Want to build a better body and help the environment at the same time? An easy way to go about doing this is to run or bike to work every day, but let's take that a step further by also running or biking to the gym. And, once at that gym, your conservation efforts don't end there; in fact, they increase. This is the philosophy behind a growing trend in the fitness industry: Green Gyms.

The New York Times recently did a piece (titled "How Powerful is Your Gym?") about a gym in Portland, OR, one of many around the country that are dedicated to protecting the environment. In addition to utilizing solar-powered electricity for their energy-efficient treadmills and elliptical machines, many of these same machines are actually constructed to generate energy.

Environmentally-conscious people from all walks of life are drawn to green gyms. Some enjoy the no-frills approach to fitness they offer (many don't even have showers or drinking fountains), while others appreciate the opportunity to make a difference by reducing their carbon footprint. In all cases, people seem to be hip to the idea, and that creates a very promising outlook for the future of our health and the health of the world we live in.

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Fitness fans are constantly told to replace their workout shoes in a timely manner. But after your pair of trusty friends are worn out, they often end up in a landfill -- for too many years. If your midsole is made from traditional Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), you're looking at possibly 1,000 years in a landfill before a pair breaks down. That's one large carbon footprint.

Good news arrives today on two fronts. Not only is it Earth Day -- claps and cheers for our Mother Earth -- I also just discovered Brooks running shoes is launching a revolutionary new midsole which biodegrades 50 times faster than EVA.

Named BioMoGo, Brooks has transformed their original long-lasting MoGo midsole to be more environmentally friendly. They added a non-toxic, natural additive to speed up the anaerobic microbe munch rate once the shoe finds its final resting space in a landfill. BioMoGo soles can biodegrade into reusable byproducts within 20 years, which Brooks alone estimates will save 29.9 millions pounds of landfill waste over 20 years. BioMoGo will initially be available July 2008 in their Trance 8 shoe, with all MoGo midsole performance shoes featuring the new technology by year-end 2009.

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According to this article, China and Australia have been named the greenest countries in the world -- that is, they're the places where citizens are most concerned about environmental issues like global warming. They're also the countries that are most likely to buy 'green' products and services.

This discovery seemed to come as a surprise to researchers, but while I had no idea that the Chinese were so environmentally-friendly, I predicted Australia would take a top spot. When I was there a few months ago, I was surprised at all the steps Australians took to conserve the environment. Plastic bags, for instance, were nearly unheard of -- everyone carries fabric bags when they do their shopping. And throwing leftover food in the trash? No way -- it goes in the compost.

Another surprise? Canadians also ranked highly on the list because 60% of Canadians say they are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. But where I live in Western Canada, SUVs and constant littering prevail -- much to my chagrin.

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Have you been making an effort to eat locally? Why? There are lots of reasons, but one of the biggest ones is the thought that the shorter the distance food travels to get to you the smaller the carbon footprint it leaves in the way of consuming fossil fuels. But measuring the environmental impact by "food miles" alone can be surprisingly misleading. Once other factors like production, water use, and harvesting techniques are put in the equation suddenly local isn't always better.

Case in point: lamb raised in the lush fields of New Zealand and shipped across the ocean by boat to England use four times less energy and environmental resources than lamb raised in British pastures, because there the fields are exhausted and the farmers use feed. And meat isn't the only product where it may be more energy-efficient to buy it from across the globe than from across town, similar situations were found for dairy and fruit.

Wow, what a mess. How are we supposed to know?

Via Slashfood

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Whether the 37th anniversary of Earth Day has you planting trees, working in your garden, enjoying (finally!) the arrival of spring, or just having a quiet Sunday morning, here are some tips for making this year your "greenest" yet.

If you pick just one thing off this list to change in your own life, you'll be going a long way toward improving the health of the Earth and it's citizens. For instance, did you know that if every person in America replaced just 5 conventional light bulbs in their home with compact fluorescent bulbs, it would be like taking 8 million cars off the road? (Plus, you'll save money!) Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, combining errands into one trip, and recycling your newspapers (or switching to reading them online) are all changes you can make that won't impact your life in a big way. If you're interested in bigger changes, however, you can always look into energy alternatives or research green vehicles.

Finally, take some time today to measure your carbon footprint. This one was a shocker for me. I like to think I make a decent effort to reduce my own carbon footprint, but even so, if everyone lived like I did we'd need 4.3 planet Earth's to support us! There are some things I can't change easily (size of my house, my car's gas mileage), but there are many that I can (eat less meat, eat more local foods). Take the quiz and see how you do! Finally, here's a fun way to keep track of your progress as you make green changes to your life.

Happy Earth Day!

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