GLAZ Dec2010

December 2010

Your conscious life

AZ

Was Mad

•

MAGAZINE

te

e in the USA

Architecture ALSO INSIDE:

Eco-Travel Close to Home Artist Ron Burns Beauty | Indulge without the Bulge Company Parties | NAU Green Living AZ Magazine is Forest Stewardship Council Certified, printed on post-consumer waste paper with soy-based inks.

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Waste: Made in the USA

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2 greenliving az | December 2010

50 Eco-Travel

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December 2010 Live Green

6 Editor’s Note

Waste

62 Green Scenes

Energy Audit

63 Green Pages

F.I.G.H.T.: G is for Genetics

64 Green Personalities

Indulge without the Bulge Vintage is Modern Again Get a Boost the Natural Way Paper Recycling for Tissue

10 14 16 20 18 22 24

25 27 28 30 31 32 33 34

Work Green 3 Easy Ways to Watch your Water Up to your Waste Eco-Terminology Waste Not, Want Not Green your Company’s Holiday Party A Zero Waste Arizona Corporate Social Responsibility Remodeling to Green Introducing our Green Panel Car Review: Toyota Highlander Hybrid NAU Applied Research & Development

36 38 38 39 40 41 43 44 46 47 48

7 Ways to a Winter Glow Sustaining your Holiday Green Kids Our Pets as Natural Therapists The Junk in your Trunk Creative Ways to use a Candle Winter Gardening Tips Light it up LED

22

44

55 Play Green Eco-Travel Close to Home A Global Green Holiday Travel Tips Book Review Ron & Rufus 4 greenliving az | December 2010

50 52 53 54 55

56 57 58 60 61

Arizona Winter Wildlife The Perfect Bite: Lollicakes Recipes He’s Green She’s Green Cool and Outrageous Stuff greenlivingaz.com

Go organic, with your

Holiday Baking at New Frontiers

“Green” your holidays by using baking ingredients grown without synthetic

pesticides and fertilizers.

New Frontiers offers a wide selection of organic products for all your baking needs, from flour and butter to chocolate, nuts, dried fruit and more.

Find a scrumptious selection of cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, muffins, quick breads and more in our gourmet deli and fresh bakery.

Delight your friends and family with wholesome home-baked goodness, and treat them, and the planet, with love and respect –

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Flagstaff 320 S. Cambridge Lane (corner of Butler and Sawmill) Sedona 1420 West Hwy. 89A (In Old Marketplace) Prescott 1112 Iron Springs Rd.

December 2010

Editor’s Note

OVER.

That is the word I think of during the holidays. Overeat, overspend,

overdo and overconsume. And I’m OVER it. During this time, it seems many of us have an overwhelming need to acquire more and more stuff; more lights for the house, more presents under the tree, more shopping, more food, more stress, and in the middle of it all, we forget our own self-balance and run until we collapse from the OVER. In the midst of the December frenzy, one thing that seems to be missed is the OVER aftermath, aka holiday waste. That includes the thrown-out food, paper, plastics, gas, energy and time. Our December feature is “WASTE – Made in the USA.” Author Jeff Frost LEED AP will give you a small taste of the obscene amount of waste we generate. Although the data may shock or disturb you, Frost does offer solutions to manage or redirect our waste. Most importantly,

you can begin to reduce your waste by being conscious of what you consume and how you shop.

to NAU in WORK. With a professor as my guide, I joined her class, and together, the students and I learned about

Not all waste is bad. Vintage is at an all-time high, and

the Applied Research and Development building, one of

7th Avenue has become THE place to find anything

the many LEED certified buildings on campus. In PLAY,

retro. Find out where to shop in our “Vintage is

we highlight eco-friendly travel destinations, starting

Modern Again,” by Barbi Walker in LIVE. Giving

with the Grand Canyon Railway and some cozy bed-and-

back is part of the season. Pet owners for the Animal

breakfast inns in Sedona and Cottonwood. When you

Assisted Therapy (AAT) program at Phoenix Children’s

pack, take along some eco tips from our travel experts

Hospital commit their time and bring their dogs to the

and advice from our He’s Green | She’s Green couple, as

children. For a brief moment, these dogs help distract

they share their lip-smackin’ lip balm review.

the children from pain, encourage activity and provide unconditional love. Learn more about this truly

We at Green Living AZ encourage you to shop locally

inspiring program in “Our Pets as Natural Therapists”

this holiday season and keep Arizona’s economy thriving.

in LIVE. Happy Holidays. Stay safe, and blessings to you and I always think of snow in December, and that means

your family. See you in 2011!

pointing the car due north. Read about my trip north

Illustration by Kate Larson Stylist - Kelly O’Connell, Owner of Salon Intrigue

6 greenliving az | December 2010

Tishin Donkersley, M.A., Editor-in-Chief

greenlivingaz.com

Your conscious life

AZ

•

MAgAZine

Publisher John B. Stacy

Your conscious life

associate Publisher Dorie Morales AZ • MAgAZine dorie@greenlivingaz.com editor-in-chief Tishin Donkersley, M.A. creatiVe director Kate Larson kate@greenlivingaz.com oPerations ManaGer Angela Sinagoga-Stacy, M.A. angela@greenlivingaz.com senior adVisor William Janhonen, LEED AP NAHB-CGP

Upcoming Events December 1st Oregon Street Green Remodel Launch Party

Meet the innovative team and see the “before” as we unveil the plans for greening this amazing home 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

December 9th Buying a Green Home

assistant to the editor Heather Fulton

Gre en Living M agaz ine

coPY editor Michael Ziffer PhotoGraPhers Marshall Shore Sigrid Velund-Miller Writers David Brown Jennifer Burkhart John Burkhart Kristi Eaton Jeff Frost LEED AP Amanda Formaro Heather Fulton Abigail Gilmore Dr. Garry Gordon Healthy U TV Show William Janhonen LEED AP, NAHB-CGP

From energy audits to green financing, everything there is to know about buying a green home + an extraordinary announcement.

Derrick Mains

Kelsey Makings Sarah McLean Maya Nahra, RD, LD Matt Personne Doreen Pollack Charlie Popeck LEED AP Edward Ricciuti Carrie Simmons Claudine J. Taillac Terri Schlichenmeyer Barbi Walker Judy Zimola Bill Zervakos

interns Kelsey Makings Jordan Elizabeth-Rose Nitz adVertisinG sales Todd Beck todd@greenlivingaz.com Michael Burton michael@greenlivingaz.com Tina Connors tina@greenlivingaz.com Kathy Peterson kathy@greenlivingaz.com

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8502 E. Princess Dr. #240 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Tel: 480.840.1589 Email: info@greenlivingaz.com Web: greenlivingaz.com

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subscriPtions greenlivingaz.com adVertisinG dorie@greenlivingaz.com editorial submissions@greenlivingaz.com

Firefly Real Estate LLC 4600 East Washington #300 Phoenix, AZ 85034 8 greenliving az | December 2010

greenlivingaz.com

Green Living AZ magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Entire contents © 2010 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. Single copy price is $4.95 or $39 per year. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions. Green Living AZ magazine is printed on recycled, post-consumer waste paper and use soy-based inks.

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Feature

Made in the USa

BY JEFF FROST LEED AP

10 greenliving az | December 2010

greenlivingaz.com

Feature

Our Waste.

PrOducts and Packaging

It is the legacy we are leaving to our children’s greatgrandchildren. It represents the number one product made in the U.S., and thanks to our convenient collection system, we continue unabated in its production.

According to the Product Policy Institute (PPI), 75 percent of our waste stream is from throwaway products and packaging.

Throwaway products are those pesky one-time-use items like Starbucks cups, plastic bottles, takeout containers, newspapers and plastic bags. The volume of these items that we use every year is staggering. Let’s break up packaging into two groups: food packaging and merchandise packaging.

Food packaging waste presents itself every day. Take a trip to any school cafeteria and see the endless stream of throwaway in action. Ziploc Bags, Lunchables, Fruit Roll-Ups, potato chip bags, yogurt cups and tubes, juice boxes, aluminum foil and “disposable” silverware – all of which end up in the trash, destined for a landfill after 30 seconds of use.

“We are operating a waste-making machine.” ~ Ray Anderson, Founder and Chairman of Interface carpets.

Let’s visualize for a minute, a big box retail chain like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kmart or Sears; walk through the automatic sliding doors, past the welcome person to the middle of the store and stop. Let gravity slip away, and feel your feet leave the floor as you float up to the ceiling. Look below. What do you see? Aisle after aisle, shelf after shelf, rack after rack, hanger after hanger, box after box, stuffed to the ceiling as far as your eyes can see.

TV’s, CD’s, bikes and balls lipstick, shampoo, deodorants for all.

Fruits and veggies, things in cans baskets, buckets, pots and pans.

Pencils, pens, socks and shoes ladders, wheelbarrows, nuts and screws.

Some chairs and sofas, and lamps endless rows of toilets, tubs and sinks.

Newspapers, magazines and books galore and endless racks of clothes and more.

Some would call this the best of capitalism; others might say it’s the epitome of endless choice. And endless it is…

The U.S. has over 14 billion square feet of retail space dedicated to this endless supply of stuff. That’s equivalent to 46 square feet for each of us, restocked daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, seasonally and endlessly. The point is, everything that we see, everything that fills our 46 square feet, represents only between 3 and 6 percent of the resources (material, energy and labor) it takes to make it. The remaining 94 to 97 percent is referred to as our Non-Product Output, which represents the best of 21st- century American ingenuity. These externalities are out of control, and it’s time we take a look behind the aisles of stuff and our need for stuff. “…for every pound of trash that ends up in municipal waste, at least 40 pounds or more are created upstream by industrial process… and are more harmful.” ~ Joel Makower, author of “Calculating the Gross National Trash.”

greenlivingaz.com

Starbucks produces over 2.3 billion coffee cups every year.

We throw out 320 billion single-use beverage containers and takeout cups every year.

In the U.S., 20 million sandwich bags are thrown away every day, that’s about 7.3 trillion bags every year.

Businesses spend billions of dollars on merchandise packaging, most of which is encased in plastic. Most of this plastic could be recycled, but since its recycling type is not labeled, it ends up in the landfill regardless of which bin you put it in. Our greatest hope for merchandise packaging is that businesses are looking for ways to reduce their impacts on the earth. Packaging design can make a significant impact. For example, SunChips® came out with a 100% biodegradable bag for the Original flavor in 10 ½ ounce bags.

secOnd stOP, cheaP PrOducts As competition to stay on store shelves has grown, companies are under intense pressure to reduce the cost of their products to appeal to the largest buyer base. The result of these pressures led to producing cheap, short-lived products. Since the 1960s we have bought into this mentality, as our definition of “value” has shifted from one balanced between durability and cost, to one evaluated solely on sticker price. How many of us, when something breaks, have said, ‘“Don’t worry, it didn’t cost that much. I’ll just buy another one.”’ This simple statement has manifested into our perception of value as a society.

We’ve all experienced this. How many of us have purchased

December 2010 | greenliving az 11

Feature

the cheaper garden tool, only to have the handle break or the metal forks bend? Or the cheap office binders that split at the seams? Or the hole punch that breaks after a month? Shall we even talk about electronics?

Many appliance and electronics manufacturers design failures into their products – it’s referred to as Planned Obsolescence. You can get a new DVD player for $69, and when I breaks (and it will), it costs more to fix it than it does to buy another one. The same thing happens with the beloved iPhone.

If the battery dies or the screen cracks, it costs the same to invest in a new model as it does to repair the old one. Digital cameras, computers and their batteries, and microwave ovens are but a few more of another endless list of products gone cheap. The majority of these products are simply tossed at the end of their short, invaluable lives into a landfill.

A gArbAge pAtch in the OceAn Plastic is ubiquitous on earth today, and unfortunately when we throw it away it ends up polluting our environment in appalling ways. While our intentions are typically less harmful, the simple act of disposing of plastic creates so much damage to our environment that it will be millennia before its impacts can be reversed. The biggest impact plastic has is on our oceans and marine life.

2 million plastic water bottles are thrown away every five minutes.

4 million plastic airline cups are tossed every day.

400 million electronic products are tossed into landfills each year.

In 2005, there were over 4 billion pounds of e-waste, 85% of which ended up in the landfill.

Food and hazardous waste, e-waste (electronics), industrial and construction waste, medical and municipal waste, and of course, human waste, have contributed to the doubling of our waste stream since the 1960s. It seems we have just as many waste products available to us as we do merchandise in a Wal-Mart store, and we continue uninhibitedly to throw things away.

Out Of sight, Out Of mind When we talk about throwing something away, where are we referring? What if everything you brought to your home had to be disposed of on your property? Would this change the way you purchase products?

20 million Hershey’s Kisses are consumed each day, using over 133 million square miles of aluminum of packaging each year.

Imagine how this one little decision would change society forever. Instead of buying meat from the supermarket with its plastic wrap and foam, you purchase it from a local butcher wrapped in paper. Instead of buying cheap plastic toys, you buy toys that would have value to someone else after your child has outgrown them. Our waste consumption would take on a new perspective, and the need to accumulate throwaway waste would decrease. No matter what gets done to address our waste, one of the biggest challenges we will face is our over-reliance on a little thing called plastic.

12 greenliving az | December 2010

SOURCES dentoncountymoveon.org mistersustainable.com

Between 60 and 80 percent of all marine debris is plastic material. Plastic doesn’t go away, it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pellets, allowing smaller species down the food chain to consume them in astonishing volume. What happens over the 500 years it takes before the plastic breaks down? It gets caught in our ocean currents and circulated into gyres. The North Pacific Gyre, or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is the most famous gyre. This floating barge of trash is twice the size of Texas and extends deep below the ocean surface.

There are five confirmed gyres, and research suggests that there could be as many as 11 gyres currently in our oceans. Captain Charles Moore, Founder and Research Coordinator of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, has been studying these gyres for decades, and has noted that plastic is now the most common surface feature of the world’s oceans.

While we can’t cover all of the issues surrounding our waste production in this country, I encourage you to consider a redefinition; one posited by famed architect William McDonough.

We need to stop calling it waste and realize that waste is merely a resource in the wrong place. On a planet with finite resources and potentially thousands of years ahead of us, isn’t it time we learned to do with less and to be preservers of our planet for our children’s great-grandchildren?

greenlivingaz.com

Feature

SolutionS for you

120 million cellphones are thrown out every year.

Here’s your chance to answer that call to stewardship. Consider these recommendations as you evaluate the waste of resources in your life.

100 million acres of agricultural land and forests are leveled every year due to development.

Precycle. Evaluate products and their packaging before you buy them. Determine if the product is recyclable at the end of its use. If it isn’t, don’t buy it.

2. Encourage and support Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR can be simply defined as, “if you make it, you deal with it,” and it applies to product producers. Europe has already implemented EPR on electrics and electronic equipment.

3. Evaluate your use of “one-time-use products,” and find solutions to limit use. Consider these tips: a. When taking your lunch, try LunchSkins reusable, dishwasher-safe fabric bags for snacks and sandwiches, and stop using Ziplocs. b. Use glass food storage containers instead of plastic.

They will last longer and you can heat them safely in the microwave. Consider Pyrex or Glasslock. c. Purchase fresh deli meat and crackers instead of Lunchables. It takes only five minutes to prepare a fresh lunch for your kids, and it cuts down on daily waste. d. Bring your own reusable, refillable coffee cup or beverage container. SIGG or Clean Canteen products are great and come in small sizes for those school lunches too. e. Refuse the straw at restaurants. The waiter will look at you funny, but that’s OK. f. Reduce your intake of take-home food containers. g. Take a reusable bag when you go shopping… not just grocery shopping! h. Use reusable plates and silverware for parties and picnics. Preserve products are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled milk jugs and yogurt cups, and they have a free take-back program.

4. Support companies with environmentally sound products and packaging. Green Toys and Simple Shoes are great examples.

5. Compost your food scraps. Consider a Compost Tumbler or under-counter options by NatureMill.

6. Doing a remodel or building a home? Weinberger Waste and Premier Waste Services provide complete recycling of your construction debris.

7. Own a business? Friedman Recycling can help you with a waste audit and set up recycling at your business that is appropriate for your needs.

8. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. Consider Craigslist to extend the life of the products you no longer desire.

9. Visit Earth911.com to locate where and what can be recycled near you.

10. Buy the things you need. Need the things you buy.

1.

500,000 trees are necessary to produce each weeks Sunday newspapers, or 191 million trees per year.

One million magazines are disposed of every day.

20 million Christmas trees are cut down every year.

At 5 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. has 30 percent of the world’s cars.

574 million computers are sold every year.

One desktop computer takes 1.7 tons of water, 530 pounds of fossil fuels and 48 pounds of chemicals to produce.

We do 35 billion loads of laundry in the U.S. each year, or 1,100 loads every second, using 56 billion gallons of water, or the same amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in 11 days.

It takes 508 gallons of water and 1/3 pound of chemicals to make one T-shirt.

The materials for that one T-shirt will travel 14,625 miles before you wear it.

18 billion diapers are used every year.

2,000 aluminum cans are used every second in the U.S., or 178 million per day and 36 billion per year.

Each of us will use 43,371 cans in a lifetime.

There are 60 million plastic bottles used every day, or 694 per second.

There are 11 million glass bottles and jars used every year.

SOURCES Human Footprint documentary by National Geographic.

Documentary series.

Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard Product Policy Institute at productpolicy.org Photography by Jeff Frost, LEED AP

greenlivingaz.com

December 2010 | greenliving az 13

Energy Audit Benefit or Baloney?

BY JUDY ZIMOLA

T

hink of your home as a giant Thermos®. Now, the red plaid exterior might not work with the neighborhood, but your home is intended to function like the bottle carried in any lunch box, by keeping its contents toasty warm or cool and fresh. An energy audit is the first step in evaluating energy efficiency, and the best method of determining ways to keep energy (and money) from seeping away.

A few options in conducting a home audit include filling out a quick set of questions online or hiring a professional to complete a thorough onsite evaluation. The word “audit” may cause people to cringe and think expense, but it’s important to keep in mind that some energy-efficient upgrades may be eligible for federal rebates.

An energy audit is considered a proactive method of going green.

It’s also very attractive to potential homebuyers.

“Sellers can get ahead of the game by doing their own energy audits, and use that as a selling point when they list the home,” Chris Wass of Firefly Living realtors said. “It’s a way for sellers to differentiate themselves from tens of thousands of listings. We’re also seeing people pay more of a premium for homes that have green improvements.”

A cursory online audit can be done by logging on to APS.com/ analyzer. There are two versions of this program that can used to examine energy usage. One version requires the user to log in to a secure site and use their home’s usage information and previous bills to help perform the analysis. The second is an overall evaluation of usage depending on a few factors, including the home’s age and square footage. According to Gavin Hasting, Sr. Program Coordinator at APS, all information entered on the APS website is secure. He warns, however, “If people choose to use another website’s online audit, they should be cautious of how

14 greenliving az | December 2010

much information they’re asked to input. If account numbers are part of the questionnaire, back away from the computer.”

Non-APS customers can go to energystar.gov, and click on “Assess Your Home,” under the “Home Improvements” tab. Hastings is passionate about educating consumers about home energy audits and all the benefits people can receive as part of the evaluation.

“People can learn so much from a home audit,” Hastings said. The online tool may be the first step, but for $99 an APS contractor can perform an on-site home evaluation. “They’ll use diagnostic equipment to determine air leaks, leaks in ducts, performance of your insulation, HVAC equipment and water heater.” After the evaluation, homeowners will receive an assessment report and a list of suggested improvements.

Those taking charge of their energy usage not only help green the environment, they add extra green to their bank accounts.

The return on a basic APS evaluation can yield a 5 to 30 percent savings, depending on the results of the findings.

The next step to increasing home energy usage is scheduling a comprehensive home energy audit. Hastings and Wass stressed the importance of these procedures as part of a home buying or selling check list. “It should definitely become a standard part of the process,” Wass said. “I highly recommend getting an audit done at point of sale.” Both professionals stressed the importance to buyers and sellers to investigate “green” rebate and incentive offers.

A step up from the APS inspection is a professional home energy audit that involves a top-to-bottom examination of a home’s efficiency. When looking for an energy auditor, check for credentials and ask for references.

During an audit, professionals will poke and prod at every potential leaking point. They use infrared cameras to detect air infiltration and missing insulation, blower doors to measure leaks in the building’s envelope, peer into lighting cans and poke into ductwork from attic to basement. Homeowners are included in this audit, as well determining usage habits and finding solutions. greenlivingaz.com

Where to start?

• ENERGY STAR. A program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA that encourages a whole-house approach to diagnostics and retrofitting. Their website, energystar.gov, includes a state-by-state list of professionals trained and certified to perform home energy audits.

• RESNET®, or Residential Energy Services Network, is another good source for finding qualified and specialized energy-trained contractors, resnet.org.

Wass suggests planting only on the east, west and south sides of the house. Make sure the trees are indigenous species, and shade any windows.

No matter how simple or extensive, performing a home energy audit can improve the comfort of any home, increase energy savings and enhance market value. Once the neighbors understand how efficiently an audited home can operate, they just might want a thermos plaid paint scheme of their own.

• The Better Business Bureau and local references are also good resources for checking out a reputable contractor.

Upon completion, the homeowner will receive a detailed list of findings and solutions prioritized by areas of concern, along with general recommendations. Some of the improvements may be pricey, but even the smallest improvements can make a home more efficient. “The first couple thousand dollars you spend on green improvements are the most effective,” Wass said. “Sealing up duct leaks, looking for insulation leaks, making sure windows and doors are tight will show quick returns on your money.”

However, Wass advised that strategically planting trees to shade the house is one of the most effective ways to improve a home’s value. “It’s not immediate, but has big returns,” Wass said. “And it looks great.”

Those taking charge of their energy usage not only help green the environment, they add extra green to their bank accounts.

Judy Zimola is a freelance writer whose interests include but are not limited to petrified wood, shoes, art books, and running.

She’s written articles for Nebraska Life and No Depression magazines, as well as several anthologies.

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December 2010 | greenliving az 15

Health & Wellness

F.I.G.H.T. For Your Health

“G” is for Genetics and [Epi-genetics] by dr. garry F. gordon, md, do, md(h)

Bad genes got you worried? Don’t. They are not the controlling factor you have been led to believe!

Unless you are a molecular biologist, you may be confused about how genetics relate to your health. The media reports that if you have a gene for breast or ovarian cancer, like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, you should opt for prophylactic surgery or chemo-prevention.

This involves either voluntarily removing healthy breasts or ovaries, or taking cancer drugs like Tamoxifen or Raloxifene, in an attempt to avoid cancer – and it’s not a guarantee. I am here to tell you that it is all wrong!

Genetic determinism says our DNA controls how we will turn out. Our genes determine our appearance, behavior and what illnesses or diseases we are predisposed to. While it is true that our physical and behavioral traits are influenced by DNA, when talking about heredity and disease, most geneticists have abandoned that theory. Current research is focused upon Epigenetics. Epigenetics reveals how environmental factors like nutrition, stress, pollutants and toxins, and even our own emotions, control how and when genes are expressed. This means we are not powerless as to whether we get cancer or diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. We have some control over our environment and lifestyle choices.

Your DNA is not your destiny!

Bisphenol A (BPA) is just one of the many toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. BPA is an organic compound that is a major component in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics used to make common products like baby bottles, water bottles, plastic food wrap and containers.

BPA is used in the epoxy resin coatings that line many food and beverage cans. BPA is an endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body’s own hormones and cause many negative health effects.

Because of toxicity concerns, Japan has replaced epoxy coating with PET film, and this year Canada became the first country to officially declare BPA as a toxic substance. Where is the U.S.?

Dr. Randy Jirtle at Duke University shows how this pervasive toxin can induce epigenetic changes in agouti mice. In the study, a group of pregnant agouti mice were exposed to BPA. A high percentage of their offspring were born yellow and predisposed

16 greenliving az | December 2010

to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Yellow agouti mice that were given methyl-rich supplements like folic acid and vitamin B12 gave birth to offspring that were lean, brown and healthy.

The nutrients were able to reverse the epigenetic methylation defects. Most people have been exposed to BPA. Medical research reveals that 95 percent of patients have BPA in their urine, and this breakthrough research may help explain today’s epidemic of obesity, diabetes and cancer.

Dr. Tsuneo Kobayashi, MD, PhD, an oncologist from Japan, has shown that no matter what your genetic propensity for cancer is, cancer does not need to manifest. Dr. Kobayashi followed several thousand cancer-risk patients annually for 10 years, conducting annual screening tests for tumor markers. Each followed his basic holistic health program of immune support and detoxification supplements, simplified diet, regular sleep, exercise and stress-lowering practices. If a test indicated even a borderline increase in tumor marker activity, Dr. Kobayashi simply added more immune support supplements and tighter adherence to the program – no drugs or surgery. His approach always made the tumor markers on the test revert back toward safe normal levels, and during his study, not a single patient developed clinical cancer. Dr. Kobayashi’s protocols are the Japanese equivalent of my F.I.G.H.T. program. My F.I.G.H.T. program is also designed to slow aging, and I add other steps, but recommend everyone follow the basics every day to achieve and maintain a healthy life.

There is massive misinformation out there. Carrying any bad gene does not mean you will develop that illness. We all

Carrying any bad gene does not mean you will develop that illness. greenlivingaz.com

Health & Wellness

experience epigenetic changes due to environmental toxins and stress. No matter the disease, with adequate knowledge you can live as long as anyone else. Following my F.I.G.H.T. program will support immune and methylation functions, help you avoid any disease manifestation regardless of family history, and without relying on expensive genetic testing.

I believe the best defense is to become knowledgeable and take charge of your own health. I strongly recommend reading Dr. Bruce Lipton’s “The Biology of Belief” or “Spontaneous Evolution,” to learn how genes and DNA do not control our biology. I also recommend viewing his video presentation “Biology of Perception, Psychology of Change,” which is linked on my website at www.gordonresearch.com. Learn my F.I.G.H.T. for your Health program for the best chance at preventing illness and disease over your lifetime.

greenlivingaz.com

Dr. Gordon received his Doctor of Osteopathy in 1958 from the Chicago College of Osteopathy in Illinois. He received his honorary MD degree from the University of California Irvine in 1962, and his Radiology Residency from Mt. Zion in San Francisco, California, in 1964.

Serving as Medical Director and full-time consultant for Longevity Plus, LLC for over 12 years, Dr. Gordon is responsible for the formulation and design of some of the most effective, all-natural nutritional supplements and protocols that aid in the treatment of most modern health conditions and concerns such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, hormonal disorders and osteoporosis.

Dr. Gordon has served as board member of Arizona Homeopathic Medical Examiners for over 10 years, and is co-founder of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). He is president of Gordon Research Institute (GRI). His findings represent over 40 years of scientific and clinical research. He is the founder and president of F.A.C.T. (Forum on Anti-Aging and Chelation Therapy), which serves as a “Free School” of Advanced Medicine for Health Professionals Institute and houses over 2,600 members. For more information about Dr. Garry Gordon and GRI, please visit our website at www.greenlivingaz.com and www.gordonresearch.com.

December 2010 | greenliving az 17

Health & Wellness

Peace Among the Presents

BY SARAH MCLEAN

T

he holidays are here again. Are you still in that state of gratitude from Thanksgiving, or are you feeling more overwhelmed than grateful? Some of us can access that sense of peace, gratitude and appreciation for our lives and for the gifts we are given every day, but inner peace can be elusive for others. Although occasional stress can help improve our focus and performance, the accumulation of holiday stress can cause anxiety, depression and health issues. Here are some tips to take care of yourself this holiday season.

Choose wisely Don’t abandon your healthy habits just because it’s the holidays.

Pay attention to what’s in your environment. Listen to your own wisdom, say “no” to potentially stressful situations, and spend some time taking care of yourself.

Find your inner peace this holiday season stay realistic and remain flexible in case circumstances change. It is most important to spend your time practicing present moment awareness, which is keeping your awareness on the here and now, rather than worrying about the future and agonizing over the past. Treasure THIS moment, no other.

Accept each moment and find inner peace

Most of us only want to feel good feelings like happiness and joy. If you are feeling lonely or depressed, don’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season. Allow yourself a moment to honor your feelings instead of masking them. No one can do this for you but you. However, if these feelings start to overwhelm you, seek professional support.

Accept every gift and each person as they come. As families grow and change structure, traditions change too. Don’t resist it perhaps a new tradition will be born. By bringing your attention back to the present moment you’ll get a glimpse of the peace, merriment and love that abounds. Both prayer and meditation are proven to create better health and well-being. Most people know how to pray, but meditation can be confusing; however, it’s easy to learn and do. By focusing on your breath, you can reduce your worries, get a fresh perspective of the moment and find a little spaciousness in your day.

Accentuate the positive

Enjoy the gift of nature

Wherever you focus your energy and attention, that part of you will grow. Therefore, focus on what you like about the holidays, whether it be seeing new and old friends, volunteering, listening to holiday music or writing holiday cards. Focus on what is working in your life and brings you joy.

We’re so busy, we often don’t give ourselves the time to enjoy nature – warmth of the sun, wind in our hair or breathing in the crisp air. Getting outside of buildings and cars and taking time for nature is an essential source of stress relief. Take time to be present in nature’s silence, perfection and stillness.

Get more rest

Breathe

Stress builds when you’re tired. Make it a habit to get to bed early on the nights you don’t have late-night commitments.

Amazingly you’ll find that half of the holiday stress disappears.

Daily meditation also helps give you a very deep rest and it only takes a few minutes.

When you’re busy reacting to stress, you tend to be unaware of your body and its needs. Reduce your stress response by taking some slow deep breaths through your nose. Deep breaths send a signal to your mind and body that it’s time to relax, and you can do it anywhere, anytime. Deep breaths help return focus to the present.

Acknowledge your feelings

Worry less It doesn’t matter if you found the perfect gift or sent all of your cards out on time. What matters is being present to your life, the people that surround your space and the choices you make that reflect your truth. Gifts come in a variety of forms, from giving a smile, doing an errand, making a meal or donating to a great cause. If you do shop for gifts, be conscious how you spend.

Stay within your budget, and purchase gifts that are in alignment with your values and don’t wreak havoc on the environment.

Count your blessings Research shows that daily gratitude practices results in more enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Grateful people experience less depression and stress, are more likely to help others, exercise more regularly and make more progress toward personal goals. People who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. Start this practice before bed or when you wake up by making a daily list of what you are grateful for in life.

Plan ahead, and then enjoy the moment If you make a concerted effort to plan your time, then you will allow yourself to enjoy every moment as it unfolds. Be sure to

18 greenliving az | December 2010

Sarah McLean is a Founding Director of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing and the Director of the Sedona Meditation Training Company in Sedona, Arizona. sedonameditation.com.

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Indulge without the bulge

It’s easy to let yourself go this holiday, why not? Eat, drink, be merry and indulge. In the meantime, our waistline is keeping count, and come January, out comes the belly bulge. Our Green Panel experts, Maya and Jason, have some easy ways to stay healthy during the holidays and manage those busting bellies.

SwitcharooS This holiday season, instead of busting out the cream, butter and oil for your tasty dishes, these three healthy switcharoos will keep your dishes tasty and calories in check.

BY MAYA E. NAHRA, RD, LD AND JASON CHRISTOPHER

Yogurt

Applesauce

Swapping plain yogurt for heavy cream-based sauces, dips and dressings saves calories while adding probiotics, minerals and B vitamins to your dish. Probiotics are “good bugs,” or flora, in the gut that help aid in digestion and regularity – perfect timing for the holidays! Most yogurts are made from cow milk that has been treated with rBST, recombinant bovine somatotropin, a genetically-engineered artificial hormone used by many commercial dairies to increase milk production in cows.

Choose organic or rBST hormone-free yogurt and dairy.

Swapping applesauce for oil can save calories while boosting vitamins, antioxidants and fiber! Substitute applesauce for oil in a one-to-one ratio; if the recipe calls for 1/2-cup oil, swap for a 1/2-cup applesauce.

Be sure to read the ingredients before you buy applesauce, as sneaky manufacturers can add processed sugar, artificial flavorings and preservatives. Choose a brand with all-natural ingredients. You can also make your own applesauce. Offer it as a healthy side dish, or to turn into apple butter for fresh baked bread!

garlic cilantro yogurt sauce 3/4 cup thick Greek yogurt 1 clove garlic, minced 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1/8 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Homemade maple cinnamon applesauce 6 McIntosh or other tart apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 Golden Delicious or other sweet apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 1/4 cup water 3 tsp. pure maple syrup 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg One pinch unrefined sea salt

Mix yogurt, garlic, cilantro, olive oil and sea salt in a small bowl. Use it as a salad dressing or dipping sauce for pita chips or fresh or roasted veggies.

Per tablespoon: 30 calories; 1 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 3 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrates; 5 g protein; 0 g fiber; 359 mg sodium; 12 mg potassium.

Popcorn

Swapping bowls of popcorn for those tiny but deadly calorie-laden appetizers offers a fiber-rich, lower calorie snack that won’t pack on the pounds! Popcorn’s high fiber content assists in increased satiety and prevents overeating at larger meals. Choose plain popcorn for stovetop popping – this will save you from the trans-isomer fatty acids (trans fats) and processed sugar found in microwave brands. Have leftover popcorn?

String it on the tree!

Stove top sweet ‘n salty popcorn organic popcorn Unrefined coconut oil Organic agave nectar Flaxseed oil Unrefined sea salt On the stove, heat up a chunk, about 2 to 3 tablespoons, of coconut oil in a pot over medium heat. Once melted, add 1 to 2 cups of popcorn kernels. Immediately cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and sift the pot back and forth on the burner, one hand on the lid and one on the handle.

Listen, for the popcorn to pop very quickly, then immediately remove from heat and let the remaining kernels pop. Transfer the popcorn into a bowl and drizzle with flaxseed oil, agave nectar and unrefined sea salt.

Per 1 cup: 75 calories; 3 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 9 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrates; 5 g protein; 1 g fiber; 153 mg sodium; 43 mg potassium.

Recipes courtesy of Maya E. Nahra, RD, LD. Nahra is a Phoenixbased Holistic Registered Dietitian and Owner of Pure Nutrition.

She specializes in weight loss and digestive disorders, and offers individualized programs and consultations, including metabolic, hormone and allergy testing. Send your nutrition questions to Maya at greenpanel@greenlivingaz.com or visit purePHX.com.

20 greenliving az | December 2010

Combine apple pieces and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring once or twice until the apples are very soft and falling apart. Mash the apples to the desired consistency and stir in maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and unrefined sea salt.

Per 1/2-cup serving: 77 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrates; 0 g protein; 2 g fiber; 25 mg sodium; 127 mg potassium.

Pumpkin spice shake This holiday take some time to exercise and reward yourself with a healthy post-workout shake. Blend and enjoy!

1 scoop vanilla protein (whey, soy or other favorite) 1 cup water, skim or soy milk 1/8 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. pumpkin spice A few ice cubes

Winter Weight Loss tips

• Sign up for a family fun run or holiday event. Many cities have 5Ks. Sign up for a marathon or an event after the holidays. This will keep you motivated to stay fit during the season.

• If you know you’re going to indulge on extra dessert or food later in the evening at a party, schedule a hard workout earlier that day to burn extra calories prior to the party.

• Some exercise is better than no exercise! Take a 15-minute walk with the family after that big holiday dinner, go holiday shopping or set up a touch football game with the family.

• Eat your protein and veggies first! The protein (turkey/ham) and veggies will fill you up faster.

• Limit yourself on the alcohol and sodas. These are considered empty calories and have no nutritional value. They can also make you gain extra pounds.

Courtesy of Jason Christopher of the Healthy U TV Show healthyutvshow.com

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vintage

BY BARBI WALKER

P

hoenix is at the forefront of a major trend toward vintage furnishings – a trend as hot and hip as the Rat Pack in their heyday. Today, vintage isn’t just an affordable way for homeowners to add style to their homes. Businesses and interior designers are embracing the trend for the style, minimal environmental impact and affordability. Start your journey for all things vintage by taking a drive south of Camelback Road along 7th Avenue’s “vintage-esque” Melrose Place. You’ll experience a piece of Phoenix’s history and get a glimpse at the cutting edge of design.

a little doll or bear and then it wouldn’t look right, so we’d go on a major shopping spree. Even the name Motor Lodge is a throwback,” Livingston said.

When you think of vintage, what comes to mind? I think of cars, clothes, furniture and styles; smooth-molded Eames chairs, the once iconic Cine Capri at 24th Street and Camelback Road, with its curved and molded concrete entrance. I even think about my mother’s beehive hairdo (circa 1968), but that’s just the tip of the evolving vintage genre.

In the early part of this decade, vintage shops in downtown Phoenix were sparse and small, and quality items were hard to find. Today, with customers focused on cost, style and environmental awareness, the shops are everywhere and overflowing with quality goods.

“People are making up terms left and right, they’re snagging these terms and making up new names, like new-age-retro-modernvintage,” said Joe Livingston, co-owner with partner Brian Spear, of the Motor Lodge in Prescott.

Livingston says their tastes tend toward eclectic and vintage.

While their intention wasn’t to make the Motor Lodge a vintage, hip and modern spot, as business evolved and in an effort to save money, the style morphed into what it is now. Its hip, cool and vintage style wins raves from customers and neighbors alike.

“When we bought it, it was like all the other places in town; it was all doilies and antiques,” Livingston said. “But we’d remove

22 greenliving az | December 2010

Most experts agree that vintage items are at least 20 years old (anything over 100 years old is considered antique). Today, people consider items from the ‘50s, ‘60s and even ‘70s vintage.

It may not be Madison Avenue, but Phoenix’s 7th Avenue certainly is making a name for itself in the style and design world.

7th Avenue and Melrose has long been an iconic destination in central Phoenix, with business owners and residents working to keep the area true to its vintage roots.

The “7th Ave,” as it’s known, vintage market thrives between Camelback and Indian School Roads. It’s lined with small locally owned shops in the business of buying, selling, educating and designing everything vintage.

“7th Avenue is becoming a destination,” Lani Griffin, of Olive In Paris, said. “Girls are grabbing their girlfriends to go shopping on 7th Ave.” greenlivingaz.com

vintage

Griffin joined forces with Laurie Lavy, owner of Paris Envy, known for Frenchinspired furnishings, to create Olive In Paris, a vintage clothing and furnishing store. One of Griffin’s favorite lines is the Kara-Line from Tumbleweed Company in Portland, Oregon. “The designer has taken an old flannel shirt, like from your dad’s closet or grandpa’s, and made it into great mommy and me dresses,” Griffin said. “You can only get these here in Phoenix; recycling at its best.”

If you prefer retro, many local business owners are buying vintage items like countertops, bars, chairs and artwork. Owner Bill Sandweg of Copper Star Coffee is a community leader in the vintage trend. The coffee shop is a salvaged, repurposed and vintage gas station that has become a major hot spot for politicos and artists alike. The morning coffee rush alone is a veritable who’s who of local politics. Sandweg loved the vintage gas pump and kept it as part of the decor for the coffee shop’s drivethrough. Inside, furnishings include repurposed items, and local artists line the walls with for-sale photos and art at affordable prices. It is a great place to start your “7th Ave.” shopping day.

After you’re done exploring, take a drive farther south to the heart of downtown Phoenix and find The Duce, located in the historic warehouse district. The Duce owners, Steve and Andi Rosenstein, migrated from Chicago and bought and revitalized the 1928 brick warehouse in 2007. In its heyday, “the Deuce” as it was called, was a produce shop by day and a speakeasy by night. The Rosenteins have managed to marry both histories – fresh food and Prohibition-style fashionable drinking – into a unique vintage shopping, dining and drinking experience. They’ve got it right, right down to prohibition-era cocktails like the Tom Collins and the Rusty Nail, and even a 1968 yellow school bus that’s used to shuttle patrons to downtown events for free.

The idea of buying and using vintage and repurposed items continues to grow, as many people, including local merchants, rethink spending. Tie that cost-consciousness to the movement of going green, and it makes sense to look at products that have already made their carbon footprint, says Ryan Durkin, co-owner of Metro Retro. “Going green is more popular now,” Durkin said.

“People want something that is unique, cool, not Ikea. They want old and well-made and vintage.”

The Phoenix Metro Retro is an old brick warehouse filled with mid-century furnishings that exemplify the streamlined Scandinavian style. Here you’ll find pieces from H.P. Hansen, greenlivingaz.com

Curtis Jere’ and Borge Mogensen, as well as countless “no-name,” great mid-century vintage pieces.

“People are interested in the art of mid-century vintage,” Durkin said. “During the war, architects weren’t using their skills to build houses, so they built furniture. What you have are these beautiful pieces that have stood the test of time and are considered art.”

Collector and Copper Star regular Mike Arteca and his wife attribute this comeback to “Mad Men.” Fans of AMC’s hit TV show love the sleek, cool factor and the show’s furniture.

There are over 30 different shops within central and downtown Phoenix that carry, sell and use vintage. What makes these businesses unique are the independent local business owners – not corporate America – in and around downtown Phoenix who are working the American Dream.

Buying and shopping at these local spots supports our local economy. By buying locally, you help keep the carbon footprint small and help sustain local businesses.

With so many places in Phoenix that carry vintage, the decision to buy something cool, hip and eco-friendly is easy, but deciding what to buy is going to take a lot of Copper Star coffee, shopping trips and thinking and planning over Rusty Nails at The Duce.

Enjoy!

Where to go Paris envy | 4624 N 7th Avenue olive in Paris | 4624 N. 7th Avenue Copper Star Coffee | 4220 N. 7th Avenue the Duce | 525 South Central Avenue Phoenix Metro retro | 708 W. Hazelwood Motor Lodge | 503 South Montezuma Street, Prescott

Barbi Walker is a freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. Barbi lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son.

Photography by tishin Donkersley, M.A., heather Fulton and Marshall Shore

December 2010 | greenliving az 23

The

do’s

and don’ts of Paper Recycling for Tissue D

id you know tissue, toilet paper, paper towels and napkins can be made from recycled newspapers, food boxes, shopping bags and more? SCA Tissue, located in Flagstaff, collects recycling from around the state to make 100 percent recycled tissue products! SCA uses 70,000 to 80,000 tons of paper each year to create their products, and that isn’t enough! Image how much paper is being wasted instead of recycled. You can help this effort by encouraging places you patron to offer recycled paper products and to vote with your dollar when choosing paper products. Here are some ways to expand your paper recycling efforts at home or at work.

DONT’s DO’s Do recycle all paper that is white inside when you tear it. If you can’t tear the paper, it probably isn’t recyclable.

Do remove all large tape and other adhesives from paper before recycling it – glues and adhesives gum up the recycling and papermaking equipment.

Do recycle cardboard boxes, paper shopping bags and other brown papers that do not contain food residue.

Contain large amounts of shredded paper in large clear plastic bags so recycling staff can identify the paper.

Do remove large binder clips and plastic report covers from paper. It’s OK to leave small paper clips and staples in – these will come out in the recycling process.

Ideally, deposit recyclable paper in containers specifically designated for that type of paper.

If you live in the greater Phoenix area, use the search feature at paperretriever.com to find a paper recycling bin near you.

Don’t try to recycle boxes that have been in direct contact with unpackaged foods (pizza boxes, produce boxes, etc.). These are contaminated and/or have wax linings that are not recyclable.

Don’t try to recycle wrapping paper unless it is eco-friendly, recyclable paper. Be sure to remove the tape first.

Don’t try to recycle hardcover books without removing the covers first.

NO PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS! Don’t ever leave newspapers or any other papers in plastic bags. These will clog recycling and papermaking equipment.

Don’t tie bundles of paper with string. String will become wrapped around and clog recycling and papermaking equipment.

Don’t leave paper in plastic folders, plastic report holders or other plastic binders.

Don’t recycle any used tissue products like paper towels, bath tissue, facial tissue or napkins.

Many paper manufacturers that recycle paper allow drop-off of clean recyclable paper.

Photography courtesy of SCA Tissue

24 greenliving az | December 2010

greenlivingaz.com

7

Beauty

BY ABIGAIL GILMORE

Keeping your skin healthy and fresh can be a difficult feat during winter. Between makeup, lotions, dirt and switching between cool and warm air, your skin is constantly at war with different materials and temperatures. Keep your glow this winter with some helpful tips from beauty experts.

Drink water. “Skin is the largest organ your body has, absorbing up to 60 percent of whatever you put on it,” said Debra Staufen, owner of Pure Salon in Scottsdale. “Use cleansers, moisturizers and makeup that nourish your skin with high organic mineral content.”

Take warm showers. Trade in your steaming hot showers for warm ones. Hot water can severely dry out your skin. When you get out of the shower, do not dry yourself off completely, pat yourself gently with a towel, and within three minutes, moisturize your skin.

Take the makeup off before sleeping. This is something you should be practicing all year round, as leftover makeup can seep into your pores and cause clogging. Wash your face twice at the end of the day: first to remove the makeup and second to cleanse your skin.

Use a humidifier. Sleeping with a humidifier will give your skin the moisture it needs during your slumber. It is well worth it during those chilly winter nights.

Cover your skin. When going outside in cooler temperatures, be sure to cover up and protect your skin from extensive dryness. Consider the fabrics you wear; they too can affect your skin. Though wool is very warm, it can irritate dry skin. In general, wear soft cotton or blended fabrics.

Don’t forget to moisturize. “Moisturizing skin, lips, hair and body is the number one way to keep skin healthy,” said Sara Gullickson, founder of SpaFitFinder.com. “Try olive oil as a moisturizer, avocados as a natural mask for your face, or try Eminence Organics or Astara’s natural products.”

Organic tanning. Yes, there is such thing! If you insist on a tan for the winter, organic spray tans are a natural alternative to spray tanning. Traditional spray tans include alcohol, oil and perfumes, along with other chemicals; organic tans leave the artificial out.

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December 2010 | greenliving az 25

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Sustaining your Holiday

BY CLAUDINE J. TAILLAC

O

n the sixth day of Christmas the gift was six geese a-laying – a sustainable gift if ever there was one. The activities leading up to Christmas fall into six categories. Viewing each category as one of the egg-laying geese will help put things into perspective while preparing for and celebrating the holiday. If the act or purchase doesn’t in some way reflect the clean and green style of a goose consistently providing a valuable – and compostable – product, then don’t do it or buy it.

Shopping: BYOB If you have already embraced the sustainable practice of taking reusable bags to the grocery store, then BYOB (bring your own bag) to the mall for your holiday shopping. Santa uses one big red bag for his gifts, after all. Better yet, if someone on your list has yet to embrace the BYOB shopping style, give them some beautiful and sturdy shopping bags with a note reading, “I know how much you love this beautiful planet, and I thought you would like to be a part of eliminating the 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags used each year.” The website reuseit.com offers excellent tips on how to best choose a reusable bag that will last.

Gifts Growing up in a family of 16 cousins, my parents’ budgets would not allow buying everyone a gift. We drew names instead, and each year we bought one cousin a gift. It’s both economical and low on waste.

Toy packaging contributes too much of the waste during the holiday.

If possible, seek out children’s gifts with little or no packaging.

Additionally, reconsider the battery-powered gift. Most batteries end up in the landfill anyway, and leak toxic waste. Since kids will be receiving some new items, have them choose three or more toys to donate to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Someone on a real budget will find these toys and recycle them for another child to enjoy.

Compost bins make a truly unique gift. Some are made to fit on the kitchen counter or under the sink, and are stylish too. Many people do not realize that compost waste can be added to their yard-trimming trash can, so even if they do not have a garden to use the compost, they can still participate. Home improvement stores carry compost bins, or check out gaiam.com for progressive-looking bins. Check with your municipality to see if they have a composting program and for a low cost provide you a bin. The City of Mesa offers backyard compost containers available for Mesa residents for a $5 refundable deposit.

If you must buy a traditional gift, shop for locally made products to lessen your gift’s carbon footprint. If you think gift cards are passé, they are at the top of the sustainable gift list! Take this to the next step. Give gift cards to a local, organic market or a restaurant committed to organic food and sustainable practices.

Give a gift from the heart and donate to a nonprofit organization that benefits your community or preservation of our earth and its animals.

Decorations Other than gifts, festive decorations are the showcase pieces of any holiday home; however, purchasing new decorations each year creates a big “gulp” for our landfills. Get creative with light-emitting greenlivingaz.com

diode (LED) lights, both inside and out, instead of buying plastic decorations that may last only one season. LED lights use 95 percent less energy than traditional lights, and the twinkly mood at your home will more than surpass the ambience of any other holiday bling.

If yard space allows, buy a live Christmas tree that can be planted after the holiday. If backyard space is tight, donate the tree to a school or park. Or go sans tree altogether, and decorate an outdoor tree with bird-friendly ornaments made with peanut butter, cranberries, blueberries, sunflower seeds and nuts. This will give foraging birds a winter boost, and you’ll get to enjoy watching the tree come to life.

Cards It’s hard to think of Christmas without mounds of festive cards coming in the mail each day, and that’s a lot of waste. Electronic cards are fun and easy, and since this is the way most of us communicate, why not? At Paperless Post (paperlesspost. com) Christmas cards can be customized, and Blue Mountain (bluemountain.com) offers interactive cards where the recipient can click on twinkling lights and packages to get to the next page. Try sending a video of your family, or create a webpage to relay your holiday message.

Wrapping If you must use a box, get out the paints or rubber stamps and let your creativity fly. Add some natural greenery with a reusable ribbon, and the need for wrapping paper has vanished. Christmas tins (either the ones taking up space in your cabinet or ones that can be found at thrift stores) are another fun alternative. If you can’t live without wrapping paper, go with hemp, recycled or left-over pieces of fabric. Check out Ecosaurus’ (shopecosaurus.com) line of 100 percent recycled, 50 percent post-consumer waste gift wrap.

Parties Rule number one: no pre-made dips or cheese trays. These are almost always packaged in plastic serving ware. Keep the earth in mind and plan ahead so you can make healthier food from scratch and serve it in glassware. Hate the cleanup? Hire the neighbor kids to handle the dishes for that much-needed spending money, which you’ll be able to afford to do by skipping the pre-made food. If you must use disposable flatware, buy biodegradable at biodegradablestore.com.

Most of us incorporate some type of sustainable practice into our daily lives, whether it be recycling, diligently turning off unnecessary lights or carpooling. Why then do we let these practices go flying out the window during the holidays? The earth and its resources, and the landfills it carries on its shoulders, need a break every day – including Christmas.

Claudine J. Taillac is a freelance writer and editor with a master’s degree in nonfiction prose. She has edited numerous art, lifestyle and cookbooks and her work has been featured in various publications including Mountain Living Magazine and FIDO Friendly Magazine.

December 2010 | greenliving az 27

Green Kids

December

Green Kids

AMERICAN BISON

SOURCES Arizona Game and Fish, National Geographic

KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY

Fun facts about bison: • Bison are the largest living member of the cow family.

• Two herds of bison can be found in Arizona’s northern grasslands, near the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff.

• When bison calves are born, their woolly hair is reddish-tan and will change to brown or black when they turn three months old.

• Both males and females have horns. Males’ horns can grow up to 20 inches long!

• Bison can’t see very well, but make up for it with their hearing and sense of smell.

• Adult bison can run sprints of 35 mph for up to 1/4 mile, and run longer at slower speeds. They can also jump over 6-foothigh fences with ease!

• Bison may live from 12 to 20 years.

• Bison like to eat grasses and grassland flowering plants. Adults eat approximately 35 pounds per day!

• Males can weigh 1,400 to 2,500 pounds and females can weigh 750 to 1,600 pounds – that is about half the weight of your parents’ car!

• The bison’s thick, shaggy coat is so well insulated that snow can settle on its back without melting.

Is it a planet, a comet, another galaxy or a ghostly nebula? Southwest of Tucson on the State Route 86, wow your kids with the wonders of astronomy this winter at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO). Located 6,875 feet above sea level, Kitt Peak National Observatory, part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), is the first national observatory of the United States and has the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes. KPNO is open for daily and nightly walking tours. It operates three major nighttime telescopes, as well as 19 optical and two radio telescopes. A special daytime VIP tour, spanning four to five hours, will take your family through the entire KPNO. The nighttime observation program (NOP) is sure to provide a memorable family experience, as you will gain hands-on experience with the telescopes, and sneak peeks at the planets in our solar system and even distant galaxies! While no food is available at the observatories, families are encouraged to bring food and picnic at the visitor’s picnic area, located one mile from the summit. Many of the tours are outside, so be sure to dress appropriately! To plan your visit, go to noao.edu or call 520-318-8726.

SOURCE National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Photography courtesy of KPNO

28 greenliving az | December 2010

greenlivingaz.com

Green Kids

Rustic Pine Frame Ornament At Dog’s house the Christmas trees are decorated and garlands are hung. The Master Chef made a big gingerbread White House with a candy garden, chocolate furniture and a marzipan dog out front.

Book Review First Dog’s White House Christmas WRITTEN BY J. PATRICK LEWIS AND BETH ZAPPITELLO ILLUSTRATED BY TIM BOWERS REVIEWED BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Your family might have traditions you like to follow during the holidays. You might decorate your tree at a certain time with special ornaments, or maybe get together to bake and decorate cookies.

At Dog’s big white house, a party is thrown every Christmas; and this year, he’s invited his friends from around the world and you are invited too.

Using Bo, President Obama’s dog, as inspiration, authors J. Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello explain to kids what Christmas is like around the world.

On the evening of the party, Dog asked his guests to share Christmas traditions from their home country. The English Bulldog talked about the first Christmas cards sent in London over 160 years ago.

The Canadian Newfoundland explained everything about mummering, and brought traditional fruitcake. The French Poodle arrived with a Bûche de Noël, the Australian Dingo told Dog about Christmas picnics, the Chihuahua brought a piñata from Mexico, and the Affenpinscher from Germany brought Dog a glass pickle for his tree.

Illustrator Tim Bowers gives each animal an expressive face and fun demeanor, that the pictures might just influence a kid’s request from Santa.

When your child wants a Christmas read-aloud this year, don’t be surprised if “First Dog’s White House Christmas” is the first one that’s grabbed.

With this charming book, you may start a new tradition.

by the folks at DK. With its step-by-step picture instructions, you can do almost anything.

With “This Book,” you’ll learn how to make ice cream, popsicles and a lot more. If you love animals, “This Book” will help you raise caterpillars and farm worms and teach you how to dig a pond for your pet frog. You’ll learn to cook for birds and what your pet owl had for dinner (hint: it’s disgusting).

Book Review This Book Made Me Do It PUBLISHED BY DK

Can your friends walk through paper, levitate, lift fingerprints, spot a liar, land an airplane or escape from handcuffs? Do they know the trick to escaping a shark or an alligator, make a compass from a leaf, navigate by the stars or perform CPR? Well, you will after you read “This Book.”

You are a kid of many talents.

There are a hundred reasons to love “This Book Made Me Do It.” Beginning readers will have no problem understanding the picture instructions that accompany the simple text.

You can make your own breakfast and pack your own lunch. You know a stegosaurus from a diplodocus, a king snake from a king cobra - and their habitats too. You can pop wicked wheelies on your bike, whistle between your fingers and even burp on command, but there are some things you don’t know how to do, and may want to learn.

That’s why you need “This Book Made Me Do It,”

The activities in “This Book” widely vary in subject and difficulty level, and they include warnings for grownup help when applicable. Although meant for middle-schoolers, “This Book” wouldn’t be out of place on a high-schooler’s bookshelf. “This Book Made Me Do It” will make any talented kid smile.

REVIEWED BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

greenlivingaz.com

Materials: Thin cardboard (try using the back of a writing tablet or cereal box) Gingham material (try using the legs of recycled boxer shorts) Glue stick Scissors Burlap

Black acrylic paint Thin paint brush Twigs Hot glue gun Jute Gingham ribbon or fabric Small woodland buttons (optional)

Instructions: Cut rectangles and triangles from cardboard (roughly 2 x 3 inches).

