- Coca-Cola Enterprises announced today that the company improved water efficiencies, increased internal recycling rates and reduced its reported carbon footprint in 2009. The progress is detailed in the company's fifth company-wide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) Report, Clear on Our Commitments: Our Journey to 2020. The report provides a comprehensive look at the company's progress towards "Commitment 2020," the set of goals CCE announced last year in each of its five strategic CRS focus areas -- Energy Conservation/Climate Change, Water Stewardship, Sustainable Packaging/Recycling, Product Portfolio/Balanced and Active Lifestyle, and Diverse and Inclusive Culture.
"Last year, we set ambitious goals that we are committed to achieving by the year 2020," said John F. Brock, chairman and chief executive officer. "This report demonstrates the steady progress we are making on our journey as we strive to become a sustainability leader in the Coca-Cola system and across the beverage industry."
CCE calculated its global operational carbon footprint at 5.4 million metric tons, a reduction of 11.5 percent from its previously reported 2007 footprint. While the company acknowledges that a proportion of this reduction is the result of refined data gathering processes, it shows that its considerable investment in energy-efficient technology is paying dividends. CCE has implemented a wide range of environmentally-friendly technologies in its production plants, fleet, and sales and marketing equipment, as well as invested in renewable energy such as solar panels and fuel cells. Through internal recycling initiatives, the company achieved an average of 92 and 99 percent waste recycling rates at its North American and European facilities, respectively. CCE also reduced its water use ratio to 1.67 liters of water used to make one liter of product using water-saving technologies and monitoring and targeting systems, which is an improvement of more than 3.5 percent from 2008.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rainwater Collection Qualifies for New Tax Credit
Georgia continues to foster a new culture of water conservation with the recent passage of HB 1069. The previous water stewardship bill created many headlines but the new law could be more important to homeowners who want to conserve water and reduce their impact on the environment. Not to mention receive up to $2,500 in a tax rebate.The new legislation provides a tax rebate of up to $2,500 or 25% of the project cost( whichever is less) to install a rainwater collection system
Rainwater collection or rainwater harvesting is a proven method to conserve substantial amounts of water that can be used both inside and outside of the home. The new legislation, which addresses a number of areas where homeowners could save energy and other natural resources, specifically encourages the use of rainwater collection systems. "Qualified equipment' means energy efficient equipment or water efficient equipment. 'Water efficient equipment' means all machinery and equipment certified pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated for purposes of this Code section by the commissioner of natural resources as effective in reducing business or domestic water usage. Such certifications shall include, by way of example and not limitation, water conservation systems capable of storing rain water or gray water for future use and reusing the collected water for the same residential or commercial property and other products used for the conservation or efficient use of water which have been designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as meeting or exceeding such agency's water saving efficiency requirements or which have been designated as meeting or exceeding such requirements under such agency's Water Sense program.
The tax rebates will be authorized by the Georgia Department for Natural Resources- more details to follow. For information about rainwater collection please call Ecovie Environmental at (404) 824-9266. They are one of the leading companies providing rainwater collection systems for Atlanta homeowners. Ecovie Environmental uses the best products available on the market and can provide you with a customized computer model analysis of your water saving potential.
Rainwater collection or rainwater harvesting is a proven method to conserve substantial amounts of water that can be used both inside and outside of the home. The new legislation, which addresses a number of areas where homeowners could save energy and other natural resources, specifically encourages the use of rainwater collection systems. "Qualified equipment' means energy efficient equipment or water efficient equipment. 'Water efficient equipment' means all machinery and equipment certified pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated for purposes of this Code section by the commissioner of natural resources as effective in reducing business or domestic water usage. Such certifications shall include, by way of example and not limitation, water conservation systems capable of storing rain water or gray water for future use and reusing the collected water for the same residential or commercial property and other products used for the conservation or efficient use of water which have been designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as meeting or exceeding such agency's water saving efficiency requirements or which have been designated as meeting or exceeding such requirements under such agency's Water Sense program.
The tax rebates will be authorized by the Georgia Department for Natural Resources- more details to follow. For information about rainwater collection please call Ecovie Environmental at (404) 824-9266. They are one of the leading companies providing rainwater collection systems for Atlanta homeowners. Ecovie Environmental uses the best products available on the market and can provide you with a customized computer model analysis of your water saving potential.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Federal Money For Water Conservation
Federal funding of $2.42 million has been appropriated by Congress for a program designed to help south Georgia farmers conserve water used for irrigation this year, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said.
