Welcome to the February 2010 Green InSight eNewsletter!

Jon Dougal Editor, Green InSight

"Environmental mitigation fees are civic penance for environmental sins you have yet to commit. They constitute a pre-paid penalty that absolves you of guilt for the crimes you’ve just been cleared to perpetrate. They involve a form of early confession called an EIR, a series of mitigation measures requiring financial penance, and a monitoring program to make sure your sins do not exceed the level of penance paid."
William John Warkentin, Architect

"But ultimately a regulation is a signal of design failure. In fact, it is what we call a license to harm: a permit issued by a government to an industry so that it may dispense sickness, destruction and death at an "acceptable rate."
William McDonough and Michael Braungart, Cradle to Cradle

This insightful and progressive newsletter is concerned with energy issues as well as a sustainable future. The information is brought to you in living color, free of animal testing, on widescreen digital HD format, and sparing paper use, saving fragile water systems, with our long shelf-life phthalate free plastics, using greedy little electrons to deliver the latest from the far corners of the alternative and renewable energy empire to foster sustainable development. We exalt your feedback and contributions of your latest experiences and reactions to our content. Consider reading this your attitude adjustment hour. Sustainability is not just our mission, it is our passion.

Prohibiting Plastic Shopping Bags May Require An EIR

By: Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
Source: JDSUPRA (www.jdsupra)

Ednote: In an age when we all feel constricted by a seemingly infinite passage of laws, regulations limiting almost everything, it is yet over the top to think that mandates to protect the environment could be used against the environment. The case in-point is EIR’s that work against the current thinking and used by the opposition.

This aggressive application of CEQA allows a plastic bag trade group to challenge a local plastic bag ban that was intended to protect the environment.

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Toxic Pallets

Wood pallets have been blamed for the recent product recall, but sources agree that more information is needed to draw a definitive conclusion.

By: Lorie Rogers
Date: February 5, 2010
Source: Modern Materials Handling (www.mmh.com)

Ednote: We manufacture 450 million pallets a year in the US; these pallets use 5.6bln – yes Billion board feet of wood. Most of these pallets last 1 year and end up in the landfill as ground cover after shredding. There are more than a billion pallets in circulation at any given moment. Closed circuit pallet users like Wal*Mart place more investment into their pallets and obtain greater longevity from their investment. Used pallets are worth about $8.00 each and form the basis of an underground economy by local recyclers.

When pallets originate abroad there are not controls on their manufacture and many are treated with fumigants when entering the country as various Ports of Entry- customs regulations. The fact that packaging can absorb these toxic chemicals and transmit those toxins to the contents for consumption only adds to the argument that our food supply is not safe and the Dept of Agriculture and Customs Agencies are under funded.

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Greenbuild 2009, Phoenix AZ

All About Systems – Part II:

By: Sonja Persram, BSc., MBA, LEED® AP
Source: Sustainable Alternatives Consulting Inc.

My previous articles discussed WorldGBC events and systemic approaches to accelerate building greening. This article focuses on using systems to enhance social equity and to understand, restore and regenerate the natural world around us; and presents kudos to those whose strategic leadership facilitated the growth and expansion of GreenBuild over the past 6 years.

Systems to enhance social equity:

In mid 2009 the USGBC initiated Philanthropic Programs in support of social equity initiatives. These programs allow tax-deductible donations to be directed to programs such as LEED fee remission for government and non-profit Affordable Housing Initiatives; a Scholarship Fund to enable diverse students’ attendance at GreenBuild; and providing resources and advocacy for the USGBC’s National Green Schools Campaign. It’s a great start.

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As Green as You Care to Be

By Elizabeth A. Harris
Published: October 23, 2009
Source: The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)

Ednote: Here is testament to the power of the “Green” icon. $21 million homes of 7000 sqft, but LEED rated. WOW! Think of the Advertising in the New York Times. “Live in environmentally conscious Town Homes, LEED Certified, the highest rating obtainable. Brag to your Friends about how Green you are living in one of our homes.” So being green can be obtained by anyone with enough money. Hey better these new homes are greener than not at all. Let us praise marketing for bringing more awareness to upscale homebuyers.

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Eric Steen / JBEI

Bacteria Rebuilt To Make Oil

By: Alan Boyle
Date: January 27, 2010
Source: MSNBC - Cosmic Log (www.msnbc.com)

Ednote: Haiti is a veritable laboratory for recreating a society. After the pathos of tragedy; water, food and housing the 3 essentials, come remaking the cities. Can they be constructed without the social ills that affect previous cities? Can economics, social justice and planetary stewardship be interwoven with the green design and materials. Can the creation of the city use indigenous materials and fuels engineered from locally grown foodstuffs and waste?

The answer is YES- we have the technology, but can corruption be replaced with a binding sense of the commons?

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DOE To Accelerate Algae-Based Biofuel Development

By: Anna Austin
Date: November 12, 2009
Source: BIOMASS Magazine (www.biomassmagazine.com)

Ednote: DARPA -Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: the central research and development organization for the United States Department of Defense -would pay anything to have fuel available in Hawaii- Think about it. What does it cost to ship fuel there for the entire western fleet and aircraft? Now how about Haiti? Why not a major fuel farm for the Navy on Haiti. Bio-mass, palm oil, algae growth to produce bio-fuels. Viola! A Sustainable economy.

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Quality Attributes Software’s iBPortal ™

Program Keeps Everyone Informed

Software program key to behavioral change and education for green buildings

By: Greg Schmalz
Source: Quality Attributes Software (www.qualityattributes.com)

Ednote: The last mega-watt of generated electricity is the most expensive for any generator of power. Why, because once you commit to producing it, the energy is committed and has to be used or the money committed to generate is lost. So managing energy is becoming a paramount issue not only for generators but for users as well. Picture yourself as a huge energy user like a manufacturing plant, say building tractors like International Harvester.

How much rainwater are you storing, what temperature is your ceiling, how many cubes of air are you churning, what is your carbon dioxide level, what amperage is being used to pump the air to the ovens, and how many watts of heat are being produced? All questions that even a fair energy manager would want to know. It’s called operational efficiency. Software is the answer.

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Pedestrians Are Expensive

By: Jon Dougal
Date: February 21, 2010

Pedestrians are costly to drivers, to society and to the environment. Pedestrians have the right-of-way it is the law. Stopping to allow pedestrians to cross – requires more fuel consumption, engine wear, generates more air emissions and thus respiratory aliments. Stopping to allow pedestrian access causes more time used in the commute or the delivery of goods and thus to the society.

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Interested in sponsoring our next eNewsletter issue? Contact Jon Dougal at (415) 798-1933 or editor@greenmotion.org.