signatory to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, and college leaders have committed themselves to making Agnes Scott more sustainable. In September 2008, Agnes Scott met its first deadline by reporting its greenhouse gas emissions, creating an important benchmark. By September 2009, the college must have developed and initiated a climate action plan.

"At the end of the day the most rewarding part of sustainability work on a college campus is the work with students," Kidd said. "It is incredible to see the Agnes Scott students using their intelligence and energy to help make this change happen."

Atlanta Hosts the 2009 KBIS

2009-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

With Atlanta ranked as one of the greenest cities in the country, it is no wonder the city was selected to host the 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS). K/BIS will take place from April 30 to May 3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

KBIS, which hosts the largest collection of kitchen and bath products, courses and conference sessions, promises to offer the latest in product advancements, trends and insights to help attendees meet the needs of the marketplace.

The 2009 K+BB Market Forecaster also indicated that by region, spending in the South could increase by 3% for kitchen remodels and 9% for baths.

NKBA Center Stage offers presentations on a wide variety of topics for all kitchen and bath professionals and they qualify for NKBA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) credit. Some of the green presentations include:

Friday, May 1, 4:00pm -- Alluring Energy Efficient Lighting
Saturday, May 2, 11:30am -- Sustainable Competitive Design
Saturday, May 2, 2:30pm -- How Green is That Product?

Show highlights also include:
· Hundreds of world-leading manufacturers showcasing their kitchen and bath products
· The Best of K/BIS Competition Sponsored by Kitchen and Bath Business. Cutting edge product advancements introduced into the marketplace over the past year.
· NKBA Design Competition Luncheon recognizes those designers who created the best kitchens and baths of the year, awarding more than $100,000 in cash prizes.
· The NKBA Conference Program offers a chance to meet and create new
relationships with industry professionals
· Specialty Pavilions Outdoor Grilling Pavilion (New), Decorative Hardware (New), Natural Stone and Tile and Cabinet - enabling attendees to source more effectively
· Celebrity Presentations
. Extreme Makeover Home Edition carpenter Paul DiMeo, This Old House's plumbing expert Richard Trethewey, designer Carol Freehauf, John Gidding of HGTV's Designed to Sell, and Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp
. Former The Young and the Restless star Steve Ford, and Terry Savage, one of the country's top economists
. Keynote speaker, former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee.

Online registration is now available at www.kbis.com

GFA Awards Ecco Green Foodservice Certification

2009-02-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA) has just announced that Ecco, of Fifth Group Restaurants, in Midtown Atlanta, as the first restaurant in the state of Georgia to receive the Green Foodservice Certification. As a result, Ecco and GFA are leading the way for greening the restaurant industry nationwide, uniting several foodservice organizations in the fight to incorporate environmental conservation practices into the daily operations of dining establishments. Fifth Group Restaurants Partner Steve Simon helped to develop this program and now sits on the Green Foodservice Alliance Executive Committee. Simon strategized on the functionality of the certification requirements, providing input about what would be operationally reasonable and what would be discouraging for restaurateurs.

The Green Foodservice Certification program is brand new and will evolve to become more stringent each year for the next few years. While there are many more things that Ecco and other restaurants can do to be greener and more environmentally conscious, this is the beginning of an effort to drive the hospitality industry in Atlanta and the state of Georgia to greener practices.

The 2009 certification requires that the restaurant adhere to the following practices:

· Recycle common recyclable goods such as aluminum, cardboard, plastic, glass and paper. The restaurant must report tonnage of recycled products hauled into recycling company on a monthly basis to the GRA.
· Spent grease must be used for the local production of biofuel.
· A written plan must be provided for donation of non-sellable but edible food to a local food bank, other charitable organization or some consumable source.
· A written plan must be provided for energy conservation (gas, electricity, water).

While these practices haven't been a focal point in the past from an operational standpoint, Ecco was able to divert 65% of its waste immediately and reached 75% with more focus. Simon found the kitchen and dish room to be the most challenging areas of the restaurant due to lack of extra space, while the bar area proved to be more conducive to recycling. As for energy conservation, Ecco's energy consumption is monitored on a monthly basis, and the results are used to put operational procedures into effect in order for the restaurant to use less energy.

Ecco has been adhering to these practices and the other certification stipulations for six months now, and Fifth Group is currently in the process of rolling out recycling procedures at the company's catering arm, Bold American, and all of their other establishments including South City Kitchen.

Winners of EarthCraft's Builder Awards Announced

2009-02-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

EarthCraft held its annual Builder Awards Ceremony on February 19th at Whirlpool's Insperience Studio. EarthCraft is a high-value, hands-on solution for quality building professionals seeking a sustainable certification of high-performance projects.

Created in 1999, the EarthCraft program is a joint venture between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and South Face Energy Institute. There are more than 450 builder members in the Southeast that build to EarthCraft standards. It was one of the first certified green-building programs in the United States. EarthCraft is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009 and there will be events throughout the year to recognize this milestone for the program.

At the turn of the year there have been 5,205 single family homes certified and 2,031 multifamily units certified. EarthCraft now covers the southeastern United States with builders in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The awards ceremony recognized the 2008 top EarthCraft builders in categories for single family, regional single family, single family renovator, multifamily builder, multifamily developer and multifamily project of the year. The awards recognize builders and developers that have actively embraced sustainable building standards and pursue best-practices to achieve quality certified projects.

Winners included:
Single Family: BrockBuilt Homes
Regional Single Family: Centex Homes
Single Family Renovator: Wicksteadworks
Multifamily Builder: Fortune-Johnson Construction
Multifamily Developer: Gables Residential
Multifamily Project of the Year: eon at Lindbergh
Light Commercial Pilot Project of the Year: Blalock Lakes Gun Club
Renovation Project Award Winner: John Wesley Hammer
Sponsor of the Year: Icynene

Names of Outstanding Project Managers of the Year: Jason Taylor with BrockBuilt Homes, Mike Shina with Windsong Properties, David Barnes with Pine Mountain Builders and John Sias with CCM Homes.

www.earthcrafthouse.com

Little Creek Farms Announces 2009 Manure Day

2009-02-22T06:00:00.003-05:00

Little Creek Farm announces Manure Day. They are gearing up for: "another day that is full of it...fun and great composted manure".

For those of you who garden, you know the value of composed manure. Little Creek Farm's Manure Day "features" composted horse manure on March 21st from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Bag your own for only $5.00; bring heavy-duty plastic bags and shovels. There will be some pre-prepared bags available as well. The cost is $25.00 for a normal-sized pickup truck load. Proceeds support the biological fly-control program.

Little Creek Farm is located at 2075 Lawrenceville Hwy. (Across from the Quick Trip off Orion Drive) Decatur, GA

For more information, visit www.littlecreekfarmconservancy.org

Atlanta Proud to Participate in Earth Hour 2009

2009-02-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced today the City of Atlanta has agreed to "turn out" once again as an official Flagship City for Earth Hour 2009. On Saturday, March 28, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, individuals, businesses and local government officials throughout Atlanta are encouraged to take part in this historic evening by turning off non-essential lights for one hour in support for a call to action on climate change in the U.S. and around the world.

Hundreds of major landmark buildings in Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead are anticipated to go dark in honor of the event, as well as many of the neighborhoods throughout the city. This is the second year Atlanta will be an official Flagship City, with event organizers hoping to build on last year's successful participation, which saw more than 400 buildings, and an estimated 97% of the city's skyline go dark for one hour. In addition, the event generated significant national media attention for the city, with features highlighting Atlanta's involvement on ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS and National Public Radio.

From Amman to Warsaw, Atlanta will join the skylines of more than 400 cities in 74 countries in what will be the largest climate awareness event in history. Around the world, the list of participating cities includes Auckland, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto, with more expected to sign on in the weeks ahead. In the U.S., Atlanta will be joined by other Flagship and Key Supporting cities including: Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, and San Francisco.

Leading up to the event on Saturday, March 28, WWF is working with a large cross-section of public and private entities to coordinate their participation in the initiative. To help it plan and promote the event in Atlanta, WWF has partnered with Creaxion®, one of Atlanta's leading marketing firms. Mayor Franklin, Dr. Darron Collins, WWF's Regional Managing Director and Creaxion's President and CEO, Mark Pettit, have been named as co-chairs of Earth Hour Atlanta 2009.

While there are no specific energy reduction targets for this year's initiative in participating U.S. cities, Georgia Power will measure the drop in electricity use during the event, and will provide additional logistical support and assistance. Following last year's event, Georgia Power reported that its customers in Atlanta decreased their electricity usage by nearly 4 percent during Earth Hour, despite an evening rainstorm. The average reduction during the hour was 7.05 megawatt-hours, or enough electricity to serve 1,750 homes.

WWF stresses the importance of celebrating Earth Hour in a safe and secure environment and is asking people to turn off only non-essential lights for one hour. All lights impacting public safety will remain on, including street lights, and lights in public spaces, hospitals or emergency services remaining on for the duration of the event.

Areas throughout Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead and Perimeter will offer stunning views of Atlanta's picturesque skyline as lights go out. For more information about Earth Hour and ways to get involved can be found at www.EarthHourUS.org

Dogwood Saplings @ Whole Foods on Ponce

2009-02-19T16:39:00.004-05:00

The Whole Foods on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown will give away free dogwood saplings on Friday, February 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while supplies last to honor Arbor Day. The saplings are made available by Trees Atlanta.

EarthTalk: Rising Seas & Older cars

2009-02-18T10:38:00.001-05:00

Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of rising seas, what could happen to the rivers that flow into the oceans? Will they reverse flow? Will rising seas back up into fresh water lakes? And what happens to our groundwater should saltwater flow backwards into it? -- Sandy Smith, concerned Michigander

The intrusion of saltwater from the sea into rivers and groundwater is a serious issue, but the threat is not from a reversal of flow, and our far inland lakes and rivers are not expected to be directly affected by the salty water of our oceans. However, the sensitive areas around the edges of our continents, where fresh water meets salt water, are at risk, and greater efforts must be taken to protect them. Some 40 percent of world population lives less than 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the shoreline.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global average sea levels should rise eight to 34 inches by the year 2100, a much faster pace than the four to 10 inch increase of the past century. Seas rise because of higher global temperatures, melting mountain glaciers and polar ice caps, and other factors. Higher temperatures also cause thermal expansion of ocean water, intensifying the problem.

Rising sea levels cause major problems as they erode and flood coastlines and, yes, as they mix salt water with fresh. A November 2007 article in ScienceDaily posited that coastal communities could face significant losses in fresh water supplies as saltwater intrudes inland. And whereas it had been previously assumed that salty water could only intrude underground as far as it did above ground, new studies show that in some cases salt water can go 50 percent further inland underground than it does above ground.

Salty water invading groundwater can reach not only residential water supplies but intakes for agricultural irrigation and industrial uses, as well. Economic effects include loss of coastal fisheries and other industries, coastal protection costs, and the loss of once-valuable coastal property as people move inland.

Estuaries at the mouths of rivers have in the past handled rising ocean levels. Sediment that accumulates along the edge of an estuary can raise the level of the land as the sea levels rise. And mangrove swamps, which buffer many a coastal zone around the world, flourish in brackish conditions. But because of our preference for living in coastal areas, and our habit of re-engineering our surroundings accordingly, humans make matters worse by preventing natural processes from managing the change. On the coast, we build roads and buildings, and replace natural buffers like mangrove swamps with dikes and bulkheads to control flooding, which make the problem worse by preventing beach sediment from collecting. And as we dam rivers and create reservoirs, we trap the sediment that would naturally flow down to the sea.

In some places, changes are happening. Governments are beginning to restrict or prohibit building in setback zones along the coast where risk of erosion is the greatest. A newer policy of “rolling easements” is also being tried, where developers are allowed to build in restricted zones but will be required to remove the structures if and when they become threatened by erosion. The IPCC recommends more drastic actions, such as creating more marshes and wetlands as buffers against the rising level of the sea, and migrating populations and industry away from coastlines altogether.

Dear EarthTalk: Is it better to drive an older, well-maintained car that gets about 25 miles per gallon, or to buy a new car that gets about 35 miles per gallon? -- Edward Peabody, via e-mail

It definitely makes more sense from a green perspective to keep your old car running and well-maintained as long as you can—especially if it’s getting such good mileage. There are significant environmental costs to both manufacturing a new automobile and adding your old car to the ever-growing collective junk heap.

A 2004 analysis by Toyota found that as much as 28 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions generated during the lifecycle of a typical gasoline-powered car can occur during its manufacture and its transportation to the dealer; the remaining emissions occur during driving once its new owner takes possession. An earlier study by Seikei University in Japan put the pre-purchase number at 12 percent.

Regardless of which conclusion is closer to the truth, your current car has already passed its manufacture and transport stage, so going forward the relevant comparison has only to do with its remaining footprint against that of a new car’s manufacture/transport and driver’s footprint—not to mention the environmental impact of either disposing of your old car or selling it to a new owner who will continue to drive it. There are environmental impacts, too, even if your old car is junked, dismantled and sold for parts.

And don’t forget that the new hybrids—despite lower emissions and better gas mileage—actually have a much larger environmental impact in their manufacture, compared to non-hybrids. The batteries that store energy for the drive train are no friend to the environment—and having two engines under one hood increases manufacturing emissions. And all-electric vehicles are only emission-free if the outlet providing the juice is connected to a renewable energy source, not a coal-burning power plant, as is more likely.

If you want to assess your current car’s fuel efficiency or emissions, there are many services available online. The government website FuelEconomy.gov provides fuel efficiency stats for hundreds of different vehicles dating back to 1985. Websites TrackYourGasMileage.com and MPGTune.com can help you track your mileage and provide ongoing tips to improve fuel efficiency for your specific make and model vehicle. MyMileMarker.com takes it a step further, making projections about annual mileage, fuel costs and fuel efficiency based on your driving habits. If you have an iPhone, you can keep track of your car’s carbon footprint with the new “Greenmeter App” from Hunter Research and Technologies. The program uses numerous variables to make its calculations on-the-go as you drive, including weather conditions, cost of fuel, vehicle weight, and more.

If you simply must change your vehicle, be it for fuel efficiency or any other reason, one option is to simply buy a used car that gets better gas mileage than your existing one. There’s much to be said, from many environmental vantage points, about postponing replacement purchases—of anything, not just cars—to keep what’s already made out of the waste stream and to delay the additional environmental costs of making something new.

Glenwood Park Community Garden

2009-02-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Glenwood Garden is next to the dog park, nestled against the 1-20 retaining wall. Although you won't see too many things growing right now, you can see the plots.

A few garden plots are still available on a first-come, first-served basis. You do have to be a resident of Glenwood Park in order to be assigned a garden plot. The garden is maintained as an organic garden and the Garden Committee (everyone who has a garden is automatically a voting member of the committee) is preparing for their annual meeting to be held in February. This is a great time to reserve a plot for a garden. In Atlanta we have a longer-than-average growing season, so you can practically garden year round.

Please come out and join us. If you're new to gardening, there are plenty of people willing to offer help and advice. If you would like a plot, email cjhbaird@yahoo.com. If you have any questions or need more information you can call (404) 622-4180.

Oglethorpe Helps Plant Brookhaven Community Garden

2009-02-16T10:23:00.002-05:00

What better way to plant the seeds of prosperity and nurture the Brookhaven community than with a Community Garden?

On Monday, Feb. 16, Oglethorpe University will partner with representatives throughout the Brookhaven community including (but not limited to) St. Martin’s Episcopal School, Brookhaven Christian Church and Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church to plant a community garden whose mission is two-fold:

To develop a vegetable garden for the production of locally-grown, locally-shared, healthy produce.

To build a sense of community and promote ecological education by sharing the work and harvest of collectively-grown food in a Community Garden.

Oglethorpe University donated the land for the Brookhaven Community Garden, which will be located behind the university’s Emerson Student Center. Volunteers will build six raised beds using timbers and additional materials donated by Davis Landscape, a local landscape company. With the help and planning of DeKalb County Horticulture Manager Gary Peiffer and UGA Cooperative Extension County Agent Bobby Wilson, the beds will grow various vegetables, and will include a garden for herbs.

Garden planting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 16. An interfaith blessing of the Garden will be held Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. Community members are invited to participate or attend at no cost. Funds for the Community Garden have been provided through grants and donations, courtesy of Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church and Oglethorpe University’s Center for Civic Engagement.

The Mission of the Garden

It is the sincere hope of all involved that the food grown in the garden go to nourish the community from which it came. Proposals include using the food to feed students attending area schools, as well as supplying fresh greens for local food banks.

In addition to providing nourishment for the body, planners hope the Garden will also provide the opportunity to nourish the mind. Plans are underway to facilitate learning opportunities for students at PATH Academy, St. Martin’s Episcopal School and students involved in Oglethorpe University’s Urban Ecology program.

Peiffer and Wilson will provide tools and knowledge for the building day, and will offer classes at Oglethorpe University and area churches on topics ranging from building rain barrels to planning a community garden.

Middle School Students Inspire Environmental Change

2009-02-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

There was a great stir in the Oak Grove area as a group of middle school students from Arbor Montessori School moved about the local businesses asking if they wanted to participate in the Glow Challenge.

The Glow Challenge is a competition between companies in the Oak Grove area to see who can reduce their electricity bill from mid-January to mid-February by the highest percentage. The winner will receive a certificate of recognition for being the greenest company in the Oak Grove
area. So far, the students have convinced The Beehive Hair Company, Hair Flair and Limetree to participate.

The students were inspired to act against global warming after a school field trip to a local coal-fired power plant where they saw the amount of toxins released into the air. They hope that their actions could be an inspiration to other children who want to make a difference.

This attempt to reduce the amount of energy used in the Oak Grove area is appealing to many companies not only because its beneficial to the environment, but because the companies save money on their energy bills and the winner gets the acknowledgment of being the greenest company in Oak Grove, thereby increasing customer attention. The award ceremony will be held on March 11th at 7:00pm at Arbor Montessori School, and will be open to the public and the press.

Greenprints Conference and Tradeshow

2009-02-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

Take Advantage of a Friends of Southface Registration Discount Now through February 15. $50 will be automatically deducted from full conference registrations for individuals and government/nonprofit registrants. The full conference cost after discount will be $425.

The Greenprints Conference and Tradeshow is the leading southeastern green building symposium. The curriculum is set and we invite you to be there to take advantage of a terrific line up of speakers sharing their expertise on trends, strategies and the latest environmental technologies in a stimulating and interdisciplinary environment. Register now (and through February 15th) to take advantage of the friends of Southface discount. We are excited to include a conference within a conference in partnership with ULI Atlanta this year. This joint conference includes sessions focused on delivery of green developments in the real world. These sessions intend to show all aspects of green development delivery including pro forma analysis, cost and financing of green building as well as tax credits for sustainable technology.

This registration discount ends after February 15th - so plan now to attend the region's most acclaimed event of its kind and join Southface, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, ULI, Ed Mazria and all our presenters for the 2009 Greenprints Conference, March 25th and 26th at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Go Green with Good Earth Coffee

2009-02-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Americans are going green in many ways, but when it comes to coffee, they’re still in the dark. According to a new, independent survey by Kelton Research commissioned by Good Earth Coffee, 67% of consumers who frequent coffee shops admit to discarding their used paper cups into a regular trash can -- and not into a recycling bin. That’s 28 billion cups (100 million pounds of paper) every year that end up in landfills.

Despite all the wasted paper cups, the “Brew for the Better” study revealed that many coffee drinkers do have environmental concerns when it comes to their favorite drink. More than 40% of coffee drinkers report they are paying more attention to the way their coffee is grown and harvested than they did five years ago. In addition, the National Coffee Association says that 51% of coffee consumers are aware of the Organic certification for coffee. What's more, up to 30% would even pay extra for organic coffee or coffee that came in an eco-friendly container.

Americans are also seeking meaningful ways to save money in a tough economy, and looking at what they’re spending for coffee is no exception. The high price of a coffee shop beverage is an issue for many Americans. In fact, over four in ten Americans who have left a coffee shop without making a purchase did so because the coffee was too expensive.

That’s why home-brewed coffee is such a powerful alternative. Cutting out just one of those typical 'tall' lattes each day and replacing it with a premium coffee you brew yourself will save you about $1,000 a year.

The surprising results of the “Brew for the Better” study have become the foundation for Good Earth Coffee’s, Brew at Home Pledge campaign. In conjunction with their national launch, Good Earth Coffee is encouraging coffee drinkers to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle and brew their coffee at home.

To help inspire coffee drinkers to make this change, Good Earth Coffee will donate $1.00 for each online pledge they receive to The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit environmental organization. Consumers can go to www.goodearthcoffee.com to make their pledge. Good Earth Coffee hopes to quickly reach its donation goal of $20,000 to help The Trust for Public Land to conserve landscapes, parks, gardens, and natural areas for Americans to enjoy.

Launching nationwide to retail stores in September, Good Earth Coffee is a great tasting premium coffee. Crafted from 100% specialty grade Arabica coffee beans, Good Earth Coffee is USDA certified organic, which means the coffee is untouched by any chemical pesticides or herbicides and is harvested in a way that is less taxing on the land. Nearly 20% of Good Earth’s award-winning packaging comes from a renewable source, making it among the greenest packaging in the coffee aisle. You can find Good Earth Coffee at your local BI-LO, Ingles, Publix and Winn-Dixie.

Twist n' Scoot Offers New Bikes

2009-02-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Twist n' Scoot announced the arrival of two new cutting-edge electric bikes (Light Electric Vehicles) from Ultra Motor. Providing smart, new transportation options, the bikes are high-style, fuel-saving and planet-friendly with zero emissions. Using clean mobility technologies, the two Ultra Motor bikes, the A2B and the Europa offer unassisted power for up to 20 miles when you don't feel like pedaling, and a cruising speed of up to 20mph.

A secondary battery pack upgrade on the A2B can increase range to 40 miles. The benefits are gas savings, parking savings and maneuverability around crowded sidewalks and urban areas, just to name a few.

The A2B style is a clean-line, ultra-modern design, while the Europa offers a retro bicycle style. Both are ideal for: commuting to work, college students on and off campus, short trips/ errand runs, and seniors who want to enjoy exercise but want the added power of a motor. The bikes can be accessorized with storage cases, side bags, lights and multi-function computers.

Twist n' Scoot, founded in 2003 by Bill Gornto, offers high quality modern and vintage style motor scooters and is the Atlanta-area dealer for the major brands. Twist n' Scoot offers a complete service department, as well as helmets, clothing and accessories. There are two convenient locations in midtown Atlanta and in downtown Decatur.

