Going Green Memphis 8-08-10

2 GOING GREEN | Sunday, August 8, 2010 commercialappeal.
com
What’s in this issue ...

4 Staying green
Major hotel chains are waking up
to the savings economically and
ecologically in water, energy use
9 A day at the farm

Local market organizes
11 A farm for good
Small organic farmer
farm tours to promote puts land under a
local growers conservation easement
14 Trying to beat the heat

How to keep cool and green as well as help
your yard survive the high temperatures
22 Green roofs
take seed
25 Alternatives to
petro-based goods
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Going Green is a special online publication of
The Commercial Appeal. We welcome your comments
and suggestions. Follow Going Green on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis.
Editor: Kim Coleman, 529-5243,
goinggreen@commercialappeal.com
Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger,
keplinger@commercialappeal.com
On the cover: Photo illustration by Kim Coleman/The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 8, 2010 | GOING GREEN 3
The Green Page

Briefs Event
Master Gardener Smokestack Effect &
classes EPA’s National School
Air Toxics Monitoring
Fayette County
Program
Extension will host
Master Gardener classes Thursday, Aug. 26, 6:30
Aug. 17 through Nov. 16. p.m.; Benjamin L. Hooks
Classes will meet on Central Library, 3030
Tuesday nights from 6 to Poplar Avenue
9 p.m., and will feature Rita Harris is the Sierra
guest speakers covering Club’s Environmental
a variety of home Justice Program organizer
gardening topics. for the Memphis area. She
Cost of the classes is Tennessee Master will talk about the 2008-
$90, and includes a copy 09 USA Today articles that
of the Master Gardener
Gardener Lana Owens
prompted the
handbook. Application demonstrates how to get Environmental Protection
for enrollment is a good start on growth Agency to initiate a
available at the Fayette from seeds. national air toxics study
County Extension office. that identified 60 schools
Class size is limited. Call the Extension office at 465- deemed to be in the worst
5233 for more information. polluted areas in the
Hum-zingers country.
She will discuss the
Get ready — ’cause here they hum. The 11th annual Toxic Release Inventory
Hummingbird Migration Celebration will take place Sept. (TRI) pollution report for
10-12, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (last program begins at 4 p.m.) at Shelby County, and the
the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. “Terrible Ten” report , plus
Volunteers are needed to assist with the event. Are share a 12-minute video
you interested in getting an inside look at the on air pollution awareness
Hummingbird Migration Celebration and helping out with for neighborhood groups.
one of the biggest nature festivals in the country? Log Find out if your
onto strawberryplains.audubon.org for more details. neighborhood is
Run for the green considered to be a “hot
spot” and how you can
Rotary Run for Parks and Greenways, a 5K race work to reduce air
sponsored by the Germantown Rotary Club to benefit pollution.
Parks and Greenways, will take place on Sept. 25. The 5K For more information
will begin at 9 a.m., while a 1-mile Fun Run starts at 8:30 or to suggest a future
a.m. Depending on construction, this may be the first 5K presentation, contact
on the Shelby Farms Greenline. Sierra Club, Chickasaw
Pre-registration is $13 for Memphis Runners Club Chapter, tennessee.
members, $15 for nonmembers. Registration at the sierraclub.org/chickasaw
event is $20. Sign up at racesonline.com. or (901) 324-7757.
4 GOING GREEN | Sunday, August 8, 2010 commercialappeal.com
InterContinental Hotel Group’s vision for more sustainable hotels includes

green facades, modular architecture and a ground source heat pump.
Hotel giants go green

Hilton, IHG, Wyndham wake up to savings in energy, water use
By Suzanne Thompson The world’s three major hotel groups,

Special to Going Green Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Ho-
tel Group (IHG) and Wyndham World-
Most hotels have them. A card in the wide all have made changes to the way
room, or the bathroom, asking guests to they operate in order to be better cor-
consider reusing towels or wait an extra porate citizens.
day to have the linen changed. Hilton Worldwide is doing its part at
The goal is much greater than just sav- the 10 brands it controls, which include
ing costs on detergent and maid service. Hilton, Doubletree, Hampton Inns,
Millions of gallons of water are saved Homewood Suites and the Waldorf As-
when guests reuse towels and hold off toria.
on having their linen changed, and re- Hilton has implemented LightStay, a
duced use of the hotel’s industrial laun- sophisticated tracking system that helps
dry equipment saves energy as well. its hotels save energy, by calculating
and analyzing the envi-

ronmental impact of all
its brands.
Of the 3,600 hotels run
by Hilton Worldwide,
1,500 of them, which rep-
resent 95 percent of its
full-service hotels, are us-
ing the LightStay system.
By 2011 all properties
will be required to have
the system in place.
“We’re the first multi-
branded company in our
industry to make sustain-
ability a global brand The Hilton hotel in Vancouver was the first LEED
standard, so by the end (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
of next year, all of our certified and Green Seal certified hotel in the world.
properties will be re-
quired to report sustain- ity as a discipline of the measure of our business.”
ability performance,” said business, just like any oth- IHG, which boasts
Christopher Corpuel, vice er discipline — marketing, more guest rooms than
president for sustainabil- IT, legal,” Corpuel said. any other hotel group in
ity at Hilton Worldwide. “We really need to treat the world, with 650,000
Some of the things the sustainability as a mea- rooms in 4,400 hotels in
hotel group measures in- sure of performance, just 100 countries, owns sev-
clude energy, waste, wa- like quality, service and en brands including Hol-
ter, carbon and opera- profit and loss are all mea- iday Inn, Holiday Inn Ex-
tions. Operations cover sures of performance.” press, Crowne Plaza,
12 core performance ar- “This can’t be a pro- InterContinental and
eas, such as housekeeping gram or an initiative. We Candlewood Suites.
and transportation. felt strongly that it had to This hotel conglomer-
“We look at sustainabil- be integrated into the ate initiated its Green En-
gage program in March
The Hilton at 2009. Within a few
939 Ridgelake months, 900 of its hotels
in Memphis. were using the system,
which is a comprehensive
Nikki Boertman
online sustainability sys-
The Commercial tem that reports on en-
Appeal files ergy, detergent, water and
other elements, and over
what period of time the
savings have occurred.
The Hilton Bariloche in Argentina is being developed as an eco-hotel for the

