An evening for a Very Important Planet
by Carolyn Chase
n Thursday, April 20th, Richard Schulman will discuss
Technology, "Bio-logic" and the future of San Diego's quality
of life at San Diego Earth Day's fifth annual VIP (Very Important Planet)
reception from 6pm - 9pm at the Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum.
Additionally, Dr. William Guent-zler, "Suntrakker"
Solar Car Advisor, Engineering Outreach Officer and Power and Energy Consultant
at SDSU will discuss designing with renewable energy sources.
The theme of this year's benefit for San Diego Earth
Day is "Sustainability Begins at Home." The evening begins at
a festive reception with the best of organic foods and a silent auction
of "earth-friendly" goods donated by local businesses. The evening
will also include the presentation of the Environmental Achievement and
Restoration That Helps awards, the "EARTH-IES".
Tickets are $25 per person. To make reservations for
the reception, please call 496-6666 and leave a message with your name and
telephone number.
Bio-Logic living
San Diego is one of the finest places in this nation.
Most of us live here because we truly believe that this region is number
one in quality of life. We have it all: the seashore, the desert, the mountains,
moderate climate, our share of fresh air, nearly bearable traffic flow,
fine housing, great schools and interesting, diverse people.
However, as we near the 21st Century, rapid changes
are taking place in San Diego: the population is increasing markedly, usable
land is disappearing, and traffic and housing congestion is rising. In spite
of the untiring efforts of environmental volunteers, and some enlightened
government and business leaders, environmental degradation is reducing our
quality of life.
This decline is neither inevitable nor irreversible.
Each one of us has the power to make a difference.
Recent dramatic advances in science and technology are
providing the tools and means to observe, measure and effect our local environment
and San Diego "life systems." But these new tools alone are not
enough. A new philosophy of "bio-logic," environmental protection
by design, must also be embraced.
As individuals and collectively as the human members
of our ecosystem, we must understand how we can effectively use appropriate
and sustainable technologies to provide power for positive changes that
are within our grasp.
From satellites and information highways to organic
gardening, a positive, practical and necessary vision of the future of San
Diego will emerge.
A native of Southern California, Mr. Schulman has witnessed
the dramatic changes in Los Angeles and San Diego during the past fifty
years. As an internationally recognized leader in the computer industry,
he pioneered dozens of technical innovations and tools which will enable
us to create an environmentally sustainable San Diego. Schulman is founder
and president of San Diego-based Resource Strategies, Inc. and a strong
advocate of Biologic solutions.
"With Biologic thinking, we can reverse the traditional
decline of our cities and improve our quality of life," explains Schulman.
"There is still time."
If sustainability begins at home, it also begins with
you! Please join us for an exciting evening for the Earth.
Public invited to "EARTHIE" Awards
by Alice Martinez
his year, San Diego Earth Day's VIP (Very Important
Planet) Reception will feature the presentation of the Mayoral Environmental
Achievement and Restoration That Helps awards, also known as the "EARTH-IES."
Approximately 30 local businesses have applied for the
awards. In addition to Mayor Susan Golding, judges include ecological designer
Jim Bell, City of San Diego Environmental Service Department staff member
Bill Harris, and San Diego Earth Day board member Carolyn Chase.
"This was a situation where all applicants truly
deserve recognition for their efforts. I was impressed by the range of businesses
with environmental commitments and the many innovative products and practices.
We have both large and small business efforts from the institutional to
the entrepreneurial" said Chase.
The envelope, please
The larger institutions applying for the awards include:
- AT&T Global Information Solutions (according to this application
AT&T "has the ultimate goal of becoming the number one "green"
company in the world"),
- TRW-ASG (STRICT recycling program, CFC elimination and waste
reduction),
- Alcoa Electronic Packaging, Inc. ("Annual volatile organic
compound (VOC) emissions avoidance of about 934,800 lbs, hazardous waste
avoidance of about 1,602,300 lbs.")
