The Greenest Home in DC area

In this ASL vlog, you will see the eco-home of Mike Tidwell, the director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), his corn-burning home heating stove, a solar food cooker, rain barrels that catch rooftop runoff, photovoltaic barbeque grill than runs on corn kernels, solar hot water system, hybrid cars, and short snippets of gReEn Deaf folks who came by!

WARNING: This vlog was filmed on a borrowed camcorder which was set at "night-vision", thus the reason why about 25 minutes of outdoor footage had to be deleted due to being too "white". We kept just a few clips of the outdoor section for this vlog, and we apologize for subjecting your eyes to the brief, albeit washed out clips, especially at the end with the Deaf folks signing to the camera. Rats!

Check out previous posts about this event and Mike's eco-home:
http://ecodeaf.blogspot.com/2008/01/mikes-eco-home.html
http://ecodeaf.blogspot.com/2008/01/tour-eco-home-and-eat-solar-baked.html

Special thanks to Sara and Heather, Gallaudet students majoring in interpreting who came by to volunteer their services!

Composting in the city...

Want to learn how to compost?
In this ASL vlog, Jody shows how you can turn your food trash into DIRT!!

One of the best things for the environment is to create more dirt... instead of losing nutrients that the earth needs to the landfills, do it in your backyard.
No backyard? Even flower boxes outside your apartment window will do... or anyplace that needs soil, the flowers, trees, and worms will thank you. Let's give back to the earth!

For more information about how to compost if you live in the city, you can borrow from your local library: "Urban/Suburban Composter: The complete guide to backyard, balcony, and apartment composting" by Mark Cullen and Lorraine Johnson.
Or buy the book and pass it around to friends.
For general backyard composting- "Backyard composting" by Harmonious Technologies is a good how-to book.

More Ways to Gauge the Greenness of the Presidential Candidates

by raychelle

Grist.org is another excellent source to go to for information on our presidential candidates' green ways. Although they have not yet endorsed or ranked the candidates' greenness like the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) did, they provide a comparison chart of all candidates' stance on climate and energy.

Grist also teamed up with Outside magazine to interview presidential contenders about green issues, as well as include fact sheets, their platforms, and voting records.

Grist's Comparison Chart

Grist's Quick and Dirty Rundown on each Candidate

Sara at the Body Shop

Ever want to shop at a green body products store and chat with a deaf consultant at the same time?

Sara is a deaf consultant with the Body Shop at Home.


She explains why she joined the Body Shop team:

I love their natural products and I strongly support the company's core values: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights, and Protect Our Planet. Products are 100% Vegetarian. All bottles are made from recycled plastic. All papers are printed by using a certified green printer (using vegetable-oil based inks). "The Body Shop is committed to supporting environmentally responsible materials and technologies by promoting the use of renewable sources and sustainable raw ingredients." So, this store is GREEN! =)

Sara's link: http://www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/scalatrava

Which Presidential Candidate to Vote For?

by Raychelle

Being a voter in this climate isn't easy. Presidential candidates are trained in rhetoric, and they know what to say to get on our good side. Personally, I like someone who's straight up with me. But that's not how you become President in this society today.

What to do? I want a Green President, but not at the expense of other equally important issues for me such as health care (Michael Moore's Sicko!), Deaf community rights, taxes, marriage for same-sex couples, abortion, the war and education.

To save my time researching which presidential candidate is the best advocate for the environment, I go to the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) website (www.lcv.org). LCV is an organization that "advocates for sound environmental policies and pro-environmental candidates who have stated they will adopt and implement such policies. LCV is the independent political voice for the environment."

Since 1996, over 80% of their endorsed candidates have gone on to win their political positions.

LCV developed a voter's guide for 2008: LCV Voter Guide They base their evaluation of each candidate on their actual performance in Congress or in their state and their responses to LCV's presidential questionnaire, with some quotes from them on the environment. So far, LCV has not yet endorsed a Presidential Candidate.

The following Presidential Candidates never responded to LCV's questionnaire, and do not have a voting record (action speaks louder than words), however LCV summarizes their views on the environment in their guide for those of you want to read more about them.

R - Governor Mike Huckabee - N/A
R - Governor Mitt Romney - N/A
R- Mayor Rudy Giuliani - N/A

Here's the LCV Lifetime Score for each candidate, 0 for the worst, and 100 for the best. Asteriks indicate that they did not return LCV's Presidential Candidate Questionnaire. For those that filled out the questionnaire, you can read their answers at the LCV site.

R- Senator John McCain - 26
R - Representative Ron Paul - 30*
D- Senator John Edwards - 59
D - Governor Bill Richardson - 82
D- Senator Hillary Clinton - 90
D- Representative Dennis Kucinich - 92*
D- Senator Barack Obama - 96

For more information, go visit the League of Conservation Voters site! Their information was certainly helpful, at least for me.

Brave EcoDeaf members jump into the Chesapeake Bay!

Watch this vlog where EcoDeaf members plunge in the Chesapeake Bay!
This event was hosted by CCAN (Chesapeake Climate Action Network) on December 9, 2007.
On the CCAN website, you can also view different Polar Bear Plunges in the United States.

Other participants involved were:
Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff,
Maryland School for the Deaf students and their teachers,
Viable Technologies,
and other local deaf/signing members.

Approximately 30-45 deaf people, so it was successful and we helped make history!

The 2008 Elections: John McCain

image: (http://image.guardian.co.uk)

John McCain For President
by Dina Raevsky

With the Iowa Caucus behind us and the storm building its momentum as the New Hampshire primary approaches us, many of us debate about the presidential elect candidate to vote for. Nonetheless, most of us are still not strong supporters of one specific candidate. Perplexed by the polls, and the myriad of candidates in both the Republican and Democractic avenues, many of us start our loyalty with one brand of candidate and switch to another by the time January 1st had passed by.

I admit I was guilty of that. As a New Yorker, my vote went to Giuliani automatically. After all, I saw the towers collapse and the reaction by our mayor to build our city again. The more time I spent doing my research on each candidate, I came to the final conclusion of voting for senator John McCain. Before you jump at me hollering accusations at McCain's resignation from Gallaudet board and his staunch support of Jane K. Fernandes, do not forget that he joined the board in the first place, for his interest in the deaf community was paramount.

I could ramble about his experience, despite his age, independence of political ties, successful endeavors, and so forth, however, this site's sole interest is our ailing environment. In this, I can assure you, McCain shines.

According to various environmental organization polls, McCain is considered a favorite. For instance, McCain received an endorsement of Republicans for Environmental Protection. Not only did he vote against drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), he has been pursuing climate change legislation since 2003 and was the very first senator to speak up about our environment in the congress. According to EarthMagazine and Newsmax.com, McCain was the one to hold hearings in the senate with his co-patriot Senator Lieberman (who, by the way, crossed party lines and endorsed McCain publically) and passed a global warming legislation, which by far, was the very first senate action that meant business about saving our ailing environment. Additionally, McCain championed the protection of Grand Canyon. What is more, On The Issues website indicates that McCain has an ongoing committment to conserve open space, clean water and air. Additional goals that McCain carries are battery-powered government vehicles, and biofuel advancement.

On a personal level, McCain admits that he feels that he is not doing enough for the environment, despite the fact that his family moved from a large home into a condominum, to save energy, and his daughter drives a Prius. He is aiming to do more for the environment around him.

Please feel free to add any comments, questions, or even debunk some of my comments in a tactful manner, endorsing McCain or other candidates that you feel strongly about as environmental champions that are also great in other areas. Just remember, New Hampshire primary is coming near and if you have not registered to vote yet, go on www.congress.org and scroll to the bottom to download and print voting registeration forms. For Maryland state residents, two changes have occured: the date of our primary has been moved to February 12th and those that are 17 years-old but becoming 18 of age by November 4th are eligible to vote. So come on, come all!

Eco-conscious and DO-IT-YOURSELF! Websites

an EcoDeaf reader has shared this smorgasbord of websites that may interest us...
________
"The reason I like to make my own things is because it helps reduce waste. One may not think buying 1 plastic ketchup bottle is bad for the environment because 500 other people are doing the same thing, therefore 500 plastic ketchup bottles end up either in the landfill or in a recycling box (remember, it takes a lot of energy to recycle.) So why not make your own ketchup? Same thing goes for deodorant, laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc. Instead of buying plastic razors then throwing them out once they turn dull, why not splurge on a nice straight razor you will keep forever? Another thing that drives me batty is seeing people pick up their dog waste with a plastic bag. Where does that plastic bag end up? In a landfill somewhere, of course! Why not make your own dog compost?

