What Will the Future Hold? Hopefully Green Change.

I read an opinion piece earlier today by Columbia University faculty member, Steven Cohen, entitled The Transition to a Sustainable Economy May Happen Without the U.S. Federal Government.  Several strong and sometimes witty points are addressed in the article, all of which are of reasonable importance.  Overall, however, the piece points out the ever-increasing need for further developments in the realm of environmentally conscious change, through not only personal choices of society members, but through official government policies.  The latter of which, we have surprisingly found to be almost entirely lacking in the U.S., despite further research on the matters that may very well affect the future.

One highlight of the piece that I do consider to be one of the more important elements, is a referenced letter from the co-CEO’s of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), a major global investment firm.  Although working predominantly within the financial industry, even KKR and its leaders strongly believe in higher levels of sustainability practices.  Among other things, they mention that such initiatives will lead to a better use of resources, as well as a more profitable business.  It is essentially a win-win situation, so long as adequate effort is put into it.

A major distaste for the U.S. government’s lack of response to trending issues on limited resources and needed sustainability is openly expressed by Cohen as well.  To be honest, he is rightfully disappointed.  However, as I continued to read on and hop around the Huffington Post website, I did come across a slideshow list of the Greenest Celebrities.  I usually find such things hard to stomach, but in this case, I was immediately drawn in.  Some of the members of the list came as no surprise, but others I found to be quite the opposite.  I think its worth checking out and reading up on each of the celebs, but no matter how you view the issues, it can give a little more hope to the cause – although government officials seemingly refuse to take steps forward, perhaps with high profile individuals like celebrities pushing for advancement and programs, the green movement has large-scale hope yet.

Bee Green Smart with the Pollinator Project

The first day of summer marks the beginning of the annual celebration of Pollinator Week.  During this week, the Pollinator Partnership, conservation and pollination supporters, recognize the contributions to green initiatives made by pollinating animals and insects.  The Pollinator Partnership is a 501(3)(c) non-profit corporation dedicated to the good health, protection and conversation of all pollinating animals and insects, including, but not limited to bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds and bats.  These green “warriors” support the production of food and the health of the ecosystem.

Research results by the Pollinator Partnership give an impressive breakdown of the contributions of pollinators.  (1)  Between 75% and 95% of all plants on the earth rely on pollinators for their survival.  (2)  Pollinators service approximately 180,000 different plant species and more than 1200 crops.  (3) Approximately 33% of the food consumed is available because of pollinators.  (4) In economic terms, pollinators generate $217 billion to the global economy, and the “green” work of honey bees is responsible for up to $5.4 billion to the U.S. agricultural production alone.  (5)  Pollination supports green initiatives by cleaning the air, stabilizing the soil and supporting other wildlife.

The Pollination Partnership offers a Planting Guide that can be used with an interactive database of 1,000 native plants.  Green gardeners can select plants according to the pollinators they wish to attract and determine the necessary light, soil requirements, plant types and bloom colors for their gardens.  With this guide, plant enthusiasts can have the garden they desire while simultaneously supporting pollinators and green initiatives.

Let’s pollinate green, live green, be green.

The Community Pollination Project (photo credit:  Landcare Research, Mankaai Whenua Research Organization)

‘Til Death Do Us Green: A Quick Look at Bio-Cremation

As I sat down to peruse the Web for bits of educational reading on Sunday evening, I came across one article announcing the death of an awarded inventor, credited for the creation of an eco-friendly crematorium.  I had never heard of an environmentally friendly way of cremating people after death, so naturally, I became quite intrigued.

Upon some research, I found that many were concerned about cremation as a means of final disposition, since it historically involves the burning of high quantities of fossil fuels harmful to the environment.  It makes sense, I thought.  But that’s the nature of the business, right? Cremation involves burning; how can that be changed?

As it turns out, I was wrong.  Fairly recently, an alternative called Bio-Cremation has been gaining in popularity.  Basically, cremation as a process does not have to involve flames, only heat.  Bio-Cremation offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods, as it involves only a stainless steel chamber, water, a natural decomposition agent called Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), and heat.
 

This chamber turns the decomposition process, affectionately referred to in the business as “B2B: body to bones,” to a simple 2-3 hour ordeal.  It is much more energy efficient and does a much better job than older cremation methods.

After reading about all cremation processes, new and old, I have to say that I may very well be leaning towards cremation as a final disposition, instead of burial.  But regardless of what I choose down the road, one thing is for certain – the environmentally conscious method of Bio-Cremation stands out as a clear winner in comparison to conventional methods.  Just something to think about. 

A Possible Future of Green

Ever since people can remember, they have always seen films and read literature about the future, wherein it always seemed to be envisioned that the distant millennium was to be a period of time which knows no boundaries – the vast landscapes of our world suddenly was completely made over as extravagant, technologically advanced buildings and flying cars dotted society everywhere.

Similarly, in more contemporary times, the homes of tomorrow were once thought to be realistically furnished with technologically advance furnishings from door to door, floor to floor.  As one might imagine, this design could easily amount to a very costly endeavor.

Luckily, the reality check we have come to know as the "Great Recession" has led us to review and rework our views of the future.  Now, the home of tomorrow is more widely viewed as a project of sustainability, as viewed from both economic and environmental standpoints.  Efforts now reside in striding towards eco-friendly design, furnishing homes so that they are green, and in reaping the economic benefits that design brings about. 

In fact, one great example is that of the Los Angeles-based firm, KB Home, who has been designing environmentally conscious homes for a while and who now plans to show a model in Waldorf, Maryland.  The building is incredible, as is equipped, because it is actually what is considered to be a "net-zero" home, one which creates more energy than it uses.  (The thought is truly mind-blowing, I know.) 

Some features of the home include:

• 42 solar panels on the roof
• electric car charging docs in the garage
• energy reserving windows throughout the home
• energy star appliances (of course)
• solar-powered water heater tank
• buttons on sinks to get instant hot water, so as not to waste water waiting for the temperature to turn
• compost pit out back, which feeds garden beds of fresh herbs
• underground sprinkler system running on climate readings, not a timer
• permeable patio pavers that allow water to flow through into the ground
• real-time energy usage monitoring system network throughout the home

Although it is understood that this model is extreme in its eco-friendly design, even if only a few of these options were adopted by homeowners, the observed differences would be immense.  It is truly something with which to be astonished, as well as something deserving of a thought or two when considering some home improvement options.

How About TVs?

Dishwashers and refrigerators, washers and dryers... no big deal when it comes to finding environmentally friendly, certified products, right?  Not quite.  How about smaller electronics?  How about TVs?

Just recently I was shopping around for a 50-55" television set, and I was sure I would be able to pick out a great quality, great priced TV.  I was extremely surprised at how, even at larger sizes, televisions which are certified as "eco-friendly" are virtually impossible to come by.  I visited several brick and mortar stores and countless websites, and was surprised that there really aren't any certified green TVs.  Yet.

I was able to stumble across an article, which I have to assume is somewhat breaking news, about South Korea's major appliance manufacturers' recent achievements in green certification.  Samsung and LG brand giants both have been able to produce Smart, 3D TV units that have actually been dubbed, by several European organizations, as having energy efficiency and low carbon emissions. 

Well, bravo!  Although it seems only a small step in a long line of strides to come, it is positive progress nonetheless.  Soon, I hope, it becomes industry standard to produce TV sets that are certified as eco-friendly on a worldwide scale.  (That will at least make my shopping selection a tad bit easier!)

Environmentally Faster

This entry is intended to be more observational and less of a commentary on current events.

I recently moved back to the Washington DC area after graduating from Fordham University. After experiencing the Bronx and all of NYC as a whole, I can honestly say that the traffic is nothing compared to what people in DC deal with every single day. After driving to my new job several times, I became fed up and started taking public transportation despite it taking the same amount of time. The only difference is that you avoid sitting in standstill traffic.

The reality is that that unlike NYC’s commuter train, there is no real advantage to using DC Metro public transportation as a commuter. Most people who work in DC live in the suburbs, however the public transportation system for the demographic is terribly inefficient. One example is the MARC train that is equivalent to NYC’s Metro North. The MARC train does not make getting to Union Station (downtown DC) a transportation priority for DC commuters like Metro North makes Grand Central Station a priority for NY commuters. DC commuters would be better off taking an appropriately scheduled Amtrak train despite it not necessarily being cost effective. The MARC train does exist as more of a Maryland, DC transportation initiative that shuttles residents between the two cities.

From an Eco-friendly perspective, this creates a problem. An efficient and effective public transportation system helps reduce vehicle emissions and overall energy consumption by removing the amount of cars on the road. People in the DC metro area still do not have enough reason to turn to public transportation as it is just as timely and cost effective as driving.

