Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
CALGREEN …Public Policy the Way it Should Be
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.
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.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Killing the H1N1 Virus with PURE Bioscience’s ‘Green’ Antimicrobial
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!
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/
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!
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/
Thursday, December 3, 2009
My speech at TEDx Honolulu
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
Thursday, October 15, 2009
As Unemployment Rises, How Do Companies Recruit the Best AND ‘Go Green?’
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
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
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Go Green Initiative and Maggwire.com Partner to Modernize Magazine Consumption
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.
“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.
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