“Know Your Non-Profits” Series, #4: Mass Climate Action Network
In our fourth segment of the blog series “Know Your Non-Profits” Susan Altman from Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) fills us in on the amazing work the organization is doing around Massachusetts.
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Does this sound like you?
You consider yourself an aware, thoughtful person who cares about your community, your family, your friends, and your world. So far so good, right?
You recycle, don’t use pesticides on your lawn, and give to an environmental cause every so often. Still with me?
And you gave up your car and your clothes dryer. You replaced all your windows with highly energy efficient ones. Solar panels supply all your heating needs. And your entire household is vegan.
Uh oh, I lost you here, didn’t I?
Well, you’re not alone. For most of us, there’s a huge gap between the things we have done to help the environment and the things we think we should do. That doesn’t need to be the case.
So, the Mass Climate Action Network launched the Cool Mass Campaign to bridge that gap. Cool Mass helps you find easy, often inexpensive ways to reduce your carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide you are responsible for), use less energy, save money, and build community. By 2015, we hope that a quarter of our state’s households will have reduced their carbon footprints 25%.
Nine communities are already involved in Cool Mass: Braintree, Jamaica Plain in Boston, Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Newton, and Winchester, as well as Belmont and New Bedford, which have just joined. A central feature of Cool Mass is EcoTeams, small groups that help you choose your own ways to lower carbon and add up your savings.
Here’s a secret: most of the same things that reduce carbon are free or inexpensive to do and also save you money. For example, keeping your water heater at 120°, cutting down on clothes dryer loads, and replacing regular light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescents) all use less energy. Energy costs money, so the less you use, the more you can save.
For more information about Cool Mass, contact Susan Altman, Program Manager.
Blazing Eco-Trails At Boston’s Lenox Hotel
Unlike today, hotels weren’t thinking “green” in the late 1980’s, but one Boston hotel was already blazing eco-trails. The Lenox Hotel was on the forefront of the green movement (far before it became trendy) when it helped introduce America’s first linen recycle program. Since then, The Lenox has built a comprehensive sustainability program that reduces the hotel’s environmental footprint while setting the green standard for eco hospitality trends.
“Our dedication to the environment is as rooted in Lenox’s philosophy as is our building in Boston’s rich history,” says Scott Grigelevich, the Lenox Hotel’s Brand Ambassador. “By marrying luxury with sustainability, the Lenox goes the extra mile, as long as it’s in a hybrid vehicle!”
The Lenox began offsetting all of its carbon emissions as early as 2001. Hybrid vehicles, filtered water stations on each floor, LED roof signs, waterless urinals, state-of-the-art insulated windows, low-VOC paints and an entire hypo-allergenic floor are just some of the more recent innovations. In 2009, The Lenox invited other Boston hotels to join them in converting vegetable oil into biodiesel for operational use in lieu of oil from fossil fuels, a move that can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 74 percent.
Today The Lenox is widely recognized as a pioneer of luxury, urban ecotourism and continues to be lauded for its ongoing commitment to innovative green initiatives. This commitment has resulted in several awards including HSMAI’s Tourism Cares Sustainability Award, Energy Star Partner of the Year, Condé Nast Traveler Magazine’s Green List, Skål International’s Global Ecotourism Award and chosen by US News and World Report as “1 of the 5 Greenest Luxury Hotels in America.”
——-Built in 1900, The Lenox Hotel is the flagship property of Saunders Hotel Group. Chief Sustainability Officer Tedd Saunders sums up Saunders Hotel Group’s commitment this way: “We are extremely proud that our dedicated team continues to advance the Lenox Hotel’s industry-leading environmental commitment by looking after our valued guests’ needs while helping protect our unique planet.”
To learn more about The Lenox Hotel’s sustainability effort in the hospitality industry, please contact Tedd Saunders at (617) 421-4915.
www.lenoxhotel.com
Down:2:Earth Premieres Short Eco-Films All Weekend
Communicating sustainability through film can be very powerful. Images of environmental injustice or inspiring nature can help us all see a new point of view. At D2E this weekend, we have a dedicated space for viewing the short films submitted from a diverse and passionate group of directors. We have a broad range of eco-film shorts this year — on butterflies, recycling, Boston Latin School’s new climate curriculum and green roof project, fair-trade coffee, energy, and a charming stop-action animation film musing on the the effects of environment on who we are.
Check out the teaser and video below.
The “Art for Water” documentary, made by Natalya Waye, is about the water crisis and artist/activist Christine Destrempes’s work with a class at Franklin Pierce College that decided to create an art installation to bring about change on their campus. D2E will be the premiere of the full-length 8-minute documentary.
Annalise Littman’ film, from ICA’s Fast Forward Teen Film program, is a powerful take on endocrine disruptors in our environment.
See these films and more at Down:2:Earth Friday, April 9 through Sunday, April 11 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.
Lepidopt-err what? Oh! Butterfly person!
Down:2:Earth Boston is enhancing our video project from last year. This year we have set up a small theater where you can catch the short films submitted to us on topics ranging from water art to endocrine disruptors.
Make sure to catch “Teá’s Butterflies,” by artist Mark Adams. It is a short film about high school student Teddy Kesting-Handly, a young lepidopterist who volunteers at the Museum of Science’s Butterfly Garden. His expertise and passion for moths and butterflies since the age of ten has now made him one of the youngest players in an international network of butterfly traders and conservationists. Through the vision of an enthusiast, no matter how young, we learn how to see the natural world that’s all around us. Mark interweaves his interview with Teá with quotes from author Vladimir Nabokov, Taoist philosopher Chang Tzu, and animated drawings of butterflies.
Make sure to check it out at Down:2:Earth, April 9,10,11. 
“I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man.” – Chang Tzu
“Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man.” – Nabokov
Top Reasons… why record stores ROCK. (or do they?)
I have been a fan of records since I was a child. The feel of vinyl in my hand, the delicate way you slowly lower the needle to the vinyl and that soothing ssszt sszt ssszt sound before the music starts. When the weather turns 60 here in Boston and I open my windows for the first time in spring time, I pull down the record player and pull out my John Mellencamp albums. Yes, John Mellencamp is sunny days and easier days to me, romance and new beginnings. This ritual is one I cherish each year.
I have always had a love-hate relationship with downloadable music. I like perusing the bins, checking out the box sets, feeling the awesome cases on some of the imports, and I love the social aspect. Who doesn’t remember the scenes in High Fidelity or Pretty in Pink? Those moments cease to exist when you are buying music from iTunes on your couch. I feel somehow distanced from the process and less excited by the energy, the random song over head, the guy with the post grunge look and the girl who looks like Ally Sheedy in Breakfast Club who is secretly hiding the Boys2Men album that reminds her of her pre-adolescence. I live for these moments.
I decided to give downloadable music a chance. I did the list, you know the one. All the pros and the cons.
iTunes:
Pro: Always there when I need them, dependable, attractive and easy to get what I want.
Con: Too nice and easy, lacking the mystery and intrigue of a record store, no sales!
Record Store:
Pros: People watching, thrill of the chase, random discoveries, liner art and bargain bins!
Cons: I’ve got the flu and really want to hear a certain song that I don’t have, I end up just uploading them to my computer anyway, and all that damn packaging.
Wow, the last con got me. The packaging. CD’s are a wolf in lambs clothing. I was curious what the actual comparison was. I did some research and found a great study by some gentleman from Carnegie Mellon University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stanford University. In the study they analyzed 6 different scenarios, 3 involving CD’s and 3 involving downloadable music. For the purposes of my query I stuck with the options of purchasing a CD at a traditional retail establishment vs album downloaded from an online site and used digitally.
