Ranking the Greenest Colleges

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Bloomberg Businessweek Rankings are used by prospective students as a way to gauge the overall quality of a school they may be interested in with respect to others. The site ranks both undergraduate and graduate institutions, and also analyzes individual programs and specialties. While past ranked disciplines range from teaching to agriculture, never has there been a ranking with respect to specifically green programs. However, as of August 14th 2012, the site is now beginning to rank such specialties in their “Green College Rankings.” According to the Bloomberg site, “The survey was conducted by the Sierra Club, the Sustainable Endowments Institute, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Princeton Review, which combined their separate sustainability rankings into one Businesswek ranking for the first time.

According to the survey, the greenest school in all the land is the University of California, Davis a result from pouring in resources both financially and in time into their sustainability initiatives.  Examples of their efforts include, “trash diversion, an initiative to keep garbage out of landfills by recycling, reusing, or composting it, the use of sustainable foods, and the promotion of bikes on campus (which amazingly resulted in over 20,000 bikes being used). Other schools who made the top five include the Georgia Institute of Technology, Stanford University, the University of Washington, and the University of Connecticut,

 In short, these rankings are a tremendous boost to the green movement as well as for prospective students. This information was not available when I was looking into schools, and while the “green rankings” may not have ultimately been the main reason I would have gone to a particular school, it would have nonetheless planted a seed in my mind as to which universities were ahead of the curve, and who actually cared about a planet. This ranking also provides another criterion in which schools can stand out. Publishing yearly green rankings will provoke schools to think and act in terms of sustainability, and will provide them an incentive not only in saving the planet, but also in raising their overall ranking. The prospective student ultimately benefits from transparent data of a school’s sustainability initiatives within a ranking format, which may help that individual in making their decision on where to go to college. Overall, the green rankings have the ability to help both schools and students alike, and will aid in promoting a lifestyle in which we all live green, and be green.

source: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-14/a-green-college-ranking-declares-a-winner

Singing Praise About Singapore

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Singapore has ambitious goals for achieving water sustainability as a nation, despite having few resources to clean drinking water. Currently, the nation is on pace with its agenda to achieve full water sustainability by the year 2061. This date is significant for Singapore as it will mark the end of the century long relationship with Malaysia whom they currently are in contract with to bring in the water.The group responsible for the nation’s sustainability goals is The National Water Agency (NWA). Via desalination and recycling plants, their efforts have enabled the country to produce 40% of the water used by the nation’s 5.2 million residents. In order to achieve these expectations, the NWA has invested between $600 and $800 million every year since 2006 to improve infrastructure and technologies that are required with a growing supply of water. 

According to the Human Development Index (HDI) which measures, in general terms, how advanced a nation is, Singapore is actually more developed than any of its South Pacific neighbors, including Malaysia whom it currently gets its water from. That being said, the nations ambitions to achieve full water sustainability within the next 50 years bespeaks to new heightened sense of national pride to produce everything in-house. The country’s goals have primed the nation to be entrenched in a position of sustainable dominance and will ultimately allow them to operate more efficiently. Whether their goals are motivated by business efficiency, through national pride, or through a genuine sense that sustainability is truly the right thing to do is a matter of debate for another time. The noteworthy item to take away from all of this is that nations all over the world are beginning to emphasize green initiatives on their agendas. Collectively, this will allow residents of that nation, and people all over the world to both live green, and be green as a global community.

source: http://www.equities.com/news/news-headline-story?dt=2012-08-10&val=367493&d=1&cat=headline

Unexpected Effects of Extreme Hot Weather

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The National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration confirmed that the record-breaking warmth in July was part of the warmest 12-month period experienced by the lower 48 states since the 19th century. In fact, this past July was the hottest month on record for the continental states since such record keeping started in 1895. Additionally, the drought conditions caused by the heat has expanded to cover 63% of the continental United States (http://weather.aol.com/2012/08/08/july-2012-is-hottest-month-on-record-in-u-s/#page=1).

Now we are witnessing some unexpected effects of this year’s hot weather. First of note is a major bear problem across the country. As a consequence of lack of availability of their normal diets of greens and berries because of failed production, bears are out in record numbers seeking food by rummaging through garbage, ripping through screens on houses and even crawling into cars in search of food. Problems with bears invading human space have been noted all over the country. Fortunately, no injuries to humans have been cited. The bear problem also could further hurt farmers, who already have been negatively impacted by the harsh drought conditions, especially corn farmers. As the hot weather has negatively affected the availability of acorns and beechnuts, on which bears typically rely, these animals now are forced to fatten up on corn. In some states, such as Vermont, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has recommended that farmers bring in their corn crops as soon as possible.

