Jan/Feb 2009 - Indiana Living Green by Indiana Living Green

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S : ENERGY • •

Wind power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Utilities‘ green energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

FAMILY/HOME/EDUCATION

PUBLISHER Lynn Jenkins Lynn@IndianaLivingGreen.com (317) 769-3456

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T R A V E L / T R A N S P O R TAT I O N •

EDITOR Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp Editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com CONTRIBUTORS Mary Ellen Gadski tom mcCain Wenona Napolitano Marianne Peters Betsy Sheldon Jennifer Streisand Maria Smietana COPY EDITOR Joseph L. Bennett SALES Sales@IndianaLivingGreen.com (317) 769-3456

Art - ReUse/ReOrder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Green wedding options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 No idling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

F E AT U R E S • • • • • • • • • •

Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Green Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Green Finds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Green, Greener, Greenest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Leader of the Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Green Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Publisher’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Rants & Raves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Last Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Take a few minutes to tell us about yourself. Please fill out our readership survey on page 15 or on the ILG Web site.

DRAWN CONCLUSIONS

GRAPHIC DESIGN Paul Wilson Design (317) 624-9900 WEB DESIGN Margaret Hsu Stout greenway@margaretdesign.com PRINTING The Papers Milford, Indiana SUBSCRIPTIONS $18, six issues Indiana Living Green 1730 S. 950 E. Zionsville, IN 46077 CIRCULATION 25,000 INDIANA LIVING GREEN is published bimonthly and is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

T H E VISIT

GREEN 1. Don’t let the car warm up on cold mornings. Newer engines don’t need the long warm-ups that older cars did. 2. Learn the reasons behind green actions and adopt more sustainable habits. 3. Use a programmable thermostat to keep the home more energy-efficient. Wear wool sweaters and socks; use electric blankets or drink a cup of hot tea or chocolate to combat a chill rather than turning up the heat.

JANUARY 2009 10

GREENEST 1. Park and go inside, rather than use fast food and other drive-through lanes. 2. Register and attend Conservation Day at the Statehouse Jan. 27. Contact your legislators about greening up Indiana. 3. Consider the options for sustainable, high-efficiency heating – geo-thermal or solar – when you next upgrade your system.

ON THE COVER: Wind energy picks up legislative and public interest in Indiana. See page 8. © iStock

Eagle Watch 2009, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Patoka Lake Visitor Center, Birdseye. Indoor and outdoor programs. Pre-registration required. Fee: $5. • Info: (812) 685-2447.

12-14 The Power of Conservation: Building a Sustainable Future, Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Conference. • Info: www.iaswcd.org 17

Indiana Organic Gardener’s Association Quarterly Meeting, 11 a.m., Zionsville Library, 250 N. 5th St. Member presentation of visits to European organic farms. Pitch-in lunch; bring own table service and drink. Public welcome. • Info: (317) 758-4789 or www.gardeningnaturally.org MLK Fest, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis. Peace Learning Center's 11th annual event features music, theater, art and poetry workshops, plus African drumming and more than 25 community booths. • Info: (317) 327-7144 or tnation@peacelearningcenter.org

(Through March 28) Bloomington Winter Farmers' Market, 9 a.m. to noon, Harmony School Gym, 2nd Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Indoor market features live music, chef demonstrations and breakfast. • Info: www.localgrowers.org

Slow Food Indy Annual Meeting, Normandy Barn, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St. Delegates to Terra Madre in Torino, Italy, will speak about how their experiences will impact central Indiana. • Info: (317) 921-4619 or www.slowfoodindy.com or slowfoodindy@gmail.com

Prairie Wildflowers at Clegg Gardens, 7 p.m., Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society’s West Central meeting, Lilly Nature Center in Celery Bog Nature Area, West Lafayette. A presentation by Jim Peterson, manager of Clegg Gardens. Open to the public. • Info: (765) 583-2275 or sueandtedulrich@msn.com

Conservation Day at the Statehouse, Indianapolis. Sponsored by the Indiana Conservation Alliance, a statewide network of more than 30 nonprofits presents a unified voice for the protection and wise use of natural resources. Free, but please register: www.nature.org/indiana or call (317) 951-8818.

GREENER 1. Encourage others to eliminate idling to conserve fuel and keep the air clean. Check with your child’s school to see if it has a no-idle policy. 2. Support businesses that are proud to show their green side. 3. Have a home energy audit. And follow through with the recommendations to tighten up your home.

www.IndianaLivingGreen.com FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE CALENDAR!

29-31 Protecting Indiana's Aquatic Resources, Sheraton Indianapolis City Center Hotel, Indianapolis. Joint meeting of the Indiana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and Indiana Lake Management Society. • Info: speel@ksafortwayne.org or www.indianalakes.org

FEBRUARY 2009 6-8

Eagle Watch Weekend, Lake Monroe, Chapman Restaurant, Bloomington. • Info: www.eaglesatlakemonroe.com Eagle in Flight Weekend, Turkey Run State Park and Inn, Marshall. Birds of prey. • Info: (877) 500-6151.

Green Drinks Indy, 5:30 p.m., Deano's Vino, 1112 Shelby St., Indianapolis. Public invited. Indiana Recycling Coalition presentation. Everyone welcome. • Info: www.greendrinks.org or greendrinksindy@gmail.com

SUBMISSIONS

Indiana Living Green offers ways for YOU to make a difference.

GREEN C A L E N D A R

Please submit calendar items by visiting our Web site:

www.IndianaLivingGreen.com or e-mail calendar@IndianaLivingGreen.com

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GREENGreetings!

Lynn Jenkins, Publisher

Help the economy: Buy local How telling that it took a severe economic crisis to stop business as usual. All the calls for change fell mostly on deaf ears until the checkbooks of big businesses were touched. At ILG we feel the hit, just as many businesses have, but only the AIGs and GMCs get public and congressional attention. Like many, we are looking for ways to stretch our budgets and trim expenses, hoping to hold our own till things turn. When your own personal budget tightens, please spend wisely, supporting those businesses you want to survive these rough times. Shop our advertisers and local businesses. Let them know you appreciate their efforts to make our state green. Buying local is a central principle of sustainability and economic security. Cost and convenience are not the definitive considerations, since often, it may be less handy to make extra stops to purchase from local producers and retailers. But when dollars are short, keep them close at hand rather than sending them across the country, or worse, across the world. Support green businesses that care about the triple bottom line — people, planet, and profit — which locally includes you AND the environment. Encourage a greener, cleaner Indiana by attending Conservation Day at the Statehouse on Jan. 27. Stand with hundreds of other Hoosiers to tell our legislators that we do not consider clean water, clean air and our natural resources as “chopping block” material. Coordinated by the Indiana Conservation Alliance, a coalition of about 30 non-profit organizations, Conservation

