April 22, 2015  by

The Hots and Nots of Sustainability

1. HOT: EPA/NOT: BPA

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an industrial chemical that is used to make certain plastics and resins. Research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers made with the chemical. Exposure is a concern because of possible health effects on the brain and behavior, especially in children.

Currently, the EPA is taking a closer look at polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, which may also have some damaging effects, and working towards finding alternatives that are safer for humans and the environment.

DOG BPA

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2. HOT: Brontosauruses/NOT: Fossil Fuels

Heirs to the Rockefeller family, which made its vast fortune from oil, have joined a coalition of philanthropists pledging to sell more than $50 billion in fossil fuel assets and reinvest in clean energy.

How are brontosauruses and fossil fuels related? Contrary to what some believe, fossil fuels are not derived from dinosaur remains. Besides, Littlefoot and his friends have more exciting things to celebrate.

Little Foot

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3. HOT: Ohio/NOT: Ohio

Special-interest groups in Ohio tried to pass anti-LEED legislation that would ban the green building certification program statewide. But just this month, Ohio celebrated its 200th LEED-certified school, proving that green design is here to stay.

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4. HOT: Tracking/NOT: Fracking

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By now we all know the harmful effects of fracking on our well-being and our planet. What’s a better option? Tracking your energy use. There are even apps available to help make it part of your daily routine.

 

 

 

 

 

5. HOT: Waterless Indulgences/NOT: California’s Water Supply

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California is currently enduring a drought of epic proportions. Gov. Jerry Brown ordered the state to cut back its water use by 25% overall and mandated specific targets for each city. Many are turning to waterless options for things like manicures and car washes to help life’s little indulgences make less of a negative impact on our water supply.

6. HOT: Bees/NOT: Lawns

To keep lawns well watered takes about 200 gallons per person per day, and nearly a third of all residential water use goes toward landscaping.

On the other hand, bees are the unsung heroes of the environment. As a keystone species, they keep our agricultural and landscape systems running smoothly.

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7. HOT: sweetgreen/NOT: Burger King

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Isn’t it obvious? Organic ingredients from local farmers beats chicken fries any day.

8.HOT: Adaptive Reuse/NOT: New Construction

In the US, approximately five billion square feet of new construction happens each year, even though some 13 million housing units remain unoccupied year-round. Let’s start repurposing what we already have.

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9. HOT: Cycling/NOT: Sitting

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If sitting is the new smoking, why don’t we ditch the car culture, change the couch potato attitude and get moving?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. HOT: Solar/NOT: Cheap, Unsustainable Energy

Embrace solar…unless you’re a vampire.

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CallisonRTKL

CallisonRTKL

For more than five decades, Callison and RTKL have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. In 2015, our two practices came together under the Arcadis umbrella, expanding our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team is comprised of nearly 2,000 creative, innovative professionals throughout the world who are committed to advancing our client’s businesses and enhancing quality of life.
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