Independent Printing has started a blog at www.designed2print.wordpress.com, which has a number of good articles on the changes in the printing industry. The site covers how Independent Printing is staying ahead of the curve by offering not only Forest Stewardship Council paper and vegetable based inks, but also switching to green energy for their plants.

Our number one seller from Independent Printing is their Enviro-binder.

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We’ve been seduced by the beverage industry into believing only they can quench our thirst with colored, caffeinated, vitaminized, electrolyted water. We have become so parched that we can’t walk down the street without toting a single-use plastic bottle touting the magical effects of its water source.

Apparently, Kabbalah Water will heal us and Bling Water will define us. At the Bling H20 website, Bling Water “creator” Kevin Boyd describes noticing on Hollywood studio lots that “you could tell a lot about a person by the bottled water they carried.” First of all, didn’t god create water? Secondly, the water is bottled in Dandridge, Tennessee - since when is Southern Tennessee a spring of L.A. status? Yes, Dandrige’s water ranks very highly on EPA’s water quality index, but why are we spending so much money ($40 for Bling’s “Go Green” 750ml bottle) on cross-continental water instead of cleaning up our local waterways? Tinseltown’s water is so polluted with run-off and industrial contamination that perhaps water by way of Tennessee does make sense.

Here’s what the less blingy among us do:

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This plug n’ play system works with your USB 2.0 and 1.1 jacks, is Mac and PC compatible (phew!) and automatically turns on and off with your computer to conserve energy.

Did I mention how good looking it is? The hard drive is made with renewable bamboo and recyclable aluminum, the most recycled metal on the planet according to SimpleTech.

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According to Environmental Leader, the new report titled “Getting From Green To Gold: Retail Success Factors and Outcomes” lists the six key focus areas for retailers:

• Adopt enterprise-wide policies for green sourcing/procurement (59%)
• Institute eco-friendly mandates for waste management (54%)
• Institute eco-friendly mandates around packaging (48%)
• Redesign the retail supply chain to align with green/responsible mandates (41%)
• Offer eco-friendly end-of-life product programs to customers (41%)
• Redesign store facilities and infrastructure around sustainability goals (35%)

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Editor’s Note: This was a joint effort between Managing Editor Clayton Cornell and Editorial Intern Orion Kubow. Apparently it takes two editors to screw in a lightbulb, er vacuum…

Earlier this month, Eureka was kind enough to send us a review sample of their “green” vacuum: the EnviroVac. Vacuuming isn’t something you’d think of as a real energy efficient, but Eureka’s model does a good job of making the domestic cleaning process a little bit greener.

EnviroVac: GreenWashing or Real Deal?

Here are the major talking points that Eureka says qualifies it as a “green” vacuum:

1. The vacuum’s 8-amp motor uses 33% less energy than the 12-amp motor used in most upright vacuums. (That’s 960 watts per hour on an 8-amp motor, compared to 1,440 watts per hour on a 12 amp motor).
2. If 1/4 of US homes switched to the EviroVac, it would save 6.25 million kilowatt hours of energy per year, which, in terms of CO2 emissions is roughly equivalent to removing 855 cars off the road.

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/19/a-greener-vacuum-eurekas-envirovac/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/green-shoe-fetish/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/green-shoe-fetish/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:56:19 +0000 Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/green-shoe-fetish/ Sarah Smarsh and Simran Sethi are writing a series on the impacts of everyday things. They will be posting previews on Green Options before launching the posts on Huffington Post. Here’s a sneak peek on sneakers.

   With ye olde cobbler long dead (re-soling Jesus’s Birkenstocks in forgotten profession heaven) and cheap production methods shortening the lives of shoes, Americans have gotten into the habit of pitching worn out (or simply undesired) kicks and buying new ones. Shoe-shopping has become something of a fetish, a joke, an emblem of the spoiled housewife who fills her emotional void with Italian suede.

   We could go into Manolos, but we’ll focus here on sporty treads, not just to stay on-topic but because they account for a third of the U.S. shoes market.

   The production of athletic shoes is infamously shady, from a human rights perspective. Historically, manufacturing giants such as Nike have followed cheap labor, exploiting workers in developing countries so that they might enjoy enormous profit margins. (Nike has really turned itself around in recent years, however, and is now one of the greener players on the field.)

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/green-shoe-fetish/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/why-blackberries-are-bad-for-your-taxes/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/why-blackberries-are-bad-for-your-taxes/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:45:56 +0000 Birgitte Rasine http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/why-blackberries-are-bad-for-your-taxes/ I went to Northern California recently on a business trip.  I got too much done.  Meetings, work sessions, proposals, emails, conference calls, and a few very memorable dinners. Four cities in just as many days. Before returning to San Francisco, I stayed with a friend in a small town up north. One sunny morning I decided to explore the area, so I asked her what there is to do.  Knowing me, she told me there’s a nice walking trail.  I could walk there or drive.  Well that was a no-brainer, of course I’d walk.

   But I got thrown totally off track.  What I expected to be a calm, relaxing, reflective stroll beneath California oaks, turned into a passionate, ecstatic, breathless plunge into excesses the likes of which I hadn’t experienced in years.  It took my breath away, melted all self-control, and spun my world halfway round.

   Oh, shame on you for thinking naughty thoughts.  It wasn’t the Adonis of the Litoral I encountered on the path (sorry gals… !)  It was an unassuming blackberry sprig.  Peeking out from the dried grasses along the edge of the path.  Winking at me in the sun.  I winked back, then looked around.  Is it legal to pick a blackberry here? I walked past it, choosing planetary well-being over my own base desires.  That’s probably the only blackberry sprig on this trail, and how awful would it be if I picked it rather than leave it for the birds or animals trying to earn an honest local living.

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/18/why-blackberries-are-bad-for-your-taxes/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/17/solcool-solar-air-conditioner-production-to-ramp-up-in-china/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/17/solcool-solar-air-conditioner-production-to-ramp-up-in-china/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:28:52 +0000 Carol Gulyas http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/17/solcool-solar-air-conditioner-production-to-ramp-up-in-china/ Solar air conditioning has so far been the holy grail of the solar energy world, but now SolCool seems ready to make the dream a reality. With air conditioning being the heaviest user of electricity in many parts of the world, the 600-watt maximum average usage level of SolCool units will significantly alleviate strains on the electric grid. And, SolCool units can run on wind, solar, generator, electric grid, or any combination of these.

   SolCool has sought to create demand for its products by installing its direct current heat pump systems in critical care facilities, communication equipment rooms, schools and restaurants. Now it will begin larger-scale production of the units in Guangzhou, China, to serve anticipated growing demand worldwide.

   “Clifford Sutton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing stated, ‘Over the next 45 days we will be shipping SolCool.net systems to various regional dealers in North America, the Pacific, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, West Africa, Australia and Asia.’ Mr. Sutton added, ‘Our production capacity can expand to approximately 3,000 units a month by the end of 2008 with three and five ton systems available in May 2009.’” Renewable Energy World, 8/13/08

   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/17/solcool-solar-air-conditioner-production-to-ramp-up-in-china/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/15/zinio-helping-make-your-magazine-subscriptions-sustainable/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/15/zinio-helping-make-your-magazine-subscriptions-sustainable/#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:00:19 +0000 Robin Shreeves http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/15/zinio-helping-make-your-magazine-subscriptions-sustainable/ Looking for a way to reduce your paper waste but keep your favorite magazines? Zinio may be a solution for you. It’s a digital magazine service that lets you view your magazines on your computer instead of receiving them in print format.

   Zinio gives you instant access to the magazines that you have purchased through their website in one of two ways.

   The first way is just click and read. There is no software to download or install. You view the magazine from their website from a library of magazines that you have set up. To view the magazines, you need to be connected to the Internet.

   The second way is to download and install the Zinio Reader and copy the magazines onto your computer. Then you can download the magazines onto your computer and have them available anytime whether you’re connected to the Internet or not.

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/15/zinio-helping-make-your-magazine-subscriptions-sustainable/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/11/yoga-the-union-of-you-and-the-planet/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/11/yoga-the-union-of-you-and-the-planet/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:09:34 +0000 Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/11/yoga-the-union-of-you-and-the-planet/ Sarah Smarsh and Simran Sethi are writing a series on the impacts of everyday things. They will be posting previews on Green Options before launching the posts on Huffington Post.

   Who doesn’t feel better after a yoga class? Yoga is the union of the body, mind and spirit.It stabilizes the nervous system, decreases blood pressure, increases flexibility and endurance, and opens you up in ways that you may not have imagined.

   Simran used to be a yoga teacher. She loves the practice even though she hasn’t spent much time on her mat lately. (“Yoga on the inside, baby!”) Sarah gets her yoga on every week and knows it does her body good.

   But, as any student knows, the real practice starts when you walk out the door. That’s also where the rubber hits the road and your practice takes its toll on the environment.

   Oh brother, that again? Yes, my dear yogin, that.

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/11/yoga-the-union-of-you-and-the-planet/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/09/strip-it-apcs-power-saving-surge-protector/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/09/strip-it-apcs-power-saving-surge-protector/#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:09:35 +0000 Courtney Carlisle http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/09/strip-it-apcs-power-saving-surge-protector/ The APC Essential SurgeArrest promises guaranteed protection from power surges and electrical spikes. Their new Master-Controlled outlets are designed to help conserve energy and save money from “ghost drain” when your computer system is plugged in but not in use.

   I decided to check it out and see if I could really save or see a difference since I usually forget to turn off my power cord and conserve energy that way. The verdict: if you have one computer attached to one printer and/or don’t mind the inconvenience of having to turn on the master computer every time you want to print wirelessly, it’s a great find.

   I actually thinks it’s the perfect solution for TV/DVD/TIVO systems. Plug your (energy efficient) LCD into the “Master Control” outlet and when it’s on; so is the DVD player or TIVO - whatever you plug into the following outlets will turn on only when the Master is on. When the Master is off, the outlets automatically cut power to idle equipment to conserve electricity.

   The claim is that one strip can help you save up to $25 per year and it comes with a Lifetime Warranty for your connected equipment. Available for $35 (you’ll make that up in a year and a half) at Office Depot.

   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/09/strip-it-apcs-power-saving-surge-protector/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:34:34 +0000 Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/

   Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh are writing a series on the impacts of everyday things. They will be posting previews on Green Options before launching the posts on Huffington Post. Want to know how to green your internet porn (or emailing or iTunes) habit? Check out these tips and a post-mortem of where your computers go to die.

   Recently, the world computer population surpassed 1 billion. It’s a legion of artificial intelligence that will never die, at least not while humans are around to see it.

   The computer species appears to have a high mortality rate (whether due to the rapid progress of technology or an industry conspiracy to ensure that products must be replaced regularly). They “crash” and “die” in droves, their human counterparts literally kicking them to the curb. But there is no heaven, no place in the clouds, for the cold, hard shell once warmed by electrical currents. Once it has left your desk, your computer doesn’t disappear. In a sense, it lives on.

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/31/widespread-sustainable-consumerism-is-more-vital-than-taking-individual-actions/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/31/widespread-sustainable-consumerism-is-more-vital-than-taking-individual-actions/#comments Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:44:44 +0000 Caroline Savery http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/31/widespread-sustainable-consumerism-is-more-vital-than-taking-individual-actions/ Perhaps no one knows better than I do what it means to take individual responsibility for my environmental impact.  For those of you familiar with my blog, you know that for the past three months, I have been trying to live 100% environmentally sustainably within urban Pittsburgh.  A formidable task, indeed.

   In Robin Shreeve’s provocative article, “Whose Responsibility is Sustainable Consumerism?”, she champions the youngest generation’s recognition that the responsibility for our actions lies with us individually, not mainly with corporations.  Three months ago, I would have toasted to her conclusion.  (Of course, I then believed we don’t need corporations whatsoever and we could live without them and be sustainable.)  Today, however, my reaction to Robin’s article is different.  I’m inclined to deeply disagree.

   During the sustainable living experiment called the Sust Enable Film Project (which concludes by midnight today), I would argue that I succeeded in living sustainably less than a dozen days of the 3-month project.  Does this fact disappoint me?  At first, it did.  But I will tell you why my experiment failed.

   There are systems in the United States–for getting food, for getting rid of our trash, for flushing away our body wastes–that collectively (and historically), we have all agreed to adopt and abide by.  They seem(ed) like the best solutions for problems we all face, and as a society (through the government) wereinforce these systems.  This was clear to me every time I flushed a public toilet, and another huge chunk was subtracted from my sustainable water use for the day.  This became even clearer when I learned that many sustainable living methods–such as dumpster diving, squatting, and building a composting toilet–are outright illegal in many towns.

