Winter 2010
Green America’s Live healthier. Save more. Invest wisely. Make a difference. RE A L
Dear Readers, I get cold easily. I’m always the one in multi-layers, looking for the warmest spot wherever I go. Yet, at home, we keep our heat set to 65°F when we’re up and about, and 55° at night or when we’re away—and I’m always comfortable. How? My family followed the advice on p. 2. We winterized our home and plugged the leaks. I especially love the warm, cozy steps—the fans in front of our radiators and the cinnamon-scented rice packets that I heat in the microwave and put in my pockets. And check out the article on energy-efficiency incentives (p. 16) for ideas on how to save even more money as you make your home cozier. As we all cozy up to the new year here at Green America, we’ve got big plans for our work to grow the green economy for a just, sustainable world. Turn to my special letter on p. 11 to learn more. Here’s to Peace and Green in 2010,
Alisa Gravitz Executive Director
inside
2 Winterize Your Home, Save $, Save Energy
4 Investing in Green Energy
9 Airlines Lag in Recycling Waste
10 Green America Updates
11 Big Plans for Growing the Green Economy
13 Letters & Advice
16 New 2010 Green Energy and Efficiency Incentives
L I V IN G
Getting a Green Job In today’s economy, green jobs are growing. Take advantage of this up-and-coming trend.
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lthough the current economic climate seems to be consistently cloudy, there’s reason to be hopeful for some sunshine: according to the new report published by Clean Edge, Inc. m in partnership with Green America, there are several trends that suggest a bright outlook for green jobs in the future. “We believe this [economic] crisis can accelerate the transition to a clean-energy economy, with the creation of millions of new jobs in a wide range of clean-tech sectors,” the report, Clean Tech Job Trends 2009, states. With a number of people soon retiring from the workforce, growing concern about the high cost of energy, and green career training programs popping up across the country, there is more and more opportunity for people interested in greening their work. The report focuses on clean-tech jobs— which utilize technology related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and pollution reduction—but the trends are applicable to green jobs across the board. Many other green sectors are also growing—since 2000, organic agriculture has more than doubled, according to the Worldwatch Institute m , and the Fairtrade Federation m reports that Fair Trade sales worldwide increased 22 percent in 2008. If you’re looking for employment that also makes a difference in the world, there are a growing number of resources to help you take advantage of these positive green job trends.
What is a Green Job? Before you start your journey to find a green job, it’s important to know what to look for. A green job is any job that supports environmental and social responsibility. This includes solar panel installers and engineers, organic landscapers, holistic
health care providers, advocates for social justice and poverty reduction, socially responsible investment advisors, community organizers, and more. In addition to focusing on environmental sustainability, green jobs are often financially sustainable. Many of them—especially clean tech—are jobs that “pay well and provide job security,” says Todd Larsen, Green America’s director of corporate responsibility. They pay well because they require specialized skills, and they’re secure because many of the jobs can’t be outsourced overseas. As the clean tech report explains, it’s more cost-effective to manufacture products like wind turbines close to where they’ll be used, because of shipping costs due to the sheer size. Plus, jobs like retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient must be done where the building is physically located.
Where Do I Start? There are many resources to assist you in finding a green job. The clean tech report lists the leading resources for green-job seekers in an index (we’ve included several in the box on p. 7). Whether you’re new to Continued on page 6
RE AL S AVING S
Winterize Your Home, Save $, Save Energy
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what? Take steps to plug air leaks and reduce your energy use.
why? Save money on your energy bill while keeping your home toasty warm in winter.
wow! Reduce your household global warming emissions.
The 411 on Fireplaces As much as we may love a warm fireplace, John Ackerley of Alliance for Green Heat cautions that they aren’t efficient. Fireplaces are heat-neutral at best, says Ackerley. You only feel heat by sitting directly in front of a fireplace, while it sucks warm air from the rest of the house.
or many of us, wintertime heating bills can send as much of a shiver down our spines as the cold itself. Approximately 45 percent of Americans’ residential energy bills went to home heating alone in 2008, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Finding ways to maximize your wintertime energy savings is the most effective way to reduce your home’s global warming footprint. Best of all, many winterizing fixes are simple strategies that require minimal up-front costs with a high return on savings. Your energy-saving steps may even be eligible for tax savings (see p. 16 for details).
Plug Air Leaks Many people crank up the heat to keep their homes comfortable in the winter, only to have that toasty air leak right back out again. If one-fourth of US households sealed leaks around their doors and windows, it would save enough energy in heating and cooling costs to prevent 8 million tons of CO2 from being emitted, says the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One technique to identify leaks entails walking with a lit incense stick or candle near potential draft-causers, such as windows, doorways, vents, and electrical outlets. When the smoke starts to flutter, you’ve found a leak. Also look for dirty or frosty spots in insulation, which indicate leaks. Use caulk to fill smaller gaps, and expanding foam or weather-stripping for larger gaps. Conventional caulk often contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, as a preservative. Find nontoxic caulk at stores like Green Building Supply m (800/405-0222, www.greenbuildingsupply.com). One handy gadget to help seal air leaks is the $12 Dual Draft Guard (Real Goods m , 800/919-2400, www.realgoods.com), which slips underneath a door or window, putting an insulated tube on both sides of it for extra protection. For a cheap fix, make your own draft stopper by filling the leg of a pair of sturdy tights with rice or sand, then sewing or gluing the open end shut.
Upgrade Your Insulation Installing more insulation will go a long way to reaching your efficiency goals. Your local home
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supply store expert can tell you the recommended “R value” of insulation you need, based on where you live. (R values are a measurement of how well insulation keeps heat from passing through it.) Or, visit the Department of Energy (DOE) Web site at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/insulation. html to determine whether your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces meet the recommended levels for your area. If you can only afford to insulate one area of your home, make it your attic. Search the National Green Pages™ online under the “Building-Supplies/ Kits” category for natural-fiber insulation that contains no chemical irritants or VOCs. Two companies to try include green building suppliers Nature Neutral m (434/975-2002, www.nature neutral.com) and Greenmaker Supply Company m (773/384-7500, www.greendepot.com). Another good route to greater efficiency this winter is sealing and insulating your ducts with duct sealant or metal-backed tape, focusing on ducts that move through attics, basements, and garages. Homes with central heat can lose up to 60 percent of heated air before it even hits the vents if ducts are not up to par. A whole-house auditor (see box on p. 3) will include an insulation check as part of routine audits. If you are opting to go the DIY route, check out the DOE’s guide to adding insulation to all areas of your house: www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/ insulation/ins_06.html.