Hilton brand. The layout will blend with the mountain it’s located on to reduce
visual impact, and many energy- and water-saving processes will be used
during its construction and after it opens in 2013.
“Green Engage offers toward sustainability. tem has resulted in saving

our hotels a roadmap on “It’s helping hotels hundreds of thousands of
how to make an impact, have a point of view on gallons of water since
and the hotel can decide what being a ‘green’ hotel 2006, but is up to the in-
how fast it wants to ex- means by giving them a dividual hotel franchise to
ecute,” said David clear statement of the implement. Only a small
Jerome, senior vice pres- things they can do to be percentage of the hotels
ident for corporate re- more cost efficient and use such systems, accord-
sponsibility at IHG. environmentally responsi- ing to Faith Taylor, vice
“Green Engage pro- ble,” Jerome said. president for innovation
vides recommendations Wyndham Worldwide, and sustainability for
in site planning, water, operator of brands such Wyndham Worldwide.
products and materials, as The Wyndham, Some of the company’s
waste, building envelope, Howard Johnson, Days sustainable efforts that
mechanical, electrical and Inn, Ramada Inn and Su- are being implemented
operations and manage- per 8, implemented the throughout more than
ment,” he said. Wyndham Green program 7,000 locations include
The program is de- three years ago, and over- the installation of energy-
signed to help hotels sees the sustainability ef- efficient lights, the use of
learn more about how to forts of the hotel group. eco-friendly products and
do business with a view An Ozone Laundry Sys- rolling out an Energy
Star portfolio manager What to look for in

program which will track a sustainable hotel
energy consumption Hotels can be major
throughout the group’s consumers of water,
North America hotel energy and materials.
brands. Some questions for
“As a worldwide com- guests to ask the hotel
pany, Wyndham World- Does the hotel have
wide is building an eco- an environmental policy?
learning culture that What is the hotel’s
strives to continuously Most hotels have cards recycling policy?
improve and sustain our in the room or bathroom Does the hotel use
positive results over asking guests to energy-efficient light
time,” Taylor said. consider reusing towels bulbs?
Does the hotel
Other efforts include a or wait an extra day to
restaurant use locally
paper reduction challenge have the linen changed. sourced food?
program that has reduced How do you get to the
consumption by 36 per- have a linen and towel hotel by public transport?
cent and providing front reuse program running, Do they provide communal
desk uniforms, each which allows the proper- transport?
made from 25 recycled ties to reduce the fre- Some things for guests
two-liter plastic bottles. quency of bed linen and to do during their stay
The Days Inn brand towel replacement from Take part in linen and
has started a guest linen every day to every third towel reuse programmes
reuse program, in which day in stay-over rooms. Ask for a newspaper if
guests decide when they Cards will be placed on you really want it
Switch off lights and
want their towels and every bed asking guests
equipment (if these aren't
sheets washed. to conserve by not having operated by a key card)
As of Jan. 1, all Days their sheets changed ev- Give the hotel your
Inns were required to ery day. feedback
In some IHG hotels, the bedroom furnishings including mattresses and carpets
made of natural fibers and all furniture is made of recyclable materials.
Features of the bathroom include water-efficient shower heads, dual-flush
toilets and towels made of natural fibers.
Marriott
moves ahead
with green
prototype
South Carolina inn
will be chain’s first
BETHESDA, Md. — Marriott International’s goal is to have 300 LEED
The Courtyard hotels by 2015.
Charleston/Summerville
in South Carolina will be 2012. Based on the results of
the first hotel built using “This new program the Courtyard brand,
Marriott International’s packages all the basic Marriott has plans to
green hotel prototype, in requirements for LEED create similar green hotel
partnership with the U.S. certification in a prototypes for Residence
Green Building Council. prototype,” said Karim Inn, TownePlace Suites,
This will accelerate the Khalifa, senior vice SpringHill Suites and
company’s goal to have president of architecture Fairfield Inn.
300 LEED (Leadership in and construction for Currently, Marriott has
Energy and Marriott International. “It nearly 50 hotels across all
Environmental Design) saves our owners valuable brands that are LEED-
hotels by 2015. time and money in the certified or registered by
Marriott is the first in planning process and the USGBC.
the hospitality industry to allows us to provide a
launch a green hotel greener portfolio of hotels Additionally, Marriott
prototype that has been for our guests.” International Inc.
pre-approved by USGBC Last fall, Marriott headquarters, achieved
as part of its LEED Volume announced plans to LEED for Existing
program, meaning that any develop a green hotel Buildings Gold
Marriott hotel that follows prototype for its certification earlier this
these plans will earn basic Courtyard brand that will year.
LEED certification, or save roughly $100,000, For more information on
possibly higher, upon final six months in design Marriott International’s
approval. time, and up to 25 environmental strategy and
The new Courtyard percent energy and water initiatives, visit
marriott.com/environment.
hotel will open in early savings for its owners.
Down on the farm
Tour organizers of Whole Foods Market’s first farm tour were Kenny Suggs
(left), Liza Burke and Stacy Early.
Whole Foods customers see

where their food comes from
By Liza Burke
Special to Going Green
Whole Foods Market hosted its first farm tour on

