Moving to the new joint, and with the project and life change fresh, decided to do a once over of all things coming into the new house and what to do to create and environment that helped my weak self to stay on task. Then I noticed something that correlated with my course on Environmental Geography and a film we viewed on the battle of plastic bags in our culture and society: I have a hell of a lot of plastic bags. I had stated in a posting for the class my reuse of these bags, but damn! They came in handy quite a bit, but now are all filled with holes and unusable. By the looks of my new street, no matter what I do with them, they'll end up dumped here along with used condoms, empty Milwaukee Best cans and flyers for rap artists. What a bad crowd for them to run in.
I did have one bag from Aldis. A bag made of recycled cloth materials. Apparently it came from my grandmother, and as I looked, I decided to use it for my library of books in the move. IMMEDIATELY, I went to Aldis for groceries at the new joint and bought three more. They carried so much weight, and then, I used them again. Thanks Aldis!
My new life choice: any store that offers these little nuggets, for a minimal fee, will garner my business in said product. I noticed Wal-Mart carried them, and even some mall affiliates. Our own bookstore on campus has them as well. DO IT! These things are incredible, can be hung behind a door and are multi use. $3-$5 is not a lot to spend to be able to use it every time you go back. Its stellar.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Life Change-Autos 2: The Oil Change
So Honda can't make a car you don't have to maintain? What the hell. SO its time that I did the maintenance on teh beast, as the first time the dealer did it. I decided to use the opportunity to go all Green, I guess, and do it myself to put in the Blog. First off, the oil changes are not needed every 3,000 like older models. This time the computer analyzed it at about 6, 300 meaning we save on the removal of old oil, filters and etc, in landfills and such. This time I also used the large bottle oil offered by most companies to save on packaging. Getting 5 quarts of 0w-20 would have cost around $4.00 a quart regular, more for synthetic. This cost $14, and was one large bottle containing the near 6 quarts needed. Available at most stores.
I also peeled off the bread for a reusable air filter. Considering I am used to replacing an air filter for MAYBE $12 bucks, it hurt at first to shed the $38 for a reusable. But the quality is extraordinary and the results are wonderful: better air flow allowing the engine to run cleaner and smoother, making even less emission issues and the package and paper of the filter does not clog landfills (even though they are becoming more recyclable). The best part of this ismple change is that I was able to take the oil to the mechanic I usually use, and he would heat with it on a small heater for the garage. This may be a ding on the air quality, not sure, but the idea of getting rid of it properly was nice. He is a certified agent of properly getting rid of that sludge.
FYI- the Honda Civic has a seperate air filter fo r the cabin, to filter pollen and other urban irritants from teh passengers and driver. Very cool, adn only to be changed about every 15, 000 miles, if need be.
I also peeled off the bread for a reusable air filter. Considering I am used to replacing an air filter for MAYBE $12 bucks, it hurt at first to shed the $38 for a reusable. But the quality is extraordinary and the results are wonderful: better air flow allowing the engine to run cleaner and smoother, making even less emission issues and the package and paper of the filter does not clog landfills (even though they are becoming more recyclable). The best part of this ismple change is that I was able to take the oil to the mechanic I usually use, and he would heat with it on a small heater for the garage. This may be a ding on the air quality, not sure, but the idea of getting rid of it properly was nice. He is a certified agent of properly getting rid of that sludge.
FYI- the Honda Civic has a seperate air filter fo r the cabin, to filter pollen and other urban irritants from teh passengers and driver. Very cool, adn only to be changed about every 15, 000 miles, if need be.
Home-Recycling
Inthe middle of this killer move. I realized the amount of trash I toss, especially for being for me only. I would cycle through about three to four garbage bags in a 5 day span. When I went through the ideas of this course project and a life change, I realized I knew very little about what could be recycled andnot, whether I intended to take it to a site or had pick up available. During the summer project in my earlier blog, I was made aware of different plastic codes, something I was OBLIVIOUS to. They are below, and I posted them to the fridge to be aware. The code is onteh product itself, withthe arrows around it in the shape of a traingle. It is located on all recyclable plastics, and then can be corresponded to the site you are taking it to, as some do not take heavier or lighter grades, per there regulations typically based on resin content:
- 1, PET: Plastic soft drink, water, sports drink, beer, mouthwash, catsup and salad dressing bottles. Peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars. Ovenable film and ovenable prepared food trays.
- 2, HDPE: Milk, water, juice, cosmetic, shampoo, dish and laundry detergent bottles; yogurt and margarine tubs; cereal box liners; grocery, trash and retail bags.
- 3, V (Vinyl and PVC): Clear food and non-food packaging, medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, construction products such as pipes, fittings, siding, floor tiles, carpet backing and window frames.
- 4, LDPE: Dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard.
- 5, PP: Catsup bottles, yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles.
- 6, PS: Compact disc jackets, food service applications, grocery store meat trays, egg cartons, aspirin bottles, cups, plates, cutlery.
- 7, other: Three and five gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice and catsup bottles. It should be noted that 7 is a filler many times for lumber replacements.
Maybe this will help another layman environmentalist. It should be noted I have failed a few times and tossed some plastics due to some areas in the Milwaukee Metro that do not accept higher than a certain number. When I take the plastics to Quincy with me however, I have had good luck in just poutting them in there bins.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Work-Backyard Project
During the summer, my boss called to bring me in on a special project. His brother -in-law, who also works at the Urban Ecology Center, was upgrading his backyard and doing so with the environment in mind.
When we approached the house, I could see our "Green" friend was on top of things. The entire front of the home was landscaped in a manner that reused rainwater, and also stopped the erosion and drainage issue that his small hill posed. In back was a rain barrel, to utilize rain water, and save on water waste and cost. In the middle of the yard lay our project lumber: a product made of 100% recycled product. Farther along sat large buckets an barrels. We would recycle every bit of the old fencing (an entire chain link surround), including the concrete we dig up from posts.
A bit sceptical of using this "bio-lumber", I was surprised at the capabilities. It cut like real wood, was as sturdy as any fence we had put up and best of all, is totally biodegradable. Oh yeah, and how about helping with that whole "irresponsible destruction of environment by logging companies" thing we need to focus on.
When we approached the house, I could see our "Green" friend was on top of things. The entire front of the home was landscaped in a manner that reused rainwater, and also stopped the erosion and drainage issue that his small hill posed. In back was a rain barrel, to utilize rain water, and save on water waste and cost. In the middle of the yard lay our project lumber: a product made of 100% recycled product. Farther along sat large buckets an barrels. We would recycle every bit of the old fencing (an entire chain link surround), including the concrete we dig up from posts.
A bit sceptical of using this "bio-lumber", I was surprised at the capabilities. It cut like real wood, was as sturdy as any fence we had put up and best of all, is totally biodegradable. Oh yeah, and how about helping with that whole "irresponsible destruction of environment by logging companies" thing we need to focus on.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Life Change-Autos
From notes dated October 8th:
So the car had to go, the Impala SS, that great fast machine of performance (320hp). Divorce called it out, but I looked at the greatness that could be in my new Honda Civic Hybrid (check out this site for more info: http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybrid/). I chose it because of the idea of economics. At the time, a $20 bill got me the 400 miles to my daughter every other weekend, and I still had some to spare. Way beyond the Impala. The same for the trip back. I also read that it can burn lesser octane fuel and ethanol up to 10%. I get easily 45 miles to the gallon on the highway trips average, and all kinds of cool stuff like shut off at stops, integrated computer for mp3 play and batteries that last at LEAST 8 years. 8 of them...
Nice. And I found out that typically the batteries last the life of the car, and unlike old school batteries (including NiCad), these hybrids are using nickel metal hydride (NiMH) which are completely recyclable, to the point that typically one is offered $200 to return for just that reason. They are non-toxic and recharge better than the old NiCads.
What a great way to accidently be Green! What was great is that I can explain to my daughter, Micah, that daddy's car is magic for her (besides the fact that I'm keeping this thing forever, and it will be her classic car). And for those who snub the looks of the Hybrids, maybe not as cool as the old classics or the foreign muscles...the future of Civics is in the pic above. Not to shabby.
So the car had to go, the Impala SS, that great fast machine of performance (320hp). Divorce called it out, but I looked at the greatness that could be in my new Honda Civic Hybrid (check out this site for more info: http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybrid/). I chose it because of the idea of economics. At the time, a $20 bill got me the 400 miles to my daughter every other weekend, and I still had some to spare. Way beyond the Impala. The same for the trip back. I also read that it can burn lesser octane fuel and ethanol up to 10%. I get easily 45 miles to the gallon on the highway trips average, and all kinds of cool stuff like shut off at stops, integrated computer for mp3 play and batteries that last at LEAST 8 years. 8 of them...
Nice. And I found out that typically the batteries last the life of the car, and unlike old school batteries (including NiCad), these hybrids are using nickel metal hydride (NiMH) which are completely recyclable, to the point that typically one is offered $200 to return for just that reason. They are non-toxic and recharge better than the old NiCads.
What a great way to accidently be Green! What was great is that I can explain to my daughter, Micah, that daddy's car is magic for her (besides the fact that I'm keeping this thing forever, and it will be her classic car). And for those who snub the looks of the Hybrids, maybe not as cool as the old classics or the foreign muscles...the future of Civics is in the pic above. Not to shabby.
