Get your groove on - a sustainable dance floor?

Right now if you want to get your groove on at a club with a sustainable dance floor, you’ll have to make a trip to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. But it might be worth the airfare! The dance floor at this club is made of separate tiles pieced together and the energy produced by the movement of the dancers is converted into electricity. That electricity is used to make the dance floor react to the dancer in an interactive way. The floor provides a unique visual experience on every energy level. All visuals are a continuous real-time interaction between the clubbers on the floor, allowing each individual’s actions to contribute to the collective experience.

The dance floor is a fusion of electronics, embedded software and durable materials. When danced on, every tile makes a vertical movement. These movements are transformed by an electric motor into electric power. When enough energy is produced, the mirror ball in the ceiling will be activated too! And to think I was impressed by the disco balls of the 80’s! The harder you dance, the more the lights of the dance floor dance around you!

Since the tiles are pieced together, you can create a dance floor as small or as large as you desire. You can purchase the pieces and set up a dance floor in your home! Flashdance here I come!Seriously, though, this is an exciting concept to me and the idea of giving back energy versus using it has peaked my interest. I’m all for making the world a better place and having fun at the same time!

I’ve been patting myself on the back because I thought I had learned most of the “terms” related to living a green life today. I know about recycling and sustainability. I know about salvaging, reusing, biodegradable, and BPA free. I’m “with it” when it comes to my carbon footprint, which I never knew I had before last year! I can tell you about volatile organic compounds. Well, let’s put that one on the back burner. But now I’ve got to put two more words in my “green dictionary.” Upcycle and downcycle! I don’t know if my little pea brain can take any more! Is pea brain a “green” term? What are upcycle and downcycle you ask?  Get your paper and pencils out and your next lesson will begin!

Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to provide new products. It is taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. Upcycling has been practiced for centuries, and factories have long used innovative upcycling techniques to ensure that nothing they handle goes to waste.  Architectural salvage is an example of upcycling as well as building houses out of entirely discarded materials to turning plastic bags into yarn for knitting.  The philosophy is that everything has a potential use or value. Upcycling is the “reuse” in “reduce, reuse, recycle.” The purses and bags we sell on Woven Pieces that are made of tire retreads and chewing gum wrappers are examples of upcycling. Check out our English Retread and Ecoist bags. You’ll be as impressed as I was when I saw them.

Don’t go anywhere yet! We haven’t talked about downcycling yet! Downcycling is the recycling of a material into a material of lesser quality or re-use of a product with crippled functionality for alternative purposes. One example would be re-using defective car batteries for lower-power applications. Or recycling plastics which turns the material into lower grade plastics. Here’s a good one; often times, when people upcycle, individually downcycled parts are often involved. Gotcha! Is your head spinning as much as mine?

This is all good. Confusing, but good. I’m confident you’ll catch on. People are finding that this whole new philosophy about recycling, upcycling, and downcycling materials is creating an entirely new way of looking at the things they use and being creative in the ways they reuse them. Every thing we do to stop waste from going in to the earth is a step towards saving it.  Be responsible and at the same time have fun with it! We are!

When my children were born, I did everything possible to protect them from the dangers of toxins and poisons. I made their baby food because the ingredients on the store bought baby food jars were not up to my standards. I used the cloth diapers because I thought they were safer for my baby’s skin then the artificial, disposable ones. I used organic and unscented baby soap for their baths to protect their newborn skin.

In retrospect, I could have done more. But to be perfectly honest, there were fewer options 20 years ago. But today there are many organic and eco-friendly options for our infants, toddlers, and children. Sometimes they are priced higher than the mainstream products, but your child’s health is well worth it.

Children’s toys and baby products made of soft plastic may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals. Phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are a class of chemicals found in many consumer products — from cosmetics to children’s toys. Commonly used in fragrances and to soften PVC plastic, phthalates interfere with hormonally-driven reproductive development. Phthalate-leaching toys and baby products pose a particular threat to infants and young children. Phthalates can be ingested, inhaled and also absorbed through the skin.

Our Woven Pieces mission is to provide products that are not harmful to you or to the environment. For example, Plan Toys uses chemical-free wood, nontoxic paints, and safety-conscious ergonomic shapes. All finished toys undergo a rigorous quality inspection before they leave the plant. Pixel Organics crib sets and clothing uses 100% certified organic cotton. Cotton Monkey also uses organic cotton for their baby bedding sets. IsaBooties are eco-friendly foot coverings for the environmentally concerned consumer. Lilipad Studio creates children’s furniture made from a 100% recycled wood fiber product that is non-toxic and formaldehyde free. Green to Grow offers BPA-free baby bottles. (BPA is a hormone disrupting chemical that is toxic to babies and children.This dangerous chemical leaches out of the plastic bottle, and into the contents it contains.)

There are many products that will not contaminate the environment or put your children’s health at risk. They are available on our website. And the options are growing daily because more and more people are becoming concerned and demanding organic, non-toxic and eco-friendly choices. As a result, more grassroots and family businesses are starting up to meet the demand. Protect your health and the health of your family members. Your babies and children are too young to make the decisions themselves. Make the decisions for them and you’ll never regret it.

 

 

Chevy Volt Electric Car

Many of you, like myself, have been constantly seeing commercials with a green background and the numbers 230 appear on the screen, then 8-11. The zero is an odd little power outlet face that turns from an “oh-no!” expression to a smiley face. Interesting, very interesting.

After doing a little research, I read the advertisements are for the new Chevy Volt (General Motors) electric car coined the “Volt.” A very appropriate name if you ask me.

According to General Motors, the “Chevrolet Volt electric car could get 230 mpg in city driving, making it the first American vehicle to achieve triple-digit fuel economy if that figure is confirmed by federal regulators.” This would make the GM Volt four times more fuel efficient than a Toyota Prius and the Volt will be the most eco-friendly car sold in the United States.

Unlike the Prius and other traditional hybrids, the Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range. After that, a small internal combustion engine kicks in to generate electricity for a total range of 300 miles. The battery pack can be recharged from a standard home outlet, which is a huge upside.

Since the number of all-electric vehicles in the United States remains relatively low, and most manufacturers like Tesla are quite pricey ($100k+), the new Chevy Volt may bridge the gap and provide an eco-friendly, sustainable electric vehicle for everyday people. A vehicle that does not sacrifice space or luxury, and remains within a comfortable price range for most Americans.

Bentley GTC Speed

When you think of Bentley automobiles, how often do you think of them as a green, sustainable manufacturer? The answer from 99% of you visitors is probably: “what the heck?”

Well, the times are changing and Bentley, one of the most prestigious auto manufacturers in the world, is doing its part to help preserve the environment. The new line of Bentley Continentals are 85% recyclable, for a recovery rate of 95%.

Aside from being mostly recyclable, Bentley has released an awesome new GTC Speed that boasts a 630-hp turbocharged W12 capable of speeds over 200 mph. Best of all, the engine is biofuel compatible making it greener than most cars on the market today and more powerful at the same time. By 2012, the company said all of its models will be capable of running on flex fuel.

Bentley has also decided to implement cylinder cutoffs in the next generation of its uber-luxury Arnage. The cutoff technology is designed to drastically reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by closing certain combustion chambers when they’re not needed.

Lastly, Bentley has adopted a revolutionary, new technology that uses superheated air and high tool pressure to shape body panels, such as on the Arnage. Instead of heavy machines with molds, or heating and molding body panels, this new process eliminates excess electricity and materials required to mold bodywork.

Have the cash, but driving a Prius to be eco-friendly? Now you have another option. (don’t get me wrong, I love the Toyota Prius!)

 

Print Ads Vs. Internet Marketing Diagram (click for larger image)

For all of you marketing managers or business owners out there, the time has come to do your part in helping to preserve the environment and an excellent first step is utilizing the internet. As opposed to costly and environmentally unfriendly print advertisements, internet promotion involves no printing, inks, manual distribution (increases carbon emissions due to driving), shipping, etc. Best of all, internet marketing is timeless and lasts far beyond any print ad or television commercial.

Let me put everything in perspective for you…

Print ads start off as an idea, are created in digital format, and are sent off to a printer. Printing requires electricity and uses paper, which is one negative. After printing, the marketing material (flyers, postcards, brochures, etc.) is shipped to the client — something that increases carbon emissions. After receipt of the marketing material, companies have to then distribute it. Distribution includes mass mailing, street team distribution, and other environmentally unfriendly actions. 

On the flip side, internet marketing starts of as an idea and is then implemented directly. No shipping is needed, no printing, no paper, no traveling for street teams, etc. Utilizing Flash banners and flyers, search engine optimization, social networking, social bookmarking, social media, blogs and websites is far more eco-friendly when compared to print ads. Most importantly, internet marketing is timeless in the sense that content remains on the internet for an indefinite amount of time. Articles written 10 years ago will appear in Google today. This is the power of the internet.  

For eco-friendly internet marketing, check out The Brainchild Group or call 310-876-0874 and ask for Aaron. 

