Sustainability and Built Systems

Spring 2014

Author: Donald Peters

Keurig aims for water security, sustainability

March 28, 2014 / / 0 Comments

I found this article which talks about Keurigs interest in worldwide accessibility to clean water.  They are partnering with a charity that is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to residents of developing nations.  They’ve committed $11 million to help nonprofit organizations in promoting water security.

http://www.stowetoday.com/waterbury_record/news/article_7204b160-b50a-11e3-b7ae-001a4bcf887a.html

Coal Firm to Pay Record Penalty and Spend Millions on Water Cleanup in 5 States

March 10, 2014 / / 0 Comments

The link below is to an article on the NY Times website from March 5, describing record fines for Alpha Natural Resources, a coal company in the United States.   The fines total $27.5 million for more than 6,000 violations they received from 2006 to 2013. The violations were related to water quality and the discharge of pollutants.  The company states their new equipment will help prevent further discharge of pollutants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/us/coal-firm-to-pay-record-penalty-and-spend-millions-on-water-cleanup-in-5-states.html?ref=science&_r=0

Story of Stuff – Is it Accurate?

February 4, 2014 / / 0 Comments

After watching this video I became really curious as to how much of the information that was provided was accurate.  Now, I’m not saying that there isn’t an issue with waste.  I agree that sustainability needs to be incorporate into everyone’s daily lives and activities.  However, I don’t believe that brainwashing is the best way to do it.  At times during the video I’m not sure if it’s more about the environment and becoming sustainable, or more about disagreement with our government.  It seems like this video was intended to scare people more than educate them.  While the intent may be good, a different approach may be needed to get people on board with changing their lives.  I went to youtube and searched for story of stuff and found a 4 part critique that someone created.  I’m not saying I agree with everything this person says, there are points from the critique and from the original video that I do believe are valid.  I do believe it’s worth a watch though, and then you can decide for yourselves what’s right and what’s not.  Enjoy!

Sustainable Stormwater Management

January 31, 2014 / / 1 Comment

Below is a path to the Villanova University website which shares information as to what they’re doing on campus to improve stormwater by reducing the amount of volume of runoff and improving the quality by removing pollutants through means of stormwater BMP’s.  I’m a Civil Engineer and deal with this daily so I figured I’d share what another school around the area is doing.

http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/engineering/research/centers/vcase/vusp1.html#tb=none

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