We are bombarded daily by advertisements. Billboards, coffee cups, newspaper ads, cell phone promos – they are everywhere. Is it possible for the world of visual media to make a difference instead of just hawking products? The answer is a resounding yes!

Called the Reverse Graffiti Project, European artist Paul Curtis (a.k.a Moose) created the first incarnation on San Francisco’s Broadway Tunnel. You’re probably thinking graffiti means he used spray paint? Logical thought, but you are way off. Instead, Moose uses eco-friendly cleaners to remove grime with handmade stencils.

Moose has been creating art with this method for years with his UK media company, Symbollix for 5 years. The Reverse Graffiti Project is a collaboration between himself, documentary director Dog Pray, and Green Works sustainable cleaning products. Sounds familiar? Green Works is the new line owned by Clorox that was approved by the Sierra Club.

Does that make the Reverse Graffiti Project just one big advertisement? Only a little. Moose’s mural is 140 feet long and features plants native to the Bay Area. It may be sponsored by a commercial company, but the Reverse Graffiti Project also an innovative, large-scale art presentation that makes us think twice about the dirt we produce and push aside.

Whether or not there will be more installments in the Reverse Graffiti Project is yet to be seen. Where could be next? New York City? Los Angeles? Shanghai? Cities may be efficient due to their close proximity, but they are also one of the largest sources of waste. No matter where we live, we could all stand to be reminded just where we stand in nature’s grand scheme of things.

Way before I knew anything about the coming solar and wind energy revolution, I was using the sun that comes through our kitchen window to defrost frozen fish, heat up burritos and plump up bread dough. I'd dry my hair by riding my bike downhill. On hiking trips, I "cooked" our food in the perfect solar cooker-my car dashboard on a summer day. I also used to set my ceramic artwork out in the sun to harden and dry-instant kiln! Sure, these techniques took more time than zapping something in the microwave, plugging in the hairdryer or heating up our gas oven, but it's fun and free to work with nature.

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I've avoided it for 24 years, thanks to living in big cities, but now that I'm moving back to Connecticut, I can no longer deny it - I need to buy a car. Unfortunately, cars are not like houses, which you earn equity on. The moment you drive a brand new car off the lot, it starts to depreciate in value drastically. Of course, we can't forget the eco-implications of having a car: oil changes, burning fossil fuels, buying something that is mass produced … etc. Thanks to my car-need realization, I began delving into the world of green automobiles last month. You know what I found? Numerous choices, most of them out of my price range. Add on the choice of what type of eco-car to buy (gas hybrid, electric hybrid, ethanol-ready, biodiesel-ready … etc) and you've got one frustrated consumer. If I had the opportunity, I'd save for the new Chevrolet Volt, which is scheduled to be released in 2 years. Reality check: That is 2 years from now. I need a car in 3 months. So, back to the drawing board - and to the Yahoo! Autos Green Center. Those little Smart cars are adorable - I could pick one of those up in NYC after I get back to the East Coast. Reality check: Those suckers are small! For just a bit more, I could get a brand new Prius. I doubt a Smart car would handle the Connecticut winters very well either. Having a Toyota Prius Hybrid or a Honda Civic Hybrid would be a joy! Reality check: they both start around $23,000 for a 2008 model. Then it hit me … used cars. Duh! While buying a used car can be a stressful process (if you work with an obnoxious used car dealer), it will cost you much less and save from having to use fresh resources to build a new car. Yes, there is the undeniable issue of fuel efficiency, but there are a number of ways to improve that. If you are willing to make an investment, you can buy a kit to turn you current vehicle into a hybrid (or pay someone to do it for you). You can also shop around, and compare MPG's of used cars- be sure to check the engine type and any options packages (sports options can make a fuel-efficient car into a bit of a guzzler) against published reports. Some smaller cars can have very good fuel economy, even it they aren't hybrids (the Honda Fit is an example).

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