CitruSolution employs a VLM (very low moisture) process whereby a minimal amount of liquid is applied to the surface before it is activated and absorbed with a rotary brush and bonnet cleaning system. Soil and contaminants are removed with incredible efficiency and minimal impact to the environment while a citrus "barrier" is left behind in the carpet to help neutralize new contaminants and keep carpet clean and fresh. There is no sticky, soapy residue or excessive moisture left behind - just amazingly clean, fluffy, fresh smelling carpet.

CitruSolution Silicon Valley is part of the CitruSolution Carpet Cleaning Coop and is dedicated to environmental responsibility and stewardship even beyond the Coop itself. Their practices and values can be viewed further at: http://www.citruscleanscarpetbetter.com/EnvironmentalResponsibility.

CitruSolution was founded by Paul Romanic approximately 10 years ago in Cumming, GA. After 10 years in the carpet cleaning business using conventional methods such as steam and hot water extraction, Paul felt that he could develop a better process while offering the service in an honest, up front, professional manner, and greatly improve the overall customer experience. Today, Paul brings over 20 years of knowledge to the industry and shares it daily with his 72+ CitruSolution territory owners nationwide. He's known not only for his expert experience, but just as much for his honesty, impeccable integrity, and philanthropic contributions to his community.

Craig Radley is the first territory owner in California, providing services to the Silicon Valley and Bay Areas. He can be reached at:

CitruSolution Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
Phone: (650) 919-3996
WEB: www.CitrusCleansCarpetBetter.com

1. Heat and Cold Loss
2. Electrical Consumption
3. Resident Behavior

• When is the house being used
• What are the ambient temperature settings
• What are the high and low temperatures set at
• How much energy is normally used to run the house, ie. electrical and gas bills
  
• What technology and building materials are in place on the structure
  

• Blower Door Test - a special fan called a "calibrated door" is fitted to an exterior door of the house in combination with smoke pencils and other tools to suck air out of the house and determine how air tight it is. When determining how much leakage a house has it is important to remember that some leakage, in the right areas, is good. Without the ability to breathe, the house may become moldy or experience indoor pollution. More information on the blower door test is available here
  
• Thermographic Scan - this technique can be used to capture heat signatures on the interior or exterior of a home and may lead to recommendations of more insulation or insulation repairs. Usually interior heat signatures are easier to read since there is less air disturbance inside of a home. This type of scan may be useful in combination with the blower door test and is recommended when there are extreme differences between the indoor and outdoor temperatures ie. the winter months. This type of test is highly recommended before buying a house and more information on thermographic scans and the types of tools used in a scan, such as a spot radiometers and thermal imaging cameras, can be found here
• PFT Air Infiltration Measurement - PFT stands for perfluorocarbon tracer gas which is a harmless, odorless gas that is transmitted and received with special instrumentation designed by the Brookhaven National Laboratory to detect changes in temperature and air leakage in a room. In contrast to the blower door test, which puts stresses on a house to determine the quality of its air tightness, the PFT test measures air tightness over time as ocupants actually go about their daily routines including the influence of seasonality and weather. This technique can also be used to determine exposure to harmful substances and pollution such as radon. More on this topic can be found here

• Identify and repair gaps and leaks in the following areas of your house:
•  walls, floorboards, electrical outlets
• windows, and mailbox slots
• electrical outlets, internet and cable outlets, and lights - recessed ceiling lighting is one of the leading heat loss sources. As heat rises it easily escapes through these poorly sealed light ducts
  
• You may already know of a draft or a chilly or cold area in your house which can be repaired using caulk or foam insulation.
• Weather stripping around doors and garages often gets overlooked but is very easy to repair and replace using rubber door jams or foam.
• Fireplaces, attics and window mounted fans and air conditioners are other sources of air leakage.
• holes where pipes from sinks and other utilities go into your walls
• exterior foundation lines, chimneys, and corners where two materials meet such as brick and wood
  
• Consider replacing old warn out air leak sources with the following technology
• Use caulk to reseal old cracked areas and touch up on areas that may have been overlooked
• Purchase new double paned windows or put clear plastic sheets over existing windows and walls for a more affordable approach
• Jiggle your doors and windows and look for light streaming through to determine if you need to reposition them or add foam strips
• Conduct a do it yourself blower door pressurization test by closing all of your homes doors, windows, fireplaces, and other outlets and then turn on your bathroom and kitchen oven fan. Now explore your house using a smoke producing device such as incense or a punk from the fourth of July celebrations and watch how the smoke is influenced as you hold it near different areas. Always be careful with this technique as not to start a fire, one alternative is to carry a damp wash cloth in one hand and then wet the surface of your other. Hold your damp hand near possible air flow leaks and sense air coming in from outside. While doing this test be wary of sucking smoke or other pollutants into your house that may compete for oxygen and cause you to suffocate. Also recognize that your heater, stove, or furnace may be burning oxygen and if you have no fresh air coming in you could run out. Understand the environment that your house is in and take the proper precautions including contacting a local energy auditing professional.
• Add more insulation to your attic or foundation and consider using environmentally friendly cotton "blue jeans" insulation that is easier to work with, natural, and sustainable. Insulation is the most cost effective way for most home owners to reduce energy use - many homes were built to meet minimum requirements for their time and as prices for energy continue to rise one the easiest ways to conserve heat or cool in your house is to not use it in the first place and insulation helps you keep temperatures more stable. Additionally, if you have an attic you will want to seal it the same way you have sealed your doors and windows.
  
