$28 a week and failing miserably
for all of you who have been inquiring about my $28 a week post, please cease with your pitying glances and offers to take me to lunch/donate leftover pita bread and hummus to me (unless it’s edamame hummus – my fave!)
i am happy to report that i am now gainfully gainpartly employed at codegreen solutions, and not so happy to report that i have been going over my allotted budget for 3 weeks straight now.
although it is difficult to pinpoint what exactly has been putting me over the edge, this 14K gold melting love ring that i bought from yayoi forest may be a clue. (in urkel-esque voice) did i do that?
in fact, i am ashamed to say that i have been relapsing to my piggish ways quite a bit since finding a new job. is it possible that what happened to alternative energy as soon as gas prices came down is now plaguing me on a much smaller scale?
luckily, although there were a few splurges here and there, i was able to eat nothing but 99 cent cans of corn and soup for about 3 days. note to anyone who is seriously strapped for cash – 1 can of soup can go a loooong way. don’t allow campbell’s to tell you that you can only make two servings. i successfully squeezed 5 large bowls of soup out of one tiny can by just adding water and salt. just be prepared to divvy up the already meager 7 pieces of carrot that come in a can a bit further.
in any case, i am going to do my best to get back on track being a responsible piggy. that being said, i’m amending “$28 a week” to “$33 a week.” wish me luck!
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plan your next vacation on an abandoned oilrig
want to blow your friends away with a trip that makes whalewatching in alaska and waterfall jumping in hawaii seem oh so passe?
check out the oil rig platform resort and spa by morris architects, a project that proposes repurposing abandoned oil rigs in the gulf of mexico into luxurious accommodations for tourists. such a resort would breathe new life into an otherwise stagnant and useless vessel, and the fact that it would be powered by all renewable energy sources makes this a clever solution with an ironic twist.
the oilrig resort is just one of many ecolocations popping up on the green scene.
read about all of the lavish amenities that the rig hotel plans to offer at inhabitat.
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freecycle friday winner 2 sunny!
congratulations to the winner freecycle friday #2 - sunny!
here are sunny’s fabulous eco-tips:
1. one can donate his or her old clothes, shoes, household items (i.e. bedding, kitchen supplies) etc. to the Salvation Army or a nearby Goodwill.
2. another option for trading not only books but also clothes is http://rehashclothes.com/
if you have some clothes that you believe might find a better home than via salvation army or goodwill, you can trade your dear item for another, newer, exciting item as well as post what you are looking for so that others can possibly provide a similar item which they were looking to get rid of anyway!
3. if you place a ‘no junk mail’ note on your mail box, you’ll receive less junk mail! thus saving more paper.
4. it’s easy to use the back of printed paper for notes and lists. make a pile for scrap paper and start today!
5. old appliances such as radios, toasters, modems, etc. can be taken apart and used for parts. one can sell them to a local repair/electrical shop instead of discarding them.
6. you can go to http://www.rbrc.org/consumer/ to check out where to find out where to drop off your rechargeable batteries from cell phones, cameras, laptops, etc.
7. if you have a puppy, or a doggy, let them play with plastic bottles and roll around with them! my puppy loves playing with empty soda bottles and generally crushes them for me so that when they are ready for disposal, more bottles can fit in the bin. aluminum cans can also be crushed before placing in the recycling bin/bag/box. Plastic, reusable bins are the preferred container of course.
8. you can donate various paper products, beans, beads, fabric scraps, ribbons, used paper clips, and trinkets, to kindergartens for craft-making
9. one can re-use [washed] meat trays from the super market as paint palettes!
10. old dried up flowers excrete great color when squeezed onto paper with warm water! one can use these old flowers for ‘paint’ before simply throwing them out.
11. i’m sure someone else has already said this, but if you use an aluminum water bottle it saves a lot of plastic waste every time your mouth is parched and you’re not at home.
12. use plastic lead pencils (or pens) instead of the old #2 style pencils. save some trees.
13. try to use electric stoves, grills, or ovens and microwaves over gas stoves.
14. use dishcloths for cleaning instead of paper towels.
check out our lovely runner up nina’s eco-tip here.
see more free stuff here.
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red vs. green: swyyne’s top valentine’s day gift picks for your ecohoney
true environmentalists know that holidays like halloween, christmas and valentine’s day are enemies of the earth, creating tons of wasted paper, wrapping, packaging and all the energy it takes to produce all that stuff. but for true urban piggies, it’s terribly difficult to resist the urge to give and receive presents! who doesn’t like presents?!!
so this v-day, why not have your organic chocolate and eat it too? and if your special piggy hasn’t joined the green movement yet, maybe you can sway her/him through the power of greendirtying.
red
roses
green
organic and locally grown flowers from green florists like adore floral. did you see the gorgeous arrangement they put together for us for summer rayne oakes’ book launch party at the stella mccartney store? ask for flowers that are grown without harmful pesticides and are eco-friendly because they don’t need to be shipped half way around the globe.
red
traditional designer handbags
green
make your own bags out of paper, fabric, or yarn that you already have
here’s a free template from hermes to make a customized kelly bag for your sweetie. it’s even more special if you make it out of something that holds special significance for the both of you - you should probably ask before you start cutting though…
or
if you’re naturally crafty and have some extra yarn sitting around, why not whip up a counterfeit chanel or louis a la the counterfeit crochet project?
red
expensive dinner out at a fancy schmancy restaurant
green
affordable candlelit dinner in made with locally grown produce and, of course, love
the best place to buy fresh, colorful vegetables, fruits, cheese, wine and other ingredients for a homemade meal are our neighborhood greenmarkets, but if you’re feeling lazy, freshdirect offers a lot of locally grown options for really great prices.
red
box of traditional chocolates
green
organic chocolates like vere (pronounced very) are sustainably grown, pesticide free and really, really good. plus, they use very little sugar so they’re about as healthy as chocolates can be.
or
for an extra-special treat for your better half, why not whip up some homemade fortune cookies with ingredients (and paper) you probably already have at home? you can even mix the batter ahead of time and make the cookies with your valentine as a symbol of “creating your future fortune together.” yeah, i know i’m lame.
dip ‘em in chocolate to make them look extra purty:
red
lingerie made out of unsustainably produced materials
green
nowadays it’s easy to find eco-conscious undies for decent prices. high end designers like stella mccartney have dreamed up gorgeous and soft sustainably sourced intimates lines, and if you want something even more special, check out clare bare’s etsy shop, which calls themselves the “anti-victoria’s secret” that sells frilly unmentionables repurposed from things like tablecloths.
most of these ideas happen to also be cheap too, so you can save some green while you go green.
peep some other fabulously green valentine’s day gift ideas here:
check out more ideas for reducing your droppings here.
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freecycle friday: post your best ecotip to score this steel blue coat by luxe
this week’s freecycled goodie is a steel blue winter coat by luxe with military accents and furry hood (size s).
if you think you can give it a good home, comment on this post with your favorite eco-tip or product.
the comment with the most votes (your friends can vote by commenting with your name) will score this purty coat for free!!!
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good luck!
do you have stuff to freecycle to the best ecotip? send an email to swyyne[at]swyyne.com to donate it to the most worthy tip!
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did you know?
interesting video visualizing what our world with all the technology and information we have floating around looks like today.
all of this begs the question, do we use less paper today with all of the electronic communication we do than we did 100 years ago?
thanks for the tip sam.
more stories about technology:
interactive technology goes green
the green life at the wired store
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green plug develop universal adapter that could solve the phantom power issue
why didn’t anyone think of this before? if you’re a gadget junkie like me, it can be frustrating to have 15 different chargers (most of which look super-similar) rotating on your power strip. to make matters worse, i try to unplug each one after i’m done charging to avoid phantom power drain which can be pretty darn annoying.
luckily, california based company green plug has developed a single universal adapter that enables users to power their laptops, cell phones, and other electronic gear with only one power adapter. this means that we might be able to eliminate the need to create and ship a power adapter with every electronic device. the adapters will also shut off the power supply when a device has finished charging or is turned off, providing further energy savings to consumers as well as being more environmentally friendly.
westinghouse digital electronics has given the thumbs up to this venture and has recently announced its commitment to using the new “smart power” technology.
of course in order for green plug to succeed with their vision, other electronics companies must cooperate. the word on the street is that many of them believe that not including a new charger with each product will somehow lower the buyer’s perception when they unbox. i’m not sure about you guys, but i usually cringe when i open a new device and see yet another charger. am i the only one?
on a completely aesthetic aside, how brilliant would it be if green plug collaboed with microworks and incorporated their vine charger design into the universal plug?
read more about green plug at the future of things
pics of vine charger courtesy of spoon & tamago
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lendaround.com: like netflix meets facebook!
lendaround.com, a new web service that allows users to swap dvds with their friends in an organized manner, is the manifestation of the brilliant idea you had 7 months ago while eating cereal in bed but were too lazy to do anything about. the only difference is that tim jackson, the founder of lendaround, wasn’t eating cereal when the idea popped into his mind - he was in africa:
“coming back from rwanda or lesotho and looking around my home, i was struck by how much stuff we all own and take for granted,” he said. wouldn’t it be great if instead of leaving things to gather dust on shelves, we could lend them to our friends?”
tim’s simple idea could not have come at a more appropriate time. not only does lendaround speak to environmentalists and people who are just plain tired of consuming so much junk, it makes sense to those who are looking to save a buck (or $4.99) in a rough economy. by harnessing the power of users’ own dvd libraries, lendaround can offer their service for a song! that means free for anyone who was confused, although plans are underway to extend lendaround’s scope past dvds to include anything from cds to lawnmowers.
besides saving the energy, plastic, labor, money and other resources that go into making a dvd, lendaround saves fuel too. early data shows that about half of lendaround users walk their dvds over to their friends’ places. it’s a lot more conducive to socializing than netflix too. by helping out friends, lenders feel like they are doing something to brighten up someone else’s day.
so what about selection? true, netflix probably has a more expansive collection of titles, but if you’re friends with someone, chances are that you like some of the same movies that they do. and the cool thing is that when someone in your circle gets a new dvd, you can “keep it in the family” as if your shared lendaround library was your virtual media cabinet.
want to try? lendaround’s private beta is currently full, but swyyne readers have priority access! just email swyyne@lendaround.com with a list of your favorite movies to check it out.
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help! who are your favorite green celebrities?
you guys know who my favorite eco-celeb is:
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| adrian grenier at charity:water’s charity:ball 2008 |
but i’d love to know who yours are and why.
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new yorkers - did you know you can switch to wind energy?
i didn’t even know about this option until sam carroll of community energy inc. told me about it at the sustainable nyc store. don’t feel bad if you didn’t either, to quote the late notorious BIG, “if you don’t know, now you know, pigga.”
the fenner wind farm in madison county, ny
okay, i admit i changed up that last part a little bit. now for the question everyone is dying to know that answer to: how much is the switch going to cost? here’s the skinny:
not bad, right?
sam also explained to us that one wind turbine creates enough energy for about 500 families. 5 double OH! and when 500 new households sign up, they build another turbine. so in essence, by switching to wind, you’re also helping put up new turbines.
how fresh would it be if con ed ran a promo where if you could get 500 families in your area to sign up, you could see your turbine being built and customize it with your own patterns, family’s names and pics?
email sam to let him know you want to see that idea come to fruition at new.wind.energy.ny@gmail.com or enroll here.
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eco-women unite!
if you want to check out the top femmes forming the voltron of the eco-movement, i highly recommend this lecture. starre vartan, who is like the head of the voltron will be there, and so will carolyn gilles and sandria taliercio (arms?).
| Eco-Women: Leading the Green Living Revolution |  |
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Starre Vartan, Carolyn Gilles and Sandria A. Taliercio
We all know we need to radically change our society to prevent environmental catastrophe, and politicians, business leaders and experts are debating how best to make the enormous shifts that are required. But real, lasting change will only come if people change their ways of living and consuming at the grassroots, and women are playing a key role in today’s eco-revolution. They are most often the CEOs of their households and in charge of raising the next generation and as a result are on the frontlines of the eco-movement.
This evening several trend-sending women leaders in green lifestyles will share their tips and insights on how to help save the planet while actually improving our lives, highlighting the leading edges of green living, from food to clothing to housewares to design to cleaning products to energy consumption to child rearing. Come discover how living sustainably can also mean living more creatively, more passionately, and more joyously.
AN EVENING LECTURE
Monday, March 30, 7:45–9:45pm
09WEC57P
Members: $8 / Nonmembers: $10
[CLICK TO REGISTER]
Starre Vartan is a blogger, writer and editor who’s been covering green women’s/consumer issues for nine years. She founded http://www.eco-chick.com/, and is the editor for Greenopia.com, home to green business and products listings. She recently authored The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to be Fabulously Green.
Carolyn Gilles is the founder and director of Green Edge NYC, which she began in October 2006 to get answers about issues that affect the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our local and global communities. Gilles lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where she has an urban community that inspires her every day
Sandria Taliercio is a green living expert. She is co-owner of Precision Window Tinting, for energy conservation, and owner of Very Green, a green consulting company catering to families and women, http://www.verygreendiva.com/. She is an advisor for cosmetics and beauty products for http://www.greenopia.com/ and lectures at various mothers groups
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sustainable nyc: the new one stop shop for the new york ecosumer
new york city econnoisseurs rejoice! sustainable nyc, the lower east side’s new eco-store is open for business. not only does the store boast a colorful array of some of the coolest and best-designed sustainable products, check out the features that make the storefront itself eco-friendly:
1. built from 300 year-old reclaimed lumber from NYC buildings.
2. the furniture fixtures are recycled and for sale.
3. the wallpaper and paint are eco-friendly.
4. the store is powered by alternative energy.
5. even the sign outside is solar powered!
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some of swyyne’s picks for what to buy at sustainable nyc:
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preserve razors made from plastics (like yogurt cups) that usually can’t be recycled in new york. you can even send these back to be recycled again in a pre-paid envelope that the company supplies once you’re done using them!
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natracare organic tampons that are made from cotton not treated with pesticides, because if there is any place that you don’t want pesticide residue, it’s there.
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ingenious g diapers flushable diaper refills address the environment and take care of that funky smell in your house.
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chicobags in all different colors are durable and easy to carry around with you everyday.
sustainable nyc is located on Avenue A between 9th and 10th streets:
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| From Screen Captures |
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happy inauguration day! send a paperless obama commemoration via facebook
what an awesome way to celebrate this momentous occassion paperlessly.
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get it here.
hurry!
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lean mean free green dry clean deal
madisonclean dry cleaners is offering new clients $10 towards their next order with a new account signup. the signup is free as well! check out the deal here.
madisonclean is one of many “green” dry cleaners that you may have seen popping up on the scene. but what exactly makes one dry cleaner greener than another?
the traditional method of dry cleaning, strangely enough, uses a liquid solvent called tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, or perc. here is what the environmental protection agency says about perc:
the main effects of tetrachloroethylene [perc] in humans are neurological, liver, and kidney effects following acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure. adverse reproductive effects, such as spontaneous abortions, have been reported from occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene; however, no definite conclusions can be made because of the limitations of the studies. results from epidemiological studies of dry-cleaners occupationally exposed to tetrachloroethylene suggest increased risks for several types of cancer.
in light of the above knowledge, you really want to ask your dry cleaner 2 questions in order to decide whether or not they really are green:
1. do you use perc to dry clean clothing?
2. if not, what alternative methods are used?
so how did madisonclean fare? here are their answers:
1. while perc is currently still used to clean our clothing, we offer a green option (only $1 extra per garment) that is advertised on every counter.
2. we use wet cleaning and CO2 cleaning as alternatives to using perc.
although 100% perc free is ideal, i applaud madisonclean for taking the initiative to evolve. some other changes they are in the process of making are using biodegradable plastic bags and re-usable garment bags as well as offering promotions via email only as opposed to paper.
but wait - upon further research, i saw that madisonclean is actually located in long island and differentiates itself from other dry cleaners by offering free pickup and delivery from anywhere in nyc and long island. problem: “green” and driving around all over the city daily don’t really go hand in hand. i wondered what steps, if any, they were taking to reduce their carbon footprint in terms driving, and am awaiting comment via email or perhaps even on this post if we’re lucky.
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the green life at the wired store
if you haven’t checked out the wired store yet, i suggest you do so immediately. my favorite tech/lifestyle/all the cool stuff you would ever need magazine has appropriately upped the ante from last year with a greentech exhibit curated by man of a million facets, adrian grenier of the show alter eco on planet green (you may also know him as vince from a little show called entourage).
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side note: as much as greenwashing has been a trend this year, with many companies pretending to be green in order to attract customers and positive buzz, the opposite phenomena, let’s call it “greendirtying” until i think of something less…dirty-sounding, has also been on the rise.
greendirtying is a practice where sustainability promoters use popular products, media outlets and lifestyle choices to expose eco-friendly ideas to the public. an example of greendirtyng that i like: at the c.l.a.s.s. eco-materials showroom launch 2 weeks ago, model and eco-activist summer rayne oakes, who is working on making eco-sensible shoes with footwear giant payless, said that she got into fashion so that she could look for ways to promote sustainability to a wider audience.
so, for those of you who are wondering whether or not the green life exhibit fell into the first category or the second - maybe you shouldn’t care so much!
think about it - people who came to the wired store to check out the latest gadgets also got a taste of green innovation, and people that came specifically for the green life exhibit were able to see how even products that were not in the exhibit were adopting eco-standards. sometimes we need to forget about labeling things, and focus more on the progress being made.
anyhoo, some highlights were:
the hymini portable wind and solar power generator (looks like they beat the comparable sanyo charger to the punch in the american market) that can charge your cell phone, camera or other small device. what a great gift for both the ecosumer in your life and the techie who might need a little nudge to go green.
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the watermill (doesn’t it kind of look like a crazy mashup of c3po and a stormtrooper?) is a home appliance that makes drinking water out of- get this - air! although it is pricey, the prospect of drinking water made by a big, futuristic, smileyhead would definitely motivate some of my bottled water fanatic friends to make the switch.
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why is this a site?
swyyne has always been an experiment for me. with all of the other super eco sites out there, i've been feeling like i want to contribute something just a bit different. so for now, here are my random musings.
look for stuff
feed yourself