Sawfish Study Underway

Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Supports Sawfish Studies in Florida Bay, Florida Keys, Tortugas and Indian River Lagoon

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Also known as the Carpenter Shark, Sawfish are a family of rays, characterized by a long, toothy nose extension. Several species can grow to approximately 7 meters or 23 feet. The family as a whole is largely unknown and little studied, until now. In October 2010, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Hell's Bay Boatworks donated a custom boat and trailer, valued at more than $50,000, to the Florida Program for Shark Research. FPSR Director and world-renowned shark expert George Burgess recently filed this report detailing the ongoing sawfish studies he is conducting in the waters around South Florida: During the spring sampling season, three ongoing projects of the Florida Program for Shark Research at UF''s Florida Museum of Natural History, one in collaboration with researchers from Florida State University (FSU), focused on the distribution and movements of adult and sub adult sawfishes in the southern portion of its Florida range. We produced a survey of the waters surrounding U.S. Navy properties in the Key West region in order to determine the current status of sawfishes in those areas for the U.S. Navy/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Because of obvious security constraints, we were the first fish biologists to sample in these waters in decades. Concurrently, in conjunction with Dean Grubbs and fellow FSU scientists and the John Carlson of the National Marine Fisheries Service, we sampled the middle and lower Keys and Tortugas region and Florida Bay, catching and satellite tagging eleven sawfishes.  Satellite tags give long time and distance of movement information and we hope our tagging will help us better understand seasonal horizontal (up and down the coast) and vertical (depth) movements of the critters. We also caught and multiple tagged two large adults in Florida Bay, the tags being  raditional  spaghetti,  satellite, and active acoustic models.  The last allowed us to manually track the minute-to-minute movements using a receiver held under the boat.  Our first saw was lost within the first hour or so as it gave us the slip by scooting over a shallow bank, then boogying before we could detect its signal.  Having learned our lesson, on our second capture we got in 38 hours of tracking over three days, including day-night comparisons. The sawfish moved about in deeper channels by day, and then moved onto shallow, seagrass beds by night.  It chose the same shallow grassy area on successive nights, demonstrating some short-term site fidelity.  Next spring we plan to initiate placement of underwater listening stations on the bottom and tag the sawfishes with passive acoustic tags. These tags will leave a unique bleep on any receiver as the sawfish swims near, allowing us to track localized movements over longer periods and larger areas. We also will continue to satellite tag these and other sawfishes. While sampling for sawfishes we also caught many sharks and rays.  All of these animals also were measured, sexed, sampled (tissue for DNA) and tagged as part of ongoing studies of their biology and movement patterns.  We also continued our work in Indian River Lagoon (IRL), where we began tagging young bull sharks with spaghetti and passive acoustic tags in a ³new² region for us, the St. Lucie River estuary.  This work is being done with our colleague, David Snyder, of Continental Shelf Associates.  We also continue to download data from our underwater array of receivers in Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and the northern IRL, where tagged bull sharks and rays still roam. During this time period we put 5000 miles in land travel on the Guy Harvey adorned Hell's Bay and God only knows how many sea miles on our faithful vessel!

Melvin Wylie

When Farmers Meet Designers: True Eco Fashion

  Città della Pieve, Italy - Is the perception of beauty man-made or is there such a thing as natural beauty? To ?nd out, an Italian designer and an organic farmer came up with the idea of growing shirts, having nature design fashion. After a two year period of growths in the hills of Umbria, near the Tuscan border in Italy, the ?rst harvest is ready for the catwalk.

When Francesco Mugnaini, a 31 year old designer who had previously been working in the busy city of Milan, met Sebastian Runde, a 41 year old Scottish farmer running an organic farm in Umbria, Italy, they merged their different backgrounds and experiences to come up with a rather unusual fashion project: let's grow shirts. The unpredictability of nature was the seed for the idea, to plant and harvest shirts. The garments were exposed to nature's forces by planting them into the ground and give nature time to do her unpredictable design process. The result is stunning and every single design unique.

 

The T-shirt was considered ideal, as it is one of the most simple garments existing, there could be no better for the project. It is unpretentious, simple, like an empty canvas on which nature can create its designs. Francesco designed a shirt which truly complements the body, idealises it even. "We aimed for a focus on the aesthetics created by nature, to offer a perception of beauty man would never be able to create. We produce beautiful shirts, but it is nature who makes them truly unique» says Francesco Mugnaini.

 

The materials used had to be of a kind which would react with the soil, the water or sunlight. Naturally no synthetic yarns could be used, as not to create a thread of pollution. After many tests, a high quality organic silk proved best and gave the most interesting results.

 

The silk shirts are produced by local craftsmen with great expertise. Sebastian Runde, as an organic farmer, is very passionate about his concern for the environment: "Producing the T-shirts abroad in a country with low labour costs was out of question. We looked for local recourses and were very lucky, indeed. We manage to produce a garment, which is 100% made in Italy. The yarns are coming from northern Italy, the shirts are produced locally in Città della Pieve."

 

The ?rst collection of RIGHT AS RAIN™ is harvested and up for sale on www.right-as-rain.com. An array of utterly different silk shirts for men and woman. 100% designed by nature.

 

Melvin Wylie

Not All Incandescent Light Bulbs will be Banned Next Year

MOONACHIE, N.J., Sept. 16, 2011 - As many consumers are beginning to suffer from "light bulb anxiety" and are confused about replacement options for their traditional incandescent bulbs, Bulbrite introduces their Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 lamp. Bulbrite is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative, energy-efficient light source solutions and the premier educational resource for lamping technology. Bulbrite's Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 complies with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which takes effect January 1, 2012 and requires general service light bulbs to operate up to 30% more efficiently than current standards require. Consumers will gain the benefits of higher efficiency and superior lighting quality, giving them an alternative to CFLs (compact fluorescents) and LEDs (light emitting diodes). The Halogen A19, a recent winner of the Platinum Award for Design Excellence (ADEX), is fully dimmable and can last up to 1,000 hours. In comparison to its incandescent replacements, Bulbrite's Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 significantly reduces energy consumption without sacrificing light output, as shown below.

• 29-watt Halogen A19 equals 40-watt incandescent
• 43-watt Halogen A19 equals 60-watt incandescent
• 53-watt Halogen A19 equals 75-watt incandescent
• 72-watt Halogen A19 equals 100-watt incandescent

  This unique lamp is available in four different wattages with both clear and soft white finishes. The most common uses include chandeliers, outdoor and security lights, ceiling pendants, recessed downlights, portable table and floor lamps, and wall sconces. Bulbrite is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative, energy-efficient light source solutions. Celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, Bulbrite is a family owned business renowned for its commitment to innovation, education and outstanding service. Most recently Bulbrite President Cathy Choi received the 2010 Residential Lighting Industry Leadership Award and the Bulbrite Swytch LED Desk Lamp received the 2010 Home Furnishing News Award of Excellence. The company has introduced many innovative and design award-winning products, including its exclusive KX-2000®, Dark Sky, Purify 02, and Halogen R111 GU10, as well as ADEX award-winning GU24 Twist & Lock lamps, the 2012 EISA-compliant Halogen A19 and TURBO LEDs. Bulbrite offers an extensive line of light bulbs and lamping options including LEDs, HID, Compact Fluorescents, Fluorescents, Halogens, Krypton/Xenon, Incandescents, and a broad range of specialty lamps.

Melvin Wylie

Nestle Waters North America Recieves LEED Gold

STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 15, 2011 - Nestle Waters North America, the third largest beverage company in the U.S., today announced its headquarters in Stamford, Conn. has received the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) Gold certification, verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. This marks the company's 10th LEED-certified building. To date, Nestle Waters has the most LEED-certified facilities of any U.S. food and beverage manufacturer, with more than 3.7 million square feet designed and built to meet LEED standards. In 2003, the company became the first food and beverage manufacturer in the U.S. to receive LEED certification for its Stanwood, Mich. plant—one of the first-ever industrial facilities to earn the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) sustainability standard. In its 2008 Corporate Citizenship Report, Nestle Waters pledged to have all newly constructed buildings meet LEED certification. "Nestle is to be commended for earning LEED Gold for its own headquarters—the 10th LEED-certified project in the company," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. "Given the prominence of the Nestle brand, the Stamford headquarters will be a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy buildings, and an inspiration for others. Congratulations!" More than 500 people employed at Nestle Waters' Stamford headquarters moved to this facility in October 2010. Two Stamford-based firms led the renovation of the building located at 900 Long Ridge Road. CPG Architects did the re-design and Pavarini led the construction effort. The building incorporates many "green" features, as well as attributes that encourage greater employee collaboration, including:

• A white roof to reduce use of heating and air conditioning
• Low energy/high efficiency lighting system and low-flow water fixtures in bathrooms
• Convenient recycling in logical locations, such as kitchens and coffee bars
• The first Cradle-to-Cradle-certified office chairs
• An employee shuttle from the Stamford train station to encourage use of public transportation
• Preferred parking spaces for low-emission vehicles
• Cubicles built with low partitions and ample seating areas for co-workers to discuss ideas
• High recycled content on furniture, fabrics, countertops, carpet and ceiling tiles

  "We feel good coming to work every day, being part of and showing visitors the innovative, green features of our office building," said Kim Jeffery, president and CEO of Nestle Waters North America. "We had a goal to achieve LEED when we took on a complete renovation for our new headquarters. As with our bottling plants, we created a facility that supports the environment, the employees who work here, and the surrounding community, and earning LEED Gold heightens that commitment." Beyond LEED-certified buildings, the company also works to reduce its environmental footprint by advocating for improved bottle recycling and preserving more than 14,000 acres of land near its spring water sites. To learn more about the company's sustainability initiatives in the areas of packaging, production, transportation, water use and recycling, click here. Since 2003, Nestle Waters' additional LEED-certified facilities have helped the company reduce energy use by 1.5 million kWh, carbon emissions by 2.1 million pounds, and water use by nine million gallons:

• Dallas, Texas (Silver, 2009)
• Kingfield, Maine (Gold, 2009)
• Breinigsville, Pa. (Gold, 2009)
• Hollis, Maine (Silver rating, 2009)
• Madison County, Fla. (Silver rating, 2006)
• Red Boiling Springs, Tenn. (Silver rating, 2005)
• Cabazon, Calif. (Silver rating, 2004) – first food manufacturing facility to earn a silver rating
• Hawkins, Texas (Silver rating, 2004)
• Stanwood, Mich. (LEED Certified 2003) – first food and beverage manufacturing facility to earn LEED certification

Melvin Wylie

Samsung Evergreen Raises the Bar by Earning Platinum Certification From UL Environment

DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2011 - Key Facts

• Samsung Evergreen™ earns platinum certification from UL Environment, a leading global science company, for meeting UL Environment's high Sustainable Product Certification standard.
• First Samsung device from AT&T* to receive sustainable industry certification.
• In 2010, as part of AT&T's handset sustainability efforts, it collected more than 3.7 million cell phones for reuse and recycling and over 1.8 million pounds of cell phone batteries and accessories.

  Customer Benefits Environmentally conscious AT&T customers will be pleased to learn that the Samsung Evergreen received platinum certification from UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Evergreen is the first Samsung product from AT&T to achieve the highest level of environmental performance recognized by new sustainable requirements established by UL Environment. Over past year, AT&T has been an active participant with UL Environment and other sustainability stakeholders in working towards the development of requirements to identify leadership mobile phones from an environmental and human health perspective. The UL Environment requirements set minimum requirements for "environmentally preferable" mobile devices by measuring environmentally sensitive materials, energy management, manufacturing and operations, impact to health and environment, product performance, packaging and product stewardship. Samsung Evergreen Launched in Fall 2010, the Samsung Evergreen is a quick messaging device constructed with 70 percent recycled post-consumer plastics and packaging that utilizes 80 percent recycled post-consumer paper. The device boasts eco-oriented wallpaper/ringtones not to mention a sleek, 2.4" display, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 2.0 megapixel camera, video camcorder, AT&T Navigator and stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology v2.1. Evergreen also features dual-band 3G connectivity and quad-band GSM technology, which allows AT&T customers to make calls in more than 220 countries and download data in more than 195 countries. In addition to the UL Environment platinum certification, the Evergreen already meets strict RoHS standards (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive)(1), including being free of PVC(2), BFR(3) and Beryllium and powered by an Energy Star Version 2.0 qualified energy efficient charger (level V) with standby power loss less than 0.03W and an energy efficiency of less than 75 percent. Since launch, Samsung has donated $1 for every Samsung Evergreen device sold, with a maximum donation of $100,000, to the non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers®. AT&T's Environmental Sustainability Initiatives and Offerings In 2010, AT&T collected more than 3.7 million cell phones for reuse and recycling and over 1.8 million pounds of cell phone batteries and accessories. Last year, AT&T launched the ZERO Charger which automatically senses when a mobile device is not plugged in to the charger and cuts the power supply from the wall socket. The company also challenged customers to make the switch to paperless billing through its One Million Mobile Eco Challenge. Recently, AT&T was included on the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for the second year in a row. AT&T currently offers customers simple, convenient ways to donate old cell phones and accessories: drop-off bins in more than 2,000 company-owned retail stores; free, prepaid mailing envelopes available in the stores; and postage-paid mailing labels available via our web site at AT&T Reuse & Recycle. For more information regarding AT&T's overall sustainability initiatives, please visit www.att.com/csr. Quotes "We're honored to receive global recognition for the environmental performance of the Samsung Evergreen," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "This platinum certification from UL Environment is truly a testament to AT&T's ongoing efforts to provide effective, sustainable solutions for our customers." "We know the vast majority of consumers are looking for greener products in several categories(4) and we are excited that AT&T will now be offering the Platinum-certified Samsung Evergreen cell phone at their stores to help meeting this growing demand," said Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment. "We further congratulate AT&T and Samsung on demonstrating their commitment to sustainability with this superb device." (1) Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, 2002/95/EC as amended. (2) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). (3) Brominated flame retardants (BFR). (4) According to 2011 EcoPulse Report, Shelton Group. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Melvin Wylie

Empire State Building Achieves LEED Gold

Empire State Building Company, Jones Lang LaSalle and U.S. Green Building Council announce milestone achievement for World's Most Famous Office Building

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011 - The Empire State Building has been awarded a LEED® Gold for Existing Buildings certification as further recognition from the $550 million Empire State ReBuilding program. The Empire State Building is the tallest and most well known building in the U.S. to receive LEED certification. The 2.85 million-square-foot building is celebrating its 80th anniversary while nearing completion of its renewal and repurposing to meet the needs of 21st Century businesses. It is one of a small number of National Historic Landmarks to earn the designation, which was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The announcement was made jointly by Anthony Malkin, Empire State Building Company; Dana Robbins Schneider, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle, program manager of the energy retrofit, LEED feasibility assessment and application process; and Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. The LEED Gold certification follows the ground-breaking creation and implementation of a new replicable, transparent, quantifiable process for economically justified energy efficient retrofits in the existing built environment created a team of the Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls, Jones Lang LaSalle and the Rocky Mountain Institute. The game-changing analytical model is non-proprietary and open-source and is being replicated at other properties around the world. There is a new focus by government and the real estate industry on investment and return in energy efficiency retrofits driven from the well-documented success of the Empire State Building. The retrofit conducted by Johnson Controls and Jones Lang LaSalle is guaranteed to reduce the building's energy consumption by more than 38 percent and should save $4.4 million in energy costs annually, representing an approximate three-year payback of the cost of implementation. The building gained ENERGY STAR certification in 2010 and has maintained ENERGY STAR certification in 2011. For more on the analytical model, visit www.esbsustainability.com. The improvements also reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 105,000 metric tons over 15 years. In January 2011, Malkin agreed to buy carbon offsets totalling 55 million kilowatt hours per year of renewable energy, making the Empire State Building carbon-neutral. "When it was built, the Empire State Building instantly became an icon of its era. Now, due to this remarkable investment in energy efficiency, the Empire State Building will be an icon of the 21st century as well, leading our current era in the retrofitting and upgrading of existing buildings to meet modern energy conditions," said David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning & Sustainability. "LEED Gold certification is another win for us following our ground-breaking energy efficiency retrofit work. It is my hope that all future LEED certifications for existing building projects will require demonstrable, quantifiable improvements in energy efficiency, delivering economic returns for building owners, tenants, and the communities in which they are located," Malkin said. "I thank Dana Schneider, our Empire State Building team, and the professionals at the U.S. Green Building Council for their hard work in this huge undertaking. I hope USGBC will be incorporating documented energy efficiency improvements into LEED 2012, which is now in public comment." "LEED certification is one of the top criteria for many tenants today, and it reinforces the strong business case we have made for a cost-effective energy retrofit that lowers tenant occupancy costs," Schneider said. "We have continued our work with building ownership with LEED-level new tenant installations and tenant-based energy efficiency programs, which are now being documented in a new program with the Center for Market Innovation of the Natural Resources Defense Council, funded by a grant from the Goldman Sachs Foundation." "By earning LEED Gold, the Empire State Building has sent a powerful message that green buildings don't have to be new – even the most iconic, historic buildings, as grand in scale as in reputation, can be among the most high-performing, energy-efficient, green buildings," Fedrizzi said. "The leadership exhibited by Tony Malkin, and everyone involved in this project is monumental and should be applauded." The USGBC will also recognize Malkin with its 2011 Leadership Award, bestowed on "organizations and individuals who signify vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green building design and construction." Malkin is recognized for this prestigious award based on his commitment and guidance to the team throughout the retrofit process, his promotion of the replicable model and his strong advocacy of energy efficiency before Congress, with U.S. mayors and other government and business leaders. The energy retrofit and other actions leading to LEED certification also helped New York's economy by creating jobs for 250 people, Schneider noted. The Empire State Building ownership directed that sustainable practices be at the center of new operations and upgrades as part of the Empire State ReBuilding program. Low environmental impact operations procedures were put in place immediately following the transition of the day-to-day operations of the building from Helmsley-Spear to Malkin Holdings, supervisor of building owner Empire State Building Company. After the energy efficiency retrofit program was developed and its implementation was underway, Jones Lang LaSalle led a separate study of the feasibility of LEED certification. This feasibility study showed that LEED Gold certification was within reach at an incremental cost of about $0.25 per square foot. Beyond energy efficiency, activities at the Empire State Building which helped achieve LEED Gold certification include:

• Installation of ultra low-flow fixtures in the building's restrooms
• Use of green cleaning supplies and pest control products
• Recycling of tenant waste and construction debris
• Use of recycled paper products
• Use of recycled content carpets, low off-gassing wall coverings, paints, and adhesives
• A program of tenant engagement, including submetering, a newly created Tenant Energy Management System, and mandatory green requirements in lease agreements.

In addition to the Empire State Building receiving LEED Gold certification, the USGBC has notified Empire State Building Company and Jones Lang LaSalle that a 3,500-square-foot pre-built space on the 42nd floor has been certified Platinum under the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system. Jones Lang LaSalle built out the space in accordance with the building's interior design guidelines in order to demonstrate the cost and energy savings to tenants and prospects. The northward-facing space with views to the east and west is a key stop on leasing tours of the building, and is also available for lease to a tenant with immediate move-in needs.

Melvin Wylie

Legal Sea Foods Stirs Sustainability Debate With New Ad Campaign

Restaurant Launches TV and Print Ads That Focus On the Hot-Button Issue BOSTON, Sept. 13, 2011 - A series of new television and print ads debuting next week from the famed Boston-based restaurant Legal Sea Foods may not sit well initially with some marine conservationists, as the humorous spots unconvincingly take both sides of the sustainability debate. But the intention of the new ad campaign is to encourage the public to better understand the complexity of the situation and make more informed decisions on what we should and should not eat. The ad campaign, created by the New York advertising agency DeVito/Verdi, focuses on three types of fish – salmon, trout and crab – that enjoy ample stocks. The print ads and television commercials mirror each other, with each one focusing on a specific fish and the need to "save" the species. In one, we see a majestic salmon flying through the air as it makes its way upstream. The voiceover and copy state: "Save the salmon. Save it so our children can witness the grace and beauty of this noble fish. Or, just save it so we can saute it with our fabulous lemon chive butter sauce." Legal Sea Foods has long taken an active role in the sustainability debate, making strong arguments for the protection of both endangered fish and commercial fishermen. Roger Berkowitz, president and CEO of Legal Sea Foods, stated that the objective of the ad campaign is to encourage a discussion on the topic and to open everyone's eyes to the nuances of the issue. "We're passionate about sustainability, but we also feel the issue has been clouded by outdated and faulty data, and a reliance on simplistic dictums from groups that help turn the public against certain species of fish. This campaign will hopefully facilitate an open dialogue and better understanding that seafood sustainability is not such a black and white issue," said Berkowitz. The ad campaign focuses on three types of fish – salmon, trout and crab – that enjoy ample stocks. The print ad and commercial for the crab begins with a shot of a lone crab walking along the seashore. The solemn copy reads: "Save the crab. Save it to show that every creature is sacred, no matter how small. Or, just save it so we can chop it up into tasty little crab cakes." "Sure, people may jump to the conclusion that we're being flip about the topic, but it's quite the opposite. This is a debate we need to have. We need to constantly question where fish comes from and how it was caught and, moreover, demand more from those tasked with protecting the fish supply," said Berkowitz.

Melvin Wylie