Posted: 09/02/2010 05:17 AM [Source: Solar Power News]
Building. Living. Cars. Energy. These are words prefixedwith Green so often that we hardly notice them anymore. Looking fora green car? Stand on any street corner. You're bound to see (if not hear thewhisper of) a Toyota Prius within minutes. Want a green living product? Do somewindow shopping. You won't get far. In a depressed economy, there is one sectorthat continues to growgreen businesses and the goods or services they sell.But theres already so much info about this efficientbuilding or that green power plant,so I decided to look on the fringeoff the green, if you will. To get below thefast-moving mainstream to the undercurrent below, where small or niche greenbusinesses rule. They are no doubt connected to the green zeitgeist propellingWestern society forward, but are largely unheralded as yet, e.g. stillbusinesses rather than business trends. I found seven green services most of ushaven't heard of. Here are their stories, complete with mainstreameco-buzzwords to help guide these outlanders onto the green. definitely on thefringeor forefrontof eco-chic fashion. Everything from decorative flowers tofeather duster earrings to elaborate chandelier necklace are representedproofthat one womans tire can be another woman's black gold. Auto ShopHow can a tire and automotive service store be green? Goodquestion. Amazingly, it seems several locations in Arizona have figured it out.Six Firestone Complete Auto Care centers in and around Phoenix have been certifiedas green shops through Arizona's voluntary Green Business AutomotiveProgram administered with the state's Department of Environmental Quality(ADEQ). One thing is for sure about auto shops: there's plenty of room forgreening up practices, which for these six locations includes eco-friendlycleaning and degreasing, recycling oil, using low-hazard solvents, energyefficient lighting, green office equipment, reducing paper use and waterconservation. It would be nice to see oil services in general become a fringe practice(in favor of electric transportation), but it's also good to see them cleaningup their act as much as possible.#7Earth-Friendly BurialsBurial with dignity now means more than a rifle salute ormeaningful epitaph, as those planning for their afterlife are choosing to honorthe earth through natural burial. Currently, 22 cemeteries nationwide offernatural burial services, a very small amount relative to the whole but agrowing trend nonetheless (see the Green Burial Council).Options include biodegradablecaskets, lack of embalming chemicals and, increasingly as it becomes legalin more states (California next?), resomation. Resomation avoidsthe carbon emissions unfortunately common with cremation by placing humanremains inside a stainless steel tank filled with water and potassium hydroxide,where they are heated over several hours until the remains melt. Some of theresulting residue is placed in an urn, the rest recycled into thesewer system. Odd to talk about, and almost certainly the oddest of fringegreen business practices, but also a serious contender for common burialpractices of the future. Read more at Newsweek.
