The Rhode Island state flag. I'm all for hope.

My wife and I had a friend from our hometown of Philly to visit at our current home of Wakefield, Rhode Island, this Fourth of July weekend. Excited to show her around, we decided to have a full-fledged Rhode Island locavore experience.

In our previous existence, we were strong supporters of small urban businesses. As relatively new residents of the Ocean State, we are now always on the hunt for cool things to support in our new, albeit much more rural, community and region. Our one regret is that we have to drive so many places here, as opposed to walking or taking public transit, which is so convenient in Philly.

So with that caveat, we embarked in our car for some adventure and to patronize our state’s businesses, which, with a 12.1 percent state unemployment rate and climbing, can really use the support.

Our strawberry haul!

On Friday, we headed up to Schartner Farms in Exeter, where I had my first-ever strawberry-picking experience! It was really incredible to pick food out of the ground that we would eat later that night and throughout the weekend. The three of us left with a five-pound basket of absolutely delicious strawberries, for which we paid about $11. Strawberry season is almost over, and blueberry season is almost here, so we’ll definitely be heading back soon for more berry goodness.

On Saturday, we crossed the Jamestown Verrazzano and Claiborne Pell bridges, taking in some stunning scenery as always, and headed to Aquidneck Island to visit Newport Vineyards in Middletown. We tasted five wines each and got a tour of the winery for only $9 per person! The tour was informative; we learned a lot about how the wine was made, from the vine to the barrel to the bottle, and we also learned some interesting facts about the local climatological conditions that make this region such a great place to grow tasty wines. Of course, I had to take home a couple of bottles. I was partial to the Blaufrankish and Rochambeau. My wife also couldn’t resist the Rhody Coyote Hard Apple Cider. This paragraph from the winery’s web site says it all:

Newport Vineyards was originally planted in 1977 on a hill overlooking Rhode Island Sound with the goal of producing fine wines and as a way of preserving beautiful agricultural land from rapid development. Aquidneck Island is blessed with one of the most desirable farming areas in the country, if not the world. This extraordinary micro-climate is created by a combination of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream to the south and the moderating effects of Narragansett Bay. These conditions provide a long, cool growing season ideal for developing complex flavors in wine.

Champlin's is not kidding when it says its seafood is right off the boat!

On Sunday, we headed due south to Galilee for a visit to one of our favorite feeding spots, Champlin’s, where we devoured fish and chips, oysters and smelts. All of it was fresh off of the commercial fishing trawlers that dock right near the restaurant!

To drink at Champlin’s, I enjoyed a couple of refreshing Narragansett beers. The original Narragansett Brewing Company was founded in 1888 in Cranston, where it eventually became New England’s largest brewery, employing many thousands over the decades. However, the original brewery closed in 1981, at a time when regional brewers were rapidly going out of business in the face of intense competition from the monolithic national brewers Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors. Since those dark days, regional and craft brewing has thankfully come back into vogue, and in 2005, a local team of investors acquired the brand in the hopes of restoring it to its former glory. Currently, the brewery is headquartered in Providence but contract brews its beers in New York and Connecticut. The company’s goal, however, is to open a brand-new brewery in Rhode Island, and it is lobbying the state to accomplish just that. We’ll support them any way we can.

In our view, there’s nothing more patriotic we could have done this weekend than support local businesses. We hope you’ve been doing the same, and if not, maybe it can be the theme of your next holiday weekend!

Posted by Joe Paone

Whether a company or visionary is embarking upon a green venture for eco-practical or profitable gain, there have been countless grandiose ideas proposed, that for different reasons, never made it past the drawing board.

Below are what I consider the five worst “green Innovations” ever proposed gathered from an article on www.webecoist.com titled, “FAIL: 20 Infamous ‘Green Innovations’ That Aren’t.” The article includes some compelling visual aids to accompany these less than stellar ideas.

 Human Powered Floating Gyms: Viewed as a way to harness the energy created by humans in motion, floating gyms would be, “…a great way to transport yourself downriver as long as you don’t mind working out in an encased shell with a dozen other sweaty bodies.” While it could be an interesting novelty, someone the safety aspect and the fact that you can take a run along the waterfront or through a public park for NO money make this a bad idea.

Block the Sun, Blow Up Volcanoes and Other Manly Stuff: “Geo-engineering was once consider loony bin science. No more. Of particular interests to scientists right now is the potential cooling that could result if they engineered a massive volcanic explosion. When Mt. Pinatubo exploded in 1991, millions of tons of sulfur dioxide helped create a cooling effect. Unfortunately, scientists still know too little about the exact mechanisms of global warming, and intentionally creating massive weather systems or environmental catastrophes could cause more harm than good. This is talking about tinkering with a watch when people don’t know the time. It’s not off the table, but geo-engineering has a long way to go before being viable.”

Hairy Plants:  “A researcher named Christopher Doughty of the University of California at Irvine noticed that plants in hot, arid regions are hairy – and this unique characteristic enables the plants to reflect harmful near-infrared light and drive more efficient photosynthesis. The proposed solution: a hairier, furrier landscape, coming to a backyard near you. Unfortunately, disturbing natural ecosystems by introducing alien plant species is a poor idea. And while plants could be genetically engineered to be as furry as their desert counterparts, the practicality of this green solution is questionable at best. Extra reflection could mean less water evaporation, which would actually heat the planet further.”

Beaming Electricity from Space: “Send satellites into space, where they unfurl 1.5 mile-long solar arrays and send limitless clean energy to earth. Japan is already investing heavily in this technology. One problem: the beam could theoretically miss the receiver and fry, say, a neighborhood. Researchers are working on a solution to this potential disaster, but so far no luck.”

Harnessing Tornado: “Since tornados frequently exceed 100 mph, generating 10 mega-watt hours of power, scientists are hard at work developing machines that could somehow intake and harness this power. One scientist says he knows how to trap a tornado and keep the twister going indefinitely…The commercial machine is slated for debut in about five years, but the dangers of such a device are serious. A tornado might grow out of control, destroying the machine and creating widespread devastation.”

Despite the outlandish nature of some ideas, when brainstorming green solutions, humans must be willing to consider all options before deciding on the feasibility. 20 years ago, people thought nothing of tossing their Styrofoam food containers out the car window but a minimum $500 fine changed that in a hurry. While hairy plants and blowing up volcanoes may not be the answer, a multi-pronged approach will certainly be necessary. 

Posted by: Nick

A lot of fuss has been made about the DTV transition from analog television to an all-digital system. Transition dates have been postponed amidst political debate. Coupons for converter boxes famously ran out to screams by some of foul play. Even the most enthusiast supporters of the conversion admit the logistics of the program have been difficult and in many ways could leave older Americans without their window to the world, even if that window is a standard definition one brought to them via a rabbit ear antenna attached to a 30 year old television.

There are a lot of reasons for consumers from the Greatest Generation to Generation Y to invest in a new TV assuming they are using an old, standard definition television. The volume of channels offered to consumers on even basic “digital” cable is many times greater than what you can get over the air. The government is going to sell the terrestrial airways and raise much needed money for the bandwidth. Digital cable or satellite television offers HDTV which looks many times better than standard definition. Even if you have cataracts and wear Coke-bottle glasses, you will be able to see the difference between 480i SD and 1080i/720p high definition.

One of the best reasons to buy a new television today is the fact that old CRT televisions are not very “green.” Before some of you go Rush Limbaugh on me with some liberal conspiracy to sell everyone a new television, please note that older televisions have up to eight pounds of lead in them not to mention other nasty compounds and toxins. While most old TVs go on the trash heap and ultimately into landfills – the effect of these hazardous materials down the road are not very good for the planet that we all share. New LCD and plasma HDTVs use up to 30 percent less power than even first and second generation flat HDTVs. They use even less power than traditional CTR sets.

