July has really been a hot month in the Southeast, USA. In some parts of the South, the heat index has remained 100 + for a number of days in a row. We are having the usual afternoon thunderstorm that sometimes cools things off a bit, but also adds humidity in the air to deal with. So on we go, pretty much normal for July in the ole South.
The Extension System checklist is fairly simple this month. The main goal is to keep plants and outside animals healthy. The primary thing to do is to offer plenty of water if it doesn’t rain enough to keep plants alive and well.
Another [...]
July’s Meltdown
Changes coming
Even though the temperature outside is in the triple digits – and likely to stay that way for a while – the scent of change is in the air.
If you’re used to checking for information about eco-innovations, sustainability and the latest environmental news on this site, one of the changes is I’ll be shifting to a different site shortly. You’ll still see excerpts here for the next week or two but you’ll want to start going directly to the “new” main site at Envirothink.Wordpress.com.
You’ll find the same top quality information there, with some awesome pictures and useful links. You’ll want to check it regularly as there will be some announcements of exciting new projects coming over the next couple of [...]
Greenpeace says Costco’s seafood sustainability efforts miss the mark
Greenpeace is taking aim at Costco, the third largest retailer in the country, for its poor efforts in offering sustainable seafood.
Costco has repeatedly assured shareholders and customers that it supports sustainable seafood, yet its actions say otherwise. Consumers can easily find 15 of the 22 seafoods ‘red-listed’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) which is the world’s leading authority on species in danger of extinction. Costco regularly carries two of the world’s most critically endangered species: orange roughy and Chilean sea bass.
For more on this story, go to http://3.ly/xdqP.
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Solar Day – celebrate the opportunities of renewable energy
After thirty years, the importance of Earth Day is recognized globally. But another environmentally-related celebration is fast on its heels.
June 19th is the second annual celebration of Solar Day, an event honoring solar as an alternative way of providing electricity and light to an estimated more than 1.6 billion people with no direct access to it.
Solar Day will focus on aspects of green living and climate change, with events throughout the U.S. to educate consumers about renewable energy programs, rebates and incentives that are available at city, state and federal levels.
Last year was a sort of virtual event, said Addison Huegel, Executive Director of Solar Day 2010, with one physical [...]
UK company promotes sustainability through “green oil”
As the current environmental disaster of unchecked oil spewing from a wrecked oil rig unfolds in the Gulf of Mexico, the importance of non-fossil fuel is growing exponentially.
UK-based Carbon Credited Farming PLC (CCF PLC), a green energy company, has been making headway with their worldwide focus on developing “green oil” from jatropha (juh tro’ fa) plants.
“Our goal and vision is to provide alternative renewable energy sources through a sustainable commercial framework that benefits everyone – from farmers to governments to end users – and benefits our environment with conservation and sustainable practices,” said Gregg Fryett, CEO of Carbon Credited Farming PLC.
To achieve this, CCF has been operating jatropha plantations in Thailand, Cambodia and Africa. [...]
PaperMate goes green
PaperMate has been one of America’s go-to pens for decades. Users of these durable, reasonably priced products cover every age and economic bracket from schoolkids to corporations.
On Earth Day 2008, PaperMate’s parent company, Newell Rubermaid, established their sustainability policy, which included a commitment to energy and waste reduction and to sourcing green materials for their products.
With the approaching 40th anniversary of Earth Day, PaperMate has achieved creating two green product lines.
Their Biodegradable pen and mechanical pencil line was launched in November 2009. These durable writing tools have a soft touch yet are made to the high quality standards of all PaperMate’s products. Writing with them is smooth and comfortable.
These handsome [...]
Ford Cuts Energy Costs by $1.2M by turning off PC’s!
Electronics are notorious for energy “leaks”. Ford Motor Company is discoveing just how much energy they’ve been wasting when they implemented their new PC Power Management program. The company anticipates it will save $1.2 million when the system is fully implemented. It also expects to reduce its carbon footprint by 16,000-25,000 metric tons annually.
Under this new program, power settings on Windows laptops and desktop computers are controlled centrally. This reduces energy waste and allows for optimizing software updates. Shutting down computers that aren’t in use – nighttimes and weekends – also helps reduce weated energy.
Computers will, however, be “awake”, connected to Ford’s intranet so as to be able to receive system updates and software upgrades [...]
Vancouver’s Olympic graphics to be recycled as flooring
Now that the Vancouver Olympics are just a wonderful memory, lots of materials are left to be dealt with.
Enter Mannington Commercial who plans to take the almost 200,000 square feet of graphic wraps, made by 3M Canada, that were used for advertising during the 2010 Winter Games and will turn them into commercial flooring. These wraps were wrapped on vehicles and other types of displays
Mannington will utilize these wraps for their Premium Tile line, which also includes scrap drywall and VCT removed from renovation sites.
Mannington officials said the Premium Tile line is popular for educational, healthcare and retail uses.
Once again, a little corporate ingenuity and commitment to sustainability will turn what would have been trashed into something useful.
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Kohl’s recognied as 2010 Energy Star® Partner of the Year
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have named Kohl’s Department Stores the 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Energy Management for the company’s commitment to energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program, Kohl’s will receive the award March 18th at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Kohl’s has implemented a wide range of sustainable business practices. This commitment led Kohl’s in December 2009 announce their plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by the end of 2010. Last year the Environmental Protection Agency recognzied this family-focused Wisconsin-based company as a 2009 Green Power Partner of the Year.
Expect to hear more about Kohl’s [...]
Unilever to stop buying palm oil from Indonesia
Top consumer goods manufacturer Unilever has reportedly told dealers to stop buying palm oil from Indonesian planter Duta Palma due to concerns over rainforest destruction.
Unilever, who has been one of the world’s foremost palm oil buyers, halted their contract with the planter shortly after a documentary aired by the BBC which showed Duta Palma staff clearing rainforests for oil palm estates that produce the oil used in Unilever products including Dove soap and Stork margarine.
The consumer products giant uses around 1.3 million metric tons of palm oil annually. Targeted by environmentalists sand green-minded consumers for their deforestation and peatland clearance practices, Unilever has pledged to only purchase from certified sustainable palm plantations after 2015.
Indonesia and Malaysia produce at least 80 percent [...]