At Your (Green) Service

Especially since Earth Day 1990, it's become good business to help people live greener lives. Here are a few local services promising just that:

ShoreBank Pacific serves local depositors and makes loans to environmentally sustainable and socially responsible enterprises in the Pacific Northwest. The bank is part of Ecotrust founder Spencer Beebe's vision for "Salmon Nation" — a regional, conservation-based community dedicated to economy, ecology and social equality. Some of its product fees are donated to carbon-offset programs. Headquartered in Ilwaco, it opened a Seattle branch last fall in Belltown at 2720 Third Ave. 206-340-2700 or www.eco-bank.com.

A Grand Wedding puts the "eco" in economizing for waste-conscious brides. The Sammamish-based Web site is one of many now offering everything from "lightly loved" wedding dresses to leftover favors or secondhand decorations to rent, buy or borrow. The site also links brides who want to share costs and lists wedding vendors whose services don't exceed $1,000. The idea is to plan a wedding with enough money left for the marriage. There's a grand concept. www.agrandwedding.com or 206-852-2911.

Sad to say, but boaters can also be polluters. Clean Marina Washington, a public-private partnership, certifies marinas that follow its requirements for environmental practices that protect Puget Sound and other waters (for example, collecting bilge water and keeping oil-spill materials on hand). Elliott Bay, Boat Street and Bell Harbor marinas are among those making the grade. To see if yours does, go to www.cleanmarinawashington.org.

Fridges and freezers made before 1994 use up to four times the electricity of models manufactured since 2001. But aging energy hogs shouldn't be given or thrown away. Jaco Environmental Inc. will pick up and recycle for free up to two old, standard-sized refrigerators and freezers if they're clean and in good working order. Residential customers of Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish PUD, Tacoma Power and Seattle City Light may get $30 rebates, to boot. www.jacoinc.net or call toll free at 877-577-0510.

Blue Sky Cleaners uses pressurized, reclaimed carbon-dioxide and wet-cleaning technologies. Blue Sky recently merged with Four Seasons Cleaners and offers downtown pickup-and-delivery, plus service at its main plant, 1111 Elliott Ave. W.; in Interbay, 2800 15th Ave. W; on Queen Anne Hill, 1420 Queen Anne Ave. N.; in Laurelhurst, 3511 45th Ave. N.E.; and Capitol Hill, 1515 14th Ave. E.

Doug Nafziger earned a top five-star rating in King County's EnviroStars program and an award from the Environmental Protection Agency for his mobile auto-detailing service, which uses a wipe-on cleaning solution that saves water and keeps soap out of storm drains. A basic carwash by Advanced Mobile is $49.90; the company cleans mostly commercial fleets. Nafziger says homeowners can also use waterless carwash products. 401 N.E. 60th St. in Seattle; 206-523-7951 or www.advancedmobileusa.com

Timothy Colman of Good Nature Publishing translates green themes into custom-art posters printed on recycled or Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. Good Nature also sells poster-sized field guides to native flora and fauna. www.goodnaturepublishing.com or 800-631-3086.

Seattle-based Eco Encore raises money for Northwest environmental organizations by selling donated used books, CDs, DVDs and newer software in good condition online; shop for them at www.amazon.com.

You can drop off donations from your own collections at 901 Occidental Ave. W., the Squire Center Building; 206-297-6995 or www.ecoencore.org.

Managed by Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Bikestation Seattle is a secure lot in Pioneer Square for bike commuters. Free for drop-ins weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Service plans, ranging from $130 a year to $2 pay-per-use in blocks of 10 — provide card keys, changing room and lockers, and 24/7 access. JRA Bike Shop offers on-site, weekday bike repair. 311 Third Ave. S. Call 206-224-9252 or go to www.bicyclealliance.org.

Bothell-based In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes was one of the first in the area to focus on nontoxic lawn and yard care, organic fertilizers, rain gardens to filter runoff and other sustainable gardening practices. 425-486-2180 or www.inharmony.com.

Port Townsend-based freelance writer Mary Rothschild is a former Seattle Times editor.