The grand tour: How bike tourism helps local economies

Great article I found through the Better World Club (which is a terrific alternative, by the way, to AAA, or a supplement.  Here's the link:  http://www.grist.org/biking/2011-06-06-the-grand-tour-how-bike-tourism-helps-local-economies.

I will run part of it today, the rest tomorrow, but feel free to use the above link to read it fully:

"This is the eighth column in a series focusing on the economics of bicycling.

Bike-friendly cities, off-road paths, and scenic country roads where cyclists can spin along in comfort aren't just good for the people who live in those places. They also attract tourists. And tourists mean money for the local economy.

Tourism is one of the U.S.'s largest industries and biggest employers, creating millions of jobs and bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars each year (not to mention the tax benefits).

Bicycle touring has long had an honored place in the tourism economy and culture. This doesn't go unrecognized: In Wisconsin, bike tourism is estimated to contribute $1.5 billion to the state's economy every year.

It's not just about paths or trails, though the measurable impacts these facilities have on local economies are a big deal. Bicycle transportation may not yet be mainstream in the U.S., but recreational bicycling is. More people ride bikes than ski, and more bikes than cars are bought here every year -- presumably for the purpose of family rides along the riverside trail and the like.

For communities looking to up the ante, in adventure or economic development, there are many enticing opportunities for bicycle touring beyond a short jaunt on the rail trail.

Take, as an example, RAGBRAI (that's the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), which calls itself "the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world." Now in its 39th year, the seven-day event follows a different route every year. Participants and spectators drop plenty of cash into small-town economies along the way -- buying pancakes, beer, massages, and souvenirs. The ride also has a longer-term economic impact that's harder to quantify -- in marketing the state's attractions and even in job creation.

Rides like RAGBRAI -- few are nearly as large, but every state boasts smaller supported tours --  introduce participants to the satisfaction and camaraderie of bicycle touring. And they are ambassadors of mutual goodwill, paving the way for acceptance in communities where a person on a bike on a rural road might otherwise be seen as an inconvenience.

Note this is the 8th in a series of articles that make you think seriously about the economics of biking.  Be a good show.

Did you watch today's world premier of our show with Al Cerrone talking about the Chevy Volt and other GM products?  Great show.  Will stream live again at 4p, EST. 

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Bedford Heights, OH, gains wind industry jobs needed to rebuild the Midwestern economy

Wisconsin might pick up more manufacturing if the governor and legislature welcomed, instead of devastated, the wind industry:

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Engaging employees in sustainability: Corp Green, a web-based green team tool

Very nice piece from Green Impact.com on "Are your employees engaged in thinking and acting in a manner that reflects your commitment to sustainability? "

Great question.  I think we all know we need buy in on every level to reshape our companies.  Conversely, companies can be incubators and educators of their employees on sustainable living.  Chicken and egg:  What comes first?

Here's an on line tool for starting the process.  More of the article: 

"Corp Green helps companies with a top-down commitment to sustainability educate, inspire and engage employees in strategic and positive ways. The new web-based tool harnesses the power of grassroots green teams and helps companies live their commitment to sustainability by embedding green champions throughout the organization.

Inspire new behaviors, save money and reduce your footprint!

Our solution:

• Gives your green team new life
• Increases employee participation and inspires action
• Supports strategic goals with visible, tangible campaigns
• Identifies the most promising ideas for going greener
• Builds a more authentic green brand

Easily Launch New Green CampaignsCorp Green is a customized web-based tool that will easily allow you to grow your green team, launch targeted, branded initiatives that are visible and tangible, capture pledges and ideas, and report progress by location"

Here's the link:  http://greenimpact.com/blog/2010/11/23/corp-green-a-new-tool-for-engaging-employees-in-sustainability/.

Go try the tool and let us know how you like it.  Begin the sustainable process today.

Also, our newest show will be released later this week.  Go to Arpin Broadcast Network, arpin.tv.com. to watch and send us your comments.

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Now online: Wisconsin Renewable Quarterly

The Wisconsin Renewable Quarterly, the newsletter of RENEW Wisconsin, features these article:

Siting Rule Suspension Rocks Wind Industry
In a move that sent shock waves through the wind industry in Wisconsin, a joint legislative panel voted on March 1 to suspend the wind siting rule promulgated by the Public Service Commission in December 2010.

Community Biogas Project Fires Up
Home to 400 dairy farms, Dane County recently dedicated a community-scale manure-to-methane generating system designed to reduce nutrient runoff into the Yahara Lakes.

Insty Prints: Mpower ChaMpion
But if I can help other businesses make some of the harder choices by being more vocal, then I’m willing to help.

Manitoba Hydro: A Washout?
On behalf of our members and the many businesses and individuals who support the continued expansion of Wisconsin’s renewable energy marketplace, RENEW Wisconsin is here to express opposition to AB 114 (and its companion SB 81), and urges the Legislature not to pass this bill.

Verona Firm Begins Work on “Epic” PV
With the commissioning of its 1,300-module solar electric canopy spanning its parking deck, Epic Systems joins an elite group of Wisconsin companies embracing on-site energy capture to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. At 360 kilowatts (kW), Epic’s new photovoltaic system is the largest solar array in Dane County and the third largest in Wisconsin.

Calendar of Renewable and Energy Efficiency Events
June 17-19, 2001 The Energy Fair. Custer, WI. The nation’s premier sustainable energy education event. Three days of workshops, demonstrations, and exhibits highlighting renewable energy and sustainable living. For details see www.midwestrenew.org.

July 8-10, 2011 EcoFair360. Elkhorn, WI. Join hundreds of exhibitors and presenters and thousands of attendees who will Make Green Happen for three days of education, exploration and inspiration. For details see www.ecofair360.org.

July 16, 2011 Western Wisconsin Sustainability Fair. Menomonie, WI, Dunn County Fair Grounds. Exhibitors from business, government, and non-profi t groups, speakers, workshops, music, energy effi cient vehicles, a photo contest, and a tour of the Cedar Falls Dam. See http://sustainabledunn.org for more information.

July 30, 2011 8th Annual Kickapoo Country Fair. LaFarge, WI. The Midwest’s Largest Organic Food and Sustainability Festival. Food, music, bike and farm tours, cooking demonstrations, theater, kids’ activities, dancing. More information at www.kickappoocountryfair.org.

October 1, 2011 Solar Tour of Homes and Businesses. All across Wisconsin. Owners open their doors to let people see how renewable energy is practical, reliable, and affordable in today’s economy. The homes and businesses often include other energy efficiency and renewable technologies. For details see http://nationalsolartour.org.

October 26, 2011 Wisconsin’s Solar Decade Conference. Milwaukee, WI. Now in its seventh year, the Wisconsin
Solar Decade Conference is your opportunity to see fi rsthand the latest developments in the world of solar energy. For details see www.solardecade.com.

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Going Green with PR

Found this on a blog (CGB) and thought it did a great job of speaking to the "business side of green":  http://chrisguli.com/going-green-with-public-relations-for-company-initiatives.php.

Here's part of it:

"No matter how big a brand you have, or how many years you have been an industry leader, once your company’s reputation is in question about non-existent energy conservation programs or go green initiatives, you will experience negative repercussions which will reflect on sales and customer retention. Lowered public trust is the downfall of companies who don’t do anything about helping their brand become more conscious of how they use energy; and those that don’t even consider looking into green energy public relations tools to help them present a better picture of the initiatives done in response to the public’s clamour.

Critics, especially those groups of people who want to sabotage your business, can attack your company if there is no rigorous and well-maintained ecological sustainability. In fact, it is the most prevalent topic nowadays and many go under the media radar – how a company is doing in terms of preserving the environment by keeping things right on energy conservation. This issue particularly for a technology-centric company is easy to point out specifically the negative issues like the pollution damage that is incurred in the making of hardware parts, the smallest labor oversight, or just a general attack against electronic waste and overuse of energy.