While not every American can pop for a beaming new HDTV with nearly 10 percent unemployment and housing values down in many parts of the country upwards of 40 percent, it is safe to say that we all someday will have to buy a new HDTV. My question to you is: will you take the extra time to find a recycling program near you that might take a little more work on your part but helps put millions upon millions of these old, poisonous televisions where they belong and their toxins out of our environment and into storage?

Best Buy has aggressive trade-in programs for old televisions at locations all over the country. Local municipalities have also offered trade-in or drop-off programs for phones, computer monitors, TVs and other consumer electronic devices – but they aren’t everyday events. The best national program we have found is from Waste Management. They have regional drop-offs where you can dispose of your television in a responsible way. While you might have to do some heavy lifting to get your old 42 inch Sony XBR into the back of the old hybrid SUV – it’s worth the effort. Your new LCD, the latest plasmas and especially the ultra-thin LED HDTVs are way less power-hungry and are made from better materials.

Find Waste Management’s list of sites here

Posted by Jerry Del Colliano, publisher of Home Theater Review

Not everyone has the time and dedication to climb a redwood tree and squat until those trying to chop it down agree to negotiate. Nope, many of us are just regular folks looking for easy but effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint or use less non-biodegradable products in our everyday life. Following this vein, I will occasionally be offering unorthodox ways anyone with a functioning brain and conscience can help our planet.

While the suggestion for this week is “Grow a beard,” many people, for professional, religious or other reasons simply can’t entertain this option. In deciding what is best one must consider all the options:

Disposable Complete Razor – Worst option, energy and chemicals are used to manufacture and they are practically impossible to recycle. When they end up in landfills or being incinerated, noxious air pollution is released

Disposable Blades – Not quite as bad, but you’re still chucking plastic and metal in the trash, not to mention spending a small fortune on the razor heads.

Electric Razor – Better still but now you’re dealing with electricity consumption (albeit minimal) and the drawback of a potentially rough shave.

Straight Razor – Now you’re talking, just like Grandpa used to get from the barber and the closest shave you can get. The biggest drawback is that you need experience wielding one of these instruments or you might end up looking like Tony Montana. Once you’ve mastered the steady hand, all you need is a sharpening tool and some lather and your face will be smoother than Sade drinking Johnnie Walker Blue in a satin robe .

Grow a Beard – No razor needed for shaving, no lather needed for the lubrication, no water required for the pre-wash and post-rinse, no toilet paper for the inevitable nicks, no wasted glass for the Preferred Stock scented after-shave balm and the added satisfaction of knowing the hair on your face is more than just a manifestation of laziness or a means of concealing your identity.

(Writer’s Note: Growing a beard is also a good way to deal with the recession, as long as you’re already employed)

Posted by: Nick

This isn’t one of those lame, lazy “vinyl LPs are making a comeback” posts. The many people of many ages who love vinyl and the superior sound quality it brings are still buying it, still listening to it, still savoring it, and we’ve been doing it for years. There’s no news in that.

But what about all of that unloved vinyl out there? Those Trini Lopez and Lawrence Welk and REO Speedwagon records, gathering dust and cluttering up basements, attics, garage sales and flea markets across this great nation. There are only so many hipsters, DJs, collectors and audiophiles out there, after all.

How about recycling and reusing old 33 rpm LP and seven-inch 45 rpm vinyl? Some crafty manufacturers are doing just that.

Olive Barn, an eco-friendly garden and home retailer based in Houston, offers snack bowls made out of vinyl. Here’s another, more clever variety!

Etsy, a craft community e-commerce site, is a virtual repository for creative recycling of vinyl LPs. Here’s a slightly more esoteric variation on a vinyl bowl, with coasters made of album jackets thrown in for good measure! More coasters here!

For the fashion-curious, here are pendants made of vintage vinyl!

Or how about a clock, so you know what time it is, boyeeee! Supposedly you can get the 45 rpm version at Target, but I can’t vouch for that.

