Take Action!
A request of anyone participating in a river/beach cleanup in Connecticut:
If you're participating in a cleanup this spring, please remember to take pictures of discarded water bottles and email them to me. (martin.mador@aya.yale.edu) If you have time, put the water bottles in one pile and the ones with a deposit (i.e carbonated beverages) in another. Take pictures of both piles. Don't be surprised if the water bottle pile is the larger one. Then email them to me with the date and place. We'll use them in the bottle bill campaign next year. Thanks. Marty Mador Legislative Chair CT Sierra Club
Here it comes again. As great as it was last year, it is going to be
better this year. It is called the Great Park Pursuit, run by DEP,
and it is for families. "Families" is defined as someone over 18 with
someone under 18, and includes groups, schools, clubs, and of course
families of all types. They have resources for transportation if you
do not. 750 families partook of it last year and many more will do the
same this year. Its a great program run by great people. There are
prizes, programs, and lots of fun. It is designed to get more people
in the parks. There are seven saturdays involved, starting in May. Go
to one, go to all. I heartily recommend this program. You can learn
about it at www.nochildleftinside.org
Registration begins April 1(really, no foolin'), but you can visit the
web site anytime.
For those of you in the Hartford area, there are so many events taking place over the next few months. Although these are not Sierra Club sponsored events we certainly encourage you participation! They are local and free.
HARTFORD JUNE 7th
Trail Improvements/Clean-up. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Keney Park, sponsored by REI and the Knox Park Foundation. Join REI for this volunteer service project. We will clean the ravine near Windsor Avenue/Main Street entrance and improve a trail by opening a former roadway for bicycle and pedestrian use. Participants will receive REI Volunteer tee-shirts, and coffee, water, and a snack will be provided. Meet 10:00 am at the golf course in Keney parking lot (directions will be posted on REI’s website, http://www.rei.com/stores/105). Rain or shine. Please pre-register with Leader Jenna Wells, jewells@rei.com, 860-233-2211, x203.
FRIDAYS
Free Film Series 7:30-9pm Informational & educational documentary films on topics pertaining to sustainability & activism at The Growing Green Co-op & Alchemy Cafe. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Hope Out Loud Open Mike the last Friday of each month 7:30-10:30pm Come inspire or be inspired at the Alchemy Cafe. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
SUNDAYS
Community Clothing Swap, 5pm on the first Sunday of each month. Bring gently used kids & adult clothes, fabric & accessories that you no longer want or need and find something for your own wardrobe! The Growing Green Co-op & Alchemy Cafe hosts this free monthly event to promote conscious consumerism, recycling & reuse. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Unschoolers Meeting, 6-9pm on the first Sunday of each month. Come network, share or learn at the gathering of unschooled families at The Growing Green Co-op & Alchemy Cafe. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Roots & Shoots Youth Activism, 4:30pm on the third Sunday of each month. A gathering for families & kids interested in activism and learning about how we can help our planet and its inhabitants. The group is based on the Jane Goodall model that is taking place across the country and is led by 16 year old Cassie Zito who is a leader on the New England Roots & Shoots Council. Great for ages 8 & up. Held at The Growing Green Co-op & Alchemy Cafe. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
OTHER EVENTS BY DATE:
Friday, April 11th, 7:30pm, Showing of the film MELTDOWN, A documentary film no longer in circulation that realistically depicts what would happen if there was a nuclear accident in the US. We are joined by Judi Friedman from PACE (People's Action For Clean Energy) who will discuss the nuclear situation in our state. FREE. The Green Vibration Alchemy Cafe, http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Friday, April 18th, 6:30pm, Double Dose! Showing of the films THE FUTURE OF FOOD & A SILENT FOREST. Both are documentary films that outline the realties and dangers and the influx of genetically modified materials entering our eco-systems. FREE. The Green Vibration Alchemy Cafe, http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Saturday, April 19th, 11-3pm, University of Hartford Community Day. The youth theatrical troupe of The Growing Green Co-op will be performing "Live the Green Dream". Free.
Sunday, April 20th, 1-4pm, MDC EARTH DAY Event at The West Hartford Reservoir. The youth theatrical troupe of The Growing Green Co-op will be performing "Live the Green Dream". Free.