I’m a fanatical gastronome, I can’t help it. Food is one of my favorite things in life and I cook quite often; typically 4-5 times a week. To be brutally honest, not many kitchen utensils excite me (I know getting excited over kitchen utensils is odd in the first place), but Enrico’s bamboo chopping block really impressed me. Most cutting boards lack build quality and are simply a block of wood — something that looks like it could’ve been made with a hack saw. Though, on the other hand, Enrico’s products are truly a work of art. 

The night I received my bamboo chopping block I invited a few friends over for dinner and wine. I used the chopping block for vegetables (organic asparagus, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers) then cleaned it and used it as a serving platter for cheese and fruit. To my surprise, my friends were more impressed with the chopping block rather than my food. BOOO! I guess it happens sometimes. 

Just a little background info on Enrico: just before the turn of the century, Enrico Ratti worked as a carpenter for a wealthy family near Castagnetto, Italy, and fell in love with their daughter, Luisa. The family would not give their blessing for Luisa to wed the orphan Enrico, so they eloped to America, bringing with them their love of the dishes of the Italian countryside. Alas, America lacked the tools of a traditional Italian kitchen, so Enrico fashioned by hand the predecessor of today’s Enrico Grater for the rich hard cheeses they so cherished. Many of Enrico’s original graters are still used by the Ratti family today. 

Jim Ratti, the founder of Enrico Products and an accomplished woodworker himself, used one of his grandfather’s graters as a model to create the modern version of the Enrico Cheese Grater that you see today. It has the same features as the Enrico original, plus a few new ones. The company now uses bamboo - a modern, environmentally friendly material that simultaneously maintains the look and feel of its old-world counterpart, yet is sturdy enough for use by the gourmet cook. The grater also features a stainless steel grating surface that will stand up to years of use.

Jim has continued the legacy of his grandfather by drawing on his Italian roots to develop new products that have the same beauty and usefulness as Enrico’s works from the past. Now you too can enjoy the simple beauty and practicality of Enrico’s century-old design along with the other kitchen products in the Enrico Collection.

Some of Enrico’s most popular products include their: bamboo chopping block, bamboo pepper mill, bamboo cheese grater, and the bamboo flute serving bowl 

One of the key aspects of being green is reducing carbon emissions. Eliminating unneeded transportation and shipping of goods by purchasing from local businesses is instrumental in preserving the environment. In essence, why buy from a business across the world when a local business offers the same product? 

Woven Pieces is dedicated to providing green, eco-friendly products to businesses throughout the world, though we have a large amount of local, loyal customers. Luckily, no matter where you’re located, we ship all packages using recycled boxes and eco-friendly packing material. Most of our customers live in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara, Orange County and San Diego, which tells me purchasing local is in fact important to many. On the other hand, we have recently seen an influx of customers from Chicago, New York City (including Manhattan), Miami, Vermont, Maine, Seattle, and Portland. Exciting, it really is! 

If you’re interested in purchasing local green products check out my previous blog post:

“7 Tips to Purchasing Local Green Products“

Another nice day here in Los Angeles and I decided to take a hike at Kenneth Hahn State Park. And, I’m sooooo happy I did! 

When I was a kid, I’m talking about 7-10 years old, I used to always visit Kenneth Hahn with the YMCA. It’s tucked away in the hills in Baldwin Park and offers all sorts of cool, green features including miles of hiking trails, 2 lakes that are home to many types of birds, a Japanese garden and much more! 

According to Wikipedia, “The Park is named after Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Kenneth Hahn, father of former L.A. mayor Jim Hahn. The park opened in 1983 as the Baldwin Hills State Recreational Area and was renamed in Hahn’s honor in 1988. Since its opening, the park has been expanded as nearby oil wells have dried up. The area where the park is located was at one time inhabited by the Tongva aboriginal people. As Los Angeles quickly grew during the 20th century, only the park’s rugged terrain protected it from being developed. In 1932 the area east of the park was used as the site of the first Olympic Village during the 10th Olympiad, which Los Angeles hosted. In 1984 Los Angeles again hosted the Olympic Games, drawing athletes from 140 nations. To serve as a continual reminder of the events, 140 trees have been planted together on the hills where the 1932 events took place. Each tree represents a nation that took part in the 1984 Olympics. Between 1947 and 1951, the doomed Baldwin Hills Reservoir was built on the site. In 1963, the reservoir’s dam collapsed disastrously (see below video), and the bowl of the reservoir is still quite evident today. In the late 1940s, there were plans to build the aborted Laurel Canyon Freeway (SR-170) on a north-south path that would have dissected the park, where La Cienega Blvd. travels currently. In 1977, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn convinced Vice President Spiro Agnew (citation needed) to reuse the land for a park. At the time the area was a very popular spot for the new sport of motocross. Locals knew it as ‘Motorcycle Hill’. Land acquired for the park includes former oil-drilling sites (some can still be seen), and territory near the Ballona Creek watershed that forms a partial wildlife passage out through Culver City to the sea.”

