(2) Reducing and/or Reusing vs. (7) Energy Star Ratings. Let's get this party started!
Reducing and/or Reusing
Alright!! We get to complete the triad that forms the basis of the most iconic symbol in the Green Movement! (With Recycling, being the third, of course). Ultimately, one of these stems from the other. If you are Reusing things instead of throwing them away, you end up Reducing how much you need to buy in the future. I've included these separate from Recycling, because Recycling has an actual set of process associated with it.
Impact on the Environment (13/15):
Reducing is an idea that is so far reaching that it is at the core of most (if not all) of the other ideas that you'll see in this Tournament. "I want to Reduce the amount of gas I use; I'm going to buy a hybrid car." "I want to reduce the amount of paper I use; I should try Paperless Living." These are just two examples. And the environmental benefits are too numerous to list here. Decreased use of landfill space, less land and water needed to cultivate crops and livestock, less plastic ending up in the oceans, less air pollution coming from manufacturing plants, etc. If Reducing/Reusing makes it to the next round, there will be a more in depth discussion.
Practicality (2/10):
"2 points????" you might be thinking loudly to yourself, "why only 2 points? This one is so easy! I just drive my car less or replace my TV every 6 years instead of 5!" Well, yes and no. As amazing as Reducing is for the environment, it comes into direct conflict that everything that we, (as the computer-owning, Internet-using, blog-reading) the richer part of the world, want to see in society: progress and economic stability. Let's say you do buy a car every 10 years instead of every 5. The environment will be happy that you're not taking as much iron and aluminum out of the ground, but I can guarantee that Toyota won't be all that happy with you. And if big companies like Toyota aren't happy, neither is the economy. This means higher unemployment, higher crime rates, lower tax revenues, poorer infrastructure and countless other problems. The economy moves forward fastest when we're being purchase-and-dispose consumers, even if it hurts the environment.
Sustainability (7/10):
Much to the chagrin of economists who would probably like people to be spending more, one of the things that the poor economy has taught us is how to live without certain things. If you've learned that you can save money by riding your bike to work and Reducing the amount of gas you use, hopefully you'll keep up that habit even after the economy improves. Odds are you won't, but I'm an optimist when it comes to human behaviors, so you never know.
Awesomeness (7/10):
They're not in the same league as Recycling, but Reducing and Reusing are part of the saying that everyone uses to talk about Going Green, so they are pretty awesome in their own right.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Energy Star Ratings
When you think of Energy Star Ratings, you should really think of LEED certification, except for individual appliances and electronics instead of entire buildings. Created in 1992 by the EPA, the Energy Star system was created as a way to certify items that used significantly less energy than competing items in the market. Everything from light bulbs to washing machines can be Energy Star certified and are designated by the blue logo that says "Energy Star" on it.
Impact on the Environment (7/15):
Like LEED Certification, it's hard to say how much of an impact this has had on the environment. While I'd like to imagine that stores are more likely to stock Energy Star products and consumers are more likely to purchase Energy Star items, it's hard to say for sure how aware people are about Energy Star certification. I'd really like to see a study to see what percent of consumers take energy consumption into account when they purchase things, but for now, I'll give Energy Star ratings a fairly neutral 7 out of 10.
Practicality (5/10):
Again, it's hard to say if this really is practical. Are we wasting resources like time and money in order to certify things that people won't even take into consideration? Maybe. Maybe not.
Sustainability (8/10):
This rating system is fairly easy to sustain. Just as long as top government scientists are staying on top of current technologies in order to make sure that the best ideas are being rewarded fairly, this is something that can continue on for some time.
Awesomeness (5/10):
I don't know. Most people probably don't care one way or another if their product is Energy Star rated or not. The day I see someone walking around with a shirt with the Energy Star logo on it, maybe I'll change my mind, but for now, it gets a pretty neutral 5 out of 10.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Reducing/Reusing: 29
Energy Star Ratings: 25
Well, with that we conclude the first round of the Green Practices Region! Check it out later this week to see (1) Biking take on (8) Buses in the kick off of the Green Travel Region!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Green Tip #96: Disney World, Part 3!
Happy Friday everyone!! Let's celebrate by talking about the final Disney Green Tip! It's been a good run while it lasted, but all good things must come to an end some day. And that day is today...
Anyway, this one will be a lesson not so much in what Disney World is doing right for the environment, but what we as consumers should be doing more of to help Disney World do the right thing. One of the things that I noticed while I was there was that many of the rides and attractions had open seats in them. But the thing is that most of those rides and attractions went on anyway even with those open seats. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but I started thinking about it and I realized that we were causing Disney to be less environmentally friendly by our actions.
Let me explain. These Disney rides will be running all day (during park hours) whether we are riding on them or not. And during that time that those cars are traveling along through a world filled with robotic ghosts or while the boats are floating passed little animatronic highly stereotyped dancing people, the same amount of energy is being used when we're on the ride as when we're not (probably a little more energy when we're on it because the motors have to work harder to pull our weight.) So the overall energy used by each ride is roughly the same from day to day. The number of riders, however, changes during the busy season and during the weekday versus the weekend. So the average energy used per visitor is lower during the busy seasons and higher during the off season.
What does this all mean for you? Well Green Tip #96 is this: Go to Disney World. We need to make sure that there are no empty cars on any of these rides, otherwise Disney World is wasting all that electricity just to push empty cars around. So fill those seats and make sure to have an amazing time saving the environment!!
Anyway, this one will be a lesson not so much in what Disney World is doing right for the environment, but what we as consumers should be doing more of to help Disney World do the right thing. One of the things that I noticed while I was there was that many of the rides and attractions had open seats in them. But the thing is that most of those rides and attractions went on anyway even with those open seats. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but I started thinking about it and I realized that we were causing Disney to be less environmentally friendly by our actions.
Let me explain. These Disney rides will be running all day (during park hours) whether we are riding on them or not. And during that time that those cars are traveling along through a world filled with robotic ghosts or while the boats are floating passed little animatronic highly stereotyped dancing people, the same amount of energy is being used when we're on the ride as when we're not (probably a little more energy when we're on it because the motors have to work harder to pull our weight.) So the overall energy used by each ride is roughly the same from day to day. The number of riders, however, changes during the busy season and during the weekday versus the weekend. So the average energy used per visitor is lower during the busy seasons and higher during the off season.
What does this all mean for you? Well Green Tip #96 is this: Go to Disney World. We need to make sure that there are no empty cars on any of these rides, otherwise Disney World is wasting all that electricity just to push empty cars around. So fill those seats and make sure to have an amazing time saving the environment!!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tournament Round 1, Match 3 - (3) Paperless Living vs. (6) Wildlife Conservation
(3) Paperless Living vs. (6) Wildlife Conservation. Let's do it!
Paperless Living
Aaaaaaaand in the red corner, weighing in at 0 pounds is the featherweight champion of the world!!! Paperless Living!!!! Should be pretty self-explanatory. If you still have questions, you can see me after class at my office hours.
Impact on the Environment (6/15):
Most people, when they first hear 'Paperless Living' think that it's a pretty good thing for the environment. While I'm not going to argue with that idea, it's really not as good for the environment as you might think. A whole lot of the paper being used today comes either from recycled post-consumer product or from sustainably managed tree farms (there's a better word for that which is escaping me right now). And let's not even get into the extra electricity that's needed to manage all of the computers that are needed to replace that paper.
Practicality (3/10):
Trying to be completely paperless is almost impossible with our current technology. Let's say I notice that I drank the last little bit of milk out of the milk jug and I want my roommate to pick up some more from the store. I'm going to leave a Post-It Note somewhere, not go out and buy an iPhone and stick that to the front of the fridge. Right now, it's not going to happen. In fact, paper usage increased as computers became more popular, so Paperless Living may be a trend that doesn't catch on for some time.
Sustainability (9/10):
I've got to say, for all the crap I've been giving Paperless Living so far, it would be really really easy to maintain if we ever got to that point. If we find a good way to ditch paper, people will stop buying printers and then the constant temptation to print driving directions will ease up a bit.
Awesomeness (5/10):
I guess it's okay... It saves my car from being cluttered with directions to everywhere I've been in the past few years, but really, you don't see a whole lot of commercials with celebrities talking about how cool their lives are now they don't have a printer at home.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Conservation is pretty similar to Wetland Conservation except that this can cover not only places such as forests, but specific animals and types of plants. That and it's easier to turn a forest into a park than it is to turn a wetland into one.
Impact on the Environment (10/15):
Over the years, countless species have been saved from the brink of extinction by Wildlife Conservation efforts. But more importantly, cities are hotter on average than forests because the sunlight is absorbed by blacktop and concrete and all those good things as opposed to trees and plants that don't absorb heat. And even more importantly, trees and plants take in all the carbon dioxide that we have nothing better to do with than pump into the air and into the oceans.
Practicality (4/10):
Until someone can come up with a feasible way to live in tree houses, we need space for houses and movie theaters and candy shops and factories that manufacture tree houses. This is similar to Wetland Conservation, so check that one out for more.
Sustainability (9/10):
Even more than wetlands, forests will regrow the second we turn our backs for too long. I've always seen it as nature's just biding its time until we kill ourselves off or leave the planet and then it will all grow right back. For more on this idea, watch the show 'Life After People' or read the book 'The World Without Us.' As long as we don't cut down all the trees, we don't need to do much before it all bounces right back.
Awesomeness (8/10):
Forests are awesome. There's no denying that. And I have seen commercials with celebrities talking about how we should protect the Wildlife.
User Input (1/5):
On behalf of the Buckeye Trail, Wildlife Conservation gets a bonus point!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Paperless Living: 23
Wildlife Conservation: 32
Congrats, Wildlife Conservation! You've pulled off the first upset of the Tournament! And you've beaten the most overrated concept yet! Tune in next time for the conclusion of the first round of the Green Practices Region with the match up of (2) Reducing/Reusing and (7) Energy Star Rating.
Paperless Living
Aaaaaaaand in the red corner, weighing in at 0 pounds is the featherweight champion of the world!!! Paperless Living!!!! Should be pretty self-explanatory. If you still have questions, you can see me after class at my office hours.
Impact on the Environment (6/15):
Most people, when they first hear 'Paperless Living' think that it's a pretty good thing for the environment. While I'm not going to argue with that idea, it's really not as good for the environment as you might think. A whole lot of the paper being used today comes either from recycled post-consumer product or from sustainably managed tree farms (there's a better word for that which is escaping me right now). And let's not even get into the extra electricity that's needed to manage all of the computers that are needed to replace that paper.
Practicality (3/10):
Trying to be completely paperless is almost impossible with our current technology. Let's say I notice that I drank the last little bit of milk out of the milk jug and I want my roommate to pick up some more from the store. I'm going to leave a Post-It Note somewhere, not go out and buy an iPhone and stick that to the front of the fridge. Right now, it's not going to happen. In fact, paper usage increased as computers became more popular, so Paperless Living may be a trend that doesn't catch on for some time.
Sustainability (9/10):
I've got to say, for all the crap I've been giving Paperless Living so far, it would be really really easy to maintain if we ever got to that point. If we find a good way to ditch paper, people will stop buying printers and then the constant temptation to print driving directions will ease up a bit.
Awesomeness (5/10):
I guess it's okay... It saves my car from being cluttered with directions to everywhere I've been in the past few years, but really, you don't see a whole lot of commercials with celebrities talking about how cool their lives are now they don't have a printer at home.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Conservation is pretty similar to Wetland Conservation except that this can cover not only places such as forests, but specific animals and types of plants. That and it's easier to turn a forest into a park than it is to turn a wetland into one.
Impact on the Environment (10/15):
Over the years, countless species have been saved from the brink of extinction by Wildlife Conservation efforts. But more importantly, cities are hotter on average than forests because the sunlight is absorbed by blacktop and concrete and all those good things as opposed to trees and plants that don't absorb heat. And even more importantly, trees and plants take in all the carbon dioxide that we have nothing better to do with than pump into the air and into the oceans.
Practicality (4/10):
Until someone can come up with a feasible way to live in tree houses, we need space for houses and movie theaters and candy shops and factories that manufacture tree houses. This is similar to Wetland Conservation, so check that one out for more.
Sustainability (9/10):
Even more than wetlands, forests will regrow the second we turn our backs for too long. I've always seen it as nature's just biding its time until we kill ourselves off or leave the planet and then it will all grow right back. For more on this idea, watch the show 'Life After People' or read the book 'The World Without Us.' As long as we don't cut down all the trees, we don't need to do much before it all bounces right back.
Awesomeness (8/10):
Forests are awesome. There's no denying that. And I have seen commercials with celebrities talking about how we should protect the Wildlife.
User Input (1/5):
On behalf of the Buckeye Trail, Wildlife Conservation gets a bonus point!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Paperless Living: 23
Wildlife Conservation: 32
Congrats, Wildlife Conservation! You've pulled off the first upset of the Tournament! And you've beaten the most overrated concept yet! Tune in next time for the conclusion of the first round of the Green Practices Region with the match up of (2) Reducing/Reusing and (7) Energy Star Rating.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Green Tip #95: Automatic Doors are Opening to a World of Obesity
First off, let me just assure you that I'm not done with my Disney Green Tips for those of you that were worried. I just needed to take a break so I could talk about an issue that is of urgent importance. I'll be back to Disney World! on Friday with the next Green Tip.
One of the topics that I've mentioned on several occasions before was the topic of obesity and its effects on the environment. (See: Green Tip #45) I've heard some conflicting things about weight's effect on the environment. One camp says that overweight people use more resources, such as more gas to drive around and more food to feed their larger appetites. The other camp says they've got more health problems and will probably die sooner, thus using less resources in their shorter lives.
I'm not here to judge on which way is probably more true. I'm here to talk about something that overweight people are putting a pretty big strain on.
Our electrical grid.
(If you were thinking 'chairs,' shame on you... That's just insensitive!)
One of the things that I have always wondered is what's so hard about pushing open doors? Is your arm really that tired that you can't lift it up and have to use our precious electricity to open your automatic doors? I guess if you're overweight and your arm weighs too much that might be the case. But did you ever think that maybe that little bit of exercise that you're missing out on might be making you fat?
According to about.com, automatic doors were first installed around 1960. And I also found this chart from Wikipedia about obesity:
This blatant maiming of the principles of statistics clearly show that as automatic doors became more prevalent, the obesity rates among children increased many times over. It's obvious that automatic doors are causing our children (who have now grown up to be adults) to become obese.
So please, let's just forget about those automatic doors. They're like straws that use electricity. In other words, horrible. Ditching those automatic doors would save us all the debate about whether being fat is good or bad for the environment. Do it for our children...
One of the topics that I've mentioned on several occasions before was the topic of obesity and its effects on the environment. (See: Green Tip #45) I've heard some conflicting things about weight's effect on the environment. One camp says that overweight people use more resources, such as more gas to drive around and more food to feed their larger appetites. The other camp says they've got more health problems and will probably die sooner, thus using less resources in their shorter lives.
I'm not here to judge on which way is probably more true. I'm here to talk about something that overweight people are putting a pretty big strain on.
Our electrical grid.
(If you were thinking 'chairs,' shame on you... That's just insensitive!)
One of the things that I have always wondered is what's so hard about pushing open doors? Is your arm really that tired that you can't lift it up and have to use our precious electricity to open your automatic doors? I guess if you're overweight and your arm weighs too much that might be the case. But did you ever think that maybe that little bit of exercise that you're missing out on might be making you fat?
According to about.com, automatic doors were first installed around 1960. And I also found this chart from Wikipedia about obesity:
This blatant maiming of the principles of statistics clearly show that as automatic doors became more prevalent, the obesity rates among children increased many times over. It's obvious that automatic doors are causing our children (who have now grown up to be adults) to become obese.
So please, let's just forget about those automatic doors. They're like straws that use electricity. In other words, horrible. Ditching those automatic doors would save us all the debate about whether being fat is good or bad for the environment. Do it for our children...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Tournament Round 1, Match 2 - (4) Wetland Conservation vs. (5) LEED Certification
It's time for the first round match up between (4) Wetland Conservation and (5) LEED Certification. This one should be a close one, so let's get it started!
Wetland Conservation
First up is Wetland Conservation. A great example of poorly managed Wetland Conservation is right here in Northwest Ohio. I wasn't here back in the early 1800's, but this whole area used to be a part of the Great Black Swamp. As Americans moved west and needed land for farming, they drained the whole area, most likely destroying much of the animals and plants that lived here. (There used to be Mud Hens here, now we only have baseball players).
Impact on the Environment (14/15):
The practice of preserving the wetlands has an enormous impact on the environment. While I don't have numbers to prove it, studies have estimated that amphibians could go extinct if we continue to drain wetlands at the pace we're going. And that would mean millions upon billions more bugs flying around stinging us and giving us diseases like West Nile Disease. Get rid of the wetlands and say hello to the next plague!
Practicality (5/10):
One of the things that I was thinking about when I was thinking of Wetland Conservation was why wetlands are destroyed in the first place. Because swamps smell bad. Wait, no, hang on. It was actually to make land for farms and houses. So as the population around the world increases, we need more and more land to sustain us. Until we can improve non-conventional farming techniques such as hydroponic farming, we need to convert the wetlands into farms.
Sustainability (7/10):
Wetlands have been around for millions and millions of years, so as long as we don't do anything incredibly stupid (which we will), wetlands can take care of themselves. Every time I gain hope that people are finally figuring things out and doing the right things, something like the BP Oil Spill happens and ruins everything. BP, you have crushed the hopes and dreams of millions of children around the world. I hope you can't sleep at night because of it. You know, if you were a person.
Awesomeness (5/10):
While wetlands often get romanticized by things like the Everglades in Florida (which get a 10/10 in my book), more often than not wetlands really aren't anything special. Sure, scenic lakes in the mountains are beautiful, but if you are really dedicated to preserving the wetlands, nobody's going to be able to get to them in the first place, so nobody will be able to enjoy the beauty of it all Small price to pay to avoid the Black Death: Part 2, I guess.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
LEED Certification
LEED Certification, for those of you that don't know, stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It's a rating system for buildings that covers a variety of topics such as water and energy conservation, Green building design, natural sunlight, use of alternative energy and other topics. Buildings can be Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Certified (really, not Bronze?). This is useful mainly as a PR tool, as consumers can see if their favorite company has practices that are good for the environment.
Impact on the Environment (8/15):
This one is a tricky one. Yes, I want companies to be cognizant of their carbon footprints when they are building new facilities, but I'm always skeptical of rating systems like this. It encourages managers to make improvements simply for the sake of getting the next level of certification. And while the practices that are being rated are good for the environment, the rating system itself doesn't do a whole lot to protect the environment.
Practicality (10/10):
It's fabulous that someone (probably more like someones) came up with a single, unified way of measuring how Green a building is. This is something that can be done on any building and it's a very simple way for building and plant managers to see where they're on track and where they're behind their competitors.
Sustainability (3/10):
This is where I get worried. LEED Certification hasn't been around long enough to know whether people will keep up with the practices that got them certified. I'm really afraid that people are going to get their certification and give up trying to improve. Until there is a solid re-certification process, LEED may be simply a fad that might pass in 10 or so years.
Awesomeness (3/10):
Okay, I know that I'm a nerd I think LEED Certification is pretty awesome But that's just me. Most people don't think it's all that awesome. And I respect their opinions.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Wetland Conservation: 31
LEED Certification: 24
Sorry, LEED Certification, it looks like you won't be moving on to the next round. Better luck next year (I probably won't do this next year). But in the mean time, next week we see the match up between (3) Paperless Living and (6) Wildlife Conservation. Should be exciting!
Wetland Conservation
First up is Wetland Conservation. A great example of poorly managed Wetland Conservation is right here in Northwest Ohio. I wasn't here back in the early 1800's, but this whole area used to be a part of the Great Black Swamp. As Americans moved west and needed land for farming, they drained the whole area, most likely destroying much of the animals and plants that lived here. (There used to be Mud Hens here, now we only have baseball players).
Impact on the Environment (14/15):
The practice of preserving the wetlands has an enormous impact on the environment. While I don't have numbers to prove it, studies have estimated that amphibians could go extinct if we continue to drain wetlands at the pace we're going. And that would mean millions upon billions more bugs flying around stinging us and giving us diseases like West Nile Disease. Get rid of the wetlands and say hello to the next plague!
Practicality (5/10):
One of the things that I was thinking about when I was thinking of Wetland Conservation was why wetlands are destroyed in the first place. Because swamps smell bad. Wait, no, hang on. It was actually to make land for farms and houses. So as the population around the world increases, we need more and more land to sustain us. Until we can improve non-conventional farming techniques such as hydroponic farming, we need to convert the wetlands into farms.
Sustainability (7/10):
Wetlands have been around for millions and millions of years, so as long as we don't do anything incredibly stupid (which we will), wetlands can take care of themselves. Every time I gain hope that people are finally figuring things out and doing the right things, something like the BP Oil Spill happens and ruins everything. BP, you have crushed the hopes and dreams of millions of children around the world. I hope you can't sleep at night because of it. You know, if you were a person.
Awesomeness (5/10):
While wetlands often get romanticized by things like the Everglades in Florida (which get a 10/10 in my book), more often than not wetlands really aren't anything special. Sure, scenic lakes in the mountains are beautiful, but if you are really dedicated to preserving the wetlands, nobody's going to be able to get to them in the first place, so nobody will be able to enjoy the beauty of it all Small price to pay to avoid the Black Death: Part 2, I guess.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
LEED Certification
LEED Certification, for those of you that don't know, stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It's a rating system for buildings that covers a variety of topics such as water and energy conservation, Green building design, natural sunlight, use of alternative energy and other topics. Buildings can be Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Certified (really, not Bronze?). This is useful mainly as a PR tool, as consumers can see if their favorite company has practices that are good for the environment.
Impact on the Environment (8/15):
This one is a tricky one. Yes, I want companies to be cognizant of their carbon footprints when they are building new facilities, but I'm always skeptical of rating systems like this. It encourages managers to make improvements simply for the sake of getting the next level of certification. And while the practices that are being rated are good for the environment, the rating system itself doesn't do a whole lot to protect the environment.
Practicality (10/10):
It's fabulous that someone (probably more like someones) came up with a single, unified way of measuring how Green a building is. This is something that can be done on any building and it's a very simple way for building and plant managers to see where they're on track and where they're behind their competitors.
Sustainability (3/10):
This is where I get worried. LEED Certification hasn't been around long enough to know whether people will keep up with the practices that got them certified. I'm really afraid that people are going to get their certification and give up trying to improve. Until there is a solid re-certification process, LEED may be simply a fad that might pass in 10 or so years.
Awesomeness (3/10):
Okay, I know that I'm a nerd I think LEED Certification is pretty awesome But that's just me. Most people don't think it's all that awesome. And I respect their opinions.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Wetland Conservation: 31
LEED Certification: 24
Sorry, LEED Certification, it looks like you won't be moving on to the next round. Better luck next year (I probably won't do this next year). But in the mean time, next week we see the match up between (3) Paperless Living and (6) Wildlife Conservation. Should be exciting!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Green Tip #94: Disney World, Part 2!
Hello again! Happy Friday! Nope, the post-Disney enthusiasm is still hanging around! But that means I get to share with you another Disney-themed Green Tip! Without further ado!!! (shoot, even my ellipses are turning from three periods to three exclamation points)
One of the things that you'll notice about Disney World is that they maintain everything extremely meticulously. From the landscaping which seems so well groomed that you have to imagine someone getting there at 2 AM every morning just to cut each blade of grass with a nail clipper to the signs and attractions which are bright and shining every day. I've even heard that the brass on the carousel at the Magic Kingdom is hand polished every night after the park closes! That's dedication!
And Disney parks also have a surprising small amount of litter on the ground as well. Surprisingly little as in none at all. This is naturally very good for the environment that this garbage isn't being put into waterways for manatees to choke on, but how do they do it? Sure you do see a few janitorial cast members walking around, but not as many as you'd think would be necessary to keep parks that size clean. I've got a few theories.
Trained Birds
I have heard of studies being conducted to train crows to pick up trash and when they drop it off in a special garbage can, they are rewarded with some crow food. And this does sound like something that Disney would do...
Robot Birds
Think trained birds except replace 'trained' with 'programmed.'
Subliminal Messaging
It's entirely possible that Disney emits frequencies that are too high for the human ear to hear yet make the person be unable to throw trash on to the ground without suffering horrible, horrible guilt that can only be assuaged from buying souvenirs from one of the gift stores.
Time Manipulation
While this may be mere speculation, what if Disney cast members are able to stop time temporarily and during that time they walk around the park and clean up all of the trash? That way they'd only need to have one or two people to clean the entire place. The few people you see walking around with brooms and dustpans would be for show, of course. They don't want people catching on to their time manipulation technology.
Anyway, those are just my theories. The world may never know how they keep their parks so clean. Don't forget to check in tomorrow to see the results from the next tournament match up!!
One of the things that you'll notice about Disney World is that they maintain everything extremely meticulously. From the landscaping which seems so well groomed that you have to imagine someone getting there at 2 AM every morning just to cut each blade of grass with a nail clipper to the signs and attractions which are bright and shining every day. I've even heard that the brass on the carousel at the Magic Kingdom is hand polished every night after the park closes! That's dedication!
And Disney parks also have a surprising small amount of litter on the ground as well. Surprisingly little as in none at all. This is naturally very good for the environment that this garbage isn't being put into waterways for manatees to choke on, but how do they do it? Sure you do see a few janitorial cast members walking around, but not as many as you'd think would be necessary to keep parks that size clean. I've got a few theories.
Trained Birds
I have heard of studies being conducted to train crows to pick up trash and when they drop it off in a special garbage can, they are rewarded with some crow food. And this does sound like something that Disney would do...
Robot Birds
Think trained birds except replace 'trained' with 'programmed.'
Subliminal Messaging
It's entirely possible that Disney emits frequencies that are too high for the human ear to hear yet make the person be unable to throw trash on to the ground without suffering horrible, horrible guilt that can only be assuaged from buying souvenirs from one of the gift stores.
Time Manipulation
While this may be mere speculation, what if Disney cast members are able to stop time temporarily and during that time they walk around the park and clean up all of the trash? That way they'd only need to have one or two people to clean the entire place. The few people you see walking around with brooms and dustpans would be for show, of course. They don't want people catching on to their time manipulation technology.
Anyway, those are just my theories. The world may never know how they keep their parks so clean. Don't forget to check in tomorrow to see the results from the next tournament match up!!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tournament Round 1, Match 1 - (1) Recycling vs. (8) Political Activism
The moment everyone has been waiting for is finally here!! The first round match up between (1) Recycling and (8) Political Activism!! Without any further ado, let's get it started!
Recycling
First let's talk about Recycling. Recycling, as defined by my brain, is taking a post-consumer product and grinding it up or melting it down so it can be turned into something else that is usable. This is not to be confused with Reusing or Reducing, which will be coming up in a few days.
Impact on the Environment (13/15):
The two biggest advantages in terms of environmental impact are reduced landfill space needed and less use of raw materials. Overall, Recycling has saved countless millions of pounds of trash from ending up in landfills and (even worse) the oceans. I'd give it 12, but sticking it to the GPGP bumps the score up to 13.
Practicality (4/10):
Hmm... I have to say, when you think of all the hurdles it faces in terms of collection and sorting, Recycling doesn't seem as promising. First off, you have to get people to recycle, which is hard enough. Then you have to collect it, truck it to a sorting facility, sort it (a lot of times by hand), bale it, then ship it (usually to Asia) where it is then turned to goods or raw materials then shipped back to the other countries. Ugh, when you look at it that way, Recycling seems kind of like when you were a kid and you get a really cool toy for Christmas (or other religious holidays that celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ), but the packaging is so hard to open that it completely spoils all the fun you should be having.
Sustainability (9/10):
Once the system is in place, it's really not that bad. I mean, the trucks were going to pick up garbage anyway, why not pick up recycling instead? Ultimately, there probably will be better ways to manage waste, but over the past 20-30 years, we've come up with a pretty solid system that will be easy to sustain.
Awesomeness (9/10):
Any concept that could inspire me to own at least four t-shirts related to it has to be pretty darn awesome. While the process itself is nothing flashy like wind turbines are, Recycling as a concept has become the symbol of the Green Movement. No other concept is so iconic except for maybe the spiral light bulbs, but we'll get to that later.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Political Activism
Next we'll talk about Political Activism or PA for short to save keystrokes and therefore energy. PA can take on many forms, from calling or writing to your Congresspeople to mailing letters filled with anthrax to the Pentagon with a note claiming that Global Warming made you do it. (Please don't do that!)
Impact on the Environment (2/15):
There really isn't much to say about this one. Yes, sure public awareness is very important to getting measures passed that will increase funding for environmental programs, the amount of time and effort and energy that you will spend trying to get politicians to listen to your views will hardly make up for any bills and laws that can be created. And think of all the paper that's wasted on protest signs!
Practicality (-1/10):
Who do you think politicians will listen to? You or Big Oil Companies who are funneling millions of dollars into their re-election campaigns? Unless you have some scandal that you can blackmail them with (What?? Nancy Pelosi was behind the Balloon Boy incident all along?), you probably don't stand much of a chance.
Sustainability (0/10):
I don't think this category even applies... My bad...
Awesomeness (Either 0/10 or 10/10):
There are two ways of going about PA. You can be informed of the issues and make sure you vote with the environment in mind in order to shape the political landscape in a way that is beneficial to the environment. Or you can dress up in a seal costume, cover yourself in oil and bust into a fund raising dinner for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. I'll let you decide which will get you 10 awesome points and which will get you 0.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Recycling: 35
Political Activism: 1 or 11
Well, there you have it, it looks like Recycling crushed Political Activism in this first round match. PA was kind of a joke entry. I did it to start off with something fun. I can promise that later matches will be closer. Like Saturday's match up between (4) Wetland Conservation and (5) LEED Certification. Get those comments in, it may be a close one!!
Recycling
First let's talk about Recycling. Recycling, as defined by my brain, is taking a post-consumer product and grinding it up or melting it down so it can be turned into something else that is usable. This is not to be confused with Reusing or Reducing, which will be coming up in a few days.
Impact on the Environment (13/15):
The two biggest advantages in terms of environmental impact are reduced landfill space needed and less use of raw materials. Overall, Recycling has saved countless millions of pounds of trash from ending up in landfills and (even worse) the oceans. I'd give it 12, but sticking it to the GPGP bumps the score up to 13.
Practicality (4/10):
Hmm... I have to say, when you think of all the hurdles it faces in terms of collection and sorting, Recycling doesn't seem as promising. First off, you have to get people to recycle, which is hard enough. Then you have to collect it, truck it to a sorting facility, sort it (a lot of times by hand), bale it, then ship it (usually to Asia) where it is then turned to goods or raw materials then shipped back to the other countries. Ugh, when you look at it that way, Recycling seems kind of like when you were a kid and you get a really cool toy for Christmas (or other religious holidays that celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ), but the packaging is so hard to open that it completely spoils all the fun you should be having.
Sustainability (9/10):
Once the system is in place, it's really not that bad. I mean, the trucks were going to pick up garbage anyway, why not pick up recycling instead? Ultimately, there probably will be better ways to manage waste, but over the past 20-30 years, we've come up with a pretty solid system that will be easy to sustain.
Awesomeness (9/10):
Any concept that could inspire me to own at least four t-shirts related to it has to be pretty darn awesome. While the process itself is nothing flashy like wind turbines are, Recycling as a concept has become the symbol of the Green Movement. No other concept is so iconic except for maybe the spiral light bulbs, but we'll get to that later.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Political Activism
Next we'll talk about Political Activism or PA for short to save keystrokes and therefore energy. PA can take on many forms, from calling or writing to your Congresspeople to mailing letters filled with anthrax to the Pentagon with a note claiming that Global Warming made you do it. (Please don't do that!)
Impact on the Environment (2/15):
There really isn't much to say about this one. Yes, sure public awareness is very important to getting measures passed that will increase funding for environmental programs, the amount of time and effort and energy that you will spend trying to get politicians to listen to your views will hardly make up for any bills and laws that can be created. And think of all the paper that's wasted on protest signs!
Practicality (-1/10):
Who do you think politicians will listen to? You or Big Oil Companies who are funneling millions of dollars into their re-election campaigns? Unless you have some scandal that you can blackmail them with (What?? Nancy Pelosi was behind the Balloon Boy incident all along?), you probably don't stand much of a chance.
Sustainability (0/10):
I don't think this category even applies... My bad...
Awesomeness (Either 0/10 or 10/10):
There are two ways of going about PA. You can be informed of the issues and make sure you vote with the environment in mind in order to shape the political landscape in a way that is beneficial to the environment. Or you can dress up in a seal costume, cover yourself in oil and bust into a fund raising dinner for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. I'll let you decide which will get you 10 awesome points and which will get you 0.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Recycling: 35
Political Activism: 1 or 11
Well, there you have it, it looks like Recycling crushed Political Activism in this first round match. PA was kind of a joke entry. I did it to start off with something fun. I can promise that later matches will be closer. Like Saturday's match up between (4) Wetland Conservation and (5) LEED Certification. Get those comments in, it may be a close one!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Green Tip #93: Disney World, Part 1!
As those of you who read faithfully will by now have figured out, many of the Green Tips that I write are very directly influenced by things that happen in my life. So it should really come as no surprise that this first entry back in a while should be about Disney World! (Okay, there really was no need for the exclamation point at the end of that last sentence. It just feels like there should always be one at the end of Disney World! like the 2001 hit movie, Moulin Rouge!)
So yeah, I was in Disney World last week with my family and I had a great time! (Dang, that exclamation mark just won't go away! I guess staying a week in the happiest place on earth makes you more enthusiastic about everything!) But you aren't here to read about my personal life, you want to know how Disney World can be an educational tool for environmental sustainability! (If I just ignore it it will go away)
Well, there are actually several things about Disney World that can be used for Green Tips (hence the 'Part 1'). And I'm not just talking about all the recycling exhibits at Epcot or the wildlife conservation messages at Animal Kingdom (although it was fun to drive little model garbage trucks around and play recycling video games). No, I'm talking about the more obscure lessons that only an eco-nerd like myself would pick up on!
My first lesson that I learned from Disney World is that public transportation is cool! No, seriously, I defy you to name one other place on the planet that has as much mass transit! There's the buses that drive between the parks (awesome), the monorail (awesome on one rail), the ferry boats (floating awesome), the trains (too awesome for just one rail), the parking lot shuttles (really long awesome), not to mention the fact that all the rides are basically really impractical public transportation (awesome that always ends up where you started). And they make it all so much fun! Buses in Toledo are somewhat frightening sometimes with homeless people and drunkards, but the buses in Disney World are basically like warm ups for the rides!
So please, Audio-Animatronic replica of Walt Disney that runs Disney World, if you truly love us as much as I believe you do, start expanding your monorail system to encompass the entire continent. Because while a 20 hour car ride was horrible, a 20 hour monorail ride would just be awesome! Share the wealth!
Well, it is good to be back and don't forget that tomorrow!!!! is the start of the May Madness Bracket Tournament of Champions Green Extravaganza 2010: The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny!!!! (I love that song, don't sue me!) Tomorrow's match up will be (1) Recycling vs. (8) Political Activism. Can the underdog pull off the ultimate upset?? Find out tomorrow! And leave your comments about who you think will win!
So yeah, I was in Disney World last week with my family and I had a great time! (Dang, that exclamation mark just won't go away! I guess staying a week in the happiest place on earth makes you more enthusiastic about everything!) But you aren't here to read about my personal life, you want to know how Disney World can be an educational tool for environmental sustainability! (If I just ignore it it will go away)
Well, there are actually several things about Disney World that can be used for Green Tips (hence the 'Part 1'). And I'm not just talking about all the recycling exhibits at Epcot or the wildlife conservation messages at Animal Kingdom (although it was fun to drive little model garbage trucks around and play recycling video games). No, I'm talking about the more obscure lessons that only an eco-nerd like myself would pick up on!
My first lesson that I learned from Disney World is that public transportation is cool! No, seriously, I defy you to name one other place on the planet that has as much mass transit! There's the buses that drive between the parks (awesome), the monorail (awesome on one rail), the ferry boats (floating awesome), the trains (too awesome for just one rail), the parking lot shuttles (really long awesome), not to mention the fact that all the rides are basically really impractical public transportation (awesome that always ends up where you started). And they make it all so much fun! Buses in Toledo are somewhat frightening sometimes with homeless people and drunkards, but the buses in Disney World are basically like warm ups for the rides!
So please, Audio-Animatronic replica of Walt Disney that runs Disney World, if you truly love us as much as I believe you do, start expanding your monorail system to encompass the entire continent. Because while a 20 hour car ride was horrible, a 20 hour monorail ride would just be awesome! Share the wealth!
Well, it is good to be back and don't forget that tomorrow!!!! is the start of the May Madness Bracket Tournament of Champions Green Extravaganza 2010: The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny!!!! (I love that song, don't sue me!) Tomorrow's match up will be (1) Recycling vs. (8) Political Activism. Can the underdog pull off the ultimate upset?? Find out tomorrow! And leave your comments about who you think will win!
Friday, May 7, 2010
I didn't know if I'd have time to get a Green Tip in today, but it looks like probably not. I've got a bunch of things to do, one of which is packing for my vacation next week. So while I'm not going to post anything new until May 18, you can look forward to the start of the Green Tournament that week to make up for lost time. If you really need your Green Fix for the week, feel free to browse the archives to find posts that you may not have read or ones you just forgot about.
Thanks, and I'll see you in a week and a half!
Thanks, and I'll see you in a week and a half!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Green Tip #92: Grapple
Let me begin this Green Tip as I do with many others: with a disclaimer. Typing this character: 'ā' is way more work than I want to do more than once a post. Whenever I refer to 'Grapples' know that there should be a long 'a' sound (think 'Grape-L'). I'm just too lazy for the accent. Here's free promotion for Grapples to make up for me misspelling their product.
With that said, those of you familiar with Grapples are wondering how they can be environmentally friendly and those unfamiliar with Grapples have probably used the link above and are now also wondering how they can be environmentally friendly. Well, to answer that, I'm going to have to delve into a subject that I've been avoiding for quite some time now.
Produce.
Sure, I've talked about food a bunch. Mostly fast food, but that's 90% salt, sugar and preservatives, so that hardly falls into the same category. No, I'm talking about things that actually grow from plants. The reason I've avoided talking about it is that the subject of organic food is notoriously controversial. For those of you wanting to know my opinion on the subject will just have to wait until some time in June when that match-up comes up in the May Madness Bracket (You still have two weeks to fill one out!!!).
No, what I want to talk more about is buying locally. I'm sure you've heard the phrase before but basically it says that you should buy things that are produced in your city, state, or country because it's good for your local economy and saves on transportation-related environmental impacts. For example, today I had the choice of going to either a Kroger gas station or a Sunoco. I happen to know that Kroger is based out of Cincinnati and Sunoco is based out of Philadelphia so I chose Kroger because my money will be going towards Ohio's economy instead of Pennsylvania's. (Makes up for all the money I had to pay to Pennsylvania in tolls when I was driving to Philly earlier this year!)
Anyway, what does all this have to do with fruit hybrids? (Ooo, Apple should team up with Chevy and make next year's Volt really cool!) It's simple. If I only bought food locally, one thing I'd miss out on is tropical fruit. Ohio's good for growing things like apples and to a lesser degree grapes, but I've never seen a banana tree plantation along State Route 2. So, sure I could just eat banana flavored candy, but it's just not the same. Here's where fruit hybrids come into play.
With that said, those of you familiar with Grapples are wondering how they can be environmentally friendly and those unfamiliar with Grapples have probably used the link above and are now also wondering how they can be environmentally friendly. Well, to answer that, I'm going to have to delve into a subject that I've been avoiding for quite some time now.
Produce.
Sure, I've talked about food a bunch. Mostly fast food, but that's 90% salt, sugar and preservatives, so that hardly falls into the same category. No, I'm talking about things that actually grow from plants. The reason I've avoided talking about it is that the subject of organic food is notoriously controversial. For those of you wanting to know my opinion on the subject will just have to wait until some time in June when that match-up comes up in the May Madness Bracket (You still have two weeks to fill one out!!!).
No, what I want to talk more about is buying locally. I'm sure you've heard the phrase before but basically it says that you should buy things that are produced in your city, state, or country because it's good for your local economy and saves on transportation-related environmental impacts. For example, today I had the choice of going to either a Kroger gas station or a Sunoco. I happen to know that Kroger is based out of Cincinnati and Sunoco is based out of Philadelphia so I chose Kroger because my money will be going towards Ohio's economy instead of Pennsylvania's. (Makes up for all the money I had to pay to Pennsylvania in tolls when I was driving to Philly earlier this year!)
Anyway, what does all this have to do with fruit hybrids? (Ooo, Apple should team up with Chevy and make next year's Volt really cool!) It's simple. If I only bought food locally, one thing I'd miss out on is tropical fruit. Ohio's good for growing things like apples and to a lesser degree grapes, but I've never seen a banana tree plantation along State Route 2. So, sure I could just eat banana flavored candy, but it's just not the same. Here's where fruit hybrids come into play.
All people need to start doing is flavoring their local fruits with exotic fruits they can't find in their area. So up here in the Midwest, we'd be eating local apples flavored like grapes (Grapples) or bananas (banapples) or pomegranates (pomegrapples) or kiwis (apkiwiples). The reverse would be true in other parts of the country. Californians would be eating apple flavored oranges (oranppgles), apple flavored kiwis (kiwapplies) and Floridians would eat apple flavored pomegranates (apppomlegranates). Get the picture? So get on this, weird fruit producers! And if you chose to use any of my names, don't forget to send royalty checks this way!
Figure 1. Granny Smith Apppomlegranates
Figure 1. Granny Smith Apppomlegranates
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