July 25, inviting its customers to visit Tims Family
Farm in Ripley, Tenn., to see how a farm operates
and where their food comes from.
Supporting local growers is an integral part of Tims Family Farm in
what the Whole Foods Market staff believes in. Ripley, Tenn., is known
They thought the tour would be an exciting way to for its flavorful
put a face with the food shoppers eat. tomatoes.
Robert Tims shared

plenty of good
growing tips with
his guests during
Guests were invited to pick a few fresh tomatoes from the July 25 tour of
the 20-acre farm in Ripley. his farm.
On a visit to Tims and her three daughters by farm tour — even during
Family Farm earlier in the sharing on the “Meet Your their busy season. The
year, representatives of Farmer” blog, posted that tour included chartered
Whole Foods Market she was excited for her transportation to and
were inspired and children to have their first from the farm; a guided
fascinated by the amount farm experience. “I would tractor tour with the
of work, care and passion love for my family and I to Tims; a Q&A session
that goes into the farm be further educated on with the farmers; a fresh
and every tomato it local organic foods, and for on-site lunch from Whole
produces. The farm tour my children to realize the Foods chefs (featuring
offered customers of the importance of being and freshly picked tomatoes,
natural and organic foods eating healthy. An actual, of course); and a walking
market a chance to visual experience would tour in which participants
experience that for really help.” got to pick their own
themselves. The Tims were peaches and tomatoes to
JaNear Allen, who won generous and enthusiastic take home and savor.
farm tour tickets for herself about hosting the first Whole Foods hopes to
“It certainly gives one a new appreciation for the small farmer. ...
It’s so important that we all pay more attention to where our food
comes from and what’s been done to it in the process!”
CAROL FUNDERBURK, a customer who attended the tour
continue to support
local farmers, and will
continue to encourage
its shoppers to “support
Farming for good
local,” for the good of
the environment, the
economy and the
in North Carolina
community. Farm tours Conservation easement protects land
are a fun and inspiring
way to share that By Jim Wise
message, and the market McClatchy Newspapers
plans to offer them
regularly. In the rolling-hill country between North
“It certainly gives one Carolina’s Pittsboro and Siler City, Bill
a new appreciation for Dow’s farm has fresh crops of cucumbers,
the small farmer, how peppers, basil, parsley and blueberries just
hard they work, and how coming in.
much they love what Just up the rocky road leading into his
they do,” said Carol place, there’s another farm where a fresh
Funderburk, a customer crop is coming in: houses. Yes, the
who attended the tour. development pressure is on.
“It’s so important that Not at Bill Dow’s place, though. His was
we all pay more North Carolina’s first farm to be certified
attention to where our organic. He was Chatham County’s first
food comes from and farmer to make a business of selling
what’s been done to it in directly to restaurants. Now he’s the area’s
the process!” first small organic farmer to put land under
For up-to-date farm a conservation easement in perpetuity.
tour information, check “That’s going to have a real big impact”
out the “Meet Your in keeping agriculture alive in the county,
Farmer” page at said extension agent Debbie Roos.
wholefoods.com/poplar. “I don’t know, it just seemed like the
Shoppers may also check right thing to do,” Dow said.
the Local board posted Dow, a retired physician, owns 30 acres,
at the store at 5022 with woods enclosing the 3 acres he
Poplar Ave., or follow cultivates spring, summer and fall.
store news on Facebook “It’s all I can do, with good help,” he
and Twitter (Facebook: said. The amount of help varies depending
Whole Foods Market on what needs doing, he said. One recent
POPLAR; Twitter: afternoon Dow had five pairs of helping
Whole Foods POP). hands at work — one hoeing weeds, two
Liza Burke is marketing tying squash vines and two setting posts
team leader for Whole for cucumber trellises.
Foods Market.
“It’s not something you plan. You just wake up one day and
realize, ‘It’s got me.’ ... We’re not just playing games here.”
BILL DOW, organic farmer and conservation advocate
Bill Dow says

that, with
enough rain, he
will have good
crops this year
at Ayrshire
Farm in North
Carolina. Dow
worked with
Triangle Land
Conservancy to
put 22 acres in
a conservation
easement.
Harry Lynch
Attached to the land cattle and soybean farm in would make a good
Mississippi. “Dad was a novel,” he said — and
Twenty-two of his acres believer in the chemicals,” bought a country place
are under the he said, but young Bill — where he could take up
conservation easement, unlike his farmer brothers gardening. Organically.
he said. Besides — developed a distaste This was in 1981, and
preserving the property for the herbicides and Dow didn’t get a lot of
undivided and fertilizers that go on local encouragement for
undeveloped, the conventional fields. At going green; but he stuck
easement creates a Vanderbilt medical with the notion because
permanent buffer along a school, he organized a of his “cussedness” and
creek. students’ health conviction.
“I didn’t want organization that spun off “Part of it was the
somebody coming in here agricultural marketing challenge and part, I
and cutting it up,” Dow projects in five Southern thought it was important.
said. “You get attached to states. From a medical
a place and you just don’t He ended up in North standpoint, you are what
do that. I don’t do it.” Carolina via “a long, you eat, as they say,” he
Dow grew up on a circuitous” route — “It said. “Part of it was, just
the boys at home: ‘I’ll customers. The rest, he HOW IT WORKS

show you.’ There’s a sells Saturdays at a A conservation
certain amount of farmers market — easement is a voluntary
competition.” which he helped legal agreement by which
establish, along with the a landowner permanently
‘It’s got me’ Carolina Farm restricts how property
It was about 10 years Stewardship Association may be used while
ago that Dow and a sustainable retaining ownership.
metamorphosed from agriculture program at Agriculture and
gardener to farmer. Central Carolina conservation boosters
“It’s not something Community College’s promote easements as a
you plan or anything Pittsboro, N.C., campus. tool to reimburse
else,” he said. landowners, with cash and
“You just wake up one ‘Conservation tax breaks, for signing
day and realize, ‘It’s got pioneer’ away their development
me.’ ... We’re not just rights. The easements
“He’s a dynamic protect rural land for its
playing games here.”
conservation pioneer,” benefits to air and water
Broccoli was his first said Triangle Land quality, and keep it
cash crop, but although Conservancy president available for farming.
it grew well in his soil, Kevin Brice. According to the Triangle
one crop wasn’t going to
“Bill has figured out a Land Conservancy, Bill
earn a living for a small Dow got $96,000 for
farmer. That takes an way to make a living
offering local organic putting his land under a
appreciation for conservation easement.
economics. food to the community,”
Brice said. He’s The money came from the
“What you’ve got to N.C. Agricultural
look at on this size farm demonstrated that it can
be done, and that Development & Farmland
is, not how many acres Preservation Trust Fund.
have I got but how much inspires other farmers
and people who think Chatham, Durham,
am I making per acre? I Franklin and Orange
can grow broccoli like they’d like to get into
the business “to keep us counties have adopted
this and sell it for a good Agricultural Development
price, but in that same well fed and healthy.”
and Farmland Protection
amount of space there’s “He has totally been a plans, and Wake County
other crops I can grow real pioneer in this has one under way. With
and make a lot more.” area,” Roos said. “He the plans, counties
Now, he raises a has a really big role in become eligible for grants
variety of vegetables, mentoring. ... (and) he to pay for easements and
fruit, herbs and flowers was doing it before acknowledge an interest in
and sells most of his Chatham County had maintaining or enhancing
produce to restaurants such a reputation for agriculture as a local
that appreciate the being an organic industry.
appeal local food has for hotbed.”
Beat the air-conditioning blues

