Green OC ~ All things green in Orange County.

Archive for the 'Green products and services' Category

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

O.C. companies hit L.A. green expo

January 20th, 2010, 12:40 pm by

The “Go Green Expo” returns to Los Angeles this weekend, and Orange County companies — with some unusual offerings — will be among some 300 exhibitors. ampedbikes

The Expo, billed as “the nation’s premier green business and sustainable lifestyle show,” runs Jan. 22-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center; last year’s drew about 10,000 people.

While Friday is reserved for business-to-business exhibition, Saturday and Sunday are open to the public. The price: $10 for adults, kids under 12 free.

The exhibitors include Amped Bikes from Santa Ana, which sells kits to convert any bicycle into an electric, motorized version.

The company acknowledges that non-motorized bikes might be considered greener than anything with a motor on it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Green at home • Green business • Green events • Green products and services • pollution • | 1 Comment »

‘Eco-friendly’ trailers go on sale in Irvine

January 19th, 2010, 4:17 pm by

Some of those lumbering RVs that crowd into parks for summer vacations might now place a lighter load on the environment. greenrvgoc

An Irvine recreational vehicle dealer is offering the “EverGreen Ever-Lite” travel trailer, billed as an “environmentally conscious RV.” Conscious or not, the vehicles are made from composite materials, are recyclable and greatly reduce the use of a hardwood veneer that depletes old-growth tropical forests.

“They use recyclable plastic bottles to make the mattresses,” said Jerry Baird, owner of Family RV in Irvine and Ontario. “It’s kind of interesting. We’ve only had them for about 45 days and we’ve sold three of them already.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Driving green • Green products and services • • | Comments Off

Toyota exec talks hybrids, “peak oil”

January 14th, 2010, 3:49 pm by

The president of Toyota Motor Sales USA introduced a new hybrid concept car at the Detroit Auto Show Thursday, then launched into an often-taboo topic: “peak oil.”

It’s the sometimes-ridiculed idea that the planet’s oil fields will reach a peak of production, then begin an downward slide from there. The Register’s auto writer Matt Degen has the full story on his Auto Motion blog.

Posted in: Alternative energy • Green products and services • • | Comments Off

New Irvine Ranch site: stunning visuals, more interactive

January 5th, 2010, 12:06 pm by

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy launched a new Web site Tuesday that includes breathtaking photos of Orange County’s wild lands, along with quick public sign-up for hikes, mountain-bike rides and interpretive nature programs. ircwebgrab

The conservancy manages nearly 40,000 acres of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands and other native plant communities with many miles of trails. The properties have been designated as Natural Landmarks by both the federal and state governments.

Beneath a logo that includes a slowly panning series of panoramic pictures of wild landscapes, the site offers perhaps its most innovative feature:  a large, interactive map. Scrolling over, say, Irvine Lake or Black Star Canyon reveals a photo, a brief description of the property and a quick sign-up feature for hikes and other programs there.

The site also offers quick links to the Web sites of the conservancy’s partners, among them OC Parks, State Parks, Newport Beach and local naturalist organizations.

People wishing to volunteer on the land also can find a quick sign-up function.

Latest posts:

Posted in: Green events • Green products and services • Wildlife and the natural world • • | 2 Comments »

Identify those wildflowers — via iPhone

January 4th, 2010, 2:33 pm by

The hills are beginning to green up in Orange County, and wildflower season will soon be upon us. And, as if they planned it that way, Audubon has just released a new iPhone and iPod Touch application that allows users to identify wildflowers anywhere in California. Print

Found in the reference section of the apps store in iTunes for $4.99, Audubon Wildflowers California covers more than 930 species. You can find local wildflowers by zip code, create photo albums or create “life lists” of flowers.

“You can search by shape, color, by what you see, or by a description of what it might be,” said spokeswoman Cassandra Brush.

The guide joins tree, mammal and bird guides already available, and more iPhone field guides are planned, Audubon says.

(Image courtesy, Audubon.)

Latest posts:

Posted in: Green products and services • Wildlife and the natural world • • | Comments Off

Green your kids’ room: Finally, it’s the furniture, folks

December 17th, 2009, 7:00 pm by

Today’s tip comes from Rachel Hulan of Path Design, an interior design firm specializing in sustainable design for residential and light commercial projects.

With your children’s room floored and painted, it’s time to turn our attention to the final element — furniture. A lot of children’s furniture is made from pressed wood, such as particleboard, and almost all pressed wood contains formaldehyde – not something you would necessarily want your child sleeping next to for 10-12 hours a night.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Green products and services • Green tip of the day | Comments Off

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »
SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline