oddtree’s Recent Comments

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  Go Buffs!  It is true that CU has a spending-happy student body that may be more willing to fund LEED buildings than others, but if you look at the ratings its transportation and waste management that really won it for us.

  Colorado State University (#42 on the full list) also has a lot of green programs: http://www.green.colostate.edu/images/green-research-areas-csu.pdf. 

  I think in general colleges are more green than the rest of the world, so I think we should all think about how we can influence our businesses/ apartment buildings/ community centers to follow in these footsteps.

  On Top 20 green colleges posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago 14 Responses

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  "American Cars" are a bit of a joke because your Ford may have been made in Mexico whereas your Suburu may have been made in their zero-waste facility in Indiana.

  I think its important to always scrutinize what we are doing, but as Voltaire said "the perfect is the enemy of the good".  I think there's a lot of people out there not choosing to do "better" eco-practices because they know they aren't perfect.  Do what you can and support who you can with your consumerism.

   

  On Obama's green achievements at 100 days posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago 8 Responses

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  I think the Yucca Mtn decision is unfortunate.  I think it is very irresponsible of us to keep using nuclear fuel when we don't have an appropriate storage facility.  And to get rid of the storage facility we were planning does not amgically get rid of the "over 100 million U.S. gallons of highly radioactive waste and 2,500 metric tons (2,800 short tons) of spent fuel from the production of nuclear weapons and from research activities in temporary storage" (wikipedia) that the DOE estimates we already have.   Gee, let's just keep all of this in "temporary storage" indefinitely - shall we?  It took us 22 years to get this far with yucca mtn and now we are abandonning the attempt.  I guess we'll just accumulate more waste in the next 22 years while we discuss another solution that will be abandonned.  

  Check out if the existing nuclear waste is sitting in "temporary sotrage" in your backyard:

  http://www.nrc.gov/waste/spent-fuel-storage/locations.html

  On Obama's green achievements at 100 days posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago 8 Responses

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  homebrewed cider!

  This is a great recipe that comes out strong and dry like strongbow.  I don't know who's recipe this is originally - it was found on a homebrew forum.  I've only done it to keg but I'm sure you could bottle-carbonate as well.

  5 gals cider (ascorbic acid is OK)
  2 lbs dextrose (corn sugar)
  1 pkt Montrachet dry yeast

  Let ferment at least a month - until most bubbles stop.  Requires very little headspace - 5 gal carboy will work.On Umbra on beer and wine posted 9 months, 1 week ago 15 Responses

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  kudos to the companies that are trying

  While I love shopping my local thrift and consignment stores, I don't think the world is going to stop buying new clothes.  I think most eco-solutions have both pros and cons, but I think we need to support the companies that are out there trying. I have full support for companies like Bamboosa and HT Naturals who are putting alternatives out there for reasonable prices.  Companies like this have a chance to change the way consumers think about shopping - and I don't mean the type of consumers who are already reading this blog.

  Also, I'm not sure what evidence there is that bamboo is weak and wears quickly.  I have several Bamboosa shirts I've had for years and worn a lot and they still are in good shape.  With fibers like cotton, the quality often comes from both the length of the original fibers and the process through which they are spun.  Anyone have any research on this?
  On Umbra on bamboo origins posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 15 Responses