http://newlygreens.com Walking Green for a Sustainable Garden State Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:41:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://newlygreens.com/feed/ Stories of green living from the early adopters walking the walk. Produced in NJ just outside New York City the show gives an East Coast flavor to implementing more balanced choices. Hosts Greg and Connie, "newlygreens" and not so newlywed, try take the stories to heart and and bring practical change into their own lives. It may not be about being the ideal, but it is definitely about finding inspiration and working toward something better. Kaizen Productions LLC clean Kaizen Productions LLC info@newlygreens.com info@newlygreens.com (Kaizen Productions LLC) 2010 Kaizen Productions LLC Eco Friendly Tales of Going Green from the Northeast sustainable, environmental, earth, nature, solar, wind, recycle, organic, green, eco, eco-friendly http://newlygreens.com/_content/_images/powered_by_podpress_small.jpg http://newlygreens.com http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-june-17-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-june-17-2010/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:00:39 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=2871 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-june-17-2010/feed/ 0 2010,AAAS,Academy Award,American Association for the Advancement of Science,antifreeze,Apple,Best Documentary,Coney Island,Department of Energy,dolphin intelligence,European Renewable Energy Council,Green - The Headlines: Apple patents solar iPods Coney Island solar-retrofits subways Study shows we could be almost twice as rich if we switch to renewable energy Less than 1 percent of oily birds survive New window film can cut energy costs by up to 40 pe... The Headlines: Apple patents solar iPods Coney Island solar-retrofits subways Study shows we could be almost twice as rich if we switch to renewable energy Less than 1 percent of oily birds survive New window film can cut energy costs by up to 40 percent Scientists meet to discuss our relationship with dolphins and whales The Details: Apple patents solar iPods Apple recently patented solar technology for "media players with integrated touch sensor solar panel surfaces." So iPods, iPhones and possibly even iPads of the future will be solar-powered. Green Apple geeks of the world are no doubt celebrating at the prospect. The iPhone will be getting an especially exciting overhaul. The solar panel will be placed underneath the touch screen, so it can still take in power from the sun, but users will not have to sacrifice the touch screen. And iPhones will soon be coming with a glass back, allowing for another solar panel on that side for double chargeability. Coney Island solar-retrofits subways The New York City Transit Complex in Coney Island was just retrofitted with a thermal solar array to replace the facility's electric hot water heater. Not only will the 48 panel system make the hot water needed to clean subway cars, but it will also eliminate the need to use antifreeze in the winter. Using a pressurized closed-loop vacuum insulation system, the Coney Island Transit Complex is now the first of its kind in the world that requires no antifreeze at all to run. The $1.1 million array, combined with new high efficiency lighting systems recently installed at other transit facilities, is expected to save about $170,000 per year in energy costs and cut New York City’s mass transit greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3,000 tons. Study shows we could be almost twice as rich if we switch to renewable energy Exciting numbers from the European Renewable Energy Council's commissioned report were released last week. The gist of the report: a global shift to renewable energy could create an $18 trillion economy by the year 2050. If we continued down the wasteful energy path we're currently on, we would only end up with an $11 trillion energy industry. Additionally, the report finds that it is technologically and fiscally feasible to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. And before we roll our eyes at this fanciful Utopian notion: the report assumes no conservation of energy or efficiency, so there are no caveats to these numbers about the what-ifs of cutting back on energy use. Switching the entire world to renewable energy sounds like quite a feat, but the technology already exists and will only get better. The majority of the work would come from building a global energy infrastructure. The report also recommends phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, as not paying for dirty fuel would totally change the economic possibilities for the better. Less than 1 percent of oily birds survive Unfortunately it's true. Silvia Gaus, animal biologist and oil spill expert addressed the elephant in the room of the Gulf oil spill with a very unpopular opinion: it's better to kill the birds than try to clean them. Birds don't just get covered in oil. They also ingest the oil, and even attempts to give them Pepto Bismul can't counteract the damage that happens to their kidneys and livers. Also cleaning them, even though it has gotten more efficient and less harsh on the birds, still traumatizes them badly. A British study found that the average bird released after cleaning in other spills only survived for seven days. The kidney and liver damages coupled with the trauma of capture and cleaning causes nearly all the birds to die a slow, very painful death. The average survival rate of oily birds after cleaning is less than 1 percent. So while Gaus's recommendation may be painful to think about, it does unfortunately seem like the most humane option. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 8:23 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-march-25-2010/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-march-25-2010/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:00:01 +0000 RisaP http://newlygreens.com/?p=2189 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/reusable-news-march-25-2010/feed/ 0 Canada,Democrats,Energy,Gallup Polls,Global Warming,Green,Greenland,Greenpeace,Independents,National Bike Summit,Norway,Orangutan - This week's headlines: - Gallup Polls Show More Americans Don't Believe in Global Warming - National Bike Summit Takes DC - Greenpeace Gorillas Nestle! - Bad News Polar Bears - To Buy Green Products or To Steal Them? This week's headlines: Gallup Polls Show More Americans Don't Believe in Global Warming National Bike Summit Takes DC Greenpeace Gorillas Nestle! Bad News Polar Bears To Buy Green Products or To Steal Them? The Details: Gallup Polls Show More Americans Don't Believe in Global Warming Two new polls released by Gallup this week show that not only are Americans growing less concerned about the environment, but a record number of them believe Global Warming is exaggerated. An astonishing 41% of Americans believe this. Gallup's website claims, "This represents the highest level of public skepticism about mainstream reporting on global warming seen in more than a decade of Gallup polling on the subject." So where is this doubt coming from? According to Gallup, Republicans are in first place. A whopping 66% of Republicans believe Global Warming is exaggerated. Independents are not far behind, with 44% of them doubting the impact. Only 20% of Democrats believe Global Warming to be exaggerated. A second poll by Gallup asked Americans to rate their amount of concern with 8 environmental issues including global warming, loss of tropical rain forests, and various types of water and air pollution. Not surprisingly, the pollution or contamination of drinking water ranked as the highest concern. But what concern came in dead last? Global Warming. Only 28% of Americans surveyed say they "worry a great deal" about Global Warming. National Bike Summit Takes DC Last week we reported that Google had added a bike path feature to Google Maps. There's one group of folks who are particularly tickled about that - the League of American Bicyclists. Their 10th annual National Bike Summit was held from March 9 to 12 in Washington D.C. this year, with over 700 cycling advocates participating.The goal was to jumpstart national bike advocacy and raise awareness of bicycling as an alternative to driving. In a surprise appearance at the conclusion of the event, United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood made an appearance, ending the summit with a pledge to make cycling concerns a priority. Greenpeace Gorillas Nestle! Treehugger reports: In a victory for the advocacy group Greenpeace, their European members have managed to persuade Nestle to drop Indonesian palm oil producer Sinar Mas Group because of their "continued expansion into rain forests and "critical orangutan habitat." Their campaign focuses on Kit Kat. While it's just one of the plethora of chocolate bars Americans enjoy, it happens to be the most popular chocolate bar in Europe. Palm oil plantations are being expanded everywhere, killing off the habitats for many animals including orangutans. So Greenpeace posted a disturbing ad on YouTube depicting a man chomping down on an orange fur-covered Kit Kat, oozing blood and creating the sound of snapping bones. It barely got any views before Nestle had it pulled from the site. Outraged, Greenpeace posted the ad to Vimeo and made a big stink about how Nestle was trying to silence them via social media outlets like Twitter. We'll never know how much exposure the ad might have seen if it had just stayed up on YouTube. But the response once people knew the ad had been taken down by Nestle (AKA The Man), caused the chocolate company to issue the following statement a scant few hours later: "We share the deep concern about the serious environmental threat to rain forests and peat fields in South East Asia caused by the planting of palm oil plantations." Nestlé has also committed to using only Certified Sustainable Palm Oil by 2015. Check out the Greenpeace ad. Bad News Polar Bears The Huffington Post reports that a proposed ban on polar bear trade failed to pass at the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on March 18. The proposal was made by the United States and was rejected by Canada, Norway and Greenland among others. The U.S. Kaizen Productions LLC clean 10:18 http://newlygreens.com/blog/some-green-thoughts/ http://newlygreens.com/blog/some-green-thoughts/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:37:23 +0000 Greg http://newlygreens.com/podcast-supplemental/some-green-thoughts/ http://newlygreens.com/blog/some-green-thoughts/feed/ 0 http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-4-csa/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-4-csa/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:18:29 +0000 Greg http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-4-csa/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-4-csa/feed/ 0 agriculture,browns,certified,community,compost,csa,elisa,farm,farming,fresh,Green,greens [part 1 of 4] (2008 Telly Award Winner) Extreme Green Segment: Organic Farming and CSA Host Transformation: Connie & Greg join a CSA! “O” Goods: Composting 101 Special Guest: Elisa Margarita Show #4 Air Date: October 2007 Show Summary: the... [part 1 of 4] (2008 Telly Award Winner) Extreme Green Segment: Organic Farming and CSA Host Transformation: Connie & Greg join a CSA! “O” Goods: Composting 101 Special Guest: Elisa Margarita Show #4 Air Date: October 2007 Show Summary: the Newly Greens hits the farm! The average meal travels 1,500 miles to your plate and they are usually laced with pesticides when they get there. Join Connie and Greg as they investigate “greener” options in the form of organically and locally grown food. They also dig into composting with Certified Master Composter, Elisa Margarita. Extreme Green – Organic Food and CSA’s Greg and Connie join Leanord Pollara of Upper Meadows Farm in Montague NJ to explore the workings of an organic farm. The organic market has consistently grown 20% a year since the 1990’s. There are five main drawbacks to today’s traditional food culture: 1) Pesticides - Approximately 400 different pesticides used, designed to kill anything that might harm the crops. 2) Additives - Things like MSG are neuro-stimulants associated with neurological disorders like migraines, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. 3) GMO - Genetically Modified Organisms (foods) are everywhere and they do not need to be labeled. Almost all corn and soy in the US are GMO. Although the USDA has given the ok for GMO’s, many people feel that this genetic tinkering could have unknown long term effects. There is some speculation that the sharp rise in peanut allergies in children could be the result of genetically modified crops. 4) Hormones – Hormones are used to accelerate growth in meat and poultry. There are suspected links to developmental problems in young humans, early puberty, obesity and diabetes 5) Antibiotics – Antibiotics are used widely in industrialized farming. These antibiotics remain in the meat we eat and give rise to more resistant bacteria and potentially more serious illnesses. The Dirty Dozen Check out the list of foods dubbed The “Dirty Dozen”. This is a list of fruits and vegetables that you should always buy organic, whenever possible, because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. “They cost about 50 percent more — but are well worth the money”. This site also gives you tips for better conventional choices if you can’t afford or find the organic versions. You can also check out The Organic Trade Association for more information on organics and GMO’s. Organics and Kids Connie also recently attended a seminar with Dr. Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green. He has a top 10 list of foods that should be eaten in the organic form, especially for children who tend to eat a lot of these foods. They are as follows: Milk Potato Peanut Butter Baby Food Ketchup Cotton (cottonseed oil is contained in many foods and/or fed to animals we eat) Apples Beef Soy Corn Wine (Bonus, for the adults only!) CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Participating in a CSA is a good choice for many reasons. One of them is the idea of eating foods that are grown locally. According to the World Watch Institute, a typical meal in a mid-western U.S. state travels an average of 2577 kilometers. Researchers estimate that this food requires up to 17 times the petroleum and generates up to 17 times the transport-related carbon emissions than the same meal made from locally-grown ingredients. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The growth in the distance food travels has also corresponded with an increase in food packaging, as food products are designed for longer journeys and shelf lives. In addition, there is a large amount of food waste, which unfortunately is not always composted. Source: ZeroWaste. Where can I find a CSA or Farmers Market in my area? localharvest.org Where can I find organic non-GMO seeds for my garden? According to Len of Upper Meadows Farms, Kaizen Productions LLC clean http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-3-auto/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-3-auto/#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:18:22 +0000 Greg http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-3-auto/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-3-auto/feed/ 1 air,alternative,biodiesel,calcars,camary,car,cell,corn,cougar,electric,essential,ethanol [part 1 of 4] Grease Car and The big 5 alternative fuels Wayne Auto Spa Air Pressure 101 Natural Car Air Freshener Host Transformation: Connie & Greg put a For Sale sign on their V10 pickup truck! Show #3 Air Date: August 2007 Show Summary: the New... [part 1 of 4] Grease Car and The big 5 alternative fuels Wayne Auto Spa Air Pressure 101 Natural Car Air Freshener Host Transformation: Connie & Greg put a For Sale sign on their V10 pickup truck! Show #3 Air Date: August 2007 Show Summary: the Newly Greens Gets Greasy! About half of NJ global emissions come from transportation. Join Connie and Greg as they take a look at the Big Five alternative fuel options for today’s cars. In this episode, Bio diesel, Hybrid, Electric, Fuel Cell, and Ethanol are