Additional information can be found at www.twistnscoot.com

Glenwood Park Farmers Market in the Square!

2009-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Glenwood Park Farmers Market begins Saturday, February 28, from 10 am-2 pm and will be held the last Saturday of the month until November 28, 2009. The Market will feature local organic produce, dairy products, baked goods, and the work of local artisans will be on display.

Glenwood Park restaurants: Vickerys, Matador and The Shed are offering a 15% Market discount on Market Day for lunch or brunch upon presentation of any proof of purchase from the market.

Support your local farmers, your health and your community by coming out.

Admission and Parking are free.

www.glenwoodpark.com

New Wind Turbine at The Lovett School

2009-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Lovett School, a local Atlanta private institution, has made great advances toward environmental sustainability this year.

Lovett's Physical Plant has installed a wind turbine to generate electricity on campus. Power generated is pumped back into the utility grid with the intent of offsetting consumption of our electric utility vehicles. In time, plans are to replace all gasoline powered Gator utility vehicles with electric units.

The turbine is manufactured by Skystream of Flagstaff Arizona and will produce 200-400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power per month with an average of 8-12 mph of wind. Historic data will be collected to track power production of the turbine for classroom purposes. Production of 200-400 kWh of power per month will avoid 1.62 - 3.24 tons of CO2 annually.

Green Rewards Festival at Underground Atlanta

2009-01-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

GoGreenGetRewards.com is a volunteer rewards program created to support environmental Non-Profits and reward social activism. Their website launch will be celebrated with a Green Rewards Festival at Underground Atlanta from 12 Noon to 5pm on Saturday, May 16. The festival features live music, an eco-fashion show, environmental speakers and lots of green giveaways throughout the day. Children will enjoy creating crafts from recycled materials while being entertained by the one and only Captain Planet. Local organic restaurants will offer healthy, delicious food and green vendors will display their environmentally conscious products. The green event strives to leave no footprint on the environment while simultaneously educating the public about the importance of environmental awareness.

Ride Marta, bring refillable bottles for your drinks, electronic items to recycle, dress in your recycled best for the fashion show, or just show up to get your green rewards and enjoy the music and activities.

For more information, visit www.underground-atlanta.com or www.gogreetgetrewards.com.

Greening Rooftops Conference

2009-01-26T06:00:00.003-05:00

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is pleased to announce that the 7th Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show will be held in Atlanta, Georgia from June 3- 5 at the Peachtree Hyatt Hotel.

The Conference will bring together more than 1,000 green roof and wall design professionals, manufacturers, researchers and policy-makers from across North America and around the world. There are numerous opportunities to gain profile for your organization in what is a rapidly growing and critically important technology in the green building industry.

The goals of the Conference include accelerating market transformation for the green roof and wall industry, demonstrating the technological and environmental benefits of green roofs and walls and providing networking opportunities for green roof design professionals and conference delegates to interact.

Building on the considerable momentum developed over our past six conferences, Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show will be even bigger and better.

Second Annual Night of Spectacles

2009-01-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Fashion with a Vision Foundation calls on amateur fashion designers to make apparel from recycled eyewear to raise funds for uninsured Georgians. The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation is collaborating with local universities to award a $1,000 scholarship to the winner of the Fashion with a Vision competition at their, second annual Night of Spectacles, an eyewear fashion event, on April 30th 2009 at the Atlanta Opera Event Center. The event will feature student's artwork from Brenau University, Georgia Southern University and Savannah College of Art and Design, who are currently designing dresses from recycled eyewear. The competition however, is open to any and all who wish to compete. Twelve finalists will be selected in late February to then be judge by local celebrities on the evening of the 30th.

In 2008, the Lighthouse Foundation held a similar competition at its first annual Night of Spectacles and successfully raised $53,000. On the mark of its 60th anniversary, the Lighthouse Foundation hopes to raise $125,000 for vision services for Georgia's uninsured through the event. All dresses will be auctioned off at the event and funds will be donated to the organization's vision services. Sponsors for the event include Genentech, McGee Group, Atlanta Magazine and other local optometric and ophthalmic practices.

The proceeds of the event will be used to provide eye surgeries to uninsured Georgians. In the last two years the Lighthouse has increased the number of Georgians it serves nearly 10 fold. Last year, the Lighthouse served 4,000 people at ten statewide clinic locations through its mobile vision clinic and provided over 300 eye surgeries to meet increasing demand. In addition, to local endeavors, the Lighthouse Foundation's aide extends to developing nations including Mexico, Uganda and China by donating 100,000 pairs of glasses a year to medical mission trips.

