Green Buckeye

Green Buckeye Calendar - 28 May 2008

2008-05-28T09:34:00.000-04:00

Green Buckeye is not the sponsor of the events appearing on the calendar. We provide a link or contact information for the event if we have it. Please contact the sponsoring organization or individual directly for the most up-to-date infomation about any event.

Give a Waste Not Center Gift Certificate to Your Favorite Teacher

2008-05-27T11:22:00.006-04:00

The end of the school year is fast approaching. Looking for something unique to say thank you to that special teacher? Neil Drobny of the Central Ohio Sustainability Alliance suggests a gift certificate from the Waste Not Center!

For $10, your favorite teacher can "shop" at the Waste Not Center for one day and pick up some free art supplies, office supplies, or whatever else might catch his eye. Because the materials are donated by local organizations, the inventory varies.

It's one more great way to align your values with your actions, and to lead the way to a sustainable future.

Startup Weekend Comes to Columbus

2008-05-26T15:45:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't already heard from Alvin, Startup Weekend is coming to Columbus July 18-20! You can register online here.

I encourage the organizers, sponsors, and participants to Think Green.

Green Buckeye Link of the Week

2008-05-13T19:11:00.002-04:00

Bike to Work Week May 12-16, 2008

Earth Day 2008

2008-04-20T18:33:00.005-04:00

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, and Central Ohio is all decked out this week to celebrate. While you can check the Green Buckeye calendar for everything from film showings, galas, benefits, and cleanup events, Earth Day Central is really at Now Get Busy, where you can sign up to volunteer at many different environmental worksites across the region.

Plant trees in Dublin or Plain Township, clean up near Alum Creek or the Olentangy Bike Path, help out at the Kwanzaa Playground, or perform a litter audit in the University area. Whatever you choose to do, you'll be making the planet just a little better!

Al Gore: New thinking on the climate crisis

2008-04-12T20:33:00.000-04:00

Green Buckeye Calendar - 5 April 2008

2008-04-05T07:34:00.001-04:00

Green Buckeye does not sponsor the events appearing on the calendar. We provide a link or contact information for the event if we have it. Please contact the sponsoring organization directly for the most up-to-date infomation about any event.

Green Beer for St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-15T09:16:00.006-04:00

Sierra Club's Green Life blog has a list of green beers for St. Paddy's day. Check out the comments, too, where readers share their local favorites and remind us that local brews might have a smaller carbon footprint.

Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing Company is the closest brewery mentioned in the article. Do we have any breweries in Columbus making strong attempts to be more sustainable? Maybe The Columbus Beer Wench can help us out!

What's your favorite local brew?

Green Buckeye Calendar - 13 March 2008

2008-03-13T20:32:00.001-04:00

Bring a 'Startup Weekend' to Columbus!

2008-03-13T07:04:00.004-04:00

The 270 blog brings our attention to a awesome opportunity. What if we could start up a green business here in Central Ohio in just one weekend?

Bring the next Startup Weekend to Columbus! Who knows, maybe you're the next green entrepreneur.

Tag: Startup Weekend

Job Posting: OEC Membership Director

2008-03-12T17:25:00.003-04:00

Ohio Environmental Council
Job Posting: Membership Director
Date posted: March 12, 2008
Applications due: April 15, 2008
Location: Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is seeking a Membership Director. The OEC is one of the nation’s premier state environmental advocacy non-profit organizations. The OEC’s mission is to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home.

The position: The Membership Director works with Director of Development for aggressive growth of the Ohio Environmental Council’s membership of individuals and nonprofit organizations.

Responsible for preparing annual membership development plan, including analysis and evaluation of past membership development efforts. Closely work with the entire Board and staff to implement goals. Integrate fundraising and networking opportunities presented to Board and staff through their programmatic outreach efforts.
Significantly grow OEC’s individual membership program. Evaluate, perform, and improve current tactics including mailings, calling, speaking engagements, online organizing, workplace giving, and events. Research, implement, and evaluate new tactics. Improve print and online membership communications. Respond to member inquiries.
Build OEC’s nonprofit membership program. Evaluate the membership benefits offered to nonprofit organizations. Develop and execute a recruitment strategy involving Board and staff.
Organize, assist, and attend fundraising and non-fundraising events including nature tours, house parties, and the OEC’s annual banquet. Responsible for acquiring auction items for annual banquet.

The organization: The Ohio Environmental Council is a statewide environmental advocacy group with a full-time staff of 15 and an annual budget of $1.3 million, with approximately one quarter coming from private donors. The OEC is Ohio’s leading advocate for fresh air, clean water, and sustainable land use. The OEC has a widely respected 40-year history of innovation, pragmatism, and success. Using legislative initiatives, legal action, scientific principles, and statewide partnerships, we secure a healthier environment for Ohio’s families and communities. Additional information about the organization and its programs can be found online at www.theoec.org.

