Six MU Students Experiment in Sustainable Living

The six residents of Sustainahouse, photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, (left to right) Sally Waldman, Henry Hellmuth, Monica Everett, Katherine Seal, Li Tang and Claire Friedrichsen, were selected out of more than a dozen applicants to live in the house at 210 N. College Ave., in Columbia, Mo. They are experimenting on how to live with minimal impact on the environment.

COLUMBIA – Most college students returning to Columbia this fall were looking to live in the lap of luxury – with flat screen t.v.’s, free workout facilities, swimming pools with hot tubs, and free transportation to campus.

But, there are six students now living in a house on College Avenue who say they’d rather go without.

KOMU 8’s Chenfei Zhang introduces us to this group, living in the Sustainahouse.

Green Wedding Guide

Summer is in full swing and wedding season is heating up. Among the many worries that crop up during wedding planning, perhaps you are following the trend, and you want to be as eco-friendly as possible on the big day. Well, you aren’t alone and here are some great ideas:

From the start: Don’t waste paper on hundreds of guests who check their email more than their mailboxes. Send E-vites. Greevelope’s basic package will only cost you $99 and the invitation acts like the real deal with a place to check yes or no –no postage required. Really wanna pinch every penny and go green with the invitations? Just Email the url for the wedding website and set up an RSVP on the site.

On to the venue: Finding ways to save on the venue, now that takes talent. Take a look at Pam and Joe’s bicycle wedding in Brooklyn. Now the weather may be slightly unpredictable in Missouri but think about using an outdoor venue as summer starts and the rain subsides. Even inside weddings held during the day cut down the use of lights which expend a lot of energy. Keeping the reception close to the site of the ceremony is more convenient for the guests but also cuts down on driving. We may not all be able to bike down the block to the wedding but keeping the reception close is typically doable.

Eco and Local Friendly Receptions: An easy way to go green with the food is buying local. Hire a restaurant that uses local ingredients to cater the reception. Serve local beverages such as Schlafly, Stonehill and Les Bourgeois. Not only are you helping the environment but you are also contributing to the local economy.

The dresses: An easy way to recycle is in the clothing. The dress is the big deal for most brides, the part that makes you feel like a princess. So why not get a one of a kind dress that is environment friendly too. Tailor an heirloom dress, buy vintage or check out Justin Alexander’s eco-friendly Pure line. When it comes to bridesmaids, try giving re-wearable dress choices for your posse. Allowing bridesmaids to choose the cut of their dress makes them more comfortable but also increases the chances they will wear it again. J. Crew has a wide selection of dresses, in many colors, cuts, lengths and fabrics.

How can the gifts be green? In this day and age it seems we all have too much baggage. Instead of requesting expensive pieces of china to add to a collection you might use once a year, think outside the box a little. Blogger Joanna Goddard broke down the honeymoon of her dreams into pieces and asked guests to contribute. There are even honeymoon companies that aim to create an eco-friendly theme while incorporating luxury at the same time.

You are already spending enough money, so go green and have one less thing to feel guilty over!

Sources: greenbrideguide.com

Goodbye Plastic, Hello Reusable

This week, KOMU 8′s Allyson Bird shows us just how easy it is to use reusable bags.  In the last few years, it seems like there has been a big push for reusable grocery bags.  You can buy them at many stores and they are available in many different patterns and sizes.  Some supermarkets even give you a (small) discount when you use a reusable bag.

Despite the stylish appeal and clear benefits to the environment, people still aren’t using them as much as you might think.  Many people use the excuse, “I left my reusable bag at home.”  But why not keep them in your car at all times?  Even using one bag will help the environment.  One reusable bag can fit up five times the groceries as a plastic bag!  Imagine how many plastic bags could be prevented from being used from making the switch to reusable bags.  Mother nature would definitely be thankful.

