stellargirl returns

i'm a guest poster on Tiny Choices today!

As you may have heard me mention before, Tiny Choices is a super blog about all the tiny choices one can make to lessen his/her impact on the environment. My friends Jenn and Kari started this blog just under a year ago, and have amassed an incredible amount of research, anecdotes, reviews and challenges. They've shared a lot about their own tiny choices as well as encouraged TC readers to share theirs. You can share YOUR perspective by taking the Tiny Choices Survey today!

In the meanwhile, check out my post all about my love for rubber yoga mats. I picked one up recently and I am loving it! It's a much better option than the typical yoga mat which contains PVC, a plastic which introduces highly toxic chemicals into the earth and your body. Rubber is a renewable natural substance that comes from the Para rubber tree. My favorite benefit is the amazing traction that it provides. Try one out!

welcome, tiny choices

My super duper extra special awesome friends Jenn and Kari just launched their new blog called Tiny Choices. It's about the tiny choices we can make and how they can make an impact on the environment and our surroundings. It really got me thinking about the tiny choices that I make, and how I can probably make even more, and you can, too... Check out their site and read their answers on the same questions I've answered below.

Vital statistics (name, age, location)?
Roz Duffy, 30, Philadelphia, PA

How do you reside (apartment or house, roommates)? Are your housing decisions dictated by choice or necessity? Please explain.
I live in an apartment by myself in a neighborhood that I have always admired, therefore it was a choice to live here. I like the tiny streets and the trees and potted gardens that are prevalent where I live.

How do you travel (transit, car, etc)? Are your travel decisions dictated by choice or necessity? Please explain.
I predominantly rely on my feet and public transit to get me where I need to go. I like to walk all the way to work when the weather is much cooler, but it makes more sense to rely on the bus during these hotter (and sweatier) months. I am a member of PhillyCarShare, and even though I have not yet signed out a car from them, I am happy to have the option. Sometimes I get around as a passenger in my friends' cars, and there are occasions when, out of necessity, I take a cab for personal safety reasons.

Tell us about a Tiny Choice you’ve made in your life.
I drink water all day out of a Nalgene bottle and usually carry around reusable shopping bags. If i don't have my shopping bags on me, I choose to get paper bags because I use them to put out my recycling on trash day.

What is the one environmental dilemma you personally struggle the most with?
I eat lunch out most days during the week and create a lot of waste between the container, the bag that the food comes in, the plastic utensils, etc.

What is one Tiny Choice you can make in that direction?
I could follow Kari's recommendation of getting the Bamboo spork and carry it with me, skip the bag. I could also prepare my own food and bring it in washable, reusable containers.

What is the one environmental Tiny Choice you make that people question (in either a positive educational or a negative hassle way) you the most about?
I've been vegetarian for over 11 and a half years now. I made the choice to become vegetarian for many personal and ethical reasons, one of which includes the effect that the meat industry has on the environment. It never really stops being an issue for people who either a) want to know WHY and HOW and b) people who can't even imagine not eating meat.

What is the one environmental Tiny Choice you would like every single person to adopt?
I think people need to be more aware of their consumption of plastic bags / plastic bottles / plastic containers. It's an individual choice as well as the choice of the business that is giving them out so freely.

Do you feel like you make sacrifices for environmentalism? Please explain.
Not in the slightest, I just heighten my awareness of the world around me as a whole. It's not about sacrifice, it's about taking the time to be more conscious of your actions.

Are you generally: optimistic, pessimistic, neutral about environmentalism and the future?
I am optimistic because it is becoming so much more mainstream to be aware of the environment. My friend Guamaniac recently instituted recycling containers all over our office, PhillyCarShare is EVERYWHERE in Philly (and well stocked with hybrid vehicles), universities are offering more environmentally sound degree options, the list goes on... I really admire Jenn & Kari for starting this site, because it really is about making choices, and no choice is too tiny.

get on the bus!

This is the first I heard of it, but Google provides their employees with a fleet of buses to get them to work every day. It doesn't seem shocking coming from a company like Google, but what's awesome is that these buses run on biodiesel fuels and alert riders via cellphones and computers if the buses are running late. And they can bring their dogs on the bus! Read the blurb on Treehugger or the original article on the NY Times.

I ride buses all the time here in Philadelphia. I love to walk, too, but when I am in a hurry and the bus is coming and I have the convenience of a monthly transpass, I will hop right on. Generally, I would rather move than stand still, which means that I sort of despise waiting for the bus. If I have no time constraints, I will walk all the way to anywhere, but when I do have to get somewhere in a hurry, walking is not always the best option, which is why I would adore having some knowledge of when the bus is coming via my cellphone. This does not seem like such an impossibility to me technologically speaking, but then again this is Septa that we are dealing with. I wouldn't exactly say that they instill a lot of confidence, considering their most central hub of transportation, City Hall station, is dark, smelly, and confusing as hell. You need to be a seasoned rider to know your stairwell, which way to turn, etc., because Septa sure hasn't bothered to properly utilize the simple tool of good signage.

Perhaps Philly can learn a lesson from the recently upgraded Los Angeles transit system, featured in February's Fast Company. One of the earliest steps that the LA Metro took was to consolidate their public art program and in-house design studio. While environmental concerns and ease of use are of utmost importance, let's face it, good design is inviting to the public, and increasing ridership is half the battle.

With condos going up all over this city, and with the projected influx of new residents (that might be up for debate), it would be great to have a state of the art transit system to handle the increase in population. I won't hold my breath, but I will hop on the bus when it comes my way.

this might justify the fees a tiny bit...

I am a Bank of America customer mostly by default.  Whatever bank existed on the little street in the little town that I grew up in was bought and sold and absorbed and merged so many times that it is now a Bank of America.  I do like paying my bills through their online banking, and their Keep the Change program is sort of cool.  They have also incorporated interesting security measures like SiteKey. I usually have one foot out the door, however,  because I hate their ATM fees, random account maintenance fees, and the absolute worst, the low balance fee (kick someone when they are down, why don't you?!).

But, I am writing this post because like more and more businesses today, they are apparently committing to sustainability.

Bank of America has introduced a $20 billion, 10-year initiative that will encourage the development of environmentally sustainable business practices. The bank will push the green agenda through lending, investing, philanthropy, and the creation of new products and services.

You can read the original post over at Treehugger.  Assuming it's not fancy marketing talk, they might keep my business (and my money) for a little while longer.

philly: eco-friendly!?

I came across a post on Treehugger today about America's Best Eco-Neighborhoods as determined by Natural Home magazine, and much to my surprise there was a neighborhood in Philly featured!  Any guesses?  The answer is none other than Mount Airy, located in the Northwestern area of the city. 

MOUNT AIRY NEIGHBORHOOD
A Northwest neighborhood known for its racial diversity, Mount Airy has several thriving commercial districts with lots of mom-and-pop-style boutiques and eateries, architectural diversity and a strong community.

Curb appeal:

• Food co-op and farmer’s market
• Lots of green space with pocket parks,  community garden and local arboretum
• Easy access to public transportation and to  Philly Car Share, a citywide shared car service
• Lots of environmental organizations, including Friends of Philadelphia Parks, Mount Airy Greening Network and a community recycling program

Way to go!  I have always loved Mt. Airy for its diversity, interesting architecture and community vibe.  For now, I prefer to be a little closer to the center of things, but I wouldn't rule it out at a later time in my life.  In the meanwhile, I should probably see what I can do about making my current neighborhood a little more eco-friendly.