Each year when the Fourth of July rolls around I get ready for one of my favorite summer traditions—packing up a picnic dinner and heading down to watch fireworks by the lake. But this summer, I’m going to try to make my picnic as eco-friendly as possible.

One of the biggest problems with picnics is the amount of trash they generate. By cutting down on waste and packaging I can make a meal that’s good for the earth as well as for me.

• Instead of buying a bunch of water bottles, juice boxes, or soda cans, most of which will wind up in the trash by the end of the day, try filling up a thermos with your favorite drink at home. Not only will your drink stay cold, but you are more likely to recycle the bottles or cans at home instead of putting them straight in the trash at your picnic site.

• Picnics are made for finger food, which can get messy. But instead of bringing a bunch of paper napkins to wipe your sticky fingers on, try using cloth napkins instead. They can be easily rewashed and used again, eliminating a lot of paper waste.

• Paper plates and plastic silverware seem like an easy option because you don’t have to worry about them getting broken or lost, and you can just throw them away when you are done. But they do generate a lot of needless waste. Try investing in some inexpensive plates for picnics—I have a set of fun and funky plastic plates that are hardy enough I don’t have to worry about breaking them and have the added benefit of not getting soggy from a juicy slice of watermelon! Even more eco-friendly are plates made of recycled plastic. Old or mismatched silverware is also great for picnics, since if you do lose a piece here or there, you don’t have to worry about breaking up a set.

• Eliminate plastic bags. Although it is tempting to just put your food into sandwich bags, it generates a lot of waste. Reusable containers not only store food just as well, but they can actually protect it better on the journey to your picnic location. Thus your strawberries will remain unbruised and your sandwiches unsquashed until you are ready to eat them.

Photo by  Crystl / Courtesy Flickr 

While tossing around a Frisbee and lounging in the hot sun, there is nothing more refreshing than chowing down on some cold fruit. This fresh fruit salad with a honey-lime dressing is a staple for picnics in summer. It’s also a breeze to make and tailor to fit your tastes.

Cut up a bunch of your favorite fruits. I like to include strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew, apples (granny smith are particularly good because the tartness contrasts with the sweet flavors of the other fruits), blueberries, and nectarines. However, just about any fruit will taste good in this mix.

To make the dressing, combine 2 parts of honey to 1 part of fresh lime juice. The amount of dressing will vary depending on the size of your salad, but a good rule of thumb would be to use ½  a cup honey and ¼ cup lime juice for every 8 cups of fruit.

Pour the dressing over the fruit and toss to coat it all evenly. If you like, you can sprinkle a little grated lime peel on top to add a bit more flavor and texture. This sweet and tart salad will tantalize your taste buds while you wait for the sun to go down and the fireworks to begin.

College has consumed my brain this past week as my family and I drove up and down the East Coast in search of my dream liberal arts school. Our last stop was Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. On the tour, an outspoken girl grilled our tour guide about how the college is going green.  

Our guide told us the college is getting greener. Though average Wesleyan students enter with 4.0s on their report cards, Wesleyan’s green report card sports a B+ average. Wesleyan’s weak point? A “C” in transportation. Wesleyan uses four electric shuttles for transportation to the airport and around campus. Wesleyan is getting greener, though: Since March 2008 students have had access to an online carpooling site.

In my opinion, Williams College wins the top green college prize for creatively encouraging students to go green. Our tour guide explained to us that the chalk-inscribed phrase on the brick dorm walls that read “Do it in the Dark” was not a dirty college joke, (as a father on an earlier tour had angrily assumed) but rather, a catchy way to tell students to save energy. For a month, students tried to study, eat and socialize without flipping on a light switch. Williams, also struggling in the area of transportation, received a B+ average as well. 

These middle-of-nowhere selective colleges have a difficult time achieving an above average green transportation ranking because the airports are farther away. So who is getting the top ranks, anyway? 

