Heart of Green

Ecofabulous is Fabulous

Change is in the air.  The fall season is right around the corner (is it too late to plan a vacation?), Paris Hilton is running for president, and I am finally eco-decorating my apartment after living here for a year with virtually no furniture. I will miss the $14 electricity bill and the shock on people’s faces when they walk through the door. Surprise, it’s empty but look at the view!

But the most exciting change is a bright green one.  After years of being an unofficial team, Zem Joaquin and I are becoming an official green team at her Ecofabulous, the treasure chest web site showcasing the best of green and fabulous.  Those editors sparked and led by Zem are tough let me tell you.  Sustainable furniture is ripped apart, green cleaning products are put to the test, eco-shoes are heavily scrutinized, and organic alcohol occassionally must be sampled.  If your product isn’t fabulous and fully eco, you have about as much chance of getting profiled as an Escalade.

At Ecofabulous, my position is VP of Special Projects, which means I am covering a wide range of mysterious and not so mysterious initiatives including events, greening, journalism, cleantech, and the search for alien life. I am happy to be teaming up with my eco partner in crime, with whom I have already accomplished so much.  And let's give credit where credit is due. Without Zem, I'd still be wearing clodhopper shoes from Ann Taylor. 

What is to become of Heart of Green?  It is still me at my core. I will continue updating the site with planet-chic events, amazing causes and charities, side adventures in eco-fashion, and posts on subjects I feel are being underrepresented out there.  Get ready for some outrageous topics coming up.  Green is a journey and a more thrilling and possible one every day.  So net net, Heart of Green will be a personal blog, and Ecofabulous will be a professional moniker.  For the latest in desirable eco-beauty, eco-fashion, green design, healthy homes, and sustainable lifestyles, hop on over to the newly-relaunched www.ecofabulous.com  It’s a fabulous place to see and be seen, green.

Eco-Fashion On Sale

Would you pay $80 for a designer organic cotton t-shirt?  What if it helped to save the planet?  Even better, what if it were on sale?

While I have splurged on hip eco-friendly tees in the past (can you say adorable Zooey?), I have also bought many on sale. Who doesn’t love a good bargain.

Now thanks to the web site You Deserve, the sale ends today and starts tomorrow. Eco-fashionistas are rejoicing because every day is an eco-fashion sale day on www.youdeserve.com. Consider it overstock for planet-conscious brands like Del Forte, Grace & Cello, and Oxygen Required (bamboo and surplus fabrics). There are even Under the Canopy bathrobes at a discount. I see several items that I paid full price for! 

A fabulous Ecoist portfolio tote is on an unbelievable sale, marked down from $138 to $48. I have always wanted one of these colorful pieces made Fair Trade from 100% recycled candy wrappers. If you don’t buy it, I just might have to. 5, 4, 3, 2...

As for a minor wish list, I would love to see the brand name as part of each product listing initially, but you can click through to see the maker.  Some of the fabrics just say “cotton” without the word organic in front of it, which is a little confusing, but most of the fabrics are eco-friendly. I hope that even more eco-fashion brands will join the party online.

Not everyone has the luxury of having a wonderful eco-fashion boutique around the corner (Eco Citizen) or can spend $80 on a bamboo t-shirt, but thanks to You Deserve, more people will get a break on eco-fashion today and that is an glorious thing for our wallets and the planet.  www.youdeserve.com

Save The Dates

We may be experiencing a small break in eco parties, but don’t worry, they are coming back even better and greener than before.  Celebrities will be sparkling and composting bins will be overflowing.  Get those calendars and iPhones out because here are a few of the must save-the-date parties for the planet in the Bay Area.  Look forward to seeing you there!

 

West Coast Green
September 24 – 27, 2008
San Jose Convention Center
The amazing conference on green building & design
www.westcoastgreen.com

California Academy of Sciences
Opening Gala
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Public Opening
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Golden Gate Park
The night we have all been waiting for!
www.calacademy.org

 

ForestEthics
100 Million Trees Party
Stopping Junk Mail from the Trunk
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
CLIFT Hotel Spanish Suite
San Francisco
www.forestethics.org

  
Brower Youth Awards
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Herbst Theatre & Green Room
San Francisco
The top environmental prize for young people in North America
www.broweryouthawards.org

   

Global Green
Gorgeous & Green
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Bently Reserve
San Francisco
The glamorous green party is back and better than ever
www.globalgreen.org

 

Why events?
On a personal note, why do I participate in so many events?  I often get asked this question. I believe that an event can be a wonderful and unparalleled catalyst to learn about a cause, an organization, an issue, a person, a solution and more that can help to save the planet. It is rare to fall out of bed in the morning and say, “Hmm, I think I will learn about the Amazon rainforest today.”  It just doesn’t happen. Life is too busy. Or maybe you do, but you are, um, different. An event is an opportunity to bring people together for a fun celebration.  Did I mention it has to be fun?  There have to be several wow factors that delight the crowd and make the party a worthwhile alternative to watching Planet Green at home.

I fell into the environmental event world by chance. When I first decided to give the cubicle the boot and replace the gray office with the gray whale, my question was “What do I care most about?” The answer at the time was tigers. Endangered tigers and lions. So I called WildAid and asked, “What can I do?”  They needed a launch party thrown in San Francisco, and the rest is history in the making as they say.

I like doing events that are complimentary. Free is always the right price!  Movie screenings and premieres are some of my favorite events because (almost) nothing surpasses the experience of watching a great film. Sometimes events are fundraisers and have a ticket price benefiting a charity.  I have a hard time asking for money. Between asking someone for funds or donating something myself, I will often do the latter much to the horror of my financial advisor who is always telling me to “pull back.”  Why should I when the planet needs help now?  If I wait until I am 80 to start trying to protect the forests for example, they might be all gone. I would rather help now. That is just my personal choice. It absolutely doesn’t have to be anyone else’s.

