Our featured customer of the month is Char Magaro, owner of the delightfully charming bistro Char’s Bella Mundo located in historic Harrisburg, PA.  Along with serving up a diverse and astoundingly delicious assortment of foods, Char’s Bella Mundo also looks out for the environment by offsetting 100% of its energy usage with renewable wind energy.  Char has been purchasing renewable energy for both her home and restaurant since 2003. 

The restaurant’s wind energy purchase has the equivalent environmental benefits of planting 164 acres of trees OR not driving over 450,000 miles!  Char is an active environmentalist who has been involved with many organizations over the years and participated in numerous environmental initiatives.  She is currently on the board with Penn Future.  Recently we had a chance to sit down with Char over a big bowl of leafy greens.

CEI:  Why is wind energy important to you?
Char:  It is important because using wind power goes along with my commitment to reduce my carbon footprint. Using wind energy is an effortless way to combat climate change while making an investment in the health of the environment and the future.

CEI:  Do you have any environmental tips to share?
Char:  Yes. First, we need to pay close attention to our purchasing habits: it is no longer just a matter of recycling, which is very important; we need to consume less, purchase products that are locally/sustainably produced and try to reduce our waste by being mindful of packaging. That also is true of what energy choices we make. That is why I encourage my customers to switch to wind power.

CEI:  Do you think it has become easier to be environmentally friendly in the past 10 years?
Char:  Yes, only because the market has presented options.  There are more environmentally committed companies to purchase products from. Finally, with more media exposure, environmentalism has become more mainstream and an effective marketing strategy. And in the near future, I believe that patriotism will take on a new face and that face will be Green. This new Green Generation, similar to what was called The Greatest Generation which brought us out of the depression, will be producing energy, cars, food and other products that have less of an impact on the earth. The products will be made here in the US, by companies that understand that a sustainably run business and health profits can go hand-in-hand. The people who work in these businesses and the people who buy these products will – through their choices – be united in being stewards of their shared world community

CEI:  What animal best represents you?
Char:  The turtle – I had been attracted to it for some years, while I was directing some environmental groups. I later learned that in the Native American tradition, the turtle represents Mother Earth.  Small wonder!

To learn more about Char’s restaurant please see: www.charsbellamundo.com
To learn more about Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future please go to: www.pennfuture.org