All Bottled Up!

The last time I was going through the drive-through at a fast food place, on top of my extremely healthy meal... I also asked for a water. I pull up to the window and to my surprise the employee gave me a BOTTLED WATER! What does this mean for our society? Is it every time you need a refreshing drink you reach for a bottled water instead of tap? Do we now just assume that water can only be good in the form of a plastic container? What is this obsession with always having to have that "naturally purified," or "from the far off mountain range of..." drink? Water is something our body needs everyday, and depending on it to come out of a bottle can actually hurt the environment. However, there are some ways that you can actually help the environment and still have a naturally purified glass of water. The impact that tap water has on the environment is only 1/4 of the effects of bottled water. By switching to tap water you are helping yourself and the environment in a number of ways:
* Less pollution -- Many people forget to recycle their bottled and these bottles go on the ground, in our oceans, and actually hurt our earth.
* Less money -- You can SAVE money by not buying bottled water. Fun fact: The average American uses 170 water bottles in one year...totalling 50 BILLION plastic bottles a year! Now that's a lot of bottles!
* Recycling -- Nearly 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose.
* It's the same thing! -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for tap water are more strict than the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for bottled water, you’ll be drinking water that is just as safe as as bottled!
Now...I know all tap water doesn't taste the same. I myself am guilty of reaching for a bottle when I want a glass of water, but there are ways of getting the taste of bottled without the harm to the environment. Many people spend a little bit of money and get a filter for their sinks. Sure, this is a bigger purchase than a pack of bottled water, but in the end you will actually be saving money! Imagine that! Also, there are filters that come in the form of a pitcher! You can just keep it in your fridge and grab a filtered glass instead of a bottle! And there's more still...you also have the larger water filters that you can buy where you pay for the filter and then the water jug refills can come as cheap as 25 cents! Perfect for companies to use! I know for some of you, reaching for the bottle is a strong addiction... but just think if you change a few simple things you'd be doing the Earth a huge favor! So maybe... next time you want a drink... put down the bottle...and go for the tap. Mother Nature will be sure to thank you.

gg573 love,
Chelsea

Want to know more about tap water?
The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of questions about tap water on its Web site.
Check it out!

GIVE THE GIFT OF GREEN!

Happy Holidays to all of you trying to be especially green this year! We've all been hearing about how bad the economy is so.. why not search for the perfect gift this Christmas that will save you money and also help the environment? I've been browsing on some really cool sites that have a lot of gift ideas for going green! This way, you can share the gift of green with someone else!

One of the things that I really think is cool is what you would call a friendship ball. What's that you ask? Well, a friendship ball is something that you can pass around to your huge circle of friends, and guess what? It won't cost you that much! You get some type of container or ball that opens and you fill it with something small. If you're trying to go green you could put some beeswax candles or some jewelry made from recycled materials, and you pass it to you friend. Your friend will then fill the ball with something and pass it on to another friend. The environmental aspect of doing this is you save money and trees by not using gift wrapping, you save money by putting in something small, and you can keep passing the friendship ball around year after year! Plus, the women in your group will eat this up, and think you are so creative!

Other gifts you can get that are in the green category could be... recycled bags that you can take to the groccery story so you can save money not using their bags! I know this idea has been around for awhile, but nowadays there are much cuter bags!

Also, try buying some clothing made out of hemp, or giving someone a natural fragrance diffuser! Those last quite a long time and it's really easy to get new scents. There are so many gift ideas you can choose from! Maybe baking some organic snacks instead? The possibilities on how you can help the environment by giving the gift of green are endless! Help reduce your friends and loved ones' carbon footprint this holiday season

Check out some of these sites to get some green gift ideas:

http://www.greenearthmarket.com/

TOP TEN GREEN GIFTS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON! Check it out!

http://www.squidoo.com/eco-green-gifts

gg573 power,

Chelsea

Advertise the Environment

Hey everyone!

I've been working on a story recently that has pushed me in the way of interviewing a lot of marketing people. While talking to them, I realized a trend that has been happening within the past couple years. Its probably really obvious, but also very green at the same time! Advertisers and marketers are going green! Digital media and social media is the newest and up to date way to reach and attract customers.

We all know of Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. But now businesses, companies, organizations, event planners, etc. are using those tools to get their message out to the public. 

One website I found gives six good tips of why marketers should go paperless when appealing to their audience. Here are their examples:

the increased push toward oversight, accountability and transparency;

greater control and adaptability to changing economic conditions and market forces;

ease-of-doing-business, since clients expect digital communications;

more flexibility in when, where and how we work and

empowering the individual to have more control;

and the environmental reasons to move away from paper-based processes.

This type of marketing reaches a whole new audience, saves energy, reduces production costs, doesn't waste materials, and can convey a message at a more immediate pace. 

Also, with this type of advertising, companies and marketing firms can see the traffic and number of views their ad receives through analytic programs. 

Just another idea from the GoGreen573 team to become more eco-friendly!

-Christy

Audit Your Energy

Hi Greeps! (Green People?)

Just a quick post to pass along a great article. I think some of the info can really empower readers to make their lives more sustainable. Find it here.

It's all about cutting down energy use/cost in your home. The USA Today green blogger has spent the week writing about Obama's latest plan to create jobs. Part of that would be the 'Cash for Caulkers' incentive, which could reward homeowners with tax credits if they make certain upgrades to their houses.

The latest article though, is about taking steps now...for the environment, and for your wallet. I love the link to the Home Energy Saver Calculator. It's so cool! Plug in your zip code and this tool will tell you what to do! I tried it for a popular zip in the 573 area, 65201. Here's what I found out:

Average home energy costs: $1554
Efficient home: $897

That's huge savings! The next step is to plug in certain details about your home to find out the easiest and most efficient ways to cut down costs. Try it out and let us know what you think! Did you learn anything and are you going to try any of the tips?

Thanks for reading,

Emily

TODAY!

The international climate conference COP15 kicked off abroad today, and on the agenda for the multitude of countries in attendance: figuring out concrete plans to deal with climate change and those pesky greenhouse gases.

The host of the event, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, suggested an alternative agreement, outlining environmental goals countries should strive for, but not making these goals binding. His theory contends if each country can use the document as a road map, these changes could be implemented domestically, and then on the global stage.

Conference attendees are also expected to talk deforestation (less of it), temperature change (less of it), and email hacking (less of it).

This summit will be chock full of research and politics, and the best part for people like myself without a plane ticket to Copenhagen? Live blogging! Multiple different entities will be documenting the events as ideas come and go throughout the summit. Check out the action here, to start.

My personal favorite blog entry?

"2.30pm:
Back in the main hall of the Bella centre the conference is running late. Hedegaard sternly asks delegates to promptly return from lunch in future. They are now running through an alphabet soup of organisational matters on the agenda, such as "Item 2 (a) of the supplementary provisional agenda]"

Let's hope this summit is successful, for our trees' sake.

-Beth

Going Green in the Winter White Months

Hey green readers!

So the temperatures are quickly dropping, and staying there. We've talked about how you can green on holidays, during fall football tailgates, and in your fashion choices, but now I'll tell you how you can be green during the Wintertime. 

First, let's start with what to do with your car. One website I found, About My Planet, has some really interesting ideas. Most people warm up their car while waiting inside in order to stay warm. But if you think about that, its not the most environmentally efficient practice. The emissions from your car are not good for our planet.

One idea the website had is to use an ice scraper to de-frost your windows. One, that will eliminate the ice on your windshield, and two, your hard work can warm you up.  Or, it also suggested to place a piece of cardboard on your windshield before going in, that can help prevent you from having to scrape later. 

A TreeHugger survey says 27% of the people polled keep their house thermostat between 67 and 69 degrees in the winter. The second highest group is 26% under 60 degrees. To help keep your house warm, and your heating requirement minimal, place towels at the base of outside doors keeping cold air from seeping in. Only heat the rooms you need. Heat your living room during the day, and your bedroom at night. Use a heating blanket to warm the bed before you get in, or use throughout the night to keep warm, and keep the heat low. Also, wear more layers inside to call for less use of heat. 

Using salt on your sidewalks can help prevent you from falling when walking to your car, but all that salt usage can add up to a bad effect on the environment. Well, an alternative is the ashes from your wood fireplace. The ashes can make great fertilizer for a garden, but what do you with it in the winter? It can give traction between feet and ice instead of using salt. But be sure to use a metal container to take them outside so there will be no chance of starting another fire by using a plastic one. 

One website even suggested winterizing your bike. Use wide tires, take wide roads, keep your hands warm, and know when the weather is too bad to bike. 

There's also a way students specifically can go green during their winter break. After finals are over, projects are done, and books are packed away, there's a lot of paper that usually just gets thrown away. Be sure to recycle all over your notes, spirals, and test papers. When preparing for next semester, be sure to look if you classes book is offered online as an E-book. 

Two other ideas are: move furniture off vents in your home and eat soup to keep your body temperature up.

Keep Warm!

-Christy

Taking Action

Climate change. Have you heard this term before? The government sure has, as well as wikipedia (no shocker there). Global warming is something everyone has at some point or another heard of, including former Vice President Al Gore, who is one of the largest advocates and players in the governmental economic battle. While we here at GoGreen573 are trying to promote awareness and give tips for saving the economy, we felt it was time we talk a little bit about climate change.

I recently stumbled across a video on youtube that talked about the the climate change debate. The person in the video plots out probably outcomes for different scenarios. I encourage you to watch the video (yes, it's 9 minutes, but you might learn something like I did) to get the full affect of this post. In order to understand the full affect of his argument, he sets aside the idea of global warming and whether or not we are causing it, and looks solely at what would happen if the government took action or not. Pretty simple, yes or no. Do something or not do something.

The basis of the video and the theory is that in order to absolutely rule out total chaos, catastrophes and destruction, the government must act. While he uses the most extreme of cases, it is still very interesting to think about. If you make it to the end of the video, "our future" rests in one of the four boxes he makes. And as I said, in order to rule out the worst possible scenario, the government must act.

Now, if you are someone who is against action by the government and you think we can't afford to take action, that's good and fine. We're not promoting what you should believe in and get behind, we are simply making you aware of what is going on in the world. It is possible that climate change wont be as extreme as we think and that maybe we shouldn't put in so much money in order to prevent something that wont be bad in the end.

However, if we decide not to act upon climate change and it turns out we were wrong... what happens then? This is why I encourage you to watch this video. Then you can do some research for yourself. Look here, here or here. Go beyond those sites, because they are definitely not the only ones. They are just a few. There is way too much information out there, and if you have found this blog, chances are you have the resources to learn more.

-Mike

New Webisode!

Check it out!

MU Power Plant Webisode from Beth Ford on Vimeo.

-Beth

NBC is Going Green

Hello green readers!

I hope you like the above video from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon because I thought it would be very fitting for our green blog! 

Originally, I was just going to blog about the Christmas Tree in Rockafeller Center going green, but then realized that would coincide nicely with the fact that NBC has declared this week their Green Week. So, most of their TV shows have incorporated that in some way or another. Apparently NBC even has a policy called "Green is Universal." This little song medley showcased in the video above, was from last night's show. I think the best part is at the end when his talks about the floors in the studio being green. 

I had no idea until I actually read up on this a little, but apparently Jimmy Fallon was one of the first people to have a "green" set. Before the show began in early 2009, the set was built entirely eco-friendly. Fallon told The Huffington Post, "Everything is recycled. We are building everything with recycled metals and using all green lighting." Since they were starting the set from scratch, apparently its NBC's police to make everything green! Crazy that such a monster of a company puts so much emphasis on environment friendly tactics.

NBC didn't necessarily have as much to do with this one, but the Rockafeller Christmas tree is right by their studios, and as of 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the decoration more efficient for the environment. In 2007 NYC released a press release discussing the new details to the tree and its eco-friendly changes. They added a solar energy roof, which helped power the tree's new energy efficient LED lights. The roof is the largest privately owned solar energy station in Manhattan and will conserve energy for the area year round. A NYT article said the changes shift the energy consumption from 3,510 kilowatt hours to 1,297 kilowatt hours a day. The savings is equal to what 2,000 sq foot house would use in a month. Granted, some people argue, why even have the energy eating tree at all, but at least if they are going to have it, it has gone "green."

Now even our local NBC station has gone green! In the coming weeks and months the station will air an "8 Goes Green" franchise with stories about the green economy. Be sure to check it out because some of our team members will take part!

Let us know if you watch any of NBC's green week, and what you think, via our twitter @gogreen573

-Christy

What Fad?

Unemployment continues to rise, right? Not if you're looking for a green job!

There's been lots of talk the last few weeks about the national rate of unemployment, but we've got some good news...According to Pew Research, jobs in the green sector increased 9.1% from 1998 to 2007. This is my blog post for this week for 2 reasons. One, as a resource for those who are unemployed or know someone who is. And two, because I think this data fights the myth that 'Going Green' is just a fad.

First of all, here' s the link to help you start or advance a sustainable career (as in one that helps the environment and lasts for a long time, haha): Get a Green Job!

The site is one of many but I really like it because it's a blog...that means there are hundreds of jumping off points for that one location. Plus it's written by someone who is in the business, living the life you may want to have.

The trend of green business and careers in the field is no fad. Don't believe us? Follow this link to an Associated Press article with a ton of hard facts. Here are a few of my favorites about the troubled state of Michigan:

- "Michigan, which has lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs, saw a 10.7 percent increase in clean energy jobs from 1998 to 2007."
- "Pew counted 22,674 clean energy jobs in Michigan in 2007. To put that into perspective, Michigan lost 38,400 jobs in April alone."

Pursuing green solutions and alternatives is not just the right thing to do anymore. It's the smart thing. Business leaders are grabbing the idea by the horns and not only running, but making money as they go.

Just think about the last time you sat down to watch an hour or so of television. Last night's Biggest Loser episode had several promos for green products to go with NBC Universal's 'Green Week'. KOMU is beginning its own green segment. Even Sesame Street is celebrating 40 years by starting a two year campaign to educate kids about the world around them.

If Elmo and Big Bird can do it, so can we.

Emily

Transporting to a Green Environment

There are many ways we can go green just by changing our form of transportation. It's a little harder with the winter season, because a lot of green activities involve being outdoors....hard but not impossible!

One of the things that the city of Columbia has accomplished is becoming very bike-friendly. Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman is a big bicycle advocate. Ever an 76 years old, he still bikes about 60 miles each week. Columbia has done many things to help further accommodate biking in the city. Road intersections have changed to have bike routes, and the New Providence Road expansion which was opened today has bike lanes added, as well as sidewalks and pedways. Columbia is an example of a city that is definitely trying to promote health lifestyles and help the environment.

Going outside of Columbia, bigger cities are trying to do what they can to go green. One way cities are making this possible is by changing the make-up of their city transportation...trains. Clean electric trains are a major form of daily transportation for many places. Rail travel is more energy efficient and uses less fuel than cars or airplanes. A good example of this is Amtrak introduced 80 new vehicles to their Auto Train. These train cars are lighter and they have helped reduce annual diesel fuel usage.

Going green isn't just a process taken on by the United States, but it involved the whole world. For example, some of the top eco-friendly trains to travel on are in different countries. Here are examples I've found on green transportation:

1.) Sweden's "Green Train" - It features a new engine with a permanent magnetic motor with speeds as fast as 180mph. This has improved its energy consumption by 20 to 30 percent.

2.) France's AGV - Instead of a traditional diesel engine in the front or back, each carriage on the train is fitted with its own engine.  So far, it has improved energy by 20 percent.

3.) Spain's AVE S103 - This train runs on an electric motor and the average cruising speeds reach 200mph.

These forms of transportation are becoming more and more popular, and could in the future actually be beating out the airline industry.

GG573 love,

Chelsea

MU Power Plant

The next installment of the GoGreen573 webisode is on its way! But until that time I'll explain the good stuff.

MU's Power Plant services the University of Missouri campus, and does so by using biomass fuel. Currently, Campus Facilities uses wood waste to generate electricity. Enormous piles of chopped up pallets and other wood chips are mixed with coal, and wood waste is a "plentiful" and "available" resource throughout the area. If I had in Milk Duds the amount of wood chips dropped off at the plant daily, I'd be one happy lady...Additionally, the MU Power Plant website notes using wood waste as a fuel source decreases the campus fuel bill by $50,000.

The plant also uses tire-derived fuel. That's right, tire-derived. The plant partners with Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Missouri Department of Transportation to collect tire scraps and use them as an alternative to coal. According to the site, the plant burns the equivalent of 350,000 tires each year. Though it may not sound like it, tire burns cleaner than coal. Using tire scraps saves MU $300,000 each year. As my mom would say, holy guacamole, Batman.

Multiple biomass projects are in the works at MU's Power Plant, too. Researchers are testing grass and crop waste to see if these resources could be effective biomass fuels.

Check back for the webisode!

Signing off,
Beth

Going Green for Fashion

Hey guys!

At this point in our blogging, its easy to see that the idea and concept of "going green" is basically in every part of our society around us. We can be  kind to our environment during Holidays, Tailgates, and Dating. But, one aspect that I don't think we have covered yet is green fashion. Clothes, bags, shoes, etc. now all have catchy little phrases on them like "Green is the New Black," or "This is my plastic bag." It has become almost trendy to be green in today's fashion world, even though more often than not, the people wearing the clothes have no idea how they can go green, or even what that might really mean. So, its time to break that down a little bit.

Organic Clothing means that the fabric is made from materials that are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Certified Organic means it is grown in a controlled setting with no "pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, and are certified by an international governing body such as Control Union, IMO, or One-Cert." 

There is a whole other type of material grouping called "eco textiles." These have reduced carbon, energy and pollution. 

There are many reasons to buy and support these types of clothing and materials, one being that in order to make cotton, it requires a large quantity of water. This has even led to water shortages in some parts of the world.

Another option is bamboo clothing. This is a more breathable fiber, causing you to be cooler in the winter, and/or warmer in the winter. It has a great ability to absorb water faster, so good for working out, or sweating in the summer. The material is also wrinkle resistant and should require less care. HOWEVER, one problem with this miracle material is the process in creating it involves chemicals that can harm the environment if "left unmanaged."

All this information can be found at Fashion and Earth, which was this great website I found that laid out the facts, instead of being just more confusing jargon. 

So, in order to learn more about green fashion, I found a fashion show in Columbia, and went to it last Thursday evening. I interviewed a couple of the people there, and people involved with the program. I created a webisode that you can check out below!

Let me know your thoughts!

The show included clothing and accessories from Factory Green Clothing.

They have clothing for men and women, accessories, stuff for your apartment, and shoes. The website also has a blog, and allows for you to submit ideas for the catchy t-shirt logos. 

Go find some cute green clothes and let us know about them!

Christy

Chain Restaurants Go Green

Hey Everyone!

