A Final Wrap-Up

Well, I am proud to say that after taking the Sustainability course, I have been able to reduce my ecological footprint from 4.1 planet Earths down to 3.3 plantet Earths. What helped me in this decrease in consumption is the type of foods I have been eating. Less meat and more fruits and vegtables. I still drive, due to work, but I have tried to minimize the amount of distances I drive. I live right around the corner from the grocery store and I have found myself walking more. Another important aspect to reducing my footprint is the amount of energy that my house has used. We have been able to reduce our energy bills and regulate the use of laundry and the use of appliances. I have found that I unplug all of my appliances when they are not in use, and rarely leave my computer on during the day and night when it is not in use. I am proud of this adjustment and reduction!!

London Olympics 2012 - Golden Chance to Go Green

In an article I stumbled across regarding the London 2012 Olympic, they are using this world-wide event as an opportunity to inspire change towards a low-carbon econoomy. As a glimpse of what the stadiums are being made out of:

"The stadium is the lightest Olympic stadium, using a quarter of the concrete used for the Beijing games, and features a lighting system suspended from a compression wheel made fromre-purposed gas pipes left over from a different construction project.McCarthy singled out the velodrome as an especially good example of sustainable design, with its ultra-lightweight roof and natural lighting and ventilation."

The overall goal of the project was to embed the original sustainability practices and ideas to the actual sites of the host country.

To read more on the article, visit:http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/london-olympics-2012-green-chance-danger

Shopping Bags Go Green

I found this article this morning and found it sort of relevant to what I experienced yesterday at the grocery store. Once again, I failed to bring my reusable shopping bags, as they were left in the car. I was at The Market in Fairhaven and I went through the checkout stand with some items for dinner. The lady behind the counter asked if I wanted paper or plastic bags. I sort of stumbled for an answer. I feel like I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I could choose paper, but lets me honest, that was one more part of a tree taht was killed. Then I though about plastic and was hesitant to say plastic. The checkout lady must have noticed my frustration that was displayed across my face in this small period of time. She said that the plastic bags are becoming recyclable and it was displayed on the bag. I did not feel as bad now, for choosing plastic bagging. I suppose my best option would have been none however I had too many ingrediants for only having two hand and just a wallet. Of all times to not bring a friend or a huge purse, I decided to go with the plastic bag. In the following article, it talks about grocery store's attepmpt to make the shopping bags more recyclable.

Read the article at: http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=12017

This may be a small step towards making the change, however any step is better than no sep at all!

Green Jobs!!

To my surprise, I found an article this morning regarding people on the hunt for "Green Jobs." As some people might chuckle at the thought of this, there has been an astounding demand for these positions across the US.

I found in the article, that last October Forbes projected the ten top hottest green job markets:

• New York City, though feeling the market collapse, is also projected to be a place to head for green jobs. Generating 25,000 green jobs in 2006, the city may generate 200,000 more by 2038 in engineering, architecture and design.
• Washington, DC makes it to the top of the green jobs list with the federal government aiming to lower energy costs for the more than half-million buildings it oversees, according to Forbes.
• Houston houses two of the nation’s most polluted economies and is a master of making profit off of energy. Houston’s experience building large energy projects has proven successful beyond oil, creating a serious wind economy in the city.
• California houses three strong green economies: the state attracts tons of green venture capitalists, green innovators, eco-conscious mayors and green Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Los Angeles tops out other California green economies with a serious water shortage to confront.
• Boston houses leading universities that will bring the city into the green economy. Harvard, MIT and other institutions are at the forefront of renewable energy academia.
• Chicago is home to the Chicago Climate Exchange, America’s first carbon trading exchange. [Board of Directors]
• Philadelphia is getting green, converting old warehouses to wind turbine factories and pushing energy efficiency on state legislature.
• San Francisco is home to a serious number of venture capitalists and Mayor Gavin Newsom, pushing green jobs at every opportunity.
• San Diego made it in the Forbes’ top ten thanks to its solar power. Sunny conditions mixed with booming renewable energy markets are the perfect ingredients for the generation of green jobs.
• Pittsburgh is regenerating its collapsed industrial economy with a committed investment in green jobs.

I found these cities quite intriging and was unaware of the opportunities out there for people to join this awesome movement and support the "green" economy. Every little bit counts and we will being to take what we can get!

Read more at: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://therealbarackobama.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/1-1-1-a41.jpg&imgrefurl=http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/its-not-easy-being-green-biden%25E2%2580%2599s-middle-class-and-working-families-task-force/&usg=__nJmp3B-pBWZk96TrVksmz5gkzNE=&h=1000&w=750&sz=157&hl=en&start=29&sig2=CQWNWOusYHLihOZFHxtSUQ&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Dc2cUctdbjo1-M:&tbnh=149&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreenbiz.com%26start%3D21%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D21%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=uzwFTN2-C82F-Ab83cTBDg

Think Beyond Recycling and Saving Energy

This picture caught my eye as I was browing the web this morning. This essentially sums out the amount of over consumption taking place not only in the United States, but also across the world. It is imparitive for the people to being thinking about over consumption and how harmful it may be the the planet. The question arises, where will all of these products go? I think our answer could begin with educating people. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe more pictures such as these could generate hype across businesses, college campuses, schools, or even on community busses. The most important aspect I have found in my short time in taking a Sustainability class is to educate. Many people feel they need to change their daily schedules and their lives, but in all reality it can be as simple as turning off your lights or unplugging appliances when they are not in use.

To read more of where this picture came from, visit:http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://youropenbook.agitprop.co.uk/images/growing/sustainability_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://youropenbook.agitprop.co.uk/growing.php%3Fp%3D2&usg=__oU2qJcfAawCGX_vXfWB6BM3NVwc=&h=426&w=660&sz=154&hl=en&start=10&sig2=PkJhbAuFkNJL6nh_Z-St6w&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=qolZVmkX1MFPCM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsustainability%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=bDkFTP6SD43b-QbMhoC3Dg

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Greener Skies Initiative

I thought this was sort of ironic and inspiring at the same time. Just last week I had to fly back to Spokane, WA for a three day training at work. I flew out of Bellingham, WA and I had an hour layover in Seattle, WA. Parked next to me, fueling up was a green plane, literally. I am sure my face lit up, as I had no idea that Alaska was a proud activists in providing a green act. This made me curious, so while in the airport during the layover I Googled Alaska Airlines. To my surprise on their website they have the Greener Skies Initiative.

In it, they list their approach:To further reduce aircraft emissions and noise exposure in the Puget Sound region, we recently formed a "Greener Skies" partnership with The Boeing Company and the Port of Seattle. Together we are working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement new flight procedures at Sea-Tac Airport that will allow airlines like Alaska and Horizon to use more efficient — and environmentally friendly — flight paths. It’s just one more way we’re working to bring "Greener Skies" to the region.

I am thankful for the Sustainability class to open my eyes and become more aware of what other companies are doing to make an attempt to save our planet.

To read more: Visit www.alaskaair.com

BP's Moment of Truth

After the oil spill off the coast of The Gulf of Mexico, this has spread to be 3 times the amount of the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989."More trouble lies ahead for BP as it may face the specter of EPA fines of $1,100 per gallon or up to $4,300 if gross negligence was found to cause the spill. The total costs for BP could exceed by some estimates over $25 billion, far eclipsing the $3.8 billion costs for the Exxon Valdez spill.

How BP handles these costs will be a true measure of the company. BP has come under fire for its early handling of the financial settlements from individuals. Alabama's Attorney General Troy King on Sunday said he told BP to stop encouraging settlement agreements among coastal residents that he said stripped people of their right to sue in exchange for a $5,000 settlement."

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/05/28/bps-moment-truth?page=0%2C1#ixzz0pZFk17Ad

http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/05/28/bps-moment-truth