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Green California Summit and Exposition
by JANE BOGNER
SUNDAY, March 25, 2007

Last week, I attended the Green California Summit and Exposition in Sacramento sponsored by CA Environmental Protection Agency, State and Consumer Services Agency, and Green-Technology. The focus was on Greening the Golden State by helping local governments get on a path to a sustainable future.

Cities showcased their successes, eager to share their programs so others would not have to reinvent the wheel. Training seminars featured green building, energy efficiency and environmentally preferable purchasing.

The exposition hall was filled with vendors ranging from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) architects and consultants ready to conduct an energy footprint of your business to hybrid and electric cars, clean energy, and recycled products. The program guide listing the exhibitors is available at VALCORE Recycling or by clicking on www.green-technology.org/gcsummit.

Companies helping businesses save energy came in several forms including roof gardening, warm floors and a new twist on the ivy-covered buildings of the east coast. Green Screen (www.greenscreen.com) builds three-dimensional wire trellises that can be free standing or attached to walls. These plant-covered screens soften the harshness of huge walls and can also create living fences. A side benefit is that they are anti graffiti surfaces as one cannot paint on plants.

How many times have we seen sprinklers running during a rain storm? Watermiser (www.watermiser.com) has a moisture sensing sprinkler control that detects when water is needed before starting your irrigation system. Their Waterbroom is a combination of a garden hose and power washer. This Waterbroom uses up to 75 percent less water and is easy for anyone to use to clean walkways, decks, or small parking lots.

Sunflowers came into play in different ways. CPI International (www.cpidaylighting.com) has a system for skylights that mechanically follows the sun like a sunflower. ControLite's rota-blades turn to let in or shield out natural light. Large venues such as convention and banquet halls or sports arenas would be more pleasant with natural light and, at the same time, save energy. This system also comes in a vertical wall system.

WISE Solutions (www.wiserenewables.com, 1 800 491-WISE) uses renewable, agricultural crops such as sunflower seeds to produce industrial, marine and food grade biodegradable lubricants. These American grown and manufactured products help reduce our dependence on imported oil while helping to remove toxins from our ecosystems and promote rural farming. Their website has specifications on products such as Bio-Hydraulic Fluids, Bio-Gear Oils, Bio-Power Diesel Fuel Conditioner, Bio-Food Grade (Edible) General Purpose Lubricant and Bio-Concrete Mould Release Fluids. A big bonus from this Freedom, California company is that large volume customers such as cities, can return used oils for remanufacturing and reuse.

Just up the road in Napa, Ecoflame is being distributed by Thomas Madden of Vicor catering supplies (1 866 944-0947, tfmyountville@aol.com). Ecoflame is an earth-friendly sugar cane-based heating and cooking fuel.This ethanol fuel is nontoxic, nonexplosive, odorless and emits no harmful gasses making it safe for use indoors. Ecoflame is a hotter, safer, and cleaner replacement for sterno and can be used to heat chafing dishes, fondue, or for camping and picnics. Ecoflame offers cans that burn from one to six hours and a two-liter refill bottle that will save you money. Mr. Madden said he frequently drives through Vallejo and would be happy to drop off Ecoflame to new customers. This is a cutting edge alternative fuel and using it is "the right thing to do."

And last but certainly not least, the keynote speaker for the Green California Summit was actor and environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. My souvenir from the event was meeting Mr. Begley and getting his autograph on my day pack.


VALCORE Recycling Board Member Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald, Community Outlook Section. For recycling information call her at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.

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