Here, 1000 Green Steps quite have an answer for that. Many small appliances and home electronics use electricity even when switched off. So yes, they are consuming electricity when it is still on plugged position although nobody is using it.

By unplugging one not-in-use TV, computer monitor and printer, consumers save more than $70 a year. It doesn’t make sense that you have to pay for what you don’t use, right?

Save money on electricity bill and save our planet by cutting off unnecessary electricity usage by unplugging appliances that are not in use.

Gallium Nitride (GaN) is a synthetic semiconductor that can be used to make LEDs. It emits brilliant light and uses very little electricity and make that as their green steps.

However, until now, researchers had to grow GaN on expensive sapphire wafers. These high production costs kept GaN from widespread use.

Recently, though, scientists at the Centre for Gallium Nitride at Cambridge University discovered that GaN could be grown on silicon wafers, instead. This new method can produce LEDs for a tenth of current prices.

GaN LEDs are also incredibly energy-efficient and long-lasting. They can burn for 100,000 hours, or so, the article states.

Plus, unlike current energy-saving bulbs, GaN LEDs do not contain mercury. Start taking green steps now

If so, check out these unique gift ideas from WhoIsYourMan.com.

The company offers an “Eco-Man” gift case that includes:

• cutting-edge C-IN2 designer underwear woven from bamboo, the Earth’s most plentiful grass, and

• designer men’s skin care products by the equally organic and sophisticated Bullie.

Sounds like the perfect combination for the environmentalist in my life.

But, here’s the real question: How well do you know your Valentine? Are you certain that he truly is an Eco-Man? Tell him to do green steps starting from here.

I suggest taking the WhoIsYourMan Personality Test just to be sure…

…and I’m happily adding this post to my “Environmentalists Can Have Fun” and green steps category.

That’s nearly a 30 percent increase from 2007.

And it’s equivalent to preventing the release of greenhouse gases equal to the annual emissions from approximately 15,500 cars.

Plug-In to eCycling is a partnership between the EPA and consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers. The program encourages consumers to donate or recycle their used electronics through in-store take back, online trade-in, and local collection events. Recycling programs like this conserve the energy and resources needed to manufacture new materials.

“Our Plug-In partners are continuing to develop programs that help consumers protect the environment,” says Susan Bodine, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “It’s exciting to see these programs mature rapidly at a time when people are increasingly looking for ways to do their part by recycling their used electronics.”

Is your company taking green steps? Let 1000GreenSteps.org help you spread the word. Please leave a comment below, or contact us at: 1000GreenSteps@gmail.com Thank you!

Everything is just really going eco-friendly lately! Just look at this beautiful designed lamp. Who says that eco-friendly lamp can’t have a sophisticated design? These lamps are made of rotomolding, in a mix of low density plastic with crushed electronic waste plastic. Its base is even produced with smelted aluminum of beer and drink tins! It is very cool 1000 Green Steps even wanted one for ourselves.

The name of the lamp is N+EW Light which is an abbreviation for No More Electronic Waste. So it is clear now that the main goal of this project is to reduce electronic waste in our environment.

If that is not enough, you can match your N+EW Light with N+EW Handmade Stool! Yes, it is handmade and made of electronic waste, epoxic resin and melted aluminum. These stools are one of a kind and only made through special orders.

Who’s behind this? Actually this project is made by Rodrigo Alonso, a graphic designer with recognized experience in the world of publicity. He has a noticeable academic of different universities and workshops in Chile and Latin America. He has worked in the image of large international brands as Renault, Lucky Strike, Warner Bros, and Sony. He is the one who created of the studio-laboratory Müsuc.

Seirra Club ranks colleges and universities annually based on their planet-preserving efforts, including efficiency, energy, food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management and administration.

Many schools have taken all kinds of measures to be more eco-friendly and energy efficient.

For example, CU Boulder encourages students to use buses and bikes, and utilizes biofuels in its vehicles. Yale provides local and organic food in its dining hall. It also has a market garden that produces more than 300 varieties of fruits and veggies. Harvard is using moisture-sensing sprinklers to save water, CFLs to save electricity and solar panels to use clean renewable energy.