Applications for the Ponds Program from eligible Georgia landowners south of a line running through Chattahoochee, Crawford, Wilkinson, Washington, Glascock and Burke counties will be accepted July 1-30, officials said. The program will be administered by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission with technical support from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
GSWCC officials say the legislation provides federal funding and technical assistance so that farmers can construct irrigation reservoirs or improve existing reservoirs on agricultural property. The funding also is aimed at improving the efficiency of irrigation systems. Landowners who need supplemental irrigation are encouraged to apply for the program.
“Our south Georgia farmers are especially vulnerable to droughts and harsh weather,” Soil and Water Conservation Commission Chairman Garland Thompson said. “And so the federal assistance provided by the Ponds Program is vital to help farmers make the most of the rains we do get while preserving the health of our aquifers.”
Under the program, a landowners provides 25 percent of the cost of a pond project, and grant funds cover the remainder up to $50,000 of the estimated cost as determined by the NRCS. Possible funding for irrigation nozzle retrofits is $6 per linear foot of the center pivot irrigation system up to $5,000. Additional cost-share on an end gun shutoff will be based on 75 percent of the original cost, not to exceed $3,000.
Applications and program information are available at the GSWCC offices in Dawson (229) 995-6001, Milledgeville (478) 445-5766, and Statesboro (912) 681-5241, or at USDA Service Centers in south Georgia. Contact GSWCC at (706) 542-3065 or visit gaswcc.org for more information.
Applications for the Ponds Program from eligible Georgia landowners south of a line running through Chattahoochee, Crawford, Wilkinson, Washington, Glascock and Burke counties will be accepted July 1-30, officials said. The program will be administered by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission with technical support from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
GSWCC officials say the legislation provides federal funding and technical assistance so that farmers can construct irrigation reservoirs or improve existing reservoirs on agricultural property. The funding also is aimed at improving the efficiency of irrigation systems. Landowners who need supplemental irrigation are encouraged to apply for the program.
“Our south Georgia farmers are especially vulnerable to droughts and harsh weather,” Soil and Water Conservation Commission Chairman Garland Thompson said. “And so the federal assistance provided by the Ponds Program is vital to help farmers make the most of the rains we do get while preserving the health of our aquifers.”
Under the program, a landowners provides 25 percent of the cost of a pond project, and grant funds cover the remainder up to $50,000 of the estimated cost as determined by the NRCS. Possible funding for irrigation nozzle retrofits is $6 per linear foot of the center pivot irrigation system up to $5,000. Additional cost-share on an end gun shutoff will be based on 75 percent of the original cost, not to exceed $3,000.
Applications and program information are available at the GSWCC offices in Dawson (229) 995-6001, Milledgeville (478) 445-5766, and Statesboro (912) 681-5241, or at USDA Service Centers in south Georgia. Contact GSWCC at (706) 542-3065 or visit gaswcc.org for more information.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Governor Perdue to Sign Water Conservation Bill Today
The Water Conservation bill that passed both House and Senate earlier this year will be signed by Governor Perdue at 11:00 AM today. This is an important day for redefining a culture of water conservation in Georgia. Some of the elements of the bill include watering bans for homeowners until 4 in the afternoon and the requirement that new apartment construction must include water submetering and low flow toilets and shower heads.
Many homeowners will find that rainwater collection will make sense for them as a water conservation strategy and give them the ability to continually water their lawns and landscaping. The homeowners in Atlanta that have rainwater collection systems have been very pleased with the results. They no longer have to worry about water bans and rising water prices. One of the leading rainwater collection companies is Ecovie Environmental. For more information please visit their website at www.ecovieenvironmental.com
Many homeowners will find that rainwater collection will make sense for them as a water conservation strategy and give them the ability to continually water their lawns and landscaping. The homeowners in Atlanta that have rainwater collection systems have been very pleased with the results. They no longer have to worry about water bans and rising water prices. One of the leading rainwater collection companies is Ecovie Environmental. For more information please visit their website at www.ecovieenvironmental.com
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