I met Lauren Yarmuth at the same Sustainable Symposium where I met Ben. She's an architect by training and now works as a sustainability consultant — and she's a fantastic source of knowledge on sustainable building products + renovation. Lauren is the co-founder of YRG sustainability. She works with the LEED Green Building Rating System, which she's supported for hundreds of projects nationally and internationally. Lauren also works with a cool nonprofit called Green Collaborative, that helps people incorporate environmentally effective actions in their daily lives. I asked Lauren to share green goals in her life. [Tomorrow I have an entire post on Lauren's tips for building, renovating, and decorating in a greener fashion.]
1. three simple ways you've gone greener in your life
+ moving from out west, where more driving is required, into Manhattan
+ buying bulk and local foods
+ working in the sustainability field
2. last green purchase
recycled glass countertop
3. one green initiative you'd like to see enacted in your community
community gardens growing food
4. best green gift you've given, received, or coveted
Deep Green Living gift pack [wow, I want one of these!]
5. hardest habit to break to be more eco-friendly
shopping for fashion
6. three ways you want to be greener this year
+ reduce my carbon footprint from plane travel
+ eat more local food
+ reduce waste from packaging
[I heart local food shirts and more from Cafe Press]
NEWS: I'm winding down the Green Swap series. I have a couple more posts that won't be up until next week, including the feature on greener alternatives to dry cleaning that I'm excited to share. I'm a bit sad to see this daily series go — it's been my favorite part of the Haystack Needle so far. Thank you for the warm response to Green Swap —I really appreciate your notes. After next week, I will likely add a Green Swap post on occasion when I meet someone who would be a fantastic q + a or I find out more on some green topic that I'd love to share. Thanks to everyone for joining me on this green journey! I can't wait to put in action some of what I've learned. I'm aiming to make slow food + local organic food a big part of our meals this year.
Thanks, Lauren, for being a part of Green Swap! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more on building a greener home.
{green swap photograph by charlotte jenks lewis}
yesterday's q+a: shobha of shobha threading
tomorrow's q+a: author helen coronato
what's green swap? find out more here
