2005
Tommy Linstroth

The Wind of Change Q2b, 2005 “The future is in the air, I can feel it everywhere, blowing with the wind of change.” The Scorpions, with their late 80s hit The Wind of Change, may not have realized how the winds are really blowing. But many other companies and individuals around the country are not only feeling that wind, but harnessing it as well. We are part of that group as well. Melaver, Inc has recently committed to using wind power for 100% of our electricity use for business operations. Why? Because our power company produces electricity from coal. In fact, their fuel mix incorporates 17% more coal into it than national averages. That does not bode well for local or even regional citizens, who often suffer the fallout of the power plants’ pollution. Mercury from these facilities pollutes regional waterways, and makes it dangerous to eat local fish. Sulfur dioxide leads to acid rain and smog, and particulate matter and other pollutants contribute to the skyrocketing levels of asthma being diagnosed in communities nationwide. Wind power can offer a breath of fresh air. To clarify, Melaver, Inc does not have turbines sitting atop our building directly harnessing wind power. Instead, through the purchase of “green tags”, we are investing in bringing more wind power online nationwide. Ours currently comes from Wyoming. However, as more wind power or other forms of renewable energy come online anywhere in the country, less fossil fuels are need to be burned to create electricity. The scope has thus expanded from a local issue of a small Savannah company to a national issue. The good news is that anyone, from an individual wanting to offset home electricity use to corporations operating across the country, can help reduce the adverse effects of fossil fuel combustion by investing in green tags. In fact, Melaver, Inc has joined the likes of the City of Portland, Interface, Johnson & Johnson, Office Depot, and hundreds of others who have joined the EPA’s Green Power Partnership (www.epa.gov/greenpower) to commit to offsetting a portion of our electricity use through the purchase of green energy. The Scorpions summed it nicely - the future is in the air. By investing in wind and other alternative fuels, we can make sure it is a safe, clean and healthy future for ourselves and our children. For more information on green electricity and green tags, visit www.green-e.org. Tommy Linstroth, Sustainability Associate