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2 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.

com

What’s in this issue ...


Time for a good green clean
4 Fall is when you start to batten down
the hatches and prepare for a bit of
housebound hibernation.

2 Chicks and a Broom


8 One Midtown company commits to
cleaning houses the all natural way

Giving it back
11 Former rocker goes country; returns to
Midtown to share wealth of produce

Conference looks
13 Conservation
can be fun
15 at biofuel’s future

Protecting world
17 Team Green
Zone on go
20 one seed at a time

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!


Going Green is a special online publication of
The Commercial Appeal. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Follow
Going Green on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis.
Editor: Kim Coleman, 529-5243, goinggreen@commercialappeal.com
Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger, keplinger@commercialappeal.com

On the cover: Gabby Weiss of 2 Chicks and a Broom


The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 3

The Green Page


Programs bottles and three 3-cup lidded containers
Clean green workshop: On Wednesday, to take home their ready-to-use products.
Deanna Caswell demonstrates how to Cost is $15 for MBG members, $20 for
make “green” cleaning supplies that are nonmembers. Class runs from 1-2:30 p.m.
easier on the environment and the wallet. Call 636-4128 to register.
Participants should bring five 24-oz. spray See Page 4 for a guide to fall cleaning.

Hikers may Celebration


see a Red- GreenUp Memphis: A new
shouldered festival, GreenUp Memphis,
Hawk as celebrating ways to make
they pass Memphis both more eco-friendly
through the and a more attractive place to
Old Forest live, will take place from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. on Oct. 30 on the
at Overton Green at South Front adjacent to
Park. the Memphis Farmers Market,
behind Central Station in
Mike Brown Downtown.
The Commercial
Appeal For more information, call
576-6000, or send an e-mail to
greenup@memphistn.gov.
Events Fall Harvest party:
Autumn hikes: On Oct. 31, meet at the end of GrowMemphis will host a Fall
Old Forest Lane, next to the Rainbow Lake Harvest party on Saturday, from
parking lot, for a free guided-1.5 mile hike 1-4 p.m. at the McMerton
through the Old Forest in Overton Park. Kids Community Gardens (at the
welcome. Questions? Call 278-2396. corner of Merton and McAdoo)
Farmers Markets: The last markets of the in Binghamton.
season are upon us. These farmers markets are Enter homemade pickles,
already closed for the season: Arlington, jellies, jams and more in the
Covington, Fayette County, Germantown, South canning competition. The event
Memphis and Southaven. will also include food, music and
Here’s the schedule for the last day of the fun as we celebrate another
other area markets: successful year of growing food
Agricenter: Oct. 30 justice through community
Collierville: Oct. 26 gardening and policy change.
Cooper-Young: Oct. 30 Guests are asked to bring a side
Hernand: Oct. 31 dish or dessert to share.
Memphis Botanic Gardens: Oct. 27 To RSVP, call 725-4990 or
Memphis Farmers Market: Oct. 30 send an e-mail to
Millington: Oct. 30 josephine@midsouthpeace.org.
4 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

In need of a
weekend
project?
Treat your
home to a
thorough,
eco-friendly
tidy-up
session this
fall that will
improve the
indoor air
quality and By Matt Hickman / Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)
energy s it just me, or is fall just as good a time — or even

I
better — to commit to household cleaning as
efficiency spring?
I mean, after all, fall is when you start to batten
of your down the hatches and prepare for a bit of house-
bound hibernation, right?
It’s the season for preventive cleaning so that
home when you don’t spend all winter — when you’d rather be
curled up in bed or entertaining holiday houseguests
winter — dealing with mundane household odds and ends.
That said, here are a few eco-cleaning tips and tidbits
arrives. to consider this fall.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 5

The heat is (almost) on for the winter, you’ll want to make


Before you fire up your furnace sure that the air inside your home is
and/or fireplace, it’s crucial to as clean as possible — obviously, as
ensure that everything is in working fall turns to winter you’re going to be
order. This way, you’ll lessen the doing a whole lot less window
chance of a dreaded “oh my god, opening to let fresh air in.
something’s wrong and I don’t know As described above, ensuring that
how to fix it” situation in the dead of your primary heat sources are clean
winter and keep your energy costs in is one step, but you should also
check. clean or replace the filters of any air
Start with the fireplace if you have purifiers or humidifiers. It wouldn’t
one. Make sure everything is clean and hurt to introduce a few new air-
functioning. If it has been awhile since purifying houseplants to your home,
your fireplace has gotten a deep clean too.
and inspection, consider hiring a While you clean, take a good look
professional chimney sweep to clean at your arsenal of cleaning products.
the flue and tackle any repairs. If your Many conventional cleaning
damper is damaged or nonexistent, remedies contain caustic chemicals
install a chimney balloon to keep warm that can compromise the indoor air
air in and cold air out of your home. quality of your home — oven
A less daunting task is replacing or cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and
cleaning a furnace filter as drain openers are top offenders — so
recommended by the manufacturer. consider replacing them with plant-
Before you do, sweep or vacuum the based alternatives or inexpensive DIY
area around your furnace. Regular concoctions (more on this, below).
cleaning or replacing of a furnace
filter increases efficiency and Yesterday’s T-shirt, today’s
prevents dirt and allergens from handmade draftstopper
circulating around your home. While Need to make room for all those
you’re at it, sweep or vacuum in and bulky winter sweaters you are
around heat registers to get rid of bringing out of storage? Fall is an
accumulated dust and dander. excellent time to root through your
Finally, inspect caulk around wardrobe for sartorial castaways and
windows and doors to ensure that free up closet space.
any leaks are nipped in the bud before Since some of your summer
winter hits. Fall is also a good time to clothes and linens may not have
venture up to the attic and check on survived the season — I’m talking
the condition of the insulation. about frayed beach towels and white
shirts bearing the stubborn summer
The air in there stain trifecta of underarm sweat,
Since fall cleaning involves ketchup/barbecue sauce and grass
efficiently buttoning up your home — you may not want to donate them
6 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

or haul them to a consignment store. in your home, try the newly released
For items that don’t make the line of Method Antibac antibacterial
donation/resale cut, keep them cleaners, which includes all-purpose
around as cleaning rags or incorporate wipes, bathroom cleaner and kitchen
them into craft projects for when cleaner. Like Seventh Generation’s
you’re stuck inside in January. botanical disinfecting line, Method
Antibac products are “powered” by
CleanWell’s effective, EPA-registered
thyme-based disinfecting technology.
And if you haven’t done so already,
purge your home of all antibacterial
cleaning and personal care products
that contain the dastardly chemical
triclosan.
Not necessarily green,
but still a good idea ...
Flip mattresses
Inspect (and clean, if needed) the
Kitchen staples like baking soda, gutters
vinegar and lemon juice can be Vacuum drapes/window
used to make your own natural treatments and upholstered furniture
cleaning and laundering solutions. Clean the “four C’s”: carpets,
cupboards, chandeliers and
Nontoxic DIY cleaners: (refrigerator) coils
Now is the thyme Wipe down outdoor/patio
Fall’s the time to start prepping the furniture before storing
pantry for the holiday baking season Test smoke/carbon monoxide
and for have-the-munchies-but-too- detectors
cold-to-leave-the-house kind of days. Wash the windows
While you’re fiddling around with Polish the silver
foodstuffs and taking kitchen cabinet Drain and store your garden
inventory, why not experiment with hoses
staples like baking soda, vinegar,and Organize your kitchen
lemon juice and make your own Launder all linens and bedding
natural cleaning and laundering (give cold-water washing a shot
solutions? If you’ve never done it and/or line drying outdoors before the
before, you’ll be surprised at their weather turns too damp/cold).
effectiveness (not to mention their Matt Hickman writes about the best
money-saving appeal). ways to go green at home on this blog:
If DIY cleaners aren’t your proverbial www.mnn.com/featured-blogs/greenhome.
cup of tea and you’re concerned about Visit the Mother Nature Network on the
the presence of back-to-school germs World Wide Web at mnn.com.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 7

Green fall cleaning: 5. Eco Clean Kitchen Counter


10 tools of the trade Top Cleaner
With the fall cleaning season — yes, (Orange and
fall cleaning season — just around the Rosemary),
corner, consider bolstering your Alice.com
arsenal of cleaning tools and ($3.99)
accessories with these 10 eco-friendly 6. White
options that will come in handy during Wizard Spot
your fall cleaning and household Remover & All
maintenance tasks. Purpose
With an eye toward indoor air Cleaner,
quality and preparing your kitchen for Gaiam ($8.50)
the "busy" season, below you will find 7. Mold Armor
a bit of everything. Do-it-Yourself
Mold Test Kit,
The Home
Depot ($7.97)
8. Goodbye Detergent! Original
Spaghetti Scrub (Gentle),
ChefTools.com ($8.99/2 pack)
9. Earthstone Kitchen Scrub
Stone, Green Depot ($3.95)

1. Full Circle
Stick 'Em Up
Magnet Kitchen
Towel,
Reuseit.com
($8.95)

2. Electrolux Ergorapido 2-in-1


Stick & Hand Vacuum, Green
Depot ($119.95)
3. eclipse Cleaning System
Bucket by Casabella, The
Container Store ($12.95)
4. Beekman 1802 Honey Bar
with Goat's Milk, Beekman 1802 10. Stainless Steel Compost Pail,
Mercantile ($14.75) Reuseit.com ($41.95)
8 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

Brandon Dill/Special to the Commercial Appeal


Gabby Weiss of 2 Chicks and a Broom cleans the fireplace in Bernice Pittman's
home. Many clients of the company view fall cleaning as important as sprucing
up their homes in spring.

Cleaning season
This fall, use natural products in your home
By Suzanne Thompson As you’re getting ready to head into a
Special to Going Green new season, it’s a good time to de-
clutter the closets and get out winter
With the holiday season just around things and get the kitchen ready for the
the corner, fall is an ideal time to start holidays — like organizing the cabinets,
preparing homes for entertaining and according to Jacquie Janus, office man-
out-of-town guests, and the first step is ager at 2 Chicks and a Broom.
a good deep cleaning. The change in season is a good time
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 9

to check fire alarms, vacuum Recipes taken from “Real Simple”


out vents and filters, and clean
fireplaces. VINEGAR
Many of the fall cleaning Coffeemaker: Pour equal parts vinegar and
tasks can be done using eco- water into the machine’s water chamber, then
friendly solutions. switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn
2 Chicks and a Broom is off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for
known for its use of all natural about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the
cleaning products, and only us- cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.
es other products at the re- Windows: Mix ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and
quest of a customer, who must a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle.
provide the chemicals. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of
Although some people auto- newspaper.
matically reach for the bleach
when tackling tough cleaning Dishwasher: To disinfect the interior of the
problems, most jobs can be machine, pour ½ cup vinegar into the reservoir
done without harsh chemicals. and run an empty cycle, says Hunter.
“Bleach kills everything in LEMON
its path. It is terrible,” said Countertops: Dip the cut side of a lemon half in
Kelly Uhlhorn, who with her baking soda to tackle countertops; wipe with a
husband, Kip, owns 2 Chicks wet sponge and dry. Don’t use on delicate stone,
and a Broom. like marble, or stainless steel (it may discolor).
“We don’t carry any of it and Cutting boards: To remove tough food stains
not everyone will use it,” she from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice
said. Her workers are given the a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface,
choice of whether they want to rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
work on jobs requiring the use
of chemicals. Dishes: To increase the grease-cutting power
“I think a lot of green clean- of your dishwashing detergent, add a teaspoon
ing is what it does not do — of lemon juice.
the harmful effects that regular BAKING SODA
chemicals can cause,” Uhlhorn Garden tools: Dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in
said. washing soda to scrub trimmers, clippers, and
People with asthma or other more. Rinse, then place in a sunny area to dry.
health conditions can be par- (Don’t use washing soda on aluminum tools.)
ticularly sensitive to elements
contained in traditional clean- Grills and barbecue utensils: To combat
ing products. tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff- bristled
Cancer patients are very sen- brush in washing soda and scrub away.
sitive to chemicals and for that Scuffed walls: Erase crayon marks by applying
reason, Uhlhorn developed a a baking- soda paste (equal parts baking soda
“Cleaning for a Reason,” pro- and water) to white painted walls (baking soda
gram. She offers women who may dull colored walls). Let dry before
are undergoing treatment for brushing it off with a clean cloth.
10 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

breast cancer two complimentary Clean Green workshop


cleanings.
Bernice Pittman, a 2 Chick’s client, On Wednesday, Deanna Caswell
said it was an elderly family pet and demonstrates how to make “green”
the company of her grandchildren cleaning supplies that are easier on
that made her a believer in the all the environment and the wallet.
natural cleaning products the com- Participants should bring five 24-oz.
pany uses. spray bottles and three 3-cup lidded
One of the fringe benefits of the containers to take home their
eco-friendly cleaners, she said, has read-to-use products. Cost is $15 for
been the absence of the pungent smell MBG members; $20 for non members.
chemicals leave behind. Class runs from 1-2:30 p.m. Call
“If you use Tilex, your house smells 636-4128 to register.
like Tilex.”
Pittman said after 2 Chicks finishes
cleaning the house it is not only estimates to new clients each week,
sparkling clean, but smells great too. Janus said.
“The way the house smells after Often, clients are home when the
they’ve been there — it is wonderful.” chicks arrive to clean, and they share
Uhlhorn said many products, like information about cleaning with the
window and all purpose cleaners can customers.
be made from things many people “A lot of times we work with peo-
have in their kitchens, such as baking ple and they may clean at the same
soda, vinegar and lemon juice. time. I think a lot of people appre-
“It’s just as easy to clean with ciate being educated like that and
green products and cost effective as from there they work it into other
well, because a lot of things you can aspects of their lives,” Uhlhorn said.
make.” Uhlhorn sells an array of products
For instance, toothpaste doubles as from several companies that produce
a great silver polish, she said. all-natural cleaners — from window
“They are very particular about the cleaner to hand soap — on the web
products they use. I’d say it’s all in site (www.twochicksandab-
the detail,” Pittman said. room.com).
The price for services at 2 Chicks, Uhlhorn said she is the exclusive
located in Midtown, is $35 an hour, distributor in Memphis for a com-
with a two-hour minimum in town pany that makes her favorite prod-
and a three-hour minimum for sub- ucts, Citra Solv.
urban areas that require a long drive. “You can use it for anything and
Before the initial cleaning, someone depending on the concentration you
from the company will come to give mix with it you can do various things
an estimate. with it like stainless steel, really
Fall business is booming, and 2 caked on grease even ovens,” she
Chicks are giving about 20 or more said.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 11

Farmer gives back to Midtown


with variety of healthy options

Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal


Lori Green sells produce and flowers at the Cooper-Young Farmers Market.

