It was a dark and stormy night. Inside nearly every house in Indianapolis, energy vampires were lurking. Mwah ha ha ha!

The next time you finish juicing up your cell phone, mp3 player, digital camera, electric toothbrush, power tools, or other rechargeable battery-powered electronics, unplug their chargers.  Battery chargers draw power from electrical outlets whether they are connected to an electronic device or not, resulting in wasted energy. Otherwise known as phantom energy loss, this sneaky form of wastefulness represents between 5 and 8 percent of a single family home’s total electricity use per year, according to the Department of Energy.

But it’s not just your cordless drill that’s causing you to take a hit. Electronics with standby capability (think TVs, computer monitors) and those with digital clock displays (microwaves, Digital Video Recorders, DVD players) also contribute to the problem. While we wouldn’t be so Draconian as to suggest that you part ways with your home entertainment system, we do advocate the use of items like surge protectors (which make it simple to cut power with the flip of a single switch) and Smart Strips, which automatically sense when computers or stereos are off and powers down accordingly.  It’s a great way to kill-a-watt. Mwah ha ha ha!

Be prepared this Halloween. Don’t let energy vampires suck the life out of your electricity bill. 

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Dear Closet,

We’ve been friends for some time now. For years, you have housed my favorite shirts, my prized pair of boots, my party dresses. You didn’t complain during last year’s holiday party when I hid a heap of junk inside you. And when others said you looked small, I found ways to maximize your vertical space. You’ve been a champ, dear storage star. Still, I’m afraid you’ve gotten rather messy. I don’t know how to break this to you…I need some space. I’m cleaning you out.

I’m recycling my gently used suits and blouses by donating them to Dress For Success, a non-profit organization that empowers disadvantaged women by outfitting them with professional attire and helping them strengthen their career development tools. Lucky for me, I can drop off these items at my neighborhood Classic Cleaners, saving me a trip to Dress for Success’s downtown boutique, where they accept an extended selection of items such as dress shoes, purses, briefcases, and new hosiery.

But I’m not stopping there. Remember all those old bridesmaid dresses I thought I’d wear again? Not happening. And there’s no way I’m ever going to fit into my prom dress again. So I’m gathering up all my LBDs and other fancy and semi-fancy frocks and taking them to Morellis Cleaners. From now until October 31, they’re collecting dresses for Dollars for Dresses, a new fundraiser for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA). Then, on Sunday, Nov. 2, I can shop the Dollars for Dresses sale, where every dress, no matter its original price, will be sold for $50. Fifty percent of the proceeds benefit toddler Lauren Seiders, a local child whose family needs help covering the outstanding bills for their daughter’s two liver transplants. The remaining 50% of proceeds benefit COTA’s general fund, which helps families with children who have had or need life-saving organ transplants.

Just think, Closet, you’ll be full again in no time.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

No offense, Carrie Bradshaw, but owning $40,000 worth of shoes is so 2002. Since we’re pretty sure you don’t wear every pair in your closet, consider recycling your old kicks. Here are a few tips to get started.

Out: Worn-out Crocs. Winter’s on its way…are you really going to wear those tired old rubber clogs to shovel the driveway? Didn’t think so.
In: Shipping your old Crocs to SolesUnited. They’ll grind up the old shoes, make them into new ones, then donate them to non-profits around the world. To date, more than 1 million pairs have been donated.

Out: Your growing collection of old Air Jordans, Air Pegasuses, Air Maxes, and Shox. You live in Naptown, not Niketown.
In: Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program, which recycles all brands and styles of athletic shoes, no matter how worn out. The shoes are turned into Nike Grind, a material comprised of rubber, foam, and fabric used to make playground and sports surfaces.

Out: Crowded closets. Recycling an old pair of shoes for every new pair you buy is a good rule of toe, er, thumb.
In: Soles4Souls collects all varieties of footwear, both new and used, and ships them to individuals in need in over 35 U.S. states and 50 countries. Local drop-off points include The Running Company and Z Coil Pain Relief Footwear. 