  Dig under your attic insulation and look for a vapor barrier which is usually plastic, tar paper, or fiberglass. This barrier prevents moisture from leaking down into the house which can cause structural damage. In many cases, simply adding an additional layer of new insulation to pre-existing layers can make a dramatic difference in the way your home stores energy, especially heat.
  
  In order to test your house wall insulation it is recommended that you use a professional to conduct thermographic testing as discussed above. There are many electrical hazards in walls so always be careful when investigating these sources.
  
  One other great source for improving insulation is in a basement. this will keep the temperature between the main living floor and potentially unused spaces from blending together and wasting energy. When adding insulation to walls, ceilings, attics, or basements consider using too much rathar than too little and follow the R-Value guide which says that a minimum level of insulation has an R-Value of 25 which is equal to the insulation properties of 25 feet of earth.
• Change filters and clean electrical devices (at least once per year) including your forced air furnace or heater. It is recommended for most of these devices to replace filters every two months which may be long past due in your household and could be causing unnecessary strain on the system which takes energy.
• Replace old systems that have been in place for more than 15 years. You may be amazed at how your electrical bill changes. This is especially true of old refrigerators and furnaces.
  
• Use duct tape to reseal your ducts and use insulation to make them more efficient. If you see streaks of dirt inside or outside of your ducts you probably need to clean the filter and make the duct tighter because hot or cold air is leaking out. when adding insulation around ducts aim for an R Value of six or seven.
• Replace old light bulbs. The average US house uses ~10% of it's electricity to power lighting which can be improved significantly by using CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) which are now available in different color tones and with dimming functionality. CFL's are four times more efficient than regular bulbs and last up to ten times longer on average! This improvement in technology is also helped by government rebates and incentives to change out old lights and even replace lighting fixtures. LED lights are also gaining in popularity and may soon replace CFL's in certain lighting applications. Already LED's are being used for car headlights and road signals, they offer increased durability and brigtness but are cost prohibitive at this time.
  

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In Denver, where I live, there are billboards urging citizens to use only what we need. During drought years, there are times where my community was only allowed to water yards on certain days of the week and for limited periods of time.

For those of us who enjoy gardening, not being allowed to water our plants as much as needed can be a bit frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to cultivate an attractive garden without having to worry so much about watering. These gardens are called Xeriscapes. Wikipedia states that Xeriscaping "refers to landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation."

In an article on Xeriscaping by David Beaulieu at landscaping.about.com, xeriscaping is said to have originated with the Denver Colorado Water Department in 1981. Much of Colorado is considered to be an arid desert and while the Rocky Mountains and continental divide provide meltwater a plenty, historically water has been shared with dry water-hungry Western states and locations such as Las Vegas.

"A compound of the Greek xeros, dry, and "-scape," as in landscape, "xeriscape" landscaping essentially refers to a creating a landscape design that has been carefully tailored to withstand drought conditions," Beaulieu writes. Xeriscaping can take many forms. For some, it simply means grouping plants with similar watering requirements in one area. Whatever form it takes, the purpose of xeriscaping isa lways the same; to reduce excessive water use by matching indigenous and imported plants with weather and soil conditions.

There's nothing quite like a lush green lawn but maintaining one can be problematic during long hot summer days. For this reason, many xeriscapes eliminate lawns all together favoring rocks, mulch and other materials such as recycled rubber or plastic. An added benefit is less mowing! Some property owners and gardeners simply switch to types of grass that require less water while others relegate the lawn area as an accent to the landscape rather than the dominating element.

So what kind of plants should go into your xeriscape? That largely depends on where you live. For people in the southwestern U.S., cacti may be the dominate plant. In areas that are not as desperate for water, xeriscapes may consist of shrubs, mulch, and reduced lawns.

According to eartheasy.com, there are 7 principles to xeriscaping. They include:

1. water conservation
2. soil improvement
3. limited turf areas
4. appropriate plants
5. mulch
6. irrigation
7. maintenance

When all of these elements work together, a xeriscape can not only look beautiful, but reduce over-watering. Go to http://eartheasy.com/grow_xeriscape.htm for more information.

So what are the advantages to xeriscaping? Besides the obvious being that it reduces over watering, it creates a less stressful gardening experience do to the fact that xeriscapes require less time in maintenance, especially if there is no lawn involved. As stated above, no lawn means no mowing means less time... means less gas... means less pollution... less asthma... less smell etc. etc. In addition, Xeriscape plants, according to Wikipedia, "in appropriate planting design, and soil grading and mulching, take full advantage of rainfall retention. When water restrictions are implemented, by municipality or water costs, xeriscaped plants will tend to survive and thrive, while more ornamental plants may be unable to adapt."

For more information about how to set up a xeriscape and what kind of plants to use, check out your local gardening center or check out the links below:

• Beginners Guide to Xeriscapes: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/xeriscapes
• Xeriscapes Unlimited: http://www.xeriscapes.com
• Xeriscaping Design: http://www.landscape-america.com/landscapes/xeriscaping/design.html

Ziploc Evolve bags advertise 25% less plastic which means they aren't as wasteful as traditional bags. That said, I've noticed that most competing white label sandwich bags are also thinner. It's simply a cost saving measure for the no-name bags. Despite the higher price I bought the Evolve product and have been using the bags for over a week now. I'm happy to report that this greener line of thin Ziploc bags perform just as you might expect, no leaks, no faulty zippers etc... But should you really have to pay more for a product that feels inferior and might actually cost less to produce just because it's green?

Using these bags has been a fine experience but next time I visit the store I'll be eying the competition more carefully. Whether they advertise themselves as green or not, less plastic = better in the eyes of mother nature. This story isn't quite over though as Ziploc Evolve bags advertise a few extra benefits that might justify the higher price.

• Cardboard carton containing Ziploc Evolve bags is made with 100% recycled paperboard with a minimum of 35% post consumer content. This means the box that contains the bags helps to preserve more trees and encourage recycling.
• The manufacturing process of these bags requires less energy than traditional bags (this may be due to their thinner size which requires less heat for molding the plastic?) I'm not completely sold here... green washing alert.
• Bags are manufactured using renewable wind energy which is a clean energy source. This is really the clincher for me, if these bags are made using wind power (which could be more expensive depending on where they are produced and what the utilities offer) then a higher price is justified and I would willingly pay a bit more.

Sometimes it's hard to sort through the clutter and really put your approval behind a product. In so many cases there is little or no motivation to make a product more sustainable or less environmentally harmful when the bottom line is in question. Businesses have to be profitable to be sustainable themselves and I get that.

Maybe the higher price of the new Ziploc Evolve bags is based on the wind power component or maybe this is a trial run which costs more to do (lower volume = higher price to start). Whatever the case, I'm glad to see new products that take the environment into consideration and I hope to see these bags priced on par with a normal pack of 50 Ziploc sandwich bags in the near future.

[update, on July 6th 2010 I followed up on the pricing of Ziploc Evolve bags at my local Safeway which had been updated to $2.99 on par with a 50 pack of regular Ziploc sandwich bags.]

To address those emergency-charge moments a company called Fame LLC is offering an innovative, and clean, way to charge your mobile devices using Kinetic energy. That is, you pull on a string and the device converts your physical energy into electric power which is sent directly into your phone.

This device is called a YoGen and is compatible with most smart phones and mobile devices. I've tested it out with a Blackberry and iPhone and it works great! While you could also potentially use the YoGen to charge your PSP or digital camera, it works best with phones because you usually don't have to pull for very long in order to place a call. By comparison, you might have to spend 30 minutes of pull-charging time to get in a short game or photo session.

The YoGen is about the size of Blackberry Curve or iPhone and comes in clear or black. It's designed to be fairly durable and really only has two points of interaction. A mini USB plugin where electricity flows out to your phone and a string with a plastic lever attached. When you pull quickly on the string an internal spring loaded gear extends to catch and pull a metal weight. The weight spins and produces electricity which is converted to properly charge through the mini USB or iPhone attachment.

While I haven't used my YoGen too often, it has come in handy a couple times when I was out surfing. It charges devices faster than most solar chargers and doesn't rely on the time of day or weather to function properly. I imagine this device is also cleaner to manufacture than most current generation photovoltaic chargers and won't create the same kind of pollution upon disposal or accidental combustion. The device feels pretty indestructible and priced at $50 it's similar to what you might pay for an equivalent wall powered adapter. You'll also be glad to know that it's not extremely loud to use, you can hear the gears spinning but overall the device is discrete.

The YoGen doesn't have any internal batteries so unlike kinetic powered shaker flashlights or crank powered laptops it will last as long as the string and gears are functional. I give the device two thumbs up and am excited about the future launch of other Fame LLC products. I've seen speculation on a foot powered laptop charger but the details are still up in the air and nothing has been confirmed. Check back for updates and news as it becomes available.

The BP website has frequent updates on their response to the spill and currently that includes collecting and burning or "flaring" excess oil. On June 21st alone BP spent 12 hours collecting and burning oil. By the end of the day the total oil released through the broken pipe was approximately 25,830 barrels. Of that total, 15,560 barrels of oil were collected, 10,270 barrels were flared off, and 52.2 million cubic feet of natural gas was also flared. It may be the best available option for reducing the impact on local wildlife but that's a lot of entropy and CO2... Expect gas prices to rise soon!

Despite efforts to clean up the oil from the Gulf of Mexico, wildlife in the area is still being affected. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) states that more than 400 species of fish and other wildlife rely on the Gulf Coast for food, cover, and breeding grounds. As a result of the BP oil spill, it may take many decades for these species to fully recover, if at all. So far there are 47 dead mammals, 957 dead birds, and 387 dead sea turtles. For more information on the impact the oil spill has had on wildlife, go to http://www.nwf.org/Oil-Spill/Effects-on-Wildlife.aspx.

With so much depressing and disheartening news flooding in, many concerned citizens worldwide have experienced a growing need to help. Yet, many more feel at a loss for how to help. Fortunately, whether you live near the spill or not, there are things you can do to make a difference and we've listed them here. The National Wildlife Federation suggests the following three areas of opportunity:

1. Volunteer
2. Take Action
3. Share

Specifically, you can donate to the NWF's Gulf Coast Surveillance Team. The NWF, its five gulf affiliates, and many others use the Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams to track and report on the impact of the oil spill, support wildlife rescues and rehabilitation efforts, and restore damaged delicate coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to donations, these teams are looking for volunteers that have skills in wildlife observation and tracking (whether as bird watchers, naturalists, or sportsmen). People who are knowledgeable about the Gulf Coast and its waters, can identify native species of birds, fish, turtles, marine mammals and other animals that will be at risk from the oil spill, and are local to one of the surveillance locations. These volunteer opportunities can be found at http://www.nwf.org/Oil-Spill/Surveillance-Network.aspx. Who knows, you might even meet your future spouse at one of these events... Good people wanted!

