By Elizabeth Shugg

Various forms of green ambition have penetrated nearly every possible industry—from home building to house cleaning to dining. According to an MSN health and fitness report, the green products market topped $500 billion in 2007. Not surprising, considering more and more consumers are driving hybrid cars, purchasing organic foods, using pollutant-free cleaning products and buying phthalate-free plastic toys, which have been alleged to cause health problems in children. New Resident Solutions members are tuned in to these trends and continue to take greener steps toward a better environment.

Sucking Up to Green Builders

Central Vacuum Experts, a division of New Resident Solutions member Vacuum Cleaner Hospital, really cleaned up at the 3rd Annual Triangle Green Home Tour. The company’s central vacuum systems were featured in eight of the tour’s homes. This May 3-4 event, sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties and the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, featured guided tours of 40 green homes throughout the region.

Green builders like Central Vacuum Expert’s systems because they are quieter, more versatile and harvest healthier air than other central vacuum systems. They also produce three times more suction than other systems, increase a home’s value by about $2,000, and extend the life of a home’s floor coverings. Learn more here.

Greening Up Health Care Facilities

Bikas Building of North Carolina LLC takes an environmentally friendly approach to retrofitting outdated facilities into state-of-the-art outpatient clinics, offices, X-ray rooms, health care facilities and medical laboratories for physicians, dentists, veterinarians and other health care professionals across the Triangle. Owner Pete Bikas and his team use sustainable building materials whenever possible, and will soon join forces with Melissa Andron, owner of Realm Design Studio, to open an office at Golden Belt in Durham that will focus on green and sustainable designs. You can access a thorough selection of Healthcare Design magazine articles on health construction trends here.

Saving Gas—and Money

Gas has soared well above $3 per gallon, and according to CNNMoney.com, only a few states have it priced under $3. North Carolina is not one of them, by the way.

It’s no wonder consumers are coming up with unique ways to save gas, from riding bikes or buses, to consolidating errands and staying home more often. One way Chapel Hill residents can conserve gas is through Carolina Cleaners’ pick-up and delivery service. Why use your own gas to transport your dry cleaning when you can use theirs?

Sturdivant’s Auto & Tire also helps customers save gas money through NAPA Autocare services, which include a doubled Nationwide Warranty (24 months or 24,000 miles) that can also be used at specific gas stations to purchase gas. Sturdivant’s Auto & Tire shuttle service saves customers’ gas money by taking them where they need to go during vehicle service appointments.

Find out which gas stations offer the lowest prices near you by visiting this link and typing in your zip code. It’s updated daily!

Green products are out there, and you can find many of them at New Resident Solutions’ member businesses. Stay tuned to the Green Ambition Blog for updates on how our members are fueling new initiatives throughout the Triangle.