Green Up in 2010

Happy 2010! This is the first day back for most of us and we are all focused on the goals we want to achieve this year. As you list those tasks, I hope you will think about what you can do in your work and home life to be more sustainable. Perhaps you’ll make an effort to print less frequently, print on recycled paper, print on reused paper OR maybe you’ll lead the effort to become a paperless work environment. If the building you work in doesn’t have a recycling program, begin a petition to start one. If your office still engages in practices that are not Earth friendly, start a green committee where you can brainstorm with your co-workers about policies you can initiate like replacing bottled water with filtered and providing all staff with an aluminum water bottle.

At home, perhaps you can begin to compost your leftover food scraps and unplug major appliances when they are not in use. Swap your incandescent lights with compact florescent light bulbs and turn off lights when you leave a room. Switch to wind power.

There are so many things we can all do and most take little or no effort. Here are some things you can do in your HOME that don’t cost a penny.

Turn off the lights in any room when it is not in use.

Unplug your TV, DVD and phone charger when not in use.

Take a 3-minute shower.

Wash clothes in warm or cold water and always rinse in cold.

Wash dishes by hand or run the dishwasher only when it is full. Don’t rinse plates in advance.

Say NO to bottled water. Drink filtered or tap water from a glass or reusable water bottle.

Set your thermostat to 65 degrees in the winter and your water heater
to 120 degrees.

Don’t let your vehicle idle for more than 20 seconds.

Say NO to paper AND plastic bags wherever you shop. Bring your own canvas bag leftover from a conference or trip.

Recycle every scrap of paper, newspaper, cardboard and junk mail as well as every plastic, glass or aluminum container.

Pledge to NEVER throw anything in a trash can – at home or outside the home -- that can be recycled, and then recycle!

November 15 is America Recycles Day

While we should ALL recycle each and every day, this Sunday, November 15th is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle AND buy recycled products.

I’m sure you have heard of the term REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE. But in the hustle and bustle of your life, have you thought HARD about what those words REALLY mean? To explain this concept, I’ll use paper – a commonly recycled product – as an example.

Reduce – this means reduce the amount you consume. For example, if you email your weekly staff meeting agenda, do you REALLY need to print out 10 extra copies for staffers who MAY have forgotten to print out their own version? Ask them to bring their own copy because there WON’T be extras, or better yet, have them load the agenda to their laptop and bring THAT to the meeting.

Reuse – if you printed out those agendas and there are extras with a blank side and no critical information on the printed side, reuse them by putting them back in your printer. Here at lori hill event productions, we can safely say that we try to minimize the use of our printer, but when we do print, close to 99% of the paper we print out is for office use only. Accordingly, we only place re-used paper in our printer. IF we need to print out on clean, unused paper, we only use 100% recycled paper.

Recycle – so you reduced the number of agendas you printed out and reused the extras by placing them in your printer. The final step is to take any paper that can’t be re-used and recycle it! Never EVER put anything in the trash (which goes to the landfill) if it can be recycled into something else. The landfill should ALWAYS be your last option. Unfortunately, it is the first option for too many. If there isn’t a paper recycling program in your office building, START ONE!

To find out more about American Recycles Day, click HERE to visit the site which includes lots of helpful information including recycling 101.

Have an object that you don’t know how to recycle? Visit one of my favorite web sites: Earth911.com. Just enter the item you are looking to recycle and the zip code of where you live or work and it will tell you where you can recycle. I will admit that sometimes I have not gotten any results for odd items (those evil petroleum-based candles), but just the other day, I directed my sister in Pennsylvania to a laundry list of places where she could recycle an old iron.

Remember, before you EVER throw ANYTHING into the landfill, always try to recycle it. The generations that come after us will be grateful.

Take That Extra Step and Eliminate Bottled Water

The other day when I was walking out of my gym, a fellow member was walking about 10 feet in front of me. Suddenly, she stopped, took a final gulp of water from her PLASTIC water bottle and threw it in the trash can or, as I like to call it, the LAND FILL BIN.

I was shocked. I almost said something, but I was afraid if I did, I would sound angry, so I kept silent, stopped, and let her walk ahead of me. I then picked the bottle out of the can and walked the mere 35 feet back to the recycling bin she had passed on her way out of the gym.

ARE WE REALLY THAT LAZY?

Too many times I've seen recyclables placed in the land fill bin when a recycle bin is a mere 50 feet away. Are we that lazy? Why don't facilities set up waste centers where you can dispose of all your waste at the same time: compost, recycling of all kinds and finally, the smallest container should be the land fill bin because that should be our absolutely last option when disposing of waste.

But back to plastic bottles. Here are some scary statistics:

• 1.5 MILLION barrels of oil are used each year to make plastic water bottles in the U.S.
  
