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Critic’s Pick: Not many sustainability conferences begin with a schmooze session fueled by organic juice and smoothies and continue with organic food buffets and fair trade coffee breaks. But organizers of the Green Cities conference in Orlando know their target – local government entities, business entrepreneurs, students ready to begin careers and students of life – and they promise programming way beyond a “preaching to the choir approach.” Doers, not dreamers, lead the seminars and workshops.

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It may seem as though the green movement has caught lightning in a bottle and exploded onto the mainstream overnight.  However, Trish Riley of GoGreenAlternatives.com, has been connected with nature for quite some time now.  Ms. Riley will be featured during the Open Space Technology session of Green Cities Florida on May 21^st.  Founder/CEO of GoGreenGift.com and The author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Green Living, Ms. Riley has also been featured in such publications as:  Hemispheres, Audubon, The Miami Herald, South Florida Business Journal, Natural Health, Natural Home, and E/The Environmental Magazine.

Her new book, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Greening Business” tackles issues businesses may have bringing their companies up-to-date with the sustainability movement.  The work also covers:

·         Setting practical, achievable goals for the right green initiative

·         The difference between “Green” and Sustainability

·         Streamlining operations

·         Innovative staffing strategies to save commuting time and office overhead

·         Cutting fuel and energy costs

·         Understanding carbon credits and their value

·         Making your products greener

·         Green manufacturing, packaging, and shipping initiatives

·         Paperless marketing programs, precision-targeted to get more from less

When asked why she chose to change her focus from personal living to business Trish replied: “While it’s essential for individuals to do whatever they can to reduce their environmental footprint and to reduce their exposure to synthetic petrochemicals, the most effective changes to our planet will occur when businesses and government adopt truly sustainable policies and practices. Businesses are motivated by markets, which are dictated by the choices that individuals make. We can vote green with our dollars as well as in elections. That is how we – as individuals – have the power to save our planet. Helping businesses to go green – in response to the demand created by the public – was a logical step toward moving us into a healthier future”.  

Originally from Carmel, Indiana, where she was introduced to the wonders of nature, Trish and her partner James Steele (a veteran of natural growing techniques and web design) run Go Green Alternatives out of Gainesville;  a resource point for all of those wishing to make themselves and their surroundings as environmentally friendly as possible.  Together they are aiming “…to create a community resource to help bring these green-minded individuals, groups and businesses together to help strengthen our green community”.  Gainesville, like many other cities in Florida, is facing a myriad of sustainability issues from improving mass transit and lanes for cyclists, to eliminating pollutants from their water supply.  Her recommendation on how to tackle all these problems fits perfectly with the philosophy of Go Green Alternatives and that is “…with small steps in every direction”.

On May 21 from 1 – 4pm Green Cities™ Florida will offer sessions presented by conference participants and organized using Open Space Technology, allowing attendees the opportunity to dive deeper into topics and to get expert advice on specific questions and areas of interest.  Ms. Riley’s experience allows her to speak on numerous issues that attendees may have.  Though she states “I’d also like to share information about how to help build green communities by helping to raise visibility of environmental issues, businesses, jobs, and the people who are working toward a cleaner future.”  

Need more incentive to attend Green Cities Florida? Get a load of this:

Achieving Climate Neutrality: The LACCD Sustainability Plan Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Alternative Energy Innovations Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 11:30AM
Building Florida’s Clean Tech Economy Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Effective Actions and Collaborations for Addressing Climate Change Wednesday, 05/20/09 04:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 05:30PM
Federal to Local: Translating the Stimulus Package for local governments Wednesday, 05/20/09 01:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:00PM
Green Roofs, Living Walls, and buildings as Green Space Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 10:00AM
Leadership in Florida’s Green Local Governments Wednesday, 05/20/09 04:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 05:30PM
Local Government: Setting a Course of Action Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 11:30AM
Preserving Florida’s Water Supply and Quality with LID Practices Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 10:00AM
Re:Visioning The American City Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Renewable Energy Policy and Programs Panel Wednesday, 05/20/09 04:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 05:30PM
Self-sufficient Urbanism: Contraction of the American City Thursday, 05/21/09 10:30AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 11:30AM
Sustainable Hospitality: In Search of Low Hanging Fruit Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
The Bridges: Sustainable Community Design Wednesday, 05/20/09 01:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:00PM
Transit Oriented Design and Central Florida’s Sustainable Future Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Understanding the Dynamics of the Global Carbon-Climate-Human System Wednesday, 05/20/09 11:00AM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 12:00PM

