Green Education - Keep It Green Coastlines Articles

Each month the Green Awareness Taskforce Update will provide you important information to use at home and your business. We will have workshops and educational programs throughout the year. There will be events and expos emphasizing on Green Awareness right in our local area for you to attend.

Email us about what your school, church, business, organization and household is doing "Going Green": whatfootprintwillyouleave@gmail.com.

Make a difference in your Community - "Go Green" - every little bit helps!

We Can Make a Difference

The March Green Awareness Taskforce attendees can tell you that, if students in our area are any indication, the future of Green Technology is in good hands! We were all impressed and inspired by four students from area schools who displayed and discussed their award-winning ‘green technology’ science projects at our recent meeting. The Taskforce extends thanks the schools who allowed these students time away from class to share with us, and to the parents who accompanied these gifted young people to our meeting.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, approximately 33 billion cans and bottles have been landfilled, littered or incinerated in the U.S. so far this year. This means that Americans are wasting twice as much as they are recycling. White-Wilson Medical Center is hoping to reduce the impact waste has in our community by launching “green” initiatives.

“The cost on our environment for replacing the billions of bottles and cans wasted each year is substantial in terms of pollution, wasted energy and disrupted habitats. White-Wilson is doing its part to help Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa County become a designated Green Community,” said Lyn Kelley, director of Human Resources and Marketing at White-Wilson Medical Center and Green Awareness Taskforce member.

White-Wilson now participates in a single stream recycling program through Waste Management. In addition, White-Wilson has shifted towards “green” cleaning materials and chemicals, energy efficient light bulbs, reducing its energy consumption and is dedicated to educating its staff on how to reduce and/or reuse materials. White-Wilson Medical Center will continue to seek “green” alternatives for conducting business.

“It’s impressive how much of a difference we can make as individuals with the support of an organization such as White-Wilson. We have already seen a tremendous response from our employees, and I am confident our results will continue to make an impact on our environment well into the future,” said Kelley.

Hmmmm. . . I guess it is easy being “green”!

Hopefully you’ve been reading – and using - using the “green” tips that the Local Issues Committee provides each month in Coastlines. And hopefully they’ve convinced you that it is easy to be “green”! Thinking “conservation” is really not a big deal – and in this economy it even makes “cents”. Watch for a page, coming soon, on the Chamber that recaps these “green” tips, as well as information on where to take your recycling if you don’t have curbside service, where to take your hazardous disposables, what recycling efforts are available for businesses, links to other helpful websites, articles that dispel misinformation, as well as the latest info on what seminars and webinars are available either through your Chamber or other “green” organizations. Many tourists, government employees and business people are choosing to stay exclusively in accommodations that have been certified as “green”. We are currently working on a program to help our local hospitality industry receive this certification. Look for additional information in the near future. Additionally, it is a goal of your Chamber to provide all our “green” members with a green kit. If your business would like to sponsor all or part of this kit (i.e. CFC bulbs, reusable shopping bags, green cleaning products, etc.), please contact the Chamber for more info: www.fwbchamber.com.

What Footprint will YOU Leave?

We are off to a wonderful start in 2009 working on Green Awareness Goals.

The Greater Fort Walton Chamber's Green Awareness Program needs it's members, local businesses and residents to become engaged in this effort. Not only will benefit the environment but will help your business. The new Responsibility Revolution has arrived! Businesses who are socially responsible will more likely to retain loyal customers. You can create a Green Team at your business to help you reduce, reuse & recycle. Create an Eco-Profit Sharing Program and or reward your employees.

Here are some ways for you to help make our community a "Greener" place to live & work.

Recycle - If your trash pickup are with Waste Management, you have SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING available.

Q&A:
Q: I have more recyclables than my recycling bin can hold. What can I do?
A: Place in cardboard box or plastic bag and place next to your Green Recycling Bin.
Q: I do not have curbside recycling available. What can I do?
A: You can still recycle, for example collect all your paper products (including shredded paper) and take it over to NWF Daily News in Ft Walton Beach to recycle. The money that the NWF Daily News raises from Paper Recycling goes back to their Newspaper in Education for area schools. There are other items you can recycle that can help local organizations such as Shelter House - collects old cell phones, Fort Walton Beach Chamber Ambassadors - collect used printer cartridges to raise money for American Cancer Society.

Conserve Resources - Did you know that Gulf Power gives free ENERGY AUDITS for businesses and households? This will not only help you save money but will conserve energy. Find out from Okaloosa Gas the environmental benefits of Natural Gas. Water conservation is important. Make sure you are watering your lawns efficiently. (Ever drive by someone's home in the rain and the sprinkler system is on) Make it a 2009 resolution to come up with ways to conserve water at your home and or business.

Smart Driving - become more efficient driver to reduce the need for Oil and reduce Carbon Emissions to the environment. Businesses can create incentive programs to inspire employees to take public transportation, walk, bike or car pool to the workplace.

Reuse - Before throwing away: Can the item be reused at home, given to a charity or dropped off at a non-profit thrift shop.

At Home—Wash and reuse your plastic food bags. Buy reusable plastic storage containers to store leftover food, and to store foods that you buy in bulk. Consult material exchanges to purchase used items or to find new homes for items that you no longer need. If you remodel your home, consider using reused building materials, and send demolition materials that you create for reuse. Bring a reusable coffee mug or commuter mug with you when you buy coffee drinks. (Starbucks reported that customers used their own commuter mugs, and received a $0.10 discount, approximately 12.7 million times in 2002. This prevented an estimated 550,000 pounds of paper waste.)

