New Study: Green Buildings Lead to Increased Productivity

Quarter 1 Article 9

New Study: Green Buildings Lead to Increased Productivity

http://featured.matternetwork.com/2009/11/new-study-green-buildings-lead.cfm

November 04, 2009 by Green Economy Post

This article relates to the textbook because this building is attempting to lower their ecological footprint by making this new building energy efficient.

The study was done by San Diego University but these green buildings are shooting up all over the country.

These new green buildings are a win, win situation. They actually become cheaper to build because they have to add smaller heating and cooling units because of how well the building is insulated. They also believe that these green buildings actually are physically better for the tenants living inside of them. The study examines a wide-range of issues related to the difficulties of measuring office productivity, various (potential) impacts on productivity, and studies related to these issues. Across these buildings and tenants, they calculated an average salary/benefits of $106,644. And, when comparing “green” to non-green buildings, their work showed a reduction in sick leave of 2.88 days per year, on average, and a 4.88% productivity improvement. That translates, based on the salaries, to a value to the employer of $1,228.54 due to reduced sick leave and $5,204 due to productivity increases. Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity.

productivity- having the power of producing; generative; creative: a productive effort.

DOE Allocates $30.6 Million to Hydroelectric Projects

Quarter 1 Article 8

DOE Allocates $30.6 Million to Hydroelectric Projects

http://www.matternetwork.com/2009/11/doe-allocates-306-million-hydroelectric.cfm

November 05, 2009

by Renewable Energy World

This article relates to the miller textbook because the whole point of using these alternative energy sources is to limit the use of fossil fuels which are polluting or earth by depositing carbon emissions and several other harmful green house gases.

These hydroelectric projects are conducted all over the country but they are being produced in York, Pennsylvania.

Up to $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds will be used to finance seven hydroelectric projects nationwide. The additional funding means Voth Hydro, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, will be able to retain 40 jobs at its manufacturing facility in York, Pa. They will also lower the carbon emissions that are being deposited into the atmosphere by being an alternate energy source to fossil fuels.

hydroelectric- pertaining to the generation and distribution of electricity derived from the energy of falling water or any other hydraulic source.

In Japan’s Managed Landscape,

Quarter 1 Article 7

In Japan’s Managed Landscape,a Struggle to Save the Bears

http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2204

by winifred bird

29 Oct 2009

This article relates to miller because it is speaking about how the Japanese Black Bear is becoming instinct. They are becoming an endangered species due to human intervention.

This article pertains to the woodlands in Japan.

These black bears in the Japanese woodlands are disappearing because of human deforestation. Although most of Japan is forest it is inhabital for these bears. As the demand for timber in the construction and industrial sectors skyrocketed, the government subsidized large-scale planting of Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress plantations. Today, such plantations make up 41 percent of Japan’s forests, and in some prefectures the figure is higher than 60 percent. And what natural forest remains has been fragmented by roads and other development, leaving less and less room for Japan’s bears and putting them in conflict with humans — a clash that is rapidly driving down bear populations.

JBFA- Japan Bear and Forest Association