explored as energy options assessing them for functionality, efficiency, and practicality. This episode is great for information about the Big Five, green tips, and explanations on different types of engines. Also, watch Greg and Connie set out on their own journey to revaluate their energy needs and apply greener solutions to their motor vehicles. They also visit the Wayne Auto spa for a greener way to spiff up your ride, and look at some auto themed tips in today’s O Goods segment. Extreme Green Segment: Grease Car Conversion Special Guest: Matt Hand Greg joins Matt Hand for a hands-on exploration of engines run on straight vegetable oil and they discuss the somewhat related, and much more legal alterative, bio-diesel. Originally, diesel engines were designed to run on peanut oil and have been subsequently modified to use thinner more petroleum-based fuels. Because of this connection, a little ingenuity can go a long way to make any diesel engine run on straight veggie oil. greasecar.com Bio diesel is considered a renewable fuel, able to be blended in any proportion with petroleum based fuel to lower emissions, and can be run in diesel engines without any modifications to the engine itself. Want to Purchase Biodiesel? biodiesel.org (Or call) NBB at (800) 841-5849 Want to see a more detailed video of the conversion? LINK TO VIDEO COMING SOON Important Straight veggie oil is more acidic than regular fuel. As a consequence it will degrade some seals. It is necessary to replace rubber seals with synthetic seals. Some older fuel lines may also need to be replaced. Matt ran into a problem about 6 months after installing the kit where he lost pressure in his fuel pump due to his gaskets degrading. Unfortunately Volvo no longer sells parts for their discontinued diesel line and the car was not popular enough for after-market replacements, so he's currently dead in the water. If you take on a project like this, we recommend you research the availability of replacement parts prior to installing the kit. VW and the American truck makers like Ford and GM are popular choices. Be aware you may also void your warranty with a project like this. Antifreeze Alert When working on heater lines use separate funnels and buckets to catch your old antifreeze. If it’s clean you can reuse it. If it has become contaminated with metal, oils, or fuel it becomes a hazardous waste and must be taken to a recycling center. These are regional but check out njhazwaste.com/ or call your public works dept to find out where to take your waste. Don’t put it down the drain or leave puddles in your driveway. More Info on Waste Disposal nps.govecarcenter.org You can also contact the New Jersey Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste at: 609-292-8341. To report a spill or leak, or to report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the NJDEP 24-Hour Hotline at 1-877*-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337). Complete NJ solid waste guidelines page: state.nj.us Hybrids: Connie and Greg take a Hybrid for a spin. Hybrid engines are so named by the incorporation of both a gasoline and electric motor. Electric motors perform most of the driving, supplemented by the gasoline motor in the event of heavy acceleration or a low battery charge. Hybrids can also sport regenerative breaking—breaking recharges the electric motor. Depending on the model of hybrid, gas mileage can be doubled when compared to the traditional counterpart, Kaizen Productions LLC clean http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-2-basf-near-zero-home/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-2-basf-near-zero-home/#comments Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:49:53 +0000 Greg http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-2-basf-near-zero-home/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-2-basf-near-zero-home/feed/ 0 animal,audit,BASF,buildings,carbon,cleaning,cost,dogs,efficiency,Energy,essential,Green [part 1 of 4] (2008 Telly Award Winner) BASF Near Zero Energy Home Natural Cleaning Products and Repellents Insect Repellent Challenge Results Show #2 - Air Date: June 2007 Extreme Green Segment: The BASF Near Zero Energy Home, Paterson, [part 1 of 4] (2008 Telly Award Winner) BASF Near Zero Energy Home Natural Cleaning Products and Repellents Insect Repellent Challenge Results Show #2 - Air Date: June 2007 Extreme Green Segment: The BASF Near Zero Energy Home, Paterson, NJ Interview: Jack Armstrong, BASF Director, Building & Construction Markets This episode of the Newly Greens focuses on green building with a close look at the BASF Corporation and their Near Zero Energy Home in Paterson NJ. We speak to Jack Armstrong, BASF’s Director of Building and Construction Markets. Check this show out for great information and inspiration if you are thinking about building a sustainable home. Or just to discover its great story and hear about the Paterson family who will get this house upon completion as a donation from BASF. To get started on building your sustainable home, or simply to get more information, follow the links below. betterhomebetterplanet.com eere.energy.gov usgbc.org pathnet.org Greg and I used this website to begin formulating our own strategy for making our existing home more efficient. Look for updates on our progress coming soon… energystar.gov “O” Goods Segment: Natural cleaning and insect repellent Special Guest: Margaret (Mags) Lucas. The “O” Goods