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Steve Graham

Steve Graham photo courtesy of Steve GrahamSteve Graham is an award-winning freelance Web and magazine writer living in a Fort Collins, Colorado, neighborhood that will soon produce all of its own energy. He is a former newspaper reporter, editor and designer. He has worked for an alternative weekly and community newspapers in Colorado, and a large daily newspaper in California. Find links to some of his other writing at his Grahamophone blog.

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Go Green and Make Gold
Entrepreneurs and environmentalists don’t need to clash. There are plenty of opportunities for companies large and small to make money while practicing sustainability and incorporating other ecologically sound business approaches. Can’t we all just get along?
Making Sustainable Beer Money
Wednesday, 11 January 2012  |  Steve Graham | Blog Entry

New Belgium photo by Joe M500How did a Colorado brewery land four sets of news stories in one week? By going green.

New Belgium is a Fort Collins, Colorado, microbrewery most famous for Fat Tire, which is becoming nearly as ubiquitous as Sam Adams in bars and liquor stores across the country. Its brewery is one bottle ahead of the rest of the beer industry in sustainability—and that has paid off for the company in spades when it comes to free publicity: Read on…

 
Don’t be Greenwashed by Company Annual Reports
Wednesday, 04 January 2012  |  Steve Graham | Blog Entry

Annual Report photo by Dominic AlvesIt’s time for companies to release another round of annual reports, which for some becomes a major greenwashing opportunity. Many businesses also generate separate corporate social-responsibility reports that largely focus on environmental and labor practices. These days most firms want to jump on the sustainability bandwagon—or at least appear to be on board. To be sure, many are reducing their carbon and water footprints, and taking important strides toward protecting the environment. But some only say they are. Read on…

 
Unwrapping Wasteful Packaging
Wednesday, 21 December 2011  |  Steve Graham | Blog Entry

Excessive Packaging photo by Simon DavisonAs part of the Envirofit project, an ingenious group of graduate students and staff at Colorado State University (CSU) have engineered a new type of clean-burning cookstove for developing countries. The initiative not long ago won an ecological design award at the International Design Excellence Awards. But the project undoubtedly deserves an award for innovative packaging as well.

The group saves material, space and shipping costs by making octagonal boxes for the round cookstoves. They realize you don’t need to put a round peg into a square hole. Right now, as we buy, wrap and open boxes full of presents, wasteful packaging is hard to ignore. But companies could save money, be more eco-conscious and reduce our frustration with simpler, easier to open, less wasteful packaging. Read on…

 
How Your Business Can Put the Green in Christmas
Wednesday, 07 December 2011  |  Steve Graham | Blog Entry

Green Bulb on Tree photo by green-bulb_jasonippolitoChristmas can really separate the grumpy, green, Grinch-like environmentalists from the festive, red-and-green, Earth-loving elves of generosity among us. The Grinch is the one calculating the elf’s coal use while watching him string up Christmas lights (you’ll see which one I am below). As a business owner, you’ll certainly want to celebrate Christmas with your employees and customers. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for businesses to get into the holiday spirit sustainably, inexpensively and merrily. Read on…

 
This Thanksgiving, I’m (Somewhat) Thankful for Corporate America
Wednesday, 23 November 2011  |  Steve Graham | Blog Entry

Nike-Apple iPod photo by luisvillaAs a good environmentalist, I know I’m supposed to be thankful for organic food, the national parks and the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife. I am, but I’m also unexpectedly thankful this year for corporate America. Large companies that I have ignored, boycotted and even protested are now friends of the environment. Here are a few good firms, or at least firms doing good things: Read on…

 
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Eco Tip

Become a vegetarian or vegan, or at least eat less meat. Meat is a big waster of water and energy—and generator of greenhouse gasses. It also exacerbates world hunger. One acre of land yields almost 18 times as much usable protein from plant versus animal sources—356 pounds if used to grow soybeans, 20 pounds if used to raise cattle for slaughter. More tips...

Eco Quote

He who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens, and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Essays, Second Series, 1844   More quotes...