Why Your Business Should Care About the Birds, the Bees and the Burrs

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” according to a well-known proverb.  Those words seem particularly apt in today’s world of environmental, political, and economic pratfalls.  Fortunately, Mother Nature holds many of the answers to our most basic questions regarding design and equilibrium.  Internationally-known scientist Danya Baumeister will make the argument Oct. 15 at the BuildGreen Conference in Philadelphia that many savvy researchers, designers, and manufacturers would do better to leave the lab and look instead at the 3.8 billion years of evolution everywhere around them.  Baumeister is hardly the first to view the world as an R-and-D goldmine – one that could bring us new products, designs, and services to help both our environment and economy – but she is one of today’s leading biomimicry proponents.  And if you think biomimicry is a new idea, think again.

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The city of brotherly love is now the city of brotherly BigBellies. While it’s not the first city to adopt BigBelly Solar’s cordless trash compaction system, Philadelphia’s installment of 500 new solar trash compactors represents the most “comprehensive” program seen thus far.

BigBelly Solar, originally the Seahorse Power Company, has also found homes for its 32-lb trash compactors in cities throughout 40 different states, like Boston, Chicago, and LA, as well as 20 countries worldwide.

Despite the joy of a World Series title, the Philly sits atop a $1.4 billion, five-year budget deficit. A solar-powered waste basket wouldn’t appear to be the obvious solution to the city’s financial woes, but by replacing 700 standard receptacles with the solar compactors, dubbed “eco-stations,” the city will save a tidy $875,000 per year.

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Last year, 300 folks across North America turned in their car keys for a month as part of the 2008 Zipcar Low-Car Diet. And, in addition to cutting congestion, they also walked 85% more, biked 136% more and decreased their miles driven by 71%. Pretty impressive, eh? Starting July 15, a new crop of participants from all Zipcar cities worldwide* will begin the 2009 Low-Car Diet: one full month of living without a primary car.

Zipcar will be selecting 30 participants in each Zipcar metro to take part in the 2009 Low-Car Diet. Zipcar and its partners are committed to providing all participants with the necessary tools for creating transportation nirvana, including:

• Bike rentals
• Transit passes
• Complimentary meals at participating restaurants
• Discounts at local retailers
• And, of course, a 1-year Zipcar membership with some driving credit to get started

There will be a number of applicants for only 30 spaces, and Zipcar would like to make sure they’re the best. If you think you’d like to try an unconventional diet just fill out this short survey.

*Zipcar cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, DC.

Photo Courtesy tvol via Flickr under Creative Commons license.

Disclaimer: Gas2.0 parent company Virgance is participating in the Low-Car Diet.

While biomimicry is helpful in identifying life-friendly materials and processes that enhance (rather than pollute) the bio-sphere, it also embraces a principle that capitalists everywhere can salute: performance.  “In nature, if a design strategy is not effective, its carrier dies,” according to the Guild.  In other words, “failures are fossils.”  From saving money on energy use to cutting down on materials used in products and processes, these earth-first biologists make the point that nature is the original inventor, investor, and lean manufacturer.

The emphasis on sustainable design and manufacturing of new products makes Baumeister’s appearance at the BuildGreen Conference, hosted by the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, a natural fit.  The conference will bring together a broad variety of stakeholders, including university materials researchers, investors, green building designers, and policy makers interested in applying sustainable design and local green product manufacturing to boost the region’s economy.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Philadelphia Sustainability Director Katherine Gajewski will all be in attendance at the conference, along with a host of other experts and thought leaders interested in linking the region’s sustainability efforts to long-term economic success.  Innovative research from local universities will also be on display to drive home the point that we’ve already got the right recipe for success: a host of highly-productive institutions of higher learning, a manufacturing base in need of retooling, and political will.  The conference organizers are also arguing that our own particular necessity, the need for more high-quality green jobs in the region, should be front and center as we reinvent ourselves as a powerhouse of sustainable activity and investment.

Necessity is one heck of a mother, but Leonardo may have said it even better: “Those who are inspired by a model other than Nature, a mistress above all masters, are laboring in vain.”

Photo Credit: hart_curt via Flickr under Creative Commons License

The added value of going green is constantly growing. According to a survey conducted lately, 46% of consumers say they would shop at a retailer more if it was environmentally friendly. Another study of Mintel shows 62% of customers choose a restaurant based on their commitment to the environment.

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One bright spot on the dark economic horizon is the number of companies across the U.S. poised for growth under a cap on carbon. EDF president Fred Krupp joined Vice President Joe Biden Friday in Philadelphia for the first meeting of Biden’s task force on middle class jobs.

