Boston is on a carbon diet
We just heard that Boston will receive $6.5 million in federal stimulus funds to help get “Renew Boston” off the ground. This is an effort to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, while creating jobs at the same time. See report from the Herald this morning.
Former Vice President Al Gore will team up with Mayor Thomas M. Menino today to announce that the city is receiving $6.5 million in federal stimulus funds to help kick-start “Renew Boston,” a program aimed at reducing the Hub’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The money will help create a program that will reduce energy consumption by weatherizing homes and retrofitting city-owned buildings. The money also will be used to spur the development of “shovel ready” municipal solar-electric, solar-thermal and wind-energy projects, according to the city.
Boston seems to be a very active town with engaged citizens and city workers. While organizing Pitch the City this year we were able to get an inside view and it was inspirational. Not only was the City of Boston open to the idea of gathering ideas from the public, they encouraged us to conduct the contest and help them make it happen. On top of that, we received over 100 ideas from citizens! We are looking forward to hearing the four finalists on Sunday at D2E and hope you can join us.
Don’t forget to come by the Hynes this weekend. We have a lot of great events going on. Check out our EVENTS page for details.
Pitch the City finalists announced!
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the City of Boston, in partnership with Down:2:Earth (D2E), have announced the Four Finalists in Pitch the City, an open contest seeking the public’s input on making Boston a greener city. The Four Finalists will give a 10-minute live pitch to a jury and Mayor Menino will be there to congratulate the winner.
When & Where: Down:2:Earth on April 5, 2009 at 2pm at the Hynes Convention Center. Main stage.
The four finalists and their ideas are:
Alexander Lee, Concord, NH: Get more people to hang out (their laundry). Lee, founder and executive director of Project Laundry List, proposes to make air-drying laundry acceptable and desirable as a simple and effective way to save energy. If everyone washed their clothes in cold water and hung them out to dry – you could save up to 15% of your monthly electricity bill. So, how can we get more people to hang out?
Jess Lerner, Brookline, MA: Get a Little Greener! Boston’s public awareness and action campaign Jess Lerner runs Green on the Inside, a green living consulting business in Brookline. What’s her idea for the city to get greener? Make thinking and acting green easy! Her awareness campaign is directed at the public and aims to make it simple for everyone to “Green a little. Change a lot.” She even has plans to get the Red Sox wearing green socks and asking, “What will YOU do today?” to make Boston a greener city.
John McCavanagh, Boston, MA: Reduce city waste by using reusable water bottles instead of single serving bottled water. McCavanagh’s plan is to purchase reusable Nalgene water bottles through the company’s “Refill Not Landfill Community Sustainability Program,” distribute them throughout the city, and educate residents on the importance of using them instead of disposable plastic bottles. Is this the simple change we need to make a big difference?
Alexandra Reilinger and Mikayla Colson Leaning, Jamaica Plain, MA: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Mural Project. Best friends and next-door neighbors, Alie (11) and Mimi (12) want to paint murals that will motivate people to practice the three R’s – reduce, reuse, and recycle – at T-stops, on Boston Public Schoolyard walls and on electrical boxes around Boston, with recycling bins placed nearby. They already have the support of Boston’s Youth Mural Crew. Can the power of public art change the way we act?
Back your favorite ideas for “PITCH THE CITY ONLINE” at changents.com.
D2E and the City of Boston invites the public to actively participate in “Pitch the City Online” through our partner changents.com, the storytelling and social networking platform that connects charismatic pioneers of social and environmental change – Change Agents – with a global network of “Backers” who want to help them in all kinds of ways. To engage with and throw your support behind Pitch the City participants visit www.changents.com/d2e.
You don’t have to suffer, for eco-fashion
Here at D2E we are committed not only to finding sustainable clothing companies and designers so that we can feel good about what we wear – we are also committed to finding good fashion. You don’t have to be limited fashion-wise to be eco-wise.
Check out this great video created by the talented Hired Pens. They help us get this message across in a humorous way.
Recycling within reason
Check out this great video that the Hired Pens created for us. They are a local copy writing and video production company and they are very good at what they do – and they have a great sense of humor.
This video shows that though recycling is good – it can be taken overboard. Have fun viewing!
D2E 2008 video – check it out!
