Electronics Recycling Sat 11/10 9-4

I have a bag of electronics in my closet that I am always trying find some way to get rid of.
I see these signs around town occasionally and always vow to make sure to remember.
Don't throw your electronics in the trash, take them to the recycling day.
This saturday 11/10 9am to 4pm

Local woman tries to do without plastic

Our own Julia Park Tracey tries to go without plastic for a month.

Good luck Julia I am not sure I could do it.

But I did stop buying bottled water.

Read the full article in Alameda Patch

Alameda Green Schools Summit

Alameda Schools Go Green* will host the second *Green Schools Summit* on
April 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Alameda Main Library.

Students, teachers, city officials and members of the community are invited
to attend this important event.
We will meet to provide new information and continue the work to help our
local schools conserve resources and reduce waste.

For more information visit the Go Green Schools page on the AUSD website:
http://www.alameda.k12.ca.us/index.php/schools/go-green-schools

Batteries! They are in everything. How to dispose of them.

Did you know that the city of Alameda has a battery recycling program?


This was part of a discussion thread that I and Michelle Kuttner started on the Alameda-Schools-Go-Green discussion group. Here is what I found out that I didn't know about 
our own Alameda battery disposal programs.

This was sent along by Kerry Parker who administers the program for the city.

Thanks to Michele Kuttner at Bay Farm Elementary, I have been talking

a lot about AUSD battery recycling over the last 24 hours!  :)  I

currently administer the City of Alameda's battery recycling program

in town, and with the recent addition of the new Pagano's Hardware

Mart at Alameda Towne Centre, there are now 11 convenient locations

already set up in Alameda to receive your spent batteries and dispose

of them safely:

- City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave - 1st floor at stairwell

- City Hall West, 950 W. Mall Square (Alameda Point) - 1st floor

lobby

- Main Library, 1550 Oak St - 1st floor copy room

- Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave - Main admin office

- Alameda Municipal Power, 2000 Grand St. - Lobby

- Maintenance Service Center, 1616 Fortmann Way - Front office

- Alameda County Industries (ACI), 2307 Blanding Ave, Suite B - Front

office

- Pagano's Hardware Mart, 1100 Lincoln Ave - Back of store

- Pagano's Hardware Mart, Alameda Towne Centre - Back of store

- Encinal Hardware, 2801 Encinal Ave - Near front of store, on isle

- CVS/Pharmacy (Bay Farm), 885-A Island Dr - Photo desk will take

them

Now why you should not just throw them in the trash.
I took this from the ehso.com website from their page on battery disposal.


People are using more and more household batteries. The average person owns about two button batteries, ten normal (A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, etc.) batteries, and throws out about eight household batteries per year. About three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S. averaging about 32 per family or ten per person. A battery is an electrochemical device with the ability to convert chemical energy to electrical energy to provide power to electronic devices. Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. When incinerated, certain metals might be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash produced by the combustion process.

Batteries may produce the following potential problems or hazards:

	Pollute the lakes and streams as the metals vaporize into the air when burned.
	Contribute to heavy metals that potentially may leach from solid waste landfills.
	Expose the environment and water to lead and acid.
	Contain strong corrosive acids.
	May cause burns or danger to eyes and skin.

In landfills, heavy metals have the potential to leach slowly into soil, groundwater or surface water. Dry cell batteries contribute about 88 percent of the total mercury and 50 percent of the cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream. In the past, batteries accounted for nearly half of the mercury used in the United States and over half of the mercury and cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream. When burned, some heavy metals such as mercury may vaporize and escape into the air, and cadmium and lead may end up in the ash.

Happy New Year... now throw out your old electronics

Get rid of your old electronics.

• Where: Oak St & Alameda Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
• Date: January 9, 2011
• Time: 10:00am–4:00pm

• Did you get new electronics for Christmas? REcycle your old ones! Alameda High's Students On Skis and Snowboards is hosting an electronic recycling event to fundraise for our upcoming ski trip! Support the Ski Club and Nature~ RECYCLE your old electronics!!

  FREE to recycle TVs, Moniters, Laptops, Flat Screens, Cell Phones and InkJet Cartridges!

  $5 to recycle CPUs, Stereos, Telephones, Printers, Copiers, DVD players, Fax Machines, Hard Drives, VCRs, Motherboards, and Video Games.

  Donations accepted! Thanks for Supporting the AHS Ski Club!

Fall colors

Every year the Ginkgo Trees turn a beautiful yellow gold color in my neighborhood.

Wow a long time since I posted

It has been a few months since I posted anything on my GoGreenAlameda blog page.

Someone recently told me about the California Cash for Appliances program.
If you purchase a new energy efficient appliance and recycle your old one you will be eligible for a rebate.
There are some conditions of course you must recycle your old appliance with one of their platinum partners. PG&E also has an appliance recycling program.

There are 2 costs to owning an appliance. The price you paid and the cost for the energy it uses.
Most newer washing machines are also more water efficient which can be a big deal here in California since we almost always seem to be in a drought.

