By: Rachel Tanis
Who says that going green has to start at home? Big cities, like New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas, are leading the fight against global warming. Even bigger boundaries, like the state of California, are setting standards for environmental protection and well-being.
Last summer, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg declared that New York businesses would have to close their doors. No, they didn’t have to shut down operations, but they did have to keep doors closed (instead of wide open) to keep energy usage down. New York retailers were in the habit of propping open their doors year-round to welcome customers inside. While they might have been enticing a few to step in, they were letting precious cooled air (or heated, depending on the season) escape. This left air conditioners and heaters working overtime to maintain a comfortable shopping temperature inside of the store. Bloomberg’s plan was said to have saved city businesses more than $1,000 dollars and tons of CO2 each summer season. In addition, 20-25% of the businesses air conditioning was lost due to open doors. (http://energyefficiencynews.com/us/i/1251/)
When Chicago residents and visitors alike headed to the beaches of Lake Michigan, the summer fun was often overtaken by flocks of seagulls. The pests were disturbing sun-seekers good times because they were swarming the garbage-laden sand. The sandy shores were littered with food waste, a result of lazy summer days filled with picnics and summer-time drinks. To solve the problem, Chicago city management turned to trash compactors. Yet, not any trash compactor would do. The city called on Big Belly, a company that produces a solar-powered trash compactor. The solar power recharges a 12-volt battery inside the unit. The compactor can smash down about 200 gallons of trash in a single bin. Using the sun to help out the city, the units are saving Chicago tax-payers are two fronts. First, the city doesn’t have to send out as many waste management officers to clean up the trash. Secondly, the city can now keep up with the garbage and the beaches are cleaner, which keeps residents and visitors flocking to the shoreline. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12045048)
Government has taken quite a hit lately for not properly tackling green issues. But, if Chicago and New York can step up to the plate to make such minor – yet beneficial – changes for the better, why can’t we? This week think about the small things that these massive cities have done and ask yourself what tiny changes in your own life can have an equally big impact. Tell us what you thought of by commenting to this post. Who knows, maybe Mayor Bloomberg or Mayor Daley will be calling you up to discuss environmental policy.
Last summer, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg declared that New York businesses would have to close their doors. No, they didn’t have to shut down operations, but they did have to keep doors closed (instead of wide open) to keep energy usage down. New York retailers were in the habit of propping open their doors year-round to welcome customers inside. While they might have been enticing a few to step in, they were letting precious cooled air (or heated, depending on the season) escape. This left air conditioners and heaters working overtime to maintain a comfortable shopping temperature inside of the store. Bloomberg’s plan was said to have saved city businesses more than $1,000 dollars and tons of CO2 each summer season. In addition, 20-25% of the businesses air conditioning was lost due to open doors. (http://energyefficiencynews.com/us/i/1251/)
When Chicago residents and visitors alike headed to the beaches of Lake Michigan, the summer fun was often overtaken by flocks of seagulls. The pests were disturbing sun-seekers good times because they were swarming the garbage-laden sand. The sandy shores were littered with food waste, a result of lazy summer days filled with picnics and summer-time drinks. To solve the problem, Chicago city management turned to trash compactors. Yet, not any trash compactor would do. The city called on Big Belly, a company that produces a solar-powered trash compactor. The solar power recharges a 12-volt battery inside the unit. The compactor can smash down about 200 gallons of trash in a single bin. Using the sun to help out the city, the units are saving Chicago tax-payers are two fronts. First, the city doesn’t have to send out as many waste management officers to clean up the trash. Secondly, the city can now keep up with the garbage and the beaches are cleaner, which keeps residents and visitors flocking to the shoreline. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12045048)
Government has taken quite a hit lately for not properly tackling green issues. But, if Chicago and New York can step up to the plate to make such minor – yet beneficial – changes for the better, why can’t we? This week think about the small things that these massive cities have done and ask yourself what tiny changes in your own life can have an equally big impact. Tell us what you thought of by commenting to this post. Who knows, maybe Mayor Bloomberg or Mayor Daley will be calling you up to discuss environmental policy.
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