33 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

This is an older thread but I found this info-graphic and wanted to post it.
The savings (by doing simple things, really) are substantial.

Infographic.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Turning off electrical devises (including lights-or switch to LED's);
get the entire staff involved. Monday, Susie's turn, Tuesday it's Franks turn-etc.
Refrigerators have to stay on obviously, but unplug microwaves (most have clocks that drain $$)

Set up recycling centers throughout the offices. Paper by itself is a great reuse product. When your run
low, check out the bin and use the other side. If someone in the office is really dedicated to the cause,
shredded paper is great for the compost pile or tumbler too.

Lunch's. Consider the containers. Are they styrofoam or some material that can be easily recycled.
Have a vegetarian day.

Instead of one use designer coffee mini cups, invest in the reuseable mini cups and brew it that way-less waste.

Go paperless whenever possible.

Work from home whenever possible-telecommute. No travel emissions, no dry cleaning your clothes,
no plastics to carry lunch in......tons of perks.

http://www.ways2gogr...greener-office/

[conor]

Adding a green lawn in front of the office could be a cool idea. It will add beauty and will make the office space greener.

[Besoeker]

conor, on 12 May 2014 - 10:32 PM, said:

Adding a green lawn in front of the office could be a cool idea. It will add beauty and will make the office space greener.

Our offices and works doesn't have a lot of space for that but we do have a few small islands that are grass and small trees.We have a green strip between us and the public road with gaps to allow access for parking. Shocking though it may seem, the first lot of trees, little saplings, got stolen within a few days of planting. The current lot are quite well established and not such an easy target.

Another idea that hasn't been mentioned as far as I can tell is solar reflective paint. We have light manufacturing on the upper level of our building with roof windows. In sunny weather it could get unbearably hot. The reflective paint did a pretty good job that.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

conor, on 12 May 2014 - 10:32 PM, said:

Adding a green lawn in front of the office could be a cool idea. It will add beauty and will make the office space greener.

Sorry, but that's the opposite of "green".
The grass would have to be cut; most likely with an emissions adding lawnmover; perhaps oil/gas leaks into the soil.
Extra water is needed to be it going-wasted resource.

Adding trees would also take water but they provide shade from the heat, a place to sit and chill out or have
your lunch break under and take carbon out of the air. A better option, imo because of more benefits.

(Just not a fan of grass lawns, no offense)

[Besoeker]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 13 May 2014 - 01:41 PM, said:

Sorry, but that's the opposite of "green".
The grass would have to be cut; most likely with an emissions adding lawnmover; perhaps oil/gas leaks into the soil.
Extra water is needed to be it going-wasted resource.

An interesting, and possibly insular, perspective.
In a previous house I had a fairly large lawn. Actually two. One small one in front of the house and the larger one to the rear. My neighbour, in the adjoining property, had very similar.
Garaged attached semis in estate agent speak.

His garage was kitted out as a gym. He'd work out then cut his grass with an electric mower.That always struck me as paradoxical..I had the same grass area area or a bit more. I had a manual mower. It gave me about an hour of exercise, generated no emissions, and gave that lovely striped pattern.....

We now have no grass but some pretty flowers.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Granted; but I was speaking about the majority of homeowners that still use gas powered mowers. (I use a
plug in string trimmer, as I don't have enough grass to worry about but when it's charging-sadly it uses coal
to power it.) All electrics do, unless you have solar installed.
In other words-fossil fuels are needed to maintain most lawns.

Which brings me to last point; how many people have their office space outside on the lawn?

[Besoeker]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 14 May 2014 - 03:14 PM, said:

Granted; but I was speaking about the majority of homeowners that still use gas powered mowers.

Perhaps that's the case for the US. Or at least some parts. I don't imagine there would be too much call for them in the Bronx.
Or in Westminster or Shanghai.......
And I don't know any individual who owns one here.

I've travelled around the world a bit. The only place I've come across a home owner with a gasoline powered was in USA.
USA has about 5% of the world's population. So maybe your concern/comment isn't justified?

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Numbers from epa-trust the data or ignore it.

54 million homeowners mow their lawns using 800 million gallons of gas.
Garden equipment (mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, edgers, blowers-etc.) weren't even regulated until the 1990's.
They produce as many emissions as 11 cars. (Cars are more heavily regulated)

Spillage is a problem too and estimates of 17 million gallons is probably low.
http://www.peoplepow...environment.htm

Stats from Canada show the emissions at 80,000 tons a year, using 151 litres of gas.
http://www.citywinds...as-Engines.aspx

http://www.cleanairy...onmental-facts/

And the FACT remains; regardless of these stats which you will either ignore or argue with; grass uses
a lot of water to maintain it. In many area's, that's a total waste of a valuable resource.

But then again, I know you don't care about data or facts; you're just here to argue.

Now, can we get back to the subject of this thread-greening the office?

[Besoeker]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 15 May 2014 - 04:34 AM, said:

Numbers from epa-trust the data or ignore it.

54 million homeowners mow their lawns using 800 million gallons of gas.
Garden equipment (mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, edgers, blowers-etc.) weren't even regulated until the 1990's.
They produce as many emissions as 11 cars. (Cars are more heavily regulated)

Spillage is a problem too and estimates of 17 million gallons is probably low.
http://www.peoplepow...environment.htm

Stats from Canada show the emissions at 80,000 tons a year, using 151 litres of gas.
http://www.citywinds...as-Engines.aspx

http://www.cleanairy...onmental-facts/

And the FACT remains; regardless of these stats which you will either ignore or argue with; grass uses
a lot of water to maintain it. In many area's, that's a total waste of a valuable resource.

But then again, I know you don't care about data or facts; you're just here to argue.

Well, that's just plain wrong and actually comes across as intentionally rude.

I care a great deal about facts. I'm an electrical engineer. Facts and figures matter to me.
And I don't in any way dispute the facts that you've given above.
I have no argument with them whatsoever. They come from sound sources and I in no way dispute them.
What I do have a concern is over how you interpret those figures. Perhaps the context used might be a better way of puting it.

The population of USA is about 320 million. Average household occupancy is 2.55 persons - from US Census Bureau information. That gives about 125 million residences so, the 54 million isn't actually a majority (post #27) even for USA.
Then the population of USA is about 5% of the world.

I'm not making this point to prove that you are wrong although maybe you will see it that way. And I'm certainly not advocating the use of either gasoline OR electric mowers.Nor watering lawns, something I've never done. I, like you, also see that as a total waste of resources - using potable water for a nice green lawn.

I just that I think it would sometimes better if you looked at the bigger picture to get perspective.
Climate is a world problem.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Besoeker, on 15 May 2014 - 07:30 AM, said:

Climate is a world problem.

Gee, I didn't know that.

[Besoeker]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 15 May 2014 - 12:50 PM, said:

Gee, I didn't know that.

Of course you do!
Your comment that I was referring to:

"Granted; but I was speaking about the majority of homeowners that still use gas powered mowers"

Your stats, that I don't dispute, don't show that the majority of households do, even in USA.

Can you understand now why I dispute, not your stats, but the inferences you have drawn from them?

[eds]

What if you don't have room for a garden?
. . . What if you live in an apartment?

Petomato RECYCLES plastic water bottles,
. . . for use as micro hydroponic GARDENS.

Petomato Cherry Tomato can be grown in a sunny windowsill in about 3 to 4 months.
Petomato Sweet Basil can be grown in a sunny windowsill in about 2 months.
Petomato Habañero Peppers can be grown in a sunny windowsill in about 4 months.

2014-05-16 Sources:  Petpmato

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[Shortpoet-GTD]

Idea's for sustainable offices.
http://green.harvard...s/green-offices

http://sustainabilit...inable-offices/

http://www.wwu.edu/s...n/programs/soc/

http://nems.nih.gov/...es/offices.aspx