CNN Has Solutions

We at F&F are big fans of solutions. CNN has a great series entitled Green Warriors, that highlights new innovations in green technology. You can't help but have hope when you see how many innovations they profile on this show. All of the segments are available on the CNN website here:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/solutions/

Take a look, and see how algae and other biofuels are making headlines!

Hot in the City

Two green focused exhibits are currently on display in NYC museums.

First, at the Museum of the City of NY, Growing and Greening New York: PlaNYC and the Future of the City, will make the complexities of greater environmental sustainability in New York City vivid, compelling, and understandable by bringing environmental concerns to life on an individual, human scale.
The exhibition will take the visitor through the course of a day-7 a.m. through 2 a.m.-and link routine activities with information documenting their collective impact on the environment, while also offering alternatives for making these actions less harmful to our world and highlighting innovations that will lead to greater sustainability by 2030.
PlaNYC2030 is an ambitious blueprint for New York City as it confronts the prospect of continued population growth and the urgency of protecting the city’s natural environment to improve urban life. Its 127 proposals range from planting more trees to designing better power plants to cleaning up brownfields to building new parks and housing across the five boroughs. Together, they suggest how the city might plan for growth while confronting issues of livability and global climate change. On display: Dec 11 through Apr 12.

Second, The American Museum of Natural History, Climate Change: The Threat to Life and A New Energy Future, will examine one of the most pressing scientific issues of our time—the massive, human-induced warming of Earth, a phenomenon that could lead to drought, rising sea levels, heavy storms, and other events with potentially dire impacts on the health of society and the natural world. This exhibition will explore the science, history, and impact of climate change, and illuminate ways in which individuals, communities and nations can reduce their carbon footprints. On display: Now-Oct 16 2009.

F&F is planning on visiting both exhibits, and will be posting a full review! If you have already seen either one, please add your comments below.

Burt Knows Bees

Colony Collapse Disorder (or CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or Western honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term Colony Collapse Disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006. (via Wikipedia).

Burt's Bees is dedicated to researching this issue, and saving the honey bees. Have a look at this view they created.

Green Energy Options in NY

Ever wish you could install a wind farm or solar array on your roof? For most New Yorkers, this is a pipe dream; however, you would be surprised at the options for getting renewable energy into your home.

Read on...

How-To: Get Renewable Energy in New York City

New York City residents, what are you waiting for? You can make a serious reduction in your personal carbon footprint overnight—well, at least by the time your next month's bill arrives—by signing up with a renewable energy provider. Just remember, just because your energy is green doesn't mean you can be wasteful with it. It's still important to reduce your overall energy demand.

Are you signed up for e-Bills?

Switching to e-bills is what we call a no-brainer. Most major companies that provide monthly services offer an option for e-bills. Cell phone providers, utilities (like Con-Ed), credit card companies, and your bank all offer the option to stop those stacks of paper bills from showing up every month. I was surprised at the amount of mail that added up for all those bills, its great to not see them in my box anymore. Instead, I get an email notification when its time to pay. Combined with online banking, my monthly bill paying takes only a few minutes, and leaves no trace of envelopes or statements. The added security of not having all my personal infomation tossed in the trash each month, also makes me feel better when it comes to the issue of identity theft.

Switching to electronic billing would make a big environmental impact. Every year, paper checks use more than 674 million gallons of fuel and add more than 3.6 million tons of greenhouse gases to the environment. This amount includes the cost to cut, transport and mill paper; fuels used to cut, transport and mill paper; printing and delivering boxes of checks to consumers; and taking, clearing, and settling check payments, as well as returning checks to consumers in monthly account statements.

Take a few minutes and log into your service providers websites. The option for e-billing is usually easy to find, as this benefits you as well as them. The following sites provide additional information:

PayItGreen.org
ConEd

Happy e-Billing!

Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste

60 Minutes did an incredible story on the growing issue of e-waste. This is the waste stream created by old computers, monitors, cell phones, DVD players and other household electronics. Most end up in China, even when you think they might be disposed of properly.

60 Minutes is going to take you to one of the most toxic places on Earth - a place government officials and gangsters don't want you to see. It's a town in China where you can't breathe the air or drink the water, a town where the blood of the children is laced with lead.

Welcome!

Happy Holidays! As many of you know, Trasa and Susan have been friends since college, and share a similar point of view regarding lifestyles and the environment. We thought that this year we could share with you some interesting facts about "Going Green". This past year has been very busy professionally for us both, with Trasa teaching in a Montessori school in a class of 24 children, ages 3-6, and Susan working for Con Edison creating energy efficiency programs to offer NYC customers. Personally, Trasa is happily pregnant and awaiting the birth of her son in April! Susan is completing her Master's of Science in Organizational Leadership at Mercy College. Together, they both have learned a great deal about being more environmentally conscience with the their lifestyle choices. We wanted to share this information with you, as well as invite you to read our newly launched blog, to help share the knowledge we find fascinating!!!

So please enjoy this little PDF, Volume 1, and log on to FlutterFrolic.blogspot.com through out the year to see presentations, news articles, & more updates! May you all have a wonderful, happy, healthy and green 2009!

Thanks for visiting, Frolic and I will be adding new and useful news all the time, so please check back often!