What do the Westfield shopping centre, Canary Wharf and a Victorian museum have in common? They are all at the vanguard of a move to encourage biodiversity in buildings that could take on an unprecedented scale if guidelines published today are adopted.

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“Do laundry”… what does that mean to most of us?  It means carting a large pile of clothes in a bin or basket to one’s home washer and dryer, or if you’re one of the many unfortunate bunch like me, you cart it to a nearby laundromat’s washer and dryer.  I’ve only “done laundry” once since moving into my new apartment, and as I don’t own a car–you guessed it–I packed my clothes into a massive backpack and pedaled it across my neighborhood to the laundromat, swaying all the way.  Obviously not an impossible scenario, but surely an uncomfortable one!

But as with so many other things about living a modern American lifestyle, my conscience shouts louder and louder each time I subscribe to certain activities that I know to be environmentally harmful.  The toxic chemicals in many common soaps aside, purely the use of electricity (when knowingly powered by coal plants, as is true for my region) is a harmful act.  I don’t like living with the idea that I must contribute to environmental devastation each time I want to wear fresh-smelling, tidy clothing!  Not washing clothes at all, ever (as many of my “crust-punk” friends do) is not a reasonable option for most of us.

The clock was ticking. I had only an hour or two to make my decision, before I had to leave for work.

Today was the periodically dreaded day when my laundry bin reached critical mass, and I realized I needed to do laundry.

Do I take it to a laundromat, dump it into appliances, and read a book while my clothes become easy-breezy clean?  The consequences of that are: energy use, travel energy, and cost!  Washing and drying clothes at a laundromat can cost up to $5 a load!

But what if we could re-invent our notion of what “doing laundry” means?  Forget “high-efficiency” washer and dryer appliances that, while an improvement in terms of water and energy use, still perpetuate widespread and probably-ultimately unsustainable practices.  Where can the energy–and water–come from that would be sustainably sourced?

Your hands.  And your sink.  (And for clothes-drying?  The air.)

It’s such a simple solution that I might almost have missed it!

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I did get the chance to thank Sean and Stephanie last week in person while in San Francisco… they’re good folks, and I highly recommend tuning in regularly for their program.

You can listen to my interview (or any of their shows) directly on their site, This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post., or even subscribe via iTunes.

…Inhabiting it uses no energy–neither heating nor cooling is an issue.  While it might seem like it at first, a tent is not just a summer option…  Look like cramped quarters?

Well, it’s big enough to sleep in and to store my clothes in.  And that’s all I need.  It means I will be spending more time outside, in nature…

Plus, unlike in an apartment, I have the ability to develop my home in unlimited ways!  Stay tuned for later episodes that show how I modify and enhance my living space to be more and more manageable, including temperature control, comfort and additional amenties.”

Dear Readers,

Sust Enable was my dearest fantasy.  Sust Enable meant that I would solve the entire world’s problem of environmental sustainability all by myself.  In an urban setting and with no money.  What’s more, I’d do so while producing a film about it!  Take that, thousands of years of environmental degradation!

For those of you who have followed my tumultuous three-month sustainable living experiment through my blog posts here at Sustainablog, you may think the quoted text above is a strange thing to say, or even bizarrely humorous.  Indeed it is.  Above is the exact wording of my original script to the Sust Enable episode on Shelter, last updated sometime in May.  As I sit in the video editing suite listening over my previously recorded voiceover, I cannot help but laugh out loud at the absurd, unsubstantiated statements I am making.  But these are sour laughs.

Because once, I believed these statements were true.

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We identified that we are on a crash course in life, the life of future generations, others, all of the species that are suffering due to our inconsiderate and consumptive ways, and the natural environment as we know it and as it has come to be after a slow, lengthy process of evolution. Now, we are trying to change course, we are trying to change.

What is this change we are seeking, and how do we achieve it?

We are seeking a fundamental change in the larger effect we (as a society and as a species) are having on the earth. We are seeking this in many ways, but one great opportunity in seeking this broader change is to change our own needs, our own desires, our own habits and lifestyles. When is this a greater possibility than when we are going through tremendous life changes anyway. With change comes the opportunity for greater change. We decide to go into the basement to get something out of a box, and we end up finding all kinds of things we can toss forever or use or give away.

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Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
—Albert Einstein

Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without.
—Henry David Thoreau

We must live simply, so that others may simply live.
—Gandhi

Ah, the simple life. No worries, no responsibilities, it’s the stuff of dreams. But in today’s world, living is far from simple. Simplifying your life often seems like one more impossible task on your long to-do list. Even though common sense tells us that the most environmentally conscious life is a simple one, it’s much easier said than done.

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“F*** sustainability. I just want a bed.”

—

Dear Readers,

The Mili-Tent is a bust.

