Indiana Living Green - September 2012

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ILG /// SEPTEMBER 2012 /// INDIANALIVINGGREEN.COM 3

PUBLISHER Kevin [email protected]

EDITORIALEDITOR Jim Poyser [email protected]

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTJennifer Troemner (Indianapolis)

CONTRIBUTORSThe ApocaDocs, Katelyn Coyne, Lynn Jenkins, Rita Kohn, Joe Lee, Angela Leisure, Lori Lovely, James Lowe, Bowden Quinn, Betsy Sheldon, Renee Sweany

INTERNSJordan Martich (Ball State), Olivia McPherson (Hanover), Bethany Tatham (IUPUI), Sarah Ward (IUSB), Joshua Watson (IUPUI), Renee Wellman (Carmel High School)

COPY EDITOR Geoff Ooley

WEBDIGITAL PLATFORMS EDITOR Tristan [email protected]

I.T. MANAGER T.J. [email protected]

SALES & MARKETINGSALES ASSOCIATE Robert [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETINGMary Morgan [email protected]

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR Lauren Guidotti [email protected]

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT Kate Bragg [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Kathy [email protected]

COURIER Dick Powell

ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Kathy [email protected]

CONTRACTS Susie [email protected]

PRODUCTION & DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER/ART DIRECTORDave Windisch [email protected]

SENIOR DESIGNER Asha Patel

DESIGNERS Jarryd Foreman, SarahKate Chamness

06 The Nature Conservancy sets the barThe Efroymson Conservation Center boasts 55 points out of a LEED-required 52 for platinum certification.+ BY JAMES LOWE

Editor’s note: Yes, this is literally an editor’s note, from the editor, me, Jim Poyser. By the time this issue hits the stands I will be back from training in San Francisco with the Climate Reality Project. Unless I flunk, I will be part of their Leadership Corps, which means I will return to the Indianapolis area with a power point presen-tation about climate change that evolved out of Al Gore’s 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. I will endeavor to share this power point with as many of you as possible. If you’d like me to come to your school, your club, your organization — for free — email me at [email protected].

22 Shoe’s smaller footprintYama Sharifi has hit the ground running with his ANI (As Nature Intended) brand of all-vegan, eco-friendly barefoot shoe.+ BY BETSY SHELDON

D E P A R T M E N T S05 Gardening with Lynn05 Doom & Bloom06 Watts and Whatnot09 Eco-Transportation21 Advocates22 Green Biz25 September Events25 Green Reads28 Green Marketplace29 Ask Renee29 The PANIQuiz30 Life is an Egg by Joe Lee

Eco-transportationFor those of you who are still unable to astral project or don’t have access to that transporter you see in Star Trek, you have to get around somehow. Welcome to ILG’s comprehensive-as-possible guide to eco-transportation.

SEPTEMBER 2012

Expires September 30, 2012

Where the PLUS is our sincere effort Where the PLUS is our sincere effort to improve the well being of all pets.to improve the well being of all pets.

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doom & bloom with Jim Poyser


A disturbing thing happened to me early in the summer. For a num-ber of reasons too boring to go into, I had to drive to work. It’s a rarity. I drive to work, depending on the severity of weather, etc., maybe a dozen times a year.

So I was driving in my neigh-borhood, cursing my fate that I was in a car instead of on my bike, when I spied ahead my friend Dante. He was standing on a street corner with a young boy beside him.

They were taking a walk, I surmised, and kept pressing ahead, and as I passed them I saw between the two a rabbit on a leash. That’s right, Dante and his young companion were walking a rabbit.

It was a good-sized rabbit, mostly white, with black spots here and there, and that red leash … wow, what an impressive scene! You do not witness that every day! So what did I do?

Just kept driving.It really wasn’t until that night that I even thought

about this. I wasn’t particularly in a hurry that morn-ing. I wasn’t late for a meeting. I could have stopped. Stopped and pet the bunny. Found out what they were all doing there.

That fly-on-by-mentality never happens on a bike. In fact, my life can be quite Mayberry-like, riding to and from my work errands — some days I can barely get to where I’m going; other days I can’t get home, depending on how many people are out and about on foot or on their own bikes.

Bikes, you see, build community.Cars … well, cars destroy it.We have a lot of problems. We reached the 400

parts per million level of CO2 in the atmosphere; our air, water and soil are polluted; we have mas-sive dead zones and islands of floating plastic; we

draw over 90 percent of our energy from coal; and we have pollution from cars.

Transportation is probably the easiest to solve of all those problems. With the right incentives, we could get half the cars off the road tomorrow. I know we can do better. As I’ve said in these pages before, I sit at stoplights and watch folks drive by and 90 per-cent of the cars I see have one occupant. And that occupant is usually talking on the phone or texting.

I can only imagine that there are plenty of you coming from the same general area, and going to the same general area, and there is a service in Indianapolis where you can actually exploit that for carpooling and bike buddies. It’s called Commuter Connect (formerly known as the Central

Indiana Commuter Service) and the larger their database, the more people they can match up for transportation.

Worried about needing that sudden ride? Your kid is sick at school or whatever? Commuter Connect gives out taxi vouchers when you have an emergency.

But I’m getting too specific here, because ulti-mately, it’s a mindset. In the book, Cooler Smarter, the Union of Concerned Scientists says you can greatly reduce the amount of CO2 you produce by purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle.

What about driving less? A lot less? Carpooling would do it. But the problem is that

over the past 40 years, carpooling has fallen from 20 percent to 11 percent (in 2008). We should be moving the other way, doubling, not halving, or rideshares.

So it’s a mindset, an attitude. A commitment. Carpool, vanpool, bicycle, bus … hey, telecom-mute, I am right now as I write this! There are so many options that aren’t you getting into your car alone and driving to work.

Make some friends; build community; when possible, stop and smell the roses; stop and pet the bunny.

Bikes build communitycars destroy it

GARDENING WITH NATUREby Lynn Jenkins

There’s still timeThe signs

of fall are here, including shortening days, turning leaves, and cawing crows. Resident hummingbirds already left for

their tropical home, and monarchs are gorging on nectar for their trip to Mexico. Did summer fly by because time quickens with age, or because I spent less time in my garden this year trying to keep cool inside? There is still time to enjoy the garden and much to do before winter sets in.

• It’s not too late to plant garlic. Although it can be planted spring or fall, spring is often too wet and too busy. Plant the largest cloves about an inch deep and six inches apart in rows. Expect a little growth this fall, with harvest next summer.

• Spinach, lettuce, kale and corn salad or mache can also be fall planted with success. The first frost usually hits Central Indiana in mid-October, but a hard freeze doesn’t come until late November. However after this year, who is willing to play weatherman? Just plant and cross your fingers!

• Most lawns that were not irrigation-dependent survived the summer heat and drought. Neverthe-less, now is the time to do some renovation. Your lawn is only as good as your grass seed. Purdue offers a great website to help homeowners determine which variety and blend is the best choice for their needs — agry.purdue.edu/turf/turfgrassSelec-tionTool/index.html. Another great resource is Paul Tukey’s book, The Organic Lawn Care Manual, available at SafeLawns.org. Consider reducing the size of your lawn. Shrubs and trees can add value and beauty to your yard and offer wildlife habitat as well.

• Speaking of wildlife, don’t deadhead your flowers now. Leave those fading seedheads. Some plants will self-sow for next year and some become food for birds.

• If you still don’t have a compost pile, fall is a perfect time to start one. I can’t imagine gardening without “garden gold” compost. It’s easy and there are many websites for info. Mastercomposter.com, compost-ing101.com

Lots to still do … get busy!

Got a gardening question or a tip to share? Contact Lynn at [email protected]

WATTS & WHATNOT

6 INDIANALIVINGGREEN.COM /// SEPTEMBER 2012 /// ILG

Indiana’s best-kept secret is possibly in the next breath that you take. As of 2007, the state’s ecological outlook was declared bleak as Indiana received the scorn of mul-tiple environmental reports.

The most scathing came from Forbes maga-zine. After analyzing Indiana’s overall sustain-ability, the report returned startling results. Indiana ranked 49th. “Indiana received across-the-board low marks,” said the article. “It had the sixth highest carbon footprint of any state.”

A macabre prediction punctuated the find-ings. “[Indiana suffers] from a mix of toxic waste, lots of pollution and consumption and no clear plans to do anything about it. Expect them to remain that way.”

Forbes was mistaken. Not long after ink hit the pages in 2007, shovels turned over new earth in Indy. In 2009 The Nature Conser-vancy, a global conservation organization, partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to announce bold plans to open a building capable of achieving Indianapolis’ first ever LEED (Leadership in Energy and Envi-ronmental Design) certified platinum building.

Dan Overbey, of Browning Day Mullins & Dierdorf Architects, is USBGC-Indiana chap-ter’s current chair for 2012 and well aware of the significance of the conservancy’s plan.

“I think in the eyes of our peers or even in the building and design industry nationally, finally achieving a platinum project downtown demon-strates a renewal of our commitment,” he says, celebrating the conservancy’s recent completion.

Known as the Efroymson Conservation Cen-ter, the building was completed in April of 2010. The structure is a modest 22,000 square feet atop a one-acre plot. What the center lacks in

size, however, it makes up for with architectural and design ingenuity, boasting 55 points out of a LEED-required 52 for platinum certification.

The Nature Conservancy found creative paths to construct a sustainable project from development to occupation. Utilizing recycled brick and timber from the prior building on the plot, the project was able to cut construction costs while preventing the need for new mate-rial. The building’s reception desk, common area tables and garden benches were all crafted from the same timber source.

Overbey seems pleased not only with the building’s ideals, but with the tangibles that are helping to make eco-friendly developments a cultural-given in Indiana. “When a project goes through LEED, they’re going beyond just promises of intent,” he says. “To get certified is both a symbol, your plaque on the wall … an outward expression that your team has reached these verified goals on the project, but more specifically it insures that the facility has achieved the goals that they’ve set towards accomplishing. It insures that the building is designed efficiently, that it uses resources as sparingly as possible, and that the interiors will be as healthy as possible.”

Intelligent solutions help to answer the city’s desperate air, water and carbon footprint situ-ations. Daylight-sensing artificially lit interiors significantly reduce the electrical requirements of the center. Rooftop gardens absorb water and carbon and help to emit oxygen, while water collection devices store almost all rainwater that falls on the building’s property.

“Our ‘graywater’ system captures rainwater for non-consumption uses, such as landscape watering and flushing toilets,” the conservancy

states. “We estimate that we will save the city of Indianapolis $690,000 over 30 years by not hav-ing to process any of our storm water.”

Overbey believes in the significance of what even one triumph can mean to the bigger picture.

“This takes a step forward for the state of Indiana in general,” he says. “There are a lot of strategies that have been put in place very clearly. It’s a great project for teams to go see how strategies were executed.”

Based on USGBC statistics, Indiana’s future is bright. Residential and commercial proper-ties combined, as of January 2012, there were 420 LEED affiliated projects in Indiana, 26th best in the nation. Notable groups currently seeking certification include Indiana and But-ler Universities, Indiana Public Schools, The Hoosier Lottery and multiple residential units and apartment complexes. More information can be found at usgbc.org.

With The Nature Conservancy as a standard bearer, hope can build that the next round of sustainability statistics will be less ominous.

“I think that the green building movement has a lot of momentum,” Overbey says. “What passes for a ‘certifiable green building’ today is going to become more and more mainstream. Five years from now it may be the case that green strategies are going to become common practice. I think the bar is just going to keep moving forward.”

The Efroymson Conservation Center is available for open tours on Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. or by appointment. To become in-volved with The Nature Conservancy directly, individuals can sign up for membership or make donations. For more information call the center directly at 317-951-8818.

The Nature Conservancysets the bar By James Lowe

^̂submitted photo


WATTS & WHATNOT

NEWS BRIEFS

Single-stream recycling at IUPUI

The IUPUI campus is taking a step in the green direction this fall. The Office of Sustainability received a grant from Keep Amer-ica Beautiful and the Coca-Cola Foundation, which allowed them to purchase 305 single stream recycling bins. The bins will be placed in each housing unit on campus, which is home to 812 stu-dents. The hope is that this will increase recycling by eliminating the confusion around sorting and what can or cannot be recycled. The campus is also inaugurating a sustainability themed housing unit this fall. All of this is part of an initiative to create a sustain-able environment for students.

— Josh Watson

IPL’s renewable energy progress

Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) is becoming a leader in solar power by recently award-ing Sunrise Energy Venture the chance to supply solar power at three 10 megawatt sites in the IPL service area. IPL would purchase the power generated at the Sunrise sites for 15 years after approval by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. IPL is attempting to diversify their resources by using wind, bio-mass and solar photovoltaic (PV). IPL is also working on a 60-acre 10 megawatt solar project in the Indianapolis International

Airport. If this happens, by 2013 IPL could possibly lead Midwest utilities by supplying more solar power generated in their service area. IPL has more than 470, 000 residential, commercial and in-dustrial customers in Indianapolis who will all benefit from the use of solar power.

— Sarah Ward

Generation X on climate change

Generation X may not be the stereotypical slackers of those ’90s cult classic movies, but here’s one issue they have trouble caring about: climate change. The gener-ation that was once poked fun at in pop culture for being underachiev-ing slackers has grown into an educated, wired and scientifically literate generation. But record-breaking heat waves, epic droughts and killer tornadoes haven’t sounded the climate change alarm for these adults, aged 32 to 52, according to a University of Michi-gan report released in July.

With careers, families and kids, Gen X just has bigger concerns, the long-term survey found. They are only slightly more interested in climate change than their parents’ generation – even though more than half of those surveyed believed climate change is a real problem, the study found. “They’re busy and they don’t sit around evenings studying the carbon budget,” said University of Michigan political scientist and study author Jon D. Miller.

— The Daily Climate


The green mile per gallonAccording to the Environmental Protec-

tion Agency, two-thirds of carbon monoxide emissions come from transportation sources – in particular, motor vehicles. At least half the ozone pollution comes from cars, buses, trucks and off-highway vehicles including construc-tion equipment and boats.

Of all the activities the average person does on a daily basis, driving a motor vehicle is typically the most polluting. In central Indiana, alternatives to driving, such as bicycling and riding the bus, are not always practical. Never-theless, some choices can reduce pollution and emissions. For example, a natural gas vehicle can reduce CO2 emissions up to 30 percent and toxic pollutants by up to 90 percent. An electric vehicle can reduce emissions by 35-60 percent.

Rising fuel prices, growing environmental concerns and higher fuel economy standards are influencing public demand for gas-guzzler alternatives. But although more manufacturers are producing vehicles to answer that demand,

they face challenges to sell them, in part be-cause of their higher cost.

To offset the higher sticker price, the federal government has offered an income tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 for natural gas, electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles purchased in or after 2010. The credit amount varies, based on the capacity of the battery used to fuel the vehicle.

President Obama’s proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget includes a new provision for hybrid and electric car tax credits that would broaden the range of eligible cars and eliminate caps on the number of rebates awarded. It’s part of the president’s plan to put one million electric and hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015. While the plan would increase the rebate to $10,000, the tax credit shifts from the consumer to the dealer, although certainly the intent is for the dealer to pass along any savings.

To sweeten the deal, some states have begun offering additional tax rebates.

California recently initiated a $1,500 rebate when a qualifying “green” vehicle is purchased.

But are the tax credits enough to encourage

Transportation: Some essential facts

Indiana is 36,418 square miles, including over 95,000 total miles of road, 1,100 miles of interstate highways, placing us sixth in the nation for total road density and ninth for interstate highway density. (SOURCE: INDOT Major Moves)

Metric Tons of Co2 from transportation per capita

• U.S. average 6.9 tons• Indiana average 8.6 tons

(SOURCE: t4america.org/statefacts/indiana/ )

One person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

Public transit means less driving and decreased air pollution. Substandard air quality means possible restric-tions on economic growth and puts federal transporta-tion funding at risk. About 60 percent of Central Indiana’s ozone pollution comes from motor vehicles. (SOURCE:

Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization)Over 5 percent of the metro Indianapolis area

households do not have an automobile. (SOURCE:

Brookings Institution)Transportation is the second largest household expense

— after housing — for Midwest U.S. residents who spend over 16 cents of every dollar on transportation. (SOURCE:

Consumer Expenditure Survey, US Bureau of Labor Statistics)FY 2012 Indiana Department of Transportation

(INDOT) expenditures

• 97 percent of Indiana transportation funds spent on roads• 3 percent spent on public transit, rail, intermo-

dal operating• $20,000 for passenger rail and high speed rail (State of

Illinois spends 1,400 times this amount — $28 million) (SOURCE: Hoosier Environmental Council)

An economic study done for the Midwest Regional Rail System found that investment in high speed passenger rail in Indiana would create over 4,500 new jobs, and provide $86 million in extra household income. Total user benefits for Indiana are estimated to be $2.3 billion to $3.5 billion. (SOURCE: INDOT)

Transit saves money — a two-person household can save as much as $10,000 a year by using transit. (SOURCE: American Public Transportation Association)

Current U.S. public transit usage reduces gasoline consumption by 4.2 billion gallons a year. (SOURCE:

American Public Transportation Association)Forty-two percent of U.S. oil imports come from

OPEC countries, many of whom are unfriendly to the U.S. (SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy)

For those of you who are still unable to astral project or don’t have access to transporter, you have to get around somehow. Welcome to ILG’s comprehensive-as-possible guide to eco-transportation. Send additional suggestions for alternative modes of travel to us at [email protected]. Happy travels!

— ILG STAFF

ECO-TRANSPORTATIONCARS | VAN POOLS | EBIKES | SCOOTERS | NATURAL TRANSPORTATION

CONTINUED ON PG. 10


the average driver to buy a hybrid or electric car? Industry experts speculate that the rebate isn’t benefitting the market segment it could best serve because it isn’t enough to encour-age them to purchase the more expensive alternative-fuel vehicles.

Of the 12.8 million cars and trucks sold in 2011, only 7,671 Volts and 9,674 Leafs were pur-chased. According to General Motors, the aver-age Chevy Volt hybrid buyer makes $175,000 a year. The average household income for the all-electric Nissan Leaf buyers is $140,000.

With a wide selection of options that includes two new Prius models, a family-sized clean die-sel from Volkswagen, an award-winning hybrid from Chevrolet, the most successful electric car from Nissan and the most affordable one from Mitsubishi, manufacturers hope to lure more drivers to where the “grass is greener.”

KV Racing team test-drives VoltDuring the month of May and slightly

beyond, Chevrolet loaned four Chevy Volts to the Chevrolet-powered KV Racing Technology team. At least one team member wishes he was still driving one.

Charlie Guilinger, machinist with the team since 2004, regularly drove a two-tone silver and grey Volt back and forth to work for sever-al weeks. He even took it out of town a couple times, including to the race in Milwaukee. “It’s peppy,” he reports.

Sitting low in the sporty four-door hatchback reminded him of driving a Corvette or Camaro, he says. “It feels like a sports car, where you’re hugged in the seat.” The quiet Volt doesn’t sound like a sports car, but Guilinger says he didn’t real-ize how quiet it was while he was driving on the freeway because the air conditioner and the XM satellite radio masked the silence.

Well-designed ergonomics, with many of the controls on the steering wheel and programmable memory for two different driv-ers’ preferences, made Guilinger’s drive time comfortable. Although he says he would swap the positions of the fan speed and tempera-ture control, his only complaint was that some of the buttons are too sensitive. “It’s easy to accidentally turn on the seat heaters.”

Not only is the Volt peppy, it’s also pretty good on fuel mileage. Driving at an average speed of 75 mph on a typical trip to Cincinnati, Guilinger estimates his own car’s fuel mileage at 20 mpg. In comparison, the Volt achieved 45-50 mpg on his journey this summer.

In-town fuel mileage was even better. During Guilinger’s 10-mile drive to work, the Volt ran on electricity only. The Volt, GM’s advanced hybrid car, operates solely on battery power for about 40 miles until a gas-powered generator kicks in to keep the engine running.

Because of the short commute, he didn’t even need to charge it while he was at work. In addition, he soon discovered that switch-

ing the air conditioner from comfort level to economy mode extended the charge. “It re-ally saved gas,” he says. “I spent more money washing it than putting gas in it.”

Bells and whistles include tire pressure sen-sors, XM satellite and a DVD player that works in park only. The drawback is the $40,000 price tag. “I would lease it, not buy it,” Guilinger says. “That way, you get the best out of battery life.”

The battery has a five- to seven-year life if properly cared for. A 4x6 menu screen indicates how much battery life is left before the car needs recharging. In fact, Guilinger says, that was the reason the team got the cars. “Chevy wanted us to drive them to keep the batteries charged.”

Guilinger wouldn’t mind keeping the battery charged a little longer. “I wish I still had it,” he says.

He isn’t the only test driver to give it a great review. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt was the first electric car to be chosen as the Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, spon-sored by the Green Car Journal.

Driving electric vehiclesOne of the persistent drawbacks detracting

from the appeal of electric cars has centered on the battery: how long it lasts, how long it needs to recharge and how far it will take the car.

The Nissan Leaf, the most successful all-electric car ever built, can go 62-138 miles on a charge, which is farther than many of its competitors. Hybrids, of course, can extend that distance by switching to gasoline power, but lose the electric advantage when they do.

For all-electric cars, range is related to recharg-ing. Currently, electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which are heavy and rarely go further than 100 miles before requiring recharging. That could soon change. Backed by General Motors, Envia Systems has developed a new process that creates more energy density, which could extend an electric car’s range to 300 miles per charge. Similarly, IBM is working to develop battery technology that would take electric cars as far as 500 miles on a single charge. Also in development is technology that will allow batteries to store energy produced by solar or wind power.

Until new technology is widely available, the challenge for electric car drivers is the limited availability and visibility of charging stations. Earlier this year, Murphy USA, the retail arm of Murphy Oil Corporation, opened Indiana’s first Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Greenwood. Another Level 3 Quick Charger, this one in collaboration with Eaton Corpora-tion, followed shortly after in Plainfield. Both provide a full charge in 10-30 minutes.

Recharging isn’t the only concern with bat-teries. Expected life and lifetime cost are issues. The Sierra Club crunched some hypothetical numbers to estimate fuel savings. Recharging an electric vehicle that is driven 12,000 miles a year at the current electricity rate of $0.12 per

ECO-TRANSPORTATIONTHE GREEN MILE PER GALLON CONTINED

^̂submitted photo

The average household income for the all-electric Nissan Leaf buyers is $140,000.

^̂submitted photo

KV Racing Technology team test drove the Chevy Volt.

^̂submitted photo

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV gets a gas mileage equivalent of 126 (city).

^̂submitted photo

The Toyota Prius C sports gas mileage of 53 (city) and 46 (hwy).


Chevrolet Volt• Extended-range electric hybrid

compact hatchback• Base Price: $39,995 - or $32,495

after federal tax credit • Gas Mileage Equivalent: 95 city, 93

hwy, 94 combined (electric only); 35 city, 40 hwy, 37 combined (gas only)

Toyota Prius C• Gas-electric hybrid subcompact

hatchback• Base Price: $19,710 • Gas Mileage: 53 city, 46 hwy, 50

combined

Toyota Prius V• Gasoline-electric hybrid wagon• Base Price: $27,160 • Gas Mileage: 44 city, 40 hwy,

42 combined

Nissan Leaf• All-electric compact hatchback• Base Price: $36,050 for SV trim;

$28,550 after federal tax credit • Gas Mileage Equivalent: 106 city,

92 hwy, 99 combined

Volkswagen Passat TDI• Diesel sedan• Base Price: $27,895• Gas Mileage: 30 city, 40 hwy,

34 combined

Mitsubishi i-MiEV• Electric compact hatchback• Base Price: $29,975 for ES trim;

$22,475 after federal tax credit• Gas Mileage Equivalent: 126 city,

99 hwy, 112 combined

kilowatt hour will cost $389 annu-ally. Savings on gasoline at $3 per gallon at 30 mpg will amount to roughly $1,200, resulting in a 68 percent net reduction in fuel costs.

Drivers may feel good about themselves because their electric cars don’t consume fossil fuels. However, recharging the battery can impose an equally significant ecological impact, depending on the source of the electricity. A mixture of atomic, coal-fired and hydroelectric power contributes three times more pollution than the Li-ion battery alone, according to Science Daily. Furthermore, “if the electricity is generated exclu-sively by coal-fired power stations, the ecobalance worsens by another 13 percent. If, on the other hand, the power is purely hydroelectric, then this figure improves by no less than 40 percent.”

A recent study published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology contends that the Li-ion battery imposes only a moderate environmental burden, due to manufacture, maintenance and disposal. Half of that occurs during the refining and manufac-turing of the raw materials, copper and aluminum. Production of the lithium accounts for only 2.3 percent of the total.

“Lithium-ion rechargeable bat-teries are not as bad as previously assumed,” states Dominic Notter, coauthor of the study.

To offset the cost of battery replacement, Chevrolet has offered Volt customers an eight year/100,000 mile warranty for its lithium-ion battery. When batter-ies do need replacing, the recycle rate of lithium-ion batteries is comparable to traditional lead-acid batteries, thanks to valuable metal content such as cobalt and nickel.

To boost recycling capability, the U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded $9.5 million for a new lithium-ion recycling facility. In addition, Toyota is working on an expanded recy-cling initiative for these batteries and a Belgian company has plans to recycle electric vehicle battery pack material to produce an alloy that can be refined into cobalt, nickel and other metals, as well as special grades of concrete.

But even before batteries get to recycling centers, they can of-ten be put to other uses because they retain up to 80 percent of their charge. A common use is to support intermittent sources of electricity, typically from wind or solar power, to stabilize the grid.

— LORI LOVELY

Car comparisons

See indianalivinggreen.com for lots more information about each of these models.

— LORI LOVELY

THE GREEN MILE PER GALLON


Become a vanpool fanFor people who have to travel a consid-

erable distance to get to work, vanpooling is a viable alternative mode of transporta-tion. Lori Kaplan, manager for Commuter Connect’s vanpooling initiative, says that one major goal of vanpooling is “to im-prove air quality in Central Indiana.”

She adds that the objectives are both practical and eco-friendly. Because these vans hold up to 15 people, “over 150 [single pas-senger] vehicles have been removed” — per van — from Indiana roads. That amounts to some 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide not being emitted into the atmosphere annually.

• Each rider is issued five vouchers per year to use for a cab in case they become ill or have an emergency at home and need to get back. This also covers one stop (like picking up a sick child from school).

• There are 14 vanpools, totaling approxi-mately 165 riders.

• Locations can be found here: cirta.us/com-muterconnect.

Other alternative transit options:IndyGo: Over the years, IndyGo has gotten a bad rap: Too few bus routes, late arrivals are just a few of the complaints. Still, this is our main public transportation option in the city of Indianapolis, so it deserves our attention. The Super Bowl, for example, inspired many to ride the bus — many for the first time. Given the increased atten-tion, IndyGo can only improve. See more: indygo.net.

Some recent news from IndyGo:• Ridership is up this year by 12.4 percent

• IndyGo will receive 10 million dollars of State of Good Repair dollars for bus re-placement. Some 25 buses will be replaced.

• IndyGo has a total of 23 electric-diesel hybrid buses.

Megabus: Adding new routes all the time, this bus service transports people to and from major cities throughout the East, South and Midwest. Other than some spotty Wi-Fi service, there’s little to criticize about this transportation option. In fact, it’s a great ride, either a peaceful alternative to driv-ing, or a raucous and fun community, with a party-like feel. Easy to schedule and the fares are cheap, SUPER cheap if you plan far enough ahead. See more: us.megabus.com.

Greyhound: The Grandmother of Bus Travel, Greyhound is the largest intercity bus company in North America. See more: greyhound.com.

Amtrak: When you think of Amtrak, you think of trains, but they offer bus transit as well. Check out Amtrak.com for information on their 30+ train routes in Canada and the U.S.

Zipcar: Zipcar is a car sharing network started in Cambridge, Mass., which is driven by a team searching for workable solutions to the problems which come along with transporta-tion, such as congestion and pollution. As of March, there were 18 Zipcars on five Indiana campuses. Members can utilize the cars by the hour or the day, and usage runs around $8 per hour. This is a sustainable alternative for those who do not own cars or do not make frequent car trips. It is estimated that users of Zipcar dispense one-third fewer miles than those who own cars. See more: zipcar.com/registration.

Health by Design: This local organization promotes communities where physical ac-tivity is an intrinsic part of neighborhoods,

transportation systems, buildings, parks and open space. Physical activity, as they put it, “has been engineered out of many parts of American life.” Health By Design wants that to change by advocating for improvement of our built environments to encourage exercise and connection to the community. Their Urban Planning Scholar Series brings experts to Indy to discuss the impact of ur-ban design on health and the environment. Make plans now to attend their Nov. 13 and 14 Striding Toward Healthy Communities conference, held in downtown Indianapolis. See more: healthbydesignonline.org.

Indy Connect: Indy Connect in an ambitious plan to bolster transportation throughout central Indiana. According to their website, the initiative has the potential to “revitalize and enhance neighborhoods and help the region compete for talent and economic investment.” The organization’s goal is to, “connect people to people and people to places” and in doing so increase job oppor-tunities and improve air quality. Their plan calls for several improvements to India-napolis’ lacking mass transportation system, including rail, roadways, rapid transit buses, bikes, and pedestrian walkways.

Indianapolis is the 23rd largest metropolis in the country but its transportation system does not even rank in the top 100. Indy spends less than a third of what neighboring cities spend on bus systems. If the Indy Connect initiative were implemented, the improved transporta-tion system would make it easier to live in the areas outlying Indianapolis, but work down-town (particularly attractive for individuals living in Carmel, Fishers, and Greenwood who deal with vehicle congestion daily). See more: indyconnect.org.

^̂photos by angela leisure

(left) Mackenzie Malone says she chooses to ride the vanpool because gas prices are so high. She saves 30 miles round trip; $120/month in gas. She usually plays Draw Something on her phone or talks to other riders. (right) Driver Jeff Jones had this to say: “Vanpool drivers average about 50 miles round trip.

Let’s say the van averages 10 persons riding full time for a year. That equates to approximately 132,000 miles per year not driven, saving: personal energy costs, individual wear-and-tear on vehicles plus less highway traffic and emissions — helping to provide a greener community.”


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To pedal… or not to pedal: electric bikes

When it comes to cycling, technology is offering more possibilities for a range of needs. Case in point — electric bikes. Powered by an electric motor wired to a rechargeable 24 or 36 volt battery, these bikes allow users the freedom to pedal or not to pedal. For those who dream of joining the cycling revolution but are deterred by bad knees, health problems, low mobility, long distances, hills or the inconve-nience of perspiration on your morning com-mute, electric bicycles might just be the answer.

There are numerous brands available, includ-ing bicycles that come ready-made electric and conversion kits that can be implemented on conventional bikes. As with most new-fangled technology, these bikes can get pretty pricey, ranging from $800 to $2,000, but the satisfac-tion of staying ahead of the curve is priceless.

Topping out at 20 mph, these bikes don’t require licenses or IDs and are an ideal way to make commuting or the cycling hobby a feasible option.

• National Moto5206 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN317-698-2418

National Moto, located south of Broad Ripple, is leading the trend of electric bikes, offering Pedego models. Pedego bikes offer style and functionality for cyclists who want the best of both worlds when it comes to exercising and commuting. These pedal-assisted bicycles do just that: assist cyclists with electrical energy as they pedal. National Moto owner Matty Bennett explains, “People love them because they’re still six-speed bicycles that offer a little help.”

Since he started stocking Pedego elec-tric bikes, Bennett has seen an enthusiastic response in his shop. “I’ve had people come from out-of-state, all around, to come and test ride a Pedego, if they don’t have a store that’s local. It’s just amazing that people are coming from so many different areas. They all say, ‘Gosh, my local bike shop doesn’t have anything like this.’ ”

But waving the electric bicycle banner hasn’t been enough to convert non-believers. “We still have people who come in and say they just don’t get it, they think its cheating,” says Bennett. “But that’s all hearsay. We pretty much look at it as, [the battery power] is always there if you need it. ... It gets people who thought that bikes were long gone from their repertoire, out there.”

• Bicycle Garage Indy4340 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN317-842-4140

National Moto isn’t the only horse in the electric bike race. Bicycle Garage Indy stocks

two different brands: Giant Twist Freedom Deluxe and Izip. Sales associate Abby Wells explained the features of each.

“The Giant Twist appears like a standard hybrid bike, with batteries on two sides of a back rack. Those take six to eight hours to charge. When you’re running, you can select which battery you want to use. While the Izips have a whole assortment of appear-ances and options, including an internal torque option so instead of having a power assist, you can actually turn the power on and not pedal, while some of our Izip mod-els have an external battery.”

Offering many advantages, Wells explains that these electric bikes keep users from strug-gling. “You don’t have to get off your bike to fin-ish the hills,” says Wells. “Also, for people who are out riding with friends or family members that are faster than they are, it allows them to stay at that speed to a certain degree.”

• Mass Ave Bikes643 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, IN317-622-7988

One downtown Indianapolis bike shop, Mass Ave Bikes, offers an entirely different electric option for cyclists, though they are still figuring out the details of which product lines to sell.

Currently, they’re looking into a line of conversion kits called Bionx. Conversion kits come with a motor wheel, battery, charger, consol/throttle and battery mount, all of which can be affixed to a conventional bike to give it a little extra oomph.

“If somebody has a decent level quality bicy-cle, with nicer components than an entry-level

or mid-level electric bike might come stocked with, it makes sense to put a nice high quality conversion kit on that bicycle,” says Mass Ave Bike’s Aaron Corey. “We want to repurpose a quality traditional bicycle with quality electrics to make it a quality electric bicycle.”

Though they are not yet equipped for con-versions, Corey says the shop should be ready for the electric bike business in less than three months. For now, Mass Ave Bikes offers repair services to any brand of electric bike.

“We’re not at all brand-specific in our ser-vice. It doesn’t even have to be a bicycle, we do personal mobility devices, wheelchairs, strollers, anything with wheels we service,” explains Corey.

• Valley Bikes6102 Ashway Court, Indianapolis, IN317-582-5539

Valley Bikes, on Indianapolis’ West side, offers yet another option to electric bicycle seekers.

“We specialize in recumbent bikes and trikes,” says owner Mike McDowell. “And we do conversions. I usually use Sun trikes, imported here from Taiwan. They’ve been around for a long time and are really reliable.”

In addition, this specialty bike shop works closely with Indiana Rehabilitation Hospital, in an attempt to turn cycling into a therapy of sorts.

“We tend to be able to give back to people who have had strokes or other issues,” explains McDowell. “We give them back bicycling, which they thought they’d never be able to do again.”

— KATELYN COYNE

^̂photo by mark lee

National Moto’s Brendan Fox, left, and Matty Bennett.



Is two better than four?It’s not always true that two

wheels are better than four when it comes to eco-friendly options. If a scooter has a two-stroke engine, it can legally emit 5.7 times more CO than a car — nearly 24 times more unburned hydrocarbons and More NOx (nitrogen oxide), ac-cording to a U.S. News report.

According to Green Living Ideas, scooters can emit as much particulate matter – and three times as much carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons – as large diesel trucks. Because they have no fuel injection or catalytic con-verters, harmful compounds are emitted. In addition, two-stroke engines are also noisy and short-lived, adding to their environ-mental impact.

However, even a scooter with a two-stroke engine can be “greener” than a typical SUV due to the amount of resources consumed in production and the amount of energy used to oper-ate. Scooters achieve incredible fuel efficiency, easily reaching 60-80 mpg. They may emit more pollution, but they produce less greenhouse gas.

Luckily, most American scoot-ers have four-stroke engines, which are more fuel efficient, quieter, more reliable and run significantly cleaner. For all those gains, however, there is a perfor-mance loss, although scooters with direct fuel injection can offset that loss of power and also provide increased fuel efficiency.

That’s amore Synonymous with the word

scooter, Vespa, manufactured by Piaggio, set the gold standard for the industry — in sales, in racing and in film. Chic, with its enclosing unibody; innovative, with its protective flat footboard; and aerodynamically stable, with its prominent front fairing; the classic Italian scooter inspires images of sharply dressed pro-fessionals zipping down the Via Veneto. Since its return to the U.S. in 2000 after an absence of 15 years due to new emissions legislation targeting two-stroke engines, the “wasp” has a firm hold on 20 percent of the market and a new lease on life with a four-stroke engine.

Available with an Eco-Smart fuel-injected engine since 2011, the 150cc models use 15 percent less fuel than earlier versions. Achieving an average of 85 mpg, these efficient scooters also provide a smoother ride without sacrificing performance or speed.

Fuel sourcesSome scooters run on alter-

native fuels such as propane (liquid petroleum), which costs less and creates less pollution, but American availability is currently limited.

The “greenest” source of fuel is electricity. Electric scooters are near-silent, low-maintenance, fuel-efficient rides. The purchase price is considerably higher, but with electricity costs about one-


Speed City features the Vetrix.