At the meeting we unveiled our new interactive map highlighting more than 1,200 companies in coal country, the rust belt and other manufacturing regions. These companies all stand to benefit from the demand for clean energy technologies created by a cap on global warming pollution.

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What’s the expo all about? Here’s what the event’s website has to say:

A truly unique event from the ground up, Go Green Expo will change not only the public’s perception of environmentalism but also how events like this are produced and managed. Inviting companies large and small to showcase what they are doing to reduce their respective carbon footprint, consumers will have hands on experiences with “eco-friendly” alternatives to current everyday products and services.

Even the event itself is environmentally friendly utilizing a ZERO Carbon footprint approach to event production. Biodegradable trash bags, eco-friendly printing, table coverings, recycled signs, compostable sponsor banners and more. Event waste will be separated and sorted to ensure the least amount of refuse going to the landfills. Staff travel and a portion of every ticket that is purchased will be carbon offset.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/26/next-stop-for-go-green-expo-philadelphia/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/23/pricey-parking-in-philly-aims-to-clear-the-streets/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/23/pricey-parking-in-philly-aims-to-clear-the-streets/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:40:32 +0000 Mary Casper http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/23/pricey-parking-in-philly-aims-to-clear-the-streets/

As of January 16, Philadelphia’s metered parking rates went up substantially-in some places, double-and drivers are not surprisingly peeved. Higher parking rates, along with higher fees for violations are intended to decrease downtown congestion and increase Philadelphia Parking Authority revenues.

In theory, the extra money will in turn be used to improve city schools and assuage the city’s financial woes, though many seem skeptical. The PPA has long been viewed publicly as a profligate city agency, corrupted by patronage and wasted resources; in fact, the agency doubled its staff and its revenue over the past five years and only once has their surplus revenue benefited other ailing initiatives. Moreover, while the agency does provide money for the city’s school district, the PPA is a state agency and most of the surplus money will likely head to Harrisburg.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/23/pricey-parking-in-philly-aims-to-clear-the-streets/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/22/go-green-expo-comes-to-la/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/22/go-green-expo-comes-to-la/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:50:45 +0000 Cassie Walker http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/22/go-green-expo-comes-to-la/ What started out as a single event in NYC last year, the Go Green Expo has bloomed into a 4-city extravaganza, kicking off at the LA Convention Center this weekend, January 23-25. In addition to over 200 booths of eco-friendly goods and services, the Expo features:

• Interactive seminars and speeches
• Film screenings
• Eco-fashion show
• Demonstrations & hands-on activities

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/22/go-green-expo-comes-to-la/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/16/philadelphia-pedicabs-seek-push-from-constituents/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/16/philadelphia-pedicabs-seek-push-from-constituents/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:07:19 +0000 Mary Casper http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/16/philadelphia-pedicabs-seek-push-from-constituents/ Though a handful of pedicabs have been pedaling around Philadelphia for several years, the group’s attempt last year to break into Center City Philadelphia met more than a little resistance.

Chariots of Philly has been shuttling passengers around Manayunk since 2003, following a larger urban trend toward the environmentally friendly alternative to taxis and horse drawn carriages but the project’s been stalled by an outdated lack of regulation.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/16/philadelphia-pedicabs-seek-push-from-constituents/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/11/thousands-of-philadelphians-out-of-a-bridge-for-two-years/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/11/thousands-of-philadelphians-out-of-a-bridge-for-two-years/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:38:28 +0000 Natasha Mooney http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/11/thousands-of-philadelphians-out-of-a-bridge-for-two-years/

23,000 cars will now be displaced onto the University of Pennsylvania’s campus and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Philadelphia’s South Street Bridge carried its last passenger on Monday morning, at least for the next two years. The decrepit structure, built in 1923, was declared “structurally insufficient” over twenty years ago, but has continued in operation under a close eye of weekly safety tests and vehicle weight restrictions.

The collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis last year heightened concerns about the integrity of our nation’s infrastructure. Chunks of concrete have fallen from the South Street Bridge into the river and onto the highway below, and the bridge was not expected to survive the winter months. The South Street bridge connects several residential neighborhoods in Center City and South Philadelphia with the University of Pennsylvania (the largest private employer in the city) and two major hospitals.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/11/thousands-of-philadelphians-out-of-a-bridge-for-two-years/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:01:35 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/ On Sunday, September 7, Philadelphians and those from surrounding communities (including me) will be celebrating all things green at GreenFest Philly. The festival coordinators expect about 20,000 people and their reusable water bottles to descend upon the Headhouse Square section of the city located on Second Street between Lombard and South Streets.

