When we think of pumpkins, we think of Halloween, Jack-O-Lanterns, pumpkin pie, and maybe Thanksgiving.

But, truth be told, there are plenty of ways to use a pumpkin!

During October, pumpkins are abundant.  Sometimes, too abundant.  And it’s not uncommon to see excess pumpkins cast aside or left to rot after Halloween, but there’s really no need to let the extras go to waste.

The following are just a few of the great uses for pumpkins:

1. Pumpkins in Recipes

As food, pumpkins are low in calories, yet high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, protein, and potassium.  Dig out your favorite cookbook and search for recipes containing pumpkin.

Pumpkin bread, pies, and muffins are favorites, but you can probably find plenty of others.  As an impromptu house guest in Paris, I was once served an incredible pumpkin soup (though I never completed my search for that recipe).  There are more exotic recipes to try as well – pumpkin juice, pumpkin ice cream, and even fried pumpkin.

2. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds (also called “pepitas”) are also known to be highly nutritious, and are used in weight-loss diets.  They provide fiber, healthy fats, and protein, as well as minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, and copper.  They are also known to strengthen the immune system, and to be good for people with high cholesterol.

Roasted pumpkin seeds make excellent between-meals snacks, can be sprinkled over a holiday squash soup, and are a favorite in Mexican cooking.  Candied pumpkin seeds are great for parties as well – and even the children might accept them among their Halloween candy.

3. Pumpkin for Pets

Mashed pumpkin is a great remedy for digestive trouble in dogs.  It can be used to combat weight gain or diarrhea, and for resistance to infections.  It is also said to be good for a dog’s night vision and general health.

Simply add a few spoons of cooked, mashed pumpkin to the dog’s food.  (Important: it must be pure mashed pumpkin, not a mix!)  For instructions on how to create your own mashed pumpkin, see #4 below.

Cats may like pumpkin as well, and it can be given to help cats with similar digestive troubles, as well as hairballs.

Remember, if your pet is sick, take him to the vet!  And ask your vet about using pumpkin as a home remedy.

4. Saving Pumpkins for Later

If you have more pumpkin than you know what to do with, you can save it for later use in recipes and for winter holidays.

There are several ways to create pumpkin puree which can be frozen for later use.  The following are three preparation methods:

1.  Baking – Cut the pumpkin in half, place it on a baking sheet with the flat side down, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for about an hour, or until it is tender when tested with a fork.

2.  Microwave – Follow the same procedure as above, but instead of placing the pumpkin in an oven, microwave it on high for about 15 minutes, or until it is tender.

3.  Boiling – Cut the pumpkin into large chunks and rinse.  Then, place the chunks in a large pot, cover with water (fully immersing the pumpkins, plus one inch of water on top), and boil until tender.

Once you have utilized one of the above methods to soften the pumpkin, cool it off, peel it, and mash it in a food processor.  You can also use a potato masher or similar device.

Then, simply seal the puree into zip lock bags, or whatever is convenient, and freeze it for for the winter.  The puree can be used as a substitute for canned pumpkin, in any recipe.

5. Pumpkins as Dishes

You can clean a pumpkin well, cut it in half, and dry it for use as a serving bowl or flower vase. You can also use a halved pumpkin to cook or bake other foods in.  For more information, see How to Carve a Pumpkin Bowl.

6. Pumpkins for the Skin

Pumpkins contain anti-oxidants and alpha-hydroxy, which are said to be good for the skin.  You can use pumpkin peels as a facial, to combat aging or other skin problems.

7. Pumpkins for Children and Games

You can use pumpkins for children’s drawing or carving contests.  If your kids are too little to start carving yet, they can also decorate pumpkins with markers or paint – or even a pumpkin collage.  Another use of pumpkins is as targets for archery practice.

But we definitely don’t recommend any games that involve throwing pumpkins, nor using them as substitutes for soccer balls.

And, possibly even better, how about a cross between a Jack-O-Lantern, a Snow Man, and a Scare Crow?  Your kids might have a great time making a pumpkin man – and it’s much better for them than watching TV.

8. Pumpkins as Ornaments

Pumpkins, gourds, and squash can be used to create candle holders, Thanksgiving centerpieces, and other ornaments.

9. Musical Pumpkins

Yes, that’s right, pumpkins make great musical instruments as well.  Or, at least they can if you know how to make (and play) them.  You can see and hear a variety of ideas for instruments that can be made from gourds, squashes, and pumpkins. Although many instruments are made from gourds, one can easily imagine how a large or small pumpkin would do just as well in several cases.

10. Pumpkins for Crafts

If you are an experienced craftsman or devout hobbyist, you might try some more advanced and creative uses of pumpkins.  You can make pumpkin leather like the American Indians did, or settle witih a simple pumpkin bird house.

As you can see, there’s really no need for pumpkins to go to waste, either before Halloween or afterwards.

During economic recessions, it’s not uncommon that people have more time on their hands than they have money.  Instead of letting extra pumpkins go to waste, these are a few ways you can stretch your grocery budget a bit further, invest some time in your health, get your kids away from the screen, and have some fun at the same time.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Ten Great Uses for Pumpkins.

So, how do you know if your company is already performing up to, or maybe even surpassing, “environmental standard”?  How do you know exactly which areas of your business could use some “greening” and which areas are doing just fine?  Is there a general sense that, as you recycle more and improve lighting and insulation you and your employers start to feel closer to nature?

Well, these days, it is much more precise than that.  As environmental managers Timothy Larson and Howard Brown wrote in the journal Environmental Quality Management, “If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it” (August 2006).  Yes, there are numerous ways you can measure and quantify the environmental impacts you need to manage.

Whether you run a bakery or a pharmacy, whether your company manufactures windshields or door frames; or, distributes beverages or toy parts, there are numerous methods for tracking your product’s environmental impacts, for capturing data, and for setting up complete environmental management systems.  Leading Green Business experts Daniel Esty and Andrew Winston, both of Yale University, call this area Eco-Tracking.  For me, such “Eco-Tracking” can even include such metrics as keeping tabs on your local pizzeria’s lighting bills and delivery miles driven and, then, examining ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs in those areas.

Other, more extensive Eco-Tracking endeavors require dedication, time, and far-reaching research from a small team of managers and employees.  Developing complete “Life-Cycle Assessments” (LCA) for your company’s products and services is an Eco-Tracking measure that is rebounding greatly in popularity. This is particularly true with the U.S. EPA’s new mandatory reporting of GHG emissions from diverse industries, the recently released Wal-Mart Sustainability Index we have been discussing, and other reporting initiatives.  We touched on the LCA concept with the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ entry on this blog.  In their highly respected text, Green to Gold, Esty and Winston explain that the “Life Cycle Assessment tracks the environmental impacts of a product from its raw materials through disposal at the end of its useful life.”

Conducting an LCA is not easy.  It may require the assistance of an external environmental and LCA consultant. However, if your company decides to perform most of the work on its own, have no fear, there are many benefits.  Working on such a cooperative “green” project has proven to bring employees together, inspiring them to work hard for a positive, innovative undertaking.  Also, companies that develop Green initiatives like an LCA prove to attract and retain a more talented workforce.

Besides the LCAs, businesses, in recent years, have begun quantifying their greenhouse gas emissions across the board of their operations.  This is no simple task either, but, with a new proposed EPA regulation in March 2009, the reporting of GHG emissions may very soon become mandatory for all “large sources (of such emissions) in the United States.”  In fact, the EPA currently provides direct assistance for small business/low emitters with their “Climate Change Management Tools for Low Emitters” website.  Don’t worry.  You do not have to figure out all the algorithms and chemical testing of what materials or combustion sources emit more CO2 or methane or nitrous oxide than others.  Actually, no one has to anymore.  The EPA site includes a “Climate Leaders Inventory Calculator” and you just have to figure out what to put into the calculators.  The same could be said for the widely, globally used GHG Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute and WBCSD, or the California Climate Action Registry’s General Reporting Protocol, or the ISO’s new 14064 reporting protocols for sector-specific GHG emissions reporting.

The websites of the protocols from these organizations provide some guidance, as well as their numerous Excel charts, descriptions, etc. that are available free for download.  (The only exception is with the ISO 14064 GHG Standard of which you have to pay a fee for access.)  Again, for most small businesses, as of now, reporting greenhouse gas emissions in the various processes of your company’s operations – including heating and cooling of buildings, fleet of vehicles, industrial processes, and even employee travel – is still voluntary.  However, it is strongly recommended to get started on GHG quantification as soon as possible – for your own overall risk management, for achieving competitive advantage with insights into improving one’s own efficiency, and for greatly improving your company’s readiness for a “carbon constrained future,” as they say.

We will get into further detail of GHG reporting issues and methods soon in this blog.  In the coming entries, I would also like to discuss other environmental metrics that are out there for small businesses to take advantage of, including the reporting of released toxins or total water use.  Some of these are mandatory; some are optional, where you could position yourself as an “environmental leader.”  We will also cover the software available out there, which greatly facilitate a small business’ measurements of emissions and other environmental issues.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Putting Numbers to your Company’s Environmental Footprint.

It wasn’t too long ago when CFL bulbs were all the rage. Even though they contain small amounts of mercury, they were and are still one of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption. According to the EPA, if every American home replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL, Americans would save enough energy to light 3 million homes, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. Federal legislation passed in 2007 effectively banned incandescent bulbs after 2014. It seems that the CFL bulb has won the battle against the mighty, yet now antique incandescent bulb, but is there another battle looming on the horizon? CFL bulbs are still the darling of many in the environmental movement, but is there honeymoon nearing an end?

The competitor is the LED, or light-emitting diode, which was first conceived in Russia in the 1920’s, but are only now beginning to be available for a variety of business and residential applications. Although LEDs have their own problems that need to be worked out, they have some clear advantages over CFLs. First, they don’t contain any mercury. Second, the light they emit is more similar to incandescent bulbs than CFLs, which is usually a plus to most consumers. Third, on average, they use less energy than a CFL and can last up to twenty years. And fourth, they can be used in large scale applications where CFL installation is difficult. Simply put, as Energy Star states, “LED lighting is more efficient, durable, versatile and longer lasting than incandescent and fluorescents lighting.”

On top of all that, recent studies have confirmed that the production process for LEDs uses less energy than production of CFLs, which seems to tip the argument undeniably in favor of LEDS… except for the fact that they can cost anywhere from $5-50.  LEDs seem to be in the same debacle that CFLs were a decade ago. They are incredibly expensive, but the amount of energy they save is enormous, even compared to CFL’s advantage over incandescent bulbs.

A recent New York Times article highlights the advantages of LEDs for large-scale business applications. Sentry Equipment Corporation in Oconomowoc, Wis., was in the process of lighting one of their new factories last year and eventually chose LEDs for the majority of their outside and inside lighting. Although Sentry spent $18,000 total, $12,000 more than they would have with traditional lighting, they save $7,000 a year in lighting costs, which will have a return of investment in just two years.

Not everyone is convinced that LEDs will dominate the lighting market in the future. In the same New York Times article, Mark Rea, director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, said, “L.E.D.’s will gain dominance in downlighting, outdoor and track lighting… I do not see a major step toward change in general illumination without transforming the infrastructure. To say L.E.D.’s will change everything, I don’t buy it. I think a lot of it is hype.”

Regardless of whether LEDs will dominate the market, it is clear that businesses and municipalities interested in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and cutting costs at the same time will be on the lookout for LED technology. It seems unlikely that LEDs will be a huge presence in the residential lighting market, but who knows what future technological advances will bring.

For more information on how you and/or your business can benefit from LED lighting, check out Energy Star’s guide to the LED.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Are LED Lights the Future?.

