EarthMoment

Are you afraid of the dark? Then hopefully you weren’t in San Francisco on October 20^th. From 8 to 9 p.m. the city’s residents and businesses were persuaded to shut off their unnecessary lights. The new organization called Lights Out San Francisco wanted to set an example of how simple it is to conserve energy. They even got managers of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to jump on board. PG&E is also donated 100,000 compact fluorescent bulbs before the event for people to switch out their old light bulbs for a more energy efficient light bulb. From the success of this awareness-building event, we may be seeing other city lights around the country disappearing into the dark.

GET INTO IT

Why not?
Buy energy efficient light bulbs!

Bring it
Better lights are the No. 1 way to save money and energy. Why? Because changing your light bulbs is an easy, effective step you can take to reduce your electric bill and the greenhouse gases emitted by creating electricity.

Learn more in this article, Bright Ideas for Home Lighting. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Alternative-Energy/2007-04-
01/Bright-Ideas-for-Home-Lighting.aspx

Not so guilty pleasure
Put your new LED energy efficient light bulb into this mod Asian inspired lamp, it’s practical and stylish.

Asian Gourd Lamp

http://www.earthmoment.com/product/627313

I’m a huge fan of the furniture design group, Herman Miller. Designers Ray and Charles Eames put out the Eames lounge chair and ottoman with Herman Miller in 1956, the one piece of furniture I must have in my house even if it’s the only piece of furniture I have in my house. But now I have a new reason to love Herman Miller, it’s not just for the aesthetics of their products but their mission for their new furniture line. Yet again Herman Miller has established a relationship with another group that will change the face of the design world. They recently teamed up with architect Bill McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart and their company McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) to create chairs for a new line called Cradle to Cradle. Their idea was to look at the full life cycle of furniture and design with its end in mind, their goal is to eventually have zero-waste furniture. The first chair, called the Mirra chair, breaks down into pieces and re-assembles, once at the end of its life cycle the chair can be broken down for good and 96% of its parts can be recycled.

And it gets better; the whole company is heading towards the “green” light. They hope to be a completely sustainable company by the year 2020. “That means we want to have zero landfill, zero hazardous waste, and zero air/water emissions. We want to purchase 100 percent renewable energy, and to have all our buildings at least a minimum of Silver LEED certification,” says Scott Charon of Herman Miller. What’s not to love about this company?

Read the full interview with Scott Charon and Susan Lyons of Herman Miller at Metropolis Magazine’s site, http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/
story.php?artid=2908

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Why Not?
Need a good reason (other than jumping on the trend bandwagon) to install bamboo flooring…how about 4? It’s sustainable, tough, easy to install and beautiful; here’s the 411 on bamboo flooring.

Learn more in this article, The Low down on bamboo floors
http://www.motherearthliving.com/issues/motherearthliving/
green_home/Bamboo-Floor_305-1.html

Bring It
10 Things Every Eco-Home Should Have – From Natural Home magazine
These simple guiding principals can help make your home green, energy efficient and comfortable.

http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/article/2007/07/
10-things.html

Not So Guilty Pleasure
This sleek couch not only looks design trendy but its modular (that’s the new craze in the design world, meaning it’s built in self-contained units). The good thing about modular is you can take it apart so it’s easy to move and doesn’t waste as much cardboard packaging, but don’t worry its easy to assemble too!

Carleigh Microsuede Sofa

http://www.earthmoment.com/product/6282258

Seattle’s 37 year-old Bumbershoot festival has always been an environmentally friendly festival but this year proved to be the best yet. To light the stages they used bio-diesel generators while everything else was powered by Seattle City Light. Since 1905 Seattle City Light has acquired electricity from hydroelectric dams, wind farms and natural gas-and coal-fired power and provided Seattle and the suburbs surrounding the city with this. Bumbershoot was over Labor Day weekend, people who attended not only were in for a treat musically but the organizers of the festival thought of some pretty fun ways to reward everyone who made an honest effort to be environmentally friendly at the festival. Attendees of the festival who carpooled received discounted parking rates if they parked at Seattle Center lots, while those who rode their bikes to the event could park in the Bumbershoot Bicycle Corral and were given free goods. Random Festival-goers were given cold hard cash and prizes when they got caught recycling. And even the use of Styrofoam was banned! What have they got in store for next year’s event? Stay tuned!

GET INTO IT

Why Not?
Here’s a quick recap of what’s been going on with the energy bill.
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/fuel_economy/
2007-energy-bill-in-review.html

Bring It
Renewable energy is paying off. This new report shows that renewable energy will provide about one quarter of our country’s projected energy needs. Now that’s something to feel good about.

Learn more in this article, Renewable Energy Will Rise to the Challenge
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2007-08-
01/Renewable-Energy-Capacity.aspx

Not So Guilty Pleasure
Everything you need to know and more about renewable energy is in this book!

Renewable Energy

http://www.earthmoment.com/product/3733606

That cup of apple cider just got more enjoyable too. Apparently apple cider is better for you than apple juice; the two drinks are virtually the same until it comes to these little things called polyphenols. In cider, the seeds and skin of the apples are included, just mashed up, while in juice they are filtered out. Guess what, mom was right when she said the skin is the healthiest part of the apple because those polyphenols that are in the skin and seeds of the apples are antioxidants that may reduce the risk of cancer and improve heart health and brain function. Final score; apple cider 1 and apple juice 0.

GET INTO IT

Why not?
Drink apple cider this winter!

Bring it
Try real, homemade apple cider and enjoy the most delightful flavors under the sun.

Learn more in this article, Fall’s Sweetest Harvest
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Home
made-Sweet-Apple-Cider.aspx

Not so guilty pleasure
Here’s the quick and easy way to make your own flavorful juice, use a juicer! This particular juicer holds 4 cups of fresh, homemade juice.

DeLonghi Electric Citrus Juicer

http://www.earthmoment.com/product/6283641