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)

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)

We often talk about air quality, but not so often is it focused on your living and work space. Green building, with an eye on energy conservation also, when done right, improves the interior space of your home, office or retail business. From natural light to better air handling, the ergonomics of a building impact every person who walks in. And on the of the simplest things you can do to clean up your inner spaces, involves a new coat of paint. But not just any paint.

It turn out, most indoor paint gives off toxins. Mythic Paint, offering newer cleaner paint, has just landed in Fort Lauderdale.  Read more... (411 words, 2 images, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Florida’s DEP, Department of Environmental Protection, announces some amazing grants. The Executive Office of the Governor is accepting proposals for grant funding under the 2008 Florida Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grants Program. This program provides renewable energy matching grants for demonstration, commercialization, research, and development projects relating to renewable energy technologies and innovative technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency for vehicles and commercial buildings.

Florida imports almost all of our energy, despite being bathed in sunshine, and even being called the “Sunshine State”.  Read more... (283 words, 1 image, estimated 1:08 mins reading time)

How do you change the world? One light bulb at a time. Lighting plays a huge part of our energy use. All of us at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR program would like to wish you, our partners and friends, a happy Change a Light Day today!

October 1 marks the 4th annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day, and we just wanted to congratulate you for either being one of the 1.9 million Americans who have taken the pledge or for participating as one of the nearly 2,000 organizations that have driven pledges since 2006. Together we have collectively saved more than $220 million and prevented the release of more than 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases with lighting alone.  Read more... (479 words, 1 image, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Two recent bits of news has caught our notice, as it seems hydrogen powered cars might just start to become a reality. The first was Honda’s launch of its H powered, FCX Clarity. Though it’s only offered, as a $600/month lease to folks in Southern California, it still represents a start. Why Southern Cali? That’s where they’ve started to build a real hydrogen fuel distribution system.

The second piece of news, is closer to home as Florida DEP, the department of environmental protection, announces the opening of Central Florida’s second Hydrogen fueling station. Florida gains speed in the demonstration of alternative fueling technology. My take is, it’s time to move beyond demonstration. Industry tells us a hydrogen powered future is ten to fifteen years away. Do we have that much time?  Read more... (871 words, 2 images, estimated 3:29 mins reading time)

I’m at the expo, and wow, what a crowd. I can feel myself getting greener by the minute. Working on our Get Green Directory, I’m familiar with many of the exhibitors, but being here is a different story.

Smell the coffee, I’m drinking a cup of ReishiGo. I love coffee and they tell me this cup is healthy for me. Tastes yummy. Did Tamara tell me it has mushrooms in it? Their site says that Reishi, is rich in antioxidants, supports the immune system, helps to eliminate body toxins and balances body functions. Is there caffeine is there?  Read more... (531 words, 2 images, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Tired of driving that gas guzzler? Come out on October 6th-8th at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, as they host the SunDay Challenge, promoting alternative energy technologies. Come out and see electric cars and alternative fuel powered vehicles as they show off their stuff and compete. This is an education EV-ent, all are welcome.

The free event includes performance testing, autocross, workshops and a popular road rally. All types of powered vehicles from solar, fuel cell, electric and hybrid will participate. Visitors to FSEC will be able to see vehicles that are prototypes of future car technologies as well as many available alternative fuel models.  Read more... (525 words, 1 image, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is sponsoring the Farm to Fuel project to develop biofuels crops in Florida. The project is hosting a conference in St. Petersburg in July.

Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services is assisting Florida farmers and ranchers in producing bio-fuel crops to help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. Commissioner Bronson believes that Florida can be a leader in the effort of producing energy from crops and timber because of the vast amount of farm acreage in the state and its mild climate, which permits crops to be grown virtually year round.  Read more... (293 words, 2 images, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)