At the very least, you can melt old vinyl, reshape it and turn it into wall-hanging or tabletop sculpture yourself. My ex-girlfriend and I were doing this 10 years ago, when we were, um, bored…

Posted by Joe Paone

I like going to the dentist. My mom is a real stickler when it comes to Max and I brushing our teeth. My mom also believes that our dentist, just like everyone else, has to do what they can to help our environment. What a green dentist does is utilize water saving techniques, recycles, and uses other techniques within their office that is environmentally friendly. At home you can choose natural and organic products that clean your teeth and keep them healthy. Max and I both like Tom’ of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste. Our toothbrushes are called Preserve Jr. Designed for kids ages 2 to 8, Preserve Jr’s ergonomic, pea pod shaped handle makes it easy for young hands to grab on to it while the soft bristles protect your child’s teeth and gums. But more important they are made  from recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups (too cool)  and they can be recycled in any community where #5 plastics are recycled, which in RI is at Whole Foods.

I like that I can be green and not have green teeth.

posted by Abby age 6

Happy Birthday, America.  Today you are 202 years old which by today’s standards, that still makes you a toddler among other nations.  This has been quite the year though – what with historic election of our first black President, dominating swimming in the Olympics, finally putting OJ Simpson in jail and watching the financial markets crash.  You must really be tired, America.  But the end of your 201st year has sparked some major changes in environmental policy and sustainable development that suggest that maybe, just maybe, year 202 could be our greenest year yet. 

Let’s take a quick look back.  The term sustainability really came to rise in this country in 1969 with the passage of the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act which created the sometimes controversial Environmental Protection Agency.  A decade later, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the White House and encouraged all Americans to put on a sweater, turn down the thermostat and conserve.  That’s about as bright as it gets in our brief history – a year later, with election of Republican candidate Ronald Reagan to the office of the Presidency, they were torn down.  Reagan also removed all controls and regulations on oil prices, thus eventually making his sucessors prisoners of the Middle East and increasing America’s dependence on foreign oil exponentially. 

The 90s and early 2000s were plagued by ineffective legislation and in the latter years, a leader who showed little to no support for any real environmental change despite mounting evidence that climate change would have a devastating effect on future generations.  We are on the brink of a new decade and it seems, America, there may be a light at the end of this tunnel afterall.  We have elected a president who acknowledges global warming as an eminent threat to our future (which in and of itself is a small victory) and a climate bill in Congress that looks to be the most aggressive piece of environmental legislation ever drafted.

But that’s not all – multi-national companies are showing signs that they believe sustainability is both profitable and socially responsible and that they wish to be both.  Even the US Military is jumping on board with renewable energy efforts to decrease their carbon footprint.  Being green and sustainable is no longer a fad for hippies and tree huggers – although America, we should applaud them for being right all this time.  We are in the midst of strange times with unchartered ground ahead – but the need to reduce, rethink and reapply our knowledge and resources to be smarter and sustainable is no longer just an option.  It’s a necessity. 

We’re in the midst of a revolution, America.  So Happy Birthday – and here’s to a brighter, smarter, cleaner year ahead. 

Flags. Food. Family. Festivities. Fireworks. In no particular order, July 4^th ignites a series of private and public celebrations throughout the United States as we recognize the day of independence. And while the spectacular finale of a firework display is a cherished tradition, the materials and smoke can be harmful to the environment and potentially pose health risks to event viewers. Check out Discovery News’ list of health issues that the hazardous metals used to create the awed colors can cause over an extended time.

Prompted by Disneyland, that had received a number of complaints from neighbors regarding the smoke and subsequent irritation to their lungs, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico embarked on pyrotechnic research to find a more eco- and health-friendly solution. The good news is that there is a new generation of fireworks that emit less smoke and fewer toxic materials that end up in soil and groundwater. (And, yes, if you are concerned Walt and Mickey have agreed upon and adopted new firework practices.) The bad news is, we can’t get too excited, yet. Towns are not likely going to adopt these green-friendly solution for this year’s display as the products are generally not available to the public for a few years and will be more expensive, and hence restrictive, for most municipalities.

In the meantime, we can and should recognize this as a better option and check with respective town and neighborhood officials as a future solution for the betterment of the community.

If you are in the Ocean State for this year’s holiday, check out a list of RI’s celebrations.

Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday!

Posted by: Katie

For this week’s installment of Green Building Perspectives, we spoke with OmniMount, who will be outfitting the home with the company’s revolutionary OmniLite product. The OmniLite Series is the first environmentally friendly flat panel mounts by a major U.S. manufacturer. The eco-friendly OmniLite Series™ packaging is designed with installation instructions and a mounting template printed right on the inside of the box, giving installers everything needed to mount a flat panel. Both the product and packaging are made from recycled materials and minimize component parts without sacrificing quality or safety.

1.     What do you think of the Green Life Smart Life Project? What interested your company in the GLSL project?
The GLSL project serves such a worthwhile philosophy that OmniMount could not pass up the opportunity to get involved. As a society, a culture and a planet, we all need to start living today in a way that protects tomorrow.

2.     Where does your company/organization see green building going in the next 5 years? 
What we’d love to see in the near future is that the entire building process – from the first blueprint to the last nail – takes sustainability into account. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t. Eco-friendly products and solutions are available for just about everything so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t build in a way that respects the Earth and protects its resources and viability for generations to come.

3.     How do you see your business/organization evolving to address green building?
At OmniMount, we have embraced more and more eco-conscious initiatives to do our part, as both a company and as individuals. It has become increasingly important for us to offer products that are truly sustainable and offer builders, architects and installers green mount and furniture solutions to adhere to their green buildings and conscientious client-base. To do our part, OmniMount has adopted new processes to lessen our carbon footprint including: using fewer and recyclable materials in our products; using minimal packaging; printing instructional materials on the box so there is no need for extraneous manuals; among others. We are working smarter and conserving resources, all while maintaining the highest quality and integrity of our products.

OmniLite OL125FT

4.     What challenges do you see your company/organization facing in the evolution?
Like any business, it is our responsibility to do what is right for the environment and our families, while making sure that we meet other business goals at the same time. The good news is that developing products that adhere to this philosophy achieves both. While it is challenging to initiate the change, it will ultimately prove to be beneficial. It may not be the easy way (at first), but it is the responsible way.

5.     Do you think green practices/manufacturing will ever dominate your business/organization?
I think any company, including OmniMount, would like to say “Yes”. Every company sets goals, how quickly we can reach them is another question all together. What we at OmniMount can say is that we have placed “green practices” front and center in our prioritization.

6.     What do you think custom CE installers need to do or prepare to do to take full advantage of the green movement?
Like any other trend or change in consumer behavior, it is important for them to be aware, to care and to be proactive. There are plenty of eco-friendly solutions out there that are (often) competitively priced, are readily available, and that do not complicate the installation process. It takes little time and is quite easy to move their businesses towards eco-friendly products and solutions. It all starts with the awareness that custom CE integrators are knowledgeable, available and eager to help promote a smarter, greener way of life.

Back in March, I posted an entry entitled, “Wind Powers My Hometown Pride,” in response to the 366-foot wind turbine erected in Portsmouth, RI, the town I grew up and continue to live in.

Being a PR guy, I was proud of the project as a whole but also the fact that CNN dedicated a solid seven-minute segment to the installation and benefits this massive wind turbine would provide. Imagine my surprise when I was channel flipping the other night and came across an hour-long National Geographic special chronicling the arduous process of lifting over 100 tons and 366 feet worth of wind turbine parts into place when the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate. It couldn’t be….

…It was. On my new favorite show, “World’s Toughest Fixes,” host Sean Riley, “… travels to Portsmouth, R.I., where residents are setting up a 115-ton wind turbine that will provide years of clean energy. The constant blowing wind will fuel the turbine, but how do you raise giant blades in the midst of these unpredictable winds?”

While it doesn’t exactly portray the workers of R.I. as the best and brightest, the “Giant Wind Turbine” episode provides an honest and mildly humorous look at the challenges of installing a mammoth piece of green machinery. Check out the link for video excerpts or notifications on when the episode will air again.

Posted by: Nick