Watch Your Windows If your windows feel drafty, there are several less-expensive fixes that can help seal them. • Add storm windows to provide additional draft protection. These range between $7–$13 per square foot. • Put plastic insulating film over windows, which can be found at local hardware stores and applied with a hair dryer. • Close your curtains, especially at nighttime. To increase their insulating capabilities, sew extra lining into your drapes—you can even use old blankets or scrap material. Or, purchase special insulating drapes or insulating honeycomb cellular shades. • Another great option for those on a budget is low-E window film. This easy-to-apply film adds a thin, metallic coat to window glass that traps heat and ultraviolet rays, keeping your home warmer in winter. It can reduce heat loss through drafty winm designates an approved member of Green America’s Green Business Network™
Take Our 50% in Five Years Challenge! Covered all the winterizing basics? Now set your goal to cut energy use in your home in half over the next five years. For more information on how to reach this goal, see our Efficiency First! guide, free online at www.greenamericatoday.org/go/efficiencyfirst.
dows by 30 percent. Look for the year-round low-E film so you don’t have to switch it from the inside of your windows to the outside in the summer.
Program Your Thermostat A sure-fire way to get with the energy-saving program is with a programmable thermostat, which can save the average US household $170 or more this winter, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. If you haven’t yet done so, learn how to program your thermostat. (If you’ve lost the manual, contact the manufacturer, or visit the Energy Star all-purpose guide to programming your thermostat at www.energystar.gov/index. cfm?c=thermostats.pr_thermostats.) Set it to warm the house just before you rise in the morning and to lower the temperature when you’re at work or asleep. Energy Star recommends setting the temperature at 70° F or less when you’re at home. When you are sleeping or at work, set it back by eight degrees. If you are going away for a few days, set the thermostat at least ten full degrees lower.
Don’t Overheat—Zone Heat Get in the zone … the energy-efficiency zone, that is. With zone heating, you heat highly used zones in your home, instead of the entire house. If there is a room in your home that is largely unused, simply close the vents. You can even keep the whole house on a lower temperature and heat rooms you often use with a space heater. If you have a little extra cash to spend and can’t afford a whole-house solar PV system, consider a solar-powered “space heater.” The SolarSheat Air Heater mounts to an outside wall or cathedral-style roof (i.e. one with no attic between the interior ceiling and roof), and uses solar power to heat a commonly used room in your home. Designed by Todd Kirkpatrick, a horse farmer in Ontario, Canada, the SolarSheat shaved 40 percent off of Kirkpatrick’s heating bill when he installed it on his horse barn. Although a bit pricey at $1,900–$3,700, this system will likely pay for itself in energy savings in about five years. When you’re going to be sitting in one place for a while, you can “zone heat” your feet by cozying up to a Toasty Toes Ergonomic Heater, www.g ree name ric ato day.org
a heated, energy-efficient footrest that uses only 90 watts (equal to a conventional light bulb). Both the Toasty Toes and SolarSheat are available at Real Goods (see “Plug Air Leaks”).
Fan It Out If you have radiators or in-wall heating registers, place a fan in front of them—preferably a temperature-controlled fan with a heat sensor that turns on when the heat comes on and goes off when the heat does. It will spread warm air throughout the room and make it more comfortable. Place heater fans that are powered by heat on top of wood stoves or heaters. Similarly, reverse ceiling fans to run clockwise, which pushes warm air down to circulate it throughout the room.
Clean Your Filters Check your air filters monthly, as dirty filters prevent efficient air flow; therefore, you use more energy for less heat because the system has to work harder to compensate for the dirt inhibiting flow. At worst, dirty filters can also lead to fires. Try using an electrostatic filter, as they can be washed and reused.
Humidify In addition to easing congestion from colds or flu, chapped lips, and dry skin in the winter, humidifiers can also help ease your energy use. Humid air actually feels warmer than dry air of the same temperature, so when you run a humidifier, the heat index of a room increases, allowing you to actually set your thermostat at a lower temperature and still feel cozy. You can grab a portable humidifier—now available in fun shapes and colors—at your local hardware store for around $40 dollars and place it in frequently used areas of your home, such as common areas or bedrooms. Whole-house humidifiers are also available for around $120–150.
Go Back to Basics Some of the simplest measures can go the longest way this winter. Wear layers, eat warm foods, wear arm and leg warmers, and break out that old hot water bottle. Or make your loved ones a wintertime treat. Take some rice or grains and sew them into pocket sized squares of material with some lavender. You can heat these up in the microwave and put them in gloves, socks, or pockets to warm hands and feet. Some of the simplest pleasures can also be the sweetest and most sustainable way to warm our bodies and hearts, when we know we are taking steps towards a more sustainable future. —Natasha Abbas
Get an Energy Audit In many cases, air leaks can be in hidden away in places you may not think to look or are hard to get to, such as attics. Hiring an energy auditor can help you identify these energy inefficiencies. Local utilities sometimes provide energy audits for free, although they mainly focus on your electrical system. To get a more comprehensive audit that looks at how all of your home’s systems interact with one another, consider a whole-house audit. Whole-house audits can cost anywhere from $100 to $500— an expense you are likely to recoup through energy savings. Paul Scheckel, an energy-efficiency specialist and author of The Home Energy Diet (New Society Publishers m , 2005) recommends looking for an auditor associated with the EPA’s Home Performance with Energy Star program. “Look for a qualified, experienced auditor who can test for air leakage, combustion efficiency, duct problems, and perform an infrared scan of your home to pinpoint insulation voids and air leakage areas,” he advises. (For more on energy audits, see our Efficiency First! guide at www.greenamerica today.org/go/ efficiencyfirst.)
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INV ESTING
Investing in Green Energy
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what? Consider investing in instruments that support the green energy future.
why? Many investing experts predict that “clean tech,” including green energy, has great growth potential for investors.
wow! Help support businesses working to increase renewable energy generation and energy efficiency as the US works to curb climate change.
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uring World War II, millions of Americans— a staggering 65 percent of all households—bought Victory Bonds to support the US role in the war. The ten-year bonds raised roughly $185 billion for the war effort (about $2 trillion in today’s dollars), and everyone who bought one received a return on their investment of three percent, if held to maturity. Green America is working to create the same kind of investment vehicle—a Clean Energy Victory Bond—to support the US fight to curb the climate crisis. These bonds would allow individuals to invest in the rapid deployment of renewable and energy efficiency projects, with a fixed rate of return—and with the full backing of the US government. “With the world already feeling the effects of climate change, it’s vital that we use every possible avenue to finance green-energy solutions,” says Green America executive director Alisa Gravitz. “Clean Energy Victory Bonds would allow anyone with a savings account to help put new renewable projects on the ground, with just $25 to $1,000.” Clean Energy Victory Bonds aren’t yet available in the US, but Green America is working with White House and Hill staffers to include them in climate legislation. In the meantime, if you’d like to put your investment dollars to work for a cooler planet, there are several avenues available right now.
Why Invest in Green Energy? Climate change is affecting the market in significant ways. Since the consequences of business as usual will be catastrophic, many experts say that highcarbon technologies like dirty coal and low-mileage cars are becoming less attractive to investors. Technologies that both meet consumer demand and address the climate crisis are increasingly being seen as the next big area of economic growth, even in the current depressed economy, says Todd Larsen, Green America’s director of corporate responsibility. Jackson Robinson, president and chief investment officer of Winslow Management Company m , concurs. “At Winslow, we’ve experienced a very significant increase in interest in past couple of years in investments that support
long-term environmental sustainability—specifically investments in green energy and energy efficiency,” he says. “Investors from both the progressive community focused on environmental improvement and from the mainstream are seeing immense opportunities available in this rapidly growing market.” With institutional investors and governments getting behind “clean tech,” investing in renewable and efficiency technologies may be a smart financial decision as well as a necessity for a healthy planet.
Indexes and Index-Tracking ETFs If you enjoy picking individual stocks, on your own or with the help of a financial advisor, you can invest directly in clean-tech company stocks. Stock indexes make a great starting point for ideas on picking individual stocks that fit certain criteria—and there are some indexes that focus specifically on tracking companies involved directly in renewable energy or energy efficiency. While you can’t purchase an index, there are exchange traded funds (ETFs) available that are based directly on clean-tech indexes: • The WilderHill Clean Energy Index (ticker symbol: ECO) tracks companies directly involved in clean energy. These technologies include renewable energy harvesting or production, energy conversion, energy storage, pollution prevention, improving efficiency, power delivery, energy conservation, and monitoring information. Market capitalization for the majority of the stocks in this index are generally $200 million and above, although the index does include a handful of stocks from some smaller companies with a market cap of $50 to $200 million. —The Powershares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio (PBW) is an ETF based on this index.
• The wilderhill new energy global innovation Index (NEX) tracks companies involved in clean tech that are traded primarily outside the US.
What is an ETF? Like index mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are baskets of diversified securities—i.e. stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments—that mirror a given stock index. However, unlike index fund investing, where you buy and sell shares only at the closing price of each business day, you can buy or sell ETF shares throughout the day like individual stocks. For more information on ETFs, see our article, “Exchange Traded Funds,” online at www.greenamericatoday. org/go/etfs.
m designates an approved member of Green America’s Green Business Network™
Market capitalization for the majority of the stocks in this index is generally $200 million and above, although it includes some smaller companies with a market cap of $50 to $200 million. —The Powershares Global Clean Energy Portfolio (PBD) is an ETF based on this index.
• The NASDAQ Clean Edge m Green Energy Index
(CELS) tracks stocks in the clean-energy sector. The companies included are involved in renewable energy generation, renewable fuels, energy storage and conversion, energy intelligence (e.g. smart-grid technologies), and advanced materials (i.e. materials that enable renewable technologies or reduce the need for petroleum-based materials). Companies included must have a market capitalization of $150 million or more. —The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) is an ETF based on this index.
• The NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Global Wind Energy Index (QWND) includes companies that are primarily involved in wind energy manufacture, development, distribution, installation, and use. Companies included must have a minimum market capitalization of $100 million. —The PowerShares Global Wind Energy Portfolio (PWND) is an ETF based on this index.
• The NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index (QGRD) tracks companies
involved in the smart-grid and electric infrastructure sector. Companies in this index will be significantly involved in electric meters, devices, and networks; energy storage and management; and smart grid software. Companies included must have a market capitalization of at least $100 million. —The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) is an ETF based on this index. Many of the companies included in these indexes are “pure plays,” meaning they are primarily involved in the clean technologies that provide the focus for each index. However, the wind and grid indexes may also include some multinational companies that don’t focus primarily on clean tech, but have a significant investment in this sector. It’s important for those involved in socially responsible investing (SRI) to note that stocks in these indexes are not screened for social or environmental concerns—and therefore, any ETFs that mirror these indexes won’t be, either. “[Clean Edge indexes] are going to look like SRI indexes—especially CELS. But we don’t do negative screening,” says Ron Pernick, co-founder and managing director of Clean Edge. “For example, in our wind index, we think it’s important to cover GE in wind energy—they’re a huge player, with billions invested in wind. But they also invest in nuclear and www.g ree name ric ato day.org
other technologies that could be problematic from a pure SRI perspective.”
Clean-Tech Mutual Funds While there are not yet any index mutual funds that mirror the clean-tech indexes mentioned above, there are some funds that have a specific focus on clean tech:
• The Calvert m Global Alternative Energy Fund
(CGAEX) is an international fund that puts at least 80 percent of its net assets in stocks of US and nonUS companies of all sizes that are wholly or significantly involved in the green energy sector. • The New Alternatives Fund m (NALFX) aims to invest 25 percent or more of its assets in renewable energy and energy efficiency companies of all sizes, domestic and international. It also invests in companies of all sizes involved with recycling, clean air and water, and conservation. • Pax World m ’s Global Green Fund invests in US and global companies of all sizes “that help mitigate the environmental impacts of commerce.” In addition to investing in green energy and energy efficiency companies, the fund includes businesses involved in water treatment, pollution control, waste technology, and resource management. • The Winslow Green Growth Fund and the Winslow Green Solutions Fund have a slightly broader focus than the two mutual funds mentioned above. Both invest in companies “that are providing solutions to environmental challenges,” including those involved in green energy, energy efficiency, green transportation, and green building. The Green Growth Fund focuses mainly on small-cap domestic companies with attractive growth potential, while the Green Solutions Fund largely includes small- and medium-cap domestic and international companies.
A Word of Caution Remember, when you invest in stock shares, mutual funds, or ETFs, your principal isn’t protected, and you could lose it. In addition to seeking the advice of a financial advisor, do your research on stocks, and ask for and read a prospectus before investing in a mutual fund or ETF, to ensure it meets your financial, social, and environmental goals. That said, many investment professionals, including Winslow’s Jack Robinson, continue to be optimistic about the outlook for high-quality clean tech companies. “We believe all investors will want to have some amount of clean energy exposure in the years to come,” says Robinson. —Tracy Fernandez Rysavy
Resources stock Indexes
•C lean Edge m , 503/493-8681, www.cleanedge. com/ceindex •W ildershares, LLC, 760/ 634-1358, www. wildershares. com/stock.php ETFs
•P owershares ETFs, Invesco PowerShares, 800/983-0903, www.invesco powershares. com • F irst Trust NASDAQ ETFs, First Trust, 800/ 621-1675, www. ftportfolios.com Mutual Funds
•C alvert m Global Alternative Energy Fund, 800/3682748, www. calvert.com •N ew Alternatives Fund m , 800/ 423-8383, www.new alternatives fund.com •P ax World m Global Green Fund, 800/ 767-1729, www. paxworld.com. •A ll Winslow m Funds, 888/ 314-9049, www.winslow green.com
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Getting a Green Job continued from page 1
what? Use the growing number of new green-job resources to get a green job.
why? Even in this economic climate, green jobs are on the rise.
wow! Help create a clean and green future for all, every time you go to work.
the job market or are looking for a change of pace, there’s a tool out there to help you snag a green job.
Educational Opportunities Abound Now is the perfect time to take advantage of college courses or training programs related to green jobs. In addition to the growing need for these jobs, many current employees—especially in the energy sector—will retire soon, according to the Clean Edge report. With so many people leaving the workforce while so much technological advancement is taking place, it’s the perfect time for job seekers to learn new green skills. Career training and educational opportunities are blossoming, even in the face of an economic crisis. “Education booms when the economy goes bust, so this is a great time to go back to school and retool for the future,” says Jill Bamburg, a co-founder of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute m (BGI) and author of Getting to Scale: Growing your Business without Selling Out (Berrett-Koehler m , 2006). Here are some different educational opportunities that will put you on the path to a greener career: • College degrees: Check out local community or four-year colleges, or graduate schools for green programs of study that interest you. These could range from sustainable agriculture to wind energy to green business degrees. Colleges like BGI also offer students a great network for finding a job after graduation, as well as what Bamburg calls “credential”—proof you are serious about green employment. “The credential is a door-opener—something that appears on your resume and indicates that your interest in doing ‘green’ things has gone beyond the talking stage,” says Bamburg. “You’ve actually pursued training to make yourself useful to an employer—and it gives you something to talk about in an interview.” Whether you’re headed to college or grad school for the first time, or going back to learn
Check Out the Clean Tech Jobs Report This report, by Clean Edge Inc. in partnership with Green America, looks at positive job trends in the clean-tech industry, and provides resources to help you find a clean-tech green job. The report includes: • The ten fastest-growing clean-tech industries, • The 15 best cities for clean-tech jobs. • The leading green job boards, colleges, and training programs. Download the report at www.greenamericatoday.org/go/cleantechreport.
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new skills and information, you’ll be ahead of the game by focusing your education on an environmentally and socially responsible career. “Many of our students are mid-career professionals or people who are looking for a second career that is more aligned with their values than their first career was. They simply add their new sustainable business skills and credential to the rest of their resume,” says Bamburg. “Our program, like many programs out there, is specifically designed to fit the scheduling requirements of working adults.” RESOURCES: See the box on p. 7 for a list of colleges with a sustainability focus that are approved Green America Business Network™ members, and consult the “Education” category of our GreenPages.org Web site. • Certifications & training programs: Whether you’re new to the workforce or a seasoned vet, certifications and training programs are valuable resources, and they are especially prominent and necessary in the energy sector. People are growing more concerned about high energy costs, according to the clean tech report, so energy efficiency is a major priority for many people. When you complete a certification or training program, you learn skills directly related to energy efficiency and sustainability. You might learn how to install a solar panel, how to reuse or salvage construction materials, or how to sell a house and emphasize positive environmental attributes. There are plenty of sectors where knowledge about energy efficiency is becoming essential, so these programs are especially great for people who want to take a green step forward in their jobs. RESOURCES: In addition to the Clean Edge report, visit Green for All m ’s Web site, www. greenforall.org/resources/green-collar-jobsresources, and scroll down to the “certified job training” and “sector specific training and certifications” for links to training and certification resources across the US. • Apprenticeships: On-the-job training is a great way to learn skills, and there are many apprenticeships available across the country. RESOURCES: Visit www.doleta.gov/OA/ sainformation.cfm to search for apprenticeships by state, and look for apprenticeships that support environmental sustainability and social justice. m designates an approved member of Green America’s Green Business Network™
Coming Soon! GreenDreamJobs.com, run by SustainableBusiness. com m , will launch an online database of US green-job training opportunities this February. It will cover the full range of green-oriented degrees, from training certificates to MBAs to doctorates, in the following areas: efficiency/renewables, engineering, policy, green building, organic agriculture, landscaping, recycling, sustainable communities, and development.