>> Read the rest of this post at Sustainablog.org

Orly was born in Israel, grew up in Tel Aviv, Paris and Lausanne, Switzerland and now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Hello Orly. Firstly what is a green brand?
A brand that makes an authentic connection between its “green” products and its sustainable business practices and policies. It’s not only about the green products/services it sells but also about how it runs its business.

What does a green branding consultant do?
Help create messaging and positioning for sustainable companies that will resonate with their target audience and increase awareness around green issues.

Is it more difficult to build a green brand comparing to a regular brand?
I think it’s actually easier since a green brand is working hard to make a positive impact on the environment, the community and in the world. So from a public relation perspective, it is easier to promote “doing good.“

Do you think retailers really benefit from a green image?
Absolutely. As the number of “green-conscious” consumers increases, expectations around sustainable issues will become more commonplace and brands will be expected to flex their “green” muscles. Since Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, committed itself to “green”, a lot of other household brands have followed suit and started to incorporate green practices into their business.

I believe this trend will only grow as demand for green products increases. And it’s good to remember that retailers have been losing ground with consumers in recent years and with profit margins slipping further because of the economic downturn, they are all looking for a way to stay relevant. I believe that “green” is the way they will do this.

If I’m a company, have a good and solid brand, and I want to green it up —where do I start? What do I do? Can you please share with us some of the insights on how it’s done?
The first thing you’ll need to do is have a green product! Then be sure to communicate about the ways you are changing your business and business practices—for instance one of my green clients is a large construction management company and they have committed to recycling 98% of all of the waste that they generate on a construction site.

Letting their clients know about this commitment and showing how they are doing it has had a tremendous impact on building their “green” brand awareness and increasing customer retention and loyalty.

Many companies who already have sustainable business practices need to make those practices more transparent to their customers. Target is a great example of “greening” an existing power brand. They have a link devoted exclusively to the environment and where their recycling efforts are catalogued. One such example is the 385 million garment hangers that are reused each year (instead of being put into landfills). These kinds of numbers help bring home the idea that a major brand can have a huge impact on the environment and by extension, reinforces that we as consumers, by shopping at Target, are a part of a global effort to reduce waste.

How can the Internet and social media be used to enhance green brand identity? The Internet is a great tool because it’s so immediate and can motivate us in a way that print cannot. And as consumers worldwide begin to expect and demand green practices from their favorite brands, social media will play an increasingly larger role. Bloggers already keep tabs on household brands to make sure they are providing what they say they will and alerting consumers when they do not. In the sustainable community, green washing is a big concern so having a truly green brand identity is going to be an important way for brands to distinguish themselves.

With a growing number of companies that try to position themselves as “green companies” what would be the best way to differentiate their brand?
Show me, the consumer, what you, as a green company, is doing that directly effects positive change and makes it easier for me to do my part in creating a sustainable environment. A key to successfully positioning a green brand is to be the brand that’s not only doing good and using sustainable business practices, but helps consumers take an active part while still offering value at a price they can afford.

A great example of this is Method, a company that makes it fun to clean with biodegradable products while being in the same price point as toxic products. Method has been hugely successful while at the same time, has changed what big cleaning brands (who before Method, would never have considered green) are now doing. One such example is Clorox—a brand that made its reputation on toxic bleach products—launched GreenWorks, a line of “eco friendly” cleaning products about a year ago. Because of its power brand status GreenWorks has already captured 42% of the natural cleaning industry—something that would be impossible to achieve if they were a new company.

What’s the best strategy to avoid greenwashing accusations?
Make your business operations transparent to consumers so they can see what you are doing that is “green.” Many people have a negative impression of public relations but if done properly it can be a great tool to spread your green message. For instance, getting on the calendar of a sustainable publication and talking about what your company is doing to help reduce its carbon footprint will go a long way to show that you “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.”

What do you think about big companies, like Frito Lay, that try to adopt successful green images, such as “local”? Can it work for them? Is it worthwhile to get into it at all?
Eat local is a movement that has taken hold in recent years. It’s not only about eating what grows in your area and supporting your local farmers but about reducing a company’s carbon footprint. It’s something that energy conscious consumers are beginning to pay closer attention to and a brand like Frito-Lay can have a large impact there. So to answer your question, I think it’s a very good idea. And economically, it makes sense since lower energy costs benefit the company’s bottom line and keep costs to consumers from going up.

What do you think about the efforts to make Philadelphia the greenest city in the U.S. by 2015? Do you have any branding advice to Mayor Nutter?
I’ve been a member of the Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network (SBN) for five years so I’m happy to see Philadelphia take such an active and positive role in the sustainable movement. I credit people like Leanne Krueger-Braneky, the executive director of SBN a key person in “green,” in being a motivator in forwarding a green platform in this city.

I believe that Philadelphia is positioned to be a leader in how aging eastern cities can transform themselves into profitable centers of green jobs and green initiatives. It’s an exciting time to be a Philadelphian. The one piece of advice I would offer Mayor Nutter is to be clear and consistent in his green messages. Don’t assume that Philadelphians know that what you are doing. From a branding perspective, this is critical. I would advise him to focus on 2-3 key messages such as: how is green helping me—a resident of Philadelphia—live better, work smarter, be part of a proud legacy, etc.

These are the kinds of messages that we as citizens need to hear. People don’t respond well to scare tactics. We want to do good but not if it’s going to be cost-prohibitive or impossible to carry out. Most people are happy to recycle but until a comprehensive recycling program was put into place, how many people drove to a recycling center every week?

Do you think the recession is good or bad for green branding?
I think the recession is one of the best things that could have happened for green branding. With every company looking to cut costs and consumers scrambling to keep energy bills manageable, green is emerging as a way to live that is not only responsible from a global standpoint but helps us live more economically. I believe that within a short period of time, green will no longer be a catchphrase, but simply the way every company operates and the way our children will view the world.

Thanks Orly!

To read more about Orly Zeewy: http://www.zeewy.com/

]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:40:32 +0000 Robin Shreeves http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/ On Sunday, September 7, Philadelphians and those from surrounding communities (including me) will be celebrating all things green at GreenFest Philly. The festival coordinators expect about 20,000 people and their reusable water bottles to descend upon the Headhouse Square section of the city located on Second Street between Lombard and South Streets.

The theme for this year’s festival is water quality. There will be a Water Quality Symposium where speakers will cover topics such as Residential Water Use and What’s Happening In Your River? (that would be the Delaware River for those unfamiliar with the region). There will also be several short films at the EcoFilm Forum that will cover water topics.

While water is the theme of this year’s festival there will be much more going on. 200 exhibitors will display their green causes/services/merchandise. There will be plenty of kids activities and even a Sweet Green Organic Pastry/Dessert Contest. Oh, YUM! And much, much more.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/03/philadelphians-to-party-like-there-is-a-tomorrow-at-greenfest-philly/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/01/the-possibility-of-a-residential-green-roof/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/01/the-possibility-of-a-residential-green-roof/#comments Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:16:45 +0000 Robin Shreeves http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/01/the-possibility-of-a-residential-green-roof/ Over at Green Building Elements, Philip Proefrock’s post Showing the Green Building Process highlights a Philadelphia couple’s blog, Building Green on Montrose. Archtitects Christopher & Emily Stromberg are renovating a South Philly row home, and they document their progress on the blog. I live outside Philadelphia, and I’m always excited when hear about another great green endeavor going on in the city.

What got me most excited about the project that the Stromberg’s are working on is that they are setting up the roof of the row home to be able to accommodate a green roof. Green roofs in a city environment have enormous environmental benefits. They do things like lower the temperature around the building, improve the air quality in the area, help with water retention and create urban wildlife habitats.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/01/the-possibility-of-a-residential-green-roof/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/31/philadelphia-residents-learn-how-to-save-energy-and-money/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/31/philadelphia-residents-learn-how-to-save-energy-and-money/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:57:11 +0000 Claire Fawcett http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/31/philadelphia-residents-learn-how-to-save-energy-and-money/ This is a guest post by Claire Fawcett, a former resident of Philadelphia who now works for a non-profit in Oakland, California.

Some envision environmentalists as wealthy, Burkenstock-clad radicals who have no awareness of the “real” issues affecting the average American.  Though this stereotype is inaccurate, it is promoted by environmentally unfriendly politicians to ostracize the green movement. Thus, the majority of the population is left feeling that it doesn’t possess the passion, the time, or the money to participate in preservation.

Luckily for those of us who proclaim ourselves environmentalists, more and more non-profits in Philadelphia are pitching conservation from a different angle to people who may not immediately consider themselves green. The Energy Coordinating Agency, the Partnership CDC, the Enterprise Center, and other community based organizations promote environmental initiatives through proving that conservation isn’t only friendly to the environment but also helps to fight poverty.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/31/philadelphia-residents-learn-how-to-save-energy-and-money/feed/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/07/30/showing-the-green-building-process/ http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/07/30/showing-the-green-building-process/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:22:10 +0000 Philip Proefrock http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/07/30/showing-the-green-building-process/
What does it look like to build a house with lots of green features? We see pictures of the finished buildings, and we read about the features that make them green. We know about the importance of good insulation and reducing electrical loads and choosing efficient equipment. But what does it look like while it all goes together?

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]]> http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/07/30/showing-the-green-building-process/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/23/putting-green-in-the-bank/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/23/putting-green-in-the-bank/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:33:07 +0000 Jake Kulju http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/23/putting-green-in-the-bank/ Building sustainable enterprise. Protecting the environment. Investing in social equity.

Doesn’t sound like your bank? That’s because it probably isn’t. The soon-to-be-new e3bank in Philadelphia is positioned to be the first green triple bottom line bank in New England.

From infrastructure to product and service offerings, everything the organization is involved with will be built upon the triple bottom line values of people, planet and prosperity. The bank is mobilized around a green economy and a sustainable environment, as well as supporting growing consumer and business demands around these issues.

“A commitment to the future is embedded in the DNA of e3bank,” chairman Sandy Wiggins said. “The financial industry has a large role to play in the societal shift to a sustainable world. The emerging green economy needs to be fueled by financial products and services specifically designed to accelerate its growth, and serviced by financial experts who ‘get it’ and who understand the urgency of this shift.”

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/23/putting-green-in-the-bank/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/11/a-species-in-your-name-for-a-lifetime-of-service-priceless/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/11/a-species-in-your-name-for-a-lifetime-of-service-priceless/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:39:27 +0000 Shirley Siluk Gregory http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/11/a-species-in-your-name-for-a-lifetime-of-service-priceless/ Now here’s a heart-warming story to make us forget, at least for a time, all the depressing stats regarding U.S. workers: a guy who spent 37 years as the mailroom supervisor for the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadephia has received, as a thank-you … his very own species of catfish.

Frank Gallagher, who oversaw the academy’s mailroom for nearly four decades and earned a reputation as the go-to guy for learning who was doing what — “They used to call me ‘the grapevine,’ ” Gallagher said — has been immortalized as the inspiration for Rhinodoras gallagheri, a new species of catfish described Mark Sabaj Pérez, a fish scientist with the academy.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/11/a-species-in-your-name-for-a-lifetime-of-service-priceless/feed/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/10/eco-libris-my-green-bookshelf-with-ron-gonen-of-recyclebank/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/10/eco-libris-my-green-bookshelf-with-ron-gonen-of-recyclebank/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:43:30 +0000 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/10/eco-libris-my-green-bookshelf-with-ron-gonen-of-recyclebank/ Editor’s note: Our friends at Eco-Libris rolled out a new feature on their blog last week. “My Green Bookshelf” focuses on green VIPs and their relationship with books: their reading habits, their libraries, etc. For the first installment, EL blogger Raz Godelnik talked to ecopreneur Ron Gonen, co-founder and CEO of Philadelphia’s RecycleBank. This post was originally published on Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

I don’t know about you, but when I read about green celebrities, CEOs of green companies, and other green figures, I’m always curious - what do these people read? What’s their favorite green book? How many green books they have on their bookshelf? So I decided that it’s time to try and get some answers.

Hence we begin today a new series - ‘My Green Bookshelf’. In this series we will take a look at the reading habits of interesting people from the green world with special focus on their green reading. As a small token of appreciation to our guests in the series, Eco-Libris will plant 50 new trees on behalf of each and every participant with its planting partners!

Our first guest in the series is Ron Gonen, the co-founder and CEO of RecycleBank.

RecycleBank is a Philadelphia based company that has revolutionized municipal recycling in America, by initiating a brilliant recycling program that rewards people for recycling at home. RecycleBank, which was founded in 2004, currently provides service in more than 35 municipalities in the states of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

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]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/10/eco-libris-my-green-bookshelf-with-ron-gonen-of-recyclebank/feed/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/03/how-peak-oil-ready-is-your-city/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/03/how-peak-oil-ready-is-your-city/#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:00:04 +0000 Shirley Siluk Gregory http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/03/how-peak-oil-ready-is-your-city/ Why have gas prices risen to nearly $4 a gallon (or more) in the U.S.? Is it oil speculation? Rising demand? Or the first signs of peak oil?

Whatever the cause (and there’s good reason to blame all three to some degree), most so-called experts these days aren’t expecting oil prices to drop anytime soon. In fact, Newsweek this week features a sobering article titled, “The Coming Energy Wars,” that predicts we’ll soon see oil prices top $200 a barrel. When that happens, the authors warn, we can expect everything about our daily lives to change.

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