Over time, I have learned that many people actually want to donate money to causes they care about.  A shocking discovery I know!  Not everyone is passionate about every cause, and that is a good thing.  If everyone were passionate about the oceans above all else, then who would put education, global health, or climate change as their No. 1?   We need to divide and conquer. The oceans are probably a bad example because they need more champions. They are easy to forget about because they seem fine at the surface. 70% of our planet is remarkably covered by oceans. Anyway, when people become connected with opportunities to make a difference in areas they care deeply about, that is party nirvana. And it doesn’t have to be about money. There are so many ways to make a positive impact such as volunteering, writing a blog post, and spreading the word. Even just being aware and caring is huge.

Occasionally, I get to attend a party with absolutely no purpose where I have no role except to have fun. My friend and I overdosed on frosting at the last one.  Correction:  I OD’ed on frosting and she OD’ed on cake. If there is a dance floor and excellent music involved, I am the happiest guest there.  A green girl can let her hair down from time to time, but only when the planet isn’t looking.

Heroes are Good

When the going gets tough, the tough get heroes. Al Gore is one of my heroes. He has all the qualities a modern superhero should have:  an enlightened vision, willingness to take on the villains, persistence, and dashing good looks - at least I think so.

Here are highlights from Al Gore’s speech A Generational Challenge to Repower America. A member of Al's Hollywood entourage, Will.i.am even came from LA to hear him speak.

If you don’t like Al Gore, then let's try to imagine that someone else is talking. One of the key things we must do is de-politicize the environment. Taking a vitamin pill is not a political issue. Going to the gym, drinking clean water, or breathing clean air are not political issues. Living on a healthy planet is not a political issue, or is it?

A grassy park brings people from all walks of life together. The day that the environment became a “left” issue was the day that we started having problems. We do not have to choose between the environment and jobs. Green jobs hold great promise for a renewed, self-sufficient, prosperous U.S. economy.  The environment can unify us, not divide us.

I admit that the former Vice President may not be the best person to de-politicize green and clean, but here is the best of Al:

Sun & Wind & Geo Rule: “Enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. Enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to also meet 100 percent of electricity demand. Geothermal energy is capable of providing enormous supplies of electricity for America.”

Repower America:  “Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.”

We Are Doing What?: “We are borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change.”

As Oil Prices Rise, Sun Prices Fall: “When demand for oil and coal increases, their price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down. That’s the difference. Sunlight is free forever.”

Green Jobs:  “When we send money to foreign countries to buy nearly 70 percent of the oil we use every day, they build new skyscrapers and we lose jobs. When we spend that money building solar arrays and windmills, we build competitive industries and gain jobs here at home.”  [Huge applause]

Who is Benefiting from the Status Quo?:  “There are those who will tell us this can't be done. Some of the voices we hear are the defenders of the status quo - the ones with a vested interest in perpetuating the current system, no matter how high a price the rest of us will have to pay.”

American People Want Change:  “To those who say the challenge is not politically viable: I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo. Then bear witness to the people's appetite for change. The time is now."

Status Quo is a No Go:  "I for one do not believe our country can withstand 10 more years of the status quo. Our families cannot stand 10 more years of gas price increases. Our workers cannot stand 10 more years of job losses and outsourcing of factories. Our economy cannot stand 10 more years of sending $2 billion every 24 hours to foreign countries for oil. Our soldiers and their families cannot take another 10 years of repeated troop deployments to dangerous regions that just happen to have large oil supplies.”

Plug-Ins For All:  We could increase the value and efficiency of the grid by helping our struggling auto giants switch to the manufacture of plug-in electric cars.”

Policy Matters:  “I have long supported a sharp reduction in payroll taxes with the difference made up in CO2 taxes. We should tax what we burn, not what we earn."

Drilling Won’t Matter:  “When people rightly complain about higher gasoline prices, we propose to give more money to the oil companies and pretend that they're going to bring gasoline prices down. It will do nothing of the sort, and everyone knows it.”

China is Gulping Oil:  “If you want to know the truth about gasoline prices, here it is: the exploding demand for oil, especially in places like China, is overwhelming the rate of new discoveries by so much that oil prices are almost certain to continue upward over time no matter what the oil companies promise.”

A Generational Call:  “This is a generational moment. A moment when we decide our own path. We're committed to changing not just light bulbs, but laws. And laws will only change with leadership.”

Man on the Moon, Man on Earth:  Just as we put a man on the moon in 1969, “we must now lift our nation to reach another goal that will change history. Our civilization depends upon us embarking on a new journey of exploration and discovery [to end our reliance on fossil-based fuels]. We have an opportunity to take a giant leap for humankind."

Thinking about this, it does seem almost silly how wedded we are to fossil fuels, which will run out.  They are fossils and by definition, they are old and finite and dirty. Decayed organic matter. Would we burn a cemetery for energy?  That is essentially what we are doing. How does that celebrate life?  The sun shines down on us every day. The wind blows every day. The Earth's core boils every day. We can take advantage of these “free” renewable and clean sources of energy every day. 

Sometimes I feel like Lois Lane, waiting for Al Gore to swoop down and take me for a ride high above the clouds to save the planet.  We need Al Gores in our life to help us envision a brighter future. But in our modern society, every person who embraces the connection between ourselves and the planet is a hero in his/her own right. So is every person who makes 1-2 small changes or spreads the word about how ecofabulous it can be to live a healthy lifestyle. Going forward, we need champions for change, not defenders of the status quo. We need heroes like Al Gore and like all of us.

Watch Al Gore's speech or visit www.wecansolveit.org

55 Million Acres Protected

In an extraordinary announcement yesterday, the Ontario government has agreed to protect 55 million acres of the vast Northern Boreal Forest in Canada from mining and development. This is 50% of Ontario’s pristine yet threatened Northern Boreal Forest, and an area half the size of California.  Now that is something to celebrate!

Here are some jaw-dropping facts:

Big:  55 million acres of the largest intact forest remaining on Earth are now protected from development.

Carbon:  12.5 million tonnes of CO2 is sequestered each year by the Northern Boreal forest.

Water:  The Boreal Forest ranks No. 1 in storing freshwater (in wetlands and lakes) and carbon (in trees and soil) compared to all other terrestrial ecosystems.

People:  28 First Nations indigenous communities live in the Boreal Forest.

Animals:  More than 200 animals live in the Northern Boreal, such as the bald eagle, wolverine, lake sturgeon, caribou, hundreds of songbird species, and the polar bear.

We don’t often hear about the Boreal Forest, which is a continuous belt of conifer trees across North America and Eurasia. What kinds of trees live there?  Firs, pines, and spruces for example.  Basically trees that have a cone. Perhaps the Boreal could be nicknamed the Great Conehead forest.

Over the last 3 years, ForestEthics has campaigned to raise the profile of the Boreal Forest worldwide.  They reached out to over 500 wood and paper customers including Limited Brands, Staples, and Lowes, and they supported the First Nations in their struggle to keep their natural home.

“The government of Ontario’s commitment to protect the Northern Boreal Forest raises the bar for environmental protection across Canada and around the world,” said Todd Paglia, executive director of ForestEthics.

There is still work to do to protect the Southern Boreal from accelerated logging, but ForestEthics and other environmental organizations like the Pew Environment Group are on it. If yesterday was any indication, 2008 is going to be a good year for the forests.

Save the date Tuesday September 30 for the annual ForestEthics party in San Francisco celebrating the launch of the Do Not Mail campaign to help curtail junk mail, save 100 million trees per year, and take back our mailboxes.  Bring your junk mail for shredding and recycling!  I guarantee it will be fun, or you can give my address to the catalog companies.  www.forestethics.org

A Charmone Cinderella Story

If Cinderella had been wearing one of Charmone’s Fall 08 Collection shoes, she would have never left her slipper behind at the ball.

A favorite of eco-celebrities like Natalie Portman, this Charmone collection features stunning metallic designs from gold, silver, and bronze to head-turning pink and Stardust blue.  The seductive savannah was Charmone’s muse this season.  Popular silhouettes are also back including the Darjeeling bootie and cutting-edge Cezanne peep-toe heel.

The three pairs of Charmone stilettos in my closet never fail to turn heads when they see the light of day, or the spotlight of a cocktail party.  I love them.  People say, “Nice shoes!” and I can respond, “Thanks, and they are eco-friendly!”  They are shocked, and frankly I still am too that planet-chic shoes can be so darn beautiful.

What is eco-charming about Charmone shoes?  They are 100% vegan and cruelty-free (no leather) and handcrafted of high-quality Italian microfibers in Italy, Brazil, and LA.  Sweatshop-free of course.  These luxe beauties incorporate water-based glue and nickel-free hardware, without any undesirable PVC or chromium.  Plus, Charmone shoes are breathable and lightweight with gorgeous European designs.  The proof that beauty doesn’t have to be painful for the planet is in the foot. 

And wearing Charmone just might make a prince show up.

You can view Charmone’s fabulous footwear at eco-fashion boutiques nationwide or online at www.charmone.com

Swim Away Home

This weekend at Moss Beach in Northern California, 4 rehabilitated baby harbor seals and 2 young sea lions made their way back into the ocean, after being nursed back to health by the Marine Mammal Center.

The cage doors opened and the sea lion pups made a direct line for the waves. Poof, they were gone!  The baby harbor seals, on the other hand, were far more timid. “Where are we?” they seemed to wonder.  “What do we do now?”  The bewildered look on their faces upon re-entering the ocean was priceless. They continued to swim, play, and dive around Moss Beach for hours.  Luckily, there is an established harbor seal colony nearby that will teach these wide-eyed creatures the ropes.

The four seal beauties had satellite tags on their heads, which explained their funny-looking hats. Scientists will be able to track where the harbor seals travel for one year and make sure that they are ok.

I highly recommend a visit to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve near Half Moon Bay at low tide for some spectacular tide pooling.

Based on the vibrant health of this outgoing class, the Marine Mammal Center clearly does a wonderful job rehabilitating lost and injured seals, sea lions, and an occasional dolphin.  The staff feeds the rescued animals in a special way that does not domesticate them, thereby enabling them to rejoin wild ocean life. Based in the Marin Headlands in Sausalito with a new center, the organization has rescued and treated over 12,000 animals since 1975 and reached over 100,000 school children with their marine science education programs. I hope you will get to experience the magic of seeing a newly-healthy baby harbor seal swim away home to the sea.

Solarthon Race is On

The race will be on this weekend to install eight solar electric systems in one day at GRID Alternatives Solarthon 2008.  This will be an amazing event where teams will outfit Habitat for Humanity houses with solar panels, thereby enabling low-income families to experience the brightness of living off the sun.  Be there or be dim.

 

GRID Alternatives
Solarthon 2008

WHEN:
Saturday June 28, 2008
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

WHERE:
Habitat for Humanity East Bay
Please see Solarthon

These events fill up quickly, so if registration becomes full, don't despair. Another installation day will soon be in the air.

PG&E and its Solar Habitat Initiative have graciously stepped up to become the event’s flagship supporter.  The new solar systems will generate over $130,000 in clean renewable power over their expected lifespans, while offsetting 400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Over 150 volunteers will participate in an uplifting and fun day in the sun for the community and the planet.  If it’s foggy in San Francisco, what better excuse to get out of town, get some rays and celebrate this great energy resource shining down on us every day. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and some friends. Can we do the installations in our bathing suits?  

Learn more about GRID Alternatives and their marvelous work bringing solar and energy efficiency to low-income families throughout California at www.gridalternatives.org

944 Launches in San Francisco

Welcome to San Francisco, 944 Magazine.  944 is one of the fastest growing lifestyle publications in the nation featuring local and national content. And it is beautiful.

944 began in Phoenix six years ago and now has custom books in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Miami, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Orange County. Clearly, they have an affinity for sunny places. They must think San Francisco is sunny because we are in California. 

I know you are dying to know, like I was, what do the digits 944 stand for?  In addition to a nice Porsche, 944 is the address of the building where the magazine first got its start.  We are literal in the Bay Area and have to get to the bottom of things.

Flipping through the pages of 944’s inaugural San Francisco June issue, we see fashion, music, food and wine, art, design, eco-friendly resorts, celebrities, the social scene, and more. 944 seems to be filling a different niche than my other still-beloved SF magazines including 7x7 and San Francisco magazine. 944 is edgy, elegant, and most of all, inclusive. By covering all corners of San Francisco, it has the power to bring the city together.

