Expression GreenExpressing the need for a healthy green lifestyle

Depending on where you live, and how old you are, not to mention what kind of driving record you have, your insurance rates can be astronomical. So, why not find out how you can cut your rates by 10… 20 … even 50%? Most carriers offer a variety of discounts to valued customers. The trick is finding out what they are and if you qualify.

Here are just a few of the most common discounts offered by more than 300 of the nation’s top auto insurers:

Multiple Vehicle Discount.

If you are insuring more than one vehicle, whether they are cars, boats, trucks, RV’s motorcycles or even trailers, chances are you qualify for a multi-vehicle discount. See your agent for details.

Multiple Driver Discount.

It’s impossible for two people to drive the same vehicle at the same time, so insurers often offer multi-driver discounts to allow customers with more than one driver per car to only pay partial premiums on each driver.

Multi-Policy Discount.

Take advantage of your buying power. Choose one insurance company for all of your insurance needs, and you’re bound to experience a hefty discount on all of your policies. Combine your homeowners’ auto, disability, life and even health insurance into one insurance portfolio if at all possible. Some companies will also count financial savings plans such as 401K’s Roth IRA’s, money markets and college funds as additional policies when figuring out your discount.

Low Mileage Discount.

The less your car is on the road, the less chance it has of being involved in an accident. If you put less than 5,000 or 10,000 miles a year on your car, by all means tell your insurance agent! You may be surprised how cheap your insurance may become.

New Vehicle Safety Discount.

Offered to owners of new vehicles that contain certain types of safety features such as side passenger airbags, etc.

Anti-Theft Device Discount.

Any type of anti-theft device in your car is eligible for a discount too.

Good Student Discount.

Student rates can be quite high, especially for male drivers. But, some insurers are now recognizing that honor students may be more careful drivers, and are now rewarding good grades with cheaper premium rates.

Accident Free Discount.

Go several years without a claim and watch your premiums plummet.

Defensive Driving Discount.

Some insurance companies now reward drivers who attend special defensive driving workshops and seminars with either a one time, or ongoing rate cut.

The global organic food market is growing rapidly, with the growth rate of about 19% in 2007. Increasing health and environmental awareness among consumers is the major reason for the stupendous growth in the market. Demand for organic food is concentrated in North America and Europe, these two regions contributed around 96% of global revenues in 2007. Exceptionally high growth rates have tightened the supply in almost every sector of the market and this is creating opportunity for the organic food exporters.

At the world level, the trend of organic agriculture is picking pace and certified organic aquaculture is a quite recent initiative. Number of certification agencies and organic growers’ associations began developing specific aquaculture standards. It is projected that the countries where consumers have high disposable incomes, such as Switzerland, the US and Singapore, would drive the demand in near future.

“Emerging Organic Food Markets” provides extensive and exhaustive research on the growing market for organic food and beverages all around the world. It defines the organic food market in various countries of the world and gives thorough insight into market trends and market segments, creating an industry overview for organic food and beverages market. In the report analysis of organic food market is done on the basis of its development level of the market, i.e. matured market and developing market.

Key Findings of the Report

§ Global organic food market is expected to reach US$ 70.2 Billion by the end of 2010.
§ Europe has the largest share in global organic food sales, followed by North America.
§ North American organic food market grew at a CAGR of around 21% during 2005-2007. It is facing supply shortage of organic products and filling this gap by import.
§ Emerging markets like Spain, Singapore and India are supported by their government to promote organic farming.
§ Organic food market in Asia-Pacific is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of approx 18% during 2008-2010.
§ Large retailers are increasingly focusing on aggressive, targeted marketing and promotion for organic products at the global level.

Key Issues & Facts Analyzed in the Report

§ What are the market values, different product segments and geographical existence of the global organic food and beverage market?
§ What are the factors driving growth in the global organic food market?
§ How much farms are maintaining for organic farming in various countries?
§ How is the consumer behavior in different market?
§ What are the opportunities and roadblocks in the organic food market in different regions?
§ How is the future outlook of the world organic food and beverage market?

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Recent research by market analysts nVision suggests four in ten adults now choose organic options on a regular basis. Organic supermarkets in England are booming and Europes biggest organic event, the Biofach exhibition in Germany in getting bigger every year.

Unfortunately, at the moment retailers are charging artificially high prices. I was in Tesco last week which is a rare occurrence as I shop locally where possible, and I nearly died when I saw the prices being charged for organic yogurt and eggs compared to the non-organic brands. Its about time that the government started to investigate these organic suppliers and supermarkets to see who is ripping us off! Encouraging competition is not always a good idea as this can drives down prices (good for the consumer) which can put organic suppliers out of business if they have small profit margins. I understand that we have to pay more for organic produce because there are more crop failures due to the fact that the farmers cannot use pesticides, but what is an acceptable percentage and does this vary from product to product. Should organic fish be 10 percent more expensive than non organic fish and vegetables 20 per cent etc?

Once only available in small health shops or farmers markets, organic foods are becoming much more widely available. In the past 10 years sales of organic food in the UK have increased over 10-fold from £100m in 1993/94 to nearly £1.4bn in 2004/05. This large growth is predicted to continue, and many companies are jumping into the market. Sales through farmers markets and farm shops have grown faster than any other retail outlet. Organic food and drink now accounts for 1.2 per cent of the total retail market (Source Soil Association).

There are two types of organic foods.

Fresh food

Fresh food is seasonal and perishable. Vegetables and fruits are the most available type of organic, fresh food, and are closely associated with organic farming. They are often purchased directly from growers, at farmers markets, supermarkets or through speciality food stores. Organic meat, eggs, dairy are also available.

Processed food

Processed food accounts for most of the items in a supermarket. Often, within the same store, both organic and conventional versions of products are available, and the price of the organic version is usually higher as already mentioned. Most processed organic food comes from larger companies producing and marketing products like organic baby food, organic beer, organic pasta or other convenience foods.

How do I know its organic?

The term organic is defined by law – all organic food production and processing is governed by a strict set of rules. Look for symbols such as the Soil Association symbol for your guarantee of the highest organic standards. The Soil Association organic symbol is the UK’s largest and most recognisable trademark for organic produce. Wherever you see it you can be sure that the food you have purchased has been produced and processed to strict and rigorous animal welfare and environmental standards. Other symbols to look out for include the Organic Food Federation and Certified Organic Ingredients.

Most people dont have enough time to read the labels of all the different food products that they buy to check for organic ingredients. So look for the various symbols, you can then be sure that the product complies with minimum government standards.

The use of such symbols is entirely optional and a product can still be organic even though if it doesnt carry the symbol of a certifying body. That means if you want to be 100% satisfied that what you are eating or using is organic always read the label or speak to the vendor.

Where you will find the symbol? – Look out for organic symbols on almost any kind of food and drink you can think of from fresh produce like fruit, vegetables and meat to processed foods such as bread or baby food. You can even buy organic pet food!

The market for organic foods is growing dramatically. It is estimated that organic sales of food products through supermarkets, mass merchandisers and natural supermarkets was $3.6 billion in 2006 in the U.S., double the figure in 2000. The Organic Trade Association estimates that the total organic food and beverage sales were $13.8 billion in 2006.

The organic revolution is a global phenomenon witnessed in every corners of the world and countries -

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand , Turkey, UK, USA and other countries.The primary demand driver for the increased consumption of organic food is health concerns. Consumers are increasingly interested in foods that are free of pesticides, and other health risks

Organic farming is also a viable means of sustainance for small farmers in the developing countries. Most of the organic fertilizers and pesticides requirement can be met through on-farm and local production. Hence, organic farming does not involve huge capital investments in buying fertilizers and pesticides. Small farmers, therefore, find organic farming beneficial.

