I, like many other people in the United States, am not fortunate enough to live close enough to work that I can walk or bike. When possible, my co-workers and I attempt to car pool but with differing schedules, this is not possible 100% of the time.

One day at lunch I was looking around my office at the many, many people eating and talking, and it dawned on me: most (if not all) of these people rely on individual transportation to get to work. "What a shame!" I thought to myself. "If there was only a way to reduce the amount that people had to drive to get to work!" With a mass rail or transit system out of the question, because we do not live in a very densely populated place, I began racking my brain for ways to decrease the amount of carbon produce by my office in our collect daily commute.

Inspired by a comment from my mom ("If you are so unhappy with the situation, why don’t you just quit!"), I decided to attempt to not go into work. No, I didn’t quit. What I did do was sit down with my boss and analyze the work I do on a day-to-day basis, and which things I do that could be done from home.

While it was not an easy subject to approach, nor the most comfortable conversation I have ever had, I came out with a totally new work schedule. It was important to stress that I would not be doing less work, nor would the quality of my work decrease. Also, we agreed that if either scenario happened, that I would immediately return to my normal work schedule. Now, instead of driving to work five days a week, arrive at 9 am and leaving around 5pm, I have flexibility in my "office hours."

This is beneficial in two ways: First, I do not have to drive to and from the office nearly as much, as I have days in my week that do not require any "office hours" at all. Secondly, when I am required to be in the office, I do not necessarily have to drive in peak rush hour anymore. This is a significant improvement to my old routine, as I was wasting a lot of gas, and emitting a ton of extra carbon sitting on the highway in traffic.

Now, a friend of mine alerted me to the fact that I might be using more carbon to heat my house in the winter than I would be using to drive to work. This may be true in some cases, but if you take the extra steps necessary to winterize your home, the point should be pretty much null and void.

According to the International Telework Association and Council (ITAC), I am apparently not the first person to love the idea of working from home. If fact, ITAC claims that by 2010, the number of people working from home will increase from the current 26 million to an incredible 100 million. That means there may be 74 million less people driving to work everyday!

While working from home may not be an option for everyone, it is an avenue that I strongly suggest checking out. Before my uncomfortable discussion with my boss, I would never have though it possible that I could work from home.

photo credit- workingathomeopportunity.com

What do you get when you combine an undergraduate degree in sociology and three masters degrees in sociology, divinity studies and urban planning with an intense love for the Lord? A priest on a mission … that’s what!

Since 1998, Rev. Charles Morris has been on a mission to make his church a sustainable place to worship, and the results are quite impressive. St. Elizabeth’s Church, in Wyandotte, Michigan, is not only a place of God, but a place of innovation as well. It has taken Rev. Morris almost ten years, and over $150,000 to make his church a beacon of both religion and sustainability, two things he believes go hand in hand.

It all started with a heightened awareness of the harms of global warming, mixed with a responsibility to to his faith. The more educated the Reverend became about peak oil and depleted natural resources, the more worried he became about the prospects for future generations. At the same time, he could not help but feel that every bit of energy wasted was somehow connected to God. As he put it, "I was worried about our relationship to energy, and about our relationship to God… he is the creator of all everything, including life and energy." Instead of preaching from the pulpit, the Michigan priest got involved.

And the result? St. Elizabeth’s is one of the most environmentally comprehensive churches in the United States. On the roof of the building are solar panels and a wind turbine that provide the electricity for the community rooms and for the basement of the church. There is also a solar collector that provides the building with hot water. Moreover, the roof is home to a solar fan, which removes the hot air from the attic of the church.

But, the innovations do not stop there! The church’s 1,400 square feet of stained glass windows are covered with a solar netting that regulates the inside temperature: it retains heat in the winter, and lowers cooling costs in the summer. The church also boasts compact fluorescent bulbs and LED lighting technology throughout the building. Pretty impressive, huh?

Like I mentioned before, the environmental overhaul cost the church about $150,000. While this may sound like a ton of money (which it is!), it is the money saved that made this project economically feasible. Currently, the church is saving about $20,000 per year on energy costs, which means it cut its former energy costs by over half. If you project those savings through ten years, the church will not only make its money back, but it will have saved over $50,000 in utility expenses.

Aside from what he sees as a responsibility to the Lord, Reverend Morris has some pretty persuasive reasons for going green. As he told me, "we have a responsibility to the next generation, and to the generations after that. To ignore the current state of the environment is not only reckless, it is negligent." Sometimes, it seems as though it is the people with the largest sense of imperative that make the biggest changes for what they believe in.

Becoming sustainable has not exactly been a crystal stair for Reverend Charles Morris, though. When asked about the biggest challenge in the greening of both his church and his life, the Reverend tolds me, "lethargy — it is easy to lose momentum when undertaking such a large task. Also, bad habits. I am no different than anyone else: I have parts of my routine that I need to change to reflect my belief [in sustainability]."

Lethargy and bad habits are just the beginning of what Father Morris has had to overcome to get to where he is today. One of the things he claimed posed the biggest hurdle for him, in terms of achieving a higher level of sustainability, was a lack of support and education. When undertaking something like an environmental overhaul, there will always be people who don’t get it, which is why we need to construct an atmosphere that encourages people to try new things, and to take risks.

According to Father Morris, "We must create the conditions that foster green lifestyles, and education is a good place to start." Reverend Morris is a staunch advocate on environmental education and sees it as a necessary step to making this country more sustainable.

When asked what the biggest environmental harm resulting from the way most Americans live their lives, the Reverend responded quickly:

The poor, the invisible people of this country who suffer the most from the destruction of the environment. It is the people suffering from asthma, heart attacks and other health problems. We, as a country do not acknowledge these people. Because of our consumer culture, they are isolated and the only way to fix that is through education

Education is not the only way in which we can decrease our environmental impact though. The Reverend believes that business must step up and take a leadership role in the greening of this country. He explains,

Businesses need to take charge. They need to not only green their own practices and act as a model for the rest of the country; they must provide the capital and incentive to get us to the next level. We are on the cusp of the ‘next phase,’ but businesses must realize that going green can be profitable. When this happens, you will see a shift in the market and the increased affordability of green technology.

While not all of us may have the resources to undertake a environmental overhaul anytime soon, Reverend Morris has some good advice for those people just getting started greening their lives. "Start reading! It is easy to look at your environmental impact and go from denial to despair. Instead, you must go to decision. You need to figure out what you can change, make the necessary modifications and then celebrate your victories." And celebrate he does. Father Charles Morris is not only a wonderful example of what can be accomplished with a little determination; he is man who truly practices what he preaches.

Photo credit: Detroit MetroTimes

So you are a busy businessperson, I get it. You barely have time to do the thing that MUST be done, let alone the things that should. Often times, it is this reality that leads to environmental sustainability taking a back seat in the work place. No matter how busy you may be, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce your workplace’s negative environmental impact.

Pull the Plug — Is your microwave being used 24/7? No? Then why is it plugged in? While idle appliances don’t take up a ton of energy, think about all the small lights that shine, blink or flash throughout your office. Each of those displays requires energy to light up. Further, even appliances without lights or displays can consume energy when they are not turned on. Stand-by appliances can add a constant 50-watt drain to your power supply.

Your computer is a big contributor to the problem of wasted energy. Did you know that when your computer is completely idle, even if your monitor is off, it still is probably pulling about 100 watts from the wall.

Stop the Leak — You may not think it considerable, but the amount of water wasted from leaky faucets and other sources really adds up. If you notice a faucet dripping, or a spigot outside that doesn’t quite close, fix it! One drop wasted per second wastes 2,642 gallons per year. Now, that is not only bad for the environment; it is bad for you bottom line!

Make it a Double — While many of us may not think to take the time to change out printer setting, printing on both sides of the paper reduces your paper usage by … 50%! Halving you paper consumption is a great way to make a huge difference in your workplace’s environmental impact. 50% is a significant decrease and the only you have to do is flip the pages!

Cut the Chlorine — When buying paper products, most companies go for the cheapest stuff their suppliers have to offer. I mean, they are just napkins, right? Wrong! Paper products processed with chlorine are more harmful to the environment than those that are not. In fact, chlorine-free paper production uses 20-25 times less water. Moreover, the chlorine used in paper production can create dioxins that are poisonous to fish and can pollute water sources.

If your company is not ready to take the plunge into absolute greenness, you can do these five, simple things, and will be making big steps in the right direction! Hopefully, the energy, water and waste you conserve will help motivate you to do even more to become a sustainable business!

It may seem that anything available can be found in the green variety: there are green builders, natural cleaning products and eco-friendly clothing lines … but sustainable event planners? Yep! Seven-Star Inc provides a one-stop shop for all your green events needs. From planning to production, Seven-Star has incorporated their eco-conscious business model into every aspect of their services.