Cut a piece of gingham or flannel fabric twice the size of your cardboard. Using your glue stick, cover one side of the cardboard with the glue. Place the sticky side down on the fabric and smooth it out with your hand. Cover the exposed side of the cardboard with glue and fold the remaining fabric onto the glued side. Smooth out with your hand. Trim the excess fabric, feeling the sides of the cardboard as a guide.

Cut a piece of burlap about 1/3 the size of your cardboard.

(You should be able to see the flannel fabric background after your twig frame is attached). Cover one side of the burlap with white glue, gently spreading it out with your finger. Glue on to the center of the flannel fabric.

Use a thin paintbrush and a generous amount of black paint to add a vertical line up the center of the burlap. Because burlap is not a smooth surface, you will need a fair amount of paint and the least amount of detail. Add simple limbs on both sides of the “tree trunk,” finishing with a point at the top.

Cut a piece of jute for the hanger. Break twigs to fit along all four sides of your fabric. (You will need enough for both sides of the ornament).

Hot glue the twigs onto the fabric. Make sure you insert the jute hanger as you add the twigs so it ends up sandwiched between the twigs. Tie a bow from the jute and add hot glue it to the bottom of the ornament.

You can use mini north wood themed buttons to decorate the edges of your ornaments as well.

DesigneD by AmAnDA FormAro Amanda is a mother of four and the craft expert for Disney’s Kaboose.com. Find more crafts, recipes and activities at craftsbyamanda.com.

Have a fun family craft to share? send it to us at info@greenlivingaz.com.

December 2010 | greenliving az 29

Pets

Natural Therapists

BY ABIGAIL GILMORE

A

nimals are a part of our life and family.

They bring affection and a feeling of well-being with their presence. They are sensitive to our moods, and provide us safety and security. At Phoenix Children’s Hospital, animals bring their love and affection to aid patients during their healing process.

“Our animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program provides positive, therapeutic human-animal interactions to help patients meet their treatment goals,” said Mary Lou Jennings, Coordinator for the AAT Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “Specially trained and nationally registered therapy dog teams work with staff to help patients do more, feel better and meet their treatment goals quicker.”

At Phoenix Children’s Hospital, there are many benefits to AAT. “Having a therapy dog visit can encourage a patient to be more active in bed, to get out of bed and walk, motivate them to do more in physical therapy, distract them from pain, or decrease anxiety while they wait for a procedure,” Jennings said.

AAT may be requested for a patient who is used to having pets around and feels out of place at the hospital. AAT may help patients speed up their recovery and allow them to go home quicker, without them necessarily knowing it. “A patient may throw a ball for the dog, or walk the length of the hall to see the dog,” Jennings said.

Jennings explained specific benefits of animal-assisted therapy, as it motivates children to: • Get up, move, walk, leave their room and play • Participate in therapy (physical, occupational and speech) • Forget their discomfort or pain • Interact more with others • Improve their mood • Improve their interactions with family and staff • Do things that may be a struggle, such as eating, taking medication or waiting

preparation volunteering their time, because they really want to help patients,” Jennings said. “The owners often say they enjoy it because therapy work motivates them to train with their dog and it gives them both a purpose.”

One of the most unique things about AAT is allowing patients to have fun while they are recovering. “Patients will readily interact with a familiar, non-judgmental animal, forgetting about their pain or anxiety,” Jennings said. “The regular breathing, soft fur and calm demeanor of an animal can calm an agitated patient; and the genuine, non-judgmental and spontaneous attitude of an animal can energize a patient.”

At Phoenix Children’s Hospital there are 40 dog therapy teams with between two and four teams scheduled each day. The program is completely funded by donations and special event proceeds.

Choose this holiday to donate and visit phoenixchildrens.com.

Choose “other” and specify AAT in the “notes.”

E-I-C Tishin Donkersley and her therapy dog Lilly visit senior centers to bring joy and happiness to those in need, and hope one day to join the AAT program.

The alternative treatment has a history of being used with patients suffering from cancer, dementia, heart issues, mental health issues and people diagnosed with autism.

AAT not only benefits the patient in need, but it often benefits the pet and the owner. “Therapy dog teams (the therapy dog and their owner or handler) put in hundreds of hours of training and

30 greenliving az | December 2010

SOURCE Mary Lou Jennings, Coordinator for the AAT Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Photography courtesy of PCH

greenlivingaz.com

The

Junk in your Trunk Get your car organized

By Kelsey MaKinGs

B

etween traveling to work, taking the kids to school and neverending holiday shopping sprees, the junk in your car can start to pile up. Below are some quick tips to keep your car clean during the holiday madness.

Clean it out First, get rid of the trash in your car. Not just on the floor, but in the glove compartment, middle console, under the seats, all the side pockets and the trunk. Keep only what’s truly important and recycle the rest. Did you know that removing the weight from your trunk could improve your gas mileage? Give your floors and seats a good vacuuming and a thorough wipe down.

Simplify

Wouldn’t you rather work with a Realtor® who shares your values in environmental and social responsibility?

Keep the essentials Put together a recycled envelope labeled “In case of emergency” with your registration and proof of insurance in your glove compartment. For all other documents, such as car repair receipts, vehicle information, maps or AAA card, use a small, expandable file folder and label accordingly. This way you can efficiently sift through the papers.

First-aid Kit Adding some natural remedies can really green up your first-aid kit. Essential oils like lavender can help relieve inflammation or ease pain from burns. Tea tree oil can be used as an antiseptic for small cuts. All Terrain (allterrainco.com) carries an array of eco-friendly first-aid products like latex-free bandages with water-based adhesives and biodegradable, anti-bacterial wipes made from wood pulp. stay Clean How to stay organized? Rein in the trash by reusing and keeping a grocery sack in your car and throwing things away as needed. You can also create an on-the-go recycling bin by using a vehicle litterbin, such as Cargogear’s TrashStand Compact.

The bin is leak-proof and won’t slide around.

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other tips Separate little things like pens and change into reusable plastic containers.

Keep a pack of eco-friendly wipes in the middle console for any spills or messes. Simply Neutral makes wipes that are biodegradable and 100 percent natural, with no bleaching agents or chemicals.

Bring your own mug or cup. (Did you know Starbucks gives a 10-cent discount every time you use your own cup?) In fact, during fiscal year 2008, U.S. and Canadian Starbucks customers saved roughly one million pounds of paper by bringing in their own beverage containers.

Invest in a reconfigurable and collapsible trunk organizer.

Trunk organizers can help during shopping trips or traveling, with reconfigurable and collapsible cubbies. Front seat organizers have storage for items you might want to quickly grab like a cell phone, CDs, iPod, water bottle and papers. Just be sure to choose a green option, like Organic Cotton Car Organizers, made with cotton or canvas fabric.

Kid’s toys, snacks, books and clothes can also be arranged with family organizers that can be placed by their seat. LASSIG designs vehicle organizers that are eco-friendly and made from 100 percent polyester. Just be sure, with whatever organizer, to anchor it to a non-moving part of the car to prevent any hazards. greenlivingaz.com

As Tucson’s first certified EcoBroker®, I’m passionate about creating prosperity for my clients, and positive change for our planet.

Call for more information on these GREEN homes!

December 2010 | greenliving az 31

Everyday Uses

creative ways to use a C

candle

andles are known for their practical use and their ability to please, calm, excite, captivate and celebrate. However, the use of candles extends beyond light and scent. Below are a few illuminating ways to get optimal use out of the wax and flames.

Light |

It may sound obvious, but using candles as light is an easy way to illuminate the room. The calming glow of the flames produces a relaxing state of mind, and you are saving money on the electricity bill.

Fragrance |

Burning the yummy scent of a soy candle not only makes the room smell good, but also eliminates the use of unhealthy air fresheners.

squeaky Door | A candle remedy can fix irritating squeaky doors. To stop the sound, take the door off its hinges and run a candle over the surfaces of the hinges that rub each other.

FirepLace | You can still get the essence of a fire without burning wood or turning on the gas. Next time you want to snuggle up, use a few candles in the fireplace to create a similar ambience. Bonus? You can enjoy the flames on a “no burn day.”

Drawers | If your drawers are giving you grief, rub a candle along the edges. The wax will help the drawers slide back and forth a bit easier.

pin cushion |

reLaxation |

A wide candle makes an ideal pincushion.

In fact, the wax left on the pins and needles will help them glide through the fabric.

Not all of us have time for yoga or a hot bath to unwind after life’s stresses. Burning a candle, especially scents like lavender and vanilla, is an easy way to relax and breathe after a long day.

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Green Thumb

Winter Gardening T

ps

One of the things I love about Arizona is its variety of climates. Phoenix usually has a very mild winter with no snow and very little frost. That means gardening all fall and winter! In fact, the best time of year to grow a vegetable garden in Phoenix is September through March. Yet in Flagstaff, there is snow all winter. Here are some winter tasks tailored to Arizona’s various climates.

BY DOREEN POLLACK

Clean your tools Winter is a good time to do maintenance on garden tools. Scrub them with a metal wire brush, and wipe the blades with an oilsoaked cloth before storing them. Oil any moving parts on tools, like pruners and garden loppers. Complete a yearly maintenance on mowers and mechanical tools; this includes sharpening, tightening bolts and replacing consumable parts. Always clean your tools with a mild bleach solution between uses and between pruning different trees or bushes to help mitigate the risk of spreading plant disease.

For wooden shovel handles or other tools, first clean the wooden handles with water and let them dry. Then apply a coat of linseed oil and let the oil soak in before using the tools again.

To sharpen tools with a blade, use a whetstone for pruners, lopper and shears.

Plan a new garden In Phoenix, continue to plant seeds and transplants of greens, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and herbs. Start tomato seeds indoors in December, then transplant outside around February 14th.

For those with snow on their lawn, now is the time to dream of your spring garden with the seed catalog. Look for new heirloom and organic seeds that you have never tried before, and order early before supplies run out.

Protect your garden from the harsh weather

Warm spells in winter Sometimes in the middle of winter we suddenly get a few warm days. For the most part, this is not a big problem, but check back with your plants. In warmer parts of the state, make sure plants get enough water. Always remove the frost cloth each day so plants do not get too warm on sunny days.

In snowier parts of the state, if you covered the roses with rose cones, you may need to ventilate the cone to prevent heat from building up inside. The same should be done with cold frames. If it is a warm sunny day, the temperatures may be rising in the cold frame more than you expect. Remember to close vents, as the temperature drops again at night.

Doreen Pollack is the Garden Goddess and owner of Down 2 Earth Gardens, where she provides garden consultations and coaching.

Visit down2earthgardens.com for information about her gardening workshops around the Valley. Have planting, picking, or other garden-related questions? Send them to greenpanel@greenlivingaz. com, and you might see an answer in our next issue!

pattywilson Fitness

Frost is a concern for all parts of Arizona that do not get snow.

Areas on the outskirts of the desert, like Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert, are more likely to get frost than the denser, urban area like Phoenix. Regardless of where you live, all gardeners should be prepared for frost. Whether you purchase a frost cloth or use old bed sheets, be sure to apply them properly. The frost cover should be large enough to go down to the ground so it retains the heat from the soil. I suggest placing the frost cover over the plants before sundown to capture the maximum amount of warmth.

Give the gift of Health!

Snow and ice on trees and shrubs

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As snow piles up on evergreens, gently brush it off to avoid breaking the branches. If the snow is frozen on the branch, it is best to let it melt naturally and avoid damage to the tree or shrub. If limbs break due to the weight of ice or snow, remove the broken limbs as soon as the weather permits.

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December 2010 | greenliving az 33

Green Thumb

WATER

LIGHT IT UP

The most common substance on Earth makes all of life possible.

Yet little has been known of its miraculous properties, .....until now.

WATER HAS MEMORY

Within the structure of every water cluster’s memory cells, there are 440,000 Information Panels, of which each has its own type of interaction with the environment. Water communicates with all of life through the “Information Field” known to Quantum Physics. Water is very sensitive to signals from the environment. It is now known that water’s structure is the most important aspect; even more so than its chemical composition. Filtration systems can provide chemically pure water but they do nothing to restore healthy structure or erase polluted memory.

WATER OF LIFE FOUNTAIN

BY MATT PERSONNE

B

lack Friday. Not the Black Friday at the mall where people fight over the latest toys and electronics, but that postThanksgiving Friday afternoon where you realize it’s time to climb into the attic and find all your holiday lights that you put away so unorganized last January (or March).

As you look at that tangled rat’s nest of lights you pulled out the box, let’s discuss getting rid of those old energy-sucking lights and think about switching to eco-friendly light-emitting diode (LED) strands of lights. Mission Landscaping strongly encourages all of our holiday decoration customers to switch to LED lights. The new crop of LED lights are able to achieve the same effect as traditional holiday lights, yet use about 90 percent less energy. In comparison, one strand of 100 count traditional incandescent holiday lights can use as much as 500 watts of electricity per hour. Parallel that with an LED strand that pulls about 50 watts of energy per hour. Plus LED lights reduce the carbon footprint, CO2 emissions, by three-fourths of a pound for every strand of lights illuminated per hour.

Another benefit of LED lights is their decreased heat output.

Unlike incandescent, LEDs only increase temperature by one degree and the bulbs remain cool to the touch regardless of the length of time they are on. This makes LED light strands ideal for indoors and Christmas trees.

In the past, LED lights were only available in a bluish white and a few colors. Today it would be a challenge to distinguish between LED and incandescent bulbs. LEDs are available in all different sizes and shapes of bulbs. Many home improvement stores are offering rebates if you switch to LED lights. Home Depot will give you a credit toward a new set of LED lights for every old set of lights you turn in.

Visit pillaroflight.info to see more amazing information about water. Learn about an Electro Magnetic Vortex Technology that reprograms, revitalizes, restructures and softens water and its minerals. Numerous processes holistically combine to mirror the way nature restores water.

520-887-5347

MAKING STRUCTURED WATER with VITALIZED LIFE FORCE ENERGY 34 greenliving az | December 2010

Whether you have a holiday light service decorate your house like the “Griswalds” or head up the ladder yourself - do your electric bill and the environment a favor and switch to LED holiday lights.

Matt Personne is the owner and founder of Mission Landscaping, LLC, which focuses on landscape and hardscape design and installation on commercial and residential properties. Have a landscaping question?

Send it to greenpanel@greenlivingaz.com missionlandscapingllc.com

greenlivingaz.com

速

速

easy ways to watch your

By CharlIE PoPECk, lEED aP

Nothing drives me crazier than watching sprinklers during a rainstorm. Potable water is a precious resource that should be managed carefully. There are many easy strategies and products available to aid homeowners with responsible water use, money saving and time. Here are the top three areas of focus for your home: 1

Reduce THe Need foR iRRigaTioN Ideally, design a landscape using only native or adaptive vegetation for plantings. Easy steps include: Plant native or adapted vegetation. There are attractive plants in every region, and they should be used as the foundation for any good landscape design.

Reduce or eliminate grass. Grass does not make sense in many areas of the country like the desert southwest.

My motto is, “If you have to water it–don’t do it.”

Mulching around the base of a plant will help to reduce water evaporation, and can supply significant nutrients to the plant in times of stress. This is a very inexpensive strategy that can be completed quickly.

Use natural fertilizers and supplements instead of chemicals. This is a no-brainer and should be done right away.

And of course, get an early start to your planting. If young plants are chosen and installed early in the season, transplanting stress is greatly reduced, giving the plant a much improved chance of survival.

2

iRRigaTe wisely For designs that require irrigation, “micro-irrigation” technologies should be used to apply water where, when and in only the amount required for optimal plant health. Micro-irrigation can include common products like drip emitters, moisture sensors and irrigation clocks or controllers.

Drip emitters deliver a specified amount of water to plants and come in various types. By using drip emitters, the evapotranspiration rate (the rate at which plants lose water through evaporation) is kept to a minimum, water use is greatly reduced, and water bills are lowered.

36 greenliving az | December 2010

Conducting a survey of your drip emitters at the beginning of each summer will ensure they have not become clogged by hard water buildup and will protect your plants.

There are several different types of irrigation controllers on the market, but the two most common types are electromechanical and electronic. Electromechanical controllers are very reliable and not particularly sensitive to the quality of the power available. Electronic controllers provide a large number of consumer-friendly features at a relatively low cost; however, these types of systems are more susceptible to power failures.

Most controllers have a “rain button” that will override your pre-programmed watering cycle in the event of a rainstorm. Be sure that your chosen unit has this feature and learn how to use it.

Moisture sensors are also an excellent idea if irrigation water is used. These units sense the amount of moisture in the soil and will only allow water to be delivered if the soil gets dry enough.

3

use waTeR moRe THaN oNce It seems a shame to use potable water meant for human consumption to irrigate landscape elements, particularly when stormwater, municipally provided reclaimed water or graywater (the useable water that comes from sinks, showers and washing machines within the home) can be an alternative.

Stormwater collection is a simple solution – a 55-gallon drum or two, connected to a home’s rain gutter to collect runoff, can be implemented easily and at a low cost. Many cities also offer an opportunity to connect to their reclaimed waterline for irrigation purposes.

The collection and use of graywater is another key water efficiency strategy that is best implemented during new construction.

It may not be realistic to implement all the ideas mentioned, but they can be applied in a step-by-step manner to effectively reduce water use and realize cost savings. Do what you can afford and apply the rest when you can – ideally before next spring, as many of these strategies free you from being a slave to your landscape during the summer.

Charlie Popeck is the president of Green Ideas Sustainability Consultants and is a contributing editor to Green Living AZ Magazine.

Green Ideas specializes in helping design, construction and facility management teams understand and implement building science and sustainability into their projects. Email your questions to Charlie at greenpanel@greenlivingaz.com.

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Up to yoUr Waste seeing your Impact Firsthand Humans, like most living things, aren’t keen on being around their waste and remove it as quickly as they accumulate it. The lesson then becomes how to save money and reduce your impact by taking time to analyze what we waste. In the words of Adolph Coors, “All waste is lost profit.”

Burt’s Bees decided to take on that waste challenge. They collected two weeks’ worth of operations waste, then dumped all of it out in the parking lot for their employees to sort through, explore and redirect. They categorized the waste into three groups:

by DERRiCK MaiNS

1 | Items in the trash that should have been recycled through their recycling program | 2 Items that they do not currently recycle, but could have recycled with a little effort | 3 Actual garbage This dumpster dive was a raving success. Employees witnessed firsthand the volume of their collective waste and began to internalize the impact of their behavior. On that day, 2.8 tons of recyclables were diverted from the landfill. Since then, Burt’s Bees has diverted 65 tons of waste per year, resulting in a bottom line savings of $25,000 per year! By 2020, Burt’s Bees plans to have implemented 100 percent renewable energy, zero waste and a LEED Platinum/ISO 14001 certified green building.