Princeton Review provides a one-stop shop for college searchers by including the green rankings of every school in its overall profiles. Not surprisingly, Harvard and Yale made the cut for top green colleges. A large endowment may seem like a fast ticket to success, but these schools are not the only ones receiving high marks. The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll acknowledges more than just the Ivies. Bates and Emory are among the eleven schools who received the highest green college rating (99 out of 100). Bates uses 28 percent of its food budget to buy local, natural and organic foods. Emory requires all of its new buildings to be LEED-certified and uses vegetable oil converted to biodiesel to fuel the campus buses. College of the Atlantic, harboring solely human ecology majors, received that ranking as well. 

The College Sustainability Report Card for 2009 is an excellent resource for researching green colleges. It awarded just five percent of the 300 colleges it surveyed an A- grade (talk about selective!). The green colleges report card ranks colleges based on specific categories such as green building, student involvement, food and recycling, transportation and investment priorities. 

Dartmouth has held an A- for three years, while University of Vermont, University of Washington and Middlebury have received this ranking for two years in a row. Dartmouth gives priority parking and $180 to $360 annually to each carpooler. Dartmouth also sends 12 students per year on a Big Green Bus Tour to museums and parks across the country inform the public about climate change and alternative fuels. The vegetable oil-run bus with recycled interior sets a green example and morphs into a science fair at every stop. Middlebury holds energy saving competitions in its dorms and has a Green Fund. The goals of the green fund include maintaining the environmental studies major, buying more local and organic foods and becoming carbon neutral by 2016. 

The demand for a green college has prompted many schools to green their campuses. I say, let green colleges fight over who has the most LEED-certified buildings, even if their motive is bragging rights.

Oberlin College , one of 15 schools to achieve the College Sustainability Report’s top ranking, has stunning green architecture and contains the most solar panels in the state of Ohio. Photo Courtesy TheDailyGreen.

Meat doesn’t rate high on my list of favorite foods, but I make an exception for barbecue. There’s something pleasant and a little nostalgic about gathering together good friends on a humid summer evening and lighting up the grill. Barbecuing is a staple of summer, but like many of our favorite activities, it could stand to be greened.

Fueling the flames

Although there’s something rustic and appealing about using a charcoal barbecue grill, propane will burn cleaner than coals. Charcoal releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air when burned, emitting 100 times more CO2 than propane. Lighter fluids will worsen the effect of burning charcoal and can contribute to smog. If you already have a charcoal barbecue griller, however, save some green (cash that is) and invest in eco-friendly coals.

Wicked Good Charcoal makes 100 percent natural charcoal barbecue briquettes from five types of FSC-certified Brazilian wood that are held together with cornstarch. They produce less ash than normal charcoal barbecue briquettes and you can reuse them.

Cowboy Charcoal’s natural lump charcoal is made from wood-mill scraps in an environmentally compatible, non-polluting wood-retort plant. Cowboy Charcoal is available at Lowe’s and Whole Foods.

Greenlink offers two types of charcoal barbecue briquettes: one made from waste coconut shells and one from natural wood. Both types of charcoal barbecue briquettes use a natural food grade binder. Greenlink’s charcoals come in the traditional “pillow” coals as well as charcoal barbecue logs.

Gather some friends together this summer for an eco-friendly barbecue. Photo By gomattolson/Courtesy Flickr 

Other eco-friendly charcoal barbecue briquette options include Kamado lump charcoal and coconut briquettes, Lazarri Fuel Company mesquite lump charcoal and Nature’s Own chunk charwood.

During the meal

Whether you choose to use a charcoal barbecue or a propane barbecue, it’s going to be messy, so you’re going to want napkins – and a lot of them. Instead of going for the cheap paper napkins that will shred and end up in the trash, use cloth napkins or set out damp dishcloths for guest to wipe their hands. As always, eat off of reusable plates and silverware instead of using disposable ones.

Clean-up

After you’re done grilling, use natural products to clean your grill. SoyClean BBQ Grill Cleaner and Eco-Green Oven, Grill and Barbeque Cleaner are safe options for removing char, grease and burnt-on barbecue residue.

It’s always best to make only as much food as needed, but if you do have leftovers, divvy them up between guests so they won’t go to waste.

Hollywood is going green. On June 6, filmmaker Chris Paine (“Who Killed the Electric Car”) had a big debut. However, this time it wasn’t a film he was showing, but his newly remodeled, sustainable house. Dubbed the Marrakesh House because of its Moroccan design, this home blends green design with artistic whimsy.

The atrium of the Marrakesh House. Photo Courtesy  Marrakesh House.   

The house was originally a 4,300 square foot home from the 1950s, but Paine has worked with a design team lead by project manager Shellie Collier, a LEED-accredited professional, to create a modern, green demonstration home. The idea for the Moroccan theme came from the positioning of the original structure around a central courtyard, mirroring the form of traditional riads. Throughout the house, Islamic design motifs blend with modern architecture to create a look that is truly unique. 

Paine and Collier used a variety of techniques to make the Marrakesh House as sustainable as possible. By reusing materials from the original house they were able to eliminate 75 percent of the waste that usually accompanies a remodel. Outside, the plants in the garden need little water. Many are native to southern California and the rest are edible. The retaining walls around the property were all made from construction waste materials claimed from other sites in the area. 

Chris Paine and the solar panels on the house. Photo Courtesy  Marrakesh House.  

Solar panels heat water, providing enough for four people. The photovoltaic solar system on the roof also provides about 60 percent of the house’s electricity. Inside, high-efficiency lighting such as CFL and LED bulbs in conjunction with dimmers and motion sensors cut down a startlingly large percentage of energy use. 

Marrakesh House also makes use of sustainable materials to lessen its impact on the environment. All of the wood in the house is Forest Stewardship Council-certified. The stone floors are not only natural but will last for thousands of years. All of the cabinets in the house are created from formaldehyde-free bamboo. 

Other touches such as low-flow toilets and faucets, no-VOC paint and the three electrical vehicle charging stations in the garage add to the sustainability of the house. But this house isn’t only about appearing high-tech. A collaboration of artists and designers have helped Paine prove that green living can be whimsically fun. The Marrakesh House doubles not only as a private residence, but also as an art, music and culture venue. 

A green home with decided personality, the Marrakesh House certainly is a new breed of sustainable building.

As I write this blog post, my Starbucks iced caramel macchiato sits on my desk in a type one polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) plastic cup. Although this cup can be recycled at most locations (some recycling programs only accept PETE in bottle form), Starbucks is still working to make all of its cups recyclable. 

Last October, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz promised to make all of Starbucks’ single-use coffee cups recyclable by 2012. Starbucks’ website contradicts this statement slightly saying its goal is to develop and launch recyclable cups by 2012 but to make 100 percent of its cups reusable or recyclable by 2015.

On May 12 Starbucks held a summit with all of the representatives of its paper and plastic cup chain as the latest step toward fulfilling that promise. The summit discussed the practicality of cup recycling. Research presented at the summit showed that Starbucks’ paper coffee cups are already certifiably recyclable under the standards of the Fibre Box Association, a non-profit organization representing the corrugated industry. The problem lies in providing proper receptacles to recycle the cups. Starbucks may implement a test program in Manhattan to place special bins in stores to collect paper cups and bags and then send them to Staten Island’s Pratt Industries for recycling. The summit also discussed better labeling on the cups, such as an identifiable brown stripe, to promote recycling.

Starbucks is working to reduce the environmental impact of its paper and plastic cups. Photo Courtesy Starbucks

Before the summit, Starbucks had already taken some steps to reduce the environmental impact of its cups. In 2006 Starbucks launched a paper cup containing post-consumer recycled fiber (PCF), which has saved more than 44,000 tons of virgin wood fiber; however, the cups still can’t be recycled in many recycling systems. In 2008 Starbucks replaced its PETE cold cup with a polypropylene (PP) alternative. PP cups use less plastic and emit fewer greenhouse gasses during their production than PETE cups. If this fact is true though, I’m wondering why the Starbucks cup sitting beside me is a PETE cup, not a PP cup.

Besides working to make its single-use cups recyclable, Starbucks also encourages its customers to bring reusable cups. Many stores take 10 cents off the price of a beverage if customers bring their own to-go mug. Starbucks also provides ceramic mugs for customers staying in the store, although in my experience, Starbucks employees never ask if you want your coffee in a mug; they automatically put your drink in a to-go cup – not a very good step for encouraging customers to adopt environmentally friendly coffee drinking practices.

Starbucks’ practices aren’t perfect, but at least the company is attempting to green itself. I should follow Starbucks’ example and get my morning joe in my own to-go mug.

How do you make your coffee drinking more eco-friendly? Leave me a comment and let me know.

After two weeks of being on the market, the home that I’m renting has sold. In the short period of two weeks, more than 18 realtors and their clients have waltzed around the house making remarks about the space. The original homeowners say that it was the staging that sold the home.

I’m not sure on that last claim, but I have enjoyed putting together a natural space. I’ve learned how to hunt for the best pieces and how to assemble furniture. Before looking for pieces, I put together a list of what I wanted and another of what I needed. The first rapidly turned into a dream list and the latter eventually became the practical list that guided my purchases. Everything, regardless of the lists, had to match my eco-goals of a natural space. Here are a few pointers on what I’ve learned along the way:

• Get organized: Once I figured out my budget, I decided that my furniture and accessories had to meet at least one of the following criteria: eco-friendly, made locally, from a local store or used. Sticking to both my budget and my furniture goals made finding the right pieces easy.

• Get inspired: Make a list of styles that interest you (modern and contemporary, country or shabby chic, to name a few). Once you have your style picked out, put a personal twist on it.

• Start looking: Check out used furniture stores, Goodwill, antique stores and the classifieds.

This past week was dedicated to putting things into storage boxes and moving them to my new apartment. Although leaving the house is bittersweet, I’m excited for the natural spaces to follow in my new apartment.

A few months ago I was scouring the Internet for concerts I could take my boyfriend, Nick, to for his birthday. A few years ago Nick introduced me to soul singer John Legend, and I immediately fell in love with his music. Although I knew our chances were slim, I had my heart set on seeing him live, even if it meant traveling a few hours for the concert.

A quick look at John Legend’s website told me it wasn’t going to happen – the closest concert was several states away (and I certainly wasn’t going to make it to Dubai) – but as I searched further, I uncovered a bit of news that made me glad John Legend was touring, even if I couldn’t go.

John Legend has taken his summer concert tour green. He will neutralize carbon emissions from his tour, sell eco-friendly merchandise and support an online ride-sharing site to promote carpooling. Photo By studio08denver/Courtesy Flickr 

For this summer’s tour promoting his new album Evolver, John Legend has given a “green light” to sustainability and teamed up with Reverb, a non-profit environmental group that works closely with the music community, to make his tour as green as possible. To date, Reverb has greened 70 tours, reached more than eight million fans and has worked with well-known artists such as Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Ben Folds and even the Blue Man Group.

Musical tours can put a lot strain on the environment. Fans burn petroleum getting to the venues, and the concerts themselves consume a lot of electricity and produce a lot of garbage. For John Legend’s tour, Reverb calculated the total carbon footprint from the flights, hotels and energy use at venues. John Legend will neutralize these emissions by financially supporting the construction of new renewable energy projects. On its website Reverb says that 80 percent of a concert’s carbon dioxide emissions come from fans’ commute to the show. To offset this, John Legend will support an online ride-sharing website to encourage fans to carpool together. In addition to that, he will offer eco-friendly merchandise at his concerts.

Now that’s something to "get lifted" about!

One of my favorite parts of summer is sitting down after a long day with a good book and a cold glass of iced tea. Sweetened or unsweetened, iced tea is not only a refreshing drink for a hot day, but it also has a variety of health benefits and is much better for you than soda.

Tea leaves come from the Camellia sinensis plant, of which there are three varieties: China, India (or Assam), and a hybrid of the two. The more commonly known differentiations, white, green, oolong, and black, actually refer to the way the leaves are processed after they have been harvested.

Drying tea leaves. Photo by Shazari/ Courtesy Flickr

• White tea is the least processed kind of tea and thus has the lowest amounts of caffeine and the highest antioxidants. Because these leaves are not allowed to oxidize they have a very mild and subtle taste.

• Green tea is the next lowest in caffeine and is also high in antioxidants. The leaves are either steamed or pan-fried to stop the oxidation process, and often have grassy or floral tastes.

• Oolong teas generally run the spectrum between green and black teas. They are partially oxidized which gives them a slightly stronger, smooth taste.

• Black tea is the highest in caffeine, and still has some antioxidant properties, although fewer than the others. Because the tea leaves are fully oxidized they generate a very rich and robust flavor.

Many of the most popular types of tea today are actually blends of the various kinds of tea. These blends include common names Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and Irish Breakfast.

There are also several kinds of tea that aren’t actually tea at all. Rooibos, sometimes called red tea, is actually made from the herb Aspalathus linearis. However, it has quickly gained popularity for its unique taste and lack of caffeine. Herbal teas such as peppermint are also not true teas but infusions. Yet they can still be similarly brewed and often have their own set of health benefits.

Brewing your own iced tea is quite easy. You should begin by making hot tea (either a cup or a pot) and adding twice the amount of tea that you would usually use. Although this will make the tea very strong, it will be diluted by the ice. Fill a glass with ice and after the tea has steeped, pour the hot tea into the glass. You can sweeten the tea with sugar or add other flavors such as a wedge of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint.

A glass of tea is refreshing. Photo by TheBittenWord/ Courtesy Flickr

You can also make sun-brewed iced tea, although it will take several hours before it is ready to drink. Begin by filling a container with 4 cups water and 6 teaspoons of tea (or 6 teabags). Cover or cap the container and place it in direct sunlight for two to four hours depending on how strong you like your tea. Strain the tea (or remove the tea bags) and serve over ice.

Don’t worry if the tea comes out looking a little cloudy (this is most common with black teas). The cloudiness if caused by tannins in the tea. If you want to reduce the cloudiness, use a tea with fewer tannins in it.

There are lots of companies which sell organic and fair trade teas. Some of the most common brands include Choice organic teas, Numi organic teas, Stash organic teas, Republic of Tea organics and Teavana. While you can make iced tea with almost any tea, some kinds lend themselves much better to it than others. My favorites for a cool summer treat include Choice’s green Moroccan Mint tea and Mango Ceylon, and Teavana’s South African Rooibos. If you are looking for something a little less sweet and a whole lot spicier, Teavana’s White Ayurvedic Chai hits the spot. Although this tea unfortunately isn’t organic, it is a part of Teavana’s EquaTrade program which donates money to help the communities where the tea is grown.

Buying organic tea isn’t the only way you can green up your kitchen. Tea leaves make great compost material. For even less waste, buy loose leaves rather than tea bags. This not only eliminates packaging waste, but loose leaves also have a better taste and quality. Place the loose leaves in a reusable tea ball, tea strainer, tea basket, or tea infuser.

By putting your iced tea in a reusable thermos you can take it with you and have a cold drink at work or on the road. Not only is this easier on your wallet than a run to Starbucks, but it also eliminates the waste of a plastic cup.

So, when I get home from work today, the first thing I’m going to do is put the kettle on and then settle back with my latest summer read, a nice cold glass in my hand. Bottoms up!

The other day I went to Borders to search for a book written by Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell. Normally, I would either check out a book from the public library or head to The Dusty Bookshelf, (a local used bookstore,) but I happened to have a $10 gift card to Borders that my grandma sent to me. With 10 bucks I figured I could buy one book and pay for at least half of another one.

When I found the book I wanted, I was shocked to see the price tag: $15.99. My $10 gift card didn’t even cover one book!

I reluctantly bought the book and paid the extra, but vowed to find the rest of my summer reads at used bookstores or the public library.

Check out used books at your local public library instead of buying new books. Photo By CarbonNYC/Courtesy Flickr

To catch up on your summer reading, rediscover public libraries as a more sustainable alternative to buying new books. Manufacturing paper uses large amounts of energy, destroys trees and releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Reading used books from the library helps cut down on your carbon footprint, plus you don’t end up with a collection of books that you’ll never read again.

Although libraries don’t always have the most recently published books available, they still offer a wide variety. Some libraries even let you make online reservations for books.

Public libraries also allow patrons to check out CDs as well as books. Rather than purchasing new CDs, check them out at the library and then download the music onto your computer. You eliminate CD jewel case waste and save money!

If you want to get lost in a good book this summer, go to www.publiclibraries.com to find a library in your area.

