Posted by Kelly Smith on Tue, Jul 13, 2010
From gourmet cooking and artisan baking to making simple homecooked favorites, the recession and concerns about global environmental issues have conspired to raise interest in do-it-yourself cooking projects at home. Rather than driving a car to spend a lot of money at an expensive restaurant, people are learning the ropes in their own kitchens. Even the purchase of premium ingredients is cheaper than paying for someone else’s expertise.
Premium choices include organic ingredients. Choosing organic ingredients is better for the environment as well as for families. Children are especially susceptible to pesticides, which makes organics the obvious choice for many people.
Organic milk and organic produce may be closer to the forefront of people’s minds when they are shopping, but organic dry goods are also widely available at many groceries. Choosing a company that grows and processes organic foods is often making a choice to patronize a company that is concerned about environmental sustainability beyond just the issue of pesticide usage.
One such sustainable business is Great River Organic Milling, a company that has been working towards environmental sustainability for 25 years as they provide consumers with premium flours, hot cereals, and baking mixes. A US EPA Green Power Partner based in Wisconsin, Great River Organic Milling purchases Renewable Energy Credits to equal 100 percent of their conventional power usage while also working to minimize their carbon emissions.
Great River Organic Milling produces stoneground organic flours, which are better for people and the environment as well as being more flavorful than conventional white flours. Best of all, Great River Organic Milling products can now be found at some Sam’s Club locations, mainly in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Interested shoppers outside of the upper Midwest can also purchase Great River Organic Milling flours from Amazon.com.
Posted by Kelly Smith on Tue, May 04, 2010
A recent
article in the Christian Science Monitor reveals that not all carbon offsets are created equal. Many people are feeling frustrated that they have spent money on carbon reduction projects that never made it off the ground or did not live up to their expectations. One problem is that, according to the Christian Science Monitor article, "There is little regulatory oversight of them in the US, no enforcement of requirements to prove their environmental claims, no certain way of measuring the carbon savings being sold, and no guarantees that planted trees or other projects will be finished or continued long enough to work." This disillusionment in carbon offsets is especially problematic in the U.S., home of the world's largest carbon footprint.
One solution to this problem is for consumers and businesses to seek to invest in green power that is certified and verified through Green-e, which is an independent program that protects consumers as they seek to opt for green energy. Companies such as EcoElectrons help businesses to purchase green power from reliable sources and generate Renewable Energy Credits once the renewable energy is injected into the power grid.
Another solution is for individuals and businesses to think about reducing their carbon footprint, not just investing in some form of offsetting their conventional power usage. How? Reduce gasoline use by carpooling, using public transportation, combining errands, driving a more fuel efficient car, and keeping tires properly inflated. Reduce electricity use by using EnergyStar appliances, turning off lights when you leave the room, unplugging electronic devices that are not in use, or adjusting the thermostat by a few degrees. Recycle paper to save carbon dioxide absorbing trees. Just a few small changes can make a big difference.
Posted by Kelly Smith on Wed, Apr 21, 2010
Buying
Green-e certified renewable energy offers many opportunities for businesses to connect to eco-minded customers. For example, both the
Green-e website and the U.S. EPA's
Green Power Partnership website offer a list of organizations and businesses that purchase green energy as a way to offset their electricity usage. These sites list information about and links to the websites of participating businesses. Customers who want to patronize sustainable businesses can directly search for companies on these websites with ease and can even find out what percentage of their electricity usage is offset through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates.
Customers can also find Green-e certified businesses by looking for the Green-e logo on product packaging, websites, and other promotional materials. A customer who is in the grocery store can compare the sustainability of two products side by side just by looking for the Green-e logo. Having the Green-e logo can make the difference between putting the juice in the grocery cart and putting the juice back on the grocery shelf by creating an easy way to compare and differentiate brands.
The benefits of investing in green power expand beyond the branding potential of the Green-e name and logo. Businesses and organizations that purchase a certain level of certified green power based on their power usage are eligible for membership in the EPA's
Green Power Partnership. According to their
promotional brochure, "The Green Power Partnership actively promotes and recognizes Green Power Partners as environmental leaders." With such opportunities for promotion, it is easy for customers to find the sustainable business that they are looking for.
Posted by Kelly Smith on Wed, Apr 14, 2010
Making an investment in renewable green energy is also making an investment in sustainable business practices. Purchasing green energy is an important strategic decision as today's consumers look for businesses which are committed to the environment. Any business can easily go green and gain a competitive advantage with Renewable Energy Credits.
Currently, about 100,000 people search Google for green companies each month. Will these eco-minded customers find your business? Purchasing green energy can help promote your business to environmentally conscious customers.
Some people are still confused about buying green energy. When your business invests in a reputable purveyor of renewable energy, you will be purchasing Renewable Energy Credits. Renewable Energy Credits represent a specific investment in green power generation which helps bring the cost of renewable energy generation down to be more equivalent to the cost of conventional fossil fuel energy generation. This investment allows the injection of green power into the grid on your behalf. In this way, some or all of your business's electricity use can be offset.
When you are shopping for Renewable Energy Credits, look for Green-e Certified Renewable Energy Credits to be sure that you are purchasing a high quality product. Basically, buying Renewable Energy Credits with Green-e certification ensures your investment is made into legitimate green energy products. Just as EnergyStar certifies the efficiency of consumer electronic products, Green-e certifies the validity of green energy products. Having the Green-e certification logo on your website or promotional materials makes an important statement about your commitment to operating your business in a sustainable manner.
EcoElectrons Renewable Energy is one company which offers Green-e certified Renewable Energy Credits to business consumers in the U.S. and Canada. We sell Renewable Energy Credits to reduce your electricity-related carbon footprint at a rate that is the most cost-effective in the market.
Posted by Kelly Smith on Mon, Mar 29, 2010
Using green power is one of the most important ways that we can positively impact our environment and alleviate the effects of climate change. A great way to reduce your carbon footprint (your individual impact on the planet as measured by your usage of fossil fuels) is to opt for green power. What is green power? It is basically electricity that is generated from clean, renewable sources, such as wind, solar or geothermal. Homes and businesses can either install their own green electricity sources, such as solar panels, or they can purchase Renewable Energy Credits.
Purchasing Renewable Energy Credits is a very easy way to counteract some or all of your fossil fuel usage from electricity consumption, at home or at work. The concept is simple. A company such as EcoElectrons will inject green electricity on behalf of businesses and/or consumers into the power grid through partnerships it has with companies that own wind farms and solar farms. Companies like EcoElectrons help people reduce their environmental impact by allowing them to offset their energy use through Renewable Energy Credits. Each Renewable Energy Credit purchased is the equivalent of reducing (or offsetting) conventional electricity usage by one megawatt-hour.
Companies can improve their sustainability as well as their attractiveness to an environmentally conscious consumer base by opting for green power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a Green Power Partnership program for businesses and organizations to encourage the use of clean electricity. Some of the companies that participate in this EPA program include Intel, Kohl's, Great River Organic Milling, Whole Foods Market, Johnson & Johnson, Codero, Walmart, and Office Depot. Some companies only use green power for a small percentage of their annual electricity usage while other companies choose to offset 100% of their electricity.
It has never been easier for individuals and companies to go green with the ready availability of such green power and related carbon offset programs. Carbon offsets and green power (or Renewable Energy Credits) is slightly different. See our FAQ for more info. Of course, all providers of green power and carbon offsets are different. So be sure to research your choices to find the company that invests most effectively in a healthy planet.