Greenlight | greenlight bite August 2006

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August 2006

The Monthly Newsletter of greenlight magazine

In the middle of an endless, record-setting hot spell, I broke down and bought the last portable air conditioner at Home Depot. I was desperate. We recently cut down two huge, shade-casting but terminally-ill pine trees, and it was 95 degrees indoors. I have lived all my life in California without air conditioning. Now I know how it feels throughout much of the country. So here we’re going to share some tips on staying cool for the rest of the summer, and more…
—Bill Marken, editor in chief, greenlight magazine

Keeping your home cool
Good news about hot dogs
Unstuffy nature lessons for kids
Eco-friendly bathing suits?
Michael Pollan debates Whole Foods
Coming soon in greenlight magazine

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Beat the Heat

Beat the Heat Think about a few things: (1) The first six months of 2006 were the hottest such period recorded in the U.S. (2) The hottest weather may still be ahead in August and September. (3) Air conditioning is a big energy hog—some say 1/6 of all electricity goes to it. So what can we do right now and in the future to keep our homes cool? Here are 5 quick tips:

Make sure your AC system is in prime shape. Seal and caulk ducts.
Plant shade trees on the east, south and west sides of your home. Can’t wait 5 to 10 years? Consider awnings and overhead structures.
Fans are your friends. In moderate climates, all you may need is small portable fan to keep your bedroom cool enough for sleeping. Next step up is a ceiling fan. An attic fan or whole house fan can work minor miracles.
Work the windows. In more moderate climates, open your windows at night and turn on the fan. When temperatures start to climb back up, shut the windows and draw the shades
Ready for a new AC? Look into energy-saving models. Need professional help in making the right decision? Are you forward thinking? Investigate solar cooling, not necessarily an oxymoron.

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New Breed of Dog

New Breed of Dog Does the idea of a healthy hot dog have all the appeal of non-alcoholic beer? (Sorry if I am revealing a prejudice or two here.) Actually, the good news is that all of a sudden we are getting some great dog choices that are better for our health and the well being of the planet too. Without becoming too technical, let’s consider what to look for when you want to satisfy that midsummer craving for a quick bite at the grill or ball game.

As you read labels, remember that hot dogs and other sausages traditionally have made use of leftover meat cuttings – which minimizes waste, a good thing from an environmental point of view. But they are high in fats and preservatives such as sodium nitrates. To avoid typical preservatives, look for "uncured" or "natural nitrates" on the label.
"Organic" means that the animals were raised according to federal organic rules – no antibiotics or hormones were used and animals consumed a diet of organic feed only.
"Grass-fed beef" is usually something you want. Although not defined precisely –it generally means leaner meat from cows that lived a freer lifestyle.
Don’t be too particular about color. The traditional pink in hot dogs often comes from preservatives.
There are vegetarian dogs (also turkey and chicken dogs), in addition to the standard beef and pork. They can be made from soy. Be prepared for a different texture than with meat dogs.
See if you can find local brands – such as grass-fed, organic Dines in New York and grass-fed Let’s Be Frank in San Francisco.
There are some natural dogs with wider distribution: Applegate’s (rated high in New York Times tastings), Dakota Beef; Niman Ranch Fearless Franks (beef raised without hormones, with and without sodium nitrate), Organic Prairie, Diamond Organics.
How do the natural dogs taste? A quick one-person taste test reveals: Not much difference between top-tier conventional dogs and top-tier earth-friendly dogs (Niman). Vegetarian dog’s flavor is ok, but texture is "smushy." For more statistically valid tasting notes, check out Chowhound.

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The Great Indoors

The Great Indoors If you’re thinking about exposing kids to nature (what better way to instill an appreciation for the earth?), think about the “great indoors” as well as the outdoor world. Our best museums and other places that display nature can be surprisingly fun and unstuffy as well as educational. You probably have some great local attractions. Here are some national trendsetters that attract families from near and far. Some even have interesting web sites that you can check out from home.

Who can resist lizards and snakes? Not 8-year-olds. New York’s American Museum of Natural History, always a great draw, presents "Lizards and Snakes Alive" through January 7, 2007.
See how our native people lived closely to mother earth at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. On display through January 2, 2007, is "Listening to Our Ancestors: The Art of Native Life Along the North Pacific Coast".
Catch the sharks soon at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The hugely popular, spine-shivering "Sharks: Myth and Mystery" ends September 4.
Sabretoothed cats and woolly mammoths as big as life leap from the Ice Age to the La Brea Tarpit home page. Visit the real tarpits not far from downtown Los Angeles to see the current excavation and the most fascinating tar on earth.
Venture further afield in space and time to Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah, source of many museum bone collections. Stay-at-homes should take the virtual dinosaur tour.

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Everyday Q&A

Q: Your summer issue mentioned eco-friendly swim suits, which actually were synthetics. Is there really such a thing as an organic swimsuit? —Reader Jane

A. Hard to find, we agree, but try Greenloop.com for a woman’s earth-friendly swimsuit. This suit is made of 90% organic cotton and spandex. Whether or not it is stylish enough, we’ll leave to you. Men are traditionally less difficult to please when choosing swimsuits, and there are number of earth-friendly models, such as this one from Greenloop and these shorts from Rawganique, made from cotton and hemp.

Do you have a question?

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Eavesdropping on Whole Foods and Michael Pollan

Author Michael Pollan ("The Omnivore's Dilemma") and John Mackey, president of Whole Foods, have been blogging back-and-forth on the big business of organic foods.

John Mackey of Whole Foods Mackey says: "My second disappointment is that you don't comment on the examples [Whole Foods] gave of supporting networks and co-ops of small producers and family farms throughout our supply chain."

Pollan says: "I have trouble squaring some of your claims of support for local agriculture with what I see when I shop at Whole Foods. I see more signage about the importance of local produce than I see actual items of local produce."

To follow the discussion, check Mackey's blog.

To get an idea what is in Pollan's own refrigerator, see greenlight's summer issue.

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What’s Coming in greenlight Magazine?

With fall just around the corner, we're working on our next issue of greenlight's digital magazine. It's full of great ideas for making your everyday green living even better – a round-up of fuel-efficient cars, home remodeling, back-to-school snacks, an earth-friendly Halloween, composting fall leaves, the latest in green books and other media...and much more. To make sure you get a copy in your inbox, sign up for a free subscription to greenlight magazine.

In the Summer 2006 issue of greenlight magazine: Great Green Getaways · Salad Secrets · Tips to Save Gas · Safe Sunscreen · Build an Eco-Deck · Click to Read !

Freecycle: another way to get rid of things

FreshBaby: healthy eating for baby -- now in a podcast

greenhome: an online department store of earth-friendly products

Carpool stickers: for your hybrid car

RedJellyfish: stunning nature posters and more

Get together with local farmers and food artisans

» See All Links

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