One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure

Here is another clip from the documentary Y.E.R.T.(Your Environmental Road Trip)…Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Solar Roadways – “Roads that pay for themselves.”

This past Tuesday, I was invited to a screening of  the documentary Y.E.R.T.(Your Environmental Road Trip) at California Center for Sustainable Energy.  It was an inspiring film and I thought I’d share clips from the flick that I can’t stop thinking about.  First up…SOLAR ROADS!

Bennet – PNS Energy

Good Energy = Good Business

Having solar panels has, to this point, been a luxury item and, even in the corporate world, only the elite brands (those we all know make tons of money) have been making the commitment to change to solar power.

Kohl’s Department Stores has taken their commitment to using solar (as part of their energy usage reduction plan) so much more mainstream.

The brand recognizes that as a company that focuses on their retail stores, their biggest environmental impact is in energy usage.  How about these accomplishments (taken from http://www.kohlsgreenscene.com/Energy/EnergyEfficiency.html):

• 50 ENERGY STAR labeled stores
• 116 activated solar sites
• #1 Retailer for Green Power Purchases, #2 Overall and #12 for On-Site Generation
• 100% of all Power used by Kohl’s comes from renewable energy sources
• Energy Star Partner of the Year Award—2010 and 2011

Kohls has Installed Solar Panels on 116 Stores (solarpanelspower.net)

You can check out the Kohl’s Green Scene to see the depth of their whole environmental commitment.  You can go to your local Kohls and see the corporate commitment in action.  How cool is it that more people can exercise their option to choose to buy from a company that is really practicing great environmental leadership?

As more companies prove that you can be both environmentally friendly and profitable, choices will open up.  For example, look at what is happening at Johnson & Johnson or IKEA or Google.   It is so exciting that it might be time to start looking at the companies we buy from every day and try to make buying choices that reflect environmental values.

-Ruth

The Johnson & Johnson Solar Array – the largest solar array in New Jersey

PNS Energy

Fun and Rewarding Places to Work!

Seems like we are all pretty quick to criticize corporate America and assume that big employers are bad employers.

It is great to catch a company doing something good for both the Earth and their employees by promoting making buildings where they work and live more environmentally friendly.    Here is a shining example – Clif Bar and Company , manufacturer and distributor of all kinds of healthy and great tasting bars and drinks.

 In addition to incentives for taking public transportation, buying commuter bikes, and buying the most fuel efficient cars on the market, Cliff Bar employees can get up to $1,000 for eco-home improvements!   Nice way to practice what they preach and support making good choices both at work and at home.

Clif Bar understands the value of both human and natural capital but, true to form for a company that was “started on a bike ride”, do not sing their own praises.   I read about Cliff Bar and Company and went to their site to see how they presented their employee benefits and this is all I found:

“Clif Bar & Company is a pretty neat place to go to work every day.  If you like tasty food, nice people and lots of interesting challenges, we’d love to hear from you.  Did we mention there’s a rock-climbing wall?”

Clif Bar founder Gary Erickson (left) and his wife, co-owner Kit Crawford on the climbing wall.

My friend Dr. Andrea Cook told me about programs at the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) – an awesome San Diego company that really walks the walk.    CCSE did their own upgrade to their space and installed motion sensor lights, high efficiency bathrooms with waterless urinals, quick air dry for hands, and have reverse osmosis water onsite and always available.  In addition, they have a monthly “Green Award” monthly given to an employee who is recognized (caught) doing something green that goes above and beyond (or is out of character).

-Ruth

Can’t Be Recycled? Upcycle It!

We try so hard to be responsible and only buy things that come in recyclable containers and packaging.   But what do you do with the hard to recycle stuff or the things no one will take?

I found this great company, Terracycle, that is trying to eliminate the whole idea of waste.   They are signing people up to collect anything from pens to juice boxes to candy wrappers to cork to cell phones to key boards and back again.   They pay for you to ship it to them and then they “upcycle it” (turn it into a cool new product or material).

Here’s an example of a cool upcycling project.   Terracycle created the Drink Pouch Brigade.   They collected over 50 million drink pouches and turned them into upscale items like tote bags and Christmas tree skirts.  Over a million dollars from the sale of those items went to schools, charities, and nonprofits.   Not bad.

The Terracycle Tree-Skirt

In 2010 Terracycle set up what they called a “pop shop” in New York City’s Port Authority – a place where anyone could drop off hard to recycle items and buy upcycled items.  That is spreading some goodwill!

Pop-Up Shop in NYC Port Authority

-Dan