“The Art of Recycling” is being organized by a group of participants in the 2009-2010 Leadership Chattanooga class in partnership with the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture and Parks and Recreation Department. The idea is to encourage kids to participate in Earth Day activities in afterschool programs in rec centers across the city. This coincides with the Department of Arts & Culture’s recent launch of its citywide campaign for volunteers to reach out to young people during the “Most Dangerous Time of the Day—3 to 6 p.m.”

“The Art of Recycling educates kids and teens about what to recycle and how to recycle it,” says Samantha Jones, project spokesperson and owner and general manager of Mellow Mushroom and Salon Haven. “We want to get young people excited about recycling so they will make it part of their everyday lives—so to jumpstart the movement, we’re launching a city-wide ‘recycled art’ contest.”

The contest will ask kids and teens at each city recreation center to work together to create a collective “recycled art” project from the recyclables they collect at their centers. The Art of Recycling contest entries will be on display at Chattanooga Market on Earth Day weekend, Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Recycling bins have been placed in city recreation centers to facilitate the Art of Recycling, compliments of the Electric Power Board. The contest will culminate with a free trip to the Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX theatre, lunch courtesy of Mellow Mushroom, and a “recycled art” trophy created by Collier Construction for the winning recreation center and the kids and teens who participated in the project.

For 25 years, Leadership Chattanooga has been educating rising community leaders—and part of the 10-month program is focused on community projects like The Art of Recycling. Other outcomes of Leadership Chattanooga group projects include TasteBuds (a local food guide produced in partnership with Crabtree Farms and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) and the award-winning Take Root campaign (an urban tree-planting program developed in partnership with the City of Chattanooga).

The Art of Recycling team includes Montrell Besley, City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department; Jim Catanzaro, Minor, Bell & Neal; Heather DeGaetano, Tennessee Aquarium; Karen Frank, Memorial Health Care System; Samantha Jones, Mellow Mushroom and Salon Haven; Todd Leamon, Hamilton County; Ketha Richardson, Electric Power Board; and Melissa Turner, City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture.

For more information about the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and the service, action, and celebration taking place in communities and cities around the globe, visit www.earthday.net. For more information about The Art of Recycling, contact Melissa Turner at (423) 425-7826 or turner_m@mail.chattanooga.gov

The McKamey Animal Center serves the local area from within the city limits. They have quite an impressive facility, employing innovation and common sense to allow for a healthier and more enjoyable environment for the inhabitants. The foundations of this organization rest on four main pillars: spay/neuter, advocacy, enforcement, and education. There is a focus placed on prevention.

Cats, on average, can have up to three litters (usually four to six kittens) in a year. Dogs can usually have two litters a year with an average of six to ten puppies. That’s an estimated 420,000 cats over a seven-year period from just one female and her offspring. One female dog and her offspring could produce up to 67,000 dogs over six years. Talk about a population-control issue! This is why spaying/neutering is one of the most important steps when adopting a pet. As much as we may try to impart our social restrictions on our pets, there are going to be some animal urges that we will never break them of, and I don’t mean just rummaging through garbage.

Out of the estimated 6,000 animal shelters in the U.S., the McKamey Animal Center is staying ahead of the curve with their facilities and practices. Homeless pets that come into care here will have access to 8,800 square feet of fenced natural-grass area in addition to 4,800 square feet of septic-drained, fenced AstroTurf yard. There is also a one-acre fenced dog park for use by community members. All together, the property has 10 acres of wooded and grass-covered areas. Besides all of the great outdoor space, this shelter has design elements that increase the quality of both living and of the adoption process. When approaching the center on the main walkway (which has memorial bricks available for donation) and coming into the main entrance, there are featured animal rooms where guests to the center can view prospective pets upon arrival. There are also playrooms that resemble real rooms in a home, so that guests can get to know the animals in a realistic setting.

