Tierra Ideas, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, creates the products below using leather aircraft seat covers, aircraft fabrics, aircraft curtains, tire inner tubes and more:

Business card holder from recycled tire inner tubes

BUSINESS CARD HOLDER /// Made of recycled tractor tire inner tubes gathered up from Siler City, North Carolina

Leather wallet made from recycled airline seats

MEN’S LEATHER WALLET /// See more HERE on Flickr. Made from recycled leather aircraft seat covers.

Recycled Handbags from airline fabrics

COMMUTER PURSE /// See more HERE on Flickr.  The Commuter Purse has three pockets and an adjustable shoulder strap.  Designed with a utilitarian purpose in mind for quick travel.  Size is 7 1/4 in. wide x 10 in. tall.

Eco-friendly luggage from airline materials

CONCOURSE BAG /// See more HERE on Flickr.  The Concourse holds an iPad or Kindle comfortably.  Has a slider for shoulder strap adjustment.

Love this eco-friendly luggage!

TURBO DUFFLE BAG /// See more HERE on Flickr.  At 21 inches long, this one’s for overnight travel.  It’s got a classic look with nickel plated hardware.

There are more products offered by Tierra Ideas on their website, and you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

About Tierra Ideas:

The company was founded in 2009 with the aim of creating unique, durable eco-friendly luggage and travel bags from materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.  Materials are sourced locally in Raleigh, North Carolina – an area with a long history in the textile industry.  Recently, Tierra Ideas partnered with Delta Airlines to create the eco-friendly luggage and bags above using 100% recycled aircraft curtains and seat back covers, donated by Delta Air Lines.

The idea is taking off, so to speak, with many more of these eco-friendly bags to be created!

Learn about Property Assessed Clean Energy Loans

If you are not aware of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans, you are not alone.  The program was established three years ago to allow financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs via long-term property tax assessments.

With no money down, property owners can install solar panels, wind energy and more, paying off their investments over a 20-year period.  If they sell the home before the loan is paid off, it is transferred to the new homeowner.

Unlike a solar lease, property owners do not have to purchase a PACE-financed system at the end of the program – they own it!  Plus, you can enjoy an increased property value as a result.

One of the best things about PACE loans is that they encourage necessary energy investments that both save property owners money on utility bills and reduce overall carbon footprints.

Property assessed clean energy loans are not offered in every state or municipality across the U.S.  The most successful programs operate in Sonoma County, California, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Miami Florida.  In these regions, financing between $50-650 million is available through public and private funding.

You read that correctly – private funding!  PACE programs have been considered as publicly financed through municipal bonds and the like.

Property assessed clean energy loans make sense on a number of levels.  The amount of energy used by buildings in the U.S. could be cut by 15-20% with energy efficiency improvements.  With energy use in buildings accounting for 40% of overall energy use, financing through PACE is a great way for us to advance toward energy independence and reduce nationwide carbon emissions.

For more information visit PACENOW.org.

Do you engage in e-waste recycling?

Its great to live in a world with all the conveniences offered by our electronic gadgets.  But with new models of cell phones, tablets, televisions and more coming out every 6-12 months, consumers are tempted to trash perfectly functional electronics in favor of the newest item.

To minimize impact on the environment, consider electronic recycling when shopping for holiday gifts this year.  Why?  Here’s a snapshot of the problem:

• 4 million iPhone 4S devices were sold on its first weekend, surpassing the record for the previous iPhone release of 1.7 million
• In 2007 alone, Americans trashed more than 20 million television sets, 157 million computers and 126 million mobile phones
• Globally, we generated between 20-50 million pounds of e-Waste in 2006
• The amount of electronic junk has tripled world-wide in the past five years.

Electronic recycling is not only environmentally sound, it should be required as a matter of law (in some locations, certain items cannot be tossed in the trash, but not all laws are consistent in this regard).  Did you know that glass electronic screens can be comprised of up to 27% lead?  Circuit boards from computers contain 30-100 times the lead concentration deemed to be hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as mercury.  As a result, electronics sent to the landfill can impact ecosystems by leeching into the soil.

When hazardous chemicals enter the soil from landfills that are not adequately lined, the plants that grow from contaminated soil may be ingested by livestock and/or aquatic life, including fish.

Although the legal requirements for electronic recycling vary from nation to nation, you can be one step ahead.  Know that nearly every part of a cell phone and other electronic devices can be recycled.  You can even make money recycling your electronics because facilities know that recycled materials are less expensive than brand new.

If you are looking for a place for electronic recycling, take your devices into retailers like Best Buy, Radio Shack and Apple.

Biodegradable dog waste bags

Dog owners – rejoice!  There is now a way for you to take your pet for a walk and still be eco-friendly.  We all know that cleaning up after your dog is the proper thing to do.  The problem is that most dog poop bags are made from plastic, which is not environmentally friendly.

With these biodegradable dog waste bags, you can toss the whole package into your compost bin with no mess and no fuss.  We found these baggies from BioBag Dog at OrganicUniverse.com.  For just $1, you can get 10 certified biodegradable bags.  That’s less than $5 a month for eco-friendly poop bags!

According to the official website, the biobag meets the specifications found in ASTM D 6400-99, and is guaranteed to biodegrade rapidly and safely when composted in a municipal or commercial facility.

Yes, you are required by law to clean up after your dog.  But you can at least do so in an eco-friendly manner.  When you use biodegradable dog waste bags, you are making a smart choice.  Plastic bags can take over 100 years to decompose.  By diverting naturally biodegradable waste from entering landfills, food waste, yard waste, paper waste and pet waste can be put to a better use.  But, if any of these items are placed in an anaerobic (air-locked) landfill, their natural ability to biodegrade can be severely diminished.

Instead of hassling with separating pet waste from a bag and flushing it down a toilet, why not throw the bag and waste together into a compost bag?  These biodegradable dog waste bags are fully compostable, and allow for micro-organisms to break down both the waste and bag.  If you don’t want to compost your dog waste, see if you are allowed to put it out with other curbside materials.

A green clean-up for your dog waste?

BioBag Dog is available in bulk size for groups and community park systems.

Solar panels on Fenway Park

While Major League baseball has just come to an end for the 2011 season, fans of the sport know that, in a few short months, spring training will begin again.  Eco-minded fans may worry about the giant carbon footprint of baseball stadiums that require massive amounts of energy to operate 6-7 months each year.  Consider that there are 30 MLB teams, each of which have stadiums that seat thousands of fans.

A new trend is to install solar panels on sports stadiums to use free, renewable solar energy to defray grid-based electricity requirements.  Over the past several years, solar panels on Fenway Park in Boston have helped heat hot water for stadium requirements, saving the equivalent of.  In fact, Fenway Park was the first major league baseball stadium to go solar in the U.S.

This is big for a number of reasons.  Fenway Park is one of the most famous baseball stadiums in the world and home to the Boston Red Sox.  When fans see baseball promoting recycling or solar panels, it rubs off, according to Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist and director of the sports greening program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Since 2008, the Natural Resources Defense Council has partnered with Major League Baseball to create a strategy whereby baseball stadiums can rely on renewable energy like solar power, reduce waste and conserve water.

Fenway Park has gone solar

The solar panels on Fenway Park were installed as part of the stadium’s most recent makeover in 2008.  Fenway is one of the oldest Major League Baseball stadiums currently in use, originally opening in the year 1912.

Since 2008, solar panels on the roof of Fenway Park has generated enough power for 37% of the hot water needs of the stadium.  As a result, the solar panel system helps avoid 18 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. That’s the equivalent of planting 4.86 acres of trees or not driving a car for 43,611 miles.

Nissan Zero Emission Vehicles

This year, the 100% electric Nissan LEAF was released to such enthusiasm that consumers waited months for delivery of their electric car, with overwhelming demand.   But Nissan wants to have a bigger environmental and global impact than just its extremely popular electric car.  Carlos Ghosn, Nissan CEO, has demonstrated a commitment to electric cars through the billions of dollars the company has invested in the technology.

Revenge of the Electric Car shows that Nissan realizes that eco-friendly vehicles is a long term proposition, and the mainstreaming of electric cars is inevitable.

In addition to its commitment to EVs, Nissan has furthered its dedication to the environment through Green Program 2016, which sets forth the manufacturer’s plans and targets over the next five years to increase its focus on low and no-emission vehicles.  Green Program 2016 includes the following focus areas:

1. Reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles and daily corporate activities
2. Increasing use of renewable energy
3. Accelerating recycling efforts.

Nissan has announced that 70% of its research and advanced engineering budget will be spent on environmental technologies in order to reduce CO2 emissions both at its factories and from its cars.  By the end of 2016, the company is aiming to sell 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles.  To accomplish this goal, Nissan will be introducing an additional four EVs beyond the Nissan LEAF, which is currently available.  Further, Nissan desires to be a leading supplier world-wide for EV lithium batteries.

Nissan is also looking to improve fuel economy by 35% and reduce CO2 emissions by 20% for its combustion engine models.  It plans to increase the use of recycled materials in its vehicles by 25%, as well.

Nissan CEO Carolos Ghosn states:

“Nissan wants to be part of the solution toward a sustainable society – for the sake of the planet and as a significant competitive advantage and a strategic differentiator in the global manufacturing sector.”

What do you think of Nissan’s Green Program 2016 goals?  Do you plan on purchasing an electric car in the near future?

Nest Labs Programmable Thermostat

You probably already know that one of the easiest ways to lower your energy costs and save money is to install and use a programmable thermostat.

Yet, many homeowners have not made the switch, in part because of the hassle and… well… because they don’t want to learn how to use a new gadget that does not provide entertainment.

A team of computer experts in Palo Alto, California – led by a former Apple executive – hope to change this situation with the introduction of Nest Labs, a digital “learning thermostat” that includes cool features like a motion-tracking sensor that tells it when people are in the room and adjusts temperatures accordingly.

Its time to reconsider the lowly residential thermostat!

Watch this video demonstrating how to use Nest Labs high-tech thermostat:

Nest Labs hope that their new high-tech thermostat will change the tide with respect to digital thermostats.  Other makes and models of programmable thermostats have not captured consumer attention, in large part because they are difficult to use.  People do not see a return on investment of the time associated with installation and use and thus, stick with what they know and have.

But savings with a programmable thermostat quickly add up.  Consider these facts:

• More than 10% of all energy used in the U.S. – including transportation – is within a home
• More than 50% of home energy usage is associated with heating and cooling
• Each degree a home is kept cooler in the winter, or warmer in the summer equals a 5% energy saving
• A 4 degree shift results in 20% savings:  For a home spending $1,000-1,500 a year on heating/cooling, savings add up to $200-300 annually

The Nest Labs programmable thermostat will pay for itself within a year, and requires little thought or effort on the part of the homeowner!

If you are interested in a Nest Labs thermostat to help you save energy and money, you can purchase one through the company’s website starting in November 2011 (or pre-order today), or go through Best Buy’s website.  You can install it yourself, or hire a professional.

Energy saving tips for the home

Looking to trim your utility bills?  Its easy with a few simple steps! Once you cut your energy and water consumption, your bills will be reduced.  Its a simple equation: save energy and save money.

Here are the top 10 ways to save energy at home:

1.    Install a programmable thermostat.  Instead of trying to remember to turn the heat down when you go to bed or leave for the day, and then back up at other times, a programmable thermostat will do this automatically.  Program it to adjust the temperature about 1/2 hour before waking, or before you get home at the end of the day.

2.    Lower the thermostat in the winter and raise it during summer months.  With a programmable thermostat, this is easy to do!  But with the change of the seasons, try keeping your home 1-2 degrees cooler over winter, or 1-2 degrees warmer during the summer.  This will save heating and cooling costs significantly.

3.    Reduce the hot water temperature to 120 degrees F.  Use less energy to super heat your domestic water.  A maximum temperature of 120 degrees is more than warm enough for bathing or cooking needs.  Added bonus – you increase the safety in the home if you have small children.

4.    Insulate your water heater.  While you are saving money with a lower hot water temperature, make sure that the energy required to heat your water is not unnecessarily lost due to inadequate water heater insulation.

5.    Wash laundry in cold water.  Heating water for laundry is one of the most energy consuming activities at home.  Clothes can get just as clean and fresh in a cold water wash – especially with formulated detergents and high efficiency washers.  Launder in cold water and you’ll save hundreds of dollars each year!

6.    Turn off unnecessary lights and unplug appliances and gadgets when not in use.  This energy saving tip is so easy, it bears repeating.  No need to pay for electricity you are not using, right?  Flip the switches when you leave or go to bed.  Power down and save up!

7.    Seal air leaks and insulate HVAC ducts.  Don’t pay to heat or cool the outdoors!  Like leaving a door or window slightly ajar, air leaks are a major source of lost energy.  If necessary, hire a professional home energy auditor to help you detect and seal leaks.

8.   Install water saving showerheads and/or low-flow toilets.  Save money on your water bills by cutting down usage in the bathroom.  Today’s low-flow showerheads and toilets are so effective, you likely will not notice any change in your bathroom routine, other than the additional savings each month.

9.   Check insulation in the attic and add more, if necessary.  Make sure your home has a thick enough “blanket” to trap heat or keep cool air-conditioned air inside.  As with air leaks, you can save a significant amount of money by retaining more of the heat or A/C that you are paying for!

10.  Use passive solar techniques to warm and cool your home.  Open your drapes in the winter to allow sunlight and warmth to flow in through the windows.  Close them in the summer to block scorching rays from overheating your home.  Either way, you reduce the load on your heating or A/C system, saving you money!

How do your home energy savings add up?  Be sure to share your energy saving tips in the comment section below.

Green kids all season long!

Now, while we might get frustrated with the questioning, when it comes to training by example, children make this incredibly easy for us.

This fall as you begin to make your lists and start thinking about fall & winterization prep, don’t leave the kids sitting in front of the TV, bring them with!  Make them a part of it.  They’ll probably ask you why they are raking the yard with you, which gives you the perfect example to explain composting.  They might ask why you’re changing out all the light bulbs to more eco-friendly carbon fluorescent (CFL) varieties.  And, just like that, your boring, must-do fall activities that were once just tasks to check off a list become fun and exciting family activities that have a built in teaching function.  If you’re not sure how you can actually get them involved, here are 3 easy starting points!

1)            Clearing UP Those Leaves!

This fall when it comes time to start cleaning up the leaves, put the leaf blower away.  Or, better yet, get rid of it altogether!  The emissions produced by a gas powered leaf blower is the equivalent of the emissions produced by a car over a 350 mile drive.  And, if you think about it, all those emissions won’t be spread out over 350 miles.  They’re going to be sitting right in your front yard.  And that’s less than appealing.  So, get some kid-sized rakes (and your sized too!) and make it a family affair to go out and regularly rake up those leaves.

You can make this fun, trust me.  Play games, undo each others piles, collect the most colors.  Turn on your family’s favorite tunes and make it a full out dance party!  After you’ve got the piles together, skip leaving piles of leaves on the sidewalk for the garbage truck and instead, keep them and try your hand at composting!  They’ll love getting a pile started that they can keep contributing to all fall and winter and then you’ll be able to take this and teach them about gardening with good soil next spring.  It’s a never ending lesson!

2)            Sealing UP the House

One of the biggest tips for winterization is to seal up the house.  That covers everything from finding hidden cracks and holes, covering up the windows and making sure appliances like your hot water heater are well insulated.  Make this a game for the kids, a little bit like hide and seek but with a twist.  See who can find the most holes that need to be caulked and keep a running competition going.  Let them help put up window sealing kits, and maybe even let them go an extra step just for the day and hang up blankets while you’re at it for an afternoon “movie night” inside!  There’s nothing quite as fun as turning the entire house into a fort for the day!  Let your kids help you “dress the hot water heater” with putting insulating blankets over it to conserve heat.  See if your kids can find other household items and rooms that could be insulated or blocked off for the winter.

3)            Crafting UP Homemade Door Draft Stoppers

This is one of my all time favorite craft ideas and perfect for a lazy fall Saturday!  Creating door draft stoppers can be as easy and as sophisticated as you like.  For the easiest options, find extra, extra long tube socks and have your kids decorate them with felt pieces, buttons, crafty bead eyes, antennas, old ties of dad’s, scarves of mom’s, anything!  Stuff the sock with something thick and heavy (rice, sand, corn, etc.) and tie it up for the perfect stopper that will keep hot air in and cold air out!  If you’re feeling advanced, you can sew long tubes out of material that matches your home décor and then let your kids have the fun of stuffing them and placing them around the house.  Extra points for whose stopper is the most creative and whose has the best name!

Freelancer Jocelyn Anne is dedicated to helping families live healthier happier lives in the home!  At the moment she’s writing alongside Air & Water, helping them promote a family safe gas water heater that can cut energy cost and use all winter long.

Charging ahead with electric cars

Electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are quickly becoming mainstream options for people looking to save money at the gas pump and reduce CO2 emissions.  But viable options to recharge electric cars are one of the biggest stumbling blocks to charging forward with the new technology.

Short-range trips, like commuting and running errands, can be accomplished simply by topping off the charge on the car’s battery, either at home or via a public charging station.  Many have rapid recharging capabilities, allowing vehicles like the Nissan Leaf to refill up to 80% capacity in 30 minutes or less.

Most fast-charge systems are built using Chademo – a standard developed in Japan – which means “charge and move.”  But this charger uses a connector different from the plugs in most electric vehicles (EVs).  That means that EVs that are compatible with Chademo, as well as ordinary 120-volt electrical outlets, must have two sockets.

Chademo socket and 120-volt socket for fast and ordinary charging of electric cars

Rapid charging of EVs is necessary, as ordinary 120-volt outlets require 10-20 hours to recharge at Level 1 charging.  For Level 2 charging, a 240-volt circuit is required.  The Chademo charging cable is not portable, but is hard-wired to a garage or charging station.  This charger itself is built into the electric car (at an additional cost of about $2,000), while a standard charging cable that can plug into 120-volt outlets comes standard with all electric cars on the market.

A level 2 Chademo charging cable is required for recharging at parking lots and rapid-recharging stations that have been – or will be – installed along highways and freeways.  Currently, there are about 1350 rapid recharging stations for EVs across the United States.  Several technologies exist to help drivers locate charging stations for electric cars.

Admittedly, recharging stations will have to increase in number, price will have to come down for Level 2 charging cables, and an even faster charging time will be required before consumers decide that EVs are as convenient as gasoline powered vehicles.  But we are definitely charging forward with electric cars here in the USA!