Jacksonville Mayor Signs it!

Wow! This is a bigger wow than the Governor's Wow!

Copied directly from Flog, Folio Weekly's blog. Kudos to them for getting the information so quickly:

Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton has signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement, in which cities commit to scaling back their greenhouse-gas
emissions in accordance with the international Kyoto Protocol’s
target for the U.S.: to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Peyton’s prior and
conspicuous lack of participation in the initiative has been covered
continuously by Folio Weekly.

Peyton spokesperson Susie Wiles tells Folio Weekly that until recently,
all conversation about committing to greenhouse-gas reductions had been related
to The Sierra Club’s Cool Cities
program, which the Mayor’s Office and The Sierra Club discussed about a year
ago. Peyton promised to consider joining the program, but after JEA urged him
not to, he “somewhat reluctantly” decided to back away, says Wiles, rather than
commit to something unattainable.
“We were persuaded we could not meet [the
goals of Cool Cities],” says Wiles. Nonetheless, Peyton remained interested in
making efforts to fight global warming, she says.

More recently, and after learning more about the USMCPA from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Peyton was
formally asked to join the agreement by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. Perhaps
anticipating federally mandated greenhouse-gas cuts (post-2008, obviously), the
city of Jacksonville’s lobbyists in Washington also advised Peyton to do so. JCCI’s
recently released report on local air quality was also a factor, says
Wiles.

In fact, Peyton signed the agreement six or seven weeks ago, Wiles
estimates. Because the city is still mapping out the plan it will implement to
meet USMCPA goals, Wiles declined to talk about specific measures. What with all
this budget business, the Mayor’s Office isn’t planning to announce the decision
until late this summer, she says.
Sorry to spoil it, guys.

Philip Ramsey of the Jacksonville
Carbon Neutral Initiative, a group that was founded chiefly to lobby the
mayor to join the USMCPA but has since expanded its mission, reacted to the news
with a bit of skepticism. The schedule for reducing greenhouse gases laid out in Gov.
Crist’s recently issued executive orders — to 2000 levels by 2017, to
1990 levels by 2025, and to 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050 — is superior to
and more realistic than that of the USMCPA, he says.

Even if only symbolic, Peyton’s decision to commit to specific
climate-protection goals is exciting news for local environmentalists. Now comes
the hard part — Wiles says Peyton will soon have to begin persuading his city
“partners” to get onboard the effort to fight global warming.

Again. Wow. I'm really blown away by this. We had just recently discussed how to get the mayor to sign off of the agreement. And now it's done. More to follow....

Charlie Crist signs off on Sustainability

Thanks to Jennifer McCharen with the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative for sending me copies of the executive orders signed by Charlie Crist this week in Miami.

Wow.

It's impressive. It's exciting. It makes one wonder how they're going to actually do it. It also makes one wonder how many lobbyists are going to fight against them.

Here's the skinny:

The State of Florida Partners with the United Kingdom:

1. We will partner in discussing and promoting concepts for a post 2012 climate
   regime that builds upon and broadens Kyoto Protocol in order to protect the
   planet's climate systems by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.


2. We will aim to increase climate-friendly commerce between the United Kingdom
   and Florida to bolster our respective economic positions while mutually
   benefitting each partner. Areas of particular emphasis will include trade
   opportunities in renewable and other advanced energy technologies, products that
   promote increased energy efficiency throughout the economy, and renewable energy
   feedstocks.


3. We will aim to improve our public policies that reduce global emissions of
   greenhouse gases. Our policy focus will include market-based incentives
   that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase our respective reliance on
   renewable energy sources, and increase the energy security of each
   partner. We will explore possible linkages between carbon markets in
   Florida and the United Kingdom.


4. We will aim to improve our science in understanding how climate change is
   affecting our respective economies, our agriculture, our natural resources, our
   environmental quality, and our public health. Our science partnership will
   include exchange of knowledge, expertise, and data that mutually benefit our
   respective scientific communities.


5. We will work to improve our technologies for reducing greenhouse gas
   emissions with a particular emphasis on technologies associated with renewable
   energy generation and storage, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage,
   and other advanced energy technologies that may benefit our respective energy
   sectors.

The State of Florida partners with Germany:

(Pretty much identical agreements, but instead of
British "We will aim...", the Germans prefer the "We will partner..."
approach. Re-read the above, replacing phrases accordingly.)

Executive Order 07-126: Establishing Climage Change Leadership by
Example: Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Florida
State Government

(Instead of re-typing 8 pages, I'll paraphrase)

1. Section 1 establishes greenhouse gas emissions for state agencies and
   government departments by 10% from current levels by 2012, 25% by 2017, and 40%
   by 2025.


2. The Governor's office will track and report resulting financial savings and
   emissions reductions on the Florida Governmental Carbon Scorecard.


3. Section 2 directs improved climate performance of state government
   facilities. Each state agency must conduct an immediate assessment of
   energy use by their facilities during FY 2006-2007 and quantify associated
   greenhouse gas emissions for posting on the Governmental Carbon Scorecard.
   Must be completed by October 1st 2007. The Department of Management
   Services must adop[t LEED-NC standards for all new buildings. They must
   strive for Platinum level for any new building constructed for or by the State
   of Florida. The Department must immediately implement LEED-EB for all
   buildings currently owned and operated by the Department. The
   Department cannot enter into any new lease agreements for office space that
   doesn't meet Energy Star building standards. They have to develop energy
   conservation measures and guidelines for new and existing ofice space over
   20,000 square feet. This also directs development and implementation of a model
   solar project for state-owned office buildings.


4. Section 4 directs improvement of the climate performance of state government
   procurement practices: The Council for Efficient Goverment will consider
   energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions before oursourcing
   projects. The Department of Management Services will develop a "Florida
   Climate Friendly Preferred Products List" to assess products available provided by vendors that have clear energy efficience or other environmental benefits over competing products. Must be completed by October 1, 2007. As of January 2008, state agencies may no longer use meeting or conference space with hotels that have not received the DEP "Green Lodging" certification. The Department will develop bid criteria for the 2009 State Term Contract for Rental Vehicles that incorporate best practices for energy efficiency and environmental performance.


5. Section 5 directs improvement of state government fleets: All state
   agencies must conduct an assessment of transportation related energy and
   greenhouse gas emissions, to include fuel efficience and MPG. They must
   prove within 30 days that all vehicles are meeting minimum maintenance to ensure efficient fuel consumption. All state agencies will only have approval on
   new vehicles with the greatest fuel efficiency in a given class. All state
   agencies under the direction of the Governon shall use enthanol and biodiesel
   when locally available. The Department will assess and document the need
   for alternative fueling facilities to be used by state government vehicles, to
   increase public access to alternative fuel.


6. Section 6 encourages other departments not under the jurisdiction of the
   Governor's Office (ex.: Florida Senate, the State University and Community
   College Sytems, the Dept. of Agricultre) to implement these actions.

Executive Order 07-127: Establishing Immediate Actions to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions within Florida:

1. Section 1 targets greenhouse gas emissions: by 2017 reduce to 2000
   levels, by 2025 reduce to 1990 levels, by 2040 reduce to 80% of 1990
   levels.


2. Section 2 directs members of the governor's administration to produce
   immediate reductions: Secy. of Environmental Protection must immediately
   develop rules to adopt a maximum allowable emissions level for electric
   utilities (similar to the Section 1 targets). Must adopt the California
   motor vehicle emission standards. Must adopt a statewide diesel engine
   idle reduction standard. The Secy. of Community Affairs must convene the
   Fl. Building Commission to revise the Energy Building Code to inease energy
   performance by at least 15% from the 2007 code. Must imitiate
   rulemaking of Fl. Energy Conservation standards to increase efficiency of
   applicable consumer products.


3. Section 3 request the Fl. Public Service Commission to take action to
   promote an open market for clean, renewable enegy technologies. Must
   initiate rulemaking to require utilities produce at least 20% of their
   electricity fom renewable sources. Must initiate rulemaking to reduce the
   cost of connecting solar and other renewables to the grid, and to authorize a
   uniform method to enable residential and commercial customers that produce a certain level of renwable energy to offset their consumption by allowing their
   meters to run in reverse.

Lastly, Executive Order 07-128: Establishing the Florida Governor's
Action Team on Energy and Climate Change

To grossly paraphrase, this order establishes the team as gubernatorial
appointees representing consumers, environment, business, industry, energy,
state, local goverment, and academia. They shall meet and make policy
recommendations based on their findings. These will address:

1. Strategies for consolidation of energy policy.


2. Greenhouse gas reduction strategies and blueprint for actions.


3. Policies to enhance energy efficiency and conservation, along with
   targets.


4. Cap and Trade programs.


5. Diversification of electric generation fuels.


6. Emissions reporting and registry


7. Reduction of greenhouse gases from vehicles.


8. Increasing renewable transportation fuels.


9. Reduction of greenhouse gases from state and local governments.


10. Rewards for early emission reductions in advance of statewide
    programs.

The will also issue recommendations on the following:

1. Adaption strategies to combat adverse impacts to society, public health, and
   the economy.


2. Policies to reduce increases in greenhouse gas emissions from new
   growth.


3. Carbon capture and storage techniques.


4. Land use and management policies.


5. Strategic investments and public-private partnerships to spur economic
   development.


6. University based research, economic development, growth management,
   transportation, natural resource management.

The order goes on to note that the Team will not be compensated for their
services,that public access to records is governed by the Public records Law,
and meetings will be governed by the Open Meetings Law.

Admittedly, that was a pretty fat "skinny", but I hope it brought you, the reader, up to speed on what our Governor is doing to make things happen. Environmentally speaking anyway.

So, what do you think? How are they doing to do it? LEED Platinum for New Construction? LEED EB for all existing structures?

Your comments are vital.

Sustainable Contractors: Are YOU Green?

Carol Lloyd recently wrote an article for SFGate, the San Fransisco Chronicle's online news source, and she presented some really good points on how to 'green up' your residence without spending a fortune. I was especially interested to read her take on environmental contractors, further confirming my own thoughts on the importance of working with a contractor that understands your goals:

For most of us, our homes (not our cars) are where we use the most energy and therefore create the biggest carbon footprint. If we want to avert climate crisis, our society must mainstream eco-friendly building materials, solar and other alternative energies, and highly efficient prefab construction.

But most of us are renting and buying homes that were built by developers who probably didn't have global warming in mind when they broke ground. And even for those planning a remodel or shopping for a new house today, embracing cutting-edge green building isn't always affordable. Of course, you can choose bamboo over wood, Energy Star appliances and an on-demand water heater, but unless you have a contractor who knows the green building world, you may find yourself working against decades of "we have always done it this way" objections.

If you can afford an environmental contractor, by all means do it. Or, if you have the time, do your own research.

But many contractors still don't know much about green building products and methods, and if you choose to go this route and something goes awry, you will pay the piper. (After salvaging doors and windows and appliances off Craigslist and pushing for green everything on a recent remodel, I finally broke down and bought cheap kitchen cabinets and countertops shipped from China because the costs were pushing double the contractor's estimate.) Basically, anything contractors aren't familiar with is a risk, and most homeowners can afford only so many risks before they run out of money.

She is so right. And, it goes for commercial contracting as well as residential contracting. As I've said before, when your contractor is passionate, your project is successful.

I'm not saying that it can't be done, and I would be thrilled to see more traditional contractors that have stumbled into green building stay for the joy of it. I'm just saying that it's easier. And probably more cost-effective.

Carol Lloyd's saying it. Many clients are saying it. I have a feeling the future is going to be filled with questions like, "Are you green?" You'll be able to tell the difference between those that are, and those that aren't.

Environmental contractors will jump up with excitement and say, "Yes! Yes!". Those that aren't will wonder if they look like they've had a rough night. Until they catch up with the rest of the us, they'll have more than a few rough nights.... wondering why the phone isn't ringing anymore.

Cool Globes in Chicago! Cool Globes Jacksonville?

Thanks to Mary, Breaking Ground's passionate-for-sustainability-President, for informing me of the Cool Globes Project happening in Chicago over the next few months. I think Jacksonville is the perfect location for something like this:

• From June-September 2007, the City of Chicago is
  hosting “CoolGlobes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet,” an innovative project that
  uses the medium of public art to inspire individuals and organizations to take
  action against global warming.
  
  The exhibit features over 100 painted
  globes, each five feet in diameter, displayed along
  Chicago’s lakefront from The Field Museum north and at Navy Pier. Artists from
  around the world, including Jim Dine, Yair Engel, Tom Van Sant and Juame Plensa,
  designed the globes, using a variety of materials to transform their plain white
  sphere to create awareness and provoke discussion about potential solutions to
  global warming.
  
  Leading by example, CoolGlobes is a carbon neutral
  project. To offset the carbon emitted from the
  energy needed to create and maintain the exhibit and related events, CoolGlobes
  has developed a diversified strategy that includes donated “green tags”
  (renewable energy certificates), investments to plant trees and foster
  environmentally friendly agricultural practices, and in-kind donations from
  alternative energy companies.
  
  CoolGlobes was launched in Chicago because of the
  City’s leadership and dedication to promoting environmentally sound policies.
  Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s goal is to make our city the greenest in the
  nation through the promotion of environmental programs and practices, including
  a bike initiative, adding hybrid buses to the city’s mass transit system, and
  building “green” libraries, public schools and police stations. Mayor Daley is
  serving as honorary co-chair of the CoolGlobes project.
  
  CoolGlobes also features 200 mini-globes displayed
  around the city throughout the summer; again, each mini-globe depicts a solution
  to global warming. Mini-globes were designed by some of the same artists who are
  working on the full-size globes, as well as by celebrities, including actor
  Chris O’Donnell, U.S. Senator Barack Obama and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
  Students participating in Chicago’s After School Matters Gallery 37 after-school
  arts program for teens designed 40 of the mini-globes.
  
  The CoolGlobes project has been underwritten by a
  variety of corporate and individual sponsors, including Exelon, Pepsi, Medline, Abbott, Toyota and
  Hyatt.
  
  FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS
  
  The popularity of Al Gore’s documentary “An
  Inconvenient Truth” has led to growing public concern about the issue of global
  warming. CoolGlobes leverages this heightened awareness by using the medium of
  public art to unite corporate, government and nonprofit organizations in issuing
  a call-to-action to encourage changes in day-to-day lifestyle and business
  operations that will reduce adverse environmental impact.
  
  Throughout the summer, Chicagoans and other exhibit
  visitors will be challenged to implement five changes in their daily lives or
  business operations to combat global warming. Pledges can be made at the CoolGlobes and Chicago
  Sun-Times Web sites. At the end of the summer, a
  raffle will be held to award a Toyota Prius to one of the pledge
  participants.
  

Jacksonville already has so much in place to promote something like this... First Wednesday ArtWalk... Museums like MOCA... Tony? Heather? Any ideas on how we can make this happen?

How about our business owners that promote sustainability? Sponsorship opportunities?

To learn more about it and spark ideas on how we can do it, visit their website at CoolGlobes.org.

Green Flooring Options

I want to send a shout-out to my buddy, Bob Moore, at Work Place Solutions here in Jacksonville. When asked about the state of sustainable (and cost-effective) flooring, here is what he had to say:

Carpet-traditionally it is made nylon fiber(petroleum based). Some mills offer
nylon made with 1 to 100% recycled content. The higher the recycled content the
higher the cost. Recycling fiber is still in it’s infancy but gaining ground
quickly. Shaw has a great carpet tile that is 100% recyclable. On the back of
every carpet tile is an 800 phone number. Call that number and Shaw will take
the carpet back and pay for the freight. In my opinion that is the best program
in the industry. As an alternative to nylon there are mills that offer recycled
polyester fiber. Carpet backings are starting to incorporate soy oil, hemp and a
plethora of recycled petroleum based products. Grass cloth, wool and cotton are
natural alternatives for carpet fiber but are more pricey and less durable.

Commercial wood flooring is easily replaced with natural wood
laminates (only the top laminate is hardwood with the core and bottom of each
board made up of wood pulp or other materials), cork (renewable) or bamboo
(renewable).

Vinyl Tile and Vinyl Sheet Flooring- some tile
manufacturers are using post construction waste (drywall waste) for fillers. The
vct is 85% limestone with the binders being mostly vinyl products. An
alternative to vct or sheet vinyl is linoleum which is limestone, wood pulp and
resin (pine tar).

Vinyl base- Johnsonite makes a snap-on version
of base that allows you to remove it for carpet replacement. If you use toeless
base and install it before the carpet goes in you do not have to replacement it
when the carpet is changed out.

Ceramic is a fairly green product
(basically it is colored dirt) and can be very affordable. Crossville has a
product with post industrial (ceramic tile manufacturing waste) and post
construction waste (drywall waste) as the base material.

For more information, feel free to give Bob a call at 997-8878. Bob and I are both studying to sit for our LEED AP exam, so I can assure you that he has LEED in the forefront of his mind all the time. (Right, Bob? Go get that book and keep studying!) He's a great resource for sustainable flooring options and I encourage you to pick his brain.

Climate Change Action Plan

The USGBC has got it together. I love their Climage Change Action Plan:

1. Require 50% CO2 reduction for all new commercial LEED
projects.

2. Increase energy reduction prerequisites in LEED

3. Initiate CO2 offset program based on LEED performance data.

4. Provide free LEED for Existing Buildings registration for all
projects certified under LEED for New Construction and LEED for Core and
Shell.

5. Eliminate certification fees for all LEED Platinum projects.

6. Make USGBC 100% carbon neutral by end of 2007

7. Offer "portfolio performance" program for large landlords.

8. Provide professional education curriculum on reducing CO2
emissions.

I would encourage any organization focused on sustainability to develop a Climage Change Action Plan of their own. I know that companies like Avid Group (shout out to my buddy, Stacie Green, in their Jacksonville office *waves*!) have developed GREEN programs to change their daily business practice to promote sustainability. Breaking Ground, of course, promotes their Green Philosophy.

What have you done today? What can you do to ensure we have a fruitful, sustainable tomorrow?

Share with us....

USGBC Boosting Energy Performance Requirements

You know what I love about the green building industry? We don't shy away from a challenge.

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2007 -- As part of the U.S. Green Building Council's
Climate Change Agenda, the group's membership have overwhelmingly voted to
approve a 14 percent increase the requirements for energy performance within
the
LEED standards. The change will require all LEED certified projects to
achieve
at least two "Optimize Energy Performance" points, which will
improve the energy
performance of all LEED certified green buildings by 14
percent for new
construction and 7 percent for existing buildings.

This was recently published on GreenerBuildings.com and is, of course, on the USGBC website as well. The most remarkable thing about the "green" building movement is that the construction and design industry is self-regulating. We are doing it because it's the right thing to do.

Recently, I attended a Town Hall Meeting organized by Shell Oil to discuss the "domestic oil crisis". John Hoffmeister, CEO of Shell, made the statement that government should take the lead to require use of alternative fuels, and decrease need for oil. I asked "why"? Why doesn't the oil industry do it because it's the right thing to do? Why don't they take proactive measures to create need for alternative fuels? Why don't they do what the building industry is doing? Self-regulating?

Let's just say he's very good at his job and the spin on his response could have separated chemicals in a centrifuge.

If you'd like a peek at the event, check out the video at the ABC News Website.

I'm proud of the building industry. I'm proud that we overwhelmingly voted to increase the energy standards on our buildings and set a higher benchmark. I'm proud of the good work we're doing to promote energy efficiency.