Letter from the Manager
Energy Frugality Makes Good Business
Small but perfectly formed
Bicycle Commuting Made Easy
Toilet Paper Use, No use, and alternatives

Letter from the Manager

Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2009.

On the 22nd of April, 1970, Earth Day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Approximately 20 million Americans participated, with a goal of a healthy, sustainable environment

You can do your part by participating at a local event to help promote the awareness of Earth Day. You can visit the following website and enter your location to find an event near you.

Earth Day Event Locator

Be Sure To Also Check Out The Latest Products in
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Green Topics allows us to offer you reprints of articles pertinent to our cause that you might not see in your normal reading. An Archive of past Green Topics is available. Conserv-A-Store does not endorse the opinions mentioned in these articles but we do find the subject matter interesting for discussion.

Thanks for reading and for your continued support of
Conserv-A-Store,

Have a Great Earth Day 2009
Porter
General Manager

Energy Frugality Makes Good Business
By Bruce Mulliken, Green Energy News
3/19/2009

Author, activist, statesman, inventor Benjamin Franklin famously said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Kilowatts weren’t yet conceived in his day but the experimenter in electricity certainly would have quipped, “Kilowatts saved are pennies earned.”

Somehow I think the man who believed in frugality would have been a vocal proponent of energy efficiency.

Today, saving energy and using it more efficiently is not just virtuous, it’s good business. In an economy struggling to get traction, spending less on energy can mean the difference between business failure and staying in it. A penny spent on energy savings can shift a negative number on the balance sheet into the positive column.

For an individual a switch to a more fuel efficient car or truck will make an immediate and noticeable difference in cash outflows. But adding more efficient lighting or beefing up insulation in a home will be barely noticeable on the monthly utility bill. (Rest assured; the savings will be there and evident in the long run.)

However, for a business, energy efficiency measures of all kinds will stand out when the bill comes due. When dozens, hundreds or thousands of light fixtures are changed to more efficient ones the effect on the bottom line will be immediate. Further, calculating the dollars and cents difference between the efficiency investment and long term energy savings can give a business a long term bill of health.

(Maybe as I write, this automakers General Motors and Chrysler are running around switching light bulbs to compact fluorescents in order to cut costs.)

Energy efficiency is not only a good business practice, it’s also a good business to be in.

While much of the economy is cutting back to survive, Massachusetts-based Conservation Services Group (CSG), which provides energy saving strategies, program design, management services and renewable energy technologies to consumers and businesses, is bucking the sorry national trend.

In celebrating the start of its 25th year in business the company is expecting its best year yet. Revenues are expected to top $80 million in 2009. In the past four years alone revenues have increased 77 percent, from $35 million to $62 million.

An increase in revenues also means a steady increase in employment. Since its founding in 1984 CSG has had an average annual job growth of 27 percent. The company now has offices in 14 locations and 400 employees nationwide.

New contracts for CSG are still coming in, ranging from a residential home energy improvement program in the Carolinas, to energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) programs in Southern California. The company has done business in 22 states overall.

When other businesses are slimming down CSG is expanding. The company operates three call centers – Fall River, Massachusetts, Portland, Oregon, and Victorville, California – that support energy conservation programs nationwide. In the past year, requests for services have grown by 105 percent. To meet the demand, the company’s main call center, in Fall River, is scheduled for expansion later this year. The Victorville office is moving to a larger space in the spring to accommodate additional staffers. CSG will be opening a new call center in Nashville, Tennessee to support programs in the ever-expanding Southeast region.

Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles, said of CSG, "For a quarter of a century, CSG has helped individuals and businesses save money on energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This Massachusetts-based company did it before climate change became a global environmental imperative and before energy efficiency became a top national and state priority.”

Small but perfectly formed
By Carmela Ferraro
Financial Times
2/21/09

For a long time "bigger is better" has been the homeowner's mantra. We often associate large homes with material success, power and glamour. Small homes, on the other hand, have tended to be synonymous with lack of privilege, overcrowding and inferior quality.

