Water Is the Next Oil
December 17, 2008 | Category: Community, Government | Leave a Comment
The Supreme Court recently heard a case involving power plants and their use of water. NPR has the story, if you haven’t heard it.
Water is the next oil. I don’t know who said that first, but they were right and I’ve been repeating it for 
nearly two decades. This case is just another example of the difficulties that are going to arise in this nation as our population grows, and our access to abundant clean water decreases.
For so long in the USA, particularly in the wet South, abundant clean cheap water has been seen as practically inexaustable, and we have used it without considering waste. That is changing.
Here in the Southeast, Alabama, Georgia and Florida have been fighting a decades-long battle over water rights. That’s “decades” plural. Who are the competing consumers? Industries (including power plants), fisheries, endangered species, and individual human beings.
Water does not obey political boundaries. Water moves when and where it wants to (until the Army Corps of Engineers gets involved). When power plants or manufacturers use a lot of water, that much less water is available downstream and across state lines to the people and industries living there. When highly-treated potable water is used to water lawns and wash vehicles, that much less water is available for people to drink and ecosystems to survive. Where is the balance? Must it always be decided in a court?
Adding to the problem has been the local drought that has lasted several years, further reducing the baseline supply. This is a problem that has plagued the Southwest for a long time, and they have had to developed water conservation and restriction policies that work. The precedent has been set and the kinks worked out. The technologies and policies have been developed.
We won’t be able to exist without water any time soon. Fortunately, too, we don’t see a situation looming like is found in the “Dune” books. But to balance each set of needs throughout a watershed, each of us - as individuals, households, businesses, communities and utilities - needs to conserve water in a methodical way.
I’m sorry Southern Company, but this includes power plants, too.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkTags: water
Green Tax Credits for Builders and Homeowners
December 16, 2008 | Category: Government, Home | Leave a Comment
Do you know that you can get credit for making energy savings changes to your home? If you change your windows or add insulation, these changes can be deducted from you income tax and in these times, every dime helps.
Finehomebuilding.com
Tags: tax
Paper Coffee Filters?
November 24, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
With the gold coffee filters available for most all coffee machines, why are we still using paper? One more paper product that we don’t need in our day to day lives.
Helping with mortgages
November 12, 2008 | Category: 17, Community | Leave a Comment
A vital part of triple bottom line reporting is the social side of it. Most companies seem to do some kind of social program whether it is through a foundation they have or employees participate in walk-a-thons and blood drives. While there is nothing wrong with these, and these are very important to their communities, it is nice to see a business change their product offering or business model to address a need in the community.
We are in the midst of a mortgage crisis in this county. Its true that people bought homes that are too big for them or too expensive. Others have loans that are interest only in hopes they could flip those homes before they had to start paying the principal. And even more have lost jobs and are just trying to stay afloat.
To face this crisis, some banks such as Citigroup, are stepping up to the plate and offering new terms to help ease the burden on some customers. Citigroup and several other of the nation’s largest banks have been following a program that the FDIC put in plae at IndyMac after it took over that bank. They have lowered interest rates and increased the years the loan is to be paid off. This has dramatically decreased the monthly payments families have to pay each month.
Some families will still be paying on mortgages that are more than their homes are worth and some will not be eligible for the program due to the fact that they will not be able to pay on their reduced mortgage. Even still, this is a great way to reach out to the community keeping families in their homes, their schools and together as we get through this economic crisis.
When you consider what social programs you would put in place at your business, think outside the box and look at your current business model and what could come from that. And don’t forget the walk-a-thons, they need our help as well.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkMcCain and the Environment
September 8, 2008 | Category: Government | Leave a Comment
As I write this the Republican Presidential convention has not started. But John McCain has laid out extensive plans for helping the environment. All of which you can read on his website.
John McCain’s Principles for Climate Policy
- Climate Policy Should Be Built On Scientifically-Sound, Mandatory Emission Reduction Targets And Timetables.
- Climate Policy Should Utilize A Market-Based Cap And Trade System.
- Climate Policy Must Include Mechanisms To Minimize Costs And Work Effectively With Other Markets.
