Living Green in Seattle

Ok, sometimes I might take it a bit overboard in my attempts to lure people to live more green. If you found offense in my post If it's Yellow, Let it Mellow.  If it's Brown, Flush it Down, I hope this reading can convince you not to run away yet.  Below you will find some manageable suggestions to lighten the environment's load of just a bit of our holiday-consuming-ways:

•·         Buy a Recycled Costume-I mean really?  Is it necessary to be the first one to wear it?  Value Village has loads of used goods (although they are starting to sell more and more of those new costumes that come in the plastic bags...overlook those...there is a used section) or check out a Goodwill or your local thrift store. 

•·         Rent a Recycled Costume- Looking for something really unique and afraid you won't be able to find the necessary accessories at a thrift store?  Check out for Champion Party Supply in Seattle for costumes that can be rented by the day.

•·         Trade a Recycled Costume-I just pulled out my costume box from storage and low and behold, there are at least three different costumes there.  Have a get together with a bunch of friends and trade costumes.

•·         Dim the Lights: Isn't the point of Halloween to get spooked?  Dim those lights and set the mood or just light candles.

•·         Offer Healthy Candy Alternatives: How about offering snacks that actually do a body good? A box of organic raisins, an organic fruit bar, a granola bar, nuts, a trinket or a treasure, or an organic juice box. 

•·         Use a Pillow Sheet for a Candy Bag:  No need to go out and buy one of those plastic pumpkins that will end up in a landfill.  Pull off one of your pillow's sheets or use one of the reusable bags you use when you grocery shop (you do use those right?)

I am sure this list is just the tip of the ice-burg...

•¬  Please feel free to leave me comments with other ways we can GREEN HALLOWEEN.  Everyone, please, BE SAFE  and watch the streets for little ones.           

Have a HAPPY HALLO-GREEN!            

For more Green Living Tips or Green Real Estate in Seattle, check out LiveGreenNW.com                                                                  

Have you ever sat around in Seattle wondering what to do with yourself?  You have been to the aquarium, you've been to the Space Needle, you've been to the Pike Place Market. You have done most of the touristy things.  You want something new.  Well, then I have the perfect day planned for you. 

                This is a great mission to do solo, with a friend, or with a group of friends (even children).

                Go down to the Agua Verde Paddle Club in University District.  Here you can rent kayaks by the hour.  You have a couple of options on where to paddle to.  You can paddle all the way over to Kirkland and enjoy lunch there.  You can float around in the natural surroundings of the Arboretum, or you can go and check out the many houseboats we have here in Seattle.  Whatever you choose, you are bound to have a great time.   While it can be peaceful and relaxing being out on the water, remember, kayaking is exercise.  You can and probably will burn some calories and some have been known to have sore arms the next day.  However, once you arrive back to the dock to turn in your kayak, a wonderful restaurant awaits upstairs.

                 The Agua Verde Paddle Club Café offers a delicious array of Mexican fare, often using natural, organic ingredients.  They have a mission to provide healthy food in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.  What does this mean to them? 

•·         Meat  is produced from animals raised on farms (as opposed to factories), given vegetarian feed without growth hormones or antibiotics

•·         Seafood is caught or raised sustainably using eco-friendly techniques

•·         Their produce is grown organically and obtained from local sources when possible

•·         The coffee is shade-grown and produced by small co-ops and specially blended for Agua Verde

In addition to Agua Verde's interest in promoting good health, their food is wonderful and their Margaritas aren't too bad themselves. 

What a wonderful way to end a perfect day of Seattle kayaking.  SLUUUUUUUUUUUURRP!

The first time I heard this saying was when I lived down in Mexico for some time.  I have carried it with me since then.  I don't see the need to flush the toilet every time I go to the bathroom, unless of course, it's brown.  I think this is an easy way to save water.  You should try it.  A few tips though:

• Don't go to the bathroom too many times without flushing.  You will clog the toilet with all of the toilet paper you're using.  That is, of course, if you're female.  I suggest going 3-4 times before flushing.
• Try to warn your guests about your potty habits before they enter the bathroom or else try to flush before they enter.  It can seem like you have lazy habits rather then a mission to conserve water.  Believe me on this one...I have been embarrassed a few times.
• Consider buying a dual flush toilet that allows you to choose how much flow is needed to flush.
• Put the toilet seat down each time you go so you don't have the visual each time you enter the bathroom.

This is just another way to live consciously for the good of our planet. 

For more green living tips, go to Live Green NW 

You have heard about the thousands of miles of floating plastics, pollution and debris out in the middle of our oceans, right?  Well, we should be ashamed of ourselves.  We humans consume, consume, and consume.  We think little about the effects our actions have on the environment.  We act as though there are endless supplies of resources and that our waste will just magically disappear.  Well, I am here to tell you if you haven't already heard....You're wrong!  It is up to each one of us individually to make a difference.  Now I don't blame you individually.  I know many of us were raised to not even think twice about where our garbage goes.  We are happy putting it in the trash (or the recycling please), wheeling our carts out to the curbs each week, and never thinking twice about it.

I am begging you to stop this destructive lifestyle. 

One way to make a difference is to stop buying bottled water.  I know the convenience of Water-to-Go is nice but there are other ways that are much less wasteful.  Are you ready to hear how?

Step 1:  Invest in a water purifying system or don't.  Tap water may be acceptable to you.

                 I prefer not to have fluoride in my water as it is not utilized in its natural form but is rather an industrial waste by-product.  Yum, industrial waste...thanks (insert your city water company here).  You probably don't believe me but I encourage you to do your own research.   Flouride can effect brain development, lower your IQ, has possible links to thyroid conditions, can damage your immune system, can cause flourosis , can increase your risk of osteoporosis, and on and on.  Why do you think so many European countries have banned fluoridation in their water systems?  Do I smell corporate greed here in America?

Some reading material for you:

Toxic waste chemicals are disposed of by feeding to humans, then calling it fluoride.

50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation

         One of the few home water purifying systems that you can buy that removes fluoride from your tap water is Custom Pure.  It is a wonderful system!  I even have it hooked up to my refrigerator so my ice is fluoride-free too. Don't be fooled!  Systems like Brita or Pur do NOT remove fluoride.  The Custom Pure MB series also removes Lead, Arsenic, Chlorine, Nitrates, Sulfates, etc.

Step 2:  Buy a reusable drinking container.  I prefer My Sigg water bottle, as it doesn't leach chemicals into my water that could affect my hormones and health.  Another good choice is Kleen Kanteen.  Steer clear of plastics and aluminium containers.

More reading for you:

Plastic (Not) Fantastic: Food Containers Leach a Potentially Harmful Chemical

Step 3:  Fill water bottle and drink pure water often!

If you follow these three easy steps, you will begin to see that your recycling bin has a lot more room in it now. Congratulations....You are the change we need!!!!

For more tips check out Live Green NW

Well, I made it to the zoo in the spring when the flowers first started blooming and I enjoyed myself so much, I made a vow to get back there before the weather turned too cold.  A few weeks ago when we still had nice weather, I got the chance to go back.  The Woodland Park Zoo is such an amazing way to get away from the buzz of the city and to help me remember how amazing nature is.  My favorite animals are probably the giraffes, hippos, and the gorillas.  My daughter had a wonderful experience with one of the gorillas.  They were touching each other through the glass, admiring one another.  Then, along came a group of men and the gorilla ran over to them and got up close to the glass and puffed his chest out as though he was protecting her.  It was pretty cool.  She got the chance to feed the giraffes this time around, which was also a great experience.  Taking the time to relish in all of the sights, sounds, and smells of the zoo is an experience that I will never grow out of and one that I will be sure to allow my child to enjoy often.  If you haven't made it to the zoo in awhile, GO!  It is still open throughout the year and although the weather will be much cooler, just bundle up and go.  In fact, I have never experienced the zoo in the middle of winter.  I bet it offers a different opportunity than the birds-chirping, flowers blooming, baby animals running around experience I am used to, since I typically only go in the spring or summer. 

We are all familiar with the pink fiberglass insulation but for the most part conventional insulation materials are synthetically produced and contain non-renewable, toxic, and often non-recyclable materials.  Consumers are bombarded on a daily basis as to what is healthy and what is not.   With the death of asbestos insulation and the once banned urea formaldehyde-based insulation, the focus has now turned to fiberglass.  I am not an insulation connoisseur, so I am not going to go into great detail about what I believe is the best  choice, but rather give you some options of what people are classifying as greener and healthier options:

Straw Bale-straw is a renewable resource that acts as an excellent insulation and has exceptional fire resistance due to the lack of air circulation that penetrates the bales.

Recycled Denim-made with post-industrial recycled denim, it saves waste from our landfills, made from cotton fibers, it is a rapidly renewable resource, holds more heat and absorbs sound, no formaldehyde or other VOC's (volatile organic compounds).   Look at Bonded Logic's website to learn more.

Recycled Paper- a cellulose insulation derived from 100% recycled newsprint, doesn't have any formaldehyde, chlorofluorocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxic substances. It's a great alternative to blown fiberglass or bat insulation. It can be layered into walls being built, or blown into attic spaces and already sheetrocked walls for extra protection from the cold. 

Sheep Wool-a highly effective insulation that is made from natural, sustainable, renewable and recyclable material, thermally and acoustically insulating and flame resistant.

Water Blown Soy-Based Polyurethane- It's easy to install and doesn't have any off-gassing, and even though it can cost a little more than other types of insulation, spray foam can actually save property owners up to 35% per year on energy bills This insulation seals your property's thermal envelope to make it more energy efficient while also blocking mold and mildew, controlling moisture, and repelling rodents and insects.

While there are many choices out there when it comes to finding a green and healthy choice of insulation,  overall, look for insulation products with recycled or recyclable content, low emissions, no formaldehyde or other pollutants, and preferably made with rapidly renewable and natural resources. 

Interested in touring some of Seattle's Green Homes?  Contact me at aberg@briorealty.com or visit my website Live Green NW...connecting you with like-minded, healthy, sustainable, eco-friendly products, services, and HOMES.

I had a woman contact me the other day wondering what changes were taking place towards the Mountlake Terrace Downtown Revitalization.  Since the city hasn't updated their website in awhile, I contacted Shane Hope, the Community and Economic Development Director for the city of MLT.  He was very helpful and passed along the following list to show the efforts and progress towards the revitalization:

--New downtown regulations (at http://www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us/forBusinesses/pdf/BCD_Amend_ORD_08.04.08_Fnl.pdf ) and design standards (at http://www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us/forBusinesses/pdf/DesignStandards_TC_August2008_Fnl.pdf ) implement the adopted Town Center Plan.

--The Town Center Environmental Impact Statement was issued last year.

--A Town Center Planned Action Ordinance to streamline the SEPA process for downtown projects was adopted last year.

--New parking standards (with stall dimensions + options for shared parking) have been adopted.

--The City has incorporated $3 million into its capital plan to develop a downtown public plaza.

--Mountlake Terrace has adopted a "Sustainability Strategy" encouraging green building and other practices.

--A new five-level park-and-ride garage (1/4 mile from downtown, adjacent to I-5 and 236^th)) is under construction.

--Construction of a Sounds Transit "Freeway Station" (an express bus station that will be in the median of I-5 and connect via a pedestrian bridge to the adjacent park-and-ride garage) will start in early 2009 and be completed in 2010.

--A new citywide Economic Vitality Strategy is expected to be ready for public review by October 10.

--The City Council has appointed a taskforce to provide recommendations by the end of the year on what to do regarding the need for new civic facilities, including a community center that could be located downtown.

--Our "development services" (permitting) program has been revamped to be even more efficient.

The city is always glad to share information or respond to questions about downtown revitalization in Mountlake Terrace.   Shane Hope can be reached at 425.744.6281.  An associate planner, Paula Schwartz at 425.744.6280, can provide day-to-day information about permits or arrange to provide copies of plot plans for any parcel; she also can schedule pre-application meetings.

Location:   Must NOT be built on environmentally sensitive sites like prime farmland, wetlands and endangered species habitats, ideally in walking distance to transportation, shopping, groceries, banks, post office, library, etc. (less use of gas)

Size:                 Larger home=more resources/more $ 

                        Smaller home=less resources/less $

Building Design:  takes advantage of natural light (less need for artificial lighting), shaded from direct sun

Green Building Materials:  non toxic building materials,  low- and zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and sealants, use of salvaged and recycled material,  use of rapidly renewable resources such as bamboo and FSC (forest Stewardship Council) certified wood.

Windows & Doors:  seal their openings tightly to avoid heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.

Energy Efficiency: A green home has energy-efficient lighting, heating, cooling and water-heating systems. Appliances should have ENERGY STAR® ratings.

Renewable Energy:  Ideally, the home should generate some of its own energy with technologies like photovoltaic systems or wind energy

Water Efficiency:  water-conserving irrigation system and water-efficient kitchen and bathroom fixtures, Rainwater collection and storage system.

Indoor Air Quality:  The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system should filter all incoming air and vent stale air outside.

Landscaping:   drought-tolerant plants rather than water-guzzling plants, organic garden

Want to tour Green Homes in the Seattle area?