Surprisingly, this remote, unseen park has received a lot of media attention. The park has been used as a filming location for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (”Once More With Feeling”), the golf scene in the film Swordfish was filmed in the adjacent oil field, the music video for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Nuthin’ but a G thang was filmed here, and the park is featured in the video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles among many other appearances. 

Please find photos from my journey below. Feel free to share your thoughts! :)

Sincerely,

Aaron

So you have a home and want to be green. You ask yourself: where the heck do I start? What if I don’t have $50k for renovations? Well, being green isn’t about converting your entire home to being an eco-friendly showcase like the television shows depict. Start small, within a comfortable budget, and take baby steps from that point forward. Hopefully this article will help identify easy, cost-effective, and functional green home products. 

1) Tankless Water Heaters

In your kitchen, do you leave water boiling on the stove 24/7 or do you boil water when you need it? Well, of course, when you need it. So, why have a water heater that continuously boils water but is only used for a tiny portion of the day? Simple answer: DON’T! Tankless water heaters provide water on-demand, or when it’s needed, which immensely cuts down water and gas consumption. 

2) Green Appliances

Green appliances, or energy star certified appliances, will considerably lower energy bills and, if everyone follows suit, energy consumption/dependency as a whole will decrease. These electronics use up to 50% less water or electricity than standard models. Some of the most popular energy star electronics and appliances are the following: toasters, televisions, monitors, refrigerators, dishwashers and air conditioners. 

3) Eco-Friendly Cleaners

Utilizing eco-friendly cleaners with no harsh chemicals is an excellent way to keep your home clean and free of toxins. Non-toxic cleaners should be used in the bathroom, kitchen and anywhere else you can think of. Nowadays eco-friendly products are easy to come by, so there should be no excuse to not use them. 

4) Architectural Salvage

Though the word salvage may give off a negative or cheap vibe, architectural salvages are excellent places to find reclaimed wood, recycled windows, reused sinks, and much more. Places like these eliminate the amount of materials sent to landfills, which is a plus, and also offer excellent prices. 

5) Green Paint

If you happen to be remodeling or painting, be sure to use low-VOC paints or preferably natural paints that have no VOCs. There are hundreds of natural paints on the market including paints made from clay, soy, milk and much more. 

6) Solar Tubes / Skylights

Free lighting, how can anyone turn that down? Skylights and solar tubes are an excellent way to light your home or office. They’re relatively inexpensive to install and provide light throughout the day. Many have small LED lights built in so they double as lighting fixtures at night. Over a period of 10 years, a third of the length of most mortgages, skylights will save thousands of dollars.  

7) Solar Garden + Driveway Lighting

Using solar-powered outdoor lights is a cheap, functional and attractive upgrade. Since the fixtures are powered by the sun, no wiring is needed, thus making installation a cinch. For pathway or driveway lighting, simply buy standalone torches/fixtures and push them into the ground, then you’re off to the races. 

8) LED Lighting

Light Emitting Diodes, or LED bulbs, use a fraction of the electricity needed to power a standard incandescent bulb and last 10 times longer. LED lights are available for decor and art lighting, room lighting, safety lighting and a plethora of other types of lighting. Additionally, the bulbs are very inexpensive. 

9) Water Filters

If you’re one to drink a lot of water like I am, then you should definitely invest in a water filter (I have a Brita). Bottled water wastes plastic and most bottles, when in contact with some sort of warm heat source, release a harmful chemical called Bisphenol A. Drinking bottled water, in essence, almost defeats the purpose of drinking water in the first place. Catch my vibe? Having a water filter allows glasses to be filled with water then reused ten, twenty, thirty, a hundred, or a thousand times. 

10) Dual Flush Toilets

Why waste 1.6 gallons of water when all you did was take a tinkle? Well, don’t! Invest in dual flush toilets to ensure what you’re meaning to send down the pipes is actually what’s going down (kosher way to phrase it). Basically, there’s a type of flush for a #1, and a type of flush for a #2. By utilizing dual flush high efficiency toilets, such as the ones made by Caroma USA, the average household will save up to 18,000 gallons of water per year.