Organic food are produced, processed and packaged wihtout using chemicals. Organic food is increasingly becoming popular due to its perceived health benefits over conventional food. The industry is growing rapidly since the past five years and has caught the attention of farmers, manufacturers and, above all, consumers.

Popular organic food items include organic tea, organic coffee, organic wine, organic meat, organic beef, organic milk, organic honey, organic vegetables, organic fruits, organic rice, organic corn, organic herbs, organic essential oils, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil.

The price of organic food is about 10% to even 200% higher than conventional food.However,considering the health benefits and the long term cost of medical care due to unhealthy and sometimes poisonous chemicals found on our food today, many has realized the significant benefits of organic food.How else can we explain the rising demand for organic food across the world today?

Consumers buy their organic foods from a wide variety of locations. The most common location of organic food purchases is supermarkets. Of those consumers who bought organic foods 68 percent purchased them from supermarkets; followed by natural or health food stores at 45 percent.

Organic fruits and vegetables remains the largest market of the organic food market.They are also the most popular commodities purchased by consumers.70 percent of the consumers surveyed who has purchase organic foods, also purchased fresh vegetables while 67 percent also purchased fresh fruits. Sales of fruits and vegetables is estimated at $1 Billion in 2007.

Many stores buy the organic food direct from the farms. The price of a food item in an organic food store depends on whether the stores are able to buy them in bulk discount prices direct from the farmers or wholesalers.There are 1000s of organic farms around the world that has open their doors to visitors and tourists and they offer both the experience and information on organic food and the farming methods.

If you are buying organic food for yourself or your family,you can find the nearest organic store in your area through the Internet.Most of these online stores also provides valuable information on the organic foods they are selling as well as the nutritional value,recipes and cooking methods.

