The weekend has its comforting arms around us but I still have eco-news to share with you. The green gazette is our attempt at linking out to some interesting, odd or inspiring planet friendly news. I won’t limit it to North America or giant international greenhouse gas reductions. I’m happy to focus on anything that might make a difference and the reality is everything makes a difference, we got to where we are collectively and the need for change is collective also…so please read on!

I noticed while driving around today just how many people have covered their homes in giant spiders, mini graveyards, inflatable pumpkins and things that burn fossil fuel in the night. All this to celebrate Halloween of course. It also means that in seven days time the same exhibitionists will be rigging up different lights, robotic snowmen and dancing reindeers to every treetop, roof and mailbox on their parcel of land. Naturally to honor December 25th you have to burn some more electricity right?? WRONG! I know I can’t stop the tide but I can at least endorse Home Depot who are running a promotion for a holiday lights trade in. For every old string of old lights you bring in they will offer a $3 off coupon good for a new string of LED bulbs to mark the festive season in an eco-logical way. These bulbs use 80% less energy to power your ‘display’, so if you must - at least do it in a clean green method. (Scrooge hat now off) Save a gallon of gas, don’t drive around looking at Halloween lights - I’ve got a video for you!

Fossil Fueled Halloween Display

More green retail action as Target and CVS have announced a program across all of their stores (7,500+ collectively!) that makes a small step in the right direction. For every reusable bag you use in place of a plastic bag each store will take 5 cents off of your bill. It’s not a huge financial saving but it’s a giant environmental one and thus should be applauded. I love statistics so let’s just run a few : 7,500 stores @1,500 customers per day (*easy when you consider Target) =That makes 11,250,000 customers per day.

If just 3% of all customers bring in a reusable bag for (1 bag per purchase) that equals 337,500 plastic bags not used tomorrow!! That’s huge!! In a week you have 2.3 millions plastic bags not used. It reiterates my sentiment that there are no small gestures so well done Target and CVS. Did I happen to mention we sell reusable bags also? Let’s reduce plastic wastage and Target?CVS will help pay for your bag!

Next an interesting story so long as you promise not to tell the big bad wolf. News breaks that three little pigs (University Committee for Energy and Resource Conservation at a University in Kansas) are building a house entirely from straw (and stucco)! The chief designer lived in a home in Montana for 8 years made from hay bales. The hay bale home, which will be complete with a door and window as well as a stucco exterior, will consist of 60 bales and will be on display for the next year at the technology center. The theme of using alternative building methods will be used by future designers and builders. Several instructors in the CMCET department completed their LEED certifications this year and have been implementing green construction techniques into their curriculum.

Out of sight…out of mind? That should not be the case….a large oil spill into the ocean off of the coast of Western Australia is receiving no media coverage where I am…how about with you? We can’t wait for another Exxon Valdez disaster to exclaim that this isn’t acceptable. Just because it’s not on the coast of North America doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy of news coverage. Why do I need to go to overseas newspaper to learn of this? Are we that obsessed with the helium bubble boy in Denver to not have time to cover actual news? This ‘leak’ has been going on now for 60 days and is polluting the sea with hundreds of barrels per day!

More soon….

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Tags: big bad wolf, christmas lights, CVS, eco friendly christmas lights, halloween light display, Halloween lights, Home Depot, LEED lights, Oil Spill, plastic bag reduction, plastic bags, reusable bags, straw house, sustainable products, Target, Target reusable bag program, three little pigs, Western Australia oil spill

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