RALEIGH - The conservation group American Rivers says the city of Raleigh could cut water use up to 40 percent and save millions of dollars by improving water efficiency.
But a city environmental coordinator says Raleigh has already adopted many of the policies the organization recommends.
American Rivers issued a report Wednesday in which it analyzed how four cities in the Southeast could benefit from water efficiency, as opposed to building new dams and reservoirs. It concluded that Raleigh could save $30 million to $60 million by pursuing efficiency as compared with building dams and reservoirs.
“I don’t know how they developed the numbers,” said Ed Buchan, the city Utilities Department’s environmental coordinator. “We think that a lot of the things we’ve already done have saved us some money.”
Buchan noted, however, that cutting consumption also reduces the city’s revenue from water and sewer charges. And Buchan said that even with efficient use of water, growing communities such as Raleigh must still plan new reservoirs.
Read More:News & Observer
More American cities are passing green mandates - laws requiring builders to adhere to environmental standards.
(NewsUSA) - When Washington, D.C. passed its Green Building Act of 2006, a mandate stating that all new private real estate developments need to follow the LEED (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) standards set by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), it broke new ground. Building green became the new industry norm.
When builders “go green,” they erect efficient buildings that use fewer resources, improve indoor air health and minimize environmental impact. Cities have embraced green building to save energy, water and waste-management costs. From 2003 to 2007, the American cities with green building mandates grew from 22 to 92, a 418 percent increase.
How do buildings go green? The LEED system certifies buildings as silver, gold or platinum. Platinum buildings most closely follow the USGBC’s environmental standards, which look at location, water conservation, energy consumption, atmosphere, materials, indoor health quality, innovation and design.
A truly green building relies on a marriage between eco-friendly consumer products, like low-flow faucets, and renewable energy sources. Architects know to begin with sustainable building blocks -; choosing strong, energy-efficient building material can help ventilation and heating and cooling systems use less energy while improving indoor air quality.
For example, one company, Alternative Construction Technologies, Inc. (ACTech), has developed insulated structural panels made from 75 percent recycled materials. In tests, the ACTech panel system proves up to 65 percent more energy-efficient than traditional building materials. Buildings constructed using the system will waste less energy, so renewable energies, like wind and solar power, can be incorporated to optimize their intended economies and efficiencies.
The panels improve indoor air quality and acoustics. They are also firesafe and able to withstand hurricane-force winds, making them a safe building material in natural disaster-prone areas.
As American cities look to improve their carbon footprint, they must combine green materials with eco-friendly energy sources. Fourteen percent of U.S. cities with populations over 50,000 already have green building mandates, while another 36 cities plan to enact them.
For more information about the ACTech Panel System, visit www.actechpanel.com or call 1-800-859-8813. ACTech trades on the OTC Bulletin under ACCY.
Companies must develop ways to use water - a renewable resource - without harming the planet.
(NewsUSA) - The saying, “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink” rings true. Although water covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, humans make little use of its potential.
Fresh water irrigates fields, washes dishes and prevents dehydration, but it only accounts for 1 percent of the water supply. Moving water provides energy, but only 19 percent of the world’s power comes from hydroelectricity.
Water’s a natural, renewable resource, but humans don’t always use it in eco-friendly ways. People must remove the salt from ocean water before they can drink it, but according to the National Research Council, ocean-desalination plants consume so much energy that they do Earth more harm than good.
Today’s hydroelectric technologies use dams to harness moving water’s energy. Large dams require energy and materials for construction, displace communities and destroy wildlife habitats. In the U.S., 80,000 dams divert and block moving water, changing river habitats into lakes and disrupting wildlife. In 2008, horrified fishermen saw the biggest Chinook salmon run in the Sacramento River collapse, partly due to a diversion dam.
But one Hungarian-based technology company, Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc., is working to improve the ways that humans use water. Its ocean desalination prototype, when completed, will use solar or wind power to produce drinkable water at low monetary and environmental costs.
Power of the Dreams Ventures, Inc. also built a model for a product called RiverPower, which can supply hydroelectric power without dams. RiverPower generators would be submerged at strategic points, using an entire river’s flow to generate electricity. RiverPower would supply energy 24 hours a day, making it more reliable than solar or wind energy.
For more information about RiverPower, visit www.powerofthedream.com. Power of the Dream trades under the symbol PWRV on the OTCBB exchange
(ARA) – If you’re torn between your concern for the environment and your need to make a living, good news is on the horizon. Rising demand for environmentally friendly alternatives for fossil fuels is opening up new career opportunities for professionals in a variety of fields.
Growing environmental concern and limited fossil fuel supplies are driving the growth of domestic and international markets for renewable energy systems, the U.S. Department of Energy reports. Rising demand for cleaner energy directly affects career opportunities in industries related to renewable resources.
“The 2008 economic forecast suggests that one of the newest, fastest growing markets for jobs will be alternative energy,” says Sheryl Decker, director of career services at Brown Mackie College – South Bend, Ind. Decker recently attended a business outlook panel presented by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “Growth opportunities appear in companies that are exploring the use of wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and bioenergy power technologies.”
Millions of professionals already work in alternative energy industries, yet more are needed, including:
* chemists
* engineers
* sales and marketing professionals
* administrators
* managers
* clerical workers
* human resources
* information technology
* business
* finance
* law
“Professionals who are already in the workforce, and students seeking to enter into a green career, can prepare with a number of degree programs and continuing education courses,” Decker says. “Many different types of skills can be applied to these upcoming industries.”
“Alternative energy companies are seeking professionals to fill a wide variety of positions, including mechanical engineer, project manager, programmer analyst, IT sourcing specialist, administrative assistant and marketing director,” she says.
”Business Week” magazine reports that a growing number of professionals are moving to jobs in renewable energy fields to promote their own personal environmental concerns. While some intend to transfer existing skills to a different industry, others are making a mid-life career change simply to become part of the solution for the many environmental issues we face today.
The rising cost of oil is proving to be a catalyst for the further development of alternative energy sources. While substantial growth is happening now, Decker points out that many people don’t yet realize the opportunities it affords.
“People tend to overlook many untapped markets and job opportunities in their local employment arenas,” she says. “Networking can be an effective way to gauge the hiring needs in your area. I encourage everyone to join industry-specific organizations, volunteer in community activities, and become involved with the Chamber of Commerce. By becoming involved in the community and networking, you will see new doors opening with different job opportunities.”
To learn more about career training opportunities in alternative energy, and how to prepare for working in this quickly growing business sector, visit www.brownmackie.edu.
Contact: Maggie O’Neill; Ed Johnson
919. 772.4688
Wood from Old Home Site will be Salvaged for New Garner Nature Center
On Friday, July 18, wood from a farmhouse in Garner’s White Deer Park will be salvaged for reuse in the new Nature Center to be built there. Slated for demolition when the park is built, the dilapidated 1930’s farmhouse will contribute first as part of the new building, and also as part of the interpretive program for the park. Staff from Garner’s Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments and volunteers from the park design team will carefully remove the boards with hand tools. The 3/4” tongue and groove heart pine boards will be used as flooring in the new Nature Center.
The Nature Center will be the Town of Garner’s first LEED Accredited building. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a measurement tool used internationally to evaluate performance in site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Removing the boards is just one of the many environmentally sustainable initiatives the project is undertaking to achieve a LEED rating from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
“The Nature Center will have many environmentally friendly systems and features,” said Tom Maynard, Director of Garner Parks and Recreation Department. “It will include exhibits about protecting the environment. We believe the building itself will be a tool for use in teaching about how to care for and sustain the environment. The reclaimed wood is one example of how we can show people what they can do at home.”
“Reclaiming the wood is also a nice way to remember the people who once lived in the area and the history of Garner as a farming community,” said architect Louis Cherry of Cherry Huffman Architects.
The Town will store the boards until they are refinished and installed in the new Nature Center. The wood that cannot be salvaged will be recycled. The building begins construction in Fall of 2008 with expected completion in June 2009.
About the Project
White Deer Park is a 96 acre nature park located on Buffaloe and Aversboro Roads in Garner that is slated for construction this Fall. In addition to the nature center, the Park will feature 2.5 miles of paved walking trails, five picnic shelters, two new playgrounds, wildflower meadows and an arboretum. The Nature Center will also permanently house the white deer that the park is named for. The 2500 square foot Nature Center will achieve a LEED Silver Rating from the US Green Building Council for its many environmentally sustainable features.
The design team for the park includes Garner Parks and Recreation Department, obs Landscape Architects, Cherry Huffman Architects, Design Dimension, Stewart Engineering and ConsiderDesign.
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TOWN OF GARNER
(919) 772?4688
www.garnernc.gov
moneill@garnernc.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 17, 2008
Town of Garner to Salvage The Homestead
The best photo opportunities related to this project will be Friday, July 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 12:45 to 2:00 p.m.
The address of the facility is 2400 Aversboro Road. It is located approximately .5 miles from the Aversboro Road and Timber Drive intersection. Please contact CB McDonald at 919?772?4688 if you plan to visit the site so we can arrange an escort to get you from the parking lot to the site.
Town Of Garner NC website
Garner NC City Guide
City5NC.blog
How A Forest Products Company is Making a Real Environmental Impact
“Green and sustainable forestry practices are a step in the right direction. But even the most stringent standards, those certified internationally by the Forest Stewardship Council, are only a modest step away from the large-scale deforestation practices that were prevalent until recently,” says Raul Hernandez, founder of Old-Growth Again, an organization dedicated to restoring logged forestlands back to their ancient form.
Hernandez goes on to explain the problem is sustainable forestry does little in the way of restoring large and ancient trees overtime. Without these trees as a significant portion of working forests, the effects forestlands can have on global cooling are limited. Under sustainable forestry practices, lands are cut at rates of up to 30 percent per decade. At this rate of cut, a forest is “sustained,” but it’s maintained as a young forest in perpetuity with trees rarely exceeding 80 years of age.
OGA is changing this by practicing a much higher “Restoration Forestry” standard. Restoration forestry involves many practices including limiting the rate of cut to a maximum of 10 percent in any one decade. This conservative rate allows for a growth increase of standing lumber at rates of approximately 20 percent per decade, allowing the forest to mature so that a large amount of the forest canopy will once again be dominated by trees over 200 years old (the definition of old-growth).
Why is this important? “Depending on the tree species and geography, forests managed on a 200-year cycle sequester 3 to 4 times more carbon per acre than forests managed on 60 to 80 year cycles,” says Hernandez. “Restoration forestry practiced on a global scale would cause dramatic global cooling to take place while growing the highest quality lumber.”
How can you help? With the nice weather, more people are spending time outside enjoying their yards. If you are looking to add some new furniture and decor, consider Forever Redwood, OGA’s thick-timber products, which help fund the organization’s mission. Add some new lawn furniture, a gazebo or pergola, a swing or just some planter boxes. The look and design of the products is a throwback to another era when lumber was plentiful and of extremely high quality.
Besides supporting a good cause, redwood products are very long lasting and can be left outdoors for decades in elements such as harsh sun and snow, without maintenance. You can choose from three grades of redwood for Forever Redwood products — young, mature and old-growth. Half of the lumber used is from salvaged material left on the forest floor when the forest was first logged in the 40s and 50s. This wood is carefully inspected, and because of its high quality, much of it is in great shape and can be used, a testament to the longevity of the old-growth lumber. The other half comes from careful harvesting of the forest.
“One of the biggest aspects of global warming is deforestation. If forest lands are managed so they sequester carbon as they did before the high levels of harvesting, a big part of global warming equation would be eliminated,” says Hernandez.
To learn more about Forever Redwood furniture and products, and how old-growth forests are helping counteract global warming, visit http://www.OldGrowthAgain.org .
(ARA) – Tune in to your average home improvement show and you may get the idea that anyone can do demolition. Think again.
Virtually every home remodeling project begins with demolition. Homeowners who do their own demo can save big bucks, especially on projects where professionals will finish the construction part of the job. But poorly executed demolition can damage parts of your home that you’d rather preserve – and end up costing you more than the remodeling project itself
“There’s more to demolition than picking up a sledgehammer and swinging at the wall,” says Joe Skach, a demolition specialist and inventor of a pry bar system commonly used by contractors for demolition. “You need to know what to remove and how to remove it properly in order to keep the structures that you’ll need in place to complete your renovation.”
Before you tear up a floor, open a wall or demolish a countertop, keep these basic do-it-yourself demolition tips in mind:
* When removing siding from a home exterior, be aware of all lines coming into the house through the siding. Take care in these areas so that you don’t damage the home’s power source or leave yourself without cable or phone service. If you’re using a ladder to remove siding from high on the building or just getting on to the roof be sure the ladder contacts the top of the structure at least two steps below the ladder’s topmost step. If possible, tie the ladder to a stable surface near the upper support point.
* If you’re opening drywall, make sure you know whether there are live electrical wires, pipes or HVAC conduits behind it. Turn off power and water before beginning. Cutting into wiring or pipes can cause serious injury to you and seriously damage your house.
* Before you do anything with a wall, head to the basement or attic to determine if it’s load-bearing – meaning the wall helps support the ceiling or roof above it and is integral to the structural integrity of the house. To determine if a wall is load-bearing, look at the exposed joists in the cellar or attic. If joists are perpendicular to the wall, it’s likely load-bearing.
* Be prepared to be surprised. Floors can have multiple layers of covering, roofs can have multiple layers of shingles, walls can turn out to be load-bearing and newly revealed pipes can spring a leak. Allow room in your budget and schedule to deal with the unexpected.
* The right tools will make your job much easier. Professional contractors know it’s hard to remove hardwood floor with a putty knife or take down a wall with a tack hammer. You shouldn’t try it either. Before you begin your demolition project, be sure you have the right tools on hand.
While working on a six-month construction job and struggling with inefficient prying devices, Skach invented the Artillery Pry Bar System. Designed to tackle many jobs that require both prying power and adaptability, the tool features a variety of interchangeable prying blades and handles that fit onto a light yet strong extruded aluminum body.
“I found the ability to adjust the length and weight of the handles made prying much easier and far less of a strain on the body,” says homeowner Norman Novinger, who used the Artillery Pry Bar System to remove tile from a kitchen, bath and walkway. The first 16 square feet of the job took two and a half hours with traditional prying tools. Novinger says he accomplished the remaining 200 square feet in just one hour using Skach’s invention.
The system is especially effective on siding, flooring and roofing materials. First used by contractors and landlords, the system is now offered in a homeowners’ version. Visit www.artillerytools.com to learn more.
* Cover up and clean up. Protect your eyes with safety goggles and your lungs with a dust mask or respirator. Flying particles can cause serious injury. Inhaled insulation or lead paint dust can create respiratory illness. For most projects of moderate to grand scope, it’s wise to invest in a dumpster. Remove construction debris quickly as you progress to keep your work area safe and efficient.
“Do-it-yourself demolition can be both satisfying and a money-saver for homeowners, whether they finish the project themselves or hand off the construction phase to professionals,” Skach says. “The key is to do demo right – with the right tools – so that every swing of a hammer and pry with a bar is as easy and effective as possible.”
(ARA) – The ideal of a “paperless office” is still more fantasy than reality for many of us – whether we’re working for someone else or running our own business. In fact, since the arrival of the Internet and e-mail – the two vehicles that were supposed to make the paperless dream a reality – paper use in offices has actually increased.
In “The Myth of the Paperless Office,” authors Richard Harper of Surrey University and Abigail Sellen of Hewlett-Packard report that offices are now using 40 percent more paper than before the Internet. Even so, large companies do recognize the value of less paper, as evidenced by the millions they pour into document management systems.
Smaller offices, however, have been slower to pursue the dream, in part because the technology to reduce paper has been costly and geared for use by large companies. Yet small offices would seem poised to reap the most benefits from document management. Organization expert Eileen Roth, author of “Organizing for Dummies,” has said 80 percent of the papers people file is things they’ll never use again.
“Time is their most important asset for many small businesses,” says document management expert Jeremy Petty, developer of Dymo File document management software. “Small companies can save time – and dollars – with digital document management. And new software makes it easier than ever for a small office to go digital, even if they don’t have a document management expert or IT specialist on staff.”
If you’re not sure that digital document management will work for you, consider this:
* In 2006, more than 1.5 billion pages of documents were printed, according to industry analysts Lyra Research. Every man, woman and child in the United States uses 700 pounds of paper per year, and the average office worker generates 2 pounds of paper waste every day.
* Paper documents can be hard to find when needed. Software like Dymo File, a document management system specifically designed for use by small offices, converts paper documents to digital files that can be retrieved quickly and efficiently. DymoFile actually allows the user to search for a file with no more than a keyword that might be found in the text of the document.
* Paper documents require storage space. Digital document management eliminates the need for filing cabinets, boxes or any other filing system that takes up physical space in your office. Documents reside in your virtual office, where they create no clutter.
* Disaster recovery for paper documents can be difficult. If your office experiences a fire or flood and your paper documents are destroyed, you’ll have little recourse for recovering them. Digital documents, when backed up properly on a regular basis, allow for much quicker, more reliable recovery. Back up your documents daily to a zip drive that you can take with you at the end of the day, or, better yet, use an online service that allows you to back up your documents to the provider’s server.
* Sharing paper documents with clients or vendors via fax or courier can be costly and cumbersome. Digital documents can be shared and sent via e-mail with a few mouse clicks, for no cost at all.
* It’s difficult to protect the privacy and security of paper documents. “If someone can put their hands on a piece of paper, he or she can walk away with that piece of paper,” says Petty. Digital files can be protected with passwords and security software.
If you’re ready to go digital, Petty offers some advice for getting the process started:
* Don’t go completely paperless right away. Start out with the documents that are most critical to your business.
* Establish who will control the digital process. One person should lead the process and train others.
* Review your equipment. You’ll want to be sure you choose software that is compatible with the software and equipment you already have. If you already own a multi-function printer, you may be able to use the scanning feature to work with software like Dymo File. If your work volume will exceed what your current equipment can handle, invest in new equipment that will be able to keep pace with the work load.
* Consider software that will allow you to back up your software quickly and easily.
To learn more about DymoFile, visit http://www.DymoFile.com .
Like Roche, consumers can go beyond recycling and find new ways to reduce their environmental footprints
(NewsUSA) - Being environmentally responsible is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do. While helping preserve the environment, it is likely you will save money. Many U.S. corporations understand that being green is good for the environment and for their bottom line, which is why they have implemented original ways to reduce their environmental footprints.
Companies and consumers who want to be greener, but don’t know what to do beyond recycling, can look to some of these innovative companies for eco ideas. For example, Roche pharmaceuticals has been very successful in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the company achieved this goal two years ahead of schedule, which was set with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program (http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/).
Roche’s pharmacuetical division cut down waste and energy use in a variety of ways, such as:
- Changing the packaging of its osteoporosis drug, Boniva (ibandronate), from a plastic material to a recyclable “blister wrap.”
- Converting its system for submitting paper documents to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to an electronic submission process, saving reams of paper and energy that would have been spent shipping the materials.
- Offering its pharmaceutical sales force the option to choose a hybrid car to drive, saving more than 80,000 gallons of gas per year.
- Roche also introduced co-generation, the ability to generate steam and electricity simultaneously as a source of energy, at its Nutley, New Jersey, headquarters. With co-generation, the costs and emissions were reduced, but generated enough electricity to meet 65 percent of the site’s electricity needs.
ARA) - It seems everything is going “green” these days. The good news is that it’s also easier than ever before for your family to reduce its eco-footprint to help the environment both inside and outside of your home.
Let “earth friendly” be your family’s new mantra by adopting a few simple, yet effective tips from Hannah Keeley, founder of TotalMom.com.
Watch Your Waste
The supermarket checkout line is one place where the battle for the environment is often lost. Next time you’re at the grocery store, keep a close eye on the amount of wasteful packaging that’s going into your shopping cart and try to choose eco-friendlier options. For example, instead of individually-packaged single servings, look for larger quantities that can be divided into smaller, reusable containers once you get home. Make your own lunch instead of purchasing packaged meals. Bring a reusable bag to carry your purchases. A good rule of thumb: the less packaging, the better.
Save Your Energy
Conventional energy use goes hand-in-hand with carbon emissions, so do the earth and your wallet a favor by cutting the amount of energy consumed at your home. Simply turning the thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can save energy. You can cut cooling costs up to six percent for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. Another option is installing a programmable thermostat like the American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Comfort Control that will automatically adjust temperatures throughout the day, ensuring greater energy efficiency in your home, even when you’re not there.
Go Easy on the Gas
Consider setting up a carpool for school or work to save on gas. Consolidate your errands to one day during the week and map out a route that is as fuel efficient as possible. If you feel like you are constantly on the road, you may want to think about dropping a few activities and cultivating the fine art of hanging out at home. Be sure to check out public transportation — a more fuel efficient and inexpensive ride may be right around the corner.
Clean Smart
Chemicals are used all over your home — they make the sink shine, the air smell fresh and the floor practically glow. The majority of these chemicals are not only dangerous to your health but also harmful to the environment. Reduce the amount of chemicals entering in to the water supply by making your own cleaners: simple baking soda is a great scouring powder; vinegar works wonders on glass and mirrors; and plain old Castile soap cleans practically everything.
Don’t Overlook the Little Things
No matter how small you may think it is, any action to help the earth is a big step on the road to being greener. Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent blubs. Cut your showers by a few minutes. Wash your clothes in cold water. Cut down on trash by composting your vegetable scraps.
Most importantly, make it a family affair. Teach your children how to care for the earth while they are still young. There are many simple things you can do to go green (not to mention save money), so make it a family adventure and start today.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Hannah Keeley is a lifestyle expert, author and founder of TotalMom.com. Her work has been published in numerous publications and she has been featured on national television programming as the go-to source for moms.
