Being in the major appliance state of mind, we strolled over to Liebherr, makers of refrigerators and the first appliance company to remove CFC’s completely from the production process back in 1993. It’s no surprise to us that ALL of their models meet the Energy Star qualification, and their BioFresh compartments certainly add green value by preserving fruits and veggies (and the nutritional value) longer than normal fridges. The company also marked the first refrigeration company to comply with RoHS and also recovers and utilizes the energy released during production to heat the manufacturing environments. Yes, the company is based in Germany so hopefully US manufactures will chill with this philosophy.

Also on the old school route, Maze Nails only recently started promoting their “greeness” but they have been making nails with 96 percent recycled content (62% post consumer, 34% pre) for 160 years. Nails aren’t the most glamorous aspect of green building but we know that these guys hit the nail on the head.

We saved the best (or most outrageous) for last. Tucked away in the corner of PCBC we strolled past Green Mountain Soapstone and we probably would have kept right on strolling if not for placard sitting on their soapstone counter which proclaimed “Voted #1 Green Product 2008 New England Home Show”. We didn’t attend that show but if this product claimed the #1 prize then we would hate to see the #5 prize. First of all, this soapstone comes from the ground and last time we checked, the earth wasn’t producing more
soapstone. Second, they mine it in Brazil (claiming they use fair labor practices) which isn’t exactly light on the carbon footprint scale. Need we continue? The claim it’s chemical free to manufacture and items such as Icestone aren’t but don’t insult us but claiming this to be a green product.

Excuse us while we polish our green granite counter tops.

We totally got buzzed about something so innocuous that we almost walked passed it because it didn’t have a bunch of Green banners proclaiming its greenness. This Verve living system offers what they called a living control system which in simple terms operates like a whole house lighting system. We’ve seen these before but this one operates on battery free, self sustaining technology or what they call energy harvesting radio frequency technology. Pretty scientific for us but the little gizmo works in a panel that reduces the power so that certain switches can come on at certain levels and times. The systems extends bulb life and new homes don’t need copper wiring installed if they use this system. We even like the parent control which operates like the driver’s control when it comes to locking and unlocking car doors. We’re locked for this system.

Falling into our questionably green sector we wanderer around the heating area where Greenwood Wood-fired Hydronic Furnaces displayed a giant green (as in the color) furnace. This highly efficient furnace efficiently creates heat for a nice hydronic system that we had to take notice. It operates at a high 85% efficiency level so not much heat escapes like with old furnaces or even hot water heaters. Even better, the system burns wood completely so the smoke, creosote and ash remain minimal. Here’s our problem - you still have to burn wood. That’s like driving a Prius or the like. Good as it is - you’re still using petroleum.

In the same toasty section the Radiant Gas Fireplaces by Valor showed some green heat. The system uses an electronic ignition system instead of a typical pilot light which saves on fuel and CO2 emissions. These fireplaces heat a single room instead of the whole house and do so with minimal BTU use. As much as they want to convince us that there use of natural gas presents one of the cleanest of the fossil fuels - we still have to look ourselves in the fireplace glass door and say that’s still a fossil fuel.

Next week we look at the old school green products and some crazy ridiculous greenwashing at PCBC.

As if there isn’t enough bio-diesel controversy over the food for fuel debate now we have a little skirmish arising here in San Francisco. When we walk by any San Francisco restaurant (particularly the ones that have that delish yet oh so bad for you fried cuisine) we can smell where this fuss originated – the fryers. Yes, it’s that oh so wonderful french fry grease that companies like Blue Sky Bio-fuels and Got Grease work with to create biofuel. To us this method makes much more sense to reuse old oil and grease than to the create fuel directly from real food.

In this case the grease skirmish remains between the City of San Francisco and the private sector. Both Got Grease and Blue Sky pick up grease (usually for free) from small restaurants, but now the City jumped into the fryer and collects it as well. The fact that the City collects the oil isn’t a problem but the fact that the City has been using health inspectors to secure oil from the restaurants smells like burnt oil to us. Apparently a letter from the City exists that says something to the effect of “The City has been so busy collecting restaurant oil that we haven’t had time to write up violations.” Should we call this mess “Greasefellas”?

