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GOING GREEN | January 2012

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Subscribe
Sign up to receive the latest issues of Going Green the environmental digital magazine of The Commercial Appeal - as they are released. The e-magazine is published on the last Sunday of each month. Subscriptions are free to subscribers of The Commercial Appeal, simply follow the one-time Going Green registration process to obtain access. Upon registration, home delivery subscribers to The Commercial Appeal receive access to the digital product at no additional cost.

Find free e-books, even if you don't own an e-reader

Reading books on your laptop is one option for minimizing how many paper books you consume. It's true that it isn't as energy efficient as reading a book if you end up reading for hours on end, and might be rough on the eyes, yet it's still a good way to get your reading fix in while traveling or when you can't make it to the library. And it's definitely a good alternative to buying loads of new books to get your reading fix. Here are the some ways to get free e-books.
Library: Many libraries now offer ebook services. Log on to your library's website to find out what they offer likely it's NetLibrary. Usually it's quick to search and download e-books that you can keep on your computer for a couple weeks. Often you can also find audio versions to listen to on your computer. Freebies: If you don't have a Kindle, you can still turn your PC into a Kindle-like machine thanks to new software from Amazon. You can then access all the books that you might normally get on a Kindle. There are nearly 20,000 free books available. Google and Sony eLibrary: Similar to the software available for your PC from Kindle, you can download a program to read e-books on your PC (or transfer them to your Sony Reader) and get access to over a million free books thanks to Google. Jaymi Heimbuch, Planet Green

Raise your profile

Elevate your companys profile within the Green Community. Send us a short article or a project outline for consideration in Going Green, explaining what you are doing to green up your lifestyle? Include your preferred contact phone number.

Send in your e-mail address

Well share information and resources to help readers of Going Green swap money-saving tips and information related to green issues and events. Send to keplinger@commercialappeal.com. You can also follow Going Green on Facebook and at twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis .

Editor: Kim Coleman, 529-5243, goinggreen@commercialappeal.com Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger, keplinger@commercialappeal.com

The Commercial Appeal

January 2012 | GOING GREEN

Whats in this issue ...

LOCAL NEWS

22 26 28

Bioworks incubator is planting the seeds for success in a greener business landscape GrowMemphis is now accepting applications for new garden grants Garden cultivates more than food.

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How will we learn for a digital future?

Educators and publishers are beginning to find their place in this new world.

ECO EXPO IV

MY GREEN JOB

TECHNOLOGY

Goal is to educate people about recycling materials in a variety of ways. PAGE 31

Owner of Northern Street Boutique does what comes naturally. PAGE 33

Smart system gives owners control over what goes on in their house. PAGE 34

On the cover: Photo illustration by istockphoto.com

GOING GREEN | January 2012

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Micro Greens...

Sell your unwanted post-breakup items

The old way of dealing with an unfortunate split from a significant other was by tossing their belongings in the trash, letting it collect dust in a closet or burning it in a fit of rage. The new startup business, Never Liked It Anyway, is an eco-friendly way of getting rid of an ex-lovers gifts, posessions and romantic mementos by allowing someone else to reuse them. Everything from computers to clothing are for sale at a fraction of the original cost. Buyers can help a stranger bounce back from a bad break up and keep a perfectly good leather jacket or diamond ring from the landfill. neverlikeditanyway.com
Melody Gordon, Going Green

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January 2012 | GOING GREEN

Green Snap...

Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal

Out with the old

Brody Dotson, 2, checks on his cousin Tannah Benton, 6, as she tumbles off a discarded tree after the family dropped off their Christmas tree for recycling near the Agricenter. The Shelby County government set up tree drop off to recycle trees and wreaths into mulch that will be distributed for free later in the year.
Interested in sharing your green experiences: a bike ride on the Greenline, a successful recycling project or a neighborhood cleanup? Do you have a stunning nature photo? Send your green snapshots to goinggreen@commercialappeal.com with "Green Snaps" in the subject line. E-mail photos as JPEGs that are 1-2 MB in size and include complete caption information, including the full names of everyone featured in the photo. Be sure to include a contact phone number in case we have questions.

GOING GREEN | January 2012

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The Green Page...

Wolf River Conservancy Open House
Jan 12 at Wolf River Conservancy Offices, 3100 Walnut Grove Rd, Suite 503. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

From 11 to 7, you can swing by the Wolf River Conservancy offices to learn more about all the organization does. Get to know the staff, discover volunteer opportunities, preview the 2012 event calendar, join conservation projects and more. This event is open to the public.

Plant Pointers Garden Lectures

Brandon Dill/The Commercial Appeal files

Jan 18 at Lichterman Nature Center, Noon

Chloe Cosby, 10, collects eggs from her family's chicken coop. The chickens not only provide eggs, but also eat weeds and pests while their manure is used for fertilizer.

Learn gardening tips and receive advice for upkeep, maintanence and more from area gardening experts. Admission and parking to this event is free.

Events
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn: Chickens in the Backyard
Jan. 11 at the Memphis Botanic Garden, Noon to 1 p.m

Munch and Learn: A Year of Blooms in the Dixon Gardens with Curt Hart
Jan 25 at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park Ave, Noon to 1 p.m.

Director of horticulture Rick Pudwell talks about raising chickens for eggs or meat. Chickens are allowed in most cities with some stipulations. Pudwell addresses housing, feeding, problems and the day-today care needed to keep a small flock healthy. Free to members or with garden admission. No reservations required. (901) 636-4100.

Spend your lunch break with photographer and University of Memphis faculty member Curt Hart who has spent countless hours photographing the Dixon gardens through all four seasons. This event is free for members, $7 for non-members and $5 for nonmember students.

The Commercial Appeal

January 2012 | GOING GREEN

Right move on fuel efficiency

According to a recent analysis by the Global Carbon Project, global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels rose 5.9 percent in 2010. This is the largest increase in emissions on record. Studies by the Pew Environment Group reveal that cars and light-duty trucks accounted for 1.1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions in 2009. That is equal to the total emissions of 63 U.S. coal-fired power plants. In response to these staggering numbers, the Obama administration implemented a historic 54.5-milesper-gallon fuel efficiency standard to be adopted by 2025. Despite the current political divide in our nation, higher fuel efficiency standards can benefit both Republicans and Democrats alike. As a concerned citizen and a parent, I feel that America must reduce its dependency on fossil fuels. I applaud the administration for its recent actions, and urge it to uphold its strong rule on fuel efficiency standards.
Sara Hutton, Memphis

FROM THE GOING GREEN BLOG

Lisa Enderle: DIY yogurt vs store-bought yogurt Okay, so it tastes fantastic. But is it cheaper? YES it is! The cost for ingredients (milk, dry milk, yogurt starter) total $5.33. Together they yield 8 cups of freshly made, organic yogurt at $0.08 per ounce. Even when you add in cup honey and a tablespoon of vanilla, it is cheaper than paying $3.79 for 4 cups ($0.12 per ounce) of Stoneyfield Organic Fat Free French Vanilla yogurt at the grocery store. Maybe you dont think saving 4 cents an ounce is worth it. Consider the cost, then, to the environment for all those single serve containers of yogurt that get tossed in the trash. Most yogurt containers are not number 1 or 2 recyclable plastic and will remain in landfills until the end of time.
Read weekly posts at commercialappeal.com/going green

Going social
For daily updates related to green issues, follow Going Green on Twitter at twitter.com/gogreen memphis and check us out on Facebook by searching Going Green Memphis. For weekly features and blog posts, go to commercialappeal.com/ going green.

GOING GREEN | January 2012

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In case you missed it...

Certified arborist Mark Follis is chairman of the committee seeking designation for Memphis as a Tree City USA as recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Brandon Dill Special to The Commercial Appeal

City of trees: Group working to obtain designation from Arbor Day Foundation
The City of Memphis and its surrounding areas have about 9,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests in Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park to the north, 4,500 acres of lakes, forests, trails and meadows at Shelby Farms Park to the east, and, in Midtowns Overton Park, 142 acres of old-growth forest. Unlike most of its neighboring municipalities, however, Memphis does not have a Tree City USA designation from The National Arbor Day Foundation. Thats not because of a lack of trying. For the past six years, volunteers from a variety of community sectors have met as the Tree City USA Ad Hoc Committee for Memphis in an effort to garner the designation. The designation would provide citizens and pro-tree organizations with not only public attention and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs, but also direction and technical assistance from The Arbor Day Foundation and co-sponsors, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. This would preserve and enhance the tree

canopy of the city, which, I have to say, is pretty spectacular, said professional arborist and committee chairman Mark Follis, , owner of Follis Tree Preservation. Other benefits resulting from the recognition, according to The Arbor Day Foundation, are a positive public image, education, citizen pride and preference in financial assistance for tree program-type grants. The Arbor Day Foundation has established four standards a city must meet in order to achieve Tree City status. A city must have a tree board or department that is legally responsible for the care of the communitys trees. An ordinance must be in place designating the establishment of the board or department and its responsibility for creating and directing an annual community forestry work plan. The last two standards require evidence of a community forestry program supported by an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and a community proclamation and celebration of Arbor Day. Follis says he expects to see all requirements fulfilled and the application on its way to the Arbor Day Foundation within six months. Lesley Young, Special to The Commercial Appeal

The Commercial Appeal

January 2012 | GOING GREEN

Election 2012: GOP Primary

Where they stand

Here is a look at where the top 2012 Republican presidential candidates Former Utah Gov. John Huntsman (left), former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia and Texas Gov. Rick Perry - stand on two key green issues.

ENERGY
Gingrich: Let oil and natural gas industries drill offshore reserves now blocked from development, end restrictions on Western oil shale development Huntsman: Phase out energy subsidies and cut regulations; subject fuel distribution network to federal review to "break oil's monopoly" and expand opportunities for natural gas Paul: Remove restrictions on drilling, coal and nuclear power, eliminate gasoline tax, provide tax credits for alternative fuel technology Perry: Proposes development on federal lands and slashing regulations to spur drilling in restricted areas including Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Romney: Supports drilling in the Gulf, the outer continental shelves, Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska; and exploitation of shale oil deposits Santorum: Favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and scaling back "oppressive regulation" hindering drilling elsewhere Associated Press

THE ENVIRONMENT
Gingrich: Convert EPA into "environmental solutions agency" devoted to research and "more energy, more jobs and a better environment simultaneously"; once backed tougher environmental regulation Huntsman: End EPA's "regulatory reign of terror"; acknowledges the scientific evidence that humans contribute to global warming Paul: Previously said human activity "probably does" contribute to global warming, now calls such science a "hoax"; says emission standards should be set by states or regions Perry: EPA should be "research and advisory" agency with no enforcement powers except when states seek arbitration of regional disputes; says manmade global warming has "not been proven" Romney: Acknowledged that humans contribute to global warming, but later said "we don't know what's causing climate change"; said cap and trade would "rocket energy prices" Santorum: The science establishing human activity as a likely contributor to global warming is "patently absurd" and "junk science" Associated Press

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Eating healthy is worth every extra penny

THE NEW YEAR is a wonderful time not just for resolutions but also for reflections. Writing a column called Fabulous & Frugal makes me reflect often on what those words mean to me. The frugal part is easy. Fabulous, to NIKKI me, is living BOERTMAN true to oneself. As I challenge Fabulous & Frugal myself to spend less, I am trying to waste less money on frivolous or overpriced purchases and truly appreciate what I do buy. This year, I am striving to shop local and put less chemicalladen and processed food into my body, not just for my health, but also for the environment. I may spend a little more money doing this, but I will be living more true to my beliefs.

Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal files

Whether raw, cooked or juiced, fresh carrots provide the nutrients to energize and cleanse the body.They also can help to relieve the effects of stress and fatigue, and boost the body after illness.

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South Main is filled with many businesses featuring local artists and designers like John Sylvesters Sache Clothing.
Mike Maple The Commercial Appeal

Last week at the market, I picked up a bag of ready-to-eat baby carrots, then saw the carrots sitting next to them; with vibrant green tops looking freshly picked from the garden, clean but not artificially smooth and rounded, still having the little fuzzy bits that garden carrots are supposed to have. I selected the latter. I dont even really like carrots very much, but those carrots tasted good. It also felt good to snack on a fresh vegetable closer to its natural state. This made me slow down, be more conscious of every bite, and appreciate where my money had been spent. It felt good. The same goes for the eggs from humanely pasture-raised chickens that I splurged on. Although I spent a little more, eating healthful foods mindfully will reward me in other ways. As food costs rise, especially for nutritious items like produce, Im also inspired to have a

small garden this year. This is very funny to my friends, seeing as I live in a condo and dont have any land. I plan to either rent a garden plot or put a few plants to share in a friends backyard. I want to be more connected to the simple things that bring joy, and do it in a budget-friendly and sustainable way. The start of a new calendar year is also a great time to rework a budget. A good budget is essential to knowing exactly where your money goes. With online tools this can be a quick, easy and often enlightening process. One of my favorite online budget calculators is youcandealwithit.com/ borrowers/calculators-andresources/calculators/budgetcalculator.shtml.
Contact Nikki Boertman at boertman@commercialappeal.com. Join the conversation on Twitter at twitter.com/fabfrugalca.

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Abundant rice makes eating local a snap

WHEN I ASK FOLKS what grows locally, I hear plenty about tomatoes and greens, corn and watermelon. But what grows in abundance right across the river is rarely mentioned rice. Arkansas accounts for nearly 46 percent of U.S. rice production. Although the starchy seeds of the semi-aquatic grass are harvested from MELISSA their green-gold PETERSEN glory in early fall, great storage and Eating Local, availability mean Eating Green rice is available year-round. Since one of every 5 calories consumed by humans in the world comes from rice, its the thirdmost-important grain crop after corn and wheat. Cultivated in flooded fields (the water keeps pests and weeds at bay; its not necessary to grow rice in standing water), the rice crops also provide wetlands and winter rest stops for migratory birds. Most rice starts out brown. The papery husk is removed to reveal the brown grain. The bran (along with a bunch of the nutrients) is

Melissa Petersen/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Cultivated in flooded fields, rice crops provide wetlands for birds.

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polished off to create white rice. While rice does grow in a variety of reds, browns and blacks, for our purposes here, well stick to the basics. Rice is categorized by length. Long grain stays fluffy and separated. Medium grain retains moisture well, but tends to stick together. Short-grain rice is nearly round and tends to be chewy. In addition to size, there are different varieties such as jasmine (long grain, aromatic), basmati (long grain, aromatic), and arborio (short grain). Converted rice has been parboiled to force the nutrients from the bran into the grain, giving it a golden color. While it retains nutrients, it takes a little longer to cook. Wild rice is the seed of a totally unrelated plant. Rice is typically cooked using one of three methods simmering, risotto or pilaf. The key to simmering rice properly is to have the correct liquid-to-grain ratio, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and leave it alone. Stirring just makes it sticky. The typical riceto-liquid ratio is one part rice to two parts water, but arborio, brown, converted and wild rice need a little more liquid (1 to 2.5 or 3), and basmati needs a little less (1 to1.75). Risotto requires sauting the grain in fat (such as butter or oil), then adding hot liquid gradually while stirring constantly to create a creaminess from the starch released. Pilaf requires sauting the grain, adding the liquid at one time, covering and simmering. While there are a few artisan producers McKaskle Farms, Cache River youve probably been buying Riceland for years. Youve been eating local all this time.
Melissa Petersen is the editor of Edible Memphis, a magazine that celebrates the abundance of local food, season by season. It is available at various locations around town. Contact her at Melissa@ediblememphis.com.

Mixed Greens and Feta Pie with Brown Rice Crust

1 /2 cup brown rice 11/4 cups water Vegetable oil (to grease pan) 1 lb. mixed braising greens, stems removed, chopped (swiss chard, collards, turnip, arugula, spinach) 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tsp. fresh dill or 1 tsp. dried dill 2 tsp. dried oregano 1 /2 tsp. salt 1 /2 tsp. ground pepper 8 oz. feta cheese, drained 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 1-2 tbsp. pine nuts

For rice crust: In a small saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until water is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Cool. Lightly coat a pie pan with vegetable oil and press the cooked rice into it. Preheat oven to 375 and set rice crust aside until filling is ready. For filling: In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Saut onion until translucent. Add garlic. Cook for one minute. Add greens. Cook until greens are dry. Remove from heat and stir in dill, oregano, salt and pepper. When slightly cooled, crumble in feta and stir in eggs. Pour into rice crust. Smooth top and sprinkle with pine nuts. Bake at 375 for 35 to 40 minutes. Serves 4 to 6.
Source: Adapted from Fred Meyer stores recipe

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Making the switch

Textbooks, classrooms taking big leap into the world of digital
By Jim Coleman
Special to Going Green

Ever since the introduction of the e-reader the writing has been on the wall for print publications. Five years later, retail space that used to be home to bookstores lie empty. Sales of bound books continue to decline. Meanwhile, e-book sales have grown exponentially. To remain relevant, newspapers, magazines and other print publications are racing to develop applications to make their content available in an increasingly digital world. Although they are a step behind the marketplace, classrooms are beginning to find their place in this new world. It is a shift that will not only provide exposure and hands-on training in currrent and new technology, but could possibly save cash-

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strapped school districts, too. In Memphis, digital classrooms are certainly outliers, but baby steps have been made. Most of the initial changes have been made by individual educators looking to recreate their classroom environments in innovative, technologically driven ways. One such teacher is Kimberly White. Since January of last year the Spanish instructor from Grace-St. Luke has led an effort to maintain a paperless classroom. I had always wondered if I would be able to be a paperless classroom given all of the resources that are available to us, said White. The middle school teacher makes use of laptops and smartboards in her classroom. The initial reason for the switch was due out of frustration from an older piece of technology, the schools copy machine. I spent precious time copying, collating, and un-jamming that dreadful machine that I could have been actually using to plan exciting activities for my students. So one night at the dinner table she asked her husband, the Technology Specialist and computer teacher at the school, how he managed to teach his classes without paper. I just dont use paper, he deadpanned. Seeking more input, she put the challenge to her students to come up with ways to accomplish her goal. When she told her students she wanted to see if they could go paperless for one week, they were enthusiastic. We talked for a while and exchanged some ideas about how we

Digital textbooks
Here are a few places to find digital textbooks online. Zinio: The website offers digital textbooks in over a dozen categories. Zinio allows you to look inside textbooks before purchase. CengageBrain.com: Purchase complete digital textbooks or individual chapters and buy or rent books on the site. CourseSmart: The average CourseSmart shopper saves more than $60 on every digital textbook purchased. eCampus.com: Many of the website's digital textbooks include features such as highlighting, note-taking and printing. McGraw-Hill eBookstore: McGraw-Hill offers more than 900 of their print textbooks in digital form though their eBookstore. The digital versions are identical to print versions, but cost an average of 50 percent less. Textbook Revolution: Textbook Revolution is a student-run website devoted to increasing access to free digital textbooks. VitalSource Bookshelf: Focused exclusively on providing digital textbooks and works directly with publishers and academic institutions to provide top tier content. CafeScribe: Provides digital textbooks with which you can take notes, highlight and perform searches. The site also fosters collaboration among students with virtual study groups, share documents and search the notes of others around the world.

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In her paperless classroom, Grace-St. Luke's instructor Kimberly White reviews the collaborative work of eighth-graders Piper Bell (left) and Elizabeth McIntosh. could make this happen. They wanted to know if they would be able to bring their iPads to school and use their phones for projects. Now, all of her worksheets are in a collaborative document (Google docs) and their homework is now done on their computers. When told of the new approach their class would be taking, the students reactions were enthusiastic. One kid said and I quote My dad is 48; he isnt going to understand this concept. This is cool!, said White. Even though classes like Mrs. Whites may currently be out of the norm, many of the major textbook publishers are preparing for the day that they are commonplace. Like many of its competitors, publishing house Houghton Mifflin Harcourt makes nearly all of its textbooks available in digital form. We have seen strong growth in the adoption of digital texts. Corresponding to the growth in digital we are seeing some decline in print, according to John Sipe, the Senior Vice President. Part of the shift from print to digital is simple economics. Print is expensive. The cost of shipping and delivery of all that print doesnt come cheap, either. So there is a built in

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Bright future?
Today, digital textbooks for higher education and career education account for only 0.5% of all textbook sales in the United States. According to a 2010 study by social learning platform Xplana, this could soon change. Xplana predicts that digital textbooks will account for almost 20% of all textbook sales within the next five years. This will make digital textbooks a $1 billion market According to Rob Reynolds, who is one of the co-authors of this report and also the director of product design and research for Xplana, this rapid growth will be driven by a number of factors, including the proliferation of tablets and e-readers like the iPad and Kindle, the availability and pricing of e-textbook content and an

increasing interest in online learning. According to this study, sales of digital textbooks will increase 100% year-over-year in 2010 and the continue to grow rapidly for the years to come.
Xplana.com

savings with digital formats. An appealing feature of the digital format is that the savings is passed on to customers. On average digital textbooks cost about 30 percent less than print textbooks, said Sipe, who also pointed out that Tennessee has begun to transition in the way they access content. According to an April 2011 report by the American Publishers Association, the sales numbers are impressive. For instance, digital sales of e-booksfor February 2011 compared to the previous year showed an increase across the board of over 200%. With profits increasing, publishers like Houghton Mifflin are putting more and more eggs in their digital baskets. For a while, publishers have included compact

discs with their print editions as they straddled the fence between the two formats. Now, both are quickly becoming physical reminders of a bygone era. Applications, whether for iPads, ereaders, or any number of digital devices, are the new format of choice as portability has become paramount. The app format has proved very exciting and incredibly successful. They include hundreds of videos, built-in assessment, re-teaching, digital notes, real-time student data and more, said Sipe. In the near future, students may just trade in that cumbersome load of textbooks for an e-reader that weighs a few pounds and e-books that provide a depth of educational resources.

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Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal files

Carolyn McCammon (left), of Southaven, visited the Digital Bookmobile to learn the process of checking library books out on her e-reader from Leslie Prusinski.

The digital library

If you think the digital revolution has been lost on the nations public libraries, think again. Several cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco and Houston recently received grants from both the government and the John D. and Catherine T. MacCarthur Foundation for upgrades to Generation Z standards. Visitors to these branches will have access to many of the most up-to-date technology as tech rooms are currently being added. While shelves upon shelves of bound books will still be available, the nations libraries are currently undergoing expansion to adapt to the digital age. Now, instead of just being quiet places of study, libraries are now places where kids go to play video games on a Playstation 3 or take advantage of the latest multi-media tools for their own productions.

Area residents got a look at what one of the libraries has to offer recently, when a digital bookmobile operated by Overdrive Inc., visited libraries in the Germantown, Collierville and Southhaven areas. Residents got a chance to try out some of the latest devices like iPads and smartphones to see if the technology is the right fit for them. The 74-foot tractor-trailer is equipped with interactive touch screen computer stations, hi-definition instructional videos and a gallery of gadgets. They were also shown a tutorial on how to download a library e-book or e-audiobook. The libraries taking part were part of the Wolf River Library Consortium, which just started their shared collection last August with around 300 titles. For its part, the Memphis Public Library and Information Center has about 2,000 digital titles. The Commercial Appeal

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January 2012 | GOING GREEN

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Forging new, more sustainable reading habits

FOREVER A READER, I love a good story but my relationship with books hasnt always been healthy. I used to hoard them, brand new ones purchased by me. Shelves and baskets bursting and an obsession with ordering and reordering LISA them like a ENDERLE librarian plagued me Green Stuff I Love for years. If someone suggested a novel as my next read and offered to lend me their copy, I declined because I wanted a new copy to keep on my shelf. Lending my own books happened infrequently and only to the trusted right person, and the bookplate (yes, really) with my name on it inside the cover made it clear that it was to be returned to its rightful owner within a reasonable amount of time

