Agenda

A Little History Green Team Project Overview Program Description Local Environmental Statistics Suggestions for Consuming Wisely Questions and Comments

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Voluntary Simplicity

Interested in living simpler sustainable livesNothing around to tell us how to do itEverything was theoreticalWe needed practical measures

We found the Green Team Project!!!

Sustainability has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (United Nations).

History & Background

Founded in 1996 in San Francisco, CAHeadquarters now in Duval County, FLProject of the Tides CenterFive affiliates:

Duval County, FL Palo Alto, CA Boise, ID Wichita, KS Denver, CO

Residential (all) and Business Program (FL only)

Focus, Mission & GoalFocus: Environmental education & community building(non-advocacy, non-partisan)

Mission: Help individuals save money by becoming environmentally friendly in their every day practices

Goal:Change long term behavior and habits and foster environmental stewardship in each participant

Who We Serve

-- Individuals / Households -- Companies

-- Non-profit organizations -- Gov’t agencies -- Religious groups

It is our strong belief that both individuals and businesses can maintain a high standard of living and profitability while

conducting themselves and their businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. The Project is about

positive change. It supports behavior and attitude change in a fun, supportive, and non-judgmental manner.

Creating a Guide that Works for Denver and the Front Range

Time consuming DetailedConstantly needing updatesDynamicSatisfyingSustainable and Making a Difference

GTP Residential ProgramOur Niche: grassroots, on-the-ground affecting change one person/household at a time comprehensive in our approach by focusing on six resource areas all at once rather than

just one measurable results, both quantitatively and qualitatively

Process: Team-based approach (6-8 individuals per team)

7 meetings, every other week for 1.5-2 hours; fun, informal, and supportive

Everyone is a resource Locally tailored materials: Green Action Guide

online resources & trained volunteer coach Database calculations Joint projects Self-perpetuating process

“Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world…indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Locally Tailored Materials

Green Action Guide, Resource Binder & Coach

Solid Waste

Chemical

Energy

Transportation

Water

Community

Concrete Results

Average team member saves between 10-30% in EACH resource area

Resource/Action Unit of Measure per person/per team

Equivalent per person / per team

Waste diverted from landfill

2420 lbs/yr

16,940 lbs/yr

1/2 garbage truck

~3.5 garbage trucks

Chemicals replaced/ eliminated

4.5 products

31.5 products

1/2 sink full 12.5 gallons

Energy savings 1957 kWh/year

20,697 kWh/year

19.5 100W incandescents

137 100W incandescents

CO2 emissions reduced

2778 lbs/yr

19,443 lbs/yr

Work of 4.2 trees

Work of 29 trees

Miles driven reduced 1327 miles/yr

9,289 miles/year

1/2 way across the US

~4 trips across the US

Water savings 1302 gallons/yr

9114 gallons/yr

174 showers or 26 full baths

1215 showers or 182 full baths

Leading Consumption-RelatedEnvironmental Problems

(alphabetical order)

Air pollution

Global climate change

Habitat alteration

Water pollution

(Source:The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices by The Union of Concerned Scientists)

Solid Waste Statistics 4.6 pounds of garbage per day per person;

Total annual wastes in the US exceed 50

trillion pounds a year (1 million lbs of

materials per person per year) Denver recycled 14,000 tons of cardboard

and paper, 3,000 tons of glass, 540 tons of

plastic bottles, 360 tons of steel and 180 tons

of aluminum in 2005. One half of a typical dumpster is recyclable. Americans generate up to 70% of their waste at work. On average, one office worker can recycle enough paper every year to save at

least one tree. Every ton of paper (2000 pounds or 40 cases) that is recycled saves

approximately 17 trees from being cut down to make virgin paper.

(Sources: SWARM, Denver Recycles and FDEP)

Chemicals Statistics

Average American uses around 40 pounds of unsafe household cleaners each year -- 64% of victims of poisoning are under the age of six.

24 billion pounds of toxins that are developmentally and neurologically damaging to children are released into the environment every year – 1/200

Studies found that indoor air contained at least five (but typically 10 or more) times higher concentrations of pesticides than outside air.

800-900 storage tanks with hazardous substances discharge into the environment in our area every year

(Source: U.S. EPA and FLDEP)

“In planetary terms, we are all downstream.”

William McDonough

Energy StatisticsEnergyAmerican businesses waste up to $4 billion

worth of electricity every year due to inefficient use of office machines.

Lighting accounts for 25-50 percent of the energy used in commercial spaces.

General -- Only 10% of the energy used by standard incandescent bulbs contributes to light; the other 90% is wasted as heat.

Average home in Denver costs

$1,069/year in electricity.(Sources: USEPA, US EIA, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Xcel Energy)

Transportation Statistics

True cost of driving is about $1.19 per mile -- 0.863 cents in direct driver expenses & 0.329 cents in societal costs

Every second in America, cars collectively burn 3,000 gallons of gasoline and release 60,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

Americans lose 200,000 hours a day to traffic congestion. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver is

aggressively pursuing innovative ideas to reduce emissions, conserve resources and address environmental issues that improve the air quality of the metropolitan area.

(Sources: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, RTD-Denver )

Water Statistics

Average residential consumption in

Denver is 4,620 gallons a month or 154 gallons per day.

There was a 53% reduction in outdoor water use from 1994 to 2004 with the largest decrease observed in 2003.

A steady drip can waste 20 gallons of water per day, and a toilet leak up to 200.

(Source: Denver Water and US EPA)

Green BuildingGaining Traction

Nationally and internationally widely recognized as cost effective

Locally• Build Green Colorado was introduced in 1995 and was created

through the joint efforts of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA), The Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC), Xcel Energy, and E-Star Colorado

• It is the largest green building program in the Nation with 100 builder members and 45 sponsor members

• Denver hosted the US Green Building Council’s GreenBuild Conference and Expo last year.

Sources: USGBC and Built Green Colorado

Environmental Impact of Buildings

65.2% of total U.S. electricity consumption 30% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste

in the U.S. (approx. 2.8 lbs/person/day) 12% of potable water in the U.S. 40% (3 billion tons annually) of raw materials used

globally

Cost of building a new building – ~11%Cost of operating and maintaining that new building – ~75%

Priorities for Personal Action

1) Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive2) Think twice about purchasing another car3) Choose a fuel-efficient, low-polluting car (e.g., hybrid)4) Set concrete goals for reducing your travel - trip link5) Whenever practical, walk, bicycle or take mass transit 6) Eat less meat7) Buy certified organic produce 8) Choose your home carefully 9) Reduce the environmental costs of heating & hot water 10) Install efficient lighting and appliances 11) Choose a supplier offering renewable energy

Quotes

"We are all part of the web of life. During our brief visit here, we have a choice to make: we can either help it or hurt it. The old mind-set or the new? Exploitation and destruction or restoration? Which will it be? Every day of your life with every action you take, every investment you make, everything you buy and every person you teach: it's your call."

Ray Anderson

website: www.greenprintdenver.org/greenteams

Questions and Comments