We’re all about promoting recycling of oil and grease but this slippery slope of “socialist” thinking doesn’t exactly scream fair competition. Apparently the City uses taxpayer dollars to pick up grease from Google and Stanford University which aren’t exactly in San Francisco. Also, the City ships the grease to Nevada. That’s not what we hoped the City would do to lower its carbon footprint. Aren’t there enough biodiesal plants in the Bay Area?

Hopefully free market conditions will prevail because we don’t want this controversy to impact our thinking when we head out for fish ‘n’ chips.

In this case the grease skirmish remains between the City of San Francisco and the private sector. Both Got Grease and Blue Sky pick up grease (usually for free) from small restaurants, but now the City jumped into the fryer and collects it as well. The fact that the City collects the oil isn’t a problem but the fact that the City has been using health inspectors to secure oil from the restaurants smells like burnt oil to us. Apparently a letter from the City exists that says something to the effect of “The City has been so busy collecting restaurant oil that we haven’t had time to write up violations.” Should we call this mess “Greasefellas”?

We’re all about promoting recycling of oil and grease but this slippery slope of “socialist” thinking doesn’t exactly scream fair competition. Apparently the City uses taxpayer dollars to pick up grease from Google and Stanford University which aren’t exactly in San Francisco. Also, the City ships the grease to Nevada. That’s not what we hoped the City would do to lower its carbon footprint. Aren’t there enough biodiesal plants in the Bay Area?

Hopefully free market conditions will prevail because we don’t want this controversy to impact our thinking when we head out for fish ‘n’ chips.

The situation involves not just the local governments but the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) that claim that the LBAM will cause major destruction of crops in California. The feds think that we must take swift action or suffer the economic impact of quarantines, which they estimate will cost CA millions of dollars.

Something curious happened on the way to this economic thinking. To date, the LBAM has caused ZERO crop damage. The economic damage has been due only to quarantines imposed on the Golden State by Canada and Mexico. When the Feds sprayed Santa Cruz and Monterey counties last fall the counties recorded over 640 health problems. This number represented only the reported cases, and conservative estimates of actual health impacts by local agencies put the number of cases at ten times the number of reports claimed.

It gets better. But of course numerous unbiased, third party agencies have tested the safety of this spray, right? In a word, NO. The Feds have waived all safety tests and environmental impact reviews due to the “emergency status.” The “inert” ingredients (which in pesticide speak means that the pesticides, though chemically active, are not targeting the moth in this particular cocktail of chemicals) of the spray that was used last year in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties contain known carcinogens, mutagens and endocrine disrupters.

It’sSanta Cruz and Monterey not like this moth has been part of a recent invasion but most entomologists including Dr. James Carey, a professor of entomology and invasion pest biology from University of California - Davis, contend that the little critter has been in Cali for at least 30 years.

This moth resides in New Zealand and as of 2003, they manage to control it by natural predators. We don’t have the space to cover this whole story but we have to think why do they want to spray this “agent orange for moths” over urban areas like San Francisco and Oakland. We’re sure that the babies and pets will react well to the days and weeks of poison sprayed over our fair metropolises.

Maybe the best thing that will happen (aside from the the governemnet coming to its senses) is for Mothra to eat everyone in Washinston who greenlighted this order. Maybe then they would be right to spray.

Photo credit - veganreader.com

Back in the day before sustainable and organic represented the trendy food terms, Alice Waters created her restaurant Chez Panisse as a place for her friends and her friend’s friends to eat. On Monday, she spoke with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome who took time off from trying to balance the city’s budget while turning the city Green to act as host for the San Francisco City Speaks forum.

The discussion, which focused around good, sustainable, fair food brought about several issues and illustrated that people and companies continue to “Greenwash” especially where food is concerned. It’s not just saying that your company or business is green or sustainable but rather as Waters said, “ I look for people who really share the same values.” Are you listening Wal-Mart?

Newsom seemed kind of cynical at first then they delved in the more meatier topics such as the philosophy behind the book Fast Food Nation where Waters disgustedly mentioned that in the fast food world you’re sort of eating the advertising and that food should be the same wherever you go. The fast food giants portray that Coke and fries as something good for you. And fast food should be fast and cheap and be eaten 24/7. Isn’t that the right of every given American? What Waters mentioned and we have lost sight of is that food is precious and it’s important to respect the land where it comes from as well as the farmers who grow it.

