Tuesday, 18 October 2011 18:14

There are many reasons because "Green" and "Green Building" apply not just to products but to construction strategies, building design and orientation, landscaping, building operations, maintenance etc. It is a big question that applies to the impact of buildings on humans and the environment. Below are a few examples.

When we want to know if a product is "Green" we need to ask the following questions:

Where does the product come from?
Does it deplete the environment during production and transportation?
Is it a renewable resource or not?
What chemicals does it contain or not contain?
How does it affect human health and the environment during and after production and installation?
What is the environmental impact on a building's operation?
and so on.
Answering these questions may not be as easy as it seems. Here are a few real life examples:

Tuesday, 18 October 2011 18:11

Six Myths about "Green" Building
 
 
 If you're considering building or remodeling a home or office and are faced with doubts about whether to build Green, perhaps this article will offer some inspiration.

Here are the Six Myths:

Myth #1 Building Green is more expensive.
Myth #2 Green Products don't really help the environment.
Myth #3 If it's zero VOC or VOC compliant it must be Green.
Myth #4 Green Building is still new and not as efficient as traditional building.
Myth #5 Green Building may work in California but it won't work here.
Myth #6 If it has a Green Label it must be Green.

Myth #1 Building Green is more expensive.
This is the biggest myth because "expensive" is a relative term. More expensive than what? 

Expensive today loses meaning when life-cycle costs are considered. Many green building designs, strategies, materials and practices can and do save everyone money because they generally reduce energy costs, labor costs, and medical costs now and in the future. How?

In general, Green Building improves indoor air quality, health, and the productivity of its occupants. They last a longer time, require fewer resources to develop and are usually more aesthetically pleasing. Resale values of Green buildings are usually greater than those that are conventionally built.

When we consider the cost benefits of Green Building on energy savings, worker productivity, safer indoor air quality for tenants and homeowners, longevity of the building, small environmental footprint, etc., then the initial expenses don't seem so great.  Green products may cost more initially, but in the long run, they will often save or make you money. Here are three examples:

Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:30

www.huffingtonpost.com WASHINGTON -- Environmentalists on Tuesday called on the Department of Justice to investigate a Canadian oil lobbyist who failed to disclose his status as a foreign agent, specifically that he had served as a former aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, before lobbying the State Department on ...

Friday, 02 September 2011 18:03

Buying Eco-friendly Clothing

What do you wear to work? Synthetic fabrics may require expensive dry cleaning involving potent chemicals that can contribute to air and water pollution when not handled properly. The alternative?

Check the label. Avoid clothing that requires dry cleaning.
Choose cotton and wool. Natural fibers are easier to care for at home. Often they can be washed in cool water and hung out to dry, reducing chemical use and energy, too.

Try fabric blends. Fabrics that are a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers can usually be laundered at home.

Dress down. Fancier outfits seem to require more dry cleaning than casual wear. Encourage your office to implement a "casual day" on Fridays.

Dressing Right For Mother Nature

You can dress like you really care for the earth - by buying clothing made from fibers produced with few or no pesticides.

• Organic cotton clothing includes t-shirts, blouses, stockings, and sweaters. Some organic cottons require little or no dyeing because they grow in pale colors, such as green, brown and white.
• Fabric made from fast-growing, low-impact hemp is being used in gloves, jackets, shoes and sandals, among many other fashion mainstays and accessories.
• Energy-saving recycled polyester is being made into pullovers, jackets, vests, and footwear.

 

Look for natural clothing alternatives, particularly in eco-catalogues, at various outfitter shops and on the Internet. Check consignment shops and yard sales for perfectly good "recycled" clothes, especially for kids!

Tuesday, 16 August 2011 00:00

Indie Gainesville, the new blog site celebrating through words and links businesses local and Gainesvillish, has featured INDIGO.  Check out their kind words here:

 

http://indiegainesville.com/2011/08/16/indieg-loves-indigo/ 

 

We love you too!

 

 

Monday, 15 August 2011 00:00

 

A magnificent film about colony colapse disorder and the importance and beauty of bees in our society will start showings this Friday:  Queen of The Sun 

From Shirley Lassiter at the Hippodrome:

 

We have timed the film to coincide with National HoneyBee Awareness Day and because of that we have going to be hosting the visiting National and State Honey Princess and Queen at a fun and fabulous "Honey Reception" from 6:30-8:30 on the opening night sponsored by the Alachua County Beekeepers Club.

There will also be a  honey bee mascot and several speakers throughout the week.

Here's a little about each speaker: 
Aug  21st Sunday 4:30 show (6pm-6:50)  Jerry Latner has been working with honeybees for over 50 years. This father of two is the owner of Jerry’s Beehives and has been the manager of the Dadant & Sons Beekeeping supply company in High Springs for over 40 years where he does research and development on new items for the Dadant Company. Jerry serves on the Honey Technical Council and has served on the Board of Directors for the Lake City Farm Bureau and is also a member of the Alachua County Beekeepers Club. Always willing to help a new beekeeper get started is one of his strong points.

Aug  24th Wed 5:15 (6:45-7:45) show  Jason Graham:  The recent honeybee declines have shown us that we should not remain solely dependent on the European honey bee for the pollination of our crops. There are an estimated 4,000 bees that are native to the United States and over 300 bees have been identified in Florida. Though these bees do not produce honey or beeswax, they are efficient pollinators. Currently these bees are providing "background pollination" and have been termed "the unsung heroes of pollination".  During this presentation, he will discuss what you can do to help native bees in your area and  will introduce you to some of the bees that may be residing in your own backyard. Jason Graham earned his Bachelor of Science degree at University of Delaware. He went on to obtain his Master of Science degree with the Honey Bee Research & Extension Laboratory at University of Florida. Jason is continuing pursuit of his PhD at University of Florida, majoring in Entomology & Nematology with a minor in Agricultural Education and Communication. The Native Bee Nesting Sites which are providing data for his project can be found at many places in and around Gainesville including: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo and Morningside Nature Center.

Watch the Trailer

Queen of the Sun

Buy Tickets

"Queen of the Sun" is as soulful as it is scientific, as uplifting as it is alarming. —Film.com

A remarkable documentary that's also one of the most beautiful nature films I've seen. —Roger Ebert

What it is doing, and beautifully, is making a sunny and optimistic case for why the world is worth saving, via gorgeous imagery and poetic appreciations of the bees themselves. —NPR

From the director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John comes a profound, alternative look at the tragic global bee crisis. In 1923, Rudolf Steiner, a scientist, philosopher & social innovator, predicted that in 80 to 100 years honeybees would collapse. His prediction has come true with Colony Collapse Disorder where bees are disappearing in mass numbers from their hives with no clear explanation. In an alarming inquiry into the insights behind Steiner’s prediction Queen of The Sun examines the global bee crisis through the eyes of biodynamic beekeepers, scientists, farmers, and philosophers. On a pilgrimage around the world, 10,000 years of beekeeping is unveiled, highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost due to highly mechanized industrial practices. Featuring Michael Pollan, Vandana Shiva, Gunther Hauk and beekeepers around the world, Queen of The Sun weaves a dramatic story which uncovers the problems and solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature. 1hr 23min | USA | NR

Directed by: Taggart Siegel

Featuring: Gunther Hauk, Michael Pollan and Vandana Shiva

SHOW TIMES

• Fri (08/19) 6:30 8:30
• Sat (08/20) 2:30 4:30
• Sun (08/21) 12:30 2:30 4:30 7:00
• Wed (08/24) 5:15 8:00
• Thu (08/25) 6:30 8:30