Free Market Theory The Bite: Can an economy based on free stuff really, really work? It really, really does at local Really Really Free Markets across the globe, where peeps get together to share stuff like home-baked food, used clothing, and bike repair services (it's sorta like an offline Craigslist - freeloaders welcome). Laissez-faire and [...]
Announcing our first free webinar on renewable energy credits (RECs) and verified emission reductions (VERs), aka carbon offsets! Want to know more about how these internatially recognized mechanisms work? We'll be unraveling the mystery next week. We know that renewable energy systems and the REC market can be a tricking things to understand at times. [...]
This Month's Challenge: Hemp is one of the earliest domesticated plants known, and it has many other uses besides delicious healthy food products. Hemp is used for paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, and fuel. It requires little to no pesticides or herbicides, and controls erosion of the topsoil. With a plant so diverse and easy [...]
The Winners: Congratulations to the April Impact Sleuth Challenge Winners who each won a Performance Bicycle Gift Card: Lyndsay Chauveau of Brooklyn, NY; Sabrina Almeida of Torrance, CA; Lisa Conner of Springfield, OR; Gene Mui of Chicago, IL; and Virginia Mulanax of Florissant, MO. Congrats and Enjoy! This Month's Challenge: Starting to feel the stifling [...]
It's All About You As Memorial Day approaches, we are reminded to look back and honor what was, but also to look forward to a brighter future with appreciation for the past sacrifices that made it possible. Spring is in full swing and it is an exciting time to be alive: more energy is being [...]
(Color-Treated) Hair of the Dog The Bite: Does your mane need a bloody mary? Freshen up that dyed 'do with eco-conditioners that are free of certain synthetic chemicals, and won't give you or the planet any aches and pains. The Benefits: It's like a good, greasy b-fast for your hair. These options breathed life back [...]
Please Don't Walk on the Grass(-Fed) The Bite: Seeing signs for "grass-fed" meat at the grocery store? Follow them. As you fire up the grill this National BBQ Month, be sure to choose grass-fed (not grain-fed) for your health, your taste buds, and to tread a little lighter on the planet. The Benefits: Following a [...]
Tune Up The Bite: Does your music collection need an oil change? It does if you're still buying trunk loads of CDs, since they're made from petroleum-based plastic. But you can download almost any song you wanna hear, often for free (legally, even), making CDs pretty much obsolete. Filter that. The Benefits: Rockin' the auto [...]
The Breakfast (Book) Club The Bite: Does reading an eco-book sound like a detention assignment? Not when you're joining the cool kids, dorks, jocks, and Ideal Bite editors in the first-ever, summer-long Biter Book Club. Three books, thousands of Biters, and zero fun-police principals looking over your shoulder. The Benefits: Getting in with the clique. [...]
Private(s) Party The Bite: Need something to wear to an intimate affair? Invite only the sexiest eco-lingerie into your closet, made from materials like organic cotton. Bottle service not included. The Benefits: RSVProvocative looks. What Biter bedmate could resist you in these va-va-voom undergarments? Inviting Mama (Earth) to the party. More pesticides are applied to [...]
I'm Rubber, You're Gluten The Bite: Sticking to wheat-free desserts? Bounce over to the natural foods store and pick up some delicious, organic, gluten-free desserts to rub in your allergy's face. The Benefits: Not mocking the taste. To the more than 2 million Americans who have wheat allergies: you don't have to settle for less [...]
Ever wanted to know more about the applications of renewable energy and emission reductions within the LEED Certification system and why they are important, but didnt really know where to start? Well wonder no longer! Renewable Choice is holding an introductory webinar on Wednesday, May 27 to cover topics ranging from the production of energy [...]
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has awarded the Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center of Orange, TX, with a place in its Top Ten Green Projects of 2009. The project began back in 2005, and was completed in March of 2008, achieving LEED certification at the Platinum Level, and becoming the first New [...]
Burning fossil fuels to create electricity causes air pollution and contributes to climate change. To protect our planet, we need to find new sustainable solutions to enjoy our modern lifestyles with less impact on the environment. When you GREEN YOUR PHONE, you use wind power to offset the electricity needed to create and use two [...]
Graduation Day The Bite: Students: Want a degree in waste management? Before tossing your hat in the bin as you move out for the summer, see if someone else wants it (or any of your other stuff) by swapping it, and earn a big A+ from us. The Benefits: Major scores. Trade what you don't [...]
Full of Crap The Bite: Do you believe your dishwasher saves water? Trust: If you only run it when it's full, it does. Try to use appliances like washers and dryers when they're completely loaded to avoid wasting energy and water. Believe it. The Benefits: Credulous resource savings. Your clothes washer's gonna use the same [...]
Lundberg Family Farms has been in operation since 1937 and in the early 1960s, the Lundberg brothers were approached with the idea of producing organic rice. It was not very different from the products they were already producing so it seemed a natural evolution and they’ve been farming this way ever since. To honor this [...]
Ogden Publications, publisher of brands such as Mother Earth News, Utne Reader and Natural Home has added to its environmental stewardship initiatives by supporting renewable energy and working on balancing its carbon emissions. It announced its commitment to offset 100% of its electricity use by purchasing 1.2 million kWh of renewable energy credits (RECs). This [...]
The Organ Trail - Born Again Week The Bite: What's worth more than any Western Territory? Your kidney, to someone in need. Become an organ, blood, or even hair donor and, er, recycle your body parts. Lewis and Clark woulda... The Benefits: Being someone's Sacagawea (well, figuratively). Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States [...]
We have another LEED first, ladies and gentleman - the University of Florida's Southwest Stadium Expansion and Renovation Project has just been designated the first LEED-Platinum building in Florida. In addition to that, it is also the first LEED-Platinum athletic facility in the nation! According to UFL's Facilities and Planning Construction website, "The project consists of an approximately [...]
