It’s not just individuals who need to recharge their batteries and conserve energy these days, it’s families, communities, the whole country. And for thousands across America, a new way of living begins on Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King, Jr. day. That’s the day Barack and Michelle Obama are asking every American to take part in a national day of service.

In this spirit, ecoAmerica has teamed up with Clean Tech for Obama and Green Business Leaders for Obama to create a simple but powerful service opportunity. It’s called ReCharge America.

Among many features, the website offers a simple 10-step toolkit that anyone can use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs. Here you’ll find tips about saving energy – and money – with lighting, heating, air conditioning, kitchen appliances, washers, dryers, water heaters, faucets, computers, home entertainment systems and heating vents. Cars also come under scrutiny. (The above video with Lisa Ling walks you through the 10 steps.)

Why is this the right time to reexamine how we live?

We spoke with Lisa Renstrom, former president of the Sierra Club and ReCharge America co-creator.

“In these tough economic times, why not get some money back just by being more energy efficient? We’re all looking to improve our budgets,” says Renstrom. “But we haven’t really tried to make our homes energy efficient. And once we do, we not only serve ourselves, we serve our country.”

National service may begin on Monday, but it can be woven into the fabric of the rest of our lives, says Renstrom.

“In my own experience, all of this is a journey. This home energy tune-up is about taking the first step. This is to get motivated, to take action, and then the next step naturally follows.”

The ReCharge initiative is also featured at the USAService site.

– with reporting by Peter Meech

The post Need to ReCharge? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Biking just got more attractive. The Biddeford campus of the University of New England has created a new program to provide free bikes (complete with lock and helmet) or Zipcar usage to Freshmen who leave their cars at home. Because of recent campus construction, many parking spaces were lost and UNE wanted a better solution than simply to lay down more asphalt.

UNE has also expanded shuttle service and offered taxi vouchers for students of the Portland campus. Response has been positive and the university is considering expanding the program. Smart thinking from the Office of Student Affairs; it’s not just good for the environment, but great exercise for students who could use some physical activity between parties – and classes.

Image: aleksandersen

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It’s Thursday again, and that means it’s time for another fashion fix. Here’s what our friends in the blogosphere have to say this week.

My It Things reminds us to tune in tonight to the Sundance channel’s show Iconoclasts to see the “It” collaboration between designer Stella McCartney + artist Ed Ruscha.

Fashion Pulse shows us how to prepare for a walk on the wild side with affordable versions of the leopard print trend.

Fashion Fille shares a glimpse of her cut-off experiment. I guess it’s never too soon to prepare for next summer.

Image: Porcelaingirl

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In elementary school one of my favorite lunches was Oscar Mayer bologna on white Wonder Bread with the ends cut off and a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup.

Who knew back then that such a lunch also meant ingesting nitrites, sodium phosphates, sodium diacetate, and sodium erythorbate (to name a few). One can of that soup, with its classic red and white label, still has a whopping 2,291 mg of sodium, 95% of the RDA.

Fortunately, nutrition is now analyzed, scrutinized, and proselytized. And companies like Revolution Foods are delivering tasty, healthy meals and nutrition education to schools and programs across the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

They use organic and locally-produced ingredients whenever possible, milk is hormone-free and does not contain rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin, an injection to increase milk production), and meats are hormone and antibiotic-free, as well.

Their food is prepared fresh daily. It is not fried, overly processed, or microwaved. And it does not contain high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Every child’s education should include healthy eating and learning about nutritious food, the company says. A sample menu includes spaghetti with all natural, hormone-free beef marinara sauce, steamed broccoli, a fresh apple, and 1% low-fat milk.

A little background: co-founders Kristin Richmond and Kirsten Saenz Toby met at the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley. Tobey began her career as a teacher and coordinator of experiential education programs at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts and Amigos de las Americas in Ecuador. In college, she ran children’s garden education programs in California and Rhode Island, and in graduate school she worked with the United Nations Hunger Task Force to evaluate the scalability of school feeding programs in Ghana. Groos Richmond served as the vice president of programs and development at RISE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers in public schools nationwide. She also worked at Leadership Public Schools in San Francisco where she redesigned the food service program at four public high schools. She began her career as an investment banker at Citigroup in Manhattan.

Revolution Foods has grown from serving just three schools in 2006 to over 100 education programs in 2008 reaching nearly 25,000 students. Looking for a change in your school district? Maybe it’s time to start a Revolution and say goodbye to institutional fare.

Image: Paul Goyette

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When you’re searching online for a good green deal, where do you go first?

The two behemoths of the online classifieds world are Craigslist and eBay. Their continent-cracking size isn’t always a good thing – sifting out the eco-friendly from the not-so-much can turn into one of the labors of Hercules. Luckily these sites have corners that are greening up nicely, such as eBay’s World of Good – but in the main, you’re on your own.

Alternatives? Here are a couple we’ve spotted.

EcoFlip. Founded by Forrest Kolb and Joseph Paone, it’s a "classifieds community for eco-friendly people". It’s free to post, available in 42 countries, and in addition to adverts for sustainable services and products, there’s a section called "Reuse and Recycle" which presumably works the same way as the fabulous Freecycle. I’m particularly impressed with how you navigate around: first up, you choose your state, then your nearest city, and only then can you access all the listings. Start locally and work outwards – the way it should be.

Planet Thrive‘s focus is wellness, and the Ask the Expert and Wellness tabs on the front page lead to an impressive range of personal healthcare resources. The site is the work of writer, photographer and holistic health counselor Julie Genser, and she’s aimed for a very personal community feel right down to shared photo albums. You’ll also find environmentally-focused classifieds galore – from eco-friendly housing to green employment opportunities.