A second adverse effect of harsh summer weather is poor air quality and its resultant increases in heat-related illnesses. Heat waves lead to heat strokes and dehydration, representing the most common cause of weather-related deaths. Warmer temperatures in urban centers place an increase demand for electricity, which in turn results in increased air pollution and greenhouse emissions from power plants. Extreme heat conditions trigger severe storms that threaten human life and health in numerous ways, including, but not limited to:
• Reduction of available fresh food and water;
• Interruption of communication, utility and healthcare services;
• Contribution of carbon monoxide poisoning from the use of portable generators during storms;
• Increases stomach and intestinal illnesses among evacuees;
• Contribution to mental health problems, such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Thirdly, the economic impact of harsh summer weather causes overwhelming energy demands resulting in brownouts and blackouts that threaten business operations and daily lives of citizens. Sea level rise and frequent intense storms disrupt energy production and delivery. Extreme heat negatively affects travel and tourism with the loss income completely destroying seasonal businesses that totally rely on the summer months for their survival.

While these excruciating hot summers may represent an inconvenience to some people, the reality is that severe heat and drought conditions threaten our very existence. As scientists work to find solutions to these problems, we all need to be mindful of the steps we can take to reduce our environmental footprints. In other words, let’s strive to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Let’s live green, be green.

Farmers face huge loss in corn production as a result of drought conditions.

U.S. Ranks Low in Energy Efficiency

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A new report issued by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranks the United States 9th out of 12 in energy efficiency. The ACEEE’s International Energy Efficiency Scorecard looked at 12 nations representing 78% of global GDP, 63% of global energy consumption, and 62% of global emissions. The scoring was based on 27 metrics relative to buildings, industry, transportation and efforts at the national level. The 11 other countries included in the study were the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Australia, EU, China, Brazil, Japan, Canada and Russia.

The United Kingdom scored highest in the study followed by Germany, Italy, Japan and France. While the United States rated well on building-related metrics, it scored lowest on transportation measures. The report specifically notes “limited or little progress toward greater efficiency at the national level”. The findings indicate that the U.S. wastes money that other countries reinvest in energy savings. Upon completion of its ratings for the U.S., the ACEEE makes the following recommendations to improve energy efficiency:

• Setting national energy-saving targets;
• Adopting stricter building codes;
• Increasing funding for public transportation;
• Adopting higher federal fuel-economy standards.

An interesting note was made that overall Americans feel less guilt about their environmental footprint than the citizens of smaller countries. Reference was made to a National Geographic study that concluded that people from countries with larger environmental footprints tend to feel less guilty about their impact. This may explain why the U.S., along with China, Brazil and Russia, scored lowest in this study.

Environmental studies and statistical data are important because they clearly show each country where it stands on issues of green initiatives compared with the rest of the world. Each country then can applaud its successes and also take note of deficits. The U.S. can take credit for positive changes in the area of building-related matters and also strive to make improvements in the public transportation sector on a national level. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work to make this country more environmentally friendly. Let’s live green, be green.

Think Green When Buying Computers

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As the summer vacation winds down, consumers are turning their attention to return to school and businesses. For many students, especially those heading off to college, computers represent a major part of the purchases needed to be prepared for the school year. While cost and functionality of computers and peripherals are important, so must sustainability and environmental impact be part of the decision to buy a computer. Three major computer companies have detailed information on green initiatives. They are Dell, Hewlett Packard and Apple.

A review of the Dell Computer website reveals very specific information, including statistics on the company’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. Dell has reduced its facilities’ carbon footprint by up to 16% for FY08-12 and drove toward zero waste by recycling or reusing 98% of its nonhazardous manufacturing costs. In 2012, Dell reduced the size of packaging by more than 12%, increased the amount of recyclable or renewable content in packages by 40% and ensured that 75% of its packaging is recyclable at curbside. More information on Dell’s sustainability efforts can be found in its 2012 press release on Corporate Responsibility.

The second noteworthy company is Hewlett-Packard (HP). Its website discloses its environmental programs and initiatives. As an added extra, HP includes an interactive feature that allows consumers to configure computers and peripherals and to calculate the carbon footprint based on their prospective purchases. This company also details specifics on offers for trade-ins, recycling, returns for cash and donations both in the United States and worldwide.

Thirdly, Apple Computers features the efficiency of the Mac on its website. These computers carry an Energy Star qualification with a rating of 5.2, which sets higher limits for power supplies and aggressive limits for the computer’s overall power consumption. The company touts the Mac to be free of harmful toxins, including mercury, arsenic, BTRs and PVC. Made from aluminum, the Mac is more likely to be recycled and reused at the end of its productive life. Apple also provides free recycling for old computers with the purchase of a new Mac. Of note, in mid-July, Apple removed its name from EPEAT, the green registry that tracks the environmental impact of computers. As a result, some local jurisdictions, such as San Francisco, have deemed Apple computers as not green enough to buy and have suspended contracts with Apple for the city’s computers. It is Apple’s contention that it no longer needs to be enrolled in EPEAT because it meets strict environmental standards, including the government’s Energy Star program, which exceeds EPEAT.

In conclusion, when shopping for a computer, green factors should be a major consideration alongside cost, processor speed and hard drive size. The impact of computers on the environment is very important. So as you venture out to buy a new computer, be sure to shop green, live green, be green.

Majoring in Sustainability

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Here at Live Green, Be Green we are always advocating for younger generations to get involved in the Green Movement, especially those studying in colleges and universities. In fact, a couple of weeks ago we wrote about changing the way curriculum is taught in these locales to involve sustainability. So it comes with great delight to see that the University of Utah is implementing such changes within their coursework. Now students at the university have the opportunity to earn an Integrated Certificate in Sustainability as a degree. Students who choose this discipline are required to complete a 23 credit-hour program with one required introductory course and upper level courses located outside of the main campus. 

The discipline will be available with the commencement of the upcoming academic year and will allow freshman to be fully engaged in matters of sustainability immediately. As stated in our previous article, the green movement needs to infiltrate colleges and universities to incite others to not only spread the ideals of the movement, but to lead using values of social responsibility and sustainability. It is refreshing to see a university place such value on sustainability in that they not only have placed it within the coursework, but have also carved out a specific degree tailored to the green movement. Such initiatives are sure to catch on, especially at this stage in the game, as universities are always looking to differentiate themselves in order to bring in a diverse student body. As evident from the news, green initiatives are rising to the forefront on college agendas, and these initiatives will help to lay a great foundation of knowledge to be passed on to the next generation of leaders. Hopefully, this will help to promote a lifestyle in which we all live green, and be green. 

Plastic Bag Bans Heat Up Local Politics

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A rippling effect of the green movement has witnessed many cities either imposing taxes to consumers on plastic bags or banning them altogether. This movement has triggered a change in behavior for many consumers and businesses. Some establishments have responded by offering for sale customized reusable cloth bags that not only are trendy, but also offer advertising for companies. Some shoppers now opt out of plastic bags and request paper bags.

San Francisco was the first city to ban plastic shopping bags back in 2007. Since then, other cities have followed—Los Angeles, Seattle, Westport, Connecticut and the entire state of Hawaii. Other jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., find local councils embroiled in debates over taxes on plastic bags.

Unfortunately, some trade associations refuse to accept the fact that plastic bags are harmful to the environment because they take up valuable space in landfills and litter streets, streams and shorelines. One organization of plastic manufacturers now argues that the ban of plastic bags could threaten more than 30,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States. Donna Dempsey, the spokeswoman for the American Progressive Bag Alliance, even states that “the plastic bag has gotten a bad rap”. Dempsey goes on to say that 90% of consumers reuse plastic bags, that these bags require less energy to produce than paper bags and that they take up less space in landfills.

This is a very touchy issue. While no one wants to see any manufacturing sector decrease in size or disappear, one has to wonder why the experts in the plastics field would rather concentrate on portraying as a myth the hard facts about the negative impact of plastic on the environment as opposed to making a better product. We have witnessed other industries being forced to make drastic changes to stop pollution. For example, most localities have had to overhaul public transportation to provide clean buses and electrically powered trains. The auto industry has been forced to upgrade vehicles to use cleaner fuels. These changes actually have stimulated the economy in terms of providing new educational opportunities, jobs in research and development and employment implementing new technology in factories.

Let’s stop the politics here. Plastic bags are harmful to the environment. As stewards of this planet, let’s stand behind the movement to adopt alternatives to plastic bags. This movement begins with our refusal to use plastic bags. Let’s shop green, live green, be green.

Live Green With Sustainable Snacks

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Preparing homemade snacks for work, home, or outings is a great way to ensure that you are eating healthy while on the run and also saving money. As an added bonus, storing your snacks in reusable containers reduces your contribution to the ever-growing packaging waste problem. For this to work, it is important that the snacks you prepare are appetizing and not too labor intensive to prepare. Today we will take a look at some good, low-calorie snacks that the entire family will enjoy.

First is homemade granola. There are many variations for this nutritional staple with the basic two being rolled oats and honey. Then any recipe can be customized according to individual tastes and dietary needs with chopped dried fruits, nuts, flavors such as vanilla extract, and raw sunflower seeds. Granola bars are great snacks to curb the appetite and boost energy.

An interesting veggie snack to try is sea salt fennel chips. These are simple to make with the only ingredients being fennel, olive oil and sprinkles of sea salt. Instructions for these chips can be found at www.afullmeasureofhappiness.com.

A great snack to enjoy when entertaining or relaxing at home is vegan ice pops. The recipe includes roughly chopped berries of your choice, fruit juice, such as orange, grapefruit or mango, milk or a milk substitute, and the option of non-dairy yogurt. These popsicles have less sugar and fewer calories than store-bought brands. Additionally, reusable ice pop sticks serve to reduce packaging waste.

Finally, homemade hummus with fresh vegetables is a perfect skinny-waist snack. Hummus is made with chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, which are low in cholesterol and rich in protein. Several recipes for hummus are available online.

There are many delectable options to store-bought snacks. Do-it-yourself preparation of snacks for work and play presents an excellent opportunity to save money, eat healthy and customize your food to individual taste. Let’s snack green, live green, be green.

An Olympic Effort in Sustainability

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With the start of the 2012 London Olympics already underway, we here at the Live Green, Be Green Blog would like to turn our attention to the potential environmental ramifications an Olympic competition will have on an already bustling city such as London. Heading into these games, a huge cause for concern for the Olympic Committee in selecting London as a host city was the potential disastrous impact it could have on the environment. 

However, contrary to conventional wisdom, the city has been superb in limiting its carbon footprint. According to Michael McCarthy’s report over at Independent, these Olympic games are, to date, the greenest in its history. Renewable energy has constituted 11% of all the energy supplied at the games. In addition, when comparing the cities carbon footprint at the games with respect to 2009 estimates for the event, the city has beaten the estimates by around 20%. Such ambitious goals enabled the city to host the Olympic games, and is truly a testament to how the Olympic Committee and the city of London have put the event’s environmental impact near the tops of its agendas. Such actions speak to the impact we all can make as individuals as we all seek to live green and be green.

Green Jobs for Graduates

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We have reached the midway point of summer, and hopefully many of this year’s recent graduates have found some type of employment. For those still looking or for individuals who have part-time jobs to hold them over, now is the time to get creative. The green movement is an olympic drive great way to go. This movement holds many untapped opportunities for job seekers. Green technology businesses are growing at a rapid rate to accommodate the demand for clean energy, especially through solar and wind power companies. This job sector needs employees in all fields, including, but not limited to engineers, ecologists, policy planners and writers, graphic artists, and individuals with business and financial specialties. A good website for information and job listings is www.ecoemploy.com.
There also are job opportunities for marketing specialists in the green industries. A perusal of several websites lists opportunities for green marketing representatives and business managers, clean energy political organizers and media and marketing specialists, just to name a few. These listings are for jobs all over the country and range from entry-level to mid-level positions. To secure a position in this market sector, graduates and mid-level professionals must think out of the box and be willing to relocate to the sites of these opportunities. A good starting place for listings of these job opportunities is www.sustainability.com.
A green job represents a great opportunity for graduates. This job sector is committed to the preservation of a healthy environment through smart living and consistently is on the cutting edge of technology, presenting great opportunities for further education and career advancement. Most importantly, these jobs really give its employees a reason to work as these are the organizations and people who really are making a difference. Green jobs are not just about a paycheck. Rather they are leading a movement to live green, be green.