CARS | VAN POOLS | EBIKES | SCOOTERS | NATURAL TRANSPORTATIONECO-TRANSPORTATION


tenth of gasoline, the payback period is quick. The downside is that the battery pack won’t take you much farther than 30-50 miles before it needs recharging … which takes time.

X-treme and Razor are two of the more popu-lar electric scooter manufacturers, with models ranging from skateboards to pocket bikes.

Countdown to zeroResembling a motorcycle more than a motor

scooter, the Vectrix ZEV is the only highway-legal, fully electric, zero-emissions vehicle for sale in the U.S. Featuring a built-in rechargeable battery, a patented regenerative deceleration system, called DaaRT, and Brembo disc brakes, it quietly accelerates from 0 to 50 in 6.8 seconds.

The DaaRT systems recovers energy and extends battery life by enabling acceleration and braking to be controlled by one hand using the bi-directional throttle. There are no gears or clutch. One of the scooter’s most attractive features is its onboard charging capability that provides up to 68 miles of travel.

Currently available from British Motor Cars, the Vectrix ZEV has a smaller carbon footprint and an impressive return on invest-ment — particularly in California, where the government is offering anti-pollution incen-tives that give the buyer a $1,500 rebate. Minimal maintenance and lower insurance rates also make it an attractive option.

Scooter futuresCombining the best of both fuel sources,

Piaggio is currently in the prototype phase of development of a gas-electric hybrid scooter: the HyS. Its hybrid drivetrain in-creases power by 25 percent while decreas-ing fuel consumption by 20 percent.

Also in development, the Piaggio MP3

is a plug-in hybrid that fully recharges in three hours and gets 170 miles to the gal-lon of gasoline. Until those are available, Piaggio offers several gasoline-powered four-stroke models.

So do the math: two (wheels) plus four (cylinders) equals a fuel-efficient, eco-friendly mode of transportation.

— LORI LOVELY


The Vespa, also on sale at Speed City.


Making Indiana greener:Eric Stallsmith’s AGreenerIndiana.com

Eric Stallsmith, the cre-ator of the almost 5-year-old AGreenerIndiana.com, focuses on helping nature lovers con-nect, share thoughts and resources. The website links to outdoor recreation sites to aid Hoosiers in planning trips throughout Indiana.

He says, as a sort of mission statement, “I see outdoor recre-ation tourism and being greener as being strongly related groups of people and interests. Once you canoe a river for the first time and see a heron or eagle, you naturally become greener.

ILG: When did you become inter-ested in the idea of living green?

Eric Stallsmith: Even in high school I could see that it is costly to pol-lute. In college I learned that in economic terms it is possible for somebody to pollute for free and then the cost of that pollution is borne by everybody ... the people other than the polluter are the ones paying that cost. I then understood that Indiana could save money by being greener. If it is cheaper to stop the pollution than it is for people to pay that cost, then you make money by stopping the pollution.

ILG: What has been your favor-ite experience so far in working toward green living?

Stallsmith: I think it is very reward-ing to remind people that just doing one small thing helps. It is also rewarding to hear of instances where two AGI members can meet and share info, and then something

good results from that. I also like to work to involve the people interested in the environment and the outdoor recreation community being closer on the same page.

ILG: On the AGI website it says that Indiana is ranked 49th in Environmental Wellness. What do you think the state’s biggest challenge is in this regard?

Stallsmith: I think that once the state recognizes that being greener is a money saver and not a money coster, then we can overcome our biggest challenge, which is will to improve. Is the cleanup of Fukushima in Japan gonna be cheap? Is the cleanup of these ash ponds gonna be cheap? How expensive is it if it bursts? Is it cheaper to head off a superfund site or clean one up? The ability to calculate costs properly is the biggest challenge.

ILG: With all the time you spend outdoors, does this make you more concerned for the environment or do you remain hopeful about turning things around in terms of pollution and waste?

Stallsmith: I think there will be successes and failures, but in general I think that humans will continue to diminish the natural world’s pristineness indefinitely. We will be doing good to just slow down the pace of diminish-ment. I also think that if you just focus on the good things that you can do to improve that is all the individual can really do. The system as a whole is outside of the control of the average guy.

— OLIVIA MCPHERSON

Check out Stallsmith’s page at agreenerindiana.com

^̂submitted photo

Eric Stallsmith of AGreenerIndiana.com

CARS | VAN POOLS | EBIKES | SCOOTERS | NATURAL TRANSPORTATIONECO-TRANSPORTATION


Forgotten modalities of transportationGiven the modern world’s surfeit of marvelous and beguiling options regarding transporta-

tion, it is nevertheless incumbent upon us here at Indiana Living Green, to remind our dear readers of long-forgotten modalities of movement, namely walking, skipping and crawling.

— JIM POYSER

a. WalkingHere our subject is engaged in the

movement that was once charmingly referred to as walking or “strolling.” Several parts of the human anatomy are engaged in this procedure, and great con-centration is necessary to keep the body upright and functioning.

b. SkippingSo-called “skipping” may be equated by

some to be tantamount to an energized form of walking modality, but it is in fact more complex by factor of many. Thus, the need for intense concentration and the possibility for grave injury increase com-mensurately. We here at ILG, by displaying these photos, do not in any way, sanction or encourage the use of such a dangerous motion, and are hereby cautioned by our team of lawyers to make this clear.

c. CrawlingHere, the safest of our three “old

school” modalities of movement, takes the human back, perhaps, to their earli-est stages of development. The crawling human is crouched over the earth, and stability is achieved by all four limbs working in safe and coordinated concert. Progress is slow but sure, but the pos-sibility of injury is minimal.

^̂photos by angela leisuremodel: kurt carlson

a1: Notice the biomechanics of this gait, the hip-torque (see side view), rigid upper body, and slack but alert arms. a2: Side view: Classic structural dynamic “triangle,” subject demonstrates “heel-to-toe” method of bipedal transportation. b1: Front view. b2: Skipping requires much more

“pumping” action than does walking. Subject’s slack arms have turned into pistons of power, equaling 5.704 joules of action. c1: Front view of crawling; note subject’s hair may obstruct his view. c2: Side view.


c1

c2

b1

b2

a1

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Indianapolis is one of the larg-est cities in the world without a commercial port nearby. The West Fork of the White River, too shallow

for shipping, wasn’t a factor in the growth of the city. The founders of Indiana selected the site for its central location, as instructed by the state legislature. Because of the lack of river commerce, population growth was slow until the National Road (now U.S. Route 40) and rail lines arrived.

As a result, the river that winds through the city has long been an afterthought. Various attempts have been made to use it for economic gain, but for the most part it has simply provided an aesthetic backdrop. Unfortunately, like rivers everywhere, the people along its banks have also used it as a means of waste disposal.

This has had an unfortunate im-pact on water quality. The river is often unsafe for swimming because of high bacteria counts. Other pol-lutants—specifically mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—have contaminated the fish, making some of them unsafe to eat. Pol-lution sources include urban and agricultural runoff, sewer overflows and failing septic systems, and coal-fired power plants.

According to retired biologist John Winters, whose history of the West Fork is available on the excel-lent website of the Friends of the White River (friendsofwhiteriver.org), before settlement the fish in the river “were so abundant that accounts of the success of early fishermen sound like tall tales to modern-day anglers.” Changes to the river along with the pollution we add to it have greatly dimin-ished that abundance.

The greatest assault on the river occurred in December 1999 when employees of Guide Corp, an auto parts manufacturer in Anderson, released a chemical into that city’s sewer system. It went through the sewage treatment plant and into the river, killing an estimated 4.6 million fish, mostly between Ander-

son and northern Marion County. Guide eventually agreed to pay $14 million in compensation.

That event aroused public and governmental concern for the river. The Department of Natural Resources restocked the water with fish. New boat launches and other amenities were built. Last year the DNR found 57 species of fish in the stretch between An-derson and Indianapolis, the most since the toxic release.

There has long been a core of people who have worked to restore and protect the river. The Friends of the White River, estab-lished in 1985, organizes cleanups every year. The Upper White River Watershed Alliance pro-vides education on the impacts of fertilizer, pet waste and runoff.

For the most part, however, the river is still a neglected resource in Indianapolis. To try to remedy that, last year the Indianapolis Museum of Art sponsored a public art event called FLOW: Can You See the River? Under the direction of artist Mary Miss, large red balls (simulat-ing map markers) and mirrors were erected at key locations next to the river throughout the city.

In September, organizations are sponsoring a month-long White River Festival under the leader-ship of the Upper White River Watershed Alliance. The festival highlights the many reasons the river is important to us: its history, its role in binding together the communities in its watershed, its recreational and aesthetic values. Festival activities also focus on threats to the river, which serves as a public drinking water supply.

We have a long way to go be-fore we’ll have wholesome rivers again in Indiana, but progress is being made. Cities like India-napolis are starting to address their sewer and septic problems, PCB levels in fish are dimin-ishing, coal is in decline. We should all take the opportunity offered by the festival to learn more about the river and water quality, and redouble our efforts to hasten the day when we can safely swim in our rivers and eat the fish from them.

Cherishthe White River

sierra club by Bowden Quinn

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GREEN BIZ

When it comes to building and home decor, you can’t get much bet-ter than granite, long the material of choice for high-end remodels and building projects, from kitchen and bathroom countertops to tiled flooring and fireplace surrounds.

