Administration and Operations

How do we reduce waste in the office? If your workplace is anything like mine, they can stand to cut back in a lot of places. Paper management is probably the single greatest change that could be implemented in my office, and probably in most offices. We print a LOT of THICK reports, and we use a LOT of paper to do so. We only print on one side of the page. Often, one job will require that a 100+ page report be printed 3 or more times just for internal reviews before final copies are ever printed for delivery to a client. After each review, the entire report is tossed into the recycle bin and hauled away. That happens several times a week and there are a lot of us in the office. Imagine if we printed on both sides of the page or if we reused the blank sides to print the next copy. What if we reviewed documents electronically? That would take a major change of position by the reviewing appraisers, as most of them prefer a hard copy to staring at a 100 page report on their computer screens, but think about how much money we would save on paper! Not to mention the trees we'd save. Our regulating bodies require that we keep a paper file as well as an electronic file for several years. Imagine how much paper we could save if we could eliminate the need for paper storage.

We do some good. One thing we do is recycle as much kitchen/breakroom waste as we can. I've actually had to embarrass a few coworkers who placed an empty soda can in the wrong receptacle. Several of our individual offices have motion sensors on the lights so that if someone is away for more than 30 minutes, the lights turn off (though I think that's more coincidental than anything. I don't think we requested those from the property owner).

A few policies I would like to see implemented include turning monitors OFF when we leave for the day. Our computers stay on so that our IT guys can monitor them and do remote maintenance around the clock, but the monitors don't need to keep drawing power. I might even suggest that we cut those monitoring times to only a few days a week rather than every day and night. Obviously, I would like to see a reduction in paper waste, but I don't think we buy recycled paper, and I think we ought to consider it. I would also love to restrict printing times to only certain times during the day. That one might be a little tricky, since we print so much and don't always know when a client might ask for an extra copy of a report to be couriered to his office, but we could conserve a little more power by not having the printers (they're large) turned on all day. Baby steps. I'm not really sure why I am telling you all this instead of the decision makers in my office. I guess I'd better get to work on my proposal.

If you're interested in what you can do at your own office, CalRecycle has a pretty thorough waste reduction and recycle plan on their website.

Waste Reduction

Courtesy ducttapemarketing.com

Waste reduction is an important first step toward a sustainable lifestyle, and it's probably one of the easiest plans to implement because there are so many ways to do it. So why don't more people do it? They may not know where to start. In Fort Worth, we have it pretty easy. Most residences are provided a separate recycle bin with their regular garbage bin from the City. But that program is not available everywhere and, obviously, you can't recycle everything in those bins. My wife and I often recycle more than we throw away. It's easy to us and we take it seriously. But we still fill our trash bin every week, though it is the smallest one the city offers and is much smaller than our recycle bin. But how can we reduce anymore, since we don't feel like we can recycle anymore? I have cracked down on a few wasteful practices around my house, of which my wife and I were equally guilty. She uses a lot of paper plates to avoid dirtying dishes. I use paper towels like they're going out of style. Not anymore. But what else?

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control posted a flyer to their website informing citizens of additional ways to reduce their waste. Suggestions include composting rather than throwing out wasted food, recycling grass clippings (grasscycling), reusing items or donating them, and avoiding purchasing items that are disposable, poor quality, or overpackaged (don't spend cash for trash), among other suggestions.  The City of Fort Worth website provides a link to earth911.com to find additional recycling centers for those items that aren't allowed in their provided bins. Anyone can reduce, reuse, and recycle. There's even an iPad app for kids! Sometimes all it takes is a little push in the right direction.

Local or Organic?

Photo courtesy cowtownfarmersmarket.com

Should I buy locally grown produce or organic produce? My wife and I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and supermarkets aren't always a reliable source of quality produce, so the question has come up a time or two. But I have never known the best answer, so I did a little digging. I came to the conclusion that I just don't know.