Tips help you
keep cool, save
on utility bills
By Sandy Bauers
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Checked out your latest

electric bill? If it’s anything
like mine, it took a giant
leap upward, thanks to the
hot weather this summer.
Yep, the household air
conditioning was cranked
down.
But there are ways to
blunt the wallet-gutting,
and Mother Jones’
“Econundrums” reporter
Kiera Butler passes along
a few in her latest column.
She, in turn, passed them
along from Stan Cox,
author of “Losing Our
Cool: Uncomfortable
Truths About Our Air
Conditioned World (And
Finding New Ways To Get
Through the Summer).”
He notes that air gases, which contribute also produce little heat
conditioning is actually to global warming. and save even more
making our world hotter. But you can take steps. energy. My kitchen sink
Literally. Feel the air One Cox mentions is to area has four track-light
coming out of your air switch from incandescent bulbs overhead, and I’m
conditioner’s outside light bulbs, which give off gradually making the
unit. It’s hot. Also, heat, to CFLs. I would switch. What a difference!
energy-production amend that to urge Second on Cox’s list is to
contributes to greenhouse switching to LEDs, which vent appliances — like
clothes dryers — outside. Or,

in the case of the dryer, don’t
use one at all. My clothesline
Climate change hits
works great, but on days when
I’m not going to be home to
rescue the clothes from an
harder in the suburbs
afternoon thunderstorm, I
hang them in the basement. By Katy Rank Lev in which houses and
Also, when it comes to the Mother Nature Network businesses are closer
dishwasher, no need to vent. together. The article
Just pay attention and shut the For many reasons, quotes the study’s lead
thing off for the heated dry suburban living has author, Brian Stone,
cycle (and on some models, been identified as a saying that the
you can turn it off less green choice than temperature
completely). Instead, open the city life, but here’s a differences could pose
door and let the dishes air-dry. new one: A recent a “significant health
Other tips — downsizing article in the Atlanta threat” to humans
your air conditioner and Business Chronicle since “severe heat kills
planting a rooftop garden or suggests these more people on
painting your roof — fall into suburban communities average per year than
the realm of major projects, are feeling the effects other type of
so I’m going ignore them for of climate change more dangerous weather.”
now. We need tips for later sharply than their Stone says areas
this week, not next year! metropolitan such as Atlanta,
Finally: Cox says to simply neighbors. Tampa, Fla., or Grand
put up with being hot, and According to the Rapids, Mich., would
after a while it won’t seem so article, a study be most at risk,
hot. You get used to it. conducted at Georgia because of rapid
Butler writes that a recent Tech found that the deforestation to
study of office workers in suburbs experience a accommodate new
Thailand compared one group higher number of “very dwellings or a
of workers in air-conditioned hot days” per year dramatic, rapid loss of
offices to another group who when compared to “vegetative cover.”
worked without cooling. The compact cities nearby, Others have
workers who were used to the regardless of “climate suggested that planned
cooler temps needed to be in zone, population size, green communities
places between 72 and 82 or rate of growth.” might be a solution to
degrees to be comfortable. The average number the sprawling suburbs
Those who worked in of very hot days because these living
uncooled offices didn’t increased by about 15 arrangements put
complain until the mercury days per year in the places of business and
rose higher than 89. most sprawling areas recreation within
and by about six days walking distance of
Visit Sandy Bauers’ blog at
http://go.philly.com/greenspace. per year in the suburbs people’s homes.
State of the Glaciers and

Arctic sea
ice are
Climate report among
several
says warming indicators
that point to
‘unmistakable’ intense
warming.
By Pat Brennan Climatic Data Center song — I won’t say that’s

The Orange County Register Climate Monitoring surprising or shocking,
Branch. (but) it was emphatic.”
The past decade is the To get a full picture of The decade-to-decade
warmest ever recorded, the Earth’s changing changes are the key to
and the powerful signals climate, the report understanding the shift in
of global warming — brought together climate, he said. And
from sea ice to glaciers, measurements of seven those trends are stark:
temperatures to sea level “indicators” that are on The 1980s were the
— are “unmistakable,” the rise: air temperatures warmest decade measured
according to a new report over land and oceans, sea- to that point, every year of
from the nation’s climate surface temperature, sea the ’90s was warmer than
agency. level, ocean heat, the previous decades’
The 2009 State of the humidity and the average, and the 2000s
Climate report, released by temperature in the layer have been even warmer.
the National Oceanic and of the atmosphere closest While the report did not
Atmospheric to the surface where address the issue of human
Administration, says weather is most active. influence on climate —
measurements of 10 It also examines three which has been established
different indicators show indicators on their way by other scientific work,
the planet has been heating down: Arctic sea ice, Arndt said — it also shows
up for the past 50 years. glaciers and spring snow in that greenhouse gas levels
And the warming the northern hemisphere. are rising as well, based on
appears to be accelerating. All 10 point to an intense measurements in several
“Since the ’70s, globally global warming episode. places around the globe.
speaking, we have warmed “It was striking to see
at an unprecedented rate all of these different
in the historical record, climate indicators side by
On the Web
the last 100 or 150 years or side, standing there Read the full report:
so,” said Deke Arndt, the together,” Arndt said. “To www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-
report’s co-editor and the see them all on the same state-of-the-
chief of NOAA’s National page, singing the same climate/2009.php
Solar attic fans have their drawbacks

By Al Heavens I’ve seen calculations
The Philadelphia Inquirer that 1,800 square feet
requires the movement of
Q: At a recent home show, we gathered information 8,000 cubic feet of air per
on solar versus electric roof fans. minute, although I cannot
The solar seller said electric fans were dangerous guarantee those figures.
and were the cause of several house fires. The electric You would need more
seller said that solar worked only during the daylight than one fan in either
hours and the attic remained hot well into the night. case, and probably more
Cost is also a factor. Electric fans run about $100, than just two solar fans.
while the solar fans run about $550. Because the house
is long and narrow, we would probably need two fans. One website, house-
No matter what approach we take, it will be expensive energy.com, makes the
and we did not get prices for installation as yet. point that while solar fans
cost nothing to operate,
electric fans cost relatively
A: It is common for little.
competitors to dump on
each other’s products. I’m In a typical sunny-hot
sure the electric fans have day, an electric attic fan
caused a few house fires, may use 300 to 400 watts
but the experts tell me of energy, which
that the likely cause was corresponds to a monthly
poor installation (usually operational cost of less
homeowners attempting than $40 (in a typical
to save money doing it summer month).
themselves) rather than Cooling the attic space
an inherent flaw in the fan. means lower air
From what I’ve seen on The debate between conditioning costs on the
the Internet, the electric solar versus electric lower floors of the house,
fan vendor might not be too continues - even with and that needs to be part
far off the mark on his list of attic fans. of the cost equation.
the cons of solar fans. Perhaps we can hear
The fans, many of the You would need more from both sides of the
experts say, work better than one solar fan to move argument. I invite your
on sunny days, and they do thousands of cubic feet of comments.
tend to stop spinning as air per minute to remove
the heat from the attic Questions? E-mail
the sun sets, leaving the Alan J. Heavens at
attic still hot after dark. space. aheavens@philly news.com.
Help your lawn and

garden through a
summer heat wave
Plant selection is key to success
It can be tough to keep your lawn
green and your garden blooming in this
kind of heat.
Summer is barely at the midway point
and the heat has been stifling. Many
gardens and lawns have wilted and
shriveled. But even for those unfortunate
gardeners, there is still time to have
beautiful summer landscapes with the
right plants and techniques.
Drought-tolerant plants make summer
gardening easier, even in your lawn.
Most lawns are a mixture of grasses,
including Kentucky bluegrass. That’s a Lawns and gardens need about two
cool-season grass that requires one to inches of water per week during the
two inches of water a week and regular height of summer.
fertilization to keep a green lush look. All
that watering and fertilizing means you’ll warm-season grass that is naturally green
be doing a lot of mowing to maintain a and growing in the hot summer months.
neat turf. But there are a couple of It can thrive on a third of the water and
alternatives for the laid-back gardener. fertilizer of Kentucky bluegrass. In fact,
The first is to let your lawn go many people do not water their buffalo
dormant. Rather than fight against grass lawns at all. It’s great for
nature, let cool-season grasses do what communities with summer water
they naturally do and fade away in the restrictions that still want green lawns.
summer heat. The lawn will look brown The downside of a warm-season grass
and dead, but it will only be brown and lawn is that during the cooler months it
resting. As soon as cooler temps and goes dormant. Having dormant lawns in
rainfall return in September the lawn the summer or winter is simply not an
will green up again. option for many people. So most of us
The second option is to plant a lawn of grow cool-season lawns that require
buffalo grass. Buffalo grass is a native extra watering, fertilizing and mowing
is not lost. You still have time to plant

beans this year and get a crop. For hot,
dry weather select cowpeas, black-eyed
peas, yard-long beans and tepary beans.
These tough plants will fruit with more
heat and less water than most other crops.
But unless you have well-established,
drought-tolerant plants you are going to
have to water regularly; and during a
heat wave proper irrigation of your lawn
and garden is crucial. Here are some tips:
Lawns and gardens need about two
inches per week during the height of
summer.
Water early (near dawn) to reduce
water loss through evaporation.
Water thoroughly and deeply. Soak
the ground to a depth of six inches.
Don’t water lawns and landscapes
every day. If you water deeply and
thoroughly, you won’t have to. Allow the
top few inches of soil to dry out between
waterings.
Containers (especially hanging baskets
Remove weeds as soon as you have a and window boxes) are the exception and
chance. Weeds take water and may require daily soakings.
nutrients away from your plants. There are also a few horticultural tips
and techniques that can help landscapes
when it gets hot. That’s just the burden and containers beat the heat.
of a year-round green turf. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch
The landscape is a little easier than around plants to help the soil stay moist.
the lawn to keep beautiful through the Compost makes excellent mulch and
heat. Plant selection is the key. There also improves the soil.
are plenty of drought-tolerant shrubs, Remove weeds as soon as you have
perennials and annuals on the market. a chance. Weeds take water and
Native prairie plants are accustomed to nutrients away from your plants.
summer heat. Mediterranean herbs, like Reduce fertilizer use during a heat
thyme and marjoram, also thrive in hot, wave. Fertilized plants require more
dry conditions. water than normal.
The veggie garden is a little different. Remember that heat waves are
All crops will require regular watering to temporary. Keep your gardens healthy
produce well. If your veggie garden has through the heat and they’ll reward you
already been toasted by the heat, all hope with colorful flowers and bountiful crops.
The Great
Sunflower
Project
Track bee activity
in your garden
By Amanda Knowles currently in a threatening situation.
McClatchy-Tribune Little is known about bee activity
in home and community gardens,
If you’re looking for a fun and according to the site. So, the goal of
easy project that helps the the project is to learn about the state
environment, try The Great of bee activity by collecting data
Sunflower Project from “citizen scientists.”
(greatsunflower.org).
Bees, the project’s leader argues,
The project requires participants
should be protected and people
to sign up on the website. Then
should try to understand them.
users go online to describe their
garden and give their specific The creators are looking for
location. certain types of bees so there is a
Participants watch their garden for “Bee Guide” on the site to help
15 minutes a day, twice a month and people identify the different kinds of
enter specific data on a data sheet bees. And, admittedly, the toughest
provided by the website. part about the project is quickly
The project is looking to see how identifying each bee that lands
many bees come in contact in a during the watch time.
given amount of time. Of course, the benefits of the
Bees are very important to the project include raising awareness for
production of food, especially fruits bees and their vital part in the food-
and vegetables. However, they are making process.
Ohio to test Chia Pet-like

sound barrier on highway
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio plans to attach the bags of soil.
to test a sound barrier made out of Researchers who submit the best
soil and plants in an attempt to proposal for the green wall will work
develop eco-friendly ways to muffle with Deltalok USA, LLC, a
highway noise. Washington-based company that has
The Ohio Department of used its patented bag system to
Transportation says the Green Noise control erosion, repair slopes and
Wall, to be built this fall, will span protect stream banks.
400 feet along a westbound stretch The appearance and effectiveness
of Interstate 70 near Columbus. of noise walls have been controversial
“It is like a Chia since ODOT began
(Pet) wall — “Much like the novelty installing them
basically filling bags plant on the windowsill, along interstates in
with dirt and seed, 1993. Some
watering it and it will take some care residents recently
watching it grow up in the beginning and complained to
and out,” said ODOT as
ODOT spokesman ongoing maintenance” contractors began
Scott Varner. “And to clear trees for
much like the SCOTT VARNER noise walls along
novelty plant on the ODOT spokesman Interstate 71.
windowsill, it will “Those who live
take some care in the adjacent to the
beginning and ongoing maintenance.” freeway want the wall and those who
Over two years, ODOT will don’t want it are making the most
determine how much water and noise,” said Jocelynn Clemings,
maintenance the wall of vegetation spokeswoman for the ODOT district
will need. The department plans to that includes Cleveland.
look at whether the wall of plants Wisconsin built a sound wall made
and grass can survive Ohio’s out of plastic forms filled with soil
weather, and whether it can cut and plants in 1994, but removed it in
down on as much noise as a concrete 1996 after a portion of the barrier
wall, Varner said. collapsed and weeds spread. The
The green barrier also will test only similarity between Ohio’s wall
different types of grass, plants and and the one that failed in Wisconsin
soil, as well as different approaches is its triangular shape.
Mark Vancleave
Facilities management worker William Crosby removes plant material on a
rooftop terrace at the Humphrey Center at the University of Minnesota.
By Kyle Potter
Green roofs The Minnesota Daily
MINNEAPOLIS — Walking past the
may bring blank concrete walls of Williamson Hall,

it’s hard to imagine its roof was once a
maze of diverse plant life.
After more than two years living atop
long-term a most unusual home, the array of

grasses, bulbs and perennials has been
removed as a long research project on
green roofs is coming to a close.
savings The roof is empty and drab — at least

for now. The question remains whether
the University of Minnesota will
eventually take the results of that
Experiment uses plants to research and turn the campus into a
reduce energy costs network of living roofs.
By selecting plants that What is a green roof?

serve specific purposes, An aerial view of most urban areas shows swathes
green roofs can reduce of asphalt, black tar and gravel-ballasted rooftops.
energy costs. Plants that Heat radiates off of the dark roofs, and water rushes
reflect light or absorb over the hard, hopefully impermeable surfaces. Yet,
heat well help to cool the there is a new trend that breaks up the monotony of
building during warmer common roofs: green rooftops. Long popular in
months. In the winter, Europe, green rooftops have begun to appeal to
plants can insulate better homeowners, businesses and even cities as an
than a traditional roof. attractive way to promote environmentalism while
University graduate solving the problems of conventional roofs. Green
student and horticulturist roofs supplement traditional vegetation without
Jonathon Hensley set out disrupting urban infrastructure — they take a
in May 2008 to establish neglected space and make it useful.
guidelines for a green roof Green roofs last longer than conventional roofs,
that could thrive in reduce energy costs with natural insulation, create
Minnesota. peaceful retreats for people and animals, and
Hensley has spent the absorb storm water, potentially lessening the need
past two years for complex and expensive drainage systems. On a
experimenting on the roof wider scale, green roofs improve air quality and
with various plants, each help reduce the “urban heat island effect,” a
separated in different condition in which city and suburban developments
containers to be monitored absorb and trap heat. Anyone who has walked
without interference. across a scalding parking lot on a hot summer day
While green roofs in has felt one effect of an urban heat island.
general are nothing new,
most guidelines for them
are based on milder
climates. Such systems quantify, Hensley said, horticulture who worked
could not survive the cold especially considering with Hensley.
and often dry Minnesota that a green roof can cost When the roof of
weather, he said. two to three times as Williamson Hall was still
The goal was to create much as a normal roof. green, Erwin went inside
a low-maintenance green But a properly installed with an infrared
roof that could “be used green roof will last two or thermometer to measure
more as a technology than three times as long, so temperature. It was
a recreational space,” he there is a trade-off. apparent that the green
said. “Even though there is roof was doing its job, as
Throughout the year, an initial upfront cost that temperatures under the
the roof absorbs is higher, as energy costs green roof were cooler
precipitation to reduce rise, green roofs become than those spaces that
fees the university must more and more cost- were not under it.
pay for storm water runoff. effective,” said John Even if the university
The savings are hard to Erwin, a professor of chooses not to utilize
Hensley’s and Erwin’s

research, Erwin — who is
also a commissioner of the
The Princeton Review gives
Minneapolis Parks and
Recreation Board — is sure
703 colleges Green Ratings
the city as a whole will. He
passed along a list of NEW YORK — The Princeton Review —
approved plants to the city to known for its education services helping students
create a city-recommended choose and get in to colleges — has reported its
green-roof guide. third annual Green Ratings of colleges: a measure
“It’s going to be of how environmentally friendly the institutions
implemented pretty are on a scale of 60 to 99. The company tallied
quickly,” he said. the rating for 703 institutions based on its
Erwin pointed to the institutional surveys of colleges in 2009-10
Target Center as evidence concerning their environmentally related
that green roofs can become practices, policies and academic offerings.
a reality. The Green Rating scores appear in the profiles
The 21/2-acre green roof of the 703 schools that The Princeton Review
atop the Target Center was posted on PrincetonReview.com. They are also in
finished in September at a the profiles of the schools in the new 2011
price of $5.3 million. The editions of Princeton Review guidebooks: “The
roof will capture 1 million Best 373 Colleges” ($22.99) and “Complete Book
gallons of storm water each of Colleges” ($26.99).
year, according to a Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s senior vice
statement. president and publisher, noted the rising interest
Staff have not yet gathered among students in attending green colleges.
information about energy or Among 12,000 college applicants and parents of
storm water fee savings. applicants The Princeton Review surveyed this year
There are dozens of green for its annual “College Hopes & Worries Survey,” 64
spaces atop other university percent of respondents said they would value
buildings, but nothing quite having information about a college’s commitment
like the extensive green that to the environment.
once sat on Williamson Hall. Criteria for Princeton Review’s Green Rating
The apparent success of cover three areas:
Hensley’s and Erwin’s Whether the school’s students have a campus
research will be a part of quality of life that is healthy and sustainable.
facilities management How well the school is preparing its students
conversations about the for employment and citizenship in a world
practicality of green roofs. defined by environmental challenges.
But as the university The school’s overall commitment to
struggles with funding and environmental issues.
finances, the key to The institutional survey for the rating included
installing other green roofs questions on energy use, recycling, food,
is cost-effectiveness. buildings and transportation.
Oil rigs can become wildlife havens

