| “Sustainable development is development
that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs." Defined in
the 1987
Brundtland Report (also known as "Our Common Future").
The three pillars of sustainable
development:
See also Sustainable
Pueblo.
Sustainable
Building GreenSpec is the UK construction industry's
definitive guide to 'green' building design, products, specification
and construction. Inside GreenSpec you will find a wealth of
information aimed at helping you to design more energy and resource
efficient buildings, using materials and technologies that minimise
damage to people and the environment.
Winds of Change 23 minute Power
Advocacy video by AWEA (American Wind
Energy Association)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1572348157027436457&q=winds+of+change
Colorado Stormwater Group Produces Low-Impact Development
Photo
Database.
The Stormwater Quality Committee of the Colorado Association of
Stormwater and Floodplain Managers now offers an on-line photo data
base of low-impact development approaches. Structure types include
porous
concrete, modular block pavement, porous landscape detention, grass
buffers, green roof, and level spreaders. The low impact
development approaches featured in the data base provide benefits such
as keeping more pollutants out of waterways, reducing the size and cost
of
stormwater collection and conveyance infrastructure, reducing the
volume required for detention and water quality capture volume
facilities, and
significantly reducing scour, degradation and habitat modification in
receiving waterways. (Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain
Managers, 2007, http://www.casfm.org/
Go Green - Reduce, Reuse
and Recycle
- Dry Mops.
If you use a disposable mop, replace it with a dry
mop that has a removable, machine -washable micro-fiber head.
(Most disposable mops are made from a non-woven polymer that does not
readily biodegrade.
- Use
Reusable Water
Bottles. If you use plastic water
bottles, replace them with a water filtration pitcher and use reusable
plastic
water bottles.
- Use Rags. Reduce or eliminate use of paper towels (one
of the biggest wastes in landfills) by using rags, which you can wash
and reuse.
- Curb
Impulse
Purchases. Curb tendencies to
overbuy things like soap and toothpaste when a good sale made them
irresistible
by using see through containers to store such items, so you can see
what you
have on hand. Try to buy goods that last;
they are cheaper in the long run.
- Recycle. Recycle glass, metal, aluminum (at the
Abriendo site near Rocky Mountain Steel Mills), and plastic waste
(number 1 and
number 2 plastics). Route magazines to
family and friends.
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Used
product
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Store
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Notes
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Batteries
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Walgreens
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Ink toner cartridges
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Staples; Office Depot;
Office Max
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All these stores offer $3
coupons for cartridges; Office Depot offers a free ream of recycled
paper or a donation of $3 to charity
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Plastic bags
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WalMart, Albertsons
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Paper
Fiber. Most people can recycle almost all their paper
fiber
(cardboard, newspapers,
their junk mail, catalogs, empty cereal boxes, shoe boxes, tissue
boxes, soap
boxes, and wrapping paper). In Pueblo, there
are
containers by the south side K Mart and at the Abriendo site (near
Rocky
Mountain Steel Mills office).
Garbage
Disposal. Send organic/food trash down the garbage
disposal. It’s greener to feed the
disposal than to encapsulate food waste in a plastic garbage bag and
send it to
the landfill. Send it down the
disposal
and into the sewer line, organic waste gets treated by the sanitary
district
and eventually turned into fertilizer.
- Compost. Compost organic food
kitchen and household waste - this makes a big difference to the volume
of waste going to landfill and also produces high quality compost to
feed your plants and garden. One example for people indoors is to
use a worm system.
- Recyclable
Toothbrushes. Buy recyclable
toothbrushes instead of
disposal ones.
- Save a
tree. Save a tree this holiday season.
- Reuse
Clothes. Check your closet to see if you have clothes
that need to be taken to a seamstress. Give
hand me downs to your family. Shop at
thrift stores.
- Organic
Food. Buy local
organic food and start growing your own.Organic
milk is hormone-free, and you can
recycle the glass container.
- Laundry
Detergent. Try
using concentrated laundry
detergent. It costs a bit more, but it’s
compact.
- Energy.
Switch
to green electricity. This can save the average home over a ton of
CO2 per year. It also helps stimulate
the renewable energy industry.
- Fluorescent
bulb. Switch
lights off when not in use and fit
compact fluorescent light bulbs to save electricity.
- Green
Insulation.
Insulate
your home to minimize heat loss and
save on your utility bill. Try to use a green insulation such as
Thermafleece
or cellulose fiber. Treat
money spent on
green technologies as ethical investments.
- Car
Pool; Public
Transport; Bike. Stop
using the car
- join a car pool, minimize wasted journeys, use public transport or
get a
bike.
- Natural
Products.
Decorate
with natural paints, varnishes and
floor waxes and use reclaimed wood rather than new wood.
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