energy efficiency, green buildings, slow foods, hybrid cars and alternate fuels.

"A society built on green design, sustainable energy and closed loop systems, a civilization afloat on a cloud of efficient, non-toxic, recyclable technology." ~~Alex Nikolai Steffan

Wednesday, February 16

Leon County breaks ground today on a new water recycling unit. The County is calling it the largest rainwater cistern of its kind in the region. It will be located at the Leon County Extension Office, 615 Paul Russell Road.

Saturday, February 12

INNOVATIVE GREEN DESIGN?

or just a little creepy?

Soy Mamelle's container, designed by a Russian creative agency, is meant to remind consumers that the soy-based product is milk-like.

Yes, it's false advertising since soymilk doesn't come from a cow and squeezing the container doesn't cause milk to shoot out -- it's got a regular cap and opening on top -- but you can't beat it for shelf presence and getting people to want to touch the container.  

photo by Kian Brand Agency

Friday, February 4

FLORIDA BANK GOING NET ZERO SOLAR

Pro Bank in Tallahassee may have solar panels, but a bank headquartered in Toronto is building a branch in Ft. Lauderdale that will produce at least 100,000 kWh a year with a solar drive-through canopy, solar panels on the building’s roof, and a field of solar panels on the building’s surrounding property.

The TD Bank, a subsidiary of the Toronto-Dominion Bank based in Toronto, Canada, will open what it calls the first 'net zero energy' branch in the spring of 2011. It  is also building the branch to earn the highest level of LEED certification: LEED Platinum.

To be considered net-zero by the US Department of Energy (DOE), a residential or commercial structure must produce at least as much energy on-site as the amount it uses during the course of the year.  See DOE's June 2010 technical report, Zero Energy Buildings: A Classification System Based on Renewable Supply Options, for the full definition.  
 
TD Bank also announced its goal to become the largest U.S.-based bank to be carbon neutral.  All of this bank's ATM machines from Maine to Florida wll be powered via a block of wind energy credits and each branch is a participating member of paper manufacturer Boise Inc.'s Closed Loop System™ to buy, recycle, repurchase and repurpose 1,500 metric tons of paper from TD's operations in the U.S. and Canada. 

Learn more about the bank's green initiatives here.

Wednesday, February 2

GROWING GREAT TOMATOES WORKSHOPS