Once again this year, I was fortunate to attend the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio Conference in Columbus. This conference has grown over the last three years and has become more inclusive in that there now are larger numbers of attendees from more diverse organizations that reach well beyond the borders of Ohio. There were, of course, many at the conference representing the engineering side but there were also a fair number of us who were from equally important fields such as urban planning, economics, various science disciplines, and architecture. This shift is a positive move in the right direction, as Scott Johnston pointed out in discussing the interdisciplinary, collaborative design team approach used by The Energy and Sustainable Design Studio (E+SD) at Miami University. The resulting discussions were far reaching, covering topics related to the environment, alternative and renewable energy and green building, including research in these areas and the role of universities in the development of these resources.
The pivotal role of education in this arena was a very interesting thread of conversation I engaged in with several presenters and attendees. We need to have more conversations about using complex, real world interdisciplinary approaches to solving energy and environmental problems. As one economics professor, Allen Prindle, pointed out and some of us will recall, the overriding reason that the energy policies and environmental movement of the 1970's failed was that the economics of the situation did not work – energy remained cheap. One other shortfall was that the general public was not educated as to the global climate impacts of our increased energy consumption. Some of us heard the messages, "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute", "Don't be a Litterbug", etc. but we were not informed, not educated as to why not, what were the long term consequences if we did pollute, if we did over consume -- so why not? And therein lays the mandate this time for informing and educating the public as to what to do and why. This requires the inclusion of the social sciences as well as engineers, scientists and others to help with the attitudinal and behavioral changes that must take place in our lives and our workplaces.
The problems that are confronting us are complex and multi-faceted. They involve more than the application of technical solutions. These energy and environmental challenges require all of the bright minds and innovative solutions we can engage. What I like to think of as education in the broadest sense, an inclusive approach is sorely needed to get feasible, real world solutions. Let us dispense with the silo-thinking approach. Let us tackle these problems using the best thinking of designers, economists, social scientists, urban planners, and more in implementing the necessary change. And let us invite those who understand the crucial role of education to then take shape this information so that the general public, policy makers, and the next generation understand the problems, the thinking and reasoning, the proposed solutions and the outcomes of research findings so that this time they are implemented.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Welcome
Greetings and Welcome to our Thumbprint Endeavors LLC Blog Posting!
In line with our mission, we hope to use this periodic blog to inform and educate about Green topics and to provide insights about whom we are and what we believe as Environmental Consultants. Thank You, in advance, for being part of our efforts to spread the word about how we all can best conduct our lives and our operations in more sustainable ways.
I’d like to spend a few paragraphs sharing the focus of my recent energies and thinking -- inspired, fresh and Green!
I have been fortunate to participate in several meetings lately that show the increasing level of commitment for Green Initiatives that is emerging in the U. S. On March 5th, 2009, the Office of the Governor and the Ohio Department of Development hosted a meeting to showcase Green Initiatives in the Dayton Region. This meeting of nearly 100, from all sectors of the community, discussed a very diverse cross-section of projects that were completed, under construction, being designed or in the conceptual stages. Everything from proposed a pilot Green Roof site for student research to business development projects were presented. Several long lists of Miami Valley Green Initiatives were generated for the organizers to take back to their offices. Many of us that left the meeting that day were encouraged and sincerely hope that this group could spin off Working Groups to move these ideas and Green Initiatives forward to reality.
The other interesting day last week was a very well organized event hosted by the Ohio Environmental Council. After being briefed on various environmental topics related to energy, water quality, food production and green building practices, 200 people from all walks of life met in scheduled 30 – 60 minute timeslots with State Legislators, Ohio EPA officials and other policy makers in Columbus. This was a rare opportunity for both professionals and everyday people to discuss their views on environmental issues to better inform Policy Makers as well as learn a great deal about the issues and the wheels our government.
I try not to get too bogged down by what I consider the often slow pace or the seeming disinterest for the environment that I may see day to day or what is in the news regarding greed and waste. Instead, I try to focus on what is being done. I read with gusto the articles about Dayton’s Tech Town – reclaiming an urban Brownfield site with the transportation and utilities infrastructure already in place. Efforts like this are using Innovation to lure High Tech industry and to spur growth in the downtown area rather than contributing to the destruction of urban sprawl.
I am also encouraged by the example set by the continuing strength and determination of the people of Greensburg Kansas to take the remains of their town to make it a Green, Sustainable Community. I have a soft spot in my heart for Kansas anyway, but to see the little town of Greensburg reinvent itself Green after a devastating EF5 tornado, is truly inspiring. The community and their leaders assessed what capital they had – wind energy, space and strong work ethic to rebuild and to do it right, to do things that made them self-sufficient and a model for other communities. In their planning, rethinking what Could be, not content with how it has been in recent memory but rather what could this small Kansas community do to revitalize itself? What would make them a leader in the region, a place where young people wanted to stay and families would want to come to raise their families? Green designers help them to rethink and rebuild Green. They have sought out businesses and industry that fit with their Green Vision. These folks had their entire town destroyed, but they soon envisioned an opportunity to rebuild in ways that would provide a Green community with a long range view, for not only recreating their town but for vastly improving it. This kind of sustainable vision for a community will attract and retain vital young people to the area and will also attract businesses that see the viability of going Green as well as the character of the people in Greensburg.
This type of thinking, inspired, fresh and Green is what I choose to focus on. As we think about the future, it is truly our mission at Thumbprint Endeavors to provide Green Solutions and to educate as well as learn with our Clients. We believe that we are all in this together and that the Green path we create, together, is important. We also believe that, just as the people of Greensburg showed, the strength of Building a Green Community -- school by school, business by business -- is powerful and sustaining.
In line with our mission, we hope to use this periodic blog to inform and educate about Green topics and to provide insights about whom we are and what we believe as Environmental Consultants. Thank You, in advance, for being part of our efforts to spread the word about how we all can best conduct our lives and our operations in more sustainable ways.
I’d like to spend a few paragraphs sharing the focus of my recent energies and thinking -- inspired, fresh and Green!
I have been fortunate to participate in several meetings lately that show the increasing level of commitment for Green Initiatives that is emerging in the U. S. On March 5th, 2009, the Office of the Governor and the Ohio Department of Development hosted a meeting to showcase Green Initiatives in the Dayton Region. This meeting of nearly 100, from all sectors of the community, discussed a very diverse cross-section of projects that were completed, under construction, being designed or in the conceptual stages. Everything from proposed a pilot Green Roof site for student research to business development projects were presented. Several long lists of Miami Valley Green Initiatives were generated for the organizers to take back to their offices. Many of us that left the meeting that day were encouraged and sincerely hope that this group could spin off Working Groups to move these ideas and Green Initiatives forward to reality.
The other interesting day last week was a very well organized event hosted by the Ohio Environmental Council. After being briefed on various environmental topics related to energy, water quality, food production and green building practices, 200 people from all walks of life met in scheduled 30 – 60 minute timeslots with State Legislators, Ohio EPA officials and other policy makers in Columbus. This was a rare opportunity for both professionals and everyday people to discuss their views on environmental issues to better inform Policy Makers as well as learn a great deal about the issues and the wheels our government.
I try not to get too bogged down by what I consider the often slow pace or the seeming disinterest for the environment that I may see day to day or what is in the news regarding greed and waste. Instead, I try to focus on what is being done. I read with gusto the articles about Dayton’s Tech Town – reclaiming an urban Brownfield site with the transportation and utilities infrastructure already in place. Efforts like this are using Innovation to lure High Tech industry and to spur growth in the downtown area rather than contributing to the destruction of urban sprawl.
I am also encouraged by the example set by the continuing strength and determination of the people of Greensburg Kansas to take the remains of their town to make it a Green, Sustainable Community. I have a soft spot in my heart for Kansas anyway, but to see the little town of Greensburg reinvent itself Green after a devastating EF5 tornado, is truly inspiring. The community and their leaders assessed what capital they had – wind energy, space and strong work ethic to rebuild and to do it right, to do things that made them self-sufficient and a model for other communities. In their planning, rethinking what Could be, not content with how it has been in recent memory but rather what could this small Kansas community do to revitalize itself? What would make them a leader in the region, a place where young people wanted to stay and families would want to come to raise their families? Green designers help them to rethink and rebuild Green. They have sought out businesses and industry that fit with their Green Vision. These folks had their entire town destroyed, but they soon envisioned an opportunity to rebuild in ways that would provide a Green community with a long range view, for not only recreating their town but for vastly improving it. This kind of sustainable vision for a community will attract and retain vital young people to the area and will also attract businesses that see the viability of going Green as well as the character of the people in Greensburg.
This type of thinking, inspired, fresh and Green is what I choose to focus on. As we think about the future, it is truly our mission at Thumbprint Endeavors to provide Green Solutions and to educate as well as learn with our Clients. We believe that we are all in this together and that the Green path we create, together, is important. We also believe that, just as the people of Greensburg showed, the strength of Building a Green Community -- school by school, business by business -- is powerful and sustaining.
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