]]> http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/05/apa-approves-more-green-cities-florida-courses-for-credits/feed/ 2 http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/04/worlds-largest-solar-array-planned-for-desoto-county-florida/ http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/04/worlds-largest-solar-array-planned-for-desoto-county-florida/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:26:00 +0000 derekgordon http://greencitiesmedia.com/?p=784

Advocates of the sustainability movement may tell you that bigger is not always synonymous with better, but when it comes to solar power one Florida developer would beg to differ.  Kitson & Partners, in collaboration with Florida Power and Light (FP&L), have recently announced their plan to construct the world’s largest solar array in Desoto County at Babcock Ranch where Kitson has planned to develop 19,500 homes and 6 million square feet of commercial space on 17,500 acres.

Syd Kitson, a former offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, has recently started a campaign to reinvent the American city. “Babcock Ranch will be a living laboratory for companies, workers and families ready to reap the rewards of innovation. No other place in America will be home to such a concentration of new jobs and technologies, energy-saving advances and global economic leadership,” states Kitson.  This reinvention will not only provide a more sustainable community, but this project is estimated to create 20,000 jobs with only a fraction of that amount to work at the solar plant.  The 25-megawatt plant with cover 180 acres of Desoto County and cost between $350 and $400 million dollars;  along with 3 other current solar array projects in Florida this will only add about .31 cents to the average Floridian’s bill.  Once completed, this solar array will provide enough energy for 3000 households.   The project may break ground as soon as 2010 and is provoking the accolades of Florida based environmental groups such as the National Audubon Society, the World Wildlife Fund and the Sierra Club.

Along with The Venus Project and Destiny, Florida, the “Sunshine State” is strengthening its trait as a creative hotbed for sustainable innovation.  The Green Cities Conference could not be taking place at a more opportune time in Florida.  Everyone is recognizing the importance of preservation and conservation, and using this new framework to discover solutions for our economy and environment.

*Note: If you were wondering about Syd Kitson’s NFL legacy; he played for 4 seasons as an offensive lineman and even recorded one reception for 9 yards.  He also played for one year in Dallas under the coach Tom Landry.

From Richard Cartlidge’s Green Building and Environmental Trends blog

You might not expect this from someone who has a blog with the word green in its title but the word green needs to vanish from our building vernacular! Why? When we call a building green we are using green as an adjective to set the building on a pedestal and show that it is unique. One of my primary goals with this blog is to educate individuals about sustainable building. A building requires a large output of capital, and should be built to last. Sustainable design and building practices represent the future of the construction industry, a concept which is widely discussed at Konstructr.This week Vik Duggal (@vikdug on twitter) discussed the concept behind Konstructr. If we take a minute to stop and think about his message it should become obvious that green is a word which needs to vanish from our vocabulary. Personally I cannot wait until green is no longer used in reference to buildings and returns to its roots as a word used to describe an object’s color. Did the Romans intend to build a green building when they built the temples or the Egyptians when they built the pyramids? No! They built buildings which were made to last, beautiful, sustainable buildings that are still here centuries later. Next time someone asks you about green building tell them its not about “green” its about sustainability. Let us all strive to build the temples and pyramids of our generation.

[ Read original article ]

Editor’s Note: In our recent podcast interview with Lori Cunniff, this project is heavily discussed – listen here.

Center strengthens commitment to environmental change

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 18, 2009) – The Orange County Convention Center, in partnership with OUC—The Reliable One, was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the state of Florida to be used, along with other funding sources, to install a one-megawatt rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system.  The largest PV system of its kind in the southeastern United States, the solar panel project will be complete and celebrated on May 20, 2009, during the general session of the Green Cities Florida 2009 conference at the Center.

