Insego

Sustainable Brands/Products You Should Consider

Using products made from sustainable materials or manufactured through sustainable processes can reduce your impact on the environment. The next time you go shopping, look for these products. Choosing them could help you make the world a better place.

Sierra Nevada Beer

You might not equate brewing beer with saving the planet, but Sierra Nevada has combined these two pursuits in every conceivable way.

Sierra Nevada creates 20 percent of its own power needs with 10,573 solar panels. The company also has hydrogen fuel cells that create about 40 percent of the brewery’s energy needs which is an extremely an inventive way to make its factory more sustainable. Sierra Nevada doesn’t stop there. Some other innovative measures include:

Composting organic waste to fertilize the company’s gardens and fields
Using the CO2 produced through fermentation in its factory
Convertible its restaurant’s used vegetable oil into biofuel for its fleet of delivery trucks

Not many companies make that kind of commitment to the environment. Think about that the next time you go out for a six-pack

Energy Consumption & Cost: How to Reduce Both While Going Green

Many people associate green living with drastic lifestyle changes or giving up modern conveniences. However, there are a number of simple ways to reduce energy costs and consumption without sacrificing comforts.

Of course, it is important to understand many of the common sources of energy loss to know where to start. This guide will show simple ways to gauge your energy consumption and ways to go green without stressing your lifestyle or budget.

Analyzing Energy Costs

When it comes to reducing energy bills, knowing the appliances and devices that consume the most power helps. Though your personal situation might vary, due to model differences and other factors, common energy hogs in the home include:

Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers
Water Heaters
Heating Units
Refrigerators and Freezers
Computers and other Electronics
Lighting

Savvy Marketers Make it Easier for People to Get “Green” Cleaning Products

Just a few years ago, natural household cleaning products were almost solely restricted to the shelves of health food stores. Now, a quick browse of product offerings from mass-market retailers like Target and Walmart shows how environmentally sustainable products are becoming more like the norm, rather than hard to find.

Product Sales on the Rise

A company called Packaged Facts found that in 2011, sales of green cleaning products topped out at $640 million, a significant increase from 2007 totals of $303 million. One of the big reasons sales more than doubled in four years is likely that marketing departments realized the need for such products existed. The key was to make it easier for customers to find them without going to great lengths.

Clorox’s Existing Product Line

The Clorox Company is just one example of a well-known company that branched out and appealed to eco-friendly consumers. Their Green Works line features a full assortment of household cleaning products made from mostly natural ingredients. Whether consumers are looking for toilet bowl cleaner or all-purpose wipes, the collection has products to suit those needs, and they’re readily available in grocery stores.