be cool - Stop Global Warming Now

Thank you for visiting, but the 'be cool' blog has been put on hold indefinitely.

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:35:00 +0000

Give us an event idea for the 350.org movement on October 24th.

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:53:00 +0000

What should we do in Bellingham on October 24th to help build awareness on the 350.org's National Day of Climate Action? Give us your ideas here.

In order to unite the public, media, and our political leaders behind the 350 goal, we're harnessing the power of the internet to coordinate a planetary day of action on October 24, 2009. We hope to have actions at hundreds of iconic places around the world - from the Taj Mahal to the Great Barrier Reef to your community - and clear message to world leaders: the solutions to climate change must be equitable, they must be grounded in science, and they must meet the scale of the crisis. In order to unite the public, media, and our political leaders behind the 350 goal, we're harnessing the power of the internet to coordinate a planetary day of action on October 24, 2009.

We hope to have actions at hundreds of iconic places around the world - from the Taj Mahal to the Great Barrier Reef to your community - and clear message to world leaders: the solutions to climate change must be equitable, they must be grounded in science, and they must meet the scale of the crisis.

If an international grassroots movement holds our leaders accountable to the latest climate science, we can start the global transformation we so desperately need.

Improve Your Vehicle's Fuel Efficiency

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:20:00 +0000

There are countless ways to boost your car's mpg for those times that you need to drive. In this month's Stay Cool e-newsletter, we listed three simple steps you can take that will have a big impact on your gas gauge and reduce your impact on the planet - stop idling for more than 30 seconds, check your tire pressure and reduce your highway cruising speed.

Got any other vehicle efficiency tips to share with the cool crowd? Post them here.

Have you turned down the heat?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:53:00 +0000

Most water heaters have a factory setting of 140°F but temperatures of 120°F or even 115°F are plenty hot for the average household (more info). For every 10°F reduction in your water heater setting you can save between 3%-5% in your home energy use.

Have you adjusted your hot water heater temperature? Do you have tips or advice for other members of the cool crowd? Comment here to share your info.

Are you eating seasonally?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:14:00 +0000

Don’t forget to eat local and seasonal this winter. Keep in mind that fresh foods like tomatoes or avocados have to be shipped in, often from thousands of miles away. There are still regional products available at the grocery store, from apples to winter squash. And a greater variety of local produce is just a few months away.

Post your recipes, ideas and tips on eating fresh, local food year-round.

"Green" Holiday Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:27:00 +0000

Lisa:
I always stuff my packages with sprigs of holly, rather than crushed paper, before mailing. There's no paper to recycle (or throw away), and the family always uses the holly to decorate their home.

Another anecdote, when my son was young, we spent one year making beads of FIMO (sp?) dough and strung necklaces and bracelets as gifts for the aunts and grandmothers. When his grandmother died, I inherited a little box (Christmas card box, of course) that held the necklace and bracelet she'd received that year: Now I have them to wear as mementos of both my mother in law and my son.

Jessie:
You can make your own holiday cards with recycled paper (as in making your own paper), Wrap presents in recycled paper (newspaper), Save boxes, wrapping paper, and ribbons for next year. Avoid those ridiculous sticker labels by just writing on the wrapping paper.

Megan:
Decorate a tree outside rather than chop one down to decorate inside
Give to excellent non-profits such as RE Sources (a gift membership for someone else?)
Use the Viva La Dishes program for holiday parties instead of paper plates
Stay local for the holidays instead of traveling far away
Use LED Christmas lights
Go for a wintery walk instead of shopping at the mall
Purchase gifts from local artisans and stores
Purchase food from local vendors for holiday meals and parties

Marj:
Giving used items can be "special" rather than "cheap" if presented properly. For example, I just gifted a friend with some 1927 publications on the natural history of Mt. Rainier. She may have seen them on my bookshelf in the past. I know Mt. Rainier is a special place to her so I thought she might enjoy having the pamphlets, and said as much in her birthday card. If the item is particularly interesting to the person, it doesn't need to be new!

Doug:
I promote make-your-own cards in paper making class with elementary school students.
I also plan to make Ann some tables for the greenhouse using re-used building materials.
We got a Rowan a big train track set at a consignment shop plus legoes and other scores saved from garage sales.

Lee:
Purchase items that have easily recyclable packaging.
Use newspaper for gift wrap.
Make greeting cards from recycled paper.
Ask people what they would like or need instead of buying things they might not like or need.
Try to buy used items, if possible, or even better - items that include recycled content.

Katie:
I have a tradition of giving my parents a calendar including pictures I take of my outdoor adventures throughout the year. I get it printed at Copy Source here in Bellingham. It's a personal, useful, meaningful and locally produced gift. It's the only thing my mom requests from me year after year.

What do you know about efficient home heating?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Hopefully you've got all those air leaks in your house sealed up by now. The next step is to be more efficient with heating your home. You can reduce the energy needed to heat your home up to 20% simply by turning the thermostat down 10°F - 15° when you are asleep or out of the house. The most effective and convenient way to save energy this way is to install a programmable thermostat. When used properly, programmable thermostats can save you about $150 per year.

What has your experience been with heating your home? Have you come across good resources or services that you'd like to share with the cool crowd? Do you have products you'd recommend? Did you turn the heat down and notice a difference in your energy bill? We're curious to know your thoughts.

There's also more information and links on the ImCool.info site under the "Heating your home" category.

What do you know about weatherizing?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Now that the temperatures are getting colder, it's time to find and seal those air leaks in your home.

What has your experience been with weatherizing? Have you come across good resources that you'd like to share with the cool crowd? Do you have products you'd recommend? Know of techniques that did or didn't work? We're curious to know your thoughts on the subject.

There's also more information and links on the ImCool.info site under the "Weatherize your doors and windows" action.

What do you know about compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:40:00 +0000

A good number of community members that the be cool team encounters tell us that they're already using CFLs. It is an obvious energy saving choice and many people have caught on.

We may know they're good to use, but lots of us still have questions about CFLs. Where can we throw them away? Are they safe? Do they malfunction in damp places? When should you turn them off for maximum efficiency?

We've got CFL information on the ImCool.info site under the "Change your bulbs" action, but we're curious to know your thoughts on the subject. Have you come across good resources that you'd like to share to help the cool crowd become more informed about CFLs?

Here's one story to get us started - the EERE's answer to when you should turn off your lights.

Have you been buying local food?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:22:00 +0000

Is there a farm stand you're particularly excited about? A great place to pick berries? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Iain's as cool as a glacier!

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:39:00 +0000

Iain recently visited Glacier Bay National Park. He brought back information about the National Parks Conservation Association's Do Your Part for Climate Friendly Parks program. It's the first interactive online program in the country that provides national park visitors with the tools to understand and reduce their carbon footprints, thereby protecting our national parks from global warming. You can find more information at DoYourPartParks.org.

Raspberry Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:46:00 +0000

Good Times in Lynden!!!

Community Party Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:45:00 +0000

We had such a fun time down at Boulevard Park last weekend hanging out next to the ReArt Station!

Come Hang Out With the be cool Team at Some Community Events!

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:17:00 +0000

This month, we will have the the traveling display at a few local events. Come by and visit us!

Elizabeth Park Concert Series

July 10th, 6-8pm with Whiskey Galore

July 24th, 6-8pm with What the Chelm

http://www.cob.org/documents/parks/recreation/2008-park-concert-series.pdf

Community Party

July 13 at Boulevard Park from 2-8 pm

http://communityfood.coop/community/events.html

Raspberry Festival in Lynden

Saturday, July 19th at the Lynden Fairgrounds

http://www.lynden.org/Events/RF2008/RaspberryFestivalInsert2008Rev6-19.pdf

Talk about a "cool" commuter!

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:52:00 +0000

What can you do today to stop global warming now?

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:54:00 +0000

Wednesday, July 2nd was Green Drinks at Boundary Bay. See what the attendees said about what can do today to stop global warming now:

- Check out www.storyofstuff.com great video!
- Get the city our county to ban or condemn the use of plastic bags
- Get organic food delivered to you! (Fewer trips to the store!)Eco Milk Delivery and Dandelion Organic Delivery
- Grow your own food
- Share a flush with a friend!
- Establish a permaculture hedgerow: Fruits, nuts, berries, flowers, wildlife habitat, screen, and windbreak.
- Bike.
- Green Building (LEED) Tour July 17

RE-Sources shoppers and employees also had clever ideas:

- Eat pasture raised cow, lamb and chicken and drink pasture- fed milk
- Become a cannibal and a vegetarian
- Bike everywhere!
- If its yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.
- Clone Al Gore
- Read The Monkey Wrench Gang
- Turn your lawn into a garden
- Divorce your SUV
- Ride the bus!
- Get an energy audit! (check the imcool.info website to learn how and where)

NASA warming scientist: 'This is the last chance' 6/23/2008

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:24:00 +0000

Check out this article from the Seattle PI about NASA scientist, James Hanes, who warned the nation about global warming 20 years ago. Still trying to bring attention to climate change, he says that drastic action must be taken today to stop climate change.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1501ap_sci_warming_scientist.html

“On The Level - Be Cool" Column from the Cascadia Weekly, June 11, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:39:00 +0000

By Rick Dubrow

Growing up in the suburbs of New York in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, I was imprinted with a definition of “cool” as conspicuous consumption…. driving an impressive car; wearing the latest fashions; flaunting a statement home.

Then I grew some more, learning the ways of the natural world, embracing the fact that my old definition of ‘cool’ – the American Dream – was so far from cool. Hot, in fact…..heating up our globe.

Being cool in the old days actually fueled global warming in these new days; to the need for a new definition of ‘cool’.

This new definition warrants the replacement of conspicuous consumption with conspicuous concern: behavior that cools us down; decreases our ecological footprint: riding a bike instead of a hot car; wearing out your clothing; flaunting a small home.

So its time we learn how to be cool; to get incrementally cooler and cooler so that you can be the coolest person on your block!

Allow me to present you with the just-released owner’s manual for being cool: RE Sources’ new “Be Cool” program (www.imcool.info)! The folks that brought you the RE Store, the Recycling Hotline (676-5723), and The North Sound Baykeeper knew you wanted to be cooler yet, so RE Sources just launched their newest program to help you address, and reverse, global warming.

What a stockpile of knowledge and action! You can sign-up to join the ‘Be Cool’ network. You'll receive a monthly e-newsletter including current news, community events and connections, website updates and action tips.

Here’s just one action tip you’ll find there. Within the category ‘Driving your own vehicle’ is the action ‘Stop idling for more than 30 seconds’: “Simply turning off your vehicle every time you’re stopped for more than 30 seconds can prevent 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution from entering the air each year.
Myth #1: The engine should be warmed up before driving. Fact: Idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. The best way to do this is to drive the vehicle. With today's modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away.
Myth #2: Idling is good for your engine. Fact: Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components. Fuel doesn’t undergo complete combustion, leaving spark plugs dirty and contaminating engine oil. “

Please join the Be Cool network and become the change we’ve come to honor in this great county of ours: empower your concern into action.

What hasn’t changed since my childhood in New York is this: cool people party. And RE Sources hasn’t forgotten that golden rule. So join their party on July 19th from 2 to 5pm when RE Sources celebrates two fabulous benchmarks at their new location at the corner of Broadway and the Guide: 1. The RE Store turns fifteen years old, and 2. The grand opening of their Sustainable Living Center, an interactive learning center with themes changing periodically over the year (the first of which is global warming!).

Between now and July 19th – and forever more -- your homework is to become as cool as you can be!

What can you do today to stop global warming now? (June 4th, 2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:50:00 +0000

Here's what be cool launch party attendees said:

- Got a project? Make it from stuff @ the RE Store! (it's cheap!)
- Stop driving to (and shopping at) the mall. (Maybe you don't need to go there)
- Wash in cold water.
- Use a push mower to lower your carbon footprint and increase fitness.
- Shave Yer Head! It's Sofa King Green!
- Wear sandals - less sock laundry!
- Smile More
- Drink organic beer.
- Attend the "Imagine This!" Home and Lanscape Tour (by bike) on June 28-29th
- Grow Food

June 4th Launch Party Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:30:00 +0000

We had an awesome turn out at the be cool launch party. Check out some of the cool community members who helped us celebrate the new campaign:

What can you do today to stop global warming now? (May 25th, 2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:53:00 +0000

Here's what the folks at the Ski to Sea Finish line said -

Bike to work and ride the bus less
Bring my own reusable bag shopping. No more plastic!
Support local coffee shops
Carpool to an after party!
Trade in my cel phone for a couple of tin cans and a long piece of string!
Drive my car into a ditch and spend the insurance money on a rad new bike!
Ride my bike to the Ski to Sea after party
Stop driving!
Recycle my electric clothes drier and line dry my clothes
Stop Globalization!
Don't water your grass!
Ride my bike and motorcycle more
Don't drink bottled water
Say no to mowing your lawn!
Decide to ride!
Change some light bulbs to CFL bulbs

What can YOU do today?

Start 'em early!

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Photo by Doug Stark

Kickoff Party - June 4th

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:14:00 +0000

Join us at the Copper Hog on June 4th for the be cool campaign kickoff party!

be cool campaign launch

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:59:00 +0000

RE Sources launched the be cool campaign over Memorial Day weekend at the Ski to Sea parade and finish line. We had the help of a 10 foot Earthball, lots of awesome volunteers and our fantastic new traveling display. 70 people signed up to be part of the network, aka the cool crowd!

Who knew that hang drying your clothes could look so cool!

noreply@blogger.com (Be Cool Team) — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:01:00 +0000

Photo by Keeley O'Connell