Going green can save green, CLC prof says
Vik Bhardwaj
Managing Editor
The Biological and Health Sciences Division organized 14 free lectures and hands-on events to celebrate of Earth Week April 17 through April 24. The events were led by CLC instructors and experts on topics that included conservation, environmentalism, sustainable landscaping, and Lake County
With the added incentive of extra credit from one of my professors, I attended “It’s Easy Being Green” hosted by Biology instructor Kelly Cartwright on April 20.
Cartwright’s presentation was full of ways to live more environmentally friendly from what you eat to how it’s packaged as well as to how you clean.
At the end of the presentation, Cartwright said she wanted people to realize they can change the environment.
Some people think the leap to live more environmentally friendly is too far of a jump. Cartwright said education can bridge the gap.
“I think everyone is going to live in the manner they see fit, but I do hope that people will start to make some small changes,” Cartwright said in an e-mail April 29. “Most of the time people who live in a less environmentally sound manner don’t realize there are different options out there. It is all a matter of education.”
People sometimes fail to understand going green doesn’t necessarily mean going broke.
“Many times buying environmentally friendly products actually saves a person money because you are buying products that last longer and avoiding disposable products which tend to add up in price,” Cartwright said. “There may be a higher cost for the initial purchase but when you look at cost over period of time, the environmentally friendly options come out better.”
Instead of the quick-fix, fat-infested grease baskets people are accustomed to eating, a more conscientious way to satisfy hunger is to eat home-cooked, locally grown produce, and a diet without grain-fed red meat. Doing so is better for the environment, as it systematically drives down CO2 emissions.
Eating locally grown food decreases the burning of fossil fuels. To be considered local, wholefoodsmarket.com says it has to travel less than 7 hours by vehicle. Consumers should buy what is in season for their region, as this gives a market to what is locally grown.
Buying locally also allows consumers to know where their money is going. Consumers Without this knowledge, consumers can’t know whether they are supporting unfair labor conditions in other parts of the world where many farmers work under a free trade system. Preventatively, consumers should buy local and check to make sure their products have the certified fair trade symbol to ensure the farmers better working conditions and wages.
Cartwright also discussed organic products. The term “organic” is used to describe a method of farming. According to mayoclinic.com organic farming is, “designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.”
Organic products are made without chemical herbicides, pesticides and antibiotics. Organic farmers prevent weeds through crop rotation and the application of mulch and manure. They use traps and birds to get rid of insects and prevent sickness and disease to animals by allowing them to roam free and eat a balanced diet. Organically grown produce may look, taste, and feel the same as conventionally grown products, and Cartwright emphasized organic product labels. All products sporting the certified USDA Organic badge are at least 95 percent organic.
Cartwright also discussed packaging and the importance of knowing what is readily recyclable. To help people better understand, a system was devised to reference the degree of recyclability of the material. A label found on recyclable materials containing a number inside the arrowed recycle triangle tells a consumer this. No. 1 and No. 2 plastics are easiest to recycle while No. 5 and No. 6 are practically unrecyclable and should be avoided.
According to thedailygreen.com, No. 1 plastics contain PETE, or polyethelene terepthlalate, and are the easiest to recycle. It’s found in soft drink, beer and water bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing and vegetable oil bottles. Only 20 percent of No.1 plastics are recycled. Those that do get recycled find their way into tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, and even polar fleece blankets. As evidence, Cartwright brought in a polar fleece blanket that was once a plastic bottle. Even skeptics couldn’t feel the difference from wool fleece.
No. 2 plastics contain high density polyethylene, or HDPE, found in milk jugs, juice bottles, household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, butter and yogurt tubs, cereal box liners, and some trash and shopping bags. These are easily converted into laundry detergent bottles, pens, floor tile, drainage pipe, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, and fencing. Both No.1 and No. 2 plastics are generally safe for curb-side pickup.
No. 5 plastics contain polypropylene, or PP, which is found in some yogurt bottles, ketchup bottles, caps , straws, and medicine bottles. It is recycled into signal lights, battery cables, bike racks, rakes, bins, and trays. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.
No. 6 plastics have polystyrene, or PS, found in disposable plates, cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, and CD cases. It is made into insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, and foam packing and carry-out containers. The trademark name for PS is Styrofoam. PS can be recycled, but the process is considered inefficient and impractical. Thus, it is better to avoid PS products.
Cartwright next shed some light on environmentally friendly cleaning products. She said chemical-based cleaners and detergents like Pine-sol and Clorox Bleach kill more than the micro-organisms on your floors and toilets. Once they enter the water-ways and rivers that lead out to the oceans, these chemicals continue to kill micro-organisms and harm the ecosystem.
In response, a lot of cleaning product manufacturers stock shelves with greener products that are made with natural ingredients. Vinegar, lemon and citrus oil are ways to naturally clean and can be bought on their own as well.
Cartwright said she doesn’t use laundry detergent to wash her clothes because they cause harm to water ways. Instead she uses reusable, chemical-free, ionic washing disks that break up dirt. The one she brought was called the Tsunami Washing Disk. She said it effectively cleans hundreds of loads. For those tough stains and to brighten whites, an enzyme cleaner is used. Cartwright said many green products are available in stores like Target, Jewel, Whole Foods, and home improvement stores, and people can find less common items online or in catalogs like Gaiam.
Cartwright closed with a short Youtube video of a environmentalist pup who went around collecting bottles, turning faucets off while people brushed their teeth, taking public transportation and picking up after people. To check out the link, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJdGPXFTMYk
Going green is so easy, even a dog can do it.
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