Living lighter on the planet is a worthy endeavor. For most of us, the best opportunities for green living are right in our own home but there are many other ways to make a difference, respect the planet and help heal the world. The creative application of green living can also be fun, inventive and good for business.

There’s no better example of this than a new locally-owned startup near the Galleria Mall  called Atomic #7 (605 Mall Ring Circle #110 in Henderson or on the web at atomicnumber7.com). This curiously- but as it turns out very appropriately-named small business is all about green living, in a very enjoyable way. In a nutshell, the owners of Atomic #7 specialize in custom-made desserts, of the ice-cold, healthy and very refreshing sort, using a wide array of healthy ingredients combined as you wish. They’ve developed a very unique process to fast freeze them before your very eyes.

Creating your dessert is an interactive process that starts when you grab a plastic-coated menu and a dry erase marker. You select the ingredients from a check list as if you’re preparing to fly a 747: Super Nova size – check, Vegan Almond Milk – check, Organic Agave Sweetener – check, Vegan Mint Chocolate Chips – check. You get the idea. There is a wide array of ingredients to choose from and my favorite part is that most of them are clearly labeled as USDA Organic, Certified Vegan, or both. This is green desert heaven! Once you’ve completed the checklist, everything is mixed and frozen on the spot. You’ll love the results.

To better understand the process and the product, a little background is helpful. The owners, Rachelle Corbett and Ginger Fournier are the geniuses behind Atomic Number Seven. Both have a history in the entertainment business, Corbett as a performer and Fournier as a lighting designer. It was Fournier’s experience with dry fog effects on stage that led to their unique idea. Creating unique frozen desserts on the spot requires one very important ingredient – lots of serious cold. At 321degrees below zero Fahrenheit, liquid nitrogen delivers exactly that.

LN2, to use the lingo, is not only seriously cold but also non-toxic. In fact, nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we breathe. Nitrogen is in good company, sitting right between two other human-friendly elements on the periodic table, carbon and oxygen. In fact, it holds the seventh position, thus the name: Atomic #7!

The day I was there both owners were dressed in white lab coats, joyfully serving up their delicious concoctions to a steady stream of customers. As they worked, they explained their commitment to the environment, pointing out the compostable, corn-based cups and utensils that eliminate plastic waste. With Fournier’s background, it was perhaps inevitable that the entire store uses energy efficient LED lighting. Their commitment to green was evident everywhere, even in the men’s room where a colorful poster educates visitors about the “Dirty Dozen and Clean 15,” two lists of fruits and vegetables showing which are most-laden with pesticides and which are not, and why we should care about it.

Atomic #7 is a business worthy of our patronage. This is a local business doing the right thing, acting responsibly and helping to build our economy. That is something to be grateful for. After a hard day of green living, reward yourself and your family than with a delicious, healthy and environmentally-responsible trustworthy treat from some local folks who care about you and our world. Nothing could be sweeter!

New companies are starting up and many established companies are shifting toward sustainable strategies to remain competitive in the changing economy. Practically any business can benefit from implementing green practices or by providing greener options to customers. Nowhere is this more evident than the greening of the Las Vegas Strip, as more and more major hotels adopt green programs to improve their bottom line.

Many have asked me how to get involved and more specifically, how to get a green job. Even with the shift we’re seeing, there is a delicate balance between economic potential and hard reality. Businesses try to anticipate future trends but may not be ready to hire quite yet. The key is to be ready when the opportunity presents itself. The good news is that there are more educational and training opportunities than ever before.

With so much information available to anyone with a computer, it’s not hard to get started. Organizations like the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), or the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) are just a few of hundreds of quality online sources of good information and ideas. For example, the current issue of Solar Today, published by ASES, features several excellent articles focusing on jobs in the solar industry. Also, ASES maintains a GreenStart Jobs Board.

Degrees and certifications are also available. Online courses are becoming more prevalent. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) offer various classes, from beginning solar energy concepts, to green building for contractors, and advanced degrees in renewable energy engineering or architectural design. There are also industry-specific training programs available, especially for solar.

Southern Nevada will host the National Clean Energy Summit 3.0 on September 7^th at UNLV’s Cox Pavillion. This year’s theme is “Investing in American Jobs” and will include high-level industry leaders, policy experts, investors and public officials. If you want to be involved in the new green economy, this event will provide a big-picture overview of current and future trends. It’s also a great networking event that can help you position your business, plan for future home energy upgrades or map out a new career strategy.

Don’t overlook the many local organizations that focus on sustainability issues. Many offer regular programs and special events designed to educate our community about the benefits of green buildings, solar energy, electric vehicles and more. One of the absolute best ways to kick start the process of finding a green job is to become an active member, attending meetings and volunteering with the organization. You’ll make new friends with similar interests, some with considerable expertise and experience. This type of networking is invaluable.

Local groups that meeting regularly include the Southern Nevada Group of the Sierra Club where next month’s program on September 8th is “Protecting Desert Biodiversity,” with Rob Mrowka, President of The Center for Biodiversity. Rob will discuss how he and his solid team of biologists are protecting a range of species such as Desert Tortoises and their habitat while siting large projects such as the proposed Large Solar Thermal Array south of Las Vegas.

Solar NV is a non-profit that promotes clean, renewable energy in Nevada. They provide educational meetings every month and have some special events that are coming up (see solarnv.org for details). First is their annual Renewable Energy Leadership Award Banquet and Silent Auction on Saturday, August 28. This year’s award recipient is Commissioner Rebecca D. Wagner of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. The recognition of her work is well-deserved.

Solar NV also produces the Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour every year. It has become an event that many Southern Nevadans look forward to and is part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, now in it’s 15th year. This year’s tour will take place on Saturday, October 2^nd. Learn how local Nevadans are living green with solar energy.

And that takes us full circle, right back to those fortunate and visionary homeowners who thank the sun every time their power bill arrives in the mail. Green living (and working) can provide a lot to smile about.

Additional Resources:

• American Solar Energy Society (National)
• American Solar Energy Society – Southern Nevada Chapter (Solar NV)
• U.S. Green Building Council (National)
• U.S. Green Building Council – Nevada Chapter (USGBC-NV)
• Sierra Club – Southern Nevada Group
• Green Jobs Network
• Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Southern Nevada (Electrical JATC)
• Solar Institute of Nevada
• Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association
• UNLV’s Center for Energy Research
• National Clean Energy Summit 3.0: Investing in American Jobs

The sun oven is fired up, steaming hot inside - and totally carbon-free!

Renewable energy can be fun, easy, inexpensive – and good tasting. Yes, it’s all those things and more when you get into the joy of cooking using a sun oven. We’ve had our sun oven now for about five years and this summer we’ve been using it more than ever (they work during the winter too by the way). Who needs a hotter house, a bigger gas or electric bill, or food that has to be constantly watched to keep from burning? Solar cooking is the new barbeque – and it is a lot of fun!

A solar oven is an amazingly simple device. You know how hot a car can get when parked in the summer sun. Now imagine a much smaller, well-insulated box with a tempered glass door on top and some shiny panels on all four sides, angled just right to reflect and concentrate extra sunlight through the glass. The black interior of the oven absorbs the light and turns it into heat – lots of heat.

Setting up the oven takes less than a minute and simply involves unfolding the reflector panels and adjusting the angle of the oven to face the sun. Once the food is inside and the glass door is latched shut, the temperature gauge starts to rise almost immediately. It will easily reach 300-350 degrees and stay there all day with a few occasional adjustments to keep the sunlight at the right angle.

Basically, anything you can cook on a stove or in a regular oven, you can cook in a solar oven. I’ve talked with other solar cooks who have verified that the only limitation is one’s imagination. Stews, pasta, veggies, casseroles, bread, cookies – you name it and it’s probably been cooked successfully in a sun oven.

“I use my Global Sun Oven to cook anything that I would normally cook in my regular oven. My family loves fresh-ground wheat bread and we regularly cook roasts, cookies, rice, casseroles, baked potatoes, cakes and more. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told that sun cooked [food] tastes better.”

- Mike Little, Las Vegas, NV

For example, this morning I made a delicious curry-vegetable lentil stew. It took about ten minutes to chop some onions, carrots and celery, mixing them in a large pot with some dry organic lentils, vegetable broth, water and spices. The covered pot went into the sun oven around 9 AM. I adjusted the oven a couple of times to keep it aimed at the sun as the day progressed. By midday, I enjoyed a steaming hot bowl of delicious vegetarian lentil stew that was cooked to perfection.

Unattended cooking is also an option. Simply aim the oven for max exposure at high noon and leave. It will never overheat or cause a hazard. As the sun travels across the sky it will slowly warm the oven at first, cook at maximum temperature for a few hours, then gently reduce the temperature as the sun gets lower in the sky. You come home to a freshly cooked meal that is still steaming hot and ready to eat.

Because a sun oven cooks so evenly, the food never burns and nothing ever sticks to the pan. It’s really about the easiest way to cook I know of. The glass door is sealed with a rubber gasket to hold in the heat and moisture so the food cooks but does not dry out. Our solar-cooked dishes consistently get rave reviews. Guests often comment that it’s the best they’ve ever tasted – no matter what the meal happens to be!

There’s a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when enjoying a meal that’s been cooked with 100% sunlight. The benefits include zero carbon emissions; no pollution; a free, inexhaustible fuel supply; and delicious food. What better way to enjoy renewable energy?

Sun ovens are accessible to many since they are relatively inexpensive. You can buy one ready to use or find plans online that show how to build your own. Not all solar ovens are the same though. Our Sun Oven (that’s the brand name) is still like new after five years of use. Watch the video at www.sunoven.com. Now get cooking – go solar!

Additional Resources:

• Sun Ovens International makes an excellent solar oven (it’s the one we use).
• The Solar Cooking Archive Wiki
• Healthy Cooking – with a Global Sun Oven
• Solar Cookier at Cantina West
• Solar cooking recipes:
  • Solar Oven Chef
  • Solar Cooking for Mainstream Cooks

A library is potentially the greenest part of any home. The knowledge contained in books can profoundly transform lives and many can help us learn to live in sustainable ways. The best books take us on a journey of discovery, presenting new ideas that excite and motivate in ways that other mediums simply cannot do. All that is required is an open mind and a bit of time.

Reading the right book at the right time can even save your life.

Here’s a suggestion for your reading list: “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II. The subtitle of the book is “Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health.” Although Green Living is not the topic of the book nor are the words found in the index, it contains far-reaching implications that should not be ignored. This is one of the most valuable books I’ve ever read and it would be an excellent addition to anyone’s library.

The book outlines the findings of “the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted.” You might wonder what that has to do with Green Living. From my perspective, everything is connected and all of our choices and actions have consequences. Having a green home is great, but that is just one part of the Green Living equation. Efficient energy and transportation systems play a huge role. But there is one choice we all make each and every day that can be the greenest of them all – what we decide to eat. Our dietary choices are the key to a solution that offers the greatest benefits at the least cost. It is Green Living for everyone.

In “The China Study,” the authors provide solid information based on long-term scientific observation of human dietary practices. Stemming from research of multiple, diverse societies that span the planet, the information is broad-based yet incredibly detailed. The study itself is amazing and the conclusions are as fascinating as they are valuable. Don’t be misled by the title, this book is all about us: average Americans. There are detailed explanations about the cause of many diseases that have become all too common in western society and, even more importantly, how they can be prevented or reversed.

I believe that of all the Green Living suggestions I’ve ever offered in years of columns, this is the one with the greatest potential to help people live healthier, happier, longer lives while also creating a major positive impact on our threatened environment.

The best thing about “The China Study” is that it offers real solutions that anyone can implement right away to improve their immediate and long-term health, save money, reduce waste and pollution, eliminate toxins, and heal our environment. The book effectively defines a serious problem affecting millions of people, explains in detail how it came to be and then provides a simple, effective and well-proven solution that is accessible to all.

I urge you to read “The China Study” and give it serious consideration, if not for yourself, then for your loved ones. I believe that of all the Green Living suggestions I’ve ever offered in years of columns, this is the one with the greatest potential to help people live healthier, happier, longer lives while also creating a major positive impact on our threatened environment. We must take an active role in educating ourselves while being open to change. The world is constantly changing and we must adapt or face increasingly dire consequences.

Whether you add it to your personal library or check it out at a local public branch, let “The China Study” be part of your Green Living path of discovery. This could be a fork in the road that changes your life and puts us all on a course for a better future.

Additional Resources:

• Read more about “The China Study.” (Why did it take me so long to find this book? “When the student is ready…” I suppose.)
• Read an online preview at Google Books.
• The story of John A. McDougall, M.D. is featured in “The China Study.” He is a physician and nutrition expert who teaches better health through vegetarian cuisine. Dr. McDougall has been studying, writing and “speaking out” about the effects of nutrition on disease for over 30 years.
• UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet
• Author T. Colin Campbell responds to questions raised about the book, “The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health”
• I like Steve Pavlina’s blog post about “The China Study.”
• Check out John Robbins’ “The Food Revolution” for further reading. Highly recommended!

