Multitasking never tasted so good!

Food TV

This is a great cohesive design for someone who enjoys having a TV in the kitchen. Follow along with a cooking show, catch up on the news, or keep the kids entertained for a few while you are finishing up cooking. This hood also has a DVD input and RCA Cable outlet with touch screen commands.

Marco Valerio Agretti is the accomplished Italian designer behind this fantastic VELA Rangehood design from ILVE. Born in Perugia in Italy, Marco graduated from the University of Venice in 1991 and is recognised for his cutting edge designs. VELA is a perfect example of his creative genius. With its sleek and attention-grabbing design, the VELA Rangehood has the power to remove all cooking fumes, including indoor barbecuing and the most intense grilling or stir-frying cooking with its fantastic 4 speed touch control extraction. It also has an optional automatic switch-on and speed regulation.

Tabrasa!

We wanted to share this fabulous product with you! It's whiteboard paint and it can be applied in numerous applications! Tabrasa by MDC Wallcoverings is paint that transforms any smooth surface into a seamless high-performance dry-erase writing surface. It has been used in education, healthcare, hospitality, corporate, retail, and government locations.

It is applied in the same way you would paint a wall but they recommend that you have a professional install tabrasa. Here are a few ideas for installation:

This paint is available in white as well as four new neutral colors. tabrasa™ complements any interior design while transforming any working environment into a collaborative space, increasing functionality, and evoking creativity and impromptu teamwork. Here are some highlights from MDC Wallcoverings:

Aesthetics & Style
tabrasa™ can create various shapes for dry-erase writing surfaces including: a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall writing surface; a strip in a hallway or around an entire room; a rectangle or variety of shapes scattered across a large wall; or a design element placed over a colored surface. No other dry-erase surface offers the aesthetic options of tabrasa™.

Environmental Sustainability
tabrasa™ is the most environmentally friendly dry-erase product available due to raw material utilization, energy and fossil fuel use and air quality impact.

As tabrasa™ is applied directly to the wall surface, it doesn't require wood, steel or resin typically used with other dry-erase products. It's also produced through a stirring process requiring very little energy compared to the baking and curing processes used by other dry-erase products.

Shipping tabrasa™ requires considerably less material and fossil fuel because a single quart of tabrasa™, is capable of covering 50 square feet of space, weighs less than four pounds and ships in a very small box.

tabrasa™ conforms to all U.S. EPA regulations (including California) and is formaldehyde-free and, once dry, produces no off-gassing.

Judi Kieffer receives accreditation for Green Globe!

We at KDG are pleased to announce that Judi Kieffer has received her accreditation as a certified Auditor and Consultant for Green Globe International. Green Globe is an organization that offers certification and other sustainable programs for the Lodging and Travel industry.

She joins 59 other consultants throughout the world, representing over 187 countries. She is the only professional Consultant for Green Globe in Idaho, and the Intermountain States, although able to certify properties nationally and internationally.

Green Globe Certification (GGC) is the premier internationally recognized brand for sustainable tourism, lodging, and entertainment industries, as well as related green businesses. Green Globe is also the only certification that is endorsed by the UNWTO (United Nations World Travel Organization) and the WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council) certifying properties through a 3^rd party audit. Environmental, Conservation and Social responsibilities are benchmarked, completely online, against 248 standards.

The benefits for a certified business or property are:

*Lower operational & energy costs

*Higher employee retention and job ownership

*Immediate industry recognition and promotion locally, nationally and internationally through AAA and other medias.

*Social and Environmental responsibilities are enhanced

We are currently completing the certification process for our own building!

An informational webinar on the Green Globe Certification programs is being held at 10:30am, Tuesday, Dec. 1^st, 2009 for interested properties in the travel and lodging industry. If you are interested and would like to sign up, call us at 208-344-2680 or you can email judi@kiefferdesigngroup.com

-Kieffer Design Group

www.kiefferdesigngroup.com

National Philanthropy Day - Nov. 15th

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
- Theodore Roosevelt

I think deep down inside, everyone wants to make a difference in their community in one way or another. Yet, many times opportunities come up that are missed, whether it is due to being too busy, not enough funds to hand out, forgetfulness, or the belief that your ‘little’ amount or limited time will not make a difference anyway. Although these are real feelings and thoughts, they are part of our ‘limiting beliefs’ that hinder us from finding some real joyous moments and heartfelt feelings you get when you make that effort and give back.

Here are some suggestions for welcoming this 2009 National Philanthropy Day (Nov 15^th) and in return you will receive a “real return on your investment” with warm feelings and a happiness that money can’t buy!

• Decide this year to create your own charity savings. You can do this with the change in your pocket! Throw it into the jar and at the end of the month or annually, choose a deserving group that is related to something near and dear to you. Like women and children, conservation efforts, animals, homeless, hunger, the list goes on. (Just keep your fingers out of it for incidentals and keep it for its purpose. Then you will have funds when you want to give.) Here is a link to Idaho Charities for a quick reference: US City – Idaho Organizations or Idaho Non-Profits.

Here are my favorites:

• Chrysalis – Women’s Transitional Living
• Women’s & Children’s Alliance
• Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation
• Idaho Conservation League
• Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wilderness Land Trust
• Emerging Green Builders of Idaho
• USGBC Idaho
• Futures for Children


• In a bigger way, start your own Foundation as a family or in your business. It’s a tax write off and you choose ahead of time where and when you want to contribute out of the fund. This is called preplanned contributing. I started my Foundation 3 years ago and am blessed in watching what a difference it can make. I think Renaissance does a great job.


• Start a Social Responsibility program at the office or at home and choose a monthly or quarterly activity where as a group you can volunteer together in the community. I really like this link from Make Good that suggests ways to start a SR program, just adjust for your purposes.


• Join a Philanthropy group where they pool annual membership funds and give back to local qualified and deserving non-profits. One such group is Idaho Women’s Charity Foundation (IWCF). I joined the organization 2 years ago and last year they contributed 1 Million dollars! It is amazing what pooled funds can do!

Happy Giving!

-Kieffer Design Group

http://www.kiefferdesigngroup.com/

Biomimicry

Photo from the Biomimicry Institute

This term has been floating around now for a while in this era of sustainability. What does it really mean and why is it important? The Biomimicry Institute defines the term as:

“The science and art of emulating natures best biological ideas to solve human problems.”

Established by biologist Janine Benyus in 1990, it looks to the natural world for ideas and inspiration for all kinds of opportunities. The goal is to create sustainable products, processes and policies, and new ways of living that are able to endure just as nature does on its own. There are over 2100 amazing case studies and products that have been created by incorporating biomimicry. The Olympic swimsuit emulating a shark's skin, a sunscreen resembling the high UV protection as hippos do, and the lotus leaf that resulted in amazing fabric protection. Here are some examples:

• Otter Inspires dry, warm clothing that uses fewer chemicals, saves energy in manufacturing and can be recycled
• Dolphins inspire efficient flight
• Learning from Prairies How to Grow Food Sustainably

“How to Clean with out Cleaners” –Learning from the lotus plant!

The crevices of the rough texture (I bet you thought it was smooth!) of the lotus leaf traps air in which the water rolls off naturally cleaning the dirt off the surface. Biologists have learned from this phenomenon and created GreenShield, a protective fabric finish made by G3i. This consumer product is 8 times less harmful then other chemical treatments and provides excellent stain repellency. How wonderful is this!!

For more information on biomimicry and other case studies, go to the Biomimicry Institute.

-Kieffer Design Group

http://www.kiefferdesigngroup.com/