Fresh Tech Maid Services Joins Cleaning for Heroes

Fresh Tech Maid Services Joins Cleaning for Heroes











Evanston, IL (PRWEB) December 8, 2010

Fresh Tech Maid Services (http://www.FreshTechMaids.com) has become a charter member of Cleaning for Heroes and will provide free home cleaning for the disabled or seniors from the US Military, Police Department, and Fire Department.

Fresh Tech Maid Services is rooted in the communities of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicagoland. Fresh Tech Maid Services is part of the Cleaning for a Reason foundation, providing free cleaning for women with cancer. The company is also part of Normal Moments, providing free cleaning for parents with critically ill children.

During this special holiday season, Fresh Tech Maid Services is especially happy to announce that the company is now also part of the Cleaning for Heroes network, providing free home cleaning for the disabled or seniors from the US Military, Police Department, and Fire Department.

“Our heroes deserve and need our help. Fresh Tech Maid is the 2nd residential cleaning service to become a charter member of Cleaning for Heroes in Illinois. The company is excited and looking forward to serving our heroes in our communities,” said Mr. Wells Ye, President of Fresh Tech Maid Services. “Striving to be the best green home cleaning company in the country, Fresh Tech Maid Services continues to work the hardest for the communities it serves. The spirit of giving is the foundation for our company to earn the trust from our customers, one cleaning at a time. Every time!”    

Fresh Tech Maid Services is a leader in green residential cleaning in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Located in Evanston, IL, and Arlington Heights, IL, Fresh Tech Maid Services uses its proprietary T.R.U.S.T. Home Cleaning System and has achieved a 97% customer satisfaction rating. Its website is http://www.FreshTechMaids.com

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A Growing Idea Flourishes at Moonstone?s West Coast Inns

A Growing Idea Flourishes at Moonstone’s West Coast Inns












Silverton, Oregon (PRWEB) July 12, 2007 –-

Moonstone Hotel Properties is proud to announce it is building the crown jewel of its inns along the west coast. The Oregon Garden Resort is adjacent to The Oregon Garden, an 80-acre sanctuary of botanical gardens located in historic Silverton, Oregon. The impetus behind the project is Moonstone Hotel Properties’ owner Dirk Winter.

To say that Dirk Winter is passionate about botanical gardens would be an understatement. Twenty years ago, the avid gardener built the first of what has become 10 garden-themed inns in California and Oregon under the banner of Moonstone Hotel Properties.

Winter also established his own nursery and hired a staff or horticultural professionals to oversee his ever-growing gardens. He established ongoing gardening demonstrations and workshops at two of his properties. He even founded two annual garden festivals to help inspire and educate guests about gardening.

But he didn’t stop there. Last year, Moonstone Hotel Properties assumed management of The Oregon Garden, which features 20 themed gardens. Now, Winter is building a dream come true: The Oregon Garden Resort, which is adjacent to The Oregon Garden in historic Silverton, Oregon.

“Dirk once said that he built inns to fund his gardening habit, and I don’t think he was joking,” said Lynda Gill, director of operations for Moonstone Hotel Properties. ““You certainly don’t have to be a gardening enthusiast to enjoy our guest experience. But if you have an appreciation for gardening, or are an avid gardener yourself, we encourage you to dig into everything we have to offer.”

Following are some of the highlights from Moonstone’s gardening experience:


The Cambria Pines Lodge on California’s Central Coast features five acres of colorful themed botanical gardens.
Moonstone’s Cambria Nursery & Florist can be reached on foot from Cambria Pines Lodge via a California native plant pathway. The nursery offers gardening demonstrations and workshops throughout the year.
The Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove, Oregon also features several acres of themed gardens and offers gardening demonstrations and workshops throughout the year.
Moonstone hosts its annual Gathering of Gardeners event at two of its West Coast inns, Cambria Pines Lodge and Village Green Resort. The events feature gardening speakers, gardening vendors, arts and crafts, and more.
The Apple Tree Inn near Yosemite features a variety of colorful gardens during the spring and summer, including a Pacific Rim Garden and Jack in The Beanstalk Garden.
The Carmel River Inn on California’s Monterey Bay is currently undergoing a major renovation, which will include acres of themed gardens.
While some of Moonstone’s properties offer little space for expansive gardens (such as Creekside Inn, their downtown Cambria property; beachfront inns in Cambria: Pelican Cove Inn and Sea Otter Inn; and their Monterey Peninsula properties, The Monterey Hotel, Carmel River Inn and Deer Haven Inn) all feature colorful landscaping that reflects the gardening theme.

Moonstone continues to grow its focus on gardening with new initiatives launched this year, including the development of lobby libraries filled with gardening books, and adding more garden-themed décor and artwork into the rooms.

The 103-room Oregon Garden Resort, which will be located on a hilltop near The Oregon Garden’s Rediscovery Forest, is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2008. The Craftsman-style inn will feature garden-themed décor, gardening workshops and expert guest speakers, and a garden library. It will also cater to garden weddings, with a large bridal suite, honeymoon suite and wedding gazebo. All guests will have unlimited access to The Oregon Garden during their stay. For more information, please visit http://www.moonstonehotels.com.

Contact:

Malei Weir

Mooncatcher Communications

(805) 239-0020

mw @ mooncatcher.com

moon Ï stone n. 1. A gem valued for its pearly translucence. 2. A rugged, picturesque beach adjacent to the quaint coastal village of Cambria, California. 3. A Cambria-based collection of boutique hotel properties set amid extraordinary destinations. Moonstone Hotel Properties was established in 1983 by Dirk Winter, when he built the Sea Otter Inn along Moonstone Beach. Today, Moonstone Hotel Properties encompasses 10 distinctive inns and hotels in Cambria, Monterey, Carmel, Yosemite and Oregon. Each of these spectacular properties reflects a commitment to quality and attention to detail, with the goal of creating a warm, comforting and memorable experience for the guest. Additionally, the Moonstone-owned Cambria Nursery and Florist captures Mr. Winter’s passion for fine gardening, which is also evident in the colorful landscaping at each of the Moonstone Hotel Properties.

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How to Select a Green Architect

Selecting a green architect is no easy task. You need to be weary of inexperienced contractors who may want to take you for a ride and will create a ton of needless obstacles for you during your project. By selecting the proper architect for your green project, you’ll rest assured they will build the essentials needed to ensure you have every element successfully fulfilled for the best green living.

Conventional building need not apply. . .

Green building is the least conventional style available today. Not only does it integrate features you may have never thought of, but it will require your immediate attention to many facets of the project that you may not encounter with traditional building practices. While you may be spending more up front for an investment, you will reap the benefits of a green dwelling for years to come by just doing a bit of homework before diving in to the project. First, search the web for LEED certified builders as well as creating search for green architects in or near your zip code. You can search the EcoBuilding Guild for these architects as well as research them on your own. You may want to take a few classes of your own so you’re able to talk with the architect about the project.

Compare the Cost

When searching for a green architect, ask many questions about the project. Ask about the utilization of energy efficient products, salvaged materials and reuse of land materials that will be extracted during the demolition. Find an architect that has a focus that aligns with your own whether it is strictly on building with green materials, or healthy building and living in general.

Experience is key . . .

Once you’ve decided on a few architects you would like to receive quotes from, make sure you interview them. Ask about their experience with green building—have them show you their portfolio. Make sure your architect is enduring continuing education, as this aspect of the construction industry is on the boom and new products (as well as issues) arise each day. Ask about the disposal of waste, and the health and safety of the workers who will be completing your project.

Green Contracting

After you’ve decided on the green architect you will be using, make sure you have the specifications down to a science. Keep an open line of communication, as your architect may need to ask you questions on the spot, or when making a decision on your behalf. Create the specs that you will accept, everything from how you would like the paint applied, to materials that are unacceptable. Once you’ve established the fundamentals with your architect, you’ll be creating a green project that will outlast and out energize any standard project of today.

 

With a team that combines design creativity, construction expertise and an absolute commitment to the client, J.W. Smith Design Group LLC has all the tools to deliver excellence in residential, commercial and green design. Award winning Tampa Architect for Tampa Home Design


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Your Guide to Select Green Kitchen cabinets

While planning a kitchen makeover, most of your budget goes to the cabinets. So it is really worthy to give some time to select appropriate types of cabinets for your kitchens that suits your budgets, your health as well as the environment. The traditional materials used in the manufacturing of kitchen cabinets have now being replaced with green and environment friendly materials. Just read on to find what type of kitchen cabinets you should avoid and what to choose?

Avoid the Hazardous Traditional Cabinets
The traditional cabinets leach harmful gases in your kitchen that is harmful for you and your family’s health. It might sound absurd but it is totally true. Most of kitchen cabinets boxes are made from the use of particle board or fiber board, which in turn is created from a urea formaldehyde resin which is a well known carcinogen. This substrate out gases formaldehyde all the time in the surrounding and pollute the breathable air. When this emission comes in contact with any heat source, it becomes more concentrated and toxic when released. Now you can imagine the number of appliances that generate heat and are placed by the side of your cabinets. Traditional cabinets made of particle board are quite hard to update and fix.

Adopt Green Kitchen Cabinets
Now more number of people are preferring green cabinets over conventional cabinets because green cabinets do not release toxic gases into the air. Though the resources available for eco-friendly cabinets are still meager but alternative materials that are less harmful in effect can also be used. By selecting a green kitchen cabinets means you are opting for cabinets that don’t pollute indoor air quality and place a strain on the environment. Before buying a green cabinet from a cabinet manufacturer you should ask for a third party certification that ensures that their products are free from formaldehyde and created with no or low VOC’s.

Green Materials for Kitchen Cabinets
You can ask for cabinet boxes made with wheat board or straw board. Wheat board is the remnants of the straw waste left over from farmers’ wheat crops. It is formaldehyde free and it provides the desired strength and durability according to the set standards. Thus wheat board cabinet boxes not only give toxins free environment, it also makes good use of recycling an organic waste product that would otherwise be disposed of.

Plywood boxes are a better option. Though it is a bit expensive but you don’t update your kitchen cabinets regularly so you will have to take it as a long time investment, say 10 years. When you distribute that little extra expense in 10 years span and compare it to the impact on your health by the use of traditional cabinets, you will find it much worthy.

The most popular and common material for green kitchen cabinets is bamboo. Bamboo appeals to the eye, is quite durable, and is also rapidly renewable. Bamboo is a popular choice for environmentalists as it can mature in less than half the time the hardwood trees take to reach market size.

The amount of wood used in your kitchen cabinet depends on what type yo choose. Most of the cabinet doors have at least some solid core, and it differs depending on the styles you choose. Older kitchen cabinets are made from solid wood so people using them are now trying to discard them, thereby removing the threat of particle board problems. For those who can’t afford green kitchen cabinets, sanding, staining and refinishing with a no or low VOC finish can be a wise decision. There are a number of optional choices, more than ever before.

I am a product analyst for b2b industry. My core profile is to understand industry, develop information architecture and plan the product. Developed many B2b verticals. My core interest is research and analyse industry trends, latest updates in market, industry product information. Based on my experience i have studied harwdare product industry and my interest is to share that information and develop network for harwdare industry so that business manufaturers, suppliers, traders can benefit from this resource.


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Family Health Concerns Inspire Consumers to ?Clean Green”: Maid Brigade Pioneers Green Cleaning Industry and Introduces Leading Edge Green Technology

Family Health Concerns Inspire Consumers to “Clean Green”: Maid Brigade Pioneers Green Cleaning Industry and Introduces Leading Edge Green Technology











Atlanta (PRWEB) November 11, 2010

There is mounting evidence that many cleaning products contain chemicals that are known or suspected carcinogens, reproductive toxins, neurotoxins, or irritants to the skin, eyes, lungs, kidneys or other organs. Children have been identified as the most susceptible to health problems resulting from chemical exposures. As a result, today’s consumers are taking a somber look at the approaches, products, equipment and technology used to clean their homes, according to consumer surveys conducted by Maid Brigade, an innovator in cleaning and consumer health advocacy for more than 25 years.

Maid Brigade consumer research found that 53 percent of survey participants say they would hire a green cleaning service as opposed to a traditional service with 77 percent who say they would choose a green alternative over a traditional cleaning product. Their main concern? Fifty-one percent say they would or do use green products to protect their family’s health.

Based on this information, Maid Brigade developed Green Clean Certified® standards and a training program for all Maid Brigade cleaning team members that ensures the healthiest cleaning methods available are being used consistently. This includes being the first household cleaning services company to introduce VapurClean® Advantage, a dry steam vapor cleaning method that utilizes absolutely no chemicals as part of the cleaning process. The company is testing this revolutionary new technology in select markets across the U.S. This green cleaning approach penetrates deep within the surface pores where germs hide and multiply, killing them on contact, and is proven effective against MRSA, avian and swine flues, salmonellas, e.Coli, staph and other infectious diseases.

