Springleaf Adventures

Local Companies Doing Well by Doing Good

2009-11-27T11:53:00.018-05:00

Have you considered all the companies in the Triangle area that are focused on business practices that use sustainability to give them a strategic advantage and reinforce their brand?

Here are three profiles of local companies that are doing well by doing good: Larry's Beans, Southern Energy Management, and Self Help

Larry's Beans - organic, Fair Trade, slow roasted beans. Larry's Beans buys its coffee from small farmers, paying a minimum of fair trade prices for their beans (if not more). What does that mean? The farmers are guaranteed a better price for their coffee beans, and ultimately an opportunity at economic security. Why does this matter? Fair Trade requires sustainable farming techniques, helping to ensure the land is protected and available for long-term agricultural use. Why should I care? The products are higher quality, and because they're organic, they don't have the toxic chemicals found in modern-day agricultural practices.

Larry's Beans pays more for their coffee, but that means they are providing you with a high-quality bean that cares for the environment and the producer. They build long-term relationships with their farmers and are able to consult on improved growing practices. Basically, Larry and his team can sleep at night knowing they are doing a good thing for everyone while also building a successful business. They also have a whole slew of fun environmental practices at their Raleigh office - use of passive solar designs, deliver local recycled veggie oil, operate Raleigh's only gasoline-free biodiesel pump, harvest rainwater with mulitple cisterns, composting, duel-flush toilets, recycling, and more. They also started Sustainability School to educate others on how to reduce their environmental impact. I heart Larry's Beans!

Year Founded: 1999
# Employees: ~20

Southern Energy Management - solar power and energy efficiency. Southern Energy Management is a leader in solar thermal, solar PV, and energy efficiency services. Their mission is to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, and building a sustainable triple bottom line company that values people, planet and profit. What does this mean? By providing services that help property owners reduce their carbon emissions, SEM is working to address a problem that affects all of us and the generations to come: Global Climate Change. They are also running an organization that cares for its people, reduces its own environmental impact, and maintains a profitable business. Why does this matter? Running a sustainability-focused business means engaging employees in a meaningful way. Whether it is employee profit sharing, buying hybrids for its fleet, or office-wide composting, SEM makes decisions everyday based on factors that go beyond profitability: Will it also benefit employees, the community, and the environment? As for helping to reduce the CO2 emissions, there is a growing requirement by federal, state, and local municipalities to reduce energy consumption. Providing those services not only helps companies reduce their environmental impact, it has become a very attractive business industry. Why should I care? Having local expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy means our region is better positioned to reduce our environmental impact and conserve energy. It also means our state is becoming a hot spot for a burgeoning green economy, and attracting other businesses (and jobs!) that will help carry NC into the 21st Century as a leader for the nation. How cool is that?

Year Founded: 2001
# Employees: ~50

Self Help - community development lender and real estate developer working with underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. What does that mean? They provide financial tools for individuals and organizations that are working to improve the community - this could be through making home ownership possible for individuals that don't meet financing standards from traditional banks or community development loans in low-wealth or rural areas. They even make loans to entrepreneurs or small businesses to help build wealth and give people the tools they need to become financially independent. In fact, I would dare say any description I put here will not capture the real impact of Self Help's efforts. Another reason they made it on my company profile list - they have also turned their focus to environmental sustainability. In traditional Self Help way, they started looking on the inside on what they could do internally, and have now extended that effort outward to incentivize their clients to be green through some creative programs. Why does this matter? Even before the current economic downturn, Self Help played a big role with helping people and organizations improve their economic position and build wealth. Now their role is even more critical. The institution has invested in people and communities, not a statistical model created by someone without any understanding of the needs of a community. I also love that they've given people a financial reason to reduce their environmental impact. Self Help is truly committed to the communities it serves. Why should I care? This is a great demonstration of a mission-driven organization that is focused on making a social impact by creating financial tools to serve the underserved. When you add in the component of creating internal and external programs extend the mission of reducing environmental impact to the client base - that's amore!

Year Founded: 1980
# Employees: ~250

Are you up to the 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge?

2009-11-16T10:33:00.013-05:00

Now in its 4th year, the 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge is in full-swing all across the country right now. What is it, you ask? In 2006, Alicia Smith and J.B. MacKinnon decided that for one year they would only eat food produced within 100 miles of where they lived. Now they've raised the challenge for the rest of us - even if for one delicious day. Luckily for us, we live in a state with lots of agriculture nearby. The 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge only lasts 24 hours, so get ready!

The turkey day challenge is part of the annual 100 Mile Challenge that encourages people to eat more local foods. In an effort to raise awareness of eating local, healthy foods, and encourage people to learn more about where our food comes from, the group is helping folks have a little fun with their food - even if for one night. They are betting you'll have enough fun with the challenge to try it out for more than one night...

To participate in the Challenge, you don't have to adhere to the 100-mile rule for 100% of your Thanksgiving dinner; it could be just one or two dishes. Just sign the 100-Mile Pledge! The easiest way to participate would be to hit the Farmer's Market for all your vegetable-related dishes (mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, fresh green beans, cranberry sauce, etc.). I'm practically drooling right now over the thought of a 100-mile pumpkin pie...

I feel like the biggest challenge would be the main course: the traditional, succulent turkey. For readers local to the Triangle area, you could consider Cane Freek Farm (approximately 55 miles west of Raleigh in Snow Camp) for your 100-mile turkey. Or if you're not much of a meat person, you could always go the "tofurkey" route. I don't know a thing about tofurkey, but I hear you can get it at Trader Joe's (one just opened in Raleigh). It may not fit the 100-mile rule, but it's definitely green.

My family Thanksgivings are always pretty large, with 30-40 people on any given year. I might not be able to get all 40 to agree to bring a dish made from 100-mile produce, but I bet I can get a third or so to jump on the bandwagon. I, for one, will leave any 100-mile cooking to the other 39 people. My culinary skills aren't exactly lacking, they're just...well...nonexistent. To do my part, I'll bring the 100-mile wine and beer.

What are you bringing?

A Sign of the Times?

2009-10-29T20:53:00.002-04:00

Heading downtown to a favorite lunch spot (shout out to the good folks at 18 Seaboard), I ran across a beautiful sight. A Prius sandwich!

I'm left with a simple question...what is the plural form of Prius? Prii?

I have never taken Latin, so I'll leave that up for your intellectual pursuit and discussion...

Greening the Fair - Part 2:

2009-10-26T08:47:00.001-04:00

When I returned to the Fair on Wednesday to check out the Green NC exhibit, I wondered how I had missed it the first time around. After grabbing a map, I realized that it was no wonder I hadn't come across the exhibit on my own. If I hadn't plotted my course on the map, I'm not sure I would have found it on my own.

Having said that, I don't want to take away from the exhibit itself. Green NC had a great smattering of topics, each with its own little informational booth set up with presentations. While I felt like most of the exhibit was aimed more towards the high-school-and-younger crowd with things like dry ice experiments and recycling quizzes (though I snagged a neat little bottle opener from one of these), I did enjoy seeing mini setups of rain gardens and barrels, the fun structures built entirely of recycled materials, and actual solar panels (they're quite big). Before we left, I voted for my favorite Biofuels Center of NC logo, to help them decide what will be put on highway signs and the like. I even got a free CD out of it, although I'm not prepared to give my official review of it.

I can't help but wonder how many mapless people potentially have missed out on the exhibit. Like the one recycling bin I saw the first night, the Green NC exhibit was alllll the way on the edge of the Fair (NOTE: On trip #2, I noticed several other recycling bins set out which were not previously there). I know the Fair has a specific layout and vendors and exhibitors have to battle for good locations, but I wonder if the exhibit could have drawn more traffic if it was in a more visible spot. Or if there had been more advertising for it.

For those of you who missed the GreenNC exhibit, I'm sure it won't be the last time they have a presence. Let's just hope it's a little more visible - not just in the Kerr Scott Building, but throughout the Fair.

Greening the Fair - Part 1: Disappointing Recycling Bin Appearances

2009-10-21T11:39:00.011-04:00

Tobacco Road football hopes dashed every weekend. Short-sleeve days and fleece jacket nights. Plastic jack-o-lanterns grinning from under mall Christmas trees. Local elections that no one knows about. A crispness in the autumn air that can only mean one thing: State Fair time!

I don't think I have ever missed a year of the North Carolina State Fair. As a kid, it always boasted some new ride (well, it still does, but now I'm much more of the I'll-hold-your-things-while-you-go-hang-upside-down-and-tempt-fate type). Now each year's State Fair tries to out-fry the previous year's. And last year, the Fair hopped on the green bandwagon and NC Green was there to help.

