The Green Chamber: Superior Alternative to Chamber of Commerce

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:26:33 GMT

On July 18th, a different kind of chamber of commerce will be born. The all-new "Green Chamber," as it is to be called, will offer "green-leaning" businesses, locally and nationally, the opportunity to work within the framework of the community of sustainability they believe in. Members will soon have ready access to a wealth of online resources such as detailed membership lists from which to network with those of like interests; organize amongst themselves; post jobs; promote novel ideas and initiatives; and more. According to John Reed, Public Relations Director of Elevator Communications, "These companies 'walk-the-talk' by making their companies as green as possible. They have a high ethical standard, a larger vision they bring to their business and personal lives." Perhaps, equally important, it will be each member's implied duty to promote Chamber membership towards other prospective affiliated organizations.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The TH Interview: Roger Duncan, Plug-in Partners

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 09:07:01 GMT

Roger Duncan serves as the Campaign Coordinator for Plug-in Partners, a national campaign for plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) striving to demonstrate clearly the viability of this market by doing the following: garnering support in the form of online petitions and endorsements by city governments across the country; procuring "soft" fleet orders; and developing rebates and incentives. TreeHugger's Eckhart Beatty recently had the chance to chat with Mr. Duncan about plug-ins and the future of automotive transportation. TreeHugger: Why was Plug-in Partners founded in Austin, Texas? Roger Duncan: As one of the more progressive utilities in the nation, Austin Energy has long led the nation in energy conservation. I was asked to see what else we could be doing in the area of clean energy, and I told the City Council we should start a new initiative in the transportation sector since I saw an eventual convergence between the electric and transportation industries. In my capacity as a manager we might be able to take advantage of the abundance of wind and solar potential to power cars. Soon we began seeing a convergence between the electric and transportation industries. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The TH Interview: Chris Bartle of Green Key Real Estate

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:05:09 GMT

Green Key Real Estate is the first and only sustainability-minded real estate business focused on serving the residential market in San Francisco-and one of the first in the U.S. Its president Chris Bartle founded it in 2005. An Ecobroker and associated with the Bay Area Green Business Program, he is dedicated to greening his industry. Chris started selling sustainable businesses, principally in northern California as well as nationally through The Evergreen Group, a company he still runs. (Previously, he was an agent with Zephyr Real Estate and a management consultant with Ernst & Young.) A pioneer in one of the hottest emerging segments of the industry today, Bartle is a humble but persistent business leader, confidently leading the way in the world of green real estate across the Bay Area. He holds a BS Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University, and an MBA from USF. He is a CA Real Estate Broker and a Certified Advanced Green Building Professional with Build It Green. Bartle spearheads the Sustainable Business Happy Hour, a Green Drinks- associated networking and social event held monthly in San Francisco, and has coordinated it for years.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The TH Interview: Jenny Mack, Spokesperson for the California State Automobile Association

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:56:51 GMT

AAA of Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than four million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago. To help build awareness of all the new alternative fuels and vehicles available, AAA of Northern California launched the Greenlight Initiative. The new program will help motorists make sense of all the new options available and encourage the development of transportation choices. We recently had a chance to chat with Jenny Mack, AAA's spokesperson for the California State Automobile Association (CSAA) and the Greenlight InitiativeTM.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

2007 TED Prize Winners Announced

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:22:18 GMT

The 2007 TED prize announcement was made the evening of Oct 30, 2006 in San Francisco, CA. In Ft Mason's Golden Gate Room, a small but quickening crowd assembled to honor next year's TED recipients. The space had been transformed from an otherwise austere conference room to one of suspense and celebration--steeped in dark shades (caterers also all wore dark shades) with whitened branches and plant sculptures only nature can design. It aptly set the tone for the occasion, hinting the eve of Halloween. It was a festive cocktail reception for a ready crowd. Some participants were long-timers. Gary Clayton represented the omnipresent, voice-activating firm TellMe as Chief Creative Officer. All were convivial and ready to experience the dynamic energy behind winners of the next year's prize. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Electronics Recyclers: Keeping E-Waste Out of California

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:01:33 GMT

John Shegerian, a serial entrepreneur, founded Electronic Recyclers of Fresno, CA in 2002 when he realized that the explosion of high-tech had a largely untold story as its downside. Industrial waste associated with its manufacture was attaining unmanageable proportions. With the exponential increase in consumer products built around high-technology in the U.S., societies the world over need to address the collection and reconditioning of obsolete or broken computers, cell phones, etc. In fact, addressing this pressing issue is long overdue. "It's a crisis situation now," John states. But progress is being made. "In California, 65 million pounds of electronic waste has been diverted from landfills," John explains. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

TreeHugger Welcomes Writer Eckhart Beatty

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:42:42 GMT

A freelance business and technical writer in San Francisco, Eckhart has written about the spectrum of marketing material to environmental impact reports documenting original research, to reviews of environmentally progressive cars, such as the Tesla Roadster and the eV1 back in its heyday. He has been involved in the greening of the local Chamber of Commerce. Since 2006, he has been associated with the San Francisco Urban Alliance for Sustainability. In his leisure, he can be found hiking and backpacking around the Bay Area and further afield exploring wilderness areas. In his travels, one project that particularly fascinated him is the Earthship community in Taos, NM.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Eckhart Beatty, San Francisco