Associated Press files

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or my shelf would miss it. Not very green, I know. Whats more, I dont think I have ever read the same book twice. I hauled a growing collection of boxes filled with books from one chapter of my life to the next, including a stop in Seattle where used bookstores rule. Buy a new book, even as a gift, in those parts and you lose friends. Because print media is responsible for the death of 125 million trees annually, I found that buying used suited me and eased my conscience. But those books stayed put on my shelves and they were getting heavier in more ways than one. I needed not to want so much stuff, used or otherwise. But the collection only grew with the coming of my firstborn when her childrens book collection was added to my own. Reading to my child brought so many treasured tales back into my life, I was reminded that it really is those stories that I love and not the books themselves. With that, I slowly began to heal my obsession with having books and seeing my passion for reading as separate from my bad habit of collecting. After the birth of my second child my life turned to a page that said, What in the stuff-obsessed world are you doing with all these books that you will never read again when someone else could enjoy them? Free yourself (and the trees). And so I did. My house and my psyche needed a sort of book cleanse. With the exception of a few sentimental or useful ones, I packed up all my books

Jim Sulley/Associated Press files

Used book and e-readers like the Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet (above) can coexist peacefully for a greener book reading experience. in boxes. I brought them to a play date with moms that were thrilled to shop for the next tales that would take them away for awhile. I enjoyed recommending books to each one and leftovers were donated to my local Friends of the Library Bookstore. Now I maintain a small basket of paperbacks that have been passed to me from various friends or purchased used. While I read, I consider which of my friends would enjoy that particular one. It gives me joy to pass the great ones on (or donate them), both for the sharing of the story and the benefit to the environment.

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Used bookstores
Burkes Book Store 936 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN (901) 278-7484 Book Traders 6112 Quince Rd Memphis, TN (901) 683-2367 Goodwill Book Store 6063 Park Ave. Memphis, TN (901) 526-3346 Second Editions Book Store Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library 3030 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN (901) 415-2836 Hooked on Books 747 W Poplar Ave. Collierville, TN (901) 853-5040 Friends Again Collierville Burch Library I cringe at the thought of spending money on new books when finding a used one is so easy. It is possible never to buy a new one again if you get to know your local used book sellers and websites like titletrader.com, swap.com or half.com. Even a quick status update on Facebook can usually score a borrowed copy of whatever title I seek. I have, however, not gone skipping into a lush meadow to lazily read used books that are only fleetingly mine. Great conflict has disrupted the Zen path I was on. I received a

501 Poplar View Parkway Collierville, TN (901) 457-2606 Bookstop Plus, Inc 2810 Bartlett Rd # 8, Memphis, TN (901) 381-2222 Book Haven 579 Goodman Rd E #2 Southaven, MS (662) 536-4520 Goodwill Bookstore 1514 Goodman Rd. E. Southaven, MS (662) 536-8159 The Book Depot 2245 S. Germantown Rd. Germantown, TN (901) 754-2665 Friends Bookstore Germantown Community Library 1925 Exeter Rd. Germantown, TN (901) 757-7323 gift and am now the not-quiteconvinced owner of a Kindle, Amazon.coms bestselling e-reader. Now I know what you are thinking. A book purist enjoys the little things down to the weight and smell of a book and should reject anything that requires a plug. And that is to say nothing about being green. But to be honest, I kinda like my Kindle. Used books and my Kindle can coexist peacefully on my nightstand I think.

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LOCAL NEWS

Hatching success
Bioworks incubator helping to grow a greener business landscape

Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

BioDimensions partners Peter Nelson (left) and Maury Radin display a pair of sorghum samples from Whiteville, Tenn. where the company recently opened it's first bio-refinery to tranform biomass into usable energy products.

EYE
A monthly look at green startups in the MidSouth

THE GREEN

By Suzanne Thompson
Special to Going Green

Inside the 10-story building at 20 S. Dudley St., principals at fledgling companies are working hard to get their budding businesses off the ground. The building, owned by Memphis Bioworks Foundation, houses a business incubator which provides support to companies in two ways, explained

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the foundations president and executive director, Dr. Steve Bares. In one scenario, the incubator provides leasing space for companies that are basically tenants. In the other scenario, Memphis Bioworks Foundation not only provides office space, but also helps to develop business plans and invests time and capital into certain tenant companies. These investments are done through Innova, a small, early-stage seed fund run by Memphis Bioworks Foundation. About 23 businesses are currently working in the incubator. The missions of a growing number of them are focused on green business. We think that the opportunities for green companies in this region are significant. In terms of mission, we see this as a great chance to grow jobs in our community in an area that is also good for the environment, Bares said. Over the next months, Going Green will profile one of these green companies each month.

Grant to support rural growth opportunities in biorefinement

BioDimensions Delta BioRenewables (BDBR), based in the Memphis Medical Park, is in its third year of operation of the Sweet Sorghum Development Program. Its pilotscale biorefinery is in Whiteville, Tenn. BDBR has developed the first advanced rural biorefinery in the Mid-South to process sweet sorghum, which can be used to make a variety of biobased products. Last October, the company was presented a $20,000 USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. The federal grant, combined with contributions from the company, will be used to purchase equipment needed to produce and pelletize the sweet sorghum. BDBR has found that once the sugar has been extracted from sweet sorghum, the leftover stalks (called bagasse) can be pelletized for use as feed in the cattle industry or for energy production. The Mid-South is poised to lead the growth of energy crops and bio-based products. This project has real potential to be adopted widely across West Tennessee and the region, said Bobby Goode, USDA Rural Development State Director for Tennessee. Sweet sorghum enhances the production of other current row crops through boosting yields, offering farmers increased options, requiring less water and inputs, and introducing much needed diversity in the face of emerging issues such as weed resistance in the region. BDBR plans to continue to scale-up production, optimize its systems, and develop a business model for commercialization and replication throughout the region. And, as Randy Powell, BDBR Program Manager, points out, A typical commercial biorefinery will employ about 25 people in rural areas. If hundreds or possibly thousands of biorefineries are launched, there is a huge opportunity for green jobs. Peter Nelson is the director of Business Development for BioDimensions.

