Environment : Innovation + Job News

The City of Clearwater's sustainability initiatives continue as they break ground on the second reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant.
 
The plant, located on U.S. Highway 19 N., will use state-of-the-art technology to treat up to 6.25 million gallons of brackish (or slightly salty) water, turning it into clean drinking water for city residents.
 
Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration, is a water purification process that is used by major bottled water companies. It reduces the salts, minerals, ions and other impurities, leaving high quality drinking water. The brackish water would not be drinkable without the RO process and doesn’t have alternative uses.
 
The $34 million project is being funded cooperatively by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and has created new jobs for contractors, electrical engineers, plumbers and construction workers.
 
The plant is part of the city's integrative water management strategy, which includes five tactical areas: in-home water conversation including the use of reclaimed water; preservation of drinking water resources; protecting the coastal environment by decreasing discharge to local bodies of water; producing more locally; and cost management.

"Everything we do in public utilities is to try to be sustainable as possible, and to responsibly use the water resources we have," says Nan Bennett, assistant director or public utilities for the City of Clearwater.
 
In an innovative move, the city is taking the concentrate, a salty by-product produced by its existing RO plant and treating it again in the second plant, allowing less water to be withdrawn from the ground supply. Another project currently in the pilot phase involves ground water replenishment, or taking leftover reclaimed water, treating it through the RO process and injecting it back into the aquifer. This creates a complete water cycle, naturally balancing the water supply.

Construction will begin in June, with estimated completion in December 2014.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Nan Bennett, Tracy Mercer, City of Clearwater

A Tampa-based company has found an economically viable way to help the environment.

The Green Can places large green recycling containers in the shape of a soda can in apartment complexes and other high traffic areas. Described as "the perfect marriage of economic and social responsibility," the cans have a triple benefit: they make it easy for people to recycle, they support charities through the donation of proceeds from recycling, and they benefit local businesses through advertising.

The idea came about when CEO and Founder Dennis Gallagher was working as a painter for apartment complexes. He noticed that none of them did any recycling, which he found odd. After crunching the numbers he realized the reason was probably economical, since the proceeds from recycling would only pay for the process itself. It was then that he came up with the idea of adding advertising to the process, to make the business profitable.

"To sweeten the deal, we donate the proceeds from the recycling, so everyone can benefit," says Gallagher.

There are currently around 200 cans at 130 locations in the Greater Tampa area. The company is expanding into Pinellas this week with the same of its first franchise to Boley Centers, a nonprofit that services the homeless, youth and those with mental disabilities in the Tampa Bay region.

Gallagher recently designed a cap for the containers to keep the water out and plans to start collecting clothing donations soon.

Close to one million cans have been recycled in roughly a year’s time, with an estimate of 4,000 pounds of aluminum and plastic being recycled each month.

The Green Can is one of 13 local businesses honored recently with The University of Tampa’s Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards.The awards were based on three criteria: people (employee and community wellbeing), planet (environmental health) and profit (economic viability).

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Dennis Gallagher, The Green Can

LumaStream offers a turnkey, innovative lighting infrastructure that is not only cost effective but energy efficient and highly controllable.

"We don’t have small plans. We intend to change the world of lighting," comments LumaStream's CEO and Founder Eric Higgs.
 
A high-tech entrepreneur with ties to Silicon Valley, Higgs discovered the product while searching for lighting solutions for the exterior of the parking garage at the Element building in downtown Tampa. He wasn't happy with the cost and quality of available LED products. Teaming up with an electrical contractor, he saw an opportunity. The team learned about a company in Canada that had created the core technology now being used by LumaStream. They bought the company, developed the product and patented the digital power conversion technology.
 
The product converts high voltage lighting to low voltage digitally and then sends it long distances in a highly controlled way. The result is a longer lasting lighting system that is also more efficient and has a higher quality output. Described as an "intelligent power center," the system is also unique because of its control center, which includes a wireless interface that can be used through a smartphone or other mobile device or a push-button wall station.
 
Also a sculptor, Higgs is no stranger to large visual displays, with his artwork being found in major public installations and museums around the world. He credits his fine arts background with helping him create the design for the fixtures.