   Doing something illegal (like dumpster diving) if it seems right to you… that’s one thing.  Civil disobedience: often harmless, functional, and a true expression of freedom.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  But going hungry because the society-subverting alternatives are more difficult, demanding or have greater consequences than the unsustainable, mainstream options?

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/31/widespread-sustainable-consumerism-is-more-vital-than-taking-individual-actions/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/29/its-electric-my-dad-and-his-e-bike/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/29/its-electric-my-dad-and-his-e-bike/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:55:18 +0000 Joe Mohr http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/29/its-electric-my-dad-and-his-e-bike/ My sister and I bought and assembled an electric motor for my dad’s bike this Christmas. It was the first gift he’s ever enjoyed from us.

   Recently retired and now living in a suburb of St. Louis, we knew he’d never take to biking as there were a number of screw-this(!) sized hills all throughout his town. Through ten years of teaching I know that adults are far less resilient than children and often times need but one excuse to say “screw this” and go back , in this case, to a steady diet of TV watching. But we were elated to see how much he enjoyed his juiced up Electra Townie! Whether it’s riding with my mom (another proud new owner of an electric bike–she had to keep up), biking to the store for groceries, or putting it on the bike rack and hitting the Katy Trail, few days go by that he’s not on his electric bike.

   This began my love affair with electric bikes.

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   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/29/its-electric-my-dad-and-his-e-bike/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/28/shai-agassi-the-israeli-t-boone-pickens/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/28/shai-agassi-the-israeli-t-boone-pickens/#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:18:21 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/28/shai-agassi-the-israeli-t-boone-pickens/

   Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens has received a glut of media attention recently for his plan to develop the largest wind power project in the world. Now the New York Times suggests that Pickens might have a visionary counterpart in Shai Agassi, an Israeli software entrepreneur obsessed with making Israel the world leader in electric cars.

   Agassi, along with his company Better Place, have an Israeli government-backed plan to create an electric car program that will give subscribers access to a car, a battery, and outlets across Israel. Subscribers will also be able to swap dead batteries for fresh ones in designated garages.

   Better Place will run the smart grid that charges the electric cars. The company is also currently contracting for enough solar energy energy to power the whole fleet, which will roll out next year with 500 cars built by Renault.

   But Agassi’s vision doesn’t end with Israeli electric cars.

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   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/28/shai-agassi-the-israeli-t-boone-pickens/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/22/wal-mart-joins-wwfs-initiative-to-eliminate-illegal-logging/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/22/wal-mart-joins-wwfs-initiative-to-eliminate-illegal-logging/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:05:13 +0000 Raz Godelnik http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/22/wal-mart-joins-wwfs-initiative-to-eliminate-illegal-logging/ This is a guest post by Raz Godelnik of Eco-Libris.This article was originally published on Eco-Libris blog on July 16.

   Forests need strong allies to win their survival battles. This week it seems they have a new powerful friend that might help. His name is Wal-Mart.

   Environmental Leader reports that the world’s largest retailer has become a member of the Global Forest & Trade Network (GTFN), a WWF initiative to eliminate illegal logging and improve the management of valuable and threatened forests. By becoming a member, Wal-Mart pledges to help save endangered forests by using more wood from sustainable and certified sources.

   WWF published a press release about the new member of GTFN this Monday, reporting that by joining the organization, Wal-Mart has committed to phasing out illegal and unwanted wood sources from its supply chain and increasing its proportion of wood products originating from credibly certified sources – for Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs in the United States.

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   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/22/wal-mart-joins-wwfs-initiative-to-eliminate-illegal-logging/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/22/i-gave-you-a-quarter-did-you-give-me-change/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/22/i-gave-you-a-quarter-did-you-give-me-change/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:13:50 +0000 Joe Mohr http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/22/i-gave-you-a-quarter-did-you-give-me-change/
   

   30 steps to a more sustainable you!

   7-22-2008. A quarter of a year has gone by since I posted my Earth Day blog offering 22 suggestions to change your lifestyle

   Have you made any changes in the last 3 months?

   I’ll trust that you have, and in case you’ve done so well that you’ve incorporated ALL 22 suggestions into your daily routine, I have added 8 more in this post (following the original 22) to make it an even 30.

