It all started at the kitchen table with the quest to find a source of alternative energy.
The mission was simple - to "go green" by placing solar panels on the roof of a barn. Deborah Jones Barrow and her husband soon discovered, however, despite its reputation as the "information highway," the Internet was not the easiest place to find the help they needed.
Barrow, a media industry executive, said that was when her husband gave her the idea to create a Web site for everyday people who are trying to go green. The result, www.thedailygreen.com, recently launched as a BETA version.
Among many other features, the Web site will include daily eco-tips, national and international environmental news, advice on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle, recipes that are hormone and pesticide-free and ideas for creating a toxin-free home.
Hearst Magazine Digital Group, a unit of Hearst Corporation, collaborated with Barrow on the project. She said Hearst exemplifies a real commitment to environmentalism. Hearst's contributions to the green movement include the construction of the Hearst Tower, the first gold LEED certified, or "green," building in New York City.
Not only does Hearst support Barrow's enthusiasm for preserving the environment, it has the ability to incrase the website's exposure.
"I want the Web site to help regular people go green," she said. "It's environmentalism for the rest of us."
The Daily Green Web site will help the everyday consumer through features like "One Easy Thing." With just the click of a mouse, people can read daily tips that will help them live more eco-friendly lives. Barrow said the tips deal with things as simple as car tires.
"You don't have to go hybrid if it's not accessible," she said. "But by doing something like making sure your tires are inflated, you can conserve energy and make a difference."
Another suggestion deals with the inevitable question - paper or plastic. According to Barrow, the answer is neither. Instead, consider purchasing a reusable hemp bag for food shopping.
Content will be an important element of the Web site, as well as contributions by existing members of the green movement. An example of what Barrow refers to as "community tools" is the "Weird Weather Watch". This feature is designed for people who are not scientists but notice things changing in the environment around them. This feature will allow the community to contribute to a climate change blog Barrow is in the process of creating.
According to Barrow, the marketing for The Daily Green is atypical because it is not geared toward a particular demographic. Typical demographics do not work with the green movement because it crosses all age groups.
She said college students, graduates, professionals and newlyweds are all joining the movement from different places with the same mindset.
The launch of The Daily Green coincides with a heightened awareness of environmental issues in the global community, and the influence has been felt on the university campus as well.
Senior Jeff Haas, co-chair of this year's senior-class gift committee, is helping to institute a recycling program for the university. The program, voted on by his classmates, will come in phases. The first phase will be making recycling receptacles on campus more visible and easier for students to use. From there, the program can progress to including paper receptacles for print recycling and educational tools such as a Web site.
"I think the main problem on campus is that the option to recycle is not out there in my face," Has said. "Having a more visual aid and just promoting it will hopefully keep the program going."
He said directing attention toward a Web site is a great tool, because students are on the Internet all the time.
"I learned from my marketing class this is the way to target people," Haas said.
He said he hopes this year's class gift will pioneer an initiative that will be embraced by the remaining students so it can continue to grow after the senior class graduates.
Sophomore Lauren Asprooth, president of Students for the Environment, said students have the ability to advance the program.
The university is traditionally seen as an apathetic community, Asprooth said. She cited the Sustainable Endowment Institute's environmental report card as evidence. The group rated the environmental sustainability of the university as a "C-". Despite this, Asprooth said things seem to be getting better.
For starters, S4E is bigger than ever and is getting a lot done on campus, she said. One of the group's biggest campaigns is focused on wind power. Asprooth said S4E is trying to get legislation passed at the university that will require eight percent of the total electricity be derived from wind power.
"I can say the reason the campus is generally apathetic is because people just don't know," she said. "Information and knowledge is the best way to get people interested and motivated. We need to create awareness because awareness leads to combating apathy."
Barrow said she is aware potential college students have to become active participants in the green movement. The official launch of the Web site in September will be accompanied by Daily Green pages on Myspace.com and Facebook.com. The content of the pages will be more blog-like. However; Barrow said she has ideas for initiating recycling contests among universities.
"So much is going to come from the generation in college because you are growing up with a green point of view whereas so many people have to learn it later," she said. "It's not just another thing for you guys, it's like breathing."
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our feed
Contact us through email
Be the first to comment on this article!