Starting today, you can take part in history by placing your order for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. This moment is the culmination of several years of around-the-clock, steadfast work and I know I speak for the entire Volt team when I say we couldn’t be more excited!

For those of you looking to be among the first to own a Volt, simply locate and contact a participating Chevrolet dealer in Volt launch markets at GetMyVolt.com. Once your order is placed, a Volt customer advisor will contact you to answer questions and keep you updated on the progress of your order.

We’ve also pulled together a team of Volt advisors who, beginning today, will be available at 1-888-VOLT4YOU (1-888-865-8496) to answer general questions. The Volt will initially be available to customers in California, New York, Washington, D.C., Texas, Michigan Connecticut and New Jersey, but will be available nationwide in about 12-18 months from start of production this winter.

As far as the price, the Volt’s official MSRP is $41,000 – or $33,500 (including DFC) after the $7,500 U.S. Federal income tax credit. We are so confident in the resale value of the Volt, we will also offer a lease program with monthly payments as low as $350 (based on a 36-month term lease and $2,500 down), which also includes a lease-to-buy option.
Why are we so confident?

The Volt is an electric vehicle that gives you the freedom to drive wherever you want, whenever you want. With the Volt’s extended-range capability, you can drive electrically up to 340 miles on a full battery and tank of gas, with up to the first 40 miles powered by electricity from the grid. Plus, the Volt is an electric vehicle for all climates and seasons, comfortable in the freezing temperatures of the Northeast to the scorching temperatures of the deserts out West – we know, we’ve tested the Volt extensively in these conditions.

Plus, the Volt comes standard with an unprecedented battery warranty – eight years or 100,000 miles on all 161 battery components, the thermal management system, charging system and electric drive components. It will also be the first Chevrolet vehicle to offer, at no additional cost, five years of OnStar Directions and Connections service, which includes automatic crash response, stolen vehicle assistance and connected navigation.

And speaking of OnStar, the Volt gives you an unprecedented level of connectivity with the Chevrolet Connect mobile app by OnStar. This Volt mobile and web-based app will allow you to set the charge time, start your Volt, track mileage, unlock the doors and much more from your smart phone and even your home computer.

In fact, the personalized and connected ownership experience is just getting into full swing when you take delivery of your Volt because we’re creating a website designed specifically for Volt owners to collect diagnostic information as well as track and share your vehicle’s performance.

I could go on and on all day about all the benefits and premium features the Volt has to offer, such as screen-based navigation, an energy-efficient Bose premium sound system, Bluetooth for phone with phone book access and more, but then I would be keeping you from locating your dealer and placing your order. You can find more info at GetMyVolt.com.

It’s been a remarkable journey, and we’re confident you’ll be delighted with the outcome when you receive your Volt. The future is electric – we hope you’ll join us for the ride.

And make sure to join me here on Voltage later today for a video webchat from the show floor of Plug-In 2010 where Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz and I will answer your questions live at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

The no-holds-barred video features a cross section of people wearing a black T-shirt that reads “UNF–K THE GULF” and unleashing on BP, the federal government and the whole mess in a way that millions of people wish our leaders would.

Sick of yelling at the TV in frustration over the Gulf spill, environmental activists Luke Montgomery and Nate Guidas produced the video as a way to channel their “f–king righteous anger with all that is going on and not going on in the Gulf into something positive.” They put out a casting call on Craigslist for people upset over the oil spill, cast the best in the video, and created the website www.UnF–kTheGulf.com.

“It’s both therapeutic and funny to see people go off in an F-bomb-laced tirade about the spill,” Montgomery said. “There’s a lot of anger out there and people need to vent about the destruction but we also need to have a laugh at the expense of those responsible.”

The “UnF–kTheGulf” video has received more than 20,000 views in one week and raised more than $5,000 in funds through T-shirt sales, exceeding organizers’ expectations and rapidly circulating on social media. This unconventional charity fundraising campaign allows the public vote on how the funds are spent. For each $13 shirt, $5 is donated directly to four Gulf wildlife rescue and environmental charities.

Montgomery and Guidas report receiving hundreds of positive email responses, several complaints, and dozens of requests for uncensored versions of the T-shirt.

In response to the controversy of using such raw language, Montgomery said it is a calculated tactic to get noticed and thereby raise more funds to assist in the Gulf recovery. The organization did recently tame their Twitter name to a censored version, however, to encourage more people to share.

The Gulf oil spill is being called the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.

“This is a heinous crime against the environment, people’s livelihood and the ecosystem’s ability to support life,” Montgomery said. “People realize that the really offensive thing is the oil spill, not the word.”

