LSP Environmental Studies Community Event Reports

Classmates, I pasted my review of Michael Reynolds insightful documentary "Garbage Warriors" here. Please let me know your thoughts.

Daniel

Daniel Bloch Jeydel
September 27, 2008
Environmental Studies
Professor Leah Schwartz

Review of Community Event: Garbage Warriors

On September 26, 2008 the documentary “Garbage Warrior” (2007) was shown at NYU Wagner’s Urban Planning Institute. The International Public Service Association and the Urban Planning Student Association sponsored this screening. The screening was casual with about twenty graduate students in a conference room snacking on grapes and popcorn. The tone of the event was intellectual with students critiquing the proposals of the piece and jovial as the film delivered, at times, many very funny comments on the coming together of American architecture with the present and future conditions of the environment.
“Garbage Warriors” focuses on the convictions of an environmentally progressive architect, Michael Reynolds, and his thirty-year journey to try to promote sustainable housing in New Mexico and around the world. The documentary chronicles the challenges that Reynolds has encountered for the design of his EarthShips, which are self-sufficient houses that do not need to be on electrical, sewage or water grids, and his efforts to popularize such a daring approach in the context of building and house construction. The film focuses on Reynolds’ steadfast belief that contemporary architecture is antediluvian and is not “directing us in a way that is sustainable.” Reynolds maintains the belief that the planet is running out of water, oil and energies and designs his structures in preparation of a near-apocalypse whereby everyone will need to be self-reliant in order to survive.
While his assessments for the future may be bleak, his designs certainly are inspiring. An EarthShip relies upon the warmth that can be stored by thermal mass and circulated throughout the space. As opposed to modern insulation techniques, Reynolds and his team use garbage (ranging from tires to mayonnaise jars) to firmly pack land that is able to retain heat year round. To add aesthetics to his projects, his ingenuity extends to his recycling of plastic bottles to make faux stained glass that often line the domes of his projects. While his structures are very unusual in terms of their designs, picture hippies living with the Jetsons, the Ships are able to function off the grid with very little costs. These Ships come included with irrigation so that one can cultivate gardens and raise animals all while using energies from the sun and wind to power the house into the 21st century.
The film takes a turn from happy adventures to serious problems as it chronicles a period that was very challenging for Reynolds. New Mexico sought to regulate the construction of EarthShips, and in doing so, to effectively shut Reynolds’ operation down. The state argued that some of the projects were unsafe, despite waivers being signed by residents that they accepted the dangers of “experimental housing”; while Reynolds believed that the utility companies that were against his endeavors, as it would put them out of business, propelled the blocks. While the truth probably lies in the middle, an important message from the movie is that it shows that environmentalists really have to be warriors to gain authority and to change a world that is so convinced in its established ways. Reynolds, raised as a Baptist, admires Noah who had the foresight to build an ark in the dessert, despite the fact that everyone in his community thought he was crazy. Needless to say, Noah war right to build that ark, and Reynolds is very sure that he is correct to fight for environmentally neutral houses around the world, regardless of their legality.
This was a new experience for me as I was placed in a room with architects, engineers and urban planners that were my senior by almost ten years. At the conclusion of the film, we all came back together and spoke about the legal problems that Reynolds encountered in New Mexico. I felt comfortable expressing my anger that Reynolds, whose projects are full of challenges in themselves, also had to fight against the government which should encourage ingenuity and not seek to suppress it. We also spoke about the practicality of having the EarthShips in New York City. While it makes sense now, I was surprised that these Ships would have a great deal of trouble in the island of Manhattan. For instance, I learned that the rainwater that the houses collect would not be drinkable in New York as the rain pulls down the smog and particulate matter that hovers over cities. In addition, the solar panels that the EarthShips rely on are in an exact ratio per Ship. Thus, the biggest issue for designing an EarthShip in NYC would be the issue of stacking the houses on top of one another and to have enough power from perhaps just 40 sq ft to energize several stories. Indeed, there are many challenges for bringing these designs to the city that never occurred to me.
Another focal point of the movie was that when Reynolds was prohibited to work in the United States, he left American and sought to aide the victims of the tsunami in the Bay of Bengal in 2004. In India, his designs were encouraged and adored by the hundreds of locals that built their own EarthShips by using local garbage and infusing them with Indian design. These houses allowed for drinking water, irrigation and shelter for large families without the disturbances of government regulation that, according to Reynolds, stymies progress. It is striking that a developing country would be able to embrace such progressive techniques, whereas in America, many cannot grasp the potentially dire circumstances that the world may be under in the near future. As a group, we reiterated our belief that all options must be put on the table for the sake of having comfortable and reasonably sustainable living situations for the sake of posterity and longevity. In a certain sense, this approach was very inspiring for all of us as we recognized the fact that those in the room do have the potential to improve architectural standards around the world.
The event certainly added value to the community as it enabled us, in a very casual setting, to study ingenuity and to appreciate the struggle that it takes in the 21st century to bring about needed change. The Wagner School film screenings are part of a series that focuses on environmentalism and urban planning and is certainly something that I highly recommend for those that want to think differently about the panoply of directions that we can pursue in what will be a decisive era for the environment.

Images:

On October 4th, there was a national open house of buildings and public areas that are environmentally friendly. The 6BC Botanical Garden in Manhattan, located on 6th street in between Avenues B and C, took part in this American Solar Energy Society’s Green Buildings Tour. The open house showcased the garden’s use of solar energy. At the event, there were information sheets available for the public to explain the garden’s solar installation. Tracy Fitz, who founded City Solar, is one of the main designers and contributors to the solar installations. City Solar is an organization that encourages sustainable, renewable, alternative energy in public and private spaces. The event was low-key and casual, and visitors could help themselves to the information packets available and walk around the garden to see the solar-energy efforts. It was really interesting just to go to the garden because it is surrounded by buildings, and seeing nature in New York City can be rare.

At the 6BC Botanical Garden, visitors could walk around and look at the garden and the shed with the second-story library and then ask Tracy Fitz about the solar installations. A history of the project was provided that began in 1994, when some of the members of the 6BC Botanical Garden wanted to design a solar electric powered waterfall. They designed a solar electric system that powered the waterfall when the sun was out. Volunteers wanted to create a solar electric design that could power the waterfall and a small library as well. Tracy Fitz later created a battery installation with a charge controller and a timer for the pump for the waterfall. Eventually, a second story was added to a small tool shed in the garden to create a library, which is also solar powered, and volunteers placed two solar modules on top of the library’s roof. Additional solar modules were placed elsewhere in the garden. Although there was a setback to the design when a fire in 2002 damaged the batteries and the shed, they were soon restored. The specific batteries and methods of powering the library and pump were also described. For example there is a DC charging station for the weed-wacker, and DC lighting for the tool shed and library, as well as DC outlets in the library. Direct Current energy (DC) is produced by solar cells. At the garden I also noticed that in the corner, there is a community compost area, where the public can bring decomposable materials such as vegetable waste, coffee grounds, leaves, tea leaves, egg and peanut shells, worms, and even horse manure. This seems like a great way for the community to get involved in some of the efforts of the garden to improve the environment.

(picture taken from http://herls.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/2-story.jpg)

This event was a new experience for me. I had never visited the garden before, and it was really pretty inside. There are benches and little swings that you can sit on, and a pathway that goes through the garden. There is also a section where you can sit at a table, which is made out of a giant rock. It is peaceful and quiet, and completely unexpected in the busy and chaotic atmosphere of New York City. At the event, I learned about how solar energy was being used in this particular space, which was interesting because it showed me that it is possible to obtain energy and use it in a way that doesn’t damage the environment with pollutants. At the open house, there were sheets that visitors could take that told how we could “go solar” at home. Although this is unrealistic for me to do right now, it showed me that it is possible to use solar energy for electricity and also for water systems. It made me interested in learning more about solar energy and how it can be implemented on a large scale, or on a small scale, like in the 6BC garden. The open house seemed to have a positive effect on the community, because it encouraged people to come to the garden and look at the projects being done there. It also positively impacts the environment, but not only on the day of the event, but instead on an every day basis. Because the public was able to visit the garden and receive information on solar power, the event seemed to achieve its goal of educating the public on solar energy. I think that the event could have been advertised more to reach a broader group of people.

My experience at the Green Buildings Open House at the 6BC garden on October 4 was overall positive. I was happy to discover a new spot in New York that isn’t widely known about. It is easy to miss nature while living in the city, and it is nice to know that I can visit this garden. It was also really interesting to see the solar efforts that have been undertaken at the garden, and it taught me more about the importance of solar energy.

On December 3 the Wagner Environmental Policy and Action (WEPA) group sponsored an intimate roundtable event at the Wagner School in the Puck building. The event entitled “Careers in the Environment” was a discussion moderated by Jeremy Friedman who is the head of the NYU Sustainability task-force program. Friedman, a recent graduate himself, interviewed four alums all of whom have different careers but are united by an NYU diploma and an interest in the environment. About 25 students ranging from undergraduate to graduate attended the event. The tone was very didactic with all of the students eager to learn more about the transition from the classroom to the work place and to think of clever options for a relatively new field.
The four speakers ranged in age and occupation. Meredith Bergmann, who is a partner at a media solutions company, advises film and television companies on how to operate more sustainability. Les Judd, the founder of Green Boroughs, spoke at length about his various jobs and his most recent work for Green Boroughs which he hopes will develop into a database that ranks the “green-ness” of NYC based companies. Joshua Klainberg, the youngest of the panel, discussed his work for the New York League of Conservation Voters and his endeavors to “educate, evaluate and endorse” candidates in state-elections and to lobby for environmental reform. Finally, Samantha Macbride addressed the students about her work as the Deputy Director for Recycling at the Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling for the NYC Department of Sanitation. Indeed, Wagner went all out for this event by having such notable alums speak to the students in such a comfortable setting as a large conference room.
(The Moderator, Jeremy Friedman)
The job that interested me most was Ms. Bergmann’s who gave examples about the struggles to produce movies and television shows sustainably within a hectic city and with important bottom-lines. For Ms. Bergmann, there are short-term and long-term projects that she has worked on, most recently for NBC/Universal. While advising Saturday Night Live she proposed a switch to biodegradable paints, LED lighting and foods to be served that were made locally as to reduce the transportation emissions. For the long-term, she explained to us that SNL builds its stages in New Jersey and then brings them into the city. She is working on ways to recycle SNL’s sets and to find a place closer to the studios in order to make SNL greener. She urged us to follow our passions and to remember that there is absolutely anything that can be related to the environment as long as you use a bit of imagination and think about what you learned while studying at NYU.
The panelists asked each other questions about their jobs and then the students were permitted to ask the panelists anything. This interaction was helpful so that we could direct the panelists towards the areas that we had particular questions about. When asked about the longevity and safety of environmental work within a corporate or public world, the panelists all agreed that environmental jobs are quite safe, especially compared to jobs on Wall Street. Given that environmentalism as a career path is quite new, all of the panelists concurred that the industry is only beginning to grow and is nowhere near maturity. This optimism was very encouraging. In addition, the panelists also agreed that because environmental jobs are so often uncharted, one has the option to be an entrepreneur and to create his or her own profession with the environment in mind. Indeed the moderator, who helped to create the task force for NYU’s sustainability while he was still a student, was able to create a project for academic credit into an occupation that in his words has already “reduced electricity consumption by 10,000 times my life’s consumption.”
New York City was certainly suggested as an ideal starting point for urban environmentalism, but Ms. Macbride proposed that students also consider jobs in Washington. According to Macbride, years of environmental reforms have recently been revoked by the present administration. She urged us all to lobby for increased federal laws and mandates for the environment in order to keep the ball rolling towards sustainability at home and eventually abroad by example.
While I was not surprised to hear of such success from fellow Violets, I was reassured to know that there are still opportunities to improve the environment and to run a profitable and healthy business. This was my second Wagner sponsored event. The first, a screening and discussion of “Garbage Warriors” was enjoyable but this event was practical. Apparently this event happens every year (this years had the highest attendance yet) and helped to demystify the confounding job world while also giving something for students to aim for. While I may not be able to fit environmental studies into my schedule next year, some of the panelists studied business at NYU and were able to parlay their knowledge into sustainable development. I really have no criticisms of the event. With the exception of booking a larger room, everything about it was great. They even provided some snacks!
This event offered a light at the end of the tunnel and introduced me to the environmental job world of the 21st century. I was very impressed that each panelist offered their business card and suggested that we call them anytime for basic questions and to apply for interviews to numerous different organizations. It would be interesting to have an event like this for students who studied Environmental Studies or other science courses at LSP/GSP who have since graduated and to have them come back and speak to us in a similar format. It is so important, especially in the midst of exams, to have encouragement that there is opportunity to be had and that with an NYU sciences focus there are particularly compelling and beneficial options in the years ahead.

(Samantha MacBride (MPA '96)

The event attended was a book reading/ discussion at Bluestockings, the radical bookstore and vegan café on Allen St. (between Stanton and Rivington), at 8 o’clock on Wednesday, December fourth. About forty or fifty people attended this event, the topic of which was acclaimed activist Van Jones’s new book, entitled The Green Collar Economy, How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. Mr. Jones flew from Harvard University to speak at Bluestockings, apparently at the request of the owner of Bluestockings, who was a good friend of his.
Given the nature of the bookstore, the crowd attracted to the discussion was very much on the liberal side of the political spectrum, which helped contribute to the persuasive, passionate activist-like tone of the event. Jones’s focus on the current environmental/political state, as well as important theories within his book was received very well, and the audience seemed full of thoughtful discussion at the end of the hour and a half long speech.

