Watson, a Poulsbo furniture manufacturer, has completed a lighting fixture upgrade that will reduce its annual electricity usage by 49 percent and total power consumption by 11percent — enough to power 15 average homes per year.

The project to replace 426 lighting fixtures on Watson’s manufacturing floor and within its administrative offices was made possible with the help of Puget Sound Energy, Energy Conservation Services, and North Coast Electric.

Through a grant program aimed at reducing energy consumption, Puget Sound Energy contributed 50 percent of the total cost for the upgrade. read more »

For eco-minded businesses, a recycling plan, paper waste reduction and energy savings are likely the first ideas to be implemented. They’re all things that will save money so it makes financial sense as well. In those categories, one popular move currently is to take a look at lighting fixtures — in some cases, businesses are saving 30 percent to 50 percent on their electricity bill by simply switching bulbs to fluorescent. read more »

There is an unprecedented need for renewable energy and conservation while addressing the growing demand for businesses and jobs to support them. For decades it has been clear that the way Americans produce and consume energy is not sustainable. Our addiction to foreign oil and fossil fuels puts our economy, our national security and our environment at risk.

A clean-energy champion from Washington State, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), who sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has long advocated that, “…jobs that come from the shift to clean and renewable energy are concentrated in manufacturing, construction, and skilled facilities operations. read more »

The economy has undoubtedly impacted every aspect of American life, including the way people spend their money. The shrinking retail sales may be a tell-all about a reduction in consumerism — whether by necessity or because it’s trendy — but there’s one other number that may indicate America’s love for “stuff” is changing. For the past few years, the amount of garbage generated nationwide has been decreasing: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, between 2007 and 2009 (the last year available), municipal solid waste (a.k.a. garbage) generation went from 255 million tons to 243 million. read more »

Members of the public will have the opportunity to learn how Bainbridge Island’s groundwater might be affected by different land use, population growth and climate change scenarios. Staff of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which has been working with the City to develop a hydrogeologic model of the island’s groundwater, will present the results at a public meeting at Council Chambers from 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27.

“Since groundwater is the sole source of drinking water for island residents, it’s imperative that we have a thorough understanding of our aquifer system in order to make sound, knowledgeable management and planning decisions,” said Cami Apfelbeck, Water Resources Specialist and Groundwater Monitoring Program Manager for the City. read more »

Are you an outdoor enthusiast, sport fisherman or conservationist? Are you interested in working with wild salmon and getting up close and personal helping to restore this valuable and precious resource? Did you know that salmon have a direct or indirect relationship that supports the existence of at least 137 species of wildlife? read more »

With green products increasingly going mainstream through the introduction of value-pried options from traditional supermarkets and big-box retailers, consumers no longer feel they have to pay a premium price for sustainable items, the LOHAS Consumer Trends Database (LCTD) has found. This finding emphasizes the importance of investing in product innovation and continuing to surmount hurdles to competitive pricing of eco-friendly offerings, according to Natural Marketing Institute (NMI). read more »

Since the inception of the E-Cycle Washington program statewide, close to 20 million pounds of electronics are estimated to have been diverted from the landfills. According to date from the state Ecology Department, close to 600,000 pounds of electronics have been diverted in Kitsap County alone as of May (about 4 percent of the statewide total).

E-Cycle Washington was the result of a state law passed in 2006 that requires electronics manufacturers to pay for the recycling of laptops, televisions, computer monitors and towers. read more »

Bainbridge Island citizens can get more than permits and public records when they stop by city hall this summer. They can leave home with some free vegetables. Some tomatoes and chard, perhaps.

The produce that is growing on the city hall grounds, tucked between ornamental shrubs and trees, has been planted by volunteers, and is available to anyone read more »