Indigenous Designs Offsets Carbon Dioxide and Turns on "Green Power"

Client contact: Jeff Jacobs – (415) 623-8081; jeffjacobs@gmail.com
Agency contact: Holly Padove/Emily Frydendal – (805) 773-1000 holly@thepressroom.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indigenous Designs offsets CO2 and Throws the Switch, on local “Green Power”
Organic Fair Trade Apparel Company Uses Solar Power From Real Goods Solar Living Institute

SANTA ROSA, CA (January 5, 2007) – Indigenous Designs, the pioneer in organic and fair trade clothing, has recently partnered with Green Mountain Energy, committing to purchase local “green power” from the Real Goods Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA through 2008.
The green energy obtained from the Solar Living Institute – located just 50 miles from Indigenous’ Santa Rosa headquarters – is projected to offset over 33 tons of CO2 emissions generated over the next two years and prevent the sequestration of roughly 4,300 trees. Fellow North Bay-based company Guayaki, producer of fair trade Yerba Mate tea, is also part of the collaboration and will purchase energy from the local solar array.

Indigenous Designs has long been committed to producing eco-sensitive clothing, replacing toxic, non-sustainable synthetics with organic natural fibers and dyes. The partnership with Green Mountain Energy furthers this commitment, allowing the company to practice “ecological stewardship,” and increase overall awareness of sustainability.

“Partnering with Green Mountain Energy and practicing ecological stewardship allows us to both support our local economy and reduce our global warming footprint,” said Indigenous CEO Scott Leonard.

Green Mountain Energy helped both Indigenous and Guayaki calculate and track each company’s “carbon footprint” resulting from daily operations. After identifying the carbon emissions associated with electricity and natural gas, Green Mountain examined various options for offseting the combined CO2 released at both facilities, which could amount to an amazing 90 combined tons through 2008. For maximum effectiveness in offsetting emissions and supporting local economies, both companies teamed up to purchase renewable energy certificates (REC’s) from the Solar Living Center’s solar array.

“When we discovered that our business is responsible for just over 16 tons of CO2 each year, we were determined to find a local solution to offset or neutralize these green house gas emissions, and the Real Goods Hopland array is ideal,” said Leonard.

Indigenous will purchase roughly 90 megawatts of green power from the Solar Living Center, helping to ensure that the facility – and others like it – continue to operate cost effectively and can therefore compete with other traditional sources of electricity such as fossil fuels.

“In response to mounting evidence of global warming, forward-thinking businesses are investing in technologies that promise to curb greenhouse gas emissions,” says Gillan Taddune of Green Mountain Energy Company. “We are honored to work with Indigenous and Guayaki and believe they are setting a standard for business practices across the globe.”

Green Mountain Energy Company is the leading provider of renewable energy in the nation, established in 1997. The company began in the renewable electricity market with the belief that if given a choice, consumers will choose a cleaner electricity product over polluting fossil fuels. For more information, visit www.greenmountain.com.

Indigenous has provided ecological and fair trade quality apparel since 1994 and is considered a pioneer in the premier eco sensitive & socially conscious apparel segment. The company is located at 975 Corporate Center Parkway #110, Santa Rosa, CA 95407. For more information, please visit Indigenous Designs at www.indigenousdesigns.com. Editorial media may contact On the Horizon Communications at (805) 773-1000 or at holly@thepressroom.com.

Guayaki offers organic, rainforest grown, fairly traded yerba mate. Guayaki passionately delivers unique and beneficial products that enhance personal health and well being. Guayaki uses a triple bottom line to measure success – economic vitality, social justice and environmental stewardship. For more information on the company visit www.guayaki.com.