Goal For The Green

Para-education and green living information

World Wildlife Fund Awards Johnson Diversey

Sep-27-2008 By Barbara Zak

When a major company does something great for the environment it makes me want to stand up and cheer. I received this notice from Collen Goepfert,  Account Research Manager at Swirl in San Francisco, CA.  It is a great pleasure and honor to share this outstanding information with you.


Hi Barbara,

I thought that it might be of interest to you and your Goal For The Green readers, the World Wildlife Fund has welcomed in my client JohnsonDiversey into the Climate Savers Program. Here is the press release, pictures and part of the video.

Here’s the YouTube link

The 3 video minute clip features: (1) Curt Johnson, Chairman, JohnsonDiversey; (2) Matt Banks, Senior Program Officer, Business and Industry, World Wildlife Fund; and (3) Ed Lonergan, President/CEO, JohnsonDiversey.

I think that it’s pretty amazing that a $3B a year B2B cleaning product company is striving for sustainability.

“WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts said the actions being taken by JohnsonDiversey to address climate change will set a new standard for the cleaning industry and serve as a model for other companies seeking to transform the way they do business to help preserve the environment.”

JohnsonDiversey’s cleaning, sanitation and hygiene products, which are used throughout the country and Europe, at schools, hospitals, stadiums, event halls, restaurants, public gathering locations, amusement parks, youth playing fields, offices, directly effect the health and well being of every American. In our country, on every school day, over 100 million children are breathing in and exposed to these cleaning products and the chemical and natural elements used to make them. A scientific study has shown that a sanitary school and work place has decreased the number of kids and workers who get sick, as well as helping to increase the mental and physical performance of these students, teachers, administrators and professionals

(Validation)

Having a more environmentally and human friendly cleaning product company strive to be more sustainable and green in their products and practices will improve the health, quality and vitality of our lives. They will also provide the long term benefits such of giving our children a better foundation from which to learn and grow. Such measures will also save parents money on their doctor bills come cold season.

You Can Make A Difference Today!

Sep-20-2008 By Barbara Zak

I love it when a great cause has several different advantages to it.  Facebook doesn’t make it easy for you to join a page and invite your friends. However, iChapters has created a group for you to use to invite your friends to their second annual Plant a Tree Drive.  With just a few clicks you can tell your friends and help them reach their goal of planting 100,000 trees. You need to do this by September 22, 2008.

Go Here to their fan page

It’s that simple! If you would like to do more than be a fan, you can take the Environmental Quiz or buy digital textbooks from iChapters. Everyone who becomes a fan at the iChapters Page is also automatically entered for a chance to win a $1,000 iChapters Scholarship.

If you are a student you can champion the cause of helping the environment and your wallet as well. iChapters is the best choice for making college more affordable. You save up to 15% on print books and textbooks, e-books are always 50% off, and single chapters and audio-books are as low as $1.99.
So, what are you waiting for, “Become a Fan” today and be sure to check back on September 22, to see if you won the scholarship. At the very least, there will for sure be a tree planted in your honor, and you will have also made a difference for a great cause.

A Foam Dome Home

Sep-6-2008 By Barbara Zak

It was 1984, when we had this dome home built. We were very happy and proud of our first home.  We thought we would always be there, but in ’84 interest rates were 13.5%. We struggled for 4 1/2 years and due to things out of our control we became upside down in the loan. We did get it sold, but like many people are going through now, we took a loss.

I can’t think of any drawbacks to living in a dome home.  It was easy to heat, and fit well into the northwest lifestyle.  We especially liked the acoustics on Saturday mornings when the kids got up to watch cartoons. From our master suite in the loft, they always wondered how we knew what they were into without actually seeing them.  It was great.  There are still plans available for this type of dome home, and many varying designs to choose from, including ones with riser walls.

The first Biohome was created by NASA, with the idea of supporting one person in a fully functional habitat.  You might recall the 1973 Skylab project, in which NASA did studies on indoor air quality, and did research involving closed ecological life support systems.

The folks at biohome.net feel the future is now.  They have adapted Buckminster Fuller’s original design of the geodesic dome (which ours was modeled after) and came up with the foam version.  They boast having the best “Bio home Foam” on the planet.  The polyurethane foam is the same stuff used by NASA.  It will not sag or shrink, and is mold and bacteria resistant.

The goal at biohome, is to allow you to live totally “off the grid.”  They provide a unique design, that allows you to be the owner and builder.  This frees you from contractor fees ( a big money saver), and power and water bills.  You can obtain a kit that shows you how to build your own solar toilet.  It requires no plumbing, water, or moving parts.  You can also learn how to make drinking water, no matter where you are on the planet.

While the closed system housing idea will not appeal to everyone, it can free up many resources.  Most importantly, it can free up personal time, of which there never seems to be enough of.  With the recent focus being on our energy dependence, this could be the answer for those willing to pursue it.  Just imagine if humans and our dwellings could be the solution to sustainable living.