August 2007 City of Houston Environmental Standard
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features the following: A look at The Welcome to the latest issue of the City’s Wind Power Contract, LEED City of Houston’s environmental e Quick Start Incentive, and the new park Newsletter. We thank you for your assessment, in the news section. The continued interest in the activities and special feature in this issue is an article initiatives of the City of Houston in regarding Mercury and CFL bulbs. Also, regards to our environment. This issue be sure to check out the Environmental Spotlight, and the previous issue report. ______Way to Go Houston
The City of Houston’s Environmental News
Wind Power Contract megawatt increments for 5year terms at competitive prices.
The City has negotiated a contract that Houston residents interested in changing would allow us to purchase large their personal power source to “green amounts of renewable wind generated energy” can go to power, making Houston the national www.houstonconsumerchoice.com to leader among local governments across look into wind power options for their the country using renewable energy. own personal homes.
The renewable wind power contract For further information on the City’s gives the City of Houston the ability to Wind power contract, visit bring in up to 80 megawatts, or http://www.houstontx.gov/environment/r 700,800,000 kilowatthours, of eports/windpowercontract.pdf renewable power, which represents 50% of the City’s total power. The design of LEED Quick Start Incentive the contract includes a negotiated structure that comprises third party To encourage LEED Green Building wholesalers, Reliant Energy, the Rating System certification, the Code Government Land Office, and the City Enforcement division of the City of of Houston to purchase wind power Houston offers a Quick Start service to under a longterm contract. The strategy any project, which has registered for will be to purchase wind power in 10 LEED certification regardless of construction cost and/or size.
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We are consistently completing all Green Houston commercial plan reviews within a record setting eleven days; however the Mayor Bill White hailed The Trust for elimination of another elevenday cycle Public Land's new survey that indicates can save interim financing and other Houston rates first among the nation's costs for the builder. Allowing broader top 10 cities in total acreage of parkland access to the program and rebating the and second behind only San Diego in additional charge is a significant benefit park acreage per capita. to those who undertake the worthy goal of LEED construction and operation. The findings by the Trust for Public Land indicate that of the nation's 10 Such an accelerated permitting process most populous cities, none had more for LEED certified building, puts the total park space than Houston with City of Houston at the forefront in the 56,405 acres. Houston's 27.2 acres per green building movement. As a leader in 1,000 residents ranks second only to San green building, the City of Houston will Diego with 35.6 acres per 1,000 continually promote the building of residents with nearly 45,000 total acres environmentally friendly buildings, as within its limits. Houston is well over part of our goal to make Houston the the national average of 18.8 acres per energy efficiency capital of the world, 1,000 residents. The survey includes and an environmental leader. parks operated within the city by Harris County, the Houston Parks Board, Fort For further information on the City’s Bend County, the Texas Parks and Quick Start Incentive, visit Wildlife Department and the City Parks http://www.houstontx.gov/environment/r and Recreation Department. eports/leedinhouston.pdf For more information about the City’s parks, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/index.ht ml ______
Mercury and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)
vaporize upon contact with air. Children Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs are at the greatest risk from exposure, (CFLs) contain a small amount of and should be kept away from exposed mercury. Concern over mercury found mercury. in the household is necessary because mercury is a highly toxic metal. CFLs contain approximately 5 mg of Exposure pathways for humans include mercury (equivalent to an amount that contact with the skin; breathing mercury would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen) vapors; or consuming fish with a high as compared to 500 mg for a mercury content. Mercury is in liquid thermometer. Electrical charge heats the form at room temperature, but does mercury to gas form. The collision of
Volume 1 2 Issue 3 August 2007 City of Houston the mercury gas with phosphors powder *per HGAC: all HHW programs in is what allows the bulb to be an efficient the Houston area with the exception of light source. CFLs use about 75% less Pearland will accept CFLs and other energy than a standard incandescent fluorescent bulbs for recycling. light bulb and last at least 6 times longer.
This is a significant energy savings The recommended action for care of given the fact that lighting accounts for CFL in a home is close to 20% of the average home’s electric bill. No mercury is released § Store unused bulbs in protective when the bulbs are intact or in use. packaging to prevent breakage § Wear protective eyewear when Residential replacing bulbs § Recycle used bulbs at a local HHW CFLs for home use are not considered facility hazardous waste according to federal solid waste rules (per the EPA), but they It is important to note that the amount of are best disposed appropriately by mercury in a CFL is very small and use bringing them to a household hazardous of CFLs presents an opportunity to waste (HHW) collection facility. The prevent mercury emissions from entering City’s two (2) HHW collection facilities the environment because they help to accept CFLs from residents and then reduce emissions from coalfired power package them in appropriate containers. plants (which account for approximately These items are then picked up by a 40% of the mercury emissions in the contracted HHW company who then U.S.) When coal is burned mercury sends them to a mercury retorter where naturally existing in coal is released into the mercury vapor is collected, the air. processed and reused in the manufacture of other products. For your information, The most common pathway for human the City is charged $1.75/pound by the exposure to mercury is through the HHW vendor to handle the CFLs. deposition of these emissions onto bodies of water. The mercury settles along the bottom in the sediment layer.
