Greenited

Michael Jackson was perhaps the most famous entertainer on this planet. He had fans in every imaginable corner of the world and created music that had no boundaries. We have really lost a great musician, dancer, songwriter, and entertainer. But was he also an environmentalist?

Many people forgot about the ‘Earth Song’ that he wrote and sang in 1995, before the environmental movement went mainstream. It was actually a #1 Hit song in the UK. The music video clearly shows his feelings on the way the world was heading. Perhaps he was a huge environmentalist, we may never know, but share your thoughts.

Michael Jackson Earth Song

June 30th, 2009 | Tags: Earth Song, Enviornmentalist, Michael Jackson | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mielie Purses

$141.00

As seen in High School Musical 3

Mielie is the Afrikaans word for corn, the staple diet of most South Africans and probably the first item on these weaver’s shopping lists.  Since 2002, Mielie has grown to a group of approximately 30 people who work from their homes in the greater Cape Town area.  Mothers can stay with their children and transport costs are kept to a minimum.  It is all about making a difference in the lives of the weavers and their communities.  Each eco purse is signed by the artist who made it. They make great Eco Gifts!

Lined with coordinating fabric and has a toggle closure.

All recycled materials from waste cotton fabric and leather offcuts are used to make these sturdy hooked rug bags.   Each eco friendly purse is an original.  Mielie bags are woven into designs that may vary within each colorway.

Purses from Recycled Plastic Wrappers

$22 - $48

· Barcodes

· Coca-Cola

· Confetti Pochette

One-of-a-kind Eco Friendly Purses made from repurposed candy wrappers, soda labels, food packages, and discontinued NY subway maps.  Ecoist reuses factory-discarded misprints and overages that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Purses from Seatbelts

$59 - $82

The world wide demand for automobiles has left behind an abundance of surplus man-made materials.  Each year millions of yards of seat belt webbing are rejected for the slightest color variation, making the strap useless to the auto maker.  Designed to be used as a life saving seatbelt in the car, this high quality polyester material is made to last (Remember the crash dummies?!).  Flip this little cutie over your shoulder and walk!

Purses from Recycled Storybooks

$75

· Green Eggs and Ham

· Cat and the Hat

· Winnie the Pooh

· …and more!

This delightful line of Eco Friendly purses has character!  Each purse is handmade from the pages of recycled children’s book and stitched to vinyl keeping the pages looking fresh and fun.  Great care has been taken to salvage the right original preloved books, place them with the best recycled textiles and sew them with love.  Over time pages will soften and wrinkle, as all loved books do.  Every purse is one of a kind.  This bags uniqueness will stop people in their steps to oohh and aahh as they recall their favorite children’s book!  They are extremely durable and roomy.

Let us know of other interesting businesses and products, we are here to help spread the word!

June 17th, 2009 | Tags: innovative, material, meilie, Purse, Recycle, reuse | Category: Business, Earth Day Everyday | Leave a comment

In its May 2009 issue, Natural Health magazine will honor the greenest companies of 2008. The Natural Health Green Choice Awards will identify large, multinational companies with tremendous reach and influence that are implementing substantial, systemic green initiatives and inspiring others to follow suit.

Each candidate submitted data about its alternative energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, recycling, operational energy footprints and LEED certifications–criterion by which the winners will be chosen.

Top 10 companies of 2008

1. Aveda

2. British Airways

3. Canon

4. Chipotle

5. Clif Bar

6. Coca-Cola

7. Discovery

8. Flor

9. Ford

10. Gap

Soon, you too will be able to show your true color through Greenited!

http://www.naturalhealthmag.com

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/02-13-2009/0004971989&EDATE

May 19th, 2009 | Tags: aveda, canon, clif bar, cocacola, companies, Ford, gap, LEED, top 10 | Category: Business | Comments (1)

Earth Day 2009

Does this Earth Day feel different, or is it just me? It seems like a few more people were involved, a few more companies were involved, and all in all I saw that more people were aware of the day. This was the first time that the President of the US, Barack Obama, was the Chief Marketing Officer for Earth Day. President Obama called it a “New era for energy exploration in America”- referring to a push away from traditional coal and oil but toward clean alternative sources.

Obviously the most important thing on everyone’s mind is the economy. When is it going to recover? What industry or spark will pull the world out of this? Could it possibly be the Green industry? The clean technology and green sectors are relatively new and are at a ‘Pioneering’ phase. This is when companies invest capital to come up with innovative clean tech solutions but they are still away from bringing it to mass market. Like any technology, the supplies and solutions improve over time.

Will the Green industry be what everyone hopes it will over night or even in 6 months? Realistically… Probably not. However this industry will soon go from the pioneering phase to growth phase and will be economically viable. The market is huge, Trillions of dollars are spent on energy annually and in the next 5 years the Green industry will have a bigger chunk of that market. Growth is already occurring and innovation is happening at an accelerating rate.

Hope everyone enjoyed Earth Day and make everyday be Earth Day

Stay tuned to Greenited because we will soon be launching an exciting service to help you connect directly with Green companies in your area.

http://www.changethethought.com/earth-day-2008/

April 22nd, 2009 | Tags: Cleantech, Earthday, Innovation, Obama | Category: Business, Earth Day Everyday | Leave a comment

Washington is offering up a total of 3.2 billion dollars in grant money for local, state and regional municipalities for the development and investment in energy-efficiency endeavors. Native American tribes are also eligible for a piece of the clean-money pie in what is now known as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.

The EECBG winds its way through numerous federal agencies, ultimately drawing from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under the wing of the Department of Energy.

“The block grants are a major investment in energy solutions that will strengthen America’s economy and create jobs at the local level,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a statement.

Of the original $3.2 billion dollars, $2.7 will be available in block grants, with the balance offered through competitive grants. Under the plan, cities, and communities eligible for direct funding will draw from $1.9 billion dollars. $770 billion dollars will be set aside for states, which then administer money to communities not able to receive EECBG funds directly. The remaining $54 million dollars will go to eligible tribal governments.

The funds can be used in a broad range of efficiency programs, including such direct applications as building retrofits, the construction of renewable energy installations, updating existing efficiency programs and a whole slew of other uses. Indirect application of funds can include special financial programs or investments for energy efficiency improvements.

Along with the broad application of funds comes a somewhat restrictive oversight plan to ensure the money is being used appropriately.

“These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country,” said Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement. “Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these resources to work — but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use.”

Complete information on the EECBG Program can be found at: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/

April 15th, 2009 | Tags: EECBG, energy efficiency grant, recovery act | Category: Business, Home, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) released a comprehensive report last week outlining the value of environment and sustainability (E&S) knowledge in the workplace. Not surprisingly, the figures indicate such knowledge is desirable, but the figures also indicate more and more businesses are taking proactive measures to educate employees on energy savings, waste reduction and other E&S related measures.

The survey represents 1354 respondents, with just over 87 percent belonging to the business world in some fashion. Of that segment, 40 percent indicated they were affiliated with a small company of less than 100 employees, 40 percent said they worked with a medium sized company of less than 10,000, while 20 percent were from large organizations with over 10,000 employees.   Overall, 65 percent of respondents indicated E&S knowledge was valuable in employees or potential hires, with small businesses placing the most emphasis on such knowledge. A full 78 percent of respondents believe the value of this knowledge will increase within the next five years, with 21 percent saying it will likely stay the same. Virtually none of the respondents felt the value of E&S knowledge would decrease.

The survey didn’t just find value in knowing how to be efficient and environmentally conscious. According to the report, 75 percent of companies actively educate their employees about corporate E&S goals, and 56 percent of those surveyed felt their company had an advanced or very advanced education program in place. Of those without any program, nearly half said there would likely be something in place within the next two years.

The report also includes case studies of select companies, covering an array of E&S subjects. Large and small companies were part of the study, including such business giants as Hewlett-Packard and Wal-Mart.

The study also found that companies have a wide range of approaches when it comes to E&S programs and education, while hurdles such as money and available resources were found to be the main difficulties in establishing programs. Regardless of the approaches or hurdles, the report made one point abundantly clear: Awareness of sustainability, efficiency and environmental responsibility is not just a valuable, but essential function in modern companies.

The NEEF’s complete report is available for viewing or download in PDF format at: http://www.neefusa.org/BusinessEnv/EngagedOrganization_03182009.pdf

March 22nd, 2009 | Tags: E&S, Environment, National Environmental Education Foundation, NEEF, Sustainability | Category: Business | Leave a comment

President Obama has made it very clear the status quo is not an option and suggests he wants input from all sides in the discussion about a healthcare overhaul.  A big part of the conversation should include the greening of healthcare.  We need to expand beyond the traditional green healthcare problems such as medical waste and disposal of prescriptions.  The discussion should consider contributing factors to health problems.

Tax Credits for a VOC free environment

Green healthcare should include a focus on creating buildings and homes free of cancer causing volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  The EPA states,“VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.”  Since the environment in which individuals work and live has a direct impact on their health there ought to be an initiative to create healthier environments.  Tax credits are offered for energy efficient appliances or buying a hybrid car.  Why not offer a tax credit toward the cost of VOC free or Low-VOC building materials in order to spur limiting or eliminating VOCs in our homes and buildings

Responsible Regulation

A large number of building products contain VOCs which may last in the air for weeks, months, or years.  The Environmental Protection Agency states “No standards have been set for VOCs in non industrial settings.”  The President and Congress need to take on the construction industry and ban the use of materials with high levels of VOCs.  I am generally a free market thinker and usually don’t believe you can regulate the problem away.  However, elimination of many construction materials with VOCs can be done through responsible regulation where we have readily available, cost competitive replacements.

I commend President Obama for taking on healthcare.  His plan to make medical records electronic will not only reduce costs but eliminate wasted paper.  Furthermore, I commend him for providing funds and tax benefits with regards to energy efficiency in homes.  One can only hope he takes environmental health just as seriously.  Greening healthcare would lower future medical costs beyond what can be accomplished through forced negotiations with healthcare providers for cost reduction and universal coverage.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

March 22nd, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

If you had purchased $1000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.

If you had purchased $1000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.

If you had purchased $1000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.

But—- if you had purchased $1000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for recycling refund, you will have received $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink  & recycle.

It’s called the 401-Keg.

Disclaimer: Greenited does not support alcohol or make investment reccomendations. This is only for entertainment purposes

March 17th, 2009 | Tags: joke, Recycle | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

If you own a small business and you’re looking to expand, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) want to hear from you.  If they like what they hear, you could be in line for special government grants set aside to help your cause.

Both agencies are offering cash awards from a pool of nearly $190 million dollars to companies seeking to expand, grow, develop, or otherwise explode in new directions that relate to environmental technology.  Funded by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, businesses of 500 employees or less are eligible to apply to each agency, though only one award can be accepted.

The NSF has multiple grants available, ranging up to a maximum of $150,000, while the EPA’s awards top out at $70,000.  Companies interested in claiming some of the cash should be considering proposals related to biotech and chemical technologies, education applications, information and communication technologies and nanotechnology, advanced materials and manufacturing.  Proposals for NSF grants must be submitted to the organization by June 9, while EPA proposals are due no later than May 20.

Complete information and application instructions for both programs are available at the following links:

http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/ - EPA web site
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/ - NSF web site

March 16th, 2009 | Tags: eco grants, epa grants, government grants, small business grants | Category: Business, Uncategorized | Leave a comment