One of these companies is Seventh Generation. The company describes themselves as “the world’s most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home.” When you learn more about the company, it’s hard to argue with this claim. The company’s name and philosophy is derived from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”

Transparency is the first sign that a company is genuinely invested in and concerned about their social responsibility and environmental impacts. If a company produces an annual social responsibility report (SRR) and sustainable report (SR) then you know they have at least taken the time to think about the issues. It does not guarantee they genuinely care about environmental issues, but it is generally a sign they are headed in the right direction.

Seventh Generation writes a yearly “Corporate Consciousness Report,” an in-depth and honest look into all of the activities of the company. The report outlines sales, giving, employees, carbon footprint, transportation-related GHG emissions, packaging, manufacturing partners, sourcing, product design, and green workplace. The report also provides a section at the beginning outlining the achievements (environmental or not) of the previous year. One of 2008’s biggest successes was Seventh Generation’s purchase of sustainable palm oil credits and participation in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Palm oil is a major component in many of their most popular cleaning products.

So you are probably wondering, what is so great about Seventh Generation’s products?

According to their website, Seventh Generation name-brand products include non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free feminine care products, including organic cotton tampons.

Unlike nearly all other companies in the cleaning products business, Seventh Generation discloses all of their ingredients and explains what each does on all the products they sell. There are no laws requiring them to do so, but they are working hard to turn those laws into reality by lobbying.

In the last couple of years, Seventh Generation has not only made their own business more sustainable, but assisted manufacturers in their supply chain. In 2008 they held Manufacturing Partner Sustainability Summit, one of the first of its kind, which helps businesses in their supply chain become more socially responsible and environmentally-friendly.

They also donate 10% of their pre-tax profits to non-profit community, environmental, health, and responsible business organizations working for positive change. This is a huge percentage compared to most other companies, even those in the green sector.

On top of all that, Seventh Generation also has a climate action plan, which the company says will reduce their GHG emissions by 80% by 2050 (normalized to sales). They adopted this before many countries had even considered it.

I have really only scratched the service of Seventh Generation’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, but it is clear that they are a model for businesses of all sizes. They are not perfect, but they are making progress and are genuinely concerned about their environmental and social impact. In 30 years, if I had to bet, Seventh Generation will be one of largest household products companies, beating out Clorox by a long shot.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Seventh Generation – A Business Model to Strive For.

For CEO Scott, it started with a 2005 post-Hurricane Katrina speech highlighted by Wal-Mart’s new commitments to: doubling the fuel efficiency of its massive shipping fleet; to Wal-Mart, eventually, “creating zero waste;” for the company “to be supplied 100% by renewable energy” (currently, the company will source about 1% of its energy in the U.S. from renewables in 2009); and to invest $500 million annually in various energy saving programs.  Then, the world’s largest retailer cemented – at least in their eyes – their commitment to green business practices and environmental concerns with their recent dramatic release of Wal-Mart’s “Sustainability Product Index” on July 16 of this year.

As Greg previously remarked here on Source and Resource, the company’s new audacious and ambitious Sustainability Index involves 15 questions to approximately 60,000 to 100,000 suppliers around the world.  The Index “will serve as a tool for Wal-Mart’s suppliers to evaluate their own sustainability efforts… (focusing) on four areas: energy and climate; material efficiency; natural resources, and; people and community.”

Naturally, environmentalists and green business experts were healthily cautious before jumping to applaud the release of this index.  However, after further assessment of the sustainability criteria, experts have generally agreed that, although it has its faults – such as a lack of clear metrics, data, and interim milestones in some areas – the Sustainability Questionnaire is a bold move forward that could lead to an increased demand for transparency across all global businesses.  And, I say, that if this intense scrutiny successfully increases the environmental sustainability of the Wal-Mart supply chain, which reportedly touches 1/3 of the world’s productive capacity, then the efforts will truly yield a new, positive “Wal-Mart Effect.”  The ripples caused by the Sustainability Index may reverberate a newfound, widespread urgency for Life-Cycle Assessments and supply-chain environmental impact assessments for numerous products across retail sectors.

