MOVIN' ON UP, TO THE SKY: GREEN GIRL DIGS
Okay, Green Girls. Not to be “Debbie Downer,” but time for an all out beeyotch-fest. Although I can sympathize with those of you who hail from colder climes…those of us in SoCal – in particular, HellAy - have just experienced our first unbelievably hot day. No…hot is much too kind a word. The air was actually wavy with heat and the only thing I could successfully do today was what I like to call “my calisthenics regimen” which basically consists of getting up only to lay back down several dozen times. The heat does make me lethargic and a little crabby, I must admit. I should be alive with the sound of music and frolicking about showing off my eco-pedicure in my spanking new Dr. Scholl kicks. Instead, I find myself planning a prison break and plotting how many degrees latitude north I need to move to improve my mood. Hello, Canada?
For us mortgage-less souls i.e. apartment dwellers, we have little control over insulation and weather 
proofing options, unfortunately. Hell…my building just sprung for recycling bins. I dare not hope for anything as forward thinking as solar panels any millennium soon. And many of you know, aside from the counter top composter and light bulbs, there’s only so much you can do to “eco-up” your pad and combat global warming – at least inside your own place.
I actually started poking around online to see if I could actually find “green” apartments in my area and what exactly they consider “green.” Modern Green Living offered up some “eco-planned” communities in Manhattan, Austin, Seattle, Denver, D.C., and Nashville among others. Okay…typed in my zip code…zilch, nothing available in my area…but still, good to know about – some LEED certified, some mixed-use, some with solar paneling, etc. Village Green similarly offers a green apartment search in 12 states – still nothing in my area. Also, good to know about. “Since 1919, Village Green Companies is also a proud leader in developing and operating environmentally Green apartment communites.”
No matter what search terms I cram into the Google search box, I cannot for the life of me find any eco-apartment buildings or listings. What the F? I mean, every green food, clothing and automotive trend abounds here. You can’t drive two blocks (literally you can’t drive two blocks here very easily) without seeing Vegan this, Raw Food that, BioDiesel this, etc. Hell, the entire parking lot in my apartment building houses a fleet of
Priuses for cryin’ out loud. Are we Angelenos a city of “cucumbers?” You know, green on the outside and white on the inside? According the the Los Angeles Time’s blog “Emerald City," “There aren't a whole lot of green apartments in L.A. While L.A.'s embraced green building of late, that embrace has so far been reserved mostly for bigger office buildings and homes -- and lately, condos and lofts (for sale, not rent). Sadly, we have more eco-mansions in L.A. than we do eco-apartments. “ Yep…I knew it…we’re total cucumbers.
So am I doomed to live in Hades and languish around my polluted, Hades-like apartment forever? I
mean there’s gotta be something I don’t know about keeping cool this summer while keepin’ it green, right? I am looking into adding another air-conditioner unit to my place so that I don’t instantaneously self-combust this summer. I don’t have central air because back in the day, when these units were constructed, they didn’t anticipate total ozone layer collapse and more cars than Detroit. But before I do that – I really need some research. In many ways, selecting an air-conditioner is more important here in L.A. than a car, or a soul mate even. I am so not kidding you. I would like to take a survey to see how many violent crimes are committed in Los Angeles when rolling blackouts happen and people are cut off from the cool air. The A.C. is like crack here.
Before I do that, Green Apartment’s blog reminds us about a very important factor in keeping the heat out and one I always forget year-after-year. Window insulation. They suggest 3M Indoor Window Insulator Kit. I meandered down to my local Depot and it’s super cheap and seems like even moi – not the handiest around the house – can do this project. That I like:D. Cheap. Check. Chick-friendly. Check. And TreeHugger and Low-Impact Living also have some great reminders, tips and tricks for apartment dwellers, too.
Now about that air-con unit. I’m going to need a little help on this one. Type type type into the search
engine for me. I’m enlisting the help of some green experts from Discovery Green for this. Gotta bring out the big guns here. That is if I haven’t melted yet. Any tips from you all out there? BTW, you’ve been so amazingly helpful and insightful with your comments and tips...thanks Green Girls and Green Guys! You know what to do!
If green is the new black, shouldn't you know what you're wearing?
