Eco-Conscious Moms Set Out to Make Breastfeeding Easier With Modern Nursing Covers

The Undercover Baby (Registered Trademark) offers new moms a fashionable, eco-friendly accessory to breastfeed in public.

Concord, CA (PRWEB) September 22, 2008 -- The Undercover Baby (Registered Trademark) is launching a new line of stylish, eco-friendly breastfeeding accessories. The collection features 100% cotton & 100% organic cotton nursing covers for the breastfeeding mom, and is available at http://www.theundercoverbaby.com. Two stay-at-home moms established the partnership company to give nursing mothers the privacy to nurse in public with an eco-friendly cover-up.

"The main differences between The Undercover Baby nursing covers and others already out in the market are the stylish, durable design and the organic cotton print choices, which are unlike most solid color options available today," said Jenette Magallanes, General Partner of The Undercover Baby. "So many moms today prefer a 'green' choice because they want a safe, natural, and low environmental impact product for their babies. This product meets this demand without sacrificing style."


The nursing cover features include print fabric with double stitching, peep viewing capability, and a buckle accessory. It is designed much like an apron, so that the cover won't fall off while a mother is nursing. The peep-viewing feature allows a nursing mother to view her baby while breastfeeding by forming a flexible arch at the neckline of the cover. This also allows for airflow. The nursing covers can also be used to shield a baby while in a baby carrier.

The Undercover Baby nursing covers feature a soft, high-quality sateen cotton fabric. The organic cotton print fabrics are certified and conform to the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). Most of the prints are floral and have a nature-inspired theme. The printing is done using low environmental impact inks and dyes that comply with the GOTS. For more features, see http://www.theundercoverbaby.com/html/features.html.

Pricing & Availability
100% cotton nursing covers will retail for $36 and 100% organic cotton nursing covers will retail for $42. Currently all nursing covers are available for purchase online at http://www.theundercoverbaby.com/shop.html.

The Undercover Baby nursing covers are expected to be in baby boutiques in California, Washington, and Illinois by December 2008. Beginning January 2009, the company plans to expand its availability in retail stores nationwide.

For additional information on "Eco-Conscious Moms Set Out to Make Breastfeeding Easier", contact Jenette Magallanes or visit www.theundercoverbaby.com.

About The Undercover Baby:
The Undercover Baby is a partnership company based in Concord, CA. Jenette Magallanes & Maria Dexheimer formed the company in March 2007. The Undercover Baby is a Registered Trademark. The company focuses on minimizing environmental impact in design, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution. Supplies are purchased from local vendors and nursing covers are manufactured in the United States. More eco-friendly baby products are currently in development.

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Sutus Business Central Surges ahead with Green Office Technology

Award-winning VoIP office-in-a-box product helps small businesses reduce carbon footprint

Vancouver, B.C. (PRWEB) September 11, 2008 -- The Sutus Business Central™, a multi-service business gateway (MSBG) that provides Small Businesses with a fully integrated data, networking and telephony solution today has released its findings related to the energy savings of it's small business technology. In addition to its business operational features, the power consumption, design and advanced remote support of Business Central dramatically reduces a small business' carbon footprint compared to a piecemeal solution that provides equivalent business functionality.
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In the course of a year, the Business Central requires 350 kw/hrs power*. This is 1261 kw/hr lower than the power usage of the combined products used by most small businesses to match the functionality of the Business Central. The power difference is equivalent to .98 metric tonnes of CO2 tonnes per year. That's the equivalent of parking the car for 60 days a year or replacing a twenty year old fridge with an 'energy saver' model

As well as having low power requirements, the Business Central enjoys a very streamlined design with dimensions of 9'' by 11'' by 4''. This is little bigger than a Microsoft Xbox and is considerably smaller than the combined dimensions of a competing piecemeal solution. In addition, advanced remote support and management features built into the Business Central mean that the device can be remotely monitored, upgraded and repaired without the need to send out a technician or for the small business staff member to spend long periods on the phone.

