The rainbow has never been so trendy: we raced for the cure in Victoria's Secret Pink, bought Gap clothing and aspi(red) to fight AIDS in Africa and now it seems that green is sprouting up all over. So, what can you do at Penn and in Philly to truly go green? Street is here to give you the inside scoop on how Philadelphia has become America's new eco-friendly city.
If you didn't sleep through Hamlet in your Shakespeare class, you already know that the clothing makes the man. Rock an environmentally conscious uniform; Arcadia Boutique at 819 N. 2nd Street sells shirts made of bamboo. At Mew Gallery (906 Christian Street) you can buy billfolds made from recycled vintage neckties. This is clearly the new duct tape wallet, so get your hands on it fast.
Use your elitist, competitive drive for the general good. From now until April 1, Penn is participating in RecycleMania, a challenge among 400 schools in the U.S. and Canada to see who can generate the least amount of trash and the most recyclables.
Head to Black Cat (that trinket-filled store next to White Dog) and pick up a "sustainable chic bag" to take to Fro Gro or CVS with you. They hold up to 40 lbs and stop you from wasting the eight plastic bags you'd probably pick up at the grocery store.
Set up an account at PhillyCarShare and enjoy the new partnership Penn has with the company (the largest of its kind in the U.S.). They've got 40 cars on campus and convenient parking spots just for you. Join now and you get a free hour in a hybrid!
So, you have a ticket on your record and PhillyCarShare rejects you: Don't worry, you can be green on the bus too. SEPTA has just ordered a fleet of 400 brand new diesel-electric hybrid vehicles, a step in the right direction. Now they will be known for something besides spotty, rundown service.
Increase the O2 in your room. Campus Apartments may not have left you much space for a garden, but now that Urban Outfitters is developing a home and gardening store called Terrain, you may even want to landscape your fire escape. The Philly-born company, which also owns Anthropologie, is on the move to make the city greener, one overpriced plant at a time.
