Jan. 22nd is the B to B day for business buyers, CEOs, press, & procurement professionals.

Jan. 23-24th is for all business professionals & all consumers & their families.

Hundreds of exhibits will encompass a wide variety of green products & services ranging from solar panels, hybrid cars, organic personal care products, eco-pet supplies, greener gadgets, eco-fashion, and home and building supplies that will help us live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

Eco-Celebrity speakers, authors & thought leaders such as Ed Begley Jr., Mariel Hemingway, John Picard & Eric Corey Freed will lead informative discussions! Don’t miss Los Angeles’ ultimate eco-extravaganza! Limited booth space is still available. Contact Seth Berk at 212-655-4505 ext. 224 or sberk@gogreenexpo.com today.

Details: www.GoGreenExpo.com
Use promo code GREENPROFS for 50% off ticket price of only $10 for the entire weekend!

The report was conducted on a non-exclusive basis and has been well received by municipalities; real estate developers and owners; institutions (i.e., universities); lighting designers, manufacturers, reps and distributors; and investors who are utilizing it in their sustainability efforts. We will also be sharing the report with utilities who are interested in energy efficient products for their customers and incentive programs. The report can be downloaded on our site at bit.ly/mlg1M.

In the next few months, we will be working on two additional reports on “smart grid/electricity monitoring and control solutions” and another on “distributed generation in urban environments.” We are currently looking to connect with municipalities, global development organizations, investors and companies who have an active interest in these sectors. Please feel free to share the link to our report and let us know if there is anyone that we should be connecting with in these sectors.

Romahlo Wilson
Founder
Cleantech Approach
romahlo@cleantechapproach.com

DuctSox now has fabrics with recycled content. Both the Sedona-Xm and Coronado ranges are made with 55% recycled content (80% post industrial and 20% post consumer). DuctSox are the first fabric duct manufacturer offering recycled fabric options.

New and improved Sedona-Xm and Coronado ranges are great options to have in today’s environmentally-conscious society, and one that should be specified on any green project where superior air dispersion is also required.

The concept of using fabric ductwork instead of metal ductwork for air dispersion offers many sustainable benefits besides cost. DuctSox are 100% custom made to fit a project, meaning no excess fabric and minimal waste.

Fabric ducting is fast replacing traditional metal across the whole range of HVAC disciplines because of the better air dispersion which results in more effective air distribution and lower construction and lower operating costs.

The full range of products are available through the Europe Distributor, Clever Engineering and their website www.fabric-duct.co.uk, is fully supporting the products with CAD design and technical support.

For retail and wholesale, please visit our website at www.recandle.com

Enter coupon code "Greenprofs" for a 20% discount off your entire retail order at checkout.

Eight disadvantaged schools across the country will receive between 20 and 40 trees, as well as training and education on how to maintain the trees facilitated by Food & Trees for Africa, a greening, climate change action and food security social enterprise. This will enhance and create a nurturing environment for the schools and will provide lasting benefit to generations of children and their communities alike.

“I believe it is every person’s responsibility to adopt low-carbon practices, and businesses are made of people. Raising public awareness and encouraging choices that support ethical companies will result in pressure being felt by other suppliers to follow suit”, said CEO, Ryan Bakos. “I believe the chain reaction is the only thing that might save our wonderful and precious planet!”

Bakos is not only committed to offsetting the company’s monthly carbon emissions, he has also begun implementing a plan to reduce it’s energy consumption which accounts for over 75% of the retailer’s total carbon emissions.  

A carbon footprint and energy report by Global Carbon Exchange (GCX) highlighted how reductions could be achieved so Bakos devised a financially sustainable plan which spread the cost of converting his current lighting system (the most energy intensive component of Bakos Brothers Furniture Retailers operations), to an energy efficient system, over the next two years.  

Total payback for the entire project will also be achieved in the 23rd month of the conversion, but emission reductions and financial savings began with the first lights that were converted and will continue steadily as more energy efficient lighting is fitted. This will also result in less and less offsets being purchased monthly until the new system has been fully installed at all five of the company’s Johannesburg premises.  

Looking at today’s international leaders like Virgin, HSBC, Mark’s and Spenser’s, Google, Ikea and Nike it is clear that the old business model of profiting at the expense of everything and everyone has been replaced by a sustainable model that does not separate responsible environmental and social practices from raising profitability and increasing market share.

