Be vegan, be green

I recently ate at a restaurant called Vegan-to-Go in Gainesville, Fl. The restaurant has vegan based vietnamese food that tastes delicious and that I would recommend to you. It is Gainesville's first vegan restaurant. You can find the menu here.The owner of this restaurant is a disciple of this so-called "The Supreme Master Ching Hai." Sounds like a cult, right?

Supreme Master Ching Hai is a "world-renowned humanitatiran, environmentalist, author, artist, designer, musician, film director and spirtual teacher that is one of the most dedicated ecological pioneers, promoting environmental protection, bidiversity preservation, reforestation, sustainable living and most importantly, the organic vegan diet." She is resourceful in launching several programs that inspires the world. Her association created campaings, publishes news magazines, books, has a TV series on climate change, vegan diet and relevant world saving topics (Supreme Master TV).

I inherited this book about her practice that explains her ideals about sustainability called From Crisis to Peace: The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer by The Supreme Master herself. This book presents the major factors about global warming. She argues that the root cause of this is the livestock industry. She states, "our planet is a house that is burning. If we don't work together with a united spirit to put out the fire, we will not have a home anymore." She believes that every individual can "be veg to save the planet." 

Raising animals for food wastes massive amounts of precious water, land and energy, and also contributes to 51% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock farming is the greatest single source of atmospheric methane, a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but one with a shorter lifespan. Therefore, Master Ching's argument is only "meat production and adopt a plant-based diets to reduce global temperatures,  heal the environmental ills caused by livestock and reduce the cost mitigating climate change by trillions of dollars."

 

Personally, the vegan diet is something that should be praticed, but the diet being unpoplular makes it difficult to maintain. Being vegan is changing everything from cooking and places to eat. I'd prefer a life with a vegan diet and for it to be more of a tradition but it is not, so it is challenging to make the transition. It feels as if one would object to a vegan diet due to these limits and/or the taste of it. There must be this lack of knowlege about the vegan diet causing the majority of the population not participating. If the world shifted to a more sustainable diet it will gradually improve and health of it's occupants and the surrounding areas.

 

 

 

 

Say No to Bottled Water!

 To understand the  negative impacts in consumption of water from water bottles, you must first understand the "life cycle" system.

Water is naturally obtained, then sent to factories to where they get bottled, sold in the mart, and used whenever and wherever. But, where do these bottles go for disposal? They are claimed to be recycled but are actually hoarded in India where mountains of down-cycled bottles become of no use. Has that stopped you drinking water bottles yet? 

Bottled water is not guaranteed to be recycled, most students here in Gainesville are seen to be throwing it in trash cans and some will throw it everywhere else. The solution for water bottle consumption is to stop buying them. We must invest in public water infrastructure, prevent pollution and make more drinking fountains available. Refillable water bottles should be used. Do not reuse plastic water bottles because it can be harmful. If bottles are left out under the sun, the plastic may melt and contaminate the water.

Why is it that the consumer prefers a product that is "less sustainable, less tasty, and highly expensive?" As the video explains, the media has changed our perception of water. People think, "tap water is gross!" In most places tap water is generally better for you than the bottle. 

"Say 'no' to bottled water!"

Biomimicry

"These organisms have figured out a way to do these amazing thing they do, while taking care of the place that is going to take care of the place of their offspring." -Janine Benyus


12 sustainable design ideas from nature

People believe that they are using biomimicry such as using bacteria to clean water. Benyus states that this is actually called bio assisting. Biomimicry is learning a natural idea and applying it.

How does life make 'things'?
How does life make the most of 'thing's?
How does life make 'things' diappear into systems?



1. Self assembly
2. CO2 as a feedstock
3. Solar transformations
4. Power of shape
5. Quencing thirst
6. Metals without mining
7. Green chemistry
8. Time degradation
9. Resilience and healing
10. Sensing and responding
11. Growing fertility
12. Life creates conditons conclucive to life design



Let us use the resources of nature and not create something that will render our environment unsustainable.

Biomimicry is used in many of today's construction. In building glazing for example, characteristics of a lotus are used to design windows that 'self-cleans.' Other ideas would include passive cooling in buildings which are much similar to the termite mounds that inspired it. The use of biomimicry is interesting because it is available to anyone, one would have to discover it's nature and invent ways to utilize the concept.

Existing Biomimicry that Changed the World:

Velcro
Uses the idea of tiny hooks on the end of a burr's spines to create a fastener system. Invented by Swiss engineer George de Mestral when he discovered the burrs stuck on his dog's hair.

www.aaet.dk  

Passive Cooling
In Zimbabwe, tower-building termites constantly open and close vents from their mounds to manage convection currents of air. Cooler air is drawn in from open lower section while hot air escapes. Sounds familiar?

www.ics.ele.tue.nl  

Gecko Tape
Adhesive tape was discovered through the feet of gecko lizards. These lizards have millions of tiny, flexible hairs that provide a powerful adhesive effect. To mimic this, tape is covered with nanoscopic hairs with similar adhesiveness.

robotics.eecs.berkeley.edu  

Whalepower Wind Turbine
Humpback whales' flippers make them surprisingly agile in the water. The flipper-inspired turbine blades provide applications from wind turbines, hydroelectric turbines, irrigation pumps, and ventilation fans.

therecycletimes.com 

Lotus Effect Hydrophobia
The surface water of lotus' leaves are bumpy causing water to bead and pick up contaminates and roll off. This study inspired applications such as water resistance.

en.wikipedia.org  

Self-Healing Plastics
A human's body is able to heal on its own from scrapes and cuts. This study suggested a ligh polymer composite theat produces material that are self-healing.

www.technologyreview.com 

The Golden Streamlining Principle
The idea of air and fluid movement technologes based on the Fibonacci sequence, logarithmic spiral and the Golden Ratio, applies to fans, mixers, and impellers.

infocom-hmjts-uty.blogspot.com 

Artificial Photosynthesis
Using sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for clean fuel.

www.earthtechling.com

Bionic Car
Aerodynamic ideals will consider boasting 20% less fuel consumption and 80% reduction in nitrogen oxide omissions.

www.lwl.org 

Morphing Aircraft Wings
The changing shape depending on the speed and duration of flight inspired by birds and fish.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Friction-Reducing Sharkskin
The ability of shark's skin to reduce drag inspired researchers to develop coating for ship hulls, submarines, aircraft fuselage, and swimwear for humans.

fishingcrew.blogspot.com 

Diatomaceous Nanotech
Tiny, single-celled algae known as diatoms expressed it's reliability to manufacture working valves of various shapes and sizes that can be used in nano-devices to deliver drugs to specific targes in the body.

engineering.curiouscatblog.net  

Glo-fish
Glow-in-the-dark aquarium fish produce fluorescent protein that will prove a necessity in an ecological role, but unfortunately it just serves the purpose of simply being 'cool.'

www.nbcnews.com 

Insect-Inspired Autonomous Robots
Study of insect's ability to cover varied terrain, clim surfaces, and provide stability, their eyes offer greater resolution and panoramic range, and the ability to quickly adapt to changing environments become a generator for robot applications.

coe.berkeley.edu   

Butterfly-Inspired Displays
Helps with smart phones and saves battery due to the displaying static image producing near-zero power. It's the reflected light principle and how human beings perceive light from a butterfly's wings.

www.greenbiz.com  

Based on the article on http://brainz.org/15-coolest-cases-biomimicry/

Sustainable University

Sustainable UF

Zero Waste
The University of Florida has a goal of zero waste by 2015. The current recycling rate is nearly 40% or over 6,000 tons of material annually. There are several waste stream diversions throughout campus such as: all yard waste generated on campus is re-purposed into mulch at a local recovery facility, dining services collects cooking-oil waste for recycling, and animal bedding in the Vet school is being decontaminated and composted for commercial forestry.

UF's sustainable culture is possible through the cooperation and commitment of individuals. Everyone's mindset must consider to recycle, lower consumption of disposable goods, reuse or share items, and purchase items with recycled content.

http://sustainable.ufl.edu/zero-waste/

Recycling and Reuse

The University Physical Plant Department (PPD) Solid Waste Management Office manages the collection and disposal of all solid waste generated throughout the University. Since, 2008, recycling bins and paper collection bins are placed throughout campus. The recycling program includes collection and recycling services for paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic, scrap metal, wooden pallets, concrete, masonry, yard waste, ink cartridges, electronics waste, furniture, office supplies, and "tailgator" game day recycling.

Waste Reduction

There are programs and websites that help you find ways to reduce costs, consolidate messages, and develop more sustainable paper habits. 

The UF Surplus Property makes available the purchase of usable materials such as furniture. 

Consumers are informed and given resources to take the best practice and strategy for waste reduction through purchasing, leasing, renting, as well as product take-back strategies.

UF is contracted with a private vendor to take-back and refill printer toner cartridges and buy remanufactured ones. 

Reducing envelope waste.

Sharing printers.

Placing large trash cans paired with recycling bins to reduce workload for cleaning staff and reduces use of plastic bags.

Donating, sharing, and trading of unneeded office supplies. 

Dining services switched all foam products to compostable alternatives. Reusable containers reused for food and drink reduce waste.

