Environmental Efficiency by Controlled Air Inc

The FTC has created guideline that will be used for advertising "green" products and packaging. Whether these guide lines will help make for less false claims will remain to be seen. Hopefully, this will lead to more truth in advertising, so when you see that something is eco-friendly, you know it is truly eco-friendly. Read the full article from Ad Age Magazine: Green Marketing: FTC Goes After Broad Environmental Claims - Advertising Age - News

Sustainability is very ambiguous and unlike many of the other terms used associated with being green, this one has many other definitions. It has been used in business for decades and not related to green until more recently. sustainable from the Collins English Dictionary — adj 1. capable of being sustained 2. (of economic development, energy sources, etc) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage: sustainable development 3. (of economic growth) non-inflationary Sustainability refers to surviving as a company. Recently the terms usually relates to being sustainable within the environment. Many products claim to be sustainable. Most often they are claiming to be good for the environment, but it is important to read the fine print. Bamboo could be considered sustainable because it regenerates very quickly, unlike trees that can take decades to reach maturity. When it comes to air conditioning and heating, th...

On Monday, October 4th is the Connecticut's Business & Industry Associations Business Energy Conference from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Cromwell. We will have a booth offering information about Cogeneration (Combined Heat & Power) and other forms of Energy Efficiency. Drop by and see us! Details: "Hosted by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) and the Connecticut Power & Energy Society (CPES), this exciting event brings together industry experts and stakeholders for a day of networking, policy review, education, and the exchange of ideas and information on energy products, trends, and technologies. Register online or download a print registration form. Speakers and panelists—including Rep. Sean Williams (R-Watertown); Kevin DelGobbo, chairman of the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control; and representatives from NRG, Northeast Utilities, and ISO-New England—will offer policy and infrastructure updates and regulato...

I read this article today and felt that it fits right in the with greenwashing discussion. I thought that it was a worthy read. Are There Too Many Eco-Labels and Green Ratings? | Business | GreenBiz.com

To continue with the topic of greenwashing and elaborating on often misused and under explain terms, we will focus on the term "natural". Although the term "Natural" is not often used in the HVAC industry. It is often used when speaking about many items that are "green" or "sustainable." I think it best to include it in our list of terms. Natural defined by Dictionary.com: 1. existing in or formed by nature ( opposed to artificial): a natural bridge. 2. based on the state of things in nature; constituted by nature: Growth is a natural process. 11. having undergone little or no processing and containing no chemical additives: natural food; natural ingredients. Compare organic ( def. 11 ) . 25. not treated, tanned, refined, etc.; in its original or raw state: natural wood; natural cowhide. To look at this term quickly, it may also be a Synonym of organic, green and good for the environment, but when used in advertising unfortunately this is not al...

Environmental Efficiency, sustainability, being natural and green, have become very mainstream. But now it seems that it has gone overboard and "greenwashing" has occurred. Businesses and Individuals are bombarded by green and sustainability, but what it truly means is not always explained or claims are false. To help try to explain some of these terms, I will spend the next few weeks trying to elaborate on each term to help you make informed decisions about products and services. By Dictionary.com Greenwashing is described as: a superficial or insincere display of concern for the environment that is shown by an organization the practice of promoting environmentally friendly programs to deflect attention from an organization's environmentally unfriendly or less savory activities; also called greenwashing

We have talked about it before, but I find it really important to bring it up again. Preventative maintenance is important for your business in so many ways. Delaying maintenance can really carry a high cost. The results can range from basic component failure to complete equipment failure. What could it mean for you if your equipment fails? It’s important to not only look at cost savings of deferring your maintenance but to also know the cost in the scheme of things. Each system impacts different areas of your building and wear and tear must be taken into consideration, as well as the risk to contents and people in your building. Sometimes deferring maintenance isn’t the best solution. Deferred maintenance is often a financial decision—spend money now or spend money later. As the facilities manager, it is often your job to ensure funding to support regular maintenance and to cover the backlog of deferred maintenance items. Here are some tips to make an effective business case to secur...