Project: Green Industry

You’re sitting in front of an energy hog

From USA Today: Leaving PCs on overnight costs companies $2.8 billion per year. These unused machines emit about 20 million tons of carbon dioxide — roughly the equivalent of 4 million cars — according to a report to be released next week.

Duly noted. Let’s all do ourselves, our wallets and the environment a favor and shut our computers down when the workday ends.

In return, I’d like the tech manufacturers of the world to do something for me: Would you please quit putting a blasted LED indicator light on every piece of technology you create? I’d like to see the report detailing how much energy is wasted by these things—which I can do practically nothing about.

-- Sarah

WESTERN takes the next steps toward green

The Western Nursery & Landscape Association has embraced the green revolution in a way that few other groups in our industry have -- yet.

For its 2009 show (which is this weekend -- Jan. 4-6), the organization has limited its printed literature. For example, instead of mailing out name badges, attendees are sent an e-mail with the information to print out and bring with them. This cuts the costs on mailing as well as the paper for the envelope and the additional paper that may be included.

On its Web site, WNLA printed this statement: “At the WESTERN Trade Show, name badge holders will be recycled and neck cords will be reused. Speaker handouts can be downloaded from the Web site, and we’re reducing print signage and pages in program booklet as more information is available in a paperless format on the www.wnla.org.”

WNLA is taking other steps as well to go green. For a full list, check here to see the group’s progress.

It’ll be interesting to see all of the green processes that WNLA has put in place. I’ll see firsthand, since I’ll be at the trade show this weekend. Be sure to say hi if you see me, and I’d be happy to talk about what your company is doing to reduce its carbon footprint.

-- Jyme

Double standards come out in the wash

Summer is for traveling! And, for me, confusion on this whole green issue.

I recently stayed at a lovely hotel that has a Four Diamond rating-- the InterContinental in Kansas City. The service was impeccable, and the rooms were clean and stylish. It was very enjoyable.

I did have one big gripe about my stay. In my room there was the standard nature-embellished plastic placard that proudly proclaims the hotel is conservation-minded.

You know the drill. “We want to save water and the planet, so please reuse your towels. Yadda, yadda, yadda.”

I don’t have a problem with that.

Here’s my gripe. If you chose to wash your hands in any of the common rest rooms, there were no air dryers or paper towels. Instead there were mounds of fluffy wash cloths. (No, they weren’t disposable.)

So I shouldn’t have my room towels laundered, but I have to dirty a wash cloth every time I wash my hands elsewhere? I was there for a three-day conference. You do the math.

I was going to steal the sign, but then I felt eco-guilty. After all, I’d be wasting paper, ink and laminate if the hotel had to create a new one.

-- Jyme

North Carolina passes drought legislation

On July 31, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley signed House Bill 2499, “An act to improve drought preparedness and response in North Carolina, as recommended by the Environmental Review Commission.” The state asserts the bill encourages “greater planning, conservation and cooperation.”

The new law gives the governor and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the ability to hasten the process for declaring a drought emergency. The governor will have the authority to declare a local water emergency based on the recommendation of the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Under the old law, the governor could only declare an emergency if there was an immediate threat to a community’s health or safety.

On the surface, this bill sounds like the government can be more heavy-handed when it comes to water restrictions. However, there is a silver lining in the bill, said Mark Peters, co-chair of the legislative committee at the North Carolina Green Industry Council and owner of Piedmont Carolina Nursery in Colfax, N.C. The bill defines essential water use as the “minimum amount of water necessary to maintain the economy of the state or region of the state.” That phrase could set a precedent against outright water bans by municipalities, he said.

“When our economic impact study revealed we’re an $8.6 billion industry, we told the state, ‘You can’t just turn off the water,’” he said.

-- Kelli

What is the next big thing?

What can we do right now to help our community, our neighbors, our environment?

I’ve surfed the net looking for ideas and thoughts and have stumbled upon quite a few that totally pique my interest. Everything from using French fry oil for biofuel to re-educating the population about the link between land and agriculture.

Conservation is about much more than recycling paper and cans, finding alternate energy sources and saving the rainforest, though those are all still foundationally important.

My own personal definition revolves around awareness. Being aware of my every action and its consequence; being globally informed and attuned to the needs of the land, people and animals inhabiting the earth; the power and inhabitants of the oceans and the lack of stewardship (to borrow a phrase from Mark Spalding) governing them.

I’m no over-the-top crusader, don’t get me wrong. You definitely won’t find me chained to a tree. But I will do what I can to ensure that I leave as small a carbon footprint as possible and coach my child, his friends and classmates to do the same. I don’t think it’s the next big thing, but it’s a small thing with big pay-off.

--Jennifer

Roger’s Gardens makes saving water sexy

I spoke with Ron Vanderhoff of Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, Calif., last week about how the store conserves water. We had a great conversation and I was duly impressed with what they’re doing. (Most of our conversation will be in the June issue of Garden Center Magazine in the Project: Green series.)

Ron sent some fantastic photos to illustrate what Roger’s is doing. The format we have for Project: Green prevents my using the photos there, but they are so impressive, I wanted to make sure you could see what Roger’s has been up to.

Roger’s is doing a lot of things to encourage the community to be more water wise, mostly through a clever inspiration campaign. A main feature of the campaign is the extensive landscape gardens that surround the garden center. Here’s a snapshot of one landscaped bed before being renovated. Notice the huge amount of runoff. (You can click on any photo to see a larger version.)

Now here’s an after shot of the zero-runoff landscaping. The mulch looks moist, but there’s no runoff.

Here’s another shot that shows just how sexy water-wise gardens can be. Located in arid California, this garden is filled with plants that are a perfect fit to their climate. Ron said there are three things that make this a zero-runoff garden. First, Roger’s used the right plants in the right places. Second, the irrigation is run by a “smart controller,” which is tied into local weather stations. It triggers irrigation only when it’s needed. Part three are the rotator sprinkler heads, which flow much more slowly than conventional (allowing water to percolate in) and spread the water more evenly by spraying at a slightly different level upon each revolution.

In the store itself, Roger’s promotes water-wise gardening with this display. The box in the lower left corner is a sample of what a smart controller looks like.

Naturally, Roger’s is pushing water-friendly plants in a big way. But in-store displays are certainly not stodgy. Take a look at this gorgeous display. It certainly makes me covet drought-resistant plants.

Here’s a shot of the tags the store uses for plants in this program.

Another linchpin of Roger’s strategy is the California Friendly Garden Contest. This in-store display urges customers to participate.

To finish off, here’s a statement from a water-wise flier that shows how Roger’s is positioning itself: “Roger’s Gardens, its staff and its customers will be the leader of this new spirit of responsible, sustainable, climate appropriate gardening. Roger’s Gardens will encourage and promote beautiful and inspiring gardens at homes and in our community, while protecting and conserving our natural resources.”

-- Carol

 

Retailers warned against selling cypress mulch

A group of Texas Gulf Coast activists is urging garden retailers not to buy or use cypress mulch because of the harm the mulch’s harvesting causes to the environment “We’re talking to our retailers, nurserymen and area builders, asking them not to use it,” Vivian Todd, incoming president of Magnolia Garden Club in Beaumont, Texas, said. “We’re trying to educate as many people as possible.” Todd said cypress mulch is harvested from coastal wetlands in Louisiana, reducing the ability of a wetland to withstand storm surge. Retailers cannot tell if the cypress mulch is from a coastal wetland or from an upland forest. Shell Plant Farm owner Roy Henslee told the Beaumont Enterprise newspaper he doesn’t sell cypress mulch, and its appearance is a major reason. “Horticulturally, any mulch is better than no mulch. But cypress doesn’t come close to other mulches,”Henslee said.

Water agreement to aid Southeast drought

Federal officials have brokered a deal with Alabama, Florida and Georgia to provide adequate water supply to Atlanta and other cities in the region. USA Today reported that the deal would enable the Army Corps of Engineers to send less water to Alabama and Florida from Georgia reservoirs that the Corps has jurisdiction over. The Corps would decrease the river flow from the Atlanta area by 16%. The water changes are expected to be implemented in 2 weeks if the deal receives approval from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

-- David