Here is an excerpt from Forbes Magazine from 2008 when DC ranked 7th among the worst cities for commuters:

No. 7: Washington, D.C.
Because most of the workers in Washington D.C. are commuting from the Virginia or Maryland suburbs, it can take an exceedingly long time to make it downtown. Here, 15% of commuters take over an hour to get to work, the second highest rate in the country. Drivers spend 60 hours a year stuck in traffic, and only 26% of commuters get to work in under 20 minutes– the worst rate in the country. The only thing saving D.C. from a worse ranking is its efficiency ranking for carpooling, public transportation and walking, the country’s second best. (stats since then have remained relatively the same)

I want to point point out that the public transportation within the city is great! As the observation above mentions, it is one of the best. Commuters who live outside the city limits however, are nit experiencing the same situation. For everyone’s sanity and for the environment, there needs to be a more effective solution for commuters surrounding our Nations’s Capital. City planners need to look at models such as NYC and Chicago and develop a better a better public transportation for everyone outside the city limits.

Go Green with Hummingbird Garden

One of the most enjoyable parts of summer is getting to shed the heavy winter clothing and to spend time outside soaking up the sun.  The warm months also provides greater opportunities to relax outdoors, enjoying daytime and evening picnics and dinners.  One downside to outdoor summer fun is the invasion of mosquitoes, fleas, no-see-ums and other pesky bugs.  There is an expectation that this past unseasonably warm winter will result in an exceptionally brutal insect infestation this summer.  Many communities have instituted mosquito programs to try to keep these infestations to a minimum because these bugs are disease carriers.  Besides the discomfort of itching, allergic reactions and unsightly sores, mosquitoes can carry diseases that affect humans, such as malaria and West Nile virus, and they also can cause dog heartworms and encephalitis in other animals.

Although pesticide spraying is mandated in many communities for public health reasons, each of us can adopt green incentives to reduce the mosquito population in our neighborhoods.  Green gardening goes a long way here.  Planting a hummingbird garden is one way to help control the mosquito population because hummingbirds eat mosquitoes.  Some of the plants that attract hummingbirds include bee balm, columbine, butterfly bushes, lantana, Catawba rhododendrons and many other red plants.  A hummingbird garden can be as small as a patio garden or hanging plants or as large as landscaped community gardens.  Any home or community can achieve beauty with a purpose.

Mosquitoes and other bugs are a natural part of summer, but if we live green, be green, we can reduce the impact of this problem.

Sustainability in Ontario

According to a recent survey conducted by Research House, Eighty-nine percent of Ontarians feel that their communities would benefit environmentally and economically by incorporating green alternatives. The survey, which was conducted in April of this year, sought to obtain consumer insights into creating more sustainable communities.

Ontarians felt that in order to make greener communities, development should be promoted through local governments. More specifically, “Ninety-six percent of respondents felt municipalities could do more to ensure shared community spaces such as parks and recreation centers incorporate environmentally friendly products.” This statistic is encouraging as the green movement has seemed to move to top-of-mind-awareness in the global community. Being green is not an ambitious goal anymore, rather a reality that has set in for many individuals and companies around the world.  Andrew Horsman, Executive Director of the Ontario Tire Stewardship reiterated this sentiment claiming, “Factoring environmental sustainability…isn’t just a trend. It’s a necessary, everyday consideration that extends beyond World Environment Day, to preserve our environment, health, and livelihoods of future generations.” The amazing reach of the green movement has invited more people, year after year, to not only think green, but to live green as well. As exemplified by the survey described, citizens are not only aware of the concept of sustainability, but also wish to implement programs to see these ideas through. To see more of the survey please check out the link below.

http://sustainablebusinessforum.com/derekwong/58656/ontarians-want-more-sustainable-communities

Live green, Travel green...

Vacation trips often are the highlight of the summer.  Now more than ever, summer travel can be green.  With a little research, it is possible to find great travel destinations with Eco-friendly amenities.

One such destination is the Hilton New York.  Located in Manhattan, the Hilton New York is Manhattan’s largest hotel.  It boasts 1,981 rooms plus common areas.  It has a 16,000 square feet green roof system that is planted with vegetation from upstate New York.  This remarkable system serves several purposes.  The foliage absorbs airborne pollutants which prevent the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  Secondly, it deflects solar radiation, thereby reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the air.  The incorporation of this roof top garden has resulted in a significant decrease in the high temperatures in Manhattan from dense cityscapes and lack of vegetation.

The New York Hilton also uses an Eco-friendly natural gas to produce electricity and hot water.  This system is expected to produce more than half of the hotel’s required electrical power, thereby reducing its carbon footprint by more than 30 percent.  Additionally, visitors to all Hilton hotels, including the Hilton New York, benefit from LightStay, which is the chain’s worldwide system for improving its sustainability program.  There is a constant analysis of all functions at Hilton hotels, including but not limited to housekeeping, waste management and use of paper products, to measure their impact on the environment and to make changes necessary to improve the ecosystem, all without cost to the customers.  All eco-conscious visitors are encouraged to participate in the Global Soap Project which encourages everyone to donate discarded soap to be reprocessed and given to needy people all over the world.

The Hilton New York has set the benchmark for providing excellent service to its visitors while at the same time maintaining green standards and promoting sustainability and introducing customers to programs and efforts to help the green movement.  This hotel truly allows you to vacation green, live green and be green.

Do The Worldwide WALL STREET’s Have a Heart?

Well, the answer to the above question remains to be seen, with time.  For now, however, it does appear as though the Stock Exchanges from around the world do, as many are active members of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative.  One of the world’s best sustainability ideas, as labeled by Forbes, this initiative aims to provide a forum wherein international regulators, exchanges and investors can openly deliberate on issues of sustainability.

Formed in 2009, the SSE Initiative is co-organized by four United Nations organizations: the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the UN Global Compact, the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment.  According to a Reuters article, the SSE will be holding a Global Dialogue on Monday, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, prior to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), scheduled for June 20-22.

This is incredibly good news, and a great sign that these international powerhouses are actually taking sustainability seriously, going so far as to make it a priority.  The dialogue is reportedly focusing on the transparency of the industry, through official sustainability reports, among other topics.  Let’s hope that the movement not only continues, but that its thriving momentum carries forward to realizable changes in global corporate environments. 

Banks Doing Their Part

Financially backing programs that are supporting the trend of green movements is becoming increasingly popular. Companies such as Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and most recently, Bank of America, have all agreed to invest billions of dollars into the environment. Some could refer to this as the “greening of Wall Street”.

The aforementioned Wall Street companies have recently been backing projects or companies in sectors such as renewable energy, emissions reduction, and reduced-carbon transportation. Whether they are doing this for their own personal beliefs or because they are feeling the heat from outsiders, all that matters is that they are doing their part to improve the environment.

Carbon Sciences Inc., the developer of breakthrough technologies to make transportation fuels, hydrogen and other valuable products from natural gas has acknowledged the recent strides towards improving the environment. Hopefully, the recent investments will go towards the recent natural gas boom, but also, towards reducing green-house gas emissions and how technology could be used to turn CO2, carbon dioxide, into transportation fuels.

Just because you aren’t a large multinational corporation with billions of dollars, that doesn’t mean you can’t do your part to improve the environment. Continue doing the right things, and you, too, can make a difference.

A little bit goes a long way.

China Dream

In recent years, China has emulated the American way of massive consumption, mainly due to its burgeoning middle class and influences from the west. Yet, the nation has taken note of the negativities associated when energy fuels the growth of a nation, and has outlined plans to change social policy to retard that behavior. In fact, China has outlined its need to create, “A social movement to radically change their attitudes about consumption by helping them develop a different vision of prosperity.” This vision, coined the “China Dream” is to promote a sustainable lifestyle, and not necessarily one fueled by consumption, to achieve prosperity. To promote a desire for this lifestyle, it is suggested by the author Peggy Liu, to look toward advertisers to make the green movement more attractive. China has the largest potential audience in terms of consuming media. Thus, the implications of a successful message to include social responsibility and sustainability could have a significant impact. But, in order for this to happen, government will have to also influence the purchasing behavior of its citizens. For example, policy changes of banning free plastic bags, has helped to eliminate over 24 billion bags in the first three years in the nation.  Helping to change the actions of a country the size of China will influence other nations to follow suit, policy-wise, in their respective countries. China’s actions as a nation speak softly, but often carry a heavy stick. Their message with the “China Dream” is to socially impact the way we think and purchase goods, and to believe that the end goal of prosperity can be achieved through responsible and sustainable behavior. To check out more from the article follow the link below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/china-dream-sustainable-living-behaviour-change?newsfeed=true  