Out: Traveling to Third World countries with a suitcase full of shoes.
In: Donating shoes to Third World countries via One World Running. The Colorado-based non-profit collects new and gently used shoes and ships them to sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, and Central America. Shoes that are too beat-up to wear are sent to Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program.

Out: Shoes that give you blisters. 
In: Shoes that give back. For every pair of TOMS Shoes purchased, the company sends a pair to a child in need.

Piece out,

Renee & Meghan

For months, we’ve espoused the virtues of local food, been a champion for farmers markets, and even gleefully designed a Fourth of July burger around Indiana-grown ingredients.

Still not convinced? You don’t have to take our word for it. Hear Alice Waters, the renowned chef and food educator, as the Indianapolis Museum of Art presents Delicious Revolution: An Evening with Alice Waters, taking place Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. In addition to running the award-winning Chez Panisse, a San Francisco-based restaurant that touts all organic and sustainably grown ingredients on its menu, Waters also founded the Edible Schoolyard garden project, a program that enables students to grow and prepare their own food. A variety of local businesses and organizations (including Green Piece Indy!) will be on hand before the talk, and you can also sample tasty local nibbles prepared by Ivy Tech culinary students. 

Unlike the food Waters advocates, tickets for this event are not sustainable. Get yours quickly - the event is expected to sell out. Purchase tickets via the IMA website by calling 317-955-2339.

Bon Appetit!

Piece out,
Renee and Meghan

Some people say Sweetest Day (Oct. 18) is just another scheme by the candy companies to increase sales. And to that we say, bring on the Jelly Bellies!

If you and your sweetie would rather celebrate sans sugar, we have a lovely suggestion: locally grown flowers. Why settle for those dial-a-bouquet florists that dispatch drivers to every corner of the country (and, likewise, release tons and tons of carbon emissions), when you can get a fresh-from-the-farm arrangement at your local farmers market?

We suggest Harvest Moon Flower Farm. Look for Linda Chapman and her gorgeous Spencer, Indiana-grown flowers Wednesdays at the Downtown Farmers Market (at City Market) and Saturdays at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market. But hurry - both markets wrap up at the end of this month. Harvest Moon also does floral arrangements for events.

Think of it this way: 1-800-Flowers may be more convenient, but choosing local flowers allows you to deliver the bouquet in person…and prevents you from having to cram all your thoughts onto one of those tiny florist greeting cards. 

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Forget “Silver Bells.” When the holidays arrive, you’d rather be hearing wedding bells. Considering December is the most popular month for wedding proposals, we have a feeling several would-be brides and grooms may have engagement rings on the brain this time of year.

If you’re getting ready to pop the question-or inform your sweetie that you aren’t getting any younger-it’s time to talk recycled diamonds…the kinds that come from grandma’s jewelry box (or, if you’re really daring, eBay). Family diamonds not only have sentimental appeal, they’re green. (And unlike the ugly hand-me-downs you got from your older siblings, diamonds never go out of style.) Reusing diamonds prevents unnecessary mining, which can take a substantial toll on the mining area’s landscape and devastate fragile ecosystems. Bonus: Opting for a recycled rock saves you a bundle, which frees up cash to put toward your wedding.

Grandma didn’t want to give up the goods? Your next best option is a conflict-free diamond, which, in addition to being mined under humane conditions, is obtained using eco-friendly methods. Retailers such as Brilliant Earth and Tiffany & Co. specialize in conflict-free stones. If you have your heart set on a particular jeweler, it’s best to ask before you buy. A reputable business will be able to tell you the diamond’s history and provide a Kimberley Process certificate, which proves that the stone was obtained using the United Nations-defined standards for conflict-free diamonds.

No matter whether you choose recycled or conflict-free, one thing remains crystal clear: Your significant other will think you’re a gem.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

P.S. Sick of all this wedding talk? Here’s something totally different. Tomorrow Mayor Greg Ballard will hold a press conference to announce his endorsement of Indy Bikeways, a four-phase bike lane plan for the City of Indianapolis. The plan will create more than 200 miles of bike lanes in Marion County over the next 15 years. Be there: 9:30 a.m. in the park at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and Michigan Street (across from the Athenaeum).

Your house is a very, very, very fine house. But is it energy efficient? How’s the air quality? And, above all, is it built to last? If you’re interested in learning more about strategies for “regreening” your existing home (adding updates, modifications, or remodeling) or perhaps building your green home from scratch, unfortunately you’re not going to get them all in a Green Piece Indy tip. (We have day jobs, thank you.)

So we recommend Albert Schinazi, president of Integrative Solutions. We could go on and on about Albert’s impressive background and longstanding commitment to Indy’s green scene, but we’ll let his classes speak for him. If you have a spare Saturday afternoon, consider enrolling in “Creating A Sustainable Home” (Oct. 18, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at Arthur M. Glick JCC, $59), where you’ll learn about green home standards and the different systems you can implement to reduce your home energy consumption (and your utility bills). Business professionals may want to consider Schinazi’s “Sustainable Business Practices” seminar (Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-noon, at Park 100 Learning Center, 5980 West 71st St. $59), which focuses on the awareness, understanding, and perspective of Green Business or Sustainable Business principles and practices. To enroll, visit IUPUI’s Community Learning Network website.

Don’t forget - Greenway Supply offers a green workshop every first Thursday of the month. Topics range from sustainable flooring to alternative energy. Call 317-822-8505 for more informaton.

You may also be interested in the Andre Carson, Citizens Energy Group, King Park Area Development Corporation, Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation “Energy Assistance & Conservation Forum” on Oct. 18 from 12:30 to 2:30 at Broadway United Methodist Church (609 E. 29th St.). The free event will include a discussion preparing for escalating winter energy costs. Call 317-283-6516 for more information.

Piece out,

Renee & Meghan

Tuesday. The day after Monday (ug). The day before Hump Day (we’re not even halfway there). The second day of the Annual Compact Flourescent Light Bulb Promotion at Fusek’s True Value Hardware (wahoo!).

Thanks to Indianapolis Power & Light and General Electric, GE CFLs are on sale. 60, 75 and 100 watt equivalent bulbs are $.99 and 65 watt equivalent bulbs are $2.99 with instant in-store rebates (you will need to complete a form verifying that you’re an IPL customer). Pick yours up at 350 E. New York St. while supplies last.

According to Fusek’s e-newsletter, “If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.”  

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

This just in…Indianapolis Power & Light has partnered with several other Indianapolis hardware stores to offer discounted CFLs. Visit your favorite local hardware store today to stock up:

• White’s Ace Hardware at Geist
• Central Ace Hardware
• Whites’ Ace Hardware at Nora
• Mr. Mikes Ace Hardware
• Cardwell Do-It Best Home Center
• Sullivan Hardware
• Sullivan Hardware Do It Express
• Fusek’s True Value  

You’ll also find CFL recycling bins in these stores so bring along your burned out bulbs and dispose of them easily and properly. 

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something…green?It seems everyone we know is getting married these days. Unless you’re planning a Vegas-style elopement, you’re going to need some invitations. (Or unless you’re Renee, bless her, who insists upon an Evite-only policy.)

If electronic reply cards aren’t your thing, we recommend Twisted Limb Paperworks, a 10-year old Bloomington-based papermaking business that specializes in 100% recycled, handmade paper products including stationery, baby announcements, holiday cards, and-lucky you-wedding invitations. From humble roots, Twisted Limb has grown from a two-person operation to an award-winning papermaking business. The best part: Owner Sheryl Woodhouse-Keese incorporates green business practices, such as reusing water from the studio’s dehumidifier and growing an assortment of grasses and plants in her yard, which she includes in her pretty paper. In addition to being 100% recyclable, the wedding invitations are also embedded with wildflower seeds, so guests can plant the sheet and watch it grow (just like your love…awww).

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan