Sustainable Living - Articles - Zimbio

Statik Mountain 2007 Bamboo Collection Catalogue.

Tue, 1 Aug 2007 15:29:00 GMT

posted by statikmountain

With the buzz growing for change in the clothing industry, having the public demanding for a new sustainable fabric, Statik Mountain answered the call with a number of bamboo t-shirts and polos in 2006. When hearing of bamboo used instead of cotton you might think of a rough fabric that wouldn’t be too comfortable. However, our customers who have eagerly already made the switch to our bamboo tops haven’t stopped singing the praises of this amazing fabric. Not resting on our laurels and taking advantage of the great response from our initial offerings, we have created our 2007 bamboo collection.

Early this past month we began to release our “Statik Mountain 2007 Bamboo Collection Catalogue” to over 1000 select yoga, active wear apparel, and eco-conscious clothing retailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. The initial response has been exceptional to say the least. Yoga dealers in particular have found a place in their heart for our bamboo clothing not only because it is in line with their values regarding sustainable living, but the eco-luxury look is quite the fashion of the day.

For the green consumer looking for a yoga or active wear product which speaks about their commitment to the environment, look no further. Simply ask your retailer if they will carry the “StatikBamboo” line from Statik Mountain.

http://www.statikbamboo.com/

Sustainable Practices: Environmental Tips for Green Hotels

Tue, 15 Oct 2008 01:23:00 GMT

posted by StuartinFiji

Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels

This page lists sustainable practices that hotels can implement. Hotels can keep up to date on green lodging news at greenlodgingnews.com. If you would like to encourage hotels you stay at to implement these ideas, consider printing this information and dropping it off at the front desk or mailing it in with the hotel's comment card.

Start a linen (both towels and sheets) reuse program in all guest rooms. One company that sells guest information signs is www.projectplanetcorp.com.
Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators.
Switch to low-flow toilets or install toilet-tank fill diverters. To learn more about low-flow toilets, go to www.plmg.com/crtoilet.htm.
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs in guestrooms, lobbies, and hallways. Use sensors and/or timers for areas that are infrequently used.
Whenever possible, buy food and guest amenities in bulk (i.e., use refillable hair and skin care dispensers).
Educate your staff to turn off lights and turn down heating/air conditioning when rooms are unoccupied. Also, during summer months, to close the drapes.
Install window film to lower heating and cooling loads and reduce glare in guestrooms.
Provide guestroom recycler baskets for newspaper, white paper, glass, aluminum, cardboard, and plastic.
Provide recycling bins both in public areas (i.e., poolside), in the kitchen, and in the back office (including one at each desk) to make recycling as easy as possible.
Buy office and guest amenity products that contain recycled material. For company listings, access the Recycled-Content Product Directory (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/Search.asp) and/or the Recycled Plastics Product Directory (www.plasticsresource.com).
Buy organic, fair trade, cruelty-free guest amenity products whenever possible:
- bedding (www.organiccottondirectory.net and www.fairtradefederation.org)
- hair and body care (www.ecomall.com/biz/body.htm and www.caringconsumer.com/resources_companies.asp)
- coffee and tea (www.transfairusa.org)
- etc.
Use recycled paper products (with high post-consumer recycled content) that are either unbleached or bleached using a chlorine-free process. Minimize the amount of paper used for each guest (i.e., reduce paper size of invoices, etc.). Print with soy-based inks.
Use nontoxic or least toxic cleaners, sanitizers, paints, pesticides, etc. throughout the hotel. Make sure all chemicals are stored safely in a well-ventilated area.
Purchase "Energy Star" appliances wherever possible (Energy Star for Hospitality (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=hospitality.bus_hospitality) provides detailed information about energy saving appliances and monitoring systems). Replace old washing machines with both water and energy conserving models.
If the hotel has a pool and/or hot tub, install a solar water heating system and use pool and hot tub covers when the pool area is closed.
Provide your guests with bicycles, walking maps, and information on public transportation.
Provide reusable items such as cloth napkins, glass cups, ceramic dishes, etc. with all food and beverage services.
Provide glass cups and ceramic mugs (instead of plastic) for in-room beverages. Place cups and mugs upside down on paper doilies (instead of covering opening with a plastic wrapping).
Use daylight exclusively in your lobby, bar, and restaurant for as much of the day as possible. Consider installing skylights if needed.
Donate leftover food to a local nonprofit organization and/or use a compost bin.
If your hotel has a restaurant, consider transitioning it into a Certified Green Restaurant (www.dinegreen.com). Buy organic, locally-grown food and/or plant an organic garden to provide fresh produce for your guests.
Switch to drought resistant native plants in garden areas. Replace mowed landscaping with native ground cover.
Replace exit signs with Light Emitting Diode (LED) exit signs.
Include filter changes, coil cleaning, thermostat calibration, and damper adjustments in your ongoing maintenance plan.
Monitor, record and post rates of energy and water use. Make repairs or replace equipment when rate changes indicate problems.
Use an energy management system (EMS) to tie in air handling units, HVAC, and lighting to prevent conditioning space when it is not necessary.
Create an incentive program to encourage your staff to participate in and improve upon environmentally-friendly practices.
Use proper insulation and reflective roof coverings.
When doing construction or remodeling projects, contact the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) to learn about the nationally accepted standards for green buildings (called LEED). Buy previously used or recycled-content products whenever possible. For company listings, access the Recycled-Content Product Directory (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/Search.asp) and/or the Recycled Plastics Product Directory (www.plasticsresource.com).
Consult outside sources to evaluate the total system when replacing major mechanical equipment (such as chiller, water tower, etc). Often, this can lead to downsizing and other opportunities to reduce both the initial investment and operating costs.
Replace electric package terminal air conditioner (PTAC) units with more efficient heat pumps or other geothermal technologies.
Donate leftover guest amenities, old furniture and appliances to charities.
If available, schedule an energy audit through your local energy provider.
If your hotel has a gift shop, consider purchasing fair trade products. A list of wholesalers can be found at: www.fairtradefederation.org/memwhl.html.
Offer discounted rates to sustainable living/environmental organizations who would like stay at and/or hold meetings at your hotel.

Resources:

Descriptions of available hotel certification programs (http://www.bostongreentourism.org/Certification_Programs.html)
EPA's Energy Star for Hospitality (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=hospitality.bus_hospitality)
Green Seals Lodging Certification (http://www.greenseal.org/programs/lodging.cfm)
U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Certification (http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=64)
EcoLogo for Accomodation Facilities (from TerraChoice and Audubon International) (http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=365)
Green Globe 21 - Sustainable 21st Century Tourism (www.greenglobe21.com)
"Green" Hotels Association (www.greenhotels.com)
Environmentally Sound Hotel Management Links (excellent resource) (pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~epados/hotel/src/contact_ww.htm)
Books on ecotourism and sustainable tourism.
Great example of a green hotel: www.orchardgardenhotel.com.

Sustainable Practices: Environmental Tips for Green Hotels

A North American Sustainable Journey

Tue, 25 Jul 2007 14:52:19 GMT

posted by statikmountain

"How often have we noticed that when we travel we suddenly end up consuming more fast food or junk food from fast food restaurants and convenience stores or notice backpackers who seem to be eco-conscious, but they end up purchasing gear that is not eco-friendly?

It is relatively easy integrating sustainable techniques in an established home setting, but we have observed that once a living situation has become mobile, the eco-friendliness seems to come to a halt."

Statik Mountain is proud to sponsor an initiative like JuntoVenture because of the awareness it promotes within society towards the topic of sustainability and an eco-friendly existence. We have donated our clothes to help the crew achieve their goal of sustainable living, one that we at Statik Mountain also hold dear.