On the Job Hunt As the green job market grows, more job fairs, job boards, Web sites, and career centers are offering guidance toward green jobs. Here are some leading green job resources: • Job boards: There are many Web sites devoted to green jobs—including www.green dreamjobs.com, www.greenjobs.net, http://jobs. cleanedge.com, http://jobs.greenbiz.com, http:// jobs.grist.org, www.renewableenergyjobs.com, and http://jobs.treehugger.com. Web sites like www.idealist.org are also full of nonprofit jobs that support sustainability and social justice. • Career centers: One-stop career centers offer a comprehensive set of resources for all job seekers. At these centers, people can access a variety of work-related resources: resume writing guides, career counseling, the Internet and telephones, employer referrals, and more. You can meet with a representative at the center to talk about and strategize how to accomplish green career goals. RESOURCES: Visit www.careeronestop.org for more information, and www.servicelocator.org to find local career centers. Also, try contacting a green career-consulting firm like Green Career Central m , Green Career Tracks m , or the Center for Meaningful Work m to help you on your quest for a green job. • Networking: A great way to get your foot in the door toward a green job is through networking. Key networking avenues are job fairs and green-job conferences, where you can meet employers and learn more about green jobs, and networking and social media Web sites, where you can connect with people online in the green marketplace. Don’t be afraid to contact people even if they can’t give you a job—having a quick chat with someone from a business or nonprofit you like could provide valuable information and contacts. “Call [an employer] and say, ‘I really admire what your company does, and I know you don’t have job openings, but would you be free for coffee to talk for 20 minutes?’” suggests Todd Larsen. This kind of informational interview could www.g ree name ric ato day.org
lead you to green job resources and possibilities. • volunteering is another great way to get acquainted with and make contacts in different green job sectors; prove yourself as a reliable, hard-working employee for possible job openings in the future; and help organizations support worthwhile causes. RESOURCES: LinkedIn.com is a great social networking tool for job seekers who want to connect with people in the green job world. Aside from posting your professional experience for prospective employers to see, you can join LinkedIn groups specific to green jobs, such as: Green Jobs & Career Network, Cool Climate Jobs, Clean/Green Opportunity, Clean Edge Jobs, and Green Energy and Sustainability Careers and Jobs. LinkedIn allows job seekers to find employees, employers to search for possible employees, and people to make contacts in the green business world and learn more about green jobs. The Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference will be held in Washington, DC, on May 4–6, 2010: www.greenjobsconference.org. This national conference features a Green Jobs Expo that “showcases the many paths to green jobs and careers.” Also check out www.greenjobs.net/greenjob-fairs/ for a list of green job fairs held across the country. College campuses are popular places for job fairs, so check with your local community or four-year college to see when the next job fair will be. Job fairs don’t have to specifically be “green” for you to find plenty of jobs that fit the category. Visit www.idealist.org or www.volunteer match.org to search for volunteer opportunities in your area.
Green Your Current Job If you want a job that supports sustainability and social justice but don’t want to leave your current career, then green your current job instead of looking for a new one. Or, if you own a business, try greening that, too. “It’s important to know you can do almost anything in a green way,” says Larsen. “There’s clothing that’s green, house cleaning that’s green, investors that are green—whatever your skills are, there are things anyone can do to contribute to a greener workplace.” Whether it’s working to increasing your workplace’s energy efficiency, starting a carpool at work, or looking at the core business and trying to make it more environmentally and socially responsible, you can also take steps in your current job to make it and your workplace greener. —Cathy Wilson
Resources For more study programs, particularly in holistic health, see the “Education” category of our www.greenpages.org. study programs
•A ntioch University of New England m , 800/553-8920, www.antiochne.edu •A ntioch University, Seattle m , 206/ 441-5352, www. antiochseattle.edu •B ainbridge Graduate Institute m , 206/855-9559, www.bgiedu.org •T he Green MBA m , 888/ 323-6763, www. greenmba.com •G reen Mountain College m , 802/287-8000, www.green mtn.edu •M arlboro College Graduate Center m , 888/258-5665, http://gradcenter. marlboro.edu •P residio School of Management m , 415/561-6555, www. presidioMBA.org •S IT Graduate Institute m , 800/ 336-1616, www.sit.edu •T ai Sophia Institute m , 800/735-2968, www.tai.edu Career Centers
•C enter for Meaningful Work m , 828/242-8974, www.workwith meaning.com •G reen Career Central m , 650/322-8661, www.green careercentral.com •G reen Career Tracks m , 612/8220288, www.green careertracks.com wi nter 201 0 Re al G r e e n
the Responsible shopper
Airlines Lag in Recycling Waste
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t’s something you may think about every time you have to take a plane trip—when the flight attendant comes down the aisle collecting all those little plastic cups and aluminum cans at the end of a flight, what happens to all that garbage? You might assume much of the waste on airplanes is routinely recycled; after all, aluminum and newspapers are among the easiest and most frequently recycled materials on the planet. But a new report from our Responsible Shopper program reveals that most airlines are seriously lagging in recycling that in-flight waste. The amount of recyclable waste airlines throw away each year is staggering. They annually landfill 9,000 tons of plastic and 4,000 tons of aluminum—that’s enough aluminum to build 58 Boeing 747 Jets. And the newspapers and magazines collected in-flight could fill a football stadium with a newspaper pile over 230 feet tall. “The results of this report were shocking,” says Responsible Shopper coordinator Vickie Kreha. “Despite the fact that thousands of tons of recyclable waste is created on airplanes each year, most airlines have surprisingly weak recycling policies.”
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Excuses, Excuses
Responsible Shopper researchers judged the major US airlines in six categories: diversity in waste recycled; size of the program; employee education and motivation; future recycling plans; additional in-flight waste reduction; and best program overall (see sidebar below for rankings). The highest-ranking airline in the report, Delta, only received a “B-” grade for its efforts. Delta does lead the pack, however, as it plans to recycle all aluminum cans, plastic bottles, plastic trays, beverage cups, newspapers, and magazines on all of its flights this year. Coming in dead last, US Airways pays lip service to waste reduction and recycling in its 2008 Environmental Responsibility Report, but gives no details about any real recycling initiatives. Fellow bottom-dweller British Airways set an ambitious goal of sending zero waste to landfills in Great Britain by 2010; but while the airline has detailed how it will handle waste accumulated at UK airports, it has not released specific plans for dealing with in-flight waste. The future looks a little better. Virgin Atlantic, for example, has pledged to recycle or reuse 50 percent or more of in-flight waste by 2012.
Airlines have offered up many excuses for their lack of responsible waste management. For example, airlines’ onboard recycling programs are often dependent on airport practices, which are not consistent throughout the country. If an airport has a centralized waste system with recycling available, it’s easier for airlines to recycle there than at airports that leave waste management to the airlines themselves. Some airports still lack an area to sort recyclables off-board, and many airline representatives complained about the difficulty of sorting waste on-board. In explaining away its failure to deal responsibly with its waste, US Airways also cited the difficulty in training flight attendants to collect recyclables. None of these excuses are insurmountable. On American Airlines, for example, it’s those allegedly hard-to-train flight attendants who are proving that airlines can run successful recycling programs. American Airlines flight attendants have been recycling some in-flight waste since 1989. They collect and sort aluminum cans themselves as a fundraiser for their Wings Foundation, Continued on next page
Airline Recycling Scorecard 1. Delta B2. Virgin America B- 3. Virgin Atlantic C 4. Southwest C 5. Continental D 6. Jet Blue D 7. American D 8. British Airways D 9. AirTran D 10. United F 11. US Airways F
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“Airlines Lag in Recycling Waste,” continued
which raises money for flight attendants facing hardships. They even send the cans on the next flight if their arriving airport does not recycle. The program demonstrates that with proper education and a little forward-thinking, collecting and recycling waste is not as difficult as some airlines would lead us to believe. Time to Step it Up
Especially considering the enormous environmental impact of the airline industry—a recent study estimates that airlines will emit 1.5 billion tons of CO2 a year by 2025—airlines need to be doing far more to reduce the waste they are sending to landfills. “They’ve got plenty of excuses, but there are so many examples of good waste management out there,” says Green America executive director Alisa Gravitz. “If our Green Festivals can divert 95 percent of their waste, and San Francisco as a whole city diverts more than 70 percent of waste from landfills, the airlines can certainly do better.”
The first step is for airlines to develop comprehensive, public plans to reduce and recycle waste. These should include working with airports, and with other airlines, to ensure that sorting and recycling waste is easy at all arriving airports, as well as educating both passengers and airline employees about the importance of recycling in-flight waste. There’s plenty that passengers can do to reduce their own impact and tell airlines to do better. • Let lagging airlines know their customers expect them to shrink their ecological footprints. Sign on to our letter asking all of the airlines in the report to significantly step up their recycling efforts at www.greenamerica today.org/takeaction/airline/. • When choosing a flight, look for an airline with a better record of handling in-flight waste. (Use the “Airline Recycling Scorecard” on p. 7 to help you choose, and regularly check
for updates in the “Airline” category of our ResponsibleShopper.org Web site.) • Bring your own reusable bottle of water on a flight (fill it up at a sink or fountain after passing through security), and bring a snack in your own reusable containers with utensils, to avoid the plastic-laden snacks on board. • Take your waste with you and properly recycle it yourself. • Most importantly, ask gate agents and flight attendants about airline recycling policies each time you fly, and let us know what you find out. We have a simple form you can use to report back to us at www.ResponsibleShopper.org. You can also download the whole report at this site. As we work together to combat global warming emissions from air travel and other sources, we can also help curb emissions and waste by ensuring that all of us fly the recycling-friendly skies. —Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist
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Green America Updates
Exclusively for Real Green readers!
In this regular section, we bring you the latest information about Green America, the organization that publishes Real Green. Green America is the national nonprofit where consumers, investors, and green businesses come together to create a more socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
RugMark International Wins Our 2009 BEA Award
For the last 20 years, Green America has given the Building Economic Alternatives (BEA) to an organization or individual whose outstanding work deals with the green economy issues covered by the previous year’s Green American. Nominees are proposed by our members across the country and voted on by the staff at Green America. This year’s award goes to RugMark International m . RugMark has been promoting ethical handwoven-carpet production for over 15 years. With the launch of its new GoodWeave program and label (see above), RugMark adds a new emphasis on protecting the health of workers and the environment to its mission of eliminating child labor in the handwoven carpet industry. “It’s a thrill to give this award to RugMark International,” says Denise Hamler, director of Green Business programs at Green America. “They have been a huge force for ending child labor in South Asia, and with the GoodWeave label, we see that they are embracing the true meaning of ‘green’—one that means environmental and social responsibility. We are proud to salute the important work they do.” Children from four- to 14-years-old are routinely kidnapped or sold and forced to work 18 hours a day weaving rugs, many of which end up on store shelves in the US. By monitoring looms and certifying and labeling child-labor-free carpets, RugMark makes it easy for consumers to find responsible handwoven rugs. The organization has also rehabilitated more than 3,600 former child carpet-weavers, providing them with an education. Since the program began, more than 5.5 million certified carpets have been sold around the world, and the number of South Asian children trapped in the industry has fallen dramatically, from 1 million to 250,000. RugMark’s new GoodWeave certification program is adding environmental criteria to its already strict social standards for certifying carpets. RugMark has been working with the ISEAL Alliance and Nepali rug exporters to develop standards that will reduce water and air pollution related to rug washing and dyeing. Nina Smith, RugMark’s executive director, accepted the award, saying, “We are so honored. It is gratifying to have our efforts acknowledged by Green America— the leaders of the sustainability movement. Thank you for this tribute and for your partnership over the years that has helped GoodWeave and the thousands of children we have helped and saved.” Contact: RugMark, 202/234-9050, www.rugmark.net, www.goodweave.org.
Ring in Spring at the Green Festival™
The Green Festivals, our joint program with Global Exchange m , continue to bring tens of thousands of people together to celebrate what’s working in our communities. This year, we’ll hold the first-ever spring Green Festival in San Francisco (April 10-11), and we’ll also return to Chicago (May 22-23). Visitors to the 2010 Green Festivals will enjoy inspirational speakers like Dr. Cornell West, Amy Goodman, and Ed Begley, Jr.; indulge in an organic food court and beer garden; and get to know hundreds of the green businesses that represent the green future. The San Francisco Green Festival will also include intensive programming in special pavilions on healthy green living, Fair Trade, green building, green careers, and social networking to change the world. If you’d like to know how great a Green Festival experience is, just ask Mayor Gavin Newsom, who visited the 2009 San Francisco Festival. See videos of him speaking at and praising the event at www.greenfestivals.org. Join the Green Festival social media community on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up at www.twitter.com/greenfestival or www.facebook.com/greenfestival.
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Do you have a favorite green product our readers should know about? Send your suggestions to Editors, 1612 K St. NW, #600, Washington, DC 20006; 202/872-5307; greendiscounts@ GreenAmericaToday.org.
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Special letter to members
Big Plans for Growing the Green Economy Dear Green America Members, I have lots of news to share with you about big plans underway here at Green America. Just this time last year, we changed our name from Co-op America to Green America—new name, same green-economy mission. Our commitment to you then and today is to set the standard for green—so that as people and businesses embrace green; it is the deep, holistic, inclusive green that means economic and social justice, community and environmental health. For 26 years, Green America has led people-powered economic strategies to address the most pressing social and environmental issues of our times. This past year, our nation desperately felt the repercussions of a fallen economic system—one based on greed that worked for few and sacrificed many. Our work together for a green economy—and real system-change toward sustainability—is more crucial than ever. That’s why we’ve got big campaigns and plans underway to accelerate our work for a green economy and a just, sustainable world. Here’s a quick outline of what’s coming. Stay tuned—there’ll be more in the next issue of Real Green, including a survey to get your feedback and advice.
this newsletter (Real Green) and our magazine (Green American). Each issue will include an in-depth feature that people turn to the Green American for—and the practical information on green living that people seek from Real Green. We’ll keep the Green American name for this new publication, which will start up this summer. Best of all, starting this summer, the new Green American will to come to you bimonthly—more information, ideas, and inspiration all under one cover. In the meantime, you’ll continue to get Real Green. And of course, National Green Pages™ will come to you every fall, as before. More Ways to Connect Online
Many of you also asked to get our publications online. So we’ll also be launching a digital membership over the next year. You’ll get to choose —publications in the mail or online. Starting this spring, look for major changes on our Web site: more features for Green Pages online, a whole new green business Web site, and the next generation of our main Web site—over the next year, making it easier for everyone to use our great content to go green. Also, look for more social networking, Twittering, and iPhone apps. Sign up for our action e-newsletter today at www.Green AmericaToday.org to catch all of these e-announcements.
Look for the new Green American
Information, ideas, and inspiration fuel the green economy movement. Over the years, our publications have connected people to powerful ideas and practical action. When we asked our members how to make our publications better, many of you said that it might make sense to get one publication from us, rather than both a newsletter and a magazine. So, knowing good advice when we hear it, we’re going to combine www.g ree name ric ato day.org
2010 Green Economy Campaigns
We’re gearing up our 2010 green economy campaigns for tackling
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climate change; building fair trading systems; demanding corporate accountability; and supporting local, green businesses. I hope you’ll join with us to shut down dirty coal plants, switch to clean energy, get more Fair Trade products into your supermarket, shift to thrift, break up with your mega-bank, advance recycling and recycled paper, and go local. New Programs in the Works
Over the past 25 years, Green America has focused on the ideas and actions to shift the economy onto a more just and sustainable path. We plan to add another dimension to this work—hands-on tools to help families, businesses, and communities accelerate the shift. We’re working on some new ideas—tools to help businesses go green; investment and barter programs to provide funding to local, green businesses; and discount programs to make it easier for more people to buy from green businesses. We’ll be turning to our members to get advice on these new programs—and creating an advisory council to give us in-depth feedback. We hope you’ll be part of shaping the bold new ideas and programs that will rapidly scale the green solutions that are the future for people and the planet. It’s great to be working with you,
Alisa Gravitz, Execcutive Director
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I truly enjoy each issue of Real Green. I am teaching a course in community social work practice in a Bachelor of Social Work Program at Southern Adventist University in the coming semester, January-May. I would like to use occasional articles which appear in Real Green. I would like permission to make 18 copies for student use. There are so many useful ideas in the newsletter about positive social change. David Boyle Jones, Ph.D. Collegedale, TN
Editor’s Note: Our articles are meant to be shared, and we love having them used in the classroom. Educators, feel free to copy and use any Green America pieces that you wish. If you can, please let us know how your lesson went—we’ll share your story and classroom strategies with other readers who may want to follow your lead.
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Which Bottled Water is Least Bad?
How Bad are PVC Pipes?
Thanks for the recent article on PVC (“Purge PVC From Your Home,” Holiday 2009). I have often wondered about the fact that our water is transported by way of PVC pipes in our homes. This can’t be a good thing. Any info or opinion on this? Thanks for all you do! Norma Skaggs Tallahassee, FL
Editor’s Note: You’re right, Norma—it’s not a good thing. PVC pipes are just as toxic as the vinyl shower curtains and plastic toys that anti-PVC advocates are crusading against. There are a variety of less-toxic alternatives to PVC for indoor and outdoor piping, such as copper, brass, polyethylene plastic, clay, concrete, and stainless steel. Greenpeace offers a list of US suppliers for all types at www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/ how-to-find-and-avoid-toxic-vi/pvc-pipe-alternatives. Remember to check local and national building codes before using any of these alternative pipe materials.
PVC in Fabric?
I really enjoyed your article about PVC and its pervasiveness in our lives. I am looking at options to purge these products from my home. It also got me thinking about other chemicals we are constantly exposed to. For the past several years I have been purchasing wrinkleresistant cotton work and dress shirts and pants from L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and similar vendors. I assume there is some sort of chemical process that is used to maintain the smoothness of the fabric, even after repeated washings. It only makes sense that the compounds used in these cotton products could potentially hold the same threats. True? Ed Terry Cheverly, MD
Editor’s Note: Your instincts are spot on when it comes
to being suspicious of wrinkle-free clothing. The chemicals that make them so easy to care for are just as toxic to your health as PVC. Formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound and known carcinogen, is the culprit that makes cotton and cotton blends wrinkle-resistant. There’s nothing you can do to get rid of the formaldehyde in this type of clothing, so it’s best to avoid it altogether, says green-living guru Annie Bond, a frequent speaker at our Green Festivals™. www.g ree name ric ato day.org
A good rule of thumb is to avoid any easy-care fabric unless you know that the company used less-toxic chemicals to make it stain-, wrinkle-, fire- or water-resistant. Find pants and shirts that are better for your health and the Earth in the “Clothing” categories of our National Green Pages™, free online at www.greenpages.org.
As assistant manager of a health food store, I cannot totally break my customers desire for bottled water. How can I find a brand that is the least harmful in all aspects? Toni E-mail
Editor’s Note: Toni, we applaud you for trying. With more
than 60 million single-use water bottles thrown away each day, and with 20 million barrels of oil used each year to make plastic bottles, the bottled water industry is among the most environmentally destructive. If your customers must have bottled water, try offering them water packaged in compostable bottles, like Primo Water (www.primowater.com) or Biota Rocky Mountain Spring Water (www.biotaspringwater.com). To ensure that they’re actually composted, set up a bin in your store to collect the used bottles to take to a commercial composter, as they won’t break down in backyard compost. Water from Primo and Biota is sourced in the US. Primo is primarily municipal water that’s been through some extra filtration, and Biota is spring water that’s packaged close to its Colorado source. Please note that neither Biota nor Primo are Green America Green Business Network™ members, so they have not been thoroughly screened for social and environmental sustainability. But since they are smaller domestic companies, they aren’t likely to have the largescale problems that our Responsible Shopper researchers found with companies like Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Cadbury-Schweppes. (For more information on these and other major beverage companies, check out the “Beverage/Water” category at our ResponsibleShopper.org site.) For those shoppers who go for sparkling water or juice, you could sell blender-sized appliances that make carbonated water at home, such as those made by Soda Stream USA (800/763-2258, www.sodastream.com). Green America’s Alisa Gravitz is a big fan of these machines, which help cut down on plastic bottle waste and expenses. If you want to take a more proactive approach, gently nudge your customers toward more sustainable beverage options by placing reusable beverage bottles next to the single-use water bottles, and installing a drinking fountain.
ideas and letters! Real Green wants to hear about what you’re doing to use your money in ways that benefit your pocketbook and the planet. Reach us via mail, fax, or e-mail addressed to Tracy F. Rysavy. Letters used in the “Letters & Advice” column may be edited for length and clarity. Real Green Editors Attn: Tracy F. Rysavy 1612 K Street NW, #600 Washington, DC 20006 Fax: 202/331-8166; E-mail: editors@ GreenAmericaToday.org Subscription questions or back issues: Call 800/58-GREEN or e-mail info@ GreenAmericaToday.org
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New 2010 Green-Energy and Efficiency Incentives
REAL investing
NEWS
As you think about more efficient ways the heat your home this winter (see p. 2), it’s worth thinking about investing in green home improvements that will make your home more energy efficient, reduce your impact on the planet, and support renewable energy—all while adding value to your home and making investments that will save you thousands of dollars in the long term. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 made significant changes to existing energy-efficiency tax credits by extending credits into 2010, increasing the credit in many cases, and increasing the maximum credit amount for energy-efficient improvements. A tax credit reduces the tax you owe dollar-for-dollar— meaning that if you receive a $1,500 tax credit for installing new windows, you pay $1,500 less on your taxes this year. Combined with the long-term savings of energy efficency and renewable energy, these credits make green home improvements a smart investment. Energy-Efficiency Improvements
Real Green Subscriber Services Subscriptions: Subscriptions are free with Green America membership, which begins at $20/year. Call 800/58-GREEN for credit card orders, or send a check to Green America at the address at right. Address changes: Send us a copy of your mailing label and your new address four to six weeks before you move to ensure uninterrupted service. Or, e-mail info@ GreenAmericaToday.org. Mailing lists: If you don’t want us to exchange your name with other like-minded mailers, write “Do not exchange” on your mailing label and send it to us. Group discounts: Bulk subscriptions for educators and others are available. Call 800/58-GREEN. 16
Credits are available for improvements completed through December 31, 2010. Energy-efficiency improvements include: • Insulation • Window/door replacements • Central heating/cooling improvements •W ater heaters (non-solar; for credits for solar hot water heaters, see below) • Biomass stoves For the above investments, you can receive a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost of the improvement, up to $1,500 (increased from a previous cap of ten percent, up to $500). For specifics on what qualifies as a home improvement— improvements must bring with them a certain increase in energy efficiency—visit energystar.gov/taxcredits. It’s important to note that this $1,500 cap is for “all improvements combined,” not for individual improvements. There is no such cap for larger renewable energy projects (see below). Residential Renewable Energy
Good news for homeowners who have been longing to adorn their roofs with solar panels, a solar hot water heater,
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Tracy Fernandez Rysavy Natasha Abbas, Joelle Novey SENIOR WRITER Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist EDITORIAL INTERN Cathy Wilson ONLINE EDITOR Andrew Korfhage TEMPLATE DESIGN Mary Lynch PRODUCTION ARTIST Jennifer Thuillier ILLUSTRATOR Jem Sullivan PUBLISHER Denise Hamler ADVERTISING Rob Hanson, Chip Py MARKETING Dana Christianson, Robin Tolochko PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR Dennis Greenia EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Alisa Gravitz
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or even a wind turbine—the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 increased the tax credit for such products from ten percent of the total cost to 30 percent. Plus, there is no cap on how much the credit is worth—it is tied directly to the amount of money you spend on the project. You have until December 31, 2016, to complete installation. This credit applies to: • Geothermal heat pumps • Solar panels • Solar hot water heaters • Small wind-energy systems • Fuel cells State Incentives
In addition to these federal tax incentives, virtually every state has incentives for energy-efficiency improvements and/or the installation of renewable energy. For example, Arizona residents who put solar on their homes are eligible for a tax credit for 25 percent of the cost (up to $1,000), and Connecticut will pay you back $600 for every kwH you save by using a more energy-efficient appliance. Many utilities also offer rebate programs to customers who will use less energy through increased efficiency and the use of renewable energy. For example, City Water Light and Power in Springfield, IL, will refund customers up to $500 for buying insulation, $25 to get a home energy audit. To look for state and utility incentives and rebates where you live, and get more information about federal incentives, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org. upgrade your appliances
Have you been waiting for an extra incentive to replace that aging, energy-hogging fridge? Good news: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also includes funds for states to give rebates to consumers who upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances, from refrigerators to washing machines to air conditioners. Each state is establishing its own set of criteria, which should be announced in early 2010. Go to www.energy. gov/InYourState.htm to find policies for your state. —Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist
Real Green is published by Green America • 1612 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006 • 800/58-GREEN • Fax 202/331-8166 • E-mail: editors@GreenAmericaToday.org • Web: www.GreenAmericaToday.org Co-op America has become Green America; new name, same mission. Our Mission: Real Green offers practical tips to help people save, spend, and invest their money in harmony with their values. Real Green is published by Green America as part of its work to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society through economic action. Green America is a nonprofit membership organization. Real Green is free with Green America membership, which begins at $20/year. Select articles archived online at www.realgreen.org. Please note: The broker-dealers, investment advisors, and mutual funds listed in this publication are not necessarily authorized to transact business in all states. Please check with each entity to determine its authority to conduct business in your state. In addition, you are encouraged to contact your state securities commission to verify any information given. We welcome requests to reprint articles in other publications. Call 202/ 872-5307, ext. 5327, or e-mail editors@GreenAmericaToday.org. For subscriptionrelated questions, call 202/872-5307 or e-mail info@GreenAmericaToday.org © 2010. Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink. m designates an approved member of Green America’s Green Business Network™