In addition to volunteering, you can take action by holding BP accountable for the damages caused by the spill. The NWF websites states that, "rather than assuming full responsibility for the costs of their recklessness on wildlife . . . the price tag could be pushed off on you, the American taxpayer. Currently, outdated legislation puts BP off the hook for damages above $75 million, even though this is less than one day's profit for BP!" The NWF website has setup an action center where you can write a message to congress urging them to hold BP accountable for their negligence.

You can also help by leveraging social media tools to spread the word about the oil spill. This falls into the third "share" category and while it's hard to believe there is anyone in the world who hasn't heard about the spill, there is a lot you can share on how to help address it locally. This could range from deploying nets and filters to protect small beaches to fund raisers and group trips to animal rescue sites.

The NWF is currently looking for dedicated online wildlife advocates to help them spread messages about the impact of the oil spill on wildlife and to share information about how people can help. You can stay informed by watching the news or reading articles online like this one and posting the information you gather on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. Depending on where you live, your opportunities to help will be unique and that's where crowd sourcing and sharing comes into play. There are badges you can post to your websites or blogs at http://www.nwf.org/Oil-Spill/Ways-To-Help/Share.aspx and you can find out more about how technology can help wildlife at http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise/2010/05/7-ways-to-use-technology-social-media-help-wildlife-in-the-gulf-oil-spill.html.

These are just some of the many ways you can do something to help with the BP oil spill. Remember that you can also donate to wildlife organizations such as the Audubon Society, The National Wildlife Federation, and the World Wildlife Fund whether oil has been spilled or not. These organizations do a lot to keep ecosystems strong so plants and animals have a fighting chance to endure something like an oil spill, should it ever occur. Also, if you buy a bottle of Dawn and activate online, one dollar will be donated to the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center. More information on what Dawn is doing to help with the wildlife rescue effort can be found at http://dawn-dish.com/en_US/savingwildlife.do. Feel free to post other donation programs and sponsorships below in the comments.

Whichever way you choose to help with the BP oil spill, always remember the positive difference you can make in the way you live. Consider riding your bicycle or walking more and recycling as much and as often as possible. Oil continues to grow in price and the price is manifest in more than just currency as this spill demonstrates. Stay positive and remember that one person can make a difference.

The Water Legacy Residential Graywater Reclamation System conserves potable water by recycling spent water typically released to the dwelling's sewer discharge. Wastewater generated by residences can be classified into two categories: blackwater and graywater. While blackwater is contaminated to levels that prohibit internal reuse, graywater can be treated and stored for internal non-potable reuse. Water savings is achieved by using reclaimed water instead of potable water, where permitted. In the average US household this can account for 12 to 24 thousand gallons per year in waste water alone!

A typical residence discharges blackwater from toilets, dishwashers, clothes washers, and kitchen sinks; and graywater is discharged from showers, baths, and hand sinks. The amount of contaminants in graywater is far less than in blackwater. The Water Legacy functions on the simple premise that graywater can be treated to a level safe enough for reuse using a multibarrier approach in non-potable applications, mainly toilet flushing. Residential users can save valuable potable water by flushing toilets with spent graywater that would otherwise be sent directly down the drain despite still having beneficial use potential. The Water Legacy system treats graywater for reuse in toilets without exposing humans or pets to E. coli.

So how does this graywater treatment system work and how does it remove the E. coli bacteria that could potentially make people sick? The Water Legacy consists primarily of a water filter, ultraviolet light disinfection system, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) disinfection system, and a 55-gallon water storage tank. Graywater is collected from showers, baths, and hand sinks via a graywater plumbing system. The graywater plumbing system is separate from the blackwater plumbing system. The water collected from the graywater plumbing is first filtered by the Water Legacy. The graywater is then dosed with the disinfecting agent hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide disinfects graywater by releasing oxygen molecules to neutralize pollutants. Finally, graywater passes through an ultraviolet light disinfection system. Ultraviolet light disinfects the graywater by neutralizing living organisms by altering their DNA structure. Hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light are commonly used for wastewater disinfection. Disinfected graywater is stored in a 55-gallon drum for reuse until a toilet is flushed, creating demand for the treated water. Treated water is piped to the toilet via a separate plumbing system. In the event graywater production exceeds the demand for treated stored water, treated water safely overflows the storage tank to the dwelling's sewer discharge. Residual hydrogen peroxide mixed in the treated water prevents contaminants from reactivating in the storage and toilet tanks. Treated water is also cycled through the ultraviolet light system prior to delivery to the toilet.

A typical newly constructed home discharges via showers an amount of water approximately equivalent to the water used for toilet flushing. Research shows that showerheads discharge approximately 10.33 gallons per person per day and toilets consume 8.16 gallons per person per day. A typical dwelling unit has, on average, 2.62 residents. A typical dwelling unit can therefore save approximately 7,800 gallons of potable water per year by recycling graywater from the showers alone.

The Water Legacy is not intended to treat graywater to drinking water standards or for direct human contact. The Water Legacy is designed to treat graywater to a level that is hygienically acceptable for toilet reuse. Graywater has the potential to contain numerous water-borne pathogenic microorganisms. The potential for transmission of these through inhalation, contact, or indirect ingestion by humans and pets is of concern in the marketplace. In response, Water Legacy, LLC has evaluated the capability of the hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light disinfection systems to reduce E. coli in the treated graywater. E. coli is an easy to measure indicator species. Accompanying presences of pathogens is a possibility when E. coli is detected.

A laboratory study was conducted by Christie Chatterley and Dr. Karl G. Linden of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering. The laboratory study analyzed the effectiveness of the Water Legacy's disinfection systems in reducing E. coli. Four principle subjects were evaluated:

1. Does the hydrogen peroxide lose effectiveness over time?
2. Does hydrogen peroxide kill E. coli in graywater?
3. Does ultraviolet light kill E. coli in graywater?
4. Does the combination of hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light kill E. coli?

The Laboratory Study concluded the following:

1. Hydrogen peroxide does not lose effectiveness over time.
2. Hydrogen peroxide decreases the amount of but does not completely eliminate E. coli.
3. Ultraviolet light disinfection decreases E. coli below detectable levels.
4. A combination of hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light disinfection is the most effective at reducing E. coli.

The Laboratory Study also adds that graywater examined in the laboratory likely has higher E. coli concentrations than graywater generated by homes; treated water will receive additional E. Coli reduction from the final pass through the ultraviolet disinfection system before discharge to the toilet; and hydrogen peroxide residual will help prevent the reactivation of E. Coli in the Water Legacy-treated water storage tank and toilet tanks.

According to the 2009 version of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) , Reclaimed Water is defined as, "Nonpotable water that meets or as a result of treatment, meets federal requirements for its intended uses. The level of treatment and quality of the reclaimed water shall be approved by the Authority having jurisdiction." E. coli removal standards for jurisdictions vary. The laboratory study result of non-detect meets the E. coli water reuse standard for reclaimed water reuse in Colorado (126 cfu per 100 mL).

Water Legacy, LLC strives to provide a cost-effective way to reduce potable water demand in our homes. The Water Legacy Residential Graywater Reclamation System satisfies that goal by capturing water that would typically be wasted, treating it, and returning it to our toilets for beneficial use.

Greywater is the waste water generated from laundry or bathing that can be recycled for uses in such things as landscape watering. The water used in toilets and the kitchen, however, cannot be recycled because it contains dangerous pathogens. This water is called black water.

Why is it important to recycle water? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American household uses 400 gallons of fresh water a day. To give you a better idea of how someone can use that much water, consider this. In an article on greywater reuse in the 2010 edition of the Farmer's Almanac by Jim Kneiszel, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reported that 35 percent of household water is used for showers and baths, 30 percent for flushing toilets, 20 percent in laundry, 10 percent in food preparation, cleanup, and drinking water, and 5 percent for household cleaning. Most of that water goes straight to the sewers without being recycled.

One of the easiest ways to recycle water is to rout bathwater into toilet tanks, where it can be used once more before becoming sewage, or black water. Another way to reuse water, according to the article in the Farmer's Almanac, is to rout it out of the house into drip irrigation for lawns and garden plants that will not be harmed by soups or other pollutants in the water.

Because water is becoming scarce and the price of water is rising, many companies are trying to create simple retrofit systems that will route bathwater through a filter to a tank, which, Kneiszel writes, is "similar to the size of a water softener system where [the water] is treated with chlorine to neutralize odor-causing bacteria before being sent to toilet tanks for reuse."

A Canadian company called Brac Systems, markets a retrofit system for $2,000 ($5,000 with professional installation). The company claims that this unit reduces water usage for a family of four by 20,000 gallons per year. Dennis Ysar, president of Brac Systems, predicts that due to population growth and a decrease in the availability of clean water, greywater reuse systems will be mandated throughout America by 2020.

In addition to companies marketing retrofit systems for the recycling of graywater, architects and builders are working on building whole-house grey water systems. Houses that have been built with whole-hosue grey water systems, according to Kneiszel, have reduced their water usage by 25-40 percent over several years of monitoring. In such houses, greywater goes through a sand filter before being piped outside for use in landscape watering. Unfortunately, the whole-house greywater system requires a lot of maintenance. It is also very pricey.

According to some estimates the average United States monthly water bill is $50 which means that it will take over three and a half years to recoup a Brac system, and that's if you install it yourself! The return on investment for other systems, such as the whole house gray water system mentioned above, can be upwards of ten years.

While the reuse of greywater sounds like a great way to cut down on water use and water bills, Kneiszel writes that, "health officials have been reluctant to approve retrofitting greywater recycling systems, because of the danger of bacteria-laden greywater somehow getting into the drinking water." To prevent this, health officials have required that special purple-colored pipes be installed to handle greywater. They also require the addition of blue dyes to greywater to differentiate it from clean water.

It appears that at the time being, greywater reuse requires a lot of maintenance and money to be truly beneficial. While most people would want to cut down on water bills by decreasing their water use, they are reluctant to do so if it requires too much work or too much money. Even so, anyone can save a few gallons of water by scooping bathwater into their toilet tank or by taking five minute showers instead of ten minute showers (10 minute showers can use up to 42 gallons of water). The Farmer's Alamanc has the following suggestions for conserving water:

• Wash only full loads in your dishwasher or washing machine
• Shut the water off when brushing your teeth, shaving, or rising dishes (using a modern dishwashing machine can actually use quite a bit less water than washing by hand but may use more electricity)
• Collect rainwater in buckets for reuse in gardens
• Take showers, not baths. If you take a bath, reuse the bathwater
• Fix all leaks
• Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or in your microwave
• Use leftover water in bottles to water plants or pets

Now I realize that the Silicon Valley (where I saw the fifteen cent bags) is a clean technology hub in one of the most forward thinking, wealthy and innovative centers of the universe but this is still progress, greenwashing maybe, but progress. Just two weeks ago I was in San Antonio Texas and their Super Walmarts had no such bags or signs of this kind of thinking. Really though, fifteen cents a piece! I believe that sometime in the very near future stores will begin charging for the disposable bags and that will motivate consumers to begin recycling with reusables. Even if they gave the bags away free, I think consumers would begin using them repeatedly because really, who throws away non-disposable items without feeling a little bad? Well, besides my grandparents maybe... and they'll be recycled themselves soon :)

I've got to hand it to Walmart for their card board recycling, advanced energy monitoring systems and the new bag policies being implemented... on the basis of cost savings of course. Whatever motivates it I see us getting closer to the way things were and the way things should be, natural.

Blue light special baby! In the town of Mountain View California and neighboring Palo Alto, styrofoam Jamba Juice cups and plastic grocery sacks are being banned by city lawmakers. Thank you... and really isn't it about time? Will we really think it was all worth it in five years when this is the norm everywhere? I recently suggested reusable bags to an elderly customer in Trader Joe's supermarket (and the staff even chimed in to land the sale) but she was concerned about health issues of reusing a "dirty" bag. For the record, we do have a built in immune system designed to combat "dirt" so I feel like maybe she was a little paranoid. We are all connected to the earth and those crappy disposable bags are unhealthy for all kinds of wildlife that we in turn eat... so actually the unhealthy and "dirty" choice is disposable bags, not reusables.

This conjures up memories of a business case study I did in undergrad about reusable diapers. A company stepped in and started selling disposables in a Latin American country using health as a primary selling point, turns out disposables are way less healthy when you don't have a reliable system of waste management. Oops... let's think full circle here guys. Just like those diapers that killed hundreds of Latin Americans, plastic bags are endangering sea life, birds and ultimately us.

Keeping the idea of sustainability in mind, fashion designers are now introducing environmentally conscious methods of designing and producing their clothing. According to the May 2007 edition of Vouge, this trend in sustainability may prove to be long term, especially if you consider how popular environmentally conscious products are these days.

Earth Pledge, a non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable development, states that "At least 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles and 25% of the world's pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton. This causes irreversible damage to people and the environment, and still two thirds of a garment's carbon footprint will occur after it is purchased."

If designers are turning to earth friendly clothing, just what are they making it out of? And is it possible to make modern clothing without making them look like what Wikipedia calls "hippy clothing"? The answer is yes, but at a cost. The effort it takes to minimize environmental harm in the growth, production, and shipping of these products is far more expensive than products made conventionally.

Despite the high cost, eco friendly clothing is getting a lot of attention, especially from celebrities such as Stella McCartney, Rogan Gregory, Peter Ingwersen, Ali Hewson, Bono, and Summer Rayne Oakes who have recently drawn attention to eco friendly fashion. Other celebrities that have been associated with eco friendly fashion include Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Alicia Silverstone, Adrian Grenier, Jennifer Aniston, and Salma Hayek. Portland Fashion Week, which has showcased earth friendly fashion since 2005, has gained international attention for its efforts to showcase 100% eco friendly designs.

Cotton, one of the top materials used to make clothing, has a very large carbon footprint due to the way it is cultivated and produced. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is far more sustainable and does not contain destructive toxic pesticides or fertilizers. Some designers have actually begun experimenting with bamboo fiber, which Wikipedia says "absorbs greenhouse gases during its life cycle and grows quickly and plentifully without pesticides". Unfortunately, bamboo fiber causes environmental damage due to the chemicals used to create a soft viscose from the hard bamboo.

So what is the best natural material to use in fabrics? Some people say that hemp is the best choice for eco fabrics because it grows easily. Sadly, it is illegal to grow hemp in some countries. It is arguable that recycled, reclaimed, surplus, and vintage fabrics are the best choice, since the raw materials require no agriculture and no manufacturing to produce.

Wikipedia states that "another alternative to sustainable fashion has emerged that uses synthetic fibers with a process called AirDye technology that eliminates all water from the dyeing and printing process. While critics still point to the chemicals used in making synthetic materials, this method significantly reduces water consumption and pollution, while cotton (organic or not) uses a tremendous amount of water during the growth and dyeing phases."

There is certainly a lot of controversy surrounding the use of eco friendly materials, so it is always a good idea to do a little research if you want to get truly eco friendly clothing. Even so, it is nice to know there are eco friendly alternatives out there.

If you are interested in buying Eco friendly clothing, here are a few websites you can check out: www.thegreenloop.com, www.whiteapricot.com, and www.happyhippie.com. You can also check out American Apparel, REI, Levi Strauss, Jonano, and Rawganique. More information on eco friendly fashion can be found at http://www.modelinia.com/articles/eco-friendly-fashion/5033 and http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/a/ecofashion.htm.

Now according to Wikipedia, the US Geological Survey reported in 2006 that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) produces a little less than 1% of the world's coltan. While the Rwandan occupation in the DRC prevented the DRC from exploiting coltan for its own benefit, it did not prevent illegal mining and smuggling of coltan by militias from Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.

An activist group called Towards Freedom (www.towardsfreedom.com) claims that coltan smuggling funds the income of the military occupation of the Congo. They state that the demand for coltan has caused military groups and western mining companies to seek hundreds of millions of dollars worth of coltan, often by forcing prisoners-of-war and children to work in the DRC coltan mines.

According to Towards Freedom, the 2000 launch of the Sony Playstation 2 required a huge increase in the production of electric capacitors, which are made primarily with tantalum. As a result, the world price of the powder went from $49 per pound to $275 per pound. In order to meet this demand, there was accelerated mining of the Congolese hills, which contain coltan.

Wikipedia states that Sony claims they discontinued their use of tantalum mined in the Congo. However, statistical analysis states that it is nearly inconceivable that Sony produced so many Playstations without the use of coltan from the Congo. Currently, industry experts estimate that most of coltan from the DRC is being exported to China where it is processed into electronic-grade tantalum powder and wires. It is estimated that 64% to 80% of the of the world's coltan reserves can be found in the Congo.

On top of the political and economical impact of illegal coltan mining, there is an environmental impact. Excessive mining causes erosion of the land which pollutes nearby lakes and rivers. The pollution smothers organisms living in the waters, cutting off major food supplies for nearby animals.

One animal that is impacted by coltan mining is the Eastern Mountain Gorilla. Miners of coltan are located many miles from any food source, so they hunt the gorillas or "bush meat" for food. An estimated 3-5 million tons of bush meat is killed in Central and Western Africa every year. As a result, Eastern Mountain Gorillas are nearly extinct. What can you do about all of this? For starters, you can recycle your old cell phone to places like EcoCell. You can also write to companies, like Sony, who use coltan and encourage them to look for ways to prevent their sources from using coltan mined in the Congo.

A report found on the EcoCell website states that:
"Ideas such as "gorilla free" cell phones (like dolphin free tuna) are appealing to many western markets (but not southern markets, which have the highest rates of growth for cell-phone purchases and usage). Continued pressure and publicity by the IUCN, UNESCO (supporting the World Heritage Sites), and other conservation groups may help to shrink up the market for eastern Congo. Developing ore signatures that can identify the sources of coltan would also provide a real measurement standard for the industry, enabling better accountability for source determination."

To find out more, visit the Towards Freedom website at towardsfreedom.com. You can also find out more at eco-cell.com.

Rather than throw an old cell phone away, guests are encouraged to donate their old cell phones to Denver Zoo, who has partnered with Eco-Cell to recycle and reuse old cell phones", the zoo website says in regard to the program.

Eco-cell is a premiere cell phone recycling program for anyone with an environmentally-minded fundraiser or program. According to the Eco-cell website, Eco-cell is aware that the United States is in an e-waste (or electronic waste) crisis. The program is highly focused on the environment, claiming they have a strict no landfill policy. They accept all cell phones and accessories.

The website (eco-cell.com) states that, "We [Eco-cell] designed a program that encourages organizations to collect all used cell phones and accessories, including batteries. We realized from the start that this approach would take away from our profits. However, we have always maintained that this endeavor is about a lot more than just collecting the 'profitable' used cell phones. It's about cleaning up and helping to save our environment. "

Many people have unused cell phones lying about their house. In fact, in 2005, it was estimated that there were over 500 million cell phones out of use in the United States. So why is this such a big deal? Well, cell phones contain a lot of hazardous substances that can have a negative impact on the environment. One of these hazardous materials is called coltan.

Coltan, according to Wikipedia, is the industrial name for columbite-tantalite, with is a metallic ore of a dull black color from which the elements niobium (formerly "columbium") and tantalum are extracted.

The Denver Zoo website states, "When refined, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electrical charge. These properties make it a vital element in creating capacitors, the electronic elements that control flow inside miniature circuit boards. Tantalum capacitors are used in almost all cell phones, laptops, pagers and other electronic devices."

Where do the phones go after you donate them to the Denver Zoo? About 80% of them will be reused and refurbished by low income users in Latin America or by local programs such as battered women organizations. That 80% also includes senior citizens and other groups like the Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) located in Durango, CO. who use the phones for 911 emergencies. Unusable cell phones will be recycled under strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines by certified recyclers.

Want more reasons to recycle your phone at the Denver Zoo? The Denver Zoo website states that for each cell phone donated, Eco-Cell will donate $10. The funds raised will help the zoo provide world class care to all of its animal residents.

In addition, you will be helping wildlife in the Congo where a vast majority of coltan is mined. Currently, coltan is being mined illegally in protected lands across the Congo, which is endangering the local wildlife.

The next time you visit the Denver Zoo, consider answering the call of the wild by donating your unwanted or unused cell phone at the guest services desk.

Last summer, the gift shop had a green competition to see which department of KM Concessions (the company I work for) could be the most green. The winner of this competition received $100 to spend in any way they liked. At the gift shop, we did several things to be green. These things included bringing our own water bottles to cutting back on the use of plastic cups, recycling the coffee grounds used in the café, using napkins made from recycled paper, using cups and spoons made from corn, limiting each employee to one plastic cup per day for drinks, and recycling cardboard and used batteries. In the end, our department was the greenest department.

Even though the competition ended, the gift shop did not stop doing all they could to be environmental conscious. We still do everything mentioned above and continually look for new ways to help the environment.

Since Earth Day is coming up, we decided to use our $100 to help out the community. On April 22nd, you will find Kibongi Market employees out cleaning up nearby City Park. We feel it is a great way to give back to the community and show that the Denver Zoo cares about the environment.

Sustainability itself has three branches that include the environment, the needs of present and future generations, and the economy. Using these principles, sustainable management allows a system to run indefinitely without using up resources at a net loss. It also allows the system to maintain economic capability and fulfill the needs of present and future generations.

"Sustainable management has been created to be defined as the application of sustainable practices in the categories of businesses, agriculture, society, environment, and personal life by managing them in a way that will benefit [everyone for years to come]", Wikipedia states.:

The Denver Zoo Sustainable Management System is made up of several parts. One aspect is a new exhibit to be called Asian Tropics. Asian Tropics, according to the zoo's website, will be a ten acre space dedicated to elephant conservation. The site will include more than fifteen buildings and has been registered at the platinum level with the United States Green Building Council. The exhibit is scheduled to be completed by 2012.

Another way, according to the website, that the zoo is trying to be sustainable is by looking for opportunities to use its waste stream to generate energy for heat and power for the Asian Tropics site. With this system, the zoo will reduce the amount of waste going to landfills by 1.5 million pounds per year.

The website states, "[The] Denver Zoo's biomass gasification system will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world to convert a complex and diverse waste stream into a uniform, stable fuel on a consistent basis.Once complete, this system will serve as a model for such systems at other campus-like settings, from business and amusement parks to resorts, schools and small communities."

In addition to all of this, the Denver Zoo has hired a full time, permanent Sustainability Coordinator. This person is responsible for deciding which industries, products, and vendors will best support the zoo's mission to be as sustainable as possible. Perhaps the most important job for the Sustainability Coordinator is managing the Denver Zoo's Workplace Conservation Committee. This committee, or "green team" includes representatives from each department of the zoo who are responsible for coming up with strategies to keep every area of the zoo as green as possible.

In August 2008, the Denver Zoo was awarded acceptance into the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment's Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) as a Gold Leader.

One such book entitled "Farewell My Subaru" follows a retired journalist named Doug Fine who decides to uproot and move to New Mexico. He wants to use less, ultimate zero, oil and get in touch with living off the land, getting everything he needs to survive as locally as possible. I'll admit, as a long time Subaru owner, the title and cover caught my attention right away and I'm happy to report that the contents of this book were no letdown. From the day Doug found two baby goats using Craigslist, I knew I could relate.

Farewell My Subaru had me laughing out loud, sometimes in the middle of the night after long days of clearing Mesquite (an indigenous weed with gnarly thorns that can harm cow digestion) out on the ranch in Texas. At times when all I wanted to do was rest, this book kept me going and illuminated the fun, often goofy sides, of "making it" on the land. The author comes off as a sort of goof ball who isn't afraid to admit that he's out of his element. His primary goal is to successfully raise some goats so he can make ice cream one day.

From his high flying adventures precariously crouched on a windmill, putting up solar panels, to the surprise midnight flooding of a custom built solar hot water heater, to more sentimental moments about relationships, love and a neighbor who has cancer, this book is pretty real and raw in its contents but it keeps a light heart all the way through. It offers an alternative to long days in the office making plastic widgets and super gung-ho outdoorsmenship. A nice "happy medium" somewhere in the middle.

The importance of community and connection to animals, earth and friends really stands out in this book. Everyone seems willing to pitch in and the characters are all real characters in the way they interact and offer something unique. At one point the river between home and town is flooding and the author has to make several crossings by foot. An older neighbor watches from his porch and comments on past floods as the author nearly drowns. Moments like this took the reality edge off and read like a humble comic strip.

One unique approach this book took in order to get across the sheer magnitude and seriousness of waning oil resources and environmental consequences is to insert shocking quotes throughout each chapter. One minute the author is talking about buying a new truck to convert to bio diesel and the next you're being told how much fuel Americans use on a daily basis. These factoids, while depressing and almost overwhelming at times, serve to connect the reader to the severe reality being faced in the world. Hey, this is true! But here, laugh a little and consider this "wacky" adventure.

Well, the adventure doesn't seem so wacky by the time it's through and even if sustainability isn't your thing or you're already living in a grass hut, this book is a lot of fun. The goats alone are worth the read. One minute they're eating Doug's coveted roses and the next they are in danger of being eaten themselves by natural predators. There's a lot of meaning and self reflection being passed along here but even so, the entertainment value is huge and I would certainly read a sequel if one existed.

This book offers uplifting fun adventure while still maintaining a connection to serious realities. It will likely have you smiling and laughing, looking at yourself in a new, un-intimidated light thinking "if he can do it, maybe I can too!" and wondering "what does goat milk ice cream taste like?" Thanks Doug :)

"As an organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, [the] Denver Zoo is trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible, in every facet of our organization. We're encouraging others to do the same. It's amazing how small changes can result in tremendous positive impact, especially when many people practice them over time," says Denver Zoo President/CEO Craig Piper on the Denver Zoo website (www.denverzoo.org).

One of the many ways that the Denver Zoo is working to be as environmentally conscious as possible, is by selling a product called Zoop. What is Zoop, you ask? Well, according to A1 Organics, Zoop is a 100% natural composted fertilizer and soil conditioner. It is made from Denver Zoo animal waste, and thus eliminates the zoo's need to dump the waste in landfills.

Each can of Zoop is three pounds and costs $9.99 at the Kibongi Market gift shop. As the A1 Organics website says, one scoop goes a long way, so a three pound container will last you a pretty long time. The Zoop itself is odorless and of high quality. It can be used for indoor or outdoor plants.

In order to market this product, the Denver Zoo brought in McClain Finlon Advertising. In an online article by Al Stewart that was published in Adweek, sales of Zoop increased significantly after McClain Finlon created a series of silly ads. One such ad, the article explains, shows a rear view of a zebra, an elephant, and a rhinoceros with a caption that reads "made fresh daily". One of the ads was featured on the show America's Funniest Animals on Animal Planet.

So, if you are interested in an earth friendly fertilizer for your garden this spring, come buy some Zoop from the Denver Zoo. Not only will you be helping the environment, but a large part of the proceeds from your purchase of Zoop goes to helping support the animals of the Denver Zoo who helped in the creation of this earth friendly product.