Greening The Inaugural Ball

Today is the big day and it is time to C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E.!!!!! For DC greenies, that means its time to get gussied up and hit the town for the .

Hosted by green guru, Former Vice President Al Gore, The Green Ball is sponsored by a list of eco-organizations a mile long, including The League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resource Defense Fund, National Wildlife Fund, and the Sierra Club.

Last week, I talked to Shelley Cohen, chair of the Green Committee for the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball to find out just how “green” this green ball would be.  According to Cohen, the forces behind The Green Ball looked at every possible way that could green the event.  “We really wanted to raise the bar for future events,” said Cohen.  Here’s how they did it:

• Offsetting 100% of The Green Ball’s carbon footprint through Native Energy.
• Serving locally-sourced, organic and seasonal food.
• Recycling, reusing, and composting as much event waste as possible.
• Using biodegradable trash bags to line waste containers.
• Lighting with LED light bulbs.
• Minimizing paper and signage use.
• Printing using only soy based ink.
• Using biodegradable soap and energy efficient air dryers in bathrooms.
• Cleaning linens without the use of chemicals, and in a manner that uses less water and drying time.
• Using just a few organic floral decorations that will be donated for reuse after the event.
• Encouraging attendees were encouraged to use metro, walk, or drive a hybrid to the event.
• Prohibiting the idling to trucks in the loading bays.
• Using a “green” carpet that is made with 100 percent renewable electrical energy and is made of 10% consumer waste.
• Using reusable numbers instead of paper tags in the coat check.
• Encouraging guests to offset their own carbon footprints through Native Energy.

Cohen admits that there were other things they wanted to do, such as donating all of the leftover food from the event that they could not do because of the limitations set by the security zones for the event.  One thing that I thought was really interesting is that a lot of these things are doable for the rest of us…for formal holiday parties, your high schooler’s prom, or the upcoming charity ball.  Their list of eco-initiatives serves as a good starting point for planning a green event.

So what do you think?  Does The Green Ball meet up to its name? What else could have done to make this event even greener?

Show Off Your Red, White, Blue and Green!

The big day is almost here.  In just a few short hours, President-Elect Obama will officially become President Obama as he is sworn in as our nation’s 44th president.

The 2009 Inauguration will be one for the history books.  And regardless of your politics, it’s one that you won’t want to miss.  Fortunately, the events and celebrations of this year’s Inauguration aren’t limited to the DC metro area.  Anyone with a TV or streaming online video can watch and participate.  In fact, the Presidential Inaugural Committee is urging folks to avoid the crowds and cold weather and watch the event at home.

This is a great time to put politics aside and get together with friends, family, and neighbors to break bread and watch history in the making.  Here’s how to host a green inauguration party:

Keep It Local: Serve locally grown and produced foods. Keep it simple by making your event potluck and challenge your guests to bring a dish that contains locally grown ingredients.

Save Paper: Skip the disposables and use dishes, utensils, and napkins that can be washed and reused rather than disposables. If your hosting a mega Inauguration Gala, consider purchasing biodegradable plates, cups, and utensils that can be tossed in the compost bin.

Show Your True Colors: Enlist your kids’ help in coming up with dishes that show off your patriotic spirit. And no, I don’t mean red or blue.  I mean red, white, and blue.  Try red peppers, apples, strawberries, red grapes, raspberries, red kidney beans, potato salad, white asparagus, cauliflower, cheese, chick peas, navy beans, popcorn, tofu, blueberries, and blue corn chips.

Serve Up Your Roots: Add a little fun to your fiesta by serving up locally-sourced, organically grown versions of these favorite foods of our past presidents:

George Washington: Crab soup
John Adams: Hard apple cider
Thomas Jefferson: Ice cream
James Madison: Gingerbread
John Tyler: Pudding
Abraham Lincoln: Oysters

Ulysses Grant: Cucumbers soaked in vinegar
Woodrow Wilson: Chicken salad
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fruitcake

Dwight Eisenhower: Prune whip

Lyndon Johnson: Chili
Richard Nixon: Cottage cheese and ketchup
Jimmy Carter: Peanuts
Ronald Reagan: Jelly Beans
George W. Bush: Fruit salad