2008 turned out to be the greenest Fair since 1998, the last time recycling bins were set out and made available to Fair-goers. From four recycling stations, NC Green collected almost ONE TON of recyclable material (plastic bottles and aluminum cans, mostly). Biodiesel fuel powered the Midway. "Funnel Cakes for Fuel" collected 8,500 gallons of cooking oil to be turned into more biodiesel fuel. (For more of last year's green Fair initiatives, see Greening the Fair.)

Considering last year's success, I was disappointed to find ONE single recycling bin after 4 hours of tramping around the Fairgrounds on Monday night. Granted, I wasn't operating on a one-track mind and compulsively searching for recycling bins, but who does that anyway? The one I found wasn't even in a heavily trafficked place. It was way over along the edge of the Fair, almost at the exit. There are a gazillion trash cans out there, so why not place a recycling bin next to some of them? It seems like more visible, easily accessible recycling bins would be a great way to 1) encourage recycling, 2) blow last year's one ton out of the ballpark, but 3) educate and remind people of the recent legislation banning plastic bottles from the trash!

I did not visit NC Green's exhibit (located near the Commercial and Education building, just inside Gate 11), but I plan on that being my first stop when I go back to the Fair this afternoon (my willpower is weak against corndogs and fried pickles). I think it's truly fantastic that they this and have put so much work into making it fun, interactive, and educational; I just wish they had other things more visible to the general public who might not be at the Fair for exhibits.

Stay tuned...

NC requires more recycling...but where's the teeth?

2009-10-11T23:01:00.009-04:00

You've seen those Brita commercials, right? The ones that use the "Forever in a Landfill" tagline as a way to encourage people to buy refillable water bottles (and Brita water filters) vs. bottled water? Not that bottled water is necessarily a bad thing - but we don't exactly have a good track record of recycling. Approximately 80% of water bottles in the U.S. end up in the trashcan (or worse--tossed on the ground).

People across the state are going to have to put more thought into what they do with their used plastic bottles. On October 1, North Carolina passed a law banning plastic bottles and containers from the trash in order to keep them out of landfills.

First of all, YAY! It drives me crazy to see people throw away any kind of plastic container or when I find them on the ground when I'm walking my dog. But second of all, how is this going to be enforced exactly? They say state regulators won't be digging through our curbed trash, although some sanitation departments throughout the state have said that if they see plastic bottles in your trash, they're not taking it (similar to aluminum cans). But what about where the recycling needs to happen - at the office, in the street corner, at the restaurant, and at home?

I'm thrilled about the step North Carolina is taking with this law, but I'm also a little worried. Yes, the law sounds great, but I feel like it could have the potential of being quickly overlooked or ignored. How are they going to increase recycling in the places where trash enters the waste stream? Will they begin to require office building owners to implement recycling programs? Right now - believe it or not - there are still office buildings that don't offer recycling. SERIOUSLY!?! I'm just shocked whenever I hear business owners talk about starting a recycling program b/c they aren't currently doing anything at the office. SERIOUSLY?!

From what I've been able to tell, there wasn't much publicity about this new law. Sure, it made its appearance on the nightly news and on local headlines the week it went into effect, but there wasn't much more before or since. I genuinely hope I'm wrong and we see a significant decrease in plastic bottles and containers in our landfills, but I'm just not convinced that this will have the desired effect without really addressing the problem at it's source and installing recycling capabilities . Recycling plastic water bottles isn't something we should be told we need to do - my gosh, it's 2009! Creating this law now makes recycling a requirement, but I mean, a law that doesn't get enforced isn't much a of a law, is it?

All the same, people in Virginia seem pretty excited about our efforts and are urging their state lawmakers to take notes.

I wonder...what are some ways to enforce the ban? To encourage people to abide by the new law?

Any ideas?

Coal Ash Recycling and the Rising Cost of Coal

2009-10-04T19:35:00.009-04:00

I'm not an expert in power generation, but I have heard the arguments from our utility companies as to why renewables will never replace coal and nuclear. There is no way to generate the quantity or consistency of electricity from a nuclear plant through wind, solar, or biomass. And no renewable source comes as cheap as coal.

I understand the argument of nuclear. But coal is the dirty cousin that does little more than create CHEAP power. Mountain top removal. Black lung. Carbon emissions. Global warming. ugh.

Last December, we heard about the tragic coal ash spill in Tennessee - about 5.4 MILLION cubic yards - from the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant flowed into the Emery River. Complete with toxic substances and heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and beryllium.

How did we get here? Ever hear of 'clean coal'? The EPA required coal ash to be captured instead of being burned into the atmosphere in an effort to reduce toxic gas polluting our environment. Utility companies then had to begin stock piling it after capture into coal ash dikes. They could send it to landfills, but that has become very expensive.

In order to reduce the amount of coal ash being stored or being send to landfills, the industry is beginning to repurpose/recycle the toxic ash into other materials: Kitchen counter tops, replacement of Portland Cement in concrete production - it is even being used as soil (holy pollutants, Batman!).

According to the '60 Minutes' story that ran this evening, the cost of remediation of these coal stock piles is tremendous. In fact, if the costs are passed on to the end user - that's you and me buying electricity from Duke Power and Progress Energy - the price of coal will rise significantly.

Does that mean that we will begin to pay the full price of cheap electricity? What I mean by that is, paying for the environmental impact as well as the price of electricity generation. As it is now, the people paying the price are those who are impacted by the sludge spill (the river was polluted, along with drinking water, and land surrounding the plant that had to be purchased by the power company), those that are mining the coal, and the rest of us that will pay for the cost of global warming. This is the basis of environmental economics, where you calculate the externalities of economic activities to account for the health and environmental impacts that society pays but the company does not.

So, if the power companies have to begin paying for these externalities, coal may be priced out of competition. Here's an interesting white paper on the cost of coal.

Requiring utility companies to pay the full cost of remediation and proper disposal that doesn't endanger the health of those impacted by coal production means coal may not be a commercially viable option in the future. Cap and Trade will also have a huge impact on coal production.

Does this mean that power companies will have an incentive to pursue renewable sources of energy? Maybe this is the time they invest in battery technology to store that renewable energy so it can be more reliable and consistent. How about electricity users getting such a jolt in their monthly power bills that it creates higher demand for renewable energy? Or maybe power companies will turn their focus to nuclear since there is so much power generation capacity (FYI, the construction costs will also significantly drive up monthly power bills). Or, maybe it will mean more efforts on energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Only time will tell how this will play out. I think accounting for the full cost of the environmental impact will be good but also a painful awakening for everyone. We can't continue to destroy our planet and compromise the health of others simply for maintaining access to cheap coal. This subsidy could be our downfall in this 21st century economy. Stay tuned.

USDA Wants You to Help Define "Natural" for Food Labels

2009-09-30T13:15:00.013-04:00

My first reaction was that this should have been clearly, honestly defined a long time ago, from the second any manufacturer wanted to slap "natural" on a product. But, of course, just because there is a clear federal definition for something doesn't mean there aren't favors being swapped within the inevitable loopholes. You know, the you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours kind of thing in the upper echelons of the Corporate States of America. I thought I might be being a little cynical until I ran across this statistic: in 1994, 13% of consumers under 35 "never" used food labels when buying a product for the first time. By 2002, that number had leapt to nearly 30%! Is that because consumers under 35 simply haven't put as much stock into what a product boasts or what it's actually made of? Or because we now have a greater awareness of whole foods, eating healthier, and skepticism of false/misleading nutrition claims? Regardless of the reason, the numbers are still a bit startling.

Currently, the "natural" label may be used if (1) the product has no artificial coloring, flavoring, or chemical preservative, and (2) the product is no more than "minimally processed." At first, minimally processed sounds okay, but then it goes on to say that it allows for "traditional processes" used by the meat packaging companies to "make food edible, to preserve it, or make it safe for human consumption." If the food is already inedible and unsafe for human consumption, I really want no part of it regardless of how minimally it further gets processed. And what about what goes into the animal in the first place? Shouldn't 'natural' has some sort of requirement that animal wasn't given antibiotics or hormones?

The USDA did solicit the public for comments on the 'natural' meat claim back in December of 2006, but it apparently didn't do much good. On September 14 of this year, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), part of the USDA, said that more public input "would help to clarify and resolve the issues surrounding the 'natural' claim." Maybe this time around there will be more public response (or outcry!) since green has been the buzz word over the last few years. It seems like the publication of books like Omnivore's Dilemma and film releases like Food, Inc. have created some chatter, and people are more aware and interested when it comes to what we're actually eating. Actually, the 'healthy food' segment continues to grow as people become more aware of what they're putting in their bodies. Just think of all the products you see in the grocery store that claim to be natural. There are a ton. How many are actually true to that claim? Great question.

As it is now, "natural" can mean just about anything. To the bigwigs of food companies, "natural" meat may mean minimally processed meat that is loaded with preservatives. To John Doe in the next town over, it may mean local farm-raised, grass-fed beef. It could mean something completely different to the person behind you in the grocery store check-out line. They'd all be right because there is no real definition for "natural" when it comes to the food industry.