The first 10 universities on the honor roll of the 3rd annual ranking are:

1. University of Colorado at Boulder

2. University of Washington at Seattle

3. Middlebury College

4. University of Vermont

5. College of the Atlantic

6. Evergreen State College

7. University of California at Santa Cruz

8. University of California at Berkeley

9. University of California at Los Angeles

10. Oberlin College

To see the whole list and read more about the green steps the schools are taking, go to http://sierraclub.org/sierra/200909/coolschools/default.aspx

“Clean air is no joking matter, and we are glad to see StubHub make such a serious commitment to help its fans reforest the U.S,” Jeff Olson, NFF Vice President, said in a press release. “All trees planted in the initiative will help restore areas within National Forests that have been damaged through catastrophic wildfire, insect and disease outbreak and other natural disasters, while also improving recreational opportunities and helping to reduce erosion.”

StubHub will plant trees in the National Forests located closest to the cities hosting playoff games. They’ll also plant trees in the Ocala National Forest near Tampa, Florida, site of Super Bowl XLIII.

Is your company taking green steps? Let 1000GreenSteps.org help you spread the word. Please leave a comment below, or contact us at: 1000GreenSteps@gmail.com Thank you!

Ranbaxy Laboratories reported on Wednesday that it would not be able to launch a generic version of a urinary drug in the United States as per schedule in the absence of a final approval from the regulator.

Ranbaxy is India’s largest drug maker and they expected to launch the cheaper copycat version of Astellas Pharma’s (4503.T) Flomax in the United States this month.

“We regret that despite our best efforts we were not able to get an approval for the subject product, and hence will not be in a position to launch the product,” Ranbaxy said in a statement, referring to the drug.” They did not give any reasons for not getting the approval.

StubHub has partnered with the National Forest Foundation in its first-ever “Tickets for Trees” event.

The company launched Tickets for Trees last month and will plant a tree in a National Forest for every 2008-2009 NFL post-season ticket purchased on StubHub. Trees will be planted in the National Forest closest to each team hosting a playoff game.

So far, the National Forests of Arizona will benefit the most from newly planted trees, as this weekend’s NFC Championship game sold more tickets than any other NFL conference championship game in StubHub history, according to a company spokesperson. These sales, combined with the ticket sales from the Wild Card game two weekends ago, mean that thousands of trees will be planted in the National Forests of Arizona.

StubHub will release specific sales numbers once the Tickets for Trees program is finished.

More details are available here.

Is your company taking green steps? Let 1000GreenSteps.org help you spread the word. Please leave a comment below, or contact us at: 1000GreenSteps@gmail.com Thank you!

1000 Green Steps is your source for new green business ideas.
We’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest ideas and trends that are eco-friendly . . . and business-friendly, too.
1000 Green Steps will show you how sustainability initiatives are becoming the foundation of successful business plans throughout the world.
And, we’ll take it Step By Step.

Step 21: Steinway Installs World’s Largest Solar-Powered Cooling System

The piano-manufacturing icon Steinway & Sons has installed the world’s largest solar-powered cooling system atop its factory in Queens, New York.

Read more…

Step 22:  The Carbon Footprint of Beef

A new article in Scientific American details precisely how beef production contributes to global warming.

Read more…

Step 23: U.S. Wind Energy Industry Breaks Records in 2008

The U.S. wind energy industry installed 8,358 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2008, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced on Tuesday.

Read more…

Step 24: Need a Green Gift for Your Valentine?

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s present for the eco-friendly man in your life?

Read more…

Step 25: New Generation of LEDs Cut Costs, Save Energy

Researchers have developed a new way to make LEDs, and that could reduce your household lighting bills by as much as 75% within the next five years, according to a recent article in Science Daily.

Read more…

Step 26:The Kellogg Co. Tests New Green Cereal Box

In a nod to the up-and-coming field of green packaging, the Kellogg Co. is testing a new cereal box that uses 8% less material, reports Ad Age.

Read more…

Step 27: Best Buy Begins Electronics Recycling Program on Feb. 15

Best Buy has announced that it will launch an electronics recycling program at all of its U.S. stores beginning on February 15.

Read more…

Step 28: Enterprise Rent-A-Car Adds 5,000 Hybrid Cars to U.S. Fleet

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has added approximately 5,000 hybrid vehicles to its U.S. fleet. These cars, which include several makes and models of the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, Ford Escape, and Toyota Camry, can schieve greater fuel economy, use less gasoline, and have lower emissions than traditional vehicles.

Read more…

Step 29: 7-Eleven Opens Green Commissary, Distribution Center

7-Eleven, Inc. has opened a green Commissary and Combined Distribution Center (CCD) in Long Island, New York. Fresh foods are prepared at the new environmentally-friendly facility and delivered to 674 7-Eleven stores in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Read more…

Step 30: 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Friday

The 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) starts this Friday, February 13 and will run through Monday, February 16.

Read more…