Sustainability: Nov. 5, 2011

Occupy Wall Street protesters are not the only Americans unhappy with the influence of money on our political system. Frances Moore Lappe´ and her husband Anthony recently wrote, “Corporations sway public decision making via political contributions and lobbying — now with two dozen lobbyists for every member of Congress.” They urge us to Occupy Democracy. The one-two punch of unruly campaign contributions and fat cat lobbyists has a decidedly corrupting effect on ...

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Sustainability: Oct. 29, 2011

Angry consumers and Occupy Wall Street protesters have found common ground in their disgust with mega-banks. They are mad and not going to take it anymore. According to a Facebook page, the deadline for “Bank Transfer Day” is Nov. 5 to make a statement by moving your money from major banking institutions. Already fed up with climbing bank fees, Bank of America’s recent announcement about monthly fees for debit cards was the last straw for many folks across the political ...

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Sustainability: Oct. 22, 2011

Sharing and collaborating will be the order of the day at the Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum hosted by the Water Center on Oct. 31 at Colorado Mesa University. Hannah Holm, water center coordinator, said the forum will be a “scholarly networking event to trade information.” Water experts will share information about current projects and ideas about future ones. A variety of topics related to the river basin will be on tap, including sessions about climate change, ...

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Sustainability: Oct. 15, 2011

Research is essential to every aspect of developing greener, cleaner alternative vehicles. “Basic research is what feeds the innovation pipeline,” said Eric Isaacs, director of the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. Bringing together many types of expertise, national laboratories work closely with both academia and industry to create “the kind of energy that drives automobiles, and the kind of energy that drives innovation,” according to Isaacs. Argonne ...

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Sustainability: Oct. 8, 2011

The next generation of efficient vehicles will save money at the pump, improve national security and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. New fuel economy standards crafted by President Barack Obama and auto makers raise the bar for new cars and trucks from 27 miles per gallon to 35.5 miles per gallon for 2016 models. Subsequent incremental increases will achieve 54.5 mpg by 2025. The race is on and we must travel down many avenues to create practical components and infrastructure for ...

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Sustainibility: Lifestyles for today and tomorrow

My aversion to disposable products gave rise to a quest for a sustainable and affordable alternative for shaving. Although I truly hate to shave my legs, when it gets hot enough for shorts I cave in to cultural pressure. For several years, I used an electric razor and when it stopped doing a good job I made an attempt to find someone local to repair it. No such luck. This spring, I pulled my reusable handle and remaining blades out of the back of a bathroom drawer. All was well and good ...

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SustainAbility, Sept. 3, 2011

Well, now we know. According to the recent congressional field hearing titled “American Jobs and Energy Security: Domestic Oil Shale and the Status of Research, Regulation and Roadblocks,” regulation is the only roadblock with real merit. My perspective is a little bit different. Instead of viewing regulation as a major roadblock for the industry, I consider it a form of protection. Witness after witness connected to the oil industry claimed companies can balance environmental ...

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SustainAbility: Community garden

Mark and Pam Gibbons have a small garden at home but choose to put most of their energy into the Canyon View community garden. Even with full time jobs, Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings find the couple at the flourishing garden nestled between Canyon View Vineyard Church and the new site of Caprock Academy. Mark calls gardening a “stress reducer” and enjoys the “calming effect” of working in the garden. As one of a dozen garden leaders, he also enjoys being a ...

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SustainAbility: Economic development

More than 80 people gathered at Mesa State College on June 30 for a whirlwind 90-minute planning session focused on one goal for Mesa County: Become an epicenter for energy innovation. The Economic Development Partners of Mesa County, composed of 20 local organizations, is creating an economic development plan for the county from the bottom up. The energy goal is the first of three goals which will go through a deliberate process. Participants came from diverse business backgrounds and ...

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SustainAbility: Outdoor dining

The easy living of summertime ushers in outdoor dining replete with disposable plates, utensils and cups. Compostable foodware is cropping up all over the Grand Valley as a sustainable alternative to disposables. While compostable dining accoutrements can be a great solution, a little education is in order. You can purchase a wide variety of compostable foodware at our local Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. The store carries lines from Terra Ware, Ultragreen and World Centric made from ...

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Sustainability: Solar systems

Scott Wegs, vice president of business development for Syndicated Solar, Inc., strongly believes we need to take a good look at how we use energy and figure out new ways to manage it. He is convinced smart grid technology could greatly contribute to that process and help integrate on-site solar generation. In the summer, peak solar production typically coincides with peak energy demand during the hottest part of the afternoon. Since our area averages 5.85 hours of sunlight per day ...

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SustainAbility: Solar

Abundant sunshine makes western Colorado an ideal place for solar power and this is a great time to harness that energy. Current rebates and incentives make 2011 a very auspicious year for installing an on-site solar generation system. You can also savor the irony of using the sun to power your swamp cooler or air conditioner. Solar systems which are tied into the power grid can actually generate more electricity than you consume making the electric meter spin backward as electricity is ...

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SustainAbility: Relying on printed material

The electronic age is in full swing so there is no need to be buried in an avalanche of paper anymore. You can reduce clutter and improve the environment by choosing electronic delivery instead of relying on printed material. Most companies and financial institutions allow you to opt out of paper delivery. This can include bills, statements, reports and other correspondence. Complete the cycle and further reduce paper use by paying your bills electronically. You can still print out ...

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SustainAbility: Wingate Garden Festival

The Wingate Garden Festival might have been a bust when the well-known speaker canceled because of a family emergency. Luckily, technology saved the day as the community rallied in support of the Wingate Elementary School garden. Chef Ann Cooper, best known as The Renegade Lunch Lady, made a virtual appearance in a passionate educational video presented to a standing room-only crowd of 130 people at the festival, which included booths, a healthy assortment of food, door prizes and musical ...

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Sustainability: Investing

When you go to Grand River Financial Partners for assistance, owner Terri Hickman wants to create the perfect match between your investments and financial goals. If that equation involves socially responsible investing, Hickman is more than happy to help. “Integrating your personal, social, and environmental concerns with your financial considerations is called socially responsible investing (SRI). SRI helps you meet your financial goals while ensuring that your investments have a ...

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SustainAbility: College student showcase

There simply was not enough time to take in everything at the Mesa State College Student Showcase on April 27. I went specifically to see the engine converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) by a team of students at Western Colorado Community College, as well as my friend Suzanne Bronson’s film. Little did I know I would encounter an avalanche of intellectual and cultural inspiration. Donald Cardin, David Farnsworth, Tyler Mooney and Mike Rowe demonstrated “CNG Motor ...

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SustainAbility: On Edge Skating

Tucked away between North Avenue and the I-70 Business Loop on the east side of town is a cutting-edge green business. On Edge Skating is the only year-round synthetic skating rink in the United States. Charles Crawford and his wife Elizabeth are the entrepreneurs behind this venture, which is still in its infancy. Crawford started figure skating at the tender age of 3 and progressed to competitive skating. He has been an instructor for 15 years. Three years ago, the couple moved to ...

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SustainAbility: Backyard gardening

A sustainable community is one in which people are willing to reach out to each another and lend a helping hand. Grow Another Row exemplifies this philosophy with a network of “backyard gardeners fighting hunger.” This successful young project, just in its third season, already has garnered respect for distributing surplus produce to those in need through food banks and emergency food programs. Founder and organizer Amanda McQuade explained Grow Another Row helps connect ...

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SustainAbility: Community gardening

Growers in the Grand Valley are venturing beyond backyard gardening to embrace community gardens and community supported agriculture (CSA). Community gardens are a popular option when obstacles prevent you from gardening at home. Grand Junction Main Street Community Garden already is a success in its fourth season at 10th and Main streets. Nora Wedemeyer, a member of the organizing committee, said the garden has an ongoing registration process that can still accommodate another 10 or so ...

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SustainAbility: Ready for Earth Day

April 22 is rapidly approaching so it’s time to mark your calendar with some educational and entertaining Earth Day events. The big celebration for Earth Day is April 23 but don’t head to the Mesa County Fairgrounds this year. Alpine Bank will be presenting the festivities that have migrated to the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens, 655 Struthers Ave. The full day of events is broken up into three sections starting with early exercise activities at 8 a.m. The Community ...