According to the Burt’s Bees website, they successfully eliminated landfill waste from their facilities in April 2010, meaning they no longer have a need for garbage pickup, because they have NONE!

Ecoterminology HiGH-albEDO MatERialS can save cooling energy use by directly reducing the heat gain through a building`s envelope (direct effect) and also by lowering the urban air temperature in the neighborhood of the building (indirect effect).

RECyCliNG is the collection, reprocessing, marketing and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.

REUSE returns materials to active use in the same manner, or a related capacity, as their original use, thus extending the lifetime of materials that would otherwise be discarded.

SOURCE REDUCtiON reduces the amount of

Maybe you aren’t a multi-million dollar company. Maybe you are a small business and don’t think your impact matters. Not true!

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American office worker uses approximately two pounds of paper and paperboard products per day. Over a year, each of us consumes 10,000 sheets of copy paper. Expand that thought to each worker in your zip code. Understand that what you do matters.

Turn this thought process toward your household. Why not try dumpster diving at home? It is a great way for you and your children to understand waste. Analyze your impact and review what you are sending to the landfill vs. recycling. For my family, a quick look at our waste helped us eliminate paper towels, saving us hundreds of dollars, lots of trees and reducing the number of times we put our trash bin out on the curb!

SOURCES treehugger.com, burtsbees.com, epa.gov

unnecessary material brought into a building. (Examples include purchasing products with less packaging).

tippiNG fEES are charged by a landfill for disposal of waste, typically quoted per ton.

SOURCES usgbc.org, energystorm.us

38 greenliving az | December 2010

Derrick Mains is the CEO of GreenNurture, the software solution for helping companies incorporate the value of sustainability into daily practice, catalyzing corporate culture and harnessing the collective intelligence of employees to drive greater long-term financial, social and environmental performance.

greenlivingaz.com

Feature

Waste Not, Want Not Construction Waste

BY WILLIAM JANHONEN, LEED AP, NAHB-CGP, CPM

I want you to think of a Snickers bar (my personal favorite). When you

pay $1 for the candy bar, you are paying for the caramel and nuts, chocolate and nougat, packaging and marketing, shipping and profit to the retailer selling it. After you eat the Snickers bar, what do you do with the wrapper? You throw it away and nowhere in the price of the candy bar exists a cost to deal with the waste.

Multiply this example by millions of consumer products, and you start to see the enormous effect waste has on our economy and the environment.

The U.S. was built upon the success of guaranteed Planned Obsolescence. If your toaster broke down tomorrow, would you send it to the repairman to have it fixed, or just buy a new one?

Our economy since the industrial revolution was geared to making things faster and shinier and cheaper. No thought was given to where all of the materials came from or where they went when their lifetime ended. In 1960, only 6.4 percent of U.S. waste was recycled. By 2006, the amount had climbed to 32.5 percent.

Consider these astonishing numbers. If your child is under 10 years old today, by the time he or she reaches age 40, there will be an additional 2 billion people on this planet. That is equal to another China and India. All of those individuals will be vying for a limited amount of source materials, which includes nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels. In 2006, U.S. residents, businesses and institutions produced more than 251 million tons of solid waste, a 65 percent increase since 1980. The average house construction generates 2.4 tons of waste. What will be the result of our future waste production without addressing waste management today?

How much waste is coming into the landfill? Matt Morales, P.E., Project Manager of Cinder Lake Landfill in Flagstaff, reported that from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, by combining municipal and private haulers, from commercial and residential sites, 18,106 tons of waste ended at their landfill.

Reducing waste is an important component of sustainable practices. In its solid waste management hierarchy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks source reduction, reuse and recycling as the three preferred strategies for reducing waste. Source reduction appears at the top of the EPA’s hierarchy because it minimizes environmental impacts throughout the material’s life cycle, from the supply chain and use to recycling and waste disposal. Reuse of materials is ranked second because reused materials are diverted from landfills and substitute for other materials with greater environmental impacts. Recycling does not have all the same benefits as source reduction and reuse, but

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Shea Stadium demolition

it diverts waste from landfills and incinerators and lessens the demand for virgin materials.

Source reduction and decreasing the demand for virgin materials is the most economical way to reduce waste.

Unnecessary packaging adds to a product’s cost and fees for waste collection and disposal. Cut-off lumber from stick-build construction generates waste that can be avoided by creating cut lists to suppliers who can reuse for projects.

Reuse of existing buildings vs. new construction is a very effective strategy for reducing environmental impact. The more of a building that can be reused, the less new material is needed and the more waste can be diverted from landfills. Reuse of materials for other purposes is also a convenient strategy. When Shea Stadium was torn down, the toilets were given to the New York City Parks Department for reuse in the city’s parks. Marble partitions from restrooms at Columbia University, in New York City, were reused to make lab countertops.

Recycling has taken a new direction since a few decades ago.

Separation at the construction jobsite allows the recycling of concrete, wood, gypsum wallboard, steel, masonry, cardboard, brick and tile. Even asphalt shingles can be recycled these days.

Recycling materials have differing values due to price fluctuation and availability of virgin materials.

Here locally, Sundt Construction is active in direct waste reduction for their projects. In a most recent and completed project, the University of Arizona Recreation Center Expansion, Sundt was able to recycle over 90 percent of their construction waste. This means that “2,768,380 of the 3,072,952 pounds of debris were diverted from landfills and recycled,” Tom Rice of Sundt said. When diverting waste, more than one recycling hauler might be involved. Joining with Sundt, for the U of A project, Sierra Mining and Crushing was able to divert 1,072 tons of inert materials from the site demolition; additionally Waste Management was able to divert around 224 tons of inert materials, 24 tons of wood and 57 tons of metal.

“Sundt has taken a very practical role in both reducing the construction waste directly [by recycling] but also in eliminating the amount of materials used on site,” Rice said.

Diverting construction waste is yet one more step to preserving our natural resources, tapping into the methodology of reuse, and decreasing the number of new landfills needed to handle our waste.

SOURCES cinderlakelandfill.com, epa.gov, sundt.com, swana.org http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ballpark/farewell.jsp

December 2010 | greenliving az 39

Green Your Company’s Holiday Party invites

Rather than wasting trees on holiday invites, go paperfree. send a mass e-mail to your employees or use online invitations such as evite.com. if you really feel the need for traditional paper announcements, use invitations manufactured from recycled paper.

WrightChoicePromotions.com produces eco-friendly invitations made from 100 percent recycled paper embedded with wildflower seeds and eco inks.

deCoRation instead of spending money on one-time holiday decorations, use nature. Collect branches, pine cones, and evergreen boughs and pair them with food items such as apples, cranberries and limes to create a festive look. embellish with candles, wreaths and mirror squares.

BY KELSEY MAKINGS

from the forest floor and no trees are cut down in the process. nature Friendly offer a full line of party products that are 100 percent compostable and biodegradable, find them locally at 4greengolf.com. to save on cups, present each guest with a personalized glass or mug that they can reuse throughout the night and take home as a party favor also found at 4greengolf.com.

Food

if you are working on a budget, keep the menu simple with hors d’oeuvres and desserts, or try a potluck where everyone brings a delightful organic dish. encourage employees to create dishes using locally grown and in-season foods. Check for allergies in case you need to offer gluten-free or dye-free selections.

dimming the lights and lighting a few candles saves on electricity and creates a nice, warm glow. For a festive look, choose energy-efficient led string lights easily found at most home improvement stores.

giFts avoid the little, useless gifts that typically end up as re-gifts or in the landfill. instead, play the infamous “white elephant” gift exchange game with a twist. Rather than a gag gift, bring something nice under $20 that everyone could enjoy. ecoFriendlygifts.com can give you ideas for green gifts.

PlaCe settings

WRaPPing PaPeR

lights

one of the biggest wastes at holiday parties is paper plates, napkins, plastic cups and silverware. if you insist on disposable, instead of washable, dinnerware, choose products that are biodegradable. MarxFoods.com produces durable, disposable and biodegradable palm leaf plates that are made from the discarded sheaths of the leaves of the adaka palm tree which are collected

When wrapping that special gift, try to use recycled wrapping paper. local-based company ecosaurus (shopecosaurus.com) manufactures all-occasion wrapping paper made from natural hemp fibers and printed with veggie-based dyes. if you want to make your own gift wrap, reuse brown paper bags and get the kids to decorate with paints, stamps or crayons.

Because creating a healthier environment, begins at home.

The Earth deserves the same kindness and respect we extend to our members.

Our Green Loans are specially designed to help you make home improvements affordable -proving a little bit of kindness goes a long way.

For more details, please visit us at pimafederal.org 40 greenliving az | december 2010

Pima Federal Credit Union greenlivingaz.com

A Zer WAste Arizona

BY KRISTI EATON

T

he average person creates 4.6 pounds of waste each day.

Everything from food packaging to plastic bags to a leftover dental floss container is potential waste, and Americans are generating it like never before.

A growing movement is looking at eliminating that waste. Zero waste is the idea that the entire concept of waste should be eliminated. According to the Zero Waste Alliance, instead of creating it, waste should be thought of as a residual product or potential resource.

“Zero waste means anything that can be removed from the waste stream is removed, from aversion or diversion, recycling or composting,” said Bonny Bentzin, Director of Campus Sustainability Practices at Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability.

ASU is working to reduce its waste in a variety of ways. To reduce water usage, the school is using more efficient fixtures, better water management and distribution of effluent water for use by mechanical and irrigation systems. For solid waste, the school diverts waste from landfills through recycling, composting, reusing and repurposing. Waste is averted through reduced consumption.

Aramark, which provides ASU’s food services, is working on a corporate policy to allow the school to donate leftover food. “No single effort is going to get us to zero waste. It’s a combined effort,” Bentzin said.

Aside from helping the environment, zero waste has financial benefits as well. Waste is considered inefficient, and eliminating that part of the equation helps reduce costs. The Zero Waste Alliance notes several companies that showcase the amount of money that can be saved. At Hewlett Packard in Roseville, Calif., the company reduced its waste by 95 percent, saving $870,564 in 1998. At Epson in Portland, Ore., reducing waste has saved the company $300,000, while Atlanta-based Interface, Inc. has eliminated more than $300 million in waste since 1995.

Some local restaurants are trying to incorporate some zero waste principles, like recycling, Bentzin said. “It’s commendable because here in the Valley we do not have a good recycling program,” Bentzin said. “Or if they do recycle, there’s a fee. Phoenix doesn’t offer anything. It’s costly to them, and they’re working on a very narrow margin. It’s a challenge for them, but they’re trying.”

The big challenge for restaurants is food waste. “There are lots of compostable products, but they don’t have a reliable place to take them,” Bentzin said.

A statute from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality makes it difficult for restaurants to compost on their own.

Although it’s not geared toward restaurants, the statute “basically classifies all commercial waste as municipal solid waste,” Bentzin said.

“All municipal solid waste has to be handled in a fully lined facility,” Bentzin explained. “It’s not targeting food waste, but the waste stream.”

The statute was meant to protect citizens’ health and well-being.

Until the law changes, Bentzin suggests the best way to deal with food waste is to reduce it.

For those restaurants and businesses interested in going zero waste, a new company, EcoMovement, is helping ease the transition.

The New Hampshire-based company offers consulting services for businesses, schools and restaurants hoping to reduce waste.

EcoMovement can also help create and implement zero waste programs, train staff, haul waste and help with composting.

While the company is mainly based in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine, EcoMovement founder Rian Bedard plans to begin webinars in 2011 so people all over the country can learn from his techniques.

Bedard can walk into an establishment and gauge their level of zero waste. “I walk into a café and see wooden stirrers, paper cups and paper plates. The first thing I’m going to say is, ‘You guys could use spoons for stirrers.’” Bedard said it is important to train staff to ask customers whether they would like food for here or to go. This reduces the packaging needs for people eating at the establishment.

“Every time you say you’re changing customers’ behavior, you are also saving money because you’re not putting out disposable plates.”

How one company is going zero waste While working at Mogollon Brewing Company in Flagstaff, David Williamson began thinking about ways to reduce packaging costs.

He looked into creating a small, completely self-contained mini-keg that he believed would save money. Although he did not get the funding to create the mini-keg, Williamson still wanted to create a zero waste product. Enter Sustainable Packaging Solutions, LLC, the parent company for Kind Vines, a zero waste wine product that reuses bottles.

“Reusing our wine bottles eliminates waste – even the closure is reusable,” Williamson said. “Transportation costs are also greatly reduced, and this reduces the amount of fossil fuels needed to get our product to the consumer.”

Williamson, now Founder and President of Sustainable Packaging Solutions, said consumers could feel good about purchasing the product because they know they are not contributing to unnecessary landfill waste. “We have the opportunity to set an example for the rest of the nation on a program that delivers a winery’s product (wine) to the consumer in a more economic and environmentally friendly way,” Williamson said.

SOURCES Kindvines.com, sustainability.asu.edu, Zerowastenow.com

greenlivingaz.com

December 2010 | greenliving az 41

Growing Green Ideas

EUEC, the USA’s largest annual energy, utility and environment conference is where over 3,000 delegates converge to collaborate with more than 650 of the world’s leading experts on the various issues facing energy generation, the future of utility and its impact on the environment.

Attend this exciting green event or join us for one of our “Open to the Public” events where you can browse our Expo complete with 200 environmentally conscious innovators.

Attend

www.euec.com

Jan 31-Feb 2 | Phoenix, AZ

Corporate Social Responsibility

THIS MONTH WE ASKED COMPANIES AROUND TOWN WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO REDUCE WASTE? DISTRICT – AMERICAN KITCHEN AND WINE BAR Since opening its doors in 2008, District American Kitchen and Wine Bar has made sustainability practices a top priority. As the only restaurant in Arizona with an urban rooftop garden, we limit our overall carbon footprint and packaging waste, while providing guests the freshest ingredients possible. The restaurant also works directly with local purveyor Singh Farms, creating a mutually beneficial composting program where the restaurant supplies food scraps to create compost, resulting in nutrient-rich soil for the urban rooftop garden.

Additionally, the kitchen utilizes new technology to filter cooking oil, actively extending its intended lifespan up to 300 percent. As a member of the Green Dining Network, District American Kitchen and Wine Bar provides its used cooking oil to the Green Dining Network, which converts it to biodiesel fuel.

District also understands the importance of donating perishable foods and partners with Waste Not of Arizona to help feed the Valley’s hungry. The District is located in the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Phoenix.

WASTE MANAGEMENT The Waste Management Phoenix Open 2011 will draw over half a million golf fans from across the globe. The crowd is expected to generate an even greater number of plastic bottles, cans and other recyclables. With so many attendees, it’s more important than ever to use the very best technology to minimize the environmental footprint of one of the most popular tournaments on the PGA TOUR. That’s why Waste Management will be using Greenopolis kiosks to capture recyclables. Greenopolis, a subsidiary of Waste Management, provides recycling machines that collect bottles and cans from the nation’s busiest locations. Users receive points for everything they recycle, which can later be redeemed for rewards online or directly from vendors.

So when fans at the Waste Management Phoenix Open deposit recyclables from just off of the fairways, they will be able to receive discounts or coupons from their favorite businesses at the event. It’s one of the latest innovations Waste Management is developing, and is another way the company is making the tournament ”the Greenest Show on Grass.” To get started on Greenopolis, visit greenopolis.com. While there, be sure to check out the incentives for thinking green.

INTEL Since 2007, Intel Corporation has recycled at least 80 percent of solid waste generated in its operations each year. Intel has implemented several programs that focus on solid waste reduction, reuse, and recycling in construction activities and within Intel. Examples include recycling office paper, metals, and other materials, composting cafeteria waste and donating office furniture. Over the past five years, these programs have enabled Intel to save more than $23 million.

In 2009, Intel sold about 30 tons of silicon wafers that could not be used for production. This enabled the reuse of materials that would otherwise have become waste. Solar energy companies used the wafers as raw material to manufacture solar cells, resulting in the addition of more than three megawatts of clean energy to the power grid each year.

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December 2010 | greenliving az 43

Architecture

Remodeling to Green Tsontakis Leads to

BY DAVID M. BROWN

E

ight years ago, Dan Klein and Karen Lugosi purchased a wellboned but aging 2,892-square-foot home next to the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Four years later, wanting to expand the 30-year-old semi-custom to accommodate their expanding family, they turned to architect Nick Tsontakis, AIA. Scottsdale-based Nick Tsontakis Architecture & Interiors has established a reputation for innovative rebuilds as well as remodeling with a green focus.

“While Dan and Karen’s home was designed and rebuilt prior to today’s LEED residential guidelines, with some additional retooling today, I am confident that we would obtain certification,” said Tsontakis, who has been practicing in the Valley for 15 years.

Tsontakis started by retaining the three-car garage of the fourbedroom north Phoenix home. The redesigned home expanded the square footage and maximizes the experience of the one-of-akind location. On a large three-quarter-acre lot, the home features a pyramidal foothill rising just beyond it — a natural monument “built” for them and their three children.

“I knew from the first time that I saw this, that the mountain and the desert had to be significantly displayed to the owners and their guests,” Tsontakis said. “I’ve been fortunate in so many of my projects to have these spectacular panoramas to work with — and Karen and Dan’s backyard view was just that.”

“We wanted a design that opened the house to the preserve and one that provided an open feel with a very contemporary yet warm style, integrating both straight and circular lines,” Lugosi said.

Nick and longtime friend and associate, Tom Derryberry, founder of Scottsdale-based Ultimo Custom Homes, walked the site with the couple and coordinated on a spacious 4,812-square-foot remodel with environmentally sensitive components. By working with the couple from the beginning, architects and builders were able to value-engineer the project, providing an initial project budget before creating expensive construction drawings.

“The depth of the lot allowed the design of the added space to push into the rear of the property, somewhat wrapping around the rear court area,” Tsontakis said. That area includes a covered patio, providing shade, a small grass island for color and coolness, and predominantly desert landscaping, designed for erosion control and fitted with a drip irrigation system.

44 greenliving az | December 2010

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Architecture “By using native plants throughout most of the property and planting trees in front of windows, we provided additional shading where there are no overhangs,” Tsontakis explained. “This minimizes heat gain.”

The additional square footage provided for a large master suite, an expansive great room with a contemporary glulam ceiling and a home theater.

To emphasize the views into the rear yard, Tsontakis installed eight tall glass panels. Four of these slide; when deployed, they create a 16-foot opening in the wall. These low-e double-glazed patio doors sit beneath large 12-foot-deep overhangs on the south, facing the preserve. All of the home’s windows, in fact, are low-solar-gain spectrally selective windows.

