Arkansas
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 at
2:30 pm
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Just imagine what these people woud do if they knew about the Citizenre solar rental program. Go Arkansas!
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You’ve probably heard the words “going green.”
What exactly do they mean?
Well, “green” is a movement to protect our environment.
It is sweeping the nation, and now, it’s pushing everyday Arkansans to do their part to help save our planet.
Even Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe put a specific protocol in place for recycling aluminum, paper, plastic and glass in his office.
We profiled three Arkansas businesses: a Little Rock café, retail giant Wal-Mart and an Arkansas developer. Each business is finding ways to operate in a way that is helping the earth.
“Everything: forks, knives, spoons, straws, napkins, coffee cups, salad containers; cups that look plastic but are actually made from corn husks,” says Scott McGehee, owner of Boulevard Bread Company.
He describes products he uses that are “green.” From utensils his customers use made from biodegradable potato starch to the organic, fair-trade coffee he brews and local, fresh, all-natural food he serves; “green” is one of his goals and a cornerstone of his small business.
“We can’t change the world all at once, but I think it’s really important to take tiny little steps in the right direction, and over time those little steps add up,” says McGehee.
He is not alone. Arkansas-based Wal-Mart is also going “green.”
“We actually started looking at the sustainability aspect in terms of reducing the amount of cost,” says Wal-Mart’s Laurie Smalling.
Reducing costs turned into things like concrete floors, which don’t have to be replaced as often, and they’re cleaned with just water, eliminating harmful chemicals. Stores also encourage customers to bring back and recycle plastic bags. Wal-Mart also carries organic fruits and vegetables, uses motion sensors in its freezer aisles to save electricity and sells only concentrated detergents to help consumers reduce water and waste.
“We all live in this world, and we’re all trying to make sure it is a better place for future generations, and we feel we have a role to play in that,” says Smalling.
Bill Ball also feels he has a role to play. “I’ve actually carried this dream for a long time, for decades,” he says.
His dream of living green and helping others do the same is now a reality in the form of an entirely green subdivision.
“It’s the first subdivision of its kind probably in our region, much less the state of Arkansas, but certainly not the last,” says Ball.
Construction hasn’t yet started on the Little Rock land, but so far 18 of the 35 lots are sold.
“All [bought] by individuals, families, people that want, not to build a home as a speculative venture, but to build their home that they want to live in. These homes will all produce 50 percent of their energy,” says Ball.
Ball is setting an example at his own home with solar panels and net metering. “It measures how much energy is going in from the utility, and it measures how much energy is coming back from the customer; in this case, my solar system,” describes Ball.
He also implemented zero-scaping, meaning no lawn, only rocks and plants. He also has a natural rain collection system to water those plants.
“I’m certain we’re gonna see more of this coming our way,” he says.
Scott McGehee thinks so, too. “We have more and more people asking other restaurants, ‘Can you start using these products like Boulevard?’” says McGehee.
Wal-Mart is also leading the way.
Three very different Arkansas businesses, united in a common goal to help make The Natural State “green.”