West Coast Green Early Adopter’s Workshop Interview Questions

Aaron Adelstein 8/13/08

Executive Director for Built Green for the Seattle area. http://www.builtgreen.net

1. What inspired or caused you to get involved in green building & how many years ago was that?

As an undergrad student at the U of Colorado I choose to be an environmental studies major because I thought that would make a significant change in the business environment in the next 10 years. While a grad student at the U of Montana I heard a presentation about Wheat Board-it was a totally new concept to me using a waste product from agriculture for construction, it really opened my eyes. My first job out of grad school working at the Environmental Home Store inspired me further as to what is possible with green building

2. 2 or 3 examples of what do you do to keep you on your edge.

Attend conferences out side our region; Get away from green building completely for a period of time & so I can come back to it with a refreshed mind.

3. What are the next steps for you to get to the next level?

Raising the bar for Built Green. One should never be content for where one is in the market. Raising the bar for sustainability & working more with existing housing stock.

4. What feelings come up for you when you think of these steps?

Excitement, hope & optimism.

5. What are a couple of success stories of bringing along your network to their next level?

• Built green incentives-targeting the builder & develop community that is new to the 4^th & 5^th star levels. Encouraging people to go to a higher level than they’ve done before.
• Meaningfully education for realtors through North Seattle Community College.

6. If you were to describe your network as a metaphor that comes to mind...what would it be…?

A stream current’s flowing, at higher & lower levels at times.

7. Next steps in working with your network in helping & inspiring them to the next level.

• Working with Built Green members
• Working with the public to inspire more interest in Built green
• Make sure green building remains important to public policy, as well as to builders & developers of the region
• Working with my age group network

8. Resources you’d suggest.

www.SustainableIndustriesJournal.com website & blog; West Coast Green.

Figure-out who you who you want to be involved with & socialize with them. Make a commitment to hangout together.