Check back here each week for a cool & exciting EcoChic tip on how you too can be an Ecotainer!

Find A Green Venue

If you’re looking for a venue that’s as green as you are, there are a few things you should know before you begin.

First, what should you really be looking for? What are the things that designate a venue as earth-friendly?

Of course, there are levels of greenness you should expect to encounter when searching. Some venues may have just started their initiatives and may only have a short list of the things they currently implement. Other venues may have a more impressive list of greening practices, or may have even been built with green in mind. It is good to check out all of them, but start to narrow down just how green you’d like your space to be.

If you’re looking into hotels, some of the most basic greening practices should include water conservation programs (which include urging guests to use their towels and sheets for more than one day) and energy conservation (which include high-efficiency light bulbs, motion light sensors, and air filters).

The next step for an eco-conscious venue is to offer a local and organic catering menu. Often, these menus carry a slightly higher cost, but the knowledge that you are aiding the sustainable movement and seriously reducing your carbon footprint are worth it. On the food note, you should also look for a venue that is participating in a “zero waste zone” program. A zero waste zone program has venues donating their excess food to local food banks and shelters and giving their extra food scraps to composting companies- who then turn around and sell their compost material to local and organic farmers and household gardeners.

If you’re looking for a venue that is as green as possible, look for one that is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. To become a LEED certified building, there is an extensive checklist of requirements that need to be met. You can see the 74 page list for commercial properties yourself at USGBC’s website: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=145. It should give you an appreciation for those venues that are truly doing their part to be at the forefront of the greening movement.

There are some websites that can help narrow your search for you by city. Check out some of these:

USGBC Leed Projects will list all certified buildings in your area, with the level of certification they’ve received from the Council.

Green Buildings California if you’re in California, this is a great government-maintained website of green buildings, that includes a map of the locations of all of them!

RezHub Book Green will help narrow down green hotels, and may inspire you to take a greener vacation in the future!

Audubon International Partners the Audubon Society has teamed up with organizations ranging from golf courses to universities to aid them in their quest to become more sustainable.

Posted on 05/27/09
Comments (3)

 

Party in the Park

The weather is starting to change into the perfect season for enjoying the outdoors. Sure- you could enjoy it by having your friends over for a backyard BBQ, but why not do something a little bit more adventurous- while not having to stray too far from home? Instead of throwing a backyard fiesta, invite all of your friends over to your local park. It’s a great way to get together by creating a fun destination and while supporting your local parks system and your community’s efforts to great a green space your city. Make it potluck picnic style- but make sure to keep it green. Bring reusable plastic drinkware (fun colored outdoor-friendly cups are easy to find at drugstores and The Dollar Store for a great deal), plates, and silverware. Cloth napkins even add a fun old-school eco touch to the event.

 The spring and summer make picnics even more fun because of the fresh produce you can find at the now-opening seasonal farmers markets. In only a few short weeks they will be packed with the kind of ingredients that will truly make a picnic. Pick up some tomatoes and make a tomato mozzarella salad with fresh basil to showcase the best in farmers markets.

Don’t forget to pull the whole thing together with some local brews and wines!

Some great Atlanta parks include:

Grant Park (try and check out the zoo if you have time!)

Inman Park

Candler Park

Piedmont Park (a great place to bring the dogs, too!)

If you are looking to travel just a bit further, carpool with your friends and head to Sweetwater Creek State Park. They have covered picnic shelters that you can reserve online and their visitor’s center is platinum LEED certified!

To find the parks nearest you check out any of the below sites for help:

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/ - the National Park Services listing

http://www.stateparks.com/usa.html - a comprehensive listing of State Parks in the US.

Posted on 05/13/09
Comments (0)

 

The Natural Honeymoon

It’s easier to take an Eco-Friendly honeymoon then you think. Especially if your idea of the perfect honeymoon includes lounging on the beach near crystal-clear waters. Many popular honeymoon destinations have become popular for eco builders too, looking to capitalize on the eco boom and create a haven for environmentally concerned travelers. Here is a list of some of the best, most impressive, and most unique options out there:

1. Six Senses- This resort conglomerate boasts 35 locations- each more lavish than the next. If you can hold off, wait until their Laamu, Maldives location opens (slated for mid-2009) and book a private water villa suite complete with (shielded) outdoor bathtub and shower, over-water lounging, dining deck, and a lagoon water slide. Six Senses also includes carbon offset dollars into your room rate, so you can feel even better about your luxurious vacation.
2. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa- If you’re looking to stay a little closer to home (and with rising airline prices, we don’t blame you) look no further than the northern California wine country. You’ll feel like you’ve traveled farther away than the west coast with this luxurious eco spa that boasts natural hot springs and a hiking and wildlife trail the Fairmont works hard to preserve. Fairmont resorts have a “Green Partnership Program” that extends from water preservation to waste management and endangered species conservation.While you’re feeling good about the environment, enjoy a round of golf at the resort and a podcast driving tour of wine country.
3. Yacutinga Lodge- Travel outside of the box and head to this incredible nature resort nestled in the forests of Iguazú National Park, just outside of Puerto Iguazú. You’ll take a recovered army all-terrain vehicle into the forest and land amongst lodges and cabins that blend perfectly into the surrounding nature. All of the structures were built using trees that had already fallen and recycled wine bottles for windows and walls. The restaurant in the main lodge has delectable food- all sourced from local Iquazú farmers. The menus reflect the local cuisine, and look for fresh from the oven empanadas to greet you in the lodge after you return from a long midday hike.

Posted on 02/10/09
Comments (1)

 

Eco Friends

While we love to keep you up to date with fun eco-tips every week, to enhance your eco-efforts and offer entertaining ideas, there are people out there who will keep you updated and in-line with the environment every day. We love to check these sites daily for new ideas, inspiration, and affirmation that all the effort is really paying off.

Some of our favorites include:

Greenopia

www.greenopia.com

Greenopia offers a comprehensive directory of green retailers in your area ranging from restaurants to nail salons to pet care. Retailers can’t pay to be included in the directory, and each place is thoroughly screened and research so you know it’s not a marketing hoax. Even better, you can purchase a guidebook for areas in California and New York. Throw it in your car and you’ll always know where the green spots are.

IdealBite

www.idealbite.com

It’s the “green” version of DailyCandy. You can sign up to receive a daily email with fun tips, DIY projects, and great products. Their goal is to provide you with lots of options to eco-fy your life, without spending a lot of money and time. We even love their “Biter” line of products like aluminum water bottles and wine totes.

EcoRazzi

www.ecorazzi.com

Love gossip sites? Well, welcome to a green gossip site. EcoRazzi has all the latest news on your favorite celebs and their latest eco-ventures. Maybe not as exciting as the latest celeb hookups, but definitely less of a guilty pleasure.

Posted on 01/30/09
Comments (1)

 

The Econference

Business conferences can be a huge eco problem. They are often located in cities that require most attendees to travel, leaving a massive carbon footprint. Luckily, once at a conference, attendees generally stay in the same hotel as all of the conference events, thus limiting more carbon emissions. But, there are many more ways to keep the environment out of harms way during your conference. Of course, the best way is through the company-wide video conference, which is gaining a lot of popularity. But if your company isn’t ready for web cams and prefers to fly you to the corporate headquarters, insist on other ways to stay eco during the weekend.

First, ditch the info folders. The folders are bursting with note paper, schedules, charts…all printed on paper, and all probably tossed in a nearby garbage can when the conference ends. Instead of wasting paper, give each conference attendee a USB port with the conference files loaded up on to them. Employees bring their laptops with them everywhere anyway, so the ports will provide a great convenience. Not to mention they are usable beyond the conference and employees will be happy to have a place to store their files.

Secondly, ditch the company monogrammed pens, notebooks, and coffee mugs. Employees already have a stock of them and often the pens and notebooks find their way into the trash. Instead, spend a little more and get employees something eco, cool, and useful. Try the Solio Universal Hybrid Charger- a multi-functional charger powered by the sun. Employees can use them to power up their cell phones, blackberry’s, ipod’s, and laptops. Even better, such a great bonus will keep them excited and alert for the conference- if the gift is that good, the speakers can only be better.

Posted on 12/29/08
Comments (1)