• Every year, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used cross the world, and it can take 20 to 1,000 days for one plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. They remain toxic after they break down.  Those numbers mean about one million plastic bags are used every minute.
• The average family uses about 15 plastic bags after one trip to the grocery store.  If they brought their own reusable bags, they would only use three or four.
• Only one half to three percent of plastic bags are thrown away.
• The United States goes through about 100 billion plastic bags a year, costing stores about $4 billion a year.

The next time you head to the store and the cashier asks if you want to buy a reusable bag for 99 cents, consider saying yes and leaving the bag in your car.  Not only will it be easier to carry all your groceries inside, but let’s face it, the Earth needs it.  It’s the little things that add up that make such a huge impact on the environment.

** These facts come from ReuseIt **

Cleanup With a Green Mind

This week, KOMU 8′s Cynthia Yang and Alex Holley shows us how household items can be used in unconventional, but useful ways. These items have a list of purposes, including cleaning, beauty tips and ways to make life a bit easier.

Cynthia:
The moment anyone steps into my room, it’s not difficult to figure out that I am a clean freak. I make my bed the second I get out and keep my clothes in the closet and off the floor. Though some may dread cleaning, it is surprisingly a relaxing daily activity of mine. From the moment I found this article from “Woman’s Day”, I have been using the suggested tips. I also found another article from “Real Simple.”

Here are the tips that stood out to me:

• Rubber Bands: Wrap a bottle around a shampoo bottle to easily distinguish it from the conditioner.
• Nail Polish: Smooth out rough edges of a hanger with a coat of clear nail polish.
• Dryer Sheets: Rub shower doors and walls with a wet sheet to remove water buildup; run a sheet over frizzy hair to calm and freshen your hairdo.
• Hair dryer: Blow hot air on an eyelash curler for 10 seconds before curling lashes to hold the curl. I have done this for years and have seen great results!
• Cornstarch: Put some on a cloth to get cooking oil off of a wall.
• Salt: Clean a greasy pan by putting some salt into a pan before washing.
• Ziploc Bag: Pour some white vinegar into a bag and rubberband to a showerhead for 3o minutes to renew its condition.
• Chalk: Ants do not cross a chalk line because chalk contains calcium carbonate, which ants don’t like.
• Lemon: Cut one in half and scrub a cutting board to sanitize it.
• Coffee Filters: Use as a substitute to paper towels to clean windows and glass.

Here is a recipe for the well-known cleaning product, Oxyclean, I found from a blog called Creatively Domestic.

Photo Credit: Creativelydomestic.com

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup peroxide
• 1/2 cup baking soda

• * Mix together and soak laundry in it for 20 minutes to overnight and then wash as usual. Or you can just skip the water and pour the peroxide and baking soda directly into the wash with your laundry soap and wash as usual. *

Alex:

Although I am not the neatest person you well ever meet, I do love finding new uses for old things. So if you’re looking to do some creative things with household items, take a look at this link:

Here are some of the things listed that I found really useful and creative!

• Carpet remnants: Line the drawers where you put your pots and pans, so it keeps things quiet.
• Glass Jars: Decorate them and give them as gifts.
• Old Greeting Cards: Use as a bookmark.
• Sheets and Tablecloths: Cut to make placemats and aprons.
• Newspaper: Place under car to soak up an oil leak.
• Altoids or similar tin boxes: Keep small items for sewing.
• Toothbrushes: Use as a bathroom scrubber.
• Styrofoam egg cartons: Use to sprout seedlings before putting them in a garden.

Eco-conscious Traveling

Sean Hirshberg shows us how we can lessen our carbon footprint while traveling. From the location to the hotel choice, it’s not difficult to go green while taking a vacation or a couple “sick days.”

When I think of “going green” I think of recycling and eco-friendly cars. One thing I never thought about when thinking of the green initiative is travel. But Go Green Travel Green provides some tips for finding an environmentally conscious destination. One of the most interesting tips deals with finding green accommodations and hotels.

Aside from one episode of Las Vegas, I never really thought hotels even had serious thoughts about being environmentally conscious, but in my opinion this is a very smart business decision. There is an entire market that this type of hotel accommodation would appeal to. An article  from Go Green Travel Green has useful tips on how to find an environmentally safe hotel.

