by Sarah Gantz
At the White House, they don't sip coffee from just any cup.
White House coffee comes in pristinely white paper cups emblazoned with a gold presidential seal and coated in an ultra heat-resistant material.
The cups, left over from the last Bush administration, are relatively "green"--the biodegradable coating insulates as well as two normal cups, which eliminates the need to "double cup," according to a White House staffer.
But as President Barack Obama pushes for greener communities, businesses, and homes, it makes sense that his place of work set an example for the rest of the nation.
"We're currently reviewing other cups that might offer those same benefits but have a higher percentage of biodegradability," said Christine Glunz, a spokeswoman for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
See the whole word on the White House's coffee cups at the Tribune and here in the Swamp:
The current cups were first ordered seven years ago, when White House java drinkers complained that cups got too hot to handle.
The cold-drink equivalent of coffee at White House meetings has traditionally been bottled water. But the practice of distributing individual bottles is being phased out for a less wasteful method of water consumption.
"We're also taking steps to minimize the use of plastic bottles," Glunz said, by replacing the plastic with pitchers and cups.
Comments
Perhaps less emphasis on beverages and more on straightening out the countries problems would be in order!
Posted by: Tom | March 23, 2009 1:23 PM
Part of Obama's energy plan is for retrofitting windows.
Check out what is happening in England. They are sending planes up with thermal imaging to see if your home is in need of repair.
Soon Obama will be forcing you to do the repairs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164091/Council-uses-spy-plane-thermal-imaging-camera-snoop-homes-wasting-energy.html
Posted by: ned | March 23, 2009 1:25 PM
Perhaps less emphasis on beverages and more on straightening out the countries problems would be in order!
Posted by: Tom | March 23, 2009 1:23 PM
Absolutely Tom. All this talk 24/7 on beverages is sinking this country. No matter what channel you turn on....there it is again. Beverage. I think you should spend more time on the critics who will take ANY story and turn it into a political statement. Because heavens knows the administration can't handle the economy and beverages at the same time.
Posted by: bill r. | March 23, 2009 1:47 PM
I suggested at a high school PTO meeting last year that instead of giving teachers bottled water at the annual luncheon and for faculty meetings, we provide pitchers of water and -- in the case of the luncheons -- plastic cups and in the case of faculty meetings, they could bring their own mugs.
Fell on deaf ears. I like what Obama is doing here. (And I don't like much about him and the job he's doing...)
Posted by: Beth | March 23, 2009 2:16 PM
Tom: Get off your high horse. If they were using non-recyclable cups people just like you would be crying that they're not practicing what they're preaching.
Change starts with what is right in front of you. Simple little things everyone can do. It's called leading by example.
Posted by: Joe | March 23, 2009 2:46 PM
Having clean ceramic mugs available at the coffee station would be a greener solution.
Posted by: incognita | March 24, 2009 6:44 PM