Its important for people to realize how much waste they generate and if they made more of their own things, there will be less waste and less support for major corporations (many of them are not eco-friendly.) The fun thing in all this is you have control over what you put in whatever you're making and you save money!"
______

1001 uses for Vinegar: http://www.vinegartips.com/
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: http://www.safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm
Make your own toothpaste: http://www.glenbrookfarm.com/make_your_own_toothpaste.htm
Organic Gardening: http://www.organicgardening.com/
Homemade Cleaners: http://www.mormonchic.com/dealdiva/homemade_cleaners.asp
The Vinegar Institute: http://www.versatilevinegar.org/
Homemade Laundry Detergent: http://www.virtuowl.com/soda%20page%20a.htm
Reusable Bags: http://www.reusablebags.com/
Dog Waste Composter: http://www.plantea.com/dog-waste-compost.htm
Cinnamon Oil Kills Mosquitoes: http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/cinnamonoil.htm
Natural Cosmetics: http://allnaturalcosmetics.com/index.php
Make your own things: http://www.make-stuff.com/formulas/index.htmlRecycled Glass products: http://www.greenglass.com/
How to use a straight razor: http://www.motherearthnews.com/DIY/1972-03-01/How-To-Use-A-Straight-Razor.aspx
Bright your teeth naturally: http://www.carefair.com/skincare/Naturally_Brighten_Teeth_1777.html
Make your own bath powder: http://www.make-stuff.com/formulas/powder.html
Natural Hair Care: http://aubrey-organics.com/
Facts about Plastic: http://www.watoxics.org/homes-and-gardens/fastfacts/fastfacts-pvc
Make your own pads: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=18462.0
How safe are your cosmetics: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/splash.php?URI=%2Findex.php
Green Tips: http://www.thegreenguide.com/
Say no to plastic bags: http://www.noplasticbags.org.au/home/default.aspx
To-Go Ware: http://www.to-goware.com/store/cart.php
Green Home Living: http://www.greenhome.com/info/magazine/001/howtoxic.html
Non-Disposable Homestead Life: http://www.manytracks.com/Homesteading/Disposables.htm
Composting 101: http://www.composting101.com/
Menstrual Cup: http://www.keeper.com/
Diva Cup: http://www.divacup.com/
Green Home Building: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/cob.htm
Stainless Steel Water Bottles: http://www.kleankanteen.com/2products/klean-kanteen-27oz.html
Make your own ketchup: http://www.pickyourown.org/ketchup.htm
Green Home: http://www.greenhome.com/
Organic Skin products: http://www.lavera.com/products.php?p=products&parent=1000014
Homemade Diaper Wipes: http://www.grizzlybird.net/2006/05/natural-homemade-diaper-wipes.html
Make your own deodorant: http://community.livejournal.com/naturalliving/2654454.html
iGo Green (iVillage): http://www.ivillage.com/green?nlcid=pb|06-25-2007|

Mike's Eco-Home

Mike's eco-home...Ya gotta be rich to do it? Eco-homes have to be somewhere in the woods? It's too hard?

No, Mike says. He bought a two-story bunaglow built in 1915 close to the Takoma Park metro in MD. With an home-equity loan of $7,500, he was able to convert his home within six months to a nearly 100% energy free home. Sometimes, his home produces more electricity than he needs, and he sells the surplus to Pepco's distribution system!

"WHAT I BOUGHT
- 1.5 kilowatt photovoltaic system (partially installed by author): $3396
-CO2-neutral corn-burning stove: $2400
-Solar hot-water system (used): $1,000
-High-efficiency refrigerator: $750
-20 compact fluorescent light bulbs: $140
TOTAL: $7686

HOW I PAID FOR IT
-$7500 ten-year home equity loan at 7% interest rate. Monthly payment: $87.
-Monthly energy savings: $57.
-Final cost of converting our house almost entirely to renewable energy: $1 per day (until loan is paid off.)"

For Mike's story on how he converted his home to an eco-home: http://chesapeakeclimate.org/pages/page.cfm?page_id=47

Washington Post article on Mike and his place:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/05/AR2007030501493.html

Tour an Eco-Home and Eat Solar-baked Cookies!

Remember him? Mike, the director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) planned and hosted the Dec. 8th Polar Bear Plunge in Annapolis that many of us went to.

Come visit Maryland's only 95% renewable energy household on Saturday, January 19th, 1-5pm at Mike Tidwell's Takoma Park home.

"Come see solar panels! View electric, biodiesel, and hybrid cars firsthand! Eat solar-baked cookies and barbequed veggie burgers from a grill that burns corn kernels! Learn how to landscape your yard with native plants! Buy wind power certificates and energy-saving light bulbs! Test drive a tofu-powered lawn mower! And more!"

Sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and Chesapeake Native Nursery. Free admission to all ages. To REGISTER, and for more information about the tour: http://chesapeakeclimate.org/getinvolved/event_detail.cfm?id=195

More in the next post about this awesome house...