ServiceMaster Building Services in Wayne County Newsletter-July 2009

ServiceMaster Building Services in Wayne County Newsletter-July 2009
July 6, 2009


Time for the Summer Fun and Activities!!

Welcome to Summer!!
One thing I love about Michigan in the summer is the abuance of "Green" outside. Everywhere you turn, you see Green on the trees, Green in the Grass and Green in the garden. Michigan is such a beautiful place to see and experience at this time. On top on the Green almost everywhere you can turn is the Blue lakes, river and streams in which you can take a moment look at the water; to review the times spend with the family on a fishing, boating or swimming activities of your prior Summer Years. We are blessed to live in a state that is full of the natural resources that you would not find as easily in other parts of the county.

Now is the time to enjoy the weather (we only have a true summer for three to four months as almost Michiganders know) and take a mini-vacation to some of the great vacation spots across our state. Whether it be to see one of our five Great Lakes, to experience the North (or as I like to call, "The Bunny) and see the pine trees that almost reach into the sky, experience the Dunes, go to Mackinaw Island for a nice ferry and bicycle ride. Enjoy Michigan!!!

In our Newsletter this month, we will focus on articles that will help you improve your summer life. Our feature article will talk about the Top 11 Green Summer Barbeque Tips to not only enjoy your hot dogs and hamburgers but, to do so saving the environment at the same time. The next article, is focus on our Summer Traveling and speaks about What are the Cheapest and Greenest Ways to Travel. We have included a news story about the Wal-Mart Corporation backing Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance plan. Finally, we will share a great tool, call My Enivironment by the Environmental Protection Agency were you can keep up-to-date about the air and water quality in your local area.

Thank you for continuing to receive our newsletter and feel free to share with a friend or family member interested in articles that can help them live greener lives. Have a GREAT summer.

Sincerely,
Monica Ross-Williams
Owner
ServiceMaster Building Services
15195 Farmington Road, Suite 106
Livonia, Michigan 48154
734-328-3025



Articles appearing in this newsletter: Top 11 Green Barbeque Tips What is the Cheapest and Greenest Way to Travel? Wal-Mart, union back employer health insurance How Green is Your City? Find Out Using EPA

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TOP 11 GREEN BARBEQUE TIPS

Top Green Barbeque Tips

Article by-Rebecca Silver
Link-http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-barbeques/index.html



1. Make a Plan
Whether or not your barbecue is a family affair, or a neighborhood blowout, you can mitigate the environmental impact of your fete with some careful party planning. Here's how: Tally up the guest list before going to the grocery store so as not to overbuy or leave leftovers that will go to waste. Send invitations via phone or email, rather than sending paper invites. If your party's going to be big, consider a location that's convenient for your attendees, which will allow them to walk, ride bikes, or take public transit rather than drive. Finally, be specific when asking your guests to bring a potluck dish to share. That way, you won't end up with five varieties of pasta salad that nobody wants to eat. (You could give your pals a little nudge-nudge by emailing them the link to our How to Go Green: Meals guide.)

2. Buy Green Groceries and Sundries
Ditching disposables is one the greenest things you can do. Opt instead for reusable plates, cups, and traditional cutlery, or use reusable plastic options, such as Recycline's Preserve Tableware. If you simply cannot part with the idea of disposables, look for unbleached recycled-paper products or bamboo servingware. You can also buy in bulk, which helps reduce packaging and waste (and cuts down on future trips to the grocery store.) Many foods and sauces refrigerate or freeze well. (Bonus tip! Don't forget to bring your own bags to the store.) Here's another thought: Instead of relying on prepackaged chips and bottled sauces, make your own. You'll cut down on packaging waste and have tastier, healthier food.

3. Consider the Meat
When it comes down to it, barbeques are all about the food, and even if you usually plan dishes filled with vegetables and whole grains, these tend to go up in smoke when it comes time to grill. But you can still go greener while you grill. First, consider serving less meat—note that we didn't say no meat. (Though if you do go meat-free, kudos.) This is the biggest way to mitigate the environmental impact of your BBQ. Here's why: It takes 1,916 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef , and cattle produce enormous amounts of methane, a greenhouse gasd that's almost 20 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Bulking up your offerings with vegetarian dishes is a great idea. For the meat you do serve, choose organic and grass-fed selections. For more ideas, check out our guide to barbeque food choices, and find sustainable meat retailers in your area by using the Eat Well Guide.

4, Choose Local and Seasonal Produce
It's no coincidence that BBQ season coincides with the time many locally grown fruits and vegetables are at their best. Local produce typically means fewer chemicals were used to grow and preserve foods, and since it doesn't have to travel long distances, less energy is consumed in transporting them. Consult a seasonal produce calendar and visit your local farmers market for the freshest selections available.

5. Guzzle Organic Beer and Beverages
Although you may be tempted to fill a cooler with ice and 50 cans of your favorite beers, sodas, and juices (for the kids), greener options exist for all. When possible, choose bulk sizes of organic drinks, or make your own. Sun tea and fresh lemonade are easy to make and better than store-bought varieties. Organic and local brews are flowing from most regions of the world these days. In addition to cutting down on your carbon footprint local, seasonal, small-batch brews are delicious. Find out who's in your 'hood at BeerFly. Serving beer from a keg, pony keg, or growler also cuts down on excess packaging.

6. Choose Your Grill Carefully
The type of grill you use to cook will affect not only flavor, but also your eco-footprint. Here's what you need to know: From a carbon standpoint, gas grills win out because natural gas and propane burn cleaner and leave behind less waste than charcoal grills. Charcoal may give your organically raised burgers that old-time-y taste, but the particulate matter from burning the briquettes contains carbon monoxide and other VOCs. If you do use coal, choose all-natural lump varieties, which eliminate the additives contained in briquettes. (See our Getting Techie section for more.) If your home uses green power, consider buying an electric grill. Look for the models with the lowest number of BTU's for the most efficient model.

7. Fire Up the Barbie!
If you've opted for charcoal, lighting up can be a daunting task. But petroleum-based lighter fluid can contain harmful VOCs. Alternatives on how to get your coals burning include charcoal chimneys, electrical charcoal starters, and DIY fire starters. Our friends at How Stuff Works lay it all out.

8. Get your Grill On
Time to get cooking! These useful tips can help you prepare tasty and efficient meals:
Grilling with the hood of the barbeque down not only helps maintain energy efficiency, but also ensures the heat will be distributed more evenly throughout the grill.
Organic and grass fed meat is leaner than traditional meat, and requires a little bit of extra love in order to maintain its moisture when grilling. To address this issue: marinate your meat before grilling, and continue to baste it while over the grill; for hamburgers, add in caramelized onions and other moisturizing ingredients; cook the meat at a lower temperature or simply cook the meat for less time.

You can substitute extra firm tofu for most recipes that require meat. Marinate for a few hours prior to grilling, and then cook it slowly over lower heat to get that real barbeque flavor.
Put vegetables in a bowl with olive oil and herbs to marinate before grilling. If you are using smaller vegetables that might fall through the grill grate, put them on a cake rack and place that over the grill.

9. Maintain Your Grill
Taking care of your grill properly means it will last for many delicious barbecues to come and that will be a healthier cooking vessel. Instead of petro-based cleaners, use soy and natural alternatives, which can work better than the chemical varieties. DIY Cleaners are another good option. You can clean your grill with a barbeque brush and a paste made with baking soda and water. Or, cut an onion in half and rub it over the rack once it has heated up; then brush a bit of olive oil on it so the food doesn't stick.

10. Time for Dessert
You can reheat baked goods like pies on the barbeque rack after the barbeque is turned off. Close the lid and by the time you are ready for desert they will be warm. Give our Rhubarb Pie Recipe a try and taste for yourself!

11. Clean Up the Mess!
Separate your glass, plastic, and metal recyclable containers, and dispose of them on site, or bring them home to recycle with the rest of your household waste. Gather compostables (another good reason to keep the meat intake low—it cannot be composted) and bring them home to your compost heap, or a community one, if available. Did you know you can compost charcoal remnants too? When it comes to the leftovers, pack them up in reusable containers.


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WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST AND GREENEST WAY TO TRAVEL?


What is the Cheapest and Greenest Way to Travel?
(Hint-The Car Wins as long as you travel with a friend)

Article By-Josh Peterson
Link-http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-outdoors/cheapest-greenest-travel.html


Traveling alone, cross-country, in a car that gets twenty five miles per gallon is comparable, in terms of pollution-generation, to flying cross country. If you add a couple buddies to the mix or trade your car in for a fuel-efficient hybrid, the trip becomes significantly greener. The bus is the second greenest form of transportation, followed by the train. The plane comes in second to last right before driving alone.


But which method of travel is cheapest?

Knowing which travel option is cheapest may be of the highest priority to most people. Times are tough, and the majority of folks are looking to save money.

Driving
According to Drivepricing.com traveling roundtrip from LA to New York in a car that gets 35 mg costs $476.82.

Green up your trip by adding a buddy to your car and the price drops to 238.41.

Add another friend and you'll be spending a mere $158.67.

The car is much faster than the bus and the train, but it pales in comparison to the plane. You will also have to pay for lodging and food on the journey. Pack a tent and stay in campsites and you can lodge for under twenty bucks a night.

The Bus
Non-refundable, round-trip Greyhound tickets cost $297.60 for a ticket from LA to NY and back. There are further discounts for military personnel, students and seniors. Bus travel is the slowest form of cross-country travel. You do not travel in a straight line. It is the least comfortable form of travel. However, the buses I've ridden have been able to keep to their schedules. You do not have to pay for lodging, but you must sleep on the bus. You must also bring food or buy it as you go.


The Train
Taking the train costs a mighty $758.00 dollars for a round-trip. Discounts are available to various subsets within our society. The train is quicker than the bus, but the train is often delayed by 6 to 12 hours. It's terrible trip for the punctual-minded. Food is not provided. Lodging—aka the chair you are sitting in--is free and relatively comfortable. If the train is crowded, it is not so comfortable. It is also bumpy.

The Plane
The plane is the fastest way to travel. There is no need for lodging or food. However, planes are infamous polluters. Round-trip plane tickets from LA to NY cost only $303.00 dollars. I found this particular deal on Orbitz.com.


The Method of Travel

The cheapest way to travel is also the greenest way to travel. Three or four pals packed into a hybrid is by far the least expensive way to travel.

We could quibble on food and lodging expenses, but I look at it this way. If you are traveling the speed limit from LA to New York. It will only take you a few days. ( I made it from Omaha to Los Angeles in 28 hours.) Add sixty to eighty dollars for camping costs, and the car still wins. You have to eat every day. Food should not be counted against if you purchase it from markets. Theoretically, that's the same food you'd be eating at home.

And if you are traveling slowly, then the trip is most likely part of your vacation and should be counted as such. Therefore, I will let all the figures stand.



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WAL-MART, UNION BACK EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE

Wal-Mart is the latest in a line of traditionally Republican-leaning businesses to embrace key portions of President Barack Obama's bid to overhaul health care, a trend that could complicate opponents' efforts to build a united front when Congress ramps up its work on the issue this summer. ...

WTOP -Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:47:24 GMT
Read more...



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HOW GREEN IS YOUR CITY? FIND OUT USING EPA

How Green is Your City? Find Out Using EPA "My Environment"
(Use the EPA new tool to see how your area is doing?)

Article by-Jaymi Heimbuch
Link-http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/epa-myenvironment.html



Knowing the air and water quality of your local area is important, and the EPA has a handy tool to help you keep tabs on the greenness of your city, county, and surrounding areas.


How the MyEnvironment Tool Works

Visit MyEnvironment and type in your zip code.

Check out the Air Quality. You can get information on your local area's ozone forecast, which tells you how healthy the air is that you're breathing that day, and what pollutants are affecting it. You can also find out the UV light intensity, and even how much particulate matter is in the air. In other words, if you want to know whether or not to go out and breathe deeply or stay in with the windows shut, this tool will tell you.


Find out your Water Quality. Get specifics on the sources and (quality of the water you're drinkinghttp://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/score-tap-water-database.html), what watershed conditions are like and the groups working to preserve your local watershed, the water conditions for the lakes, rivers and streams near you, and more.

Look up facts about Health Risks for your area, including cancer risks from air toxicity to mortality rates.

Discover land health and clean-ups of any toxic materials or hazardous waste that is happening in your area.


What to do with the information you find from MyEnvironment

It can be a real eye-opener to see what's happening in your area, either reassuring or worrisome. The tool can be a way to uncover how you want to help improve the health of your community. Is water quality low? Perhaps you want to get involved in clean-up efforts or interact with politicians who can help green the quality or source of water. The same goes for air quality—perhaps you want to get involved in (improving air quality by boosting the bikeability or walkability of your city.