Green Power Hour Sustainability Series!
Posted on 16. Jan, 2012 by Kimberly in News
Karen Stewart President of EcoPotential and Mark Cloud with HP Engineering are presenting a four-part Sustainability Series to the Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce members! Register to attend one or all of these FREE seminars, just click here. The series is part of the “100% Green Power Hour” presented by HP Engineering and begins February 22nd 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Session 1: “Understanding Our Natural World and Your Impact”, February 22nd, addresses these topics:
- Critical Issues for a Sustainable World
- Your Footprint (water, carbon, ecological)
- Resources for Action
- Your Personal Sustainability Plan Part 1 of 4
The following sessions are:
- Session 2: “Best Practices for Energy” May 23rd, 2012
- Session 3: “Best Practices for Water” August 22nd 2012
- Session 4: “Vibrant Communities” November 28th 2012
Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how YOU can be more sustainable both at work and at home!
Results of Arvest E-Waste Recycling Event
Posted on 19. Oct, 2011 by Kimberly in News
Last week Arvest Ballpark held the second Northwest Arkansas Free E-Waste Recycling Event. The event was sponsored by Washington County Office of Environmental Affairs, Boston Mountain Solid Waste District and the three area watersheds – Illinois River Watershed, Beaver Watershed and the White River EPA Watershed.
This year’s event kept 24 tractor trailer rigs e-waste stacked one Gaylord box high from entering landfills!
This is the size of a Gaylord box
That is a lot of e-waste! Last year’s event collected 22 tractor trailer rigs. Via Mitchell Williams
All of the e-waste is taken to ESCO of Rogers, Arkansas. Every 500,000 lbs of e-waste collected generates one new job. ESCO has added 50 new jobs in 2 years! So keep recycling and help generate NWA jobs!
Visit 40/29 to watch a short video of the event!
FREE E-Waste Recycling at Arvest Ballpark!
Posted on 05. Oct, 2011 by Kimberly in News
Tuesday October 11th and Wednesday October 12th from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. there will be an e-waste recycling event at the Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas. All Washington and Benton County residents, schools, businesses, and non-profits can dispose of their old electronics for FREE!
Electronics Recycling Event in NWA!
Acceptable Items:
- Computers
- Printers
- Copiers
- Phones
- Stereos
- Televisions
- Fax Machines
- Electronic Cable
- Paper Shredders
- Microwaves
- DVD/VCR Players, etc.
Arkansas Cities #4 on “American Cities With The Fastest Green Jobs Growth”
Posted on 24. Aug, 2011 by Kimberly in News
Via 24/7 WALL ST
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR make #4 on list of American cities with the fastest green jobs growth!
Little Rock is a major center of green technology manufacturers. The metropolitan area produces a number of green consumer products and electric vehicles. Little Rock also features a budding wind power industry, with companies such as LM Wind Power and Polymarin Composites having major presences in the area. Mayor Mark Stodola has announced his desire for Little Rock to be the “greenest city in the South.” Earlier this year, Stodola told InArkansas, an Arkansas-based news site, that “sustainability is a part of progress, and if Little Rock wants to be a progressive city, we must move forward on sustainability issues.”
4. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Green Job Growth Rate: 10.5% per year
- No. of Green Jobs in 2010: 11,934
- Current Unemployment: 7%
- Peak Unemployment: 7.8% (Feb 2010)
- State Unemployment: 7.8% (22nd lowest)
Green Jobs are Growing
Posted on 28. Jul, 2011 by Kimberly in News
Thinking of a career move? Sustainability Officer or Solar Panel Installer may be your new calling. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal “green” jobs are growing at a tremendous rate. As of May 2011 the number of online job postings including the keyword “sustainability” had quadrupled in two years, reaching 8,245 postings. In this same time frame, the job postings including the keywords “wind” and “solar” more than doubled.
Much of the growth in the sustainability job market is due to the economic stimulus package containing $100 billion devoted to green-related projects. With our need for renewable energy these job opportunities will continue to grow. So, if you are interested in renewable energy or helping large companies become energy efficient and environmentally responsible then start a new career. Oh yeah, need training for your new “green” career? We can help!
Tired of Collecting Phone Books?
Posted on 23. Jun, 2011 by Kimberly in News
With all the smart phones and constant access to the internet it seems that looking up information in a phone book is becoming more and more outdated. Not to mention that phone books are bulky and often an unnecessary waste of paper. So, are you interested in how to opt-out of receiving printed directories and how to recycle your outdated issues? I recently opted-out of all 6 eligible print directories in my area and was surprised at how quick and easy the process was!
To start, all you have to do is visit: http://www.yellowpagesoptout.com/homepage and enter your zip code in the large “OPT-OUT” box on your screen. Then register to choose which directories you receive. You have to enter basic contact information and of course your address. You will then receive one e-mail with your log-in and password. Log-in to make your selections, you can even choose “opt-out of all publications.” You will receive one additional e-mail confirming your decision. That’s it! They do not send you any pesky spam mail or follow up e-mails. So, what are you waiting for?
What is Renewable Energy?
Posted on 10. Mar, 2011 by Kimberly in Energy, News
Renewable Energy Sources
In just the last couple of weeks we have all seen gas prices increasing at a remarkable rate and you might begin to think “there has to be another option.” Well, if you are close enough you can start biking or walking to work or you can carpool, or start thinking long term about alternative energy sources. Renewable energy not only has an infinite supply, but also has multiple benefits to us and to our Earth.
Utilizing renewable energy can:
- eliminate waste by processing municipal solid waste and garbage into energy
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming
- grow local economies and reduce transportation
- alleviate competition for fossil fuels
- preserve water and air quality
So, what exactly is renewable energy? From the Sustainable World Sourcebook renewable energy is “any energy resource that is naturally regenerated over a short time scale and derived:
- directly from the sun (such as thermal, photochemical, and photoelectric),
- indirectly from the sun (such as wind, hydropower, and photosynthetic energy stored in biomass),
- from other natural movements and mechanisms of the environment (such as geothermal and tidal energy)”
How can we reduce global warming with efficient energy choices? The National Resources Defense Council lists six major opportunities to reduce global warming
- Reduce heat and electricity use with sustainable building
- Increase vehicle efficiency and reduce vehicle travel with self-sufficient communities
- Reduce use of fuel for heat and power with industrial efficiency
- Use renewable electricity
- Use low-carbon transportation fuels to replace imported oil
- Implement carbon capture and storage in coal fired power plants
Where does your state stand in the quest to harness renewable energy?
visit http://www.nrdc.org/energy/renewables/default.asp to find out!
Risks of Shale Gas Development in the Natural State
Posted on 21. Feb, 2011 by Kimberly in Energy, News
The Arkansas Public Policy Panel recently released a report describing the rapid growth of natural gas extraction, the impact of gas drilling, and the recommendations to reduce the problems we are currently experiencing.
“Arkansas in the Balance: Managing the Risks of Shale Gas Development in the Natural State”
http://media.arkansasonline.com/news/documents/2011/02/17/A3Preport.pdf
Follow the link above to view the report and to fully understand the risks associated with natural gas drilling.
Reduce Consumption, Preserve Our Planet
Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by Kimberly in News, Sustainability
Have you turned on a faucet today and had access to clean drinkable water? If so, you are probably better off than the 40% of the Earth’s population that still carries their water from wells. We often take for granted our easy access to water and ability to shower as often and long as we want. Although a little over 70% of the Earth is covered in water, 97% of that water is undrinkable. 2% of the drinkable water is frozen in glaciers and ice caps, leaving 1% for residential, community, agricultural, manufacturing, and personal needs.
By the year 2050 the United Nations has estimated there will be 4 billion people living in water-stressed nations. So what can we do to help preserve water?
Every Drop Counts http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/waterTips_online.pdf
Calculate your water footprint www.h2oconserve.org
Can you imagine an area of rainforest the size of West Virginia being cut down each day? Well, currently 100,000 acres of tropical rainforest are being destroyed each day and yes that many acres equals the size of West Virginia. Deforestation releases massive amount of greenhouse gases, roughly 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions are due to deforestation. In addition to contributing to global warming emissions, deforestation is also accelerating species loss. Every 10-20 minutes a species is becoming extinct! We are currently experiencing the greatest extinction period since the dinosaur exodus. You may be thinking “these are huge issues, how are my actions going to help prevent deforestation or help preserve our Earth’s biodiversity?”
Deforestation in Haiti
A few things you can do are:
- Reduce you beef consumption, source meat responsibly
- Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo on wood and paper products
- Do not purchase products made from endangered species’ parts
- Grow a wildlife garden instead of a lawn
- Support animal rehabilitation centers and conservation groups
Saving Our Life Support Systems
Posted on 31. Jan, 2011 by Kimberly in News, Sustainability
In my last post on the “Sustainable World Sourcebook” I discussed how to “Get Informed and Get Involved.” This week I want to help inform you about the state of our life support systems, our oceans.
I have always loved the ocean and have made a point of visiting an ocean almost every summer. I am also an avid fish eater. I tend to watch what I eat and choose healthier options, which are often fish courses. Apparently I am not the only one; since the 1950’s global fish consumption has tripled. If we remain at today’s rates of withdrawal by 2050 all species of wild seafood we are currently fishing could be depleted by 90%! Overfishing is just one of the problems affecting the health of our world’s oceans. Global warming is causing ocean acidification and pollution is creating dead zones, uninhabitable areas that are miles long. Our oceans cover 75% of the globe, such an immense amount and yet we are still depleting, polluting, and destroying them.
One item on my bucket list has been to get my scuba license and go scuba diving among a beautiful coral reef. The “Sourcebook” describes coral reefs as “Colorful ‘Ra
inforests of the sea’”, what a beautiful and enticing description. However, if I want to achieve this bucket list item, I need to register for scuba lessons sooner rather than later. According to a report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network in 2008, within the next 40 years many of the remaining coral reefs will disappear if our current emission trends continue and 19% of coral reefs are already dead. While I may be able to explore the beauty of a coral reef in my lifetime, will my 5 month old daughter or her children have this luxury? What will be left for our future generations?
So what can WE do to lessen these detrimental affects on our oceans?
- Choose fish and seafood labeled as “sustainable” or “farmed”
- Reduce your use of household toxins: fertilizers, detergents with phosphate, and toxic cleaning products
- Buy local: support local Farmer’s Markets and fishers
- Reduce your use of fossil fuel-based energy, plastic, and styrofoam
- Do not buy coral jewelry or touch coral when snorkeling or scuba diving
Join in the efforts to save our life support systems!
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