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

RANTS ANDRAVES LETTERS FROM OUR READERS Dear ILG: Undoubtedly Mr. (Mark) Finch did his research well (Food vs. Fuel, November/ December 2008), but he needs to get his nose out of the propaganda long enough to take a ride in my part of the country. He would discover that the farmers in East Central Indiana are doing the same thing they've always done, namely rotating corn and soybeans from year to year because that's what replenishes the soil and is a hedge against one or the other crop tanking on price. It's also hard to imagine that anyone who drives a Mercedes is credible when it comes to writing about farming. Now if he owned a bug-eyed Sprite, that would be a different story! Stephen J. Cooper, Upland

Stand with hundreds of other Hoosiers to tell our legislators that we do not consider clean water, clean air and our natural resources as “chopping block” material. Day has made a powerful statement since its inception just a few years ago. In numbers, our concerns are better heard. For more information, visit the ILG Web site. See you at the Statehouse! LY N N J E N K I N S

Mark responds: While the farmers in Mr. Cooper's neck of the woods may be rotating their crops as usual, the prices of other grains have, in fact, been pushed up nationwide as growers decide to plant more corn. Not to cause Mr. Cooper or anyone else alarm, but recent news stories have even raised the specter of a possible increase in beer prices as a result of smaller harvests of barley and wheat. And as a matter of fact, I do own a bug-eyed Sprite — so there!

Oops! In “Guilt-Free Diapers” (September/October 2008), an incorrect Web site was given for Green Mountain Diapers. The correct URL is: www.greenmountaindiapers.com

Please send your Rants&Raves to: Letters@IndianaLivingGreen.com Fax: (317) 251.8545 Indiana Living Green 1730 S. 950 E. Zionsville, IN. 46077 3

LEADER OF THE GREEN BY BETSY SHELDON

More than idle talk “ This saves us money, improves air quality, helps toward energy independence—and positions city employees to set an example,” says Brainard.

The Japanese Garden at Carmel City Hall.

It’s no accident that Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard’s commitment to sustainability begins where the rubber meets the road. “The typical suburban American makes 11 trips a day at an average of 9 miles a trip,” says the city’s four-term mayor. “By designing cities the way we did years ago, we help make the average car trip shorter and less frequent.” In Carmel, retro urban design has resulted in development of a walk-to city center and a hike/bike path that connects many neighborhoods to shopping and entertainment. Executive orders have mandated use of hybrid or flex-fuel vehicles for municipal operations, when available, and banned idling by the city’s 400-plus vehicles. “This saves us money, improves air quality, helps toward energy independence—and positions city employees to set an example,” says Brainard. (Please see No Idling on page 6.) The mayor’s roundabout initiative, which resulted in more than 50 circular intersections throughout Carmel, has earned the city national recognition, has reduced accidents by 80 percent and

SUBMISSIONS

decreased fuel consumption by 24,000 gallons per roundabout per year. Thanks to Brainard’s efforts, Carmel received a first place Climate Protection Award from the United States Conference of Mayors in 2008. The mayor serves as co-chair of the organization’s Task Force on Climate Protection. The city was national runner-up of The Home Depot Awards of Excellence in Community Trees. The Republican mayor has initiated other programs, such as testing wind power and fueling the wastewater treatment plant with recaptured methane gas. And Carmel has turned an expense — $300,000 a year to dump sewage sludge into a landfill — into a potential asset: The facility converts the sludge into rich topsoil and plans to package and sell the product. Plants that grew in the topsoil in the mayor’s garden are “definitely much larger and healthier than the others.” “We all know we’re not going to fix global warming with one thing. But a multi-faceted approach brings big change, little by little,” Brainard says. Betsy Sheldon has done her best to make a career out of vacationing. The book author, magazine editor and contributor to travel and lifestyle publications has been writing about travel since living in Israel as a young adult. Now, as an old(er) adult, she's rediscovering familiar destinations through green lenses.

Leader of the Green provides snapshots of Hoosiers who embrace, promote and foster a sustainable lifestyle. If you have someone to recommend, please e-mail: info@IndianaLivingGreen.com www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

GREEN N E W S B R I E F S Architects propose greening up the White House Washington, D.C. — The American Institute of Architects has offered to help Presidentelect Barack Obama advance his goals of promoting green buildings and focusing on the needs of urban areas. The AIA has recommended that a highlevel adviser on green buildings be a part of the White House team to coordinate executive branch activities and to promote these issues to the public. The 150-year-old professional organization has offered to assist in the development of a White House Office of Urban Policy that would be focused on infrastructure. And, the AIA would like to work with the administration to develop plans to make the White House an international model of energy efficiency. For more information: www.aia.org/walkthewalk

three each; Missouri, two, with one of the five worst; Kansas, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arkansas, two each. Minnesota was unique because it has one of the 10 worst plants, but no second plant among the 50 worst. The three Indiana power plants cited in the study: IPL in Pike County, NiSource in Jasper County and Indiana Kentucky Electric Corp. in Jefferson County. For the full report: www.environmentalintegrity.org/pub566.cfm

Indy ranks 46th in oil preparedness San Francisco — Indianapolis ranked 46th in a new study of the largest 50 U.S. cities and their readiness to face an oil crisis in terms of the alternatives they provide to oil dependence. At the bottom of the ranking are urban areas that largely lack public transit, telecommuting and walking or biking commute options. The top three ranked cities were San Francisco, New York and Washington. The study, conducted by Common Current consulting firm in Anselmo, Calif., comes in the wake of the housing foreclosure crisis, which originated in the completely autodependent outer edges of many of the nation’s metro areas. Record summer gasoline prices and widespread shortages that hit cities in the Southeast made for a potent combination the nation can ill-afford again to face unprepared. To read the full report:

www.commoncurrent.com/publications

ENERGY

ENVIRONMENT

Indiana hits ‘Dirty Dozen’ list

Brita launches filter recycling program

Washington, D.C. — Indiana landed on the Dirty Dozen list of states with the highest mercury emissions, most of which come from coal-fired power plants. The report from the Environmental Integrity Project, a non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank, rates the power plants in terms of both sheer mercury pollution and mercury pollution adjusted per kilowatt-hour. The 12 states with the most plants in the top 50 in terms of mercury pollution are Texas, with seven, including half of the 10 worst; Pennsylvania, five; Alabama, four, including the worst plant and also two of the 10 worst; Georgia, four, including one of the 10 worst; Ohio, Indiana and North Dakota,

Oakland, Calif. — In January 2009, Brita will launch a recycling program for its pitcher filters. In a partnership with Preserve, a brand of 100 percent recycled household consumer products, made by Recycline, the filters will be turned into toothbrushes, cups, cutting boards and other goods. The No. 5 polypropylene plastic from the filter casing will be used by Preserve in its line of products. The filter ingredients — activated carbon and ion-exchange resin — will be regenerated for alternative use or converted into energy. Preserve goods made in part from Brita

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

filters will be available at leading retailers, allowing consumers to purchase new sustainable products they helped create. Under the Preserve Gimme 5 program, select Whole Foods Market stores will begin collecting No. 5 plastics and used Brita pitcher filters. Consumers can drop off their used, dry Brita pitcher filters at participating stores or mail them directly to Preserve. Full details and instructions on both options, including a complete list of Gimme 5 stores, are available at www.brita.com

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BUILDING

Nature center opens at Marian College Indianapolis — Marian College has opened the Nina Mason Pulliam Nature Center, a companion space to the popular EcoLab, a wetland area at Riverdale, the school’s historic landscape. The center occupies the former indoor swimming pool area in the basement of Allison Mansion, which is adjacent to EcoLab. The center allows for the accommodation of many more students, scientists and other researchers, said David Benson, a biology professor and director of EcoLab. It will serve as a gathering place for EcoLab programs and as a place for lunch or breaks. In bad weather, students can participate in videoconference programs, interact with mobile exhibits and conduct hands-on experiments. The major renovations are completed. Work will continue on the steps, brickwork and other areas throughout the school year. The new nature center is funded by a $550,000 gift from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. For more information: http://wetland.marian.edu

For the latest news about green living, visit: www.IndianaLivingGreen.com Submit your news items with high-resolution images to: editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com

Cool Your Jets © iStock

BY MARIANNE PETERS

Do you sit at the drive-through with your engine running, even though the line isn’t moving? Does your car idle in the school pick-up lane? Do you warm up your car for fifteen minutes on chilly mornings because you just can’t stand to sit on a cold car seat? A warm car is comfortable, but consider these facts:

• An idling engine gets zero miles to the gallon. For every two minutes a vehicle idles, it burns the amount of fuel it takes to drive one mile. • The average person idles his or her engine five to 10 minutes a day. In this era of fluctuating pump prices and low air quality, who can afford to burn that much gas and not get anywhere?

Idle no longer Engines used to benefit from idling. But with today’s technology, driving a vehicle is the best way to warm it up, even in winter. Prolonged idling can eventually damage cylinders, spark plugs and exhaust system components because an idling engine is not working at peak temperature. The fuel doesn’t burn efficiently, causing build-up. Turning the engine on and off doesn’t wear out the starter or burn more fuel. Those are myths: Idling more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine. Idling wastes fuel and money, and it also causes fine-particle pollution, which is emitted from car and truck exhaust, industrial sites, dirt, dust, smoke, road salt and

other sources. Fine particles embed deep in the lungs, causing not only asthma, but also other breathing difficulties, particularly for the very young and the elderly.

Schools take lead School grounds are some of the most polluted areas in the country as vehicles line up to transport kids. Research links high pollution levels at schools with increased absenteeism and lower academic performance. However, school districts throughout Indiana are taking steps to improve their air quality. Plymouth School Corporation in Marshall County, located in north central Indiana, instituted a bus idling policy in 2008. Rick Scott, director of

transportation, says fuel costs were a factor, as well as health concerns. The bus drivers were open to the idea. “There was some concern about keeping the buses warm on cold days,” he said. “But with today’s diesel engines, three to five minutes is sufficient for a warmup.” Douglas MacArthur Elementary in Indianapolis’ Perry Township has not only made its grounds a no-idle zone, but it also monitors overall air quality. Science students in teacher Cherie Ramos’ fourth-grade class check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencysponsored Web site www.airnow.gov every day for the local air quality rating. They record what they find and report it to the school nurse who may have children with asthma to treat. Finally, the students display a flag that indicates that day’s rating. The flags, provided by Improving Kids’ Environment, an Indianapolis-based non-profit, match the colors used on the EPA Web site. “This is the easiest program I have ever initiated,” Principal Stephen Craig says. “I spent $200 on a nice flagpole — that’s it!” He’s convinced that it’s having an impact on the kids through aware-

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ness and, more immediately, their health. Boys and girls with asthma tell Craig they are no longer afraid to go outside for recess; on green days, there’s less pollution to trigger an attack. Other organizations, communities and corporations also have taken action against unnecessary idling. For instance, in Bloomington, Indiana University has ordered drivers to turn off shuttle bus engines if idling three minutes or more. Last summer, Carmel instituted a no-idle policy for city vehicles. The City of Indianapolis also is investigating a no-idle policy for municipal vehicles.

What you can do Want to get out of the idling habit? Here’s how: • Avoid drive-throughs. It’s usually just as quick to go inside and take care of your business. • If you have to wait in line, turn off your engine if it looks like it might take a while. • Turn off your engine on school grounds. Instead of staying in your car, hop out and meet your child at the door. • Don’t warm up your car. We often under-dress for the weather, relying on our car heaters to keep us toasty. Dress in warm layers appropriate for the temperature and weather conditions. • The best solution for the planet? Find alternative transportation. Instead of a car, walk or ride a bicycle to your destination if you can, use public transportation or carpool.

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

Dirty business — An idling bus emits a lot of grit, grime and other pollutants.

RESOURCES: • Air Now www.airnow.gov gives detailed information on air quality nationwide, and you can monitor the air quality right where you live. • Improving Kids’ Environment www.ikecoalition.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing environmental threats to children’s health, runs the Smart School Don’t Idle program. • Indiana Department of Environmental Management www.idem.IN.gov/greensteps, a program that promotes healthy school environments. • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/antiidling, a national idle-reduction program for schools and general information about the impact of idling. Marianne Peters is a freelance writer and editor living in Plymouth. She has a Web site: www.wordsmithwritingservice.com and Weblog: hoosierwordsmith.typepad.com

WIND

POWER © iStock

GATHERS STRENGTH

The public is more engaged in energy issues than ever, said state Rep. Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend, who is optimistic that the Indiana General Assembly will pass one or more bills this session to speed the development of wind energy. It has taken what seems a long time to get to this point because a paradigm shift is always a challenge, said Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. “It requires a certain comfort with the technology of integrated wind and non-coal resources going into the electricity system,” he said. “The other barrier has been overcoming myths that have prevented passing incentives to promote the technology.” The primary obstacles have included erroneous beliefs that there is not enough potential for wind and biomass in the state and that the technology is too expensive. Biomass is anything derived from plants, trees or animal content that is used to produce energy. Kharbanda said the argument has shifted to “ ‘well, okay, maybe it’s not that expensive, but you know wind doesn’t blow that often, so it can’t be very effective.’ ”

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

Photo courtesy BP Wind Energy

BY JENNIFER STREISAND

Fowler Ridge Wind Farm was set to come on line late 2008.

Even as two commercial wind farms in Benton County — the Benton County Wind Farm and the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm — receive statewide and national publicity, some Indiana homeowners have thrown their energy needs to the wind, too. One of those making the financial and environmental investment in wind energy is Bill Polk, who lives about

seven miles north of Evansville in Haubstadt. “Depending on how much electricity we use, we are anticipating that our system will produce 40 percent to 50 percent of the power for our home. That is the goal,” he said. Polk contracted with Evansville-based Morton Energy to construct the turbine. —Continued on page 10

In Bargersville, about 20 miles south of Indianapolis, Phil Mirise is finishing the installation of his wind turbine to complement the solar equipment already in place at his residence. The solar array provides about 90 percent of the power for his home. He expects the wind turbine to produce the rest. Environmental and financial concerns motivated Mirise to commit to alternative energy. The first thing he did was install a geothermal heating and cooling unit. “Our house was typical in construction to many other homes, not built with energy efficiency in mind, and it cost a great deal to heat and cool it,” he said. Mirise is working with ECI Wind and Solar LLC, in Fairmount to install the turbine. The company also installed the solar array. The cost of installing a wind turbine varies depending on the site and application. Polk and Mirise did their research, and then chose a contractor they thought was accessible and reliable. The two state policy issues that could convince more Hoosiers to use alternative energy for their homes and businesses are a concrete renewable electricity standard and an expansive net-metering law, Kharbanda said. A renewable electricity standard would require utility companies to buy a certain percentage of electricity from renewable resources. Such a requirement likely would stimulate production of wind energy in the state, such as the production at the Benton County Wind Farm. Duke Energy and Vectren have long-term agreements to buy the power that is produced by the farm, said Eric Burch, communications director of the Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development. Fowler Ridge Wind Farm, a partnership between BP Wind Energy and Dominion, was set to come on line in late 2008 and produce 400 megawatts. When built to capacity, Fowler Ridge will produce 750 megawatts, making it

Photo courtesy BP Wind Energy

WIND POWER GATHERS STRENGTH Continued from page 9

At capacity, Fowler Ridge will be one of the largest wind farms in the Midwest.

“ The biggest problem with wind power at this point is that it’s intermittent.” There are battery systems to store electricity, but right now they are very expensive.” one of the largest in the Midwest. Besides increasing the amount of power produced by wind, a renewable electricity standard would generate 4,000 to 6,000 jobs and $4 billion to $6 billion in new investment in the state, Kharbanda said. In October 2008, President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, a financial rescue plan. The bill included an extension of the Production Tax Credit, which is intended to facilitate commercial-scale wind farms, said Mark Hayes, Indiana press secretary for U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. The bill also extends and expands some investment tax credits to encourage more smallscale wind production. Lugar has been a staunch advocate of renewable energy,

initiating research and authoring legislation to help reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil. The Hoosier Environmental Council also is advocating state legislation that would expand net-metering requirements. This would directly affect homeowners and businesses that install wind turbines. Currently, state law allows only homeowners and K-12 schools with a system less than 10 kilowatts to use net metering. Net metering means that the customer puts a certain amount of electricity into the grid, and the utility company gives the customer credit for any power that is not used. The concept is supposed to — over the longterm — pay for the customer’s investment in an alternative energy system and reduce utility bills.

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T H E State Rep. Dvorak has authored netmetering legislation almost every year since he was elected in 2002. So far, however, an expansive net-metering bill has only been passed by the Indiana House, with no complementary bill in the Senate. Such legislation would open the field of wind energy to Indiana businesses that want to make the investment, said Dvorak. “We would like to increase the capacity of net-metering because it’s larger systems that are a lot more common these days because there is significant interest for using these systems from businesses that want to be more competitive with their energy prices.” Currently, if a business wants to generate power from wind turbines, it has to negotiate its own agreement to get hooked up to a utility, and the utility is not required to do so, Dvorak said. Net-metering legislation would make it easier for businesses and utility companies to work together to install renewable systems. “Right now there is really no incentive for a lot of customers to look at getting renewable energy like wind systems because it’s just too complicated to get a hook-up agreement with their utility, and the benefits of being able to feed power back into the grid for credit are not obvious,” Dvorak said. Hoosier Energy REC, Inc., which is an energy cooperative, has set up wind

turbines in Jasper and outside of Sullivan as pilot projects to provide information about how effective wind energy currently is in the state, said Caleb Steiner, renewable energy specialist. Members of an energy cooperative include the consumers of the electricity because they technically have voting rights. So far, the results of the pilot project are not as encouraging as expected. “The costs of the installs are getting up to a point where you are not getting a return on your investment if you are going to put one of these up,” said Steiner. One of the reasons is Indiana’s very low electricity rates. Another obstacle is finding a cost-efficient way to store the electricity that wind produces. “The biggest problem with wind power at this point is that it’s intermittent.” There are battery systems to store electricity, but right now they are very expensive, he said. But for Bill Polk, the positives of having a wind system are outweighing the negatives, including improving the environment in his neighborhood. “For the most part, the neighbors are pretty excited, and a few have even asked, ‘Can we put one up?’ We tried to talk several of them before we put the turbine up to make sure that no one would have any issues. For the most part, everyone is pretty accepting.”

GREEN

SCENE Indiana Living Green is pleased to offer the following events designed to help Hoosiers lead a “greener” lifestyle!

SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY MARCH 14, 9-NOON

Greening Your Outdoor Space S P O N S O R E D

B Y

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful SATURDAY APRIL 4, 9-NOON

Updating Your Home To Green S P O N S O R E D

B Y

Holliday Park and Integrative Solutions

FOR MORE INFORMATION • • • • • •

SATURDAY MARCH 28, 9-NOON

Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development, www.energy.in.gov Hoosier Environmental Council, www.hecweb.org Hoosier Energy, REC, Inc., www.hepn.com Indiana Renewable Energy Association, www.indianarenew.org Morton Energy, www.mortonenergy.com ECI Wind and Solar LLC, www.eciwindandsolar.com

Greening Your Lifestyle (Place to be determined)

Jennifer Streisand, a freelance writer based in West Lafayette, has written more than 100 business articles and taught undergraduate courses in communications at Purdue University. A former broadcast journalist, she holds an Indiana teaching license in English and journalism.