For the felines, there is a luxurious cat porch, so that resident kitties can still enjoy the feel of the great outdoors and be tempted by birdsongs. In this “Catanooga” section of the shelter, there are two “cat colonies” that provide a communal setting for the more social cats. For the stray cat holding area, individually vented cages prevent possible infection from spreading to others. In fact, all of the building and kennel spaces have separate ventilation systems with 100 percent air exchange every eight minutes to keep spread of disease and troublesome odors to a minimum. Also, heat wheels are being used to reclaim conditioned air. Glazed block in animal holding areas provides non-porous, easy-to-clean surfaces, and the concrete block walls and floors are sealed with an impenetrable coating.

In addition to these innovations, the shelter also has an organic septic system to reclaim and purify waste water collected from the AstroTurf yard to be used to water the grounds. An investment in state-of-the-art industrial laundry facilities guarantees that needs for clean bedding can be met for each animal. There is also a 48-square-foot, climate-controlled room for the more exotic species that may find their way to the shelter. A grooming room is made available for public use on the weekends, and the shelter also offers crematorium services.

The McKamey Animal Center goes above and beyond the basic service of saving animals. Their practices work towards ensuring safe, healthy, and positive environments for all animals that are fortunate enough to receive their care. By providing education in the classroom and conference areas for community members ranging from elementary and high school students to public citizens programs, and through local partnerships, this shelter is working towards not only solutions for animals today but also for the (hopefully less populous) generations to come.

On February 23, the McKamey Animal Center will be celebrating Spay Day with adoption promotions, education and contests. Spay Day is an annual event to inspire people to save lives by spaying and neutering their pets and feral cats.

McKamey Animal Center, 4500 N. Access Road. (423) 305-6500, www.mckameyanimalcenter.org

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

We are lucky in Chattanooga to have an amazing public transportation system. Dating back to the first horse-drawn trolley cars in 1875, public transport evolved from horses to electric streetcars in 1889 and eventually motorbuses. In 1941, Southern Coach Lines took over, and the last streetcar line was shut down in 1946.

Today we are served by the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority or CARTA, made up of a Board of Directors that represents local communities.

CARTA has 16 routes, and for $50—the cost it takes some of us to fill a tank of gas—you can purchase a 31-Day Unlimited Ride Pass. For six dollars. you can get unlimited rides for 24 hours (a pass that can be recharged for four dollars). For a one-way trip, it’s only $1.50. And with 7 Park & Ride lots, you can leave your car and hop on the bus to take you to work, play, and everything in between.

Getting a little cold on that bike? All buses have bike racks, so you can stow your wheels securely on the front of the bus and have a warm ride. More importantly, buses are wheelchair accessible to accommodate even more residents. It is the variety among the ridership that makes for such a unique experience while riding the bus. If you aren’t too shy, riding the bus can be a great way to make new acquaintances, or at the very least do some great people watching. I am not suggesting you make it your job to stalk or harass people on the bus, but it is a proven venue for intrigue. Take a ride and see for yourself.

Another service offered by CARTA is the Electric Shuttle. These shuttles have been running from the Chattanooga Choo Choo through downtown to the Aquarium since 1992. With stops every block in between these two points, the shuttle is bound to be going somewhere you want to be. These shuttles, it should be noted, are also wheelchair accessible. These stealthy little buses have prevented an estimated 65 tons of pollutants. I’m not sure which is better about this system: having zero emissions or costing zero dollars.

There may be certain stigmas attached to using public transpor-tation, but it is really an act of community to enjoy transport among your fellow Chattanoogans. Think of how many more people you will interact with each day. Instead of traveling in your own personal global-warming machine, you will have numerous opportunities to observe, converse with, help, and learn from the people you live with. All the while, you will be making a decision that makes sense not only for your needs but also for the needs of the environment.