While making a hotel environmentally conscious is difficult and can be costly, I think in the long run, it could pay off in tapping a somewhat untapped market for green accommodations.

Springtime Lawn Prep

As spring arrives, many people start to work on their lawns and gardens.  But, KOMU 8′s Kristin Carringer and Nan Wu shows us that some of the preparations can cause harm to our local water.

Mike Heimos, City of Columbia’s Stormwater Educator, wants people to be mindful of what they put on their lawns.  The biggest caution as the snow melts in the spring is to be careful with fertilizers and pesticides.  He says your lawn may not even need all those chemicals and tells us how to find out exactly what your lawn needs:

But he does say that the public needs to be careful when they apply the treatments to their lawns:

 

Heimos also makes visits to local schools to teach kids about protecting the environment.  He says they usually cover not littering or putting things in the storm drains, and home composting.

Composting consists of gather organic matter, like parts of fruits and vegetables you don’t eat (like an apple core or banana peel), and letting it decompose.  It turns into a natural fertilizer that’s a more environmentally safe alternative to chemical fertilizers.  The City hosts free hour-long composting classes.  The remaining dates for the classes are Tuesday, April 19^th (6 p.m.); Saturday, May 14^th (10 a.m.); and  Saturday, June 25^th (10 a.m.). A free compost bin comes with the class.

Heimos says the best way to make a difference on the water you drink is by starting at home.  He suggests having rain barrels, a composter, cutting your grass high, and collecting grass clippings and leaves.  He says everyone, even kids, should help with water improvements.

“This affects everybody.  This affects them now and as they get older.  And it’s important that they learn these techniques now and what do to around the house to keep our water waste clean.  It’s very important: it’s the water we drink, the water we swim in and inevitably it’s the water that gives us life!”

Check out this Flickr Slideshow to see how Columbia got involved in the green movement!

Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products…Say What?

We are starting this week with a post from Liz Reed, but we are giving you a warning beforehand about the contents about this post. It’s a bit unconventional, but an interesting way to go green!

We’re about to discuss a very problematic, feminine problem that our male readers might freak out about… Shield your eyes now!

That’s your warning, now let’s get real–when it gets to be that time of the month, it’s hard not to notice all the plastic and paper waste that follows our cycles (not to mention the price). And nothing is more frustrating than having mother nature’s gift sneak up on you while you’re out and about and discovering you’re fresh out of um, supplies.

Cue Lunapad, the sustainable, healthy alternative to cotton tampons and pads. The company is women-owned and based in Vancouver, Canada. Founders Madeline Shaw and Suzanne Siemens say on their website (LINK “website” with this: www.lunapads.com) the creation of Lunapads came from their “shared vision for better health for women and the planet.” The product is used by thousands of women in 40 counties, meaning one million less disposable tampons and pads in landfills.

According to the website, each washable cloth pad features a base with wings that fasten around the gusset of your underwear (thong-size is also an option) and a liner insert that secures to the top of the pad with “ric-rac bands.”

Lunapad come in all sizes and coverage for light to heavy days–all you need to do is measure the length your current disposable-pads as a guide, select your typical flow and voila! You’re on your way to a healthy, sustainable period.

All pads also come in a variety of cute prints and designs, for you fashion-forward ladies. And another plus? Lunapads are a safe alternative for women who develop bladder infections from tampons. The website also includes how-to videos, tips and testimonials with glowing reviews from current Lundpad users.

So if you’re ready to stop seeing red during your period and take “green” to the next level, try out Lunapad and give us your review!

Companies Cleaning Up

This week, 8 Goes Green is interested in how companies are going green across the nation. KOMU 8′s Lauren Formica looking into how corporations are working to use innovative ways to keep their business as green as possible.

Going green can be easy and fun. Turning off appliances, recycling and reducing electronic usage are some ways to be environmentally conscious in your home. Sure, going green starts on this type of small scale. But have you ever wondered what companies are the biggest green supporters? Knowing the answers could help you decide where to shop, eat and even bank. Here are some of the biggest companies going green. Some of these green giants just might surprise you!

