We’re suckers for road trips, but hate thinking about the carbon emissions from a leisure trip. That is, until we learned about Megabus. The big blue charter bus travels between Indianapolis and Chicago, Columbus, or Cincinnati. It’s clean, comfortable, and rather convenient. The best part? Megabus provides express service only, meaning no stops in Lafayette, Richmond, or any other towns along the way. Renee caught the bus on Washington Street downtown, slept from Indy to Chi-town, and was dropped off at Union Station, one of the city’s public transportation hubs.

The other best part: Ticket prices start at $1 (+$.50 reservation fee). That’s less than a gallon of gas! Prices vary depending on when you book and how full the bus is, but the highest we’ve seen so far is $27. Still less than a tank of gas! (Not to mention parking in The Windy City)

A trip to Chicago on Megabus instead of driving a car keeps approximately 400 lbs. of carbon out of the atmosphere. So, whether it’s dinner on Michigan Avenue, a Reds game, or an adventure at COSI you crave, get on the bus!
To make a reservation on Megabus, log on to www.megabus.com.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

You heard us. Get out of here.

If you’re planning to escape to an exotic locale this spring, why not do a little good for the planet at the same time?

Ambassadors for Children, an Indianapolis-based organization that serves children around the world through humanitarian service trips, is offering a Costa Rica Rainforest Adventure March 29th–April 5th.

Besides working at a school and orphanage, volunteers will help plant 300 trees in a rainforest reforestation effort and, at night, stay at Selva Verde, an eco-lodge.   

But it’s not all work and no play: AFC has also scheduled a slew of fun optional activities like zip-line rainforest canopy tours, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, volcano and rainforest waterfall hiking, and swimming.

Now go on. Scram!

For more information, contact trip leader Khone Saysana at ksaysana@gmail.com or visit www.goafc.org.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

A common misconception is that being green costs a lot of money. But purchasing green power is a minimal investment with big returns for the planet. If Indianapolis Power & Light is your service provider, you can participate in its Green Power Option program.

The Green Power Option allows you to specify an amount equal to 10% to 100% of your monthly power to be generated by clean, renewable resources like wind, solar, and geothermal. Once enrolled, you will pay a small premium to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates – $.002 per kilowatt hour – helping displace traditional coal-fired electricity. The typical residential customer enrolled at the 100% level would pay an additional $2 on their IPL bill.

In 2007, IPL’s Green Power Option customers helped displace more than 14,000 tons of CO2, the equivalent of removing more than 3,000 cars from the roads.

If you want to purchase green power but are outside of the IPL service area, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s Green Power Network.

More (green) power to you!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

A plastic grocery bag makes a great small trash can liner, but how are you going to reuse all those coffee filters now that you gave up caffeine? And what about those blank VHS tapes you no longer need thanks to the DVR? The answer: Donate them to Teachers’ Treasures, a local non-profit organization that provides free materials to Indianapolis schools. Since it opened in 2000, Teacher’s Treasures has donated more than $15 million in materials to area schools.

Besides helping schools in need of arts and crafts supplies, audio-visual equipment, school supplies, office equipment, and more, you will be saving your new and gently used items from ending up in a landfill.

To donate, simply view Teachers’ Treasures online wish list, then drop off your items at their distribution center at 1800 E. 10th St.

Call 264-1758 or visit teacherstreasures.org for more information, including drop-off hours.  

Piece out,
Meghan & Renee

We understand. Sometimes a bottle of water is just more convenient. But it doesn’t have to be so bad for the earth.
 
Try the Better Water Filter and Corn Bottle. It looks just like a regular water bottle, but comes with a handy filter that removes chlorine and other icky-tasting contaminants from tap water as you drink. Because it’s made from corn, the bottle structure is much more resilient than a typical water bottle, and it degrades in just 80 days in commercial compost.

GreenWay Supply (620 N. Delaware St., 822-8505, greenwaysupply.net) sells individual bottles-which can be refilled up to 90 times-for $8.70. Or, buy a case of 24 to share around the office for $5.70 per bottle. The savings are real-though you’ll have to move the water cooler chats to the faucet.
 
Still not convinced? Consider the following:

• U.S. demand for water requires more than 47 million gallons of oil a year to produce.
• 85% of plastic water bottles in the U.S. are not recycled and end up in landfills.
• Just because your bottled water features a refreshing name or beautiful pictures of waterfalls on the label, what’s inside doesn’t necessarily come from pristine sources. Much of it comes from a tap!
• Quality regulations for tap water are stricter than those of bottled water.

If you can’t avoid bottled water altogether, pick up a Better Water bottle and reduce your reliance on plastics one sip at a time.
 
Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Whether you’ve dropped your phone one too many times or upgraded to a chic new iPhone, recycle your old cell phones through Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, one of the city’s leading environmental and beautification organizations.

Nationally, Sprint and Keep American Beautiful have teamed up to offer a free phone recycling program that benefits our community—and no, you don’t have to be a Sprint customer to participate.

After deleting your personal data from your old phone, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to www.recellular.com/kab/
2. Select “IN” and designate “Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc”
3. Print the mailing label
4. Send in your wireless phones, batteries, and accessories to be recycled. The postage is paid—all you have to do is put it in an envelope or small box and drop it in the mail.

Recycling your cell phone probably won’t earn you free “anytime minutes,” but it does keep metals and other toxic materials out of our landfills and water supply.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Forget Atkins, this is a program designed to help you lose 5,000 lbs. in 30 days. Offered by Citizens Action Coalition Education Fund, the Low Carbon Diet Workshops are designed to be a fun and supportive environment to discuss and apply strategies in your home, social and work life that help save money and energy by reducing your carbon footprint. Meet like-minded people, share your ideas on how to be green, learn from facilitators and other students, and see measurable results!
 
There are ten workshops scheduled for the beginning of 2008, so sign up for one now!

• Mystic Bay Clubhouse - starts January 12
• Central Library - starts January 23
• Congregation Beth El Zedeck - starts February 5
• Lawrence Branch Library - starts February 18
• Fountain Square Branch Library - starts February 27
• Shelby Branch Library - starts March 1
• Franklin Road Branch Library - starts March 1
• Southport Branch Library - starts March 12
• Central Nine Career Center - starts April 8
• Trafalgar Branch Library - starts April 10

Renee lost 9,075 lbs. on the Low Carbon Diet!!!
 
Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Think about it: Would you rather eat a tomato that was picked a week ago or yesterday? Hauled across the country or down the street? Buying local produce is healthier for you and the environment since most US-grown fruits and veggies travel an average of 1,500 miles to get to the supermarket, and, once picked, start losing healthful nutrients. Buying local means a shorter time from the ground to your table and a lot less carbon emissions from travel. 

Our favorite way to get fresh, local produce during the summer is through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Here’s how it works: You sign up, pay a flat rate, and pick up a tub of delicious, fresh local produce each week.

All of the CSAs listed below have first come, first served policies (and many have February deadlines), so sign up now. 

Balanced Harvest
Full share: $500 for 16 weeks
Pick up: Carmel Farmer’s Market, Meridian Kessler and Fishers pick-ups
What you’ll get: veggies and herbs
Info: www.balancedharvest.com

Homestead Growers
Large share, full season: $425 for 17 weeks
Pick up: multiple pick-up points and home delivery available
What you’ll get: veggies, herbs, fruit, and mushrooms
Info: www.homestead-growers.com/CSA.html
 
Nature’s Harvest Organics
Full share: $487.50 for 25 weeks
Pick up: multiple pick-up points
What you’ll get: certified organic veggies, herbs, and fruit
Info: www.naturesharvestorganics.com/csaprogram.htm

Victory Acres
Full share: $450 for 20-22 weeks
Pick up: VictoryVillage Shoppe, 3229 E. 10th St.
What you’ll get: veggies, herbs, and fruit
Info: www.vicm.org/ministries_va.php

LocalHarvest.org is a great resource for all CSAs in Indiana and nationwide! 

Piece Out,
Renee & Meghan

You’ve recycled all of your wrapping paper, but what will you do with your tree? The 30-35 million real Christmas trees sold in North American each year are a renewable, recyclable resource. This year, participate in a local treecycling program. Your tree will be turned in to woodchips and mulch for use throughout the city.

City projects use more than 30,000 cubic yards of mulch each year. Recycled Christmas trees offset roughly 60% of the annual cost for mulch (otherwise paid for with your tax dollars). Deliver your tree to one of the following drop-off sites (follow signage) between now and January 31st during normal park hours (dawn to dusk) or participate in the January 5th Post-Holiday Recycling Extravaganza.

• Broad Ripple Park, 1610 Broad Ripple Ave.
• Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair St.
• Garfield Park, 2450 S. Shelby St.
• Gustafson Park, 3110 Moller Rd.
• Krannert Park, 605 S. High School Rd.
• Northwestway Park, 5253 W. 62nd St.
• Perry Park, 451 E. Stop 11 Rd.
• Riverside Park, 2420 N. Riverside Dr.
• Sahm Park, 6801 E. 91st. St.

*Dumping trees in non-designated parks is illegal and punishable!

2nd Annual Post-Holiday Recycling Extravaganza
January 5, 2008 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Drop-off sites: Broad Ripple Park, Ellenberger Park, Krannert Park and Garfield Park
What: Christmas Trees (free of ornaments, tinsel, etc.), Cardboard, Electronics (includes non-working TV’s, 27″ or smaller), Cell Phones, Printer/toner cartridges

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

I’m a 29,000. At least that’s my carbon footprint.

Thanks for making one of your New Year’s resolutions to be more green by signing up for Green Piece Indy, a twice-weekly email with tips on living greener in Indianapolis. You’ve taken the first step in reducing your carbon footprint.

Before we get too deep into how to be more green, you should calculate the amount of carbon dioxide you emit by driving, using electricity, producing garbage, etc. Your carbon footprint is measured in pounds. When we send you a tip, we’ll do our best to also tell you approximately how many lbs. you’ll lose by implementing that tip.

Here are a few tools to use to calculate your carbon footprint:

An Inconvenient Truth
Safe Climate
Low Carbon Diet Calculator

The average carbon dioxide output per household per year in the US is 54,600. And Indiana has the 6th highest carbon footprint of any state. We can do a lot better! Let us know your current carbon footprint so we can calculate how many lbs. the Green Piece Indy community loses in 2008.

Happy New Year!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan