wind power generated from kites

“giant kites to tap power of the high wind” [article + video]

Contact

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, if you have any information pertinent to the theme of this site and would like to share, let me know and I will gladly post it! My email address is:

anna.eshelman (at) gmail.com

Lifestyle Inventory: Ways I Can Further Reduce My Carbon Output

Install more energy-efficient lightbulbs – My bedroom overhead light and bathroom lights are incandescents. The rest of my lighting is either CFL or LED, but I haven’t switched the bedroom or bathroom overheads because they’re difficult to reach. Making the switch over to completely energy-efficient lighting will help to reduce my electricity consumption.

Drying rack – I am getting one soon! It has 24′ of drying space and is New England made from SFI certified eastern white pine wood with birch dowels. Using a drying rack will eliminate/reduce my need for the laundromat’s dryer.

Compost – I will invest in a kitchen composter in the future. If I have the space to do it, I would like to set up a compost in my yard.

Buy more local food – I always buy organics when I see them in grocery stores (and occasionally I’ll see some locally grown produce), but nearly all of my produce is not locally grown. I read that up to 30% of the fruits and vegetables shipped from South America arrive damaged or unfit for being sold here in the USA, meaning that the energy used in growing, maintaining, and shipping this food was wasted.

Stop buying plastic garbage bags – Although I never bring home plastic bags from shopping, I still use them for my kitchen trash. I would like to invest in BioBags, and better yet, seek ways to minimize my waste output altogether.

Unplug appliances/devices – Although I unplug my microwave, coffeegrinder, and toaster oven when not in use, I own a synthesizer/keyboard, television, printer, and computer, all of which are connected to surge protectors which I leave plugged in when I’m not using them. I am currently reseraching what energy-draw these items have.

Purchase offsets and renewable energy – When I can afford it, I want to purchase offsets / buy green power for my home / studio.

My work as a graphic designer – Currently I am reseraching ways I can reduce my carbon impact in my work as a graphic desgner. I am researching papers, inks, printers, studios, and ideas for repurposing projects. Check out the rest of this website for more information about these subjects.

Lifestyle Inventory: Ways I Am Reducing My Carbon Output

I am fortunate to have been introduced to many of these carbon impact-reducing products through the store I work at, Real Green Goods. *Below images courtesy of Real Green Goods.

MISCELLANEOUS

Reusable bags. I shop with bags made from jute fiber, a burlap coffee sack, 80% recycled cotton / 20% recycled bottles made locally (in New Hampshire), and organic cotton. I never bring home plastic.

Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle. I carry it with me everywhere and try not to purchase drinks bottled in plastic. Although glass is heavier to ship, it can be endlessly recycled and doesn’t leach anything toxic.

Transportation. I don’t have a car here at school. However, I do take at least two round-trip flights home per year. Although I drive infrequently while at home, I live in a rural area so I am forced to drive long distances when I need to go somewhere.

Heating. I live on the second floor of an old building in a small studio apartment. I set my heat at 50 degrees and it hardly ever comes on, due to the rising of heat from the apartment below me. Because of this, my monthly gas usage is quite low.

Recycling. I recycle everything that I can: paper, plastic, metal, glass. (As of January 8, 2008, Baltimore enacted a single-stream recycling program and I’m happy to see my neighbors taking full advantage of it.)

KITCHEN

Bamboo cutting board. Bamboo is a cost-effective alternative to virgin wood. Bamboo is considered renewable since it continually sends out new shoots and is very fast-growing. This board is made from Chinese bamboo, which unfortunately adds to its carbon footprint due to long-distance shipping.

Walnut Wood Cutting Board. This board was made from reclaimed materials in New Hampshire.

Glass storage containers. Unlike plastic tupperware, glass containers won’t leach any harmful chemicals and can be recycled infinitely.

TWIST sponges / sponge cloths. These are biodegradable and replace the need for paper towels. 99.97% of all waste created during the making of the sponge is re-used in production. The cellulose fiber is from renewable tree farms, and the paper packaging can be converted into a birdfeeder!

French Press. I use my press for coffee and tea (bulk leaves). This press is made with stainless steel and glass and eliminates the need for paper filters.

Organic foods. I shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s and buy organics when I can. I’d like to purchase more food locally!

SOAPS + SUCH

Vermont Organics hand soap. This comes in bulk from the store I work at, Real Green Goods. Buying in bulk eliminates the need for packaging and reduces the amount of cardboard necessary for shipping.

Recycled Chopsticks Soap Dish. Made from sanitized used chopsticks. I also own a fair-trade “soap box” made from the abaca plant (from the Phillipines) which is durable and biodegradable.

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Detergent. Charlie’s is a biodegradable coconut based powder. You only need 1 tbsp. per load and it cleans wonderfully. It’s unscented and comes in a recyclable brown paper bag.

Hemp Oil Deodorant. (Lafe’s) A combination of mineral salts, certified organic hemp oil, and certified organic aloe vera and is void of aluminum chlorhydrate, alcohol, paraben, or propylene glycol.

Badger Balm Chapstick and balms made locally in NH. More than 70% of the ingredients are certified organic with the goal of being 95% certified organic in early 2008. All other ingredients are ecologically harvested, grown wild, and/or are fair trade.

LIGHTING

CFLs. 1 HappyLite CFL (36W), 1 bedside reading light CFL (18W), 1 kitchen overhead CFL (18W), 1 CFL desk lamp (?W)

LEDs. 2 LED nightlights, 1 LED strand (?W)

The Companion is a crank-powered/solar powered LED flashlight, radio, and cell phone charger (I’m working on getting this feature to function).

CLOTHING

Most of my clothes are hand-me-downs or come from thrift stores. I also own clothes made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton.

Welcome + About

After completing a number of online carbon footprint calculators, I found that although there are ways I am helping to minimize my CO2 output, there are still many changes I could make to further reduce my global impact. The calculators’ questions inspired me to thoroughly investigate my life and research how to reduce my carbon impact at home, on the go, and as a graphic designer.

This personal research (see My Carbon Footprint to learn more) prompted me to create a resource for myself and other graphic designers who want to incorporate sustainable practices into their work. I am constantly learning new information not only about the severity of the climate crisis, but also about how positive actions, on the individual, local, and global levels, really can and do make a difference. Designers have the power to inform, inspire, and hopefully initiate change — even if this change is as simple as changing light bulbs or switching from buying paper made from virgin lumber to paper with recycled content.

Viridiarium (means a tree garden, or a green place) takes the form of an interactive blog that I hope will not only spread information but encourage conversation. Explore the categories to find a subject you’re interested in, from vegetable-based ink to wind power. Learn about what artists and designers are doing now to implement sustainable practices. Check out the Glossary which clarifies such terms as “Elemental Chlorine Free” and organizations such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Although this blog is geared towards graphic designers, I post inspirations of any subject that I find relevant to reducing our collective carbon footprint.

This site is only a beginning. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, if you have any information pertinent to the theme of this site and would like to share, let me know and I will gladly post it!

Thank you very much for visiting.

Anna Eshelman

anna.eshelman (at) gmail.com
www.annaeshelman.com