Is your search engine eco-friendly?

Check out yamoogle.com...and use it! It helps neutralize your carbon footprint, and claims that "using Yamoogle every day, the average user will offset 18.1 tons of carbon per year." Not bad just for using the Internet!

New local green nonprofits

Hey eco enthusiasts!

Just wanted to share a couple of new nonprofits devoted to the environment, and also involving another passion of mine: food.

Greenplate.org: its mission it is to get plastics out of your diet. There are many ways to get involved, like printing out flyers and hanging them in your workplace, condo building, etc...or volunteering.

Green Foodservice Alliance: its mission is to help Atlanta restaurants go green. Their scope is wide: research, education and lobbying...and of course, they're always looking for volunteers.

Get involved!

Green resources

Here's a link to a really comprehensive list of green happenings and projects in Atlanta. It's super helpful if you're looking for resources or updates!

http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/greener%20atlanta/atlanta%20green%20city%20initiatives.pdf

http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/greener%20atlanta/atlanta%20green%20city%20initiatives.pdf

Green Atlanta colleges

Emory and Georgia Tech were featured in the Princeton Review as two of the top 11 greenest colleges, their newest category. Yay for Atlanta!

Here's the whole list:


Green Honor Roll (in alphabetical order)

Arizona State University at the Tempe campus
Bates College (Lewiston, ME)
Binghamton University (State Univ. of New York at Binghamton)
College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, ME)
Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
Harvard College (Cambridge, MA)
University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Yale University (New Haven, CT)

For more info on Emory's eco efforts, visit http://www.emory.edu/sustainability.cfm; for Georgia Tech info, visit http://www.sustainable.gatech.edu/.

http://green.msn.com/galleries/photos/photos.aspx?preview=true&gid=221&GT1=45002&page=6

Southeast Green

Check out Southeast Green: it's a great site with lots of green resources and tons of valuable info.

www.southeastgreen.com.

Green Homeowner's Insurance Policy

I just got a media release that said the following...how cool?

Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine recently joined Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Regional Vice President Chris Molinari to announce the approval of the first green homeowners’ insurance policy in Georgia. This new coverage approved by Commissioner Oxendine became available this year, and will enable Georgia homeowners with conventional homes to rebuild to the latest environmental standards after a loss.

If home is damaged (partial loss), customers may choose from a menu of items

• Energy Star rated appliances, lighting, electronic equipment and roofing / insulation
• An Energy Star upgrade of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
• Forest Stewardship Council certified wood for millwork, ceilings, siding and framing, including bamboo flooring
• Non-toxic, low odor paints and carpeting
• Water-saving plumbing fixtures
• Elimination of ozone-depleting refrigerants and fire extinguishing agents, replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives
• If the home is destroyed, customer can choose to have it rebuilt to USGBC LEED Certified standards
• How much does it cost? On a $1 million home, the green coverage would cost $70 – or about what we’re paying now to fill up a tank of gas. There is a minimum of $25 on less expensive homes and a maximum of $600 on a very expensive home.

Eco-friendly exterminator

So I came home from vacation to a lovely swarm of ants in my kitchen and bathroom...although I am all about being natural and organic, the idea of loads of ants hanging around my apartment creeps me out more than the chemicals, I think! So, I called Arrow exterminators, and told them that I was not into the chemical thing, but that I needed some help. To my surprise, they said the company is switching over to being eco-friendly, and they're in transition now.

The person I spoke with was super helpful and said he's put down a note to make sure they use eco-friendly stuff in my place. I'm impressed so far--now, if they can only get rid of the ants...

www.arrowexterminators.com

Eat less meat to help the earth

The UN just announced that people should have at least one meat-free day a week in order to help combat global warming. It's so interesting when the food world meets the environmental world--I love that they're actually so intertwined...usually when you help one, you help the other.

To read more about this, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7600005.stm...or search around online, and you'll find a bunch of articles on the topic.

Let me know what you think!

Puppy Love

You love your four-legged pal to pieces...which is why you'll start taking him or her to the newly opened City Dog Market, which is all about being natural. Located in Brookhaven, the shop offers organic food and dog treats, non-toxic and earth-friendly dog and cat toys, and a welcoming atmosphere with helpful, friendly employees. No wonder they call themselves "Better than a belly rub."

www.citydogmarket.com

Clean and Green

Did you know that the inside of your home could be way more unhealthy than the air outside? That's why it's important to clean green--with nontoxic, organic cleaning products. If you want to find a like-minded cleaning service, check out Eco Clean Atlanta--an earth-friendly home cleaning service based in Decatur. They also incorporate essential oils into the process, leaving your home feeling fresh and smelling wonderful. For more info, visit www.ecocleanatl.com.

Do-better Dentist

So, pretty much everyone hates the dentist, right? Well, it's a little bit easier to like Dr. Roberta Cann, a local holistic dentist. She'll take out your mercury fillings, using only biocompatible replacements, and employs a digital X-ray system for lower radiation doses. And she does it all with a warm smile and soft demeanor--seriously. And, if you're really nervous about the work, she'll even write you a prescription for Valium. Now THAT's holistic.

Dr. Roberta Cann
3525 Piedmont Rd NE # 408
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 233-1102

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Want to recycle, but not sure how to get started? Check out the below link...you can order a bin and get your questions answered. It's never too late to start making a difference!


http://dreamsan.com/pdf/Atlanta%20Recycling%20User%20Guide.pdf

Eco Dynamics

I have to mention one of my favorite new eateries, Dynamic Dish. Located on Edgewood Avenue, an up-and-coming area for cutting-edge restaurants, the small, market-feeling spot offers super fresh, artfully prepared food, mostly sourced from a local farm, Greenleaf (who also offers a CSA share with pick up at Dynamic Dish). They also consider the earth by doing things like offering recycled napkins, using greywater in the toilet and supporting the local community. Only about four menu items--written on a chalkboard--are available per day, with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Saturday nights are organic pizza nights, and since the tables are communal, you just might make a new friend or two in the process. Please support this local green gem!

New Farmer's Market

I'm so excited...there's a new green market in town at Studioplex...it's small so far, but I got great peaches from a local farm a couple of weeks ago. There were also tomatoes, snap peas, soaps, crafts and more. Check it out so they can stay in 'biz!

Jewelry with a Conscience

Have you heard about Smart Glass Jewelry? Designer Kathleen Plate creates innovative pieces from glass. She has a line of jewelry made from recycled glass bottles...lots of circular, "open" looks...in either necklace or earring form. They're really elegant and pretty, and have been spotted on high-profile, eco-aware people like Laura Turner Seydel. www.smartglassjewelry.com

Mark Edge, another local designer, recently launched a new Eco Vintage line that was previewed at the Atlanta Gift Show in July. There's not much on his website about it yet, but check back for more details. www.markedge.com

Grassroots and Lovin' It

There are two initiatives I've recently been alerted to...

www.wecansolveit.org: The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. Its goal is to stop global warming. The organization is educating people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable. It gives the public great ways to get involved, and alerts you about what's going on in your area.

The other one is www.thepickensplan.com...the aim of this grassroots movement is to decrease our country's dependence on oil. Apparently, in 1970 we imported 24 percent of our oil, and today that number is more than 70 percent. The Pickens Plan proposes to be a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives, and buy us time to develop even greater new technologies. Check out the website to see different ways to get involved and spread the word.

Eco Tip

According to getenergyactive.org, the best "green" temperature setting for your freezer is 5 degrees F.

Home Green Home

Not too long ago, I was recommended to check out a store in the Druid Hills area that has great green products for the home...it's called Pure Life Healthy Homes, and it has some cool eco-friendly products that will help your health as well as the earth's. It's a bare bones, small little shop that's chock full of great products.

