Charging your iPod could harm a Polar Bear

I know, it sounds rather ridiculous.  But the fact remains that collectively, we use WAAAY to much energy for the Earth to sustain.  Well, as Earth Day 2010 winds down, I thought I’d take it upon myself to share one last piece of “save the planet” information.

I just came across an article entitled Environmental Alarms Raised Over Home Electronics.  I think it has good advice that can be followed right here at Uptown Buckhead.  Here’s a brief excerpt (below).  Follow the link to read more.

The choice might not be quite that stark, but an energy watchdog is alarmed about the threat to the environment from the soaring electricity needs of gadgets like MP3 players, mobile phones and flat screen TVs.

In a report Wednesday, the Paris-based International Energy Agency estimates new electronic gadgets will triple their energy consumption by 2030 to 1,700 terawatt hours, the equivalent of today’s home electricity consumption of the United States and Japan combined.

One GREAT weekend, several GREAT events!

Alright Uptown Buckhead, this coming weekend is one of those weekends that make you love Atlanta.  For the next few days, no one in the metro-Atlanta area can use the excuse that they couldn’t find anything fun to do.  Music: check.  Arts: check.  Sports: check.  Food, beer and wine: check.  Outdoors: check.  Traffic: check (hey, everything comes at a cost).  It’s all here for the taking.  Here is what you need to know:

Sweetwater 420 Festival

If listening to great music, sampling new microbrews and relaxing with your friends at a park (all for the low price of $5) sounds enticing, you’ll want to check out the Sweetwater 420 Festival schedule of events at Candler Park this Saturday, April 17 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, April 18 from 12:30 to 8 p.m.  Also to note, The Sweetwater 420 Festival is “pet friendly” as well as a very “green friendly” event.  While Sweetwater is a local Atlanta brewery, and organization named Planet 420 (hence, Sweetwater 420) sponsors the event to promote education of earth friendly practices.  Sounds like a win-win for all.

One of the coolest things about Sweetwater 420 is that the festival is located just two blocks from the Candler Park MARTA station.  Head to the Buckhead MARTA station and there is no need to worry about traffic or parking!

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Along with serving as the unofficial start of spring, the historic Atlanta Dogwood Festival provides the opportunity to spend time with friends and family while providing a creative marketplace for many Atlanta artisans, as well as other artists from around the country.  It goes on all day at Piedmont Park from April 16-18.  Unfortunately, no pets are allowed.

Additionally, you can purchase tickets for the Homegrown Comedy Binge as well as the Friends of Dogwood Pavilion food and wine tasting experience.  Participating restaurants include: Dolce, Nakato, Geisha House, Pacci, The Sun Dial, Taqueria del Sol and many others.  Piedmont Park is also very much accessible by MARTA.

Sports

If basketball is your thing, snatch up a ticket to see the Atlanta Hawks first game in the 2010 NBA Playoffs.  They start their best-of-seven series against the Milwaukee Bucks at Philips Arena on Saturday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m.  The Atlanta Braves also have a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field this weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 16, 17 and 18).

I usually check craigslist first to see if I can snag a good deal on tickets!

In-Season Produce: Markets near Uptown Buckhead

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally? If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration. Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world. Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce. According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Georgia (and surrouning areas) include:

Blueberries Cabbage Carrots Greens Snap Beans Strawberries Vidalia Onions Yellow Squash Zucchini Asparagus (Tennessee) Bananas (Florida) Broccoli (Florida, North Carolina) Cantaloupe (Florida) Cauliflower (Florida) Celery (Florida) Chinese Cabbage (Florida) Collards (Tennessee) Cucumber (Florida) Eggplant (Florida) Endive (Florida) Escarole (Florida) Gourds (Tennessee) Grapefruit (Florida) Herbs (Tennessee) Honey (Tennessee) Honeydew Melon (Florida) Indian Corn (Tennessee) Kumquat (Florida)

Leafy greens (North Carolina) Limes (Florida) Mamey Sapote (Florida) Mixed Greens (South Carolina) Mushrooms (Florida, Tennessee) Okra (Florida) Onions (Florida) Oranges (Florida) Papaya (Florida) Peanuts (North Carolina) Pecans* (Alabama) Peppers (Florida) Potatoes (Florida) Radishes (Florida) Scallions (South Carolina) Squash* (Alabama, Florida) Sweet Corn (Florida) Sweet Potatoes * (Alabama, North Carolina) Tangelos (Florida) Tangerines (Florida) Tomatoes (Florida) Watermelon (Florida)

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Uptown Buckhead area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Uptown Buckhead

Going Green: Use Zipcar

Check out these simple environment friendly tips courtesy of the Divine Caroline website…

• Consider a car sharing service like Zipcar.
• Ride a bike.
• Walk, jog, or run.
• Go to your local library instead of buying new books.
• At holidays and birthdays, give your family and friends the gift of saving the earth. Donate to their favorite environmental group, foundation, or organization.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Uptown Buckhead blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

A Super Green Effort

The Super Bowl is on Sunday and that gives you a super opportunity to go green. Skip the paper plates and remember to recycle the bottles and cans from the night. Having a party doesn’t mean you have to be wasteful, so following those tips will help reduce your eco-footprint. For more tips click here.

Home Green Products

By purchasing green products for your everyday consumer needs, such as home products, food and personal items, you’ll be making a contribution to the environment.

Green products are divided into several broad categories based on similarities in certification standards:

Here are some home green products

Home (cleaning supplies, appliances, furniture, home improvement, housekeeping, kitchen and garden, and pest control) – For home appliances, look for Energy Star qualified models. When buying housekeeping items, choose products made with biodegradable ingredients in a recyclable container.

Do you buy green? If so, what do you buy?

Read more about “buying green”