The Buck Blog

5 Easy Tips to Green the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of your Home, School & Business

2011-08-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

1. Use “green” cleaning products and techniques to reduce harmful effects of unhealthy chemical exposure.

2. Properly maintain your HVAC system to ensure good indoor air quality.

3. When painting, replacing carpeting or furniture, use products with low VOC emissions.

4. Use task lighting in work areas to decrease energy use and increase human comfort.

5. Provide opportunities for your family and/or employees to have indoor plants that create healthy air quality in their personal breathing space. The peace lily is my top pick – it filters toxins from the air very effectively, and most important, is almost impossible to kill even if you have a brown thumb.

Go Green Initiative Partners with Keep America Beautiful to Promote School Recycling Competition

2011-08-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a fun and creative way to increase recycling participation in your school? Do you need technical assistance and help starting a school recycling program? Recycle-Bowl, a new nationwide comprehensive school recycling competition, could be your ticket to success.

The Go Green Initiative is a promotional partner of Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl competition, the first comprehensive nationwide recycling competition for elementary, middle and high-school students. Recycle-Bowl was created to provide students with a fun, interactive way to learn about waste reduction and environmental responsibility through in-school recycling.

Open to all schools and classrooms, the incentive-based recycling competition and benchmarking program kicks off this October and registration is now open on the Recycle-Bowl website at http://recycle-bowl.org. The competition runs from October 17 through November 12, culminating around America Recycles Day. Participating schools will track and report how much recyclable material they collect for a chance to win prizes. At the close of the four-week competition, the school in each state that collects the most recyclable material per capita will win $1,000. A national champion will then be chosen from among the statewide winners to receive an additional grand prize of $2,500.

Educational recycling activities will also be provided on-line and through a registration toolkit. To learn more about the competition, join Keep America Beautiful for a one-hour educator Recycle-Bowl kickoff webinar. The webinar will explain the competition, provide an overview of available resources and highlight the use of a recycling competition at a local Pennsylvania school. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 4:00 PM EDT. Register via this link - https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/532593336.

The inaugural Recycle-Bowl is being sponsored by Nestlé Waters North America.

5 Easy Tips to Green Your Workplace

2011-08-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

Track your electricity usage each month, and set goals to use less
Ditto with water usage
Recycle everything you can, and ensure that you have the proper agreements with both your janitorial service and waste hauler to ensure proper management of your waste and recyclables.
Use less…paper, plastic, electricity, water…everything.
Get your entire supply chain onboard. Make sure that what you purchase comes from companies who share your commitment to ‘going green’.

Are you snacking “sustainably”?

2011-08-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

Do you know how much water and electricity it takes to produce your favorite beverages, or if the corn in your favorite bag of chips was grown with the highest standards of sustainable farming? Does your favorite healthy snack travel to your local grocer in an emissions-free vehicle? There is a company working to ensure that their customers can answer all those questions with confidence – PepsiCo. In 2009, PepsiCo made a promise to deliver sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for their consumers, our planet, and our communities. They are working throughout their supply chain to become more efficient with their consumption of water and energy, and to dramatically decrease the amount of solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions they produce. Tune in to the latest episode of Go Green Radio to learn more about the Promise of PepsiCo, or download the podcast by clicking here.

5 Easy Tips to Green Your Parties or Corporate Events

2011-08-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Instead of giving participants printed copies of handouts, brochures and power point slides, save them all on USB drives, and give those away.
If serving food and drinks, ask the venue to use dinnerware that can be washed and reused vs. disposable items.
Make sure that recycling bins are as readily accessible as garbage cans.
Make your event “goodie bag” a reusable grocery bag.
As the venue or caterer to use locally grown food for any meals that you serve, in order to avoid transporting foods long distances to your event.

Keeping Drugs Out of Your Drink

2011-08-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know…

· More than 100 different pharmaceuticals have been detected in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and streams throughout the world.¹

· Pharmaceuticals are being detected in the environment and there is genuine concern that these compounds, in the small concentrations that they're at, could be causing impacts to human health or to aquatic organisms.¹

· A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.¹

· The New York state health department and the USGS tested the source of the city's water, upstate. They found trace concentrations of heart medicine, antibiotics, estrogen, anti-convulsants, a mood stabilizer and a tranquilizer.¹

· Even users of bottled water and home filtration systems don't necessarily avoid exposure. Bottlers, some of which simply repackage tap water, do not typically treat or test for pharmaceuticals, according to the industry's main trade group. The same goes for the makers of home filtration systems.¹

· In the United States, the problem isn't confined to surface waters. Pharmaceuticals also permeate aquifers deep underground, source of 40% of the nation's water supply. Federal scientists who drew water in 24 states from aquifers near contaminant sources such as landfills and animal feed lots found minuscule levels of hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.¹

1. USA Today. AP: Drugs found in drinking water. Available at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-10-drugs-tap-water_N.htm. Accessed on February 26, 2010.

Scary stuff! But there is an organization committed to a solution. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has launched a program that will allow consumers to return their unwanted medications to their local pharmacist vs. flushing them down the toilet or putting them in the trash. On the most recent episode of Go Green Radio, Dr. Lisa Faast, owner of her own local pharmacy, describes how the program works in her store. Brad Arthur owns two pharmacies, and sits on the Executive Committee of the NCPA – he discusses the costs and details of the take back program. Finally, Dr. Carolyn Ha, the Association Director of Professional Affairs for NCPA, discusses the legal aspects of the take back program. You can learn more at www.disposemymeds.org.

Check out the podcast of the interview by clicking here:

http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/55423/keeping-drugs-out-of-your-drink

Think BPA-free Plastic is Safe? Think Again.

2011-07-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

BPA seems to be the scapegoat for hundreds of other harmful chemicals found in plastic food and beverage containers. While plastic manufacturers are scrambling to produce materials that can be marketed to consumers as BPA and phthalates-free, a recent study shows that many of these products are still full of chemicals with estrogenic activity (EA), which disrupt the natural function of human hormones. Chemicals with EA have been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, and a variety of behavioral abnormalities.

On a recent episode of Go Green Radio, I interviewed Mike Usey, CEO of PlastiPure, a technology company focused on developing safe plastic materials and products, and Stuart Yaniger, Vice President of Research and Product Development for PlastiPure, and one of the team of researchers who recently tested more than 450 mainstream brand plastic food and beverage-packages, and found that virtually all leached chemicals that acted like the hormone estrogen, even though many were free of BPA. Check out the podcast here, and learn how to keep your family safe!

Oprah's Influence on My Green Job

2011-05-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Oprah Winfrey taught me a lot. Her show first aired when I was sixteen years old, and the world was a different place. In general, mainstream Americans weren’t thinking globally. The “Me” generation and yuppies were “in,” and everyone I knew considered Madonna’s “Material Girl” an acceptable anthem.

Oprah was as pop culture as anyone, but the pulse of her message was others-centric. She cared about other peoples’ problems, and was ever-patient in explaining why the rest of us should, as well. She sent cameras into places and situations we would have never chosen to see, but we followed her into heartbreaking stories to find ourselves emerging braver, stronger and more confident after crying another’s tears and absorbing both their pain and their triumph.

Oprah let blessings flow through her, and demonstrated the simple act of sharing in everything she did. She shared her friends, her knowledge, her struggles, and her wealth.

Though not a biological mother, Oprah taught us how to mother. We watched her nurture youngsters around the world, as she constantly reminded us that society has an obligation to our children. ..all our children. What we desire for our own children, we should desire for all children. It is that lesson I will carry with me always, and what drives me to do the work I do with the Go Green Initiative. It’s not enough to prepare our children for the future; we must prepare the future for our children. Oprah showed us how to open our hearts, minds and arms to embrace the most vulnerable among us. She made me believe we can all make a difference.

Thank you, Oprah, for twenty-five years of sisterhood and inspiration. You brought out the best in all of us, and the world is better place because of you. I hope you see your fingerprints in the work of the women you have touched.

If you would like to watch my favorite “green” video clips from the Oprah Winfrey show, click here. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PLA8C9B6330D832724

Why Oprah says “it’s easy being green”: http://www.oprah.com/world/Its-Easy-Being-Green_1

Oprah’s Green Resources: http://www.oprah.com/packages/going-green.html

Buck Speaks to the Buckeyes on Earth Day

2011-04-13T14:04:00.001-07:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Buck Speaks to the Buckeyes on Earth Day

View more webinars from Go Green Initiative.

Discover 30 ways to Go Green for Earth Day

2011-04-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

I am happy to invite you to take part in a Smarter Life, Better Planet challenge, where I am one of 30 speakers discussing environmental and green topics.

This challenge has a simple format and an inspiring mission: starting from Earth Hour, March 26, until Earth Day, April 22, a new video is going up each day to offer you advice and easy tips on how you can improve your health and our planet.

In less than 3 minutes per day, you'll learn how to:

- Lower your energy use (and bills)
- Reduce your carbon footprint
- Purchase more sustainable products when shopping
- Save money while using less plastic
- And a whole lot more...

Along with watching a video, you can also complete a fun and quick challenge that will help you deepen your knowledge of each topic and create a simple plan just for you and your family to go green.

To take this rewarding journey along with me, my fellow speakers, and all the other participants, go to http://smarterlifebetterplanet.com/. Click on my picture on the left column to watch my video and hear my challenge.

You can also join the Smarter Life Better Planet conversation on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/hXCiq9 and follow @smarterbetter on Twitter.

As always, I appreciate your support and your effort as together we work to create a new and sustainable lifestyle, one action at a time.

2011-04-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

On April 1, I interviewed Dan Ferber, co-author of a fascinating new book, Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do about It. We discussed the ways climate change causes extreme weather events, and how those events can increase the rate of infectious diseases, threaten our food supply, and strain our national security forces in the face of global shortages of natural resources. We discussed the ways in which children are particularly vulnerable to the health impact of climate change, and ways that everyday people can make a positive difference in our nation’s ability to thrive. You can check out the podcast of this episode of Go Green Radio at: http://tinyurl.com/3buuw7h

Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do about It.by Harvard health and disease expert Paul R. Epstein, MD, and award-winning science journalist Dan Ferber, reveals the complex links between global warming and cholera, malaria, lyme disease, asthma, and other threats such as crumbling ecosystems and lost services. They also examine abrupt climate change, which could cause catastrophic droughts, crop failures, large-scale migration, and war, according to a Pentagon projection. Dr. Epstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHGE) at Harvard Medical School, has been documenting the links between global warming and declining human and environmental health since the early 1990s. Co-author Dan Ferber, a contributing correspondent to Science, traveled to rural Kenya, Honduras, Harlem and other places to talk with doctors, patients, scientists and others who are wrestling with these changes. The authors tell their stories and describe Epstein's quest to alert the world to the public health dangers of climate change. Then they draw on the latest science to vet climate solutions, and lay out a suite of innovative solutions to shape a healthy global economic order in the twenty-first century.

Go Green Radio - Straight Talk on Nuclear Energy

2011-03-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

In light of the tragedy unfolding in Japan, it is absolutely prudent to take a good, hard look at existing and future nuclear power plants in the United States. The Obama administration is still committed to backing loans for construction of nuclear facilities in the U.S., even as everyday Americans wonder if the facilities are safe. We will be joined by Angie Howard is president of Howard – Johnson Associates, a consulting practice specializing in strategic energy and utility issues, and 2009 recipient of Women in Nuclear Global leadership award. Ms. Howard retired in May 2009 as vice president, Office of the President and Executive Advisor to the President for the Nuclear Energy Institute. We will talk about radioactive waste disposal, nuclear proliferation concerns, and terrorist threats to nuclear facilities. Tune in to learn about the facts regarding nuclear energy in America, and what safety measures are in place to avoid a crisis. Go Green Radio airs live on www.VoiceAmerica.com at 9 a.m. Pacific, noon Eastern every Friday.

Philippe Cousteau…the Family Legend Continues

2011-02-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

Today's episode of Go Green Radio might be my favorite so far. After 97 episodes, I have had some brilliant and amazing guests, but Philippe Cousteau was such a delight to have on the show. Of course, it is intriguing that he is the grandson of the legendary Captain Jacques Cousteau, but his current work is fascinating. His organization, EarthEcho International, has some phenomenal programs for schools and kids, and I'm hoping you will visit his website to get involved. You can listen to the podcast of my interview with him by clicking here.

Don't Let Your Heating Bill Ruin Your Holidays

2010-11-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

As winter sets in and temperatures drop, our home energy costs tend to rise. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 50% of the energy used in a typical American home is for heating and cooling the air. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans will spend good money to heat their homes, only to have the warm air escape through poorly sealed attics with inadequate insulation. You can remedy that situation by conducting a do-it-yourself home energy audit. Visit the Department of Energy website at http://tinyurl.com/m2dh2a for tips on:
• Locating air leaks
• Insulation
• Heating & cooling equipment
• Lighting
Take control of your energy bill this winter, and save money while doing your part to conserve natural resources.

Go Green Initiative for School Leaders

2010-11-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

Everything your teacher, principal and superintendent need to know about "going green" at your school!

Go Green Initiative for School Leaders

View more webinars from Jill Buck.

What I Want for Veterans’ Day

2010-11-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

I’m a Navy Veteran. To some degree, I appreciate all the people and companies who are filling my inbox today with generic spam and ads that have “Thank You to our Veterans” in the subject line, and a variety of promotions and discounts they are offering to “honor my service”. It’s nice that these folks have Veterans on their minds this weekend, but honestly, if you are going to take the time to send me an email or conduct a sale, why don’t you ask me what I really want for Veterans’ Day? Don’t assume I want a mattress sale, a furniture sale, or a discount on my meal. If you really want to honor Veterans, ask us what we want. Here’s what I want for Veterans’ Day:

• A pair of pants
• A shirt
• A warm coat
• Some underwear
• Some socks
• Some shoes
• A job
• To be treated nicely if you meet me on the street

I don’t need any of those things for myself, but yesterday I spent the morning with homeless Veterans at the VA Clinic in San Francisco. They, and Veterans of all ages across the U.S., need the items listed above, and if you give these things to them, you’re giving them to me, as well.

And I’m not just concerned about homeless Veterans, because there are Wounded Warriors who are on the verge of losing everything who need help, too. I’ve been talking with a medically retired Special Ops Army Sgt who lives in North Carolina. Before he was called back on to active duty in 2001, he owned a multi-million dollar wireless internet connection business. But he was wounded in Baghdad in 2004, leaving him with seizures; memory, hearing, and vision loss; 60% loss of lung function; limited ability to walk and stand…and little hope. He’s the father of four kids, and from the 10th of each month until his paycheck arrives on the 1st of the following month, they cannot afford groceries, so they ration MRE’s (meals ready to eat) from an Army surplus store to get by.

No amount of emails and sales circulars thanking me for my service can make me feel good about Veterans’ Day when one of my brothers in arms is living this way.

Sometimes it seems like a million years ago when I wore a Navy uniform as a young mom, and did my best to “lead” sailors. I loved every minute of being on active duty, and even when my sailors were acting like knuckleheads in ways that only sailors can accomplish, I loved ‘em and they were precious to me. It breaks my heart to see the way some of our soldiers, sailors and Marines are living on Veterans’ Day, but I believe that together, we can help them. Let that be our mission this Veterans’ Day and beyond.

If you really want to thank a Veteran for his or her service, contact me at jillbuck[at]Comcast.net, and I’ll help you find a way to make a meaningful contribution in your area. With any luck, I’ll be so inundated with emails that it make take me a week or two to get back to you, but I will get back to you.

Thank you in advance for your service to those who served.

Go Green Initiative for School Leaders

2010-11-05T17:21:00.001-07:00

Everything your teacher, principal, superintendent and school board needs to know about "going green" at your school...

Go Green Initiative for School Leaders

View more webinars from Jill Buck.

Veterans Green Jobs...Empowering Vets to Restore our Environment, Economy and Communities

2010-08-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Give them the tools, the training, and a mission – these Veterans have what it takes to help America transition to a green, clean economy.

On this week’s episode of Go Green Radio (Friday, August 13, 9a.m. PST/Noon EST on www.VoiceAmerica.com), we’ll talk with Garrett Reppenhagen, former sniper in the Army’s 1st Infantry Division stationed in Iraq, and now the head of the Veterans Green Corps, overseeing teams of Veterans who are working outdoors to clean up wetlands, conducting forest fire mitigation projects, building woodland trails, and preserving our national parks.

The Veterans Green Jobs (http://veteransgreenjobs.org) is a national 501©3 organization that is training Veterans to work in the solar energy field, to conduct energy efficiency retrofits in low income housing, and to help lower the urban heat island effect by planting trees in densely populated areas. The Veterans involved in these green jobs are deeply committed to serving their country, and understand that preserving our natural resources and becoming energy independent are two critical undertakings for the U.S. in the 21st century. I urge all Go Green Radio listeners to visit their website and support them in any way you can.

It's Not About Hugging Trees...it's About Planting Them

2010-07-21T13:27:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe...

2010-07-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

5 Easy Tips to Green the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of your Home & Business to protect your health and improve your workforce’s productivity
1. Use “green” cleaning products and techniques to reduce harmful effects of unhealthy chemical exposure.
2. Properly maintain your HVAC system to ensure good indoor air quality.
3. When painting, replacing carpeting or furniture, use products with low VOC emissions.
4. Use task lighting in work areas to decrease energy use and increase human comfort.
5. Provide opportunities for your family and/or employees to have indoor plants that create healthy air quality in their personal breathing space. The peace lily is my top pick – it filters toxins from the air very effectively, and most important, is almost impossible to kill even if you have a brown thumb.

Fast Company Contributor, Trung Le, Talks Education & Environment

2010-07-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

According to this week’s Go Green Radio guest, more than half of the world’s population currently lives in an urban environment, and that number is expected to rise to 70% by the year 2050. In his most recent article for Fast Company, Trung Le writes, “These urban centers are supported by a diversity of interconnected systems and infrastructure that enhance the human condition (i.e. employment, culture, housing, education, transportation, public safety, healthcare, energy and technology)… But there is always a weak link, and in this instance, the weakest link in many of the leading urban economies is preK-12 education. Education is critical to a thriving urban center, so why are urban education systems in distress? Better yet: What can we do to change this fate? What does an urban preK-12 physical environment look like in the third millennium?” According to Le, creating sustainable schools that follow the International Living Building Institute guidelines is a critical component in answering these questions. Tune in to Go Green Radio this week to learn more about how Trung Le is helping to put this theory into practice at an urban school in Chicago. The show airs live at 9 a.m. Pacific on www.VoiceAmerica.com.

Introducing Planet Connect – a program from the National Environmental Education Foundation

2010-07-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

The National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with The Weather Channel, has launched Classroom Earth, a program designed to enhance and strengthen environmental education in high school classrooms nationwide. Planet Connect, a program of Classroom Earth, targets high school youth in an effort to increase student engagement in environmental learning, stimulate interest in environmental careers, and learn how to protect the environment. Planet Connect was developed with input from a diverse group of students from around the country who have helped to design the Planet Connect Web site, www.planetconnect.org and the Planet Connect High School Grants. This week on Go Green Radio, we’ll be talking with David Lanham who just finished a highly successful student video contest for Planet Connect. The winning videos can be found on the Go Green Initiative YouTube Channel: http://tinyurl.com/2fhtq2h.

Tune in to the live interview on Friday, July 2, at 9 a.m. Pacific/Noon Eastern on www.VoiceAmerica.com, or download the podcast when the show is archived at: http://tinyurl.com/yzhyjdc

Shanghai Elementary Students Totally Grasp "Green"

2010-06-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

I recently made a whirlwind trip to Shanghai, where I spoke at Ignite Shanghai ; attended reThink Shanghai (hosted by one of my favorite international entrepreneurs, Christine Lu ); hung out with Geeks on a Plane (see CNN international’s coverage - ;talked with one of the coolest eco-chicks ever,Leah Lamb , about sustainability in China (see the video thanks to What Gives ); saw the World Expo ; and best of all, got to spend an afternoon at YK Pao Elementary School in downtown Shanghai [See the pictures I took: ]

I spent several hours on campus talking with the principal, vice principal, numerous teachers and parent leaders. While the existing campus is a beautiful oasis of playgrounds and greenery amidst the heart of downtown Shanghai, there are plans in the works for a new campus built for optimal environmental performance. The new school will be a learning laboratory where children learn to live sustainably.
One of the things that impressed me most about the adults on campus was their firm commitment to being good role models of environmentally responsible behaviors to the kids. Environmental education isn’t just about curriculum, though they have developed some of the best I’ve seen, it’s about providing the children with examples of adults who conserve natural resources, coupled with frequent opportunities for the children to imitate what they see.

Clearly, the lessons are resonating with the children. In the videos you will see by visiting the YK Pao Student Work playlist on our YouTube Channel, note that even kids as young as first grade are able to explain water conservation and recycling principles like it’s second nature. [See the videos:]

The YK Pao school will be using the Go Green Planning Guide to further advance their goal of becoming the greenest school in China. Please join me in wishing the students, teachers, parents and administrators the best of luck on their “green” journey!

Sammy's Wish for Her 14th Birthday

2010-06-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Sammy S. is one cool kid! Her birthday is on June 24, and instead of presents, she is asking her friends and family to donate to the Go Green Initiative via Facebook Causes. She is asking people to donate $14, or whatever you can afford, in honor of her 14th birthday. Click here to see her Cause page.

"I don't need presents...why not use my birthday to do something good for the world?" says Sammy. "I think that we all should go green at school so we can raise money, and reuse everything."

Sammy is spot on! When schools recycle, they can often sell their recyclables to a broker and raise money. Aluminum, cell phones and sometimes even paper and plastic can provide lucrative money makers for the school.

If you'd like to help Sammy get her birthday wish, click here, and thank you in advance from the Go Green Initiative!

What is Energy Storage, and Why Should I Care?

2010-06-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad you asked! :)

This week's guest on Go Green Radio can answer that question for you.

According to our guest, Jason Makansi, Executive Director of the Energy Storage Council (www.energystoragecouncil.org), “The reason storage is so essential to renewables is the renewables are intermittent -- the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, and they are often located in areas far from population centers. Because the price of wholesale electricity varies throughout the day, when electricity is sold is just as important as how much electricity is sold. But if you can store the energy generated on a sunny or windy day and then inject that energy into the grid at periods of high demand ... well, then you've got yourself a market. You've got both physical and economic control over your resource and the leverage with which to build increasing demand for your product.
So coupling bulk energy storage with renewable energy -- especially remotely located wind farms -- creates a more reliable market for the energy generated and a more attractive environment for investment. Perhaps most importantly, storage also begins to make renewably generated electricity behave, from a market and supply perspective, like electricity from baseload plants such as nuclear.
Before we expect too much from renewables and are disappointed by their failure to perform, we need to start talking about giving them the power they need to succeed. We need to be talking about storage.”
Go Green Radio airs at 9 a.m. Pacific on Friday, June 4, on www.VoiceAmerica.com. If you miss the live broadcast, you can check out the archive at: http://tinyurl.com/yzhyjdc.

My work in China is Greener than Ever!

2010-05-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

I've been spending more and more time in China since 2007, when I was first asked to help the China Entrepreneur Club develop standards for green companies. This year I spent Earth in Chengdu, an area that was hit very hard by a devastating 8.0 magnitude earthquake in May 2008. Here I'm pictured with Chinese mothers and grandmothers who lost their homes to that quake, and are now in new housing built by the Sichuan provincial goverment. You can see more photos from my trip by checking out my Flickr stream. And you can read a full report of the work I've been doing in China by clicking here.

Video: Green News 4 Kids!!!

2010-04-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hollywood’s Red Carpet Meets “Green Teen” Journalists

2010-04-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Global Broadcast for Kids (GB4K) is the brain child of actor/director/producer Scott McGinnis, and it just might change the world.

While politicians and environmental activists work to clean up the mess left by older generations, GB4K reaches out to the ones who will inherit the mess – today’s teenagers. The message couldn’t be more perfectly on point; it’s “Green News…from One Kid to Another.” Each week, teen journalists, Marley and her brother Elijah, report on environmental issues, and finish each story with a “so what?” segment that helps explain the story in a way that makes sense to kids.

McGinnis has a long track record of producing great quality shows that kids love, like “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” the TV show, “Angel”, and more. Under his direction, Marley and Elijah are a refreshingly optimistic and entertaining pair, destined to engage a worldwide audience of kids that are looking for eco-information that matters to them.

Scott’s teen reporters will be covering the red carpet for the Earth Day premier of Disney’s new movie, “Oceans.” Be sure to check out their broadcast at: http://www.globalbroadcast4kids.com

Listen to this week’s Go Green Radio interview with Scott and Marley at 9 a.m. Pacific/12 p.m. Eastern/some other time in other places…on www.VoiceAmerica.com, or visit the Go Green Radio home page to listen to the archive - http://tinyurl.com/yzhyjdc.

Get Green Video Contest

2010-04-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

By guest blogger, David Lanham, National Enviornmental Education Foundation

Americans account for roughly five percent of the world’s population, but use around twenty five percent of the world’s energy. With a majority of our energy resources coming from the use of fossil fuels, that’s a particularly substantial carbon footprint! If the rest of the world consumed as much per capita, we would need over five Earths to support the world’s current population.

Since the beginning of industrialization, worldwide energy consumption per capita has increased nine-fold. During the same time period, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by about 36%.

As a result of these factors, scientists are now pushing for a worldwide decrease in carbon emissions. Reducing your carbon footprint not only conserves energy and natural resources, it decreases the negative impacts that traditional behaviors have on the environment. In essence, your actions leave behind a cleaner and more sustainable Earth.

As the next generation of leaders, teens today have a better understanding of the environment and its importance than any other generation. Planet Connect is hoping to help teens become more aware of how they can make a lasting impact.

Planet Connect has just announced the Get Green Video Contest. We want you to make a creative video that shows how you are reducing your carbon footprint – whether it’s biking, using less water, walking more, etc. Prizes include an Apple MacBook, an iPad and more!

We know you can make a difference. Here’s your chance to inspire others. You can watch our video commercial at youtube.com/pcgetgreen and read the contest rules at planet-connect.org/getgreen

Gardens in Gotham…GrowNYC® celebrates 40 Years!

2010-03-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Ever tasted an apple grown in the Big Apple? If not, talk to this week's Go Green Radio guest, Marcel Van Ooyen, the Executive Director of GrowNYC - formerly the Council on the Environment of New York City. The NYC Greenmarket is the largest and most successful open-air farmers markets program in the country. Since 1970, this organization has been improving New York City's quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block, and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. GrowNYC rolls up its sleeves alongside NYC residents to provide access to healthy, fresh, local food for all New Yorkers; grow and maintain vibrant green spaces and community gardens; help New Yorkers recycle more and reduce waste; and create the next generation of environmental leaders through hands-on education programs. If a city of 10 million people can make a community garden and farmers market program work, so can yours! Check out their website at www.cenyc.org.

Marcel joins Go Green Radio live on Friday, March 19 from 9-10 a.m. Pacific/ noon-1 p.m. Eastern on www.VoiceAmerica.com.

'Go Green Radio Talks Trash'

2010-02-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

'Go Green Radio Talks Trash'

CALGREEN …Public Policy the Way it Should Be

2010-01-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

On October 14, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger defied some of the most powerful environmental interest groups in California and the nation by vetoing AB 888, sponsored by Assemblyman Lieu. The subject matter of the bill was to create statute requiring green building standards, relying heavily upon the standards outlined in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. The USGBC holds annual conferences that draw over 20,000 people to one venue for a week...I daresay that's a few more people than I've seen at any political party conventions. My point is, the USGBC is big and powerful. It was no small thing that this bill was vetoed, and the Governor deserves a lot of credit for doing that. His veto paved the way for a regulatory policy process that is far better than what could have been achieved through this legislation, and I believe the end result of that process will be very good for California and our business community.

It's important to note that there is nothing inherently wrong with the USGBC's LEED standards. On the contrary, their guidelines for creating energy efficient, sustainable buildings are very well-researched and are backed by some of the world's top architects. However, there are some shortcomings to the LEED program that would make it inappropriate for statutory purposes in California. First, it's very costly to pay for accreditation; the fees are quite steep. The USGBC is a nonprofit organization, and, besides grants from the government, they fund their staffing and DC offices, in large part, through fees builders pay to be accredited. Second, LEED standards favor building materials that are not locally sourced in California, which means higher costs and greater emissions to transport materials from outside our state. Last, LEED standards do not address California-specific issues that must be incorporated into any responsible CA building code, e.g. seismic conditions, etc. The Governor's veto message on AB888 is worth reading, as it clearly defines his perspective in protecting California interests.

Since that veto, the California Building Standards Commission (BSC) has worked with industry leaders to develop "the most stringent, environmentally friendly building code standards of any state in the nation," writes Marisa Lagos of the SF Chronicle. Anyone who has trod the Sacramento sidewalks looking for campaign donations will recognize the following line up of organizations involved in creating CALGREEN: Cal Chamber; CA Building Industry Association (CBIA); and CA Business Properties Association (CBPA). Essentially, the regulating body, BSC, worked in collaboration with those who would be regulated, CBPA et al, to develop regulations that won't break the bank of our building industry, but will conserve water, energy and other natural resources for future generations.

This week, I interviewed Matthew Hargrove, Sr. VP of Governmental Affairs at CBPA regarding CALGREEN, and I think you'll be enlightened and encouraged by his remarks:

1. How is the BSC's recent adoption of green building standards good for CA businesses?

If you believe that businesses can achieve profitability through sustainability then all sectors of should benefit by the adoption of CALGREEN. Those benefits will mainly be seen in lower electrical bills and lower water bills for new buildings. Done correctly and cost-effectively, not only does it help the environment, it will help the bottom line; as they say, be a "win-win." We have chosen to work closely with the state to ensure that through a consensus-based process with all stakeholders welcome at the table, green building codes are environmentally strict, while remaining cost effective and technologically feasible. Having a clear statewide standard will help our companies avoid unnecessary environmental lawsuits, have more consistent standards across the state so we don't have to deal with a different code in every jurisdiction, and allow us to meet some of the statewide regulatory mandates that are heading our way.

2. There are those who advocate that states and local governments simply adopt the USGBC's LEED standards for green building ordinances. Why didn't the BSC take that route?

The state has a responsibility for writing and maintaining building codes for the state. In a show of "good government" the state is fulfilling its responsibility to keep the code writing process in the public domain as a basic service of government, which maintains transparency, cost-effectiveness, and technological feasibility. Additionally, many have raised Constitutional issues with the notion of public entities delegating such authority to a closed process. Most builders and policymakers I have spoken with do not believe that GALGREEN and LEED standards are in conflict, and in fact believe that they will be very complimentary of one another.

3 . A lot of candidates for office will be coming to your organization and Jobs PAC for campaign funding in 2010. For candidates who want to succeed in getting financial backing, what should they know about the BSC's green building standards?

I cannot speak for Jobs PAC. However, I think the business community generally hopes that policymakers focus on pragmatic policies that will help create jobs by improving California's business climate. CALGREEN is an example of a pragmatic regulatory process that took into account expert opinion from the regulated industry and was critically looked at to make sure it was cost-effective and technologically feasible.

Killing the H1N1 Virus with PURE Bioscience’s ‘Green’ Antimicrobial

2009-12-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

Confused about all the conflicting reports about whether or not to use hand sanitizer this flu season? Wondering how effective non-toxic, “green” cleaners are against the H1N1 virus? Worried about the kinds of cleansers your family and pets are exposed to? Me, too!!! As a mother of three kids in public schools, I am very concerned about making sure my children remain healthy, despite the fact that we haven’t had access to H1N1 vaccines yet. Fortunately, Mike Krall, CEO of PURE Bioscience, has the information we’re all looking for.

Tune in to Go Green Radio this week, when I will ask Mike how his patented product, SDC, may very well be the most significant and environmentally safe answer to many of the public health threats of the 21st century…and most importantly…where we, the consumers, can get it! You can listen to the show live from 9-10 a.m. Pacific time on www.VoiceAmerica.com, or listen to the podcast later at http://tinyurl.com/kwnr9j.

Here's a handy widget to help you keep track of products the FDA says are making fraudulent claims to fight the H1N1 virus. Be a smart shopper!

H1N1 Fraudulent Products.
Flash Player 9 is required.

Helpful links:
FDA information on fraudulent H1N1 Product Claims (includes a widget for your blog): http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm150305.htm#protection
CDC information on Swine Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
PURE Bioscience: http://www.purebio.com/

My speech at TEDx Honolulu

2009-12-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

Photo taken by Ed Morita
Grilled Cornbread, LLP
grilledcornbread.com

You can see the video of my speech here: http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/index.php?go=Blog.View&BlogID=73

When the Ambassador of Aloha (Neenz Faleafine) and a former Miss Hawaii (Traci Toguchi )invite you to speak in Honolulu…you say ‘YES!’, regardless of the topic. That’s exactly what I did, though I’ll admit, the theme I was asked to address at TEDx Honolulu made me somewhat uncomfortable. Neenz and Traci asked me to talk about the concept of “Shift – to change position or attitude.” That is a tough subject to tackle even with people you know well, but a nearly impossible topic to speak about with complete strangers who live in paradise. What could I possibly offer my new friends that would be helpful or relevant?
I started with something I think we all have in common…hope for a bright future, not just for ourselves, but also for the next generation. Our children are counting on us to make decisions today that will have a positive impact on their future.
As the global economic downturn continues to burden communities everywhere, I strongly believe that there are opportunities for Hawaii to make a pivot – or shift – toward a state economy over which there is more local control. Hawaii’s current economy is anchored in tourism, which relies on outside forces to drive revenue. However, if tourism were complimented by attracting new, clean tech companies, this would allow the state to realize a more stable tax inflow and employment scenario for its residents. The same attributes that have made Hawaii a wonderful place for tourists – sunshine, waves and the beautiful breeze – could also make Hawaii the vortex of clean energy technology research in the form of solar, wave and wind energy. Creating an enticing business climate that will attract clean tech companies to Hawaii could provide high paying jobs, a clean environment, and economic stability that will allow the state to offer first-rate services and infrastructure to its residents. Clean energy and clean tech companies are expected to fuel the 21st century global economy, and Hawaii is perfectly poised to be at the epicenter of that movement.
The Keiki (children) of Hawaii are precious, and deserve a healthy, exciting and prosperous future. Hawaii’s natural resources already provide many of the key ingredients of the high standard of living that Hawaiian parents want to pass on to the next generation. If the parents, educators, and elected officials of the state Hawaii work together to develop a stable, growing economy that is less dependent on the tourism budgets of non-residents, then their Keiki can look forward to careers that will allow them to live well and fully enjoy living in their island paradise.
I am so grateful for the generous Aloha Spirit that I received at TEDx Honolulu. It was life changing for me, and I hope that somehow, someday I am able to return that same spirit to my new friends. Aloha and Mahalo!

You can see the video of my speech here: http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/index.php?go=Blog.View&BlogID=73

As Unemployment Rises, How Do Companies Recruit the Best AND ‘Go Green?’

2009-10-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that small and medium sized businesses have borne the brunt of the global economic downturn. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 70-80% of all jobs come from small/medium companies. In order to lower the current unemployment rate, small businesses need to be able to put as much of their money into salaries as possible, and put Americans back to work.

But as the unemployment lines grow longer, the chore of finding the best talent becomes increasingly difficult for employers that have job openings. Taking resumes via mail, email, job boards and every conceivable social media platform can be a costly and aggravating process, involving man-hours that could be better spent. My guest on Go Green Radio this week is Pratik Roychoudhury, and his company www.MyLatch.com has created an innovative hiring solution for small businesses that is both cost-effective AND “green!” While the concept of “green jobs” remains ethereal to most of us, Pratik has made the hiring process for any job more economical and eco-conscious.

This week’s Go Green Radio show is aimed at any employer who wants to plug into a 21st century hiring process, and get the most qualified Americans back to work. This is also a great preview of some tools of the future that will help companies quantify and reduce their carbon footprint.

Tune in to Go Green Radio live from 9-10 a.m. PST on http://www.voiceamerica.com/, or check out the podcast any time you like at http://tinyurl.com/kwnr9j

An Overview of the Go Green Initiative

2009-09-24T07:04:00.001-07:00

Go Green Initiative Overview Sept 2009

View more documents from Jill Buck.

The Go Green Initiative and Maggwire.com Partner to Modernize Magazine Consumption

2009-08-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

The Go Green Initiative and Maggwire.com announced their partnership to modernize magazine consumption for over 2 million students worldwide who are registered with the Go Green Initiative. Maggwire.com provides paperless access to the world’s most credible magazine articles, saving trees, time and money.

“I am excited to share Maggwire with our worldwide network of schools, and I believe this one website may have a tremendous impact on both learning and the environment,” says Jill Buck, founder and executive director of the Go Green Initiative. “Maggwire provides an eco-friendly, 21st century research tool for students, teachers and parents at a time when access to the highest quality magazine journalism via traditional subscriptions may be out of reach for school libraries and families affected by the economic downturn. Educators who are looking for cost-effective and environmentally responsible resources for their students will be thrilled with Maggwire.com.”

Ryan Klenovich, founder of Maggwire, says, “Younger generations are reading professional journalism less and less as they spend increasing amounts of time on social networks, playing video games and watching television. Jian Chai and I started Maggwire because we love magazines, and wanted to help the magazine industry reach the next generation of readers with a fresh, digital experience. Teachers, parents and librarians can offer Maggwire as a tool for students to research numerous topics and even comment on articles to create educational discussion forums.”

Magazine industry expert, Samir Husni, a.k.a. Mr. Magazine, welcomes Maggwire as an example of the much needed innovation in the magazine industry. He says Maggwire is, “an ambitious plan that aims to be the target destination for anyone interested in magazines and magazine articles.”

About Maggwire:

Maggwire's goal is to lead the magazine industry toward a successful digital transformation, and will become the online destination for all your magazine related needs. With over 10,000 magazine titles attracting 200 million American readers, Maggwire makes discovering magazine content a personalized experience. Utilizing social intelligence, our system recommends magazine articles you will enjoy reading from over 650 magazine titles. We are performing the most comprehensive analysis of magazine articles and readership patterns ever attempted. Our purpose is to distinguish high quality journalistic content backed by reputable publishers and eventually provide readers with the ability to purchase premium magazine content online with a single click.

More information is available online at www.maggwire.com.