LumaStream's lighting systems can be found in venues across Tampa Bay including Tech Data, Tropicana Field and the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.

The company plans to stay in Tampa Bay and is moving its power supply manufacturing from Canada.

"What I like about this area is that it’s one of the top technology hubs of anywhere in the country. The passion, with the incubators and accelerators, and the momentum and desire to support new ventures is absolutely amazing," says Higgs.

LumaStream is one of 13 local businesses honored recently with The University of Tampa’s Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards. The awards were based on three criteria: people (employee and community well-being), planet (environmental health) and profit (economic viability).

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Eric Higgs, LumaStream

What do a hotel, a university, a medical simulation facility and a green river have in common? They are winners in the Tampa Downtown Partnership's 6th Annual Urban Excellence Awards.

The Partnership presented Urban Excellence Awards to nine organizations for their contributions toward making downtown Tampa more bright, creative and inviting:

Floridan Palace, for turning a deteriorating hotel into a restored, vibrant place;

Lights on Tampa: Aqua Luces, for illuminating five downtown bridges, creating engaging new media works of art;

Oxford Exchange, for creating a community hub that offers coffee, tea, shopping and dining in a posh atmosphere;

Sail Pavilion, for establishing a cocktail lounge on the Riverwalk offering 360 degree views of the city;

Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, for being a community leader providing recognition and funding to Tampa Bay nonprofits;

The University of Tampa, for providing a residentially based, intimate higher education experience that contributes to the downtown community;

USF Health CAMLS (Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation), for attracting people to the downtown core from across the country and around the world for specialized medical training.

Special Awards of Excellence were also presented to two organizations:

Mayor’s River O’Green for turning the Hillsborough River green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and the 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee for promoting the positive aspects of Tampa Bay to millions of viewers during the Republican National Convention
 
"It’s always greatly appreciated to be recognized for making a difference," says Robin Nigh, Manager of Art Programs for the City of Tampa.

The City’s Lights on Tampa initiative worked with property owners to place permanent lights on five downtown landmark bridges in less than eight months. The project has been recognized on both the local and national level, and is now proud to be among the Urban Excellence Award winners.

"We knew the lights would be a game changer for downtown,” says Nigh. "They complement our assets. It’s important to a community to have things like this that celebrate where we live."

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Sources: Donna Chen, Tampa Downtown Partnership; Robin Nigh, City of Tampa

A team of students and faculty at the University of South Florida have developed a material that will provide more efficient, less costly removal of carbon dioxide from the environment.

The team worked with faculty members from King Adullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on a collaborative research grant with the goal of finding a new compound for more efficient carbon capture and separation. Challenges with existing materials include high energy costs associated with the separation and purification process. The new material is not only more cost effective, but also works in the presence of water vapor, something other materials have not been able to do.

The breakthrough material, known as SIFSIX-1-Cu, was not easy to develop. The family of contents existed, but the chemists made new versions by combining inorganic and organic chemical building blocks that are part of a general class of materials known as Metal-Organic Materials, or “MOMs.” The result is a crystal that contains holes that trap molecules of CO_2, but allow other molecules to pass through.

"We're in a new age of design of materials," says Mike Zaworotko, professor of chemistry at the University of South Florida. "You could say we’re more architects than chemists because we design materials to have a particular structure and properties, which was not an option in the past."

The material could have lots of practical implications for clear-air technologies that address the global challenges in controlling carbon emissions, including clean coal, natural gas purification and the purification of biogas created by plant fermentation.

The next step is to turn the material into a product and a process, which will involve more collaborative efforts and possible entrepreneurial opportunities both locally and nationally.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Mike Zaworotko, University of South Florida

The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), which draws together corporate executives to address worldwide societal challenges, presented its 2013 Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy to Mosiac for providing sustainable farming education and assistance to developing countries.

The Mosaic Villages Project began in 2008 when concerned employees noticed how the global rise in food prices was affecting small-holder farmers.

"We felt that with our expertise and market presence, we could do something to help them," says Chris Lambe, director of social responsibility for Mosaic, a Minneapolis-based corporation that produces fertilizer from phosphate mined east and south of Tampa.

The project assists farmers in Guatemala, India and eight African countries break the cycle of poverty through skill development and sustainable farming practices. Mosaic’s agronomists and soil scientists visit villages to analyze the soil, build the nutrient base and teach simple modern farming techniques.  

The result is improved livelihood. Because the efforts are so concentrated, results literally occur within one planning season -- five to six months after the program begins.

"It's a difference between them not having enough food to eat, to actually having a food surplus," says Lambe. "They can not only feed their families, but also sell the food and have some income."

The program has had a tremendous success rate, with 90 percent of the farmers graduating from the 3-year program. Perhaps the most notable success is long-term societal change. The African villages have seen a 40 percent reduction in stunting (young kids not growing the correct height and weight because of malnutrition).

The program has also become self-replicable, with farmers in surrounding villages experiencing similar successes by observing.   

"Social change is occurring,'' says Lambe. "It's not just about the program anymore.''

Mosaic's employees in the Tampa Bay region are involved in the program in areas such as product production and quality, inventory management, shipping, logistics and the transportation of fertilizer from Florida to the African villages.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Chris Lambe, Mosaic

Don't have time to wash your car? Citysleekers brings clean to you.

Citysleekers is a mobile car cleaning start-up business based out of St. Petersburg. For $25, a "clean freak" will bike to your car and clean it while you work, shop, eat or play.

"We transform every parking space into a clean car waiting to happen," says Nick Price, co-owner and CEO of Citysleekers.

Customers make a reservation online or by flagging down a sleeker on a bike. Citysleekers also works with large companies for bulk orders, like the Chi Chi Rodriguez Sports Complex, where clients get their cars washed while playing golf.

In addition to the convenience factor, the company is also eco-friendly. All of the products are organic-based, and all water used goes into the mixing of the solution so none is wasted.

"I’ve always had a passion for trying to give back to our planet because we take so much out of it that some things need to be given back," says Price.  

The company takes giving back a step further by donating to the production of wells. They also plan to recycle the microfibers used in the cleaning process to turn them into blankets and other items.

The idea was first generated by Price’s former business partner Evan Brady in a new venture creation course at USF St. Petersburg. The two shared a passion for cars and wanted to find a way to make the cleaning process quicker and more eco-friendly.

Price, an information systems management major, is now running the company and plans to do so for the long term.

The company serves the St. Petersburg and Clearwater area right now, and hopes to expand throughout Florida and eventually to other states.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Nick Price, Citysleekers

Hunter A. Booth, a landscape architect with more than 30 years of experience has opened his new landscape architecture firm, Booth Design Group, Inc. The firm will focus on urban design, planning, sustainability and exotic landscapes, as well as landscape architecture for LEED projects and sustainable design.

Booth's new office is located in downtown St. Petersburg. 

"St. Petersburg has been my home since moving to the area 15 years ago,'' Booth says. "I love the synergy of being located in downtown setting with access to the local government, other design professionals, current projects, dining and attractions.''

Booth's business partner, James Beatty, is a registered landscape architect who has also worked on hundreds of projects throughout the Tampa Bay region. Between Booth and Beatty, the team has provided landscape architecture and design for a wide variety of sectors including municipalities, airports, corporate campuses, hospitals, lifecare facilities,  stadiums/arenas, residential, institutions and roadways/trailways.With the opening of their new office, the team plans to expand and hire.

"We anticipate adding one to two jobs this year with graduate landscape architects,'' he says.

Booth Design Group recently worked on projects including the Salvador Dali Museum, the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach and Harbor Walk at USF St. Petersburg. Booth says his team is currently involved in some multifamily residential projects as well as the creation of a new city park in St. Petersburg.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Hunter A. Booth, Booth Design Group

Trash2Cash-Energy, a newly created company in the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator at USF Connect, created a process that converts landfill gases into fuel.

When trash in a landfill is biodegraded, methane gas is produced. The EPA requires landfills to burn this gas on site or convert it into carbon dioxide. There are currently more than 3,000 active landfills in the United States -- 60 in Florida alone -- many of which do not fully utilize the energy produced by the gas.

A team consisting of two faculty members and three graduate students at the University of South Florida saw an opportunity and developed technology that converts this gas into fuel. The revolutionary, patented new process not only provides a renewable source of energy but greatly reduces the amount of emissions produced by the landfills. 

The team is currently developing the process further to see if it can be made commercial. If the technology takes off, the implications for environmental impact are tremendous. The team estimates that the average landfill will produce approximately 7,140 gallons of fuel each day, creating enough diesel to fuel 25 garbage trucks for a week.

The company received $100,000 in initial funding from the Department of Energy as the first place winner of the 2012 MegaWatt Ventures Competition, an annual clean energy business plan competition, and is seeking additional funding from the Small Business Administration.

The next step is to build a pilot plant in the Tampa Bay area that will test the process to see if it's financially feasible for commercial use.

"If we are successful, it will have tremendous impact not just within the community here, but for all of Florida and beyond,'' says Babu Joseph, VP of research for Trash2Cash-Energy and professor at the University of South Florida. "We think we can offer a very lucrative solution that will solve a significant environmental problem and reduce our dependence on imported oil.''

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Babu Joseph, Trash2Cash-Energy

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Museum of Botany and the Arts in Sarasota is featuring the photography of environmental photojournalist and Clearwater native Carlton Ward Jr. now through November 27.

A gallery walk and talk will be hosted October 17 from 5 to 6 pm. RSVP here for the special tour or call 941-366-5731, ext. 237.

The exhibit will feature 20 original photographs taken during the recent Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition, of which Ward participated along with three other Floridians. The 1,000-mile expedition took place over a 100-day period beginning in January of this year with the goal of raising public awareness and generating support for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Project.

The project connects natural lands, waters, farms, forests and ranches from the Everglades to Georgia to protect the health and welfare of the people, wildlife and watersheds. This ultimately ensures the sustainability of Florida's water supply, as well as agricultural heritage and economies.

"Selby Gardens shares a common mission of environmental conservation with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition. We are invested in the success of the Corridor from the perspective of native plant conservation,'' says Jeannie Perales, director of education at Selby Gardens.

The exhibit promises to provide a unique opportunity to see the beauty of Florida in its many facets, most of which have never been seen by the general public. The vivid images of water, plants and animals will allow viewers to feel as if they are standing in the actual Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The exhibit will also include select images from Ward's Gulf Coast Collection, including shots of the sun setting and moon rising over Tampa Bay.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Jeannie Perales, Selby Gardens

Tampa International Airport (TIA) is no longer just a place to pass through on your way in or out of Florida. A new monthly event titled "Friday Flight'' aims to make the airport an entertainment destination for locals and travelers alike.

"It's a public space,'' says Kari Goetz, public affairs manager for TIA. "We want people to see it for that, as well as a place they can just come and enjoy.''

The idea was spurred, in part, by the positive response to the live music at TIA that greeted travelers during the Republican National Convention. The goal is to provide a warm welcome to newcomers, as well as bring in locals who want to enjoy the space.  TIA plans to host the events once per month, though not on the same Friday each time, allowing flexibility to work around major holidays or events.
 
The inaugural event takes place October 5, with a 1950s feel and performances by local band The Vodkanauts. A special vodka menu will be available. You'll find the entertainment on the third floor of the main terminal, between gates A and C. Short term parking at the airport is free for the first hour, and $4 for up to 80 minutes.

"It's another opportunity for people to be wowed by Tampa,'' says Goetz.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Kari Goetz, Tampa International Airport

Stantec, a Tampa design firm, has been ranked the number one green building engineering firm in the U.S. by trade magazine, Building Design + Construction. The award was given based on reported revenues for projects during 2011.
 
The firm, which is known for its focus on sustainable building solutions, was also ranked number two in the country for number of staff accredited under the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Stantec has more than 650 employees who hold LEED accreditation.
 
‘We were green before green became the norm,’ says Fermin A. Diaz, PE, Stantec’s VP and regional manager in Florida. ‘We contributed to many sustainable projects in 2011 around the Tampa Bay area.’
 
Stantec’s Florida teams provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services to various projects including, The Center for Building Hope in Sarasota, The Archbold Biological Station in Venus, The Courtney at Bay Pines in Pinellas County and the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) at USF downtown.
 
The firm employs more than 225 design professionals in Florida, including 70 people at their Tampa location. As Stantec continues to grow Diaz says the firm will be expanding its workforce.  
 
‘We are always looking for new talent,’ he says. ‘Whether it is direct hire or through strategic acquisitions we will be seeking technical and professional staff for our future projects.’

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Fermin A. Diaz, Stantec

The Tampa Bay Partnership and The Victory Group have teamed up to create live webcasts of interviews with community, business and political leaders from across the state in hopes that you and the rest of the world will tune in rather than watch traditional media coverage surrounding the Republican National Convention.

The idea behind Front Row Tampa Bay is to showcase the stories of innovators, investors and thought leaders in their own words unfiltered by outsiders or insiders who may be more focused on different perspectives or unfavorable comparisons.

"The program provides opportunities for organizations of all types to showcase leading industries, groundbreaking research, up-and-coming entrepreneurs and our unparalleled quality of life,'' writes Stuart Rogel, president and CEO of the Partnership. "Using cutting-edge technology, our four-day Web TV broadcast will spotlight some of the key drivers that position the area so well in the new economy.''

Stories and interviews with people like Florida Gov. Rick Scott, former Gov. Jeb Bush and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn specifically showcase investment opportunities and job growth in industries targeted by the Partnership, namely applied medicine and human performance, high-tech electronics and instruments, business, financial and data services, and marine and environmental activities.

Front Row will also offer stories on local attractions and RNC-related parties as a way to show the experiences and faces of Tampa Bay residents and visitors.

The overall investment -- more than $500,000 -- is among the largest the Partnership and its investors or any other organization is spending to market Tampa Bay.

Writer: Diane Egner
Source: Stuart Rogel, Tampa Bay Partnership

The city of St. Pete just got a little greener thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act designed to encourage municipalities to implement energy saving measures.
 
St. Pete used the money to install new solar panels for water heater systems at the Coliseum and City Hall.
 
“In St. Pete we were doing certain things anyway with the intended goal of reducing our energy consumption,” says Raul Quintana, architect for the City of St. Pete. “It’s something that St. Pete has worked hard to strive towards, even before the grant was provided to us. The funding allowed us to move forward with these initiatives.”
 
A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held at the Coliseum on May 29, however, it was just one of 21 city facilities that had solar water heater systems installed. Other projects include new energy efficient HVAC systems, chiller plant replacement and lighting retrofits with greener fixtures. Altogether these energy plans were part of a $2.38 million project funded through the federal grant. Quintana says the investment will help the city save money in the future by cutting costs.
 
“If we are able to reduce our expenditures, we are able to do other things,” he says. “Any monies that are saved on our operating expenses allow us to use our resources on better projects. Whenever we can save money, it is great for our citizens and great for our community.”
 
Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Raul Quintana, City of St. Pete

The Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach Hotel has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation to make its rooms hypoallergenic and eco-friendly.

The hotel, which is located at the southern point of Clearwater Beach at 691 South Gulfview Boulevard, is comprised of 110 guest rooms, all of which were made hypoallergenic.

“In the guest rooms, we removed all original carpet and all wallpaper, and drywall was replaced with a hypoallergenic product and the floor covering is now vinyl wood plank,” says Nigel Duffett, general manager of the Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach Hotel. “The flooring is 100 percent recycled and green-certified and all other products we use are green-friendly as well.”

According to Duffett, the complete renovation cost more than $2.5 million, however he says it was important to give guests something they have been looking for.

“Our guests are looking for ultra-clean guest rooms and this is where the project started,” he says. “As we planned changes toward this aim, including the flooring, it also became clear that an increasing number of guests are requesting a hypoallergenic environment in which to sleep. An added benefit is that not only are these products better for our guests' health, but also to that of our planet.”

Duffett says special attention was given to bedding. All guest rooms feature mattresses that are made from organic cotton and wool as well as latex, which will repel bacteria, mold and mildew.

Duffett says overall the investment was well worth the money.

“We took a much-loved friend on Clearwater Beach, and transformed her into a beautiful swan in paradise.”

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Nigel Duffett, Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach Hotel