As a result of the crippling economy and rising uninsured rate, an increasing number of Georgians need assistance from the Lighthouse Foundation to obtain proper eye care. In 2008, according to the Atlanta Journal constitution, 1.6 million Georgians lacked health insurance, making it nearly impossible to receive annual eye exams and for many imperative eye surgeries.

The Lighthouse Foundation invites you to take part in a unique event that helps provide self sufficiency and educational opportunities for fellow Georgians. Applications to enter the competition can be obtained on the event's website at www.nightofspectacles.org

Earth Talk: Palm Oil & Fabric Softeners

2009-01-22T12:39:00.002-05:00

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that palm oil, common in snack foods and health & beauty products, is destroying rainforests? If so, what can consumers do about it? -- Emma Miniscalco, via e-mail

It’s no wonder that worldwide demand for palm oil has surged in recent years. Long used in cosmetics, palm oil is now all the rage in the snack food industry, since it is transfat-free and therefore seen as healthier than the shortening it replaces.

But to produce palm oil in large enough quantities to meet growing demand, farmers across Southeast Asia have been clearing huge swaths of biodiversity-rich tropical rainforest to make room for massive palm plantations. Today palm oil production is the largest cause of deforestation in Indonesia and other equatorial countries with dwindling expanses of tropical rainforest. Indonesia’s endangered orangutan population, which depends upon the rainforest, has dwindled by as much as 50 percent in recent years.

The clearing of these forests is a big factor in global warming, given how much carbon dioxide (CO2) trees store when left alone. Once forests are cut, tons of CO2 heads skyward where it does the most harm. Also, when not replaced by palm oil plantations, rainforests help maintain water resources by absorbing rainfall and then releasing it into streams and rivers, thus minimizing flooding and soil depletion.

Simply boycotting palm oil and the products containing it may not help, as reduced demand could force the companies behind the plantations to instead initiate more intensive timber harvesting and a widespread conversion of the land to agriculture, which would add a heavy pollution load onto the already compromised land, air and water. It is up to the countries involved in palm oil production to regulate the industry and budget sufficient funds for enforcement. But with huge profits coming in from the sale of palm oil, public officials in Indonesia and elsewhere are loathe to clamp down on their golden goose.

Several of the largest palm oil producers have joined forces with banks and nonprofit groups to try to green up the industry. In 2003, some 200 commercial entities in the global palm oil supply chain met and established the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to promote the growth of palm oil in an environmentally friendly manner. RSPO works to develop definitions and criteria for the sustainable production of palm oil, while facilitating the adoption of more green-friendly practices throughout the industry. The group celebrated its first shipment of “sustainable palm oil” to Europe this past November.

Despite progress, many green leaders are skeptical that RSPO has the teeth to make a positive impact on the fast-growing palm oil industry. Greenpeace International considers RSPO to be “little more than greenwash,” pointing out that at least one RSPO-certified producer—United Plantations, a supplier to Nestlé and Unilever—is deforesting Indonesia’s vulnerable peat land forests. And Sinar Mas, another major RSPO player, has cleared tropical rainforest all over the country for its palm oil plantations, and is still expanding rapidly. Greenpeace is calling for a moratorium on deforestation throughout Indonesia so that the RSPO and the government can take stock and then proceed accordingly.

Dear EarthTalk: Which is better for our environment: to use dryer sheets in the dryer or liquid fabric softener in the wash? It seems they both have properties that are not very green. -- Deborah, via e-mail

If you’re concerned about the health and safety of your family members, you might want to stay away from both conventional dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners altogether. While it may be nice to have clothes that feel soft, smell fresh and are free of static cling, both types of products contain chemicals known to be toxic to people after sustained exposure.

According to the health and wellness website Sixwise.com, some of the most harmful ingredients in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener alike include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), limonene (a known carcinogen) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), among others.

Since fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothes for extended periods of time, such chemicals can seep out gradually and be inhaled or absorbed directly through the skin. Liquid fabric softeners are slightly preferable to dryer sheets, as the chemicals in dryer sheets get released into the air when they are heated up in the dryer and can pose a respiratory health risk to those both inside and outside the home.

For those who don’t want to give up the benefits of fabric softeners but are afraid to risk exposure to potentially toxic chemicals, National Geographic’s Green Guide recommends adding either a quarter cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle. Either one will soften clothes, while the latter will also address static cling. (Be sure not to mix either with bleach, though, as resulting chemical reactions could cause noxious fumes.) If eliminating static cling is your top priority, try drying natural-fiber clothes separately from synthetic materials. The combination of cotton and polyester is often the culprit behind static cling. Better yet, reports Green Guide, line dry synthetic clothing, as it tends to dry fairly quickly anyway.

A few companies have heeded the ever-increasing call for greener, safer ways to soften clothes and reduce static cling. Seventh Generation’s Natural Lavender Scent Fabric Softener and Ecover’s Natural Fabric Softener are both good choices that rely on vegetable products and natural essential oils instead of harsh chemicals to get the job done.

Another safer option is Maddocks’ Static Eliminator, a non-toxic, hypoallergenic reusable dryer sheet made out of a proprietary, chemical-free polynylon. The Canadian company Maddocks originally developed the material to rid industrial-scale mechanical systems of explosion-inducing static electricity, but soon realized that it could benefit consumers as well, who can now buy the sheets—each one is good for some 500 wash loads—from natural foods retailers as well as from several online vendors.

New Consumer Information from Air Quality Sciences

2009-01-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

The residential construction industry is undergoing a significant shift from old ways of building to new sustainable (green) practices. With this change, comes a requirement to insure healthy indoor air for those inside, while protecting the natural resources of our planet outside. Architects, homebuilders and contractors are learning that a homeowners' right for non-toxic, healthy indoor environments ranks right up there with energy and environmental conservation.

Results of a recent survey conducted by the National Home Builders Association (NAHB) and McGraw-Hill bear this out in terms of market share and homeowner attitudes. According to their survey results, which were reported in the McGraw-Hill Construction 2008 SmartMarket Reports, builders still tend to focus more on energy and environmental conservation in their selection of green features, such as tight construction, insulation, Energy Star® products and water-efficient plumbing. While these features are excellent choices for lowering energy costs and conserving water, they may inadvertently contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ).

A new white paper from Air Quality Sciences (AQS), titled Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Benefits of Achieving Both in Homes, explains the importance of balancing the efficient use of energy with good indoor air quality. It also emphasizes that all those involved in building and renovating homes must strive towards adopting one defining common set of green principles that place equal emphasis on energy efficiency and protecting occupant health (good IAQ). In addition, this white paper reviews who is most at risk from indoor air pollution, common indoor air contaminants found in homes, their sources, health impacts and what steps can be taken to achieve efficient use of energy and good IAQ.

This white paper completes a three-part series on energy and indoor air quality. The other two papers in the series, Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Partnering to Protect Human Health, and Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Lessons From the Past Have Relevance for the Future, are recommended reading to gain a valuable perspective on the interdependence of IAQ and energy conservation and the benefits of considering them as primary and complementary goals for healthy indoor environments. All three white papers are available free of charge from the Aerias-AQS Indoor Air Quality Resource Center at www.aerias.org

"Trees in Art" Exhibition

2009-01-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Trees Atlanta announced the “Trees in Art” national exhibition today which will help raise funds for making Atlanta cleaner, greener and more beautiful through tree planting. All U.S. artists are invited to submit artwork with a theme of trees. Anne Irwin, owner of Anne Irwin Fine Art in Atlanta, GA, will jury and judge the show.

Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban environment by planting, conserving and educating. Since 1985, Trees Atlanta has planted and distributed more than 72,000 trees. Each year, 3,500 volunteers lend their expertise to Trees Atlanta.

Their first annual exhibition consists of two VIP preview evenings and a public art show in May 2009 at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center in Atlanta, GA. Eligible artwork includes paintings (any medium), drawings, photography and sculpture. Art submitted for the exhibition must be available for purchase. Artists will retain 75% of the proceeds and the remaining 25% will be donated to Trees Atlanta for planting and conserving trees. Digital art submissions are due by February 15 and the official exhibit will run May 9-27 at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Ave., Atlanta, GA 30316. Awards will be selected by Ms. Irwin from the actual artwork once hung. First, second and third place will receive ribbons and cash or merchandise awards from sponsors and three Honorable Mentions will receive ribbons.

In addition to the beauty that trees bring to urban areas, trees also support cleaner air and water; fewer incidents of asthma; lower energy costs; economic stability; wildlife and plant diversity; erosion prevention; stress reduction; and up to 20% higher property values. “Trees are essential for our communities, and it is a pleasure for Trees Atlanta to showcase trees through original artwork,” said Trees Atlanta’s Executive Director, Marcia Bansley. She continued, “The ‘Trees in Art’ Exhibition will help us raise much needed dollars for planting and caring for Atlanta’s trees and will help more people consider the important role trees play in our lives.”

More information about Trees Atlanta and the “Trees in Art” exhibition as well as a complete prospectus may be found at www.treesatlanta.org or by contacting Trees Atlanta Director of Membership and Special Events, Joe Staley, at 404-681-4890.