Nice Carvings Environmental Projects; May, 2011

We've always had an affinity for trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible; recently we have made some big changes and will continue to strive to do even better in the future. We believe the responsibility starts with each and every individual, but even especially so for businesses and corporations. If our actions can make an impact, and if there is even a small chance to make the world a better place to live now and in the future then we want to continue to strive to make smarter choices.
 

Green Web Hosting!

We've teamed up with Host Gator of Houston, Texas. Host Gator is a very popular website hosting company that has taken big steps to better the environment. Currently their servers are 130% wind powered! That means that they produce 30% more than enough energy from the wind, to not only run their servers in an environmentally friendly manner, but they can then provide that extra 30% back to the community (or grid). providing cleaner energy for the community as well, is that just awesome or what? We sure think that it is! We love this company for taking steps to help make our environment better and clearner. Not only that, but did we mention that they provide an amazing web hosting product? They have won multiple awards for their service and product, and we are absolutely thrilled to be a small part of it, thank you Host Gator! Read More about Host Gator.
 

Eco-Friendly Sign Materials!

We're using a product called high density urathane which is a fancy word for high density 'foam'. However, this foam is more like stone when we get into the higher densities (like 15lbs per sq inch). Now this stuff is very expensive to purchase, but it does have many benefits. For example by using high density urethane we in turn aren't using wood products (though when we use selecvitve cut lumber for our products), we believe it's best to save the wood for things that are even more necessary than signs and art, and that would be for building homes. The good part is that the sign foam is more environmentally friendly, but thats not all. This stuff lasts outside for such a long time. It's essentially maintnance free. If it remains covered with primer and paint, it will ast for many decades and never need to be replaced. If you were to use a wood sign for an exterior project, you may need to replace it numerous times over the span of a decade or two. This idea gives even more credance to the environmentally friendly aspect of using foam over wood for signs. Did you know tht the material we use on our signs is pretty much the same material Nasa usues to insulate the space shuttle from the exrtreme heat upon reentering the atomosphere? It's true and another testament to the extreme durability of this material.

Sherwin Williams Says "Zero"

Zero liquid waste. Zero solid waste. Even zero energy consumption. Are they possible? Are they realistic? We don’t really know — but what we do know is we should explore the potential. We believe we have an obligation to help minimize and eliminate our impact on the environment, and we’re creating measurements, processes and products that make it possible. And, if our history has shown us one thing, it’s that we are driven to achieve our goals, no matter how big in scope. This is our EcoVision — and it is spreading throughout the company. We use Sherwin Williams exclusively for our sign backgrounds and usually the entire signs itself including 3D design elements and letters as well.

Water Based Epoxy Resins!

We now use almost exclusively water based epoxies, adhesives, putties, paints, etc. This just makes sense to us, it's friendlier to work with and it's friendly on the environment. Most of the time you aren't sacrifiicing integrity when going green. Usually when we think 'green', one of the top priorites is logistics, will the product perform? We have product field testers for that, and from what we can see the green products are usually better than their preceding toxic ancestors.

Selective Redwood Harvesting

The cedar we use for wood carvings is that of which is harvested in a responsible manner. The trees harvested go through a process called selective harvest. This means that they do not clear cut the redwood cedars, but they mark and only cut selected trees. Removing the trees that block the most sunlight, for example, will actually promote the health of the trees and growth surrounding it. This is the only way to do it in our opinion, and we are firm believers in the process. If you are going to choose a wood carved sign, you will want to be sure that the wood used is of the strict selective harvesting process that started in California and has recently migrated to other logging states as well. 

"Nice Solar Powered Future"

Last, but not least, is the not too distant future. The goal is to get "off the grid", with solar and wind by the end of 2012. We want to install solar panels large enough (with hopes of eventual ability to fully power with heat and electric) to heat the production, paint shops, and offices of Nice carvings.

Environmental Projects by Nice Carvings

Do you have a green product, company, or idea that would fit well within these pages? Please write to us and let us know all about it, we would love to hear form you. We do our best to protect the environment that we encounter, we aren't perfect and could always use some fresh ideas or some good ole' friendly advice. We are looking at an alternative solar power option for our business currently. If you think you could help we would love to hear about it. Currently, our shop roof does not face South and so this poses a bit of a challenge for solar and we are looking to overcome the challenge because we believe in it. 

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