Recently, though, these conceptions have started to shift. Big is losing some of its sheen while small is being rebranded as the home for our times.

Although the trend is to go "smaller" generally, some people are shrinking their houses to 500 sq ft and even less. Gregory Paul Johnson, co-founder of the Small House Society, lives in Iowa City, in the US mid-west. His cottage on a mobile trailer - 140 sq ft with a ceiling height of just over 6ft - could easily be a kid's cubby house. But Johnson's home is far from child's play. The technology consultant, who is also the director of www.resourcesforlife.com, has lived there since he built it in 2003.

The interior is essentially a room with an alcove on one side containing shelves, a chair and desk, under which is stowed a pull-out table that at a pinch can sit two people; a kitchen made up of shelves, a two-ring stove and small sink; closets for storage; and, just barely above his head, a waist-high loft where a queen-sized bed dominates the floor space.

Does he ever pine for a bigger home? "No. It's perfect for one and comfortable enough for two," Johnson says. "I have everything I need and what I don't have I outsource. I exercise and shower at a really nice gym during workdays. When I'm at home I share bathroom and laundry facilities with my dad, who lives in the neighbouring house. I eat out mostly. Living as I do frees up a lot of my time, which I can then use to earn more money to spend on things that actually grow in value, such as life experiences and relationships."

According to Johnson, if you had Googled "small house" five years ago, "it would have been like putting in a search for small elephant or small whale - a contradiction in terms". Now there are large numbers of internet sites, as well as a heap of books and many experts devoted to the subject.

The small house movement, as it is popularly known, is especially vocal in the US, even though, paradoxically, according to its National Association of Home Builders, the average size for a new house has been rising steadily - from 1,750 sq ft in 1978 to 2,479 sq ft in 2007, although the average fell back slightly according to quarterly data from 2008. Architect and author Sarah Susanka, whose book The Not So Big House is celebrating its 10th edition, is attributed with kickstarting this countermovement. The showy, supersized home, she says, is where "people rattle and some of the rooms are only ever visited by the cleaner"; smaller houses reflect "how people really live".

Small has also spread to Japan, a famously space-constrained island, where "it seems everyone is getting in on the act", according to Tokyo-based Azby Brown, author of The Very Small Home and Small Spaces and director of the Future Design Institute, a think tank on new technology in the home. Ironically, Japanese people used to aspire to owning American-sized homes, in spite of having led much of the inspiration for compact design - be it in electronics, cars, storage units or houses. Now they are embracing the idea of focusing on the essentials.

"To live well in a small home you need to pare away the things you can live without and decide what really defines who you are," Brown explains. "Maybe someone wants a big bed, one they can practically live in. I have friends like that. They eat most of their meals in bed, watch TV, do most of their e-mailing and so on there - even though it means they can't also have a big sofa and six chairs in the living room."

The "big idea" behind architect Takaharu Tezuka's House to Catch the Sky, in Tokyo, which was built last year, is a sunny, spacious and appealing open-plan area where a family of four come together to cook, eat and play. The room is loosely divided. A long wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinets behind an island bench forms the kitchen and storage space; a couch and a coffee table define the sitting area. Its expansive 17ft by 26ft footprint belies the compactness of the rest of the 458 sq ft double storey, two-bedroom home. A sloping ceiling adds volume while tall windows flood the room with sunlight and a smaller set is strategically placed to frame the streetscape. As a compromise, the downstairs area is more subdued, containing a bathroom and two bedrooms.

The small living trend has inspired a plethora of other accommodation styles. In Barcelona the intriguing, 290 sq ft House in a Suitcase apartment, by architects Eva Prats and Ricardo Flores, takes its cue from Louis Vuitton luxury travel trunks. The owners can store their home furnishings in two steroidal "suitcases" and unpack them as they need them. One can serve as a folding screen to divide the bedroom from the rest of the space and contains, among other things, the double bed, a mirror and two night tables, each with as reading lamp. The other contains the kitchen, including a table, the pantry and a sofa.

Small places are also showing up on the mass market. Abito's "intelligent living spaces" apartments on the outskirts of England's Manchester city centre and Salford Quays start at £90,000. Measuring 353 sq ft, each has a central pod containing the kitchen, bathroom and utility/storage area. This fixture cleverly divides the bedroom, which has a full-sized fold-away bed, and the living area.

In the US, Marianne Cusato's Katrina Cottages, which start at 308 sq ft and began life as emergency accommodation after Hurricane Katrina, sell in kit form at Lowe home centres around the country. A high-end alternative is the pre-prefabricated Micro Compact Home (M-CH), which sells for €34,000. This state-of-the-art unit is developed by Richard Horden from the UK's Horden Cherry Lee Architects and a team at Munich Technical University. At just 8ft 8ins wide and 6ft 6ins high, it is primarily designed for short stays, although Horden says the 2005 prototype, built as student accommodation, continues to house three of the original occupants and many others have stayed for a year or more.

I can see why. The M-CH, which takes its inspiration from the aviation industry, successfully condenses the comforts of home, without any of the feeling of confinement you might expect. Large windows borrow outdoor views; dual-purpose features reduce the need for more furnishings; and the latest in technology adds a touch of luxury that puts paid to any suspicion about being in an inferior domain.

Tiny homes, of course, have long acted as places of inspiration. Author Henry David Thoreau lived in a hut at Walden Pond; post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin worked in one when he was in French Polynesia; the German philosopher Martin Heidegger wrote many of his works in a cabin. These days these pint-sized dwellings are inspiring people to change the way they live, mainly because they want to reduce their impact on our fragile environment and simplify their life. Small houses need less land; they use fewer materials and furnishings, less power and water and produce less waste.

Another attraction is cost. With world economies faltering and real estate prices still relatively high, especially in more sought-after city centres, they can provide the budget conscious with an affordable entry point into the real estate market. Johnson, for example, who built his own cottage for mainly environmental reasons, spent just $15,000.

There are several things that make small possible. Not only does the decline of the extended family mean we need less space (according to Euromonitor International, the average number of occupants per household in the US and western Europe has dropped from three in 1980 to 2.6 today) but we're also spending more time outside the home, either at work or at play, and our mobile lifestyle means we're more accustomed to spending time in compact spaces such as cars, aeroplanes, trains and hotel rooms.

Alongside this change is the extraordinary innovation in design and technology. Not only are the products in our lives getting smaller and better, they're also smarter. Beds can turn into sofas; benchtops into tables; microwaves into cooktops.

"Before today, you couldn't live small without a great deal of sacrifice," Johnson says. "But now we no longer need 3,000 sq ft to live comfortably."

Bicycle Commuting Made Easy
Seven simple steps to energy-efficient transportation
from Solartoday.org March/April 09

As interest in climate change moves from awareness to action, more households are taking a fresh look at bicycling as a form of transportation. It’s a good place to begin. The transportation sector contributes nearly one-third of CO2 emissions in the United States. But even if you aren’t ready to sell your car — which could save you $7,823 a year, according to the AAA — bicycle commuting can be a powerful way to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you’re curious about bicycling to work but don’t know where to begin, here are some real-world, rider-tested tips that can make your commutes enjoyable. Millions of workers have found that bicycling to work is a great way to reduce your energy consumption while recharging your personal batteries. Here’s how to get started.

1. Assess Your Trip
When thinking about bicycling to work, the first step is to estimate how far away you work and whether it makes sense to ride in your work clothes.
• Short commutes (under 4 miles, or 6.4 kilometers, each way). Nearly any bike will do. Unless it’s very hilly or hot, sweating probably isn’t a major concern. You may find it easiest to simply bike in the same clothes you wear at work.
• Moderate commutes (5–9 miles, or 8–14.5 kilometers, each way). Use relatively skinny road tires to reduce rolling friction. Knobby mountain bike tire treads will slow you down. Consider a change of clothes once you get to work.
• Longer commutes (more than 10 miles, or 16 kilometers, each way). Get a dependable road bike and plan on a change of clothes once you get to work.

Consider the bike-n-bus commute, where you cycle to the transit stop, ride a bus or train, and then cycle the final leg to work. A lot of rapid transit systems now offer bike racks on buses and lockers in stations. Where there are restrictions on taking a bike on the train during rush hours, a folding bike can be a practical solution. The bike-n-bus strategy eliminates parking costs and can shorten a long commute. It’s also the solution where bike lanes aren’t available through tunnels. Most bridges nowadays do offer bike lanes, but there are exceptions — for instance, three of the San Francisco Bay bridges offer bus shuttles instead of bike lanes.

Another tactic is to drive part way to work, perhaps to a park-and-ride station, and cycle the rest of the way.

2. Get Fit (Without Exercising)
Just because your feet reach the pedals doesn’t mean your bicycle fits you correctly. If you haven’t been to a good bike shop lately, it’s time.
• Ask your local bike shop guru to evaluate how your bike fits. You’ll be amazed how a half-centimeter adjustment can significantly increase your comfort and pedaling power.
• Get a tune-up. Don’t let soft tires, draggy brakes or slipping gears rob your energy.

3. Get the Bike Basics
While it is easy to get carried away when equipping your bike, here are the bare-bones essentials that most bike commuters find helpful. These are widely available at any good bike shop.
• Pant leg band. Keeps your pants cuff away from a grimy chain.
• Red blinking tail light. Be seen for safety.
• Full fenders. Protect your clothes when you ride on wet pavement (a necessity if you’re riding in work clothes). Choose fenders that cover as much of your tires as possible.
• Bike pump. Properly inflated tires are safer and easier to ride on.
• Bike lock. Safeguard your bike. If rules permit, bring the bike out of the weather and park it in your office or break room.

4. Stay Warm the Easy Way
The thermometer can’t measure warmth as well as your ears, fingers, and toes can. Here are some springtime clothing tips to keep you warm and comfortable on the ride.
• A thin winter hat under your bike helmet can keep you remarkably warm.
• Full-finger bike gloves offer good warmth on cool mornings when winter gloves would overheat your hands.
• Always carry a windbreaker or rain jacket. You never know when you’ll need it. Breathable fabrics help prevent overheating, and brighter colors help motorists to see and avoid you.
• Rain pants make a good extra layer in cold or wet weather.
• Over-the-shoe booties can keep your toes warm on a cold or wet morning. Save money by simply placing a small plastic sandwich bag around your toes just before sliding your feet into your shoes. That keeps socks dry and toes warm.

5. Plan Your Route
The route you drive to work may not be the best one for bicycling. The ideal road for bicycling has a wide shoulder or bike lane, light traffic and lower speed limits for autos.
• Get good route ideas from a neighborhood street map, from co-workers who commute by bike or from bike shop staff members. Many cities publish bike route maps.
• Drive your proposed route to assess mileage and to see if it still makes sense.
• Go on a test ride of your route by bicycling it during the weekend before you plan your first real commute. This is a must-do activity for any new bike commuter.

6. Get It Off Your Back
An experienced bike commuter plans ahead rather than carrying extra items. Why not enjoy your bike ride rather than feel like a pack mule? You can always change your clothes in the office restroom.
• Drop a change of clothes and shoes at work the day before you ride in.
• Keep a few basic toiletries at work including deodorant, sunscreen for the ride home, a small towel or cleaning wipes.
• Consider bringing an extra lunch to leave at work the day before.
• Leave your bike lock at work so it’s there when you need it. Better yet, bring your bike inside. The bike in your office may entice co-workers to make the ride.

