Terrapass: Do Something about your Carbon Footprint

TerraPass.

In the 'burbs of Jacksonville, driving is something that lacks option. TerraPass gives you an opportunity to do something about your carbon footprint. On average, it costs about $50 a year to balance your driving (or at least it does for my little Scion xA).

Check it out.

You can also TerraPass your flights, your home, your wedding, your gifts.

If you can't stop driving, at least you can TerraPass.

Green Blogging

I'm very excited to expand my experiences into the realm of blogging! So, belated as it is...

Welcome to Sustainabuild! The ongoing saga of my attempt to promote sustainable construction in Northeast Florida.

As the marketing and communications coordinator for a general contractor in Jacksonville, it's my responsibility and pleasure to get the 'good word' out about the benefits of green building.

I specifically like to concentrate on sharing success stories with small business owners. Explaining to them that sustainable solutions are available to them... not just huge conglomerates with seemingly unlimited funds.

We work on a budget. You do, too. We respect that. So your construction solutions are going to reflect that.

The great thing about LEED standards and green building is that it lends itself well to life-cycle savings and good indoor environmental quality. Small business owners spend a great deal of time in their facility, so that space should be healthy and energy-efficient. Makes sense, eh?

Despite the recent surveys and statistics on cost and desire, we're still not hearing from clients wishing to pursue green building.

Is it because there's still a perception that it's going to cost a fortune? Is it because there's a perception that the LEED process takes too long?

I'd love your opinion. Let's figure out what's the issue.

Green Building Attainable for Everyone?

Is it possible?

I would argue that it is... but only if your contractor is passionate about sustainability.

Passionate. Not just "versed" in it. But passionate about it.

Your contractor has to believe in it because it's the right thing to do. Your project manager has to look at every bit of construction debris as something that can be redirected and recycled. They don't cut corners; they don't throw trash on the ground when no one's looking. Your contractor has to be the one that calls you first thing in the morning because she found a paint that's an even lower VOC than the one you'd chosen. Everyone on her team knows that those drains nearby lead right to the river and there's no way they're letting any pollutant near it.

Every day, we see something in the news about a Green Building. The Bank of America Building in New York is getting a great deal of airtime right now because of the magnitude of this project.

It's HUGE. It has state-of-the-art Green Technology. Its innovation in design is newsworthy.

It's not gonna happen in my little office. You're probably thinking the same thing, especially if you're a small business owner.

But, with the right team focused on your sustainability goals, you can earn a LEED Certification. What if your goal is water conservation? We focus on low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, aerated faucets, xeriscaping, draught-resistant local foliage. Many of these items can be found at nearly the same prices as good-quality traditional alternatives.

What if your goal is energy efficiency? Let's outfit the place with CFL's (that are rarely replaced! Mine are still running after 4 years). Let's open the blinds and let in some daylight. How about investing in a high-performance HVAC system and then do a life-cycle analysis to see what you're going to save on your electric bill over the next 5 years?

Maybe you want to recycle, reduce, and reuse? Set a goal for 90% construction debris recycled on your renovation project. We'll reuse those flourescent light fixtures, paint those doors instead of purchasing new ones, and use the money we save to purchase FSC wood book cases.

What if you wanted a little of each? A passionate, educated contractor will make it happen for you. Another contractor might tell you what you want to hear to get the job. Do you really want to be out on the site every day checking up to ensure your recycling isn't ending up in the landfill? or do you want to trust your contractor to do what's right because you know she's as passionate as you are?

I want passion. And I want sustainability.

I challenge that you can't have one without the other.

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.