GREEN BUSINESS VIEWS

Posts Tagged ‘green practices’

I have to commend a few really outstanding efforts to bring our attention to some very big sustainability issues.  CNBC is promoting an in-depth look at the garbage industry, which seems more than timely and important.  “Trash Inc: The Secret Life of Garbage” will focus more on how money is made through this industry, and much of the profiteering is shockingly true.  There is lot of money being made on trash, and that only adds to the conundrum of this whole trash issue.

What is mentioned in passing is the immense amount of trash that we are outputting every day in America.  What is unfortunately true is that 40-60% of all of our trash could be pulled out of this business if we applied better Green Practices in our homes and businesses.  We buy stuff that is never used, and we throw it away.  We have far too much packaging of all types of  goods, and we love consumables.  Think for a moment about all the cleaning supplies that come in RTU (Ready to Use) form.  Plastic bottles will take more than 100 years to decompose, but we throw them out after one use!  Did you realize that the raw cost of a bottle of soda or water is less than the bottle used to contain it?

36% of our trash is paper and paper products!  This is something that we can change overnight with the installation of Green Practices that will not only reduce the trash bill, but will literally speed up your office performance.    There are more than 400 Green Practices that can be seamlessly installed in most businesses that will also help the company function better.  The trouble is that there is no leadership in this effort apart from programs like the EcoEducation Center that trains Green Consultants nationwide (and internationally) to work hand-in-hand with businesses to make quality improvements and improve the business operation.

I also want to highly recommend a newly released movie called “Fuel.”   It is now a rental on Netflicks.  While I cannot agree with all the associated messages in the documentary, I was absolutely blown away with the telling of the story of oil and its power over our government.  I also loved the conclusion of the movie that came home with the most inventive and exciting ideas that are seen in the biodiesel program.  Ethanol is NOT the solution the government wants it to be.  Biodiesel is the smart solution.  So, whether it is the job creation from jatropha beans in high-unemployment tropical areas, or the ability to turn waste into diesel through algae, I am absolutely pleased to see these options coming our way.  I simply have no real confidence in fuel from ethanol as a cost-effective or non-intrusive fuel source.

In fact one of the major training segments of the Certified Sustainability Officer (CSO) training is the “Green Fleet.”   We feel that every business in American needs to train an in-house CSO to address the numerous issues that are hurting business, our communities, and our world.  When we finally figure out that it is “High Time” to do something about these things, it will literally be “Too Late.”  The folly of business is that they can’t find the appropriate ROI in the Going Green program.  Well that is because they are talking to people who charge way too much for their help, or know far too little about the benefits.  Training a CSO in-house is the smart way to Go Green, and it allows someone already drawing a paycheck to bring added value to the company.

If anyone can watch both of these programs and remain idle, they are just heartless.  These are no longer mere socially-conscious issues.  We are facing crisis issues that have not hit with their full furry yet.  Because we are still in the sunlight of the day, not noticing the storm rising behind us; we are the worst fools of all.  It is time for companies to at least start their engines because this is a race we cannot lose.  If you have not trained an in-house CSO … we strongly suggest that you invest in your future by doing this now!

Every business in America is torn by what is coming their way.  There is no doubt that we need a Greener, more sustainable business model to follow.  The underlying question is the cost of all the fixes contrived by Washington, DC.  There seems no solution that does not come with an immense price tag and a dubious promise of results.  For what its worth, this has possibly been the worst period of government in decades because there is a short-sightedness about the solution offered.  The penalizing attitude seems to prevail as budget-busting legislation rolls out of congress and onto the president’s desk to be signed.  We all wonder if the monstrosity, ear-mark laden bills put out by this elitist congress knows any limits to what they will lay on the backs of Americans.

There is no doubt that we need a Greener and leaner business model.  The innovations needed are already being seen on every level of business.  Americans have always been a ready-to-respond people who are already in transition.  Why not incentivize this willing spirit with rewards for improvement rather than repressive taxes and loathsome regulations?

It does seem to be a little guy versus big government battle going on right now.  The disrespect of the willingness of the American people and American business to own up to the challenge is all to obvious.  Repression by big government regulations, do nothing agencies, and laborious compliance rules is more than unfortunate.  This is America, and we are proud of our country.  Get government off our backs and provide an incentive, and the job will get done in half the time and a tenth of the cost of the government way.

This real impact will be felt this fall as more and more Americans worry less about party and more about their country.  The “Vote the Bastards Out” attitude did not come from fools and radicals.  It is how Americas get rid of the SOB’s that think that power is their birthright.   If there is one message that we can send that will be heard from corner to corner in DC, it will be to kick out as many of these incumbents as possible and let some everyday people give it a try.  It can’t be any worse than what is parading around DC as representatives of the people.

Having read an article reported coming from a scientist that argues that live Christmas trees are “greener” than fake trees, I find myself less convinced than I would be years ago.  With so much contradictory information coming from the scientific community, I try to take all this kind of information with several grains of salt.  Merely attaching the word “scientist” to a statement no longer holds the value that it once did.  In the post-Copenhagen twilight, the news of the tweaked climate models, and the controversial emails of scientists withholding all the facts they had in hand; I am no longer readily convinced that anything said by a scientist is reputable.

Now, I may agree that a real Christmas tree is essentially carbon neutral in that it is not a rain forest issue and new trees will replace harvested trees.   I still wonder at the partial and one-sided information that these kinds of public statements convey.  The lifecycle analysis of a real tree must include all the care it took to grow these trees, transport these trees, and dispose of these trees.  It is not merely about the carbon footprint represented by growing and disposing of the tree.

By the way, did you realize that a common mold can be brought into a home by the much-loved live Christmas tree?  Twelve times during a two week period, researchers measured mold counts in a room containing a live Christmas tree, beginning when the tree was brought inside and decorated. The tree was located 10 feet from a heat vent, and the indoor temperature was maintained at between 65 and 68 degrees.

For the first three days, counts remained at 800 spores per cubic meter of air, then began escalating, rising to a maximum of 5,000 spores per cubic meter by day 14, when the tree was taken down.  Mold allergy affects up to 15% of the population, and people with sensitivity to certain molds commonly experience nasal, eye, and throat irritation; nasal stuffiness; and headache. Additionally, there is a well-documented link between asthma attacks and molds, and the added risk of invasive fungal disease among people with compromised immune systems.  Normal indoor air has a mold level of 500-700 spores per cubic meter, and anything higher indicates a source of mold growth inside the building.

So, let me add another consideration to the “Green” representation.  The best definition of “Green” is the health impact of the actions that we take.  When we are talking about the carbon footprint, the proper designation is “Sustainability.”  The term “Green” has been broadly re-interpreted as nearly anything environmental, but we much not forget that health is a fundamental human issue, and Green is best defined relative to health impact.  Further understanding of Green also considers “proximity” as part of the process.  In other words, the closer you are to the problem, the more responsible you are to do something about it.  This redefinition of Green always sparks an anxious debate, but we need to keep our terms clear.  Although “Green” and “Sustainable” are complimentary terms, they are not synonymous.  Both terms would be sub-categories of the broad concept of environmentalism.

If the sole criteria is carbon footprint, then the live Christmas tree would win the “Greenest” tree, even though I would suggest the “Most Sustainable Tree” would be the correct designation.  If we look at the often-neglected indoor air quality that might be impacted by bringing in a live tree, the fake tree would be the the Greenest tree.  If  a lifecycle analysis was applied, the metrics change and the live tree would likely be the winner.  If you are a treehugger, than the fake tree is something to re-consider.

What I am ultimately demonstrating is called the “Trade Off.”  There are no perfect solutions, just better ones.  In many cases, the trade offs are nearly totally one-sided.  Personal jets, like the ones used by so many politicians, high-level business people; and even Al Gore, have no real defense even if they buy carbon credits.  The sheer waste of these luxuries are indefensible.  While we debate the wisdom of our next car choice, the laundry detergent that we buy, or the proper choice of a Christmas tree; those who are so public about climate change travel in private jets, live in mansions, and ignore all the smaller issues that they encourage among the “common people.”

If there is a “Bah, Humbug” factor in this Christmas season, it is the Scrooge-like hauntings of wrongs being done to others, leaving the lesser people suffer while the elite utter mocking words of concern.  As we gather around our live or fake Christmas trees this year adorned with energy-saving LED lights, and dress more warmly so we can cut back on our power consumption, congress contemplates the cap and trade legislation that will place another onerous and austere tax on the American economy.  Carbon emissions have mutated from a true science to a political power grab that seems to steal away the true concerns of valid environmental efforts to radicalized political agendas that never worry about “cooking the books.”

I believe that we all want to do our part in the world that we share.  The efforts of pragmatic environmentalism should not be stolen away by those who wish to use this issue, pervert the science, and leave the special interest groups in control of the majority’s welfare.  Perhaps, that is why more and more abused common people identify with Sarah Palin and her “common man” approach to politics, while elitists miss no opportunity to scourge her publicly.  The “Change” that we need is not an elitist demagoguery and rules that apply to all but the wealthy.  I believe the best Christmas gift we can ask for this year is that the people in positions of power to stop telling us what is good for us while they hold secret meetings and trade favors among themselves, but that they finally ask how they can help improve our lives and protect our freedoms.  The harm done this Christmas season will return in Christmas ghosts at election time for those who think they know better than the common folks what we need in life.

There are still those people standing on the sideline of the environmental controversy, who are unwilling to join the Green lifestyle because they “really aren’t sure” that this is anything more than a trend.  Let’s be honest, why bother if this will all pass like the cyclical flu season?  “Bad times come and bad times go,” we could say to ourselves.  Sometimes change is the new direction of life rather than a temporary fad.  Some time ago, I read that the manufactures of the buggy whip refused to believe that the automobile would catch on until they were forced into bankruptcy.   At this stage in history, it seems like a total lapse of common sense.

Change is is something that must happen whether we like it or not, whereas trends are directions that are frankly options for anyone to join or take a pass.  Change is a bend in the road that you will follow, and trends resemble an alternate route.  Both feel alike, but they have different durations.

The second issue is that we love change that seems to feel good, and we resist change that doesn’t feel so good.  It is not just a money thing because we’ll spend money for a change that we like.  It is the perception of the value and promise of what comes next that causes us to resist or embrace change.  This is the core issue for those who resist or embrace the changes required in a world that become more environmentally friendly.   This new lifestyle is a shift from convenience to inconvenience.  Al Gore had this part right.  It is an inconvenient truth, but it is not just about polar bears and calving glacial fronts.   It is about the reality that this new wave is a true change in behavior and not a friendly trend that we can join or ignore.

The facts make the case for us.  Population growth, finite energy resources, and climatic concerns are are to call mere trends.  Population has gone for 4 billion people worldwide in the 1950′s to 6.8 billion in 2008.  By 2025, the experts predict 9 billion people in the world.  That’s a fact, not a choice.  We are now calculating the limit on the oil and gas reserves left on our planet, although I feel they are more than “what is known” now.  Finally, whether you accept global warming or not, climates do change, droughts will occur, and we can experience a cycle of bad weather that demand that we adjust or die.

With this simplistic review of hard-hitting changes faced by everyone in the world, I strongly suggest that the environmental change is not a trend.  If this is a permanent change to our world complexion, we must change as well or be punished by our “grasshopper and the ant” rejection of reality.  As the story goes, the grasshopper fiddled away the summer while the ant worked.  When winter hit, the ant survived while the grasshopper froze to death.  A fitting metaphor for where we are right now in world history.

The Green lifestyle is not a trend, fad, or option.  Sooner or later, the reality will hit us hard.  Like losing your job forces an immediate and substantive change in everything you do, the environmental issues press us to take action in a season of opportunities or suffer like the blindsighted grasshopper when winter hits.  We are a people with a new mission and challenge.  We must intelligently adjust the way we operate now to minimize the impact of a world in change.  If we adjust today, we will live better tomorrow.

I also see that most people do not know how to make the necessary changes in their lives.  They lack information, connections, and guidance.  That is why I suggest that family or businesses contact a Green Consultant to help make the change to a lifestyle that we can sustain for many years into the future and through generations.    Don’t stand by while others prepare for our pending day of scarcity.  We need a bold and rapid rise in Green practices at every level of our society.

There are three distinct areas of Greening today.  There are Green products, Green buildings, and green practices.  Each piece of this simple puzzle has its value and plays an important role in the environmental process.  Though slow in coming, we are seeing more an more Green products come to the stores and the Internet.  Unfortunately, not all of them are as Green as they suggest in their marketing.  That is, however, yet another issue for another day.

Green buildings as valuable to the overall picture.  For a long time, building requirements dealt with safety and local regulations.  Now, there is the inclusion of building materials that will not add to the health issues and will help the sustainability of our resources.   And this is a good thing to see, but we cannot neglect the human factor that is desperately needed if we are going to succeed against the all-too-imposing environmental issues.

Green practices seem to the the last, but frankly, most important part of the puzzle.  It does us little good to have Green products and Green businesses if we do not include Green practices.  This is an important reality check for each of us.  All too often we hear about a kind of proxy Green where people believe that they are being environmental because they buy some Green products or have some Green applications in their facility.  The problem is that this requires little commitment from each of us except to buy or install what is offered.

Think also the the small percentage of people who have a “Proxy Green” approach to the whole issue because they own a building that can be built new or improved with environmentally-friendly building products.  There really aren’t that many compared to the number of businesses in any city, state, or country that do not own their own building.  Yet, it seems that nearly 100% of the focus in on buying Green products and building Green buildings.  Are all the rest of us who collectively make an enormous impact on this world excluded from participation in this issue because we are excluded from these two aspect of environmental response?

Conversely, Green practices are universal.  All of us can adopt Green practices into the daily routine of our families, workplace, or general duties.  If only we knew more about Green practices, that is.  After CFL bulbs, programmable thermostats, tuning up the car, and recycling our trash; what else is there?  In fact, there are hundreds of simple and practical steps that we all could take if we were better informed.  To actually take advantage of all these options, the process can be intimidating.  That is where the connection to a Certified Green Consultant is important.  They know how to incorporate hundreds of simple and cost savings solutions into any home or business.

Locate a Certified Green Consultant in your community at the Green Consultant Directory.   Going Green is not an amateur sport.  To to it well and comprehensively, the assistance of a professional Green consultant is extremely helpful.   In the end, the goal is to get everyone to do their “Fair Share” in this global crisis issue.   The more people that we enlist in the program, the better our world becomes.  So, while we may support the increased volume of Green products and the growth of Green buildings, the most crucial issue of all is the universal participation of people everywhere in Green practices.