Qualifications: The Membership Director must possess passion for environmental protection, strong leadership qualities, and demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, communications, advocacy, or sales. Experience with nonprofit membership is highly preferred. Bachelors degree required. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required. Director should have proficiency with technology, including use of the internet and databases, strong organizational skills, and must pay attention to detail. Should be able to travel throughout Ohio and occasionally work evening and weekend hours.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits including paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance, employer-matched retirement fund, and paid vacation, family, sick, and holiday leave.

Application: Send cover letter, resume, 3 writing samples, and references to:
Director of Development
Ohio Environmental Council
1207 Grandview Ave, Suite 201
Columbus, OH 43212-3449
or email: oec@theoec.org with “Membership Director” in the subject line.

The Ohio Environmental Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Central Ohio Green News - 3/11/2008

2008-03-11T20:20:00.005-04:00

These articles, news items, and opportunities for action came to our attention recently:

It's not too late to nominate someone for SWACO's 2008 Central Ohio Emerald Awards. Deadline is Friday, March 14.
This year's Leadership Hilliard class is creating the Hilliard Evergreen Team and is looking for volunteers to help make Hilliard greener (Hilliard Northwest News)
Katie Archibald of Greener Footsteps, a sustainability consulting firm, is now publishing Sustainable Living Ohio, a monthly newsletter.
World Water Day is March 22. We don't seem to have a local celebration, so you might want to participate virtually.
John Wirtz at Xing Columbus has created a nice google map of COTA Park & Ride locations.

It's becoming more and more difficult to keep up with Central Ohio's sustainability-related news!

Another Tree-Hugging Wacko

2008-03-11T08:22:00.008-04:00

Discovered this Chip Giller quote (The Way I See It #289) on my Starbucks cup this morning:

So-called "global warming" is just a secret ploy by wacko tree-huggers to make America energy independent, clean our air and water, improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicles, kick-start 21st-century industries, and make our cities safer and more livable. Don’t let them get away with it!

Viva the conspiracy.

Central Ohio Green News - 3/2/2008

2008-03-02T15:21:00.004-05:00

These articles, news items, and opportunities for action came to our attention recently:

Sweeping transit proposal unveiled (Columbus Dispatch)
Green-energy advocates rally around legislation (The Plain Dealer)
Burying the problem: Battelle could be at forefront of solutions to global climate change (Columbus Dispatch)
Calfee, Halter & Griswold adopts the Eco-Buck Program (Two Wheeling blog)

Tuesday's Ohio Primary

2008-03-02T11:01:00.004-05:00

Back in January I posted links pointing toward the candidates' stands on the environment and climate change. I'm posting some items I've posted previously here again for reference.

League of Conservation Voters "Chart the Candidates" (detailed one-to-one comparision)
NPR compares the still-standing candidates on climate change (quick and easy read)
No Impact Man's wrote a comprehensive post with a positive future slant that I recommend
The Council on Foreign Relations covers the candidates on numerous issues. Here is their page on Climate Change

Grist also has (had?) a great page on the candidates, but the whole Grist site appears to be down right now. In the event it comes back soon:

Grist's presidential comparison chart (down as of 3/2/2008 11:50 a.m.)
Grist's article, "How Green is Your Candidate" (also down)

Edited 3/3/2008 to correct a linking error.

Columbus State Environmental Science Course Offering

2008-03-02T09:43:00.005-05:00

Columbus State is offering an overview course in environmental science this spring. The course is a "hybrid," meaning that most instruction is online with Sunday in-person lab sessions. Details appear below.

Thanks to Ira for fowarding to the COSR listserv.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (BIO 127) HYBRID SPRING 2008

Lectures online; Labs: Sunday 9:00-11:50 A.M.
Satisfies requirements for AA and AS Degrees Accepted as NR 201 at The Ohio State University
Contact: Mort Javadi, 437 NH
Tel: (614) 287-5635
mjavadi@cscc.edu

This course provides a survey of current issues in the study of environmental science.

Topics include scientific principles and concepts, human population dynamics, resources and resource management, pollution, world problems, and environment and society. Emphasis will be placed on how individual actions and economic and political policies can affect the environment. Proposed solutions to environmental problems will be considered.

Issues such as factors affecting climate changes, biofuel, hybrid cars, and green campuses will also be covered.

Central Ohio Green News - 2/26/2008

2008-02-26T07:28:00.004-05:00

These articles, news items, and opportunities for action came to our attention recently:

Paul Bonneville's report on the Columbus streetcars initiative (Columbus RetroMetro)
Call for entries for an environmental awareness art show (The Walker Evans Effect)
Which candidate can launch us into world leadership in the coming energy revolution? (No Impact Man)

Central Ohio Green News - 2/17/2008

2008-02-17T12:14:00.010-05:00

These articles, news items, and opportunities for action came to our attention recently:

Columbus 2012 Bicentennial running neighborhood meetings this week
New Albany and MORPC partner for Carpool to Work Day Thursday, 2/21/2008
Xing Columbus reminds us you can still show your support for the Ohio Hub Plan by signing the petition
Earth Day 2008 organizers are looking for event sponsors and worksite nominations
A new faith-based group focusing on climate change and energy is forming in Columbus - Ohio Interfaith Power and Light

Green Buckeye Calendar - 17 February 2008

2008-02-17T11:50:00.000-05:00

Register to Vote in the March 4th Primary

2008-02-03T19:23:00.000-05:00

Last minute reminder! If you plan to vote in Ohio's presidential primary, you must be registered to vote by Monday, February 4.

