» Green Living

Toronto to New York City Travel Options

Lisa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:18:29 +0000

This journey actually involves going from London to Toronto to New York with a stop over in Washington in an attempt to make the most out of one transatlantic trip. The following represents one leg of the journey.

Distance: approximately 500 miles

Option 1: Train

Route: Toronto (Union Station) to NYC (Penn Station) direct

Time: 13 hours (approx.)

Cost: $97 US (Coach)/ $127 (Business) -one way

Carbon output: low (~45.1kg)

Info: http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak

Option 2: Bus

Route: Toronto to NYC (Port Authority Bus Terminal/Penn Station) direct

Time: 11.5 -12.5 hours (approx.)

Cost: $72 US -one way

Carbon output: low (~23.5kg)

Info: http://www.trailwaysny.com/index.asp

http://www.megabus.com/us/ (has free wi-fi)

http://www.greyhound.com/home/ (has free wi-fi and “eco-friendly” buses)

Option 3: Plane

Route: Toronto Pearson Airport to NYC La Guardia direct

Time: 1.5 hours

Cost: $203 CND one-way/$366 CND return

Carbon output: high (~111.7kg)

Info: www.expedia.ca

Option 4: Car share

Route: various – Toronto to NYC

Time: 9 hours (approx.)

Cost: various (gas money)

Carbon output: med to high (50-180kg depending)

Info: http://www.sharetheroad.com/categories.php?parent_id=259

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/rid/

To note: We’ve found an Amtrak train from New York to Washington. It’s only 3-4 hours and costs around $72 US.

London Leaders Programme

Ben Todd — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:09:48 +0000

“London Leaders brings together London’s leading lights in sustainability, to deliver real change, and inspire others to do the same“.

The London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) launched London Leaders in October 2007 to inspire and catalyse positive change, demonstrate sustainability in action, and increase London’s capacity for sustainable development leadership.

By bringing together sustainability leaders from all walks of life across London, SDC’s intention is to demonstrate the power of crosssector partnership and innovation for tackling London’s sustainability challenges and delivering improvements in quality of life. The goal is to motivate and empower individuals, organisations and communities to take responsibility and make the changes necessary to realise the vision of making London a global benchmark for sustainable development.

To find out more have a look at:
http://www.londonsdc.org/londonleaders/

Future Arcola was part of Ben’s London Leader pledge

Looking for Greener Festivals?

Fanny Deleris — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:18:47 +0000

Summer is coming and festivals are blooming all around the world.
But have you ask yourself how green is your festival?

Please find here some links to achieve more sustainable festival events!

The European Festival Association Yourope is dedicated to improving the European festival scene in terms of working conditions, health and safety issues, environmental awareness and in promoting the cross-border exchange of live music talent. Developed in 2006, the Green’n’Clean Internet tool contains detailed information on how to manage and implement an environmentally friendly festival. For more information www.yourope.org or please contact: yourope@yourope.org
Click here for ‘Green’n'Clean’ PDF download.

AGreenerFestival was set up in 2006 to champion the sustainable events and environmentally friendly music and arts festivals. The organisation “is not for profit” and it’s main activity is to facilitate the exchange of best practice through the website www.agreenerfestival.com. The Organisation also promote the annual awards scheme (The Greener Festival Awards) for green festivals in association with the UK Festival Awards. The first winners of the award in 2007 included The Glastonbury Festival, Lattitude, The Big Chill and the Sunrise Celebration. AGreenerFestival actively supports Julies Bicycle, the UK’s cross music initiative on climate change and YOUROPE’s Green n Clean initiative for European festivals.
Contact: A Greener Festival Ltd 8 Henley Prior Collier Street London N1 9JU
Ben Challis: benchallis@aol.com
Press: Sam Hinde sam@freemanpr.net

Green Futures Festivals aims to reveal the appropriate systems required to create a sustainable lifestyle and ecology, whilst also supporting personal and spiritual freedom. They aim to influence contemporary education systems. Based upon the premise that a safe, inspirational and self sustaining society will not just happen but will have to be built, Green Futures Festivals welcomes all who have an interest in this kind of future to work cohesively. By sharing information and providing a forum for interactive exploration we hope to move toward our goals.
Green Futures Festivals 28 Gibbon Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6AB
http://greenfuturesfestivals.org.uk

Greening the Uk Music Industry

Fanny Deleris — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:54:56 +0000

Julie’s Bicycle is a not for profit company established to find ways to reduce the UK music industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. They are working with science and industry to find achievable and effective solutions for the music industry and beyond.

In July 2007 Julie’s Bicycle commissioned the Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University, to provide a scoping on the UK music industry’s carbon emissions.
The research findings were presented on April 18th at the Royal Geographic Society, London.

Julie’s Bicycle ‘First Step’ Executive Summary
Julie’s Bicycle ‘First Step’ Full Report
‘First Step’ Technical Note

Easy green initiatives for your company

lloyd — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:54:38 +0000

Bryan Raven from White Light has very kindly provided us with a presentation on how they, as a theatre-lighting supply company, are going about improving their operations and procurement. They also give a handy list of improvements that they either have, should, or wish to implement—great for ideas on how to green up your own business!

Here are a few to start off with:

Receive payments & invoices electronically
Use time switches to switch off printers & coffee machines when not in use
Operate a Ride2work scheme
Paper-free board meetings
Use only discharge lamps such as fluorescents for office & warehouse lighting
Turn off our PC & monitors every night
Considering the impact of purchases, using local suppliers, shipping rather than
flying, etc.
Installing showers to encourage more people to cycle
Investigating “greener” energy suppliers for gas & electricity
Collect used batteries/lamps from West-End theatres/venues & recycle

Link to presentation

Looking for eco-friendly suppliers?

Fanny Deleris — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:36:01 +0000

In March 2008, we visited the Ecobuild exhibition in Earl’s Court. With 500 exhibitors and 500 speakers, Ecobuild 2008 is one of the world’s biggest events dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment.

We have created lists of suppliers for ecobuilding and sustainable construction from the exhibitors at this event:

Suppliers for water management
Suppliers of eco-friendly paints
Suppliers of renewable energy technology
Suppliers for surface alternatives
Publications about sustainability and ecobuilding

(Please note that we haven’t worked personally with these suppliers, so we can’t take any responsibility for the quality of their services.)

Green Tips

Fanny Deleris — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:28:18 +0000

Did you enjoy what Arcola is doing for the environment?
Please find below some tips to help the environment in your day-to-day!

How to save energy?
How to save resources?
How to consum?
How to travel?

Every action counts!

These documents have been created by Giulia Mininni.