On this 40th anniversary of Earth Day…there are millions of individuals in this country with a bit of free time and an overwhelming desire to take action to make their communities and their planet better; an army of willing individuals who are quietly changing the world but who need more help if they are to reach their full potential. Who are these agents of change? Look around you, I have no doubt you encounter them everyday…you may even have them in your home. That’s right…youth. The power they have is amazing.

A year ago I had the opportunity to work with a group of three middle school boys who, as part of a service project in their community, did some research and found that lead wheel weights through improper disposal cause a considerable amount of lead pollution in the environment. These young men took matters into their own hands and worked tirelessly to pass a law in the state of Iowa to phase out lead wheel weights on state vehicles. Then the EPA cited the program as one of the reasons they are re-assessing their position on lead wheel weights, a development that will affect 300 million Americans across the country. I have seen other projects as well, from Title 1 elementary school students in South Florida growing a garden and selling the produce into the local community,to a high school in Seattle reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by several tons each year . I have been all over the country and have seen countless programs such as these.

And now EarthEcho International has launched a campaign to bring much-needed resources and tools to build a community of best practice that will help to revolutionize this growing movement. In partnership with the leading youth service organizations and national education groups in the nation, we are launching a preview of the Water Planet Challenge (www.waterplanetchallenge.org) this week.This preview site includes a service-learning guide sponsored by Participant Media, and is being launched in tandem with the Disneynature film Oceans that premiers on Earth Day. This is only the beginning, however—we continue to develop the program and will constantly add more resources over the summer in preparation time for a full launch in the fall of 2010.

As the Greek philosopher Plato once wrote, “Youth are not vessels to be filled but flames to be lit.” The Water Planet Challenge will light the flames of a whole new generation, giving them the tools and knowledge to build the kind of sustainable future we all dream of.

If you’re like many (including myself at first), composting seems quite complicated and best left to the “experts.” Luckily, it turns out it’s pretty simple to do, though easier and faster if you have a yard or outdoor space.

Composting defined
Composting is the process of turning organic materials, such as vegetable scraps, leaves, and grass, to rich soil that can then be used as fertilizer. The process can take from as little as two weeks to as long as a year, depending on the ingredients and level of human and environmental interaction. Composting is a great way of keeping food residuals and yard trimmings out of the waste stream while making rich soil.

What to compost
You can compost most things in the yard, including leaves, grass, vines, and a majority of food, such as vegetable and fruit scraps, manure, eggshells, nutshells, and coffee grinds. Even hair clippings, feathers, straw, livestock manure, and bone meal can be thrown in, though I don’t know of anyone who has tried the hair clippings.

Some materials, such as wood ash, sawdust from untreated wood, and black and white newsprint should only be composted in limited amounts. Wood ash is a source of lime, which enhances decomposition but can also cause nitrogen loss if in large quantities, while sawdust requires extra nitrogen, and newsprint composts more slowly. Each municipality is different in terms of the items that can be composted, so check with yours.

Items that should not be included are: diseased leaves or plants or those susceptible to disease (ex: roses or peonies), human or pet poop (yes, I said “poop”), plants treated with herbicides or pesticides, kitchen veggies cooked with animal fat, as well as meat and dairy products, persistent weeds, and plants that have gone to seed. Some suggest including branches and vines, while others prefer not to include them. If you include them, make sure they are cut into little pieces, or else the process will take much longer.

Where to locate the compost pile
Composting is easier if you have a backyard or can borrow one. You can buy or put together a bin or container for the compost, though compost piles don’t necessarily need to be enclosed. Pick a place on grass or soil that is out of direct sunlight and sheltered from the wind, and that stays relatively warm. If you enclose it, make sure it’s large enough that you can easily turn the pile. Ideally it should be at least 4’x4’x4’ (minimum is 3’x3’x3’) and no taller than 6’ (too small a pile does not decompose properly, and too tall causes compaction and loss of oxygen). You can get started whenever you want, though fall is usually a good time because of the many fallen leaves (and, you don’t have to rake all of them).

For those who do not have a backyard but would like to compost their scraps, it is possible to compost in a 10-gallon box or other container either indoors or on your balcony.

Creating the pile
Start collecting organic materials, then add water so they feel like a moist, wrung-out sponge. Grab a handful and squeeze—if water drips out, add some more dry material; if it is too dry, add some wet material or water. The pile should feel warm to the touch except in the cold winter months. The ratio of ‘browns’ to ‘greens’ (i.e. dead leaves = high in carbon, vs. fresh grass = high in nitrogen) should be about three to one.

To speed up the process, you can shred or chop organic materials before putting them in the pile. The contents of the pile should be thoroughly and periodically mixed. More frequent turning (ex: every 3 days vs. once a month) results in faster composting. If the pile smells, it is either too damp or lacks oxygen, so turn it more frequently to dry and air it out.