Bank of America is the biggest eco-friendly banking operation. From 2000 to 2005, this company reduced paper usage by 32%. Bank of America even has it’s own recycling program that recycles about 30,000 tons of paper each year. Doing this saves 200,000 trees each year. Not bad for a company that deals with green “paper” every day.

Here’s one that might come as a surprise…General Electric. Since 2006, General Electric has sold more than $12 billion in eco-friendly products. The company is also making huge strides towards cleaning up the Hudson River. If you’re looking for some green electronics, General Electric is the way to go.

Even the world’s biggest fast food chain is going green. Most people don’t realize how much McDonald’s is doing to help the environment. The company is working closely with PETA to reform its business, and to be more environmentally friendly. Next time you munch on a burger and fries, know that the places they were raised are eco-friendly.

It’s pretty uncommon to see environmental awareness in your favorite beer company. Anheuser-Busch is changing that. Busch saves 21 million pounds of metal per year simply by making the cans an eighth of an inch smaller. Imagine what could happen if all beer and liquor companies followed this trend. In case you’re worried, the trimming doesn’t reduce the amount of beer in each can!

Last but not least, we head to the most surprising business of all. Wal-Mart isn’t exactly known for it’s green movement. But the superstore giant has launched a long-term plan to break their stereotypical mold. The plan is to have every single Wal-Mart powered using 100% renewable energy. If this happens, Wal-Mart could soon be the most eco-friendly company in the world.

Virtually every big business is going green, but these companies deserve a little extra credit.

Go Green, Celebrate Green

This week, KOMU 8′s Alison Schutz shows us that “going green” has another meeting. St. Patrick’s day is Thursday and you can do more to celebrate the Irish holiday than dress like a leprechaun and drink green beer. Throw a green party while practicing going green and being mindful of the environment.

Here are some ideas for throwing an emerald eco-friendly bash.

Invites

•  Send your guests Evites instead of paper invitations. Saves time and money.
•  Use leaves as place cards. Write your guest’s names on them instead of using paper.

Decorating

• There’s plenty of green right outside your door that can be used as fabulous centerpieces.  Pick some clovers (four-leaf clovers if you get lucky), pine tree boughs, flowers and leaves. Cluster them on the center of a table or attach them to a wire and hang it over a door frame.
• Carve out the center of green apples or green bell peppers and use them as candle holders.
• Reuse your green Christmas tree lights and string around the room.
• Find a big rock and write “Blarney Stone – Kiss for Good Luck!” on it.
• Use washable napkins and tablecloths. Dig through your Christmas decorations for any green!
• Use recycled green wine bottles and flower vases.

Atmosphere

• Dim the lights to create a sensual atmosphere and save on energy costs.
• Open those windows! Turn off the heat or air conditioning and take advantage of the nice spring weather.
• Create your own air fresheners with pine cones, flowers, cinnamon sticks, cloves, etc. Boil them in a pot of water to bring out the scents.

Food

• Skip the green dye and just serve green foods. Grabs some veggies, guacamole, salad, etc. Support your local farmer’s market and buy your goods there.
• Instead of dying your beer, choose a beer that comes in green bottles. Serve Heineken and O’Doul’s. Don’t forget to recycle them afterwards!

You don’t have to be wasteful to have a good time. Party green and think green!

[These links helped with the ideas included in this post: eHow and Greenfest.]

Greeks Go Green

This week, 8 Goes Green is interested in how students are going green at the University of Missouri. KOMU 8′s Josh Frydman sat down with sophomore Galen Hoft, president of Missouri’s student organization – Greeks Going Green – to learn about current green initiatives his group is undertaking and to hear how students on campus can do little things every day to become more environmentally conscious.