We just posted a video from last years event. If you attended last year, it is fun to watch and remember the energy. If you did not attend, this will give you a better picture of D2E. We work hard to promote sustainable businesses and organizations that are helping us move to a sustainable future. We also enjoy the educational programming for people like us. We have all learned so much with this show, and it is a pleasure to share the wealth with all of you. We can enrich our lives with more than money.
D2E’s 2008 Office Recycling Achievements
Well, we try to walk the walk here at D2E. So we signed up for Earthworm recycling in 2007 to get us started. They take all of our excess paper, and considering the amount of mail that comes into this small office, we needed the service.
According to Earthworm, in addition to helping support their non-profit activities, D2E has also benefited the planet by the following:
811 pounds of paper was recycled rather than thrown into a landfill
6.88 trees were saved (we are a small office)
1.23 cubic yards of landfill was not used
27 pounds of computer equipment was recycled
4.32 pounds of lead was diverted from a landfill
In addition to the paper and computer recycling, we have been making an effort to use our mugs and not get paper cups from the coffee shop. We also use our sturdy water bottles rather than buying plastic throw-away bottles. Check out Affirm if you need a water bottle – they are a locally owned small shop and they will be exhibiting at D2E.
It looks like Earthworm is expanding their services into bottles and cans as well. If you do not have a recycling program in your office, definitely check out their website. This company has been very easy to work with, and it makes the whole office feel good to discard less trash.
Now, the big questions is, “When am I going to fill up that big box from Terra Cycle with my yogurt containers?!?” I have been diligently eating yogurt every week, cleaning my container and stacking them up, but the box is not even half full. I don’t think they realized how small our office is… but we love it anyway. In good time I will fill the box and then all of my yogurt containers can become tooth brushes.
Fashion design contest
We just received notice of this great contest for fashion designers. The deadline is coming up – so read now and get sewing! Or send to a friend that may already be making eco-conscious clothing. Pass it on!
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From substance for FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE:
We are looking for designers that share our passion for contemporary fashion and design that demonstrates respect for our magnificent planet.
Each month our in house team produces the Design Lab Collection TM in harmony with our no waste philosophy. Our Design Lab Collection TM is always made from the re-purposed material of our overstocks or discontinued styles.
In March, we are giving an aspirant designer the opportunity to showcase their talent on our monthly Design Lab Collection TM platform. The designer we select will gain tremendous exposure for his/her talent in an upscale boutique setting and on our website, as well as a monetary grant of $1,000.00.
Your goal, should you be selected as one of our three finalists, is to produce a four-piece collection using materials that we provide you with to re-purpose into high quality, wearable design.
All interested applicants should complete the attached application and submit it on or before the deadline of February 14, 2009.
ELIGIBILITY
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older
• All interested applicants must complete the attached application and submit it on or before the deadline of February 14, 2009
TO APPLY:
• Submit the contest application via mail, email, or in person at our store front location: Substance, 783 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 PDF: Substance Contest Application
• Your application must include images of three samples of your most recent work. Include an image of the front, back, and a detail shot that shows the quality of the workmanship of your design. Your samples may include apparel and/or handbags.
RULES AND OBJECTIVES IF CHOSEN AS A FINALIST
• Along with two other finalists, the designer we select will have five weeks to complete a four piece apparel or accessory collection with an innovative visual use of language.
• The theme or inspiration for all four pieces in the finalist collections is “What gives fashion meaning?”
• All designs produced for the judging in this competition will become the property of Substance for
FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE, LLC
• The top three finalists will be competing in the design and sewing of a 4 piece collection of high quality, wearable styles from repurposed materials. At least 80% of each piece in the collection will need to be created with materials from garments and handbags that we provide. The remaining 20% of the materials used in each piece can be purchased new. Although, we do encourage the use of all natural materials or redesign from 100% recycled materials.
• The finalists’ four piece collections make up can be one of the following ways:
A size run (S/M/L/XL) of one garment category (such as a group of four dresses)
A four-piece collection of styles from different categories that work worn together or are just as compelling sold as separates.
Substance Aspiring Designer Application
You can submit this contest application via mail, email, or drop off in person at our store front location on or before the DEADLINE of February 14, 2009.
Please attach images of three samples of your most recent work. Include an image of the front, back, and a detail shot that shows the quality of the workmanship of your design. Your samples may include apparel and/or handbags
Name:________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________
City:_____________ State:________________ Zip:_________
Home Phone Number:_____________________________
Cell Phone Number:_______________________________
Briefly, in 300 words or less, please tell us about yourself.