Jones began by addressing the current economic crisis, and explained that with the ever-expanding force of globalization also come global problems. Wrenching economic changes are approaching, and require planning. On an optimistic note, Jones said, “Sometimes a breakdown can open the door for a breakthrough.” He acknowledged the fact that the floor had essentially been torn out from under our feet, but also pointed out that in many ways, i.e. technology and decreasing social oppression, the ceiling had also been torn away. “Will we fall or fly,” he asked, “now that the floor and ceiling have been torn away?”
The speaker then addressed the fallacies that he felt brought us here, and refused to place all the blame on the administration of the last eight years. Instead, he explained, we had to realize that the current economy’s problems could be traced back to at least thirty years ago. He pointed out also that the right wing movement of the nineties had a lot to do with our situation at present. The first of the three fallacies in economic policy over the last thirty years that he listed was that the US economy could survive solely off of consumption, which, he exclaimed, is not sustainable. The second was that Americans could survive on credit, rather than smart savings. That debt-ravaged economy, Jones pointed out, just crashed. The final fallacy, which he emphasized the most, was that America could survive based on environmental destruction, and not ecological restoration.
Jones then critiqued the current economy and its corrupt attempts at “going green” against the parameters of his ideal “green economy”. He pointed out that it has always been assumed “green living” was only for an elite group of people who could afford to spend extra money on environmentally friendly lifestyles. Jones contrarily stated that because of its sustainability, the “green economy” will be “the only part of the economy that will survive in light of this catastrophe”. Jones then called out “dirty greens”, or powerful administrators in green businesses who have become corrupt, as well as the process of political green-washing, whereby parties feign concern about the environment, while emissions continue to go up. Again, on a more positive note Jones assured us that, “We are now having the right conversation.” The environment has become a moral, political, and economic problem, as evidenced by the fact that President-elect Obama plans on putting 150 billion dollars towards solving environmental issues and creating 5 million green jobs by 2012.
On this note, Jones began to merge the environmental and economic crises by explaining the endless amount of new jobs available in a green economy. “We want eco-equity, not eco-apartheid,” he explained. He then asked how we could make sure this movement will be effective. The answer offered: cities. Poor, less energy-efficient homes must be improved first. “Everything for the environment can be a job…nothing can be done without labor,” declared Jones. In discussing a new green economy and its many elements, he warned his audience about corporate corruption and an eco-fascist economy.
The speaker then began a description of his ideal “Green Collar Economy”, which, he explained, addresses pathways to progressive living. There will be a place for the impoverished in this new economy, Jones assured us. He passionately declared that we must get off the path from resource wars and clean up. No longer can we dismiss this issue, he said. “We must all respect and honor the Earth.”
The speaker then brought up a green energy grid, called in his book the National Smart Energy Grid, which would connect clean energy power centers to population centers. Not only could energy be brought to people, but people could also add to the energy available by installing solar panels or wind turbines on their property.
Interestingly, after passionately supporting the idea of a green energy grid, Jones declared that it would be “necessary, but radically insufficient”. He explained that if all we do is change our source of energy, we will have the same problems, but solar powered, and we will essentially cook the planet. We mustn’t only treat symptoms of this problem, he implored, but must breakdown and rebuild to be green everything we can in our society.

Attending a discussion of this sort outside of school was a new, and fascinating experience for me. The venue was small enough that the mood was very intimate, rather than a lecture hall that elicits an impersonal feeling. I feel that this added to the impact Dr. Jones’s speech had on the audience. It is especially important when talking about such a vast issue that it doesn’t seem overwhelmingly large and out of our hands. From listening passively to the audience’s chatter after the speech I gathered that I wasn’t alone in my feeling of empowerment with regard to this issue.
Besides specific details about the Green Collar Economy (which I am learning more of from the copy of the book I purchased) I was left with something that I feel is infinitely more valuable, and that is the confidence that we simply will change our way of living. We must. As much as learning about environmental issues in class drives home the fact that we have to change, and have to do it now, the amount of information can get a little overwhelming, and disheartening. This discussion, I feel, was an excellent supplement to class, seeing as it was more personal, and because it wasn’t an academic environment, I suppose Jones could take some creative license in his delivery of the information. I therefore left feeling significant, and in a way powerful, for it is we, after all, who will be making the change happen.
I think the event had great value to the community, and I hope that Mr. Jones remains in New York for a while to speak at other venues of this type. I would say that he should increase the size of his audience to better reach the community, but I feel that speaking to a larger audience would in a way dilute his message. I would hope that his audiences stay this size and just become more frequent. The event definitely had a positive impact on everyone involved, and seemed very successful in informing and inspiring people to take action against the destruction of our planet.

Overall I was very happy with my experience at this event and found it extremely worthwhile. Seeing as Bluestockings has events almost every night, I will definitely pay more attention to their events calendar in the future, in hopes that there will be other discussions about the environment soon. I also plan to finish Mr. Jones’s book over Winter Break, so as to fully understand his arguments.

Wind Turbines on a Wind Farm

Uses of Solar Panels