Linked In Profile

Just here recently, I lost my job. Before that, I would not have given Linked In a second look. In fact, I just typed up some invaluable information about myself and posted it in an effort to connect with the community, as my previous employer attempted to beef up its social media efforts. I realized some of the people in my network belonged in these groups that I saw on the right side of the screen or below their name but I did not understand its value. As I clicked on the group, I came to understand that 1) the network was strengthened with like-minded professionals, 2) it was an easier method to contact people within the group with specific tasks or action items in mind. For instance, An engineer who was a part of an engineer’s association, took the time to post job opportunities to just that group versus bombarding his whole network which obviously varied in professional backgrounds . Now the pro’s and cons of Linked In vary and although, I am aware of the fact that I would be reasserting the obvious which includes concerns over privacy and identity theft. Linked In has been reputable and a way for employers to see the backgrounds of people; which is a con for someone like me, who refused at one point to give the social media site any credence. A potential employer could assume based on what I have posted on Linked In, that I am not involved with much. So that is an unintentional consequence against me, now the pro is really for those who are social media maniacs. How many times does one have to fill out similar applications, over, and over, and over, and over again before someone enterprises the bright idea of one application fits all? Sort of like a Texas Common Application for collegiate students, and then send a resume with background details specific to the particular position. Well, as I have come to learn, Linked In is as good as it gets. I just do not trust that methodology because one thing I do know is that people can be judgmental and petty. I am always afraid that someone who I am linked with or to (no pun intended) may have burned a bridge with a potential employer or contact and then as they say, birds of a feather flock together – then I am labeled and judged. That is definitely where the tide gets a bit tricky. I understand that people are in the mode to get their information in the form of job applications out there, especially in these trying times. It seems the old fashioned way of applying for potential job opportunities has become antiquated.

Multi-Generation

The irony is uncanny. As when I was creating the post from my grandparent’s computer – I almost wanted to throw the computer out of the window – literally. Their high-speed internet package sat nice and neatly, on a desk, in a folder, as I waited for hours for the low-speed modem to “fire up”. The Pew Research institute stated that "since 2005, broadband access has increased dramatically in the United States across all age groups, but older groups are still largely unconnected to high-speed internet. For Americans ages 12-24, broadband access has increased by about half; for 25-64 year olds, it has about doubled; and for seniors 65 and older, broadband access has more than tripled. The percentage of the oldest age group to have broadband at home is still very low" My grandpa is one of those people. In a generation where social media and the internet are the catalysts for communication Interestingly enough I thought I would have a sit down with my Daddy Jack, as we kids call him - and see what he thought about social media and why the heck he is on not high speed internet. Here is an example of the outtakes that had me in stitches. Since I do not have editing equipment, I thought it to be best if I simply wrote out what transpired.

Me: Daddy Jack, how important was the internet when you were working at the post office? Daddy Jack: Well, the internet was not exactly in existence and we had our own internal way of conducting business. Me: Do you think social media is important?

DaddyJack: What do you mean by that?

Me: Do you think that Facebook and Blogging are important?

Daddy Jack: Well, the younger generation may not think that but it does. Seems to me that it is distracting – teens always on their phone twinning. I wouldn’t say it is important because life goes on without it.

Me: Twittering, Daddy Jack.

Daddy Jack: Well, whatever and texting on those phones which is rude, you do that all the time you know.

Me: I do not! Ginayle does!

Daddy Jack: You all do. Anyway, it stymies people from communicating with friends and family the old-fashioned way. I do like how you can get in contact with people you haven’t seen in a while, so that would be good. I just think your private business should remain private.

Me: There are social media sites that help with the job search too…

Daddy Jack: Well, then that is good but limit the information that is put out there. Some people from what I heard phish for information and I mean privacy is critical.

Me : Spell phish, I want to see if you got it right. Daddy Jack: You spell it, you’re in grad school.

Me: Thanks, DaddyJack...

Please see the video of my Daddy Jack telling it like it is in the kitchen.

Sea World Social Media Blog

Social Media Case Study : SeaWorld from Ted Murphy

In the above video, the PR campaign for Sea World is explained and as a San Antonio native that first hand has seen the popularity of the local favorite wan over time, I thought the strategies implemented were ley in sparking the interest

"

The PR team backing the Journey to Atlantis ride at Sea World San Antonio developed a social media campaign that led to sparked interest in the ride. Sea World was able to attract top roller coaster enthusiasts, journalists, bloggers, etc, to serve as its online community to spread the word. According to the team created content based on the social graph of this group—meaning their interests, attitudes, basis, motivations, etc. Similiar to a time lapse, the team documented the construction from start to finish with 11 videos and a 45-photo portfolio. These were posted on social media sites YouTube and Flickr. The bloggers were granted easy access as this content was easily viewable and they could use it in their own posts. Most importantly, the videos were posted on the Sea World’s Coaster site, complete with multiple social media sharing options. An interesting offline tactic was that a special interest group or stakeholder,the American Coaster Enthusiasts Group, was specially invited to attend the media launch, and be among the first to get to ride the new coaster. The riders left positive comments on the YouTube videos. The campaign received 50 links from unique websites, 30 of which were from roller coaster enthusiast sites.

Social Media: Regulation needed

Social media is both a hell and a haven. Social media increases awareness, connectivity and diversity. On the other hand, social networking sites can potentially expose children to sociopaths, increase vulnerability to computer viruses, lower attention spans, and since social media has a culture all of its own, short-hand typing has found its way in academia – much to the dismay of educators.Nevertheless, this cultural shift is imperative to understand and should be regulated.

According to Internet Regulation Laws | eHow.com, "illegal activities on the Internet are expanding, and the Internet regulation laws continue to expand with them. Scams are numerous, including the exchange of money through bank accounts and under the guise of customer service representatives or accounting representatives. A criminal conviction for a person who is employed in either of these situations could result in fines, repayment of the money and possible imprisonment. It does not matter that the employee is not the creator of this scam."

Infringement of intellectual property as described above will end in huge fines and a ban on conducting further business in some cases. It depends on the case and what the content of the problem really is. The Federal Trade Commission has several publications that outline past cases and how they were settled.

http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleCC.jsp?id=1202560843256&The_FDA_and_the_Regulation_of_Social_Media

Not providing the users to websites adequate information about the use of the website may cause legal actions such as a lawsuit, criminal charges and/or civil actions. Fines may be imposed as well as jail time. Again it depends on the severity of the charges. If it is a lawsuit you will be liable for attorney fees and the fines. Making false claims will incur fines and possible damages to the user of the information or product.

 

Here is a video with a weird url but it is from Robert Todd an attorney who goes into further explanations. Regulation is definitely needed but  how is the question.

 

 

Eco Fantastic Fashions

I love fashion.
There is no doubt about that but when I found a sustainable store, I had to be sure that these folks were not just green washing the market. The owner of the store, Nicole,  was very open to explainging that her store was more than fashion but about the greater good. All of the accessories benefit a country and its citizens directly, all of the clothes are manufactured in the United States/North America for the most part.

She was quick to make sure that it was realized that not all foreign clothes are made in sweatshops or that are bad. When it was asked if sustainable clothing is what attratcs her customers, she said no, it's a plus but it is really about the style for her customers.  She said when it comes to manufactures that can produce organiz tees, for instance, in large quantities it adversely affects the idea of sustainability. She inisited she ordered only what was needed in order to fulfill her clientel's needs. Body Politic is all about the politcs of fashion and being responsible. A body politic comprises all the people in a particular country considered as a single group - I believe the store owner wants people to understand we all have a responsiblity to shop when  necessary and buy quality. As Nicole said  you may pay a little more for our fashion but it is made righ here in North America.

I bought a pair of denimyoga jeans like the ones below from the store and to say they are comfie, is an understatement.

Vancouver Tales: Chapter 1- the Convention Center

Words can not express how dynamic the Vancouver trip was. The best part of Vancouver is that Sustainability is put into action. From the Convention Center, we saw the beauty of the Harbour and Green Park shown below but the real story is how the people have taken care of their City throguh responsible recycling and compost.  The Vancouver Convention Center complete with green roofs, efficient lighting and recycled wood was a site to see. The fish habitat was incorporated into the building structure foundation as to not disturb the natural habitat.

They have won the highest of the high as they are the first convention center in the world to earn LEED^® Platinum rating.













The really cool story was about the bees! They were so cool and the tour guide told us that people enjoyed watching the bees do what they do best, swarm and gather nectar to make honey. The honey is given away as a treat for dignitaries and guests. Super cool.

On another note, there were dignataries and children that were visiting the center and they too are having the chance to learn sustainable practices by merely being there. Guests are encouraged to walk versus taking taxis, recycle and make the most sustainable visit they can make.

Civil Rights Goes Green!

As I learned about all of the different organizations that are trying to sustain Seattle, I was disapointed on how it seemed as if there was a slight disconnect. We met with Michael Woo, Director & Green Jobs Organizer.
Poised with passion, Michael described his dream for a more sustainable Seattle and I could not help but wonder why he was not at the other tables where I sat. As he talked and the class observed, I grew to understand why.

Michael is concerned with the triple bottom line but with an emphasis on the social aspect. As sustainability grows as a "buzz word" he wants to be sure minorities have their place at the table of opportunity - that sounds about right to me.

However, the more he spoke the more it seemed as if he felt the sustainable, green movement, was leaving out the disadvantaged but if the foundation of sustainability is to attempt to equalize and diversify - this seemed like a huge contradiction to what we are learning about.

Michael's concern is focused on job creation and community development. Got Green opened my eyes to a different perspective. Got Green is saying hey we want our civil rights to have fresh good food and well-payong jobs so we can sustain!

When we offered up ideas on how to partner with other organizations in Seattle, Michael did admit he may be the organizations set back due to to some bad blood that had occured previously between the leaders of Seattle and the community that he was representing.

I learned quickly, interdisciplinary skills would have to come into play inthis situation, Everyone wasn't to have their own piece of the pie but it is critical to the success of the Green Movemen that forces are made to make changes. How could the ideals be so different? I recognized there was more to the story but I did hear loud and clear that Mr. Woo is standing up for the environment and the people by encouraging sustainable social parameters.

 “What started as an exploratory research group became an advocacy and organizing group with the goal of ensuring that low-income communities will fully participate in opportunities that the Green Economy creates… I tell our Got Greeners that the only way we’re going to fail is if we let ourselves down – and that’s not going to happen!”

Green Chamber of Commerce: Power Networking

Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability is a hub for ideas, which was the main theme in my opinion of the Seattle trip. The founder Dr. Karl Ostrom let us know the importance of networking and the gravitated levels of sustainability. He made a great observation and that is organizations are "paranoid about green business due to costs".

It is a perception and perception in some cases is reality so Karl and this non-profit took a more proactive approach. Inspired by the sheer fact that he wanted to provide a better future for his grandkids, he co-founded this organization. Understanding the business model that insists that sustainability also result in cost-effective methodology, Dr. Ostrom says that the that companies should earn the tax breaks and incentives should be provided at that point.

This dynamic organization has helped companies organize its own GRI reports and has attracted the attention of large companies that want to learn more about sustainability. As we sat around the roundtable I began to wonder about the goals of sustainability. If the bottomline is to continue to uphold the triple bottom line, then how can we convince companies that rate of returns may not always reflect huge profitability.   Dr. Ostrom explained that there are different initiatives such as the eco hour, a roundtable, that has approximately 40-60 business owners in attendance, who discuss varying topics of sustainability and of course, network.

 The goal is to become carbon neutral. This term confuses me because carbon dioxide is a must in order to live - remember, plants need carbon dioxide to convert it into energy  that includes protein and starch.  I know we breathe it out as humans, as a result of inhaling but this subject has a lot of grey area for me.  It is a case of too much of a good thing;therefore, reduction is needed. At any rate, I really liked the ideas of this non-profit because it looks at itself as a middle man or mediator. It is so interesting that our degree is in interdisciplinary studies, working how to work with different folks in order to reach a common good. Corporations are not embracing the term green or sustainability because the green that pops into their heads is not of trees and blooming leaves but of wasted dollars in a energy -efficient commode.

ISLANDWOOD EDUCATION

Discovery, Environment and Community.

The Graduate Residency in Education, Environment and Community at IslandWood program trains teachers to create learning environments that offer every child the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of both human and natural communities. Our docent "Judy" helped us gain a deeper appreciation for the facility.

The program setting reminded me of a scene out of Avatar, smack dab in the heart of the woods on an island - after all, it is appropriately called a "school in the woods". The furniture in the dorms and areas are made of recycled wood and the legs are leftover lumber remains. The classrooms are filled with students and educators, one set learning how to appreciate the naqtural beauty of Islandwood and how to conserve the surrounding environment; the teachers on the other hand learning how to effectively convey that message.  The roofs are "solar friendly" and engineered in a way that the direct sunlight can maximize the lighting in the rooms and the hall. The cafeteria had to be my personal favorite, next to the restrooms of course. Every room has a purpose.Students are encouraged to "weigh the wasted food" to see how much was wasted and it is used as compost for use in the gardens. The compost toilets were a bit much for me but it was a totally cool option and no, it did not smell.

The kids learn from the time they wake up in their luxiourious sustainable wooden dorms to  the time they march to lunch and back.

The mantra that "Sustainability is an attitude" is instilled with these children, That we have to start caring that everything we do has a consequence. Every strip of trash, every wasted energy, it all has aa start and an ending. It does not simply disappear.

Future Wise: Wise Guys of Responsible living

Lobbyists are at times seen as " the bad guys" but there are many special interest groups who have the best intentions in mind. After visiting Future Wise, a non-profit environmental group, I learned so much about the other side. I listend intently as April Putney talked about her sucesses and tracking bills that could adversly affect the organizations mission that she felt so passionate about. The interesting aspect of Future Wise is that it is backing its beliefs and walking the walk. The walk being legal ramification should the issue need it but that does not mean the organization is leading with the legal eagle threats first. They try to waork with legislators to understand the reasoning behind any amended environmental legislation. I was most interested in the organizations Transportation win in the State of Washington. According to their site:

Improving Transportation Choices
Futurewise convinced the Legislature to approve $750 million in new funding for transportation choices in 2005, including $58 million for a new safe routes to schools program, $50 million for special needs transit and a new Office of Mobility at the Department of Transportation.

• Futurewise spearheaded the successful effort to defeat I-745 (an initiative that would have diverted Washington's public transit funding into road construction) - Tim Eyman's first electoral defeat.
• Futurewise defended funding for light rail and other transit investments by defeating legislation aimed at forcing Sound Transit to spend nearly $60 million subsidizing utility companies.
• Futurewise successfully refocused state level efforts to spend billions of dollars on wasteful freeway expansions into critical safety and maintenance projects.

Could we get this in Texas, I wondered? Maybe we need a tough minded team like Future Wise to help us out with our Legislature as it relates to public transportation. I would love to see my I-35 communte eliminated and a railway or some sort of public transportation incorporated.

Walking the Walk - McKinstry: Backing Sustainable Innovation

McKinstry Innovation center was nothing short of amazing. Nestled in an unttractive industrial area, jaws dropped as we entered the floor that looked as sexy as a brand new apartment  - not what one would expect. As we walked down the halls of the chic 40,000 square foot facility, we were wowed with the possibilities that could come from the geniuses behind the different doors - garage doors that is.

On McKinstry's website, the company says its success isn't a matter of fate or luck. It's the natural consequence of our commitment to innovation. As Tony Stewert explained innovation is the heartbeat of the operation and the coprporate philosophy is reflected in everything they do.

Only serious fun, vetted people can be here according to Stewert. The opportunities are limitless as the political connections include President Barack Obama, is there a need to name more?  Came to Seattle and visited McKinstry. President Obama and Senators visited the "shop" and then Stwert dropped the buzz word of the year job creation. There are 100,000 union wage sheet metal type of jobs up for grabs. For every million invested in these opportunities, 20 million worth of jobs created.

It is obvious the facility is a great place to convene with local or national leaders regarding policies marketplace. What stood oout to me was the why don't you come live here versus work mantra - this is hard, core, chic sustainability. Stewart advised that potential innovators should have a good idea ready to go. This is a one stop shop, office space with a mix of engineers and folks are only chargse a fee for large amount of time. Consulting relational opportunities exist at the entrepreneur's disposal along with the klnwoedge and work from grant writers.   Steweart says McKinstry is "Building the brand of innovation."

The faciltiy in Seattle proved just that with a golf course on the roof along with energy efficient features, McKinstry definitely puts its money where its mouth is.

Their website was incredible and the real story here is that McKinstry believes in Sustainability and they also believe sustainable, innovating thinking will lead to job creation for all.

Sustaining Seattle through Green Initiatives

The spirit of mindset of sustainability is spreading like a wildfire in Seattle - from the non-profit sector to the municipal government sector, the ideals have buy-in.

Dr.Terri Butler's role at non-profit organization, Sustainable Seattle, was remarkable to me because her background was so diverse and embodied the priciples of Sustainability: Environment, Cost Benefit and the Environment.

Sustainable Seattle follows the United Nations Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainability as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Bruntland Commission on Sustainable Development

Dr. Butler said that it is important to assess quality of life in a different manner.  There is a need for a "more efficient indicator of quality of life report -  look at breadth of indicators, not just the GNP."

Out of everything said, that stuck out to me. Well that and the tool library , as a single woman who likes to take on projects but not willing to invest in the tools - that notion is beyond brilliant. The thinking behind the tool library is fix it yourself and challenge our society to use our hands more but don't purchase new tools.  According to Dr. Butler, we as a society need to be able to "to train and accelerate people, we are having to roll up our sleeves and do that more..."

Back to the indicator of quality of life, especially the balance with sustainability and corporate America -  Dr. Butler said that business leaders have to set good examples. Part of Sustainable Seattle's mission is to act as   a conduit for change by hosting good corporate citizen workshops, fostering partnerships, ecetera. It is important to have a diverse pool of thinkers, no matter the demographic.  It is an appreciatetion for all.

Now interesting enough, that leads me to my next point, the GO GREEN a non-profit organization that was not far in distance but an organizations that feels left out of the sustainable fold of Seattle.

To LEED or Not to LEED

Certify yourself or your service, that is the question.
LEED,  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable ("green") buildings.

Jackson Murphy went into great detail on the advantages of Green Buildings and perhaps becoming LEED certified. LEED certified buildings led to a 2-16% increased worker and student productivity. This was based on two examples he provided that I wanted to do a bit more research on.


One of the examples of a sustainable structure was Pat Lobb Toyota. Apparently, much of the dealership was created with recycled materials and designed with energy and resource preserving technology.  They incorporated approximately 75% recycled materials such as aluminum, steel, tile and carpet.

Another example  is the use a cistern,  a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater.  Modern cisterns range in capacity from a few litres to thousands of cubic metres, effectively forming cover to capture and conserve water for the car wash.




The dealership was designed by the Gensler architectural firm and built by Turner Construction Company.
Jackson made a great point to mention that LEED certification was not necessary unless you were working as a consultant or were in a function at your job to certify a building. He mentioned the difficutly of the test, affirming that it is in fact difficult and not to tango with it unless yu plean on using it. Apparently, one has to renew membership once it expires, so unless the applicant wants to continue to incur the fees, it is best to not go there.

Ringing the Green Bell to Sustainability

One of the main concerns in sustainability is whether or not there is a place for sustainability employment. At Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, there are opportunities and those charged with keeping the company efficient, not only have a passion for it but are proud of the math.

Craig Liberman is an  Intergrated Facilities Specialist at Bell. He became involved with a Bell Sustainability Council (which I now lead) and grew it to include participants around Bell . He was a part of the  EHS council for the Corporation and helped to draft the 20/15 Vision goals.

"This got the attention of some Vice Presidents at Bell, resulting in the formation of my current assignment leading Sustainability Programs."

  

·reduce waste

· energy and

·greenhouse gases by 20% in 5 years (by 2015)

They evaluate facilities, "they" includes fellow UTA classmate Amy Harris, for energy use and waste.

"Also, we have been reaching out to suppliers and support companies and improving the impact of our products in use through engineering changes and new designs.  My primary focus has been reducing energy use in our factories and offices by implementing infrastructure changes like lighting upgrades and improvements to energy systems," said Lieberman.

That includes:

·office buildings

· factories

· entire plants including exteriors

· parking lots

·etc.

They implement a Kaizen process originally developed in the Six Sigma community and refined byGeneral Electric. This Kaizen process requires a pre-kaizen evaluation of a facility followed by a hands on investigation by a small team (10-15 people) looking at Machine Energy, Building envelope, Compressed Air Systems, Lighting Systems and Materials (Waste). Their goal is to identify opportunities to improve (reduce) the energy use in the facility or reduce waste.

"We participate as team members at sister companies like Textron Systems, EZGO, Cessna, Greenlee,etc. In this way, we exchange best practices and share ideas for what can be improved in our local facilities," said Liberman.  We are building local capacity at each company to execute these Kaizens and harvest savings. I was working as a Six Sigma Black Belt in the company’s continuous improvement program. This program requires that participants eventually move to a follow-on assignment in the company.  

Those include:

•  Outstanding Sustainability Program” by the Greater DFW Recycling Alliance and
• “Stupendous Recycling Program” by the North Texas Corporate Recycling Association 

 

According to Liberman, they have been very effective at replacing low performing older lighting with higher performance, longer lasting, lower energy use lighting. 

"We have attempted to do the same in our compressed air systems. Lighting controls like building timers, motion sensors have been effective. We implemented controls technology on our water heaters reducing energy use by 12% in the installations, " said Liberman.  We also installed a solar water heating system on one of our office complex buildings to heat water for domestic (sinks and bathrooms).  Some of the cost savings also come from low technology solutions (i.e. install a switch to allow folks to turn off items safely.

So, is this gentleman happy to work for Bell? This line says it all."I am thrilled to come into work every day and move the needle for Bell, for our customers and for the communities in which we live. This really is my ideal job."

 Sustainability Program efforts for the past year have resulted in harvesting projects that avoid more than 8% of Company DFW energy use and greater than 20% reduction in waste from landfill. They have engaged with the community and as a result have won two awards in the last year for the Sustainability Program. His role is to reduce the environmental impact of Bell Helicopter by helping to meet their  Vision 20/15 goals which are to: to

From Small to Large, Sustainable Cities

The City of Ceder Hill decided to make some strong changes at the beginning of this year that including reducing waste picke-up from three times a week to one time and providing a larger recycling receptacle for residents. Stephen Mason, Cedar Hill councilmember says he is not afraid of change and to his understanding, neither are his constituents. It seems like there are usually concerns as it relates to changing community waste management. Especially when the recycling programs have changed from 3 times a week to one day a week.  

This change was implemented on The City of Cedar Hill’s solid waste services the week of Jan. 8, 2012.

The rule amendments are below:

·         Every single-family home has received a 96-gallon Recycle cart.  These carts will not be picked up if they contain anything other than recyclables.

·         Residents may elect to lease a 96-gallon trash cart for $2 per month per cart. 

·         Every home will have one weekly pickup day for trash, recycling and one bulky item

·         Green waste and brush pickup will continue with existing monthly pickup schedule

Mason said that these new implements could have been politically sensitive,  but was approved unanimously by the entire council. This change was not only good for the environment Mason said but it was also good for the taxpayer’s wallets while teaching them about recycling.

The bins for the recycling are at no additional cost for the taxpayer. Education about the new rules is distributed by way of water bills and is listed on the website. When asked about exploring other green options, Mason was emphatic. At 30, he is the youngest  sitting City of Cedar Hill Councilmember and therefore, he felt it important to express the concern of his generation.

"We  as a generation are concerned about the environment that is why I am such a proponent of different initiatives that will enhance our communities and reduce cost," said Mason.

Mason was proud to mention that the City of Cedar Hill, a city of about 50,000, will soon received a wind turbine and will not have to rely so heavily on the energy grid. The City of Cedar Hill received a grant support the implementation and construction of electric fuel stations. As of now, the city has not converted over their fleet but it something the Council are looking forward to seeing in the future.

 

The City of Bedford officials are also taking big strides to making their city more sustainable. After an embarrassing blunder of closing down their library, the city bounced back by remodeling another bungle, a former Food Lion, into a beautiful, sustainable structure complete with energy efficiency.  


Councilmember Chris Brown is one of the youngest member’s on the City Council. He reiterated how he believed in the sustainable initiative that Maria was implementing and backed her on those changes. They wanted to save taxpayer money and truly believed in the effects of environmental change.  The Bedford library received a gerant for renewable energy and as part of that grant, the library has to provide tours. I would highly suggest that all city officials take a look at what Bedford put into place and try to find a place for it within their municipality.

Because of the changes at the library the community became more interested.



Teen Center at the City of Bedford Library
Photo by Chris Graves



The 17,000 square foot building holds thousands of books, computers and resources to support the Bedford community. With a $200,000 budget and 75% of the budget being for books, there was concern to get the most bang for their buck - and they did.

The library officials used grants to fund their renewable energy initiatives with the hope that the payoff would be substantial down the line.


Solar Power
Photo by Chris Graves



·         Solar energy

o    Reduced need to depend on the grid

o    Initially wanted to go geo thermal but the cost was too great

·         Wind Turbines

o    Council did not like its look

Implementing energy efficient technologies that reduced the need for extra resources, the library was able to cut back on that. 

Book sorter - no hands required
Photo by Chris Graves

When it comes to being LEED certified, this seemingly sustainable library did not need it. It was surprising to hear that they were not awarded that plaque but the application amount was not worth the sticker price- besides, they’d rather purchase books. 

 

(Left to right )City of Bedford  Mayor Pro Tem Ray Chapney and Councilman Chris Brown
Photo by Chris Graves

Fort Worth folks, can also look into ways to further their recycling education. They can access the City of Fort Worth's website for further information at : http://fortworthtexas.gov/solidwaste/.  This site can be very educational or call 817.394.1234 for more detailed information. According to Dennis Mitchell, Code Compliance officer of the Special projects division, the city sets a monumental example by not only sending out literature through the Water Dept flyer much like the City of Cedar Hill, but the city takes a "hands on" approach by allowing individual from different departments such as code compliance and Community Relations to share at neighborhood association meetings and various forums throughout the city.

“As result of my position in Code Compliance, I have been able to help others to lessen the negative impact on their households by cutting their cost by utilizing Housing and Economic Development programs (emergency repair of heating/plumbing appurtenances, weatherization of windows/doors and painting of area housing during Cowtown Brushup). Secondly, providing information and outside resources to citizens to save them money on their water bills and other utilities as a cost savings to the City of Fort Worth and to the citizen.   Socially, we reach out to the communities through the neighborhoods to meet with their organizations continually to share ways to keep their homes and communities in a safe and cost effective state of repair, limiting the need to have residences in their areas which bring blight on the communities. Environmentally, the ongoing information blitz to keep recycling, water conservation and preservation at the forefront of everyone's mind is paramount.  If we continue to impresses upon the community just how these resources can best be utilized, we can ensure the availability of these resources for years to come.”

As far as the city as a whole, Dennis said there is quite a lot of work to do.

"Not everyone has gotten the message just how much of a negative impact the lack of education in this area (sustainability) will affect the generations to come.  That is why it is increasingly important that we start with the kids in schools and at home to get them in the habit now of conserving, recycling and "thinking green".

Some things I didn’t know were that programs such as the use solar power during the past Superbowl, led to the continued use in the downtown area.

Dennis said there are other out of the box methods that he would like to see such as more rainwater conservation measures. He says if implemented it may help to deter the need for water rationing during low precipitation periods.

"We hear so much information about the sustainability impact of our precious resources. However, we need to become more involved in making the effort to keep the education, technology and implementation at the forefront of ensuring they are used wisely for future generations."

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Tale of Two Cribs

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of conservation, it was the age of waste, it was the epoch of realization, it was the epoch of denial, it was the season of riches, it was then a season of rags, it was the spring of hope, yes, we can; it was the winter of "oh, crap the economy... we're damned", we had a slight economy before us, we realized it was in danger before us, we were told by the "moral" some of us are going direct to Heaven, and the rest of us were going direct the other way, the contrite contridictions were uncanny. In short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted that change had to come, in all of our haste, we consumed too waste and losing precious land to landfills at the present date. Houses were constructed, builders not caring for disrepair, now we need to cut back, install responsibly and do things right, while keeping a weak economy and its consequences in sight. Politicians are much more alike in the fight, energy independence, conservation and morals are the plight, all there is left to do is what is right. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but sometimes it takes a few to have vision and believe in their own foresight."

As adapted by Charles Dickens

OK, so I am no Charles Dickens; however, my message remains true.



Heather Ferrier's Home
Photo By Chris Graves


Paying about 12,000 more to be green, this developer power couple, Heather Ferrier and her husband Travis,  implemented their own sustainability solutions for their home. The green implementations increased the value of their home.

• Tankless water heater
• Shingle roof
• Dual flush toilet
• "zero scaping"
• Kept some of the orifnal home's amenities
• Mini -split unit
• remote control operator

After replacing 100% of their plumbing with spray foam, which embarrasingly enough, I had not a clue what that was, so I thought I would share.


Apparently, there is no better home insulating material that can seal homes from air and moisture intrusion, save on costly utility bills, strengthen the home, and protect family’s health from dangerous mold, airborne pollutants, and allergens than spray foam insulation.




Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation
Stops air and moisture infiltration

• Makes your home more comfortable
• Saves on energy costs
• Adds strength to the building structure
• It is permanent and will not sag
• Keeps dust and pollen out
• Reduces capacity requirements, maintenance and wear of HVAC equipment

Some of their challenges included  trying to get appraiser's to understand the value of the "green improvements".  However, the bonus for them and to the envy of their neigbbor's , was spending approximately $75 per month on energy bills.

Ferrier homes are well known for building some of the most beautiful, modern and sustainable homes. One of their clients, Charlotte and Thomas De La Pena were no exception to the style rule.



Stylishly Sustainable
Photo by Chris Graves

 The De la Pena's are young professionals, which is generally Ferrier homes' clientel. The usual Yuppie home, classy, contemporary was met with space concious amenities. Thomas said that he wanted to be environmentally and economically conscious, not going for the same cookie cutter type of house. The De La Pena's utilized 110,000 feet of land to build their modern style home whic boasted of outstanding features. impressively energy efficient, the class was impressed by the TXU equipment that outlined in dollar and cents how much energy the De La Pena's were using. No kiddo's at this time, but they both said one day they will have a family and want their children to understand the importance of utilizing space and not creating waste.



REFERENCES
http://sprayfoam.com/spps/ahpg.cfm?spgid=1

The Green Recycling Revolution is LIVE

There are two companies that believe in recycling, one to make a profit off of its by product the other is simply recycling to do what's right for the environment.  Here is a story of the recycling revolution and commerce.

Pulling up to the Recycling Revolution (RR), we were immediately greeted by the sight of a small business in the heart of Dallas that could use some TLC.

The building is not as “sexy” as I thought it would be based upon the name. When hearing the term revolution, I envisioned soldiers in uniform or even better, mini-captain Planet heroes and the planeteers  walking around. But instead, our class was greeted by a more astonishing pair – a mother and son working side by side for change. The owner, Eddie Lott is an eco-entrepreneur. Charming, funny, SMART and most of all,  a visionary who believed that changing the world could also be lucrative. He reiterated that one could not come without the other.  After traveling all over the world, he recognized the need for more responsible waste management. His mother, Maria Lott, believed in her son's vision and supported him to make that dream come to fruition.

Introducing the REVOLUTION…

Dry erase boards and recycled pieces of cardboard, were filled with text that encompassed RR.  Eddie introduced intricate business plans outlining his goals; recycling revolution is out of the ordinary and out of the box. His model would use composting and working with other eco friendly organizations to deliver a service that is sustainable.  With an overqualified skeletal staff working for minimum wage, as most of these blue collar employees hold Master's degrees. They are all working toward a vision  and belief by Lott and with that vision he was not only able to talk his staff into giving all they have and using ther respoctive talents to achieve greatness but was also able engage corporate clients like AT&T and convince them to recycle by using his company. 

(Left) Eddie Lott reviewing his master plan with students
Photo by Amari Roskelly

I was highly impressed.  Now take a look at this. This beautiful piece of art is made from recycled glass! Maria gushed over how she saw school buildings and mosaics made from this material.

This beautiful glass art work can be used for countertops and such could potentially create a facility or one like it.  RR recycles 10-12 tons a week of glass received. One of the points mentioned that I found fascinating was, that people will accept charges to be rid of waste but are not as willing to pay for the recycling aspect. RR services mostly Dallas and believes in “educating EVERYONE” on the recycling process by hosting educational orientations.   The RR specializes in Single Stream recycling which is the convergence of multiple "separate" material streams (i.e. paper, plastic, aluminum, etc.) into one "single stream" container.

Me holding glass art
Photo by Chris Graves


 

RR's Single Stream programs permit the following items to be placed into one single container:

• Paper
• Plastics #1-7
• Aluminum
• Cardboard
• Glass bottles

Eddie mentioned that some businesses have to pay to discard waste but do not have the same enthusiasm to pay for recycling.  His mother, Maria frustratingly mentioned that she didn't understand the difference, as there is a cost that is incurred, regardless.

Hopefully, the revolution will be televised, in this sense, and others will understand the importance of recycling and its benefits. Well, maybe Captain Planet is back afterall, and these are his planeteers.



"The Planeteers"
Recycling Revolution Staff



 "I started this business to prove it was viable and it’s something I believe in,” said Lott.

It is important that everyone understand that recycling technology is so important because it not only keeps people employed but keeps technology out of landfills.  Brian Lashley is the Director of Operations for Reverse Logistics at GENCO ATC.  The company was formed at the end of 2010 when GENCO purchased ATC.  Legacy ATC ( former employer) was a publicly traded company which began in the automotive industry by refurbishing transmissions.  ATC entered the 3PL (Third Party Logistics) arena in 1998; contracting with  AT&T Wireless.  Legacy GENCO is a 114 year old privately owned company with multiple locations, 7K employees and customers like the U.S. Military, Home Depot, Walmart, etc.  Together, there are 10K employees and are the second largest 3PL provider in North America.

How can you recycle that 3G I phone? Consumers can contact their service provider for options to recycle their old cellphones and electronics.  Some will provide prepaid shipping labels for getting the devices to the returns center; most have drop off points at their retail locations.



GENCO provide services for 3 carriers and receive roughly 8M devices annually.  Half of these units are exchanged or returned by customers who've purchased an insurance policy.  The exchange units are consolidated and shipped to an OEM( Original Equipment Manufacturer) repair facility.  The insurance units go through an asset recovery process to ensue CPI( Customer Personal Information) is removed and they're sold at auction.

" The other 4M handsets come to us from National Retailers( Walmart, Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc), Dealer Agents (e.g. kiosks at the mall), COR( AT&T Company Owned Retail) locations and Direct Fulfillment( Internet purchases)," said Lashley.  "These units are triaged( looking for obvious physical or liquid damage) then processed through a test & repair operation to be refurbished and returned to the supply chain."

GenCo reduces waste by reclaiming as much as we can from the process byproducts.  Their trash flows through a metal detector to catch any batteries or other contaminants and then it's separated and compacted to be used with our partner suppliers as recycled material.  They test and reuse all returned cables and batteries to be packaged with the refurbished devices rather than buying new. 


The plastic parts are replaced on the devices are sorted, categorized and sold at auction for reuse in secondary markets.
If  they can not do the thre R's:



 they sell at auction to recoup all the available value.
.

REFERENCES

http://recyclerevolution.squarespace.com/about-us/

gencoatc.com

Calling the Shots: DFW Airport creates its own Playbook for Sustainabi​lity

The common complaint for sustainability is that there is no published data to support that the implemented changes truly make a difference.  Secondly, there are hardly any best practice manuals on file due to the fact any sustainability initiative is catered to the specific need of any business. The DFW airport visit was enlightening as the Vice President /Sustainability Officer, Rusty Hodapp,who also serves on the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group, highlighted the multiple facets of sustainability at the airport and gave examples on how community-wide employees were taking pride in in the company's quest for sustainability. DFW Airport's energy efficiency and air quality initiatives have receivefd accolades by the the U.S. Department of Energy, the Alliance to Save Energy and the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) among others. 

 

 

First Down:  Explaining the Triple Bottom Line.

 

Hodapp suggested that the class read "The Triple Bottom Line"  by author Andrew W. Savitz not forgetting the importance of the economical aspect of sustainability. To forget it would earn the violator a yellow flag.

 

 

 

“The Triple Bottom Line, is the place where corporate and societal interests intersect. It is a new way to measure the bottom line, where profits go side-by-side with environmental and social performance and an illuminating way to understand the often-fuzzy concept of sustainability. It is a spot that the best-run and most profitable companies have already found, and Savitz, former head of Pricewaterhouse Cooper`s Sustainability Business Services practice, says is attainable for any business that knows where to look and is willing to change.”

http://www.speakinc.com/keynote-speakers/andy-savitz/index.html

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Down: From the top to the bottom, Sustainably buy-in gains yards

Flashback to interdisciplinary studies: earning buy-in and approval from affected parties.  In fact,   the Employee Green Team, consisting of the IT, Green Purchasing, Green Buildingand ITS, furthermore proves DFW Airport management is serious about making a sustainability touchdown.  

Hodapp talked about the following:

Principles:

• No system thinking
• Top to bottom engagement
• Integrated management
• Reach out
• Continuous improvement
• Life Cycle analysis
• Community partnerships
•  C’3 (Collaboration, Cooperation, Communication)

    

The internal and operational aspects of sustainability at the airport are important to the DFW Airport Executive team, according to Hodapp. He reiterated that it is important that everyone from Top to Bottom understand and supports the idea of being more sustainable.  He mentioned that an executive preferred using his i-pad rather than printing out pages of agendas in meetings- that’s a positive step from someone who calls all of the shots. 

 

Third Down : Implementing Change

Focus on energy and resource consumption and efficiency. 52% reduction in water use in terminal Aand C.  Initial $3.4 Million investment p[roduced 8.9 million in energy Savings. Utilized Cleen fuel for flesets to include natural gas, which is being explored and produced at DFW Airport.

 

 

 

TOUCHDOWN! 

 

An Environmental Primer was developed to foster DFW’s Sustainability Initiative Airport-wide by providing a more concise tool for identifying the environmentally regulated aspects of operations, commercial and construction activities conducted on-Airport.  The Primer is a roadmap detailing the environmentally regulated aspects of DFW Airport operations, projects, and activities.  Program and Program Managers can reference to Environmental Primer to get a snapshot of DFW’s efforts to achieve its environmental theme: “ A Balance of Nature and Global Technology.  Your continued vigilance and stewardship assure a Standard of Environmental Excellence at DFW.”

  

http://www.dfwairport.com/sustainability/index.php