“Known for decades as the authority in product testing for its Good Housekeeping Seal, the new seal certifies products that not only live up to marketing claims for efficacy, but for its sustainability. Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluates various criteria, including reduction of water use in manufacturing, energy efficiency in manufacturing and product use, ingredient and product safety, packaging reduction, and the brand’s corporate social responsibility.
“The Good Housekeeping Seal was originally created to protect consumers from potentially dangerous products and false claims,” said Rosemary Ellis, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping. “Today our readers are interested in making choices that are healthier for their families and for the planet, so we’re continuing our legacy of consumer advocacy with the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, offering consumers a guide, backed by scientific research, for products making significant steps towards being environmentally sound.”
“The best part: If the product fails to live up to its claims in the first two years, Good Housekeeping will replace the item or refund the consumer.
“The first round of testing included cleaning and beauty products. Upcoming tests will include more than a dozen categories, including building products, home appliances, consumer electronics, textiles, and children’s products. Read more of this >>
President Obama spoke at the United Nations today about climate responsibilities. This post comes complements of Consequence09.org:
Join the National Youth Climate Call Day on Thursday
President Obama is right: This is OUR battle
President Obama spoke on Tuesday at the UN Summit on Climate Change, and his words perfectly encapsulate what we have at stake:
“Our generation’s response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it–boldly, swiftly, and together–we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe.”
In the United States energy use by buildings is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions, so energy efficiency is a vital target in our efforts to mitigate climate change, control operating costs, and achieve energy independence.
According to Patrick Gill, co-founder of NoCoEntre.net, Northern Colorado is a hotbed of businesses with solutions to this challenge. For this month’s presentations we have selected three companies, ranging from heat regulation technology, to zero-energy homes, to real estate development projects.
S. Kroll + J. Andrews — Corvid Wall (Englewood)
M. Kostovny — Solar Village (Boulder)
T. Hoaglund — Vignette Studios (Fort Collins)
“We are very excited about the prospects for our meeting. The presenters are thought leaders in the Green Built environment. We expect to learn about the status of Green Building, the contribution of these leaders and we’ll work on issues they’ve identified,” said Gill.
This free event will be held in Fort Collins, starting at 5:45 pm on September 21, 2009. Refreshments are provided by the Larimer County Business and Enterprise Program. To learn more about the Northern Colorado Entrepreneurs Network, please visit the website.
Washington, DC — A major new national youth organizing campaign on clean energy and climate will launch with a national press teleconference on Wednesday. The new effort, called Consequence, will organize young people across America to demand urgent Congressional action to unleash investment in clean energy sources like wind and solar, increase energy efficiency to save consumers money, and set firm limits on the carbon pollution that causes global warming.
The Consequence campaign, a new national grassroots organizing effort, kicked off today with a nationwide online advertising campaign, print and radio advertisements in targeted states, and the launch of an innovative social networking site, www.consequence09.org, that will lie at the heart of the youth-focused campaign. Consequence will organize young people in states across America to demand urgent Congressional action on a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan that will unleash investment in clean energy sources like wind and solar, creates millions of clean energy jobs, reduces our dependence on oil and place firm limits on the carbon pollution that causes global warming.
“Young people have an incredibly important role to play in demanding a clean energy future,” said Jessy Tolkan, Energy Action Coalition Executive Director. “They understand that we must pursue a ‘Yes We Can’ approach to our nation’s climate and energy challenges and that there are real consequences—for our economy, our security and the future of our planet—if Congress fails to act. Through an intensive effort to organize and mobilize these young people, the Consequence campaign and its partners will ensure that our elected officials know that young people demand a commitment to a clean energy economy that creates millions of clean energy jobs, reduces our dependence on oil and curbs dangerous global warming pollution.”
Consequence will include a major national online advertising campaign commencing this week, as well as radio and print advertising in Arkansas, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Danny Clark, CEO of ENSO Bottles, writes to invite participation in a plastics survey. I encourage your participation.
Glenn,
I hope all has been well. We are performing some research on how and what consumers think about biodegradable plastics. The more response from the general public we receive the better the data.
Below is the link to the survey. If you are interested in posting a link to the survey I can create a collector created just for Green Streets which would redirect the survey takers to a URL of your choosing at the conclusion of the survey as well as customize the Thank You page. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=fktlqEFDW1aNgZgWodfrRA_3d_3d
I would also provide you the survey results data.
Fresh tomatoes from this aquaponics system. Photo: Deb Dorband
LOVELAND, CO – They are innovative, inexpensive, pleasant to look at, and sustainable. Called, sustainable aquaponics, these compact systems can be used by families worldwide, producing fish and vegetables to feed individuals on an ongoing basis.
Developed by Mountain Sky Group (through its WorldWide Aquaculture subsidiary), in cooperation with the Institute for Ecolonomics, the system combines traditional agriculture and aquaculture methods without soil, producing a healthy culture system for fish, herbs, fruits, vegetables and ornamentals to thrive. The only additional material required is water. Fish are fed some of the plants growing in the system, and their waste fertilizes the plants. Read more of this >>
