Category: sustainability

Climate Action, Climate Change, Environment, sustainability August 5, 2020August 14, 2020

What People Are Saying About Mini Cooper Going Electric— Again

Washington (GGM) Analysis | August 5, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

With all of the Nissan Leafs and Chevy Bolts on the road today, it may seem hard to remember when electric vehicles, EVs, were uncommon. However, only ten years ago, EVs were virtually unattainable to the average person. It was only in 2009 that the first major car manufacturer released over 500 EVs for private use— and no, it was not Tesla. It was BMW’s Mini Cooper!

Though nearly ten thousand people signed up to lease Mini’s original EV– the Mini E– the vehicle was never intended for mass production. In March of 2020, Mini Cooper put more than just their toes in the water, with the release of their first real line of EVs: the Mini Cooper Hardtop SE. Starting at $29,900, this stylish and spunky roadster is one of the most affordable electric cars around.

Instagram – @pepperandgold

According to Car and Driver, the car “has a 32.6-kWh battery pack and a single electric motor that produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque.” It has agile handling, a high-tech interior, and of course, the distinctive Mini aesthetic. Additionally, the SE sports an adjustable regenerative braking system, as well as a state of the art heat-pump that is 75% more efficient than traditional electric designs.

The only real flaw in this adorable Mini is the range. The Mini Cooper SE has 110 miles of electric range, while competitors, like Hyundai or Kia have over 200 miles of range. On a positive note, the SE comes with a 3-prong charging cord that will fit into any standard outlet. In combination with the available at-home wallbox chargers and the increasing availability of public charging stations, this makes range less of an issue. Plus, when using Fast DC Charging Stations, average users get an 80% charge in about 35 minutes.

Twitter – @MyUrbanCar

All in all, people are excited about the style, handling, and affordability of this Zero-Emission car. Pulling up in the Mini Cooper’s newly released SE will not disappoint!

Come back next Wednesday for more EV news!

Tl;dr

In 2009 Mini Cooper released 500 EVs for private use— the Mini E
The Mini E was never intended for mass production
In March of 2020, Mini Cooper released of their first real line of EVs: the Mini Cooper Hardtop SE
The base model starts at $29,900
The SE produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque
The SE has a state of the art heat-pump that is 75% more efficient than traditional electric designs
At home charging and the increase in public charging stations makes the 110 miles of electric range less of an issue

Climate Action, sustainability July 31, 2020August 14, 2020

How to turn Plastic Free July into Plastic Free Forever!

Washington (GGM) Analysis | July 31, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

We encounter so many choices throughout the day— cream or sugar, french fries or salad, paper or plastic. No matter how small the decision may seem, each choice is an opportunity to vote. Each and everything you do as a consumer is significant; it tells corporations and businesses what is important to you, what you are willing to compromise on, and what you are unwilling to be a part of.

If you participated in Plastic Free July this summer, your vote against plastic waste was cast 30 times in a row! You, along with 250 million others, told the world that it’s time to ditch destructive single-use plastics. According to the 2019 Annual Report produced by the Plastic Free Foundation, in July alone, this initiative was responsible for avoiding 825 million kg of plastic waste. With the upward trend in membership and participation of this non-profit group, the 2020 report should show an even greater impact!

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Twitter – @Greenpeace

Now that it’s August, let’s keep the momentum going. Last year, 16% of Plastic Free July participants were inspired to continue their efforts throughout the year. Keep making the decision to choose sustainable and reusable bags, cups, and straws, and that percentage is sure to rise.

Visit the Plastic Free Foundation’s What Can You Do page for more information on how to change up your routine for the better! Whether you switch up the type of laundry supplies you buy, or you simply buy a bamboo toothbrush, let people know! Tweet your successes with hashtags that promote sustainability and a plastic-free lifestyle. Doing so will motivate you to keep going, and it will inspire others to do the same.

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Instagram – @zerowastedoc

Tl;dr

Everything you do as a consumer is significant
In July 2019, the Plastic Free Foundation was responsible for avoiding 825 million kg of plastic waste
250 million people participated in Plastic Free July in 2019
16% of participants continued on with plastic-free lifestyle changes throughout the year

Climate Action, Climate Change, sustainability July 24, 2020August 14, 2020

Is Elon Musk Mother Nature’s New Price Charming?

Washington (GGM) Analysis | July 23, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

In March of 2020, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, announced the search for the perfect location for his newest factory. Not unlike Prince Charming’s country-wide invitation to the castle ball in Cinderella, people far and wide waited in anticipation over Musk’s Choice. July 22nd, a statement was released, saying that the new facility will be built in Austin, Texas.

Twitter- @tedcruz

Unlike other car companies, Tesla far outperformed in earnings despite the global pandemic, reporting four consecutive profitable quarters. This boost for Tesla means a boost for the economy and a major boost for the planet.

Musk announced that the Cybertruck factory will be open to the public. With walking trails, bike paths, a boardwalk, and fish-filled streams, he described the park-like facility as an “ecological paradise.” This new destination will surely bring tourism dollars, but the real economic growth will come from the 5,000 new jobs needed at the site.

The economic buzz surrounding Musk’s latest venture is exciting, but the real news lies in the cars! Tesla promises that from the facility will come four new vehicles, the long-awaited Cyber Truck, the Tesla Semi, the Model Y, and the Model 3. The addition of these new EVs, along with Tesla’s unexpected boost in earnings, means more electric vehicles on the road. Considering the fact that every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO2, this is very big news for Mother Nature!

Tl;dr

On July 22nd, 2020, Elon Musk announced that the new Tesla factory will be built in Austin, Texas
Tesla far outperformed in earnings, reporting four consecutive profitable quarters
The facility will be a park-like destination boasting walking trails, bike paths, a boardwalk, and fish-filled streams
The new Tesla factory will create at least 5,000 new jobs
The facility will produce a Cyber Truck, the Tesla Semi, the Model Y, and the Model 3

Climate Action, Climate Change, sustainability July 16, 2020August 14, 2020

Tulsa and Tesla: Newest Battleground in EV Fight

Washington (GGM) Analysis | July 15, 2020 by Erika Browning

In 1901, oil was discovered in Tulsa—the Red Fork area to be exact, which is where my grandfather lives to this day. Within a short five years, Tulsa was declared the “Oil Capital of the World”. This title has been worn proudly by this incredible little city for well over a century. It’s a source of pride that locals have rigs on their land or receive mineral rights for oil supplies.

Beyond Tulsa’s history, its present is also wrapped up in oil. Conoco Phillips is headquartered just a short 45 minutes away in Bartlesville. Oil giants like Waite Phillips, and William Skelly made astronomical amounts of money off the oil that sits underneath the city. When oil prices dip, the effects are felt economically by thousands of Oklahomans. Financial investments depreciate, jobs are on the cutting board, and families worry about paying bills. And that’s just a threat that can be seen coming—let alone when an unforeseen shock to the system occurs. The latter effect was painfully felt when my husband’s company laid off a significant number of its workers during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. This is a company that hasn’t had such a layoff in its entire 100 years.

Despite its reliance on oil, Tulsa is also a thriving, progressive city. Citizens are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of life. I often call Tulsa “my little purple mecca in a desperately red state”. In June 2020, it was announced that Tulsa was in the final running for Elon Musk’s new Tesla truck plant—against Austin, TX. While I do sincerely love the diversity and culture in Austin, Tulsa desperately needs this.

The Tesla Cybertruck Gigafactory would bring in up to 10,000 jobs to a city that deserves to be appreciated. Tulsa offers the romantic pull of Route 66, a diverse populus and a storied history of hard working men and women. There are currently several charging stations for electric vehicles in the Tulsa area, with many more planned as the need arises. With the apparent reversal of our local energy dependence on the horizon, some die-hard oil folk might be resistant to the idea of Tesla being such a prominent fixture in Tulsa. But I assure you, more citizens are in complete support of this move than not.

Why can’t oil and renewable energy coexist? Sure, the goal is ultimately to end our dependence on fossil fuels, especially if we have any hope of leaving a sustainable planet for future generations. One thing I have learned about my fellow citizens is this: we are reluctant to change but when given the right guidance and tools, we don’t need to be afraid. It could be just the step we need to kickstart climate change in the right direction in one of the most conservative, oil-dependant states in the US.

Oklahomans aren’t stupid, we are proud. We are a large group of people who have had to adapt for generations. Change may take a bit more time, and we are behind the coastal states, but I believe this could make a great impact in leading to change. I also firmly believe that should the country see such a deep red, oil loving state turn its sights to EVs, it could snowball through to the rest of the red states. ♻️

Climate Action, Climate Change, sustainability July 14, 2020August 14, 2020

Raising Pro-Planet Pre-Teens

Washington (GGM) Analysis | July 14, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

Whether you’ve been working on building a more sustainable lifestyle for a while or you are a total newbie, you don’t want to be the only one in your family running around your house turning off lights and pulling recyclables out of the kitchen trash. Everyone in the house needs to get involved. You may be thinking easier said than done, especially if your kids are a bit older.

But I have good news! If you are raising a tween or young teen, it’s not too late to become a Pro-Planet Parent! Start small by making a few changes that shed light on specific causes and encourage eco-friendly behavior. Buying your son or daughter a 100% recycled 4Ocean bracelet is a great first step! 4Oceans is a global initiative dedicated to cleaning up the world’s oceans and spreading awareness. For each bracelet purchased, they promise to pull a pound of plastic out of our waters. Since 2017, they have removed 9,381,011 lbs of garbage from the ocean and coastline.

