Print 8 pages on 1 sheet of Paper with Pocketmod

I found a neat tool today that lets you print up to 8 pages (16 if you print 2 sides) and you can create any type of document like music staff notation, story boards, and other templates available at their site.

http://pocketmod.com/v2/

This Is Green at Green Flamingos

It was an exciting night in the heart of Miami's nascent Design District this Saturday.  

An eclectic collection of architects, designers, bankers, clothing retailers, green gadget enthusiasts, and US Green Building Council members were present to hear various talks. 

Thomas Bache-Wiig, Co-Founder of This Is Green talks about ThisIsGreen.com and how we can each take personal responsibility at the checkout counter.   

The event was hosted by Carl Hildebrand at Zeitgeist Showroom.  

USGBC Launches LEED For Homes

USGBC’s newest LEED® Rating System, LEED for Homes, supports the design and construction of high-performance green homes. LEED for Homes recognizes and rewards builders for meeting the highest performance standards, while giving homeowners confidence that their houses are durable, healthy, and environmentally friendly. 

A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for its occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower utility bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

Read more about LEED homes and the USGBC's upcoming Webinar Series.

Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

Nonstick Pans Bad For Your Health?

EWG ( Environmental Working Group) finds heated Teflon pans can turn toxic faster than DuPont claims.

I just came across an article on EWG's website shows that Teflon pans can easily reach temperatures that releases toxic chemicals. 

The article reads: "For the past fifty years DuPont has claimed that their Teflon coatings do not emit hazardous chemicals through normal use. In a recent press release, DuPont wrote that "significant decomposition of the coating will occur only when temperatures exceed about 660 degrees F (340 degrees C). These temperatures alone are well above the normal cooking range."

Recent studies shows that cookware can reach these temperatures, and higher within 2-5 minutes, and that this triggers the release of some seriously toxic chemicals. The toxic chemicals start being released at 446 degrees F.

And if you've got a stove thats "out of the ordinary hot", at 1000 degrees F, non-stick coatings break down to a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB, and a chemical analog of the WWII nerve gas phosgene.

The EWG writes that the government has not assessed the safety of non-stick cookware. As a result of the new data showing that non-stick surfaces can reach toxic temperatures within 2-5 minuetes, EWG has petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to require that cookware and heated appliances bearing non-stick coatings must carry a label warning of the hazard associated with the use of non-stick pans (Read the Full Article).

So what pans are the safest and best to use? Celebrity chef Emeril has just launched a new Cast Iron product line. 

We also found many other sources that recommend old cast iron cookware, these may actually even improve your health. I think it's a great idea to reuse those old pans your parents or grandparents left you. The only thing you have to remember, is to season your pans properly (tips on how to season).

Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

Want to Recycle, but Don't Know Where?

Earth 911 is a great website for information about not only where to recycle, but also what, and why you should. They've got a great search box, where you just type in what you want to recycle together with your zip code, and you get a selection of recycling stations near you. Check out the website here!

Also make sure that the new products you buy, have a r

ecycling logo on it, that means that its made of recycled material! 

Want to learn more about recycling, also check out This Is Green's Recycling News Section.  Here we take a more in depth look at the three R's, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and talk about some other great products and ways that can help you recycle more efficiently at home and in the office.

One of my favorites is the GreenDisk's Technotrash Can. With this product you can recycle pretty much any electronics and computer related trash. We got one for the office and did a product video review of it. The neatest part is that you order the product (basically a card board box), throw all your "technotrash"in it, close it up, and send it back to Greendisk (shipping is included). Quick and easy, and you can do it all from home.

Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig

Kite-powered ship set sail for greener future

The owners of the MS Beluga, a 462ft cargo vessel, will try to prove that modern steel ships can harness wind power and reduce their reliance on diesel engines. During the journey from Bremen to Venezuela, the crew will deploy a SkySail, a 160 square metre kite which will fly more than 600ft above the vessel, where winds are stronger and more consistent than at sea level.

Its inventor, Stephan Wrage, a 34-year-old German engineer, claims the kite will significantly reduce carbon emissions, cutting diesel consumption by up to 20 per cent and saving £800 a day in fuel costs. He believes an even bigger kite, up to 5,000 square metres, could result in fuel savings of up to 35 per cent. He got the idea while flying a kite as a child, and has now developed the concept into a hybrid of the sailing ships of old and motorised modern craft.



Posted by Thomas Bache-Wiig