Who Will Resurrect the Electric Car?...Go Green Radio knows the answer…

2009-07-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

When Sony Pictures released the movie, “Who Killed the Electric Car,” (http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/electric.html) the U.S. political landscape was much different, and Detroit had a lot more clout than it does today. The movie honed in on a very specific moment in time when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) eliminated the production of electric vehicles in the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) initiative, and pinned the blame on D.C.-based lawsuits and lobbying in Sacramento as the reasons electric cars failed to achieve economically-feasible market share. I’d be the last person to underestimate the effects of Sacramento lobbying, but in truth, there have been two primary consumer concerns that have inhibited the success of the electric car:
· the cost of the vehicles is higher than comparably-sized gasoline cars; and
· the mileage range of a typical car battery is much shorter than the range of a gasoline tank. For lengthy trips, that would mean having to stop every 150 miles or so, finding a place to plug the car in, and waiting several hours for it to power up.

A new company called Better Place (www.betterplace.com) has the solution to both of these problems, and may be the “enabler” that finally brings electric vehicles into the mainstream. Better Place CEO, Shai Agassi, has led successful beta operations in Israel, Denmark and Australia, but as of November 2008, he started making waves in the Golden State, as he eyes California as the U.S. toehold for his company.

At a press conference in the San Francisco City Hall on November 20, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger and Mayors of San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco gathered with numerous Bay Area groups and Better Place to announce plans to engage in public-private investments in electric vehicles and ‘green’ infrastructure. Better Place is not an electric car manufacturer, but could provide the necessary infrastructure with their battery “filling stations.”

This week on Go Green Radio, my guest is Jason Wolf, head of North American business development for Better Place. I’ll be asking him… if Warren Buffet’s new investment in electric cars depends on Better Places’ success; …whether or not we’ll need more nuclear plants to facilitate clean electricity for our cars; …how the geopolitical landscape will change if Better Place makes it possible for us to ‘just say no’ to Middle Eastern and Venezuelan oil; and much, much more.

The episode airs live on www.VoiceAmerica.com fro 9-10 a.m. on Friday, July 24. But if you miss the live broadcast, you can listen to the podcast later at http://tinyurl.com/kwnr9j.

My interns ended up in jail!!!

2009-07-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

When they signed up to be interns for the world’s largest environmental education program, they probably didn’t think it would land them in jail, but that is exactly what happened…and ironically, it all started with a chance encounter at Disneyland…
Over Memorial Day weekend this year, my family went to Anaheim, CA for an ice hockey tournament for my son. After a particularly grueling 7 a.m. game, we all went to Disneyland, and ended up seeing some good family friends outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride – it’s a small world after all! (: The mom of the family told me her daughter was coming home from Princeton, and that she studies architecture. I asked her if she would like to explore “green” architecture as my intern. Thanks to the kindness of my good friend with the Alameda County’s Sheriff’s Office, we were able to schedule a tour of a very ‘green’ county jail in our area on Monday. We saw recycling in numerous locations, solar panels on the roof, a hydrogen fuel cell that was installed in 2006, and a brand new recycled water system in the jail’s laundry facility.

Here is what Lauren wrote about the visit:

Why Prisons?

This summer, I am interning under Jill Buck for the Go Green Initiative as an undergraduate student interested in Architecture and Urban Studies. Despite being relatively new to the field of architecture, I have recently decided that studying the design of prisons would be a fascinating area of study. By shaping the layout and the internal space of a prison you help to manage the environment and atmosphere of the facility, which can in turn influence how inmates behave. Simply adding more windows and increasing ceiling height creates a calmer environment. Prisons are necessary, federally funded facilities that can serve as opportunities for behavior-shaping architectural experimentation. On top of the creative opportunity that prisons might be able to provide, they also serve as exciting spaces for green architectural innovation! Prisons are high energy facilities that require 24-hours of operation, 7 days a week. With regulations that demand high lighting and large amounts of water consumption they serve as black holes for energy resources; sucking up thousands of dollars in energy. By combining intelligent design with green techniques we can create facilities that are energy efficient and relatively calm. Simple things, such as increasing the number of windows in a facility, help to lower energy consumption by increasing the use of natural light. We recently saw such innovation at the Alameda County Jail, where administration is learning to save money by retrofitting their facility with solar panels and clean energy sources such as the Hydrogen Fuel Cell system. I do not think that the prison system is going anywhere in the near future, so why not make them energy efficient, socially controlled, and green now?

My daughter, Katie, is also interning for me this summer. She has literally grown up with the Go Green Initiative, and is now taking a leadership role in the organization. This was her reflection:

My First Trip to Jail

We are always hearing, “Give 110%!” Well that’s exactly what Santa Rita County Jail is doing. Between their hydrogen fuel cell and solar panels they are completely self sufficient…and then some! They sometimes create more energy than they can even use in a 4,000 person jail!(Out of those 4,000 inmates are people in there for a year or less, people on trial, or people waiting to be transported to prison.) The hydrogen fuel cell is essentially carbon free, and produces 60-80% of the jails electricity. The solar panels produce the other 30% of the energy. There are other ways that the jail is going green too. Not only recycling the laundry water to use it again, they also recycle water bottles just like I do at school. (I knew there were similarities between jail and school) One of my favorite parts of the tour was the Automated Guided Vehicle System. Basically these little robot carts moved around on their own to pre-destined places to deliver food, sheets etc. They relied on little maintenance and operator involvement. Very efficient! It improves security because instead of transporting hundreds of inmates around the campus you bring everything to the inmates.

To hear more about their impressions of the trip to the Alameda County Jail, tune into Go Green Radio this week when we’ll talk to Lauren and Katie about their field trip behind bars! Go Green Radio airs live on http://www.voiceamerica.com/ from 9-10 a.m. Pacific time, and if you miss the live broadcast, you can download the podcast later at http://tinyurl.com/kwnr9j.

Are pizza boxes and microwave popcorn poisoning my kids???

2009-06-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's tough to know where to go for the best information on how to keep our kids safe and healthy, but this week on Go Green Radio, we've found an expert with the answers. Jennifer Taggart’s new book, “Smart Mama’s Green Guide”, is a candid and credible resource for child advocates who want to reduce children’s exposure to toxic chemicals. You may be surprised to learn that products you use everyday in your home contain chemicals capable of causing health problems for your kids. Jennifer’s background as an environmental engineer and lawyer, coupled with her passionate devotion to her own – and all – kids, provide the perfect background for her expert advice. Tune into Go Green Radio this Friday, June 26, from 9-10 a.m. Pacific on http://www.voiceamerica.com/. If you miss the live show, you can listne to the podcast anytime by visiting: www.tinyurl.com/kwnr9j. You can learn more about the Smart Mama at www.thesmartmama.com!

Go Green Radio This Week!

2009-06-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

Re:Vision Dallas: Urban Sustainability… One city block at a time.

Everything is BIG in Texas, including big ideas for 21st Century Urban Planning and Green job creation! Dallas,TX recently offered up one city block, inviting architects and urban planners from around the world to compete to re-design the space into the United State’s first fully sustainable, “off the grid” inner-city block. This week on Go Green Radio, we have John Greenan of the Central Dallas Community Development Corporation, and representatives from two of the winning architectural firms: Little Architects, and David Banker and Partners with their respective entries, Entangled Bank and XERO Project.

We’ll be talking to them about this exciting and innovative green project involving the transformation of urban landscape into an energy efficient, sustainable community. The show airs live at 9 am Pacific on http://www.voiceamerica.com/, or you can listen to the podcast later at http://tinyurl.com/kwnr9j.

For more information on Re:Vision Dallas and Urban Re:Vision, visit http://www.urbanrevision.com/.

