Goal For The Green

We are all responsible enough to recycle and know to install energy-efficient light bulbs in our homes and businesses. But how can you step it up when it comes to lowering your carbon footprint even further? Some businesses are tapping deeper into Earth’s natural resources and creating sensible alternatives to irresponsible living.

Public sentiment, cost savings, supportive government kickbacks and the satisfaction gained from attending to the preservation of our atmosphere are at the forefront of these environmentally conscious business designs. There are the benefits to meeting environmental goals of products and services; improved worker health and safety, a decrease in health and disposal costs, reduced liabilities and a continued increase in the availability of environmentally friendly products in the marketplace, explains the EPA.

Soybeans

Famous for the positive nutritional content, soybeans are most commonly used in soups and to make stock and cooking oil. It can be ground into powder to provide protein to otherwise nutritionless foods. It makes for a fine alternative to dairy and can also be consumed as edamame. But this great bean has a little-known secret it’s a renewable energy source. A superhero in its own right, soy can replace harmful chemicals used as a base for products. For example, Franmar Chemical replaces expensive petrochemicals with soy-based products for cleaning in industries such as screen printing, decorative concrete cleaning, paint removal, asbestos and asphalt removal, to name a few.

Vegetable Oil

Soybean oil is vegetable oil but it’s not the only by-product that does a business right. Other types of vegetable oils are used in industries, such as printing, to cut down on the environmental chemical impact of petroleum-based printing inks. While soy ink is used across the globe, other sustainable raw materials are gaining more recognition. A collective goal in the printing industry is to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) content as regulated by the Clean Air Act Amendments. Companies like Printing For Less take advantage of primarily soy vegetable-based inks because they are gentle on the environment and produce bright, high-quality images on printing materials that include business cards and other marketing collateral.

Recycled Material

Many companies are dedicated to recycling organic material and debris. Some companies, like Recycled Green divert more than 600,000 cubic yards of organic waste each year. Recycled Green delivers landscaping and composting materials. The materials are used for landscaping, construction and highway projects, specifically for landscaping application, green roofs and smart walls, bio-filters and bio-swales, landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, bio-retention, the process of removing contaminants from storm-water runoff, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and baseball diamond infield mix.

To gain insight, understand trends and discover actionable ideas for your business sustainable practices, visit a GreenBiz conference or event in 2013. New York, San Francisco and Boston offer opportunities to bring thoughtful leaders and professionals together to share the latest innovations in green business as well as offer a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the global impacts of greenhouse gas and air emissions.

Water is our most precious resource, and perhaps the most taken for granted.   Here in America, our number one environmental concern is the pollution of drinking water.  It is the essential ingredient to sustaining life.  For this reason, it is a prime concern to most Americans, that our drinking water is clean and safe.

The worries are justified and many, from potential contaminants and disturbances in the water systems, to untested well water, to less stringent requirements for bottled water vs. tap water, and the list goes on.

Here in the United States, we are fortunate to have one of the safest water supplies in the world.  However, the quality and safety of water varies from place to place, depending on the condition of the source water and the treatment it receives.  Our nation’s public drinking water supply is regulated under The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), originally passed by Congress in 1974.  The SDWA,  and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set our standards for drinking water quality.  They also oversee the governments and suppliers who implement the standards.  The EPA’s primary standards are legally enforceable, and limit the level of contaminants in drinking water,  in order to protect public health.

The EPA mandates that all public water suppliers must provide an annual report, sometimes called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers.  This report, provides information on local drinking water quality, the source of the water, contaminants found in the water, and how we, the customers, can get involved in protecting our drinking water.

The EPA also protects the nation’s drinking water by safeguarding watersheds, and regulating the release of pollutants into the environment. In partnership with local authorities and community groups, the EPA encourages water conservation and works to develop contingency plans for source contamination and other water emergencies.  In cases where drinking water poses a risk to health, the EPA requires local water suppliers to provide notice to their customers.  This may be  in the form of a “boil water order.”  This is to remove contaminants, before drinking the water.

The EPA encourages households with private drinking water supplies, to have their water tested annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels.    Approximately 15 percent of Americans have private wells.   However, studies have found that many private wells are not tested regularly, and could be subject to dangerous contamination.

Our nation’s aging water infrastructure, is a major concern in regards to safe drinking water. The American Water Works Association (AWWA), North America’s largest association of water works professions, has called the next few decades the “Dawn of the Replacement Era” because a significant amount of the nation’s buried water infrastructure, needs to be replaced before it deteriorates and poses a serious threat to both public health and safety.

You may have heard on the news before, that this will require a major investment.   AWWA estimates that $250 billion over the next 30 years, may be required to replace worn-out drinking water pipes and associated structures, including reservoirs and the repairing of dams, nationwide.

Such concerns over safe drinking water, may lead consumers to explore their options when it comes to safe drinking water. Filtration pitchers, such as Brita and PUR, are one affordable option. These pitchers use a single step process to filter water, but do not include a purification system to remove bacteria and viruses.   Home systems may provide both filtration and purification (which varies by system); however, they require installation time, and often are quite expensive.

Then there is bottled water, which to me is not an option.   Yet, it has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, more than doubling in consumption between 1997 and 2005. While it is convenient, there are a number of drawbacks. The cost of bottled water is ridiculous.  Bottled water costs between 1,000 and 4,000 times more than tap water, which costs about $0.00002 per ounce.  While bottled water has been perceived as more pure than tap water, we know this is not necessarily the case.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regards bottled water as a packaged food product.   So, while it is not necessarily purer than tap water, bottled water is also not subject to some of the more stringent requirements that apply to tap water.  For example,  did you know that bottled water providers are not required to notify their customers of the source, or of the occurrence of contaminants in the water, if it is purified, and even, if it is simply just bottled tap water?  Why not just have a thermos, and bring your own tap water, than to pay for what you don’t know the source of that bottled water is?  Plus, let’s keep those plastic bottles out of the landfills.

In 2007, 8.8 billion gallons of bottled water were sold worldwide. Of those
bottles consumed in the United States, nearly 77 % ended up in landfills.
According to USA Today, “Plastic water bottles produced for U.S. consumption take 1.5 million barrels of oil per year… That much energy could power 250,000 homes or fuel 100,000 cars for a year.”   This number does not take into account transportation costs and associated environmental effects, as more than 5 trillion gallons of bottled water is shipped internationally each year.

So, what do we do, if we are interested in preserving the environment, yet want to ensure that the water we are drinking is as pure as possible?  Today, 61 percent of Americans look for health information online.  Many are researching their choices for safer drinking water.

One option worth exploring is the use of ultraviolet (UV) light for water purification. The light spectrum is made up of energy in varying wavelengths. A wavelength is the distance between the crest of two waves and is measured in units called nanometers (nm), one billionth of a meter. UV light is broken up into three bands called UVA, UVB and UVC.   On the spectrum, UVC light, with wavelengths between 100 and 280 nm, is commonly referred to as “germicidal light” due to its effectiveness in destroying microorganisms.  UVC light, acts as a natural outdoor air purification system by deactivating the DNA of microorganisms and destroying their ability to multiply.

This type of light has been used to effectively disinfect and sanitize in water treatment plants, hospitals and laboratories, and food and drug facilities for years.  This type of technology, has been used in a number of consumer products as well.

HoMedics, the leader in health and wellness products, developed Restore®, a complete water purification system in an easy to use pitcher.  Utilizing the germ-killing benefits of UVC light, Restore combines UV Clean technology to remove bacteria, viruses and microbial cysts with a filtration system to reduce heavy metals, chlorine (taste and odor), and some industrial and agricultural pollutants.

HoMedics, also worked with the State of California to create a new protocol to test Restore, which enabled a water purifier class for household products that previously only applied to installed systems and large systems for water treatment plants. California’s water is regulated by the California Department of Public Health along with the EPA, and has some of the strictest standards in the nation.

Restore includes an internal filtration system with an activated carbon and ion exchange resin. Once water has passed through the filter, the water is purified by the built-in UV lamp by activating a 60-second germ-killing cycle. Tests were conducted on chlorine (taste and odor), zinc, benzene,cadmium, copper, lindane, mercury, tetrachloroethylene, toluene and lead according to NSF/ANSI Standard 42/53.  All  tests showed more than a 90 percent reduction. Restore also underwent stringent testing procedures to demonstrate the bacterial efficacy against E.coli.  All testing was conducted to the most current NSF/ANSI 53 standards, except lead, which was tested in accordance with NSF/ANSI 53 (1988), the standard currently adopted by the state of California.

Restore, is California certified for microbiological water purification, a first for a water pitcher utilizing UV technology. Additionally, Restore is Gold Seal Certified (see video at site) to National Sanitation Foundation standards by the Water Quality Association. Restore is also BPA-free, a common agent used to make plastics, and suspected of causing negative health effects.

Today the nation’s water infrastructure is showing signs of age and need for repair. Harmful contaminants, including dangerous bacteria like E. coli, continue to be a recurring challenge in water systems and cause for concern.

These concerns are compounded by other health threats in the media, such as the H1N1 virus, posing even greater unknown health and safety risks and concerns to consumers. While municipal water systems are doing an excellent job, we the consumers seek that extra layer of protection.

With the help of proven technology, such as UV, we  are able to have clean water, which can help ease consumer concerns.  We can start feeling in control of the issue, and know that we are taking steps to ensure cleaner, and safer drinking water for ourselves and or families.   Restore meets their customers needs , by delivering an easy cost-effective solution, that provides great tasting water.  They are indeed working toward a better tomorrow for all of us!

For several years the EPA ( Environmental Protection Agency), most large businesses, and power companies have been feverishly promoting the sales and usage of compact  fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). They are a great way to save money and energy, while fighting global warming.

The drawback is, these bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.  The small amount being about 5 milligrams ( equal to the tip of a ball point pin). Mercury is the essential component that allows CFLs to be an efficient light source.  It should be noted that it would take 100 CFLs to equal the mercury found in an old fashioned thermometer.  The bulbs themselves pose few risks, unless of course, they break.  Normally,there is very little risk of airborne mercury exposure.  It is when we find mercury deposits in lakes and oceans, that then find their way to the fish we eat, that the problem arises.  The most common pathway for human exposure to mercury is from eating fish.

Companies and the federal government have not yet come up with easy or effective ways for Americans to recycle these bulbs.  While most people want to recycle, if it is not easy or convenient, it doesn’t happen at all.  Currently, even though CFL bulbs contain mercury, using them emits less mercury into the environment than its predecessor the incandescent bulbs.  They use 70% less heat, which makes them safer to use, and they save you $30 or more in energy costs per bulbs lifetime.

The EPA is working hard to find a solution that works for the retailers and the consumer to recycle the product.  IKEA is the only retailer accepting the bulbs for recycle at this time.  Others such as Wal-Mart and General Electric are considering what they can do to help.

Here are a few tips on how to dispose of a broken bulb.  Vent the room for at least 15 minutes. If you have an HVAC system, turn it off.  On hards surfaces, scoop up glass fragments and powder and place in a glass jar with a metal lid, or a sealed plastic bag.  Use duct tape to pick up any remaining fragments and powder.  Wipe the area with damp paper towels and place them in the jar or plastic bag.  Do not use a broom or vacuum on hard surfaces.  Follow the same steps on carpet.  Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and clean the canister).  Place the debris in a sealed plastic bag.  Check with local or state governments about disposal requirements in your area.  Laws may vary in different states.  Consumers can contact their local or municipal solid waste agency directly for proper disposal options.  Or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org for your local recycling options.