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SustainAbility: Reaction to nuclear column

The only thing certain about Japan’s recent nuclear emergency is that assessments of the situation keep changing. The same could be said about our attitudes toward nuclear sources of electricity. Several readers responded to the invitation in my March 19 column for comments about nuclear energy. Replies ran the gamut of viewpoints and sometimes contained conflicting information. Carol Inglis wrote, “I wish you would look at the arguments for making thorium nuclear plants, as ...

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Sustainability: Spring cleaning products

For this year’s spring cleaning make your house cleaner than ever with toxin-free products. Your home will sparkle and, as an added bonus, indoor air quality will improve. Using green cleaners does not mean sacrificing cleaning power. Your home will be safer without the danger of toxic cleaners and healthier for those who suffer from allergies and other sensitivities. Banishing toxins from your cleaning supplies is easier than you think. You can replace them with products made from ...

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SustainAbility: Nuclear industry

Last year, over a six-month span, I received several letters from a dedicated reader self-described as “an old environmental war horse.” The letters repeatedly referred to nuclear energy, citing concerns about nuclear waste and terrorism. Since then, I have struggled with how to approach this complicated issue. With the nuclear crisis in Japan, the topic has become unavoidable. The recent disaster certainly reinforces the cloud of doubt surrounding this form of power, but are ...

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SustainAbility: Marquette, Mich.

I recently traveled to Marquette, Mich., to visit my daughter and son-in-law. During the course of our regular outings, I stumbled across some noteworthy sustainable efforts in the Great White North. Marquette is a community of a little more than 20,000 people tucked away on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. Home to Northern Michigan University, the area is traditionally known as a shipping port for the region’s iron ore and taconite deposits. My first ...

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SustainAbility: Outdoors study

“America’s Great Outdoors: A Promise to Future Generations” has something for everyone interested in the natural world. The report from President Barack Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative covers access to recreation, strengthening the Land and Water Conservation Fund and establishing urban parks and community green spaces. Other priorities include: conserving farms, ranches and forests; conserving and restoring national parks, wildlife refuges, ...

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SustainAbility: Protecting our outdoors

The sun was warm, the air was brisk and the views were magnificent. Last week, friends and I hiked on Colorado National Monument, up Thoroughfare Canyon to a waterfall looming like a towering ice sculpture. We are so fortunate to have this type of splendor in our backyard available for a mere pittance. For the price of two movie tickets, I bought access to the treasures of the monument for an entire year. An annual park pass costs $20. Such a deal. My outdoor experience coincided nicely ...

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SustainAbility: Energy briefing

John Sluder was the guest of honor at the most recent Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce energy briefing. His claim to fame is department head for Business, Applied Science and Information Services at Western Colorado Community College. Sluder was sharing details about a nifty new project at the college funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. This endeavor typifies local interest in compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel for vehicles. The goal is to design compressed natural ...

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Sustainability: Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

An innocuous office at 348 Main St. in Grand Junction is coordinating some major opportunities on the sustainability front. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is administering three programs that are leading the way for Colorado’s new energy economy. The housing and finance authority is partnering with the Governor’s Energy Office for the Green Colorado Credit Reserve. Funding is provided by the Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment ...

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SustainAbility: Meetings on water, powerlines

This past Monday, I attended two events and couldn’t help but notice the contrast between them. One was a public scoping for a power transmission line and the other was a presentation about biofuels. Now I realize this is a lot like comparing kiwis and kumquats. The power lines carry electricity that can provide energy for homes and businesses alike. Biofuels are primarily used to power vehicles. What really stood out was the scale of the two projects. The process to create a new ...

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SustainAbility: Tax subsidies

I have been watching with interest a recent flurry of letters printed in this paper debating the use of our tax dollars to prop up the renewable energy industry. In one letter Randy Litwiller of Crawford wrote, “Renewable energy funds or incentives are a nice way to say renewable energy is a subsidized industry. Without this funding, the industry cannot survive.” Another letter gave an example close to home. “Palisade Pharmacy’s solar-powered installation cost ...

