Anna Maria Island has a charm all its own and if you build something new there, it has to fit. Take a walk down Pine Avenue and you'll see green themed businesses that fit perfectly with Anna Maria's history and uniqueness. Video

Middle school students in Sarasota County have been reading a book called "Operation Redwood." It details a group of California students who try to save a redwood forest. The book turned into inspiration for staff and students at Laurel Nokomis School who this week learned a lot more about protecting our environment. Video

There's an effort underway to beautify Manatee County roads. Keep Manatee Beautiful is overseeing a program to plant more trees along main thoroughfares like Manatee Avenue West. The best part, the trees are free! Video

Sarasota Memorial Hospital works daily to treat illnesses and save lives. There's also an effort to save the Earth with several green initiatives. The latest project will help with the hospital's enormous energy bills by using Florida's abundant sunshine to heat water. Video

Earth Day happens this Sunday. It's a chance for all of us to appreciate our planet and learn new ways to take care of it. Video

We tend to take using electricity for granted. But a recent camping trip with no means to charge a cell phone convinced ABC 7's Scott Dennis to buy a solar phone charger -- something that could prove useful during hurricane season. Video

Depending on the state of your game or the difficulty of the course you play, golfers tend to buy a lot of golf balls. Up to two billion a year are purchased and millions end up in our landfills. Now there's an eco-friendly alternative. Video

Sarasota County continues to connect neighborhoods to sewer lines. The huge project is an effort to improve the health of Phillippi Creek and Sarasota Bay. But instead of crushing and filling up old septic tanks, there's a way to turn them into rain collecting cisterns. Video

Most homeowners have lots of stuff taking up space in the garage or attic. But when you're ready to get rid of it, it doesn't have to go in the garbage. Video

It's not easy being green... if you're a golf course. But one Suncoast course is doing all it can to protect the environment and save energy and water. The Venice Golf and Country Club is one of only four courses in the nation to be honored for its sustainable practices. Video