Sustainability could be great for education

Sustainability could be great for education

Everyone wants to see their kids get the best education possible, and that could result in greater environmental sustainability for schools, according to The Guardian. The news source said the U.K. Department of Education's Framework for the National Curriculum report aims to promote the understanding of sustainability and stewardship of local resources as well as helping personal development so each student can be more balanced and healthy moving forward.
"Children and young people growing up and attending school today will become the business leaders of the future, people who will have to tackle environmental and social issues on a level that is currently unrecognized or at least swept under the carpet," The Guardian said. "It is a huge challenge but one that other nations are addressing and one that our current government needs to square up to."
The report said the agency believes education should be stressing personal development to allow students to have a greater understanding of their surrounding world.
Adding to this, The Guardian said the business case for this is that children who develop an appreciation for sustainable practices in school have more potential for achievement and should have more key skills that could be useful when they get into the business world.



Learn more about Sustainability 

Feature: energy efficient home

Feature: energy efficient home

Homeowners in New Jersey and across the United States who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable earth by making their homes ultra-efficient can explore electricity providers in NJ for their renewable energy needs in their move to green.
In addition to making use of local renewable energy sources, homeowners can take inspiration from eco-conscious dwellings when designing their own sustainable residence. A home in Fairview, Tennessee was recently featured on USAToday.com, and is an example of taking green to the extreme. The Jeanty family's home design was planned by Phillippe Jeanty himself, using the Google application Sketchup, which is a 3D modeling program that was originally designed for use by architects and professionals in related fields.
Renewable Energy World reported that the home has been completed with a 9.4 kilowatt solar system, an evacuated tube solar heating system for a water heater, local springs to supply the home with usable water and LED lighting. The home was furthermore positioned purposefully on an East-West axis to provide for ideal conditions that naturally assist insulation and heating systems. The house is equipped with a geothermal heating and cooling system under the wood floors. The family further "greened" their home by holding onto any wood or fixtures from their previous home and reusing them in the construction of their ultimate green energy home.



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Beat the heat without becoming an energy hog

Beat the heat without becoming an energy hog

Sustainability can be especially difficult for individuals who face temperatures upward of 100 degrees during the summer months. However, there are ways to stay cool in the face of a hot, humid summer without using excessive electricity along the way.

By timing air flow into a home, individuals can keep their abodes much more livable. Grist recommends individuals block heat from their home by putting light- and air-blocking covers over windows and areas that the heat seeps into - even blinds and thick curtains can work. Yahoo! recommends lighter colored curtains, as these help to reflect the light out. Once the sun has set and the cooler temperatures have come back, throw open the covers to let the cool air in.

Opening cabinets and large shelves will also let the house take in a bit more cool air, as these open areas will easily trap heat throughout the day.

Commuters who face extreme heat for half an hour or more may want to wet their shirt before going to work, according to Grist. Although it may sound crazy, if the temperature is high, the shirt will be dry before getting to work, and the individual will stay much cooler along the way. 

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Viridian Energy Fundraising Program

Fundraising Program

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The Viridian Fundraising Program offers an innovative way for organizations to raise funds without over-burdening their members. The program is simple and is a true win-win situation enabling charitable organizations to raise funds without ever asking for money.

How You Earn Money:

By signing up as a fundraising entity, you are able to help members of your organization save money by switching their energy supplier to Viridian. As they do, you earn money for your organization. From day one, you earn a residual check each month for every active customer you refer. All your members have to do is use greener more affordable electricity at their home or business. It's that simple. You get to help your members and Associates make a better energy choice for themselves... they SAVE money all while helping you EARN money!

Many types of charitable organizations and fundraising entities can benefit from the Program. Some of the ones that have benefited through working with Viridian include:

• Churches and Synagogues
• Private and Religious Schools
• Sports Teams
• Charities and Foundations
• Volunteer and Community Service Organizations
• Parent Associations
• School Groups

In order to qualify for program participation, your organization must have a membership base that currently receives electrical service in one of our active markets 

David Fernandes 

781-244-4778 

Viridian Mass Leadership Dinner

 

Viridian Mass Leadership dinner 

to learn more about this amazing business model 

www.vpurpose.info 

David Fernandes 

781-244-4778 

Sunblock to keep the pain at bay

Sunblock to keep the pain at bay

As many people know, the power of the sun is great for producing green energy, but can be harmful for human skin.  For sun worshippers who are hoping to hit the beach quite often this summer, the best thing they can do for their epidermis and the Earth is use eco-friendly sunblock.
A number of sunscreens have recently been reported to contain harmful chemicals. While many consumers use sunblock to prevent the risk of skin cancer, sunblocks that include vitamin A in their formulas may actually put an individual at a higher risk of developing skin tumors, the Environmental Working Group reported.
The EWG currently has a guide to safer sunscreens that consumers can find on the group's website, which beachgoers can use to find the most affordable and health-beneficial sunscreen. According to the source, most sunblocks marketed to babies and young children are the safest for adults, too.
According to Grist magazine, between 4,000 and 6,000 tons of sunscreen are going into the world's oceans annually, so choosing a healthy sunscreen can also assist the world's largest waterways in their health as well. Sunscreens with avobenzone provide some of the most mindful UVA protection, so consumers should keep their eye out for companies that use this, but not oxybenzone.  

Green energy within reach for many consumers

Green energy within reach for many consumers

Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 at 4:31:31 PM

Homeowners, even those who live in states without energy deregulation, are likely able to afford solar power, according to a recent article from Travis Hoium on behalf of financial company The Motley Fool.

"Solar power is no longer something only wealthy, eco-conscious homeowners can afford," wrote Hoium. "It's now within reach for most electricity users in the U.S., and it may make financial sense for you to switch."

The costs of solar power have continued to drop, with both solar installations and the power created from the panels sometimes costing even less than other panels. Some solar panels are selling for as little as $1 per panel, and installation costs are just as reasonable.

According to the Solar Power Authority, solar panel-produced electricity costs an average of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, electricity-sucking devices like hot tubs can produce occasional spikes in these estimates. These costs also vary dramatically depending on an individual's state of residence. According to The Motley Fool, solar projects in California are selling for as low as $0.089 per kilowatt-hour. 

David Fernandes 

781-244-4778 

Go Green