According to the Organic Trade Association, organic produce is grown "based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers...minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or irradiation to maintain the integrity of the food".  Local produce is just that, local - grown locally and brought to market by small-scale farmers.

Locally grown produce supports local farmers, but is not necessarily organic. Timothy J. Lasalle, CEO of Rodale Institute, wrote a piece for treehugger.com claiming that "a dollar spent at a local business turns over seven times in that community, while the same dollar spent at a box store or chain only turn over 2.5 times." He goes on to describe the relationships developed with local growers and the advantages to forming those relationships, stating that talking to the growers and learning first-hand how their food is produced can "eliminate the uncertainties of agribusiness".

In the same article, Lasalle describes organic farming's potential to substantially impact carbon emissions, asserting that converting all tillable acres in the U.S. to organic practices "would be the equivalent to taking 216,000 automobiles off the road, or 25% of our country's CO2 emissions". Lasalle's ultimate position on whether to buy local or organic is that there is no "or", rather the decision should be to buy local AND organic. "Buy organic always, and encourage and buy local. Doing so is a direct investment in one of our very few, possible futures," he says.

Another contributor to treehugger.com takes the position that neither practice is sustainable as neither can efficiently produce enough food to feed the billions of people around the world. Her article can be found here.

Yet another writer (here) takes the position that neither is the better option, not necessarily because neither is sustainable, but because neither distinguishes itself as clearly superior to the other, or even to buying regular fruit at a supermarket. To her, it depends on the fruit. Apples don't grow in Texas, so she buys organic from the supermarket. Peaches are grown locally, so she'll shop around home for those.

So, local or organic? I have absolutely no idea. Maybe I'll just grow my own.

Affordable Solar ENERGY for North Texas

Residential Solar - Courtesy solarcity.com

Last year, TXU announced it was partnering with SolarCity in an effort to provide affordable residential solar power to North Texas homes. The plan allowed residential customers the option to lease a system for a low monthly fee with no upfront cost. Included in the monthly fee was installation, monitoring, repairs and insurance. Under the plan, "a 4-kilowatt residential solar system, appropriate for a typical 3-4 bedroom home, would initially cost approximately $35 a month...Customers could purchase the same system outright for $26,000, not including rebates or federal tax incentives".

This summer, a new plan was announced to encourage and accelerate the adoption of solar power in North Texas. Under the new plan, a "solar fund will provide a $1,000 incentive for up to 5,000 new or current TXU Energy residential customers who sign up for the solar offer".

The push by the utility to attract new solar customers is a very positive sign and a very big step toward our goal of advancing sustainable energy practices. Given the strain we all feel in today's economic climate, we can certainly all appreciate when a company like TXU makes energy more affordable. I find myself wondering why I don't have solar panels all over my own roof yet.

CLIMATE & AIR QUALITY

Pollution Travel Routes in Eastern U.S. (texaselectricity.com)

New EPA ruling threatens Texas electricity market - What amounts to ‘common sense’ clean air standards in Washington may not seem so sensible to millions of Texans that will be adversely affected by the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest ruling aimed at reducing air pollution…It’s called the “Cross-State Air Pollution Rule”, developed to resolve out-of-control air pollution that not only affects the states who are producing the pollution, but unfairly harms other communities as it travels across the country.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave...I'm sure everyone heard about this when it was first announced. The EPA has told Texas power plants (among others) to clean up their acts, specifically, coal-burning plants, in an attempt to clear the air in eastern states. According to the EPA report, toxins in the air in the eastern U.S. can be traced back to coal-burning power plants as far west as Texas. The problem, and source of the outcry from Texas, is that the new rule imposes limits that cannot be met in the time frame suggested (enforcement begins January 2012) without serious financial burdens to the power producers (to upgrade/replace facilities) or plant closings and massive layoffs . The most likely result, barring concessions from the EPA, will be plant closings, which officials fear will result in rolling blackouts statewide as remaining plants will not be able to meet ever-increasing demand.