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SustainAbility: Easing away from petrochemicals

You may have noticed gas prices are on the way up again. Some experts even predict the price of a gallon of gas will hit $4 by the end of this year. Reducing your petroleum consumption will become a hot topic as gas prices rise. The easiest method is buying less gas at the pump. Transportation accounts for about 70 percent of petroleum usage in the United States, but an additional 24 percent is used by industry to produce products made from fossil fuels. We live in the ...

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Sustainability: Mindful holidays

‘Tis the season for going through the days on autopilot, checking off items on lengthy “to do” lists by rote. You can do things differently by living mindfully. Living mindfully involves being fully aware of each moment, which allows you to align your choices with your beliefs. In practice, it means slowing down your busy life enough to fully appreciate the cornucopia of riches right in front of you. Even when you are busy with kids or trying to keep up with a high ...

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Sustainability: Community gardening

Rob Breeden is one of a handful of people responsible for launching the new community garden at Canyon View Vineyard Church. For Breeden, the emphasis is definitely on community. “I have a passion for community,” he explained. The landscape architect sees the garden as a way to promote community spirit and to “alleviate unhealthy eating.” Breeden and grounds manager Rick Kenagy, affectionately known as the Pasture Pastor, shared a vision of starting the community ...

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Sustainability: America’s Great Outdoors

It is amazing what can happen when a diverse group of more than 200 people gets together to voice concerns on a shared passion: preserving our great outdoors. On July 16, Grand Junction was the venue for one of a series of listening sessions hosted by America’s Great Outdoors, a cross pollination of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and the Council on Environmental Quality. You might think a mixture of off-road enthusiasts, ...

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SustainAbility: Mesa County Library

Libraries are naturally green because they share materials, but Mesa County Libraries’ Green Team has quietly been forging a clear path to sustainability. A values statement on the library’s website modestly refers to “effective and efficient stewardship of library resources.” Since its birth in 2008, the Green Team has been busy taking one small step after another to make our libraries environmentally friendly. Nancy MacDonald, executive assistant in ...

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SustainAbility, WaterSense

In case you have forgotten that we live next to a desert, the recent lack of rainfall might jog your memory. Water is a constant concern in our area, and there are many ways each of us can conserve the precious liquid. We can use less water both inside and outside of our homes. We can change our habits, our appliances and even make changes in our yards to have a huge impact on water use. When it is time to replace toilets, faucets, washing machines or dishwashers, you can drastically cut ...

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SustainAbility: Exploring the great outdoors

I have lived in the Grand Valley for more than 17 years, but it’s only been in the past couple of months that have I started to explore the awe-inspiring natural beauty of this area. I enjoy hiking and outdoorsy activities, but lacked initiative to get out on the trails. My husband prefers to get his outdoor exposure on the golf course, so without a partner for adventure, my interest in nature was withering on the vine. Then, this May, I noticed on Facebook that a friend of a ...

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SustainAbility: Clean Energy Collective

I first heard about the Clean Energy Collective last month at the 2010 Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Regional Sustainability Roundtable in Rifle. It sounded intriguing, so I did a little research. The collective provides a way to decrease your carbon footprint, combat climate change and save money on electricity, all in one fell swoop. For residents of Roaring Fork and Vail valleys, the collective is an offer too good to refuse. According to its website, the Carbondale-based ...

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SustainAbility, Business operations

At the 2010 Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Regional Sustainability Roundtable in Rifle last month, I was introduced to a very intriguing new venture. Natural Capitalism Solutions is scheduled to release Solutions @ the Speed of Business on July 15. This innovative online software package will guide small businesses through a learning process for operating in a sustainable manner. According to its website, Natural Capitalism Solutions is committed to “helping small businesses ...

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SustainAbility: Rifle roundtable

On May 26, I attended the 2010 Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Regional Sustainability Roundtable in Rifle. Grand Junction was well represented with 17 of the 65 event participants hailing from the Grand Valley. You may not be aware that Rifle is on the cutting edge of sustainability measures. The area will soon have a biofuels plant, which will turn grass and other materials into fuel for transportation. One of four pilot communities, Rifle was selected to take part in Colorado’s ...

