Archive for February, 2008

MORRISVILLE, N.C. - Environmentally friendly companies are teaming up with other green businesses to increase the positive impact they have on the earth.”Being green is in our DNA,” said John Replogle, Burt’s Bees CEO.

Replogle said his company was built on an environmentally friendly way of doing business.  He says if you are a green company, it’s important to work with other eco-conscious partners.

“So we’ve looked across the supply chain to look for partners that would help us develop and define solutions to the environmental crisis,” Replogle said.

Burt’s Bees is partnering with Cary printing for the production of flyers and product labels because of the recent changes they have made in processing their prints. Doug May with Cary Printing said the changes were significant to the company.
“We’ve changed some equipment which has allowed us to save a lot of water and also reduce chemical consumption,” May said.

The new equipment includes plate processor and developer. They also enforce strict use of biodegradable paper.

This processor uses about half the amount of water the old machine used in making one print, which adds up over time.

“We’re going to be able to reduce water consumption by 15,000 to 20,000 gallons per month,” May said.

Burt’s Bees also recently made some changes to conserve water.

“We make our product in big tanks and instead of using water to wash them too, we’ve invested in steam cleaning,” Replogle said.

Because of that change, hundreds and thousands of gallons of water are saved each year. Burt’s Bees also works with Piedmont Bio Fuel.  Excess oils used in the manufacturing of the product are turned into bio fuel instead of waste. But Replogle says that’s not enough. It is also important for companies to get their consumers involved with the fight. 

“More and more today consumers are working not only to take care of their well being but also the earth around them,” Replogle said.

The companies stress their green status.  They educate and encourage buyers to look at the labels on their products and others to be sure the items are safe for the earth. 

Jaclyn Asztalos, NBC17 Reporter

Warmer days are ahead, but the cooler nights remain. Those colder nights sometimes just make people want to fire-up the fireplace and snuggle up with your loved one. But while you’re doing so, take some extra steps to ensure your not losing more energy. Motherearthnews.com has an article that provides steps and tips you can use to ensure the heat that the fireplace is providing is not escaping through the chimney.

One tip the article provides is to add a fireback. A fireback is a metal sheet that is placed along the back wall of the fireplace and it reflects the heat into your home.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also has ways to make your chimney cleaner. They suggest installing a vent to limit on the amount of smoke.

If you have suggestions on how to make a fireplace energy efficient and cleaner, share them by posting a comment.

RALEIGH, N.C.–  Gov. Mike Easley announced Friday that small business owners would be able to apply for the new North Carolina Green Business Fund grants.  According to a press release, the grants will help small businesses become more eco-friendly.  The grants will allow small businesses and entrepreneurs to produce green and alternative energy technologies.  The grants will also help small businesses produce “green” products and services.

The General Assembly approved the N.C. Green Business Fund last year and provided $1 million for the first round of grants.  The deadline to apply for a grant is April 30, 2008.

The Board of Science and Technology’s website has more detailed information on how to apply for a grant, grant proposals, and eligibility criteria.

Finding the right cleaning product to clean your home and that’s safe for the environment is a hard task. But care2.com has an article written by Annie B. Bond, author of Clean and Green that has a huge list of make-at-home cleaners.

On Bond’s list of necessary supplies, include baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, tea tree oil, and a few others. She has a step by step guide to making a simple solution to more advanced cleaners like furniture polish and oven cleaners.

Even if your not the DIY type, these directions are simple to understand and simple to make all on your own.

If you’ve tried making your own green cleaning solutions, or if you have tried one of Bond’s creations, scroll down and leave a reply to share your ideas!

Now that the 2008 Presidential Election is upon us, it’s time to consider who we will vote for as our next president. Voters take all sorts of factors into consideration to make their decision. But one website makes it easier for you to find out which politicians receive contributions from oil companies, and exactly how much money they get.

Oil Change International has a tool called “Follow the Oil Money” you can enter which election race you would like to view, or you can enter your zip code and see what your local politicians are receiving.

According to the site, in the 2008 Presidential race:

• Hillary Clinton received $235,250 in contributions from oil companies
• John Mccain received $206,935
• Barack Obama received $110,412

The see the full list of how much other candidates get and which companies donated the most, click here.

RALEIGH, N.C. — A couple that wants to build three electricity-generating wind turbines in rural North Carolina is facing opposition from neighbors.

The neighbors say the windmills would create noise and disrupt the scenery of their coastal community.

Nelson and Dianna Paul of Raleigh have asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission for permission to build the Golden Wind Farm on 33-acres in Bettie, a town about seven miles northeast of Beaufort. It would be the largest wind farm in the state.

Nelson Paul told commissioners the turbines would generate 4.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 900 homes. The couple wants to sell the power to Progress Energy as a source of green energy.

Some residents say the towers would spoil their property. The towers could be 460 feet tall.

The day of love is just around the corner, and stores are stocking their shelves with all sorts of Valentine’s Day goodies. But if you’re trying to go green and help save the environment, finding gifts for your loved one that are unique, memorable, but most of all, eco-friendly is tough. Flowers are the number one gift bought, and organic bouquet offers organic, eco-friendly flowers. From daisies and tulips to lilies and roses, all these flowers were grown without the use of pesticides. To read more about how they are eco-friendly, click here.

Now if chocolates are your thing, Organic Style offers the decadent desserts made by all natural and organic ingredients. This site also offers gourmet gifts like cookies. Don’t expect any ordinary chocolates either. They have all sorts of gourmet chocolates, like Costa Rican chocolate filled with berry preserve that will make your mouth water.

Or better yet, how about giving your loved one a gift that keeps on giving for years and years and years to come? No, I’m not talking about a jelly of the month membership. I’m talking about giving a tree or a flower to plant together. Buy a shovel, if you don’t have one, buy a tree or flower from your local nursery and grab your loved one and dig a hole together. Then you can fill up that hole with dirt and you can watch the tree (and the love you have for each other) grow. And remember, don’t use pesticides or chemicals to feed your plant and make sure you use captured rain water to water your plant.

So don’t think it’s impossible to find that special gift for that special someone on Valentine’s Day. It may take some hard work and a little research but the best, eco-friendly gift is out there.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By NBC17

RALEIGH, N.C. - A business out of Apex is saying out with the old and in with the green.

“We try to do everything we can as were doing the renovations process to bring in green building practices,” said business owner Paul Murphy.

Murphy, with TeamHomeBuyer.com, says their goal is to modernizing the neighborhoods in a “green” way while keeping the rich history alive. 

Chris Dalton and his family moved into a one of the refurbished homes last November.

“We wanted something that had a little history and character at the same time,” Dalton said.

Murphy says they not only preserve the character of the area, but it’s good for the environment.

“Try to use renewable floors like bamboo and we try to upgrade heating systems to high-efficiency systems,” Murphy said.

“I think having the new appliances and heating systems really help,” said homeowner Emily Orr.

They also plant drought resistance flowers in the yard. With all these changes, the homes costs anywhere between $150,000 to $200,000.

Charlie McCarter with TeamHomeBuyer.com says they also have a quick turnover rate.

“In most cases we have the house sold before it’s finished and the entire process takes about thirty days,” McCarter said.

Murphy says after the homes are finished, he also educates the buyers about what they can do for the environment, then it’s up to them to continue the green lifestyle.