Grid Magazine

#007 September 2009

How-To: Sew a Button

by Reesha GrossoThere’s no right or wrong way to sew a button. As long as the button stays put, you have done your job. If you have lost your button, check the hem for extras, remove one from somewhere less conspicuous, or buy a button of the same size (look to the other buttons on

September 1, 2009

1 min read

#007 September 2009

Recycling Challenge: the Mattress

by Samantha Wittchen
Even in the world of landfilling—a world created by unwanted and discarded items—mattresses are unwelcome residents. They’re bulky and difficult to compress, and they frequently damage landfill machinery. Nearly 40 million mattresses are discarded each year, and with each mattress occupying up to 23 cubic feet, that’s over 900 million cubic feet of

September 1, 2009

1 min read

#007 September 2009

Policy: Queen of Green

Philadelphia’s new director of the Office of Sustainability has an important goal: Make ours the greenest city in the U.S.by Natalie Hope McDonaldIn some ways, she has it easy. As the city’s new director of sustainability, Katherine Gajewski has walked into one of the most progressive posts in the mayor’s office during a time when

September 1, 2009

5 mins read

#007 September 2009

Sports: Leading From the Linc

The Philadelphia Eages tackle sustainabilityby Einav KeetWhen Christina Lurie, wife of Eagles owner Jeffrey, started chanting “Go green!” a few years ago, she wasn’t just cheering for a McNabb-to-Westbrook screen pass, but also heralding the organization’s ramped-up effort to reduce waste and energy use on and off the football field.

September 1, 2009

1 min read

#007 September 2009

Profile: Fancy Footwork

A local shoe designer gets LEED-certified by Natalie Hope McdonaldWhen it was time to expand its headquarters, shoemaker Dansko put its best foot forward and went green. The footwear designer may be best known for its comfortable clogs, sandals and shoes inspired by traditional Danish design, but as of this year, this suburban Philadelphia-based company

September 1, 2009

3 mins read

#007 September 2009

Events: Pennsylvania Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival

You might not have heard of Kempton, PA, but if you’re interested in renewable energy, you should be there this September. The fifth annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival will be held on Sept. 18, 19 and 20 at the 66-acre Kempton Community Center.

September 1, 2009

1 min read

#007 September 2009

Grid Picks: Chemical-Free Cleaning

It’s hard to know which earth-friendly cleaners get the job done. GRID rolled up our shirtsleeves to test some contenders—here are our picks.

September 1, 2009

1 min read

#007 September 2009

From the Editor: Food, For Thought

When I was a freshman in high school, two soda machines were installed in our cafeteria. School lunches cost a dollar, but the truly rebellious kids bypassed the lunch lines entirely and would buy a soda for 50 cents and two 25 cent bags of chips. Katie Cavuto-Boyle (p.37) would not have approved! One day,

September 1, 2009

2 mins read

#006 August 2009/Community

Back Page: Dear Summer in Philly,

In your too-brief months, our city really shines. Even though you came in this year with rainfall of biblically epic proportions, this didn’t stop any of us from filling our senses with your sights, sounds, tastes, smells or amazing activities.

August 2, 2009

1 min read

#006 August 2009/Environment/Green Building/GridPhilly

Book Review: the Cul-De-Sac Syndrome

The Cul-De-Sac Syndrome: Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dreamby John F. WasikBloomberg, $24.95Financial analysts, like the author of this book, have picked out the housing market as the trigger for the current economic downturn. In The Cul-De-Sac Syndrome, John Wasik, a personal finance columnist for Bloomberg News, agrees with that assertion, but says that our

August 2, 2009

1 min read

The Latest