Eco Foot Print - DISCUSS
What specific action would you like to see state legislature take to reduce the Eco footprint in Florida?
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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EFEST FLORIDA'S GREEN FESTIVAL
November 15-16, 2008
Sarasota Polo Club, Lakewood Ranch
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8 comments:
I would like to see a lot more tax incentives for businesses and home owners making purchasing decisions related to alternative energy and eco-products. I would also like to hear more about what our legislators are doing themselves to reduce their eco-footprint. They can be an example for others. I know Governor Crist has been saying things that indicate he is interested in promoting alternative energy. That's a good start. I don't want all of this momentum to become a passing trend.
How about appointing some kind of green advisor with direct access to Governor Crist to provide him with key information and creative ideas. Imagine every state having more experts available to government agencies. I assume a lot of the green experts are in private industry.
It's interesting that you mention both Governor Crist and green advisors, because my immediate thought when you said "green advisor" was someone from the Green Party of Florida!
There was an interesting observation recently, when I attended a meeting with Sustainable Sarasota. It was that environmental concerns branch far beyond political boundaries.
Regardless of your political affiliation, green efforts are critical. Wouldn't it be interesting if this were the key issue that actually brought political parties to some agreement?
Thank you for sharing.
~Danielle
One of the most important things that needs to happen is for our legislature to take a serious look at the problem with fertilizers and nutrient runoff. Current practices in the agriculture industry is hurting the natural habitat along our coast and many of our waterways. A lot of counties around the state are drafting policies that address the use of fertilizers. This should be a wake up call for our political leaders.
I think more than tax incentives may be required. Greater education is needed so that Joe and Mary Homeowner have a clear picture of the relationship between green living and saving money as well as the environment. It's fortunate that so many more green options are available these days, from energy production to domestic cleaning products, cosmetics and of course food! But things like water conservation, local renewable energy (such as solar panels for more than heating pools AND small wind turbines that can be attached to a home) need to make it into mainstream consciousness for a serious impact to occur. I don't believe most people are really ignoring the environment, they just don't know how to do anything constructive to make a difference, nor how something as simple as using less water and detergent in each load of wash can help.
why doesn't the government make it mandatory that every house in America has recycling pickup. And there should be more recycling dropoffs that will make it easier for people to get involved. I live in Brandon Florida and the closest recycling dropoff to my house is all the way out on I-4. I work in an elementary school and tons of copy paper, that's recyclable is thrown out everyday, along with plastic bottles that could have been recycled. We should be teaching young children how to do this and it can start in their schools. I am also disgusted with the use of styrofoam trays at breakfast and lunch in my school cafeteria. These trays will never biodegrade and my school throws away about 1000 of these a day. Why can't they go back to the way we used to do it and use washable trays? Who can I talk to, to make these things happen in my school and schools everywhere?
Thank you for your comments.
I know it's frustrating that oftentimes people choose convenience (Throw something out vs. washing and reusing it)over conservation; but I do believe we are heading towards the government making stricter policies for recycling, by not only offering tax incentives (such as to the person buying a hybrid vehicle), but also making things mandatory and fining for lack of compliance.
In the meantime, you might either contact your local school board and ask how you could get a school recycling program together, or contact your local county government. Most government offices have a department that handles questions regarding sustainability.
While it may not be in the budget for the school system to switch to biodegradable plates, they may consider at least recycling those plates or - as you've suggested - switching back to re-usable goods.
I agree, we should have more locations to do recycle and not only paper or plastic. We should have more option to recycle things.
I just came back from Japan and what amazed me was the amount of different options you have to put your trash.
1. paper
2. Glass
3. Cans
4. Just plain garbage
5. plastic.
Plus, one thing that amazed me was that all the toilets doesn't have that automatic sensor to flush water. The amount of water that we waste because we move and the sensor flush. I was in Detroit airport and the toilet I was, flushed 4 times when I haven't done anything yet. Just because I moved.
Companies that does this flush toilets should do something for this too. Again the government has to push this.
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