Your daughter may be a straight A student, but if you’re idling in the parking lot when you pick her up from school, what is she learning about taking care of the planet? You don’t have to be at the head of the class to ace Being Green 101. Simply study our crib notes below.

OUT: Dumping last year’s unused school supplies in the garbage and buying brand new ones.
IN: Reusing what you can (folders, binders, half-full notebooks, etc.) and recycling everything else. Recycle used paper at an Abitibi Paper Retriever. Donate gently used educational supplies to Teacher’s Treasures, which benefits at-risk Central Indiana schoolchildren. When it’s absolutely necessary to buy new supplies, look for pencils, pens, and paper products made from recycled materials. For green office supplies for grown-ups, check out the pretty, planet-friendly items from See Jane Work.

OUT: Dropping off your child in your SUV, then idling in the parking lot after school as you wait for them to be dismissed.
IN: Walking, biking, or taking the bus to school. Or, form a neighborhood carpool. Any of these are better for the planet than driving to school with just one passenger.

OUT: Sending your kid to school a disposable lunch tote full of plastic zipper bags and plastic wrap.
IN: Toting a reusable lunchbox and food storage containers, which practically pay for themselves. To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Broad Ripple’s Marigold is giving away free insulated lunch totes and water bottles to customers who make a purchase of $100 or more (while supplies last).

OUT: Selling frozen cookie dough to pay for the drama club’s production of Romeo & Juliet.
IN: Supporting our local environment and economy while raising money with Green Fundraising Indiana.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

When it comes to furniture, stains happen. Grown-ups spill their wine. Kids use markers in places they shouldn’t. And dogs put their muddy paws in places you wish they wouldn’t. But that’s no reason to discard a perfectly good couch or armchair. Instead, consider using one of these eco-friendly alternatives.

Save it with a slipcover
Nagging stain on the sofa? Cover it up. Discount and home goods stores stock slipcovers in a variety of sizes and colors. Want a more tailored look? Many furniture stores now sell pieces with custom-fit slipcovers that can be easily removed and laundered when stains occur. Meghan credits IKEA’s slipcovered Ektorp chair with standing up to heavy paw traffic from her dogs.
Go the remanufactured route
Ready to fire your office chair? Consider buying a recycled one instead. Belle Chaise is an Indianapolis business that recovers refurbished Herman Miller chairs using recycled fabric.

Reupholster the rest

If the fabric on your favorite upholstered piece is damaged or simply ready for a new look, reupholstering is a clever way to give it new life. Admittedly, hiring someone else to do the job is not cheap (though it’s typically less expensive than buying new). Or, you can always try doing it yourself. Shelly Leer runs Flipt Studio, in Carmel, where she teaches reupholstery classes. Though her class schedule is full at the moment, you can hear her speak about reupholstery at the upcoming IUPUI Design Show on September 16th, from 3:15 to 4 p.m. in the Engineering and Technology Building. For more info on Flipt Studio, contact Shelly.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

We’re pretty sure that no one lists “heat” at the top of their shopping list. But if your casa contains an inefficient furnace or leaky windows and doors, you might as well pencil it in next to milk and bread because you’ll be paying for it every time you turn around. Although making a small energy-saving change, such as installing a programmable thermostat, is a step in the right direction for most homeowners, others may want to overhaul their whole abode. But where to start?

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system provides third-party verification that a building meets certain criteria for energy and water efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, improved indoor environmental quality, and other factors. Before you rush out and hire a green builder, we suggest registering for the upcoming Successfully Navigating LEED for Homes seminar, taking place September 11 at the Radisson Hotel Indianapolis (251 Pennsylvania Parkway, Carmel). Hosted by the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability, the day-long training seminar is designed to help both home owners and members of the building industry learn more about LEED’s green design and construction practices, verification procedures, and associated costs and benefits.

If learning the ins and outs of LEED is too intimidating, you may consider hiring a home energy auditor. Renee recently learned from Home Chek ($20 off in Green Savings Indy) that her home has 2730 cfm infiltration and 940 cf duct leakage. While she doesn’t know exactly what that means, she has a checklist of things to do to make her home more efficient.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

The Recession may be winding down, but your grocery bill hasn’t necessarily followed suit. Fortunately, Hoosiers who prefer buying organic foods and other eco-friendly products now have a low-cost alternative. In name, Angelo’s Railroad and Trucking Recovery (201 S. College, 634-6552; M-F 8 to 4, Sat 8 to 2) may not sound as appealing as some of Indy’s other supermarket chains, but the concept is genius. The downtown store sells items that have fallen off of trains and trucks and cannot be sold in retail stores. We think it’s a much wiser, more resourceful idea than tossing the stuff in the garbage.

A recent visit revealed the following natural and organic options:
- Seventh Generation fabric softener, $3.99
- Natural and organic popcorn, $1.39
- Alba skin care products, $2.99 - $3.99
- Tom’s of Maine deodorant, $1.99
- Organic pasta sauce, $1.69
- Organic salad dressing, $1
- Organic oatmeal, 2 for $3
- Amy’s Organics frozen meals, $2

Renee spent $17 and some change and left with Kashi granola, Orville Redenbacher natural popcorn, Alba toner and moisturizer, Amy’s Organics pizza and macaroni and cheese, and Full Circle organic blueberry juice.

Admittedly, the packaging may be slightly imperfect, though all of the items are perfectly safe to consume. But as we all know, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Taking a do-it-yourself approach to backyard barbecues and football-viewing fare is just fine and dandy. But certain events, such as weddings, showers, holiday gatherings, office parties, and other types of structured soirees, call for a more polished presentation. Before you drive yourself batty trying to achieve the perfect Bearnaise sauce, consider the convenience of hiring someone else to do the cooking. The following caterers are fixtures on Indy’s farmer’s market scene. To them, using local, seasonal, and organic ingredients is essential to producing a tasty dish.

Country Mouse, City Mouse
Sisters Erin Jones-Edds and Katy Jones are best known for their delicious spreads, dressings, and marinades. But they also offer party platters and catering and source ingredients from local vendors including Homestead Growers, Traders Point Creamery, The Swiss Connection, and Seldom Seen Farm.

Feast
The folks at Feast have been tempting us all summer with their mouthwatering tamales. So we’re delighted to learn that the chef behind the business, Erika Yochum, also offer a full-scale catering menu that focuses heavily on local and organic ingredients. One recent menu included free-range organic chicken breast stuffed with roasted poblanos, bacon, and goat cheese. Find a coupon for Feast catering in Green Savings Indy.

Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering
Chef Jacqueline Bols’ farmers market customers can’t get enough of her homemade hummus and pesto. Her catering business is equally delightful. Too busy to cook dinner? Try one of her home-delivered meals, made from scratch daily.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

When you were a kid, you relished the first day of school…a freshly sharpened bouquet of no. 2 pencils, that new crayon smell, and, of course, meeting all of your new classmates. If that last image left you with a twinge of sentimentality, we suggest registering for a different kind of peer gathering. On September 3, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce will host its annual HobNob at the Indiana State Museum (650 W. Washington St.).

This year’s half-day environmental-themed event features a slew of panel discussions on topics including green jobs and public transit, as well as keynote speaker Jeff Speck, co-author of Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream. Immediately following, you’ll have the chance to mingle with local elected officials, business execs, and community leaders at the HobNob reception.

It may not be as exciting as the first day of school, but it has all the necessary elements of a memorable afternoon. No word yet on whether tater tots are on the menu.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

P.S. Is your business engaging in green efforts? The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce now has a Green Business Initiative aimed at promoting the interests of businesses committed to the environment.

We, the Green Piece Police, are placing you on house arrest for DUI: Dwelling Under the Influence (of household hazardous waste, that is). And we’re sending you to detox…otherwise known as ToxAway Day. It’s time to rid your home of half-empty paint cans, burned-out fluorescent light bulbs, old cell phones, and other electronics. All of these items contain toxic materials that, if tossed in a landfill, can contribute to air, soil, and water pollution. But first generation Walkmans are just the start. Bring any of the items listed on SustainIndy’s ToxDrop site  to these upcoming ToxAway Day events.

Where: Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 N. Meridian St.
When: Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bonus: The first 500 cars will receive a free recyclable water bottle!

Where: Glendale Mall Overflow Parking Lot, 6101 N. Rural St.
When: Saturday, September 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Or, take your items to one of the city’s Tox Drop locations throughout the year.

Belmont Avenue Collection Facility
2700 S Belmont Ave.
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

IMPD Training Facility (located near Superior Court 13)
9049 E. 10th St.
Open1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Perry Township Government Center
4925 S. Shelby St
Open2nd & 4th Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Admittedly, we have trouble turning down Girl Scout cookies. (Meghan once demolished a sleeve of Thin Mints in a sitting.) But if, like us, you can’t stomach buying another spool of gift wrap or stack of frozen pizzas to raise money for your kid’s school or little league team, we have a more sustainable solution.

This spring, we brought you Green Savings Indy, a coupon book for green businesses and services around town. Now, meet Green Fundraising Indiana, the newest branch of our green and growing family tree. Green Fundraising Indiana is a catalog of Indiana-made green products, including those from Twisted Limb Paperworks, Purrfect Play, TraceyClean, Herbal Art, Local Folks Foods, Indiana Living Green Magazine, and Green Savings Indy. Each item in the catalog sells for $15 and $5 of each sale goes to your organization, meaning local businesses and local nonprofits both benefit.

Green Fundraising Indiana launches this month and is available to Indiana schools, churches, sports leagues, and other nonprofit organizations. Best of all, there is no minimum order and no money required up front. Simply fill out our online form if interested. What have you got to lose (besides all those spools of gift wrap)?

When your fridge is on the fritz, the last thing you want to worry about is how and where to haul it once it finally goes kaput. From an environmental perspective, repairing an older item is typically preferable to buying new (unless, of course, said item is an energy-sucking beast). Just remember: When you’re ready to replace household appliances, don’t simply discard the old ones. In addition to clogging our landfills, many of these items contain toxic chemicals, such as lead, mercury, and Freon, which can pollute the air, soil, and water supply, not to mention posing serious health hazards.

Instead, we suggest calling Disposal Alternatives Organization, which offers Indianapolis area residents free household appliance removal and recycling. From water heaters to washers and dryers, DAO recycles or, in some cases, refurbishes old appliances, then resells them at low costs in their storefront at 38th Street and I-465. Items may be dropped off at DAO’s eastside or westside locations. Or, simply call to schedule a free removal.

Save yourself the hassle of dragging your old dishwasher out the door. After all, you have better things to do…like figuring out whether the new Energy Star-rated model you’re going to get looks better in black, white, or stainless steel.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

P.S. If you opt to go the repair route, consider purchasing our Green Savings Indy coupon book. It contains hundreds of dollars’ worth of coupons at area green businesses, including one for an appliance repair business that recycles old parts and cardboard packaging.