From the article:

“No community should have to bear the burden of another community’s polluters…”

–EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson

“Today’s EPA announcement is another example of heavy-handed and misguided action from Washington, D.C., that threatens Texas jobs and families and puts at risk the reliable and affordable electricity our state needs to succeed.”

-Texas Governor Rick Perry

This is a tough issue to discuss because I can certainly appreciate both sides, especially in today's economic climate. As a person concerned with keeping the air we breathe clean and minimizing our impact on our environment, I am glad the EPA is taking steps to address these issues, and they appear to be serious about it. On the other hand, I enjoy paying less for reliable energy when I need it (before you skewer me, I must admit my concern for the environment ultimately trumps my frugality). Coal-burning power plants are a double-edged sword. They produce the cheapest electricity with the most pollution, slashing prices to the consumer while wreaking havoc on our physical surroundings. And Texas has plenty of them. Regardless of whether the EPA ruling is right or wrong, one thing has become clear. The need for efficient, reliable, and environmentally-sensitive energy sources is greater than ever. I know Texas power companies have begun exploring, encouraging, and implementing alternative energy sources - wind turbines, solar arrays, etc. - but we all know those systems are a long way from being ready to support the large loads that our great state demands. Hopefully, those efforts will soon outpace demand. Otherwise, my wife might actually have to let me light some of those decorative candles.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Container Living

This could be your new home

Photo courtesy greenhomebuilding.com

I stumbled across an interesting article a few days ago and have not been able to stop thinking about what I read. Apparently, those shipping containers seen piled in shipping yards and on backs of trains are now being used as affordable, sustainable living quarters. I don't know just how long this practice has been around, but it was new to me. I mean, I suppose I was aware of the poorer populations of some less prosperous nations using them out of necessity, but as a marketable way of life? In some countries it has apparently been a common practice for some time now, as the units have been used for modular student housing on some college campuses. Some places have constructed offices and apartment complexes. London's Container City is a large-scale example of "outside-the-box" thinking that it must have taken to repurpose these seemingly useless empty containers into really practical living spaces.

Container City II - containercity.com

Student Housing Project Keetwonen, Amsterdam - thedailygreen.com

Single-family homes are actually being constructed by piecing several containers together and uniting them in ways that look like normal construction from the curb. 

Home in progress

Completed home - greenhomebuilding.com

I couldn't believe the designs that were possible using nothing but a bunch of rectangular blocks.

Redondo Beach House
thedailygreen.com

illy Push-Button Coffee House

illy Push-Button Coffee House (button pushed)
thedailygreen.com

 I was blown away that what originated as this:

Container living origins
thedailygreen.com

has become this:

Port-a-Bach

12-Container House

12-Container House

According to several articles (linked in various places above), the containers provide a strong, waterproof, fireproof, low-maintenance frame from which to carve these masterpieces of architecture. Adam Kalkin, of architectureandhygiene.com, said, "The cargo containers, with a life span of about 20 years when used for their original purpose, have an 'infinite life span' when stationary and properly maintained". (greenhomebuilding.com)

I would have never guessed these things would become the building blocks of the 21st century, but they are being used for everything from disaster relief shelters to luxury condos, green sheds, vacation homes and off-the grid adventurers. (thedailygreen.com)

For what it's worth, I actually hope to have a Port-a-Bach unit stashed away on a remote 10 acres somewhere one of these days.

TRANSPORTATION: Trinity Trail Improvements

Photo courtesy Bike Fort Worth Plan

I began riding a bicycle about 4 or 5 years ago after my dad's doctor told him he had to start doing something else about his blood pressure and cholesterol, as the medications alone weren't enough. Running is not an option for him, thanks to football, so he started cycling and bought bicycles for everyone in the family. It took a while to find one that even came close to fitting me, but we finally did, and I started riding with him. No one else seemed interested, and I really wanted to keep him encouraged to take care of himself. He made it his goal to ride in the Hotter 'n Hell Hundred (HHH), a 100 mile bike ride that takes place each August in Wichita Falls, TX.

When he told me about that plan, I couldn't believe it, and certainly never thought I could ride a bicycle 100 miles. But we did it. We started small (my first time on my bike was the 40 mile Ride for Heroes in Aledo, TX). Lots of hills and no shortage of wind or cold. We progressed to longer rides, 50 miles here, 60 miles there, mostly supported rides. But we eventually hit the highway on our own and made the 60 mile round trip (give or take a mile or two) between Dad's house and my aunt's house, where the family gathers many holiday weekends. After a few of those we decided we were ready for the big ride. This year was my fourth consecutive year to ride the 100 mile route in the HHH.

My individual training for all of these rides took place on the Trinity Trails of Fort Worth. After work I would hit the trails and ride 15-20 miles, 3-4 times a week, with the occasional longer ride on a free weekend. I got to know the trails pretty well and really appreciated having such a valuable resource at my disposal. Without them I never would have been able to condition myself for those rides. I also started to really enjoy riding. It is great exercise and I saw the potential to save a lot of money on gas. I started to consider riding the trails to and from work, and have actually done it a few times. The only things that kept me from making that my regular commute were the connections from trail to home and trail to office, and the lack of shower at my office. I lived and worked fairly close to the trail, but the roads I had to ride were not exactly bicycle friendly. One road in particular was 7th Street. Crossing the 7th Street bridge during rush hour was no enjoyable task.

Imagine my elation when I found out about the new pedestrian bridge being constructed just south of Lancaster Avenue, very near my office (our office moved to a floor with showers in the bathrooms a little over a year ago). Now, the biggest obstacle is the commute between the trail and home. I don't live as near to the trail as I did before, so the issue is now magnified a bit, but the City of Fort Worth is also actively addressing that issue with additional planned improvements to and expansion of existing bike paths and walkways. According to the plan, the City will seek recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by 2015, increasing existing on-street and off-street bike trails and lanes by 924.7 miles. As of 2009, on- and off-road paths totaled just over 100 miles. I anxiously await completion of the plan and recognition as a BFC.  Assuming I am still here, I look forward to making the new routes a regular part of my commute.

Gas Exploration Endangering HABITATS

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

Photo courtesy Texas GLO

Little Rock - Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Luis J. Santiago, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement announced that Hawk Field Services, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Houston-based Petrohawk Energy Corporation, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the illegal take of endangered species in north-central Arkansas. United States Magistrate Judge H. David Young ordered Hawk Field Services, LLC, to pay a $350,000 fine and to donate $150,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, for use in restoration projects in the Little Red River watershed.

Hawk Field Services, LLC, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2011, to three counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act is a federal law that makes it illegal to take endangered species, by harassing the wildlife to such an extent that it significantly disrupts normal behavioral patterns such as breeding, feeding, or sheltering.

Natural gas is an abundant natural resource widely considered to be the next big thing in energy production, not only in the U.S., but around the world, as technology finally enables cost-effective extraction of the bountiful resource, leading to huge profits in the industry and, consequently, a massive influx of companies trying to find and extract the most product in the least amount of time. Unfortunately, the fierce competition has led to a lot of irresponsibility that must be addressed. Fortunately, there are people in the world who remember that prosperity comes at a price, and it’s not always cheap, as Hawk Field Services, LLC found out.

