Greenest Blog

Conduct an energy audit. An energy audit will allow you to take gather information as to how much energy you are consuming, where energy is being lost, and how you can reduce energy use. Energy audits are fairly inexpensive. Some energy providers offer them for free, or you can conduct the energy audit yourself using a software auditing tool. It is preferable to have the energy audit done by professionals because they have tools that are not available to the general public, such as infrared cameras and custom fans to pressurize your house to see how leaky it actually is.

Minimize, minimize, minimize – your energy use. After conducting an energy audit, do a sweep of your home and change out your light bulbs. This can be an easy way to immediately be more environmentally friendly and save money on your energy bill. There are two green alternatives to regular light bulbs – compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) and cutting edge LED’s. A simple task of turning off the lights when you leave a room will also reduce your energy consumption.

Unplug all wall plugs when not in use. Even though they are not charging something, they still slowly pull power. A good alternative is to purchase a power strip so that you can turn it off at night. This also alleviates having to unplug multiple plugs.

Use alternative heating and cooling methods. Heating and cooling devices are the biggest user of power in a home. When not desperately needed, use other natural forms of heating and cooling. On warm days open windows to allow for air to circulate through the house, but close the blinds to prevent unneeded sunlight from entering. On cool days open window blinds to allow sun to enter and warm the home and keep doors closed to maximize the amount of heat that is stored. Utilize natural sunlight to illuminate your home, instead of using the lights in your home.

Get your power from an alternative source. With advancements in technology, personal alterative energy sources are now more affordable. You can add solar panels to rooftops, and depending on your regional location, solar panels can produce more than enough energy to power a home. Personal wind turbines have also hit the market, however are a little more expensive. You can also purchase alternative energy from your energy provider, or contract out to a private alternative energy supplier.

Purchase Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s). A new addition to alternative energy alternatives are renewable energy credits (REC’s). REC’s allow you to purchase credits to offset your energy emissions. The revenue generated by REC’s is distributed back to the research and development of better alternative technologies.

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Men’s and Women’s Apparel

When shopping for eco-friendly clothing, the best way to go is to choose natural, organic and recycled materials. This is the best way to ensure that not only are you wearing the most fashionable sustainable gear but also that you know you’re actually getting what you want. There are a multitude of materials that clothing can be made of, as well as labels and certifications that are given to sustainably made garments.

A few sustainable materials are silk, bamboo, hemp, soy and linen. Some labels are “Made in the USA” and “Fair Trade.”

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In a report titled, “Sustainability through the Eyes and Megaphones of the Blogosphere,” Neilsen Buzzmetrics tracked online conversations centered around sustainability and related issues and found a 50% increase year-over-year. In addition to what may seem obvious, that protecting the environment has become increasingly important to consumers, they found that “while early in the year discussion was dominated by the topic of global warming, bloggers progressively addressed a wider variety of green-related issues, with a particular emphasis on personal action such as recycling, avoiding excess packaging, and carpooling.”

The topics of online conversation are getting broader as consumers realize all of the touch-points in living sustainably. Jessica Hogue, research director, Nielsen Online. “Blogger attention to related issues like pollution, toxins and sustainable agriculture reveal an important intersection between personal health and environmental wellness.”

Here are Neilsen’s top 10 sustainability topics for 2007:

As you can see, they are fairly broad but many of the popular macro-trends topics, like climate change and carbon emissions, are on the decline, renewable energy, and personal responsibility topics like conservation and recycling are on the rise.

Important to note for marketing professionals and those whose businesses can benefit from knowing who is leading sustainability topics in the blogosphere and social media outlets, they also rate the top 5 sustainability blogs for 2007. Neilsen’s rankings are based on unique sustainability conversation topics, not on total readership. Discovery Channel’s TreeHugger led the top sustainability blogs for 2007, with 4,612 messages related specifically to sustainability. Worldchanging and Biopact took the No. 2 and 3 spots, with 738 and 722 sustainability messages, respectively.

New Orleans, LA. As the show Battleground Earth aired it’s first show, participants and viewers were able to see first hand the Envision Solar LifePod, one of many solar home additions Envision Solar offers.

In this episode, Tommy Lee and Ludacris squared off with their “ecorages” in the assembly of the Envision Solar LifePod built specifically for the Epiphany Missionary Baptist Church.

Ludacris and Tommy Lee voiced their own opinions about what it meant to them to be a part of a show that educates all of those watching how to be a little more green.

The Times-Picayune of New Orleans had a brief on site interview with both of the shows start and this is what they had to say. Tommy Lee, “I’ve been very blessed with a pretty amazing life and a lot of beautiful things. I’ve got compassion as a human being, and I want to give something back, or point people in the right direction.” Ludacris embodied many of the same feelings, “One of the reasons I signed on to do this was not only to educate people, but to educate myself,” Ludacris said. “I’m learning every day, and I’m trying to implement what I’m learning into my natural life.”

Click here to read the entire article.

Solar technology has come full circle, with new photovoltaic (PV) technology that can turn direct sunlight into usable energy. Previously, residential solar technology was mainly used to heat homes and pools. Envision Solar of La Jolla now offers do-it-yourself solar alternatives. Envision Solar offers a variety of different solar products ranging from carports to gazebos.

