Together, we started with the basics: changing light bulbs, recycling, curbing energy usage. We moved on to greener driving, vacations, and holidays. We learned of the importance of eating healthy, organic, locally grown produce. We talked about hybrid cars and other green consumer decisions. But my main goal from the start was to impart critical thinking skills that will help to teach us awareness of how our individual actions impact our environment every single day, and how we are all responsible for making changes in our own lives that will help towards a much, much larger solution. And I have felt proud and fulfilled of the work that we have accomplished together. But, I know that I can have an even bigger impact, I can do more.

While I have enjoyed my tenure here at KCSM very much, I have decided to follow my environmental convictions even further, and will be leaving in the next few weeks. I am currently pursuing some very exciting career possibilities in the environmental advocacy not-for-profit sector and am hoping to work for an organization whose mission is pursuing solutions to curb global climate change. I feel that with my experience mixed with my passion, I will be able to make a significant contribution towards the solution. It is with bittersweet emotion that I must tell you that this will be my final blog post here at kcsm.org.

I hope that over the past months I have been able to share something that has benefitted each one of you personally. Virginia Woolf wrote “The first duty of a lecturer- to hand you after an hour’s discourse a nugget of pure truth to wrap up between the pages of your notebooks and keep on the mantelpiece for ever.” This has driven me to try me best to give you something that resonated, something that you could incorporate into your routine that would make you feel pleased and proud about your own contribution. I hope that you find I have accomplished my duty.

As I continue my personal green journey, I’d like to invite you to continue along with me. My blog will move from the KCSM website to jamesmasonball.com and I will continue to report on my ongoing evolution there. As I begin my new career, I can only learn more about how we all can work together to solve the global climate crisis. And I pledge to keep sharing nuggets with you.

Thank you all for your feedback over the past year and a half, and especially for your supportive words and encouragement.

And most importantly, keep living green…for us all. We must all play our part. You are an integral part of the solution!

Earth Hour Official Site

As the Bay Area’s Education Station, KCSM feels it is important to be a resource that you can turn to for information and learning in all areas.  To further extend our mission into the area of ecology and preservation seems only natural. The intent of these green pages is to provide education and subject matter that can help us all to know best how to help our environment.

James Mason Ball is the Business Operations Manager for KCSM TV and FM. Here he will marry his conviction of environmental stewardship with his passion for the written word, and will be sharing his own personal experience of learning how to live sustainably while navigating an ever challenging course as he goes about his daily life. Go Green With James is his attempt to not only document his endeavors at learning how to tread as lightly as possible on our planet, but to share what he learns along the way with you, so that you too can better know how to live a green life.

This blog is a labor of love for James.

Both James and KCSM are fully committed to improving our community and our world through education and action. We will be bringing to you new and interesting environmental topics and content in these pages, so check back regularly for more tips on how to live more sustainably. Together, we can really make a difference.

SOME EASY CHANGES TO GET YOU STARTED:

♦ALWAYS RECYCLE!  Not only does recycling keep waste out of our already overflowing landfills and helps to conserve our natural resources, it also takes less energy to collect and reconstitute recyclable material than it does to mine and produce new raw materials.

♦Change your bulbs. One of the easiest and least expensive changes that you can make is changing your household light bulbs from traditional incandescent to CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights.) CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents.   And, less energy used equals lower power bills!

♦Wait to do laundry until you have a full load, and then wash using the cold water cycle. A washer takes between 30 to 60 gallons of water per load.  You will save energy and water, and even more money.

♦Install low-flush toilets or place a plastic bottle filled with stones in your existing toilet tank. Both will reduce the volume of water stored in the tank and used per flush, but will still be adequate for flushing.

♦Keep your vehicle tuned up, check that your tires are properly inflated and replace your air filter.  These minor changes can improve your gas mileage by up to 4%, 10% and 3% respectively.

♦Shop for fruits and vegetables at your local farmers market.  By supporting your local growers, you can have a positive impact in many ways.  You are keeping your dollars within your own community to help the local economy.  Many fruits and vegetables at farmers markets are grown sustainably and/or organically, keeping pesticides and other chemicals out of the soil, air and water supply.  The energy used to transport your produce is much lower than produce shipped across the world.  And the best part is the taste:  absolutely amazing!  Most fruits and vegetables available at a farmers market are picked fresh, many times just hours before you purchase it.  Also, it’s a great way to interact with your friends and neighbors.

♦Purchase carbon offsets from organizations that invest in clean energy projects. Did you know that PG&E customers can zero out the carbon emissions that their power and natural gas usage creates for just a few more dollars added to your bill each month?  Visit PG&E’s ClimateSmart program for more info.

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