Here in Berkeley, she brought about her Edible Schoolyard program to MLK Middle School, a curriculum that connects students directly in planting, harvesting and cooking their own food. Waters believes that with kids (and adults) if they grow it, and cook it then they will eat it. Try that with your chicken nuggets. The forum also raised awareness of the trend of victory gardens, where people grow their own food. We can’t think of any food source more organic and sustainable. It’s just a case of coming full circle back the way it used to be when people learned how to grow and farm and cook. If food prices continue to rise, then we must be able to depend on ourselves. We don’t think that relaying on a heavily subsidized 99 cent hamburgers would be the best way to move forward.

Onward victory garden, onward.

The discussion, which focused around good, sustainable, fair food brought about several issues and illustrated that people and companies continue to “Greenwash” especially where food is concerned. It’s not just saying that your company or business is green or sustainable but rather as Waters said, “ I look for people who really share the same values.” Are you listening Wal-Mart?

Newsom seemed kind of cynical at first then they delved in the more meatier topics such as the philosophy behind the book Fast Food Nation where Waters disgustedly mentioned that in the fast food world you’re sort of eating the advertising and that food should be the same wherever you go. The fast food giants portray that Coke and fries as something good for you. And fast food should be fast and cheap and be eaten 24/7. Isn’t that the right of every given American? What Waters mentioned and we have lost sight of is that food is precious and it’s important to respect the land where it comes from as well as the farmers who grow it.

Here in Berkeley, she brought about her Edible Schoolyard program to MLK Middle School, a curriculum that connects students directly in planting, harvesting and cooking their own food. Waters believes that with kids (and adults) if they grow it, and cook it then they will eat it. Try that with your chicken nuggets. The forum also raised awareness of the trend of victory gardens, where people grow their own food. We can’t think of any food source more organic and sustainable. It’s just a case of coming full circle back the way it used to be when people learned how to grow and farm and cook. If food prices continue to rise, then we must be able to depend on ourselves. We don’t think that relaying on a heavily subsidized 99 cent hamburgers would be the best way to move forward.

Onward victory garden, onward.

Let’s get this straight. Chrysler announces this “good” news about gas prices. The Chrysler web site states, “As fuel prices continue to rise, the Let’s Refuel America Program helps providing stability to the cost of fuel with a simple solution - locking in the price of unleaded or diesel fuel at $2.99/gallon for three years.” So we just have to buy a new car and off we save at the pump.

That’s just great. There’s just a few things (see car list) that really ticks us off. The Serramonte Chrysler Jeep Dodge the features vehicles including:

Chrysler 300 C Executive Series LWB
MPG: 15 / 23

Chrysler Aspen Limited 4×2
MPG: 13 / 19

Chrysler Crossfire Limited - coupe
MPG: 15 / 23

Chrysler PT Cruiser Base
MPG: 21 / 26

Notice anything? None of these vehicles even come close to 30 mpg. Instead of Chrysler spending their coin on this petroleum subsidy why don’t they create some hybrids, electric vehicles, or even some autos that get 40 + mpg?

Maybe Hummer will sponsor a $1.99 a gallon program soon. That will get America rolling. In Colma, the dead will be rolling in their graves if this continues to be the way America and the rest of the world deals with the continuing oil shortage.

Read More about Chrysler’s “Let’s Refuel America” Promotion, and Better Options for Fuel Efficiency:

• Low Impact Living: Oh Please — Chrysler Offering $2.99 Gas for 3 Years
• Can Improved Spark Plugs Improve both Fuel Economy and Performance?
• Goodbye Trucks and SUVs; Hello Gas Saving… Geo Metro?

It’s hard to believe that one of America’s greenest cities lacks a true biodiesel station. Yes, San Francisco has an Olympic station on Third Street however is only supplies commercially licensed diesel vehicles with “B20” which even in the controversial biodiesel world isn’t that green. If the building and fire departments sign off, then Dogpatch Biofuels will open in the near future. Yes, we can wait to smell all the great restaurant cooking oil waste from SF’s top level eateries filled into the hungry car engines.

The women-owned (like Biofuel Oasis in Berkeley and Autopia in San Mateo) station recently received approval by the Planning Department. They plan on creating something more than just a “gas station”. Firstly, they will offer B100 which contains 0% petroleum. Yes, we’ve heard (and posted) some bad things regarding biodiesel and the food for fuel crises but as these owners argue, all biodiesel is not created equal.

Corn-based ethanol or imported palm oil biodiesel have significantly different impacts than biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil or other sustainable local sources. The owners realize (and everyone else should too) that biodiesel does not represent a cure-all solution, but it beats the heck out of using straight petroleum. Those truly concerned might want to ride a bike or drive an electric car.

The owners also stress that they fully maintain a commitment to sustainability and the local community. They plan to offer educational classes, as well as serve sustainable or organic products. Try finding that at your local Exxon station.

First time director Giovanni Vaz Del Bello neatly divides the film down into four areas of innovation: Transportation, Recycling, Affordable Housing and Urban Parks. Convenient Truth shows how convenient the transportation remains in this million plus city. Their progressive mayors like Jamie Lerner, city planners and designers determined that the city should revolve around people, not cars. From the cost-effective yet expansive bus system (with the notable bus station tubes) to the pedestrian-only walkways, then documentary highlights how effective, people friendly and sustainable changes can be made with minimal or no cost.

Cinematographer Maria Terezinha (who also produced) captures energizing city images that encompass the film’s other topics. When cities like New York City often can’t afford to keep their recycling program going, A Convenient Truth shows how Curitiba offers programs that not only clean most of the cityscape but have created a subset of employment based around recycling all while keeping within the city budget. The film addresses social justice with a section about low-cost urban housing and finally how city parks have not only beatified the city but have increased property values (and thus property taxes) as well as prevented floods that used to ravage the city.

The film makes interesting parallels toward New Orleans (and hurricane Katrina) as well as some Bay Area eyesores that could get a clue from the solutions found in Curitiba. Although the film suffers slightly from low production value and the sound quality wavers the docu-feature offers an interesting topic of a city that most people know little if anything about.

This landmark youth education facility and environmental center sits smack in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood right next to the former PG & E power plant. Of all the areas in SF this area truly needs the Green building support. We’re psyched to report that the EcoCenter marks the first 100% off-grid green building in San Francisco, and boasts features that set the bar high for green building.

Some of the condo and office developers should take a look at this baby with its solar panels and a wind tribune that will meet all electricity demands of the building, not to mention the wastewater treatment system that utilizes a series of wetland cells and ultraviolet sterilization lamps to treat wastewater and recycle treated water for landscape irrigation, as well as the Green living roof that will reduce building needs for heating and cooling, provide retention of storm water on site for reuse, and encourage wildlife habitat.

Those of you more into the engineering will appreciate the Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) that will provide high-energy efficiency and strength in the walls and roof as well as seismic support and fire resistance. We couldn’t be happier to see how they used native landscaping (what no lawn?) to conserve water, eliminate synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and encourage education around native plant propagation. Really, is that so hard?

The EcoCenter, designed by Toby Long Design and Clever Homes, and built by the LORAX Development team, came to fruition with funding by various grants from SF Environment, the Coastal Conservancy, and numerous foundations, including the Stewardship Council, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, the Live Oak Fund of Horizons Foundation, Mitchell Kapor Foundation, Walter & Elise Haas Fund and Flora Family Foundation.

Even more impressive than the grant list or the green building attributes remains the fact that it will bring Green awareness to an area sorely lacking in education about the environment. Visitors and local youth can learn about clean air and water, safe energy, healthy food, non-toxic homes and schools, open space restoration, and equitable education and employment.

Now that’s something to publicize.

Relaxation!
Fashion!
Celebrity!
Botox!
Booze!
Interiors!
Green!

Yes, most of this list refers to the Brit series Ab Fab but if Eddy and Patsy turned in their smokes and cocktails for organic and sustainable munchies then they too would be excited for the opening of the Epi Center MedSpa, the first LEED certified MedSpa in the country. (Another LEED spa exists in D.C. but it isn’t a MedSpa). So, because fictional characters from a long ago Brit TV series couldn’t check out this just opened San Fran based spa, I decided that I had to do it.

In I ventured, bypassing the various creams, packs, rubs and treatments I instead focused my attention to the flooring. It took years off of my face (or rather my feet) to see the eco-friendly options like the Toscana Stone Designer Marble and Quartz line from EuroStone. Yes, it comes from Italy but the tile comes from an engineered material made of the more than 90% recycled marble chips gives the floor that luxe look.