  
• EVERY SINGLE DAY, 40 MILLION plastic bottles go into landfills
  
  
• Americans place 22 BILLION empty water bottles in the land fill EACH YEAR

You might say, "But I always recycle my bottle!" Clearly, you neighbor and his neighbor and the neighbor down the street DON'T! Furthermore, the last time I checked, oil was a scarce resource, so we really don't need to be using it up to make bottles for water! Finally, it takes 50 to 80 years for plastic containers to decompose. So that plastic bottle that you placed in the landfill today will still be around when you baby girl is a grandmother.

Why are we so hooked on bottled water? I'm glad we are drinking more water because it is good for our health; however, according to a UCLA study, tap water in the United States is at least as safe as, if not more than, bottled water. Furthermore, 25-40% of all bottled water in the U.S., including some major brands, is made from tap water. And since we are all hurting in the money department these days, did you know that you can drink 40,000 8-ounce glasses of tap water for the price of 3 $1.50 bottles of spring water???

So what are the alternatives?

I've been drinking from a Sigg water bottle for years. It's aluminum and fashionable and I don't travel anywhere without it. Really. It's like an appendage to me.

Klean Kanteen is another safe option.

When it comes to your special events, served filtered water in pitchers, or just use those large water dispenses like we keep in our offices. Many hotels and conference centers include these in their meeting rooms now. Finally, if you want something a bit more fashionable, use the Giraffe Beverage Tower.

Join Me at the Fourth Annual Polar Bear Plunge! and Wine Cork Recycling

I'm doing it again! I'm taking a cold plunge to fight global warming.

In less than one month, on January 10th, I'm going to jump into the icy Chesapeake Bay for a cause I am extremely passionate about: the fight against global warming.

Yes, I, Lori Hill, the one who is ALWAYS cold in the winter time (I'm sitting in my basement office right now wearing 3 layers of clothing and fingerless gloves as I write this!), will be plunging right into the water near the headquarters of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation which happens to be one of the greenest building the country!. I'll join hundreds of other crazy folks in the Fourth Annual Polar Bear Plunge.

The event, organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), is meant to raise awareness about the growing crisis of global warming and to raise the funds needed to continue the fight against it.

The basics are right below. To read more about CCAN, see further below.

The Basics
Last year, I had a blast plunging AND I raised over $1,200. I'd like to nearly double that this year with a goal of $2,000. In addition, this year I'm donating my event planning services to ensure that the plunge is a green event!

Last year, my friends and family pledged anywhere from $25-$100 each. I realize that with the current economy, you may not be able to pledge that much, so GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN GIVE! $5, $10 or $20 is fine by me. Give up one of your vices for a week and put it towards a good cause! Contributions are tax-deductible.

How to Make a Pledge
It takes about TWO MINUTES to make a pledge! IF you pledge, I promise to email you photos of me plunging!

Credit Card
Donate via secure webpage.

If you pledged last year, you'll be happy to know that it is MUCH EASIER to pledge this year!

Check
Make your check out to "CCAN" and mail to

P.O. Box 11138
Takoma Park, MD 20912

On the memo line, write Plunge/Lori Hill on the memo line, so they know who your pledge is supporting.

Watch Me on the Video!
Watch the video of last year's plunge. That is me at the 1:40 mark – the gal with the toboggan.

Thanks in advance for your interest and support in the fight against global warming - and for supporting me while I turn a little blue in the process!

If you're not busy, please consider coming out to join me I the plunge or cheer me on this January 10th - it's a really fun event!

Thanks for helping CCAN save the world!

Warmly (but not in the global sense),

Lori

*More About CCAN and How I Got Involved with the Plunge

Not too long after I saw "An Inconvenient Truth", I went to a clean energy open house at the home of CCAN's executive director Mike Tidwell. That was the impetus that began my quest to be as green as humanly possible.

By making a pledge to support my playful suffering, you'll help CCAN fulfill its very serious mission of educating and mobilizing the citizens of Maryland, DC and Virginia to take concrete steps to protect our climate. We are particularly at risk of the effects of climate change – Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington, DC and cities in Virginia could be under water if we don't act soon.

CCAN is an extremely reputable, nonprofit organization with an emphasis on community-based, grassroots organizing. They have been central to every major fight on global warming in the Maryland/Virginia/DC region, and are currently leading the charge for comprehensive global warming legislation in Maryland, for no new coal in Virginia and, as part of 1 Sky, for strong federal legislation in 2009. You can learn more about them at www.chesapeakeclimate.org.

Green Tip:
Wine Cork Recycling

Instead of pitching your wine corks in the trash (who would dare do such a thing?), send your corks to Yemm & Hart Ltd.

They are collecting wine cork stoppers with the goal of converting them into a useful self sustaining product (Y&H are all about converting recycled materials into something new).

Another alternative is to make your own cork board. Hot glue corks to a piece of plywood and attached photos, notes, etc. You can place the corks round side up and/or cylindrical side up.

Rental Recycling Hero and Eco Friendly Office Calendars for 2009

Peter Grazzini of Perfect Settings in Landover, MD really gets it. While the party rental industry is inherently green since equipment is used over and over again, it still has wasteful aspects such as all the plastic - shrink-wrap, bags and sheeting) and cardboard.

Peter now offers a service where he picks up plastic and cardboard from clients which he bales and then sends to a recycling center. He also offers recycling containers that his clients can rent and use for recycling cans and bottles.

To read more about what Peter and others in the event industry do to be green, read the November 2008 edition of Special Events magazine, Event Industry Adopts Greener Practices.

Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Office Calendars for 2009

You can be Earth friendly while planning out 2009! The House of Doolittle has been a manufacturer of desk pads, calendars, and appointments books since 1919. Currently the paper used for their products is recycled with 30% to 100% post-consumer fiber. I get my Weekly Appointment Planner from them as well as my Yearly Planning Calendar.

E-cycling My Old Computer and Electronics Recycling

I finally e-cycled my old computer and monitor. It was so easy. When my newest computer was shipped, the people at Dell included an e-cycle kit that included several packing slips with pre printed labels and straight forward information about how to pack up my old computer. All I had to do (okay, all my assistant had to do) was pack it up and then go online to arrange a pick up time with DHL. Dell paid for the shipping.

Luckily, I held on to my old computer boxes and their Styrofoam cushioning (my mother taught me well), but I could have used any box including the box from my new computer (which I also still have!).

Green Tip:
Electronics Recycling

Don't even think about sending your electronics to the landfill -- e-cycle them! To find a sustainable and socially just electronics recycling center near you, visit e-Steward.

Greening Our Hotels and A Place for Event Leftovers

lI wish more hotels would hop on the green bandwagon. Fairmont and Kimpton properties are leading the way, but I'm appalled at the lack of green initiatives at most other properties I visit. A re-use your towel and bed linen program is such a no-brainer and takes no effort on the part of the hotel other than printing signs (on recycled paper with soy or vegetable based ink, please!). Housekeeping staff replace towels only when a guest has placed them in the tub and only change bed linens every 3 days (unless the guest requests otherwise). Of course, as guests, if a hotel offers this program, we need to utilize it!

When I stayed at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal last August, I was elated that the lights in my room contained CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) and there was a container for recycling office paper, newspaper, cans and bottles. Each day that I received a paper, it was not in a plastic bag, but a re-usable fabric bag. They also had a re-use your towel and bed linen program as well as many more impressive initiatives.

In October, when I stayed at the Omni in Chicago and their property at CNN Center in Atlanta two weeks ago, I was disappointed that there was no recycling to be found anywhere. Since I knew I wouldn't read my daily paper, I asked that it not be delivered to my room; however, somebody on staff didn't get that memo and I still received one each business day. Since there was no recycling in my sleeping room or anywhere else in the hotel, I took my newspapers and all office papers home with me to recycle there.

I wrote the Omni to tell them about my disappointment that they don't have a recycling program and received a prompt response from the Guest Services Manager that my concern would be forwarded to the GM. I really hope others write, too. If we don't voice our dissatisfaction with the status quo, they won't think anything is wrong and nothing will change.

Green Tip:
A Place for Event Leftovers

Don't know what to do with your leftover tote bags, volunteer t-shirts, flower arrangements, and food from your meeting and event? The folks at Special E will pick it up for you and either recycle it or deliver it to people in need. Your event must have over 100 people or more. They charge a fee to cover administrative costs and pick-up/delivery fees and base the price on the type, size and location of the program and the leftover items to be rescued.

Flood Annapolis and If you can't recycle at home or your office, make it happen!

On Thursday, January 17th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., I'm joining a group of activists to descend on Annapolis and demand that our elected officials find solutions to global warming. Maryland is one of the most vulnerable states when it comes to the effect of global warming. We need to demand that something is done now!

Green Tip:
If you can't recycle at home or your office, make it happen!

Don't be afraid to speak out! If you are unhappy with the recycling program for your jurisdiction or office building (or lack thereof), write your local officials and ask for change! Organize a petition within your neighborhood or office! There is no reason why we can't ALL recycle and reduce the amount of waste that goes into our overflowing landfills.

For information about recycling in your area, visit www.earth911.org.

Getting Cold to Fight Global Warming and What To Do With Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

On Saturday, December 8th, I jumped into the icy Chesapeake Bay for the Third Annual Polar Bear Plunge. The event was organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to raise awareness about the growing crisis of global warming and to raise the funds needed to continue the fight against it.

Thanks to supportive friends and family, I raised over $1,300! I had the best time the day of the plunge. Over 200 men, women, children and dogs took the plunge in 49 degree water on a partly sunny 40 degree morning.

View a completely fun, totally inspiring two minute video of our Plunge (keep your volume turned up!)

I hope you'll join me next year!

Green Tip:

What To Do With Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

Don't leave your Christmas tree for the trash collector (unless your jurisdiction has a special pick up for trees).

Cut it up and use the needles as mulch, the branches as kindling and the trunk as firewood (after it's dried out).

If you don't have a wood burning fireplace, give your wood as a belated holiday gift to your friends and family!

Source: ehow.com