Plastic Bag Tax

Plastic Bags

According to the Washington Post, Washington DC’s 5 cent tax on plastic bags, instated in January, has already dropped the number of plastic bags handed out by food stores from an average of 22.5 million per month in 2009 to just 3 million in January!  What a huge difference!  And, the tax not only significantly reduces plastic waste, it has also generated $150,000 in revenue.

Who charges this tax?  Bakeries, delicatessens, grocery stores, drugstores, convenience stores, department stores and any other “business that sells food items” must charge the tax on paper or plastic bags.

I love this–I really do.   A simple 5 cent tax–with revenues going towards an environmental cause voters rallied around–and consumer behavior is changed for the better in a truly big way.   I love that just 5 cents is enough to make consumers reconsider taking a plastic bag.

The results are nothing short of miraculous so far–there are 19 million less plastic bags in a landfill because of this tax!

Is this new?  Here maybe.  But, San Francisco, Los Angeles, China, Tanzania, Mumbai, Mexico City and others have already implemented bans or fees for plastic bags.

I, personally, am thrilled.  I think plastic bags should be outlawed.  Not that paper bags take any less energy to produce or don’t harm the environment, but they at least degrade and are not choking and suffocating wildlife.

I suggest reusable bags and the ones I love and always carry I received as a gift.  They came from Envirosax.  Thank you, Carolyn.

Whatever you choose to use, please, No More Plastic Bags!

Happy Arbor Day!

Trees

How are you recognizing the day?  Planting a tree?  Pruning and protecting the ones you already have?

Arbor Day is recognized Nationally as the day when individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees.  It’s celebrated in a number of countries and, here in the US, is celebrated on the last Friday in the month of April.

In my yard, I planted 5 Golden Spire Arborvitaes. They’re conifers, evergreen, and will grow 20-30 feet tall! They’re absolutely gorgeous and I’m thrilled to have them, to have been able to plant them and to know that I will will be the one to nurture and watch them for years.

Here in North Carolina, our state Arbor Day is the first Friday following March 15 and our state tree is the Pine.

The first Arbor Day was April 10, 1872 in Nebraska.  By the 1920s, every state in the United States had passed public laws stipulating a certain day to be Arbor Day or Arbor and Bird Day observance.  These dates were established depending upon climate and suitable planting times.

If you don’t know what to do or don’t have anywhere you can plant a tree, go to ArborDay.org and learn more about how you can help our Planet by contributing trees.

Please let me know what you did special today.  Don’t you just love trees!

Thanks to Julius Sterling Morton, a journalist and politician,the man responsible for the first Arbor Day and for seeing that it became a nationally recognized holiday. Morton served as President Grover Cleveland’s Secretary of Agriculture and, throughout his career, worked to improve agricultural techniques throughout the United States.

Saving Water, the Water Pebble

Dry Planet

It’s April, “Earth Day Month”. For me, that creates even more awareness everyday that we need to be taking steps to preserve and protect our planet, our real estate.

My big passion is water. I’ve written a number of posts about it. Here, again, is a wonderful site devoted to the preservation and protection of water.

This article focuses on something new and so easy to use, the Water Pebble.  This device simply sits near any water drain and times the water usage.  It “teaches” you to reduce the time you have the water flowing.  Waterpebble could help reduce the average shower to less than 6 minutes saving over 20 litres of hot water every time.

At this time, I’m not planning to buy a water pebble but, because of reading this, I am going to be more aware of the time I spend in the shower, rinsing dishes, washing my hands, any time I run water.

Isn’t it great to be aware?  We hold so much power in our own decisions, our own actions.  What will you do to make a difference to the Planet?

“When the Well’s dry, we know the Worth of Water.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Poor Richard´s Almanac

Happy Earth Day!

Earth DaySupport the Earth, won’t you?

Your support enables Earth Day Network to power the environmental movement and ensure a healthy and sustainable planet for all of us. Your contributions and purchases help mobilize communities, implement environmental education programs and support Earth Day events and actions around the world.

Donate, won’t you?  Together we can make a difference.

Global Days of Service

Global Days of Service

Global Days of Service sponsored by Earth Day are April 17 & 18.