In Business—Purchase "recycled" ink and toner cartridges for your printers and photocopiers.

What Can You Do?

1. Plant some trees. Do it in your back yard, in your community, or buy a service that does it for you.
2. Stop using plastic bags from the grocery store. Use an eco-friendly reusable shopping bag instead.
3. Cut back on driving...no...for real. There is no need to drive short distances, especially in the summer, so get a bike or an electric scooter.
4. Stop using the refrigerator that is ten years old and get a new energy efficient appliance instead. You will drastically cut down your carbon emissions by doing so.
5. Start making frequent visits to www.fwbchamber.com/green, and help us make a difference.

Happy New Year! Make 2009 the year that you start taking environmental responsibility more seriously...

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Think ‘green’ when disposing of your tree after the holidays are over. The Wright Landfill will accept your Christmas tree (as well as brush, grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, etc.) for recycling. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 7am – 3:30pm. Located at 1671 North Beal Extension, Ft. Walton Beach. (Services are restricted to residents of Okaloosa County only); 850-651-7399

Do You Buy Less to Save More?

Buying a few items at a time might save you from long checkout lines, but stocking up can be more economical and eco-friendly!

• Standing up to pollution – Half the pollution it takes to transport your food comes from your drive to and from the store. Make fewer trips and do your part to cut down on pollution
• Queuing up home energy savings – Both your fridge and freezer are more efficient when you pack them full. In a power outage, they’ll even hold the temp for twice as long as half-full ones.
• Even less time than self-service checkout – Even the time you spend parking can make you think twice about going to the store for just a couple of items.
• Lining your pockets – Save cash of electricity bills and gasoline

Green Awareness Task Force

The Green Awareness Taskforce Products and Services Sub-Committee needs your help. Are you a Chamber Member and have a product and or service that is Environmentally Friendly? If so, we want to hear from you!

The Products and Services Sub-committee has a set of questions about your Goods and Services for you to fill out and email back to Chamber Member Lyn Kelley (White Wilson Medical Center) lkelley@white-wilson.com. Chamber Member Lisa Holmes (Creative Web Solutions) is helping maintain and add new features to our Web-Site www.gogreenokaloosa.com. Lisa is in the process of designing area for Chamber Members and general public to view Chamber Businesses who have Green Products and Services. We hope to have this up and running by next month.

We would like your participation - we are looking for volunteers who are interested in helping our community to become more environmentally friendly. You are welcome to attend our monthly Green Awareness Taskforce meetings. We meet the first Tuesday each month at 815 am at the FWB Chamber Conference Room.

The Taskforce would like to remind members and guests

• Bring your reusable drinking cup to First Friday Coffee, and when attending any meetings at the FWB Chamber office
• Recycle your empty printer cartridges in collection boxes, either at the Chamber office or designated drop points at Chamber member businesses – it’s eco-friendly and benefits your Chamber Relay for Life team!
• Old cell phones can be recycled to benefit Shelter House of NW Florida
• If you are served by Waste Management, remember that you have Single Stream Recycling service. Waste Management also offers Commercial Recycling opportunities for your business.
  Your efforts count! Please participate in upcoming seminars, expos and workshops to learn more about Green Awareness. And watch for Green living tips and information each week in the Chamber’s e-newsletter.
  
  Thanks to Chamber Member Lisa Schmid (Boeing), who has created a FACEBOOK Page for Chamber Members and community to join. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Fort-Walton-Beach-Chamber-of-Commerce-Green-Awareness-Taskforce/53857316142
  
  For more information, please email us: whatfootprintwillyouleave@gmail.com View our website: www.gogreenokaloosa.com and now our FACEBOOK page www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Fort-Walton-Beach-Chamber-of Commerce-Green-Awareness-Taskforce/53857316142

Drive Less – Drive Smart!

High fuel prices are only one reason to think twice before jumping into the car unnecessarily. In the United States, about half the air pollution comes from cars and trucks. Two important ways to reduce air pollution are to drive less – even a little less – and to drive smart. Taking fewer trips in your car or truck helps your pocketbook, and helps reduce air pollution. And adopting smart driving habits reduces your car’s emissions.

Energy Facts About Paper

• Recycled paper save 60% energy vs. virgin paper (Center for Ecological Technology)
• Recycled paper generates 95% less air pollution: each tom save 60 lbs. of air pollution (Center for Ecological Technology)
• Recycling of each tom of paper save 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water (EPA)
• Every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12’ wall from New York to California!

For more information about how you can minimize your carbon footprint, contact the Local Issues Committee at whatfootprintwillyouleave@gmail.com

Go Paperless When Possible

• Make it a habit to “think before you print”: could this be read or stored online instead? And encourage your e-mail recipients to be conscious, as well, by including a “think before you print” line as part of your e-mail signature. ‘Don’t have one? Go to www.fwbchamber.com/think to download one!
• When you receive unwanted catalogs, newsletters, magazines, or junk mail, request to be removed from the mailing list before you recycle the item.
• Make it a policy to post employee manuals and similar materials online, rather than distribute print copies. They're easier to update that way too.

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