At this stage, the twenty or so thousand worms were being divided up into one pound tubs for 'seeding' into the twenty + bins or vermi-composter units by twenty or so students!Viva The Verm
3.18.2007
Hands On Experiential Learning - Rhodes 2 Vermicycling (R2V)
At this stage, the twenty or so thousand worms were being divided up into one pound tubs for 'seeding' into the twenty + bins or vermi-composter units by twenty or so students!Viva The Verm
3.17.2007
Snippits of video from the Rhodes 2 Vermicycling Project
Here is a snippet of video after the kids have unloaded the worms, prepped bedding, and stocked bins with worms and food! Happy Worms!
For Rhodes to Vermicycling (R2V) kick off party photos click here
Thanks again to the team who supported this collaboration..
For Rhodes to Vermicycling (R2V) kick off party photos click here
Thanks again to the team who supported this collaboration..
3.13.2007
Wal-Mart Announces Initial Results of Packaging Scorecard; Scorecard Evaluates Suppliers on the Sustainability of Their Packaging
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (PRNewsFoto/Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.)
BENTONVILLE, AR UNITED STATES 10/04/2004
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the
second annual Sustainable Packaging Exposition, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
(NYSE: WMT) released the initial results of its Packaging Scorecard. The
scorecard, which was officially unveiled at the Clinton Global Initiative
in September 2006 and launched on February 1, 2007, evaluates Wal-Mart and
Sam's Club suppliers on the sustainability of their packaging and offers
suggestions for improvement. The results from the first month of operation
show active use of the scorecard and a strong interest from product
suppliers to make their packaging more sustainable. The scorecard
implementation is Wal-Mart's next step in moving toward achieving a five
percent reduction in packaging by 2013.
"Wal-Mart has made a commitment to reducing waste in packaging in order
to sustain our resources and environment and to reduce total system costs,"
said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of marketing, research, and
insights for Sam's Club and captain of Wal-Mart's Packaging Sustainability
Network. "We are in a unique position to drive positive change in the area
of sustainability by working with our suppliers. The packaging scorecard
helps everyone make better decisions that are good for business, our
customers and the environment."
In the first month, 2,268 vendors have logged on to the site and 117
products have been entered into the system, and Wal-Mart expects these
numbers to dramatically increase in the coming year. The scorecard
evaluates the sustainability of product packaging based on greenhouse gas
emissions related to production, material value, product to packaging
ratio, cube utilization, recycled content usage, innovation, the amount of
renewable energy used to manufacture the packaging, the recovery value of
the raw materials and emissions related to transportation of the packaging
materials. These criteria are valuable tools for suppliers to determine how
their packaging innovations, environmental standards, energy efficiencies
and use of materials compare to their peers. Suppliers will receive a score
per package relative to their peers in each category.
Full Official WalMart Press Release here!!
BENTONVILLE, AR UNITED STATES 10/04/2004
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the
second annual Sustainable Packaging Exposition, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
(NYSE: WMT) released the initial results of its Packaging Scorecard. The
scorecard, which was officially unveiled at the Clinton Global Initiative
in September 2006 and launched on February 1, 2007, evaluates Wal-Mart and
Sam's Club suppliers on the sustainability of their packaging and offers
suggestions for improvement. The results from the first month of operation
show active use of the scorecard and a strong interest from product
suppliers to make their packaging more sustainable. The scorecard
implementation is Wal-Mart's next step in moving toward achieving a five
percent reduction in packaging by 2013.
"Wal-Mart has made a commitment to reducing waste in packaging in order
to sustain our resources and environment and to reduce total system costs,"
said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of marketing, research, and
insights for Sam's Club and captain of Wal-Mart's Packaging Sustainability
Network. "We are in a unique position to drive positive change in the area
of sustainability by working with our suppliers. The packaging scorecard
helps everyone make better decisions that are good for business, our
customers and the environment."
In the first month, 2,268 vendors have logged on to the site and 117
products have been entered into the system, and Wal-Mart expects these
numbers to dramatically increase in the coming year. The scorecard
evaluates the sustainability of product packaging based on greenhouse gas
emissions related to production, material value, product to packaging
ratio, cube utilization, recycled content usage, innovation, the amount of
renewable energy used to manufacture the packaging, the recovery value of
the raw materials and emissions related to transportation of the packaging
materials. These criteria are valuable tools for suppliers to determine how
their packaging innovations, environmental standards, energy efficiencies
and use of materials compare to their peers. Suppliers will receive a score
per package relative to their peers in each category.
Full Official WalMart Press Release here!!
2.24.2007
Brown City Dead Lake Volume 1
From the city that brought a burning river (Cuyahoga) to your history books!Sims Park in Euclid, Ohio is home to a pier that is designed to camouflage a sewer outfall. On this day my daughter and I find it to be billowing out water visibly laden with sediment. My daughter knows this is our communities source of drinking water.
A near by dead fish is an ominous sign, and the source of her first question. She asks "are there still some of those fish around". I tell her "The sheephead, yes, its not extinct, if thats what you mean". Only I have not the heart to tell her about the unknown disease wiping them out in our lakes western basin.
Her next observation is "its a good think Lake Erie does not have this", referring to the pollution before her 4 year old eyes. The only problem of course is that this is our great Lake Erie we are looking at. =-(
2.04.2007
2007 Cleveland Home and Garden Show - Green in more ways than one?
Above you see Erica W's REpower Solutions booth. Apparently she got a great deal of interest. She talked her way to loosing her voice on Saturday at the show. Unfortunately for the "green area" there were many empty tables, and few staff around at the non-profits tables. Of course some famous former manufacturers of lead paint had a token banner and info at the green building area as well (see below for the photo of the logo with the paint spill 'covering the earth')
One of the 'model homes' had solar from dovetail on the roof, and my fav, marmoleum linoleum on the floor in the 'bonus' room. The home had passive solar design, and a rain garden. Beyond that i bet the home theater inside burned more juice than the PV could crank out on a good Cleveland summer day! Rightsized, uh-huh.
There were no shortage of folks hawking 'energy star' environmentally preferable insulated concrete form (ICF) building products either. I counted at least 5
You would think they could drum up local staff to 'man' this table of theirs at the 'Green' area.
Max Hays High Science Fair - Jan 31, 2007 Cleveland, Ohio
This past week I had the opportunity to judge a science fair at Max Hayes High School.
Other judges were present from NASA, Swagelok, and a variety of other locations. Quite the learning experience. Entries were from 9-12 graders.
Global warming I must say was getting more attention from the 10th graders than the Executive Branch of our legislature!
Hypothesis: Garbage is overfilling our landfills!
Root Cause: It is not going away fast enough
I heart the logic train on this one! ALL ABOARD!
Who needs mulitmillion dollar turbines as drivers of economic development when you can make them out of styrofoam cups, and McDonalds straws. This cat's project talked of how he stayed up all night counting the rotations to see if wind really does blow harder in the later hours.
Hell you should have seen all the "green" homes built out of Dow foam products at the Home Show!
This entry involved taking an aquarium of water and heating it up. yeah! Along the lines of our current administrations
'cutting edge' climate research!
Ahhh the timeless mantra:
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
I was hoping to see this here.
You dont need any notes on these... its just a reflection of what is in the hearts and minds of 9-12th graders in our city.
What is the effect of acid rain?
What local businesses cause most of it?
What local businesses externalize those costs?
What local businesses are losing ground?
Great Lakes Bioneers Cleveland - Planning Retreat a Success!
An exciting day it was for the steering committee of Great Lakes Bioneers Cleveland. Most of the members were on hand for the initial planning retreat. It was facilitated by Gloria Rivera and Paula Cathcart, the organizers from the Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit location. Planning is in gear!Great Lakes Bioneers Cleveland recently received approval to host a beaming site. CSU will host the event via live satellite uplink from the primary conference site in San Raphael, CA. More soon.. www.bioneers.org
8.29.2006
Americans Link Hurricanes and Heat Wave to Climate Change
UTICA, NY, Aug. 24, 2006 - As Americans recover from this summer's heat wave and mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, an overwhelming majority say they are more convinced that global warming is happening than they were two years ago, and they are also connecting intense weather events like hurricane Katrina and heat waves to global warming, according to a new Zogby America telephone poll.
The survey, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, was conducted Aug. 11-16, and included 1,018 respondents. It carries a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
Nearly three of every four – 74% – are more convinced today that global warming is a reality than they were two years ago, the survey shows. Dramatically, it is a sentiment shared by a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and political independents. While many more Democrats believe in global warming (87%), 56% of Republicans concur. Among independents, 82% think we are experiencing the effects of global warming. These numbers indicate a shift in the momentum of global warming believers.
Asked what influence global warming has had on specific weather events, 65% said they believe it had an influence on this summer's heat wave that baked the U.S., and 68% said they think it was a factor in development of more intense hurricanes like Katrina. Similar numbers are seen for other weather phenomenon including droughts, wildfires and snowfall.
"While the findings in this survey are not proof that intense weather events are linked to global warming, it is clear that Americans are making that connection," says pollster John Zogby. "It is also clear that there is a desire among Americans across the political spectrum to see steps taken to reduce greenhouse gases."
The survey also indicated there is strong support for measures to require major industries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to improve the environment without harming the economy – 72% of likely voters agreed such measures should be taken. That sentiment was consistent across a wide age spectrum of respondents, but there was some split along party lines. Among Democrats, 81% agreed major industries should be required to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while 61% of Republicans agreed. Among independents, 73% said major industries should be required to decrease certain emissions.
USDA Designates 20 Biobased Items for Federal Procurement
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2006- The U.S. Agriculgure Department has announced two proposed rules under the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program, designating 20 items that must receive special consideration by all federal agencies when making purchases.
"The designation of these 20 biobased items is a major step in advancing the federal preferred procurement program for biobased products," said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. "When finalized, 1,500 biobased products will be given procurement preference by federal agencies, generating new economic opportunities for biobased product producers and U.S. farmers and ranchers, while providing new choices for U.S. consumers."
The Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program is authorized under Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. USDA published the first final rule designating six items for preferred procurement in March 2006. Federal agencies must give preference to designated biobased products in government purchases within one year of publication of the final designation rule.
The two proposed rules to be published in the Aug. 17, 2006 Federal Register designate 20 items, which are generic groupings of biobased products. The new items include: adhesive and mastic removers, insulating foam for wall construction, hand cleaners and sanitizers, composite panels, fluid-filled transformers, biodegradable containers, fertilizers, metalworking fluids, sorbents, graffiti and grease removers, two-cycle engine oils, lipcare products, biodegradable films, stationary equipment hydraulic fluids, biodegradable cutlery, glass cleaners, greases, dust suppressants, carpets, and carpet and upholstery cleaners.
Technical information to support each proposed rule is available at the web site for the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program at www.biobased.oce.usda.gov. USDA encourages interested parties to submit comments on the proposed rules during the 60-day public comment period following their publication. The web site also contains a catalog listing the qualifying biobased products that manufacturers have posted under each designated grouping of products.
The two proposed rules announced today are part of a series of rules that will be issued designating biobased items. USDA has identified about 170 items for which it is collecting test data needed for the additional designations of items that will extend preferred procurement status to include all qualifying biobased products.
USDA has previously issued final guidelines for the biobased procurement program and developed a model procurement program of training and education to help Federal procurement officials and users of biobased products identify and purchase qualifying biobased products. Information on the guidelines and the model program are available at www.usda.gov/biobased
"The designation of these 20 biobased items is a major step in advancing the federal preferred procurement program for biobased products," said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. "When finalized, 1,500 biobased products will be given procurement preference by federal agencies, generating new economic opportunities for biobased product producers and U.S. farmers and ranchers, while providing new choices for U.S. consumers."
The Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program is authorized under Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. USDA published the first final rule designating six items for preferred procurement in March 2006. Federal agencies must give preference to designated biobased products in government purchases within one year of publication of the final designation rule.
The two proposed rules to be published in the Aug. 17, 2006 Federal Register designate 20 items, which are generic groupings of biobased products. The new items include: adhesive and mastic removers, insulating foam for wall construction, hand cleaners and sanitizers, composite panels, fluid-filled transformers, biodegradable containers, fertilizers, metalworking fluids, sorbents, graffiti and grease removers, two-cycle engine oils, lipcare products, biodegradable films, stationary equipment hydraulic fluids, biodegradable cutlery, glass cleaners, greases, dust suppressants, carpets, and carpet and upholstery cleaners.
Technical information to support each proposed rule is available at the web site for the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program at www.biobased.oce.usda.gov. USDA encourages interested parties to submit comments on the proposed rules during the 60-day public comment period following their publication. The web site also contains a catalog listing the qualifying biobased products that manufacturers have posted under each designated grouping of products.
The two proposed rules announced today are part of a series of rules that will be issued designating biobased items. USDA has identified about 170 items for which it is collecting test data needed for the additional designations of items that will extend preferred procurement status to include all qualifying biobased products.
USDA has previously issued final guidelines for the biobased procurement program and developed a model procurement program of training and education to help Federal procurement officials and users of biobased products identify and purchase qualifying biobased products. Information on the guidelines and the model program are available at www.usda.gov/biobased
5.10.2006
4.20.2006
2.20.2006
1.24.2006
Scenes from the Friends of Coal's latest BASH!
Not only does Coal put food on this womens plate...
but "Friends of Coal" also pal around with Mrs. West Virginia
and not surprisingly they have a diverse group of stakeholders supporting their industry.
Ohio EPA BUSTS Boyer Signs and Graphics of Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio EPA reached a settlement with Boyer Signs & Graphics, Inc., for
past hazardous waste violations and issued an administrative consent
order on January 13, 2006. The violations occurred at its facility
located at 21611 Tungsten Road, Euclid, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The
settlement includes a $15,000 penalty of which $12,000 will be deposited
into the state's hazardous waste cleanup fund. In lieu of paying the
remaining $3,000 of the penalty, Boyer Signs & Graphics, Inc., will fund
a supplemental environmental project (SEP) by making a contribution in
the amount of $3,000 to the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program.
You can see the letter the OEPA sent to the bad guys
by clicking here
past hazardous waste violations and issued an administrative consent
order on January 13, 2006. The violations occurred at its facility
located at 21611 Tungsten Road, Euclid, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The
settlement includes a $15,000 penalty of which $12,000 will be deposited
into the state's hazardous waste cleanup fund. In lieu of paying the
remaining $3,000 of the penalty, Boyer Signs & Graphics, Inc., will fund
a supplemental environmental project (SEP) by making a contribution in
the amount of $3,000 to the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program.
You can see the letter the OEPA sent to the bad guys
by clicking here
Ohio EPA BUSTS Accurate Plating Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio EPA reached a settlement with Accurate Plating Company for past
hazardous waste violations and issued an administrative consent order on
December 19, 2005. The violations occurred at its facility located at
6512 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The settlement
includes a $25,000 penalty of which $20,000 will be deposited into the
state's hazardous waste cleanup fund. In lieu of paying the remaining
$5,000 of the penalty, Accurate Plating Company will fund a supplemental
environmental project (SEP) by making a contribution in the amount of
$5,000 to the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program.
You can view the actual letter sent to the polluter by OEPA by clicking
here.
This letter provides you with the actual laws broken (with a regulatory citation) and typically an outline of the situation leading up to the settlement. You would not believe how few of these they send out. Now I understand why other states have privitized this a bit.
hazardous waste violations and issued an administrative consent order on
December 19, 2005. The violations occurred at its facility located at
6512 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The settlement
includes a $25,000 penalty of which $20,000 will be deposited into the
state's hazardous waste cleanup fund. In lieu of paying the remaining
$5,000 of the penalty, Accurate Plating Company will fund a supplemental
environmental project (SEP) by making a contribution in the amount of
$5,000 to the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program.
You can view the actual letter sent to the polluter by OEPA by clicking
here.
This letter provides you with the actual laws broken (with a regulatory citation) and typically an outline of the situation leading up to the settlement. You would not believe how few of these they send out. Now I understand why other states have privitized this a bit.
1.20.2006
When it pays to buy organic - Consumer Reports article summary
Which apple? The decision doesn’t end once you’ve figured out whether to buy, say, the McIntosh or the Red Delicious. In many food stores across the country, you’re also faced with the more vexing question of buying organic or conventional, and not just at the apple bin. All kinds of organic fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, eggs, cooking oils, even cosmetics are crowding store shelves.
Full text of the CR organic article by clicking the title!
At BSI we try and buy local organic food from reputable sources. The closer the better.
Full text of the CR organic article by clicking the title!
At BSI we try and buy local organic food from reputable sources. The closer the better.
1.09.2006
Pinnacle Gas Producers , LLC BUSTED by the Ohio EPA
Ohio EPA reached a settlement with Pinnacle Gas Producers, LLC. for past hazardous waste and water violations on November 3, 2005. The violations occurred at its facility located at 4220 Pinnacle Road. Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. The settlement includes a $19,000 penalty for hazardous waste violations of which $11,400 will be deposited into the state's hazardous waste cleanup fund. In lieu of paying $3,800 of the hazardous waste penalty, Pinnacle Gas Producers, will contribute $3,800 to the Bowling Green University mercury reclamation program. In lieu of paying the remaining $3,800 of the hazardous waste penalty, Pinnacle Gas Producers, will fund a supplemental environmental project (SEP) by making a contribution in the amount of $3,800 t! o the Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Program.
You can see the letter the OEPA sent and read the dirty details by clicking here
You can see the letter the OEPA sent and read the dirty details by clicking here
1.02.2006
Colleges Boycott Coke Over Concerns
NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , NEW YORK
Sunday, Jan 01, 2006,Page 11
When students at the University of Michigan return to campus next week after the holiday break, they will find the Coke machines and fountain dispensers empty.
The university, which has 50,000 students on three campuses, on Thursday became the 10th college to stop selling Coca-Cola products because of concerns arising from accusations about the company's treatment of workers in bottling plants in Colombia and environmental problems in India.
A Coke spokeswoman, Kari Bjorhus, said on Friday in a statement that the company hoped the Michigan decision was temporary.
She said Coca-Cola was looking at ways to conduct an independent third-party study of the situation in Colombia.
Labor activists have said that Coca-Cola, through its Latin American bottlers, has been complicit in the deaths of eight union leaders and in continued harassment of unionized employees.
In India, a different group of activists have accused Coke of polluting the soil and groundwater near several bottling plants, of severely reducing groundwater levels in drought-prone areas and of failing to install adequate filtration systems that would remove pesticides from the water used to make its products.
The activists, led by two groups, Corporate Accountability International and the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke, have found a sympathetic ear on college campuses.
Within the last year, New York University, Rutgers University in New Jersey and Santa Clara University in California, among others, have stopped selling Coke products.
The University of Michigan had set yesterday as a deadline for Coke to select an auditor and agree on the terms of the investigation. But talks between the company and the university broke down.
Coke says the accusations about India are groundless.
The company says that its use of water in India has become more efficient and that it has begun harvesting rainwater to help return it to underground sources.
BSI Links to the Source to bring you what Coke has to say.
Sunday, Jan 01, 2006,Page 11
When students at the University of Michigan return to campus next week after the holiday break, they will find the Coke machines and fountain dispensers empty.
The university, which has 50,000 students on three campuses, on Thursday became the 10th college to stop selling Coca-Cola products because of concerns arising from accusations about the company's treatment of workers in bottling plants in Colombia and environmental problems in India.
A Coke spokeswoman, Kari Bjorhus, said on Friday in a statement that the company hoped the Michigan decision was temporary.
She said Coca-Cola was looking at ways to conduct an independent third-party study of the situation in Colombia.
Labor activists have said that Coca-Cola, through its Latin American bottlers, has been complicit in the deaths of eight union leaders and in continued harassment of unionized employees.
In India, a different group of activists have accused Coke of polluting the soil and groundwater near several bottling plants, of severely reducing groundwater levels in drought-prone areas and of failing to install adequate filtration systems that would remove pesticides from the water used to make its products.
The activists, led by two groups, Corporate Accountability International and the Campaign to Stop Killer Coke, have found a sympathetic ear on college campuses.
Within the last year, New York University, Rutgers University in New Jersey and Santa Clara University in California, among others, have stopped selling Coke products.
The University of Michigan had set yesterday as a deadline for Coke to select an auditor and agree on the terms of the investigation. But talks between the company and the university broke down.
Coke says the accusations about India are groundless.
The company says that its use of water in India has become more efficient and that it has begun harvesting rainwater to help return it to underground sources.
BSI Links to the Source to bring you what Coke has to say.
12.15.2005
Consumption of organic and ethical products on the rise
A new report commissioned by the Co-operative Bank says that shopping for organic and ethical food, beverage and cosmetics products in the UK is rising steadily year on year.
Full Text available : Drinks Business Review - USA
BSI note: Sammy Smiths has been churning out organic beers in the UK for a while now. This just in, our inside sources in the macrobrewing industry tell us that the country's largest American owned brewer may be positioning itself to launch an organic product in the future as well. I for one cant wait to see the commercials.
While it may be perplexing for some to see the big boys even thinking about brining eco_logical products to the market, consider the tipping point well off in the future and how benificial corporate america err responsable corporate america could be.
I'll drink to that. Now if our local "eco" brewer would even consider an organic product... that would be bOOoooOOmbastic~
Full Text available : Drinks Business Review - USA
BSI note: Sammy Smiths has been churning out organic beers in the UK for a while now. This just in, our inside sources in the macrobrewing industry tell us that the country's largest American owned brewer may be positioning itself to launch an organic product in the future as well. I for one cant wait to see the commercials.
While it may be perplexing for some to see the big boys even thinking about brining eco_logical products to the market, consider the tipping point well off in the future and how benificial corporate america err responsable corporate america could be.
I'll drink to that. Now if our local "eco" brewer would even consider an organic product... that would be bOOoooOOmbastic~
12.01.2005
Friends of Coal & Toyota Off Road Team Up?
This image was spotted while traveling recently in southern indiana. 2004 Toyota SR5. prolly 14mpg ay? sends us your favorite gas guzzler shots. We may do something with em.
Wait folks, the fun doesnet just stop with the picture.. oo no :
First, one simply must visit the "Friends of Coal's website
Once you get to know em, you really must party with them!
Sustainability Business Worth $ Trillions
United NationsNov. 29 2005
Press Release - United Nations Environment Programme
A powerful alignment of legal, financial, and investment interests will see USD trillions directed in the next decade to evolving markets linked to climate change, clean technology and sustainable use of natural resources, a report being prepared for the United Nations predicts.
"The Working Capital Report", to be published for the first time in March 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, is the culmination of a series of landmark studies undertaken during 2004-5.
This series of UN-backed studies explores the role of financial service companies and capital markets, and the legal context in which they operate, as they capitalise on new opportunities linked to the concept of sustainable development and more effective management of associated risks.
"There is no question that 2005 will be seen as the watershed when the mainstream banking, insurance and investment worlds realised the scale of the commercial opportunities unfolding in the new carbon, clean-tech and sustainable natural resource markets and, also, the legal risks of not being a leader in this area," explained Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Full Text available by clicking here!
Press Release - United Nations Environment Programme
A powerful alignment of legal, financial, and investment interests will see USD trillions directed in the next decade to evolving markets linked to climate change, clean technology and sustainable use of natural resources, a report being prepared for the United Nations predicts.
"The Working Capital Report", to be published for the first time in March 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, is the culmination of a series of landmark studies undertaken during 2004-5.
This series of UN-backed studies explores the role of financial service companies and capital markets, and the legal context in which they operate, as they capitalise on new opportunities linked to the concept of sustainable development and more effective management of associated risks.
"There is no question that 2005 will be seen as the watershed when the mainstream banking, insurance and investment worlds realised the scale of the commercial opportunities unfolding in the new carbon, clean-tech and sustainable natural resource markets and, also, the legal risks of not being a leader in this area," explained Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Full Text available by clicking here!
SC Johnson, EPA Partner to Design Eco-Products for the Home
GreenBiz.com, 30 November 2005 - SC Johnson has entered into a voluntary partnership with The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) Program.
SC Johnson is the first major consumer packaged goods company to partner with EPA on the program, which promotes innovative chemical products, technologies, and practices that benefit human health and the environment.
The wide-ranging partnership recognizes SC Johnson's long-standing commitment to formulate its products with more environmentally preferred ingredients. It also makes provisions for the company to further work with EPA chemists, environmental scientists and risk reduction staff in investigating materials that can further improve the health and environmental profiles of the company's products.
SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson stated his enthusiasm for the partnership. "We are delighted to continue to partner with the EPA. Design for the Environment supports SC Johnson's commitment to put the environment and human health at the center of product development and formulation. Companies can and should continue to look closely at making investments that are about doing what's right for the business and the environment."
The DfE Program is one of EPA's premier partnership programs, working with individual companies and industry sectors to compare and improve the performance and human health and environmental risks and costs of existing and alternative products, processes and practices. DfE partnership projects promote continuous improvement, integrating more environmentally responsible solutions into everyday business practices.
The Memorandum of Understanding states, "SCJ and DfE are aligned in their ways of assessing and evaluating the potential health and environmental effects of consumer cleaning products, SCJ through its Greenlist process and DfE through its comparative ingredient assessments."
SC Johnson's Greenlist process ensures that the company's products contain materials that are the best available for the environment and consumers without compromising performance, aesthetics, or cost to consumers. The process goes beyond the normal risk assessments and regulatory requirements to evaluate each raw material in every SC Johnson product.
11.27.2005
New S.F. aquarium will be largest 'green' building
SAN FRANCISCO — The world's largest public "green" building, an environmentally friendly museum featuring a living Amazonian rain forest, a live coral reef and more than
10,000 animals, is coming to San Francisco.
On Sept. 14, construction workers broke ground on the new California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium building, slated to open in Golden Gate Park in late 2008. A key aspect of the $392 million project is its "green" design, which will make the building itself one of the academy's main exhibits.
"San Francisco is the perfect place to do this," said Steinhart Aquarium Director Dr. Christopher Andrews, referring to the culture of environmental concern prevalent in the city. "Much of what the building will speak to is the need for conservation."
The new academy's design, which earned it the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction, includes solar panels that will provide about 5 percent of the building's power and a "living roof" covered with 1.7 million native plants in six inches of topsoil, which will soak up about half of the rainwater that falls on the building, significantly reducing runoff. The other half will be caught in reservoirs and used as non-potable waste water.
Including the concrete and steel, all of the materials from the old location were recycled, and the academy will use all recycled steel in its new building.
Exhibits at the new California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium will include old favorites, such as the alligator-inhabited "swamp" near the museum's entrance and the African penguins, as well as several new projects.
"The need for change is key to keep people coming back," Andrews said.
Among the new attractions will be a 90-foot-tall "Rainforest Dome," which will have a living Amazonian rain forest on one side and galleries devoted to rain forests in Borneo, Costa Rica and Madagascar on the other. A three-level walkway will wind its way to the top of the dome, where visitors can board an elevator to a glass tunnel leading through the 100,000-gallon flooded Amazon rain forest tank.
Another icon of the new aquarium will be a 225,000-gallon living coral reef tank. The 20-foot-deep tank will cover
12,000 square feet and feature aquatic life and mangroves from the Philippines. The
living coral reef exhibit will be the first of its size in the United States, an ambitious undertaking that brings new challenges.
"Most of the reef is sustained by light," said aquarium curator Bart Shepherd, who was instrumental in designing the smaller coral reef at the aquarium's current location and is working on the new one. "Our biggest challenge has been providing appropriate light."
Shepherd said the only light bulbs that will work for the new coral reef are not typically found in U.S. aquariums but are the massive halides used to light stadiums.
The Steinhart Aquarium originally opened in Golden Gate Park in 1923 and moved to its temporary location in a former warehouse on Howard Street in 2004. Plans to rebuild the aquarium started in the early 1990s after the cluster of buildings, already showing their wear from age, sustained damages in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The decision was made to rebuild, rather than renovate, so the new aquarium could be completely redesigned using new technology.
Most of the academy's collection of live animals was moved to the current location in 2004, but some of the animals had to be sent to new homes because of space issues.
Shepherd said the decisions of which large animals to keep were based on size and how easily replacements could be obtained. Large animals that are endangered were kept, while more easily-obtained animals, such as the sharks and alligators, were sent to other aquariums and wildlife preserves.
Even though the new building will feature more than 10,000 animals in its exhibits, the California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium plans to keep its personal approach to help educate visitors, with staff members and volunteers ready to explain exhibits to museum-goers.
"If you want to provide information, and effect change, the most important aspect is people to people," Andrews said.
>> Special thanks to at Shea Gunther for this most excellent story... we read it at his blog first! Given our interest in the guest services industry (read: hotels, resorts, ski resorts, and amusement parks, etc)
10,000 animals, is coming to San Francisco.
On Sept. 14, construction workers broke ground on the new California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium building, slated to open in Golden Gate Park in late 2008. A key aspect of the $392 million project is its "green" design, which will make the building itself one of the academy's main exhibits.
"San Francisco is the perfect place to do this," said Steinhart Aquarium Director Dr. Christopher Andrews, referring to the culture of environmental concern prevalent in the city. "Much of what the building will speak to is the need for conservation."
The new academy's design, which earned it the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction, includes solar panels that will provide about 5 percent of the building's power and a "living roof" covered with 1.7 million native plants in six inches of topsoil, which will soak up about half of the rainwater that falls on the building, significantly reducing runoff. The other half will be caught in reservoirs and used as non-potable waste water.
Including the concrete and steel, all of the materials from the old location were recycled, and the academy will use all recycled steel in its new building.
Exhibits at the new California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium will include old favorites, such as the alligator-inhabited "swamp" near the museum's entrance and the African penguins, as well as several new projects.
"The need for change is key to keep people coming back," Andrews said.
Among the new attractions will be a 90-foot-tall "Rainforest Dome," which will have a living Amazonian rain forest on one side and galleries devoted to rain forests in Borneo, Costa Rica and Madagascar on the other. A three-level walkway will wind its way to the top of the dome, where visitors can board an elevator to a glass tunnel leading through the 100,000-gallon flooded Amazon rain forest tank.
Another icon of the new aquarium will be a 225,000-gallon living coral reef tank. The 20-foot-deep tank will cover
12,000 square feet and feature aquatic life and mangroves from the Philippines. The
living coral reef exhibit will be the first of its size in the United States, an ambitious undertaking that brings new challenges.
"Most of the reef is sustained by light," said aquarium curator Bart Shepherd, who was instrumental in designing the smaller coral reef at the aquarium's current location and is working on the new one. "Our biggest challenge has been providing appropriate light."
Shepherd said the only light bulbs that will work for the new coral reef are not typically found in U.S. aquariums but are the massive halides used to light stadiums.
The Steinhart Aquarium originally opened in Golden Gate Park in 1923 and moved to its temporary location in a former warehouse on Howard Street in 2004. Plans to rebuild the aquarium started in the early 1990s after the cluster of buildings, already showing their wear from age, sustained damages in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The decision was made to rebuild, rather than renovate, so the new aquarium could be completely redesigned using new technology.
Most of the academy's collection of live animals was moved to the current location in 2004, but some of the animals had to be sent to new homes because of space issues.
Shepherd said the decisions of which large animals to keep were based on size and how easily replacements could be obtained. Large animals that are endangered were kept, while more easily-obtained animals, such as the sharks and alligators, were sent to other aquariums and wildlife preserves.
Even though the new building will feature more than 10,000 animals in its exhibits, the California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium plans to keep its personal approach to help educate visitors, with staff members and volunteers ready to explain exhibits to museum-goers.
"If you want to provide information, and effect change, the most important aspect is people to people," Andrews said.
>> Special thanks to at Shea Gunther for this most excellent story... we read it at his blog first! Given our interest in the guest services industry (read: hotels, resorts, ski resorts, and amusement parks, etc)