Sustainabile Ideas

Introduction

United Colors of Benetton (UCB) is an international fashion company that strives to become more and more sustainable and eco-friendly every year. Their mission statement revolves around them being an insightful group that not only is concerned with the present but also with the future moving forward for the environment, human dignity, and any transformations that occur within society. They are conscious environmentally by being aware of the chemicals that are being used in their products. Human dignity comes into play when examining the code of conducts in place for every company that partner with UCB. When they refer to a transformation in society they are talking about the current trends in which people are looking to buy, along with any changes of opinion that consumers tend to have as time goes on. The most important part of their mission statement or vision is that they are constantly looking not only at the present but also towards the future. This type of thinking is what more companies in UCB’s position should be focused on because things are constantly changing in the world so you have to be prepared for whatever life throws at you and how to move forward afterwards.

History of the Company

           The Benetton group was founded in 1965 and has continued to grow and flourish into an international leader in the fashion industry for both sustainability and their eco-friendly approaches. Over the last ten years though UCB has been recognized more and more for its environmentally safe practices. In 2013 Greenpeace recognized UCB for their product safety and steps towards protecting the environment. Greenpeace is an international non-governmental environmental organization that is focused on the ability for Earth to be able to keep moving forward nurturing life and all of the diversity that comes with it. 2014 was the year in which Benetton decided to launch a new campaign in support of UN women with the end goal being to end violence against women. This program created a domino effect for the following years and how Benetton decided to move forward with their campaigns in the future. During 2015 UCB founded the Benetton Women Empowerment program to support women’s rights and this program came in handy the following year in 2016. Mainly because they were able to launch two projects within the Women Empowerment program that were aimed at allowing sustainable livelihood to women all over the world that either work at home or in the ready made garment sector. Also during 2016, Benetton groups were located at the forefront for the 2016 Greenpeace Detox campaign rankings for numerous reasons. During the next year further changes were made by the company to promote more environmentally friendly practices. In 2017 UCB joined the International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO), which solidified Benetton’s commitment to sustainability in the supply chain that they utilize. Lastly in 2018 the NGO Greenpeace once again reaffirmed Benetton that they are among one of the fashion industries top detox leaders. That is a brief history of the Benetton group, mainly focusing on what they have been recognized for in the last decade relating to their environmentally friendly practices.

Sustainability Practices and Programs

           The Detox program was a program that UCB collaborated with Greenpeace on, among many other fashion industry titans of the time. The goal of the detox program was to lead the fashion industry in the direction of complete elimination of the use of hazardous chemicals during the manufacturing process in the textile industry. This was done for two reasons. Firstly being that of the consumer safety, consumers should not have to worry about the clothes they buy having something harmful on or in them that could cause illness or other problems for the consumer themselves or their family. Another reason was to benefit local communities all over the world; this would help local communities because they would become more influential in the production process when less hazardous chemicals are being used. There would be a need to replace the chemicals being used with less harmful substitutes and this is where those communities would come into play. While the UCB was working on the detox program they also joined the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) group. This group aims to create synergies or mutual corporations to focus on reaching a common solution in the textile industry. These synergies mainly focus on avoiding solitary and ineffective initiatives from being taken within the textile industry. In 2016 and 2018 Benetton was named one of the top three brands that made the most influential and important progress towards complete elimination of the use of hazardous chemicals by the Greenpeace Detox campaign. Benetton stood out because of their substitution of chemical substances with others resulting in an overall lower impact. Along with their capacity to monitor and create a sustainable supply chain. In a journal it was said, “when the greenness competition level is low, the profit of the firm that offers inferior green products decreases if the greenness competition is keen (Guo, Choi, Chen, 2020).” The Benetton Company demonstrated this perfectly because they are now one of the leading sustainable fashion brands because they offer eco-friendly alternatives compared to their competition. Also them leading the way on green practices means that they are taking away profits from companies that do not abide by green standards. The only reason they take away money from those companies is because they offer an alternative that the public wants to embrace, because of how important sustainability is currently. Which is why following social trends is very important for companies of this size so they are able to remain sustainable. Those are the programs that UCB has been recognized for during the last decade and the sustainability practices that they have taken during the production of their clothes all over the world.