Envision Solar was featured in a new television series, BattleGround Earth, on Discovery Channel’s Planet Green; an all green television network. BattleGround Earth is a new television series that focus’ on educating participants and viewers about the growing environmental problem, while also presenting ways that the common consumer can make a measurable difference. According to Planet Green, “BATTLEGROUND EARTH is not about winning the race but ultimately raising awareness about the environment.”

Envision Solar was an active participant, supplying BattleGround Earth with it’s LifePOD, which is a new product from its LIFESYSTEMS line of products. The LifePOD, which can be seen below, is a crisply designed, affordable solar energy generating structure for use in residential communities. Envision Solar provides solar technology and design, without sacrificing ingenuity and sophistication.

•    Keep cool, but not to cool. An air conditioner can be a great escape from those unbearable days, and a nice relief to those hot nights. However, air conditioning units tend to use a lot of energy and exhaust a lot of heat into the environment. When you don’t have to have air conditioners on, turn them off. Turning up your air conditioner a few degrees can also save you quite a bit of money on your energy bill.
•    Grill away. Take your fun outside, grill up some hot dogs and hamburgers and let the sunshine in. The best days outside can had around a grill, but why not grill smart? Use propane which burns cleaner than traditional charcoal. When you finish grilling, clean up your mess using natural cleaners that do not contain harmful chemicals that will cook into your burgers next time.
•    Buy local. Purchase all of your burger accessories from local farmers markets or any other local stores. This will ensure that your food didn’t have to travel hundreds of miles just to reach your plate. Buying local helps reduce transportation emissions as well as the depletion of other fossil fuels. If you don’t know where a local market is, websites like Local Harvest can help.
•    Green plates. Purchase reusable plates and utensils, this can reduce the amount of trash you produce. If you can’t find reusable dishes, make sure that the plates you do purchase can be added to your compost pile. Even if something cannot be reused for it’s original purpose, doesn’t mean it cannot be reused at all.
•    Lean, Mean and Green. After all that working out all spring for the perfect summer body, keep the green alive and purchase swimsuits, sandals, towels and any other of your beach needs that have been made from sustainable materials. Who knows, you may even fall in love with a new designer or material.
•    Green water, Lean water. Cut out that “extra fat” when it comes to your water use. Avoid taking long showers, turn off your water when brushing your teeth or shaving, and install dual-flush toilets. During the summer months water is already at a shortage, do your part and help out.
•    Offset those carbon emissions. When you think travel, try to think of alternative ways to get wherever it is you are going. If you were going to take a plane, can you travel by rail instead? Wherever your travels take you, think alternative and don’t forget that you can also offset your carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits.
•    Bike, hike, but don’t let your engine ignite. Get out and get active. Bike to work if you live close enough. On the weekends don’t go for a cruise around town, bike to your local hiking location and spend the day getting lost in nature. Think of it as a therapeutic session, only free. Getting out and getting active will not only make you feel better physically, but will also help alleviate that built up stress from your long week at work. So go ahead, challenge yourself.
•    Go solar. Instead of using a traditional backpack on your adventures, pick up a solar backpack that you can use to charge or power any of your electronics while you are on the go. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll also have the latest solar gear.
•    Get outside! Think of alternative ways to save energy this summer. A good way to get outside and active is to put up a clothesline to dry your laundry. This will cut out the use of our dryer, save you money, and give you that perfect tan you’ve always been waiting for.

Consistent with the growing global trend to be more environmentally conscious, or “green” here are a few tips to help you get started on your path to a “Green Future.”

There are a few highly effective tips, that most overlook when they begin to go green. Going Green means to deliberately lessen your ecological footprint. Minimizing water use, using recycled paper, and unplugging unused electronics are just a few examples. Overall going green is not only a series of actions, but a lifestyle and an attitude to be more environmentally-friendly.

Awareness is the first issue we must address. Each person must be aware that their individual actions have a global impact. Second, and most important, is education. In order to go green, you must know what it means and what you can do to help. It is a crucial aspect of becoming more environmentally-friendly. We have researched, and have compiled a multitude of information ranging from home care, to personal care, and outdoor care. Last but not least, is action. Action is putting awareness and education to work, and implementing those changes. However tedious and costly becoming more environmentally-friendly is, you can rest assured that in the long run it will pay off financially, and also give you the piece of mind that you have done your part to help the environment.

We will discuss in more detail things that you can make green, such as greening your home buying, your community, your kid’s toys, your coffee and tea, your cleaning, and even your meals just to name a few.

A common misconception is that going green is expensive. We must agree that there are expensive aspects of going green, such as purchasing solar panels or investing in more energy efficient double-paned windows. However, when you go Back to Basics, there are a lot of little things a person can do as well that are free or can be done at a minimal cost.
In this new journey, not only are we educators, but also friends and partners. Together we can help promote a greener environment. Join us in saying, “Green is the new Black.”

Honda’s first production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is finally under production.  The Civic-like FCX Clarity will be available for lease-only for residents of three Southern California cities: Irvine, Torrance, and Santa Monica.   Unfortunately, residents of San Diego don’t qualify for the $600 a month lease because we’re too far from the refueling stations.  It’s an exciting first for the auto industry, but as TreeHugger points out, it’s not a huge leap in practical long-term technology solutions that will truly make a dent in ending our reliance on fossil fuel-based consumption.