16th February, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Statesman had this article today about a new partnership between Greenling ( a company that will deliver local and organic food to your door) and Whole Foods:
Starting today , Whole Foods customers can sign up for Greenling via electronic kiosks in the Austin and San Antonio stores.
Both companies say the partnership is a way to help strengthen the local food supply — a core mission they share.
For Whole Foods, the initiative is a way to support local growers, giving them another avenue to sell their goods, said Chris Romano , produce and floral coordinator for Whole Foods’ Southwest region.
Small farms that can’t supply enough to stock a Whole Foods store could sell that smaller amount to Greenling, Romano said.
“If we make the local food economy stronger, that benefits all of us as a community,” Romano said.
This is the first time Whole Foods has partnered with a local home delivery service, although it has other programs to help local food providers, such as a loan program.
It’s also a way for Whole Foods to tap into Greenling’s network of local farms. Although Greenling doesn’t exclusively stock local produce, it gets produce and other goods from about 40 to 50 local farms throughout the year.
Through the partnership, Greenling co-founder Mason Arnold said his company can now commit to purchasing certain quantities of goods and then sell the excess to Whole Foods.
So basically, it sounds like Greenling will still buy from the same farmers as it has been, but Greenling can now place larger orders from those farmers with the safety net of knowing that if they buy too much and can’t sell it all through their own business, Whole Foods will take the excess.
To learn more about Greenling, click here.
14th December, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
ABJ has an article today that says that Austin Solar LLC will break ground tomorrow for its $200 million solar farm, which will be the largest solar farm i n texas when built. The project is expected to create 350 jobs over the next 2 to 3 years. Check out the whole article for more details.
4th November, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The ABJ has this article today, which says that Whole Foods and Dell are among the top Fortune 500 companies using green power. Whole Foods gets 100% of their power from renewable resources, making it 3rd nationally in green power use, and Dell gets 29% of its energy needs from renewables, and is ranked 29th nationally.
30th September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - 2 Comments
Last weekend I visited Boggy Creek Farm for the first time. If you’ve never been there, it’s a fairly large farm considering it’s in the middle of the city, on the east side on Lyons road. All of the food the farm produces is organic, and you can see what’s for sale every Saturday and Wednesday. I went on Saturday, and got there shortly after it opened at 9AM – I’ve heard that they can run out of food quickly so you should get there early. They have a nice selection of peas, squash, herbs, salad, okra, peppers, cucumber, and eggplant, as well as some fresh bread, eggs, and dairy products. It’s fun to just walk around and look at the gardens and chickens and then pick up some fresh produce.
I didn’t take pictures of the stand area where they were selling food, but I bought some zucchini that were really good quality – not dented all over with a dry aging skin like the ones at HEB – the ones I picked up were really plump with no signs of rough handling, and the skin was taught like they had just been picked and not sitting around very long.
Here are some pics of the farm:
fields in the back
fields in the front
chickens!
28th September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Austin Business Journal had an article today that said:
Austin battery maker ActaCell Inc. is preparing to commercialize its electric power system for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
The company has engaged gasoline, diesel, alternative fuel, electric and hybrid powertrain system developer AVL to help test its lithium-ion battery technology several years in the making. The pilot project will simulate using the battery in a variety of settings and test the viability and efficiency of selling the product.
Read more: ActaCell revving up to commercialize electric truck battery – Austin Business Journal
13th September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
ABJ has this article today, which says that Whole Foods is “phasing out seafood considered over-fished or unsustainably-caught” and that:
The move is part of the Austin-based natural grocer’s efforts to better inform customers about fish and shellfish sources…. [T]he company has adopted an in-store, color-coded sustainability rating system for wild-caught seafood. Whole Foods has also committed to phasing out all red-rated species by Earth Day 2013, including swordfish, Atlantic cod, sole and tuna, among others.
Seafood color-coded green, or “best choice,” indicates the fish is part of an abundant population and is fished in an environmentally-friendly way. A yellow-coded offering means a “good alternative,” or having some concerns about population or fishing methods. The red, “avoid” category signals the species is suffering from overfishing, or that current fishing methods harm other marine life or habitats.
1st September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
A friend of a friend recently introduced me to the work of Austin artist Tony Romano, and I have loved looking through his flickr gallery. Tony started making furniture out of found objects (often things collected from bulk trash day) in the early 90′s, and with his talent for transforming other people’s trash into useful, cool pieces, he soon was selling his pieces to local shops like Uncommon Objects and Yard Dog. By the mid-90′s he was successful enough that he was able to work full time at his new business. Tony continues today to make custom pieces for clients using found objects, and mostly does commissioned pieces now, ranging in price from $150-850. He’s also started to do more decorative construction work (for example, he’s done a lot of the interior of the Home Slice on South Congress.) I had a hard time picking some pictures of my favorite pieces, but here are a few:
I love the finish on this one
cute bathroom cabinet
a concrete table
This is a mirror Tony made out of the back of an antique chair (!)
wine rack
coffee table
My fav! A table made of an old gym floor. Fun!
Tony has also made several cool picture frames out of old doors – you can see the door jam or hinge on several of them.
You can also see several paintings by Tony on his flickr page. He picks up extra paint from Home Depot that they would otherwise through out for his projects, and also uses discarded objects for his canvases.
a picture of the floors he did in Homeslice
And just for fun, here’s a guitar Tony decorated for a charity – it was auctioned off for $5,000 which all went to the SIMS Foundation. More pictures of that here.
If you are interested in his work, you can email him here or find him on facebook.
18th August, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Austin Energy Power Savers is a cool program a coworker was telling me she had signed up for. According to AE’s website,when you sign up to be a Power Saver Volunteer, Austin Energy will contact you up to ten times during the summer(you pick the method of contact – telephone, email or text message). When they contact you, they will ask you to take four actions to use less electricity between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm:
It’s completely voluntary, so there’s no penalty for signing up and then running your dishwasher when they ask you not to, it’s just a nice way to try and help decrease electricity usage. The website also explains that by joining the program and helping to reduce peak demand, Power Saver Volunteers are helping to put off building new power generation plants (which would make be bad environmentally, but also would make rates go up).
If you do sign up, you get a free home weatherization kit, including:
Check out the link above to sign up.
4th August, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Statesman has this article today that says Whole Foods will be opening 2 new stores in the next 2 years in addition to the planned new store at the Domain. One will be at the Hill Country Galleria, on Texas 71 and RM 620, and the other will be at the Arbor Trails Shopping Center at South MoPac and William Cannon Drive. The article says:
The expansion comes as rivals, including Sprouts Farmers Market and Newflower Farmers Market , have come to town, promoting themselves as less-expensive alternatives to Whole Foods.
Sprouts has opened four Austin-area stores in the past year and has said it’s scouting for more locations.
One of Newflower’s two area stores is in the shopping center across Texas 71 from the Galleria.
Additionally, traditional grocers, including H-E-B and Randalls, have continued to expand their organic and natural foods offerings.
2nd August, 2010 - Posted by katherine - 1 Comment
The Austin Business Journal had this article today about Caroline Freedman and Lauren McCullough, two Austinites who have started a new company that makes organic baby food, NuturMe. The article says:
The business launched this summer is the result of more than two years of trial and error. But the friends have now perfected the product described as a healthy alternative to traditional pureed baby food.
NuturMe dehydrated, organic entrees are prepared by adding warm water, breast milk or formula. McCullough, who’s worked in the culinary industry, said the foods retain more nutrients in dried form. The meal pouches packed neatly in white, recyclable boxes also take up less room in the pantry.
You can get the baby food at Central Market and Whole Foods in Austin.
21st July, 2010 - Posted by carsi - No Comments
One of my favorite green blogs, Re-Nest, just posted a Green City Guide to Austin, with shout-outs to Casa de Luz, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Austin Farmer’s Market, and Barton Springs. The post even listed places I’ve never heard of, like Habitat Suites, an eco-friendly and centrally-located hotel, and Wildflower Organics, an organic home decor shop. Check it out and see if your favorite green place in Austin is included in the guide.
8th July, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Last weekend I checked out Austin ReStore, which I found out about by reading another blog. The ReStore website explains, “As the costs of building materials rise, house maintenance and improvements become increasingly unaffordable. Austin Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, a building materials recycling and retail center, addresses this problem by providing good quality building materials at reduced prices, as well as supporting the mission of Austin Habitat for Humanity.”
And the website points out the environmental aspect of reusing building materials:
• The U.S. EPA estimated in 1996 that U.S. companies generate 136 million tons of building-related construction and demolition (C&D) waste per year.
• 92% of building-related C&D waste is from renovation and demolition.
• C&D waste is approximately 30% of all solid waste produced in this country, excluding road and bridge debris.
• U.S. EPA estimates that only 20% to 30% of C&D waste is presently recycled.
• About 245,000 residential structures and 44,000 commercial structures are demolished each year in the U.S.
• Landfills and incinerators are increasingly more expensive and problematic to open, operate, and close. One estimate is that it costs $1 million per acre during the life of a landfill.
Guy, Bradley. “The Value of Reusing and Recycling Construction and Demolition Waste.” Ecostructure Winter 2003: 72-78.
Anyone can shop at ReStore and choose from new and recycled building materials, and all proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. Located at 310 Comal Street, the store was a large warehouse with a variety of materials – new and used cabinets, plumbing parts, light fixtures, rugs, gardening tools, new and used doors, lumber, new and used tile, painting equipment, and more. I didn’t have any projects in mind so I mostly just walked around, but I did pick up an old hand towel rack to be mounted by the sink in our laundry room. They also had a ton of new office chairs for $10 and I thought of getting one, but the color wasn’t really my style and I don’t think I’m skilled enough to reupholster a chair. Here are some pics I took of the store:
air filters for $1
collection of plumbing parts
Office chair for $10. They had about 50 of these, all brand new. This one looks like it has a stain but I don't remember seeing that or else I wouldn't have considered buying it - I think it's just the lighting.
part of the warehouse
a nice file cabinet
some old but very sturdy shelves - would be great for a garage
I will be going back for sure!
2nd July, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
National Scooter Co. Inc. is moving its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Pflugerville, forecasting 140 jobs over the next few years in a bid to become the country’s largest maker and seller of scooters and electric bikes.
National Scooter Co. CEO Greg James said he is moving his headquarters from Nacogdoches, about 219 miles northeast of Pflugerville, and some small manufacturing operations from China because the Austin area has the talent, retail market and business-friendly government incentives he sought.
“I couldn’t think of a better place to take the company to the next level,” James said. “Austin not only has innovative talent, but also the culture that is looking for alternative modes of transportation and has embraced the scooter quite well.”
17th June, 2010 - Posted by carsi - No Comments
This month’s business spotlight is on Modesty Hair Studio, located on 11th St. on the east side in the East Village Condos building. Recently, I visited the salon for a trim and to check out all the ways the owners, Naomi and Song, are making their business eco-friendly. Here is a list of some of their greener aspects:
Overall, it seems like the owners are really conscious of their actions and have thought about how they can be green every step along the way in creating their new business. Also, the general experience there was very pleasant for me–the natural lighting makes the place so bright and inviting, Naomi was really helpful and nice, the shampoo and other products smelled great, and I was very happy with my trim. If you’re looking for a high-end salon, this is a great, locally-owned, eco-conscious business to support.
20th May, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
This month’s spotlight is on Barr Mansion, an event venue that not only is the nation’s ONLY certified organic event’s facility, but also does so much to ensure that all aspects of the business are as environmentally friendly as possible. Here are just a few facts about the facility from their website:
I spoke with Valerie and Birdie at Barr Mansion. Valerie told me about how not only does Barr Mansion try to be environmentally aware of the impact of the food served at the venue by using only organic food, but the management also puts an emphasis on buying local, and trying to purchase products that use the least amount of packaging possible. Valerie told me an interesting example regarding the spices the venue purchases – the venue switched from using spices that came in mylar packaging and instead now use spices that come in little containers that can be reused, purchased from a company that uses green energy in their production – a small change that serves as an example of the thought put into everything the facility does.
Birdie spoke to me about some of the cleaning products the venue uses:
“We do use “Earth Friendly” soy-based hand and dish soap (which we purchase from EcoWise). We would rather pay a little more where we can and support another local business, because so much of what we need to source comes from other parts of the country. This is still a new market, so, just finding product that meets our specs can be a full-time job. A fun one, though. We have been known to make our own furniture polish – from olive oil and lemon juice. I have both a “green purchasing” and a “sustainability research” binder that I add to, as I research and then find products and ideas we may want to use in the future. So, yes, I have all the recipes you would need to make homemade products. It’s simple. White vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are the power three, it seems! We also use vinegar/water solution for glass cleaning. It’s not only safer than chemicals, obviously, but it does such a better job at keeping things bright and clear! As far as more “industrial” cleaning methods (disinfecting) goes – we do use diluted bleach for surfaces, etc. There are not a lot of options there, and we need to conform to health board safety standards, so we do use the bleach water solution in moderation & test it’s ppm level (parts per million). We also use a line of products called “The Natural” (i.e. “N-14″ – a degreaser) that we purchase from another local business – Pure Water Stop on 290/71. In this case, it’s not only more localized (less footprint on shipping), but the most economically priced – and it works! Win-win.”