Bloggers Reflect on the Columbus 2012 Citizen Summit

2008-02-03T14:25:00.000-05:00

Bloggers who attended the Columbus 2012 Citizen Summit posted their reviews and reflections this week:

The Mayor Got His Marching Orders (Xing Columbus)
Citizen Summit Makes Plans for 2012 Birthday Party (Mad Cow-Town)
Amy on the summit (I Found It Interesting)
City Pride...Bicentennial Style (One Girl Revolution)
2012: Thoughts on the Citizens' Summit (John Ross of Columbus Alive)
More thoughts on 2012 (John Ross of Columbus Alive)

Tag: Columbus 2012

Central Ohio Green News - 2/3/2008

2008-02-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

These articles, news items, and opportunities for action came to our attention this week:

Ed Begley Jr. will speak at Otterbein College February 13
Review and reflections on the conversion of the Columbus Wild Oats grocery store to Whole Foods (The Restaurant Widow)
SWACO accepting Emerald Award nominations through March 14
Franklin County converting to high-efficiency LED traffic lights (Mad Cow-Town blog)
Gov. Strickland has directed ODNR’s Division of Forestry to pursue forestry certification through two internationally recognized organizations – (The Nature Conservancy)

Sustainability for Strategic Advantage

2008-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you wonder what advantage there is in making your company greener? Author and consultant Chris Laszlo will talk about Sustainability for Strategic Advantage in a free online workshop February 14.

Laszlo is a visiting professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and is the author of two books: The Sustainable Company: How to Create Lasting Value through Social and Environmental Performance and Sustainable Value: How the World's Leading Businesses Are Doing Well by Doing Good.

February 14, 2008
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Chris Lazlo on Sustainability

This workshop is part of a series of open houses for the Case Masters in Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD) program, and it will be followed by an online MPOD Open House with the program director Harlow Cohen.

To ensure participation, register online at least 24 hours in advance.

Tags: Chris Laszlo, MPOD sustainable business

Green Buckeye Calendar - 27 January 2008

2008-01-27T20:11:00.000-05:00

Save Money & Reduce Greenhouse Gases: Stop Idling

2008-01-27T13:30:00.000-05:00

Over and over on green web sites and blogs I've read that one way to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and save money is to stop idling. They urge me to shut down my engine if I'm going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 10 minutes - none of them seem to agree on how long.

Frankly, I was skeptical. Even though I know that, "When you're not moving, you're getting zero miles per gallon," wasn't there some mitigating reason not to turn off the engine? Doesn't the engine need to be warmed up? What about the amount of gas it takes to start the engine - isn't that more than when the engine is running? What about the wear and tear on the engine with all that on and off? After all, I don't want to save a few pennies or emissions only to have to replace my engine early.

I decided to research a little more. Here's what I found.

Car Talk

In Driving Tips for Treehuggers, Click and Clack reassured me that "Except in below-zero conditions, you can just start the engine and drive off." Unless I'm scraping ice off the windshield, looks like I'll be turning the key and driving off. Some of the other sources indicated that cars needed no more than 30 seconds of warm-up idling.

Edmunds

I figured they would be the most mainstream and skeptical. Guess what? In What Really Saves Gas? And How Much? the Edmunds folks said you could improve fuel economy by as much as 19% by avoiding excessive idling. Their recommendation? Shut it down if you're stopping for more than a minute. This was the longest amount of time recommended by any of the media sources, which I would expect given their love of car culture.

California Consumer Energy Center

This page busts several myths, and comes to the conclusion that "more than ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine." They also say that "component wear caused by restarting the engine is estimated to add $10 per year to the cost of driving," which they think will be recovered from the savings from not idling. According to this source then, I can go ahead and shut the engine off if I'm stopping for 10 seconds or longer, and I don't worry about the wear and tear. The Canada Office of Energy Efficiency backs this up, too.

So here are Tina's Green Buckeye guidelines for idling:

Unless it's below zero, start the car and drive off. The most conservative recommendation for warming up the car is 30 seconds, so if you can't get out of the habit completely, warm up for 30 seconds.
Except in traffic, if you're going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, shut off the car. You'll save money and greenhouse gases. You can take the Edmunds conservative recommendation of one minute, but you won't save as much.
Park the car and walk into the fast-food joint or bank instead of using the drive-thru. It's better for you, it's better for your mileage, and it's better for the planet!