The City of Seattle is ahead of the game when it comes to finding alternate energy and providing opportunities for its utility customers to get off the grid. A couple of ways you can start your path to going green is by signing up for the GreenUp program which provides a choice of adding non-polluting power sources to your billing and usage. Right now you can select either a 25, 50, or 100% participation level. Check out the website at www.greenupseattle.org to get started with enrollment.
Another site you can check out to get other ideas about how to live a more “green” lifestyle can be found at www.seattlecan.org, the site for Seattle Climate Action Now.
Oh, and as an added bonus for signing up for one year of the alternate energy program you can get a free THEO Chocolate bar and a coupon for a 2-for-1 admission to one of their factory tours. I’ve been on this tour and it is really outstanding. Not only is it some of the best aromatherapy you’ll ever experience (HELLO! You’re walking around all chocolate!) but it’s a great way to learn about the process of making chocolate. When THEO moved into the old Red Hook Brewery in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood they became one of only 11 worldwide roasters of cocao, the main ingredient used in chocolate products. They not only make fantastic chocolate but a large number of their products are organic and/or fair trade creations, which is much better for the planet. Private tours can also incorporate food and wine pairings with the chocolate they produce, as well as the nibs that are a by-product. Nibs can be used in food preparation and aren’t like regular chocolate. I personally loved them but my partner wasn’t as thrilled.
Lastly, THEO also recycles the husks of the cocao beans and they can be purchased by the public for use as mulch. Yes, that’s right, you can have your yard smelling like chocolate too! I don’t know though, what if all my female friends and neighbors ended up wandering outside my house just to sniff the yard? Could it be a selling point for a house? Hmmmm…. I’ll have to consider it….
