Greening Your Small Business talk set for March 9

Due to the after effects of the snow, we moved author Jennifer Kaplan's talk at Bethesda Green from Feb. 16 to Tuesday, March 9.

Come hear Jennifer discuss her recently published book, 'Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers--and Save the Planet.' She is an adjunct faculty of marketing at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., and a founder of Greenhance LLC, a business consultancy dedicated to providing marketing and communication strategies to small businesses going green.

Her book is a thorough, detailed look at how businesses across the country have improved efficiency and their bottom line by "going green"--and attracted a new set of eco-conscious customers--and how you can do the same.

Join us for this event!

What: Lunchtime discussion with author Jennifer Kaplan about her book, 'Greening Your Small Business'

-- Also, Nick Keller from Pepco's Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs will also be there to explain how small businesses can qualify for energy incentives.

When: Tuesday, March 9 from 12-1:30 p.m.

Where: Bethesda Green, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814

Bring: A waste-free, brownbag (well, reusable container) lunch

Panel Discussion on Sustainable Investing - Tonight!

Here's a late pitch for an event happening tonight at Bethesda Green. It's a panel discussion about Sustainable Investments and the 'Green Economy,' featuring Paul Hilton from Calvert Investments; Art Stevens, from the Calvert Foundation (a separate entity); Chris Belchamber of CB Investment Management; and Tim Brown from Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union.

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 18 -- that's tonight!

Place: Bethesda Green, 2nd Floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814


I believe the format will allow each panelist to speak for a few minutes, followed by inter-panel discussion and audience participation. So if you want to learn more about sustainable investments, come check it out!

Find your bag: Reusable shopping bags, upcycled handbags, felt gift bags

Okay, I'm playing catch-up here and posting about some things that have been on my desk for a while. This collection of three is all about bags.

One: The WaPost recently ran a feature in its Local Living section about shoppers in DC learning how to bring their own bags to the store. The story included a nice photo gallery of what the Post deemed "best bags" -- best value, best design, best insulated bag, etc. Of note: The Trader Joe's six-bottle beverage tote, perfect for wine, water or any bottle. I hadn't heard of a beverage bag before; it fills a need for me, when I buy wine, but not enough to fill a box.

Two: Looking for a unique way to give a gift, without using wrapping paper? Gift bags are a good substitute, but another option is a nice, reusable felt gift pouch designed by textile artist Diane Davis -- and available from Bee Modern. My friend Paula Bee and her sister run this Web site/store, which also sells jute bags, canvas bags, and some bags made from repurposed fabric.

Three: If you're pro-sustainability and like leather, check out the leather handbags and clutches at Uptown Redesigns. Owner and designer Sandy Philpott takes old leather clothing -- coats, jeans and such -- cleans and conditions them and then uses them to make handbags. She offers quite a range of designs and will do custom work, too.

For whatever you want to carry, there are green options out there!

February green events calendar for the DC area

Here's what I've noticed is happening. If you have additional events, post them in a comment here or e-mail them to me at mail at greenlistdc.org.


Feb. 4 - Bethesda Green First Thursday Happy Hour
Join staff and volunteers from Bethesda Green for casual green conversation and social networking.

When: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Blacks Bar & Kitchen, 7750 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814


Feb. 9 - Coal-Free Future theatre performance
Join us for a rockin' evening with award-winning journalist/author Jeff Biggers, filmmaker Ben Evans, and orrganizer/actress Stephanie Pistello as we unveil the Coal Free Future Project in Washington D.C.
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Busboys & Poets


Feb. 11 - Home Ecology class
Create a healthy home for your children & family. Understand the dangers of residential pollution and learn how recycling and reducing the use of toxic chemicals makes your home a safe haven.

When: 8 p.m.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


* Feb. 16 - Greening Your Small Business - POSTPONED *
This is a lunchtime Discussion with Jennifer Kaplan, author of "Greening Your Small Business," which was just published in November '09. Jennifer is an adjunct faculty of marketing at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.; she also founded Greenhance LLC, a business consultancy dedicated to providing marketing and communication strategies to small businesses going green.

Nick Keller from Pepco's Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs will also be there to explain how small businesses can qualify for energy incentives.

When: 12-1:30 p.m. -- POSTPONED, DATE TBD
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814


Feb. 16 - NOVA Green Drinks
Green Drinks meets every 3rd Tuesday. For more information: pam at vsbn.org.

When: 6-8 PM
Where: Vienna Inn, 120 Maple Avenue E., Vienna, VA.


Feb. 18 - Sustainable Investments panel discussion
Learn about sustainable investments and the "green economy." Join Bethesda Green for a rousing discussion as four local investment experts answer questions and offer their take on the important economic issues -- and opportunities -- that impact our wallets and our communities.

When: 7-9 p.m.
Where: Bethesda Green, 2nd floor, 4825 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, Md. 20814


Feb. 18 - Solar Panels: How, why and how much?
Everything you ever wanted to know about installing solar panels in your home!

When: 8 p.m.
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


Feb. 25 - Discussion: A Green Building Is a Healthier One
Can working in a green building make you healthier? And if you can prove this, would reduce a company’s health care insurance? Find out if this is a game changer when considering how and when to build sustainably. (Note: This event costs money!)

When: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW Washington, DC 20001


Feb. 27 - Energy Efficiency!
Want to conserve energy but don’t know where to start? There are simple steps that you can take to make your home more energy efficient and save money, whether you own or rent your place. In this workshop, we will walk you through the basics, to help you get started right away.

When: 11 a.m.
where: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Eco-Fashion in Bamboo

I stumbled upon a local eco-fashion site after following a link from one of my Google alerts to this Express story about DC-area entrepreneur Kimberly Wilson. She runs three yoga studios and has an “eco-luxe” organic, bamboo clothing line called TranquiliT. Her fashion site also has a corresponding blog.

The site says the clothes are “for yoga and beyond,” and that “green is the new black.” Check it out – and leave a comment if you’ve tried these organic bamboo clothes. My experience is that organic clothes can be more expensive, but also more comfortable.

WaPost Profiles Troubled Anacostia River

The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold wrote a great piece (“Troubled waters” with accompanying photo gallery) yesterday tracking clean-up efforts in the Anacostia River and its watershed. He finds it’s a mixed bag: There’s less raw sewage going into the river now compared to 10 years ago, and as a result less algae. But he writes, “more than half of its brown bullhead catfish have tumors on their livers, from a life rooting in the chemical-laden sediment.”

Fahrenthold raises some good points, such as how stormwater runoff – that’s rainfall in common speak – is one major problem, because it washes all kinds of trash, pet waste and road chemicals into the river. He discusses how the bag tax in D.C. will help pay to clean up the river – to a point. It might not be enough to totally clean it up – so at what point should the city be content, when the river is mostly clean or not so dirty?

Even if you don’t live near the Anacostia River, cleaning it up is still important, because it flows into the Potomac, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. These waterways provide natural and economic benefits to us, and shouldn’t a river be swimmable and fishable anyhow?

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Note: This story is the first in a Post series called "Unfinished Business: The Environment 40 Years After Earth Day"