Before we begin this week’s edition of WSF, I must apologize for being gone last Friday and missing the chance to direct you semi-snidely to some interesting green business links. I suppose in light of that absence I should change the name of this feature to Sometimes-Weekly-but-Don’t-Freak-Out-If-I-Miss-an-Episode Sustainability Facts, but SWDFOIIMESF just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

But let’s move on, because this week, it’s all about the future. Now’s the time to start planning ahead, figuring out what needs to change and cutting your losses. Who needs the past (or the present for that matter) when there’s electric cars, solar-powered cruises, and lots of money in the future? Wait, what’s that? There won’t be any meat or water in the future? Maybe this future things isn’t all it’s cracked up to be! Find out what the hype is all about in this week’s Weekly Sustainability Facts! Read the full story

You’ve seen it quoted a million times in these kinds of articles, usually accompanied by a picture of Kermit the Frog: “It’s not easy being green.” But let’s drop the B.S. for a second: it’s freaking hard.

Beyond the small stuff—replacing your toilet paper, changing your air filters, etc.—you have to rethink your business model, invest differently, re-train your employees (or hire new ones), and maybe even move to a completely new building. And then there’s all the green news you have to keep up on, the language you have to speak, the money and energy you have to devote to the right kinds of PR to attract the right kind of customers, the challenge of educating your old customers on your new policies, the time you have to spend getting acquainted with web-based technologies, the struggle for outside accreditation, and the ever-present anxiety over your carbon footprint, just to name a few of your worries. Read the full story

The Waxman-Markey bill was narrowly passed in the House late last month with a vote of 219-212, and is still under consideration in The Senate. The bill, which is titled ‘The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) aims to create jobs, increase domestic use of renewable energy and end American dependency on foreign oil. Read the full story

Joule Biotechnologies, a startup in—you guessed it—Cambridge, Massachusetts, unveiled the details of its recently-discovered biofuel manufacturing process yesterday. The group claims that it is possible to engineer microorganisms in a photobioreactor that can convert water and carbon dioxide into usable fuel by harnessing the sun’s energy. What sets this plan apart from other fuel alternatives, such as ethanol, is the relatively small space, energy input, and time it requires. Read the full story

If you’re human, you’re probably familiar with the process of digestion: you consume food to gain energy and then dispose of excess, unusable waste. That is, you excuse yourself, use the restroom, answer nature’s call, or however you choose to refer to the processes of defecation and urination. Typically we view the products of our trips to the little boys’ or girls’ room as disgusting, sickly, and unmentionable, and this could very well be an evolutionary measure to assure that we don’t consume these—for us, at least—poisonous byproducts. But if we think about “waste” differently, with nature’s bigger picture in mind, it’s clear that digestion doesn’t end when we flush the toilet. Read the full story

We resisted taking the social media plunge as we thought it was just a fad but we figured it was worth a try. As our goal is to connect people and build a community, we view Facebook and Twitter as two communication channels to create rich conversations and share key information. So far we’ve met some interesting people and learned some helpful information about developing our content.    

If you are a Facebook user, please become a Fan of our Padosa Facebook Page .

Come tweet with Padosa on Twitter.

Hope to see you there!

General Electric Company, started by Thomas Edison, plans to close its last U.S. factory that makes common incandescent light bulbs, reports Bloomberg.com. “The market for incandescent light bulbs has declined by 50 percent in the past five years,” states GE spokeswoman Deborah Wexler. “Consumers have moved towards energy efficient light bulbs, and with governments around the world setting lighting efficiency standards, these will be legislated out of existence.” Read the full story here.

When building or remodeling a facility, business owners have many opportunities to install efficient, money saving systems. Landscaping is often one of the last concerns for any company building a new facility. Yet, it may be one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the building’s long-term operation costs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 30% of US water consumption is used for outdoor purposes. Read the full story

An occupancy sensor was installed in the bathroom, which is several doors away from my office. Prior to the installation of the sensor, the light always got shut off after the bathroom was used. Now that the occupancy sensor is there, the light will frequently get left on. Drives me nuts! Read the full story

Wal-Mart: the mega-behemoth of a retailer known as the arch-enemy of small businesses, labor unions, women’s rights groups, and… carbon offsets? Yes, this week the chain made history with its much-reported sustainability index program, which rates green products for energy efficiency, longevity, and environmental friendliness. For many, Wal-Mart’s new role as sustainability policeman seems as sound an idea as leaving Sarah Palin in charge of The New Yorker. Is Wal-Mart up to the task? Find out, save money, and live better in this week’s edition of Weekly Sustainability Facts! Read the full story