Posts tagged: environment

The Personal & Environmental Benefits of Skipping Meat Once a Week

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Replacing meat with a healthy blend of vegetables, legumes, and other non-animal based proteins just once a week is not only good for your health, but good for the environment as well. Besides reducing the risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, skipping meat once a week also reduces carbon offsets by using fewer resources like water and fossil fuels.

The Green Register put together this great list of ways cutting down on meat is beneficial to the environment:

  • REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation. And annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow. Reining in meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.
  • MINIMIZE WATER USAGE. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. Soy tofu produced in California requires 220 gallons of water per pound.
  • HELP REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.

And as for the health benefits of cutting out meat once a week? There are plenty: Continue reading →

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Green Buildings Increase Productivity & Are Economically Viable

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Green buildings are becoming ever more present. The number of green structures that have popped up around the world have grown significantly in the last decade. Initially, building green can be more expensive upfront (materials, meeting LEED standards, etc.) but the payoff in the long term is proving to be substantial. Not to mention good for the environment as well.

According to Triple Pundit, green buildings have a higher market value because they are in demand, operate more cost-effectively, thus commanding higher rents. Likewise, they have 3.5% lower vacancy rates and 13% higher rents than standard buildings.

A recent survey by Deloitte Consulting showed that companies that work in green buildings saw an increase in productivity which in turn showed economic profit. According to the survey:

  • 100% reported increased employee goodwill;
  • 93% reported a greater ability to attract talent;
  • 87% saw improved workforce productivity;
  • 81% saw greater employee retention; and,
  • 75% saw improved employee health (thus fewer sick days).

Continue reading →

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5 Green Ways to Shop at the Grocery Store

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Kermit the Frog wasn’t right about one thing – it IS easy being green. Small simple deeds go a long way, you don’t have to be perfect at your attempts, and every little bit counts! We’ve put together a short list of 5 simple green ways to shop at the grocery store. Follow any one of these (or better yet, all of them) and you’ll be on your way to living the green life!

  1. Bring your own bags. This is so easy to do. At the same time, it’s just as easy for us to get caught in an unplanned trip to the store and not have any bags. Avoid this scenario by keeping those reusable bags everywhere – in your car, in your bicycle basket, next to your keys, etc.
  2. Buy things with little packaging. If you have a choice between two products, one wrapped in plastic and cardboard and more plastic, and one with minimal packaging, choose the one with the minimal packaging. It took less energy to create and will leave less of a carbon footprint. Plus, minimal packaging creates less waste.
  3. Shop the perimeter. In food writer, Michael Pollan’s 7 Rules for Eating, he advises that you stay out of the middle of the grocery store. Real food tends to be on the outer edge of the store near the loading docks, where it can be replaced with fresh foods when it goes bad. Continue reading →

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