sustainable

With all the news in the financial industry - self destruction from greed, over consumption, wreckless leverage, sterile corporate business models, and clear criminal activities, there is one bright segment - Your Local Credit Union! 

There are about 9000 local Credit Unions in this country - about the same as the classic banks and S&L. However, they have not taken on the risk, business and lending scams like the latter.

By definition they have very strict corporate governance that does not allow them to take on excessive risk. » read more

Hawaii is in the news this week for setting ambitious goals for itself. Governer Linda Lingle and the Hawaiian Electric Company signed an agreement to make Hawaii a model for clean, renewable energy. Their goal: generate 70% of Hawaii's energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.

In case 2030 seems far away to you, remember that this is less than 22 years away. » read more

The dorm is called the Group Residence for Environmental Engagement at Northwestern (GREEN), and it’s the most sustainable building on the Northwestern University campus.

But some freshmen who didn’t sign up to live in a green dorm are being place in the eco-friendly building…much to their surprise.

Green Can Be Good » read more

Want to know what actions can have the biggest impact on your carbon emissions? Bloom helps you choose actions tailored to your home and lifestyle, then lets you compare them by how much CO₂ they save, how cheap they are or how easy other Bloomers have found them. Check out the website here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bloom/

Not convinced? In some cases you're right to be sceptical. Each impartial feature is packed with hard facts, expert opinion and topical debate to help you make informed decisions. » read more

The rock band Cake, perhaps best known for the song "Going the Distance," has a lot to brag about when it comes to being green. They recently announced that they outfitted their studio with solar panels so that their next album will be recorded with 100% solar power. 

The band has a page on their site dedicated to the endeavor, which includes a short video and facts about solar power. » read more

In this atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, it is easy to get caught up in idealism, especially when you've got someone like Barack Obama running for president. Obama stirs in some of us a feeling of positivity, growth, progress, and (of course) hope. But we must understand that no one candidate is going to fully meet all our expectations on every issue. On the issue of "clean coal" many environmentalists would say "100% not what we mean by 'alternative energy'", but it is what we are getting from the Obama campaign. » read more

It's time to start your back to school shopping (if you haven't already). Here are a few ways you can make your experience a bit more eco-friendly this time around. 

--Before you go shopping for school supplies this year, check around the house to see what you already own, and what you have left over from last year. Waste not, want not! The less you buy, the more you help the environment.

--When shopping for new clothes, don't go crazy. » read more

On August 29, people from around the country are gathering in San Fransisco to take things slow. It's called Slow Food Nation, and it is a four day event created to celebrate the Slow Food Movement. This event is organized by Slow Food USA, but the movement's beginnings lie in Europe.

What is the Slow Food Movement, you ask? The Slow Food Movement began about 20 years ago with Carlo Petrini, Italian food writer and epicure. He was growing increasingly concerned that industrialization and the quickening pace of life in the late 20th century was ruining food. » read more