The study is very in-depth and goes into a lot of statistics that left me feeling like Penny vs Sheldon on Big Bang Theory, however, the basic summary is this… “purchasing music digitally reduces the energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with delivering music to customers by between 40 and 80% from the best-case physical CD delivery, depending on whether a customer then burns the files to CD or not. This reduction is due to the elimination of CDs, CD packaging, and the physical delivery of CDs to the household. Based on these assumptions, online delivery is clearly superior from an energy & CO2 perspective when compared to traditional CD distribution.”
So, while this may not be the best answer for all of us, including the small record store owner, it is a preferred scenario to purchasing an entire album for just one or two songs, or if you are just going to burn it and put the CD on a shelf, only to be touched next by your grand kids who marvel at the shiny huge disc, like we did with 8 Tracks. If however, you are going to love the CD and take it everywhere you go, shop small, shop local. Support your community record store.
“Know Your Non-Profits” Series, #3, Ecological Landscaping Associaton
Our third segment in the series “Know Your Non-Profits is by Penny Lewis, Executive Director of the Ecological Landscaping Association, www.ecolandscaping.org
Are you concerned about the quality of water in our watersheds, the health of the lawn your family and pets play on, the spread of invasive, exotic plants?
So are we – the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA).
In 1992, a dedicated group of landscapers started looking for alternatives to traditional landscapes and traditional landscaping methods that relied on man-made chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. They were interested in biological diversity, healthy soils, native plant conservation, clean water, and reduced pesticide and fertilizer use. They learned how to build healthy, sustainable landscapes that nurtured the delicate balance between all types of life and the environment without the use of toxic chemicals that threatened the health of the landscape and its residents. They found others who shared their commitment to gathering and sharing information and formed ELA.
For nearly two decades, ELA’s commitment to improving the environmental impact of landscaping has continued and grown. ELA is a member-based non-profit whose membership continues to grow and includes landscaping professionals, community activists, estate managers, schools, golf courses, and home garden enthusiasts. Alongside a growing membership, ELA’s educational programs have expanded and been instrumental in raising awareness of environmental issues.
Now, as ecological, sustainable, and organic landscaping becomes even more widely sought after, ELA remains the source for accurate, reliable information. The public’s
heightened awareness of ecological landscaping and concerns for the environment have magnified interest in the ELA’s educational offerings such as the ELA Conference & Eco-Marketplace, Roundtable presentations, Eco-Tours, and free monthly newsletter. If you want to learn to develop healthy soils, maintain an ecological lawn, harness rainwater potential, understand climate change & tree stress, control invasive species, produce edible landscapes, and more, check out ELA’s calendar of upcoming events at www.ecolandscaping.org.
Our Mission: ELA advocates for environmentally responsible stewardship of land and natural resources in the landscaping and horticultural practices of professionals and the public. Through education, collaboration, and networking, ELA promotes the design, installation, and maintenance of landscapes that are guided by a knowledge of, and respect for, natural ecosystems.
Hatched – Eco Baby Store
Several years ago I lived in Jamaica Plain, a small enclave of Boston with a wonderfully eclectic mix of shops, residents and excellent food. I was always impressed with the sense of community and strong environmental stewardship of my neighbors; both residential and commercial.
One particular shop that opened just as I was leaving the area is Hatched. Hatched is an eco children’s retail store with a dedication to safe, healthy products that is unrival
ed in Boston. Some of the products you will see at Hatched are: Clothing- Entertaining Elephants, Scout, Serendipity, Kate Quinn Organics, Nui Organics, Coyuchi, Sckoon, Speesees, Under the Nile,and Toby and Rei. Toys- Camden Rose, Furnis, Plan Toys, Kaethe Kruse, Selecta, Holztiger, and Spiel & Holz. Hatched also carries a full line of basics such as washable wipes, face cloths, hooded towels, crib sheets, mattresses, puddle pads, washable nursing pads, nursing pillows, changing pads, bumpers, sheepskins, playmats and blankets.
Hatched was awarded a Best of Boston in 2008. Stop in and talk with owner Liz Vittori Koch. She has a great understanding of the whys of raising your child organically and is full of valuable tips on transitioning from a conventional parenting approach to a more natural approach. Be sure to ask her about the paint she used in her store! Food based Anna Sova emulsions!