Supply Chain

           Benetton has been recognized, as previously stated, for their supply chain and the sustainability it provides time and time again over the years. When looking at their supply chain one of their messages was especially important for how they conduct their business as a company. That message was that they respect diversity and that every man and woman in the world deserves equal access to the fundamental human rights. This message comes into play when discussing the practices they use and where their product comes from. Benetton gets their products for their supply chain based off of certain criteria like product quality, competitive prices and transparency, compliance with social, ethical, and environmental principles. This results in a very diverse source of Benetton’s products within their supply chain and directly aligns with their company’s message. The diverse use of products results in equal access for more individuals along with respecting what every individual has to offer to the overall Benetton Company and their sustainable practices. Another interesting thing Benetton does that sets them apart from other fashion industry companies is that they make companies that partner with them sign a code of conduct. This code of conduct abides by both human rights laid out by the UN and the need for the protection of the environment. It is stated that, “Investing in new technologies supports continued capital growth, but it also appears very likely that there are positive connotations of cleanliness attributed to technological processes (Norris, et al, 2019).” So technological innovation within UCB’s supply chain allows for the opportunity of more capital growth if they take advantage of current social trends and innovations regarding sustainable and green fashion. The sustainability of Benetton’s supply chain is proven by their use of diverse people and companies all over the world in accordance with their need to create environmentally friendly apparel for everyone.

Conclusion

           At the end of the day UCB is a leader in ethical, green, and sustainable fashion for all of the reasons that have been laid out. In one journal it was stated that, “Sustainability proposed to reduce environmental or social impacts by incorporating broader concepts to achieve environmental or ethical goals, including freedom, uniqueness, resistance, authenticity, trust and well-being (Shafie, Kamis, 2019).” Based off of this definition Benetton is practicing sustainable fashion because they offer a unique way of acquiring their materials used since they take such a heavy stance on not using hazardous chemicals. Also they show their uniqueness by being one of the eco-friendly leaders in the industry combined with how long they have been in business and their international reaching. UCB practices ethical and sustainable practices when it relates to their supply chain. Mainly because they allow for such a diverse group of individuals to influence the products they manufacture and sell. Along with all of the green initiatives the company has taken moving forward in trying to create more sustainable future for their consumers. In the end UCB has proven that they practice sustainable fashion that is both ethical and green, while reaching a diverse and worldwide group of people.

References

Guo, S., Choi, T.-M., & Shen, B. (2020). Green product development under competition: A study of the fashion apparel industry. European Journal of Operational Research, 280(2), 523–538. https://doi-org.ezproxy.fgcu.edu/10.1016/j.ejor.2019.07.050

Norris, Lucy, et al. “Waste, Dirt and Desire: Fashioning Narratives of Material Regeneration.” The Sociological Review, vol. 67, no. 4, July 2019, pp. 886–907.

Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. This intentional combination of agriculture and forestry has varied benefits, including increased biodiversity and reduced erosion. Agroforestry practices have been successful in sub-Saharan Africa and in parts of the United StatesIs the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. 

Before taking you through lush agroforests I’d like you to follow me down along Cauvery River one of the largest rivers flowing through India.

It is the third largest river – after Godavari and Krishna – in South India and the largest in Tamil Nadu which, on its course, bisects the state into North and South. The Kaveri is sacred to the people of South India and is worshipped as a goddess. The Kaveri is also one of the seven holy rivers of India.The Kaveri basin is estimated to be 81,155 square kilometers. 

Local farmers in Tamil Nadu are steeped debt and face droughts due to governmental inaction. This has left the farmers of the country in a terrible state and has subsequently effected the land. 

In the last 25 years over 300,000 farmers have died from suicide. That is around 12,000 cases of farmer suicide per year due to agrarian distress. This is not too different from the state of suicide in the Mid-west of the U.S. Farmers are among the highest rates of suicide in the U.S and face similar issues of the Indian agrarian.

The drying Cauvery river is not an isolated issue to the laborers of the land but also to those that stand on their backs. These farmers provide produce for the majority of the country and more. If nothing is done, degradation to the land and the dying community of farmers will leave the country without their main source of food.

How can they Move Forward?

“Agroforestry has the potential to achieve sustainability in agriculture while optimizing its productivity and mitigating climate change impact.” 

These are one of the known facts. Vegetation and plant life not only can yield produce but it can also enrich the soil retaining trillions of liters of water. It can take 5-8 years to see yields in some situations, however, longevity of the forest will last for generations

Currently the campaign Cauvery Calling has a goal of 2.42 billion trees 70 cents per tree donation. Right now, Cauvery Calling has had 50,918,675 donations. They plan to support farmers to plant 242 crore trees in Cauvery basin by adopting agroforestry. This is also a show of Economy with Ecological impact. This action will augment farmer income, proven to increase farmers’ incomes 300-800% in 5-7 years. 

Economy and ecology are not separate yet have been looked at as so throughout the years. The commitment to more intelligent and conscious economy and ecology leads to collective well being and growth. It has been calculate that in 12 years if the forest is well kept and grown the water 12.2 trillion liters of water will be retained in the soil. This benefits the farmers who would then have flourishing agriculture but as well will open the flow of the Cauvery as well as a boosted economy in agriculture.

I am always looking for more ways to be sustainable in my everyday life. Working our way towards a better future will be easier to achieve if we start off with small steps. Five steps I have recently taken to reduce my footprint have been decreasing my use of disposable plastics, eating locally, planting herbs, donating or reselling clothes, and thrifting.

           When most people think of decreasing one use plastics this task can sound a little daunting. However, if you slowly switch to reusable items the task will seem less frightening. I started transitioning to green items by purchasing a YETI tumbler. I enjoy being outside a lot and because of that I need to stay hydrated. My YETI not only keeps my water cold but it prevents me from adding plastic bottles to my waste. I normally fill up my YETI twice in one day which is the equivalent to drinking nearly six bottles of water. Over the course of a year I will have saved myself from using 2,190 bottles of water overall.

https://www.yeti.com/en_US/drinkware/rambler-30-oz-tumbler/YRAM30.html?dwvar_YRAM30_color=white&cgid=drinkware#utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=__iv_p_1_g_68983727272_c_341484274012_w_kwd-61036649465_n_g_d_c_v__l__t__r__x__y__f__o__z__i__j__s__e__h_9012292_ii__vi__&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_id=google_983601494_68983727272_341484274012_kwd-61036649465_c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZoqEuFlsrLsflQe_lFOHGddJ6exzNuWhc-5Tz-ppzjv-cbfC5FPKasaAqnZEALw_wcB&start=1

           The next thing I did was discontinue my use of plastic straws. Plastic straws add to the eight million tons of waste that are added to our oceans every year. In the US alone, 500 million straws are used every single day (1Million Women, July 2017). Since plastic only ever biodegrades it will never fully breakdown making plastic so much more dangerous to our environments. My reusable straw folds down into a small portable carrier that can be put on a keychain making it not only environmentally friendly but also convenient.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Collapsible-Straws-Silicone-Foldable-Reusable-Folding-Straw-Premium-Food-grade-Portable-Drinking-Straw-Set-with-Hard-Case-Holder-and-Cleaning-Brush/708559366?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=10329&adid=22222222227329240004&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=412192284222&wl4=aud-430887228898:pla-860156954566&wl5=9012292&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117097448&wl11=online&wl12=708559366&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZqiXGkda07XR5kOiPmqsi3r8jc8Q8uu9BAvZIhPtf-X909MTBwWOgoaAqYhEALw_wcB

           The next thing I replaced was my toothbrush, switching out my plastic pink brush for a biodegradable bamboo one. After that I continued to cut down my use by taking of my makeup with a reusable sponge rather than a wipe every night. I purchased reusable bags for the grocery store and stopped using plastic forks and knives.

https://packagefreeshop.com/products/bamboo-toothbrush-adult?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZp3cx2E3T4dnQSZIjm3PJuqzRq9e9t7HR52Of-dBCDMkQTUx-o4tpwaAqzHEALw_wcB

           After my journey of reducing plastic waste I began to eat more at local restaurants. It is a good way to become more familiar with the area you live in as well as find some great spots to snack. Local restaurants don’t need to consume large amounts of fossil fuel energy to ship their products to global locations so by supporting these businesses you not only support the local economy but also the environment. Another way to do this is going to local fresh markets. Each Tuesday in my hometown there is a farmers market that opens to sell all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you are more of a cook it at home type person then this is a perfect way to help encourage the reduction of fossil fuels.

           One of my steps to becoming more sustainable turned quickly into a hobby. I originally started a small herb garden to cut back even further on my carbon emissions. I don’t have to drive anywhere to season my pizza with a small garden on my back porch. I started out with just a basil, cilantro, mint, and parsley plant. Shortly after my love for these plants grew into a love for all plants and now my house is littered with greenery. Indoor plants not only look aesthetically pleasing but also filter the air in your house to help purify it. Herb gardens are easy to start and simple when it comes to taking care of them if you’re willing to put in the work.

           Another thing I started doing more of was recycling. After taking a class on how to properly recycle I realized that I was doing everything wrong. I needed to stop using trash bags to dispose of it as well as to rinse all food off the plastic. I learned as well that  there are other ways to recycle that you wouldn’t think of at first such as recycling clothing. Since spring cleaning is right around the corner this is a perfect way to practice sustainability. Next time you’re cleaning out your closet into piles of keep, trash, donate, and sell. The ones you want to donate you can take to a nearby goodwill to be resold. If an item is in good enough condition you can use apps like Poshmark to resell them and get a little of your money back. The ones that are too worn to be donated then instead of throwing the article of clothing away completely, what I do is cut the fabric into squares and place them under my sink to use as scrap rags. I use these rags for anything from scrubbing the floors to buffing in wood stain on my weekend projects. This makes your waste go from a huge bag of clothing to now just a small pile of scraps.

https://poshmark.com/category/Women?utm_source=gsdm_posh&utm_campaign=645985650&enable_guest_buy_flow=true&gskid=kwd-674679147072&gcid=285331658815&ggid=57363994453&gdid=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZr_0EOjFHtLhrO1DRrdKs4bBTTW_ysze1V1HSzpByk8gs2xU2_De3oaAm8jEALw_wcB

           The last easy thing on my list of small steps to be more sustainable is to go thrifting. Shopping is a fun pastime and now you can do it while also making your routine more green. When you thrift you are keeping the clothes out of the landfill and allowing them to have a longer life before becoming waste. The popular saying “one man’s trash is another mans treasure” just goes to show how many gems you can find secondhand if you just look. Thrifting can be overwhelming but if you take your time and look for patterns and textures that attract your eye then this might make your search a tad more manageable.

           If you’re a homebody and would prefer to do you shopping from the comfort of your home then you have alternatives for thrifting in person. Threadup is one of the largest secondhand shops and you don’t even have to leave your couch. There is an app along with the online site to make your shopping even easier. There are even websites for second hand high end products, one of the most popular being The RealReal.

https://www.thredup.com/lp/outfits-you-love?referral_code=adwords_thredup&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=1612558699_59913515654_358262531162_%2Bthredup_b_c__9012292_kwd-31631943791_g_&iv_=__iv_p_1_g_59913515654_c_358262531162_w_kwd-31631943791_n_g_d_c_v__l__t__r__x__y__f__o__z__i__j__s__e__h_9012292_ii__vi__&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZryI6Uwzq9rszct3uIgu6WbpvQXKc3kuOgYzkf5yP4jmCsGRFp7JO0aAtHcEALw_wcB

https://www.therealreal.com/

Coral Reefs are some of the most diverse and fascinating ecosystems on the planet. They are living creatures that form symbiotic relationships with countless species of sea life and micro-organisms. Sometimes called “the rainforests of the sea”, they are depended on by 25 percent of fish. These organisms live with the coral and use it for shelter, to find food, reproduce, and rear young. They can take many forms, whether it be the vast sprawling reefs found all over warm shallow regions of the ocean in colonies or deep-sea coral, which are found in the coldest and most barren regions. These important life forms are in critical danger. Coral bleaching is when a coral loses its color due to spread of disease, damage to its body, or the warming of the ocean. Though coral can bounce back from this state, it takes many years, and if the cause of the bleaching isn’t remedied in time, the coral will die. This unfortunately has already become the fate of many coral ecosystems all over the planet. It is imperative that we take action to preserve what’s left of these massive biomes. If we don’t take action soon, the Earth will lose one of the most important parts of the ocean. With the coral reefs gone, we’ll have to pay the price.

The most important symbiotic relationship that the coral reef has is a form of mutualism. This mutualism is formed with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae. This form of algae lives within the tissues of the coral. The coral houses and gives protection to the algae, as well as compounds thar the algae need for photosynthesis. The algae repay the coral in kind by providing the coral with oxygen, as well as carbohydrates that the coral can use for food. Thus, the two sustain each other. Coral specimens that live in deeper and more frigid climates lack these zooxanthellae. Instead of relying on mutualism like their cousins in the shallow water, these deep-water corals take in organic matter such as plankton. Coral reefs provide services not just to the algae and sea life that inhabit them, but even to those that live above the surface, like humans. While a coral reef can be a home, a source of food, or a place for sea life to reproduce, it can also act as a barrier against waves and storms. Rooted firmly into the ground, coral acts as a buffer, helping to keep erosion, tides, and waves at bay from the coast. In addition to being an important part of indigenous cultures, they can also be used for tourism purposes such as snorkeling and diving tours. They are also used for fishing and new medicinal purposes, though we need to be careful not to take too much from coral. We also need to stop the practice of breaking pieces of coral off the reef and making them into souvenirs. This is something that is unfortunately all too common, and it’s only one cause of damage to reefs everywhere.

When a coral becomes bleached, it is because all of the zooxanthellae have been expelled from its body. This is what causes it to turn completely white, hence the name “bleached”. The coral can expel the algae from its body because of damage or disease, but most of the time it is due to the warming of the ocean and acidic substances polluting the water, which is of course caused by human activity. While it is possible for coral to recover, it may take many years. If the source of the corals’ stress isn’t removed in time, the coral will perish. In 2005, half of the coral reefs in the Caribbean were lost in a massive bleaching event. Years later, another massive bleaching event affected 70 percent of the world’s coral reef population from 2014 to 2017 due to unusually warm waters. The great barrier reef, one of the largest reefs there is, was hit particularly hard by this. Hundreds of miles of coral were bleached. It is an absolute travesty that this has taken place. The reefs have impact on countless forms of life, and we’ll be feeling the repercussions of our actions for years to come. There are steps we can take to not only prevent the destruction of these beautiful reefs, but also restore them.

The damage done to our reefs has been massive, but there are multiple projects underway to help save them. One such invention is called a coral nursery. These nurseries are built beneath the ocean’s surface. When pieces of coral are broken and scattered, or even when whole coral individuals have been uprooted from their homes, they can quickly be planted into the nursery and nurtured back to health. When their time in daycare is finished, they can be transplanted back into coral reefs that need them. This tactic tends to work well in places like Florida and the Caribbean where coral grows quickly, but not as well in Hawaii. In the Summer of 2018, students from the University of Hawaii mechanical engineering developed nurseries that could house larger pieces of corals that had been uprooted.

There are also things being done to help reefs off the Florida Keys. The reefs off the keys span 255 continuous miles. They are a point of tourism, an iconic part of the culture and landscape of the region, and a defender of the coasts from storm surges and high tides. The coral here has been housing, providing, and defending for thousands of years. Due to all the reasons listed above, the coral here has been on a tragic decline in heath and population as of the last 40 years by 90 percent. However, if action can be taken quickly, then we may be able to turn this trend yet. The plan is to steadily implant a stream of heathy coral species, while removing invasive species that compete for space. In addition, species of sea urchin and crabs that eat pesky invasive species will be supplemented. A crew will be tasked with watching over and ensuring that the coral is developing smoothly, as well as reattaching uprooted coral and removing invasive species. Coral nurseries also play a role in restoring the ecosystem.

Tesla Truck

           Automobiles are the most used transportation system in areas where walking is not a possibility or when public transportation does not cover your destination. The average car in the US is able to contain 22 miles per gallon. People on average drive 29.2 miles a day and currently there is 284.5 million registered vehicles just in the US. Which means just in a day  residents in the United states burn over 553,826,666 gallons of gas a day. Innovators such as Elon Musk have found a solution to this problem and started to structure cars that do not need gasoline to run, instead the owner charges the vehicle for more miles. These charging stations can be built in homes and have been placed in popular areas already, free of use. Which means there is no need for an exhaust in this cars system which lessens the carbon emissions in our environment. Elon Musk and others have made a cheaper version of the Tesla so that people who are not able to spend so much, can still help our environment. The Model 3 is the cheapest model, the buy new price is labeled at $39,900. The range of this car can travel from 250-322 miles when fully charged, without using any ethanol or greenhouse gases. Which has helped people who used cars, but not so much for the people who need an all-wheel drive truck to pull trailers for work.

Collectively, the average motorized car and truck account for nearly-one fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas used. These car manufactures have allowed transportation to be the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Diesel transport is one of the world’s major sources of black carbon. Black carbon does not only have a significant warming effect, it is also a major piece of particulate matter, the air pollutant most closely associated with increased air-pollution related to mortality and morbidity. Most transporting corporations use these heavy diesel trucks in order to transport thousands of raw material a day. Since 1973, semis got about 5.6 miles per gallon of diesel, 27 years later to today, and now it gets 6.5 miles per gallon. Which does not solve the slightest bit of these emissions polluting our atmosphere. Now, Elon Musk and Tesla are developing a truck that only uses electric engines, meaning no emissions, that have a higher tow rating than the average truck.

           Elon Musk has recently revealed a solution to big engine sized trucks, by designing a truck that can carry 3 electric engines, a solar panel on top, as well as an all-wheel drive differential. I will just be discussing the top-tier model of this truck which offers a tri-motor electric engine which is estimated to provide more than 500 miles on a single charge. Just the mile range alone without the solar panel has already blew away most average trucks which run through a gallon of gas in about 10-12 miles. Elon Musk has promised to also offer a solar panel that the owner can install on top of the truck at any point. The trucks design looks similar to a shape of a triangle. This shape allows the solar panel to be placed on top of the truck at an angle in order for the solar panels to point directly towards the sun. These solar panels so far only offer 30 miles of range per day. Which the daily driver has been said to drive 29.2 miles a day, meaning the solar panel alone could solve these problems without an electric engine. As we learn more about this technology innovators have a feeling that we can increase this mileage to over 200 making this project even more influential. If you’re still worried about fashion, do not worry as Elon is also promising a convertible solar panel roof system that can be used to “drop your top.” This solar panel is not costly for the consumers either, it is set at a range from $2,500-$3,000 currently and is hoped to go down even further. This will make the solar panel more accessible to individuals who do not drive crazy lengths every day, such as living in the city.

The Collaboratory and Downtown Fort Myers

As our group went to venture Downtown Fort Myers, we got to learn a lot more about the area than we initially expected. This was an exceptional journey for us.

 The Collaboratory was our first stop. The was space designed for collaboration and community growth. It utilized principles of sustainability by having solar-powered poles and fake grass as well as brickwork that allows for the flow of rainwater to run off away from the building. The collaborators were a great space but there were many things lacking. The space was bland and didn't look like it was made for the community it was built in specifically I saw this as a continuation of gentrification and marginalization that takes space from marginalized communities but doesn't serve or collaborate with them. These communities have so much wealth to share with that space and deserve ownership in a space that is their own. The reason I bring this up in terms of sustainability is that just as the brickwork and pavement displaces and disconnects plantlife and animals further harming eco-systems gentrifying areas with buildings that design for collaboration but for specific collaborators also displaces and disconnects a community of human beings that have much to offer to the greater community.

We had a great time downtown. An assortment of interesting things was brought to mind. We had no idea how much City planning had to do with sustainability. And how although in need of improvements; design of Downtown fort Myers had some intentional and thoughtful planning. Having palm pedestrians from getting hit by cars. The roads are narrow so people drive slow but also this design was not just for sustainability but aimed at profit and economy as well. Design streets an area in such a way where people drive slow so they take in their surroundings; the local businesses.  

Speaking of roads, one of the fun facts that few people know about is that Fort Myers has some of the highest rates of death by car collisions in the country. This is due to our small roads that don't give enough room for bike lanes and pedestrians this is also due to the original structure and foundations of our communities in terms of design the design poorly prepared for the future.

We noticed many things I could be improved upon, from urban sprawl to tourism and the double-edged sword its role plays in our community. For example, the snowbirds that come down have maybe too much say and not enough connection with the community. They have pull on how the community design and policies but aren't fully in the space. This creating an inequitable dynamic for the locals. One of our group members, Made suggestions on how the trash and recycling receptacles could have an app that pedestrians and locals could use to use a recycling bin this will prevent people from placing the wrong plastic in bins as well an opportunity for learning.

This past week our colloquim class went on a field trip to Babcock Ranch. This field trip was eye opening for all us by showing us the possibilities of green living and how it is being made into a reality at Babcock Ranch. Anyone who is interested in green living should definitely check out this community!

           The Babcock Ranch is made up of just a small portion of the original land that the Babcock family owned in this area. The rest of the land was sold to the state for conservation purposes and is on file as the biggest purchase of land for conservation made by the state. The community’s goal is to eventually get around 20,000 homes housing 50,000 residents for the community. In the end they want all of these homes and the rest of the community to attain their energy through the solar fields within the ranch. Currently, they have solar panels covering 480 acres, producing 75 mega watts of energy, which is enough energy to power around 15,000 homes. Since this is short of their 20,000 home goals they are planning to build more solar panel fields in the future once more homes and residents reside within the community. While touring the ranch we saw these green poles that look like solar panel trees and all of us learned that these are extra solar panels spread throughout the whole community that add to the total amount of energy being produced. As of now these solar panel trees move with the sun to gain the most amount of energy possible, which is roughly around 300 kilo watts of energy. That is considerably less than the amount that is produced by the solar field however every bit of energy counts in a community of this size and eco-friendliness.

Another standard that the Babcock Ranch tries to meet for green living for its residents is that every house has at least a bronze certification from the Florida Green Building Coalition. A bronze standard just indicates that the house itself offers somewhat benefits to not only the buyer, but also the builder, community, and ecosystem. This standard allows the house to become more profitable for both the builder and buyer, while allowing the community and ecosystem to benefit from the green initiatives taken when building the house. Some of the homes spend money to have solar panels added to their own personal houses so that they will not have to pay the community for the energy they use. Any excess energy not used by the homeowners can be bought from them, so there is a possibility for a profit depending on the energy intake any given month. Lastly the community requires that 70% of the nature in front of the houses is indigenous in order to make sure that the natural wild life can continue and hopefully thrive. Also the houses can only have one specific type of grass for a few reasons. First the matching grass looks good for a community as a whole but of course like everything else the main reason is to be eco-conciseness. In this case the specific type of grass is drought resistant which is perfect for the weather that is experienced here in Southwest Florida.

During our trip we also were exposed to some really new and interesting solar living options within the community. For instance if anyone goes to the ranch they will notice these little cars that resemble toasters, at least that is what all of us thought they looked like. These cars allowed for residents to get transportation between their personal residence on the grounds and the community. The little cars are electrically powered and can be procured using an app similar to Uber. This was one of the many projects that the owners of Babcock Ranch decided to partner with other companies moving towards green living. The community allows for these products to be tested within the community to hopefully lead to them being fully implemented. While the creators of the device get a market to test out their device and be able to receive feedback so that adjustments can be made. They offer bike and car charging stations within the parking lot areas and have enough walkways throughout the whole community in order to try and cut down on the use of fossil fuels. Eventually as the community grows they would like to be able to add a ferry that will travel to and from the main hub on the community to the opposite side of the lake. As of now they do have boats, kayaks, and canoes available for the residents to use on the lake.

Besides all of the cool things that Babcock has implemented to make them such a sustainable community they also have a very nice downtown area in which we were able to walk around and tour. During the tour we learned that Babcock Ranch has an elementary school currently residing on the premises and there are plans for future schools as the community grows. They also have a Lee Health Center for all of the resident’s basic needs. This facility is for annual checkups, screenings, general procedures, and everyday primary care needs. So unless someone is seriously injured the community is trying to be a one-stop shop for its residents so they would not have to leave the community if they did not want to. Along with these amenities they also have an ice cream shop, coffee house, grocery store, gift shop, a few restaurants, and an 18-hole golf course. Finally we were able to learn about all of the future developments that the community is looking forward too. One area of the community will house a retail section with more dining options for the residents, other areas will be for new solar fields, housing, and possibly a supermarket once enough people are using the community and its resources.

Overall we all highly recommend that anyone interested in living green themselves or wanting to learn more about green living should definitely check out Babcock Ranch, it has something for everyone! The best part about this community is that it is open to the public so anyone can enjoy the miles of scenic trails, restaurants, or any other amenities that are offered. In the end green living is the future and we need more communities like this one in order to save the Earth. As time goes on these communities will be the future and what we live in currently will be a thing of the past. Here are some pictures from the field trip and a link for Babcock Ranch in case anyone wants to visit or learn more about it.