Green Living Sept 2011

Your conscious life

September 2011

M a g a zz ii nn ee M

Your conscious life

you can’t judge a building by its cover

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DESIGN ISSUE ALSO INSIDE:

Fall Fashion | Dr. Deepak Chopra Oxygen Enriched Diet | Chef Janos Wilder Lee Stempniak of the Phoenix Coyotes Green Living magazine is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

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September 2011 Live Green

6 Editor’s Note 52 Green Scenes 55 Green Directory

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Retrofitting & Sustainable Architecture

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An O2 Diet Green-up Your Bedrooms Greenroofs for Rufus Peaches

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EnVIROnMEnTAL DESIGn + COnSTRuCTIOn nATuRE’S MARkET

Work Green Greenbacks for Banking Green Corporate Social Responsibility Size, Space and Economy: Tahoe Hybrid Green Interior Design: An Insider’s View

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Editor’s Note

greenlivingazmag greenlivingaz & TishinD company/green-living-az-magazine greenlivingazmag

and Twitter friends, it started with Joe the PR GUY, then Jeff Hecht, and the rest is history… love to all of you, you fuel me!

“If you want to change the world, pick up a pen and write.” - Martin Luther

W

ould it be inappropriate to start off this note with a HOOT, HOOT? I am ecstatic to write this note for the 1st Anniversary of Green Living magazine!

Over the last twelve issues I have had the honor to work with and get to know some of the most amazing people in Arizona who are committed to growing our local economy, creating and promoting sustainable change, and sharing insight to all things green.

We have developed beautiful relationships with organizations and media outlets around town and are proud to work together and support the message about how to create a sustainable community.

I want to especially thank my editing and writing team for making deadline after deadline, pushing through the late nights, finding the words and sending a message with a strong voice - you make a difference. To all my past interns who have stepped up to the plate and developed as journalists - I rely on and appreciate you!

To my girl Heather who started with me and is headed for that Texas sunset in the sky, love ya – word to the hat! To Mike, my proofreader and last line of defense, it’s you, me and the hyphens.

To my genius art director, Kate, you make our words look brilliant.

Thanks to the publishers for launching in a troublesome time and progressing us to greater heights with vigor and intent, U Rock!

To the manager of us all and best friend Angela, you are my muse.

Love to the family who just understand when it’s edit week and give me the freedom to create. Finally, my public relations, media

Hair by Salon Intrigue Photography by photoexpozay.com

6 greenliving | September 2011

September is our DESIGN issue and we are excited to educate you about innovative buildings, sustainable methods and new materials used to build green. Starting off LIVE with “You Can’t Judge a Building by its Cover…Well, Sometimes You Can” by Aimee Welch, she unveils the purpose of LEED certification and building green, and highlights local interior designer’s projects.

Ever want to spruce up your outdoor space? Read my interview with Tucson landscape architect Jason Isenberg, who is indeed a specialist in creating “outdoor destinations.” With Fall around the corner, fashion is on our mind, and we found some green glams for your closet. One local, savvy designer turns old T-shirts into couture – read “Angela Johnson – T-shirt Savvy” by Christina Lund. We are pleased to have Deepak Chopra, M.D. share his wisdom about well-being in his article, “A Return to Simplicity and Happiness.” It’s guaranteed to move you towards harmony – if you allow it.

Ever hear of green financing? This month in WORK, Kristi Eaton discusses how financial institutions and our government are providing loans for people to make sustainable improvements to their homes – read “Greenbacks for Backing Green.” We continue our design focus as David Brown gives us a backstage pass to local interior designers’ mindset in “Green Interior Design – An Insider’s View.”

Did someone say football? High school to professional, if you are planning on attending one game this season, remember to recycle! The EPA estimates that between college and professional football games, 19,500 tons of trash is generated per season. In PLAY read “Waste Generated at Football Games,” by Barbi Walker and earn your touchdown for staying green! Winner of the 2000 James Beard Foundation Award for Top Chef in the Southwest, Chef Janos Wilder shares his touching story about integrating locally grown foods and his connection to the Children’s Museum Tucson. This “Green Personality” is about Lee Stempniak, right wing for the Phoenix Coyotes. Find out how he does his part on the road and in Arizona to stay green and promote healthy living.

Thanks again for all of your support throughout the year and willingness to try new things green!

Tishin Donkersley, M.A., Editor-in-Chief

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Your conscious life

M a g a z i n e

Your conscious life

Publisher John B. Stacy associate Publisher Dorie Morales

M a g a z i n e editor-in-chief Tishin Donkersley, M.A.

The first LE E D C er t i f i e d Volk swa gen Dea l ersh ip in Nor t h A meri c a

Your conscious life

creatiVe director Kate Larson kate@greenlivingaz.com

M a g a z i n e oPerations ManaGer Angela Sinagoga-Stacy, M.A. angela@greenlivingaz.com senior adVisor William Janhonen, LEED AP NAHB-CGP

We’ve taken steps to help our environment, now it’s your turn.

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THINK BLUE, NOT GREEN

contributors David Brown William Janhonen, LEED AP, Jennifer Burkhart NAHB-CGP John Burkhart Christina Lund Deepak Chopra, M.D. Liz Lonetti Cathy Droz Terri Schlichenmeyer Kristi Eaton Aimee Welch Amanda Formaro Barbie Walker Abigail Gilmore Bill Zervakos Sunel Jain, M.D. editorial intern Christina Lund Heidi Neumann Christina O’Haver adVertisinG sales Jennifer Bals jennifer@greenlivingaz.com Todd Beck todd@greenlivingaz.com Michael Burton michael@greenlivingaz.com Kathleen Cullop kathleen@greenlivingaz.com Karen Hewitt karen@greenlivingaz.com sales & MarketinG intern Savannah Bray Michelle Ruiz Andrew Wehn

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Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Entire contents © 2011 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. Subscription is $39 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions. Green Living magazine is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

Feature

You can’t judge a building by its cover…well, sometimes you can RetRofitting and sustainable aRchitectuRe

BY AIMEE WELCH

A

ccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), buildings and their construction account for 39 percent of total energy use, 12 percent of total water consumption, 68 percent of total electricity consumption, and 38 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. In an era when conservation and sustainability are becoming increasingly imperative for future generations, those big numbers present a big problem.

Simply put, the majority of existing U.S. commercial buildings (all 70 billion square feet worth), aren’t very green…far from it. An estimated 75 percent of these buildings were built before 1979—before energy codes existed – and before modern sustainable practices were on anyone’s radar. Water-guzzling toilets, allergen-infested carpets, inefficient windows and HVAC systems—just a few of the “not green” culprits lurking inside.

But over the last few decades, the tide has started to turn.

Consumers’ growing demand for sustainable solutions has unleashed a green juggernaut across many industries, and commercial building is no exception. New regulatory measures and energy guidelines, advances in renewable energy, tax incentives, and the establishment of effective non-profits dedicated to supporting green building efforts have presented more tangible benefits for using sustainable building methods and technologies.

With tangible benefits comes change. As we’ve learned to recognize the enormous impact green building can have on the environment, the economy, human health and the greater good, we’ve started to change our ways. The industry is going green.

From new construction projects to retrofitting old buildings, architects and interior designers are using the latest materials, techniques and technologies to bring greener living to big buildings.

10 greenliving | September 2011

sustainable building…What eXactlY does that Mean?

Generally speaking, buildings are considered sustainable if they’re designed and built to have minimal impact on the environment, and on human health. They’re constructed using technology, materials and energy systems that conserve water, reduce waste, promote a healthy space for occupants and are energy-efficient.

Because generalizations don’t make good blueprints, in 2000 the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) green building certification system, which is now the most widely used measure in the U.S. Internationally recognized, the LEED system includes four levels—Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum— which provide a framework for achieving sustainability goals in five categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. By earning points, projects can achieve LEED status, which comes with benefits ranging from improved public perception to financial incentives.

Mark Roddy, AIA, LEED AP and design principal for SmithGroup’s Phoenix office, says the introduction of LEED was a catalyst that brought greater awareness to the concept and benefits of green building. Ten years ago, LEED certification for architects was a differentiator, according to Roddy, but today you’d be hard-pressed to find an architectural firm that doesn’t employ LEED certified architects. And today, architects no longer have to encourage clients to pursue LEED certifications, because they’re already on board—onward!

WhY build gReen?

Well, if the sustainability of the planet for future generations doesn’t suffice, there are still plenty of other compelling greenlivingaz.com

Feature

ThE cOmmErcIAL buILdING INduSTry IS GOING GrEEN, INSIdE ANd OuT. believes this goal can become reality. This is true for a growing number of organizations, universities and businesses across the country, and from every level of government.

Many cities—including several cities in Arizona— are adopting mandatory LEED standards. In 2005, Scottsdale established a Green Building Policy, making it the first city to require new city buildings and remodels to be built to the LEED Gold certification level. And Chandler’s Green Building Program requires that all new, occupied city buildings achieve a minimum LEED Silver certification.

reasons—the economic and social benefits of green building are becoming progressively more apparent.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), buildings consume more energy than any other sector in the U.S. (including transportation and industry), and are the largest contributor to climate change. By implementing greener building designs and techniques, we can minimize pollution, enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems, conserve and restore natural resources, improve air and water quality, and reduce waste streams to landfills.

The sustainable building stars have aligned— green organizations are in, the government is on board, technology is improving, demand is increasing. Who’s up next? It’s the architects and designers who really know how to pull it all together, from a building’s layout to its surrounding landscape features, right down to the “green” paint on the wall.

But the environment isn’t the only winner.

“For smart business owners, it has everything to do with the bottom line,” Roddy said. And being green brings in the green through reduced operating costs, enhanced employee productivity, and increased asset value. The USGBC states, “An upfront investment of 2 percent in green building design, on average, results in life cycle savings of 20 percent of the total construction costs – more than ten times the initial investment.

Additionally, sale prices for energy-efficient buildings are as much as 10 percent higher per square foot than conventional buildings.”

SETTING GOALS The LEED guidelines help us build efficiently and give us good reasons to do so - but what about long-term goals? What are we really trying to accomplish and when? How about a completely carbon-neutral U.S. building sector by the year 2030? That’s exactly what non-profit organization Architecture 2030 set out to do in 2002 when it issued The 2030 Challenge to the global architecture and building community. Through the use of sustainable design strategies, on-site generation of renewable power and/or purchasing renewable energy, the organization greenlivingaz.com

SOURCE: Architecture 2030, architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/the_2030_challenge

SuSTAINAbLE dESIGN IN AcTION What’s all the rage, anyway? Some of the top trends in sustainable design, according to Mark Roddy, are: 1. Daylight views 2. Open office environment (no more outer-edge offices hogging all of the windows) 3. Minimizing energy usage 4. Water efficiencies. Roddy balances all of the above as a designer at SmithGroup, and has witnessed many trends in the industry over the years.

An occasional glimpse of the sun, some fresh air, and not having to store a parka in your desk drawer in July…these are things employees of the 21st century expect, and that’s why these aspects top Roddy’s list. People want a high-quality work environment, and they’re more productive when it’s available.

