WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE?

Besides the air we breathe, water is probably the most taken for granted aspect of our lives on the Planet. I grew up on a property with two ponds. We also had a well. I can remember that my mother was the first person I saw drinking water from a bottle. She was doing that because we were traveling in the car. In those days, everybody drank water from the tap—unless you were European. In fact, the Evian source in France is one of the few unpolluted wells in the French Alps that doesn’t contain heavy metals, so Europeans have been drinking bottled water for a long time.

Today, bottled water is a multi-billion dollar global business. Quite often, bottled water is just produced from municipal sources using filter, osmosis, and reverse osmosis. Nothing fancy about it. Then, of course, there are many of the designer waters from exotic ports of call like Polynesian island aquifers and Nordic glaciers, and usually available for your convenience in the average hotel room for just $14.00 a bottle.

It’s against the law throughout much of the United States to recycle grey water, which comes from showers, sinks, and roofs at home and to turn it into potable, drinkable water. Maybe we should learn something from NASA, which has been converting grey and black water for years and to reclaim it for the drinking purposes of astronauts. Many islands in the Caribbean and countries in the Middle East use desalinization for drinking water, but usually using expensive, polluted petroleum power to make it. There are now promising solar powered techniques for doing the same thing. Recycling products for rainwater and bringing grey water back into the home are also promising as are changes in laws in such metropolitan areas as Los Angeles.

Fresh water is a limited resource that we continue to take for granted. A number of futurists predict that wars in the future will be fought over rights to fresh water. The melting of glaciers in the Himalayas has created such a flash point for the enormous populations of India and China. The shared river water of the Middle East is a similar area for growing concern.

Water conservation and effective use of water should start with each individual striving to treat it like gold. That’s why we chose to offer water conservation products as the premiere category at the Evergreen Marketplace for Earth Day 2010. The amount of rain in North America this past year has given many people a false sense of security. If we don’t begin now to conserve, we may be living in a future world where like the Ancient Mariner in Coleridge's famous poem, we will be saying, “Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.”

THE TRADE SHOW OF THE FUTURE

Ever since I attended the Greenbuild Conference last November, I’ve been wondering: what is the 21st century trade show? While there were thousands of people in attendance and thousands of companies represented there, on the sold-out floor spece, two things struck me. The first was the lack of young people in attendance. The other thing is that there was little use of media or technology in evidence at the booths.

There were lots of education programs and workshops, but the subjects seemed to be largely devoted to construction and architectural interests. That may be what LEED and Greenbuild are all about, but there is certainly room to expand the audience to young people through programs that educate the next generation. Discount student admissions were offered, but the core group of attendees was workers in the various industries associated with the USGBC. To be sure, it’s a social event where companies get to meet their clients and vice versa. Also, the average person doesn’t understand the intricacies of LEED certification. There was very little evidence of video demos or more generalized content that would attract college and high school students to the show. There actually seems to be several shows—the educational seminars, the trade show floor, and LEED education.

I know that the purpose of conferences and trade shows is focused on commerce. But the future of sales is based on growing new segments instead of always preaching to the converted. Sales always has had a component of education to it. And if we’re not educating young people about sustainability, then we are assuming that the market will grow by itself.

The show is naturally a magnet for people who are getting into construction and architectural fields. People also like to touch and see things operate and you can’t do that through a computer screen. Even though it would be possible to present some of the same product information online, I don’t see how you get around the inherent human desire to touch and feel products. At least, there’s got to be another way to present using media that does no produce so much paper to say nothing of the carbon footprint of people coming from different points on the compass to Phoenix for the show. I applaud Greenbuild in achieving a zero carbon footprint by buying credits. It’s a great start and a model that should be emulated as well by non-sustainability themed conferences and shows.

The trade show of the future should be more interactive. New bar code, product, and image scanning applications on mobile phones, for example, would allow visitors to find out more about product information, specifications as well as prices. A virtual trade show using immersive environments would not satisfy the look and feel part, but it would allow people who couldn’t afford the trip to take advantage of the show. Less company personnel would be necessary at the actual show. Discounts could be also offered to attendees traveling together. Perhaps the idea of having only one national show could be offset by offering regional shows. As more LEED buildings become certified, you will be able to see products, services, and technologies in context and in use, hopefully somewhere near you soon. Mentor programs and job fairs would also be an additional draw for younger attendees.

EVERGREEN EARTH AT GREENBUILD

Welcome to a Green Phoenix—at least Phoenix Arizona will put on its Green face this week as the Greenbuild ‘09 Conference and Expo takes over the town.

Even before I got to the Convention Center floor, I noticed signs of Greenbuild’s impact. Here at the Wyndham Hotel where I am staying, there are recycling boxes in every hallway, the plastic trash can liners have been removed in all the rooms, and they even served drinks at the bar without paper napkins for coasters. I’m not certain if these practices were in place prior to the event, but the hotel seems to be taking some extra steps toward sustainability that will hopefully take root as an everyday routine.

The Evergreen team is to here to launch its Evergreen Assured initiative. We developed this new concept to help inform and educate the general public about the companies out there that are making strides toward sustainability. We wanted to create an inclusive model to encourage different kinds of business organizations—whether big or small—to add to their sustainability practices and continue to improve them.

We also wanted to create a means to guide consumers to make informed choices when they purchase Green products and services. Through the Evergreen Assured Quality Standard of Commitment, we want to help conscious consumers to easily identify those companies (who display the seal) as ones that are currently using sustainable manufacturing and other business practices as well as those dedicated to improving their commitment to doing better. Evergreen Assured wants to influence other companies to take a look at their supply chain, to see where they are obtaining raw resources and materials and to be “cradle to cradle” conscious of a product’s life cycle.

We are thrilled at how our idea has already been received prior to Greenbuild and are excited to get additional feedback from all the great companies attending the Phoenix Conference. Green is no longer just a social movement as events like Greenbuild have proven—Green is now an economic movement. It is truly reassuring to me to see how it is changing the way that daily business is being conducted starting right here in Phoenix with my temporary residence at the downtown hotel where I am writing today.

MADE IN CHINA

It came to toilet repairs yesterday. The tank had been constantly refilling and wasting water, so I began the project. Removed the old fill valve with a wrench made in China. It did not work well and kept slipping off and stripping the threads I had to get the nut past. The old black washer had turned to liquid ink and leaked all over my hands, the wall and my white dog. I was frustrated as many of you probably have been doing these fun, weekend projects.

The replacement valve weighed a pound and was also made in China. Finally, with everything complete and in working order, I cleaned up the mess happy to know I was not needlessly wasting more water. But, I couldn’t help thinking throughout this project was why all the products I was using were made in China. I remember when the products and parts that I used were made here in the USA, and furthermore, used to last a lifetime. Sadly, it’s no longer the case. Products are not made to last, but we should take a hard look at why we have lost this work ethic that informed our greatness as a manufacturing Superpower for so long.

LIVING IN A SEA OF GREEN

It feels like I’m in what The Beatles called a “Sea of Green” today. I can hardly keep up with the incredible amount of information coming my way every day about the environment. I want to be Green. I want to live a greener life. Ultimately, I want to do my part to help save the planet for future generations to enjoy. It’s the right thing to do and I am learning that it can save money and time, too. But, like so many consumers I talk to, I often wonder—where do I start? What can I do? Where can I find the right resources? How much is it going to cost to go Green?

I’ve made an effort to dig down beyond the headlines to know a lot more. I recycle. I am making my home far more efficient. I am also working to build Green into my hotel and apartment properties as much as I can. I like to share what I know, so I founded a non-profit called the Evergreen Project, which is devoted to educating young people about the environment, renewable energy, and sustainability. It’s based in San Diego, California, but we are looking at developing programs in a number of national locations.

One of the things I learned recently is that Waste Management provides a service in which they will go through a commercial dumpster and pull out your recyclables for an extra $10.00 a month. I have been using the service at my apartment property and it has meant that we no longer have to have separate recycling into various containers. It's a small price to pay to help recycle on an annual basis and is a sign of how Green innovation can sometimes be discovered in the most surprising of places—Waste Management is certainly living up to their name in more ways than one.

