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Wilson's Soap is an example of how one idea can morph into another and do it well. Don Wilson's initial business model was based on promoting the concept of a BioDiesel Plant in Philadelphia. But, when the economy went downhill Wilson found himself with a whole slew of equipment, and "nothing to do with it", he says. Wilson discovered that soap and BioDiesel are more similar than one would imagine. Some soap is actually a byproduct of making BioDiesel. As a man whose hobbies included soap-making starting a company where he could combine a craft and utilize his machinery seemed a natural fit. After thousands of tests to get the formulas just right Wilson's Soap Co. was born.

We all have those old towels and blankets and towels that are too old for Goodwill or Salvation Army. Instead of throwing these out, donate them to a local animal shelter or humane society. PAWS is located right at 2nd & Arch (and loves fleece blankets since they dry quicker!) or 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue & PSPCA are great local candidates to contact! What a better idea for those rapidly approaching holidays for pups & cats?

"Solar Energy is way too expensive, can't work in cloudy places, unreliable, and ugly. Only people like Al Gore & millionaires can put it in their houses." Sorry guys, these statements are all wrong! Going solar is great for your home, pocket AND the environment. But where do you even start? Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc. is a leading national installer of solar electric and solar hot water systems. Located in Philadelphia, OR, CT & MA, Sunlight has stepped up to the plate to dispel rumors of solar energy through an ongoing educational campaign. The overall success of Sunlight Solar points to their reputation as a reliable source and easy approach of all things solar. Paul Israel, President of Sunlight Solar, attributes the company mission to "educate consumers and empower them to make informed purchasing decisions." Homeowners & businesses have plenty of factors to consider when going solar, (just learn what, after the jump!)

Guest blogger Angelita Williams is a seasoned writer at online courses. Today she shares her research on green eats in Philly. With fast food chains, burger joints, and pizza parlors all at your convenience, eating healthy is hard and finding a green friendly way to eat may be even harder. But if you live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you actually have a few restaurants just around the corner that can help your body and the environment:

WHYY and The Independent Television Service in cooperation with The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia are presenting a free showing of Deep Down on November 17th. Deep Down is a documentary exploring mountaintop removal mining in an Appalachian Kentucky town. The film depicts the struggle of two life-long friends, Beverly May and Terry Ratliffe, caught in the center of the debate dividing their town. This debate revolves around the removal mining specifically. And, in broader terms - who controls, consumes, and benefits from our planet's shrinking supply of natural resources?

Come join a FREE informative Solar Seminar next Wednesday, November 17th, from 6 - 7:30 PM at the the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association community center at 700 N 3rd St (3rd & Fairmount). Solar energy is great for your home, your pocket AND the planet. But is it actually realistic for you? It can be, if you're informed! During this seminar, you'll discover what solar energy is, and how it works in your home or business, straight from Mallory Froeder from Sunlight Solar Energy. She'll discuss how to

Through my Zipcar Low Car Diet experience, I met & connected with Jason Meinzer, COO & co-founder of Philadelphia-based CityRyde - the world's largest bike sharing consultancy. Europe has been using bike sharing programs for a while, and the US is rapidly catching on. Although Jason & co-founder/CEO Timothy Ericson saw the potential and began with the intention to be a bike sharing company, their focus shifted to consulting. CityRyde specializes in assisting bike sharing companies in the stages of planning to implementation, helping over 40 customers & 100+ companies since 2007. What IS a bike share?

Yay for Philly! Rather than letting leaves collect in drains and litter our streets, Philly is having a 6-week Philly Bagged Leaf Drive to collect & compost them to fertilize gardens & nourish trees. From November 8-December 17, you can set out leaves on trash day to help Philadelphia's foliage - saving time & labor costs. How can you participate? Here are the Collection Guidelines:

It’s like getting back on a bike. After a few year hiatus, I finally took the plunge to go with 2 wheels. As author of Green Philly Blog, I feel as though I should have purchased a bike years ago. However, I stalled this decision based on my long commute to the suburbs, a naïve decision to purchase a new car after college (for the record, it has a low emissions rating) and the expense of owning a bike/living in the city using public transit instead. Since I’ve lived in the city, I’ve been able to get around sans car & bike on the weekends. After wanting to make the switch, choosing to participate in the low car diet finally put me over the edge to buy a bike. I visited a few shops, test rode a few bikes before settling on the one I called the One. It was quite an interesting process overall. I considered each type of bike for my decision, look at various prices and thought long and hard about what to ultimately select as my new wheels. For those who haven’t converted yet, biking in Philly is hotter now than ever. Spruce & Pine Streets have lanes devoted only to 2-wheeling citizens, the Bike coalition has many events , and Philadelphians recently participated in the Naked Bike Race to raise awareness of how much Bikes help the city and environment. For those who are thinking of buying a bike, here’s a few pieces of advice I picked up from my journey: