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The Blogger Beat: Going Green DC
We’re back! To start 2009 off on the right foot, we sat down with local ecoblogger Sacha Cohen and asked her to green us for the New Year.
By
Emily Leaman
Ecoblogger Sacha Cohen at the US Botanic Garden. Photograph by Chris Leaman
Sacha Cohen is a seasoned writer and editor; she’s been at it in print and on the Web for more than 15 years. In 2006, she delved into environmental and green writing, a natural extension of her interest in organic food and cooking. While job hunting last year, she started Going Green DC as a way to continue to write regularly. “There wasn’t a good local online resource for all things green, so I decided to fill the void,” she says.
Now Cohen has been blogging for about a year, posting at least once a week on environmental news, products, restaurants, and sustainable living. To celebrate her blog’s birthday this month, Cohen is opening her writing space to outside contributors. If you’re interested in writing for her ecoblog, click here for details.
Before moving to Washington at age seven, Cohen lived in England, where she says she was “raised on whole-wheat bread and organic food before it was chic.” We put her to the test recently and picked her brain about all things ecofriendly. Where to shop? How to be green at work? What to compost? Read on for her answers.
The biggest environmental issue facing our area:
“Traffic congestion and the resulting pollution.”
Greenest building in town:
“I don’t know if it’s the greenest, but the Natural Resources Defense Council building on New York Avenue has formaldehyde-free carpets and ceiling tiles, countertops made of soybeans and recycled newspapers, an energy-efficient lighting system, and energy-saving computers and appliances. There are also a bunch of buildings with green roofs including the USDA, Lofts 11, and One Judiciary Square.”
Three simple ways to green a home:
“Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). Turn out the lights and unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Install programmable thermostats to turn the heat down in the evening and up—ideally to 68 degrees in winter—during the day. Clean with vinegar instead of Windex.”
Three products, items, or things people would be surprised to learn have organic alternatives:
“Doughnuts, bed linens, and vodka (there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere). I stumbled on the doughnuts at a Smashing Pumpkins concert in Charlottesville a few months ago. The creation of a husband-and-wife team known as Carpe Donut, they’re made with organic flour, organic eggs, local apple cider, and organic spices. Addictive.”
An item people would be surprised to learn is able to be composted:
“It’s kind of gross, but you can compost vacuum dust—except if you have mostly synthetic carpet. Honestly, though, I haven’t been near a compost since I lived in the UK. Apartment living doesn’t lend itself to composting.”
How to help your office go green:
“Recycling programs are crucial. Get the powers that be to ditch bottled water and opt for a filtration system instead. Encourage people to take public transportation, carpool, or bike to work. Allow telecommuting. Don’t print documents unless absolutely necessary. Remember the ‘paperless’ office? We’re definitely not there yet.”
An ecofriendly New Year’s resolution everyone should make:
“The last thing I want to do is be holier than thou and preach about what others should be doing. Self-righteousness is such a turnoff. What I will say, though, is that for me personally it’s about being more conscious about what I buy. When I shop, I think, ‘Do I really need that?’ You’d be surprised how many times the answer is no. Last year, I went for about six months without buying anything except essentials—soap, toilet paper, food. And you know what? I didn’t feel deprived.”
Most ecofriendly local restaurant:
“My faves include Java Green and Founding Farmers. Both have good recycling programs and source local ingredients whenever possible. Founding Farmers is DC’s first LEED-certified restaurant and features farm-silo-shaped booth seating made of recycled steel, Paperstone countertops in the restrooms, reclaimed barnwood floors and communal farmhouse tables, green-sourced power, and low-VOC emitting paints. Java Green is independently run and a tasty organic vegetarian/vegan alternative to the downtown chain-restaurant scene.”
Favorite place to shop green:
“I’m trying to shop less, not more. However, I’ve heard Greater Goods has a nice selection of green cleaning products, housewares, and gifts.”
Favorite place to indulge your (organic-only) sweet tooth:
“Sticky Fingers in Columbia Heights. Being right around the corner from me, it’s just a little too convenient.”
Best city or town in the area for recycling:
“Bethesda is setting an excellent example with its recycling efforts. Thanks to Bethesda Green, there are now recycling bins throughout downtown Bethesda, and the organization supports other environmental programs like an electronics-recycling day.”
One thing you hope Obama does to help the environment:
“Increase funding for environmental programs and alternative energy sources.”
Best use of a recycled object you’ve ever seen:
“Do ex-boyfriends count? Just kidding. I’ve seen bike helmets and takeout containers turned into planters.”
Biggest environmental pet peeve:
“SUVs. And seriously, how can anyone drive a Hummer and not be mortified?”
How to buy locally:
“Farmers markets are great for produce and cheese. I also love the organic and natural bath products from Herban Lifestyle in Falls Church.
The latest green trend:
“Recession chic. It goes hand in hand with two core tenets of a greener lifestyle: reuse and recycle. Instead of buying something new, have a clothing swap with friends or update clothes you haven’t worn in a while by having them tailored.”
Favorite local green blog, besides your own:
“Righteous (re)Style.”
Next week, the Blogger Beat talk shop with Joel Gwadz of the bicycle blog Gwadzilla. We find out his favorite bike path, where he shops for gear, and his biggest bicycling pet peeve. Check back next Wednesday for the interview!
Earlier:
The Anti DC
Dekan DC
All Blogger Beat interviews
Have a favorite local blogger you’d like to hear from? Send an e-mail to eleaman@washingtonian.com. More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos
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Category Tags: Blogger Beat
Comments
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservationand improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements
Posted by: Mashiur, Nov 14, 2011 11:43:04 PM
7 At the end of the air filled with the desire to shop, windows everywhere Sale, the people involved in purchasing again and again the tide. As long as you look accurate, it is cheaper to buy a variety of favorite long can the good goods. can be concentrated in such raids without reckoning wanton procurement, but also easy to lose, so their reduced to "junk woman".
shopping, celebrities have always charge the former, experience is particularly rich . The stars of the shopping in Hong Kong after discount on large numbers of summer vacation in Hong Kong were more strongly into China. But the star, after all, not a fashion designer, was at a higher level, the reason gold, this issue also invite more place the most active designers and fashion people, personally surgeon, to help you sort out the change of the fashion pulse of new and old, peeling silkworm spinning, out of season rush to buy discount focus and dedication from their losses and gains experience.
Cecilia
raids Location: Times Square, Causeway Bay shopping
focus: the rebate, is cost-effective to buy cosmetics. In addition, Times Square, selling all kinds of girls clothing all year round, it is suitable for Cecilia’s style.
link Beijing: China Friendship Department Store < br> bag bargains key: even if a discount, the top big things, or very expensive. Therefore, learning to Cecilia, a down to meet their own tastes, purchasing power of local girls shopping for their installed it.
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raids Location: Pacific Place shopping
focus: Jessica, said: "buying things, the mood is most important, a discount is still followed. discount when the mind to keep the wrong reason will not buy a shirt. "seasonal, the Pacific Place and other brands such as D & G will hit 5 discount, shoppers are crazy. Jessica shopping frenzy does not belong to the girl, she likes to enjoy a leisurely way to try on clothes in the environment.
Link Beijing: Palace Hotel
bag bargains focus: a world-class brand of seasonal goods, but also enjoy five-star shopping environment. discount store dressing room to be some period of long lines, very annoying.
Carina Lau
mop Location: Central, The Landmark
shopping points: famous discount, the Carina is often the first time in the Landmark in Central to buy some clothes. waiting there almost every day, paparazzi photographed celebrities visiting the shop shapes and sizes. If there were paparazzi be exposed Shu Qi in the Landmark bought the former boyfriend Dawn LV purse.
link Beijing: International Trade
bag bargains focus: mature women have the economic strength of the F1 layer of the LV,cheap jordan shoes, Max & Mara and other big discount, absolutely immense interest.
Shirley
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raids Location: City Plaza shopping
points: Shirley admitted that discount when buying more for the family, prefer the design of flu in some famous small jewelry, see the chic, will be more to buy some souvenirs. Shirley that time to the mid-range priced discount shopping, more affordable, cost-effective.
link Beijing: Oriental Plaza
bag bargains focus :louis vuitton handbags There are many new jewelry store in particular is worth watching.nike shoes
Tsang
raids Location: Causeway Bay shopping Crawford
key: Do not look to see Eric Tsang, in fact, but his authentic "human fashion . "discount in August each year seven seasons, Crawford boutique often as low as 6 fold, Eric Tsang usually discounted selection of men’s time,replica IWC, including attending events to wear suits, usually wear casual clothes when shopping and so on.
Link Beijing: Lufthansa
bag bargains focus: Lufthansa Men do not fancy, but definitely has the quality of content, clothing brands such as BOSS, Xenia class brand, should be the successful man not to be missed Taobao focus.
Anthony Wong
raids Location: Causeway Bay SOGO SOGO shopping
focus: shopping is clearly not just a small girl’s patent, even if it rough as Anthony Wong’s "character man" is also keen to Shopping, I once SOGO SOGO Department Store in Causeway Bay and saw Anthony Wong, accompanied by the Assistant buy clothes. He admitted that from time to time the discount SOGO activities is to attract one of the reasons he went. Anthony Wong preference with punk-style clothing, hand-painted T-shirts and with nail jeans will let Anthony Wong put it down.
link Beijing: SOGO, Parkson
bag bargains key: do not discount timing activities,mbt shoes give you a lot of value for money windfall.
Ekin Cheng
mop Location: Sai Yee Street, (Shoes Street)
shopping focus: not so in love with actress and cosmetics to buy pretty dresses everywhere, like the movement of Ekin Cheng usually buy more emphasis on sports and leisure shoes, so Sneaker Street in Mong Kok he must be free to visit the place. Shoes Street stores selling NIKE, ADIDAS and so on of the newest sports and leisure shoes are usually sold at prices of seven Bazhe it off for the birth does not know how frugal is Ekin Cheng It is a very economical choice, so he does not shoot as long as it will go to buy a few pairs of sneakers Street favorite shoes home.
link Beijing: SOGO Oriental Plaza Sports 100
bag bargains Focus: Sports class clothing. Movement like you, discount,mbt shoes be sure to buy some more.
She Poetry Man
raids Location: Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui shopping
points: Poetry Man She always busy filming, not so ordinary girl visit this store a lot of time, so she likes to Harbour City, you can also see the works of famous fashion designers and international famous brand stores, discount focus when, against a lot of things to be able to Amoy.
Link Beijing: World all Stores
bag bargains focus: people who do not have much time, the best brands on all of this high place,replica Rolex, one will be able to scrape together almost.
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Posted by: sneakercn, Jun 29, 2011 04:22:27 AM
Congratulations
Iam a spanish woman and my husband went towashington in september this year to found help to black comunities. Our organization is Life Foundation Green Group (FUNDACION VIDA GRUPO ECOLOGICO VERDE) my housband is the president Luis Alberto Alarcon Valencia. We live in Madrid an we like give a kiss to Sacha Cohen for his good work If some members of Washingtonian of she, cometo Spain to speak about WASHINGTONIAN WORK ECOFRIENDLY MEETING TO LEARN ORGANIC ALTERNATIVES in little space, we like have one house to two persons in our family ¿perphaps?
CONTACT rosemariext@yahoo.es
91 5220405 / 690 30 53 52
Posted by: wilaya, Feb 15, 2010 01:39:03 AM
The most effective green solutions will be those that programs that people are willing to embrace for the long term.
For instance, people will embrace options which save energy, money, time and reduce green house gas emissions.
Remote work options for office workers does all of these things.
Not everyone is prepared to work from home, but that does not mean that people have to continue commuting long distances to work each day.
Remote Office Centers allow people to work out of an office near their home. They provide quality office facilities, internet and phone systems to workers from different companies.
There is a free web site that lists ROCs by city:
http://www.remoteofficecenter.com
Posted by: aullman, Jan 09, 2009 10:18:13 PM
Nice to see Sacha on The Washingtonian! Some good tips, too. I like the idea of Recession Chic.
Posted by: Joe Flood, Jan 07, 2009 11:16:37 AM
Love me some clothing swaps, too! Also, Goodwill is having a trunk show on January 17th at Greater Goods on U Street from 12pm - 3pm, so you can buy used and be green friendly. We’ll also be accepting donations!
Great interview, Sacha. Keep up the green work! -the DCGF
Posted by: the DC Goodwill Fashionista, Jan 07, 2009 08:48:34 AM
Awesome suggestions—thanks!
Posted by: Emily Leaman, Jan 07, 2009 08:25:12 AM
Great interview with Sacha!
I wanted to add a few things to her great suggestions:
One of the best ways to green your home (if you live in a house) is to seal all leaks and gaps that let heated/air conditioned air escape. You won’t have to run your heater/aircon as much if the air isn’t leaking out. Getting an energy audit done is incredibly worth it and I think that you can still get a free one from the DC Dept. of the Environment. I had it done a few months ago and we were SO surprised by the location of all our leaks. Weird places. Seriously.
Although I have been shopping less as well, I am not against it overall. What we should be doing is moving more toward a culture where things are made to last through several owners. Therefore, I suggest buying either well-made new items (that fit you well!! and will last longer than a season) or buying vintage and secondhand clothing. I LOVE vintage clothing because it is so well made . . . hello! it made it through decades to end up in my closet!! Can you see your average dress from Ann Taylor making it that long? Hmpph! Not likely. So, I encourage everyone, if you are feeling an itch to buy something new, consider that it be "new to you" and look for consignment and vintage stores.
Oh, and swaps are great!
Posted by: Righteous (re)Style, Jan 07, 2009 08:06:38 AM
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