On May 1, 2008, I moved into a tent in the woods within Pittsburgh, PA. It was in my mind an easy solution to a complicated problem: that of how to dwell sustainably.

Without the time nor interest in building a more permanent shelter, I figured a reused item (like a good old tent) would do the trick. A tent fulfills several principles of sustainable living:

• Reduce the size you take up. A 6′ x 7′ tent is the perfect example of how humans can downsize, leaving more space for other living creatures and ecosystems.
• Get outside more. Living in such a small space, that can truly only accommodate sleeping, requires that I step outside more, and consider the outside world and my community interactions more like “home” than my own four walls.
• Use sustainable materials. Naturally, a synthetic, petroleum based tent is NOT sustainably produced… but working with what you have on hand, and bringing no new materials into the world is a good option.

In retrospect, my ideal dwelling would be a small den, similar in size to a tent, constructed out of cob or another type of sustainable building material. This would have prevented the issues that proved fatal to the tent as a home alternative… but it would have meant a greater time and financial commitment.

In my early drafts of scripts for Sust Enable episodes, I was all set to trumpet the virtues and benefits of living in a tent. It’s not so hard!, my scripts said. I’m living an optimal, comfortable life! …The words ended up being far too ironic to even be funny. I suppose that’s what happens when you translate vision into reality sometimes. My lesson, however unflattering to me, is an important one to share.

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Excerpted with permission from Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care by Jossey-Bass, A John Wiley & Sons Imprint.

For such a little person, a baby sure goes through a lot of laundry: diapers, bibs, sleepers, undershirts, blankets, sheets, socks, pants . . . and of course all the items the baby spits up on that also need to be cleaned—often. That’s why having a baby in the house turns the mundane washer and dryer into wonder machines of incredible convenience. This increase in laundry loads is also a good reason for you to focus your green efforts on the laundry room.

The Green Washing Machine

If you’re buying a new washer, remember to look for Energy Star models. Traditional top-loading washing machines use about forty gallons of water per load, whereas Energy Star washers use only about 25 gallons per load. That’s a 40 percent savings in water, which translates into an energy cost savings of almost 50 percent.10Make that new machine a front-loader. Front-loading machines work on a horizontal axis that saves both water and energy. A top-loading machine must be filled with water in order to keep the clothing wet and then an agitator swirls the water around, but a front-loading machine uses less water because the tub does not need to be filled completely; the tub itself rotates, making the clothes tumble in the water.

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If the five easy steps in this video are not enough for you, then take a look at this list from Seoul’s 2008 Earth Day organizers of ten more ways to go green, Korean style.

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It’s no surprise, then, that moms are also some of the best everyday environmental heroes. Often, it’s the mom who reminds children to “eat your veggies and go outside to play.” Moms also do a lot of the shopping for environmentally conscious products.

In Korea as well as the United States, eco moms are making environmentally conscious decisions with their children’s health in mind.

A recent New York Times article about today’s “EcoMom” has caught the attention of the media in Korea, where the well-established term for green living is: chamsari, or well-being.

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A: I say stuff their tailpipes with potatoes and look menacingly at them. No, I’m only kidding. Your friends are probably really great people, and there are lots of great ways to encourage them to do well by the environment. It can even be fun.

Let’s imagine your neighbor and friend, Joe, has just bought a new, large truck that clearly has terrible MPG. Ecologically, it’s not a great purchase decision. Here are some scenarios of what will (and won’t) help Joe green up and strengthen your friendship.

Getting Aggro Gets Nowhere: Approach #1 Won’t Work

“Hi Joe, I noticed you got a new truck… overcompensating for something, buddy? What do you need something that size for? Hey, instead of contributing to the depletion of our natural resources, try impressing your wife with some consideration for our planet’s future, would ya?”

This approach doesn’t work, and it’s probably clear why. Joe’s proud of his new truck (and sensitive about the size of his jewels). What Joe sees is someone who’s using environmental issues as a chance to insult him. This approach is counterproductive. Joe ends up disliking environmental issues, resenting people he sees as "crazy environmentalists," and perhaps getting angry enough to purposefully make ecologically bad choices; you end up short a friend and frustrated that you’re not getting through.

Toast Them, Don’t Roast Them: Approach #2 Might Work Well

"Hi Joe, I like your new truck. It looks like a pretty good, solid vehicle; you must really care about your family’s safety on the road."

Even if you don’t really like his new truck, telling him so will only make him feel bad about having spent a huge chunk of money on it. This approach focuses on the positive and reassures Joe that we consider him a good guy and a good friend. Joe’s going to make decisions according to his own values, whether we like those decisions or not. The best thing to do is to appreciate the values behind those decisions and bond over your commonalities. It might not seem like you’re doing much, but you’re helping Joe to think about his purchases and actions in terms of his personal values. There’s just one more step to make—increased knowledge about the environment—before Joe is able to incorporate environmentally sound values into his own routine.

Ask, Don’t Tell: Approach #3 Might Work Well

"Hi Joe, maybe my kids could ride with yours to school next week and I’ll return the favor the week after. It’d sure be nice to give each other a break from having to wake up and drive around that early in the morning."

Telling Joe to mind his environmental P’s and Q’s is about as effective as spreading jam with chopsticks. Relating to him over shared values, and then asking him for a favor that embodies your environmental ethic is a much better way to get him to respond to your environmental values. Here, we get to relate to Joe over shared values—in this case, values of family, safety, and personal time. We are then able to talk about issues that matter to us (like avoiding unnecessary driving) by couching them in terms of these shared values (in this case, family, community, and personal time). Joe sees that we value less time on the road, and he appreciates this better because we’re asking and not telling.

Walk The Walk: Approach #4 Is A Must

Mahatma Gandhi famously advised us to “be the change we wish to see in the world.” I once heard a brief story about him in which he illustrates this principle.

A woman once approached Gandhi and asked that he tell her son to stop eating sugar, which she believed was bad for him. She explained that her son looked up to Gandhi, so he would listen to his advice. Gandhi agreed, but asked for a couple of weeks before he could talk with her son.

After several weeks, the woman brought her son back to Gandhi, who told him not to eat sugar. The woman thanked him, but asked why he had wanted to wait so long before talking with her son.

Gandhi explained that during the past two weeks, he had learned to stop eating sugar. He reasoned that if he was going to tell her son to stop eating sugar, first he should stop eating sugar as well.

We all know that actions speak louder than words. You’re an eco-superstar, and chances are you make a good number of your decisions with consideration for how they effect our shared environment. Joe (and the rest of us) could use your good example! By modeling your stellar green ideas and practices for others, you can act as an inspiration and a positive influence. Perhaps the most effective way to produce change in others is by demonstrating it in our own actions.

We can all use good examples, inspiration, and fresh ideas about how to show respect for the natural world we live in. Thank you for sharing yours.

Understanding The Issue

Your friends may not be the next Jane Goodall, Al Gore, or John Muir.
Nonetheless, they probably act based on certain core values that they
hold. Maybe they support local firefighters, spend time caring for
their families, or participate with their community group or religious
center. We in the environmental movement are motivated by a similar
sense of duty to our values about the Earth. Naturally, you have a
thing or two in common with your friends that allow you to relate well.
A good start to greening your buddies is to listen to and appreciate
what they do care about.

Additional Resources:

How To Go Green | Heart of Green

How To Green Your House | Lime

Teaching Environmental Issues and the Affective Domain | Carleton College

Teaching Personal Responsibility in Environmental Education | The Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education

Green Family Values: Environmental Education Curriculum | GO

Resources for Teaching Kids Green Habits | Suite 101

Green Living | Multnomah County Library

Photo Sources:

Bangui wind turbines: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cgines/417577578/
Day 49 - Successful Floor Surgery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelitwin/488136448/
Day 48 - Spot on the Wall: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelitwin/488136440/in/photostream/

Victoria Everman: How and when did the idea for Envirosax come about?

Belinda David-Tooze: The idea for making eco-friendly bags came from a discussion had over a glass of wine in October 2004 after returning from a shopping trip. I decided that the polypropylene green bags on offer at most supermarkets were dull and unfashionable and saw the need for a more fun, fashionable item that everybody would like to be seen with and at the same time still spread the message of reusable bags over cheap throwaway plastic bags. The driving philosophy behind the our vision and product range was to ‘move in the right direction’ which is always a catch phrase we have used for various reasons in the past.

VE: What makes the Envirosax brand different from the many other reusable bag companies?

BD-T: Our eco-chic totes are about as far removed from the average shopping bag as is artistically possible and we challenge the lack of stylish or fashionable eco-friendly shopping bags available. Our stylish bags are not only fashionable but also functional and so the design briefs specified that the bags be lightweight, portable, waterproof and have a large holding capacity. Each bag is able to carry the equivalent of 2 supermarket plastic shopping bags or 44 pounds in weight. We also make the ‘move in the right direction’ easier as each bag can roll up and become a lightweight and portable, 1.4oz package. Our groovy bags, available as single items, also come as an assortment of 5 designs contained in a small pouch. The pouch is small enough to stow into a glove compartment or a handbag. This means customers are less likely to leave their eco-bags in the car or cupboard when they shop.

VE: What inspired the various designs in the Graphic Series?

BD-T: We aimed to create totes which captured the bold colours and freshness of Mother Nature, or the designs and whimsy of retro and modern art and culture. The inspiration for the designs on Envirosax bags are drawn from our surroundings (the tropical rainforest and the beach), our passions (art and music) and our background (fashion and travel). Our children often also stimulate a design process, with a simple discussion over the family dinner table, a drawing or even just a simple word.