7. Get Going!
Bypass the gas station and avoid the traffic jams. It’s time to give bike commuting a try.
• Listen to the weather report to make sure there aren’t any surprises in the forecast.
• Bring only the essentials: keys, wallet, water bottle and cell phone.
• Try not to smile too much when you get to work feeling great!

Bicycling to work can be contagious. Some people bike to work once a week. Others drop off three days’ worth of clothes on Monday, bike Tuesday through Thursday, and drive on Friday to bring their clothes home. Others bike with co-workers or friends for fun. The key is to get started.

Toilet Paper Use, No use, and alternatives-Selections from “Room for Debate” from the NYTimes.com 3/1/09

Our intent here was to use an article from the NYTimes entitled “What Mr Whipple Didn’t Say: Fluffy Paper is Costly to Forests” that discussed how,
“fluffiness(in toilet paper) comes at a price: millions of trees harvested in North America and in Latin American countries, including some percentage of trees from rare old-growth forests in Canada. Although toilet tissue can be made at similar cost from recycled material, it is the fiber taken from standing trees that help give it that plush feel, and most large manufacturers rely on them.”

But in reading the “Room for Debate”  forum section on toilet paper we found many intriguing world wide views on toilet paper and whether or not it should be used at all. Five of these views follow below:

1) I am an American who resides in India. Modern Indian toilets have water sprays at the side of the toilet bowl. Therefore, after bowel movement, I spray myself clean, also using soap. When finished, the hand used has no smell whatsoever, but I still wash my hands thoroughly. That is to say, I use absolutely no toilet paper. A towel is sufficient to dry myself. The amount of water used is small.

If the USA would change to such a system, millions of trees would be saved. In fact, the use of any toilet paper is immoral.
from Donald in India

2) Nowhere in the article about toilet paper did I see any mention of the possible use of alternative fibers, like cotton or hemp. Either of those fibers might be a good alternative to trees. I know that growing other crops for toilet paper isn’t quite as environmentally friendly as using recycled paper, but I think sometimes incremental environmentalism might receive a warmer reception. Also, it might be easier to convince people to use other paper products with higher recycled content in addition, instead of just suggesting that they give up their Charmin. The toilet paper issue just needs a little creativity and innovation, but a bigger issue is getting Americans to actually recycle stuff!!
from Expat in Germany

3) We spend part of the year in Buenos Aires, and our toilet paper consumption here is less than half of what we use in the US. The difference: everyone has a bidet. Argentines can’t imagine life without one, and they are baffled that we in the US use “the nicest paper” for the dirtiest of jobs. Perhaps a line item in the stimulus package: bidets for every bathroom.
from trailrunnr

4) The pulp used for the production of toilet paper comes from a variety of sources, including recycled paper. The industry has been recycling for years. Paper can be recycled up to 5 times before the fibers are left too small to be used. 100% of all internal waste is recycled by manufacturers during the production process. If there is a paper break on the machine, the waste is immediately used to make more pulp. The rest of the paper comes from trees grown on tree farms. Soft woods(pines) are used because the fibers are longer, more flexible, are softer, and can be recycled more times. The trees are grown on tree farms and do not come from virgin forests as the extremists would like to have us believe. The industry is very responsible. In the 19th century, Americans used a variety of alternatives, including corn cobs. There are fewer of those available thanks to the the production of Methanol which is terrible for the environment and food prices world wide. The paper industry is reeling these days, affecting thousands of workers and the vendors who supply them. Leave them alone and move onto another topic.
from David Mitchell

5) How can Leslie Kaufman write an article about toilet paper without mentioning that the majority of the worlds civilized people don’t use it at all - they wash. The world is divided into washers and wipers, and sitters and squatters. Strange that Americans don’t try to clean their hands by wiping with dry paper. It is time for them to advance to Japanese and Islamic standards of hygiene. Read “The Big Necessity” by Rose George.