Global Pollution
DDT Agrotoxin barrels. Russia.
A bucket of water drawn from a contaminated ground source. India.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
An ecological disaster -
phosphate pollution in
Kpeme, Togo
Corporate Air Pollution,
USA
Photo by Blacksmith Institute
Photo by Blacksmith Institute
Global Pollution effects on Species
EXXON ValdezWho can forget the poignant pictures of birds, beaches, and sea life covered with oil in Prince William Sound following the Exxon Valdez oil spill on 24 March 1989 and discharged 11 million gallons of oil, causing one of the worst ecological disasters in history.In 1994, an Anchorage jury assessed the former Exxon Corporation (now Exxon Mobil) $5 billion in punitive damages. That award was reduced to $2.5 billion, then to $ 500 million recently.
Climate Change and Global Warming
Climate Change and Global Warming
Most scientists believe that climate change is here and is human-induced, and that it will lead to more extreme weather patterns such as and drought. Global Warming means that the earth's overall air temp is rising. The one-two punch of carbon dioxide emissions and deforestation alter the global atmosphere. This is mainly from car exhaust, power plants and building emissions.
Global Weather Change
Satellite data from NASA has shown that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may have struck down or severely damaged as many as 320 million trees in Louisiana and Mississippi
NOAA image for larger view of Bay St. Louis, Miss., beach pollution seen from a NOAA helicopter after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Who is influencing green trends?
LOHAS Consumers (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability)1. 30% of the general public today2. 200+ billion annually3. Projected - $420 billion by 20104. Projected - $845 billion by 20155. Willing to spend 20% more 6. Spending based on morals, ethics7. 60% females8. Highly educated9. Average income10. Influential with family and friends11. Sensitivity to Green washing12. Over 55 million U.S. travelers are
classified as “geo-tourists”
TripAdvisor® results annual travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers.
• The main trend identified is that travelers will be going lean and green.
• 67% of travelers desired to stay at an eco-friendly lodging environment; 63% stated they would pay more for an eco-friendly hotel
• Seventy-three percent of U.S. respondents said they plan to visit a national park in 2009, up from 62 percent one year ago.
• Fifty-three percent will go hiking in the coming year, up from 50 percent last year.
• Forty-seven percent of those surveyed plan to engage in an adventure activity, an increase from 40 percent in 2008.
• Thirty-three percent of travelers will go cycling and biking, up from 28 percent,
• 11 percent of travelers are likely to participate in an extreme sports activity, compared to eight percent one year ago.
• Thirty-four percent of U.S. respondents said they will visit an environmentally-friendly hotel or resort in the coming year, up from 30 percent in 2008.
• 32% will be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions this year, than they were the year before, up from 26% a year ago.
Who is influencing green trends?
The Definition of Sustainability
Sustainability – in a general sense, it is the capacity to maintain a certain process or state indefinitely. As applied to ecology, sustainability has been expressed as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In business it can be defined as “natural capital” or the three Ps; People, Planet, and Profit. Many companies now produce as part of their annual reports a sustainable reports and risk analysis on how global warming will affect their business.
The Definition of “Green” and “Eco-Friendly”
Green – A catch all phrase that evokes a sense of being beneficial to the environment.Eco-Friendly - Environmental friendly or nature friendly are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment. To make consumers aware, environmentally friendly goods and services are often marked with eco-labels. But because there is no single international standard for this concept, the International Organization of Standardizations considers such labels too vague to be meaningful.
Green Danish Cat
The Definition of Green Washing
Green Washing - The false labeling of a process “green” that only superficially addresses the three aspects of our environment; social, ecological, and economic. At the least it is disingenuous and worst false advertising.
For example A hotel chain that calls itself “green” because it allows guests to choose to sleep on the same sheets and reuse towels, but actually does very little to save water and energy - on its grounds, with its appliances and lighting, in its kitchens and with its vehicles.
70% of Americans believe corporate environmental messaging is usually just a marketing tactic
The Definition of Global Warming
Global Warming – The planet is designed to reflect the suns energy waves that are not absorbed by the planet. Green house gas emissions, are clogging the atmosphere and stopping the suns excess energy waves from being reflected into outer space. The excess waves are being deflected back to earth, causing the planet to heat up, which disrupts the natural balance of our environment.
Climate model projections from the IPCC (inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change) indicate that average global surface temperature at our current rate will likely rise a further 2.0 to 11.5 °F.
This is mainly from car exhaust, power plants and building emissions.
The Definition of Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse Gases – These are the byproducts of human and natural activities on this planet. Commercial human activities produce volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Several are toxic to humans like methane and others like carbon dioxide contribute to global warming. Attached is a chart that explains greenhouse gas emissions by percentages per commercial activity.
The Definition of Greenhouse Gases
The Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) –
These gases are emitted from certain solids
or liquids. VOCs include a variety of
chemicals, some of which may have short-
and long-term adverse health effects.
Concentrations of many VOCs are
consistently higher indoors (up to ten times
higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by
a wide array of products numbering in the
thousands. Examples include: paints and
lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies,
pesticides, building materials and
furnishings, office equipment such as
copiers and printers, correction fluids. All of
these products can release organic
compounds while you are using them, and,
to some degree, when they are stored.
Pre-consumer Content - Percentage of materials salvaged for reuse from the waste stream of a manufacturing process (rather than from consumers) subsequently used to manufacture a product. Post-consumer Content - Percentage of materials recovered by consumers (from the municipal solid waste stream). Carbon Offset - Process of reducing the net carbon emissions of an individual or organization, either by their own actions or through arrangements with a carbon offset provider.
The Definition of Pre and Post Consumer Content / Carbon Offset
www.bikefurniture.com
Sustainability - Five Stages of Change
List of the five stages of change when adapting to a new idea.
1. Disinterest – “I won’t change.” No intention of changing. Can’t see or won’t admit a problem.
2. Deliberation – “I might change.” Recognition that a problem may exist. Beginning to consider making a change in the distant future.
3. Design – “I will change.” Committed to taking action in the immediate future and developing an action plan to do so.
4. Doing – “I am changing.” Making overt changes in thinking and behavior. 5. Defending – “I have changed.” Maintaining and expanding upon the
change, while defending against resistance, obstacles, and backsliding.
“The Power of Sustainable Thinking” by Bob Doppelt.
Development and Manufacturing Green Rating Systems
Operations Green Rating Systems
The Florida Green Lodging Program was established in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with the intent of recognizing and rewarding environmentally conscientious lodging facilities in the state. Through this rapidly growing program DEP encourages the lodging industry to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources. The Florida Green Lodging Program is unique in that it covers an all-inclusive list of environmental initiatives that are specific to the Florida environment.
Green certification through Eco Crown Hospitality is designed to give you every advantage:Green certification systems designed specifically for each category of the hospitality industry including, hotels/resorts, B & Bs, restaurants, lodges and vacation homes. Green standards developed by Eco Crown Hospitality and globally recognized by Travelocity, Expedia, the UN and our government certification partners. You are always up to date with the latest standards.
Green Hotel Certification is the leading third party certification based on internationally accepted documentation. The seal is an independent recognition of sustainability efforts. Environmental and cultural levels as well as Corporate Social Responsibilities are benchmarked against the highest worldwide principles. Our object is to introduce and strengthen sustainability and social practices at all levels of management in the hospitality industry.
IAQ Test Data
(manufacturers and Independent Labs)
Assembly Material - Installation products (VOCs / CFCs / Toxicity) Manufacturers or Industry Standard Installation Instructions
Manufacturing Efficiency (Reduced Energy; Minimal Waste; Carbon
Neutral)
Manufacturers Environmental Statement
Recycled Content (Post Industrial / Post Consumer) Recycled Content Data
Recyclable - End of Life Use Recycling Programs Available (manufacturer or independent)
Reusable or Salvage Repurposing Possibilities
Sustainable Source Materials Independent Certifications
Durability - Extended Life Cycle Durability Information - Comparable to Conventional Product
Moisture Resistance - Inhibits the Growth of Building Contaminates Moisture Resistance Data Sheet
Energy Efficiency of Material - Reduces Energy Consumption Energy Efficiency Rating (Energy Star)
Water Conservation - Reduced Consumption or Restored to Potable Water
Comparable Data with Conventional Product
IAQ - Improved Indoor Air Quality Systems that improve IAQ
Maintenance Methods and Products (Non-Toxic / Low VOC) Manufacturers Maintenance Instructions and Suggested Products
Manufacturing Location Travel Distance of Source Materials, Distance of Manufacturing Facility
to End Use Site
Warranties - Less Proven Materials Manufacturers Warranty - Extended Warranties Availability
Affordability - Compared to Conventional Materials Life Cycle Cost Analysis or Documented Material Trade Offs for additional Material Costs
Low Toxicity / Carcinogens Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDs) (manufacturers and Independent
Labs)
Low Emissions (VOCs / CFCs)
Sustainable Product Matrix
Category Report from Vendor
• www.ecofabulous.com (Consumer Site)• www.idealbite.com (Consumer Site)• www.thegreenguide.com (Consumer Site)• www.treehugger.com (Consumer Site)• www.greenlodgingnews.com (Hospitality Green News)• www.usgbc.org – (US Green Building Council – LEED Building Rating System)• www.greenglobes.com – (Green Globe Building Rating System)• www.terrachoice.ca/hotelwebsite/indexcanada.htm - (Audubon Green Leaf Rating System)• www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging (Florida green Lodging Operations Rating Program)• www.pineapplehospitality.net (distributor for green products)• www.eco-structure.com/ (construction oriented)• www.greenhotelier.org/index.html (Green Lodging general site)• www.sustainablelifemedia.com –(stories related environmental innovation)• www.sustainableflorida.org (Collins Center for Public Policy)• www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org – (The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria)• www.cha-cast.com – (Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism)• www.ecotourism.org - International Ecotourism Society (TIES)• www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable - National Geographic - Sustainable Destinations
Operations Green Rating Systems
Operations Green Rating Systems
Forum Series Topics
February 26th, 2009 – NEWH Sunshine Chapter Sustainable Forum #2 • IAQ - Improved Indoor Air Quality - Systems that improve IAQ• Low Toxicity / Carcinogens- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDs)
(manufacturers and Independent Labs)• Low Emissions (VOCs / CFCs) – IAQ Test Data(manufacturers and
Independent Labs)• Assembly Material – Installation products (VOCs / CFCs / Toxicity) –
Manufacturers or Industry Standard Installation Instructions
• Series #3 – Specifications– Manufacturing Efficiency (Reduced Energy; Minimal Waste;
Carbon Neutral) – Manufacturers Environmental Statement– Sustainable Source Materials - Independent Certifications– Durability - Extended Life Cycle - Durability Information -
Comparable to Conventional Product– Moisture Resistance - Inhibits the Growth of Building
Contaminates- Moisture Resistance Data Sheet
• Series #4 –Specifications– Energy Efficiency of Material - Reduces Energy Consumption -
Energy Efficiency Rating (Energy Star)– Water Conservation - Reduced Consumption or Restored to
Potable Water - Comparable Data with Conventional Product– Recycled Content (Post Industrial / Post Consumer) - Recycled
Content Data– Recyclable - End of Life Use - Recycling Programs Available
(manufacturer or independent)– Reusable or Salvage - Repurposing Possibilities
Future Series Topics
• Series #5 – Material Specifications
– Maintenance Methods and Products (Non-Toxic / Low VOC) -Manufacturers Maintenance Instructions and Suggested Products
– Manufacturing Location - Travel Distance of Source Materials, Distance of Manufacturing Facility to End Use Site
– Warranties - Less Proven Materials - Manufacturers Warranty -Extended Warranties Availability
– Affordability - Compared to Conventional Materials - Life Cycle Cost Analysis or Documented Material Trade Offs for additional Material Costs
• Series #6 - Construction / Installation Procedures - Specifications
– Installation procedure of materials and installation products-environmental impact
– Drying and curing procedures
– Environmental Cleanup methods and products
– Salvage / Reuse / Recycling of scrap material process
– Procedures for minimizing waste material
– Warranties and Maintenance Program after opening to Ensure Extended Useful Life Expectations
Future Series Topics
