The Green Athlete

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Unfortunately, our daily activities contribute to climate change. Greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) blanket the earth and warm the planet. Virtually any time we utilize a conventional source of energy or drive our cars, we are contributing to this warming effect and affecting climate changes.

Your "carbon footprint" is a measure of your impact on the environment, in terms of the carbon dioxide emitted as a result of your daily activity. Use the calculator on this site to see how you measure up.

http://www.pge.com/about/environment/calculator/

REDUCE!!

Trying to be a "Green Athlete" for me is about doing my best to limit what I use. The saying goes: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" it is not the other way around. The first thing we need to look at as athletes is how can we REDUCE the damage we do or REDUCE the amount of stuff we use or throw away. One simple way that I have been doing is with bottled water. Instead of buying all those small bottles of water from the store buy the gallon or 5 gallon water jugs and just fill a bunch of small bottles for each day. Or even better than that why not save your money and just buy a filter for your tap water. Most tap water is descent and just needs to be filtered with a Brita or PUR filter and it is as clean as the water you buy in the store. They are relatively cheap you can help REDUCE the amount of empty plastic bottles that are filling up our landfills.
Start by doing some of the simple easy things and don't worry about being the perfect "green" person. If everyone one did something little it would make a big change.

"Green" Race Day Photo Frame

Most of us have a collection of race day photos and are definitely into displaying the most recent one. I just found a photo frame made out of a recycled bicycle chain. Way to go!

http://swcoalition.greenhome.com/products/home_furnishing/picture_frames/101117/

Valentine's Day = Romance

The green-minded romantic has a choice: a fireplace that is affordable and does not burn wood. These fireplaces mount on any wall, require no chimney and burn ethanol fuel.
http://www.csnstores.com/Blomus-65174-91034-RY1518.html

Patagonia CEO - A man ahead of his time

Going green is not a new concept to Yvon Chouinard, owner and founder of Patagonia, the premier outdoor gear and clothing company. Since 1972, Chouinard has insisted that Patagonia be environmentally responsible. Today, businesses compete to see who can be the most green. Maybe they should just be green with envy! He insists that business can enrich our lives and make a profit without losing its soul. Going green and staying in the black is a business model to emulate. For more: www.patagonia.com

Comfortable temperatures....

How about heating and cooling from a single 100% recyclable plastic compact unit? The C2 Climate Control not only improves your comfort level, it filters the air around you. And it uses approximately 90% less energy than a typical space heater. All that and it shuts itself off. For more see:
http://www.dwr.com/cutsheet.cfm?id=12483&sku=

Green and Charitable!

Protecting the environment and supporting a worthy cause is easier than you think. It is possible to help fund breast cancer research and at the same time, recycle your old and broken electronics for free. To find a location nearby, see www.recycleforbreastcancer.org

Happy (Green) Valentine's Day

Undoubtedly there is at least one person in your life who would appreciate chocolate for Valentine's Day but did you know there is "green" chocolate? Your "green" chocolate choices might be chocolate farmed, produced using fair-trade practices or sold in eco-friendly packaging. Check out these online purveyors:

www.dagobachocolate.com
www.chocolatebar.com
www.breschocolates.com
www.vosgeschocolate.com

Unplug

Who knew that there is such an easy way to save energy? Merely plugging your major electronic components into a power strip that can be completely shut down guarantees that TV’s, DVD players and other gadgets don't suck up power as they sit idle for 20 or more hours a day.
To learn more: http://www.pge.com/about_us/environment/features/climatesmart_whatelsecanido.html

Diapers go green..

I don't spend alot of time thinking about diapers but before I know it, diapers will reappear in my life. Given the disposable vs. cloth diaper dilemma, I found it intriguing that gDiapers has added a new prouct to the discussion. With disposable inserts and fashionable, washable coverings, the gDiaper hybrid may be the greenest choice for your little one. Flushable. gDiapers puts waste where it belongs, in the toilet. Not in the landfill. To learn more please visit www.gDiapers.com