Why are our homes so dumb?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by Guest Blogger
 For many years, gurus and tech-evangelists been promising the arrival of the "smart home" – the automated home with devices that talk to each other, with appliances and central home systems that can be controlled from a home dashboard or over the internet. Except for a few hobbyists and early innovators, most homes today are still stupid.
 
Its time we stop waiting for the automated "smart" house – a house that is as technically advanced as our automobiles.  For example, for decades, we have been able to remotely lock and unlock our car doors, raise and lower our car windows, adjust temperatures for different parts of the car seating areas, and even clean the back and front windows.
 
Why aren't our homes as smart as our cars?
 
With the arrival of the new third home wireless network, this is beginning to change. 
 
Most homes already have two wireless networks – the cordless phone network for communication and the data network – usually WiFi. Both are very effective for high bandwidth, power greedy applications like watching internet videos and talking on the phone.
 
However, for many less data intensive communications, the new ultra low power networks – based on the 802.15.4 standard and new ZigBee standards (including ZigBee RF4CE and ZigBee Green Power) promise to not only make our homes smart, but to do it in a way that is both green and maintenance free.
 
This year, large consumer electronic manufacturers, cable set top box makers and service providers will begin rolling out systems for our homes that will finally make our homes as smart as our cars. This revolution is going to start small, starting with the remote control we use to control our TV and set top box. However, in the coming years we will see new capabilities added to that remote.
 
Based on using a RF powered remote control, it will become possible to monitor and control all the home's systems from a single central dashboard – your remote control. By using RF (radio frequency) instead of the old fashioned IR (infrared), this central mobile dashboard can be used in any room to control systems based in other parts of the home. RF transits through walls, through doors, and through furniture. Because RF supports interactivity, not only can the home-owner control other systems, but s/he can monitor the systems as well by using the display on the remote.
Green Peak - Best Green Companies

While sitting in the home office, s/he can monitor and control the temperature in different rooms, set up recording on the VCR in the living room, turn off the lights in the kids' rooms after they go out and play. She can even capture a digital image from the front door camera to see who is ringing the doorbell.
 
And if the kids do grab the remote and somehow lose it, she can go to one of the controlled appliances – like the flat screen TV, and press the "Find Me" button. The remote control will start beeping, playing a song, whatever it takes to make it easy to find again.
 
Yes, these technologies can be cobbled together now but they are expensive and need technical expertise to make them all play well together. Because of the new ZigBee/RF4CE standard, vendors are creating systems and devices that will be less expensive and will be able to interact with each other. In addition, the new ultra low power capabilities make these devices maintenance free and GREEN by greatly reducing the amount of batteries needed to operate the various sensors around the home, as well as in the remote itself.
Green Power, Energy innovation and green inventions
Batteries are one of the more hidden polluters of the planet. Even though they are small, each contains heavy metals and toxic chemicals. In addition, there is a heavy carbon footprint involved in the mining and refining of the raw materials, as well as in the actual manufacture and distribution of batteries, as well as in the final re-cycling and disposal of batteries. 
 
By using new ultra low power wireless technology, consumer electronics manufacturers are now starting to rolling out remote controls that use a lot less power and never need to have the batteries changed or charged.
 
For example: with a typical remote control, one has to change the batteries at least once a year. Open it up, pull out the old ones and put in new AA batteries. If it is an old remote, you probably need to replace the duct tape or rubber bands holding it together.
 
If you have battery powered sensors in your home for security and temperature control, you already know the repeated irritation for tracking down the beeping and having to change batteries (and why do these battery powered sensors always run out of power in the middle of the night?).

By reducing the power draw and enabling the battery to last for the product's lifetime (ten years or more), it is possible to reduce the overall number of batteries needed by 90%. This means billions fewer batteries need to be made – billions fewer batteries tossed into landfills.
 
By not requiring the user to open up devices to replace and/or recharge batteries, these devices also become essentially maintenance free which enables the makers to design remote controls and sensors that do not require battery compartments and lids. No more duct tape and rubber bands.
 
By using these new ZigBee RF4CE networks, we are improving our overall ecology as well as making our lives a lot more convenient. No more having to point and shoot with remote controls to change the channel, to set up recording on our DVRs. No need to hike downstairs to adjust the thermostat or to turn off lights after everyone has left the room. Because this new technology is based on a standard – ZigBee RF4CE – companies and manufacturers worldwide can build cost effectively design and solutions that will interact and talk to each other.
 
The new Third Wireless Network is coming this year – bringing with it the long awaited promise of the smart home – a home that is as automated and easy to use as the car that is parked in the home's garage. Parents often tell their children that that watching too  much TV can make them stupid. That may be. However, because of ZigBee/RF4CE and the third Home Wireless Network, your TV set's remote control will at least make your house a lot smarter.
 
Cees Links, GreenPeak Technologies, www.greenpeak,com, Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV.
 
========
 
Cees Links is CEO and founder of GreenPeak Technologies, based in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Cees [“case”] Links is a pioneer of the wireless data industry, a visionary leader bringing the world of mobile computing and continuous networking together. Under his guidance, the first wireless LANs were developed which ultimately became house-hold technology integrated into the PCs and notebooks we are all familiar with. He also pioneered the development of access points, home networking routers and hotspot base stations, all widely used today.
 
He was involved in establishing the IEEE 802.11 standard, the Wi-Fi Alliance, and IEEE 802.15 standardization committee. Cees holds a Masters degree in Applied Mathematics and a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from the Twente University of Technology in Enschede, The Netherlands.
GreenPeak Technologies
+31-30-262-1157
www.greenpeak.com 
 

FRG Waste Resources, Inc. - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by Craig Zamary
 FRG Waste Resources, Inc. is headquartered in Napa Valley, CA. They are the nationwide leader in providing quality waste and recycling solutions – from compaction equipment to proprietary materials removal and document destruction to comprehensive waste/recycling management programs.

One of their eco friendly inventions is called eCorect. It is a machine that is a dehydrating system. It takes wet food-waste and other compostable materials are processed and reduced producing a dry, nutrient-rich soil amendment that may be used as a landscaping material, natural lawn care or other eco friendly products.

FRG Waste - Two Green Thumbs Up AwardThe eCorect is environmentally friendly and efficient by reducing trips to the landfill and creating a closed-loop system.  The unit requires no water line, no added enzymes or bacteria-based additives. Its easy to install, easy to operate and easy to maintain.

This energy innovation will be a great part of Sustainability Programs for restaurants, college campuses, cafeterias, etc.

Below is a video on one of their Eco Friendly Inventions:
Future posts will bring attention to best green companies, green inventions, eco friendly products, green jobs, companies going green and hybrid electric vehicles. Stay tuned!

Google making Solar Energy Affordable

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by Craig Zamary
 Google invested in a couple solar energy companies over the last few years. One of the companies is called eSolar and the other is BrightSource.

Google invested in both these companies because they have the potential to reduce the cost of Solar Energy by 50% or more. 

The videos for both of these companies showing their energy innovations, green inventions and the way they both define solar energy can be seen on our main site.

Portable Farms

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by Craig Zamary
 There's a whole new way to look at Sustainability Programs and certified organic products when it comes to farming.

There is an entrepreneur/inventor named Colle Davis who may have a solution for millions of people around the world when it comes to food.

You will see in the video below that this portable farm does not require you to add soil, pesticides, or even water to grow crops. 

Is it possible in a 6x8 ft garden to produce over 100 pounds of fish and 400 vegetables a year?

Watch the video below and find out:

We will continue to focus on the best green companies, green inventions, energy innovations and more. Stay Green!

Ben & Jerry's Goes Nuts about Fair Trade

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by Craig Zamary
 In a press release, Ben & Jerry’s announced its commitment to go fully Fair Trade across its entire global flavor portfolio. From Cherry Garcia to Chocolate Fudge Brownie, all of the flavors in all of the countries where Ben & Jerry’s is sold will be converted to Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients by the end of 2013.
 
Ben & Jerry’s was the first ice cream company in the world to use Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients starting in 2005, and today it’s racing ahead as the first ice cream company to make such a significant commitment to Fair Trade across its global portfolio.

Ben & Jerry's Fair Trade - Two Green Thumbs Up AwardSo what is Fair Trade? Fair Trade means that certified farmers are using environmentally sound practices to grow and harvest their crops in a sustainable way.

Check out their video:
 http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=fd9a349653b7a148

 
Future posts will focus on Sustainability Programs, Best Green Companies, Energy Innovations, Certified Organic Products, green jobs and more! - Stay Green....

Milk Cartons to Playgrounds

Monday, February 22, 2010 by Guest Blogger
 There are a lot of companies going green and best green companies, but today's post is featuring a very cool company who is making Playgrounds out of used Milk Cartons.

Best Green Companies
 
Green Energy TV  gave Progressive Design Playgrounds the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for their green inventions and eco friendly products. They are also creating green jobs, and not only a place for kids to play, but also providing Environmental Education for for Children. 

Check out the video below:








Entrepreneurship in Michigan

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by Guest Blogger
 In Michigan, DTE Energy & the University of Michigan put on a Clean Energy Prize Competition for students.

Currently, 8 Teams have advanced to the Semi-finals, and according to a press release from DTE Energy, the new business ideas range from:
  • A system to enhance electric vehicle batteries
  • A new method to produce a gas used in solar cell production
  • Plans for turning food waste into fuel and more!
What do the students have to do? Teams have to develop business plans that promise to move a new, clean-energy technology from the laboratory to the market place.

How much $ is at stake? 1st Prize $50,000 2nd Place gets $25,000  3rd Place - $10,000 and 4th Place $7,000.

Below is what each of the 8 Teams are doing:
  • Advanced Battery Control: offers a proprietary smart battery management system, which will radically enhance battery utilization in electric vehicles.
  • Carbon Perks: a service that motivates people to incorporate energy efficient practices into their lifestyles while helping utilities reduce the costs of providing peak power.
  • Enertia: brings to market a multiple patent-pending innovation that will harness ambient kinetic energy and extend the lifetime of wireless electronic devices tenfold, while at the same time replacing toxic electrochemical batteries.
  • Food Waste Energy: manufactures and installs anaerobic biodigestors that help restaurants save energy and waste disposal costs by producing natural gas from food waste on site.
  • Green Silane: produces silane gas for customers on-site in a manner that is flexible, low-cost, and environmentally benign, revolutionizing the supply chain for this critical input to semiconductor, flat-screen display and photovoltaic panel production.
  • Ice Mitigating Systems: developed a two-fold approach to counter the effects of ice on offshore wind turbines. The solution, which addresses the turbine blades and its structural foundation, will be licensed to manufacturers and the company will provide the necessary consulting services to implement these systems.
  • ReGenerate: manufactures and leases modular anaerobic digestors to institutional food service operators, transforming food waste discards into on-site renewable energy as well as nutrient-rich fertilizer products that will be cobranded and sold through retail outlets.
  • Smart Energy Inc.: providing the bridge between the Smart Grid and consumers, empowering consumers with control over their energy usage and appliances.
Good luck to everyone! - Mike D., University Michigan School, & Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV

Global Entrepreneurs - IBM

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Guest Blogger
Are you familiar with a cloud computing environment to more easily allow professors around the world to incorporate technology into their curricula? Listen up Professors...

We know about globalization, but how are we preparing our future leaders and younger generation to prepare themselves to be ready to connect to the rest of the world.

There are more Entrepreneurship Programs opening up across the US and the world, and so how are we preparing them to be Global Entrepreneurs?

