I'm excited to announce that I passed my LEED exams yesterday morning!
I now have the pleasure of adding LEED AP BD+C to my list of credentials!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Sharp reveals see-through solar panel
Sharp reveals see-through solar panel
Sharp's latest solar cell panel seems perfect for green fiends living within a sky-rise condominium.
A see-through solar energy panel announced today by Sharp -- primarily designed for balcony railings and skyscraper windows -- offers an uncommon alternative energy solution and sense of privacy in a single package.
The semi-transparent black solar panel launches in Japan on October 1, and delivers a solar power conversion efficiency of about 6.8-percent with a maximum output of 95 watts. While the low conversion rate seems lackluster comparative to the 10- to 20-percent efficiency standard these days, few see-through solar panel options exist commercially. Overall panel size stands at 4.5-feet wide by 3.2-feet tall and sports a super thin profile of only 0.37 inches.
A related press release notes that the module, which also acts as a heat shield, mostly consists of laminated glass infused with photovoltaic cells. Sharp did not announce plans for a U.S. debut of this nifty panel, nor did the company reveal pricing.
Resource:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57520125-1/sharp-reveals-see-through-solar-panel/
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
EL: Walmart - How to Kick Start Sustainability
Environmental Leader:
Walmart Reveals How it Kick-Started Sustainability
Early sustainability discussions at Walmart were fraught with conflict and argument as the group tasked with the effort realized that every time someone at the company makes a decision, there are 100 unintended consequences, according to former vice president of strategy and sustainability Andy Ruben.
“I can barely describe just how many nights we spent just hashing it out and fighting and arguing about how we were going to live up to our potential,” Ruben recalls.
Ruben made the comments in “Walmart’s Sustainability Journey: Andy Ruben and the Design of Strategic Goals and Processes,” one of seven case studies that make up the Walmart Sustainability Case Project. The project is an in-depth analysis based on 30 interviews, 25 of which were with current or former employees of Walmart, and will be used to teach business students at the University of South Carolina about sustainability and business development.
According to the Ruben case study, after Walmart’s then-CEO Lee Scott kicked off a bold plan in 2005 to create zero waste, sell sustainable products and use 100 percent renewable energy, the retailer faced the mammoth task of designing processes and goals for an enormous organization that employed 1.6 million people, served more than 138 million customers and tracked some 68 million stock keeping units every week.
Ruben was tasked with translating long-term vision into operable actions. Four key issues required immediate attention: setting strategic goals and processes to translate Scott’s vision into operable programs and activities; creating stakeholder engagement strategies to bring new ideas into the organization; initiating educational efforts to develop and spread new mindsets and expertise throughout Walmart; and building a sustainability office to lead these efforts, according to the case study.
He grappled with whether to develop a strong, centralized sustainability group to define and implement strategic priorities or to continue with the bottom-up style of experimentation and trial that had characterized decisions up to that point.
Ruben also knew observers would want measurable results of whatever sustainability strategy was implemented. He ultimately determined to include projects that provided fast, observable returns and would be easily recognized as beneficial as well as long-term initiatives that had the potential to achieve significant improvements compared with historical benchmarks, the case study said.
Ruben’s sustainability team broke projects into three groups based on the scale and timing of their impact: quick wins; innovative projects designed for one- to three-year paybacks; and game-changers that entailed changes in traditional business practices and required longer-term planning.
Ruben also understood there was outside stakeholder pressure on Walmart from nongovernmental and activist groups and any public promises, beyond the broad goals initially set, could backfire.
The sustainability team used a litmus test to judge every project independent of its media value. “The test was, if you want to do X, would that be something you would if no one ever knew about it?” said Ruben.
The process had uncomfortable and challenging moments as well, including when Walmart first agreed to meet with outside environmental groups, and as it struggled with how to change the mindset of executives and balance environmental impact with business profitability, according to the case study.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/12/19/walmart-reveals-how-it-kick-started-sustainability/
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Samsill Builds Unique Christmas Tree
In the Christmas Spirit....
Samsill Builds Unique Christmas Tree
Fort Worth, Texas, December 11, 2012 — Samsill, the largest independently owned manufacturer of stock and custom 3-ring binders, is excited to release a video full of holiday cheer and unique Christmas inspiration. Showcasing many different size and capacity 3-ring binders; a tree of a different kind came to life at the corporate offices of Samsill. The Samsill staff created the seven foot tall Christmas tree with over 600 stock and custom imprinted binders and adorned it with ornaments and lights.
Drew Bowers, Director of Marketing says, “The holidays can be a stressful and busy time so adding a little holiday décor using our product in a fun and festive way really bought joy into the office.”
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Twitter Case Study - The National Parks Conservation Association
National Parks Conservation Association
@NPCA
In today’s day and age, social media has
become a daily activity for almost everyone.
Social media users use it communicate, share pictures, brain storm
ideas, plan events, shop, research, educate, protest, build relationships, find
relationships, find lost family members and friends, review products, interact
with companies and much more. With so much activity going on in the digital
world, companies and organizations have learned how to put that resource to
good use and benefit them greatly. While
there are many social media platforms available today, some of the most popular
and widely used ones are Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
Each social
media platform has its unique qualities to engage users, companies, and
organizations. Some of them have more
complicated way to interact than others.
However, one of the simplest interactive websites is Twitter. While users are able to Tweet simple
statements, they are also able to share links to informational blogs, videos,
websites, news stories, and more. Many
large companies such as Dell, JetBlue, Carnival Cruise, Hertz, Best Buy, Microsoft,
Mtv, Paramount Pictures and more have gained an understanding of how to use
social media to boost their business and greatly impact their bottom line. However, not only are large companies using
social media to improve their business, but small businesses and organizations
are doing the same.
The
National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is an organization that is committed
“to
protect and enhance America's National Parks for present and future
generations.” “Present and future generations”
is a key phrase from what we know as the definition of sustainability. Sustainability is defined as “forms of
progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs.”
That being said, most American’s don’t know who The National Parks
Conservation Association is or what it is that they do for our country, much
less be willing to support the organization, sign petitions, and become active
within the organization itself. Another
concern they had was financial stability and the ability to continue their
mission, if for some reason the US Government decided to cut funding to their organization. Therefore, financial independence was also a
top priority of theirs that needed to be addressed. Consequently, awareness of their organization
was a number one priority, and what better way to do that than to take to the
use of a social media platform that interacts with millions of people a
day? Once the brainstorming began, the
NPCA decided to launch an awareness campaign that was, “piggy-backed Promoted Tweets on an organically trending
topic (#IfGovernmentShutsDown) to generate awareness of their fundraising and
petitioning initiatives, as well as to encourage a call to action in support of
their cause.” (https://business.twitter.com/en/optimize/case-studies/npca/)
Once their
goal was established, and their plan was in place, they began putting their
plan into action. The NPCA began by
embracing the controversial talks of abolishing federal funding cuts and using
those discussions to their advantage. The
NPCA stated, “Roads
and trails unmaintained. Fewer park rangers. Closed national parks. These are
some of the consequences of Congress failing to protect national parks from
dangerous cuts in January under the so-called sequester. Congress must find a
solution that protects America’s best idea.” Their survival was very much dependent
on how fast they could get their concerned word out, and how fast could they
get supporters involved to prevent further funding cuts. First,
they were able to promote the organization’s name and mission, providing individuals
the chance to learn what amazing efforts the NPCA was making to protect our
national parks and forest land.
Secondly, they were able to raise awareness on the possibility of their
funding being cut, and what that would mean for US residents across the
country. Within a few weeks, Twitter
claimed that the NPCA had, “Over 5,200 people clicked on the link in the Tweet
to contact members of Congress to support national park funding. The message
was also picked up by Twitter’s “Top Tweets” and was broadcast to an additional
1.1 million people. CNN broadcasted the message as one of the most popular
government shutdown Tweets.”
While
there may have been some government interaction involved, their goal of
awareness and support was indeed accomplished.
Today the NPCA has 37,907 followers, with 7,204 tweets and an average of
30 re-tweets to EVERY tweet they produce! As we have mentioned numerous times,
the greatest impact and advertising a company can have is from supporters and
fans. That fact is the very same for
non-profit groups, and other government funded organizations. The NPCA has learned to use the power of
speech and awareness to their advantage, and at the same time, gain a huge
following of fans and supporters. They
have even began utilizing other social media platforms such as Facebook, and
News Feed. It’s easy to see why organizations would want to gain awareness, but
a true lesson can be learned from them.
Never underestimate the power of the people! When the government is concerned enough about
the public following, you know you have the numbers on your side. Whether you’re a non-profit, a small
business, a government funded organization, or even a large company, social media
can not only publicize your company or group name, but raise awareness about
your cause, mission, or product, and improve your group’s image, encourage
customer or fan interaction, and possibly increase your bottom line and improve
revenue. As I mentioned before, never underestimate
the power of the people, and with social media being used by millions of people
a day, the sky is the limit when you embrace all that social media can offer!
Resources
National Parks Conservation Association
Twitter - https://twitter.com/npca
National Parks Conservation Association
Website - http://www.npca.org/
Twitter Case Studies - https://business.twitter.com/en/optimize/case-studies/npca/
Dave Raffaele – Twitter and JetBlue - http://www.daveraffaele.com/2009/01/social-media-case-study-how-jetblue-used-twitter-to-treat-me-like-a-human/
The New York Times – Wheat Thins on
Twitter - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/business/media/05adco.html?_r=4ref=business&
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Twitterers to Follow
Twitterers to Follow
If you’re looking for a couple of go-to sustainability Twitter
sites to follow, with educational information and an array of green topics from
cooking to architecture, then these Twitterers are for you!
Tree Hugger – https://twitter.com/TreeHugger
Tree Hugger is one of the most amazing sustainability
websites on the net today. Given many
people in sustainability may not embrace their same views and standards, but I
have to admit, I certainly do. They have
amazing tips on Tree Hugger offers information over:
- green design both architecture and crafts
- green living with gardens, bees, organic foods, and more
- the wonders of nature and animals
- recipes
- business news
- politics
- electronic and their energy usage
- green transportation
- and fashion
Building Green –https://twitter.com/bglive
Building Green is fabulous resource for all professionals in
the green building business. It has quickly become my go-to place for many
green architecture questions. If you’re
looking for an educational source with a great deal of technical information
and resources, this website is for you! They
offer a unique variety of information such as:
- Green building news
- Green Product specs
- Informational blogs
- Green building blog which has multiple writers and many various topics
- LEED Credit information
- Case Studies
- Educational pages over green policy, land use and community, process, site and water, energy, resources and materials, and indoor air quality
LEEDuser.com – https://twitter.com/LEEDuser
If you job has anything to do with LEED, or your job is to
implement LEED, then this site will soon be your best friend. In fact, this site is such a staple in the
LEED community that if you do have to work with LEED then I’m 100% sure not
only have you heard of this site, but you’re actively using it for each of your
projects. LEEDuser offers green building
professionals to gather quick tips on how other professionals are implementing
LEED into their projects and problem solving along the way. I highly recommend LEEDuser as a top
Twitterer to follow! They offer:
- Newsletter - On Your Team
- LEED updates
- LEED tips
- LEED events
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Value of a LinkedIn Profile
The
Value of a LinkedIn profile
Amari
Roskelly
LinkedIn
is a huge resource for professionals of all fields of study. Many people begin utilizing LinkedIn to
connect with fellow co-workers, similar to a workplace Facebook. Then, as they get into the features of the
site, they often begin networking with new professionals outside of their own
workplace. This is very much the case
with my LinkedIn page. I simply created
my account to connect with my fellow co-workers, not even knowing the
advantages of having a LinkedIn account.
However, as I began to develop my profile, I realized that LinkedIn had
a great deal to offer. I was able to
connect with my fellow co-workers, as well as higher personnel in my department. Then, as I started grad school, I began connecting
with my fellow classmates who were all working professionals and had their own
LinkedIn profiles as well. Since then, I
have been able to build a fabulous network with other sustainability
professionals, professors, and even product venders that I have come in contact
with through various building projects at the Architecture Firm.
Many
professionals may be concerned with the pros and cons of having a LinkedIn
profile, especially the older Baby Boomer generation that is far more timid
when it comes to the use of social media.
The pros of creating a LinkedIn profile and utilizing this particular
social media platform would include:
1.
Easily
connect with fellow co-workers, students, and other professionals of similar
interests and lines of work.
2.
Improve
your professional network with both individuals and companies
3.
Users
can post their resumes, and provide an easy to use platform to showcase their educational
and professional accomplishments.
4.
Members
can directly interact with other professionals through the use of groups,
polls, surveys and feedback on various topics.
5.
Provide
a professional social media platform to attach new potential employers as well
as clients.
However,
LinkedIn does indeed have a few cons, which are:
1.
It’s
difficult to get started and takes a bit of time to establish a profile,
however, once you get started, the website does a great job in guiding what
steps to take next to continue to develop your profile.
2.
Many
people aren’t engaged on a daily basis like they are on sites such as Facebook
and Twitter, therefore correspondence can often take a bit longer than
expected.
3.
Many
say that LinkedIn is “real estate” heavy, which can sometimes lead to a
pressured situation, and has the possibility to become an uncomfortable
environment to interact in.
4.
Some
users will create an account and leave their profiles blank; therefore, it’s
difficult to determine if they are the correct professional you are looking
for, and are far less likely to return.
5.
With
those users having incomplete profiles, other users are less likely to add them
to their connections, to prevent a negative image of their own profile and
network of professional connections.
Though
I have been on LinkedIn for a couple of years, I have been guilty of not being
as engaged as I should be. This past
year, I have spent some time developing my profile and adding new
connections. Though I haven’t spent much
time researching the various groups that LinkedIn has to offer, I have had
group leaders seek me out and invite me to join their group. In fact, I had the CEO and Founder of “Environmental
Leader”, Paul Nastu, invite me to his group on LinkedIn. This became a turning point for me when it
came to utilizing the groups on LinkedIn.
I have been able to connect with many professionals in the green
industry, learning a great deal and sharing ideas with one another. While I haven’t been nearly as active as I
would like, I have come to rely on much of the green building technology conversations
that are offered on the group’s page.
My daily presence could definitely
be stronger on LinkedIn; however, when time becomes available, I plan to
further complete my profile and seek out other connections to build my green
building network. I have learned that
LinkedIn has a great deal to offer, even a new job or career. Many companies use social media platforms to
gain a perspective of potential new employees.
Therefore it’s extremely important for users to present themselves in
the most professional light as possible.
As with all social media profiles, users should keep in mind that anyone
can access their information and develop an opinion of you and your
professional abilities, just based on what information is provided on your
profile. That leads to another important
point. If you do create a LinkedIn
profile, it’s important to spend the time to develop your profile, establish
connections, join groups, and interact with other users. It’s the same principles for companies who
establish social media profiles and don’t continue to update their pages and
interact. Future employers may view your
lack of interaction or even your incomplete profile as a lack of
commitment. That is why it is important to
cultivate your profile, showcase your knowledge and work experience. Once you have your profile established, get
involved, find other professionals with similar interests, and join groups pertaining
to your particular field of study and interest.
LinkedIn is a wonderful professional social media platform that gives
the working man or woman a voice, a stage, and a chance to further their
career, in one fell swoop.
LinkedIn
is just one of the professional social media websites available. Others professionals may consider are:
cmypitch.com – A business website for UK entrepreneurs to get quotes, advice and more.
Cofoundr – A community for entrepreneurs, programmers, designers, investors, and other individuals involved with starting new ventures.
E.Factor – An online community and virtual marketplace designed for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.
Ecademy – A business network for creating contacts and sharing knowledge.
Entrepreneur Connect – A community by Entrepreneur.com where professionals can network, communicate, and collaborate with others.
Fast Pitch – A business network where professionals can market their business and make connections.
Focus – A community focused on helping business decision makers and IT professionals make decisions.
JASEzone – A professional community where you can find potential clients and business partners.
LinkedIn – A professional network that allows you to be introduced to and collaborate with other professionals.
Networking for Professionals – A business network that combines online business networking and real-life events.
PartnerUp – A community connecting small business owners and entrepreneurs.
PerfectBusiness – A network of entrepreneurs, investors and business experts that encourages entrepreneurship and mutual success.
Plaxo – An enhanced address book tool for networking and staying in contact.
Ryze – A business networking community that allows users to organize themselves by interests, location, and current and past employers.
StartupNation – A community focused on the exchange of ideas between entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners.
Upspring – A social networking site for promotion and social networking.
XING – A European business network with more than 7 million members.
Young Entrepreneur – A forum-based site for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are passionate about promoting business for themselves and others.
Ziggs – A professional connection portal founded on the principles of professionalism and respect.
So
whether it’s LinkedIn or another professional networking website, I highly recommend
professionals to take the time to join one and begin networking with other professionals. You might just be surprised how it benefits
you. Remember, be active, be bold, and
use social media to your advantage. It
certainly will pay off!
Resources
The Wall
Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120398333194492051.html
LinkedIn
– http://www.linkedin.com
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