Marine conservation activists are pushing green living as one of the major methods of saving marine wildlife from the depth of pollution and extinction. Their goal is to show others the beauty of marine wildlife because they believe that through it, people will learn to care and protect the ocean themselves. In green living, the main goal is not only focused on pollution reduction but as well as protecting animals and other forms of wild life that are at risk of extinction.

The ocean’s benefit from green living

In some parts of the world, the oceans are much polluted to the point that marine life has been drastically affected. This has dramatically affected the habitat of the marine wildlife, which decreases their level of oxygen and clean water to survive. Going green helps resolve common water pollution. People will learn to throw their garbage into proper places, which will decrease the damage brought by it to the ocean. On the other hand, marine activists believe that dynamite fishing in some countries has reduced the capabilities of the fish to propagate. Corals and other sea structures are destroyed due to dynamite fishing. For this reason, green living program pushes the law on prohibiting this method of fishing and help preserve all marine structure and living things.

Over the years, the benefit of marine preservation has made some tremendous effect to the marine eco-system. Fishes and other marine mammals are able to live on clean water, a diverse ecosystems is again revived because of green approach to the ocean. Fishes that are endangered are now preserved and protected. On the other hand, we humans will also benefit from clean oceans. The fish industry will bloom because of the ample number of fish we can get from the ocean. We can also get to taste good quality fish that are not grown from polluted water. This revolution will ensure a bright future to the only oceans we have.

Green living lifestyle for the ocean

There are many reasons why the ocean is polluted. People are not following proper waste disposal, large factories are making the ocean as their dumping site for their waste, and other people are just unaware about the great threat if the ocean will constantly drift to pollution. The simple idea of being aware about the risks of pollution to the marine environment is enough to convince us to protect it. As the highest form of creature here on earth, we are given the task to take care of all the other living things under us.

The simple acts of not throwing our garbage to the sea will make a great impact to the ocean and to the others who will also do the same thing. Not buying products that came from animal sources is an act of wildlife preservation. Not buying this kind of stuff will encourage the sellers to stop selling animal products and shift to other methods to earn by not killing endangered animals for the market. Overall, practicing green living in whatever we do every day will not only have an impact to the ocean but to the entire environment as well.

As the issues in pollution and green house gases increase every day, green living ideas on an eco-friendly buildings are considered as the best solution to these environmental problems. Modern houses today are already practicing green living in every area of the house. This is because of its ample benefits not only to the environment but also to the owners of the house. To learn more about green home building, we have searched the web for different methods on how to make a green home.

Characteristic of a green living inspired home

What separates green homes from traditional homes is it makes use of the free raw materials around. For instance, natural light from the sun is utilized as the primary lighting to illuminate the hallway or attic of the house. In the evening, light from the sun charges solar battery panels, which give the house an artificial source of electricity coming from the sun. Another great characteristic of green living inspired houses is its well ventilated to keep the inside cool during hot or humid condition while it can be adjusted to be warmer during the winter season. A few complex architectural designs allow air inside to flow freely and insulating materials keeps it warm during colder season. After making use of free light from the sun and cold air breeze, water is also used, up to the last drop. Water used for bathing, laundry and cleaning the dishes are rerouted and used for watering the plants and flushing the toilets.

This magnificent idea of reusing water makes green living inspired houses conserve a lot from electricity and water bills. All these characteristics make modern green home more natural. The materials used to build these green homes also come from the most natural sources. Most of the time, the materials are made from recycled materials like plastic, wood and glass. A few efforts on designing ideas will help create a unique type of materials for home building. The woods used on some areas of the house are coming from a non-endangered type of wood as well. A house like this may cost a lot at first because there are only less people who know how to build one. However, the long-term effect can have some dramatic result. Maintenance is not an issue because homeowners will no longer need to pay bills for the rest of their life. At the same time, minor damages on the house can be easily repaired.

Integrating green living on traditional homes

It may be hard to restructure a house that is not built and designed to be a green home but a few simple ways can be done about it. The owners of the house have a huge role to play in transforming their house into a green one. Some examples of home green living are using the light only as necessary, conserving water. Placing live plants inside will help cool the inside of the house and give it a more natural feeling. Overall, the general rule in green living is making use of natural resources as much as possible in every day routine.

Environmentalists Inspire Product Improvement;
RBJ Mfg. Redesigns Popular Johnny-Light (TM)

(PRWEB) March 24, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOTE: A 300-dpsi, large-scanned digital photo of the Johnny Light can be

found at this URL:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=106&STORY=/www/story/


10-09-2001/0001587494&EDATE=

A REVIEW SAMPLE OF THE JOHNNY-LIGHT IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

                                                 * * *

Environmentalists Inspire Product Improvement

RBJ Mfg. Redesigns Popular Johnny-LightÔ

    BURLESON, TX (March 22, 2002) - RBJ Mfg., Inc. of Burleson, TX,

has responded to environmentalists' demands and redesigned its popular

Johnny-Light (TM) -- a unique, green night-light for the commode - by

eliminating a mercury-containing switch.

    "When we promoted our product last year, we were bombarded by

phone calls and e-mails from environmentalists, ecologists and nature lovers

in general expressing concern over eventual disposal of the switch," recalled

Bill Bradford, co-inventor of the patented device. "That was a major challenge,

since the switch activates the light when the commode seat is raised."

     To date, more than 50,000 Johnny-Lights have been sold, aimed

at resolving the long-running "seat-up/seat-down" debate that has raged in

households as long as indoor toilets have existed (and the first indignant

"splashdown.") They have proven popular as Christmas stocking stuffers,

gifts for Valentine's, Mother's and Father's days, and for bachelor/bachelorette

parties, bridal showers and housewarmings.

            The U.S. Census reports that more Americans were injured by their toilet

(48,964) in 1998 than while using a hammer (42,426). Bradford says the

Johnny-Light enhances family harmony, teaches gender respect and improves

hygiene and personal safety.

         Easily installed (no tools), the Johnny-Light costs $ 10 to $ 13 (with

batteries) and fits 94% of the toilet seats in U.S. households. It tucks into

a sanitary position, protected from splashing and contamination. The soft

green light is easy on sleepy eyes and eliminates the need to turn on a

room light and disturb others.

                    But will they support our new "green" product?

         "We recognize that customer perception is critical to the success of any

product, and we want to please as many potential consumers as possible,"

Bradford noted. "The 'green' callers were uncompromising, and their point

was well taken. Although the old switch contained only a fraction of the

mercury found in a typical thermometer and met all of the safety guidelines

of the Federal Trade Commission, we decided that a change was necessary.

             "We now use a mechanical gravity switch with a small ball-bearing

that moves when tilted to activate the green light," said Bradford, a former

nuclear power plant engineer. "Still, it took months of research, redesign and

testing to bring the improved product to market.

    "The question is, will we get a green light from the environmentalists

for our green light?" he asked. "With their buyer resistance defused, we hope to

see them light up our Web site, http://www.johnny-light.com, and our toll-free line,

888-566-LITE (5483), with orders! We have learned that the 'green

grapevine' is a great information-spreading pipeline," he added. "Hopefully,

it will be used to spread the good news about our new, totally 'green' product."

    The innovative Johnny-Light also is sold nationwide in more than

650 Lowe's Home Improvement stores, as well as in lighting stores coast-

to-coast.

                                     National, International Attention

                 Nationally syndicated singer/comedienne Kacey Jones of Nashville,

TN (http://www.kaceyjones.com), who recorded "Put the Seat Back Down," often

passes out Johnny-Lights at her concerts when she sings:

              But if you wanna know what makes my heart pound,

              I really like a man who puts the seat back down.

              Now all you guys, hey, what's the fuss?

              It's a little thing to you, but it's everything to us. *

         The Johnny-Light has been featured by Glamour Magazine, Modern Bride,

Adam and periodicals in England and Sweden. Dozens of radio stations as far

away as Canada have given away the gadget to women who called in with the

best "splashdown story." It has been praised by hosts of "The Regis & Kathy

Show," "The Howie Mandell Show" and featured on NBC's "Today Show," ABC's

' "The Gizmo Guy" and at numerous Web sites (http://www.beststuff.com,

http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com).