Here are a few exciting things about 944.  It is complimentary at select high-end spots across the city including hotels, boutiques, salons, and restaurants. It is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-certified) sustainable paper with 10% recycled content every month, not just in April.  Kudos to 944 for being one of the first magazines in the country to take this important eco-friendly step. It also has an incredibly short lead time (2 days before printing) so the content is up-to-the-minute and true to month.  For example, the Black & White Ball photos from May 31 made it into the June issue. Amazing!

I am thrilled to be a contributing eco-editor for 944 San Francisco. My column is called the Green Spot, which somehow got shortened to g-spot in the first issue. I can’t imagine how.

This Thursday night June 19, 944 will celebrate its official Launch Party at the Bently Reserve in collaboration with Martel and Nabiel and Vintage 415 with performances by the Macy Gray, the Fugees, E! Entertainment Host Catt Sadler, Chris Clouse, DJ Vice, and DJ Solomon. Now that is a line-up, and thank goodness I don't have any 8:00 am meetings on Friday.  www.944.com/sanfrancisco/

Jurlique Beauty Party

Nature is beautiful so it makes sense to tap into nature to make us beautiful. Case in point is the new Biodynamic Beauty Skin Care by Jurlique, which includes a renewing serum, an eye cream, a skin polisher, and a pampering night cream.  I tried them this week and the results are nothing short of glowing skin. Thank you nature and thank you Jurlique. Their hand creams in Lavender, Rose, and Citrus are also very popular and will transform your hands from brillo pads to silky smooth gloves.

What does biodynamic actually mean?  It is a method of sustainable farming that goes beyond organic and incorporates the cycles of nature, super healthy soil, the calendar, the sun and the moon, and more.

Stop by the Jurlique Biodynamic Beauty Party this Thursday, June 19 from 6 pm - 9 pm at the San Francisco Jurlique store at 2136 Fillmore Street. Enjoy the celebration with chef-prepared organic delicacies, biodynamic wine and the sweetest of all desserts, product samples!  www.jurlique.com

Up The Yangtze

In China, the Yangtze is known simply as “The River.”  I highly recommend seeing the film Up The Yangtze about the infamous Three Gorges Dam in China on the big screen.  The beautiful cinematography is epic.  It will be playing in San Francisco at Landmark Theatres at the Bridge on Geary starting on June 13, 2008 for just one week.

This film by brilliant rising star director Yung Chang surprised me. I expected an environmental documentary about a gargantuan dam and instead got a moving personal, fictional-like account of the young people and families whose lives are transformed by the dam. As the frames play, the water rises. The farewell luxury cruise ships sail. The Chinese teenagers leave home to work. The American tourists act goofy. The peasants are forced to move everything, on their backs.

As Chang said with a smile, “This is the Love Boat meets Apocalypse Now.” The remarkable thing is that Up The Yangtze is a documentary with rare live footage of moments that will never occur again. You feel like the cat on the hut floor, and it is a poignant and priceless place to be.  www.uptheyangtze.com

Global Green Millennium Awards

You are invited to get back to your glamorous green roots and celebrate top environmental leaders at the always a blast and always moving Global Green Millennium Awards this weekend.

Global Green Millennium Awards Show

WHEN:
Saturday June 14, 2008

WHERE:
Fairmont Miramar Hotel
101 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica

FEATURING:

• Celebrity guests
• Organic cocktail reception
• Delicious organic dinner
• Mingling with the green glitterati
• Awards to Lyn Lear, Van Jones, the LA Unified School District, and the South Group

Cocktail Attire or Luxury Eco

RSVP:
Reserve your spot online

GLOBAL GREEN:
Presented annually in Los Angeles, the Millennium Awards recognize and herald those whose lives and livelihood embody Global Green USA's mission of fostering a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure world.  www.globalgreen.org

Sustainable Brands or Bust

Tis green conference season – a quality problem to have!   

This week I will be at the Sustainable Brands 08 conference by Sustainable Life Media in Monterey, home of the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

The SB08 lineup is jam-packed with major brands pushing the green envelope including Keen, Ideo, Autodesk, Earthbound Farm, Yahoo!, eBay, Umbria, Frey Vineyards, World of Good, IBM, OZOcar, HP, Seventh Generation, Lexus, Kimpton, Method, Fetzer, Steelcase, Yolo, Gap, MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle, and many more that I look forward to learning about and reporting on. Stay tuned for the best of Sustainable Brands or bust.  www.sustainablebrands08.com

In other breaking conference news, there is Dwell on Design in LA this week, and don’t miss the Greener by Design conference in Alexandria, VA happening June 12 - 13, 2008.  Hosted by the expert GreenBiz, Global Executive, and Greener World Media gangs, this rendezvous of top eco-focused minds is sure to lead to a brighter green future for all, and some wild new products. Can we make a building that acts like a tree?  What are the full intentions of one’s designs?  After all, our current troubles are mostly a design problem.  As William McDonough always says, redesigning the way we make things is the key to unlocking a sustainable and regenerative future. The result will be nothing short of a new green “industrial” revolution for the millennium. Hope reigns supreme.  Let the battle of the conferences begin. See you at the cocktail hour.

Dwell on Design

One of my favorite green design conferences - Dwell on Design - is coming up June 5th through 6th in Los Angeles, and they are offering Heart of Green readers an enticing invitation.

 

Not that you needed an incentive to go, but you can receive complimentary tickets to the Exhibition Hall (a fabulous place to see 200 cutting edge green exhibitors) and $50 off the entire conference. Dwell on Design is an eco-conscious design mecca with 50 top speakers, a Sustainable Pre-Fab Neighborhood built on site, 16 Home Tours of private green residences, and of course the infamous evening parties at the Dwell Ford Brady and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Register here for the Dwell on Design conference. Use the code BDODEC for the complimentary Exhibition Hall pass and GRP22SP for the discounted conference ticket. If it stops working for some reason, I don’t want to hear about it. Just kidding.

If that wasn’t enough, you can also sign up for a free 1 month digital subscription to Dwell Magazine.