BioDimensions
BioDimensions, a bio-agriculture company, is one of the businesses that received support from Innova. Founded in 2005 by Maury Radin, the company is making inroads into changing what crops some farmers grow, and how they grow them. BioDimensions is the only urban company in the Memphis BioWorks incubator that has spun off companies in rural areas. It has two subsidiary companies, BioDimensions Delta Bio Renewable, LLC (BDBR) and BioDimensions Renewable Oils, LLC (BRO), that operate in West

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Tennessee. BDBR operates in Whiteville, where the company recently opened its pilot bio-refinery. BDBR is showing the owners of a family farm that has been in the area for decades how sweet sorghum can be converted into a a variety of biobased products such as carpet fibers, plastic bottles and ethanol. The plant processes 5,000 gallons of sugar juice a day producing an estimated 40,000 pounds of sugar juice that is transported into Memphis daily to be converted into other renewable products. We are developing green products to replace petroleum using crops that we can grow, instead of digging oil or fossil fuel products out of the ground, that are not renewable, said Peter Nelson, director of business development for BioDimensions. We capture solar energy in plants and use those plants to convert them into all sorts of molecules so they can be plastic or other types of chemical products like things that go into automobiles. By things, Nelson means products like lubricants, that both BRO and BDBR provide to local manufacturing facilities. BRO, which operates in Ripley, produces advanced biofuel such as that used in jet airplanes. Plant-derived substances are also used in some construction products, paint and adhesives used by carpet companies. We supply derivatives that go into all sorts of products, Nelson said. Its just starting to go mainstream, he said of the growing use of bio-based

BioDimensions Delta BioRenewables demonstrates how to harvest a sweet sorghum crop. After harvesting, the sorghum is taken to the biorefinery in Whiteville, Tenn. for processing. materials in commercial products. Presently, most of the bio-based products used in manufacturing are imported from countries like Brazil, where they grow lots of sugar cane, Nelson said. He wants that to change. Our challenge, and what BioDimensions is all about, is that we want to create more areas in the Delta and in the Mid-South where we grow these crops, and can attract end users, Nelson said. Basically, its the same principal as growing and eating local food. Were about that same concept. Growing crops here that can then be consumed here, so all the jobs stay here, but we want to do that on a massive scale. Because he started out as a farmer, Nelson has firsthand knowledge about crop rotation and problems farmers deal with, such as access to water, herbicide-

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resistant weeds and excessive use of chemicals. Corn, cotton, soybeans, rice, wheat and grain sorghum are the predominant crops currently grown in this region. What we are trying to do is help solve those problems by coming up with new crops that the farmers can grow, not to replace what they are currently doing, but as part of the rotation with what they are currently doing, Nelson explained. The Whiteville BDBR project is only the beginning of the big plans Nelson and his partner Maury Radin have. We want to do that (added crop rotations) on hundreds of thousands of acre scale during the next decade. What thats going to do is severely reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the region. Introducing new crops will make a big difference, not only for the environment, but for the local economy as well, Nelson said. Sweet sorghum requires only one-third of the nitrogen corn does, and is very droughttolerant. Its going to produce thousands of local jobs. Its going to reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides that go into the water, and (provide) a whole slew of other benefits that come around that, Nelson said.

Farm to Table Conference

For the second year, farmers, chefs, consumers and others will gather next month to discuss issues related to growing and marketing produce in the tri-state area. The Farm to Table Conference will be held at Memphis Bioworks Foundation, 20 S. Dudley, on Feb. 6. Josephine Alexander, former coordinator of GrowMemphis, said she is confident attendance at this years conference will double from the 80 or so who attended the first conference last February. In addition to farmers from Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, participants in last years conference included representatives from local farmers markets, community and home gardeners, people interested in starting farms and gardens, and consumers. The biggest feedback that we had was just the opportunity to connect with other people, Alexander said. It is as much about the connections you make and the people you meet and the things you do after the conference as it is about the information. The 2012 event will be much more structured than last years, with 12 breakout sessions planned. Topics include CSA 101 about communitysupported agriculture, panel discussions about what is growing in Memphis and new farm start-ups. That is a subject close to Alexander heart, as she left GrowMemphis at the first of the year to start a farm in Mississippi with her husband. Brandon Pugh, owner of Delta Sol Farm, is one of three people who will share their stories of starting in the farming business. Pugh began his farm in 2009, and it was certified organic in 2011. Its good to get together under one roof other than at a farmers market, he said. Participants in last years conference were particularly interested in regional branding, so one of this years sessions addresses that topic. Regional branding is the strategy of attaching a certain catch phrase to everything grown and many things handcrafted in Tennessee. The conference will begin at 8 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25, and are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/216675. William said the $25 fee covers only half of the cost of the conference per attendee, but planners wanted to keep the cost down to make the program accessible to everyone. Suzanne Thompson, Special to Going Green

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Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal files

During the summer, Marva Jones (left), Samarah Jones and Marqis Njiru tended a community plot at Linden and Lauderdale.

to plant
Community gardeners can dig into grant funding for supplies, site prep

Plan

By Josephine Alexander
Special to My Life

Community gardens have numerous benefits to Memphis neighborhoods, including reclaiming vacant lots, providing healthy food, fostering selfsufficiency and creating community gathering places that improve and enrich the quality of life. Thats why GrowMemphis has teamed with Memphis Housing and Community Development to grant $5,000 in 2012 to new community garden projects. In 2011, GrowMemphis funded two projects: Green Leaf Learning Farm at Knowledge Quest in South Memphis,

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and the Neighborhood School in Binghamton. Green Leaf Learning Farm is an educational youth farming and gardening project on two-thirds of an acre. Soon to be USDA Certified Organic, Green Leaf grows vegetables that are shared with community residents and sold at the South Memphis Farmers Market and to local restaurants. The most consistent encouragement is watching students eat vegetables right off the plants and being surprised at how good it is. Literally a day does not go by where at least three students dont ask me, Mr. Man, are we going to the garden today? says Christian Man of Green Leaf Learning Farm. The Neighborhood School is a private school in Binghamton serving low-income students from the surrounding neighborhood. While teachers and students had been growing vegetables in a small garden, there was a need to expand that garden to grow fresh produce to supply the cafeteria, and engage the local residents in growing their own food. Thanks to support from GrowMemphis and other community partners, the garden is brimming with winter greens to be enjoyed by students, their families and local residents.
For an application or for more information, e-mail Josephine Alexander at josephine@midsouthpeace.org, or call (901)725-4990.