The Sutus Business Central (tm) has been developed specifically for businesses of up to 25 employees and comprises a wide array of advanced data and networking functions such as: file server, email server, router, firewall, wireless access point, VPN remote access server, automated backups, and a business-class phone system with the ability to simultaneously support both standard phone line and VoIP connections.

The Business Central is also a gateway for hosted services and is ideal for businesses that promote remote working or those with employees in numerous locations.

Shawn Chute, EVP of Sutus, commented, 'People are rapidly becoming more conscious of their effect on the environment and this is starting to show in some of their business decisions. Small business owners in particular have the advantage of being able to change the way their company operates in many ways according to their preferences. The Sutus Business Central enables them to improve business functionality while helping the environment by utilizing our "all-in-one" energy efficient complete office solution..'

*Assumes constant power 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

About Sutus
Sutus (www.sutus.com) provides small businesses with an enterprise quality all-in-one solution that delivers office network and telephone infrastructure that is affordable, robust and extremely flexible. The Sutus Business Central™ has won six industry awards, including Internet Telephony magazine's 2007 product of the year, IT Expo's 'Best Newcomer', VON Magazine 'Innovation', IP Communications 'Product of the Year', Network Products Guide 'Product Innovation' and 'Ready to Rocket'. It is designed specifically for offices with up to 25 users providing all core IT infrastructure as well as on-demand turnkey VoIP and other advanced phone and data services through Sutus business partners. The Business Central significantly improves a reseller's ability to easily service small business customers with locations of 25 users or less.

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Setcom Corporation Goes Green

Efforts made by Setcom to become a more environmentally friendly company.

Mountain View, CA, September 08, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Setcom Corporation (www.SetcomCorp.com), an industry leader in communications systems and accessories for police motorcycles, fire apparatus, and other public safety and military vehicles, is adopting new methods in an attempt to make the company more environmentally friendly. These changes will allow Setcom to become a more environmentally sound company.

One of the most important changes Setcom is making is in reducing the amount of paper flow throughout the company. All of the company waste paper is now recycled. Setcom relies heavily on the use of its ERP system and email to help limit the amount of paper used on a daily basis. They have also incorporated scanning and electronic file keeping which has resulted in a 90% reduction of their use of filing cabinets.

In addition to cutting its daily use of paper, Setcom is also incorporating electronic marketing methods to further decrease their paper usage. The majority of the marketing and advertising done by Setcom today is via electronic means. Setcom is making an effort to distribute their company information on a CD or USB drive whenever possible. Setcom is also in the process of putting all of its marketing material online on their company website. Mailers and paper-based media advertising have not been completely eliminated since some customers still prefer paper brochures but marketing through paper products is a very small part of the total Setcom marketing effort.

Another way Setcom is becoming more environmentally friendly is by reducing its overall power consumption. The Setcom building was remodeled to provide more open space that utilizes natural light. Lighting and HVAC have also been removed from areas in the building where it is not necessary. All non-essential equipment in the company is turned off every night. Setcom has also installed more sophisticated thermostats and more efficient water heaters to better utilize power consumption.

Waste paper is not the only recycled item at Setcom. Old electronic gear and computers that are no longer used by the company are recycled and replaced with more energy efficient items. The company also makes it a point to use economical cars when employees are travelling.

Despite the advances Setcom is making in its quest to become environmentally sound, there are areas where they would like to improve. One of these areas is RoHS compliance. RoHS compliance calls for restricting the use of six hazardous materials in manufacturing various electronic components. The materials are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybiominated biphenyls, and polybiominated diphenl ether. Many of the vendors Setcom works with are already RoHS compliant but the company wants to work with all of its vendors to gain complete RoHS compliance.

About Setcom Corporation
Setcom (www.SetcomCorp.com) is a privately held company which designs, manufactures, and sells communications systems and accessories for two-way radios. Setcom’s markets include police, fire, and the US military as well as certain industrial and commercial segments.

Founded in 1970, Setcom has been a pioneer in its markets for 38 years. The company is still a leader because it works with police motorcycle officers and firefighters to develop the kind of innovative, tailor-made products professionals depend on. Public safety professionals in all fifty states, most major US cities, and more than twenty countries worldwide rely on Setcom.

