GO GREEN

What seems to be the first major casualty of Global Warming, Kivalina, the Alaskan island home to roughly 400, is loosing shoreline at an alarming rate.  Natives mount the seawall with sandbags as a last effort to save their home, and, unfortunately, this isn’t helping.

What would you do if your home was slowly disappearing?

These natives have taken a valiant step by suing energy companies such as Exxon, Shell, BP and many others for their impact on Global Warming.

But why is it the energy companies are the ones at fault?  Isn’t every person who drives a car or uses oil/gas at fault?  When a person is shot and killed by a gun, the person’s family isn’t suing the gun maker, they are suing the person at fault.  Same should go with global warming – it’s the individuals, companies, governments who are consuming the oil/gas that should be at fault.

What are your thoughts???  Comment on this article…

The article being reviewed was written by Joann Gonchar, AIA

If you have yet to hear about “cap and trade”, prepare yourself, as our Government has approved a bill known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES).  This bill will establish a type of “cap and trade” method which sets limits on greenhouse-gas emissions (carbon dioxide and 5 additional heat-trapping gases).  This bill was created for the purpose of reducing emissions 3% from 2005 levels by 2012.  ”The required reductions would surge up to 17 percent by 2020, and to 83 percent by mid-century.”

Refining sources, utilities, and other industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions is who the bill would apply to.  The bill would not be directed toward individual commercial buildings.

What does all this mean?  It means the government is trying to save the world by reducing the deadly affects carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases cause.  To learn more about these deadly gases click here: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

GreenSource Magazine

This GreenSource article titled above was written by Tristan Roberts and here are my thoughts -

The following quote (from article) makes me laugh:

“Even Britain has received blistering criticism for its slow adoption, which caused projected carbon savings for 2010 to drop by 80%.”!

Isn’t it ironic how British people sound sophisticated yet they are not taking responsibility to protect our environment?  What do all my British friends have to say about this?  Go Green…

The 100 North Tampa LEED team is days away from submitting our LEED (EBOM) application to the USGBC.  We are projected to save 10% ($140k) – 20% ($280k) in energy costs over the next 12 months.  This will also save on GreenHouse Gas emissions.  The following chart is a snap shot from Energy Star

12 Months Ending	Current Total Site Energy Use (kBtu)	Current Direct GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Current Indirect GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Current Total GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Baseline Total GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)	Change from Baseline: GHG Emissions (MtCO2e)
Select Date May 2009 April 2009     (Current) March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006     (Baseline) February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003	44,687,366.92	0.00	7,870.97	7,870.97	8,109.82	-238.85
Select Date May 2009 April 2009     (Current) March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006     (Baseline) February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003	44,969,824.24	0.00	7,920.72	7,920.72	8,109.82	-189.10
Change	282,457.32	0.00	49.75	49.75	0.00	N/A

The Editors of GreenSource discuss the World Business Council’s collaborative viewpoints on Sustainable Development.  the 2050 goal is to reduce building energy use by 77%!

Is that going to happen? – NOT Likely!

Why?  Drastic measures (i.e. – cap and trade, etc.) are essential to meet the goal.

Go Green and discuss your thoughts about this serious issue?