Eco-Bella Spearheads Carbon Neutral Shopping Zone in Virginia Highlands

Today, we are launching the Country's First Carbon Neutral Shopping Zone. I, Antje Kingma, have been asked to make a statement. The text follows:

"Every time we drive to work, turn on our lights, start up the computer or make the morning coffee...we create carbon emissions. These emissions are called a carbon footprint.
Verus Carbon Neutral allowed the businesses at The Corner-Virginia Highlands to neutralize the environmental damage created by these daily necessities. The Verus Carbon Neutral Partnership is a credible, transparent and professional carbon footprint auditor. If you are committed to green business practices, buying carbon offsets is a tangible way you can make a difference. Well, we, The Corner-Virginia Highland Businesses, decided to do just that. First, we approached our landlord, Stuart Meddin from the Meddin Company. Stuart Meddin immediately offered his support, including financial support, business planning and consultations. Next, the businesses at the Corner, The Corner-Virginia Highland businesses, met to discuss the carbon neutral project. Although many of us have concerns about our future in the current economic environment, we had an immediate majority and enthusiasm for the project. In the end, everyone committed to participate. Each of the 18 businesses at The Corner-Virginia Highland submitted to the carbon emissions audit completed by Verus Carbon Neutral. Then, Verus Carbon Neutral calculated our individual business carbon footprints based on our individual audit results. Each business then authorized Verus Carbon Neutral to purchase carbon offsets from the highly respected Chicago Climate Exchange on our behalf. As a group, we chose to purchase reforestation offsets in Georgia. And that is how we came to this point, to the point where we have created a carbon free shopping, dining and service zone, the first of its kind in the country.
I would like to thank Stuart Meddin from The Meddin Company, Mitzi Ugolini from Mitzi's Shoebox and Mitzi and Romano's, and Christie Harper from Dabberdoo's for helping me realize this goal. I would also like to thank Andrew Keenan and Eric Taub from the Verus Carbon Neutral Partnership for their commitment, patience and professionalism as we brought our diverse businesses to become the community to set the standard for green business practices in the retail world. We hope that our choice and commitment to being carbon neutral is a call to action for other business zones and we invite our immediate neighbors to join us as soon as they are able.
Finally, we ask our Virginia Highlands, Morningside, Druid Hills, Inman Park, Candler Park and other surrounding neighborhoods to shop locally. Your support allows us to run our businesses in an environmentally responsible way. Your support will help us to weather the economic crisis faced by so many small businesses such as ours. By shopping here, at The Corner-Virginia Highland, you, the customer, can make an intentional choice and step toward reducing climate change. In turn, we offer an original, authentic neighborhood atmosphere defined by unique, high quality and reasonably priced shopping, dining, services and excellent, personalized customer service. Bring your friends, family, kids and pups. Stop by any of our shops to learn more about Verus Carbon Neutral and how they can help you become carbon neutral professionally and privately.
None of this would be possible without you, our neighbors and customers. Thank you"