Business Stories

• All About Goodwill: Miss DC’s Recycling Platform (and How We Can All Take a Stand)

  11 Jan 2010

  Most of us are no doubt familiar with Goodwill and may even be big fans of its thrift shop stores (as is yours truly). But did you know that our local chapter, Goodwill of Greater Washington, is also receiving acclaim for its fashion— that’s right, fashion—sense?

  Bridging the gap between the passé and the present, the organization has partnered with Miss District of Columbia 2009 in a fashion-forward campaign designed to bring awareness to recycling.

  The month-long campaign, is intended to showcase the recycling platform of Miss DC, Jen Corey, as she prepares for the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas on January 30. It’s also designed to generate greater awareness for Goodwill’s mission during its slowest donation season of the year.

  The campaign includes a series of video vignettes on the nationally-recognized Goodwill DC Fashion Blog. The vignettes, which debuted January 8 and run through the 22nd, follow Corey as …

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• Government Eco-Action Mon.: Fairfax Meeting to Address “ABC’s” of Bay TMDL

  14 Dec 2009

  TMDL. No, it’s not some newfangled programming code, but an acronym you’re likely to be hearing quite often nonetheless in the days–and years–to come. Tonight, you’ll have a chance to learn what one local jurisdiction, Fairfax County, is doing to help establish its part of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay. 

  The County will hold a public meeting to address its role in development of the complex EPA initiative, which would set restrictions on nutrient and sediment pollution throughout a 64,000-square-mile watershed that includes six states and the District. A regulatory tool of the federal Clean Water Act, the Chesapeake Bay TMDL will be backed by a series of accountability measures to ensure compliance.

  In a letter to the Water Protection Division, EPA Region III, the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova, offers the board’s input for development of the TMDL. Stating …

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  Holiday Road Trip? Rent a Hybrid

  02 Dec 2009

  Like me, if you live in the city, you might not own a car. To make a road trip during the holidays, you’d have to rent something. This got me thinking about how I could reduce my carbon footprint, and my travel costs, significantly by renting a hybrid.

  It isn’t as easy as you might think to rent a hybrid. Even though the technology has been around for years and many vehicles now integrate it into their engines, very few rental companies make it as intuitive to rent a hybrid as it is to rent an SUV, convertible or economy car.

  Here is a quick breakdown of the best route to rent a hybrid:

  • From THIS site you can view the Hertz “Green Collection” and select a fuel efficient car to rent. Unfortunately, you will find that availability is limited and it

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  Appliance “Cash 4 Clunkers” in DC

  01 Dec 2009

  The Federal government’s “Cash 4 Clunkers” campaign was a big hit with Americans looking to dump old fuel hogs in exchange for efficient new cars. Congress has debated extending the trade-in program to apply to appliances as well. This would mean anyone suffering with high utility bills because of old refrigerators could afford to replace them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the appliance version of “Cash 4 Clunkers” is moving forward through Congress very quickly.

  Thankfully, the DC government is here to save the day for owners of inefficient appliances by offering rebates for Energy Star refrigerators, washers, heat pumps and dishwashers. Starting in April, DC will distribute claim forms for new appliance purchasers that will provide specific instructions and appliance requirements. You can be on the list to receive information on these rebates by going to the District Department of the …

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• Government Eco-Action Mon.: Groundbreaking of “Green Street” to Transform Tiny Town

  30 Nov 2009

  Don’t let the tiny town of Edmonston, Maryland fool you. Despite its size, P.G. County’s minute municipality is on the cutting edge of environmental awareness – as evidenced by the groundbreaking of its new “green street” last week.

  The $1.1 million Recovery Act project (issued through the EPA) will fund the reconstruction of Decatur Street, saving energy, reducing water pollution to the adjacent Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay, and improving local air quality.

  The project came about as the town’s main thoroughfare started approaching its “expiration date.” Edmonston’s Mayor Adam Ortiz, the city Council and residents began exploring alternates to just repaving or resurfacing the road – which had experienced years of devastating floods from the Anacostia due to poor environmental practices.

  Plans for the green street include planting dozens of native trees, installing rain gardens and porous paving to filter rainwater and reduce flooding, building bike

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