The PEA Pod, June 2009

Simple Ways To Green Your Travels

Vacationing can create a large carbon imprint. Right out of the gate, the car, plane and/or train you typically travel in emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.  But don’t let eco-guilt interfere with your travel desires.  There are plenty ways you can reduce pollution and waste when you take your next trip. Click here for tips on greening your travels.

What is Eco-Tourism?

Do you have to sleep in a tree-house in the wild to be an eco-tourist?  Join us Wednesday, July 29, at 7 pm at Krankies to learn about the full spectrum of eco-friendly travel options.  Diane Michael of Travel Leaders will present trends in the travel industry towards sustainability, tips on traveling sustainably, and advice on what to look for when choosing a destination/location.  Come share your travel stories with us and make plans for future eco-friendly travel.  Learn more.

PEA to Sponsor July Green Drinks

Prior to our July 29th Environmental Exchange on eco-tourism, join us for the monthly Green Drinks gathering at Krankies.  The fun begins at 5:30.  Learn more.

Take Action

You may have noticed some items labeled “Take Action” on our homepage. These items are an attempt to let you know what you can do, right away, to make a difference. Most of the work of PEA is centered on increasing awareness of the little things individuals and businesses can do to increase the sustainability of their choices. Well, here are two more things, maybe not so little, that you can do RIGHT NOW to make our community more sustainable. First – volunteer to work for PEA. A number of volunteer opportunities are posted on our website.  One is joining our Earth Day Fair organizing team. Being a part of this amazing event is an awesome experience. We have several positions available. Other opportunities include helping to organize fundraising events and assisting with logistics for our quarterly Environmental Exchanges.  E-mail   tlegrand@peaNC.org for more information.

Whether you can or cannot volunteer, you CAN help PEA by joining or renewing your membership. Funding for PEA enables us to provide you with a website that focuses on the what, how, when, and where you can take action to make a difference in the sustainability of your community. Funding for PEA allows us to provide you with this great newsletter.  Funding for PEA makes the Earth Day Fair and our quarterly Environmental Exchanges possible. Funding for PEA enables us to bring to Winston-Salem nationally known speakers and offer workshops. Now for the kicker -- we want to make an even greater difference in our community. We want to hire a staff person who will dedicate his or her work life to making our community, where we live, work, and raise our families, more sustainable.  Help us make that goal a reality by joining or making a donation today.

An Estimated 7,000 Attend 4th Annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair

PEA is pleased to announce that an estimated crowd of 7,000 attended the 4th annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair April 18, 2009, on the campus of Wake Forest University.  The Fair included 140 booth spaces representing over 120 exhibitors.  Feedback from our exhibitors and our guests was extremely positive.  Ninety-three percent of exhibitors indicated the Fair met their expectations and roughly the same percent gave the Fair an overall rating of “Excellent” (68%) or “Good” (26%).   Of the guests surveyed, 79% indicated they were very likely to attend again next year.  Our Zero Waste Challenge significantly reduced waste generated from the Fair, resulting in 79% of the waste being diverted from the landfill. (View results of the challenge.)  Thank you to our over 130 volunteers and to all of our sponsors, particularly our Platinum Sponsors: Blessings Project Foundation, Custom Homes by Hamrick, Great Outdoor Provision Company and Wake Forest University.  Visit our website for a full list of our sponsors and please support these businesses and organizations.

New PEA Partners Offer Discounts

Two new members have joined our PEA Partner Savings Program.  Ecorations, an on-line eco-friendly gift wrap retailer, is offering PEA members 10% off all purchases. Visit their website at www.ecorations.com. And Terry Radar of Trillium Creative, Inc., a local eco-friendly agency specializing in creative concepts, strategic planning and copywriting, is very interested in working with PEA members.  She is offering 10% off an initial two-hour consultation. Visit terryrader.com or call 336-855-9293. For a complete list of discounts from all 24 PEA Partners, please click here.  Discounts available to PEA members only.  Must show valid PEA membership card and proof of identity.