If EVER there was a green business to utterly inspire me, Terracycle Inc. would definitely be it!
Aside from having a fascination with ‘Eco-Capitalism’ in general, I’m extremely passionate about vermicomposting (composting with worms).
Terracycle was founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer, two young students at Princeton (at the time). According to Szaky, the original inspiration for the project stems back to a visit with a friend - a friend who just happened to have an active worm composting bin.
Seeing the worms at work, and the incredibly healthy plants fed with worm compost, the two students knew they were onto something.
Initially, the only venture capital Terracycle was able to secure was the prize money won in various entrepreneurial contests. The fact that they won seven such contests in a row is a clear indication that their vision was on target, yet they were still unable to secure enough money to really take their enterprise to the next level.
Interestingly enough, in May 2003 they won the $1 million Carrot Capital Business Plan Contest - yet turned down the prize money when it became clear they’d be required to stray from their original vision.
It seems that this was the turning point for the company. With very little money left, the entrepreneurs planned a late night raid of Princeton recycling bins in order to collect bottles needed to hold their liquid fertilizer. The idea stuck, and they’ve continued to use recycled soda bottles to this day. In fact they make the claim that their product is made 100% from waste.
Their first major financial breakthrough came about in 2004, when Home Depot began selling the brand on their website. Since that time, the Terracycle line of products has been picked up by a number of large store chains.
Some interesting tidbits:
- product made from soaking worm compost in water (the liquid “tea” is then bottled)
- certified organic
- Terracycle pays schools 5 cents per bottle, to help promote recycling and raise funds
- Shipping boxes are misprinted ‘waste’ boxes from other companies
- Spray nozzles are ‘extras’ from other companies
- All bottles are recycled drink bottles
Be sure to watch the Terracycle Video, and stay tuned for more updates on this cool company!
Written by Bentley on August 10th, 2006 with no comments.
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(NewsUSA) - According to a recent report for the Energy Information Administration, natural gas users can expect to pay an average of $350 more this winter compared with last year, an increase of 48 percent. And those who heat with oil will pay an estimated $378, or 32 percent, more.
As a solution, the Alliance to Save Energy suggests energy efficiency, and the simplest place for consumers to start saving is at home.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that if each person increases the energy-efficiency in major appliances by 10 percent to 30 percent, it will release the demand for electricity by the equivalent of 25 large power plants.
Saving energy also saves money. By using energy-efficient products, the average household can save up to $400 per year on utility bills.
Here are some ways to save energy at home:
* Weatherize your home. The gaps around the windows and doors in an average American house are the equivalent of a 3-by-3 foot hole in the wall. Caulk and weatherstrip to seal off these air leaks. This can save as much as 40 percent on your home’s heating and cooling costs.
Stop air from escaping under doors with “sweeps” or “shoes” attached to the bottom. Use window putty to seal gaps around loose window panes.
Also, install foam gaskets behind all the light switches and electrical outlet covers. They help seal the holes created when the outlets and light switches are built into homes. Use child safety plugs to keep the cold air from coming in through the sockets.
* Get a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats that have earned the Energy Star label help you save money and keep your home comfortable by automatically adjusting your temperature settings while you are asleep or away, saving you about $100 per year.
* Consider zoning. In a typical two-story home, the upstairs can be up to 10 degrees warmer than the downstairs. One solution to help regulate uneven temperatures is a temperature control system that divides the house into separate zones, like those offered by Aprilaire.
These systems use multiple thermostats and dampers in the heating and cooling duct work that control temperature in separate areas to deliver conditioned air only to the part of the house that needs it. The result is greater comfort and convenience, as well as energy savings of up to 30 percent. For more information, visit www.aprilaire.com.
* Install a ceiling fan in the largest room of your house. This will allow you to lower the setting on your air conditioner by 3 to 6 degrees, which will save up to 25 percent of energy costs of home cooling.
In addition, you can save over $125 annually by replacing three old-style light bulbs with modern fluorescent twisters; setting your heat at 68 degrees in the winter and your air conditioner at 78 degrees in summer; and unplugging three appliances - or switching off a power strip full of plugs - when not in use.
Written by steve on August 10th, 2006 with no comments.
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