Work-Recycling
In my search for answers on the job front, I ran into interesting discussions on the recycle programs available. Interesting enough, my company (to remain nameless), had no program in place. The answer to questions regarding a program, brought up by a fellow employee named Kathy, was that it was unavailable to us and that the city did not offer it in that area (downtown). Kathy actually began taking recycles into a location by her own automobile. "I was told it wasn't available, " she states, "but after a few weeks, found the container on the property. Very odd."
Odd indeed Kathy. This was the same answer for our question regarding another of our buildings on the North side of Milwaukee. All the debris, including cardboard and plastics, had a dumpster but was picked up and loaded into the same truck. Recycle bins were throughout the facility, but it was all going to the same place. " Its just not available in this area" was my answer, but why the dumpster and containers? More on this to come.
A flipside is a town called Quincy, IL. I grew up around there and my daughter and I spend every other weekend there. I do not remember them NOT having a recycle program, as they go into there 25th year of seperating, and providing recycling, including a seperate facility in the grounds of the main dump site, 20 miles or so on the road. Maybe they have something there.
Odd indeed Kathy. This was the same answer for our question regarding another of our buildings on the North side of Milwaukee. All the debris, including cardboard and plastics, had a dumpster but was picked up and loaded into the same truck. Recycle bins were throughout the facility, but it was all going to the same place. " Its just not available in this area" was my answer, but why the dumpster and containers? More on this to come.
A flipside is a town called Quincy, IL. I grew up around there and my daughter and I spend every other weekend there. I do not remember them NOT having a recycle program, as they go into there 25th year of seperating, and providing recycling, including a seperate facility in the grounds of the main dump site, 20 miles or so on the road. Maybe they have something there.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to one man's decent into yet another madness. Why didn't anybody mention this whole ruining the world stuff prior to my childhood full of battery tossing, gas guzzling Camaros, tossing out my glass Mt. Dew bottles and building that coal plant in my backyard. Now look at the mess! Well, what can I do? I mean yes, we got the whole "recycle" thing and the idea of getting rid of my sweet Impala SS to ride around in my Honda Hybrid and ok, maybe I can be actually "conscious" of what I am "wasting" when it comes to water and "valuable" resources-you know, the kind that sustain life for future generations. Truth of the matter is, we all can DO- as well as study it, discuss it, and fear it. Well, this is a journal, a study, and a manifestation of the FEAR. What if I took an assigned project seriously as a life challenge? It has occurred in other aspects of my university life, and at 31 it sure the hell can't hurt to do something for the future generations, before my physical presence to make an impact is felt no more. In this blog I will sort through a lifetime of apathy on the subject to do the right thing, and change my life one aspect at a time, as well as give a view of how a regular guy can impact our precious environment...
OR DIE TRYING!!!! (Ominous music playing in background)
All humor aside, to see first hand the destruction humanity has caused created the need for change personally. Legislation has been pushed through on both the global and most local levels to counter the impact of our irresponsible use of Mother Earth. But what can one do to create change? I pondered this when assigned a project for an Environmental Geography course at my university. Ever since returning to school after a brief 12 year hiatus, my life has evolved in so many ways-some good and others bad-yet, my personal consumption and the actual view on environmental needs has been taken for granted. It has become trendy to wear environmentalists apparel, "go green" and look the part. Perhaps even look at small tweaks one can make in the day to day. I had never had the sense to care enough. Now is the time!
So welcome,as I humbly submit a layman's study into the factors of environmental damage, the attempts at change I promote at work and in my neighborhood, as well as my personal life changes in attitude. Within you will also get stats, scenarios, links and information that I hope will give you a sense of the dire need for us all to get on board and save our planet...literally.
OR DIE TRYING!!!! (Ominous music playing in background)
All humor aside, to see first hand the destruction humanity has caused created the need for change personally. Legislation has been pushed through on both the global and most local levels to counter the impact of our irresponsible use of Mother Earth. But what can one do to create change? I pondered this when assigned a project for an Environmental Geography course at my university. Ever since returning to school after a brief 12 year hiatus, my life has evolved in so many ways-some good and others bad-yet, my personal consumption and the actual view on environmental needs has been taken for granted. It has become trendy to wear environmentalists apparel, "go green" and look the part. Perhaps even look at small tweaks one can make in the day to day. I had never had the sense to care enough. Now is the time!
So welcome,as I humbly submit a layman's study into the factors of environmental damage, the attempts at change I promote at work and in my neighborhood, as well as my personal life changes in attitude. Within you will also get stats, scenarios, links and information that I hope will give you a sense of the dire need for us all to get on board and save our planet...literally.
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