Environment

Green

What is Green the word to me?

In my childhood it was Plants, Trees, Nature

Food as Vegetables has been a wise diet

Herbal Lifestyle has augmented throughout the years

Social Work is something I always wanted to do

Writing is an opportunity that is a Gift to me

in the name of Planet Alert

Next what I have for Shobuj, Just Wait and See

For at least a decade, carmakers have been professing their deep and abiding interest in electric-drive vehicles whenever possible. But until recently, it wasn’t always clear which of them were really sincere.

Today every last one of them seems sincere. As this year’s “Top 10 Tech Cars” package shows, ever more varied hybrids are going into mass production, along with—you betcha—a few all-electric cars.

Some of the electric-drive machines aspire beyond mere greenness to heart-pounding performance, an aspiration that may seem strange to those taught to view electric cars as spacious, all-weather golf carts. But performance is indeed a logical goal, given the instant-on torque that electric motors provide.

While electrons may now be a recurrent theme of our annual Top 10 automotive reports, we do not slight the internal-combustion engine, which has lots of life—and technological enhancements—to come. And for those who don’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about whether they’re treading lightly enough on the planet’s roads, we include two ultraperformance German sports cars that run purely on gasoline and adrenaline. One can easily be yours. If you’re willing to trade in your house for it.

Philip E. Ross & David Schneider

To Probe Further

Check out the rest of the Top Ten Tech Cars of 2010

Green PM Video by Tom Mochal

Green Project Management by Tom Mochal

The answer is Green Project Management (GreenPM). Green project management is a model where we think green throughout our project and make decisions that take into account the impact on the environment – if any. It is a way to ingrain “greenthink” into every project management process.

The point about green project management is not that we make every decision in favor of the one that is most environmentally friendly. The point is that we start to take the environment into account instead of ignoring it. You might make most decisions the same as you do today. But there might be some decisions you would make differently. These different decisions, multiplied by tens of thousands each day across the world, can make a difference.

The concept of Green Project Management is pioneered by TenStep, Inc. The key thought leaders are Tom Mochal, PMP and Andrea Krasnoff, PMP.

Articles & Columns

Green PM – Ten Environmental Considerations for Project Integration Management

Green PM – A Project Management Focus on the Environment

Hip Deep: A Look at Electronics Recovery

Mike Donoghue

The business of trash has always been a good one. Earlier generations knew the value of recycling before it became trendy and profitable. Empires and countries have come and gone (along with their buildings), but local industrious peoples have proven themselves capable of rebuilding around older edifices or simply removing the components and using them to create their own structures. Even those armies of conquest from long ago have left little behind–in some cases as nearby citizens swarmed in after battles and quickly retrieved items and materials that could be sold or refurbished to suit the needs of more common folk.

These are standards that are hard to live up to. Within the past 20 years, the increased use of electronics-based products has grown tremendously in terms of how we entertain ourselves, communicate with others, manufacture and produce goods, and support the very infrastructure we have made for our world. Our reliance and dependence on electronics is no less than staggering, with households in the United States having on average no less than 24 electronic products under one roof according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

While the problem is highly noticeable in the United States, it is hardly restricted to that country. Industrialized nations of the world are also finding it difficult to deal with the steady increase in electronics products and the waste it produces–at a rate of increase around 3 to 5 percent per year.

Collaborate and Conserve

Coupled with the heightened awareness of environmental issues of discarded electronics, material consumption and its association with material availability has also triggered concern. Bureaucracies may step forward to put restrictions and tariffs in place to manage how waste is handled, but more and more governments are putting additional controls in place. That forces manufacturers to take on the task of designing deconstructive products and providing those necessary details to recyclers on how they can break them down into subassemblies and basic parts.

How is this possible? At least one firm in Taiwan is taking on the initiative as a pilot run and others are exploring the option. To do this requires a collaborative approach that involves information coming from three-dimensional design aspects, organization-wide resource forecasting and product lifecycle management systems.

Utilizing this methodology, contractor-providers must divulge data on product components in order to allow the manufacturer to plan for disassembly and recycling analysis. This is a difficult task, not only because of the amount of information necessary for the analysis but because it requires a degree of negotiation to obtain details on processes that may be proprietary and guarded. Add to that the fact that even recyclers have their own closely held secrets on their techniques, and you have an opportunity for mutual trust.

Answers from this analysis provide details regarding how successful the deconstruction model is, which can then be incorporated into the initial design phases. It can start in the beginning of part formation and include specifics regarding part identifiers, part categories, material categories, deconstruction timeframes and the apparatus needed for deconstruction.

From these details a plan can then be constructed. The difficulties of deconstruction and the recyclability of components are configured into this plan and then worked and reworked by product designers in a compromising effort to reach an agreeable solution level and propose design enhancements. Some of these answers may include (but are not limited to): restricting the use of harmful or environmentally “unfriendly” materials by consolidating their incorporation into small components; improving access points to dangerous, costly and/or reusable parts and materials so they can be easily retrieved; and minimizing the amount of contamination of materials that may incorporate other unnecessary materials.

During this process, reporting details on the projected levels of effort, potential expense/savings and reclamation rates and benefits is essential. From this, product designers, managers and executives can make decisions on affordability, changes needed in the organization, necessity of certain decisions and look for ways in which to overlap design considerations with other products.

Case in Point

The model described above focuses on looking at the source of waste before it actually becomes waste. Utilizing the collective communication and design concepts, an improvement in how we manage the amount we generate is expected. Seeing the early stages of product design as a key ingredient to this problem, there is more potential for better and more effective use of materials and integrated components.

For firms using existing technologies that do not incorporate this start-to-finish approach to their final products, more electronics recycle-and-reuse programs are becoming available through government, manufacturer and retailer-supported initiatives. These end-of-life programs keep increasing and improving, thereby fostering a better response from consumers on various levels. This answer may not be as comprehensive in dealing with electronics waste, but it is a partial solution to our worldwide dilemma.

The Seven Types of Waste a Summary by Peter L. Bersbach

Bersbach Consulting LLC provides Six Sigma training coaching and support across Arizona, including the Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale areas. At this time we would like to thank our friends and clients for their support. If you have landed here looking for our Six Sigma training, coaching or support services in Tucson, then please follow this Six Sigma Training link.

You may have seen a couple of posts I have done on the seven types of waste. I have completed seven articles on all seven types of waste you might find in your organization. Below is a listing and a short description for each of the seven types of waste plus a link to the full article. I believe if you read these articles you will have a new way of looking at your business.

The Seven Types of Waste:

Correction – Corrections are and time you redo, rewrite, rework, repair, or scrap something. This can be as simple as rewriting a grocery list. Say you have a grocery list but you want to rearrange the items on it in the order you will encounter them in the store. Even though it will speed things for you shopping it had to be redone instead of thinking of making the list ordered in the first place. Redoing the list did not add any value to you; it took longer to write it a second time instead of doing it right the first time.

Overproduction – Overproduction is when you make too much of something or you perform too much of a service for some one. Have you ever held a meeting and made copies for that meeting? Most people make a few extra, do you? That is overproduction they will end up in the trash. Or have you every as a question about something in a store and the salesman goes on an on answering your question when all you wanted was the simple answer? That salesman was overproducing

Movement of material or information – This type of waste is when you take any material for information and have to move it from one place to another. You may ship it or carry it your self but that movement does not create any value for the customer in fact it is lost time because it delays your product or service from getting to your customer

Motion of employees – This type of waste is when you or an operator has get up and walk or travel to get something to do their job.  Just like movement of materials and information, motion of the operator does not create value. In fact the “thing” in the process is not changing at all

Waiting – This type of waste is when you, other employees, customer, material, or equipment sits idle waiting. Think about all the waiting rooms there are. As a customer do you want to wait? No but we sometime have come to expect the wait. I have been to doctor’s office where the waiting room is empty or full did not matter but in some I was seen on time and other I have waited over an hour.

Inventory or other resources - This type of waste is not just supplies and materials on shelves but also any recourse your company has that is not being utilized. We normal see inventory as parts and supplies sitting on a shelf like boxes of cereal in the grocery store. But here inventory also include equipment that is standing idle or in storage and employees that have skill that are not being used to their fullest.

