Green Living April 2016

US $5.95

Green Living magazine is printed by a Forest Stewardship Council certified printer.

Historic Downtown Glendale

RETRO METRO Nostalgic & New

Make the scene in Historic Downtown Glendale and dig on all we have to offer.

With everything from rustic and reclaimed to chocolate and schnitzel, Historic Downtown Glendale is a destination that’s uniquely retro and modernly metro.

Bring this ad to the Glendale Visitor Center and pick up your free tote bag to fill with all your great finds.

Glendale Visitor Center 5800 W. Glenn Drive, #140 | Glendale, AZ 85301 | 877.800.2601 | VisitGlendale.com | #glendaleaz

Visit Historic Downtown Glendale Mention this ad

for

Making beautiful flowers a part of your life!

10% OFF

Wedding & Event Specialist

Delivery Valleywide

Any Gift Items!

Glendale Flowers Your Neighborhood Florist

623.931.2416 • 7145 N. 58th Drive, Glendale, AZ 85301 www.glendaleflowers.net • glendaleflowers@gmail.com

The Secret is our Homemade Tamales and Salsa!

Get 10% off

with this ad 7023 N. 58th Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85301

Visit Historic Downtown Glendale Yours in practicing a greener lifestyle PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS COPY EDITOR

FREE CLASSES to help create a more water & energy efficient home.

Class information at: GlendaleAZ.com/WaterConservation/ ClassesAndEducation.cfm

ADVISORY BOARD Valerie Crosby Jon Kitchell Mary McCormick Eric Olsen

CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Bales Jennifer Burkhart Stephanie Funk Kamilla Graham Brendan Kelly David Schaller James L. Stone Telpriore G. Tucker MEDIA CONSULTANTS Kinga Andrea Gary Moss

Dorie Morales Amanda Harvey Misty Voitovski Jeffrey E. Stein Rachel Luman William Janhonen Derrick Mains Natalie Morris

David Brown John Burkhart Patty Garcia-Likens J.D. Hill Gretchen Pahia Terri Schlichenmeyer Michelle Talsma Everson

Vern Nicholas Michelle White

CREATIVE INTERN Joshua Parris

Make one conscious

choice to subscribe to Green Living Magazine March 2016

greenlivingaz.com

15%Off USE CODE GLAZ15

$10.20 $33.15 $41.65 $50.15

$12 $39 $49 $59

12 Digital Issues 12 Print + Digital Issues Greenie Membership 24 Print + Digital Issues

EDITORIAL INTERNS Elizabeth Hoffman Hunter Kossodo EVENT PLANNING/SALES/MARKETING INTERN Ellie Morici SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN Katie Self

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

online at greenlivingaz.com/subscribe

LIKE us on Facebook!

US $5.95

Green Living magazine

is printed by a Forest

Stewardship Council

certified printer.

facebook.com/greenlivingazmag Or mail this form to 7575 E. Redfield Road, Suite 219, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Name _____________________________________ Email ______________________________________ METHOD OF PAYMENT q Check enclosed

q Visa

q Mastercard

q AMEX

q Discover

Card# _____________________________________ Exp. Date___________CSV sec. code _____________ Billing Address, City, State, and Zip Code ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Cardholder’s Signature ________________________ Green Living magazine is published 12 times a year. By signing up, you will be opted-in to our monthly newsletter.

An invoice of your purchase will be emailed. Information is kept confidential.

2 greenliving | April 2016

CONTACT US AT:

Main: info@greenlivingaz.com Advertising: sales@greenlivingaz.com Editorial: submissions@greenlivingaz.com 480.840.1589

7575 E. Redfield Road #219, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Please recycle this magazine Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group, LLC. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Entire contents © 2016 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. One print subscription is $39 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Canadian orders please add $13 per year for shipping and handling. International orders add $22 per year for shipping and handling. 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.

greenlivingaz.com

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

3

April 2016

Editor’s Note

I

t’s April, the month in which we celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. I recently finished reading Philip K. Dick’s classic novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” The novel is set in a dystopian society plagued by a now hostile climate due to the result of war. I was initially surprised by the nature themes and what appear to be warnings of what our not-too-distant-future could look like.

In the novel, most animals are extinct and people are forced to leave Earth or die from the radioactive dust consuming the planet.

These passages in the novel shocked me, as I realized this was hitting a little too close to home.

According to the World Wildlife Foundation, the rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated by experts to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate. In the novel, citizens are obligated to have an animal, which have become a symbol of social status. However, most must resort to purchasing and caring for electric animals, as many of the real animals have died out.

Although it’s kind of humorous to imagine a society so obsessed with animals they resort to manufacturing electronic animals that are so realistic they even have electronic veterinary services, it’s also

We must preserve and protect the Earth and all its inhabitants, be they large or small. Earth is our responsibility, and our actions (and inactions) absolutely make a difference.

very disturbing. In our own world, several animals are nearly extinct and other species are going extinct almost every day – the idea of all animals going extinct is terrifying.

“I’ve never found a live, wild animal,” says the main character at the end of the novel, when he finds a toad in the wild but it turns out to be electronic. “It must be a fantastic experience to look down and see something living scuttling along.”

Let’s hope humanity as we know it never has to experience a world without wildlife.

Read more about preserving our endangered animal species on page 28 with our article on this year’s Dinner With Wolves benefit. Also included in this issue: learn about the history of Arbor Day; read about the Yin and Yang of climate change and how modern slavery is affecting the environment; help save Oak Flat from a disastrous proposed mine; enjoy healthy Earth Day-themed recipes; and much more.

We must preserve and protect the Earth and all its inhabitants, be they large or small. Earth is our responsibility, and our actions (and inactions) absolutely make a difference.

Please join me this month – and every month – in honoring Mother Earth and all she has given us.

Amanda Harvey Associate Editor

♥

I LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR READERS!

Email me at editor@greenlivingaz.com

Follow Green Living magazine and stay in touch with the newest topics on sustainability!

4 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

departments

April 2016

on the cover Our April Earth Day cover photo is a creation to impress the need of natural awareness for our state streams and waterways. The photo was taken on the Salt River at Coons Bluff in response to vacationers not showing proper respect to Mother Earth.

14

Photography by Aaron Blackburn Model: Robin Minnich

Green Living magazine is printed

by a Forest Stewardship Council

certified printer.

play green

live green

32 Book Review: Locally Laid 34 Electric-Powered Raft to Debut on

6 The History of Arbor Day 8 The Yin and Yang of Climate Change 10 Modern Slavery’s Impact on the Environment 12 Save Oak Flat 14 Electric Bikes: Ride Into the Future 16 Downtown Glendale Gets Fresh 17 Chipotle Cultivate Festival Celebrates Music, Food and Ideas 18 Building Farmland for the Future 20 Sustainable Woodworking: Woodesign Means Green 22 A Desert Community is Water Wise

24

US $5.95

Colorado River

36 Dinner With Wolves Benefit 39 Launch Party Photo Collage 40 Earth Day Recipes

34

work green 24 Behind the Scenes at Salt River Project

26 Eco-Friendly Organization Puts the Spotlight on Going Green

28 Socially Responsible Investing

Special Secti on:

GREEN HOM E PRODUCTS on page 29-31

greenlivingaz.com

42 Green Scenes and Earth Day events 46 Green Champions of the Month 47 He’s Green, She’s Green 48 Cool & Outrageous Stuff April 2016 | greenliving

5

ENVIRONMENT

THE HISTORY OF ARBOR DAY

BY ELIZABETH HOFFMAN

A

rbor Day is not only a holiday, but an important tradition. The idea of this special event was first introduced in January 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, a former editor for a Nebraska newspaper. Morton was passionate about the environment and advocated for planting trees in his articles. He became the Secretary of Agriculture, a position that allowed him to stress the importance of tree planting and to propose the idea of a state tree-planting holiday. The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, where prizes were awarded to those who planted the most trees. It is

6 greenliving | April 2016

estimated that more than one million trees were planted that day. This tradition of planting trees on Arbor Day lives on not only in Nebraska, but throughout all 50 states and in 32 countries around the world.

“Arizona has been celebrating Arbor Day since about 1898, where specialized events have been held in community schools across the state including tree plantings and youth activities specifically designed to teach the value and benefits of trees,” said Alix Rogstad, program manager of Arizona State Forestry. Founded in 1966, Arizona State Forestry helps reduce the risk of wildfire to Arizona’s people, areas, and communities, while also providing forest resource stewardship through strategic implementation of forest health policies and cooperative forest assistance programs.

greenlivingaz.com

ENVIRONMENT DID YOU KNOW? Arizonans celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday of April.

Arizona State Forestry’s Urban/Community Forestry (UCF) program was introduced in 1991 and focuses on the stewardship of urban tress and community forests.

“Arbor Day celebrations occurring in Arizona have varied over the years and are dependent on the sponsoring group and/or community,” Rogstad continued. “For example, schools and community parks often host tree planting events that include youth activities and poetry readings; universities may host tree walks or tree education forums; and Arizona State Forestry’s UCF program annually hosts an Arbor Day Poster Contest, a ‘Tour des Trees,’ and a state Celebration at the Capitol.”

Arbor Day may not seem like such an important holiday to some individuals, but it truly is an essential part of history – it is a part of our environment and a part of us. Rogstad articulates his reasoning on why Arbor Day is so vital and how this holiday helps our environment, communities, and the people that reside on this earth.

“Trees are a critical component to life on Earth and they offer many benefits,” said Rogstad. “[Trees] create oxygen and clean the air; generate shade and cooling, which reduces energy consumption; provide wildlife habitat; filter rainfall and slow stormwater runoff; provide local, edible food (fruit, nuts, pods); beautify our neighborhoods; strengthen social connections and create a ‘sense of place’ in communities; and build economies. Research has shown the value of trees: a single tree can increase property values and whole neighborhoods benefit when more trees are planted because they increase the walkability of streets and community spaces.”

Arbor Day is a tradition that brings people together to celebrate the Earth. By helping Earth, you’re not only helping yourself, but those around you. Remember that this Arbor Day, April 29th.

“Because trees are such an integral part of human life, Arbor Day is as important today as it was in the 1800s,” said Rogstad. “It is a day dedicated to trees – honoring the contributions they bring to our environment, to our health, and to the vibrancy of our communities.”

Elizabeth Hoffman will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in English from Arizona State University this summer. She lives in Phoenix with her Shepkita dog and enjoys reading, writing and traveling.

Photo by Michael Moriarty Read more environment articles at greenlivingaz.com/environment

Color $99 Organic Partial Highlight *

or

Includes Haircut, Blowdry and Treatment

Regularly $175! *

New clients only

Seshi Organic Salon Visit us at Canyon Falls Spa! 14891 N. Northsight Blvd. Suite #121 Scottsdale facebook.com/SeshiOrganicSalonAZ

480-767-7533 Paraben Free Cruelty Free Organic Vegan

SS

Seshi Organic Salon

Gluten Free Non-toxic hair color greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

7

ENVIRONMENT

THE YIN AND YANG OF CLIMATE CHANGE

BY BRENDAN KELLY

A

lmost all of what we hear about climate In looking at this dynamic through the lens of change comes from our usual western Chinese medicine, what’s occurring is that the perspective. We hear about the rapid climate’s heat – which Chinese medicine associates warming of the planet, melting glaciers and with Yang – is increasing, and its coolant – which increasing intensity of storms. We also hear about is associated with Yin – is decreasing. And rather the importance of reducing our impact on the than being something that’s only happening planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions outside of us, using the wisdom of Chinese through driving efficient cars, installing solar medicine we can see that this same dynamic of panels and eating local food. All of these are increasing Yang and decreasing Yin is happening undoubtedly important. But if we were to look within us.