Manitoba Harvest has expanded its corporate environmental initiatives by addressing the impact of the conventional electricity it uses. Last month it announced its commitment to offset 100% of its production facilities electricity use by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs). Manitoba is also reducing its corporate impact by offsetting the emissions from its natural gas use [...]
Melt Down - Born Again Week The Bite: Having a breakdown in the shower? If you're faced with chucking the remnants of your fave soap, pull it together - instead of throwing out those tiny pieces (granted, it's a tiny change), melt 'em down into one new, usable bar. Now breathe... The Benefits: Not throwing [...]
Renewable Choice is committed to offering innovative solutions to today's pressing energy concerns. We are also committed to educating people about the value of wind power development. Renewable Choice and our customers have had the opportunity to support wind energy development on school campuses. These projects involved installing 50 kilowatt turbines on school campuses across [...]
In a first-of-its-kind series, National Public Radio recently took a closer look at the problems plaguing our national power grid while examining the costs, the politics, and other challenges of upgrading it. Topics of NPR's POWER HUNGRY online articles and radio broadcasts included the age and lack of facility of our current grid system, the [...]
(Lip)sticks and Stones - Born Again Week The Bite: Wanna save some bones? Word. Just follow a few easy tips for making the most outta your makeup. Can't hurt. The Benefits: Not breaking the bank. American women spend about $100 per month on cosmetics and beauty products; these tips help lower your average. Less hurt [...]
The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission has invested in renewable energy credits (RECs), which fulfill the LEED Green Power Credit under the USGBC's LEED for New Construction Rating System, making their Washington Nationals Stadium the first of its kind certified under the system. Their purchase of 14,600,706 kWh of renewable energy accounts for 70% of the electricity used by the ballpark, [...]
We're excited to congratulate and recognize Linhart PR for their outstanding work on the Green Your Phone campaign, work that won them a Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Colorado "Gold Pick" Silver Award this year in the Blogger Campaign category. Linhart's work for Green Your Phone (a cell phone wind power offset available at [...]
Sole Train - Born Again Week The Bite: Discoed your heels into oblivion? Boogie over to a cobbler or tailor to fix the soles or holes in your fave platforms. Repairing's cheaper and averts the resources needed to make new stuff. Smooooth. The Benefits: Saving your oldies-but-goodies. You don't have to send that designer dress [...]
Cycle-path The Bite: Think peeps who bike to work are crazy? Maybe - helmet hair and dried sweat don't make for the best postwork date. Luckily, we've got tips to assuage your top five cycling reservations, just in time for National Bike to Work Week (May 11-15). It's gonna be insane. The Benefits: Losing it [...]
Buildings designed or retrofitted with green practices in mind, such as sustainability, conservation and efficiency, outperform similar non-green assets, according to a recent study by the CoStar Group.Projects certified under such systems as LEED and the Energy Star Labelling program are in higher demand these days, the study claims, and not just because of efficiency improvements, minimization of impact upon the environment, and [...]
Block Party The Bite: Wanna get down with neighbors without looking like you barbecued your face? Block the rays with a neighborhood slathering of eco-sunscreen. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and healthy (not leathery) skin is in, so pick up mineral-based sunscreens 'steada ones with harsh chems. Block on. The Benefits: More of a [...]
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/renewables/
Heifer International is a non-profit that is working hard to alleviate hunger and poverty by providing gifts of food and income producing farm animals. Have you ever received a card that says for example, chickens or bees have been given to a family in your name? If so, you have probably come in contact with [...]
Three (Sick) Little Pigs The Bite: Don't wanna let in germs? Avoid huffing and puffing with a generous dose of regular soap - no antibacterial stuff necessary. Swine flu/H1N1 is a virus, not a bacteria, so plain, ol' soap will get you just as clean as anti-b, without making germs as strong as bricks. The [...]
The EPA recently announced its top green power purchasers. This group of organizations has pledged to invest in renewable energy through on-site installation, utility programs and renewable energy credit (REC) purchases. Green power is defined by electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. The top 50 purchasers [...]
Vail Resorts, WhiteWave Foods on EPA's green-energy top-50 list (Excerpt) Colorado's Vail Resorts Inc. and WhiteWave Foods Co. are on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's latest list of the nation's 50 biggest consumers of "green" energy. Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) ranks No. 25 and WhiteWave is No. 35. Both Broomfield-based companies buy certificates representing [...]
I Ink, Therefore I Am (Eco) The Bite: Need proof that alternatives to petroleum ink really exist? Tell your office manager to think soy-based ink. It'll still get your message on paper without you having to mull too hard over the eco-effects of printing. The Benefits: Minding the environment. Using one soy-based cartridge conserves up [...]
Keep Up with the Joneses The Bite: Can't compete with your neighbor's latest big buy? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Pooling your resources with your neighbors for purchases like camping equipment and lawn mowers helps save those other, natural kind of resources. (Where's the glory in owning your own snowblower, anyway?) The Benefits: [...]
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has awarded the newly built synagogue of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) of Evanston, IL, with a place in its prestigious Top-10 Green Buildings of 2009 award. The 31,600 sq. foot building is situated in an urban, residential area, with proximation to a public park, community center, and tracks [...]
Tequila Mockingbird The Bite: Where's the Cinco de Mayo party at(ticus)? Just (F)inches away from the made-from-scratch organic margaritas. They'll liven up your fiesta in a way that's healthier for you and the planet. Classic. Recipe: Biter Margarita Serves 1 Ingredients: (local and organic whenever possible) • 2 oz Casa Noble certified organic tequila • [...]