Archive for September, 2010

Local Clean Energy Alliance Calls on PG&E to Halt Expansion of Natural Gas Infrastructure, Focus on Safety and Clean Energy Instead

Sep 17

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San Francisco — September 15, 2010 In the wake of the explosion of PG&E’s natural gas line in San Bruno, the Local Clean Energy Alliance is calling on PG&E to halt its expansion of natural gas infrastructure and focus on safety and clean energy instead. The Local Clean Energy Alliance is comprised of over 60 Bay Area community organizations and local businesses advocating for clean energy, healthy communities, and green jobs (www.localcleanenergy.org).

“PG&E should be prioritizing the safety of their customers. This means investing in the safety of their aging natural gas infrastructure over wasting ratepayer funds on unnecessary power plants and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects,” noted Rory Cox, California Program Director for Pacific Environment.

Cox observed that there are currently several new gas fired power plants planned for the PG&E service territory, even though PG&E had 44 percent more generating capacity than needed on the hottest summer day of 2009. Residents near these proposed projects have expressed concern about additional air pollution. In addition, PG&E is planning to build a new 234-mile pipeline from Coos Bay Oregon to Northern California to bring in natural gas from foreign sources, via Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology. The Alliance deems these projects unnecessary and counter to the State’s climate action goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“This explosion is another wake up call that we need to transition away from the use of dangerous, polluting fossil fuels,” asserted Kirsten Schwind, Program Director at Bay Localize. “PG&E is not meeting its state mandated targets for saving energy and transitioning to renewable energy. Weather stripping, solar thermal hot water heaters, solar photovoltaics, and windmills don’t blow up.”

“The Bay Area can meet significantly more of its energy demand from safe, clean renewable energy right here in our communities,” noted Al Weinrub, a member of the Sierra Club’s State Energy-Climate Committee. “Investing in local renewable energy generation creates clean energy jobs in our cities while reducing the public health risks and climate impacts of fossil fuels.”

“Earlier this year PG&E spent $46 million on Proposition 16, which was ultimately rejected by CA voters. A utility which chooses to waste valuable dollars on political shenanigans over investments in public safety should raise serious questions for the CPUC and all PG&E customers,” observed Larry Chang, a green architect who serves on the steering committee of the Local Clean Energy Alliance.

The following steering committee members of the Local Clean Energy Alliance are available to comment on news and analysis stories following up on the San Bruno natural gas explosion:

Kirsten Schwind, Program Director, Bay Localize (former Chair of the City of Berkeley Energy Commission): 510-834-0420, kirsten@baylocalize.org – Karen will be presenting “Community Resilience” with Aaron Lehmer (also of Bay Localize) and Dan Homsey of the Neighborhood Empowerment Network at the Community Action (Better World) Pavilion at Green Festival San Francisco.

Rory Cox, California Program Director, Pacific Environment: 415-399-8850 x302, rcox@pacificenvironment.org

Al Weinrub, Member of Sierra Club California Energy-Climate Committee: (510) 531-0720, al.weinrub@comcast.net

Larry Chang, Green Architect: 510-534-1804, lc_arch@yahoo.com

Tags: bay localize, clean energy, Energy, natural gas, PG&E, renewable energy, San Francisco, wind

Wright Scoop Implements 5-Step Sustainable Landscape Program

Sep 17

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Washington, D.C. — September 17, 2010 Sylvia Hoehns Wright, recipient of the Turning America from Eco-weak to Eco-chic Award sponsored by Hines Horticulture, Project Evergreen and Today’s Garden Center magazine, has implemented a 5-step sustainable landscape program. Starting the week of September 20th each week she posts eco tips/strategies on her www.TheWrightScoop.com blog, @ WrightScoop on twitter, and facebook group The Wright Scoop. As a final step to the program, she invites all to the Organic Gardening and Urban Farming Pavilion at DC Green Festival Saturday, October 23, from 12:30 to 1:15pm to hear her presentation: ” Gardening Green: the sustainable landscape.” A signing of her book From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: Landscape Green is hosted by Washington Gardener Magazine and held at their exhibit booth.

Whether experienced or novice, homeowner or renter all are challenged to create landscapes from a sustainable point of view, seeking to reduce their carbon footprint as well as create pesticide free edible landscapes. Eco-chic advocate Sylvia Hoehns Wright – author of From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: Landscape Green says:

“Any style should not simply illustrate traditional design but be the result of the right plant, installed in the right place at the right (optimal) planting season – creating a legacy of green, healthier urban/suburban communities.”

Wright further advises consumers to take the concept of sustainability a step further, not simply a use of plants that works-well in their region but those that contribute to regional economic sustainability: developed, grown and distributed within their community.

“Historically,” she adds, ”earth-friendly” is defined in terms of reduce, reuse and recycle. Eco-chic takes earth-friendly a step further. It is a reflection of how we feel about the environment, not just as a lifestyle choice but a decorating style as well.” During her speech – ‘Gardening Green, the sustainable landscape’, Wright shares strategies that respect an existing vista, preserving and enhancing its health. For as Wright emphasizes, plants should not simply be selected to provide contrast of structure, texture or color, but make environmental contributions, too.
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About Sylvia Hoehns Wright

An earth-friendly columnist, contributing writer and speaker, Sylvia Hoehns Wright is a graduate of the VA Natural Resource Leadership Institute program. Featured by VA Home Grown WCVE Richmond PBS TV and the best of Birds & Blooms 2006, she is a contributing writer for Washington Gardener, Green Profit, HouseTrends, Today’s Garden Center magazines and the Mid-Atlantic Grower and Times Dispatch newspapers; volunteers as public relations for Virginia “go green” projects, and blogs on HGTV-Green, http://www.buildinggreentv.com/user/thewrightscoop/blog.

As a Board member for an arts association – the National League of American Pen Women, www.nlapw.org – based in DC, she is actively involved in the preservation of the Pen Arts building and its grounds located near DuPont Circle.

Wright challenges Green Festival attendees to green their landscapes eco-chic style – the right plant, installed in the right place at the right (optimal) planting season – creating a legacy of green and a healthier community. For details, connect via web site www.TheWrightScoop.com

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Tags: earth-friendly, eco-chic, gardening, landscape, plants, sustainable, wright scoop

This is How They Treat Their Friends?

Sep 17

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This Is How They Treat Their Friends? -’A meeting between students and Obama administration officials about solar panels on the roof of the White House leaves a sour taste.’

by Bill Mckibben via LA Times

Tags: 350, Bill McKibben, Energy, obama, solar, solar panels, white house

Hip Hop Caucus founder Reverend Lennox Yearwood named one of Huffington Post’s 2010 “Game Changers in Green”

Sep 16

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Reverend Lennox Yearwood Named one of Huffington Post’s 2010 “Game Changers in Green” via Huffington Post

Tags: Activism, Green, Green Festival, hip hop caucus, rev yearwood

Gold Star Honeybees Pays Visit to the White House

Sep 14

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Washington, D.C. — September 14, 2010 Gold Star Honeybees paid a recent visit to the White House at the request of the “First Beekeeper,” Charlie Brandts, to tour their facilities, learn about bee-keeping at the White House and share their extensive knowledge of natural bee-keeping.

“We love the First Bees and their beekeeper! Charlie gave us a tour of the White House, the organic garden, and the White House bees,” says Christy Hemenway, founder of Gold Star Honeybees.

“We showed Charlie the Gold Star Top Bar Hive, complete with its observation window, and its clean, green construction, and we talked about how keeping bees without chemicals on their own natural wax honeycomb helps bees be healthy. It’s so important that people understand the connection between the food we eat and our health, and what a huge part the pollination provided by honeybees plays in the growing of that food,” Hemenway says.

“We are very proud that Roger Doiron of Kitchen Gardeners International, another Maine-er like us, had so much to do with inspiring the planting of the organic garden at the White House,” Hemenway adds.

The Gold Star Top Bar Hive promotes healthy honey bees by allowing bees to make their own natural beeswax. This helps bees by strengthening their immune systems, helping them to fight off parasites and other bee problems without the use of toxic chemicals in the beehive.

Gold Star Honeybees is a Green America Approved Business. The Gold Star Top Bar Hive kit is made from green materials. All wood parts are made of pine – cut and milled in Maine, and pre-drilled for easy assembly. Plus, they use non-toxic Mythic brand paint on the roofs, and Safecoat brand caulk to install the window.

Find out more about Gold Star Honeybees and their clean, green beekeeping products by visiting Gold Star Honey Bees.

