Ground Rules And Guidelines
So the pragmatists on the GOOD editorial board insisted on some ground rules to corral my otherwise sprawling ambitions. I can hardly fault them.
So here's what I've come up with. Certainly there's some wiggle room built in, and I'm sure I'm neglecting something or other, but ideally I'll be holding to these rather strict statutes. (Feedback is encouraged and suggestions will, truthfully, be taken very seriously. So lay it on me.)
Ultimate Goals of The Greenest Month: carbon neutrality, chemical-free, zero-waste.Rules to abide by:
• Reduce electricity consumption to minimum feasible.
• Use only electricity generated from renewable resources (when within my control).
• Consume only organic food and beverages produced within 150 miles of NYC.
• Use only chemical-free products for cleaning and personal care.
• Eliminate automobile use.
• Reduce water consumption through strict conservation measures.
• Eliminate entirely landfill or incinerator-bound waste.
• Calculate estimated carbon-emission and offset at experiment's summation with carbon offset purchase.
And the methods to achieve these goals:
• Utilize electricity conservation measures such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, switching off electronic power strips when not in use, etc.
• Purchase renewable energy for apartment through the Con Ed grid.
• Patronize local farmers markets, and support urban agriculture projects, or dine at restaurants that source organic ingredients locally.
• "Brew" all-natural, eco-friendly household cleaning products.
• Purchase only all-natural personal care products.
• Transportation exclusively on bicycle or by foot (and, when conditions demand, mass transit.)
• Progressive water conservation practices- i.e. reduced flow showerhead, faucet aerators, toilet flow reduction, water household plants with grey water, etc.
• Compost, recycle, reuse, and reduce influx of true waste at the source.
• Support local "eco-friendly" commercial businesses.
• Purchase carbon-offset certificate after calculating total carbon emissions for month.
The month will also feature a handful of special features, such as a wardrobe "greening" with eco-outfit extraordinaire Jill Danyelle of FiftyRx3, a freegan trash tour to salvage or reclaim good food that's been tossed by commercial businesses, a look into investment strategies for "greening" my (pithy) portfolio with Bruce Kahn of Smith Barney, and likely a few other odds and ends.
Up Next: And We're Off
Previously: A Head Start
Ben Jervey is the author of The Big Green Apple
So here's what I've come up with. Certainly there's some wiggle room built in, and I'm sure I'm neglecting something or other, but ideally I'll be holding to these rather strict statutes. (Feedback is encouraged and suggestions will, truthfully, be taken very seriously. So lay it on me.)
Ultimate Goals of The Greenest Month: carbon neutrality, chemical-free, zero-waste.Rules to abide by:
• Reduce electricity consumption to minimum feasible.
• Use only electricity generated from renewable resources (when within my control).
• Consume only organic food and beverages produced within 150 miles of NYC.
• Use only chemical-free products for cleaning and personal care.
• Eliminate automobile use.
• Reduce water consumption through strict conservation measures.
• Eliminate entirely landfill or incinerator-bound waste.
• Calculate estimated carbon-emission and offset at experiment's summation with carbon offset purchase.
And the methods to achieve these goals:
• Utilize electricity conservation measures such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, switching off electronic power strips when not in use, etc.
• Purchase renewable energy for apartment through the Con Ed grid.
• Patronize local farmers markets, and support urban agriculture projects, or dine at restaurants that source organic ingredients locally.
• "Brew" all-natural, eco-friendly household cleaning products.
• Purchase only all-natural personal care products.
• Transportation exclusively on bicycle or by foot (and, when conditions demand, mass transit.)
• Progressive water conservation practices- i.e. reduced flow showerhead, faucet aerators, toilet flow reduction, water household plants with grey water, etc.
• Compost, recycle, reuse, and reduce influx of true waste at the source.
• Support local "eco-friendly" commercial businesses.
• Purchase carbon-offset certificate after calculating total carbon emissions for month.
The month will also feature a handful of special features, such as a wardrobe "greening" with eco-outfit extraordinaire Jill Danyelle of FiftyRx3, a freegan trash tour to salvage or reclaim good food that's been tossed by commercial businesses, a look into investment strategies for "greening" my (pithy) portfolio with Bruce Kahn of Smith Barney, and likely a few other odds and ends.
Up Next: And We're Off
Previously: A Head Start
Ben Jervey is the author of The Big Green Apple
