For Green's Sake

Source:  Environmental Protection Agency

The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history, with events ranging from ice ages to long periods of warmth. Historically, natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and the amount of energy released from the Sun have affected the Earth's climate. Beginning late in the 18th century, human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution have also changed the composition of the atmosphere and therefore likely are influencing the Earth's climate.

Source: Engery Star Website

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.

For the Home
Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.

Source: LiveEarth.org

Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels.

Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance and Partner of Live Earth.

Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, an event that brought together one of the largest audiences in history to combat poverty. Wall formed a partnership with Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection to ensure that Live Earth inspires behavioral changes long after 7/7/07.

Live Earth will stage official concerts at Giants Stadium in New York; Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro; Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in Tokyo; the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg.

Source:  The Margate/Coconut Creek Florida Forum

The City of Coconut Creek Florida is implementing a new line of Janatorial products and supplies that will help the environment.  Effective immediately, the city has begun using paper products that are either Green Seal ¹ certified or recycled and environmentally friendly.

To recieve classification as Green Seal certified, products are graded in the way they are made and how the waste produced during manufacturing is disposed of. 

The chemicals the products contain have been tested by the Green Seal organization.  These products contain no addied dyes, fragrance, silicates, caustics or phosphates.  There are no added ether solvents and low or no volatile organic componds.  The packaging is also recyclable.

These products are believed to be more cost effective since the majority of them will be mixed through a dispensing system that automatically dispenses the right amount of product with the correct amount of water, eliminating waste from too much of the product being used.  Also, since the product is concentrated, it reduces the amount of packaging being shipped with large quantities of water. 

The City of Coconut Creek Florida expects to save about 30 per cent of the $35,000 it currently spends yearly on cleaning products. 

With more natural products, it is expected that workers prone to allergies and sensitivities  can reduce the number of sick days.

¹ Green Seal is an independent, non profit organization that promotes a cleaner environment by identifying products that cause less toxic pollution and waste.

Source:  The Margate/Coconut Creek Florida Forum

We've now added a Forums section to the site so members can exchange ideas and information.  Anyone can view the posts in the forums but to post messages you must be a registered member.  We've also added a Private Message module so members can communicate privately between each other.  A chat feature is also now available. 

So join in and help us make this the best online community for information on Going Green!

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As you use the new features, if you experience any problems, please do let us know.

Source:  TerraCycle.net

The company produces TerraCycle Plant Food an all-natural, all-organic, 'goof-proof' liquid plant food made from waste (worm poop) and packaged in waste (reused soda bottles)!

It all starts with premium, source-separated organic waste that would have otherwise been destined for the landfill. This material is brought to a TerraCycle Conversion Center.

The material is then mixed together into special formulas which are then sent through a computerized microbial-enhancing bio converter where the temperature naturally rises to over 150° F. After five days the material is then automatically taken through a computerized, micro-climate controlled vermicomposting unit where millions of red worms process the material. After three weeks the worm-processed material is then separated into a fine, particle-size mixture which is then liquified over a seven day period.

Through their patent pending process, they also use garbage to package TerraCycle Plant Food. Used bottles are collected across North America, many through the TerraCycle Bottle Brigade. The bottles are then cleaned, relabeled, and filled with TerraCycle Plant Food™.

There are millions of soda bottles every day which end up in garbage cans and landfills across America. As an eco-friendly, innovator, TerraCycle packages its organic liquefied worm poop in bottles collected from schools and recycling centers from every corner of the country. It's no wonder that Red Herring Magazine named TerraCycle as one of the Top 100 Most Innovative Companies in 2004 and Inc. Magazine featured TerraCycle on its July, 2006 cover as "The Coolest Little Start-up in America"!

Most recently, TerraCycle has been named one of the 100 most innovative companies by Red Herring magazine and been awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award from Home Depot Canada. The Environmental Stewardship Award is one of only two company-wide awards given by Home Depot Canada.

TerraCycle was also featured in the story The Worm Firm in the spring 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens "Garden, Decks, and Landscapes" magazine.

They definitely have something since Scotts Miracle Gro Company is sueing Terracycle.

For more information on the company and its products visit TerraCycle.net.

We've added a terms and definitions module to the site.  For now, its populated with just a few terms, but over time, it will grow to be a great resource for everyone.  If any one has any suggestions on any terms that should be included, please let us know. 0 Comments

By Philip Proefrock
Source: GreenOptions.com

Lighting for buildings is a major part of their energy use. Increasingly, green building design is recognizing the importance of providing natural daylight as a means of lighting the building and reducing energy use. Not only does natural daylight reduce the building's energy use, but it also increases comfort for the people in the building. The LEED system includes credit for providing at least 75% of the spaces in the building with natural lighting and views, and the credit is increased if 90% of the spaces are naturally lit.

by Lizette Wilson
source: Green Home Inc.

With more than 10 million computers dumped in landfills each year, officials worry over mounting trash and toxicity. Massachusetts recently joined more than a dozen European countries in banning computers and TVs from landfills and throwing down the green gauntlet for the feds to follow suit.

Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia are also considering electronic dumping bans similar to that in Massachusetts.

Current federal rules prohibit large-scale electronic dumping (groups that toss more than 220 pounds of electronic waste a month must recycle), but residents and small businesses can, and do, pile old computers into landfills. According to the National Safety Council, only 11 percent of computers get recycled, and small-time consumers alone add 10 million computers to landfills every year.

by David Wortman
Source: National Geographics The Green Guide May/June 2007

Green roofs are all the rage, and for good reason—they trap and filter storm water, provide habitat for birds, insects and small animals and bring color to urban neighborhoods. Covered with vibrant grasses and plants, green roofs provide insulation in winter and reduce heat during warm summer days. Chicago has ambitious goals to cover over 2.5 million square feet with greenery on over 200 rooftops; in Germany, they account for an estimated 10 percent of all flat roofs.

Installation varies from laying out simple pre-planted modules to setting up more elaborate multi-layered systems. While it can be twice as expensive as a conventional roof, a green roof is cheap to maintain. Homeowners may even be eligible for utility rebates and state- or city-government incentives. What's more, they may double your roof's lifespan by shielding it from sunlight, wind and extreme temperatures. A quick note: Your roof will need to be able to support at least 30 pounds per square foot, depending on the system used, and have a slope of no less than one percent and no greater than seven percent.

"From the perspective of increasing biodiversity, green roofs are a success," says Amy Lesen, assistant professor of biology at New York's Pratt Institute. But if it's measurable energy savings you're after, you might consider solar panels. "Studies show that payback [from a green roof] in terms of energy savings can take up to 200 years," notes Chris Benedict, an architect specializing in energy-efficient design.

Electricity-generating photovoltaic (PV) solar roofs significantly reduce household carbon-dioxide emissions, and typical systems can last up to 30 years, adding to your home's value. Installation is easiest when putting on a new roof and should be done by a licensed electrician with experience putting in solar panels. Your service provider can help set you up with "net metering" to offset any energy you buy with that you produce.

PV roof panels are sold in "per kilowatt" increments, with four to five kilowatts covering about half the average home's energy needs. While installations run from $8 to $10 per watt, costs and payback time will depend on electric rates, state incentives and climate. Federal tax credits of up to $2,000 are now available, along with a variety of local credits; to find out what's available in your area, see www.dsireusa.org. However, breakthroughs in panel efficiency that promise to reduce costs aren't yet available to consumers, and, given the current high prices, you may want to concentrate on personal energy conservation before investing in photovoltaics.

But if you do have the resources, consider combining PV panels with a green roof. According to the Scandinavian Green Roof Institute, shade provided by the panels can even encourage more biodiversity. You and the environment just may find yourselves in a win-win situation.

