Greeneroo

What is your company doing to GO GREEN? Besides all the buzzwords your company can encourage individual efforts (recycling, turning off lights, composting, banning Styrofoam, allowing virtual “non commuting” work at home, switch to duplex print AND encourage not printing), tune up its building, or work to help others in the industry follow their lead.  Make a Scorecard and find out where you can improve!

Often a consumer friendly change has a great environmental benefit – for example, Wells Fargo now has “envelope-less” deposits AND the ATM adds up your checks. I love this feature, it saves trees and it saves those additional mailings to correct miscalculated deposits. It is easier, user friendly, faster- what a win-win.

Every company can make changes, starting a Green Club is a wonderful way to build team spirit.

Start by asking questions at work, here are some examples:

• Has my company joined the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program? And look for local initiatives for Green Business, Palo Alto has one.
• Has your building been certified by the Green Building Council for its new construction?
• Is the wood used for the building composed of sustainably grown products? Look at the Forest Stewardship Council for more information.
• What about water and energy use? Is it an efficient building? Is there a requirement for Energy Star appliances?
• And if you can’t find a green product for one of your needs – work with vendors to promote green products or ask for changes. This is happening in all industries, keep asking questions. Promote your “best green picks” with the people that order supplies so that everyone is on the same page.
• Do you Recycle toner cartridges? fill your own, it saves resources, money and it is easy! Really!
• What about your supplies and cleaners? Add green cleaners and spud-ware to your kitchen, label the eco friendly  products.

Wired writes a great article on scorecards and where we stand: http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2008/01/greenbiz_report

Friday, October 3
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
The World’s Climate: A Global Problem with Economic Solutions
Maximilian Auffhammer
Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
College of Natural Resources
Location: Bechtel Engineering Center, Sibley Auditorium

Friday, October 3
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Ethics, Experts, and Environmental Justice
Rachel Morello-Frosch
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management
College of Natural Resources
Location: South Hall, Room 202

Saturday, October 4
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Integrating Teaching and Research to Study Bacteria
Kathleen Ryan
Assistant Professor, Plant & Microbial Biology
College of Natural Resources
Location: Barrows Hall, Lipman Room

Saturday, October 4
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
The Energy Biosciences Institute: Seeking a New World of Renewable Energy
Chris Somerville
Director, Energy Biosciences Institute
Professor, Plant and Microbial Biology
College of Natural Resources
Location: Bechtel Engineering Center, Sibley Auditorium

Saturday, October 4
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
The Energy Biosciences Institute: Discoveries and Solutions to Global Energy Problems
Brian Wright
Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
College of Natural Resources
Location: Bechtel Engineering Center: Sibley Auditorium

Are you thinking about voting with your DOLLARS? Want to find out more? There are dozens of books, seminars, and strategies that you can use to put your dollars where your heart is.  A local firm, Nelson Capital Management has been managing GREEN Investing for a long time. Their stable considered approach is a welcome oasis in a dust bowl of get rich quick schemes.

Take a look at PLAN B 3.0, Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester R. Brown.

Necessary Revolution, How Individuals and Organizations are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World, by Peter Senge, Bryan Smith, Nina Kruschwitz, Joe Laur, Sara Schley.

USE your dollars wisely, sometimes it is the ONLY thing a bureaucrat really notices

Learn how things work! Become more curious — an important skill for Going Green! The Instructables site has “how to” on so many fun things. Who knows you could invent a better light bulb!! Get creative, learn more, exercise your brain muscles!

Craft Skills Contest
Enter to win one of 21 prizes totaling $955!
Enter by Sep 27, 2008

Spending hours at the fish roundabout was heaven, and Butterball the manatee was a superstar. It all seems so long ago, but our SF Aquarium is back. With an amazing green design, a living roof, coral reef, rain forest exhibit. I can hardly wait. The 410,000 sq. foot wonder will be ready to open and the end of September. The architect, Renzo Piano, has created a marvel, after 3 years of construction.  Can you imagine, there are 2.5 acres of green roof garden?!

Big Bang Opening Gala, September 25.

Now that the Academy has been open for awhile, I had heard such great and enthusiastic comments from people that have gone to check it out. It is a great place to start a family tradition: going to check out the new exhibits and having a picnic afterwards.  Kids remember these outings, and it helps them to come to know their world up close and through their OWN experience.

Isn’t it nice to go somewhere you really love and find restaurants and stores that are inspired?! Half Moon Bay is one of my favorite places… you can find so many things to do and of course playing on the beach is wonderful. In the downtown, here is a great  place you must go… Earth Impact located on 414 Main Street 650-726-9731 has clothing, art, jewelry and toys… ALL are carefully selected to be sustainable or salvaged materials and made with care. Beautiful Wooden Toys [made in the USA] are on their way and will be showcased at this store. These wood toys lead to creative play – dump trucks, tot-sized tools, big and little toys -made with quality and care. Ask Stephanie for more info.

Related note: Of course, You realize how important it is to select toys carefully, but many are not tested for safety when they come into the USA and many also contain lead-based paints - BEWARE - these toys are dangerous.  For example, 1.5 million Thomas & Friends trains and rail components were recalled. Check the CDC and testing sites for current recalls and information.