Now, you may be thinking, "green event planning?" Apparently there is an awful lot of environmental degradation happening at the hands of big events. As Seven-Star explains,

As planners, producers and consultants, our job is to provide easy, economical and practical solutions to reduce your event’s impact on the environment and society. Every event has associated negative impacts: Carbon emissions result from shipping, exhibitors and attendees use fuel for travel, waste is generated, electricity is used, the list goes on. Our goal is to reduce and mitigate these negatives, then transform them into more profit for you and positive PR for your event.

Seven-Star has incorporated their sustainable philosophy, known as eR/sR, into their day-to-day operations. eR/sR is an acronym for environmentally responsible and socially respectful. As the company notes, "We coined the term eR/sR to precisely describe the high standard we believe in: true environmental responsibility and social respect. It’s simple, it’s user-friendly, and in the world we live in today, eR/sR is synonymous with a powerful alternative."

Seven Star works to make every event, from street fairs to private parties, as green as possible. They work with their clients to reduce waste, ensure efficient energy technology is utilized, organize event recycling, and even facilitate the use of green decorations. According to Seven-Star,

[We take] a comprehensive approach to transforming an event, one step at a time. We begin by reviewing an events’ ecological footprint, taking energy use, waste stream and the quality of products into account. We then develop and implement an operational and product usage plan outlining steps to green the event on a specified timeline. We identify opportunities for material re-use, carbon emissions neutralizing and product conversion to eco-friendly alternatives.

The list of clients taking advantage of Seven-Star’s services is reads like a list of environmental "Who’s Who." From the Green Fest in Chicago, to the Global Exchange in San Francisco, Seven-Star is working on projects all over the continental United States.

Seven-Star’s committment to sustainability extends into the workplace itself: As the company states on their website,

At Seven-Star, we internalize our commitment and express it in practical ways. Our employees are served all-organic breakfast and lunch each day, and all of our employees are enrolled in a health care plan that emphasizes prevention. Meanwhile, our office participates in recycling and composting.

Needless to say, Seven-Star is a great example of a fully integrated green business plan!

It seems as though Seven-Star has taken the idea of sustainability and effectively woven it throughout nearly every aspect of their business. It takes a lot of planning and dedication to make a business as sustainable, both in principal and practice, as Seven-Star. In the end, Seven-Star not only provides quality event planning services, they also serve as a model for other businesses striving for environmental sustainability.

All quotes in this article can be found on Seven’ Star’s website.

Whether it is Portland, Burlington or San Francisco, some cities just seem to give out that green vibe. So, what exactly makes a city green? Is it the number of farmers markets? Is it the quality of public transportation? Does it have something to do with the number of residents and businesses who recycle? Sometimes it is difficult to tell weather or not a city is truly green, or just gives out that crunchy, eco-friendly feeling.

Well, thanks to the United Nations, cities worldwide have a guide on how to become more authentically sustainable places. Drafted in 2005 and endorsed by the UN, the Urban Environmental Accords serve as a set of 21 principals by which to make an urban center more eco-friendly. Originally promoted by a group of mayors at the 2005 World Environment Day, the Accords have now been enacted in over 100 cities worldwide.

Acting as a manual for urban sustainability, The Accords outline a 21-point program that guides cities on both small and large things they can do to green their spaces. The 21 points are broken down into seven categories: Water, Transportation, Waste Reduction, Urban Design, Environmental Health, Energy and Urban Nature. An example of an action under the category of "Urban Nature" is "Ensure that there is an accessible public park or recreational open space within half-a-kilometer of every city resident by 2015." Further, cities earn stars for the number of actions, or points, they achieve, and the actual sustainability of a city can be judged based on how many stars they have received.

Unlike most other programs of its type, The Urban Environmental Accords are an effort that spans continents. By identifying urban residents with a movement much larger than most, The Accords foster a broad sense of involvement in and commitment to the worldwide community.
Aside from authentically accepting some responsibility for the environmental conditions of a city, The Urban Environmental Accords can actually help cities make some money. As Mark Weiner, a staff writer for The Post-Standard in New York puts it in his article, "City Saves $1M,"

A new effort to turn Syracuse into a green city is starting to pay big dividends, saving the city almost $1 million per year through environmentally friendly practices, city officials say. Those savings are expected to grow as Syracuse moves forward with a seven-year program spelled out in an international accord Mayor Matt Driscoll signed in November.

More specifically, Syracuse made an immediate move on some of the actions in order to compensate in the budget for the cost of others. Basically, the city temporarily robbed Peter to pay Paul, but there were no economic causalities. Put simply, while the initial investment cost that goes into enacting the Urban Environmental Accords can be considerably high, certain aspects of the program have quick turn-arounds and even quicker pay-offs. As Weiner explains,

At least $537,000 of the project costs have already been returned to the city through a state energy-saving program. Syracuse recently finished installing energy-saving equipment and new insulated windows in City Hall. The city now buys all of the energy for the historic building from alternative sources such as hydro and wind power.

Needless to say, sometime you have to go green to make green.

In the end, The Urban Environmental Accords are a concrete set of guidelines that really advocate the eco-principals that can make city truly sustainable. So next time you are wondering, "How sustainable is my city?" check and see how it stacks up with the points of The Accords.

Also, for more information on The Urban Environmental Accords, check out:

San Francisco Mayor Proclaims Urban Environmental Movement (CityMayors.com)

The Urban Environmental Accords — Environmental Justice for Some (Joel Makower: Two Steps Forward)

The Urban Environmental Accords

Note: The full text of Mark Weiner’s article, "City Saves $1M" is only available through the Post-Standard’s paid archive. Anyone interested in the full-text content can contact me, and I will be happy to dig through my archieves and send out a copy!

For those of you who do not live in Michigan, or keep up on its politics, it may come as a surprise to find out that our economy is pretty much in the gutter. Our unemployment rate is the highest it has been in nearly six months, and it seems the bad news keeps rolling in. With large cuts in the automotive industry, coupled with the dissapearence of jobs from such powerhouses as Pfizer and Visteon, the future for Michigan looks bleak at best… or does it?

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has some progressive ideas about how to get Michigan economy back on track. Recently returning from a brief stint in Sweden and other Scandinavian contries, Granholm reiterated her commitment to making Michigan a green state. Going above and beyond the usual ecopolitical jargon about how Michigan should be harnessing wind and hydroelectric power, Granholm went straight for the gold and put things into a perspective that matters most to the people of Michigan right now: economics.

Citing the creation of a new economy for Michigan, Granholm discussed her plans to compensate for the lagging automotive industry by strengthening Michigan’s alternative energy sector. She also made sure to note that she was working very hard to attract outside investments to increase the rate at which the sector can feasibly grow.

A good example of her commitment seemingly coming to fruition is the Memorandum of Understanding that was recently signed by a Swedish company, Chemrec AB, and NewPage Corporation, an Ohio-based business with mills and factories in Michigan. The memorandum outlines each company’s commitment to working together to develop plants in Michigan that would produce renewable biomass-based fuels in Escanaba, Michigan. According to Governor Granholm,

This partnership between Chemrec and NewPage is a great opportunity for us as we work to make Michigan the North American hub for alternative energy production…With its potential for biomass-based fuel production, this plant in Escanaba could put Michigan at the forefront of renewable next-generation fuels, helping to end our dependence on foreign oil while bringing jobs and investments to the community.

But not everyone in Michigan sees Governor Granholm’s vision as positively as she does. As Leah Burcat, writer for the Michigan Land Use Institute states, "Governor Jennifer M. Granholm’s efforts to make Michigan the ‘alternative energy epicenter of America’ is yielding some progress, but not nearly enough to keep Michigan competitive with other states, according to energy experts, academics, and government officials in and out of Michigan." In her article "Michigan’s ‘Energy Epicenter’ Turing Black, Not Green," Burcat discusses what many in Michigan believe to be Granholm’s biggest hurdle: the coal industry. Burcat goes on to explain that,

Many of [these] same experts and officials interviewed by the Great Lakes Bulletin News Service also pointed out that the two-term Democratic governor chooses not to talk about a very different, more potent trend taking shape in the state’s energy markets: The proliferation of new proposals to build coal-burning power plants, the dirtiest way to manufacture electricity… Citizens are already battling proposals for multi-billion dollar coal plants in Rogers City and Midland because such facilities cause acid rain, smog, mercury pollution, and contribute heavily to global warming.

So, the question many Michiganders have for Governor Granholm is, "Has your pledge to ‘go anywhere and do anything’ for jobs led us down a contrarian’s path? Are we preaching one thing, and doing the opposite behind the closed doors of big business?" As Burcat puts it, "The question… is whether that pledge should include using 19th-century boiler technology and an 18th-century fuel source to power a 21st century economy-and whether that will do nearly as much for Michigan as conserving energy and developing cleaner sources of electricity?"

With all potential hypocrisy aside, let just say for a minute that the alternative energy sector really was on the verge of taking off. Who would be qualified to work for these companies? See, the job diversity in Michigan is not what it is in other states- we have a very heavy concentration of workers, especially those over the age of 40, whose professional specialization lies somewhere within the production of cars or trucks. Therefore, to "boost the alternative energy sector" will mean much more than attracting new alternative energy companies; it will entail the retraining of nearly an entire section of our workforce, and that just covers the short-term.

In the long run, Michigan will need to adapt all aspects of its economy that funnel people into working for the automotive industry. Maybe this will mean modifying high school shop programs to include lessons on maintaining a wind turbine, or maybe it will require the creation of trade schools whose entire focus is various careers in the alternative energy sector.

Either way, training programs and specialty schools will both help to create a pertinently educated workforce and, in doing so, create a strong base for the expansion of the alternative energy sector. Yet, that leads us to the question of whether we run the possibility of educating these people just to have them leave for more desirable state economies. I don’t think so. I think that an educated workforce, along with an honest commitment to the alternative energy sector will give Michigan the help in needs to overcome the economic slump that is currently keeping us from being the economic powerhouse we once were.

Whether you own a biodiesel vehicle or just covert fryer grease into fuel for a furnace or other appliance, you know that grease is harder to come by than one might expect. Often times, restaurants are the best source for large amounts of inexpensive waste veggie oil (wvo). A problem can arise when trying to find a restaurant willing to donate their used oil to your cause. By understanding a few basic principles about wvo collection, you can greatly increase your chances of persuading a restaurant to hand over the slimy stuff you so desperately desire.

Because many restaurants have an agreement with a grease company, where the company will remove the restaurant’s wvo without charge, some businesses no longer have claim over their grease once it exits the building. The good news is that, oftentimes, these ‘deals’ are only one-year agreements. This means that a restaurant many get their wvo removed free for a year, but after that, they are required to pay for the service. Because the restaurant is used to the service being provided (it is a messy job!), they are usually okay with paying a nominal fee to the company after the initial year. This is where any crafty wvo hunter can get their foot in the door.

In order to find out what a particular restaurant is doing with their wvo, there are a few important things you should remember when attempting to approach anyone in the particular establishment.

Buy Something: The easiest way to get the attention of the people you need to talk to is to buy something. Walk into the restaurant just like you were any other customer, sit down, and order something to eat. Once your food has arrived, ask to speak with the manager. Because most managers (and wait staff) will thing you have a complaint about your meal, they’re in a relatively good mood once they realize you are not their to criticize their product or performance.

Speak to Your Target Audience: Seeing as how all restaurant employees may not have an extensive background in the finer point of biodiesel collection, it is important that you simplify your message. The biggest mistake that you could make would be to walk in and start spewing complicated rhetoric at a manager who has a million other things to do besides deal with your smarty-pants speech about saving the world. Stick to the basics: who you are, what you want and why you want it. If you get a positive response, it is at this point where you could discuss specifics like when and where the wvo can be collected.

Keep it Clean: Everyday, at least on sales rep comes into my restaurant and attempts to sell us anything from new knives to health-care packages. These people are identifiable by their unbelievably crisp suits, blue tooth head-sets and laptop computer cases. Do not emulate these people. When the salesmen arrive, most managers run: they don’t want to deal with sales people just like anyone else. Dress in accordance to the clientele’s apparel. If it is a sports bar, don’t hesitate to wear jeans.

Be Persistent: If the manager is hesitant, or fails to give you the attention you are looking for, do not hesitate to ask for the contact info of the general manager or the owner. Oftentimes, a manager on duty does not have the authority to give you permission to take the wvo. At the same time, they might just be too busy with the day-to-day operations of the restaurant to pay you much attention. This is why the higher-ups can be your key to success

Be a Tool, Not an Inconvenience: Frequently, restaurants stay with the same grease service for years at a time. Given that grease disposal services eventually begin charging for their services, a restaurant’s inclination to continue to pay to have their grease picked up has something to do with convenience. Grease can be nasty: it is messy, can have a stench to it, and it forms residue on any container used to hold it. Many restaurants are just happy that someone else will come and take it away, mess-free, for them. You will have much more success in getting a restaurant to donate their wvo to you if you offer to provide a barrel or a few cubees.

Take a Penny, Leave a Penny: If a restaurant is kind enough to give you their used oils, it makes sense that you should to something for them in return. If you use their oils to make fuel for your car, proudly display a bumper-sticker or decal from that restaurant. Try to increase the restaurant’s client base by spreading the word of their good deed. Most importantly, try to incorporate them into your ‘biodiesel story’: when people ask about your biodiesel car, or wvo furnace, be sure to drop the name of the business that made it possible.

