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Green Star E-News
Green Star E-News Vol. 6, No. 12 December 9, 2005
Recognizing Alaska organizations committed to environmental responsibility.
In this issue:
* Shining Stars
* Green Star’s Award Application Deadline
* Raffle Benefits Green Star and the Community
* The Air Quality Award – Recognition for Businesses, Agencies and Schools
* Biodiesel Production Expected to Triple in 2005
* AYEA Kicks Off Statewide Global Warming Campaign
* Holiday Lead Warning
* A Better String of Lights
* This Month’s Hot Link: Alternative Gifts International
* Thank you 2005 Sponsors
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SHINING STARS
Since opening its doors one year ago, the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore has diverted more than 470,000 lbs of materials from the landfill. Don’t forget to stop by if you’re looking for building materials and housing supplies or if you are getting rid of items that can be used again. Visit www.hfhanchorage.org/restore for a list of what’s accepted and for photos of items now available.
Welcome to Gladys Wood Elementary School, our newest enrollee.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped Green Star distribute timers for engine block heaters during Clean Air Transportation Week. With your help, we distributed 639 timers to Anchorage residents. We appreciate your help!
Congratulations to the prize drawing winners at the timer giveaway! The winners of the sweatshirts were Tammy Gann of Anchorage and Randy Bozelle of Eagle River. The winner of the Arctic Leash was Matt Renkert of Anchorage, who was one of the event’s volunteers.
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GREEN STAR’S AWARD APPLICATION DEADLINE
Green Star’s quarterly deadline for organizations to submit their Green Star or Air Quality Award Achievement Reports is December 30th. All achievement reports received by this date will be reviewed in early January and considered for a Green Star or Air Quality Award. The next deadline is March 31, 2006. The new and simpler achievement report form can be found at http://www.greenstarinc.org/GSaward.php (see #4).
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RAFFLE BENEFITS GREEN STAR AND THE COMMUNITY
Green Star applauds Craig Priest of Anchorage, the holder of the winning ticket for the Ford F-350 Crew Cab 4x4 truck that Green Star raffled off on November 11, 2005. Peak Oilfield Service Company graciously donated the truck as a token of its appreciation for Green Star’s support in achieving both its Green Star Award and Air Quality Award.
Peak Oilfield Service Company provides maintenance, support, and construction services to oil, gas, and chemical industries in Alaska. Peak's home office is located in Anchorage, which provides support for its field operations at Prudhoe Bay, Valdez and Kenai, and for sister company Precision Power.
The winning ticket was drawn at Peak’s facility in Deadhorse, Alaska, where a majority of the tickets were sold. Priest, co-owner of the local business, Classic Floors, received the ticket as a gift from a good friend. Priest proudly received the keys and title from Green Star’s executive director, Sean Skaling, at the organization’s annual public meeting on November 15th.
The fundraiser earned $10,000 for Green Star, thanks to Peak Oilfield Service’s generous donation of the truck, Lynden Transport’s donated freight hauling services from Deadhorse to Anchorage, and thanks to all who participated in the raffle. The funds help to support Green Star’s pollution prevention efforts in Alaska.
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THE AIR QUALITY AWARD – RECOGNITION FOR BUSINESSES, AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS
As many of you may know, the Air Quality Award program was established five years ago as a way to recognize businesses, agencies and schools that take proactive steps to improve outdoor air quality. The associated award standards provide a framework that encourages organizations to initiate programs and policies that help take a bite out of winter air pollutants such carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides.
Recently, the standards for achieving the Air Quality Award were updated to match the revised format of the Green Star Award, which were formally adopted this past July. These revisions streamlined the standards from eighteen to eight, and introduced an application checklist to help make the process more efficient. The new Air Quality Awards standards will officially go into effect January 1, 2006.
Below is an introduction to the eight new standards and some examples of what various organizations have done to meet the standards. Take a few minutes to see how many of the standards your organization could check off, and consider pursuing an Air Quality Award of your own!
Sign the Air Quality Agreement, committing your organization to the Air Quality Award process (Standard #1)
An agreement contract has been added to the standards as a way to improve the effectiveness of the both the Air Quality and Green Star Award programs. This first step in achieving an award may be the quickest and easiest to complete, but is often the most critical. Studies show that voluntary environmental programs are more successful, and enrolling organizations are more committed, when the support of management is obtained at the beginning of the process. The simple act of making a commitment in writing also has been proven to increase the implementation of environmental activities and behaviors.