September 2011 | greenliving 11

Feature

INTERIOR DESIGN Interior design means a lot more than making the inside look appealing. The finishing touches inside a sustainable building contribute heavily to indoor air quality, which, studies show, can be more polluted than even the biggest cities’ outdoor air.

“Interior designers must be knowledgeable and make healthy choices when purchasing products in order to lessen/avoid sick building syndrome,” said Robin Motzer, a Tucson-based awardwinning interior designer with 23 years of experience. Some of those healthy choices include paints with low or no volatile compounds (low or no VOC); formaldehyde-free furniture; carpets and curtains made from bamboo, hemp or organic cotton; and eco-friendly flooring, countertops, and cabinets that do not emit unhealthy gases, collect dust mites, mold or other allergens.

“I believe green means clean,” Motzer said.

and plant, like they’re living in the desert. In Arizona, sustainable landscape design practices are now considered standard practice, according to Tiffany Halperin, owner and principal at Logan Halperin Landscape Architecture.

“Ten years ago, it was more common to see clients and even municipalities default to old ways of thinking about water and the desert and insist on high-water-use landscapes, but that is not the case now. Most landscapes that are new designs or renovations utilize low-water-use plant material and drip irrigation systems,” she said.

It is well known that water conservation is a vital concept in Arizona, and one of the state’s fastest-emerging trends is the use of reclaimed/graywater for irrigation. However, it’s not without its challenges. In many cases, cities have a made the commitment to provide graywater systems for property owners but haven’t yet been able to complete the systems due to funding issues.

Xeriscaping, rainwater harvesting systems and the use of permeable pavements and other non-heat-absorbing materials are other commonly used techniques, and some newer advancements are making buildings even greener…literally. Living roofs, and strategically placed green walls made with native plants cool buildings in the summer and insulate them in the winter. These methods are all highly effective in reducing energy usage and the urban “heat island” effect.

Photography by Robin Motzer

Robin Motzer designed this eco-friendly office using American clay for most of the walls, reclaimed hardwood and chemical-free glue.

Additionally, on all walls and ceilings she used no-VOC, natural pigment paints and reused some of the existing furniture, art and accessories of the client.

L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Historically, lush green lawns surrounding office buildings, hotels and public spaces have not been uncommon in arid states.

Fortunately, over the last two decades, people have started to act,

12 greenliving | September 2011

“Native and low-water plants are widely accepted and expected in this region. There is less support and/or requests to make Arizona look like Michigan or Oregon.”

- Tiffany Halperin, Principal, Logan Halperin Landscape Architecture

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Feature design, construction, and renovation of existing commercial buildings built between 2006 and 2013, a growing number of government-funded buildings, schools and hospitals are now being refurbished.

“Using existing buildings is the most sustainable thing you can do…it’s the right thing to do,” said Mark Roddy. And while he concedes that LEED won’t solve all sustainability issues for our planet, he believes it’s a great start for the industry and, within the next 20 to 30 years, buildings could be net zero thanks to the low-tech options we’re creating today. “No electric bill. That’s where the industry is going.”

Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, Arizona Desert Landscape, photography by Tiffany Halperin

RETROFITTING Sustainable building is making incredible progress—the framework for building more energy-efficient, healthier buildings is in place. But what about that 70 billion square feet of energy-sucking, cubicle farming, waste-producing, toxinemitting existing commercial space? There’s hope for those too— retrofitting. Taking what’s old and making it green.

Commercial energy retrofits often include replacement or upgrades to lighting, insulation, windows, water and waste management, and can deliver the same benefits and savings as newer green buildings. Thanks to the 2006 Energy Policy Act 179-C, which provides tax deductions for energy-efficient

“There is an opportunity to slash energy use in half while saving money and resources within 10 years, and begin to make considerable progress toward achieving energy independence and reduced global warming emissions by retrofitting buildings to be more energy-efficient.”

- New Energy Future Reports, 2009.

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September 2011 | greenliving 13

Feature

DPR HeaDquaRteRs Net ZeRo BuilDiNg SmithGroup’s Phoenix office has partnered with DPR Construction to reposition an underutilized, 16,500-square-foot, 28-year-old retail building along the new light rail corridor at Van Buren and 44th Street. Once completed, the building will serve as DPR’s new headquarters, and will seek LEED Platinum status and net zero energy usage.

The building’s office-less, open space floor plan utilizes existing structure and walls, allowing flexibility and the reuse of existing furniture. The design incorporates outdoor courtyards and daylight views for all employees, provided by large operable windows cut into the east and north facades and strategically placed ducted skylights throughout the facility. The design virtually eliminates the need for artificial lighting during normal business hours.

Other sustainable strategies will include a grid-tie solar power system designed to generate more electrical power than the building consumes, a solar chimney designed to improve natural air flow throughout the building, cooling towers that use water instead of Freon, and giant fans for circulation.

The building is scheduled for completion in October of 2011.

THE NEXT CHAPTER IN GREEN BUILDING Here’s to the next chapter—to constructing and retrofitting our way to a carbon-neutral business sector over the next 20 years and making energy-saving sustainable building practices the rule, not the exception. That’s an enormous leap forward…but is it enough?

As William Janhonen, LEED AP, NAHB-CGP recounts in his Green Living article “Technology versus Methodology”, “We as a country have not fully embraced the building science behind the methodology necessary to use critical thinking to create longlasting, sustainable homes and buildings.” Meaning, we occupy bigger-than-necessary spaces, buy new buildings when we could fix an existing one, expect every room to be a comfortable temperature all year round, and haven’t experienced life without

water, electricity and a full tank of gas. Perhaps this chapter is still a work in progress.

SOURCES • American Society of Interior Designers, asid.org/designknowledge/sustain/faq/ • American Society of Landscape Architects, Designing our Future, Sustainable Landscapes, asla. org/sustainablelandscapes/sonoran.html • Department of Energy, Buildings Technologies Program, 2009; Smart Market Report, 2009 • Energy Star, 2009; • Environmental Leader, environmentalleader.com/2009/06/18/green-building-retrofitsrepresent-a-potential-400b-market/ • U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy http://www1.eere.energy.gov/ buildings/index.html • U.S. Green Building Council, Arizona Chapter, usgbcaz.org/AZLEED • U.S. Green Building Council, usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=7744 • USGBC, 2009; ICC, 2009

aimee Welch is a freelance writer, marketing consultant, and former advertising executive. she writes advertising copy, magazine and web articles for her company, 17,000 Feet; and for herself, she runs, snowboards, travels and hangs with her husband, two kids and four dogs. she holds a Bachelor of arts in Journalism from ohio state university.

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We are honored to participate in The Water Project, supporting Tucson’s water conservation

Contact Cheryl Crawford at 520.292.1020 or greeningredientsllc.om 14 greenliving | September 2011

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Jason Isenberg | REALM | Landscape Architecture

BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A.

O

ur outdoor space is an extension of our home and can be a place to gather, play, reflect or find respite. When creating an enjoyable and sustainable outdoor space, one designer comes to mind. Jason Isenberg, owner and principal designer at Realm™ in Tucson, is well-known for his outdoor eco-savvy designs.

Jason considers the outdoor space an “outdoor destination,” and designs each space as its own entity that deserves an equal amount of creative energy. With each design, Jason’s focus is to make his client’s spaces striking and sustainable.

One of his most recent projects is located in the historic Fort Lowell district. With multiple outdoor living spaces, an outdoor kitchen, water feature and other design accents, Jason’s main design focus was to transform the property into a desert oasis while bringing synergy to each “outdoor destination.”

Guests pass through a handsome metal gate designed and constructed at Realm as they enter the property. A planter that also functions as a seating bench adorns the base of an old mesquite. Trellises frame the welcoming front entryway and three metal planters with native succulents line the walkway leading to the front door.

When venturing to the backyard, one will find a simple yet classic seating area to entertain guests and a beautiful gabion

water feature that fills the patio with relaxing trickles of running water.

Other features include a specially designed fence, patio from the master bedroom, LED lighting, xeric plantings and passive water harvesting.

“The project was enjoyable from the outset. In lieu of a typical approach, this design process has us stepping into parts of the property that had never seen any activity,” Jason said. “We collectively came up with ways to pull people outside and into their environment – instead of just looking at it from a distance. In the end, we maximized the usable square footage, enhanced the aesthetics and ensured that it was all done with an impassioned eye for resource conservation.”

waste minimization and recycling education community greening and beautification projects litter prevention

KAZB.org Keep Arizona Beautiful

480.347.6231

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If you want to create a more livable outdoor space, Jason suggests these “7 Elements of Design” for an outdoor space: Entice – The seductive pull of the outdoors…the outdoor space should beckon to you.

Restore – An outdoor space should allow you to escape from the rest of the world – and provide a regenerative effect of relaxation.

Connect – Does the space allow for a shared experience among friends and family?

Inspire – Step outside of your comfort zone, approach the design with ingenuity and create clever and useful solutions.

Involve – Have you envisioned a space that has reason? A landscape should pull you in. Expand your usable square footage. Extend the season. Create functional features. Make your space make sense.

Preserve – Regardless of the style or scope of your project, a well-thought-out design can ensure that you maintain your unwavering commitment to protect natural resources and create the healthiest space possible.

DWR = Design Within Reality – Anything can be designed - but we need to design within the domain of your reality.

What do you want, what do you need and what is your budget? The design should exist so that implementation is a realistic undertaking.

Realm realmenvironments.com 219 S. Olsen Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85719 520.791.9131

September 2011 | greenliving 15

Fashion

the

Fall FASHION

eco-friendly & green mango tree bangles

bronwen jewelry

amour vert Looking for sustainable and affordable fashion-forward clothing? Designer Linda Balti has created Amour Vert, meaning ‘green love,’ as a mission to make eco-conscious and affordable clothing for people to wear. Amour Vert was first started in Paris and later relocated to Palo Alto, California, where Balti collaborated with Christoph Frehsee and continues to design collections. Manufacturing in the U.S., Amour Vert supports the local community. Using natural and organic fabrics, including cotton, bamboo, soy, peace silk, tencel, modal and hemp, Amour Vert lowers its carbon footprint.

Additionally, Amour Vert only sources from certified manufacturers that use a closed-loop recycling procedure to minimize waste, resource intensity and pollutants. amourvert.com

16 greenliving | September 2011

Need jewelry that fits your on-the-go lifestyle? Bronwen Jewelry’s bold and free-spirited line is inspired by a life lived in motion and pieces can be paired with everyday casual wear.

Each piece of Bronwen Jewelry uses Fair Trade artisan materials that support local economies and are handcrafted in the U.S.–and the packaging is biodegradable too! bronwenonline.com

David Aviv was fascinated by the beauty of nature’s treasures, and Helen Dukat had a passion for creations and skillful hands. The couple met in India and combined their passions for nature and crafting to make an expansive line of bangles. With 50 styles and four sizes, these bangles provide women with the variety they love. These unique bangles are painted and hand-carved from Organic Grade-A mango trees after the tree can no longer produce fruit. mangotreebangles.com

fredd & basha olsenhaus Vegan shoes are becoming more and more of a hot item. Elizabeth Olsen founded Olsenhaus to show the effects of cruelty to animals, humans and the environment. Here are some of Fall 2011’s latest shoe trends and wallets. olsenhaus.com

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Looking for functional, trendy handbags? Inspired by nature, Fredd & Basha accessories combine ideas from exotic cultures and fabrics with modern sensibility to create a look and feel that is both distinctive and timeless.

Six months ago, Fredd & Basha started a vegan line, due to high demands.

Fredd & Basha use 100 percent cotton with polyurethane trimmings. These trimmings are less harmful and contain less of the harmful effects than PVC. freddandbasha.com

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T- S HiRT SaV V Y an interview with Angela Johnson

Photography credit: Larry Stone Nicolle Clemetson Julianne Berry

W

BY CHRISTINA LUND

ith eco-conscious designs guiding today’s fashion industry, Eco-Fashion Week showcases some of the most innovative designers today. Many designers are committed to organically grown, locally produced and recycled fashion. Here in Arizona you can find designers that not only educate and inform the eco-fashion world, but also celebrate responsible styles. Scottsdale-based Angela Johnson was named “Best Local Fashion Designer” by AZ Foothills Magazine in 2010.

With over 16 years of experience, Johnson has made a name for herself as an indie designer who handcrafts eco-friendly clothing mainly crafted from “thrifted” T-shirts.

What made you decide to go into fashion and become a fashion designer?

My grandfather was a U.S. District Attorney stationed in the Panama Canal and my grandmother used to host elaborate dinner parties and events for important government officials. She held on to many of her outfits and I grew up living in their house and playing with these clothes. I think I developed an appreciation for unique vintage clothing. When it was time for college, my grandfather helped me choose the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) for my education.

How did you come up with the idea to turn old T-shirts into couture?

The idea evolved out of necessity. For about six years I lived and worked in the fashion industry in LA. I worked for X-Large Manufacturing (a line owned by Mike D. of the Beastie Boys) and X-Girl (owned by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth). Then I started a line called Monkeywench that sold internationally for a few years. When my grandmother passed away, my grandfather needed me to come to Arizona to take care of him, so I closed Monkeywench. A couple of years later I started a new clothing line under my own name where I could create one-of-a-kind garments out of materials that could be found locally (thrift store clothing) instead of mass producing. It started with the first garment I made out of recycled T-shirts, called the T-shirt Ballgown – I loved the juxtaposition of having a fancy silhouette made from a casual fabric.

Ten years later, it has evolved into the line it is today, where I create everything out of recycled T-shirts.

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Fashion

Where do you find your fabrics?

I usually go to Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul and scour the racks for cool shirts. I keep a stock of them in my studio.

Friends, family and customers also donate their old T-shirts. My line is very specific, as I come up with an average of five new designs every year and show them at Scottsdale Fashion Week along with four staple pieces that have remained in my line from the beginning.

How else do you assist with Scottsdale Fashion Week (SFW)?

In the past, I’ve coordinated shows including the Designer of the Year, the Educational Series and the Community Night. This year I am heading up a committee to totally revamp the entire event. We’re making some exciting changes. To start, SFW has been moved to Spring 2012 so it stands apart from Phoenix Fashion Week. I still plan to coordinate the Community Night and the Local Designer shows as well.

What excites you most about fashion week and showing your line?

It is a beautiful, impressive event that takes place in Scottsdale that is internationally known for its great retail industry and resort lifestyle. It also happens to be my hometown!

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How do you integrate eco-friendly practices into your daily life?

Ever since I earned my first degree in Speech Communication from Northern Arizona University, I’ve been a bit of a tree hugger at heart. You can’t help but get caught up in the eco-friendly vibe up there. I try to do my part every day through the little things like recycling, reducing energy use, shopping at thrift stores (my entire house has vintage furniture), and more.

What advice would you give someone just starting to explore and design eco-friendly fashion?

Find your niche. There are actually a lot of lines out there that use this concept, but you’ve got to do it in a different way or better than everyone else so you stand out.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I’m always working. But, in addition to my line, I also teach fashion classes at Mesa Community College and Collins College.

I’m on the Board of Directors for Fashion Group International and Scottsdale Fashion Week. I’m also married and have two kids.

My family enjoys skateboarding, so if I’m not doing something related to fashion, I’m joining my family at the skate park or helping my 12-year-old son with his new skateboarding business.

September 2011 | greenliving 17

Health & Wellness

A RetuRn to Simplicity HAppineSS

BY DEEPAK CHOPRA, M.D.

T

here exists within each of us a natural state of simple and open awareness. In this state we feel light, happy, and at peace. In contrast, the state of suffering is complicated.

Complications take many forms, including an imbalanced lifestyle, toxic relationships, stress, hidden emotional debts, resistance, indecision, addictions, and negative conditioned beliefs. When our life is overly complicated, we’re weighed down by superfluous things at every level.

We can begin to let go of the complications that cause us to suffer by working toward a simpler state of awareness each day. In this process, tiny steps yield big results, in part because simplicity is nature’s default position. Suffering and the complications that fuel it are unnatural – it wastes energy to maintain complexity.

LETTING GO OF COMPLEXITY Meditation will help you let go of whatever is no longer serving you and help you return to your inherent state of wholeness, happiness and well-being.

To begin, ask yourself, “Is there anything in my life that is causing me to feel a sense of unease, discomfort or pain?” You can choose a persistent issue that has bothered you for years or it may be something that has recently occurred. While it’s fine to focus on a chronic physical disorder, don’t approach this exercise as a cure – we’re focusing on patterns of perception that encourage us to hold on to suffering.

Negativity: Health and well-being are the natural state of the body and mind. By dwelling on negativity, we prevent ourselves from living in the simple state of well-being. Do you find yourself enjoying to gossip, in company with friends who like to criticize and complain, or focus on every disaster or catastrophe unfold on the evening news? Remember, whatever we put our attention on expands in our experience, so consider where you are focusing your time and energy.

Inertia: When you passively give in to old habits and conditioning, dwell on what’s “wrong” in your life yet make no effort to change - you are stuck in inertia. To get out of this rut, start by thinking of the smallest possible action you could take to change - then act on it. Then choose another, and do that.

Gradually you will build momentum and break free from old patterns of inertia.

Energy and sensations: Our body is always sending signals of comfort or discomfort, and many of us have learned to interpret these signals in ways that confirm our own suffering. We have the ability to move beyond conditioned thought patterns by stripping away the interpretations from our sensations.

Try this simple meditative process for tuning in to the body: • Sit comfortably and take a long, deep breath. Now scan through your body from the crown of your head to your feet, feeling whatever sensations arise.

• Feel the sensation with no judgment or analysis. Just connect.

The most common complications: Disorder: Consider your physical environment. Is your house a mess? Is your desk buried under stacks of work? Are you letting other people leave clutter and messes in the space you share?

Stress: While the pressures of life are inevitable, if at the end of the day you are unable to completely let go of events during the day and return to a calm, centered inner state, you are overstressed. I suggest to make a list of the major stressors in your life, then brainstorm ideas of ways to either eliminate or change the impact of the stressor.

Toxic relationships: Are you in relationships with people who don’t have your well-being at heart? Make a list of these and consider what you can do to protect yourself from their toxic influence. Sometimes setting better boundaries and practicing the tools of conscious communication can be transformative. In some cases, ending a relationship may be necessary. At the same time, focus on nurturing your healthy relationships so that they are even more loving and fulfilling.

18 greenliving | September 2011

• Allow any feelings, thoughts or energies to arise. Let the voice of fear, anger, sadness, or any other feeling speak. Listen to what the voices say and see if your understanding deepens.

• Watch the energy of whatever sensation you’re experiencing disperse. Instead of trying to force your body to completely discharge, know that your body will let go of as much stored energy as it can in the moment.

• Repeat the process again in a few hours or the next day.

For the next month, sit by yourself for at least five minutes each day with the intention of clearing away complications.

In the time you set aside for this clearing, determine your area of focus and work on that. It may be one of the complications mentioned above or a different area that is preventing you from experiencing a state of peaceful simplicity.

greenlivingaz.com

Health & Wellness

MEDITATION OPENS US TO CLARITY AND PEACE Deliberately incorporating new behavior, new ideas and new approaches into your everyday life habits gives your mind the opportunity to adopt fresh perspectives. This can help release you from the old conditioning. In this regard, having a regular meditation practice is invaluable.

When we meditate, we begin to gain some distance from our thoughts and emotions. We observe them and gently return our attention to our mantra, breath, or whatever object of meditation we prefer to use. As we witness our mental activity without attempting to resist or change it, there is a spontaneous calming of inner commotion. We start to see that there is more to who we are than our moods or thoughts, and we may also observe that the sensations associated with the negative state dissolve altogether.

How wonderful to know that we don’t have to repress what we feel in order to experience this inner peace! In fact, repressing emotions never leads to emotional freedom but only adds to the accumulation of emotional toxicity and complications in our lives. By releasing these emotions, they can move through and out of our bodies. With a regular meditation practice, pure awareness and the sense of spaciousness and ease in our daily lives grows, and it becomes easy to let go of old patterns of thinking and feeling.

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DEEPEN YOUR PRACTICE Several times a year the Chopra Center offers a meditation and yoga retreat called Seduction of Spirit, where I guide hundreds of participants from around the world in timeless tools and techniques for expanded awareness. I will admit, this is one of my favorite events, because if we want greater peace and wellbeing in our lives and in the world, the first step is transforming our awareness – and one of the most powerful ways to do that is through meditation.

As you focus on simplifying your life, make sure your approach to the process is a loving and accepting one. Know that you are now doing all that you can do right now, and that is all anyone can do. When you stay in the moment, you have all the time in the world, and whatever needs to be done will be completed in the exact right time.

At the Chopra Center we recommend people learn meditation from a certified instructor that can guide them in the fundamentals, answer any questions, and eliminate frustrations and confusion that lead many beginners to abandon their meditation practice.

Deepak Chopra, M.D. is a best-selling author and the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad in Southern California. For more information on the Chopra Center’s programs and retreats for meditation, certified instructors, yoga, and mind-body healing – or to sign up for the Chopra Center’s 21-Day Meditation Challenge – please visit chopra.com or call 888.736.6895.

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Register Now! Call 480-970-8543 www.CelebrateYourLife.ORG September 2011 | greenliving 19

Health & Wellness

BY SUNEIL JAIN, M.D.

An O2 Diet

O

xygen-rich blood cells are healthy blood cells. Oxygendeprived cells, on the other hand, are a breeding ground for poor health. When there is a lack of oxygen in the cells of the body, those deprived cells can become prime locations for cancer and other diseases. In order to protect yourself from disease, it is important to keep your cells properly oxygenated, as the amount of oxygen in your blood fluctuates depending on your lifestyle choices. One way to keep your blood cells as healthy as possible is to incorporate an oxygen-enriching diet.

A diet highest in oxygen is a raw-food diet with a high concentration of fruits, green vegetables and sprouted seeds and nuts. These foods are composed of water – hydrogen and oxygen.

Chlorophyll, found in green vegetables, is very close in atomic structure to human blood. Chlorophyll has a magnesium atom – human blood differs only with an iron atom. The benefit of raw food enzymes is the ability to change the magnesium ion to an iron ion, allowing blood to transport oxygen to cells. Foods rich in chlorophyll include spinach, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, spirulina, chlorella and blue-green algae.

A diet high in complex carbohydrates – fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes – can also significantly improve the

blood’s ability to transport oxygen to cells. An oxygen-depleting diet would consist of high-cooked foods like red meat, sugar, saturated fats, white bread, processed and frozen foods, and carbonated beverages. Switching to an oxygen-rich diet often brings immediate energy to the body, vibrancy to the skin, and a positive, healthier attitude.

Drinking juices from fresh vegetables and fruits is an excellent way to get antioxidants into the bloodstream to enhance oxygen uptake into our cells. Antioxidants help the body use oxygen more efficiently. Foods rich in nutrients, such as iron, B12 and copper, can boost oxygen levels and help maintain good blood status for delivering oxygen to working muscles.

Remember to maintain portion sizes and small meals every two to three hours to keep the body properly fueled at all times. Oxygen deficiency can be caused by overeating. Finally, an extra boost of oxygen can be obtained by drinking from oxygen-infused bottled water.

Dr. Jain is the founder of Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics specializing in wellness and healthy aging. For more information, please visit werejuvenate.com or call (480) 551-9000.

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Interiors

Check the ingredients

Use recycled or repurposed goods

Add some vintage flair to your room - it will add texture, character and charm. For a classic look, hang a vintage mirror, or for accent, turn a vintage scarf into decorative pillows.

Incorporate renewable materials

Choose products made from sustainable materials, such as 100 percent bamboo or organic cotton sheets.

Shop locally

Look for items made either within your state or elsewhere in the USA. Supporting local economy puts money back into the community.

Many local retailers, like Crate & Barrel, are now making furniture lines with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified woods with low-emitting adhesives and foams for upholstered goods. Additionally, some lines are also using recycled plastic bottles to fill upholstery. Third-party validation labels, such as GREENGUARD, ensure the product is held to safe quality standards.

Improving Air Quality

Choose no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints. If not paint, try American Clay plaster products – this product can help control dust, dander and pollen in the air and is most helpful for those with allergies or chemical sensitivities.

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Change out your old sheets for new organic sheets made from 100 percent cotton fiber. Target.com

Switch out your light bulbs to CFLs and use up to 78 percent less energy.

24 greenliving | September 2011

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Pets

“Having a greenroof on a human building helps decrease the urban heat island effect [that] contributes to global warming. “The greenroof also absorbs storm water and decreases runoff, helping to keep more water from picking up pollutants from the streets and ending up in the watershed.” Rubin said. “Putting a greenroof on top does not have that element of retaining heat – [it] actually processes carbon [and] creates [a] habitat for wildlife.”

In the greenroof animal homes, you still get the benefits of creating a wildlife habitat (especially if native plants are used) and natural insulation, which regulates temperature and sound. The water that runs out of the drainpipe can be collected in a dog bowl for drinkable water or can run out into a planting area.”

Not only does creating sustainable pet homes positively affect the environment, it has been an extremely positive experience for Rubin.

BY ABIGAIL GILMORE

M

aybe you are spending time and money to make your home greener and better for the environment - but what about your pets’ homes? One company focuses on just that – creating sustainable houses for pets.

“The best thing is dreaming up crazy projects that I would never be able to create on a large scale. With an animal home, I can actually be an architect without dealing with permits or structural engineers,” she said. She also loves showcasing her designs at events. Once viewers realize what they’re looking at, Rubin can open the door to explain more about sustainable design. “I love getting the word out there,” SOURCES Rubin said.

Stephanie Rubin, owner of Sustainable Pet Design, said the idea just came to her. “I recently earned a master’s degree in landscape design from a school that is very focused on environmental responsibility,” she said. “I learned about sustainable materials and practices, including greenroofs, low-VOC materials, and chemical-free building materials.”

After working as a landscape designer for a firm with no interest in sustainable design, Rubin became frustrated. She decided to make her own model of a greenroof (a roof partially or completely covered with vegetation) – on top of a doghouse for her dog, Gretyl. This was the beginning of Sustainable Pet. Rubin and her business partners came up with plausible home designs, like the Goth Cathedral and the Andrew Jackson Plantation, drew up designs, built the homes, then planted the roofs.

Their roofs consist of layers, Rubin said. “The bottom layer is the wood roof that is painted with zero-VOC waterproofing. The next layer is the drainage layer that prevents the soil from becoming too moist; this consists of used wine corks,” she said. “The next layer is filter fabric that prevents soil from penetrating the drainage layer. Then comes the organic soil blend and the plants.”

And though the benefits of a greenroof on a human-scale building have greater effects on the environment, the animal-scale homes are making a difference as well. greenlivingaz.com

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September 2011 | greenliving 25

Green Thumb

Backyard orchards

peaches

BY LIZ LONETTI

N

othing is quite like a homegrown peach – they’re juicer and more flavorful than anything I ever purchased at the store, and perfect to use in all sorts of wonderful recipes – and now is the perfect time to plan for planting fruit trees this fall.

If you are interested in growing your own peaches, choose a variety that will do well in your area. Here in the desert we need to choose fruit that can grow through our brutally hot summers and mild winters. Many of the fruit trees we enjoy are deciduous trees, meaning they drop their leaves in winter and go dormant through the winter months. Amazingly, it is more important to consider the winter cold than the summer’s heat here. “Chill hours” is a term used by growers to determine how much cold will be necessary for a given tree’s dormancy period as measured in time below 45 degrees. Contact your local extension office to find out how many chill hours your region typically gets to decide on your fruit tree. Phoenix gets a range of chill hours, between 250 and 400, depending on where in town you live.

Looking for trees on the lower end of that spectrum will mean better fruit production. If you pick a tree with more chill hours than your area allows, that tree may never successfully bear fruit!

Next consider the type of pit or stone in the fruit, free stone or cling stone. Like they sound, a free stone style has an easily removable pit, where a cling stone would need to be cut out of the fruit. Depending on what you plan to do with the fruit, the type of stone may be important.

After the fruit starts to ripen, you will only have a matter of days to get your harvest in before your local bird population will swoop in. Some backyard orchardists have success with hanging old CDs from tree branches. The dancing reflections can startle the birds and keep them away. Some growers will put paper bags over the fruit. No matter your preference, you can only eat so many peaches, and when the time comes, you should be prepared with a plan to handle the bounty.

Freezing is one of my favorite methods for preserving the fruit. I take my free stone peaches, cut them in half and remove the pits. Keep the skins on. Next, I lay them on a tray in a single layer and put in the freezer until they’re frozen solid. After your peaches feel like small hockey pucks, slide them into a plastic bag and vacuum seal it to minimize moisture loss and freezer burn. Another option is to double bag in resealable freezer bags and remove as much air as you can. You can also freeze the fruit whole, but you will need to defrost the peach to remove the pit.

Each year, the Valley Permaculture Alliance holds a Fruit Tree Sale offering tested and proven varieties of trees. For more information, please visit valleypermaculturealliance.org.

www.GRO-WELL.com

Liz Lonetti is the Executive Director of the Valley Permaculture Alliance greenlivingaz.com

Growing Arizona’s Best Gardens

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September 2011 | greenliving 27

Special Advertisement

making use of free time Clean Air Cab President, Steve Lopez, talks about the opportunities that arose during his free time.

E

very business owner is in a sense very fortunate to be in the position of bringing to market a product or service that individuals can enjoy one way or another. With this fortune I feel that every business owner acquires new sets of responsibilities. Of course, every owner is responsible for the daily operations and the ability to maintain their market share; and when they feel that they have the ability to repeat their process and maintain traction, I feel new opportunities arise with the “free time” that they have earned as a result of hard work. Once they can pull back a tad from their daily business and start taking advantage of their new found time away from the office most start to put their passion into new areas.

At Clean Air Cab our passion is providing a “green” taxi service that exceeds expectation but come in at a price point lower than even the old traditional taxi business model. Our passion is to bring to the cab industry a cleaner and healthier alternative to personal transportation, and along the way to enrich the lives of our patrons and our employees. Our focus from the beginning has not been entirely on our product; our vision has always been divided between maintaining traction in the industry, growing our business model, and serving our community. I feel as a business owner my duty with my earned free time is to look out into the environment and see how I may be able to infuse my passion to create a small change; or rather as I call it, “becoming a part of the solution.”

Our world is changing and our businesses are changing along with it. People are way more conscious of both their environment and how they as consumers are viewed by companies in terms of after sale service and value. I have made it my priority to make sure to the best of my ability (no one is perfect and I do miss the mark sometimes affecting my relationship with my customers) that each and every person feels the value I give to them, by using our “green” service in a few ways.

One, I make sure that I use technology to create lower prices for my patrons. Two, I create avenues for all of my customers to contribute by supporting their community with donations to key organizations with part of their hard earned money that we receive as taxi fare; this allows our patrons to give, even when they feel that they cannot. Three, I really like to watch my employees grow as a result of the positive feedback we receive from our happy customers.

Having a “Green” business means more to me than a word or a way of describing what I do in a fashion everyone already can relate.

It is an opportunity and a responsibility.

The tag “green” to me means growth, becoming bigger than when you arrived, and taking into consideration the ever changing environment around you; and once you have been lucky enough to find some free time; it means taking advantage of the situation to enrich the community around me and do my best to become part of the solution!

Steve Lopez, President Clean Air Cab, LLC 1600 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ. 85201 (480) 339-8282

What

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Richardson’s Builds Green with i-Frames™

By Ken Johnson Richardson’s Cuisine of New Mexico, the famous Southwestern landmark in Phoenix, burned down in late 2009 but locals are thrilled to learn the restaurant is making a green comeback in 2011. The new building, located next to the Rokerij Restaurant on 16th Street, is being built using the latest in high-efficiency building materials to reduce energy consumption and promote a healthy indoor environment, including i-Frames™ super-insulated steel wall and roof panels.

Rod McKinnon, the general contractor leading Richardson’s construction says, “We’re using super highperformance insulation in the walls and roof along with a state-of-the-art ventilation and cooling system that brings in more fresh air than standard HVAC systems.”

Energy experts agree that controlling the building envelope (walls and roof) is the key to reducing energy costs and improving indoor air quality. For Richardson’s, 8” thick insulated structural steel wall and roof panels, branded i-Frames™ were pre-manufactured locally by i-Frame Building Solutions headquartered in Scottsdale. Importantly, i-Frames™ are fire-retardant with a “Class A” flame spread rating, making it the right choice for Richardson’s.

“The health and safety benefits of i-Frames™ truly raise the bar for the building industry,” says Jeff Hardesty, CEO at i-Frame Building Solutions, “i-Frames™ are dust-free, reduce air-infiltration, and are up to 5 times more energy efficient than typical batt insulation.” And because the panels are pre-manufactured, on-site installation is very fast – one day in the case of Richardson’s. i-Frames™ are making great strides in the commercial sector because the sustainable components (recycled steel and EPS or Expanded Polystyrene) are 100% International Code Council (ICC) approved and contribute points toward LEED certification. Building permit approval for Richardson’s was granted in 1-day from the City of Phoenix.

Home buyers and businesses are quickly recognizing the benefits of i-Frames in lowering their utility bills and increasing comfort. i-Frames™ walls are super quiet and affordable, making them perfect for partition walls between shared living spaces in healthcare, schools, condos, apartments and student housing. They also work great for laundry rooms, home theatres, and meeting rooms.

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remodeling green The greenest building is the existing one. In addition to the familiar certification system ‘LEED,’ there is a national green building standard developed by NAHB (National Association of Home Builders). Homes that are remodeled with at least a 60% increase in energy and water efficiency qualify for the highest of the four NAHB ratings, ‘emerald.’ The NAHB process is less expensive than LEED and can be simpler. How can one reduce energy consumption in a home? The process starts with an

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energy audit of the home. Then, a determination of the most impactful renovations that will increase efficiency for future cost savings while staying within current budget constraints. Some ‘green’ goals: use less water in the landscape, install more efficient windows, install better insulation, use more energy-efficient light fixtures, install Energy Star appliances, and upgrade the HVAC system.

All of this should be balanced with a functional and stylish design. Yes, it’s possible!

tips on how to remodel green on a budget from ab design elements, llc: 1. Durable: Use materials that will LAST! There is little benefit to buying something ‘on the cheap’ if it needs to be replaced in 2 years. Check warranties, where and how it is made (if possible) and online reviews.

2. Inexpensive: Buy from building supply warehouses that sell used or overstock/bulk type items: Stardust Building Supply, Habitat for Humanity, Building Materials Outlet www.bmoaz.com. Stardust and Habitat will remove (re-usable) fixtures and cabinets from your home for free and will give you a tax deductible receipt for your contribution. Consider different countertop types. The one shown above is 24” x 24” porcelain tile with a sleek brushed aluminum edge - it’s modern, durable, and less expensive than granite or quartz.

3. Re-use: Re-purpose existing materials. When demolishing an interior, consider re-using the lumber after the nails have been removed (a perfect job for the teenagers in your life), the door hinges and handles, tubs and sinks, and other items that don’t affect energy and water efficiency, but help to keep the charm of an older home. mention this ad for 4. Support local: Buy from local vendors while also choosing a material that won’t have to be shipped from far away. Designers and contractors are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to qualilty local, wellfirst 5 hours of design priced resources. consulting

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Feature

Greenbacks

for

bankinG Green

BY KRISTI EATON

G

Logue said a handful of banks offer green financing options. “In a normal economy, banks are in the business of lending money for good projects of any sort, although many banks develop an expertise so that they can hire the credit analysts and bankers who understand a given industry,” she said.

For example, she said, there are banks that already specialize in real estate lending, small business banking or import-export banking. “This is a twist on that,” she said. “The idea is that the bankers would be better able to underwrite the projects because they would understand them better than a bank that does not have a green specialty.”

Most of the limited green finance going on now is in the commercial sector, she said. All residential lending in general is under a lot of stress because of the financial crisis and the collapse of the real estate values.

and veterans when purchasing an existing home. It caps improvements between $3,000 and $6,000.

The Energy Efficient Mortgage refers to all types of energy mortgages, including the Energy Improvement Mortgages, or EIM. Energy Improvement Mortgages are used to buy existing homes that will be retrofitted to include energy efficiency improvements and make homes last longer.

According to ENERGY STAR’s website, “EIMs allow borrowers to include the cost of energy-efficiency improvements to an existing home in the mortgage without increasing the down payment. EIMs allow the borrower to use the money saved in utility bills to finance energy improvements.”

An ENERGY STAR Mortgage is available to qualified homeowners in Maine, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The mortgage is available to homeowners buying a home that has earned the ENERGY STAR label, are participating in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, or those planning to make improvements to the energy efficiency in their homes and meet the income eligibility requirement of 80 percent of Adjusted Median Income.

With the ENERGY STAR Mortgage, during the 90 days following the closing of the mortgage, several improvements may be made to the home. Sustainable improvements may include building envelope sealing, duct sealing, improved insulation, furnace replacement and installation of high-efficiency appliances and installation of water reduction systems which have resulted in a 30 percent savings on monthly utility bills in some cases.

For a $200,000 mortgage, a ¼ point discount on the interest rate could reduce the monthly payment by $40 to $50. Combined with the savings on reduced energy and water bills, this could result in a savings of $90 to $130 month.

GREEN MORTGAGES

GREEN FINANCING SECTOR

Financing a mortgage can be difficult — especially in this economy. But an Energy Efficient Mortgage may make the sting of paying for a house a bit easier. An Energy Efficient Mortgage, or EEM, is a mortgage that credits a home’s sustainable improvements within the mortgage itself. With EEMs, borrowers are able to finance those measures that will save money as part of a single mortgage stretching out debt-to-income ratios on loans.

This allows borrowers to qualify for a loan amount that will pay for those sustainable improvements knowing that savings will occur due to lower life cycle costs.

“What it does is allow borrowers to take money [they might previously have been denied] if the funds will be used on efficiency improvements or to buy an ENERGY STAR rated house, under the idea that increased energy efficiency and reduced life cycle costs will free up money in the borrower’s future budget to repay the loan,” Logue said.

The Energy Efficient Mortgage is available at most major banks. FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac all have a version of “green mortgages” she said. The Veterans Administration also has an EEM available to qualified military personnel, reservists

Many of the largest companies in the finance sector are creating programs to stay competitive. Fidelity National Financial, the largest title insurance and real estate service provider in the United States, launched the Sustainable Strategies program in November 2009.

“The company launched the Sustainable Strategies program to position our title insurance companies, underwriters and ancillary real estate service companies as the most eco-friendly in the industry in order to meet the needs of the emerging sustainable real estate market,” said Jeffrey J. Howell, national director of Sustainable Products.

As part of the program, Fidelity National Financial developed and implemented the LEED Project Certification Data Report in response to the growing number of LEED-certified buildings. “The report confirms the current status of LEED building certification, which is important for any stakeholder in a LEED transaction pursuant to sale, lease, encumbrance, or valuation of a LEED project,” Howell said. It is available for both commercial and residential buildings internationally. “The move toward sustainable real estate is undeniable.”

oing green isn’t just for décor, food preparation and the workplace anymore. Being environmentally conscious has invaded the financial sector, but with the economy in a slow recovery process, it’s unclear whether it’s here to stay and will have a lasting influence in the banking industry.

“Green banking is a new industry sector, and it got launched at a difficult time as the financial crisis hit,” said Ann Logue, author of the book “Socially Responsible Investing for Dummies.”

“It’s still unclear how much of it is real and how much of it is marketing, but it’s clear that people are interested in green technologies for residential and commercial real estate because they can save so much money in the long run.”

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September 2011 | greenliving 35

Corporate Social Responsibility

Green Living magazine asked our companies this month,

“How do you incorporate sustainable design into your business space?”

Located across from the landmark Tohono Chul Park in NW Tucson, 7235 N. Paseo del Norte was purchased by Dr. Lisa Orwick and Anna Burchard in 2010 and was remodeled to create Natural Life Holistic Oasis (Oasis). Originally a spacious home, this property has undergone two major renovations since the main house was built. To preserve the integrity of the original home, Oasis has retained the original kitchen and the exposed beam ceiling from its original design, while the flooring was restored with large slabs of locally found flagstone. Oasis landscaping incorporated a water-efficient design to maintain a naturally beautiful environment. As a holistic and wellness destination, Natural Life Holistic Oasis is committed to using sustainable materials whenever possible and minimizing client’s exposure to chemicals, toxins and other pollutants, while providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Natural Life Holistic Oasis

Downtown Tucson has been the hot spot for many businesses since the 1940s.

The heart of the city, this part of Tucson has seen a number of beautiful transformations over the years. So when John Wesley Miller approached the project at 63 E. Congress, the old McClellan “Five and Dime,” he simply wanted to “recycle the entire building.” Instead of tearing the building down, he started its renovation by gutting the entire interior, reusing some materials and recycling the rest. The beautiful hardwood oak floors were repaired and refinished throughout the building, and some of the old wood was even used as part of the restaurant décor at On a Roll Sushi. The large windows along the front of Congress Street were replaced with energy-efficient, double-pane insulated glass windows. Super insulation was added to walls and ceilings, and all heating, ventilating and cooling systems were replaced with energy-efficient systems that save 50 percent on energy costs. Miller intends to include solar electric and solar hot water in the near future.

John Wesley Miller Properties

IKEA strives to incorporate environmentally friendly measures into its stores whenever the situation and local codes will allow, beginning with energy-efficient air conditioning and lighting. We have recycling centers throughout the store and strive to recycle approximately 75% of wastes (paper, wood, plastic, etc.).

We installed skylights in the warehouse and water-conserving restroom features, including waterless urinals saving 40,000 gallons of water per year per urinal, energy-efficient air blade hand dryers and dual-flush handles to reduce up to 30 percent of the store’s water usage.

The Tempe store has three recycling centers for the community to deposit their non-fluorescent light bulbs, plastic bottles, clear plastic bags, and aluminum cans. While shopping, consumers can recycle paper waste and their plastic bottles.

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Car Review

2011 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid

Size, Space and Economy

BY BILL ZERVAKOS AND CATHY DROZ

L

ittle did Kermit the Frog know that the color of his skin would become a buzzword for products, services and new businesses everywhere. In the automotive industry especially, hybrids are quickly becoming the fashionable vehicle to own.

It appears everyone wants to align themselves with green ethics and save the Earth; however, we have also grown accustomed to all the space and versatility SUVs provide. Some lifestyles and hobbies simply aren’t a good match for a tiny hybrid, so why not go green and satisfy your need for space and power with a hybrid SUV? We give you the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. This Hybrid was introduced in 2008 and it combines an all-purpose, full-size, four-door, family-oriented SUV with the substantial increase in fuel economy so typical of a hybrid vehicle.

The Chevy Tahoe is available in 2WD and 4WD models.

General Motors’ 2-mode hybrid system conserves energy by using an electrically variable transmission, a 300-volt storage system and a 332-hp 6.0L Vortec V8 engine with active fuel management. The Tahoe Hybrid is able to accelerate using only the electric motor. Chevy added to its efficiency by designing a lightweight aluminum liftgate and hood. To complete the package, low-rolling resistance tires and a 0.4-inch lower ride height were included.

For a family SUV, you can’t beat the fact that the Tahoe seats up to eight passengers and can tow up to 6,200 pounds with the 2WD model and up to 5,900 pounds with the 4WD model. Don’t worry about giving up safety with this lighter SUV, as dual stage front airbags, side curtain airbags, four wheel anti-lock brakes, stabilitrak stability control system with rollover mitigation, tire pressure monitoring system and OnStar all come standard.

If you are considering buying a hybrid SUV, here are a few of the advantages: People Moving – Instead of taking two vehicles, pile everyone in your hybrid SUV, save on gas and contribute fewer emissions!

Means of Transport – Whether it’s a trip to Home Depot for some energy-efficient products, taking your firstborn to college with all his gear, or food shopping for six with your cloth bags, the space of a Hybrid SUV is the same as non-hybrid. The difference is in fuel cost and the footprint on Mother Earth.

Pulling Passions – No need to give up camping, boating or snowmobiling because you can’t tow it behind a Prius. A Hybrid SUV can get 20 to 50 percent better fuel economy than your average SUV, and you can fit everything and everyone in it.

A Hybrid SUV, what a concept? You don’t have to give up anything except the trips to the gas station, and unlike Kermit the Frog’s theme song, “It isn’t easy being green,” the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid doesn’t seem to have a problem at all.

Bill Zervakos is co-producer and co-host with Cathy Droz of Two for the Road USA radio productions. Bill has been test-driving and reviewing vehicles for manufacturers for over 16 years on radio, video and in print. twofortheroadusa.com.

The best measure of an investment is the joy it brings.

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September 2011 | greenliving 37

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Architecture

n g i s e D r o

i r e t n I n e e r

G

An Insiders View

BY DAVID BROWN

F

or decades, many in the public sector have contributed sustainability, environmental accountability and eco-friendly planning to architecture and community development. However, these concepts are toolbelt components for interior designers crafting healthy, comfortable indoor environments for homes, offices and business spaces. Designers integrate sustainable methods, such as using reclaimed and recycled materials, long-life energy and water-efficient technology, plumbing fixtures and appliances, and maximizing daylighting.

“Some see luxury and sustainability as exclusive ideas, as if we can’t live well and eco-responsibly at the same time,” said Tanya Shively, ASID, LEED AP, owner of Sesshu Design Associates Ltd, an eco-luxury specialist in Scottsdale. “My goal is to work with the builder and architect to produce environmentally sensitive residential interior design — creating homes respectful of the land, the community and my clients’ needs.”

Shively’s love for the land began in native Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the sublime Grand Tetons helped formed her beliefs. A resident of the Valley for two decades, she has been similarly moved by desert colors and textures, which inspire her environmentally responsible interior designs.

“We as design professionals are stewards of our clients and, in turn, of their health, our environment and energy conservation,” says Katherine Pullen, Allied ASID, director of design and a partner at Studio V. As a child, Pullen was immersed in rural America, growing up on a working cattle ranch in Northern Arizona. Her appreciation for the natural beauty of the land continues to inspire her interior design expressions and use of green components.

Photography by Jerry Portelli Photography

recoverable bamboo has been used in flooring, wall coverings, textiles and furniture.

Recycled materials integrated into the design can come in the form of carpet, fabric, hard-surface flooring, art glass and iron sculptures, paint, wall covering and acoustic materials. Some companies reprocess scraps of wallpaper into new useable rolls, keeping more and more out of landfills. Designers have been creative enough to use the wood scraps typically discarded at sawmills and jobsites for functional and decorative purposes.

Distressed wood is also a popular choice. Pieces from an old house or boat, or piers from a demolished bridge have been reformulated as tables, ceiling beams and other decorative pieces.

Achieving green

Depending on the savvy and adventurousness of the designer, salvaging can occur at thrift stores, garage sales, even dumps.

When building green, designers Shively and Pullen have many products at their disposal and can incorporate strategies to achieve LEED certification, if desired by their client. In Scottsdale, the City Council adopted the International Green Construction Code, making it easier for developers of commercial and multi-family housing to obtain green certification.

Shively notes that one way to reduce a project’s carbon footprint is to ensure that finishes, materials and other items are locally or regionally sourced – which for LEED points is within 500 miles of the project.

“Green design encompasses many things, including sustainable materials that are fast-growing as well as reclaimed or recycled items and materials,” Shively said. For example, quickly greenlivingaz.com

In addition, Shively achieves energy and water efficiency by specifying appliances and fixtures that are ENERGY STAR rated and WaterSense® labeled. Quality indoor air is achieved using finishes that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and September 2011 | greenliving 39

Architecture “Green design and living well naturally go together in ways many people don’t realize as of yet,” Shively said. “I strive to show my clients what can be accomplished with good planning, good design and thoughtful use of materials to create a home that reflects their lifestyle and personality in a healthy, eco-friendly way.”

Photography by Mary Laverman

by using natural fibers and materials and methods that reduce or eliminate allergens.

For Pullen, green involves a sense of community. “Ecoresponsibility means that we as interior design professionals continue to improve our role in the enhancement and integration of sustainable materials for interior and exterior living spaces; that our vendors continue to find innovative ways to provide new sustainable products; and that we as interior designers continue to work together with architects and other members of the design community to explore and improve the spaces we live in through our expertise and our employment of recycled and reclaimed materials,” Pullen said.

Green houses and beyond Remodeling green is a trend that has designers pulling out their creative hats and finding innovative ways to bring unique materials to the project. Shively recently completed a home remodel in Scottsdale that incorporated recycled glass mosaic tiles, low-VOC paint, recycled-content concrete for the powder room vanity, recycled steel for a fireplace surround and low-flow bath fixtures.

She is currently working on remodeling the lobby and conference rooms for a recycling company. She is integrating Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified hardwood flooring, cork flooring, recycled content solid-surface material for the reception desk, recycled rubber flooring, low-VOC whiteboard paint, reclaimed wood furnishings and 3-form recycled resin materials as decorative panels, door panels and ceiling treatments.

Pullen recently completed a pool house bath for a home in north Scottsdale using integral color concrete for the vanity sink countertop, shower surround and barbecue and kitchen countertops. Additionally, the stone surrounds for the bath and living areas of the pool house were locally quarried.

Studio V recently remodeled a Scottsdale salon and spa, installed LED track lighting, and repurposed much of the furniture and fixtures of the previous salon, such as bar stools, hair dryer stations, plumbing fixtures.

Northern residents might enjoy the refurbished Talking Rock Golf Clubhouse at the Talking Rock Country Club in Prescott.

Pullen used recycled authentic materials, such as antique branding irons as outside art, old wagon wheels in the booths for the main dining room, and recycled glass, rebar and baling wire appear in the concrete countertop at “Coop’s,” the community General Store.

Greening the Future

Tanya Shively, ASID, LEED AP An awardwinning designer, Shively earned her Interior Design degree in 1997, passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam and, in 2009, became a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited professional. Her firm is a member of the Interior Studio Group, LLC, which comprises six independent designers working from a full-service studio in Scottsdale Airpark.

Her awards include: 1st Place, 2010 ASID Awards- Bathroom, New or Remodeled, Platinum, 2004 Best in American Living -Custom Residential Design (Over 6000 sq ft); 2nd Place, 2003 ASID Awards -Residential Interior Design (Over 6000 sq ft); 2nd Place, 2001 ASID Awards – Furnishings – Product Design. Sesshudesign.com Studio V | Led by Katherine Pullen, the sixperson company is affiliated with Swaback Partners, one of the Valley’s distinguished architectural firms. The recipient of multiple of first place ASID awards, Pullen attended the University of Arizona’s College of Fine Arts and later graduated with an interior design degree from Scottsdale Community College, where she serves on the school’s Interior Design Program Advisory Board.

Awards include: ASID 2011 Retail-Jo Paris Salon and Spa; ASID 2010: Model Spaces - Ladera; ASID 2010: Healthcare - Bodhi Body Integrative Medical Health Centers; Ranking AZ 2010 - #1 Residential Architecture & Commercial; IIDA Couture 2009 - Best of Show; ASID 2008: 1st Place - Commercial Public Facility - Hyatt Gainey Ranch Kids Camp; ASID 2008: 1st Place - Commercial Adaptive Use - One Montgomery Plaza Loft Residences; ASID 2008: 1st Place - Product Design Fixture - Modern Ranch Chandelier ASID 2008. Studiovinteriors.com

Both women see green design becoming mainstream and, eventually, normative.

David M. Brown is a local writer and can be reached at dmbrownone@msn.com.

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September 2011 | greenliving 41

ORGANIC FOOD

RESTAURANTS

A R I Z O N A ’ S

PERSONAL CARE

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Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen ......................................................................................... 42 Sea of Green Hydrogardens ..............................42 INTRODUCTION The Urban Farm .......................................................... 43

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A Healthier Lifestyle takes one step at a time

T

he more I learn the more I’ve come to understand the impact of environmental toxins in our lives. Toxins that seem as innocuous as the chlorine in our water or the scrubbing bubbles in the fancy commercials that magically get everything clean. They are everywhere: in the water that we drink, the food we eat; in the chemicals that enter our homes for cleaning or pest control; even in the personal care products that we use on and in our bodies.

Toxins are here to such an extent that the thought of all the places they enter our lives can be quite overwhelming. The good news is there are many ways to change our habits and shift away from many. Here are my top three places to look!

EaT local and organIc I’m often asked local or organic and I say “yes.” Both have their place and make an impact. Buying local reduces the environmental load of shipping the food long distances and delivers fresher food, as local produce is typically picked closer to the time it is ripe. Buying non-local organic produce reduces the environmental impact because it is grown without harmful pesticides. Both local and organic significantly reduce the amount of toxins in our environment and therefore the amount that we consume. Here are some quick tips: – Shop at your local Farmers Market.

– look for locally grown and organic products at your grocery store.

– get to know the farmer you buy from.

– Frequent locally owned restaurants and get to know the chef.

– avoid the dirty dozen. The Environmental Working group researched many of the fruits and vegetables that we consume and came up with the top 12 most polluted. I always purchase these in organic. ewg.org/foodnews/list apples | celery | Strawberries | Peaches Spinach | nectarines (import) | grapes (import) Sweet bell peppers | Potatoes | Blueberries (domestic) lettuce | Kale/collard greens EaT and drInK FroM STaInlESS STEEl or glaSS Plastic and Styrofoam are made from oil. When we store food and drink in these containers some of the chemicals that they are made from leach into the products that we are consuming. There are two factors that significantly impact how much of these chemicals actually leach - time and temperature.

The longer a substance is stored in the container the more it tends to leach. Enter the plastic drink bottle. They are typically stored for longer periods of time and when shipped, are generally

INTRODUCTION SPEcIal adVErTISEMEnT SEcTIon | nature’s Market

stored in shipping containers and trucks that are not cooled.

Heating and freezing our food in plastic containers is also an offender. High and low temperature fluctuations significantly impact the amount of chemicals leached into our food products. We have all done it - after heating up a plastic leftover container in the microwave we find it partially melted. Figuring it is not that bad we eat it anyway. Turns out, it is that bad. also be wary of frozen entrees in microwavable packages.

My simple solution was to eliminate the use of plastic food containers in my life. I purchased stainless steel: bottles, food storage containers and take out containers. They are reusable and nonleaching. I also save glass jars and use them for food storage.

Plus I regularly use glass and stainless steel in the freezer.

I am often asked about the ‘good’ plastic. I tell them “it’s still plastic, still made from oil and it still leaches”.

USE only loW ToxIcITy cHEMIcalS Biology primer - our skin is the largest organ in our body and what we touch and breathe ends up in our blood stream. So for a challenge, pick a day and count how many times you come in contact with some kind of chemical. don’t forget the toothpaste, makeup, body soaps, hair products, laundry products, car exhaust, cigarette smoke… and the list goes on. Just reading one label is enough to have your hair stand on end. Then multiply that by 365 days a year!

I like to follow the adage of never putting anything on or near my body unless I am willing to eat it, which puts a new twist on how I look at life. Here are a few tips on where to start: – Make an effort to use non-toxic products that don’t upset nature’s balance.

– Educate yourself and check out the companies that make your products.

– Buy products from reputable, time-tested companies that have third party credentials.

– read and heed the warning labels.

– Vote with your wallet. Support the companies that spend the money to make healthy, environmentally sound products.

– Use products with natural ingredients free of harsh chemicals.

Say no to: – Phosphates – Borates – nitrates – Volatile organic compounds (Voc’s) These are just three of the many places for you to look. There are many more where you can reduce the amount of toxins that you take into your body. Education is the key for discovering where you want to start. I tell people pick one area at a time to learn about and then make a change in their life. once you have some success then branch out and try something else, making your journey a pleasant one and not so overwhelming.

Written by Greg Peterson, owner of The Urban Farm. Urbanfarm.org 43

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Feature

BY BARBI WALKER

F

ootball fans generate a lot of excitement. From tailgates to painting their faces and bodies in team colors, sports fans have a palpable enthusiasm. College or professional, it doesn’t matter - football fans are known for their love of the game. “After all, is football a game or a religion?” Howard Cosell said.

With this passion comes more of everything, including trash.

Football fans (and teams, for that matter) generate a lot of waste.

With football season in full swing, have you ever wondered how much waste is created at one football game, or the entire season?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates 17 million people attend professional games and 48 million attend college games per year. That’s a combined total of 65 million fans who create about 19,500 tons of trash per year.

Fortunately, stadiums are getting greener across the country, and the NFL, colleges and multiple state and federal organizations are putting plans in place to offset the amount of waste produced in and around football games. From solar-operated trash compactors, to volunteers and employees handing out recycling bags to tailgaters, the amount of trash is declining. With programs like the EPA’s Game Day Challenge, colleges have an opportunity to see how they handle game-day waste.

Created in 2009, the program, which is also an initiative of the EPA’s WasteWise program, was designed for colleges and universities to participate in a friendly competition to see which school can reduce, reuse and recycle the most waste. The program aims to increase awareness and expand participation by students, faculty, and the entire school community in waste reduction programs in an effort to make college campuses more sustainable.

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During the challenge last October, 75 colleges diverted more than 500,000 pounds of trash from 2.8 million fans from going into landfills. This kept almost 940 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere, said Eileen Sheehan, spokesperson for the EPA. “That’s equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 179 [average] cars,” Sheehan added. And the challenge is growing. In its first year, only eight schools participated; this year 88 colleges participated! Among them was our own Mesa Community College, which diverted 60 percent of its overall trash, recycling, and compost waste from going to landfills.

Although neither Arizona State University (ASU) or the University of Arizona (UofA) are part of the challenge, both universities are working to make their stadiums and games more eco-friendly. Sun Devil Stadium went from producing 322 tons of trash with zero recycled in 2007 down to 179 tons and 31.7 tons recycled in 2010, says Doug Tammaro, spokesperson for ASU. The University of Arizona works with Facilities Management Waste (FMWaste) to dispose of football game waste. Although they do not have it broken down by individual sport, they have facilities in place to capture and redirect trash away from the landfills, said Chris Kopach, FMWaste director. Starting 2011, FMWaste will keep track of how much waste is collected and recycled at all athletic events, breaking it down by sport, Kopach said.

“If we don’t have a baseline of where we stand, then we will not know if we have improved,” he added about the decision to start keeping track.

The UofA also has 30 solar-powered trash compactors that are parked next to the campus’s recycling bins, and an additional 20 are planned for the future, Kopach said.

On the professional level, the NFL has been implementing eco-friendly initiatives and working to reduce its impact on the September 2011 | greenliving 45

Feature environment for quite some time. The Super Bowl, according to the NFL’s website, has had an environmental component for the last 15 years and has applied multiple sustainability strategies.

The positive effects aren’t just during the Super Bowl. Almost every NFL team has some form of “green” going on, with the San Francisco 49ers leading the way in recycling with a rate of 81 percent in 2009, according to the EPA. Our own Arizona Cardinals recycle 120 tons of trash each year, according to the University of Phoenix Stadium’s green mission statement.

We aren’t talking just about plastic water bottles, wrappers, beer cans and the like that are being recycled at football games; it’s also the food.

What isn’t donated to shelters and soup kitchens ends up in landfills each year. While we can recycle things like trash, cups, bags and plastic utensils, inside and out of the stadium, it’s food that is often overlooked as the big “waste” hog.

“Food waste is now the number one material deposited in landfills,” Sheehan said. “It could be composted, but it’s not.”

More than 33 million tons of food waste ends up in landfills. The diversion rate for food is only 2.5 percent – making it the least recovered material. According to the EPA, in 2008 food waste was 31.8 million tons and increased to 33.2 million tons in 2009.

Most of it comes from the individual consumer. Concessionaires at stadiums are essentially businesses that strive to minimize losses and food waste on game day. On the other hand, leftover chips, dip, chili, burgers, and hot dogs from our own Super Bowl or football parties more often get tossed into the garbage with a one-way ticket to the landfill. Super Bowl Sunday is the secondlargest day to feast after Thanksgiving, according to biofriendly. com.

Food that is prepared but not sold at stadium concessions can’t be resold, so it is collected and supplied to local soup With our relationship with food, if we think it’s disposable, and kitchens, shelters and other treat it as such, what does that mean to our resources and planet? local organizations that provide If we rethink our food buying habits even just for game day and food for people in need. It’s purchase less food, it can lead to less waste for our planet and less called Prepared Food Recovery. “waist” for our waists - and that’s a win-win all the way around.

Non-profit, Rock and Wrap It Up! works to find green ways of providing for the poor and hungry, and the Prepared Food SOURCES arizona.edu Recovery is one way to do so. There are five NFL teams currently asu.edu listed on the Rock and Wrap It Up! website that contribute to the biofriendly.com/blog/green/green-facts-and-figures-surrounding-the-superbowl/ program. The Philadelphia Eagles take the cake, or cheesesteak, epa.gov/osw/partnerships/wastewise/challenge/gameday/results.htm global-spectrum.com in donating the greatest amount of food to the homeless. In nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8205a0e7/article/nfl-green 2009, the Eagles collected more than 11,000 hot dogs, 3,500 rockandwrapitup.org/ universityofphoenixstadium.com slices of pizza, 4,900 cheesesteaks and 1,800 hamburgers to the Philadelphia Brotherhood Rescue Mission, according to the Rock Barbi Walker is a freelance writer and an award-winning journalist.

Barbi lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son. and Wrap It Up! website.

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Restaurant

chef JANOS WILDER

Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails 135 S. 6th Avenue Tucson, AZ 85701

BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A.

F

or over 30 years, Chef Janos Wilder’s respect for local ingredients has been integrated into his culinary creations.

After moving to the Southwest in 1983, Wilder quickly discovered the beauty of native and locally grown ingredients.

The pairing of chilies, beans, squash and cilantro with Chef Wilder’s culinary talents and experience made him a trendsetter and an originator of Southwest cuisine.

Chef Wilder helped create a very modern menu based on Native American produce grown on the Gila River for KAI restaurant, located at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa. He also opened three restaurants in Tucson – Janos, JBAR and most recently, DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails. His first menu concept for DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails was to reach out to Tucson’s farmers and gardeners and integrate locally grown food. As part of his passion for local food and cooking, he partnered with Children’s Museum Tucson to teach children within the community about healthy eating and understand the source of their food.

The Andra Dalrymple garden was built earlier this year at the Museum. Andra, a 12-year-old girl who passed away due to a congenital heart failure, used to visit the Museum and provide

Gluten Free Menu

DOWNTOWN with fresh ingredients for a special pasta dish.

Today, one dollar from each purchase of the special pasta dish, made with in-season produce from the Museum’s garden, goes to the Children’s Museum’s Henninger Fund. The Fund helps provide free Museum memberships to families in need or children with special needs. “With the garden, children are able to see where their food comes from and hopefully make healthier choices,” said Chef Wilder.

Throughout his career, Chef Wilder has become a leading proponent of the exploration and use of indigenous ingredients while blending traditional and modern techniques. Through his work on the Board of Directors of Native Seeds/SEARCH, he assists in the effort to preserve the use and knowledge of heirloom seeds and integrating the agriculture into culinary cuisine.

In 2000, the James Beard Foundation named Chef Wilder as the top chef in the Southwest. He has also authored two books, Janos: Recipes and Tales from a Southwest Restaurant (1990) and The Great Chiles Rellenos Cookbook (2008).

RESOURCES childrensmuseumtucson.org downtownkitchen.com janos.com nativeseeds.org

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September 2011 | greenliving 47

Cool Outrageous

4 [ Go chic with eco-friendly shades

1 [ Bottles that are just S’well S’well bottles are not only stylish and functional, they’re environmentally and socially conscious too. The bottles are able to keep beverages cold or hot, are toxin-free, non-leaching and made with high-quality stainless steel, eliminating plastic bottles. Through their partnership with WaterAid, every S’well bottle sold will help support WaterAid’s program that improves access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in some of the world’s most impoverished communities. swellbottle.com

With summer still in full swing, sunglasses are a must! VonZipper’s “Shift Into Neutral” collection is made from environmentally friendly and sustainable castor bean oil.

Castor bean oil is a non-toxic, renewable resource that can be used to create frames with the same strength and flexibility as traditional sunglasses. These eco-friendly shades provide 100 percent UV protection! vonzipper.com

5 [Clean the ‘green’ way No more need for harsh laundry detergents - Vaska laundry products use natural ingredients without harming people or our planet. Vaska products can clean any type of fabric effectively and gently. For additional information, visit vaskahome.com. Vaska Herbatergent is available at select Target stores nationwide. The entire line is available online at Amazon.com, Drugstore.com and Alice.com.

2 [Well La-T-Da Both interactive and interchangeable, Lotty Dotty shirts let kids change the look of their shirt by attaching and detaching mini designer velcro-backed “outfits” to a screen-printed figure reminiscent of a paper doll on the front of every shirt. Made with 100 percent organic cotton and screen printed with the doll of your choice, one children’s shirt will run you $50, and detachable outfits range from $20-$30. lottydotty.com

3 [ Choose ocean-friendly

seafood with help from your Smartphone

On the go and need to find a restaurant with sustainable seafood? Seafood Watch by Monterey Bay Aquarium can help! This smartphone app recommends eco-friendly seafood at your favorite places and sorts it by “Best Choice,” “Good Alternative” or “Avoid.” It also tells you how each item was fished or gamed, and lets you contribute to the app too! You can add names of restaurants or stores that offer sustainable seafood to the app’s Project FishMap. The Seafood Watch app is available at the iTunes App Store and Android Market.

48 greenliving | September 2011

6 [ Shop right from your phone With Viral Mesh’s shopgreen phone app, you’ll be rewarded for reducing your carbon emissions. The app encourages users to be more ecofriendly, while promoting green businesses. So how does it work? Just enter your carbon emission savings into the app, then be rewarded for what you saved. Visit itunes.apple.com to view and purchase the shopgreen app.

7 [ WIND CHIMES FOR CHARITY

Quality Connections Inc. (QC), an Arizona non-profit, provides employment opportunities and support services to people with disabilities and disadvantages.

QC employees are trained to collect, manufacture and distribute ink and toner cartridges. Some empty cartridges are repurposed into wind chimes and are sold at local festivals. Price: $10 plus shipping and handling. Learn more about this organization at qualityconnections.org.

pEditor’s Pickf greenlivingaz.com

He’s Green she’s Green

She is: Jennifer Burkhart He is: John Burkhart

This month our Green Couple had a snack attack. Just in time for your next summer shindig, their organic tortilla chip review will help guide you to grab the right bag!

La Reina Baked Tortilla Chips

He said Holy bland Batman! These are one of the most insipid things I have ever eaten! They’re lightly salted, which helps, but once the salt is gone, you’re left with a dull-as-dishwater corn flavor… and nothing else. They might be good with some salsa, but not by themselves.

sHe said This is your basic corn tortilla chip, but a healthier version. It has very little fat, no cholesterol, and even has a little protein and fiber.

There is always a special texture to baked snacks, but these aren’t bad. In fact, the texture is darn close to those typical oil-fried chips. These have just the right amount of salt, but well, they’re a little too “corny” for me.

He gave it: She gave it:

Kettle Tias All Natural Tortilla Chips “Zesty Ranch”

Late July Organic Multigrain Snack Chips “Mild Green Mojo”

365 Everyday Value Organic Lightly Salted Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

He said I’d love to give Kettle a good review because their potato chips are amazing, but I can’t. These zesty ranch tortilla chips are a poor copy of Doritos Ranch chips. Aside from Kettle’s organic corn, the nutrition label is almost exactly the same as Doritos, yet they had half the flavor. Sorry Kettle, stick to potato chips.

sHe said Move over Ranch Doritos, there’s a new chip on the block. Zesty, sassy, peppy, perky – however you name it, these corn chips are de-lish! It’s hard to resist ranch-flavored anything, but combine that with corn chips made with organic corn and all-natural ingredients – this one is a no-brainer!

He gave it:

She gave it:

He said I’ve died and gone to tortilla chip heaven. These were absolutely delicious. The perfect blend of spicy chiles, mellow cheese and lime. I’m not going to lie, I finished the whole bag the day after we bought it, and I’m going back for more tomorrow!

sHe said “Whoa!” was my first reaction. There’s no shortage of flavor with these chips, and it might even keep you from eating too many!

The description on the bag: “Green chiles with cheese & a hint of lime” is spot on – I was able to taste all of the flavors, including the zippy, spicy finish. Green chile fans will love these chips.

He gave it:

She gave it:

He said I’ve always preferred blue corn chips over white or yellow. They seem to have a sweeter, almost nutty flavor. 365 did a good job making these. There is the perfect amount of salt on every chip and they’re USDA organic with no GMO corn!

sHe said There must be something about simple ingredients, because what 365 does with five ingredients is pretty impressive. I also haven’t met a blue corn tortilla chip I didn’t like. These have a hearty blue corn flavor and texture that will pair up perfectly with a chunky salsa. Lightly salted is the way to go - it’s healthier for you and tasted great!

He gave it:

She gave it:

Garden of ‘Eatin’ All Natural Tortilla Chips “Nacho Cheese”

He said The bag says Nacho Cheese, but all I tasted was cheddar cheese, no chili, no Jack. Don’t get me wrong, they were still very good. They had a strong, real cheddar flavor on a light crunchy chip. I’ll definitely be eatin’ them again, but I’m going to have to deduct one star for the mislabelin’.

sHe said Yet another challenger for Doritos. Made with organic yellow corn, organic nacho cheese and all natural ingredients, this may be my “go to” chip when I’m in the mood for snazzy nacho cheesiness.

The cheese flavor was addicting, but the firmness of the chips was quite the jaw workout. At least that kept me from eating the whole bag!

He gave it: She gave it:

greenlivingaz.com

September 2011 | greenliving 49

Black Chile Cotija Corn Recipe Serves 2

INGREDIENTS 2 ears of golden sweet corn 2 bamboo skewers 1/2 cup of Cotija and Mexican cheese blend 1/2 fresh lime squeezed 2 tbsp. Cajun spices (create an even blend with cayenne pepper, black pepper, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder)

Tomato and Oaxacan Cheese Salad

DIRECTIoNS Combine all ingredients, except the tomatoes, and toss well. arrange mixture on salad plates so that the mixture is layered between the stacked tomato slices. Drizzle the vinaigrette remaining in the mixing bowl over the four servings.

Recipes provided by Elote from “The Elote Café Cookbook”, Elotecafe.com

50 greenliving | September 2011

BaRBECuE aIolI 1 cup mayonnaise 2-4 oz. extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp. garlic, fresh (minced or pureed) 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce, dark, sweet and spicy (any brand you prefer)

DIRECTIoNS Place mayonnaise in a bowl and whisk in olive oil until blended, add a few drops of water or lemon juice if it starts to separate. add all other ingredients, blend and allow the mixture to stand for approximately 30 minutes.

INSTRuCTIoNS foR CoRN *Preheat grill to 350 degrees f 1. Peel off the husk and insert bamboo skewers into sweet corn 2. Place corn onto the grill and rotate every two minutes (grill corn until the kernels turn brown, the char marks enhance the flavor) 3. once the entire cob is charred (about 6-8 minutes) immediately pull from the grill and lightly spread the barbecue aioli all over the corn 4. Roll the corn into the Cotija and Mexican cheese blend 5. Drizzle lime juice all over the corn and sprinkle with Cajun seasonings

Recipe courtesy of Black Chile Mexican Grill

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS 2 cups hand-shredded oaxacan cheese 1/2 cup diced onion 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 4 radishes cut in half and thinly sliced 4 pickled jalapenos, sliced 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tbsp. cider vinegar 1 tsp. kosher salt or to taste 4 large vine ripe tomatoes, sliced thick

4 tbsp. barbecue aioli

Almond Date Honey Smoothie Yields 12-ounce portion

INGREDIENTS 12 oz. glass of ice 1 tbsp. almond butter 4 dates, pitted 1 cup nonfat milk, can substitute nonfat yogurt if desired

1 tbsp. honey 1 dash cinnamon 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIoNS Measure out the ice and place it into a blender. add the dates, milk, honey, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and adjust consistency with milk if desired.

Recipe courtesy of Executive Chef Frank Caputo’s at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

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Green Scenes

September Events

Tucson Tohono chul Park

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tohonochulpark.org Starting September 1 “Stories in the Garden” Parents and tots can listen to traditional and original stories about the desert and its creatures streamside in the Garden for Children.

When: Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

September 10 Recycle your unwanted TVs, computers, monitors, printers, batteries, chargers, cell phones, and other electronics at the Free E-Waste Recycling Event.

When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Home Depot - WEST (Woodlands Village) or Home Depot - EAST (The Marketplace)

September 24 A Phoenix Recycles Palooza Bring your cell phones, batteries, clothing, old computer hard drives, etc., and visit the Radio Disney Sustainability Village. You will learn fun, creative ways to live the ‘green’ life!

When: 8 a.m. to Noon Where: Phoenix Municipal Stadium Parking Lot, 56th Street & Van Buren

deserT boTanical Garden

local firsT ariZona

scoTTsdale September 1 12th Annual Green Building Lecture Series kicks off When: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Scottsdale Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road

The Phoenix Zoo phoenixzoo.org September 5 International Vulture Awareness Day Come and learn about the critical role that vultures and condors play in their environments.

When: 9 a.m. to Noon

Phoenix Green chamber of commerce thegreenchamber.org September 6 Green Drinks When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: TBA

dbg.org September 12, 2011-January 1, 2012 David Rogers’ Big Bugs exhibit This exhibit features 11 over-sized insect sculptures. *Included with membership or paid Garden admission September 24 – November 27 Mariposa Monarca Visit this butterfly habitat and be immersed with hundreds of colorful, fluttering monarchs.

When: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. *Free for members. $3.50 for general public 3 years and older, with paid Garden admission. Free for members and children under 3.

Phoenix cityofphoenix.gov September 15 Residents can dispose of everything from antifreeze to appliances When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Cesar Chavez Park

localfirstaz.com September 21 Members Only Mixer Meet fellow members and network.

When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Rio Vista Rec Center 8401 West Monroe Peoria, Arizona 85345 623-773-8600

conscious liVinG annie@thefusionfoundation.org September 27 When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Shadow Rock United Church of Christ 12861 N. 8th Ave.

sedona womanarising.com October 9 and 10 An empowering boutique women’s event featuring inspirational women presenters at the glorious Enchantment Resort in the aweinspiring red rocks of Sedona.

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September 2011 | greenliving 55

Green Personality

An interview with

Lee Stempniak Right Wing for the Phoenix Coyotes

things that make a difference over the course of the entire year. I always recycle whenever possible and request to not have my towels or sheets changed during my stay at a hotel. I try to get out and enjoy some fresh air and, if possible, walk instead of taking a cab.

What sustainable methods did you integrate into your home?

We are only renting the house for the summer, so we are unable to integrate as many sustainable methods as desired. However, we do have a compost pile in the backyard for food scraps and yard waste.

What is your favorite outdoor activity to do in Arizona?

I enjoy golfing and hiking in Arizona. One of the big benefits of playing hockey in Phoenix is the ability to be outside during the season and be active and enjoy the sun.

BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A. & CHRISTINA LUND

What is most important to you about ‘going green’ or being environmentally conscious?

Do you like to cook? What is your favorite organic recipe?

The most important aspect of ‘going green’ is preserving the world we live in. There is so much beauty and biodiversity in each natural habitat of the world. By living environmentally conscious, each person is minimizing their impact on the environment and ensuring that the wildlife surrounding us will be thriving for future generations.

What are your top five organic foods?

My wife and I love to cook. We try to eat primarily organic foods at home and whenever possible, we patronize restaurants that use organic ingredients. We both find preparing and cooking dinner a perfect time to relax. My favorite organic recipe is the kale salad from True Food Kitchen.

Name your top three locally owned restaurants.

Rancho Pinot, St. Francis and True Food Kitchen.

Berries, apples, dairy, eggs and meat.

With all the waste at sporting events, how would you encourage sporting venues to be more environmentally responsible?

The easiest way to make sporting venues more environmentally responsible is to make recycling stations available and convenient. If spectators are willing to take the extra few seconds to sort their waste and recycle glass, cans, plastic and paper before throwing out nonrecyclables, I think we can make a major change. Food waste containers would also limit food going into the garbage and could be used for compost.

With all the travel during the season, how do you minimize your carbon footprint when you’re on the road?

We are constantly traveling during the season. It’s hard to minimize your carbon footprint, but I try to do small

56 greenliving | September 2011

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Tuscan Kale Salad

Ingredients • 4-6 cups kale - loosely packed, sliced leaves of Italian black (Lacinato,“dinosaur,” cavolo nero), midribs removed • Juice of 1 lemon • 3-4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, mashed • Salt and pepper, to taste • Hot red pepper flakes, to taste

• 2/3 cup grated Pecorino Toscano cheese (Rosselino variety if you can find it) or any other flavorful grating cheese such as Asiago or Parmesan • 1/2 cup freshly made bread crumbs from lightly toasted bread

Directions Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and a generous pinch (or more) of hot red pepper flakes. Pour dressing over kale in serving bowl and toss well. Add two-thirds of the cheese and toss again. Let mixture sit for at least five minutes. Add bread crumbs, toss again, and top with remaining cheese.

Recipe courtesy of True Food Kitchen

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