Don’t miss the new film “Forks Over Knives.”

Sometimes shovels break. For the last two months, we’ve watched oil spew from the ruptured seabed in the Gulf of Mexico. The media has focused on this unfolding event and the blame game is in full swing. Everyone would like things to get back to normal. Even the CEO of BP said he would like his life back.

For a moment, let’s assume that the shovel did not break and the oil, rather than spewing forth uncontrollably into the sea, was instead sent to a refinery and turned into “useful products.” Roughly 80% of the oil is burned as gasoline and other fuels to move people and stuff around. The rest is used in thousands of ways to make millions of household items: everything from tires to deodorant and from crayons to bubble gum. Many of those things are made from another byproduct of captured oil: plastic.

Just about everything made from oil still ends up “out there” in the environment. Burned fuel releases millions of tons of carbon (dioxide and monoxide), sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates, etc. Almost all the other stuff eventually gets thrown “away” (which is nice, except that there really is no “away”). What we collectively think of as “away” are usually either landfills (into the earth), incinerators (into the air), or the oceans (into the water). Plastic is especially insidious because its toxic chemical content lasts almost forever.

The point of all of this is that no matter how we release stored carbon from within the earth, there are always consequences. A big oil leak gets a lot of attention but the day to day impacts of using oil products are barely noticed, even though in the end, they still pollute our environment. Our homes act as a conduit for a lot of plastic that is also having a major impact on the ocean.

Plastic doesn’t biodegrade but it does break down into smaller and smaller pieces. Our oceans are becoming a mix of plastic soup and it’s entering the food chain from the bottom up. No one has documented this more poignantly than photographer Chris Jordan (chrisjordan.com). In “Midway: Message from the Gyre,” his heart-wrenching photographs show the impact of our throwaway society on thousands of albatross chicks. There’s no such thing as organic wild-caught fish anymore. Everything has been contaminated. It can’t be cleaned up. Can we honestly say that this is any better than what’s happening in the Gulf? The best we can do, what we must do, is to stop the contamination from getting worse. Now.

So much of what we buy and bring home is either made of or packed in plastic. Reducing our use of plastic is the highest priority. Beyond that, we must responsibly recycle what we do use. The problem is that not all plastic can easily be recycled. So it’s time to reach for new (old) tools. For example, if you haven’t done so already, please stop using plastic bags at the supermarket! Get some sturdy cloth bags that can be reused over and over. I keep several in my car and they’ve lasted for years. I keep a stash of smaller reuseable bags that are handy for veggies and fruit.

Buy in bulk when you can. Look for products that minimize packaging or that use green options. A company called Be Green Packaging manufactures high-quality compostable packaging that has a Cradle to Cradle certification. It may not be common yet, so talk to your store manager about it. We all have a voice and together we can influence businesses to make more responsible decisions to reinforce the ones we’re learning to make every day.

The real oil tragedy has been building for over a hundred years. We’ve come a long way, baby – right to the brink. We’re so damn smart…can we grow up now?

Additional Resources:

“Only we humans make waste that nature can’t digest.” – Captain Charles Moore

Watch Captain Moore’s presentation at TED. This is must-see video:

The Majestic Plastic Bag narrated by Jeremy Irons:

Watch this video about just what can be accomplished when people are committed to change:

Flushing new cabinets with fans and open windows can help remove toxins like formaldehyde.

There’s nothing like a breath of fresh air, especially on one of those rare mornings following an overnight storm that scoured the valley, purging the smog and ushering in sharp, clear vistas. It usually doesn’t take long for the views to soften again as particulates, chemicals, exhaust and other contaminants begin to reestablish the haze. Addressing the issue of air pollution is important to our health and to our environment. Surprisingly, the best opportunity to improve our air quality is often indoors.

One reason indoor air quality is so important is that, on average, we are now spending 90% or more of our time inside buildings. Whether we’re home, at school, at work or elsewhere, most of the air we take deep into our lungs is part of the indoor environment. As we strive to improve energy efficiency, we’re creating “tighter” buildings with less air infiltration. Proper and efficient ventilation is increasingly important since indoor air quality can be up to five times worse than it is outside.