Resources: Solar Living Institute, Solar Estimator, www.Greenroofs.com

Sources: The Green Burial Council, People Magazine

The following quote is an excerpt of an interview with Joe Sehee, Executive Director, The Green Burial Council.

"Green burial is a way of caring for our dead without the use of toxins or materials that are not biodegradable, which essentially means no formaldehyde (a major ingredient in embalming fluid), no metal caskets and no concrete vaults. It also requires that markers, if used at all, must be living (i.e. trees, wildflowers) or ecologically functional (i.e. boulders, field stones) and appropriate for the surroundings. Green burial is not a new idea. It's the way much of humanity has handled its end-of-life rituals for several thousand years until the advent of the modern cemetery/funeral industry."

In the June 25, 2007 issue of People Magazine, the story "Dust to Dust" goes into how Green Burials are increasing just outside of Westminister, S.C., and the benefits they provide to the environment.

For more information on Green Burials, visit The Green Burial Council.

By Jerry Adler
Source: Newsweek July 17, 2006 issue

By Peter A. Seligmann, Chairman and CEO
Conservation International
June 18, 2007

President Bush has proclaimed he would convince the world that the United States is a leader in finding solutions to climate change. Ironically, he said that in a recent speech at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), while at the same time his administration is slashing USAID support to reducing tropical forest deforestation, the second leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions.

Globally, tropical deforestation contributes at least 20 percent of global greenhouse gases – more than the entire transportation sector. Proposed USAID cuts will sabotage emerging efforts to protect forests in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America, where USAID programs support the emergence of community management of natural resources.

Source: Conservation International

By Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz
Source: Green Living Journal

WHATEVER BROUGHT YOU to this point, whether it was the realization that we are trashing our environment or the simple need to lower your living expenses, now you are here and you want to do something. But what to do first? The answer is simple: start by conserving the energy you use to heat water. Three general principles that are easy to follow will also save you money: reduce losses, increase efficiency, and reduce consumption.

To start, examine your heating system from top to bottom and look for places where heat might leak out. Heat losses in the system end up wasting the energy you just used to heat your water. Many can be reduced by just a little bit of cheap insulation. For instance, insulate all of your hot pipes. If you are working on a new construction, insulating the hot pipes is easy. Even if you don't have access to all your pipes, insulating the ones you can get at will make a noticeable difference. You should also insulate your water heater. A tank- type water heater heats a whole batch of water. As this water sits there waiting for use, it slowly cools down. The more you insulate it, the better it will retain its heat. Heat losses can also come from leaks. A faucet that leaks 30 drops of water a minute will waste almost 100 gallons a month. Fix leaky faucets promptly.

 Source: Green Living Journal

By Kristine Hansen, Trade Press
Source: EcoMall.com

When asked why on earth a company would switch to using “green” cleaning chemicals, Barry Dimson, co-owner of Philadelphia’s Sheraton Rittenhouse, pulls out the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for a window cleaner used at most hotels. Reading from it, he cringes at the words butoxyethanol and propanol and quotes a sentence about health hazards such as corneal eye damage and lung damage — possible if the product penetrates the skin, or is inhaled. The problem is that hoteliers buy into its rock-bottom price and don’t read the MSDS, Dimson says.

As the nation’s first environmentally smart hotel, Sheraton Rittenhouse is setting a precedent, and is part of an industry keen on cleaning for health, and for the environment. The hotel uses 100 percent organic cotton bed-sheets, chemical-free laundry cycles, energy-efficient light bulbs, and palm trees in the lobby with a superb oxygenation rate. The lobby’s reception desk is made from recycled soda bottles. Cleaning chemicals are all non-toxic, water-based, hypoallergenic and biodegradable.

The Sheraton also is a member of the Green Hotels Association, which lists approximately 200 hotels as members. A campaign that put cards in hotel rooms, urging the reuse of towels, put the association on the map in 1993. The concept reportedly saves a hotel $.50 per day per occupied room.

Source: EcoMall.com