While The Ambrose Hotel in Santa Monica, CA was not built to be LEEDS certified, they have adopted significant green initiatives to transform the hotel and guest experience. These changes include implementing energy and water conservation techniques, utilizing non-toxic cleaning supplies, reducing waste, promoting educational awareness and using green transportation.
Thinking about throwing out that nearly empty perfume or cologne bottle? Instead, convert it into a flower vase. Simply remove the sprayer, wash it out thoroughly and then voila! Tip courtesy of Domino magazine.
Companies around the world are racing to create biodiesel fuel from a variety of sources and Colorado's own, Solix Biofuels, has a unique solution - Algae. 
One last tip for saving money on gasoline is to get your car regularly tuned up and check for any irregularities. Especially if you have recently failed an emissions test or gotten close. While you might only see a 3-4 percent increase in gas mileage efficiency for some repairs, you could see up to 40 percent for repairing a failing oxygen sensor.
On the long list of maintenance tips to increase gas mileage, add checking your oil. If you are using the incorrect grade for your specific vehicle, you could be losing 1-2 percent of potential gas mileage. And ask for the labels that say "energy conserving", which contain ingredients that reduce friction.
Hard to believe, but just by changing a dirty air filter in your car, you can save up to 10 percent in gas efficiency. A clogged filter allows dirt and grime, for lack of more technical terms, to infiltrate and potentially harm your engine - So get in there and replace the dirty one you've got.
In our current world of expensive gas and rising energy costs, it makes sense to try the little things which will help improve your car's gas mileage. The next few posts this week will focus specifically on your vehicle - Such as making sure that your tires have enough air in them. Increasing air pressure to correct levels can increase your gas mileage by 3-4 percent and your tires will be safer as well.
Just over the last few years, there has been an explosion of on-line classes available at colleges across the country - Some schools even only exist in the on-line world. 
Think that wind turbines are only for companies or the government? Think again! Thousands of families across the U.S. are starting to buy smaller, residential wind turbines which generate up to 100 kilowatts. Not only can you reduce your own electric bill, but you can actually sell back the credits to your local energy supplier.
While much has been touted about organic fabrics, made from materials such as soy, bamboo or hemp, these materials can still be harmful to the environment. Carefully read the labels of self-proclaimed green fabrics because some of them have been treated with chemicals to make them soft, like cottons. Or because they aren't as durable as some of the other fabrics on the market, they wear out faster and need to be replaced - Encouraging more consumerism. Don't despair though as improvements are being made every day.
Researchers at Rutgers University, Re-Manufacturing Technologies (RMT) want your leftover paint. They've developed a process to use this paint, along with other plastics, to create pellets which can be used again in plastic products. This means paint doesn't have to languish in your extra closet and it helps the plastics industry giants looking for raw materials.
It makes sense that a company like National Geographic has an inherent interest in green initiatives - They've created a website, The Green Guide, which features informative stories about the green movement. Even better, you can sign up for their weekly e-newsletter and have the information sent directly to your inbox.
In November, Burt's Bees all-natural beauty company was sold to Clorox and they're not the only green company in the past few years to be bought out by a corporate giant. L'Oreal purchased The Body Shop and nearly 85 percent of Tom's of Maine is owned by Colgate-Palmolive. Will these companies be able to keep their green origins and culture or will they be swallowed up and changed to appease mainstream America?
Take a trip to Oakland, California and you may just pass this condo development, Green City. Featured in Dwell magazine as an example of a cost-conscious developer finding an economic way to go green, these condos feature low VOC paint, carpet made from recycled materials, a recycled steel infrastructure and a gray roof to keep it cooler.
The City of Boulder, Colorado is leading the way again with their Green Points Program for residential and commercial building. This program requires energy and water efficient features, recycled building materials and sustainable construction methods for all building projects as of February 1, 2008. In order to get a building permit from the city for any new construction or a remodel over 500 feet, you'll need to choose from a menu of green options. Bon appetit!
Could this mobile marketing truck be one of the worst ideas ever? It's got my vote! Driving around a city near you, polluting the air and wasting gasoline, while flashing advertising. This specific company, Mobile Media Truck, is located in Denver and you can e-mail them to express your displeasure at how un-environmentally friendly they are.
Still haven't mailed those holiday cards yet? Well, make them Happy New Year e-cards and save the paper, stamps and gas for the trip to the post office. There are over 300 million e-cards sent every year, for every occasion from the following sites: American Greetings, Hallmark, Rattlebox, Blue Mountain and 123Greetings.