The place to be will undoubtedly be the Live Design Challenge Party at MoCA on Friday June 6 with an open bar hosted by 360 vodka and LA's top design rendering gurus producing 2D sustainable and modular dwellings, rooms and furniture in a live tournament. Watch the contestants' live sketches being brought to life and projected over the 578 square-foot walls in the Upper Sculpture Plaza and set to music by a live DJ. The Live Topiary Artist Creations sound pretty cool too for all of us garden geeks.  www.dwellondesign.com

FSC vs. SFI Forests

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I will let this photograph do the talking:

This photo shows the difference between a forest managed under the independent third-party Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification program and one managed under the industry-backed Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).  See more photos here. The difference is as clear as a smog-free day and shocking.

A common question is “What kind of wood should I buy?”  It turns out that there are no good or bad species – only good and bad forestry.  Let’s take a moment to examine FSC and SFI with the goal of getting to the green bottom of this burning issue.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Here are the principles of FSC-certified forests:

• Never harvests more than what grows back
• Protects biodiversity and endangered species
• Saves rare ancient trees
• Guards local streams
• Supports the local people
• Uses narrow skidding trails so as not to disrupt the rest of the forest
• Prohibits replacement by tree plantations
• Bans toxic chemicals
• Bans genetically modified trees (no GMO)

In the first year under FSC, you map and inventory all of the trees and assess the biology and the streams. Then you make a sustainable plan that will do the least harm and mimic the natural life and death cycle of the forest. Trees do fall down naturally which we see while hiking!

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

Here is what is allowed under the industry's SFI standard:

• Allows large clearcuts
• Allows logging close to rivers and streams that harms water supplies
• Allows use of toxic chemicals
• Allows conversion of old-growth forests to tree plantations
• Allows use of genetically modified trees

Who is Behind SFI:  The American Forest & Paper Association created SFI to market US timber business-as-usual logging practices as being sustainable. It is greenwashing and is funded by the largest pulp and paper companies including:

• International Paper (no. 1 largest wood processor in the world)
• Georgia-Pacific Corporation (no 2)
• Weyerhaeuser (no. 3)
• Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (no. 5)

Just saying that a company is planting “a million” trees is not the same as a well-managed sustainable forest. Clearcutting an old-growth forest to create a plantation of monoculture trees is a disaster and increasingly commonplace in Brazil and Indonesia. This isn’t a forest. This is a crop. As a result, the water wells for the local people dry up, the animals die, and the natural forest is lost forever. On a positive note, there are steps we can take not to be complicit in this debauchery.

What’s up with Deforestation?

After power plants, deforestation is the second leading cause of global warming in the world. Wood is a wonderful resource if managed sustainably.  It is naturally recyclable, biodegradable, non-toxic, easy to use, and relatively fast growing. Forests are also essential to the inner workings of our planet. Trees create oxygen, store carbon, store water, and produce vital rain clouds. At this moment, one football field worth of forest is being cleared per minute in the tropics. This is unsustainable and we have the power to quell it through our buying power.

50% of the wood imported into the US comes from illegal logging. 80% of South American and African hardwood and 90% of Asian hardwood sold in the US is illegally logged. Indonesia is the worst.

Guide to Good Green Wood

Here are a few small things that can make a big difference in the battle for good wood. We don't have to cut down the world's forests to print our docs and park our backside on a handsome chair.

1. Ask where the wood comes from. Ask for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood. Look for the FSC seal on the box and the invoice. Check.

2. Buy reclaimed or salvaged wood. Antiques are also the ultimate in eco-chic.

3. Buy recycled paper with a high % of post-consumer content.  For high-quality recycled copy and printing paper, Staples is great choice. FedEx Kinkos is also supporting FSC. OfficeMax is still lagging and selling paper from clearcut forests.

4. Bring your own bag to the grocery store or reuse the paper bags over and over until they shred. The paper bags at Safeway and Lucky’s are made by Weyerhaeuser under SFI. Help.

5. Bamboo is a rapidly-growing grass (weed) and a solid option for furniture.

6. Avoid SFI because fake green standards are lame.

7. Support companies and stores that sell FSC-certified or reclaimed wood products such as these super stars:

• EcoTimber
• Restoration Timber
  
• Berkeley Mills
• The Wooden Duck
• Mi Workshop 
  
• Kenneth Cobonpue
• Cisco Brothers Basal Living
• Q Collection and Q Collection Junior
  
• Bamboo Cabinets
  
• Modern Bamboo 
• Heritage Salvage  
• Tropical Salvage  

No SFI in LEED Let's Hope:  I am worried because the industry is currently lobbying the US Green Building Council heavily in all 50 states to get SFI to qualify for points under the popular LEED green building standards. This would be a catastrophe for the forests and the planet. So far the USGBC has held strong but how much lobbying can an organization take?  We need to support LEED holding firm and applaud the USGBC for wanting to promote green building standards that are truly sustainable and transformational.

The best news of all is that there are now 100 million hectors of forest land that is certified under FSC. The pull from the marketplace (you) for sustainable wood is working. Every time we buy FSC, reclaimed, or recycled, we are sending a message.  www.fsc.org

Update:  Thank you for the tremendous feedback. A few people have commented that FSC is not perfect but is the best we have right now for a sustainable forestry standard. I think this is an important point. Like with industrial organics, the pressure to compromise environmental standards always increases with volume. There are reports that some FSC forests have been slipping. It is critical to keep a green eye on this because FSC is our principle hope right now for preserving true forests into perpetuity. Let's support FSC in being the best they can be. That and let's also continue using recycled materials and developing tree-free sources like bamboo, rattan, hemp, bagasse, kenaf, and abaca rope to give the forests some breathing room. They are the lungs of our planet.

Guide to Safe Nails

The manicure-pedicure, or the mani-pedi for short. Part of a girl’s pampering ritual, and that of some enlightened guys too who have discovered the magic of the hand and foot massage. We won’t tell.

So imagine our shock when we learn that one of our favorite treats is filled with toxic chemicals. Knowledge is power, and we can still have beautiful sexy nails without harming ourselves or the nail salons. Here is Heart of Green’s Guide to Nailing Safe Nails:

Chemicals To Avoid

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) is a carcinogen that causes cancer and birth defects in laboratories. It was banned in the European Union years ago.