But Earth-friendly? Not so much. Sure, granite doesn’t contain fossil-fuel synthetics, but mining, manufac-turing and distributing the material guzzles petroleum. Then there’s the waste. Some sources claim that as much as 85 percent of excavated granite ends up in the landfill by the time the final product — be it coun-tertop or fireplace mantle — has been installed. It all adds up to one super-sized environmental footprint.

Chuck and Marie Damler aim to downsize that impact through their business, Natural Valley Recycled Granite. The Brownsburg couple col-lects granite scraps from Indiana fab-ricators and turns them into uniform bricks and tiles that can be used for kitchen backsplashes, patio and garden pavers, fire pits, walls, columns and more to create striking upscale looks for a shockingly modest cost.

The couple learned of Recycling-Granite.com, another Indiana-born business launched by St. John native Julie Rizzo in 2008. With her efforts and those of some 40 licensees na-tionwide, Rizzo’s stone-cutting pro-cess is reported to have so far saved more than 5 million tons of scrap

granite from landfills and earned LEED points for builders incorporat-ing it in their projects.

“Julie started a brand-new industry — that really intrigued us,” says Marie Damler. “We have a lot of land, lots of tractors and a forklift, and thought we had the stuff to make a go of it.”

As a licensee, the couple buys scraps from Indiana fabricators, cuts them into smooth-sided pieces — from 4 to 10 inches — leaving the visible edge rough, and sells them to homeowners, contractors and build-ers. Not only the designer look of the product, but the price — from $8 to $10 per square foot — appeal.

Doing business since August 2011, the Damlers admit that it’s taken a while to introduce consumers to the concept. But they report a grow-ing traction, particularly through virtual marketing channels such as craigslist.com.

“It’s all new to us,” says Marie. “But a respect for reduce, reuse, and recycle is not. We recycle everything, even horse manure.”

A visit to the Damlers’ Brownsburg ranch will turn up bags of manure for garden compost — and an opportunity to browse through the on-site recycled granite showroom.

For more: naturalvalleyrecycledgranite.com, and for more about the burgeoning industry, visit recycledgranite.com.

A couple generations after Earth Shoes, the contempo-rary spin on healthy footwear is minimalist. A new herd of barefoot runners extols the virtues of sole on soil, and most major brands have introduced a “barefoot” shoe, construct-ed with thin material that protects the wearer from sharp rocks, fresh chewing gum and other pavement hazards, yet allows the foot to interact with a walking surface in a way that nature intended.

So it’s only fitting that Yama Sharifi has hit the ground running with his ANI (As Nature Intended) brand of all-vegan, eco-friendly barefoot shoe.

After raising nearly $10,000 more than his goal in a two-month funding campaign through Kickstarter, the young entre-preneur is poised to produce his unique line of barefoot wear.

As a student at North Central High School, Sharifi began sketching designs for a shoe that permitted the feel of a walk on the beach — minus the pain from sharp coral or pop tabs. Oh, and he wanted a vegan, natural and recyclable product. He’s realist enough to know that the most comfort-able, socially conscious shoe won’t get a leg up if it isn’t visu-ally appealing and fashion-forward.

His energies led to the 100-percent organic canvas shoe, solid black or with red, green, or blue accents — sleek, clean, timeless yet fashionably au-courant. Astute design and cutting-edge technology produce a membrane-thin outer rubber sole and a flat bed that enables the foot to find its own natural form and position.

Sharifi, who describes himself as an entrepreneur-designer who wants to make a difference, runs his business based on per-sonal values that include environmental consciousness, humane treatment of animals, and philanthropic drive. As he gears up to start the manufacturing process, he’s already exploring partner-ships with several charitable organizations. “But no matter which causes ANI chooses to support,” Sharifi affirms, “we will give back to charity.”

Once the shoe is available, customers will be able to order online at anishoes.com, but Sharifi hopes to be in stores — not just in hometown Indy but locations throughout the world — soon. He plans to pursue retailers from large chains to local independents.

Meantime, Sharifi has another Kickstarter capital cam-paign scheduled — in which fans can purchase a pair from the ANI white line, a new line that Sharifi promises will be even more beautiful than the first.

For more information visit anishoes.com or kickstarter.com.

diverting granite waste from landfillsRock-solid recycling:

By Betsy SheldonBy Betsy Sheldon

By Betsy Sheldon

^̂submitted photo

^̂submitted photo

Yama Sharifi of As Natured Intended

Chuck and Marie Damler of Natural Valley Recycled Granite

Shoe’s smaller footprint

SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 15

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.at Minnetrista

Living Lightly is a FREE resource fair aimed at educating East Central Indiana about practical ways to live more sustainably, saving money and resources for themselves and future generations.

www.livinglightlyfair.orgwww.livinglightlyfair.org

HOOSIER CHAPTER ART SHOWSept. 1- Oct. 31The Hoosier Chapter Art Show will be the first photography and art show of the Sierra Club’s Indiana Chapter. There will be plenty of opportunities to swing by and see which art created by Sierra Club members is the coolest, and there is a people’s choice award to be won. Artwork will show the participants’ zeal for Indiana and will be based on Advocacy, Nature, Wildlife, or another closely related category of the artist’s choice. The event will be held at the Indiana Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42nd St. in Indianapolis.hoosier.chapter@sierraclub

GOING LOCAL WEEKSept. 2-8All Hoosiers are invited to participate in Going Local Week 2012, organized by Indy’s Going Local group and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Support local farmers’ markets, local wineries, local breweries, eat healthy, and go to sleep full with a peaceful economic conscience. As the Going Local website ex-plains: “By consciously choosing locally grown and produced foods you’ll enjoy fresher and more varieties of food, get in touch with the seasonality of the Indiana food shed, protect the environment, and help support the local In-diana economy.” With all these great reasons, it would be hard to not participate.goinglocal-info.com

SCIENCE FAIR: SCIENCE OF FLOWSept. 7. 6-8 p.m.This public art project held in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, will center on the White Riv-er and how people connect to it, both individu-ally and as a city. Hydrologists will be present to explain techniques and tools they use to explore the water quality and aquatic life. Com-bining art and science, visitors can gain new understanding about the river. Data collected from the water will be explained by biologists from the United States Geological Survey.imamuseum.org/special-event/science-fair-science-flow-hands

SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIESept. 7. 8 p.m.Always an enjoyable time, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will be performing Big Bad VooDoo Daddy at Symphony on the Prai-rie, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers. Tickets will be $22 in advance and $27 at the door, and can be found at Marsh, O’Malia’s and ISO locations. Also, tickets for the 1859 Balloon Voyage will be available. The balloon will suspend you above the concert as you listen to the sounds of the symphony float through the evening air! Let the Symphony on the Prairie escort you out of summer and into those much anticipated cooler fall nights.connerprairie.org/Plan-Your-Visit/Special-Events/Marsh-Symphony-on-the-Prairie.aspx

JOHNNY APPLESEED FESTIVALSept. 15. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sept. 16. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Come out into beautiful apple country and enjoy homemade crafts, food, live entertain-ment, and history lessons to celebrate the spirit of “Johnny Appleseed.” What other chance would one have to relish the memory of such an iconic yet nearly obsolete figure? This is fun designed for the whole family! Even the kids will have a blast learning about this special piece of Hoosier history. The free, 38th annual event will be held at 1502 Harry Baals Drive, Fort Wayne.johnnyappleseedfest.com/

BARTLETT’S BUCKIN GOOD BEER FEST – A BENEFIT FOR SAVE THE DUNESSept. 16. 1-4 p.m.Beer lovers mark your calendars for this year’s Bartlett’s Buckin Good Beer Fest! It will be held at Bartlett’s Gourmet Grill & Tavern, 131 E. Dunes Hwy 12, Beverly Shores. Over 50 craft beers will be available for tasting, as well as craft cocktails from Rogue Spirits. Great food will be provided by Bartlett’s and Bistro 157 and lemonade will be available for kids. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance at Bartlett’s this fall. Prices will be $25 in advance or $40 at the door. A portion of the proceeds support Save the Dunes, which was founded in 1952 and is one of the oldest conservation efforts organizations in the U.S.savedunes.org/monthly/index.php?uid=befab66c4cd1

BIKE BUCKET WORKSHOPSept. 20. 6-8 p.m.This practical event being hosted at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, 1029 Fletcher Ave., #100, Indianapolis, will focus on making Bike Buckets by re-using four-gallon square buckets (better known for holding kitty litter) to attach to the rack on your bicycle. Now Mr. Whiskers can have a hand (or paw) in sustainable living, and a potential place to sit as you cruise around on your bike. All material, hardware, tools and instructions will be provided (feel free to bring your own buckets if you have them or we can provide them). For ad-dress and more info about this workshop visit: indianalivinggreen.com/event/bike-bucket-workshop

IUPUI REGATTASept. 22. 10:30 a.m.No matter what you’re into, this event probably has something to catch your eye! This half-mile canoe race will feature more than 90 teams of paddlers go-ing toe to toe in their canoes down the canal. There will also be local food to try, bands from Indy, and art to check out, making this a kind of best-of-Indy sam-pling! The super cool downtown Creation Café will be hosting, also serving as a vantage point to watch the racers battle it out. The race, started in 2009, is quickly becoming a “can’t-miss” tradition! alumni.iupui.edu/regatta

ROCKY RIPPLE ART FESTIVALSept. 29The Rocky Ripple Community Association will hold its 13th annual Art Festival in Hohlt Park, 840 W. 53rd St., Indianapolis. There is free admission to this family-oriented art and music festival. Last year, the festival featured over 75 booths. There will be six bands at the 2012 festival, including Andra Faye and the Rays, The Cosmic Preachers, Seismic Souls, CW and the Working Class Trio, HyRyder, and Day Job Blues. Other entertainment will include Judy Hannah and the Midwest BellyDancing Superstars. The children’s activity area will allow children to participate in many activities, such as sand sculpture, hula hooping, art, face painting, science experiments and hair spraying. Festival visitors are encouraged to ride their bikes to the festival; use the free, secure Park & Pedal bicycle parking. There will be full-scale recycling at the festi-val and all surplus food will be composted.rockyripple.org/Rocky_Ripple_Festival.html


GREEN READS

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

WILDFLOWERS AND FERNS OF INDIANA FORESTS: A FIELD GUIDEMichael A. HomoyaIndiana University Press | $22.95e

We’re obsessed with the local. Local food, local beer, local arts and crafts … and the modern cry is to “shop local.” We’re all for that here at ILG, but truly, what’s more local than the very land we inhabit?