UnF–kTheGulf will soon launch a week-long Facebook and Twitter “F-Bomb-a-Thon” campaign of status updates geared toward building buzz and raising at least $25,000 for the cause. The F-Bomb-a-Thon will run from July 26-August 1.

It’s been exactly a year since Walmart’s historic launch of a Sustainability Index and other measures to assess suppliers and products and, remarkably, the sun still rises in the East and sets in the West.

Most skeptics say there is less than meets the eye. A brief review: Last summer, Walmart announced that it would assess its suppliers on environmental and social criteria. It announced a Sustainable Product Index to “establish a single source of data for evaluating the sustainability of products,” the company said.

Walmart said it would introduce the initiative in three phases, beginning with a survey of its more than 100,000 suppliers around the world. The survey includes 15 questions that “serve as a tool for Walmart’s suppliers to evaluate their own sustainability efforts.
For more on where Walmart stands one year later, visit GreenBiz here.

A $1 million grant from Kaiser Permanente helped to construct a community health clinic that could be the first of its kind to earn LEED certification.

The newest La Maestra Community Health Center located in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego will sport a slew of green features expected to earn the facility a LEED Gold certification. Project designers had a goal of constructing a building that would play many roles: Aside from providing a high level of comfort and using less energy, the building would also serve to introduce the concept of green building to the community.

Green elements include high performance insulated glass, a rooftop solar photovoltaic array expected to generate 15 percent of its energy needs, recycled materials, energy management system, and materials with low volatile organic compounds. The site was the building was chosen for its solar orientation and prevailing breezes. A high-efficiency landscape irrigation system was installed, in addition to drought resistant and native plants.

For more on this story, visit GreenBiz here.

Last Friday Apple CEO Steve Jobs stepped in front of the world to address the widespread iPhone 4 antenna issues that effectively made the smartphone lose reception when a user engaged in the “iPhone death grip.” He addressed his wide consumer saying, “You know, we’re not perfect. We know that, you know that. And phones aren’t perfect either.” Most iPhone 4 owners claimed they didn’t experience these problems but once notorious tech media writers got a hold of Jobs acknowledging the claims, word spread like wildfire.

Thus the wildfire led to the press conference last Friday. Many skeptics brewed over what they could possibly announce. Some thought they would issue a recall, which incidentally would amount to a $1.5 billion cost to recover 600,000 iPhone 4s. Meanwhile, others thought they would receive an apology from Jobs for overhyping the amazing antenna. Finally, some analysts thought the Cupertino-based company should offer bumpers, rubber cases that mitigate the issue at hand.

In the end, Jobs announced they were offering free bumpers to users this week until the end of September. During the Q&A a member of the press asked if the company considered a recall but Jobs avoided answering the questions. In any case, had the company issued a recall they would not only have a large operating cost on their hands, they would have created physical waste with unused new iPhone 4s. Some of the parts could be reused or refurbished. However, given all the packaging that would be used, fuel required for shipping the phones to and fro and the paperwork needed to account for all items, Apple may have just done the greenest thing possible.

While some iPhone 4 owners are unpleased and others are happy to get their bumpers, Apple shows that a common business decision can inadvertently promote corporate social responsibility for both the enterprise and the consumer.

Does shipping the bumper make them environmentally friendly or not? Does Apple still need to address their factory conditions before they claim to be the greenest device maker around? We’d like to hear your thoughts!

Photo courtesy of Engadget

I had the pleasure of introducing Rep. Edward Markey for his opening keynote at the recent Executive Council Sustainable Cities leadership forum.

Markey has been at the forefront of the Congressional response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is the co-author of the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, and author of the bill that increased auto mileage standards for the first time in three decades. The League of Conservation Voters calls him the environment’s best advocate in Congress.

Markey gave a fiery address about the need for the U.S. to become the leader in alternative energy. What I found interesting was his view that regulation can be a catalyst to those efforts. While many business leaders think that regulation in anathema to innovation, Markey disagrees. He pointed to his prior work on the Telecommunications Committee that shifted a segment of the broadcast spectrum into commercial use for cellular and other wireless communications. Without that regulatory move, the cell phone and broadband revolutions would have been greatly slowed or might never have happened at all.

The lesson is that the private and public sectors can be catalysts for each other. The private sector organizations pushing for adoption of a carbon cost bill (either a carbon tax or cap-and-trade) are hoping that it will spur another revolution. They are also, to be honest, hoping to seek regulatory advantage by getting a bill that aligns with their competitive position. Public players have their own interests, too. They are hoping to get jobs created in their districts, contributions from companies that do well as a result of the legislation, and have something to point to as accomplishment in the next election cycle.

Chevrolet is adding Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to the launch markets for the Volt, Ed Whitacre, General Motors chairman and CEO, announced today.  Whitacre said the company is expanding the initial launch of the groundbreaking electric vehicle in response to intense interest in the Volt from customers across the country.

Today’s announcement brings the initial Volt retail markets to seven, including California, Michigan, and Washington, D.C.  The retail launch in Texas and New York will begin with Austin and New York City in late 2010.  The balance of Texas and New York, as well as New Jersey and Connecticut, are scheduled to begin receiving Volts in early 2011.

The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that General Motors Co. said today it will build 10,000 Chevrolet Volts in 2011 and another 30,000 in 2012, the first time the auto maker has outlined production plans for the battery-powered car. By 2012, GM expects to be selling Volts in every U.S. state.

Switch On. Switch Off. Switch Over. IKEA makes the change for a brighter future. Starting August 1, 2010, IKEA will begin to phase out all incandescent light bulbs in their US stores. This recent IKEA environmental initiative has a target date of incandescent bulb elimination by January 1, 2011. The aggressive IKEA US store phase out program exemplifies IKEA’s strong commitment to helping their customers live an everyday sustainable life. IKEA will be the first US retailer to completely phase out incandescent light bulbs.

“IKEA is committed to integrating sustainability into all IKEA strategies and practices in the entire product life cycle. We also believe our customers are looking for every day environmentally responsible solutions for themselves. Eliminating incandescents is a simple way to lead the charge for IKEA customers to use energy saving light bulbs, thus reducing energy consumption and reducing the amount of greenhouses gases. It’s a little step with a big impact on our planet,” commented Mike Ward, US IKEA President.

The IKEA phase out will come in advance of the federal legislation that will begin to phase out incandescent light bulbs in 2012. IKEA is taking the lead before this new legislation takes effect.

“It’s important for major retailers to take a step, because what they do will have a major impact,” commented an IKEA Stoughton, MA store customer.
IKEA customers will have a good choice of other effective energy saving bulbs. While the compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) is the most popular bulb, IKEA also offers a range of LED lamps which are 70% more efficient than using incandescent bulbs. IKEA Halogen lamps which consume 30% less energy are also a great ‘white light’ alternative. And beginning fall, 2010, IKEA will offer a halogen bulb which can be used in a standard light socket. This is called a retro-fit halogen bulb. IKEA also offers solar powered lamps including their SUNNAN desk lamp and their ‘SOLIG’ range of outdoor lights.

“By only putting good options on the shelf, retailers can make it easy for customers to do the right thing–in this case, reduce their energy use and impact on the environment,” said Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Markets at World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “As the first major retailer to completely phase out incandescent bulbs, we hope IKEA’s leadership will be contagious.”

“The Alliance to Save Energy is very pleased to recognize IKEA for its steps in phasing out sales of inefficient incandescent light bulbs well ahead of the 2012 implementation date of new federal standards,” commented Jeffrey Harris, Vice President for Programs, Alliance to Save Energy. “As a leading retailer, IKEA will also be educating its customers to choose more energy-efficient lighting technologies, and thus helping to speed the coming market transition.”

Clearly, Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb discovery was a landmark 19th century invention. But times have changed. New discoveries prevail. And everyday sustainability practices are important to IKEA customers. People are questioning old habits and creating new lifestyles with a charge to be environmentally responsible – everyday in some simple way. Notably, it’s a never ending job!

Sound familiar? It should. The “green” movement in America has become so talked about, so widely spread, that you would need to be hiding under a rock, lying at the bottom of the ocean, and stuffed with earplugs to not hear the colorful buzz around “sustainable” living. At this point, most of us are trying, even in small ways, to decrease our use of ozone depleting goods, taking inches off our carbon footprint, and devoting ourselves to a much more sustainable America. And the ideas behind many things green are typically two-fold: re-use and recycle. Of course, anyone of authority and opinion within the green community could, most likely, describe each of these in detail, as well as add fifteen more adjectives for all things sustainable; but this is not my aim.

Funnily enough, I began to contemplate the American “green” movement three months ago, as I settled into living abroad in the small town of San Francisco de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. Given that I am a Wellness junkie, avid Whole Foods Chef, and a Holistic Nutritionist, I assume that here, in America, I do all that I can to mindfully contribute, and give back to Mother earth.  I even assume that I am doing more than I possibly can, and then some. Well, to make a very long story short, my trip to the Dominican Republic surprised my “travel savvy, adventurous, egotistical” inner self tenfold.  The one thing I had not prepared for, and not contemplated prior to my departure, was encountering a culture that was focused on naturally sustaining itself, solely as a means to an end; and more importantly as the key to human survival.

First of all, many of the rural houses in the DR are run entirely on “inversol” or, as we know it, solar electricity. This, in more detail, means that the lights, computers, televisions, and all electricity are powered by solar batteries that are attached to each house. Secondly, the average Dominican lives off the land as well as the grocery store; eating hand- picked Plantains and Yuca plants that can be found in most backyards, and buying rice from a local market that is grown on Dominican soil.  Chicken and livestock are used and raised for human consumption in nearby farms, and more often than not, hormone injection free. The plumbing is less than ideal, many times using a bucket of water from the ground to flush your “stuff” down the drain, and hot water is hard to come by. The Dominicans drive little, and basically need very little.  In a nutshell, they are, out of necessity, existing in what we Americans have termed as”green” living. And, better yet, they don’t even know it.

Yet, to me, the so- called “green, carefree” and “sustainably minded” health guru, I was initially shocked at my own panic- stricken reaction to this way of life. I was afraid, confused, and just downright freaked out.  Days later, I realized that what I had initially felt was, plain and simple; culture shock.  Adding to my surprise, I learned that a typical Dominican work day includes a two hour lunch break with holidays every Sunday, and hours spent with family and friends. In fact, the Dominicans apparently devote an entire month to their Independence; meaning that they party for an entire thirty- one days straight. Unheard of?  Nope, think again. It sure made me back pedal and re- think why I live in America, and what having all of the convenience in the world can do to the soul. It was even more alarming that every single Dominican I met was happy, go lucky, cracking jokes, and full of non-stop smiles. I was reminded over and over again that the less you have, the more you really do have. And vice versa.

Not until I was back at home, recovering from many mosquito bites, taking warm showers, and enjoying the constant gift of electricity, did I begin to wonder what was better: the Dominican way of less is more, or the American take on life that is full of fast food, quicky marts, ipods, laptops, “green-ness” and growing rates of Depression and Obesity.  In the end, I realized that a bridge between the two would be an ideal, if ideals were possible. If there was some way for America, ideally, to couple productivity with “green,” relaxed, mindful living, we could really make a surefire change to the present. Our recent attempts to “go green” and “sustain” are surely applaud able, yet in the end we still seem to have forgotten the human link to the puzzle. We recycle cans and re-use plastic, while driving on jam-packed roads, filling our bodies with toxins, and many times, rushing to relax.  It is no surprise that we each struggle to integrate “green” living into the erratic, on the go, muti-task oriented society we have created in America. Which begs the question: for crying out loud, how do we do this? How can we attempt to pick up the pieces, save the environment, live better, earn a living, and create content lives?

The answer to this complicated and loaded question is downright perplexing. Even the mere integration of the Dominican slogan, “no precupado par nada” (translation: don’t worry about anything, ever) sounds downright impossible to the Native American ear. Furthermore, it is mere stupidity to imply that any third-world country such as the Dominican Republic has it all figured out; this is evidently nowhere close to the truth. The first step, I believe, is to take a few marches back, and begin by challenging our ideas behind “sustainable” living. As you focus on the mantra “re-use and recycle,” and construct your opinions  about hybrid cars, green cleaning products, and soda cans, learn to bring the idea of sustainability and wellness into your everyday existence. As you mentally discuss the individual contribution of “doing your part” to make a difference, also be open to change at the personal level. For you, this could simply mean turning off the computer earlier in the evening to get a few extra hours of sleep, or it could be something as big as a career change.  Maybe what your inner soul craves is more time to relax. Maybe you feel a push to pick up an old paintbrush, try Yoga, meditate, or learn Italian. Rather than focusing on repeating the”green mantra” of organic eating, and hybrid living, give yourself a break. You already know that drill. Instead, get back to the basics. Find out what makes you tick and explore it. Discover what will empower you to be more “sustainable,” more alive, and therefore more able to contribute and give back to the environment.  Embrace green living not only while you recycle and buy Organic produce, but also in your home, office, garden, kitchen, bedroom, playground, or any other arena that makes you YOU. Get yourself to feel the natural, fully “sustained” being within you. After all, it took us centuries to create our current disconnect with the environment and earth; allow yourself the time and space to enliven your internal connection to what you need, love, and cherish. Maybe I sound like a quack, but I promise you, the fully awakened you is already here. And it’s never too late to begin again. And again. And again.

Alexis Lauren

Wellness and Nutrition expert, educator, and speaker

Facebook: Alexis Lauren

Email: eat.simple.nutrition@gmail.com

Blog: http://eatyoursimplenutrition.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EatSimpleNut