Living Green Expo 2009

I headed off to the annual Living Green Expo last weekend with a less than enthusiastic attitude.  It wasn't just the fact that I was a bit preoccupied with other things in my life, but also because I have been to so many of these expos, they were beginning to seem a bit dull.

So I decided to mix things up a bit by spending more time chatting with vendors and visiting some booths that I never would have bothered looking at before.  I ended up having a blast!  Here are some of the highlights of my day:

Most interesting green concept:  Geothermal Heating.  I had never really bothered to look into geothermal heating because it didn't seem like a realistic option for your average home-owner.  But apparently the residential market for these systems is growing by leaps and bounds!  Yes, it's a pretty big investment and you have to have a pretty big yard to handle the installation, but it will save you a lot on monthly heating costs and WOW - what a good thing for the environment.  There's lots more to learn online. 

Biggest surprise:  The number of alternative vehicles. There was a huge tent devoted to alternative vehicles plus lots more cool stuff outside.  Some of those electric cars are so dang cute!  And Aveda founder Horst Rechelbacher's electric Tesla Roadster was there for everyone to drool over.

If money were no object:  Toyota Highlander Hybrid.  We're actually in the market for a new car this year.  We only have one car and it needs to have plenty of people and cargo space.  I was lusting after this one...until I found out they go for $35 to $40K.  And on top of that, we almost always buy used and there's not much of a used market for these things yet.

Fav purchases:

  Snack Taxi and Simply Neutral.  

• A Snack Taxi is a handmade reusable bag for snacks or sandwiches.  The outside is 100% cotton and comes in lots of fun fabric designs.  The bags are lined with a waterproof material that is free of heavy metals (including lead), phthalates, PBBs, and PBDEs.  
• Simply Neutral is a MN based cleaning product company that makes non-toxic cleaning products that you can order either premixed or waterless (you add the water yourself) to save on shipping costs.  Who in their right mind would want to pay to ship water?  I'll be writing more about this fab company soon! 

Biggest stretch:  Tupperware.  Ok, I can see how buying reusable containers could be a good thing for the earth, but when I asked if they had anything that wasn't plastic, the sales rep looked at me like I was an alien.

 

Most fun for kids:  The Giant Earth Balloon!!  I was kid-free at the expo this time but my kids and I had the pleasure of entering the earth balloon at an event last year.  What a blast!  And a great learning opportunity.  Earth balloon events can be arranged for both festivals and schools.

A good green goal:  Socially responsible investing.  This is something I would like to do (or have my husband do...ha!)  I picked up a brochure from a local company that does socially responsible investing but here's a link to a non-profit website that offers information and a directory of socially responsible services around the country.

Whew!  As always, I'm amazed at how much more there is to learn about living green!

Comments

[daphne]

I have several snack taxi's. (not from the same company) I love these little baggies! Not only are the eco-friendly, they are so cute & everyone that sees them wants to know WHAT they are & WHERE you get them.

LOL @ the Tupperware, that is hilarious!

I really think I'd drive the little tiny green smart car:) That would be a bBIG change from my SUV:)

[Jeanne]

Shameless plug here: Linden Hills Natural Home has plenty of Snack Taxis in stock: www.lindenhills.coop/naturalhome

[Micaela]

Glad you mentioned that Jeanne.  BTW - I asked for you at the booth but you were out at the time. 

[Lisa]

I loved the Live Green Expo I went to in Plano, Texas (of course it didn't hurt that Ed Begley Jr. was there and I got to meet him lol). My mom and I both found the people to be so friendly.

[cindy]

i enjoyed the expo too. my husband is just dying to get geothermal heating.

[Wendy]

I wasn't able to attend the Living Green Expo this year but your update gave me plenty of information! Thank you so much!