  Back for some more green fun are you? Well, I have something that will satisfy your stomach and your need to help the environment! I found some interesting news on chain restaurants that are going green... and it's starting with Chipotle! Chipotle restaurants are going to get solar panels on 75 of there restaurants next year!

Installation of these solar panels is already underway in some major cities including Denver, Colorado, Dallas, and San Antonio. This project is supposed to get rid of about 20 thousand tons of carbon dioxide emissions. When this is completed, Chipotle will be the largest producer of solar energy in the restaurant industry.

Also, three Chipotle chains will have leed-certified buildings, and one being built in Illinois will have an on-site wind turbine. The restaurant propelled by the wind turbine is capable of supplying up to 10 percent of its electricity demand.

Some other things restaurants are doing is using eco-friendly marketing. Restaurants can do this by offering green specials or putting certain logos next to items that are eco-friendly and organically grown. Customers will appreciate this as well as be interested in coming back to a place that also helps the environment!

Now you Shakespeare lovers might find this pretty cool... I found a pizza place that is located in numerous locations in ten very lucky states! The restaurant's motto is "Saving the Earth, One Pizza at a Time!" Pizza Fusion started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has created an empire for America's favorite food...pizza. The restaurant serves pizza in its purest form, free of any artificial additives and 75 percent of the menu is organic.

Pizza Fusion even delivers your pizza to you in company owned hybrid vehicles, uses 100 percent of their power consumption from renewable wind energy, they have leed certification, and they even provide organic classes for kids. Pizza Fusion is unlike any other business, and they care about going green! Pizza and eco-friendly...who could ask for more?

Too bad there is no location in Columbia.... but don't worry guys, the GG573 Team is on it!

Tune in for more green news tomorrow!

-Chelsea

Buy Your Way to a Greener Tomorrow

Here's an interesting concept I heard about on the radio a few weeks ago: carbon offsets, a measurement of metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent.

San Francisco's International Airport launched offset kiosks in September. Here's how they work: as you rush to your gate to catch an early flight for a New York afternoon meeting, you can use flysfo.com or one of the kiosks to calculate the carbon footprint of your flight. Using the carbon footprint number, travelers can learn how many carbon offsets would be required to compensate for their trip (VERs=Verified Emission Reductions). If the traveler is feeling guilty about their hefty carbon footprint, or wants to make the world a greener place, the traveler can contribute to those carbon offsets. According to the SFO press release:

"When the amount is set, 3Degrees, a local San Francisco carbon and renewable energy marketing firm that manages the Climate Passport kiosks, sources carbon offsets from The Conservation Fund’s Garcia River Forest Project and the San Francisco Carbon Fund, to ensure an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases has been reduced."

Basically, you're buying an offset through the kiosk, which is tangibly little more than a receipt. Offsets can include projects throughout the country and world supporting green efforts. Here's an interesting article from Budget Travel following three travelers who bought an offset; the reactions including vindicated, ambivalent, and ripped-off.

TerraPass.com, a carbon offset project, allows site visitors to buy carbon offsets. The site lists various projects in the U.S., including landfill gas-to-energy projects and wind energy facilities
(none of the projects listed were in Missouri, though).

Seems like a neat concept, created by free-thinking idealists. I wonder if an idea like this - paying for piece-of-mind - will take off. On one hand, travelers cannot see the effects of their $7.65 or $31.50, so why should they care? Then again, travelers can't necessarily see the effects of their round-trip airfare on the environment, so let's hope they care.

-Beth

Keeping up with the Climate

As mid-Missourians know, the weather can drastically change over the course of three hours. We've all seen it, we all hate it. Today, it is November 6th, and it is in the 70s. What is that? This isn't Florida. Now, I'm not complaining, and neither is anyone else in Columbia. But, as people have started to prepare for the winter, how do you compensate for a nice, warm, sunny day like this? You can't make your house completely cool friendly or completely heat friendly, because the weather fluctuates.

Well, there may be an answer. Apparently some researchers at MIT may have invented roof tiles that change color in the temperature. The article is very interesting, and you can find similar ones here, here and here. Basically, when it's hot out, the tiles will turn white. White reflects the most heat and will save energy. But, when it's cold out, white doesn't work as well and won't save you as much money. That's why the tiles turn black when it's colder, absorbing more heat and saving you money again.

Now, the product isn't market-ready yet, and the fine people at MIT are still working on that product, but imagine what that could do for us out here in mid-Missouri? Here, it's cold one day and hot the next. I remember two years ago, it was 65 on a Sunday and that Monday morning, it was in the high 50s to start off the day. Three hours later, it was snowing "dippin' dots" so it seemed. We all know the weather is crazy here. Maybe this research and development can really impact the lives of not only mid-Missourians, but the rest of the country and world.

We are looking for ways people are going green, but how are you conserving energy during certain seasons. Do you open the windows and use fans in the summer to prevent using a/c? Do you bundle up and use space heaters during the winter to prevent from using the heat? Let us know. And definitely keep an eye out for these 'Thermeleon" tiles, they are really interesting.

Green for the Game

Hey guys!

First, I just want to let anyone know who might read this post before tonight, that there is a Going Green Fashion show in Columbia at Ingredient in the downtown district. It starts at 7pm, and includes dinner and a show of "green" clothes by Factory Green. I will be sure to attend and update you with the highlights from the event. 

But, in spirit of a sports filled week (Yankees winning the World Series last night, and the Mizzou Tigers taking on Baylor this weekend), I thought I would find out some ways to be green while tailgating for the big game. 

This website called FourStatesHomePage  has some great ideas on staying green while pre-gaming. 

• Carpool - this saves gas, and money from parking
• Bring Local Beer - support a local brewery 
• Search for Organic Beer - fewer harmful chemicals to the environment
• Cook mushroom burgers or veggie hot dogs
• Use propane when grilling - it leaves less waste and burns cleaner than charcoal
• Use reusable dishes and utensils that you can take home, wash and reuse, opposed to wasting paper and plastic dishware
• Bring a bag for recycling containers - just because you aren't at your home doesn't mean you can't separate these materials from trash
• Extreme idea: bring a "crank radio" (honestly I don't even know what this is) but apparently it doesn't use electricity or batteries, but you are still able to listen to the pregame show

I found a couple other websites that offered similar ideas. Here are the links to the specific tailgating stories.

LighterFootstep

TreeHugger

Earth911 - this one has a cool idea of making a reusable table cloth out of old t-shirts with your team's logo, recycles worn out clothes, and prevents you from using a plastic table cloth.

It also suggests using a solar radio to rock out to some jams. 

TailgatingIdeas - This website also had some additional ideas:

• use stainless steel skewers to make shish kabobs instead of wooden ones
• buy in bulk
• use tupperware
• tailgate in hybrid vehicle
• use a "cap-trap" to open beer bottles so you don't lose the bottle caps and liter 
• Use a "keg bag" to keep things cold instead of ice to save water

Try these ideas this weekend when tailgating for the Mizzou football game, or another sporting event!

Tell us if you have another idea for green tailgating via Twitter @gogreen573

-Christy 

Students for Sustaining!

Youth activism, community organizing...call it whatever you'd like. The point? Young people are powerful. Name any cause and it wouldn't take long to think of student group or organization of young people who worked hard for it. The move to go green is no exception.

There are groups all over the 573 area who are taking action to make our worlds greener. Here's a closer look at just a few of them.

Greeks Going Green

This group is all about raising awareness and then doing something about it. They draw on their members, who are also members of fraternities and sororities all over the country, to reach out and make the first steps to going green. There are eleven chapters across the nation-everywhere from Georgia to Kansas to California. Last year the University of Missouri chapter focused on getting chapter houses on campus to start and stick to recycling plans.

Student Sustainable Initiative Fund

I'm so so excited to tell you about this one. The best part about it...you can actually get money from these guys for your green projects (if you're a student at Mizzou). It's an effort by MSA-Missouri Student Association-to encourage students who have great ideas but lack the financial support to make them happen. This year they have $12,000 to give out and you have 8 days to make your pitch for it.

Here's a peek at the process...
- Submit your proposal: By November 12, 2009 (there's still time!)
- Give your oral pitch. Based on that and documented plan, find out if you get any funding by Friday, November 20.

Click on the link to find out more! If you have questions, let GoGreen573 know. We'd love to help you get started and follow you as begin your 'greening'.

Two groups, two completely different approaches with a common goal: make our earth a better place to live, for longer. Next week I'll tell you about one more University of Missouri organization that is making huge strides. It's called Sustain Mizzou and its list of awards is beyond impressive.

For making this and every week a green one,

Emily

A Green Christmas

It's hard to remember to be environmentally friendly with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner. I know many ideas on how to save the Earth probably aren't at the top of everyone's to-do lists. If your in college you're focusing on exams and probably just lounging around over break. 

If you're a mom, well then you've already got a million things to do during the winter season and from experience with my own mother she is terribly busy around this time and going green is probably the last thing she's thinking about.

And... if you don't fit in one of those categories than I'm sure you fall into this one. EVERYONE IS BUSY. WE ARE ALL BUSY. 

BUT....

I am going to give you some quick, easy tips on how you can have a Green Winter Season. Going green isn't just planting a tree in the summer, or turning off your air conditioning... but it needs to happen year round for us to make an impact. So with Winter approaching, here's what you can do to help!

1.) Check your doors and windows to make sure they're sealed properly. Sure, this sounds like a no brainer to most of us, but the fact of the matter is cold air could be leaking in causing you to put your heat on higher. The simple task of checking these areas can save you a lot of money!

2.) Still use other methods of transportation! You can still go green in the winter. Put treads on your bike...ride with others to work... walk! All you need to do is make sure you're bundled up before you leave the house.

3.) Use non-toxic salts and de-ice products on your driveways. This is extremely easy to forget and it is something that can make a huge difference!

4.) Take advantage of the weather! Go for a family hike, and if there's snow go sledding! This not only burns away Christmas calories, but also doesn't hurt the environment!

5.) My last tip for you is to bundle up. Put on a sweatshirt before you decide to crank up the heat. Put on more layers before you touch that dial, and I promise you will see your utility bill decrease dramatically.

Okay, so there's a simple list of things you can do as the weather is getting colder. Remember going green is a year round activity and although we are all very busy this list is short and easy! So come on, everyone! Let's have a GREEN Christmas!

gg573 love,

Chelsea

Mi casa es su casa...and sustainable!

You may not be in the market to buy a home right now...but it never hurts to start thinking about the process a tad early. While you're at it, it never hurt to consider sustainable home practices, either.

Homes use energy, this much should be obvious. Whether for lighting, heating, cooling, electrical appliances, energy keeps houses warm and toasty and the coffee machine cooking. Smaller homes take less energy to heat and cool, and as air conditioners are the Hummers of household energy use, you could save some major wattage by scaling down (and using an overhead fan!). (Click here to see a table of typical energy costs by appliance.)

Instead of using a traditional heating and cooling system, homeowners can opt to use a more sustainable option: passive heating and cooling. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests home buyers looking to go green follow five key principles in heating and cooling their homes passively. Highlights of the report include using strategically placed windows to heat with sunlight and using insulation to its full extent.

More tips - - Keeping the temperature steady can be achieved with a shovel: digging into the earth helps the house to maintain a small variant in temperature year round. Using local products to build your home cuts down on the gasoline emissions from shipping product from all over the place.

Think creatively to utilize less energy and make your home more sustainable. Sustainable=fabulous.

-Beth

Braik Brothers Tree Care from Beth Ford on Vimeo.

Here's a webisode on Braik Brothers Tree Care. Check it out!

-Beth

Green Dating

Ok, so this might not be the most typical topic on "how to go green," but someone just recently brought to my attention the idea of "green dating." I hadn't really thought of something like that, but if two people are devoted to a similar cause, such as going green, that could bring about an initial attraction anyways, and so why not both support something you believe in?

So, how exactly can you "green date" in Columbia, Missouri? Here are some ideas...

Main Squeeze Natural Foods Cafe in Downtown Columbia

Peace Nook in Downtown Columbia staffed by volunteers of Mid-Missouri Peace Works for eco-friendly products

Farmer's Market on Saturdays 8am-Noon March through November

Clovers Natural Market

The Root Cellar off Broadway

Habitat for Humanity

Missouri Humane Society

MKT Trail

Walk around neighborhood

Garden together

Game of outdoor hide and go seek, or capture the flag with friends

Tour the Recycle Plant

shop for TOMS Shoes at Swank Downtown

shop for clothes on factorygreen.com 

Even if you live some where else, and are just visiting the land of 573, you can stay green: these hotels all have a "green" rating:

Comfort Inn Columbia off Clark Lane

Courtyard Columbia off LeMone Industrial Blvd.

