The Tennessee State Parks Calendar of Events: www.tnstateparks.com/events.pdf
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October 20, 2008
Land Trust for Tennessee newsletter for September 2008.
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Words of Inspiration and Reassurance for All
Dear USGBC Constituents:
In recent weeks, a wave of fear and pessimism propagated by the world financial crisis has stolen the headlines, gripped the nation, and challenged our movement. In conversation after conversation, people are asking what will happen to the green building movement if our community is plunged into a recession.
And I have an answer for them. The greed that led the world economy into crisis will not defeat our commitment to good work. Fear will not dominate our agenda. And our commitment to change - even in the face of so great a challenge - will not waver.
Change doesn't wait on Washington. And it doesn't depend on Wall Street. Change comes from within. The green building movement has been demonstrating that fact for more than 15 years. Before there was a single government green building policy, before the business community stood up and took notice, before there was a LEED - there was you. Thousands upon thousands of committed individuals dedicated to doing better by doing good. You've built this movement. You're building sustainable communities. And every single one of us has a contribution to make towards pulling our country out of this crisis.
We cannot lose sight of our mission. It is within reach.
How? It's time for the green building movement to deploy the expertise and capacity we've built in new construction to green what we've already got. Ninety-nine percent of achieving our mission is wrapped up in our existing homes and buildings. It will save money. It will save energy. It will help save our climate. And directly relevant to today's economic environment, it will create good, green, local jobs. As just one example, USGBC estimates that a 100% commitment to greening existing commercial buildings alone would create more than 1.5 million new opportunities for employment for out of work Americans.
In four weeks, we will meet together at Greenbuild. And when you get to Boston, we will celebrate everything that your individual commitments have accomplished so far. We'll enjoy the fellowship of more than 20,000 friends and colleagues who share our vision for a sustainable future. And we will keep moving forward, together. I'll see you there.
With gratitude,
S. Rick Fedrizzi
CEO, President and Founding Chair, USGBC
U.S. Green Building Council, 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
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Tennessee Photographer John Guider’s Amazing Journey
October 3-November 30
Tennessee photographer John Guider stepped into his 16-foot canoe on Spencer Creek in Williamson County five years ago and began his incredible journey. He paddled down the Harpeth, Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio rivers, paddling the mighty Mississippi and arriving at his final destination of New Orleans. The River Inside, opening October 3 at the Tennessee State Museum, tells the story of Guider’s solo journey through the camera’s eye.
Guider, who completed the upper portions of the Mississippi in three subsequent solo canoe trips taken from 2005 to 2007, captured more than 10,000 scenes of America’s waterways on film during his trips. He then selected and processed 75 platinum prints representative of the people and places he encountered along the way. The images offer a revealing perspective on the natural and controlled inland waterways that bisect the nation.
A short documentary film, distilling the essence of Guider’s trips, produced by Brittany Hailes and Coke Sams of Nashville’s Ruckus Film, will complement the exhibition. The film underscores the immense physical and mental fortitude necessary for enduring such a journey. Guider experienced powerful storms, multitudes of mosquitoes, serene sunrises and a variety of wildlife along the way. He often paddled 8 to 10 hours a day and was sometimes alone for 5 to 6 days at a time; the quiet, almost haunting solitude of Guider’s journeys are vividly evident in the resulting photographs.
Homepage: Canoe at River's Edge, Sunset along the Mississippi River
Above Right: Robert, Deckhand on the Harbor Tug Marjorie, near Natchez, MS
All photographs copyright © 2008 by John Guider
http://tnmuseum.org
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2008 Collegiate Environmental Sustainability Conference
Spelman College
Atlanta, Georgia
October 23-24, 2008
Going GREEN has never made more “cents”...
Now more than ever, economic and environmental benefits are critical to the sustainability of our institutions. Energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water conservation, smart land use and more are essential components for a healthier campus. Remodeling and building with sustainable materials to meet the needs of growing campuses are key to reducing our impact on the environment, health, and resources. Environmental decisions now affect us economically later.
Make the right environmental decisions: join us in learning the dollars and sense of Going Green. Learn about benefits, success stories and resources available for Colleges and Universities. The window of opportunity is now!
Check http://www.epa.gov/region4/greencolleges/, information will be updated as it becomes available!
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Pam Swingle
Office of P2 and Innovations
EPA, Region 4
61 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 562-8482
Fax: (404) 562-8210
Email: swingle.pamela@epa.gov
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THE SECOND ANNUAL SUMMIT FOR A SUSTAINABLE TN
Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee November 13-15, 2008
http://www.sustainabletn.org/ Register Now!
www.tectn.org
"To educate and advocate for conservation and enrichment of Tennessee's environment, communities, and public health."
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KILOWATT OURS
Award Winning Film About Energy Solutions Hits the Airwaves Across America
Award-winning film Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America is a timely, solutions-oriented look at one of America’s most pressing environmental challenges: energy. Kilowatt Ours will be available this fall to public television stations nationwide to schedule for broadcast. Times and dates will vary in each market. Check local listings or call your local public TV viewer services department to find out if Kilowatt Ours is airing in your community. Please do not call station programmers directly. This may undermine our efforts.
In Kilowatt Ours, filmmaker Jeff Barrie offers hope as asks the question, “How can I make a difference?” In his journey Barrie explores the source of our electricity and the problems caused by energy production including mountain top removal, childhood asthma and global warming. Along the way he encounters individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities who are leading the way, using energy conservation, efficiency and renewable, green power all while saving money and the environment. This often amusing and always inspiring story shows, “You can easily make a difference and here’s how!”
Kilowatt Ours is currently scheduled in the following communities:
Kilowatt Ours Broadcast Schedule (as of 9/30; remaining dates):
CA
San Jose, CA, KTEH, 11/18 at 12am
FL
West Palm Beach, FL, WXEL – 11/15 at 8pm., 11/15 at 8pm
TN
Memphis, TN, WKNO, 10/22 at 8pm
Nashville, TN, WNPT, 10/24 at 7pm
WA
Seattle, WA, KCTS, 11/14 at 12pm noon, 1/18 at 11pm
Note times and dates subject to change. Please check local listings to confirm broadcast information
For more information, visit www.KilowattOurs.org, or email info@KilowattOurs.org
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Our 6 th Networking Call Series continues with a call on Product Stewardship 101. You will hear from one of the founders of the Product Stewardship movement and associates in the Zero Waste movement who will share with you the following:
- The definition of Product Stewardship.
- The differences and similarities between Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility.
- The relevance of Product Stewardship for manufacturers, retailers, government officials, and environmental groups.
- What “Shared Responsibility” means.
- How programs are financed and what makes Product Stewardship programs sustainable.
- A discussion on the trend since the beginning of the movement in Europe and Canada to the trend in the U.S. over the past decade.
- Where Product Stewardship is headed in the U.S.
Time for interaction with others around the country working on Product Stewardship issues and how it applies to you will take place at the end of the call. This will be a very interesting call, and I look forward to having many of you join us. (See bottom of e-mail to Register)
For those interested in learning more about Product Stewardship before the call, please look at Handbook on Household Hazardous Wastewhich features a chapter on Product Stewardship written by PSI Executive Director Scott Cassel.
PSI’s 2008 Fall Networking Conference Call Series is in full swing!
Please join us for our next call:
Product Stewardship 101 - A Joint Networking Call with the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP)
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Time: 2:00 - 3:30 pm EST
Overview:
What Does Product Stewardship Mean to You?
Although a relatively new concept, product stewardship is quickly gaining momentum and acceptance as we struggle to find solutions to waste issues on products ranging from electronics to pharmaceuticals. Product stewardship methods offer an intelligent and effective approach to reducing the health and environmental impact of many consumer products. On this networking call, Scott Cassel, the Executive Director of the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) will be joined by Pamela Brody-Heine of the Zero Waste Alliance (ZWA). PSI has been a driving force in defining and developing product stewardship and take-back programs in the U.S. ZWA is a national leader providing assistance to industry sectors and organizations for development and implementation of standards, tools and practices that lead to the reduction and elimination of waste and toxics for a sustainable future. Scott and Pamela will outline the need for product stewardship programs, how they can be implemented, and their relevance to all stakeholders involved in the lifecycle of consumer products, including manufacturers, retailers, government, organizations, and consumers.
Participants will learn:
• The definition of product stewardship
• The variety of programs and stakeholders included in product stewardship
• The vision and importance of shared responsibility
• Success stories of effective stewardship programs
Scott will also outline PSI’s innovative, four-step process for creating stewardship programs, which includes research and identification of key issues and viable solutions, national dialogue meetings to convene stakeholders, implementation of agreed-upon programs, and proper monitoring and management through performance goals and incentives. Pamela will discuss the connection between product stewardship and waste reduction, and how procurement specifications can provide an incentive for product design changes.
CLICK HERE to view this announcement online
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USGBC Gala Event
Riverwood Mansion, Nashville Tennessee
Friday, October 24th , 2008 6:00 pm to 10:00pm
RSVP: By October 20 th. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Cost: $125/person. CLICK HERE for sponsorship opportunities.
Tickets: Register online at WWW.USGBC.ORG/CHAPTERS/Middletennessee.
Event Information
The USGBC Gala event is a time to celebrate the Middle Tennessee Chapter's successes in 2008 and to recognize leaders in our community through the Green Star awards program. This year, the event will be held at the historic Riverwood Mansion. Built in the late 1790's, it has been identified as one of Nashville's most significant historic structures/sites by the Metropolitan Historical Commission.
A silent auction will begin at 6pm offering unique items from local vendors and service providers. To offer an item for the silent auction or for a list of sponsorship opportunities, please visit our chapter website or contact Laura Schroeder at l.schroeder@hawkinspartners.com. Please make plans to join us and help celebrate this year's successes!
Green Star Award Nominations
The Green Star Awards are presented at the USGBC Gala Event each year to an individual, organization or project that has represented the Mission of the US Green Building Council Middle Tennessee Chapter and has served to promote the principles of sustainable design and construction.
Please submit nominations via email to Chapter Vice-Chairman, Fernando Rodriguez at fjrodriguez@tcco.com no later than Tuesday, September 30th. Nomination only needs to include a) the name of the nominee, and b) a brief description for consderation of the award selection committee.
Questions? Contact:
Mike Leonard
mleonard@tmpartners.com
P.O. Box 22515 Nashville TN 37202-2515
WWW.USGBC.ORG/CHAPTERS/Middletennessee
CLICK HERE to view the HRWA Newsletter Online
Don't Miss Nashville's Signature Green Event, the Harpeth River Jam. Tickets are on sale now and space is limited, get yours today!
Harpeth River Jam October 25, 2008
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum®
Rivers Rutherford and Friends
A portion of your ticket purchase is tax deductible.
Harpeth River Watershed Association
P.O. Box 1127, Franklin, TN 37065 • 615-790-9767 • www.harpethriver.org
Working together to protect and restore the ecological health of the Harpeth River Watershed
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Economic Summit for Women
The Women’s Economic Council Foundation will present its fifth Economic Summit for Women at the Nashville Airport Marriott on October 28, 2008. Former United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, author and leadership development expert Robin Gerber and motivational speaker Delores Pressley will be the keynote speakers. There will be other sessions dealing with issues such as financial planning, health care, legislative issues, and business networking. I will be there to award six scholarships to high school seniors and women from West, Middle and East Tennessee.
I am also excited to announce that the Department of Human Resources has approved this event for CEU credit for state employees.
Visit www.tnwomensummit.org to see the full agenda. Scholarship information and applications are also available at this Web site. The cost of the conference, including lunch, is $80. If you need additional information, feel free to call the Tennessee Economic Council on Women office at (615) 253‑4266.
Best,
Andrea Conte
Thursday, November 6
Save the date for a signature Compact event:
Catfish and Cocktails
Join us for an evening celebrating Bill Forrester,
one of the Compact's founding members
Call 837-1151 to RSVP, tickets are only $50
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Economic Analysis of Sustainable Building Project: Morgan Park Place
Talk of sustainable building is everywhere these days. It’s in the paper, on T.V., on the lips of Hollywood starlets and the minds of developers. So, why hasn’t everyone leaped aboard the Green Building Express? Money.
Some are worried about the cost of sustainable building while others are concerned about the pay-back. That’s why the Cumberland River Compact, World Wildlife Fund, and J. Gowdy Consulting performed an in-depth economic analysis of a sustainable building project in Nashville, Tennessee and why they’re looking to analyze more sustainable building sites even now. We are seeking the economic and water quality and efficiency truth.
You're invited to a presentation reviewing the study at the monthly BOB meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2008, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center.
To read the Economic Analysis on Morgan Park Place (a development by a BOB partner - the Lawrence Brothers), click here:
http://www.cumberlandrivercompact.org/events_news.shtml
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ROAR! A huge thank you to Bridgestone, presenting sponsor,
and everyone who made the
2008 Dragon Boat & River Festival a Roarin’ success!
The Cumberland River Compact and Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association want to thank you for coming out and celebrating our river on August 23, 2008, at the 2 nd Annual Dragon Boat & River Festival! We thought the event was a really fun way to get people to work together as a team and to raise the awareness of water related issues in the Cumberland River Basin.
The Dragon Boat Planning Committee hopes everyone involved in the 2008 Dragon Boat & River Festival experienced a great day, paddling through the water on one of Nashville ’s most vital resources - the Cumberland River!
A special thank you goes out to all of our wonderful volunteers! We could not have done the event without you.
Our hope is that you will return year after year to paddle or volunteer to experience one of Nashville ’s most unique events.
Congratulations to the Nashville Outlaws Rugby Club,
2008 Dragon Boat Grand Champions.
Congratulations also to the Pirates of the Cumberland (Ingram Barge),
2008 Spirit Award winners for the 2 nd year in a row!
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Fall is in the air, kids are back in school, and everyone is looking for fun things to do! The Compact has an extensive calendar filled with events for the entire family! From rain barrel workshops with Project Blue Streams, to nature walks and stream clean ups all over Middle Tennessee with Local Officials Curriculum Program, and even Catfish and Cocktails for the adults - check out the fall calendar at: http://www.cumberlandrivercompact.org/cgi-bin/calendar/big_calendar.cgi
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Want to join a community of hundreds who care about water quality and quantity in Nashville and the Cumberland River Basin?
The mission of the Cumberland River Compact is to enhance the water quality of the Cumberland River and it's tributaries through education and by promoting cooperation among citizens, businesses, and organizations in Kentucky and Tennessee.
info@cumberlandrivercompact.org
www.cumberlandrivercompact.org
Building Outside the Box: EVENTS
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EVENTS:
· October 25 - Rain Barrel Workshop at Warner Park Nature Center 12:30 pm Call to register 352-6299 , Cost $35 including rain barrel www.cumberlandrivercompact.org
· November 12 - Rain Barrel Workshop - First United Unitarian Church 7:00 pm Call to register 352-6299 $35, includes rain barrel www.cumberlandrivercompact.org
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USGBC TENNESSEE CHAPTERS
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are proud to announce an opportunity that has been presented to the three US Green Building Council Chapters in Tennessee.
Panache Partners, one of the leading coffee table book publishers in the country, is in the process of launching a coffee table book with a Tennessee focus, Shades of Green – Developing a Sustainable Home and Environment. Some of you may recognize Panache as the publisher of Spectacular Homes of Tennessee and the soon to be released Dream Homes of Tennessee which features some of our members and their residential projects.
Shades of Green features the outstanding work and opinions of local professionals as it pertains to designing, building or refurbishing both residential and commercial structures with the goal of sustainability. It also features the work and advice from the providers of sustainable products on the use of these products in both the home and at work. The overall objective of educating readers as to the availability, the beauty and affordability of green products or design is an objective that the USGBC Chapters in Tennessee can easily lend their support.
Panache has already begun the selection process for potential professionals in our Tennessee region. Mary Brooks and Beth Benton, the publishers, are contacting prospective firms and professionals for possible inclusion in Shades of Green over the next several weeks. If you would like one or more of your projects considered for this new book please contact Mary Brooks directly at 856.621.7993.
Finally, we are thrilled that Panache is providing our USGBC Chapters with a significant fund raising opportunity associated with the book. This locally focused book and the additional revenues to the chapter will certainly help us further the mission of green building practices in Tennessee.
We hope that Shades of Green will be a great opportunity for many of our members. Thank you for your continued support of the USGBC Tennessee Chapters.
Sincerely,
USGBC Chapters in Tennessee,
Middle Tennessee, Mike Leonard, Chair
Memphis Regional, Bob Land. Chair
East Tennessee, Elizabeth Eason, Chair
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TP3 Performer in the News! DENSO Athens
Denso gets greener with 'Ecovision' (Times Free Press)
ATHENS, Tenn. - Denso Manufacturing Athens facilities have gone from being "green" to having "Ecovision" that saves the environment, and money, a company official said Thursday. the savings realized as Denso reuses items or cuts consumption is a windfall being divided among employees as a monetary bonus, said Jeannette Widman, Denso's Environment Department supervisor. "We began with the easy things," she told a group of reporters during a facilities tour designed to emphasize efforts to reduce pollution and waste products. More difficult items were tackled and as the savings ideas developed, Ms. Widman said. The result: Waste products have been reduced dramatically at Denso plants in Athens and Maryville. She said water consumption was cut more than 50 percent, landfill waste nearly 75 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions are down nearly 18 percent. Denso has a program that pays employees a percentage of savings for cost cutting, and they have helped with energy saving ideas that have resulted in more than $90,000 in monetary rewards being distributed to the workers, Ms. Widman said. Improvements made include processes designed for recycling waste products, reducing air leaks at machines, improving heating and air conditioning cycles. There was even replacement of alcohol cleaning solvents with a household detergent to clean pallets, for a savings of $2,800 a year and elimination of 1,500 pounds of hazardous waste. She said the firm has reusable containers to ship the products to their customers, and a freight line is hired to return the containers to the plants for reuse. She said the Ecovision program has taken Denso a step past being a "green" company that is environmentally friendly. It is now saving money and conserving with changes to management, products, factory and manufacturing processes and in work with the community. Denso spokesman Hugh Cantrell said the Athens plants manufacture spark plugs, fuel injectors, oxygen sensors and other items related to vehicle engines.
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TP3 Green School in the News!
Schools go green (Daily Herald)
Julie Stickney used to keep trash cans crammed full of garbage at her Spring Hill Elementary School classroom. Now, the first-grade teacher finds she has a hard time filling up one since the school implemented a recycling program. Not only does recycling generate money for the school and keep trash out of the landfill but it also teaches students about the importance of caring for the planet, Stickney said. “Being green is such a big thing now,” she said. “It’s the new trend.” Spring Hill Elementary held an assembly Friday to launch its recycling program. The school will recycle plastic bottles, steel and aluminum cans, cardboard and paper. Six other Maury County schools will join Spring Hill Elementary this semester, marking a dramatic expansion of the number of schools in Maury County that recycle. Once all of the programs are up and running, 15 Maury County schools will be recycling. All the construction paper, milk cartons and juices boxes students consume can add up. During this past school year, Spring Hill Elementary School produced 51 tons of garbage — equivalent in weight to about four school buses. That equates to about 200 pounds of trash each student produces over the course of a school year, according to the report. In an effort to keep some of the garbage out of landfills, the Maury County Commission adopted a resolution earlier this year that placed bins at seven schools. The solid waste department agreed to pick up the containers. The county and schools are splitting proceeds from the sale of recyclable goods. The county received about $142,600 from the sale of recyclable materials during the 2006-07 fiscal year. There’s also money to be saved by not having to transport the waste to a landfill, said Cynthia Rohrbach, director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s green schools program. It costs about $35 per ton to transport garbage to the landfill. “There’s a real incentive for doing it,” she said. As concerns mount about global warming, Rohrbach said she has noticed more and more educators calling with questions about what they can do to help the environment. Rohrbach said she is encouraging school officials to think about how they can conserve energy and reduce waste. In Maury County, school officials recently installed an energy-efficient lighting system they hope will help the system save on its utility bills.
Mary Hamilton helps to oversee the recycling program at Highland Park Elementary School, which started recycling cans in 1995. The school narrowly edged out Hampshire School as the county’s top recycling school during the 2007-08 school year. Hamilton said she never viewed recycling as a competitive sport until she saw a report breaking down recycling performance at different schools. “I thought this is like a football game,” she said. “We can really win this again.” The Highland Park teacher said she has considered embarking upon a new environmental mission — trying to persuade the school to stop using Styrofoam in its cafeteria.
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Building Outside the Box: FEATURE NEWS
Bells Bend Nature Center - Solar Power Tracking Live Online!!
The new Bells Bend Nature Center is open for business and its Solar Power generation is live online for everyone to see. Since the installation on May 30, 2008 the site has been tracking the power generation for the center and counting up the pounds of carbon dioxide saved using solar power. So far the solar panels have generated near 3000 Kilowatt hours of power and avoided over 6600 pounds of green house gas production. That’s equivalent to powering 48 houses for one day or 241 days of average car driving. Go to www.fatspaniel.com and find the "Live Sites" button at the top of the page. Scroll down the list of solar providers to “Lightwave Solar Electric”. This is Steve Johnson’s company, a key solar provider in middle Tennessee and a strong BOB supporter. There you can check out Bells Bend, Mellow Mushroom and Street Dixon Rick solar power generation in real time. Congratulations to these companies for using solar power that benefits their bottom line and all of us too!!
Main site: www.fatspaniel.com – Click on “Live Sites” and scroll down to Lightwave Solar Electric
Direct Link to Bells Bend: http://view2.fatspaniel.net/PV2Web/merge?&view=PV/detailDC/HostedAdmin&eid=134284
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CLICK HERE to view the October issue of P-Track News
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Director's Letter
- Program News
- Teleseminar October 22 on Creating Value from Business-to-Business Byproduct Exchanges
- Recruitment Open Season Ends October 31 st
- Performance Track Announces 2008 State and Regional Conference
- Feature Stories
- Fact Sheets Available on Common Practices of Performance Track Facilities
- Member Opportunities
- EPA’s Green Power Partnership
- Members in the News
- PRIZIM Workplace Practices Bring Recognition from Environmental Business Journal
- Resource Corner
- UCSD Offers Advice and Tips on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting
Follow links to view Archive issues
HIGHLIGHTS OF September ISSUE
* Teleseminar September 16 on Incorporating Renewables and Efficiency into Your Energy Portfolio
* Performance Track Defrays Rates for Members Seeking a Green Suppliers Review
* West Virginia Signs MOA with Performance Track
* Denver International Airport Installs Large Solar Energy Array
ARE WE REACHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE?
If you are interested in finding out more about EPA Performance Track, please contact Mr. Reggie Barrino, EPA Region 4 PTrack Coordinator, at barrino.reginald@epa.gov.
CARE Connection
sponsored by USEPA Community Action for a Renewed Environment
Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute Accepting Applications
From August 15 through October 31, 2008, CDC’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute (EPHLI) will accept applications for the class of 2009–2010.
Each year, approximately 30 practicing environmental public health professionals are admitted to the program. EPHLI strengthens the country’s environmental public health system by enhancing the leadership capabilities of state, local, and tribal environmental public health professionals.
Application instructions are posted at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/EPHLI/application.htm For more information about EPHLI, please contact Kim Ayers at KAyers@cdc.gov or John Sarisky at JSarisky@cdc.gov.
Deldi Reyes
Community Action for a Renewed Environment
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 7409-M
US Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20460
Phone: (202) 564-8534
reyes.deldi@epa.gov
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EPA Performance Track
CLICK HERE to see the October 2008 issue of P-Track News
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Teleseminar October 22 on Creating Value from Business-to-Business Byproduct Exchanges
- Recruitment Open Season Ends October 31
- PRIZIM Workplace Practices Bring Recognition from Environmental Business Journal
- UCSD Offers Advice and Tips on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting
ARE WE REACHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE?
If there are others at your facility, or corporate headquarters, that should be included on the P-Track News distribution list, please e-mail your request to Hamilton.Luctrician@epa.gov with "Add to P-Track News" as the subject, and the individual's e-mail address in the message text.
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EPA News Items and Updates
News for Release: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Doing More with Less Water - First WaterSense Partners of the Year
Contact: Enesta Jones, (202) 564-4355 / jones.enesta@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Oct. 9, 2008) One less drop in the bucket means kudos for three organizations and one individual who are promoting water efficiency and saving water. The first WaterSense Partners of the Year are being recognized for encouraging Americans to tap into their water resources wisely over the last year.
"EPA commends these partners for being blue ribbon winners in water efficiency," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water. "These water stars are helping WaterSense transform the way Americans view and value our most precious liquid asset and, as a result, we are saving more and wasting less for future generations."
While EPA's WaterSense program depends on the efforts of more than 1,000 partners, these four exceptional partners earned this special distinction from EPA:
· Promotional Partner of the Year: The Saving Water Partnership
· Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Kohler Co.
· Retailer and Distributor Partner of the Year: Ferguson
· Irrigation Partner of the Year: Timothy Malooly of Shorewood, Minn.
These organizations and individual represent the best of WaterSense's four partner categories. The Saving Water Partnership is a collaboration between Seattle Public Utilities and 17 participating local water utilities. Kohler Co. is a leading bathroom and kitchen product manufacturer. Ferguson is one of the country's largest wholesale distributors of plumbing supplies. Timothy Malooly is a WaterSense irrigation partner and president of two Minnesota-based irrigation firms: Irrigation Consultants & Control and Irrigation By Design.
The 2008 Partners of the Year helped advance the WaterSense mission through a range of activities demonstrating creativity and collaboration, and promoting water efficiency from New York City's Times Square to the Minnesota Zoological Garden. Three of the winning organizations have also worked together to educate plumbers and consumers on the benefits of WaterSense labeled products.
In 2007, WaterSense partners were responsible for labeling, selling and promoting more than 193,400 WaterSense labeled products, saving the United States more than 277 million gallons of water annually.
WaterSense, a partnership program launched in 2006 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water.
The first WaterSense Partner of the Year awards are being presented at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev., the first national water-efficiency conference for an interdisciplinary audience.
WaterSense Partner of the Year awards: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/awards.htm
Information on the WaterSense program: http://www.epa.gov/watersense
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News for Release: Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Move Over – Now there's a Smarter Way to Transport Freight
Contact: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Oct. 7, 2008) If your truck fleet could haul the same load while burning less fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, wouldn't that be smart? EPA agrees, which is why the agency created the SmartWay Partnership, and presented 27 awards to businesses and organizations. The EPA 2008 SmartWay Excellence Awards recognize groups for their superior efforts to reduce fuel use and lower carbon emissions from freight transport. This year's recipients have integrated a broad range of innovative fuel-saving strategies into their freight and fleet operations, moving the nation toward cleaner air and greater energy security.
"The companies we recognize today have learned to do business the SmartWay, and will be leaders in their fields," said Robert J. Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "SmartWay is smart not just for the firms who save on fuel costs, but for the American environment and economy."
Many awardees invested in trucks that qualify for the U.S. EPA SmartWay Certified mark, the cleanest, most fuel efficient available today. Eight major truck manufacturers are now offering at least one long haul model that meets SmartWay specifications. Awardees also optimized delivery routes and provided more flexible shipping and receiving practices to reduce unnecessary idling.
Using these and other strategies based on their three-year commitments to upgrade their fleets and improve freight operations, SmartWay partners are collectively saving more than 595 million gallons of diesel fuel each year – slashing fuel costs by at least $2.5 billion annually – and eliminating 6.8 million tons of carbon-dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.
EPA launched SmartWay in early 2004 to address the environmental and economic challenges surrounding growth in the freight industry. Through SmartWay, EPA is now working with over 1,000 businesses to improve both their bottom line and the environment. SmartWay offers tools for evaluating opportunities to lower fuel use and emissions and help in locating financing for the purchase of environmental and fuel saving technology.
More information on the SmartWay Transport Partnership and the achievements of its awardees: http://www.epa.gov/smartway
More information on the 2008 SmartWay Excellence Awardees: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/transport/partner-resources/awards-2008.htm
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News for Release: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Millions Harness the Power of Change
EPA's New Campaign Challenges Americans to Change the World, Start with Energy Star
Contact: Enesta Jones, (202) 564-4355 / jones.enesta@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Oct. 1, 2008) Today is the 4 th annual Energy Star "Change a Light" Day, and more than 1.8 million Americans have pledged to change at least one light at home to an Energy Star qualified light. These pledges will save $220 million in energy bills and prevent the release of more than 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases. Lighting is one of the easiest things we can change in our homes and is the first step in the new pledge to "Change the World, Start with Energy Star." EPA is challenging Americans to take the newly expanded pledge to make saving energy a bigger part of their lives.
"More and more Americans are seeing the light – that protecting the environment, while saving money, is as easy as changing a bulb," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Whether replacing old appliances with Energy Star-qualified ones or installing programmable thermostats, together we are reducing America's energy use and changing the world."
EPA commends those small and large businesses, K-12 schools and universities, religious congregations, military bases, and state and regional utilities that went beyond the call of last year's campaign. They played an integral role by promoting energy efficiency, gathering individual pledges, and educating their communities about ways to fight climate change. The following organizations were responsible for inspiring more than 600,000 "Change a Light" pledges: Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Salt River Project, Georgia Power Co., Southern California Edison, Santee Cooper, CB Richard Ellis, Kentucky NEED Project, and Virginia for Leading Governments.
Building on the success of last year's campaign, the new Energy Star pledge has advice on other ways to save at home and at work. Pledge to change one light in your home to a more energy efficient one, seal and insulate your home, power-down computers when they're not in use, program your thermostat to save energy when no one is home, and choose Energy Star qualified products. If every American household took the pledge, we would save more than 110 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and $18 billion in annual energy costs, while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 18 million cars annually.
Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products as well as buildings and new homes. Products that have earned the Energy Star prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million vehicles.
Information about the "Change the World, Start with Energy Star" campaign and pledge: http://www.energystar.gov/changetheworld
EPA's video on the "Change the World, Start with Energy Star" campaign: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/MMwebcon.nsf/HTML/RRUO-7JUQJG?OpenDocument
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News for Release: Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Growing a Garden of Future Environmental Leaders
54 Students Receive EPA Research Fellowships
Contact: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 29, 2008) How do you grow future leaders to develop sustainable energy solutions for America? Start with the sun and the wind. That's what EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grantee Matthias Fripp is doing at the University of California at Berkeley with his three-year award.
Matt collected data on the estimated power from potential wind farm sites and solar power facilities, and found that because solar and wind power are available at different times, using both sources together makes a more reliable and cheaper power system than just using wind or solar alone.
And Matt Fripp is only one of 32 dynamic, creative students who received EPA STAR fellowships to complete their masters or Ph.D. degrees and work on solutions to important environmental challenges for the future. Another 22 new students were awarded Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) fellowships to complete their graduate and undergraduate degrees.
"These remarkable young people will undoubtedly have an impact on the future of our environment, "said George Gray, EPA's assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development. "We are proud to help educate these fellows who are making an environmental difference."
EPA's Office of Research and Development supports several fellowship programs in an effort to address our country's most important environmental workforce needs. EPA's STAR graduate fellowship program supports some of the nation's most promising masters and doctoral candidates. A total of 879 applicants competed this year for 32 fellowships.
EPA's GRO fellowship program helps build environmental studies programs at universities with limited funding for research and development. A total of 156 applicants competed this year for 22 fellowships. Several former GRO fellows now work for EPA, including 2002 GRO fellow Toiya Goodlow who works as a chemist in the Office of Pesticide Programs, and 1990 GRO fellow Dr. Brandon Jones, who is a marine biologist in the Office of Research and Development.
Since the fellowship program began in 1995, EPA has awarded more than 2,200 fellowships to students in almost every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. All applications for EPA's fellowship programs are rigorously peer reviewed.
EPA is now accepting applications from students for GRO undergraduate fellowships. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or be lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence.
2008 STAR and GRO Fellowship Awardees: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/08fellowships
More Information on STAR & GRO Fellowship programs and application opportunities: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/fellow
More information on Matt Fripp's research: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2008/09/10/science-Wednesday-better-together-wind-and-solar-power-in-california/
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For release: (Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008)
2008 Report on the Environment: Highlights of National Trends
Contact: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov
EPA today released the "2008 Report on the Environment: Highlights of National Trends" (2008 ROE HD), which provides the American people with an important resource for better understanding trends in our nation's health and environment. The report is intended for a general audience and summarizes highlights of the more comprehensive "EPA's 2008 Report on the Environment," which was released in May, and provided the scientific and technical information. Together the two reports present national environmental trends and inform EPA's strategic planning process with the best available, scientifically sound information.
EPA also launched a new Web site that allows the user to search the full technical report for specific trends in air, water, and land.
The 2008 ROE HD, ROE and searchable eROE: http://www.epa.gov/roe
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News for Release: Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Environmental Protection Agency
Keep on Trucking - with Lower Emissions through EPA's $50 Million Clean Diesel Funding
Contact: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 24, 2008) To improve air quality and protect public health, EPA today announced the first $3.4 million in funding for clean diesel projects under the $50 million Diesel Emission Reduction Program. This campaign makes awards to save fuel and lower greenhouse gas and diesel exhaust emissions from the country's existing fleet of 11 million diesel engines.
"This fall, EPA is paving the way for clean diesel progress," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "These grants encourage technologies that will help truckers save over $72 million in fuel costs per year and lower their environmental impacts."
Three organizations received $3.4 million for small trucking firms to lower fuel costs and shrink their carbon footprints through innovative loans and rebates. The organizations receiving funds under the national diesel program are: the Community Development Transportation Lending Services, Washington, D.C.; Cascade Sierra Solutions, Oregon; and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Missouri.
EPA will also begin disbursing $14.8 million for State Clean Diesel programs. All 50 states will receive funds, and 35 states will put matching resources toward the program. Later this fall, $27.6 million in grants will be distributed by EPA's ten Regional offices. Finally, grant awards for emerging technologies totaling approximately $3.4 million will be announced this winter.
Diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 333,000 tons of soot annually. This pollution is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and millions of lost work days. EPA's new diesel engine standards will significantly reduce emission from newly manufactured engines, and these grants will lower emissions from the diesel engines already in use through clean innovative technology.
EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/
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News for Release: Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
42 New Performance Track Members Set Environmental Improvement Goals Going Above and Beyond Environmental Regulations
Dallas First Major City to Join
Contact: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 19, 2008)The City of Dallas, facilities from Intel Corporation and John Deere, and Dyess and Barksdale Air Force Bases in Texas and Louisiana are among the 42 new members setting goals to go above and beyond environmental requirements as part of EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track Program.
“Our Performance Track partners are producing real, measurable results,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “EPA applauds their efforts for doing what’s best for both the environment and business.”
For example, Dallas, the first large city government to become a member of the program, intends to reduce water use at all city sites by five percent over a three-year period, a reduction of 49 million gallons of water used.
Both public and private individual facilities may apply for Performance Track membership, with some companies having multiple facilities in the program. EPA also provides a Corporate Leader designation for companies and public agencies that exhibit policies and behavior at a corporate level that are associated with environmental excellence and are substantially committed to Performance Track. .Performance Track members represent a wide range of sectors, including the public sector, electronics, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, and rubber and plastics.
This latest group of Performance Track members, accepted from applications submitted in Spring 2008, included facilities from the U.S. Postal Service, Baxter Healthcare, Forever Resorts and Xanterra. These organizations already had facilities represented in Performance Track.
To earn membership, Performance Track applicants must demonstrate and commit to maintaining a strong record of environmental compliance, set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements, have internal systems in place to manage environmental impacts, engage in community outreach and consistently report results.
Performance Track facilities typically set four goals for environmental improvement. The Frito-Lay Inc. facility in Pulaski, Tennessee, for example, has set a goal to reduce non-transportation energy use by 15 percent through a series of energy-saving measures, including better utilization of waste heat, more efficient operating equipment, and installation of a building energy management system.
Since the 2000 launch of the program, Performance Track membership has grown to 548 members in 49 states and Puerto Rico, and members have set more than 4,000 goals to benefit the environment. As a result, Performance Track members have reported greenhouse gas reductions of 310,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, reductions in nitrogen oxides of 13,000 tons, and reductions of hazardous waste of 52,000 tons.
More about Performance Track members: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/round16PTFacilities.htm
More about Performance Track members: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/
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From our Friends at EPA Region 4 P2:
USDA is offering grants to support/educate farmers on composting, including food waste.
CLICK HERE for information.
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New EPA Toolkit to Help Municipal Governments Confront Recycling Challenges
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
(Atlanta, Ga. – Sept. 19, 2008)
EPA Region 4 is releasing a new Municipal Government Toolkit (MGTK). The MGTK provides a centralized web-based resource for recycling-related information designed specifically to assist local government leaders and recycling program coordinators. The MGTK provides a key resource to help elected officials and decision-makers identify information to develop, evaluate, support, and/or expand their reduction programs. This resource presents a collection of economic data, sample legislation, waste reduction efforts, guidance resources, and case studies regarding the impacts of recycling in the Southeast. The website focuses on six key areas related to recycling in the Southeast: economic impacts, climate change aspects, community benefits of recycling, and recycling hot topics, as well as modules on starting a recycling program, and improving a recycling program. The toolkit also emphasizes Region 4's new Recycling Grows Green logo, (Embedded image moved to file: pic07093.jpg) , demonstrating that recycling efforts by municipalities often have the dual benefits of helping the environment and local budgets.
Persons interested in obtaining additional information are encouraged to contact Rhonda Rollins at (404) 562-8664 / rollins.rhonda@epa.gov or Angela Bivens, (404) 562-8623 / bivens.angela@epa.gov. The website can be accessed at www.epa.gov/region4/recycle, then follow the link to the Toolkit.
TSRA Members and Friends,
On a server somewhere far, far away a file awaits your mouse click –
It’s the October issue of The Watershed, our official newsletter!
Inside you'll find:
Some great hikes, a river trip or two, results of the 2009 Board elections, lots of great photographs from Annual meeting and the Duck River Cleanup and more. Click here to download your copy.
There is also mention of a wonderful exhibit at the Tennessee State Museum - "The River Inside" October 3-November 30, 2008. "The River Inside" tells the story of photographer John Guider's solo trip starting on Spencer Creek in Tennessee all the way to New Orleans.
Don't miss it! More about it here. and here.
The TSRA Holiday Party will be held on December 6, 2008. More details to follow next month--but do not miss this great party when you'll have a chance to deck the halls with fellow paddlers at Clyde Troutman's home in Leiper's Fork. We'll have directions and details on the website shortly before the event.
Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association
P.O. Box 159041, Nashville, TN 37215-9041
www.paddletsra.org
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Greener Nashville is loaded with fresh updates! Local Green News Financial Permaculture Blog |
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Greener Nashville is partnering with the Green Living Journal! The Green Living Journal is a quarterly publication featuring articles about the environment and green development in Tennessee. The journal highlights local green lifestyle success stories and upcoming green events. Get events listed in the upcoming edition of the journal to be distributed on September 22, simply by posting your event on Greener Nashville. Save paper - read the latest edition of the Journal on-line. |
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Greener Tennessee coming soon... Get ready for Greenertn.org to debut this Autumn 2008 in conjunction with the Summit for a Sustainable TN, November 13-16. Greener Tennessee is a primary partner of the November Summit. Greener Tennessee will be your connection to green business, events and networking opportunities for all of Tennessee. The site is being sponsored by grants from the USDA and the Community Foundation. |
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GET INVOLVED! Greener Nashville and Greener Tennessee are seeking 2 interns to help with networking and data entry. |
Lend a hand! |
2621 Gallatin Pike | Nashville, TN 37216 |
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Want the whole newsletter? Click here to see it online.
Walk/Bike Nashville
Annual Meeting and 10-year Birthday Party October 23
On Thursday, October 23, please join us for our 10 th annual meeting. We're throwing a birthday party from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Nashville Farmers' Market. You can see the invitation here.
Mayor Karl Dean will describe his vision for the future of walking and biking in Nashville.
Meet some of the "founding parents" of Walk/Bike Nashville and learn about our history.
Walk/Bike Nashville president Sean Davies will talk about the future of our organization.
The Walk/Bike Nashville Annual Awards will be announced and presented.
In lieu of a present, please sign up at the party for a new or renewed membership!
The Nashville Farmers' Market is located by the Bicentennial Mall at 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. There is plenty of free car parking, and indoor bike parking for this event. For bus riders, the MTA routes are 19, 22, 29 and 42.
Please forward this email to a friend and invite them to join us!
Here is a Google Maps link for directions if you need them.
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Advocacy Corner
Parking in bike lanes has been a hot topic in Nashville of late. While there are designated bike lanes around the city, and the Metropolitan Code of Laws states that parking is not allowed in bike lanes and that the police can ticket vehicles parked in bike lanes, there is also a provision in the Code that such no parking areas must be marked by appropriate signage. As such, the Metro police department would not ticket vehicles parked in bike lanes unless signs were in place that specifically prohibited parking (one of the only bike lanes we can think of that has no parking signs is on Murphy Road, and those signs existed before the bike lane was created).
See the Newsletter for additional information and details.
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Bicycle Commuter Tax Credit
The "bail-out bill" just passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush includes a provision that may provide cyclists who ride to work up to $240 to offset their commuting cost and hopefully encourage more bicycle commuting.
The bill offers employers a $20 per month per eligible employee tax credit to cover reimbursement expenses related to the needs of commuter bicyclists. As worded, almost anything related to bicycle commuting could be covered.
This tax credit is only for employers, so you have to convince your employer to set up a program to make it work. You submit your receipt for bicycle expenses to your company and they reimburse you for the cost in your paycheck. At the end of the year your company claims a tax credit for the amount they've reimbursed employees.
Ryan Cooper, a member of Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program Bicycle Advisory Committee, has drafted a sample letter that you can use as a starting point for contacting your Human Resources Department to ask them to implement such a program.
See the Newsletter for additional information and details.
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9th Annual Cumberland River Challenge October 18th
Cyclists of all abilities are invited to come to Ashland City for the 9 a.m. ride on Saturday, October 18th. The 11-mile family ride is very flat and offers great views of the Cumberland before returning on a paved rail-to-trail that was once a Tennessee Central rail line. A 31 and 62 mile route will challenge more experienced cyclists as they head from the river bank to the Highland Rim and back. All money raised goes to support the trail. This year's ride will also celebrate the new pedestrian-friendly makeover that has just been completed in Ashland City. Click here for more information.
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Share The Road License Plate
The Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation of Maryville, Tennessee is organizing for a Share the Road license plate. This is not the first attempt at a license plate promoting road safety, but with enough support it just might happen this time around. The foundation needs no less than 1,000 pre-ordered plates in order to send the plate to print. As with other specialty plates, purchase of the Share the Road license plate sporting the adopted 3 Feet law will help to support the efforts of the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. Go here to learn more about the foundation or to place your order for a plate.
Walk/Bike Nashville • PO Box 198162 • Nashville TN 37219-8162
www.walkbikenashville.org • contact email: info@walkbikenashville.org
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Your UT Center for Industrial Services Manufacturing Solutions
Manufacturing Solutions Is: Ask an Expert | Tools You Can Use | eLibrary
In This Issue of UT Center for Industrial Services Manufacturing Solutions:
- The Future of Manufacturing
- Marketing to Price-Motivated Customers
- An Introduction to TPM
- Manufacturing Benchmarking: An Apples-to-Apples Comparison
- Save Now, Not Later: Apply for Free Assessment
CLICK HERE to view the entire Newsletter online
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Nashville Clean Air Partnership
CLICK HERE to view the Clean Air Quarterly. [please link to pdf]
I'd like to bring your attention to a new section called "Real People Chronicles" that highlights success stories from average people working to make a difference in Middle Tennessee's air quality. If you or someone you know has a story to tell, send an e-mail to melissa@cleanairpartnership.info.
As always there are several live links to information in the stories throughout the newsletter.
Thank you all for your dedication to improving Middle Tennessee's air quality. Happy reading!
Partnerships at Work!
Dear Clean Air Partner,
Below is some information regarding Walk/Bike Nashville and the benefits of membership. The Clean Air Partnership would like to encourage you to take a look at joining this valuable organization. Remember -- riding your bike is a great way to help reduce air pollution in Middle Tennessee.
Melissa Stevens
Communications Director
Clean Air Partnership of Middle TN
Subject: 2 per day - we can do it!
Are you a member of Walk/Bike Nashville? Do you know others who might become members of Walk/Bike Nashville?
As we approach our 10th Birthday and prepare to celebrate at our annual meeting on October 23, we have set a hefty goal: increase our membership by 46 persons. We have 23 days to reach our goal - that's 2 new members each day. Help us reach our goal. Please pass along this email and urge your fellow walking or bicycling friends to join Walk/Bike Nashville today!
Why Join? Because we are working to make the greater Nashville area a more livable community. Because we do so much and we can't do it without you.
Let's take a moment to look back over the last year of our work:
- Approximately 2800 elementary students in Nashville/Davidson County received pedestrian safety education and approximately 700 received on-bike safety education through our MCM Kids program.
- Physical improvement needs (such as sidewalk gaps, lack of cross walks, signage or even bike racks and poles or other barriers in the sidewalk) were identified at JE Moss, Glenview, Thomas Edison, and Whitsitt Elementary Schools. All improvement needs were reported to Metro Public Works with recommendations on immediate, short and long-term improvements to create safer routes to school.
- Failed communication between TDOT and Metro was discovered regarding improvements along the stretch of Rosa Parks Boulevard between Jefferson and I65. Walk/Bike Nashville called for a meeting of agencies and assisted in developing a communication process to avoid future incidents such as not striping bike lanes when the Metro Strategic Plan for Sidewalks and Bikeways calls for such.
- The 5th Annual Tour de Nash turned out 1400 participants , introducing many residents to areas of Nashville they had not yet discovered, showing visitors how our city continues to grow more livable, and challenging many to get more active and healthy.
- Walk/Bike Nashville worked with MNPS to identify and write three Safe Routes to School grants to get more kids walking and biking to school. A result of this effort helped W/BN to establish a healthy working relationship with MNPS, leading to the recently awarded grant with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to train MNPS elementary and middle school PE teachers to bring our bicycle and pedestrian safety education curriculum into the classroom.
- Mayor Dean called for updates to Metro's Strategic Plan for Sidewalks and Bikeways within weeks of taking office. The plan calls for the development of a Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Over the course of the last year we've been working with Mayor Dean and Deputy Mayor Greg Hinote to develop the BPAC and made recommendations on persons best qualified to serve such a committee.
- MTA requested the guidance of Walk/Bike Nashville to identify future improvements to the new Music City Central bus hub in downtown Nashville in order to better accommodate bicycle commuters.
- Bicycle Street Smarts has taught more than 100 adults in Nashville how to be smart and safe when riding in the road, whether for fun or transportation purposes.
- We teamed up with Harpeth Bike Club to create and implement a public awareness campaign for the newly adopted 3 feet passing law to increase cyclist safety. As a result, our partnership developed and maintains www.Tennessee3Feet.org in order to continue reaching the public.
- And that's just some of what we've been working on and accomplished!
As gasoline prices rise and our city continues to develop, our work here at Walk/Bike Nashville becomes more crucial and we need your input and support to continue our success. It is through our membership we retain the voice to continue making Nashville more livable. Undoubtedly, it is the support of our members that keeps our efforts moving along and allows us to keep up the success. Please become a member today by visiting www.walkbikenashville.org/ and clicking on Join. We can't do our work with out you!
Shannon Hornsby
Executive Director
Walk/Bike Nashville
615-585-2014
www.walkbikenashville.org
www.Tennessee3Feet.org
btw...our 10th birthday celebration is at 6pm on October 23 at the Nashville Farmers Market. Join us for cake!
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Energy Awareness Month Special Edition, October 2008
In this issue:
Energy Awareness Month
-KPPC’s FREE, Confidential and Non-regulatory Energy Efficiency (E2) Services
-Energy Efficiency Tips
-Energizing Kentucky
-DCA Needs Assessment Survey
October is Energy Awareness Month
The theme of this year's Energy Awareness Month, Working to Secure a Clean Energy Future, encourages everyone to work together to make wise energy choices. Both the public and private sectors can take steps toward a clean energy future, making buildings more efficient, fleets less dependent on foreign fuel and industries better stewards of our nation's resources. Visit the Federal Energy Management Program Web site for more information.
KPPC’s FREE, Confidential and Non-regulatory Energy Efficiency (E2) Services
Are there alternative rate structures offered by your utility providers that could lower your costs? Could making even small changes in your operation result in lower energy bills? KPPC can help you find out through a variety of free, confidential and non-regulatory services.
In addition to training, technical information and web-based resources, KPPC offers on-site E2 assessments that focus on reducing the environmental impact of energy consumption and reducing energy costs. KPPC’s process is designed to familiarize clients with the basic concepts of energy efficiency and help them initiate and sustain their own E2 policies and practices. Our Certified Energy Managers look at everything from method of operation and best available technology to billing structure.
Working closely with Kentucky businesses and industries, KPPC conducts dozens of assessments each year. Contact us at 502-852-0965 or 800-334-8635 ext. 8520965 or visit www.kppc.org for more information.
Energy Efficiency Tips
The following energy-saving recommendations for office, commercial and industrial facilities are examples of the types of opportunities you and/or KPPC could discover during an Energy Efficiency (E2) Assessment.
• Become an Energy Star® partner
Lighting:
• Switch to energy efficient lighting
• Install occupancy sensors for restrooms, offices, etc.
• Use light timers and photosensors
• Install LED exit signs
Heating and cooling:
• Change interior temperature by 1 or 2ºF or use temperature setback while unoccupied
• Install programmable thermostats
• Install demand control on building cooling system
Boilers:
• Keep to a regular maintenance schedule
• Install boiler reset control
• Boiler blowdown management and heat control
• Duct warmest air into combustion intake
• Recover stack loss
• Install condensing economizers
• Adjust air to fuel ratio
• Eliminate steam
Motors:
• Use proper lubrication
• Size motor properly for its application
• Rewind motor versus motor replacement
• Install variable frequency drives (VFDs) on all eligible air handlers
• Use energy efficient V-Belts
Compressed Air:
• Repair compressed air leaks
• Recover waste heat from air
• Reduce line pressure to minimum required
• Use blowers/fans instead of compressed air for cooling, drying, or blow-off operations
• Use outside air for compressor intake
Energizing Kentucky – 2nd Conference Sept. 18-19 in Louisville
"Energizing Kentucky" is a collaborative effort between Berea College, Centre College, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville that focuses on energy issues in the Commonwealth. The second of three conferences in this series was held Sept. 18-19 in Louisville. The keynote speaker was Thomas L. Friedman, author of "The World is Flat" and a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times.
DCA Needs Assessment Survey
The Kentucky Division of Compliance Assistance (DCA) invites you to participate in an important online survey. The results from this survey, which is being administered by the University of Kentucky, will be used to prioritize program activities and help DCA ensure that needed environmental assistance services are provided. If you are a business regulated by the Department for Environmental Protection and have not completed this anonymous survey, we encourage you to take a few minutes to participate.
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USGBC MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHAPTER
NEWSLETTER- September 2008
CLICK HERE for a direct link to the September 2008 edition of the US Green Building Council Middle TN Chapter newsletter:
http://chapters.usgbc.org/middletn/chapternewsletters.html
What's inside:
- Notes from the Chair - Mike Leonard
- Committee Corner: Membership - Michelle Fox, Chair
- Member Spotlight: Keith Loiseau
- And the Survey Says... - Jenna Smith
- Award Winning Film - Jeff Barrie
- "How Would You Spend $14 Billion?" Contest - Louise Gorenflo
- USGBC Gala Announcement
- Solar Homes Tour
- A Renter's Guide to Energy Efficiency - Laurie Parker
- Black + Gold = Green: Vanderbilt Goes for the Gold with Green in Mind - Laurie Parker
- Local Happenings
P.O. Box 22515 Nashville TN 37202-2515 WWW.USGBC.ORG/CHAPTERS/Middletennessee
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Monday, October 13
• Tax Increment Financing for Brownfields Redevelopment
• Perspectives on Transportation Policy
• Urban Land -- September 2008
• Mountain Megas: America's Newest Metropolitan Places
• Metroburbia, USA
• Transportation Performance in the Twin Cities
Monday, September 29
• Community Developer's Guide to Improving Schools
in Revitalizing Neighborhoods
• Funders Interested in Restoring Prosperity in Older Industrial Cities
• How Counties are Going Green
• Collaborative of High Performance Schools Project List
• From Gray Funnels to Green Sponges Podcast
• High Performance School Buildings Resource & Strategy Guide
Monday, September 22
• Philadelphia Parks Value Report
• Childhood Obesity Prevention and Healthy Living
• Smart Growth, Community Planning and Public School Construction
• 5th World Environmental Education Congress: Call for Papers
• National Park(ing) Day Stories
• Kuna, Idaho: Where a Community Pulls Together to Face Growth
Monday, September 08
• Retaining Our Sense of Place by Managing Our Highway
• CNU Project Database -- Updates
• Walkable Communities Podcast
• Climate Change and Schools Resources
• Cities Go Green
• Smart Growth in the States
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Whether your goal is to save money or save the environment, our new weekly Green Living newsletter gives you tips to consume less, reuse what you have, and reduce your carbon footprint - all while saving a buck or two.
Click HERE to sign up for the Green Living newsletter.
This is a one-time email sent to users who have signed up for our daily news emails. Users who wish to continue receiving the Green Living newsletter must sign up at NewsChannel5.com.
Click Here to see the newsletter
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VISIT the Tennessee Energy Task Force Web site at www.tn.gov/energy
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October 1, 2008
Denso gets greener with 'Ecovision' (Times Free Press)
ATHENS, Tenn. - Denso Manufacturing Athens facilities have gone from being "green" to having "Ecovision" that saves the environment, and money, a company official said Thursday. the savings realized as Denso reuses items or cuts consumption is a windfall being divided among employees as a monetary bonus, said Jeannette Widman, Denso's Environment Department supervisor. "We began with the easy things," she told a group of reporters during a facilities tour designed to emphasize efforts to reduce pollution and waste products. More difficult items were tackled and as the savings ideas developed, Ms. Widman said. The result: Waste products have been reduced dramatically at Denso plants in Athens and Maryville. She said water consumption was cut more than 50 percent, landfill waste nearly 75 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions are down nearly 18 percent. Denso has a program that pays employees a percentage of savings for cost cutting, and they have helped with energy saving ideas that have resulted in more than $90,000 in monetary rewards being distributed to the workers, Ms. Widman said. Improvements made include processes designed for recycling waste products, reducing air leaks at machines, improving heating and air conditioning cycles. There was even replacement of alcohol cleaning solvents with a household detergent to clean pallets, for a savings of $2,800 a year and elimination of 1,500 pounds of hazardous waste. She said the firm has reusable containers to ship the products to their customers, and a freight line is hired to return the containers to the plants for reuse. She said the Ecovision program has taken Denso a step past being a "green" company that is environmentally friendly. It is now saving money and conserving with changes to management, products, factory and manufacturing processes and in work with the community. Denso spokesman Hugh Cantrell said the Athens plants manufacture spark plugs, fuel injectors, oxygen sensors and other items related to vehicle engines.
Patricia Miller
Aquatic Education Program Coordinator
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
(615) 781-5276
Recycling stations will be located throughout the Lipscomb High School football field parking lot, 3901 Granny White Pike, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days to accept unwanted computers, televisions, printers and more.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to bring any electronic equipment, "anything with a plug" (except refrigeration or air conditioning units) for proper recycling at no cost.
All of the E-waste will be completely disassembled for proper recycling. Hard drives and other data items will be completely shredded, destroying all information. Proper documentation will be provided to businesses needing certification of their proper disposal of hazardous waste.
Improperly discarded E-waste is a major source of lead and other toxic agents in landfills, which eventually seeps into our waterways and food chains. By serving as the host location for the event, LU is making another statement about its committment to preserving the environment. Last November, LU hosted a two-day Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee, the same day that its elementary campus became a state-certified "Green School", designated as such by the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership. David Lipscomb Elementary School was also one of only ten schools in the state to receive the 2007 Eastman Chemical Company Good Sports Always Recycle (GSAR) Award.
Southeast Recycling Technologies, a Tennessee-based recycling company, has specialized in proper recycling for mercury bulbs and electronics since 1996.
For more information about the event, contact Southeast Recycling, 615-259-8112, or visit recyclebulbs.com
Southeast Recycling Technologies
906 Chase Dr.Johnson City, TN 37604
Toll Free: 1-800-592-3970
Phone: (423) 282-2022
recyclebulbs.com
I hope you will be able to join Governor Bredesen and Sen. Howard Baker in Knoxville on Oct. 14 and 15 for the first-ever Governor's Summit on Clean Energy Technology. The summit will explore practical ways Tennessee can become a leader in the clean tech sector. Please join the conference and help in the creation of high-quality jobs to support clean energy and the environment.
Key partners participating in the conference include Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Sen. Baker and Governor Bredesen will be joined by more than 30 world-class speakers, moderators and panelists, including: Volkswagen of American President and CEO Stefan Jacoby, Sen. Bob Corker, TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore, ORNL Director Thom Mason, UT President John Petersen, and Appalachian Regional Commission Co-Chair Anne Pope.