tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:27:07 +0000PriusThanksgivingLexus 400h400hAll about choices I'm making and products I'm trying as I attempt to live a greener life here in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I am doing my best to make good, green choices in my home life and to infect everyone at Solertium Corporation, where I am chief executive officer, with the same spirit.http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)Blogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-9112968598843174900Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:25:00 +00002009-03-27T13:25:54.770-04:00I'm getting ready for Earth Hour, when everyone can vote earth by turning off their lights for one hour. Tomorrow - that's Saturday, 28 March 2009 - at 8:30pm local time, we're hoping that a billion people will join in and help fight global warming. The results of the movement will be presented to world leaders at the upcoming Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Earth Hour started http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/6RZxQHmCPqQ/my-light-switch-is-my-vote.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/6RZxQHmCPqQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-light-switch-is-my-vote.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-6555325778178508674Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:47:00 +00002008-11-20T07:48:26.119-05:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/PFOAe8-V7Po/save-paper-to-save-earth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/PFOAe8-V7Po" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/11/save-paper-to-save-earth.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-1715850320263984850Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:49:00 +00002008-11-04T13:49:48.065-05:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/_B4otuuYfXM/election-results.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/_B4otuuYfXM" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/11/election-results.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-7810375632764562819Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:04:00 +00002008-10-07T11:27:01.485-04:00The World Conservation Congress is happening in Barcelona this week, and two of our projects have launched. Yesterday, IUCN released the Red List, which was generated using the software we built for the Species Information Service. They also have a beautiful new website, with some great search and filtering functionality. About 1 in 4 species are threatened, and I'm glad that the press is http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/aIh-XME43c0/saving-world-through-software.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/aIh-XME43c0" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/10/saving-world-through-software.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-8079936778780851737Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:53:00 +00002008-09-09T12:01:48.175-04:00A bit North of Hampton Roads is Washington DC - a city with one of the worst infant mortality rates in the country. The DC Developing Families Center is a successful birthing clinic in NE DC trying to even the odds. My friend Anne is very passionate about their mission. I give thanks for my friendship with Anne, and hope that learning a bit more about the DCDFC inspires you the way that she http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/PwBgZFUYeLM/dc-developing-families-center.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/PwBgZFUYeLM" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/09/dc-developing-families-center.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-3002301175356632239Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:59:00 +00002008-08-13T18:08:12.548-04:00Yesterday I read about how President Bush is proposing to allow federal agencies to decide whether highway, dam, and other projects might harm endangered species and habitats - without having to seek the opinion of wildlife experts. Fox, enjoy your hen house buffet. Are you kidding me? It's like the Bush administration is getting revenge for being forced to admit that global warning had harmedhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/JkXz3y1WJqY/slash-and-burn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/JkXz3y1WJqY" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/08/slash-and-burn.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-6715535318157970227Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:31:00 +00002008-08-13T18:11:11.598-04:00Okay, I've been avoiding my blog. I admit it. You may recall that I was very excited to be trying out a produce subscription from a local farmer. I promised to give updates, and to let folks know how it all works. Well, it's August now and I am sad to say that the CSA was cancelled. We received produce for a few weeks, including potatoes, fresh herbs, mung beans, eggs, and weekly newslettershttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/1ZjV49-Ppf4/where-have-i-been.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/1ZjV49-Ppf4" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/08/where-have-i-been.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-3513674412455937321Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:29:00 +00002008-06-09T21:38:31.785-04:00Okay, I'm not giving up on living a greener life. I've been working at this for awhile, and it is my firm belief that the easiest way to live more sustainably is to identify things you don't really need. It can be on a small or a grand scale; everything counts. Lately I've been on a kick with straws. Unless you're walking around with a drink in a flimsy cup (or drinking a slurpee or http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/OQgNPf3gAQs/giving-up-green-doesnt-have-to-suck.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/OQgNPf3gAQs" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/06/giving-up-green-doesnt-have-to-suck.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-2267444714307287478Thu, 22 May 2008 17:02:00 +00002008-05-22T14:12:28.927-04:00A bit of a milestone - Rock Port, Missouri is claiming to be the first 100% wind powered city in the United States. Watch an ABC News report on it here!Also along those lines, this month the Dept. of Energy reported that wind power could provide 20% of US electricity needs by 2030. Wind power really seems like a no-brainer to me.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/UfNSR3bOKvI/kudos-to-rock-port-mo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/UfNSR3bOKvI" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/kudos-to-rock-port-mo.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-7619708144740878545Mon, 19 May 2008 20:34:00 +00002008-05-19T16:43:43.605-04:00Our CSA subscription with Ceo Maidin Feirm starts this week. On Thursday, Liz & I will be heading over to the Sacred Grounds Cafe to pick up our first share. In preparation, I went to the library and picked up Jesse Ziff Cool's Simply Organic: a cookbook for sustainable, seasonal and local ingredients. The book looks great, and I can't wait to start trying out some of the recipes.This is our http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/agqpgemLPdo/getting-ready-to-eat-my-veggies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/agqpgemLPdo" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/getting-ready-to-eat-my-veggies.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-7291518624697004526Thu, 15 May 2008 15:51:00 +00002008-05-15T16:03:22.355-04:00I love Panera! Even though they're about to break my heart by rotating the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad off the menu, I will still love them. I'm fortunate to have one within walking distance of the office, and on an average week I'm there for lunch 3-4 times. I typically take my lunch to go, unless I can talk Rob or someone else into dining with me. And while I love my lunch, I hate the waste. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/eF6HG7xzncU/i-heart-panera-but-could-you-be-little.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/eF6HG7xzncU" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-heart-panera-but-could-you-be-little.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-8377361957851256615Fri, 09 May 2008 01:43:00 +00002008-05-08T21:48:09.789-04:00Our Kiva loans to Abdunazar Uralov and Maria Teresa Rivera Rios are being repaid on schedule.  If you haven't checked Kiva out yet, you should!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/DXgm1uG-WOU/kiva-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/DXgm1uG-WOU" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/kiva-update.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-2503991902949887707Fri, 09 May 2008 01:32:00 +00002008-05-08T21:43:09.636-04:00Monday was a truly momentous day in the Heittman household:  we cancelled our cable TV.  I remember growing up with just the minimum channels, jealous of my friends who got their MTV (I especially felt I was missing out on watching Remote Control, but that's another story), and was addicted when my roommates & I ordered cable at our college apartment.  We're taking a new approach of saving some http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/L3q938tMp50/end-of-era.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/L3q938tMp50" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/end-of-era.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-5434029822533017651Fri, 09 May 2008 01:29:00 +00002008-05-08T21:32:23.066-04:00I've been trying out the Method products lately.  I first remember seeing them in Target, but now they're showing up in the grocery store, too.  First up is Method's go naked ultra concentrated dish detergent.  Two thumbs up - it cleans the dishes easily and my sensitive skin appreciates the lack of dyes and perfumes.  Plus, the bottle seems to be lasting forever, which is always a good thing.  http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/QzHIEMSUic4/methods-go-naked-dish-soap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/QzHIEMSUic4" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/methods-go-naked-dish-soap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-7269811731654342905Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:30:00 +00002008-04-22T14:50:19.631-04:00Perhaps it's fitting that I renew my commitment to my blog on Earth Day. Yes, I've been delinquent, but not because I haven't been doing my best to live a greener life. In fact, I've got a number of products stockpiled to review.I just attended a small environmental trade fair here in New Town, where local businesses and organizations had tables and exhibits explaining their products, services,http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/Qi-luZPRPYo/earth-day-wishes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/Qi-luZPRPYo" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/04/earth-day-wishes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-1331858845533092610Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:16:00 +00002008-02-27T13:39:47.629-05:00My company, Solertium, is a software company, and a number of our employees like to power through their day with caffeine. For Liz, that's Diet Coke - but for everyone else who'd like to be on a caffeine drip, it's coffee.Originally the coffee of choice was anything dark from Starbucks (holiday blend for Matt, Ethiopia Sidamo for Adam...), primarily because it was easy to stop in the local http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/8CvI3bWBUXc/coffee-talk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/8CvI3bWBUXc" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/coffee-talk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-6392797776423354621Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:22:00 +00002008-02-17T11:40:37.880-05:00Yesterday I did a little experiment at the office - I've had my eye on a pair of mugs sitting on Matt's desk. They'd been sitting there a LONG time, unwashed since their last use. They both had white interiors, with a good layer of dried coffee & milk. The top dishwasher rack was pretty empty, and I was curious to see how good a job Ecover Automatic Dishwashing Powder could really do. So I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/AKFQM75Egd0/ecover-automatic-dishwashing-powder.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/AKFQM75Egd0" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/ecover-automatic-dishwashing-powder.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-1312233649519027980Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:42:00 +00002008-02-14T18:03:39.812-05:00Even though the groundhog is calling for another month of Winter, I'm starting to think about cooking again. I kind of get into kicks with the changes of the season - wanting to cook stews and roasts in September and seafood in the Spring. I cook the food I'm craving, and then settle down until the next season comes along. My thoughts these days are turning to Spring vegetables.This past http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/JP1BqmkQaXM/local-harvest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/JP1BqmkQaXM" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/local-harvest.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-473673901804745143Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:35:00 +00002008-01-16T19:52:34.076-05:00Today I made my first loan through Kiva.org, a fabulous online site that allows us to connect with and loan money to people and small businesses in developing countries. They've had so much press lately (I saw it on the Today Show last week) that they are limiting people to making $25 loans so everyone can have a chance to participate. I loaned $25 to Maria Teresa Rivera Rios, who lives in http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/bRg479tDQoU/kivaorg-loans-that-change-lives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/bRg479tDQoU" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/01/kivaorg-loans-that-change-lives.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-1403504567125402713Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:36:00 +00002008-02-17T11:41:17.893-05:00At some point in the next 2 to 10 years, I know that I'm going to end up building something. Whether it's a new home or an office, I want to get up to speed now on things like renewable resources, architectural salvage, resource & energy efficiency, indoor air quality. Oh, and identifying how to build it affordably (yet another type of "green"). Today, I'm thinking about cork floors. Which http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/R8J9TY0aTg8/building-green.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/R8J9TY0aTg8" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/01/building-green.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-51082435307085717Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:56:00 +00002008-01-13T22:04:38.769-05:00Just wanted to drop a line to say that I'm still a fan - if not an even bigger fan - of both Ecos Magnolia & Lily Laundry Detergent and Ecover Delicate Wash. I'm just about to start my second bottle of the Ecover , and still have a third of the Ecos. Our clothes, bedding, towels, etc. all come out great, and these bottles just seem to last forever.One thing - I ran a load in the dryer (after http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/M7Fef-wYRxw/ecos-ecover-delicate-laundry-deterget.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/M7Fef-wYRxw" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/01/ecos-ecover-delicate-laundry-deterget.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-6504758568997403726Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:45:00 +00002008-01-13T22:01:26.434-05:00I'm sad to say that I was unimpressed with Ecover's Limescale Remover for bathroom & shower areas. The spray bottle instructs you to "Spray directly on the surface and let sit a few moments depending on the degree of build-up. Rinse off with water.""Wow, Alison!" you might say. "It's ecologically friendly, takes moments to work, and there's no scrubbing involved!" I figured it was worth a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/NR4JXpAzdH4/ecover-limescale-remover.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/NR4JXpAzdH4" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2008/01/ecover-limescale-remover.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-3461648204335621137Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:58:00 +00002007-12-11T16:02:14.886-05:00that Capital One is the fourth largest customer of the US Postal Service? Visit here to see some tips on opting out of junk mail.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/6tz5U73p7eA/did-you-know.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/6tz5U73p7eA" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2007/12/did-you-know.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-1374873049177677394Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:23:00 +00002007-12-11T15:49:57.420-05:00There are a lot of small choices you can make in your working life that, when added up, can go a long way. A lot of those choices contributed to my super fantastic metric on our office's paper consumption.Solertium is a software company. I think that you can make smart software choices to affect your bottom green line.For example, take invoicing. I have always used e-mail to deliver our http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/DwQMtsdsw9o/office-musings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/DwQMtsdsw9o" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2007/12/office-musings.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3609257188961864049.post-7789165614385284146Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:37:00 +00002007-12-11T09:51:44.220-05:00I've been using Ecos Magnolia & Lily laundry detergent for a good month now, and have been very pleased with it. I looked on the website to find my specific bottle, but couldn't. It is labelled "Ultra Original Formula" and "HE", with 128 fl. oz. for 64 loads.Read the directions before using: it only calls for half a cap (there's a line, it's 2 fl. oz.) for full loads, and less for smaller http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~3/OkKzxaAOuIw/ecos-laundry-detergent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alison Heittman)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LivingTheGreenLifeInHamptonRoads/~4/OkKzxaAOuIw" height="1" width="1"/>http://hrgreenlife.blogspot.com/2007/12/ecos-laundry-detergent.html