By Angela Knipple MEET THE FARMER


Special to The Commercial Appeal Who: Downing Hollow
Farm.
If you want to know how a rock-and-roller Where: Cooper-Young
becomes a farmer, ask Lori Green, also Farmers Market (Saturday).
known as singer Lorette Velvette. Contact: E-mail:
“As a musician, I mostly played in downinghollow@gmail.com
Midtown, and I still do, but we wanted to Website:
live in the country. We started growing downinghollowfarm.com
vegetables to feed ourselves and help cut
down the bills, but we ended up growing
12 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

more than we could eat,” she Caramelized Radish and Goat


explains. Cheese Tart
Green and her husband, Alex, own For the radishes:
a farm in Olive Hill, Tenn., about 20 1 lb. radishes, roots and greens trimmed
miles east of Savannah, but she comes 2 medium apples, peeled and cored
to Memphis weekly, as much to 1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
maintain contact with people here as 1
/2 tsp. salt
to sell her vegetables. For the tart:
As a founding member of the 1 pie crust, homemade or from refrigerated dough
Cooper-Young Farmers Market, 8 oz. soft goat cheese
1
/2 cup half and half
Green has returned to her roots to 3 eggs
provide new options for a 3 green onions, green part only sliced thinly
neighborhood that still feels like
home. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice the
“I’ve lived in Midtown since I was radishes into 1/8-inch thick slices. Cut the
18. Because I used to live in Cooper- apples into wedges and slice into 1/4-inch
Young, I wanted to see the thick slices.
community have a market that would Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over
be more accessible. It makes a medium heat. Once the butter has
community more livable,” she says. melted, continue cooking for
The Olive Hill community made 2 minutes or until the butter has turned
life on the farm more livable for a dark golden color and smells slightly
Green. Her neighbors are a valuable nutty.
source of support and farming Add the radishes and apples to the
knowledge. skillet and sprinkle with the salt. Cook,
At the Cooper-Young market, stirring frequently, for 12 minutes or until
Green is able to return the favor by the radishes are a light gold with darker
selling some of the products that her spots. The radishes and apples should be
neighbors grow and prepare as a tender enough to be easily pierced with a
collective. fork. Remove from heat and set aside
“Their products mainly end up in while you make the tart.
our CSA (Community Supported Press the pie crust into a deep pie
Agriculture) baskets. We’ve been dish. Using a hand or stand mixer, blend
working together since 2006, and we the goat cheese, half and half, and eggs
decide what we’ll grow together. at high speed until light and fluffy. Gently
Everything we grow is chemical-free, fold in the green onions and reserved
and we’re able to offer other products radishes and apples. Spread the goat
like bread, eggs and canned goods.” cheese mixture into the pie crust. Bake
This year, Green offered a spring for 30 minutes or until puffed and
and summer CSA to 32 people. For golden.
her fall CSA, she serves only about Allow the tart to rest at room
half that number because the volume temperature for 15 minutes before
produced drops as the growing serving.
season ends. Source: Angela Knipple
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 13

More than 500 attend Shelby Farms event

Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal


Members of Watoto de Afrika performed during the Conservation Through Art
Family Day on last Sunday afternoon at Shelby Farms. More than 500
youngsters and adults attended.

Nature lovers
Conservation Through Art can be fun for all
By Mike Mueller slippery whiskered-friend a kiss before
mueller@commercialappeal.com throwing it back.
“Bye-bye, fishy,” said Kennedy with a
Five-year-old Kennedy Nash squealed wave. “I’ll see you soon.”
on the bank as she reeled in a 12-inch Kennedy was one of more than 500
catfish from the large pond near Patriot children and adults who converged on
Lake at Shelby Farms. Shelby Farms last Sunday afternoon to
Though slightly disgusted by the attend the fourth installment of Con-
looks of her first catch, she blew her servation Through Art Family Day.
14 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal


Whiskey, an Irish Lab, demonstrates fetching at Conservation Through Art Family
Day on Sunday at Shelby Farms. The event drew more than 500 children and adults.

Hosted by ArtsMemphis and Ducks including Belz Museum, the Metal Mu-
Unlimited every other year, the free seum and the Tennessee Shakespeare
event featured family-fun activities, such Company, sat behind tables and taught
as duck-calling lessons, conservation participants how to make colorful fish
and recreation games with biologists, a flags, bracelets, and ways to recycle in
Labrador retriever and working-dog iambic pentameter, respectively.
demonstration, arts and crafts and, Volunteers from Great Outdoors Uni-
Kennedy’s favorite, fishing. versity taught aspiring fisherman and
Participants were also treated to per- women to bait their lines, cast them
formances by Ballet Memphis, Watoto into the water, and hook the catch-of-
de Afrika and a production of “The Ugly the-day.
Duckling” by Theatre Memphis outside Jonathan Rich, national director of
the park’s Visitor Center. gift planning for Ducks Unlimited, said
“Not all kids like to hunt, not all kids once kids are exposed to outdoor ac-
like to dance, but there’s something out tivities, they often like them and want
here for everybody,” said Susan Schadt, to do them again, even in today’s digital
president and CEO of ArtsMemphis. age.
“This is our gift to the city, from “It gets them away from the Xbox and
ArtsMemphis and Ducks Unlimited and that kind of stuff and gets them back
all the other organizations involved.” outside,” said Rich.
Volunteers from those organizations, Baptist Memorial Hospital sponsored
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 15

the event, which served


as a kickoff for the the
week’s conservation activ- Biomass South explores
ities, including a launch
party for Wild Abun-
dance, a cookbook chron-
alternatives to fossil fuels
icling stories of the
South’s hunting clubs, By Jim Coleman
and a dinner at Ducks Special to The Commercial Appeal
Unlimited headquarters.
Assorted interests – all with a stake in the future of
Those events were
biomass technology – took part in a two-day event
sponsored by Bass Pro
that concluded Oct. 15 in Memphis.
Shops, the presenter for
Representatives from farmers’ alliances, conserva-
Conservation Through
tionists, small businesses and multi-national corpo-
Art Week 2010.
rations, were among those in attendance for the
This past Sunday’s mix Biomass South 2010 Conference held near the Uni-
of cultural and outdoor versity of Memphis.
activities is a reflection of Delivering the keynote speech from the dais in the
Conservation Through Grand Ballroom of the Holiday Inn, Rep. Steve Cohen
Art, a joint-fundraising D-Tenn. stressed the importance of finding alterna-
initiative between tives, like those derived from biomass, for fossil fu-
ArtsMemphis and Ducks els.
Unlimited, which was “We are facing a crisis. We are eating our own
founded in 2005. Though planet. Al Gore was right,” said Cohen, describing
it may seem like an “un- the dire consequences facing the planet due to cli-
likely partnership,” mate change.
Schadt said the arts and Cohen went on to blame political gridlock in Wash-
the outdoors have been ington, D.C., and in particular, a slow-moving Senate,
tied together for ages. for the lack of progress on the issue and its potential
“When you think about remedies.
how the outdoors and “The Senate is the biggest problem to progress in
sporting life have been this world … to get 60 votes. Each one of these guys is
documented, it goes all a power base in themselves. That’s where the rev-
the way back to cave olution needs to be.”
paintings,” she said. The proper role of biomass technology in the both
After this week’s the local and American economy, as well as what
events, Schadt said Con- should be the industry’s perceived boundaries, were
servation Through Art also discussed.
will have raised $3 mil- Amid all the talk by industry players, busy sharing
lion, which will continue their latest developments, emerging markets and con-
to fund the local arts cerns, an underlining theme that ran throughout the
community and habitat day was best summed up by Cohen.
conservation. “Biomass energy is all about jobs.”
16 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

Green with envy


Treehouse inspires young, young-at-heart

Matt Bush/Hattiesburg American

Matthew Hamilton is the envy of the neighborhood in


Hattiesburg, Miss. Every afternoon, kids gather in his
backyard to play. Hamilton's yard isn't just grass, trees and
a few plants — it's a 9-year-old's dream. Dubbed "Treehaus"
by its creator, Hattiesburg architect Spence Kellum,
Matthew is the proud owner of a 40-foot treehouse made
out of recycled materials. Kellum built it around four tall
pine trees that secure the structure.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 17

Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal


The Team Green Zone for Gyrus ACMI includes Clayton Poff (from left), Debra
Zingale, Bobby Martin and Clay Banks. Gyrus has signed on to recommission its
building and will have its 25-year-old rooftop air-conditioning system replaced.

Ready for action


Team Green Zone
helps companies get
out of the block

By Jonathan Devin ber of Commerce, has fielded more than


Special to Going Green a few since the chamber kicked off its
Team Green Zone initiative for busi-
In a home, the first step toward going nesses.
green may be changing out light bulbs “The timeline question is always num-
with compact fluorescents or weather- ber one,” said Banks. “Why is it such a
stripping underneath doors. In a busi- fast timeline to get financing?”
ness, the first step is asking questions Team Green Zone was the idea of
— lots of questions. Banks and Clayton Poff, owner of En-
Clay Banks, director of economic de- ergy Cost Reducers. The plan is to get
velopment for the Bartlett Area Cham- businesses in northeastern Shelby
18 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

County including Lakeland, Arlington,


Bartlett and Cordova to recommission
their existing buildings with green im-
provements through a special low-in-
terest loan program through Pathway
Lending of Jackson, Tenn.
The project was announced in late
September and participants will have to
start the application process for funding
by Nov. 1. The loans should close by
early December.
“We’re asking for a basic commitment
that (businesses) want to undergo some
green initiatives in whatever time frame
they want to, but we need to get a one-
page questionnaire filled out quickly
and we can take the data and come out
with an action plan that benchmarks the
property,” said Banks.
Information on the questionnaire in-
cludes basic history and function of the
building, 12 months’ worth of utility BB&K Companies replaces old
bills, and a $500 administrative fee for a fluorescents with LED bulbs that are
diagnostic study of the property. guaranteed for five years but can last
At that point Banks can begin the as long as 12 years when used on an
lengthy process of filing for various tax eight-hour day.
breaks and incentives for the business.
“The biggest thing we find out about incentives for going green,” said Poff.
these companies is that they’re under- “TVA has reached out to the business
going these projects, but they don’t community. The major barriers has
know how to document it properly,” been financing and knowing where to
said Banks. “Later they have to fix start.”
things paper-wise and it takes longer But the interest appears to be there.
than if they did it right in the first Banks said that five companies have
place.” come forward since the kick-off meeting
Naturally, financing is a big concern and others have shown interest. Ideally,
for businesses focused on surviving a he’d like to have about 10 businesses on
recession. But, said Poff, one way to do board for the first round of financing.
that is by saving on operating expenses “We had one company that said we
including energy intensity consumption. can’t fit in that timeline, but we want to
“There has been so much attention at go ahead and do the diagnostic study,”
the state and federal levels with in- said Banks. “Nine months down the
formation going out to business owners road or a year, they may implement
saying there are massive amounts of their first green initiative, but at least
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 19

they’ve got the paperwork started prop- panels, for example.


erly.” Jerry Bechel, president of BB&K
But Poff said that even without tax Companies, which installs commercial
incentives, the return on investment for LED lighting, attended the kickoff meet-
a recommissioned building is huge. ing and said that he and several other
“Everyone uses the word ‘green’ but companies that hope to contract with
the goal is reduction of energy use in- loan participants are just waiting for the
tensity in the building,” said Poff. “Ten program to create the kind of excite-
to 20 recommissioned buildings of de- ment that first-time home buyer credits
cent-size companies would make a dra- and Cash for Clunkers caused over the
matic impact in this area.” last couple years.
Poff referred to a paper by Lawrence “Especially when you tell people you
Berkeley National Laboratory, part of can give them a tax credit of 40 or 50
the U.S. Department of Energy Office of cents per square foot, the big compa-
Science, which said that energy reduc- nies eat these tax credits up,” said
tion makes a greater impact on the Bechel. “We can lease the products and
environment than more popular meth- the products pay for themselves in sav-
ods of conservation like researching re- ings. After the second payment, you get
newable sources of energy. your money back.”
“The effort and incentives and money BB&K replaces old fluorescent bal-
that are being spent on renewables, lasts and bulbs with LEDs.
which still needs to happen, are on the “Doctors love it because you can see
front burner,” said Poff. “In the state of colors and skin tones better,” said
this economy, it is wiser to recommis- Bechel.
sion buildings. If you look at the de- Banks said the five businesses already
partment of energy’s strategic sustain- on board are mostly manufacturers.
ability performance plan, that’s exactly Whether or not he reaches his goal of
where they’re going. That’s the most 10 businesses, the program is not over
cost-effective and has the greatest im- on Nov. 1.
pact on the environment as well.” “By all means that’s not the end of
And in a bad economy, it’s easier to it,” said Banks. “There will be another
ask a business to cut its energy con- phase after that, but we need to find out
sumption through general improve- who’s interested in taking advantage of
ments than to install expensive solar the loan program.”

“Everyone uses the word ‘green’ but the goal is reduction of


energy use intensity in the building. Ten to 20 recommissioned
buildings of decent-size companies would make a dramatic impact
in this area.”
CLAYTON POFF, Owner of Energy Cost Reducers
20 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal


Dr. Cary Fowler created the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to protect the genetic
diversity of the world’s future food supply. The vault holds one-third of the
world’s seed varieties and is located in a remote, arctic location in Norway.

By Toby Sells

Banking sells@commercialappeal.com

Dr. Cary Fowler is helping


protect the future of food one
seed at a time.

on tomorrow The Memphis native now


travels the globe spreading the
message of the importance of
crop diversity either while
Former Memphian Cary visiting seed banks in developing
countries or working at the
Fowler takes the lead on Svalbard Global Seed Vault above
the Arctic Circle in Norway.
protecting crop diversity and His organization, the Global
Crop Diversity Trust, helped
the world’s food supply found and build the seed vault
more than two years ago. Now,
more than half a million unique
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 21

seed samples are stored in the remote DR. CARY FOWLER


“doomsday” vault, which makes it the
most diverse collection of crop seeds Organization: Global Crop Diversity
ever amassed. Trust
The vault has been the focus of the Address: c/o FAO
numerous news stories, with features on Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153
“60 Minutes” and an upcoming piece in Rome, Italy
National Geographic. Fowler has given Online: croptrust.org
personal tours of the facility to Global Crop Diversity Trust
luminaries like Jimmy Carter, Madeleine
E-mail: executivedirector@
Albright and Ted Turner.
croptrust.org
Fowler was recently given the
prestigious Heinz Award for his work as
it focused on environmental issues. He
was also given the Russian Academy of be useful, then it will pay for the entire
Sciences’ Vavilov Medal for his work in exercise for all crops forever.
agriculture. Q: What is the Global Diversity
He now lives in Rome, Italy, but was Trust?
at home this past week for a visit to his A: The organization is established as
family’s home near Brighton. an endowment fund. It’s just like a
foundation or an endowment Rhodes
Q: What do you tell people you do? College would have but our endowment
A: My father used to ask me the same fund is for wheat and potatoes.
question. The job I have is to try to Q: What else does the organization
conserve crop diversity. Crop diversity is do besides run the seed vault?
a term for all the different varieties that A: We’re working on two different
we have of our agricultural crops. information systems that will be like a
Q: Why is that important? Google.com for plant breeders. One
A: They contain all the traits that all system is for seed bank managers so
the plant breeders have used in the past they can manage their facilities. The
and will need in the future. We need to other is a kind of an umbrella system
save the diversity because we need crops that will tie together all the seed banks
that are adaptive to new conditions. New in the world. We’re translating all of (the
conditions happen every planting season information) and getting it connected so
and we’re losing a lot of that diversity. that a breeder can do a common search
(Right now) there are more than of all the seed banks.
200,000 kinds of wheat. There are in Q: Is the idea of climate change the
between 200,000 and 400,000 kinds of only reason we need crop biodiversity?
different varieties of rice and 40,000 A: It’s not but, in the future, (climate
different varieties of beans. change) will be the biggest thing that
We need all that diversity because we agriculture will face. There may be
don’t know what’s coming in the future. debates among your readership whether
(Diversity) is cheap to conserve and if or not climate change exists. I don’t hear
just a fraction of 1 percent turns out to plant breeders about “if” (it exists).
22 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

They’re already working


on it. You can already see
it. Growing seasons are
lengthening, for example.
Abu Dhabi shifts
But it doesn’t matter
who is right or wrong on
this one. Both sides of this
debate are going to need
plans for $22B
biodiversity if only
because of the pests and
diseases that are involved
in the intake can change.
clean-energy city
Q: Is there a message By Adam Schreck city solely on power
for farmers in your AP Business Writer produced on site. The
work? latest plans still call for
A: Absolutely. I mean, DUBAI, United Arab the project to rely solely
this is all for them. This is Emirates — A $22 bil- on renewable energy,
not a hippie conservation lion clean-energy city however.
project. Farmers know being built in the desert Chief Executive Sul-
better than consumers outside Abu Dhabi will tan al-Jaber insisted
that the variety of corn no longer aim to pro- that the project is in no
they have in the field this duce all its own power. way being scaled down
year is different than it Plans originally called or scaled back. Rather,
was five years ago. The for Masdar City to be- he said, Masdar is
difference is attributable come a self-contained adapting its plans to ac-
to plant breeders finding “carbon-neutral” com- count for new research
these new traits and munity of 40,000 resi- and technologies as
packaging them together dents and even more they become available.
and farmers depend on commuters. Cars would “By us actually doing
that for better yields and be banned. Waste and it and investing money,
better productivity. water would be recy- we had access to
cled. lessons learned that no
Q: What is it like to
It is meant to be a one had access to,” he
come home to Memphis
marked environmental told The Associated
as you live in Rome and
contrast to other cities Press. “We have to
travel the globe?
in the Emirates, where learn, adjust, adapt and
A: Memphis is home. I fuel-guzzling SUVs and move forward. We can’t
can see it changing in some year-round air condi- be rigid,” he said.
good ways and in some not- tioning powered by fos- Masdar said it is ex-
so-good ways. But there sil fuels are common. ploring a range of clean-
are not that many places in The Abu Dhabi Fu- energy sources for the
the world quite like sitting ture Energy Co. also city, including geother-
out on this porch. backed away from orig- mal energy and solar
— Toby Sells: 529-2742 inal plans to power the thermal cooling, but
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 23

Courtesy of Masdar
The first students have started to move into the dome or the Library building of
the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi.

that it will also consider buying re- Masdar now says the podcar system
newable power from other locations. will be limited to an “ongoing pilot
Vast solar arrays were originally slat- project,” and that other types of electric
ed to provide the bulk of Masdar City’s vehicles may be allowed in the future.
power. Gulf energy expert Robert Bryniak,
As part of its new plans, Masdar said chief executive of Golden Sands Man-
it is going to limit the development of a agement Consulting in Abu Dhabi, said
highly publicized network of personal it made sense for Masdar to re-examine
podcars that would shuttle tens of thou- its plans. He described the original tar-
sands of Masdar City residents and vis- gets as “extremely aggressive” given the
itors around the six square kilometer timeframe involved.
(2.3 square mile) development. “Trying to get to a zero-carbon foot-
The “personal rapid transit” podcars, print is extremely difficult. To try to
which would travel on fixed tracks, were supply all the energy internally was go-
meant to replace personal vehicles in a ing to be a pretty tough challenge,” he
city that promised to be entirely car- said.
free. Some parts of Masdar City are al-
24 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

ready up and running.


Students and faculty be-
gan moving into six build-
ings housing a research fa-
5 reasons to like
cility known as Masdar
Institute last month. While
Masdar does not claim
those buildings are carbon
the Nissan Leaf
neutral, it says they use By Jim Motavalli
about half the water and Mother Nature Network
electricity than other build-
ings in the Emirates thanks NEW YORK CITY — Surprise, the Nissan
to rooftop solar panels and Leaf is great fun to drive. Well, it’s not all that
hot water heaters. much of a surprise: I’d driven two other cars
Al-Jaber told reporters in with the Leaf technology under the hood, but
June that the overall aims of this was my first go-round (through Central
the project were not in jeop- Park, of all places) in the actual production
ardy amid reports that the Leaf, one of just 17 in the U.S. right now.
company had shed jobs and We’re on a countdown to delivery — the first
was looking to cut costs. Leafs, costing $25,280 after a $7,500 federal
Abu Dhabi is the capital tax incentive, will be delivered in December.
of the UAE, a Gulf feder- Those owners are in for a treat, because the
ation that has the world’s Leaf is a delight on nearly every level:
largest ecological footprint It’s really fun to drive. The car is almost
per capita, according to the preternaturally quiet — you can’t even hear the
World Wildlife Fund. That gentle motor sound it makes to warn pedes-
means each of its residents trians at speeds of 20 mph or less. And yet it
uses more of the world’s re- surges ahead like, well, Lance Armstrong at the
sources on average than start of a bike race, on or off steroids. (Arm-
those living in any other na- strong, the official spokesman for the Leaf, is
tion. the only American to actually have one right
Masdar City is at the now.) The Leaf offers faster acceleration than
heart of efforts by Abu you’d expect from 107 horsepower, a factor of
Dhabi, one of the world’s its relatively light weight and aerodynamic de-
biggest exporters of oil, to sign. There’s very little regenerative braking
position itself as a world effect unless you engage “Eco” mode, but there
leader in renewable energy. is a bit of comforting “creep” when you release
The emirate is investing the brakes at a stoplight. The handling is quite
heavily in solar and nuclear sharp, and the ride is nicely balanced.
power, and was picked last The graphics and interface are cool. If you
year as the home of the In- like cutting-edge video games, you’ll be right at
ternational Renewable Ener- home. My favorite screen showed a map with a
gy Agency. circle that encompassed your driving range —
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 25

The first Leafs are expected for delivery to U.S. drivers by December — rolling
off the line at $25,280 after a federal tax break.

your performance at the wheel helps doing more than any other state to put
determine how far you’ll get. There’s a in a charging network. But other states
nicely designed app for the iPhone (or are also getting involved: EV purchase
any computer) that allows the driver to subsidies of one form or another are
remotely stop or start a charge, as well also in place in Tennessee (where the
as pre-heat or cool the car’s cabin. A Leaf will be built starting in model year
screen-based timer can be set to start 2013), Hawaii, Georgia and Colorado.
charging late at night when rates or low, Anyone can get the federal $7,500 tax
but you can override it with a touch of a incentive, and also an up-to-$2,000 tax
button to start charging immediately. credit to install a 240-volt charger. But
Does it have USB iPod access? Of that one expires Dec. 31 unless the
course — did you have to ask? dithering Congress manages to renew
The incentives are in place. Some it. It’s too bad we’re not Chinese, be-
Leaf owners will be luckier than others. cause over there you can get $8,800 for
Luckiest are in California, where a buying an EV.
$5,000 cash rebate gets the price down The economics make sense. Accord-
to around $20,000. California is also ing to Paul Hawsom, Nissan’s product
26 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

planning manager for sports cars and


EVs, a 25-mpg car running on $3 a
gallon gas will cost 12 cents per mile to
operate, or $1,800 over 15,000 miles.
The Leaf or comparable EV operating
on electricity at the national average of
11 cents per kilowatt-hour will cost 2.6
cents per mile. That means $396 over
15,000 miles. “The advantage exists
even if gasoline drops below $1.10 per
gallon,” Hawsom said. And since there’s
no real purchase penalty to a subsidized
Leaf, the savings start immediately.
There are charging options. The Leaf
will come with a 110 charger for any wall
outlet, but that’s a 16-hour slog. Nissan,
with partner AeroVironment, will equip
your garage for 240-volt charging that can
be subsidized by that disappearing federal
credit. Luckily, 240-volt charging (seven
hours from when the warning light comes
on) is standardized with the gun-shaped
J1772 plug. Less sure is 480-volt fast The lithium ion battery in the Nissan
charging, which takes just 30 minutes. Leaf will take around 16 hours to
Leafs in selected markets will be equipped recharge, unless you are doing a
for the Japan-developed CHAdeMO fast- higher power charge.
charging standard, but the U.S. is still de-
bating whether to go with that or not.
The Leaf and its ilk aren’t for ev- mean that the allocation and the reser-
eryone. “If you do a lot of camping, it’s vations line up neatly. Production ca-
probably not the vehicle for you,” Haw- pacity should ramp up quickly, because
som said. Likewise if you tow a boat or Nissan is planning to add both battery
need seven-passenger seating (though it and car plants in Europe and the U.S.
seats five comfortably, with OK but not Battery capacity in conjunction with
great rear legroom). And you’ll need to NEC will far exceed car capacity, be-
live with the limited, 100-mile range, cause the companies are planning to
which could be less in weather extremes supply battery packs to other carmakers.
(when the heater or air conditioner are All in all, it sounds like a workable plan.
cranking, and the batteries are perform- Jim Motavalli, a regular contributor to the
ing less than optimally). A lot of high- New York Times, is the transportation blogger
way driving will affect range, too. for MNN (www.mnn.com/featured-
blogs/jmotavalli). the United States, call
Nissan has 20,000 reservations in the Tribune Media Services International at +1-
U.S. In the first year, global production 312-222-4444 or e-mail
in Japan is set at 50,000, which could tmsisales@tribune.com.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 27

Labels to tell the tailpipe tale


By Sandy Bauers floating two options; they
The Philadelphia Inquirer want to know which con-
sumers prefer. Both will
Does your car make require a tad more brain-
the grade? power than the current
If it’s an electric vehi- labels, but the clear im-
cle, you probably get an plication is that the gov-
A-plus. ernment thinks we want
If it’s a sports car, hold the information and will
your horsepower. use it to make better
Under a federal propos- choices.
al for new labels — those One is similar to the
window stickers that also current labels, with the
show miles per gallon — extra information added
the snazzy red number on graphics that look like
with shiny hubcaps and gauges.
hair-straightening acceler- The other label simpli-
ation might rate as low as fies everything by incor-
a D. porating a giant letter
That would be because grade, everything from an
of its emissions, which A-plus to a D.
the feds would love to see Why no F? All vehicles
us pay more attention to have to meet basic emis-
when the 2012 models Under one proposal, sions requirements; if
debut. the feds would assign they flunk, they shouldn’t
The current info — all new cars a letter be on the market.
miles per gallon, city and grade based upon Derisively dubbed the
highway — will still be energy efficiency and “guzzle grade” by some,
there. tailpipe emissions. The it has elementary-school
But the new labels also label also would outline overtones that may grate.
will show the tailpipe projected annual “I don’t need a nanny
emission rates for carbon savings in fuel costs. telling me what’s good
dioxide and “other air for me,” one person
pollutants” — notably the car is making the planet grumped online in re-
particulates and chemi- and how much more your sponse to a recent Na-
cals that contribute to asthmatic neighbor is suf- tional Public Radio re-
smog. fering because of your port.
So if you want to know car, here it comes. On another front,
how much hotter your The government is Therese Langer, a trans-
28 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

portation expert with the American


Council for an Energy-Efficient Econ-
omy, a nonprofit advocacy group, said
the A for electric vehicles is misleading.
While they have no emissions directly
from the tailpipe, if the source of the
juice is an outdated coal plant, shouldn’t
that count?
Kevin Mazzucola, executive director
of the Automobile Dealers Association
of Greater Philadelphia, says that if all
trucks get the same grade, what has
anyone gained? Don’t we already know
they’re not as efficient as hybrids?
What buyers might want to know, he
said, is which truck has the better rank-
ing, compared to the others. To get
that, they have to look at the finer print.
The big unanswered question is
whether buyers care about the environ-
mental aspects of their cars to begin
with. All those SUVs on the road sug-
gest otherwise.
A Consumer Reports survey in Au-
gust showed that the most important A second proposal calls for just
considerations are quality, safety, price, updating the current stickers. Electric
value, and fuel economy. vehicles (top) would show energy use
While fuel economy isn’t precisely by translating electricity consumption
emissions, it’s related. So we can hope. to miles per gallon equivalent. The
A national survey of likely voters’ at- redesign is meant to make it easier for
titudes toward fuel efficiency — funded consumers to compare the fuel
by environmental groups — showed efficiency and emissions between cars.
that car-buyers want more from Detroit.
Among 1,000 people surveyed, 74 would be good for the environment, the
percent favored requiring automakers to economy, and national security.
meet a 60 m.p.g. “fleetwide” average by So weigh in, car-buyers. Go to
2025. Astonishingly, 66 percent claimed epa.gov/fueleconomy to say what you
they would still favor it even if it added want. And to learn more about how to
$3,000 to the vehicle’s price. Easy to save fuel, a companion website is fu-
say that now. I wonder what will hap- eleconomy.gov.
pen in the real world. Either way, I suppose we have to give
For perspective, the current goal is the federal agencies an A for effort.
34.1 m.p.g. by 2016. Visit Sandy Bauers’ blog at
Those who favor the boost felt it http://go.philly.com/greenspace.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 29

ASK MNN

Go vintage for eco-friendly jewelry


By Chanie Kirschner mentally responsible; you’re also low-
Mother Nature Network (mnn.com) ering the demand for newly mined gold.
Greenkarat.com is a site that will accept
Q: Is there such a thing as eco-friend- your old gold jewelry, and will even turn
ly jewelry? How can I be sure the neck- it into new jewelry custom for you.
lace I’m buying doesn’t have any Earth- Other eco-friendly jewelry sites in-
killing karma? clude BrilliantEarth (brilliantearth.com)
A: Good question. Any industrial jew- and GreenORO (greenoro.com/). Sites
elry mining can have numerous harmful like these track their jewelry from mine
negative impacts on the environment, to market and ensure it has
ranging from erosion of the land, to been procured in the most
leakage of harmful chemicals into environmentally responsi-
the water supply, to the alteration ble way. Another inter-
of an entire ecosystem. And let’s esting eco-friendly jew-
not forget about the carbon elry site is Eco-Artware
footprint of the heavy machin- (eco -artware.com/cata-
ery that’s used in the process. log/bracelets.php),
So yes, there most definite- which features eclectic
ly is such a thing as eco- items such as bracelets made
friendly jewelry — that is, from subway tokens or watch faces.
any jewelry that was Another option is to consider vintage
mined with the least possible jewelry, which recycles valuable resources
negative impact on the environment, or and doesn’t require new mining. And a
not mined at all. vintage necklace or ring is always in style.
Take gold for example. Another eco-friendly jewelry option:
Today’s commercial gold mining is Pearls. Pearls aren’t mined at all and are
hardly as benign as dipping pans into more eco-friendly than your average
streams of running water. The mining mined gem.
for one gold ring creates 20 tons of That being said, aqua-culture can be
mine waste. Not only that, gold mining damaging to the environment because
virtually obliterates the natural land- of the use of high-powered hoses to
scape. The largest gold mine is a crater clean the oysters. However, some pearl
in Utah and is so big, it is actually farmers use tropical fish to scrub the
visible from outer space. oysters clean.
So what’s a girl to do? So you see, eco-friendly jewelry is
First, a few retailers out there offer everywhere. It’s just a matter of looking
recycled gold jewelry. By recycling gold under the right rock, or for that matter,
jewelry, you’re not only being environ- not looking under a rock at all.
30 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

Wine on tap?
Refillable bottles make for greener wine experience

By Michelle Locke / The Associated Press

SANTA ROSA, CALIF. — Forget the cellar; everyday wines


are meant to be poured, not stored. Which has led a handful
of wineries to turn to the refillable approach in hopes of
putting a cork in their bottles’ environmental impact.
Or, as Idaho vintner Stephen Meyer puts it, “Think green,
drink red.”
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 31

Meyer is president and


winemaker at Pend
D’Oreille Winery in
Sandpoint, Idaho, where
a red blend called Bistro
Rouge is sold in 1.5-liter
glass bottles that
customers can bring
back, well washed, and
get a refill at a discount
from the regular price.
“It’s turned out to be
just an awesome
program,” Meyer says.
“It’s a good deal for the
customer, but more
importantly it’s taking Some restaurants are experimenting with wines on
solid waste out of the of tap and are seeing the value in reducing the
landfills.” waste and cost from bottles.
The winery refills
about 350 bottles a marketing for the winery. Gus Vahlkamp sells four
month — quite high Wine from The NPA is wines drawn from taps
considering Sandpoint’s made with minimal behind the bar.
population is about 8,000 intervention, and no That’s right: wine
— and the program has tweaking or overt served from taps. Just
proved so popular they’ve manipulation of the like beer. And Vahlkamp
added a white blend, grapes. As part of that says he has sound
Bistro Blanc. philosophy, the wines are ecological and financial
One winery has booted sold only within a 100- reasons for the setup.
the bottle altogether. mile radius. Wallace “It’s better to reuse
The NPA (Natural drops off a little more than recycle,” he says.
Process Alliance) winery than 100 Kanteens a “Our recycling has been
in Santa Rosa sells its week, including many to reduced by at least half.”
wines in Kleen Kanteens, restaurants in nearby San Plus, it’s cost-effective:
a BPA-free stainless steel Francisco. “The producers aren’t
bottle more commonly Why steel? adding on the cost of the
used for water. It’s easier to clean and bottle, the cork, the
“We wanted to have a tougher than glass, says carton and the
package that was as clean Wallace. “We haven’t had transportation it comes
as what we consider our to retire one yet.” in,” Vahlkamp says. “I’m
farming and our At Out the Door, a able to buy these wines at
winemaking to be,” says mini-chain of Asian 25 percent off the
Hardy Wallace, who fusion restaurants in San wholesale bottle cost, and
handles sales and Francisco, wine director I can offer the consumer
32 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

The NPA
winery sells
its wine only
in these
unique
reusable
canteens --
each holding
the same
amount as a
standard
wine bottle -
- or in larger
kegs for
restaurants
who want to
serve from
the tap.