Click on the links below to check out the programs.

http://www.cash4appliances.org/
http://www.pge.com/rebates/

Will it make you happy!

Came across this article in the New York Times today. Seems to echo sentiments we are hearing about and living with. The simple process of being happier with less. Less car, less vacation, less things, less money.
I have been on this quest for awhile, at least in theory. Always trying to reduce the amount of things that are non essential. I am not perfect, not a zen master. I still want things, a newer bike, car. However it is nice to read and be reminded that these don't ultimately make us happier. People, connections and relationships do. I have been trying to strengthen those and make them more important in my life.
Read the full article here.

e-waste recycling event this saturday 8/14

Nothing warms my heart more than getting rid of stuff. Especially electronic stuff. They had one recently at Lincoln School and I was so happy to get rid of those useless wall warts, old cell phones, cable modems and bunch of useless gizmos clogging up my closet. They also took a bag of alkaline batteries I had laying around, thank goodness. Get rid of it while its easy. There is an e-waste recycling event happening at the Harbor Bay Community Parking Lot this saturday 8/14 9am-1pm 

44th Annual Sand Castle & Sculpture Contest

June 19th marked the 44th annual sand castle and sand sculpture contest. Where people came to Crown Beach to recycle the sand, seaweed and beach debris and created some unique and creative sand castles and sand sculptures. The beach was crowded with onlookers to view the creations. Here are a few of my favorites.

Bike to Work Day

Everyone who knows me knows I love to ride my bike. I have 4 of them. It used to be more for intense recreation (I used to do Triathlons and raced Mountain bikes) but over the last few years I have grown to enjoy, ney love biking to work and around the Island just for fun. I even joined BikeAlameda.

This year I participated in BTWD helping out an Energizer Station on Webster St. handing out bags filled with goodies, water, oranges, bagels and info to those riding by. Many of them biking to work.
And all of them smiling.



From left to right Jon Spangler, Clarke Cole, Kathy Moehring and Me (Philip Kaake)

Here are some bike to work day stats.

We had a total of 493 riders who signed in at energizer stations this morning and 307 who rode bikes but didn't sign in for a grand total by our count of 800 bike rides today.

Change your mind ride a bike instead of using your car once.
I probably ride my bike to work 3 to 5 days a week and on brokers tour whenever possible. I also try and do as many errands and shopping when possible (2 large bike bags help). If you are using your car for all your errands and shopping I encourage everyone to try it and see if you don't enjoy the journey rather than just rushing to the destination just a little bit more. If you haven't ridden your bike for awhile and it's getting a little hard to shift or brake I suggest you take it to one of great local bike shops and have it tuned up. Or better yet get a new bike, or new used bike. This will really give you incentive.

Bike on Alamedans, and cyclists everywhere.

AOR Green Home Expo is coming!

On Saturday, July 17th, 2010, from 10 am to 4 pm the Alameda Association of REALTORS® and their AFFILIATE Partners will host The Green Home Expo at the Alameda Towne Centre. The Alameda Association of REALTORS ® is proud to host this fun and informative event to promote the growing interest in green building, awareness, and lifestyle.

The Green Home Expo is a trade show showcasing the latest environmentally friendly products and services used in the homebuilding and home improvement industries. This is your opportunity to promote your products and services to both builders and consumers. Sponsorship and limited trade show vendor opportunities are available. It's also a chance to learn about the newest innovations and trends through top speakers and exhibits.

We will have a number of guest speakers who will be presenting to promote green building, awareness, and lifestyle on the Center Stage throughout the day.

Green Kids at the EXPO!!!!!

Bring your Kids and let them experience and learn from the Mad Science Team who will be providing hands on experiments, and "Up in the Air" Mad Science show. Other activities include Face painting and a building competition for our "Green Home Builders of the future.

For more information on The Green Home Expo you may visit us on the web at

www.TheGreenHomeExpo.com.

Building greener is great but most of us in Alameda own a vintage or older home.  There are ways to go greener with improved efficiency such as an energy audit for your home. Choosing materials that have less indoor environmental effects.  Low or no VOC paints, even certain cleaning products are pretty toxic. Using surfaces and materials that have less offgassing that have been known to cause health issues. It's worth doing a little research to find materials that could improve your quality of life while improving your home.

Are you wasting energy?

Homes use energy, lots of it, electricity, gas, water. A home energy audit is a great way to take a look at where you could be saving money on utilities, this could be anywhere from 5% to 30% of your total usage. There are DIY ways to do this and it's pretty simple.  You could also hire a special home energy auditor to perform a more sophisticated home energy audit.
I like the idea of a do it yourself approach at first, this article in thedailygreen.com website was simple and straightforward. This is a good way to start educating yourself about your home and easy ways to start on making your home more energy efficient.
Look at it as a treasure hunt in reverse.

Green news from around the world

Just discovered the New York Times green blog.
Interesting news from around the world on green issues.

New York Times green blog

City Car Share is in Alameda

I knew that City Car Share was in Alameda but had completely forgotten about it until I used the parking lot on Central recently.  It is  a great idea that is catching on quicker in cities and urban areas where it's more of a hassle and expense to own a car.

I remember well the days of searching for a parking space at night when I lived in SF.  I hope the program is successful here in Alameda because it is such a great idea for those who do not own a car or maybe want to drop owning a second car.  I have emailed them and asked for more information on the program and will be getting back with updates. Check out their website for more information.

Ever heard of recycled paint.

What happens to all the latex paint that is dropped off at hazard waste centers? It’s recycled and is being resold at your local paint distributors, Dunn-Edwards and Kelly-Moore, for instance. Recycled paint sells for less, but the quality and viscosity is augmented by blending it with virgin materials. For more information and a complete list of distributors, visit  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/Paint/

Happy New Year! And welcome 2010

Happy New Year to all you human beings who aspire to use less resources and become more environmentally friendly.  My resolutions this year are to simply do more to help green my home, business and family.  Keep lights off when not necessary and use less paper (this comes under home, family and work). I am planning on signing up for an electronic document service that allows clients to sign remotely. This will ultimately use less paper in my transactions.  Get more use out of our re-usable shopping bags.  This means remembering to bring them more and encourage their use with other family members.  In general it is more of the same and discovering ways to improve along the way.  I look at each element of being greener as a challenge to see how I can squeeze more out of less.  It's just a matter of changing my mind on how, when and where I use resources.

Raid on bottle deposits.

I originally read about this in Eve Pearlman's blog in theIslandofalameda blog. Made me a little sad that this was happening, however budget cuts seem to be so commonplace that nothing is sacred.  It seems Sacramento has raided the nickels and dimes we paid for the bottle deposits leaving many recycling centers to close.  Many of them employed at risk youths.
Recycling centers close, eliminating green jobs.

Everywhere I go bags seem to show.

Everywhere I go I seem to be assaulted with bags.  While we need bags to hold things it has been an interesting process trying not to take every bag that is offered to me.  Last night my family was shopping at a local department store and we declined the bag at checkout.  Sure there were a few things to carry but we didn't have to go very far.  I would like to think since my son was with us perhaps he will also be inclined to think about if he really needs a bag everytime he is offered one.  Hopefully the old adage "Leading by example" will work with as he progresses into his shopping years.  Many people now have reusable shopping bags.  I keep mine next to the front door so I remember to take them with me when I leave the house.  As far as the debate on whether paper is "greener", or better for the environment than plastic, it seems plastic is actually a little bit better.  A plastic bag takes 594 BTU's to make and a paper bag takes 2511 BTU's.  Then of course there is the plastic which is actually oil.  Of course it takes energy to make a reusable bag but it can be... reused, again and again, saving energy, landfill (8 billion pounds of plastic bags enter the waste stream every year.) and perhaps some of your conscience.  I have a space in my kitchen where I have a large bag full of bags that will last me for my throw away bag needs for a long time to come.  Hey sometimes you forget and need a bag at the store.  It happens, but maybe we start buying more reusable bags and need a whole lot less of those bags being handed out so freely.  Because in actuality they cost us.  It's just a matter of changing your mind.

Read more about the actual cost of plastic bags.

Battery recycling

I have had an old laptop battery sitting around for awhile that I have been meaning to find an appropriate place to recycle.  The new battery came with a prepaid box through DHL to send the old battery back however DHL no longer delivers in the US. On Newer Tech's website they do list some resources for battery recycling and if you can't find a place locally if you fill out a form they will send you a prepaid shipping label.  I checked out some of the resources and this call2recycle.com had the best list of local resources for drop offs.  Unfortunately after I went to Southshore (I will never say Towne Centre) Office Max they no longer were on the program.  However they did take my old inkjet cartridges.  Radio Shack did take my laptop and 2 old AA batteries however that left me with the 2 alkaline's I also wanted to get rid of. Now they had to ride back to my house with me for another search for a place to take them.  Kudo's to Newer Tech for updating their technology to be more green and making it as easy as possible to recycle old laptop batteries and publishing some resources.  It should probably be obvious however I am sure many people just toss their old batteries in the trash.  According to the Duracell website alkaline batteries can be disposed of with normal household waste.  Their website says to "contact your local government for disposal practices in my area" Thumbs down to Duracell for not listing any resources.  I think I will just wrap them in a plastic six pack holder and go throw them in the bay.  Hopefully a Dolphin will come along and take them out to sea so I don't have to think about them anymore. (The previous sentence constitutes Philip's extremely dry and sarcastic sense of humor) For now I will not throw my alkaline batteries in the trash and continue to look for a more suitable place to dispose of them.  Kitchen drawer your 2 friends are back.  Rechargable batteries are getting better all the time.  It costs a little more upfront to buy these types of batteries but they are re-usable and more easily recyclable.  We all use alot of batteries in our lives out of necessity.  Think about buying rechargeable batteries next time you need a new set.