Electric Vehicles To Charge Up at Kroger

Although Extra Space Storage uses hybrid vehicles that that don’t require charging, I like to keep up with the latest on other options for powering cars. And all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) just got a big promotion from Kroger. You’ve always needed groceries, but now Kroger is thinking you’re going to want to plug in too! They aren’t alone in this thinking. There are now about 5,800 electric stations in the U.S. Making it Easier to Charge Kroger Co., which includes chains Ralphs and Food 4 Less, chose ECOtality to install more than 200 Blink level 2 charging stations, and 25 Blink DC … [More]

Five Favorite Sustainable Business Blogs

Thanks to blogs that focus on sustainability in the green business world, it’s easy to stay informed during coffee breaks or between meetings. It doesn’t matter if your office is in a tall building in New York City, or if you work from home in the suburbs, the best green business blogs will keep you in the know, and maybe even entertained too. There are many insightful blogs focusing on green business, but I don’t always have time to read them all. I’m sharing with you the blogs I typically read each week, and I hope you’ll also share your favorite green business blogs with me … [More]

Go Green: Plan an Eco-friendly Picnic

Picnic weather is finally here! I love picnics because they allow me to get the whole family together to enjoy a delicious meal outdoors. Picnics are beautiful and memorable, but I like to take care of nature too by planning eco-friendly picnics. Yes, picnics have carbon footprints just like everything else, but you can take steps to reduce the impact of your picnic. An earth-friendly picnic can be easy, affordable and fun! When you’re planning your picnic, a big goal to keep in mind is to avoid disposables. That means no packaged food items like pudding cups, bags of chips or bottled water. Instead of including prepackaged … [More]

Visit a Public Garden in the Sky: NYC’s High Line

What to do with unused rail tracks 30 feet above ground in New York City… Oh, what to do? If you’re a passionate New Yorker, you’ll save the tracks from demolition and turn them into a unique park! That unique park goes by the name High Line, a public space owned by New York, and operated by Friends of the High Line, the group of passionate New Yorkers that helped save the tracks. Located high above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side, the High Line was built on a freight rail line that opened in 1934. The project was meant to eliminate the accidents that occurred between freight … [More]

Rooftop Gardens Provide Beauty and Green Benefits

New York City's High Line. Photo by David Berkowitz

I love cities, but sometimes they can be a bit lacking in green spaces. That’s one of the reasons I like rooftop gardens. When you can’t plant in the ground, why not plant on your roof? Rooftop gardens can be created using containers, or planted directly on the roof using a waterproof membrane, insulation and a root barrier. Rooftop gardens have been popular for a long time in Europe, and in recent years they’re also popping up in the U.S. Extra Space Storage’s Rooftop Garden The Extra Space Storage facility at 8301 River Road in North Bergen, New Jersey contains a rooftop garden featuring several shrubs, grasses … [More]

Upcycle Your Glass Bottles

What’s in your recycling container? If you have nice glass bottles that once contained soda, syrup or wine, it’s possible you aren’t finished with them yet! You may be surprised at the fun ways you can remake old bottles. Whether you call it repurposing, reusing, upcycling or recycling, the end result is the same – something new from something used. Upcycle a bottle and you may even save some money, and have fun too! Some of these projects lend themselves to the warmer temperatures we’re about to enjoy, so get ready to dive in. Bottles to Centerpieces Your next centerpiece for the table or eye … [More]

Motion Sensors Have a Place at Home Too

I’ve decided to allow technology to eliminate some parental nagging duties for me. No, I’m not talking about texting chore reminders. I’m referring to the usage of motion sensors to control indoor lighting. As many parents have probably experienced, kids don’t always remember to turn lights off when they exit a room. Even with frequent reminders, some kids still opt to leave the lights on. That bad habit can waste a lot of energy in rooms that aren’t frequently used. A solution I’ve adopted in my house is the installation of motion sensors (or occupancy sensors) that take the place of regular light switches. I’ve discussed how motion … [More]

Sustainable Eating With Meatless Mondays

Interested in eating more sustainably, but don’t know how? What about going meatless once a week? Of everything we eat, meat is the biggest offender. Raising livestock is a much more intensive endeavor than growing plants. It takes massive amounts of food, water, land, and energy to grow and transport the animals that become your favorite burgers and sausages. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, producing meat contributes more to climate change than the transportation sector. Cows, pigs, and the like produce nearly one-fifth of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. You don’t have to become a vegetarian to reduce your carbon footprint. There’s a movement … [More]

Start A Green Habit to Honor Earth Day 2013

Celebrated each year on April 22, Earth Day is a good time to make a new commitment to do your part for the earth. I know that some people scoff at the idea that a single day can make any kind of difference, but “Earth Day” is a misleading name. It’s not a single day to think about the earth. Rather, Earth Day is your reminder to make a commitment to help the earth throughout the year. That’s how I think of it! If you observe Earth Day 2013, you certainly won’t be alone. According to earthday.org, more than one billion people around the world are expected to … [More]

Making the Switch to Interior LED Lighting

The switch is on! Many consumers, have started looking at their lighting a bit differently these last few years, and we have too. The incandescent bulb was inexpensive to buy, but wasn’t cheap to run, and didn’t last long. CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) are a step up since they use less energy and last longer than incandescent lights. Yet, LED (light-emitting diode) technology offers even more energy savings and much greater longevity. So, I’m pleased to tell you that Extra Space Storage has taken the first step in the switch to interior LED lighting! Putting Interior LED Lighting to the Test We’ve added LED lighting from US … [More]

Category Archives: Sustainability