You’re in luck. IU Press’ field guide to wildflowers and ferns is a handy and beautiful book that you can take anywhere to identify the local lovelies of our Indiana landscape.

Author Michael Homoya knows his stuff: he’s been a botanist/plant ecologist with the DNR for over 30 years. And his easy-to-digest guide covers wildflowers and ferns, for sure, but also shrubs, trees, grasses and sedges.

Glossy photos detail each gorgeous (Michigan lily) or foreboding (poison ivy) or-ganism, and the guide is color-coded so you can thumb directly to the plant in question.

For those of you who really love your plants, this book offers a plethora of baby names, such as Lopseed, Squawroot and Bladdernut. Oh wait, I meant to say those are great band names! How about But-tonbush for your little daughter or son? Or Betony or Buckwheat or Lobelia?

Ok, maybe you don’t want to name your band or baby any of these beautiful words, but safe to say, this guide is replete with poetry. The poetry of terminology and the poetry of nature.

Get it today; nearly 500 pages of living local!— JIM POYSER

S

Local

PAID ADVERTORIAL

The automobile industry is fi nally waking up to the needs and wants of consumers who have grown tired of the steady rise in gas prices. Fuel-ef-fi cient vehicles are fi nding a comfort-able peak in technological advance-ment, aff ordability and ecological care. The average new automobile in America receives approximately 23.1 miles per gallon in July 2012, accord-ing to TrueCar.com. Compare this to 13.75 miles per gallon in the ‘70s.

The Corporate Average Fuel Econ-omy standards passed through Congress in 1975, doubling our miles per gallon to 27.5. Since then, we’ve come a long way in our understand-ing what fuel costs, both fi nancially and environmentally.

The miles per gallon average hit 16.9 in 1991. Less than a decade later, the fi rst mass-manufactured hybrids become available to Ameri-can consumers. The Energy Act of 2007 promised that we would make the move to an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. In the past few years, we’ve seen all-electric engine vehicles come to dealerships nationwide. Major manufacturers have invested deeply in a new future for transportation energy, a step

which will take us away from high gas prices, excessive pollution, and disastrous carbon emissions.

“For years, consumers have been wanting more fuel-effi cient ve-hicles, while not completely giving up what they enjoy about their current vehicles -- like horsepower and vehicle features. It seems that manufacturers have listened, and now have the technologies to de-liver,” says Lorne Hayden, Mitsubi-shi General Sales Manager at Ray Skillman Auto Mall.

The all-electric 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV earned a 112 mpg-equivalent rating this year, which sets us off well from the standards of our past. The sleek four-person vehicle uses lithium-ion batteries to burn electrons instead of hydrocarbons. Owners can plug in rather than fi ll up using three levels of charging. At Level One, 100 percent charge can be reached in 22 hours; Level Two achieves 100 percent in 7 hours; and Level Three charges to 80 percent in 30 minutes.

On a full charge, the i-MiEV gets a combined 62-mile range for city and highway, and 16-kilowatt hours under the hood.

Mitsubishi constructed their fi rst electric car in 1970. They spent years refi ning the engine technol-ogy, increasing motor effi ciency and eventually adopting the use of lithium-ion batteries. Finally, the i-MiEV operating system that regulates the fl ow of energy throughout the car came to life. The i-MiEV has three distinct modes of driving to maximize the vehicle’s effi ciency and a metered status for the driver to utilize. Regenerative brakes turn stopping motion back into energy.

The i-MiEV is estimated to save $9,850 in fuel cost savings over the fi rst fi ve years; drivers also receive a $7,500 federal rebate. Beyond breaking your dependence on oil, think of the money that will be saved with no oil changes, less maintenance, fewer parts to repair or replace and cheaper, cleaner energy being used. Even the signals are equipped with ultra-effi cient LED lights. Add to that the lack of noise pollution emanating from the electric engine and you realize that the i-MiEV truly is a zero emission vehicle. It’s high-tech, aff ordable gadgetry that’s designed around people instead of bulk engines.

Indianapolis residents can fi nd a vast selection of electric and fuel-effi cient vehicles at Ray Skillman Westside Auto Mall at 5155 W. Pike Plaza Road, 46254. Customers looking to compare cars can get up close to Kia, Hyundai, Mazda, Mit-subishi, and Suzuki models, as well as over 300 pre-owned vehicles, all in one convenient location. Car buyers are able to test drive com-peting makes and models one right after another, then pull them side-by-side to compare. This auto mall concept was designed to benefi t the customer by providing a conve-nient and practical way to shop for

cars. The family-owned dealership has a reputable service record for its business in the community, and is known for being honest, upfront and supporting customers long after the sale or service. Employees are informed on the newest tech-nology and its ecological mindful-ness. The Auto Mall also features four service departments and a collision center, all on-site.

Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi all offer 100,000 mile warranties on new vehicles with Ray Skillman. Ray Skillman is committed to providing more energy efficient vehicles. At least 20 percent of their new car inventory gets over 40 mpg and 45 percent gets over 35 mpg. Around 75 percent of their new car inventory gets over 30 mpg. That’s over 100 new cars in inventory that get 40 miles per gallon or better!

Each brand has premium vehicles for customers seeking a more con-servative fuel economy. The 2012 North American Car of the Year Hyundai Elantra receives 40 miles per gallon; the 2012 Kia Rio achieves 40 miles per gallon; and the 2012 Mazda 3 gets 40 miles per gallon. Mazda’s SkyActiv technology has

changed the way that engines com-bust to create fuel-effi cient vehicles with intelligent designs.

Ray Skillman’s auto dealerships have expanded widely since the one store Skillman had in the 1980s. Through the years, they have built a strong reputation with the community and have been recognized and awarded for outstanding service and customer satisfaction. They’ve given back to the community by donating to neighboring schools and support-ing band and sports programs that have been aff ected by bud-get decreases. The Ray Skillman Westside Auto Mall is proud to of-fer vehicles which will change the shape of the automotive industry in the years ahead.

If you are interested in learning more about the new electric i-MiEV or receiving a truly unique car buy-ing experience, be sure to check out Ray Skillman Westside Auto Mall.

Ray Skillman Westside Auto Mall is located at 5155 W. Pike Plaza Road, in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, give them a call at (317) 293-8060 or see rayskill-manautomall.com

PAID ADVERTORIAL

To advertise in Green Marketplace, contact Robert Barnes at 317-808-4611 or [email protected]

GREEN MARKETPLACE

Placeyour ad for as

little as$20

Adda logo

for$15

ContactRobertBarnes

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IndianaLivingGreen.com

Homemade & Fair Trade

Organic cotton sheets, towels, kitchen linens. Also recycled glass and paper items. Excel-lent place for green wedding registry. Brands include Coyu-chi, Green Glass, In2Green, bambu and more!

honeysucklehome.com

Pets

Pet Esoteric Healing with Lynne Hirschman. Remote 30-minute sessions allow your pet to receive treatment without leaving home. Since 1998.

Call 317-205-9020.

Health & Wellness

Celadon Road with Amy SmithSelling organic, eco-friendly, and fair trade personal and home care products. Shop, host, or sell.

myceladonroad.com/17906Relief from Chronic PainManual Therapies including craniosacral work. Serving clients since 1985. Lynne Hirschman, MS,

PT. 317-205-9020.

Local Farms

Community SupportedAgricultureLocal Fruit, Produce and EggsMake a change to 100% local farm produce this seasonCertifi ed Naturally Grown!FarmIndy.com

[email protected]

Heartland Family Farm

1949 Sunny Acres DriveBedford, INChemical free, custom grown heirloom and European fruits and vegetables for professional chefs. Produce of exceptional quality and fl avor for the home chef. CSA shares available - summer/winter.

localharvest.org/heartland-fam-ily-farm-M9428

Farmers’ Markets

Buy Fresh, Buy LocalStarting on May 1stOpen Saturday from 8:00 am to Noon11501 East Washington Street

town.cumberland.in.us

Every Tuesday from 4pm-7pm, May 22- September 25, at the intersection of South Meridian and McCarty, across the street from Shapiro’s Delicatessen

Geist Farmers’ MarketCome visit us starting May 3rdThursday 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.Holy Cross Lutheran Church8115 Oaklandon Rd.

geistfarmersmarket.com

Supporting locally grown and produced foods for over 15 years! Opening Saturday May 5 for the 2012 season.

