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Waste for Food: Would YOU Make the Trade?

I have been pondering, researching, learning and digging into the topic of Food Waste for about 7 months now and it has been an amazing journey. The statistics of food wasted are nothing short of shocking.  Yet the are abundant innovations and movements to reduce waste while reclaiming the nutrients our food still has to offer.

This week at the Hawaii Food Policy Council’s Think Tank meeting (more on this in blog posts to come!) I met fellow food waste ponder-er who shared with me a great blog post via the Sustainable America initiative. Through this post I learned about an amazing new initiative starting in New York City called Hello Compost. Throughout my food waste journey I have come across curbside composting, pick up services and city-wide food waste mandates but never something quite like this.

Hello Compost, started by  Parsons design students, “proposes a program that allows low-income New Yorkers to turn their compost in for produce credits. This system offers a multifaceted solution, which encourages New Yorkers to give more thought about trash disposal, and helps bring fresh produce to people who may not have access or the means to buy fruits and vegetables.”

It is a truly unique solution to the issues faced in all cities, including Honolulu.  

It address how city residents can not only dispose of their food waste but also have sources of fresh, healthy food.  Its student founders see the bigger picture of changing perceptions and behaviors as most important. Co-founder Aly Blenkin explains, “We need to re-imagine the role of food waste from being a smelly, unattractive side effect of eating to an attractive resource for residents to positively impact their community and to help put fresh food on the table.”

  Interested in the details? Check out any of the great articles below on what Hello Compost is up to and how they are tackling the food waste puzzle for cities everywhere!

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1672986/a-new-system-turns-compost-back-into-fresh-produce#1

http://www.sustainableamerica.org/blog/food-waste-for-fresh-produce/

http://www.thecultureist.com/2013/07/23/hello-compost-produce-credits/

(Want some more general food waste info? Check out this informative international study on Global Food Losses and Food Waste – Extent, Causes and Prevention conducted for the International Congress!)

  Posted by: RISE Intern, Juli Bertone

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Transportation and the 'Sharing Generation'

“Whatever we possess becomes of double value when we have the opportunity of sharing it with others.”                                                                                                                                        - Jean-Nicolas Bouilly

Veiw full infographic at Political Fiber

Young women and men graduating from school to work are sharing everything: information, transportation, knowledge, and values. This is why they are known as “The Sharing Generation”.  Through the rising prevalence of social media and file sharing the concept of "what is mine is yours" is now more accessible than ever.

This, coupled with the fact the current generation may be the first that is less financially stable than their parents, creates a culture of share-and-borrow over purchase-and-own. And the trend is growing.The average annual number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by young people, from 2001 to 2009, went from 10,300 miles to 7,900 miles per capita; a drop of 23 percent! 

This generation is less likely to desire a car to show socioeconomic status; they no longer define themselves by what they drive. “Maybe it's because I've never owned one, but to me, cars have always simply been something to get me from point A to B. I take cars for what they are — transportation — and whenever I try to imagine my ‘dream car’, I draw a blank”, teen Bianca Brooks admits in her NPR story.

A report on Transportation and the New Generation states, “Improvements in technology make transportation alternatives more convenient. Websites and smart phone apps that provide real-time transit data make public transportation easier to use, particularly for infrequent users. Meanwhile, technology has opened the door for new transportation alternatives, such as the car-sharing and bike-sharing services that have taken root in numerous American cities”.

VMT Trends Over Time; Graph Source: uspirg.org

Social media is even being used to set up ad-hock ride shares. Through Twitter and Facebook an individual can ask for a ride, one time, form all their friends, and wait to see who responds. When summer is in full swing, cyber-hitchhiking can be a means to transit to social activities. Teens understand risks of ride-share, but many say when they limit the interaction to fiends and friends-of-friends, they feel comfortable. Craigslist is also being used for ride-share, but less so due to “stranger danger”.

Although tweeting and posting on Facebook are most used young adults to find a ride, the trend speaks to a larger shift in transportation. The use of public transit has increased for the 16-30 age group and technology plays a large part in how convenient it is to efficiently utilize these modes. Through the use of apps, feedback technologies, and other Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), finding a ride outside your own car has never been easier.

Infrastructure and policy shifted in the post WWII era due to a rising demand for car-based transportation. Will policy makers hear this generation’s cry in the opposite direction?

Posted By: Robyn Evans

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Health of the Honey Bees'

Honey bee, Apis mellifera,  populations have been in decline over recent years, creating a growing concern for pollination of food crops worldwide. Honey bee population declines have been attributed to habitat destruction, pesticide use, pathogens, and climate change. Recently, honey bee diet, parasites, disease, and pesticides have been examined as contributing to an overall decrease in honey bee health. Declines in honey bee health are suspected to cause increased susceptibility to disease.

A newly published journal article  by Jeffery S. Pettis (linked here) discusses the concept of combined pesticide exposure and pathogen infection and the implications for honey bee colony health. Large numbers and high levels of pesticides are now found within honey bee colonies. Pesticides cause an increase in bees’ susceptibility to the gut parasite Nosema cerana. Pesticides and fungicides seem to create a toxic cocktail for bees within the very pollen and nectar they are collecting. Pollen with high fungicide loads increased bees’ susceptibility to N. cerana. Currently, fungicides are not considered dangerous for honey bees’ and are not regulated according to this danger to bee health. Some pesticide containing pollen samples collected by the bees contained higher than lethal doses of pesticides, meaning the pollen itself could kill the bee strictly due to the high pesticide content!

I feel that beekeepers will be an important source for information about honey bee conservation in coming years. Beekeepers are known as odd fellows, secretive, and not often associated with the scientific community. However, the knowledge gained over hundreds of years of working with bees (the Egyptians were one of the first to keep honey bee colonies) and passed down through generations of bee keepers undoubtedly holds the key for honey bee conservation. Scientists and bee keepers need to work together in this drastic time to better the lives of honey bees, angiosperms (flowering plants), and people everywhere!

Next time you eat a crop that may have been sprayed with fungicides, remember that it was probably pollinated by a honey bee! Let’s keep our bees healthy.

–Veronica Gibson

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North Shore Food Summit

  It’s not very often that the opportunity comes along to be part of something something that is first of its kind. On Friday August 2nd the North Shore Community Land Trust presented the first annual North Shore Food Summit. I was lucky to have been in attendance of this inaugural event at the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort! The rooms were filled with motivated community leaders, all with the same vision of building a healthier and more sustainable food system in the agricultural region of the North Shore.  Throughout the day I heard inspirational stories, harsh realities, unique points of view and many ideas on how to move forward towards an increased understanding of the connection between community health and food security.

  You might be asking yourself how does a Food Summit fit into the context of the issues the North Shore faces today? Here are just a few of the facts that make this gathering of stakeholders more needed than ever before:

 ·        Hawai‘i imports over 85% of the food consumed in the islands.

Over 20,000 acres of high quality North Shore agricultural lands are currently for sale to the highest bidder and development pressure in the region remains high.

There is increasing consumer appreciation and demand for fresh, locally-grown food.

An increasing number of landowners and agricultural entrepreneurs are engaged in the process of ramping up local production.

The RISE Team was proud to take part in this inspirational��event! RISE's very own Ashley Lukens presented on food policy. She gave a motivational and passionate speech on the power of food policies and the importance of food policy councils. This discussion was continued at the Hawaii Food Policy Council meeting on August 14th at Fresh Café in Kaka’ako!

 Want to learn more about the objects, motivations and attendees of the summit? Check out the Summit Details 

 Interested in the events, speakers and panel discussions from the event?

Check out the Agenda

  Posted by: RISE Food Recovery Intern, Juli Bertone

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A Sustainable Future at Kawailoa Wind Project

May the winds blow towards a sustainable future for our Keiki. These words were written on the educational material provided as our group entered the Kawailoa Wind Project conference room (indirectly powered through wind energy produced outside the window). Our tour began with an introduction to the First Wind company and the project site specifics. 

    The Kawailoa Project  is currently the largest wind energy site in the State. First Wind has four sites dispersed throughout Maui and Oahu:  

Kaheawa Wind   produces 30 Megawatts, operating since June, 2006

Kahuku Wind  produces 30 Megawatts, operating since March, 2011

Kaheawa Wind II  produces 21 Megawatts, operating since July, 2012

Kawailoa Wind  produces 69 Megawatts, operating since November, 2012

  After the presentation was given by First Wind's community outreach specialist, we put on our hard hats and headed out to enjoy the sweeping ocean view, warm breeze and up-close view of the wind turbines.  

  Why is clean energy so important here in Hawaii?

1. We can be more independent and less reliant on other economies.

2. We can achieve greater security.

3. This will help Hawai‘i become more economically stable by keeping an estimated $6 billion in state that would otherwise go toward foreign oil investments.  4. Establishing a new, green economic sector will counter-balance our reliance on tourism and the military.  5. We can position Hawai‘i as a worldwide leader in the clean energy category and that will attract more business and expertise to the region.

  What are some of the benefits of the Kawailoa Wind Project? 

    Environmental

This site has a total of 30, 2.3 Megawatts turbines with the capacity to power 5-10% of Oahu’s energy load. Put in a different way, this is enough energy to power 14,500 average Oahu homes annually or the equivalent of eliminating 300,000 barrels of oil annually.  If Hawaii is to achieve it’s goal of having 70% clean energy by 2030 (40% from renweables), then this project progresses Hawaii towards becoming a world leader in clean energy. 

   Habitat Preservation

Prior to the design at Kawailoa project layout, comprehensive botanical, biological, archaeological and cultural surveys were conducted to understand any important resources in and around the site. The project has a Habitat Conservation Plan that closely regulates endangered wildlife. This plan targets mitigation for impacts on native near-shore birds and mammal species, observance of appropriate archaeological and cultural protocols, and permits and compliance obligations at Federal, State and County levels.

 Community

The Kawailoa Wind Project is located on Kamehameha Schools’ Kawailoa Plantation lands, about 5 miles northeast of Hale’iwa town on the north shore of Oahu. The project is part of the North Shore Plan put together by Kamehameha Schools’ with extensive input from the community. One of the goals of First Wind is to be a long-term contributing member of the community. The Kawailoa Wind staff is working with north shore civic, business and non-profit groups in identifying priority areas to support.  In addition to the preservation efforts First Wind is also helping with restoration efforts. They are working with Kamehameha Schools to restore native vegetation, koa and ohia trees, using local seed stock and planting them on nearby property. ‘Uko’a Pond (wetland habitat) is also being restored by removing uncontrolled predators to benefit the Hawaiian waterbirds.

  Future Plans 

RISE is partnering with Kamehameha Schools and First Wind to develop and execute a community outreach, education and engagement plan for Oahu’s North Shore community regarding the Kawailoa Wind Project and Hawaii’s sustainability issues. This plan will include a green tour facility that will serve as a wind energy learning center for the community and become an educational tool for student to learn about renewable energy. 

Interested in working on this project?

We are currently accepting applications for the RISE- Kamehameha Schools internship with First Wind though August 25th, 2013. To apply go to risehi.org/appply-now. 

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H-Power

On July 31, 2013 RISE and other invited guests toured the H-Power waste energy power plant which is operated by Covanta, but owned by the city of Honolulu. The facility employs 150 people who work in three shifts to keep the plant operational 24/7. H-Power began operation in 1990 operating two boilers and one turbine generator known as the Refuse Derived Plant.  In 2012 H-Power expanded adding another boiler and turbine generator known as Mass Burn Plant.

H-Power receives 250-300 deliveries of trash a week with about half of the waste coming from residential waste and half coming from commercial waste. From those deliveries the waste is removed of recyclable metals and inorganic matter through a filtration process. The waste is then burned, which generates 70 megawatts per day. The electricity generated is enough energy to power over 60,000 homes daily and avert 800,000 barrels of imported oil every year.  After the burning process, 25-30 truckloads of ash are taken to the landfill daily. The volume of the ash being dumped into the landfill takes up 90% less volume than waste not sent to the H-Power facility. 

In addition to waste removal for the city, the power plant also generates approximately 100 million dollars in annual revenue for the city:

   Approximately $40-50 million a year in hauler tipping fees, which every dump truck has to pay after dumping their waste at the facility.

   Approximately $5-7 million a month from electricity generation sold to HECO at 21 cents a kilowatt-hour.

  Approximately $5-6 million dollars from the 20,000 tons a year of recovered recycled metals.

The Mass Burn expansion was designed to handle waste generated by a growing population for up to twenty years in the future. Thus, H-Power currently has excess capacity, which H-Power is currently exploring new waste sources to fill this capacity gap. One fuel source that H-Power has recently started burning is sewage sludge from the city’s wastewater plants. Covanta has also looked into the possibility of mining old trash from landfills across the island, but found the plan to uneconomical for multiple reasons. A third possibility is to ship trash from the outer islands.

At the end of tour our guide made the argument that with the cost of fuels so high, rather than shipping the recycled materials to and from the mainland, burning the materials for fuel may be the most environmental and economically smart way to recycle currently.

Blog by RISE Intern Greg Schuster 

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Honolulu Bike Share - Visioning Meeting

July 24th to July 26th the Honolulu Bike Share group held meetings with local stakeholders to educate organizations about what bike share is and what it can mean for Honolulu. The City & County has awarded Nelson Nygaard, a alternative transportation consulting firm in Portland, OR, a contract to complete a feasibility study for bringing bike share to the city. This study will help determine the size, location and logistics of the Honolulu Bike Share Program (owner and operator). During the three days of meetings, organizations and private companies had the opportuntiy to ask questions, voice concerns, and express their support for the program. The consultants gained insight from the local community during these discussions and will take this information and incorporate it into their research.

The bike share visioning session was the largest of all the meetings and was held at the Hawai'i Community Development Authority (HCDA) office in Kaka'ako. This meeting included about 50 people from businesses and organizations ranging from the Hawai'i Department of Health to local bike shops, to The Bus and local non-profit organizations. The attendees had interesting questions for the consultants, ranging in topics from cost and management to advertisement opportunities. The main concerns from participants were that of inadequate infrastructure.  Bike Share and Infrastructure is a bit of a "chicken and egg" situation. Cities around the world have been successful through both approaches. Nelson Nygaard gave the example of the very successful Miami Beach Bike Share Program and how the area had no biking infrastructure when the program was launched. Because of the success of the bike share venture, the city has heavily invested in Maimi's bike infrastructure. New York City beefed up its infrastructure before launching their CitiBike Bike Share program. Other participants raised suggestions to ensure the program's success such as a public health and safety campaign with bike share as a component of that event or program. Another suggestion was to have misters along heavily use bike paths to offset some of the inevitable sweating associated with physical exercise. Who wants to be sweating in a business meeting?

We even met with the Mayor and other prominent local government leaders!

In the end, Honolulu Bike Share seems to be an accepted option for affordable public transportation. Ideally, bike share will work closely with The Bus and HART to solve the "last mile" issue and create increased transit connectivity to benefit all communities. With so many benefits, how could one not consider the option?

Benefits of Bike Share:

-          Promotes healthy living

-          Provides viable transport options

-          Support sustainable urban development

-          Creates low cost transit               

-          Improved quality life

-          Great way for tourists and residents to experience a city

-          Minimizes social equity disadvantages

Through the meetings with Nelson Nygaard, many exciting things are on the horizon for the possible bike share program on O'ahu and other islands in the State. There will be follow-up meetings, with the consultants as the study moves forward.

If you would like to be involved, the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Bicycling (MACB) is a great way to start. This is a monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of every month on the 3rd floor in the conference room of the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building. This meeting is open to the public! And Mayor Caldwell is very interested in transportation issues in the state, including biking. Bike share and other biking related issues are discussed at each meeting, so the opportunities to get involved in biking on O'ahu are endless!

"Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I have hope for the human race." ~ H.G. Wells

- Robyn Evans

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Hawaii Conservation Conference

Exciting things are happening for conservation throughout the year here in Hawaii, yet it is rare to connect with the many people, places, and planet all in one place. A rare opportunity to connect is the 2013 Hawaii Conservation Conference  that took place at the Honolulu Convention Center. With so many inspiring and informative talks going on at the same time it is difficult for an attendee to choose which talks to attend!

Many local businesses and organizations are also tabling at the event and are happy to talk to you about what they're doing and give you more information on how to get involved. Of the many attending some included: KUPU, Kealopiko, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural History and Hui Ku Maoli Ola Native Plant Nursery.

    A talk by Chad Wiggins discussed the decline in fish numbers on Puakō reefs over the past forty years. Even within the marine life conservation district, where only pole fishing is permitted, fish numbers have declined. One reason for this decline is a constant sediment plume originating from Puakō bay. This study began monitoring fish numbers in 2009 and combined that data with a meta analysis of all previous studies of the bay. Other signs of declining health are apparent, for instance, coral cover have declined from 80% in 1973 to 30% today. Community education efforts have focused on educating fishermen about the size of prime spawners for specific fish species and the seasons in which each species spawns. However, the trend on Puakō’s reef is declining fish numbers and coral health.

    (Image of Puako Bay, retrieved from puakobay.com)

  Many other exciting talks are taking place throughout the conference. Talks from the world of marine resource management, coral reef management and science, climate change, sustainability, and many more provide insight into the many opportunities to work in the field of conservation here in Hawaii. Some highlights include monitoring of native bee species, and diversified agriculture on the Hamakua coast.

  -Veronica Gibson  

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Hawaii Clean Energy Day

Friday, July 12th was the 5th annual Hawaii Clean Energy Day. I had the opportunity to talk with attendees while sitting at the RISE/Kupu table during the morning session and share all of the amazing opportunities RISE provides to interns and organizations alike. 

In the afternoon I was able to attend the discussion on clean energy and transportation. 

The keynote speaker, Todd Litman (pictured above, center), is the founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute. According to Litman's address, Hawaii is doing comparatively well in terms of petroleum consumption when compared to the rest of the United States. People in Hawaii consume 20% less petroleum than the national average. A comment from the audience questioned if we should be satisfied with comparing Hawaii with some of the worst places for petroleum consumption on the planet instead of comparing to other countries that far better than the entire United States.

In other good news, Litman pointed out that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are on the decline, and have been for the last few years (see chart below).  This indicates a shift towards alternative transportation methods. 

So, this is all pretty promising news. Litman further pointed out that the best way to ensure these trends are realized, utilized, and expanded is to create communities that allow families to shed a vehicle. Walkable communities, over expanding highways systems, using alternative fuels, etc. (which only solve parts of the overall problem) will create the transportation environment a community desires.

 In line with environmental benefits,  walkable communities also see financial benefits. Walkable communities spend 10-15% of their total household budget on transportation. This is compared to car-centric communities where roughly 20-25% of  household budgets are spent on transportation.

Litman's address was followed by two panel discussions.  The first was moderated by Jeff Mikulina (Blue Planet) and discussed issues associated with clean energy and transportation. The second panel was moderated by Asia Yeary (EPA) and focused on the issues associated with clean energy and transportation the interplay with the human element.

Throughout the afternoon I saw many of the same faces from different sectors.  This conference brought together transportation and clean energy experts that are non often in the same room. This relationship is an important one to continue to seek healthy, clean, happy communities for those living within them, and those just passing through. 

"It really matters whether people are working on generating clean energy or improving transportation or making the Internet work better and all those things. And small groups of people can have a really huge impact." - Larry Page

Posted by: RISE Intern Robyn Evans

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Making A Paradise of the World

On  June 27, 2013 the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce hosted a presentation by Soichiro Fukutake, a 67 year old socially conscious entrepreneur from Japan. Fukutake's presentation, “Making a Paradise of the World”, told the story of  his decision to leave his office in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo for the rural town of Okayama. Okayama housed the headquarters of Fukutake Publishing, the family business he had resolved to take over.   His narrative served to highlight three interlinking points of sustainability & social health:

1.            Using what exists to create what is to be.

2.            People should become happier as they grow older.

3.            The economy should serve culture. 

Fukutake  was at first dismayed about the move from urban to rural, but grew to love the relaxed pace of his new life.  During this transition he began to recognize the negative legacy that modernization was having on the sparsely populated islands around Okayama.  He decided he wanted to make a commitment to changing the trajectory of these islands from one of degradation to prosperity.  In resolve with this new ideal he changed the name of the Fukutake Publishing to “Benesse” (which means “well-being”).

One of Fukutake first actions in linking economy, social, and environmental health was building the Benesse House Art Museum on the under populated island of Naoshima. This museum displays contemporary artwork created out of trash. Most of the artwork is created by foreign artists who are supplied the previously unused materials by the local elderly population. The removal of debris allowed for the community to recapture some of the beauty and health of their island. Allowing the community to engage in the creative process facilitated a sense culture for the fading island community. A few years later, the sustainable art displayed at Naoshima was selected by an American sightseeing magazine, as one of the "seven places in the world you should see next".  The trash art at the museum (see photo below) at Naoshima was a resounding success in revitalizing the community pride, social well being, and environmental restoration on Naoshima.

Fukutake believes that global warming is the biggest issue facing the world today and that one of the best ways to address the issue of global warming is the electric car.  In an effort to unite economy and positive change, he founded Sim Drive Cooperation in 2005. Sim Drive Coperation develops electric cars and it's latest prototype, known as SIM-CEL, is capable of 202 miles on a single charge and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 4.2 seconds.

Recently the company promoted electric vehicles at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and is looking to establish a similar electric car race on Haleakala, Maui in 2014.

Blog posted by RISE Intern Greg Schuster

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Sailing Through the Pacific Garbage Patch

In May 2013, RISE Director Marguerite Harden left her position with RISE and Kupu in order to eventually return to her roots. But first she embarked upon a 44-foot racing sailboat (the Siesta) that would take her from Hawaii to California, sailing through the notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch. During the sail Marguerite took part in the “Trans Pacific Marine Debris Survey” which is part of the NOAA Marine Debris Program. For only 30-minutes per day she would tally all visible marine debris on simple data collection sheets. Once she survived the sail (fingers were crossed!), the data would be combined with that from other scientists, sailors, and explorers to better understand marine debris pollution.

And it turns out that there is still much to be learned about marine debris (which is defined as waste that makes it’s way into our oceans). Marine debris has been studied to accumulate in “gyres” — or a large system of rotating ocean currents caused by a number of natural forces. Scientists and explorers have identified five major gyres across the globe; The North Pacific gyre is one of these places, and within it is the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” - aptly named because of a highly concentrated amount of plastic debris found here. If you’d like to lean more about this topic check out:

 This TED Talk from Capt’n Charles Moore himself, who has been credited with first discovering the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

 Our very own RISE Mentor and marine debris expert, Nicole Chatterson, is a wealth of knowledge. She has sailed through the patch herself when she worked with Captain Charles Moore on the Algalita research vessel.

RISE’s Greener Reader book club read “Plastic: A Toxic Love Story” back in September of 2012, and it provides a great overview of plastic pollution (not just in the marine environment). If you’re not committed to reading whole book, RISE wrote these highlights that came out of the club meeting.

Sailing through the Pacific Garbage Patch proved to be a mixed bag of emotions: excitement about coming across a giant patch of garbage that no one wants to exist in the first place.  Sure enough, about halfway and seven days into the sail Marguerite was awe-struck by the amount of anthropogenic marine debris in one of the most remote places in the world. The 30-minute observation period led to 35 pieces of marine debris – about 40% of which was plastic pollution (the rest was either fishing/ boat gear or miscellaneous materials). And this was just sited by the visible eye, therefore not accounting for any microplastics. Interestingly enough, the location of Marguerite’s passage through the patch was about 6 degrees south of where the Pacific Garbage Patch is thought to be, as plotted on this map (and pictured above). Perhaps the patch is more dynamic and/or more widespread than previously thought; or perhaps the Siesta didn't even sail through the worst of it.

The following facts frame the magnitude of the issue, and you can also bust out to “wow” your friends at your next dinner party (you can thank us later):

Recent research released this month has shown evidence of a “plastisphere” where over 1,000 different species of bacteria, plants, and algae were found to latch onto plastics, spreading potentially harmful bacteria such as cholera-causing pathogens into unwanted territory.

Microplastics are being ingested with phytoplankton and consumed by a broad range of marine and bird species. The Laysan albatross pictured here, "is just one of more than 260 species of animals in the world that are being killed or injured by plastic." Some 1.2 million albatross nest at Midway, and almost every one has some quantity of plastic in its belly. (Source: Plastic, A Toxic Love Story, pg. 114).

No one knows for sure but scientists think over six million tons of marine debris may be entering our ocean every year, where up to 90% of that is plastic (Source: Project Aware).

Plastics are thought to be transferred between trophic levels and becoming a part of our very own food web – well illustrated by Surfrider’s “What goes in the ocean goes in you” campaign (as shown in the image to the right).

"It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the threat is rather to life itself." - Rachel Carson

The facts about plastic pollution can be discouraging, but the good news is that we all play a significant role in reversing this great issue of our time. You’ve already taken the first step by reading this blog and becoming more informed. Below are the top five ways you can "be the change you wish to see in the world":

Reduce both your consumption and waste generation, especially relating to plastic.Carry around reusable goods to replace one-time use plastics (three compact reusable goods go a long way: a reusable bag; a fork/spoon/knife set; and a reusable bottle). Be conscious of how necessary the plastic you’re using is, and use your purchasing power (vote with your wallet!) to avoid buying goods that have unnecessary plastic parts or packaging. Avoid buying face wash that contain plastic, and even encourage manufacturers of “microbead” products to change (as advocated so well by 5 Gyres here).

Pick up trash. There are so many righteous beach-cleanup organizations. Whether you partake in organized cleanups or on your own, whether it’s at the beach or anywhere else — it’s a sure way to directly reduce marine debris.

Support plastic reduction policies. Plastic bag bans/fees, bottle bills, and other innovative policies are making a great impact on reducing the amount of plastic in the environment, as well as increasing consumer consciousness. Find out what’s going on in your community and vote to support plastic reduction measures.

Go off-shore sailing… with a clipboard. If you or a sailor you know are fortunate enough to go offshore sailing, try to collect data while you’re at it! The data Marguerite collected is very easy to replicate – simply check out the “Trans Pacific Marine Debris Survey” website.

Spread the word.  Don’t preach, but celebrate your conscious lifestyle and share your knowledge with others.

To find out more about Marguerite’s sail, visit her personal travel blog: http://misformarguerito.tumblr.com/

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What is Stormwater Runoff?

 The federal Clean Water Act requires the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division manages the quality of storm water runoff. A Storm Water Management Program Plan is used to ensure that Oahu’s municipal stormwater system is in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit. Stormwater runoff is also affected by construction, thus construction projects are required to follow “best management practices” in order to reduce sediment and contaminant runoff via stormwater.

  (The motto of our Hawaii State Department of Transportation for keeping in compliance with the EPA clean water act). 

  Some examples of best management practices include using silt socks to catch sediment and remove it from stormwater before leaving construction sites. Gravel swales can be used in drainage ditches to catch sediment and prevent it from entering larger drainage basins. Another best management practice is to have all water draining from the construction site enter a large “settlement basin” in which the water sits for some time and sediments and solids are allowed to settle out before the water leaves the basin and the construction site. At construction site entrances and exits a rumble strip with a gravel swale should be used to ensure mud is removed from truck tires before entering outside roadways.

  (A drain with a silt sock to prevent sediment from entering stormwater systems)

  With my internship at ACSI I conduct weekly stormwater permit inspections to make sure all of our best management practices are being used throughout the site and our stormwater runoff is as clean as possible. By keeping our stormwater clean I am also keeping the nearby coastal ecosystems clean and free of sediment deposits, this helps to maintain a healthy coral reef ecosystem. By using best management practices we can ensure that our coastal ecosystems and our watershed's are not damaged by environmentally irresponsible construction practices.

  Keeping our watershed clean and our oceans clear,

--Veronica Gibson

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Protecting the Environment and the Bottom Line

Can environmental sustainability be good for businesses? The sustainability movement is strong, and the push to create environmentally sustainable businesses is strong.  One of the main arguments against creating an environmentally friendly business is the cost will hurt a company's bottom line, or overall profit margin. Is this true?

Can being sustainable actually financially benefit a company?  There are some definite opportunities for savings in terms of increased efficiency (energy efficient light bulbs, skylights, solar power, etc.) and waste reduction.

Aside from the long term savings realized with efficiency measures there are a variety of other benefits sustainability can impart upon a business profile, which include:

1)      Complying with environmental regulations

In Canada, Scott Vaughan, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, states businesses have found creative, cost-effective ways to comply with environmental regulations. Often times, they are seeing greater return on their investments and are making these changes a part of their business agenda. In a 2011 study “Sustainability & Innovative Global Executive Study and Research Project”, 1/3 of business leaders said that adopting sustainable practices improved their bottom line profitability. Because US businesses function in a global marketplace, other countries may force companies to comply with more strict environmental standards. So, being “ahead of the game” or “going the extra mile” may increase profitability.

2)      Reputation in the Marketplace

In a study by NJPRO (New Jersey Policy Research Organization), it was demonstrated that sustainable business practices “Allows business to improve their image by being seen as good corporate citizens”, thus increasing customer loyalty and attraction. In a similar Canadian survey, most business owners stated they factored environmental sustainability into their business plan to stay competitive and because of corporate reputations.

3)      Risk Management

Small and mid-sized companies are vulnerable to fluctuating marketplaces. Thus, if they commit to using renewable or energy efficient product, they are more self-contained and can curb some of the fluctuation coming from the external, global markets. It has been shown, 70% of consumers will pay a little extra for a product if it is made in a socially/environmentally responsible way. Also, consumers are increasing concerned with chemical use and proliferation in products. So, to ensure return customers companies can make a commitment to using more sustainable practices.

 4)      Innovation

In a report by Harvard Business School, Robert Porter, states companies that meet strict environmental regulations have higher rates of productivity and innovation than those firms that do not comply with the regulations.  Also, in the study completed by NJPRO, it was shown within an organization, sustainability can affect individuals. Employees of sustainably-minded companies became more forward-thinking. This has been shown to boost moral within an organization.

 In conclusion, companies that are adopting sustainability practices through increasing efficiency and reducing waste are seeing less money exiting the organization upfront, thus increasing their bottom line. These companies are also seeing many side benefits like increases in their innovation and reputation. So, why not make your business a little greener?

Follow this link for the 2011 survey by MIT Sloan Management Review.

For the full PDF of the NJPRO (New Jersey Policy Research Organization) report “Sustainability for Business:  Innovation, Cost Savings, and Opportunities” (2012), click here.

“Every profession bears the responsibility to understand the circumstances that enable its existence.” -Robert Gutman

Posted by: RISE Intern Robyn Evans

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Honolulu's Cabs Go Electric

Photograph Source: hawaiibusiness.com

EcoCab is Hawaii's taxi service to use only hybrid vehicles. The companies vision is to improve the taxi industry through the use of clean technology and environmentally responsible vehicles. To realize this vision, EcoCab aims to partner with like-minded companies within the community to promote environmental stewardship to preserve the natural beauty and resources of Hawaii. 

The inspiration for creating Hawaii's first all-hybrid fleet came from the success of San Francisco's taxi industry in reducing Greenhouse Gases. In 2008, San Francisco set a goal to reduce taxi Greenhouse Gas emissions by 20% (from 1990 levels) by 2012. in February, 2012, the city announced they had not only met, but exceeded their 20% goal. They accomplished this feat by incorporating hybrid electric and compressed natural gas vehicles into their fleet. This incorporation helped reduce Greenhouse Gases by 35,139 metric tons (equal to taking 6,890 cars off the road/year). By adding the alternative fueled vehicles, San Francisco's fleet saved $11 million in fuel. 

Their make and model of choice is the Hyundai Sonata hybrid, which has been names a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and NHTSA. The Sonata is designated as a "full-sized family sedan" by the EPA, and can fit four passengers (plus the driver) with adequate space for light travel.

Some other neat reasons to choose EcoCab:

- The cabs have Wi-Fi hotspots 

- Tablets installed in the vehicles allow you to choose your own music, etc.

- GPS monitors aid in directions an provide up to date traffic advisories

- Rates are comparable to other fleets in town (i.e. The Cab)

- Take enough trips and get a VIP card (good for 20% off trips)

- The drivers are not contractors but employees of EcoCab

Customers are raving about this clean, honest, and environmentally friendly taxi experience. "This was the best cab ride I've had in a looooong time", remembers Chad, a customer in June of this year. Diane admits, "I've got EcoCab programmed into my Favorites!"

With the amazing amenities and the comparable rates, why not choose a taxi fleet utilizing alternative technologies to reduce the production of Greenhouse Gases?!

Media Source: EcoCab.com

Read about EcoCab in the news: HawaiiBusiness, Midweek, and Hawaii News Now

For more information visit: Facebook, Yelp, and Twitter

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead 

Robyn Evans

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Trash to Energy: Why Waste?

Oahu's trash to energy plant, H Power, reduces the volume of waste entering Oahu's landfill by 90% and produces 7% of Oahu's power. The waste is reduced to 10% of its original volume and the remaining ash enters the landfill. That means H Power produces enough energy to power 40,000 homes and processes 2,000 tons of waste daily. The plant also recovers metals for recycling, ferrous material (steel) is separated using large magnets, while non-ferrous material (aluminum) is separated using eddy current separators. 25,500 tons of metal are separated in this system annually and prevented from entering the landfill. With the growing problems of both overflowing landfills and excessive energy demands there is no question that trash to energy is a beneficial solution. 

Image Source: H Power 

          As long as the proper air quality protection is installed and continues to be improved as trash to energy grows, the long term environmental benefits from trash to energy greatly offset any negative consequences. As of now H Power uses Semi-dry gas scrubbers that inject lime, reverse air fabric filter bag houses, and a continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) system.  H Power also employs an Environmental Management System to asses any and all environmental impacts caused by the company, and makes preventing environmental degradation a priority.

    Why don't we have waste to energy on the outer islands? Mayor Kenoi on the Big Island has favored trash to energy. However, opposition to this idea cite managers of waste to energy in other states in saying that waste streams of less than 500 tons daily are not economically viable for waste to energy. However, with Hilo already at 200 tons daily and Kona at just under 300 tons daily, plus the possibility of using existing waste to supplement the waste stream, we should look to the future. With continuous development and population growth on Hawaii Island we are looking at continuing increases in trash volume. Plus there is the possibility of accepting trash from Maui and other outer islands with an economic incentive for Hawaii counties. 

Some private developers have taken the situation into their own hands. A proposed project in the Waikoloa area plans to run off its own trash to energy plant without hooking up to HELCO at all. The trash to energy facility will support tenants of the park, which, as of now, include a dry and cold storage for nearby hotels and resorts as well as a pellet production facility. Overall trash to energy is a good answer for Hawaii to reduce the size of our growing landfills and reduce our dependence on imported petroleum for energy.

By: Veronica Gibson, R.I.S.E Environmental Compliance intern 

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HECO Biofuel Plant Tour

On Wednesday June 12th the RISE program led a tour of HECO’s Campbell industrial park power plant. What makes Campbell industrial park of interest to the RISE program is that it burns biofuels. The 200 million dollar power plant first became operational in 2009 burning petroleum oil as it its fuel source, but since 2010 has switched over to biodiesel.

The biodiesel is supplied by REG renewable energy group based out of Iowa. The biodiesel mostly consists of byproducts of the animal slaughterhouse process. The cost of biodiesel compared to petroleum oil has varied throughout the years, but currently the difference between the two is relatively small with biodiesel costing about a dollar more per gallon. In addition the efficiency of biodiesel compared to petroleum oil is about the same once it goes through the power facility.      

The Campbell industrial power plant was built in reaction to the blackout that shut down the grid in 2008. The power plant is designed to make sure that never happens again with its black start ability, which allows the power plant to instantaneously pick up 20 megawatts of power in a case of a power failure at one of the other power plants. This rapidly generated energy can then be used to feed other power plants to restart them.   

Other than being used as safeguard to blackouts, the power plant is used during peak hours when there is the most pressure on the grid. The power plant is typically operational 15 days a month between the hours of 4pm-10pm producing 113 megawatts power. On average about 30 people are working at the power plant with about 12 employees working on maintenance and 18 employees working on fuels. Since there are not employees onsite for 24 hours a dispatch team can remotely switch on the power plant from another HECO facility.

HECO has recently been testing out new fuels and technologies to improve the grid flexibility and efficiency in the future. Palm oil which is another biofuel was tested a couple years ago, but was not pursued further since it did not meet EPA’s standards for a renewable fuel. Later this year HECO will be testing a battery pack in hopes of adding more grid flexibility. HECO is currently testing these options, so that in the future they will be in compliance with Hawaii’s Clean Energy Initiative and Green House Gas Laws.

Power plants with black start capabilities like Campbell industrial park will become even more necessary as more renewable energy sources are added to the grid. Thus during our tour of Campbell Industrial park we may have gotten peak into the future of energy generation in Hawaii.

Posted by Greg Schuster, R.I.S.E. Green House Gas Reporting Intern

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Electric Vehicles in Israel

Israel has a dream of being a global leader in innovation. This dream includes Electric Vehicles (EVs), yet, this dream is being challenged. During a rally, about 200 of these EV owners gathered to listen to Yosef Abramowitz, or “Captain Sunshine” and his cries for more EVs on Israeli streets.  Abramowitz is a successful entrepreneur with a special interest in solar power. Last month, he seized an opportunity when Better Place  went bankrupt. "We want to take the remaining assets of Better Place and turn it into a national project, recognized by the government as a national asset," he said. "We see it as a technology and service platform, for all electric vehicles, current and future, in the state of Israel."

Photograph Source: NPR.org

Better place is a highly innovative EV venture that is responsible for building a system of 38 batter-swap stations in the Israeli region. This allows owners of EVs to not only use their vehicles for short trips around town but also on long road trips. The idea aims to remedy one of the main aversions consumers have to going electric.  All EV owners have to do is drive into a battery-swap station and the station takes care of the rest. As owners relax in their EVs the station mechanically removes the used battery and installs a new, fully charged one. One EV owner clocked the whole experience in 6.5 minutes. Then the EV is back on their way. "Never did we have a problem or concern about electrical charge because there were switch stations all the way," one EV owner exclaims. Yet, this aspect of Better Place is one program on the chopping block. The battery-swap system is very expensive to run and only one model of their EVs can utilize it. There are plans to keep the current system up for those who already use it, but there are no plans to expand this aspect of Better Place.

Photograph Source: Better Place

Abramowitz believes the government and the army of Israel should have 20% of their fleets made up of EVs. The crowd cheered in agreement. Abramowitz also relayed his message to the crowd and the finance ministry of zero usage tax, zero purchase tax and an increase of renewable energy to power Israel’s automobiles. Thus, Better Place and the battery-swap system has become a symbol of Israel’s innovation. Better Place represents a dream, like many say does building Israel to be an example of how a country can become gasoline independent.

Abramowitz is still in the bidding to purchase the company’s assets. He has formed an association with current Better Place car owners to see the dream to fruition. In addition to moving away from the battery- swap system, Abramowitz plans to make the fleet solar powered and relay the tax and economic benefits of switching to EVs, things he believes the former management failed communicate effectively. Abramowitz and Better Place owners hope to get the program running again soon. If they cannot, as one owner puts it, “instead of having an innovative car, [we will] have a very nice sculpture in the driveway”.

See Better Place’s founder, Shai Agassi, give a TED Talk and read more about his innovative genius in the book Start-Up Nation.

"We cannot solve a problem by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." -A. Einstein

- Robyn Evans