Wal-Mart: Green, greener or greenwashing?: While the mega store wasn’t founded on sustainable principles, other than sustaining the Walton’s, the corporation responsible for moving over 300 billion dollars worth of merchandise in 2007 continues to announce green initiatives that are standing up to scrutiny.

Budweiser ‘Double Mashing’ on GE Rice: Budweiser fans have a bad taste in their mouth, and it’s not just the beer. A recent analysis commissioned by Greenpeace has “detected the presence of genetically engineered (GE) rice (Bayer LL601) in three out of four samples taken” at an Anheuser Busch mill in Arkansas.

Is Burt’s Bees Still Sweet As Honey?: Burt’s Bees is one of those sweet start-up success stories. Boy keeps bees, boy meets girl, girl makes candles, candles evolve into a thriving, full line, all-natural cosmetic and personal care business worth millions kinda thing. One thing led to another and before you know it Burt’s Bees is worth $925 million on the open market.

Do Ethical Companies Survive the Buyout?: TreeHugger had an interesting post about the fate of small, ethical companies in big corporate buy-outs. The scenario has been playing out with some hard true green favorites taking on questionable parent companies – like Burt’s Bees, recently purchased by Clorox, and The Body Shop, who sold to L’Oreal last year.

Two Companies That Are Changing Small Wind: Wind power is getting a lot of attention these days as a fast growing segment of the renewable energy industry. While many of the headlines focus on “big” wind – industrial wind power – there are several companies working to advance wind power for residential use or “small” wind.

How the Hydrogen Market is Growing: The race for renewable energy is driving a new focus on hydrogen as a clean energy for home and transportation. Worldwide initiatives are fueling research and innovation to make hydrogen cost-effective and efficient. Here’s just a few of the latest headlines in the hydrogen economy.

Post from: EveryJoe

Green Biz Year in Review 2007

Personally, I’ve daydreamed of installing a turbine for home use. Unfortunately, my last home was part of a community association where even planting a perennial required permission let alone installing a wind turbine. But two companies are making wind power at home a more feasible endeavor for homeowners.

Quiet Revolution

Quiet Revolution popped up on my radar last year with their vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) the QR5. This small scale turbine uses an elegant triple helix design to capture winds from all directions. It’s aesthetically pleasing but also quieter than most wind turbines. It’s applicable to urban settings and is central to the “greening” of major UK pub chain JD Wetherspoons, see Raise a Glass for Renewables at TreeHugger.

Inhabitat has a great write up on Quiet Revolution with lots of pics here.

Helix Wind

Similar in spirit to the QR5, Helix Wind’s Savonious 2.0 is also a VAWT but this turbine takes things even further into feasibility. Using long helical blade scoops, the Helix uses a unique design to capture multi-directional winds. Also a small scale turbine, the Helix operates at a low decibel level and is ideal for urban settings.

Also covered by Inhabitat at Helix Wind Turbine: Small Wind gets Smart.

Both of these companies are making it possible for homeowners to tap into wind power with cost-effective products that are visually appealing, quiet and versatile. You can watch Helix Wind’s You Tube spot below to see for yourself how small wind is being revolutionized.

Also visit online at Helix Wind and Quiet Revolution, both companies have extensive information on their websites.

Helix Wind Savonious 2.0

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Cape Wind on Nantucket
UK Wind Power Reaches Milestone at BBC

Post from: EveryJoe

Two Companies That Are Changing Small Wind