Did You Know...?Americans throw away approximately 10 times their own weight in garbage every year. 
Illustration by Mark A. Hicks
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Great Forest Gives Back
Great Forest is a proud supporter of Blacksmith Institute, the not-for-profit organization founded by Great Forest president Richard Fuller to solve life-threatening pollution problems in the developing world. Blacksmith works in the worst polluted places on earth, where women and children are most vulnerable.
Since 1999, Blacksmith has completed over 50 projects around the world, and is currenly engaged in over 40 projects in 14 countries.
Join the growing network of Blacksmith supporters around the world. Your funds will help start new poison removal projects and strengthen existing programs. |
GREAT FOREST
Improve Environmental Performance, Reduce Costs
To date, Great Forest has worked with more than half of all commercial office space and hotels in Manhattan and over 1,500 buildings across the country, covering approximately 350 million sq. ft.
Contact Us Great Forest, Inc.
2014 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10035
Ph: (212) 779-4757
Fax: (212) 779-8044
www.greatforest.com | |
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| Chances are you were one of an estimated 74 million Americans who barbequed over the July 4th weekend. Along with the estimated 150 million hot dogs consumed were millions of beverages.
If you did your part for the planet, your recycling bins must be overflowing by now with cans and bottles. Ever wonder what happens to them? That's the subject of our first Q&A below. Keep the questions coming!
Enjoy!
-The Great Forest Team |
Great Forest Q&A
 Q: Where do my recyclables go after I toss them in the recycling bin?
A: Collecting recyclables at your home or office in a receptacle might be all you have to do to recycle, but there are a few more steps in the process before your plastic bottles, aluminum cans and office paper can be recycled into a new product.
Private waste haulers pick up trash and recyclables and take them to the designated location based on what they have collected. Some communities have materials recovery facilities or MRFs (pronounced "merfs"), where recyclables are sorted into the appropriate categories for further processing at recycling centers.
Recyclables are processed at recycling plants and paper mills to create new products. Yesterday's newspapers and copy paper become tomorrow's recycled linerboard for corrugated cardboard packaging products.
If you live in the NYC area, you can learn more about where recyclables from your home end up here. Ask your Great Forest representative about the specifics of where waste goes from your office building.
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Bloomberg Breaks Ground on LEED Project on Williamsburg Waterfront
 Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined city officials in a groundbreaking ceremony on July 6 for the highly-anticipated Bushwick Inlet Park project in Brooklyn. Great Forest client W.A. Gross Construction Associates and the NYC Parks Department are working on the 28 acre park, which will include a multipurpose athletic field. Great Forest is guiding the LEED process for the first phase of the project.
The brownfield site, contaminated with industrial waste, is currently being cleaned while Great Forest is reviewing all the materials brought in for the project -- from the concrete that will be used in construction, to the goal posts for the soccer field and the trash cans for the facility. Great Forest consultants are making sure that these contain an acceptable amount of recycled content and that they were manufactured within 500 miles of the site to keep the project eco-friendly.
Read more about the Bushwick Inlet Park project here. |
News Report
Historic Climate Change Bill Passes House
In a historic vote on June 26th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which will have sweeping implications for energy and climate change initiatives. Key provisions in the bill include:
- Requirements for electric utilities to meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020.
- Investments in new clean energy technologies and energy efficiency.
- Mandate for new energy-saving standards for buildings and appliances, and promotion of energy efficiency in industry.
- Reduction of carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 17% by 2020 and by over 80% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.
- Protection of consumers from energy price increases.
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New Requirements for Recycling at NYC Street Events
 The City Council recently passed a law requiring recycling at all street events.
Every event producer, manager, or sponsor must provide and monitor sufficient recycling receptacles for the duration of the event, gather all recyclables and arrange for their pick up.
Contact your Great Forest consultant if you would like more information about how this new law affects your business' events or read more about the requirements here.
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Buildings Go Green To Save Money
A recent AP news report noted that older buildings, including the iconic Empire State Building, are increasingly turning green "...as property owners and managers become convinced that a greener building now makes financial sense."
The article goes on to report that "environmental retrofits have begun to pay off for owners and tenants alike. Higher profile companies are seeking out more efficient office space, and new technology at older buildings has started to translate into higher property values, leases, and occupancy rates."
"We've noticed that being green gives buildings that competitive edge," says Anna Dengler, Great Forest's Director of Sustainability.
"Some people think that upgrades are costly but they don't realize that there are many inexpensive options that will allow them to reach the same LEED and Energy Star goals. Their investment pays off very quickly."
Another recently released report, "Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings," finds that "the total U.S. commercial building market, with 70-billion square-feet of space, delivers one of the largest opportunities for energy savings, reduction of carbon emissions and increased property value. |
Great Forest Provides LEED Guidance for Neo-Classical Gem in NYC
Among Great Forest's LEED clients is the grand 77-year-old neo-classical building at 515 Madison Avenue. Following a $5 million reovation, the Newmark Knight Frank building is expected to achieve LEED certification (LEED-EB and LEED-CI) by the U.S. Green Building Council in the near future.
Great Forest consultants are facilitating work that includes the upgrading of the building's ventilation systems, the installation of low flow water plumbing fixtures, and the conversion of the building's existing urinals into waterless ones with the use of an enzyme tablet!
Read more about this project here. |
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Try The New Great Forest Metrics
The Sustainability Metrics will provide a snapshot of your business' sustainability in three basic areas: energy, waste & recycling and water. These simple tools allow you to:
- Define a baseline
- Set sustainability goals
- Track progress
- Communicate your goals and progress through colorful visual aids.
Give it a try here.
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