To further improve views, Tsontakis staggered the steel columns supporting the overhang. The result: an attractive roofline and ceiling that dominate the exterior elevation and the interior great room without impeding views. For support and eye appeal, Tsontakis programmed his signature “Tsontakis columns” with their orbital designs.

During the rebuild, Derryberry and crew used regionally manufactured materials; all materials are assembled as finished products within a 500-mile radius of the home, reducing transportation fuel costs.

They replaced the exterior roofing with lighter-color, high-albedo materials to increase reflectivity, reduce heat transfer into the building and maximize cooling energy savings. Similarly, in redesigning the driveways and hardscape, Tsontakis called for pervious material such as pavers, also selected with light colors.

“You can also cut up the exterior concrete driveways in 36x36 or 48x48-inch pieces and reuse them for hardscape in pathways,” Tsontakis said.

In extending the framing, the construction crew created a vapor barrier to the roof between the garages and the home to prevent automobile fumes from entering the attic space — another passive cooling technique.

Energy efficiency extended beyond the roof and window panes.

In the attic, they sealed the sill plates and insulated all ductwork.

The perimeters where the home’s two fireplaces pierce the roof were also sealed. In addition, they sealed all exterior holes in block walls with mortar and caulked around all existing windows and doorframes and used low or no-VOC paint.

For cooling, high-efficiency dual 14–16 SEER HVAC units with greenlivingaz.com

programmable thermostats and variable speed furnaces replaced older units. Solar water heaters, which cost the couple just $1,500 after rebates and tax incentives, were also added. Water heaters account for approximately 12 percent of consumer electric bills, Tsontakis notes.

Inside, a subcontractor sprayed cellulose insulation in the walls and ceilings. “This creates a conditioned area that will not heat up as much as with traditional spaces,” Tsontakis explained.

In addition, all ductwork is in conditioned space. The perimeters of recessed ceiling fixtures and diffusers were sealed to limit air infiltration from the attic space. In the kitchen and laundry room, the cooktop and dryer are vented to the exterior. Tsontakis notes that today he would insulate all piping to further green the home.

Tsontakis points out that energy efficiency does not prevent good styling and attractive finishes. For example, by incorporating barrel-vaulted ceilings, Tsontakis minimized volume while preserving 21-foot heights.

Similarly, for surfaces, he called for soybased stains on the wood and concrete.

“They are nontoxic, odorless and create natural color variations unique to each surface,” Tsontakis explained. According to Tsontakis, if you must use carpet in the desert, select wool with bio-based padding.

In rethinking the home today for additional LEED energy credits, Tsontakis suggested he might further limit the grass area. “A threshold of about 20 percent of the total lot is a good general rule,” he notes.

He would also suggest to Lugosi and Klein that they invest in a graywater conservation system. Graywater is wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, dishwashers and kitchen sinks — any source in the home other than toilets.

Tsontakis explained “Graywater systems are usually cheaper and easier to install during construction of a new home but more expensive for remodeling an existing home.” He notes, however, that graywater irrigation may not meet all landscape irrigation needs year round.

Lugosi and Klein call their Tsontakis-designed home “Contemporary Deco”: “clean straight lines with warm and inviting features,” Lugosi explained. They are also thankful that the architect incorporated so many energy-efficient components into the home — before the LEED program brought them to a wider audience.

“Dan and I are looking forward to completing the interior and starting the pool, and enjoying every minute of our beautiful home,” Lugosi said.

December 2010 | greenliving az 45

Introducing our Green Panel experts. From home renovation and sustainable initiatives to gardening and wellness, our Green Panel experts have the answers you’re looking for! Send your questions to greenpanel@greenlivingaz.com

William Janhonen, leeD aP environmental Consultant Commercial & Residential Architecture

Sarah mClean Director, Sedona meditation Training & retreats

Meditation & Wellness

Dr. Garry F. GorDon, mD, Do, mD(h) President, Gordon research institute (Gri) Health

Charlie PoPeCk, leeD aP President, Green ideas Sustainability Consultants

Commercial & Residential Architecture

Doreen PollaCk owner, Down 2 earth Gardens Gardening

JeFF FroST, leeD aP Partner, a.k.a. Green Environmental Consulting & Architecture

Dr. Serbin Veterinarian, ingleside animal hospital Animal Health

kaTea reVeGa, leeD aP environmental attorney, Quarles & brady Green Marketing

Sarah GulliCkSon Founder, SpaFitFinder.com Beauty

DerriCk mainS Ceo, Greennurture Employee Engagement

miChael eiChenberG, rPSGT Clinical manager, banner Desert Sleep Center

Sleep & Restoration

46 greenliving az | December 2010

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Auto

2010 Limited Model is the TOTAL Package

BY BILL ZERVAKOS

W

hen Toyota talks about Kaizen, the philosophy of continuous incremental improvement in automotive, business or life, the 2010 Highlander Hybrid is one example of just how well Kaizen works. While the 2010 Highlander styling remains unchanged since its 2008 makeover, the improvements in technology and ergonomics are evidence of Toyota’s continuous incremental improvement at work. The fit and finish is typical Toyota, with ergonomics that are well-thought-out and easy to understand and use. The Highlander Hybrid is the total package, providing respectable powertrain performance along with an impressive array of features.

It’s more lavish and comfortable than previous models, taking more cues from the Lexus nameplate.

The 2010 Highlander Hybrid comes with a range of handy standard features like cruise control, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and a clean air filter, to name a few. The Highlander features third-row seats that recline and fold flat into the floor, a rear heating system, and height-adjust headrests for all seats. The middle-row seating features a walk-thru center console with two adjustable cup holders. When you need extra space, the 60/40 split second-row seats fold flat, allowing for plenty of cargo space. The Highlander is equipped with LATCH child-seat anchors, dual front multi-stage airbags, front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters.

The ride and handling of the Highlander Hybrid left us pleasantly surprised.

It’s solid on the road, without being harsh, and secure enough for me to enjoy driving it, but soft enough for Cathy to be comfortable. We are proponents of hybrid technology, but for me, there’s one exception; I’m not a fan of the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT is a simple transmission, belt-driven so it doesn’t actually have a gear to “kick down” to for passing power.

Think of the CVT like a jet engine where it takes a while for it to “wind” up to speed. As a result, one of the weaknesses is passing at highway speeds. None

of these issues are serious, just things to be aware of when making a purchasing decision. The trade-off for better fuel economy is definitely worth it.

Powered by a 209-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 gas engine and a 650-watt electric motor, the Highlander Hybrid is rated at a combined 270 horsepower.

With the instant torque of the electric motor, the Highlander Hybrid is far from sluggish off the line, but it’s important to keep in mind that aggressive acceleration will negate the primary benefit of the hybrid system – fuel economy. Speaking of economy, the EPA rates the Highlander hybrid at 27 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway; and yes, for those not terribly familiar with hybrids, you do get better mileage at lower speeds because at higher speeds, the gas engine is always running. By way of comparison, the gas iteration of the Highlander gets EPA ratings from 18/27 in the 4-cylinder and 17/23 on most 6-cylinder models.

The Highlander is perfect for all the soccer moms and suburb dads who have to run around town with kids and equipment. It has the seating and cargo area of an SUV, with the comfort and ride of a family sedan, and almost the fuel economy of an econobox. Moms will love the ease of entry and exit because the ride height is minimally different than that of a full-size sedan.

Summing it up, if you need a full-size vehicle but are concerned about sustainability, the Highlander Hybrid is a multipurpose vehicle that works well in virtually all situations. It performs well, it’s comfortable and environmentally friendly. Prices for the Highlander Hybrid start at $34,900 for the base model and $41,200 for the Limited. Completely loaded including the Voice Activated NavSystem and JBL sound system, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls, our tester came in at just over $48,000.

SpEcIAL nOTE While an SUV certainly isn’t the first vehicle that comes to mind when thinking of sustainability, the Highlander Hybrid is certified as a Super Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV). If your family needs demand a larger vehicle, the Highlander Hybrid is a good compromise.

Bill Zervakos is co-producer and co-host of Two for the Road USA radio productions. Bill has been test driving and reviewing vehicles for manufacturers for over 16 years. twofortheroadusa.com

Efficient and Resourceful I’m eco-friendly too.

Whether it’s local or global, every little bit we do makes a difference. That’s just part of being there. Like a good

neighbor, State Farm is there.® Open 7 Days a Week

Daniel Kalm, Agent 2632 N Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719 Bus: 520.795.0231 dan@dankalm.com 0901000

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State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

December 2010 | greenliving az 47

Community Feature

Applied Research & Development

BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A.

T

his month I took a turn north to Northern Arizona University to learn more about their LEED Platinum Applied Research and Development building, one of many LEED certified buildings on campus. As I arrived on campus, I could not miss this large curved glass building that welcomed me to NAU’s world of sustainability.

I entered the building through its revolving glass door, which spit me out into a giant three-story atrium. I considered sporting my sunglasses, as the brilliant natural light from the atrium’s glass wall radiated into the space. Heather Farley, Sustainability Director and my tour guide for the day, greeted me and introduced me to Professor Susan Thomas and her CM124 Construction Materials and Methods class – they would be co-hosting the lecture tour. The students and I surrounded Professor Thomas, and with my pad and pen ready, I couldn’t help but fall back into that college mindset.

Thomas began the tour with a question, “What is the definition of LEED?” “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” a student answered. “What are the different levels of LEED certification?” Professor Thomas asked. “Certified, silver, gold and platinum,” another student answered. This was the beginning of Professor Thomas’ ongoing test to see if her students were listening from her last class.

Thomas then began discussing the cost of building green.

48 greenliving az | December 2010

She explained that in 2002, building green was a premium for a higher educational building. It cost NAU an additional 15 percent to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Jumping forward eight years to 2010, Professor Thomas explained that to build a sustainable higher education building, there would only be less than a 2 percent maximum increase in cost, depending on the sustainable design.

Our co-hosts then delved into the aspects of the building.

From the outside, looking straight at the building, it appears to be a three-story, curved, reflective glass wall. Professor Thomas explained that curvature is commonly found in LEED buildings in order to maximize solar gain.

The building’s orientation and its incorporation of natural sunlight provide 75 percent of the structure’s lighting needs.

Farley explained that the atrium, and most of the building, does not use artificial lighting until later in the afternoon. Employees within the building have a choice between natural or artificial lighting during their workday – though most employees prefer natural lighting.

With all the natural light comes the need to regulate temperature within the atrium. The designers purposefully created a technologically advanced heating and cooling system that uses natural resources, wind and sun, to regulate the internal temperature. The system includes roll-down shades, greenlivingaz.com

Community Feature

thermal floor plates that monitor the temperature in the atrium, motorized windows, outdoor metal “fins,” angled in a way to allow a certain amount of sunlight depending on the season, recycled concrete floors and a sophisticated computer system that coordinates all components and regulates comfort levels.

How does it all work together? Farley explained that in the warmer months, the “fins” provide protection from the heat and shade the interior in the atrium. This allows the concrete floors to stay cool. If temperatures rise past the comfort setting, the thermal plates immediately report the temperature change to the system. Based on that information, the computer decides whether to roll down the shades or open the windows for circulation and cool the atrium.

In the cooler months, the “fins” allow enough sunlight to create passive heat through the glass, warm close to two-thirds of the concrete and heat the atrium. The windows open and close based on the temperature requirements to circulate the air.

The benefit of being on a tour with a professor is the illustrative teaching moments. With a bucket of water in hand, we followed Professor Thomas to the parking lot to learn about permeable pavement. She poured the water onto the pavement and we watched as the water seeped into the ground and disappeared. She explained that permeable pavement soaks up rain and snow melt, returns water to the soil and ultimately the aquifer.

Back inside, our co-host explained the ins and outs of becoming LEED Platinum certified. The tall wooden beams that line the atrium are made from local ponderosa pine harvested from the White Mountains by the White Mountain Apache, who as a tribe are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. The building obtains almost 70 percent potable water savings through their use of dual and low-flow toilets, sinks and waterless urinals.

Solar thermal panels are used to preheat water in the bathrooms, kitchen and heating system. Solar photovoltaic panels, located offsite, supply 20 percent of the building’s energy needs. During construction, the design and build team were able to divert 90 percent of construction waste away from the landfill. Any remaining wood, steel, concrete or paper was utilized in other areas or redirected for other campus uses.

Finally, we were guided upstairs to view the livable roof on the connecting building. I can’t say it was a lush garden – it looked more like the retaining basin foliage next to the building – greenlivingaz.com

but nonetheless provided insulation and protection against the heat island effect.

The innovative Applied Research and Development building’s design goes beyond the materials used to construct it. Most of the insulation consists of a blend of recycled blue jeans. All cleaning products used in the building are environmentally friendly, educational material is presented throughout the building, and NAU has incorporated a Green Fund. The Green Fund is a student-managed account used to fund social and environmental projects on campus. A $5 fee paid by every NAU student helps fund the account. This year, the Green Fund committee expects to have around $200,000 to use for upcoming projects. The Applied Research and Development building has been recognized by many institutions for its sustainable design. It has received various awards, including the Royal Institute of British Architects’ International Award and the Excellence in Structural Engineering Award from the Structural Engineers Association of Arizona.

My tour ended with a quick quiz for the students and a Q&A session. As I looked around at our future engineers, I wondered what innovations would come from those minds.

For them, designing or constructing a building will not be about meeting different levels of green building standards. To these engineers, they will just call it - building.

To learn more about NAU’s green programs and LEED buildings, go to nau.edu/green Opposite page: Photography by Amanda Voisard

Current page: Photography by Jerry Foreman

December 2010 | greenliving az 49

Feature

Eco-TravEl Close to Home

BY BARBI WALKER

If

you want to see Arizona’s beautiful snow country this winter (without the hassle of snow tires), look no further than Grand Canyon Railway.

The railway, under new owner Xanterra Parks and Resorts, is now an eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable railway. Morgan O’Connor is the Director of Environmental Affairs for Xanterra and, according to some, the main force behind helping Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) go green.

O’Connor, who has a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning and 10 years of experience in land planning, joined GCR to help with their green transition.

“I was tasked with creating and implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS),” O’Connor said via email. According to O’Connor, the railway uses 100 percent waste vegetable oil (WVO) to run its engines and to take visitors to and from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Additionally, they “eliminated the need to tap into the aquifer for 14,500 gallons of water per round trip, and use an alternative water source – rainwater and snowmelt catchment [for the special steam engine trips],” O’Connor said.

This clean-burning, 100 percent renewable fuel is collected from the railway’s kitchens in Williams and the South Rim at the Grand Canyon. O’Connor said the WVO has less than half of the

50 greenliving az | December 2010

particulate matter (PM) and criterion pollutants than diesel fuel, and no sulfur.

“The remaining WVO comes from the Frito-Lay plant in Phoenix,” O’Connor said. “This closes a loop on a waste stream that most restaurants pay to have hauled away to a landfill. By reusing this waste, we close the loop.”

Alternative fuel is just the beginning of GCR’s sustainable efforts.

Xanterra’s environmental consciousness is woven into the fabric of its business model down to the employees, said Chris Lane, Xanterra’s Vice President of Environmental Affairs.

The railway proudly boasts of its environmental certification from the esteemed International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The ISO is made up of 163 countries that develop and publish international standards of environmental management.

According to ISO’s website, the ISO 14001 Certification is given to companies that identify and control the environmental impact of their activities, products or services; continually improve environmental performance; and implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets.

The list of the railway’s environmentally conscious efforts is long greenlivingaz.com

Feature

and impressive; from paperless billing to collecting used batteries, to replacing all showerheads with low-flow models. Low-flow showerheads have helped GCR reduce its water use by 10 percent.

The company encourages employee participation in the process toward increasingly sustainable practices. According to Lane, it’s been great to see how employees have embraced sustainability.

Some of their sustainable efforts include collecting phone books, which are then donated to a local company that converts them into home insulation products; bringing in used aerosol cans and car batteries so GCR can keep them out of landfills and dispose of them properly; and burning used oil in the railway’s commissary and maintenance facility heaters.

You can breathe easier knowing even the carpet and paint on the GCR train are low-VOC – so even those with respiratory concerns can enjoy the train ride to one of the world’s seven wonders.

Famed architect Paolo Soleri coined the idea “Arcology,” which espouses the ability to create cities with the amenities of urban living, yet minimize the impact of environmental damage and stay in harmony with the surrounding environment.

If you are looking for something different for your vacation this year, and want to have less impact on the environment, try one these local eco-friendly destinations!

SOURCES garlandslodge.com, iso.org, theannabelinn.com, thetrain.com, xanterra.com

Barbi Walker is a freelance writer and an award-winning journalist.

Barbi lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son.

While up north, you can also visit other eco-friendly spots such as Garland’s Oak Creek Lodge just outside Sedona. This 1900s homestead B&B has its own organic garden and apple orchard.

The chef prepares delectable meals with these homegrown fruits and vegetables. Guest rooms are TV and telephone-free, which gives you a perfect excuse to sit on the porch and do nothing except take in the awesome canyon views. Guests can also collect eggs with the chef from the B&B’s chickens for your morning omelet. Hiking, yoga and fishing are other eco-friendly things to do while you recharge yourself at Garland’s.

There’s also Annabel Inn in Cottonwood, where owner Annabel Sclippa is so committed to being green that her cleaning detergent is made from berries harvested from trees. Soap Nuts, as it’s called, has been used for centuries as a natural detergent, according to Roger Naylor’s “Arizona eco-friendly bed-andbreakfasts” article on azcentral.com.

For the ultimate eco-vacation, visit Arcosanti. Just 70 miles north of Phoenix, Arcosanti isn’t just a destination, it’s an education on going green.

According to its website, arcosanti. org, Arcosanti houses 5,000 people and demonstrates ways to improve urban conditions and lessen the destructive impact on the earth.

Top and Left: Photos courtesy of Annabel Inn Opposite page: Photos courtesy of Grand Canyon Railway

greenlivingaz.com

December 2010 | greenliving az 51

Travel

Happy Holidays Joyeuses Fêtes Felices Fiestas Trevlig Helg Boas Festas Mutlu Bayramlar Sarbatori Fericite Jie Ri Yu Kuai Bones Festes Tanoshii kurisumasu wo Buone Feste Ii holide eximnandi Forhe Feiertage Prettige feestdagen Hau’oli Lanui

A GLOBAL GREEN HOLIDAY

BY CARRIE SIMMONS

C

ountries the world over celebrate winter holidays. Although much of Christmas has been commercialized, there are still many holiday traditions that remain unique to different nationalities, giving the world a special diversity. Many of these traditions use natural resources, making them green by design.

Mixing some of these worldly customs into your own traditions not only adds flavor to your holidays, but can turn the season a bit greener.

The Salutations Instead of sending holiday cards, which is a great tradition but it requires a lot of paper, people in parts of the British Isles go from house to house caroling. A tradition that was brought over to America in its early days and was once popular is making a comeback. Greeting neighbors with songs of joy and love for a happy holiday season is much more personal than cards, and it can be a fun family or group activity. Last year we attended a caroling party. The hostess created little songbooks for the kids and parents. We were served hot chocolate and cider, and off we went caroling. Everyone had a lot of fun, and neighbors even joined in as we strolled along.

Delivering of Sweet Treats In the U.S., many people exchange homemade baked goods like cookies, fruit cakes or bread, but delivering all these treasures means spending a lot of time and fuel driving from house to house. In Canada, they have a solution. Instead of delivering the cookies from house to house, one family hosts a cookie party.

Each family brings ingredients for one type of cookie and the bowls and mixers necessary to make them. Then they meet at one house and spend the day chatting and baking cookies. Another tradition is exchanging butter cookies for Hanukkah. At the end of the party, each family goes away with a variety of cookies to enjoy at home or share with their neighbors. It saves gas and makes cookie-making a fun, new family tradition.

Decorations In Nigeria, they use palm fronds to decorate the house. In fact, many cultures use greenery beyond the evergreen to decorate. In Sweden, they use apples. Here in Arizona, we have the benefit of having green plants year-round. Using some trimmings after pruning live plants outside is easy on the environment and can make for a festive house. Last year, I trimmed my citrus and sumac trees and placed them in vases around the house just before our holiday party.

In some parts of South America, instead of decorating a fresh evergreen tree, they decorate a large branch, or cluster of mediumsized dried branches. They string it with lights, paper flowers and other ornaments.

52 greenliving az | December 2010

Here in Arizona, many people take it a step further and go native by decorating a live cactus. The great thing is that Christmas trees can come in all shapes and sizes, it’s more about the love that goes into it than the color of its leaves.

Gifts In many parts of the world, holiday gifts are handmade works of love. This tradition not only shows the gift recipient how much you care, but it decreases the footprint of the gifts you give. Think about store-bought gifts, not only the materials used but the process to get the gift from raw form into its present form, and the transportation to get the gift from the factory to you, then multiply that by the number of gifts each person gives and the number of people giving gifts, and you end up with a huge impact on the environment. While making your gifts won’t always be a good fit (I’m not saying no toys for the kids this year), it’s definitely something to consider.

For more information on holiday traditions from around the world, visit theholidayspot.com.

Carrie Simmons is the producer of Travel With Kids, a family travel documentary series airing on television around the world, and has traveled to five continents in search of adventure. For more information on the series, visit TravelWithKids.tv.

Holiday ideas from other countries: Plant a seed. In Malta, they plant wheat seeds weeks before Christmas, so that they sprout just in time for the big day. In that island country, they use the sprouts to decorate for the holidays. Seeds could just as easily make a good gift.

In Japan, they decorate with paper lanterns, which can easily be made using colorful tissue paper and small wooden rods.

Painting on the tissue paper can make each gift unique.

Papier-mache is always a good green project, since it uses old newspapers and flour for glue. In Venice, Italy, the papiermache mask is traditional and easy to make using a balloon as your form.

Homemade candles are a nice gift to give for Hannukah or Kwanzaa. You can make candles rolled from beeswax or get melting wax from a craft store and dip your own candles. You should make nine candles for Hannukah (eight for lighting and one shamus or lighter candle) and seven for Kwanzaa (three red, three green and one black). greenlivingaz.com

Professional Photo & Video Services

As we stuff suitcases, car and coolers, remember to pack some travel tips this holiday from our eco-traveling experts.

Jim Fausel, CEO of meetGCA, global travel planning and management services, suggests: • When booking the hotel reservation, find out if the property uses green practices, such as linen recycling, low-flow water heads or motion sensitive thermostats.

• Inquire on the hotel’s website whether its on-site restaurant uses locally-sourced food or has a food-donation program.

• Shared airport transportation not only reduces carbon footprint, but is a great way to save money without compromising any time schedule.

• It sounds basic and simple, but you’d be surprised how many people rely on taxis in major cities, even though public transportation in markets like Tokyo, San Francisco, New York and almost all European gateways is easier and cheaper to use! Start walking and start using public transport. You’ll be amazed at what you experience!

• Instead of buying travel books, there are apps available for your cell phone that can provide maps, event schedules, restaurant suggestions and things-to-do at your destination.

Carrie Simmons of Travel with Kids TV suggests: • Stay in locally-owned places.

• Seek out local craft/farmer’s market for lunch and or souvenirs.

• Research environmental ethics in national parks (i.e., don’t drop anchors in coral areas, stay a good distance from wild animals like dolphins or turtles).

• If your hotel has an environmental policy like not washing towels that are hung back up, or sheets that have a card placed on them, be sure to follow it. If they don’t have such a policy, suggest one to the manager.

• Support organizations, activities or hotels that make efforts to protect the environment or the local surroundings.

480.460.FILM

www.HighResMedia.com @highresmedia

greenlivingaz.com

December 2010 | greenliving az 53

Book

Zapped WRITTEN BY ANN LOUISE GITTLEMAN REVIEWED BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

You alwaYs set two alarms.

It’s a habit you got into while in college, and it’s served you well. The smell of coffee might wake you, but there’s no sense in risking things. What about the other risks you take? Hitting snooze, making toast, taking a shower, even working can be bad for your health, as you’ll see in the new book “Zapped” by Ann Louise Gittleman.

Take a look in your living room and count the number of electronic devices in the room.

Chances are you’ve got more electronic equipment than you had five years ago, and surely more than you had two decades ago. While you might think you can’t live without your Smartphone, coffeemaker, TV or electric shaver, Gittleman says it’s possible you can’t live with them, either.

It takes electricity to move muscles, and our brains contain a bit of magnetic substance, implying that we are walking electromagnetic machines. The problem is that devices we live with today are bombarding us with unnatural magnetic fields and emissions that are overloading our bodies and attacking our immune systems. Author Ann Louise Gittleman plugs in to the latest research to warn her readers about the dangers of merely existing in today’s society. She offers tips to minimize day-to-day dangers, and even provides helpful recipes. Gittleman says electricity and radiation, while undoubtedly useful and necessary parts of civilization, are causing health epidemics. How to protect yourself? Gittleman suggests keeping your cell phone as far away as possible from your body. If you must talk on it, switch sides often. Turn off wireless routers when not in use; they radiate for over 500 feet. Keep your laptop off your lap. Talk to an expert about the lighting in your surroundings. Pay attention to any towers or electrical generators nearby.

Because it’s filled with an awful lot of new-agey, far-fetched-sounding information, “Zapped” might be easily scoffed at, but read awhile, and what you’ll learn will worm its way into believability, until everything makes chilling sense.

If you can’t live without your cell phone or computer, or find yourself itching for the next great gadget to be released, you owe it to yourself to read “Zapped.”

Rio Salado College Café Goes Green

Special Advertisement

BY DAviD StAuDAcher

Rio Salado College recently opened a new café at its main site in Tempe. Michael Hodgins, Cafe Manager and Director of the Sustainable Food Systems program, is celebrating the new facility more than anyone.

“I started working at Rio Salado in February and I’ve been waiting for the cafe to open since then,” Hodgins said. “My staff and I have been working out of a neighbor’s kitchen for the past six months, which is a long time for a chef to be away from their kitchen.”

As an executive chef at Bon Appétit, a sustainable-foods contractor in the Valley, Hodgins found his passion for organic and sustainably grown foods. Now at Rio Salado, he is able to use that passion to benefit the college’s students, employees and community neighbors with an abundance of fresh options.

“The café features energy-efficient appliances, trayless dining, compostable and recyclable food and beverage containers, and the interior is decorated with environmentally friendly paints and adhesives,” Hodgins said. “We strive for zero-waste generation through comprehensive recycling and composting.

We also feature seasonal menus, locally produced food, and food that is produced using humane labor practices.”

According to Hodgins, a big element of remaining sustainable relies on the cafe chefs’ relationship with Valley farmers, ranchers and artisans to see what products are at the peak of freshness. Products selected at the peak of freshness are featured in the café’s daily specials, allowing chefs creative freedom to use what is being harvested from local farms.

“By developing partnerships with local producers, the cafe is stimulating the local economy while reducing food miles,” Hodgins explained. “In turn, the café receives and prepares better-tasting ingredients.”

While the café is beneficial to the college’s faculty, staff and the local community, it is an integral part of the Sustainable Food Systems program as it serves as a sustainable teaching kitchen for students.

“The cafe is more than just a place where food is served,” Hodgins said. “Students participating in the program will work in the café as part of an internship. This will allow them put into practice hands-on what they have been learning online.”

Students in the Sustainable Food System program will learn about the real food movement, how food is produced and purchased, and even preparation techniques for the cooking and baking process. They also contribute to the fresh product selection. Vegetables grown as part of the Organic Gardening class are prepared and served in the cafe.

“There is so much to learn about sustainability,” Hodgins said. “There are a lot of people using the term ‘green,’ but this program will truly show them a more in-depth look at what sustainability and being green means.” To learn more about the Café @ Rio, visit riosalado.edu/cafe.

Photography courtesy of rio Salado

54 greenliving az | December 2010

greenlivingaz.com

Artist

RON RUFUS An interview with artist Ron Burns

BY ABIGAIL GILMORE

R

ufus was one special puppy that, 20 years ago, inspired painter Ron Burns to start painting pets. Ron and his wife, Buff, were at a gathering in Sedona when they met Rufus. They saw him being picked on by a bunch of ranch dogs and found out that he was abandoned and was going to be brought to a local animal shelter the next day. Being the animal lovers that they are, Ron and Buff decided to take the pup home.

Rufus was a special dog, Burns said, and the two soon grew attached. Burns even gave Rufus a nickname, “Velcro.” Burns had painted before they adopted Rufus, but had never painted pets. “I’m a self-taught artist, so I was teaching myself to paint and learn color,” Burns said. “Rufus would motivate me and give me inspiration to paint.”

Burns said painting pets was like nothing else he had done before. “If I paint the eyes first on the canvas, I feel they can tell me how to paint the rest of the body and truly capture their energy and spirit,” Burns said.

Painting wasn’t enough for Burns. He wanted to do more for the furry friends who make such memorable additions to our families. He wanted to give back to the local shelters that regularly save abandoned animals. Burns uses his talent for the greater good and donates proceeds from his paintings to shelters throughout the country. “When I do a gallery show, I will ask that the gallery partner with a local shelter, and then donate a portion of sales to that shelter,” Burns said.

Burns also partnered with the Humane Society of the United States to help stop dog fighting. One of his paintings of a pit bull is featured on a shirt with text that reads, “Prize Not Fighter.” Proceeds from shirt sales benefit police programs that crack down on dog fighting.

Burns said his pets are forever members of his family, and he urges people to check their local shelters, especially around the holiday season, if they’re looking for a new pet. The Petique shelter, located at the Biltmore Fashion Park, features dogs and cats available for adoption, as well as pet accessories and some of Burns’ artwork.

“It reminds people to adopt,” Burns said. “If you buy anything [from Petique] it supports the Humane Society.”

Note from the E-I-C This holiday, if you are considering bringing a pet into your home, please consider a local shelter. There is an abundance of abandoned animals waiting for love and security. Please research the best pet for your lifestyle and personality. If you experience behavior problems with your new pet, reach out to training programs at local pet stores - your pet wants to please you, but you need to work together.

Pets are a commitment, not a convenience.

Photography courtesy of Ron Burns Studio

greenlivingaz.com

Petique is located at the Biltmore Fashion Park. For more information, please visit azhumane.org.

December 2010 | greenliving az 55

Conservation

Arizona Winter Wildlife

BY EDWARD R. RICCIUTI

S

easonal migration, either downhill or southward, is a behavioral method that not only causes humans to flock to Arizona when winter grips the north, but makes the state a birder’s hotspot, boasting one of North America’s finest wildlife spectaculars.

The highlight of the birding year in Arizona is the immense concentration of sandhill cranes – more than 40,000 last year – in Cochise County’s Sulphur Springs Valley. The birds, which stand more than three feet high with an 80-inch wingspan, begin arriving in fall, and will remain until February and March. Afterward they’ll head back to breeding grounds on the northern plains, even as far as Alaska and eastern Siberia.

With a total world population of more than a half million, the sandhill crane is the most abundant crane species. It is widely distributed throughout North America, in intermittent fashion. Six subspecies – half of them migratory – are known.

Small, rare resident populations exist in Florida, Mississippi and Cuba.

Sandhill cranes are primarily birds of open freshwater wetlands, especially shallow marshes and seasonal lakes, but can also be found in bogs, sedge meadows and fens, even open grasslands, pine savannas and agricultural lands. Nests are mounds of wet vegetation located in shallow water. A nesting pair has one or two eggs and both adults take turns incubating them.

In Sulphur Springs Valley, the cranes concentrate near the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near Douglas and the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area. The cranes have become an ecotourism draw and are the focus of a major annual birding and nature festival, Wings over Willcox, in its 18th year this January. The festival includes birding in the area of the playa, a vast, self-contained drainage basin. Last year, 139 species were tallied, including ruddy ground-dove and greater scaup, a duck also known as broadbill or bluebill. Arizona is located on the Pacific Flyway, making it a migratory channel for a surprising number of waterfowl species. Scaup – greater and lesser – are among those that winter in Arizona or migrate through. Others include the ruddy duck, ring-necked duck, northern pintail, bufflehead and blue-winged, greenwinged and cinnamon teal.

“Arizona is not a high-profile duck and goose magnet like Chesapeake Bay or the Mississippi Delta,” notes the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Only about 5,000 Arizona hunters go annually for waterfowl, as opposed to 10 times that number for quail. With plenty of ducks around, the low number of hunters makes for a good experience.

The variety of raptors also increases in the state during winter. A good place to look for them is the Robbins Butte Wildlife Area (RBWA), just southwest of Buckeye. Among the raptors seen there is the whitetailed kite, an exceedingly rare species that breeds in a few places along the coast of California and Gulf of Mexico. The annual Gila River Christmas Bird Count, held in the wildlife area, has tallied more than 115 species of winter birds there.

RBWA totals more than 1,500 acres. It was selected in the 1950s as an area especially suited to managing for waterfowl. Its habitat

56 greenliving az | December 2010

includes upland desert, with creosote bush and white bursage, former farmland, dense salt cedar thickets and river bottom with cattail marshes and willows. One of the most common mammals there is the ringtail.

Another prime raptor spot is the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, established in 1993 with the purchase of the White Mountain Hereford Ranch. Near Eagar and Springerville, it attracts wintering bald eagles as well as golden eagles, osprey, kestrels and peregrine falcons.

Sipe lies in the shadow of Escudilla Mountain and includes forests, meadows, abandoned homesteads and reservoirs. Among its animal residents are gray fox, striped skunks, badgers, mule deer, pronghorn, elk and Merriman’s wild turkey.

Birds are not the only Arizona wildlife on the move and evident in winter. Bighorn sheep and mule deer undergo an altitude elevation, moving down from higher elevations. Desert bighorn range over windier areas during the winter months, moving away from water sources because they obtain their moisture from green vegetation at this time of year. Elk are on the move as well. Winter is a good time to see them at the Sipe area, according to Game and Fish.

Elk in the White Mountains often emerge into open juniper grasslands during the winter, and can sometimes be seen with pronghorn. Look for them after heavy snow at higher elevations.

The White Mountains are considered a top winter wildlifewatching region of the state. Some good spots, besides the Sipe area, include Pintail Lake at Allen Severson Memorial Wildlife Area, Jacques Marsh and Wenima Wildlife Area.

An Arizona resident that is seldom seen during the winter is the black bear. Contrary to what many people believe – and even what some otherwise authoritative sources suggest – bears do not really hibernate. Hibernation is more than a winter’s sleep. The body temperature drops substantially, even to just above freezing, and breathing is barely perceptible. Bears do not zonk out to this extent; rather, they become increasingly lethargic. Their metabolism, including breathing and temperature, drop only slightly. They sleep but can – and sometimes do – wake up, especially during mild storm spells. Most Arizona bears do undergo this slowdown during the winter. It is then that cubs are born, most often in January.

For information on Wings Over Willcox, visit wingsoverwillcox.com or contact the Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, (520) 384-2272, (800) 200-2272; 1500 N. Circle I Road, Willcox, AZ 85643.

Edward Ricciuti has covered conservation issues around the globe. His specialties include natural history, environmental and conservation issues, science and law enforcement. He was a curator for the New York Zoological Society, now the Wildlife Conservation Society. He has written more than 80 books, with his most recent The Snake Almanac (The Lyons Press).

greenlivingaz.com

Sweat Treats

The Perfect Bite three weeks. The best part is the size - one is able to splurge on dessert without feeling like they cheated on their diet, Moran said.

BY ABIGAIL GILMORE

B

ringing a hostess gift to a party or gathering is customary these days, but how many bottles of wine does one hostess need? Though that may be debatable, that’s exactly what native Courtney Moran was thinking when she came up with the idea for her business in August 2009, The Lollicake Company.

“If you are anything like me, you will agree that taking red wine as a gift for a dinner party or bunko is boring!” Moran said. “Taking a dessert is a great idea, but they go bad so quickly - and come in a heinous brown box.” Enter Lollicakes.

Lollicakes are bite-sized cakes covered in hard-shell chocolate, served on a stick. “It is the perfect ratio of cake to frosting - therefore there is never a dry bite,” Moran said. “We all love cupcakes, but they are too big, and get frosting all over your face,” she added. “When you bite into a cupcake, you typically get a bite with either too much cake or too much frosting” – making Lollicakes a perfect compromise.

Lollicakes are also made to freeze and save them for another occasion or a time when you just need a bite of something sweet. Lollicakes keep in the freezer for up to three months and in the refrigerator up to

Lollicake orders can be customized, mixing and matching any of the ten flavors, including Triple Vanilla, Peanut Butter Chocolate and Lemon.

The dessert is presented as a flowerpot bouquet (that can also be customized to match a color scheme or event), with the hope that the pot will be reused in people’s homes and gardens. “I know people with collections of our flowerpots on their patio,” Moran said. Also, the paper sticks are 100 percent biodegradable.

Lollicakes are sold online at thelollicakecompany.com and at AJs Fine Foods. Delivery is available in the Metro Phoenix area and shipping is available throughout the U.S. Lollicakes is located at 739 E. Dunlap Ave. Phoenix (602-441-4646).

Conserve energy and protect your furnishings with Madico Window Films.

Installing Madico Window Films is a smart way to lower energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions. Our films reject up to 80% of solar heat in summer months and help to retain interior heat in cooler months, saving money on heating and cooling costs all year long. In addition, Madico Window Films reject almost 100% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, which over time will fade furniture, fabrics, walls and floors in your home.

To learn more about how Madico Window Films can reduce your energy costs, call Dennis Labadini at 480-628-8907 or e-mail him at dlabadini@madico.com.

greenlivingaz.com

December 2010 | greenliving az 57

APPLE BREAD PUDDING Serves 8-12 8 cups cubed bread (croissants or your favorite bread) 1 can apple pie filling 1 tsp. flavoring (caramel or vanilla)

1 2 3 4

5 cups whole milk 8 eggs and an additional 4 egg yolks 1 tsp. cinnamon Deep baking dish (suggested 13x9)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together apple pie filling, flavoring, milk, eggs and cinnamon. Place cubed bread in baking dish. Spread pie filling evenly over cubed bread then let sit for 5 minutes.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until bread is golden on top and evenly firm. Cool for 15 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Keep leftovers refrigerated. For an added flavor, throw in about ½ cup raisins or Craisins®.

Recipe courtesy of The Glass Onion Cafe 1990 W River Rd | Tucson | 520-293-6050 glassonioncafe.net

Christmas Pesto Brie Serves 25-36 2 pound wheel of Brie 5 tbsp. parsley, minced 6 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

1 2 3 4 5

10 sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), finely diced 2 1/2 tbsp. oil from sun-dried tomatoes

12 cloves garlic, minced 5 tbsp. basil, minced 4 tbsp. pine nuts, chopped

Chill Brie and remove rind from the top.

In a sauté pan, place oil from the sun-dried tomatoes over medium heat.

When warmed, add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add parsley, basil and pine nuts. Cook until the pine nuts are golden. Remove from heat.

Stir together sautéed ingredients with diced sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. Let the mixture cool.

Take Brie (with the rind removed) and spread a layer of the mixture on top. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Allow to stand in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Serve with crackers.

Recipe courtesy of Mary Heitmeyer, co-host of the Healthy U TV Show and Owner/Executive Chef of ChefDujour.

Photography by Kathy Bourgot

PEPPERMINT PATTY MARTINI 1 1/2 oz. organic vodka 1 1/2 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur 1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps 1 oz. of half and half

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Add all ingredients and shake well.

Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a peppermint stick.

Recipe courtesy of Keith Clausen.

Keith has been a mixologist for 14 years and for some of the finest resorts and restaurants in Arizona.

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Great Food • CraFt Brewed Beer Fine wine • espresso & CoFFee Live MusiC • LoCaL art

GREAT FOOD • CRAFT BREWED BEER

FINE WINE • ESPRESSO & COFFEE LIVE MUSIC • LOCAL ART

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Join Us For Some Green Drinks Networking, Have One Of Our Tasty Creations And Enjoy One Of Arizona’s Largest Selections Of Wine And Craft Brewed Beers N. C

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Join Us For Some Green Drinks Netwoking, Have One

HOURS of Our Tasty Creations and Enjoy One of Arizona’s 7.

1 Mon. - Thurs. .7:30am 11:00pm • Fri. - Sat. 7:30am - 12:00am Largest Selections of Wine and Craft Brewed Beers 7 28 9 Sun. 8:00am 3:00pm HOURS Z • 9

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Mon. - Thurs. 7:30am WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS

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CHECKFOR FORCOMING COMING EVENTS EVENTS •• WWW .RAVENCAFE.COM CHECK W W W.RAVENCAFE.COM FOOD Organic, Grass-Fed Beef From Local Lost Cabin Ranch • Sustainable Fish Honolulu Fish Company • Organic Valley Eggs • Local Whipstone Farms Eggs • Organic Salad Greens and Spinach • Horizon Organic Cheddar, Provolone, Mexican and American Cheeses • Local Pangaea Sourdough and Bruscetta Breads • Strauss Yogurt • Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes

BEVERAGES Horizon Organic Dairy • Silk Soy Milk • Rice Dream Rice Milk • Locally Roasted Organic, Fair-Trade Shade Grown Coffee and Espresso • Swan Sisters & Maya Teas • Organic Lakewood Lemonade • Valley Orange Juice • Knudsen Apple Juice • Organic Monin Flavoring Syrups • All-Natural Blue Sky Cola • Reed’s Ginger Ale & China Cola • Organic Beer & Wines

RECYCLED GOODS Seventh Generation Recycled Paper Towels, Toilet Paper and Napkins • Corn Plastic Cold To Go Cups • Recycled Hot To Go Cups NATURAL CLEANERS Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Soap & Iodine Sterilizer • Citrasolve Floor Soap • Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner & Dish Washing Fluid • Ecover Dish Tablets • Biokleen Surfactant

WASTE Frying Oil Donated To a Local Biodiesel Manufacturer • Glass, Plastic, Tin, Aluminum & Cardboard Recycling By Earth Business • Vegetable Compost Donated To Karma Farm WE SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND USE ORGANIC, NATURAL & BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE

He’s Green She’s Green

She is: Jennifer Burkhart He is: John Burkhart

Our green couple won’t suffer from chapped lips this winter! They’ve scoured the shelves for the greatest, greenest lip balms to keep their kissers soft.

Whole Foods Organic Lip Balm, “Peppermint”

USDA Organic, petroleum-free, not tested on animals

Organique by Himalaya LipCare, “Soothing Lotus Flower”

He said: From a guy’s perspective, all lip balms are pretty much the same. For me, deciding factors are cost, ingredients, effectiveness and flavor – in that order. The Whole Foods brand has multiple flavors I like. It lasts just as long and moisturized just as well as the most expensive tube we bought. It’s USDA certified organic, and it’s $1 to $2.50 cheaper than all the other lip balms we reviewed. I would buy this one every time.

He said: With ingredients like rosemary, fennel, turmeric and licorice, the back of the Himalaya tube looked more like a recipe for dinner than a recipe for lip balm.

He gave it:

The Merry Hempsters Organic Hemp Balm, “Orange”

She said: Although there are quite a few impressive botanicals in this one, it has an overpowering licorice...rolled in patchouli....rolled in dirt scent. Only pick this one if you really, REALLY like licorice or patchouli scents. Other than that, I liked it. It has the smoothest texture of all we tried, feels fantastic on your lips (hardly waxy), and is long-lasting. This one also wins in design. It has an awesome Gumby head-shaped cap! I have been waiting so long for lip balm companies to get a clue and make a cap that isn’t slippery and hard to remove. Good job Organique! But I’m still wondering what Lotus flowers smell like?

She gave it:

USDA Organic, petroleum-free, no animal testing, gluten-free

USDA Organic, Oregon Tilth Certified, petroleum-free, not tested on animals

She gave it:

He gave it:

However, I’m not a fan of the way this smells at all. If I’m gonna put something a quarter inch from my nose, it better be a scent I enjoy. I do like how inexpensive it was though.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Organic Lip Balm, “Naked”

She said: Creamy and smooth, this one impressed me for being a store brand – and what a deal at $1.99! It was very moisturizing with rich coconut oil and long-lasting too. I’m partial to mint lip balms, and this one is delightfully minty! I found myself applying it more than necessary, just for that “I stuck my lips in the freezer” feeling.

He said: Dr. Bronner has been making soaps for 60 years! I remember their medicine-looking soap bottles around our house when I was a kid. Unfortunately, their lip balm isn’t as good as their soap. It was a little on the greasy side, and seemed to wear off faster than the others. I do like how uncomplicated their ingredients are – out of five, I knew four of them without doing any research (it turns out Tocopherol is basically Vitamin E). This brand gets an extra star for not testing on animals.

She said: This one would be great for the North Pole, but it’s a bit much for the Arizona weather. I’d rather not laminate my lips with a thick layer of wax, thank you. On the plus side, the texture is smooth, and it’s made with hemp seed and avocado oil. Both are great moisturizers, and avocado oil has even been found to increase the amount of collagen in the skin – hello gorgeous!

She gave it:

He gave it: He said: This lip balm has a very waxy consistency and had a very sweet orange taste. It reminded me way too much of those sugar-coated gummy orange wedge candies. I kept wanting to eat the whole tube! It kept my lips moist and lasted a long time. The ingredients are pretty straightforward: hemp oil, beeswax and orange oil. If you like having candy lips, go for it, but this one’s not for me. By the way, I didn’t eat the whole tube.

She said: I’ve never tried a hemp balm before, and was excited to try this one. I know what you’re thinking – and no, it’s not made from the same variety of the cannabis sativa plant. The orange scent is yummy – not too strong and not too light! The texture is smooth, though a touch on the waxy side. It was interesting to learn that hemp seed oil is extremely good for your skin. It contains about 80 percent essential fatty acids. They have a vegan line too!

She gave it:

He gave it: USDA Organic, Oregon Tilth Certified, petroleum-free

60 greenliving az | December 2010

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Cool Outrageous

6 [Latro Algae Lamp

1 [Wuzzie Frog Who knew plastic bottles could be cuddly! This adorable, soft and snuggly frog from Mary Meyer is one of many toys that will brighten your child’s day. Find this froggy friend and others locally at Tucson-based Nurturing Nature, an Eco-Boutique.

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7 [ Rainbow Floor Mat Fireflow O1 Candle Lava Lamp No plugs required! The Fireflow Lava Lamp from Mathmost uses fire from a simple tea candle to create captivating lava liquid effects.

Available online at mathmos.com

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This lamp by designer Mike Thompson uses living algae as its power source.

The lamp’s algae only need sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to survive, so placing the lamp outside or breathing into it is strongly suggested.

Energy produced by the algae is stored in a battery, so you can use the lamp at night! Find the Latro Algaue Lamp at miket.co.uk.

Wild Grass Solar Garden Lights These Wild Grass LED lights provide the perfect eco-friendly ambiance using solar power. The lights come in a three-sprig set of fiber optic lights that can be arranged however you please. Wild Grass LED lights are powered by a 0.2 watt solar panel that charges a rechargeable NiMH battery. The battery can provide around six hours of lighting from only eight hours of sunlight. Find these lights on envirogadget.com and on amazon.com.

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Wearable Genetics

This is no ordinary floor mat. The Rainbow Floor Mat is made from recycled tape measures! This colorful mat is durable and easy to clean, and can bring any drab, dull floor to life. Find similar recycled rugs at vivaterra.com or inhabitat.com

8 [Banana Wall Graphic designer and artist Stefan Sagmeister created a giant Banana Wall as part of an art installation for the “Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far” exhibition.

Over 10,000 bananas were used to create the piece, which showcases the motto “Self-confidence produces fine results.”

The piece will gradually change as the bananas ripen! To view more of Stefan Sagmeister work, visit sagmeister.com. To learn more about the Banana Wall, visit designyoutrust.com.

9 [Magazine Bowl This fairly-traded handmade bowl was created with recycled magazines by artisans in Vietnam. This bowl is one of many created through a project that promotes self-reliance for woman and youth through education and training. Find this bowl locally at Tucson-based Nurturing Nature, an Eco-Boutique. nurturingnaturegoods.com

5[

Ever seen cancer genes on a shirt? Inspired by the FOR THE PITS need for awareness, designer Darrin Grandmason “Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails. That’s designed “In Our Genes,” a new eco-friendly clothing what little boys are made of!” Stinky Boyz is a line that combines science, fashion and compassion brand new line of all natural personal hygiene to change the world of disease. The shirt shows the products for boys with a sports theme! They genetic footprint of one of the 20 most common come in fun sporty packaging like baseball, diseases printed on the front of the shirt. There is a soccer, football and basketball. The deodorant is hidden panel inside the shirt where you can write a aluminum free. Designed for boys ages 8-18. permanent personal message (fabric pen supplied). $5 from every shirt purchase goes directly to a research. Learn more at inourgenes.com Send us your cool and outrageous finds to submissions@greenlivingaz.com

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December 2010 | greenliving az 61

Green Scenes

December Events

After Hours Gallery December 3 – 17 Home Sweet Home: A Gingerbread Show Benefiting NHS Phoenix When: Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit afterhoursgallery.com, or email info@afterhoursgallery.com.

Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL) & SPCA December 9 Tailwags & Handbags Spend an evening expanding your social and professional network with other fashion-forward, female, animal-loving professionals.

When: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa 4949 E. Lincoln Dr. Scottsdale 85253 For more information, visit aawl.org/handbags.

Phoenix Green Chamber December 7 Green Drinks #59 When: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Café ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho December 9 Monthly Meeting When: 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., Networking 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Where: The Phoenician 6000 E. Camelback Rd. Scottsdale 85251 For more information, visit arizonagreenchamber.org/Phoenix.

Desert Botanical Gardens December 9 – 30 Las Noches de Las Luminarias Each night of Luminaria, the Garden comes to life with the soft glow from more than 8,000 handlit luminaria bags. As you walk the paths with a warm cup of cider, the sounds of handbells ringing and Dickens Carolers singing remind you of what the season is all about.

Please visit dbg.org for event information and ticket prices.

Scottsdale Green Building Lecture Series December 2 Rainwater Harvesting and Water Reuse When: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Is there enough annual rainfall in the desert to collect and reuse? What is the difference between passive and active rainwater systems? Is rainwater the same as stormwater? Learn about successful rainwater harvesting projects.

For more information, visit scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding.

62 greenliving az | December 2010

Phoenix Zoo November 25 – January 9, 2011 ZooLights When: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets: $10 ($8 Zoo members) valid Sun.-Thurs. evenings. $12 ($10 Zoo members) “Any Night” tickets, Ticket can be used any night of ZooLights.

Free: Kids 2 years and younger are free any night of ZooLights.

December 18 Breakfast with Santa When: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Reservations are required, call 602.914.4333.

Tickets: Adults $25, Children 3-12 years $10 For more information, please visit phoenixzoo.org.

Phoenix Permaculture Guild December 4 Tour de Coops 2010 When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Do you like urban fowl and creative people? Come check out the Phoenix Tour de Coops, the self-guided tour of the Valley’s coolest urban poultry setups!

For more information, visit phoenixpermaculture.org.

Valley Forward December 3 Annual Luncheon When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Hyatt Regency Phoenix 122 North 2nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85004 This year’s keynote speaker will be world-renowned wildlife photographer, Joel Sartore.

For more information, visit valleyforward.org.

Technicians for Sustainability December 4 Household Hazardous Outreach Sites Site is open to collect HHW items from residents.

When: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: Oro Valley at 440 W. Calle Concordia Southwest Tucson, at 1102 W. Irvington Rd. East Tucson at 7575 E. Speedway Blvd.

For more information, visit tfssolar.com

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) December 4 Wildlife Christmas Party Guests will have the opportunity to make and deliver enrichment activities as presents to SWCC wildlife such as foxes, bears, bobcats, and cougars. Call 480-471-3621 Where: Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center 27026 N 156 St, Scottsdale, 85262

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Green Pages

Who released the Volatile Organic Compounds?

Choosing the right printer can help reduce the amount of VOC’s released into the environment.

Eco-Friendly Printing

Let us show you how at: www.eco-friendlyprinting.com 623.582.0099

Find trusted green businesses

Jen McDonald, Proud Owner of Tucson’s Hottest Hippie Cafe Locally Owned and Operated Homemade Soups and Sandwiches • Garden Fresh Salads Homemade Desserts • Smoothies • Italian Sodas • Coffee Drinks Breakfast Served All Day... Everday!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • LIVE MUSIC www.glassonioncafe.net

Vegetarian & Vegan Items Available

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Glass Onion Cafe 1990 W. River Rd. at River & La Cholla Crossing (520) 293-6050

Heart Healthy Menu

December 2010 | greenliving az

63

Green Personalities What is the Shift Arizona campaign?

The Shift Arizona campaign aims to educate people about the benefits of shopping locally, and prompt them to shift 10 percent of their spending to local businesses. The campaign came from a study that took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the end of last year. It showed that if everyone in that community simply shifted 10 percent of their spending from national to local businesses, it would create 130 million new dollars re-circulating in that community and 1,600 new jobs.

How do you plan to measure the change?

BY HEATHER FULTON

Kimber Lanning

What is your role with Local First Arizona and the Local First Arizona Foundation?

I’m the Executive Director of both Local First Arizona and the Local First Arizona Foundation. Local First Arizona provides a means for people to better connect with locally owned businesses. Another Local First Arizona mission is to help people understand that we have been “buying ourselves broke.”

Our society seems to have a never-ending thirst for cheap goods manufactured far, far away – which is economically and environmentally impossible to sustain and hurts local businesses.

What is the Local First Arizona Foundation?

The foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life and our communities by helping people understand the role local businesses play in any community. They help fund our nonprofits and human services via local sales tax revenues.

What was the inspiration behind the fireman on the Local First Arizona website?

I met a woman who bragged about doing all of her holiday shopping online. Later on she told me her husband was a firefighter. When I told her that the money she spent outside the local system could have been used to fund her husband’s salary, her face dropped – she’d never thought of it that way before.

Sixty-seven percent of the city’s sales tax goes toward police and fire alone, and another 17 percent goes toward human services like senior centers and libraries. It is critical that we understand if we don’t buy local, we won’t have sales taxes and will have to forgo those services. Lately, my favorite saying is, “Are we willing to fight our house fires with garden hoses?”

We created a calculator on our website that allows you to determine how much of your money will return to the community after you’ve pledged to shift 10 percent of your spending to local businesses. When people participate in the Shift Arizona campaign, we are able to track how much has been pledged based on location, and we’ll keep an ongoing tab throughout the year.

As the owner of Stinkweeds record store in Phoenix, how have you achieved your goal to encourage and support local live music?

We focus on independent labels and imports, and we have a huge consignment section where local artists and musicians can sell their CDs. We do whatever we can to support local bands that are on tour and sell their music through stinkweeds.com.

Since the demise of printed weeklies and record stores, there are fewer ways for people to find out about live music. I started SilverPlatter about a year ago to help support the live music industry. SilverPlatter.info is an online database that supports and promotes musicians and bands touring through Arizona, as well as local bands that play original music (sorry, no DJs). The database is essentially a one-stop-shop to find out what’s playing around the Valley. It lists who’s in town, regardless of genre, and hosts different contests where people can enter to win free tickets to shows and other events.

Pledge to shift 10 percent of your spending to local businesses today. Visit shiftarizona.com to learn more.

Name a favorite song on your playlist.

“Rolling Sea” by Vetiver.

What’s one of the strangest things you’ve seen on the light rail?

Two senior women dancing to a song titled “You do the Heimlich,” (about the Heimlich maneuver) by The Orchestra band during Train Tracks.

What’s your favorite flavor of tea?

White pomegranate or chamomile.

Fun Fact: Kimber has followed a meatless diet since she was 18 years old.

Photography by Chris Loomis

64 greenliving az | December 2010

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Gift Card

This Season, Give the Gift of Healthy Eating Special Holiday Offer Receive $5, $10, and $25 bonus gift cards for every $25, $50, and $ 100 worth of gift cards purchased between now and December 31, 2010. See store manager for details.

Gift cards available at any Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen. For locations, visit www.picazzos.com.