An Unexpected Sustainability Role Model: US Bank Stadium

When I think of stadiums, I picture mounds of trash, staggering energy use, and polluting construction efforts. That’s why I was happily surprised to learn that the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium, finished this year in Minneapolis, was highly motivated by sustainability concerns. The demolition of the previous stadium, as well as the construction of the new one, reflected the beliefs of Minnesotans regarding sustainability. Some highlights of the construction project are highlighted below.

•             90% of the materials from the demolishing of the previous stadium have been diverted from landfills and into recycling and composting.2.       The heating system, important in the cold state of Minnesota, used innovative design to reduce its energy consumption.

•              A three layer thermal system improves insulation and maintenance of temperature

•           The structure of the stadium used strong and light weight material to reduce the tons of        steel needed for construction.

•               A focus on natural light reduces the need for overhead lighting

•           LED lighting was used, which is more energy efficient than traditional lighting

•        Toilets and sinks are low flow to conserve water usage

LED Lighting Saves Energy for the Stadium

The example set by U.S. Bank Stadium shows that large scale projects can be equally or more focused on sustainability than small scale projects. Sustainability is not only something for grass roots activists and social entrepreneurs. The concept can be successfully integrated into billion dollar projects such as the U.S. Bank. When such large projects focus on sustainability, the net benefits to the environment can be very significant when compared to traditional building practices.

Turn Your Trash Into Treasure: Upcycled Art

An Upcycled Arizona Iced Tea Can

If you love being artistic and working on craft projects, I have good news for you. No longer do you need to go to the supplies stores to gather all of your materials. Many artists today are using the internet to show off their upcycled craft projects. Upcycling is any reuse of an item in such a way to create a product of higher quality than the original. Using items that would otherwise be thrown away is a great way to inspire creativity, create unique pieces, and reduce your environmental footprint. If you are interested in the sustainability movement, you can even use such pieces to reflect your commitment to living sustainably. This message can be spread to consumers and viewers of the pieces, who may be influenced by the artist’s motivation. 

 Some have even used this idea of upcycled art as a way to sell their pieces, and to engage with the community of like minded artists. A search for “upcycled art” on Etsy.com yields 66,936 results. There is even an Etsy shop called “UpCycledArt”, which has 17 items currently for sale. In Lexington, UK, an artist opened a shop dedicated solely to upcycled art. The shop features works from nine artists, and targets local and tourist consumers. 

One of the keys to moving the world toward a more sustainable path is to be innovative. When some think of sustainability innovation, they immediately imagine complicated gadgets, scientific breakthroughs.  These upcycling artists are showing that innovation for sustainability can transcend into artwork. While upcycling art may have a relatively small impact in the grand scheme, it represents a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle, one which should encompass several important aspects of daily life. 

Nervous About the Drought? Learn About Desalination Here

      

Rivers are drying out in drought-affected areas throughout the world

      Bloomberg Businessweek’s article, “Fix This”, addresses several current issues related to water shortages around the world. The article interviews several prominent executives in water-related organizations. One of the subjects that are addressed is the future of desalination. Desalination is something I have heard about in the past, but I did not know much about it. Given that water shortages may seriously lead to a growth of desalination, I found some important information about this issue.

            One important lesson is that people can build their own desalination tools quite easily. This could become a norm for people who prefer to maintain their own water resources. The simple solution requires creating a “solar still”, where saltwater is heat up by the sun, and the steam that comes up is collected on the walls, where it condenses as freshwater and trips into a separate trough. However, for people who are used to using high levels of water each day, such natural solutions will not be able provide enough fresh water. 

            I also learned which areas of the world rely most on desalination today. These include the Middle East, which uses about 70% of desalinized water, and North Africa, which uses about 6%. In the United States, desalination is most common in California and Florida.

Desalination Plant in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

             Given that desalination technology already exists, it is entirely possible that it could be a solution to water shortages in the future. The question remains as to how large of scale desalination can and will become. An additional question is whether the growth of desalination will be at the hands of governments or the private sector.