Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful (KCB) is an award winning nonprofit organization that promotes beautification, recycling, litter prevention, and community pride. KCB has been improving Cincinnati landscapes for over 30 years. Their programs are based on changing behavior and cultivating community pride. They focus on providing sustainable results through initiatives and work to improve not only the environment in which we live, but of our lives as well. KCB is led by volunteer board and financially supported by individual and corporate donations, grants, foundations, and the city of Cincinnati. Former city council member Helen Hinckley started the organization in 1978, at the request of city manager, Bill Donaldson. The goal was to promote recycling, litter prevention, community improvement and beautification through citizen action. Over the years the organization has changed from Clean Cincinnati Inc., to Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to reflect their affiliation with Keep America Beautiful. 

Over its years of existence, KCB has won many outstanding awards:

• Affiliate of the Year -  1st Place Winner: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012 -  2nd Place Winner: 1997, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
• President’s Circle Award: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• National Outstanding Sponsor Award -  1st Place Winner: 2000, 2006, 2009
• Innovation Award: 2010
• Polar Bears International Paw of Approval: 2012
• The Business Courier Green Business Award for Nonprofit Advocacy: 2012, 2013
• Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations Ohio Nonprofit Excellence Award:2011
• Emmy® Award Public Service Announcement 1st Place Winner: 2004
• MetLife Community Police Partnership Award: 2007
• Make A Difference Day Outstanding Project Award: 2005

http://keepcincinnatibeautiful.org/aboutus/ourstory/

This rewards come without a lot of hard work. There are many programs managed by KCB throughout the community. At its core are the Great American Cleanup, Future Blooms, Adopt a Spot, and Daffodils & Daylilies. These programs have high-impact, promote sustainability, and operate year round. These programs are ran and carried through by volunteers and funded by local sponsors and fundraising. 

The Great American Cleanup is from March through November and brings together thousands of volunteers to improve their quality of life. KCB provides cleanup supplies and logistical support for the beautification projects. The activities done with the Great American Cleanup include picking up trash, planting trees, flowers, weeding etc. After a cleanup is completed the park or general area is restored to a beautiful, clean and green new space. Where trashcans can be found and insects and animals can live without being harmed. I have personally been involved in a cleanup and saw a huge improvement in the alley and roadways that I helped to clean up. It was a very rewarding experience.

Daffodils & Daylilies was created in 1998 to help create a more aesthetic scene along the highway, welcome visitors, and deter litter. Since its beginning nearly one million flowers have been planted at several highly visible locations, cared for by volunteers and paid for by generous people. This is my favorite KCB event and is one I strongly support. In order to maintain the flowerbeds, KCB relies on fundraising as well as a network of volunteers and corporate sponsors. 

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful does exactly that, keeps Cincinnati beautiful. This is a very important organization that improves our communities and brings people together. Having clean streets and parks in our community is important for the ecosystem, the air we breathe, instrumental value, and just something pretty to look at and make one happy. It is fantastic that this is a nonprofit organization and it still has so much capability too be so prodigious. There can never be too many donations and volunteering so, go get involved and make Cincinnati BEAUTIFUL! 

California Drought

       Most Americans have absolutely no clue where all the produce that fills up their grocery store comes from. The fact is the state of California accounts for 15 percent of national receipts for crops and 7.1 percent of the U.S revenue for livestock and livestock products (CDFA). California's agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. It produces half of all U.S fruits, nuts, and vegetables. What would our diets be like if it were not for this perfect agriculture state? We may just be on our way to finding out. California is experiencing one of the worst droughts ever recorded. "We have not had this dry a time period in all of California's history since we've been keeping records- that's how bad it is," says Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif. The drought seems to be caused by a vast of high pressure in the atmosphere, nearly 4 miles high and 2,000 miles long (Rogers). With each passing week California's lack of rainfall is becoming more serious.

       In early February, California received a rainfall of 3-4 inches. But is that enough? Not quite. City Council member says "We are a long way from where we need to be, but we have to start with some sort of raindrop." The San Jose Mercury News says the drenching is a result of something scientist call an "atmospheric river," formed in the Pacific Ocean that then moves to eastward to hit California. The San Francisco Bay area usually receives an average  rainfall of 14.5 inches by this point. They have seen just 3 inches.

       Restaurants in California are going to have to start easing up on glasses of water that are not asked for and refilling glasses unless asked to do so. A lot of water is wasted in restaurants through these routines and because of the seriousness of the drought- it is going to have to stop. "The water left on tables seems like such a small thing, but it's something that adds up over time, especially if the restaurant has busers refilling glasses," says Angelica Pappas of the California Restaurant Association. This idea of "auto-items" is a huge generator of waste in restaurants and is considered "good service."

