Sustainability in Business

Levi's

    Levi's changed their finishing process to reduce water 28% on average, and as much as 98% for some products. They did this by reducing the number of washing cycles from 3 to 10, to just ONE process. They incorporated ozone processing into their washing and removed ALL water use from their stone wash products.

Trans-Elect Development

    Has an ambitious proposal to build a 350-mile offshore wind installation in the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Wind Connection, which will deliver power to about 1.9 million households. In October, Google and Good Energies (a NY-based investment firm) agreed to take a 37.5 % stake each in the initial development stage of the project. This installation will stretch from New Jersey to Virginia and provide a "backbone" for multiple wind farms. The first phase could go into effect as early as 2016.

 

Newsweek's Green Rankings for 2010

    Newsweek's 2^nd annual Green Ranking scores are in! The top five companies include Dell, HP, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel. Each company is scored by three separate metrics: an Environmental Impact Score (45%), a Green Policies Score (45%), and a Reputation Survey Score (10%). There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at these rankings. First, the differences among top companies are MINOR. The top 19 companies scored over 90% and the top 87 companies scored over 80%. Secondly, the scores are SUBJECTIVE. Individuals make judgment calls that are turned into numerical scores. Lastly, all of the scores are RELATIVE. They are scored by how they compare to their peers.

 

Top 10 Power Purchasers Recognized by the EPA

1. Intel Corporation
   
2. Kohl's Department Stores
   
3. Whole Foods
   
4. Starbucks
   
5. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
   
6. City of Houston
   
7. Dell, Inc.
   
8. Johnson & Johnson
   
9. US Air Force
   
10. City of Dallas

November 15th: America Recycles Day

The US Environmental Protection Agency has set aside November 15^th as America Recycles Day! This is the day America can "recommit to recycling for the health of the planet."

Recycling is a very important part in reducing pollution, along with "reduce" and "reuse." Today, we are able to recycle many things, even electronics, but a lot of these items are still making their way into our landfills. Current recycling rates are remaining at about 33% of solid waste, which leaves more than 54% of solid waste in landfills. Keep in mind, the average American discards about 4.5 POUNDS of trash each day.

Some valuable items that we can recycle include:

• Glass bottles and Jars
  
• Plastic Detergent and Soda bottles
  
• Aluminum cans
  
• Paper containers and packaging
  
• Yard clippings
  
• Food scraps
  
• Electronic devices.
  

Schools across the nation are offering paper recycling bins to help recycle AND raise money for schools, so keep an eye out for those. Another important piece of information to remember: ONE can of soda can save enough energy to fuel your television for TWO HOURS!

EPA gives away $1.5 Million in Grants for Environmental Education

Through the 1990 National Environmental Act that gives the agency the authorization to support and create environmental education programs, the EPA awarded $1.5 million in Environmental Education grants this year. Among the recipients were The Native Wellness Institute of Portland, Oregon and the Island Institute of Rockland, Maine.

The Native Wellness Institute of Portland received over $100,000 to implement their "Native Youth Environment Warriors" project. This project will give environmental education and training to people in order for them to design and put into place environmental projects in their communities.

The Island Institute of Rockland received almost $124,000 for their "Energy for Maine" project. This project will allow discussions and analysis of renewable energy sources and provide education for energy efficiency.

The remaining recipients received money for projects that range from climate change and water quality in their communities and on a national level.

The United States and Going Green

• The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has recently opened its new Research Support Facility in Golden, CO. This $64 million 220,000 square foot office building will only use the energy it creates and it will use 50% less energy than comparable buildings AT CURRENT COMMERCIAL CODE. This building has the following key elements:
  
  • Oriented to allow daylight and natural ventilation which will minimize unwanted heat losses and gains.
    
  • Has a labyrinth of thermal storage in crawl space for passive heating of the building.
    
  • Outside air will be preheated by transpired solar collectors.
    
  • ALL of the workstations will be lit with natural daylight.
    
  • Most windows will be operable and are triple glazed.
    
  • The concrete is precast with insulated panels
    
  • Uses water as the cooling and heating medium instead of forced air.
    
  • Has under-the-floor ventilation
    
  • Has an energy efficient data center and workstations.
    
  • Has an on-site solar energy system.
    
• US Postal Service
  
  • Installed Green Roof in New York City plant.
    
    • Reduces polluted storm water runoff by 75% in summer and 40% in winter.
      
    • Saving 40% in electricity each month.
      
    • The roof will last about 50 years.
      
  • They had a goal to reach a 30% reduction in energy use by 2015, they are already 2/3rds of the way there.
    
  • Cut energy intensity by 21% since 2003.
    

Sustainability in Business

What are big businesses doing to go green????

 

Frito-Lay

Frito- Lay will be expanding its fleet to 176 electric vehicles over the next year. These vehicles can travel up to 100 miles on one charge and releases 75% less Greenhouse Gases than diesel-powered trucks. Five all-electric trucks were deployed in New York City in September.

Green Seal

Green Seal has expanded its scope with a new pilot standard that seeks to certify the sustainability of an entire company. This expansion of scope is aimed to speed the greening of the consumer market.

Thanet Offshore Wind Farm

Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, off the Kent Coast, is the largest offshore wind farm in the World. It has 100 turbines and will generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of over 200,000 British Households.

General Electric (GE)

GE plans to invest $432 million in the next 4 years to establish 4 design and manufacturing centers for energy efficient refrigerators in the United States. These products will meet 2014 standards and create over 500 jobs in the process.

Novotech, Inc.

This Massachusetts-based firm is developing new technology that will allow water heating and cooling through parking lot pavement. This technology will allow us to collect heat from parking-lot asphalt and save an estimated $77,000 in savings from a half-acre system. It is not yet known when this technology will be available, as it is still in the development phase.