Although biodiesel collection can be a daunting task, building a good connection between yourself and a few local business can make all the difference. If you treat your collection agreements like business contracts, you will not only prove your professionalism, but you will lay the foundations for an arrangement that could benefit you for years to come.

For more information, check out the Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial and Biodiesel America

Try as we may, even the most eco-savvy folk tend to eat out on occasion. While in our own homes, we can control the quality of food, the amount of waste we generate and other eco- factors; it is a totally different story when it comes to dining out. Or is it? There is an increasingly popular moment within the restaurant industry to become more eco-friendly sector of business, and this means good news for the green consumer in all of us.

Believe it or not, there was a time when restaurants did not exist in the form we know them today. At their advent, restaurants were not establishments often frequented by locals. What we know as the modern-day restaurant sprung from early inns and taverns, catering to weary travelers looking for a quick bite to eat on their journey. In fact, the typical restaurant format- where customers request specific food, made to order off a menu- did not appear in the West until the 18th century.

Today there are over 935,000 restaurants in the United States, which should hit $537 billion in sales for the 2007 fiscal year.(National Restaurant Association 2007 Restaurant Industry Forecast.) If all goes as planned, the restaurant industry could account for up to 6% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product this year.

Because of the economic importance of the restaurant industry, coupled with its significant social value, it has become important for both consumers and restaurant owners to take note of the impact the industry has on the environment.

Coming from a family of restaurant owners, I have the opportunity to act as a catalyst for more sustainable practices within our business. In order to better understand how to make my restaurant more sustainable, I have identified some areas that beg for an eco-upgrade.

One of the areas with greatest need for an eco-upgrade is energy use. Although the restaurant industry comprises around 6% of the national GDP, it accounts for nearly 33% of all U.S. retail electricity use, making it the #1 consumer in retail sector. A restaurant can greatly decrease the consumption of energy in two easy steps…

Outfitting a restaurant with new, longer lasting lighting is a quick and simple fix for a major environmental faux pas. According to ECO Elements, “A compact fluorescent light using 16 watts of energy replaces a 60-watt incandescent bulb. The life of this bulb is 10,000 hours or approximately 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb, saving $35 worth of energy over the life of the bulb. This eliminates the emission of 1300 pounds of carbon dioxide and 26 pounds of sulfur dioxide from a coal fired plant-producing electricity”. Because these light bulbs are not necessarily considered a hefty investment, they serve as an extremely accessible way to reduction energy consumption.

Similarly, installing Energy Star appliances can do wonders for energy efficiency. According to Pacific Gas and Electric’s Food Service Technology Center, “80 percent of the $10 billion annual energy bill for the commercial food service sector is expended by inefficient food cooking, holding and storage equipment”. By installing energy saving appliances, such as coolers, holding cabinets and fryers, a restaurant can increase its energy efficiency, while decreasing its costs over time.

The reduction of water use is another way a restaurant can achieve an easy eco-upgrade. The average restaurant uses over 300,000 gallons of water a year. For you visualphiles, that is equivalent to about 9 in-ground, outdoor, home swimming pools

To reduce the amount of water used, a restaurant should install low-flow pre-rinse spray nozzles in both the dish tanks and the glass washers. This not only reduces the amount of water needed in the wash cycle, but eliminates the need for the pre-rinse cycle all together (Helpful Tip: Always run a full load of dishes, as it takes as much heated water to wash a partially full dishwasher as it does a fully loaded one).

The last way a restaurant can take a small step toward in a big direction is to eliminate the use of polystyrene. According to The Green Seal Report, each American throws away an average of 100 polystyrene cups each year; the expected lifetime of each cup is over 500 years. Further, EcoElements states that, “one polystyrene cup contains one billion molecules of CFC’s and a single CFC atom may remain in the atmosphere for up to 100 years before it becomes harmless”. Considering that many restaurants are still using polystyrene cups by the case, eliminating them from the inventory can be considered a major accomplishment.

In the end, it is important for the restaurant industry to focus on attainable steps towards the long-term goal of environmental sustainability. Making the transition from old practices to eco-practices can be a daunting challenging that, without proper perspective, can seem too overwhelming to achieve. By enacting these eco-upgrades and other easily accessible improvements, restaurants everywhere can begin down the road to eco-friendly business.