My Blog Is Now Carbon Neutral! Is yours?

That's right, it's now carbon neutral. What does this mean? Well, I have learned that a blog with 15,000 visits a month (I wish I had that many visitors, lol) has a yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 8lb. Interesting isn't it? I have added that button in support of a team out of Germany that works for an initiative called "Make it green!". They raise the awareness of the severe environmental damage caused by carbon emissions.

I know your asking "How does this make my blog carbon neutral"? They plant a tree in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation in Plumas National Forest in North California to off set the emissions of my blog. As you may (or may not) know thousands of wildfires burned down many national forests over the past ten years and 88.000 acres of Plumas' were destroyed by two fires in 2007.

They have asked bloggers from all over the world to help support the replanting of trees and they are doing it one blog at a time. One blog = one tree.

Read more about what they do here

First LEED-EBOM Silver-certified building in Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — The Bath and Body Works headquarters has become the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EBOM) Silver-certified building in the state of Ohio, according to a press release.

According to the release, the building is also the first of parent company Limited Brands Inc. to achieve a LEED certification.

Nathaniel Beegle, LEED Accredited Professional (AP) and manager of the project for Limited Brands, said: "As a values-led organization, Limited Brands is increasingly integrating the protection and preservation of global resources into our everyday business practices. It is part of doing what is right and means that we are committed to sustainable, responsible and thoughtful environmental design, operation and maintenance of our facilities."

The building, originally built in 1997, contains more than 150,000 square feet of office space and about 540,000 square feet of warehouse space, the release stated.

Included in the sustainable design and operation features are: Storm water management, light pollution reduction, water efficiency, recycling, indoor air quality improvements and green cleaning, the release noted.

Additional information is available online regarding Limited Brands' Corporate Social Responsibility, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

Senators concerned over poor conditions at American Indian schools

WASHINGTON — Federally supervised Indian schools in Northern Minnesota, which failed testing standards and are in desperate need of building repairs, have senators concerned that they will miss out on additional funding under education reform, according to MinnPost.

According to the story, approximately one-third of Indian schools are categorized as in "poor condition," but lack the funding to make necessary repairs — and may not see funding for years, even decades.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken said: "No student in Minnesota should have to contend with mold problems or huge leaks, but that's what kids in some reservation schools deal with every day. Students can't be expected to achieve at high levels when their school building is falling apart."

Under President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 budget, $9 million would be cut from the Indian school construction line down to $52.8 million — far shy of the estimated $1.3 billion it would cost to repair every "poor condition" school, the story stated.

Franken said: "The people need to know what dismal conditions these schools are in. Only then will Indian schools become a priority in the federal budget."

There are a total of 64 federally supervised "poor condition" Indian schools in the United States, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

State dedicates first LEED-certified prison building

SOLEDAD, CA — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will dedicate the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in the state prison system, according to the Salinas Californian.

According to the story, the building, a mental health treatment center, will be dedicated in a ceremony on Tuesday next week at its location at the Salinas Valley State Prison.

The 36,500-square-foot facility will be used for housing and to provide inmates with inpatient care, and will use 50 percent less water and one-third of the energy as a traditional mental health facility, the story stated.

The prison is located in Soledad, California, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Red Lobsters to go green

ORLANDO, FL — Darden Restaurants Inc. — parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and other restaurant chains — announced that it will incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards in the building and remodeling of its locations, according to GlobeSt.com.

According to the story, eight locations have already begun the process of obtaining LEED certification from the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC) over the next two years.

Darden Senior Vice President of Development Suk Singh said: "While we may not seek LEED certification for every restaurant we build or remodel, we can make a positive impact by learning from the eight restaurants where we are seeking LEED certification and applying best practices across our entire portfolio."

One of the restaurants seeking LEED certification is an Olive Garden location in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the story noted.

According to the story, the company plans to include LEED points-earning measures like recycled building materials, more windows to allow for natural lighting, energy-efficient fixtures and reclaimed heat from air-conditioning and freezer-system condensers.

