If the traffic nightmare kept you away from South Beach, you’re going to love this.

DecoBike, Miami’s first bike share program, has bike stations across the beach and scattered all the way up to 85th Street, making it easy to move around without (1) creating carbon emissions, (2) adding to the traffic and (3) making you feel guilty for having too much Pizza Rustica.

All you have to do is get a $15 monthly membership and you’ll have unlimited access to the 1,000 bikes in 100 stations across Miami Beach. There are no return dates, no late fees, no extra charges. Just go to your closest solar-powered station, check out a bike, and drop it off at another station.

I think the program is one of the best things to ever happen to SoBe, and will make wonders for locals and visitors alike, specially helping reduce congestion and noise. You won’t need to use to car for simple things such as renting a movie, minor grocery shopping, or even bar hopping. Plus, you’ll be able to eat a little more Rustica -yes, you know I’m talking to you.

The program is almost ready to launch. Do you think you’ll be riding a DecoBike next time you hit the beach? What would it take for you to leave your car behind?

Image via DecoBike

If your refrigerator is keeping you awake at night -and I don’t mean because of the munchies- it’s probably time to get a new one that will literally shut off at night.

You have no excuses now: Florida’s Energy Star Appliance Rebate program launches next Friday and over $17.5 million will be distributed in 66,000 rebates statewide on a first come, first served basis until April 25 or until the money runs out.

Get 20 percent rebates on freezers, clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, gas tankless water heaters and room air conditioners. You can also get a $75 rebate if you submit proof of recycling.

The only catch is that all new appliances must qualify as Energy Star appliances. But because energy star appliances consume less energy, you’ll end up saving even more; an efficient refrigerator saves up to $100/ year in energy, so you get the idea.

Visit www.rebates.com/florida for more information.

Photo courtesy of gojeffrey

The number of Earth Day events in South Florida grows every year, but that’s no excuse to miss any of them. Here’s a list of South Florida Earth Day 2010 events.

If you don’t see an event, please e-mail me at editor@theecozine.com

LET’S RE-TAKE OUR PLATES FILM SERIES
WHEN: April 10-23
WHERE: Locations across South Florida
WHY: This is your best chance to watch some of the best and newest documentaries showcasing what really goes into your food and how much damage we’re doing to our planet. Documentaries include No Impact Man, The Garden, Food Inc,
ADMISSION: $5-$7
MORE INFO: Click here to read more on the film series

EARTH DAY EVERYDAY
WHEN: Saturday April 17
TIME: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale.
WHY: Speakers all day and booths with great, local environmentalists and conservationists.
ADMISSION: regular park admission, $6/ car, $2/ pedestrian
MORE INFO: click here

EARTH MIAMI ON JUNGLE ISLAND
WHEN: April 17-18
WHERE:1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami.
WHY: Two-day festival commemorates Earth Day with eco-tours a local horticulturist, recycle animal sculpture display by South Florida schools, interactive eco-conscious activities and stations
ADMISSION: $20 when you bring a can or bottle to recycle
MORE INFO: Call (305) 400-7000‎ or visit www.JungleIsland.com

THE FALLS’ “GO GREEN” EXPO
WHEN: Saturday, April 17
TIME: 1-5 p.m. The Little Planet Helper’s Club from 2-4 p.m.
WHERE: The Falls’ Center Court, U.S. 1 and SW 136th Street.
WHY: Expo will showcase various businesses that will educate families about the importance of keeping the environment clean.
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO:Call 305-255-4571

EARTHFEST 2010
WHEN: Sunday, April 18th,
TIME: 12 to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Crandon Park Visitors & Biscayne Nature Center, 6767 Crandon Blvd. Key Biscayne.
WHY: Celebrates 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Includes performances by Expand the Love and hands-on nature workshops on organic gardening, every child outdoors, raw food preparation, yoga and deep ecology. Must bring concert blanket or portable chair.
ADMISSION: regular park entrance, $6/ person
MORE INFO: Call 305-323-8858 or click here

GREEN DRINKS SOUTH FLORIDA
WHEN: Thursday, April 22
TIME: 6:30 to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Boca Raton Resort and Country Club
WHY: This is a black-tie event with a green-tie flair. Network with green business owners, enjoy an ECO fashion show, watch the ECO lifestyle awards, and have a delicious organic buffet dinner.
ADMISSION: $125
MORE INFO: www.southfloridagreendrinks.org

MIAMI GOING GREEN
WHEN: Saturday, April 24
TIME: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami
WHY: The team onboard the Bahamas to U.S. Solar-Powered Crossing expedition will arrive to Bayfront Park. Also, dozens of local vendors and green organizations will be there.
ADMISSION: free
MORE INFO: Click here

Image courtesy of flyingsinger

If you are taking global warming seriously, chances are you changed your light bulbs for the more energy efficient fluorescent ones, which can last up to 10 years and produce less carbon emissions.

But do you know what’s the environmentally-friendly thing to do when these bulbs stop working?

It’s easy: Drop them off at a local chemical collection center.

Why you can’t just put them in the recyclables bin? Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which can be an environmental hazard if not properly dispossed.

Below is a list of locations throughout South Florida that take and recycle your unbroken coiled compact fluorescent lights -known as CFLs- and the long-tube type fluorescent bulbs. Plus, the centers also take chemicals such as pesticides and pool chemicals, so you can save the trip until you accumulate a few things to drop off.

>>Note: If you can’t get to any drop-off site below, check here a list of local Home Depot stores that accept used CFLs too.

Have you been properly disposing your fluorescent bulbs? Let us know your story!

Drop-off locations in Miami:
West Miami-Dade:
8831 NW 58th St.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed. through Sun.

South Miami-Dade:
23707 SW 97th Ave., Gate-B.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed. through Sun.

Drop-off locations in in Broward:
Pompano Beach
2780 N. Powerline Rd. (north of Copans Rd.)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fri. and Sat.

West Park
5601 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. (east of US 441)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fri. and Sat.

Drop-off locations in West Palm Beach:
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
6161 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Fri; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
(Saturday is self-serve drop-off containers only)

Delray Beach
South County Transfer Station (unattended)
1901 SW 4th Avenue
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Fri; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Jupiter
North County Transfer Station (unattended)
14185 Military Trail (SWA Road)
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Fri; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Royal Palm Beach
West Central Transfer Station (unattended)
9743 Process Drive (previously Fairgrounds Road)
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Fri; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Belle Glade
Glades Regional Transfer Station (unattended)
1701 State Road 15
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon-Fri; 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays.

Lantana
Central County Transfer Station (unattended)
1810 Lantana Rd., Lantana,
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Fri; 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays.

Photo by Dano

Some good and bad news here: I got an e-mail today about a new sustainability report by FPL highlighting the company as a national leader in clean energy.

The report recognizes FPL as the number one producer of wind and solar power in the US, and goes on talking about how FPL plans to make Florida the second state in solar energy generation, how FPL generates more power from its wind farm than from its largest nuclear plant, and how FPL owns the largest wind farm in the world, located in Texas.

I was happy to hear this, not only because finally so much heat will be used for something other than attracting tourists (who consume and leave a lot of waste behind, but that should be another topic), but because I always felt that Florida was a little behind compared to other more energy efficient states.

Well, what does it matter now? Not even an hour later, breaking news about our favorite energy company pop up on the web again, this time pointing out how FPL is trying to expand its nuclear plants and not only pass on the costs to its customers- $67 million next year-, but -and this is the real bummer- how FPL told the Public Service Commission that nuclear power is key to Florida’s future energy plans.

“Nuclear power continues to be more economical than the latest state-of-the-art natural gas power plant. Our analysis indicates that the new nuclear units would save our customers more than $1 billion a year in fuel,” FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana told the Sun Sentinel.

Now I don’t know what to think. Was FPL’s sustainability report released a day before the hearings at the Public Service Commission intentionally? What do you think? Is the company trying to fool us?

The PSC hearings will continue Wednesday and Thursday, with a vote expected Oct. 16.

09/10/09 update: More disappointing news: Two top Public Service Commission staffers resigned yesterday and two others went on administrative leave after a Miami Herald investigation revealed that the employees had given their Blackberry codes to FPL’s lawyer, letting them text message eachother without leaving any paper trail. It seems that there will be new hires at FPL’s pr office.

Photo by afloresm

Some good and bad news here: I got an e-mail today about a new sustainability report by FPL highlighting the company as a national leader in clean energy.

The report recognizes FPL as the number one producer of wind and solar power in the US, and goes on talking about how FPL plans to make Florida the second state in solar energy generation, how FPL generates more power from its wind farm than from its largest nuclear plant, and how FPL owns the largest wind farm in the world, located in Texas.

I was happy to hear this, not only because finally so much heat will be used for something other than attracting tourists (who consume and leave a lot of waste behind, but that should be another topic), but because I always felt that Florida was a little behind compared to other more energy efficient states.

Well, what does it matter now? Not even an hour later, breaking news about our favorite energy company pop up on the web again, this time pointing out how FPL is trying to expand its nuclear plants and not only pass on the costs to its customers- $67 million next year-, but -and this is the real bummer- how FPL told the Public Service Commission that nuclear power is key to Florida’s future energy plans.

“Nuclear power continues to be more economical than the latest state-of-the-art natural gas power plant. Our analysis indicates that the new nuclear units would save our customers more than $1 billion a year in fuel,” FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana told the Sun Sentinel.

Now I don’t know what to think. Was FPL’s sustainability report released a day before the hearings at the Public Service Commission intentionally? What do you think? Is the company trying to fool us?

The PSC hearings will continue Wednesday and Thursday, with a vote expected Oct. 16.

09/10/09 update: More disappointing news: Two top Public Service Commission staffers resigned yesterday and two others went on administrative leave after a Miami Herald investigation revealed that the employees had given their Blackberry codes to FPL’s lawyer, letting them text message eachother without leaving any paper trail. It seems that there will be new hires at FPL’s pr office.

Photo by afloresm