Residence Inn Columbia off Woodland Springs Court

These are all just Columbia specific, but there are multiple ideas and options in cities all over the country. There are also hundreds more things to do in Columbia, and we would love to hear if you have any ideas!

Let us know on our twitter @GoGreen573 if you have any other ideas!

-Christy Millweard

How Green is Your Clean?

I don't go home much anymore. Things are busy here in the land of '573', but it's nice to know that back home in Washington, Missouri, not much changes. I'd be willing to bet, for instance, that if I walked in through the garage to the back door of my childhood home, there is probably a bag from Cassidy Cleaners hanging by the door. It's filled with my dad's freshly starched shirts that he rarely goes a day without wearing. He knows every week a fresh batch will be hanging by the back door...but does he know that he' s not doing the environment any good?

My bewilderment at the concept of dry-cleaning is nothing new...I've long wondered how the whole process happens with no water. Now I know that it not only (still) seems impossible, the fact that it is possible must mean something highly unnatural is going on, and that usually doesn't mean good things for the environment. The chemicals used in dry cleaners are highly toxic. They're even known to cause bleeding and sometimes spontaneous abortions in women who work in the industry. Just imagine what they do for Mother Earth. There are other options, but Missouri is behind in offering them.

There are three big alternatives to traditional toxic-laden dry cleaning. There's the liquid carbon dioxide method, silicone-solvent based cleaning, and the one you've heard before, wet cleaning(soap and water). I won't go into detail about what they are because.... it doesn't matter.
The EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, actually tracks data and keeps a list of all the cleaners that boast those other options. Missouri has a grand total of five. Three in Lees Summit, one in Dexter and St. Louis. None of them are within 90 minutes of the 573 area code. What's holding you back, Mid-MO?!

Stay tuned for GoGreen573 because we're going to find out. Think you have an idea? Let us know! Comment here or email us at GoGreen573@gmail.com.

Happy cleaning (the green kind, please),

Emily

Go Green This Halloween

Hey Everyone!

So, I had an inspiring idea! I thought since we are so close to Halloween I figured I would give our followers something to think about when they are out trick or treating or just enjoying some scary fun. Think about this... YOU CAN GO GREEN FOR HALLOWEEN! I've done some research online and I have found some things that you can do this Halloween to actually help the environment as well!

Okay, let's be real. Everyone spends tons of time and money on costumes that they only wear ONE TIME! Well a way you can save money is by inviting all of your friends to a costume exchange party! This way you can recycle all of your old costumes and still find something fun and new to wear!

Carving pumpkins can be a great way to also go green! They are almost completely organic so when they start to rot after Halloween, they are actually helping the earth! The seeds inside make a tasty snack as well. This way you are using all of your resources of that scary jack 'o' lantern.

As for trick or treating... everyone passes out tons of candy to the youngsters on Halloween night... but all of that candy adds up and usually goes to waste! I can remember countless times where I ended up with a huge bag of candy that ended up lasting me until Easter! So instead, you should try and hand out one piece of candy at a time. This keeps the cavities at bay, as well as doesn't cause waste for our environment. Trick or treaters can also help out by reusing bags. Pillow cases can work as great candy bags and provide tons of room for all of those treats!

As for decorations if you like to go all out in October, try using LED lights. They use much less energy than the normal ones. Also try to buy candles that are made out of beeswax and soy. They end up lasting a lot longer. Also, if your deciding to decorate your windows try to use non-toxic paint. Many decorations can be hand made as well. Get your kids to get creative, and have them use unwanted cartons or other recyclable items to make some scary stuff!

I have one last tip for all of you which sounds simple but happens the most on Halloween... DON'T LITTER! There are so many candy wrappers found on the streets after Halloween night and this could easily be avoided with your help! One suggestion is to keep another bag with your just for trash so you can eat candy while you trick or treat! Just make sure those mounds don't get on the ground!

Well, I hope these Halloween Go Green tips were helpful! More tomorrow!

-Chelsea

Washing Away

Here's another blog post inspired by a family member.

My sister is a scientist. Perhaps even a "mad scientist." Among her tips on living scientifically-conscious: don't use anti-bacterial soap (the clear, gel variety).

Julia says it's bad for the environment, and she's certainly not the only one. Rolf Halden (Arizona State University Institute Researcher) writes using this type of hand soap just isn't green in the least. According to his research, two active ingredients commonly found in these soaps (triclosan and triclocarban) could hurt the human endocrine system.

'But I don't eat my anti-bacterial soap,' you say?

According to Halden's research, you may be drinking it.

The chemicals in these anti-bacterial soaps don't break down; instead, they hang in the ecosystem, and can seep into drinking water supplies. According to the article, "Triclocarban is also now one of today’s top ten pharmaceuticals and personal care products most frequently found in the environment and in U.S. drinking water resources."

Interestingly, Halden says anti-bacterial soap isn't necessarily more effective than straight-up soap ("'the contact time simply is too short.'")

Another fear is the creation of "super bugs" from using anti-bacterial soap. That is, some experts say living in a bacteria-free bubble can weaken the immune system and foster the growth of bacteria that is anti-bacteria resistant.

I found various blogs and other articles adamantly anti anti-bacterial soap (do the two negatives make such an entry "pro-bacterial"? Just kidding).

Check out the links below:

Reasons to Quit Buying Antibacterial Soaps

Antibacterial soaps: Unnecessary risks, no benefits

Antibacterial Soap: An Imminent Threat to Human Health and the Environment?

-Beth

How do YOU Go Green?

So this was the basis of my idea all week, and then my esteemed colleague Christy decided to plug it in on the end of yesterday's blog. No worries though, I'm going to chug along just the same.

We've all heard of "green movements" and people "going green" on any scale, right? Whether it be buying more economically friendly light bulbs, trash bags or plates. Maybe you hear of someone going to the Farmers Market to be local to prevent all the production and packaging efforts by large companies. To some extent, we all have heard of some form of green before.

Well, followers, I am offering you a challenge this weekend. Like Christy so graciously put it yesterday, tell us what you think, or better yet, what YOU are DOING. I want to know how you are going green. What are you doing (whether it's the smallest aspect of 'going green' or if you are up for 'America's Next Top Environmentalist,' I want to know), how you are doing it and why you are doing it.

The point of our blogging and our entire efforts here at GoGreen573 are to inform our followers. Well, what better way to inform our followers than by getting their opinion. I want to hear from you all. Tell us what you're doing, what your neighbors are doing, what your friends are doing. I am going to compile all the information I am hoping to receive, I will process it, research it, and report back just how our followers are going green, and then relay that information back out next Friday.

Does that sound good to everyone? So let us know via Twitter (@GoGreen573), E-Mail (gogreen573@gmail.com), Facebook (GoGreen573 Fan Page) or comments here on our blog.

Thanks so much. Until next Friday,

Mike

Here's one I've never heard before...

Hello all going green-ers!

So I came across this the other day, and knew it's what I wanted to blog about today. I was on our city government website and found a link to this article.  The article discusses a study taking place in Rhode Island concerning the environmental impact of sprinklers. Yes, like the things in buildings and households that help put out fires. Basically, since sprinklers help "control combustion," they help control the pollution a fire can potentially emit into the environment. Who knew? Something that can save lives and prevent extensive structural damage can also help save our planet and environment from unnecessary pollution.

The study made me realize I don't really think of obscure things like this and how they affect the environment. I have only considered "going green" doing things like using recycled goods, saving energy, and carrying a cloth grocery bag instead of plastic ones. I guess I've always known this, it just made me realize there are so many other things out there that affect our environment and have an impact on our planet both good and bad. What about the types of containers we use for food storage? or the materials used for building or decorating our house? I even saw that an LCD computer monitor saves energy and isn't just for the purpose of "looking cool." 

So, what are some other odd things that affect our environment in either a positive or negative way? 

Let us know on our twitter @gogreen573

See ya next Thursday,

Christy Millweard

Braik Brothers--Going Green and Beyond

Hey Environmentalists!

Group member Chelsea, back to report to you my findings for hopefully our first webisode!

Today I had the pleasure of going to Braik Brothers Tree Care for our first official interview for our project! Braik Brothers prides themselves on being one of the first green projects ever in America! I got to talk with one of the brothers and co-owners, Dan Braik.

Dan took me around the property and told me all about their company and how they are going green. However, the weather was a bit of a problem. It was raining at the time of the interview so Dan took me around the property in his truck. The interview I did with him is while he is driving and showing me around the property. Also, all of the video of the trees, equipment, and mulch products are shot through the window. Although this was a problem I needed to overcome, I think it is a neat effect that all web users will enjoy!

I don't want to give anything away from our upcoming webisode, but I do want to share with you a little bit of what I found out today.

Braik Brothers is a way to reuse and recycle a material that in the future Dan says will be a very big commodity... wood. The company recycles every type ofproduct they use, and none of there wood every makes it into a land fill.Braik Brothers take trees and recycle them to make firewood, which in turn makes fuel.

The company helps remove trees that are dying and still uses their living parts. They turn the trees into mulch and animal pellets. Also, the company is working with the University of Missouri Researchers to test organic fertilizers and see what works best with the environment. Recycling is a huge part of the Braik Brothers Tree Company, and there hopes to expand will only further benefit the Mid-Missouri community! Want to learn more? Our webisode should be up shortly!

In the meantime, STAY GREEN 573!

--Chelsea--

Listen to Your Mother

My mom is a smart lady.

She researches like a fiend (particularly with Consumer Reports) before making any major purchases. She's been interested in automobiles lately...namely, hybrid cars.

Now I said my mom is a smart lady; not just for her researching capabilities, but she's also taking many steps to keep her home green and eco-friendly, which brings me back to hybrid cars. She wanted me to research to see if those Prius ads have any merit (that is, if plants really dance as you drive by in your ozone-layer-saving vehicle). Well, here you go mom.

Yes, hybrid cars use a battery that saves the air from your pollutants. But what about those batteries? They don't last forever. Nickel-metal hybrid batteries are cheap to make, but have a short lifespan. The other option, lithium ion batteries, are more expensive to manufacture but have a longer lifespan.

Battery components from hybrid (and even electric) cars will eventually end up in landfills, unless they are recycled. Nickel has environmental risks....not very green at all. "There are also concerns about the environmental impacts of nickel mining, and apparent challenges with fully recycling the nickel used in hybrid batteries," according to HybridCars.

According to Carseek, "The reality is that emissions results have as much to do with the drivers as the cars themselves." If you buy a Prius and drive that bad boy all over the place, your EPA numbers will look pretty green. However, if you buy the hybrid SUV, you may have similar gas mileage to conventional gasoline-drinking autos.

So mom, take all this info for what it's worth and choose wisely. Well, I suppose I wouldn't expect anything less of that gal.

Interested in more stuff about green cars? Check out GreenCarReports.

-Beth

A Guide to Green Labeling

Greetings. My name is Mike Solakian, and I am the fifth and final member of GoGreen573. After looking back over what my fellow teammates have written about so far, and seeing how each time we've written "I'm not sure what to write," I had a good feeling going into today as to what I would talk about. A friend of mine is very green-savvy, and she tweeted an article from Earth911.com that she wrote about Green Labeling to look out for. She took her information from a studying done by a branding and integrated marketing agency. I am going to talk about the labels, and have a link to her story on Earth911 where you can read up more about the labels, as well as see them.

The reason for green labels on products is to assure the consumer that the item is environmentally friendly and that they, in fact, are certified to do as promised. There is a wide range of labels, but some of the most common are mentioned in the article. The most recognizable label (and #1 on the list) is the recycling symbol. We've all seen it, the three green arrows forming a triangle. The meaning behind this icon is that the item is recyclable. Most of us know that label, and didn't need this blog to tell you about it.

There are some other less-recognizable labels to the untrained eye, however. One, for example, is the Fair Trade Certified label (#7 on the list). The term Fair Trade is becoming more and more known, but the label is still not as recognized. While some may have seen it before, others would wonder what this label means. If you see the label located in the article on a product, you can be assured that manufacturing had a fair price, fair labor conditions and direct trade, just to name a few.

Finally, I am going to talk about one more of the top 10 labels. While the Certified Humane Raised & Handled label (#9) is pretty self-explanatory, it is still important to know. This label denotes that the product prohibited the use of growth hormones and antibiotics, and that the animals must be free to move and not be confined. Most of these labels have an organization behind them, with a website, like this one. There is a website where you can do a search and find grocery stores near you that carry Certified Humane Raised & Handled products. Use Missouri as an example (where 573 is located). All Schnuck's stores carry Certified Humane Raised & Handled Eggs. This is a valuable resource if you are adamant about living a Green lifestyle.