BRENDAN KELLY at climate change from a different view, we can In addition to being associated with heat, Yang see that what is happening ecologically is being mirrored by is also about activity, the desire for more, and newness. Yin what’s happening within us, including the assumptions that is about not doing, the satisfaction of having less, and the shape our lives. old. The fact that so many of us favor activity over inactivity, For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has understood more over less, and the new over the old speaks to our the world as an integrated whole. Rather than seeing our internal overvaluing of Yang and undervaluing of Yin. There individual lives as being separate from what’s happening in are ecological consequences of the busyness of constant nature, an eastern view sees the world holistically, where driving and flying and the climate effects of the consumerism we are part of the world around us. Part of the importance of constantly buying more new things. There are also similar of this time-tested medical tradition is that we can see how effects to our internal environment, where many of us find the same dynamic that’s creating global warming it difficult to relax and often feel less – not more – appears in how we see the world. satisfaction from getting more new things.

In addition to the well-documented Understanding what creates balance warming of the planet, it’s understood within us is essential to addressing that the planet’s ability to maintain the imbalance in the climate. Just its coolant has decreased. Due to as the climate is warming, we the loss of forests and permafrost often overvalue Yang. And just as and the acidification of the the planet’s ability to maintain oceans, the planet is less able to coolant is decreasing, we often absorb the gases we’re emitting. undervalue Yin.

8 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

ENVIRONMENT

Here are three things we can do to promote personal health and ecological well-being:

1

Realize that “doing” is not always better than “not doing.”

There is a time to work and a time to rest; a time to be busy and a time to slow down. In our era of climate change, it’s essential to move towards a balanced life, which includes a balance of doing and not doing.

Brendan Kelly is the author of “The Yin and Yang of Climate Crisis,” which looks at the bigger and deeper issues of climate change through the lens of Chinese medicine. The co-founder and co-owner of Jade Mountain Wellness, where he currently practices acupuncture and herbalism, Kelly has also been actively involved with environmental issues for 25 years. For more information about Kelly, his book, recent articles and classes, visit personalasecological.com.

Read more environment articles at greenlivingaz.com/environment

2

Recognize that more is not better than less. In addition to the ecological consequences of overconsumption, having more than we need doesn’t lead to internal balance and well-being. Just as the climate is warming rapidly, we’re often encouraged to want more. And just as the planet’s ability to maintain coolant is decreasing, many of us are losing the contentment that leads to having less.

3

Appreciate that new is not better than old. We’re often encouraged to believe that simply because something is new it’s better than something that’s old. But again, this is the same imbalance of Yang over Yin that’s leading to climate change.

Buy a Plate,

Clean Up the State!

Purchase a KAZB license plate Support communitybased environmental improvement across the state.

Centennial Plaza Park

$17 out of the $25 annual fee goes directly to KAZB

Order at servicearizona.com or at any MVD or Authorized Third Party office

Learn more at kazb.org greenlivingaz.com

9875 N. 85th Avenue

Saturday April 23, 2016 11 am to 3 pm For more information, email PeoriaEarthDay2016@peoriaaz.gov or visit peoriaaz.gov/planetpalooza

April 2016 | greenliving

9

ENVIRONMENT

BY KEVIN BALES

M

odern slavery is a paradox. It is hidden away as never before, but its effects are omnipresent – it touches the food we eat and the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, and possibly the device you’re using to read these words.

The latest measures of global slavery conservatively estimate there are about 36 million slaves worldwide, spread across virtually all countries. The UN says slavery generates some $150 billion annually. However, 36 million slaves represent only .0005 of the global population, about the population of California. $150 billion is a tiny fraction of the global economy and is spread across several million local criminal enterprises.

In all human history, slavery has never been such a small part of our shared existence as it is currently. Slavery is illegal in every country, it is condemned by every faith and business and government leaders are unanimous in rejecting it. Slavery has been pushed to the very edges of our global society. Even as we are still discovering more about the size of the problem, the truth is that slavery is standing on the edge of its own extinction.

This does not diminish the urgency with which we need to make a final push to eliminate slavery altogether. Its toll is not visible in an abstract, aggregate number, but in the stories of individual lives and its disproportionate impact on our natural world. I met 19-year-old Shumir in a village at the bottom of Bangladesh. Just the night before, he had escaped from slavery by stowing away in a fishing boat. He was lured into slavery, he said, when, “A recruiter told my parents he would give them 2000 taka [$29] if they’d let me come and work. He said the work was easy, and there was plenty of food to eat. My parents needed the money and I wanted to help, so I left with the recruiter.”

Help Save Abused and Neglected Animals Sacred Grounds Rescue Spring Fundraiser Sponsored by Steve’s Bar & Grill Trent, South Dakota

It was a lie. Shumir and dozens of other boys would often work 24 hours straight. “The longer I worked,” he told me, “I’d get exhausted and clumsy. Sometimes I’d cut myself with the gutting knife or slip and fall from the drying rack.

Whenever I made a mistake the boss would hit me.” Yet more feared than the bosses were the tigers. Every boy I met from the fish camps reported having witnessed or having known another child slave who had been eaten by a tiger.

Tigers were eating these slave children because criminal slaveholders had carved fish processing camps from the forests of the Sundarbans UNESCO World Heritage Site. This vast area of protected mangrove forest and endangered species is the largest carbon sink in Asia, as well as a crucial buffer protecting coastal towns from cyclones. Invaded by criminal gangs, their slaves clear-cut the forest, feeding CO2 into the atmosphere and setting the collision course of slave children and protected tigers. Profits driving this destruction come from the global market for shrimp and pet food, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Since the “discovery” of human trafficking in the 1990s there has been great progress in the development of anti-slavery interventions and policies. But it’s fair to ask, at what cost?

Compared to most types of economic development, freeing people from slavery is relatively inexpensive. Done correctly, liberation is followed by providing the formerly enslaved with basic education, building their economic autonomy, and ensuring their rights to full citizenship. The cost of liberation and reintegration varies according to region – from as little as $150 per person in Northern India to $30,000 in the U.S. Calculated on the basis of the thousands of slaves freed in the last 10 years, the cost of liberation and reintegration for 35 to

Each Ticket Gives You a Chance to Win This Custom Harley Davidson Motorcycle!

Only 300 Tickets Sold! Tickets are a $100 donation each.

Must be 21 years old to contribute. Drawing January 1, 2017 or when all tickets are sold, whichever comes first.

Online at gofundme.com/uftgducc or send check to Sacred Grounds Rescue, PO Box 967, Wikieup, AZ 85360 Sacred Grounds Rescue is a 501c3 non profit Horse Rescue

10 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

ENVIRONMENT 40 million slaves is thought to be around $25 billion spread over 25-30 years.

This liberation cost is offset by a significant economic gain, a freedom dividend accruing when freed slaves participate in the economy. While the precise ROI is still being worked out, early indications point to freed slaves generating income and economic gains each year that exceed their liberation cost. But the urgency for addressing slavery is not just about human rights and economic growth; it’s also about climate change.

The fish camp where Shumir was enslaved is just one of thousands of slave-based enterprises spread around the world’s equatorial belt. Added together, if slavery were a country it would have the population of Canada and the GDP of Kuwait, but its CO2 emissions would rank third globally. Driving this environmental destruction and CO2 emission is slave-based deforestation – but understanding the link between slavery and climate change can help solve both problems.

In Brazil, an ex-slave named Jose Barros explained how the solutions are linked. “I have only a fourth grade education,” he told me. But in 2005, working with a rural agricultural cooperative on the edge of the Amazon, he was granted access, but not ownership, to 100 acres of forest. In return, he had to leave 60 percent of the forest intact. The Cooperative provided him with cocoa seedlings that he planted beneath the big canopy trees. When the cocoa pods began to grow, “That’s when our lives began to change. I sold about 1,000 kilos of cocoa, and for the first time ever we were able to buy more than just the food we needed.” His children went to school and their lives improved dramatically. The forest is now preserved and guarded; Jose plants new trees and harvests other cash crops like Brazil nuts that grow naturally.

The link between slavery and climate change presents a threefold opportunity. First, enforcement of existing antislavery laws would immediately diminish CO2 emissions and species loss. Second, the resulting reduction in CO2 emissions would have little or no economic cost for existing (noncriminal) industries and markets, and lift depressed economic areas. Third, freed slaves can be paid to replant the forests they were forced to cut and generate more than $40 billion in carbon credits – more than enough to fund the rehabilitation of land and people.

A concerted effort to end slavery around the world is a big investment, but one that will pay high dividends. When a freed slave like Shumir or Jose generates a freedom dividend that exceeds the investment in his freedom, and reduces and repairs environmental degradation, what’s not to like?

In developing countries, ending slavery can stimulate the economy, ward off the threat of rising sea levels or destructive deforestation, and preserve endangered species. Ending slavery is bad for criminals and corrupt officials but good for the economy, the environment, and consumers. Investing in ending slavery might just save the world.

Going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders for his book “Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy,” Kevin Bales exposed how modern slavery penetrates the global economy and flows into the things we buy. His new book, “Blood and Earth,” shows how slavery is a major cause of climate change – driven by the products we buy.

Read more environment articles at greenlivingaz.com/environment

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

11

ENVIRONMENT

DESTROYING ARIZONA’S LEGACY:

THE BATTLE TO PROTECT OAK FLAT

BY KAMILLA GRAHAM

A

rizona is a land of stunning beauty, soaring mountains and living deserts. No matter where the wind blows, the 48th state is rich in wildlife, plant life and history.

Arizona is also rich with iconic copper and other precious metals, a wealth that is a double-edged sword that threatens to destroy something beautiful and irreplaceable.

Located outside of Superior, Arizona, you will find Oak Flat campground. A part of Tonto National Forest, Oak Flat was protected by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955 from mining. For more than 60 years this land has been a campground for people to enjoy the beauty of the area. For 15 years straight it hosted rock climbers from all over the planet for competitions. Oak Flat has also been a special place for the Apache people for thousands of years.

“It is unique. When the Forest Service was asked to find a replacement campground in the area, it could not,” said Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon chapter.

In 2014 Senators McCain and Flake added a “rider” – a tactic to pass a controversial provision that would not pass as its own bill, onto the essential National Defense Authorization

12 greenliving | April 2016

Act. This particular “rider,” found in Section 3003 of the bill, was the sale of Oak Flat to Rio Tinto, a British-Australian multinational metals and mining corporation.

Rio Tinto says there is an ore body that is a cubic mile in diameter just one mile underneath the campsite. Roger Featherstone, the Director of the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition said, “As you’re heading from Phoenix to Oak Flat, you pass Picket Post Mountain. Rio Tinto says the ore body is the size of Picket Post Mountain.”

The suggested mining technique for the area is called “black cave mining” which will leave behind a crater over a mile wide and more than 1,000 feet deep. It will also produce an estimated 1.6 billion tons of toxic mine tailing that will be dumped on Tonto National Forest land.

“We must continue to do everything we can to keep Oak Flat from being traded away and destroyed,” said Bahr.

greenlivingaz.com

ENVIRONMENT

“Write to your senators, your local congressmen and authorities. Vote for politicians who are against this land act and support actions taken to repeal this part of the act,” Brynn Szukala, the creator of a short film about Oak Flat, urges. “Just being active in the land, hiking, climbing, camping, and spreading awareness and appreciation for it will go a long way to communicate to people that it is an important natural and heritage site.”

To watch Brynn Szukala’s short film titled “Save Oak Flat,” visit vimeo. com/147860150. The film was recently shown as part of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability’s Incredible Short Environmental Film Festival.

Kamilla Graham is an Arizona native and avid NPR listener who enjoys rediscovering the world with her kids and husband.

Efficient and resourceful.

Photo courtesy of Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Read more environment articles at greenlivingaz.com/environment

DID YOU KNOW?

April 4 is International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

I'm eco-friendly too.

Whether it's local or global, every little bit we do makes a difference.

That's just part of being there.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY.

