Review: Green Mountain Coffee - Mmmm Mmmm goood!

Fair Trade USA Certified Logo

It is pretty important to us that the coffee we drink is grown in a sustainable way and that the people who grow it are paid a fair wage and have decent living conditions.  There are a number of companies that work with this and try to assure this, but one simple way to know that the coffee, tea or chocolate you are eating or drinking meets these criteria is to look for the "Fair Trade USA" certification.

There are so many reasons to buy Fair Trade Certified products, that it can get overwhelming.  Therefore, I've included here the reasons why Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc, states on their page that they support Fair Trade:

• At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day, and almost half — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. (Source: www.globalissues.org)
• Every year more than 10 million children die of hunger and preventable diseases — that’s over 30,000 per day and one every 3 seconds. (Source: 80 Million Lives, 2003 / Bread for the World / UNICEF / World Health Organization)
• If climate change trends continue as expected, by 2080, an additional 1.8 billion people could be living in regions where water supply is scarce, and the number of people affected by malnutrition could rise to 600 million. (Source: United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2007/2008)

Buy why Fair Trade Certified in particular?  Because Fair Trade Certified is not just about paying people money, but it is about enabling sustainable development and community empowerment.  They do not just pay the workers well, they work with the entire community.  They work with family farms, they teach about safe working conditions, they help workers to organize and they help children go to school instead of work the farms.   Sometimes it's hard for people in first world countries to really understand that young children working on farms and long hours for a bit of food is not just in our past,  but is in our present.  Fair Trade USA is a major non-profit that is working to make lives better all over the world.

When we buy products with their certification, we know that we are supporting the work they do the best way we can, by buying the products they produce and paying a fair amount for them. 

But wait, this is supposed to be a review of Green Mountain Coffee.  I'm a member of BzzAgent, and they offered to send me free bags of Green Mountain Coffee so that I'd try it and tell people how great it is.  They were right.  It is magnificent and I'm thrilled to tell you that not only is it yummy, delicious and a great way to start the morning,  but it fits right in with my value system because the bags they sent us were Fair Trade Certified. 

Yummy Pumpkin Spice
Fair Trade Coffee

We tried the Fair Trade Pumpkin Spice and the Fair Trade Vermont Coffee Blend.  Both are very smooth and yummy.  The Pumpkin Spice is very sweet (or was that the vanilla soy milk and Splenda?) and has a nice spicy flavor that goes well with muffins and breakfast bars.  The Vermont Coffee Blend was very smooth and almost had a chocolate-y taste to it.  Since I only started drinking coffee about 2 years ago (when my youngest was born) I've been gradually developing a taste for it.  I used to put Nesquik in my coffee,  now I just use soy milk and Splenda.  So when I run into a coffee whose smooth, rich taste reminds me of having chocolate in it,  I'm in heaven!

I've been really pleased by all the places I've seen Green Mountain Coffee,  but an important thing to realize is that if they don't have the Fair Trade Certified symbol on the bag, it's not actually Fair Trade.  When asked recently why not all their coffee is Fair Trade they said:

We are committed to increasing our purchases of sustainably produced coffee, but we are also competing with many other companies who are not, so it’s a challenge.    But the more people ask for and choose Fair Trade products, the more demand we can build for the certification and the more momentum we can build to help more farms become certified. - Winston Rost, Green Mountain Coffee Lab

Fair Trade USA Certified Logo

So next time you are buying coffee,  ask for Fair Trade Certified or look for the label. As we buy more, more farms can afford to get the certification!

Happy Greening!
Alicia


What is your favorite coffee?  Tell us!

Stay At Home Moms: Save A Little More on Heating Bills

Most Stay At Home Moms I know are always looking for little ways to save a little more.  They also tend to be in and out of the house on an irregular basis: today home for laundry, tomorrow out to the grocery store and then the next day, one quick errand has you out of the house all day!   This kind of schedule doesn't lend itself well to a programmable thermostat.   However,  you should DEFINITELY have a programmable thermostat.

For all the details on why, how to, what temperature and how much you can save, check out our post:

Just One Thing: Programmable Thermostats

Now, you say, fine, I can set a wake up temperature and a good evening temperature, because I know how comfortable I want the house to be when we get and up and when we're going to bed, and I'll set it back at night because I want to save money.   But what do I do about the daytimes?  I don't want there to be lots of heat if I'm out of the house all day,  but I like to be comfortable when I'm home (or when the kids are home).  