IBM has a solution, don't they always...This is a really cool video about how IBM has already helped over 200 schools. The video airing on Green Energy TV is titled: Smarter Students for a Smarter Planet

Check it out - http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=68f47cd3374a57b6   -Mark White, Guest Blogger for GreenEnergyTV.com

Future posts: Best Green companies, energy innovation, Sustainability Programs, green inventions, best green companies and new Hybrid Electric rides.

Green Energy TV featured at Cleantech Forum San Francisco Feb. 24-26th, 2010

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by Guest Blogger

The annual Cleantech Forum series returns to San Francisco, February 24-26, 2010 at The Palace Hotel. Cleantech Forum XXVI brings together ~1,000 industry leaders in what is widely recognized as THE cleantech event of the year. When you register, please use the promotion code ptnrSF10 and receive a $200 discount on the registration fee. 

With the theme Taking Cleantech to Scale, the Forum offers opportunities to mingle with global corporate executives, investors, and government leaders who are financing, acquiring, and scaling cleantech. You will hear first-hand accounts from innovative startups, new investment funds and corporations looking for partners. And if you’re looking for funding to start a new business, or for companies to invest in, this is a great place to network.

Cleantech Forum XXVI speakers include:

Bill Lockyer, California’s 32nd State Treasurer
Philippe Martin, VP of Research and Innovation Sourcing, Veolia Environnement
Go vernor George Pataki, Counsel, Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Bill Weihl, Green Energy Czar, Google
Carl Bass, CEO, Autodesk
Stewart Brand, Author, “Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto
Bill Weihl, Green Energy Czar, Google
Lorie Wigle, General Manager, Intel
Scott Bolick, Vice President, Sustainability, SAP
Chris Smith, Director of Operations, IDS Energy Solutions, Boeing
Jeff Seabright, Vice President of Environment, Coca-Cola
Arlin Wasserman, Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sodexo
Raj Atluru, Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Keat Chuan Yeoh, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board
Troy Batterberry, Product Manager, Microsoft Hohm
Issam Dairanieh, Technology Principal, BP
James Robb, Sr. VP- Enterprise Planning and Development, Northeast Utilities
And more.


CEOs and Companies presenting at the Cleantech Forum CEO Showcase include:

·         Jeff Bisberg, CEO, Albeo Technologies

·         Kevin Czinger, CEO, Coda Automotive

·         Gary Fromer, Cpower

·         Jay Zoellner, EPS Corporation

·         Frank Ramirez, CEO, Ice Energy

·         Dr. Fatemeh Shirazi, CEO, Microvi Biotech

·         Carlos Perea, CEO, MIOX

·         Jeff Green, CEO, NanoH20

·         Dan Squiller, CEO, PowerGenix

·         Mark E. McGoup, CEO, Pentadyne,

·         Kevin Surace, CEO, Serious Materials

·         Terry Bailey, Soliant

·         Mark Crowley, CEO, SolFocus

For more information on how to join this leading industry event, call +1 (810) 224-4310 or email  info@cleantech.com or go to: http://cleantech.com/sanfranciscoforum  to register and use the promo code ptnrSF10 for a discount.
Cleantech Forum XXVI San Francisco, CA February 24-26, 2010
 


Sunflower Solutions - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by Craig Zamary
I saw a recent newsletter from the Civic Innovation Lab out of Cleveland, Ohio that one of the companies they funded is offering Low-tech solar panels to developing nations.

The newsletter stated that around the world 1.6 billion people do not have access to electricity. Cleveland-area native Christopher Clark wants to change that.
 
The 26-year-old Clark founded Sunflower Solutions after becoming aware of the rampant lack of power in developing areas and the myriad problems that stem from living without electricity.

Green Energy TV has given his company the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for his energy innovation, green inventions, being one of the best green companies and their eco friendly products that give a new way to define solar energy. For more info, check out their site at http://www.thesunflowersite.org/ Keep up the great work!

