Spotlight: SnapTop Market

Now that your Thanksgiving turkey has digested, it is a great time to recommit to your health by eating a locally grown plant-based diet! SnapTop Market is a super-easy and convenient way to do so. SnapTop is a small food market based in Boston's south end, specializing in locally grown produced, baked goods, dairy, and dry ingredients. The best thing about SnapTop is that they have plenty of healthy made-to-order meals, including salads, vegetable pasta, and wraps - this totally takes the effort and angst out of healthy cooking! SnapTop is a BIG time saver, especially during the busy holiday season!

Spotlight: Shake the Tree

Last month my co-authors at Just Us Gals and I hosted a gathering of Boston Bloggers at one of our favorite local boutiques - Shake the Tree. This beautifully curated space on Salem St. in the North End is the perfect spot to find gifts and trinkets made by local artisans. While not all items in the store are locally made, the friendly staff are knowledgeable on the origins of each piece and can easily point you in the direction of a Boston-based jeweler or candle maker. Enjoy!

Businesswomen Taking the Lead on Sustainability in the Corporate World

Cox Conserves recently conducted a survey to determine the state of sustainable solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. The results revealed an interesting gender gap. Apparently, women are more likely to support sustainability initiatives in the work place and supply chain. Some of the specific results included:

Committed to Increasing Level of Sustainable Business Activities:
• Female: 70%
• Male: 62%

Satisfied with Current Level of Sustainable Business Activities:
• Male: 50%
• Female: 44%

Oct. is National Women’s Small Business Month, proving the survey data to be timely. The results show that women-led SMBs currently embrace sustainability more than those led by men. To help further sustainability among women-owned SMBs, Cox Enterprises will donate one dollar to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council for every person that tweets #CoxConservesSMB through Nov. 30  (up to $10,000).

Spotlight: Green City Growers

Earlier this month at BostonEco's Sustainable Home event, I had the pleasure of learning about Green City Growers - a business that "transforms unused space into thriving urban farms, providing clients with immediate access to nutritious food, while revitalizing city landscapes and inspiring self-sufficiency." This gives power to schools, churches, restaurants, and homeowners to build a food-producing farm in any space they have available. It is a perfect solution for those that want to become part of the local food movement but don't have enough resources to build a garden themselves because Green City Growers will install and maintain the raised bed garden space. They also provide urban farming courses and workshops for those that are aiming to be a bit more self-sufficient. Green City Growers is an incredible resource for the greater Boston area, and I look forward to seeing new gardens pop up all over the state!

Tracking My Brainstorms

source image courtesy of Habitually Chic

As part of WeWork's "Track Your Brainstorm" Campaign, I am sharing how, when, and where I get inspiration for Boston Green Blog! 

My brainstorms are a little all over the place. I’m an avid list maker, which is great for capturing ideas on the go. Four years ago, when I founded BostonGreenBlog.com, I had no idea that writing the blog would help me land a writing gig at CBS and inspire the creation of Just Us Gals – a women’s lifestyle blog. Now, I am writing 9 – 12 blog posts per week in addition to working full time as a Sustainable Products Buyer at ClimateStore.com. It’s a lot of work to pack into one week. It is all work that I love – inspiring people to lead more sustainable lifestyles, but it takes a lot of time, so I end up having my best ideas while walking the mile to and from South Station on my way to work.

The walking portion of my commute is the only time of day where I’m not at a screen – even when I’m at the gym or out for a run, I still have headphones in with some type of media going, so my walks are my zen time. I’m able to breathe some fresh air and collect my thoughts. Especially over this summer when the weather was perfect every day, walks were a relaxing and stress-free time to prioritize my goals, plan the day ahead, and simply let my mind wander.

Being an observant person is key to garnering creativity. Even though I walk the same sidewalk, day after day, it’s amazing how many different people I see, or events being set up, buildings being built, and of course, conversations overheard. I use these as tidbits of inspiration to take with me throughout the day. Sometimes, I’ll stop and take a photo of something I want to remember, or add to one of my many lists stored in the “reminders” section of my iPhone. Once I’m at South Station, I hop on my commuter rail to work and boot up the ol’ laptop to get some writing done. Luckily, commuting through South Station is convenient in the afternoon because it is located right near the Melcher St. WeWork location which is a great place to meet other creatives and Bostonians with true entrepreneurial spirit! Its fun to meet so many other wonderful Bostonians working hard to make our community a hotspot for innovators.

Spotlight: EnerNOC

WHAT: EnerNOC

WHERE: One Marina Park Drive, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02210

WHY: EnerNOC stands for Energy Network Operations Center, and is a leading provider of energy intelligence software (EIS). EIS helps organizations buy cleaner energy, manage utility bills, optimize energy consumption, participate in demand response, and manage peak demand. EnerNOC has saved clients millions of dollars through energy efficiency and carbon management, and helped mitigate millions of dollars in costs through energy supply procurement. Strategic energy management is a competitive advantage for our customers, driving positive benefits right to the bottom line. This Boston-based company is a necessary and successful step towards a green economy.

Spotlight: The Well Coffee

source image courtesy of Crimson Cup

WHAT: The Well Coffee House

WHERE: South Station

WHY: This new coffee shop is like no other. It is actually a non-profit organization that combines high quality espresso based drinks with love for community. Patrons get delicious coffee-for-a-cause because each month, all proceeds from coffee purchases are donated to a local non-profit (July is Bikes Not Bombs!). The coffee house is staffed by volunteers which keeps costs down and helps make a bigger impact!

Spotlight: Sustainable Business Network

SBN MA is one of the most important organizations helping Boston's economy grow while becoming more sustainable, ethical, and vibrant. For over 25 years, the Cambridge-based non profit has helped 1,000+ local companies develop responsible business models. Plus, they host great networking and social events around the city - making it easy for anyone to get involved in the conversation on our local, sustainable economy. Check out their calendar for upcoming events, and be sure to check back at Boston Green Blog.

Takeaways from #FutureofNature Investing in Nature: Conservation and the Bottom Line

This past Monday was the second installment of The Nature Conservancy's #FutureofNature series - Investing in Nature: Conservation and the Bottom Line. The evening featured a lively discussion of how well thought out investments can both protect the environment and drive the economy. The evening was hosted by Mark Tereck and Howard H. Stevenson, both of whom have a long history in business and a passion for preserving our natural environment.

Here are the top 10 takeaways from the event:

1. We need more people and more money to be invested in nature.

2. Climate Change and conservation can be addressed collaboratively with big businesses

3. Investing in sustainable infrastructure has a quick ROI and provides "real, hard, cash."

4. Every investment is a bet.

5. Big business CEO's believe in climate change but are hesitant to speak up. We need more people to take a stance on climate change.

6. Preserving something is often cheaper than cleaning it once its already destroyed.

7. American voters need to be louder and more engaged on environmental issues.

8. Its easier to talk about weather than climate because everyone agrees on weather (small talk, anyone?). Frame climate change in terms of weather for tough conversations.

9. Big businesses want to do the right thing. They are not evil. Many CEO's are passionate and are looking for ways to make sure their investments protect the environment.

10. Nature as capital is too often ignored.


We look forward to seeing you at the next #FutureofNature event on June 9!

Startup, Climatestore, Makes Sustainable Shopping Easy

In October, I joined a startup company with the mission of making it fun and easy for people to reduce their carbon footprints. We took on this task by building an e-commerce website with products that reduce electricity use or have a lower impact during manufacture or disposal. We also set up Learn pages that include all of the basics on climate science including all of the latest consensus reports. Another section of the website focuses on personal action: in My Plan, customers can learn about easy, money saving activities they can do to reduce their contribution of greenhouse gasses.

I am excited to announce that we launched ClimateStore.com on Earth Day and are hoping to start making an impact this summer. Join the climate conversation with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Thanks for your support!

Boston Races to Solar

In April, Mayor Walsh launched the Race to Solar, a program for local non-profits and small businesses to increase the adoption of solar power installations and energy efficiency measures. Race to Solar is a partnership with Renew Boston, NStar, National Grid, and Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) to promote energy efficiency upgrades and make solar power more affordable and accessible for non-profits, including houses of worship and schools, and small businesses that own their buildings.

Through the Race to Solar, organizations will be able to take advantage of a competitively priced option for installing solar power. To participate, non-profits and small businesses must own their buildings, have suitable site conditions for a solar installation, and be in good financial standing.  The goal of Race to Solar is to promote and facilitate the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on the buildings of 40 local non-profit organizations, adding approximately 1 megawatt of clean, renewable electric power capacity to Boston and Cambridge.  SunBug Solar was selected as the solar installer.  

To learn more about the Race to Solar and speak directly with program providers, please attend an upcoming technical workshop:

• Wednesday, April 30th, 10am to 12pm, Cambridge City Hall Annex, 344, Broadway, Cambridge
• Thursday, May 1st, 6pm to 8pm, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 239 Harvard Street, Cambridge
• Thursday, May 15th, 6pm to 8pm, Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain
• Tuesday, May 20th, 6pm to 8pm, Carpenter’s Center, 750 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester

Spotlight: Greentown Labs

At last week's Sustainability UnConference, hosted by EcoMotion, we heard from Emily Reichert, the executive director of Greentown Labs. Based in Somerville, Greentown Labs is an incubator for green businesses that also provides prototyping space. Lab space can be difficult to find in cities, even in Boston where there are scientists and creators everywhere. Greentown Labs provides meets this essential need for the next generation of sustainability businesses. The idea, which started with just four companies, is now host to over 40! We love that Greentown Labs truly embraces and encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of the Boston area.

Spotlight: Sustainable Endowments Institute

This week's Green Business Spotlight was inspired by last night's Sustainability UnConference, hosted by EcoMotion. One of the evening's keynote speakers was Mark Orlowski, founder and directer of the Sustainable Endowments Institute - an incredible organization striving to make green revolving loan funds the norm at universities, hospitals, and municipalities. Full disclosure, I interned at the Sustainable Endowments Institute in 2009, where I helped develop the College Sustainability Report Card. Since The Princeton Review and AASHE now also rate colleges on their green initiatives, SEI refocused and directed its energy helping universities create green revolving loan funds with a project called the Billion Dollar Green Challenge.

So, what is a green revolving loan fund?
If an organization has a certain amount of capital they want to invest in energy efficiency upgrades - such as LED lighting retrofits, they will quickly see the money they invested in the bulbs return to them in the form of savings on their utility bills. SEI helps organizations track these savings so that they can then use the savings for more energy efficiency projects. Since green technology is always improving, it is increasingly difficult to reach a point of diminishing returns. Tracking return on investments for green projects is now easier than ever with SEI's new GRITS project management program

Locally, Harvard and BU have green revolving loan funds. And more large institutions are becoming interesting in implementing similar programs!

Earth Day Giveaway!

In honor of the 44th Annual Earth Day, Boston Green Blog has teamed up with the Nature Conservancy to give away an amazing prize pack!!! The prize includes some awesome Nature Conservancy swag and tickets to ALL THREE Future of Nature events.

To enter, finish the sentence "The #futureofnature is ________." and tweet it to @BosGreenBlog and @Nature_ne.

Each tweet that fits that format will be considered 1 entry to the contest. Contestants are invited to enter as many times as they'd like until Noon on Friday, April 25, 2014. A winner will be randomly selected and announced via twitter and facebook later that afternoon.

Good luck and Happy Earth Day!

Mayor Walsh Launches the Carbon Cup

On April 8, 2014 Mayor Walsh announced the Greenovate Boston Mayor’s Carbon Cup, a voluntary program for hospitals, universities, and commercial building committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2020. In order for the City of Boston to reach its citywide target of reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) by 25% by 2020, large building portfolios will need to lead by aiming for a higher GHG reduction target.

“A cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future, as outlined in our Climate Action Plan, requires leadership from every sector.” said Mayor Walsh. “Carbon Cup pledges and winners will represent the cream of the crop for our large buildings, demonstrating what’s possible in energy efficiency, while greening our city and creating quality jobs.”

Those pledging to the Carbon Cup commitment must enroll at least 1 million square feet, with additional tiers of recognition for those enrolling greater than 2 million or 5 million square feet.

“Commercial buildings comprise over half of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.” said Brian Swett, Chief of Environment, Energy Services, and Open Space. “Getting our biggest property owners enrolled could cut emissions by over a hundred thousand metric tons of GHGs, equivalent to ten thousand homes taken off the grid.”

The City is seeking initial pledges and possible Carbon Cup winners to be announced at the Greenovate Boston Community Summit on May 31. Over the summer, the City will work with initial participants to finalize guidelines for reporting and accounting, and continue to source new participants. The Carbon Cup is a part of the larger Renew Boston Commercial/Industrial Strategy for saving energy and bringing down the GHG footprint of Boston’s institutions and businesses. Guidelines can be found at http://greenovateboston.org/resources/actions/mayors-carbon-cup/. Interested entities should contact info@greenovateboston.org.

The Lenox Leads the Path for Sustainability in the Hotel Industry

The Lenox, centrally located in Copley Square, is known for its status as one of Boston's most luxurious boutique hotels. What many don't know is that the Lenox has superior sustainability initiatives. Lowering their carbon footprint has been part of the company's mission since the mid-1980's! They launched the country's first linen-reuse program and has all of their sustainability reports easily available on their website. It is great to see such transparency!

NEWIEE Awards Gala Recap

On Tuesday evening, I attended the Fourth Annual NEWIEE Awards Gala at the Lenox Hotel. It was an inspiring evening that also happened to fall on "equal pay day," or the day to which women would have to work to make the same amount a man would have made in their job in 2013. This added a extra bit of fire to the event which celebrated female leadership in the energy & environmental sectors.

The keynote address was delivered by Karen Gordon Mills the Former Administrator of the Small Business Administration. She spoke to the importance of entrepreneurship and the role of women in the U.S. economy - using the incredibly successful story of Spanx founder Sara Blakely as an example.

The awards were then presented to these very-deserving leaders:

NEWIEE Achievement Awards:

• Alicia Barton, Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
• Janet Gail Besser, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, New England Clean Energy Council
• Elin Swanson Katz, Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut

NEWIEE Leadership Award:

• Patricia Stanton, Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy, Conservation Services Group

Each recipient graciously accepted their award and spoke to the importance of "stepping up," "asking for what you want," and "becoming a good mentor to younger women." Great advice all around!
We then sipped on coffee and snacked on desert. I am excited to see what NEWIEE has in store for their two other signature events this year!

Spotlight: Osmium

Its not often that I cover menswear on Boston Green Blog, but lets be real, women aren't the only ones who shop! Luckily there are some great green clothing options for men in the Boston area. One such brand is Osmium, based out of Stoneham. All of their offerings are made in America, including 80% of their products that are produced in Everett! This helps reduce the customer's carbon footprint since the average t-shirt usually travels through 4 countries before reaching its final destination.

One of Osmium's shirts takes sustainable style to the next level. The Chandler is made of Tencel, an eco-fiber derived from Eucalyptus trees. It is made by breaking down sustainably-harvested eucalyptus pulp with a non-toxic organic solvent, then forcing the slurry through small apertures to create fibers that can be spun into thread. This process also uses 5-10% less water than is needed to process cotton. So, do your part to support the local economy while also being mindful of the earth's resources by checking out Osmium! 

Kiehl's Collects Old Cosmetic Packaging for TerraCycle

People who purchase Kiehl’s products in Boston can help keep recyclables out of landfills by bringing their empty containers to the store at 112 Newbury Street!  As part of the Recycle & Be Rewarded program, Kiehl’s sends shipments of their collected product containers to TerraCycle on a weekly basis, where they are then recycled into new products. Since 2009, Kiehl’s has recycled more than 1.3 million bottles, tubes and other product containers. Kiehl’s is the only beauty brand to collect used consumer products year-round at retail and recycle them with TerraCycle. 

Spotlight: Veggie Planet

source image courtesy of Zagat

I don't think I quite understood how easy being a vegetarian is until visiting Veggie Planet in Harvard Square for the first time. New vegetarians often feel like they're "giving something up," - trust me, you won't get that feeling at Veggie Planet. Their vegetarian and vegan pizzas are satisfying, delicious, and unique (Peanut Curry Pizza, anyone?). Plus, Veggie Planet is a member of Cambridge Local First, a network of locally owned, independently run businesses that share a commitment to building a strong local economy and a vibrant, distinct community. Finally, you can truly feel good about chowing down on pizza!!!!