Eco Chic

One of my favorite topics when it comes to climate change: the impacts on animal and plant communities! Here we are discussing how birds and bees are responding to changes in precipitation, habitat shifts, and more. If you want to chat more, DM me on instagram (@lauraediez), my site (lauraediez.com) or email me (laura@lauraediez.com). We can also be Facebook friends! Resources * The two research groups on bees I mentioned are this post-doc out of Florida State and this lab out of NC State * Learn how you can support your local bee communities here * This page from the Audubon Society is a fun way to learn more about birds – you can break it down by region! If you want to get into birding, the gold-standard resource for calls/identifications/etc is EBird.

Today we are starting to tackle one of the biggest topics when it comes to being ECO CHIC – fast fashion! The conversation starts today with denim and leather.   If you want to chat more, DM me on instagram (@lauraediez), my site (lauraediez.com) or email me (laura@lauraediez.com). We can also be Facebook friends! Information + Inspiration: * The two sustainable denim brands I mentioned were Everlane + Reformation * I referenced the documentary True Cost to learn about the environmental and ethical impacts of fast fashion – it’s on Netflix! * One of my favorite slow fashion bloggers is Megan of Tunes and Tunics – she showcases lots of sustainable brands on her blog and insta! * The sustainability index I mentioned is the Higg Index – you can download the whole index right now and figure out the implications of different fabrics.

Let’s talk compost! This week, we’re getting in to why composting matters + how easy peasy it is to offset your environmental footprint. If you want to chat more, DM me on instagram (@lauraediez), my site (lauraediez.com) or email me (laura@lauraediez.com). We can also be Facebook friends! References * Here is any easy walk-through of setting up a home composting system * I like this article in Scientific American + this page from the EPA, both discussing methane emissions from landfills * This article discussed landfill methane capture projects * Here, here, and here are studies I mentioned that link carbon sinks and climate change mitigation

Let’s talk about microplastics! What are they? Why are they harmful? What can we do about them? As always I’d love to chat about science/sustainability/anything under the sun; send me an Instagram DM (@lauraediez, easiest for me!) or an email via my contact page!  References: * This is a great PDF handout by NOAA on micro plastics * Here is more info on the Microbead Free Waters Act * Here is a galley of product lists containing micro plastics, broken down by country and then severity of the micro plastics (red/orange/green) – some are surprising!

Travel season is upon us! Let’s talk about making our vacation choices a little more sustainable – how we’re getting there, what we’re supporting, and how we are planning to maintain our eco-friendly habits outside of our homes. If you want to chat about science/sustainability/anything under the sun, send me an Instagram DM (@lauraediez, easiest for me!) or an email via my contact page!  Information + Inspiration: * Read about the impact of air travel here and this page gets more in-depth about carbon offsets if you want to learn more * Not just for travel! Calculate your carbon footprint here to see how impactful your transportation choices are. * This is a fun easy checklist by NatGeo and this is another really thorough list by one of my fave travel bloggers

We are breaking down all the basics – renewable energy sources, non-renewable energy, the grid, and what we’re looking forward to when it comes to how we get our electricity. If you want to chat about science/sustainability/topic suggestions, send me an Instagram DM (easiest for me) or an email via my contact page!  References: * Non-renewables: Here is some thorough information on coal, and here is a good breakdown of natural gas * Renewables: This site goes into solar, this is about wind, and this is about hydropower. We also mentioned geothermal, which you can read about here, and biomass, here. * Here is a breakdown of what our national an energy regulatory commission is; to learn more about your state’s or region’s specific commission, you can just Google “(state) energy regulatory commission.” For instance, this is California’s commission website. This article goes into how energy utilities work.

Breaking down all the ways you can rethink how sustainable your coffee habits are. We’re getting into the labels on coffee beans, the ethical points, and the financial pros to sustainable habits. If you want to chat about science/sustainability/topic suggestions, send me an Instagram DM (easiest for me) or an email via my contact page!  Resources: * Agriculture: This article breaks down the pros behind organic coffee + this article talks about shade-grown coffee. * Social Equity: This page is a good overview of Fair Trade Certifications, but this article is a little more in depth and honestly breaks down some problems with the label. * Buying Habits: This is a great brief grocery-store checklist of why you should look for certain labels. Here is a good overview of sustainability at Starbucks. * Here is the reusable K-Cup I have so I can keep using my Keurig, with less waste. A French press is a great option if you’re starting from scratch – glass + no filter! ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ If you enjoy the podcast, p

Party Tips for the eco-concious! Whether you’re hosting, attending, or just passing by, there is always a way to make your events a little more sustainable. If you have any questions/suggestions/etc, shoot me an Instagram DM or an email via my contact page!  Resources: * Check out these photos + this site for some creative jello shot presentation. * Here is an article on biodegradable, edible beer can rings. * SAY NO TO SOLO CUPS. Look online if your city recycles #6 plastic (unlikely, but Ann Arbor and Yorktown NY are some that do). Here is a national solo cup recycling program through TerraCycle. Here are the UNC compostable cups I mentioned – maybe your local campus has a similar program. * This post + this post have a good simple outline of sustainable party tips you could use as a checklist!

Everything you ever (and never) wanted to know about animal agriculture. We're discussing animal products and their impacts on the environment, your physical and mental health, and how you can slowly begin to improve your impact. For more info, check out: http://lauraediez.com/2018/04/10/my-first-podcasts/

All the basics surrounding the environmental impacts of municipal solid waste, the Zero Waste movement, and how to begin reducing your impacts. For resources + more, check out: http://lauraediez.com/2018/04/10/my-first-podcasts/

All the basics of Climate Change education. For resources + more info, check out: http://lauraediez.com/2018/04/10/my-first-podcasts/