To explain the nature of this project, one can find a great discription on the JuntoVenture website."JuntoVenture will be producing five film cuts, including one full featured length cut that will incorporate information regarding sustainable travel into an unforgettable adventure. The film will document a 60-day trek across some of North America's most pristine wilderness areas.
A two person film crew will follow two seasoned adventurers as they journey across North America via only fuel-efficient modes of transportation with a mission to travel eco-friendly. Along the journey they will encounter many hurdles and personal hardships as they strive to eat only locally grown organic food on the road, try to locate appropriate fuel sources for their vehicle, carry only eco-friendly products, make only eco-friendly purchases, and take the most eco-friendly routes for every encountered situation.

To heighten their experience the two travelers will meet with organic farmers, park rangers, business owners, and ecologists to provide their perspective on the changes that will be needed to promote sustainable travel."

To get more about the project please visit:http://www.juntoventure.org/

To see our Bamboo clothes used by JuntoVenture click on this link: http://www.statikmountain.com/

Statik Bamboo

Mon, 17 Jul 2007 18:42:33 GMT

posted by statikmountain

When we chose to develop our line of fashion forward outdoor apparel using ‘green’ fabrics we decided to focus on bamboo for a number of reasons. If you’ve never felt a bamboo garment before then your in for a big surprise - softer than cotton with a natural sheen of cashmere. Now imagine a garment this soft and comfortable being able to go right into your washing machine that is also biodegradable when you’ve outgrown it. Too good too be true? We thought so too until we learned why.

Bamboo fiber is hypoallergenic, absorbent, and fast-drying. It is naturally anti-bacterial (therefore pesticides use during growth is eliminated) and will not trap odor. Like other natural fibers, it allows the body to breathe as the fabric absorbs the sweat away from the body (hydrophobic). As a result, bamboo fabric stays around 2 degrees cooler in hot weather and also keeps you significantly warmer in the cold. It also is the most abundant (grown on five continents) and is the most sustainable of the natural fibers as it is extremely fast-growing. If there is sufficient rainfall, no additional irrigation is required. And because no pesticides are required for it to grow it can be harvested again and again.

To Learn More about our natural fibre initiatives.... visit our website at:

www.statikmountain.com

Snowing Chicken Feathers

Mon, 22 Jul 2008 21:18:00 GMT

posted by sabjimata
Last week I had to go back to Lancaster to get some more jars. The last time we went, I bought about 35 cases and was hoping this would be enough to hold me over until we got down to Florida. I didn’t know how much time I would have for jam, so I thought 420 jars would be enough. Well, I haven’t had much time for jam, but somehow managed to fill up all those jars. So, back to Lancaster for another 70 cases.

As I pulled into the Lancaster area, it looked like snow. There were flurries everywhere, yet the sky was blue and the temperature was in the 90’s. As I kept driving, the smell of chicken poop strongly filled the air. But that was less curious to me than the flurries were, since farmers fertilize their fields with stinky chicken poop all the tie around these parts.
And then I saw it. A truck filled with chickens so squished together that I thought they were dead. But why would someone transport dead chickens in an open air trailer? No, these chickens were not dead. Just soon to be dead.

As I was driving, I wondered what the other drivers were thinking when they saw this horrible sight. Did the stinky, squelched chicken transport spoil anyone’s appetite? I felt grateful knowing I wasn’t going to be eating chicken--or anything vaguely related to chicken—for my dinner. But seeing the suffering of these chickens didn’t exactly inspire my appetite.
These chickens in transport made me wonder about free-range chickens. Do they get free-range of the transport vehicle or are they shoved into the teeniest of tiniest spaces like the chickens I saw on the road that day?

I had to chase down the truck to get these pictures. I felt like an animal rights vigilante, armed with disgust, compassion and a camera. The whole scene made me think of PETA. And although I don’t agree with everything the group does or advocates, I appreciate that someone is out there trying to stick up for the rights of animals.

After pulling off the highway, I ended up behind some Amish guy driving a team of workhorses. And while I didn’t like the look of the big tank of spray he was hauling, I didn’t have a problem with him using his horses for labor and transportation. Probably PETA would.

It was then that I realized that PETA is kind of like the ACLU…but for animals. While I am not into everything they stand for, I have to support the overall message. Let freedom ring…even for the chickens!buyhumanmade.com