You know you need a new suitcase when your dad has to sit on it to make it close, the zipper gets caught on the fabric every two centimeters, and the chances the handle won’t get stuck are about 1 in 7.

Time to go shopping for a new carry-on suitcase. But first, how do I get rid of my dysfunctional suitcase in an eco-friendly way? Unfortunately, because it’s broken, I can’t donate it to a company like Suitcases for Kids, but I don’t want it to end up in the landfill. Solution?  Turn it into something new!  

I scoured the Internet for ideas and found a Natural Home article that suggested creating a pet bed out of an old suitcase—but I think only my labradoodle’s head could fit in my carry-on. I also found some instructions to turn it into an ottoman or vanity. It sounds like a fun project, but my suitcase is not vintage or cute like the examples online. Until then, I can use the old carry-on to store organize my messy closet currently overflowing with yearbooks, photos, event programs and other memorabilia.

Now, on to the shopping. I want my new suitcase to meet these requirements:

• Eco-friendly: This is my number one priority in my suitcase search. A suitcase made from recycled material, hemp or organic cotton with a water-based coating would be best.

• Light and easy to move: My shoes and clothes are heavy enough as is. I would be lucky to last 10 minutes lugging around a duffle bag.

• Stylish: A stylish suitcase is fun to travel with and stands out in baggage claim.

• Organized: Compartments make living out of a suitcase more bearable.

• Inexpensive: For me, this means $200 or less.

With few eco-friendly suitcases on the market and even fewer that also have wheels, it was a challenge to find options that fit my criteria. The search begins for the holy grail of suitcases. Here are the best ones I have found:

The verdict?

The Sherpani is gorgeous, but its lack of organization and its semi-recycled material do not make the cut. The Traveler’s Choice is quite eco-friendly and inexpensive, but the colorless body and heavy weight do not appeal to me.

I would choose the Patagonia. Though pricey, its green design, light weight, choice of colors and well-organized inner and outer compartments make it my suitcase pick.

If you find a stylish, eco-friendly suitcase you love, please leave a comment.

It’s June. That means it’s high-time I hit the pool to soak up some rays and relax. While sunshine and vitamin D are naturally beneficial, too much of a good thing can be bad – especially when it’s the sun. Before I go outside for a relaxing summer afternoon, you can be sure I’ll slather on the sunscreen.

Finding a natural, healthy sunscreen can be difficult. Many sunscreens contain chemicals that can irritate and even damage the skin. Instead, look for sunscreens that contain zinc and titanium dioxide, natural minerals that reflect light.

If you didn’t apply sunscreen as thoroughly as you should have, you’ll probably be in for what is, in my opinion, one of the most painful physical ailments ever – a sunburn. Lucky for us, Mother Nature has some natural remedies we can use to reduce the pain and burning.

Aloe vera: Aloe is perhaps the most common treatment for a sunburn because of its cooling and healing properties. Instead of treating your sunburn with the diluted aloe gel from the store, try using the gel straight from the plant. Personal experience has taught me that this will sting worse than gel from a bottle, but you won’t need to keep reapplying it. One application was enough to soothe my burn!

The gel of the aloe vera plant is a good natural remedy for treating your sunburn. Its natural cooling and healing properties will speed up your recovery. Photo Courtesy Powerhouse Museum.

Black tea: The tannins in tea will treat your burn and take away some of the pain and redness. Brew several tea bags together to make a strong pot of tea. Once it has steeped, add some ice cubes to make the water warm and more tolerable for you skin. Then, soak a towel in the tea and place the towel on your burn. Alternately you may also fill a tub with water and throw in several tea bags. If you have a small burn, an easier way may be to just wet a tea bag and place it on the burn.

Apple cider vinegar: Dab some vinegar on a cotton ball and apply it to the burned skin. If you have a large sunburn, pour a large glass of vinegar into a lukewarm bath. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, add some lavender essential oil or lemon juice to mask the smell. Lavendar essential oil has cooling and soothing properties and works well as an anti-inflammatory on sunburns. The lemon juice acts as a disinfectant and will help heal the burn.

Cornstarch: I’ve also heard that cornstarch is soothing for burned skin. Combine cornstarch and water until it has the consistency of paste and apply it to your burn.

Do you have any natural remedies you use for treating sunburns? If so, please share them in the comments section.

Sustainability doesn’t just have to mean building green anymore. The nonprofit group Architecture for Humanity is redefining sustainability to cover a building’s effect on the environment, the livelihood of its occupants, its impact on future generations and its vulnerability to disaster. This might seem like a lot to live up to, but Architecture for Humanity, a network of more than 40,000 professionals, is up to the challenge.

These men and women believe in “building a more sustainable future using the power of design.” Sharing ideas through networks such as the Open Architecture Network, they can create new and environmentally friendly solutions for many of their buildings. A building with a good design can alleviate poverty, provide access to water, sanitation, and power, act as a safe shelter for displaced populations or communities prone to disaster, create neutral spaces in post-conflict areas, and reduce the footprint of the built environment to mitigate rapid urbanization. For example, a community center can provide a safe gathering space, a place for employment opportunities and education, or act as a community library or daycare facility. However, it can serve none of these purposes if the space is not comfortable or if the costs of the center act as a financial drain on the community. A sustainable solution is not only cheaper in the long run, but can help teach the community safe and efficient building and maintenance techniques that can be applied to other shelters.

Architecture for Humanity’s clients include community groups, aid organizations, government agencies, foundations, and more. Founded in 1999 this group works tirelessly to benefit underserved communities across the world.

Here’s how the system works: an architect or architectural firm will design a project pro bono and submit it to Architecture for Humanity for review. Then Architecture for Humanity can support and manage all the rest of the aspects of the project through the design and construction process. However, before it will take on a project, the project proposal has to meet some high standards.

Project proposals must have:

• Strong partnerships with local community groups and design teams

• Demonstrate they can secure a site on which to build the project

• The proposed structures must benefit an underserved population and have strong community ties

• Local materials and labor used whenever possible

• Adherence to the LEED standards for sustainable architecture

• Innovative, sustainable, environmentally friendly design

Here are a couple of examples of current and past projects by Architecture for Humanity.

Kutamba AIDS Orphans School

Architect Matthew Miller designed this school for the village of Bikongozo, Uganda. The school will provide elementary education to children who have lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It will serve the community by helping to counteract hunger, poverty and systemic depression.

The design uses renewable energy systems and local building materials and building methods. With the construction all performed on-site, Architecture for Humanity uses the construction process to educate the community on proper building and maintenance processes.

Yodakandyia Community Complex

The Yodakandyia Community Complex is a set of three buildings designed by architect Susie Platt working with UN Habitat in Sri Lanka. This area was affected by the December 2004 tsunami and the buildings are part of the resettlement program. The complex includes a community center, a library and medical center, and a preschool. The area surrounding the buildings is landscaped into a sports and recreation facility.

The complex presented a number of architectural challenges because of the hot and humid environment in an area where air conditioning is cost prohibitive. However, Platt was able to use a number of techniques to increase air circulation and naturally cool the buildings. The large roofs reduce heat and provide shade while the porous clay brick walls insulate the buildings. Strategic openings and open frame doors and windows allow for ventilation and seasonal wind reversals.

With these easy and green techniques, the complex is able to serve the community at a low cost.

Architecture for Humanity has taken on a huge responsibility, but its good works are not restricted to architects alone. Architecture for Humanity’s book, Design Like You Give a Damn reaches out to architect and layman alike to provide a history of sustainable designs and to showcase solutions to problems such as basic shelter, health care and education. Or you can get involved by volunteering, donating, or simply helping to spread the word. This is one future we ought to work to sustain.

With warmer temperatures in the forecast, I have plans to spend my weekends lying by the pool, soaking up some rays. My current bathing is a few years old and has seen its fair share of use, so recently I’ve been in the market for a new one. Bathing suit shopping — like any kind of shopping in my world — is no small task for me. I want a high-quality suit that looks good, will last me for years, isn’t too expensive but is still eco-friendly. I did some research and found a few good swimsuit lines that are fashionable but still environmentally friendly.

