Green Living
US Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Members includes building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies, and nonprofits. US Green Building Council Hawaii Chapter (www.usgbc.org/hawaii) Green Home Guide (www.greenhomeguide..org) A great resource published by the The U.S. Green Building Council. Leed Certification (http://www.nrdc.org/buildinggreen/leed.asp ) Leed means Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In the United States, and in a number of other countries around the work, LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. Achieving LEED certification is the best way to demonstrate a project is truly "green." Energy Star (http://www.energystar.gov ) Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products. It was first created as a United States government program in 1992, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted the program. Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings and other products, save 20%-30% on average. Greenspec Directory (http://www.greenbuilding.com) The online Greenspec directory lists product descriptions for over 2,100 products environmentally preferable products. Products are chosen to be listed by the Green Building editors. They do not charge for listings and they do not sell ads. Green Building Pages (http://www.greenbuildingpages.com) Green Building Pages is an online sustainable design and decision making tool for building industry professionals and environmentally and socially responsible consumers. Green2Green (http://www.Green2Green.org ) Green2Green.org features comprehensive information green building products, materials, and practices. This site offers side by side comparisons of products using a variety of environmental, technical, and economic criteria. Oikos (http://www.Oikos.com ) Oikos is a website devoted to serving professionals whose work promotes sustainable design and construction. The Green Guide (http://www.thegreenguide.com ) National Geographic’s Green Guide offers staff written reviews of a host of products, ranging from appliances, home furnishings, and home improvement products to personal care and pet supplies. Good To Be Green (http://www.goodtobegreen.com ) Good to be Green is a directory of green building products, sustainable building materials and green building service providers. Products must: be made out of recycled materials, ensure a low environmental impact during construction, operation and/or demolition of the building; conserve natural resources like energy, wood, & water; and improve air quality. Repower America (www.repoweramerica.org ) America faces unprecedented economic, environmental and national security challenges. We urgently need new jobs, stable energy prices, and freedom from dirty fossil fuels and global warming pollution. Finally, there’s a solution as big as our problems: a bold plan to Repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. The We Campaign (www. wecansolveit.org )The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. The goal of the Alliance is to build a movement that creates the political will to solve the climate crisis -- in part through repowering America with 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources within 10 years. Our economy, national security, and climate can’t afford to wait. Fleabusters of Hawaii (www.fleabustersofhawaii.com) Offering organic treatments for the following: Interior Flea Treatment and Exterior Treatment for ants, Roaches, Ticks & Mites. Re-Use Hawaii (www.reusehawaii.org) A non-profit company specializing in home DE-construction & material salvage. Re-use Hawaii will perform demolition work, salvage useful materials, and give the homeowner a tax write off when the project is complete. A WIN-WIN-WIN situation! Green Sand Inc. (www.GreenSandInc.com) Architectural Firm that Specializes in geen design & building. Matt & Rhonda Goyke are top green professionals, and are extremely involved in the USGBC and LEED programs. Clean Green Home (www.CleanGreenHomeHawaii.com) We clean, sanitize, and disinfect your home by using all natural cleaning products with the added benefit of essential oils. All cleaning products are organic and made in Hawaii. Edible Gardens Hawaii(www.ediblegardenshawaii.com) Our mission is to promote the importance of healthy, nutrient-rich organic food. Today "food" can be classified in many ways and there is no shortage of it in the American culture. The public must be aware that food which promotes a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle can be found in raw fruits and vegetables grown in your own backyard. If you have land that isn't being used, why not cultivate it and have it work for you! Edible Landscapes Hawaii will help people help themselves in creating and developing organic landscapes. By understanding and practicing Organic gardening everyone can benefit from an edible landscape. Styrophobia (www.Styrophobia.com) We are locally based and bring to market a fair priced range of biodegradable & compostable takeout containers, plates, food service and packaging products for use in restaurants, schools, companies, and cafeterias. We carry takeout containers, sugar cane plates, disposable cups and utensils including bioplastic bags, PLA cups and containers. Sun Tech Hawaii (www. suntechhawaii.com) Suntech Hawaii is a full service renewable energy firm and the largest locally owned and operated solar integrator in Hawaii. Our company designs, develops, and installs solar photovoltaic and hot water systems throughout the Hawaiian Islands. While many firms separate system design and deployment by subcontracting the installation process, Suntech Hawaii’s end-to-end approach ensures maximum oversight and quality control. Little Sprouts(www.littlesproutshawaii.com) Little Sprouts sells primarily eco-friendly items for infants and children up to 4 years of age. We’re here to show you that items that help the environment can be just as cute and stylish! Our store includes organic clothing, natural toys, soft and hard-soled shoes, hip diaper bags, the best skin care for baby, slings, carriers, cloth diapers, blankets, burp cloths, towels, PVC-free bottles, and so much more. Store Hours Sun 12-5pm Mon-Sat 10am-6pm 629A Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734 (next to Brent’s Deli) Hawaiian Island Solar(hawaiianislandsolar.com) Hawaiian Island Solar, Inc. has been fulfilling Hawaii's solar residential and commercial needs since 1983. No independent contractor in Hawaii has more years of combined solar experience. Our full service company provides all services from permitting, to association work, to 24 hour emergency response at no additional cost. We have learned from experience that only the use of trained in-house installers, top of the line reliable equipment, and friendly attentive customer service can ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. Our products include solar hot water systems, photovoltaic arrays, pool/spa heating systems and attic fans. • Making your home more energy efficient is often as simple as pulling a plug. Unplugging appliances when they are not in use can save $70 a year on your electricity bill. • Use public transportation to help reduce the carbon emissions that would have been produced by your vehicle. Better yet, bike or walk where possible or if you have to drive, do it responsibly. Bonus: Buy a hybrid, electric or alternative fuel vehicle. • Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs, so keep your water heater at 120° or at the "normal" setting when home and to the lowest setting when away. You'll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. • Replace all incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs last 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, uses 60% less energy and can save 75% of lighting costs. If every American home replaced five incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs, we save $6.5 billion a year in electricity costs and help prevent greenhouse gas emissions. • Water yards in the early morning or evening to ensure that the water soaks into the soil instead of evaporating. If using a spinkler system, use a timer and a sprinkler system that emits large drops of water and that is low to the ground. • Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by 3%, and every gallon of gasoline saved prevents 20 pounds of carbon dioxide waste. • Using less hot water reduces energy consumption. Installing a low-flow shower head and washing clothes in cold or warm water can save up to 850 pounds of carbon dioxide. • Planting trees reverses the effects of carbon dioxide. A single tree will absorb 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. • Buy ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and equipment - they're up to 40% more efficient. • Shave two minutes off showering time and save more than $200 a year. |
