In Business, Creating Sustainable Enterprises & Communities

LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING

In Business, September-October, 2006, Vol. 28, No. 5, p. 31

ECOSTYLE

Delia Montgomery

THERE'S been a lot of brainstorming the past several years to benefit environmental and green lifestyle seekers. Evidence is surfacing, and I am thrilled to share some recent discoveries with you.
BIO-hotels is my summer find, where “taste the natural life” is the slogan. This is an association of independent hotels that base their offerings around natural products. Choose between a wide selection of lodges in many different regions, primarily Austria, Germany and Italy.
Guests are encouraged to relax in unspoilt nature or regain energy with an individual wellness program. Bio hotels welcome conferences and allow arrivers to focus on health spas, nature, sports or family activities. There's even options for singles who need safe space to themselves yet don't want to be alone all the time.
Each bio hotel has its own unique flavor and offers different vacation possibilities, yet they share the same standards of quality. Bio hotels are unique, allowing guests to choose a hotel renown for nutritional meat dishes or one for its vegetarian cuisine. All organic food lovers are assured excellence. Essences, creams and essential oils are organic and wellness programs are either allopathic or naturopathic-based treatments. For those who are ill, traditional, naturopathic, and Chinese medicinal methods are offered.
Try rural charm in Ireland's first certified organic hotel and restaurant. Or investigate the wellness spa in Austria with complimentary fitness and relaxation programs. In northern Germany's largest forest is an old farmhouse restored and modernized with ecological guidelines. The family-operated lodge offers a childcare coordinator for play in the woods while adults rediscover the art of being. If hiking and mountain biking is your thing, there's paradise in the heart of southern Germany, the Schwäbische Alps.
The group originated in 2001 with standards guided by organic organizations. They developed their mission to maintain organic farmer and handler regulations into the hotel and catering industry. Thus, constant inspections and quality control were integrated into their business plans. Ecological criterions were followed in the building and furnishing process of each hotel as well.

GREEN LIVING DIRECTORY
My early September discovery is the on-line Modern Green Living Home Directory (www.moderngreenliving.com). The site helps people design, build, remodel, furnish, and find a green home. This is a practical and realistic tool to accomplish just that.
There are two categories to browse and eliminate time-consuming research. The first offers green professionals. Connect with architects, builders, interior designers, landscapers and realtors. The second proposes residences where you can find residential communities, prefab homes, condos, and green apartments.
An example from the profession showcase is One World Design, an architectural firm located in Spokane, Washington that specializes in sustainable natural building, especially straw-bale construction. The company claims that an ecological home weaves sun, air, water, and earth into a complex interactive whole that supports both health and the world's vitality.
For interior design, find Atmosphera Home, based in San Rafael, California. Proprietor and author of healthy home books, Kimberly Rider, believes eco design is all about creating beautiful spaces and objects that do not harm the earth, people or ecosystems.
An example from the residence showcase is the Armory Park del Sol in Tucson, Arizona. These homes are designed from the ground up to achieve net zero energy use by photovoltaic electric power generating systems and solar water heaters with on-demand backup units.
Apartment seekers in Washington, D.C. are offered Elevation 314, which consist of 52 rentals in varied sizes. In addition to basic amenities are bicycle parking and a central landscaped courtyard for recreation space and natural beauty. It is the first project in Washington with an approved green roof as part of the storm water management system.
Witnesses can rate all businesses, both services and homes. The directory is presented by Vivavi, where eco interior shopping takes place, and The Lazy Environmentalist, a radio talk show that features environmental leaders.
Most Americans are incredibly disappointed in governmental protection of the environment, which creates a special reason for excitement of these entrepreneurial endeavors, domestic and international. I quote Indian philosopher Mahatma Gandhi, “Good government is no substitute for self-government.”

Delia Montgomery is an environmental design consultant and personal eco shopper for homes, bodies and gardens. Questions or comments are welcome. Visit www.ChicEco.com or e-mail Info@ChicEco.com.