Solar, wind and other clean technologies are key to fighting climate change. But what do you do if you can’t put solar collectors on your home or buy an electric car or tap into your own windmill? RE Royalties has an answer: invest in “Green Bonds” that help finance investments in renewable energy generation, energy efficiency management and sustainable infrastructure.

When RE Royalties offered to sponsor a post here so we could all learn more about their unique approach to fighting climate change and protecting the planet, I immediately said “yes!” Here’s what I learned by interviewing electronically their chief operating office and co-founder, Peter Leighton, a veteran renewable energy executive with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, including wind energy and more. This year Peter was named as an Honouree to Canada’s Clean50 for 2020.

In a nutshell, what is RE Royalties?

RE Royalties Ltd. is a specialty finance company created in 2016 that provides innovative financing for climate change solutions. It does so by using a “royalty financing model” to build and support renewable and clean energy projects and companies globally. In other words, it collects royalties from the companies it finances, and uses those royalties to build more projects.

With climate change a pressing issue globally, RE Royalties has become an important and innovative source of capital for renewable energy projects. Royalties is a publicly traded company on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “RE,” It is the first to pioneer the royalty-financing model for renewable energy projects.

Green Bonds enable you to reduce your personal carbon footprint and directly fund the growing green economy.

Why invest in clean energy at all? It seems like the market for solar, wind and geothermal is taking off nicely on its own.

Renewables are currently the lowest cost source of new electricity generation in two-thirds of the world. But, we have many clients who still have trouble accessing low cost capital to help them deliver their renewable energy projects. Our goal is to help these clients build more renewable energy while delivering our investors with growth, yield and the opportunity to help the planet.

The fundamental vision of RE Royalties is to:
1. Help build a cleaner and more sustainable world; and
2. Generate a strong, economic long-term return for our investors.

Why do you need investment dollars when governments subsidize companies like yours so heavily?

This is an interesting question and I would like to answer it in three parts.

Firstly, RE Royalties does not receive any form of government subsidy, whatsoever. We pay tax, we pay our employees and our suppliers on a competitive market basis, and the capital we raise is priced based on investor choice.

Secondly, there is a broad perception that renewable energy is subsidized. I would agree that historically, government policy was necessary to develop the renewable energy industry and subsidies were required to get the monopolistic public utilities to encourage innovation. The fact is that today, renewable energy is the cheapest source of new electricity generation in two-thirds of the world and will be the cheapest everywhere by 2030.

Thirdly, I note that on your excellent website www.biggreenpurse.com, you state that you believe that “… the fastest, most effective way to stop polluters is by pressuring them in the marketplace.” I could not agree more!! I would turn your question around and ask it a different way. Why as a society, are we OK subsidizing the fossil fuel industry by not asking them to pay for the negative impact to the planet that they create?

Personally as a consumer, I am happy to pay a deposit fee to encourage me to recycle a pop bottle, or to pay an extra charge if I forget to take my knapsack to the grocery store and have to use a plastic bag. I am happy to pay for transit to get to work, if it is snowing and I cannot ride my bike. I am also happy to pay a premium for organic produce because I think that is better for my family and better for the global environment. In other words, I am already paying for the negative externalities associated with bottle production, plastic bag production, transportation, and industrial scale farming.

Our society has the opposite view of the fossil fuel industry. There is a groundswell of anti-carbon tax sentiment even though we know that global carbon emissions are causing climate change. Just ask the citizens of California, Washington and Oregon whether they would like to remove the subsidy that prevents the oil and gas industry from paying for their product’s negative externalities. This would be like me saying that I don’t want to pay the city for garbage pickup – that I would prefer to just throw it in the woods.

How risky are Green Bonds compared to other types of energy investments?

It is difficult to compare risk across investments unless you have a clear view into all of the details of each investment alternative, and a clear view of the investment risk horizon for each individual investor. The assessment of Green Bond risk depends on the following: the individual investor; the financial strength of the issuer; and the details (terms, conditions, covenants, etc.) of the offering.

RE Royalties Green Bond offering is different from others in the marketplace because the Bonds are senior-secured against the assets of RE Royalties Ltd. Think of this being like a car loan where the bank’s loan is fully secured against the asset, or car.

The RE Royalties Green Bond also pays a fixed annual rate of interest of 6%, paid on a quarterly basis for the life of the bond. This means that a potential investor knows exactly how much they will earn on this investment. Finally, the International Capital Markets Association oversee the Green Bond Principles governing the issuance of Green Bonds and this means that investors can be sure that the bond proceeds will be used only for truly green investments.

Would Green Bonds ever invest in nuclear power companies, given that some who are concerned about carbon see nuclear power as a solution?

Our investment mandate at RE Royalties would preclude us from using the proceeds of our Green Bond financing from investing in nuclear power companies.

Can Americans or Europeans or the Chinese invest, given that the company is based in Canada?

Yes, investors from the US, Europe or China can purchase our RE Royalties Green Bonds, but they will need to have a Canadian investment account to buy and hold the securities. Canadian securities regulations require a high degree of disclosure and transparency, so the fact that we are traded on the Canadian exchange may be an advantage for some foreign investors. The fact that we trade in Canadian dollars may also be some advantage to  US and foreign investors who are looking to increase their exposure to the Canadian dollar. Some investors in very low interest rate environments such as Europe or Japan may also find the 6% yield on our green bonds very attractive.

In addition to solar, wind and geothermal, are there other promising renewable technologies that Green Bonds might help boost?

Our vision is to create a cleaner future by investing in renewable and sustainable energy. We are agnostic to technology, meaning that we will support any technology. We like proven technology and we have a bias for operating projects. This is because we really like near term cash flow!

It is important to note that to meet our goal of helping to build a cleaner and more sustainable world, we are focusing on both renewable and sustainable energy. Put simply, the world’s carbon emissions are very broadly speaking, driven approximately one-third by electricity generation, approximately one-third by building heating and cooling, and approximately one-third by transportation. Currently we are focusing on the electricity generation piece, but we do see lots of opportunity to utilize our royalty financing product to advance projects in the energy efficiency and transportation sectors.

Is the 6% per annum interest rate guaranteed, regardless of how the economy (nationally and globally) performs?

Yes, the 6% interest rate is guaranteed for the term of the bond. There is no relationship between the interest rate and the performance of either the national or global economy.

What is the projected growth rate of the renewables economy over the next 5 to 10 years?

Globally, $289 billion was invested in renewable energy projects in 2018, according to the United Nations. This investment is expected to increase to $534 billion by 2030 according to the UN Environment Programme as of June 18, 2019.

You can learn more about investment opportunities with RE Royalties Green Bonds here.

The post RE Royalties Green Bonds Power Clean Energy appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you’re considering solar panel installation but don’t know how to pay for it, you’ve got to read this post. We’ve teamed up with Ecotality.com, which specializes in “everything solar,” to help you figure out how to pay for the clean energy you want, starting with solar panel installation. Read on!

The number of homeowners considering having solar panels installed on their homes is growing. People love the idea of using clean, non-polluting energy that doesn’t cause climate change or air pollution. They’d like to lower their utility bills, too. No wonder 70% of Americans say they “support a version of California’s rooftop solar policy being mandated nationwide.”

Yet, if solar is so popular, why isn’t there more of it?  One big reason is that many homeowners think they can’t afford it.  We wanted to provide some perspective on the costs and suggestions for how to cover them.

What Could Solar Panels Cost?

There are four elemental aspects when installing solar: solar panels, an inverter to convert solar electricity to current you can use in your home, a controller to manage the system, and batteries to store generated power.

Costs for each of these can differ depending on where you live, what finance options you consider and are qualified for, and how much electricity your home both uses and could produce via the installed solar panels.

Generally, total costs could start at $20,000 and more, depending on how many panels you install. However, before you run for the hills, keep in mind that this is just the “sticker price,” not necessarily the final price you’ll pay.

Once you factor in statewide energy tax credits, company discounts, zero-down financing, and federal tax cuts, you might actually pay for only half that cost. And once the system is installed, your lower or zero utility bills additionally offset the initial cost of your system, which might eventually cost you nothing over time.

For example, say your electricity bill averages $200 a month, or $2400 a year.

Your solar panel installation might cost $20,000 at the sticker price, but various incentives and tax credits mean the actual cost outlay is $10,000.

After a year, your utility bills are zero, which means you’re saving $2400 a year.

In less than 5 years, you’ve paid for your solar panel installation through money you’re NOT paying to your utility. Thereafter, you’re “making” $2400 a year on your system by relying on your own solar rather than power from the utility.

Here’s another way to think of it.

You were already spending $2400 a year on electricity. You shifted that money into payments for solar panels. After 5 years, you paid for your solar system. If you live in your home another 10 years, you’ll actually pocket almost $25,000 in money saved on electricity.

By the way, many states allow solarized homes to sell money back to their utility. Not only can your home’s solar system save you money, but it might make you a little, too.

Available Loans for Solar Panel Installations

One solar panel financing option is solar loans.

Solar financing companies include: Urban Solar Group, Florida Solar Design Group, Sun-Tec, Fun In The Sun Solar, and ESD Solar. Know that obtaining multiple quotes can help you better decide which package best suits your budget. (You can choose to finance the complete cost of your solar infrastructure by using a property as collateral, should a financial company require that from you.)