Dan Kalm, Agent 2654 N Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719 Bus: 520-795-0231 dan.kalm.mrot@statefarm.com

statefarm.com/green 0901002.1

greenlivingaz.com

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

April 2016 | greenliving

13

TRANSPORTATION

RIDE INTO THE FUTURE

BY TELPRIORE G. TUCKER, PH.D.

W

hat’s all this commotion about electric bicycles?

What are they? And why would you want one?

I am an electric bike enthusiast, and when out for a ride on my own e-bike, I’m bombarded with questions like these. I simply reply, “It’s basically a bike with a battery and motor,” along with the most recognizable description I can provide: “It’s like a two-wheeled version of a Prius,” since the hybrid vehicle can be powered by the rider, the electric motor, or be switched between the two. It’s a bike that instantly converts into an environmentally friendly motorbike, minus the rumbling engine or the noxious exhaust spewing from the tailpipe.

All e-bikes can legally travel at a max speed of 20 mph without pedaling, which is twice as fast as an average rider on a regular bicycle. In 2015, California passed a law allowing some e-bikes to reach 28 mph with the condition of added pedaling. Electric bicycle technology has improved specifically in the lithium-ion battery pack, the battery management system, the electric motor, and of course the integration for an overall aesthetically appealing frame.

Electric bikes accommodate people of all ages for a variety of reasons. It’s fun for retirees taking a pleasant afternoon ride to the local park, favorite store, or new restaurant in the neighborhood. It’s quick enough for the business professional commuting daily to work, bypassing gridlocked traffic in the bike lanes. It’s also great for college students and high schoolers as an affordable way to get to class safely and without the sweat.

14 greenliving | April 2016

The City of Phoenix has also passed new legislation to significantly increase public transit, including funding to install up to 1,000 miles of new bike lane infrastructure.

Our metro light rail cars are unique, like the city trains of Amsterdam and Copenhagen in Europe, where riders can bring their bikes and e-bikes aboard. Therefore, any rider is connected from the East Valley to the West Valley.

The e-bike is a suitable mode of transportation, and, unsurprisingly, Arizona is a leader for electric bike usage in the U.S. alongside California, Florida and Colorado. Our state has exceptional year-round weather, which is great for e-biking, and beautiful desert scenery to enjoy on the ride. The electric power is also convenient when climbing mountainous areas or when the distance is just a little too long.

Demand for the electric bicycle has traveled quickly from Asia towards Europe and now finally to us in North America. Recently, the 2016 Electric Bike Expo stopped in Tempe, unveiling a variety of electric bike vendors from across the country showcasing their latest models, answering technical

greenlivingaz.com

TRANSPORTATION

KEEP KALM HOME LOAN ON AND

questions, and providing free test rides on a controlled track. Right now is an excellent time to become an electric bike rider. No time like the present!

Dr. Telpriore G. Tucker attained his Doctor of Chemistry with an emphasis in electrochemistry for fuel cells and batteries systems at Arizona State University in 2014. He was the founding president of The Electric Battery Bike Organization on campus and is recently a new board member for the Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce. Tucker continues to pursue his passion as an entrepreneur for sustainable applications of energy storage in electric bikes by launching Sirius E-Bikes, an electric bike shop located in downtown Tempe just north of the ASU campus off Forest and 6th St. For more, visit siriusebikes.com.

Find more transportation articles at greenlivingaz.com/transportation

NMLS # 1271131•AZBK 0907366

Karen Kalm SENIOR LOAN OFFICER

520-237-7785 1885 N KOLB ROAD, TUCSON, AZ 85715

NMLS # 231756 AZLO 0931595

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

15

GREEN LIFE GLENDALE GLITTERS

BY STEPHANIE FUNK

“

T

here’s a new energy and a vibe in the Downtown that I’ve not seen before,” said Lorraine Zomok of Visit Glendale. And that’s saying something, considering Zomok has been a Glendale resident for 45 years.

Glendale sees its fair share of attractions in the Westgate Entertainment District, which has become a “sports Mecca,” said Zomok, but something lately has got people in the quaint, historic Downtown abuzz. Perhaps it’s the panoply of community events the city hosts all year, like movie nights in the park and the beloved Glendale Glitters and Chocolate Affaire; or the new businesses that have been setting up shop, like a hip steakhouse that opened in a restored welding shop. Whatever it is, said Zomok, “Specifically here in Downtown Glendale, I’m seeing reinvestment in an authentic and organic experience.”

Riding on this energy, Downtown Glendale can expect a new attraction of a different kind, starting April 9 – a farmer’s market. Three Glendale women are responsible for making the market a reality: Kathy VanDerWorp, who has 10 years of experience working with the Phoenix Public Market, and Linda Moran-Whittley and Valerie Burner, who both own shops in Downtown Glendale (Papa Ed’s Ice Cream and Bears and More, respectively), which are located in the picturesque Catlin Court Historic District.

Produce will be provided from the all-natural Tonapah Rob’s Vegetable Farm and the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) New Roots Program, which gives refugee farming families the opportunity to build agricultural businesses in the Phoenix area. The market will also feature local vendors, including artisan breads and fresh organic produce from Nature’s Garden Delivered. Food trucks will also be onsite.

Downtown Glendale, for all its vintage shops and historic bungalows, is considered a food desert with no grocery

16 greenliving | April 2016

options within walking distance for the thousands of residents that live there. “We are really underserved in the area of fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Zomok.

“My top goal,” said Linda Moran-Whittley, “is to bring the community the ability to eat healthy, shop local [and] learn what that means for their own health.” Kathy VanDerWorp agrees. “The more we have access to good food, it’s kind of a snowball effect” to better health choices all around, she said. The market will even offer a program through the IRC that will give SNAP benefit users a $10.00 voucher for every $10.00 spent, doubling their food value.

The hope is that the farmer’s market will enhance the Mayberry-esque appeal of the Downtown. “Getting people walking, going to the farmer’s market, neighbors talking to neighbors, it’s really ideal, and our Downtown is set up for that,” said Joanne Toms of the City of Glendale Conservation and Sustainable Living Program.

In Toms’ line of work, community partnerships – like the ones VanDerWorp, Moran-Whittley and Burner are making – are key. “These are the people that live here, work here, and play here. They’ve invested their lives here,” said Toms. “What better way to foster sustainability than to have these people carry that on?”

You can discover Downtown Glendale’s farmer’s market and good vibes on the first and fourth Saturday of the month through July, starting April 9 at 7102 N. 58th Drive, in the north parking lot of the First United Methodist Church in downtown Glendale.

Stephanie Funk is a recent Arizona State University graduate with a degree in Creative Writing. She lives in Mesa with her husband and Yorkie pup.

Find more green life articles at greenlivingaz.com/greenlife

greenlivingaz.com

COMMUNITY

CHIPOTLE CULTIVATE FESTIVAL

CELEBRATES MUSIC, FOOD AND IDEAS

BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON

O

n Saturday, April 30, popular restaurant chain Chipotle will host Cultivate Phoenix at Scottsdale’s WestWorld, located at 16601 N. Pima Road. The one-of-a-kind event will focus on celebrating food, music and ideas, and – according to festival enthusiasts – it’s one not to miss.

“Cultivate Phoenix encourages attendees to think and talk about food and food issues, as well as how to create a more sustainable future,” said Caitlin C. Leibert, Chipotle sustainability manager. “While many festival-goers come for the entertainment, the free festival also offers interactive experiences for all ages to learn something new about how food is raised and prepared.”

In addition to national musical acts performing throughout the day, Leibert says that celebrity chefs will be sharing food demonstrations and seminars.

“The high-profile chefs involved with Cultivate Phoenix are working to make positive changes in the nation’s food supply,” Leibert explained. “Participating in Cultivate Phoenix allows these chefs to bring awareness to the public while demonstrating the impact food has on society and the importance of food that is raised right.”

The lineup of featured chefs includes Food Network stars Aaron Sanchez and Amanda Freitag, Arizona’s own Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco and Pane Bianco, and Charleen Badman and Pavle Milic of FnB Restaurant in Scottsdale, and more.

Of course, Chipotle will also be serving up their popular fastcasual (yet responsible) dishes.

“We are changing the way people think about and eat fast food, and that includes helping people understand how food is raised and prepared,” said Mark Crumpacker, Chipotle chief creative and development officer. “The Cultivate events allow us to bring people together for a celebration of food and music, but also to educate them about how food can be raised responsibly and prepared safely.”

Drinks and desserts will be center stage as well. There will be an Artisans’ Hall with local artisanal desserts and coffee from Doc’s Artisan Ice Cream, Cartel, Churn and Super Chunk; wine, beer and hard cider from local breweries and wineries will be available in the Tasting Hall. This year’s specialty festival brew will come from a collaboration with Arizona Wilderness Brewing in Gilbert.

greenlivingaz.com

Cultivate Phoenix includes interactive experiences focused on sustainable food, and a Kids’ Zone with activities and snacks for the entire family.

“The experiences will allow attendees to explore the importance of animal welfare; issues surrounding genetically modified foods, or GMOs; the secret to making Chipotle’s famous guacamole; the reality of processed foods; and best practices for preparing food safely,” Leibert said.

In addition to promoting sustainable food practices, the festival is promoting sustainable event methods.

“Each year, we work hard to reduce the environmental impact of our festivals by making decisions that are focused on furthering our vision of cultivating a better world,” Leibert explained. “This includes handsorting each and every bag of waste produced at the festivals to ensure we divert as much waste as possible from landfills. This program has resulted in more than 20 tons of recyclable material and 14 tons of compostable material being diverted from landfills since 2014. Last year, we were able to divert 72 percent of all of our waste from landfills. At each festival, we offer free water bottle filling stations. To date, these stations have helped keep more than 26,000 water bottles out of the waste stream.”

In addition to the Scottsdale event, Cultivate festivals are happening in Kansas City, Missouri, and Miami, Florida, later this year.

“Cultivate offers something for everyone; from foodies and craft beer fans to music lovers and kids. It’s an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the food conversation, to learn in a hands-on way where your food comes from, and to enjoy some delicious eats and great music at the same time,” Leibert said.

Admission into Cultivate is free. To learn more, visit chipotlecultivate.com.

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor, public relations consultant and mom based in Phoenix. With degrees in both journalism and PR from Northern Arizona University, she writes for several Valley publications. Find out more at mteverson.com.

Find more community articles at greenlivingaz.com/community

April 2016 | greenliving

17

HEALTH & WELLNESS

BUILDING FARMLAND

FOR THE FUTURE

BY J.D. HILL

L

ife comes full circle. Currently, humanity uses the equivalent of 1.6 Planet Earths to provide our resources and to absorb our waste. What’s the largest industry contributing to this statistic? Agriculture.

Recent analysis by Goodland and Anhang found that livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The meat industry disputes the methodology of the study, arguing that the calculations included livestock raised on deforested land or on feed that was grown on deforested land, which has a dramatically higher ecological footprint than livestock raised on natural grasslands. But taking into account the enormity of the industry, it’s clear that

18 greenliving | April 2016

agriculture is the elephant in the room. Agriculture sustains humanity. If we can change agriculture, we may solve the resource and waste problem facing our planet.

Trends supporting the increase of humanity’s ecological footprint in terms of agriculture are: development of land; inputs like fertilizers and chemicals; where the food is grown in relation to where it is consumed; and wasted food. Forty percent of all the food grown in the U.S. is never eaten, and 95 percent of that food waste is sent to a landfill or incinerator. We plow through forests and grasslands for agriculture, and are currently developing and building over the most fertile land at a rate near one acre per minute. On top of that, the soil we aren’t building over is eroding at a rate 10 to 40 times faster than it can be

greenlivingaz.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

replenished. We are abusing soil and sending its product to a landfill. This makes no sense, and it is devastating.

Upon learning these facts, you may feel disheartened, or you may wonder what steps can be taken to make a change. If we start sending our organic waste to farms instead of the landfill, we can reduce our footprint and build soil. When you send your waste to the farm, you connect yourself with that farm and their soil.

When you buy the produce back from that farm, you’re supporting them economically and environmentally. And when you dine out at places that send all their waste to the farm, you’re supporting the system economically, environmentally, and socially. You’re building local farmland that will use less input like fertilizers and chemicals, the food will be grown close to you, waste will be almost eliminated, and the land won’t be built over. That’s how we change this. We build local, organic farmland for the future.

J.D. Hill is a member of the Maricopa County Food Coalition and a co-founder of Recycled City, LLC, a full circle agricultural service that collects compostables from residential and commercial customers, then transforms the “waste” into farmland for the future, which grows food for their customers. Find out more at recycledcity.com.

Find more health & wellness articles at greenlivingaz.com/health

authentic french cuisine

chef gordon berger

rendezvoustucson.com 520.323.7373 3844 fort lowell tucson lunch tues-fri 11:30-2 dinner tues-sun 5-close

WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS WITHOUT: Animal Testing, Artificial Colors, Artificial Fragrance, Etahanols, Parabens, Solvents, Sulphates, Toxic Chemicals

Come visit our retail store in Prescott Valley or shop online

SAVE 10% OFF ANY ORDER

Expires Apr. 30, 2016.

USE CODE:

GREEN10

8504 E. State Route 69 Prescott Valley • 928-772-0119

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

19

INTERIORS

WOODESIGN MEANS GREEN

BY DAVID M. BROWN

T

hink green when thinking wood.

Most tropical woods are endangered, he If you want quality cabinetry explained. “However, teak is now being grown while remaining environmentally on plantations, and jarrah, an Australian responsible, you must fully plan your eucalyptus, has been grown in managed project from design to materials, forests, so there are notable exceptions.” craftsmanship, clean-up and recycling.

Consider veneers versus solid wood.

Since 1979, Bernie Becker and Larry “Wood that is cut 1/32 of an inch thick Langhurst’s Woodesign has provided will yield more wood and a more aesthetic the highest quality work for residential, project,” Becker said. Cabinet boxes can be commercial and corporate clients while also made from formaldehyde-free melamine, maintaining environmental consciousness.

BERNIE BECKER AND LARRY LANGHURST and recyclable aluminum should be used Ivan Mancillas coordinates the AutoCAD for trims, hardware and kick facings for a OF WOODESIGN drawings and programming, integral to more contemporary styling. overall green thinking. Their mentors are the hands-on Bamboo drawers, doors and drawer faces are also an craftsmen and designers who started the Craftsman era of the alternative. Bamboo is not wood but rather a grass that grows early 20th Century, such as the American brothers Greene and an astounding two feet per day. Woodesign has built a bamboo Greene and the Englishman Gustav Stickley. kitchen at Allstate Appliances in Scottsdale, using aluminum Offering traditional woodwork, exotic high-tech pieces, details, water-based finishes, and melamine certified by the one-off cabinetry, millwork, furniture, dining room and National Forest Authority (NFA). The company also included bedroom sets, and interior doors, they deliver award-winning bamboo in its design studio as a conference table and flooring. products from their 13,000-square-foot shop near Sky Harbor Reclaimed wood is popular at Woodesign. The team International Airport. has built one project with 100-year-old oak and another “First, look for wood that is planted and forested in a repurposed century-old vertical grain Douglas fir salvaged sustainable way so that more is planted than harvested to from the original bleacher seats at St. Mary’s High School allow for continued use,” Langhurst said of building ecogym in Phoenix. They are working now with Rhodesian teak friendly cabinetry. “The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has harvested from 125-year-old-railroad ties from the African certified quite a few American hardwoods, from ash to walnut.”

National Railroad. “We have made tables, bar tops and Langhurst suggests visiting the FSC website, us.fsc.org, for more exterior doors from this material,” Langhurst said. about its certification program.

Finishes should be water based, eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitting into the air, “Water-based finishes are finally becoming a viable alternative as they have improved a great deal from first being introduced into California a decade or more ago,” said Langhurst.

The company collects all wood dust, and its double-layered downdraft spray booth has minimal VOC impact. All packing materials are recycled or reused. “We utilize maximum optimization on our cutouts, recycling or donating the off-fall and giving the sawdust to paint suppliers,” Langhurst noted, adding that the hardwood sawdust is also recycled into the composter to provide organic fertilizer for their greenhouses and orchard. “The little amount of veneer that hits the floor is donated to hobbyists as inlays or bundled for fire starter.” In addition, the company uses skylights for natural lighting, drip systems for the desert landscaping, and pump retained rainwater in the greenhouses.

BAMBOO KITCHEN AT ALLSTATE APPLIANCES IN SCOTTSDALE

20 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

INTERIORS

Craftsmanship and commitment to excellence forward their green goals. “We build everything to last a lifetime so that we only have to build it once, decreasing the amount of materials used,” Becker said. “We look for manufacturers who have zero or close to zero carbon footprints in their manufacturing. We have built projects using local woods and continue to search the Sonoran area for woods that are considered nuisance woods like mesquite.”

Added Langhurst, “Our hope is that more of our clients will begin to realize, as we did 35 years ago, that if we don’t start designing and building sustainably, we will run out of resources sooner rather than later.”

For more information on Woodesign, see woodesign.us, call 602-305-9550, or write larry@woodesign.us.

David Brown is a Valley-­based freelance writer at azwriter.com.

Becker and Langhurst photo by Steve Weiss; Bamboo Kitchen photo by Dino Tonn; Reception Desk photo by Jim Christy.

Find more interior design articles at greenlivingaz.com/interior

ALLEN AND PHILP RECEPTION DESK

EVERYONE’S LISTENING

EVERYONE'S LISTENING @PULSERADIOAZ

PULSERADIO.FM greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

21

WATER

A DESERT COMMUNITY IS WATER WISE

BY DAVID SCHALLER

T

he water efficiencies and water-sensible policies discussed in this column over the last year aren’t likely to diminish in value despite the extra moisture of a brief El Niño winter. Efficiencies are permanent investments in living with less water, and they make their initial costs seem all that more sensible with every day that passes. They are crucial elements of what it means to live as a desert community.

Our desert community begins with the physical landscape, the soil, the vegetation, the low humidity, the heat, and the limited moisture. But we never fully appreciate this desert landscape without also having a shared a mindscape of the desert; that is, seeing desert, knowing desert, accepting desert, and respecting desert.

Living as a desert community means agreeing to work with rather than attempting to defeat the dryness. We must avoid the arrogance that brings foolish efforts to pretend that we live in the Midwest rather than the Southwest. The desert is unforgiving, making it the wrong place in which to have regrets over miscalculated water choices.

We will not live long enough to replicate here in the Southwest the water abundance of the natural world that would allow the landscape of other, greener places to become a permanent feature of our arid land’s patrimony. We also cannot depend on our altogether recent dependence on imported water schemes nor our matter-of-fact depletion of major fossil aquifers augurs well for the long term.

What should encourage us, though, is that we know perfectly well how to live as communities of the desert. We know how to tap into the abundance of carefully harvested rainwater, and we know multiple techniques for using building and irrigation waters more efficiently. Through “more crop for the drop” approaches we can still farm while meeting basic municipal water needs. We also know how to value and make smarter decisions based on the water embedded in our energy and food options.

At the same time, more stubborn forces align against us.

Using desert moisture to grow alfalfa for export as cattle feed to Asia and the Middle East is a most unusual practice for any arid land society intent on having enough water to sustain itself with some degree of assuredness into the future. Draining our rural aquifers because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Yet we continue to bet the house and farm trying to create “communities despite the desert” rather than “communities of the desert.” With human history as our template, we know almost certainly that these and other vain attempts to outstrip our water wealth are destined to fail.

Making things worse, Southwestern deserts are now conspiring against us, widening rather than shrinking, as rain-producing weather systems become less frequent. With unpredictability as the new constant, we will no longer have historical averages of water supply to depend upon. The only “new normal” will be a vexing unpredictability as seasonal winter rains in Arizona become problematic at best. As this future unfolds, we will need new “rainmakers” like water efficiency, rainwater capture, and the introduction of effective price signals to deter waste and drive the transition to a smarter water future.

Author Mary Austin wrote a century ago, “Desert is a loose term to indicate land that supports no man; whether the land can be bitted and broken to that purpose is not proven. Void of life it never is, however dry the air and villainous the soil.”

Austin tells us, and common sense reminds us, that we are far too recent a presence in this Arizona aridness to do anything but live as a desert community.

David Schaller is a retired environmental scientist living in Tucson where he writes on climate, water and energy security.

Truck photo by David Schaller For more articles about water visit greenlivingaz.com/water

Alfalfa grows fast, so every month or so, a harvester will cut the crop, which will then be packed into tight bales, trucked to Long Beach, California and loaded on a tanker bound for China, Japan or the United Arab Emirates.

22 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

g

in Open

Essential for Every Athlete

16 0 2 y Ma

Changing Your View Of The World

Brand New One & Two Bedroom Apartment Homes Member of

Arizona Smoke-Free Living Now Accepting Reservations

Use uniquely blended essential oils to…

Recover faster after the game • Stay healthy during the season Soothes inflammation tension and chronic pain

Starting at $1,100

For info on how to purchase and use these unique blends:

2217 N. Power Road Mesa, AZ 85207 602-474-3545

www.verdedimoraapartments.com

NOW

TO CELEBRATE OUR NEW LOOK, WE ARE OFFERING 3 LABOR HOURS CLEANING FOR ONLY

$57*

*New Clients only (2 maids x 1.5 hours, etc, team sizes may vary) Additional cleaning available at $25 per maid per hour

greenlivingaz.com

Contact Veronica Bahn at 602-692-8090 or email veebahn@gmail.com or visit veronicabahn.nuskinops.com

Green, Allergy-Friendly Cleaning, Valleywide!

• ONE-TIME, WEEKLY, BIWEEKLY, TRIWEEKLY OR MONTHLY • EASY, FREE ESTIMATES

BY PHONE OR EMAIL • BONDED, INSURED & TRUSTED

PurMaid.com 480.535.7960

April 2016 | greenliving

23

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

BY PATTY GARCIA-LIKENS

W

hen you think of Salt River Project (SRP), you probably think of the power they deliver to its more than one million customers. Or you may think of the millions of gallons of water SRP manages for the Phoenix metropolitan area, as it delivers about 800,000 acrefeet annually to agricultural, urban and municipal water users.

But did you know SRP also encourages its more than 5,000 employees to bike to work and lunch as well as recycle to cut down on emissions and landfill waste? The community-based nonprofit utility also works with local agencies like Liberty Wildlife to ensure birds are protected around its facilities and helps fund groundbreaking research at ASU. Get a behindthe-scenes look at these current SRP projects: BIKE SHARE PROGRAM More SRP employees are now biking throughout the day thanks to the SRP Bike Share Program. The program provides bicycles for short-term use by SRP employees as a means to travel between local buildings and as a method to reduce the amount of single-occupancy vehicle trips. Employees can choose from 50 commuter

24 greenliving | April 2016

bicycles and two tricycles, all equipped with baskets and cup holders. Currently, more than 360 employees take advantage of the program.

The program recently won two awards from the 26th and 28th annual Clean Air Campaigns Awards and Luncheon, sponsored by Valley Metro, for Outstanding Bike Program and Outstanding Marketing and Creativity. The program has also received attention from other organizations interested in implementing their own bike-sharing program.

ALGAE RESEARCH STUDIES Researchers at ASU and engineers at SRP are conducting joint research studies to find new ways to utilize algae in the desert, specifically in the operation of power plants. Dr. Tom Dempster, ASU Associate Research Professor and lab manager for the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI), is working on ways for algae to be used for carbon capture and sequestration. The research, still in its infancy, could be used to capture carbon dioxide at the coal-fired power plant while growing algae for commercial purposes.

greenlivingaz.com

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

“The collaboration with SRP has provided an incredible opportunity for ASU students and researchers to work with top-notch SRP personnel to advance carbon capture technology and explore valuable co-products from the resulting biomass production,” said Dempster. The algae grow through photosynthesis and consume carbon dioxide to survive. Fossil fuel power plants emit carbon dioxide, which will be regulated by the EPA under recently finalized rules. The question is whether or not it is possible to use the algae to capture emissions from a power plant’s flue gas, which is emitted during the course of generating energy.

PRESERVING WILDLIFE SRP supports balanced, proactive solutions to environmental issues. Their avian protection program and other related activities are dedicated to preserve the native wildlife and habitat of species of the Southwest while serving the needs of growing, thriving communities.

SRP’s Avian Protection Program works with the Arizona Game & Fish Department, the Fish & Wildlife Service, Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation and others.

Recently, two SRP employees – Jacob Petersen and Jeff Lewis – released two red-tailed hawks in the Tonto National Forest. The electricians from Substation Maintenance Group found one of the hawks on the ground in the Agua Fria Switchyard in September. The bird was hurt and unable to fly. Liberty Wildlife treated her and she, along with another bird at the facility, were released.

greenlivingaz.com

EMPLOYEE RECYCLING INITIATIVES In 2013, SRP’s average facility recycling rate was 11 percent.

Two years and many strategically placed recycling bins later, the PAB (Project Administration Building) Recycling Initiative reached a 31 percent recycling rate. The 20 percent bump has pushed the utility to be on par with the recycling rate of many local municipalities.

The improvements and changes were the result of a 2013 study by ASU to help SRP divert waste from landfills. Students and employee volunteers sorted through 3,300 pounds of trash discarded by SRP employees to help the utility better understand what is being thrown out each day.

Patty Garcia-Likens works in SRP Media Relations and is a spokesperson for the utility. She lives in Gilbert with her husband, Rhodesian Ridgeback and Corgi.

Read more about corporate social responsibility at greenlivingaz.com/csr

April 2016 | greenliving

25

BUSINESS PROFILE

ECO-FRIENDLY ORGANIZATION PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON GOING GREEN

BY GRETCHEN PAHIA

G

etting everyone on the same page about living an eco-friendly lifestyle is a main focal point for the environmentally-focused nonprofit Global Green.

According to the head of Strategic Partnerships, William Bridge, the company essentially puts all their efforts into three categories.

First, Global Green goes into low-income communities and makes them more environmentally friendly. They do everything from ripping up old playgrounds and installing green spaces to building gardens. Secondly, Global Green goes into low-income coastal communities and implements climate action centers to help first responders and residents deal with natural disasters. And thirdly, the organization works with commercial properties, the hospitality industry, schools and other conglomerates, helping each to adopt greener practices. Global Green works within each organization’s needs to do what they can to educate and support the community.

26 greenliving | April 2016

For Bridge and his team, this is not just about how the world can be fixed today, but what is ahead for the future.

“We want to be in 100 percent of coastal communities five years from now,” he said. “We want to ‘green’ 100 percent of low-income communities and create a lifestyle that anyone can follow.”

Bridge and his team at Global Green reach out not only to low-income communities and schools, but also to ambassadors they hope can help them make a difference on a larger scale. That is why each year for the last 13 years they have held an annual Pre-Oscar Gala.

“This has basically become the green party event of Oscar week,” said Bridge. At the event, actors and members of the media who are environmentally active come out to support Global Green’s efforts. This year, the organization launched a new global partnership with the United Nations Foundation, the World Bank Group, and the Muse School in California to help boost education for students across the U.S. The idea is

greenlivingaz.com

BUSINESS PROFILE STEVIE WONDER

PAULA ABDUL

to get teachers trained and empowered on how to achieve a healthier, eco-friendly lifestyle at school.

Jacquelyn Willard, chief marketing officer with LUX & ECO, one of the companies that collaborates with Global Green and the Oscar Gala each year, says they are proud of their partnership. “Every year, LUX & ECO serves as the premier eco luxury retail partner for the Global Green PreOscar Gala and curates the eco gift bag that VIP guests get to bring home,” said Willard. “We have been a long time supporter of Global Green and help them any way we can!” she added. Check our Cool & Outrageous Stuff on page 48 to see what was featured in this year’s bag!

This year, about 400 people attended the event, and Bridge hopes that the overall awareness will continue to grow. “I believe that Global Green will be instrumental in global awareness. I think we will be a major part in the education of how you can live a very sustainable, ecofriendly life.”

For more information on Global Green and how you can get involved, visit globalgreen.org.

Gretchen Pahia has 15 years experience in both media and public relations and is an award-­winning television news producer in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Portland. Gretchen is a native to Arizona, born and raised in Phoenix, and a graduate of Northern Arizona University. She lives in the Phoenix metro area with her husband, their two children and their dog.

For more business profiles, go to greenlivingaz.com/bizprofile

SIGN UP TODAY. BaumansXtremeTraining.com

NOW OFFERING POWER CORE YOGA CLASSES. Classes are in a heated room focusing on core strength, balance and achieving a heightened sense of well-being.

NW corner of Scottsdale Rd. & Lincoln 480-236-7336

NU COCO  WATER COCONUT PUREST DRINK ON EARTH

Ready-to-Drink with Straw  Anytime, Anywhere

Raw Fat Free Gluten free GMO free Paleo

LES MCCABE, PRESIDENT & CEO OF GLOBAL GREEN

Vegan Rich in electrolytes Green - sustainably grown Freshest Coconut Water in US

Beachside FreshNo Machete!

Authentic Coconut Water & Pulp straight from the Nut Available at your local grocers www.nucoco.net, Mesa AZ., 813.297.5528

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

27

FINANCIAL

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

CAUSE-RELATED INVESTMENTS RETURN

MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF REWARD

BY JAMES L. STONE

W

also steer investors toward investments with strong e do it because it makes us environmental, social and corporate governance “feel good.” policies and ties, among them pillars of survival It’s true. The top rewards for contributing to our such as air, water and general sustenance. local and global communities are the feel-good “We do the digging,” said Wennlund. “A Social vibes we get knowing that our volunteered time Impact Analysis gives us the ability to X-ray an and efforts are making a difference. But is there a existing portfolio of investments and see where way to do even more, and possibly see a financial and how those dollars match up to the investor’s benefit as well? values – or determine if they don’t. It also drives Enter socially responsible investing (SRI), the future decisions.”

JAMES WENNLUND eco-beneficial financial planning trend that is Keeping your money out of the hands of debunking the myth that you can’t earn those same altruistic companies and industries that don’t align with your ethics is a feelings through your investments. Typical financial planning tricky part of the process. Typical investments like fossil fuel, involves assessing where an individual, family, business or toxic pesticide development and some types of pharmaceutical foundation currently stands and then identifying goals, needs companies are go-to options for many financial advisors, yet and risk tolerance. From there, an advisor helps to select they aren’t in line with a sustainable future. “Wealth of any size investments that will meet those needs and goals with minimal is power,” said Wennlund. “Let’s put those powers to good use.” risk. The twist with socially responsible investing, however, is James Wennlund is launching his socially responsible that it’s driven by you. investing service this Earth Day, April 22nd, at a meet-and-greet “Tell me your values and what you care about,” said Tempe tour and seminar at the Desert Botanical Gardens. It’s the first in financial advisor James Wennlund. “The social, civic and a series of informational events to be held monthly at revolving environmental issues that strike a chord with you, personally. locations across the metro area.

That’s where we’ll start.” Wennlund is launching one of the Valley’s first socially responsible investing services through Learn more about socially responsible investing at learnsri.com or by his Tempe-based firm, Wennlund Wealth Management for calling 480-377-2000.

Raymond James.

James L. Stone writes about trends, travel and all things lifestyle related.

This new industry’s values-centric approach involves At his home in Tempe, you’ll find him painting, cooking and thumbing identifying what issues you deem worthy of supporting, and through his record collection. then recommending investments in line with those causes.

Read more financial articles at The goal is to create a win-win scenario with the ability to greenlivingaz.com/financial plan and secure financial independence for you, the investor, while advancing social issues that not only resonate on a personal level, but ultimately leave the world a better place for future generations.

For those seeking to make an ecological impact, advisors can identify green investment choices such as renewable energy or advanced building material companies. They can

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NEEDS SUSTAINABILITY NETWORKS & RESOURCES Brian Kocour Senior Director +1 602 229 5969

brian.kocour@cushwake.com

28 greenliving | April 2016

Tenant Representation Services • • •

Socioeconomic & Demographic Data Accessibility & Transportation Patterns Market Trends

Site Selection & Acquisitions • •

Compilation of carefully screened lists of locations recommendations No Cost to tenant

greenlivingaz.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MUST MENTION THIS AD Untitled-1 1

4/30/2016 3/28/16 11:45 AM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Buffalo Collection A STATE OF MIND & A WAY OF LIFE

AMERICAN BUFFALO LEATHER FURNITURE EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY, COMFORT & DESIGN

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TANNING & RENEWABLE HARDWOODS

F U R N I T U R E • A R T • ACC E S S OR I E S • TA BL E S • L IG H T I NG 70 4 4 E. 5 TH AVENUE, SCOT TSDALE, A Z

4 80.9 46.3903

30 greenliving | April 2016

subscribe

WORLDWIDE SHIPPING • MADE IN THE USA

BuffaloCollection.com

greenlivingaz.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Organicpedic by OMI

Shown Inside Baker’s Furniture 2303 E Grant Rd. • 520. 419-5582 Proud member of

Mention this ad and receive

FREE Sheets, Mattress Barrier Cover & Pillow with a Queen or King mattress set purchase

(up to $87900 Value!)

Call store today for details and to schedule showing!

Allstate Appliances carries brands that are committed to green technology and sustainability.

THINK GREEN Receive 10% OFF all non-UMRP appliances when you mention Green Living Magazine.

R

ww

A local family-owned & operated business greenlivingaz.com

480-948-9896

allstateappliances.com

Why choose Allstate Appliances?

Scottsdale Showroom  Arizona family owned and operated 15250 N. Hayden Rd. Scottsdale  The only major appliance store acc  Nine live kitchens where you can tr April 2016 | greenliving 31  Weekly Foodie Friday live demons

BOOK REVIEW

“LOCALLY LAID: HOW WE BUILT A PLUCKY, INDUSTRY-CHANGING

EGG FARM – FROM SCRATCH” BOOK BY LUCIE B. AMUNDSEN REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

T

here are many ways to feather your nest. Some people take in work at home. Others tackle extra hours, extra tasks, or have parttime jobs. And then there are entrepreneurs who put everything on the line – which is what Lucie B. Amundsen and her family did not long ago, and in the new LUCIE B. AMUNDSEN book “Locally Laid,” it almost put egg on their faces.

The moment definitely was not as romantic as Lucie Amundsen had anticipated. When her husband, Jason, took her on a date so they could “talk…about something,” she never figured it would be chickens. Specifically, commercial egg production. As in, a farm.

With neither of them being particularly handy, and Amundsen smarting over an unwanted move from her dream home in Minneapolis to an odd rental in Duluth, it seemed like a disastrous idea. They didn’t really know much about chickens, and they knew even less about raising them on pasture. After a chilly few days of tears, frowns and silence, the idea was mutually tabled – until a lost job and a family disaster changed every clucking plan.

Chickens, to Amundsen’s chagrin, were in her future.

Finding the farm was the easy part: Jason scouted out a rental with ample room for several tube-shelters for slightly fewer than two thousand “young lady hens.” Procuring said hens was a little more difficult, until he found a man in Iowa who agreed to raise the hens to an almost-laying age and deliver them to northern Minnesota. By the spring of 2012, the Amundsens were in business.

