Eye'n Energy

I like to think I am  conscious of what resources I use and try my best to live in a sustainable way. The assignment this week was to unplug, conserve and observe the amount of energy I use in a 24-hour time frame, I chose Friday 4/26 8:00 a.m.- Saturday 8:00 a.m.

After waking up I performed the following Home Energy Reduction Steps:

Daytime:

• Unplugged entertainment system power surge cord; DVD, TV, WII, WiFi Router, Laptop Charger
• Unplugged all other devices; Alarm Clock, Garbage Disposal, Mobile Charger, (2) Lamps, SoniCare Toothbrush
• Opened all windows-Allowing fresh air and natural light in
• Took a quick 5 minute shower
• Walked to the store instead of driving

Nighttime: 

• I only used my lamps with CFL bulbs in the rooms I was in at the moment
• Removed 2 out of 3 light bulbs in my bathroom light fixture

Devices I had to leave plugged in:

• Refrigerator, Stove

Overall, it was a pretty good feeling to unplug, it prompted me to read, work on projects and to try and keep myself entertained without the use of electronics. It was shocking at first to unplug all the electronics, especially once my mobile and laptop exhausted battery life in the evening. The exercise also made me really aware of how many wasted standby power devices (vampires) I own. I will definitely continue to unplug devices I am not using ,especially when I go on vacation. Unfortunately other than shorter showers and opening windows there isn't anything I could give up permanently. I plan on cutting my car usage and start walking or using my bicycle more often.  


Looking around my home I realized I could do a lot more to be more energy efficient. Over the weekend I purchased a Power Smart Tower to help stop "vampire" electronics from draining power in my apartment.

I live in an apartment so I am limited to how much I can really do but if I had the money or my own house I would invest in Resource/Energy Efficient Appliances; Refrigerator, Dual-Flush Toilet, Stove and lighting.

Guerrilla Gardening -- Riverside?

I want to start a Guerrilla Gardening Troop in Riverside, anyone interested? What is Guerrilla Gardening?

Guerrilla gardening is the practice of reclaiming abandoned land (which the gardeners do not own) and "bombing" it with plants, fruits and vegetables. Some do it under the cover of night, while others prefer doing it in broad daylight. There are different motives for why people do it, whether it be to beautify a neglected area, provide food, be part of the urban agriculture revolution, or to feel a sense of community with those around them. Who is with me?!!??!?!

Boxed Water Is Better

Imagine drinking from these instead of toxic plastic bottles.


A sleek and modern rainwater collector, giving sustainability a clean and modern look.

Apples To Apples

Our blog assignment this week for my Environmental Science was to pick one of my favorite foods I eat regularly and research it. One of my favorite foods is apples, organic Daisy Girl Fuji Apples. These are my results:

• Fuji Apples are a hybrid of two types of apples; Red Delicious and Old Virginia Ralls Genet. They are a simple fruit with no other ingredients or coloring agent.
• The Fuji Apples are a product of the USA and grown in Washington State.
• The apples are grown organically with natural fertilizers and are USDA certified. The company uses pheromones to deter insects during the reproduction stage of pests. CMI also does not use artificial shiny waxes, allowing the apple to provide a waxed shine when buffed.
• Daisy Girl Fuji Apples are farmed by Columbia Marketing International, Inc. (CMI) one Washinton's largest growers of apples, pears and cherries. I was unable to confirm the method of fruit-picking and the employers involved.
• The apples are organically grown which lessens its impact environmentally eliminating chemicals from the air, soil and water and investing in sustainable practices. The company tries to ship large volumes to distributions centers to lessen repetitive back and forth transportation.
• Health benefits for Fuji apples are plentiful: According to LIVESTRONG.COM
• Fuji Apples: Contain Bioflavonoids, Fiber, Vitamin C and Quercitin and Pectin which has shown to decrease chances of heart disease. 

My reasearch proved to be very informative and I found out a lot more than I thought I would. For instance, According to the August 2012 Issue of Psychology Today, Apples rank the #1 best food to eat organically. Non organic apples have been found to carry over 40 types of pesticides! Some of which are carcinogens. Society has really stopped caring what we put into our bodies. A food revolution needs to happen.

Sources Cited:  

Ipatenco, Sara. "Fuji Apple Health Benefits." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG, 7 Feb. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

Yu, Alan. "Food Without Fear." Psychology Today Aug. 2012: 41-43. Print.

Frontier Project Field Trip

Frontier Project

In Rancho Cucamonga  there is a hidden sustainable gem, the Frontier Project. The Frontier Project is a LEED certified structure built with sustainable design, appliances and materials. The building demonstrates water effiecient and energy efficient alternatives to your home, especially if remodeling or building from scratch. The building itself has a very futuristic design, a large wall of curved windows allowing for maximum natural sunlight, minimizing the use of artifical light during the day. The space inside is separated into different offices and spaces allowing for lectures, banquets and/or meetings. The cooling system for the building has 2, one type, is a sort of swamp cooler and the vents are located along the floor, allowing for cool air to travel up, cooling the atmosphere from the ground up. The other are towers with vents that open up allowing air to travel thru and circulate through the building. Other features of the facility include, solar panels, green roof systems (plants literally planted on the roof), open air office environment with sliding doors allowing for outdoor meetings and a fresh breeze to carry throughout the office. The grounds of the facility are landscaped with California native plants and drought tolerant vegetation. 

I think this is a great example of sustainability and I will definitely be going back and visiting the resource library on site, and I plan to reserve a meeting there for my work.