Set daytime temperatures as if you're out of the house and only turn it up if you get cold.  

Thermostat set to temperatures for getting ready for bed. 
Consider 58F for daytime when you might not be home

This way, when you're running out of the house in the morning, you don't have to remember to set it back.  Also, if you spend the day sitting in a sunny window with a blanket and a laptop,  you might not actually need the heat on, even if the rest of the house is cold. 

In New England, if you turn the thermostat down 8 degrees for 8 hours a day you can save 8% on your heating bill.  What easy savings!  

Happy Greening!

Alicia

What other tips do you have for saving a little more money at home?  Leave your suggestions in the comments below.

Do-It-Yourself Halloween Decorations

Mix of LEDs, pumpkins and DIY Halloween Decorations

My neighbors put out a number of Halloween decorations and my children wanted some too.  I politely explained to them how I don't believe in using electricity to shine lights on decorations or to blow fans to make decorations stand up.  I also explained that it wasn't good for the environment to go buy a bunch of styrofoam decorations - besides, they are expensive.

My children understood, but they were disappointed.  I hauled out a box of Halloween and fall decorations from the basement and my children went off and created pumpkins and ghosts from paper that they hung inside our front hallway (completely un-prompted by me!)

DIY Ghost from Crib Sheet, Ball,
Ribbon and Coat Hanger

While driving around town, it occurred to me that we could make a ghost to hang outside out of an old crib sheet, a toy ball and a hanger.   Jon and I made it one night and hung it in the hallway - what a surprise to my children when they came downstairs!

DIY Ghost
This project took about 5 minutes.  We stuck a ball inside the sheet and used a ribbon to hold it in place. Jon threaded a large needle with string and suck it through the top of the sheet to create a way to hang it.  Then we bent an old wire hanger to a pleasing shape and used the hook part to hook it upside-down inside the sheet.  Voila!  It can either be used for several years, or dis-assembled and all the parts can go back to their original functions.

DIY Gravestone

Gravestones
Then Jon realized that we have a bunch of styrofoam flat pieces that we get with a medical shipment each moth,  so why not use some of those to make decorations?  Brilliant!  He and the children made gravestones for our front yard.  He traced the shapes, then they cut it with a knife.  The children each spray painted their headstones with gray paint we had leftover from another project.  When it was dry, he carved the words out for them.  They used wooden skewers to make legs to stick it in the ground.  I don't actually recommend going out and buying Styrofoam,  but if you get it in packages,  it can make a great art material!

For a final touch on our decorations,  Jon did go out and buy a string of lights - LED ghosts.

Happy Decorating!
Alicia

The DIAPER Act - Helping the Working Poor Afford Diapers

This is a summary of information provided by Jennifer Labit of Cotton Babies on the Diaper Investment and Aid to Promote Economic Recovery ("DIAPER") Act (H.R. 3134), sponsored by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

Some parents can't afford to work
because they can't afford diapers.

Did you know that some parents can't work, because they can't afford diapers?  Really.  There is government support to help the working poor pay for childcare, but childcare providers require that parents provide clean diapers and not everyone can afford them.  Can't afford clean diapers?  Really?  Are you kidding?  No, I'm not.  According to a study by Huggies recently,  1 in 3 families struggles to afford diapers.  

This is really hard for me to grasp,  but Jenn clearly explains the problem of families that can not afford the hot water and detergent needed to wash clothes, let alone purchase diapers (diapers are EXPENSIVE!)  

So follow me here. Some people receive childcare vouchers so they can afford childcare - not all jobs pay enough to afford childcare.  It was a consideration that I had to make myself. I do not have local family, and therefore could only accept jobs that paid enough for pay for childcare at a daycare, or a sitter for the time I would be out of the house (working AND commuting time).  In addition to the costs of childcare, you also have to provide clean diapers; diapers are expensive.  A New York news station did a report in March 2011 about parents not being able to afford diapers. 

Currently there is only one assistance program that allows for its money to be used to provide diapers, and it is provided to the most absolutely destitute and is usually used for rent and utilities.  Neither SNAP (foodstamps) nor WIC will permit it's money to be used on diapers or diapering supplies.   The DIAPER Act is a definitional change and is NOT an appropriations bill.  It allows already allocated Child Care Development Funds to be used for diapering and diapering supplies.   The organization Help a Mother Out has started a petition that you can sign to support this definitional change. 