The importance of knowing all these labels (and more) is to help live a better lifestyle. We here at GoGreen573 hope to educate the masses about Green lifestyles, Green movements and pretty much anything we can get our hands on. Having access to knowledge about labels in specific are important because we are consumers by nature. We purchase items nearly every day, and if we can recognize that the gallon of milk we buy is locally produced, or the chicken we buy is certified humane raised and handled, that one step could lead us towards living a healthier lifestyle. Also, a lot of these labels (like the recycling label) denote how we can help preserve the earth and keep are planet and environment as healthy and clean as possible.

Hopefully this list of labels can even give you one more reason to take an extra look at a label and make a more educated decision and purchase for our environment.

Have a good weekend, all. We will be back on the blogs on Monday. Don't forget to layer up in those colder regions of the country instead of blasting the heat. You can save more energy, and money as well.

What does it mean to be Green?

Hi everyone!

My name is Christy Millweard and today is my first blog post for GoGreen573. I have been trying to decide all day what it is that I want to talk about...there are just so many options surrounding this topic! But I figured since its the first week, we will start with the basics: what is green?

I think a lot of people have their own personal idea of what "green" means, but after doing a little research I came across some more concrete ideas.
First of all, "green" decisions tend to be things that have a minimal negative impact on the environment. They maybe don't add as much to your "carbon footprint." This term is something else that might need to be explained...a carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere due to our actions. So, if we make a "green" decision, it will not emit as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. When we decide to "go green," this usually means we are buying things that utilize the planet's natural resources and cause little harm to the earth's environment.

One of the aspects of the "green" world is the sector of businesses and companies that are green. That alone can mean a variety of things. To some companies that may mean they are using solar energy, organic materials, or recycled goods. Maybe they are investing in renewable energy research, reducing their energy consumption, or slashing their carbon dioxide emissions. Many times individuals decide not to go green because they think it costs more to buy certain goods. Well, sometimes it does, but in the example of green companies, in their case, it might be more cost effective because going green can help save their bottom line by reducing energy and utility costs. Going green is not only a good PR move for most companies, but can actually help their profit as well.
I even found something called "green pages," which is like the yellow pages, but different because it is a directory of only green companies and businesses. People can search this database just like the yellow pages to find a business near them that is green, or sells green items.

Our GoGreen573 project is going to cover a variety of things within the green industry, but I know one thing we will be sure to focus on is going green in the business world of Columbia, Missouri. Contact us on Twitter @GoGreen573 if you have any suggestions or ideas we should look into!

-Christy Millweard

A Green Bottom Line

Economy, environment and culture: How do they combine and interact in Mid-Missouri? We’re here to find out and we want you to join the conversation.

Emily Rau here, one of the five-member team that makes up GoGreen573. In the next few months, we’ll show you what businesses in and around Columbia are doing to take steps toward sustainability…for the sake of the environment and their bottom line. Running a green business doesn’t mean making the decision to be profitable or tree hugging and earth loving. Why choose when you can have both!?

Right now it seems as though business leaders have only one environment in mind…the economic kind. We found a great program in Columbia that is helping businesses get through tough financial times while they are making their operation more sustainable. It’s called the Missouri Market Development Program. Look forward to a GoGreen573 ‘webisode’ on the project, but until then, here’s the scoop…

Missouri has an entire agency devoted to providing monetary support for efforts to protect the environment and save energy. They work with the department of Natural resources and Economic Development to inform companies about the benefits (financial and environmental) of using recycled materials. That’s not all though, they help the companies find and incorporate recycled materials in their products and services.

Best of all, there is no charge to participate! The experts that work with the program have $50,000 at their disposal for the, “purchase and installation of specialized equipment needed to use recovered materials in manufacturing.”

Want to know more? We do too. Stay tuned for details and information on how you can get involved.

That’s all for now,

Emily and your GG573 team

Brainstorming!

Hello my fellow green-goers!

My name is Chelsea Moosa, and I am a part of the GoGreen573 team. I just wanted to share with you an idea we have for one of our "webisodes" which should be making their debut sometime in the very near future! One of our ideas has been to profile the Missouri River Relief. This is a volunteer based program that holds river clean ups and educational event for the Missouri River. It's important to our group and project that we not only focus on businesses around Columbia but also non-profit organizations such as the Missouri River Relief.

To give you a bit of background, this group was started in Easley, MO in 2001. The organization has grown a huge amount since then and has had 46 Missouri River clean ups. That takes a lot of volunteer time, energy, and effort all done by Missourians! There is a lot of waste out there, and we don't want it flowing into our rivers, lakes, and streams. Members and volunteers of this group do different things, but one of them is going out on row boats and actually going out on the water to clean up the river! I don't know about you guys, but that sounds more like fun than work to me. The Missouri River Relief program has more than 10 thousand volunteers, and it's a program that GoGreen573 wants to share with you.

Our idea is to talk to members of the group and see if they can give us more insight into the program. We also want to participate in a river clean up and put in our efforts to help! We think this would be a great program to profile for our project, and would really help the community! I am in the process of contacting members of the group and hopefully we can get the ball rolling soon! For more information you can check out the Missouri River Relief website:

http://www.riverrelief.org

Until next time, thanks for your support!

Remember 573, GO GREEN!

More soon,

Chelsea

And So It Begins

Our forces have teamed up...and the Go Green 573 project is officially off the ground.

The project - in connection with triplepundit.com - will highlight green ventures throughout Columbia, Missouri (and beyond, potentially). Originally, our group (Christy Millweard, Mike Solakian, Chelsea Moosa, Emily Rau and me, Beth Ford) planned on creating a multimedia web project around green businesses. This concept eventually gave way to a new plan: profiling not only green businesses, but green non-profit organizations and green efforts around Mid-Missouri. People who see the project can learn about green businesses and maybe offer their patronage; organizations and efforts can offer ways for Mid-Missourians to get involved with the green scene.

We want to show entities, people, and places that are making the effort to live in environmentally-conscious ways. We want this project to be interactive, meaningful, and foster communication with the community. Finally, we want to come out on the other side of this project alive. We'll see how that one goes.

So, we're starting now. And we're hoping for plenty of community feedback as the project rolls along. Can't wait to show Mid-Missouri why it's not easy being green, but it sure is cool.

-Beth