Sustainable Heroes - September

Alanis Morissette is known for her work as a musician and singer, but also for her environmental advocacy and advocacy for healthy mind and body.  During a summer tour with Barenaked Ladies, together they worked to benefit the non-profit organization Reverb.  The organization creates custom programs to "green the tour itself" and educating concertgoers on how they can help the environment. While touring, she uses bio-diesel buses to get from city to city.

In 2003, Morissette was given the Environmental Media Association Missions in Music Award.

She face a long battle with eating disorders over the course of her life, but has beat the disease and has become a spokesperson and advocate on the dangers of eating disorders in order to educate others.  After becoming a vegan in 2009, Morissette ran a marathon to raise awareness on eating disorders and to support the National Eating Disorders Association.

Alanis Morissette narrated a film on global warming, called The Great Warming.

Learn more about Alanis Morissette at Alanis.com.

What does "human food" taste like to animals?

Laura Moss, a contributor at Mother Nature Network published a fun article about food and if "human food" taste the same to animals as they do to us.  According to the article, the ability to taste certain flavors varies with each type of animal.

The number of taste buds differs by species. Humans have about 10,000:

• Birds generally have very few taste buds. For example, chickens have only about 30.
• Dog's have around 1,700, while cats average just under 500.
• Herbivores (cows and pigs) have humans beat. Cows have around 25,000 while pigs have 14,000.
• Catfish have more than 100,000 taste buds that line their body and are concentrated around their mouths.

Read more the full article on MNN.

Future of Food: Why Sustainable Food Systems Matter

Sustainable Heroes - August

This month I'd like to recognize Ed Begley Jr. as a sustainable hero.  Known by most as a Hollywood actor, Begley began his journey as an environmentalist  in the 1970's, when he became a vegetarian, started recycling and even bought an electric car.  An electric car in the 1970's?  It's true: the electric car was a Taylor-Dunn.

Begley is involved with several environmental affiliations including:

• Environmental Media Association
• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• The American Oceans Campaign
• League of Conservation Voters
• Environmental Research Foundation
• Walden Woods Project
• Thoreau Institute
• Earth Communications Office
• Solar Living Institute 
• Tree People
• Friends of the Earth
• Sequoia ForestKeeper
• Green Wish Inc
• Orang Utan Republik

Most recently Begley and his wife, Rachelle Carson, star in their own reality series called "Living with Ed." The show follows Begley and his wife as they attempt to live a green lifestyle, trying to out-eco neighbor Bill Nye.  The series is shown on the Planet Green channel.

In 2014, Begley co-hosted the 24th annual Environmental Media Association Awards with Stana Katic.

Sustainable Heroes - July

We recognize Kate Fletcher this month as part of our series that recognizes notable individuals making an impact in the sustainability industry.

photo via http://katefletcher.com

• Professor of Sustainability, Design, Fashion at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, London College of Fashion 
• Helped developed Local Wisdom, a sustainability project which has engaged thousands of people worldwide with the ‘craft of use’ and ‘post-growth’ fashion. 
• Founder of the design for sustainability consultancy Slow Fashion.
• Has worked on developing sustainability in fashion and textiles for over 15 years.
• She worked as a consultant to brands such as Marks & Spencer, People Tree and The Salvation Army.

Learn more about Kate and her latest projects by following her on Twitter: @katetfletcher

10 ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR THE KITCHEN

Check out these 10 Energy Saving Tips For The Kitchen from Sustainia:


1. Cover your pot to speed up cooking by 6%.

2. Use one-pot steamers and stacked steamers to cook meals on one stove plate.

3. Chop your vegetables into smaller pieces to cook faster.

4. Match your pots to the stove plates to stop heat from escaping.

5. Use the kettle to boil only the water you need.

6. Cook in bulk and save time and money by making meals you can eat the following day.

7. Don’t open the door when you use the oven as heat can escape. Be patient.

8. Save time and electricity by defrosting food in the fridge and not the microwave.

9. Cook with ingredients that are at room temperature. This saves cooking time.

10. Bake a few dishes in the oven at the same time.

Learn more about Sustainia on their Facebook page.

Sustainable Heroes - June

I'd like to introduce a new series on our blog,  called "Sustainable Heroes".  In keeping up with industry happenings, I've come across a lot of great press surrounding the initiatives of those celebrities and philanthropists who are taking great strides to improve the future of our environment.  I thought a series highlighting notable individuals who are doing great things in the "green" industry would be a great way to share these wonderful stories with our readers.

This month we recognize comedian and actor, Will Ferrell:

- Active member of the National Resources Defense Council

- first celebrity to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7

- Ferrell built a very eco-friendly house,with solar-energy system

- Ferrell partnered with Robert Redford in a project to Save the Colorado River Delta.

Check out this hilarious promo video for the Raise the River Project:

Will Ferrell also uses his humor in this "Green Team" video, which offers tips on how to be more sustainable and eco-friendly: