Request for Proposals for Solar Hot Water Projects

The Climate Trust is now soliciting proposals on behalf of the Colorado Carbon Fund for the installation of solar hot water technologies at large buildings to displace the use of fossil fuels (such as natural gas, propane, or diesel) for water heating.

Support for selected projects will be provided as a carbon offset purchase agreement between the award recipients and the Colorado Carbon Fund via The Climate Trust.

Nonprofits, government agencies, for-profit businesses, or a combination of these parties, are eligible to submit proposals. Typical project sites may include recreation centers, hospitals, hotels, prisons, or other facilities which use large amounts of hot water.

The Climate Trust is offering up to $250,000 total, which will be divided between no more than five awards.

A bidder's conference will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 11am MST. Contact mthilges@climatetrust.org to register. Proposals are due on Thursday, February 4 at 5pm MST. For more information and for the RFP application materials, please see: www.coloradocarbonfund.org

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New Year’s Resolution/Revolution

Did you make a resolution to improve yourself this year? What about a resolution to improve the lives of others? Are you committed to helping worthy causes but don’t know where to start?

Here is an idea that might work for you.

1. Pick a favorite charity.
2. On a monthly basis, donate a set amount of money.
3. This amount can be a small amount. In fact, regular donations in small amounts can be easier to budget for and are more likely to be made than single donations in a larger amount. As President Obama has said, change starts from the ground up and in small amounts.
4. Keep track of this donation and remember to have those records handy at tax time.

One of the hardest parts of this is choosing a worthy cause (and then deciding on your monthly budget), so here is an even better idea:

1. Go to OneTribe.com.
2. Once a month, purchase a different shirt.
3. We have different colors, sizes, and styles for men and women that support five different non-profits.
   
4. Your monthly budget will be $39.
5. Half this amount, exactly 50%, will be donated directly to the charity associated with that particular shirt.
6. In every case, the purchase of only ONE shirt will make a significant difference in the life of at least one person (you can read about those benefits here).
7. Feel good. Because not only are you donating $234 ($19.50 x 12 months) to charity this year (which you can deduct from your taxes), but you are also...

• multiplying your wardrobe…
• or getting your 2010 holiday shopping done early…
• or staying ahead of all those pesky birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other holidays that you can never find time (or inspiration) to shop for…
• or further enhancing your cosmic graces by simply giving someone this shirt for no reason (which also helps promote these noteworthy causes)…
• and best of all, staying “green” the whole time. Click here to read how our shirts are good for you and the environment.

This year, give as much as you gain.

OneTribe.com is part of One Tribe Creative, LLC., and is proud to help support five socially and environmentally responsible organizations around the globe. The purchase of our t-shirts helps support and promote this effort. We thank you for your continued interest.

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Fort Collins Winter Farmer's Market: Together We Thrive

There may be no other time of the year when monitoring your diet is more important than during the winter months. Temptation is everywhere – snacks at the office, fatty comfort foods, grazing on cupcakes at holiday parties. Couple that with a perceived lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, and it is no wonder people suffer from weight gain, as well as seasonal mood disorders, and even depression caused by weight gain and vitamin deficiencies.

So how do you avoid this?

In Fort Collins, we are lucky to have the Winter Farmer's Market, held Saturdays from 10 AM until 3 PM at the Opera Galleria, 123 North College Avenue in downtown Fort Collins.

The dates are:

• December 19
• January 16 and 23
• February 13 and 27
• March 6 and 27

“Winter Markets provide real support to local entrepreneurs - farmers, ranchers, cheese and wine-makers alike. A wonderful celebration of community, too.” Karen McManus, Co-owner Wolf Moon Farms

Fruits and Vegetables Can Protect Your Health

Besides supporting local food producers, maybe the best reason to eat fresh food is disease prevention. People who eat generous amounts of fruits and veggies are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers (www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov)

Fruits and veggies can protect in the short term as well. Diets high in certain vitamins and minerals can protect you from the flu, colds, altitude sickness (when you go skiing), morning sickness, and all kinds of other minor illnesses. This winter, try to eat a diet rich in

• Vitamin C – citrus fruits, broccoli, salad greens, cabbage, bell peppers, mangos
• Vitamin A & B – carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apples, Brussels Sprouts (yes, they can be tasty)
• Garlic and Onion – they are both high in antibiotic and antiviral properties

At the Winter Farmer’s Market, you will find fresh, local fruits and veggies that are both in-season and match your winter nutritional needs.

For more information, please visit www.BeLocalNC.org and www.NoCoFoodIncubator.com

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A Mother’s Love Can Change the World

Motherlove Herbal Company is dedicated toward helping nurture, soothe, and heal women on their all-important journey through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Motherlove crafts the finest quality organic products for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. They provide a natural way to prevent stretch marks, soothe labor discomfort, increase breast milk, relieve sore nipples, nurture baby's tender skin and clear up diaper rash and thrush. Their organic products are safe and gentle, yet effective for women and babies.

These products include belly oils and salves, baby oil and diaper rash cream, sitz baths and rhoid balm, breast milk enhancers and nipple creams, and even organic baby clothing.

Using only the finest products and certified organic ingredients, Motherlove follows FDA Good Manufacturing Practices and supports the environment in all phases of their business. Their products are cruelty free and don’t use mineral oil, artificial fragrances, or artificial preservatives. In addition to being organic, many of their products are now certified kosher.

Because their products are both safe and incredibly effective, they have been featured in high-profile magazines such as Fit Pregnancy, Mom & Baby, Pregnancy, Us Weekly, Vegetarian Times, Mothering, belly, Pregnancy & Birth, Organic Style, American Baby, Fitness, and DaySpa.

To find out more about this unique company, visit their web site at motherlove.com. You can check out their products, read testimonials, find retailers, and even shop. Oh, and if you weren’t convinced already – check out their list of beauty products to avoid!

One Tribe Creative is proud to profile socially and environmentally responsible companies. To learn more about what we do, click here: OneTribeCreative.com

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EPA: “Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment”

Are you concerned about the toll your actions take on the environment? Our cars have adverse effects, no doubt. But did you know that more than 23 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions are from on-road vehicles, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

In a press release on December 7, 2009, the EPA reported scientific evidence that greenhouse gases threaten public health and the overall welfare of the American people. As the primary cause of climate change that leads to longer and hotter heat waves, greenhouse gases contribute to asthma; respiratory illnesses; and the overall health of Americans, particularly the sick, poor and elderly.

But Climate change is more than rising temperatures and poor health. Other effects include:

• The melting of glaciers
• Disappearing coastlines
• Excess carbon dioxide in the oceans
• Historic droughts and more powerful storms
• Changing migratory patterns of birds and other animals (and broader range of diseases)

But check out The Colorado Carbon Fund:

Created through The Governor's Energy Office Project C, The Colorado Carbon Fund comprises "a groundbreaking campaign – the first statewide project of its kind – to provide high quality, verifiable carbon offsets for consumers concerned about climate change and further advances Colorado’s New Energy Economy. Consumers can compensate for their own carbon emissions - generated by everyday activities such as driving and home-heating - by helping to fund projects in Colorado that measurably reduce greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Donors who offset at least 50% of their vehicle emissions can qualify for a Colorado Project C license plate."

See our last post for more information on Project C license plates, and remember that your donation will continue to fund innovative carbon projects on Colorado.

To learn more about The Colorado Carbon Fund, go to www.ColoradoCarbonFund.org

One Tribe Creative is proud to profile socially and environmentally organizations. To learn more about how we help these companies tell their story, connect at www.OneTribeCreative.com.

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Get Your Project C License Plate

Getting your Project C License Plate is easy!

• First, make a donation of at least $25 to the Colorado Carbon Fund at www.coloradocarbonfund.org.

• Second, when you donate, make sure to check the box to receive a Colorado Carbon Fund license plate certificate.

• Third, print out that certificate and bring it to your county’s vehicle registration office. It is recommended you call the registration office ahead of time to make sure the plates are in stock. There is a $50 fee for this plate (in addition to your donation).

• Fourth, put the plates on your car. Drive safe, look great with cool plates, and show your support for clean energy in Colorado.

For more details, click here: Colorado Carbon Fund License Plates.

One Tribe Creative is proud to profile socially and environmentally responsible organizations. To learn more about what we do, visit us at OneTribeCreative.com.

World Toilet Day 2009

Believe it or not, lack of sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection. Today, one in four people don’t have a toilet. This means people must relieve themselves in open streets, fields, or dangerous back alleys. In India alone, the number of people who practice defecation is double the population of the U.S. Because of situations like this, at least 1.8 million people die from fecally-transmitted diseases every year.

To bring awareness to these issues, we're observing November 19th as World Toilet Day. Established by the World Toilet Organization and celebrated annually, it seeks to increase awareness of the importance of toilet sanitation and each individual's right to a safe and hygienic sanitary environment.

Why Toilets Matter

From United Nations Human Development Report:
“When it comes to water and sanitation, countries tend to have short memories. Today, people in the cities of Europe and the United States live free from fear of waterborne infectious diseases. At the turn of the 20th century the picture was very different. The vast expansion of wealth that followed industrialization increased incomes, but improvements in more fundamental indicators such a life expectancy, child survival and public health lagged far behind. The reason: cities exposed people to greater opportunities to amass wealth but also to water contaminated with human waste. The mundane reality of unclean water severed the link between economic growth and human development. It was not until a revolution in water and sanitation restored that link that wealth generation and human welfare started to move in tandem.”

What Can You Do?

DONATE: The solutions are simple and cost-effective. On average, every US dollar invested in water and sanitation provides an economic return of eight US dollars. For only $30, Water.org can bring someone access to a toilet for the rest of their life.

TWEET: Other (free and easy!) solutions include visiting Water.org's World Toilet Day page and signing up to donate the status, avatar, or background on your Twitter or Facebook pages.

SQUAT: Another thing you can do is take part in The Big Squat: To help raise awareness for the 2.5 billion people who don't have access to sanitation, thousands of people worldwide are going to squat for one minute. Visit worldtoiletday.com/squat/ for more information.

BUY A SHIRT: One Tribe is proud to profile socially and environmentally responsible organizations and events. Additionally, sales of our custom-designed organic t-shirts help create a lasting revenue stream for Water.org.

With our 50/50 promise, HALF the price of a shirt goes directly to

Water.org. That money is enough to provide one person access to clean water for life.

Get yours today – and don’t forget, these make excellent gifts this holiday season. Learn more here: OneTribe.com