A New Face for Sustainability

I came across an article from Architectural Digest "AD Innovator: Bjarke Ingels" as I was sipping my morning coffee. It reminded me of a great lecture I attended last year where I listened to Bjarke speak about his architectural projects. It was a wonderful lecture and it created a desire to try to obtain at least a percentage of  what he has achieved. An inspirational part of what he does is that he has taken the sustainability trend and expanded it to a level above the average mans understanding. He has gone beyond using eco-friendly materials and incorporated features that can reduce a buildings energy consumption by at least 60%. It's more than reuse and recycling, it's thinking about energy and reducing negative climatic impacts that a building can have in and around a city.

What's even more amazing, is that this innovative architect hasn't even reached 40. He has accomplished an amazing amount in his young years and I am looking forward to seeing what he has to offer within the next few years. To find out more about what he has done and to take a look at some of his projects, read this months AD Innovators article.

Vivid Design Initiative has launched!

Within the past ten years since I graduated high school, I have studied many different subjects: film, fashion merchandising, marketing, interior design and architecture. It has taken me awhile to figure out what I want to do but here it is. I want to use my time creating. Whether it be in interior design, event design and planning, photography, painting, jewelry making or graphic design. I have an innate sense to use my creativity. So, when the opportunity came to travel down another path, I decided to gather up my desires and take life by the horns. So, here I am. On a new journey that I am so excited to share with all of you. 

For the past few months I have been starting up a new business and a new future for myself. Well, it's official. Vivid DI is alive and ready to help you in designing beautiful and eco-friendly events and interiors. Vivid Di is a home based interior styling and event design firm creating spaces as unique as you are. Whether you are in need of a full remodel or just a little pick me up around the house, I can accommodate any of your design needs. My event design department is available to help you design any special event. We will help with design, planning and day of coordination. Whether you want a DIY event or relax and let me take the reigns, I will create a personal package just for you.

So, that was my marketing tag. I hope you will take advantage of what I can create for you and I look forward to working with you soon on your next project. 

Vivid Design Initiative

619.319.7079

PO Box 9803 San Diego, CA 92169

Email me at kate@vividdi.com or visit www.vividdi.com for more information.

What the heck!?

I know, I know. I has been way too long. I guess working full time and going to school full time didn't allow for much time to write. Well, I am back! Here to help you create a sustainable living lifestyle and help with any design questions you may have. I will try to get back to updating this regularly and give you some more insight on what is going on locally. The first place to visit on this quest is http://cleansd.org/green_live.php from one of my favorite volunteer organizations, ILACSD. Please use this site as a reference for additional sources to living green.

Earth Day 2010

Happy Earth Day everyone! I hope on this day that everyone tries to be a little extra conscious of what they do and how they do what they do. :) 

Remember to bring a reusable bag with you today and your own cup to the coffee shop when getting your morning coffee. If possible, ride public transportation, your bike or carpool. It's the little bits of effort that can make a difference. Just be conscious of what you can do and the rest will follow. 

The best to you on this day!!
Kate

How to be Green in the Office

Now that I have had a few years of hard work experience under my belt, I have come across some great ways to save both environmentally and financially in the workplace. Here are my top ten tips for greening your workplace:

1. Try to remember to always print your documents double sided if you can and say to yourself "Do I really need to print that?" before printing documents. It is amazing how much paper you can save.

2. Rather than buying bottled water in bulk for the office, make sure that your office utilizes a local water delivery system or install a water filtration system in the break room.

3. Encourage your office to have a "Ride your Bike to Work Day". Some companies are even giving incentives to employees for carpooling, riding their bikes or using public transportation. 

4. Make sure you have a designated recycling area where employees can recycle their plastics and papers. 

5. Redesign and "regreen" your office by switching out all your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or LED bulbs, selecting furniture that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified and materials that have recycled content as well as are recyclable themselves and pick paints that are either low VOC or have zero VOC content. Many local interior design firms are now well aware of how to design in the most eco-friendly way, so contact one before starting your redesign.

6. Are you looking into buying new electronic equipment? Look into buying refurbished electronics. Cost less for your office and the environment. 

7. Cut back on plastic and paper kitchen products by storing silverware and encouraging others to use actually use them. 

8. Make sure to turn off all unnecessary electronic equipment and lights when leaving the office. Better yet, install motion sensors for your lighting systems.

9. When scheduling meetings, can your team teleconference rather than meet in person?

10. Figure out how many employees could telecommute. Is it necessary for everyone to be in the office everyday? This will cut down in travel time as well as your carbon footprint. 

There are many opportunities for greening your office and this is just a small list, so take advantage and start today or at the very least tomorrow.
 

February is a great month to start volunteering. Take your significant other or great friend and join one of my favorite organizations in one of the upcoming volunteer events this month and the following month. One of the highlight events is the singles event on Valentine's day for those of you who would like to meet a like minded individual. I hope to see you there at one of the events!**The following is a post from ILACSD email newsletter.




 Volunteer with I Love A Clean San Diego!

This edition contains... 1. Volunteer Spotlight 2. Upcoming Events 3. Environmental Presentations in Poway, Grades 1 - 12 4. "Green" Valentine's Day Gift Ideas 5. FUNdraising That Keeps San Diego Clean!, By Lana Findlay, ILACSD's Education Coordinator 1. Volunteer Spotlight ILACSD hosted the 3rd Annual Clean Canyons for a Clean Coast event at 47th Street Canyon in City Heights last month, with a dedicated group of 220 volunteers that removed litter, debris, and invasive plants from the canyon. One group of youth volunteers really stood out based on their hard work, along with their support of an additional cause they drew attention to as volunteers. This youth group from Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene were promoting awareness about world hunger through a program called "On An Empty Stomach." These volunteers live a day in the life of those in poverty, working hard while going without the resources that many impoverished individuals face each day. ILACSD was impressed with these volunteers' work ethic along with their plight to spread awareness about world hunger and the importance of volunteering. 2. Upcoming Events Cupid's Cleanup Sunday, February 14th from 10 AM - Noon + mingling Fletcher Cove, 111 S Sierra Ave, Solana Beach 92075 Single volunteers are invited out this Valentine's Day to meet and mingle with fellow eco-friendly San Diegans that share a common interest. Meet your potential date for the evening while cleaning up the beach or afterward when ILACSD will treat volunteers to pizza and mingling games. Log onto ILACSD's website for more information and to download the waiver and directions, or call 619-291-0103 x3014 to sign up. Lake Hodges Cleanup Saturday, February 27th from 9AM - 12noon Glassman Recreation Center Park 18448 West Bernardo Drive San Diego, CA 92127 I Love A Clean San Diego has partnered with San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio and Allied Waste Services to host a cleanup of Lake Hodges and the surrounding community. Not only is this the perfect opportunity to support this local community and remove harmful litter and debris from this scenic lake, but it is also a chance to explore new trails and the Lake Hodges bike and pedestrian bridge that opened last year. Volunteers should wear comfortable, closed toed shoes and bring extra water in a reusable bottle. All participants will need to sign a waiver to participate, and minors under the age of eighteen will need an additional parent or guardian signature on their form. Visit ILACSD's website to check for updates and download the waiver. Contact Natalie Roberts at 619-291-0103 x3014 with any questions or to sign up. 8th Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup Saturday, April 24th from 9AM - 12noon Over 65 coastal and inland cleanup sites countywide! Creek to Bay 2010 planning is in full swing as ILACSD coordinates cleanup sites, site captains, and event sponsors to make this event possible. With over 60 coastal and inland cleanup sites, close to 5,000 volunteers, and nearly 200,000 pounds of debris, ILACSD calls upon YOU for support for this event in one way or another... SITE CAPTAIN: If you are a leader that would like to volunteer to act as a site captain at one of our coastal or inland cleanup sites, contact Natalie Roberts at 619-291-0103 x3014 for more details or to sign up. Responsibilities include scouting out your cleanup site in advance, attending a training meeting to prepare you for the event, and coordinating volunteers the day of the cleanup. Site captains are truly the backbone of this cleanup event, and allow ILACSD to spread our reach into new communities, new waterways, and new beach areas. If you wish to grow your leadership and volunteerism, get involved today! Captains will be finalized February 15th. SPONSOR: Without financial support, largescale efforts like the Creek to Bay Cleanup would not be possible. If you or your company would like to align yourself with such an impressive volunteer force that accomplishes tremendous feats for San Diego's local environment, contact Morgan Justice-Black at 619-291-0103 x3003 to get involved and support Creek to Bay 2010. More details can be found in the Creek to Bay Sponsorship Packet, including levels of giving and associated benefits. VOLUNTEER: Save the date now to volunteer alongside ~5,000 fellow San Diegans, all out to protect our treasured outdoor areas, just in time for Earth Day! Visit the event website in March to check for updates and register for the site of your choice. Go above and beyond the call of volunteerism by recruiting friends, family, or coworkers to join in the effort! Kid's Adopt-A-Beach Ocean Day Cleanup Thursday, May 27th from 7:30AM - 1PM Bonita Cove, Mission Bay 1100 W Mission Bay Drive, San Diego 92109 Looking for a unique volunteer event? ILACSD coordinates San Diego's chapter of the statewide Kid's Ocean Day event, engaging over 800 students from local elementary schools in a beach cleanup and aerial art formation. Students and volunteers across the California coastline will create an aerial art formation that will be photographed from above by a helicopter above, to send out a powerful message about environmental health. Help these youth learn the importance of conservation, while getting involved in the fun yourself! Volunteers must be over the age of eighteen to participate, as they will be leading groups of youth during the beach cleanup and assisting with supervision. Contact Natalie Roberts at nroberts@cleansd.org to sign up. 3. Environmental Presentations in Poway, Grades 1 - 12 Help keep Poway a beautiful and safe place to live through this interactive class presentation! Through experimentation with the Enviroscape, an interactive watershed model, children learn about our place in the water cycle and how we can harm or help our environment. Subjects covered include the water cycle and watersheds, storm water pollution, waste reduction, and recycling. Work with us to keep Poway's waterways clean and empower participants to be environmental stewards in their communities. Please contact the Education Department at 619-291-0103 x3009 to schedule a presentation at no charge in your classroom. 4. "Green" Valentine's Day Gift Ideas 1. Antique Jewelry: These vintage pieces not only observe the green practice of "reuse," but they also often have a history and charm that makes a truly unique gift. 2. Live plants or flowers: Rather than spending a lot of money purchasing a disposable bouquet that only lasts a few days, why not buy a gift that endures like a living potted plant. 3. Potted herbs or gardening kits follow the same lead, and act as a gift that keeps on giving the whole year. 4. Homemade treats are also a great way to go green, save money, and have a fun activity to do together. Try organic strawberries and other fruits dipped in chocolate for a fun and delicious Valentine's Day dessert. 5. Activities are a great gift that are thoughtful, fun, and eco-friendly. Examples include a picnic at a park, tickets to a local show, concert, or museum, or a spa day at a local "green" hotel or spa. Try the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina, or the Gaia Day Spa in La Jolla. Both offer organic and all-natural products, and Gaia Day Spa goes further with bamboo towels and biodegradable cups and bags in an energy efficient building. Try a couples package for some rest and relaxation together, all while having a sustainable Valentine's Day! 6. When preparing your gift, purchase a card made from recycled paper, or send an E-Card that does not create any waste. Try wrapping your gift in a reusable tote bag that can substitue more wasteful wrapping paper or gift bags. Make it fun by decorating a bag that can be used over and over for future shopping trips. 5. FUNdraising That Keeps San Diego Clean! By Lana Findlay, ILACSD's Education Coordinator Looking for an opportunity to raise some money for your school or community group? Well, I Love A Clean San Diego has been on the lookout for you. We've discovered a few ways that you can help the environment AND raise money. Recycling Drive A recycling drive fundraiser is an easy and fun way to get everyone involved. It's as easy as taking that beverage you just finished and placing the can or bottle in a different bin – the RECYCLE bin! Adding a touch of competition, like a prize for the most recyclables collected, is sure to make it fun! Start by finding out who is interested in starting a recycling program and get together. This group can include school administrators, teachers, parents or students. Figure out what you want to collect (glass, plastic bottles, aluminum cans) and what kind of recycling bins you'll need. You can start with a couple of 50 gallon size trash cans which can be donated and decorated with what you'd like to recycle. Next, determine who will be transporting your recyclables and where the nearest buyback center is located. Will the PTA be involved or just your recycling committee members? Create a schedule to transport the recyclables to the buyback center and split up the job between everyone involved so one person doesn't get burnt out. Also, give the recycling drive a short timeline, maybe 4 – 8 weeks. Short term goals are easier to reach. Finally, get the word out! Print a newsletter or post the information on your organization's website. Let people know what you are doing and what you plan to do with the funds raised. California Redemption Value (CRV) can bring in a nickel for every aluminum can or every plastic bottle under 24 ounces and a dime for every plastic bottle over 24 ounces. If your drive goes well and everyone is happy with the outcome, try continuing your fundraiser year-round. Other Fundraisers Burban Bag Sign your school up for the Burban Bag fundraiser to raise money for your school AND ILACSD, while encouraging sustainable daily habits through the sale of reusable grocery bags. Each bag is $6 with $2 benefitting your PTA and $1 benefitting I Love A Clean San Diego. Contact Natalie Roberts at 619-291-0103 x3014 for more information. TerraCycle TerraCycle.net makes affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials such as drink pouches, energy bar wrappers, yogurt cups, cookie wrappers, chip bags and more! TerraCycle runs collection programs at no charge that pay your group to collect used packaging which is upcycled into products ranging from tote bags and purses to shower curtains and kites! eScrip Recycling The eScrip recycling program is designed for groups to earn money collecting empty laser and inkjet cartridges, used cell phones, digital cameras, GPS devices, iPods and laptops. The more items collected, the more money your program can earn! Other non-fundraising recycling programs AVEDA AVEDA found that a majority of plastic bottle caps do not get recycled today. Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers removed 13,632 bottlecaps in San Diego County in just one day! Often these caps end up as litter or trash and migrate into our rivers and oceans. Birds and other marine creatures mistake them for food with tragic results. Your school can be part of the solution by joining Recycle Caps with Aveda. Preserve Through Preserve's Gimme 5 program, you can recycle your #5 plastics, a kind of plastic that many towns and cities won't recycle. Preserve transforms yogurt cups into toothbrushes and take-out containers into cutting boardsand a lot of other great looking, high performance products for your bathroom, table, and kitchen. They also recycle your old Britta water filters! Pass this email along to any potential volunteers, environmental stewards, or friends and family to encourage involvement and spread awareness about protecting San Diego's environment. Thank you for your interest, and we hope to see you at an upcoming volunteer event! Natalie Roberts and Morgan Justice-Black Volunteer Department I Love A Clean San Diego 619-291-0103 volunteers@cleansd.org www.cleansd.org

What's Happening in January

One of my New Years resolutions is to become more active in the community and attend more social events with more environmentally conscious people. San Diego GreenDrinks is a great example of people coming together to discuss what's going on, in terms of the environment. 

San Diego GreenDrinks

Where:   Home Brews and Gardens

                www.homebrewsandgardens.com

                3176 Thorn St. 

                San Diego, CA 92104

Bus: 30th St. & Thorn St.

When:     Wednesday 1/13 6-9PM

*B.Y.O.C: There's also a contest for the person who brings the coolest cup in honor of greendrinks!

Keep reading to find out about more local events....

I Love A Clean San Diego

Where: 46th Street and Myrtle Ave, San Diego 92105.

When: Saturday, January 23 9am-12pm

For more details on this event, see the event flyer: 

http://www.ilacsd.org/Clean%20Canyons%20Flyer%202010.pdf

Clean and Green Team Event

Where: Preserve garden in the west side of the YMCA parking lot at 5505 Friars Rd. 

When: Saturday, January 23 9am-12pm