Darden Restaurants is currently awaiting LEED Gold certification on its newly-built headquarters in Orlando, Florida, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Student dies in third meningitis case on campus this school year

COLUMBUS, OH — Andrea Robinson, an 18-year-old freshman at Ohio University, died after being hospitalized with bacterial meningitis, the third case for the school this academic year, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

According to the study, custodians have been busy cleaning and sanitizing Robinson's dorm room and common areas at the on-campus house where she lived in an attempt to ward of any additional cases of the deadly disease that infects the linings of the brain and spinal cord and attacks quickly.

Earlier this month, a student living in a different residence hall contracted the disease but recovered and returned to campus, and officials say there doesn't seem to be any connection between the two students, the story stated.

A third student who contracted the disease in October of 2009 also recovered, the story noted.

The university, although not legally required to do so, has elected to make the information regarding the illnesses public, the story stated.

Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi said: "Our philosophical approach has been that any time there is a reason for a public-health concern, we do our best to share the information that we can with our population so they can take steps to protect themselves."

Lombardi was told by a parent that it seemed the university had more cases of meningitis than other schools, but he said that may be due to other schools electing not to report instances to the public, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

OSHA check scammer swindles thousands

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota authorities are notifying businesses that paid Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines in 2009 that they may have been victims of a check-fraud scam by a state employee, according to SafetyNewsAlert.

According to the story, Terri Lynn Brennan was arrested for allegedly gathering account information from OSHA fine payment checks and using it to create counterfeit checks and cash them.

Authorities say that while 759 businesses paid OSHA fines in 2009, so far only a handful of companies have been found victims of the scam, with a total loss of a few thousand dollars, the story stated.

Because of the scam, officials have since changed the rules on the handling and storing of OSHA fine checks, and authorities believe Brennan acted alone in the scam, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Police station evacuated due to mold

BUFFALO, NY — Police and employees were ordered to evacuate the D-District precinct station after tests showed mold and poor air quality in the building, according to WGRZ-TV.

According to the story, Buffalo Common Council Member Joe Golombek says there are complaints about the station from as early as 1997 and at least 10 officers have been diagnosed with various illnesses — including cancer and chest infections — over the past decade.

The department hired a professional cleaning company to remove more than three feet of standing water in the basement, clean air ducts and assess for any additional damage, the story stated.

Dr. Stanley Schwartz pointed out that it was too early to tell if the illnesses were linked to the presence of mold, saying "When one sees a variety of different cancers showing up at a particular site it makes you question is that mold related or is it just a blip that occurs. There are these statistical blips that occur, you have these outbreaks of cancer or infections in a particular area and it's a statistical fluke."

The police have moved temporarily to a closed school while remediation takes place at the 14-year-old building, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

University pays $1.2 million in Legionnaires' lawsuit settlement

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio State University has agreed to a $1.2 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by a woman whose husband contracted and died from Legionnaires' disease after drinking from a water faucet, according to the Dayton Daily News.

According to the story, Sharron Morris filed the lawsuit in April of 2007 after her husband, David Morris, contracted the disease from drinking tap water at the Ohio State Medical Center.

The hospital staff was aware the water was contaminated with bacteria causing the disease, but did not warn patients, the story stated.

Morris family attorney David Shroyer said: "Instead, they just handed out bottled water, but didn't specifically instruct patients not to drink the water nor did they have any signs saying not to drink the water."

David Morris was in the hospital receiving treatment for leukemia and died five months after contracting Legionnaires' disease at the facility, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

First LEED Platinum-certified building in Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, TN — The offices of a nonprofit initiative that helps increase green building awareness have been awarded the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in Tennessee, according to the Chattanoogan.

According to the story, the offices of the greenspaces initiative were completely renovated to include sustainable features like repurposed demolition materials, geothermal heating and a focus on daylighting.

Co-director Anj McClain said: "greenspaces was formed to address the lack of green building awareness in Chattanooga and the surrounding region. In the past year and a half, we have helped five Chattanooga buildings achieve LEED certification, with 22 more currently in the process. So, we wanted our own offices to be a model of what it is truly possible to achieve."

The storefront of the 100-year-old building was designed to include a light shelf to bounce light deep into the building, resulting in very little — if any — electric light needed during daylight hours, the story stated.

Captured rainwater and low-flow and optical sensors are part of a water-saving effort that uses 81.4 percent less water than a traditional building, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Ohio State Univ. Janitor kills supervisor, self after poor evaluation

COLUMBUS, OH — A janitor at Ohio State University shot two supervisors, killing one and then himself in the campus maintenance building after receiving a poor job performance evaluation, according to the Associated Press.

According to the story, Nathaniel Brown opened fire at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in a maintenance office using two handguns, killing building services manager Larry Wallington and injuring operations shift leader Henry Butler.

Police did not confirm whether the poor evaluation was a motive for the shooting and a campus official declined to comment on reports that Brown was in the process of being fired, citing the ongoing investigation, the story stated.

Vernon Baisden, assistant vice president for public safety, said: "This is a tragic event, and our hearts go out to all of the families."

About six other employees were in the building at the time of the shooting, and no students were involved and classes continued as scheduled, the story noted.

Brown previously served five years in prison on a receiving stolen property, and while Baisden said Ohio State does conduct background checks depending on the type of position, it was not clear if a background check had been conducted before Brown was hired, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Rare meningitis outbreak declared at Ohio University

COLUMBUS, OH — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared an outbreak and launched an investigation into seven cases of meningitis at Ohio University (OU), the latest of which resulted in a death, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

According to the story, the investigation into why students at the University are more susceptible to the bacteria will utilize federal, state and local scientists and will last a few weeks.

Dr. Mary DiOrio, assistant state epidemiologist, said: "I think that it will be a fairly lengthy survey."

The group of bacteria that caused all seven cases of meningitis at OU — group B — is not prevented by vaccination, the story stated.

Officials have been unable to determine any other connection between the cases other than that they are all students at OU, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Some schools do without soap, toilet paper

BROWARD COUNTY, FL — Teachers at more than a dozen Broward County Public Schools have complained they are forced to buy their own toilet paper and deal with "nonexistent" hand soap, according to the Sun Sentinel.

According to the story, teachers at Meadowbrook Elementary School have been asked to stock the restrooms and cut hand towels in half to ration the scarce supplies, and at Boyd Anderson High School, students and teachers go without hand soap.

Students and staff are concerned that the lack of restroom supplies could lead to health concerns and the spread of the flu and other viruses, the story stated.

Even though the school district is forgoing luxuries due to a budget crisis, Superintendent James Notter said that teachers "should not be paying out of their pockets for the bare essentials."

For other schools, poorly-stocked restrooms are the result of janitor error, not a lack of supplies, the story noted.

David Basile, principal at South Plantation High School, said: "The problem we have is when someone on the night crew is out and no one covers that zone. Or we have a day crew, and no one walks through the bathrooms."

One high school senior, Itai Raz, said: "We get really frustrated, but most people have hand sanitizer."

Click here to read the complete article.

Report: 'Missed opportunities' for sustainability at Winter Olympics

VANCOUVER — The David Suzuki Foundation, a science-based Canadian environmental organization, released a report praising the organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics for energy-efficient measures, but say they could have done more, according to Edie News.

According to the story, the report said that the building of energy-efficient venues, the use of clean energy and the focus on public transportation do help offset the carbon footprint of the Games, but felt that the organizers failed to leave long-term improvements to the area and to properly address the issue of climate change.

Paul Lingl, spokesperson for the foundation, said: "To date, the 2010 Olympic organizers haven't made the most of their opportunities to tell the story of their climate initiatives to Canadians and the world."

The organizing committee said that they have taken a sustainable approach to the planning of the Games throughout the process, the story stated.

A spokesperson for the organizers said: "This is the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to take an integrated approach to forecasting, reducing, offsetting and publicly reporting its carbon footprint. We incorporated [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] LEED standards into venue design, construction and green principles and practices into our operations and events, with attention to transportation, waste management and food services."

Click here to read the complete article.

Janitorial owner wins millions in lottery

ASHEVILLE, NC — Janitorial business owner and retired fireman Frank Griffin was the sole winner of a $141 million Powerball lottery jackpot in the North Carolina Education Lottery, according to WBT-AM.

According to the story, Griffin opted for a $69 million cash payment and will end up with about $47 million after paying taxes on the winnings.

Griffin doesn't have big plans for the money and doesn't expect his life to change much, save for a trip to Hawaii, more games of golf and more time spent with his wife and family, the story stated.

Griffin said: "I may get us a new house later, but I really want to spend more time with her and my grandchildren."

Griffin, who has owned a janitorial business for 40 years, said he may leave the business to his children, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Study links industrial cleaner to Parkinson's disease

TORONTO — A study released today finds that workers exposed to the once-common cleaning chemical tricholoretylene (TCE) may have a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to ScienceDaily.

According to the story, the study — performed by Samuel Goldman, M.D., of the Parkinson's Institute — analyzed the job histories of 99 pairs of twins in which only one twin had Parkinson's disease, finding that workers exposed to TCE were five and half times more likely to develop the disease.

Workers exposed to TCE had job histories that included work as dry cleaners, machinists, mechanics or electricians, the story stated.

Scientists used the job histories of twins because, as they are genetically identical, they are the ideal candidates for determining environmental effects, the story noted.

The findings of the study — supported by grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, The Valley Foundation and the James and Sharron Clark Family Fund — will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Hotel chain pays guests to forgo housekeeping services

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Further proof that many custodial operations are trying to "do more with less," one reputable hotel chain is offering perks to guests who opt out of housekeeping services being performed in their rooms, according to the Wall Street Journal.

As part of their "Make A Green Choice" program, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is offering guests at many of their Westin and Sheraton brand hotels a $5 credit at any of the hotel's restaurants or 500 Starpoints for each night they refuse housekeeping services, the story stated.

According to Bjorn Hanson, an associate professor at New York University's Tisch Center for Hospitality, a high-end or luxury hotel's estimated cost of cleaning a single hotel room is about $22 a day, including labor, laundering and wear and tear on linens.

Roughly 8 percent of guests at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts locations are taking advantage of the program, the story noted.

The "Make A Green Choice" program is valid for up to three consecutive nights and is poised to save significant amounts of money, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Maintenance worker beating caught on tape

VALLEJO, CA — The severe beating of a Harold Cabral, a city maintenance worker, by dozens of teenagers was caught on tape by a passerby's cell phone and security cameras at a nearby corner store, according to WNCT-TV.

According to the story, a teenager threw a rock at the maintenance worker's vehicle, and when the worker got out of his vehicle to confront the teenager, he was swarmed by nearly 40 people, severely beaten and robbed.

The attack took place near Vallejo Senior High School — where students had just been let out of classes for the day — but police can't confirm that students were the attackers, although many were witnesses, the story stated.

Cabral suffered a fractured skull, fractured jaw, broken teeth and a fractured collarbone in the attack, according to the Oakland Tribune.

Kamal Sandhu, owner of the nearby corner store, said that he calls the police multiple times a day in an attempt to control the crowds of students, the story noted.

Police are reviewing the footage as part of the investigation into the attack, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article at WNCT-TV.

Courthouse 'cool roof' has solar panels, reflective membrane

KANSAS CITY, KA — The Robert J. Dole U.S. Courthouse has installed 200 solar panels and a 'cool roof' reflective membrane as part of a $4.6 million energy-efficiency renovations project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to the Kansas City Star.

According to the story, the solar panels will provide the building with electricity and the reflective membrane will reduce energy costs by deflecting sunlight and keeping the building cool.

Mary Ruwwe, regional commissioner for the federal General Services Administration, said: "This solar roof is one of the first of its kind in the Kansas City area. It's a prime example of how we are driving the development of new, green jobs. Many of the roofers employed on the project learned new skills in advanced-technology solar panel installation."

The building is also planning to install a display in the lobby to monitor how much energy is being generated from the roof, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

School closes after suspected norovirus outbreak

MIDDLETOWN, RI — A private high school was forced to shut down for a week after 36 students and 11 staff members became sick in what appears to be a norovirus outbreak, according to the Associated Press.

According to the story, four students at St. George's School reported to the health center last week with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, and by Monday, dozens of students and faculty were ill.

The 365 students — most of whom live at the boarding school — were either sent home for the week or asked to spend the time with a host family, the story stated.

Head of School Eric Peterson said the week will be spent thoroughly disinfecting the school before the dormitories reopen Friday and classes resume Saturday, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Students taught in trailers overrun with mold, feral cats

NEW YORK — Students at Public School 106 have moved back into the main school building after parents raised concerns about students taught in leaky trailers infested with mold and feral cats, according to the New York Daily News.

According to the story, inspectors, sent to the trailers — also called transitional classroom unites (TCUs) — after parents first expressed concerns last fall, found holes in the units, rampant mold and about 100 feral cats living under the TCUs.

One hundred sixty first- and fourth-graders returned to the TCUs after repairs and a cleanup occurred over winter break, but parents are still concerned that students are at risk of mold exposure and want a more permanent solution, the story stated.

Parents Association President Desiree McKay said: "[The return of the students to the main building] is only a small victory because we haven't heard anything concrete about the future. We still need a permanent solution."

City Education Department officials maintain that the TCUs were thoroughly remediated and safe for students, and that the students were moved into the main building in response to parent concern, the story noted.

Classes are temporarily being held in the science lab and the music room, and it is unclear if the TCUs will be used in the future, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Finnish embassy first to earn LEED Gold certification

WASHINGTON — The Finnish Embassy has become the first embassy awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, according to The Cable.

According to the story, the 15-year-old embassy was retrofitted with occupancy sensors, recycling capabilities were increased, traditional cleaning supplies were replaced with green products, a non-smoking policy was introduced and garage space was redesigned to encourage alternative transportation among staff.

The building is now carbon-neutral, the story stated.

Finnish Ambassador Pekka Lintu said: "We are extremely proud to be the first embassy in the U.S. to achieve this recognition. Retrofitting our embassy building demonstrates that we Finns strive to be active but energy efficient members of our neighborhood and the greater D.C. community. We hope that our adaptation of green principles and our commitment to the well-being of people and the environment will inspire other foreign missions to view their opportunities in this field."

The Finnish embassy says that the have fundamentally changed the way they approach energy use, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Proposed EPA budget dedicates millions to chemical safety

WASHINGTON - The Obama Administration today proposed a budget of $10 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This budget heeds the president’s call to streamline and find efficiencies in the agency’s operations while supporting the seven priority areas EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson outlined to guide EPA’s work.

The $10 billion Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget proposed yesterday by the Obama Administration includes nearly $100 million for chemical assessment and risk review, lead poisoning elimination and the reduction of exposure to mercury and asbestos, according to a press release.

According to the release, along with improving air quality, cleaning up communities and a number of other areas of concern, the budget will focus on chemical safety, with the goal of ensuring that no unreasonable risks are posed by new or existing chemicals.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said: "The president's budget is focused on creating the conditions that help American families, communities and small businesses thrive. Clean air, clear water and green jobs are rebuilding the foundations for prosperity in communities across the country."

The budget comes after a number of EPA measures and proposed resolutions to increase chemical safety, including increased diligence under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

Univ of New Hampsher had extensive cleaning for anthrax

DURHAM, NH — The Waysmeet Center at the United Campus Ministry for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) will undergo extensive cleaning after a woman was exposed to anthrax spores during a December 4 drum circle event, according to the Foster's Daily Democrat.

According to the story, the woman is doing much better and continues to recover from the exposure as state health officials prepare to decontaminate the building.

The cleaning plan includes the use of bleach and vacuuming to decontaminate five common areas that tested for low levels of anthrax, the story stated.

Deputy State Epidemiologist Jodie Dionne-Odom said the state will use one of the companies on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended list experienced with anthrax cleaning, but it will be the responsibility of the ministry to hire and pay a company, the story noted.

Dionne-Odom said: "It will be a period of a few weeks because several rooms need to be cleaned from top to bottom."

The quarantine of the Waysmeet Center, which began last month, will be lifted once the building has been cleaned, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Woman sues cleaning crew over slippery hospital floors

GALVESTON, TX — A woman who slipped on a reportedly wet floor mat has filed a $75,000 lawsuit against the cleaning company for the University of Texas Medical Branch Harborside Trauma Center, according to the Southeast Texas Record.

According to the story, Leticia Thompson, in her suit against Sodexo and Sodexo Inc., claimed the cleaning company allowed the floor mat to become "slippery and dangerous," resulting in her fall on January 17, 2008.

The suit filed states: "The defendants' agents, servants and/or employees knew of or, in the exercise of ordinary care, should have known of the existence of the dangerous condition of the water under the mat."

Thompson claims a member of the cleaning staff was power washing in the area and water was allowed to collect under the mat, resulting it in slipping out from under her, the story stated.

The hospital was not named as a defendant in the suit, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.