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SustainAbility: Responding to e-mails

I have received a great deal of e-mail lately and wanted to share some with all of you. First off, I need to correct a mistake I made concerning Williams Rig No. 280. Williams community affair representative Susan Alvillar wrote: “I am very impressed in what you took in with the rapid fire way the tours usually work. And, you are right — it was very fair. The one piece that wasn’t quite on the mark — the wells 280 is drilling will be finished in about 120 days ...

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SustainAbility: Recycling plastics

Williams’ natural gas rig No. 280 was not what I expected. When I caught up with the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Rig Tour last Tuesday, I was bracing for a loud, assaulting experience. The reality was just the opposite. The site of the rig was a tiny footprint on land owned by the Savage family in Garfield County. A couple hundred head of cattle grazed contentedly in a pasture surrounding the rig. The tour, conducted by Susan Alvillar, community affairs representative ...

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Sustainability: Carbon offsets

Ten months ago, I wrote about legislation in Washington that would bring about a clean energy economy. Finally, the powers that be in D.C. are tackling the issue again with the American Power Act introduced in the Senate by Democrats John Kerry and Joe Lieberman on May 12. That happened to be the very same day I attended a Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce Energy Briefing given by Michael Cot&233; of Ruby Canyon Engineering, which is on Horizon Court in Grand Junction. Cot&233; and ...

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Sustainabaility: Container gardening

It is hard for me to believe I have been to three local nurseries in the past couple of days, and I went willingly. In the past, when I have tagged along with my talented plant-growing friends, trips to garden shops were feats of patience and endurance. I actually had a lot of fun shopping for the starter plants and two varieties of seed I bought to start my tabletop square foot garden. My husband, Jim, drilled holes in the first pair of drawers I brought home, then I read master ...

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Sustainability: Tabletop square foot gardening

In the spring of 2008, I pitched the idea for this column to the Daily Sentinel’s managing editor Laurena Mayne Davis. When she expressed interest in the concept, I was thrilled. Then she told me it would run on the Home & Garden pages, and I was baffled. You see, for more than 50 years I have had a black thumb, and I am completely missing the genes controlling housecleaning and decorating. But I am now about to embark on an adventure called tabletop square foot ...

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Sustainability: Spring Clean-Up

Mesa County, famous for mesas, monuments and memories, also is home to the only hybrid solar-coal plant demonstration project in the world. Located at Xcel Energy’s Cameo Generating Station north of Interstate 70 just east of Palisade, the Colorado Integrated Solar Project came on line April 16, the day after I participated in a Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce tour of the solar portion of the facility. Part of the Innovative Clean Technology Program authorized by the Colorado ...

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SustainAbility, Dealing with dandelions

As we travel the long and winding road toward a fully sustainable lifestyle, it is not unusual to take a few steps forward and then fall one step back. This spring, I am noticing all the opportunities to decrease my carbon footprint. At the same time, after 17 years of resistance, I have finally relented and agreed that my husband should go ahead and use chemicals on those insidious dandelions in our front yard. My super smart, biology/master gardener friend, Lorna Naegele, broke the bad ...

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Sustainability: The census

It’s time to stand up and “Be Counted” in a sustainable way. I’m talking about the 2010 U.S. Census and the importance of sending in your census form ASAP. I filled out my form in a mere five minutes. They really have done a great job of creating a simple form with user-friendly directions. It is essential you mail your form back by April 22 to avoid an unnecessary follow-up visit to your home, wasting gas and resources. This is a way to do your small part toward ...

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Sustainability: Studying culinary arts

The purchasing class in Western Colorado Community College’s culinary arts program asked students to design an imaginary upscale coffee shop, including one sustainable element. Then students had to create lists to order everything necessary to start up the restaurant. Kami Higa, a Mesa State Honors Program student from Hawaii, took it a few steps further, focusing on green elements throughout her virtual caf&233; named “Guava Java.” The future restaurateur went to great ...

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Sustainability: Dining at Chez Lena

Chez Lena may be the best kept dining secret in the Grand Valley, and I have the perfect excuse for writing a shameless plug since this excellent eatery is also a shining example of an eco-friendly restaurant. Located on the Western Colorado Community College campus, 2508 Blichmann Ave., in Grand Junction, Chez Lena provides instruction and hands-on restaurant experience for students in the WCCC Culinary Arts Program. “We believe it is important to support efforts to protect our ...

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