segments strive to illustrate that for every choice we make, or product we buy, there is usually an alternative available that is healthier for people and the environment. Whether it is organic, less toxic, or provides fair trade for people around the world, these healthier alternatives are the choices we seek! This segment of “O” Goods put the spotlight on more natural versions of cleaning products and insect repellent. We feel it is important to get heavy chemicals out of our home, and ultimately the environment. So we did some research and began experimenting with alternatives. Below are the recipes for some we liked and featured on the show. There are lots of great ideas out there and the Internet is a good resource. But there are also a lot of great products available in stores today. Our friend Mags happens to loves the Method line of products. Experiment to see what you like the best! And keep us posted. We’d love to know!! We found the following sites useful and formulated our recipes from a combination of these sites and from the book, “The Humble Art of Zen-Cleaning” by Michael de Jong. eartheasy.com stretcher.com lowchensaustralia.com Please also check out the results of our flea repellent challenge by clicking on the “Our Transition” tab! *Remember to always keep cleaning and repellent mixtures away from kids and animals. They are more natural versions, but are still not meant to be ingested! Cleaning Recipes Our Kitchen Cleaner 1/2 gallon water 1/2 cup vinegar 1/4 cup baking soda 5 or 6 drops of tea tree essential oil (adds a disinfectant quality) 5 or 6 drops of lemon essential oil (adds a nice scent) Pour into a spray bottle, shake and use! Our Bathroom Cleaner 1/2 gallon water 1/2 cup vinegar 2 teaspoons borax (adds a bleaching and disinfectant quality) 5 or 6 drops of orange essential oil (adds a nice scent) Pour into a spray bottle, shake and use! Our Window and Glass Cleaner 1 part water 1 part vinegar (smell disappears as soon as it dries) Pour into a spray bottle, shake and use! A Word on Bleach Note: baking soda and real lemon juice are good for scrubbing as an alternative to bleach. Research also indicates that bleach, in moderation, is not a bad thing where you must sterilize. Most people just over use it. It is harmful to the good bacteria in our sewers and can aggravate asthma by degrading indoor air quality. Cutting boards or flooded basements are a good example where you might consider using bleach. Bleach is generally unnecessary in bathrooms but its use there is widely promoted through advertising. Tea Tree oil is an alternative mold remediator. Repellent Recipes Our Flea and Mosquito Repellent Kaizen Productions LLC clean http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-1-prout-solar/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-1-prout-solar/#comments Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:40:31 +0000 Greg http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-1-prout-solar/ http://newlygreens.com/podcasts/episode-1-prout-solar/feed/ 0 Bamboo,Clean,Clothing,Cotton,Energy,Fashion,Foods,Green,Hemp,Jersey,Models,New [part 1 of 4] (2008 Telly Award Winner) Solar Panels and the NJCEP Organic Clothing Show #1 Air Date: December 2006 Extreme Green Segment: Solar Panels and the NJCEP Interview with: Bob Prout of Prout Funeral Home in Verona NJ This episode of the N... [part 1 of 4] (2008 Telly Award Winner) Solar Panels and the NJCEP Organic Clothing Show #1 Air Date: December 2006 Extreme Green Segment: Solar Panels and the NJCEP Interview with: Bob Prout of Prout Funeral Home in Verona NJ This episode of the Newly Greens focuses on solar energy and the path to obtaining it in the state of New Jersey. We speak to Bob Prout of Prout Funeral Home in Verona NJ who has gone solar in a big way. Not only is his business solar powered, it is also a classroom. Check out his solar control room and learn all about it in this episode. Or book a tour! He is a great resource for learning more about this incredible form of clean energy. And don’t forget the spectacular rebates and incentives that NJ offers on all forms of renewable energy. (GO NJ!) To get you started, check out this link to the NJ Clean Energy Program. njcleanenergy.com/ “O” Goods Segment: Organic Clothing Special Guest: Carol Peterson This segment of the Newly Greens’s “O” Goods puts the spotlight on organic clothing. We searched high and low for some cool (and reasonably priced) organic duds and we found them in some unusual places and made from some unusual fibers. Our friend Carol joined us and we had fun checking them out and trying them on. Here are some links and information if you’re interested in any particular item you saw on the show. Whole Foods Market Some Whole Foods now carry a pretty large variety of organic clothing and jewelry. Some of the brands we featured were from Whole Foods: Of the Earth World of Good Indigenous Designs The Internet Searching the Internet is also a great way to find organic clothing these days. Some of the brands we featured were found on these sites: Bamboosa Earth Creations (hemp) Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is also stepping up to the sustainable plate these days. They are carrying organic clothing for men and woman. These items were not featured on the “O” duds segment this time around because we found them after the fact. But maybe next time… No Boundaries and a few others: walmart.com Kaizen Productions LLC clean