Going Green Blog

One hundred eleven teams fielding 136 vehicles get the green flag to compete for a $10 million purse in the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE contest to build a production-ready vehicle that can travel more than 100 miles on a gallon of fuel.

One of the easiest but most-overlooked ways to green any office comes down to managing your paper use. Whether you’re trying to switch to duplex printing or moving toward a low-paper ECM system, here are some simple steps you can take.

The world’s biggest oil companies are not only not investing heavily in alternative energy sources yet, but some are actively scaling back their green programs, according to a new report in the New York Times.

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How many times have you conducted a survey to test consumer likelihood to buy a product or product, and seen encouraging propensity numbers, only to have actual purchase/participation not bear out like the survey predicted? It happens all the time, particularly in the green arena — and it doesn’t have to be that way, says Suzanne Shelton.

FedEx Express and commercial truck-maker Iveco say their road test of 10 hybrid vans in Italy has shown a 26.5 percent drop in fuel consumption and a reduction of 7.5 tons in CO2 emissions in six months of testing.

The number of companies joining a U.N. corporate responsibility initiative last year grew 30 percent, but they lag in extending their commitments to their supply chains and subsidiaries.

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Carbon-intensive mutual funds will become big losers in a carbon-constrained economy because a price on emissions will increase the cost of doing business for the companies in their portfolios, according to Trucost, which ranked the country’s largest funds based on their carbon footprints.

In theory, the benefits of organic gardening far outweigh the disadvantages.  Foregoing chemical fertilizers and pesticides is not only a healthier option, it is cheaper as well.  However, for novice gardeners, chemicals can help make up for inexperience and lack of a green thumbs.  But, certain plants can make organic growing less frustrating (or, in some cases, ridiculously easy).

‘Shrooms

(image via The Age)

Mushrooms are magic…for organic gardening newbies.  Mushroom spores, sawdust and a cool, dark place are the only ingredients needed for a successful growing season. Online retailers sell kits that are already injected with spores.  All it takes is a few hours of soaking the base in water and then a bit of patience.

Rhubarb and Mint

(image via Moosey’s Country Garden

For those whose thumbs only show traces of green, the general rule is, the hardier a plant, the better.  Take rhubarb, for example.  The leaves are poisonous, but the stems tart and tasty.  Better yet, it is easy to grow, and can often be found wild, thriving without any human intervention at all.

The same could be said for mint.  Under good conditions, it grows well without outside influence and will pop up year after year.  Gardeners who want to move on to other herbs might have a hard time actually getting rid of their mint.

Potted Vegetables

(images via Culinary Fool and Grace Magazine)

While some vegetables need room to spread out, others do well in confined spaces like pots.  Potted vegetable plants can be moved to maximize contact with sunlight and can be weeded and watered easily.  Tomatoes and chili peppers both fall into the easily-potted category.

Garlic and Basil

(images via Berkeley Daily Planet and noveleats)

Like other leafy herbs, basil grows well indoors and out.  The sweet-leafed plant responds well to both pot life and a spot in a garden’s general population.  Forgetting to water does not spell the end of a basil-growing endeavor.  The wilted plant is often able to perk up with a healthy dose of water and a few days of sunlight.

Garlic likewise does well in the absence of a gardener’s care.  In addition, it is used as a natural pesticide and fungicide, making it a staple for experienced organic gardeners as well.

Sprouts

(image via sundance moods)

If poor soil, uncooperative weather and pests are keeping your vegetables from thriving, why not take those variables out of the equation.  Growing bean sprouts requires nothing more than some beans, a jar and a dark, cool place.  The process takes only a few days; not enough time for much to go wrong.  That is as close as gardeners can get to instant gratification.

Pumpkins

(image via thehickories.org)

Bigger is seldom better in the world of inexperienced growers, but a few simple steps can make pumpkins one of the easier plants to grow organic.  They respond well to soil mixed with compost and do not need to be watered often.  Tricks like placing straw under maturing pumpkins to keep them off of the dirt go a long way towards a successful season.

Radishes and Carrots

(images via Texas A&M and tiny farm blog)

Radishes are forgiving of imperfect weather and inconsistent watering.  Pests find them attractive, but lightweight garden row covers keep these bugs at bay.  Carrots perform even better in sunny, mildly dry spots.  This vegetable can maintain its vitamin content and trademark sweet taste even if it does not grow to its full potential.

Sweet Potatoes

(image via Vegan Soapbox)

Sweet potatoes do well in soil that is not fertilized.  There is no need to buy seeds, simply cut the slips (sometimes known as eyes) out of an old potato and plant them in the garden.

Peppers

(image via gardenplotter)

Peppers are a favorite of urban gardeners who do most of their growing in pots.  Again, the more controlled environment of a pot allows for easy weeding and watering.  Most species of pepper respond well to sunlight and warm weather and attract relatively few pests.

Rosemary and Fennel

(images via seedfest and tasteful garden)

Fennel is considered both a vegetable and a herb.  It is not difficult to grow and is a popular addition to organic gardens because it attracts ladybugs, which are natural predators of some of gardens’ most insidious pests.

Rosemary is a delicate herb once it is harvested, but in the pot, it performs quite well, as many herbs do, with only basic watering and access to sunshine.  It is possible to salvage a neglected rosemary plant by giving it a few intensive watering and sunshine session.

Even in huge, busy cities, outdoor air is cleaner and preferable to indoor air. Why is that? One reason is that trees and plants are constantly cleaning the air outside. This suggests that the eco-minded homeowner or office dweller should go out and buy some plants - but which ones? With all the hype of “going green”, every plant on the market is being promoted as an air purifier! But not to worry - NASA has conducted an official study on the top 10 air purifying plants, assigning each one a score based on how well they remove chemical vapors, resist insects, and how easy they are to maintain.

The Areca Palm

(Images via Plant Directions, EnvicoGarden)

NASA Purifying Score: 8.5

The top air purifying plant as ranked by NASA’s study is the Areca palm tree. Dubbed “the most efficient air humidifier” by MetaEfficient, the Areca can be counted on to keep your home or office moist during dry times and continuously remove chemical toxins from the air. During winter time, it can literally replace the use of electric humidifiers altogether!

The Lady Palm

(Images via Livick’s Palms, TyTy)

NASA Purifying Score: 8.5

Neck and neck with the Areca palm tree for NASA’s top-ranked air purifying plant is the Lady palm (or Rhapis excelsa.) A versatile plant, the lady can be kept in dry or humid climates (anywhere from 20-100 degrees Fahrenheit) and is fiercely resistant to most types of plant insects.

The Bamboo Palm

(Images via Blue Moon Candles, Plant Importers)

NASA Purifying Score: 8.4

Just a notch below the top 2 air purifying palms is the Bamboo palm (or Chamaedorea seifrizii.) Featured prominently in CasaSugar.com’s “Plants That Purify” series, the Bamboo palm thrives when kept moist (but not wet) in indirect sunlight. Provided these conditions are kept stable, the Bamboo palm can be counted on to purify the indoor air of anywhere you happen to be.

The Rubber Plant

(Image via HowStuffWorks, Great House Plants)

NASA Purifying Score: 8.0

Fourth on NASA’s scoring is the rubber plant (or Ficus robusta.) According to AvianWeb, rubber plants excel at removing chemical toxins (especially formaldehyde) from indoor air, requiring less light than many other plants and outperforming all other ficuses. A word of caution, though: rubber plant leaves can be toxic, so be mindful of that if you have pets roaming around!

The Dracaena

(Images via Natural Surrounding, House Of Plants)

NASA Purifying Score: 7.8

The Dracaena (or Dracaena deremensis) places fifth on NASA’s ranking with a 7.8 score. Bright and radiant, the Dracaena (nicknamed “Janet Craig”) will go to work purifying the air in your home or office as soon as it is brought into the room!

English Ivy

(Images via Overstock, OSU)

NASA Purifying Score: 7.8

If the air where you live has gotten stale and dry, English ivy (or Hedera helix) might be just the ticket! WebMD describes the effervescent plant as “a fix for allergies“, noting that 60% of airborne mold in the room vanished just 6 hours after English ivy was brought in. Ditto for 58% if airborne feces! Those with asthma, allergies, or the desire to breath cleaner, fresher air would do well to give English ivy a shot!

The Dwarf Date Palm

(Images via Just Palm Trees, SftraJan)

NASA Purifying Score: 7.8

While it doesn’t rank as high on the purifying scale as its 3 palm cousins, make no mistake: the Date palm tree (or Phoenix roebelinii)is still a very effective and elegant-looking way to  both liven up the look of a room and lower the concentration of chemical toxins floating around in the air.

The Ficus Alii

(Images via Hionus Greenhouses, Dave’s Garden)

NASA Purifying Score: 7.7

The ficus alii (or Ficus macleilandii) is not as potent in its toxin-removing prowess as, say, the rubber plant, but it is still a fine addition to any home or office where clean air is lacking. While they are not terrible difficult to care for, Plant Care Guru warns that gloves should be worn while handling the plant if you have latex allergies.

The Boston Fern

(Images via Silk Plant USA, Country Living)

NASA Purifying Score: 7.5

Ninth on NASA’s ranking of top air purifying plants is the ever-popular Boston Fern (or Nephrolepis exalta.) Cool and relaxing, the Boston Fern has been called the “most efficient filtering plant” by MetaEfficient.com for its time-tested ability to expel mold and toxins from indoor air. Plus, it’s sure to make any home or office more forest-like!

The Peace Lilly

(Images via Prints of Scotland, Perry & Jaymes Florist)

NASA Purifying Score: 7.5

Rounding out NASA’s list is the peace lilly (or Spathiphyllum sp.) All that’s needed to keep and maintain this beautiful indoor air toxin killer is plenty of water and a modest amount of sunlight. Preserve these conditions at all time and you’ve got yourself an all-natural air purifier that will remain hard at work 24/7!

We’ve been regular in showcasing some of the most eco-fantastic inventions and architecture in the recent past. Be it conceptual or under construction, these buildings did wonderfully well in making sure that our future generations live in skyscrapers that would be self-sufficient and carbon neutral. Staying in green houses is something we all want, but some designers took their designing skills another step forward by designing some luxuriously green hotels, which can change the way we stay when outdoors. Here is a list of 10 such hotels and designs that do add a touch of green in the hospitality industry:

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