Bethesda Green's Grand Opening Happens Oct. 1-3

A local non-profit that is helping launch new green businesses will open its newly renovated Education Center and Green Business Incubator this Thursday.

The organization is Bethesda Green and it's hosting an Open House from October 1-3 at its offices on the second floor of the Chevy Chase Bank on the corner of Cordell Ave. and Woodmont Ave. in downtown Bethesda, Md.

Come meet the innovative companies getting their start, see what Bethesda Green is all about, and listen to presentations about green business, sustainable living and community sustainability. View the program of Grand Opening events.

I have done volunteer work for Bethesda Green, mostly helping to shape and publish their new Web site at bethesdagreen.org. Check it out!

This is a great organization that is out there making things happen. They've procured 15 recycling bins for downtown Bethesda, sponsored two extremely successful E-Cycling Days, and launched a biodiesel fuel research project with the county. Bethesda Green acts as a catalyst to help businesses and people become more sustainable.

So, if you're in or near Bethesda later this week, stop by for the Open House. If you can't make it, check out the line-up of upcoming events, workshops and talks.

Local co-ops help DC-area folks go solar

Three solar-power co-ops in the DC region are helping homeowners navigate the paperwork and complexities of adding solar electricity to a home.

An excellent article ("Going Solar") in Saturday's Washington Post profiled the Common Cents co-op in Chevy Chase, the Mount Pleasant Solar Cooperative and the Capitol Hill Energy Co-Op.

All three try to get discounts for their members by harnessing the buying power of the group. Solar panels are usually pricey, but a current glut of panels has reduced hardware costs. Some folks have installed Sunslates, which look like slate shingles but function like solar panels, according to the story. Others have used thin-film solar technology that adheres to flat roofs.

I added up the estimates in the story and it seems by spring that 70 or 80 more homes in the area will have solar-electric technology installed. Great news!

p.s. - I've updated the Green Power / Solar Incentives links for Md., DC and Va. on GreenListDC.org.

Green events calendar for September in DC area

Better late than never! Here are some enviro-friendly events and classes happening this month.

Classes from the Green Building Institute
Sept. 13-30
The Institute is offering a 10-class series in Washington, DC, Arlington, Loudoun County, Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Silver Spring. Topics range from Environmental Landscaping to Green Interior Design to Home Energy Audits and more. Taught by professionals working in each topic's field. Sign up for any that catch your fancy! $40 for GBI members, $55 for non-members; $20 for student GBI members, $28 for student non-members. Buy three classes and get one free!
Arlington Classes | Bethesda-Chevy Chase Classes | Loudoun County Classes | Silver Spring Classes | Washington Classes

Sept. 16: Net Impact/Live Green Happy Hour
6-8:30 p.m., Local 16, 1602 U Street, NW, Washington, DC

Sept. 17: Intro to Going Green class
7 p.m., Gaithersburg, MD
What does it mean to be green? What is the green economy and how do we build a sustainable future? $40 for GBI members, $55 for non-members; $20 for student GBI members, $28 for student non-members.

Sept. 18: Organic Wine Tasting with Sonoma's Sommelier
6 p.m., Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, 223 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
$25 per person
What does it mean when wine is labeled organic? Sonoma's sommelier, Brian Cook, will unvravel the mystery and take us on a virtual tour of organic wine production, starting in the vineyard and ending with a tasteful palate experience.

Sept. 19: Capitol Hill Tree Tour
10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-3 p.m. Begins at Capitol South Metro
Washington is sometimes known as the "City of Trees," and Casey Trees offers monthly tree tours of Capitol Hill. As featured in the Washington Post Weekend section.
$10 a person

Sept. 20: Capitol Hill Tree Tour
$10 a person

Sept. 22: Car-Free Day Metro DC
Participate in this international event and ake the pledge to reduce or eliminate the use of your car on Sept. 22.

Sept. 26: Principles of Permaculture class
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Howard County, Md.
This workshop will focus on fundamental permaculture ethics, principles and strategies to live more sustainably in your home, neighborhood or community. Taught by Christine Gyovai, principal of Dialogue and Design Associates. Offered by the Green Building Institute. $40 for GBI members, $55 for non-members.

Sept. 29: ReBuild, GreenDrinks and Local Artists
6:30-8:30 p.m., Springfield, VA
Celebrate the opening of the ReBuild Warehouse, the tremendous growth of the GreenDrinks program in the DC area, and highlight the accomplishments of six local, environmentally conscious artists. ReBuild is a non-profit, used building materials warehouse in Springfield, VA.

Sept. 30: Climate Ride reaches Washington, DC

Shout out for OrganicMania, another local blog

Recently I discovered OrganicMania, a green blog for moms written by DC-area local Lynn Anne Miller. Her company, 4GreenPs/OrganicMania.com, was chosen this year as one of the first six to participate in the Bethesda Green Incubator, which supports the development of young growing businesses that have the potential to create jobs and bring new, innovative green products to market.

OrganicMania's tag line is "Your Guide To Making Sense of Healthy Green Living." The blog contains lots of posts about how to make schools greener, pack healthier, greener lunches for your kids, organic food, Community Supported Agriculture, and the BlogHer site and conference.

It looks like a great resource for moms who want to be greener -- or who just want to cut through all the green marketing out there and find out what's really best and why.