All Posts Tagged With: "Energy"

Reware offers new and inventive products that utilize renewable and sustainable energy technologies, from environmentally-conscious clothing to solar backpacks that charge electric appliances. The Profolio, for instance, is one of the latest "juicebags" to be offered, acting like a briefcase but with a revolutionary thin and flexible solar charging system that charges all iPods, cell phones, GPS, cameras, etc. Through "better processes, better materials, and better ideas", they seek to change the way that manufacturers and customers operate.

Community Forklift is low-cost/surplus building-materials supplier that pledges to “lift up communities by making repairs and renovation more affordable for everyone in the community,” “reduce construction industry waste,” “keep reusable materials out of the landfill,” “promote environmentally-friendly building materials and methods,” and “develop career opportunities for nearby residents.” The company’s warehouse, located in Edmonston, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., accepts donations from businesses and private homeowners of countless architectural fixtures and appliances, such as flooring, cabinets, stoves, mirrors, fireplace mantels, wallpaper, bathtubs, trim and molding. Its website provides a “What’s In Stock” list, as well as links to local green-building and DIY conferences and events.

The Amicus Green Building Center is a collection of genuine “green” products, resources, and expert support for the Mid-Atlantic region. Their mission is to create healthy, environmentally-friendly, stylish, energy-smart, and sustainable buildings. Through services like design consulting, energy analysis, and research reports, and offering green products in the way of paints, flooring, kitchen fixtures, lumber, tile and lighting, among others, the center is a able to assist just about any project toward becoming a little, or a lot more, eco-friendly.

Capitol Greenroofs provides design and construction administration services to homeowners, developers, public planners, facility managers, and architects interested in developing a program for a greenroof facility, and helps them understand how the appropriate systems are installed and maintained. They can assist in the creation of a project’s development program, prepare cost estimates and landscape planting plans, and generate construction documents and specifications. To ensure quality control, they oversee project installations, can provide cost vs. benefit analyses, life cycle cost and energy savings projections, and assist in the LEED certification process.

The Transit Riders Action Council is a non-profit organization that works for a better transit system of all forms in the Baltimore Metropolitan region. The council seeks to better the service for MARC train riders by educating them on key points and giving riders a louder voice in the political system to demand capital investment for expanding capacity.

DeConstruction Services, LLC is a Fairfax, Virginia-based company that disassembles single-family homes in an eco-conscious manner — salvaging the maximum amount of reusable materials to save landfill-space and reduce energy-use in demolition. The firm’s website features a list of recent projects, with specifics of each home and each list of materials saved — appliances, flooring, outdoor decks, kitchen fixtures, roofs, etc.

It was a thrill to vote for Barack Obama on Tuesday during the (I prefer to call it) Chesapeake Primary.

I came to my decision about Obama suddenly and with absolute clarity about a month ago, after reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s wonderful book about Lincoln and his cabinet, "Team of Rivals." I was so inspired by Lincoln’s example of brilliant, strategic, and compassionate leadership. The man reached out to his rivals, knowing that they were critical to the work that lay ahead. He readily gave others credit and always took responsibility for anything that went wrong. Because he cared so profoundly about this country, he was unremitting in his drive to prove that self-governance is not an absurdity. He had an easy way with people, was a great storyteller, and could relate in a genuine way to any person.

I know it sounds crazy, but – Lincoln was from Illinois (didn’t quite make Senator), was considered an underdog, and initially underestimated by many. Sound familiar? Just to test my theory, I also read "Dreams From My Father ," Barack Obama’s fascinating memoir of his childhood and early adulthood. He tells of his search for identity and meaning with great candor – Continued