Archive for the ‘Sustainable Innovation’ Category
Posted on July 4, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Discovering our collective global mythology
It is essential that the world collaboratively discover our collective global mythology. Only through this act can sustainable forms of innovation be created that can build a planet of whole, diverse communities that are united in the dance of an emerging conscious global culture.
.
Vic is Mastered Facilitator Of Teams
With A Focus On “Sustainable Innovation”
Follow Vic on Twitter
http://DiscoveryFuel.com
http://VicDesotelle.com
Posted on June 30, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Put in Values and an Organizational Structure That Will Stimulate Innovation
Donald Mitchell asked:
le associate industry-changing innovation with high technology products and services, and certainly those industries create lots of innovation. On the other hand, almost every business seems to enjoy the potential to be more innovative if people think about the business that way.
Few industries had a greater reputation for being stodgy than steel making during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the industry has been totally reshaped, by relying on technology that did not exist until it was developed in the United States. Discuss this success as a technology story with North American profit leader, Nucor, and they will tell you that you have it all backwards. The success was due to the organizational culture and system that Ken Iverson emphasized for Nucor.
Mr. Iverson’s successor as CEO, Dan DiMicco, sees the foundation as being found in the company’s values:
(1) Don’t overextend yourself
(2) Be a risk taker and take on the unknown
(3) Focus on long-term rather than short-term, whipsaw thinking
(4) Treat customers, employees, and other stakeholders the way you would like to be treated
(5) Minimize barriers to effective communication
(6) Build relationships
(7) Hold people accountable to honor the relationship and perform
(8) Take your time in evaluating people you hire
(9) See continuous improvement as a nonstop journey up a mountain
(10) Give people the freedom to do it
(11) Help people learn
(12) Don’t penalize failure because big flops are part of necessary learning.
To implement these principles, Nucor has made many innovations. The company has only two organizational levels between the head of a division and the floor worker in a mill. Responsibility and authority are delegated as much as possible.
Education is generously supported for employees, their spouses and children. The company emphasizes promoting from within. In hiring, Nucor looks for people who want to move ahead in life.
To encourage them, everyone in the company gets variable compensation based on the firm’s profit performance n the Profit Sharing program. And production bonus incentives are paid weekly to constantly encourage the “pay for performance” culture of profit consciousness.
The vision behind this culture and structure was to be a growing company and to take advantage of commercializing new technology to leapfrog the competition.
If such opportunities can be found in the steel industry, why should your company and industry be any different in terms of providing profitable innovation? Work on your values and organizational structure, and who knows what you can accomplish.
Copyright 2008 Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved
Website content
le associate industry-changing innovation with high technology products and services, and certainly those industries create lots of innovation. On the other hand, almost every business seems to enjoy the potential to be more innovative if people think about the business that way.
Few industries had a greater reputation for being stodgy than steel making during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the industry has been totally reshaped, by relying on technology that did not exist until it was developed in the United States. Discuss this success as a technology story with North American profit leader, Nucor, and they will tell you that you have it all backwards. The success was due to the organizational culture and system that Ken Iverson emphasized for Nucor.
Mr. Iverson’s successor as CEO, Dan DiMicco, sees the foundation as being found in the company’s values:
(1) Don’t overextend yourself
(2) Be a risk taker and take on the unknown
(3) Focus on long-term rather than short-term, whipsaw thinking
(4) Treat customers, employees, and other stakeholders the way you would like to be treated
(5) Minimize barriers to effective communication
(6) Build relationships
(7) Hold people accountable to honor the relationship and perform
(8) Take your time in evaluating people you hire
(9) See continuous improvement as a nonstop journey up a mountain
(10) Give people the freedom to do it
(11) Help people learn
(12) Don’t penalize failure because big flops are part of necessary learning.
To implement these principles, Nucor has made many innovations. The company has only two organizational levels between the head of a division and the floor worker in a mill. Responsibility and authority are delegated as much as possible.
Education is generously supported for employees, their spouses and children. The company emphasizes promoting from within. In hiring, Nucor looks for people who want to move ahead in life.
To encourage them, everyone in the company gets variable compensation based on the firm’s profit performance n the Profit Sharing program. And production bonus incentives are paid weekly to constantly encourage the “pay for performance” culture of profit consciousness.
The vision behind this culture and structure was to be a growing company and to take advantage of commercializing new technology to leapfrog the competition.
If such opportunities can be found in the steel industry, why should your company and industry be any different in terms of providing profitable innovation? Work on your values and organizational structure, and who knows what you can accomplish.
Copyright 2008 Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved
Website content
Posted on June 29, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Green Sustainability- The answer to economic Recovery?
Joseph asked:
In the weeks it took for the global recession to turn from an alien concept to a reality for millions of households and businesses throughout the UK, the amount of coverage given to ‘Green’ issues would suggest a significant change in the public perception.
Environmental issues have long been greeted with anything from malaise to contempt in the popular press as journalists try and find new angles on a very simple hypothesis- ‘we are destroying our planet’. Indeed an emerging optimistic argument would suggest that the earth is in a voluntary cycle of warming and humans are flattering themselves by thinking they can make a difference- one way or the other.
However with national governments straining under the weight of bail-out debts and businesses unable to access vital credit another crucial ingredient has been added to the environmental broth- cost. It is suddenly patently obvious that global financial systems can no longer function on there current practices, regulation needs to be tightened, risk takers need to be held to account and sustainability must replace boom and bust.
This has been recognised by the Obama administration who have ring-fenced $150 billion dollars in green energy recognising that in order to reduce cost they must start at the beginning with energy cost and sustainability. Although short term costs maybe higher particularly in replacement and development, the US government recognises that the fastest way to recover from a recession is not to weather the storm but to change and adapt, using the gale-force winds to excel.
But is not just global politics where sustainable decisions are made, its in the households and businesses across the UK who recognise that now, more than ever, is the time to switch to a more sustainable way of life, simple things like proper insulation and swapping your light bulbs for energy saving bulbs. These easy steps will not conquer the global recession on their own, but it will help you save those valuable pounds that are so important in the current climate.
It is easy to become depressed watching the news or reading the paper hearing the constant themes of unemployment, reduced output and increased taxes however unless we learn from the this recession that sustainability, both financial and environmental is paramount in our global recovery it will have all been in vain.
Please visit www.greenhouseuk.org for all your energy saving light bulbs.
Create a video blog
In the weeks it took for the global recession to turn from an alien concept to a reality for millions of households and businesses throughout the UK, the amount of coverage given to ‘Green’ issues would suggest a significant change in the public perception.
Environmental issues have long been greeted with anything from malaise to contempt in the popular press as journalists try and find new angles on a very simple hypothesis- ‘we are destroying our planet’. Indeed an emerging optimistic argument would suggest that the earth is in a voluntary cycle of warming and humans are flattering themselves by thinking they can make a difference- one way or the other.
However with national governments straining under the weight of bail-out debts and businesses unable to access vital credit another crucial ingredient has been added to the environmental broth- cost. It is suddenly patently obvious that global financial systems can no longer function on there current practices, regulation needs to be tightened, risk takers need to be held to account and sustainability must replace boom and bust.
This has been recognised by the Obama administration who have ring-fenced $150 billion dollars in green energy recognising that in order to reduce cost they must start at the beginning with energy cost and sustainability. Although short term costs maybe higher particularly in replacement and development, the US government recognises that the fastest way to recover from a recession is not to weather the storm but to change and adapt, using the gale-force winds to excel.
But is not just global politics where sustainable decisions are made, its in the households and businesses across the UK who recognise that now, more than ever, is the time to switch to a more sustainable way of life, simple things like proper insulation and swapping your light bulbs for energy saving bulbs. These easy steps will not conquer the global recession on their own, but it will help you save those valuable pounds that are so important in the current climate.
It is easy to become depressed watching the news or reading the paper hearing the constant themes of unemployment, reduced output and increased taxes however unless we learn from the this recession that sustainability, both financial and environmental is paramount in our global recovery it will have all been in vain.
Please visit www.greenhouseuk.org for all your energy saving light bulbs.
Create a video blog
Posted on June 25, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Why We Should Reject the Current Agri Practices and What Should We Do to Meet the Ever Increasing Global Hunger Sustainably
Dr.Ashok Kumar Panigrahi asked:
Why we should reject the current agri practices and what should we do to meet the ever increasing global hunger sustainably.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Panigrahi & Mrs. Kusum Misra.
1. Green revolution practices are based on synthetic chemicals and biocides.
2. Genetically modified crop varieties (such as Bt cotton) have all failed in the long run. 3. Soil has become hard, without pores, lost water retaining ability and full of resistant pest eggs. 4. The crop field ecosystem at present is composed of seral community (that has least species diversity, input oriented productivity leading to instability), hence, nonsustainable. 5.
The crop field ecosystem is neither visited by pollinating bees and predatory birds (because they are all dead and gone) nor its soil contains the beneficial microbes such as mycorrhizae or VAM.
6.
The so called food is devoid of vitamins A and C (due to excess use of MOP), copper and zinc (due to application of DAP/Super phosphate) and manganese, nickel and cobalt (through the use of paper mill sludge at places where there are paper mills, such as Balasore).
7.
The so called food contains more carbohydrate and less protein because of the applications of
artificial synthetic fertilizers.
8.
According to several environmentalists and soil chemists, modern agriculture yields two crops one is disease and the other one is pest. Besides the so called food is toxic due to excess presence of nitrates and nitrites that cause methaemoglobinaemia which resulted in a cattle epidemic in Rajasthan in the recent past.
9.
Eutrophication in water bodies that lead to fish death is due to excess use of nitrogenous
fertilizers.
10
According to Pearson, there occurs on an average over 10,000 pesticide related human deaths and nearly 10 times of that figure get hospitalized for the agricultural pesticides in developing countries every year.
Genetically Modified Crops in Perspective
Lessons learned from 5 decades of insecticide based cotton pest management are relevant in assessing the likely longer-run impacts of GM crops on pesticide use.3 major families of chemistry have accounted for most cotton insecticide use from the 1960s through 1680s –the organochlorines,or chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT,aldrin/dialdrin,toxaphene,chlordane/heptachlor);the organophosphates (parathion,malathion,chlorpyriphos etc. among many others) ; and carbamates (aldicarb,carbofuran, oxamyl,carbaryl etc.). In the mid 1980s the synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin etc.) came in to use. Changes in reliance across the families of Chemistry are shown in the Table next.