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Kettle Foods Saves Green with Gold

Company Marks One-Year Anniversary of LEED® Gold Potato Chip Factory with Savings

SALEM, Ore. & BELOIT, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One year after the grand opening of America’s first LEED® Gold certified food manufacturing plant, Kettle Foods is seeing the green in building green.

“When we decided to go for green, or in this case gold, with LEED® certification of our new factory, we knew it was the right thing to do,” said Tim Fallon, Kettle Foods president, North America. “The bonus is that making our Kettle Brand™ Potato Chips in a more environmentally friendly way is also proving to be good business.”

The factory, which produces thousands of bags of the company’s Kettle Brand™ Potato Chips for shipment to the East Coast, began production on May 9, 2007. In line with initial energy- and water-saving estimates, the Beloit, Wis., facility is yielding both environmental and economic benefits, including:

* Annual energy savings (gas and electric) of 20 percent, translating to an estimated cost reduction of $110,000 on natural gas and $51,000 on electricity.
* Annual water savings of $34,000 due to reclamation systems capturing and reusing 3.4 million gallons of water.
* Monthly recycling of 2,300 gallons of waste oil with conversion to biodiesel, an alternative fuel used to power a company fleet of diesel-engine cars called BioBeetles.
* Annual reduction of more than 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the elimination of shipping lines between Oregon and the Midwest.

As part of the company’s overarching commitment to limiting its impact on the environment wherever possible, Kettle Foods offsets 100 percent of the electricity used to operate both its Salem and Beloit factories with renewable wind power. Additionally, the Beloit plant is home to 18 wind turbines. Mounted on the roof, the swiveling turbines are on track to meet estimated annual electricity generation, enough to make 56,000 bags of Kettle Brand™ Potato Chips every year.

In addition to resource savings, the company is partnering with Tallgrass Restoration, LLC, to return the factory’s five-acre backyard to its native prairie state. After being planted last spring, it’s currently in the first phase of regrowth and restoration. Though it will take more than a year to nurture the land back to its native state, it’s already showing signs of renewal, including the return of wildflowers, birds and small prairie animals. The next phase of restoration includes a controlled burn, a natural process that allows the diversity of the natural landscape to emerge and thrive.

About Kettle Foods

Founded in 1978, Oregon-based Kettle Foods is a privately owned company committed to producing great-tasting, all-natural snacks with a caring commitment to its employees, craft and community. In doing so, it leads the industry as the No. 1 natural potato chip brand, according to ACNielsen, with distribution throughout North America, Japan, Guam and Western Europe. Its manufacturing sites in Salem, Ore., Beloit, Wis., and Norwich, United Kingdom, produce more than 20 flavors and four varieties of potato chip offerings, five flavors of tortilla chips and a variety of nut butters and trail mixes. Visit www.kettlefoods.com for more information.

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Going "Green" Can be Expensive But it Doesn't Have to be

Buying expensive eco-friendly products have just become cheaper as online coupon website, Shopaneer, launches "green" category featuring coupons for environmentally friendly products and stores.

Richmond Hill, ON (PRWEB) September 17, 2008 -- Buying expensive eco-friendly products have just become cheaper as online coupon website, Shopaneer.com, launches "green" category featuring coupons for environmentally friendly products and stores. "Everyone wants to do their part to help save the environment, whether it is buying a human-powered lawnmower, solar panels for their house, electric powered car, or other recycled and eco-friendly products. The only problem is that buying these products can be expensive," said Shopaneer owner Scott Rezka. "Our new "green" category will help alleviate some of these costs as well as allow stores to promote their eco-friendly products."

Along with the launch of the "green" category, Shopaneer has put together a list of ways to save money while purchasing environmentally friendly products.

Use Coupons
The easiest way to save money is to use online coupons for your eco-friendly products. What is easier than clicking a link and saving 10% off? Online coupons also have the extra benefit of not wasting any paper.

Buy in Bulk
Another way to simultaneously save money and go green is to buy items that you use often in bulk. These items may include food, drinks, and cleaning products. There are many benefits to buying in bulk as you are purchasing the same items you would regularly buy for less, the items last longer, and you reduce waste as there is less packaging.

Shop Around
If you are buying larger items, such as a push lawnmower or solar panels, your best bet to save money is to shop around. Check your local newspaper for flyers and price check online to find the best deal. Do a search for price comparison and you will find hundreds of websites. All you need to do is type the name of the product and these sites will help you find the lowest price. Often, you can get stores to match or beat their competitor's prices simply by asking.

Eco Tax Credits
Certain eco-friendly products qualify for a tax credit. There are tax credits available for buying efficient cars and solar energy systems. You can receive 30% of cost, up to $2000 credit for installing a solar energy system. The tax credit for purchasing an efficient car can be up to $3400. You can find more information about all these tax credits here: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.

About Shopaneer
Shopaneer is an online coupon and deal provider that was created to provide consumers with an easy way to save money while shopping at online stores, as well as, provide merchants with a way to attract new customers and increase sales. More information about Shopaneer is available at shopaneer.com.

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2008 National Clean Air Green Tour Rolls into Minnesota

Full Motion Marketing Wraps up First Half of the 2008 National Clean Air Green Tour in Minnesota ; Coast to Coast Mobile Educational Tour to Promote Environmental Sustainability

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 21, 2008 -- August 24th 2008 will mark the halfway point of the six month 2008 National Clean Air Green Tour, a mobile marketing initiative that will visit more than 120 cities across the United States to educate consumers on the latest advances in sustainability. The Tour will give visitors hands-on experience with well-known brands that support environmental awareness including Salada Green Tea, Bosch Tools, Indy Racing League, Americans for Balanced Energy and Bosch Home Appliances.

Jim Paar former Minnesota business owner started the Full Motion Marketing and the Clean Air Green Tour two years ago to make a difference on the ever growing problem of global warming, protecting our natural resources, and educating American's on how to go green and play their part.


Consumers are changing their way of living and taking steps every day to minimize their impact on the earth.
Presented by Full Motion Marketing, the second annual tour features a state-of-the-art 40-foot biodiesel motor coach equipped with solar power backup that will travel through 47 states in six months, covering more than 50,000 miles. The Tour will stop at well-known retailers, as well as stopping in Greensburg, Kansas to assist in rebuilding this community that was completely leveled in an F5 tornado. The Clean Air Green Tour a Minnesota corporation formerly based in St. Paul will participate in the show "Greensburg" on the new Green Planet channel.

The Tour will feature a sweepstakes for a 2009 smart fortwo that will be on display at select locations and is sponsored by Salada Green Tea. Distributed by smart USA, the smart fortwo is the smallest car for sale in the United States. Designed to get 33 miles per gallon in the city and 41 miles per gallon on the highway, the smart fortwo passion coupe has only been available in the United States since January 2008 and its retail price starts at $13,590*. Visitors can register for the sweepstakes via interactive kiosks at Tour stops and a winner will be announced at the Tour's conclusion in November.

At the Tour, visitors will be able to view and test the only full suite of Energy Star rated appliances presented by Bosch Home Appliances. Salada will also be providing free samples of its anti-oxidant-rich Salada Green Tea, healthy recipes and coupons.

In addition to distributing information and materials at all stops, the Tour is also sponsoring "Cleaning Up America" Days where local residents will gather to improve their community by cleaning parks or beaches, or establishing recycling programs, among others. In addition, the Tour will participate in the Adopt-a-Highway program by assisting in cleaning up highways and major interstates along the Tour route.

"Consumers are changing their way of living and taking steps every day to minimize their impact on the earth." said Jim Paar, director of Full Motion Marketing. "The National Clean Air Green Tour is taking every effort to educate consumers on ways to enhance that commitment to green living."

The Tour kicked off in Mooresville, NC on June 15th and will travel throughout the country, ending in Florida in November. For more information on the Tour and a full list of stops, go to www.cleanairgreentour.com .

*smart fortwo passion coupe price does not include tax, title, registration, options, destination charges and other dealer fees.

About Full Motion Marketing
The 2008 Clean Air Green Tour was developed in 2007 by Full Motion Marketing. One of the country's leading providers of targeted media and promotional programs, Full Motion Marketing recognizes emerging market developments to adapt service and product offerings for maximum effect. Full Motion Marketing has offices in Chicago, Minneapolis and Pensacola. Additional information can be found at www.fullmotionmarketing.com.

Also available is sponsorship opportunities for the second half of the 2008 Clean Air Green Tour and we are excepting sponsors for the 2009 3rd Annual Clean Air Green Tour. For more information email Jim Paar at: jim @ cleanairgreentour.com .

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Enterprise Offers “Green” Driving Tips to Help Motorists Reduce Fuel Use, Improve Efficiency

Smarter Driving Can Help Save Money, Reduce Environmental Impact

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As motorists across the country struggle with $4 per gallon gasoline costs and search for ways they can reduce their impact on the environment, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering 10 Keys to “Green” Driving – useful tips that drivers can use to cut down on fuel use and save money.

“When it comes to improving fuel economy and reducing our impact on the environment, every little bit helps,” said Steve Short, Vice President, Leisure Business Development. “As we look for ways that we as individuals can make a difference, smarter driving is one step we can all take.”

Common energy and non-energy related defects discovered in a maintenance inspection include: compromised roof surfaces; improper ventilation; faulty electrical wiring; inadequate heating and cooling capacity for the structure; and substandard windows.

"Maintenance inspections give the homeowners the information they need to make smart investments," stated Golubski. The average person doesn't have the trained eye to identify these issues resulting in prolonged home inefficiency, or significant damage when the system or component actually fails."

The Alliance to Save Energy recommends homeowners take the following measures to help reduce energy costs:

1. Cook with your microwave. It uses 2/3 less energy than your stove.
2. Use your dishwasher (wait for a full load). It uses less water than washing dishes by hand.
3. Keep your fridge full. It keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open.
4. Turn up your thermostat, and turn off the AC when you aren't home. You save 1-3% per degree for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees.
5. Use cold or warm water when washing clothes, and always rinse in cold water.
6. Line dry clothes whenever possible, but only run the dryer with full loads.
7. Turn off appliances, lights and equipment when not in use.
8. Unplug electronic devices when not in use, as many use electricity even when switched off.
9. Replace AC filters monthly.
10. Weather strip, seal and caulk leaky doors and windows.
11. Use fans instead of AC units. They use less energy.
12. Replace old appliances with new and more energy efficient appliances.

Enterprise – along with sister companies National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car – owns the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. More than 440,000 cars in the combined fleet of approximately 1.1 million vehicles average a highway fuel efficiency rating of at least 28 mpg or better, and more than 237,000 average 32 mpg or better.

Enterprise, National and Alamo also operate the world’s largest fleet of FlexFuel vehicles – more than 73,000 cars and trucks that have the ability to use E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline – and approximately 4,000 gas/electric hybrid vehicles. The companies also offer the industry’s largest consumer carbon offset program, which enables customers to offset the CO2 emissions associated with renting a car.

With the environment in mind, Enterprise offers motorists the following driving tips:

1. Lighten your load: The more weight a car carries, the lower its fuel economy will be. On road trips, while it’s tempting to pack everything – kitchen sink included – it’s smart to leave heavy, unnecessary items behind. And, even for your day-to-day travel, take a few minutes to clean out your car to eliminate extra weight. Pack only what you need (including emergency items) for vacations, and remove unneeded items from your back seat and trunk. These simple steps can cut significant weight, enabling your car to use less fuel.

2. Reduce your speed and keep the RPMs down: As speed increases, so does drag. So, driving at higher speeds will reduce your fuel economy. In fact, for every 10 miles per hour you reduce speed, you improve your fuel economy by 4 mpg. In addition, avoid putting the pedal to the metal when the stoplight turns green, which increases your vehicle’s RPM level and lowers your fuel efficiency. For automatic transmission vehicles, accelerating gently prompts automatic gear shifting at lower engine speeds; with a manual transmission, the general rule is to shift gears between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM. Staying at or a bit below the speed limit and watching your RPMs can have a big impact on the environment and your bank account.

3. Plan routes in advance and combine trips: Whether gearing up for a weeklong vacation or a quick trip to the mall, plan out your route in advance to avoid heavy traffic times and areas. Sometimes, the shortest route can consume more fuel than a longer one, if rush hour or road construction leads to traffic jams and stop-and-go driving. And, warmed-up engines produce lower emissions, so try to combine several short trips into one to save fuel and cut down on pollution. Try to anticipate your errands and plan to knock them all out in one day, if not one stop.

4. Buy for the need; rent for the exception: Whether you are planning to rent or purchase a new vehicle, why choose more car than you need? More fuel efficient vehicles burn less fuel, which means less pollution. Research the fuel economy of various makes and models, including hybrids, and find the most environmentally friendly vehicle that fits your needs. And, for those occasions when your day-to-day vehicle won’t fit the bill, it’s easy to rent something that will. (With more than 6,000 neighborhood locations, Enterprise is within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, and has a wide selection of vehicles from minivans to sport utilities to trucks.) Whether buying or renting, focus on what you need.

5. Use the right fuel: Most cars don’t need premium fuel – although some vehicles do call for higher octane gas to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. Check your owner’s manual when choosing what grade of gasoline to use, and don’t spend the extra money on a premium grade if you don’t need to. If you have a FlexFuel vehicle, which is able to use E85 fuel (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), take a minute to locate E85 fueling stations near you by visiting www.e85refueling.com. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, using E85 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.

6. Avoid the top off: Drivers often top off their tank beyond the gas pump’s automatic cutoff point to get an even total or to squeeze in as much fuel as possible. But that extra squeeze can lead to spills and release gas vapors into the air. This wastes money and pollutes the air, even aggravating smog in bigger cities.

7. Carpool: Why have two or more cars on the road when one can get the job done? Set up a carpool group with several colleagues at work, or coordinate with family and friends to carpool for regular errands such as grocery shopping. Fewer vehicles on the road mean fewer pollutants in the air.

8. Keep tires properly inflated: Maintaining proper tire inflation levels can improve fuel economy. Tires lose air pressure over time and due to cold temperatures. As that air pressure decreases, rolling resistance increases, making your vehicle less fuel efficient. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will show you the proper inflation levels.

9. Give the brake a break: Even after planning ahead, you may find yourself stuck in a traffic jam. When you do, be smart as you navigate your way through it. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and keep your acceleration moderate and steady, because cars use the most gas when they accelerate. Create space from the car in front of you, and look ahead for any potential slowdowns so you can ease off the gas rather than slam on the brake.

10. Cool off wisely: A common mistake drivers make is kicking off the air conditioning and rolling down their windows to save gas, regardless of circumstance. It is true that rolling down the windows in lieu of the AC can increase fuel economy at slower speeds, but at faster highway speeds, open windows can actually increase drag and hurt fuel economy. So, consider the weather – and your speed – before deciding how to stay cool on the go.

For more information about Enterprise’s industry-leading environmental stewardship initiatives, visit www.keystogreen.com.

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Founded in 1957 and headquartered in St. Louis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand with the largest fleet of passenger vehicles in the world today, more than 700,000 cars and trucks. Enterprise also operates a network of nearly 7,000 neighborhood and more than 240 airport rental locations in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Germany.

As North America’s largest car rental company, Enterprise is known for its exceptionally low rates, neighborhood convenience and its outstanding service, including picking up local customers at no extra cost. Ranked No. 18 on the Forbes Top 500 Private Companies in America, Enterprise has branch offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population. In addition, Enterprise has ranked highest in customer satisfaction among airport rentals in eight out of the past nine years, according to J.D. Power and Associates Rental Car Satisfaction Study. For more information about Enterprise, visit www.enterprise.com.

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