H
atched www.hatchedboston.com is located at 5 Green Street in Jamaica Plain. 617-524-5402 .
Hours: monday closed, tuesday 11-6, wednesday 10-5, thursday 11-6, friday 10-5, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5
Know Your Non-Profits Series- #2, Sustainable Business Leader Program
This week’s “Know Your Non-Profits” Blog piece is by Emily Kanter, Program Director of the Sustainable Business Leader Program, a program of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston.
Also, don’t miss SBLP and SBN-Boston Executive Director Laury Hammel’s interview with NPR’s WBUR Host Robin Young at D2E on April 10th!
Small Businesses Bring in the Green
With mainstream media attention focused on Walmart’s “green” initiatives these past few months, there’s been little-to-no coverage of the efforts of small, independent businesses to become sustainable leaders. These businesses, especially in Boston, make up the backbone of the communities we live in, and are the unsung heroes of the green movement.
23 Boston companies completed the SBLP assessment process and reduced their collective carbon footprint
Although it’s difficult for a small business to have a major impact on overall carbon emissions, their efforts can create a domino effect. As of 2006 there were approximately 651,000 small businesses in Massachusetts. Collectively, they have the power to affect significant environmental change by becoming more energy, waste and water efficient, and by demanding cleaner sources of energy.
The Sustainable Business Leader Program, founded in Boston in 2008, has worked with over 60 small businesses to green up their individual practices and promote those efforts to the public.
Harvard Bookstore has posted creative literary signage, encouraging employees to reduce their water consumption.
In Cambridge, MA, Harvard Bookstore offers Metro Pedal Power bike-delivery service to their customers, many of whom are students and professors purchasing heavy textbooks. They also saved thousands of dollars on their energy bills by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Economy Hardware and TAGS Hardware offer free-drop off points for used CFLs (which contain mercury) to residents and business owners. In Boston, Boston Duck Tours rewired their massive garage so they can now light only the areas in which they are working. Boston Building Materials Co-op sells competitively priced low-flow aerators to their customers, including Red Sun Press, with whom they print their marketing materials and stationary using low-VOC inks on recycled-content paper.
Small businesses in Greater Boston and around the country have begun to champion their sustainable efforts, and work collectively to support the tide of global change.
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The Sustainable Business Leader Program meets the unique needs & challenges of local businesses in their pursuit to become more environmentally sustainable.
Through a 6 step process, this dynamic program takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to sustainability by addressing all of the practices of a business that impact our environment. It assists participating companies in making changes in their business practices in the following areas:
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Conservation
- Waste Management
- Pollution Prevention & Safe Alternatives
- Transportation
- Sustainability Management
To become a Sustainable Business Leader contact Emily at emily@sustainablebusinessleader.org.
The Fishmonger in Cambridge is now working with Save That Stuff to compost more than 85% of their waste.
Springtime treat – Vegan Ice Cream in Boston
Did you know that The University of Chicago reports that going vegan is 50% more effective than switching to a hybrid car in reducing greenhouse gas emissions?! Maybe you are like me and you can’t make the TOTAL jump. You can at least substitute some creamy icy cold snacks and go animal product free every once and awhile, right? (For disclosure purposes, I was vegan once, a LONG time ago, and now, I would rather stab myself in the eye with a spork than give up aged gouda for life, but, that is just me.)
Okay, okay… many of you may say… “How can it be ice cream if there isn’t any cream?” Well, it is and it can be. While Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, even your local grocery store, have a nice selection of dairy free treats in the frozen dessert aisle, occasionally you want to get an impromptu cupa something nummy. For those warm days that are just on the horizon, check out one of the great local Boston places to get your Vegan ice cream jones on!
NORTH END:
Grezzo Restaurant
69 Prince Street Boston MA 02113
857-362-7288
They do not use dairy, animal products, animal derived products, maple syrup, honey, nutritional yeast, cooked vinegars, canned food or processed ingredients.