• Tell us what inspires you to design.
• Include information about how long you have been designing and your aspirations in the field.
• Describe one way you feel the fashion industry could do a better job of preserving the environment.
Applications can be mailed to, dropped off at our location below or emailed to christinag@shopsubstance.com
Our mailing address is:
Substance for FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE
783 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.299.2910
We at Substance would like to hear from other designers who share our passions. To learn more about us, visit our website.
If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to call, send an email or come in and see us!
Miss Vermont sports a gown by Tara Lynn
The gown, designed by Tara Lynn (D2E exhibitor), is made of hemp and silk, the bodice and cascade accented with gold lace from a recycled curtain and then encrusted with recycled beads and sequins.
We were excited to hear that Miss Vermont 2008 wore a gown designed by Tara Lynn, one of our fashion exhibitors at D2E. What a great way to bring sustainable fashion to a wider audience.
Miss Vermont 2008, Ashley Wheeler, is putting the final touches on her preparation for the Miss America pageant in January. She has fine tuned her vocal piece with the help of a local coach; she has been grilled by panels of “mock” interview judges, and has met regularly with a personal trainer. This week she is picking up her custom-made evening gown from eco designer Tara Lynn… and the cool thing is that this gown was not made in New York or California, but rather in Sutton, Vermont. And it’s green – not forest green or sage green, but green the concept – it’s an eco-friendly dress made of hemp and silk, and lined with hemp and organic cotton.
“I was raised as part of a family-run business and I understand how important it is to support locally-owned and operated businesses. So when it came time for me to purchase an evening gown for the Miss America pageant, I decided to keep my business in Vermont and call upon a designer from the Northeast Kingdom. I had heard about Tara Lynn and it was very appealing to go “green” for Miss America. I will be making a significant statement and suspect I will be the only contestant who has chosen to go this route. I think this is the perfect way for me to share my stance on preserving our environment and set myself apart from the other contestants.”
Tara Lynn Scheidet, owner of Tara Lynn, is a talented and innovative designer, and is said to be the poster child for sustainable business in Northern Vermont. Her unique collections are inspired by and dedicated to environmental causes. Tara Lynn’s studio runs off solar electricity. The shelves are stocked with vintage and recycled materials collected over years of yard sale shopping. The ceiling is adored with inspirational pictures hung over a floor of antique sewing machines. Since the company started in 2005 it has become a team of talented women. They all stand behind the same mission to increase awareness of biodiversity, promote sustainability and be proud of what they do and the clothing they make.
The designer of Miss Vermont’s evening gown shares, “Beauty is not artificial. Natural clothing is sexier than lifeless textiles made from hazardous materials. When women wear my clothes I want them to feel exuberant and special rather than objects of desire: strong, smart and powerful. Stylish sexy women set the example for the next generation.”
As a representative of America’s #1 scholarship provider for young women and an organization whose mission is to promote personal and professional development, civic consciousness, service, higher education, and integrity, Ashley Wheeler believes she has found the “perfect fit.”
Does government policy matter?
Alternative energy is alive in Massachusetts
We have been talking about Policy a lot these days at D2E. One of the many things we have learned in this exploration is how important our government policy is in moving us closer to a more sustainable world. The US is far behind Europe in this regard. So It is great to see the Patrick administration taking action. It looks like the economic climate might slow us down a bit, but with the right leadership, we can make great strides.
We spoke with NEEP, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership, yesterday. They have agreed to moderate a panel at D2E on policy. So now we are looking for some city, state and federal policy makers to sit on the panel and speak to the audience at D2E. What are they up to? What progress has been made? What plans are set for the future? How can citizens get involved? These are the questions that keep us up at night.
Check out today’s Globe to see a story about what’s going on here in Massachusettes.“Will the economy take the wind out of Patrick’s plan?” by Erin Ailworth.
“It’s pretty clear that we can meet every one of those goals if we have the will,” Rogers said. [John Rogers, a senior energy analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists] “And it’s pretty clear from what the science is telling us that we have to meet so many of these goals to get on the path that we need to be.”
Are you interested in what the governement is up to? What type of policy discussion would you like to see at D2E in April?
Back to work
Lucy makes herself comfy in our laundry.
Well, after a full week at home Lucy and I are back to work.
My home remedy: lots of hot tea, lemon and honey – water – and rest.
Here’s to health!
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