December 2009
Topics in this months newsletter
- Sustainable Tips for Greening Your Holiday Habits
- WAKE UP LAUGHING: The “Up-wising” Has Begun!
- Two Upper Keys Businesses Become Green Certified
- GLEE Gives Thanks for Community R4 Fair Support!
- Thumbs Up!
Sustainable Tips for Greening Your Holiday Habits
Tis the season for choosing gifts and giving thanks, but how do we show we care without adding to the waste stream or growing our carbon footprint? Avoiding rampant consumerism during the holidays is possible, and here are a few tips to help you along the way.
1. Buying green gifts is easy at GLEE’s Green Store, and your purchases also help support GLEE.
Green gifts show that you care about the environment and help others along the path to greening their lives. When buying for kids remember 'battery-free' gifts like bikes, kites and board games. About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during December and they eventually become hazardous waste in a landfill somewhere.
2. Give intangibles -- experiences rather than things.
Instead of buying material goods, plan special experiences that will provide pleasure and memories for years to come. A professional massage or a day at the spa can make anyone feel appreciated. Music lessons and art classes are gifts that enrich our lives. Take the family to a museum and lunch, plan a sunset sail or schedule a dolphin trip for a family outing. Take your mom to a local theater production, a movie or a concert. She’ll probably appreciate the experience more than the sweater you got her last year and you’ve never seen her wear.
3. Give the gift of nourishment.
Even big kids like getting homemade sweets for the holidays. But why stop there? It’s easy to fill a basket or bowl with fresh fruits, a selection of cheese and other gourmet delicacies. Fill a reusable cloth bag with fresh organic produce, add a few of your favorite recipes and tie it up with a raffia bow. Buy some potted herbs and create an herb garden in an old planter or container. Fill used jars with spiced nuts, specialty coffee or herbal teas. These are simple gifts that please the palate without breaking the budget. You can also host a festive potluck or support local restaurants by taking a friend to dinner.
4. Make something special or buy something used.
Homemade gifts bring a personal touch to gift giving. Make a tree ornament out of something that would end up in the waste bin or design colorful wrapping paper from used paper bags. Use permanent marker to make a durable recipe book of family favorites reusing cloth or other recycled material. Check out the resell shops and look for quality items that have been gently used and will serve a purpose. Search online for used items before buying something new.
5. Buy carbon offsets in the recipient's name.
A carbon offset is a certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions, the principal cause of global warming. Although complex in practice, carbon offsets are fairly simple in theory. If you develop a project that reduces carbon dioxide emissions, every ton of emissions reduced results in the creation of one carbon offset. Project developers can then sell these offsets to finance their projects. Along with cutting your own carbon emissions — and fuel bills — you can help your friends and family offset theirs. Reputable carbon offset companies are Carbonfund.org and Terra Pass.
6. Buy memberships to your favorite environmental organization!
If your friends are already members of GLEE, give them a state park family pass or a membership to another organization you know they’ll appreciate. Or simply support a favorite non-profit with a donation in the name of a loved one.
For more ideas on green gift ideas, go to eartheasy.com.
WAKE UP LAUGHING: The “Up-wising” Has Begun!
Cosmic comic Swami Beyondananda brings his comedy disguised as wisdom – or is it wisdom disguised as comedy – to the Conch Republic for two performances this week. Appearing at the Elk’s Lodge in Tavernier at 8 p.m. Friday Dec. 4, and at the Tropic Cinema in Key West at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, both Swami performances are fundraisers for EcoWeek 2010 and are sponsored by Keys to Peace.
Swami, a self-styled “political guru” who is probably the only comic Swami who channels both Elvis and Bullwinkle, offers insightful and hilarious comedy, guaranteed to leave ‘em laughing till the sacred cows come home. A list of Swami’s creative works will give you an indication of where he’s coming from. His books include Driving Your Own Karma, Duck Soup for the Soul, When You See a Sacred Cow Milk It for All It’s Worth, and his latest, Swami for Precedent: A 7-Step Plan to Heal the Body Politic and Cure Electile Dysfunction.
Speaking of politics, Swami’s alter ego Steve Bhaerman is a former political scientist (yes, we know … it’s an oxymoron) who has recently completed a serious book with noted cellular biologist Bruce H. Lipton, PhD. The book, Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There From Here (Hay House, 2009), has been called “world changing” by Deepak Chopra.