Processes - This type of waste is when you are doing more than required by the customer. This is a hard one to understand because sometimes doing more for free has a WOW factor for your customers. That is why it is important to know what is of value and what is not. You see sometime you do sometime more that you think the customer wants and they do not care. That is when it becomes a waste.

If your business is located anywhere in the World including the US, Tucson, Oro Valley , Oracle, Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale, Marana, Green Valley Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about our Six Sigma training, coaching and support services please call  Bersbach Consulting LLC at 1-520-829-0090  Now!

With the current water situation in Mumbai, the BMC as well as lots of well meaning members of the public issued warnings about the volume of water that would be used during this year’s Holi. The awareness campaign emboldened the BMC to introduce fines if potable water was used for the festival.

Guess what happened?

This year we wasted 35 lakh litres of water on Holi! And that’s a conservative estimate. Water tank owners said this was the best time of year for business, so ignoring the BMC, they decided to make hay while the sun shone. Truth is, building societies are the main criminals with tank owners just supplying a demand. (I don’t know about you, but the idea of holding rain dances for a few while vast numbers of people have no or very little access to water churns my stomach.) The BMC said non potable water was allowed but what difference to a family that has to struggle to survive on 10-20 litres of water for the whole day?

Stop wasting water. Period. No differentiating between potable and non potable water as that just becomes an excuse for wasting water.

A simple calculation shows the amount of water wasted. If we take the average usage of water in Mumbai to be 50 litres per person per day for a family of four, the yearly requirement is 73,000 litres. 35,00,000 litres wasted during Holi was the water that could have been used by 48 families for a whole year. A few hours enjoyment for some, a years’ life source for others.

I am not saying you shouldn’t enjoy Holi. But please. Do it in a responsible manner.  Lest I sound like an unrealistic goody-goody, how about this? You earn the right to waste water if you have made an effort to accumulate, save and store water. Fair? There are people who have gone ahead with water saving techniques such as rain water harvesting which have paid rich dividends. The least expensive and most fruitful is this technique where for a small investment you can save a lot of water. What is rainwater harvesting? At its simplest, it is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Rainwater harvesting has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock and water for irrigation or to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents and local institutions, or from specially prepared areas of ground, can make an important contribution to drinking water. Much more easily, this water can be used for gardening, cleaning… and yes, for Holi as well.

In short, you’re not borrowing from others to fund your lifestyle.  Spend what you save. (Even better save what you save – it sounds strange but feels so good!)

YESterday was world water day, water is very precious ,,Pani bahut kimmati hai, eesaka upyog ,hame samhalakra karana chahiye, kahte hai teesara vishva yudh, pani ke liye hoga, sari duniya yeh chillati hai, parntu, jab apani bari aati hai us waqt bhul jate hai, knyo?  knyoki, yeh free me milata hai, uparwala , kabhi ashman se barsata hai, aur dharati se bhi milta hai, 50 feet, me nahi to 500 feet me, pani milta hai, pani ki kimmat kuchh bhi nahi hai, parantu pani ko pane ki thodi si kimmat deni padati hai, aur free jo bhi milata hai, usaki value ham jante hai, ..free ki bat par mue ek wakaya yad aagaya,main   kuchh varsh pahle, delhi gaya tha, delhi me chandni chowk me ghumne gaya tha, foot path pe log vyapar karte hai, main bhi unhe dekh ne laga, ek jagah, dukan dar aur grahak me kisi vastu ko lekara bargaining chal rahi thi, main ruk gaya,   dukan dar ne us wastu kimmat 500 rs. bataya, grahaak ne nahi chahiye, dukana dar kahane laga kitane me logo, kuchh to bolo. grahak ne kaha ,bhai bahut jyada kimmat hai, dukan dar bola 300 rs. dena, grahak ,fir bhi kuchh nahi bole, main un dono ko dekhane laga,dukan dar bola,boyani ka samay hai, lena hai to bolo, grahak bola, abhi bhi bahot jyada hai, grahak ka chahera dekhane laga dukan dar dekhane laga, boyani ka samay tha, grahak usaki maja le raha tha, dono ki bargaining chalti rahi, dukan dar thak gaya……..har gaya………………..boyani ka samay tha, grahak mae le raha tha, …..dukan dar ko gussa, aagaya,   usane jor se chilla kar kaha, …ja leja fukat me,…..tu bhi kya yad rakhega, ja free me leja,………usaka gussa  grahak par par kuchh bhi asar nahi kar raha tha,…dekh dukan dar bola le ja fukat me, mofat me..ja leja,……………………………….grahak ne jab suna fukat me, usaki bhi lalach bola fukat me do chahiye…deta kya. aur daud ke bhag gaya………….main dekhate raha……..pani fukat me milta hai use ham samahal ke use nahi karate hai,…fkat ki chij ki bhi value hoti hai…..mere bhai use samahal ke use karo….

My job demanded my visit to the ‘red light areas’ in and around west bengal as we were doing a survey on their life and style. As I  spoke to them and tried to gain access into their psyche I  found that the circumstances under which they had come to such a pass was different. While one was here by compulsion as she was forced into the trade by her own husband who sold her on the wedding night; another was into this under circumstances beyond her control as her mother was in the same trade; the third one said she came to save her poor family from disaster; the fourth said her husband had dumped her and finding no other alternative to support her child she had opted for this. Strangely they all said they dont hate their profession and did not want to discuss any rehabilitation or optional program. They said they were happy and they had got accustomed to it.

Just sit back and think………

World Water Day 2010

Water, one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth, disseminates through the land as well as the human body. All ecosystems and habitats owe their existence to water. The sustainability of the human beings and other living creatures on our planet depends largely and solely on the availability of this liquid. Though our planet is filled with more than 70 percent of water, only 2.7 percent of it is fresh water. This shows the scarce availability of fresh water for human use. Despite that, due to excessive exploitation of ground water, and increasing pollution of fresh water resources, we are at the brink of a global water crisis, which needs immediate attention. Still our society, the members of which value technology more than the natural resources have turned a blind eye to this diminishing source of life.

As per the recent World Bank Report, the water level in India has been going down consistently. In 1997, the water level in India was somewhere around 550 cubic kilometers. Out of this surface water was around 310 cubic kilometres and ground water was around 240 cubic kilometres. The level has dropped down to 480 cubic kilometres in 2010 and is further going to drop to 360 cubic kilometre in 2020 and less than 100 cubic kilometre in 2050. With India likely to have a shortfall of about 324 bcm (billion cubic meters) of water going by present per capita water consumption per year by the year 2050(times of India) Read the rest of this entry »

Daudti jeendgi fast track pe, aisi chali, pichhe mudkar dekhane ki fursat nahi hai, aur usika natija hai, global warmimg, hamne kya kya invention kiye , usake fayade dekhe, usaka total mara, ghate ko usame se ghatane ka waqt hi nahi hai, aur usaka natija global warming, sabse jyada fast life me , hamar blood pressure badaya hai,

Aaj hi samchar me padha, gober gas plant band pade hai, sarkar ki aur se GOWANDI ( jo gobar gas plant dekhata hai) use sirf 1500 milate hai, usaka bhi intrest khatam hote chala hai, sarkar bhi agar kuchh nakare to global warming kam ho jaye,gaon me ,purani sanskruti lupt ho rahi hai, pahle har ghar me gay hoti thi,  gay ka dudh milta tha, gobe milata tha, aur gaon me kuve(well) ki sanskrutiki jagah,borewell ne , leli hai, jamin ka water level. kam hota jarha hai, agr kuve, ( WELL) ki aur chale, aur use recharge technology ko apanay, to water level bhi badhega, ees ke liye NGO, ko kam karana padega, sarkar ke bharose kam nahi hoga, NGO, bhi kam karte hai, parntu use aur jor se karana padega, main ye kam karne ko tayyar hun, rahul if you take steps towards it, we can change, global, and i have faith if we take steps towards it, and start working, we must make change and people will join us, its long journey but we have to start it