Formaldehyde is a neurotoxin and carcinogen with severe negative health effects. Nail polishes can emit high levels of formaldehyde when wet.

Toluene is a toxic inhalant that can cause contact dermatitis, eye irritation, depression, headaches, tiredness, nausea, loss of vision, and central nervous system problems. It can also be listed as benzene or toluol. Toluene is produced during the manufacture of gasoline from crude oil.

Good Nail Polishes

Buffing: I no longer get any polish on my hands and opt for nude buffing instead, which leaves a radiant shine without the chemicals or high-maintenance flaking. Buffing is the new French manicure for busy eco-conscious ladies. I still can’t resist red on my toes.

Peacekeeper makes mineral-based nail polishes with argan oil and without the bad stuff like FD&C coloring, toluene, or formaldehyde. Peaceful indeed.

Soulstice Nail Colour is vegan, glamorous, and free of the three undesirables.

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer comes in stylish shimmering colors and is vegan and free of synthetic dyes and the three no-nos.

Honeybee Gardens spins up a sweet water-based polish that is totally odor-free.

No Miss Nail Polish does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP and whips up colors made from the earth and UV inhibitors to protect your nails from the sun.

OPI has begun to remove the hazardous chemicals toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) from their gaggle of omnipresent nail polishes.

Sante Kosmetics Nail Polish is recommended without reservation.

Good Nail Spas

Visit a nail salon that has taken the leap to treading lightly and safely on its workers, its clients, and the planet.

Priti Organic Spa in New York

Pure Nails in Austin

Julep Nail Parlor in Seattle

Honey Nail Salon in Atlanta

Nova Nail Spa in San Francisco – Enter this green nail spa with heated floors and relax in the midst of organic geranium essential oils, fresh rose petals, organic ginger scrubs, and organic ginger body lotions. It is located at 811 Mission Street in San Francisco.

Your Favorite Nail Spa: Any spa can become eco-friendly if you bring in your own favorite safe polish. Maybe they will even give you a discount, if you don’t lay on the guilt trip as thick as the salt scrub. Be light and friendly and who knows, maybe the next time you come in, they will be painting all of their clients with your chemical-free gloss.

Healthy Resources

To go deep on safe beauty products, please see these excellent resources:

Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database

Teens For Safe Cosmetics - these teens rock safe beauty for all of us.

Tip: People always comment on how long my nails grow and want to know my secret. I think it is because I take calcium daily and also like to drink milk?  Organic milk, soy milk, real yogurt, cheese, ice cream, the works. Try it and let me know the results!

Visionary Eco Boutique Party

Get your green party on in West Hollywood this Wednesday at the opening of the new eco-chic boutique Visionary.

Per the owners, “Visionary is a place where people can come in and learn about the green culture and get inspired to become part of the solution.” And I might add, have a fun time at a party for the planet.  Eco-fashion, jewelry, home accessories, gifts and children’s wear are all there for the browsing.

Visionary Launch Party

 

WHEN:
Wednesday May 21, 2008
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

WHERE:
Visionary Eco Boutique by Wildchild Wear
8568 1/2 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, California
310.659.1177

Enjoy organic libations and light fare. Proceeds benefit Global Green USA. The world into stylish eco-conscious products?  Now that is a stirring vision of the future worth celebrating Hollywood-style.  www.visionaryboutique.com

Sarlo Wick Sparkle

What is blowing out of the ultra-hip Fred Segal store in LA and just landed exclusively at the Sarlo Wick antique store in San Francisco?  The stunning and exotic Alkemie jewelry line made of 100% reclaimed metals, reincarnated vintage chains, and naturally-tanned leather.

Coins, snakes, cuffs, Egyptian motifs?  Choose your favorite and let the good times roll. The necklaces can also be worn as chokers or bracelets - so chic. But don’t take my word for it. Check out these pictures below. I am now the proud owner of the Octopus cuff, but I’m sure you could persuade Gaby to order another one. Alkemie is made in the USA  www.alkemiejewelry.com

Owned by the talented designers Gabriella Sarlo and Will Wick, Sarlo Wick is filled with head-turning, glamorous antiques and eclectic treasures. Vintage is the ultimate eco.

In other news, Fred Segal Green just opened their eco-lifestyle store in LA, so there is much to celebrate and covet if you want your style with your planet.

    

Start Your Eco Engines

Fast cars are in my background and my blood. My father was a race car driver as a hobby, and we had a Formula 1 in the driveway for a while. I spent many weekends at the track learning about engines and the perils of corkscrew turns. I try to drive my Prius like a sports car with mixed success.

In the mid-1990s, I did a stint working at General Motors in Detroit for the EV1 electric vehicle. Yes, the one that they eventually crushed. The EV1 went 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds because electric motors deliver instantaneous torque; no shifting needed. Despite its old school inefficient lead-acid batteries and anemic range, I loved that space-age machine. If you have a need for speed and no need for profit-guzzling oil companies, the electric car is your new best friend.

Now we all know that the Ferrari is not the most eco-friendly car around with its gas mileage of 11 - 17 mpg. It sure looks and sounds darn good though. A Lamborghini did get 21 mpg recently which is not bad for a V-10 engine with 500 horsepower.

A new generation is on the verge of bringing the EV back, and its cousin, the plug-in hybrid or PHEV. The plug-in is the perfect bridge to the future because you can cruise elegantly on electricity around town and then switch into engine mode for your weekend trip to Vegas or Tahoe. Plug the car in anywhere ideally because electricity is virtually everywhere. No proprietary charging infrastructure this time, please. The net result can be gas mileage of 100 mpg or more with no limits on range. Now that is what we are talking about.

Tesla Motors:  Entry No. 1 in the race to deliver the car of the future is the Tesla Roadster of course. Preceded by the AC Propulsion Tzero, the Tesla offers the best of both worlds. A sexy gorgeous pure-electric sports car with high performance and an even higher profile. No lead-acid or NiMH batteries this time, but rather thousands of streamlined Lithium-Ion cells. There is some debate over whether small cells or one large Li-Ion battery would be better, and the conclusion is still as elusive as the Volt. Let’s give Tesla a break because what they are trying to do and succeeding in doing so far is one of the hardest feats alive – launching a new car company. Chairman Elon Musk was beaming last month on April 18 when he took delivery of his sleek black Tesla Roadster in Los Angeles, the first one to roll off the production line. Congratulations and champagne indeed!

Last week, Tesla unveiled its inaugural showroom in Beverly Hills with a star-studded party attended by Daryl Hannah, the voice of Quincy Jones, and enough Hollywood buzz to charge an entire fleet. Not to worry, Menlo Park in the SF Bay Area will be the home of Tesla showroom no. 2 this summer for the well-heeled eco set and car fanatics alike. The Tesla is as quiet as a mouse and almost as fast as a cheetah.

Automotive X Prize:  Entry No. 2 in the race is a race itself. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is offering a $10 million pot of gold to the best car of the future.  Teams from around the globe will compete to design super fuel-efficient cars that people actually want to buy. To win, the cars must be production-capable and exceed 100 MPG or its energy equivalent. A major focus will be put on affordability, safety, and the environment. Concept cars, you have had your day in the sun. It is time for real clean cars to have their day on Earth.

Huge kudos to Progressive Insurance, a 70-year-old company, for stepping up and supporting this revolutionary prize that will help the world break its oil addiction and drive full speed ahead to a cleaner future. See the Jay Leno video on cars and the X Prize. He collects old cars and even has some of the first steam and electric cars in the Jay Leno Green Garage. There were electric cars in 1909 – the Baker!

As announced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the cross-country race will begin in New York City in September 2009. Vehicles in competition will be tested in real-world conditions. Potholes anyone?  Over 60 teams from 10 countries have signed up so far, and the initial cars are ultra-mod and fabulous. Check out the Fuel Vapor ale car and the Velozzi supercar for starters. www.xprize.org

Smart Cars:  In other exhilarating car news, the Smart fortwo cars have launched in San Francisco and are taking the city by storm with their small form, even backing into impossibly-small parking spots and confounding the meter maids. It is over 2 feet shorter than a Mini and can yield fuel economy of 40 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway if you drive smart. I fell hard for the micro Smart cars in Milan and Paris and have been waiting for them to hit our shores ever since. They are here.

Think City:  Smart’s rival for cute eco car of the year may be the upcoming Th!nk City electric car from Norway. Revived from the grave by new CEO Jan-Olaf Willums, Think recently raised an impressive $78 million from Silicon Valley and European investors including Kleiner Perkins and Rockport Capital Partners and held a strategy session at Google. Think will be buying lithium-ion battery packs from none other than Tesla. Let’s hope that someday Ford will regret selling the adorable and eco-in-every-way Think in a fire sale hotter than a globally-warmed planet.

Chevy Volt Concept:  I am not going to comment on the Chevy Volt concept car except to say that seeing is believing, and I hope they do it by 2010. One question: why are they calling it an electric car when indeed it would have an E-Flex range-extending power source that runs on gas or E85 ethanol to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack?  It would be a plug-in hybrid electric car (PHEV), which would be great because people wouldn’t be scared off by a lack of range. You could also charge it using a normal 110-volt household plug - excellent. In the meantime, I think General Motors should not be running ads that say “from gas-friendly to gas-free” because they don’t sell any gas-free cars. The slogan is nice and peppy, and false advertising.

Toyota:  Speaking of plug-ins, Toyota is rumored to be testing a plug-in hybrid. The Prius is still the best green car on the market today, and a completely redesigned 2009 model is coming soon. A plug-in version would be the holy grail. However, it would only have a cruising range of 8 miles on electricity?  This is not enough. At least the Volt is purportedly aiming for 40 miles of range in the city on pure electricity. Toyota’s toe in the plug-in water is no doubt due to the great work of CalCars, Plug In Partners, and the new Google RechargeIt program, all proving that 100 mpg is possible right now with existing technology.

So if 100 mpg is within our grasp, why did Congress just pass new fuel economy standards mandating an average 35 mpg by 2020, thereby keeping us handcuffed to crude oil and throwing out the key?  Something is better than nothing after 32 years, but today’s technologies can produce far greater gas savings at the sticker-shocking $4.00 pump. California wants to see an average of 44 mpg by 2020 so that it can meet its aggressive AB32 targets to slow down carbon emissions. The state feels so strongly about it, Attorney General Jerry Brown is taking the federal government to court to allow the waiver. That is the maverick Jerry we like.

If everyone could drive a car that gets 40+ miles per gallon, the US would not have to import oil from the Middle East currently and use military power to protect oil reserves in these unstable regions.

Some hypermilers are taking matters into their own hands with the MPG Challenge this summer. Their game is to squeeze every mile they can out of each drop of gas. While their tactics might be a little extreme, we can all pick up a few tips like driving with a light foot and cruising down hills. Look mom, no feet. 

The best defense is a good offense. If you are in the market for a new car, try to buy the model (that you like) that gets the highest possible gas mileage, regardless of its hybrid label or not. Fuel economy is where it's at.

The dream remains plug-in electric cars that connect to chargers powered by solar panels. Plug into the sun, and even store electricity in the battery and sell it back. Vehicle-to-grid. What could be better? Now that is truly gas-free.

Let the race to make the car of the future begin and end. May the cleanest, fastest, and sexiest car win. My dad and I look forward to buying one and breaking a few speed records at the track.

Japanese Eco Fashion

Pretend that I am writing this in Japanese. Konnichi Wa. Hello for today.

Some of the best things happen by accident. Case in point is my trip to the Cotton Sheep boutique in Hayes Valley to procure a pair of stockings for a Linda Loudermilk outfit. The search to finish one eco-couture dress led unexpectedly to another. The mastery of Japanese fashion designer Suzuki Takayuki.

Suzuki Takayuki began his career as a costume designer in Tokyo. He is inspired by nature, and it shows in the delicate details of his pieces. Intricate laces, playful feminine curves, and organic colors that could enable you to camouflage yourself from predators in the wild, or at least in the urban cocktail party jungle. He uses natural dyes from the essence of raw woods, juniper berries, and more.

See pictures from the most recent Suzuki Takayuki fashion show in Tokyo, which began with a towering photograph of tree branches.

