Do Something and VH1
Posted on July 27th, 2010 by Nick
Visit sobuka for more related green articles…
It is not everyday I watch VH1. It’s only been a couple of times in my entire lifetime where I stumbled onto the channel. To recall, last week while finishing up Sobuka related activities, I landed onto the channel. I saw Jane Lynch walk across the isle to the stage with a dozen blond women dressed like her and walking along the isle. It kinda reminded me of the stint a famous rapper pulled off several years ago on MTV.
The VH1 show gave honor to an organization called Do Something (non-profit). Do Something’s mission is to get kids involved into helping others. The organization, through the assistance of CEO Nancy Lubin, has been active throughout the United States and abroad by campaigning via the internet and forming strategic partnerships to get their message across, touching the lives of kids and adults.
The organization’s appearance on VH1 was the first time, I have heard of them. One thing that compelled me to write about it, was the story of Twenty-five year old Mark Rembert, of Wilmington, OH. Mark was honored for helping his community transition to a green economy after a large corporate employer pulled out in 2008. Since Mark launched his company back in 2008, his community has received 1.4 million dollars of direct green investment.
It is encouraging to see young people in our community making an impact and a difference to help our environment. This type of visibility will hopefully encourage other young people in our area to do the same. I leave by sharing a video of CEO, Nancy Lubin’s explanation of Do Something and why she choose a path to volunteer.
More green info? Also enjoy some very cool videos at sobukaTV for more emerging green news. Sobuka can also help you find a green contractor in your area. Search with your zip code and also find out which rebates you may qualify for in your area.
No related posts.
Tags: Do Something, Jane Lynch, Mark Rembert, VH1
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 8:31 pm and is filed under Featured Content, Green Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Do Something and VH1 | Sobuka Blog | Clean Energy and Green Tech News & Events | Solar Installations | Wind Energy RECs | Energy Audits | Green Remodeling | Green Financing
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Going Green Summer Grilling Recommendations | Sobuka Blog | Clean Energy and Green Tech News & Events | Solar Installations | Wind Energy RECs | Energy Audits | Green Remodeling | Green Financing
Going Green Summer Grilling Recommendations
Posted on July 22nd, 2010 by Sulaiman
Traditional Barbeque Grilling
Summer time is here and the fun has begun but it wouldn’t be complete without a barbeque, family and friends. Even though barbeques can be lots of fun, barbeques that uses traditional materials such a charcoal, lighter fluid, and plastics/paper cups and plates can have harmful effects on the environment.
1.Traditional Charcoal Briquettes –Traditional charcoals are mixed and pre-soaked with poisonous chemicals and additives such as coal dust, sodium nitrate, limestone, starch, and sawdust. When these charcoals are burned they produces hydrocarbons as well as soot particles that pollute the air and can irritate lung and heart problems. In addition, grilling meat from charcoal barbecue grills can potentially produce hazardous carcinogenic compounds, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) which are created when fat dripped from meat comes into contact with burning charcoal, then they evaporate in form of smoke and get deposited back into charred parts of barbecue meat. The hotter the cooking temperature is and the longer the smoking session lasts, the higher the risk of food poisoning. This phenomenon can actually happen when you broil and pan-fry meat as well.
2.Traditional Charcoal Lighter fluid-Charcoal lighter fluid is made from toxic petroleum distillates, which produce volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) which are ingredients for creating ground-level ozone air pollution. In addition, when charcoal is soaked in lighter fluid and burned, the taste and smell of the lighter fluid can be cooked into the food leaving a horrible taste.
3.Traditional Grill/Oven Cleaners –Traditionally, some people have used oven cleaners to clean their grills. These oven cleaners can be full of dangerous ingredients such as ether, ethylene glycol lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), methylene chloride, and pine oil.
4. Plastic/Paper Cups and Plates - Did you know that paper cups are laminated with a plastic resin called polyethylene? This helps keep beverages warm and prevents the paper from absorbing liquids and leaking. The plastic also prevents the cup from being recycled. Every paper cup that is manufactured and coated with plastic resin ends up in a landfill. Once in a landfill, the paper will begin to decompose. This process releases methane, a greenhouse gas with 23 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide.
Green Barbeque Grilling Alternatives/Recommendations
The good news is that consumers can avoid these harmful health hazards by using the following “green” barbeque alternatives/recommendations:
1. Natural Charcoal – Noram de Mexico’s Sierra Madre 100% oak hardwood charcoal contains no coal, oil, limestone, starch, sawdust or petroleum products and is certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program as sustainably harvested. Cowboy Charcoals is another natural charcoal composed of untreated maple and oak scraps from furniture and flooring factories and is made without fillers or fossil fuels. These products are available at Lowe’s stores, and can even add a nice woody taste to your food. Whole Foods also has a similar product. Other manufacturers of all natural charcoal include Greenlink and Lazzari, both of which can be found at natural food outlets across the U.S.
2. Non-toxic lighter fluid – Instead of using a traditional lighter fluid use an electric charcoal starter or a charcoal chimney starter . One such product is the One Light Charcoal bag which can be found at Walmart and Whole Foods. This product comes in a single-use bag that has an internal chimney to get the all-natural charcoal red hot while the paper bag burns away. Another alternative is Ecoflame Lighting Gel which is non-explosive and made from natural sugar cane alcohol. It’s odor free, safe to use indoors on fireplaces, and retails for about $6.
3. Natural/Green Grill Cleaners- Non-toxic grill cleaners such as Simple Green Heavy Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner, SoyClean BBQ Grill Cleaner, and Orange Plus are non-toxic biodegradable alternatives for traditional grill cleaners that are comprised of harmful chemicals.
4. Biodegradable Cups and Plates – Using biodegradable cups and plates such as Eco Products or Green Party Supply can cut down on waste and help protect the environment. They are made from renewable plant starch materials as wells as sugarcane fibers. These great alternatives to plastic are strong, durable, liquid resistant, and compostable.
Have a wonderful Summer and Enjoy your “GREEN” Barbeque!
Instead of being part of the “Problems” that are harming the environment, be part of the “Solutions” that are preserving mother earth. Be part of the SOLUTION today by entering your zipcode here! Sobuka connects people to green minded contractors. To find a contractor in your area, please visit us at www.sobuka.com and enter your zip code.
Related posts:
Tags: Cooking Green, Going Green with Food, Green Cooking, Green Grilling, Summer Grilling
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 5:07 pm and is filed under Do it Yourself, Environment, Featured Content, green products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
now that's some tasty green grilling!
Going Green Summer Grilling Recommendations | Sobuka Blog | Clean Energy and Green Tech News & Events | Solar Installations | Wind Energy RECs | Energy Audits | Green Remodeling | Green Financing
Going Green Summer Grilling Recommendations
Posted on July 22nd, 2010 by Sulaiman
Traditional Barbeque Grilling
Summer time is here and the fun has begun but it wouldn’t be complete without a barbeque, family and friends. Even though barbeques can be lots of fun, barbeques that uses traditional materials such a charcoal, lighter fluid, and plastics/paper cups and plates can have harmful effects on the environment.
1.Traditional Charcoal Briquettes –Traditional charcoals are mixed and pre-soaked with poisonous chemicals and additives such as coal dust, sodium nitrate, limestone, starch, and sawdust. When these charcoals are burned they produces hydrocarbons as well as soot particles that pollute the air and can irritate lung and heart problems. In addition, grilling meat from charcoal barbecue grills can potentially produce hazardous carcinogenic compounds, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) which are created when fat dripped from meat comes into contact with burning charcoal, then they evaporate in form of smoke and get deposited back into charred parts of barbecue meat. The hotter the cooking temperature is and the longer the smoking session lasts, the higher the risk of food poisoning. This phenomenon can actually happen when you broil and pan-fry meat as well.
2.Traditional Charcoal Lighter fluid-Charcoal lighter fluid is made from toxic petroleum distillates, which produce volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) which are ingredients for creating ground-level ozone air pollution. In addition, when charcoal is soaked in lighter fluid and burned, the taste and smell of the lighter fluid can be cooked into the food leaving a horrible taste.
3.Traditional Grill/Oven Cleaners –Traditionally, some people have used oven cleaners to clean their grills. These oven cleaners can be full of dangerous ingredients such as ether, ethylene glycol lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), methylene chloride, and pine oil.
4. Plastic/Paper Cups and Plates - Did you know that paper cups are laminated with a plastic resin called polyethylene? This helps keep beverages warm and prevents the paper from absorbing liquids and leaking. The plastic also prevents the cup from being recycled. Every paper cup that is manufactured and coated with plastic resin ends up in a landfill. Once in a landfill, the paper will begin to decompose. This process releases methane, a greenhouse gas with 23 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide.
Green Barbeque Grilling Alternatives/Recommendations
The good news is that consumers can avoid these harmful health hazards by using the following “green” barbeque alternatives/recommendations:
1. Natural Charcoal – Noram de Mexico’s Sierra Madre 100% oak hardwood charcoal contains no coal, oil, limestone, starch, sawdust or petroleum products and is certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program as sustainably harvested. Cowboy Charcoals is another natural charcoal composed of untreated maple and oak scraps from furniture and flooring factories and is made without fillers or fossil fuels. These products are available at Lowe’s stores, and can even add a nice woody taste to your food. Whole Foods also has a similar product. Other manufacturers of all natural charcoal include Greenlink and Lazzari, both of which can be found at natural food outlets across the U.S.
2. Non-toxic lighter fluid – Instead of using a traditional lighter fluid use an electric charcoal starter or a charcoal chimney starter . One such product is the One Light Charcoal bag which can be found at Walmart and Whole Foods. This product comes in a single-use bag that has an internal chimney to get the all-natural charcoal red hot while the paper bag burns away. Another alternative is Ecoflame Lighting Gel which is non-explosive and made from natural sugar cane alcohol. It’s odor free, safe to use indoors on fireplaces, and retails for about $6.
3. Natural/Green Grill Cleaners- Non-toxic grill cleaners such as Simple Green Heavy Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner, SoyClean BBQ Grill Cleaner, and Orange Plus are non-toxic biodegradable alternatives for traditional grill cleaners that are comprised of harmful chemicals.
4. Biodegradable Cups and Plates – Using biodegradable cups and plates such as Eco Products or Green Party Supply can cut down on waste and help protect the environment. They are made from renewable plant starch materials as wells as sugarcane fibers. These great alternatives to plastic are strong, durable, liquid resistant, and compostable.
Have a wonderful Summer and Enjoy your “GREEN” Barbeque!
Instead of being part of the “Problems” that are harming the environment, be part of the “Solutions” that are preserving mother earth. Be part of the SOLUTION today by entering your zipcode here! Sobuka connects people to green minded contractors. To find a contractor in your area, please visit us at www.sobuka.com and enter your zip code.
Related posts:
Tags: Cooking Green, Going Green with Food, Green Cooking, Green Grilling, Summer Grilling
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 5:07 pm and is filed under Do it Yourself, Environment, Featured Content, green products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
now that's some tasty green grilling!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Clean Cities Program
Clean Cities Program
Posted on July 10th, 2010 by Nick
When you hear of the Clean Cities Program, what comes to your mind? How about seeing trash in-the-trash-can, less smog, or politicians behaving?
The last idea is a work in progress but we are not too far away from recycling and air quality.
Let’s start with what the Clean Cities Program is really about. It is a national program sponsored by the U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP). Furthermore, it is a government-industry partnership of about 90 entities (public, private, and non-profit) designed to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.
Clean Cities Program
Clean Cities purpose is to contribute to the energy, environmental, and economic security of the United States by focusing on the local level policies. You may find a program at your state level or by geographic region. Established in 1993 under the Clinton Administration as a response to the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), the purpose was to provide resources for voluntary, community-centered programs to reduce consumption of petroleum-based fuels. Let’s now look at what Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland are doing or have done with respect to the program. In addition we will discuss how their program can assist you. If you are located outside there territories, visit the US Department of Energy Clean Cities Program to locate your Clean Cities chapter.
Washington DC:
The District of Columbia’s, clean cities office is called the Office of the Clean City. It serves as one of the mayor’s (as of 2010, Adrian Fenty) initiative focused on the following:
a. assesses and evaluates the cleanliness of the entire city, using citizen-volunteer rating teams.
b. implements process improvement methodologies in the form of laws and policies to protect public places.
c. advocates for the full implementation of laws passed by the DC Council that have a positive impact aligned with national environmental initiatives.
d. partners and work with local organizations and individuals to help clean the city. These organizations include working with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), civic associations, concerned citizens, and private sector entities.
e. A clean city coordinator is assigned the task of attending a variety of ANCs, community, and civic association meetings, and schedules speaking engagements with residents about the Clean City initiatives. These meetings may include encouraging and supporting the development of programs to educate children on safety, sanitation “Do’s and Don’ts,” and litter prevention. The coordinator also works closely with the new “Keep Washington DC Beautiful” affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, (KAB) Inc. One of the projects sponsored by the Keep Washington DC Beautiful affiliate chapter of KAB was a Clean City Summit.
For more information on the District of Columbia’s Clean Cities Program please contact:
Mail:
Office of the Clean City Coordinator
Government of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 221
Washington, DC 20004
Email:CleanCity@dc.gov
Website: http://www.cleancity.dc.govMaryland:
The Maryland Energy Administration coordinates the Maryland Clean Cities Coalition (MCCC) program. The MCCC aligns themselves with the US Department of Energy. Their program work to increase the use of fuel blends, accelerate sales of hybrid vehicles, promote informed consumer choice on fuel economy, and encourage the use of reduction technologies for heavy duty trucks, vehicles, and equipment.
For more information on Maryland’s Clean Cities Program please contact:
Contact Name: Chris Rice
Email: crice@energy.state.md.us
Website: http://www.energy.state.md.us/incentives/transportation/cleancities/index.aspVirginia:
The Clean Cities program of Virginia has a branch in Hampton, VA. Hampton Roads was recognized as a Clean Cities Coalition by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1996. In 2001, the non-profit Virginia Clean Cities, Inc. was created to manage the Coalition. In 2009, Virginia Clean Cities formed a partnership with James Madison University enabling both organizations to leverage resources, current initiatives, and future opportunities. Virginia Clean Cities has an office at James Madison University, and serves as a cornerstone program in the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER).
Virginia Clean Cities work with local communities to provide resources and information on cleaner transportation alternatives. They encourage residents to get involved and participate in their events such as the ‘Virginia Get Ready – Electric Vehicle,’ a presentation style event geared with the Rocky Mountain Institute and several other vehicle manufacturers.
For more information on Maryland’s Clean Cities Program please contact:
Mail:
701 Carrier Drive MSC 4115
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(504) 568-8896
E-mail: info@hrccc.org
Website: http://www.hrccc.org/Sobuka connects green-minded people to green contractors for solar, wind, energy efficiency audits, and green remodeling. To find a contractor in your area, go to our homepage and perform a zip code search. Be part of the solution.
Tags: Adrian Fenty, Clean Cities Program, District of Columbia, Hampton, US Department of Energy, Virginia, Washington DC
This entry was posted on Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 1:19 pm and is filed under Environment, Featured Content. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
what's your city doing?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
‘Plans on dealing your electro-junk for bucks?
You may be often staring at it or walking pass them as they’ve piled on occupying space; and some thoughts could be “Maybe I could use them later…” Well, it could be, now for a good cause as you may possibly be rewarded. A contribution on save the environment or joining the green movement is the little seed of consciousness to other behaviors and activities anyone would enjoy. Trade in your old electronics for either cash or for free recycling, is that plan. There are a number of avenues to engage in such recycle exchange activities. We already do that with cars and should continue with our “stored” electronics. These sites yourenew.com, earth911.com or greenearthexchange.com are very good places to schedule electronic drop-offs or trade-ins.
The incentives to participate should be exciting enough to get people to assess their storage and weigh the value of unwanted electronics. Cash strapped individuals could raise an eyebrow on this thought – maybe even extend a “voluntary service” towards close family and friends’ junk collections. But wait, this is not limited to other plastic and metal items that are can be disposed; any of them counts, which certainly adds to your value. There are quite a number of inspring stories such as this and much more that make this plan worthwhile. Believe me when I say dealing for green is a thrill, so here’s to every trade-in and noble green acts to be done towards this cause. Look out for more interesting pieces and videos we will feature on living green and helping our environment.
Tags: Environment, green exchange, recycle, Trade-in electronics
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 2:58 pm and is filed under Environment, Featured Content. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
recycle electronics and get paid
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Electric Car Rebate Programs in DC/MD/VA
There are several perks available for people looking to buy an electric/hybrid vehicle. Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland offer several great incentives.
For example in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) electric car buyers would be exempt from vehicle excise taxes. In addition, vehicle registration receives a $36 discount. For those unfamiliar with an excise tax, you are basically taxed for driving on local roads as a resident from the state or county. Excise taxes can be very expensive. For more information about these incentives for Washington DC, please contact:
District of Columbia, Department of Motor Vehicles
Email: dcdmvdealerinfo@dc.gov
Tel: 202-729-7043Now let’s go to Maryland. In Maryland there is a $2,000 tax credit for electric car buyers. In addition electric cars are exempt from annual vehicle inspection testing for the first 3 years after purchase. For more information about these incentives for the state of MD, please contact:
Maryland, Department of Motor Vehicles
Email: MVACS@mdot.state.md.us
Tel: 1-800-950-1MVA (1-800-950-1682)Finally Virginia. Virginia electric car owners may access HOV lanes without meeting occupancy requirements. When you talk about saving time while in traffic this idea is a great bonus. For more information about these incentives for the state of Virginia, please contact:
Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles
Tel: (804) 497-7100For a complete listing of incentives outside the DMV area, you can visit thecarelectric.com. You may also find dsireusa.org useful for any green related incentives.
If you would like to learn more about what you can do to go green, a nice energy audit will send you in the right direction. The insight you gain from it will give you plenty of ideas for a little green remodeling, so you can become part of the solution. Sign up for an energy audit through Sobuka by typing in your zipcode and selecting contractors in your area.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at 11:21 pm and is filed under Featured Content, green rebates and incentives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
man i would drive the hell out of a tesla roadster, wish I had one!