So what do you think? What is 'natural' to you?

YOUR comments on this are due by Friday, November 13, 2009. Help make sure people don't buy foods based on false trust in labels and end up with a product full of corn by-products and processed who-knows-what. Directions to submit comments may be found here.

Mid-year update - 2009

2009-09-23T16:04:00.000-04:00

We've been busy updating the website to highlight our sustainability consulting program. We've also updated and refreshed the content to reflect more of our work over the past year. Please swing by and check out our updates.

Springleaf is now on Facebook and Twitter. We've expanded our practice to focus more on natural resource conservation and renewable energy companies. We're also spending more time as a sustainability consultant for projects and teams, and talking with companies trying to figure out how sustainability can become a strategic advantage.

In 2009 we've taken additional steps to further integrate sustainability into our operations. We've held project work days to donate time and services to Rebuilding Together of the Triangle and the BASE program at UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise. Springleaf is now a Green Mover in the Green Plus Program.

We've helped organize sustainability awards in the area and are a co-chair for the Sustainability Committee of Urban Land Institute's Triangle District Council. We've also been busy giving presentations to groups of professionals interested in positioning their business.

We hope the last half of 2009 is as exciting as the first half. We're thrilled about the increased awareness of sustainability in the market place, and helping companies think through how they can integrate the fundamentals of sustainability into their operations.

We hope you stay tuned to more changes ahead. The market is shifting and we are responding with more of a focus on helping companies in a way that makes an impact. Find out what's next and how we can help.

Taking it on the road

2009-09-07T21:13:00.005-04:00

We've been busy presenting to real estate professionals about sustainability marketing. Last week we spent some time at HagerSmith Design's Lunch n' Learn series. This week is with the USGBC Triangle Chapter at the Networking Event that caps off a day of LEED workshops.

We talked a lot about greenwashing, as well as the motivating drivers for green purchases. Being authentic about the sustainability impact of your products or services is an important first step in clearly communicating your company's vision and mission. Misrepresenting your efforts, making unsubstantiated claims, masking information, or spreading misinformation are all cardinal sins. Educating your audience on the value of your services in a genuine and transparent way will go a long way (and be more effective) in becoming a leader in your industry...

Motivating Drivers: Did you know that of the primary motivating drivers (energy savings/cost savings, environmental impact, health benefits, societal concerns, trends) that healthy living is the fastest growing segment? This group is also the least price sensitive. So, when you are thinking about your next marketing effort, consider focusing your messaging around the purchase driver of your audience. Are they focused on the environment? health reasons? or energy costs? Understanding what drives purchase decisions is important in resonating with your audience. It's about being relevant, people!

So, how does your company position itself to capture more of the market and make yourself more attractive to clients and on RFPs? First, you need to understand where your company wants to go with sustainability. What are your goals and objectives? Second, what resources do you have internally? Do you need training for your employees? Maybe bringing in a sustainability/LEED consultant can help fill some crucial gaps. I have seen owners reward teams that have a dedicated resource devoted to LEED design.

Another point to positioning yourself is to make your company green from the inside. It is much more effective if you are starting with your own business. Reducing your environmental impact and being involved in the community are two initiatives that can pay dividends all around. But they should always align with your business goals. And let's not forget how your marketing initiatives communicate your company's vision for sustainability...

That was the high level overview. For more information, or to ask some follow up questions, write us.

Buy Local While on Vacation?? Yes, We Can!

2009-09-02T19:53:00.009-04:00

As I recently learned, just because you go on vacation doesn't mean your efforts to have a sustainable diet have to go on hold.

A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip to the Pine Knoll Shores beaches with my college roommate who now lives in Connecticut. She jokingly asked me before she flew down how I was going to manage to still eat without the farmer's market and Whole Foods. Does vacation have to mean that you have to give up buying local until you return home? No way.

I told her not only would I maintain my "buy local" diet, but she'd be living on it, too. When I picked her up at the airport at 8 a.m. with Starbucks, she pointed out that I wasn't off to such a good start. I couldn't even retort that it was for-certain free-trade or even soy. So Starbucks is a guilty--though rare!--pleasure. I can admit my faults!

There is a little fruit stand on the side of US 70 just outside of Kinston called Falling Creek Produce. When I was a kid, we would always stop at this same fruit stand whenever we made our way to the beach in the summer. They had huge melons sliced open for sampling, which they still do. For a person from Connecticut who is not used to roadside fruit stands or generous, delicious product samplings, my roommate was floored--especially once I struck up a friendly stranger-to-stranger conversation with the owners. We ended up walking out of there with enough fresh, locally grown cantaloupe and watermelon to feed us for a couple of weeks--even though our trip was only 4 days!

Once at the beach, we stopped at the Food Lion to pick up some essentials like bread since I didn't plan on milling any grain or letting yeast rise in my free time. I figured I canceled it out with only North Carolina beer purchases.

While there were a couple of times I slacked a little on my mission (we had to have Bojangles for breakfast one morning), for the most part I managed to be wildly successful in managing to maintain a "buy local" diet while at the beach with my college roommate. I made several trips to the Willis Seafood Market in Salter Path for Peel-Your-Own-Shrimp suppers at home; we feasted on shrimp burgers and corn sticks at the Big Oak Drive-In (a staple at the beach and in my childhood memories); we ate on the water at the Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead; and made a couple other stops here and there to enjoy the local cuisine.

I must say, I'm proud of myself for the buy-local-while-on-vacation diet we managed to uphold. Even my Northern guest, who tried to throw me off course, was impressed that 1) we pulled it off and 2) that everything was so delicious!

Now that I think about it, I think I do a better job of that while on vacation than I do at home. Maybe I should skip Kroger tomorrow and drive a little further to Whole Foods...

What Are Your Buying Behaviors?

2009-08-20T09:57:00.018-04:00

Does your commitment to sustainability influence your purchasing decisions? When you walk into a store to purchase, oh lets say a notebook; do you try to find one using recycled paper? What about recycled binding? Do you ever consider the value the manufacturer places on sustainability and environmentally friendly operations?

Well, according to a survey on corporate social responsibility, conducted July 6 - 7, 2009 by Capstrat, a Raleigh based communications company, and the Public Policy Polling company, American consumers place a high value on a business's commitment to sustainability. The survey, polling 923 adults across the nation, revealed that a vast majority, 83% of respondents, agree that a company's commitment to sustainable business practices is very or somewhat important to their purchasing decisions.

This means that despite the current state of the economy, consumers are still looking to purchase products from companies valuing sustainability in their every day practices.

Communication is key
Although consumers are interested in purchasing products from supporting companies, some businesses are not even associating their brands with sustainability, environmentally or socially friendly products. Talk about a missed opportunity! If the majority of Americans agree that they value a company's commitment to sustainable business practices, then why aren't companies using their sustainable products/services to their marketing advantage?

Respondents also reported that not only do their businesses fall short when promoting their sustainable products/services externally to consumers, but also internally to their employees. Although almost a quarter of respondents (24%) said that sustainability is a top priority when making business decisions, nearly half of respondents (46%) reported that they rarely ever, or never hear their employers talk about sustainability! In addition, only 17% of respondents polled said that sustainability and environmental impact is frequently mentioned in their companies communications.

The solution? Communicate: if you have a company focused on sustainability or even a company housing environmentally friendly products/services, market it internally and externally! The more your employees know about your product, service, or company values, the more they will be able to share with the consumer. After all, a majority of respondents (60%) agreed that they would pay at least a little more for a product or service that they considered to be a "green" product. So make your commitment to sustainability well known; I mean, in the end isn't the bottom line impacting and increasing sales?

Sustainability vs. 'green'
Despite the fact that the poll provided some data that sustainability does influence purchasing decisions, the survey did not really address the full definition of sustainability - in many cases it referenced environmental impact and not the holistic approach to the concept. There is so much confusion about a common definition it can be difficult for even trained polling and PR professionals to clearly communicate the context. So how is the average person to know the difference?

An example: the survey asks questions addressing specific "green" initiatives such as recycling, environmentally friendly products and services, and even motion sensors and light timers; however, they never address all three components of sustainability simultaneously: environmental stewardship, economic strength, and social equity. I don't think an automated telephone survey is the forum to hold a clinic on the definition of sustainability, but how about clearly labeling for what it is and not using a buzz word?

Quality vs. environmentally friendly
Another question in the survey asked the following:

"When purchasing goods and services, which of these is the most important to you: price, quality, the environmental friendliness of a product, or its convenience?"

As I read the question it seems to me as though they're saying you can only have one or the other, quality or an environmentally friendly product. It reminded me of the outdated concept that you have to trade off quality and/or aesthetics for environmentally friendly products.