At home, I'm cutting back on water consumption as a start. Recently, I bought an instant hot water heater so that I don't have to store heated water until it is needed. Makes sense to me. But, it took me several trips to Home Depot and Costco before I got it right. You see, common sense is sometimes the key to making it all work. So, you can benefit by my mistakes—just make sure the unit you buy will supply enough hot water so you can shower and do laundry at the same time. I learned the hard way! I am finding that a little research upfront can save a giant headache—you can look at whether gas, propane or electric options are best suited to your home and lifestyle. It can also lower your carbon footprint in avoiding multiple shopping trips.

I 'm buying more recycled products for my home and hotel. It’s amazing to see how product lines have grown only since last year. More products are becoming available daily. Typically, they may cost a bit more, but I expect prices to come down with growing demand. Right now, I'm also looking into solar panels for my roof at home. In particular, I’m trying to find a solution that doesn’t unfavorably impact our curb appeal. Here, too, I’ve noticed that there are many more choices than there used to be. BP Solar is producing both thin film and actual photovoltaic shingles that can be integrated into rooftops that don't jump out at you.

Bottom line, I’m continuing to find new and different innovations that will provide useful applications to my properties and I look forward to sharing them with my readers as I discover them. As always, I warmly welcome readers to share their own stories as we make our way together on this exciting new path to a greener future.

WELCOME TO EVERGREEN EARTH

As a child, I raised mallard ducks and quail in rural Pennsylvania where I grew up—and ended up caring for just about any kind of wild bird that had fallen from its nest. I was also lucky that my family were supporters of various wildlife foundations and concerned with endangered species around the globe. One year, my father was awarded “Philanthropist of the Year” by the National Wildlife Foundation.

Even though my home life was an inspiration, my early concern and commitment to preservation of the wild and the environment began during my first trip to Africa when I was fifteen. I was utterly amazed by the landscape as our family drove across the Serengeti. These famous plains were unbelievable enough, but it was also the people who made a great impression on me. During the trip, we were invited into a local home by a Masai family. The father of the house welcomed us along with his seven wives and their many children.

They seemed intrigued by the white folks in their neighborhood and especially by the braces on my teeth. They were happy people living out their lives in this beautiful place where they tended their cattle peacefully. I later learned that due to their religious beliefs they do not work the land and make their living by trading cattle. They seemed unstressed and quite a contrast to the life I knew in the US. I remember wondering at the time, “Do they understand that a man has walked on the moon that they see in the sky? Do they care?”

It didn’t really matter—the Serengeti is one of the most spectacular places on earth. To see the mass migration of the wildebeest from horizon to horizon was truly mind blowing. I could only imagine what it must have looked like when the bison roamed the western US many years ago. I wondered how much longer this great migration in Africa would continue. Even then, I thought about the human encroachment into their space, how climatic change would certainly put pressure on the animal kingdom and quite possibly lead to the end of the great migration.

Over the years, I began to see what environmentalists had seen before—that our current way of life—where just about everything seemed disposable—was actually destroying the Earth. Things have changed since then and recycling is a big business now. Still, as many of you might agree, I believe that we are now close to “the point of no return”. The facts are clear and show that without more drastic changes in the way we live our daily lives that the eventual outcome will be nothing less that catastrophic—whether in our lifetimes or coming generations.

I began my quest to find some answers three years ago and began to recognize how small changes effected locally can create big changes globally. I know this isn’t a new concept, but it was for me and also struck me as an essential, empowering perspective. This was really the beginning of the idea that has now become Evergreen Earth—an expanding family of companies and organizations dedicated to sustainable building development, environmental education and training, and renewable energy products and services.

I wanted to create a forum that would allow me to work with others to discover how to change the way we live now and act to preserve and sustain the only planet we have. I hope that this blog will allow me to hear about the journeys and discoveries of others who join me as readers. Together, I know that we will make new discoveries about sustainability, renewable energy, and other solutions that will have an impact on creating a Greener future for coming generations.