I found it completely fascinating to hear from Valerie and Birdie about all of the ways the venue tries to be environmentally friendly – there are definitely many extra steps they take that I had never thought of.
In addition, I spoke with Abby from Barr Mansion about how the cost of using Barr Mansion for your wedding compares to other comparable Austin venues, and here is what she said:
“Couples need to remember that we are a full-service facility with special, unique touches—wedding consulting services, tables, beautiful teak wooden chairs, organic linens, a large fresh floral arrangement of 200 roses, wedding cakes, wait staff, bartenders, back up ceremony locations for rain plans and in house tent-rentals, a 40-foot tall glass ballroom, a Victorian Mansion, gardens, arches, statues, picket fence, glassware, in house floral design…. and on and on and on…. these are included in our pricing. We include a LOT, so it appears to couples just beginning the wedding planning process that we are expensive—however, we are up front from the beginning about our prices. our facility requires very little in extra decorations, and we include a lot more in our pricing than most venues. There are definitely less expensive ways to get married—paper plates, pulling it all together yourself, less visual stimulating locations, etc. But for an “A Plus” wedding, and an eco-lux wedding—we are the best deal in town.
On TOP of all that, we do include organic catering (including the wedding cakes), which translates into better quality and really only increases our pricing by 1%. Plus we are a sustainable business with a look that no one else comes close to—the gardens and the facilities on the property cannot be matched. It would cost quite a bit of money in added decor, flowers and lighting to achieve the look of an “A plus” wedding at another venue—our clients get this look a regular basis, it is included in our pricing.”
So definitely very cool that you can have an event at the Barr Mansion and know you are making a good choice for the local environment without breaking the bank!
To see some pictures of weddings that have taken place at Barr Mansion, check out these links:
19th May, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Austin Business Journal had this article about Austin company Image Microsystems Inc. getting approval from TxDot to make signs and markers for the state. MicroStrate signs are made from 100% post-consumer, e-waste plastic, which consists of ”plastic found in spent printer cartridges and computer or printer housings, considered valueless to many in the recycling supply chain.” Check out the article for more details
29th April, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The EPA issued a report that states that Whole Foods is the third largest purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S. The company buys 817.4 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually from Austin Energy, enough solar and wind energy to power all of its needs. Check out Austin Business Journal for the whole article.
6th April, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
According to this article, Valence Technology signed an agreement “to supply lithium phosphate batteries to a new line of tailpipe-free, plug-in Mercedes. The prototype is begin designed as part of London Mayor Boris Johnson’s zero-pollution goal.Valence was likely helped in the deal by current arrangements with double-decker hybrid bus builders already using the batteries in London.” Check out the link above for more details.
5th April, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
According to the Statesman: “Prosecutors charged Fifth Generation (maker of Tito’s Handmade Vodka) with two counts of unlawful discharge in September, saying that the distillery near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ’caused or threatened to cause water pollution’ in an unnamed tributary of Dry Creek and violated state laws and rules set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.”
The article also states that “As part of a plea agreement, Travis County Court-at-Law Judge David Crain ordered the business to pay a $50,000 fine, make $11,728 in restitution to a neighboring landowner for damage to his property and pay $1,120 to the state for a sampling analysis.”
10th March, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Today we have part 2 of our spotlight on National Instruments (NI) as a local business improving the environment. In the future we hope to learn more about all sorts of businesses in Austin, and would like to feature one business a month.
Part 1 of our spotlight focused just on the new CFL bulbs NI installed in 2 of their garages. Part 2 is comprised of some interesting measures NI has taken in the past few years dealing with recycling, energy & water use, and landscaping. Below are just a few of the steps the company has taken – I cut some out because reading all of the measures they have taken is a little overwhelming, so I have included what I consider the high points.
Recycling & Waste
General:
Batteries:
Energy & Water Use (remember, the average American house uses about 10,000 Kwh/year)
Landscaping