The Global Days of Service will feature Volunteer Actions by tens of thousands of global participants, from April 17 – 18, 2010. These projects in parks, beaches, schools and forests will focus on climate change solutions like tree planting, energy efficiency retrofits, water protection, urban gardens and forest restoration.

Produced with the help of Earth Day Network, along with local community organizations and governments, the activities will address current challenges and will help cities and organizations streamline their energy needs, and ‘green up’ their communities. Suitable for individuals of all ages, including children and families, these activities encourage active lifestyles and healthful living, while also connecting volunteers with the green solutions.

Find out what’s happening in your area.  Participate.  Donate.  Make a difference to the planet.

You can follow some of my love for the earth at Growing in My Garden.

What did you find to do?

Earth Day at Center City Park in Greensboro

Earth Day @ Center City Park

Earth Day @ Center City – April 22, 2010 from 4:30 to 7:30

Make plans now to attend this free event with your friends and family!

2010 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970.  I remember it!  All of us who rode the bus walked to school that day.  It was such fun!

Come on down to the park in downtown Greensboro.  Last year was so much fun!

There will be music by Chapel Hill-based band, The Love Language, and the NC A&T State University Choir.  Kids activities will be hosted by ArtQuest of Green Hill Cultural Center.  Natty Greene’s Brewhouse (whoo hoo!) is sponsoring the Green Drinks Beer Garden.  Bicycling in Greensboro (BIG) will be conducting an ArBike Parade, and the artists of Elsewhere etc. will be unveiling  a public art installation designed specifically for this occasion.

Local crafters and local food purveyors will be selling on Davie Street immediately adjacent to the park.  For more information, visit www.sustainablegreensboro.org or call (336) 756-7476.

See you there!

Winston Salem’s Hanesbrands recognized for green programs!

Hanesbrands

Congratulations to our very on Winston Salem Hanesbrands for being green.

Hanesbrands has been named the Energy Star 2010 Partner Agency of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of its energy conservation programs.

Beyond that, Hanesbrands announced new goals to increase it’s use of renewable energy and reduce its emissions.

I’m impressed that Hanesbrands has been tracking its carbon footprint since 2007.  Goals for reductions in energy use, carbon emissions and water use by 2012 are to:

Read more…

Happy Earth Day Month!

Earth & Home

I’m green and I’m proud of it.

I don’t use plastic bags; nope, won’t do it.  I carry my own little fold up bags in my purse and my car.  Please read  “No More Plastic Bags”!

Last year for Earth Day, I bought a spring water cooler for our office and outlawed disposable cups in the office.  Everyone now has their own reusable drinking cup.  Saving the planet, one paper cup at a time!

This year, Earth Day is Thursday, April 22.  Take time, right now, to think about what you’re going to do for the planet on April 22 that you’re not already doing.  What behavior can you change that day that will make a difference for Mother Earth forever?

Remember, Mother Earth is where all this real estate stuff takes place.  Let’s make sure we do everything in our own, individual power to protect her.

And, please, let me know what you did.  Thank you and, Congratulations to us all!

Needed: An Energy Miracle

When you have 27 minutes and 49 seconds, please listen to this TED talk by Bill Gates, the second richest man on the planet. :) Bill tells you his one wish for our world for the next 50 years.

He’s working on a miracle to solve our energy issues – you know, a miracle, like the microprocessor or the internet. Another possible miracle. As with everything he’s involved in, fascinating. And important. And our need has a deadline. 40 years.

Have you heard of Terrapower? If we don’t save Mother Earth, the rest is unimportant.

TED talks, ideas worth spreading.

A molecule of uranium has a million times more energy than a molecule of coal.

Earth Days may have Shortened due to Chilean Quake

Earth

Can you imagine? According to Nasa, the Feb. 27 magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile may have shortened the length of each Earth day.

Not only that, but perhaps even more impressive is that the quake actually shifted the Earth’s axis and, relatively speaking, by quite a bit!

Why did this quake have such a global effect when most quakes don’t? A number of things worked together. First of all, it was a very large quake that lasted for a very long time. Next, this quake was located very near the center of the earth making it “easier” to shift the axis. And, finally, the quake was very deep.

Read more about this phenomenon at the Nasa news topics site.