In the treatment room dahhling, I found the floating cork tiles (these from Nova Distinctive Floors) to die for because they not only represent a renewable resource but Nova makes this floor from re-manufactured cork top. That’s double Green in my book. I kept my eyes down to find the Sisal Carpet Tile in the treatment hallway and waiting area. This agave based material makes an earth-friendly alternative to synthetic fibers and even absorbs whatever noise that dares to enter the spa. Even in the non-public areas they installed Sisal Twist Broadloom Carpet that contains post-consumer, recycled content backing, made by recovering mineral residuals from the paper recycling industry.

You might think that I only stared at the floor. Not me. I gazed upward at the ceilings suggested by Organic Architect Eric Corey Freed which sourced Homasote, a fiberboard made of recycled newspaper. Freed even helped apply the water based stain which gives it a chocolaty warm feeling.

I could and did continue to admire the spa’s overall green handiwork of architect Justin Martinkovic, from the FSC certified wood veneers to the EcoSmart Fire.

I did consider the green aspects of the actual beauty and medical products. They do offer some organic facials with ingredients such as 100% organic fruit and spicy masks. But then I saw a slew of Chemical Peels on the menu. That sounds painful and not so green. Oh well, I’ll have to report on the treatments in the near future. But for now, I’m tingly just walking though the green space.

The speakers ranged from keynote speaker Jaimie Lerner, former mayor of Curitiba Brazil co-founder of the IPPUC, Parris Glendending (Former Governor of Maryland and President of Smart Growth Leadership Institute and Janet Larsen, Director of Research for the Earth Policy Institute and advocate for Lestor Brown’s Plan B. Larsen mentioned how Plan A refers to as “business as usual” and most of us can see that that plan isn’t working. Plan B doesn’t just refer to the U.S. Countries like Algeria who depend on their oil revenue can see the oil-less future and continue to create solar and thermal alternatives to power their future. Imagine an oil country funding alt energy sources.

Even beyond the large scope of the noted speakers, we appreciate the little aspects that the conference offered such as the organic lunches served in totally compostable containers, the organic fair trade coffee and tea. We didn’t see any bottles or cans of Coke.

Like any conference, we did find little hitches in the program. During some of the Academic Sessions, although interesting seemed haphazardly bracketed. We sat in on one session of Historic Places, Ecotourism and Ecodesign figuring that the session would encompass sustainable tourism but turned out to more about urban planning and sustainability of historic cities (by Sevgi Yucesan), followed by Edgard Antunes Dias Batista who proposed the first Brazilian national bicycles route, and finally Suzana Gueiros who spoke about the protection of the Amazon Rain Forest. The topics seemed somewhat disjointed. We appreciate the passion of the speakers but they might consider offering some degree of empowerment to the audience. It’s not good enough to hear gloom and doom about, say the Amazon rainforest, but not have anything to do about it.

Maybe we’re nitpicking but we’re excited for the next few conference days because it’s on with the sustainability show.

This third location, located in SoMa, just opened and used zero-VOC paints to improve the air quality, and I could definitely smell the food and not the fumes. They even used recycled paint to cover their ceiling. I didn’t find any bamboo or cork for the flooring but something better as they used an unfinished concrete floor with 50% flyash content. That high flyash content along with the fact that the floor will last a long time (plus it’s easy to clean) makes that choice a no-brainer.

Although the dining area contains a slew of other green items (FSC certified wood, recycled steel, 3- compartment trash station) I most enjoyed the table tops made from 100% raw materials derived from recycled household materials such as milk and detergent bottles.

I won’t go into their menu with locally sourced, mostly organic, free range, items but they do promote a mostly sustainable philosophy. If I got on their case for anything, perhaps it would be the lack of a bike rack anywhere near the eatery or the fact that they carry Coke with some of their organic drink choices. How abut carrying the Mexican Coke in the glass bottles with real cane sugar instead of the GMO corn syrup? Maybe that will change but hopefully I’ll be seeing the fourth installment of Mixt Greens soon.

In this one, we focus on the marketplace itself. This year, they ventured into that Green netherworld to make the conference greener. They even hired a Green conference consultant but we could track down this consultant so we had do go it alone.

We thing we see when we check in is a giant sign from Travel Alberta about how they have purchased carbon credits. It’s no secret of what we think of carbon credits (low on the green totem pole). We’re more about actually doing something to make a change instead of just buying something.

To their credit, the conference meals used only china and linen for meal service. No Styrofoam or plastics but they did have those paper cups (see photo). They provided pitchers of water for the tables and not pre-fill water glasses. They served fair trade coffee. (We don’t think it was organic though). They provided condiments in bulk instead of those silly small packages.

The various meetings sought to recycle their waste products which they should be doing anyway. Forget the recycling, don’t bring the press kits, flyers and paper handouts en masse. Maybe everyone isn’t into the give away flash drives but some vendors (like the representative from the sustainable minded Butchart Gardens) simply had a laptop, a few display items and a few business cards. To us less is more and it doesn’t take a lot of paper items to impress us.

As for the conference location, certainly the Beverly Hilton needs to make many steps before we can even call it Green. Our invitation told us to request “Access to the Green Room” at check in but then the nice woman checking us in offered up that deer in headlights look. Later we find out that this “green room” provides: towel and sheet reuse program, low-flow toilets and water conserving showerheads, bio-degradable cleaning products, and provides the option to not receive the daily paper. Yes, those green options floored us as well. Maybe they could add a recycle container in the rooms or would that be too crazy? The fact that they donate un-used amenities to a local charity did strike a light green chord with us. Ahhh, maybe they are learning.

The Ecolicious event at San Francisco’s XYZ bar in the W hotel kicked off what they refer to as “A Daily Cocktail Hour with Eco-Friendly Cocktails and Organic Bar Bites.” The scene casually mixed eco-chic hipsters, greenies, and others just looking for free booze. Yes, the lemon drop type drink (organic Square One vodka, we hope organic fresh lemon juice and not local or organic champagne), although puckering tasty, left us wondering if this drink should be classified as organic. Maybe it would be semi-organic but that sounds like something the FDA would make up to confuse eco barflies. The biodynamic wines and organic beers did sway us to think that the event had its heart in the right glass.

With our other hand, we tasted XYZ exec chef Paul Piscopo’s organic snacks such as the Asiago Cheese Pizza with Organic Spring Onion & Asparagus and Crisp Polenta with Boquerones & Piquillo Peppers. Where is the cheese from? Can you even get organic Asiago cheese? Again, we’re big pizza fans but the snacks offered a bit of a quandary for us. Is this semi-organic pizza or the full deal?

All the drinking and eating aside, some of the Ecolicious proceeds will benefit Save the Bay foundation during April so we’re not encouraging anyone to drink excessively (even organic cocktails) but if you must do so, then do it this month.

The green traveling exhibit offered surprisingly educational and eye-catching examples of various water savings devices, energy star appliances, sustainable countertops, flooring, and furniture. Even though I didn’t stick around to hear the speakers (some of whom I know) the lineup offered an impressive array of green builders, designers and other knowledgeable types in the green industry.

Of course, here in SF these green exhibit folks basically preach to the choir (which doesn’t mean that I don’t listen). I discovered that when this traveling green exhibit previously set up shop in some southern and eastern cities where formerly non-green local denizens eagerly took to these Green products and demos. This education typifies the stuff that we like to hear. This whole Green movement isn’t about Cali although some people may think otherwise.

People pretty much like the moving Green house exhibit concept with friendly people answering questions about the products. Heck they even printed the program booklet on recycled paper (not sure of the recycled content).

There was a small issue with the Green Works natural, all-purpose cleaner bottles all over the place. Yes, the cleaner comes from the makers of Clorox. Yes, Green Works cleaners minimize the use of petrochemicals (99% petrochemical free). And yes, (or should I say Ruff?) they do not use animals to test the safety and efficacy of Green Works natural cleaning products. But why do they have to use corn-based ethanol as one of their main ingredients? Maybe it’s because Green Options just blogged about bio-fuels, the whole food-for-fuel thing, and the controversy of corn based anything that I am so riled.

Okay, everyone has their issues.

Kirkwood, sits in a remote area of South Lake Tahoe, where people like the no-frills, laid back atmosphere but about their sustainability? To their credit their recently implemented a carpool network (the first in the region) that allows members to connect with other like-minded skiers and riders. Kirkwood’s “K-pool” saved about 13% in driven vehicles during one of their busiest days and takes hundred of cars off the road each week. Other resorts have picked up on the idea and will implement a similar system next season.