Table: Changes in cotton insecticide use by family of chemistry (million pounds a.i. ),USDA Data.
Compounds 1964 1966 1971 1976 1982 1992 1998 2000
Organochlorines 54.6 45.4 33 18.6 1.2 1.2 0.3 0.5
Organophosphates 15.6 14.3 28.6 31.4 12.9 13.4 11.3 36.1
Carbamates 6.2 4.5 10.3 12.2 3.5 4 2.7 3.5
Syn.Pyrethroids 0 0 0 0 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.3
Others 1.6 0.7 1.5 2 1 0.3 0.1 0.1
—————————————————————————————————————–
Total poundsApplied- 78 64.9 73.4 64.2 19.4 19.8 14.8 40.5
(Source- Agrobios n l November, 2002.)
Comparison of Organic farming vrs Chemical farming in terms of Gross input, Gross return, Net return & BC ratio.
Farmer – S N Patra (Balasore,Orissa) , Soil - Deltaic alluvial (clay)
Season - Rabi, 2003-04, Crop - Rice, Variety - Lalat (HYV)
Treatment Grain Yield Straw Yld. Gross Gross Net B C ratio
(Qtl./Acre ) (Qtl./Acre) Input Return Return ( GrossReturn/
(in Rs.) (in Rs.) (in Rs.) GrossInput)
——————- ————– ————- ——— ———– ——— ————–
* Control (+ compost.) 12.7 15.85 4,740/- 7,872/- 3,132/- 1.66
* Azolla (2T) +Fresh
Cow dung(10q) 19.4 24.03 5,090/- 12,010/- 6,920/- 2.359
* Pongam
Oil cake(2.5q) 21.6 26.7 6,490/- 13,368/- 6,878/- 2.059
* Fresh cow dung 18.3 23.74 5,090/- 11,415/- 6,325/- 2.242
* Pong.cake(1.5q)+Azolla+
Cow urine(500L) 23.5 29.47 5,690/- 14,577/- 8,887/- 2.561
* Chemical(with
N:P:K-32:16:16) 20.2 25.27 6,855/- 12,259/- 5,404/- 1.788
• All the 6 plots were of 0.5dec.each & replicated 3 times ;all applications once in basal,1st.TD&2nd.TD
Farmer: R N Barik ( Bhimpur pahi, Balasore, Orissa ) Soil: Coastal alluvial (sandy loam); Season: Kharif,2004-05. Crop: Rice, Variety: Pooja (HYV)
Treatment Grain yield Straw yield Gross Input Gross Return Net Return B C Ratio
( Qtl/Acre ) ( Qtl/Acre ) ( in Rs. ) ( in Rs. ) ( in Rs. ) ( GR/GI )
* Control (+compost) 16.5 22.1 4,640/- 10,348/- 5,708/- 2.23
* Compost+Biofertilr. 18.8 23.5 4,990/- 11,656/- 6,666/- 2.336
*
Comp.+BF+Azolla 20.1 25.02 4,990/- 12,453/- 7,463/- 2.496
* Poultry manure+BF` 20.4 26.5 5,290/- 12,728/- 7,438/- 2.406
*
Sesbania+BF 20.9 27 5,100/- 13,028/- 7,928/- 2.555
*
NeemOC(1Q)+
Compost+BF 21.2 27.7 5,590/- 13,240/- 7,650/- 2.369
* Sesbania+Compost+
Pong.OC(1Q)+BF 21.9 28.52 5,500/- 13,670/- 8,170/- 2.485
* Sesbania+Compost+
NeemOC (1Q) +BF 22.1 29.4 5,700/- 13,844/- 8,144/- 2.429
* Chemical( with
N P K @32:16:16) 21.9 27.5 6,755/- 13,313/- 6,558/- 1.971
Study of Rice productivity under different applications in captive (potted) conditions conducted at FM (Auto.)College, Balasore,Orissa.
Initial soil fertility index :- N = 269.7, P = 61.9, K = 561.25 ( all in kg/ha.)
Applications
Soil Fertility at
30 DAT (in
Kg/ha.)
Soil Fertility after harvest (in Kg/ha.)
Grain Yield per pot(Gm)
Straw Yield
per pot(Gm)
N P K
N P K
Control
266.56 79.8 538.9
175.6 39.75 405.8
16
36
Chem.(32:16:16)
379.45 75.66 567.1
213.24 40.39 478.4
10
24
Vermi compost
279.1 85.9 553.7
181.8 50.01 405.8
28
42
FYM+BF
285.3 83.3 552.3
185 48.09 404.5
22
33
Azolla(4.5gm)
288.5 85.9 525.5
178.75 50.2 419.3
25
36
Pou.Man(2.25gm)
285.3 88.4 525.5
191.2 35.25 409.9
24
36
Sesbania(100gm)
271.2 75 526.8
141.12 40.13 411.2
20
43
Pong.OC(1gm)
274.4 76.9 528.1
169.3 32.44 424.7
29
37
Pong.OC(2gm)
285.3 80.7 540.2
169.3 45.2 404.5
32
34
NeemOC(1.5gm)
285.37 83.3 567.1
216.3 48.9 413.95
24
38
Sesbania+BF
266.5 93.6 533.5
163.07 42.57 413.9
23
35
NeemOC+BF
279.1 88.5 557.7
213.2 42.7 419.3
24
38
Verm.Com+BF+
POC(2.5gm) =
344 83.3 565.8
225.7 42.9 423.36
31
39
Sesbania+VC+NOC+
BF+CowUrine
376.3 82.07 557.7
254 42.3 427.3
29
47
Sesbania+VC+NOC+
BF+CU+Azolla
398.2 81.43 553.7
257.1 41.6 421.4
40
49
Sesbania+VC+POC+
BF+CU+Azolla
392 88.48 552.3
258.7 48.2 440.8
32
38
Sesbania+VC+POC+
BF+CU+NOC
388.8 89.2 557.7
254 47.4 442.1
33
56
Sesbania+PM+POC+
BF+CU+NOC
401.4 91.05 540.2
260.2 45.14 419.3
19
22
Type of worm cast
Nitrogen ( kg / ha )
Phosphorus
( kg / ha )
Potash
( kg / ha )
Road side cast under shade ( Metaphire posthuma )
610.2
47.7
781
Worm cast collected from a cultured pot with both, Perionyx excavatus &Eisenia foetida
573.88
70.65
825.85
Worm cast of P.excavatus
558.2
52.2
611.52
Worm cast of mixed species(collected from vegetable cultivated field of ribbed gourd)*
698.92
90.36
161*
Comparison of Nutrient availability in soil sample with worm cast
Available Nutrient
( in Kg / ha )
Soil sample from the site
(control)
Worm cast of
M.posthuma
, giant
tropical earthworm
Soil sample from the site
(control)
Worm cast of
(mixed species)
P.excavatus
E.foetida
(1:1)
(1:1) &
Nitrogen
340.2
610.2
269.7
573.88
Phosphorus
40.8
46.7
61.9
70.65
Potash
380.7
781
561.25
825.85
AN EXAMPLE OF ORGANIC FARMING CONVERTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (IN RICE) IN THREE YEARS TIME
Farmer: - Pitambar Jena Village: - MangalpurDistrict: - Mayurbhanj (Orissa)
Soil type: - Sandy loam, Period of organic management – since 2001
Crop:-Rice Variety: - Kasturi (HYV), Cultivation under study: -kharif 2004 – 05
Area under cultivation: - 1214 sq.mts.(30dec.,approximately- 1 bigha)
Ingredients applied (@ as below since 2001)
1. Sesbania (dhanicha)- 3 kg (@ of 10 kg/acre), incorporated at pre flowering stage.
2. Pongam oil cake— 45 kg (@ 1.5 qntls./acre), applied at the time pudling (with dhanicha).
3.
Farm yard manure – 3 qntls.( @ 10 qntls/acre) applied at the time sowing of dhanicha seeds(after 2nd ploughing)
.
4. Stocked cow urine as collected from the cattle shed with soil and applied in the field – in 2 applications ( at the time of 1st T D and 2nd T D )- 1.2 qntls (@ 4 qntls/acre).
5. Regular fresh dilute(1:9) cow urine applications-from panicle initiation till ripening of paddy seeds.(cow urine – N= 78 / 83 ppm; P = 8.18 –/9.73 ppm ; K = 387.5 / 385.5 ppm
with reference to Jersey and native cow respectively ).
Soil fertility Index as observed-
Time of sample collection N(kg/ha) P(kg/ha) K(kg/ha)
——————————– —————– ————— ——————–
Initial soil fertility ——– 283.7 42.6 168.3
45 days after transplantation 458.2 45.8 273.6
75 -do- -do- 462.1 39.9 260.1
After harvesting of crop 393.6 35.2 254.7
Actual Grain Yield
(in quintal)
Grain Yield
(in qntl./Ac)
Actual Straw yield
(in quintal)
Straw yield
(in qntl./Ac)
Gross Input
(in Rupees)
Gross Return
(in Rupees)
B: C Ratio
8.5
28.33
9.9
33
1,317/-
5,892/-
4.47
Observation of pest attack:- No significant pest attack was observed at any stage of cultivation
Sustainable agriculture is advantageous because:-
?
Least chance of seed – crop failure – farmer being the seed owner himself.
?
Soil full of humus, moisture and fertility.
?
Least dependence on purchased inputs – more dependence on internal inputs.
?
Least chances of crop failure due to pests and diseases, as pests are managed by biopest control measures and through use of botanicals.
?
Higher returns with higher cost benefit ratios.
?
Helps conserve water, the most important and critical resource of the time.
?
Ensures food safety with food security and can address the increasing global hunger adequately.
?
Preserves environment, maintain ecological balance.
?
Generates healthy and tasty food with higher keeping quality.
?
Makes agriculture a profitable enterprise, conserve the small and marginal farmers who produce the largest bulk of food.
?
Amplifies conservation of biodiversity including agro biodiversity.
Organic farming biological farming biodiversity based farming.
It is the method of agriculture which generates comparatively more food in harmony with the nature.
If the current high input oriented chemical agriculture be labelled
“green revolution”, then organic farming supplemented by biodiversity and positive biotechnology (including vermitechnology) easy enough for the farming communities the world over to understand and implement would be labeled as the “evergreen revolution”. However, the global approach to land use planning must be strictly and sustainably addressed to.
AN EXAMPLE OF ORGANIC FARMING CONVERTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (IN RICE) IN THREE YEARS TIME
Farmer: - Pitambar Jena Village: - MangalpurDistrict: - Mayurbhanj (Orissa)
Soil type: - Sandy loam, Period of organic management – since 2001
Crop:-Rice Variety: - Kasturi (HYV), Cultivation under study: -kharif 2004 – 05
Area under cultivation: - 1214 sq.mts.(30dec.,approximately- 1 bigha)
Ingredients applied (@ as below since 2001)
1. Sesbania (dhanicha)- 3 kg (@ of 10 kg/acre), incorporated at pre flowering stage.
2. Pongam oil cake— 45 kg (@ 1.5 qntls./acre), applied at the time pudling (with dhanicha).
3.
Farm yard manure – 3 qntls.( @ 10 qntls/acre) applied at the time sowing of dhanicha seeds(after 2nd ploughing)
.
4. Stocked cow urine as collected from the cattle shed with soil and applied in the field – in 2 applications ( at the time of 1st T D and 2nd T D )- 1.2 qntls (@ 4 qntls/acre).
5. Regular fresh dilute(1:9) cow urine applications-from panicle initiation till ripening of paddy seeds.(cow urine – N= 78 / 83 ppm; P = 8.18 –/9.73 ppm ; K = 387.5 / 385.5 ppm
with reference to Jersey and native cow respectively ).
Soil fertility Index as observed-
Time of sample collection N(kg/ha) P(kg/ha) K(kg/ha)
——————————– —————– ————— ——————–
Initial soil fertility ——– 283.7 42.6 168.3
45 days after transplantation 458.2 45.8 273.6
75 -do- -do- 462.1 39.9 260.1
After harvesting of crop 393.6 35.2 254.7
Inference on applications of captive conditions:-
1. In each pot 5 mother plants were transplanted which amounted to one hill. Assuming that there are 30 number of hills per square metre, it would work out to 1,21,410 number of hills in an acre, as an acre is 4047 square meters. The yield in pot no. 31, if replicated in field condition would yield Q.48.56 quintals per acre. However the applications made in the pots is difficult to simulate in field condition, hence, the yield in field condition would be little less.
2. There is no correlation between yield of grain and straw.
3. The best application to enhance soil fertility in order to achieve highest yield potentials, it is recommended to simulate that of pot no. 31,i,e., Sesbania + Vermicompost + Azolla + Neem oil cake + Bacterial fertilizers + Cow urine(all in 3 doses,basal,1st.TD & 2nd.TD)
4. In sustainability of the practice, bacterial fertilizers is a purchased input, however, the same would not be required in the long run. Besides, Neem oil cake also a purchased input can be replaced by ground Neem kernel at one third proportions. Thus all purchased inputs can be replaced by internal inputs. When this is so done, the practice becomes sustainable and yield enhanced.
CHANGES IN SOIL FERTILITY INDEX WITH REFERENCE TO N P K AFTER INCORPORATION OF DIFFERENT GREEN LEAF MANURES
Study undertaken by a team at FM (Auto.) College, Balasore (Orissa) with UGC assistance.
Nutrient Initial Soil Neem Leaf Moringa Leaf Water Hyacinth Cassia Leaf Pongam Leaf
Name fertility (Azadirachata) (Eichornia) (Pongamia)
——– ———– —————- ————— ——————- ————– —————
Nitrogen
(Kg/ha) 269.7 291.64 310.46 299.48 294.48 303.36
Phosphorus
(Kg/ha) 61.9 62.3 62.5 62 62.7 63
Potash
(Kg/ha) 561.25 591.36 598.08 608.83 596.73 594.04
Methods followed: N= Subiah & Asija, (Kjeldahl Appt.) P= Olsen, (Spectro photometer) &
& Apparatus used: K= Ammonium acetate, (MP based digital flame photometer)
Assessment of Nutrient status of Worm cast soil collected from different sites Conducted by a team at FM (Auto.) College, Balasore, (Orissa) with UGC assistance
Create a video blog
Why we should reject the current agri practices and what should we do to meet the ever increasing global hunger sustainably.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Panigrahi & Mrs. Kusum Misra.
1. Green revolution practices are based on synthetic chemicals and biocides.
2. Genetically modified crop varieties (such as Bt cotton) have all failed in the long run. 3. Soil has become hard, without pores, lost water retaining ability and full of resistant pest eggs. 4. The crop field ecosystem at present is composed of seral community (that has least species diversity, input oriented productivity leading to instability), hence, nonsustainable. 5.
The crop field ecosystem is neither visited by pollinating bees and predatory birds (because they are all dead and gone) nor its soil contains the beneficial microbes such as mycorrhizae or VAM.
6.
The so called food is devoid of vitamins A and C (due to excess use of MOP), copper and zinc (due to application of DAP/Super phosphate) and manganese, nickel and cobalt (through the use of paper mill sludge at places where there are paper mills, such as Balasore).
7.
The so called food contains more carbohydrate and less protein because of the applications of
artificial synthetic fertilizers.
8.
According to several environmentalists and soil chemists, modern agriculture yields two crops one is disease and the other one is pest. Besides the so called food is toxic due to excess presence of nitrates and nitrites that cause methaemoglobinaemia which resulted in a cattle epidemic in Rajasthan in the recent past.
9.
Eutrophication in water bodies that lead to fish death is due to excess use of nitrogenous
fertilizers.
10
According to Pearson, there occurs on an average over 10,000 pesticide related human deaths and nearly 10 times of that figure get hospitalized for the agricultural pesticides in developing countries every year.
Genetically Modified Crops in Perspective
Lessons learned from 5 decades of insecticide based cotton pest management are relevant in assessing the likely longer-run impacts of GM crops on pesticide use.3 major families of chemistry have accounted for most cotton insecticide use from the 1960s through 1680s –the organochlorines,or chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT,aldrin/dialdrin,toxaphene,chlordane/heptachlor);the organophosphates (parathion,malathion,chlorpyriphos etc. among many others) ; and carbamates (aldicarb,carbofuran, oxamyl,carbaryl etc.). In the mid 1980s the synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin etc.) came in to use. Changes in reliance across the families of Chemistry are shown in the Table next.
Table: Changes in cotton insecticide use by family of chemistry (million pounds a.i. ),USDA Data.
Compounds 1964 1966 1971 1976 1982 1992 1998 2000
Organochlorines 54.6 45.4 33 18.6 1.2 1.2 0.3 0.5
Organophosphates 15.6 14.3 28.6 31.4 12.9 13.4 11.3 36.1
Carbamates 6.2 4.5 10.3 12.2 3.5 4 2.7 3.5
Syn.Pyrethroids 0 0 0 0 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.3
Others 1.6 0.7 1.5 2 1 0.3 0.1 0.1
—————————————————————————————————————–
Total poundsApplied- 78 64.9 73.4 64.2 19.4 19.8 14.8 40.5
(Source- Agrobios n l November, 2002.)
Comparison of Organic farming vrs Chemical farming in terms of Gross input, Gross return, Net return & BC ratio.
Farmer – S N Patra (Balasore,Orissa) , Soil - Deltaic alluvial (clay)
Season - Rabi, 2003-04, Crop - Rice, Variety - Lalat (HYV)
Treatment Grain Yield Straw Yld. Gross Gross Net B C ratio
(Qtl./Acre ) (Qtl./Acre) Input Return Return ( GrossReturn/
(in Rs.) (in Rs.) (in Rs.) GrossInput)
——————- ————– ————- ——— ———– ——— ————–
* Control (+ compost.) 12.7 15.85 4,740/- 7,872/- 3,132/- 1.66
* Azolla (2T) +Fresh
Cow dung(10q) 19.4 24.03 5,090/- 12,010/- 6,920/- 2.359
* Pongam
Oil cake(2.5q) 21.6 26.7 6,490/- 13,368/- 6,878/- 2.059
* Fresh cow dung 18.3 23.74 5,090/- 11,415/- 6,325/- 2.242
* Pong.cake(1.5q)+Azolla+
Cow urine(500L) 23.5 29.47 5,690/- 14,577/- 8,887/- 2.561
* Chemical(with
N:P:K-32:16:16) 20.2 25.27 6,855/- 12,259/- 5,404/- 1.788
• All the 6 plots were of 0.5dec.each & replicated 3 times ;all applications once in basal,1st.TD&2nd.TD
Farmer: R N Barik ( Bhimpur pahi, Balasore, Orissa ) Soil: Coastal alluvial (sandy loam); Season: Kharif,2004-05. Crop: Rice, Variety: Pooja (HYV)
Treatment Grain yield Straw yield Gross Input Gross Return Net Return B C Ratio
( Qtl/Acre ) ( Qtl/Acre ) ( in Rs. ) ( in Rs. ) ( in Rs. ) ( GR/GI )
* Control (+compost) 16.5 22.1 4,640/- 10,348/- 5,708/- 2.23
* Compost+Biofertilr. 18.8 23.5 4,990/- 11,656/- 6,666/- 2.336
*
Comp.+BF+Azolla 20.1 25.02 4,990/- 12,453/- 7,463/- 2.496
* Poultry manure+BF` 20.4 26.5 5,290/- 12,728/- 7,438/- 2.406
*
Sesbania+BF 20.9 27 5,100/- 13,028/- 7,928/- 2.555
*
NeemOC(1Q)+
Compost+BF 21.2 27.7 5,590/- 13,240/- 7,650/- 2.369
* Sesbania+Compost+
Pong.OC(1Q)+BF 21.9 28.52 5,500/- 13,670/- 8,170/- 2.485
* Sesbania+Compost+
NeemOC (1Q) +BF 22.1 29.4 5,700/- 13,844/- 8,144/- 2.429
* Chemical( with
N P K @32:16:16) 21.9 27.5 6,755/- 13,313/- 6,558/- 1.971
Study of Rice productivity under different applications in captive (potted) conditions conducted at FM (Auto.)College, Balasore,Orissa.
Initial soil fertility index :- N = 269.7, P = 61.9, K = 561.25 ( all in kg/ha.)
Applications
Soil Fertility at
30 DAT (in
Kg/ha.)
Soil Fertility after harvest (in Kg/ha.)
Grain Yield per pot(Gm)
Straw Yield
per pot(Gm)
N P K
N P K
Control
266.56 79.8 538.9
175.6 39.75 405.8
16
36
Chem.(32:16:16)
379.45 75.66 567.1
213.24 40.39 478.4
10
24
Vermi compost
279.1 85.9 553.7
181.8 50.01 405.8
28
42
FYM+BF
285.3 83.3 552.3
185 48.09 404.5
22
33
Azolla(4.5gm)
288.5 85.9 525.5
178.75 50.2 419.3
25
36
Pou.Man(2.25gm)
285.3 88.4 525.5
191.2 35.25 409.9
24
36
Sesbania(100gm)
271.2 75 526.8
141.12 40.13 411.2
20
43
Pong.OC(1gm)
274.4 76.9 528.1
169.3 32.44 424.7
29
37
Pong.OC(2gm)
285.3 80.7 540.2
169.3 45.2 404.5
32
34
NeemOC(1.5gm)
285.37 83.3 567.1
216.3 48.9 413.95
24
38
Sesbania+BF
266.5 93.6 533.5
163.07 42.57 413.9
23
35
NeemOC+BF
279.1 88.5 557.7
213.2 42.7 419.3
24
38
Verm.Com+BF+
POC(2.5gm) =
344 83.3 565.8
225.7 42.9 423.36
31
39
Sesbania+VC+NOC+
BF+CowUrine
376.3 82.07 557.7
254 42.3 427.3
29
47
Sesbania+VC+NOC+
BF+CU+Azolla
398.2 81.43 553.7
257.1 41.6 421.4
40
49
Sesbania+VC+POC+
BF+CU+Azolla
392 88.48 552.3
258.7 48.2 440.8
32
38
Sesbania+VC+POC+
BF+CU+NOC
388.8 89.2 557.7
254 47.4 442.1
33
56
Sesbania+PM+POC+
BF+CU+NOC
401.4 91.05 540.2
260.2 45.14 419.3
19
22
Type of worm cast
Nitrogen ( kg / ha )
Phosphorus
( kg / ha )
Potash
( kg / ha )
Road side cast under shade ( Metaphire posthuma )
610.2
47.7
781
Worm cast collected from a cultured pot with both, Perionyx excavatus &Eisenia foetida
573.88
70.65
825.85
Worm cast of P.excavatus
558.2
52.2
611.52
Worm cast of mixed species(collected from vegetable cultivated field of ribbed gourd)*
698.92
90.36
161*
Comparison of Nutrient availability in soil sample with worm cast
Available Nutrient
( in Kg / ha )
Soil sample from the site
(control)
Worm cast of
M.posthuma
, giant
tropical earthworm
Soil sample from the site
(control)
Worm cast of
(mixed species)
P.excavatus
E.foetida
(1:1)
(1:1) &
Nitrogen
340.2
610.2
269.7
573.88
Phosphorus
40.8
46.7
61.9
70.65
Potash
380.7
781
561.25
825.85
AN EXAMPLE OF ORGANIC FARMING CONVERTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (IN RICE) IN THREE YEARS TIME
Farmer: - Pitambar Jena Village: - MangalpurDistrict: - Mayurbhanj (Orissa)
Soil type: - Sandy loam, Period of organic management – since 2001
Crop:-Rice Variety: - Kasturi (HYV), Cultivation under study: -kharif 2004 – 05
Area under cultivation: - 1214 sq.mts.(30dec.,approximately- 1 bigha)
Ingredients applied (@ as below since 2001)
1. Sesbania (dhanicha)- 3 kg (@ of 10 kg/acre), incorporated at pre flowering stage.
2. Pongam oil cake— 45 kg (@ 1.5 qntls./acre), applied at the time pudling (with dhanicha).
3.
Farm yard manure – 3 qntls.( @ 10 qntls/acre) applied at the time sowing of dhanicha seeds(after 2nd ploughing)
.
4. Stocked cow urine as collected from the cattle shed with soil and applied in the field – in 2 applications ( at the time of 1st T D and 2nd T D )- 1.2 qntls (@ 4 qntls/acre).
5. Regular fresh dilute(1:9) cow urine applications-from panicle initiation till ripening of paddy seeds.(cow urine – N= 78 / 83 ppm; P = 8.18 –/9.73 ppm ; K = 387.5 / 385.5 ppm
with reference to Jersey and native cow respectively ).
Soil fertility Index as observed-
Time of sample collection N(kg/ha) P(kg/ha) K(kg/ha)
——————————– —————– ————— ——————–
Initial soil fertility ——– 283.7 42.6 168.3
45 days after transplantation 458.2 45.8 273.6
75 -do- -do- 462.1 39.9 260.1
After harvesting of crop 393.6 35.2 254.7
Actual Grain Yield
(in quintal)
Grain Yield
(in qntl./Ac)
Actual Straw yield
(in quintal)
Straw yield
(in qntl./Ac)
Gross Input
(in Rupees)
Gross Return
(in Rupees)
B: C Ratio
8.5
28.33
9.9
33
1,317/-
5,892/-
4.47
Observation of pest attack:- No significant pest attack was observed at any stage of cultivation
Sustainable agriculture is advantageous because:-
?
Least chance of seed – crop failure – farmer being the seed owner himself.
?
Soil full of humus, moisture and fertility.
?
Least dependence on purchased inputs – more dependence on internal inputs.
?
Least chances of crop failure due to pests and diseases, as pests are managed by biopest control measures and through use of botanicals.
?
Higher returns with higher cost benefit ratios.
?
Helps conserve water, the most important and critical resource of the time.
?
Ensures food safety with food security and can address the increasing global hunger adequately.
?
Preserves environment, maintain ecological balance.
?
Generates healthy and tasty food with higher keeping quality.
?
Makes agriculture a profitable enterprise, conserve the small and marginal farmers who produce the largest bulk of food.
?
Amplifies conservation of biodiversity including agro biodiversity.
Organic farming biological farming biodiversity based farming.
It is the method of agriculture which generates comparatively more food in harmony with the nature.
If the current high input oriented chemical agriculture be labelled
“green revolution”, then organic farming supplemented by biodiversity and positive biotechnology (including vermitechnology) easy enough for the farming communities the world over to understand and implement would be labeled as the “evergreen revolution”. However, the global approach to land use planning must be strictly and sustainably addressed to.
AN EXAMPLE OF ORGANIC FARMING CONVERTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (IN RICE) IN THREE YEARS TIME
Farmer: - Pitambar Jena Village: - MangalpurDistrict: - Mayurbhanj (Orissa)
Soil type: - Sandy loam, Period of organic management – since 2001
Crop:-Rice Variety: - Kasturi (HYV), Cultivation under study: -kharif 2004 – 05
Area under cultivation: - 1214 sq.mts.(30dec.,approximately- 1 bigha)
Ingredients applied (@ as below since 2001)
1. Sesbania (dhanicha)- 3 kg (@ of 10 kg/acre), incorporated at pre flowering stage.
2. Pongam oil cake— 45 kg (@ 1.5 qntls./acre), applied at the time pudling (with dhanicha).
3.
Farm yard manure – 3 qntls.( @ 10 qntls/acre) applied at the time sowing of dhanicha seeds(after 2nd ploughing)
.
4. Stocked cow urine as collected from the cattle shed with soil and applied in the field – in 2 applications ( at the time of 1st T D and 2nd T D )- 1.2 qntls (@ 4 qntls/acre).
5. Regular fresh dilute(1:9) cow urine applications-from panicle initiation till ripening of paddy seeds.(cow urine – N= 78 / 83 ppm; P = 8.18 –/9.73 ppm ; K = 387.5 / 385.5 ppm
with reference to Jersey and native cow respectively ).
Soil fertility Index as observed-
Time of sample collection N(kg/ha) P(kg/ha) K(kg/ha)
——————————– —————– ————— ——————–
Initial soil fertility ——– 283.7 42.6 168.3
45 days after transplantation 458.2 45.8 273.6
75 -do- -do- 462.1 39.9 260.1
After harvesting of crop 393.6 35.2 254.7
Inference on applications of captive conditions:-
1. In each pot 5 mother plants were transplanted which amounted to one hill. Assuming that there are 30 number of hills per square metre, it would work out to 1,21,410 number of hills in an acre, as an acre is 4047 square meters. The yield in pot no. 31, if replicated in field condition would yield Q.48.56 quintals per acre. However the applications made in the pots is difficult to simulate in field condition, hence, the yield in field condition would be little less.
2. There is no correlation between yield of grain and straw.
3. The best application to enhance soil fertility in order to achieve highest yield potentials, it is recommended to simulate that of pot no. 31,i,e., Sesbania + Vermicompost + Azolla + Neem oil cake + Bacterial fertilizers + Cow urine(all in 3 doses,basal,1st.TD & 2nd.TD)
4. In sustainability of the practice, bacterial fertilizers is a purchased input, however, the same would not be required in the long run. Besides, Neem oil cake also a purchased input can be replaced by ground Neem kernel at one third proportions. Thus all purchased inputs can be replaced by internal inputs. When this is so done, the practice becomes sustainable and yield enhanced.
CHANGES IN SOIL FERTILITY INDEX WITH REFERENCE TO N P K AFTER INCORPORATION OF DIFFERENT GREEN LEAF MANURES
Study undertaken by a team at FM (Auto.) College, Balasore (Orissa) with UGC assistance.
Nutrient Initial Soil Neem Leaf Moringa Leaf Water Hyacinth Cassia Leaf Pongam Leaf
Name fertility (Azadirachata) (Eichornia) (Pongamia)
——– ———– —————- ————— ——————- ————– —————
Nitrogen
(Kg/ha) 269.7 291.64 310.46 299.48 294.48 303.36
Phosphorus
(Kg/ha) 61.9 62.3 62.5 62 62.7 63
Potash
(Kg/ha) 561.25 591.36 598.08 608.83 596.73 594.04
Methods followed: N= Subiah & Asija, (Kjeldahl Appt.) P= Olsen, (Spectro photometer) &
& Apparatus used: K= Ammonium acetate, (MP based digital flame photometer)
Assessment of Nutrient status of Worm cast soil collected from different sites Conducted by a team at FM (Auto.) College, Balasore, (Orissa) with UGC assistance
Create a video blog
Posted on June 24, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Myth and Metaphor as a Way for Creating Intelligent Businesses
In a time when we feel more chaos than order, and more wrong than right, we must consider deeper aspects of our psyche as human beings and reassess our assumptions about everything. To create more intelligent companies we business leaders must do the same. Finding more meaning and purpose in our businesses is critical to this assessment. And using ‘myth’ can help us go deeper into ourselves to reveal how we want to relate to each other, our business solutions, and the planet.
Today, much of our impact on the world as individuals is done through business. Yet, when considering the overall ecology of our societies and the environment, humanity’s impact is proving to be more harmful than helpful. Thus, we must reconsider how we are with each other as human beings and define new purpose, meaning, and relationship as men and women. I propose that bringing in myth as a means for going deeper into what we really want can create more meaning in our lives so that our businesses become leaders in the making of a world that works.
—
One thing I ask as you read this brief article: How can myth and metaphor help us to create new forms of business and culture?
In my below introductory article, I will use Yung’s metaphor of [ King (Queen), Warrior, Magician, Lover ] to address the changing of our world’s mythological paradigm. I find this model effective for describing a fuller, more (w)holistic expression of humanity at this stage of our evolution.
World expression is shifting physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. From the perspective of ourselves, which is often expressed through our male and female natures, some kind of greater awareness is emerging within our human(e) race.
First let’s consider the women:
The world is filling with women awakening to their own power - which is wonderful, isn’t it? They are very present with today’s situation, meaning that their WARRIOR is rising. And they are learning to stand up for themselves. Their MAGICIAN is weak but also rising because they now have their warrior protecting the entrance to their Tent so they can gather and remember their sacred ability to Create. Their LOVER is still (and rightfully so) very angry, as they have much pain in the process of forgiving men for what they have done to women (and still are) over the centuries. Finally, women intuitively sense their QUEEN energy of purpose. However, they have no idea how to ‘rule’ with it. Thus, they look to other authoritative individuals to hold that seat. Queen energy is misunderstood to be like King energy, which is dangerously incorrect. There is much work to do here so that transferring the mantle of women’s Queen energy is done well. It is a sensitive issue and will continue to be one of the world’s greatest challenges for some time. But without women becoming empowered to their own queen energy (and done so for each women at their individual right time), the kingdom will be lost.
Second, let’s look at the men:
Of course there is a whole new man arising in the ranks of men, (but not near as many as woman) who are awakening to their compassion. They are LOVER men - men who are learning to feel deeply. This male lover energy is so important to global transformation, that change can not be done without it. It is these men who hold a very important role in the coming integration of the Masculine and Feminine, which is how myth will transform, and thereby our world culture. (I’ll say more about this later.) However, most of us men are very lost, and in many ways, much more so than the women. Most of us don’t know which way to turn, and it’s been our nature to hole-up. This used to be done to come to terms with our state of being. However, too often the cave is now used to escape without conscious awareness of why. Our WARRIOR has dropped both his sword and shield in the name of stopping the bloodshed. But it has left us vulnerable to physical and psychic attack, especially from women’s unstable warrior energy. It means that we can no longer protect our villages because we are (in most cases) unconsciously choosing not to bepresent with the reality of our world’s critical situation. Because the warrior is needed to manifest, the lover group of men have lost the ability to manifest as well. Our MAGICIAN has lost all power and have excommunicated themselves from the kingdom. Many of us have gone running in shame to the hills knowing that our way of life of the Empire is no more. Additionally, there is no KING to serve because he is dead. In my minds eye, I see men standing limply, high on a mountain top, alone and awaiting for an answer from someone or somewhere else. We lie at night saturated in the dream of a funeral march, unable to awaken from what is quickly becoming collective nightmare for each man. We too are still looking for our King purpose energy from other authorities and saviors. We men need masculine king energy to perform in the world, and it is challenging because the meaning we once knew and lived by is gone. ther may not even be a king to replace what we have created psychic space for, as he is a part of a dying mythology. So, just as the women gather in their Tents, so we too must gather in the woods and collectively learn to create a sense of meaning and purpose that can only emerge from contained within the safety of each other, and draw from the insights that only a man can give a man.
And now, let’s consider myth itself; the old and the new:
With this all said, it is important to note that we are in a time when past ways of living, and the metaphors we use to pull their etheric energies into the present, is also near an end. New metaphors must now be “consciously” created that can hold a place in the human(e) psyche for new visions to be formed. These visions will need to over-stand an old reality that no longer serves us. By gathering as we are now, all over the planet, we are creating the vessel from which new stories, metaphors, and myth will emerge that can establish a collective ‘will’ for building an awakened planetary society that is made of a diverse-yet-unified, globally-conscious, world of communities.
Finally, let’s consider the elements of an alchemical wedding:
So, holding a conscious awareness of our present state of being (and the myths that define it) is crucial for humanity to generate a collective sight - a vision of where we ‘choose’ to go. To do this, we must learn to stand on a bridge that is not yet completed. A dual bridge which crosses two chasms; one between an ‘old age’ and ‘new age’, and another which is separating men from women in an unhealthy way. It is on this bridge where we will evolve human-kind’s DNA Signature from a static emblem of who we once were, to a dynamic, interactive, more playful way of being. The bridge will join an allow for the synthesis to occur: an ecology of design that is right now form-ulating the greatest most romantic Dance we have ever known. A Dance that culminates in the Sacred Intercourse of the Masculine and Feminine. Even now, we are anticipating this Dance as we long for the signs of a new Birth into a new ‘age’. One that places a missing Rhythm into our days, revitalizing and fulfilling our desire for something more, welling up from a Drive deep Divine place within ourselves – It is our gGod-Nature’s desire and acknowledged ability to Create that will bring forth an incredible world in which to live.
Now am I speaking of more sex in the workplace? Of course not! These are metaphors. That said, how can myth and metaphor help us to create new forms of business and culture? Let me know your ideas and insights.
Posted on June 21, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Sustainable Enterprises: Endorsed by Mother Earth
Akhil Shahani asked:
Social responsibility towards the environment is fast becoming part of the business psyche of our society. Starting with the big guns who call it “corporate responsibility” to smaller companies pursuing eco friendly processes, there is a new sensitivity in the way businesses are run. The small entrepreneur is not to be left behind either, with a number of sustainable enterprises taking birth in this era of environmental consciousness.
There is no arguing that having respect for our surroundings is the right thing to do; but did you know that it’s also the smarter option? In the long run, it will save precious resources and possibly prevent calamitous occurrences. No wonder, organizations are taking to it in a big way. As an entrepreneur, you could do your bit to support the cause, or even better, make a business out of several options of sustainable enterprises.
Seeking inspiration? Look no further, for we have a range of ideas on sustainable enterprises you could make your own!
Work with recycled paper: You could set an example conserving trees by starting an eco- friendly recycled paper business. You could include greeting cards, paper mache items such as wall hangs, Easter eggs, pencil holders and paper bags in your repertoire. Use your creativity to design them and package attractively; coupled with the go-green motto, you will see your sales soar. You could also run classes to teach people craft using recycled paper,
Let nature do the talking: Tourism is big all over. You will always find people who’d like to take a trip to the countryside; hills; forests or anyplace where nature is in full bloom. Zero in on your favorite tourist spot and start an adventure enterprise. Your initial capital commitment might be higher but so are the returns. Be different from the others in the business and adopt an eco-friendly approach; talk against littering, include only biodegradable items in your travel pack, inform them about nature’s wondrous ways….
G(r)O(w) organic: This could be a refreshing alternative to all the junk food that abounds. Turn the public’s health consciousness to your advantage by growing organic food. Even what you grow in your backyard could fetch you big profits. Market your business through pamphlets professing the pros of eating healthy.
Capture nature at her best: You could translate your interest in nature photography into a sustainable enterprise. Use the photographs to make calendars or just sell them as portraits. you will find valuable resources to help you step into the field.
Enter the realm of power: Solar energy is the next big thing! The world is fast running out of resources and governments everywhere are trying to get everybody under the sky to install solar panels in their homes. The scope is enormous and you could play your part anywhere in the industry, from manufacturing to marketing! Learn more about the potential of this field through “Survey of the Emerging Solar Energy Industry” by J.A. Bereny, F. de Winter.
Start a website: If technical stuff is your forte, you could design a website dealing with the environment. Make it interesting by offering online courses, other ideas on starting sustainable enterprises, eco-friendly products, books etc. There is a lot of money to be made in this business and a quick stop will tell you how to make some of it your own.
“Ethical Money: How to Invest in Sustainable Enterprises” by John Hancock, and “Sustainable Enterprise: Profiting from Best Practice “by Christopher Stephen Brown, are other good resources on the subject.
When it comes to sustainable enterprises you will never run out of options, even the lemonade you sold in grade three falls under this category. What’s more, they also offer you a chance to make a real difference to our planet!
Caffeinated Content
Social responsibility towards the environment is fast becoming part of the business psyche of our society. Starting with the big guns who call it “corporate responsibility” to smaller companies pursuing eco friendly processes, there is a new sensitivity in the way businesses are run. The small entrepreneur is not to be left behind either, with a number of sustainable enterprises taking birth in this era of environmental consciousness.
There is no arguing that having respect for our surroundings is the right thing to do; but did you know that it’s also the smarter option? In the long run, it will save precious resources and possibly prevent calamitous occurrences. No wonder, organizations are taking to it in a big way. As an entrepreneur, you could do your bit to support the cause, or even better, make a business out of several options of sustainable enterprises.
Seeking inspiration? Look no further, for we have a range of ideas on sustainable enterprises you could make your own!
Work with recycled paper: You could set an example conserving trees by starting an eco- friendly recycled paper business. You could include greeting cards, paper mache items such as wall hangs, Easter eggs, pencil holders and paper bags in your repertoire. Use your creativity to design them and package attractively; coupled with the go-green motto, you will see your sales soar. You could also run classes to teach people craft using recycled paper,
Let nature do the talking: Tourism is big all over. You will always find people who’d like to take a trip to the countryside; hills; forests or anyplace where nature is in full bloom. Zero in on your favorite tourist spot and start an adventure enterprise. Your initial capital commitment might be higher but so are the returns. Be different from the others in the business and adopt an eco-friendly approach; talk against littering, include only biodegradable items in your travel pack, inform them about nature’s wondrous ways….
G(r)O(w) organic: This could be a refreshing alternative to all the junk food that abounds. Turn the public’s health consciousness to your advantage by growing organic food. Even what you grow in your backyard could fetch you big profits. Market your business through pamphlets professing the pros of eating healthy.
Capture nature at her best: You could translate your interest in nature photography into a sustainable enterprise. Use the photographs to make calendars or just sell them as portraits. you will find valuable resources to help you step into the field.
Enter the realm of power: Solar energy is the next big thing! The world is fast running out of resources and governments everywhere are trying to get everybody under the sky to install solar panels in their homes. The scope is enormous and you could play your part anywhere in the industry, from manufacturing to marketing! Learn more about the potential of this field through “Survey of the Emerging Solar Energy Industry” by J.A. Bereny, F. de Winter.
Start a website: If technical stuff is your forte, you could design a website dealing with the environment. Make it interesting by offering online courses, other ideas on starting sustainable enterprises, eco-friendly products, books etc. There is a lot of money to be made in this business and a quick stop will tell you how to make some of it your own.
“Ethical Money: How to Invest in Sustainable Enterprises” by John Hancock, and “Sustainable Enterprise: Profiting from Best Practice “by Christopher Stephen Brown, are other good resources on the subject.
When it comes to sustainable enterprises you will never run out of options, even the lemonade you sold in grade three falls under this category. What’s more, they also offer you a chance to make a real difference to our planet!
Caffeinated Content
Posted on June 21, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Sustainable Office Named Nation’s Greenest
Jane Shepherd asked:
A pilot project to create a ‘green’ workplace in the unlikely setting of a 1960s London office block has been named one of the most sustainable buildings in the UK.
Morgan Lovell’s pioneering development of a sustainable office of the future has taken the fit out title in the 2008 UK BREEAM Awards.
BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a world-leading environmental assessment method for buildings.
As specialists in the design and build of offices, Morgan Lovell set about creating a green workplace at their headquarters - located in Noel Street, Soho - last year.
The company’s in-house team pooled their expertise and eventually achieved the highest BREEAM fit out environmental assessment score in the UK to date for the project, an ‘Excellent’ rating with a total mark of 76 per cent - awarded in March this year.
David Henderson, managing director of Morgan Lovell, said: “We wanted to challenge the common misconception that it is impossible or too hard to green an existing or older building.
“The refurbishment of our own office provided the ideal opportunity to tackle the issue and transform an older office into a model of sustainability.
“It was an ambitious project. The office exists across two floors of a 1960s, seven-storey, multi-tenanted office block - the type of building that would normally be considered an environmental write-off.
“Even the external experts felt that to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating in such an old building would be very difficult, if not impossible.
“Now, the completed project offers a blueprint to help reduce the significant carbon footprint currently pounding the UK from office buildings.
“Almost 50 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions come from buildings and most companies are housed in ‘older’ environmentally unfriendly developments.
“We’ve found that UK businesses often hold the view that to reduce their carbon footprint they need to build a new office – a process considered as massively expensive and out of reach for most.
“16 Noel Street proves you can take an old building and make it ‘green’ without having the cost and upheaval of moving office or affecting the fabric of the building.”
With almost 100,000 buildings certified and over half a million registered, BREEAM sets the standard in sustainable design and is the most recognised measure of a building’s environmental performance.
A spokesman from BRE Global – the body behind BREEAM - said: “The winners of the BREEAM 2008 Awards truly represent the UK’s top examples of sustainable design.”
Find out more about green office interiors at http://www.morganlovell.com/sustainability
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Morgan Lovell’s Green Office
Morgan Lovell was placed seventh for having the ‘greenest employees’ in the Sunday Times Green Companies List announced in May 2008 – the new office rated heavily in that success.
Features of the refit include recycled plastic bottles for kitchen surfaces and clay based paints to reduce solvent emissions.
To limit waste, furniture was reused - and products including flooring and furniture sourced as locally as possible with a high recycled content and themselves recyclable. Desks and computers not needed were given to charity.
Lighting, heating and cooling are zoned across the office floors. Sensors deploy lighting in zones only where people are working and lights adjust automatically to the natural conditions so less artificial light is needed. Heat rejected in areas being cooled is used to warm other parts of the building as required.
All of the energy demand is supplied from renewable energy sources, purchased from The Green Energy Company.
Other improvements include the well-being factors associated with working in an office with greater use of fresh air and natural light - and heating that delivers controlled temperatures to small zones. Products were specified with very low or no VOCs, to create a healthier environment.
Finally, a break-out area creates a heart within the office, complete with low lighting, booth-style seating and state-of-the-art high gloss kitchen fittings.
A survey after the refurbishment revealed exceptional levels of satisfaction among employees with a score of 95%.
The new office has been used as a location for a fact-finding visit by members of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) looking at issues surrounding sustainable refurbishment. It has played host to a series of sustainable office seminars, allowing property professionals the opportunity to learn and see first hand how a refurbished ‘green’ office concept works.
About Morgan Lovell
Located in London, Birmingham and the Thames Valley, Morgan Lovell is the UK’s leading office interior design, fit out and refurbishment specialist. With its own teams of designers, surveyors and project managers, the company can design and deliver entire projects, with the benefit of just one point of contact. www.morganlovell.com
It is part of top five UK construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall plc which operates through five specialist divisions of fit out, construction, infrastructure services, affordable housing and urban regeneration.
Morgan Lovell is a licensed BREEAM Offices Assessment Organisation. This means it is now licensed to measure the sustainability score of an office in order to identify ways companies can reduce high energy usage and waste, whilst increasing comfort and satisfaction for users of the building.
Contacts
Press release written by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR Limited. Tel 01538 308685 or 308099. Mobile 07985 129315
jane@shepherd-pr.com
Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
A pilot project to create a ‘green’ workplace in the unlikely setting of a 1960s London office block has been named one of the most sustainable buildings in the UK.
Morgan Lovell’s pioneering development of a sustainable office of the future has taken the fit out title in the 2008 UK BREEAM Awards.
BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a world-leading environmental assessment method for buildings.
As specialists in the design and build of offices, Morgan Lovell set about creating a green workplace at their headquarters - located in Noel Street, Soho - last year.
The company’s in-house team pooled their expertise and eventually achieved the highest BREEAM fit out environmental assessment score in the UK to date for the project, an ‘Excellent’ rating with a total mark of 76 per cent - awarded in March this year.
David Henderson, managing director of Morgan Lovell, said: “We wanted to challenge the common misconception that it is impossible or too hard to green an existing or older building.
“The refurbishment of our own office provided the ideal opportunity to tackle the issue and transform an older office into a model of sustainability.
“It was an ambitious project. The office exists across two floors of a 1960s, seven-storey, multi-tenanted office block - the type of building that would normally be considered an environmental write-off.
“Even the external experts felt that to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating in such an old building would be very difficult, if not impossible.
“Now, the completed project offers a blueprint to help reduce the significant carbon footprint currently pounding the UK from office buildings.
“Almost 50 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions come from buildings and most companies are housed in ‘older’ environmentally unfriendly developments.
“We’ve found that UK businesses often hold the view that to reduce their carbon footprint they need to build a new office – a process considered as massively expensive and out of reach for most.
“16 Noel Street proves you can take an old building and make it ‘green’ without having the cost and upheaval of moving office or affecting the fabric of the building.”
With almost 100,000 buildings certified and over half a million registered, BREEAM sets the standard in sustainable design and is the most recognised measure of a building’s environmental performance.
A spokesman from BRE Global – the body behind BREEAM - said: “The winners of the BREEAM 2008 Awards truly represent the UK’s top examples of sustainable design.”
Find out more about green office interiors at http://www.morganlovell.com/sustainability
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Morgan Lovell’s Green Office
Morgan Lovell was placed seventh for having the ‘greenest employees’ in the Sunday Times Green Companies List announced in May 2008 – the new office rated heavily in that success.
Features of the refit include recycled plastic bottles for kitchen surfaces and clay based paints to reduce solvent emissions.
To limit waste, furniture was reused - and products including flooring and furniture sourced as locally as possible with a high recycled content and themselves recyclable. Desks and computers not needed were given to charity.
Lighting, heating and cooling are zoned across the office floors. Sensors deploy lighting in zones only where people are working and lights adjust automatically to the natural conditions so less artificial light is needed. Heat rejected in areas being cooled is used to warm other parts of the building as required.
All of the energy demand is supplied from renewable energy sources, purchased from The Green Energy Company.
Other improvements include the well-being factors associated with working in an office with greater use of fresh air and natural light - and heating that delivers controlled temperatures to small zones. Products were specified with very low or no VOCs, to create a healthier environment.
Finally, a break-out area creates a heart within the office, complete with low lighting, booth-style seating and state-of-the-art high gloss kitchen fittings.
A survey after the refurbishment revealed exceptional levels of satisfaction among employees with a score of 95%.
The new office has been used as a location for a fact-finding visit by members of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) looking at issues surrounding sustainable refurbishment. It has played host to a series of sustainable office seminars, allowing property professionals the opportunity to learn and see first hand how a refurbished ‘green’ office concept works.
About Morgan Lovell
Located in London, Birmingham and the Thames Valley, Morgan Lovell is the UK’s leading office interior design, fit out and refurbishment specialist. With its own teams of designers, surveyors and project managers, the company can design and deliver entire projects, with the benefit of just one point of contact. www.morganlovell.com
It is part of top five UK construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall plc which operates through five specialist divisions of fit out, construction, infrastructure services, affordable housing and urban regeneration.
Morgan Lovell is a licensed BREEAM Offices Assessment Organisation. This means it is now licensed to measure the sustainability score of an office in order to identify ways companies can reduce high energy usage and waste, whilst increasing comfort and satisfaction for users of the building.
Contacts
Press release written by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR Limited. Tel 01538 308685 or 308099. Mobile 07985 129315
jane@shepherd-pr.com
Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
Posted on June 13, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
What is Sustainable Development
Marcilio David asked:
Sustainable development is a broad concept that refers to meeting the needs of people without hurting the environment. The concept covers meeting economic, environmental and social needs of everyone without hurting anyone or anything in the process.
What is sustainable development? The concept was brought to life and named by The World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. Since it’s conception, the concept has become a major focus in the 1990s to the present time.
What is sustainable development related to hunger? The concept would attempt to make sure that all people have enough to eat no matter what their income is. Whether you are well off or live in absolute or relative poverty, you would legally have the right and the ability to purchase foods to provide you and your family with an adequate number of calories each day to maintain health.
What is sustainable development related to economics? All people in the workforce have a right to economic growth without undermining the environment, natural resources and the incomes of the next and future generations. Safeguards are put in place by the world government so that labor standards are put into effect along with mechanisms for compliance internationally. People that work with hazardous materials have rules to follow to keep themselves and the environment safe. People that work in high places must use safety equipment to ensure they don’t slip and fall. Accidents do happen; however, many times accidents are related to human error when the rules of safety are not followed correctly.
What is sustainable development related to food service? Domestic foods are regulated by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN); it also regulates foods that are imported at the point where they were received into the US. The US Department of Agriculture and the FDA require that workers in the food service industry have people in place to educate and train all food handlers how to prevent food-born illnesses though applied safety measures.
What is sustainable development related to preventing food-born illnesses in the food industry? Foods meant to be served cold must sit in ice when left in the open. Staff is responsible for recording the temperature of food, and if the temperature falls below the safe zone it must be discarded at once. All foods left out in the open for the public to serve themselves, such as in a salad bar or a buffet must have a shield between the food and the customers that serve themselves. This shield is to prevent contamination from people breathing, sneezing or coughing.
What is sustainable development related to dairy and meat farming? Sustainable farming does not use practices such as giving antibiotics or hormones, and once processed, the meat cannot be irradiated. In factory farming animals are almost driven insane with fear and cramped conditions, but in sustainable farming the animals are treated humanely. What is sustainable development? It is all the things mentioned above and so much more.
Goals of Sustainable Development in Urban and Rural Industries
The goals of sustainable development concerning the world system are to promote freedom of sociopolitical expression, economic freedom, as well as to protect human rights. The Goals also include that the governments are willing to invest in their citizens health, education and welfare. Workers and business people in the urban and rural regions of the world join in a team effort to make a living while preserving economic and environmental resources.
The goals of sustainable development are to preserve raw materials, conserve our natural resources such as water and energy. Learning to be conservative starts at home; we can start by recycling or reusing the items that would be detrimental to the environment. Articles such as plastic bags, plastic bottles do nothing more than clog up the landfills. As an individual, you can help fulfill the goals of sustainable development by separating paper, plastics, aluminum, and glass; these items will be re-manufactured into new products.
In the workplace, the goals of sustainable development are similar; you may be asked to reduce waste in your job. One of the goals of sustainable development is conservation of energy. Everyone can conserve by shutting off lights that are not in use. Tossing out the old incandescent light bulbs and putting in the new energy saving light bulbs saves energy and lasts much longer. Some light bulbs last up to 5 years.
In farming businesses, where our food originates, are reaching goals of sustainable development by changing over from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy. The approaches the farmers use to achieve the goals of sustainable development may differ from businesses in the urban sector. A cattle farmer may divide his pasture land into subdivisions so that the cows can graze on different sections of the land in a rotation. The advantage to doing this is to manage the integrity of the soil, and the cattle can get adequate food to promote weight gain. To provide shade and cut the wind, farmers sometimes plant trees; this helps the livestock and also prevents lost soil through soil erosion.
In the food farming business, goals are to preserve the integrity of the soil, control or eliminate pests, and produce large crops that produce a good income to take care of their families. Goals of sustainable development are quite broad; one goal is to plant more than one kind of crop. This is called diversification; unlike mono-farming, where the farmer grows one crop, the grower is more likely to make a good profit even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. A farmer that is banking on one crop may lose that crop and lose his income; however, a diversified farmer that grows two or more crops is more likely to have a good yield of at least one of his crops. The goals of sustainable development vary from industry to industry; but in the end the the goals are met to promote socioeconomic growth, while preserving the environment.
Caffeinated Content
Sustainable development is a broad concept that refers to meeting the needs of people without hurting the environment. The concept covers meeting economic, environmental and social needs of everyone without hurting anyone or anything in the process.
What is sustainable development? The concept was brought to life and named by The World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. Since it’s conception, the concept has become a major focus in the 1990s to the present time.
What is sustainable development related to hunger? The concept would attempt to make sure that all people have enough to eat no matter what their income is. Whether you are well off or live in absolute or relative poverty, you would legally have the right and the ability to purchase foods to provide you and your family with an adequate number of calories each day to maintain health.
What is sustainable development related to economics? All people in the workforce have a right to economic growth without undermining the environment, natural resources and the incomes of the next and future generations. Safeguards are put in place by the world government so that labor standards are put into effect along with mechanisms for compliance internationally. People that work with hazardous materials have rules to follow to keep themselves and the environment safe. People that work in high places must use safety equipment to ensure they don’t slip and fall. Accidents do happen; however, many times accidents are related to human error when the rules of safety are not followed correctly.
What is sustainable development related to food service? Domestic foods are regulated by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN); it also regulates foods that are imported at the point where they were received into the US. The US Department of Agriculture and the FDA require that workers in the food service industry have people in place to educate and train all food handlers how to prevent food-born illnesses though applied safety measures.
What is sustainable development related to preventing food-born illnesses in the food industry? Foods meant to be served cold must sit in ice when left in the open. Staff is responsible for recording the temperature of food, and if the temperature falls below the safe zone it must be discarded at once. All foods left out in the open for the public to serve themselves, such as in a salad bar or a buffet must have a shield between the food and the customers that serve themselves. This shield is to prevent contamination from people breathing, sneezing or coughing.
What is sustainable development related to dairy and meat farming? Sustainable farming does not use practices such as giving antibiotics or hormones, and once processed, the meat cannot be irradiated. In factory farming animals are almost driven insane with fear and cramped conditions, but in sustainable farming the animals are treated humanely. What is sustainable development? It is all the things mentioned above and so much more.
Goals of Sustainable Development in Urban and Rural Industries
The goals of sustainable development concerning the world system are to promote freedom of sociopolitical expression, economic freedom, as well as to protect human rights. The Goals also include that the governments are willing to invest in their citizens health, education and welfare. Workers and business people in the urban and rural regions of the world join in a team effort to make a living while preserving economic and environmental resources.
The goals of sustainable development are to preserve raw materials, conserve our natural resources such as water and energy. Learning to be conservative starts at home; we can start by recycling or reusing the items that would be detrimental to the environment. Articles such as plastic bags, plastic bottles do nothing more than clog up the landfills. As an individual, you can help fulfill the goals of sustainable development by separating paper, plastics, aluminum, and glass; these items will be re-manufactured into new products.
In the workplace, the goals of sustainable development are similar; you may be asked to reduce waste in your job. One of the goals of sustainable development is conservation of energy. Everyone can conserve by shutting off lights that are not in use. Tossing out the old incandescent light bulbs and putting in the new energy saving light bulbs saves energy and lasts much longer. Some light bulbs last up to 5 years.
In farming businesses, where our food originates, are reaching goals of sustainable development by changing over from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy. The approaches the farmers use to achieve the goals of sustainable development may differ from businesses in the urban sector. A cattle farmer may divide his pasture land into subdivisions so that the cows can graze on different sections of the land in a rotation. The advantage to doing this is to manage the integrity of the soil, and the cattle can get adequate food to promote weight gain. To provide shade and cut the wind, farmers sometimes plant trees; this helps the livestock and also prevents lost soil through soil erosion.
In the food farming business, goals are to preserve the integrity of the soil, control or eliminate pests, and produce large crops that produce a good income to take care of their families. Goals of sustainable development are quite broad; one goal is to plant more than one kind of crop. This is called diversification; unlike mono-farming, where the farmer grows one crop, the grower is more likely to make a good profit even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. A farmer that is banking on one crop may lose that crop and lose his income; however, a diversified farmer that grows two or more crops is more likely to have a good yield of at least one of his crops. The goals of sustainable development vary from industry to industry; but in the end the the goals are met to promote socioeconomic growth, while preserving the environment.
Caffeinated Content
Posted on June 11, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Trends in Green Building and Sustainable Construction
Matthew Hancock asked:
“Green Building” is a broad term used to describe the design and construction of sustainable and environmentally conscious buildings.
The driving force behind this is to lower our negative impact on the environment and, at the same time, make the buildings we live and work in safer and healthier for us.
According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) statistics,`buildings are responsible for all of the following:
39% of US carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
70% of US electricity consumption
15 trillion gallons of water consumption
Even though there is still some controversy over the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment, the last two statistics are very important for those of us living in urban areas experiencing continuous growth, especially the American Southwest. With our population expansion, aging water and electrical infrastructure, and shrinking landfills, designing and constructing green and sustainable buildings makes practical sense from a utilitarian perspective.
In fact, USGBC data shows that green buildings use 36% less energy, require fewer raw materials, and divert less waste to our landfills. Furthermore, the “increased” cost of green building is only one or two percent more expensive than a conventional building. This minute difference exemplifies the tangible and long-term benefits of sustainable design, primarily due to the fact that green buildings conserve water and electricity. Thus, while they are more expensive to build, green structures will save money by conserving more energy over time.
Another push towards the green build movement is by local governments. More and more municipalities
are adopting the USGBC LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines for new
and renovated buildings. In 2006, at the USGBC Greenbuild expo, the Mayor of Denver challenged other major cities to see who can have the most LEED® certified green buildings. They are accomplishing this by offering tax breaks to private corporations and mandating sustainable construction for city-financed projects.
This has led to a dramatic increase in the number of sustainable projects built by LEED® Certified general contractors. However, this growth has not come without challenges. Currently, the following issues are restricting the number of green projects being built:
Increased demand for green products has lead to long lead times
New and unspecified materials are labeled “green” products which are not necessarily certified
Building officials are struggling with a steep learning curve on how to evaluate these new products and sustainable building techniques
Despite these difficulties, the USGBC, sustainability advocates, and green building construction management firms are meeting to overcome these challenges.
The LEED® process is constantly under review and continues to adopt the latest codes and products. This includes Standard 189, a new minimum standard for green building. The USGBC is currently developing LEED® 3.0 and working with national code writers to include new products and techniques.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has even rolled out a new initiative called “Sustainability 2030,” which at its roots, is looking to design all buildings by the year 2030 as carbon neutral. The USGBC has even initiated the Green Advantage Builders Certification for contractors to certify their knowledge in green building
techniques.
So what does green building mean at the end of the day? It’s simple yet profound: Do the right thing for you, the environment, and the next generation. While most companies are concerned with their bottom line, they ought to embrace the idea that energy and water conservation, green building, and the use of “green materials” in construction stands to increase their savings over time while positioning them as a leader in environmental stewardship.
According to the USGBC, we spend 90% of our time indoors. Due to this fact, scientists have identified an increase in allergies, asthma, absenteeism from school, and even work. There have been numerous studies done on post occupancy productivity levels, which have increased within “green” built facilities. Not only does
green adaptation result in less sick days taken, but also shows an increase in productivity, job
satisfaction, and in the case of schools, better grades.
So, as we positively affect the environment around us with sustainable green construction, we eventually create better health for ourselves.
Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
“Green Building” is a broad term used to describe the design and construction of sustainable and environmentally conscious buildings.
The driving force behind this is to lower our negative impact on the environment and, at the same time, make the buildings we live and work in safer and healthier for us.
According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) statistics,`buildings are responsible for all of the following:
39% of US carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
70% of US electricity consumption
15 trillion gallons of water consumption
Even though there is still some controversy over the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment, the last two statistics are very important for those of us living in urban areas experiencing continuous growth, especially the American Southwest. With our population expansion, aging water and electrical infrastructure, and shrinking landfills, designing and constructing green and sustainable buildings makes practical sense from a utilitarian perspective.
In fact, USGBC data shows that green buildings use 36% less energy, require fewer raw materials, and divert less waste to our landfills. Furthermore, the “increased” cost of green building is only one or two percent more expensive than a conventional building. This minute difference exemplifies the tangible and long-term benefits of sustainable design, primarily due to the fact that green buildings conserve water and electricity. Thus, while they are more expensive to build, green structures will save money by conserving more energy over time.
Another push towards the green build movement is by local governments. More and more municipalities
are adopting the USGBC LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines for new
and renovated buildings. In 2006, at the USGBC Greenbuild expo, the Mayor of Denver challenged other major cities to see who can have the most LEED® certified green buildings. They are accomplishing this by offering tax breaks to private corporations and mandating sustainable construction for city-financed projects.
This has led to a dramatic increase in the number of sustainable projects built by LEED® Certified general contractors. However, this growth has not come without challenges. Currently, the following issues are restricting the number of green projects being built:
Increased demand for green products has lead to long lead times
New and unspecified materials are labeled “green” products which are not necessarily certified
Building officials are struggling with a steep learning curve on how to evaluate these new products and sustainable building techniques
Despite these difficulties, the USGBC, sustainability advocates, and green building construction management firms are meeting to overcome these challenges.
The LEED® process is constantly under review and continues to adopt the latest codes and products. This includes Standard 189, a new minimum standard for green building. The USGBC is currently developing LEED® 3.0 and working with national code writers to include new products and techniques.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has even rolled out a new initiative called “Sustainability 2030,” which at its roots, is looking to design all buildings by the year 2030 as carbon neutral. The USGBC has even initiated the Green Advantage Builders Certification for contractors to certify their knowledge in green building
techniques.
So what does green building mean at the end of the day? It’s simple yet profound: Do the right thing for you, the environment, and the next generation. While most companies are concerned with their bottom line, they ought to embrace the idea that energy and water conservation, green building, and the use of “green materials” in construction stands to increase their savings over time while positioning them as a leader in environmental stewardship.
According to the USGBC, we spend 90% of our time indoors. Due to this fact, scientists have identified an increase in allergies, asthma, absenteeism from school, and even work. There have been numerous studies done on post occupancy productivity levels, which have increased within “green” built facilities. Not only does
green adaptation result in less sick days taken, but also shows an increase in productivity, job
satisfaction, and in the case of schools, better grades.
So, as we positively affect the environment around us with sustainable green construction, we eventually create better health for ourselves.
Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
Posted on June 10, 2009 - by Vic Desotelle
Destiny, Florida, America’s First Eco-Sustainable City, Announces Launch Of New Website
Joshua Greenwald asked:
DESTINY, FLORIDA, AMERICA’S FIRST ECO-SUSTAINABLE CITY,
ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE
DESTINY, FLORIDA (MAY 18, 2009) – Destiny, Florida, America’s first eco-sustainable city, today announced the relaunch of its website, www.destinyflorida.com, to better reflect its commitment to economic stability and environmental preservation.
As detailed on the new website, Destiny, Florida will be a forward-thinking community operating with minimal impact on the environment, and a hub where the latest clean technology innovations will emerge.
“We are very excited about the launch of the new corporate website, which emphasizes our position as the largest planned environmental development in the United States,” stated Randy Johnson, COO of Destiny.
Visitors to the new website (www.destinyflorida.com) will be able to learn more about the city’s ongoing development and initiatives, including its planned Alternative Energy Industrial Park, which is designed to attract businesses seeking to develop and manufacture new, clean technologies; the Sustainable Energy Farm, where alternative fuel crops such as jatropha, camelina and arundo donax are being studied for future fuel sources; and The Honey Bee Farm at Destiny.
The new Destiny website provides a complete list of team members including international engineering firm Arup, along with new environmental videos, links to other leading green websites, and a section where companies can register to receive more information.
A “Site Selection” page enables companies from around the globe to learn about moving or expanding their operations to Destiny, and includes an in-depth questionnaire designed to assist companies wishing to investigate Destiny as a potential location. A “Living at Destiny” page allows potential residents to sign up and receive the latest news on Destiny via email, and a quarterly newsletter will be added shortly.
Viewers can also read about Founder Anthony V. Pugliese, III’s commitment to smart growth planning projects and conservation of the environment, as well as a message from Sir Peter R. Head, Director of Arup, explaining the global importance of Destiny as a new model city.
About Destiny
Destiny, Florida spans 64 square miles, or 41,300-acres, and includes more than 25,000 acres of preserved, open space in southern Osceola County. Less than one hour from Orlando, the city is strategically located at one of Central Florida’s main intersections; consisting of the Florida Turnpike, U.S. Route 441 and State Road 60. Destiny will provide a variety of industries with a new regional commerce hub located within a day’s drive of 30 million consumers. As the future home to scientists, engineers, clean-tech innovators and university research centers, Destiny will be a well-balanced mix of new technology, educational excellence, longevity-based lifestyles, and social and cultural centers. The city plans to feature NextGEN aviation, a multi-modal transportation system and a master plan for sustainability by ARUP. Destiny is situated within Florida’s Clean Tech Corridor, the seventh largest mega-region in the United States. For more information, please visit www.destinyflorida.com or call 1-888-2DESTINY.
Kansieo.com
DESTINY, FLORIDA, AMERICA’S FIRST ECO-SUSTAINABLE CITY,
ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE
DESTINY, FLORIDA (MAY 18, 2009) – Destiny, Florida, America’s first eco-sustainable city, today announced the relaunch of its website, www.destinyflorida.com, to better reflect its commitment to economic stability and environmental preservation.
As detailed on the new website, Destiny, Florida will be a forward-thinking community operating with minimal impact on the environment, and a hub where the latest clean technology innovations will emerge.
“We are very excited about the launch of the new corporate website, which emphasizes our position as the largest planned environmental development in the United States,” stated Randy Johnson, COO of Destiny.
Visitors to the new website (www.destinyflorida.com) will be able to learn more about the city’s ongoing development and initiatives, including its planned Alternative Energy Industrial Park, which is designed to attract businesses seeking to develop and manufacture new, clean technologies; the Sustainable Energy Farm, where alternative fuel crops such as jatropha, camelina and arundo donax are being studied for future fuel sources; and The Honey Bee Farm at Destiny.
The new Destiny website provides a complete list of team members including international engineering firm Arup, along with new environmental videos, links to other leading green websites, and a section where companies can register to receive more information.
A “Site Selection” page enables companies from around the globe to learn about moving or expanding their operations to Destiny, and includes an in-depth questionnaire designed to assist companies wishing to investigate Destiny as a potential location. A “Living at Destiny” page allows potential residents to sign up and receive the latest news on Destiny via email, and a quarterly newsletter will be added shortly.
Viewers can also read about Founder Anthony V. Pugliese, III’s commitment to smart growth planning projects and conservation of the environment, as well as a message from Sir Peter R. Head, Director of Arup, explaining the global importance of Destiny as a new model city.
About Destiny
Destiny, Florida spans 64 square miles, or 41,300-acres, and includes more than 25,000 acres of preserved, open space in southern Osceola County. Less than one hour from Orlando, the city is strategically located at one of Central Florida’s main intersections; consisting of the Florida Turnpike, U.S. Route 441 and State Road 60. Destiny will provide a variety of industries with a new regional commerce hub located within a day’s drive of 30 million consumers. As the future home to scientists, engineers, clean-tech innovators and university research centers, Destiny will be a well-balanced mix of new technology, educational excellence, longevity-based lifestyles, and social and cultural centers. The city plans to feature NextGEN aviation, a multi-modal transportation system and a master plan for sustainability by ARUP. Destiny is situated within Florida’s Clean Tech Corridor, the seventh largest mega-region in the United States. For more information, please visit www.destinyflorida.com or call 1-888-2DESTINY.
Kansieo.com
-
-
Creative Commons License
DiscoveryFuel.com by DiscoveryFuel.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at VicDesotelle.com.