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

Free info, resources and ideas will make the Green Scene a great preface to Earth Day Check the website for updates and registration information

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BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

EVERYDAY OBJECTS

E R E E R O D R D

Art

An exhibit at the Indianapolis Art Center celebrates how everyday objects, found items and other reused or recycled materials can be repurposed into art. ReUse/ReOrder invites people to look at items in a new way, based on how they are reworked as art.

INFORMATION ReUse/ReOrder Jan. 30 through April 29, 2009 Indianapolis Art Center Marilyn K. Glick School of Art 820 E. 67th St. (317) 255-2464 www.IndplsArtCenter.org

“The overall exhibit topic is not overtly green, but rather speaks to the methods by which items have been given a new life, new perspective through art,” said Mary Lee Pappas, communications manager for the center. Most of the work on exhibit is by Midwest artists, including Doug Calish from Crawfordsville. Besides the group show, which runs Jan. 30 through April 29, the center will have two solo components: Artifacts from self-making: Artworks by Rene Zettle Sterling, in the Sarah M. Hurt Gallery, and Rock covers paper, paper covers rock: Installation by Patrick Miceli in the Allen W. Clowes Gallery. “We have the space to create exhibits of this nature where whole bodies of work in a similar theme by so many different artists can be shown in tandem. And this work will be for

sale,” Pappas said. As part of the exhibit and to help us find the potential objet d'art in our lives, the center will present Rubbish: Reuse Your Refuse, noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 7. Local author Kate Shoup, who describes herself as “taken with projects that involve materials otherwise destined for the scrap heap,” will conduct the workshop Author of three books, including Rubbish: Reuse Your Refuse, Shoup will show how to upcycle, breathing new life into stuff otherwise destined for your junk drawer or a landfill. In this workshop, you’ll construct an artful photo frame made entirely of recycled items, as well as explore other projects featured in her book, which each participant will receive. Pappas reminds us that artists have been recycling for centuries, and that

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Photo courtesy Indianapolis Art Center

Toxic, a mixed media painting of Britney Spears, by Matthew Friday, whose work frequently focuses on how history can loose objectiveness and how history happens.

the Art Center been recycling since 1934, when it got its start as a government WPA project. For example, sawdust from its woodworking studios is used in ceramics for raku firings. The Indianapolis Art Center sees itself as part of the global community and is concerned about lessening our environmental footprint. Besides the usual recycling and energy-savings steps, the Art Center has restored the White Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bank in ARTSPARK. It also has removed invasive plants and replanted native species.

INDIANA LIVING GREEN: A HOOSIER’S GUIDE TO A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE

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Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

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Say

‘Ido’ Green Weddings to

B Y W E N O N A N A P O L I TA N O

ith all the love at weddings, some eco-friendly couples remember their Mother (Earth) and opt for shades of green for their invitations, venue, wedding clothes, food, flowers and transportation. Wedding couples should not feel like they need to do everything green. Rather they can pick and chose what works best for their special event and their guests. Indiana Living Green looked at weddings and offers this sampling:

Photo courtesey BLU Boy Chocolate Cafe and Cakery

It’s All About the Dress

BLU Boy cake displays fresh flowers.

The dress is often the first thing a bride thinks about when it comes to getting married. There’s the vision from years of dreaming about the big event and how she’ll look walking down the aisle. There are several eco-friendly options when it comes to getting a green gown. The bride can wear a family heirloom, find a stylish pre-owned gown, opt for a vintage beauty, have one made from sustainable fibers or purchase an earth-friendly ready-to-wear. Search for pre-owned or vintage gowns at second hand stores, consignment shops, thrift stores, antique stores and the Internet. Conventional bridal shops are starting to carry Deborah Lindquist and other eco-friendly wedding designers. There are several eco-designers online, too, where brides can purchase gorgeous green gowns either off the rack or custom made. The gowns and other attire are made from hemp, silk, bamboo and organic cotton blends.

Tuxedoes Usually at the insistence of the bride, the groom eventually thinks about what he, the best man and groomsmen will wear. Fortunately, they can rent their tuxes or they can check out vintage shops, second-hand stores and online resources for their attire, including some made with eco-friendly fabrics.

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Location, Location, Location Indoors or outdoors? Elegant or rustic? When you think of a green wedding location, what comes to mind? Nature? Definitely, though you can still have a great green wedding indoors when you choose an eco-friendly site that has implemented sustainable practices into their business or one that gives part of their proceeds to charity. Traders Point Creamery in Zionsville offers three distinct choices for weddings: the Loft, which will seat 100; the rustic Red Barn, which accommodates 300 for a sit down dinner; and the outdoor deck and garden area for 100 guests. Traders Point is an organic dairy farm and creamery with beautiful gardens, unique charm and warmth, that is both cozy and stylish. It offers onsite catering or the wedding couple can provide their own food, as long as it’s organic. Winchester Place in Greenwood also offers indoor and outdoor options for weddings and receptions. The 1912 American Four-Square has a warm, homelike atmosphere to accommodate receptions and other events. Owner Garnet Vaughan said green events in Indiana are in less demand than they might be on either coast.

such as Brown County State Park, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Sunken Garden at Garfield Park in Indianapolis.

Invitations

Greenwood’s Winchester Place.

However, she suggested asking “for what you want at the venues to see what can be negotiated.” Winchester Place, which markets itself as “The Natural Place for Special Occasions,” is a three-acre property that includes a 1/2-acre lake, a gazebo and a 1940s garden house. For outdoor events, a 40- by 60-foot tent goes up to overlook the water. Winchester Gardens can hold about 150 people. The house can © iStock accommodate up to 100, depending on the seating. Katina Kaisher, owner of Eclectic Events & Design operates Factory 12 Event Loft in the historic Roviar Building in downtown Columbus. The upper loft has 10,000 square feet and features exposed brick walls, wood posts and beams, hardwood floors, large windows and skylights. The lower loft has 8,000 square feet with similar features. In Bloomington, for an indoor or outdoor wedding, check out historic Deer Park Manor, a 40-acre nature preserve with clubrooms furnished with fireplaces, antiques and artwork. The grounds are rich with waterfalls, fountains and beautiful gardens. Other eco-venue options can include churches, temples, mosques, museums, historical sites, college campuses, organic farms, orchards or vineyards. Several state, federal and city parks also make fine wedding venues,

One of the easiest ways to go green with invitations is to go digital. Set up a Web site or blog to take RSVPs, provide maps and registry information. Evite.com offers a wide selection of digital announcements, save the date cards and invitations that can be tracked at the site.

Send invitations made from recycled or tree-free paper. Twisted Limb Paperworks in Bloomington has been creating colorful, handmade invitations or programs from 100 percent recycled paper for 10 years. “Our handmade paper is 100 percent recycled using a combination of colored office paper, so we don’t add additional dye, junk mail, grocery bags, cardboard boxes and grass cuttings from our field,” said Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese, owner of the company. “All of the envelopes and reply cards we pair with our handmade papers are also 100 percent post-consumer waste, recycled and proces-sed chlorine free. Even the see-through vellum is 30 percent post-consumer waste, recycled and processed without chlorine.” —Continued on page 20

19 © iStock

SAY ‘I DO’ TO GREEN WEDDINGS Continued from page 19

Catering Some caterers specialize in organic menus, but just about any of them should be willing to use organic ingredients upon request. Local, seasonal selections are also good choices when it comes to the food. It’s hard to get locally grown tomatoes in winter, for instance, but squash is available. The more local the caterer and the food, the smaller the carbon footprint for delivery.

The Cake Other than the attention focused on the bride and groom, the cake is often the centerpiece of the reception. After going organic, local and seasonal on the rest of your menu don’t skimp with the cake. Blu Boy Chocolate Café and Cakery in Bloomington offers chocolate culinary creations sure to make mouths water as the ooh and ahh. Blu Boy’s cakes are made with local eggs, butter and organic vanilla. Sounds delicious. It also offers other organic and vegan options.

BLU Boy cakes are made with local ingredients. In Spring, peonies, such as these from JP Parker’s farm, are a popular choice for brides.

Flowers People probably think all flowers are eco friendly. Sadly, this is not the case. Most cut flowers come from South America, the Netherlands or California. Many of them have been sprayed with pesticides or treated with chemicals so they will retain their color and stay fresh longer.

Depending on the season, there are green options available. Just like food, flowers are seasonal. In Indiana, peonies bloom in spring, roses in summer, asters in fall and for winter weddings? Well, there are holly berries, dried flowers and more. Local growers, such as Harvest Moon Flower Farm in Spencer, Fragrant Farms in New Harmony, or JP Parker Flowers in Indianapolis and Franklin, provide large selections of seasonal blooms.

“We provide complete wedding floral services using organically grown flowers harvested on our farm, 12 months of the year,” said Linda Chapman, owner of Harvest Moon. “Trends are more natural than in the past, but it all depends on the bride. Now, we get brides who want natural. Sunflowers are really popular,” said Pam Parker, owner of JP Parker Flowers. She grows many flowers on her Johnson County farm, including peonies, delphinium, phlox, sunflowers and zinnias. She also has lilacs, forsythia and other shrub flowers in season. “More often, our customers ask about chemicals,” Parker said. “Flowers

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Photo courtesey BLU Boy Chocolate Cafe and Cakery

have a less restrictive list of chemicals for commercial growing than food. In third world countries who knows? I am able to get chemical-free flowers in the winter from some food wholesalers, but varieties are limited.” Years ago, local greenhouses grew for the cut-flower trade year-round, but now, there are very few because fuel prices make it nearly impossible to heat the houses. “Field crops are less expensive, but I do miss the local greenhouse goods such as snaps, freesia and lilies,” she said. Shipping crops from California can be pricey. If no one has what the bride wants, check out OrganicBouquet. com. The company ships organically grown flowers straight to you or your florist.

Photography Photography is one area the wedding couple should never skimp on. The bride and groom can never go back and recreate the memories that a good photographer will capture. To go green in the photo area, search for a photographer that offers digital photography, proofs and albums. The only photos that get printed are the ones people really want. Take that a step farther and have the photos printed on eco-friendly photo paper. For those candid shots everyone likes to have, ditch the disposables and ask guests to bring their digital cameras. After the wedding ask everyone to upload the photos to a share site like Shutterfly, Snapfish or Flickr or a newcomer, The Wedding Lens. These Web sites allow everyone to put images into albums, store them online, put them on disks, create thank you cards or other photo gifts. There’s never a need to print unwanted photos. —Continued on page 22

SAY â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I DOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TO GREEN WEDDINGS Continued from page 21

Transportation Get creatively green with the wedding transportation: think horse drawn carriage, bicycles built for two, bicycle carriages, hybrid limousines, biodiesel shuttle buses, electric cars or carpooling. Keep transportation to a minimum by having the ceremony and reception in one location and close to home. If there will be guests coming from out of town, provide an eco-friendly shuttle bus, such as one powered by biodiesel or natural gas, to transport them from the hotels to the wedding venue. Any shuttle would be better than each person driving individually. At the least, encourage all guests to carpool. Offset all the traveling done by guests and the resources and energy used for the wedding by purchasing carbon credits instead of favors.

Green Essentials In every area of the wedding, there are eco-choices. As much as possible adopt the mantra reduce, reuse, recycle into every decision. Reduce the amount of resources and waste created by using less. Ditch disposables of all kinds. This includes plates, napkins and tableware. Rent everything or, for a smaller wedding, use family dishes or purchase items that can be reused at home after the wedding, sold or donated to charity.

Living favors or center pieces, such as gerber daisies in painted clay pots, can be taken home and transplanted.

Reuse as much as possible. This can include décor, such as flowers or decorations, which can later be used in the home or those of family and friends. Make stuff do double duty: place bouquets in stands and use them as tabletop arrangements. Potted plants also make great centerpieces, which can be given to guests after the wedding for planting memories in their gardens. Recycle everything possible after the wedding. Donate leftover food to a local shelter or send home with friends and family. Compost all the scraps.

With a little bit of research, some creative ideas and the right resources everyone’s wedding can be the one of dreams and green. Please visit the ILG Web site for links to these and other resources to help you with your green event.

Wenona Napolitano is a freelance writer, poet and the author of The Everything Green Wedding Book. A certified floral designer and trained bridal consultant, she loves to help brides plan green and budget weddings. Visit her blog: www.everythinggreenweddings.blogspot.com.

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To Pay

Green Power Choices:

OrNot toPay? B Y M A RY E L L EN G A D S KI

The public’s growing awareness of the consequences of climate change has spurred electric utilities around the country to offer their customers an easy way to encourage renewable forms of energy, which do not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Consumers may choose to support power from wind, solar, biomass or hydroelectric sources for a supplemental premium on their utility bill. The question is: Are these programs effective at encouraging the markets in alternative power? Or are they merely a voluntary tax on environmentally aware do-gooders? Would a contribution to an environmental group working towards policy changes and legislative mandates be more effective? Buying green power signals that people are willing to pay a premium or renewable-resource-generated electricity, said Jesse Kharbanda, director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. “This should be of some comfort to politicians in that people are prepared to make real personal investments for a greener world.” In 2007, I enthusiastically signed up for Indianapolis Power and Light’s

Green Power Option, and was pleased with its modest price. I encouraged many friends to enroll. In July 2008 the premium more than tripled in cost, causing me to ask some questions. I decided to learn more about how these programs work, specifically those of our local utilities in central Indiana, IPL and Duke Energy. Both programs are based on the purchase of renewable energy certificates, or RECs (pronounced ‘wrecks’). Consumers are not buying green power that is being delivered straight from the source to their home. Rather, they are enabling the purchase of certificates for alternative energy that is going into the electric grid, reducing the need for energy from fossil fuel sources like coal,

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Next Reading Date - 12/05/08 50% Green Power Adjustment oil and natural gas. RECs are registered commodities and are equal to one megawatt-hour of electricity generated from a renewable facility. They are purchased separately from the actual energy, which has its own value.