Going Green In The Home This Summer

Establishing a green home does not happen overnight but requires planning, commitment and practice.  Summertime is a great time to start this endeavor.  School is out, and the household is functioning at a slower pace than normal.  This also is a teachable moment for both the adults and children in the family.  The family can start with an outing to the local landfill.  Just seeing the huge mounds of discarded plastics, electronics and other trash is an eye-opening experience.  It effectively and dramaticallyquantifies the overall effect of one household’s trash at the curb combined with the whole area’s trash at a single location.  Just think– this is only one of the landfills in this county alone!

Each family’s efforts towards living green represents a positive step in the right direction.  It is best to start with a master plan.  It can be as simple as first committing to reuse.  Using washable cleaning towels as opposed to paper towels goes a long way as does the incorporation of reusable items such as mugs, plates, cups and water bottles.  Consider the purchase of products such as liquid soap in bulk and refillable decorative bottles.  Donating clothing, toys, household items and electronics to charities serves the dual process of helping others who are less fortunate, as well as keeping these items out of the landfill.  These practices alone will substantially reduce the number of articles going in the trash and on to the landfill.

Summer vacation also is an excellent time to examine your energy and water usage and to make cost-cutting changes.  This is a great time to take a trip to the hardware store to learn about and to invest in energy-efficient lighting and appliances.  If a new appliance is on the shopping list, make sure it it an energy star product.  These products are very energy efficient and will save money in the long run.  This also is a good time to invest in energy-efficient light bulbs for your home.  Thirdly, take a look at water filters.  An investment in a tap filter negates the need to purchase bottled water, thereby lowering grocery costs and most importantly, reducing the number of plastic bottles taken to the landfill.

Going green in the summer presents several opportunities for families to learn healthier and environmentally friendly ways of living, establish green plans, save money and improve the environment.  So this summer try to live green be green.

Bali, Indonesia: Seeing Green, Building Green

The Indonesian island of Bali, slowly but surely, had begun replacing its arcane buildings of concrete and steel with bamboo. In the country’s transformation, factories, businesses, and homes are all being revitalized by the firm and rigid qualities of the “grass”. The amazing part about it is that it is quicker to grow, and does not destroy the land that it sits on in comparison to timber. As a result, these qualities, in addition to the well-known fact of its industrial strength, has allowed for the burgeoning of construction utilizing the sustainable resource. The flexible yet rigid nature of the plant allows for a surprising amount of flexibility in designing structures and buildings. For example, here is a picture of a three storied school building built in Bali in 2008.

                  Even after the bamboo is cut, it will continue to produce shoots at a rapid pace. Timber on the other hand requires continual replanting, and waiting for the wood to grow to the proper size and dimensions for it to be used. However, while bamboo is excellent with respect to its strength-to-weight ratio, (a measure of how much pressure an object can withstand with respect to its weight), it does have some shortcomings which include being prone to catching to fire and rotting from overexposure to the elements. Given these drawbacks, with a creative insight into its remarkable properties, bamboo can, at the very least, be used as a substitute product or a supplement to building structures all over the world. The recognition and implementation of renewable products in the creation of such projects will help to make the world we live in healthier and more sustainable. To read more about bamboo structures in Indonesia, please check out http://phys.org/news/2012-06-bali-green-bamboo.html.

HOT TOPIC: Recycling Vehicles

In a time where it has become more important than ever to take care of the environment, two American companies have discovered a way for you to be rewarded for doing your part. TLS Auto Recycling has recently teamed up with Green Vehicle Disposal, America’s first and largest green car recycling program, to help customers get cash for their clunkers. The two have combined to create an ingenious way to properly dispose of your vehicles you no longer desire. So, if you have a car that has reached the end of its useful life, or you are planning on replacing an old car, consider doing the right thing with it.

As long as you leave your car with a proper green car disposal service you can rest assured that it would be handled in a responsible manner. The hazardous waste parts of the car will be properly disposed while the reusable recyclable material will be stripped from the car and, for lack of a better word, be ‘recycled’ for a greater use.

Not only are you being emotionally rewarding for doing your part for the environment, you are also being financially rewarded. By handing over your car, you will have the option to receive cash or to donate that cash to a charity of your choice. So, if you have a car that you no longer can get any use out of, bring it down and get some green, for going green.

 Check out this article:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/06/11/prweb9592193.DTL

A Healthy Home

The Wall Street Journal, known for its showcase of opulent and decadent homes, has featured a truly remarkable home in this Friday’s edition, which details the creation of a “Healthy Home” by one Minneapolis couple.  The idea for a truly clean energy emitting house occurred after homeowner Mrs. Greer was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer. Filled with mold, the couple sought to replace their home with one that would eradicate the possibility of containing dangerous toxins that are common through the standardization of home building. Enlisting the help of Vail, Colorado., architect Jack Snow of RKD Architects, the Greers’  6,800-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home has changed the paradigm of how houses may be built in the future.  Some of the green features of the home include, recycled countertops, large windows made from glass, which darkens when it heats up and subsequently helps to lower cooling costs in the summertime, and walls made from recycled wood fiber and concrete blocks, which cut down on the humidity inside of the home. 

This is not the first time the housing market and the green movement have collided. The steady growth of solar panel market has now becoming a mainstay in the design of modern homes with the intent of reducing energy costs. However the concept of a completely green house made from renewable materials is both innovative and inspiring. The Greers’ house is environmentally friendly, and truly a beacon of engineering prowess. Containing, “Curved stone and wood walls, custom artwork and dramatic copper accents,” the Greers’ house is avant-garde both aesthetically and for the green movement. For a closer look at the inspiring home, please follow the link.

Socially Responsible Sports

One might ask: Is it possible to have socially responsible sports?

One may reply: No.

But they won't if they are aware of initiatives sports teams around the nation have been carrying out in an attempt to alleviate their impacts on the environment, small doses at a time. In fact, just recently the Commissioner of MLB professional baseball, Bud Selig, spoke of the sport's responsibility to uphold social values and to combat social problems that its fans care about. 

Because of the social awareness of the MLB in particular, there are already several teams making changes to current operations around their stadiums, to reap the benefits of not only helping to improve their environmental impact, but to improve the impact that has on their wallets.  Such organizations have reduced costs while they have implemented programs like recycling efforts, which have proven successful enough to have reduced landfill waste by 200 million pounds per stadium, in some cases.  The Seattle Mariners have done so, and through their process of revamping operations a bit, they have also been able to achieve a rate of 80% recycling/composting of the total byproducts of their stadium operations, no small feat. 

In fact, 14 of 30 MLB teams have already voluntarily joined The Green Sports Alliance, an organization dedicated to "cleaning up" professional sports nationwide.  Basically, the organization's aim is to ever-improve the environmental performance of sporting facilities and their operations.  There are experts in environmental fields working right alongside experts in sporting management to come up with innovative improvements to current standards, which is a concept any green-minded individual will come to love. 

At the end of the day, you gotta love giant, powerhouse organizations changing ways to better our world, for today, and for the future generations. 

SDSU's Trending Programs

It was quite refreshing yesterday, to read of the impact that San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies is having in the way of its trending programs on Green industries.  SDSU's school offers online courses by which enrollees can successfully attain Professional Certificates in what the school describes as its "Green Energy Management and Residential and Commercial Sustainable Practices Online Certificate" programs.  There are courses dealing with Water Management and Landscape, Green Building Construction, Green Energy Management, and other general Sustainable Practices.

Not only is the effort extremely commendable because of its spearheading of a broader educational movement in green knowledge, but it is also impressive on the grounds that such Professional Certificates attained through the programs are actually leading to job opportunities in the ever-growing green industry.  This makes easy sense when you consider that three of the country's current fastest-growing industries are solar power, wind power, and environmental consulting.  To make a long story short, props to SDSU and its trending, ground-breaking green initiatives.

Environmental Overflow

The Chesapeake Bay has been the subject of pollution for a while now.  News reports, especially in the Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware states, are full of negative news pertaining to the Bay's diminishing wildlife and oxidation issues; typically being caused by pollution. This is a very interesting article that sheds light on a lesser known cause of pollution in the beloved Chesapeake Bay. The EPA, for some time now, has been probing the State of New York to address pollution that has been making its way into the bay.  New York, it seems, is balking on addressing the issue and has been mostly unresponsive.  

Take a look at the article:

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120531/NEWS01/120531021/ENVIRONMENT-EPA-assesses-states-Chesapeake-restoration-plans-