This is a jobs bill.   Passage of this bill will allow more parents to work.  It will increase the use of diapers, which will increase their manufacture and sales.

The DIAPER Act also allows for cloth diapers

I can just hear you yelling now "But Alicia, why are you promoting more diapers?"   This is also a GREEN bill, because it specifically allows for cloth diapers to be included in this program.   A forward thinking daycare center could work with a environmentally friendly diaper service to provide clean, healthy, cloth diapers for the children in its care.   The daycare and diaper service could offer this option to all the parents for a fee, and have it subsidized for the families on childcare vouchers with this change.   Imagine the possibilities.   Jennifer Labit can.

The full text of the bill can be read in the blog post by Jennifer Labit that inspired this post.

Please sign the petition and spread the word.

Happy Greening,
Alicia

Answers to your questions about Pennies Per Pound

As I have been speaking to people about my Pennies Per Pound CO2 Energy Stamp & Tax Idea I have been hearing a number of questions and concerns.  I love hearing from people that totally support the program, but it is even more important for me to hear from those that don't support it yet or disagree with me.  If you have hesitations about signing the petition, or see major problems with PPP, please leave a comment or email me at ecodad@greenlifestyleconsulting.com.

Below are answers to the two most common questions/concerns I have heard so far.

$1.94 per gallon tax is outrageous!

Comparison showing US + PPP tax still less
than rest of the developed world

Actually it is not outrageous.  If we look at the rest of the developed world, adding $1.94 in taxes (after year 10) on a gallon of gasoline, we would still be paying less than the majority of the developed world.  See the chart for more detail.

Also, keep in mind that the proposed 10¢ per pound after 10 years is just a discussion point.  The exact amount of the tax would have to be something worked out by legislators.  Maybe adding half a cent per year per pound would be better.  The piece that I think is most critical is that the tax be predictable and understandable while still significant enough to spur change and unleash the market forces to drive innovation and adoption of energy efficient technology and approaches.

The most vulnerable cannot afford to pay for gas at the current price, let alone 19¢ more per gallon.

Given the growing world demand for energy including gasoline, the price of gasoline is going to go up over time.  Not long ago we were paying over $4 per gallon and in some places over $5 per gallon. Today, as I drove past my local gas station, it was $3.53 per gallon for regular.  Continuing to subsidize fossil fuels with billions of dollars in tax breaks each year can only keep the cost of fuel down so long and it is going to rise.  In the long run, Pennies Per Pound will lead to better fuel efficiency and better alternatives in transportation, but I understand in the near term the burden on struggling families to even a small price increase is big.  That is why the Energy Stamp program is so critical to the success of Pennies Per Pound.  As with SNAP (Food Stamps), qualified recipients would receive a EBT debit card for energy purchases.  They could then use that card to pay for gasoline at the pump and their utility bills.  As with SNAP, there would be restrictions to prevent the misuse of the card for any non-energy related purchases.  Depending on their situation, they could qualify for more credit than the PPP tax.  Also, because it is a debit card system instead of a tax credit, families that do not pay income taxes because their incomes are so low could still qualify.  The details of how the Energy Stamp program would be set up, what the eligibility factors are and how it would be administered would need to be worked out by the legislators.  A key thing to keep in mind though is that this program would be entirely funded by the revenue generated by the PPP tax, so it would not add to the federal deficit.

Please take a minute sign the petition urging your Congressional Representatives and Senators to support Pennies Per Pound, then share the idea with your friends.  If you have questions or concerns, leave them as comments below or email me.  Let's discuss this critical topic in an open and thoughtful way.

Happy Greening,
Jon

Congratulations to Melissa P. for winning the Solar Panel Necklace

Congratulations to Melissa P. from WI as the winner of the Solar Panel Necklace Giveaway from Green Lifestyle Consulting!  She will be receiving her necklace in a few days.

You can get your own amazing solar panel necklaces, rings, pins, cuff links, earrings or barrettes and more from Solar Panel Jewelry. They make wonderful eco-awareness gifts for any green friends.

We'd like to thank Brooke from Untrained Hair Mom for hosting the Go Green Giveaway Event.

Happy Greening!
Jon & Alicia

What do you think would make an amazing Green Giveaway Prize? Leave your ideas as comments and we'll consider it for our next green giveaway.

