The Green Giants of Wall Street

Big, familiar firms in our corporate landscape are taking surprising steps to help the environment, among other nifty projects.

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A House Made of Straw

A few people in the Washington area have been building things -- walls, homes and even, good heavens, a school --out of straw. Some designers say straw is ideal for "green" building because it recycles farm waste and saves energy by keeping interiors cool.

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Back-to-School with a Recycled Backpack!

Several manufacturers are now making backpacks, satchels, and other bags from recycled materials. There are retread bags, made from old tires and inner tubes. Or, you can try a bag made from recycled soda bottles. Of course, you can always get a recycled luggage tag. For more info check out the ABC News story by clicking the below link.

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Rethinking Flying

Airplanes operate on petroleum fuel, which means they release large amounts of carbon dioxide when they fly. Commercial air travel is currently responsible for a relatively tiny part of the global carbon footprint —just 3.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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Global Survey Shows 'Green' Construction Costs Dramatically Lower Than Believed

This is technically good news..."green" construction actually costs much less than real estate and construction analysts may have initially judged. Apparently costs of green construction were overestimated by 300 percent! Hopefully, now that this information has been clarified more governments and builders will undertake more green construction projects.

Local Government goes Greener

Erie County, New York (population of around 925,000) has passed a law requiring county officials to purchase Energy Star appliances when possible. This is a positive first step by a local government. More local governments need to commit to using more energy efficient appliances and technology. As voters, let's encourage our governments to follow in Erie County's footsteps.

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Green Products are Big for Back to School

Stores are hoping that parents and students will add one more item to this year's back-to-school shopping list: saving the planet.

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