Sparkflight Studios

America Recycles Day was celebrated this weekend.  Even if you missed your local events, take a moment to refresh your recycling know-how with ARD's tips and more:  Get a service : sign up for Republic Services curbside pickup, or use Rebel Recyling as an alternative. Use in-home sorters : reusable containers make separating your paper, plastic, glass & metals easier on a daily basis. Use grocery drops: take batteries & plastic bags * to a drop-box at your local grocery ( Fresh & Easy , WholeFoods ). Recycle computers & peripherals:   Blind Center of Nevada serves the Las Vegas Valley. Find recycling locations: Earth 911 has a zip code search for drop boxes or specialty recycling. * Reusable is a better alternative to plastic.  Bring your own, or buy an affordable option in your grocery line. Mark your calendar for November 15 of next year!

Report downloads: Green Building Market & Impact Report 2009 (GBMIR) USGBC Green Jobs Study 2009 (GJS) Some highlights: • By 2050 LEED projects should equate 1/2 of a carbon wedge . (GBMIR) • Green Construction projected to contribute $554 Billion, including $396 billion in wages, to U.S. GDP between 2009 and 2013. (GJS) •  “Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green – and transforming every job in our industry into a green job,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of USGBC. (GJS) • Despite economic flattening, LEED registered and certified floor area in 2009 is estimated to grow by over 40% compared to last year’s totals, for a cumulative total of over 7 billion square feet worldwide since the standard was launched in 2000. (GBMIR) • Total water savings from LEED through 2009 is estimated at 15 billion gallons, comprising 0.5% of annual non-residential water use. By 2030, LEED ...

FREE webinar Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 12:30pm EST This presentation promises to show how green building choices both provide a very high return on investment and a significant decrease in our environmental impact. During this 60 minute webinar a sneak-preview of the Green Building Market & Impact Report 2009 will be presented by the report’s author Robert Watson , GreenerBuildings.com Editor and industry leader. This report is an integrated assessment of the land, water, energy, material and indoor environmental impacts of the LEED for New Construction (LEED NC), Core & Shell (LEED CS) and Existing Building (LEED EB) standards. JohnsonDiversey President & CEO Ed Lonergan will also highlight the importance of sustainability in today’s business environment, offering insights and examples of the company’s work toward improving the sustainability of its customers’ facilities as well as its own. This presentation will detail JohnsonDiversey’s own focus on LEED...

We're excited to to see that the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has a new initiative to support greening businesses. Here's the information from their website : Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009 Time: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Location: EMBARQ® Business and Conference Center at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Take advantage of a brand new benefit at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce ! The Chamber Green Roots program is a one stop resource for increasing the sustainability of your business. All of the information, tools and resources you need to begin and continue making green efforts at your company will be provided. Walk through the member tables at this mini green expo and get first hand, face-to-face, practical advice on how you can achieve a green business designation, increased exposure and recognition in the Chamber's online membership directory through participation in Green Roots. Email Lauren Boitel, lboitel@lvchamber.com or call 702.586.3893 for more information

Live greener and enhance your cash flow. The recent passage of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) opens the door to tax savings for energy efficient home improvements, commercial renewable energy development, and many other green choices. For homeowners, the new law increases the credit rate to 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements and raises the maximum credit limit to $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010. Examples of improvements include insulation; heating or cooling systems; roofs (metal and asphalt); and energy efficient exterior windows, doors or skylights. Qualifying standards for energy efficiency are increasing, so stay tuned. In the meantime, homeowners may continue to rely on Energy Star labels for exterior openings in determining whether product purchased before June 1, 2009 qualifies for the credit. Renewable energy improvements also are funded with the residential energy efficiency property credit as the pr...

There are several ways to make energy efficient improvements to your home, while improving your bank balance.  A few quick links follow: Federal tax credits NV Energy cash rebates NV Energy RenewableGenerations Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) rebates Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) EEMs are offered by federally insured mortgage programs (Federal Housing Authority and Veterans Administration) and the conventional secondary mortgage market (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). More local information is available through Nevada Energy Star Partners .

In recent months, we've noticed a trend in retail packaging design: less is more! No longer limited to eco-boutiques, it's thrilling to see mainstream manufacturers and big box retailers adopting eco-friendly packaging practices. The goal: Less in the Landfill. What we're seeing out on the shelves: Elimination of plastic and shrink-wrap Smaller product labeling (recyclable & recycled, of course) Product labeling attached with biodegradable hemp or jute string (instead of plastic loops) Reusable packaging (paperboard and tins - for refills and repurposing) Compostable bags and clam-shells Flat packs Less on-shelf packaging means effort must be invested on the back-end with protective shipping design. However, this need can be met with recycled and biodegradable products such as Geami Protective Packaging System and compostable cornstarch peanuts*. Get in-depth info about reducing secondary packaging, and more, from the pros on Sustainable is Good . As a consumer, you...