Q. Tell us what “Greeks Going Green” is all about?

A. We meet every other week in Arts and Science building room 114. It’s been going pretty well so far. Last semester our big initiative was to have everyone start recycling. That was our big semester-long project. This year I decided that we were going to start to try to eliminate styrofoam. Catering companies and other people like that use styrofoam and it’s not biodegradable – it breaks up in landfills, and it’s the biggest ‘litterant.’ I think I just made up that word. It’s the number one thing that’s littered.

Last semester we had an all Greektown cleanup that went really well, it was right after Homecoming. We had a Shakespeare’s fundraiser, but the delegates didn’t really do too much. They just went to the meetings and that was it. This semester, what we are implementing, is that delegates are in the running for the Sustainability Cup if they apply, which you get at Greek Honors Night. We are also doing pairings, kind of like

Homecoming or Greek Week, where we are going to pair two houses together and they are going to do some kind of sustainable project. It could be stream cleanup, Greektown cleanup again; a blackout like how on Earth Day you don’t turn on your lights for like an hour or it could be for the whole day, however long you wanted. We are trying to get them a little more involved. We also have an adopt-a-spot on the corner of Rollins and Providence. It’s exciting. Last year, when I was a freshman, it was me and probably two other people who were there. Now we probably have a consistent 25-30 members who come. They come and they all seem really into it.

Q. Do you guys work only with Greek organizations or do you work with the city of Columbia, as well, on projects?

A. We can work with the city, but it is Greeks going green.” Layli Terrell is our liaison at City Hall so she’ll help houses recycle and give them the resources they need. So mainly it’s Greek houses that participate, but we do have guest speakers, we have one coming to our next meeting from a sustainable organization on campus. Sustain Mizzou has wanted to work with us and SPROUT, which is another organization on campus.

Q. What would you say is the biggest sustainable or green issue that is currently plaguing the city?

A. I would say material usage. Really, the only things that Columbia recycles are plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles. There are so many other things: Solo cups they don’t recycle, receipt paper they don’t recycle, pizza boxes. On the bottom there is that recyclable triangle and it has a certain number in it. And I think they recycle only one through four, but there’s six and eight and seven and all those different kinds of numbers. That’s probably the biggest thing. The usage of materials and the lack of knowledge of the subject.

Q. What can people do even if they are not a part of the group to help Columbia go green?

A. I mean, there are a lot of things they can do. If they live in a dorm, they always have recyclable stuff in there. You could have a recyclable can in your room to put cans and glass bottles in that. Recycle your notebooks at the end of the year. We always have a notebook drive, so even if you are not a part of the group, you can drop off your notebooks and stuff. You just take out the binding and you can recycle the paper. Turn off your lights; turn off your TV when you are not in the room. You can take colder showers when it’s warm outside. Don’t take as long of showers. The sustainable light bulbs you can start to use. And don’t use as much styrofoam. But if you wanted to go bigger, you could ask City Hall and ask why they don’t recycle this or that. They just don’t have the funding, I’m guessing, for those materials. You could ask them why; try to raise money to get the funding. Try to talk to dining halls to try and get more biodegradable materials to use. I know YogoLuv has spoons made of potatoes, and Addison’s has those to-go boxes that are biodegradable, recyclable. So you know just be conscious of what you are doing and try to do the right thing as far as sustainability goes.

Q. Where are some places on campus people can find recycle bins?

A. At the Rec there are recycle bins, even though a lot of the protein shakes are not recyclable. The recycle bins are the tan, little bins that have the recycle symbol on them; you can put glass and plastic in there. They are just around campus. In the dorms they are a blue bin with a white top located in the common area. Around Greektown there are some outside the houses, and if they don’t care, just pop them in there. Just don’t put them in the trash or on the ground.

Q. How did you get so passionate and involved with sustainability?

A. My mom always really hounded us to turn off all the lights when we were young. When we got older, we had a recycling company come and get our stuff. But when we moved they couldn’t get our stuff anymore, so we would take it to the local recycling place. I always had fun with my dad going there on Sunday afternoons. I liked it just spending time with my parents and stuff like that, but at the same time I was like, “Wow this really is a big deal. This is a big, real problem and someone’s got to do something about it.”