We are fortunate, for a Southern city, to have such a fine transportation system. As I have noticed while growing up in the South, we tend to depend on our personal vehicles for getting around sprawling towns and also as a means of independence. However, driving is truly a luxury, considering its cost and also the price we pay for the way we use driving in our country. By substituting a couple of bus rides a week for the general puttering around town, you can contribute to a community asset that has an impressive list of benefits.

So next time you are driving around, find a lot where you can leave the car and take a whirl on the bus. If you get cold on your bike or lose your dignity to a patch of black ice, put your bike on the rack and take a warm seat. There are few simpler pleasures than sitting among your fellow citizens and watching together as the blocks go by. Buy a pass or find some bills for the fare box.

Just make sure to always have exact change.

For more info about CARTA, go to www.carta-bus.org on the web.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

I came home that day with a two-month-old puppy that has turned out to be one of the finest specimens of hound dogs in the South. People can never believe me when I tell them I got my seemingly purebred bluetick coonhound (the unofficial Tennessee state dog) at the Humane Society. Needless to say, my dog Banjo is my best friend.

Every year, 15,000 animals are delivered to the Chattanooga Humane Society. And they leave the shelter in one of three ways: They are returned to their owners, adopted, or euthanized. Less than two percent are sent to rescue groups.  The Humane Educational Society works hard to find safe and healthy homes, but no matter how hard they work, the truth is that there will always be animals in need. One new idea that will improve both the quality of life for the animals and adoption rates: the Chattanooga Humane Society is on a quest to go cageless. The animals will instead have pens of glass blocks with clear doors to let in light and still allow for viewing. There are also plans to have flushable drains and soothing music playing to create a cleaner and calmer environment.

While going to see all of these precious potential pets is always fun and somewhat heartbreaking, the most important thing to consider is if you are really ready for the commitment.

On a hot August day, I was riding with five people in my car, Banjo on the back-middle-person’s lap, and we were winding around a backroad. Music was blaring and the windows were down—all of a sudden there was a strong odor of dog food. I looked down and realized that there were regurgitated chunks of puppy chow all over my center console. Banjo had gotten sick all over my car, and it had been dripping steadily down the back of my seats for a good 30 seconds.

There would be many times when Banjo would randomly throw up: on my bed, the front porch, the bath mat. He would also come up to me and start peeing. I would shout, “What kind of warning was that?” while rushing him on to the front lawn. He claimed any free hour from work or school that I could find, and I was eager to attentively train him and provide for his every puppy need. Even though it was messy, inconvenient, and expensive, I knew it was what I signed up for.

Many animals are in the shelter because people chose to adopt them without having the means to care for them. The most important things to consider: Can you afford food and vet bills? Do you have time to devote to training and playing? Is there space for your pet in your home, and can you make a commitment for the length of your pet’s lifetime? Most importantly, can you love your pet unconditionally, the way they will love you? When adopting from the shelter, they will ensure that your pets are spayed or neutered. But if you adopt your pet elsewhere, make a decision for the good of your pet and their neighbors. Prevention is one of the best solutions to overpopulation.

So, if you’re ready for one of life’s greatest pleasures, if you have a little space to fill in your home and heart, head down to the Humane Society and meet your new best friend.

Chattanooga Humane Society
212 North Highland Park Avenue
(423) 624-5302
www.heschatt.com

Editor’s note: The Humane Society continues to do a wonderful job here in Chattanooga, but as residents know, it is now responsible only for animals in Hamilton County, outside of the city limits. Please also consider visiting the McKamey Center, 4500 N. Access Road, www.mckameyanimalcenter.org.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

As we all have noticed, green is making an appearance in many forms and functions in our society. Unfortunately, there are still countless offices and businesses that are unaware or neglectful of their resource usage. There is enough paper thrown away each year to build a wall from New York City to Los Angeles. When there is a lack of recycling bins, all of that waste from the vending machines and businesses lunches ends up in the trash. For most people, if conservation is not a convenient part of a routine, it is less likely to become a habit.

If your workplace does not have a recycling program, speak with your manager about the options of putting one in place. If the city picks up the trash, call them directly to receive some bins. If bottled water is commonplace in your office, suggest the installation of water coolers and perhaps getting some water bottles to pass out as well. Reduce paper cup waste by encouraging co-workers to bring in mugs or to donate old mugs from home to create a supply for use during coffee breaks.

Often, I see co-workers pull out in front of or behind me on my way to work, and we follow each other to the same place in different cars. Carpooling is a great way to save both natural resources and money, as well as a good way to bond with co-workers. Some businesses may even designate prime parking spots for those who carpool.

When it comes to issues such as desk or cubicle etiquette, some suggestions can come off as somewhat awkward. It is best to broach these topics (such as turning off computers at night or re-using paper) through mass e-mails—which are a good example of saving paper. From this stance, it is easy to make friendly suggestions to everyone in the office and refrain from making anyone feel singled out. It is also good to let co-workers know what your concerns are, so they feel more comfortable about sharing their ideas and concerns as well. Create an atmosphere in which these habits can be easily and steadily nurtured.

There are a variety of small ways to make a significant change. Making sure there are working and well-placed hand dryers can reduce the amount of paper towel waste generated in the bathroom. It can’t hurt to put up subtle reminders, as well, for people to use less paper and water while taking their rest. Just knowing that others may be conscious of (and might hold you accountable for) your choices can inspire a change in routine.

Another cool thing to share with your co-workers: http://www.blackle.com/. Made available by Heap Media, Blackle is a search engine with an all-black screen to save energy. There is a “Watts Saved” meter right on the main page. While you’re there, you can search for additional innovative ways to make your office or workplace greener.
We are all aware of small ways in which we can make a big difference. The next step is to not only spread your knowledge, but also to let others know that you care. So, make it your resolution to help your office and your co-workers bring in the New Year with a fresh outlook on how Chattanooga does business.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

No, I am not lapsing into science fiction. There is an area of pollution referred to as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” It is twice the size of Texas and made of plastic waste. These materials, the skeletons of bottled water, tampon applicators, trash and grocery bags, float on the surface, unable to fully decompose. Plastic is broken down by light in a process called photodegradation. The pieces become smaller and smaller but remain polymers down to the molecular level.

So there is a lot of plastic floating around in the ocean. What does it matter to the common land-dwelling human? Well, for one thing, these plastics not only leech toxins (such as bisphenol A) into the water but also absorb chemicals that have been dumped into the ocean. Many varieties of sea life consume these toxic morsels. Small pieces ingested by jellyfish can, in turn, choke sea turtles that eat the jellyfish. As these turtles decompose into the ocean, the plastic that choked them remains, continuing to pose a threat to other sea life. As the pieces break down, they remain near the surface of the ocean, where microscopic organisms can feast. The non-biodegradable matter has been found in the bodies of black-footed albatrosses.  Plastic is entering the food chain. And as the sole animal species that has created and utilized it, this vortex of trash is our albatross to bear.

It may be actually impossible to reverse all of the damage done by this careless use of the ocean, but as of last year, 2009, steps are being taken. In March, Ocean Voyages Institute (a California-based nonprofit) introduced Project Kaisei. This project was created to research the feasibility of collecting and recycling the island of plastic. On August 4, Ocean Voyages Institute launched the Kaisei out of San Francisco to begin investigating the size and concentration of the mass of flotsam. The Kaisei was joined by the New Horizon, which will study the effects of the debris on wildlife.

While still in the early stages of a solution, it is encouraging that this issue, which was discovered in the ’80s and just a month ago made it into People magazine, is being addressed. So, back to the grocery store. What can we do to (at the very least) not add to this growing mass of used and forgotten waste?

Well, start with the bags. Do whatever you can to avoid accumulating clouds of grocery bags that you eventually throw away in a fit of frustration or a re-organizing binge. This is an instance in which to employ your wise consumer skills. Choose items with minimal packaging. All of that fluff costs extra, and you only throw it away.

Avoid extraneous uses of plastic. If you don’t want to do dishes the next time you grill out, consider biodegradable plates and utensils. Use paper cups. Try biodegradable, or at least recycled plastic, trash bags. Consider alternatives when it comes to personal hygiene products and toiletries. Buying in bulk or in larger containers generally reduces waste, but try to find products packaged in glass or cardboard. Anything that you consume on a regular basis—consider the waste and work to reduce it.

Making a change in your day-to-day routine is the best way to make a significant difference in your personal output. For some purposes, plastic is the best for the job. There are some things that would be impossible in our modern society without it. However, for something that is designed to never decompose, we use it far too excessively and with little thought for the repercussions of convenience.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

2. Smarter Driving: Most people in the U.S. spend a large amount of their time in cars. While we could always drive less, walk and bike more, there are a lot of instances where driving is required. In these cases, being conscience of the way we drive can make a difference. Keep speeds steady and avoid jackrabbit starts. Turn off the car if you are going to be sitting anywhere for more than two minutes; this will reduce your fuel consumption as well as your emissions. Whenever possible, carpool. Treat driving more like a privilege that you want to enjoy but not abuse.

3. Changing out your light bulbs: If you still have incandescent light bulbs, it is time to discover the world of CFL. There are now many different varieties of CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulb) to suit all kinds of lighting needs. Do beware of the mercury, which could be released if these bulbs are broken. Do NOT throw them in your trash to be taken to the landfill. There are locations at which to recycle burned-out bulbs (which you won’t have often), including Home Depot. Also, a tip I’ve learned, CFLs do tend to burn out quickly if you put them in horizontal light fixtures. They are really meant to be installed vertically.

4. Investing in better insulation for your home: even if that is as simple as buying some caulking or as dedicated as getting new windows. You will be pleasantly surprised both at how much more cozy your home will be and how much it will reduce your energy bill.

5. Adopting a pet: OK, this might not be good advice for you. But there are always a lot of adorable animals that need good homes. So if you have the right set up (mentally, physically and financially) and you are thinking about it, you should probably do it. It’s going to be a cold winter.

6. Volunteering: Contribute your time, energy, and consideration to local organizations that are in need. The best way to sustain resources is to build them up, and there are always people and causes that could use our help.

7. Buying Local: Invest in local businesses. Buy products that were produced locally or by an independent source. When we buy things that promote the abuse of people, animals, and the environment, we are supporting an already incredibly strong force. Put your money where you know it is going towards the, safe, healthy, and fair production and distribution of goods.

8. This spring, as the sunshine and warmth comes back to thaw the frosty mountains, why not plant a garden? Some of your favorite flowers, some delicious fresh vegetables, perhaps. Picture it.

9. Being conscious. In all actions, realize that there will be an effect, an impact, a consequence. When you put things into the air, the land, the water, be conscious that you are doing it, and consider what that might do to resources needed by all living things.

10. Doing What Would Make Your Grandparents Proud: There was a time, not so very long ago, quite different from the world we live in now. There was a time when all a community could rely on was their own resources and one another. We can still enjoy the conveniences of modern life, but it’s important to consider our actions. What would the people we love and respect think of how we are treating ourselves, each other, and the Earth?

I wish you all a safe, happy, and green new year.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

Collier Construction is a progressive company that has been providing service to the Chattanooga area for about eight years now. It all began when Ethan Collier decided to go into the business of quality-built homes, doing “construction the right way.” It seems that in the interest of profit and quantity, modern homebuilders have been neglecting the basic principals of constructing solid living spaces that are healthy, practical, and enduring.

This company’s philosophy is that building a better way also builds a better way of life. A house will be built to last and use less energy. It will do what a house is meant to do: stay warm or cool, keep the weather out, and keep the inhabitants safe. Ideally, it will be a structure made to utilize its surroundings, and work within, not against, the environment.

One of Collier’s recent projects has been profiled as a prime example of the company’s building goals. Trey Wheeler’s house is 3,200 sq. ft. and houses a family of six. Remarkably, the average energy bill ranges from only $50 to $100 each month. Ethan Collier is very proud of the project and of the partnerships involved in creating a high-quality product,

“With the Wheeler residence, we were able to build a successful high-performance home because of a collaborative effort, involving everyone from the architect and homeowner, to framing crews and finish carpenters,” he says. “To build an energy-efficient home like the Wheelers’, the entire project team has to make adjustments to the normal way of doing things, and Collier Construction has been fortunate to work side-by-side with individuals and companies who have reached a higher level of craftsmanship while placing a premium on sustainability. I think that is what makes this home so special.”

Homes such as Trey Wheeler’s are built to meet Collier’s three core standards: maximizing the use of space, reducing energy costs, and lasting 100 years. Some of the building methods utilized by the company include advanced framing, construction waste recycling, insulated crawl spaces, use of recycled and recyclable materials, rainwater collecting and storage, well-sealed insulation barriers, and foam-in insulation, just to name a few.

A high value is placed on continued learning. The company uses the best techniques and practices as the building industry evolves, serving as a role model in the Chattanooga community, offering workshops and luncheons to educate others about green building. Ethan Collier and Eric Meyer also created a free program, “(re)source” in which they work with high school students to “apply the principles of math and science to sustainable design and green construction.”

Building homes that last longer and providing families with the resources to be educated about their living environment at home and beyond is a true investment in sustaining a community. Ethan Collier and his company have a mission “to promote these methods to community stakeholders and sustainability advocates with the hope that, over time, more neighborhoods are strengthened by energy efficient and sustainable homes.

“Our mission is to build lasting relationships, lasting structures and an enduring legacy in the Chattanooga area,” he says, and with Trey Wheeler’s home as a flagship, the company has made headway in becoming a household name, making itself known for having people’s best interests in mind. Says Collier, “Trey Wheeler and I feel strongly that his home provides a starting point for mainstreaming high efficiency, sustainable homes in the Chattanooga area.”

An estimated 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. Many who don’t celebrate Hanukah. In either case, millions of families across America are bringing home carloads of gifts and sending carloads of trash to the landfill. Besides all the food, wrapping paper, and packaging, consider all the gifts (those hideous plastic earrings from Aunt Mildred, the eight-year-old giant Hershey’s Kiss from Grandma Josephine) that go straight from your under-whelmed hands into the trash.

Another thing that inevitably ends up in the landfill, decomposing for hundreds of holidays to come: artificial Christmas trees. Real trees are great for many reasons. You can go cut them down yourself, at a cute family Christmas tree farm with a hot chocolate table, if you’re lucky. They do require watering, but they also fill your house with that fresh piney smell. Another great thing about real trees: You can recycle them. You can get your tree picked up by curbside recycling, or you can choose to drop it off at a local recycling center. By having your tree re-used for woodchips or mulch, you can help reduce the 700,000 tons of waste going into landfills each year.

As far as reducing the amount of “stuff” that we give people, I have a few options to suggest. For a start, you could make a donation to the World Wildlife Fund. You can choose to “adopt” an animal from their eerily long list of endangered species. The gift goes to a good cause and you also have (if you donate enough) a cute stuffed animal to wrap up and give to someone. At the least, you will have a certificate stating that a donation has been made to the Pygmy Elephant or the Blue-Footed Booby in the recipient’s honor.

Another gift that minimizes waste is a membership. There are all kinds to choose from to suit anyone’s needs: gym, museum, zoo, Sierra Club, or AAA, to name a few. A membership is something that can provide a service or an activity for a person, and can encourage mental and physical health. Some other ideas: gift certificates to iTunes or Netflix. If you have someone who is particularly hard to buy for, making a contribution to something you know they already use or like will surely be appreciated. You can also make your own homemade vouchers for preparing a three-course meal, pet sitting, house cleaning, or other friendly favors. There are many ways to be creative and cater to your own gift-giving needs.

One of the best aspects of Christmas is time with loved ones. A good way to perpetuate that feeling of togetherness and give a packaging- and clutter-free gift is to purchase a weekend at a local bed & breakfast or resort for family members who don’t live close by. It gives them the opportunity to come back and visit you, while providing a feeling of a vacation (the B&B may provide more of a “getaway” atmosphere than your guest room or fold-out couch). If you have a family member who is looking to further their skills and talents, purchase them a session at a music camp or a writers’ retreat.

Of course, we cannot forget the countless charities and organizations that always benefit from our donations. A contribution in someone’s honor is always a touching gift for any friend or family member; it gives to more than just the recipient.

So this holiday season, be conscious of reducing unnecessary waste and of choosing presents that will make your loved ones—and the Earth—feel loved.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.

Wilferth also mentioned overhearing someone commenting on the inherently destructive nature of the human race. While I can’t disagree with this statement, I have to say that humans are, simultaneously, inherently constructive. From the beginning of the species, we have been using what we can find in our surrounding environment to construct shelters, which eventually evolved into what we know today as communities.

Somewhere in between cave dwelling and Levittowns, as the population became too large to be accommodated by a single forest, we have mucked up the concept of using aspects of the environment to live in. Instead, we try to block it out with plastic and vinyl. Small villages of houses have been erected for quantity, not quality, and those cheap and easy practices have resulted in homes that are inefficient, uneconomical, and sometimes unhealthy.

As Wilferth mentioned, it is sometimes menial to discuss cutting back or doing less when what we should realistically be considering is using a different approach.
In 1993, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) was created as a nonprofit to serve the building industry by providing leadership, integration, and education. The council exists “to create a positive impact on the region’s built environment by accelerating the adoption of green building practices, technologies, and policies.”
Companies can purchase a National Membership with the USGBC, and any full-time employee can utilize the benefits. There are also individual memberships available through local groups. We are fortunate to have a chapter here in East Tennessee, and joining is the best way for businesses or individuals to have access to resources and information that will enhance their involvement in green building.

Clayton Homes, of Alcoa, TN, featured in the USGBC December newsletter, is America’s largest homebuilder, and is an example of how education and altering practices can result in a new and improved way of doing business. They have started by investing $108,000 to benefit their employees by cutting the company’s utility costs and upgrading the work environment. Clayton Homes achieved LEED status for its existing building in October of this year and has already saved 2,000,000 gallons of water in a 20-month period, as well as reducing their electricity consumption by one  third.

The company is especially commendable because of the cultural changes it has offered to employees by providing them with recycling services, healthy food to take home from work, and on-site exercise facilities. Having these resources available at the workplace has allowed employees to alter their routines so that they have less commuting around town. Clayton Homes seems to have the right idea: Start change internally, so that there can be a greater understanding of the economics behind the environmental decisions.

If the Green Building Council sounds like a resource that might help you make desired alterations to your lifestyle, now would be a good time to join (you can do this on the web site, http://chapters.usgbc.org/easttn/membership.html). The annual membership meeting is next week, Wednesday, December 16, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at green|spaces on E. Main Street. This is the meeting at which members can vote for the Board of Directors and also find out about the chapter’s plans for the upcoming year.

Even if you aren’t affiliated with a national member, the chapter has recently revised its by-laws so that any individual member can vote and also run for a position on the board.

In the spirit of making a change, the USGBC’s Mission includes “transforming the way communities are designed, built, and maintained to enable a healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.” These kinds of transformations need to be embraced, not so that we can revert back to living in the earth or look forward to moving off of it, but so that we can find the balance that will allow this planet to remain our home sweet healthy home.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.