Therefore, your company may need assistance in readying itself for answering such questions and applying these new metrics to its products or services offered.  This is true whether you currently sell to Wal-Mart, are planning to sell Wal-Mart, or are rightfully intrigued by the fact that such “sustainability questions” might, soon, apply to other buyers of your products or services.  It is especially imperative to be familiar with the new rubrics and manners of reporting if your company is either a supplier to, or a partner with, consumer-goods companies Procter & Gamble, Tyson foods, Unilever, General Mills, and the other enterprises that have partnered with Wal-Mart to create their new Sustainability Consortium led by academics from the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University.

There is an upcoming workshop and conference in the Boston area that aims to provide answers, support, and guidance in these areas.  The workshop is entitled “Wal-Mart Supplier Readiness Workshop” and the accompanying conference the following day is called “Greening the Supply Chain.”  The two events are being created by the highly reputable “all things green” media outlet, Greentech Media, and their partner sponsor, Groom Energy, on September 16 and 17.  The two-day affair will be located at the Embassy Suites by the Boston-Logan Airport and will discuss opportunities such as The Carbon Disclosure Project, green certification systems, and managing “social compliance.”  The sponsors describe the workshop as a “time- and cost-effective way to gain confidence with your submittal (to Wal-Mart) and to gauge investment levels in sustainability programs.”  They recommend the two-day event to not only Wal-Mart suppliers, but also to suppliers who want to network with experts and other suppliers.  In addition, Sean Stephan, the Senior Director of Packaging and Sustainability at Wal-Mart International will be on hand to speak and answer a direct Q & A session.

Thus, it may be worthwhile for yourself or a representative from your business to go to the conference if not to network then to learn something about sustainability and supply chain issues, especially if your company can handle the $495 registration fee.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Wal-Mart and the New Green Supply Chain.

The national program will expand to 120 affiliates in 45 states across the nation and will provide $30 million in assistance to participating affiliates over a five-year period. According to Habitat’s press release, affiliates will be granted $3,000 for each home built to Energy Star standards and up to $5,000 for each home built to a higher green standard.  These amounts are the typical additional costs to sustainably build an average $75,000 Habitat for Humanity house. The higher costs are attributed to additional needed materials, certification, and new training.

The program is hoping to build 1,500 sustainable homes by the end of 2010 with the eventual goal of building 5,000 in the next five years. Homes can be certified by a number of green building organizations, including the National Association of Home Builders standard, LEED, EarthCraft, and Enterprise Green Communities.

Although the environmental and monetary benefits of green building are catching on in the United States, it is still difficult to convince some people to make the investment. In addition, LEED certification is not as popular with residential housing as it is with business buildings.
Habitat’s pilot program proved that upfront costs of green residential building are minor and that the initial extra costs can be easily recouped throughout the lifetime of the house. If the national program is equally successful, it will be one of the largest, if not the largest, low-income green building initiatives in the United States.

Low-income individuals and families are hardest hit during energy price fluctuations, such as spikes in natural gas prices that have occurred during the last couple of years. High energy costs often mean no heat during cold winter months for low-income families. Energy efficiency housing provides these families with a buffer between volatile energy prices and their pocketbooks.

At the core of both organizations is the belief that environmentally-sound building should be accessible to all:

“The Home Depot Foundation believes green building techniques are not a luxury—they aren’t exotic or expensive,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. “By embracing the practical principles of green building, our partnership with Habitat for Humanity International is demonstrating that these techniques can actually make homes more affordable to own, maintain and live in from day one and for the long-term. With health and economic concerns at an all-time high, this issue is more important than ever for the families who will purchase these homes.”

Money is also allotted to train employees about green building: “To inspire and educate additional affiliate participation, eight Habitat State Support Organizations, which provide services to 440 affiliates, will also receive grant money to add staff and host training sessions for Habitat affiliates to learn how to build to nationally-recognized green standards.”

The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2002 and has since granted $120 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the development of more than 65,000 affordable, healthy homes. The foundation focuses on supporting sustainable building projects for working and low-income families across the United States.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Habitat for Humanity Teams Up With Home Depot to Build Sustainable Low-Income Housing.

According to the report, a “holistic approach executed at scale” would yield gross energy savings worth more than $1.2 trillion, more than double the amount needed upfront for investment in these energy efficiency measures. This program is estimated to “reduce energy consumption by 2020 by 9.1 quadrillion BTUs, roughly 23 percent of projected demand, potentially abating up to 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases annually.”

The report seeks to simultaneously pinpoint the barriers of unlocking the potential for energy efficiency while also reviewing solution strategies. If a directed and comprehensive strategy in the United States was implemented, companies involved in all areas of energy efficiency could reap huge benefits. Manufacturers of energy-efficiency related products, energy auditors, builders, and contractors, among others, could see business skyrocket. But even if a comprehensive plan is not initiated, the report can be used by companies heavily invested in the energy efficiency field to focus their efforts towards areas with the most potential.

According to the report, a comprehensive strategy addressing energy efficiency opportunities would need to:

1.    Recognize energy efficiency as an important energy resource that can help meet future energy needs while the nation concurrently develops new no- and low- carbon energy sources.
2.    Formulate and launch at both national and regional levels an integrated portfolio of prove, piloted, and emerging approaches to unlock the full potential of energy effiency.
3.    Identify methods to provide the significant upfront funding required by any plan to capture energy efficiency.
4.    Forge greater alignment between utilities, regulators, government agencies, manufacturers, and energy consumers.
5.    Foster innovation in the development and deployment of next-generation energy efficiency technologies to ensure ongoing productivity gains.

The report identifies and maps “in detail the complex and persistent set of barriers that have impeded capture of energy efficiency at the level of individual opportunities.” As noted earlier, significant gains have been made in energy efficiency in the United States, but decisive barriers still exist. For instance, most energy efficiency measures require significant upfront investment, which deters many. “Efficiency potential,” the report says, is highly fragmented as a result of more than 100 million locations and billions of devices used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. “This dispersion,” the report says, “ensures that efficiency is the highest priority for virtually no one.” And lastly, quantifying amounts of energy not consumed (potential savings) can be extremely difficult.

These hurdles can be overcome, but the solutions must be implemented in a holistic, rather than piecemeal fashion. Most simply, the report lists four categories of “proven, piloted, and emerging” solutions: (following is quote)

1.    Information and education. Increasing awareness of energy use and knowledge about specific energy-saving opportunities would enable end-users to act more swiftly in their own financial investment. Options include providing more information on utility bills or use of –in-building displays, voluntary standards, additional device- and building-labeling schemes, audits and assessments, and awareness campaigns.

2.    Incentives and financing. Given the large upfront investments needed to capture efficiency potential, various approaches could reduce financial hurdles that end-users face. Options include traditional and creative financing vehicles (such as on-bill financing), monetary incentives and/or grants, including tax and cash incentives, and price signals, including tiered pricing and externality pricing.

3.    Codes and Standards. In some clusters of efficiency potential, some form of mandate may be warranted to expedite the process of capturing the potential, particularly where end-user or manufacturer awareness and attention are low. Options include mandatory audits and/or assessments, equipment standards, and building codes, including improving code enforcement.

4.    Third-party involvement. A private company, utility, government agency, or non-governmental organization could support a “do-it-for-me” approach by purchasing and installing energy efficiency improvements directly for the end-user, thereby essentially addressing most non-capital barriers. When coupled with monetary incentives, this solutions strategy could address the majority of barriers, though some number of end-users might decline the opportunity to receive the efficiency upgrade, preventing capture of the full potential.

For these initiatives to be completely successful, close collaboration needs to occur between governments, businesses, and non-profits. But regardless of whether a comprehensive nationwide approach is implemented, businesses of all sizes in the energy-efficiency field can pinpoint solutions outlined in the study and work on those in their local communities. They should work with their local utility companies and governments to start awareness campaigns that provide simple and user-friendly information for the public and business, while at the same time working with those same utility companies to provide tax credits or grants. Businesses should also work with local municipal governments and state governments to instate mandatory energy efficiency requirements such as audits and building codes. California has the highest standards for energy efficiency in the country and energy-efficiency related businesses prospered as a result.

These are just a few of the opportunities for energy-efficiency related businesses, but as you can see, the possibilities seem endless.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy.

The original plan was to set up a panels for 120 MW of power at a cost of $773 million dollars, but regulators limited installation of panels to government buildings and demanded numerous changes to the proposal.  The new approved plan will provide 80 MW and cost $515 million.

The system will consist of  a combination of grid-feeding power sources.  Small solar panels will be mounted on telephone poles in over 300 communities and the solar electricity generated will then be dispersed to homes in those areas.  Also, solar “gardens” will be erected on top of rooftops owned by the company and other independent facilities to provide a more centralized dispersion.

Nowhere in the world has a pole-attached enterprise on this scale been launched.  If California were to follow in New Jersey’s footsteps, it would be a substantial move towards renewable energy for the US.  The project, which will provide power for nearly 650,000 homes, will be paid for by customers. Customers will pay 10 cents a month for the solar panels and the rate will continue to increase up to 35 cents over the next 15 years. The remaining costs will be offset be the sell of federal credits

While this is the biggest pole-mounted project currently in development, New Jersey is not the only state with big solar energy aspirations.  Applications for solar energy installment are increasing all over the country and each new triumph, like New Jersey’s, opens new doors to renewable energy possibilities.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at New Jersey on the Road to Doubling Solar Capacity.

Many other wineries employ innovative practices to reduce their footprint; however, Monte Vibiano is taking this to a whole new level by using all the basic sustainability methods as well as IT integration, applying new technologies to revolutionize age-old techniques of wine production.

Some of the implemented strategies have been to use new Microsoft software to reduce their servers to half of what was used before as well as cutting the energy needed to run those servers by almost 40%.  They made similar progress by adjusting their travel needs.  Instead of traveling long distances to meet with clients and arrange tastings, they are holding more of their meetings online, thus cutting travel expenditures by $30,000 and showing how simple changes in strategy lead to huge economic and environmental improvement.

These adjustments are only the beginning.   Solar electricity systems will eventually provide all the energy for the winery as well as their wheat and olive oil production facilities, and they even employ simple methods like painting storage facilities white to reflect sun away from the Earth, planting 10,000 trees to soak up CO2, and using golf carts and electric bikes to zip around the premises.  Tractors, meanwhile, run on biofuels, which they say they never use from food-source crops.  It seems there is nothing this innovative winery has not thought of or decided to leave to chance

Plans for the near future are even more impressive.  Monte Vibiano is planning to use up-to-date analytics and data collection with an intricate network of  crop sensors  to ensure the most quality end products with least amount of effort.  They presume by tracking everything they can figure out exactly where they need to adjust.   Radio frequency ID tags provide data on their olive trees, monitoring everything from natural variables to the effect humans have on production.  They will  monitor every variable to find the absolute greatest efficiency in production by eliminating any kind of waste possible.

Monte Vibiano predict their efforts will cut 10 tons of CO2 emissions and lead to vast savings in company expenditures starting in 5 years when the investment pays off.  As a serious business, environmental improvements don’t make sense if the figures don’t work.  The best part about news like this is when organizations like Monte Vibiano blaze the path others in the industry soon follow suit, especially when it makes economic sense.

And consumers can rest assured responsible business practices and new revolutionary techniques will ensure they do not have to give up this cherished luxury any time soon.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Monte Vibiano: Producing Luxury Italian Wine with a Conscience.

During the last couple years Wal-Mart has been taking steps, some more significant than others, to become more sustainable. The company is experimenting with hybrid and biodiesel shipping trucks, stocks a line of clothing made with organic cotton, installed solar panels at many stores in California, and sells concentrated detergent only, which saves an enormous amount of resources: 400 million gallons of water, more than 95 million pounds of plastic resin and more than 125 million pounds of cardboard.

Wal-Mart’s announcement to develop a worldwide sustainability product index, however, is a step above its previous efforts to become more sustainable. The index will establish a single source of data for evaluating the sustainability of all of Wal-Mart’s products. It is the first initiative of its kind in the world. Lifecycle analysis of products is not uncommon, but for a company of Walmart’s size and scope, it is unheard of.

According to the press release:

The company will introduce the initiative in three phases, beginning with a survey of its more than 100,000 suppliers around the world. The survey includes 15 questions that will serve as a tool for Walmart’s suppliers to evaluate their own sustainability efforts. The questions will focus on four areas: energy and climate; material efficiency; natural resources, and; people and community.

The survey will be sent to more than 100,000 suppliers around the world. Questions vary from relatively simple to complex:
- Have you measured your corporate greenhouse gas emissions?
- If measured, please report the total amount of solid waste generated from the facilities that produce your product(s) for Walmart for the most recent year measured.
- Do you know the location of 100 percent of the facilities that produce your product(s)?

“The survey will include simple but powerful questions covering familiar territory, such as the location of our suppliers’ factories, along with new areas like water use and solid waste,” said John Fleming, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S. “The questions aren’t complicated but we’ve never before systematically asked for this kind of information. The survey is a key first step toward establishing real transparency in our supply chain.”

The second stage involves creating a “consortium of universities that will collaborate with suppliers, retailers, NGOs and government to develop a global database of information on the lifecycle of products.”

The third and final stage will be the task of translating the product information Wal-Mart receives from its suppliers into simple and meaningful information that consumers can use. This is quite possibly the most important stage of project. If the information provided is too complex, consumers will not pay attention, but if it is too rudimentary, attentive consumers will wonder if their choices are making a difference at all. Consumers are not likely to see the “green” ratings on store shelves for at least 2-3 years. The labels will likely look similar to food labels with fat and calorie contents, but their design has not been finalized.

Walmart’s president and CEO Mike Duke said that the company is not seeking to create or own the sustainability index. He is hoping it can be applied universally to products from all companies, regardless of location, and be used as a kind of open source technology.

“We want to spur the development of a common database,” said Duke, “that will allow the consortium to collect and analyze the knowledge of the global supply chain. We think this shared database will generate opportunities to be more innovative and to improve the sustainability of products and processes.”

Although United States locations plan to complete phase 1 by October 1, a timeline was not given during the webcast.

Adrian Gonzalez of Logistics Viewpoints was pleased with Wal-Mart’s announcement, but questioned some aspects of the initiative:

“I applaud Walmart’s effort to work with various stakeholders to develop global sustainability standards and metrics. Without standards, broader adoption of sustainability practices is not possible. But as anyone who’s been involved with standards bodies knows, getting companies across different industries and geographic regions (as well as governments) to agree on anything is a very long and painful process. And when you consider that sustainability is such a politicized topic, the challenge is even greater. In my opinion, this step will take years (maybe a decade) to complete, if ever.”

Because the bulk of the development has yet to be completed, Wal-Mart could only offer general details about the sustainability index, but it is clear that if the initiative is only partly successful, it will send ripples throughout the retail industry. At the moment, those in the “green” business sector should applaud Wal-Mart for undertaking such a pioneering task, one that, if successful, will provide a framework for other businesses, large and small, to truly understand the environmental and social impacts of their products.

Questions still remain, however. The goal of the index is “to provide customers with product information in a simple, convenient, easy to understand rating, so they can make choices and consume in a more sustainable way.” In other words, consumers are the force of change in the system; Wal-Mart makes no promises of making the changes themselves. While the system will make it easier for outside groups to lobby Wal-Mart to buy more responsible products, their supply chains are not likely to change unless consumers pay attention to the information. Will the consumers be up to the task? One hopes so.

This post was initially published on Source and Resource. To read more, please visit the original post at Wal-Mart Announces ‘Audacious’ Product Sustainability Index.