 |
| |
Zero Waste Partners
Certifications only apply to the addresses listed below and not to the company as a whole.
Aera Energy LLC
10000 Ming Ave
Bakersfield, CA
FedEx Ground
3105 Gateway
Bakersfield, CA
IKEA Distribution
4101 Industrial Parkway
Lebec, CA
Give us a call to find out how you can become one of our certified zero waste facilities.
|
|
|
|
Our No Idling Partners are only for the addresses listed below and not the company as a whole.
Granite Construction
3005 James Road
Bakersfield, CA
Price Disposal
8665 South Union
Bakersfield, CA
Stria
4600 Resnick Drive
Bakersfield, CA
Give us a call to find out how you can become one of our No Idling Partners.
|
|
|
|
From Field to Doorstep, Bare Roots produce delivery aims to make healthy eating easier in Kern County
Work, kids, appointments, and obligations have a way of piling up. With the high demands that daily life can place on a person, many Kern County families are apt to get their dinners from the drive-thru rather than the kitchen.
Bare Roots, a produce delivery company based in Kern County, aims to disrupt the cycle of unhealthy eating with fresh, hand-picked produce that comes directly to their customer's door.
"All boxes are hand collected and hand packed. Quality control is essential to the process," said Amber Beeson, Bare Roots co-founder. (Regular readers of The Green Scene will also recognize Beeson as Kern Green's landscape design expert.)
While a Bare Roots box may include some organic items, the company focuses on sustainable products. Sustainable agriculture is defined as the production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare.
Many consumers are familiar with the Certified Organic label, which is a verification from the USDA meaning that a product has been produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. While organic produce is good for the health of both people and the planet, getting organic certification is a costly and time-consuming process which some mid-sized farmers don't have the resources to attain. "There is a whole slew of sustainable farmers who grow chemical-free, delicious produce," Beeson said, "they shouldn't be excluded from the health conscious consumer."
To sign up for service from Bare Roots, visit their website, www.barerootsdelivery.com. |
|
|
Green Scene Tip of the Month
|
|
Can a lightbulb clean up Kern County's air? In Kern County 22% of our greenhouse gas output is caused by electricity consumption whereas 17% is caused by transportation. The reason for this is that although renewable energy is making gains, it is still not enough to meet our high energy demands. When summertime energy demands reach their peak, power companies must relay on more polluting forms of energy, which in Kern County means burning biofuel or coal to make electricity. This contributes to our poor air quality and large carbon footprint.
One step you can take toward reducing your energy usage (and in turn, your energy bill) is to replace your incandescent and CFL bulbs with LEDs.
LED lights are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs. Unlike CFLs they turn on instantly, do not contain mercury, and have a pleasant quality of light. The one drawback to LEDs is their higher upfront cost. One must consider, however the lifetime cost of lighting your home. Consider the following graphic:
The average home has 40 lightbulbs. With that in mind, here is the 25 year cost of lighting a home using each type of bulb:
Incandescent: $15,720
CFL: $5,000
LED: $3,080
High power bills and hazy summer skies feel like a fact of life in Kern County, but it doesn't have to be that way. The next time your bulbs burn out, don't think of it as another errand to do, but rather an opportunity to invest in future savings and a cleaner valley.
|
|
661-369-5890
When you think of recycling, the first things that come to mind are probably cans, bottles and paper. Day Smith of SOS Recycle wants to change that. When his customers think of recycling, he wants them to think first of excellent customer service.
SOS Recycle, short for Service! Our Specialty, started in 2011 as a resource for local businesses. SOS provides recycling and pressure washing to local restaurants, retail and office buildings. The company also implements services that help businesses comply with AB-341, a law that makes recycling mandatory. This fall SOS will open its first recycling center for residents at the intersection of Olive and Jewetta in Northwest Bakersfield. "I really see a need for recycling centers that are clean, focus on service and operate with integrity," said Day Smith, owner of SOS Recycle. "We want to take recycling centers to another level."
Smith went through the Green Certification process three years ago. Since he got certified so soon after starting his business, he didn't need to make a lot of changes in his day-to-day operating procedure. Instead, he used the certification checklist as a guide for sustainability as he grew his business. During the process of preparing his new customer location, the Green Certification checklist has been a reference for putting environmentally responsible procedures in place.
Whether your business is just starting out or has been passed down from the previous generation, it's always a good time to get Green Certified.
Get your business Green Certified today. Start the process at
kerngreen.org.
|
|
Due to the drought, the Epilepsy Society of Kern County cancelled their annual mud volleyball tournament, forgoing their biggest fundraiser of the year. To make a donation to the Epilepsy Society, visit their webpage,
www.epilepsysocietyofkern.org
|
|
|
|
