earth4.jpgTo celebrate Earth Day this year, we recently asked readers to respond to the following questions: What have you done in the last year to reduce your impact on the planet? What are you planning to do in the future to reduce your impact? If you missed the opportunity to submit your ideas you can add them in the comments on this post. Here are the responses we received:

K. Baker / The Trailhead: We have been cycling and walking more for transportation. We still ride, hike, and run for recreation but have added more human-powered choices for transportation. We are also increasingly conscious of our buying patterns and evaluate every purchase in terms of sustainability. We have been recycling more and more, including breaking down packaging into separate components (plastic from the cardboard backing, etc). Not to pat myself on the back too much, but because I was present at the creation of the first Earth Day and the back to the land movement, I’ve always been very conscious of sustainability issues.

To honor Mother Earth and Earth Day, Trailhead Cycle & Ski is offering ten percent off all new bicycles.

MW: While Earth struts around the sun for another year, I’m planning on changing some consumer habits. I no longer trust the FDA because they seem more inclined to protect big money as opposed to protecting the health of a people. I’m going to buy body products that are free of mysterious chemical agents. So, while I used to feel comforted by a subtle sting on my scalp as I showered, I’m now weary of this feeling. I’m also going to try and drive less for adventures rather than be the weekend warrior driving 300 miles a weekend to find a good chunk of rock.

Anonymous: I have been asking myself “if it is necessary” before I purchase something. This includes everything from a candy bar (maybe I’ll lose a little weight this next year) to kitchen appliances to a house. Our current living situation is a small apartment above the store, which really challenges our lifestyle. While it would be great to have more room so we could entertain more, it’s also great to learn to live without a lot of the “stuff “ that we lived with in the past.

Todd Herzer: I have recently begun purchasing as much local food as possible from a local farm and working to eliminate processed food from my diet. I am also asking myself “do I need the latest technologically cool product?” As a result I recently cancelled an item that I ordered several months ago and just recently came available. As a result of the sustainable living discussions I was much more conscious about the wasteful components that were in the product. I am keeping track of my weekly gas consumption and initiating a plan to reduce by 10%, and making changes to my driving habits to do so. In completing the furnishing of my house I am committed to purchasing used furniture rather than new pieces.

BV Roastery: The Buena Vista Roastery’s Carbon Reduction and Sequestration Initiatives, 2008, is our plan for the upcoming year. We are also starting Coffees For A Cause which is a new program that will allow our customers to purchase our Fair Trade Organic coffee and put 10% of their purchase toward one of the six causes / non-profits. The non-profits that we are talking with include HMI – Heifer International, The Assocaition of Family Farms, BALLE, The Breast Cancer Research Fund and Chaffee County Boys and Girls Club. We hope, through our efforts to raise the level of awareness of consumers that their purchases can and should have a greater impact.

The Buena Vista Roastery’s Carbon Reduction and Sequestration Initiatives, 2008:

  • Collaboration with BBI, International for a carbon footprint assessment and Green Business Certificate – in progress
  • Reduction in wattage on all lights – in progress
  • Leakage and Sealage study of café, roasting and storage facilities – planned for 2008
  • Investigate options for recycling heat exhaust from roaster/heat recovery – in progress
  • Replacement of equipment with EnergyStar and other energy reduction equipment – begin in 2008
  • Regular maintenance on all equipment to ensure proper airflow and optimum efficiency – in progress
  • Investigate electric/wind trading options with Sangre de Cristo Electric Coop – in progress
  • Carry out waste generation assessment site-wide, initiate waste reduction practices accordingly – planned for 2008
  • Investigate secondary uses for burlap sacs and chaff by-products – in progress
  • Involve Holistic Management International in marketing and sales efforts to incorporate terrestrial carbon sequestration options for coffee purchases – in progress
  • Increase civic donations to agricultural related activities and other efforts focused on environmental stewardship, in addition to other charitable activities – in progress
  • Initiate and grow our Coffees for a Cause program – in progress, launch spring 2008

Also, we are Organic and Fair Trade certified and strive to source beans from socially responsible farms when they can’t afford certification, we carry organic teas, we use only Simple Green as a cleaning product, we compost our coffee grounds and chaff, we encourage using mugs in the shop and are investigating compostable disposable cups, we use recycled paper in the printer, we recycle all plastics, cardboard, greyboard, etc, we don’t use packing peanuts and encourage our vendors to ship with alternative materials.

Dustin Heron Urban: I recently adopted a couple of new water conservation habits. After hearing a suggestion on KUNC, I have begun turning off the shower water while I’m soaping up. I’ve also been capturing the water which I waste pulling hot water to the faucet. Turns out I get a gallon or so of water every time I do this. Now I use that water on our tomato plants. Thinking more carefully about water use, I’ve noticed the absurdity of flushing the toilet with our pristine drinking water. Perhaps I’ll do something about that this year.

J & A Abdelnour: We have reduced our trips to Denver significantly in the past year. We have also dramatically changed our eating habits - eating grass-fed, holistically managed beef from Landmark Harvest, salad greens and other vegetables from Erin’s Organics and more veggies, fruits, and eggs from the Weathervane Farm CSA and Colorado Grown Co-op, trying to reduce the number of miles our food needs to travel and the amount of pesticides we ingest. We are purchasing far less clothing and electronic goods, trying to get more mileage out of our current possessions.

If thinking more carefully about your footprint on the earth is of interest to you, you may want to check out Community Action For Climate Change, Wednesday, April 23, 6-8pm at the Steam Plant Theater in Salida. This edition of the Sustainable Living Series will feature a special presentation about Colorado’s Climate Change Action Plan and the New Energy Economy. An interactive panel discussion will follow to engage the community in Salida’s efforts in environmental sustainability, and to learn about important initiatives by local leaders.

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