The Most Recent News and Events with the Thumbprint Endeavors Team

The Most Recent News and Events with the Thumbprint Endeavors Team . . .

By way of an update, both Barret and Linda participated in the ASES National Solar Tour (http://www.ases.org/ ) the first weekend in October 2010. Of course, he was in Denver CO and she was hosting the event at Wright State University to showcase the Solar Thermal Array on that partial heats the water in the Student Union Pool. In both Dayton OH and Denver, the events were well attended and the goal of informing the public about renewable energy sources continues.

Linda attended and presented at two conferences in the October − the Research Symposium at the annual conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education (Buffalo NY) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (http://www.aashe.org/). Her AASHE session detailing her Spring 2010 community service learning class that involved WSU students in community gardening projects and helped 6th graders in an urban school to learn about tree species and GIS was very well attended and great discussion followed her presentation − always a good sign.

In December 2010, Linda attended the 2010 EcoBuild Conference in D. C. She commented, “I always feel that I benefit from the various presentations and discussions related to sustainability and green building. This year I primarily attended sessions on sustainable community planning and one very informative session about the USGBC Green Schools initiative. The follow up discussions and side conversations were very interesting.”

The Leadership Team Retreat for the Ohio Leave No Child Inside Collaboratives met December 3rd and 4th at The Wilds. Linda is proud to be a part of this small but very dedicated group of individuals from around the state of Ohio who volunteer their expertise, time and energy to spearhead initiatives for the Ohio Leave No Child Inside and in their regions. Ohio LNCI has made tremendous strides forward including dozens of governmental Proclamations pledging to combat sedentary lifestyles by promoting “unplugged” healthier outdoor active play for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics and USGBC’s LEED-Neighborhood Development (which includes elements like parks/green space/play areas within walking distances in safe communities) and the Green Schools Initiatives are working closely with national parent group of LNCI, the Children and Nature Network (http://www.childrenandnature.org).

In her role as Assoc. Dir. Sustainability at Wright State University, Linda has been very active recently in the Campus Master Plan process that is looking forward 50 years to anticipate and envision future needs and land use for campus. Preservation of the WSU Woods and planning smart, sustainable development or reallocation of existing space is of course of great interest to Linda. October 23, 2010, the Office of Sustainability also hosted a reception and very informative presentation by Robin Guenther, FAIA, “Sustainable Health Care Architecture: How health care is responding to ideas about building and health, both nationally and globally”.

One place you will also find Barret is the Denver area USGBC Emerging Green Builders meetings. Be sure to look for us “out there”, like monthly Green Drinks events in Dayton or Denver or contact us − Barret (720-320-2184) or Linda (937-477-8662) ¬− for help with Greening Your Organization.

From the Greening Building to Creation and Implementation of a Green Building User’s Plan – we are here for you!