- Climate Policy Must Spur The Development And Deployment Of Advanced Technology.
- Climate Policy Must Facilitate International Efforts To Solve The Problem.
The McCain campaign even has a dedicated site and presentation on The McCain Plan on Global Climate Change which goes into greater detail.
During John McCains acceptance speech he said this about energy.
“My fellow Americans, when I’m President, we’re going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades. We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us very much. We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we’ll drill them now. We will build more nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We will encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles.”
“Senator Obama thinks we can achieve energy independence without more drilling and without more nuclear power. But Americans know better than that. We must use all resources and develop all technologies necessary to rescue our economy from the damage caused by rising oil prices and to restore the health of our planet. It’s an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious by nature, and we have faced greater challenges. It’s time for us to show the world again how Americans lead.”
McCain and Obama are both committed to solving our problems with the environment. And they plan to do this with legislation. Is your company prepared for this? Maybe its time you look at making your business sustainable and ready to take advantage of any future environmental legislations.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkObama and the Environment
August 29, 2008 | Category: Government | Leave a Comment
We have known that both candidates for President will make changes to our energy policy and to the reducing carbon emissions. What exactly we are not so sure until the winner works with congress to pass some meaningful bills. But we are sure that something will happen.
Barack Obama, the democratic candidate gave us one a look into the crystal ball during his acceptance speech. A part of which is printed below.
“And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.
Washington’s been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he’s said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.
Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.
As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I’ll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy – wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.”
According to Obama’s Blueprint For Change his plan includes:
- Invest in a Skilled Clean Technologies Workforce
- Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders
- Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund
- Require 25 Percent of Renewable Electricity by 2025
- Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology
- Support Next Generation Biofuels
- Improve Energy Efficiency by 50 Percent by 2030
- Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change
These are big changes for our country and businesses far and wide. Will your company be ready when change comes?
Next: McCain
Leave a Comment | PermalinkWine In A Box
August 18, 2008 | Category: Business | Leave a Comment
There was a time when my father was enamored with wine-in-a-box. Not so much the taste but the fact that you filled your glass with the spout that was connected to the plastic bladder inside. Very similar to my Camelback I use when I mountain bike. Back then I was not old enough to drink, or had even tasted wine, but I knew then that there was something wrong with wine-in-a-box. Something terribly wrong.
Just recently I have discovered wine with a screw top. At one time I thought this was offensive but I soon discovered that some of my favorite wines came with a screw top and the wine kept longer. Now I love wine wine with a screw top.
I’m as open minded as the next guy but I can’t imagine buying wine-in-a-box. That is until I read Tyler Colman’s article in the New York Times. It seems I can reduce my carbon footprint by switching to wine-in-a-box. You see its all about the transportation of wine from the areas that it is produced, the western U.S. and the rest of the world. It has to be shipped to those of us in the eastern and southern U.S. Consider what Tyler wrote:
“More than 90 percent of American wine production occurs on the West Coast, but because the majority of consumers live east of the Mississippi, a large part of carbon-dioxide emissions associated with wine comes from simply trucking it from the vineyard to tables on the East Coast. A standard wine bottle holds 750 milliliters of wine and generates about 5.2 pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions when it travels from a vineyard in California to a store in New York. A 3-liter box generates about half the emissions per 750 milliliters. Switching to wine in a box for the 97 percent of wines that are made to be consumed within a year would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about two million tons, or the equivalent of retiring 400,000 cars.”
Not to be selfish but my favorite reason for switching to wine-in-a-box is that it is more economical. Think about how much wine you pour down the sink because you never got around to finishing the bottle before it went bad. When it is boxed, the wine is preserved for four weeks compared with only a day or two with a bottle.
Consider buying a box of wine next time you are in a wine store, you may find a bottle (box) you like and you will help reduce your carbon footprint.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkMr Pickens, meet Everyman, Inc
August 8, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Like most investors, T Boone Pickens has identified an investment strategy that will work for him. It is forward-thinking, aggressive, and the potential payoff and risk are both high. But he’s not the only one out there, looking for ways to invest in the burgeoning ‘green’ economy. Lots of individual and institutional investors are seeking to get great returns; if they can “do good” at the same time, well, that’s fine too.
The “Leading Green” Blog at the Harvard Business Review reports this week about phenomenal growth in ‘green’ investing. While financial priority for sustainability has been growing for more than two decades (CERES itself celebrates twenty years in 2009), it is reaching numbers that are really hard to ignore. Mindy Lubber, the author, cites several studies and indices that show this. Her organization, CERES, is responsible for organizing a $10 billion commitment for renewable energy from European and US investors over the next two years. Those billions are likely just the tip of the iceberg (can we still use that analogy?).
What is driving all this interest? Knowledge and opinion that climate change, energy and water scarcity - among others - are global challenges that must be met, and that there is tremendous financial opportunity in being ready to handle them.
However, not all of us are investors with millions of dollars to invest in a windmill or two hundred. Just the same, there are opportunities for small, medium and large companies to profit from facing these challenges head-on, rather than pretend they don’t exist or hope we can drill our way to energy independence.
Be proactive. Be creative. It’s not necessarily about increasing your value by inventing a better photovoltaic cell to capture sunlight, it’s also about streamlining your energy and water use, and preparing the business for those global challenges. Companies that are successful at this will be smiled upon by these same institutional investors; viewed as having strong management. Off-book intangibles like this make a company more attractive for investors.
As Ms Lubber puts it: “Warning to U.S. companies: Just because national lawmakers are dawdling on global warming, don’t think your business can dawdle, too.”
Leave a Comment | PermalinkMilos “Green” Tea
July 29, 2008 | Category: Business | Leave a Comment
In the south we love our sweet tea. And it doesn’t get any better or sweeter than Milo’s the Birmingham, Alabama based hamburger restaurant that is known for it distinctive burgers, fries and tea. Milo’s has done a big business brewing its tea and selling it in their restaurants as well as in grocery stores. With all this tea comes a lot of tea leaves.
According to a story in the Birmingham News, Milo’s Tea Company has shipped 35 tons of used tea leaves to a Scotts Miracle-Gro plant to be composted with other organic materials and used in their potting and soil mixes. Milo’s Tea had funded a study through Auburn University to find out what kind of a mix would make good potting soil. This $15,000 grant was money well spent and should be recovered in savings from disposing of the leaves in no time.
The story does not make mention of any kind of financial arrangement between the two companies but we can see a few things at work here. Scotts is receiving materials it would otherwise not have access to and Milo’s is on their way to being sustainable by diverting a large amount of waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Everyone wins, especially those of us who love our sweet tea.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkDaimlers Guideline on Sustainability
July 28, 2008 | Category: Business | Leave a Comment
As an infrequent supplier to Mercedes Benz in Vance, Alabama we receive correspondence from them and their parent corporation Daimler from time to time. Today we received a very nice brochure in the mail. It was Daimlers Guideline on Sustainability. The opening paragraph says it all. “Sustainability is a long-term, strategic success factor not only for the Daimler AG, but also for the suppliers. The new Daimler Supplier Guideline on Sustainability actively promotes sustainable operations.”
There are four sections that the guideline covers. 1. Working Conditions / Labor, 2. Environmental Standards, 3. Business Ethics and 4. Information / Communications. There is nothing earth shattering in these guidelines and it will be pretty easy for most ethical companies to meet. Nothing a little time and effort can’t handle.
What it does signal is that suppliers will have to go that extra step when working for Daimler. Lowest cost and quality, while important, will not be the only factors they are judge on. For those trying to win a contract, sustainable business practices may be the one thing that distinguishes them from their competitor.
Companies considering “going green” should follow a well designed plan and put the practices they have developed into action. While it is becoming a requirement for some companies others may find that by following their plan they will find reduced cost in energy usage and waste. This could lead to lower costs making them even more attractive.
Its time you consider making your business sustainable and go that extra step. While you do that I think I might give Mercedes a call in case they forgot my phone number.
Leave a Comment | Permalink
Waste is potential profit loss.
