It is football season!  Although, I’m not a huge fan, I can appreciate it.  Especially the passion that the fans carry for the sport.

NFL football is the number one sport in the United States – at least as far as fan support and revenue goes.  So, when one of their teams say that they want to lessen their impact on the environment, we need to pay attention!  Especially when it’s a big team like the San Francisco 49ers!  California tends to lead the country in environmental awareness so this could be the start of something big!

A game at a professional football stadium requires enough electricity to power 2,269 homes for a day.  That’s a lot of houses!  A stadium holds tens of thousands of fans who come to support their team, but also go home realizing that they too can do something to help the environment.  The new 49ers stadium will be talked about and seen on TV by millions of people.  Hopefully, the eco-friendly theme is something that catches on with other teams.

Football is a big and influential business.  Countless children and adults look up to sports teams and their players.  Now there’s a chance for people who don’t normally live an environmentally friendly life style to hear about green issues and they will be introduced to a greener way of life.

Other sports teams have gotten into the swing of things as well.  The Suns have focused on lowering their carbon footprint by rethinking old habits and providing fans with 100% organic shirts or reusable bags during game giveaways.

In Major League Baseball, each baseball club decides its level of commitment, which can range from recycling paper cups to creating more environmentally friendly ballparks.  Some teams have begun to purchase renewable sources, such as wind and solar to power their ballparks and training facilities.  In the front office, green efforts include buying postconsumer recycled paper, making double sided copies and encouraging employees to separate their recycling from their regular garbage. Every little bit counts.

Teams also engage in public education by providing eco-friendly tips during games and like Stevenson, some baseball clubs have their own “green teams” to collect stadium recyclables.

So, no matter what sport you love, think about it, if they can do it then so can we because it is easy being green!

Jennifer Jesperson

Welcome back everyone!  I hope you had a fantastic summer!  It’s hard to believe that school is already in session.  But here in California, I’m afraid we still have plenty of hot days ahead of us.

I was fortunate enough to spend the month of July at my cabin on Lake Superior in Northern Michigan.  They don’t recycle there as much as we do.  It’s not as easy for them as it is for us.  We are so lucky here to have the utility companies and the City of Burbank help us to make a difference.  And now with the Stevenson Green Team, we’re going to make it even easier for you to “Go Green!”  Contact Tiffany Bakas at tnt.illuma.net if you’d like to get more involved.

This article is going to be about water.  Looking out onto Lake Superior every day, I really thought about water.  Superior is the largest fresh-water lake (by surface) in the world. It’s one of the cleanest too.  But it is in danger.  The nitrate levels are rising. Over-fishing has become an issue. (I think that’s partly due to the amount my family eats when we’re there!)  Then there’s the temperature increase (Global Warming).  If trends continue, Lake Superior, which freezes over completely once every 20 years, could routinely be ice-free by 2040.  That’s not very far off.  And it’s a problem.

On a more personal note, I’m allergic to chlorine – and we have a pool. Chlorine contaminates the earth’s soil and water and it evaporates into the atmosphere where it eats away at the ozone layer. I’ve recently started looking into alternative ways make our pool cleaner and safer to swim in.  Not sure what I’ll go with yet, but here’s a list of what I’ve found in case you’re thinking about it as well:

• Salt Water:  Salt water or saline pools use small portions of salt to clean water through electrolysis. To some, this may not be the greenest optiondue to the fact that it still utilizes chlorine albeit in a natural, bacteria fighting, and non-threatening form.
• Ionization: Ionic pools use small amounts of metals such as copper andsilver to kill bacteria and stop algae growth.
• Oxidation: Oxidation pools use UV light or electricity to produce ozone, which disinfects the water.
• Sonic Waves: New sonic wave pools use specific patterns of sound waves to kill algae and contaminants.
• Natural Pools: Natural or green pools use external or internal plants to create mini ecosystems that enrich the pool water with oxygen, support beneficial bacteria that consume debris and contaminants, and deprive algae of nutrients.
• Natural Products: If you do not want to convert to a new system, one option is to use natural cleaning products such as PristineBlue and Natura Chemistry.

Another “type” of water I’ve thought about recently is “Greywater.”  That includes any and all wash water that can be collected – from showers or leaky faucets to when you empty out your partially consumed water bottle.  Here are some ways you can use “Greywater” in your home:

• While you’re waiting for the shower to heat up or daydreaming under the spout, place a big bucket in the corner to collect the extra runoff from going down the drain. Use greywater to hydrate your plants or lawn.
• If you plan on upgrading your home and are willing to make more of aninvestment, a greywater system is the perfect fit for an eco-homeowner.  State-of-the-art systems filter used water from the shower, bath and laundry and then reuse it in the toilet’s flushing system.

When emptying out your ice chest after a trip to the beach or camping, put it in your flowerbed.  You can try lowering usage in other ways too. Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they’re completely full.  Don’t forget to change your sprinkler system timer too.  You’re allowed to water on Monday and Thursday for 15 minutes per zone.  And only late in the evening or at night.  Don’t hose down your driveway or sidewalks, sweep them.  We all must do our part!

I’m thirsty.  Gotta go.  Until next month, remember, it is easy being green!

Jennifer Jefferson

p.s.  If you’re interested, contact Tiffany Bakas to get involved with Stevenson’s first ever Green Team!  tnt@illuma.net

Volume 4

I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe it’s already the end of the school year! Summer is upon us, as is a water shortage. I was already turning my sprinklers off a couple of days a week. Now I’m told I have to do more of it.

We’re so spoiled here. Other places actually let their grass die in the winter! We’re used to beautiful green lawns on every street. I’m afraid those days are coming to an end.

Perhaps this summer, you can take some time to offload the clutter that we tend to accumulate and make a little extra cash? You could sell household goods through the Internet or have a garage sale. You could give gently used items to family, friends or to charities.

I’ve included some ideas and activities for you to try over the summer. They’re fun as well as useful!

Reuse holiday or greeting cards – Simply cut out a section from the old card, then shape and attach it to a piece of construction paper or punch a hole in it and tie it with a ribbon onto the gift.

Newspapers – So many uses! You can scrunch them up and put them in a suitcase for two weeks to remove stale odors. You can clean your windows or any glass surface with them. You can shred them and put them in your garden or compost. Or you can cancel your subscription or donate it to a school or nursing home and read the paper on-line!

Plastic bottles – Fill a plastic bottle with stones or sand and cover it with fabric or paint to make a door stop. Fill a bottle ¾ full, freeze it and put it in a cooler to help keep your drinks and food cool while at the beach or on a picnic. Cut the bottom off of a bottle and insert yarn or string. Pull the end out of the top, tape the bottom back on and no more tangled yarn!

Cans – Try cutting the tops and bottoms off of your cans and put them in your garden. Place baby plants in the center to protect and support them while also keeping slugs and snails away!

Glass jars – Use them for storing nuts, pasta and dried fruits, paperclips, nails, screws, and nuts & bolts.

Ceramics – Use chipped mugs to grow herbs and place them on your windowsill. Make a mosaic on an old table top or get some quick-set cement and make an art piece for your garden!

Fabrics – Old clothes can be used to cover your hot water bottle or make a bunch of pillows out of some cool old jeans or skirts. Use some old neckties to make a plant hanger, a lavender sachet or a cool belt! Keep your old stockings to strain paint or you can put some dirt in a stocking and add some strategically placed grass seed, paint a face on it, water every other day and see what kind of crazy “hair” grows out of it’s head!

These ideas can be fun and entertaining and can keep you and your child busy for hours while spending quality time with them and instilling them with love and respect for our environment.

I hope you have a happy and safe summer and remember, it is easy being green!

Jennifer Jesperson

By Jennifer Jesperson

I wonder if Earth Day will ever be an actual holiday? It’s probably unlikely, but I like the thought of it.

Here are some really easy ways to Be Green! Some of these tips can even help you save money!

1. Turn off unneeded lights, even when leaving a room for a short time.
2. Once your cell phone is charged, unplug it from the charger!
3. Set your refrigerator temperature at 36-38 and your freezer at 0-5.
4. When using an oven, try not to open the over door more than necessary.
5. Unplug seldom-used appliances.
6. Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label.
7. Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.
8. Use electric appliances only when you need them.
9. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
10. Shut off electrical equipment in the office when you leave work.
11. Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
12. Use cold water instead of warm or hot water when possible.
13. Buy green electricity – electricity produced by low- or zero-pollution facilities.
14. Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury (e.g. old thermometers) at an appropriate drop-off facility.
15. Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
16. Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, and water.
17. Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
18. Have your home tested for radon.
19. Minimize pesticide use.
20. Turn off computers and other appliances when not in use.
21. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
22. Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
23. Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
24. Use recycled paper.
25. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
26. Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with less toxic soy-based inks.
27. Telecommute!
28. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
29. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving whenever possible.
30. Join a carpool to get to work.
31. Check and fix any water leaks.
32. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
33. Don’t wash dishes with the water running continuously.
34. Install a low-flow shower head.
35. Replace old toilets with new ones that use less water.
36. Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient.
37. Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
38. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and wrap.
39. hop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
40. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

If you are interested to become part of Stevenson’s Green Team for the 2009-2010 school year:

Green Team Sign Up Form

By Jennifer Jesperson

Plastic drives me crazy. It’s wonderful and terrible.

We need plastic. As I sit in my office and look around – I’m literally surrounded by it. Due to the relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and imperviousness to water, plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products, from paper clips to spaceships. They have already displaced many traditional materials like wood, stone, leather, paper, metal, glass and ceramic.

Since the 1950’s, one billion tons of plastic has been discarded and it doesn’t decompose. So even when it “breaks down,” it’s still plastic. It’s just smaller.

There is an area that is TWICE THE SIZE of the Continental U.S. in the Pacific Ocean between California and Japan that is full of garbage. The ocean currents push trash, mostly plastic, into a relatively calm area of the Pacific where it just sits. Some of it floats on the surface while the rest settles on to the ocean floor. Scientists have measured the water there and found that pieces of plastic outnumber plankton 6 to 1. It’s a huge problem. And right now, scientists have no idea what to do about it. It’s terrifying.

Think about it. We do need it – we just need to think about what we buy and how we dispose of it.

Paper products bug me too but we need them as well. Let me just tell you that Viva paper towels rock! And they’re not expensive! I should be their spokesperson. I swear, our friend Dan can use one all day! You can literally wring them out and continue to use them. I know I shouldn’t really use them at all, and I try to use cloth when I can, but I am realistic – I have a child and a husband, and four cats. Take my word – try them!

We use cloth napkins every day. They look nice, they feel nice and they’re not made of paper. It’s such a simple thing to do. I do have a napkin holder on the counter with paper napkins but I try not to use them very often.

You really don’t need to buy styrofoam cups or plates. If you need disposable ones, just buy paper. They even make paper cups for coffee now. Many companies have banned packing peanuts – I wish they all would. Our neighbor had a packing peanut “accident” with his trash pick up after Christmas. I am still picking them up from my yard and driveway. If you ship a lot of things, buy a paper shredder and shred all of your junk mail – use that for packing! It’s cheap, easy and you’re kind of killing two birds with one stone!

Green is the new black. Mainstream and high profile designers alike are using eco-friendly materials in their clothing lines. When shopping, check the labels for ingredients like organic cotton and even bamboo. I LOVE my bamboo socks!

Fast Facts:

Each year the United States uses 30 billion plastic and 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring approximately 14 million trees and 12 million barrels of oil.

