I thought this was a fun project for all you portable gamers out there. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry about charging your Nintendo DS? Personally I seem to lose the charger every time I take it on a trip, so a solar charging DS would be awesome for me. The large amount of surface area on the DS makes it perfect for solar charging, just open it up and lay it down flat in a sunny area. This project uses 4 60×60mm solar cells that together produce 6 volts at 80 ma. This isn’t enough to power the DS but it does make for a nice trickle charge. If you don’t spend all your waking hours playing the DS, this just might be enough to never have to plug in your DS. This would definitely work for me because I don’t use my DS all the time. Instructions on how to make your DS solar powered have been posted on instructables.com.

Green with Envy Organic Hair Studio
Optima Camel View Village, Suite 107, (Highland Ave & Scottsdale Rd)
7147 E. Rancho Vista Drive, #107
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: 480.553.7235

When most people think of environmentally friendly they think of crunchy hippies.. well.. less so these days but there is still that stigma that green and glamorous cannot go hand in hand. Green With Envy, a new hair salon in Scottsdale, blows this myth out of the water. With everything from their LEED certified building with denim insullation, water and energy efficient gadgets, toxin-free products all the way down to recycling the hair clippings they produce to make mats that help in the remediation of oil spills! Ok, so we know they have the Green part down but how is their service?

They have an introductory deal this month offering haircuts for $35 so you don’t have to take my word, you can’t afford to not go take them up on this deal. My friend, Abby (photo at the end of this post), turned me on to this place and I couldn’t pass it up. After hearing about all of thier great environmental aspirations I just had to try them. She got her hair cut first, loved it, and the next day it was my turn. The building itself is gorgeous with panels of sandstone all over the place, lush vegetation and water features, not the type of place you would associate with stringent environmental adherance but these LEED engineers know what they’re doing and efficiency is #1. There is no skimping in visual appeal, the Green With Envy salon is funky and clean with modern decor and a cheerful, restorative vibe.

Maggie Fink, the owner of Green with envy, is extremely friendly and dedicated to a great salon that does no harm to the planet. She was right up front when I came in and offered me some tea (which was fantastic, by the way). The entire staff was relaxed, fast, and friendly, not to mention terrifically talented! I could have fallen right to sleep when they washed my hair and massaged my scalp with quality shampoo that was scented with pure essential oils rather than the barage of chemical fragrance found in most salons. My stylist was Eric, I brought in a picture of what I was looking for and he did exactly what I was hoping for with the cut. A few more organic yummy products, some blow drying and I was out the door, looking great and feeling even better knowing that the locally owned Green with Envy Organic Hair Studio shares some of my values about the environment and is shaping their business around that.

I was so pleased with the results and would highly recommend this salon to anyone looking for a more eco-friendly way to stay beautiful without hurting the planet and support local business.

From their website, http://greenwithenvyhair.com:

WHAT MAKES US GREEN?

Designed by a LEED certified architect

First salon in the valley to exclusively use EcoColors (a non toxic color line) and carry and use only organic products

We donate the hair clippings to a non profit organization that uses them to create mats that clean up oil spills

Our sign and front desk were made using Kirei board, an eco-friendly substitute for wood, manufactured from reclaimed sorghum straw.

Soy-based concrete sealer

Dual-flush toilets

Recycled denim insulation

No VOC paint

Recycling Tank-less water heater

No aerosols

Recycled and reused fixtures for furniture and décor

Hybrid computers that use 70% less electricity than the average desktop.

Finances are tight for most people, enough said on that, but if you are looking for some help eating healthier, in a more eco-friendly way and have a bit of cash to burn there is a really cool service available. I am shocked at how affordable the pricing is for a personal chef! The thought never even crossed my mind in the past other than perhaps the fleeting delusion of my grandiose future as a kid. When I heard about Ripe Personal Chef services I was really impressed with their commitment to quality ingredients, particularly organics and the availability of vegan coaching and vegan menus. Who knew?? Organic farming and avoiding meat and dairy in your diets helps eliminate waste and toxins in the environment, and in your own system, so it is all around a healthy idea but some folks need a little guidance. It is hard to make a change and it sounds like this service can help you with that transition. I decided to contact Chef Stephanie Heller for some quick info on how and why she/her business is committed to the environment, here is what she had to say:

What are you doing to make your business more environmentally friendly? Why?

I strive to make my business more environmentally friendly everyday. I buy local organic produce whenever possible. I make suggestions to clients where to shop and how to reduce waste. I use re-usable containers and recycle any product packaging I can. It is important to me to be more aware of my surroundings and appreciate everything in nature not just use and abuse the environment but work with it and help in anyway I can.

She has some flexibility around Valentines’ Day – how cool would a home prepared chef-quality, organic meal be for you and your sweetie? I love it! She provides service to most places in the valley so check out her website and see if your area is an option. Also, she has entirely vegan menus available as well as really great sounding omnivorous or vegetarian ones. I am so glad that this Chef is out there spreading the word about healthy eating, for individuals sake, and for the sake of our environment. Go Chef Steph!

There are some great free events coming up tomorrow, Thursday the 5th. These events are kicking off the Arizona State University Darwinfest. Check them out and head to all that you can. You do not need to be a student to participate and it sounds like there is some really cool stuff going on! Here is the e-mail I just received, note when an RSVP is required.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see a FREE showing of Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy and meet the film’s director!

ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability invites you to attend three public events, celebrating:

ASU’s Teach-In on Global Warming
Thursday, February 5, 2009

http://schoolofsustainability.asu.edu/teachin

Take Action. Change the world. It starts with one.

National Webcast: The First 100 Days
Time: 8:30 – 11 AM
Location: GIOS 102
Hosts/Sponsors: GIOS, SOS, Engrained, Whole Foods, Tempe

Continental breakfast and viewing of “The First 100 Days,” a discussion of what needs to happen early in the Obama administration featuring David Orr, Hunter Lovins, Ray Anderson, and an interview with youth climate leaders Billy Parish, Wahleah Johns, and their baby Tohanna. They talk about the importance of student activism in the first 100 days; the potential impact of green jobs; and challenges facing today’s students.

The webcast is 30-minutes long and will be replayed the whole morning.

A Student Action
Time: 8:30 – 11 AM
Location: GIOS front steps
Hosts: Students of AZ Network for Sustainability (SANS)

Petitioning the Arizona Corporation Commission to increase the renewable energy standard for Arizona’s utilities, an important step towards energy independence.

Students Act Now for Sustainability
Time: 11 AM – 2 PM
Location: ASU Student Services Lawn
Hosts/Sponsors: GIOS, SANS, Chipotle, ASU environmental groups

When it comes to activism, the students at ASU are it. Sustainability is it. And it IS our time for change. February 5th presents a time for people to come together. It also presents a choice. Come out and stand. For your future, for your values, for your sustainability beliefs, and everything that is to come. Included: free food, action opportunities, and a Swiss energy display! The “Climate Trail” display, on loan from the Swiss Consulate, is a walk-through exhibit that is premiering on the Student Services Lawn and will be traveling around the ASU Tempe Campus through February 13th.

Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy (part of ASU’s Darwinfest) (RSVP required)
Time: 5 – 5:30 PM: Reception sponsored by Wholefoods Tempe and Engrained Restaurant
5:30 – 7:30 PM: Showing of Sizzle with post-film panel discussion led by the Filmmaker!
Location: Murdock Hall 201, ASU’s Tempe Campus (map)

Hosts/Sponsors: School of Life Sciences, Center for Biology and Society, GIOS, Institute for Humanities Research,

School of Earth and Space Exploration, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Whole Foods Tempe, Engrained Restaurant

Meet the Filmmaker! Free, but you must RSVP at: sustainabilityevents@asu.edu. Even with a reservation, seating is not guaranteed but is first-come, first-served! Sizzle, a novel blend of three genres-mockumentary, documentary, and reality: Scientist-turned-filmmaker Dr. Randy Olson, is a fan of Al Gore’s global-warming movie, but asks, “Where are all the scientists?” Join Dr. Olson for a reception before the film showing, and he and a panel of ASU experts for discussion following the movie, moderated by John D’Anna of The Arizona Republic. Panelists: Susanne Neuer (Associate Professor, SoLS) and Daniel Bernardi (Director, Film and Media Studies)

RSVPs are required for the film at sustainabilityevents@asu.edu; Trailer

Lauren Kuby
Manager, Events and Community Engagement
Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University
PO Box 875402, Tempe AZ 85287-5402
http://sustainability.asu.edu

In our culture it seems impossible and insane to downsize your lifestyle on purpose and go from the typical middle class lifestyle to one most people would consider poverty. That is exactly what this couple did when they became tired of endless layoffs, and trying to maintain the stressful American lifestyle. Basically it took a lot of hard work, patience, and time, but eventually they were able to buy their own little plot of land in the country, grow their own food, build their own house, and start their own bread co-op to make what little money they needed. Check out their story below.

As a middle class American, it’s been difficult for me to understand how we are supposed to make a living when there are so many things working against us. How can we go on day after day with the rising cost of food, fuel, utilities, car insurance, taxes and health care, while dealing with the insecurity of unemployment? In the past, whenever I considered these things, I felt a hopeless sense of impending doom in the pit of my stomach. There is so much talk about how to solve these issues, but nothing ever seems to stop the downward spiral of struggle and stress that millions of folks are experiencing. Continure reading “Thinking Small”