Portland is awesome!
Look at what I found while perusing the city of Portland’s various pages about sustainability: it’s a handout that details things that you can do, both at home and at work, to reduce your impact on the environment. It’s great! And this is why Portland is leading the country on sustainable design issues! Awesome.
Gray (Grey) Water
I’m now in Portland checking out the job market here. Portland is one of the most “sustainable” cities in the United States, a point proven to me after less than 2 days when I visited a restroom that uses a graywater system. Graywater systems recycle water that is used in washing hands and dishes to [...]
First Impressions
Some of the first things I saw here today include some “organic” furniture, a solar powered play house, and felt plant boxes:
Packing material
Previously known as “bank and phone statements from prior to 2004″. Shred it, bag it, reuse it for packing plates and dishes. It’s that easy!
All I wanted was a pair of headphones
If Apple’s generic headphones were made any better than a Chevy Cobalt, I wouldn’t have this problem. But I have to get new headphones on a regular basis and it’s frustrating. Especially when you consider the packaging: So many of our electronics products come in this ridiculous “theft-proof” hard plastic packaging; and then you try [...]
It’s hard to get rid of used books
Well it’s harder to get rid of used books than you’d think. I’ve been to two used bookstores today; one of them doesn’t buy back on Sundays and the other didn’t want anything I had. As it’s exhausting carrying around a bunch of books that I don’t want, I’m trying to figure out my next [...]
Make recycling make sense
Full disclosure: I love my 15″ MacBook Pro. Knock on wood, I’ve not had any major problems with it in the 3 years that I’ve had it. And, even though I’ve seen some things about the batteries that freak me out a bit, I don’t regret my purchase of it. It’s done everything I have [...]
Emily’s Ten Commandments of a Greener Office
1. Thou shalt avoid “vampire power” by unplugging appliances when not in use. 2. Thou shalt use coffee mugs instead of paper cups – and dishtowels instead of paper towels – as much as possible. 3. Thou shalt not purchase disposable plastic water bottles unless thou is dangerously parched. 4. Thou shall turn off thou’s [...]
Happy Earth Day 2009!
If I have one request, hope, or wish for you this Earth Day 2009, it is that you stop using plastic bags. Entirely. Forever. And ever! My suggestion? Get some reusable bags! Everyone sells them by now, from Ralph’s to IKEA to Trader Joe’s. And like everything, you’ve got plenty of choices, from economy to [...]
Woe is me: A Packrat’s Dilemma
One of the things that I didn’t understand for a long time was that to lessen my impact on the Earth, I needed to consume a lot less stuff. Part of my urge for consumption in the first place surely comes from being an American – as Americans, we are told that consumerism is, in [...]
GDC Creative Commons License
Subscription Options:
