Better Living for Florida's Space Coast
One of the main reasons the Community Greenhouse Foundation sponsored the Green Communities program was the idea of communities sharing good news and stories about the way people and organizations are doing positive things as they related to green sustainable living in their communities.
In honor of Earth Day and the thousands of men and women serving in the military oversees, AT&T will collect old wireless devices for the Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS) program during the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Green Living Expo.
Supporting the not-for-profit “Green Communities” program for a Brighter, Sustainable Future, iGourmet.com has enabled us to use their program as a preferred affiliates.
Wow! We use a lot of Water! I was on the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Public Works web site the other day searching for how to get new water service and stumbled onto a Conservation Checklist.
The Art Farm sets up Art Festival Style along the bridge and fills it with a diverse group of visual artists that sell unique handmade works and more traditional artworks.
IBF promotes bicycle and other aspects of on-motorized transportation worldwide, especially in less developed areas, with a particular interest in Africa and South America.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today welcomed both the Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The designations are the first for Brevard County and the 37th and 38th for the program, a…
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John and Pam Pare weren’t home when Hurricane Charlie buried their Orlando home under a massive oak, but reality sank in quickly. The family had gone away for the weekend, and never spent another night in the home they had…
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Central Florida’s largest and most anticipated natural health and green living expo will host their 6th annual show on March 8th at the Florida Tech Clemente Center in Melbourne. Healthy Living Expo attracts over 2000 visitors interested in products and…
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Two recent bits of news has caught our notice, as it seems hydrogen powered cars might just start to become a reality. The first was Honda’s launch of its H powered, FCX Clarity. Though it’s only offered, as a $600/month…
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The U.S. Department of Energy recently named the Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida as one of only two sites nationwide that will share a multi-million dollar grant to accelerate the adoption of new and developing…
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Home builders are starting to see the light. The green light that is. Mercedes Homes revealed their commitment to helping the environment with the unveiling of the company’s second greener home in Brevard County. The Green for Life program, was…
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It’s hard to imagine that every year dolphins, mammals so similar to us and beloved by so many, are slaughtered in huge numbers in Taiji, Japan. Here in Florida, seeing a dolphin can be the height of a boat ride…
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Connected to both the green building industry and the health & wellness world, Get Green Today Expo helped us see the need to create a place where consumers can find and connect with businesses and people who make a difference….
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Florida Solar Energy Center releases EnergyGauge Summit Premier 3.13, easy-to-use, state-of-the-art software that saves time while completing required energy modeling calculations for LEED projects. This tool is for construction-industry professionals. The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of…
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I’m at the expo, and wow, what a crowd. I can feel myself getting greener by the minute. Working on our Get Green Directory, I’m familiar with many of the exhibitors, but being here is a different story. Smell the…
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Founded in 1997, igourmet.com is America’s leading online gourmet food and gift retailer. They recently announced their desire to help sustainable development not-for-profit, Community Greenhouse Foundation. CGF is a not for profit professional services organization that facilitates and promotes greener…
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As ONE members, we care. We care about the child orphaned by HIV/AIDS. We care about the village that lacks access to clean water. And we care about the millions of people throughout the developing world who will go to…
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Tired of driving that gas guzzler? Come out on October 6th-8th at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, as they host the SunDay Challenge, promoting alternative energy technologies. Come out and see electric cars and alternative fuel powered vehicles…
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Emphasizing a commitment to a healthier lifestyle for all Floridians, Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is recognizing October as Florida Greenways and Trails Month. With more than 5,000 miles of trails and 80,000 acres…
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Have you ever been to a city that has a great bike trail? Last week we rode some of Orlando’s bike paths, including the West Orange Trail, It took us straight through Winter Garden, FL and what a transformation this…
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Get Green Today Expo is a new venue created to raise awareness and create exposure for cleaner, greener products and services. There are so many little things a consumers can do better to use less power, conserve water and live better, saving money and lessening their individual impact on our resources. From health, beauty and wellness to exciting new technologies, we’re excited about the opportunity to help bring these better ways of doing things to Floridians.
Daily, we’re reminded about the violence and chaos that is Iraq. Not so readily available are ways to help. Many people have asked about how to make donations, for deployed troops and how to help the Iraqis. Here are a few things I’ve found.
I stumbled onto a site, looking for the lyrics of a Sixpence None the Richer Song. Whenever it comes up in my iTunes shuffle, I sing along, whether I know the words or not. But since Puedo Escribir is in Espanol, even my abilities to butcher the real lyrics were hard pressed to make sense of it. What is this haunting melody singing about? An epic story of love lost, words of praise or teen age angst amid a storm of grief.
My lawn is a mess. If it’s not the drought–its too much rain. The bugs, the weeds, the bare spots in the grass, living near Florida’s coast just doesn’t seem to make for a nice, livable yard. That is unless, you change the way you think about it.
When we built our home, the builder touted that “everything was included”. The sprinkler system and landscaping all came with the deal. Yet, a few years later, we really have to work at it to keep the those pesky homeowner association letters at bay. A new book by Pineapple Press is finally helping me see why. Natural Florida Landscaping, by Dan Walton and Laurel Schiller, is a great little book that explains the cause of many of my landscaping woes.
Talk radio host Laura Ingraham recently went against political lines as she interviewed author Clint Wilder about his latest book, The Clean Tech revolution. She started her bit, noting that when she picked up the book, she expected to read global warming hype and Al Gore political rhetoric. She was amazed by the basic premise, one that those familiar with the green building world have been trying to get out to the public for the last decade. We can use technology to make our world a better place. And businesses who lead this new tech wave will thrive.
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services is assisting Florida farmers and ranchers in producing bio-fuel crops to help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. Commissioner Bronson believes that Florida can be a leader in the effort of producing energy from crops and timber because of the vast amount of farm acreage in the state and its mild climate, which permits crops to be grown virtually year round.
I recently discovered I was an idealist. Well, I’ve always been passionate about many aspects of life. I’ve always volunteered and worked with many non profit groups to make my community a better place. Yet it wasn’t until recently that someone labeled me as an idealist.
Webster says an idealist is “one guided by ideals; especially one that places ideals before practical considerations.” It leads that an idealist is “an adherent of a philosophical theory of idealism; an artist or author who advocates or practices idealism in art or writing.”
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been working in partnership with local communities, government agencies and private businesses to protect the natural landscapes that harbor the diversity of plant and animal life on Earth. Our mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Nature Conservancy works in all 50 United States and in more than 30 countries around the world.
Three dollar gas is impacting the American psyche, but in ways you’d never have expected. You might think we’d see dramatic changes in the way we live and drive, yet the opposite is true. Instead of market price slowing consumption, the price must still not be high enough the make anyone second guess their driving habits. I’m shocked. Despite almost four thousand dead US servicemen and women, despite rising gas, despite world economic climate, the price of gas does not seem to be openly effecting us. And drivers where I live aren’t slowing down.
More than 300 students and teachers from throughout Florida participated in the 2007 EnergyWhiz Olympics at the Florida Solar Energy Center on Saturday, May 12. Events included solar car races, hydrogen fuel cell vehicle races, a photovoltaic design competition called “Energy Innovations” and a solar-powered boat demonstration.
The polar ice fields are melting. Blame it on whomever you like; debate the cause; argue about global warming. The reality is we are seeing massive change in our world today. If you look at satellite photos you can easily see the dramatic, speedy retreat of the northern polar ice cap.
Again, energy issues capture the headlines and again we see a call for fuel conservation. Isn’t it amazing how often we return round about back to where we’ve started–with no real change or action to be seen?
Native trees maintain wildlife habitats and environmental beauty of Sunshine State
Bill Young, a researcher and disaster relief expert at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), will give a free presentation for the general public on disaster preparedness using renewable energy technologies on February 22.
Join us for a family fun 10K bike or skate and 5K run or walk to benefit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. The weather has been great, plan to join the Space Coast in this awesome event. The Sea Turtle…
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A Ray of Sunshine for the Living. “What are your hopes and fears?” That is what you will hear from a hospice nurse when she walks into the home of one of her patients. Together a hospice nurse and her…
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Established in 1985, Founders Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of entrepreneurs within the Brevard community. The organization’s mission is to serve the community by fostering the success of new and existing businesses, creating an environment where…
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Have you been to the Melbourne Arts Festival? It’s coming up soon and is held in downtown Melbourne the weekend of April 23rd and 24th. For twenty-one years, the event has brought an incredible collection of artists, performers and people…
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I’ve been following transportation and energy news for quite some time. It seems impossible to see real change in ou lifetimes. Yes, we see new technology, we experience glimmers of hope, but ultimately nothing changes. That’s why news in Brazil is so exciting.
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection has launched a great new site, called FloridaYards.org! Complete with Florida plant guide and an interactive flash Do-It-Yourself guide, the site is a nifty resource, and I recommend you go visit.
For years we’ve known about the inportance of using recycled papers and the environmental hazards of the printing process. And for years, some have made excellent progress in the field, while many are still unaware of the benefits of printing cleaner and greener.
Dr. King is an inspiration–and shows us how great America can become if we work together towards the common good. So much is in place to divide us. We need to build bridges–and there is a group working to build a monument in our nation’s capital that does so.
The Green Guide is a great place to find information about green products and services. Practical, reliable, easy-to-use, a one-stop-information-shop, the Green Guide is “the first place I go for real green product information and advice,” says Maria Rodale, Vice-Chair of Rodale, Inc and founding editor of Organic Style magazine.
Florida’s DEP, or Department of Environmental Protection, is an amazing resource for our state. Not only are they constant advocates for Florida’s eco-health, they are continually leading the charge on many sensitive topics, including alternative energy, sustainable development, conservation, preservation and greener living.
As 2005 draws to a close and we look forward to the new year, I found this information on Citizens Against Government Waste. CAGW is the source of information on government waste and, backed by our members, CAGW works tirelessly everyday to win cuts in wasteful spending.
We all have a finite ammount of purity—innocence lost. Every time we are intimate we give some away. Like the force George Lucas shows us in the Star Wars universe, our actions effect who we are. We do something good, we shift ever so slightly to the light. And the reverse is also true. Whether it is Anakin slaying a village of sand people or going too far on a first date, our actions have consequences.
Another Thanksgiving holiday passes us by and I’m reminded by just how much we have to be thankful for. So much earth-shaking, world-changing events have transpired, just in the last year. It’s often hard to take it all in–and still care. Yet amongst all this, that’s exactly what we have to do, to keep being the people we are.
Engineers, Architects, Land Developers, Contractors, Building Owners, Facility Managers, Government, and Private Sector Professionals are gathering at an event that assembles built environment experts and cutting-edge resources all in one location – Washington D.C..
The organic movement, if you will, is growing steadily in popularity and recognition. Not too long ago, it was a rare site to see organic anything. In the past 10-15 years it has been making its way into our homes little by little, until now. Organic cotton companies alone are reporting product sales growing at more than 40 percent a year.
During 2005, Brevard Cultural Alliance (BCA) is celebrating 30 years of providing cultural information and services to residents and visitors, cultural organizations, individual artists and the business community. The Alliance is designated by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners…
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Media coverage of Katrina and her aftermath is simply beyond my ability to comprehend. We see image upon image of destruction on a scale I could not have imagined. Our thoughts and prayers, indeed the nations, rests upon all the people of the Gulf region.
Southface has spent the last 25 years helping architects, homebuilders, homeowners and other residential construction professionals incorporate earth-friendly building practices into everyday lives. Every year, hundreds visit the Southface Energy and Environmental Resource Center — a model home in downtown Atlanta that showcases more than 100 “real-world” solutions for environmental living.
State Representative. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, announced todaythat he is seeking co-sponsors for three bills he will introduce to promote and increase the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Pennsylvania.
People testing plug-in hybrids have reported getting fuel economy of 100 miles per gallon, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, have the potential to reach fuel economy levels of 250 to 500 miles per gallon when ethanol or other alternative fuels are also used, with fuel economy figures at about 80 to 100 miles per gallon for normal commuting. (Source: Calcars.org)
Hidden Potentials is a 9 year old non-profit organization which believes that “every child deserves a fighting chance”. Their motto is the drive behind their program which offers specialized in-home tutoring services to special needs and regular education students. Founded…
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The growing costs of U.S. dependence on oil have hit home. Factor in world insecurity, economic instability, and it’s clear we pay a lot more to fill up our cars than the price on the pump. And with the threat of global warming, it’s clear we need to use much less oil. How can we start to change?
The century-old gasoline-powered engine is on its way out. Auto makers say the answer will someday be fuel cell cars. Maybe, but we need to get affordable cars now that use far less gas with lower greenhouse gas emissions.
It sure feels good to be green. Hybrids are a much needed step in the right direction. I’m still looking for a new car, and fuel economy is a big motivator for me. With Brevard’s 72 miles of coastline to traverse, gas guzzling monsters just aren’t right for me.
Have you noticed all the new hybrids on the road? Amid all the hype about employee discounts, sales and holiday specials, several automakers are deploying a whole fleet of hybrids. And I’m seeing them pop up in the least expected places.
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is pleased to announce the creation of the “Florida Energy Achievement Awards.”
This new annual award will recognize a company, organization or individual that has made a significant achievement in the efficient utilization of energy, energy conservation, energy education or renewable energy in the state of Florida.
Cartoon Network recently announced a new 2 hour block of programming targeted at 2 to 5 year olds. In response, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood publicly lambasted the channel for being,
“the latest attempt to get young children in front of screens — which is exactly where marketers want them”
This raises several important questions on both ethical and parental sides of the issue. Is this another ploy to plop children in front of a tv and endear them to colorful characters and their merchandise? Can television programming actually be beneficial to a child’s development, or more importantly – is it even needed for wholesome development? Read on for the major arguments from both sides, and contribute your own answers to these vital questions.
Ever wonder about your “Nocturnal Neighbors”? No, not those noisy neighbors next door that are always up until 2 AM. I mean the ones visiting our beaches at night as they have for longer than you can imagine. That’s right, sea turtles! The three species of sea turtle using Brevard’s beaches struggle with the burden of crawling from the surf and finding a suitable nesting location near the dune. Once they find a suitable sight they deposit a hundred golf ball sized eggs into a carefully crafted nest chamber. Leaving them to be incubated by the heat of the summer sun, the mother turtle will never see her babies again. The hatchlings emerging two months later have very little chance of survival with only one in a thousand expected to make it to adulthood.