Sunday, April 20th, 6pm, Free Film Showing: KILOWATT OURS. A great introductory film that looks at where our energy comes from. Folks from Sterling Planet will be available to answer questions about renewable energy options and you can sign up right then and there for clean energy! The Growing Green Co-op & Alchemy Cafe. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Tuesday, April 22nd, 6:30pm, Free Talk: "Greening Your Small Business" with Imani & John Zito. Come learn simple and easy things you can do as a business owner to make steps towards becoming a more sustainable business. Held at The Growing Green Co-op & Alchemy Cafe. Phone: 860.246.5700 or http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Friday, April 25th, 7:30pm, Showing of the film THE FARMERS VOICE. A documentary film created to educate the public about the disappearance of neighborhood farms and diminishing agricultural land in CT. Come meet the film makers, Beverly and Sean Corvino, and find out what you can do to help save CT farmland. FREE. The Green Vibration Alchemy Cafe, http://www.thegreenvibration.com
Ride the waves of The Green Vibration!
Imani - "Queen of Green"
The Green Vibration & The Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe
203 New Britain Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
www.thegreenvibration.com
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Ten Ways to Save Money at the Pump
Worried about the high cost of gas? You've got good reason. Gas prices look like they're set to reach record levels.
The best way to avoid spending more on gas than you need to? Keep all of these tips in mind:
1. Drive Smart! When you drive aggressively, you waste gas and put others at risk. Observe the speed limit, avoid rapid acceleration and braking, and maintain a constant speed on the road.
2. Keep Your Car in Shape. A well-tuned car burns less gasoline. So make sure that you get your oil and air filters changed regularly, and that your tires are always properly inflated.
3. Change Your Commute. Sitting in rush hour traffic burns gas and gets you nowhere. If possible, adjust your work schedule so that you avoid rush hour traffic. Even better, and if your employer allows it, think about telecommuting. If you can't telecommute full-time, try for one or two days a week.
4. Use Public Transportation. Look into the public-transportation options in your area, and use them as much as possible.
5. Try to Combine Errands. According to the Department of Energy, several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
6. Go for a Ride or Walk. Rather than drive your car to the corner store or a friend's house, walk or ride your bike there. Studies show that this approach has the added advantage of reducing your risk of heart disease.
7. Carpool. Carpool or use ride-share programs if you can. This might also enable you to shorten the time of your commute by using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.
8. Pack Light. According to the Department of Energy, a loaded roof rack on your car can decrease fuel economy by approximately five percent. Also, every 100 pounds you carry in a car reduces a typical car's fuel economy by one to two percent. So, when you go on vacation or a long car trip, put everything you can inside your vehicle, and pack light
9. Think Hybrid. The most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road today are hybrid-electric cars. A hybrid combines an electric motor with a conventional, but cleaner, gasoline-powered engine. Over its lifetime, a 50-mile per gallon hybrid Toyota Prius will use half as much gas, and release half as much global-warming pollution, as a 23-mpg Pontiac Grand Prix.
10. Consider Sharing. Rather than buy a new car, sign up for membership with a car-sharing program such as Flexcar or Zipcar. These programs allow you to reserve and drive cars by the hour -- and they cover the cost of the vehicle, insurance, gas, parking, and maintenance.
Bonus: Write Your Leaders. Urge them to raise fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon. Modern technology can make our cars and trucks go farther on a gallon of gas. Taking this step would save nearly 4 million barrels of oil a day -- more oil than we currently import from the Persian Gulf. And by saving on gas, you would save nearly $2,000 at the pump over the life of your car.
To
find out how your town is doing in the race to sign up citizens for the clean
energy option visit:
http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/communities/
Your town should sign on to the
20% by 2010 campaign and for every 100 people in town that sign up for the
clean energy option, the town receives a free solar panel!
SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY
Customers of CT Light and Power can choose to support clean energy from
wind power, small-scale hydroelectric power, and landfill gas. Sign
up for the CT Clean Energy Options and you'll be taking a big step towards
cleaner air and healthier communities. http://www.ctcleanenergyoptions.com/
You can also encourage your town, business, faith community, and others
to join the 20% by 2010 campaign and commit to supporting 20% clean
energy by the year 2010. http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/communities/
CLEAN UP YOUR COMMUTE
About 40% of Connecticut's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation.
Try some cleaner options:
Bike to work - http://www.wecyclect.org/btw.htm
Take the bus, train, or join a van pool - http://www.ctrides.com/
Take a SEAT - Southeast Area Transit's bus schedules are available at
www.seatbus.com, on the bus or at the regional bus agency's facility,
21 Route 12 in Preston.
Avoid unnecessary engine idling - If you're stopped more than 10 seconds,
turn off your engine to save money and energy and leave the air cleaner.
BUY AN EFFICIENT, LOW-POLLUTING VEHICLE
Hybrid cars rated at 40 mile/gallon or greater are exempt from CT sales
tax until October 1, 2008. Before you buy your next car, do some research
on "greener" cars. You'll save money on gas and contribute
to cleaner air. Visit http://greencarclub.org/ and also the EPA's http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/ which ranks new cars based on air pollution and global warming
pollution.
CUT ENERGY USE AND COSTS AT HOME
The CT Energy Efficiency Fund web site provides information on Energy
Star lights and appliances, federal tax credits for energy efficient
home improvements, appliance rebates, appliance retirement, incentives
for efficient new home construction, and lots more http://www.ctsavesenergy.org
Buy Energy Star appliances and lights, weatherize your home, and improve
the efficiencies of your heating and cooling systems. until June 30,
2007 residential weatherization products are sales tax exempt in CT http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1514&g=310326
INSTALL SOLAR PANELS
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund provides incentives for the installation
of solar panels on residence. Learn about the program and contact installers
here: http://www.ctinnovations.com/funding/ccef/solar_rebates.php
BUY LOCALLY GROWN FOOD
Buy food that is grown locally to support Connecticut's farmers and
reduce food packaging and transportation emissions. You can buy locally
grown food at CT farmer's markets - http://www.ctfarmersmarkets.com
from farmers or food co-ops - http://www.ctnofa.org/programs/farms.php
or by buying a share in a local farm, known as Community Supported Agriculture
-
http://www.ctnofa.org/programs/csa.php
Schools can also buy local produce directly from farmers through the
Farm to School program. http://www.ct.gov/doag-
search "Farms to Schools"
Local Harvest (http://www.lcoalharvest.org)
LocalHarvest serves the public interested in buying food from family
farms.
RECYCLE
For more information on recycling see www.ct.gov/dep/recycle
REDUCE FERTILIZER USE
A portion of nitrogen applied to soils is released as a green house
gas. Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers also improves water quality
and soil health. Adopt some tips from organic land care guidelines or
use a certified organic land care professional; - http://www.ctnofa/org/programs/landcare.php
CALCULATE YOUR "CARBON FOOTPRINT"
Your carbon footprint is a way to measure your individual contribution
to global warming. it calculates the total amount of greenhouse gases
you generate based on your lifestyle and choices (measured in units
of carbon dioxide). Use the "Safe Climate Carbon Calculator"
to determine your carbon footprint and get some tips on how to reduce
it. http://www.safeclimeate.net/calculator/
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Did
you know you have a clean energy option right here in Connecticut!?
If you're a CL&P or UI (United Illumiating) customer, check your
September bill. There is scheduled to be a clean energy sign up form.
The new form should have a referral box and you can write in "Sierra
Club." Or, if you are a Sierra Club member already, you can click
on the form below and download the clean energy sign up form to mail
to us. We are keeping track of how many Sierra Club members sign up
for clean energy. After all, if we can't get out members to do it,
then.....
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Be
Truly Green -- Refuse to use ChemLawn (click
here to find out more!)
The desire for the perfect lawn is leading millions of homeowners
to expose their children, pets and water supplies to toxic lawn care
pesticides.
Children
are at Risk: Research links the pesticides used by TruGreen ChemLawn
to nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches and chronic illnesses
such as lymphoma, leukemia, bladder cancer, and learning disabilities.
Children are especially vulnerable to toxic pesticides.
Pets are Vulnerable:Your pet has an increased risk of cancer when
exposed to lawn pesticides. Our Environment is Being Poisoned:
Pesticides can contaminate drinking water and can harm or kill birds,
fish, and other beneficial wildlife.
