Phipps writes tips for an eco-friendly lifestyle

The…The Green Journal A Personal Planbook of Eco-Friendly Tips and Ideas St. Lynn’s Press and Phipps Conservatory By Richard V. Piacentini and contributors $14.95 hardback Book signing Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m. Joseph-Beth Booksellers, South Side

Did you know that leaving your cell phone charger plugged in when not in use wastes energy?

Unplugging unused electronic chargers to save energy (and money) is just one tip offered in Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ new book, “The Green Journal: A Personal Planbook of Eco-Friendly Tips and Ideas.”

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink, the journal will be released in conjunction with Earth Day on Tuesday through St. Lynn’s Press, a Pittsburgh-based publisher dedicated to literature promoting balance and harmony.

The book will be available online, in bookstores and in Phipps’ two gift shops: The Shop at Phipps at the conservatory and The Shop in The Park on Shady Avenue in Point Breeze.

According to Mike Sexauer, director of marketing for Phipps, “The Green Journal” is meant to provide people with ways to incorporate green living concepts into their lives.

“We came up with 12 topics we felt would provide people with accessible ways to implement practices of sustainable living,” said Sexauer, who also contributed to “The Green Journal.”

For each topic – ranging from transportation and gardening to water and home-energy conservation – there is a set of six tips and a short essay concerning ways to make one’s life more eco-friendly. The essays are written by the staff of Phipps and edited by its executive director, Richard Piacentini, who also wrote the journal’s introduction.

Other topics are buying locally, ideas for the workplace and volunteering. The journal also includes lined pages for people to create a diary of their efforts to go green in their own lives.

In his introduction, Piacentini emphasizes the need for sustainable living in today’s world, in which many of our resources are threatened, and encourages the reader to embrace some of the challenges of an eco-friendly lifestyle.

“In between, there’s space to reflect, make your plan of action or jot down some ideas that you discover,” writes Piacentini. Sexauer wanted to reach those who already incorporate sustainable living practices into their daily lives, as well.

“We tried to go beyond the obvious,” he said. In writing his essay on transportation, Sexauer ensured that he gave practical ideas that may not be apparent to everyone, such as ensuring heavy objects are removed from vehicles to cut down on the gas used to keep them in tow.

The journal is a result of a collaboration of Paul Kelly of St. Lynn’s Press and Piacentini. The two ultimately decided on a book that reflects Phipps’ increasing role as a leader for green living. Kelly recalls approaching Piacentini and Phipps about the idea of creating a book together.

“As we [at St. Lynn’s Press] developed the project with the team from Phipps, it became clear that a journal was the way to go,” said Kelly.

He explained that they wanted a book that would be able to function for three different target audiences: those new to the concept of going green, those who have an intermediate interest in sustainable living and those completely dedicated to green living.

“I’m proud to say we met the criteria,” Kelly said.

Kelly also wanted to dispel the notion that going green is expensive.

“There are many low or no cost tips in the book,” he said. One section of the journal suggests using a barrel to catch rainwater from a gutter, then watering the garden with the liquid collected.

Phipps has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified visitor center and, according to the organization, its Tropical Forest Conservatory is the most energy efficient conservatory in the world.

Sexauer affirmed that Phipps is proud of its leadership role in going green. He views “The Green Journal” as the conservatory’s next step in helping people incorporate green habits into their lifestyle.

“I truly believe, by way of example, Phipps is helping its citizenry understand the importance of sustainable living,” said Sexauer.