Beginning this week all construction projects pursuing LEED certification will be subject to new, stricter standards.  The biggeset change is how energy usage is reported.  Building owners must now report their total annual energy and water consumption or be recertified every two years.  The idea is more reporting will lead to energy consumption reduction as owners will have better information to plan for the future.  The end result will be better “performing”  buildings, operating with optimum efficiency.

USGBC’S LEED program has often been criticized for its shortcomings and inaccuracies.  While the program is far from perfect, the good news is that the USGBC is constantly improving upon the original idea.  This should also improve the future of companies who provide services and technological solutions for maintaining green buildings.  The new standards do not remedy every flaw in the LEED certification process, but do improve the future of sustainable building.

To read more about the new LEED standards click here.

Green Cities is founded on the idea of activating local citizens and government officials to improve their surroundings and ensuring their future.  Despite how popular the green movement may be there are still the naysayers, dare I say “haters” who oppose moving forward with sustainability.  Build Baby Build recently ran a story about local opposition to wind farms, bio fuel plants and other green projects.  The article is a great reminder that not everyone is on the green bandwagon.

Read the Build Baby Build article here.

This is actually good news.  “Green” should not always be considered synonymous with “good” and opposing viewpoints should be welcomed to any idea.   Run a quick internet search for opinions on the proposed “cap and trade” system and you’ll find good points being made on both sides.   We know the importance of starting change locally and how difficult that can be.  Communities aren’t comprised of like minded people nor should they be.  What a boring world that would be.  Instead of isolating or dismissing those with opposing views, we should try to understand where they are coming from and what they stand to lose in a greener economy.  You can’t win everyone over, but knowing why you can’t will often make your position stronger in the long run.

A recent Pew study shows that Florida’s green economy is growing, but still needs to clear a few hurdles before it can make the next big shift.  The biggest hurdle is investment, followed by policy support.  The study puts Florida’s green economy in the top 10, but also points out the state’s failure to pass legislation (like Gov. Crist’s renewable energy portfolio standard) as a key barrier to further growth. 

So where does the Sunshine State go from here?  Concerned citizens will undoubtedly continue with the tremendous momentum they’ve created thus far, but opposition still remains (read the first comment on the article).  Without further investment the green economy in Florida would be at risk of slowing down, but should the burden of funding fall on the people?  Should the green economy “pay for itself” to prove it is as viable as supporters would have us believe?  Time will tell whether Florida commits to the movement or tip-toes towards the future.

To read the full article click here.

Here are a few articles from around the super information highway that tripped our alarms this week: 

Downsizing your dream home.  New home buying trends lean to the green.  (ABC News)

eVolvo Skyscraper Competition is ready for entries: (Inhabitat)

Chicago’s Sears Tower to receive $350 million green facelift:  (AP )

Sustainable Industries Top Green Products of 2009 (Jetson Green)  

Konstructr TV Episode 1 (collector’s edition)  (Konstructr)

7 ways to conserve water usage (Treehugger)

Ms. Cape gives us advice on how to approach sustainability and her unique perspective as a public servant makes this a video not to be missed.

The saying “Necessity is the mother of invention” has never been more relevant.  The world is facing environmental degradation on one side and economic collapse on the other.  Fortunately, one can counter with the adage of “crisis is another word for opportunity” still holds true.  The Buckminster Fuller Challenge is an annual contest for harvesting big ideas and strategies that aim to solve a pressing global problem.  These strategies are systematic means of changing the world which take into consideration the complexity of such a large task.  First place winners receive a cash prize of $100,000.00 to support the on-going development and implementation of their winning solution.  The first two contests have shown just how wide the scope of focus has been.

The ”Idea Index” is a catalog of the entries submitted to the contest in its first two years.  Here you can see what issues the contestants thought to be most pressing and how they would solve them.  The 2008 winner, John Todd, focused on restoring the overly strip mined areas of Appalachia in a piece named:  Comprehensive Design for a Carbon Neutral World: The Challenge of Appalachia.  Todd suggested a four stage process that took account of all angles, including land purchasing and funding to create a better design for producing energy (namely replacing coal power with wind power in Appalachia).  This year saw 33 contestants make it to the final round of judging.  The winner was the student team from MIT’s Media Lab with their entry titled:  Sustainable Personal Mobility and Mobility on Demand Systems.  The winning entry was much more than futuristic cars and transportation systems.  A 2009 juror stated:  “Sustainable Personal Mobility isn’t just about the design of these lightweight, highly efficient, electric vehicles, it also about inserting that technological innovation into the social and cultural environment and designing an intuitive system within which they function.”  To view a detailed list of entries and submitters, the Buckminster Fuller Challenge website has created the Idea Index.  Here is where one can go to see what problems people see around them and what strategies they would utilize to solve the conflict.

Buckminster Fuller will always be known as one of the greatest visionaries and forward thinking people who have changed the world.  This challenge series will keep his spirit alive as others attempt to tackle the troubles of the world.  We’ll keep you posted with any updates for further Buckminster Fuller Challenges.

 Visit the official Buckminster Fuller Challenger site:  http://challenge.bfi.org/home

From My Fox Orlando

DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Florida Atlantic University will receive nearly $1.2 million from the federal government to continue research into harnessing energy from the powerful Gulf Stream off Florida’s coast.

Democratic Congressman Ron Klein joined scientists on Friday at the school’s Center for Ocean Energy Technology in Dania Beach to announce the funding. Klein says the money will help researchers in their quest to harness the powerful Gulf Stream as a new potential commercial energy source.

Researchers at the school are studying the possibility of using the current to drive thousands of underwater turbines. They say the project could one day produce as much energy as perhaps 10 nuclear power plants, and supply one-third of Florida’s electricity.

[ Read original article ]

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.

Rep. Frank McDaniel Hard at Work.

You wouldn’t confuse Alabama as the greenest state in the nation, but they are working on improving their status.  Rep. Frank McDaniel (D-Albertville) recently sponsored a package of several energy efficiency bills, including one that would add incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs, certain natural gas appliances and other energy-saving materials to the state’s sales tax holiday.

Similar bills have had difficulty being passed in prior years.  Not in resistance of sustainability, but in favor of government efficiency.  In order to produce a more thought out, government friendly package, McDaniel acquired the assistance from a diverse array of supporters and advisers.  “That package is one that we’ve been working on 15 to 18 months and have had not only legislative folks and state agency involvement, but an awful lot of business/industrial attendance in those public hearings and working with subcommittees…It’s held a lot of interest from a lot of sources.”” said Rep. McDaniels.  This sort of collaboration is necessary when attempting to get the bigger legislative balls rolling.

Other measures in the bill call for creating a commitee to investigate turning Alabama’s vehicles into a “green fleet” and expanding the role of ethyl alcohol to used as an alternative fuel.  Current state laws prohibit ethyl alcohol from being transported in bulk.  Therefore, not are laws being proposed, but a few will have to be repealed.  Finding a balance in the transition to a greener state may prove to be the biggest hurdle to conquer.

In order to achieve the drastic changes in energy and land use many wish to see, the people and government are going to have to work together to reach a common end.  Rep. McDaniels is proof that politicians are still listening.

ORLANDO PICKED FOR FLORIDA GREEN CITIES CONFERENCE

State, County, Municipal, Business and Community Leaders to Ignite Florida’s Green Economy

Seven Star, the world’s largest green events production company, has selected Orlando as the host city for Green Cities™ Florida 2009. The conference, which attracts community, government and business leaders from throughout the region, will be held May 19-21, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center South Concourse Building. The event will coincide with the grand opening of the Orange County Climate Change Center and the unveiling of a new (1) one megawatt solar PV system on the roof of the Convention Center.

The mission of Green Cities™ Florida is to empower business leaders, government directors, and organization decision-makers to understand their full range of options for local green economies, as well as actions they can take to save money, protect the environment, and enhance community through sustainable practices. Educational tracks include opportunities for attendees to receive certification and continuing education credits. Other sessions will cover topics ranging widely from Green Governance to Urban Planning, Green Business & Procurement to Green Tourism, Hospitality, Travel, Entertainment, and from Civic Engagement to Business Development.

“With our history of innovation and environmental stewardship, Orlando is poised to become the America’s center of innovation in clean, green technologies,” said Christian Oleck, Chairman of the City of Orlando Sustainability Team. “Like many Floridian cities, Orlando’s goals for innovation, sustainability, and green mobility are bold and comprehensive. With the support and energy of a state wide event like Green Cities Florida, I believe that in 15 years, we can succeed and build a better future for our children, our residents, and the world.”

The Green Cities™ Conference will offer a high-tech, interactive, outcome based, portfolio of seminars on sustainable solutions, presented by the nation’s leading green business, government, business, and technology experts. Green Cities™ prepares business and government with specific tactics for participating in this growing green economy. There will be over 70 presenters and more than 1,200 expected attendees.

“Small to medium businesses want to go green, and so do their host cities.” says Joseph Malki, Executive Co-Producer of the event and VP of Seven-Star. “Our Green Cities events provide the practical “how-to’s” from successful innovators across sectors of industry and government management. Since 1999 we have been offering “nuts-and-bolts” workshops and conferences inspiring leaders to adopt that “green” spark.”

Early bird registration for Green Cities™ Florida ends May 4^th. To register, or for more information, please visit www.greencities.com.

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About Green Cities™

Green Cities™ is produced by Seven-Star, Inc., an EPA award winning green event and green education expert, in association with Climate Culture International, a sustainable consultancy for business and government. To register, or for more information, please visit www.greencities.com.

Press Inquiries:

Ian Bryan
828.242.1868

ianbryan@sensiblecity.com