The Learning Curve of E-Bike Commuting

I've been riding my e-bike for about a month now (~100 miles) and really love it, though to be honest it hasn't been the smoothest road.  So far, all of the problems I've had are things that can happen to any bicycle commuter and are not related to the electric assist.

My first problem, and second and third for that matter, involved me not knowing the route to and from work by bike.  Given that I did not want to ride my bike on the major streets and highways I usually take to work, I had mapped out a route using Google Maps Get Direction Bicycling option (bummer this isn't supported on iPhones).  Even though I had printed the directions, I had to stop a few times to check that I was going the right way and got confused and took a few extra detours on my first day.  Because of all the one way streets I use, coming home I missed another turn and took an even longer detour.  Thankfully, going a little farther (over a mile extra) with an electric assist bike is not as tiring as when you are completely human powered.  Now that I've ridden the route a dozen or so times, I know my way.

Another problem I have is with my pannier (aka bag to carry laptop and stuff on the back of the bike).  On the few times I biked to work this past year without the electric assist I wore a backpack with my laptop, lunch etc., and did not like wearing a backpack and biking.  I purchased a nice waterproof pannier to go on my bike rack to carry my laptop and miscellaneous gear back and forth.  Unfortunately, my heel bumps the bag as I pedal so I'll need to make some modifications to the bag.  Luckily, since I don't need all my strength pedaling up hills and so forth, I've been able to get by just shifting my foot forward on the pedal a little bit.  I know how to fix it, but just haven't gotten to it yet.
 

Rear wheel nut & rack screw that fell off

The next problem to hit me was a blown tire.  While still getting used to the new route, the shifting for hills and the electric throttle I rode over a big pothole and popped my rear tire, the one with the electric motor.  I knew enough to have a spare tube, pump etc. to replace a blown tube, but unfortunately I hadn't adjusted to non-quick release rear wheel in the back so I couldn't get the wheel off to replace the tube.  Alicia came to my rescue and now I carry the right sized wrench in my pannier.

The last problem I've had so far (knocking on some wood) was losing the screw that held on one side of the back rack.  Even though it had a locking washer the screw had somehow vibrated loose and the rack started rubbing on the hub of the wheel making a horrible vibration and racket.  After figuring out what was wrong and that if I was especially careful to avoid bumps the rack would mostly stay in the right place with friction and I was able to limp the bike home.  I had to stop over a dozen times to reposition the rack back in place and even tried a few cable ties as bandages, but eventually made it home just in time to take my son out to cub scouts.  I've since gotten a replacements screw (longer this time) from the local bike shop and checked all the screws for tightness.

Throughout this the electric assist bike kit has worked great and now that I've worked out the kinks I've had several trips to and from work without incident.  If you are considering an electric assist bike and have questions, please ask them in the comments below.

Happy Green Biking!
Jon



What questions do you have about e-bikes?  Ask in the comments below.

Giveaway: Solar Panel Necklace

Enter to Win this Solar Panel Necklace - $25

We are giving away this handmade Solar Panel Necklace to one lucky reader.  Jonathan hand crafts these unique eco-awareness pieces of jewelry from solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.  He originally invented solar panel jewelry for Alicia as renewable energy themed accessories she could wear in a professional setting.

We are participating with other bloggers in a Go Green Giveaway Event blog hop, so once you are done entering our giveaway scroll down to the end of this post for more great green giveaways you can enter.

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  If you have any problems entering, please contact us at  info@greenlifestyleconsulting.com.
Giveaway closes on October 11th at 11:59PM.

If you can't wait to get your own solar panel jewelry or to see the other pieces, including rings, barrettes, earrings and more, visit Jonathan's Solar Panel Jewelry Shop on Etsy. 

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Pennies Per Pound to Save the Economy and the Planet

19 pennies for the 19.4 lbs of CO2 from a gallon of gasoline

If you have read my posts before, you probably know that I am a proponent of implementing some sort of energy tax to drive behavior toward energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy. I have finally connected the various threads in my head and am now working to build grass roots support for the idea I call "Pennies Per Pound (PPP)."


I believe enacting a Pennies Per Pound (PPP) CO2 Stamp & Tax Program on fossil fuels would create green jobs, decrease dependence on foreign oil, raise revenues, lower the nation’s debt and lead to a healthier planet with lower healthcare costs. Said differently, Pennies Per Pound would save our economy and the planet. Read More >>

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