Everyday new products are entering the market that are a great triple threat: beautiful, durable, and environmentally sustainable. See CaraGreen

Purchase decisions
And, I'd like to take a moment to point out that every purchase decision has trade-offs. There are no absolutes when considering purchase options. Evelyn has talked about 'drawing the line' and making decisions based on a particular priority - but it changes. Are you considering the waste stream or the raw materials? Depending where you draw the line you might make different decisions.

And who said durability and quality aren't also part of 'environmentally friendly'? If the product is more durable than its competition, then it would be replaced less often and would therefore generate less waste than a lower quality model. I don't want to promote greenwashing, but at the same time, it is important to understand the nuances that go into purchase decisions and not over-simplify - or isolate - decision factors as either 'green' or 'not green'.

To check out the entire survey visit the Public Policy Polling website.

Faster, Fatter, Bigger, Cheaper: Yay USA!

2009-08-05T21:48:00.010-04:00

I saw Food, Inc. Twice. The first time I left the theater indignant, but not necessarily surprised. I wanted to write about it but thought it best not to blog angry. My hope was for this blog post to be my reaction to the movie, but more about the positive things I gained from seeing it.

After digesting what I had seen, I made the decision to be more conscious of the product I'm buying rather than the price I'm paying. I thought about how important it is to buy local, to be sure that the animals are not mistreated, and that the workers aren't considered dispensable. Message received!

...And then I thought about the student loans, the mortgage, the stagnant economy...and I'm only responsible for feeding my dog and myself. What about everyone else with these same issues, low-income families, or those who have lost their job or taking reduced pay/hours/etc? Making these decisions to eat local, fresh foods is more expensive than swinging through the drive-thru. It takes time and money to eat healthy (and local and fair trade), and right now that's a little more than some people have to spare. So where does that leave people? When my conscientious decision fizzled into frustration, I decided to see the film again and take notes...

The second time around left me about as frustrated as I was before, but I feel strongly enough to make an effort and buy local and organic at least every other time I buy groceries. I already refuse to buy anything other than fair-trade, shade-grown coffee, so I don't think this will be too hard.

Before we get to my reactions to the film, a quick sidenote: I took my dad to see this movie tonight. When he got a bag of popcorn before the movie, I didn't say anything--just to see how long the popcorn would last. Not 5 minutes into it, that popcorn bag found a new home on the sticky floor for the rest of the movie.

So, here's a question for you: when you ate dinner tonight, did you think about where your food came from? How about that food from yesterday's lunch plate? Unless you got all of your veggies from the farmer's market or your meat from a farm in a neighboring town, you probably did not.

Do yourself a favor, and go see Food, Inc. You won't neglect to think about where your next meal comes from.

Did you know that the average meal has traveled 1500 miles from the farm to your plate? While I'm all about "Buy American", when it comes to your food I think "local" is supporting our neighbors and keeping money in our economy. Fifteen hundred miles certainly gives the food enough time to spoil before it gets stocked, bought, and put on your plate...

So why isn't it spoiled? Because our food is being engineered not to stale, not to rot.

That doesn't sound so bad, does it? I don't want my food stale or rotten anymore than the next person. This is where all those artificial ingredients you see on labels come in.

What are artificial ingredients, anyway? In a word...corn. Corn is a commodity crop, is cheap, and, in some shape or form, can now be found in everything from Twinkies to Sweet'N Low to alkaline batteries. (Yeah, I said it--batteries). The industrialization of the food industry has turned farms (not farmers) into factories.

These factory farms, also known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), use corn as the main component in livestock feeding ingredients. Cows are being fed corn because it makes them fatter quicker, it's cheap feed, and it makes supermarket beef inexpensive.

The problem: cows aren't meant to eat corn! These high corn diets result in a mutated form of E. coli that develops in their stomachs and is acid-resistant. And if one cow gets it, all the rest of them eventually do, too. And what do you do with sick beef? Why, pump it full of antibiotics, of course. The CAFOs are so jam-packed that these cows are literally standing knee-deep in their own manure and are caked in it when they are sent to the slaughterhouse. Do you think they get cleaned off before the meat process begins...?

According to the film, if corn-fed cattle were to be fed grass for just 5 days, they'd drop 80% of the E. coli in their bodies. I'll let the reader make their own assumptions as to whether or not this is actually done.

And that's just the beef, folks.

In 1972, the FDA conducted 50,000 food inspections. In 1998, the FDA started testing plants for contaminated meat, promising to shut a plant down for repeated failures. The companies that owned these plants took the FDA to court saying they didn't have the right to do such a thing. WHAT?! By 2006, the number of FDA-conducted food inspections was a meager 9,164.

And what about the people? These huge food conglomerates have mastered the art of picking and choosing a workforce they can easily exploit. They're fully aware that the people they have working for these cheap wages can't afford to leave. To the employees, the job is food on the table. To the employers, the workers are looked upon the same as any livestock--temporary--and they're treated as such.

With corn as such a huge commodity crop, the US ruled the corn industry because it could sell it for such a cheap price. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) flooded Mexico with cheap corn and, in turn, put thousands (millions?) of Mexican corn farmers out of business. Then swoops in these huge food companies who actively recruited these out-of-work corn farmers and bussed them across the border to work as cheap labor.

So clearly the right choice is to buy local, to buy organic. But now the population that can't afford to buy fresh, local vegetables at a farmer's market or organic beef at the Whole Foods around the corner is faced with a problem.

And just like some of us can't afford to buy the local, fresh products that we would like, neither can small farmers fight giant corporations who keep them under their thumbs. Those farmers will deliver what the market demands, and we have to demand--loudly--higher quality foods.

When it comes to "making a difference," as individuals we usually feel pretty helpless, that our contribution would be too small to be significant. But are we not the ones who are paying these large food companies to keep feeding us unhealthy, unsafe food? Are we not the ones who "vote" every time we're in the grocery store check-out line? Have you considered that you have the ability to create demand and start that chain reaction of change? Here's something to think about: WalMart decided to only sell hormone-free milk in response to consumer demand. Now Kroger, Safeway, Sam's Club, and Starbucks are on board. All from consumers creating demand with retailers. Read for yourself here. Or here.

Food, Inc. is an incredibly powerful and thought-provoking movie. It'll leave you fired up and hungry to do something to change this twisted system. It'll make you wonder how to bring on a change. It'll make you want to talk to others about it. And imagine what could happen when people start working together...and voting with their wallets.

Something to think about: Hamburger meat filler (which is used in 70% of hamburgers in this country) is washed with ammonia to kill E. coli. Nothing like a little cheese, ketchup, and ammonia to make the perfect burger...still hungry? Swing by your local farmer's market and pick up dinner. Your family will thank you for it.

Living the Life of a Raindrop

2009-07-30T10:29:00.032-04:00

In an effort to increase the amount of sustainable and local products and services I used in my every day life, I have started observing lables and advertisements more closely. In doing so I have come across a variety of products, such as toilets, and even services such as landscaping designs, advertising a reduction in the amount of water used in their operations. It seems to me that water conservation is one of the new buzz words on the market.

So when Evelyn mentioned the opportunity to see a real example of a rainwater harvesting system in action in a residential community, I knew I couldn't miss out. After all, I have heard about collecting rainwater via rain barrels on your own property and re-using it for household activities such as watering lawns and gardens, and washing cars and pets - but I have never come across anything on a large scale.

So on Wednesday's rainy afternoon (fitting for following a rain drop through a rainwater harvesting system) Catherine, Evelyn, and I headed out to The Landing at Southpoint, the first LEED certified condominium in North Carolina, for a Talk-n-Walk showcasing their FreeRain rainwater harvesting system. The event was sponsored by the Triangle chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and featured speakers from the design team, including: the developer, Boylan Development; the landscape architect, JDavis Architecture; the storm water civil engineering team, EDR Engineering; and the company behind the rainwater harvesting solution, FreeRain.

Not only did the new system save the owner a huge initial investment, but it also provides savings over the years through lower water bills, environmental benefits, and even aesthetic advantages as the plants grow in. Compared to traditional storm water management systems, such as water retention ponds and sand filters, the rainwater harvesting system is much cheaper to install and maintain.

For example, with a traditional system, homeowners would have to pay to have the sand pumped out and have new sand brought in annually to maintain the sand filters. In addition to cost savings, a rainwater harvesting system takes up much less land space as the cistern can be installed underground, allowing the land to be used for other purposes. In the case of The Landing at Southpoint, the team was able to reduce the volume of bio-retention areas, the constructed wetland, by 19,000 gallons (or 23%) by just using the underground cistern, allowing more space for additional condominiums and recreational areas.

Rainwater harvesting systems also tend to have a much lower failure rate than traditional solutions as they prevent the chance of erosion or flooding. Other benefits of harvesting rainwater: the systems don't attract mosquitoes or promote algae growth, and the rainwater collected is actually better for your plants and gardens as it doesn't contain the harmful chemicals that your tap water does.

You may be wondering, what's so special about this rainwater harvesting system in place at The Landing? Well for starters, the design team came in to assess the area after phase one of the community was already in construction. This means that the entire rainwater harvesting system had to be designed and installed around the existing structures.

Not only did the team take such a difficult piece of land and design a way to conserve a large amount of water (about 100,000 gallons in total), they also constructed it on the border of a federally protected watershed and wetland area.

A little before and after: Prior to the rainwater harvesting system, the original civil engineering design called for three large sand filters and one wet pond for storm water quantity and quality control, which would have cost the owner over $360,000 for all materials, equipment, and labor (talk about an expensive initial investment!).

In comes the design team with a revised storm water management plan incorporating a rainwater harvesting system with a constructed wetland, allowing the community to completely eliminate the need for all three of the large sand filters, and ultimately saving the owner over $200,000! Instead of the sand filters, the FreeRain system & JDavis landscape plan incorporates a large, 22,000 gallon underground cistern for collecting roof water runoff from the two condo buildings and one constructed wetland to manage the quality and quantity of the storm water.

Following the presentation, the group headed out to the property to follow the "life of a raindrop" throughout the FreeRain system. Rainwater falling on rooftops of the two condo buildings is captured by the 22,000 gallon underground cistern located below the parking lot between the two buildings (you would never know just by looking).

The water collected in the cistern is then re-used to irrigate the property via drip line and slow, rotating sprayers. After irrigating the plant life, the water from the cistern collects in the constructed wetlands. Other rainwater falling on vehicular traffic areas, such as the streets and parking lots, is not collected by the cistern because of petroleum contamination. Instead, it is diverted into the constructed wetland by swells and sheet flow. In the constructed wetland, the suspended solids, nitrogen, and other nutrients are naturally filtered by the soils and plant materials.

The entire system is built around a slow moving filtration principle where water is constantly moving from one area of the wetland to another, which helps keep the wetland moist even during dry seasons. In addition to the natural flow of water throughout the property, each wetland contains a pump that circulates the water from the bottom of the wetland back up to the top surface. In the event of a lack of rainfall, the 22,000 gallon cistern serves as a source of water to replenish the wetland areas to maintain the landscape and promote healthy plant life. Although they don't predict to ever need to use it, The Landing at Southpoint design team added a backup well system just in case a severe drought comes over the local area.

So why is harvesting rainwater even important? And how can that cistern collect enough water to irrigate the entire property just from roof water runoff? Well, according to the design team and information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], our supply of water is extremely important as our population continues to grow. According to the EPA and information collected through the Census Bureau, the predicted North Carolina population growth from 2005-2030 is 52%! They also predict that by this time the average person will be using 101-150 gallons of water per day. This brings the our water deficit to an astonishing 718 million gallons per day over the current supply by 2030.

Did you know that 90% of potable water goes to other activities such as washing cars, watering lawns, and flushing toilets? Recently, NC passed a bill allowing collected rainwater to be used for flushing toilets once it is treated with a disinfectant and colored either blue or green - the goal being to encourage rainwater harvesting and reduce the amount of potable water used for non-potable purposes.

If you can't participate in one of these large scale rainwater harvesting systems, there are things you still can do. For example, turn the water off while brushing your teeth, don't keep the shower water running for five minutes before you get in, and purchase a rain barrel to collect your own roof runoff to re-use for watering lawns and gardens. After all, it only takes 1 inch of rain per 1,000 square feet of roof line to fill 600 gallons of water.

Next time you're in the Durham area, head over to The Landing at Soutpoint and check out the largest, privately funded LEED certified project in the U.S and the only LEED certified condominium in North Carolina and see how a rainwater harvesting system not only protects our environment and conserves a precious natural resource, but also enhances the existing landscape!

Goodies from the Farmer's Market

2009-07-28T18:53:00.002-04:00

Have you been to the Farmer's Market recently? If not, I highly recommend reacquainting yourself with the goodness that grows right here in North Carolina. We went to the market this weekend to take in the bright colors of the tomatoes and squash, and enjoy the sweet juice from the ripe peaches, watermelon, and cantaloupe. While there, it was a great conversation piece about supporting local food and knowing where you food comes from.

Oh, and a quick preview: If you have heard of the movie Food Inc, I'm planning to watch this coming up soon. Stay tuned for an entry on this new documentary about where our food comes from. We have recently been more focused on organics, fresh foods, and local produce - In the three days since the movie was released, no less than 5 people told me I needed to see it. Coming soon...

Okay, back to the trip to the Farmer's Market: This brings me to some observations from the trip. First let me just say that I'm a huge fan of farmers. I grew up next to a tobacco farm and saw the hard work that goes into taking a crop to harvest (and the sweet smell of tobacco curing, but that's another story).

I couldn't get past just how vibrant and fresh the food is at the Farmer's Market. The peaches were so sweet, it was more dessert than fruit. I haven't tasted watermelon so tasty since I was a kid and went picking watermelons.

We also visited a local farmer that was selling cheese from 'happy goats', and chicken breast from 'beyond organic' breeding. If you've ever read Omnivore's Dilemma, this was similar to the Polyface Farm highlighted in the book. It was quite expensive, but rest assured - you know exactly what is going into your body. This is important, especially when you consider the rise in childhood obesity, diabetes, and kids (girls) experiencing changes to their body many years too early.

It was also great to see just how popular the Farmer's Market is. We were there for several hours and it was packed the entire time (if you ever have the chance to go there for breakfast, I highly recommend the grits and red eye gravy!). I believe we're experiencing a shift in where we get our food, supporting local food & farmers, and understanding what goes into our food. This brings me to a point I'll have to discuss over several entries: pesticides and other petroleum-based chemicals used to grow our food.

Another observation about the Farmer's Market: the farmers aren't actually there (at least on this particular day). The people there (mostly teenage girls) did not know much about the practices of the farmers. I think I asked every single booth, 'Do you use pesticides on the food?' or 'What pesticides do you use?' I realize most every farmer uses petroleum-based pesticides, and it seemed a lost cause b/c 90% said they do. Only a couple were very quick to say, 'no pesticides' but they had no clue about what kind or even the fertilizer.

I didn't ask with the expectation of getting the answer I wanted ("no, we're pesticide-free"), rather to demonstrate demand. You've heard me talk about the importance of speaking up and asking for the products or services (or foods) to let them know you are interested in the sustainable option. The Farmer's Market is no different! While I'm not expecting any changes anytime soon, I do plan to go back and ask the same questions. I have even considered contacting the Farmer's Market to request signage for farmers that use sustainable messages. I bet that would be a sure-fire way to drive demand for that produce.

The growing demand in local foods is a wonderful thing. As with many shifts, we're working in baby steps. Organizations like Eastern Carolina Organics, working to connect the dots and create a distribution network for the local, organic farmers. You can do your part to 1. support local farmers, 2. demonstrate demand for sustainably harvested, chemical-free produce and meats, and 3. eat healthier (and 4. see Food Inc!)

Diversity and Green Jobs

2009-07-16T21:56:00.006-04:00

We went to the inaugural diversity and outreach committee meeting hosted by the Triangle Chapter of the US Green Building Council. The purpose of the meeting was to attract like-minded green building folks who have an interest in reaching out to a diverse audience for jobs, opportunities, and education.

There was a good representation of professionals in the room: architects, engineers, construction, landscape professionals, specialty consultants, non-profits, and even my favorite distributor. There were also some folks from the education sector who were interested in offering education programs at their schools as well as accessing resources for green facilities.

While the commercial real estate industry largely remains dominated by white males, this is beginning to change. I have heard from folks that they want a diverse workforce, but they can't find qualified candidates to fill these positions. While there are many issues one could take with that viewpoint, it demonstrates a significant weakness in our workforce development. In order to bridge this gap, we have to reach out to students of all ages and races to offer them a path that will lead to opportunities down the road. We also have to offer workforce training for those who are looking to transition or have been laid off and need new job skills.

We have seen significant strides in minorities in leadership rising to the top of their profession, but we have to take that foundation and build on it.

The green building industry has a real opportunity to reach out and offer that path. We need a diverse workforce in all levels of real estate. At the rate we're headed, the number of plumbers, electricians, engineers, and people who acutally know how to DO STUFF will dip below the demand for these services. We're already experiencing a gap in demand for energy efficiency services versus qualified, trained contractors. How about getting in the schools and offering internships and mentorships (apprenticeships for trade professions) to show the way and teach kids about careers in green building?

In a somewhat related note, you may have heard of green collar jobs. These can be defined as jobs that are focused on environmental stewardship (green design, energy efficiency, solar installation, renewable energy, mass transit, biofuel production, or other jobs that help us reduce our environmental impact), but it doesn't stop there. Green collar jobs offer a career path vs. a dead-end job, Benefits vs. just a paycheck, workforce training, and employee engagement. These are jobs that can't be easily outsourced, and are focused on boosting the local economy.