32 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

BOOK REVIEW

The New Standard of Luxury | A 23 and Older Community It didn’t take long for things to go fowl. Improper paperwork, government regulations, bad weather, inadequate equipment and exhaustion took their toll on the chickens, the farm, and the Amundsens, who both began to suffer health issues from stress. Despite support from family and friends, enthusiasm from customers, and a contest that brought a city together, Amundsen says she was “a prairie train wreck.”

“But there was nothing to do,” she says, “other than to ride through our rocky startup.”

Where does your food come from? That’s a basic question asked in “Locally Laid,” and the answer may be different than it was even a few decades ago. Lucie B. Amundsen shares a story that’s funny and endearing, while also laying down a few brutal truths about what’s for breakfast.

For a consumer, those truths could cause scrambled thoughts, especially if you can’t tolerate too much information. Amundsen is honest about the bad as well as the good – the latter of which she was slow to realize – and yes, there’s a happy ending. The surprise is that this is also a business tale with all the inherent frustrations, beautiful moments, work-arounds, and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

And, of course, this tale is a charmer because…chickens.

So who should read this book? Well, anyone who eats, first of all, and anybody who’s ever loved a feathered friend.

Farmers, foodies, and fans of a good story will also want to bring “Locally Laid” home to roost.

Terri Schlichenmeyer, also known as “The Bookworm,” is a professional book reviewer. Terri has been reading since she was three years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives in Wisconsin with her two dogs and 14,000 books.

Green Living

480.565.6960 HanoverMillAvenue.com

101 W. 5th Street | Tempe, AZ 85281

Spot Someone Tossing Litter From Their Car? Call the Statewide Arizona Litter Hotline at 1-877-3LITTER (877-354-8837) or Report online at kazb.org

Amundsen’s photo by Max Craven Photography For more book reviews visit greenlivingaz.com/bookreviews

A joint program of: & greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

33

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

BY HUNTER KOSSODO

S

ince 2005, Colorado River Discovery (CRD) has been operating half-day and full-day rafting tours near the Glen Canyon Dam section of the Colorado River.

On Earth Day this year, CRD will be unveiling something for its customers that will be operating on the National Parks System for the very first time: a 100-percent electricpowered raft.

CRD boasts that this raft, which has been named “Helios,” produces zero emissions in addition to giving customers an extremely enjoyable ride.

“The biggest upside for our guests coming on the river with us is the quiet motor,” said Korey Seyler, who has been with CRD since 2007. “The drastic reduction of noise gives guests the opportunity to experience this river in a more intimate environment.”

34 greenliving | April 2016

Seyler says that when the raft was tested for stability by the U.S. Coast Guard, it was certified for up to 26 passengers, but CRD will most likely be allowing eight to 10 passengers on board at a time to maximize the enjoyment of gliding through the river.

The ingenious electric motor, as well as the batteries for the raft, are manufactured by Torqeedo, a company based in Germany that specializes in electricity-based boat propulsion. The battery packs are completely sealed and have a one-way valve solely for ventilation. This ensures that a ride on Helios is not only an enjoyable one, but a completely safe one as well.

But the real reason to be excited about Helios, environmentally speaking, is that it will have such little effect on the ecosystem. Traditional internal combustion

greenlivingaz.com

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

engines leak fossil fuels into the environment. Instead of relying on fossil fuels, Helios will connect to newlyinstalled charging stations provided by the Bureau of Reclamation. The power from these charging stations is drawn from the generating stations inside the Glen Canyon Dam power plant.

“Rivers all around the world are vital to the physical and mental health of humankind,” said Seyler. “The Colorado River, specifically, is the lifeblood of the Western United States and CRD is focused on leading by example to drastically reduce the impact while recreating on this incredible river.”

So if you are an avid rafter, or if you want to connect with nature without leaving your mark, the Helios electricpowered raft will provide a one-of-a-kind adventure, letting you experience the Colorado River in a brand new, earthfriendly way.

For more information, visit raftthecanyon.com.

Hunter Kossodo is a senior at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Find more active lifestyle articles at greenlivingaz.com/activelifestyle

Surprise DIY Craft Kit • CONVENIENT! Every-other-month surprise craft kit delivered to your door.

• NO GUESS WORK! Crafts are easy with detailed instructions, often featuring natural or recycled materials.

• FLEXIBLE! Alone time, Mommy and Me or Girls Night. Upgrade or cancel anytime!

BUY

GET

Reserve No

CRAFT

TheHippieHobby.com

$5 Off* Code: GREEN5 *Expires 4/30/2016.

Cannot be combined.

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

35

WILDLIFE

DINNER WITH WOLVES: AN INTIMATE EXPERIENCE AT SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE L

BY AMANDA HARVEY

ast April I was fortunate enough to attend the 2nd annual Dinner with Wolves event at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center on the outskirts of Scottsdale. The annual fundraising event raises money for both Southwest Wildlife and Defenders of Wildlife, another nonprofit wildlife organization in Arizona that is also working to save and protect the Mexican grey wolf.

The event was created two years ago when Ann Siner – CEO and founder of My Sister’s Closet, My Sister’s Attic and Well Suited – and her PR team were figuring out a way to create a fundraiser for Southwest Wildlife and the Mexican wolves. “When I saw the wolves, this epiphany hit me that we could do a fancy dinner out in the middle of the conservation center and let people really see the wolves and learn more about them,” Siner said. She has always had a passion for animals and wildlife, joking that she must have a “mutant gene.” “I’m just so crazy about animals,” said Siner. “There’s just something about wildlife and domestic animals that touches my heart. I feel like we have to speak out for them, we have to fight for them.”

In its first year the event raised $15,000, last year they doubled with $30,000, and this year they hope for even more success. This year’s outcome is also crucial due to legal

36 greenliving | April 2016

issues Southwest Wildlife is currently facing. At last year’s event, owner of Southwest Wildlife Linda Searles made an announcement that the center was having issues with a neighbor who had been making complaints about the noise made from the animals at night, along with the dust created by cars driving on Southwest Wildlife’s dirt road.

Southwest Wildlife has been situated on this 10-acre piece of land in the desert since 1994, and has seen more and more residential development move in over the years. Due to this single neighbor’s complaints, the center has been forced to dramatically limit its monthly programs, which affects their overall budget used for taking care of these endangered animals. They are currently operating under a temporary special-use permit and are only allowed to do a limited number of tours during a six-month period.

The neighbor is also suing Linda personally as well as the foundation. “He wants an injunction for authorities to physically remove all animals from the property that make noise,” said Searles. This would be devastating, not only to Southwest Wildlife but to the endangered species that call the center home. “Our mission is to save wildlife one life at a time. We want to be able to continue to do that,” Searles added.

greenlivingaz.com

WILDLIFE

Southwest Wildlife has begun the process of obtaining a special-use permit that would allow them to operate the same level of tours they were before. A court date will be given sometime in August. Searles hopes the judge and jury see the injustice and what is at stake for the animals at Southwest Wildlife and for the foundation’s work.

“We have some of the most genetically important wolves here,” said Searles. “Our particular niche is helping to collect and preserve genetic material for breeding. Our wolves will be breeding test tubes in the future, which will help keep genetic diversity among the Mexican grey wolves.”

Dinner with Wolves gives attendees a rare intimate experience to observe wolves and other creatures like bears and coati.

Southwest Wildlife’s expert staff will also be present at the event showing off the animals and answering questions. “It takes a village,” said Searles. “We have our wonderful volunteers who are hardworking, our dedicated staff, and our donors. We need all three of those and they are all equally important.”

greenlivingaz.com

Attendance is limited to 100 people. Visit dinnerwithwolves.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Single tickets cost $250.00 and corporate level sponsorships are also available. All proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction and personal donations during the event will benefit Southwest Wildlife and Defenders of Wildlife.

For more on Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, visit southwestwildlife.org. For more on Defenders of Wildlife visit defenders.org. You can also sign the petition to save Southwest Wildlife by visiting thepetitionsite. com/634/101/504 or donate directly to the foundation.

For more articles about wildlife visit greenlivingaz.com/wildlife

April 2016 | greenliving

37

FREE

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the Chandler City Council

EARTH DAY&

Y DA R BO AR Cel ebrati on

SATURDAY, 23 APRIL25 RDAY, APRIL SATU

from

Great for all ages!

9 a.m.-noon

Ironwood Gallery

at the Environmental Education Center & Veterans Oasis Park | 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd. Experience hands-on activities, live animal presentations, and discover ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle from on-site vendors and exhibitors! Outdoor program may be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Call the EEC Program Hotline at 480-782-2889 for updates.

For more information please call 480-782-2890

www.chandleraz.gov/eec

WHERE ART AND THE SONORAN DESERT COLLIDE! Rotating Exhibits. Regional, National and International Artists.

OPEN DAILY >>

10:00am – 4:00pm

2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743 520-883-3024 // desertmuseum.org/arts

Are your investments in harmony?

We can help determine whether your investments are working well together to help you reach your long-term goals. Call today for a complimentary portfolio review.

of Wells Fargo Advisors Bill Hochwalt Managing Director – Investments 20551 N Pima Rd Ste 200 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (800) 453-6737 william.hochwalt@wellsfargoadvisors.com

Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.

74030-v5 A1624

Mark Morales Associate Vice President - Investment Officer 180 W Continental Rd Ste 120 Green Valley, AZ 85622 Toll Free: (800) 925-7470 mark.morales@wellsfargoadvisors.com https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/mark.morales

0214-04214

38 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

March launch parties Thank you to everyone who attended our March launch parties in Phoenix and Tucson! It’s because of you that our launch parties continue to be successful and the talk of the town. We appreciate your support and love for Green Living magazine.

Mark Hartman, the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Phoenix, discussed the city’s 2050 sustainability goals.

Don’t miss our upcoming party: April 6: Hanover Mill Avenue Spencer Grace of Upper Crust Pizza and Wine Bar.

Find more info at greenlivingaz.com/party

A big shout-out to our sponsors from the parties: PHOENIX Host: Copenhagen Imports, 1701 E. Camelback Rd. Sponsors: Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Better Days Tower Garden, Borderlands Brewing, Dr. Jane Hendricks, Karma Juice, Recycled City, Upper Crust Pizza and Wine Bar, Veronica Bahn Essential Oils Nonprofit Sponsor: Desert Botanical Gardens Photography by Rick Carter

TUCSON Host: Copenhagen Imports, 3660 E Fort Lowell Rd. Sponsors: Borderlands Brewing, Gourmet Girls, Laura Tanzer Designs, Le Rendez-vous, Sonoita Vineyards, Veronica Bahn Essential Oils Nonprofit Sponsor: Habitat for Humanity Tucson

Bob Bennett and Michele Jeffrey, Dr. David Boyd of Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Dr. George Brooks, Jr., aquaponics gardener and president/CEO of NxT Horizon Group.

Loren North, owner of Through the Closet Door and Jill Bernstein, executive director of Keep Arizona Beautiful. greenlivingaz.com

TUCSON

Colleen Crowninshield, Clean Cities Manager at Pima Association of Governments, discusses the importance of alternative fuel at the Tucson launch party.

April 2016 | greenliving

39

EARTH DAY RECIPES

HEALTH NUT SALAD THIS HEALTHY AND HEARTY salad from MAD Greens is brimming with spinach, edamame, carrots, sunflower seeds, egg, and a slightly spicy Piri-Piri tofu that is made from a special marinade of crushed red chilies and other secret ingredients. This salad is the perfect meal to help everyone get ready for swimsuit season, which is already here!

INGREDIENTS: 3 cups spinach 1/2 cup Piri-Piri tofu (you can grill your preferred tofu in your favorite Piri-Piri marinade beforehand or use plain tofu) 1/4 cup shredded or julienned carrots 1/4 cup crumbled hard-boiled egg 1/4 cup edamame 1/4 cup sunflower seeds DIRECTIONS: 1. Toss all ingredients in a bowl and drizzle with Roasted Red Pepper Dressing.

Yields 1 serving.

ROASTED RED PEPPER DRESSING INGREDIENTS: 2 roasted red peppers ½ cup rice wine vinegar 1 tsp. canola oil DIRECTIONS: 1. To roast the peppers, turn the largest burner of a gas stove to high. Place the two red peppers directly on the metal grate. When the side facing the flame turns black, rotate the peppers. Carefully continue doing this until the entire red pepper is completely charred.

2. Remove the red peppers from the heat, place in a bowl, and cover with a towel. Wait about 15 minutes.

3. Once the peppers have cooled, remove from the bowl.

4. Under running water, use your fingers to peel the skin off the peppers. The charred skin should easily peel off the flesh.

Using your fingers, split the peppers open and remove the seeds using the running water.

5. Place the peeled peppers along with the vinegar and oil into a blender. Blend until smooth.

Yields 1 cup of dressing, so it can last for several salads depending on the amount you prefer.

THE GREEN DRINK DRINK TO THE EARTH this Earth Day with The Green Drink from The Market Restaurant + Bar by Jennifer’s. Customizable with your choice of vodka, rum, gin or tequila, along with probiotic-filled kombucha, it’s sure to be your go-to drink this April.

RECIPE AND IMAGE COURTESY OF THE MARKET RESTAURANT + BAR BY JENNIFER’S

INGREDIENTS: 1.5 oz. of your favorite local vodka, rum, gin or tequila 1/4 oz. fresh lime juice 1 dime size piece of candied ginger A few leaves of torn cilantro Splash of Wild Tonic ~ Jun Kombucha

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a mixing glass, muddle candied ginger, cilantro and fresh lime juice.

2. Add ice and liquor and shake.

3. Pour into glass.

4. Top with Wild Tonic ~ Jun Kombucha.

5. Garnish with candied ginger and cilantro.

For more recipes, visit greenlivingaz.com/recipes

40 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

EARTH DAY RECIPES

AHIPOKI BOWL

FAN FAVORITE FRESHLY OPENED IN SCOTTSDALE, Ahipoki Bowl serves up poke – a Hawaiian dish made with rice, raw fish and fresh vegetable toppings. Join the foodie craze and visit the restaurant or try it out for yourself at home with this recipe!

INGREDIENTS: FOR THE BOWL: A base of white or brown steamed rice 2 oz. 1/2 inch cubed sushi grade ahi tuna 2 oz. 1/2 inch cubed Canadian (or other preferable, sustainable) salmon FOR THE TOPPINGS: 2 Tbsp Persian cucumber, cut into slivers 2 Tbsp masago 1 Tbsp pickled ginger 1 Tbsp roasted seaweed 1/8 cup daikon sprouts 1/8 cup crab meat 1/8 cup edamame beans 1/4 of a fresh avocado 1 Tbsp Furikake (sesame seeds and seaweed topping) Wasabi on the side

FOR THE SAUCE: 2 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp toasted sesame oil 2 tsp grated fresh ginger 1 tsp garlic, minced DIRECTIONS: 1. Make the rice according to package directions.

2. Slice fish and place on top of cooked rice.

3. Add toppings.

4. Whisk together sauce ingredients and pour on top.

5. Serve immediately.

Makes 2-4 servings.

THIS REFRESHING COCKTAIL IS blended with Nasturtium leaves and flowers that are pulled straight from the garden outside of Quiessence restaurant at The Farm at South Mountain. The restaurant has several gardens on the property, and ingredients from them are used daily for Chef Dustin Christofolo’s menu.

RECIPE AND IMAGE COURTESY OF QUIESSENCE RESTAURANT

INGREDIENTS: 2 oz. vodka 1 Nasturtium leaf Half wheel of Meyer lemon 1/2 oz. St. Germaine 1 oz. fresh tangelo juice 1 Nasturtium flower and “lily pad” leaf

greenlivingaz.com

DIRECTIONS: 1. Muddle vodka with 1 large Nasturtium leaf cut into pieces.

2. Add 1 half wheel of Meyer lemon and continue muddling.

3. Add St. Germaine and fresh Tangelo juice.

4. Shake with ice and strain into a glass with ice.

5. Garnish with one Nasturtium flower and one small Nasturtium “lily pad” leaf.

April 2016 | greenliving

41

EVENTS DON’T MISS

other Earth Day events from advertisers in this issue!

GREEN SCENES APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

4/14 10th Anniversary Celebration of the ASU School of Sustainability

4/23 Planet Celebration

4/23 6th Annual Great Cloth Diaper Change

CENTRAL ARIZONA

April 4-10 is International Dark Sky Week!

April 14 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE ASU SCHOOL OF SUSTAINABILITY 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

ASU Tempe Campus Come join the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of ASU’s School of Sustainability, the first such school in the country! Events include a lecture hosted by author Michael Pollan, one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world, as well as a performance by the ASU Marching Band and a farmers market stocked with local food.

Attendance is free! schoolofsustainability.asu.edu/events

April 21 GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EARTH DAY

April 7 is World Health Day!

9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Glendale Community College 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale Enjoy local vendor booths, food and animal encounters at the GCC Earth Day festival. A Harris’ Hawk, Rosy Boa, and Black-tailed Prairie Dog will be on display for participants to experience wildlife and ask questions. There will also be a Honda CR-Z on display and the ninth annual Dumpster Dive, among other activities. www2.gccaz.edu 42 greenliving | April 2016

April 23

April 23

April 13 is International Plant Appreciation Day!

PLANET CELEBRATION

EARTH DAY PHOENIX 2016

9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Desert Botanical Garden 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix This year, the PLANeT Celebration is taking flight and celebrating pollinators.

Explore the five unique trails, meet pollinator and conservation specialists, and engage with Desert Botanical Garden plant experts and docents.

Come dressed as your favorite pollinator and take part in a parade through the Garden! The Central Arizona Conservation Alliance members will also be on site to discuss ecological and recreational sustainability of the Phoenix mountain park reserves. Included with Garden Membership or admission. dbg.org/events/planet-celebration

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

PHX Renews 4221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix At the 7th Annual Earth Day Phoenix, there will be exhibitors, local food trucks, classes on eco topics and more! Join in on the fun, waste-free event – all waste will be recyclable or compostable. There is no parking onsite, and limited parking at Steele Indian School Park next door; therefore, alternative transportation is highly recommended (bike, light rail or taxi).

Be green! earthdayphoenix.org

April 23 6TH ANNUAL GREAT CLOTH DIAPER CHANGE 10:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

7118 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by setting a world record? The Great Cloth Diaper Change aims to spread awareness of reusable cloth diapers, while trying to set the world record of number of cloth diapers changed at one time. This free event includes a raffle with prizes and musical performances. greatclothdiaperchange.com

April 23 THE EDIBLE DESERT EXPERIENCE 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Live on Central 702 N. Central Ave., Phoenix Postponed from the original date in February, the Edible Desert Experience will be a unique multi-sensory dinner experience. Featuring seven courses foraged from the Sonoran Desert by James Beard Foundation recognized chef Rob Connely. Contact Jeffrey Lazos-Ferns at 602-299-9576 for more information. greenlivingaz.com/edibledesert

greenlivingaz.com

EVENTS

4/5 Green Drinks

4/23 Earth Day at Courthouse Plaza

4/23 Flagstaff Earth Day

NORTHERN ARIZONA

April 5 GREEN DRINKS 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

ChocolaTree Organic Oasis 1595 W. St., Route 89A Green Drinks, Sedona will be hosting their monthly event at ChocolaTree Organic Oasis, a green restaurant that features a stunning garden. Meet and mingle with like-minded individuals to share ideas about preserving the environment at this free mixer. greendrinks.org/sedona

April 23 EARTH DAY AT COURTHOUSE PLAZA 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Historic Courthouse Plaza 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott Open Space Alliance of Central Yavapai Co. is sponsoring Earth Day at Courthouse Plaza. Come together and celebrate Earth Day in beautiful Prescott with fun activities for the whole family. prescott.org/event/earth-day

April 23 FLAGSTAFF EARTH DAY 11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Heritage Square 111 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff Celebrate Earth Day in Flagstaff and enjoy a plethora of wildlife. Visit with miniature goats, watch beekeeping demonstrations, and participate in fun workshops focused on backyard chickens, plus more! flagstaff.az.gov/earthday

BUSINESS EVENTS

April 6 ARIZONA FORWARD TUCSON LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Arizona Inn 2200 E. Elm St., Tucson Arizona Forward is hosting a luncheon program to re-establish, reserve and manage Arizona’s beautiful and valuable rivers. The focused rivers will be Verde, Santa Cruz and San Pedro. By restoring Arizona’s rivers, we not only help the environment, but everything that surrounds it, including humankind. The cost to attend is $60.00 for members, $65.00 for non-members, and $40.00 for students.

Change to arizonaforward.org/ events/169

greenlivingaz.com

April 13 GREEN CHAMBER LUNCH AND LEARN 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

EQUINOX Apartment Community 3130 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale Please join us as Ed Gorman of Modus Development shares his netzero EQUINOX apartment project grand opening. The most modern, technologically advanced apartments and townhomes in Arizona will be the venue for this unique Green Chamber Lunch and Learn experience. These homes are so energy efficient that most residents will have zero (or very little) electric bill. The cost to attend is $20.00, which includes lunch. thegreenchamber.org/event-2175179

April 20 LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA MIXER 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

The Pulse 88.7 FM station, at East Valley Institute of Technology 1601 W. Main St., Mesa Have you ever wanted to peek into a radio station or be interviewed on-air?

Get your chance to do both at this month’s Local First Arizona mixer at The Pulse Radio studios located at the East Valley Institute of Technology! eGreenIT Solutions will also be onsite to collect unwanted technology for recycling. localfirstaz.com/news/events

April 2016 | greenliving

43

EVENTS

4/10 Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade

4/22-24 EARTHfest

4/30 34th Annual Solar Potluck and Exhibition

SOUTHERN ARIZONA

April 10 TUCSON EARTH DAY FESTIVAL AND PARADE 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Himmel Park 1000 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson Tucson’s 22nd Annual Earth Day Festival and Parade will feature fun activities for children, local food, entertainment, a station for bicycle decorating, and informative exhibits for the whole family. Come by and celebrate our Earth! tucsonearthday.org

April 22-24 EARTHFEST 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Patagonia 299 McKeown Ave., Patagonia Join the celebration of our beautiful Earth among Patagonia’s exquisite trees, trails, birds and more. There will be special events, guided walks, youth art, and exciting workshops. This year’s EARTHfest theme is soil! patagoniaaz.com/event/earthfest

April 30 34TH ANNUAL SOLAR POTLUCK AND EXHIBITION 10:00 a.m.-Sunset Catalina State Park 11570 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson (near Milepost 81) Don’t miss the 34th Annual Solar Potluck Exhibition, featuring electric cars from the Tucson Electric Vehicle Association (TEVA-2), musicians and speakers on a solar-powered stage, exhibitors and solar displays, delicious solar-cooked food, chances to win solar cookers, and more! This event is free with $7.00 per car fee to enter Catalina State Park. citizensforsolar.org

For more events, visit greenlivingaz.com/events

44 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

GREEN PAGES

thank you to our partners!

WE APPRECIATE OUR READERS SUPPORTING OUR ADVERTISERS! All Natural Cosmetics..................................... 19

Friendly Pines Camp........................................35

Peoria, City Of......................................................9

Allstate Appliances...........................................31

Glendale Convention

Phoenix Zoo...........................................................7

Arizona Beds/America’s Mattress...............31

& Visitor’s Bureau............ Inside Front Cover

PurMaid..................................................................23

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.............. 38

Glendale Flowers.................................................1

Robert Israel, Prescott’s

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards................... 26

Glendale Water Services

Green Realtor...................................................... 19

Bauman’s Xtreme Training.............................27

Department...........................................................2

Rock’N’Earth Landscaping............................. 19

Bears & More..........................................................1

Gourmet Girls Gluten-Free

Sacred Grounds Rescue.................................10

Bitz-ee Mama’s Mexican

Bakery/Bistro..................................................... 26

Seshi Organic Salon...........................................7

Restaurant................................................................1

Hanover Mill Avenue.......................................33

Spinning Wheel Antiques.................................1

Blue House Boutique..........................................1

Isaac Jewelers........................................................ 3

Sun Valley Solar Solutions.........Back Cover

Buffalo Collection........................................... 30

Karen Kalm – Senior Loan Officer

Tangled Root Botanicals..................................2

Chandler, City Of............................................. 38

Sunstreet Mortgage......................................... 15

The Hippie Hobby.............................................35

Copenhagen Imports........................................31

Keep Arizona Beautiful.............................. 9, 33

The Pulse Radio Station................................. 21

Cottage Garden....................................................1

KFNX......................................................................... 11

Unified Brands.................................................... 45

Cottonwood, City Of.......Inside Back Cover

Laura Tanzer Designs.......................................37

Upper Crust Pizza.............................................. 21

Country Maiden....................................................1

Le Rendez-Vous.................................................. 19

Verde Dimora Apartments............................23

Cushman & Wakefield.................................... 28

Nu Coco................................................................27

Veronica Bahn Essential Oils........................23

Dan Kalm – State Farm Agent......................13

Organic Living.................................................... 29

Wells Fargo Advisors...................................... 38

Essential Body Pleasures............................... 36

Papa Ed’s Ice Cream.............................................1

Willow Tree Flooring...................................... 30

For more information about our advertisers, go to greenlivingaz.com/resources

Your conscious life

M a g a z i n e Your conscious life

M a g a z i n e

Your conscious life

sales@greenlivingaz.com 480-840-1589

JOIN OUR SALES TEAM! M a g a z i n e

Your conscious life

M a g a z i n e

Help promote eco-conscious products & services in Arizona OPENINGS IN: PHOENIX • TUCSON • NORTHERN ARIZONA

greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

45

G R E E N CHAMPIONS Green Living magazine has a new section called the Green Champions of the Month!

Each month we will feature three people – one each in northern, southern and central Arizona – who are making strides in the green community.

NORTHERN: DAVID PERKINS, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY, XANTERRA SOUTH RIM

David Perkins graduated from Brigham Young University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in conservation biology and has been working in the field of environmental sustainability and compliance ever since. As the director of sustainability at Xanterra South Rim, he has worked on numerous projects involving all aspects of sustainability including water and energy conservation, renewable energy projects, sustainable retail and sustainable cuisine initiatives, solid waste diversion, and hotel and restaurant guest outreach. Xanterra’s mission is to provide hospitality with a softer footprint.

Nominated by Eric Marcus, Executive Director, Sustainable Economic Development Initiative of Northern Arizona (SEDI)

CENTRAL: WILLOW DAVINES, OWNER, WILLOW HAIR DESIGN

25-year-old owner Willow Davines comes from a family of cosmetologists and recently opened her own eco-friendly salon in Scottsdale. Her education began at an early age, being exposed to her mother’s natural talent behind the chair. She attended Paul Mitchell School in Chicago where she was the first graduate to fulfill Dean’s List requirements. Willow Hair Design is a member of Green Circle Salons, which recycles all of the salon’s waste, including hair clippings and excess color. Willow has a passion for sustainability and making others feel beautiful.

Nominated by Kristy Jozwiak, Co-Founder, Duality Public Relations

SOUTHERN: CESAR MARTELL, PRESIDENT, WILDCAT FORMULA SAE CLUB

Cesar Martell became president of the University of Arizona Wildcat Formula SAE club in 2014 and is currently on his second term. As president, he performs community outreach by providing tours of the workspace to high schoolers and middle schoolers to teach them more about E85 (an ethanol fuel blend used in the racing vehicles) and the benefits. “My emphasis is for the kids to start developing the mentality of ‘Why is this better than fuel? What is the explanation behind it?’ and to continue asking these questions about different aspects of the car and the science,” he said. Working with the Pima Association of Governments, the club continues to reach out to the community and educate the public on alternative fuels and how they will benefit everyone and all vehicles, not just race cars.

Nominated by Colleen Crowninshield, Clean Cities Manager at Pima Association of Governments

Cesar Martell and the Wildcat Formula SAE team.

Photo by Tomek Stawicki

Want to nominate someone as a Green Champion? Email your candidate to editor@greenlivingaz.com!

46 greenliving | March 2016

greenlivingaz.com

HE’S GREEN SHE’S GREEN VEGAN BAKED GOODS Product reviews by our eco-conscious couple John and Jennifer Burkhart Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, but hopefully we are all striving to celebrate Mother Earth every day. We can make a significant impact on the environment by choosing what we eat. A reduction or elimination of animal products can improve air and water quality and reduce health risks, too! You won’t even have to give up your favorite foods – just take a look at these vegan baked goods.

PEARL RIVER PASTRY COMPANY | ABE’S GOLDEN CORNBREAD HE SAID: These cornbread muffins were quite sweet, more of a dessert than a side dish. They were soft, chewy, and had nice sweet corn and honey flavor. I don’t know why vegan bakery products always have so much oil, and these had a layer of congealed oil on the bottom that was quite unappetizing.

SHE SAID: I love cornbread and all its variations of savory and sweet. Nothing will pair better with a bowl of meltyour-face-off spicy chili than these tiny nuggets of gold.

Even though they taste more like honey than corn, they are moist, sweet and very addicting.

He gave it:

She gave it:

MARIPOSA BAKING CO | PENGUINOS CREAM-FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES HE SAID: Spanish penguins are delicious! I thought they would taste like chicken, but apparently they taste like moist chocolate cake with a frosting center. All jokes aside these cupcakes were quite tasty. The texture was a tad grainy, but the chocolate taste was perfect.

SHE SAID: This “certified green” bakery proves that a delish cupcake can exist without gluten or dairy! They will remind you of your childhood, when you ate Hostess (you aren’t still eating those, right?). I loved the super chocolatey, uber moist cake, but the filling was only a dab of grainy buttercream-like frosting.

He gave it:

She gave it:

MILLER BAKING CO | PRETZILLA SOFT PRETZEL BITES HE SAID: Yum! These Miller Baking Co pretzel bites were delicious. The bread was soft and chewy with a slightly sweet flavor. The salt balanced them out, but there was a bit too much, so I’d recommend using half. They are pretty much just like the pretzels at the mall, only you don’t have to spend hours finding a parking spot to get them.

SHE SAID: Pretzels are a classic snack that I find hard to resist. And although these weren’t as flavorful as the typical “mall” pretzel, they were darn good! You get to customize the saltiness with a separate salt packet, and they’re delightfully doughy and warm right from the oven. Add a little vegan garlic butter dip and you’re set!

He gave it:

She gave it:

EARTH CAFE | ROCKIN’ RASPBERRY & BLUEBERRY THRILL CHEESECAKE HE SAID: These Earth Cafe vegan cheesecakes aren’t playing in the same league as real cheesecake, so comparing the two just isn’t fair. They are quite tasty for what they are. Smooth cashew pie with tart raspberry or sweet blueberry swirl. When I read vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, cholesterol-free, I assumed that meant flavor-free, too. Luckily that wasn’t the case.

SHE SAID: Maybe these won’t fool a cheesecake lover, but they’re a tasty dessert in their own right. They were both thick and creamy, and just a tad grainy. I wasn’t a fan of the tree-nut crust, which no matter how much I chewed, never seemed to dissolve. If you’re looking for a sweet and mellow cheesecake flavor, blueberry is the winner here. For sweet and tart, go for raspberry.

He gave it:

She gave it:

HAIL MERRY | MIRACLE TART, COCONUT VANILLA CRÈME & PERSIAN LIME HE SAID: This one was a deep thrown, game-winning touchdown pass. The Persian lime tart had a wonderful zing just like a key lime pie, and the coconut cream was mellow and smooth. Best of all, their five different flavors are singleserving sized, so you can have a different tart every time.

SHE SAID: Yes, let’s all “hail Merry,” because she makes delicious tarts! The shredded coconut in the crust was unexpected but added a soft crunch. I loved the Persian lime, which was sweet, not sour. As far as the “coconut, coconut, coconut” flavor, which I renamed, I had to dig for the crème under a mound of shredded coconut. Mildly sweet, but too much...coconut.

He gave it:

She gave it:

See more product reviews at greenlivingaz.com/hgsg greenlivingaz.com

April 2016 | greenliving

47

COOL OUTRAGEOUS

STUFF

REFRESHING COCONUT WATER

This bag of eco-conscious goodies came from last month’s Global Green Pre-Oscar party in LA. Check out what’s inside!

Drinking Jax Coco’s 100-percent pure coconut water is the next best thing to drinking straight from a coconut. The classic bottle comes in 250 mL and 720 mL containers. Prices vary JAXCOCO.COM ALSO AVAILABLE ON LUXANDECO.COM!

SUPER SAFE SOAP

ALL-PURPOSE OIL

ECOS’ Dishmate soaps are among the brand’s most popular products.

Dishmate is made with hypoallergenic plantbased cleaning agents, and it can even double as a hand soap! $3.25 for 25 oz bottle ECOS.COM

doTERRA’s Wild Orange oil supplement is a powerful and rejuvenating way to uplift yourself and your home. It can be used to clean surfaces, freshen the air, and add a rush of flavor to your water. $14.00 for a 15 mL bottle DOTERRA.COM

FANTASTIC FACE MOISTURIZER

VEGAN DEODORANT

If you’re using a daily face moisturizer, make sure it’s actually healthy for your skin.

Kopari’s Coconut Sheer Oil is free of silicones, sulfates, parabens and GMOs and is great for sensitive skin and hair. $44.00 for a 1.7 oz bottle KOPARIBEAUTY.COM

Schmidt’s Lavender Sage Natural Deodorant Jar uses an awardwinning formula that’s vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free to provide odor protection and wetness relief all day. $8.99 SCHMIDTSDEODORANT.COM ALSO AVAILABLE ON LUXANDECO.COM!

DESIGNER MAKEUP BRUSHES Ecotools’ Lovely Looks Set features five artist-designed brushes that are sure to be your go-to when you want to look your best. The brushes are made from bamboo, recycled aluminum and cruelty-free bristles. $14.99 for the full set ECOTOOLS.COM Find more cool outrageous stuff at greenlivingaz.com/cos

48 greenliving | April 2016

greenlivingaz.com

~HISTORIC OLD TOWN~ GALLERIES 路 BOUTIQUES路 LODGING 路 RECREATION OLDTOWN.ORG (928) 340-2740

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT

BRINGING SOLAR BACK TO SRP Sun Valley Solar Solution rolls out innovative solution to unlock significant savings potential for SRP new solar rate plan.

In 2015 SRP nearly halted residential solar when they introduced a new rate plan that includes a special demand fee for solar customers whose energy consumption exceeds their solar production during on-peak hours. Because this new charge was based on possible future energy ‘peaks’, it became very difficult for customers considering solar to calculate a predictable ROI. Sun Valley Solar Solutions is pleased to announce a new solution that is allowing customers to once again unlock considerable savings when going solar in SRP territory.

Smart solar with demand management relies on a highly-sophisticated hardware/software module that works in conjunction with rooftop solar to help homeowners hedge against SRP’s new on-peak demand charges.

When activated, the demand manager stabilizes a home’s overall energy consumption for better alignment with your solar production capacity during on-peak hours. The net result is a smoother demand curve that’s largely devoid of costly demand peaks.

Take control of your monthly energy demand and avoid costly on-peak demand charges.

Better align your energy consumption to solar output capacity for additional energy savings.

Customize the system to control only the appliances that you wish to manage. Update settings at any time for additional savings.

Watch our smart solar with demand management informational video by visiting www.svssolutions.com/livegreen