When contemplating hiring a green cleaning services company, Maid Brigade suggests asking the following five questions to protect the health of today’s families and the environment.

1.    Does the company use cleaning solutions that are recognized and/or certified by Green Seal or a similar, specific or tangible standard? Ask for a list. The safest way to clean involves no chemicals and includes dry steam vapor treatments such as VapurClean™ Advantage offered by Maid Brigade in test markets nationwide.

2.    What about vacuums? Are they closed canister, multi-level filtration systems as opposed to conventional upright vacuum cleaners? This will ensure removal of 99.9 percent of all pollen, pet dander, hair, mold, dust, dust mites and other respiratory irritants, which are common asthma and allergy triggers.

3.    What about cleaning cloths? Are they reusable microfiber? The special scientific weave of microfiber is so effective that fewer cleaning chemicals are necessary. Do they reduce landfill waste or manufacturing processes? Do they include post-consumer recycled material or organically grown material?

4.    What about staff training? Does the staff undergo formal training and certification to properly use green products and procedures? What assurances are provided that every cleaning adheres to these standards? Programs such as Maid Brigade’s Green Clean Certified® program requires all of its franchisees and their cleaning teams to study and become certified because green house cleaning is better for consumer health, better for the maids and better for the environment.

5.    Has the company conducted tests to substantiate the health and/or environmental benefits of their total cleaning process? Are they consumer health and wellness advocates? Ask for proof.

“Providing a holistic green cleaning approach is imperative to ensuring every household has the safest and most effective cleaning possible,” commented Marie Stegner, consumer health advocate for Maid Brigade. “Make sure the cleaning services company you choose uses tested and proven methods such as Maid Brigade’s VapurClean® Advantage along with products and equipment that reflect the latest green science and have been tested for health and safety.”

About Maid Brigade

With more than 25 years of experience, Maid Brigade is the national leader in green cleaning practices and has a longstanding legacy of offering the latest in maid services and technologies. The company is the first and only Green Clean Certified® cleaning services franchise that implements a certification program for green house cleaning so customers know that they’re getting a green cleaning that is safe and truly green. For more information on Maid Brigade visit http://www.maidbrigade.com, http://www.greencleancertified.com/greentv or http://blog.maidbrigade.com/blog/maid-brigade.

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Which is more likely to look good 10-20 years from now: pale yellow siding or light sage green siding?

Question by mynickname: Which is more likely to look good 10-20 years from now: pale yellow siding or light sage green siding?
I want to put siding on my house, but I don’t want to hate it in 15 years because it looks dated. Which do you think will stand the test of time?

Best answer:

Answer by p_i_n_k_2_9
well i like sage green better but yellow has been around for a very long time and it still looks good on most houses

Add your own answer in the comments!

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Starbucks Recognized as One of the Top Green Power Purchasers in the Nation

Starbucks Recognized as One of the Top Green Power Purchasers in the Nation










Seattle, WA (Vocus/PRWEB) November 03, 2010

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Starbucks has increased its ranking to No. 4 on EPA’s National Top 50 list of the largest green power purchasers. This increased purchase further demonstrates Starbucks’ commitment to protecting the environment and builds upon its existing partnership with EPA’s Green Power Partnership.

Starbucks more than doubled its annual green power purchase to more than 573 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 55 percent of the organization’s electricity use. Starbucks is buying renewable energy certificates from 3Degrees and Nexant. This demonstrates a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.

“We applaud Starbucks’ leadership in green power purchasing,” said Rick Albright, Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste & Toxics in Seattle. “Their actions are helping to protect air quality, green our power supply and create renewable energy jobs.”

According to EPA, Starbucks’ green power purchase of more than 573 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 79,000 passenger vehicles per year or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 50,000 average American homes annually.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with nearly 1,300 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall, EPA’s Green Power Partners are using nearly 18 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to avoiding the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 1.5 million average American homes.

More information on Green Power Purchasers, visit HQ’s national news release:

http://go.usa.gov/C3a

More information on the top 50 list:

http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.htm

More information on EPA’s Green Power Partnership:

http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/

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Spring Garden Tips Highlight Dos and Don’ts of Lawn Care at AllAboutLawns.com

Spring Garden Tips Highlight Dos and Don’ts of Lawn Care at AllAboutLawns.com










Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) April 18, 2007

A new AllAboutLawns.com article, “Spring Lawn Care Dos and Don’ts” helps homeowners and caretakers uncover the right and wrong steps to producing a flourishing spring yard (http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/fertilizing/spring-lawn-maintenance-dos-and-donts.php).

