About This Site:

Many years ago after I graduated with a masters degree in sustainable business practices, a close friend asked me, now that I was an “expert,” what the best energy source was.  I have been asked questions like this one many times over the years, be it energy source, cleaning product, food item, mode of transportation, etc.  Ultimately the answer typically comes down to “it depends.”  More than anything else, Sustainability means applying as much information as you can to understand the weight and impacts of your choices – and knowing that ANY choice you make will have an impact of some kind.  The purpose of this site is to document my exploration of different ways to reduce my own footprint and live mindfully.
BUT FIRST! I hereby slap the biggest disclaimer I can on myself and this site: I do not live the life of an ascetic, nor have I ever claimed to be an expert. I drive not one, but two gasoline-powered cars; I own boots made from vegan leather and cow leather (understanding the drawbacks of both); I have an embarrassingly water-intensive hobby (homebrewing).
If you are here, I assume you are interested in learning more about small (or big) steps you can take to reduce your impact on the planet.  For my part, I will share what I have learned through reading, listening, and doing. What I share may not be the most recent or complete information, but I will do my best to make sure it is.
Friendly discussion is welcome and encouraged on this site, but all I ask is that is that everyone who comes here treats others with respect and civility.
We are all learning.

Recent Blog Posts

Learning something new every day...

The Maruchan Candidate

Affordability often comes with a price somewhere in the supply chain. In the case of instant noodles, it could be deforestation for ingredients and oil extraction for packaging long before the noodles hit the store and/or adverse health outcomes long after they hit the stomach. Nevertheless, this invention was an unexpected marvel that buoyed the Japanese economy and still supports disaster relief efforts worldwide.

Rodents of Unusual Size

Tokyo is an absolute playground for novel activities, and one thing on our do-to list for this last trip was visiting a capybara cafe. This South American rodent has won the hearts of the Japanese with its easy going demeanor and cross-species friendships. Of course, any interactions with exotic animals beg questions of ethics: what are the benefits and the costs of these visits?

Climate Lab: Japan – Insights, Continued

As our time in the Climate Lab came to an end, we began thinking about what we had learned in the program and how to apply it to our work moving forward. My lessons from Japan highlighted the value of broad perspectives that hold room for a variety of ideas. I hope to use this concept to help build bridges across unlikely groups.