I’ve recently come across a few articles about the green initiative of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and I have to admit I’m pleasantly pleased with their sustainable efforts. I can’t say that I’ve been paying 100% attention to the games this year, but this is the first I’ve heard about it. I wish that the media would take a time out to report on some of the good the city has been doing, rather than point out what has gone wrong thus far. The sustainable initiative was actually instituted by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) back in 1992, to encourage active participation in sustainable development. Only in the last 10 years has it started to be wholly embraced by the host cities, and this year Vancouver has gone above and beyond in doing their part. Although I am listing a brief synopsis of their efforts, this list is by no way complete, yet still very impressive…

• The pledge from Vancouver to convene a carbon-neutral event
• Utilization of existing facility buildings wherever possible, and designing the new facilities for realistic and simple conversion for post-game reuse
• Planning a dense village design to promote walk ability rather than individual transportation
• Construction of LEED Platinum and Gold certified buildings in the village
• Implementation of urban agriculture and green roofs
• The roof structure of the Oval Building was built from trees that were killed by pine beetles – great reclamation, plus the elimination of carbon dioxide and methane gasses from the potential rotting wood
• Recovery of waste heat from melting ice and sewer systems to produce space heating and cooling
• Reclamation of building and vehicle graphics – approximately 200,000 square feet of material will be diverted from landfills and be recycled into new flooring product
• Reuse of the village after the games as affordable housing for the local workforce

The impact of some of these efforts won’t be able to be measured for a few years to come, but Vancouver has a plan to actively monitor and publish their results. I think they’ve done an excellent job in raising both awareness and the bar for future cities to come. It’s amazing to me how far this world has come with sustainability in the past 10 years; where being green just used to mean planting trees and recycling, and now is seen as the consideration for global social, economic and environmental impact. Whether or not Canada wins the gold for hockey, the city of Vancouver gets the GREEN … I mean gold medal in my book.

Submitted by: Suzanne Mayberry
Photo from: Vancouver Sun, Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Recently, I’ve skimmed over a few articles that have mentioned the Copenhagen Climate Council and the conference that was held not too long ago. I realized I haven’t heard the outcome and thought I’d better look into it! Very quickly, I learned that the council did not agree on any terms. The conference began with a lot of hopeful and positive energy, but in the end, it seems most leaders involved left feeling the extreme opposite. From what I understand, the goal involving 193 nations was to make measured efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and therefore keep the global temperature from rising no more than 2 degrees centigrade by 2020. With this commitment to be made, there was also hope that the nations involved would pledge more monetary help to third-world nations in their efforts to cut emissions and improve their economic situations within their countries. However, no concurrence toward this effort was made either. The council also decided to forego an agreement to be made in 2010 to have official regulations put in place in order to reach the goal.

It seems to me as though there were too many parties with differing opinions on how best to reach a consensual, realistic objective. One would also have to consider that taking actions to better the environment might change economic relationships with other nations. There would be restrictions on transportation, thus likely limiting our ability to send goods quickly or get places ourselves as easily as we have so far in this modern world. Importing and exporting would also experience a drastic paradigm shift, as it would surely be different.

Those involved apparently found out it would be much more difficult to reach an attractive target strategy and keep all parties accountable.

I know that there are many different forms of media who have likely shared different communication on this topic. Because of my extreme passion to learn more about this subject, please share with me any information you may have learned, and what you think! What is your take on “global warming” or “climate change,” and how can we best curb further damage to our planet?

Submitted by: Lee Boyland

I just read an interesting article entitled, “2009 Annual Recycling Search Report” from the Earth911 website. This organization’s website has grown into the leading proper disposal and recycling database for the nation, as confirmed by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DE). It is a fantastic site with so much information for your use. It contains, not only the “why”, but the “how” and “where” of recycling.

Did you know this site provides a toll-free bilingual hotline and a free iPhone or iTouch app called iRecycle to help you find a recycling location in your area or wherever you happen to be!

In this report, it highlights several different interesting facts. This evidence was based on what a person was looking for where they hit the Earth911 website. For instance, electronics were the #1 most sought after item looking to be recycled and followed by 24% hazardous items, 10% paper, and then 9% metal. In addition to this, the 2009 Top 10 Products Consumers were looking to recycle were computers, batteries, televisions, paint, aluminum cans, used motor oil, CFLs, glass, fluorescent lamps and lastly, Christmas trees.

Also, what were the top 10 states that searched out the Earth911 website for more information? California was first; along with Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan and Virginia. I was wondering why Indiana did not make the top ten. Is it, that as consumers, we have a great knowledge base on the recycling of our items? Or is it that we have not yet visited this dynamic website and explored what it has to offer?

Please take a moment to tour the Earth911 site and sign up for their newsletter. And while there, find out where you can recycle your bottle caps or how to green your trash!

Now go and eliminate your fear of the “R” word!