Implement internal initiatives that emphasize Air Quality activities (Standard #2)
This next standard lays the foundation for the air quality initiatives that will follow. A team leader is identified, an air quality policy is adopted, and information about the program is circulated to employees and customers. Given that a variety of business sectors, agencies, and schools are covered by the awards standards, this often reflects the unique characteristics of the organization.
Encourage the use of alternative transportation (Standard #3)
This standard encourages employees to ride the bus, or team up through car or vanpools, including participation in Green Star’s “Buck of Two for AQ” program. Providing bus passes, creating a carpool signup sheet, or taking advantage of http://ridematch.muni.org, are simple steps that help meet this standard. Encouraging the use of alternative transportation is considered one of the most effective methods of reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality in Anchorage.
Surprisingly, studies show that when commuters leave their cars at home, it benefits everyone. The employer gains by experiencing reduced employee absenteeism and tardiness, and enhanced productivity. The employee gains by reducing car ownership costs through less fuel consumption and lower repair costs (from fender benders as well as wear and tear), lower insurance rates and longer life of the vehicle and the driver! And finally, the community gains through reduced traffic congestion and improved air quality.
To help support business community’s efforts to encourage the use of alternative transportation among employees, Green Star initiated the “Buck of Two for Air Quality” program, which provides incentives to qualifying organizations. These incentives include paying employees a small daily bonus for using a transportation method other than a single-occupancy vehicle. After hearing about the benefits of the Buck or Two program, CH2M Hill was the first to sign up. During the four-month program, CH2M Hill employees completed a total of 250 carpool or bike trips, with considerable savings to participants.
Based on a Census Bureau count taken during the month of April in 2000, approximately 3,500 of the 131,228 Anchorage residents over the age of 16 commute by bike or on foot. By encouraging employers to make use of federal tax-free incentives available for transit and van pool passes, and signing up businesses for the “Buck or Two for AQ” program, Green Star hopes to show employees there are more fun and less costly ways to get to and from work.
Reduce vehicular pollution (Standard #4)
This standard promotes the use of engine block heaters and alternative fuel options for individual and fleet vehicles alike. It also encourages modifications to vehicle maintenance programs and driving behavior. Air Quality Awardees Denali National Park and Preserve, and Municipal Light and Power, best illustrate this standard.
As part of earning its Air Quality Award, Municipal Light & Power (ML&P) focused on preventative maintenance for its vehicle fleet, installation of electrical outlets in parking lots, and a mileage tracking system. Because of these efforts, ML&P has been able to benefit financially through fuel savings and vehicle longevity. Denali National Park and Preserve has gone one step further. Not only has the park provided outlets for vehicle engine block heaters, but it also added thermocords that monitor temperatures and provide only the necessary heat.
In Anchorage, more than three quarters of the carbon monoxide (CO) pollution generated during the winter months comes from vehicles. Amazingly, more than fifty percent of all carbon monoxide is emitted by cars and trucks during the initial warm-up period, before the driving even starts moving! Because of the human health hazards of carbon monoxide and potentially rapid accumulations of CO during winter temperature inversions, working to reduce the 70,000 cold starts in Anchorage each day needs to be a collective effort.
Employees also can be encouraged to do their part in avoiding cold starting their vehicles in the morning by using an outdoor timer and plugging in for two to three hours before driving whenever the temperature is 20º F or colder. Businesses can help out by providing electrical outlets in workplace parking lots or garages and encouraging their use. This not only helps reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 60%, but conserves fuel, and gives drivers a warm and frost-free start to their commute.
Reduce air pollution in the workplace (Standard #5)
The focus of these efforts is to reduce the emissions from stationary sources, both inside buildings and out. For interior considerations, this includes initiatives to decrease energy consumption of heating and cooling systems, and lighting. To limit energy consumption and pollution at its new Eielson Visitor Center, Denali National Park and Preserve is installing hybrid generators with photovoltaic solar panels and battery backup, along with other hybrid combinations at Wonder Lake Ranger Station and Toklat Road Camp.
This standard also encourages businesses to take a look at their equipment use and purchasing policies to promote energy-efficient equipment. For exterior initiatives, the focus is on reducing the impact of winter sanding on air quality and promoting the use of vegetation for reducing dust and runoff.
Reach out to the community about your Air Quality efforts (Standard #6)
Once an organization has proceeded through the standards, there is the opportunity to let the community know about these efforts. How that is done varies considerably depending on the type of organization.
Provide Measures of your success (Standard #7) & Identify future goals to ensure program momentum (Standard #8)
As a way of documenting progress, and showing cost savings for initiatives put in place, each organization is asked to track at least two initiatives. This allows the successes of the program to be documented, and encourages organizations to pursue Standard #8 with enthusiasm. The last standard asks that organizations continually refine and improve their program by identifying future goals that they plan to meet over the next few years.
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BIODIESEL PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO TRIPLE IN 2005
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB), a ten-year-old organization promoting the use of biodiesel, announced in early November that it anticipates 75 million gallons of biodiesel production in 2005, or three times as much as was produced in 2004. NBB credits a federal tax incentive, state legislation, and a diesel shortage for the rise in demand.
Biodiesel can be purchased directly from suppliers, through petroleum distributors, or through retail pumps. Biodiesel is available through at least one of these channels in all 50 states. According to NBB, there are currently 45 biodiesel production plants, each averaging about 6.5 million gallons per year. Most are clustered in the mid-west because that’s where most of the raw ingredients are grown. Some of the latest plants weigh in with capacities at about 30 million gallons per year. To keep up with growing demand, developers have proposed building another 54 biodiesel plants.
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a diesel-like fuel derived from vegetable oil or other renewable sources. Biodiesel can be made with any type of vegetable oil, including soy, canola, hemp, flaxseed, peanut, and others, or even fish oils. Biodiesel is produced from vegetable or other oils by converting the triglyceride oils to methyl (or ethyl) esters with a process known as transesterification.
Conventional diesel fuel emits high levels of sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, particulates, and—like all fossil fuels—carbon dioxide. A study by USEPA found that B20 (20% biodiesel blended with 80% conventional diesel fuel) reduced total hydrocarbons by up to 30%, carbon monoxide up to 20%, and total particulate matter up to 15%. Research also documents the fact that the ozone forming potential of the hydrocarbon emissions of pure biodiesel is nearly 50% less than that of petroleum fuel.
Pure biodiesel does not contain sulfur and therefore reduces sulfur dioxide exhaust from diesel engines to virtually zero. Biodiesel also acts as a lubricant, increasing engine life and reducing wear. Even a 1% blend of biodiesel with petrodiesel improves lubricity of the fuel by as much as 65%. Since sulfur is the primary lubricating ingredient in petrodiesel, incorporating biodiesel into the fuel mix helps vehicles to meet USEPA’s new mandates to reduce sulfur emissions while greatly decreasing engine wear .
Biodiesel works in any unmodified diesel engine. There is no “engine conversion” typical of other alternative fuels. The diesel engine can run on biodiesel because it operates on the principle of compression ignition whereby air is compressed and then fuel is sprayed into the ultra-hot, ultra-pressurized combustion chamber.
Most biodiesel is made of soybeans but there is a growing trend toward using “yellow grease” or used frying oils. Many people across the country have “converted” their old diesel cars and trucks to run on yellow grease. Small companies and entrepreneurs are selling conversion kits on the web. The conversion kits actually convert the used cooking oil to a usable form rather than converting the vehicle.
More than 400 major fleets in the U.S. currently use biodiesel, typically as B20. They include all branches of the military; national parks including Denali, Yellowstone and Mt. Rainier National Parks; NASA; the U.S. Postal Service’ several state DOTs; many utility fleets and more than 50 school districts.
Is biodiesel practical in Alaska?
One downside of biodiesel is that it “gels” at a higher temperature than petrodiesel. When diesel fuel or biodiesel cools, wax crystals can form in the fuel causing it to thicken or “gel.” The crystals can plug fuel filters and stop the flow of fuel to the engine. Despite this obvious drawback of using biodiesel, there are many ways to keep a diesel vehicle’s fuel system warm in winter.
Using block heaters, fuel tank heaters, fuel line heaters, or winterizing agents and additives all can help keep biodiesel from gelling. The use of a block heater at night and a tank heater during the day has allowed biodiesel to be used in Yellowstone National Park down to –40º F. Many diesel vehicles already come equipped with these types of cold weather equipment.
Blending also decreases gelling problems. Blends as high as 35% biodiesel exhibited gelling problems but a 20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel blend (called B20) virtually eliminated the problem. For this reason, B20 is a popular mixture for commercial use.