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Microorganisms turn this mercury into promote vendors listed on the TCEQ methylmercury. As mercury moves up website: www.recycletexasonline.org. the food chain it bioaccumulates in the fatty tissue of fish the larger the fish How should I clean up a broken the more mercury in the tissue. It is the fluorescent bulb? (per EPA) methylmercury form that is able to cross tissue membranes in the body. Acting as 1. Open a window and leave the a neurotoxin, it can cause damage to the room (restrict access) for at endocrine system. least 15 minutes.
A power plant will emit 10 mg of 2. Remove all materials you can; mercury to produce the electricity to run DO NOT USE a vacuum an incandescent light bulb compared to cleaner. only 2.4 mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time period. This is a § Wear disposable rubber gloves, if considerable reduction in mercury available (do not use your bare emissions. hands). § Carefully scoop up the fragments Commercial and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Fluorescent lights generated within City § Wipe the area clean with a damp facilities can be safely disposed of paper towel or disposable wet wipe. through vendors on contract with the § Sticky tape (such as duct tape) City to safely handle these types of can be used to pick up small pieces items. In fact, the Building Services and powder. Department currently uses this approach to handle fluorescent lights. With the 3. Place all cleanup materials in a HHW collection facilities available to plastic bag and seal it. residents along with contracted vendors set up to handle City generated material, § If your state permits you to put used we provide a responsible option for the or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal safe handling and disposal of CFLs. The the CFL in two plastic bags and put City does not currently provide solid into the outside trash (if no other waste service to commercial interests disposal or recycling options are (per City ordinance). These companies available). have the opportunity to establish § Wash your hands after disposing of contracts with local HHW vendors for the bag. the safe handling of their CFLs just as the City does. 4. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the Some businesses may not realize vacuum bag once done cleaning the area fluorescent bulbs are hazardous; and (or empty and wipe the canister) and put could be unaware of being a generator of the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as hazardous waste. The City can help the cleaning materials, in two sealed provide accurate information about the plastic bags in the outdoor trash or proper disposal of these materials; and
Volume 1 4 Issue 3 August 2007 City of Houston protected outdoor location for normal recycle the spent bulbs. Crushing lamps disposal. is permissible only under the controlled *(per EPA) conditions described in 30 TAC Section 335.261(e). The crushing system must Federal and State Regulation have the approval of the executive director of the TCEQ, and the selected 1996 EPA adopts hazardous lamps under crushing method must be carefully the Universal Waste rule – evaluated. See 40 CFR Part 273 Texas adopted the EPA definition of Any item from a household stream Universal Waste – retains exemption form hazardous waste See 30 TAC Sections 335.261 regulation as do conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQS). Broken bulbs that do not pass the toxicity characteristic leaching Common Household Items and procedure (TCLP) hazard standard for Related Mercury Content toxicity must be treated as hazardous waste. The TCLP regulatory limit is 0.2 Many household items contain mercury; mg/ L for mercury. and so long as the metal is contained within a device it does not pose a health In the state of Texas, a generator may risk to humans. either cover the cost of disposal at a permitted hazardous waste landfill or By Sarah Mason ______
Environmental Spotlight
on our website under the environmental Since our last newsletter we have spotlight archives page. introduced an environmental spotlight to our web page. Here we feature The Texans at Reliant Stadium, and the businesses, organizations, and Astros at Minute Maid Park, and their individuals who have demonstrated a partner Waste Management; share our commitment to the environment. current environmental spotlight.
Each spotlight will last about one month. Last months environmental spotlight was In addition, in subsequent issues of the Continental Airlines. Environmental Standard, we will identify those who have been recognized All environmental spotlights can be in our spotlight since the last issue. Past viewed on the environmental website at businesses, organizations, and http://www.houstontx.gov/environment/s individuals who have been recognized, potlight.html will have their honorable mentions saved ______
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View Previous Issues of the Environmental Standard
To view past issues of the Our previous issue featured the Environmental Standard, log onto our Houston Regional Air Pollution website and select eNewsletters from Reduction: a voluntary plan for major the lefthand column, from there you can sources, Recent Rankings on Houston’s select which issue you would like to Sustainability, and the City of Houston’s view. new Environment web page. ______
Do you have an environmental question or comment for us? If so please email us at [email protected]
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