Grant application details

From now until Jan. 31, GrowMemphis is accepting applications for 2012 garden grants. Service provided include: Up to $1,500 in supplies and equipment and up to $1,500 in contract services and site improvement. Technical support in the form of phone calls and site visits. Access to a network of experienced urban and community gardeners. Access to collective projects including marketing of produce, seed and supply purchasing, and seed starting. Quarterly workshops and training. The requirements include: GrowMemphis member gardens are required to sign an agreement to: attend monthly meetings and quarterly workshops; use organic growing methods whenever possible; and share information and resources with other garden projects All receipts must be submitted for reimbursement The garden must be located in an HCD target neighborhood and serve low-income residents. The garden project must have been in operation for less than one year and never previously received funds from GrowMemphis Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria: Demonstration of Need (40 percent) The applicant is able to articulate the need for a garden project. The purpose and/or goals of the garden project are stated and are aligned with the statement of need. Likelihood of Success (40 percent) the applicant is able to demonstrate that the project has: leadership from the community it intends to serve; a plan to sustain the project in the long term; sufficient community and volunteer support; and, appropriate support and/or permission from a sponsoring agency or land owner. Budget (20 percent) the project has other sources of support, whether monetary or in-kind, and the budget is realistic and appropriate. Applicants will be notified by Feb. 29 whether or not they have been awarded. All funds must be spent and receipts submitted by June 31.

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Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Christian Man (left) looks over a bed of spinach with Jamia Brown, Cameron Hyman, Dontray Herman and Dantavous Boone at the Green Leaf Learning Farm.

Urban renewal
Students, community cultivate more than food at learning farm
By Suzanne Thompson
Special to Going Green

Rev. Marlon Foster often tells his congregants to grow where you are planted. A devastating loss Foster suffered 20 years ago gave him the drive to use those words to change the world around him. His lifelong best friend was shot and killed during a street fight. Foster was determined to keep others from the same fate.

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To that end, when he graduated from LeMoyne-Owen College 14 years ago he founded Knowledge Quest, a nonprofit entity created to support families and schools by providing after-school tutoring and day care. In the early years, the program was targeted toward younger children, but in 2007, Foster said, they realized that they needed to expand the program to include teens. The programs curriculum included a community garden, and the kids also learned about the importance of good nutrition, eating green vegetables and drinking 100 percent juice. They were encouraged not to eat anything sweeter than a graham cracker or a vanilla wafer. It didnt take long for the children to understand the beauty of raising vegetables and enjoying the harvest. We got a kick out of seeing a kid walking down the street eating a raw tomato, said Foster, 38.

After Knowledge Quest was firmly planted, Foster founded Christ Quest Church in a small white sanctuary at 590 Jeanette St. At one time, the weed-covered property across the street from the church doors was filled with dilapidated houses. In April all that changed when a bulldozer cleared the area to make way for Green Leaf Learning Farm, Fosters latest project. About a year ago, Foster hired Christian Man, a recent college graduate with a bachelors degree in urban anthropology, as the programs coordinator. Man traveled to Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago and Chattanooga to learn from community garden managers and urban farmers about vermiculture (composting with worms), greenhouse and hoop house production and aquaponics (raising fish). Man understood that a garden could Dontray Herman (right), 12, and Dantavous Boone, 11, pull lettuce heads from garden beds made of tires at the Green Leaf Learning Farm.
Kyle Kurlick Special to The Commercial Appeal

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Were not just delivering a

service to people. We are coming into their lives, and they are coming into ours.
CHRISTIAN MAN

be used to cultivate more than vegetables. Now Green Leaf Learning Farm occupies two-thirds of an acre, and people of all ages work the soil. Were not just delivering a service to people. We are coming into their lives, and they are coming into ours, Man said. Something magical happens when people roll up their sleeves and start working together in a garden, Foster said. Conversations spring up, relationships are formed and little by little, the community grows right along with the garden. Its an activity that becomes a brainfiller, Foster said, comparing it to listening to classical music while doing homework. But its much more than that. For us, its a vehicle, he said. Man said they are planning to start gardening classes and want to start helping people put gardens in their own backyards next year. The emphasis is doing things with people, not to them, he said. During its first year in production, the garden produced plenty of fresh produce for the South Memphis community. We are mostly concerned with the

Brandon Dill/The Commercial Appeal files

Christian Man (left) and Walter Gates install a wire fence around the Green Leaf Learning Farm. Man started the project, which he hopes will serve as an "incubator" for similar urban gardens. food being consumed in our neighborhood, Man said. Man estimates that about 35 percent of the harvest was distributed through the churchs food pantry, and 60 percent was sold at the South Memphis Farmers Market. The remaining 5 percent was given to a neighborhood restaurant. But Green Leaf Learning Farm is about more than the food. Its about the bonds that are formed as the garden is planted, tended and harvested. The process is just as important as the outcome, Man said. Of course, the neighborhood residents have a beautiful garden in place of what was once an eyesore, and the produce helps them save money and improve access to healthy food, Foster said, which gets back to the basics of Knowledge Quest education about good nutrition. Its been a nice little organic journey, Foster said.

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Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal files

Valerie Arnold demonstrates how to make old VHS tapes functional again by crocheting the tape into assorted bags during last years Eco Expo.

Expo offers ideas for eco-living

By Suzanne Thompson
Special to Going Green

Child psychiatrist Dr. Valerie Arnold sat at a booth crocheting, with tape from inside an old VCR cassette, at Temple Israels Eco Expo III held last year. This is very therapeutic for me, she said. The things she made, which ranged from wine gift bags to tote bags and clutch purses, were not for sale.

Her purpose there was simply to teach people how to make them. Arnold was among more than 50 exhibitors at the expo, which included small businesses, and public and private agencies. Her demonstration was right in line with the goal of the expo, to educate people about recycling materials in a variety of ways, and leading greener lifestyles. The pattern for the bags she makes, which are shiny and soft, is

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available at www.myrecycledbags.com, and they are quick and easy to make. This was one movie, she said, holding up the clutch purse, which she plans to donate to some local charity for use as a silent auction item. Linda Kaplan, chair of the expo, was happy with last years turnout of about 450 people. Im very pleased. Ive heard such nice comments about what they are learning, she said of the attendees. Arthur and Elizabeth Herrmann said they both learned a lot and, were glad they attended. We are prospective homebuyers, so we are trying to inform ourselves, and green seems to be the way to go, Arthur Herrmann said. His wife pointed out that it can be easy to let recycling slide and touring the booths has her recommitting to it. They give you great ideas, and inspiration, she said. Temple Israels booth displayed insulation made from recycled blue jeans and glass boxes, used to construct custom showers, which are made from recycled windshields. Chris Gammill, owner of the local 1800-GOT-JUNK franchise, said he takes about 40 percent of things his company collects to recyclers. Our big thing is landfill diversion, he said. Gammill said his business is involved in several local recycling projects, including collecting all the plastic bottles from Earth Day at Shelby Farms and providing parts to a local bike shop that teaches people who have no transportation how to build their own bikes from used parts. We are constantly looking for ways

Eco Expo IV
When: Sunday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Temple Israel, 1376 East Massey Contact: TIMemphisEcoExpo @msn.com or call Linda Kaplan 482-6473 for more information. The Eco Expo is held this time of the year to correlate with Tu Bshevat, the New Year of the Trees. we can be green and have fun with it, he said. Some exhibitors, like Wolf River Honey, sold eco-friendly products, like lip balm and lotion bars made from bees wax. It melts to your body temperature and has natural antiseptic properties, so it helps heal cuts, said co-owner Lee Cagle of the bars. Other exhibitors included Mosquito Squad, which provides mosquito and tick control using a garlic-based organic substance, the Sierra Club, Memphis Inspection Services, which provides energy usage assessments, and the Urban Forestry. Local government agencies occupied several booths, such as the City of Memphis Public Works, which provides recycling bins for curbside pickup (ones with wheels are available upon request), the Storm Water Program, and The Memphis and Shelby County Health Departments air pollution control office. Although the focus was on learning, it was done in a fun way. Door prizes, many of which were provided by participants, were given out throughout the event. Having door prizes announced through the day gives it a festive atmosphere, Kaplan said.

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MY GREEN JOB

Boutique owner does what comes naturally to her

Pam Turnman
Owner of Northern Street Boutique in Hernando

The details
Why did you choose a green business? I didnt plan it that way, but as I researched ingredients, I realized that was the way I would develop it. Ive always been kind of artsy crafty and this business allows me to be that way while using all natural ingredients to produce products that make your skin say thank you. What education/experience did you need for your job? No formal education or experience, just dedication and patience. Career highlights: When customers tell me that my products have helped their skin conditions and they will never use anything else. Whats the hardest thing about finding work in your field (in the Greater Memphis area)? The hardest thing is not having local manufacturers and suppliers, because that causes me to have all of my supplies shipped, which increase my costs. Its hard to believe that with all the soybeans grown in and around the Memphis area, no one manufactures soy wax locally. Paying the shipping costs on a 50-pound box of wax is almost as expensive as the wax itself. But the resulting product is worth it. My candles are hand-poured using eco-friendly soy wax and cotton wicks. Made from American-grown soybeans, soy wax is

Pam Turnman opened Northern Street Boutique in April 2010 in Hernando. She offers a diverse range of fragrances in whipped body butters, scrubs, natural soaps and hand-poured soy candles while using all natural, high-quality ingredients from American suppliers.
biodegradable and it supports the U.S. economy. Where are your products available? My products are carried locally at Two Dudes Dcor Design Essentials in Hernando, More Therapy in Memphis, Therapy in Oxford, the Davis Family Pharmacy in Batesville and Impulse Boutique in Collierville. Or people may contact me at turman_pam@yahoo.com or (901) 550-5186. What one green practice would you recommend to others? I would encourage people to read the ingredients and make sure they are purchasing nontoxic, all natural products preferably in reusable/recyclable packaging and of course, all made/purchased in the USA. What green trends would you like to see in the future? Retail businesses getting away from plastic bags and start using eco-friendly bags and packaging materials. Compiled by Emily Adams Keplinger

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Smart house technology puts the homeowner in control

By Suzanne Thompson
Special to Going Green

What makes a house a home is the people who live in it, but what makes a house smart is the technology thats used in it. That technology is really nothing new, according to Don Glays, executive director of the Memphis Area Home Builders Association. Smart house technology has been around for a long time, he said. Smart house technology gives people the ability

Lemuel Russell had a Vivint system installed in his home. He can also watch rooms in his home from his computer with the camera he is holding.
Alan Spearman The Commercial Appeal

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to control certain things in a house remotely, Glays explained. While the technology has been around for a while, usage of it is just starting to take off. Craig Pyle, director of product management for Vivant Energy, a leader in the field of smart house technology, said the system can control lighting, door locks, small appliances and other household items. The company also has an energy package featuring thermostat control. We can actually serve up to our customer real-time energy consumption in their homes, Pyle said. Vivant started out as a security company, and during the past few years has branched out into smart technology. If you know you are using a certain amount of power, youre going to try to use less, said Tanguy Serra, president of Vivant Energy. The company is gearing up to add more features to the energy-saving package, such as the ability to control the sprinkler system remotely. Lemuel Russell of Memphis had a Vivant system put in his home. It was the security feature that first attracted him. When Russell heard about the other things Vivant could provide, he couldnt resist giving the smart technology a try with an automated thermostat. It saves me money, he said. Some lights are also controlled remotely, as is the lock on his front door. Thats a feature that came in handy when his daughter made an unexpected trip home from college and couldnt get in the house. I was able to just unlock the door on my phone so she could get in, he said.

Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal

The system allows him to control lighting and temperature systems in his house remotely. The panel also provides weather alerts that let his family know if severe weather is headed that way. The smart technology works phenomenally well anywhere there is cell service, Serra said. It works just as well in a 10,000-square-foot house as it does in a 1,000-square-foot apartment. Vivant offers packages that provide different services, such as the basic security package, the energy management package and the full automation package. A full home automation package costs about $200 for set-up. There is a monthly fee of about $68 for managing the information. Packages can also be customized. For instance, if a customer has latchkey schoolchildren, and wants to know that a child has made it home, the system can be programmed to let the parent know the door has been used at a certain time and send an e-mail confirming the entry. The parent can then activate camera(s) remotely to monitor the childrens activity.