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If your power is out, please call 544-6500.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
FedEx Office tops EPA's green list
From today's Commercial Appeal...
FedEx Office tops EPA's green list
By Wayne Risher
The Environmental Protection Agency tapped FedEx Office on Monday as the nation's top printing company in use of electricity from eco-friendly sources.
The EPA Green Power Partnership ranked FedEx Office No. 1 on its first listing of the top 20 U.S. printing companies.
The company already appeared in other EPA green power rankings: 11th among the Top 20 Retail companies and 27th among Fortune 500 companies taking part in a corporate challenge.
Officials said FedEx Office buys more than 34 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy certificates and utility green power products annually, equal to 14 percent of purchased electricity use.
The EPA said that is enough green power to electrify 3,000 homes a year.
While the Memphis-based company has invested heavily in solar power at some of its newer facilities, that's not practical at FedEx Office stores.
"As is the case with many retailers, we do not own the properties in which FedEx Office operates, limiting our ability to integrate on-site power generation systems, such as rooftop solar panels," FedEx Corp. director of environmental affairs and sustainability Mitch Jackson wrote in a post Monday on the .
"However, that restriction does not deter our efforts to use green power. How so? For years FedEx Office has combined the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) and utilities' green power to offset energy consumption," Jackson added.
The EPA considers green power as renewable electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact, small hydroelectric resources.
Brian Philips, president and CEO, said, "FedEx Office is proud to know our ongoing commitment to sustainability and renewable resources has made us the No. 1 green power purchaser in the commercial printing industry."
FedEx Office also participates in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, which is pushing corporations to surpass 10 billion kilowatt-hours of green power by the end of this year. FedEx ranked 27th among 58 participating corporations.
FedEx Office has been on a Top 20 Retail list for 15 consecutive quarters.
-- Wayne Risher: 529-2874
EPA touts FedEx Office
No. 1 green power purchaser in commercial printing business
No. 11 on EPA's Top 20 Retail list, where company appears for 15th consecutive quarter
No. 27 among 58 companies participating in agency's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge
FedEx Office tops EPA's green list
By Wayne Risher
The Environmental Protection Agency tapped FedEx Office on Monday as the nation's top printing company in use of electricity from eco-friendly sources.
The EPA Green Power Partnership ranked FedEx Office No. 1 on its first listing of the top 20 U.S. printing companies.
The company already appeared in other EPA green power rankings: 11th among the Top 20 Retail companies and 27th among Fortune 500 companies taking part in a corporate challenge.
Officials said FedEx Office buys more than 34 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy certificates and utility green power products annually, equal to 14 percent of purchased electricity use.
The EPA said that is enough green power to electrify 3,000 homes a year.
While the Memphis-based company has invested heavily in solar power at some of its newer facilities, that's not practical at FedEx Office stores.
"As is the case with many retailers, we do not own the properties in which FedEx Office operates, limiting our ability to integrate on-site power generation systems, such as rooftop solar panels," FedEx Corp. director of environmental affairs and sustainability Mitch Jackson wrote in a post Monday on the .
"However, that restriction does not deter our efforts to use green power. How so? For years FedEx Office has combined the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) and utilities' green power to offset energy consumption," Jackson added.
The EPA considers green power as renewable electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact, small hydroelectric resources.
Brian Philips, president and CEO, said, "FedEx Office is proud to know our ongoing commitment to sustainability and renewable resources has made us the No. 1 green power purchaser in the commercial printing industry."
FedEx Office also participates in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, which is pushing corporations to surpass 10 billion kilowatt-hours of green power by the end of this year. FedEx ranked 27th among 58 participating corporations.
FedEx Office has been on a Top 20 Retail list for 15 consecutive quarters.
-- Wayne Risher: 529-2874
EPA touts FedEx Office
No. 1 green power purchaser in commercial printing business
No. 11 on EPA's Top 20 Retail list, where company appears for 15th consecutive quarter
No. 27 among 58 companies participating in agency's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge
Free Compost for Sushi Lovers
As part of their efforts to become a more eco-friendly restaurant, Sekisui started saving all of their vegetable food prep scraps a few months ago. It was sent to an off site location to be turned into compost. They now have about 100 gallons of compost to offer to their customers for free!On Thursday afternoon, July 30th, approximately 20 five gallon buckets of compost will be delivered to Sekisui Midtown. It's absolutely free. You can take it home and use it to fertilize your garden. Keep the five gallon bucket if you want or rinse it out and bring it back to Sekisui Midtown and they will reuse it.
Please, only one bucket per customer. They've already had many requests from customers and want as many people as possible to get some.
Monday, July 27, 2009
MLGW Heat Safety Summit
With seven people having already succumbed to heat-related deaths this year and possibly more very hot weather coming, MLGW is hosting a Heat Summit with local health and political officials. The goal of the summit, set for Tuesday, July 28, at 1:30 p.m. at the MLGW Administration Building, 220 South Main, is to ensure available resources and actions that can be taken to protect Shelby County residents during the heat of the summer.
Invitees include representatives from MLGW, Department of Human Services, Shelby County Health Department, Aging Commission, MIFA, Meritan, CSA, the City of Memphis Fire Department and others. Dr. Karen Chancellor, Shelby County Medical Examiner, will be one of the speakers during the summit.
“The employees of MLGW care a great deal about the customers we serve,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins. "We want to do what we can to make sure they are safe and healthy, especially during the heat of the summer. This Summit will allow us to draw upon each organization’s strength to develop a coordinated community-wide effort to protect those we serve from extreme heat."
Mr. Collins went on the note that MLGW is committed to using its resources to supplement communications about cooling shelters, provide cooling units and utilize its staff to check on the elderly who often suffer through hot weather without using air conditioning.
Invitees include representatives from MLGW, Department of Human Services, Shelby County Health Department, Aging Commission, MIFA, Meritan, CSA, the City of Memphis Fire Department and others. Dr. Karen Chancellor, Shelby County Medical Examiner, will be one of the speakers during the summit.
“The employees of MLGW care a great deal about the customers we serve,” said MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins. "We want to do what we can to make sure they are safe and healthy, especially during the heat of the summer. This Summit will allow us to draw upon each organization’s strength to develop a coordinated community-wide effort to protect those we serve from extreme heat."
Mr. Collins went on the note that MLGW is committed to using its resources to supplement communications about cooling shelters, provide cooling units and utilize its staff to check on the elderly who often suffer through hot weather without using air conditioning.
ARRA Funds Tennessee Solar Project
ARRA Funds Tennessee Solar Project
Tennessee is about to commit $62 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to funding two solar venues; research and development (R&D), and a solar farm. Together, the two will jointly fulfill Governor Phil Bredeson’s Volunteer State Solar Initiative.
The R&D will come from a newly created Tennessee Solar Institute (TSI), a joint creation of the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville campus, and the laboratories at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
The university entity, UT-Battelle, LLC, was formed in 2000 as the private, non-profit operational arm of the ORNL, and represents a 50-50 partnership between UT and Battelle Memorial Institute. ORNL is a premier U.S. science and technology laboratory managed for the U.S. Department of Energy, and its presence in the state puts Tennessee well ahead of the scientific curve.
The final shot in the arm for Tennessee’s burgeoning solar industry will be the West Tennessee Solar Farm near Brownsville, a five-megawatt, 15-acre power generation facility at the 1,720-acre Haywood County industrial megasite which will serve as a solar demo for educational, research and economic-development purposes.
Tennessee, whose original claim to fame was as the nation’s country music capital, is also beginning to shine in the solar energy field, and the presence of Sharp Manufacturing in Hickory Hill is evidence of that. The Sharp factory offers the opportunity to put technology developed at TSI to the test in the factory and the marketplace. Sharp, which up until 2000 manufactured televisions and microwave ovens, now makes solar panels. In 2008, the 1 millionth solar panel rolled off the assembly line.
Even now, with the bottom falling out of the economy, the Sharp plant still runs 24/7, and the delicate process of assembly is, according to Sharp Vice President T. C. Jones, Jr., work that couldn’t be done without human hands. This translates into jobs as solar emerges from a niche market to a serious competitor in the energy generation field.
The Sharp manufacturing plant on South Mendenhall Road opened in 1978 and has always represented the city’s international big business presence. Now, with the energy-source paradigm shifting toward renewables in the face of cap-and-trade and other emissions penalties, the plant represents a cornerstone of Tennessee’s nascent solar energy industry – an industry just given a $62-million shot in the arm.
Other Tennessee industries that will further solar energy development include the new Hemlock semiconductor plant in Clarksville, and the new Wacker Chemie plant in Cleveland, which will process pure polycrystalline silicon, or polysilicon. Wacker Chemie is the world’s second-largest supplier and processor of polysilicon.
But the Sharp plant doesn’t just make solar panels, it also uses them to provide some power to the plant. In fact, a solar array toward the back of the plant produces enough energy that Sharp sells a portion back to Memphis Light, Gas & Water every month.
Tennessee is about to commit $62 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to funding two solar venues; research and development (R&D), and a solar farm. Together, the two will jointly fulfill Governor Phil Bredeson’s Volunteer State Solar Initiative.
The R&D will come from a newly created Tennessee Solar Institute (TSI), a joint creation of the University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville campus, and the laboratories at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
The university entity, UT-Battelle, LLC, was formed in 2000 as the private, non-profit operational arm of the ORNL, and represents a 50-50 partnership between UT and Battelle Memorial Institute. ORNL is a premier U.S. science and technology laboratory managed for the U.S. Department of Energy, and its presence in the state puts Tennessee well ahead of the scientific curve.
The final shot in the arm for Tennessee’s burgeoning solar industry will be the West Tennessee Solar Farm near Brownsville, a five-megawatt, 15-acre power generation facility at the 1,720-acre Haywood County industrial megasite which will serve as a solar demo for educational, research and economic-development purposes.
Tennessee, whose original claim to fame was as the nation’s country music capital, is also beginning to shine in the solar energy field, and the presence of Sharp Manufacturing in Hickory Hill is evidence of that. The Sharp factory offers the opportunity to put technology developed at TSI to the test in the factory and the marketplace. Sharp, which up until 2000 manufactured televisions and microwave ovens, now makes solar panels. In 2008, the 1 millionth solar panel rolled off the assembly line.
Even now, with the bottom falling out of the economy, the Sharp plant still runs 24/7, and the delicate process of assembly is, according to Sharp Vice President T. C. Jones, Jr., work that couldn’t be done without human hands. This translates into jobs as solar emerges from a niche market to a serious competitor in the energy generation field.
The Sharp manufacturing plant on South Mendenhall Road opened in 1978 and has always represented the city’s international big business presence. Now, with the energy-source paradigm shifting toward renewables in the face of cap-and-trade and other emissions penalties, the plant represents a cornerstone of Tennessee’s nascent solar energy industry – an industry just given a $62-million shot in the arm.
Other Tennessee industries that will further solar energy development include the new Hemlock semiconductor plant in Clarksville, and the new Wacker Chemie plant in Cleveland, which will process pure polycrystalline silicon, or polysilicon. Wacker Chemie is the world’s second-largest supplier and processor of polysilicon.
But the Sharp plant doesn’t just make solar panels, it also uses them to provide some power to the plant. In fact, a solar array toward the back of the plant produces enough energy that Sharp sells a portion back to Memphis Light, Gas & Water every month.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Cowles Co. Promotes Green Building
Cowles Co. Promotes Green Building
ERIC SMITH | The Daily News
Bernard Cowles of The Cowles Co. is a firm believer in the environmental mantra of “reduce, reuse and recycle,” and evidence of this can be found at his construction project at Cooper-Young Place, a 33-home site he developed and is building at South Barksdale Street and Elzey Avenue.
There, Cowles created a “Green Zone,” replete with a sign that reads, “The Cowles Company is a Green company. The materials in this area are free for you to reuse. Please help us recycle.”
The area is filled with lumber and other scraps – such as a slightly damaged door – from the construction site that anyone in the neighborhood can take.
“It’s just out there for people to reuse,” Cowles said. “Who knows, someone might want to burn it or build a chicken coop out of it or whatever. Somebody will find a use for it, especially all the building lumber. They love all that stuff.”
It’s that attitude that led Cowles to become a Certified Green Professional through the National Association of Home Builders, which means he can build homes to certain green standards. Now, he is looking to promote national green building principles in the Memphis area.
“It’s important for me to learn all the aspects (of green building),” Cowles said, “so I can educate my customers on what is green and how to build a more sustainable house without making it look like it’s supposed to be in California, somewhere.”
Built for Memphis
As Cowles pointed out, a green home doesn’t have to look crazy, with a geodesic dome with solar panels and windmills everywhere. He wants to build “just a typical house you would see in Memphis, but also with some sustainable products and more energy efficient ways that really don’t cost that much more money, especially for the benefits they receive.”
Though some green building materials do cost more, such as tankless water heaters, the items can save homeowners 30 percent off their utility bills. Also, sustainable homes qualify for energy efficiency mortgages, where a customer who’s buying the eco-friendly residence can qualify for more money or get a lower interest rate because of the projected savings in their monthly costs and the lower debt-to-equity ratio.
Cowles has seen buyers become better educated about green principles through the Internet, and they are becoming more eager to look for green features in a home, whether it’s a programmable thermostat, energy-efficient windows or recycled building materials.
“A lot of people want to be more conscious and more aware,” Cowles said. “They’re more inclined to look at your product a little bit longer, and maybe they’ll choose your product over someone else’s if they are doing their part to reduce carbon emissions and have a lighter footprint on Mother Nature.
“In the long run, it puts me at an advantage over other builders that aren’t offering these products.”
Creating a standard
Helping Cowles sell his “green” homes and have a positive effect on the planet is another local company, Sowell & Co., that looks beyond the bottom line.
Jeanie Henson, a Realtor at Sowell & Co., said the company’s mission aligns well with Cowles.
“Our colors are green, and our slogan is ‘Go Green With Sowell,’ so we’re kind of a perfect fit with Bernard,” Henson said.
Sowell co-owner Linda Sowell said she and her employees have been learning about all things green in a home, from things as simple as compact fluorescent light bulbs to more complex features such as wood floors made from sustainable bamboo.
She said it helps to work with The Cowles Co., a business that is building green homes “from the ground up with conservation in mind.”
“People looking in Midtown and Memphis in general are very aware of the environment and wanting to take care of the environment and conserve energy,” Sowell said. “I think it’s a great fit for us.”
Cowles said the company will ramp up its green building next year with the 10-lot Christie Place in Cooper-Young, a development whose homes will be rated to National Association of Home
Builders and Energy Star standards. He said before long, builders won’t need to distinguish their homes as “green” or “sustainable.” Instead, that approach will be the standard.
“It’s really not going to be fad,” Cowles said. “It’s going to be the wave of the future.”
ERIC SMITH | The Daily News
Bernard Cowles of The Cowles Co. is a firm believer in the environmental mantra of “reduce, reuse and recycle,” and evidence of this can be found at his construction project at Cooper-Young Place, a 33-home site he developed and is building at South Barksdale Street and Elzey Avenue.
There, Cowles created a “Green Zone,” replete with a sign that reads, “The Cowles Company is a Green company. The materials in this area are free for you to reuse. Please help us recycle.”
The area is filled with lumber and other scraps – such as a slightly damaged door – from the construction site that anyone in the neighborhood can take.
“It’s just out there for people to reuse,” Cowles said. “Who knows, someone might want to burn it or build a chicken coop out of it or whatever. Somebody will find a use for it, especially all the building lumber. They love all that stuff.”
It’s that attitude that led Cowles to become a Certified Green Professional through the National Association of Home Builders, which means he can build homes to certain green standards. Now, he is looking to promote national green building principles in the Memphis area.
“It’s important for me to learn all the aspects (of green building),” Cowles said, “so I can educate my customers on what is green and how to build a more sustainable house without making it look like it’s supposed to be in California, somewhere.”
Built for Memphis
As Cowles pointed out, a green home doesn’t have to look crazy, with a geodesic dome with solar panels and windmills everywhere. He wants to build “just a typical house you would see in Memphis, but also with some sustainable products and more energy efficient ways that really don’t cost that much more money, especially for the benefits they receive.”
Though some green building materials do cost more, such as tankless water heaters, the items can save homeowners 30 percent off their utility bills. Also, sustainable homes qualify for energy efficiency mortgages, where a customer who’s buying the eco-friendly residence can qualify for more money or get a lower interest rate because of the projected savings in their monthly costs and the lower debt-to-equity ratio.
Cowles has seen buyers become better educated about green principles through the Internet, and they are becoming more eager to look for green features in a home, whether it’s a programmable thermostat, energy-efficient windows or recycled building materials.
“A lot of people want to be more conscious and more aware,” Cowles said. “They’re more inclined to look at your product a little bit longer, and maybe they’ll choose your product over someone else’s if they are doing their part to reduce carbon emissions and have a lighter footprint on Mother Nature.
“In the long run, it puts me at an advantage over other builders that aren’t offering these products.”
Creating a standard
Helping Cowles sell his “green” homes and have a positive effect on the planet is another local company, Sowell & Co., that looks beyond the bottom line.
Jeanie Henson, a Realtor at Sowell & Co., said the company’s mission aligns well with Cowles.
“Our colors are green, and our slogan is ‘Go Green With Sowell,’ so we’re kind of a perfect fit with Bernard,” Henson said.
Sowell co-owner Linda Sowell said she and her employees have been learning about all things green in a home, from things as simple as compact fluorescent light bulbs to more complex features such as wood floors made from sustainable bamboo.
She said it helps to work with The Cowles Co., a business that is building green homes “from the ground up with conservation in mind.”
“People looking in Midtown and Memphis in general are very aware of the environment and wanting to take care of the environment and conserve energy,” Sowell said. “I think it’s a great fit for us.”
Cowles said the company will ramp up its green building next year with the 10-lot Christie Place in Cooper-Young, a development whose homes will be rated to National Association of Home
Builders and Energy Star standards. He said before long, builders won’t need to distinguish their homes as “green” or “sustainable.” Instead, that approach will be the standard.
“It’s really not going to be fad,” Cowles said. “It’s going to be the wave of the future.”
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Eco-Friendly Choices
I attended a wedding shower on Saturday night and was impressed by the "thank you" gifts the hostesses had for everyone. Little CFLs were wrapped with a "Happily ever after" ribbon. How cute!
Looking to green up your own gifts? Check out the article that recently ran in the Daily News, Luxe Green Helps People Make Eco-Friendly Choices. It describes how Dominique Pryor-Anderson helps people put together party favors, stock their kitchen pantries and plan their vacations with an all-natural flair and a low-carbon footprint.
Photo by Chip Chockley
JD Power
MLGW posted the third best increase in overall score for the South Midsize Region in the latest residential utility customer satisfaction study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. MLGW is no longer last in the nation, ranking 117th out of 121 utilities in the nation in the latest survey.
MLGW’s overall score jumped 15 points to 563 in J.D. Power’s 2009 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, which was released this week. MLGW scored 548 out of 1,000 points in 2008. In the South Midsize Region, John Hazen, senior director at J.D. Power, noted the South Midsized Average fell by 8 points compared to 2008, which means MLGW continues to show improvement.
"While we are happy to have significantly improved, we understand that we have a long way to go. We need to keep improving, and we will. This study shows that we are improving our relationships with our customers," MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins said.
This survey is specific to electric utilities, and differs from the J.D. Power and Associates survey of natural gas customers that will be released later this year, as well as the business electric survey that will be released in early 2010.
The study measures residential customer satisfaction with customers in six areas: power and quality, price, billing and payment, corporate citizenship, communications and customer service. MLGW showed increases in all categories; four--power and quality, billing and payment, communications and customer service—showed double-digit growth.
MLGW’s overall score jumped 15 points to 563 in J.D. Power’s 2009 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, which was released this week. MLGW scored 548 out of 1,000 points in 2008. In the South Midsize Region, John Hazen, senior director at J.D. Power, noted the South Midsized Average fell by 8 points compared to 2008, which means MLGW continues to show improvement.
"While we are happy to have significantly improved, we understand that we have a long way to go. We need to keep improving, and we will. This study shows that we are improving our relationships with our customers," MLGW President and CEO Jerry Collins said.
This survey is specific to electric utilities, and differs from the J.D. Power and Associates survey of natural gas customers that will be released later this year, as well as the business electric survey that will be released in early 2010.
The study measures residential customer satisfaction with customers in six areas: power and quality, price, billing and payment, corporate citizenship, communications and customer service. MLGW showed increases in all categories; four--power and quality, billing and payment, communications and customer service—showed double-digit growth.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Moon Landing or Laundry?
CA readers sent in their memories of the first ever moon landing 40 years ago, and I thought this was cute:
Sam Wolfe was a 20-year-old intern assigned to the metro desk at The Commercial Appeal to take obituary phone calls on that night. He said one call was from a low-level manager at Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division, who said five water pumping stations were cut off during the moon landing because of low consumption.
"Apparently no one was washing dishes, flushing toilets, bathing, washing cars or watering the lawn," said Wolfe, who now lives in Asheville, N.C. "Everyone was glued to the TV, fascinated by this marvel of science and technology.
"The next day, the front page of the paper featured a photograph of the moon that covered three-quarters of the page. A banner headline shouted 'WE MADE IT.'
"The bottom quarter of the page was the feature story and a little boxed sidebar about MLGW having to turn off pumping stations because water pressure got too high during the landing. My story went without a byline, but I can rightly claim to have a few rare column inches on the front page of that paper."
Here Comes the Sun
[Jerry] Collins said the solar array at Sharp is “a first glimpse of the smart grid of the future.”
“One of these days, there’s going to be solar panels probably on most buildings,” he predicted. “They will be either using all of the electricity which they generate or using a part of it and sending some of it back to the grid.”
Be sure and read Here Comes the Sun: Memphis’ cut of the state’s solar energy plan in this week's Memphis Daily News.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Tennessee gets $77.6 million in clean water funds
As reported in the Memphis Business Journal...
The Environmental Protection Agency will give Tennessee $77.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for state and local governments to finance overdue improvements to the state’s clean water infrastructure.
$56.9 million of the funds will go the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. It provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control and watershed and estuary management.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will get $20.2 million from the EPA for low-interest loans to finance drinking water infrastructure improvements. The program focuses on giving funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.
The funds are a portion of $6 billion in ARRA money that will be given to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the country.
For more information about access these funds, contact Kara Belle at (404) 562-8322 or belle.kara@epa.gov.
The Environmental Protection Agency will give Tennessee $77.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for state and local governments to finance overdue improvements to the state’s clean water infrastructure.
$56.9 million of the funds will go the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. It provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control and watershed and estuary management.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will get $20.2 million from the EPA for low-interest loans to finance drinking water infrastructure improvements. The program focuses on giving funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.
The funds are a portion of $6 billion in ARRA money that will be given to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the country.
For more information about access these funds, contact Kara Belle at (404) 562-8322 or belle.kara@epa.gov.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Neighborhood Leaders Conference
The MLGW Neighborhood Leaders Conference is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the MLGW Training Center (4949 Raleigh-LaGrange at Covington Pike.) The conference is an annual event that is designed to provide training and networking opportunities for grassroots community leaders. This year's theme is Green and Clean Communities. (See the workshop schedule here)
Registration is $5 and includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, conference notebook and choice of workshops. Individuals can register here.
For more information contact MLGW Community Relations at 528-4820.
Registration is $5 and includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, conference notebook and choice of workshops. Individuals can register here.
For more information contact MLGW Community Relations at 528-4820.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Summer Night Lights
Now here's some extra energy usage I can support!
The article Lighting Up Tough Parks’ Darkness in the New York Times shows how a little light can make a big difference--especially in Los Angeles' parks.
Read the full story here...
The article Lighting Up Tough Parks’ Darkness in the New York Times shows how a little light can make a big difference--especially in Los Angeles' parks.
“Until about five years ago, the approach to gang violence in California was largely a law enforcement one,” Mr. Seave said. “But there has been a sea change in the way everyone, particularly law enforcement, thinks. We cannot arrest our way out of this problem.”
Seemingly small steps like filling parks with people can change the behavior that feeds crime patterns, said Marcos Andrade, 18. Mr. Andrade carried his 9-month-old nephew, Maximum, on his shoulders in Ramon Garcia park Thursday.
“I used to stay away and stay at home at night,” he said. “But I’m really not an indoor type. Now we can be here and have support.” Maybe Maximum, he said, “could grow up more free.”
Read the full story here...
The Indoor Summer Chill
The New York Times recently ran a story on "Retailers and the Indoor Summer Chill." The article focuses on retailers who crank up their air-conditioners and open their doors to entice sweaty customers to come inside, cool off, and spend money.
It should come as no surprise to you that air-conditioning accounts for the majority of everyone's summer utility costs, and pumping it onto the street is rather wasteful.
Last summer, New York’s City Council unanimously passed a provision that would fine businesses that pump air-conditioning into the street. A warning is issued for the first offense, but there's a $200 fine for the second offense, and $400 for the third.
Now that it's getting super hot in Memphis, are you enjoying the free A/C in retail stores, or are you freezing?
What are some of Memphis' major A/C cranker-uppers?
How many of you are sitting at your computers, indoors, with a sweater on right now?
It should come as no surprise to you that air-conditioning accounts for the majority of everyone's summer utility costs, and pumping it onto the street is rather wasteful.
Last summer, New York’s City Council unanimously passed a provision that would fine businesses that pump air-conditioning into the street. A warning is issued for the first offense, but there's a $200 fine for the second offense, and $400 for the third.
Now that it's getting super hot in Memphis, are you enjoying the free A/C in retail stores, or are you freezing?
What are some of Memphis' major A/C cranker-uppers?
How many of you are sitting at your computers, indoors, with a sweater on right now?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Green Birdies
Justin Timberlake's golf course, Mirimichi, is set to open July 25th. It's the first in the U. S. to receive "Audubon Classic Sanctuary" certification from Audubon International.
Here's a list of the green features:
Irrigation and drainage systems, like the waterfall pictured above, reuse and maximize the use of rainwater.
Native grass areas and waste bunkers reduce the amount of property that must be maintained.
More lake areas and recirculating streams support wildlife.
Instead of equipment sheds, a "Natural Resource Management Center" has a biodegradable treatment of rinse water.
The golf course will calculate its own carbon footprint.
The golf, food and beverage operations will use products that are made of recycled materials.
The future clubhouse will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.
Way to go, Justin!
Photo and facts courtesy of the Commercial Appeal.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Heat is (Still) On
Some good advice from the Commercial Appeal...
Some cooling-off early next week promises a little relief from what has been a bummer summer so far, and we're not referring to local politics. Actually, this weekend's projected highs in the 90s remind us that summer is serious business in Memphis.
So far heat-related deaths have been few, but it's only mid-July; there are plenty of hot days ahead, when it's our responsibility to protect the vulnerable.
It's that mixture of sunlight with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides emerging from automobile tailpipes that produces the lung-searing gas and makes those with respiratory illness suffer worse. Like the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association has done for the benefit of athletes training in the mid-day sun, we should develop heat mitigating policies for ourselves. Those mandatory 10-minute water breaks every 30 minutes when the heat index reaches 95 degrees sound like good advice for athletes and the rest of us as well.
Some cooling-off early next week promises a little relief from what has been a bummer summer so far, and we're not referring to local politics. Actually, this weekend's projected highs in the 90s remind us that summer is serious business in Memphis.
So far heat-related deaths have been few, but it's only mid-July; there are plenty of hot days ahead, when it's our responsibility to protect the vulnerable.
We must check on our elderly neighbors, especially those suffering in silence without air conditioning.
We must spread the word when local government opens cooling-off shelters --and by the way, it would be a good idea for broadcasters to spread that information with frequent messages on TV and radio.
Crossing the shopping center or supermarket parking lot, we must keep an eye out for children who have been left in locked cars by thoughtless or distracted caretakers.
When ozone pollution advisories are issued, we should take a break from outdoor activities and keep driving to a minimum -- take the bus, if we can.
It's that mixture of sunlight with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides emerging from automobile tailpipes that produces the lung-searing gas and makes those with respiratory illness suffer worse. Like the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association has done for the benefit of athletes training in the mid-day sun, we should develop heat mitigating policies for ourselves. Those mandatory 10-minute water breaks every 30 minutes when the heat index reaches 95 degrees sound like good advice for athletes and the rest of us as well.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Bird Attack!
Here's a funny video of a bird attacking several pedestrians outside the San Francisco financial district. We had a bird like this outside of our visitor's lot a few years ago and it got me several times! It was extremely creepy. And much more effective than parking tickets. (Technically employees should not park in the visitor's lot!)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Would you like electricity with that burger?
And now for something completely different from the North Carolina News Observer...
Watts are free at new McDonald's
BY SUE STOCK, STAFF WRITER
CARY, N.C. - When it opens Tuesday, the McDonald's at 1299 Kildaire Farm Road will be the country's first McDonald's with an electric vehicle charging station.
The station will allow drivers of electric cars to plug them in and charge them while they eat.
McDonald's is one of several chains exploring green store design. Wal-Mart and Target are revamping their stores to conserve energy. Subway has opened its first stand-alone LEED-certified restaurant in the state in Chapel Hill.
The Cary McDonald's is under review to be LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. It would become the third McDonald's to receive certification, after restaurants in Savannah, Ga., and Chicago.
To start, the restaurant will feature two charging stations, which will sit at the front of a parking space. If the feature proves popular, McDonald's can expand the system to add more stations, said Helda Rodriguez, president of NovaCharge, the Florida distributor of the ChargePoint stations.
Th charge is free.
Watts are free at new McDonald's
BY SUE STOCK, STAFF WRITER
CARY, N.C. - When it opens Tuesday, the McDonald's at 1299 Kildaire Farm Road will be the country's first McDonald's with an electric vehicle charging station.The station will allow drivers of electric cars to plug them in and charge them while they eat.
McDonald's is one of several chains exploring green store design. Wal-Mart and Target are revamping their stores to conserve energy. Subway has opened its first stand-alone LEED-certified restaurant in the state in Chapel Hill.
The Cary McDonald's is under review to be LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. It would become the third McDonald's to receive certification, after restaurants in Savannah, Ga., and Chicago.
To start, the restaurant will feature two charging stations, which will sit at the front of a parking space. If the feature proves popular, McDonald's can expand the system to add more stations, said Helda Rodriguez, president of NovaCharge, the Florida distributor of the ChargePoint stations.
Th charge is free.
What's in Your Bottled Water?
Stricter labeling urged for bottled water
By EMILY FREDRIX, AP Food Industry Writer
Consumers know less about the water they pay dearly for in bottles than what they can drink almost for free from the tap because the two are regulated differently, congressional investigators and nonprofit researchers say in new reports.
Both the Government Accountability Office and the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, recommend in reports released Wednesday that bottled water be labeled with the same level of information municipal water providers must disclose.
The researchers urged Americans to make bottled water "a distant second choice" to filtered tap water because there isn't enough information about bottled water. The working group recommends purifying tap water with a commercial filter, however.
Both reports were released at a congressional subcommittee Wednesday morning.
Bottled water — an industry worth about $16 billion in sales last year — has been suffering lately as colleges, communities and some governments take measures to limit or ban its consumption. As employers, they are motivated by cost savings and environmental concern because the bottles often are not recycled.
Bottled water sales were growing by double-digit percentages for years and were helping buoy the U.S. beverage industry overall. But they were flat last year, according to trade publication Beverage Digest.
Beverage Digest editor John Sicher said some consumers are turning on the tap during the recession simply because it's cheaper.
From 1997 to 2007, the amount of bottled water consumed per person in the U.S. more than doubled, from 13.4 gallons to 29.3 gallons, the GAO report said.
The issue before a subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee was less about waste and water quality concerns and more about the mechanics of regulating bottled water.
As a food product, bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and required to show nutrition information and ingredients on its labels. Municipal water is under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The two agencies have similar standards for water quality, but the FDA has less authority to enforce them, the GAO said, and the environmental agency requires much more testing.
Subcommittee chairman Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said the subcommittee was requesting information Wednesday from a dozen bottled water companies on their water sources, treatment methods and two years' results of contaminant testing. It was not immediately clear which companies were being contacted.
"Consumers may not realize that many regulations that apply to municipalities responsible for tap water do not apply to companies that produce bottled water," he said in statements opening the hearing.
The GAO noted the FDA has yet to set standards for DEHP, one of several chemicals known as phthalates that are found in many household products, while the EPA limits the presence of phthalates in tap water.
In a survey of officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the GAO found they think consumers are misinformed about bottled water.
"Many replied that consumers often believe that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap water," according to the GAO report.
The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group said in its report that consumers do not get enough information to determine which water is best for them.
Both groups said some bottled water brands include the same information required of tap water providers on either labels or company Web sites.
The GAO called for more research but said the FDA should start by requiring that bottled water labels tell consumers where to find out more.
Community water systems must distribute annual reports about their water's source, contaminants and possible health concerns.
Consumers should know where all their water comes from, how it is treated and what is found in it, said Richard Wiles, senior vice president for policy and communications for the Environmental Working Group.
"If the municipal tap water systems can tell their customers this information, you would think that bottled water companies that charge 1,000 times more for this water could also let consumers know the same thing," he told The Associated Press.
The bottled water industry's trade group, the International Bottled Water Association, planned to testify Wednesday that the product, — subject to the same regulation as other soft drinks, teas, juices and other beverages — is safe. Additional standards apply for bottled water products labeled as "purified water" or "spring water," among other labels, because they must prove a connection to those sources, according to planned testimony from Joseph Doss, president and chief executive of the International Bottled Water Association.
Doss said consumers can learn about bottled water by contacting the company, reading its Web site and visiting sites run by state governments.
State safeguards for bottled water often exceed the federal, though they are less stringent than for tap water, the GAO wrote.
The trade group declined to comment on the reports before they are released.
By EMILY FREDRIX, AP Food Industry Writer
Consumers know less about the water they pay dearly for in bottles than what they can drink almost for free from the tap because the two are regulated differently, congressional investigators and nonprofit researchers say in new reports.Both the Government Accountability Office and the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, recommend in reports released Wednesday that bottled water be labeled with the same level of information municipal water providers must disclose.
The researchers urged Americans to make bottled water "a distant second choice" to filtered tap water because there isn't enough information about bottled water. The working group recommends purifying tap water with a commercial filter, however.
Both reports were released at a congressional subcommittee Wednesday morning.
Bottled water — an industry worth about $16 billion in sales last year — has been suffering lately as colleges, communities and some governments take measures to limit or ban its consumption. As employers, they are motivated by cost savings and environmental concern because the bottles often are not recycled.
Bottled water sales were growing by double-digit percentages for years and were helping buoy the U.S. beverage industry overall. But they were flat last year, according to trade publication Beverage Digest.
Beverage Digest editor John Sicher said some consumers are turning on the tap during the recession simply because it's cheaper.
From 1997 to 2007, the amount of bottled water consumed per person in the U.S. more than doubled, from 13.4 gallons to 29.3 gallons, the GAO report said.
The issue before a subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee was less about waste and water quality concerns and more about the mechanics of regulating bottled water.
As a food product, bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and required to show nutrition information and ingredients on its labels. Municipal water is under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The two agencies have similar standards for water quality, but the FDA has less authority to enforce them, the GAO said, and the environmental agency requires much more testing.
Subcommittee chairman Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said the subcommittee was requesting information Wednesday from a dozen bottled water companies on their water sources, treatment methods and two years' results of contaminant testing. It was not immediately clear which companies were being contacted.
"Consumers may not realize that many regulations that apply to municipalities responsible for tap water do not apply to companies that produce bottled water," he said in statements opening the hearing.
The GAO noted the FDA has yet to set standards for DEHP, one of several chemicals known as phthalates that are found in many household products, while the EPA limits the presence of phthalates in tap water.
In a survey of officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the GAO found they think consumers are misinformed about bottled water.
"Many replied that consumers often believe that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap water," according to the GAO report.
The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group said in its report that consumers do not get enough information to determine which water is best for them.
Both groups said some bottled water brands include the same information required of tap water providers on either labels or company Web sites.
The GAO called for more research but said the FDA should start by requiring that bottled water labels tell consumers where to find out more.
Community water systems must distribute annual reports about their water's source, contaminants and possible health concerns.
Consumers should know where all their water comes from, how it is treated and what is found in it, said Richard Wiles, senior vice president for policy and communications for the Environmental Working Group.
"If the municipal tap water systems can tell their customers this information, you would think that bottled water companies that charge 1,000 times more for this water could also let consumers know the same thing," he told The Associated Press.
The bottled water industry's trade group, the International Bottled Water Association, planned to testify Wednesday that the product, — subject to the same regulation as other soft drinks, teas, juices and other beverages — is safe. Additional standards apply for bottled water products labeled as "purified water" or "spring water," among other labels, because they must prove a connection to those sources, according to planned testimony from Joseph Doss, president and chief executive of the International Bottled Water Association.
Doss said consumers can learn about bottled water by contacting the company, reading its Web site and visiting sites run by state governments.
State safeguards for bottled water often exceed the federal, though they are less stringent than for tap water, the GAO wrote.
The trade group declined to comment on the reports before they are released.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Food for Thought
Sometimes when I drive down Walnut Grove, or any other well-manicured street, I think about what that street would look like if everyone had a garden instead of a lawn.
From Food not Lawns...
Today, 58 million Americans spend approximately $30 billion every year to maintain over 23 million acres of lawn. That’s an average of over a third of an acre and $517 each. The same size plot of land could still have a small lawn for recreation, plus produce all of the vegetables needed to feed a family of six. The lawns in the United States consume around 270 billion gallons of water a week—enough to water 81 million acres of organic vegetables, all summer long.
Photo by Jez Page
Flying High
Last week I took a field trip to substation 4 with some of the engineers to check out the new safety features, environmental upgrades, and daredevil starlings. (Ok, I really just wanted an excuse to wear safety goggles and a hard hat.)
Hanging out in a substation is rather exciting--especially if you have an engineer telling you about all of the high voltage surrounding you (and it's potential danger). Apparently no one has told the birds. They just fly through without a care in the world, oblivious to the fact that they are just millimeters away from doom!
Hanging out in a substation is rather exciting--especially if you have an engineer telling you about all of the high voltage surrounding you (and it's potential danger). Apparently no one has told the birds. They just fly through without a care in the world, oblivious to the fact that they are just millimeters away from doom!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
EcoBuild Tops 500 Mark
EcoBUILD, MLGW's green building program, has topped the 500-mark! We have certified 514 homes since construction of the first EcoBUILD home began in October 2003. The 500th house is a 3-bedroom, 2061-square-foot home built in Midtown. This is the builder's first EcoBUILD home but may not be the last, as he is considering EcoBUILD for a 10-lot infill subdivision.
With 514 certified homes, EcoBUILD now accounts for 667,797 square feet of green housing in Shelby County. Based on average energy savings identified in the 2006 Uptown study, we estimate collective annual electricity savings of 2.3 million kWh, plus natural gas savings of 267,000 Ccf. (We plan to repeat the energy savings study, sampling a larger number of homes and using 2009 data, early next year.) The avoided electric use is enough to meet the annual power needs of 146 average Memphis households. It also represents avoided power generation emissions equal to 3.76 million pounds of carbon dioxide.
With 514 certified homes, EcoBUILD now accounts for 667,797 square feet of green housing in Shelby County. Based on average energy savings identified in the 2006 Uptown study, we estimate collective annual electricity savings of 2.3 million kWh, plus natural gas savings of 267,000 Ccf. (We plan to repeat the energy savings study, sampling a larger number of homes and using 2009 data, early next year.) The avoided electric use is enough to meet the annual power needs of 146 average Memphis households. It also represents avoided power generation emissions equal to 3.76 million pounds of carbon dioxide.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Smart Spending
Smart Spending: Make home more energy-efficient
By ASHLEY M. HEHER, Associated Press
CHICAGO — Times may be tight, but in making your home more energy-efficient it’s actually true that the more you spend the more you save.
Here’s the scoop: This year’s federal economic recovery legislation offers rebates for some energy-efficient appliances. And the resourceful can score tax credits of up to 30 percent of the cost of other improvements aimed at making a home more green.
The changes, repairs, installations and general improvements also can lower your utility bills, which helps your wallet as well as the planet — though most of the credits are capped at $1,500.
“Everyone still wants to be green, but the economy is just such where they’re really looking to cut back and save as well,” said Home Depot spokeswoman Jean Niemi. “They don’t want to spend a lot of money on products, and they want those products to save them on their energy bills.”
You can start saving by unplugging every gadget that’s not in use, from nightlights to video game consoles, a step that can quickly cut a home’s electricity use by 10 percent. Then check out these tips — guaranteed to be cheap and easy weekend projects — to help green both your home and your bank account.
1) GET AN AUDIT. Before you invest in a project, you need to know what areas of your home need an upgrade and which will be most cost-efficient. You can hire a professional to do an energy audit, sometimes at a cost of a few hundred dollars, but there’s nothing to keep you from trying one on your own. Get tips at www.energysavers.gov. Lowe’s Cos. Inc. and The Home Depot Inc. also offer online audit guides that can help you figure out where to focus your energy.
2) SEAL AIR LEAKS: As temperatures fluctuate, building materials expand and contract, and cracks can form that let outside air in — and inside air out. To cut air seepage, shell out about $3 for a spray can of foam sealant or a bit more for weather stripping.
If you’re not sure where the leaks are, use an infrared thermometer ($30 and up) to find where temperatures fluctuate. Or (carefully) hold a lit match near where you suspect drafts. Or try holding tissue paper nearby to see if it flutters.
3) HEATING & COOLING: Programable thermostats start as low as $20 and a novice can install one in an hour or so. The benefit? Many have up four different settings, letting you decide what days and what times to turn on the AC or the heat. Like sleeping when the temperature is cooler? Experts say correct use of a programmable thermostat can cut energy bills an average of $180 a year.
Another easy step with a big payoff: installing a ceiling fan to circulate cool air in the summer and — once you change the way the blades face — warm air in the winter.
Finally: Make sure air filters are cleaned regularly. If they’re clogged with dirt, dust and pet fur, it makes a furnace or air conditioner work harder. And harder working equipment means higher energy bills.
4) LIGHTING: The twisty compact fluorescent light bulbs called CFLs are definitely more expensive, starting at about $10 for a four-pack of 75-watt bulbs. But they pay for themselves in about 6 months because they use about 75 percent less energy — and then they last about 10 times longer than a standard incandescent light bulb to keep saving you money. Lowe’s experts recommend swapping five of your home’s most-used incandescent bulbs for CFLs to save as much as $70 in energy bills over the life of the five bulbs.
About a quarter of a home’s energy is used for lighting and appliances. You can cut the lighting use dramatically by buying LED lights, which use up to 90 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb. But the selection remains limited.
“Changing out a light bulb is a common thing,” said Lowe’s spokeswoman Karen Cobb. “It’s something we all know how to do. It’s easy. It’s inexpensive. And there is an almost immediate return on your utility costs.”
By ASHLEY M. HEHER, Associated Press
CHICAGO — Times may be tight, but in making your home more energy-efficient it’s actually true that the more you spend the more you save.
Here’s the scoop: This year’s federal economic recovery legislation offers rebates for some energy-efficient appliances. And the resourceful can score tax credits of up to 30 percent of the cost of other improvements aimed at making a home more green.
The changes, repairs, installations and general improvements also can lower your utility bills, which helps your wallet as well as the planet — though most of the credits are capped at $1,500.
“Everyone still wants to be green, but the economy is just such where they’re really looking to cut back and save as well,” said Home Depot spokeswoman Jean Niemi. “They don’t want to spend a lot of money on products, and they want those products to save them on their energy bills.”
You can start saving by unplugging every gadget that’s not in use, from nightlights to video game consoles, a step that can quickly cut a home’s electricity use by 10 percent. Then check out these tips — guaranteed to be cheap and easy weekend projects — to help green both your home and your bank account.
1) GET AN AUDIT. Before you invest in a project, you need to know what areas of your home need an upgrade and which will be most cost-efficient. You can hire a professional to do an energy audit, sometimes at a cost of a few hundred dollars, but there’s nothing to keep you from trying one on your own. Get tips at www.energysavers.gov. Lowe’s Cos. Inc. and The Home Depot Inc. also offer online audit guides that can help you figure out where to focus your energy.
2) SEAL AIR LEAKS: As temperatures fluctuate, building materials expand and contract, and cracks can form that let outside air in — and inside air out. To cut air seepage, shell out about $3 for a spray can of foam sealant or a bit more for weather stripping.
If you’re not sure where the leaks are, use an infrared thermometer ($30 and up) to find where temperatures fluctuate. Or (carefully) hold a lit match near where you suspect drafts. Or try holding tissue paper nearby to see if it flutters.
3) HEATING & COOLING: Programable thermostats start as low as $20 and a novice can install one in an hour or so. The benefit? Many have up four different settings, letting you decide what days and what times to turn on the AC or the heat. Like sleeping when the temperature is cooler? Experts say correct use of a programmable thermostat can cut energy bills an average of $180 a year.
Another easy step with a big payoff: installing a ceiling fan to circulate cool air in the summer and — once you change the way the blades face — warm air in the winter.
Finally: Make sure air filters are cleaned regularly. If they’re clogged with dirt, dust and pet fur, it makes a furnace or air conditioner work harder. And harder working equipment means higher energy bills.
4) LIGHTING: The twisty compact fluorescent light bulbs called CFLs are definitely more expensive, starting at about $10 for a four-pack of 75-watt bulbs. But they pay for themselves in about 6 months because they use about 75 percent less energy — and then they last about 10 times longer than a standard incandescent light bulb to keep saving you money. Lowe’s experts recommend swapping five of your home’s most-used incandescent bulbs for CFLs to save as much as $70 in energy bills over the life of the five bulbs.
About a quarter of a home’s energy is used for lighting and appliances. You can cut the lighting use dramatically by buying LED lights, which use up to 90 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb. But the selection remains limited.
“Changing out a light bulb is a common thing,” said Lowe’s spokeswoman Karen Cobb. “It’s something we all know how to do. It’s easy. It’s inexpensive. And there is an almost immediate return on your utility costs.”
TVA Incentives
It pays to conserve. TVA has just launched a new program where you can hire a TVA certified professional to perform an energy evaluation of your home, and if you make some of the recommended energy-saving improvements within 90 days, TVA will reimburse you for up to half the cost. Paired with energy tax credits and savings through using less energy, reimbursement through this program can ensure that investments in efficient equipment and improving your home's building envelope will pay back more quickly than ever. Information about this program can be found here.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Celebrate Red, White, Blue & GREEN on the 4th
This week's Flyer has some great ideas for hosting A Greener Party just in time for the Fourth. I also found a nice video chock full of good info at 5min.com.
Notice something missing from that video? Fireworks. Unfortunately, fireworks are not very eco-friendly. Not only do they create tons of waste, they unleash a shower of toxins into the soil and water. Read this article only if you never want to enjoy fireworks again!
Whatever you decide to do, be safe!
Notice something missing from that video? Fireworks. Unfortunately, fireworks are not very eco-friendly. Not only do they create tons of waste, they unleash a shower of toxins into the soil and water. Read this article only if you never want to enjoy fireworks again!
Whatever you decide to do, be safe!
Utility Assistance Funds Available
To get more information about the City of Memphis Utility Assistance Program, you can call the Office of Human Services at 545-7200.
MLGW Assistance Programs
Cooling Centers
MLGW Assistance Programs
Cooling Centers
Streetlight Outages
MLGW's Streetlight Outage reporting number has changed. The new number to report streetlight outages is 820-7878.
Please note the pole number and/or closest address/intersection when reporting.
Please note the pole number and/or closest address/intersection when reporting.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Beat the Heat and Win Free Utilities for a Year!
Starting July 6th, Channel 3's viewers will have an opportunity to win $300 in cash credit cards every weeknight until July 29th. During the Contest Period, viewers will be invited to watch the News Channel 3 at 6-6:30AM, 6:30-7AM and 10 PM newscasts for the cue to call. Each $300 winner will then be entered into a drawing for the Grand Prize, one year of FREE UTILITIES--up to $3000. (See official rules here)
MLGW is only a sponsor. WREG is providing the cash and gift/credit cards.
MLGW is only a sponsor. WREG is providing the cash and gift/credit cards.
Mayor Makes Composting Mandatory
The Mayor of San Francisco, that is.
By Gavin Newsom, reprinted on Greenbiz.com...
Gavin Newsom is the 42nd mayor of the city and county of San Francisco.
Photo courtesy of DIY Happy.
By Gavin Newsom, reprinted on Greenbiz.com...
Today at the Farmer’s Market in front of San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building I am signing the nation’s first mandatory composting law. It’s the most comprehensive recycling and composting legislation in the country and the first to require residents and businesses to compost food scraps.
A number of years ago, San Francisco set a lofty green goal -- we wanted to divert 75 percent of our resources from the landfill by 2010 and achieve zero waste by 2020. At the time, many people thought our targets were overly ambitious. However, San Francisco is poised to meet these goals. We are currently keeping 72 percent of recyclable material out of our landfill.
We recently conducted a waste-stream analysis and discovered that about two thirds of the garbage people throw away -- half a million tons each year -- could have been recycled or turned to compost. If we were able to capture everything, we’d be recycling 90 percent -- preventing additional waste material from going to the landfill, and creating hundreds of green-collar jobs.
San Francisco already converts over 400 tons of food scraps and other compostable discards into high-grade organic compost every day. It’s so nutrient-rich that the final product is almost jet black in color. It’s snapped up by farms and vineyards across the Bay Area, we can barely keep up with the demand. By requiring all residents and businesses to compost, we’ll increase the amount of “black gold” available for sustainable regional agriculture and improve our environment.
When food scraps break down in an oxygen-starved landfill it creates large quantities of methane gas, a greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide when measured over a 20 year period. It also creates acids that can leach toxins from the landfill.
Composting food scraps produces little to no methane because there is sufficient oxygen in the process. And using the resulting compost reduces greenhouse gases by returning carbon to the soil, increasing plant growth, and reducing emissions associated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation. Recent studies show that farming one acre of land using conventional industrial methods releases 3,700 pounds of carbon into the atmosphere each year. Farmed sustainably, with compost and cover crops, that same acre will put 12,000 pounds of carbon back into the earth.
I believe that composting will become second nature for Americans, just like sorting bottles and paper. It will take time, but I believe mandatory composting will spread across the country -- improving the air we breathe and reducing our need for landfills.
For more info on our recycling programs please visit www.sfenvironment.org/
Gavin Newsom is the 42nd mayor of the city and county of San Francisco.
Photo courtesy of DIY Happy.
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