Comparison of Programs IPL’s main sources of RECs are from “national wind” — power primarily generated in Texas — and methane from Indiana landfills. In 2007 Duke’s green power was generated at the Hancock County wind facility in Iowa.

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

was .0065 per kilowatt-hour. Consumers can choose the percentage of their usage that they wish to have charged: 10, 25, 50 or 100 percent. Duke’s GoGreen program is based on the purchase of 100-kilowatt “blocks,” with a minimum of two blocks required at $2.50 each. There is currently a considerable price disparity between the two programs: IPL customers pay $1.30 for 200 kilowatts; Duke customers pay $5.00 for 200 kilowatts. Participation in both programs is very modest. Of IPL’s 440,000 residential customers, approximately 3,100 people were enrolled at the end of 2008. Of Duke’s 673,000 customers, only 1,156 were subscribers at the end of 2007. This equates to less than one percent of electric users locally. Nationwide, even the most aggressively —Continued on page 26

$2.69

Its promotional literature states that it “will obtain energy from environmentally friendly generating sources located within our service area as they become available.” IPL and Duke’s programs differ markedly in how the premium is calculated. IPL’s Green Option charges a fee multiplier based on the consumer’s usage. As of fall 2008, this

TO PAY OR NOT TO PAY Continued from page 25 marketed programs typically have participation levels of between five and 15 percent. IPL’s goal for 2009 is to enroll 1.5 percent of its customers in its program. The Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission approves the plans of green power programs and requires annual reports. Neither Duke nor IPL can profit from their programs. The funds that participants pay go directly toward the purchase of RECs, program administration, and marketing. Publicity and administrative costs run about $40,000 annually for both utilities. In 2007, Duke spent considerably more for its marketing than it did for RECs. Obviously promotional costs in the start-up phase are higher in the beginning, so this lopsided ratio should change. However, participants need to

know that they are paying for the ads in which utilities promote their green image. The IURC requires the utilities to report a calculation of carbon dioxide offsets achieved by the program. For 2007 Duke calculated that its GoGreen program saved the equivalent of 8,454,885 miles driven, or 3,382 tons of carbon. In a July 2008 letter to Green Power participants, including businesses, IPL reported a year-to-date figure of 45,000 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions, or the equivalent annual electric usage of more than 6,000 average households.

Effectiveness of RECs and Renewable Electricity Standards Are renewable energy certificates effective in encouraging the markets in alternative power? “There’s no doubt

that they are nationally,” says Glenn Livers, coordinator of IPL’s program. She believes that the value of RECs is factored into making wind farms profitable. The Hoosier Environmental Council’s Kharbanda agrees that in theory RECs are a good idea; however, because their supply is outstripping demand, they have a negligible effect. “RECs are part of the revenue stream, but they are not significant,” he said. The development of a Renewable Electricity Standard, or RES, for Indiana, which would mandate a percentage of electricity from renewable sources, will be the most crucial factor towards encouraging the markets in alterative energy, he said. According to Tom Friedman, author of Hot, Flat and Crowded, “we must put into place a coordinated set of poli-

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cies, tax incentives and disincentives, and regulations to stimulate the free market in renewable energy.” Currently 26 states have adopted such an RES, including Illinois and Ohio. As a candidate, President-elect Barack Obama proposed a federal RES of 10 percent of all energy by 2012. Many environmentalists assume that there will be a federal standard requiring 15 percent by 2020. Last year, Indiana’s efforts to pass RES legislation, which envisioned 10 percent renewable energy by 2018, failed for a multiplicity of reasons. According to Angeline Protogere, Duke’s manager of communications, the legislation bogged down because of “problems such as unreasonable percentage requirements in light of Indiana’s geography and current renewable resources, unreasonable deadlines

and lack of flexibility in meeting the standards (including penalties for out-of-state but nearby renewable sources).” Kharbanda projects that a broaderbased bill that includes coal gasification (similar to Pennsylvania’s RES) might pass in 2009. In the end, individuals have to decide whether voluntary premiums on their electric bills are the best way to use their personal funds in trying to do the right thing for the environment. Until policy and legislative efforts catch up with my values, I will continue to pay the extra amount in hopes that my individual action will help demonstrate public demand for green power.

A FEW FACTS: • More than 800 utilities across the U.S. offer green power programs. • In 2007 approximately 600,000 customers nationwide participated in green power programs. • Wind energy development projects are under way in at least 15 Indiana counties, including three wind farms in Benton County. • Other electric utilities also provide green power, including Wabash Valley Power

Mary Ellen Gadski has been active in local environmental issues for more than 25 years and currently serves on the Indianapolis-Marion County Tree Board.

Bloomingfoods Ad 1/2 Wide

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

GREEN Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman, 2008, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $27.95, hardcover. Hot, Flat and Crowded refers to the convergence of climate change, a burgeoning middle class that is “flattening” disparities in wealth and a quickly accelerating global population. Despite the apocryphal tone of the title, this book is more about its subtitle: Why We Need A Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America. The introductory chapters were more enlightening about our changing world and the need for clean energy than anything else I have read. The figures on world population are staggering: Did you know that there are 47 cities in

BOOK REVIEWS China with populations over one million? That Mumbai (formerly Bombay) has swelled to 19 million? In 2007 China surpassed the U.S. as the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide as more residents seek to model the American lifestyle. As a Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times, Friedman has traveled more widely than most people in the State Department, and he has stories from acquaintances all over the world to personalize the points he is making. He is a master at presenting complex issues with clarity and common sense, whether it is the geopolitical consequences of dependence on oil or the sad history of fuel efficiency in U.S. cars.