SYMPHONY:
Wheelers Black Label Vegan Ice Cream
334B Massachusetts Ave
Boston, MA 02115
617- 247-0047
Ben & Jerry’s Original Vanilla:240 calories, 16g fat, 4g protein, 21g carbs, 60mg sodium, 75mg cholesterol, 19g sugars, 0g fiber.
They use soy, coconut, rice, and almond milks for all of their tasty treats!
BEACON HILL:
Cafe Podima
168 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-227-4959
Be sure to ask for their tofu frozen yogurt!
KENMORE:
Ankara Café
472 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-437-0404
They also have tofu frozen yogurt!
SO, while you go out and get your nomnom on, be proud that you are doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, one lick at a time!
D2E Boston 2010 Update!
We have less than a month to go before the third annual Down:2:Earth Expo (April 9-11!) and we are committed to making it the most valuable and entertaining event to date. We’ve been hard at work this year to provide you with the very best in green information and exhibits.
Keynote Speaker James Hansen
This year we have something for everyone! Check out the highlights below including talks by James Hansen and Mayim Bialik, workshops on everything from the future of energy to butter-making and special features such as our Local Bites event and a Water Sculpture by Christine Destrempes.
Spread the word!
We’ve also been highlighting opportunities for the greater Boston community to come together around green lifestyle online, by bringing you updates, promotions and info on our facebook page, via twitter and here on our blog. Be sure to friend and follow us to contribute to the conversation! Watch for special discounts and promotions from us and our exhibitors over the next month!
In addition to over 100 exhibitors this year, we also have seven areas for workshops and activities, including the D2E Main Stage, Green in Action room, Thought Leaders Room, Spring Eco-Garden Stage, Kitchen Theater, Kids’ Block and Video Project Theater. See below to learn more:
Climate Change
We are delighted to have James Hansen – noted climate scientist and author of “Storms of My Grandchildren” – join us to discuss the urgent crisis we currently confront.
Green Living Speaker and Celebrity Mayim Bialik
Homes and Families
- Mayim Bialik of the hit 90s tv show “Blossom”, will be talking about her commitment to green living and parenting on our main stage.
- Natural Home and Garden Magazine Editor In Chief Robyn Griggs Lawrence, will take you on a virtual tour of the greenest homes in the US.
- Local green home experts Laura Catanzaro and Paul Marquis will teach you how to green your small condo, dorm or apartment.
Local Business
NPR’s WBUR host Robin Young joins us for an in-depth interview with Laury Hammel, executive director of the Sustainable Business Network.
Jobs
Find a career path that contributes to the green economy at our jobs workshop.
Energy and Water
- Learn about the future of energy with our panel of clean energy experts.
- Teens – find out what clean energy means and how you can learn more.
- How sustainable are your water practices? We’ll dive into regional issues with our expert panelists.
Food
- Oleana Chef Ana Sortun and Siena Farm’s Chris Kurth join us for a unique cooking demo.
- Our Local Bites Party brings together local sustainable chefs, food producers, green restaurants, sustainable wine and beer to celebrate Boston\’s thriving local food culture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/left-hand/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
Garden
- Learn about organic lawn care at our Safe Lawns session sponsored by Mahoney’s.
- We will have an entire garden area set up at the show. Don’t miss it!
Check our full schedule for more related events.
Check out our exhibitor list for related green products and services.
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Get your tickets now and get ready for D2E 2010!
Friday, April 9 – 5:00pm-9:00pm: Local Bites Party
Saturday, April 10 – 11:00am-7:00pm
Sunday, April 11 – 11:00am-5:00pm
TWEET WITH US: http://twitter.com/D2Eboston
FIND US ON FACEBOOK: Down:2:Earth Boston
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D2Eets on Twitter
- Sorry for last tweet! Wrong account! For haiti updates follow @andreadatkinson
- On the plane to port au prince. From what it looks like more than half full of volunteers #haiti
- Thank you all for a FABULOUS event! Keep following us for more info on #green living in #Boston and beyond and keep going green!
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