I watch the fermentation lock on my large carboy of cider sitting on my dining room table. Blurp. Blurp. Every few seconds a little more carbon dioxide escapes into the atmosphere as the yeast turns the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. I haven’t calculated how much carbon dioxide my hard cider making produces. If anyone can help me with that, let me know. However, I don’t think it is that much.

Then, I head over to the sink; time to make more seltzer. I screw the bottle of freshly filtered well water into my Soda Stream machine. Press the button several times to squirt in carbon dioxide and I’ve got my fresh seltzer. I figure that it takes about a third of an ounce of carbon dioxide to make a liter of seltzer. SodaSystems also has soda mixes you can add to make your own cola, root beer, tonic water, ginger ale, and several other types of soda. We’re not big soda drinkers, but we’ve been pleased with their mixes.

Sure, we drink some of the commercial beverages as well. Coke, Pepsi, maybe even a Bud now and then. Yeah, we recycle the bottles, but still it seems like a much less efficient way to get beverages; bottling costs, shipping costs and so on. Doing it ourselves just seems so much more efficient, environmentally friendly and fun.

Today, I received an email that strengthened my resolve to drink local. MoveOn sent out an email talking about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to derail clean energy bills. They are asking their members to contact Pepsi and urge them to leave the Chamber of Commerce. I called up and spoke with a person there who would send the message on to the appropriate people in management. I filled out the form on MoveOn’s website detailing my call. This took me to a page which let me know that MoveOn is targeting seven other companies as well, including Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch. I called up Coca-Cola and told them the same thing.

I’ve called up SodaStreamUSA to find out if they are members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I haven’t been able to find anyone who knows for sure. If they are, I doubt they are as much of a player as Coke or Pepsi are. Again, if anyone knows, let me know. I’ll urge them to leave as well.

So, by drinking my home brewed cider, and fresh squeezed seltzer, not only am I reducing the carbon dioxide necessary for the bottling and distribution of beverages from large corporations, and getting better drinks in return, but I’m also cutting back on funding large corporations that are working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to thwart better legislation to protect our environment. Sounds like a win-win to me.

For those interested in learning more about taking the climate change battle local, I would encourage you to attend, “Global Climate Change: A Connecticut Perspective” with Amey Marrella, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and former First Selectperson of Woodbridge. The presentation will take place at the Woodbridge Town Library Wednesday October 21st at 7 PM.

Also, for parents who want their kids to get more exercise and think more about how transportation fits into the environment, last Wednesday, several children and their parents walked from the cornfields in Woodbridge to Beecher Road School. Not only did it provide good morning exercise, but it helped strengthen the bonds of community for kids and parents alike. Additional walks are being planned. Let me know if you’re interested in joining.

Update: SodaStream has gotten back to me and confirmed they are not members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.