I ended up leaving with a Code Blue water filter (which looks like a Brita, but according to owner Audrey, is way better than even installed filters) and a filter for my shower. Audrey also carries things like organic mattresses, these really cool balls you can put in your bath to suck out the chlorine and other toxins, paint, sealants dehumidifiers, EMF protectors, and more. She is super knowledgeable, and even had a radio show on 1010 AM twice a month. It's on a temporary hiatus, but hopefully will be coming back on the air soon. If you're looking to green up your home, it's worth stopping in here.

For more information, visit purelifehealthyhomes.com.

Making it Right

I read something in Body + Soul magazine I thought was really interesting, so I wanted to share: "Take fewer left turns. UPS has used this quirky, fuel-conserving trick for decades. Stopping to turn left takes longer-and wastes more gas-than turning right (which you can often do at a red light). UPS estimates that in 2007, it saved more than 3 million gallons of fuel and reduced its trucks' CO2 emissions by the equivalent of taking 5,300 cars off the road, just by route planning with right turns in mind. Even a small change in driving habits can help the earth in a big way."

Driving slowly, making sure your car's properly tuned up and has the appropriate tire pressure, and parking your car in the shade can also help the environment.

Parish: Busted?

So, Concentrics restaurant group's newest addition, Parish, is one of the city's newest "hot spots," and has gotten written up everywhere. One of the restaurant's biggest selling points is its "eco-friendly" practices, of which there are many, and I'm very happy about. For instance, they use potato-based, biodegradable to-go silverware, and their patio umbrellas actually collect rain. They also use many organic ingredients, and lovingly restored the space, and it looks great.

My only question is why they serve their bread in paper? It just seems contradictory to their message, and I don't know if there's a reason. Is it a blatant mistake or a calculated decision? I'd love to find out about this one!

I barely have to think of what to write about, because everyone's sending me great info! So, thanks! Here's the latest one that my friend Josh sent me: The Sustainable Living Roadshow, which, according to their website, is "a sophisticated and dynamic tour designed to educate, entertain, inspire and empower individuals and communities across the globe with information and tools necessary to live in more direct sustainable harmony with the earth. It represents a new paradigm of businesses, travel, education and entertainment."

The event is coming to Emory Sept. 20...I can't seem to find out exactly what they'll be doing, but I'll try to get the info and post some more info asap...what I do know so far is that they're educators and entertainers who will be traveling in renewable fuel vehicles to empower people to implement more green initiatives in their communities. How cool??

Veggie roof

So I was going to write about something else this evening, but my friend Fernando asked me if I'd heard about the High Museum's new green roof on the France Bunzl Center...which I hadn't...but now I have! I just researched it and it sounds great. The link below has the info, but basically it says the 6,680-square-foot vegetated green roof will "help clean and reduce storm-water runoff, reduce the urban-heat-island effect, reduce energy consumption, extend the roof life and improve air quality. This particular green roof also has the ability to retain about 62,000 gallons of storm water per year."

http://www.high.org/main.taf?erube_fh=erblog&erblog.submit.PostDetail=true&erblog.blogid=31&erblog.BlogPostID=732


It sounds a lot like the roof of the recently renovated Sweetwater Creek visitor center...the center achieved platinum LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition to its green roof, which I believe not only helps with conserving water, but also energy consumption, it boasts a composting toilet system, greywater irrigation and photovoltaic roo conserves resources by eliminating wastewater, reusing rainwater on-site and reducing storm-water runoff. In addition, the visitors’ center employs a photovoltaic solar panels.

Very cool stuff! Thanks Fernando!

Gathering Green

Hello eco-minded Atlantans! I'm excited to start this blog to not only encourage Atlantans to take part in the city's green movement, but to make them aware of the greenery that already exists. It's exciting that the country's getting more conscious, and Atlanta is getting onboard, slowly but surely. Stay tuned for info about the city's environmentally restaurants, businesses, buildings, jewelry, clothes and more.