With the signing of the economic stimulus bill, there has been a rush to identify “shovel ready” jobs. But, behind the scenes, business and government leaders are grappling with the problems of being “people ready” for the millions of green jobs that will be created through the investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Meanwhile, job seekers, anxious and excited about the prospect of a lifeline into a new career, are finding it difficult and confusing to identify and determine the qualifications needed for a sustainable jobs. Many find, after navigating the waves of information about the green jobs, they end up with far more questions than answers.
An ebook released by www.TheCompleteGreenJobGuide.com identifies the challenges and solutions for green job hunters trying to make the transition to a sustainable job. “The Complete Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets For Getting The Job You Want” is the most up-to-date green job search resource available.
Experts agree that the money allocated thus far for training falls far short of that needed to meet the demands for skilled workers trying to make a green job transition in the coming years. In fact, research conducted by National Renewable Energy Lab (http://www.nrel.gov/) shows the major barriers to a rapid adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency are insufficient skills and training in America’s workforce.
It is important to understand that momentum for green energy has been building for several years. After almost thirty years of debating the issues, government, business, financial and environmental experts agree that the conversion to sustainable energy is a necessity. The message is clear: we must act now. And those who act on their own to adapt to the new job market will have limitless opportunities in a green energy economy.
With the support of government and business, green energy is poised to provide the largest growth in employment opportunities of recent decades. Statistics prove the green job movement has already started.
• The American Solar Energy Society (http://www.ases.org/) reported that nearly 8.5 million jobs were created in renewable energy and energy-efficient industries in 2006. By 2030, that number will sky rocket to 40 million. In twenty years, one in four workers will be in a green energy job.
• The online job site, Career Builders (http://www.careerbuilder.com/ ), reports that thirteen percent of employers they surveyed said they plan to add “green jobs” in 2009, up thirty percent from the previous year.
• Several studies estimate that $1 invested in renewable energy or energy efficiency would yield up to four times as many jobs as $1 invested in oil and gas.
In his pre-inaugural speech on the economy, then President-elect Obama outlined the reasons for investing in sustainable alternatives when he spoke of the paradox and the promise. “So many are in need of work and there is so much work to be done.” It will take an army of workers—an estimated 5 million—from all backgrounds to begin the work to build viable alternative energy sources; retrofit our homes, offices, schools and hospitals for energy efficiency; improve and expand mass transportation; build fuel efficient cars and trucks, and develop biofuels.
For many, the big question remains unanswered. That is how to be competitive in the green job market? With information scattered throughout agencies, it is difficult to understand the qualifications needed to qualify for the cleantech jobs, what businesses are emerging in this new market that will create sustainable jobs, and how to conduct an effective green job search.
Never before have so many complex issues intersected to create such an urgent need to act. This complexity makes information a key advantage for the green job hunter. Those who don’t arm themselves with research, don’t monitor ongoing developments, and don’t take the initiative to identify, adapt and upgrade their skills risk losing an early advantage in the emerging green economy.
So where do you start in this quest for information? Inspired by the growing questions among job seekers, the green hiring professionals at www.TheCompleteGreenJobGuide.com decided to find answers. To find the answers green job hunters need, their staff did extensive research to:
• review the history of the green energy job movement
• consult with hiring and training experts
• examine the statistics to ferret out the facts behind the headlines
The results of their research is compiled in a comprehensive report, “The Complete Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets For Getting The Job You Want”. For those green job seekers who want the make transition into a sustainable job, “The Complete Green Job Guide 2009: Secrets For Getting The Job You Want” is a comprehensive green job resource which organizes your job search into a ten-step program. The steps are:
1. First things first: define a green energy job?
• Green energy is a move toward a new economy, with new industries, new jobs, and a new vision for economic and environmental stability. Learn what defines a green energy job.
2. Be informed and be committed
• Although green energy is a key item in the stimulus package, it is first and foremost a critical part of discussions on national security, energy independence and global warming. Any professional pursuing a career in this market segment will need a thorough understanding of the myriad of issues impacting green energy.
3. Learn “green speak”
• Green tech, cleantech, sustainable…green terms such as these have become part of corporate and popular culture. New idioms show up in conversation frequently. Job candidates need to extend their grammar check to include green glossaries and dictionaries.
4. Find the company that fits
• Find out where green jobs are growing. Identify the top new business in the industries for your green job search. Learn where green jobs are emerging in traditional businesses.
5. Pick the job you want
• What are the job titles for a green energy job. Qualifications? Career track? Pay? Green job seekers will need to see where they fit in the new job market.
6. Take inventory and show your skills
• Assess your skills for a green job transition. How will you transfer them to a green energy job?
7. Bulk up your qualifications
• Do you need more training or certification? Identify short term, cost effective ways to become better qualified for a green energy job.
8. Be sociable and network your way into the back door
• Learn how to get into the back door through personal contacts. Understand how social networking can enhance your green job search.
9. Brand your unique qualifications
• Translate your unique abilities into benefits for cleantech job. Create your own brand, and market it through your resume, letters, networking contacts, and interviews.
10. Make job boards and job fairs work for you.
• Navigate the 40,000 job boards and effectively narrow your search. Utilize job fairs for research and visibility and find the one that will help you make the green job transition.
By following these ten steps, job seekers can successfully navigate the path to a green job. As job losses mount weekly, that transition becomes increasingly urgent. The good news is that, armed with a thorough understanding of its goals and requirements, we have the opportunity to meet the challenge being “people ready” for the emerging economy.

Austin has long been a home for friendly folk- friendly to each other, friendly to animals, and friendly to the environment. What used to be considered as only the concerns of hippies and the bohemian sect, environmentalism is now at the forefront of commercial and residential design, and “green” businesses are popping up nationwide. Austin, however, was the first city in the United States to establish a local green-building program, laying out environmentally friendly and sustainable guidelines for home builders and its interested citizens back in 1991.

Since the Austin real estate market is known nationwide as the leader of these green building methods, the National Association of Home Builders chose the city as its hub to launch an industry-wide effort to establish green-building guidelines in 2004. These guidelines now provide a practical nationally recognized framework for builders to follow to reduce a home’s environmental impact by making them more energy efficient, improving indoor environmental quality, and so on. Though Austin has already been using similar guidelines for over a decade, now the rest of the country is following suit.

The City of Austin and Austin Energy provide a great resource to owners of Austin homes, and new home builders, who are looking for ways to conserve energy, and build an environmentally friendly home. The city’s website offers a list of companies willing to do an energy analysis of a home that will determine possible options to help the house conserve more energy, with suggestions ranging from air conditioning repair to weather stripping doors. The city then will offer a 20 to 75% of that cost.

For those Austinites building a new house or commercial building, the city created the Austin Energy Green Building organization to promote the construction of high quality, more sustainable buildings, and has even zoned sections of the city’s real estate to require an Austin Energy Green Building rating. Four times a year, the organization also holds a one day “Green By Design” workshop open to the public. The workshop provides an overview of the green building process, and brings in design, building, engineering, landscaping, and Austin real estate professionals with many years of experience in homebuilding and remodeling, to help make sense of it all.

In March of this year, Austin was named as the city leading the country in “cleantech” by SustainLane, an online resource center that offers sustainability tips to state and local government. The term “cleantech” refers to venture capital-based startups based in green technology, with Austin as the front runner with seven such startups, ranging from internet-controlled irrigation to geothermal energy technologies. To keep Austin on the cutting edge of green technology, the Clean Energy Incubator program was set up to help young clean energy businesses succeed by commercializing their ideas. With citizens, government, and forward thinking businesses, Austin will likely be the city to follow in the environmental battle for years to come.

Real estate standards are lower than they were five years ago. When homes sold well, when property was developed at a rapid pace, and most important—when money was plentiful—real estate seemed to have unlimited growth potential.

Such success inspired builders, architects, and property managers to use innovative design concepts to pave the way toward a more environmentally sound future.

Green design was suddenly the rage. Builders used smarter methods, architects focused on sustainability, and owners and renters sought alternative ways to heat, cool, and keep their properties clean.

The green trend is not limited to real estate. Everyday products, food and water supplies, and automobiles began rolling out cleaner, smarter products.

A wonderful new trend was now a thriving reality. Or so we thought. The one thing, the one secret people knew but did not want to address, was that going green was expensive.

By working with green technology, companies and organizations put to good use their increased budgets. That was fine when things were good. But now, well, things aren’t so good. And that has stalled green technology and the movement it inspired.

The real estate market is especially vulnerable to the ups and downs of the economy. Unable to sell homes, builders and realtors must find ways to produce cheaper properties. Thus green building is abandoned for techniques that are considerably more affordable.

Despite the current slowdown, green technology and green building is not going to disappear. It is undoubtedly taking a hit. It is difficult to justify spending more when money is tight. But the benefits and necessity of it is undeniable. Green building and green technology is the future, and businesses must understand this. It will be interesting to see the creative ways realtors and builders implement new ways to build sustainable properties while at the same time conserve money.

The Dallas Morning News ran an article that discussed green trends in real estate.

While some developers might view green building as just a marketing gimmick, industry studies show that these construction techniques will explode during the coming years.

Green building has already risen by five times since 2005 and totals close to $50 billion annually, according to a recent report by McGraw-Hill Construction.

And the outlook is for green construction starts to triple by 2013.

While that news is promising, the article delivers a knock out blow in the next paragraph.

The credit crunch and economic recession have put the brakes on commercial construction starts around the country.

And residential building has plummeted more than 50 percent.

So that means fewer projects – green or otherwise – will be coming out of the ground.

This demonstrates the need to be creative, to employ foresight, and use resourceful materials—the very things green technology is based on—to find our way out of our current economic doldrums.

It is also a good time to be a renter. Apartments in Dallas have remained affordable. The city’s numerous neighborhoods and cultural diversity lend the area a rewarding cosmopolitan attitude. Until the economy revives, and green technology once again becomes the chief approach to building, renting an apartment might be the best choice to make.