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 BY CHAD CLARK
Artificial Turf: Remember that gross nappy fake grass carpet
people used to glue to their front porches? Well those days
are long gone. Today we have artificial turfs that look completely
realistic, never need watering or cutting, and require no
chemicals or pesticides. And since the average 1800 square
feet lawn requires over 56,000 gallons of water annually,
they are a great way to save on your water bill. As an added
incentive, L.A.’s
Department of Water and Power is now offering a rebate up
to $13,000 per acre for customers who replace their lawns
with artificial turf.
www.pacificoutdoorliving.com
www.hometurflawns.com
www.omegaturf.com
www.ecowaterlessgrass.com
SNO:LA= Eco Fro Yo: One of L.A’s coolest frozen yogurt
shops, SNO:LA, is also one of the greenest. Created with
sustainability in mind; the counters are made from recycled
computer chips, tabletops from rapidly renewable eucalyptus,
and they’ve used soy-based paint. The store is “no-plastic” and
serves its organic yogurt treats in biodegradable, compostable
containers. Even the utensils are made from wood and potato
starch. Behind the eco-friendly counters you will find healthy
toppings like pomegranate seeds, organic aloe vera cubes,
and other delicious locally grown treats. In addition 1%
of proceeds go to Slow Foods USA, which supports sustainable
farming practices.
244 North Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, www.snolayogurt.com
Gay Greenies—Bob Hattoy and Y. Fray: Most of us remember
Bob Hattoy as the first gay activist with AIDS to address
a major party convention, but he was also a legendary figure
in environmentalism. At the age of 28 he joined the Sierra
Club as the regional director for California and Nevada.
Later he joined Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign
and went on to become his leading environmental advisor as
well as the White House liaison to the Department of the
Interior. He helped secure protections for the California
desert and preventing offshore oil drilling off the California
coast. At the end of his career he was president of the California
Fish and Game Commission until 2003. In 2007 Hattoy died
from cardiac arrest brought on by a bone marrow infection
while recovering from an AIDS-related illness. However, his
devotion and dedication to the environment and HIV/AIDS will
set an example for years to come.
Y. Fray is the kind of forward-thinking businesswoman we
need more of. With her 20 years of limo driving experience,
she created Ecolimo in 2004, which was the first all-alternative
fuel driving service in the country. With offices in Santa
Monica and San Francisco, Ecolimo offers a fleet of natural
gas-powered and biofueled luxury cars and SUVs to get you
were you need to go in style while helping the environment.
888 4 ECO LIMO
www.eco-limo.com
Smart Sprinklers: Sprinklers have come a long way since
those rotating sticks on the end of your garden hose. We
now have “smart” sprinklers, which understand
time zones, best days and times to water, slope of lawn,
soil types, evaporation coefficients, and plant types. Some
even use satellites to monitor the weather and water accordingly.
Since the majority of water consumption in this country is
from irrigation, it makes a lot of sense to have the most
efficient irrigation systems possible.
www.weathermatic.com
www.hunterindustries.com
www.weathertrak.com
www.aquaconserve.com
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