Rulings like this one are encouraging in the fight to preserve natural habitats and endangered species, even as we scramble to provide an affordable and more environmentally friendly energy source to support our continued growth and development. A similar situation arose in West Texas earlier this year when lawmakers pushed to have the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard placed on the Endangered Species list.One side wants to have the lizard named to the list, while the other side contests that it will effectively halt oil and gas production in the very fertile region. According to Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, “Just like they worked to protect the Kemp's ridley sea turtle on the shores of the Texas Gulf Coast, oil and gas producers want to help craft sensible conservation plans for the dunes sagebrush lizard”. While I can’t personally take a position on the push to have the lizard named an endangered species (admittedly, I don’t have all the facts), and the possible halt on production in that region that could result, I do agree with the position that we should all be made aware of the consequences of our actions on our environment as well as the environments of the “little guys”. It is my belief that we have a responsibility to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves, big and small, human or otherwise. I am glad there are people and organizations willing to point that out and hold these businesses responsible. 

As U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Thyre stated, "In order for us to continue to enjoy the Natural State for generations to come, it is incumbent upon those doing business in our state to protect our natural resources and wildlife. Even the speckled pocket book mussel plays an important role in the health of the Little Red River." I don’t know if something so prohibitive as declaring a species endangered is the answer, but it is apparent that cooperation is key to ensuring that we all may prosper…at the smallest price.

WATER the new Gold?

Photo courtesy baltimorediy.org

Lubbock - "A West Texas tycoon who shopped valuable water across the state for more than a decade has settled for selling to his neighbor.

Lubbock and 10 Panhandle cities have a purchase agreement for thousands of acres of water rights owned by famed corporate raider T. Boone Pickens, potentially solidifying the group as the state’s largest holder of groundwater rights and closing a combative and fascinating chapter in water marketing in Texas.

The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority confirmed the purchase of water rights beneath 211,000 acres in seven counties north of Amarillo for $103 million, increasing its groundwater holdings by 80 percent and an estimated 4 trillion gallons...

Mesa Water floated several inventive schemes to deliver its billion-gallon bounty to big, thirsty cities.

The company considered pumping the water into the Brazos River to send it downstream to San Antonio. A pipeline was proposed to send the water to Dallas in lieu of an embattled East Texas reservoir proposal. A little-noticed bit of legislation appeared to give a small, Pickens-dominated water district eminent domain powers to build such a pipeline until the Legislature clipped its wings."

Trading water rights is not exactly a new concept, but I doubt there are few people capable of doing it on such a grand scale as T. Boone Pickens. While I don't necessarily disagree with the idea of him seeing a way to make more money for himself and acting upon it, I do find myself concerned at the potential dangers this type of activity might encourage. In this case, it appears that this deal between Pickens' Mesa Water and the panhandle cities was beneficial for all parties; however, as one reader expressed in the comments, how much less could the water have cost had it still been owned by the actual land owners? As the commenter states, "we wouldn't have had to pay $400 - $500 per acre for those rights. The land that sits on top of it isn't even worth that!".

As this 2007 article points out, "Pickens wants to take the water from the Ogallala Aquifer and pump about 200,000 acre feet of groundwater annually to El Paso, Lubbock, San Antonio, or Dallas-Fort Worth - for a price, of course...This price would depend on how far the water needs to go. El Paso would pay around $1,400 per acre foot, while Dallas would pay $800 and San Antonio more than $1,000...Basically, an acre foot of water is the amount of water required to flood a plain of 1 acre to a depth of 1 foot. Generally speaking, 1 acre foot of water can support two families of four for one year."

Those prices are quoted from 2007. Fast-forward to 2011 and the drought we've experienced this summer, and imagine a bidding war between those cities/regions, and it's easy to see how water can get very expensive very quickly. Fortunately for us, as consumers, the situation didn't get that desperate (at least they haven't yet), and I like to think that Mr. Pickens, while certainly interested in financial gain, is a sensible person and not a heartless being and would not allow a bidding war to drive prices to the point that something so vital to our well-being as water becomes unaffordable. But the fact that water is that vital, most vital in fact, is what makes this such a dangerous game. What happens if a Lex Luthor character wants in the water business? I can't help but think that we have to be more responsible with our resources, especially water, or we could find ourselves answering that question, and Superman died a long time ago.

Why Sustainability?