Renewable energy is one of the hot topics nowadays, and many group of organizations have been debated this issue over time, not only on its usage for households but also in all businesses as well. Companies can be easily accused of not having enough recycling programs or promotion of proper waste management, and not only that, they’ll suffer even more if hit with the pressure of utilizing alternative energy.

Companies are urged by the public, the critics and most importantly the various regulatory boards to come up with a way to switch to renewable energy source. In this case, a company has a lot to do in terms of investing in this new energy, but the returns are greatly immeasurable. The benefits include a lower or at least a much stable cost of operations as well as reduced risk of pollutants. Once a company decides to do so, they may be able to recover the damage to their reputation by hiring environment PR to take over and promote the new facet of the company."

We have a great show releasing this week with Al Cerrone.  Be there..."you will be glad you did".

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Kodak Hands Out Cash for Cameras/Weekend Edition

We thought everyone would like this on the "business side of green": http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/06/02/kodak-hands-out-cash-for-cameras/.

" Eastman Kodak has launched a recycling program that lets consumers trade used cameras, printers and digital picture frames for cash.

The Kodak Trade-In and Recycling Program also accepts accessories such as lenses and flashes, and takes all brands.

Consumers use the program website to provide information on the products they wish to recycle. They then receive an instant quote and a pre-paid shipping label.

If the trade-in is accepted, customers receive a check as well as a discount offer from the online Kodak Store. For products with no resale value, Kodak provides the website user with responsible recycling options.

The program’s fulfillment partner is Smash Direct, an online trade-in program provider.

“Our Trade-In and Recycling program is another example of Kodak’s ongoing commitment to sustainability in our operations, and to helping consumers be more sustainable in their own lives,” said Pradeep Jotwani, president of the consumer digital imaging group and chief marketing officer at Eastman Kodak. Kodak’s other sustainability commitments include Energy Star qualified printers and digital frames, recyclable ink cartridges and papers sourced according to sustainable forestry initiatives.

Since 2002, Kodak has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 1.5 million tons, or 49 percent, closing in on its goal for a 50 percent reduction by the end of 2012.

Recently, Toshiba America Business Solutions announced that its recycling program for ink cartridges, toner bottles, drum units and similar items will start taking items of any make."

Kudos to Eastman Kodak and their reduction on GHG emissions and their progress on the 50% goal.  Nice job.

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Google Data Center cooled with ocean waters

Very interesting article on Google's new data center in Finland, cooled as you can, from ocean waters...no refrigeration, no compressors.  Here's the link:  http://www.ecogeek.org/geothermal-power/3510.

And some of the article: 

"Google has opened a new data center in Finland where all of the cooling is done with sea water rather than compressors and refrigerants. The building, which was originally built as a paper mill, is located on the Gulf of Finland and using cool sea water is a way to save money while keeping the building cooled with a readily available resource.

Cooling is one of the biggest expenses for data centers. Servers, especially when many of them are stacked close together, generate a great amount of heat, and that heat must be dissipated to keep the equipment running. The Google data center brings in sea water through granite tunnels and into heat exchangers where the water absorbs the heat to keep the equipment cool.

The heated water is further tempered with cool sea water in a separate building before it is returned to the ocean to minimize the impact the heated water might have on the natural environment."

This last paragraph is most critical as, I'm sure, everyone's first thought is, what is the environmental impact of heated water dumping back into the ocean?  We know military ships cycle water back into the ocean, but that is on a much smaller scale.  There is clearly benefit to the environment in not using energy to run cooling systems, but it would be great to see the final economic benefit and ecological benefit or lost.

Does anyone have experience on a project like this?  We will reach out to Google on a future show to get their comments on this installation.  You have to believe their energy savings are fanstastic.

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