   After going through the list please use the comments section to add to my list and/or to explain why you’ve done so well (or poorly) in the last 3 months.

   From Earth Day post:
   1. Buy a rain barrel. You can’t drink the collected water, but you can water your lawn and wash your car with it. You’ll save thousands of gallons per year in the process!
   2. Turn off your TV!!! At least limit your TV watching!
   3. Drive less. Walk, bike, skip, skate, and stroll, more. This way you can get some fresh air while running an errand, and you’ll feel (and look) better in the long run.
   4. Use natural fertilizers on your lawn and garden. Harsh chemicals found in conventional fertilizers are bad for your lawn and all who play on it. Also, it harms our groundwater supply.
   5. Replace old bulbs with CFL’s and/or LED’s.

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   ]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/22/i-gave-you-a-quarter-did-you-give-me-change/feed/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/07/18/greening-business/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/07/18/greening-business/#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:53:42 +0000 John Simonetta http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/07/18/greening-business/ This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of ProformaGreen, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy. John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

   The world often perceives marketing as a wasteful practice. However, it is still essential in every business.

   The good news is that companies like ours, proformagreen.com are manufacturing with greener, more resourceful printing processes and materials now more than ever. Mugs, pens, tote bags, the list continues to grow of items that are both eco-friendly and/or promote eco-friendly lifestyles.

   My name is John Simonetta and I want to let businesses know that they really can go green. From packaging to uniforms to promotional items to printing needs, there are cost effective marketing solutions that allow businesses to lower their impact on the planet without sacrificing the quality of their brand.

   In my posts I will highlight some of the new promotional and print solutions that are now available to businesses and organizations looking to Go Green with marketing collateral.

   Photo Credit: spoons at Flickr Under Creative Commons License

   Read More About Marketing:

   Eco Libris: Le Mailing Vert - the French Green Version of Direct Marketing

   Natural Marketing Institute, Nielsen Value LOHAS Mart At $209 bn

   Creating a Web Site for Your Green Business

   ]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/07/18/greening-business/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/17/sustainable-solutions-for-conquering-mold/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/17/sustainable-solutions-for-conquering-mold/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:50:35 +0000 Caroline Savery http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/17/sustainable-solutions-for-conquering-mold/ Rain, rain, go away.   Come again some other day…
   Mold, mold, meet your end.  Never, ever come again!
   

   

   A couple days ago, I recounted my story about how I was forced to abandon my abode (a small tent) due to a blight of mold.  The old children’s song of the first lyric is what Pittsburgh’s been singin’ all summer.  The second is a little ditty I’ve been singin’, ever since I kissed that tent goodbye.

   I haven’t tossed the tent in the garbage (that wouldn’t be very sustainable!)  I do plan on redeeming it: even if it ends up stained by the mold, its function shouldn’t be reduced by the event.  Since my close encounter of the fungal kind, I’ve been doing research about methods for removing mold.  Read on for sustainable solutions for dealing with moldy clothing.

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/17/sustainable-solutions-for-conquering-mold/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/16/will-you-soap-my-back/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/16/will-you-soap-my-back/#comments Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:03:07 +0000 Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/16/will-you-soap-my-back/ Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh are writing a series on the impacts of everyday things. They will be posting previews on the Green Options Media blog network before launching the posts on Huffington Post. Here’s a sneak peek at what happens in the shower.

   The magical cleaning agent in your bar of hygiene is likely cow fat or oil from, say, coconut. At the manufacturing plant, a chemical process removes the valuable glycerin in the fats and oils to be used in other products. The leftovers are mixed with sodium hydroxide and then blasted dry to form soap pellets, which are then mixed with the colorants, fragrances and other ingredients that allow a humble soap to go by the name of Carribean Breeze or Lilac Meadow.

   While the production of soap—or anything, really—has environmental repercussions all its own, the pretty smells in our personal care products are, perhaps, the issue most worth examining here. Many of the chemicals producing fine aromas have been linked to not-so-fine human ailments or tested on animals, and their disposal—down your shower drain in a sudsy stream—fills our water system with chemicals that do not readily biodegrade (or breakdown).

   Now, how about a shave?

   Read more of this story »

   ]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/16/will-you-soap-my-back/feed/