VE: Are you concerned about using polyester for the majority of your collection?

BD-T: Yes, the bags are made from polyester, which is a plastic, but we had to start somewhere. The idea of the Envirosax came about through the fusion of passion and creativity. The bag was designed to be extremely strong and durable, but still pleasing to the eye. Polyester was chosen so the bags can be printed with several colours, which cannot fade using the process of sublimation. At the time of starting our business, eco-friendly bags were not as widely used as they are now. The whole idea was to encourage even the most ‘non-greenie’ out there to use a re-useable bag. To do this, we had to create something which is completely different to what was already out there. Also, due to the fabric properties, polyester allows the bag to be rolled up into a tiny package and even the unconcerned (or the forgetful) will find it easier to remember the bags if they are stowed in the bottom of their handbag. We have been looking closely at the new Eco Intelligent Polyester. Currently this fabric is only produced for the furniture industry, and, hopefully in the future, we will move towards this new polyester as long as it does not compromise the quality of our product. We understand also the need to produce a bag made form natural fibres and also produce a hemp bag under the organic range. We are currently focusing on increasing the lines in our organic range and will be bringing out several new lines in August.

VE: A series of surfing rash vests and UV shirts are mentioned on your website, though they are not available yet for purchase - can you tell me a bit more about these?

BD-T: We brought out the surfing rash vests at the beginning of our summer here in Australia and sold online throughout summer. We are currently re-designing our rash vest range and will have our 2008 range out around September. The new range will be available throughout 2008 during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

VE: Not only does the brand itself promote environmentally conscious activities, your offices operate under sustainable practices as well, no?

BD-T: In an indirect way. We do a lot of work from home where we live totally off the grid with all our electricity coming from 12, 185 watt solar panels. Hot water is heated using a solar hot water system and huge water tanks, which collect rainwater, provide our entire water supply. Grey water and sewerage is recycled back on to our extensive tropical gardens using a biocycle. Our laptops and cell phones are recharged each night using electricity obtained purely from the sun. Our warehouse is in an industrial area and the builder forgot to add the solar panels on top! So we try and compensate otherwise - our photocopy paper in recycled paper and also our printing is done by a company which uses recycled paper printed with waterless soy based ink. As far as the ‘other little things which matter’ goes, we also use toilet paper made from recycled paper, clean using white vinegar, compost all of our shredded paper and most importantly - encourage our staff to switch the bathroom light off when not in use.

VE: What sort of feedback have you been getting from consumers and retail stores?

BD-T: There seems to be this energised sort of positive attitude towards Envirosax - really positive. When we first started with Envirosax, the aim was to produce a trendy alternative to the existing eco-friendly bag. From this initial concept to what Enviorosax has now become (in Australia - that is) has suddenly seen Envirosax transpire into a must-have fashion item. But of course, it is not just this aspect which is causing a stir - it’s also the actions of all the wonderful consumers who are actually thinking about the environment. Envirosax is just a wanted product - by all in the supply chain. It makes us proud!

VE: Could you tell me a bit more about the company’s involvement in Australia’s Sustainable Living Challenge?

BD-T: The Sustainable Living Challenge is a leading national secondary schools program that encourages students and their teachers to explore sustainability issues. [My husband] Mark has been involved with The New South Wales University Sustainable Living Challenge for the last five years as a school teacher. Last year, his school, All Saints Anglican School, won an “Outstanding Academic Achievement Award” for their successful “Students for a Sustainable Future” conference, which involved 25 students giving 35 presentations on the four corners of sustainability, cultural, social, economic and environmental. This year the students are working on a fuel cell boat as part of their entry and they are also planning another student conference for October 2007. Envirosax became a supporter of the Sustainable Living Challenge in November 2006 by supplying prizes for the competition. Envirosax also attended a Sustainable Living Challenge exhibition in Brisbane this March, to promote the competition and also to educate teachers and students in using reusable bags. In the future, Envirosax would like to get far more involved in fuel cell research using the Sustainable Living challenge as the medium for the students.

VE: What do you say to the folks that still believe global warming is just a myth?

BD-T: I can answer this quite simply. When we first started attending conferences on sustainability and global warming, all the speakers were only talking about the effects of global warming and global dimming. In the last two major international sustainability conferences we have attended, in Hanoi January 2006 and Chennai January 2007, with speakers from Universities around the world, the professors are no longer talking about the effects of global warming, but what we can do to live with global warming. Global warming is no longer a myth but a reality. There is no quick fix to the problem, but a lot of small steps in the right direction will add up to one big step. Envirosax hopefully is one of these small steps.

VE: Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

BD-T: Our online store in the USA goes live the end of next week. Our product development is going all out and yes there will be some surprises around the corner. Think texture, organic graphics and nourishment!