NEWS FLASH:
REI Announces Major Carbon-Neutral Initiative |
 Outdoor
retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and its adventure travel
company, REI Adventures, just announced that they are partnering with
BEF to make the company's trips completely "carbon neutral." Travelers
visiting
far-flung and exotic locations with REI Adventures will have the
climate-altering impacts of their trips offset at no added cost. Read
all about it in the recent
press release.
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Did You Know This Building Generates Electricity? |
 In
December 2002, Gerding Edlen Development Company broke new ground in
Portland, Oregon by integrating a photovoltaic system into its
architectural design of the M Financial Plaza, better know as the
Brewery Blocks building. Funded in part by the Energy Trust of Oregon,
Inc., the solar installation consists of 77 roof-mounted photovoltaic
panels plus 192 building-integrated panels visible on the south facade.
Ironically, because the PV system is so artfully integrated into the
structure, many people who live and work in the building are unaware
that a significant amount of renewable electricity is generated
on-site. To help spread the word
about the project, and to encourage people to invest in efficiency and
renewable energy for their own homes and businesses, BEF and its
partners installed a state-of-the-art, interactive kiosk in the lobby
of the Brewery Blocks building. Funded with assistance from the Energy
Trust of Oregon, Inc., Gerding Edlen Development Company, and PPM
Energy, the flash-animated kiosk details the current and historical
performance of the 22-kilowatt system, visually depicts how solar
electricity is generated, and explains how individuals can reduce their
environmental footprint by purchasing Green Tags, investing in their
own PV system, or using energy more efficiently.
View the interactive kiosk pages
here.
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New 10-year Watershed Restoration Partner |
 In
September, the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) signed a
memorandum of understanding with BEF committing to undertake a 10-year
Model Watershed restoration partnership in the upper Deschutes River in
Oregon. The
10-year partnership will focus on restoring water quality, habitat, and
native salmon and trout in the Whychus Creek and Lake Creek watersheds
of central Oregon.
BEF will commit to provide funding, institutional support, and the
services of an independent peer review team to the project over a full
10-year period. BEF's long-term support for the project will allow the
UDWC to plan and execute an
accountable and increasingly effective restoration strategy.
Learn more about BEF's Watershed Restoration Programs online at
www.b-e-f.org/watersheds.
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Featured Customer: Sustainable Sourcing |
 Sustainable
Sourcing sells sustainably packaged products from the world's most
remote and pristine lands, and is now 100% climate-neutral through a
partnership with BEF. "We are committed to protecting the planet while
improving the lives of our customers and our producers," said founder
Melissa Kushi. The company's flagship product, HimalaSalt, is an
extremely pure pink sea salt from the Himalayas. Sustainable Sourcing's
Green Tag purchase offsets
200,000 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Visit:
www.HimalaSalt.com.
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Music Stops Global Warming Pollution |
Our partners in the music industry are creating a wave of enthusiasm
from fans for their role in helping to stop global warming pollution,
caused primarily by carbon dioxide emissions from electricity
generation, air and auto travel.
Included in the growing list of climate-neutral music industry leaders
is multi-instrumentalist Kelley Stoltz, who created his new album Below the Branches
with 100 percent renewable energy from BEF Green Tags. Sub Pop Records,
the
music label for Kelley Stoltz and bands ranging from Nirvana to The
Shins, also purchased enough Green Tags to offset 100 percent of the
company's energy use. To date, Sub Pop records is the first Green-e
certified record label company in
the United States.
The band Pearl Jam has been instrumental in climate-change solutions
with the launch of its 2006 Carbon Portfolio Strategy. BEF was selected
as one of nine non-profit organizations to receive a combined total of
$100,000 to launch the
band's initiative to solve global warming and provide information to
music fans worldwide about what they can do to reduce their carbon
footprint.
BEF partnered with The Vote for Change Renewable Energy Project (VFC),
a coalition of artists led by Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard that includes
Bonnie Raitt, the Dave Matthews Band, REM, and Pearl Jam. Together,
these VFC artists contributed
to the funding for American Solar Energy Society's (ASES) Legacy
Adopt-A-School program. The program supports solar school
installations, managed by BEF, in cities where ASES holds its annual
solar conferences. To date, a total of six
schools across the nation have been recipients of the program.
The Wakarusa Festival organizers offset the environmental impact
associated with operating the four-day festival with BEF partner Zephyr Energy™, a regional Green Tag mix of 50 percent wind and 50 percent low-impact hydropower from
The Bowersock Mills and Power Company, located in Lawrence, Kansas.
Thanks to these model music labels, bands and events, we are bringing
the message of clean, sustainable, domestic and renewable energy to
each listener, while transforming the electricity industry and moving
away from polluting fossil
fuels.
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BEF Accepts American Express |
 We
now accept American Express for Green Tag purchases. You can use your
American Express card for all future purchases online at
www.GreenTagsUSA.org.
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Thank You to Our New Green Tag Supporters |
New Green Tag Business Clients
Patagonia, Inc. – Reno NV LEED Facility Building
Free State Brewing Company
Rockefeller Family Fund
The Raven
Hanson Howard Gallery
Bishop Seabury Academy
Frontier Natural Products
Vinland Valley Nursery
The Websters Inc.
Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power Company
Hakatai Enterprises
HimalaSalt / Sustainable Sourcing LLC
Green Building Services
Sub Pop Records
Standing Stone Brewing Co.
Northwest Nature Shop
The Miller Hull Partnership LLP
Global Energy Concepts
Archerd and Dresner
Richard Wagner, Architect
Joyce Ward, Architect
KVMR Radio
Blogpire Productions
CTL Corporation
B E A Inc.
Ralstar Enterprises, Inc.
Zoey's Café & All Natural Ice Cream
Greenloop
327 Creative, LLC
Curry Brandaw Construction
Aspen Valley Land Trust
Go Green Energy
GGLO
SRA International
United Church of Christ
Abbott's Cottages
Kokopelli River Center
Other New Clients
The Green Loop, a great place to shop for green items for the holidays, is greening its shipping 100%!
New Green Powered / Green Travel Events
City of Aspen Community Picnic
Energy Stewardship Luncheon - Ecumenical Ministeries of Oregon
Natural Products Expo East 2006
Solar 2006 Conference
Solar Power 2006 Conference
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