GreenFtLauderdale.com tells local stories about people and organizations doing good things in the community. Share your best practices, good deeds, and the people who make a difference. We’d love to show your photos too.

Started in 2004, over 75 local authors have talked about their companies and non-profits. Write an about us page, highlighting how you’ve reduced, recycled, and cleaned up your corner of South Florida. We think being green means communities that care about their future. Wasting less, preserving species, like Sea Turtle and dolphins, setting aside land as green space, using local plants and xeriscaping to use less water. And tell us about all the products you use that save electricity, reduce waste, and lessen our impact.  Read more... (395 words, 3 images, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

How do you measure and track energy use in your building? Have you ever heard of the Energy Star Portfolio Manger? With this tool, you can manage and see energy and water usage in your building, and rate its performance.

Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Whether you own, manage, or hold properties for investment, Portfolio Manager can help you set investment priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance.  Read more... (454 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

The Green Futures Foundation is a non-profit organization that partners with local restaurants to recycle waste vegetable oil into clean burning biodiesel fuel. Proceeds from this fund raising activity are used to fund local green education programs and scholarships for students interested in studying renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living topics.

A simple idea that turns a waste product into needed fuel, Green Futures has hit upon a novel way to incetivize restaurants into greening up their operations.  Read more... (403 words, 3 images, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the home building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss his paycheck, but needed to retire.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time, it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.  Read more... (259 words, 1 image, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

We invite you to join us on April 7, 2011, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, for a Florida 2011 state energy legislation briefing, including an overview of the renewable energy scene and time for open discussion with George Cavros, Esq., and Susan Glickman. Please register today.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) invites you to join us for a webinar on April 7, 2011, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM to learn about what’s happening in terms of energy policy for Florida in the current legislative session – and what’s not. The webinar will be hosted by those directly engaged in Tallahassee: SACE’s clean energy consultant George Cavros, Esq. and our lobbyist in Tallahassee, Susan Glickman.  Read more... (451 words, 2 images, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

There’s a new trend in big cities–sharing bicycles to get around town. Broward County just announced that bike sharing program is about to begin here in Ft. Lauderdale. As a cycling enthusiast, I love the concept and hope to see more people taking a quick ride from the office for lunch. It’s a great lifestyle changer that will save money, gas and congestion. Tourist or local, I hope this takes off.  Read more... (390 words, 3 images, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

On April 19th, Fort Lauderdale’s 93 Rock caught up with Richard Evans, CEO of the Community Greenhouse Foundation, for an Earth Week interview.

Richard spoke to South Florida, highlighting Ways people can be more water, waste and energy efficient in their homes and businesses. Input included how Communities can start to move to be more sustainable and how the Green America Business Challenge was developed. They concluded with turning the foreclosure crisis into opportunity to address our country’s need for energy independence and a plug for the Green Expo 2009 in Fort Lauderdale.

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Join in the fun activities as you learn the easy way about Going Green at the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Utility Advisory Committee’s Green Expo 2009, an amazing celebration combining education, green gardening, cutting edge products, giveaways, and family fun on Saturday, April 25th from 9am -3pm in Stranahan Park, Broward Blvd. & Andrews Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

How does a municipality help its community Go Green? With an outdoor get together featuring environmental booths and displays, plus various foods, educational materials and interactive activities for the whole family. This year’s Green Expo will highlight energy efficiency and water reduction products and practices to help homeowners reduce their electric and water use at home, and introduce businesses to innovative and new products.  Read more... (430 words, 6 images, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

I take no offense (for who am I to be offended) with politicians, critics and laymen alike expressing their concerns over the national debt we will be leaving for future generations. That idea makes me uneasy to say the least, and while this unprecedented economic situation certainly begs the question over what the right solution is, I certainly cannot claim to know.

I do know there is a level of suffering for everyone in this mess: My dad, edging closer to retirement, now sees a sorry excuse for a 401k; Myself, a recent college graduate, struggling to gain footing in an ever-deteriorating job market; The children, who may be oblivious to the widespread hardship many are now facing, but will one day come to realize the full extent of their inheritance.  Read more... (758 words, 2 images, estimated 3:02 mins reading time)

One-third of businesses nationwide use re-manufactured printer cartridges. Recycling your laser and ink jet printer cartridges will reduce the amount of plastic put into landfills. Most cartridges can be recycled up to six times and are guaranteed by most manufacturers to work as well as brand-new ones.

Look at the instructions in the box of your new laser or ink jet cartridge to find out how to recycle your old one. Many companies will provide instructions, packaging materials and free postage if you wish to recycle your old cartridge, which is then refilled and used again.  Read more... (201 words, 1 image, estimated 48 secs reading time)