In 2005, 1,000 gallons of biodiesel derived from fish oil powered a generator and trucks in Denali National Park. This Denali project is part of the Alaska Biodiesel Demonstration Project that has the potential to turn a by-product of the Alaska seafood-processing industry into a cleaner, lower-priced fuel that creates local jobs. Using biodiesel in Denali equipment reduces emissions, creating cleaner air for the 300,000 annual visitors to the park; reduces clean-up costs if fuel is spilled; uses a waste product to create fuel; and provides an opportunity to test the engine performance of biodiesel made from Alaskan fish oil.
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AYEA KICKS OFF STATEWIDE GLOBAL WARMING CAMPAIGN
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) members met in early November to develop a campaign to address global warming. Youth now have the goal of delivering a Letter to Our Leaders (drafted by AYEA teens this
summer) to our State and national leaders in the spring of 2006 -- signed
by 8,000 teens! The Letter asks our State and national leaders to take
a leadership role in abating global warming by creating legislation to
reduce emissions, and by supporting renewable energy projects in
Alaska.
AYEA Chapters in Homer, Sitka, Yakutat, Anchorage, and Juneau
are spearheading signature gathering and are in need of volunteers to
help. Also, youth who live outside of these communities are invited to
get involved. The signature gathering will start in various communities
in early December and run through April 2006. AYEA members also are
designing an outreach presentation for youth to give in their own
communities to help spread the word on this issue and make youth voices
heard.
Please contact (907) 339-3907 or ayea@nwf.org for more information or to be directed to a youth chair of AYEA in your region to get involved. Across communities, cultures, and politics, we can be part of the solution on global warming!
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HOLIDAY LEAD WARNING
This holiday season, as we string lights and buy gifts for loved ones, consider some hidden dangers. Recent studies point to several products that may expose consumers to higher levels of lead than recommended by the USEPA. Unlike the lead found in the tinsel sold several decades ago, most of the lead issues in today’s holiday items stem from the use of vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC).
Holiday lights
Wire coating and cords on strings of holiday lights are usually made of PVC plastic that may contain lead. Lead is used in PVC for several reasons. For wires and cords, lead makes the plastic more flexible and reduces the risk of fire. Lead also is used in many PVC products to stabilize the color. Lead in PVC products can disintegrate into lead-laced dust; however, holiday lights are typically not up long enough to release dust.
The labels began appearing on holiday lights, as well as on electronic equipment and cords on other consumer products such as hairdryers, after a number of lawsuits were filed by an environmental advocacy organization in California.
The amount of lead in the lights and other consumer products with warning labels may vary considerably. It is not clear if the amount of lead that is released poses a risk to human health. Some tests show that lead could come off in the hands. Note that nearly all appliance cords are covered with PVC that contains lead.
The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition recommends the following:
* Do not allow children to handle holiday lights.
* Adults should wash hands thoroughly after handling the lights.
* Avoid lights made in China and other foreign countries, where there are no restrictions against the use of lead in consumer products. Lights made in the U.S. are likely to contain smaller amounts of lead, especially in the coating.
* Do not assume that holiday lights that do not bear the warning label are lead-free. California is the only state that requires the warning label.
* Older lights that have not been labeled may also contain lead.
Artificial Christmas trees
Artificial Christmas trees are also made of PVC and could contain lead. An independent study, conducted by the Institute for Air and Environment in Gothenburg Sweden, found that the average plastic tree contains 68 grams of lead. Trees may shed lead-laced dust, which may cover branches or shower gifts and the floor below the tree. Contact the manufacturer to ask if your tree contains lead. Or have it tested. A real tree may be a better option for avoiding lead exposure.
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A BETTER STRING OF LIGHTS
It may not alleviate any issues of lead in the cords but having LED in the bulb will make your holiday greener! We’ve told you about LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights in past years, so this is just a reminder that LEDs are taking off and they make sense.
When you dug out all the strings of lights from last year to decorate your home, your front yard, or your office, how many strings actually worked? Probably not many. The solution to this aggravation may be LED holiday lights. They cost about $20 a string but they last up to 20 years. They also use about 90% less energy than traditional holiday lights.
Do you see a spike in your electric bill during the holidays? Switch from conventional strings of lights to LEDs and you’ll see that the spike isn’t just a result of darker days. Traditional holiday lights (the large bulb style) typically use $40 in electricity over a 30-day period (three 8-foot strings @ 6hrs/day at 10¢/kwh). The same strings of LEDs use about $1.30.
LEDS get prettier and brighter every year and now they are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors (including white, gold, red, blue, green, orange, and multi-color strands). Since the bulb is a solid epoxy unit rather than a fragile glass shell, there is much less opportunity for breakage (or for pets to eat them!) and they are cool to the touch, eliminating fire danger. They can be used indoors and outdoors.
You can find LED holiday lights in a few local hardware stores in Anchorage or order them online. Try Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, K-Mart, or Lowe’s, or check out the following web sites:
Brite-Lite Wholesale Lighting Distributors: www.brite-lite.com/Products/LEDchristmas.htm
E Magazine’s Earth Mart at www.greenhome.com (strangely, you’ll find LED lights under Kids, Art Supplies).
Forever Bright Lights, a leading LED manufacturer: www.holidaycreations.com
Gifts Four Seasons: www.giftsfourseasons.com/ledlighting.html
Holiday Lights and Magic: www.holidaylightsandmagic.com
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THIS MONTH’S HOT LINK: Alternative Gifts International
Looking for an alternative to giving another video game, pair of socks, or fruitcake this holiday season? Alternative Gifts International (AGI) can help you send gifts of food, shelter, trees, gardens, and medicine around the world. The global mission of AGI is to send authentic, life-giving gifts to a needy world -- gifts that build a partnership with oppressed people in crisis and that protect and preserve the earth's endangered environment -- to nourish and sustain a more equitable and peaceful global community. Happy Holidays!!
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THANK YOU 2005 SPONSORS, GRANTORS & CONTRACTORS
Green Star could not exist without the generous financial and in-kind support of many individuals and leading local businesses and organizations. To become a Green Star individual member or corporate sponsor, please call (278-7827) or visit our web site http://www.greenstarinc.org. A huge thank you to our 2005 sponsors! New sponsors are in bold.
Platinum ($10,000+): Alaska Conservation Foundation, Alaska Energy Authority, Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services, Anchorage Solid Waste Services, BP, Bullitt Foundation, ConocoPhillips Alaska, FedEx Express, Oak Foundation, Peak Oilfield Services, Rasmuson Foundation, Total Reclaim, Inc., Totem Ocean Trailer Express, University of Alaska Anchorage, Weaver Brothers
Gold ($5,000-$9,999): Anchorage Media Group, Carlile Transportation Systems, GCI, Harriett Fenerty, Horizon Lines of Alaska, Ivan Moore Research, Lynden Transport, Weaver Brothers
Silver ($2,500-$4,999): Airport Equipment Materials Handling Division, Anchorage Daily News, Denali Commission, Graphics Solutions, KTUU - Channel 2, Lynden Transport, Princess Tours
Bronze ($1,000-$2,499): Alaska Laser Wash, Alaska Public Interest Research Group, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Alaska Waste, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, Arctic Ice Productions, Cellular One, Chugach Electric Association, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Interior Wiring and Field Maintenance, Municipal Light and Power, Teamsters Local 959, United Freight, Wal-Mart Wasilla
Green ($500-$999): Action Sign & Graphics/Warning Lites of Alaska, Air Van Lines, Alaska Power Association, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Corporate Express Alaska, Delta Airlines, Dick Wilson, From the Fair Corners Photography, Independent Lift Truck of Alaska, Kotzebue Electric Association, Mettler Toledo Scales, Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria, Northern Air Cargo, Sierra Club, Thompson & Associates, Wal-Mart “A” Street
Supporter ($250-$499): 21 North Designs, Anchorage Maintenance & Operations, Arctic Circle Air, Northern Air Cargo, Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company, Spenard Builders Supply, Yukon Equipment
Contributor (up to $250): Alaska Center for the Environment, ALPAR, Anchorage Publishing, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska (Odom Corporation), Costco Debarr, Great Harvest Bread Company, Green’s Enterprises, Habitat for Humanity, Hot Licks Ice Cream, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, VendAlaska
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Past issues of E-News are available on our web site, sorted by topic or date: http://www.greenstarinc.org/enews/enewsindex.php. Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future E-News topics to us at enews@greenstarinc.org. Forward this newsletter freely. Send us any email addresses you wish us to add to our mailing list. If you wish to unsubscribe, please email a request to unsubscribe to enews@greenstarinc.org. Thank you!
The staff of Green Star, Anchorage:
Sean Skaling, Executive Director
Jeanne Carlson, Program Director
Beth Verrelli, Program Director
Jean Marie Doherty, Member Relations Coordinator
Tara Callear, Office Manager/Program Assistant
Kim Wetzel, Program Assistant
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