GreenGeezer

Architecture 2030: Green Design Imperative

Architecture 2030 is a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization established in response to the global-warming crisis by architect Edward Mazria.  Because "buildings are the major source of demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases",  Mazria is calling on everyone in the field of design and architecture pledge to change to sustainable design. Architecture 2030's  research page is sobering:

"Think you're making a difference?  Think again: There are 151 new conventional coal fired power plants in various stages of development in the US today.  Home Depot is funding the planting of 300,000 trees in cities across the US to help absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions...  The CO2 emissions from only one medium-sized (500 MW) coal-fired power plant, in just 10 days of operation, will negate this entire effort."

 

Richard Branson's Council of Elders: The Ultimate "GreenGeezers"

The Council of Elders announced its formation on July 18th.  The group was organized by Richard Branson, the famous British multibillionaire who pledged $3B dollars to help solve global warming at last year's meeting of the Clinton Climate Initiative. The group includes President Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, Graca Machel, Kofi Annan, Li Zhaoxing, Mary Robinson and Muhammad Yunus.  The Council of Elders will dedicate itself to fostering peace and resolving global crises.

   

Stopping Companies from Marketing Trash

This weekend I attended the  BlogHer conference, a gathering of women bloggers held in Chicago this year, and there I met Mary Hunt, who introduced me to the  Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability which is going about the enormous task of getting companies to stop selling trash, or in their words

"We believe it is possible to transform manufacturing and retail practices worldwide so that by 2015 sustainable products are available in 90 percent of the global marketplace. Because the 100 largest companies account for more than 90% of the world's products, our mission is attainable."

To achieve this mammoth goal they are employing methods that have proven successful in the Green Building movement, including the LEED program, the Forestry Stewardship Council's certified wood program, and others.   This may be one case where centralization and globalization can prove helpful; a list of 100 companies at least shows us where we need to start applying pressure.