Find us at brfm.org

Unique atmosphere, vendors and producersNorth United Methodist Church38th and MeridianThursdays 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.Opens June 2

binfordfarmersmarket.com62nd and Binford Boulevard (Hawthorne Plaza)Saturdays: April-Oct and holi-days, 8am to 1pm

Convenient parking and lots of variety!

Products & Services

Carpet Cleaners - Carpet Cleaning Indianapolis/Metro4 Rooms only $79 Natural Solutions-Safer Cleaning.Angie’s List award winner 2011Call us Today! 317-538-0020

ecocarpetcleaningllc.com

Offering retail sales of cloth dia-pers and accessories, gift sets, baby slings, and natural parenting products. We provide one-on-one diaper consultations, local work-shops, and on-line gift registries.

ecologicalbabies.com

Olry PhotographyEco-Friendly Wedding, Engage-ment & Event PhotographersProud to be certifi ed members of Greener Photography’s Leadership Circle

olryphotography.com

Reface, don’t replace! ECONOMICAL AND ECOFRIENDLY! Our environmentally friendly countertop resurfacing system gives you a whole new look us-ing your existing countertops. Call 317-431-5198 to schedule your free in-home estimate.

ecocountertopsusa.com

myenergyoutfi tter.comEnergy Outfi tter has the home performance experts to improve the comfort and reduce the en-ergy waste in your home.

Specializing in attic and founda-tion insulation and solar electric energy systems.

Call today for a free estimate 317-797-3500

Organic Foods

Endangered Species Chocolatechocolatebar.com

Endangered Species Chocolate is committed to providing premi-um, ethically traded, all-natural and organic chocolate bars. 10% of net profi ts are donated to support species, habitat and humanity. Indulge in a cause.

Litterally Divine Toffeeand Truffl esNatural chocolates made with organic and locally sourced ingredients. Found at Traders Point Creamery Green Market

litterallydivinetoffTTee.com

An Indy Food Co-op store, Pogue’s Run Grocer is a full-service natural and organic gro-cery featuring affordable, fresh, healthy, and locally-produced products.poguesrungrocer.org

Community

Living Lightly Faira free resource fair for sustain-able lifestyles Minnetrista Cul-tural Center, Muncie, INSeptember 15, 2012 | 9am-5pmFeaturing musician Jennie De-Voe from 3:30-4:45 pm

For more information:livinglightlyfair.org

MAKING INDIANAPOLIS A BETTER PLACE TO RIDE A BICYCLE.DONATEHelp Support our causeJOINBecome a memberVolunteerBe a part of the action

theindycog.com/membership

Saturday, September 15, 20127:30am-12:00pm$8/personStart: Monon Community Center East Parking Lot. For more information:www.carmelclayparks.com

Gardening Services

Spotts Garden ServiceOrganic. Sustainable. Earth fi rst. We design, install, and maintain beautiful, earth-friendly gardens. Love your garden. We do.

SpottsGardens.com317-356-8808


ApocaPoetry Contest In honor of the Year of the Apoc-alypse, Indiana Living Green, along with the Writers’ Center of Indiana (indianawriters.org), is announcing a poetry contest. Not just any poetry contest, but a contest with a theme: the Apocalypse, ya know, 12/21/12. Here’s the deal. You must write your poem in the style of James Whitcomb Riley. That’s right, the Hoosier Poet himself. Write in the dialect, keep to the form and

rhyme about the Apocalypse, with an Indiana angle.

Send your submissions (limit two) to [email protected].

The winner gets $250. We will print any we think are decent or hilarious. Deadline: Oct. 1, 2012; we’ll announce — and print — the winner (and many of the non-winners) in December, of course, just in time for The Endtimes.

THE PANIQuiz


The ApocaDocs’ Pre-Apocalypse News & Info Quiz (PANIQuiz) tests your knowledge of current environmental news. Brought to you by the ApocaDocs, Michael Jensen and Jim Poyser. Check your results (at the bottom), then see apocadocs.com to find out more.

Correct Answers: 1. (d): The Kardashians get 40 times more coverage. (Media Matters); 2. (b): Water and air pollution. (Washington Post); 3. (b): 2,000; (Alternet); 4. (d): Fluids can migrate into drinking water supplies. (ProPublica); 5. (c): They’re not worried about climate change. (Daily Climate); 6. (e): BPA in their bottles and sippy cups. (Associated Press); 7. (c) Hellish hail (InsideClimate News); 8. (a): Nearly its entire ice cover, melting. (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center); 9. (c): They use pesticides. (Porterville Recorder); 10. (e): Bikes. (New York Times)

1. In terms of the amount of news coverage, how much coverage does ocean acidification receive vs. the Kardashians?

a. Who are the Kardashians?b. The Kardashians get 10 times

more coverage.c. The Kardashians get 25 times

more coverage.d. The Kardashians get 40 times

more coverage.e. What is ocean acidification?

2. A new poll indicates Americans no longer think global warming is a top threat. What is?

a. Pollsb. Water and air pollutionc. EPA shutting down NASCARd. Al Gore’s lavish lifestylee. Ocean acidification

3. How many heat records were broken the first week of July in the United States?

a. 1000b. 2000c. 4000d. Nonee. Too many to count

4. What does new research on fracking conclude about fluids and the Marcellus Shale?

a. Fluids are slippery when wet.b. Fluids always taste like chicken!c. Fluids can remain stable, ensuring safe

drinking water.d. Fluids can migrate into drinking water

supplies.e. Fluids can catch on fire.

5. What did a recent study of Generation X reveal?

a. They’re VERY worried about climate change.

b. They burn fewer carbons than Generation Y.c. They’re not worried about climate change.d. They still do drugs — but only to escape

realities like climate change.e. They don’t self-identify as a generation.

6. What did the FDA ban regarding babies?

a. Cryingb. Disposable diapersc. Their noxious poopd. Flame retardants in their pjse. BPA in their bottles and sippy cups

7. In addition to hellish heat, what other extreme weather event are Americans facing?

a. Raucous rainstormsb. Terrible tornadoesc. Hellish haild. Tsilly tsunamise. Sneaky snowstorms

8. What did three separate satellites observe, regarding Greenland?

a. Nearly its entire ice cover, melting.b. People ordering pizza.c. People getting naked.d. Cannibal caribou.e. Nearly the entire country, on fire.

9. How are illegal pot growers a threat to wildlife?

a. They compete with wildlife for forest food (when they have the munchies).

b. They try and tame the wildlife into pets.c. They use pesticides.d. The pot smoke makes wildlife docile and

easy to catch.e. They take potshots at wildlife for fun.

10. In Copenhagen, what is available to be checked out, just like books from a library?

a. Environmentalistsb. eBooksc. Solar panelsd. Energy efficient appliancese. Bikes

ASK RENEE

Q: As I was bathing my son last night and thinking about how thirsty my outdoor plants are, I wondered if I could use his bath water to water the bushes? Clearly it would take some effort to haul it out of the house to the plants, but hey,

what is a little effort to conserve some water! : )

We don’t use a whole lot of baby soap, but was wondering if there were either better options for soap or if the water was a little soapy what it would do to the plants. I remember my mom telling me as a kid that soap would kill the grass so I am hesitant to try it without getting some information.

Thanks! Clean Kids and thirsty plants

Dear clean kids and thirsty plants,

The old proverb “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” traditionally means: Do not discard some-thing valuable in your eagerness to get rid of some use-less thing associated with it. It sounds to me, Clean Kids, like you also see the value in the bathwater!

So, I did this once — plugged the drain in the tub while I showered then lugged buckets of used water down to my plants. It wasn’t terribly difficult and it made me feel good about my water conservation efforts. That said, it’s not a practice that I continued.

If you use biodegradable soaps at bath time, I’d say it’s ok to re-use the water on your bushes. I’m not so sure I’d use it on my vegetable garden, but who knows, maybe you’ll come up with some new hybrid lavender tomato!

My favorite brand of biodegradable soap is Dr. Bron-ner’s because you can buy it in bulk (read: you can refill reusable bottles at stores like Georgetown Market, Pogue’s Run Grocer or The Good Earth) and it has mul-tiple uses. I have even used Dr. Bronner’s castile soap to brush my teeth and clean toilets. There are plenty of other biodegradable soap brands out there and you can find them at almost any store these days.

My current bath time water conservation and other green efforts include:

• Using a low-flow shower head • Using a shut off valve to stop the flow of water

while lathering• Keeping my showers to a seven (or so) minute routine• Using bar soap instead of shower gel — no excessive

plastic packaging!• Using shampoo from a reusable bottle, refilled at

Georgetown Market or Pogue’s Run Grocer • Using a Preserve razor with a replaceable blades

Piece out, clean and green

SIGN UP for the Ask Renee newsletter at indianalivinggreen.com.

Got a question for Renee? [email protected]


Look for the October issue of ILG on stands Sept. 24

SpiritsOur October “spirits”

cover package includes features on Green

Congregations, Green Burial and Indiana-made alcohol.

Eating well, living well and feeling good...half-hour weekly radio program.

SAT. 11:30AM &WED. 5:00PM

AnotherDayofLiving.com

ANNUAL CONFERENCEENVIRONMENTAL�LITERACY�Creating Stewards for a Sustainable Indiana

ENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION�ASSOCIATION�OF�INDIANA

OCTOBER 5-7JAMESON CAMPINDIANAPOLIS

VISIT�WWW�EEAI�ORG�FOR�MORE�INFORMATION

Documents

Indiana Living Green - September 2012