Living Green

Living Green - Affordable Housing

admin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:07:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Janina Birtolo

Learn about Sustaining Tomorrow Today, an FGCU program that brings students and volunteers together to help create environmentally friendly affordable housing in Bonita Springs, clean up the Cocohatchee Estuary and design native plant gardens. Sustaining Tomorrow Today aims to preserve natural resources, benefit all who live in Southwest Florida and provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas.

Resources:
Sustaining Tomorrow Today: http://ruby.fgcu.edu/courses/jfitch
Florida Green Building Coalition: www.floridagreenbuilding.org/db/
Florida Green Communities: www.greencommunitiesonline.org/about/programs/florida.asp
U.S. Green Building Council: www.usbg.org/LEED/
National Association of Homebuilders Green Building Program: www.nahb.org
Estuary Conservation Association: www.estuaryconservation.org
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program: www.fyn.ifas.ufl.edu
Florida Friendly Landscapint: www.floridayards.org (Great interactive yard design feature)

Living Green-Public Efforts to Go Green

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Kristy Vaughn

Before living green became a catch phrase, many communities around Southwest Florida had taken steps towards eco-friendliness through preservation, the creation of nature trails, and rebuilding habitats. But now the preservationists in Lee County are taking their green ideas into architecture and landscaping. The Six Mile Cypress Slough is one example. By using rapidly renewable construction materials and practicing water conservation, The Interpretative Center at the Slough teaches visitors about what they will encounter on the boardwalk and shows how building green can sustain our plant and wildlife. The center even offers building and remodeling ideas that visitors can take home. The importance of eco-friendly construction is amplified by the Calusa Nature Center, which is a living museum of Florida wildlife. One facet of the multitude of habitats guests will encounter is a butterfly aviary. Here, experts show nature enthusiasts which plants will work best in their backyards to attract and breed butterflies. Greening-up our community begins with a little public effort. And local projects with an eco-friendly twist are a win-win situation for all.

Resources:

http://www.calusanature.com/
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium

http://www.naba.org/
The North American Butterfly Association

http://www.leeparks.org/sixmile/
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

http://www.sloughpreserve.org/
The Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, a non-profit advocacy group for the preserve and The Interpretive Center

http://www.conservancy.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=406&srcid=-2
Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Living Green -- Solar Energy Options

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:35:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Rosie Emery

Despite the fact that we live in the Sunshine State, many people are still hesitant about the feasibility and availability of solar power when it comes to converting their homes or businesses.

The State Government is providing incentives for people to convert at least some portion of their home if not all to solar and the Florida Energy Office is paying a rebate of $4.00 per watt for solar power systems. The maximum rebate for a residential application is $20,000 and for a commercial building is $100,000. This rebate usually covers 40-50% of the to cost to purchase and install a solar power system. In addition to the State of Florida rebate, the federal government is allowing a $2,000 federal income tax credit for a residential system. So just how easy is it to convert to solar and is it really worthwhile?

Resources:

Dell Jones
(c) 904-891-3355
Vice President of Renwable Project Development
Regenesis Power

Steve McCarney
Tel: 239 395 2991
Footprint Energy Solutions
mccarneys@comcast.net

Patrick Agnew
Product Manager
Florida Power and Light (FPL)
239 332 9130
patrick_agnew@FP.com

Living Green -- Green Lodging

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:32:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Rosie Emery

The State of Florida now requires that state agencies and departments under the direction of the Governor many not contract for meeting and conference space with hotels or conference facilities that have not received the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Lodging Program designation, unless no other viable place exists. The program’s designations, called “Palms One, Two and Three”, are awarded for best practices in water, energy, and waste efficiency standards. Several hotels in Southwest Florida have received the Two Palm award and are working towards their third “Palm” level.

For further information about the hotels featured, or for the Florida Department of the Environment you can contact:
Laura M. Comer,
Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator
Florida Department of Environmental Protection - South District
PO Box 2549, Fort Myers, FL 33902-2549
Tel: 239/332-6975 x 170
Laura.Comer@dep.state.fl.us

Kelly Olsen
Director Public Relations
Hyatt Regency – Coconut Point Resort and Spa
kolsen@hyatt.com
Tel: 239 390 4278

Amber Phillips – Manager
Bridgewater Inn
4331 Pine Island Road
Matlacha FL USA 33993
(941) 268 1688
(239) 282-8440 (Fax) (800) 378-7666 (Toll Free)
Email: info@bridgewaterinn.com

Dave Jensen
Jensens Twin Palms
Tel: 239 472 5800
dave@gocaptiva.com

Living Green - Biofuel in Southwest Florida

admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:18:00 GMT

Jan. 14, 2008

The term biofuel is only just beginning to enter our culture’s collective lexicon, but making diesel fuel out of vegetable oil is nothing new. We’re joined by the owner of a local company that’s selling biodiesel, a local man who makes it in his garage
and another man who uses it to power his boat. Join host Jim McLaughlin us as we continue the conversation begun Friday night on WGCU’s Public Television’s new multimedia project Connect!

Resources:

www.naplesbiofuel.com - info and a biofuel e-book is available for purchase

www.biodiesel.org - general info

Related Forum Posts:

Is biofuel the wave of the future?

Living Green - A Day In The Life

admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:17:00 GMT

Writer/Producer:
Christine Buckley

Estero resident Kristin Teschke takes us through her daily “green routine.” Through efforts to minimize her family’s impacts on the environment, Teschke passes on valuable and practical information related to everyday life choices.

Resources:

Calculate your impact – or (http://www.carbonfootprint.com/) carbon footprint -- on the environment. You contribute to greenhouse gases through activities that generate carbon dioxide emissions.

Learn how local power companies can work with you to help the environment.
http://www.fpl.com/environment/commitment.shtml?WT.ac=HM02

http://www.lcec.net/GCH/

Explore Living Green options:

www.thedailygreen.com

Related Forum Posts:

Share your tips for living green.

How do you minimize your impact on the environment?

Living Green - Retrofitting Cars Boats

admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:46:00 GMT

There's a quiet "vegolution" going on in southwest Florida, as drivers discover an earth-friendly alternative to petroleum diesel -- vegetable oil. John Puig, founder of Naples Biofuel, runs his diesel car on used vegetable oil recycled from area restaurants. The used oil is carefully filtered and then heated in a specially-designed parallel fuel system. Less labor intensive is commercially prepared "biodiesel," a vegetable oil pre-treated and ready to use in any diesel engine, including marine engines.

Resources:

www.naplesbiofuel.com - info and a biofuel e-book is available for purchase

www.biodiesel.org - general info

Related Forum Posts:

Is biofuel the wave of the future?

Living Green - Florida Friendly Yards

admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:42:00 GMT

Native Landscaping
Writer/Producer: Rosie Emery

Learn how a yard or community that is landscaped with (http://www.wgcu.org/fllandscape/) Florida-friendly plants benefits the environment by protecting our natural resources while preserving the unique flora and fauna that make Southwest Florida one of the most beautiful regions in the United States. Native landscaping helps to create vital wildlife corridors for many different species including migratory birds and butterflies.

Resources:

John Kiseda
Environmental Education Program Coordinator
Lee County Parks & Recreation
Rutenberg Park Facility
(239) 432-2163

Dee Serage-Century
Coordinator, Landscaping for Wildlife Program
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation
(239)472-2329
www.sccf.org

Susan Scott
Native Landscaping Consultant
Natural Resource Consulting
(239) 292-7032

Florida Landscaping:
http://www.floridayards.org
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods/University of Florida:
http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/
Southwest Florida Water Management District
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/yards/

Related Forum Posts:

Share your tips for creating and maintaining native landscaping.