Americans used 50 billion water bottles in 2006 and sent 38 billion water bottles to landfills, the equivalent of 912 million gallons of oil. If laid end to end, that’s enough bottles to travel from the Earth to the Moon and back 10 times.

If everyone in the U.S. said “no thanks” to ATM receipts, it would save a roll of paper so long it could circle the equator fifteen times.

When in use, the home oven is one of the biggest energy consumers that you own. Turn off the oven for the last few minutes of cooking time. The heating coils will continue to radiate heat, and as long as you keep the door closed, the oven should retain most of its heat for the rest of the cooking period. You can also opt to use a slow cooker (so great for us working parents!) or a toaster oven when possible.

For every 38,000 bills paid online, 5,058 pounds of greenhouse gases are avoided and two tons of trees are preserved. Using direct payment also saves a person about $150 annually in stamp and check costs and late fees!

That’s it for this month. Remember it is easy being green!

By Jennifer Jesperson

It is easy being green!

Over the holiday break, my family and I took a day trip up to Mt. Baldy for some fun in the snow. I was absolutely appalled by the amount of trash in the parking lots and on the road sides. We’re lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country, and yet, some people don’t take care of it. It’s really not that hard! So, I’ve decided to try to write a monthly column. We have this fantastic new web site, so why not?

There are only three people in our house. We keep a trash receptacle near the door. OK, right now it’s a paper bag – which is kind of wrong. When I forget to bring my reusable shopping bags into the store, I ask for paper bags and then we reuse and recycle them. I need to get a small trash can, but at least it’s something! Anyway, we use that paper bag for recycling. On the weekends, I can run that bag out to the recycling bin three times a day! It amazes me that the three of us can generate that much! Just think if we didn’t recycle it?

Every so often when I see CFL light bulbs on sale, I’ll pick some up. That way, when an old-fashioned energy-sucker bulb burns out, I’ve got a new one ready to go!

We don’t water our lawn every day. It’s actually better for the lawn and flowers and plants if they don’t get watered every day. Turn your sprinklers off on the weekends. It will save money and water!

We’ve also lowered our water temperature. Your water may be hotter than necessary too. Most water heaters are automatically set at 140 degrees F. That used to be the standard temperature mostly because of dishwashers. Now, pretty much all dishwashers have a “booster heater.” Turn the temperature down to 120 degrees F (the medium setting on a gas heater dial) and you’ll cut your water heating costs by 6 to 10% and you won’t have to add as much cold water to your shower. And if your water heater is outside, buy a blanket for it. You can get them at any hardware store for about $20.00. That will help with your energy costs as well.

A standard shower head sprays you with up to eight gallons of water per minute. Replacing it with a high quality, low-flow shower head will allow you to use only one or two gallons of water and you’ll hardly notice a difference – except on your bill! You can get these at the Department of Water And Power on Magnolia – FOR FREE!

Try using cold water in your washing machine. You can get laundry detergents that are specially made for cold water. One load of hot water can cost you an extra $.40 per load! That adds up after a year. And always wash full loads. I keep a clothes line up all year around. Your clothes smell good, it saves energy and money!

All forced air furnaces (which is what most of us have) use filters that keep dust and dirt from blowing in your house. Cleaning or replacing the dirty filters once a month can greatly improve the heating ability of your furnace. A clogged filter wastes money.

If you don’t have to print out an email or directions or a recipe, then don’t.

If I see litter, I pick it up. We have to start helping each other. L.A. county citizens throw out enough waste to fill Dodger Stadium every two weeks! Cigarette butts are among the most common form of litter nation wide. The L.A. County Department of Public Works estimates that local smokers drop 600,000 butts on the ground every month! That’s more than 7,000,000 a year! I have friends who take pokers and trash bags up to Angeles Crest when they go on hikes and they pick up trash along the way. That way, they’re outside enjoying the fresh air, getting some exercise and helping the planet!

So, for now, I’ll step off my recycled soap box. Start small, make one change, then another. You’ll find out that it’s really not hard being green.