In this issue: 15 Apr 2009

• Win a trip for two to green music festival Bonnaroo

• Check out Earth Day events and free food on campus

• Find out which green sports venues score big

• See how eco-labels support farm workers in developing nations

Your caption here?

Send a caption for the above photo to asucontest@grist.org by Wednesday, April 22 -- Earth Day -- at high noon. If yours is deemed the wittiest and greeniest, you could win a gift certificate for two bamboo/organic cotton graphic bamboo tees, an organic cotton tote bag made with renewable energy, and a stainless steel water bottle, all from eQ eco-clothing and accessories in Tempe.

Congratulations to Reda Chambers, winner of our most recent caption contest. See her winning entry at left, and check out the runners-up in the "Caption Contest" photo album on the Grist-ASU Facebook page.

If you've captured a moment you'd like captioned, send a photo to pix@grist.org.

TRANSFORM YOURSELF

Huge green events mark ASU’s Earth Day on April 22

by Heather Hazzan, undergraduate, School of Sustainability

What do Arizona State University's Earth Day and the Incredible Hulk have in common? Both are huge, green, and all about transformation! Earth Day storms onto ASU April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will transform your thinking with a solar-powered concert, an APS hydrogen car demonstration, info on how to act more sustainably, Arizona's energy plans revealed by State Reps Ed Ableser and David Schapira, a solar oven bake-off, and free food. Additional events:

• Get free grub on the patio of ASU's sustainable restaurant, Engrained, in the Memorial Union during the Eat Well, Live Well Expo.

• Buy tickets for a raffle and win prizes from local vendors.

• Attend a wine-bottle painting contest hosted by Caffe Boa on Hayden Lawn.

• Join the City of Tempe Earth Day 5K Run/Walk and Green Expo at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Funds raised benefit ASU's School of Sustainability Scholarship Fund.

Check for even more events listings, read about Earth Day, and stay in the loop with the ASU School of Sustainability on Twitter.

THOUGHT FOR FOOD

Professor takes farm and food security research into the field

When School of Sustainability Professor Hallie Eakin isn't working in front of a roomful of students talking about food security, she is usually working out in the field (literally) with coffee and maize growers of Mexico and Central America. Her research focuses on the risks these small farmers face due to climate extremes and global markets, with the hope of finding ways to improve social policies and the farmers' abilities to adapt to change. How can you help? Look for eco-labels such as Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade Certified that certify the products are produced sustainably for both farms and farmers. "Consumers are becoming more aware of what they are eating," says Eakin. Supporting certified products means that farmers get a fair price and earth's ecosystems get a fair shake. Learn more about Hallie, her rural food projects, and the food sovereignty movement. And vote in an eco-label poll here.

ULTRA LIGHT

Campus parking illuminates benefits of high efficiency LEDs

Tempe campus parking has joined the enlightenment with the conversion of six parking structures to high-efficiency LED lighting. The new little LEDs are 59 percent more energy efficient than the old bulbs, so they can reduce annual electric costs by $127,000 and sequester the carbon equivalent of 258 acres of pine forests per year. Because the new lights are also brighter than before, they should make parking safer, too. The lighting project, which is managed by APS Energy Services, supplied by Lighting Science, and part of the University's campus-wide energy conservation project, is "one piece of our efforts to conserve energy at all ASU campuses," said David Brixen, Interim Vice President of University Services. It may also help light the way for a regional lighting efficiency proposal that is part of Green Phoenix, a 17-point plan conceived by Phoenix and ASU to make the Valley a model of sustainability. To learn how one of these same parking structures is also generating electricity, see solar parking.

EMAGINE NO BAD CHOICES

Sustainable products business likes to party with a purpose

Goodbye, Tupperware. Hello, urban composters! Thanks to Scottsdale-based emagineGreen, Earth-conscious people can now feed their passion for product parties while grazing lightly on the planet. It all began when a small group of women wondered how they could make a difference for the environment. They wondered: Is that company really green? Does this product help? "These are everyday questions," says founder Tonya Ensign, who has been named an Arizona Republic Green Hero and was featured in Fast Company. The difference is that the emagineGreen women found answers, and now you can benefit from their knowledge and research -- either by connecting directly with a greenCoach or by hosting an ecoParty where friends can learn simple ways to green their lives. "Women spend $1.7 trillion a year on household purchases," Tonya says. "Each dollar is a vote. We need to vote responsibly."

» The above content is provided by ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability

FIGURATIVELY, THAT IS

Grist Says Screw Earth Day, Helps You Green Every Day

The planet's in the crapper like never before, and most people seem to think a single eco-love-fest on Earth Day is enough. One day is for amateurs. We think it's time to say "Screw Earth Day!" and start giving every day a green sheen. Grist is your resource for making every day earth-tastic, and this year we're offering an exclusive free download of our award winning book, Wake Up and Smell the Planet. All you have to do is register for a Grist account (also free!) between April 9-23. Plus, you'll also be entered for a chance to win tickets and airfare for two to the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN June 11-14.

Having a day of recognition isn't the problem; it's not following through and making an impact for the 364 days in between. Click here to Screw Earth Day.

LIFE'S A PITCH

15 green sports venues

Think the only thing green about pro sports is the turf? Think again. As the first crack of the bat rings through the spring air this week, we take a look at sports venues in North America that are scoring big on the eco-field (now if only the teams could do something about all that travel). Find out which teams -- including one from Arizona -- score big in the green arena.

DITHER AND LACE

Umbra advises on running shoes

Q. Dear Umbra,

I'm a long-distance runner in need of a new pair of shoes. I'm looking for the company with the most sustainable practices. Any suggestions? I remain undecided about which company offers the best overall choice for the environment, for workers, and for my legs. Thanks!

Kyle
Marquette, Mich.

A. Dearest Kyle,

There is no way to answer your question without a seeming overabundance of puns. I will attempt to hold my tongue. I am impressed by all that running shoe companies are doing to reduce their ecological footprint ...

Read the rest of Umbra's answer.

RECYCLE & FLOW

Canadian eco-rap and other youth offerings at the World Conference on Sport and the Environment

Climate activist Thomas Kineshanko's musing on jet travel for athletes was one of several back-to-earth moments provided by the youngest speakers at the World Conference on Sport and the Environment in Vancouver, BC. Read all about it and the eco-rap contest winners here.

WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE

Don't buy Kimberly-Clark's latest ruse

The world's largest manufacturer of tissue products has unveiled a recycled line -- but it continues to clearcut Canada's Boreal forest to make its signature brand, Kleenex. That blows. See why they're snot up to snuff.

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"The Sustainable Sun Devil" is created for ASU by Grist.org, the nation's leading online source of environmental news. Together with ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability, we will be bringing you sustainability updates from around your campus, your country, and your world. ASU is responsible only for ASU-created content and has no editorial control or responsibility for information that it has not contributed to this publication. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of Arizona State University, the Arizona Board of Regents, the State of Arizona, or any of their respective regents, officers, employees, or agents.

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