“Climate Refugees” documentary screening and talk back at The Palladium at St. Petersburg College

St Petersburg College today announced a partnership with US Green Building Council, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter to present the documentary “Climate Refugees” at the Palladium at St Petersburg College.

The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 30, 2011 from 2:00pm – 4:30pm.  The Palladium is located at 253 Fifth Ave. N, St Petersburg.

The event is free; doors and informational booths open at 1:00 pm.

A climate refugee is a person displaced by climatically induced environmental disasters. Such disasters result from incremental and rapid ecological change, resulting in increased droughts, desertification, sea level rise, and the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, fires, mass flooding and tornadoes.

All this is causing mass global migration and border conflicts. For the first time, the Pentagon now considers climate change a national security risk and the term climate wars is being talked about in war-room like environments in Washington D.C.

“Climate Refugees” uncovers the plight of people around the world displaced by climatically-induced environmental disasters and was the centerpiece film at the UN Climate Summit last December.

Visit http://www.sustainabletampabay.org/ to sign up to attend.

Visit http://www.climaterefugees.com/ for the trailer.

To learn more about sustainability at SPC, visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability.

How to Clean Up a Broken CFL Bulb

A few days after Christmas, the EPA issued updated guidance on how to clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp (“CFL”) bulb.  CFLs are made with a small amount of mercury that can be released as vapor when broken.  That vapor is a health risk, although the EPA still encourages the use of CFLs to save energy and reduce GHG emissions.  Here’s an outline of the EPA’s CFL cleanup guidance:

Before Cleanup

• Clear room of people and pets
• Open a window or door to ventilate the room for 5-10 minutes
• If on, shut off the central HVAC system
• Gather cleanup materials

During Cleanup

• Collect broken glass and visible powder
• Contain glass and powder (in a glass jar with lid or sealable plastic bag)

Hard Surface Cleanup

• Scoop glass/powder with paper or cardboard
• Use duct tape or something sticky to grab remaining glass/powder
• Wipe the surface clean with damp paper towel or moist wipes
• Place everything in jar or plastic bag
• Place outside in trash or protected area for proper disposal

Carpet/Rug Cleanup

• Scoop glass/powder with paper or cardboard
• Use duct tape to grab remaining glass/powder
• Place everything in jar or plastic bag
• Place outside in trash or protected area for proper disposal

After Cleanup

• Avoid leaving bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors
• Place bulb materials and debris outside in trash or other protected area
• Wash hands with soap/water after disposal outside
• Naturally ventilate room for several hours
• Leave HVAC system off while ventilating room

The EPA discourages the use of a vacuum to clean broken CFLs.  That said, if you’re going to use a vacuum, the EPA has some detailed guidance on how to do it.  Among other things, you should try to use the vacuum hose, remove the vacuum bag, clean the vacuum, and seal the bag and cleanup materials.

The EPA also has several suggestions to avoid breaking a CFL in the first place.  You should avoid twisting the glass tubing and try to use CFLs with a cover over the spiral or folded glass tubes.  Also, CFLs should be replaced with a drop cloth on the ground — this will soften a drop or contain breakage.

CFLs have about 3-4 milligrams of mercury contained within the glass tubes and should be disposed of properly.  To find a disposal site, visit Earth 911 or the EPA’s Bulb Recycling page for more information.

“Why Solar?” presentation, Nov 22

SPC’s Florida Engineering Society student chapter is coordinating a presentation discussing the benefits of solar power on Monday, November 22, 2010.  The SPC Clearwater Campus (2465 Drew Street, Clearwater) lecture runs from 12:15pm – 1:30pm in the teaching Auditorium (TA).

Les Aseere, a Sr. Application and Product Development Engineer for Johns Manville E3co will give a presentation overviewing solar technology, business financials, and materials.  This is a great opportunity to learn about what the cutting edge of solar energy has to offer as an alternative energy source, learn about the materials used in the production of the different solar panels, and learn about the financials involved with solar panels.

Join us as we explore the future of solar technology!

This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks will be available.

If you require any further information, feel free to contact SPC FES Engineering Club at spcengineering@gmail.com

To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu.  Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.

LEED Sustainable Sites, lunch and learn at SPC, Nov 9

Interested in delving further into your knowledge of technical information and strategies related to reducing urban heat islands – while achieving LEED credit?

Join LEED Sustainable Sites Technical Advisory Group members Joby Carlson (Research Engineer & Lab Manager, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University) and Gina Bocra (Director of Sustainable Design, Burt Hill) for an exciting webinar session: Strategies for Success in LEED: LEED and the Urban Heat Island Effect.

The Tuesday, November 9, 2010 lunch and learn is put on by the US Green Building Council, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter and is being held at the St Petersburg College, EPI Center (13805 58th St. N., Room 1-324, Largo, FL).

This webinar is registered for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit with AIA/CES (SD/HSW), BOMI, and IFMA. This webinar will satisfy 1.5 hours of GBCI Credentialing Maintenance for LEED Professionals.

Chapter members free
Guests $15

Sign up here!

To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu.  Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.

SPC Seminole forum on preserving green space, Oct 27

St. Petersburg College’s Applied Ethics Institute will host a forum entitled “The Ethics of Preserving Green Space” Oct. 27 at the Seminole Campus’ Digitorium.

At 5 pm, a guided walk will be conducted through the campus’ recently opened natural habitat park.  The forum begins at 6 pm.

Forum speakers include:

* Rep. Janet Long, D-Seminole, Florida State Representative, District 51
* Joe Malo, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Director of Education
* Jake Stowers, Assistant Pinellas County Administrator, retired
* Lester Abberger, Trust for Public Land and Florida Conservation Campaign, Chair

The program will be available on the Applied Ethics Website (http://www.appliedethicsinstitute.org) beginning Nov. 1.

For additional information, contact Dr. Laurie King at (727) 394-6035.

Help clean up Clearwater Beach, October 27, 2010

The St Petersburg College environmental clubs and SPC chapters of US Green Building Council Students and Florida Association of Community Colleges are sponsoring a beach clean-up on North Shore Clearwater Beach (Lot 36), running from Rockaway St. to 880 Mandalay.

The evening beach clean-up will held be Wednesday, October 27  from 5:00pm until sunset.  Meet on the beach at Rockaway Street, right in front of the public parking lot.  Bags, gloves and water (courtesy of Palm Pavilion) will be provided, but please remember to wear a hat, sunscreen, closed toed shoes and pants for the dunes, etc.

For driving directions click here.

You can park in the public beach parking or find residential parking further down the road then just walk back.

For more information, please contact green.jason@spcollege.edu or call 727 341-3283.

Special thanks to Palm Pavilion for generously providing a free beverage to participants after the beach clean-up!

Hope to see you there!

Two SPC Clearwater instructors get into a healthy cycle

The Clearwater Campus has two cyclists who enjoy the sport so much that they have dedicated a good part of their lives to it.  Bill Hemme, Instructor of Mathematics, and Greg Byrd, Instructor of Communications, have enjoyed cycling for years and continue to be wellness leaders at the campus.

Hemme became a serious cyclist four years ago when he decided to further his journey and commit to a bigger goal. As a kid growing up, he always was fascinated by stories of long enduring adventures of 16th century sailors crossing the Atlantic Ocean. This intrigued him enough to set out on a cross-country ride, detailing each day on his personal Web blog.

In summer 2009, Hemme set out on a ride from San Francisco to St. Augustine, Fla. The trip took him over the mountains of Colorado to the plains of Kansas, and he was hosted by cyclist families along the way. He prearranged his stays through www.warmshowers.org, a website that assists touring cyclists with hospitality on the road. Everything was going great until he reached St. Louis, where cracked bearings ended his journey.

But he refused to let things end there. On May 16 of this year, Hemme set out to finish his trip of a lifetime, this time accompanied by his son, Daniel. They made it from St. Louis to St. Augustine in just 30 days.

Byrd finds exercise more tolerable when commuting to work. He commutes to the Clearwater Campus on his Raleigh 10-speed bicycle four days a week, covering the roundtrip distance of nearly eight miles. This is especially rewarding for him because his bike route navigates trails and streets, and saves 10 minutes of commute time. Not even a 14-hour work day stops Byrd.

He began commuting to the Clearwater Campus in 1990. The benefit of not driving to work was that he no longer had to deal with parking. This advantage outweighs any inconvenience of riding for him, and he also benefits by getting about 40 minutes of exercise each day riding to and from work.

His passion for commuting has even rubbed off on his daughter, Carly. They ride the Pinellas Trail and he takes her to school twice a week. Byrd believes cycling with his daughter helps nurture their relationship.

Although Hemme and Byrd are doing nothing more than following their interests, they have found great advantages to cycling, and so can you. Complete this survey so we can gauge your interest in cycling. Your response may lead to some quality cycling opportunities at SPC, such as cycling groups, events and education.

To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu.  Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.

SPC sustainably designed building presentation, Oct 19

On Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 2:30 pm, Phil Trezza, AIA, LEED AP, of Harvard Jolly Architecture will present their preliminary design for a new Clearwater Campus building.

The presentation will be held on the SPC Clearwater Campus in the Teaching Auditorium (TA).  The campus is located at 2465 Drew St in Clearwater.

The new Ethics and Social Sciences building will achieve a level of LEED certification, and will be the third college-wide, and the second LEED building on the SPC Clearwater Campus.

The presentation is sponsored by the SPC chapters of American Institute of Architecture Students, US Green Building Council Students and  Gargoyle Architecture Honor Society.

For more information, contact Jason Green at (727) 341-3283 or green.jason@spcollege.edu.

The Gulf Oil Crisis forum at SPC, October 2

Three panels of experts will discuss the “Pathways to Policy: The Future of Energy” at a community forum at 9:30am., Saturday, October 2, 2010.

The forum, Impact of the Gulf Oil Crisis on Tampa Bay, will be at the Digitoirum on SPC’s Seminole Campus, 9200 113th Street North, Seminole.

The Gulf oil spill crisis is no longer front page news and our attention turns to why we need energy alternatives, what those alternatives look like, and what policies must be in place to ensure that we reach energy independence efficiently and effectively.

The first panel, “Why Energy Alternatives?” will be led by Dan Lashof – Climate Center Director, National Resources Defense Council.

The second panel, will focus on the future of energy, and will be led by Dr. David A. Cartes – Director, Institute for Energy Systems, Economics and Sustainability (IESES) at Florida State University and Barry Moline – Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association.

The third panel, “The Pathways to Policy” will be led by Dale Brill – President, Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

All three panels will be moderated by Susan Glickman, Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy.

State Sen. Dennis Jones and State Rep. Janet Long will give closing comments.

The event is sponsored by Bay News 9, Bright House Networks, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg Times, and TradeWinds Island Resorts.

The forum will be streamed live at mms://media.spcollege.edu/oil-crisis. The event also will be recorded for later showing in SPC classes or other forums and SPC-TV. Questions can be e-mailed to se_info@spcollege.edu.

Forum attendees will receive a gift certificate for a one-night stay (pending availability) at The Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach.

Register for the free event at Free at http://www. floridacleanenergy.biz

To learn more about sustainability at St. Petersburg College, contact Jason Green at green.jason@spcollege.edu.  Then visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sustainability, join the facebook group and follow us at http://twitter.com/sustainableSPC.

Clearwater Greenprint open house, Sept 28

Clearwater Greenprint, a community action plan for sustainable growth is sponsored by the City of Clearwater, with funding from the Department of Energy.  Guided by a Steering Committee of local residents and other group representatives, the aim of the Greenprint is to balance economic prosperity with environmental stewardship so that Clearwater will be a vibrant community for everyone who lives here now, and for the generations to come.

The Greenprint will include measurable goals and achievable strategies for a range of actions such as lessening the amount of greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere, making our buildings and transportation systems more energy-efficient, expanding mobility choices beyond the automobile, creating “green” jobs, reducing the amount of waste we generate, and consuming locally produced food.

The City has already made a commitment to pursuing sustainable and environmentally conscious policies and programs. For example, the local government recently completed a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and strategic plan to make government operations more energy-efficient. This community-wide Greenprint initiative will allow the City to take a step further by expanding the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and analysis to include the entire city. The Greenprint process will help everyone in the City come together to explore new ideas and take advantage of new kinds of decision-making tools that can help us prepare for a more livable and sustainable future.

Some of the Greenprint strategies will inform policy changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Community Development Code. Other Greenprint strategies will influence local and regional agencies responsible for transportation investments, economic development initiatives, and environmental conservation programs. Still others will support statewide policies and programs to increase energy efficiency and conservation and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (House Bill 697), and to develop more sustainable transportation systems (Senate Bill 360).

But government programs and policies are only one element of the sustainability action agenda. A sustainable city is a product of the entire community, working together internally, and coordinating its efforts with neighboring communities, regions, and the world at large. Therefore, the Clearwater Greenprint will focus on strategies that everyone can help to carry out – local government, residents, businesses, and even visitors. It is a plan for everyone, so we need everyone to play a part in shaping it.

Please attend the first Clearwater Greenprint open house on  September 28 from 4-7PM, at the Aging Well Center, 1501 N Belcher Rd, Clearwater, FL 33765.

Be sure to share your Share your ideas on ways Clearwater can be more green, prosperous and livable! Come and learn about what your city is doing now to be more sustainable and competitive in the future.