Can Big Boxes Be Green?

Best Buy has announced that all their upcoming new construction will be LEED certified. Their annual report on sustainability recognizes the cost-effectiveness of high-performance building and expects the plan to save the retailer 1/3 on their annual energy costs.

"In its annual sustainability report, the company stated that it's upping its green cred beyond ink-cartridge and cell-phone recycling, to jump into the complicated world of green building. Beginning in early to mid-2008, the company
intends to build only eco-friendly stores, certified by the USGBC through LEED
-- a program approved by many eco-activists for its tough standards and
inspections. " -Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, August 10, 2007

The Internet has been abuzz with talk. Can a "big box" store be green? Can a store that covers thousands of square feet of space, often placed in the midst of suburban sprawl be sustainable?

For another point of view, I refer you to Treehugger and their "Lipstick on a Pig Dept":

"Best Buy's ambition to build with "some combination of energy-efficient lighting, rainwater recycling, recycled or otherwise eco-friendly building materials, a high-efficiency HVAC system and some type of day-lighting system" is laudable, but meaningless. The big box model, with its acres of parking where it is almost impossible to walk to the other stores, let alone the big box farm, is unsustainable and has to be stopped.

There is no such thing as a green big box, period. " --Lloyd Alter, www.treehugger.com, August 15, 2007

Do we give Best Buy a thumbs up for their efforts to green their established business? Or do we give them a permanent thumbs down for not changing their chronically unsustainable building?

Is it the first, noble step towards green? Or is it laughable greenwashing?

Are Employees Green at Work?

Sun recently sponsored a Harris Interactive poll on green behaviors in the workplace. Seems like employees are saying one thing and doing another:

• 92 percent of participants said they turn of their lights at home, whereas only 52 percent of workers turn off the light when they leave a room at work.


• 58 percent said they turn off computers at home when they are done using them, whereas only 34 percent does so at work.


• 57 percent of workers are using sleep mode for their home computers, but only 44 percent do so at work.

Of those polled, 73% said they would like their companies to be more environmentally friendly.

Maybe the thought is, "I want my COMPANY to be environmentally friendly. Me, on the other hand... I want to leave the lights on."

Or is that too cynical an approach? Maybe employees simply need gentle reminders? Or, perhaps they would like senior leadership to take the lead? If the CEO is turning off lights in the conference room, surely that trend will flow throughout.

Here are a few other stats:

• Leaving a computer on 24/7 can cost as much as $75 per year, PER COMPUTER.


• If the US's 81 million + office employees shut down computers and turned off lights like they do at home, they could remove enough carbon emissions to equal 6 million cars on the road.


• Unnecessary printing results in approximately $85 a year, per person, in ink and paper waste. How often does that second sheet with one line of print end up the waste bin?

An article on Sustainable IT suggests that the employees may simply not know what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to energy cuts. For example, many employees leave computers on at night believing that patches and updates are downloaded at night. Often, that is the company's policy, despite the availability of software that will 'wake up' a system for updates and then put them back into 'sleep mode'.

The answer seems to be a written company policy encouraging employees to take steps to reduce energy use, waste, and carbon footprint. Open the lines of communication so that employees understand procedures and that they are encouraged to make suggestions on saving. Have senior management take the lead and set the standards for behavior and the habits are sure to follow.

How to get through to Mushy Green clients?

Joel Makower, renowned author, consultant, and environmentalist, has a great article at his website, Two Steps Forward, about a recent study conducted by the data analysts at Yankelovich on how conscious the population really is on the environment.

Many of those involved in green industries will tell you they are excited to hear so many talking about the environment. They feel the movement is reaching the mainstream. But is it?

According to the Yankelovich study, it might not be. Their recent study, "Going Green", which is based on attitudes AND actual behaviors, states that there's something missing between belief and action.

Here's some uncomfortable statistics, especially for those of us that thought this was in the spotlight:

• Only 37% of consumers feel "highly concerned" about environmental issues.