Ready to use!
When the compost looks dark brown and crumbly, smells earthy and you don’t recognize any of the initial ingredients, it’s ready to use. You can test it by taking a little and putting it in a plastic bag for a day or two to see if it smells. If there are no strong odors when you open the bag, it’s good to go. It can then be used as mulch, a liquid “fertilizer,” or incorporated into the soil.

There are many different types of composting (ex: cold vs. hot, worm); and ways to layer the pile to speed up the process, but I will leave that portion, indeed, to the “experts.” Plus, I’m too squirmy (no pun intended) to play with worms.

Don’t be shy–let us know if you have any composting tips to share!

If “renewable energy” makes you think of installing a wind turbine in your backyard, think again! There are ways of purchasing renewable energy without necessarily installing it directly on-site. And for those of you who think wind turbines are a blight on our landscape, I have to ask—would you rather have a power plant in your backyard? But I digress…

Did you know you may be able to buy renewable energy directly from your utility company? Also known as “clean” or “green” energy, renewable energy is electricity supplied entirely or in part from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower. Buying renewable energy helps put non-polluting forms of energy in the energy stream. To learn more about the benefits, go to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s web site provides or if you’d like to see the environmental impact of different energy products, check out the Power Scorecard.

There are basically three types of green power: renewable electricity, renewable energy certificates (RECs), and on- site renewable generation. Renewable electricity is generated using renewable energy resources and delivered through the utility grid. REC’s (also known as tradable renewable certificates, green tags, or green energy certificates) represent the environmental, social, and other positive attributes of power generated by renewable resources (such as carbon off-setting). On-site renewable generation is electricity generated using renewable energy resources at the end-user’s facility (solar panels or a wind turbine). The first two, and really, the first, is the one most easily available to most of us (though of course, you can install the wind turbine too!). Here’s how to do it:

• If retail electricity competition is allowed in your state, you may be able to purchase green power from an alternative supplier. Even if that’s not the case, you may still be able to purchase it through your utility company. Many utilities have “green pricing” programs, where you can pay a premium on your utility bill to support the generation of renewable energy sources. Go to SmartPower, select your state and see what forms of “clean energy” are available in your area. Also, check out the Database of State incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for potential incentives related to green energy in your state .

• Cost will vary based on factors such as availability of subsidies in your state, market price of conventional electricity, and availability and quality of the renewable energy sources. The DOE’s web site can also offer more guidance on buying clean energy.

• If in doubt about the “green” power supplier, ask the company if they are “Green-e” certified. Green-e is a non-profit that reviews suppliers and certifies clean energy products; certification is voluntary, but they have certified over 100 companies across the country, so there should be one in your area. RECs are certified by the Environmental Resources Trust through its EcoPower certification program.

And don’t forget: the more you can reduce your energy consumption, the less energy you will need to buy overall, so first and foremost, improve your energy efficiency and find ways to conserve energy!

Recycling, as you probably know, is the reprocessing of materials into new products. This saves energy and virgin or raw materials, and decreases water and air pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Although these days everyone seems to be talking about it, there is still much confusion about what to recycle and what not to recycle, so here is a quick review:

• Check out the general guidelines for conventional recycling below. Before applying, however, be sure to contact your municipality for local rules. Some municipalities may recycle items in the “shouldn’t” category below. For example, the City of Pasadena recycles Styrofoam and plastic bags, while other cities do not.

** Some grocery stores recycle clean plastic bags even if your municipality does not, so check your local stores!

• Drop off toxic items such as rechargeable batteries, some household cleaners (read the label), and paint at a hazardous waste site near you. Alkaline batteries may be thrown in with regular trash, but again, double-check with your state or municipality!

• And what about your iPod, cell phone, and computer, you ask? Many manufacturers have a take-back policy. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition is a great resource that lists some large manufacturers’ policies. In addition, there are groups that coordinate recycling of cell phones, such as the Wireless Alliance.

• Make recycling easy by placing containers in accessible areas. No more excuses like “it’s too far away” or “it’s too much effort!” If you are tight on space, consider a space-saving recycling device such as the EcoPod or if you drink lots of soda, you can get a (much) cheaper can crusher.

Still want more info? Go to Obviously.com or general recycling info and Rethink for e-cycling.

The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping and the days are getting longer. It’s that time of year again - spring cleaning (for those of you who rarely clean, this is the time to pick up the mop or sponge!). This is the perfect time to change your cleaning habits and make them healthier:

• Switch to non-toxic cleaners: I’ve said it before, but like many things, it’s worth repeating: conventional household cleaners have many chemicals that affect our health - you don’t want to use them if you can help it. Non-toxic cleaners are available at health food stores and at regular drugstores, as well as on the Internet. You can also make your own with ingredients such as lemon juice, borax, baking soda and vinegar. It’s actually not too hard, even for people like me, who don’t follow recipes too well.
• Put away the broom: Sweeping scatters dust while vacuuming removes it. According to the American Lung Association, household dust and pet dander can trigger asthma attacks. Even for the rest of us, it’s better to not inhale the stuff. Use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filter, which removes at least 99.97% of allergens and contaminants. The IQAir air purifier was rated as the best by the Allergy Buyers Club (from $649), though there are other less expensive vacuums on the market that can be just as effective for individuals without sensitivities.
• Get rid of clutter: Do the one-year test - if you haven’t used it in the past year, get rid of it. Clutter accumulates more dust and takes up space (not to mention it can make the house into an obstacle course). Give your items away to a happy home using freecycle or donate them to a local charity. You can also use those old shirts as rags to clean with instead of using synthetic sponges. Dispose of items such as batteries and conventional paints at a hazardous waste site, and set your books free or donate them to the local library. And straighten out and organize the rest of your things!
• Open the windows: Fresh air is great for ventilating the house, and the air outside is fresher than indoor air, that’s for sure. In case you weren’t aware, indoor air is 3 to 5 times as polluted as outdoor air according to the EPA. This is due to the pollutants from furniture and materials in the house, as well as to human activities.

Now you can take a deep breath - feels great, doesn’t it? If you’ve got other healthy spring cleaning tips, do share!

Time to go to work. You get up, have some breakfast (or not), brush your teeth and…walk ten feet to your desk. If you telecommute, have a home-based business, or have a home office for any other reason, it’s time to think about making it a healthier place in which to work. Take your pick of the steps below, or do them all. Your boss will thank you for it (that’s you, in case you’re looking around):

1. Recycle paper: First things first…recycling is something that should be a given by now. Since about 1/3 of the waste stream that goes to landfills is paper, you’ll be helping to save a lot of landfill space by recycling. In case you’re wondering how long you can keep it from the landfill, paper can be recycled about five times before the fibers weaken.
2. Save paper: Stop more trees from getting cut down: a) Use “print preview” on your computer to review, edit, or format a doc instead of printing it out; b) Email or e-fax docs instead of printing them out (and if you do fax docs, make sure the fax doesn’t use thermal paper; c)Use the duplexing (double-sided printing) functionality when printing and copying; and d) Save paper that is blank on one side to use as scrap paper.
3. Ok, not just paper: Recycling doesn’t just apply to paper. Don’t forget about that can of Coke (not too healthy, I might add) or bottle of juice (better!). Aside from the obvious, some things that might be overlooked include electronics, toner, and office equipment, which you can donate instead of throwing out. There are many sites out there for toner and electronics recycling, so take a look at some that fit your needs.
4. Save energy: Working from home means your energy bills will be higher, so be mindful, for your pocket and the planet. Electronics still consume energy even they are turned off, not to mention that EMFs (electro-magnetic fields) are not too good for you.
5. So: a) Turn off the laptop, printer or fax when you’re done, and unplug any electronics that are not in use (you can also get a SmartStrip and let it do the work for you); b) Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room; c) Replace incandescent lights with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and use task-oriented lights when overhead lights aren’t needed; d) Enable energy saving features on your computer, printer and photocopier; and e) Adjust the temperature in the room (higher temps in the summer, lower in the winter).
6. Save toner: Use less toner by selecting “draft” printouts when using the “print” command on your computer; this can also be set as the default. And when you get the “toner low” light on the printer, you may not necessarily need to replace it yet. Just take it out, shake it gently, and put it back in. When it really needs replacing, the toner light will stay on even after you’ve done that.
7. Reuse supplies: This includes binders, envelopes, refill pens, tape dispensers, file indexes, and anything else you can think of. This also means sharing - so if you’re sharing a home office with a significant other or a colleague, share whatever can be shared instead of buying two of everything (by that, I don’t mean use one pen between the two of you or share a laptop, but you get the idea).
8. Buy recycled: Buy reusable and durable supplies and materials, and paper that is unbleached and de-inked. This goes for your marketing materials as well, so use a printer that uses recycled paper and soy-based inks (EarthEcho has their business cards printed by Tulip Graphics). Check out supplies offered through the Green Earth Office Supplies, Sustainable Group, and Green Home. And with everything you buy, keep the packaging to a minimum.
9. Food & drinks: Here you are, ready to start the day. You turn on your computer and take a sip of your Starbucks coffee, which you just picked up across the street. Not very sustainable, unless you’re using a reusable mug. Same goes for the take-out from down the block.
10. Transportation: You’re ahead of most people since you’re not using your car to commute to work. Now take it one step further and be mindful when you run errands or go to appointments. Either take public transportation, walk, or group errands so that you don’t have to make multiple trips.
11. Buy Energy Star electronics: Buy printers with stand-by or sleep features and faxes and printers with energy-saving features. Invest in an “all-in-one” machine that combines printing, faxing, copying, and more, which can be more efficient than powering multiple devices.

We’d love to hear what you’ve done to make your home office green, so don’t be shy!

I know I’ve mentioned this in passing before, but it’s such an important and easy thing to do that I’ve decided to devote a whole entry to it. Why so much emphasis on household cleaners? Quite a few reasons:

• Over 90% of all reported poisonings in America occur at home—the leading reported cause is household cleaners.
• Cleaning products are not regulated and are full off chemicals. Many have ingredients that have hormone disruptors, carcinogens, respiratory inhibitors, and neurotoxins.
• A 2002 survey of contaminants in U.S. stream water found that 69 percent of streams sampled contained persistent detergent metabolites, and 66 percent contained disinfectants.

So if you still want a clean house (and most of us do) but don’t want to get sick or hurt the environment doing it, make the switch:

• Replace your chemical household cleaners with the organic version: There are many alternatives out there to be found in your local health food stores and, increasingly, in other venues as well. For instance, Target now carries Seventh Generation products. When buying organic or “natural” cleaners, don’t forget to check the ingredients and make sure you understand them. And of course, dispose of the toxic products responsibly. Some products are safe to dispose of down the drain, while others should be disposed of at a hazardous waste site.
• Make your own concoction: Use vinegar, baking soda, borax, lavender, lemon juice, and other natural ingredients to create your own cleaners. There are quite a few recipes out there—here are some great ones from CHEC (the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition . If you can’t be bothered to search for a recipe but still want to make your own, get a do-it-yourself kit.
• If you’re not switching, use at your own risk! If you decide to stay with the polluting, unhealthy alternative (no, I’m not biased, just honest), be careful! Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Read labels and look for the least toxic alternative.
2. Ask questions of the manufacturer if you’re unclear about the ingredients.
3. Don’t use chemical cleaners when children are present and keep them out of their reach!
4. Wear protective clothing and ventilate the space after use.
5. Buy limited quantities.
6. Avoid using hot water; this enables the volatile chemicals found in many cleaners to more easily evaporate and enter the air in greater amounts.
7. Never mix cleaners; this may accidentally create substances more hazardous than any of the individual cleaners alone. Same goes when disposing of them.
8. Rinse cleaned surfaces thoroughly to remove as much cleaning product residue as possible.
9. Avoid using products like waxes and floor polishes that are intended to make surfaces shiny; they are specifically designed to leave residues behind and usually contain dangerous solvents.
10. Use cleaners that are applied via sponges and rags; spray cleaners diffuse their chemicals into the air and distribute them across greater distances.

After all of the above, do you REALLY want to keep using chemicals to clean? I hope the answer is NO!

If you’re running after that ant with a can of pesticide, think twice before spraying it. Pesticides affect not only the insects we want out of our house, yard, or food, but they also affect our health. According to a Center for Disease Control study, 90% of people tested had 5 to 16 pesticides in their bodies and most of the 6–11-year-olds tested had four times the amount deemed acceptable by the EPA. Since 80% of contact with pesticides happens indoors, it’s better to forgo that spray can in favor of more humane ways (for you and them) of asking the pests to leave your house. Here are some things you can do to limit pesticides in your house and body:

• Eat organic food: Organic foods are those grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, petroleum- or sewage-based fertilizers, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering, or irradiation. Even then, there are traces of pesticides, but they are in 13%–23% of produce tested versus 71% to 90% of conventionally-grown produce, per the USDA. Therefore, you should also always wash your produce. Also, check out the Environmental Working Group’s guide to determine which produce have the most pesticides. If you’re buying from your local farmer (also recommended) you can ask them if they use pesticides and encourage them to use alternative methods. You can find local farmers’ markets and family farms through Local Harvest.
• Do some home repairs: Keep pests out by installing or fixing door strips on doors leading to the outside, sealing baseboards, plugging holes and cracks around windows and doors with caulk or steel wool, and keeping window screens in good repair.
• Switch to non-toxic methods: Buy pest control products without chemicals.
• Keep the house clean: Do not leave food lying around in the kitchen and beware of dirt you bring in from the outdoors with your shoes.
• Green your lawn: We apply about 70 to 75 million pounds of about 300 different pesticide ingredients to our lawns and gardens yearly. STOP using toxic chemicals for your lawn and garden and change to non-toxic, pesticide-free lawn and garden products.

Did I mention the consequences for the animals and insects that aren’t direct targets of the pesticides but that are affected nonetheless? Pesticides contaminate soil, water, and other vegetation, and can be toxic to birds, fish, beneficial insects and plants that were not intended for obliteration. So, you’re keeping yourself and the planet healthier by not using them. Check these links out for alternatives indoors and outdoors and for more info.