This year at Green Festival Washington D.C., Christy Hemenway, founder of Gold Star Honeybees will participate in a panel discussion about healthy beekeeping practices. Other panelists will include Toni Burnham, who was instrumental in helping with the arrangements to put a hive of bees on the White House lawn.

Gold Star Honeybees at the Green Festival (Jimmy Fowler and an attendee)

Gold Star Honeybees visits the White House honey bees (Founder Christy Hemenway and Jimmy Fowler)

Gold Star Honeybees at the White House garden (Jimmy Fowler and Gold Star Honeybees' founder Christy Hemenway)

Tags: Beekeeping, Bees, festival, Green, green construction, healthy, Honey, pollination

ANTIOCHIA Launches its New Eco Wrap Towel Collection at DC Green Festival

Sep 10

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Washington, D.C. – September 1, 2010 Antiochia USA LLC, a Maryland-based natural bath and body products company, announces the availability of its new Eco Wrap towel collection at Washington D.C. Green Festival, October 23-24.

“We took the towel used in the traditional Turkish Bath and made it an essential piece of our product line. We called it “Eco Wrap”. This lightweight alternative for thicker terry-cloth towels is in fact a part of a long cultural tradition.” says, Berna Rodman, Owner of Antiochia.

Eco Wrap leaves a smaller carbon print on the planet as it washes easily and dries quickly; using less energy and less detergent than traditional terry towels.

It is very absorbent yet Eco Wrap will take only as much space as a t-shirt in your wash load.

Lighweight and elegant, it can be used as as a towel or wrap, an after shower cover‐up, or a pareo, cover over a swimsuit.

You can use it anywhere: bath, fitness, beaches, pools, saunas, spas, trips.

Eco Wrap will save space in your suitcase and in your gymbag.

Each piece is woven at traditional hand looms. They are machine washable and can be tumble dried. Antiochia gladly customizes the sizes upon request. The standard sizes include bath towel (30 x 70 in) and hand towel (20 x 39 in).

“Thanks for these amazing towels! I needed something light-weight and that would roll into a small space to pack into my Navy kit. I recently spent 2 months on a U.S. Navy vessel where space is limited and getting towels to dry out between using is nearly impossible under normal conditions.” says Will, a Navy officer.

“I just wanted to let you know how much I LOVE my Turkish bath towel. It absorbs water just like a giant bath towel but doesn’t feel heavy and wet – and it doesn’t take up much room in the washer!! I love that I can just towel off and wrap it around like a sarong and wear it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried something new and been disappointed – not this time! Thank you. ” says Eli Burnham, a loyal customer, living in Silver Spring, MD.

About Antiochia USA LLC

Antiochia is the labor of love for three women – mother, daughter and a best friend ‐

who worked, lived and traveled in four continents.

Antiochia products are biodegradable, authentic and environment friendly.

Including:

• EcoWrap – Environment Friendly Tradtional Turkish Bath Towel

• Natural Olive Oil Liquid Soaps

• Natural Olive Oil and Daphne Oil Bar Soaps

• Pumice Stone

• Sisal and Loofah Bath Products

At Antiochia Natural Bath and Body Products, Every single piece is hand‐made by artisans as it has been for hundreds of years; non‐reliant on high energy consuming production processes.

Antiochia Soap is 100% pure natural; made exclusively from olive oil and laurel oil from untreated trees, from Antiochia, Turkey.

For more information on wholesale, drop-shipping and private label visit www.soapsantiochia.com. Find Antiochia at Booth #552 at Green Festival DC.

Products made in Turkey; conveniently shipped from Crofton, MD.

Tags: biodegradable, cloth, eco, environment, towel, wrap

7th Annual Green Festival Returns to the Capital

Sep 9

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09.08.2010 – WASHINGTON DC — Green Festival®, the nation’s largest sustainability event, returns to the Washington Convention Center October 23-24. This year’s Green Festival theme is ‘Engagement,’ with exciting new ways to shop green, be inspired, get engaged and give back. Community members enjoy informative, insightful speakers, incomparable green shopping, cutting edge eco-innovations, great live music, fun and educational family activities, hands-on workshops, organic wine and beer and delicious, local vegetarian cuisine. Plus, our new admission options are geared to encourage everyone to get engaged in their community with immediate dividends from Green Festival.

