GREEN MAP
Green Buildings and Infrastructure
Forks Carbon Zero
- How will the plan play out?
One of the first projects will be the geothermal system, which is expected to see the drilling into the aquifer within a year. Also within a year the Forks intends to retrofit its maintenance vehicles to run on biodiesel.
The results of the feasibility of the wind-turbine (and also a potential rainwater recycling program) should be available in the next few months. More details related to the implementation of the initiatives will be revealed in the coming year.
Metering
The Forks, as noted above, has high utility bills. They do not, however, have a large number of utility meters, which makes it difficult to assess where hydro and natural gas are getting used most. The plan is to install more meters. The more data the Forks can gather on where the energy is being used, the better they will be able to strategize reduction initiatives.
Alternative Uses for Waste Oil and Fuel Supply
The Forks is home to twenty-eight restaurants and take out vendors, many of which produce waste fry grease in their kitchens. The plan is to reuse this oil and convert it into fuel to run the maintenance vehicles used on the Forks site. This not only diverts oil from the waste stream but also reduces the reliance on fossil fuels, thereby reducing carbon production.
Biocomposting
Much of our garbage that is not recyclable can be composted. Many types of organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, organic waste food, etc. at the Forks can be composted to be used as organic fertilizer. Heat produced in the composting process can be recaptured and used for other purposes, something else the Forks is considering. The Forks is considering becoming a bio-composting hub and providing composting services to others in the downtown.
Matching Water Use
The Forks wishes to work toward using types of water that match the need. For example, drinking water is currently used for all purposes at the Forks, including laundry in the hotels, flooding of the skating rinks, flushing toilets and watering the grass. Fresh drinking water, an increasingly precious resource, should be saved for drinking and washing. Different options around gray water use will be explored to meet some of the non-potable water needs of the Forks.
Green Stores
The Forks is considering setting up a “green store-front.” By selling eco-friendly cups, napkins, bags, and perhaps many other unique items to the public, they could both reduce their carbon footprint and educate the public about environmentally-friendly consumption.
A strategy has yet to be developed for a comprehensive recycling program at the Forks. Challenges include the availability of recycling services for many used items. The intent is there, however, and the Forks intends to find as many ways as possible to divert waste away from landfills.
“Target Zero: 2010 Information Kiosk in the Forks Market, helping the public learn about the plan. Source: A. Ross”