The Observation Deck

Bryan Schwegler wrote:I do really like the idea of stickers for garbage bags though, seems like a good solution.

More on that...

http://www.aurora-il.org/neighborhoodst ... arbage.php

And their recycling...

http://www.aurora-il.org/neighborhoodst ... ycling.php

What does anyone think about following the lead of San Francisco, China, and many European cities in banning plastic grocery bags? Another way Lakewood could take a leadership role...

Brad Hutchison wrote:What does anyone think about following the lead of San Francisco, China, and many European cities in banning plastic grocery bags? Another way Lakewood could take a leadership role...

I'm not so sure that's the best option and is more "show" than good environmental policy. If everyone had to use reusable bags, then it makes sense. However from an environmental impact standpoint, paper bags are more harmful than plastic bags so that switch would just make things worse in the long run.

For more information on Paper vs Plastic:
http://snipurl.com/2z2ap

Moral of the story, if you can't use a reusable bag, ask for plastic.

There are two reasons to be green.

1) It saves energy and helps the planet and our children.

2) It is amazing PR in an area where we need an edge.

Valerie, you are exactly right on item number 1, you don't have to go do really visible things to help save energy. Switching lightbulbs from incadesent to flourescent helps. (I am a big fan of white pavement and light roofs too.)

But you need to do some of these visible things to get the PR boost. Plus I think there should be government grants to do some of it. The Mayor has done a great job of getting work groups to work on several special projects - this should be one too. Our citizens could look for grants of all kinds.

Windmills on the lake - or how about on top of some of Gold Coast Condos? What about some green roofs - like on City Hall - can it support it? Just City Hall doing this would be a HUGE PR boost.

I know Berkley California was allowing people to put Solar Panels on their roofs and they had a deal where the county would buy them and you could get it charged back monthly on your property tax. The only point was you had to leave them when you moved.

Lynn Farris wrote:What about some green roofs - like on City Hall - can it support it? Just City Hall doing this would be a HUGE PR boost.

Why not just tear down that ugly monstrosity of a city hall and rebuild it using energy effecient techology (and a green roof) and have it LEED certified?

Sorry to go on a tangent, but I just think City Hall is one of the ugliest buildings in all of Lakewood.

What about a Green Roof? The Central Library here in Des Moines has one, as does the Apple Store in Chicago.

According to the DM Library, the green roof "utilizes engineered soil and succulent plants to increase the insulation on the roof, reduce the degree of rainwater runoff, and provide a more aesthetically pleasing surface."

http://greensource.construction.com/pro ... ibrary.asp

WP Hickman in Solon is one of the few vendors that I've found that installs green roofs. I think that there are plenty of opportunities for this in Lakewood.
Windmills on the Lake also make plenty of sense to me. From a layman's perspective, the lake is not beach accessible and the views may not even be obstructed because of the cliffs. Anyone have further information on this?
While you're on the tangent Bryan, I'd often wondered why city hall doesn't relocate it's offices to the INA building or Lakewood Center North. Redevelop the existing space to expand the jail and other needs. I'd have to imagine there are reasons for it but who knows. It always seemed oddly located to me.

I would love to bring sensible back into the conversation here.

Many of the so called "green" things and ideas are not. Many things take more energy to recycle then they can ever recover in other ways.

Florescent light instead of bulbs, contain Mercury, which find themselves into the trash and eventually into landfills, etc.

I have yet to see the windmill that creates more energy than it takes to produce that windmill. Then just as it hits that point, it needs repair and so it tilts off to the losing side.

Hybrid cars contains some of the most toxic batteries and chemicals in the world. Which is not a hugh problem for us in the states as they are sent to South America where they fill landfills.

This is not to say these are bad ideas, just not real true green ideas at this point in time.

Living roofs, car pooling, candles, food security, etc make great sense, while technology catches up to the hype.

FWIW

Agree with Brad H -- Make it easy for residents and take it a step further by giving incentive rewards to residents. It works:

http://www.springwise.com/eco_sustainab ... recycling/

http://www.recyclebank.com/how-it-works


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/busin ... ref=slogin

I sent information on these programs to Gail Higgings a year ago. At that time the city was considering fining residents that do not recycle. Gail unfortunately was laid off during budget cuts.

Jim,
I'm by no means an expert or even all that familiar with windmills and their cost/benefits over a life cycle. At the research and development phase though, Lakewood does appear to be a key location for this type of project. I would be surprised if the city was not approached or has not been actively seeking out the opportunity. From what I understand windfarms are being subsidized in some way. I imagine that its similar to the rents that buildings with high elevations collect from wireless company's so they can put up their antennas. While the technology hasn't yet perfected this product that doesn't mean that funds are not available and that the city does not stand to benefit from being involved. I suppose the real question here is who owns the waters off the coast of Lakewood?

Shawn Juris wrote:Jim,
I'm by no means an expert or even all that familiar with windmills and their cost/benefits over a life cycle. At the research and development phase though, Lakewood does appear to be a key location for this type of project. I would be surprised if the city was not approached or has not been actively seeking out the opportunity. From what I understand windfarms are being subsidized in some way. I imagine that its similar to the rents that buildings with high elevations collect from wireless company's so they can put up their antennas. While the technology hasn't yet perfected this product that doesn't mean that funds are not available and that the city does not stand to benefit from being involved. I suppose the real question here is who owns the waters off the coast of Lakewood?

Shawn

To my knowledge one of the leaders in getting windfarms off the coast of Lakewood is the Farris family. Their plan makes all the sense in the world.

My point is while many things seem green, in fact they are just "good feeling" projects for the community not real "green" efforts.

Rooftop gardens, some recylcing, many efforts are very worthwhile, others are so faux it is bothersome.

I was watching a great special where a girl was getting people at "green concerts" to sign onto a ban to outlaw di-Hydroganted Oxygen. No one refused to sign. It was explained that it came in rain, was filling rivers and lakes, and people could die in it. Of course it was H2O.

I believe that the city only truly recycles a small portion of what is sent in a recylelabels. Reasons being cost, need, and what can be.

While we all want to do the right thing, we should not leave our brains at the door.

This is why I put in sensible.

FWIW


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Living roofs are my favorite of all these "green" ideas, but I wonder, would a green roof on a residential structure be even allowed to exist in Lakewood? Is it permissible by the building code?

I mean, if I had reinforced the roof on my garage to be able to handle a garden up there, would the city let me plant a garden in raised beds up on the top?

It would be great if this was allowed, because, like many others in Lakewood, we have a miniscule backyard, and it would be nice to have the extra growing space. Plus, it could look really cool, if done right.

This also goes for dense commercial environments - cities as compact as Lakewood need all the greenery they can afford, even if it means going vertical.

Anyway, if they are legal, perhaps in the future LEAF or other organizations could sponsor a "best living roof" contest?

Coincidentally, I had a sample issue of "Home Power" in my mailbox at work today.

This monthly magazine covers how anyone - small business, residents, urban and rural farmers, etc. can become self-reliant with regards to power and energy needs.

It was a very interesting magazine, very practical, and worth a look for anyone interested in "getting off the grid". It had less of a "hippie" feel I would expect from such a publication, rather more oriented to design, engineering and practicality issues.

http://www.homepower.com/home/

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Florescent light instead of bulbs, contain Mercury, which find themselves into the trash and eventually into landfills, etc.

While true Jim, the amount of mercury in a compact fluorescent bulb pales in comparison to the amount of mercury spewed out by coal electric plants in order to light just one incandescent bulb.

While there is a negative to them, the switch to CFLs is definitely worth it.

One thought on a green roof that was recently discussed was Aladdin's. Throughout the Main Street project it kept coming up that Lakewoodites wanted sidewalk cafes. Frankly, I don't see it happening unless we cut into the storefronts or eliminate a lane of traffic. But if we look up, especially in cases where the building is only one story, we may find the alternative. Picture having lunch atop Aladdin's at a table in a field of green. They seem to be busy enough for expansion.
I seem to remember hearing that there was a bar that used to have a bocce court on their roof. Maybe he was just ahead of his time.
I believe that green roofs need to flat, John. So residential may not be an option.

Shawn Juris wrote:One thought on a green roof that was recently discussed was Aladdin's. Throughout the Main Street project it kept coming up that Lakewoodites wanted sidewalk cafes. Frankly, I don't see it happening unless we cut into the storefronts or eliminate a lane of traffic. But if we look up, especially in cases where the building is only one story, we may find the alternative. Picture having lunch atop Aladdin's at a table in a field of green. They seem to be busy enough for expansion.

All the rage in Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, New York.

Should be here as well.


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