Ten stages and pavilions give attendees the opportunity to engage with 125 local experts and nationally-renowned authors, actors, leaders, educators, farmers and visionaries. Exciting keynote speakers include Ralph Nader, Amy Goodman, Gilberto Gil, Patti Moreno, Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Dean Baker, Bernardine Dorhn, Bill Ayers, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Daniel Pinchbeck, Goumbri, Tracy McQuirter and many more.

Green Festival’s mission is to inspire and inform as many people as possible to help make our world more just and sustainable. New admission options allow people to invest in their local community while receiving immediate dividends from Green Festival. “Pay It Forward and Get it Back at Green Festival” invites community members to volunteer with or donate to local nonprofit organizations to receive complimentary admission to Green Festival. Also new this year, when an individual purchases any ticket to Green Festival, they receive “Green Bucks,” which can be used as currency at Green Festival in the green marketplace. Find out more about receiving free tickets or shopping money at http://greenfestivals.org.

“Green Festival has something for everyone,” says Green Festival Board Member and Green America Director, Denise Hamler. “Whether you go to shop, learn, try new organic foods or experience art and music, this event has it all, with the goal to motivate every person to think, participate and make more planet-friendly, sustainable choices in their every day lives.”

Washington D.C. Green Festival highlights include:

•Green Business Seminars at the Green Business Pavilion — the latest on financing for growth, marketing and new media, public policy and green trends, ethical sourcing and partnering for success.

• Green Lifestyle — practical tips for everyday life and innovations ranging from green products to green building and organic foods.

• Mother Earth News Fair Stage – workshops and ‘DIY’ presentations from the best loved topics of their magazine and fair, including urban chicken raising, cheese making at home, seed swap exchange and growing and using herbs.
• Fair Trade Pavilion — how fair-trading your home, workplace and community with coffee, home furnishings, chocolate, rice and textiles can make a world of difference.
• Better World Stage — critical issues and solutions in communities to effectively implement and support sustainable networks.
• Vegetarian Food Court — organic cuisine from local restaurants, organic beer and wine garden and fair trade organic coffee bar.
• Green Home and Energy Pavilion — demonstrations of practical skills for personal and household sustainability from solar energy to composting and green home improvements.
• Music – live music and spoken word.
• Yoga and Movement Sessions – opportunities to relax and focus body as well as the mind.
• Eco Fashion Show — showcase of eco-conscious fashion designers, make-up artists and hairstylists. (presented by EFFACA.)
• Annie’s Green Kids’ Zone — activities and storytelling for the whole family.

A project of Green America and Global Exchange, two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental and social justice for more than twenty-six years, Green Festival serves as a foundation to explore and build sustainable solutions to benefit communities and the environment, discover new environmentally-friendly products and practices and connect with likeminded individuals from all over the nation.

Green Festival demonstrates an unmatched commitment to reducing environmental impact by reusing, recycling or composting 97 percent or more of festival waste through the efforts of full-service green event management company Seven-Star Events.

Special thanks to: Bgreen, Honest Tea, Mom’s, Ford and WUSA.
To purchase tickets to Green Festival or for more information about new ways to get free tickets or shopping money, visit http://greenfestivals.org.

CONTACT: Dayna Reggero

Phone: 917-280-6965

Email: dayna@sevenstarevents.com

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About Green America
Green America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility. www.greenamericatoday.org

About Global Exchange
Global Exchange is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change. www.globalexchange.org

About Seven-Star, Inc.
Seven-Star, Inc. is the nation’s premier green full-service event company focusing exclusively on green events. Since 1999, Seven-Star has provided turn-key green event services for environmentally Responsible and socially Respectful (eR/sR) festivals, trade and consumer expositions, conferences and concerts. From the greening of the 2007 International Live Earth events, to the 2008 Democratic National Convention events, to producing the nation’s largest consumer Green Festivals, Seven-Star has defined itself as the company for eR/sR event production. Seven-Star is the first event company to have won the EPA’s Gold Waste Wise Award for Excellence in recognition for their proprietary system of event waste diversion, which has consistently achieved greater than 85%. www.sevenstarevents.com

Tags: Business, eco, Energy, environment, fair trade, fashion, festival, Green, home, kids, nonprofit, organic, social justice, sustainable, vegetarian, Washington D.C.