Why Solar Loans Could Work For You

You will need to decide if you should purchase your panels outright or take out a loan to finance their purchase (some companies also install panels for free, but then charge you for the electricity generated, like a standard utility does – see below). Ecotality believes loans make sense if the monthly savings you get from lower electric bills are higher than the amount of the loan you need to repay monthly.

Typically, solar loans have very similar terms and conditions as other home improvement loans. A few States even extend below-market interest rates that are paired with subsidized solar loans. Additionally, many secured solar loans have a tax-deductible interest, so this also already lets you save more on income taxes.

Solar Leases and Power Purchase Agreements

Solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) allow you to rent a solar panel system without having to purchase it.

With a PPA or lease, it is the third-party owner’s (TPO) responsibility to set up the solar panels on your home. You will pay a below-market rate as payment for the solar electricity for the entire duration of the term. So, instead of paying your utility for electricity it generates from polluting coal and oil, you’ll pay a solar provider for solar power. You still turn the lights on, but the power source is cleaner!

Under this arrangement, you won’t need to worry about having to pay a hefty upfront figure.

However, you will not be eligible for all the tax credits, rebates, and other government incentives available to solar panel owners. These perks go to your TPO. Furthermore, at the end of the lease, TPOs may either remove them from your property or sell them to you. They will also be responsible for taking care of all the solar panel maintenance fees, should there be any.

Compare Your Solar Financing Options

Before you decide to take on a financial product, examine every solar financing option you’re qualified for, including PPAs and solar leases.  Discuss your choices with a financial advisor to tax consultant. Be cautious as you weigh the pros and cons of your options. Look for sites online that discuss solar panel installation costs and present side-by-side computations and comparisons of packages provided by solar providers.

Benefits of Installing Solar Panels

Environment-Friendly – Compared to other available energy sources, solar energy is among the cleanest. It doesn’t pollute the water, nor does it produce greenhouse gases or nuclear waste. It also doesn’t produce noise, ensuring households aren’t bothered by unwarranted buzzing sounds.

Lower Utility Bills – Using your own electricity translates to not needing as much from your usual electricity utility. This automatically means you get to cut back on the amount of money you would have spent on your electricity bills. It also helps that it’s possible to sell unused electricity back to the grid.

Solar Energy Can Be Used In More Places Than You Think –  Really shady roofs? No. But as long as sunshine is penetrative, solar energy can be put to use. For example, you can install solar panels on sunny property near your home, like in your backyard. Panels don’t need to go on your roof to provide electricity to your home.

Ecotality offers many more in-depth explanations of how solar works. They also provide excellent product review buying guides and list solar companies to check out state-by-state.

NOTE: Partners and sponsors enable us to bring you the expert content you need to lead the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own.

The post Solar Panel Installation: Costs, Financing, Loans appeared first on Big Green Purse.

You hate fossil fuels (coal, oil). You’re worried about climate change (who isn’t?). And you LOVE the idea of going solar (it’s great!). BUT…you have no idea how exactly solar works, what it will cost you, or how to find a reliable solar contractor who will do a great job at a reasonable cost. That’s why you need the PickMySolar.com Free Solar Guide. It’s the best guide I’ve seen for helping to explain how solar works and the many options people have for putting solar on their roofs.

In fact, PickMySolar.com’s Free Solar Guide is one of the reasons why I’ve teamed up with these solar experts. I am completely committed to helping us get off polluting oil and coal as soon as possible.

Solar energy delivers the clean electricity we all need, but choosing the right solar system at an affordable price can be time-consuming and even confusing.

Using the guide, you’ll be able to tell if your system is fairly priced – and how to shed extra expenses to bring down its cost.

The free solar guide will also help you make sure that your system is truly designed to fit your needs.

And guess what? If your house isn’t right for solar, PickMySolar.com will tell you. They’re not in business to try and sell you anything you don’t need or can’t use.

What’s So Great About Solar?

We all need electricity. But we don’t need to burn fossil fuels to get it.

Using coal, oil and natural gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and that causes climate change. Burning fossil fuels pollutes the air with smog and tiny particles that can trigger asthma attacks and even heart attacks. And mining coal, drilling for oil and fracking for natural gas is wrecking the environment by destroying Nature and polluting our groundwater.

Solar is clean energy that we can control ourselves.

Plus, putting solar on your home increases the value of your home just about as much as if you redid the kitchen or added a “bonus” room to your house. And because solar reduces your utility bills significantly, it actually pays for itself over time.

No Risk/No Obligation: Download Your Free Solar Guide Right Here 

Downloading your free solar guide puts you under no obligation to actually go solar. It simply gives you a great way to learn more and then get help if you need or want it.

That’s why I downloaded it. I recommend you do, too.

Note: Partnerships with companies like PickMySolar.com enable us to connect you to products and services that will help you live the green and healthy life you want. We wouldn’t recommend them (and partner with them) if we didn’t believe they weren’t among the best. As ever, our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks.

The post This Free Solar Guide Will Help You Choose the Right Solar Company appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Over a million Americans — like Jeff and Sally Barnes, pictured above — have put solar panels on their roof.

Sure, it’s saving them a bundle of money.

But that’s not the only reason why they did it.

They did it because it was the right thing to do to protect the environment and stop climate change.

We’ve teamed up with PickMySolar.com so you can do the right thing, too.

Read more!

Want Solar? PickMySolar.com Can Help…For Free

With all those benefits, no wonder you want to go solar! Fortunately, it’s never been easier to do.  All you need is some information, and some help.

That’s where PickMySolar comes in.

PickMySolar has pulled together this terrific free solar guide that tells you everything you need to know to figure out how to make solar work for you.

But PickMySolar does more.

⇒ At no cost to you, the company will help you design your “perfect solar home.” They consider over 50 factors in determining the best solar energy system for your home.

⇒ PickMySolar will then collect up to 15 bids. They’ll give you the top 3 bids, and help you decide which bid is best for you. Once you have chosen a bid – then and only then – PickMySolar will introduce you to your project installer.  The only installer you ever communicate with is the one taking on your project. The process of finding a qualified installer to do the best job for you couldn’t be simpler.

⇒ PickMySolar will also help you get your system installed in a timely fashion. And once your system is turned on, PickMySolar.com will monitor its performance to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Meet Some PickMySolar People Who Are Helping to Protect the Environment, Too!

Jeff and Sally live in Los Angeles. They wanted to put solar on their roof to offset their “carbon footprint,” the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by their home. Carbon dioxide is a big cause of climate change, and it comes from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.

By working with PickMySolar.com, the Barnes will cut their CO2 emissions by 176,400 lbs. They also practically eliminated their average electric bill. It’s gone from $98 to $5. They anticipate a lifetime savings of $35,894.

Start With the Free PickMySolar Guide

Solar has never been more affordable.

But maybe more importantly, going solar has never been more right to do.

If we want to stop climate change, keep the air clean, and protect the environment, we can’t keep burning coal and oil.

What we can do is switch to solar.

PickMySolar.com makes it easy to get started.

Download their free guide right now.

The post Want to Protect the Environment? Put Solar Panels on Your Roof. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

At Big Green Purse, we advocate shifting your spending to the greenest products and services available. That also means buying from companies that make a difference when it comes to protecting our health and the health of the planet.

As part of our Earth Day service, we are partnering with sustainable food innovator Hampton Creek Foods to shine a spotlight on 5 eco-friendly companies you may not know about.

LOLIWARE

This company was formed in response to the huge amount of waste generated by food and beverage packaging. The zero-waste idea is that you can actually eat the party cups the company makes rather than throw them away.

The cups are made of plant-based ingredients, including seaweed, organic sweeteners, and flavors and colors derived from fruits and vegetables.

Although an edible cup may seem too perishable to be useful, LOLIWARE claims each container can hold a beverage for 24 hours without disintegrating. The product, which you can compost if you don’t want to eat, comes in several different flavors, including tart cherry (pictured above), citrus, matcha green tea, and vanilla bean, as well as an unflavored option.

I haven’t tried LOLIWARE yet myself, but have requested samples for review on Big Green Purse. I’ll let you know how I like it.

Salty Girl Seafood

Do you wonder which fish you can eat without totally depleting the species in the wild?

Salty Girl Seafood wants to help you make sustainable choices. The California-based company sells fish that are wild caught in environmentally responsible ways and “traceable,” which means that they can tell you both where the fish came from and how it was caught.

Salty Girl also partners with FishWise.org, an organization that promotes sustainable business practices that will help ocean ecosystems recover.  All the seafood it sells traceable, sometimes down to the vessel that harvested it, by means of a high-tech tracking code attached to each package.

The company sells both frozen and smoked seafood, in packages like “pacific rockfish with garlic fresh veggies” and “black cod with sweet & smoky teriyaki.”

Sungevity

Sungevity is a solar electricity company that leases, installs, and maintains solar panels on the roofs of homes and businesses.

The idea behind leasing solar panels is simple: many people who would love to make the switch to a sun-powered home or office lack the funds needed to purchase and install the equipment in the first place.

With Sungevity’s lease option, building owners can switch to solar and do the earth some good without investing a lot of money at the beginning. The fact that Sungevity maintains its leased equipment makes the process more feasible for many homeowners.

In addition to conserving the earth’s resources by promoting solar energy for daily electricity needs, Sungevity collaborates with many eco-conscious nonprofit organizations. These partnerships help to spread the word about the benefits of solar power, and they help raise funds for the nonprofits involved. Sungevity also works with Powered by Light, a charitable organization that helps off-grid schools in Zambia and other places make use of clean, sustainable sources of energy.

Better World Books

This online bookstore is doing its part to reuse and recycle on a global scale.

In addition to its drive for green business practices, Better World Books is on a social mission to increase literacy worldwide.

The company rescues books that would otherwise be headed for a landfill and either sells them online or donates them through its many partner programs. For every book purchased through its online store, Better World Books donates a book to a literacy-focused nonprofit, such as Books for Africa.

Hampton Creek Foods

Hampton Creek Foods has been breaking ground in the sustainable food market.

What is Hampton Creek It is not a geographical location or a farm stand, as the name might imply. It is a high-tech food company, pioneering research in plant-based alternatives to traditionally animal-based foods.

One of Hampton Creek’s core ideas is that, if the company creates a great-tasting, affordable product, making the switch to sustainable, healthy foods will be the natural choice for the everyday consumer.

Hampton Creek’s Just Mayo product, made without eggs, is one of its most popular products for these reasons. The company also produces various salad dressings, cookies and even cookie dough that’s safe to eat because it doesn’t contain eggs.

Happy Earth Day!

Creating a more sustainable world happens one step at a time, one eco-conscious decision at a time.

The next time you are in need of a specific product or service, come back to biggreenpurse.com, where you can learn more about all kinds of companies that are making green choices as well as giving back to their communities.

And remember, use your purse and pocketbook to make a difference. When you switch your spending to the best products and services available, you protect yourself, your loved ones and the planet – and you help motivate companies to do the right thing!

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Companies You Should Know About appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Thousands of people in hundreds of neighborhoods from Washington, DC to Washington state are already doing this, using a tried and true method that’s been around for over a hundred years, if not longer: They’re creating “residential purchasing groups,” also called cooperatives or co-ops, and using the collective power of their purses and pocketbooks to negotiate favorable deals from companies that want to do business with them.

Solar Co-Ops

In this case, the purchasing groups are taking shape as “solar co-ops.” Solar panel technology uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar is cleaner than coal, and the supply is unlimited. You never need to worry about oil embargoes, oil spills, or coal mine explosions. Using solar also cuts air pollution and significantly reduces climate change. But here’s the catch: solar has never received the generous federal or state tax subsidies that fossil fuels have. Though the price is coming down, solar still costs more than conventional power.

By going solar via a cooperative group, each participant gets solar panels for 20-30% off the cost of their system. (Do you buy in bulk at Costco or your grocery store? It’s the same principle.) The group:

1) selects a single contractor to install the systems

2) purchases the systems together, but…

3) each participant owns his/her own system and signs an individual contract with the installer.

Benefits? Lots!

No obligation. In most cases, joining the co-op isn’t a binding commitment. Rather, it creates a way for you to review your roof’s suitability for solar panels using Google Maps, and it provides contact information so the chosen installer can get in touch with you and schedule a site visit to provide a free quote.

Find an installer. It is pretty easy to find solar installers in most American cities, and most of them are eager to do business in bulk. In fact, being approached by a solar co-op saves them time and money in marketing to individual consumers.

Save money, improve your community. In addition to making solar less expensive, a co-op can become a positive force for change in the community. Solar co-ops have been able to exert influence over the political process, government agencies, and local utilities to promote other clean energy programs and give utilities guidance on proposed rate changes or the construction of new power plants.

Get More Info Here…

For more information on how to launch your own solar co-op, check in with Community Power Network, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that has organized dozens of co-ops in the Washington metropolitan area, northern Virginia, West Virginia and parts of Maryland. Even if you don’t live in the D.C. region, you’ll find lots of useful information to help you get a co-op started in your community.

See what’s happening in Baltimore, where the Baltimore Interfaith Solar Co-op lets members purchase home solar systems from an installer en masse, negotiating a group rate that is better than if each homeowner purchased a system on her own.

Mt. Pleasant Solar Coop is an association of more than 300 households in Washington, DC’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. Founded in 2006, so far, the coop has installed solar panels on nearly 100 houses – 10% of their neighborhood. (That’s a picture of Mt. Pleasant Solar Co-op co-founder Anya Schoolman, above.)

D.C. Sun (DC Solar United Neighborhoods) is a non-profit that is promoting solar throughout Washington, D.C. They estimate that solar energy could provide about 30% of the District’s electricity needs. Their website offers some terrific resources that will help businesses, nonprofits, congregations and small businesses go solar along with households.

Have you already gone solar? Please share your experience. We’d love to know how it’s working for you. Thanks.

The post Get Solar Panels for 20-30% Off. Here’s How. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

 Nevertheless, businesses are still wasting enormous sums of capital on energy.  In the U.S., it is estimated that just 14% of the energy we pay for gets used efficiently.  According to researchers working for the UK Government, businesses there are collectively wasting up to £7 million/$12 million USD each day on energy! [1] If we’re going to make progress in reducing carbon emissions and engineer a shift to cleaner, greener ways of sourcing power, it is clear that we need to look to energy efficiency first, with businesses leading the way.  Here’s how, courtesy of Secured Energy Bonds plc, the sponsors of this post.

Employees are Key to Saving Energy

  In the United Kingdom, the Carbon Trust – a leading global non-profit organisation dedicated to helping governments, businesses and the public sector speed up the transition towards a sustainable, low carbon economy – is calling for business managers to take control of bottom line waste.  How?  Tap their employees.  Research indicates that less than 25% of workers in the UK have been tasked with helping to save energy in the workplace and fewer than half are concerned about their employer’s energy spending.

 As a result, workplaces are missing out on annual savings of more than £300 million (almost $500 million USD) – savings which could be achieved simply by encouraging workers to adopt the type of behaviors that will lead to less energy consumption and greater efficiency.  Here are some typical savings:

·       Reduce business air travel by 5%: £128m/$213m & 1.5m tonnes CO₂

·       Reduce lighting by 10%: £55m/$92m & 164,000 tonnes CO₂

·       Reduce waste sent to landfill by 5%: £49m/$82m & 115,000 tonnes CO₂

·       Reduce small power use (e.g. kettles, photocopiers, monitors) by 10%: £39m/$65m & 190,000 tonnes CO₂

·       Reduce temperature by 1°C: £35m/$58m & 194,000 tonnes CO₂

 A survey of employees by the Carbon Trust has revealed that 60% of workers would be more likely to save energy at work if they were financially rewarded, and 58% would be more likely to do so if their actions were recognised. [2]

Surprisingly, only 22% of employees know what measures they could take to save energy, and a mere 16% are confident that they have the authority to do so.  Clearly, businesses need to embark on an employee engagement programme that explains what employees need to do, encourages them to look for opportunities to save energy, and rewards them for doing so.

 Any company that undertakes such a program will be richly rewarded in cost savings and increased employee engagement.  Furthermore, employees will feel good knowing they’re doing their part to help meet important goals in reducing the emission of carbon dioxide, a primary cause of climate change and global warming.  Britain is trying to reach its target of a 26% – 32% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.  Greater efficiency through employee engagement is key to achieving this goal.

 Transition to Renewable Energy like Solar and Wind

 So, too, is transitioning to renewable energy sources.  The UK’s Climate Change Act calls for 15% of the nation’s energy to be derived from solar, wind power and other renewables by 2020.  Business and industry have a vital role to play in bringing about these reductions.  For example, Secured Energy Bonds plc recently announced a nationwide programme of rooftop solar projects in 22 English schools; the multi-site development will help reduce carbon emissions by around 560 metrics tonnes and will save the schools £1.4m/$1.7m in electricity bills.

 In most countries, meeting domestic needs accounts for less than half of all energy consumed.  That’s true in the UK too, where domestic energy consumption accounts for only 34% of energy used.  Business and industry consume the lion’s share at 43% while commercial and public premises account for another 18%.  Clearly, however much we adopt clean, green energy in our homes, targets to reduce carbon emissions and use energy more wisely are unlikely to be met unless the commercial and industrial sector joins in.

[1] http://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jul/22/greenbusiness.energy?gusrc=rss&feed=environment

[2] http://www.carbontrust.com/about-us/press/2013/12/bosses-miss-out-on-300-million-energy-and-waste-reduction-opportunity

 NOTE: This post was sponsored by www.energybonds.co.uk/, a subsidiary of CBD Energy Limited.  Sponsorships enable us to provide expert content at no cost to you.  Our opinions remain our own.  Thank you.

The post What Can We Learn From UK Businesses About Wasting (and Saving) Energy? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

WHAT ARE SOLAR CHARGING TABLES?

Increasingly, communities are turning to compact solar energy charging stations to help meet energy demand. One of the most flexible and easy-to-install that I’ve seen is the ConnecTable Solar Charging Station, produced by CarrierClass Green Infrastructure.

The ConnecTable resembles a nicely designed picnic or cafe table with one notable addition. It has an “umbrella” made from photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy into electricity. Sockets on the PV pole let consumers plug in to charge cell phones, iPads, lap tops and other mobile devices. They can also be used by crews in times of emergency to power any number of communications devices.

A big benefit of the ConnecTable is its portability. While some models can permanently be installed at college campuses, office complexes, resorts, parks, or shopping malls, they can also be brought in if an area’s utility grid goes down as a result of a big storm or other natural disaster. While several people can sit around one table, multiple tables can be combined to form a micro grid and backup power source during extended power outages.

As for affordability, qualifying organizations may be eligible for low-interest financing of the tables through the Sustainable Energy Fund. Tables qualify for the 30% investment tax credit offered to businesses that install solar. Colleges can also use designated green funds to purchase tables.

Keep an eye on other products CarrierClass Green Infrastructure (CCGI) has in the works. The company designs, sells and installs solar electric, solar thermal and custom off-grid solar power products for both commercial and residential customers.  As the reliability of traditional power supplies come into question, innovative solar technologies like those being developed by CCGI can be expected to play an increasingly important role in helping all of us stay plugged in.

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The post Solar Charging Tables Power Up Campuses, Malls, Disaster Areas & More appeared first on Big Green Purse.

How about hand lotion made from argan oil and shea butter?

Looking for a non-toxic way to ward off termites?

Or safe and healthy cleansers you can use without getting sick?

Maybe you just want a dose of inspiration to keep you living the green life, or working in your community to make it better.

You’ll find all this, and more, at the annual Green Festivals put on by Green America and Global Exchange, two non-profit organizations committed to creating a greener, more just world.

I spent this weekend at “my” Green Festival in Washington, D.C., browsing the food booths, trying on organic cotton sweaters, slathering my hands with natural cremes, meeting other entrepreneurs, and being reminded why Ralph Nader is still “the man.”

FOOD

I always go hungry to Green Festival because there’s so much good food there to eat. Vegan restaurants set up kitchens in a sort-of restaurant row, offering delicious bean empanadas, gazpacho, various stir fry dishes, and a variety of organic juices. But there’s no need to buy a meal. Throughout the event, which is spread out over one entire floor of the D.C. Convention Center, companies offer tastings of their delicious recipes. On the chocolate front alone, I sampled several of the choices I could also find at Whole Foods or my local food co-op, including toffee crunch from Equal Exchange, salted dark chocolate from Salazon (YUM!), and new all-organic chocolate granola-type bars from Kit (in the Clif bar family).

Elsewhere, you could sample a variety of snack foods made from hemp, plus coconut cookies, organic baby food, and yogurt-based power drinks. O Organics of Safeway was handing out free shopping bags and boxes of its organic chocolate milk. (In case you didn’t realize it, Safeway now carries over 300 products in this USDA-certified organic line.)

ENERGY AND HOME DESIGN

Several companies focused on renewable energy were on hand to answer questions about wind power, solar, and home insulation. Habitat for Humanity was there, too, recruiting volunteers for its various homebuilding projects in D.C.’s Maryland and Virginia suburbs, while Community Forklift was making a gentle pitch to donate reusable home goods – like windows and used paint – to the warehouse they run to provide a market for low-cost building materials. Bill Hutchins, a thoughtful and spiritual architect who also happens to be my wonderful neighbor, explained the unique approach his firm, Helicon Works, takes to ecological design. Just down the aisle, the folks at Sustainable Design Group showed off the custom zero energy homes and additions they are building across the D.C. metro area.

CLOTHING AND FASHION

I loved the fashion options I saw at this year’s Green Festival, particularly the organic cotton yoga wear made by Lila Organics and the Cowl Neck Tops created by Mod Kham. (I bought the one pictured here – $40 on sale at Green Festival). You could also find beautiful turquoise necklaces made in Nepal with Fair Trade labor, and a variety of other jewelry, scarves, belts, bags, t-shirts, skirts, and pants.

CLEANING AND SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Karmalades is one of my favorite green cleaning lines. It’s made by Cynthia Brevil, a bold entrepreneur whose lemon lavender all-purpose cleaning spray works like a charm and is available for only $8.00 at her Etsy store. Go there, and you’ll also find various scubs, room refreshers, and some delightful products for babies, including a heavenly unscented baby butter and lavender onesie wash.

Skincando was there, too. Sara Damelio, the founder, makes balms, lip balms, soap bars and bug repellants that are so effective yet safe, they’re being shipped to our troops overseas as well as being bought everyday by people like me (and you?).

Shea Terra Organics Tammie Umbel was on hand to explain the benefits of her face and body care products and hair treatments. Some of her secret ingredients include argan oil, African black soap, and acadia honey.

Soap Box, with their slogan “soap=hope,” was handing out free bars made from shea butter, sea salt and lavender to promote its cause: for every bar you buy, the company donates a bar to a child in need. Reads the box: “More than 3,000 children’s lives could be saved every day with something as simple as a bar of soap and clean water.

RALPH NADER, STILL THE MAN!
My legs wore out just about the time Ralph Nader was due to take the Festival’s Main Stage. Luckily I got a seat in the audience; a capacity crowd turned out to hear America’s Number One consumer advocate and by the time he started speaking, it was standing room only. Nader launched right into his concerns about the threats facing everyone in the U.S. except the rich and super-rich: lack of health care, extremely low wages, pollution, and unfair labor practices.

Ralph encouraged the crowd to avoid membership in the “American Society of Apathetics” by becoming passionate advocates for heatlh, safety and justice. Taking a page directly out of the Big Green Purse playbook (or was it the other way around?), he urged people to support the green economy by voting with their dollars and shifting their purchases to many of the eco-entrepreneurs exhibiting at the festival. “I’ve never been inside a Wal Mart, a McDonald’s or a Starbucks,” he boasted, “And I get along!”

He urged his fans to start their own consumer watch dog groups. “Infuriation is the solution,” he reminded us, essentially saying: Get Mad, then Get Even!

For more information on exhibitors and when a Green Festival may be coming to your city, visit GreenFestivals.org.

The post Green Festival Offers Great Way to Try Living Green appeared first on Big Green Purse.

But guess what? As climate change increases, it is becoming more expensive to cool your home in the summer than heat it in the winter. Here’s a copy of my 2012 electricity bill, which shows how much electricity I use month to month and compares 2012 overall to 2011. (I have an electric heat pump for both heating and cooling). I use almost twice as much energy to cool my home in July and August than to heat it in November and December!

All of which is to say that, as we face another blistering summer, now is a smart time to think about insulating your home to keep hot air out and cooled air in.

5 WAYS TO REDUCE HIGH AIR CONDITIONING COSTS

The Mark Group, a company based in the United Kingdom but with offices in Philadelphia, Delaware, and New Jersey, is sponsoring this post to let you know what energy-saving options you can take advantage of right now. They include:

1) Home Energy Assessment – Is your attic leaking energy? Your basement? Both? Do your windows and doors need extra insulation? What about the cracks around your chimney? In 60-90 minutes, at no charge to you, the Mark Group will take a thermal photo of your home to help you identify where it makes the most sense to insulate.

2) Home Energy Audit – This is a more extensive analysis of where your home is losing air that’s been heated or cooled. It also tests and analyzes the amount of energy your appliances use. After the audit, you’ll receive a comprehensive home performance report that includes recommendations for energy saving improvements. The cost of the audit depends on where you live; both New Jersey and Pennsylvania help consumers offset your out-of-pocket expenses.

3) Air Sealing & Insulation – Heat rises in the winter and builds up in the attic in the summer. To save energy and money, seal gaps and cracks around the perimeter of the attic floor, where the interior wall studs intersect with the attic floor, as well as around recessed lighting cans, ceiling fans, and other openings. Once all the gaps are sealed, you and your energy advisor can figure out whether you need to add additional insulation to prevent conditioned air from escaping through the attic floor. You can follow a similar process to insulate your basement and crawl spaces.

4) Lighting & Appliances – Take stock of the light bulbs you use indoors and out. A variety of energy-saving compact fluorescents (CFLs) and LEDs can help you minimize the amount of money you’re spending on lighting. Plus, I love the fact that, once installed, many of these bulbs last for a decade or more. I’m too busy to keep changing light bulbs, aren’t you? Likewise, run appliances like clothes dryers, dishwashers and ovens in the cooler evening or morning hours when the heat they emit won’t be quite so noticeable – and send you scampering to crank up the AC even more.

5) Solar Hot Water and Electric – Is solar energy right for you? It depends on the home you live in, what part of the country you live in, and how much direct solar “gain” you can capture on your roof or in a system near your house. An energy audit can also let you know if you should consider solar and how much it will cost.

Summer or winter, insulating your home saves energy, increases your comfort levels, and helps you do your part to save energy and help reduce climate change. You can get much more information from the Mark website. In the United Kingdom, you’ll find them here. In the U.S., start here.

Even if Mark doesn’t have an office in your state or community, you’ll find the website highly informative, and you’ll be able to compare what they offer to similar companies that serve your neighborhood. Note that the Mark Group received the 2012 Super Service Award from Angie’s List. Whomever you do business with, make sure they are reputable, experienced, and affordable.

Full disclosure: The Mark Group underwrote this post in order to let me offer you insights on the importance of insulating your home any time of the year. ARS Rescue Rooter sponsored the helpful link to their tips on improving HVAC efficiency. The opinions expressed are my own. As you know from reading my blog, I am a strong proponent of energy efficiency and believe we should all do as much as possible to reduce the amount of energy we consume. Thanks!

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