GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

This question was proposed by The Chief Engineer on April 2nd (see article). At initial consideration, it might not seem like a big deal, but the answer will not only affect the facility or business being questioned, but also the local environment and community - for years and years. Now take into consideration every other facility being asked the same question and expected to answer for their costs. To put this into new perspective, the world will need to invest one trillion dollars annually in conservation technologies to meet demand over the next twenty years.Recently,  several northeaster Illinois counties have considered aggressive conservation initiatives to ensure adequate water supply over the above time period and beyond. According to Inc. magazine in 2008, water managers in  36 states predict significant supply shortfalls in the decade ahead, reason being for aging infrastructures, inadequate treatment facilities and contamination issues.So how do facility mangers find the tools to gauge the impact of water use on environmental and operational costs? One solution might be Earthwise Environmental’s online cost calculator.Know how your facility can conserve water and energy, cut costs and create a safer environment. Calculations show before and after totals with the implementation of eSolutions, which eliminates hazardous chemical treatments, minimizes water use and reuses water to conserve waste. This application provides facilities with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points in water conservation and innovative technology categories.Read more about eSolutions on Earthwise Environmental’s web site, here.

Earthwise Environmental offers a new eco-friendly EarthCare(TM) water treatment product line designed for cooling water system, HVAC and industrial treatment applications. It’s designed to reduce water usage associated with traditional treatment products, provide significant energy savings and reduce the handling, shipping and storage of 55-gallon drums. They have two featured products: GreenFrost(TM) 100 and GreatTreat(TM) 900. Let’s take a look at what these two products are.

Bio-renewable GreenFrost100 is a non-toxic, corn-derived anti-freeze replacement for ethylene- or propylene glycol-charged water treatment systems. It carries the same freeze protection properties as traditional ethylene/propylene glycols, but is safer to use, less toxic to humans and the environment and makes America less dependant on foreign oil sources. GreenFrost contains bio-renewable, organic corrosion inhibitors for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Unlike many glycol-based products, ortho- and poly-phosphate-free GreenFrost prevents fouling and development of corrosive microorganisms in closed systems, protecting heat transfer efficiencies. GreenFrost is classified by the FDA as a multi-purpose Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) food additive when used in accordance with good manufacturing practices.

Earthwise Environmental’s EarthCare GreenTreat 900 is a concentrated cooling tower liquid scale and corrosion inhibitor designed for increased cycles of concentration and water savings in stressed water applications. Organic-based GreenTreat 900 corrosion control compounds include organic Azole compound to control yellow metal, polymeric dispersants to retard scaling and crystal modification compounds to control calcium carbonate scaling.

There are several reasons why EarthCare is a good choice for water treatment. Here are a few mentioned on their web site:

EarthCare products can help buildings and facilities “Go Green.” The EarthCare line is designed to reduce water and energy consumption utilizes Green, bio-renewable technology and is a LEED point booster.

EarthCare products can help federal buildings meet the president’s executive orders for efficient energy management and waste prevention.

EarthCare products are free of poly- and ortho-phosphates to prevent fouling and development of corrosive bacteria and algae growth in closed systems and discharge and protect heat transfer efficiencies.

Learn more about EarthCare on Earthwise’s web site, here.

Information in this article came from the Earthwise web site and from a recent article by TribLocal.com (Elk Grove Village). Read this article here.

Cash shortage in any industry is dire news, and is all too frequent in this economy. But local green-tech businesses don’t seem too concerned largely due to Obama’s promise to invest $150 billion in clean tech, and the stimulus package includes tax breaks for consumers who make renewable-energy and conservation investments in their homes. Also, businesses who’ve already developed sustainable technology have a competitive advantage. One example of this is Bob Miller’s company, Earthwise Environmental, Inc., whch began in 1995. Earthwise clients initially saved money by using fewer chemicals and less water. Now, with with a stronger focus on conservation and reducing toxic chemical waste, clients see their value in both economic savings and environmental impact. Miller expects his business to grow 50% in 2009.

Earthwise Environmental’s edge is that the company continually discovers new ways of developing sustainable solutions. To one client, Miller proposed a $225,000 project that would save more than $200,000 a year while reducing water use by 18 million gallons. This system also virtually eliminates toxic chemicals from the treatment process. “If you can give people a two- or three-year payback, they are willing to consider these projects,” Miller says. “But we’re seeing a much longer sales cycle for these green solutions.”

In previous rough economic times, ingenuity saved the day. Now, ingenuity and a green mind can both save the day and sustain the future.

Read more about clean-tech and other green businesses surviving the down economy. It’s the focus of Crain’s Chicago Business and ChicagoBusiness.com for the week of July 20, 2009 on their Web site, here.

Earthwise Environmental, Inc. introduces its “eSolution,” a program that completely eliminates hazardous chemical treatments and dramatically reduces cooling tower discharge by up to 75 percent. Earthwise founder and president Bob Miller says, “This technology provides the solution to a safer environment… providing truly economical and healthful applications in all types of public venues.” The eSolution is designed especially for hospitals, schools, hotels, food processing plants, and light industrial and commercial buildings.

With the new presidential administration’s focus on creating green jobs and developing energy efficient solutions and with  a push for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the “eSolution” addresses smart water use and can provide LEED points for facilities in innovative technology categories.

Miller says, “Many of the hazardous compounds traditionally used in cooling tower systems eventually end up in the water system, increasing the need for further treatment downstream at the treatment plants. Plastic chemical drum disposal, freight costs and overall environmental impacts are also a concern.” The “eSolution” eliminates drum disposal, chemical treatments and safety issues by using scientifically-proven methods to remove and control mineral scale. It also provides microbiological and corrosion control equal or better than existing chemical programs. Because the after-use water contains no chemical impurities, it can be collected and reused for irrigation. Minor piping installation and a small operating footprint allows the “eSolution” to be installs from a skid-mount platform and easily moved from system to system if necessary. Continuing service, testing and monitoring provided ensures efficient operation and performance, along with validation of results. Twenty-four/seven remote monitoring also ensures program performance.

See a related article published on Green Lodging News (Feb. 12, 2009).

“Two green-focused Chicagoland water treatment companies join forces as Earthwise Environmental, Inc. acquires Heisler Green.”

That was the headline on several trade magazine Web sites when the Midwest’s leader in water safety and conservation expanded their eco-conscious water management capabilities in a merger where both companies recognize the need for environmental improvements to water treatment chemicals and processes. Bob Miller, Earthwise Environmental founder and president said, “The combination of green-smart products and partnerships make working together an ideal situation for our customers.”

James Green, vice president of Heisler Green, said, “By joining forces with Earthwise, the most advanced and progressive water treatment company in the region, Heisler Green customers will gain better service, expanded service reports and documentation, additional design capability and implementation, and improved analysis products.”

In Jan. 2009, Earthwise Environmental introduced its eSolutions, a patent-pending program that completely eliminates hazardous chemical treatments, provides significant water and cost savings and dramatically reduces cooling tower discharge. Heisler Green’s CoolGreen is a biodegradable, bio-renewable and environmentally-safe cooling water system treatment. Earthwise will manage and service all of Heisler Green’s customers and product lines, providing a complete facility water project program, from potable water, to process/cooling/heating water, to waste water.

Earthwise Environmental has five Certified Water Technologists on its team, more than any other water treatment company in Illinois. Its staff has more than 120 years of combined experience. For more than 80 years, Heisler Green and three generations of family management have provided customers with advanced chemical products, customized feed system equipment and the expert services required to maintain every type of heating, cooling and waste water process.

News about this merger appeared on CleanLink.com (Jan. 26, 2009), Daily Herald (”Business” Section 3, Page 1, Jan. 24, 2009), Quality Assurance & Food Safety Magazine (Jan. 23, 2009), WaterOnline.com (Jan. 28, 2009), Water & Wastes Digest (Jan. 27, 2009), International Facility Management Association (IFMA, Jan. 27, 2009), Again Resources Industry News (Jan. 26, 2009) and WaterWorld (Jan. 22, 2009).

Everything about your product is green: from the concept, the materials used, to the facility where it’s made; but the container you put it in is machine-made and mass produced. Why not use a container made from wild grass, bamboo, banana fiber, mulberry or coconut? That’s the kind of container Distant Village Packaging specializes in. Inspired by the craftsmanship of the artisans from villages in Thailand and the Philippines, owner Richard Cohen said, “By combining m business experience with their artisan craft, I decided I could create Distant Village and enable them the opportunity to sell their products in a more relevant way to people in the united states.” The company began with high-end chocolatiers in 2002 and have since expanded worldwide.

Distant Village Packaging will be one of the first companies to move into Green Exchange in spring 2009. The building will house a community of firms that only offer eco-friendly goods and services.

Find out more at distantvillage.com

Distant Village and Green Exchange were shown on ABC News Chicago on Jan. 233, 2009 at 5 pm.

Bob Miller of Earthwise Environmental, Inc. was featured on WaterEfficiency.net (Nov. 24, 2008) in an article on his company’s “e-solution”, which is a patent pending cooling technology completely eliminating chemicals and conserving water in treatments. According to Miller, “it uses far less water, reuses it to conserve waste and eliminates chemicals, providing truly economical and healthful applications in all types of public venues.” Most heat transfer technologies require chemicals to reduce corrosion and microbe fouling. Without these standard chemicals, the total cost of repair, labor, energy, health risks, and system downtime would increase. The chemicals, however, don’t come without a toll on the environment. Miller said, “many of the hazardous compounds traditionally used in cooling tower systems eventually end up in the water system, increasing the need for further treatment downstream at the treatment plants.”

Earthwise Environmental’s “e-solution” provides the technology to eliminate plastic chemical drum disposal, chemical treatments and safety issues. It provides equal or better treatments than the chemical equivalent. The after-use water from the “e-solution’ contains no chemical impurities so it can be collected and re-used for irrigation. The technology is centered around anode-cathode reactions under a supplied current. Mineral is precipitated and flushed from the system to measure and control corrosion. Microbes are adhered to precipitated calcium to lower bacteria counts. Earthwise Environmental installs minor piping and has a small operating footprint, using an easily movable skid mount platform. They continue their service of monitoring testing and producing results in addition to twenty-four/seven remote monitoring to ensure performance. The “e-solution” provides Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Points for facilities and The Earthwise team has five Certified Water Technologies (CWTs) - more than any other water treatment company in Illinois.

Find out more about Earthwise Environmental’s “e-solution” on their website.

Update: More information about this cooling technology appeared on The Chief Engineer website, Jan. 3, 2009.

Earthwise Environmental’s new web site has drawn the attention of the Daily Herald. In the Sunday business section on Aug. 31, 2008, Anna Marie Kukec reviewed some of the features including the new project photos and case studies on water management. The company was founded in 1995 by Robert S. Miller and now has 11 employees working in area hospitals, hotels, food processing plants and other companies. The new web site is geared toward company growth and serving the needs of their clients.

The American Society of Sanitary Engineering featured the article “Preventing Legionella: Common Disinfection Techniques” written by Bob Miller, the founder and president of Earthwise Environmental Inc. in their Spring 2008 Magazine. In short, Legionella is a waterborne bacteria commonly found in domestic drinking water systems, cooling towers, evaporative condensers and decorative fountains - and can foster the potentially fatal Legionnaire’s disease. The article offers an in-depth look into preventing and eliminating Legionella and why Earthwise Environmental is leading the way in water safety and conservation.

Click here to read the article. (PDF)