Gain customers with green practices

In today’s marketplace it can be hard to acquire new customers. However something that today’s savvy marketers are realizing is that running a green business means more green in the bank.

Use Cloth Napkins

Purchase cloth dinner napkins and/or small fingertip towels for non-disposable use at the table or as wipes for children. It works for us. For normal everyday use, we simply use standard cotton washcloths that we have gathered over the years. They are durable and easy to care for. Just toss them in with a regular load of laundry when done with them. You can use your older washcloths to recycle or purchase them from a thrift store for relatively inexpensively.

For formal occasions, you can use linen or cotten napkins made for this purpose to cut down on waste. Napkins are a lost commodity in today’s throw away society. This eliminates a waste stream from your home and reduces your footprint without even trying.

Energy Efficient Kitchens

Efficiency is becoming a hot topic in many modern households. Not only do we know that saving energy helps our environment, but rising power prices also means that it makes fiscal sense to invest in an energy-conscious home. The kitchen is one of the top places where homes waste energy. This guide will help you determine whether your kitchen is energy efficient, and give you tips on how to improve your power usage.

Energy Efficient Refrigeration

Refrigerators are one of the leading sources of energy waste in the kitchen. Not only does it take a lot of power to keep our foods cool, but every time we open the door an influx of warm air makes the process start over again. Some tips for more energy efficient refrigeration include:

• Make sure that your refrigerator is in good working condition and well-sealed.
• When buying a new refrigerator, look for a model that’s rated for good energy efficiency.
• Keep your refrigerator full. The less empty space, the less cool air will be lost when the doors are open.
• Allow foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator doors more often than necessary.

Energy Efficient Cooking

The stovetop and oven can also be major sources of power waste in the kitchen. By being mindful of how you cook, you can save money and conserve power. Here are some tips:

• When cooking on the range, use as few burners as possible. A one-pan dish needs only half as much energy as a meal that needs to be cooked on two burners.
• Turn the heat down once you have reached the boiling point. Usually you don’t need full heat to maintain the boil.
• Don’t open the door of the oven to check progress. This loses significant heat, which requires more energy to replace.
• Don’t preheat unless necessary.

Energy Efficient Washing

Dishwashers are a huge boon to cleaning, but they can also suck up unnecessary energy. Some tips for using dishwashers more sparingly include:

• Rinse dishes to avoid the chances of having to put them through a second cycle.
• Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it.
• Consider drying the dishes yourself. The drying cycle of the dishwasher uses a lot of energy, whereas letting them air dry or toweling them off by hand uses none at all.

Prevent Your Kitchen Appliances from Wasting Energy

Even if they are not turned on, your kitchen appliances may be using up low levels of energy for no useful purpose. Items like microwaves, coffee machines, and bread makers use up a little bit of energy per hour even when not in use. This slow energy drain adds up, so unplug your kitchen appliances when not in use.

These simple tips to make your kitchen more energy efficient can help save the environment while saving you money at the same time, so why not get started today?

Preparing for Cold and Flu Season

As we move into the fall months and the evenings get cooloer, it is time to prepare the family for cold and flu season once again.

Palmdale to Build Power Plant

The City of Palmdale officially submitted the application for certification (AFC) for a 570-megawatt hybrid power plant to the California Energy Commission (CEC) on August 4. If approved the plant will use both solar power and natural gas to generate electricity for the city of Palmdale and beyond. The plant should be able to provide enough electricity for a population of 600,000 people. That is 1 and a half times the current Antelope Valley population. The power plant would be built near Air Force Plant 42 along the south side of Avenue M. Plant 42’s manufacturing facilities would most likely be large corporate customers for its product.

The city of Palmdale has contracted Inland Energy to design and build the plant. Inland Energy is also working to build a similar plant in Victorville, Ca. which would be a sister plant to this one. The main goal of the project is to allow the city of Palmdale to provide competitively priced electricity to its citizens and businesses while allowing future growth without straining the current electrical grid.

For more information see: http://www.palmdale1.com/

Lighter roofs can save energy.

According to the Los Angeles Times, light roofs can save up to $1 Billion per year in energy costs. Since 2005, California has required lighter roofs on all new and retrofitted commercial buildings with flat roofs. Starting next year, this requirement will be placed on all commercial buildings as well new and retrofitted residential developments, including those with sloped roofs.

Lancaster Ethanol Refinery Proposed

A proposed ethanol refinery for Lancaster is undergoing a review process. The proposed refinery will be built next to the Lancaster landfill and create about 3.1 million gallons of ethanol per year. It will be one of the first of its kind in the nation using yard and construction waste as its source material instead of corn.

BlueFire Ethanol Fuels Inc., a cellulosic ethanol production technology, has engaged Roeslein Associates Inc. and PAC (Process Automation Concepts Ltd.) to begin prefabricating modules for BlueFire’s first ethanol bio-refinery in Lancaster, Calif.

The Lancaster biorefinery will use post-sorted cellulosic wastes diverted from landfills in Southern California to produce what BlueFire calls a “highly economical” alternative biofuel.

BlueFire is in the process of obtaining the final permits to commence construction on the secured site, which is expected to produce 3.1 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually.

For more information, visit www.BlueFireEthanol.com.

Going Green

The phrase ” going green” is something that we hear frequently these days. It seems everywhere we turn we are bombarded with products and suggestions that promise to help our families live a more green lifestyle. Unfortunately, it is not always economically feasible for every family to make some of the more obvious large changes. However, there are many small simple changes everyone can make that will have a big impact on the environment over time. Read more