Local News

Google Funds Free EV Community Shuttles in Mountain View, CA

Leave a Comment / Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy, Local News, Sustainability / By

(Originally published on Planetsave.com) Four new 100% electric community shuttle buses have hit the road in the beautiful Silicon Valley city of Mountain View, California. The four electric shuttles are free to the public, thanks to Google, and are equipped with seating for 16 passengers, a wheelchair lift, space for two wheelchairs, Wi-Fi connectivity, and bicycle …

Google Funds Free EV Community Shuttles in Mountain View, CA Read More »

San Francisco Reopens Palace of Fine Arts, Co-Sponsored by AT&T

1 Comment / Corporate Social Responsibility, Events, Local News / By

Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined with business, civic and community leaders on Wednesday, Dec. 03 to launch PPIE100, a yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE).  The PPIE was the focus of the 1915 World’s Fair, celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal. San Francisco, which had just emerged from the ashes of …

San Francisco Reopens Palace of Fine Arts, Co-Sponsored by AT&T Read More »

Repurposed Parking Meters Collect Donations for Homeless

1 Comment / Inspiring Ideas, Local News, Non-Profit, Recycling / By

The city of Montreal has turned its retired mechanical parking meters in to piggy banks or “ParcoDons”. These ParcoDons are designed to collect loose change in order to help the city’s homeless population. The meters were first installed in the downtown borough of Ville-Marie in 2007, and since its inception, the program has raised $23,000 …

Repurposed Parking Meters Collect Donations for Homeless Read More »

The Hospital That Heals The Earth (Part II)

3 Comments / Corporate Social Responsibility, Inspiring Ideas, Inspiring People, Leadership, Local News, Non-Profit, Special Report, Sustainable Agriculture / By

Federal Government Asks Fletcher Allen to Teach the Nation How to Scale Local Sourcing in Healthcare (Part II: Taking Local From Trendy to Essential) “The Hospital That Heals The Earth” is a two-part series on the intersection of sustainability innovation and healthcare at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont. Part 1 of the series …

The Hospital That Heals The Earth (Part II) Read More »

Why is Korea Cutting Chicago’s Carbon Emissions?

Leave a Comment / Energy, Investing, Leadership, Local News, News, Opinion, Sustainable Building, Technology / By

Apega/WENN Today’s Chicago Tribune business section has a stunning report on the Republic of South Korea’s $25 million plan to reduce energy consumption at some of downtown Chicago’s largest skyscrapers. The operation will focus on retrofitting HVAC and lighting systems in up to 14 buildings. Joining Korea in the agreement are the Building Owners and …

Why is Korea Cutting Chicago’s Carbon Emissions? Read More »

Green-Savvy Entrepreneurship in One of the United States’ Most Sustainable Cities

24 Comments / Inspiring Ideas, Local News, Transportation / By

Pittsburgh once again finds itself on a “top list” of sustainability. Site Selection magazine just released its inaugural sustainability index where Pittsburgh is ranked 6th among metro cities based on Green Industry; number of LEED Certified projects; LEED Certified projects per capita and level of incentives support for green projects.

When Local Meets Provincial (e.g. Short-sighted)

Leave a Comment / Humor, Local News, News, Opinion, Sustainable Agriculture / By

Today’s New York Times has a brilliant report on the battle royalle being waged in the hipster-strewn streets of Portland, Oregon over the integrity, meaning and yes, swine-worthiness of local food. According to the Grey Lady, Portland chef Eric Bechard (top) dropped his gloves outside a bar after confronting an outsider chef (oh, the horror) …

When Local Meets Provincial (e.g. Short-sighted) Read More »

Free Webinar on California’s New Mandatory Recycling Measure

Leave a Comment / Events, Local News, Policies, Recycling / By

A free webinar explains California’s new mandatory commercial recycling law… will you be in compliance? If you run a business in California, then you are aware of California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32). The act requires California to develop regulations that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. It is …

Free Webinar on California’s New Mandatory Recycling Measure Read More »

Panera Bread Takes Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level

7 Comments / Inspiring Ideas, Local News, Non-Profit, Sustainable Business / By

Panera Bread opened its first non-profit cafe with the motto: Take what you need; leave your fair share. I was surprised to read about Panera Bread’s new cafe in St. Louis dubbed the St. Louis Bread Company Cares Cafe. The concept is simple yet groundbreaking… take whatever you want to eat or drink and instead …

Panera Bread Takes Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level Read More »

eBay Introduces New Green Team – Advises on Green Shipping

4 Comments / Local News / By

Several months ago, online auction giant eBay announced its new green team – 1000 employees gathered together to help make a difference in the planet through small steps.

Although it can be argued that the increased use of shippers and shipping of items by eBay is decidedly NOT green – noone can argue that eBay has kept LOTS of stuff otherwise destined for the landfills from being thrown away. The new green site informs us that 86 million buyers and sellers on eBay have reused over $100B worth of products since 1998.

Tests Are Over But American Banks Are Still Stressed

Leave a Comment / Local News, News / By

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/qHc5NaaZvrc&hl=en&fs=1] Economist, James Galbraith, on bank stress tests The results of bank stress tests released this week, do not bear good news. The bottom line is that at  total of $75 billion needs to be raised from 10 major banks to prop them up for losses that could come from a deepening recession. Here is …

Tests Are Over But American Banks Are Still Stressed Read More »

Urban Garden as Sustainable Business in New Orleans

11 Comments / Inspiring Ideas, Local News, Non-Profit, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Business / By

Good ideas have a life of their own. That’s what Paul Baricos, Executive Director of the Hollygrove Growers Market and Farm (HGMF) in New Orleans is learning two years after the Carrolton-Hollygrove Community Development Center (CHCDC) set out to figure out how to bring fresh produce to a neighborhood with no real access to affordable food.