                 "You can't monogram or engrave it, but I guarantee it is a useful,

unforgettable gift and much less expensive than a marriage counselor,"

Bradford joked.

Used with the artist's approval

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS:

Bill Bradford, RBJ Mfg., 1-888-566-5483, rbjmfg@flash.net

                or

Preston Kirk, Kirk Public Relations, 972-690-8446, kirk@281.com

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Household and Personal Care Sectors Hold Strong Despite Environmental Pressures and Lifestyle Trends

(PRWEB) July 26, 2002

This is good news for surfactant suppliers. The household and personal care sectors of North America, Western Europe and Japan represent the largest revenue source for surfactant chemicals.

The household detergent market has a combined valued of $ 30 billion in North America, Western Europe, and Japan. While the personal care sector has a market worth more than $ 50 billion.

Detergent products and laundry acids are among the leading product categories in the household sector. The personal care category has a diverse group of products, including soaps, hair care, skin care, and oral care products. This generally buoyant market is constantly influenced by novelty and lifestyle trends.

Although revenues remain strong, the past couple of years have been extremely difficult for the chemical industry and for detergent manufacturers. These challenges are likely to persist in view of continued economic uncertainty.

“The household and personal care markets have felt the strain of the slow growth within mature markets,” says Peter Savage, Technical Insights Analyst. “The lackluster growth in this sector that has occurred in the Western countries is well balanced by good prospects in developing regions. Many of the best opportunities for growth are in regions with significant population growth and markets that are in a formative stage.”

Environmental issues also continue to exercise much attention. Phosphates and alkylphelol products continue to attract a large amount of attention from legislative agencies. Some participants are beginning to grow weary of the battle, and are moving toward a commitment to green products, favoring the use of renewable resources.

“As global warming concerns grow, energy issues remain at the forefront of industry concerns,” states Savage. “Detergent companies will focus more on new products that will evolve to meet developing requirements such as diminishing water usage, improved energy use in machines, and lower wash temperatures to minimize thermal requirements.”

Tough market challenges lie ahead for the detergent industry, but based on past performance, detergent makers and their suppliers are fully capable to meet and overcome these obstacles.    

Surfactants and their Markets in Household Detergents and Personal Care Products: North America, Western Europe, and Japan Report: D478

Background:

Technical Insights, a business unit of Frost & Sullivan, is an international technology research business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters and reports. Frost & Sullivan is an international marketing consulting company that monitors a comprehensive spectrum of markets for trends, market measurements and strategies. This on-going research is utilised to complement a series of research publications to support industry participants with customised consulting needs. Interviews and free executive summaries are available to the press.

Sales Contact

The report is available to purchase from: Frost & Sullivan, 4100 Chancellor Court, Oxford Business Park, Oxford, OX4 2GX, UK. Contact: EdgarChadwick@frost.com ,tel: +44 (0) 1865 398636 , fax +44 (0) 1865 779867

Press Contact

For further information or to arrange to interview the analyst please contact:

Rosemary Gill, +44 (0) 1865 398660, rosemary.gill@frost.com

Free executive summaries of all Frost & Sullivan reports are available to the press.

For unlimited access to constantly updated chemical market news written exclusively by Frost & Sullivans’ team of industry experts visit chemicals.frost.com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

CARMANAH LAUNCHES INTO EUROPEAN UNION WITH NEW SOLAR BUS STOPS AND SHELTERS

(PRWEB) May 7, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Monday, May 5, 2003

    (No.2003-05-07)

CARMANAH LAUNCHES INTO EUROPEAN UNION WITH NEW SOLAR BUS STOPS AND SHELTERS

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (PRWEB) May 5, 2003 - Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX VE: CMH) will celebrate the worldwide launch of its new i-SHELTER™ solar-powered illuminated bus shelter at the UITP Mobility & City Transport Exhibition in Madrid, Spain, May 5-8, 2003. The international event will also mark the move of Carmanah's successful i-STOP™ solar-powered, illuminated bus stop beyond North America into Europe's multibillion-dollar transit market.

"We are excited to use this conference of the world's largest urban and regional transport exhibition as our launching pad to Europe," said Carmanah CEO Art Aylesworth. "Proportionally, bus travel in the EU is more than twice as important as it is in North America, and we have already found this market to be very receptive to our 'green' products."

The i-SHELTER™ is an new, innovative solution for bus stop lighting: a completely self-contained, solar-powered bus shelter. The i-STOP™ bus stop has been installed in hundreds of locations continent-wide since its introduction to North America in September 2002. The i-STOP™ includes an illuminated bus schedule, an overhead security light and a user-activated flashing beacon to notify bus drivers when a stop is required.

Both the i-SHELTER™ and i-STOP™ use ultra-long-lasting LEDs (light-emitting diodes) with solar power as an alternative energy source. They are designed to operate autonomously with zero operational expenses for up to five years, at which point only the fully-recyclable battery pack requires replacement. Due to their unique design, the i-SHELTER™ and i-STOP™ can be installed easily with no digging, wiring or external electrical connections, eliminating traffic delays and disruptions to local power sources or street aesthetics.

"The E.U.'s trillion dollar annual transportation market has consistently outpaced economic growth and we expect transit to grow even faster. We already see this technology taking off in Central London, where proceeds from a new city entry toll on cars are being used to expand bus services by 40 percent. The E.U. is a fertile economic environment for Carmanah to build on its North American transit success" said Carmanah V. P. Mike Ball.

Organized by the Brussels-based International Association of Public Transport (UITP), the Mobility & City Transport Exhibition will be held in conjunction with the 55th biennial UITP World Congress and is expected to draw 20,000 attendees from more than 80 countries. Carmanah's products for the European market, including the i-SHELTER™ and i-STOP™, will be on display at booth “9d610” at Madrid's Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre, May 5 - 8, 2003.

About Carmanah Technologies Inc.

Carmanah is an award winning alternative energy manufacturer specializing in patented solar-powered LED lighting solutions for the marine, transit, roadway, railway, mining and aviation markets. The company has more than 50,000 units installed in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation (parent company) are publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CMH" and on the Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol "QCX". For more information, please visit http://www.carmanah.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Carmanah Technologies Corporation

“ Praveen Varshney “

Praveen Varshney, Director

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations:

Mr. Praveen Varshney, Director

Tel: (604) 629-0264

Toll-Free: 1-866-629-0264

investors@carmanah.com    

Media:

Mr. David Davies

Tel: (250) 382-4332

ddavies@carmanah.com

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described under the caption "Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements" and "Key Information - Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. These risks and uncertainties are also described under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Information Form dated December 31, 2001, as filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission and which are incorporated herein by reference. We do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Related Green Products Press Releases

FHP introduces four models of High-Definition Plasma Display Panels featuring the highest brightness in the world

(PRWEB) September 12, 2003

-- World's First 55-inch WXGA with e-ALIS Technology --

-- New A1 series (42-inch, 37-inch, 32-inch) with ALIS Technology ---

Frankfurt, (PRWEB) 10th September, 2003 - Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited (FHP) has announced the introduction of an enhanced A1 range of 42-inch, 37-inch and 32-inch PDPs and the development of a 55-inch high-definition plasma display panel.

The new 55inch-WXGA plasma display panel is the first to use Fujitsu's newly developed 'e-ALIS' (extended Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) technology, which features progressive display and a high brightness of 1000cd/m2.

The new A1 series of 42-inch, 37-inch and 32-inch-HD PDPs provides enhanced brightness, typically 1100cd/m2 for the 42-inch (a 10% increase over former versions) and 1000cd/m2 for the other models, utilising its ALIS technology. By means of 10-bit signal processing and newly developed LSI circuitry, all four models in the family including the 55-inch display realise an improved high-definition picture quality.

FHP first introduced 42-inch high-definition plasma display panels with ALIS technology to the market in 1999 and added 37-inch and 32-inch models in 2001 as a first generation. The newly developed A1 series, which will be the mainstream of the flat panel television market, represents the third generation line of FHP products, now expanded by the addition of the 55-inch display.

The latest 55-inch PDP meets the recent demand for super large size (Jumbo size) televisions of over 50 inches, especially for the US Market. FHP believes that 55-inch is the most suitable size in this super large size television market and ideally takes advantage of the PDP features such as self-luminescence and thin profile. The newly developed 'e-ALIS' technology used in Fujitsu's 55-inch PDP provides superior display performance compared with other 50-inch class PDPs on the market.

As a result of the increased adoption of digital technology in household devices in the broadband age, exemplified by such developments as digital broadcasts, DVDs, the Internet and CATV, and anticipating that PDPs represent the next generation of wide-screen TV displays, FHP expects the market size for PDPs to increase to 1,400,000 units world-wide in 2003.

FHP plans to expand its production capacity from its current 30k units/month to 50k units/month in the next month, to 70k units/month in spring 2004, and to 100k units/month in early 2005. FHP will maintain its focus on the television market, and currently holds the largest share of the world-wide PDP market.

Features of 55-inch WXGA

Expanding the conventional 'ALIS' technology to larger size PDPs, FHP developed 'e-ALIS technology'. In common with ALIS, 'e-ALIS' adopts a common electrode on the front glass panel, while it adopts a grid cell structure on the back glass panel. Only half the electrodes are required compared with other XGA panels. By adopting the original driving method to this panel structure, FHP realises a progressive display and also achieves high brightness of 1000cd/m2.

This new method alternately addresses odd lines and even lines during addressing time, and after that, displays all lines at once (progressive display). Further, by improving colour temperature (9000K), it allows a higher quality of colour reproduction for TV images, such as blue sky and white clouds.

Features of A1 series

By improvement of discharge gas, FHP enhanced panel brightness efficiency and made it possible to achieve a higher brightness level of 1100cd/m2 (42-inch), 1000cd/m2 (37-inch and 32-inch), without affecting product life.

Features of all models

1. By developing new LSI that realises effective signal processing both for motion and motionless pictures, all models greatly reduced noise level caused by error diffusion. Moreover, by enhancing a description of gradation, FHP improved the motion picture quality that is a feature of the plasma television set. It can smoothly display even very fast movie images. These features make the new PDPs suitable for display devices for household use in the digital broadcast era.

2. FHP achieves 1.07 billion display colours, by applying 10-bit signal processing to each of R/G/B input signals.

3. By holding deterioration with time via newly developed phosphors, all models offer extended lifetimes. (substantially more than 60,000 hours lifetime for television use)

4.    All models use lead-free solder. FHP promotes the development of 'green' products, designed to meet relevant environmental standards such as the RoHs restriction in the EU region.

Specifications

55-inch WXGA PDP module

Size     55-inch (141cm) diagonal

Depth     Approximately 65mm

Weight     Approximately 30kg

Effective Display Area     W 1229mm x H 691mm

Resolution     Horizontal 1366 x Vertical 768 pixels

Aspect Ratio     16:9

Pixel Pitch     W 0.90mm x H 0.90mm

Colours Displayed     1.07 billion

Luminosity     1000cd/m2

42-inch A1 PDP module

Size     42-inch (106cm) diagonal

Depth     Approximately 65mm

Weight     Approximately 17kg

Effective Display Area     W 922mm x H 522mm

Resolution     Horizontal 1024 x Vertical 1024 pixels

Aspect Ratio     16:9

Pixel Pitch     W 0.90mm x H 0.51mm

Colours Displayed     1.07 billion

Luminosity     1100cd/m2

37-inch A1 PDP module

Size     37-inch (93cm) diagonal

Depth     Approximately 65mm

Weight     Approximately 13.5kg

Effective Display Area     W 814mm x H 445mm

Resolution     Horizontal 1024 x Vertical 1024 pixels

Aspect Ratio     16:9

Pixel Pitch     W 0.80mm x H 0.44mm

Colours Displayed     1.07 billion

Luminosity     1000cd/m2

32-inch A1 PDP module

Size     32-inch (82cm) diagonal

Depth     Approximately 65mm

Weight     Approximately 11kg

Effective Display Area     W 716mm x H 399mm

Resolution     Horizontal 852 x Vertical 1024 pixels

Aspect Ratio     16:9

Pixel Pitch     W 0.84mm x H 0.39mm

Colours Displayed     1.07 billion

Luminosity     1000cd/m2                                                                                

Glossary

„h ALIS:    Alternate Lighting of Surfaces Method

„h e-ALIS:    extended Alternate Lighting of Surfaces Method

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Related Green Products Press Releases

Johnnygreenseed Seeks Story Developers For Animated Environmental Series.The "Enviro-babes."

(PRWEB) November 30, 2003

Johnnygreenseed is seeking story developers and animation artist for the creation of an animated series, "THE ENVIRO-BABES". The production is based on a group of environmental action hero's. The characters will be developed based on a variety of species facing extinction. The basic stories will center on important environmental issues.

The initial format will be in stills and move into a Machinima game style production base. The project anticipates utilizing broadband, CD/DVD distribution and a scheduled move into television and the motion film arena.

The development will include several interactive games series around a central production. The animated characters will be utilized to support a variety of retail sites by use of avatar interaction (Sims style animation and use of avatars) in a cutting edge e-commerce shopping environment promoting green products.

The project structure is designed as a for profit base with all revenues designated for the creation of several legal structures designed to aggressively pursue the enactment of deterrents to developers of real estate around sensitive environmental area’s.

The enviro–babe’s enterprises will also support and finance the crafting of new legislation for swift deterrents to other future environmental violations. The main emphasis will be placed on the genetic crop modifications now taking place in agriculture.

The series and games will operate in the traditional sense of an aggressive entertainment based commercial enterprise. A focused objective will include using the projects as an educational tool exploring the possibilities in popularizing a structure designed within the criteria of a typical entertainment group.

Highly creative individuals with the appropriate qualifications and a sincere passion for the environment are invited to contact JGS for additional information. [email]jgs@johnnygreenseed.com[/email]

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Firefighters Association “Doesn’t Need Money”

BRISTOL, VT (PRWEB) June 22, 2004

Award winning reggae artist, Third World, was scheduled to appear at Burlington's Memorial Auditorium for a two-night engagement on September 10 & 11. The concert, originally being organized by Adirondack Green Productions as a fundraiser for the Vermont State Firefighter's Association, has been sent back to the drawing board. Bryan 'JP' Harroun, the nonprofit promoter's Director of Operations, said “the morning after meeting with the Association Advisory Committee Thursday night, Mr. Leete (president of the Vermont State Firefighters Association) called informing me, among other things, that their organization didn’t need the money.” The event, which may now face a delay or cancellation, was to be "a dedication to those firefighters and rescue workers that sacrificed their lives to save others the day America came under attack," says Harroun. He continued, “We thought it would be an appropriate way to celebrate the lives of those lost on 9-11”

“In my earlier conversations with Mr. Leete,” says Harroun, “everything seemed pretty optimistic.” Harroun said he was quite surprised when Mr. Leete made the comment to him in a phone conversation Friday morning. “I have worked on several benefit concerts over the past ten years”, said Harroun, “but I have never had an organization express as many concerns as these folk did”. Continuing, Harroun said “some of their questions and concerns were completely valid, others were simply silly. But I have never been told by a prospective beneficiary that they didn’t need the money. But I do appreciate his honesty.”

Although the promoter had intended to begin selling tickets on the 4th of July, he says the entire event is facing complete cancellation. “Unless we are able to locate, contact and formalize a relationship with those individual fire departments that do need assistance” said Harroun, “we will have to scrap this event.” Continuing, he said “It’s unfortunate because we saw this as an opportunity for our organization to make a great first impression while doing something positive in memory of those lost in the 9-11 attacks.”

Adirondack Green Productions was officially incorporated on June 9, 2004 as a Vermont Nonprofit Corporation. According to their mission statement, they intend on promoting concert events to raise money for organizations that work for environmental preservation, community safety and child education.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Kendal Poised To Become An Environmental Leader In Westchester County

New York NY (PRWEB) December 24, 2004

Kendal Corporation’s new retirement community in Sleepy Hollow is scheduled to open its doors in the spring of 2005. Kendal on Hudson has the opportunity to be an environmental leader in Westchester County; all it has to do is follow in the footsteps of its New Hampshire counterpart. Kendal’s Hanover, New Hampshire, facility has laid the groundwork for the adoption of “green” cleaning practices by all Kendal facilities, providing this Hudson Valley community with the chance to set a great example for all of Westchester County.

When Kendal at Hanover, a continuing-care retirement community located two miles from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, began looking into greener cleaning products at the request of its residents, few people were aware that such products existed or even what they were. That was in 1998. Today, the 400-resident facility (part of the Kendal Corporation, a charitable organization serving older adults) is considered a pioneer in the green cleaning revolution.

Why green cleaners? Though it may seem contradictory, the fact is that most cleaning products contain harmful substances that can cause mild to serious health effects. Window cleaners, for example, contain butoxy ethanol and ammonia, which have been linked to reproductive disorders and to eye, lung, and kidney damage. And those aerosol air fresheners so popular these days can contain butane, propane, ammonia, phenol, and formaldehyde. Not only are these substances highly flammable, they also can cause cancer and central nervous system and liver damage. Air fresheners may mask odors caused by inadequate ventilation, but they also add a toxic fog to homes and facilities in which they are used.

Green cleaners, in contrast, are products that are less toxic to human health and the environment. At Kendal, when Director of Environmental Services Laurie Tostenson found out that residents were interested in protecting their own and workers’ health by using such products, she got right to work investigating the available options. Eventually, she identified a line of Green Seal-certified products and began using them at the facility in 1999. (Green Seal is a not-for-profit organization that establishes environmental standards for different product categories and certifies products that meet those standards.)

Not only did these products perform as well as conventional cleaners, but Kendal’s cleaning staff found them easier to use because they came with an automatic dilution station that eliminated the need to mix chemicals by hand. Further, the switch to greener products actually saved money, since several products used in the past could be replaced with a single product purchased in larger quantities.

Since instituting its greener cleaner program, Kendal at Hanover has continued to look for new products and practices that can eliminate or decrease the use of toxic cleaning chemicals. For example, the facility has installed carpeting that requires many fewer chemicals to clean and has purchased an ozone machine that eliminates the need for toxic bleaches. Says Tostenson: “Cleaning with harsh chemicals is bad not only for the environment, but for the people who use them. We value our residents and employees and want to keep them healthy for many years to come. Cleaning with green products just makes sense!”

The human health risks and environmental damage caused by janitorial cleaners have been extensively studied by INFORM, a national, nonprofit research and outreach organization that examines the effects of business practices, technologies, and products on the environment and human health. INFORM is now involved in a project throughout the Northeast promoting the use of environmentally preferable cleaning products and practices that reduce exposure to toxic substances and releases of these substances into the environment. On a recent visit to Kendal to collect information for a case study on green cleaning at retirement communities, INFORM Senior Consultant and green cleaning expert Carol Westinghouse met with Laurie Tostenson and gave her a copy of INFORM’s Cleaning for Health: Products and Practices for a Safer Indoor Environment, a resource used nationally for green cleaning information and products.

Says Westinghouse: “In 2000, when INFORM first launched its Purchasing for Pollution Prevention Program, there were no Green Seal-certified institutional cleaners. Now, there are over 50 products available and manufacturers are working to develop more. By purchasing these products, facilities send a message to manufacturers that green cleaning products are what the public wants. Our purchasing choices can make a real difference to our health and the health of our environment.”

For consumers interested in learning more about green cleaning, the following resources are particularly helpful and easy to work with:

•    INFORM, Inc. (http://www.informinc.org)

•    Green Seal (http://www.greenseal.org)

•    Center for a New American Dream (http://www.newdream.org/clean)

About INFORM:

INFORM is a national, nonprofit research and outreach organization that examines the effects of business practices, technologies, and products on the environment and human health. For 30 years, INFORM has sought practical solutions to the environmental challenges of safeguarding ecosystems from toxic chemicals, shifting to pollution-free transportation, and preventing solid waste. Combining groundbreaking research with strategic outreach, INFORM endeavors to turn findings into change. INFORM’s objective and constructive recommendations have helped guide members of government, industry, environmental groups, and communities around the world in decisions promoting both economic and ecological sustainability.

