To Develop or not to Develop. That is the Question!

To Develop or not to Develop. That is the Question!

A Houston developer is putting up $15,000 in a sustainable design competition for a new master-planned community the company intends to build on the environmentally sensitive Katy Prairie west of Houston.

While the goal of the competition is to encourage designs that don’t worsen problems such as flooding, carbon emissions or loss of wildlife habitat might it not be the best plan be to reuse already developed land elsewhere? With older neighborhoods decaying and in need of infrastructure upgrades, and green fields near cities disappearing rapidly under the spread and sprawl of suburbia, might it make more sense to look back toward town than out to the green pastures surrounding it?

According to a recent article in the Houston Chronicle, the project would be the second new master-planned community in recent years on the prairie,   which  lies in the path of continuing suburban growth west of Houston. Even with the competition for a green design, it is unclear, to what extent the winning designs will contribute to the development of the Katy Prairie project in the end.

Like most prairie land, Katy Prairie provides important wildlife habitat and absorbs storm water in the Cypress Creek watershed, where hundreds of homes flooded during torrential rains last spring. The competition strives to develop the land for a community while retaining the wildlife and ecosystem services the prairie provides.

The new project is called Ventana Lakes, and will be developed on 640 acres with up to 1,200 homes at completion in 5 or more years. It is one part of the competition which has three design challenges:

1. Green Roadway: A re-development of a mile-long road/highway (expanding 2-lane to 4-lanes of road that has historic significance as well as proximity to a major tank farm near the water)

2. Urban Re-development: About 6 blocks of a street in East Houston that is intended to be a major redevelopment (complete with a large stadium, residences, shopping, restaurants, etc.) and provide a model for applying smart growth principles to redevelopment

3. Suburban Residential: The Katy Prairie square-mile development in Harris County

Development is often controversial. One member of a team that submitted a design that didn’t make the final round of the competition remarked, “Probably there should not be much more development out there (on the prarie) at all,”

But if development is inevitable, an intelligent design may yield better results. And in this case the site of the project isn’t in a part of the prairie that has been targeted for conservation.

The larger questions aside, the design did yield some pretty amazing results. Participants in the design competitions were jazzed, and they came up with designs that hold rainwater, provide habitat, nurture native species – it’s no doubt a low impact design. If develop we must – these kinds of design are the way to go. They mimic nature and preserve much, if not most of the features of the Katy Prairie already.

But it still begs the questions – should we develop open spaces or focus on redeveloping lands that have already been used – like fallow farmlands, abandoned building sites, crumbling neighborhoods , urban cityscapes and marginal lands from a diversity and wildlife perspective. Since we humans have demonstrated the capacity to live nearly anywhere, why not select those places for our development that are the least sensitive in terms of biodiversity, habitat, water purification, cropland and other ecosystems services?

So hooray for the thoughtful, intelligent design for the Ventana Lakes project, that seeks to conserve much of what is there. . A bigger hooray for urban projects and design that rehabilitate and regenerate what has already been lost and bring some of it back. Our redevelopment of already compromised lands might not look like neat rows of houses, subdivision lots and cul de sacs, but they might wind up looking more like- well, nature.

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The Basics: Personal Sustainability 101

While sustainability concepts are becoming clearer, personal definitions of sustainability and drivers that inspire eco action are often very different.  Our personal consulting has taught us: what works for one may not be the right fit for another. 

 Personal sustainability programs are about making and sustaining a change in your life that you can be inspired and passionate about.  Although a sustainability plan originates as a comprehensive one, your actions are the expression of that plan in daily life.  Eco actions can be anything from riding a bike to work or using eco-friendly office supplies to eating organic healthy meals or recycling.  It can also be about achieving a personal goal, sustaining it, and building from that platform.  Ultimately, it’s about making choices that feel good to you and generate an expectation of more and better to come in your life and the environment.

 The basic premise of a personal sustainability program is reducing your carbon footprint; lighten the load on the planet as well as be good to yourself, others, and your community.  As a green living consultant, I explain the mindset behind a personal sustainability program: 
 

• Follow that path that is most inspiring to you.
• It all starts with awareness, then shifts in choices and behavior changes.
• Small changes add up.
• Daily habits and those we do regularly have the most impact.
• Reward your successes. 
• New changes become the new habit.
• Momentum brings visibility to previously inaccessible ideas and behaviors.
• There is ease in taking more eco action.
• Inspire by living the example.

 
Building an effective long-term personal sustainability program involves more than implementing mainstream sustainability concepts into daily living.  Personal sustainability is a continuous process of improvement that challenges us to expand our own personal eco awareness and experiment with new ideas and sustainability concepts. 

Just thinking about sustainability or even a sustainable lifestyle can be daunting subject to anyone when viewed in its entirety.   By making changes that are inspiring and manageable relative your current life, the process of incorporating sustainability becomes much easier.  Taiga Company offers personal consulting that can help you build a personal sustainability program that is right  for you.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Is Green Here to Stay?

As a sustainability consultant, I am privy to the skepticism offered by others on the topic, “Is green here to stay?”  Fortunately, there are reports and information indicating evidence that not only is green or sustainable business here to stay, but that adopting sustainability concepts in business operations is an essential element of successful businesses going forward. 

 According to Environmental Leader, the 2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey indicated that despite the state of the economy, 34 percent of American consumers indicate they are more likely to buy environmentally responsible products today, and another 44 percent indicate their environmental shopping habits have not changed as a result of the economy.  In addition, 70 percent of Americans indicate that they are paying attention to what companies are doing with regard to the environment today, even if they cannot buy until the future.

 In a report, entitled Capturing the Green Advantage for Consumer Companies, executives at 20 leading consumer companies were interviewed about their sustainable business experiences and strategies.  According to the report, “The green movement is about reducing waste and minimizing our impact on the environment. Companies that translate these goals into a holistic approach to offering differentiated green products bringing down costs across the entire value chain have been rewarded with higher margins and market share.”

 Furthermore, David Dias writes in an article, Green Dies Hard, that business leaders questioning the sticking power of business sustainability view  “Sustainability is no longer a sphere dominated by activists and special interests; it can be found in every aspect of our lives, whether in curbside recycling programs or corporate initiatives or political speeches.” 

 As a professional consultant in the role of building business sustainability with small businesses,  I view this information as an indicator  that not only is green here to stay, but that it is essential for small businesses over the next decade as they try to thrive and survive by seizing new opportunities, improving their competitive position and providing more value to their customers.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Master’s Week: CEOs Putting On the “Green” Jacket

This week marks the 76th playing of the Masters Golf Tournament, in which the winner is honored with a ceremonial Green Jacket symbolizing the golfer’s entry into the exclusive club of champions.

In today’s business world, CEOs are putting on their own Green Jacket and entering a club of distinguished businesses committed to business sustainability.  These companies represent growing eco awareness in board rooms around the world for the value in a “green jacket” mentality.

Leading corporations are embracing the concept of business sustainability and its link to economic success and competitive advantage:

•    According to a 2005 KPMG survey, 68% of Fortune 250 companies now publicly report on their social and environmental initiatives as well as their financial performance.

•    According to McKinsey and Company, more than 90% of chief executives are doing more now than they did five years ago to incorporate environmental, social, and governance issues into their companies’ strategies and operations.

•    According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 6th annual Global CEO Survey: 79% of CEOs agreed that sustainability is vital to the profitability of any company, an increase from 69% the year before; and 71% of CEOs said they would sacrifice short-term profitability in exchange for long-term shareholder value when implementing a sustainability program.

Companies recognize that a failure to meet sustainability obligations may actually lead to declining market share and loss of talent in their companies.  This has placed business sustainability to the top of the agenda in many executive meetings, with topics directly affecting the future of the business.

•    Creating New Markets:  CEOs across all industries realize the economic value of incorporating sustainability concepts into product development and marketing.  Focusing on customer’s eco awareness and shifting preferences is creating new market segments and opportunity for business growth.

•    Providing Greater Transparency:  Executives recognize that transparency and accountability is no longer limited to a company’s financials.  Corporate sustainability plans are providing company disclosure on regulatory compliance and risks.

•    Meeting Stakeholder Needs:  Investors are expecting more from companies.  Business sustainability is now being integrated into traditional investment evaluation process, and this is having real impact on company financials.  Company success and sustainability are becoming more closely linked.

Today’s business environment is changing and leading companies are responding.  Recognizing the need for change and taking action can get a business on the right track.  At Taiga Company, our professional consulting works with clients ready to put on the Green Jacket.

Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

An Earth Day Pledge for Paperless Classrooms

An Earth Day Pledge for Paperless Classrooms

I’m sitting here on the plane right now on the way to Miami. In front of me I have 8 pieces of paper that I printed out containing background information on the story I am about to share with you. And the irony of it all: this post is on being paperless. Meet Shelly Blake-Plock, an instructor who teaches paperlessly in his classroom. Many may know him as the guy who writes TeachPaperless — a blog about “all aspects of paperless, digital, and technological culture as it relates to education.”

The way that Blake-Plock got into this is interesting. The basic gist is that he used to be a “paper junkie” printing out thousands of sheets a year. Then one day he couldn’t figure out how to connect his laptop to his printer and was too lazy to ask for help, so he began avoiding printing at all costs. Nowadays it seems his paperless philosophy has evolved into something deeper than laziness. There’s an environmental aspect to it, a financial piece to it (It costs about $24,250 for printing and paper per year at a school of 800 students), and there’s a cultural element, too: “I’m against the static idea of knowledge that paper so often represents. That’s not where the future is…online assignments are naturally dynamic. I do this because that’s what the kids understand. They are already living the post-paper knowledge life. They understand that in the future, (and the future is now), knowledge is dynamic and collaborative.”

So just how does Blake-Plock do it? I’m still trying to figure it out, but it seems as though it’s a combination of experimental tools like blogs, Twitter, Google Apps and more. In one of the blog posts I read, Blake-Plock wrote about how he has students keep a blog throughout the year. For kicks, he copied and pasted one of the blogs into a word processing program to see how many pages the student saved on printing on just this one assignment — 107 pages!

Besides the fact that Blake-Plock’s story is super interesting, this post is to let all the educators out there know about an upcoming happening.  Blake-Plock and tech ed leader, Steve Katz, have begun advocating a pledge they’ve created for teachers around the world “to go paperless in their classrooms for Earth Day.” This year on Earth Day, April 22, teachers worldwide will give up using paper for one day. They will refuse to accept assignments written on paper, they will avoid handing out paper tests and they will find creative ways to teach without paper. More than 900 teachers had already signed up the last time I checked. As Katz writes, “Consider taking the pledge, and think about this first paperless day as one step toward finding alternatives for paper in your class, and improving instruction with the use of technology.” If you’re an educator, consider it. If not, pass it along to your teacher friends, children’s teachers, or perhaps think about making your own day as paperless as possible. To sign up for the pledge, fill out this form or visit Blake-Plock’s blog.

By Gawky Green of Two Girls Go Green

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily

Don’t Bogart That Hemp, My Friend, Pass It Over to Me!

Don’t Bogart That Hemp, My Friend, Pass It Over to Me!

I hate seeing a wasted resource. I hate seeing a resource wasted. But the reason we don’t see more hemp in our lives, in our clothes, food, material palettes for product manufacturing and so on, is that certain people are afraid that WE will get wasted if hemp is widely grown and available.

You see, hemp is classified scientifically as Cannabis sativa — a member of the mulberry family — with hundreds of varieties, including the demon weed, marijuana. But industrial hemp is bred to maximize fiber, seed and/or oil, while marijuana varieties seek to maximize THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana). While hemp has been grown for at least the last 12,000 years for fiber (textiles and paper) and food, it has been effectively prohibited in the United States since the 1950s. In fact the US Army and US Department of Agriculture promoted a “Hemp for Victory” campaign to grow hemp in the US during WWII. Hemp helped win the war. But hemp as a brilliant history and could have a bright future, according to the North American Industrial Hemp Council.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp. Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper. Because of its importance for sails (the word “canvas” is rooted in “cannabis”) and rope for ships, hemp was a required crop in the American colonies.

Hemp has been and still is part of industry. Henry Ford experimented with hemp to build car bodies. Today, BMW is experimenting with hemp materials in automobiles as part of an effort to make cars more recyclable. Hemp oil once greased machines. Most paints, resins, shellacs, and varnishes used to be made out of linseed and hemp oils, and Rudolph Diesel designed his engine to run on hemp oil. Hemp is a valuable commodity.

But you can’t get high from hemp- not that I’ve tried, I swear. It has a negligible THC content- you’d pass out from trying to smoke enough to get a buzz, not from the buzz itself. Hemp’s real immediate value is in textiles, not tokes. Hemp fibers are longer, stronger, more absorbent and more mildew-resistant than cotton, and block solar UV rays more effectively than other fabrics. Canada is now growing hemp again- as a cash crop. Over 30 industrialized democracies distinguish hemp from marijuana to their profit, and international treaties regarding marijuana make an exception for industrial hemp. Besides, hemp and marijuana don’t mix, economically. Marijuana is grown widely spaced to maximize leaves. Or so I’ve heard.  Hemp is grown in tightly-spaced rows to maximize stalk and is usually harvested before it goes to seed. Hemp growers can’t hide marijuana plants in their fields.

Plus it’s good for the planet. The long fibers in hemp allow hemp paper to be recycled several times more than wood-based paper.

Due to lower lignin content, hemp can be pulped using fewer chemicals than wood. Its natural brightness needs no chlorine bleach, so no toxic dioxin waste escapes into streams. A kinder and gentler chemistry using hydrogen peroxide (the same natural chemical that makes our hair go gray), can bleach hemp fibers.

Hemp grows well in a variety of climates and soils. It is naturally resistant to most pests and grows tightly spaced, out-competing any weeds, so pesticides herbicides are not necessary. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop. Hemp can substitute for cotton which accounts for the lion’s share the world’s pesticides.

Hemp can also substitute for wood fiber and save forests for watershed, wildlife habitat, recreation and oxygen production, carbon capture (reduces global warming), and other values. And hemp can yield 3-8 dry tons of fiber per acre, 4 times what an average forest can yield.

Hemp is also good for your body. Hemp oil is rich in polyunsaturated fats (the “good” fats). It’s high in some essential amino acids. In fact, “gruel” was originally made of hemp seed meal. Hemp oil and seed can be made into tasty and nutritional products like hemp butter.

Let’s quit wasting this wonderful crop because we’re afraid that a few people might get “wasted”! I own a hemp shirt, and though I feel good every time I  wear it, it’s because of what that’s soft fiber is doing for the planet, not my head. I don’t even crave a donut.

Thanks to Stemergy for the unlabeled  hemp product photos, and the North American Industrial Hemp Council for most of the info. The dude in the hood is just clip art.

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Posted via web from 3BL Media, CSR News, and Emily