Green Teens Who Inspire Me

2009-05-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I received an email from Henry Han, a teenager in Houston, TX. He created the original artwork you see with this blog, and I think it is amazing! Through his own creative lens, he depicts both the peril of environmentally irresponsible behavior and the bright future we can look forward to if we treat the planet with care. If you like Henry's artwork as much as I do, you can view his gallery at http://hequalstohenry.deviantart.com/gallery/. Henry, you are a green teen who inspires me!

Ahsan Khan is another green teen making the world a better place. He wrote to me on the Go Green Face Space on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=6566461086

Hi! I am currently a High School Senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, GA... I am planning a "Green Week" for the week of April 20th and helped get my school registered for the Go Green Initiative. I think this program is great and I am happy that my school is a part of it!For my Green Week event, I and the rest of our National Honor Society will be encouraging our new recycling program as well as passing out reusable water bottles and shopping bags to the students. I will be speaking to the faculty at my school soon to help them get involved. I am glad that I stumbled upon the GGI and I have gathered a number of ideas for my event through it! Thanks for everything that you do!

Henry and Ahsan, thank you so much for writing to me, and for using your talents to make your world a greener, cleaner place!

Treating "Earth Day" like a "Birthday"

2009-04-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

I hope you are having a great Earth Day!

Here's what I'm doing to celebrate...I'm treating Earth Day like a Birthday!

You know how you feel on your birthday, how you hope your friends and family will do something nice for you, take it easy on you? Well, that's how I'm treating the Earth today...like it's the Earth's birthday. I'm using less water, less energy, and doing my best not to throw anything in the garbage that will end up in a landfill. I'm doing little things to give the Earth a little break today.

I'd love to hear how you celebrated Earth Day! Tell me all about it!

Greenly yours,
Jill Buck

The Day Before Earth Day in Beijing - One World, One Dream

2009-04-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

It’s so easy to fall in love with the Chinese people. This is my third trip to China, and my experiences have always been wonderful – I’ve always been warmly welcomed and treated with extreme kindness. But today, I put China to the test…would I be as warmly welcomed if I were not accompanied by a Chinese guide, and if my arrival went unannounced? The answer is absolutely yes!

Tomorrow I will speak on Earth Day at the 2nd Annual Summit of Green China Businesses, but today, I was a tourist. I set out in a cab by myself to tour the venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It was a bright and breezy day, and though I could only use hand gestures and a friendly smile to communicate with the Chinese people I met, I didn’t have a problem finding anything or getting where I wanted to be. Everything was labeled in both Mandarin and English…even the uniforms of the security officers. I found that very interesting, and I have to say, it made me feel welcome.

In 2007, I was invited to serve on the International Appraisal Committee for the Daonong Center for Enterprise, a think tank formed by the China Entrepreneur Club (CEC). It has been my honor to work with the business leaders of China to develop standards for green business, and to watch their rapid progress toward those standards in such a short time. At last year’s Summit, the Chairman of the CEC put forth an audacious and exciting goal: to make China’s economy carbon-free. I’m thrilled to be part of that vision!

Now, you might wonder why this California mom of three is spending Earth Day in China, but the fact is there is something in it for my kids. My youngest child has asthma, and 30% of the air pollution in California can be traced to China . As the Chinese move aggressively forward in reducing their carbon emissions and air pollution, the air in my hometown will be cleaner. We’re all interconnected, and by helping one another, we all win.

As I always say…the wind blows, and the water flows.

Here I Am @ Beijing's Olympic Stadium-the Bird's Nest

2009-04-20T19:43:00.001-07:00

I was in Beijing for the first time in Nov. 2007, about 6 months after I started working with the China Entrepreneur Club to help develop green business standards for Chinese companies and multinational companies operating in China. At that time, I only got to see the Bird's Nest under construction from a tour bus window. But now, I'm going inside!!! I'm so excited!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Go Green Initiative Schools Save Natural Resources

2009-04-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

In this photo (courtesy of Alan Greth Photography) you see a student at the very first Go Green Initiative school, Walnut Grove Elementary, bringing recyclables from home to school. The local waste hauler, Pleasanton Garbage Service, pays the school a significant portion of the market value of the recyclables the school collects. To learn how to negotiate a similar arrangement with your local waste hauler, download the Planning Guide from the homepage of our website, and see the Appendix entitled, "Negotiating with Your Waste Hauler."

Each quarter, our top-notch schools turn in QPR's (quarterly progress reports), so that the Go Green Initiative family of schools can keep track of just how much great work they are accomplishing. Our latest recycling numbers are incredible!

Here's what our schools have kept out of their local landfills:

7,454,879 lbs. of paper

873,756 lbs. of cardboard

95,831 lbs. of aluminum

160,954 lbs. of plastic

589,842 lbs. of mixed recyclables

242,406 lbs. of food waste

The environmental benefit to all that recycling is:

conservation of 1.4 million gallons, or 33,720 barrels, of oil

conservation of 26 million gallons of water

conservation of over 63 billion BTU's of electricity

conservation of 3,721 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions

conservation of 13,738 cubic yds. of landfill space

Should Environmentalists Embrace Nuclear Energy?

2009-04-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Normally, I’m a real stickler for hosting Go Green Radio live on Fridays from 9-10 am PST, but this week, I’ll be celebrating Good Friday with my family at that time, so we pre-recorded the show this morning.

My guest, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore from Irvine, California has become one of the nation’s leading advocates for lifting the moratorium on building new nuclear power plants. He’s been featured on numerous TV and radio shows, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle and many more publications. As America moves to limit our carbon emissions to the greatest extent possible, can we do so without nuclear energy? Or is nuclear our only viable, domestic energy option for a clean, green future?

Assemblyman DeVore did a FANTASTIC, and thoroughly educational, interview with me on this topic. Be sure to tune in on http://www.voiceamerica.com/ this Friday at 9 am to hear what he has to say. If you can’t listen to the show Friday morning, don’t worry! You can catch the podcast at the following link: http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1303

Showbiz Icon on Go Green Radio

2009-04-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Think about your favorite ABC Afterschool special, and chances are, my guest on Go Green Radio either wrote it or produced it. Virginia Carter began her career as a physicist in the aerospace industry and in the Air Force. But thanks to a serendipitous friendship with the wife of Norman Lear, Virginia has become an incredible force for good and social change through media. She was awarded an Emmy and two Peabody Awards for her work on the immensely popular American situation comedies All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, The Facts of Life, and Diff’rent Strokes. She assisted in the production of the top five most highly rated television shows in the United States during the 1980s. Virginia now does pro bono work for Population Media Center, which aims to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. http://www.populationmedia.org/

This was one of my favorite interviews in the past year of Go Green Radio. It was truly an honor to talk to Virginia, and we’ll have her on again soon. In the meantime, check out the podcast of our conversation at: http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=37510

Twitter + Spunky Intern = Interview on Urban Re:Vision

2009-03-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

This week’s episode of Go Green Radio is another Twitter success story. Derek Gordon is an intern for a super cool project called Urban Re:Vision. Derek found me on Twitter, and yada, yada, yada…I’m interviewing one of the premiere green architects in the biz, Eric Corey Freed. Eric is based in San Francisco, and has founded more entities than I’ve got fingers to count them. His company, organicARCHITECT, creates sustainable structures, from large developments to single family dwellings. With more than 15 years in green design, Eric can tell us what it was like to be green even before there was a Nobel Peace Prize in the mix! Don’t miss this interview with award-winning architect, Eric Corey Freed!

Go Green Radio airs live on Fridays 9-10 am PST/noon-1pm EST on http://www.voiceamerica.com/. If you miss it live, you can catch the podcast here.

Baseball is "Going Green"!!!

2009-03-05T10:20:00.001-08:00

Coastal Plain League Goes Green, Announces Go Green Week

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League announced today that it is “Going Green” in 2009. The CPL has partnered with the Go Green Initiative, and its teams will be holding a Go Green Week from July 5 through July 12.