4Ocean – Loggerhead Sea Turtle Beaded Bracelet

Are you looking to make even more impact? Get your tween to look at thredUP for their next clothing purchase. This online secondhand store is a sustainable choice for the whole family. According to thredUP, the average article of clothing is worn only seven times before it is thrown directly into the trash. They claim that if everyone switched to secondhand purchases, we could collectively save 6 BILLION lbs of CO2 emissions per year.

Twitter – @thredUP

Another way to reduce your teen’s landfill waste and contribution to lowering CO2 emissions is to swap their favorite print magazine with the E-Copy. Doing so will help your young one realize that sustainable earth-conscious choices do not necessarily mean compromise. It can actually put some money back in their pockets! An annual online subscription to the popular magazine, Girl’s Life, is available on Barnes & Noble Nook for under $20!

Come back every Tuesday for more Eco-Friendly Parenting tips!

Twitter – @Girl’s Life Magazine

tl;dr

Become a Pro-Parent Parent: Help your young teen make earth-conscious choices
4Ocean promises to pull 1lb of plastic out of the ocean for every bracelet sold
Since 2017, 4Ocean has removed 9,381,011 lbs of garbage from the ocean and coastline
Switching to secondhand clothing purchases, like thredUP, could save 6 BILLION lbs of CO2 emissions per year
Switching from print magazines to E-Copies lowers landfill waste and produces less CO2

circular economy, Climate Action, Climate Change, sustainability July 8, 2020August 17, 2020

America’s Global Corporations | Do the Right Thing

Washington (GGM) Analysis | July 8, 2020 by Noreen Wise

With so much government disfunction in the United States, it’s life-threatening for US global corporations to wait for US laws to be passed in order to act on climate. All must quickly rise to the occasion and do the right thing for climate’s sake.

EU countries, Canada, and China are shining beacons from hill tops. Most are moving briskly into sustainability and renewable energy, while the majority of states in America are stymied by legislative impasses. Large portfolio management firms as well, those managing many trillions of dollars, are dumping fossil fuels and other “old world” stalwarts, and quickly buying into the future. It reminds me of the late 1990’s when all the new tech giants began emerging.

The most maddening part about the corporate landscape and climate action and inaction, is that the majority of American global corporations only adjust their practices in those states or countries that pass green laws. They apparently refuse to apply the new best practices, such as mandatory composting and single-use plastic bag bans, to all their locations today.

Profit over lives creates climate injustice which fuels the climate crisis. It also kills. It’s time to hold corporations accountable by boycotting. I love Wegman’s. However, to see paper bags being used in New York Wegman’s after the single-use plastic bag ban went into effect there, but seeing plastic bags in Virginia stores because there’s no ban in Virginia, resonates as irresponsible and harmful to millions. Yes, Wegman’s does have a plastic bag recycle bin which may ease their conscience, but it’s still only a quarter-step forward when American corporations need to be sprinting into the future to catch up with all of our allies.

How about McDonald’s in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada, which passed a law mandating no food waste, and requiring all restaurants to compost. McDonald’s is apparently rejecting the law and allowing customers to toss food waste much to the dismay of Nova Scotia, when it should be abiding by Canadian laws as well as applying these same principles to their American locations despite the fact that there’s limited legislation in most states.

America has fallen so far behind that we’re being humiliated by much smaller countries who are are seizing the moment and charging into the future.

Dysfunctional local, state and federal government doesn’t have to be an obstacle to implementing climate solutions. We American citizens, as well as corporations big and small, can act on our own. In fact, we simply must.

Let’s GO! If corporations like Wegman’s and McDonald’s and so many others have lost their way and can’t start sprinting, we consumers must say “enough is enough” and begin boycotting. Period. No time to waste. Just like with covid, immediately implementing effective solutions is a game-changer. Dragging our feet is a killer.♻️

2020, Climate Action, Climate Change, Eco, sustainability June 27, 2020August 17, 2020

Toronto Is Far Ahead of Majority of American Cities | Waste Management

Washington (GGM) Analysis | June 27, 2020 by Noreen Wise

While quarantined in Toronto, Canada for 14 days — with only 4 days remaining, yay — I’ve been able to experience first hand how in sync Torontonians are with their advanced sustainability waste management processes. In less than two years, Toronto is on the brink of zero-waste.

Providing curbside pickup for kitchen scraps is the final step in closing the loop to create a circular economy. Twenty-two percent of all landfill waste is food waste, and thus preventable. Compostable food scraps is vitally important for strengthening soil nutrients in the gardens, parks and outlying farms that our American communities support.