• 25% of consumers feel "highly knowledgeable" about environmental issues.


• And, a meanger 22% of those feel they can make any difference at all in the environment.

The Yanelovich study also segments their consumers into categories, (which you can probably figure out their mindset based on the name):

• 13% are considered Greenthusiasts


• 14% Greenspeaks


• 25% Greensteps


• 19% Greenbits


• 29% Greenless

Ouch. The largest group of consumers have either no interest in Green, no knowledge, or no desire.

According to Walker Smith from Yanelovich, Green attitudes don't always predict green behaviors. For example, Greenbits SAY they are likely to pay more for green products than Greenspeaks, but they rarely do.

Yankelovich uses the Mushiness Index to determine the firmness of an opinion. Using a system they developed, the index measures how sure a consumer is about their own opinion.

Consumers are very mushy on this subject.

Smith goes on to say that when it comes to getting through to the Greenless and the Greenbits, education is NOT the key. They way to get through to them is to make it personally relevant.

All the studies in the world about raging weather, rising shorelines, global warming, and carbon emissions mean nothing to them... Unless all those things affect them directly.

As we continue to promote sustainable behaviors, it helps to understand that our clients may be vacillating over environmental subject matter. If we can approach their concerns in a way that is relevant to them, we have a better shot at success.

I encourage you to visit Joel Makower's website and read his article.

Seo Addresses Congress on behalf of Green Small Biz

I became a fan of Danny Seo at the ULI conference on sustainability in Pittsburgh earlier this year. He spoke during one of our luncheons and I give the man so much credit for addressing a highly conservative group using Paris Hilton references and photos of a t-shirt that read "Club Sandwiches, not Seals". No one at my table got it. At all.

But, Danny pressed forward.... the ultimate professional.

And, the ultimate environmental lifestyle expert. Since he was young, he pursued a simply green lifestyle and made it his mission to promote this to the public. He turned this into a multimedia business venture including books, television, and articles. Thanks to his calling, he was invited to address Congress and share some of his solutions on how small businesses can continue to lead the way in sustainability. Here's a sample of his comments (as quoted from his wonderful blog, Simply Green):

My testimony today will address several points:
(1) how the Green
Revolution is more than just a trend;
(2) how small businesses can compete
with major corporations; and
(3) what needs to be done to help small business
in their quest to go green.

First, there are two movements going on in consumer taste and
interests. What I believe we are seeing in the consumer marketplace is a
major shift---a cultural one---where consumers are looking for products and
services that gives value to their lives, homes, families and communities.
It’s about quality, not quantity.

What we are seeing is what I’ve been calling The Meaningful Life.
If our lives, home, family and the community we live in aren’t disposable,
then the products we use in our everyday lives shouldn’t be either.

And as we see this rejection of cheap goods and services and the
emergence of green and sustainable living at the crossroads, what we have here
is something very interesting. Going green is more than just better
for the planet, it represents good quality and value.

Now, there has been much attention in the media lately about major
corporations and manufacturers going green and how it might affect small
business. Small business should welcome the Green Revolution.

Here’s why: going green is not like adapting quickly to consumer tastes
and fashion trends; it’s a philosophy rooted in the very big idea of saving the
planet. So as consumers seek out green products, they’ll want
what’s really, truly the real deal. They want authenticity. A
smaller business can create a corporate DNA that has sustainability through and
through, while a larger corporation will struggle because of their
size.

He goes on to suggest specific solutions and I encourage you to visit his blog and read the testimony in its entirety.

He's absolutely right in his assessment: Small businesses are in a key position to embrace the Green Philosophy. The decision-makers are on the front lines in the organization, not in some 25th-floor corner office... detached from the everyday business. If the small business owner makes the decision to ban disposables in the breakroom, they are there rinsing out their coffee cup with everyone else. If they implement a green philosophy, they're right there living it.

That's authentic. That's in the corporate DNA. That's also very powerful.

I know it's possible because I'm living it every day. I work for a small business that implements a green philosophy. The president of our company is the 'recycling queen'. Her recycling bin overflows while her regular bin sits empty. She inspires us to live greener. That's as authentic as you get.

I would also question which makes a greater impact? One large corporation that goes carbon neutral? or 1,000 small businesses that do it?

Maybe we need to meet with the wonderful non-profit organizations that support small businesses and offer lunch and learns? Or offer to speak at their events? Let's get the word out that they can do it, too!

Thanks Danny for inspire us to be simply green.

Southeast Building Conference

Just got back from the SEBC Conference in Orlando and found several impressive products and vendors. It was especially easy to find Green products because the Conference teamed with Green Trends to highlight venors that offered them. Here are a few I was impressed with:

Green Innovations offers a MODI Porous Paving Grid which allows you to park, drive, and walk on a grass surface. It creates a natural landscape without concrete or asphalt. It's a modular system, made out of 100% recycled and recyclable HDPE. Not only does it have applications for driveways, parking lots, pathways and walkways, they also offer products with vegetative roof applications. I met Walter at the show and he not only knows his stuff, he's a pleasure to chat with (and it's much nicer to buy from people you like than people you don't). :-)

After seeing an episode of Dirty Jobs in which Mike pulls antique wood from rivers to reuse, I've been fascinated with recovered wood. So, when I saw Goodwin Heart Pine Company at SEBC, I was very excited. The nice lady at the Goodwin booth was pleased that I was excited (and probably a little confused by my zeal) but the more we talked, the more she understood. She's just taken a spot on the board for Florida Green Building Coalition, so we spoke a great deal about FGBC and USGBC. Recovered wood is great for green building because the wood is not only super-strong heart pine, but because of the nature of its origin, doesn't require living trees to fall. It's the ultimate in recycle/reduce/reuse. And, you have the benefit of a breathtakingly beautiful antique wood in your space without the guilt. And, they're local. What more could you ask for?

The Zayas booth was one of my first stops and I had a great time chatting with the staff. Not only do they promote alternative energies of all sorts (PV, wind, etc.) but they also have a cool SIP product that offers solutions for energy costs, hurricane winds, moisture and mildew, and fire safety. Not a bad deal, really. And, the time in install is apparently far less than your average walls and trusses. Here's a pretty neat stat: the walls for an 1800 square foot commercial building were set in place and ready for the roof in 4.5 hours. Regarding energy costs, they've got another great stat: a 1200 square foot residence using these SIPs averaged $25 a month in heating andf cooling costs (and, yes... that's in Florida). And, as if it couldn't get any better, they had me construct a wall piece while I was standing there. In the true spirit of "if she can do it, anyone can...."

The guys at Catec had a huge water reclamation system set up, which definitely got my attention. Obviously, water reclamation is one of those "dream points" for LEED when you're working on smaller size projects, but according to these guys, there's a water reclamation system for almost anyone out there. When he started quoting dollar figures, I was surprised to say they weren't as huge as I expected. I would definitely recommend visiting their website to learn more about the options. It's exciting to see some of this technology avilable at a significantly lower cost premium than just a few years ago.

I really fell in love with this product. 90% recycled plastics (80% POST consumer, 10% pre-consumer) mainly polystyrene. Basically, it's your packing material with a bright, shiny new future as interior moldings. Timbron produces this interior molding out of old packing material and it works almost exactly like wood, but it withstands moisture a lot better than wood. You can saw it, nail it, glue it, sand it, putty it, paint it. Or, it's lovely enough to be left in its natural white. From a green point of view, I really think this product impressed me the most.

I'm really interested to see how the Sustainable Forestry Initiative integrates itself into USGBC. According to the representative, they're in communication with USGBC to promote their independent certification for wood as a LEED standard. According to their website, their mission is to protect forests while producing the wood and paper products our economy needs. They integrate the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soil, water, and air quality. She also told me that it's one of the most rigorous standards in the world. The Nature Consevancy has praised their work, which should count for something. I like the fact that they implement a training program for the landowners and loggers. Check out their website and let me know wha t you think.

Those are some of the highlights. Let me know if you're interested in any of the other vendors at the show and I'm sure I can provide a little bit of insight.

Visit their website: SEBCShow.com

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.

How to Grow Fresh Air

There's so much talk about Indoor Environmental Air Quality, and reducing our carbon footprint... Former NASA scientist, BC Wolverton, PhD. reminds us that we have a very simple tool available to us:

Plants.

*insert 'duh' here*

Of course... Plants.

"Plants are the lungs of the earth: they produce the oxygen that makes life possible, add precious moisture, and filter toxins. Houseplants can perform these essential functions in your home wih the same efficiency as a rain forest in our biosphere." -BC Wolverton, PhD "How to Grow Fresh Air - 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office"

Betsy Robinson recently wrote an article for Spirituality and Health Magazine that focuses on how plants can improve your health, your well-being, and most importantly, your actual indoor air quality. Here's an interesting statistic quote from her January/February 2007 article:

"Since room conditions are unique, it's impossible to prescribe how many plants are needed to clean a given space, but consider this: a 100-square foot room with an 8-foot ceiling contains 22,640 liters of air filled with perhaps 3,917 micrograms of formaldehyde, the predominant indoor pollutant. The common Boston fern removes 1,863 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour."

Makes you want to go buy a plant, doesn't it? Well, if you do, here's a list of plants to consider. Wolverton rates these as the top ten in terms of their pollutant filtering capabilities, ease of growth and maintenance, and resistance to pests:

1. Areca Palm
2. Lady Palm
3. Bamboo Palm
4. Rubber Plant
5. Dracaena "Janet Craig"
6. English Ivy
7. Dwarf Date Palm
8. Ficus Alii
9. Boston Fern
10. Peace Lily

Want to make a difference today? Go to your local nusery, buy one of these for every member of your staff and get one for yourself, too.

Give the gift of fresh air to your staff, your family, your friends and your clients.

Live Earth: Music Brings the Planet Together for Sustainability

Again, Ms. Tappouni is ever-vigilant to sustainable world affairs:

LiveEarth.org

Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07
that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to
trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented
global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and
wireless channels.

Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance
for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations
to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve
global warming.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance and Partner
of Live Earth.

Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of
Live 8, an event that brought together one of the largest audiences in history
to combat poverty. Wall formed a partnership with Al Gore and the Alliance for
Climate Protection to ensure that Live Earth inspires behavioral changes long
after 7/7/07.

Live Earth will stage official concerts at Giants Stadium in New York;
Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio de
Janeiro; Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in
Tokyo; the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena
in Hamburg.

Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN
at http://www.liveearth.msn.com/. With
support from the U.S. Green Building Council, creators of the LEED Green
Building Rating System, Live Earth will implement new Green Event Guidelines.
All Live Earth venues will be designed and constructed by a team of
sustainability engineers who will address the environmental and energy
management challenges of each concert site, as well as the operations of
sponsors, partners and other Live Earth affiliates.

Each venue will not only be designed to maintain a minimum environmental
impact, but will showcase the latest state-of-the-art energy efficiency, on-site
power generation, and sustainable facilities management practices.

Live Earth is a project of the SOS campaign , which is using
a powerful multimedia platform - films, television, radio, Internet, books,
wireless and others - to move people to combat the climate crisis.

Live Earth will be transmitted worldwide, from EIGHT cities (New York,
London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, and Hamburg) by
Intelsat (http://www.intelsat.com/) using its
industry-leading network of Satellite and terrestrial facilities in standard and
high definition, across multiple media channels - TV, radio, Internet and
wireless channels.

On July 7th, Live Earth concerts will be streamed live by MSN at http://www.liveearth.msn.com/.

In honor of the event, get out there and sing a song. Or, for those of us less musically adept, maybe you can just tune in and support the cause.

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....

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 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.