Some newly-constructed, energy-efficient homes have automatic fresh air ventilation built into the mechanical systems. They may also use healthier building materials that reduce chemical exposure from paint, adhesives, carpets, cabinets and other sources. The most responsible builders are taking these steps. Older homes are often “leaky” so it’s easier for air to get in and out (at least when the wind is blowing). This sort of uncontrolled ventilation might help improve air quality at times, but it will certainly not improve the quality of the utility bills!

Combustion by-products can be a serious source of indoor air pollution. Gas appliances, including furnaces, stoves, dryers, fireplaces and water heaters can be dangerous if not properly installed, vented and maintained. Garages are typically filled with dangerous chemicals, from oil and gas to paint, solvents and pesticides. The air barrier between the house and garage is very important. A good home energy auditor trained in building science can help identify and offer solutions to these issues.

There are numerous other ways to improve indoor air quality, no matter the age of one’s home. It doesn’t take an auditor to know that smoking is a major source of indoor air pollution. Or, have you ever noticed when someone is painting their nails? Of course you have, because the odor of those dangerous volatile organic compounds is unmistakable. Other personal care products, from shampoo to hair spray can release toxins into the air. Make informed purchasing decisions and seek healthy options. Read labels and try to avoid anything with ingredients you can’t pronounce or don’t understand.

Cleaning products are also a major source of indoor air pollution. Spraying the counter with some cleaners will immediately raise the dangerous chemical content in the air. Most household products are designed to smell ok even though they may be very unhealthy. Natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda can do wonders, accomplishing most daily cleaning tasks without any toxic side effects. Add a some lemon to really freshen things up!

Perhaps you’ve suffered from the effects of poor indoor air quality but never made the connection to the cause. Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, or fatigue, or irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Asthma is another disease that can be exacerbated by indoor air problems. Awareness is the best defense. Making a definitive connection between a specific symptom and a specific source of pollution is rare, but adopting an overall plan to improve indoor air quality can lead to noticeable improvement in health and comfort.

Green living is really a series of lifestyle choices. It looks different for each of us, since the decisions are often very personal. It can sometimes be difficult to change our ways, but just as often, we can easily make informed choices that improve our lives and heal our environment. So take a deep breath, relax and think about what’s next for you and those you care about.

Additional Resources:

The Environmental Protection Agency: Indoor Air Quality.

Energy efficiency has never been more important or more urgently needed.

Our homes are taking on a new and very important role in terms of energy: they are becoming an integral and active part of the electric grid system. The existing model of electrical generation, distribution and use, one that has basically changed little for over one hundred years, is about to take a major leap forward. The change will provide benefits in the form of lower energy costs, greater comfort and control, increased reliability and security, and environmental healing.

The premise is relatively simple: greater efficiency, real-time load management (down to the micro level), distributed generation and renewable energy. Homes will generate energy, share it with others when it makes the most sense, as well as use it much more wisely. The integration of these concepts will forever transform and improve the way we use energy while providing a major part of the solution to some of society’s most pressing issues. The details are complex and will take some time, but the seeds of change have already taken root and are sprouting. It’s a paradigm shift that will transform not only our homes, but our energy utility companies as well.

While some of the technological aspects of this transformation are beyond the scope of most homeowners, there are opportunities that most of us can take advantage of right now. Making one’s home more energy efficient is the best initial approach, followed by the installation of an appropriate renewable energy system if possible. Personal load management, in the form of good energy habits, is a good idea too. Investments in efficiency and renewable energy can be very rewarding and the returns often out-perform the stock market.

When enough of us take these steps, we not only take control of our energy expenditures, but we contribute to a better world for everyone else too. Personal responsibility can go a long way, but we still need the right policies in place to make sure the rest of the system is moving in a complimentary direction. This is where our public utility and regulatory agencies play an important role. A strong energy efficiency program is the key to success.

There has never been a more crucial or appropriate time to adopt forward-looking policies that encourage the rapid, wide-scale implementation of energy efficiency. This is the time to accelerate and expand programs that help people reduce energy waste. Many utilities across the country are realizing that it is in the best interests of their customers and shareholders to implement aggressive energy-efficiency programs. These programs can make good financial sense, usually saving more money than they cost while helping customers maintain or improve their level of service while using less power.

The environmental and social consequences of failing to take action, to the greatest degree possible, become more apparent each day. This is the time for all of us; individuals, companies, utilities and governing officials alike; to step up to the plate and do the right thing.

On the other hand, cutting efficiency programs results in higher energy demand and more expensive, environmentally-damaging central plants or the importation of more energy from out of state. In Nevada, we must do everything we can to stem the flow of dollars to other states. Energy efficiency programs circulate more money in our local economy.

The weak economy presents a unique opportunity to promote new businesses through energy efficiency while providing utility customers with much needed options that can improve their lives. The environmental and social consequences of failing to take action, to the greatest degree possible, become more apparent each day. This is the time for all of us; individuals, companies, utilities and governing officials alike; to step up to the plate and do the right thing.

Traditional distinctions are dissolving as our energy-dependent culture matures. Homes become generators, utilities become communication hubs. The capabilities of our newly-evolving energy systems will be profound, but the benefits will never be fully realized without the most important ingredient of all, efficiency. Let’s make absolutely sure we maximize every opportunity to move forward. It’s a responsibility we cannot ignore.

Additional Resources:

Energy Efficiency is what our country needs – right now.

As an adventurous teenager, I lived briefly in a small, humble abode (actually the term shack is more accurate) on the slopes of the dormant Haleakala volcano on Maui. There was no running water inside, but plenty outside in the form of a small mountain stream. A short walk down a verdant path, through trees laden with fruit, led to a clear, natural pool at the base of a semi-circular twenty-foot cliff. From the top, a beautiful waterfall poured into the pool – my personal, all natural shower.

At first glance, this seemed idyllic. However, after a several showers in the decidedly cool water, the novelty began to wear off, replaced by a growing appreciation for something I had previously taken for granted.

The point of these brief musings is to provide a bit of perspective to one small miracle of modern living – the hot shower. Nowadays, many of us turn the knob and step into liquid warmth with nary a thought about it. But it still takes a lot of work to make it happen, in the form of millions of megawatt-hours of electricity to operate a vast network of pipelines, pumps, tanks and reservoirs. And in lieu of chopping wood of course, most of us pay for natural gas or additional electricity to heat our water for us.

I like to think of my home shower as a personal waterfall, completely adjustable and available on demand. It offers a sublime experience, made even more so by the simple act of conservation. Through the use of a specific and effective showerhead, I have found that it is possible to take long, satisfying showers using only a fraction of the water and energy.

I first wrote about the Oxygenics BodySpa SkinCare hand-held showerhead shortly after I began using one, but it’s worth mentioning again. This well-designed device has worked flawlessly since installing it over three years ago. It has saved tens of thousands of gallons of water and more than paid for itself through energy savings alone. Who says it costs more to be green?

I like to think of my home shower as a personal waterfall, completely adjustable and available on demand. It offers a sublime experience, made even more so by the simple act of conservation.

The key is using the adjustable ring or “comfort control” on the hand-held showerhead to dial back the flow rate. Even when turned down, the design maintains a comfortable spray using much less water, as little as a half-gallon per minute. A typical low-flow showerhead is fixed at 2.5 gallons per minute, the maximum flow rate for the Oxygenics.

Using the full-flow setting for initial and final rinsing with a lower-flow setting during the longer wash cycle seems to be a winning strategy. My hot water consumption has been slashed. The bottom line is that there are ways to enjoy the benefits of modern technology and comfort while using even less of our precious resources. In a state where water is scarce and energy valuable, what could make more sense?

This device is said to work well even when water pressure is less than ideal. One final benefit is that the manufacturer is based in Nevada so purchasing this product benefits our economy as well.

Learning to live lighter on the planet continues to be an adventure. Not quite the same as living on the side of a volcano, but infinitely more rewarding.

Additional Resources:

We’ve grown up in a society based on the oil standard. It’s so ingrained in our culture that we barely give it a thought. Yet at this point in time, we are utterly dependent on oil for almost everything we take for granted in modern life, either directly or indirectly. Here in the southwest, we don’t use fuel oil for heating our homes, but most of our communities are designed around the fact that nearly everyone has (or needs) a car. Thus, even our homes are at least indirectly responsible for our rapacious appetite for oil.

We’ve allowed this to happen. Lured by seemingly cheap, unlimited energy and the unprecedented convenience that it provides, our use of fossil fuels is proving to be anything but cheap or unlimited. In fact, it has all the hallmarks of addiction, defined as “the  state  of  being  enslaved  to  a  habit  or  practice  or  to  something  that  is  psychologically  or  physically  habit-forming  to  such  an  extent  that  its  cessation  causes  severe  trauma.” Who would doubt that an absence of oil would result in severe trauma to our society? Yet many of us accept this state of affairs as “normal” or even a basic human right.

Disasters have a way of spurring us to take extraordinary action to help each other. If there is a silver lining to this disaster, perhaps it is that. Can we funnel our shock and emotion into positive action? Will greater awareness, less consumption and responsible energy policy become a by-product of environmental calamity? And if not, then what will it take?

Climate change is, for some folks at least, somewhat nebulous – a slow motion disaster that is difficult to grasp and easy to deny. On the other hand, a blown-out well spewing millions of gallons of toxic petroleum into the ocean is in-your-face, undeniable reality. Is that enough for us to change our ways? Perhaps this oil spill is destined to become just another faded headline, like the Exxon Valdez disaster, as we return to our daily routines and business as usual. We decide.

As citizens, we can accept our role in creating this situation and take responsibility for it. There are lots of ways to reduce (and eventually eliminate) our need for oil and improve our lives in the process.

In the short term, we can car pool, maintain our vehicles properly and when the time is right, choose high-mileage vehicles to replace them. We can increase our mass-transit options and even improve our health by walking or cycling more. Buying locally produced food and other goods is a good strategy. We can choose to stay closer to home, take stay-cations or more localized vacations. Technology like Skype or other video conferencing tools can help reduce business travel and save money.

In the longer term, we can build green communities designed for human-scale interaction, health and self-sufficiency. We can continually improve our transportation technology, integrating it with smart grid and renewable energy systems that are not dependent on oil at all.

Those are just a few ideas. The fact that we use oil in so many ways is also the reason that we have so many options to reduce our need for it. We all play a role in societal change. Find a way that works for you – something you’re interested in. Focus on that aspect of change until you’ve created results. Then, share your knowledge with others. It feels good to break an addiction.

Additional Resources:

• A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash
• ASPO – Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas
• The Oil Drum – Discussions About Energy and Our Future
• Gulf Oil Spill: A Symbol Of What Fossil Fuels Do To The Earth Every Day, Say Environmentalists

It’s been forty years since the first Earth Day celebration helped raise awareness about our incredible home. Just seventeen at the time, I loved the idea and have been in love with my planet ever since. But I admit I’m guilty of abusing the relationship. Over the course of those four decades, I often took her for granted. It was mostly her carbon-based charms that quite literally drove me to excess. And although there were warning signs, I’m afraid the over-indulgence has resulted in some permanent damage in terms of her ability to sustain the beautiful dance of life (as we’ve known it anyway). The song isn’t over, but the tune is definitely changing.

Many of us share this relationship. None has been more eloquent about the topic than author and environmentalist Bill McKibben. In his 1989 book, “The End of Nature,” McKibben painted a picture of a world that was being fundamentally transformed. The idea of a “natural world” had ceased to exist. The climate, so altered by human activity, was now a product and responsibility of our species. At that time, the picture was not completely clear and the book had a philosophical aspect to it, although many of its warnings and projections have since become reality.

Twenty years later, with reams of scientific data and real-world observations as back up, McKibben’s latest book brings the picture into focus. The fact is that we now live on a fundamentally different planet than the one we’ve known, the one that gave birth to human civilization. Following McKibben’s logic, this new planet deserves a new name, thus: Welcome to Eaarth. In “Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet,” the author explains that the effects of climate change are now permanently with us.

We (meaning all nearly seven billion of us) have crossed a point of no return. And though even the most severe cuts to greenhouse gas emissions will not stop many of the changes that we’ve set in motion, it is only our immediate actions that can prevent even more severe consequences from piling on. In the book’s preface, McKibben writes, “…we’ll need to figure out what parts of our lives and our ideologies we must abandon so that we can protect the core of our societies and civilizations. There’s nothing airy or speculative about this conversation; it’s got to be uncomfortable, staccato, direct.”  I invite you to read this important book.

Facing this reality is one reason Earth Day – or, rather Eaarth Day, should hold a prominent place in our culture. It is only through our collective efforts that beneficial change will occur, if we want it. The keyword is “beneficial” since change is inevitable. We either play a role in guiding the change or not. Inaction is also a choice, but one that can easily lead to sub-optimal results.

There is no substitute for the human spirit. Our ability to envision and shape our destiny for the greatest good is where our true power lies. Let’s use this special day to revitalize our commitment to honor and protect our magnificent planet, our home, our Earth.

Additional Resources:

This earlier GreenDream post contains links to Earth Day events around Southern Nevada.