Recently, on Eco Design + Living, I asked readers to share some of the things they are doing to decrease their ecological footprint. Read about it here. Some of you may be wondering what an ecological footprint is and how it's calculated. For those who already know, I encourage you to take the test again over a period of time to see a comparison. For those wanting to be in the know, an ecological footprint is the amount of natural resources, calculated as an area, it takes to sustain a person. These natural resources are the products of our ecosystem that we consume, including the resources needed to take care of our waste. Natural resources are regenerative, though because of the growth of the world's population and the desire for all people to raise their standard of living (amount of consumption) to the level of developed countries, the world is in danger of overshoot. What this means is that humans are using more resources than the planet can regenerate in a meaningful time. Wastes accumulate; soil, oil, and water decline; and species are pushed to the brink of extinction.

These natural resources are the underlying foundation of our economy (the sale of goods and services derived from natural resources) that is showing signs of serious strain. Some believe we are experiencing a recession that has finally hit bottom and we're now poised for the growth machine to kick in. While I don't doubt that we will have fits and starts over the years to come, we are facing...

Final Day of Bay Green Expo, Staurday, May 16, 2009!


THE BAY GREEN EXPO & THE FRIENDS OF ST. ANDREW BAY

The final event of the Thirty Days of Green is the Bay Green Expo on May 16 at Gulf Coast Community College. During this event, local businesses, non–profits, public agencies, and service organizations will display their services, products and knowledge to help the public live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.

Throughout the event, classrooms at GCCC’s Student Union East will host a rich array of speakers presenting on such topics as Coastal Ecology; New Urbanism; The Water Efficient Landscape; The Natural Capital of Bay County; and, Solar and You, among others. This event is free and open to thepublic. “This is a great event for the whole family,” said Mike Brim, “and it is free!” There will be free drawings for rain barrels and additional items.

The Bay Green Expo will run from 9am-4 pm at Gulf Coast Community College in the Student Union East Conference Center.

For more information, call Carl Roberts at 850-381-8015, Jeff Allen, 850-625-3061 or The Friends of St.
Andrew Bay, 850-215-5590. Visit the website at www.baygreenexpo.com

Share something you have changed or want to change about your lifestyle that lessens your impact on the Earth.

• share a link, a list, or a short description
• 250 words max
• may include a photo
• post anonymously, with an alias, or be yourself
• stories will be posted to a page on the Eco Design + Living website
• no efforts too small
• local or not so local, welcome
• please respond by June 1, 2009

Send stories to chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com

Eco Design + Living is an online resource for living sustainably on the Emerald Coast and beyond. For more information e-mail chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com

When: April 17 - May 16, 2009
Where: Gulf Coast Community College and other locations
Contact: Joe Earp, EXPO Coordinator Phone: (850) 215-5590
Email: earp0321@hotmail.com
Website: Bay Green Expo

It's not too late to join in some of the Thirty Days of Green Events. See below for the list of events.

April 25, 2009: Green Saturday, Gulf Coast Community CollegeThe first of a series of informative workshops on a variety of green topics Contact Carl Roberts at (850) 381-8015, Jeff Allen at (850) 625-3061
April 25 and 26, 2009: Bay County Horseman’s AssociationIntro to Competitive Trail Riding- Two Day Clinic-Two local competitive trail riders, Debbie Jelks and Teri Stephens-Pankhurst will bring you though all you need to know to confidently head out to a competitive trail ride. Contact Amy Pachuki at Red Oak Farms- 850-722-5400
May 1, 2009: Downtown Friday FestLocated Downtown on Harrison Avenue from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
May 9, 2009: Learning from Traditional Neighborhoods: A Walking Tour of Historic St. Andrews
Older neighborhoods like St. Andrews were developed before modern zoning and the widespread use of the automobile altered the American landscape. St. Andrews is a close-knit, mixed-use neighborhood where residents can meet many of their daily needs within walking distance.
Join us for a fun walking...

Plastic bottle or stainless steel? This NY Times Op piece by Daniel Goleman and Gregory Norris sums it up. How Green Is My Bottle?

To summarize, if you think you will buy more than 50 plastic water bottles in your lifetime, then stainless steel is a better environmental choice.

If you only plan on buying one, then plastic has less of an impact on the planet.

Read the story...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...419bottle.html

Eco Design + Living is an online resource for living sustainably on the Emerald Coast and beyond. For more information e-mail chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com