Sunflower Solutions - Two Green Thumbs Up Award
Best Green Companies - Define Solar Energy

IBM Saves Water - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 by Craig Zamary
There's a really cool video airing on our main site Green Energy TV showing how IBM's technology saves water.

IBM Fellow, John Cohn does a great job using humor to explain How Technology Saves Water.

How do they do it? IBM is gathering and analyzing information from vast sensor networks in our planet's rivers, oceans and waterways and making that information available in real-time so that smarter decisions can be made about how we manage this critical resource. (Source IBM)

IBM - Two Green Thumbs Up Award for Water Saving TechnologyCheck out the video
: http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=26da6a961e8b3190 

Upcoming posts will focus on energy innovations, green inventions, companies going green, best green companies and hybrid vehicles. Stay Tuned...

Entrepreneur.com & SBA Green Business Coach

Friday, January 29, 2010 by Guest Blogger

I just finished watching a great video presentation by Bill Roth where he was a speaker at an SBA event. Bill Roth is the Green Business Coach for Entrepreneur.com and he has a lot of knowledge and green business experience.

He talks about Sustainability Programs, his experience, best green companies, energy innovation, green inventions, eco friendly inventions and how sustainability programs can change your life.

The Video is on: THE GREEN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION - SBA Speaker Event.  If your interested in starting up a green business or launching a green company or organization, then this is a great video to watch. I used this video in my class on Sustainability Programs and the students were glued to it.

Here's a link to the video: http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=f82df0d99dbf9bee 
- Justin, Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV

Starbucks doesn't Recycle?

Thursday, January 21, 2010 by Guest Blogger

Dear Starbucks,

I walked across campus today, was tired and walked into a Starbucks. I asked for a iced coffee, and yes, I forgot my reuseable mug, and they handed me a coffee in a plastic cup.

I drank it, read a book and looked for a recycling bin. None were found. I went to the counter and asked the workers if they have a recycling bin for my plastic cup and they said no, even the manager shook his head no.

Why not? Look, I am no treehugger, but I believe in recycling. I should have been using my resuseable mug, but forgot it. I was very surprised and maybe it was just this location that did not have it. I looked into Starbucks sustainability programs and also on their site their Environmental Stewardship page talked about the great things they are doing.

Starbucks companies going greenThe one thing that was missing was recycling bins in many of their stores. This could help prevent millions of cups from entering landfills. There are many companies going green and doing great things to reduce energy consumption, water usage, etc., but sometimes even they forget the easiest green measures to put in place, a recycling bin.

I took the cup back to campus, put it in a recycling bin, and will not forget my mug in the future! - Jenny M., Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV

Green Stock Picks for 2010

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by Guest Blogger

If you are reading this, you are interested in the benefits of alternative energy.  But there is one benefit that you may have overlooked...profit!  Why not invest in the companies whose energy innovations we use?  The PickShares betaONE portfolio now includes an alternative energy component in its energy sector holdings. 

Uncertainty dominated the last few months of the year as markets traded in a range amid speculation about interest rates and healthcare reform.  In 2010 I have begun to look into an area with great potential for growth; alternative energy.  This is a difficult sector but there is plenty of upside to be found if you know where to look.  Recently this capital intensive sector has been a victim of the credit crunch. 

Green Stock Picks for 2010     As credit becomes available again investment in alternative energy will return, its comeback being fueled in part by rising oil prices and government funding.  Geothermal and biomass are marginal, the biggest contributions will come from solar, wind and hydroelectric energy which will be the focus of my investment research.

     To enter the alternative energy arena, I have chosen the PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio (PBW) as my vehicle.  This fund offers great diversification including 25% international stocks amid a mix of market caps. 

Visit www.pickshares.com  to learn more about the alternative energy ETFs and other funds that are heating up in 2010. - Scott Frye, Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV
 

Using Paper waste as Fuel

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by Craig Zamary

There are many alternative fuel ideas and a variety of alternative fuels program.

A video was uploaded to our main site Green Energy TV that shows how how a Danish company is taking a waste product from making paper and turning it into an alternative fuels program.

The company is named Haldor Topsøe, and they are a an energy innovation technology which can transform black liquor (a waste product from paper production) into DME (DiMethyl Ether).
 
DME is a clean fuel, but can also be used for cars. Volvo, one of the project partners, has tested DME and named it 'the preferred fuel' among the green fuels available. The project taking place in Sweden, uses the entire technology chain: from the paper mill supplying black liquor via gas stations for fueling DME to trucks actually running on DME.

Learn more about their eco friendly inventions in the video below:

New Sustainability Certificate Program

Monday, January 11, 2010 by Guest Blogger

I just did a post about Sustainability Programs and getting a Green Degree and I read about the new sustainability certificate program offered by the University of Colorado.

The program focuses on sustainability management for professionals to green their workplaces.

The University of Colorado's continuing education department is debuting the new "sustainability management certificate" in January to help professionals put a green edge on their existing expertise.

According to the Program Director Geoffrey Rubinstein, he said he expects the program to attract employees of mom-and-pop shops, larger companies, local government, nonprofit agencies and schools.

They also noted that the courses will be offered online in the near future to expand their reach nationwide as well as internationally.  Mike, Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV.

 

Sustainability Programs - Get a Green Degree

Monday, January 11, 2010 by Guest Blogger
There are a lot of new Sustainability Programs and green degrees you can get certification in an area of interest.

According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, there are now more than 100 majors, minors or certificates were created this year in energy and sustainability-focused programs at colleges big and small. And this is nationwide.

There has been a huge increase in the number of companies going green and the rise in green jobs. Academic institutions are offering Sustainability Programs, renewable energy-solar certificate programs, certified organic farming programs and more.

The people who are getting the certifications, experience and training in the green jobs sector are setting themselves up for being educated in the right place for a long time.

See if your local academic institution is offering a certification program in an area that interests you or check for a online class. Mike, Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV.

#1 Green Innovation Company in Electronics Industry

Monday, January 11, 2010 by Craig Zamary

You hear a lot of positive news about companies going green, and the best green companies.

Well, Panasonic announced that they aim to be the No.1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry.

Below are some of the ways they plan on being the top of the list for best green companies in their industry:

  • Green life innovation - Panasonic will make the green lifestyle a reality by implementing Panasonic ideas for life and offer better living to people around the world with a sense of security, comfort and joy, in a sustainable way. For example, the ideas will include "lifestyle with virtually zero CO2 emissions for the entire home and the entire building," "lifestyle with recycling-oriented products," "evolving and expanding eco cars," and "encouraging eco-conscious products in emerging and developing countries."
     
  • Green business innovation - Panasonic will cut its environmental impact stemming from its business activity to the maximum extent possible and introduce to the market its technologies, ideas and measures derived from such efforts. For example, the company will strive for "minimizing CO2 emissions in all business processes," "recycling-oriented manufacturing," "green work-style" and "offering eco-solution using its own expertise."

1) Global networking: Creating a network of strong autonomous Panasonic bases across the world, Panasonic will pursue management approaches that will optimize business efficiency on a global scale.

2) Individual-customer touch points No.1: Taking advantage of the vast array of its products, Panasonic will establish new IT-driven relationships to provide to each individual customer a maximized life-time customer value.

3) Synergy creation: Panasonic believes group synergy occurs when Panasonic companies collaborate spontaneously and autonomously in diverse fields. The Panasonic Group aims to become a flexible and dynamic company, consistently promoting collaboration and creating synergies within the Group through spontaneous initiatives and autonomous management.

Panasonic - Companies going green Two Green Thumbs up AwardGreen Energy TV is giving Panasonic the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for being one of the best companies going green. Keep up the great work!
 

Aspen Skiing Company - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Thursday, January 7, 2010 by Craig Zamary
Green Energy TV has Awarded the Aspen Skiing Company with the Two Green Thumbs Up Award.

Here are just some of the things they are doing to be green and why we gave them the Two Green Thumbs Up:

1. Renewable Fuels - For seven years, they have used clean, renewable fuels such as Biodiesel in their snowcats.

2. Employee Commitment - Almost half of Aspen/Snowmass employees contribute a dollar a week to the Environment Foundation. Their contributions are matched by the Aspen Community Foundation and again by the Aspen Skiing Company Family Fund, and donations--$1.2 million to date, that go to local environmental causes like clean air and water, trail maintenance and energy efficiency.

Aspen Skiing Company - Green Ski Resorts3. ISO certified as a "Green" company
- the first of only two ski resorts in the country to achieve this recognition. ISO 14001 certification is the most widely known and respected environmental stamp of approval, which demonstrates responsible management of our environmental impacts.

4. Leed Building
- Aspen/Snowmass has the only green building policy in the snow sports industry. It has resulted in projects like the Snowmass Golf Clubhouse, which is LEED Silver Level certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, is heated and cooled using the pond on the 18th hole, and is one of the most energy efficient commercial buildings in the state.

Aspen Skiing Company Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Keep up the great work and continue to lead the way for companies going green in your industry!

2010 New Year's Resolution - Green ideas

Monday, December 21, 2009 by Craig Zamary
A few of our readers sent us emails asking us to post the following ideas for some recommended Green New Year's resolutions for 2010.

Below are 7 of the 2010 Green New Year's Resolution Ideas:
  • Go on a Green Diet - In the New Year, many people go on a diet. This means, you can start eating certified organic foods that do not contain the food toxins or chemical toxins that are in most of our foods. You can also start to buy more of your food locally as well and get food that is fresh and support the local economy and help create more green jobs as a direct result of your purchases.
  • Do the Green Diet Exercise - One of our Guest Bloggers wrote about how he lost over 70 pounds by pedaling his bike to power his TV. Here's a link to that blog post if you are looking to power your TV while you watch it and save electricity and lose a lot of weight in the process blog.greenenergytv.com/blog/wind-power-technology/0/0/new-green-diet-pedal-and-watch
     
  • Say good-bye to Household Toxins - You can have an environment friendly home by eliminating the chemical toxins. Most of the store bought cleaners contain very harmful chemical toxins, however, you can switch to safer cleaners from companies such as Shaklee or Seventh Generation. There are many new green and safer cleaning products out there right now that do a great job without exposing your family to chemical toxins in your home.
  • Green your Lawn - Most of the chemicals in fertilizers used on the lawns in the US are banned in Europe because of the dangerous chemical toxins they contain and they seep back into our drinking water and affect fish and other wildlife as well. There are more options for this year with chemical free lawn care and organic lawn care. You can use bone meal and other organic lawn care products that prevent weeds and still give you a green lawn without the chemicals. Check out your local nursery and read the labels!
  • Get Green Jobs & Get Certified- There is an increase in green jobs, whether you decide to become a solar installer, energy rater, get involved in Sustainability Programs, etc. We have green jobs posted on our main site, and there are many other major outlets advertising green jobs on Indeed.com and Monster.com
  • Get a Green Degree - There are more schools and independent organizations offering classes on Sustainability Programs, certifications for LEED, Energy Raters, Solar and Wind Installers and more. Many of the top green universities are also offering green educational classes and degrees now and this can help you land  green jobs and prepare you for the future blog.greenenergytv.com/blog/green-jobs
  • Start a Green Business - There are many areas in green that are fast growing and opportunities increasing daily. We did a post a while back that talked about the growth areas of green and here's a link to some of the hottest and upcoming areas that deal with organic natural foods, eco friendly products, solar installation to geothermal energy, energy efficiency and green building.
If you have any Green New Year's Resolutions for 2010 that you would like to share, feel free to do so in the comments below. - Stay Green!