“I’m so proud to support the Coastal Plain League’s ‘Green Week’,” said Jill Buck, Founder and Executive Director of the Go Green Initiative. “Baseball was a huge part of my childhood, and I know that millions of American kids are shaped by their experiences at the ballpark. It’s truly inspiring to see an entire baseball league making their stadiums a place where kids can see environmental stewardship in action, and have a great time with their family!”

While the CPL is still in the planning stages of its Go Green Week, member clubs will be taking part in several different ways to “Go Green”. The CPL has already partnered with Zephyr hats to do a green hat for the players and coaches to wear during the games; and other things teams will be doing include recycling programs for plastic bottles and aluminum cans, some teams will be playing day games to help conserve electricity and participating in community clean-ups and beach sweeps. The CPL and its clubs will also be helping raise awareness through announcements and reading off important facts of the benefits of “Going Green” throughout the week.

“We are very excited to announce that our league and member clubs are going green,” said Assistant Commissioner Justin Sellers. “We feel this is a very important cause and hope that our Go Green Week will be a successful one in helping do things that will better the environment and create a “go green” consciousness in everyone’s mind.”

Go Green Radio will feature a segment on the CPL’s Go Green Week Friday, March 6, 2009 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. EST. Fans are encouraged to listen in and can do so by logging onto www.VoiceAmerica.com. Once there, navigate to the Voice America section under the Networks tab to open up the live broadcast. Go Green Radio is heard by five million listeners worldwide.

More information on the Coastal Plain League Go Green Week will be coming soon. Please visit www.coastalplain.com for all updates.
About the Go Green Initiative: The Go Green Initiative is the world’s fastest growing fully comprehensive environmental action plan for schools. By promoting environmental stewardship on campuses from preschools through universities, the GGI works to involve families, businesses and local governments in the common goal of protecting human health through environmental stewardship. Since its inception in July 2002, the Go Green Initiative has been endorsed by the National School Boards Association, National Recycling Coalition, adopted by eight State PTA Boards, implemented in all 50 U.S. states, 13 countries and on 4 continents. The Go Green Initiative has kept more than nine million pounds of recyclables out of the world’s landfills, conserved 25.7 million gallons of water, and saved over 55 billion BTUs of energy. These accomplishments were achieved voluntarily, with no mandates or legislation, showing that “going green” is practical and simply makes sense. There are currently over 2.2 million students and teachers in registered Go Green schools.

About the Coastal Plain League: The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, heading into its 13th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

"Green" Home Expert on Go Green Radio

2009-02-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to have a "green" home, and who is qualified to answer that question?

Answer: Peter Yost

The U.S. Green Building Council has recently launched a new program that sets standards for certifying a residential unit as “green,” and on Go Green Radio, we’ll be talking with one of the industry leaders who developed those standards: Peter Yost. Peter serves as an instructor for the Boston Architectural College's Sustainable Design Certificate program and an adjunct faculty member of the University of Massachusetts Department of Building Materials and Wood Technology program in Amherst. He has been building, researching, teaching, writing, and consulting on high performance homes for more than twenty years, and will share his insight with Go Green Radio listeners!

Tune in on Friday, February 20, from 9-10 am PST/noon-1pm EST to www.VoiceAmerica.com.

Recession-Proof Environmental Education Program Now Reaches 2 Million Students Per Day

2009-02-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty excited about what's happening with my non-profit organization, the Go Green Initiative (GGI)! In 2008, the GGI grew by 70%, and now reaches 2,001,419 students, and 237,591 teachers in 1811 schools around the globe. Since the GGI’s inception in 2002, schools in all 50 U.S. states, 13 countries and on 4 continents have self-registered on the program’s website, www.gogreeninitiative.org.

Even in the midst of a global economic downturn, the Go Green Initiative continues to grow exponentially. In the last quarter alone we have added 211 new schools in 35 different states, and we did that with an operating budget of less than 2 cents per student. We’re free to schools, we’re effective, and we are helping communities maintain their commitment to conservation, even during tough economic times.

GGI schools can voluntarily track their waste diversion and recycling rates, utilizing the free resources and tools available to all registered GGI schools. We began tracking waste diversion data points in 2005. Since then, participating schools have kept the following materials out of their local landfills: 7.3 million lbs. of paper; 806, 941 lbs. of cardboard; 94,314 lbs. of aluminum; 157, 026 lbs. of plastic; 17,389 printer cartridges; 15, 337 cell phones; 547,568 lbs. of mixed recyclables; and 193,643 lbs. of food waste.

As a result of that waste diversion, the following environmental impact has been achieved: over 55 billion BTU’s of energy has been saved; 3,628 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been prevented; 25.7 million gallons of water and 1.4 million gallons of oil were saved due to paper recycling alone; and 13,457 cubic yards of landfill space was conserved.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. In the coming weeks, we're going to allow businesses, communities, families, organizations, and individuals to register with the Go Green Initiative at no cost, and join our schools in creating positive environmental changes that can be measured.

Fast facts about the Go Green Initiative (GGI):
The Go Green Initiative is the world’s fastest growing fully comprehensive environmental action plan for schools. By promoting environmental stewardship on campuses from preschools through universities, the GGI works to involve families, businesses and local governments in the common goal of protecting human health through environmental stewardship. Since its inception in July 2002, the Go Green Initiative has been endorsed by the National School Boards Association, National Recycling Coalition, adopted by eight State PTA Boards, implemented in all 50 U.S. states, 13 countries and on 4 continents. The Go Green Initiative has kept more than nine million pounds of recyclables out of the world’s landfills, conserved 25.7 million gallons of water, and saved over 55 billion BTUs of energy. These accomplishments were achieved voluntarily, with no mandates or legislation, showing that “going green” is practical and simply makes sense. There are currently over 2.2 million students and teachers in registered Go Green schools.

More information is available online at www.GoGreenInitiative.org.

Is There Enough Energy in the World for Everyone to Live Like Americans?

2009-01-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

Many in the U.S. are trying very hard to ‘go green’, and they are using less gasoline, changing their light bulbs to CFL’s, and recycling. Even with all of these efforts, if we multiply the amount of energy used per person in the U.S. by the world’s total population…we’d have a problem…not enough energy to go around. We live well in the U.S., so it’s understandable that people in other countries would want to live as well, but is there enough energy in the world for everyone to live like Americans? Do we have a shortage of energy, or an energy management problem? My guest on Go Green Radio this week, Susan Meredith, author of “Beyond Light Bulbs: Lighting the Way to Smarter Energy Management” will help us uncover the truth.

I’ll be asking her if we have to build nuclear plants in 3rd world countries in order to get them clean water without polluting their air. I’ll ask her if carbon offset programs are real, or just one more way to “green wash” our conscience when we pollute. Ms. Meredith opens one of the chapters in her book by asking, “Who cares” if humans are causing global warming, and we’ll definitely talk about that approach. We’ll also talk about the concept of peak oil, and how the U.S. can remain strong with China and India’s increased insurgence on the global oil supply chain. And finally, I’ll ask Ms. Meredith to give President Elect Obama advice on what caveats, if any, he should place on the auto industry’s fuel standards in order to receive bailout funding.

This is an episode of Go Green Radio you don’t want to miss! Tune into www.VoiceAmerica.com at 9 am Pacific, noon Eastern on Friday, Jan. 16. If you miss the live show, you can catch the podcast later by checking out the archive on http://tinyurl.com/4onz7d.

How about Peep-Toe Pumps?

2008-12-31T16:44:00.000-08:00

It's New Year's Eve, and I'm thinking about parties, dancing...which at my age inevitably leads to thinking about how much my feet will hurt when I'm dancing at parties. Fortunately, I can look forward to a comfy solution in the new year! Check out this video on Planet Walkers. I love the concept a bunch, but I'm going to ask them to make me a pair that are not only "Mother Earth Approved," but also "21st Century Mamma Mia Approved"! (: