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Caution: Excessive Use of Aerosol!
Nov 12, 2007
My credit union recently produced a couple commercials that have been getting a lot of buzz. Vancity has always been an environmentally friendly company, and I've had the Enviro Visa for almost ten years now. I have the option of donating my rewards points to local green projects whenever I want.

One commercial pokes fun at how some people get the Enviro Visa and think they're doing the environment a favor while carelessly overconsuming un-green friendly products.

"Vancity Enviro Visa -- For people with good intentions."

View the ad here.

~I'm Linda Bustos. I blog about credit cards and other topics.
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Posted: Nov 12, 2007 8:45pm
UK Credit Card Rewards "Eco-Consumerism"
Nov 3, 2007
In the UK, the Co-Operative bank launched the "Think Card," a credit card that offers a reduced interest rate for "ethical purchases" from 16 ethical partner merchants including Lush, Ikea and Adili.com, Raleigh bikes and public transit purchased through thetrainline.com and Arriva.

A rate of 7% for purchases at participating stores will be applied for 6 months, rather than the card's regular rate of 14%.

New cardholders will receive discounts from Ecotricity (a green energy supplier), Ecofirst and Nigel's Eco Store.

Co-operative will also pledge to protect half an acre of rainforest in the name of every new customer who uses the card at least once, and donate 25p for every £100 spent to the rainforest charity Cool Earth.

Rob Harrison of the Ethical Consumer Research Association praises the move toward ethical spending. "By buying Think-approved products, all of which are at the forefront of responsible corporate behaviour, you can not only lend your support to ethically progressive companies, but also put pressure on those that are lagging behind," he said.

~Linda Bustos is an Editor for Creditorweb, where you can learn about credit cards and debt management.
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Posted: Nov 3, 2007 5:31pm
Biodiesel: One Weapon in the Battle Against Global Warming
Aug 31, 2007
The earth’s climate is changing. Research shows that the world is now warmer than at any time in the past 1000 years. This change is more commonly referred to as global warming. Scientists conclude that the emission of heat-trapping green-house gases from vehicles, power plants, and industry is a primary cause in global warming. As these gases and particulate build up, they act as a huge blanket warming the planet and threatening the environment. In the Ontario government’s 2005 Air Quality Report released in December 2006, 2005 was the worst year on record for smog in the province. Awareness of global warming is growing, yet air quality deteriorates. It is generally agreed among scientists and government that global warming will pose an increasing threat to the air we breath and our environment unless emissions are drastically reduced. Action must be taken immediately.

Alternative fuel sources, including biodiesel, are part of the solution. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made by a chemical reaction of alcohol and oils from vegetables, animals, fats and greases. It is a mix of a variety of feedstock including soy oil, canola oil, waste cooking oil, tall oil and rendered fats mixed with low and ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel. Biodiesel burns cleaner and reduces carcinogenic emissions and gases. Research shows that when used in a 20 percent blend with petroleum diesel (B20) and a catalytic converter, biodiesel will cut air pollution, sulphur and aromatic emissions. Particulate matter is reduced 31 percent, carbon monoxide by 21 percent and total hydrocarbons by 47 percent. Using 100% biodiesel further reduces emissions and carcinogenic compounds. It is non-toxic, and has no sulphur – the major component of acid rain.

No engine modifications are necessary as biodiesel works in conventional compression-ignition diesel engines, from light to heavy-duty just like petroleum diesel. Further, biodiesel maintains the payload capacity and range of regular diesel and is proven to improve engine performance and engine life by removing build-up of impurities inside the engine. As a result, switching to biodiesel does initially require some attention to fuel filters but does not require vehicle changes or fleet upgrades, nor does it demand spare parts inventories, special refuelling stations or specially-trained mechanics.

Biodiesel is supplied onsite by 4Refuel Canada, a fuel delivery company and one of the country’s largest biodiesel refuellers. The company will manage over 200 million litres of fuel in 2007 including delivery of over one million litres of biodiesel each month to its clients.

“Biodoesel is available right now wherever our clients need it. And it can have an immediate impact on air quality,” says Joe Valeriote, 4Refuel’s Senior Vice President of Business Development. “More of our clients want to be ahead of government regulations and take immediate control of reducing emissions and having cleaner air.”

One of those clients is the Township of Langley, British Columbia. John McQueen, Equipment Manager for the Township has been using biodiesel for about a year. “As soon as it became available to us with a good delivery system, we jumped.” The Township first introduced a 5% biodiesel mix to its fleet, then added another 5% in June 2006. In 2007, biodiesel levels in their fleet will increase every six months to a maximum mix of 20 percent.

Biodiesel is a viable alternative for transport, construction, marine and rail industries. 4Refuel currently delivers biodiesel throughout British Columbia, including Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, Langley, Coquitlam and Vancouver, West Vancouver and North Vancouver, and Whistler. The City of Kamloops has started a biodiesel project and CN Rail has begun testing it for off-road applications in Prince George. 4Refuel’s largest biodiesel client is the City of Calgary.

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Posted: Aug 31, 2007 10:42am

 
 
 
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Linda Bustos
female, age 28,
Canada
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