Give them a try, and drop us a comment to tell us what you think!

Image: Darwin Bell

The post Classified Tips on a Good Green Deal appeared first on EcoSalon.

Made from recycled glass, 10% of each sale from Plates with a Purpose goes to support community organizations in Pennsylvania such as the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank AIDS Task Force, Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity, and the Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

The custom glassware artistically reflects the missions of the non-profit organizations. Artist Judy Smilow designed the forget-me- not plate for the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania – which has personal meaning as her father, Mel Smilow, a furniture designer and artist, died two years ago from the disease.

"He was and continues to be my first and most important design influence and inspiration," said Smilow in her artist’s statement.
The Ladybug Plate with Purpose was designed by Tristan Bramblett, a six-year-old autistic artist who creates designs through Blue Elephant Creations to raise awareness and funds for autism.

All items are dishwasher and microwave safe. If you’re interested in purchase, there are a number of retailers, including our green sponsor VivaTerra, which donates $10 from each plate to children in need.

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Fine lines. Crow’s feet. Wrinkles. Is there any way to smooth aging skin without resorting to toxic injections like Botox? Women (and men) are turning to the ancient art of acupuncture instead.

Some women swear by it, claiming a reduction in puffiness and the bags under their eyes. There’s no conclusive evidence that facial acupuncture will reduce wrinkles, but there’s compelling anecdotal evidence, so it may be worth a try.

What we know acupuncture does do is relax facial muscles and stimulate your nervous and circulatory systems throughout your body, which can help to your skin a naturally radiant glow. Like botox, acupuncture isn’t cheap and constant maintenance is required, but the additional benefits – like relieving hypertension, chronic headaches, tension and back pain – can help smooth your skin of those worry lines, too.

Image: mikefats

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In the days of old and eco-oblivion, you could travel the world, sleep anywhere with 5 stars and be assured of a restful, luxurious, guilt-free experience. In the 90s, smaller “boutique” hotels began to crop up – but pampering, not green, was still the priority.

If you’re a frequent traveler who happens to have acquired an eco-consciousness, 5 star and boutique are not where your concerns lie. You want environmentally-sound sleepovers – and avoiding the miniature toiletries or stopping by Terra Pass seems woefully inadequate.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (of W Hotels fame) recently announced its newest brand – ELEMENT hotels, the first major hotel brand to commit to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification.*

Green to the core, they won’t leave travelers in the eco-chic lobby, either. Guest room basics include energy- and water-efficient appliances, bins for recycling paper, plastic and glass, filtered water and shampoo shower dispensers. The hotels will use low-VOC paints and 100% recycled and anti-microbial carpet pads to improve air quality and minimize exposure to toxins and pollutants. Oversized windows will create an abundance of natural lighting and an indoor-outdoor “natural” experience.

Pack your eco-attitude and visit the first ELEMENT hotel expected to open this August in Lexington, MA, followed by Irving, TX, Las Vegas and Baltimore, MD.

*According to the USGBC website, LEED is “…the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. [It] gives owners and operators the tools they need…[and] promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability…”

Images: ELEMENT hotels

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You separate aluminum, glass and plastic. You bring your own bags to the market and you use non-toxic cleaning products in your home. Recycling has become as much a part of your life as checking your email and going to the gym. Maybe there isn’t a hybrid parked in your garage, but you’re all about a hybrid rental when the need arises!

EcoNation is a Los Angeles-based transportation company that uses only low emission vehicles. They offer exceptional service and amenities, including wireless internet and refreshments. Clients range from the corporate gal to the VIP traveler.

The nitty gritty:

Rates vary depending on the type of vehicle – for a Prius, Hybrid SUV or alternative fuel sedan, they’ll need 24-hour notice to meet your needs. A trip from LAX to downtown Los Angeles in a Town Car will set you back $82. I’ve already calculated my next trip in a Prius from the airport to my home near Malibu – $67. If you live in the LA area call EcoNation at 877-326-6286 to request a quote. But you don’t have to live in the Southland to green-cab it.

Here’s a list of similar companies that serve other cities across the US:

Eco-Limo: LA, SF or DC / 7 types of vehicles to choose from / 888-432-6546
Green Car Limo – SF Bay Area, Monterey & Pebble Beach / 650-593-6323
LimoGreen – NYC / JFK to Manhattan at $90 / 888-546-0476

To see the rest of the list, head over to Ideal Bite!

Sources:
Ideal Bite
Eco Nation

Image: Burning Image

The post Hybrids for Hire appeared first on EcoSalon.

None of us really need an excuse to get our friends round – but sometimes, it would be nice to do something a little bit special. Dinner parties – done to death. Party games with "exciting" prizes? I don’t think so. A trip to a health spa would be perfect, but the same week from everyone’s busy schedule? Forget it.

So why not indulge yourselves in a spa party? A couple of hours of luxury (eco!) pampering, leaving you all relaxed, glowing and even more determined to stick to your wellness routine in the future. Candles, oils, fruit juices, a trained masseuse, heated towels, manicure and pedicure supplies…

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? There’s a number of companies that will do it all for you – like GreenBliss Ecospa in Los Angeles, or the TallGrass Spa/Salon in Colorado. They will either host the event themselves at their facilities, or as part of the package they’ll come into your home and do all the hard work for you – trained staff, oils and treatments all included.

It’s the perfect RSVP. (And your house will smell incredible for weeks.)

Image: kofoed

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