Partial removal
may be best option
for environment
By Lauren DiPerna
The Orange County Register
When an offshore oil

platform reaches the end
of its production life, it is
typically pulled from the
depths and hauled off — a
process that can cost tens
of millions of dollars.
A less costly choice for
the environment and the
oil industry, says
oceanographer legend
Sylvia Earle, is to cut the
top off the rig and let the
legs remain a haven for
the bustling marine
ecosystem. Oceanographer Sylvia Earle says various types of
Earle, who set the solo marine life adopt oil rig structures as a habitat.
diving record at 3,300
feet and has spent more
than 6,000 hours environment. they begin to be adopted
underwater, along with Q: When it is possible, by life in the ocean as a
scientists, activists and why is partial removal of habitat. Some creatures
regulators are discussing an oil rig better for the grow on the structures or
how to balance a healthy marine environment? find shelter among the
marine environment with A: There are some who pilings and under the
decommissioned offshore would like to see the oil platform itself. To
oil and gas platforms. rigs removed right down subsequently remove them
Earle does not condone to the ground once their can be really traumatic for
establishing oil rigs, but job is done, and there are the organisms who have
once they are there she others, and I count myself set up housekeeping there.
believes partial removal is among them, who think Like a shipwreck or a jetty,
the best option for the that once they are in place almost anything that forms
a structure in the ocean, whether it is

natural or artificial over time, collects
life.
When shopping,
Now, would I put the structures
there in the first place? That’s a
different issue altogether.
just say no
When you put something in the
ocean, whether again it’s piling or an
oil rig, you are displacing things. There
to petroleum
is no such thing as a harmless event.
It’s not my ideal kind of fish haven. By Julia Black
I’d much rather have a natural piece of SimpleS teps.org
ocean set aside deliberately where fish
are safe. The rigs are an incidental, The Gulf of Mexico disaster has
unintentional haven, but it is the one brought into cruel relief our reliance on
reason why it’s hard to condone the petroleum-based products and made it
extraction of them once they have all too clear how much that reliance is
become established. costing us and our environment.
Q: If the rigs were removed, what Reducing our dependence on oil means
would happen to the marine life burning less gas by car pooling, taking
using it as a habitat? public transportation, bicycling and
A: It would just be killed. There is walking. But we consume oil in many
nothing you can do with it. The things everyday products without even
that are encrusting either would die knowing it and excess plastic packaging
because they are growing on the rigs only adds to the problem. Here’s a look
themselves, or you would take away the at how oil is used in products and how
habitat that has sheltered the creatures to stretch our resources further by
that adopted these places as homes. choosing petroleum-free products,
Q: What do the rigs look like recycling plastic waste and buying
underwater? items with recycled content.
A: The rigs are just covered with life.
They look like a natural reef in some Plastic food storage
areas if they’ve been around for a long containers, packaging and cups
time. The petroleum problem: Almost all
Q: Why not leave the entire oil rig of the plastics found in a typical
in place? American kitchen are made from
A: The reason for getting rid of the petroleum-based polymers. Several
top is mostly aesthetic, but also it is not variations of these synthetic plastics
serving as a habitat for creatures, except make up almost everything from milk
for birds that might want to perch there. jugs to insulation products to packaging.
But eventually the upper part would The gulf-friendly alternative: Buy in
deteriorate and fall in to the sea, so bulk, bring your own containers and
better to take it away but leave the legs. cups, or otherwise reduce your use of
packaging wherever feasible. Reuse of plastic bags building up at your house,

plastic food containers like yogurt cups reuse them wherever possible (for food
where you can, and look for products storage, trash can liners, pet waste, etc.),
packaged in recycled content and and also check with your local grocery
recyclable materials. “Bioplastics,” or store or waste management authority to
compostable plastics made from see if they take back bags for recycling.
renewable resources may be preferable
to synthetic polymers (especially if they Laundry detergent
are made from agricultural wastes such The petroleum problem: The majority
as bagasse or of laundry detergents are derived from
straw), but better petroleum, and also contain other
still are stainless harmful chemicals.
steel products or The gulf-friendly alternative: Look for
glass containers, plant-based, biodegradable products. The
which are long-lived Natural Products Association, which
and more readily requires that 95 percent of ingredients
recyclable than must be derived from natural sources,
most plastics. now certifies cleaners and detergents.
As for beverage According to Seventh Generation, if the
containers, when on 107 million U.S. households each replaced
the go, consider bringing a reusable a single bottle of conventional detergent
water bottle to avoid the need to with one using
purchase single-use beverage containers. plant-based
If you do need to buy single-use ingredients, the
beverages, you may be able to choose total oil savings
aluminum cans or glass bottles instead of could provide a
plastic bottles. Recycle used beverage year’s heating and
containers, too. cooling for 8,500
homes.
Plastic bags
The petroleum problem: The Gum
production of plastic bags is a petroleum- The petroleum problem: Gum was
intensive process, and these originally made from natural chicle, but
nonbiodegradable items end up littering now its long-lasting rubbery consistency
our landscapes and landfills. comes from petroleum-based polymers.
The gulf-friendly alternative: The Goodyear, the tire and rubber company,
United Nations is calling for a global ban actually supplies Wrigley’s gum with a
of plastic bags, but in the meantime it’s large portion of its main ingredients.
easy to limit our consumption of plastic The gulf-friendly alternative: There
bags anywhere we shop. Bring reusable are still a few brands of gum that can be
bags on your next shopping trip. Just be found in health food stores or online that
sure to wash your reusable bag use natural chicle and no petroleum
intermittently. If you already have a stack products. However, if you’re looking for
something a little more problem: Food additives — diarrhea.

accessible, try satisfying including sodium benzoate, The gulf-friendly
your minty cravings with FD&C red 40 and yellow 5 alternative: Beeswax- and
natural herbal mints. — put in canned goods to Shea butter-based lip
extend their shelf life and balms have no known
give them an unnaturally negative health effects.
appealing color are yet
more petrochemicals. The
human body is not
designed to consume
petrochemicals, so there
are many possible risks
behind over-processed
foods. New studies are
linking food dye
Crayons consumption to ADHD.
Bisphenol-A (or BPA), a Candles
The petroleum
problem: Crayons are chemical commonly found The petroleum
most commonly made with in can linings, is widely problem: Candles are
paraffin wax, a petroleum- known to interfere with another product that uses
derived product. More hormone production and is a paraffin-wax base, a
than 12 million crayons are therefore associated with byproduct of petroleum
produced every day by one various diseases. refining. Contaminants in
factory alone in the U.S. The gulf-friendly paraffin, such as toluene,
This amounts to 60 tons of alternative: Wherever benzene, methyl ethyl
petroleum-derived crayons possible, buy fresh, organic ketone and naphthalene
daily. produce and limit (substances found in paint,
The gulf-friendly purchases of canned food. lacquer and varnish
alternative: Look for Frozen food in recyclable removers), make it a
petroleum-free craft cardboard, as well as foods particularly problematic
supplies like natural packaged in glass, also choice for candles, since
beeswax and soy wax make a suitable alternative they may enter the air we
crayons. Options include to cans. breathe at home.
Stubby Pencil Studio The gulf-friendly
crayons, which are made Lip balm alternative: Candles made
from a combination of The petroleum from soy wax, beeswax,
plant and vegetable waxes problem: Most lip balm and essential oils are fairly
and pure beeswax, and brands use a petroleum easy to come across and
Prang crayons, which use do not include the
jelly base, which may
a soybean-based wax. contaminants found in
provide short-term
Canned food comfort but is easy to paraffin. The candles’
ingest, which can cause smoke poses less of a
The petroleum stomach upset and health threat.
Natural products can help control fleas

By Morieka Johnson
Mother Nature Network
Q: Now that my baby is crawling, I

would like to cut back on the amount of
chemicals used around the house. Are
there any natural ways to treat my dog
for fleas and ticks so I don’t expose my
toddler or my dog to those chemicals?
A: Squeezing a topical so lution on your
dog each month may be the easiest and
most effective way to fight fleas. Most of
the products contain a synthetic
insecticide that attacks a flea’s nervous
system. But this popular method has come
under fire recently due to reports of
adverse reactions among dogs and cats.
The Environmental Protection Agency
has called for more stringent testing and
evaluation requirements as well as Neem oil, an all-natural insect
stronger warning labels. repellent, and flea combs can help
Here are a few greener options for you keep your dog flea-free.
to consider.
Find a flea comb. Regular flea liquid for a do-it-yourself flea spray or
maintenance will require a cache of flea- simply apply the oil directly to your
fighting tools, starting with a good flea dog’s coat. The primary ingredient in
comb. These fine-toothed wire tools grooming products by Ark Naturals,
come in a variety of shapes and sizes. neem oil also repels mosquitoes.
Read the label carefully. Look for Consider an oral treatment. Oral
products such as Bio-Groom Flea and Tick tablets provide another alternative to
concentrate, which contains pyrethrin, a topical solutions. Products like Capstar
biodegradable insecticide that’s made and Comfortis go to work quickly, killing
from chrysanthemums. While you still any adult fleas a few minutes after being
need to exercise caution when applying consumed.
the chemical, it’s a better option to topical Enjoy Christmas in July. A relatively
solutions that contain permethrin. new company on the scene, Vet’s Best,
Try neem oil. This all-natural insect uses the power of peppermint and clove
repellent comes from the neem tree in oils to fight fleas and ticks. I haven’t
India. Add a few drops to your favorite tried it yet, but the idea of a sweet-
pet shampoo, dilute it with dishwashing smelling dog appeals to me.

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2 GOING GREEN | Sunday, August 8, 2010 commercialappeal.

What’s in this issue ...

9 A day at the farm

14 Trying to beat the heat

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

The Green Page

InterContinental Hotel Group’s vision for more sustainable hotels includes

Hotel giants go green

By Suzanne Thompson The world’s three major hotel groups,

and analyzing the envi-

The Hilton Bariloche in Argentina is being developed as an eco-hotel for the

“Green Engage offers toward sustainability. tem has resulted in saving

Star portfolio manager What to look for in

Down on the farm

Whole Foods customers see

Whole Foods Market hosted its first farm tour on

Robert Tims shared

Bill Dow says

the boys at home: ‘I’ll customers. The rest, he HOW IT WORKS

Beat the air-conditioning blues

Checked out your latest

clothes dryers — outside. Or,

State of the Glaciers and

By Pat Brennan Climatic Data Center song — I won’t say that’s

Solar attic fans have their drawbacks

Help your lawn and

is not lost. You still have time to plant

Ohio to test Chia Pet-like

Green roofs The Minnesota Daily

MINNEAPOLIS — Walking past the

may bring blank concrete walls of Williamson Hall,

long-term a most unusual home, the array of

savings The roof is empty and drab — at least

By selecting plants that What is a green roof?

Hensley’s and Erwin’s

Oil rigs can become wildlife havens

When an offshore oil

a structure in the ocean, whether it is

packaging wherever feasible. Reuse of plastic bags building up at your house,

something a little more problem: Food additives — diarrhea.

Natural products can help control fleas

Q: Now that my baby is crawling, I

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