simple + green

Regular readers will know that I’m a huge baseball fan. Like every public event, baseball games consume a lot of resources, which makes it slightly less easy to enjoy.

Oil/energy consumption in the form of transportation and facility management is very costly for the environment.

So, the 2 Florida pro baseball teams put their money where their carbon footprint would be.

By the Marlins’ calculations, more than 440 metric tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted during the game, from people traveling to the ballpark, stadium operations and other means. The Marlins, the state and the nonprofit group carbonfund.org said the carbon footprint of the game would be offset through investments in reforestation projects across the Southeast.

Carbonfund.org says reforestation—planting trees—can absorb existing CO2 emissions and reduce the excess greenhouse gases that humans have added to the atmosphere.

How cool is this?

So far, Florida is the leader in carbon neutral sporting events: last November, Florida was home to the first carbon-neutral college football game, when Florida State visited Florida.

What to do? Lobby your local sports franchises to consider the same! Here in California, I’ll be sure to hit up those closest to us.

It has been a pretty topsy-turvy last couple of weeks for me. All good: most having to do with my job. In the end, I’m in a very good place and ready to rededicate to simple + green.

For anything I’ve missed, I’ll revisit if it makes sense.

One important story in the interim has been this: Schwarzenegger Declares Drought in California.

We’re somewhat used to being just around the drought state. But this is a pretty big concern. Counties had already been implementing rationing, and people have to be steadily getting used to the idea.

But water rationing is only part of the story. We’ve already had massive fires throughout the state, most recently in the Santa Cruz mountains. Just yesterday, residents of Bonny Doon had to be evacuated. This is not exactly normal for this time of year.

Our land being parched is only going to increase the chance of fires. And that means more damage to our lands, huge costs to the local and state governments. Not to mention a sense of lack, which is pretty dispiriting.

So it could be a tough summer and fall in California.

I hope to have more uplifting news/stories tomorrow!

This kind of article cracks me up!

According to a recent study, eco-geeks get more attention for their vehicles than sportscar drivers do.

And they’re including female attention within that.

According to a study conducted by GM as part of this year’s Challenge X competition:

* Nearly 9 in 10 women (88 percent) say they’d rather chat up someone who owns the latest fuel-efficient car versus the latest sports car.

* Eighty percent of American car buyers would find someone with the latest fuel-efficient car more interesting to talk to at a party than someone with the latest sports car.

* More than 4 out of 10 (45 percent) 18- to 43-year-olds say it’s a fashion faux pas nowadays to have a car that’s not green or environmentally friendly.

Does this make people more likely to buy a fuel-efficient car ?

I think it’s more outcome than cause. But we are in the midst of a historic Green period.

And it’s only getting more that way…

Get ready for some upcoming controversy: a climate-change bill has hit the Senate.

Sounds great, right? Not to everyone:

The Senate will decide this week whether to follow in California’s footsteps and pass legislation requiring cuts in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.

Lawmakers are to vote today to begin debate on a bill that could reshape the U.S. economy by requiring industry to pay to emit carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. Opponents call it a new tax on industry that could raise gas prices and energy bills for consumers. Supporters say it’s a crucial step to advance cleaner energy and protect the planet.

With the economy in flux, people will be reticent to see their costs rise. And those who oppose the bill will lead with this:

Opponents of the bill also see an opportunity: With gas prices hitting record highs and the economy floundering, they believe they can rally opposition to the measure by focusing attention on its potential costs to businesses and consumers.

In the end, the question is: how much good will this do? According to some environmentalists, while the bill is a step in the right direction, it may not be enough:

Most environmental groups support the bill, although some say it doesn’t go far enough. The measure would reduce U.S. greenhouse gases by about 66 percent below current levels by 2050, but many climate scientists say reductions of at least 80 percent below 2000 levels will be required to avoid the most severe impacts of rising temperatures.

SFGate.com is reporting that the air quality board is set to fine Bay Area companies that pollute.

The Bay Area air quality district became the first in the nation on Wednesday to impose fees on businesses that pump some of the highest levels of carbon dioxide into the air each year.

The 15-1 vote by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District sets the stage for 2,500 companies and agencies - from supermarkets to gas stations to power plants - to pay 4.4 cents for every metric ton of carbon dioxide they expel, beginning July 1. The top 10 companies combined would pay more than $820,000. The fee for a large share of businesses would be less than $1.

A great idea, but there are already debates.

Initially, their authority has been questioned. Also, there is no overall plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on either a state or national level.

Lastly, cars and trucks are the big polluters and this initiative doesn’t affect those.

So what do you think? Does this sound like a positive idea or just a small attempt at fixing this huge problem?

image credit: Scoobymoo

Great article about organic food in the Calgary Herald yesterday.

The focus: organic foods, and the reasons to eat them.

Most of the information is localized to Canada, but the important points remain:

** Depends on your perspective! But I find this to be partially true.

And did you know:

On December 14th of this year, Canada will join more than 40 other countries worldwide with organic regulations.

The Canada Organic logo will appear on food products that meet the federal government’s standards for organic production, making it easier for consumers to identify organic food.

This means that for the first time, Canadians will have reassurance that the organic food they buy really is organic!

image credit: Gaetan Lee

Our heat wave is now over, but the water issues will continue.

According to this news report, water rationing may soon be starting on 2 major San Francisco Bay Area counties.

EBMUD votes today on restrictions that may force Alamada and Contra Costa County residents to slash use by nearly 20%.

Keep in mind: it’s only May. We had the driest spring in more than 100 years. And more unusual heat is not out of the question.

Global warming is most certainly a factor. If you don’t think so, you’re not paying attention.

On the flip side, our extended weather forecast does include chance of rain in the next week. Which would be amazing! And would provide a little relief.

What do you think: would you be prepared to make adjustments if your county were to ration your water?

Good news for all Green boating aficionados: the first hybrid speedboat was on display over the weekend in San Francisco Bay.

Green technology came to the blue waters of San Francisco Bay on Friday, when what the manufacturer calls the world’s first hybrid recreational boat was introduced to two of California’s top resource officers.

The super-fast, super-sleek 25-foot speedboat uses a combination of electric and diesel engines to produce a low-emission vessel that should warm the hearts of the greenest motorboat sailor.

The interesting facet to consider is that motorized boats create pollution a little differently than cars. And the switch to a low emission engine could be a boon. But the hybrid technology sounds as though it works much like a Prius or other hybrid auto.

The hybrid solves the problem by starting and running in the harbor under electric power. The demonstration boat’s electric motor was so quiet Friday that no one could hear it.

There are two ways to consider this news. Fortunately, correcting air pollution for any vehicle is a positive. And breaking into a new market helps to bring some much needed PR to hybrid technology.

Unfortunately, large-scale boats, such as ferries, tugboats and container ships use old-fashioned diesels. And pollute both air and water and an alarming rate.

For now, we can see this as a great step forward. But until the big boats move to alternative drive systems, we’re looking at a small rather than large-scale win.

image credit: Franco Folini

Greenstrides says that San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will be reconstructed using green building materials.

And according to the San Mateo Times, it will be more than just green building materials in use:

In addition, many elements of “green” design will be incorporated. The terminal’s builders aim to use green building materials and regional products, while its designers are planning to reduce carbon emissions by 12,000 tons annually, use high-efficiency lighting and recycle much of the water used in the facility.

“We want to do this as environmentally friendly as possible,” said McCarron, who added that the terminal’s price tag comes in at $383 million.

Terminal 2, the airport’s former hub for international travel, once was the busiest terminal in the Bay Area’s busiest airport. But when SFO opened its new billion-dollar international terminal six years ago, Terminal 2 was left closed.

This was due mostly to the sharp dropoff of air travel in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Interesting news, for sure. Especially considering all of the construction that has happened to date.

My question: aren’t they undoing the entire set of construction they already did? Won’t it be less green if they have to dump a huge volume of previous building materials?

We’re in the midst of a pre-summer heat wave here in the San Francisco Bay Area. So global warming is on the mind more than usual.

Seeing this article on the places most threatened by global warming has the same effect as seeing “An Inconvenient Truth”: it scares the pants off of me!

Citizen Sugar posted this, based on an article on ProTraveller.

The list includes:
* Palau, Micronesia
* Great Barrier Reef, Australia
* Maldives, Indian Ocean
* Virgin Islands, Caribbean
* Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean
* Galapagos Islands, Pacific Ocean
* Belize Barrier Reef, Belize
* Red Sea Reefs, Egypt
* Tokyo, Japan
* London, United Kingdom
* New York City, USA
* New Orleans, USA
* Jakarta, Indonesia
* India
* Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
* Yellowstone National Park, USA
* Lake Baikal, Siberia
* Glacier National Park, USA
* Columbia Glacier, Alaska
* Death Valley, USA

Islands, coastal areas and tropical areas seem the most likely to suffer.

Certain parts of the world (Asia) have been seeing much more rapid acceleration in temperatures. Which is the main reason that Tokyo is on the list.

Interestingly, ProTraveller tries to point out positives (huh?) of a slight increase in temperatures for certain areas.

For example, they argue that a more Mediterranean climate in British Columbia will boost their wine business and take market share away from wine hot spots like the South of France and the Napa Valley in California.

Any unnatural temperature shifts, like we’re seeing now, are most definitely not positive.

But points to them for trying to see a benefit.

I guess.