The purpose of this project was to raise awareness and contribute to sustainability in our communities and the world. The presentation provides information on recycling plastic bottles, conserving energy, and eating locally-grown vegetables.

1. A Brighter, Greener
Today & Tomorrow
Aloha ‘Aina

2. About Aloha ‘AinaWHO:
Students of Dr. Becker’s: Sustainability, Communication, & Culture
class
WHERE:
UH Hilo, Distance Learning Online Course
WHAT:
Group Project- How to be sustainably aware, learn & teach session
WHY:
To raise awareness and contribute towards sustainability in our
communities and the world
WHEN:
Spring semester, 2014

3. WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
…and why is it so important?

4. Sustainability is...
Based on a simple principle:
• Everything that we need
for our survival and well-
being depends, either directly
or indirectly, on our natural
environment.
• It is important to make
sure that we have and will
continue to have, the water,
materials, and resources to
protect human health and our
environment.
“…Meet[ing]theneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeet
theirownneeds.”
-UNSG

5. So… What DoesThis Have To Do With You?
We live on a finite planet with limited resources…
• What if those resources ran out tomorrow?
• Are you contributing to natural resource depletion?
• Can you have a more positive impact?

6. Human Activity RequiresNatural Resources
• We are dependent on
nature to supply us with
what we need to run our
communities and survive.
• In order for our lifestyles
to be sustainable, we
cannot use natural
resources faster than the
earth can replenish them.
Furthermore, we cannot
create more waste than
nature can absorb.
Areweliving asustainable
lifestyle?

7. How much land/natural resources
are needed to support your
lifestyle???
EcologicalFootprint:
• Provides a measurement of how
much land and water area is needed
to produce the resources humans
consume as well as absorb the waste
we create.
What’syour ecological footprint?
• Calculate it here:
• http://footprintnetwork.org

8. Did you know..?
If everyone in the world lived the lifestyle of an
average American, we would need 5 planet Earths
to support us all!

9. CONSERVATION:
How can we use less natural resources?
Eat,Buy,&GrowLocalReduce,
Reuse,Recycle
UseLess
Energy

10. PlasticWater Bottles
In the United States alone:
• Almost 32 million tons of plastic was generated in 2012
• 38 billion water bottles a year thrown away
– Equal to more than $1 billion worth of recyclable
plastic
– In 2010, the oil used in the production of bottled
water was equivalent to putting 1 million cars on the
road
• 88% of empty plastic water bottles are NOT recycled

11. Why Do People Use
Plastic Water Bottles?
• Convenience?
– Pepsi began distribution of Aquafina bottled water in 1997
– Coca-Cola began distribution of Dasani water in 1999
• Belief that bottled water is safer to drink?
– In an emergency/natural disaster- yes!
– Everyday- not necessarily...
• The idea that bottled water is cleaner or purer is a myth.
• As much as 40% of bottled water is actually tap water that
has been processed

12. Why Recycle Plastic?
• Saves the Earth (by not producing NEW plastic)
• Reduces our ecological/carbon footprints
• In the past 10 years, there has been a 100% INCREASE in
recycling in the U.S.
• BUT the recycle rate on plastic is only about 24%
• average of 450-500 YEARS to biodegrade plastic bottles
• Saves energy
• Less energy used to recycle materials than to process new
materials
• Less greenhouse gas emissions when energy is saved
• Reduces waste in landfills
• Saves money
• Get money back for recycling
• Recycled products lessen prices/expenses

14. Thinkingtwice about thatplastic
water bottle yet?...

15. How???
● Reusable bottles ($3-$28 each)
● Recycle/reuse juice bottles, glass jars
● Filter pitchers: ($20-$40, filters: $15-$25)
The Choices YouMake Matter!
We CanReduce Water Bottle Use!

16. Reducing WaterBottle Use
● Refill stations at work/school ($350-$1800)
•non-refrigerated/refrigerated
•attaches to existing water fountains
(Talk to your employer/student body

17. Reuse Your Bottles
You can reuse items around the kitchen
so you aren’t contributing to the need for
more plastic:
• clean out juice bottles
– use them for water
• empty jars
– use them for water, storing leftovers,
etc.

18. Recycle Plastic Water Bottles
Be sure to participate actively in proper
recycling at work/school/home
HAWAIIISLAND MAUI WASHINGTONSTATE
Mr.K’sRecyclingRedemption
KinooleStreet
AlohaRecycling
75AmalaPlace
1GreenPlanet
Seattle,WA
AtlasRecycling
Maka’alaStreet
LahainaRedemptionCenter
275LahainalunaRd.
SkagitRiverSteel& Recycling
Burlington,WA
BusinessServicesHawaii
“RubbishDump”
KiheiRecycling Center
Welakahao,nearPiilaniHwy.
BusyBeaverRecycling
Everett,WA
ReynoldsRecycling,Inc.
KilaueaAvenue(acrossHiloShoppingCenter)
MakawaoRecyclingCenter
offMakaniRd.
(behindKalamaSchool)
NorthwestRecycling
Bellingham,WA

19. With less than5% of the world’s population, theU.S. consumes
19% of theworld’s energy.

20. DailyEnergyConsumptionPer CapitaintheU.S
•2.5 Gallons of Oil
•18 Pounds of Coal
•214 Cubic Feet of Natural Gas
•12.5 Kwh of Electricity (Residential/per person)
“In2011,theU.S.spentabout$1.24trillion onenergy…Spreadoverthepopulation, annual
energycostsin2010 were$3,895 perperson.”
Let’s Bring this Closer to Home…..

21. Typical HouseholdEnergy Consumers
Natural gas & electricity are the most-consumed energy sources in
U.S. homes
• WaterHeating
–Typically accounts for about 18% of your utility bill.
• Refrigeration/Freezing
–Accounts for approximately 15% of your household utility
bill. (in Hawaii)
• Air Conditioning
–Uses about 5% of electricity produced in the U.S.
•A cost of $11 billion
• ClothesDryer
–Annually consumes about 43 billion kilowatt hours of
electricity and 445 million therms of natural gas in the
U.S.
• Lighting
–In the U.S, household lighting accounts for 186 billion

22. We CAN ChangeHow We Use Energy
• Work with what you’ve
got
– While buying new
Energy Star appliances
would be great, not all
of us can afford to.
• Think of how you use
energy from the time you
wake up
Whatsimplebehaviorscouldyouchange?

23. Low Cost Ways To Consume Less Energy
•Use ColdWater
– Cut down your shower time to 4 minutes.
– Wash clothes in cold water.
– Reduce water heater temperature to 120°F
•Don’tKeep YourRefrigeratorTooCold
– Recommended temperatures are between 35° to 38°F for the fresh food
compartment and 5°F for the freezer compartment.
•Use aFan orNaturalVentilation& TurnOffYourA/C
– If this is not an option; keep your setting at the highest temperature
possible.
•Hang YourLaundry
– Air drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.
– Completely eliminates the cost of running your dryer.

24. LowCostWaysTo ConsumeLessEnergy
•Turn Off Lights and Electronics
– Turn off lights when you’re not in the room
– Change light bulbs
– CFLs use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer
– LED lamps last about 10x longer than CFLs
– Turn off your screens (go outside!)
•Unplug Electronic Devices When Not In Use
– Printers, DVD players, computers and plasma TVs are products
with standby modes that make them convenient to use, but drain
power when “off.”
– Phantom loads can account for as much as 15% of your energy bill.

25. We’ve looked at reducing plastic bottle
use
and saving energy...
Now,somefoodforthought.

26. Didyouknow…?
• Our food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to consumer
in the U.S.
– That’s like driving from Hilo to Kona (or from Lahaina to
Hana) 20 times!
• Even more for processed foods! (more ingredients)
• Conventional food distribution uses 4-17 x’s more fuel & emits 5-
17 x’s more CO2 than local foods
• One study showed that replacing imported food with the local
equivalent would reduce transport-related emissions of CO2
equivalent to taking over 16 thousand cars off the roads
Whatdoesall
ofthismean?

27. The FoodYouConsume Has anImpactonOurEnvironment!
• Livestock production is the second highest contributor to atmosphere-altering
gasses
• Nearly 1/5 of ALL greenhouse gases come from livestock production (this is
MORE than transportation accounts for)
– Also contributes to land degradation, air and water pollution, land and
water shortages, and biodiversity.
• The U.S. is the third largest user and producer of fertilizers (China and India
come first)
– Conventional fertilizers are often made with petroleum
• A single 40 lb bag of fertilizer contains the equivalent of 2.5 gallons of
gasoline
• 85-90% of Hawaii’s food is imported (2,506 miles from the continental U.S.)

28. WHAT IFtheships cutusalloffnext
week?
(Natural disasters, global
events, etc. make Hawaii
extremely vulnerable to this
possibility)
Wouldyou& your family
be prepared?...

29. Support Local...BecomeaLocavore!
Food miles (AKA how far your food has traveled to your plate)
isn’t always an accurate measure of its impact on the
environment...
For an example:
• Trains are 10x more efficient than trucks environmentally
speaking
– Potatoes that travel 100 miles by truck have roughly the
same environmental impact as those traveled 1000 miles
by train

30. Another option…
Look for these labels onthe food you buy!
Fair Trade: Helps improve communities in developing countries by ensuring farmers
and workers are getting a fair deal (fair prices, non-GMO, no child labor, no
hazardous chemicals, etc.)
USDAOrganic*: Certification that ensures at least 95% of ingredients labeled are organic.
Must be USDA certified to use the label or face $11,000 fines per violation.
Non-GMO*:Verified through annual audits and on-site inspections with an Action
Threshold of 0.9%
Rainforest Alliance: Assures products come from farms managed to the rigorous
standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network which require dignified and safe
conditions where wildlife and habitats are protected.

31. Benefits of Eating Locally
• Flavor and freshness
– Organic tastes much better than non-organic & locally grown/produced foods
travel less
• Health
– More nutrients, less chemicals, preservatives, etc.
– Encourages healthier lifestyles
• Supports the economy of your owncommunity
– Allows local businesses to thrive and your town to make more money by keeping
money circulating in the local economy rather than supporting foreign agro-
business
• Betterfor the environment
– Less food miles traveled, therefore less pollution
– Prevents foreign lands and peoples from being taken advantage of
– Decreases risk of introduction of harmful/invasive pests
• Food safety
– Prevents contamination common via the process of harvesting, washing,
distribution, etc.
• Personalknowledge:Do you really know where your food comes from? You should!

32. Introducing...Food Forests!
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is now.” -Chinese Proverb
What is a food forest?
• A gardening technique/ land management system mimicking a woodland ecosystem
by substituting edible trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials.
• AKA edible forest, edible/foragable garden, public garden/forest, etc.
Food forests are public gardens that provide free food like fruits and veggies to the
community.

33. Some examples...
• Beacon Food Forest in Seattle
– Phase One (2 acres) of the 7 acres planned to be open to the public in 2014
– Will feature a berry patch, nut grove, edible arboretum, a children’s area, and P-
Patches where families can grow their own gardens
• Geoff Lawton’s ColdClimateFood Forest in Massachusetts
– 40 year old family farm, requiring minimal maintenance
– Features mature trees such as kiwi fruit, persimmons, various nuts and berries,
peaches, plums, etc.
• Hilo Bayfront
– Community motivated, small-scale garden featuring a few plants such as tomatoes
and eggplant with signs encouraging the public to help themselves

34. Doyouthinkafoodforestisa possibilityin yourcommunity?
• What is needed tostart something like this in yourcommunity?
–Motivated people to spread community interest/concern of the idea
–Land, resources (plants, soil, etc.)
–Money &/or donations (Grants may be available to fund, like the Beacon FF)
• Where it is the most useful?
–Big cities like Honolulu? Indigenous /developing
communities?
• Benefits/outcomes
–Profitable?
–Jobs? (security, land management, volunteer
opportunities, etc.)
–FREE FOOD!
Possible (low-maintenance) cropideas forHawaii:
• Banana, citrus, avocado, guava, tomatoes, papaya, mango, lettuce, mac nuts, lychee,
rambutan, jaboticaba, star fruit, etc.

35. Knowing What You Now
Know...
It’s up to you to take action!
You can help create a sustainable future by
communicating within your families, schools,
workplaces, and communities.
Together we can make a huge difference.
You just need to start, and you can start small.

36. Take Your Pick!
✓ Invest in reusable water bottles
✓ Reuse plastic or glass bottles you have at home
✓ Recycle
✓ Participate in a school or community recycling
fundraiser
✓ Turn off your car (NO IDLE TIME= NO EMISSIONS)
✓ Watch less T.V. and turn off your computer when not in
use
✓ Convert to more energy efficient appliances
✓ Encourage family and businesses to use renewable energy
sources
✓ Buy and eat locally
✓ Promote potential for a Food Forest in your area
✓ Donate extra gently-used items you have instead of
throwing them into landfills

37. Project Resources
• A big foot on a small planet? : accounting with the Ecological Footprint ; succeeding in a world with
growing resource constraints. Amend, T. (2010). Heidelberg: Kasparek.
• Bittman, M. (Director) (2007, December 2). Whats Wrong With What We Eat?.Whats Wrong With What
We Eat. Lecture conducted from LA Entertainment Gathering Conference, Los Angeles.
• Brands: The coca-cola company. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.coca-colacompany.com/brands/the-
coca-cola-company/
• Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan. (2013). U.S. Environmental Footprint Factsheet.
Pub. No. CSS08-08
• Clark, T. (2007). Inside the bottle: An expose of the bottled water industry. Canada: Polaris Institute.
Retrieved from http://www.insidethebottle.org/Home.html
• DeWeerdt, S. (n.d.). Is Local Food Better?. Worldwatch Institute. Retrieved April 4, 2014, from
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6064
• Energy Star. (n.d.). What about clothes dryers? Retrieved from
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_dryers
• Global Footprint Network. (2012, February 22). Footprint basics. Retrieved from
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/
• Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. (2010). Behavior Tips. Retrieved from
http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/residential-behavior-tips/
• Hawaii. Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Energy Resources and Technology
Division. Hawaii homeowner’s guide to energy, comfort and value. Honolulu. (2002) 1. Dwellings-Energy
conservation-Hawaii. TJ163.5.D86.H31.2002

38. Project Resources (cont’d)
• Klavinski, R. (2013, April 13). 7 Benefits of Eating Local. Michigan State University. Retrieved March 24,
2014, from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/7_benefits
• Locavore. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 4, 2014, from http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/locavore
• McGinnins, M. (2009, March 01). Source information for students and researchers. Retrieved from
http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/sourceinformation/
• Sustainable World Coalition. (2010). Sustainable world sourcebook: Critical Issues, Viable Solutions,
Resources for Action. Berkeley: New Society Publishers. DOI: www.newsociety.com
• Take Back the Tap. (2007). Washington, DC: Food & water Watch. Retrieved from
http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/TakeBackTheTap_web.pdf
• U.N Secretary General, 42 General Session. Report of the World Commission on Environment and
Development (4 August, 1987) UN Doc. A/42/427
• U.S Department of Energy. (2012). Energy Saver. Retrieved from
http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver
• U.S. Envrionmental Protection Agency. (2013). Plastics common wastes & materials. Retrieved from the
website http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics.htm
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (2013). The quest for less activities and resources for teaching k-
8. Retrieved from website: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/education/quest/
• Water is good for you. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.aquafina.com/products.php
• Why is recycling important?. (2009, March 01). Retrieved from http://www.benefits-of-
recycling.com/whyisrecyclingimportant/