The fact that Kirkwood sits outside any regional power grid offers energy challenges. Thankfully, they haven’t resorted to purchasing those not so green RECs; instead they purchase a small amount of energy directly from local homeowners’ solar panels. Unfortunately, they must rely heavily on diesel (and even though they have purchased more efficient Tier 2 Engines) they still remain diesel based. The thought of all that diesel doesn’t exactly make us warm and fuzzy.

Kirkwood put together a comprehensive recycling program but we would like to see something more out of the box. Maybe they can add some alt fueled snowcats or the like. We understand that biodiesal freezes at around five degrees so maybe there is some other solution. And even though the resort region contains relatively few condos and commercial structures, the new ones currently being constructed lack any Green focus (such as LEED or Green Point Rated). It’s not much to ask to swap out the bathroom paper towels and urinals for the much greener XLerator Electric Hand Dryer and McDry Non-Water-Using Urinal options.

We like most of the blue slopes as well as some choice black diamond runs but Kirkwood needs to catch up with us as their sustainability effort currently resides on the bunny slopes.

The event held in Berkeley (where else?) gave Tad Patzek, Professor of Geoengineering at UC Berkeley, Miguel Altieri, Professor of Agroecology at UC Berkeley, Eric Holt-Giménez, Executive Director of Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, and Judith Mayer, Project Coordinator of the Borneo Project a chance to educate or frighten the audience into what’s happening with agrofuels, whether it’s ethanol, B20, or something else that makes our cars go.

Although the four speakers came at the topic from various angles ranging from food for fuel which causes food prices to rise to the big corp. ethanol monopoly, the program offered an educating, yet frightening look at where the alt fuels will take us. The speakers showed off power points and sometimes confusing slides to get us to realize how serious the situation is in places like the Amazon or Borneo where vast hectares of soybeans or oil palms continue to replace rainforest. Patzek pointed out how the supposed fuel du jour crop (swatch grass) actually needs to be fertilized like conventionally grown corn.

A lot of government and media rhetoric surrounds the notion that we need to become less reliant on foreign sources of fuel. It appears that the southern hemisphere supplies about half our corn used for ethanol. And that number continues to rise. Oh, and so does the price of corn for eating. Last time I checked a map, the southern hemisphere didn’t include the USA.

Gimenez pointed out the win-win for ethanol. Yes, win-win if your name happens to be Monsanto or BP. With ethanol subsidies standing at $1.38 per gallon (one-half the wholesale market price, which doesn’t exactly scream fair market value) Monsanto, ADM and Cargill, and others are creating what he calls a “Green Desert” of poverty in Brazil, Argentina and other South American countries, while they clean up with big profits. But let’s not just blame the chemical, petroleum, and pharmaceutical companies. I loved Miguel Altieri’s “Green Fuel Mafia” slide which displayed many of the usual suspects (Monsanto, BP, etc) but also WWF and Conservation International who have been paid lots of money to promote biofuel and a green fuel.

With all the gloom and doom and 1984 biolfuel talk, I’m glad that I could sip on some Petite Syrah from Parducci winery, which represents the first winery in the US to achieve carbon neutrality and won the Governor’s Environmental & Economic Leadership Award from the State of California just to help me enjoy the evening.

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Ethanol Industry: Jobs Are Better Than Food?

The design engineers project the Y2E2 to use 56 percent less energy and 90 percent less potable water for fixtures than a comparable “dirty building.” How will it do that? From foundation to rooftop, the building offers various energy recovery and on-site power generation, as well as passive and active systems.

From top to bottom, Y2E2 has an array of sustainable features that fall under five categories: load reduction, passive systems, active systems, energy recovery and on-site generation. These five approaches are expected to slash the building’s power consumption by more than half. The four large atriums which serve as central light wells made us and the interior bask in the glow of natural light. Although not as glamorous, the nifty light shelves catch additional light and reflect it into the building.

As for on-site generation, that refers to the three different kinds of solar panels mounted on the south-facing roof—including a system that tracks the sun. The system, which will probably generate about two percent of the building’s total energy usage, will serve for educational purposes.

Even beyond operational sustainability features, Y2E2 used a substantial amount of fly ash, a byproduct of coal burning, as a replacement for cement in the concrete of the basement walls and all the floors. This process produced 15 tons less carbon dioxide. Additionally, they used plentiful amounts of recycled steel. Finally, I like the carpet. What carpet? They left most of the floors uncarpeted which saved tons of raw materials.

Photo credit: Linda A. Cicero / Stanford News Service