In the chapter “Energy Internet,” Friedman presents a day in the life of a “Jetson” in the not-too-distant future. It is both entertaining and promising in its illustration of appliances with undreamed-of energy efficiency, connected to the household “smart box,” in turn connected to the “smart grid,” all saving the need to build more power plants. The challenges we face are daunting — there really are not 10 easy ways to save the planet. But Friedman is optimistic that America can lead the way in innovative, imaginative technological solutions and in doing so, recast itself as a stronger nation. BY MARY ELLEN GADSKI

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Green Cleaning for Dummies by Elizabeth B. Goldsmith with Betsy Sheldon, 2008, Wiley Publishing, $16.99, paperback. Betsy Sheldon, an ILG contributing writer, dispenses great wisdom and know-how in this indispensable book for folks interested in cleaning their homes or offices with non-toxic, sustainable products and practices. She and co-author, Elizabeth B. Goldsmith, a family resource management professor at Florida State University, lay out the rationale behind green cleaning, then take us room-by-room, step-by-step through the process of spiffing up the place. There even are instructions on how to clean the fireplace and drying laundry outdoors. They also share some of the sustainable, money-saving prac-

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

tices our parents and grandparents relied on that continue to work today. Sheldon, an Indianapolis resident who readily promotes the three Rs — reuse, reduce, recycle — does so here, too. The final chapter gives dozens of ways to incorporate sustainable living into lives, from buying local foods to smart driving techniques. The book also has an index and a resource guide. BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

Ten-aciously Green by Tajuana L. Common, 2008, Essence of Green Publishing Co., $13.95, paperback. Indianapolis resident Tajuana L. Common became passionate about sustainable living after seeing An Inconvenient Truth, the Emmy-winning documentary about

global warming. “I began to view the world and my actions through different lenses. I saw how much food my family was wasting, and I began to count the number of bags we took to the curb each week. I recognized how many paper towels I used on any given day. I have to admit, I was ashamed. My actions and thoughts slowly started to change,” she writes in the preface. Though the book may be fueled by passion, it logically links global warming to our lack of sustainable practices in easy to understand language and examples. Common quickly dispels 10 myths about global warming and embarks on chapters broken down by lifestyle, places and activities, such as home, the workplace, travel, homebuilding, babies, children, senior citizens and gift-giving. The book contains a resource guide, index and glossary of green terms. BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

GREENFINDS Shower Manager III No more wasteful showers. The Shower Manager is a two-phase device that permits a full flow of water for five, eight or 11 minutes, then slows the flow by half when the limit you set expires. There’s a beep before the flow slows to just enough to finish rinsing. Made in the United States with materials and packaging that can be recycled, the Shower Manager operates with a 9-volt battery, which is safe in wet environments. Cost: $114.99. Discounts for two or more at www.showermanager.com

Proper Methods For Pruning Grapevines Proper Methods For Pruning Grapevines is a two-DVD companion set to Lon J. Rombough’s award-winning book, The Grape Grower: A Guide to Organic Viticulture (Chelsea Green). The first DVD teaches basic grape pruning methods and the principles behind them. The second DVD includes material on a two-step pruning method to give additional frost protection and how to use layering to get new vines into production in the shortest time possible. Presented in Rombough’s hands-on style, you'll learn tricks and tips to ensure regular crops of the best quality fruit from your vines.

Eco-Friendly Fire Log TerraCycle, Inc., best known for its worm poop fertilizers, has introduced environmentally responsible fire logs and starters. The Eco–Friendly Fire Log is made from discarded wax cardboard from old milk and juice cartons, as well as shipping boxes of all kinds. Even the wrap and the box the logs come in are made with recycled paper. The log can be lit with one match, it burns for about three hours, producing very little ash and smoke. More than one can be used at a time, and the logs can be used with real wood. It burns hotter than wood, making it an excellent choice for fireplaces. And because it does not have petroleum-based chemicals, you can cook over the TerraCycle EcoFriendly Fire Log. Cost: $15.99 for a box of four logs. To find a store: www.terracycle.net

Cost: $28.50, postage paid in U.S., at www.bunchgrapes.com

SUBMISSIONS

Please send information about your green products to: Editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com, or mail to Indiana Living Green, 1730 S. 950 E., Zionsville, IN 46077.

30 www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009

THE

LAST

ROW

BY MARIA SMIETANA

I Hereby

Resolve…

I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution since last century. Like most folks, I not only didn’t keep them, I usually forgot what they were before the Christmas ornaments were back in the box. So this year, I’m settling for what I’ll call Small Actionable Goals for Sustainability, with distinct emphasis on the first “S”. Hey, if the federal government can give us TARP for 2009, I can give us SAGS. Feel free to borrow as many as you like. We’ll touch base next December to see how well we did. My first goal is to re-fill the critter feeders on my deck every morning. This is a task at which I failed woefully in previous years, but back then I had to rush to an off-farm job every day. Now that I’m a full-time farmer, I can’t get away with that excuse. My lack of attention to the diurnal feeding schedule of my resident wildlife led to rioting raccoons and possums that pushed the empty saucers off the deck, breaking several in the process. Served me right, I suppose, for thinking they would respect the good china. The songbirds thankfully were too small to wreck the dishes, but I sure got some strong language from the chickadees about my lack of attention to their dining needs. The rock doves didn’t say much, though I knew from the way they looked at me that I had fallen short of their expectations of good wildlife stewardship as well. As evidence of my improved intentions, I’ve already got a bag of black-oil sunflower seed by the back door, and a fresh supply of suet cakes in the fridge. Next, I’m going to resist the temptation to buy up the entire contents of

those flashy seed catalogs that make up the bulk of my January mail. Instead, I will limit myself to the number of vegetable varieties that I can actually hope to get planted in a single season. There is, after all, no glory in still trying to get tomato seedlings in the ground after summer solstice has come and gone. This year, I will refuse to buy the tomato varieties that looked so good on paper but were total failures once they hit the soil. I will also plant more of the veggies my farmer’s market customers like to buy, even if they don’t meet my personal definition of an edible plant. I will resign myself to the fact that many people simply do not care if they are eating an Early Girl or Better Boy tomato. What they really wish is that I had brought twice as many green beans to market. I will strive to complete my multiyear quest to reduce my household

cleaning products to just those needed to de-germ the fixtures, cleanse the people, clothes and dishes (the cat, to her credit, is still self cleaning) and polish the floors and mirrors. I will give up my addiction to anything that sudses, bubbles and scrubs, and admit that a single product for banishing dirt and stains is as good as six or seven different ones. I will give myself extra SAGS points if that product is earth-friendly, non-animal-tested, biodegradable, pet-and-kid-safe, noncaustic, free of dyes or perfumes and has fewer ingredients than a grilled-cheese sandwich. Lastly, I will learn how to make a good, hot fireplace blaze to get me through the rest of the winter. If I’m going to contribute to global warning by burning hydrocarbons, the least I can do is wring the last BTU out of every log and twig.

Maria Smietana, is a refugee from the corporate world who now writes and grows organic produce on her mini-farm in Boone County.