a discount and still make money. but Meyer’s heard from a number of
Everyone wins on it.” wineries in California “who think it’s a
There’s another benefit: The wine great idea and are interested in doing
always tastes fresh. Restaurants often it.”
pour their by-the-glass selections from There are some issues with refillables.
bottles that sit for days, until the For one thing, a regular label won’t
contents inside have staled. Tap survive the washing process. Pend
systems, by contrast, use an inert gas d’Oreille gets around that by using a
like argon or nitrogen to push the wine silkscreened label. And while the system
through the lines. Being inert, the gas works well for direct-from-winery sales,
doesn’t react with the wine; in fact, it “we haven’t solved quite how we could
protects the wine for weeks or months take it into a larger format, like a
against oxidation. (Wineries blanket grocery store,” Meyer says.
their wines with the same gases for the The process is intended for a “drink
same reason during the tank-storage now” kind of wine. Like the other
phase of the production process.) wineries using refillables, Pend d’Oreille
Refilling wine bottles is common in is still putting its premium wines — the
Europe. So far, the refillable approach kind that age well — in one-time-use
isn’t widespread in the United States, bottles.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 33

On the road
Eco-friendly travel
destinations in the
United States

By Paul McRandle environmental impact without skimping


SimpleS teps.org on the guest services. Complete with
whirlpools, fireplaces, and a full organic
Green travel isn’t only about the jour- breakfast, it also includes solar paneled
ney — it’s about the destination, too. roofs and energy-efficient appliances
Here are 11 great picks, selected for sus- (pinehurstinn.com, 877-299-7651).
tainable practices (including the use of Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth,
least-toxic cleaners, energy and water Maine: The first hotel in Maine to be
savings and recycling efforts), sense of carbon-neutral through offsets also
place, community involvement and gen- offers plenty of luxuries to its green-
eral ambience. seeking guests. Stroll down the private
boardwalk to a mile of sandy beach or
Pinehurst Inn, Bayfield, Wis: This stay in and indulge at the LEED-certified
serene inn cuts down on its spa. (innbythesea.com, 800-888-4287).
34 GOING GREEN | Sunday, October 24, 2010 commercialappeal.com

Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge, National Park, Mich.: Hidden on a


Homer, Alaska: This eco-lodge puts up remote island in northwest Lake
a maximum of 12 guests per night and Superior, Rock Harbor Lodge is about as
groups of 6 or more can have the entire far away from it all as you can get
lodge to themselves, so it’s a true (rockharborlodge.com, 906-337-4993).
escape. The lodge relies entirely on wind Sundance Resort, Sundance, Utah:
energy and hydropower and works hard With access to 6,000 wilderness acres
not to interfere with the untouched at the base Mt. Timpanogos, Sundance
wilderness on its doorstep. You might provides excellent skiing and hiking
even be lucky enough to spot a whale, while maintaining a keen attentiveness
seal, porpoise or one of many other sea to the environment
creatures right outside. (sadiecove.com, (sundanceresort.com, 800-892-1600
888-283-7234) for reservations).
Vero Beach Hotel and Spa, Vero Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa,
Beach, Fla.: This Green Seal-certified Milton, N.Y.: 90 miles from New York
beachside resort not only makes great City, this inn on the Hudson River
efforts to save water and energy, but serves local, organic foods grown on
also rewards guests for doing their part, site and relies on geothermal and solar
including offering parking discounts for energy to warm its spa waters
hybrid vehicles
(buttermilkfallsinn.com, 877-7-INN-SPA).
(verobeachhotelandspa.com, 772-231-
5666). Asheville Green Cottage, Asheville,
Camp Denali, Denali National Park N.C.: Sleep on organic cotton sheets
and Preserve, Alaska: The star and natural latex mattresses during
attraction is Mt. McKinley, the tallest your visit to Asheville, a city
peak in North America. The phrase chockablock with organic restaurants,
“unspoiled paradise” won’t seem farmers’ markets and mountain views.
hackneyed as you step out of your cabin Come the last weekend of July for Bele
into spectacular parkland (Denali Chere, the Southeast’s largest free arts
National Park, 907-683-2290; also see and music festival
nps.gov/dena). (ashevillegreencottage.com;
Orchard Garden Hotel, San 800.331.9707).
Francisco: This LEED-certified hotel is Dunton Hot Springs Resort and
in the heart of what is arguably Spa, Dolores, Colo.: This resort, in a
America’s greenest city. Skip the car former ghost town located in the San
while in town and take a stylish Juan Mountains, is close enough to the
refurbished tram, or rent a Prius to visit desert for trips to Monument Valley and
nearby Point Reyes National Seashore Canyon de Chelly
and dine at Alice Waters’s Chez Panisse (duntonhotsprings.com, 970-882-
in Berkeley 4800).
(theorchardgardenhotel.com, 888-717- For better health and sustainable living
2881). tips, articles and how-tos, visit
Rock Harbor Lodge, Isle Royale simplesteps.org
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, October 24, 2010 | GOING GREEN 35

MEATLESS MONDAY
Coleslaw Tempeh Joes
Topped with cool coleslaw,
these saucy sandwiches are
a great way to try tempeh
for the first time. Try it on a
variety of whole wheat
breads or multigrain seeded
sandwich rolls. This recipe
comes to us from our
friends at myrecipes.com.

1 tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. smoked paprika 2 tsp. water


1 cup chopped onion (about 1 tsp. salt, divided 3 cups thinly shredded
1 medium) 1/2 tsp. freshly ground cabbage
1
1 pound organic tempeh, black pepper, divided /2cup shredded carrot
crumbled 3 cups water (about 1 medium)
3 tbsp. tomato paste 2 tablespoons light 6 (1 1/2-ounce) hamburger
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar mayonnaise buns or rolls
2 tsp. brown sugar

To prepare the tempeh: heat, but cover to keep warm.


Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet To prepare the coleslaw:
over medium-high heat. Add onion Combine mayonnaise, 2
and sauté 2 minutes, or until soft. teaspoons water, remaining 1/4
Add tempeh and sauté 6 minutes, teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4
or until tempeh begins to brown. teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.
Combine tomato paste, vinegar, Add shredded cabbage and carrot,
brown sugar, paprika, 3/4 teaspoon tossing well to combine.
salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a To complete the tempeh joes:
small bowl. Add tomato mixture to Top each of 6 bottom halves of
tempeh and stir to combine. buns with about 3/4 cup tempeh
Stir in 3 cups water. Simmer, filling. Top each serving with about
1
stirring often, for about 20 minutes, /3 cup coleslaw, and cover with top
or until mixture is thick and liquid is half of each bun. Serve
almost evaporated. Remove from immediately. Serves 6

Just do one thing


When baking, don't preheat the oven too soon when making a batch of cookies.
Ovens can be energy hogs, so it pays to prep first, then heat. Also, if your oven needs
a good cleaning, use the self-cleaning function AFTER you've baked something. It's
already heated up and will take less time for the function to run its course.

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