        At  a state level, however, restaurants are not the biggest consumers of water. It's the farmers. They guzzle 80 percent of the water in California (Barclay). And in the restaurant 84 percent of water use is in the kitchen and in the bathrooms, according to the EPA. Across the state, businesses are looking for ways to cut back on water and getting consumers to do the same. Water rationing plans are underway. Maybe putting the second largest metropolis in the country in the middle of a desert wasn't the best idea. Who knew?
         
         President Obama visited the heart of California's parched land, Frenso California. Mr. Obama pledged $183 million from existing federal funds for drought relief programs. He also linked the drought to climate changed caused by rural America. He announced that he will ask congress for $1 billion in new funding for  a climate resiliency program to help communities prepare for climate disaster. Mr. Obama said, "A changing climate means that weather-related disasters like droughts, wildfires, storms, floods are potentially going to be costlier and they're going to be harsher."

         Ryan Jacobson, executive director of the Frenso County Farm Bureau, said Obama's announcement was " a great start, but won't fix long term issues." He says the water infrastructure needs major upgrades, and for other counties from the north to release more water. He does not want to blame this catastrophe on climate change entirely. Jacobson wants to focus on the immediate drought rather than focusing on something that is questionably tied to this or not. Republican representative of Frenso, Devin Nunes, attributes the drought not to climate change but to interference of the federal government. He criticized the federal government for shutting off portions of California's system of water irrigation and storage, and diverting water into a program for freshwater salmon. He blames the drought on mathematics and engineering.

       So whether the cause of this drought be weather, atmosphere, pollution, overconsumption or engineering, there is no doubt that there is indeed a drought. The solution is unclear at this point, but something needs to be done before it is too late. Because I cannot live without fresh fruits and vegies!

Articles Referenced:
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24904396/california-drought-whats-causing-it
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/09/274125150/is-it-enough-rain-for-drought-stricken-california
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/05/271997854/california-is-so-dry-some-diners-wont-get-water-unless-they-ask
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/politics/obama-to-announce-aid-for-drought-racked-california.html

UC Environmental Initiatives

The University of Cincinnati is a very green and eco-friendly campus. It offers many opportunities and events for green and sustainable living. There are many clubs and organizations that are working hard at making the university even more sustainable than it is. They are very good at getting involved not only in local green steps but, in national regulations and policies as well. They are currently a member of the ACUPCC which is an effort that address global warming and tries to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions. Also, they are a part of the AASHE which is resource that provides the university on ways to live sustainably. Those are just a couple ways the university is taking steps towards a green future.

UC uses its own type of government regulation in the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). Within one year of signing, the university had to complete a comprehensive carbon inventory to determine its environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gases. And a year later, they had to complete a climate action plan, detailing how the school was going to reduce its carbon footprint and become carbon neutral. The action requires that there be a carbon footprint inventory taken every two years at the Uptown Campus. The university used the Clean Air - Cool Planet (CA-CP) calculator, a standard among the ACUPCC, to determine the carbon foot print. The university believes that this plan will "stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs...attract new sources of funding and increase the support of alumni and local communities."

For a market based, green purchasing approach the university is very particular about their spending. "UC gives preference to environmentally friendly products whose quality, function, and cost are equal or superior to more traditional products." The UC construction plans requires that the buildings have sustainable products. Using sustainable products may be expensive in the short run but, in the long run they will save the university a lot of money by cutting back on energy costs. 3% of their paper is 30% recycled and the other 97% is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified (UC Purchasing ). UC is also a part of the Surplus Equipment Department, this allows the university to reclaim assets where ever possible. "In addition to offering items to the university organizational units at no cost, the Surplus Equipment Department provides outlets for the sale of surplus items to the general public via Sealed Bid Auctions and the Monthly Public Service Sale."

LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it is a policy by which UC stands. UC created the sustainable design policy in 2001. This was a commitment to build all new construction and major renovations, whenever possible, to LEED Silver standards or higher. The university has had 6 buildings become LEED certified. The university uses many policies to ensure new buildings are sustainable my law. "In addition to how buildings are constructed, how buildings are maintained and cleaned has a significant environmental impact. UC has instituted a Green Cleaning Policy to mitigate this." This policy ensures that building occupants and custodial personnel will not be exposed to potentially harmful viruses, bacteria, molds pollens, etc. in short they want to minimize potentially negative impacts on the greater outdoor environment.

Being a part of policies and pledging to create sustainable environments can be very costly and stressful to the university. It is sometimes not cheap to be green and when you fail to meet the standards set due to money issues, the consequences can really hurt the university's support and legitimacy. Being LEED certified requires maintenance and up keep. Which will take up a lot of time and money from the university which could be allocated in many other areas of the university. While it has a nice name and is appealing, it may not be ideal.

However, striving to reduce carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions can bring a lot of support and sponsors to the university. Going green is becoming more and more important and popular every year. Donors like to see that an institute is not only benefitting their students but also benefitting the entire community. Recycling and reusing materials can also save the university money and go towards their green behavior. By being a part of these organizations such as LEED, SFI, and AASHE shows that university is in touch at the national level with moving towards a sustainable future.