Why is this possible now? Well auction software is evolving everyday to become low cost, easy to install and above all a pleasant experience for buyers and sellers. We use rainworx – software that just wasn’t around a few years ago. A few years ago auction software with anything but basic functions just wasn’t available but there were plenty of companies that professed to have the skills to build an bespoke auction platform as I found out.

Back in the dot com boom days I created with a few friends a company inside one of the then big six consultancies called waterexchange. A UK based company facilitating the buying and selling of tangible and intangible assets associated with the water industry. We spent literally millions of pounds developing an auction platform with a company called Moai to facilitate trades in abstraction licenses and the materials and tools used in the water industry. So much money that when our consultancy host looked to get its money back from a group of investors even at the height of the dot com bubble there were few willing to enter into negotiations. Couple this with a conflict of interest with our host company and it was time to move on and call it day. Although the website waterexchangeuk.com still exists. Moreover in Australia an unrelated company also called waterexchange is going strong.

It we started the venture now we could exploit the functionality of rainworx and get things off the ground for a few thousand dollars. Indeed that is what I have done with energybook (wxtrade.com) a site focused on green energy and sustainable living. It’s free to use for a start and can host auctions and classifieds as well as trade sales and reverse auctions. EnergyBook is robust, trustworthy and most of all focused on the needs of a particular group of customers – green customers. So will my new site be a success and a rival to ebay?.. Well you will need to be the judge.

But what I can say is that software is no longer the barrier and the success of the site. So what are the barriers to creating a viable online auction company today? Well there is still one barrier that is hard to overcome for new entrants. The site needs to attract both sellers and buyers. Or should I say chickens and eggs? Without buyers, sellers will not advertise and without sellers and postings buyers will not hang around on the site. The answer, I believe, is to keep on advertising, keep on plugging away and post-by-post and sale-by-sale the site will grow. And the best types of site for this slow at first site development? Well back to my first contention for if there are to be any successful rivals to ebay it will be in the niche area where promotions can be concentrated and each posting is attractive and meets the customers’ needs. And my conclusion? - beware ebay the niche players are growing and ready to take a slice of your action.

Is now the time for an alternative to ebay? EnergyBook is a free to use auction and classified site with loads of functions focussed on renewable energy and sustainable living.   http://www.EnergyBook.biz

Homeowners Go Green in Style with American Blinds, Wallpaper and More®.

Today’s homeowner is environmentally wise and demands eco chic design. American Blinds, Wallpaper and More, the leader in home décor for over fifty years, offers the latest in stylish, energy-efficient products

Giving their customers a variety of window and wall treatments with their eco friendly shades and wall covering collections, American Blinds, Wallpaper and More provides a selection that not only helps save on home energy costs, but also aids in protecting the earth’s natural resources.

Tip: With lower ceilings, hang draperies and valances higher than the window to create the illusion of height.  Make smaller spaces seem larger by opening blinds and drapes allowing light to flow into a room.

What makes a home décor product Ecologically Friendly?

• PVC-Free. Fabrics contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), improving home air quality.
• 100% Recyclable. Fabrics are made from completely recyclable materials helping to preserve the earth’s valuable resources.

 

Rachel Rutledge, Product Merchandising Manager at American Blinds, Wallpaper and More says, “We offer blinds made of PVC-free and recyclable materials. For those who want to decorate their space with green friendly materials, we also carry wallpaper, like our Natural Grass Collection. It’s a popular choice that’s right on trend.” 

Eco chic home décor products from American Blinds, Wallpaper and More:

• American Blinds® Roller Shades – New collection for 2008. These eco friendly shades are PVC-free and 100% recyclable. Available in six fabric colors to complement every home environment.
• Easy Wallsâ„¢ is a revolutionary wallpaper product, which is pre-pasted, washable and 100% vinyl free. It requires minimal preparation and is fully breathable, eliminating vapor lock, which can cause mold and mildew.
• New For Spring 2008 - New environmentally friendly wallpaper designs from European designers Graham & Brown. Visit www.americanblinds.com for all the Graham & Brown styles. These wallpaper designs are either made from recycled material or sourced from managed forests. About 50% of an average roll is made from renewable resources.

 

Going green and giving back to the planet has never been easier. Choosing home décor products from American Blinds, Wallpaper and More is both environmentally and energy efficient. Shop www.americanblinds.com for the latest trends in eco friendly products.

ABOUT AMERICAN BLINDS, WALLPAPER AND MORE:
American Blinds, Wallpaper and More is the largest online retailer of brand name custom window treatments and wall coverings at savings from 25% – 85% off most retail store and home center prices. They carry all brand name blinds and wallpaper, including Hunter Douglas®, Bali®, Levolor®, Kirsch®, Waverly® and American Blinds®, their most popular brand. The company also sells home decorating products including curtains, draperies, custom framed wall art, bedding, and area rugs. Their website, www.americanblinds.com, can search for over 500,000 wallpaper, border and fabric patterns by color, style and other keywords. Most merchandise is shipped via free ground delivery and is covered by a Satisfaction Guarantee and a Lowest Price Guarantee. For more than fifty years American Blinds, Wallpaper and More has provided high quality products to over 6 million customers nationwide.

The WaterSense partnership program makes it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment by helping consumers identify water-efficient, high-performing plumbing products they can buy for their homes. The exciting water-efficiency program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with manufacturers, retailers and distributors, utilities, state and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, trade associations, irrigation professionals, and professional certifying organizations to bring water-efficient products to market and spread the word about the need for smart water use.

DesignerPlumbingOutlet.com, a virtual store for kitchen and bathroom fixtures, fittings and accessories is one of nearly 70 retailers who have become a partner with WaterSense. As a partner of the WaterSense program, DPO displays the WaterSense label on quality, water-efficient products certified to meet EPA criteria that are found on the site. Most of these items are bathroom sink faucets and high-efficiency toilets that are designed to save water. 

“We feel it’s our duty to offer our customers a distinct “greener” choice when purchasing faucets and toilets from DPO,” said Founder and CEO Eric Strand. “By joining WaterSense and enabling the “eco friendly” search option on our site, we are giving customers the tools and knowledge to purchase the most water-efficient products available in this marketplace.”   

The WaterSense label indicates that these products have been independently tested by third-party laboratories to meet EPA’s water-efficiency and performance criteria. In addition, customers can be confident that the products will all perform well and may help them save money in the long run. Designer Plumbing Outlet carries many plumbing manufacturers who are WaterSense partners: American Standard, Delta, Grohe, Hansgrohe, Danze, Moen, and Price Pfister.

The WaterSense partnership is one of two steps DPO has taken to become eco friendly and help customers choose water-efficient products.  In addition to joining the WaterSense program, DPO has enabled an “eco friendly” search option on the website so customers can sort the wide variety of faucets, toilets and showerheads found on DPO, that are not WaterSense labeled, but are deemed “green” by their manufacturers, through an “eco friendly” search option.

According to WaterSense, the average American household uses about 100,000 gallons of water in a year, and 11,000 gallons of that are unnecessarily wasted each year due to inefficient toilets and faucets. If every inefficient toilet in the United States was replaced by a WaterSense labeled model, it would save 640 billion gallons of water.

WaterSense partner Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) demonstrates that it can be done. Through aggressive water conservation programs, SPU decreased water consumption in and around Seattle, Washington, by 24 percent since 1990, while in the same period the region’s population grew by 11 percent.

To achieve these savings, SPU targeted its efficiency measures on residential indoor fixtures, residential landscapes, commercial processes, and commercial landscapes. In particular, the program offered rebates or free toilets to upgrade older, inefficient toilets, as well as rebates for water-using appliances, urinals, pre-rinse spray heads, and other equipment. More recently, the region launched a pilot program for water-efficient showerheads. These incentives combined with non-incentive efforts—such as mass media messaging, direct mailings, new outreach materials, and Web sites—helped make the 1% Water Conservation Program a success.

SPU understands that water efficiency plays a key role in any strong municipal water conservation program, so joining WaterSense was an obvious choice. SPU Water Conservation Program Leader Al Dietemann explains, “WaterSense adds consistency with products, messaging, and marketing, and provides utilities with identical criteria to ensure a clear and concise message is conveyed to customers.”

In fall 2007, SPU launched a campaign featuring a TV ad encouraging consumers to purchase WaterSense labeled or FlushStar toilets. SPU also included an article in the utility’s newsletter that reaches up to 300,000 customers and shared point-of-purchase materials with retailers.

Further south in Cobb County, Georgia, government leaders launched a toilet rebate program in October 2007, coinciding with the day its water district declared Drought Level 4, the most severe classification. Since that time, Cobb County has issued 1,128 rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets and 2,048 rebates for 1.6-gallon-per-flush (gpf) toilets, saving the county an estimated 31.4 million gallons of water per year and easing the strain on municipal water supplies.

Cobb County’s rebate program soon achieved even greater influence when the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District adopted the program for the entire district, which includes Atlanta, 16 counties, and more than 60 water utilities. As a result, the program now targets more than 2 million customers.

Customers stand to benefit, too. Rebate participants are saving approximately $70.50 per year by reducing 10,000 gallons of water per household per year. The tiered rebate program credits customers’ water bills directly: $50 for 1.6-gpf toilets and $100 for WaterSense labeled toilets (less than 1.3 gpf). Cobb County Water System initially included 1.6-gpf toilets until WaterSense labeled models became more readily available. County officials hope to phase out rebates for 1.6-gpf toilets by the end of 2009.

Effective outreach has been crucial to Cobb County’s success in bringing WaterSense labeled toilets to the region. Early on, Cobb County contacted major retailers, including Home Depot and Lowe’s to encourage them to stock the toilets on its rebate list. To increase demand for WaterSense labeled toilets, the county educated consumers through its Web site and numerous public presentations. This allowed consumers one-on-one time to discuss the rebate program and WaterSense labeled toilets, which also built brand recognition. The media also drove home the water-efficiency message in print, radio, and television. By effectively building a market base and a steady supply of WaterSense labeled toilets in the area, Cobb County ensured its rebate program would have a significant impact and bring real change to the region.

Kathy Nguyen, water-efficiency program manager for Cobb County Water System, relates the success of the rebate program to the WaterSense label, saying, “WaterSense has made it easy for us by providing tools and resources to use for our rebate program. We’ve also found value in utilizing a national brand with consistent messaging, which makes it easier for our customers to identify products that are third-party certified for water efficiency and performance.”

Being green can be quite inconvenient. Saving water means low flow toilets, low flow water fixtures, and less greenery in the yard. These are all good proven methods of practicing water conservation, but sometimes human behavior can get in the way.

Human behavior is a large part of the equation

Some of the research that was done for the California Energy Commission back in the 80s showed that many of the conservation methods were not effective due to how the occupants of a home behaved. The smart thermostats, loads of insulation, double pane windows, outlet gaskets, and air tight construction didn’t do a lot of good when the homeowner turned up the air conditioning and opened the windows.

Wasting time, water, and energy

Another human thing to do is to run water down the drain while waiting for hot water. I’m not suggesting anyone jump into a cold shower. By all means, wait until the water is hot before you jump. But there are quite a few people who are simply not patient enough to stand there waiting for the hot water. These people turn on the hot water full-blast, and then go do something else while they wait. They shave, or brush their teeth, or start the coffee, and then return to the shower.

The problem with this behavior is that not only does it waste a whole lot of water unnecessarily, it also wastes energy. There is no telling how much HOT water was run down the rain. With a two gallon per minute shower head, running it for two minutes after the arrival of hot water would waste 4 gallons of hot water.

Heating the water is much more expensive than the water being heated

The energy to heat water is much more expensive than the water itself. For example, let’s assume natural gas costs $1.37/Therm, an 80% efficient gas water heater, temperature rise of 90 degrees, and a cost of water of $.0002/gallon (national average).  In this case, that 4 gallons of hot water cost 48 cents to heat, and the water cost less than a penny.

Water conservation products – hot water demand systems

There are several water conservation products on the market that can eliminate both the wasted water and the wasted energy in these cases. The products are known as hot water demand systems. These devices not only eliminate running water down the drain, but get you your hot water faster than running the faucet.

The way these products work is to pump the water from the water heater to the fixtures at high speed, sending the cooled off hot water that was in the hot water pipes back to the water heater through the cold water line. When you want hot water you press a button, which starts the pump, and when hot water reaches the fixture, the pump shuts off. The pump is typically located at the furthest fixture from the heater, and can often supply fast waste-free hot water at more than one fixture.

ACT Metlund and Chilipepper Sales Manufacture Hot Water Demand Systems

Chilipepper Sales model CP6000

Chilipepper Sales and ACT Metlund both manufacture hot water demand systems. The Chilipepper model CP6000 hot water demand system has a powerful 1/3 horsepower motor, hooks up to the plumbing with hoses by just turning off the shut-off valves under the sink, and retails for about $180. It’s powerful enough to handle pipe runs of up to about 400 feet, and will operate any tank type or tankless water heater. It comes with a 5 year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.

Metlund D’mand Systems

The ACT Metlund D’mand S-50T-PF Kit re-circulating pump has a small 1/40 horsepower motor, has ½ inch sweat fittings, and needs to be plumbed in on the meter side of the shut-off valves, requiring shutting off the water to the house. It retails for about $340.00 and has a three year warranty. It cannot be used with a tankless water heater, and is recommended for pipe runs of less than 50 feet.

The ACT Metlund S-70T-PF Kit has a small 1/25 horsepower motor, installs with ½” threaded pipe fittings, needs the water to the house turned off for installation, and retails for about $440. It has a 5 year warranty, and is recommended for less than 100 foot pipe runs or less than 60 feet with a tankless water heater.

The ACT Metlund S-02T-PF Kit has a 1/8 horsepower motor, installs with ½” fittings, meter side of the shut-offs, and retails for about $750.00. This model is recommended for pipe runs under 300 feet and works with tankless water heaters. It has a 5 year warranty.

In conclusion

Home owners can be green by adding the convenience of fast hot water while substantially reducing the wastage of water and even water heating energy. Just saving that one 4-gallon wastage a day, with an electric water heater, would more than pay for the less expensive demand systems in less than a year, and the CP6000 in months.

Some water companies offer rebates for hot water demand systems. A water company in Arizona is offering a $200 rebate for installing one of these systems. The rebate makes for a very short payback period indeed.

All of these systems have life expectancies of about 15 years…the same as the average water heater. Be green, install a hot water demand system in your home and start saving time water, energy, and money!

The following article highlights some places to find bedding and bath products for your home and also exposes a few environmentally-friendly choices you can make.

Bed, Bath and Beyond is a Large Retail Store

Bed, Bath and Beyond is one of the most popular stores that offers a vast selection of items for the home. Although this retail store specializes in bedroom or bathroom products, there are many products hight-lighted for many other areas of your home. You can dress your interior landscape from top to bottom at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Linens and Things is a Well Known Brand

Another fantastic option is a store like Linens and Things. This store is great for finding unique interior design products for bedding and bath. Linens and Things is organized much like Bed, Bath and Beyond and you can find plenty of other things aside from products for the bedroom and bathroom.

Trying Buying Organic, Recycled, or Sustainable Products

If you really want something different that is in line with your environmentally conscious shopping needs, you may want to opt for an organic retailer like Gaiam. This shopping site is pretty good. It offers not so common bedding and bath items manufactured from hemp or recycled materials. I love to browse through these kinds of stores. A person may experience a slightly higher cost for green, Earth-friendly items in the current shopping sites but this little extra cost is worth investment.

Buying Your Household Items on the Cheap

There are some who prefer something thrifty. There are plenty of places to find great deals on bedding and bath products. Outlet stores are ideal stopping points for finding some frugal deals for the home. These retailers often showcase high-end items at a fraction of the price.

Another great place to find a deal on bedding and bath products is the closeout store. Retailers like Big Lots offer discontinued items for the home. There are many great savings offered on odd shaped, or repackaged products as well. Many of the irregularities are not detectable and you can score big with a visit to one of these retailers.

Of course, there are the department store chains that boast everyday low prices and outstanding sales. You can locate many environmentally friendly bedding and bath products at local retail stores. There are more option emerging everyday. You can find just about all of the household items that you may need. One stop shopping is a wonderful option for busy people who want to find affordable products for their home in little time.

Shopping for Bedding and Bath Products is Best Online

My personal favorite place to shop is the Internet. There is a boatload of options related to bedding and bath products that can be sent right to your doorstep. I love that I can shop from the comfort of home with the selection of organic, recycled, or sustainable manufacturing practices that I appreciate.

I find it really useful to lookup items online in one place. A number of Eco-friendly search engine can assist a person in researching many of the sustainable bedding and bath products for your home. ]]> http://greenprofs.com/how-to-shop-for-green-eco-conscious-household-products/feed/ 0