In his words, “clothes should be about not only trends but also individuality. My approach is to cherish every moment in the life of a garment, particularly finding new sides of it even when it seems totally worn out. Beauty can be found in anything. Objects like torn flowers can be seen as beautiful.”

Cotton Sheep also carries some stunning light Gasa sweaters made from washi.

Eco-fashion designer Linda Loudermilk is a lover of the natural fabric sasawashi, which is a blend of the detoxifying Japanese plant kumazasa with washi. Linda also derives the inspiration for her sexy Luxury Eco collections from nature – the colors of a peacock, the glaciers, the ocean. 

At Cotton Sheep, you might not be able to read your hang tag filled with Japanese characters, but the owner will translate enthusiastically with a smile. The language of fashion and nature is universal.

While you are there, don’t forget to pick up some wild stockings for your next night out. Warning - they may elicit rave reviews from strangers.

Cotton Sheep Boutique, 572 Hayes Street, San Francisco, 415-621-5546, www.suzukitakayuki.com

Natural Legacies Gala

Call me a dork but I like to vote. Receiving my voter pamphlet in the mail this weekend reminded me how lucky we are to be able to vote and how much voting matters. Or rather, how much policy can matter. The right policy.

With the flip of a switch, elected officials can give tax breaks to oil companies, or rescind them. They can create incentives for solar power and spur whole new clean energy industries like Germany did. They can ban dangerous chemicals and toxins from our products, or turn a blind eye. They can raise fuel economy standards to 40 mpg levels so that we no longer have to import any oil from the Middle East and use associated military might. And they can pass bills like the Wilderness Act and create land and marine reserves for generations to come. We note that the Grand Canyon had to be saved from flooding by a proposed dam.

This is why I was so excited to receive an invitation to the upcoming California League of Conservation Voters annual Environmental Leadership Awards Gala. It is entitled Natural Legacies and will be a celebration of individuals and organizations who are true conservation heroes. Exploiting natural resources for profit is easy. Saving pristine places from sprawling development is hard work. I am thrilled to see a whole night dedicated to conservation legacies.

California League of Conservation Voters
26th Annual Environmental Leadership Awards Gala
Natural Legacies

WHEN:
Friday, May 9, 2008
6:00 pm Cocktail Reception
7:00 pm Dinner & Awards Program

WHERE:
Hyatt Regency
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco

FEATURING:

• Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Leon Panetta
• Steve McCormick, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation and The Nature Conservancy
• Michael Mantell, Resources Law Group
• Julie Packard, Monterey Bay Aquarium, David and Lucile Packard Foundation 

RSVP:
800.755.3224, ext. 305
www.ecovote.org/conserve/

The gala will honor three visionary conservationists: Steve McCormick, Michael Mantell, and Julie Packard. These environmental leaders have preserved natural treasures across California and the world. This is sure to be an uplifting night filled with unrestrained applause and hope.

If I had a billion dollars, this would be my dream. To save and help restore forests, wetlands, river canyons, open spaces, and endangered animals for future generations to explore, enjoy, and cherish.

p.s. For time-strapped California voters, the CLCV recommends a No vote on Proposition 98 and a Yes vote on Proposition 99. When it comes to the always mind-binding eminent domain issues, I do what they say because the CLCV researches in depth and is the guru of all things green on the ballot. The out-of-state property rights extremists are at it again. They spend millions of dollars to put these dangerous eminent domain props on the ballot. They sound good in the one sentence, but in reality they would erode environmental protection for clean air and water, compromise local land planning, and eliminate rent control. Don’t these guys have anything else to do?  Imagine the land they could save if they put those millions into creating a natural legacy. Maybe we can invite them to the gala on May 9.  www.ecovote.org

There is a national League of Conservation Voters too!  www.lcv.org

Eco Med Spa Opens

Who can’t use a little bit of pampering in today’s modern life?   The only thing better than a spa is an eco-spa.

Tomorrow in San Francisco’s Union Square, the talk of the town will be the opening of the first green medical spa in the country – the Epi Center eco Med Spa. This oasis in the big city has actually been in existence for a remarkable 10 years, but the owner Margaret Mitchell decided she wanted to go green from the inside out. Hence, a complete LEED-certified green remodel and move to a suite filled with windows, light, organic beauty products, filtered water, and the works. Now you can have laser hair removal and clinical skin care in a place where beauty, modern science, and the environment join together to produce gorgeous results.

I love spas but occasionally it can be an unintended stressful experience for those of us with an active mind. Why are they tugging at my skin?  What chemicals are lurking in those products?  Ignorance was bliss but now knowledge is power.

The beauty of the new Epi Center eco Med Spa is that you can leave your worries behind and let the experts work their magic with organic tools in tow. Let the eco-pampering begin.  www.skinrejuv.com

As we know, beauty is truly skin deep. 70% or more of what we put on our skin gets absorbed into our body. Would we consider eating our face cream?  The good news is that companies are waking up and producing high-performance products without the baggage (parabens, polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl & laureth sulfates, unnatural fragrances, yuck). Whole Foods has even gotten into the act with their excellent new Premium Body Care seal of approval. Look for the sign next to the healthiest products in the market. They did the testing for us so we can bathe in peace.

My other favorite eco-oriented spas in San Francisco to date are the ayurvedic Kamalaspa in Union Square and the zen International Orange spa and yoga lounge on Fillmore. Perhaps I'll see you in the waiting room.

Discarded To Divine Gala

You are invited to the dazzling and transformative Discarded To Divine Gala benefiting St. Vincent de Paul Society. See vintage couture gowns given a new life on the runway by the most talented fashion designers in San Francisco and inspired by the de Young Museum’s permanent collection. If you fancy one of them, try to snag it during the auction. Fashion legend Wilkes Bashford is the master of ceremonies. Now that is green, glamorous, and absolutely divine.

Discarded To Divine Gala
Fashion Show, Green Cocktail Party & Auction

WHEN:
Saturday April 26, 2008
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

WHERE:
Academy of Art University
601 Brannan Street
San Francisco

TICKETS:
General  $45
VIP  $75 includes premier fashion show seating and VIP after party

RSVP:
Call 415.977.1270
Online at www.discardedtodivine.org

Happy Earth Holiday