- U.S. Navy Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (pollution prevention
initiatives reducing hazardous waste by over 163,615 gallons, saving $679,207)
- Solar Turbines Inc., (eliminating emission and use of ozone
depleting chemicals from metal cleaning operations, reduction of water consumption
in one process from 100,000 gallons per day to less than 2,000 gallons per
day, overall waste reduction of 59% since 1990)
- Martin Marietta (semi-annual waste audit and analysis and recycling
of paper, Styrofoam, toner cartridges, asphalt, concrete, Tyvek clean room
garments, fluorescent light tubes, and green waste.)
- SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc. (written annual Environmental
Targets including eliminate use of all Class 1 and potential Class II Ozone
Depleting Substances refrigerants by the end of 1996, reduce pounds of reportable
US EPA SARA 313 air, land and water emissions by 5% per year over, recycle
90% of water by 2000, reduce electrical and natural gas consumption by 5%
per year, operate equipment to meet 75 decibel sound level required by the
City's Noise Ordinance.)
- San Diego Convention Center (Exhibitor Recycling Standard and
employee recycling training).
Entrepreneurs making a good showing are:
- Gold Mine Natural Food Co. (mail-order organic food)
- Found Stuff Paperworks (recycled paper made from organic cotton)
- Elan Organic Coffees Inc. (quality, certified organic coffees
and ethical partnerships between consumers, farmers and environment)
- Be Wise Ranch (certified organic produce and Community Supported
Agriculture for 350 families)
- Toner Cartridge Recycling Services and Laser Saver (1 cartridge
= lbs. of plastics and metals)
- INKY DEW (recycle and re-ink printer ribbons and inkjets)
- Recycling Earth Products (makes products out of recycled drywall
scrap. About one pound of drywall scrap is produced by each square foot
of housing construction. One ton of drywall scrap displaces five cubic yards
of landfill space).
- inter-Block Retaining Systems (manufacturers retaining blocks
from surplus and reused concrete)
- Casa Royale Corporation (panelized walls from 80% recycled
materials)
- Gridcore Systems International Corporation (innovative honeycomb
building panels from post-consumer resources)
- Cactus Recycling, Inc. (recycled two millions pounds of industrial
plastic)
- Building Materials Recycling (reclaims or recycles thousands
of board feet of lumber and other materials)
- DiBona's Interior's (environmental consulting for residential
and buildings)
- Lynn Froeschle, Architect (Green Design and Rehab)
- Earth Support and Green Store (retailers of environmentally
sound products and educational materials)
- Use Your Head Composting Toilets (no water or chemicals, saves
ocean pollution, replenishes soil with odor free by-product).
Corporate recycling initiatives included:
- Escondido Disposal Inc. (mixed paper, glass, cans, newspaper,
oil, metal, landscaping greens, and our coffee grounds)
- TransWestern Publishing (phone book publisher closing the loop
by supporting phone book recycling efforts).
- BankAmerica, Scripps Ranch (recycling, waste reduction and
employee commute program)
- Bazaar Del Mundo (extensive recycling and reuse)
- Plaza Camino Real, (reduced waste stream by 51% in two years)
- Sea World of California (extensive diversion, recycling and
purchasing preference for products made from recycled materials and post-consumer
waste, and extensive research and Education Department activities)
Innovative products submitted include:
- American Formulating & Manufacturing (reducing the problem
of indoor air pollution with Safecoat and Safechoice paint and cleaners)
- BCD International (first Green Seal award for household cleaners
and degreasers)
- Sonic Dry Clean Inc. (air filter dry cleaning system which
reduces emissions, waste and life of heavy equipment air filters)
- Westbridge Agricultural Products (environmentally compatible
products for ag industry and bioremediation)
EARTHIEs indeed!
Recycling initiatives were a common theme, but many
companies have gone "beyond recycling" to tackle source reduction,
pollution prevention and to integrate environmental, ecological and conservation
ideas throughout their entire business operations.
The EARTHIES will be presented on April 20th at the
San Diego Earth Day VIP (Very Important Planet) Reception. If you would
like to attend this fun event, the tickets at $25 each. Send payment and
reservations to: SDED, P.O. Box 9827, San Diego, CA 92169 or call 496-6666
and leave a message with your name and phone number.
