Utility Tracking and Benchmarking Blog | WegoBlog

It’s definitely tough to be in the city and think of how “green” it can be, especially because cities are mostly built environments. Aside from industrialization, you can’t stop from noticing the streets covered in trash, air full of car exhaust, and lack of large green spaces! However, some cities in the U.S. have begun to push these stereotypes aside. The WegoWise, Inc. team decided to gather 7 cities that have promoted sustainability in great ways. Check it out!

The WegoWise office is abuzz today in anticipation of our homecity's own music festival, Boston Calling, this weekend. Music festivals continue to gain popularity around the world, with thousands of eventgoers streaming in to remote (and not-so-remote) locations to celebrate and listen to some tunes.  With such a concentration of people staying, partying, and doing the things people do, music festivals have an uphill struggle to avoid potentially serious environmental impacts.  Whether your a concerned citizen, an avid festival-goer, or planning your own Memorial Day "boombox, burgers and buds" backyard festival this weekend, take a look at our Friday links and get some knowledge!

I consider myself a pretty crafty guy, and as both a DIY-er and someone who cares about the impact I have on the environment,  “green DIY” is a term that I care about and identify with.  That’s why I get frustrated when, say, researching a blog post on green DIY leads me to post after post of can-tab bracelets and up-cycled mason jars.  While it’s true that up-cycled craft projects often make good use of post-consumer materials, true green DIY involves more than just a cute idea for reusing your old crocs. 

Green, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly?--How about Responsible? 
In the jumble of buzzwords that get tagged on to projects that incorporate elements of responsible design, what we should care about is just that: responsibility.   Truly green projects are those that, considering all aspects of a project, make design choices that prioritize the environment and human health along with form, function, and budget.  That’s why I encourage you to take a more holistic approach to your green crafting.  For inspiration, consider the case of green-building standards.

 
In a green-building rating system, such as the USGBC's LEED, project teams are awarded points for incorporating environmentally-conscious best practices into each aspect of their project.  Starting with the design of the final product, to the selection of raw materials, and continuing through the construction techniques and final finishes, project teams seeking certification points need to consider each element of their project to ensure that sustainable principles inform each stage of the project.  

Whether you're looking to become a more informed citizen, kill some time on a Friday, or check out a funny video of a dog, WegoWise has got you covered.  Check out this week's links for some neat photos, interesting thoughts on LED bulbs, and perhaps the greatest GIF of them all.

Actually following up with that New Year's resolution to clear out your creepy basement or getting the urge to do some (not yet) spring cleaning? Make sure to remember to recycle! Here's a look at a couple of the best infographics on the web to convince you that sorting your trash is worth the effort.

With the severity of last year’s drought, as covered in our most recent blog post, water conservation is important to think about whether or not you live in an area with limited water resources. Greywater - the water used in your home for activities such as dishwashing, laundry, and bathing – can be up to 50-80% of a typical home’s waste stream. The potential savings from recycling greywater are great from both a water and energy conservation standpoint.

Whether you want to be a more informed citizen or just want to kill some time before 5 on a Friday afternoon, WegoWise has got you covered. It's been 14 days since Black Friday, so chances are your neighbors have had their lights up for...about 14 days.  Show them up this year with an energy-efficient light display.  Not only will you dazzle them with your impeccable taste, but you'll have some extra gift money lying around at the end of the month!  So peruse our best links, give us some feedback and be sure to share some of the info you just gleaned with other interested parties at the parties you are hopefully attending this weekend. Brought to you by Dan, Nate, Lily, Catherine, Casey, and Joanna.

Whether you want to be a more informed citizen or just want to kill some time before 5 on a Friday afternoon, WegoWise has got you covered. Many of you may have spent the week since Thanksgiving acquiring presents for the holidays.  We've noticed a steady stream of deliveries in the office this week as our Black Friday bargains have been arriving.  Here are some environmentally friendly ways to wrap those for your friends and family.  So peruse our best links, give us some feedback and be sure to share some of the info you just gleaned with other interested parties at the parties you are hopefully attending this weekend. Brought to you by Dan, Nate, Lily, Catherine, Casey, and Joanna.