google maps: transit stops and times!

I love Google Maps.  It’s changed my relationship to cities and space.  My spatial perception is poor, so if you asked me to draw a map based on my experience of walking or driving around, we would be out of luck.  Now with Google Maps, I understand how streets and neighborhoods connect, and I can figure [...]

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is your neighborhood to blame for your weight?

Heavy? Your neighborhood may be to blame
Those built before 1950 help keep you skinnier by encouraging walking
A new study found that the year your neighborhood was built may be just as important as diet and exercise for shedding pounds. Those who live in neighborhoods built before 1950 are trimmer than their counterparts who reside in [...]

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driving: AC or windows down?

I don’t drive much, and I live in San Francisco where it’s cold in the summer, so AC is not a factor in my everyday life. 
When I do drive on occasion out of town and to warmer climes, I agree with this, from a NYTimes article, The Air Out There: An Endless Windows-vs.-Air-Conditioning Debate.
“The rule [...]

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event: to promote line drying

I wrote in my Everyday Sustainable Practice laundry post about how I wish I could line dry my clothes.  Alas I can’t in my apartment, but I can support the cause!
Project Laundry List forwarded an invitation from Ben Davis, the founder and owner of a graphic design and communication firm in San Francisco called Words [...]

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Dishwasher: Energy Saving Tips

I found the manual to my dishwasher online at the KitchenAid site–hooray for PDFs!.
This is what I learned in “Energy Saving Tips”:

Use the ENERGY SAVER DRY (no heat). 
Flash dry dishes.  After final rinse, unlatch door and advance Cycle Selection Dial to Pots/Pans Cycle; open door and pull out the racks.  Because of the heat buildup [...]

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ESP Day 27: Washing Dishes

I wash dishes by hand, and in the dishwasher.  Here’s what I do to make washing dishes Everyday Sustainable.
DETERGENT

I use Ecover products, because their products are natural, biodegradable, and free of petroleum and phosphates.  I’ve used them for a while, and am happy with them.  Pleasant or no scent, and effective.

To improve everyday sustainable: I’ll [...]

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stop credit card offers: OptOutPrescreen

The other day, I looked at different ways to stop unwanted mail.
I used the OptOutPrescreen service to stop preapproved credit card offers.
If you do it online, it requires you to fill in your social security number.  I didn’t want to fill out my SS#, so I called the toll-free number. 
The phone service also asks for your SS#.  [...]

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ESP Day 24: (Almost) No Mail

I love getting love mail.  Letters from friends; birthday presents; photos of my nephews.  Unfortunately, with the ease of staying in touch with email, the handwritten letter is a rare treasure in my mailbox.
On the other hand, I hate getting junk mail.  Pre-approved credit card applications and more credit card applications.  Fortunately, I receive very little junk [...]

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ESP Day 23: Floss

Until recently, flossing my teeth was definitely NOT Everyday Sustainable.  I lucked out with good teeth genes, so had healthy teeth without trying.
On the other hand, I was born with a small jaw so my teeth were crowded.  So last year, I got braces, for the second time!  (The experience has been chronicled here: whatsinasmile.wordpress.com.)
Which brings me [...]

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ESP Day 21: Take the Stairs

I live in a 20-story apartment building, which is at the top of a San Francisco hill.  But, unless I have lots of groceries or other stuff to carry, I take the stairs … since I live on the second floor.
So, as you can see, Taking the Stairs, is a no-brainer Everyday Sustainable Practice for me.

Convenient.  Faster than [...]

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