In addition to the grant, OUC is contributing $1.5 million to the project and will receive 10 years worth of Renewable Energy Credits in that amount. The PV system will utilize high-efficiency, flat-plate collectors, expected to occupy approximately 200,000 square feet of roof space on the North/South Building.  The one-megawatt solar PV system will generate 1,300 to 1,500 megawatt hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the power used by 80 to 100 typical homes, and it will do so without producing any greenhouse gas emissions.  The benefits of generating electricity with solar energy include reducing energy costs, while helping to reduce global warming and dependence on foreign fuels.

This $8.8 million multi-purpose project also features a Climate-Change Education Center (CCEC) inside the Convention Center to promote the many environmental and economic benefits of solar and other renewable-energy technologies.  A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the CCEC will be held during an evening reception on the first day of the Green Cities Florida 2009 conference on May 19, 2009.

The OCCC has become an industry leader in environmental best practices, beginning in early 2007 when it became the first convention center in the U.S. to become ISO 14001 Certified for its recycling program.  Other green projects at the Center include purchasing recycled products, using reclaimed water for landscaping irrigation, installing Xeriscape plantings, using Green-Seal certified cleaning products and installing waterless urinals and low-flow faucets, to name a few.  In addition to its facility-related green initiatives, the OCCC works closely with event organizers to support their efforts for green events, shows and meetings.

[ Read press release ]

In an effort to boost renewable energy efforts, Alabama is investing over a million dollars in alternative energy sources throughout the state.  From converting cooking oil to bio-diesel in Henry County to creating electric energy from yard waste in Fultondale; the state is getting serious about finding new cheaper forms of energy.  One of the most notable opportunities is taking place in Tuscaloosa, where the city has teamed with the University of Alabama to use the methane collected from the waste water treatment plant as a replacement for natural gas.

The plant currently produces a small amout of methane, but Dr. Stephen Ritches has a plan to produce much more.  The extra methane would be used as an energy source for the plant – which would  lessen the city’s need for natural gas.

The grant for this research is worth $198,000 dollars.  The state estimates, if the project succeeds, the extra methane will save the city of Tuscaloosa $78,000 a year in energy bills.  Even the dark clouds of recession are subject to silver linings.  We are becoming more diligent and creative to become more sustainable, efficient and inexpensive.  Hopefully the wast water plant idea works well enough to spread throughout the state.

To learn more about this project click here.

These standards, launched by the 2008 Florida law that all government buildings must meet (or exceed) certain green standards.  The Florida Green Guild uses about 365 points in 19 categories to designate “green” standards, and certification is awarded from bronze to gold.  Both DeLand and Deltona hope to receive gold in 2009.

DeLand’s “The Lynn Business Center at Stetson University was the first building in Florida to receive green LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2003.  Incentives currently offered in the communities include reduced permitting fees, reduction of water/sewer impact fees, expedited review of development plans, and special recognition by the  city.

The cities’ greening initiatives have not gone without concern by some local citizens, but largely city officials, residents, and organizations have been supportive.  Local builders are involved as well in helping the Volusia County Home Builders Association advocate other Florida cities to adopt such incentives and ordinances.

For more information, look into this link.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — To the casual eye, the basement of this city’s Firehouse 9 looks like a jumble of old hydrants, Dr Pepper cartons, rakes and random gear. To specialists in energy efficiency, the 1960s-era building is a mess of a different sort: wasteful hot water heaters for the firefighters’ showers, ancient refrigerators and outdated lights.

Wrapping up an elaborate energy audit, Knoxville is about to find out which of 99 city buildings are wasting the most energy. It hopes to begin repairs this summer, just in time to catch a tsunami of federal stimulus money earmarked for such unglamorous tasks as replacing light bulbs and fixing leaky insulation.

Knoxville’s timing is excellent. The city began the arduous work of cataloging deficiencies before the stimulus bill passed, and it is well along in planning its next steps. But experts worry that other beneficiaries, especially cities, are not ready to oversee the huge sums of energy-efficiency money about to come their way.

The money in the bill is enough to pay for a tremendous expansion of efficiency efforts across the country. But as with other parts of the stimulus package, the efficiency plan is creating tension between spending the money quickly, to get rapid economic stimulus, and spending it well, to do the most good over the long run.

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