 A student-run operation educate UF students about the importance of food waste composting and even gives opportunities for students to compost their own food waste. 

Work with Environmental Health and Safety to track and safely dispose of all hazardous waste.

Terracycle Brigades

Terracycle is a program that coordinates national recycling systems for previously non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle waste, and converts the waste into a wide variety of productas and materials:

• Personal Care and Beauty Brigade®
• Colgate Oral Care Brigade®
• Cheese Packaging Brigade®
• Tortilla and Tostada Bag Brigade®
• Bear Naked® Brigade®
• Sprout Baby Food Pouches Brigrade®
• Cleaner Packaging Brigade®
• Packaging Multi-Stream Brigade®
• Huggies Brand Brigade®
• Hot Cereal Brigade®
• Candy Bar Wrapper Brigade®
• Energy Bar Wrapper Brigade®
• Drink Pouch Brigade®
• Lunch Kit Brigade®

Remember to Hold Your Breath!

Beijing is one of the most populated cities in China. It showcases some of the most spectacular architecture's of the world: The Forbidden Kingdom, The Great Wall, Beijing National Stadium, Linked Hybrid,  and the CCTV tower that had recently finished it's construction. The food, people, activities, and sights are plenty. Unfortunately the air is harmful. When my architecture class and I visited Beijing during the summer of 2011, the city was not as bad as the pictures below. There was never a blue sky within the two weeks of stay in Beijing. The air was dry, dirty, dusty, and most us found it hard to breath waking up to it. Look at pictures of the city now...it has gotten much worse!

In an article found on archdaily.com titled, "The Indicator: On a Clear Day You can Almost See Beijing," the title reveals it all. How can a new building looking to go green work with this burden? It is like a "sand storm," that layers the city with smog and dirt. According to the author, Guy Horton, the skies of Beijing has gotten worse due to the engines of economic development. Horton states that ten years ago there were fewer buildings, less dirty trucks that release smoke, less cars, which meant less pollution. He also found that certain districts of Beijing was reported to have and AQI(Air Quality Index) of above 900. The World Health Organization  says that the report of that air quality can potentially decrease your lifespan by five years. Horton investigates that, globally, roughly 40% of all power is produced using coal, 42% is produced in the US, and 79% is China. The future of Beijing doesn't look so bright either. It will continue to suffer. China will add 160 new coal-fired power plants for the next four years. Just look at Beijing now. Do they need more pollution?

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

http://www.archdaily.com/319419/the-indicator-on-a-clear-day-you-can-almost-see-beijing/

Who are the FGBC?

http://floridagreenbuilding.org/

FGBC encourages owners to make their buildings green and use sustainable strategies. Their mission is "to lead and promote sustainability with environmental, economic, and social benefits through regional education and certification programs." It is like another alternative to LEED certification and Green Globes. They have their own checklist of green characteristics and levels of achievement.

Case Study - Arbor Homes of Seagrove

-achieved a gold-level Florida Water star for water efficiency

-platinum-level green home by FGBC

-indoor air quality and comfort using heat pump with passive fresh-air ventilation system

-innovative storm water treatment to reduce runoff

'Buiding C'

Building C fulfills many of the LEED requirements. It is potentially one of the best examples for a LEED construction. It really takes advantage of the local resource, all while creating a sustainable building and emphasizes a healthy environment. Here are some of Building C's elements that defines it a green building as mention in the video:

Sustainable Site
The wood from the site were used for furniture. Roof top garden reduces heat island effect. White membrane increases reflectance and reduces solar heat. Bike racks and showers are included to promote biking to work.

Water Efficiency
All toilets and faucets are high efficient fixtures. Cisterns collect and store rainwater for later use in watering plants and toilets and urinals. Retention ponds are used for irrigation.

Energy and Atmosphere
Solar thermal system heats the hot water supply. Rotarys transforms outside air to fresh indoor air. Radiant floor heating are use to heat large rooms. The tinted windows reduces heat gain,

Materials and Resources
Locally sourced material are used to minimize shipping. Materials are recycled and recycled materials are used.

Indoor Environmental Quality
Low emission workplace. Lights are sensored for daily

Innovation and Design
The building is used as a teaching tool.

What are Green Globes?

http://www.thegbi.org/

Green Globes is an alternative to LEED. It is more business-friendly and affordable than it's competitor.   The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is exclusive provider of Green Globes Building Certification in the U.S. Many buildings that use the alternative when they were unable to be certified with LEED. "With GBI assessment and certification services, you can reduce operational costs, qualify for tax incentives, meet federal mandates, or increase the marketability o your buildings." Here is why anyone would pick one over the other...


http://www.thegbi.org/green-globes/green-globes-leed-green-building-certification.shtml