Green beanies off to Katie Gerczynski, a 2nd-grader from Glen Burnie, who was chosen by Crayola to be part of its “Green Team”.

Katie and 9 others were tapped from among all the kids who entered Crayola’s “How I Dream in Green” coloring contest last spring. Entrants were asked to draw their vision for making their homes, schools or communities greener. Her offering was called “How I Can Make the Earth Smile.”

The crayon maker honored Katie and the other kids this week by summoning them to its Easton, PA headquarters, where they were on hand for a dedication of the company’s new 15-acre solar array. Crayola says the 26,000 panels should provide enough power to make 1 billion of the 3 billion crayons it produces annually. What about when the sun’s not shining? Color me blue then.

A trade show is coming to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks April 16 to 18. It promises to have plenty of green ideas for home and business owners.

The aptly named “Go Green Expo”, one of the nation’s largest eco-friendly business and consumer lifestyle showcases, will be held Friday through Sunday at the large indoor expo facility located at 100 Station Ave., accessible via the Oaks exit off Route 422. The show stops in Montgomery County as part of a nationwide tour.

Touted as the area’s largest one-stop shop for all things green, from gadgets to home supplies to food, Go Green Expo will offer something for everyone, “no matter what your shade of green,” according to Bradford Rand, Go Green Expo founder and CEO.

Today’s opening of the 88th New York Public Library branch in Battery City Park is the first of its kind in Manhattan to go green.
What makes the two-story building so environmentally friendly is the installation of low-energy heating and cooling system, low-energy lighting, and low-flow sinks and toilets.

“ The striking new environmentally friendly library in Battery Park City is sure to quickly become a beacon for the community, ” said Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library. “ At a time when people are depending on libraries more then ever for free resources and job assistance the library is a crucial resource for the neighborhood.”

The 10,000 square-foot green buildingwas designed by the firm 1100 Architects and is located at 175 North End Avenue, where visitors can see views of the Hudson River.

Tables, chairs, carpeting, and flooring were constructed with recyclable material such as off-cuts from window frames, old truck tires, belt buckles, parachute straps, and other previously used items.
Investment banking group Goldman Sachs gave a private donation of $3.5 million, while state and city funding covered the rest of the $6.7 million project.

Other features of the library include: 36 public-access computers, separate reading areas for kids, young adults, and adults, and a multi-use programming center on the second floor with two self-check out machines.

source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/First-Green-NYC-Public-Library-Opens-88450062.html

Palm oil output that does not cut down forests and harm wildlife may double to 3 million tonnes by the end of this year as benchmark Malaysian prices steadily rise, an industry official said on Monday.

The bulk of it will come from Malaysia as big planters come closer to ensuring their estates, mills and processors comply with commitments set by the industry-driven Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

The grouping’s secretary general Vengeta Rao said planters like Sime Darby ( SIME.KL ), IOI Corp ( IOIB.KL ) and Kuala Lumpur Kepong ( KLKK.KL ) will have a comprehensive supply chain for green palm oil within two years and higher prices encourage this.

” I would estimate that to-date production of 1.5 million tonnes of certified green palm oil will double at the end of this year, ” Rao said at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit.

” Higher palm oil prices will encourage companies to be more sustainable and as more supply comes in, the green palm oil’s premium goes down, encouraging more consumers to go green. ”

source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62E1SE20100315

Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, announced on Thursday that it would cut some 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain by the end of 2015 — the equivalent of removing more than 3.8 million cars from the road for a year.

The company plans to achieve that goal by focusing on popular product categories with the highest embedded carbon—milk, bread, meat, clothing—and by pressing its suppliers to rethink how they source, manufacture, package and transport those goods. Essentially, suppliers are being asked to examine the carbon lifecycle of their products, from the raw materials used in manufacturing all the way through to the recycling phase.

Wal-Mart’s sustainability executives will work with suppliers to help them figure out what measures to take. Any costs related to making products more energy-efficient—redesigning packaging or using a different fertilizer—will be the responsibility of each supplier, not of Wal-Mart.

Jim Stanway, who oversees Wal-Mart’s supplier initiatives involving energy, said in an interview on Thursday that suppliers would be willing to spend money if “it’s an investment where everybody’s sure it makes the supplier more profitable. ”

And while the initiative may be good for the environment, it may also be good for Wal-Mart. Driving costs out of the supply chain could result in savings for Wal-Mart that can be passed along to consumers — enabling the company to uphold its reputation as a destination for rock-bottom prices.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/energy-environment/26walmart.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1268186609-n5LWxx39/l5Tqd8O7ptGLg

Even the smallest of actions can have lasting environmental effects. Going green at home gives people the opportunity to reduce their impact on the environment and to ensure that clean air and water are available for future generations. You can spend a lot to go green, but just a few inexpensive changes can make a difference.

How to go green at home – Step1
Use less electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs each time you replace an old incandescent bulb. Compact fluorescents save 75 percent in energy use and last up to 10 times longer. As a bonus, you’ll save money on your electric bill.

How to go green at home – Step2
Run the washer, dryer and dishwasher only with full loads. You reduce both electricity and water usage by only running these appliances when necessary.

How to go green at home – Step3
Install a low-flow shower head. The newest models still produce strong water pressure while using much less water.

How to go green at home – Step4
Retrofit your hot-water system with a hot-water recirculation pump. These pumps recirculate cold water back to the water heater and only release water when it is hot. Go green and quit wasting water waiting for the cold water to get hot.

How to go green at home – Step5
Choose Zero VOC paints for your next home decorating project. Most paints contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air when you paint. VOCs can cause short and long term health problems.

How to go green at home – Step6
Look for furnishings made without glue or formaldehyde. This will green your home by improving your indoor air-quality.

How to go green at home – Step7
Recycle, reuse and compost. Reduce the amount of stuff you send to the landfill. Find out about recycling programs in your community. Find new uses for items. Compost yard waste and kitchen scraps.

How to go green at home – Step8
Properly dispose of hazardous waste. Cleaners, oils, paints, pesticides, batteries and solvents should never go out with the household garbage; they end up contaminating the soil and groundwater in your community. Contact your city government or the EPA to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Dan and Leia Armstrong of Carlisle are looking to build their first home in Upper Dauphin County, and they want it to be as cost -and energy efficient as possible.

The young couple were checking out geothermal heating systems Saturday at the Pennsylvania Home Show at the Farm Show arena in Harrisburg. Mike Armstrong, sales manager for Morrison Inc. of Duncannon, was selling them on the benefits. Costs to heat a 2,000 square-foot home would be around $670 a year with a geothermal system compared to about $3,000 for propane or electric baseboard, he said.

Then there are the incentives. A 30 % federal tax credit. A rebate from PP&L.

A $20,000 geothermal system would come in closer to $14,000, he said, about the cost of a more conventional system.

The Armstrongs were convinced.

“ Not only does it help the environment, it saves the homeowner money too, ” Dan Armstrong said.

Many of the exhibitors at the Home Show advertised “ green ” or “ energy efficient ” on their signs. While some contractors are still suffering with the recession, business is good for green systems like geothermal, Mike Armstrong said.

There has never been a better time to go green, according to John Kautz, owner of Energy Smart of Boiling Springs. His business does energy audits on homes, then adds insulation, new windows, siding, or whatever else the audit shows would help the home become more efficient.

” We’re at a pivotal time … We’re in a position of strength, ” he said, what with electric rates rising as the caps come off, the federal tax credit, PP&L incentives, and President Obama’s proposed “ Homestar ” program, also called “ Cash for Caulkers, ” which would offer instant rebates up to $1,500 for energy efficient upgrades if it passes Congress.

Kautz said it makes more sense for homeowners to make their homes efficient before looking at more exotic upgrades like solar panels or windmills.

Matt Wilson of Secco Home Services of Camp Hill said solar energy is also selling well, though. In addition to the other incentives, Pennsylvania is offering grants of $2.25 a watt for solar systems, which could save homeowners thousands of dollars.

All in all, the costs of installation could be nearly cut in half with all the incentives, he said. Homeowners could recoup their initial costs in seven to ten years.

Doug Snyder of Millersburg said he’s thinking of installing a couple of solar panels on his roof to heat his water.

“With the costs of electricity going up, I’m looking at ways to offset it,” he said. While rising electric rates are the prime motivator, the incentives are nice too, he added, bringing the $7,500 cost closer to $4,000. He got a federal tax break for putting in a new metal roof last year.

Dave Henry of Hanover was traveling throughout the show considering replacement projects for his 25-year-old home – a geothermal heating system, better windows, siding, insulation and appliances. He said the warehouse where he works just replaced its lights at a cost of $80,000, but with the incentives and energy savings, the project will pay for itself in six months.

“Now’s the time to look at this,” he said. “I think this is the future…At least we’re throwing money at something worthwhile down the road.”

Contractor Joseph Dubrovich of J.D. Builders of Dillsburg has a sign reading “I have been green all my life” in capital letters, and has photos of a 2,500 square foot home he built which costs $100 a month in heat, electric and lighting bills. He said he doesn’t mind that others are “jumping on the green bandwagon” because “it establishes me better.”

He said the rising costs of energy are the biggest reason people are going green, more so than the rebates and tax incentives. But there are also less mercenary reasons, according to Dubrovich.

“A lot of people are interested in saving the planet,” he said. “People want to do good things.”

The show runs through March 14 at the Farm Show Complex

source: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/03/visitors_to_pennsylvania_home.html