Help Ruben Improve Our Environment

GLOBAL GREEN PROMOTES
GREEN SCHOOL INITIATIVES

Global Green has established itself as a national leader in promoting green building practices through their Green Building Cities and Schools Program.

You can get involved by learning more about these programs from their website, and bringing Global Green ideas, practical guides andin-the-field examples to the attention of your city officials or local school administration. Or, become a direct supporter of their Katrina Green Rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. In addition, their Green Building Resource Centers in Santa Monica and New Orleans are available for homeowners, renters and anyone interested in sustainable building and environmentally conscious design.

A Green School is a High Performance School
Green schools lessen the impact of building construction on the environment and set an example for future generations that environmental quality is essential to our long-term well being.

They also have benefits in several key performance areas:

> Protect Student and Teacher Health
Schools designed with attention to proper ventilation, material selection, acoustical quality and other indoor environmental factors, can expect improved student and teacher health and higher attendance;
> Better Student Performance
Attention to site planning and adequate daylighting has been shown to heighten student performance by as much as 25%;
> Lower Operating Costs
Operating costs for energy and water can be reduced by 20% to 40%, allowing more money to be used for teacher salaries, textbooks and computers;
> Provide a Unique Educational Opportunity
When advanced technology and design in new schools are made visible, buildings can become teaching tools and important features of science, math, and environmental curriculum.

Providing support and resources that result in showcase schools for the future is just one of many ways Global Green is fostering sustainability within urban environments. Find out how you can get involved with Global Green, and utilize their resources to be a part of bringing smart, sustainable solutions to your community.
________________________________

WHAT IS E-WASTE?

"E-waste" is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing

the end of their "useful life". Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, ipods, mobile phones, copiers and fax machines are common electronic products that find their way into disuse. Unfortunately, this category of electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream.

These items can contain toxic materials such as cadmium, lead and mercury and cannot be dumped into our landfills. California alone is responsible for dumping 450,000 tons of these kinds of products in the last year alone. According to the U.S. Government, only about 10% of this e-waste is properly recycled.

California's eRecycling initiative is setting the example for the electronics industry and the rest of the nation by creating jobs while protecting the environment. Other states are wisely choosing to address this problem too, but the effort needs your help! If you live in California, you can go to erecycle.org to get started now.

The site explains California's Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 and has an easy to use, searchable listing of California approved electronic recyclers and collectors. For all states, visit the Electronic Industry Alliances site for a state by state listing of recycling options, searchable by city and zip code nearest you.

A Good First Step
Don't forget that many televisions, computers, monitors, mobile phones and other electronics are still in good working condition and can be recycled, refurbished or donated to schools and charities. Extending the life of these products is always a good first option and you can ask if this opportunity is provided by your recycler. The EPA site also has a good overview of donation options for electronics.

Ready to buy that new touch screen mobile phone? Find ways you can recycle or donate your old cel phones in a responsible way. Collective Good and recyclewirelessphones.org are two good places to start. You can get rid of old rechargeable batteries too. Now you're fully loaded up with information and resources you can use to update that home office with a green conscience!

Simple things you can do today...

> Get educated about the proper disposal of electronic products.

> Find an e-recycling center near you. If you have multiple electronic products to recycle, many centers will send a truck to you to pick them up. Get your neighbors together, or create a school project with your kids to gather your discards at your local school.

> Play the Planet Green Game, designed to educate the public about climate change while encouraging individuals to become part of the solution in their own lives. The game also gives you simple tools and links to encourage action by elected officials, business and community leaders.

> Get Informed with these handy Green Building resources, studies and links.

Resources

MORE E-RECYCLE and ECO-FRIENDLY HELP:

> To sell or donate computers and electronics, check out Ebay's Rethink Initiative.

> Buy greener to start with! Go to GreenerChoices.org for independently researched information from the people who bring you Consumer Reports. You'll find green product ratings, handy energy comparison calculators and recycling resources.

> Want to help make a difference at your office? To incorporate waste management techniques into your business practices, go to Earth911.org. This very comprehensive site also has great local community resources, homeowner and consumer info.

> Ready? Set? Green! is a new book written by the visionaries at treehugger.com (a huge resource in itself) that gives you simple tips and advice to help you live greener. Improve your health and save $$ too!