We're all aware of the virtues of recycling and have become experts at sorting our waste in proper bins. Recycling has become a big business and has generated many jobs in communities all over the country.

Before you recycle specific items, can you offer them to others who can "reuse" them instead? Reuse is about taking items that are not useful to you anymore and redistributing them to other people who can continue to use them. This is a great way to ensure that items such as building materials, manufacturing tools, office furniture and other supplies have a longer life cycle before they are recycled or even put into the landfill if they're made of materials that cannot be recycled. Oftentimes, broken reused materials just need a little attention and can be easily fixed, which saves a lot of money for the person or company who acquires the item. One of the best ways to offer or acquire reused items for your home or business is by connecting with others in your area on Freecycle. People in hundreds of communities give away and receive free items with the goal of keeping this "stuff" out of landfills. Reuse is definitely one of the keys to sustainability, and helps to create a cleaner environment and more sustainable economy!

I'm happy to introduce our four new EcoTuesday Ambassadors!
 
We have new ambassadors in Portland, Dallas, and Los Angeles, stepping up in huge ways as we transition the cities.  There has been nearly seamless transition, thanks to Jennifer, Ann, Anna and Karen for making this happen.
 
We are excited to have strong teams ready grow EcoTuesday!
 
Thanks so much to everyone out there for joining me in welcoming the new family members!
 
chau,
Nikki
 
HERE GOES - OUR NEW AMBASSADORS!
 
Dallas
Brittany (BJ) Ellis
I am passionate about developing authentic, sustainable relationships in my community. Green Networking is not about "Us vs. Them." It is about you and me. Where can we find a common ground to connect? In other words, let's be friends first, then talk business. My specialty is producing community events that educate, inform, and entertain individuals on sustainability topics such as the environment, health, and wellness. I am also a freelance writer, media consultant and active community volunteer.
   
Gitanjali (Mishty) Deb
As a talented attorney, green consultant and project manager Mishty has workedin both the public and private sectors. She focused her undergraduate studies on economics and environmental science. She continued to the University of Texas Law School were she published several law review articles in the area of environmental regulations with her unique ability to draft innovative and persuasive arguments. She has a talent for being a team player and for forging solid alliances with strategic partners. Her primary focus is to provide practical and sustainable solutions that helps transform long-term business goals into reality while addressing daily operational challenges. 
 
Los Angeles
Lia
I am passionate about holistic living, integrative medicine and sustainability.  For the past several years I have been involved in research in education and mindfulness. Through my studies, I have had the privilege of learning about many different modalities in healing.  One in particular resonated with me so strongly that I am now a Reiki Master Practitioner and Teacher
 
Portland
Gina Binole
Gina Binole has nearly 20 years in the communications business. She spent much of her career as journalist, covering government, business and the environment. She left newspapers and hopped on the dotcom bandwagon in the late '90s before launching her own strategic communications company, GBM Communications in 2001. She joined the Oregon Training Network in February 2010, where she helps educate workers with the hopes of creating a more robust economy.

On July 31st, 1803, Swedish inventor John Ericsson was born (July 31, 1803 – March 8, 1889).  Most famous for his design of the USS Monitor, Ericsson explored commercial applications for solar power and build seven “sun engines” between 1868 and 1875. 
The “sun engines” were powered by steam or hot air and fueled by solar energy.

After inventing in England and being forced to give up all of his English patent rights to pay off his debts, Ericsson immigrated to America in 1839.  He is most well known for his engines and maritime propulsion systems, such as the first marine “screw” propeller-driving iron steamship, the USS Princeton (the first propeller driven warship), and the ironclad Civil War warship the USS Monitor. 

While his maritime inventions brought Ericsson fame and success, he found himself deeply distressed about the rapid consumption of coal as a fuel source.  He and his contemporaries already feared it was running out.  To provide society with alternatives, Ericsson explored renewable energy sources such as solar, tidal, wind and gravitational power. 

In one of his many scientific papers on the commercial use of solar energy in the 1870’s Ericsson wrote, "a couple of thousand years dropped in the ocean of time will completely exhaust the coal fields of Europe, unless, in the meantime, the heat of the sun be employed... the skillful engineer knows many ways of laying up a supply when the sky is clear and the great store-house is open, where the fuel may be obtained free of cost and transportation."

In the book Contributions to the Centennial Exhibition (1877, reprinted 1976) Ericsson presented his "sun engines.”  They collected solar heat for a hot air engine.  He built the first one in New York in 1872 and had intended Californian farmers to use the sun engine for irrigation purposes.  However, nothing came of the project.  Several designs later, Ericsson’s engines were a commercial success, but the heat was supplied by methane gas, instead of the sun.

Despite this design modification, Ericsson’s life contributed to the exploration of renewable energy and his efforts paved the way for the advancement of clean technology. 

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I'm participating in a fundraiser called Solarthon, which is GRID Alternatives' annual solar installation block party and fundraiser. GRID empowers communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. With Solarthon, we're raising money to put solar panels on the roofs of homes owned by low-income homeowners. On July 31st (this Saturday!) a whole group of us will be working away on the top of someone's home, adding solar grids!

My goal is to raise $500 and I'm almost halfway there! If I reach $500 and you are my biggest donor, you will receive a great prize of a Kill-A-Watt so that you can measure your electric output in your home or office.

I'm really excited to be involved with GRID and this fundraiser. I feel that solar is one of the best options for our country to reduce its dependence on foreign oil. Solar on low income homes also means that homeowners will have more resources to put towards healthy food and education. It's a win-win situation!

Please donate what you can to my fundraising goals. I appreciate it all! Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

:::: Nikki's Fundraising Page :::::

Many thanks for your support! If you know of anyone who might like to contribute to having more solar in our community - please don't hesitate to send them this link!

Best,

Nikki