Eco-Panda

This summer Eco-Panda launched its first line of eco-friendly swimwear. The debut collection’s suits are made of recycled nylon collected from discarded fishing nets. The swimwear also incorporates Xtra Life Lycra which Eco-Panda claims will make its suits last twice as long as ones made with chlorine-resistant spandex and ten times longer than suits made with regular spandex.

Eco-Panda’s suits are available in bikinis and fashionable one-pieces (a hard task to accomplish), and they come in a variety of colorful prints with fun names like Jungle Beat, Leopard Love and Tokyo Beat. The suits cost either $68 or $76.

This style from Eco-Panda is called Mandalay. Eco-Panda is just one of several designers who make environmentally friendly bathing suits. Aaron Chang and Rogan Gregory also have sustainable lines. Photo Courtesy Eco-Panda 

Aaron Chang

Well-known action photographer and legendary surfer Aaron Chang launched the world’s first eco-friendly swimsuit line in 2008. Since then he has created several collections, all made from 100 percent recycled polyester sourced from plastic soda bottles.

Aaron’s photography inspired the designs for his collections. His suits come in vibrant colors and feature natural elements such as flowers, sunsets, elephants and indigenous designs from Panama. All suits are reversible as well, adding another dimension of usability to them.

Aaron also has a line of swimsuit cover-ups — such as shorts, tops and dresses — that are all made from 100 percent organic cotton. Aaron’s clothing is available on his website.

Rogan Gregory

Gregory already has a line of eco-friendly clothing at Target called Loomstate, but this summer he’s also delving into a sustainable swimwear line. All cotton used in the suits is 100 percent organic cotton, and the tags are printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. The suits come in a variety of bizarre prints and styles and are sold in most Target stores. Select styles are also available online.

If you know of any other eco-friendly swimwear lines, please leave a comment!

Only two weeks ago I moved out of my tiny New York dorm room and into an even tinier apartment. But while my new home might be a little lacking in space, it has one feature that more than makes up for it: windows. Big, beautiful, sun-filled windows.

So to bring a little green into my crazy city life, I’m lining my windowsills with plants— herbs to be exact. Not only does an herb garden brighten up your house, but it also gives you a constant supply of fresh herbs to use in cooking, garnish your dishes, or even infuse your favorite tea. Starting an herb garden on your windowsill is actually fairly simple.

First, find a south or southwest facing window. These get the most light during the day, and you want your plants to get at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. Next, look for a container that will fit on your windowsill. You can use anything as long as it won’t melt in the sun and has good drainage. Because of the drainage you will also want a reservoir bowl or saucer to place under your pot to keep your sill dry. If you live somewhere that gets very cold, you might want to invest in a terra-cotta pot which will insulate your plants during the winter.

Now, fill your container with potting soil or a soilless potting mix. Don’t use dirt from your garden since the soil composition is not good for growing plants indoors! Gently place your plants in the pot and fill with soil, making sure to leave plenty of room for growth and at least an inch at the top for watering.

One of the trickiest parts of gardening is knowing how often to water your plants, and being very careful not to over water them. You should only water your herbs when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch.

To keep your herbs thriving, you can fertilize them by adding a little compost to the soil every 6 to 8 weeks. I have an indoor composter which turn my kitchen scraps into excellent plant food. It’s an easy, green way to dispose of odds and ends without throwing them away.  

Now you can have fresh herbs year-round.

Deep windowsills like this one are the perfect for growing herbs. Photo By Greg Palmer/Courtesy Flickr 

Herbs that grow well indoors include rosemary, bay leaf, parsley, thyme, chives, oregano, mint, sage, cilantro and dill. Chives are particularly easy to grow and good for someone unsure of how green their thumb may be. Mint comes in many varieties and has a strong, fragrant aroma. It is often used in soups, salads, or tea. Parsley is a good choice if you like to garnish your dishes.

One of my favorite herbal recipes is a honey mustard glaze that I use with ham or pork tenderloin roasts. All you need is:

• 2 tbsp country dijon mustard

• 1-2 tbsp honey

• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, chopped

Mix the mustard and the honey in a small dish. I usually use 1 or 1 1/2 tbsp of honey, although you can add more if you prefer a sweeter taste. Add the chopped rosemary and drizzle on top of the meat before cooking.