On this city street here in downtown Toronto, there is a designated green bin on the sidewalk that’s contained inside a neat and tidy wooden fenced bin hub, that includes: a recycling bin, a garbage bin and a kitchen scraps bin. All the residents are onboard and drop off their kitchen scraps regularly. Kitchen scrap green bin pickup is every Friday morning, while garbage and recycling rotate every other Friday.

What I found so amazing about the bin hub on this Toronto city block, is that there is so little waste. One of the bins is a half-size bin. I’ve never seen a half-size waste bin in America, only overflowing jumbo-sized bins. This in itself is a snapshot of what our greatest challenge is. The American perception that our overflowing giant bins are normal and acceptable, while the rest of the world exists on the half-sized waste bin.

Stepping into this beautiful Canadian sustainability scene from America, feels like time travel, instantly arriving at what many climate focused communities are striving for. Toronto is already living America’s aspirations. Canadians make it look so easy. It basically is. Just do it, is all it takes. Why do so many in America believe, and make it appear, too difficult to conquer?

How long will it take America to close the loop and have kitchen scraps green bins on every street? Americans are quick at responding to prize offerings and rewards, perhaps the quickest in the world. Shouldn’t we move just as briskly to capture climate action rewards.

San Francisco began requiring mandatory composting back in 2009. And according to AZCentral, at the beginning of 2018, San Francisco had a landfill diversion rate of 80 percent, the highest in the country, with the goal of hitting 100 percent diversion rate by 2020. This is a sharp difference from Arizona’s 20 percent landfill diversion rate in 2018, and goal of 40 percent by 2020.

The bottomline is that the majority of countries in the industrialized world are lightyears ahead of America and on the waste management front. We can no longer rely on local, state and federal government to take the lead on these critical issues. We American citizens have to jump into the driver’s seat and just do it, just do what needs to be done so we can catch up and reverse global warming. Composting and strengthening our soil nutrient levels to maximize carbon absorption is an immediate next step for all American communities.

Lets GO! Just do it… TODAY.♻️

Climate Action, Climate Change, sustainability June 4, 2020August 17, 2020

Three States with the Most Charging Stations | Can You Guess?

Washington (GGM) Analysis | June 4, 2020 | by Noreen Wise

After three months of staying at home, (and happy to do so), I must admit that I’ve never been so eager to plan a road trip this summer. Public transportation is still quite worrisome, but driving is an ideal option for social distancing while traveling. In fact, I’ve determined it’s the safest transportation option available.

With so many restaurants offering curbside pickup, and the empty highways luring me to take advantage of this unique opportunity, it’s exciting to ponder which destinations to add to my list. This may be the best summer ever to travel across country?

Is my exuberance getting the best of me?

Perhaps, but I was excited to read today that the three states with the most EV charging stations are:

California
Texas
Florida

Texas surprised me, actually. I had no idea that Texans were buying EV’s, but apparently they are. Excellent. Here’s a link that identifies where all the EV charging stations are located across America.

Facial coverings are needed at gas pumps and rest stops. Interestingly, I’m finding that it’s very easy to forget we’re in the middle of a pandemic when I travel. I better follow the great example I’ve seen and hang a face mask from the rearview mirror so I don’t get stuck without one. Happy travels. 😷

2020, Climate Action, Climate Change, sustainability May 15, 2020May 15, 2020

Renewable Energy Continues to Surpass Coal in US

Washington (GGM) Analysis | May 15, 2020
by Noreen Wise

It was a year ago, last spring, that we learned renewable energy usage exceeded coal usage during the month of April 2019 for the very first time ever. At one point that month, the gain was 9 straight days in a row, another first, and 38 days total for 2019 Newsweek recently reported.

It’s therefore exhilarating to be one giant step further along the road to a complete renewable transition. In 2020, every single day for the entire month of April, renewables exceeded coal, for a total run of 40 straight days of renewables crushing coal. The price of coal increased during this same time period, while the cost of renewables decreased, which appears to be a factor in the favorable outcome for renewable energy.

BrightSide-SquareNEWER-400 — Daily conversation focused on how to turn a negative into a positive and land on the bright side. A daily emotional 7 minute vitamin to boost your spirits. Podcast Host, Noreen Wise. Climate Friday! What is wet-bulb? Is it scary?

It’s a particularly significant success in light of the fact of how forcefully our president has been trying to sway public opinion to back coal, as one coal company after the next declares bankruptcy. It appears the American public is slowly adapting to the reality that the elimination of fossil fuels is inevitable, so they might as well transition sooner rather than later and take advantage of all the discounts and rebates before they disappear. 🌞