For Further Information: Contact INFORM’s Communications Director, Laurie Rich, by phone at 212.361.2400 ext. 250, or via email at rich@informinc.org. For additional information about INFORM’s Cleaning for Health and Green Building programs and other INFORM research, please visit http://www.informinc.org.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

More Green Products Press Releases

American Clay Earth Plaster Debuts Instructional Video at NAHB 'Greenbuild' Conference and Expo This Weekend

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) March 11, 2005

American Clay Earth Plaster, the natural finish for interior walls and ceilings, is proud to debut the only U.S.-based clay plaster instructional video at the 2005 National Green Building Conference, March 13-15, 2005, in Atlanta, GA, Booth #215. The video is produced by American Clay who last year won the Outstanding New Green Product Award at this conference produced by the National Association of Home Builders. Well-known for its elegant look and environmentally-conscious features – non-toxic, hypoallergenic, low inherent energy, and low waste – American Clay finishes are easy to use and are available in over 30 colors. The video offers both professionals and do-it-yourself home improvers a personal tour of the effortless artistry of American Clay.    

Thirteen minutes in duration and available in both VHS and DVD formats, the video will be shown continuously at the American Clay booth. Highlighting earth plaster’s natural beauty as well as its simple application, the video includes several shots of completed installations interspersed with a step-by-step demonstration of plastering techniques. Outside preparation, mixing, first and second coat applications are clearly and concisely explained in individual chapters. Sections on spraying and final surfacing provide useful tips such as how to avoid cracks and quickly cover large areas. The video is available directly through American Clay (VHS/$ 10.00, DVD/$ 12.50).    

As is shown, American Clay products are applied much like a conventional plaster finish, but with none of the intrinsic problems of gypsum or

cementitious plasters. There is no off-gassing or inherent waste on-site. Moreover, the plaster is non-flammable, gives additional masonry mass in rooms, resists mold growth, absorbs sound, breathes with temperature and

humidity, and is easily repairable.

American Clay – The Original Earth Plaster – presently comes in two formulations: the original Loma and the even smoother Porcelina – a formulation which provides a polished, more Venetian-like veneer. It is a unique combination of clays, aggregates and natural pigments that offers builders and consumers a natural and elegant option.

“Receiving the NAHB Outstanding Green Building Product Award for 2004, has helped American Clay Earth Plasters rise to national attention. As part of that process, we have had a fun and creative year: developing 20 new colors, adding many dealers and distributors, and producing a beautiful instructional video. Our sales grew 350% last year, and we have much on the planning table for this year. Our video is providing more people with the ability to apply our delicious plaster. We love the NAHB Green Build show, and find it has brought us great measurable results. The attendees are really focused on finding new and inventive products—as well as going out and using them in their projects,” says Marketing Director/Co-Founder Carol Baumgartel.

ABOUT AMERICAN CLAY ENTERPRISES

LOMA is the original formulation which has the characteristics of traditional plaster. The surface texture can vary by using different finishing techniques: a tile sponge helps achieve a ‘sanded’ finish (ala suede), a stainless steel swimming pool trowel offers a smooth – but somewhat textured – surface, and a coarse black sand added to the Loma can produce an almost ‘stone-like’ quality.

PORCELINA is the newer Venetian-like, super-smooth produce that gives a satin – almost texture-free – surface. Prized by Artisans for centuries, the smooth surface can be reminiscent of fine marble. Troweled over a basecoat of Loma, Porcelina is a layer of less than 1/32nd of an inch. It can be worked with several colors to produce the mottled, Venetian plaster of Mediterranean and Italian villas.

American Clay has also added these offerings this year:

• American Clay Primer – specially formulated to maintain the breathability of the surface, reducing the possibility of mold build-up;

• American Clay Sealers, both clear and gloss;

• American Clay Add-Mix – an addition to their Loma and Porcelina formulations that prepares the Earth Plaster for high-traffic areas or commercial applications; and

• Hida Trowels – a wide variety of Japanese Trowels that are specially designed for working with clay plaster.

American Clay Enterprises, Inc., is based in Albuquerque, NM, and its product is patent pending. The company offers workshops at its New Mexico locations, and the product is available through their office or through one of the growing number of retailers and distributors across the U.S. Their website, http://www.americanclay.com, offers information on ordering, technical specifications, product application and additional resources and links.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Find More Green Products Press Releases