As part of his national promotion tour for that book, Steve will be co-presenting with Joseph McCormick (Transpartisan Alliance) at two separate events (TBA) designed to activate the heart and soul of America to “reconstitute the Constitution,” and bring together parties from across the political spectrum in a conversation on how we can gather around common virtues and values to “reunite both America and the Conch Republic.”
Tickets for the Friday December 4th Tavernier Elk’s Lodge Swami comedy show may be purchased online at www.keystopeace.org. Tickets for the Saturday December 5th Swami comedy show in Key West at Tropic Cinema may be purchased online at www.tropiccinema.com special events link.
Two Upper Keys Businesses Become Green Certified
Congratulations to GLEE’s recently certified Green Business Partners! In November, the Green Turtle Inn Restaurant of Islamorada, and Sheriff Synthetics: A Certified Amsoil Dealer, Key Largo, met the requirements of the Green Business Certification Program. Both businesses downloaded and completed the online tools for the program, and using those guidelines, met the standards of an on-site assessment.
The Green Turtle Inn Restaurant, serving locals and tourists since 1947, has adopted a recycling program, replaced all light bulbs with energy saving CFLs, added window tinting to deflect heat and save energy and installed weather stripping where needed to reduce energy leaks. Management is also in the process of switching to biodegradable or recyclable supplies for take out items and will eventually establish a compost program that will nourish a vegetable garden planned for the site.
Sheriff Synthetics, a certified Amsoil dealership operated by Jeff & Rosie Sheriff, has maintained a small footprint while doing business in a 120-square foot home office. In the Sheriff household, recycling is a way of life and energy conservation is a priority. By downloading his energy bill history dating back to 2003 (available on the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative website), the Sheriffs can confirm the energy savings they began to enjoy in 2006, when the Sheriffs became serious about energy conservation. Installing CFLs and investing in an AC system that is Energy Star certified are two of many steps the Sheriffs have taken to conserve energy.
The Green Business Certification Program was launched in November and offers free downloadable tools to help any businesses reduce waste, conserve resources and save money. Green Business Certification is open to all GLEE Business Members and includes many benefits, including a framed certification, Green Business Partner window decals and more. A $50 fee is required for the on-site assessment. For more information, read about the Green Business Program on our site.
GLEE Gives Thanks for Community R4 Fair Support!
Thanks to the many individuals who volunteered to make the 2009 R4 Fairs an educational success, the businesses and municipalities who served as sponsors of the fairs, and all those who attended to learn more about sustainable living. Be watching our website for a slide show of the many exhibits and activities that made these events so successful.
Thumbs Up!
Sunshine State Lives Up to Name with 25-Megawatt Solar Energy Farm
President Barack Obama and FPL Energy officials recently attended the opening ceremony of a 25-megawatt solar energy farm -- the second-largest solar power site in the United States -- located in Arcadia, Florida.
Navy Invests in Solar Systems, Water & Energy Conservation Measures
According to the Key West Citizen, the Navy is making major changes at their base on Boca Chica that are designed to conserve energy. A recent Citizen article reported: "Energy-saving light bulbs are the norm everywhere on base, as well as motion sensors that turn lights off when no one is in a room," said Roy Dolley, the Navy utility and energy manager. "Low-flow water fixtures, shower heads and toilets are being installed at Truman Annex, Trumbo Point, Sigsbee Annex and Boca Chica Key. About $9 million in solar panels have been installed on Navy buildings on Boca Chica Key, as well as an $800,000 solar power system that will operate air conditioning units. Another $1.2 million has been invested in solar recharging systems that will provide power to electric cars on base, as well as hot water heaters."
FDEP Deems Key Largo Resorts Marina Clean & Green
Key Largo Resorts Marina was recently awarded Clean Marina certification from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and The Clean Boating Partnership.
Some of Key Largo Resorts Marina's initiatives include the use of oil absorbers in bilges, utilization of recycling centers and the installation of multiple trash receptacles.
"We have developed a 'best practices' standard, which all of our vendors follow," said Candi MacDuff, Key Largo Resorts Marina dockmaster, in a statement. "This certification not only applies to the marina, but to our entire facility team."
Court Rules EPA Will Establish Water Quality Criteria for Florida
The EPA agreed to establish numeric water quality criteria for Florida' lakes and flowing waters by January 14, 2010. The agency has until January 14, 2011, to establish numeric water quality criteria for Florida's coastal and estuarine waters. The consent decree allows the state to set numeric criteria before these dates as long as they are approved by the EPA. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit brought by five environmental groups seeking to compel the federal government to set water quality standards for nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in public waters.