Archives For environment

4

Doubt of a Warming Globe Grows

A recent Gallup poll claims that the portion of Americas that believe Global Warming is exaggerated in the media has risen to 41%–the highest level since the poll began in 1997. While the fact that the majority of the country still believes that the media is either adequately covering global warming or under-estimates it, this is a disturbing figure. There are a number of the secondary readings that seem to stand out.

gallup-poll

The fact that 66% of republican respondents are downplaying global warming is unfortunate. The reasons for this could be numerous from creationist mantra to big oil investment holders but it is difficult to take on issues in a bipartisan way when only a fraction of us are even on the train yet.

Somewhat unsurprising is the fact that the largest percentage rise in doubters occurred in the age group 65 and older. Of those surveyed this is most likely the least educated group on global warming issues, both problems and solutions, but also the least at risk given that the likelihood that material damage will occur in their lifetime is slim. Thankfully, the youngest age group of 18 to 24 remained unchanged.

The statistic that I find most important parallels exactly the focus of dialogue here at Intercon.

Altogether, 68% of U.S. adults believe the effects of global warming will be manifest at some point in their lifetimes, indicating the public largely believes the problem is real. However, only 38% of Americans, similar to the 40% found in 2008, believe it will pose “a serious threat” to themselves or their own way of life.

Though people may be starting to understand the concept of sustainability, the isolated nature of its media coverage has not lead people to how it affects them. For too many, environmental problems are still detatched concepts lingering on the periphery of daily life.

The frustrating part of this for those of us that have spent time in fields relating to sustainability is the notion that doubt is the result of ignorance. While some of us are flooded with information, this is one more example where a lack of education has kept the topic of sustainability and global warming from seeping too deeply into the population.

Image Credit and Article Source VIA Gallup

Cultural 
3

LEED. Yay or Nay?

leedFifteen years ago the United States Green Building Council coalesced into being and created a standard for rating the level of sustainability achieved by our additions to our built environment. We know the system today as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. Over the years the system has attracted many followers but also its share of critics that point out the inevitable imperfections in the system when in reality, despite its flaws the system was and still is exactly what the movement needs. Continue Reading…

Political 
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Bloomberg Continues to Set the Pace

New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg continues to be a great example of environmental leadership, announcing yet another proactive effort to take steps towards efficiency and sustainability. His administration has suggested that two sections of Broadway, one surrounding the tourist magnet of Times Square and the other the transit heavy Herald Square, be closed completely to vehicular traffic and made into pedestrian thoroughfares. Innovative political plans like this demonstrate how vital it is to break outside traditional strategies and take nothing as a given even in a city as developed and complicated as New York. Likely to cost next to nothing (the plan is really more subtractive than additive) the initiative will yield positive results instantly experienced by the city.

time square before and after

This is not the first endeavor of its kind for this administration where pedestrian activity is placed as a higher priorty than vehicular access. Last summer another section of Broadway beside Madison Square Park was simplified to create more pedstrian public space. The renovations were completed with enough summer left for the people to demonstrate their content with the new grid. Hosts of flowering planters, tables and umbrellas were utilized by the passing crowds on a daily basis.

So why is this really so important? It’s true that this is only a handful of blocks, but their targets cannot be unrecognized. Broadway stands as one of Manhattan’s unique streets that cuts across the rigidity of the grid creating triangular, residual spaces that have evolved into squares over time. With public, open space always in short supply, these spaces have become rich with pedestrian activity and serve as neighborhood anchors for the populace. One could argue that changes made here will gain significant notice from not only residents, but visitors of the city. A broader revisioning of the grid could result in more spaces like these across the city, challenging the status quo deference to car travel.)

Let’s not forget, pedestrian activity is sustainable. The more people are encouraged to walk, bike and rollerblade around the more they are taking advantage of the density that a city provides and its wealth of reflexive benefit that comes from so many people in close proximity. Stores in the area will gain more exposure and sell more products. Conversely, designing for cars is a cyclical, self-reinforcing problem.  When car travel is made easier more people are prone to traveling by car. As a result parking availability diminishes and congestion rises, prompting the need to expand roads and parking to facilitate more car travel. Etc… Other than cabs, delivery trucks and service vehicles, automobiles have no real purpose being on Manhattan anyway.

Furthermore the Deptartment of Transportation estimates that the change will expedite uptown travel on 6th Avenue and downtown travel on 7th Avenue. Could this be the beginning of a Broadway completely closed to cars and trucks? Keep it coming Mr. Mayor.

Image Credit: Streetsblog.org

Urban Planning 
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Hydrogen Cars? Still?

I am not exactly sure why we are still hearing about hydrogen fuel cells as means to power automobiles. The east coast now has a hydrogen fueling station thanks to the township of Hempstead, New York and the gracious compliments of the New York State Energy Research Development Authority. This tune came off the charts not long after it got there and now it is just a disturbing reminder for those of us that try to lobby for investment in sustainability by the country.

Countless people have already conveyed that Hydrogen cars, or more importantly a hydrogen infrastructure, is not viable for our country.

“Hydrogen cars are a poor short-term strategy, and it’s not even clear that they are a good idea in the long term. Because the prospects for hydrogen cars are so uncertain, we need to think carefully before we invest all this money and all this public effort in one area.”

– Alex Farrell, Assistant Professor of Energy and Resources at UC Berkeley

Farrell also points out that the cost to raise the fuel efficiency of gasoline powered cars is trivial to putting hydrogen vehicles into production. So why are we still hearing about this, let alone why is $2 million spent on a refueling station on long island? Then again, we have graduated to a different power of spending. Next to $2 trillion, what is a couple of million?

One answer is that a number of organizations do not want to look like they have wasted time and money on a technology and that somehow being able to say “Look, we built some! they work!” makes it all worth while. The truth is that in today’s market they do not need to do that. If there are any upsides for the auto companies in this recession it should be that they need no better excuse to push things off their drawing boards right into the trash. At a time where R&D dollars are less easily spent, no one would cast any blame on shelving (we can only hope permanently) time and effort to fuel cell powered cars.

This is just one more reminder of the misallocation of resources by a former administration that really had no genuine desire for strides in efficiency and sustainability. Most likely, it will not be the last.

Via CNET

Cultural 
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Hybrid Trains: Can’t Have Them Soon Enough

It is good to see that a technology sorely needed is approaching fruition to the real market. Cleantech.com reports on GE revealing its first hybrid locomotive said to reduce fuel consumption by 10% and emissions by up to 50%.

GE Shows First Hybrid Road Locomotive

One could ask, “So how much is that really?” Actually freight trains in the US have remarkable efficiency. Reuter’s reported that in 2007 one ton of freight in the US was moved at an average of 436 miles per gallon of fuel! Adding 10% to that number is nothing to scoff at.

Railroad Fuel Efficiency Sets New Record

Of course, this is for freight trains. Word has it that Bombardier is developing a hybrid passenger system for European markets. While saving fuel and lowering cost of freight transport is positive, lowering the costs of personal travel is a culture-changing advancement. In America we struggle with weening ourselves from automotive travel. While some point across the pond at Europe’s success, we have yet to make the cost and travel time competitive with flight and driving. This is an important step.

Economic 
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We Could Lose a Posterchild

As the outlook of our nation’s financial system comes into question so too has the progress of our country’s acceptance of sustainability been slowed. While the government continually downplays any goals of nationalization, the market has clearly presented how far it is from being convinced. So what happens to sustainability if the banks fail? Well aside from the lack of funding to innovation in the green industry, Bank of America has risen to be a model for green business in the U.S. and a lack of financial solvency would be a striking blow when the movement needs their example the most.

one-bryant-park

As we speak the final touches are going up on Bank of America’s new corporate headquarters at One Bryant Park (See here for full building case study) on the corner of Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street in New York that will complete the city’s most environmentally conscious skyscraper. Designed by Cook+Fox Architects and striving to achieve LEED Platinum status from the U.S. Green Building Council, the tower is a testament to what can be achieved when sustainability is considered a priority.

The building provided an even better example of emerging green acceptance because of the nature of the client. While so many people question the cost vs. return of building green, this was a bank, one of the largest in the world, that was convinced of the benefits of an ecological end.

While the financial hardships of BoA have nothing to do with the construction of their new home, the timing could not have been worse as greentech companies are watching orders dry up and prices of their products falling. As of today, the bank claims their financial position is good and will require no further money from the government. We can only hope so.

Architectural 
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Who Says What is Green?

In a time of falling prices it is more important than ever to secure the value of sustainability into its next stage of the business cycle. With oil prices near two year lows and a frozen credit market it is easy for priorities to shift away from environmental goals replaced by trepidation over costs. As green business becomes more prominent it is essential to develop more elaborate benchmarks and systems of authenticity to assure that companies with green claims are delivering all that is currently so easy to advertise. Without this level of accountability, the value of green in the eyes of consumers could fall by the wayside just when green business needs it the most.

Continue Reading…

Cultural