Green Options » cooperative

Is Technology Harming Our Health?

Shirley Siluk Gregory — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:52:20 +0000

Does man-made technology, whether in the form of mobile telephones or backyard pesticides, pose a threat to our health and well being? That’s the subject Doug Phillips plans to explore during a June 3 program at Ever’man Natural Foods in Pensacola, Florida.

Phillips, a naturopath and former dentist, will discuss the health effects of electromagnetic radiation from cell phones, computers, microwave ovens and other devices, as well as the hazards posed by rocket fuel, pesticides, herbicides, solvents and other chemicals in daily use.

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Leafy Greens in the City Scene

Jake Kulju — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:39:37 +0000

Providence, Rhode Island— The Ocean State might be the size of some counties in other parts of the country, but it’s big on going green. A local food co-op in Providence has been bringing fresh, local produce to its capital city dwellers for nigh on ten years now.

Urban greens is a food cooperative on Providence’s West Side with a mission to provide simple, direct access to affordable, local, natural products and to offer a community-based alternative to corporate supermarkets. The cooperative is guided by its values of equal access, local agriculture, local economy, co-operative principles, community partnerships and social entrepreneurship.

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How South Bay Neighbors Saved Thousands on Going Solar

The Dave Room — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:14:03 +0000

Recently, a neighborhood group - the Downtown San Jose Solar Project - banded together to purchase solar in bulk and find their own solar installer through a competitive bidding situation. They put their collective requirements for three solar systems out to bid by several solar companies to get the best price, equipment, warranty, and service.

As of February 20, the project included 24 San Jose homes producing 99kW of electricity. The 24 systems in San Jose will produce 3,560,000 kWh over the systems’ lifetime and will eliminate, according to today’s current fuel mix, about 5,055,861 pounds of carbon dioxide. The community group wants to see this program spread across the Bay Area and held a training for people interested in setting up their own community discount programs.

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How to Save 20% on Going Solar!

The Dave Room — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:21:22 +0000

Going solar is like purchasing your electricity upfront for the next 20 years with a one-time payment. Yeah, you may save money in the long run, but the upfront payment is no joke. Currently solar photovoltaics cost about $8 per watt (installed), so a four kilowatt system will set you back about $32,000 before state and federal incentives.

Photo credit: Pete Beverly, NREL/DOE

A new model of solar purchasing appears to be coming of age: community solar purchasing programs. Last month, two colleagues in the Local Clean Energy Alliance and I carpooled to a workshop by the Downtown San Jose Solar Project about their experiences setting up a community purchasing program.

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