So how is all of this relevant? It would behoove us to get in the schools and educate today's students about the jobs of tomorrow - not just to provide a job, but an opportunity to bring everyone to the table. That's creating a sustainable workforce that will help us build on our foundation and demonstrate leadership across the board.

Here are some local resources and new programs offering training for green jobs:
Triangle Chapter of USGBC - Green jobs
Alamance Community College - Green program
Chatham Community College - Green building/renewable energy courses
NCSU - Renewable energy technologies diploma program
NCSU - Pre-college and graduate program in renewable energy
Solar Schools

Green Plus Certification - are you a Green Mover?

2009-07-12T20:34:00.000-04:00

Last week Springleaf Strategies was recognized as a "Green Mover" by the Green Plus organization in Chapel Hill. The Institute for Sustainable Development launched the Green Plus program to certify businesses that have successfully integrated the triple bottom line into their operations: people, planet, and profit (or 'performance' as Green Plus calls it). Here's the release and a link to Green Plus. Being a Green Mover means we have begun the certification process and have met with Green Plus folks to discuss how to become a Green Plus certified business.

The event itself was fun. There were several businesses being recognized at the event, and several local leaders from across the Triangle joined in. The Redwoods Group, Bland Landscaping, Riley Life Industries, and Zemo Trevathan all received their Green Plus certification. The event was held at an area fav, Mez. I like to support this restaurant for its commitment to green building (they were the first LEED restaurant in the Triangle).

The certification process was developed by UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise, and a collaboration of several groups tested and implemented the program. Once businesses take the survey, they are graded for their results and given some feedback on what they can do to earn certification. Companies who score a 70% or more in each of the three categories (people, planet, performance) and 80% overall earn certification.

In an effort of transparency, Springleaf scores ranged ~65 - 80% in each category, but the overall score was in the 70% range. Not bad for a small business. Many of the questions focused on having a formal plan - good suggestions, but some are not feasible until the company grows - yet another incentive! Look for Springleaf to earn certification as we add staff.

For more information on the businesses recognized, as well as more information on the certification procss, go to the Green Plus website.

If you are thinking about how you can integrate sustainability into your operations, I highly recommend using this tool. Green Plus is building a lot of momentum, and trying to connect with local resources. Several of the businesses in the program are based outside of NC - a sure sign that companies across the nation are looking for a a 3rd party certification process to verify their efforts. Springleaf also offers sustainability consulting services to help you determine your goals and develop a roadmap on how to get there. To learn more about what Springleaf is doing around sustainability, go to our 'What We're Doing' page.

Fun Companies, Interesting People

2009-07-05T21:14:00.000-04:00

I have heard some statistics recently that really made me think twice about lawn care. I've talked here before about reducing the amount of grass in our yard, and you may know that grass is not an environmentally friendly plant because of the water and chemicals needed to keep the lawn green and weed free.

Interestingly, I recently met with Skip Vest from Clean Air Lawn Care. His company is the first in our area to offer zero/low emission lawn care. They use organic fertilizers and soil treatment, and electric lawn mowers that are powered - and here's my favorite part - by solar panels on the truck (I tried to get some photos of the panels on his truck).

Your local Clean Air Lawn Care professional can guide you through decisions to help you accomplish your goals - from reducing noise pollution (without a gas engine, the electric mowers are very quiet) and water consumption (native grasses and how you care for the lawn can impact water consumption), to reducing the chemicals used on the lawn and your carbon footprint.They are taking an environmentally friendly approach to lawn maintenance, and are actually looking at how they can help with the LEED rating system for commercial buildings.

For more information on the impact of lawn equipment on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, I dug up some information from the EPA website:

According to the EPA website and this EPA release, small engines are responsible for a tremendous amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. Here are a few stats -

A push mower emits as much hourly pollution as 11 cars and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars
about 26% of mobile source VOC emissions
23% of mobile source carbon monoxide emissions
accounts for as much as 5% of the total man-made hydrocarbons that contribute to ozone formation

To address the problem the EPA is implementing new rules to regulate the emissions of small engines under 25 horsepower, such as lawn mowers, edgers, weed wackers, etc. as well as some water craft. The intention of this new standard is to reduce air pollution at the residential level.

Here are some interesting tips from the EPA on 'greener' lawn care.

I knew that gas blowers and mowers were powerful emitters, but I didn't realize just how much they affect the air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. I have been inspired to pursue my options for electric mowers - as these regulations take effect across the country, this equipment should become more affordable. The EPA estimates there will be a minor increase in the price, but the equpiment will last longer and be more efficient - hopefully offsetting some of those upfront costs that typically make the higher price a tougher sell.

Indoor Air Quality and How it Can Affect You

2009-06-26T13:31:00.027-04:00

Have you ever considered the affect indoor air quality could have on your health or the health of others in your home? Personally, I always thought that the air inside my home was healthier for me than the air outside because of common pollutants such as emissions from cars. However, this is not always the case. In fact, pollutants inside the home tend to be 2-5 times higher than outside; and pollutants in the home are even 2-3 times higher than those in commercial buildings!

On Thursday afternoon Evelyn and I had the opportunity to learn about some of these harmful indoor air pollutants at the Talk-n-Walk hosted by the Triangle Chapter of the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council): Indoor Air Quality - Making Sure LEED Certified Buildings are Healthy. The event featured speaker Dr. Marilyn Black, founder of the Greenguard Environmental Institute, a nonprofit organization that oversees an international certification program to help consumers buy safer products. Dr. Black has over 25 years of experience studying indoor air pollution and its impact on human beings. Following Dr. Black's presentation we walked the headquarters of Research Triangle Park and the A.K Davis Convention Center to examine how sustainable design and building practices were implemented in this LEED Gold certified building. Many thanks to all of those who put on this event - it definitely got me thinking about the potential level of harmful pollutants in my home and what I can do to prevent them!

The problem: People spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. Whether it be in the home, at the office, or in closed transit - we are always inside! While indoors, we are exposed to thousands of airborne pollutants released from products and materials we use daily. These pollutants release VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) which, when inhaled, can result in headaches, nose and throat irritation, and dizziness. If inhaled for a long period of time, or at high concentrations, these chemicals can be toxic and cause allergies, asthma, autism, neurological and reproductive defects, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and even cancer! According to Dr. Black, of all VOCs found in homes, 21% of them are carcinogens, or cancer causing toxins. Not only can these indoor air pollutants affect you directly after contact, but also years down the road! In addition to VOCs, other common indoor pollutants include molds, allergens, ozone, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and dioxide, and dust. According to the research done by Dr. Black and her Greenguard team, the most common indoor pollutant found in airplane seats is hair lice - think about that next time you board an airplane!

So what exactly are these VOCs, and where do they come from? To break it down, "volatile" is a term meaning that these chemicals evaporate easily at room temperature; "organic" means that these chemicals contain carbon - and since carbon burns, many of these chemicals are flammable. VOCs can come from a number of things, including: wall coverings, floor covering such as carpet and hardwood, furniture, foam bedding, self adhesives, and even household cleaning supplies. These products and materials outgas harmful VOCs and pollutants into the air. Another source is when contractors use adhesives, sealants, or other materials during installation that contain VOCs instead of the newer, greener alternative (there is a significant need for education here, so make sure your contractor is experienced and knowledgeable of the materials and IAQ before hiring).

We reviewed a case study from Atlanta, Ga, the 2nd LEED home in the nation. After living in the home for about two years the family started experiencing flu-like symptoms including dizziness, nausea, and fatigue- all symptoms from an extremely elevated total VOC level. After thorough investigation researchers found the main source to be the adhesive used on their hardwood floors! It turns out, the contractor tried to speed up the process and installed the wood floors while they were still wet, therefore causing them to gap once completely dried. To fill in these gaps the contractor used an adhesive glue containing acetaldehyde that contributed to the poor indoor air quality. Needless to say they had the home stripped of all VOC containing materials bringing the levels back down to normal, but a lot of the damage could have been prevented had the contractor taken the time to let the wood dry completely.

Recent changes in buildings and the growing popularity of "green" building has only compounded the problem with indoor air pollutants. The increased attention on energy efficiency and homes being designed with a "tight envelope" sacrifices ventilation, reducing the air change in the house and raising the number of indoor pollutants. Don't get me wrong, I am all for energy efficiency and "green" building, as long as you take the extra precautions to make sure your home is thoroughly ventilated. According to Dr. Black, the most common indoor pollutants they have seen in these "green" LEED certified homes are phthalates, which come from plastics; mercury, from the energy efficient florescent light bulbs; and combustion VOCs from using the fireplace more often to save on energy costs. Dr. Black claimed that it is also common to see contractors who will make the mistake and use a product they have experience with rather than a "green" product the client may request because of their lack of knowledge of the product itself - another reason to find a qualified contractor with experience in "green" building.

What you can do: It may seem difficult to fight indoor air pollutants, but in fact there are simple every day decisions you can make to keep you and those in your home healthy. The obvious answer to reducing the level of total VOCs in your home is to reduce products you buy containing VOCs (cleaning products, furniture, bedding). But how do you know if products contain them? Well, according to Dr. Black, the only way to be completely sure is to buy products certified and labeled by independent third party sources that do emissions testing, such as Greenguard.

Other tips: beware of products labeled "VOC-free" since there is no industry standard of what this exactly means; when buying paints and stains, look for "low-emitting formulas;" and use detergents and cleaners that are biodegradable while avoiding products labeled "natural". When buying products you should look for the following labels: "low emitting," "mold resistant," and "non-toxic."

When building a new home or remodeling Dr. Black recommends working with your contractor to develop a schedule (or IAQ Management) to make sure any chemicals that are introduced are completed in an order that limits contaminating porous materials such as carpet or ceiling tile. Of all these tips, the key to keeping indoor pollution down is ventilation. Open windows at opposite ends of the home at least once a week to allow air to pass through and help flush out the house. Residents should also use their ceiling or house fans to circulate air throughout individual rooms. Another tip: Buy air filters that fit and do not alter the filter. After all, air takes the path of least resistance, so any little crack in the filter and the air will escape right through - completely defeating the purpose.

To learn more tips to help keep your indoor air pollutant level low check out Greenguard's website. You can also find a list of over 250,000 certified products that are guaranteed to have low levels of VOCs.

TIMA Seminar: What Can Social Media Do For You?

2009-06-18T09:16:00.016-04:00

Hi, everyone! I'm Lyndsey, and I'm working with Springleaf Strategies this summer as their public relations intern. This is my first post and I'm excited about helping Springleaf increase its online presence!

It seems like everyday I hear a news story about tweeting, posting on Facebook, or using LinkedIn as a new method for communicating. So the other day Catherine and I headed downtown to the Marbles Museum for the TIMA (Triangle Interactive Marketing Association) networking and seminar on social media to hear what local experts had to say. Much to my surprise, the room was packed. The board of panelists were accomplished "social media experts," who helped to clarify the value of social media and offer tips on what businesses can do to build their online presence and raise awareness using these new tools. You can become a fan on Springleaf's Facebook fan page or check us out on our LinkedIn profile.

According to the panelists, everyone claims to be a "social media expert," inserting the line into their resumes just because they've used a Facebook account or posted a few "tweets" every now and then. But what exactly is social media? How can you use it in your business? And is social media even valuable to a company?

As I sat I contemplated social media and the ways I have interacted with it in my life through Facebook, blogging, creating a LinkedIn profile, and even through website comments; the panelists brought up an all encompassing definition of social media: it's anything shared and discussed in a digital format. This includes e-mail, instant messaging, Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, all the different types of blogging, and even comments posted on product review websites such as Consumer Reports! It's sharing information between two people, or between one person and a mass audience, using a digital medium. These panelists are so involved with social media they even encouraged the audience to keep their phones on and to Twitter our questions to them throughout the event - talk about incorporating social media interaction!

Seeing as social media is all about digital interaction, it is imperative for businesses to create an online community - we ultimately can't interact without one. This doesn't necessarily mean creating your own "micro-community" on the web, but using one that is already established to build a "brand community," or a place where your target audience can find your business on the web. Take Facebook fan pages for example. Facebook is already an established site with its own community; so why not build your own page within it to attract your target customers that use Facebook? Since there is so much information available in the online community, you need to distinguish your site from others by providing your readership with high value content; original thoughts or links to interesting articles - just a few ideas to get you thinking.

Social media can absolutely add value to a company, if it is done the right way. In the past, businesses have looked at social media as an add-on to their traditional advertising campaigns. The panelists point of view is that social media marketing should be implemented from the beginning of your marketing campaign, tied directly to your business strategy, and have a clearly defined target audience and message. It is also critical to maintain the content and keep it fresh and dynamic.

When choosing social media sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn, businesses need to be aware of the different personality connotations associated with each site. The panelists concluded with the following similes: LinkedIn is like the office, and should be used for professional life only; Myspace is like the bar, and should be used for social reasons; and Facebook is like your backyard bar-be-que, including your friends and closest co-workers. It is important for businesses to choose the right site and personality for their audience, and for companies to monitor their employees so that their office and personal life social media personalities remain separate. If you can manage this, create an interactive community, and add value to your readers, then your business should be successful in its campaign and have a positive impact on the end result: sales.

I will leave you with one final thought: is there a distinction between business-to-business and business-to-consumer social media marketing? After all, according to the panelists, isn't it all just businesses communicating to people in general? Whether they are business consumers or every day consumers, isn't your goal simply to interact, add value, and package it in a way for people to reuse? I'm just saying, it got me thinking!

Check out the Springleaf Strategies fan page on Facebook

Also check us out on LinkedIn

Week in Review

2009-06-07T13:26:00.001-04:00

Last week was a busy week with the SJF Summit on the New Green Economy and the TCREW Sustainable Design luncheon. The next few weeks have some pretty interesting events that I'd like to share with you as well. To learn more about upcoming events, visit us on Facebook. Become a fan and stay tuned!

First, a review of The Summit. A big shout out to Deb Parsons, Kenan-Flagler classmate and Queen of Sustainability! She headed east to spend some time at the SJF Summit this week. Deb is quite an inspiring woman. She brought a lot of energy and innovation to KFBS. Among her many accomplishments the one that lives on is the Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition.

Anyway, Deb spoke along with Jessica Thomas from KFBS CSE program and Chris Carmody at the Institute for Sustainable Development in Chapel Hill. Their session was on supporting social entrepreneurs and companies that create green jobs. Deb works for Investors' Circle, a non-profit organization that connects angel investors, venture capitalists, and others interested in investing in making the transition to a more sustainable economy. They brought great experience and advice in supporting businesses that are focused on sustainability, and what those jobs mean to the economy.

Labor Shortage: Several of the speakers at The Summit spoke of the lag in skilled labor available for green economy jobs. It is SUCH an opportunity for folks that have been laid off to seek training at community colleges offering courses, or to encourage kids in high school that there is a future for them in this new green economy.

Government Support: Another topic that came up repeatedly is the role government plays in supporting green businesses. Policy has a dramatic impact on business - if policies are not predictable and long-term, businesses are unlikely to adopt the desired change.

Sufficient Funding: In order for any of the 'Clean Tech' start ups to cross the chasm, sufficient innovation capital must be available. This can come in the form of grants or investment (good message to a group of venture capital gurus, right?).

The cost of capital has increased in the last year or two. Time frames for investing have increased and the competition for investors have decreased as money moves to the sidelines (or disappeared). There are fewer investors in the market ready move on the right opportunity.

For entrepreneurs: More experience is a plus, and a power purchase agreement in place (for renewable energy technologies) makes it much easier for investors to take the plunge. "Many buyers [with capital] view the market as an optimal time to buy."

A Word of Advice: to investors and entrepreneurs - the hottest technology isn't the only opportunity. We're in a time of economic crisis, but that also provides tremendous opportunity for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Advice: Focus on the gap between actual and perceived risks, and find alternate financing sources. (Did you know that there are 60,000 small foundations in the U.S., and they provide 50% of U.S. foundation grant money??)

Areas to Watch: Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation, efficiency and waste minimization, embedded intelligence, micro & macro energy storage, waste-to-energy technologies. Look for more states and municipalities to adopt a 'total waste stream reduction policy' to address the volume of waste going to the landfills. Recycling is great, but it still requires trucks to drive around for pick up as well as the resources to recycle the materials. The better strategy is to encourage reducing consumption.

Cap and Trade: Caps on emissions are likely in the not-too-distant future. This will be a contentious debate as businesses and individuals learn more about what cap and trade will mean for them. If businesses have to pay for their carbon emissions, they will most certainly pass that along to us. How much do you value reducing carbon and addressing global warming? How much do you value low prices for just about everything? We have a significant shift in thinking ahead of us.

Currently, there is a bill in Congress that gives 85% of permits for free until 2026 to help ease the transition. After that, businesses will have to pay for carbon permits. If we know we will be paying more for our stuff, do you think we can adjust our budgets in advance? How much do you think cap and trade will affect consumerism that has become a hallmark of American culture?

The conference was fantastic. If you missed it, be sure to check it out for next year.

TCREW Luncheon on Sustainable Development:

Lori Eichel of Accent Construction moderated a panel of experienced real estate professionals to talk about lessons learned and their experiences with green building. The panel included Gregg Sandreuter of Hamilton-Merritt, Jim Smith of HagerSmith Design, Shelley McPhatter of BridgePoint Construction Services, and Myron Taschuk, Construction Project Manager at Duke University.

The group talked about the impact of green building, and the challenges of the LEED rating system. Working with the design team from the beginning can help to reduce expenses in the long run because everyone is on the same page about the goals for the project. Calculating the ROI and payback period for specific investments can help your project stay on track (instead of chasing shiny objects b/c they are too cool).

Lastly, focusing on energy reduction can have the greatest impact, especially if you own the building for a period of time (>5 years). Our region is in a period of transition - demand has not grown enough to dictate all construction to be LEED, but within the next few years it appears that may catch up. While building to LEED standards gives you third party verification that a building is green, many private developers in the Triangle have not been able to justify the expense without having demand from a tenant.

There is some movement from municipalities to help drive LEED - Durham County, the City of Raleigh, and the State of North Carolina all have requirements to pursue LEED Certification or LEED Silver (some exceptions for buildings under 10,000 sq. ft.). The federal government also has a requirement for all its new buildings to be LEED buildings, and exisiting buildings rated a minimum of Energy Star (this would likely be an issue upon renewal). Anyone who is interested in a long-term government lease should be aware of these requirements coming down the pike (2012 - 2015).

It was a great session, and I enjoyed hearing from some leaders in the field.

Coming up next: the Green Plus summer event on June 11th, and the North Carolina Economic Developers Association Annual Conference. You can learn more on our fan page on Facebook.

Thanks for the Welcome!

2009-06-02T11:22:00.015-04:00

First of all, a big, big thank you to Evelyn for the awesome introduction and, most importantly, for the opportunity to work for Springleaf Strategies. I'm thrilled to be working with her and in the sustainability field.

After graduating from Elon in 2006, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to (1) enjoy going to work everyday (who doesn't want that?) and (2) do something that mattered and made a difference in the long run. I then worked in the marketing field for an insurance brokerage for a few years, while I did freelance writing on the side. I enjoyed the different aspects of marketing, but writing and creativity have always been what really excite me. When Evelyn offered me the opportunity to come work for her at Springleaf, the timing was perfect. There was no way I could turn down the chance to do something I loved that also mattered!

Before the trend and bandwagon came along, being "green" had always been something that mattered to me. I was a kid when recycling was becoming a buzzword, so it's something I have grown up with, something that's in the same category as common sense to me. One of the cool things about working with Springleaf is that it has challenged me to find new ways to reduce my own impact, and it has made me more aware of the things my friends and family are doing that could be done in a more sustainable way. I'm also getting the opportunity to keep learning, which I am thrilled about. If you saw my book collection, you'd understand the craving I have for learning...or you might just think I'm a complete nerd. :)

In an effort to keep the rambling to a minimum, I'll close by saying how excited I am to be part of the Springleaf Strategies team. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to work with the kinds of people who are passionate about sustainability and making efforts to be environmentally-conscious. I'm meeting lots of great new people, so if you see me around, say hi--but bear with me as I learn new faces and names!

Evelyn, I'm braced and ready for the ride!

We're Growing!

2009-06-01T19:36:00.006-04:00

We've been busy here at Springleaf Strategies. This spring, we've added staff and project managers to better serve clients, add capabilities in-house, and expand our reach.

Today, I'm pleased to announce we've hired Catherine Nicholson as the Corporate Communications Specialist for the company. Her focus will be communications and public relations for clients and for Springleaf Strategies. She will be chiming in on the blog and has already expanded our social media marketing on Facebook and LinkedIn (visit us and become a fan!)

Catherine has been working in marketing for several years now, and was a free lance writer prior to joining Springleaf Strategies. She will fill a big role at the company, providing creative writing, public relations, and social media marketing for clients and for Springleaf. She is a 2006 graduate of Elon University, with a degree in Creative Writing and English (a great match for my mathematics undergrad!). She brings a lot of strengths to the table and I am excited to add Catherine to the staff.

Springleaf Strategies has experienced growth despite the economy. I attribute this to our laser-like focus on sustainability. Our clients are providing products or services that reduce the environmental impact of development, and are working to integrate sustainability into their operations. It has been rewarding to meet so many fantastic companies over the past year. Sometimes it has been difficult to keep up with the pace of these businesses, as well as the volume of conferences, seminars, workshops, and meetings on sustainability. By adding Catherine, I hope to improve service to our clients and provide more communication capabilities.

So, a big welcome to Catherine. Please say hello to her if you see her about town or at some of these many meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. She's also going to be posting here regularly. You can follow her on the blog as well. Catherine: Hang on, it's going to be a wild ride!

Fun on the SAS Solar Farm

2009-05-28T23:10:00.015-04:00

Have you ever been on a Solar Farm? I had the good fortune of getting up close and personal with one this week. I was very curious about the details of putting land to use in order to produce electricity (vs. crops to create food or fuel). SAS Institute, the world's largest privately held software company, recently installed a 1 megawatt solar farm on their sprawling campus in Cary, NC. The Triangle Chapter of the USGBC hosted a Talk n' Walk of the solar farm, and invited guest speakers from Southern Energy Management and SAS to review highlights from the project. Many thanks to everyone who spent time pulling this event together - it was a great tour!

Details on the solar farm: The 1 megawatt solar array holds 5,040 solar panels on a 5 acre field. The single-axis tracking system follows the sun throughout the day to maximize electricity production. The electrons generated flow straight into the utility grid to provide clean renewable energy from a local source for customers of Progress Energy (talk about a win-win!)

The solar array is estimated to provide power for approximately 150 - 200 homes. The system eliminates more than 1,600 tons of CO2 per year, and is equivalent to eliminating CO2 emissions from the consumption of more than 167,000 gallons of gasoline. (Wow!)

SAS sells the power back to Progress Energy through a power purchase agreement (typical agreements are for 20 years, but could be as little as 5). According to the SAS representative, this is a "profitable program" for the company that doubles as an opportunity for Progress Energy to fulfill their renewable energy requirement. For those of you who aren't familiar, Progress and Duke are required to source 12.5% of their energy from renewable resources under Senate Bill 3 (or S3, AKA the REPS bill).

Interesting trivia:
- Solar electric is not a new concept. SEM found a photo from 1911 of a house with solar panels on the roof
- The 5 acre, 1 MW solar farm only took 3.5 months to construct and begin producing electricity
- SAS has a herd of sheep to keep the grass trimmed in its open fields. How VERY cool! Saves on emissions, and is a much more natural way to keep the grass short and the weeds to a minimum.
- The constructed cost was less than $10 million, with a payback period of less than 10 years

Southern Energy Management works as a partner in these installations by helping clients make decisions based on the economics. SEM creates rigorous financial models for its clients to determine payback period, ROI, IRR, and other tools to help companies interested in solar energy determine a system that fits their specific financial needs. Bob Kingery was flush with detailed information on tax credits, ARRA grants, tax depreciation, RECs and other information (read: you should include your favorite accountant in any decision regarding a solar installation)

SAS should really be commended as a leader in business and in the area for making this investment and figuring out how they could make an impact on the environment. Other sustainability-focused activities at SAS:
- Green initiatives that engage and empower employees
- Corporate social responsibility program that gives back to the community
- Advanced recycling programs on campus (can you believe some companies still don't recycle paper?!)
- Composting program that diverts the food waste generated from the multiple cafes on campus out of the waste stream. Interested employees will get free compost from the program
- Waste cafe cooking oil is converted into biodiesel
- Low flow shower heads, toilets and fixtures
- Irrigation systems that reduce water use
- Committed to green building

Another item of interest is SAS is constructing its first LEED building on campus, Building C. They are pursuing LEED Silver and will have some remarkable features such as green roofs, and nearly 80% open space. And, for your inner HVAC geek, they are estimating a 19.7% energy efficiency ratio. Incredible! Stay tuned for more information on Building C.

SAS should really be recognized for their commitment and investment in becoming a sustianably-focused business. Thank you to all, especially our tour guides from Southern Energy Management.

Congratulations to HH Architecture for Steady Growth and Profitability

2009-05-21T09:38:00.018-04:00

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce recently recognized a group of companies at its annual Pinnacle Awards Ceremony.
HH Architecture received an award for Steady Growth and Profitability.

This award recognizes companies that have demonstrated steady growth and profitability for the past three years.

HH Architecture has seen steady growth due to its dedication to building long-term relationships with clients and its balanced approach to business. Founded in 2005, architects Kristen Hess and Chris Horner directed business development, design, and customer service, while planning for future growth.HH Architecture attributes its success to a dedicated, talented staff, the flexibility to adapt to client needs, and an emphasis on service. The firm has also refined its client base to projects that promote learning, wellness, and recreation.
A focus on existing client relationships and a solid reputation for design and service has been a successful formula for HH Architecture in achieving steady growth and profitability.

For the first time, the Raleigh Chamber gave out a Sustainable Business Award, recognizing The Redwoods Group as a business that has embraced the spirit of sustainability by incorporating environmentally conscious practices into the everyday operations of the company. I had the good fortune of working with the folks at the Chamber to develop the award and select the winners.

Congratulations to all the award winners, especially my good friends at HH Architecture!!