GREEN BUSINESS VIEWS

Posts Tagged ‘sustainability’

Pervious concrete is an odd name for a very unique product, but the pragmatic value that this type of concrete should be used in more communities. We must consider this product under the broad topic of sustainable practices that is being neglected. Rain water is yet another nature resource that is being wasted and mishandled. Prior to any widespread community development, rain water fell from the sky and was mostly absorbed by the ground and run off was mitigated by the trees, shrubs, and grass. Floods often occur due to massive local downpours, but that was less likely to happen then than now.  We have literally change the topography of the land when homes, buildings, and streets have taken over.

When house and building development takes over, millions of square feet are now roofs and concrete have invaded the once verdant areas. In so doing, one of the natural factors to normal life has been interrupted. Comparing the natural resources to a developed community is betraying. No matter how well developed or how nicely landscaped, there is not less toleration for the natural elements such as rain water.

Roofs, driveways, sidewalks, and streets do not absorb water like the grass and trees did when the land was just a field. Rain water must be shunted, directed, and diverted to prevent persistent flooding. This is not very obvious until areas are not being flooded each year or so that never had the problem before. Retention ponds are the normal intermediate solution, and they are a smart idea.

Cities have an even worse problem since there are more roofs and concretes per square mile. There is also a limit on the amount of capacity available to drain away the water that falls locally and upstream. Once the developments are already in place, the options and cost of solving the flooding problems are outrageous. Perhaps that is why an innovative idea like pervious concrete is such a fantastic idea.

Pervious concrete is a new way to prepare concrete. The sand is the key missing ingredient, so you can expect that pervious concrete will have a rougher look than traditional concrete. This seems of little concern and may actually add to the look of a driveway.   The concrete is poured over a layer of course gravel.   The design allows the whole surface to absorb water, and the water then drains into the soil.

One of the other silent issues in developed communities can be the drain on the aquifer level. Wells drain the water and may drive down aquifer levels. These aquifers are replenished by the natural process of rain water passing through the soil along with underground supplies.  This is an increasingly important issue because potable water is becoming a stressed resource, and some suggest that fresh water may be the next environmental crisis.

Pervious concrete has other benefits as well.  Snow melts and drains into the concrete rather than pooling to freeze again into ice that can be dangerous and more difficult to remove.   Standing water will not happen which is something that nearly everyone will probably appreciate.  Even washing your can does not send water cascading into the storm sewer, but drains into the concrete.  The filtration of the water delivers a less polluted water quality than may be found in free-flowing water.  This is a kind of water recycling that makes good sense.

In arid areas, the gravel below the concrete can allow for drains to be diverted into cisterns.  When rain happens in the dry parts of the country, a little advanced thinking can provide water for gray water and irrigation purposes.  The capturing of rain water is certainly an environmentally smart idea, and the reuse to irrigation lawns, landscaping, and gardens is more than smart.  It offers a solution that can rescue yards and gardens in prolonged periods of drought-like conditions.

Of course, many homeowners and builders are still ignorant or leery of this new product.  Some wonder at its durability or strength.  Raveling refers the dislodging of aggregate during wear and tear.  The solution is the proper mixture of ingredients, pouring, and curing.  If done properly, the pervious concrete purports to be a durable product that merits public acceptance.  Regardless of the debate, pervious concrete seems to be an idea that deserves to be promoted in more building projects.

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 great ideas out there that deserve some attention.  Wind power, often called the problem child of alternative energy, is bound to recover from its troublesome reputation.  One great example is this outstanding example. This innovative idea puts a new slant on wind farm.  Instead of taking up valuable land or spoiling the coastline with offshore wind farms, these semi-pleasant wind turbines can produce power from wind and even traffic.  These turbines sit over the road and it is the turbulence of the vehicles passing below that drive the turbines around and it is this movement that generates the power.

The idea come from a student from Arizona State University, and each turbine would be capable of generating enough power to light up a medium sized apartment, even if the wind speed is only at a low 10 mph.  Tapping the brilliance of creative minds may bring other breakthrough concepts to the fore much more rapidly than government programs.  While the typical wind farms may be the best idea of the day, it seems destine to be the future equivalent of old, unused smokestacks from abandon manufacturing plants.

Green Business Solutions

I was recently pleasantly surprised to discover yet another great idea for a Green business that allows employees to participate in a Green activity.  It actually applies more to the sustainability issues since it will reduce another demand on our resources and lessen the waste output.  We have all seen the weekly time cards that are hung at the entry area of the every workplace or factory.  One can only imagine the millions of these paper cards that are used every week by businesses everywhere.  Although these timecards are often recycled by the more conscientious businesses, they are also dumped into the trash.  Well, now there is a new biometric timeclock that allows employees to simply have their hands read by the machine and enter a code.  How cool is that?  By the way, it also prevents any co-workers from “clocking in” a late or absent friend.  This would be an obvious Green Practice that would improve sustainability efforts for the company in more than a few ways.

These biometric timeclocks are not expensive, and the savings (ROI) will be very quick. A business knows that the real costs are not just paper savings, but the time and energy it takes to prepare, pass out, collect, and read these cards.   Missing or faulty cards make the time investment even more onerous.  These systems are integrated into the company’s computer system, and information can be sent over the Internet for remote locations.  Smaller desktop models can track even more routine duties, or allow workers doing their job at home to check in.   I do like the idea of allowing workers to participate in an effective and sustainable practice within their daily duties.

Besides the complaint about “Big Brother,” it must be conceded that the biometric timeclock is an idea that offers a near perfect solution.  This concept represents the cumulative process that takes a company toward a more environmentally-friendly workplace.  Green infers a healthier workplace, which the biometric timeclock does not impact.  Sustainability refers to a lessening of demand on our natural resources (including waste disposal constraints).  Therefore, the classic view would that the biometric timeclock represents a low-cost, highly-effective, and sustainable application that should be considered in the larger sustainability plan.

While we are discussing paper, I want to emphasize the huge carbon, pollution, and transportation issue relative to unrestrained paper use.  Paper products compose abut 36% of municipal solid waste (MSW), and the best way to reduce this is not simply a recycling process, but a source reduction strategy.   The reduction of paper use by business is a long-delayed duty that will be very hard to overcome.  Nonetheless, think of the ideas that can be easily accomplished.

Get rid of your fax machines!  Get a monthly eFax service that converts outgoing and incoming faxes into an email format while enjoying the convenience of a fax.  eFax documents need not be printed out, but can be shared with anyone else by forwarding the information.  The cost of the phone line, fax machine, and paper required is quickly eclipsed by the savings realized by this kind of solution.  There are dozens of these online solutions, and the only talent required is the ability to send and receive emails.  The eFax service provides the number and converts everything for the user.

Duplexing of the printer is the popular “sustainable” solution, but source reduction is even better.  Cut paper out of the office as often as possible.  The speed of computers and the Internet has made this very possible.  Every business needs to investigate a paperless documents and retrieval system.   These changes provide for a local computer to act as the repository or an encrypted server from the provider allowing document access from anywhere in the world.  The challenge here is that the “ramp up” time is difficult; but once done, the freedom and speed of document access is remarkable.

Finally, move your invoicing to an online service.  Accounts receivable is a total hassle.  If your company is running off invoices, mailing, and tracking all your receivables, the company is living in the ice age.  Get an online service that bills customers online and allows them to pay by credit card as well as mailing in the payment.  This will reduce the labor, postage, and paper costs.  It will also speed up the payment cycle so more of your money is in your bank account rather than in a receivable ledger.

I have mentioned only a few of the ideas that should be in a sustainability business plan.  There are hundreds of pragmatic, cost saving, and environmentally-friendly solutions, but they are often applied in a piecemeal and patchwork manner.  I have argued for quite some time that there is a need for a trained adviser for companies who is capable of putting together a Green or Sustainability program that leads to eventual certification.

Sustainable Business. Admittedly, one of my big issues in this industry is the misuse and lack of definition of the terms that we use. The word sustainable is a little better understood, but nonetheless badly used words in the grand dictionary of environmental terms. To start the process, it may be best to provide a terse definition for sustainability, and that is “Resource Management.”

The most popular definition of sustainability can be traced to a 1987 UN conference. It defined sustainable developments as those that “meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”(WECD, 1987). Robert Gillman, editor of the In Context magazine, extends this goal oriented definition by stating “sustainability refers to a very old and simple concept (The Golden Rule)…do onto future generations as you would have them do onto you.”

This parallels the Great Law of the Iroquois Indians that stated, “In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation… even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.” This belief parallels the concept of sustainability in a generation that had more than enough natural resources at their disposal. It should never be about how much we have to spend, but how well we spend it. The concept of stewardship infers that we really don’t own things but are temporary caretakers of whatever we presently control.

The sustainable business is frankly an important aspect of the overall picture since industry, business, or commerce uses a lot of resources with enough capital to be waste. A sense of expediency prevails in this community that creates a a “Whatever it takes” mentality. This needs to change, and it is changing albeit far too slow for the environmental crisis that we face. Therefore, the sustainable business model means a more responsible company that does not allow expedience to rule when given the choice between waste and conservation of our resources.

We know that the recycling mantra is, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle;” but the depth of application goes well beyond the trash container behind the building. It happens at every level of the business process. It involves energy, water, and waste management. It is a call to step into the modern era of business opportunity with a truly “Paperless Office.” It considers more than the marketing department boasting of Green merits, and promotes the Green purchasing processes of the company.

Does it come as a surprise that a “Sustainable Company” may not be a “Green Company?” Going Green is primarily about the “Health Impact” of the business, which starts with the Indoor Air Quality and considers the numerous issues that impact the indoor air and all that we do to essentially poison it.

Eventually, it becomes obvious that when we understand the depth and extend of the environmental issues, our present skill set, knowledge base, and limited activities are not enough to properly solve the problem. It is at this point that the astute business will seek out a Certified Green Consultant who can act as an outsourced Green Adviser to any company. If properly trained, the Certified Green Consultant will add another fantastic value to the company he or she serves. Going Green will literally save a growing business thousands upon thousands of dollars in ways most can’t imagine. Going Green is more than a health issue, even as being sustainable is more than preservation of resources. To the smart company, it is a huge money savings that pays sizable dividends year after year.