In 2006, the National Gardening Association found that 91 million American households took part in outdoor lawn and garden activities. AllAboutLawns.com, a comprehensive lawn and yard care resource, offers authoritative advice and resources geared at preparing lawn caretakers for seasonal yard care.

“Spring is an exciting time for your yard,” says columnist Dawn West. “There’s a lot you have to get right to get your lawn back into shape for the new growing season” (http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/fertilizing/spring-lawn-maintenance-dos-and-donts.php). Caretakers interested in top yard care resources can find lawn care tips for spring such as how to prepare lawns for new growth, prevent unwanted growth patterns and keep lawns green throughout the season at AllAboutLawns.com.

In “Spring Lawn Care Dos and Don’ts,” columnist Dawn West notes that taking care of a lawn throughout every season will help make spring lawn care easier. “Treat your lawn right as it comes out of its winter dormancy and you’ll see the benefits for months to come.” Home and Lawn care expert Bob Vila agrees. “A perfect lawn depends on constant care,” he says.

According to D.H. Taylor of the University of Minnesota Extension, “Proper lawn care cuts down on the work and problems of maintaining a quality lawn.” Evaluating the condition of the lawn is critical to knowing how to take care of it, says lawn care authority TruGreen, whose free lawn analysis tool provides caretakers with a comprehensive breakdown of elemental lawn care components.

AllAboutLawns.com is a comprehensive lawn and yard care resource. Visitors can ask staff questions in the lawn forum or benefit from hundreds of articles on seasonal lawn care, grass types, weed prevention, mowers and other lawn maintenance equipment.

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ICC “Plunges” Into First World Plumbing Day

ICC “Plunges” Into First World Plumbing Day










Whittier, CA (PRWEB) March 3, 2010

Everyone in the building industry knows that plumbers play a huge and critical role to protect public health and safety. But many consumers take for granted what the plumbing industry does to provide ever-better plumbing solutions, while being mindful of conserving resources.

The World Plumbing Council seeks to change that. March 11 has been officially designated World Plumbing Day. Construction professionals, the public and even schoolchildren around the globe are banding together to learn how the plumbing industry continually improves the products and services the industry offers for both commercial and residential projects. A huge part of their efforts and education program includes conserving resources and reducing the environmental footprint, along with other important work conducted by the plumbing industry, as well as the entire building industry.

The International Code Council works with organizations like the World Plumbing Council to build upon each other’s expertise and strengths to advance these goals faster and more effectively. In fact, the Code Council is highly engaged in helping communities large and small to implement ever-better plumbing applications that are more effective, while always being mindful of the environment. The March 15 release of the Public Version of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) is perfectly timed to coincide with World Plumbing Day.

With the possible exception of environmental organizations, the plumbing industry understands first-hand the need to continually develop ever-better solutions for water conservation without sacrificing convenience and safety.

The IGCC does just that and so much more. Of course, this highly-anticipated new code meets rating systems such as LEED and Green Globes. But it also offers a tremendous range of green building applications for every industry, a large portion of which covers plumbing provisions that focus on conservation of water and other resources, without compromising efficiency, quality, cost and safety.

The Code Council’s involvement with water-related issues goes well beyond offering superior codes. The organization is also using its extensive expertise to help global organizations in their efforts to provide access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation, working towards the ultimate goal of eradicating illness and death caused by waterborne illnesses.

Help spread the word about the important contributions the plumbing industry makes towards protecting public health and safety, and helping to conserve our natural resources. Support World Plumbing Day in any way you can. Log onto http://www.worldplumbingday.org to learn more.

The International Code Council (ICC) publishes building safety, energy efficiency and fire prevention codes that are used in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the I-Codes based on their outstanding quality. The ICC’s Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Group is devoted exclusively to providing PMG products and support to jurisdictions and construction industry professionals across the country and around the globe, with one or more PMG code adopted in 49 states. The over 200 superior products and related services were developed specifically by and for plumbing and mechanical professionals. Contact the PMG Group for additional information at 1-888-ICC-SAFE, x4PMG, PMGResourceCenter@iccsafe.org, or visit iccsafe.org.

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Green air conditioning from underground cooling

Provide green air conditioning by using the cool thermal mass under buildings to cool air.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

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