http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/press-room/index.php en monica@westcoastgreen.com Copyright 2010 2010-01-01T16:57:09-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/eric_corey_freed_thoughts_on_the_upcoming_west_coast_green_conference/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/eric_corey_freed_thoughts_on_the_upcoming_west_coast_green_conference/#When:22:10:41Z Tell all your friends where you will be this Thursday through Saturday: @ Westcoastgreen Blogs 2010-09-27T22:10:41-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/prepare_for_some_of_the_great_sessions_wcg2010_this_year_by_checking_out_ou/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/prepare_for_some_of_the_great_sessions_wcg2010_this_year_by_checking_out_ou/#When:20:58:00Z Don't miss her session at West Coast Green, Friday at 11:30am in Herbst Pavilion. See you there! Also, don't forget to head over to our facebook for more periodic updates and highlights for the upcoming conference! Blogs 2010-09-27T20:58:00-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/why_the_green_economy_is_unstoppable_and_10_ways_its_making_life_better/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/why_the_green_economy_is_unstoppable_and_10_ways_its_making_life_better/#When:22:10:43Z Here's a sneak preview of West Coast Green's Education Director, Andy Mannle's Huffington Post article!... Over the next ten years the green economy is going to change virtually every major aspect of our lives for the better. These changes are as sexy and irresistable as new technology. In fact, when we talk about designing scalable solutions for sustainable communities much of it IS new technology. But it’s also new business, better design, increased efficiency, stronger community, and old-fashioned common sense. The green economy is unstoppable because sustainable solutions are also smart, effective solutions. It’s clear from our inability to pass climate legislation that we’re not going green because it’s the right thing to do. We’re going green because it’s simply the smart thing to do. Here are 10 major areas of life that are inevitably getting better by going green: 1. Buildings –  Cutting-edge firms like EHDD Architecture are now building Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings that produce as much energy as they use over a year, which lowers one of the largest costs of operating a building, and thus a business. The CA Public Utilities commission just launched a ZNE Action Plan to transform commercial buildings in California by 2030, saving billions of dollars. Buildings designed with healthy materials, natural lighting, and beautiful landscaping are more pleasant to be in, which increases health and productivity. From retrofitting existing buildings, to designing greener schools and hospitals - the built environment is getting smarter, greener, and more sustainable. 2. Technology – Beyond buildings, clean tech pioneers and major companies are making entire smart cities. Intel is developing embedded communication systems to measure traffic, water and power lines; as well as gadgets to control home electricity from your smartphone. It’s easy to see how this can save resources, lower costs, and improve safety. But we’re also using video game technology to solve real world challenges. Researchers at Stanford, Intel and the Institute for the Future are all designing multiplayer games that address real world challenges around water and energy. Technology is not going to stop advancing anytime soon. Organic components, better batteries, flexible screens, artificial photosynthesis – green tech is just a better form of smart tech. 3. Energy – We are reinventing electricity. Instead of digging coal to boil water to make steam to spin turbines to make electricity, we’re sucking it straight from the wind and sun. It’s simpler, cleaner, more efficient, and the fuel is free, unlimited, and harmless. Companies like Recurrent Energy – which just sold to Sharp for $300 million - are installing utility-scale distributed renewable energy, a blend between individual solar panels, and massive solar farms. Others, like Sungevity, are using satellite imagery to cut down the costs of installing solar and selling to homes in middle America for less than their utility. British bank HSBC says clean energy is worth $500 billion – larger than global aerospace and defense industries combined. It’s a sunny gold rush worth $2 Trillion in the next 10 years – the largest economic development opportunity every measured! 4. Transportation – Cars that run on clean electricity, and can be charged at any outlet are clearly better than cars run on toxic, combustible, expensive, dwindling resources like petroleum. With every major car company bringing Electric Vehicles to market in the next two years, now its just a question of building the charging network. In tandem with the smart grid, public charging, and Better Place’s battery-swapping stations, electric vehicles are poised to become a mainstream reality. Beyond cars, high-speed rail, and new multi-modal transit strategies are making cities more walkeable, bikeable, and livable. 5. Food - 90% of the energy that goes into our food come from petroleum in the form of fertilizers and pesticides; energy to deliver water for crops; and fuel to run tractors, trucks, and refrigerators. So local, organic food is not just healthier, it’s a food security strategy as well. Farmers markets and food festivals are the biggest thing since Iron Chef, and urban agriculture is fast becoming a nationwide trend. From microgardens to community gardens, we’re swapping factory farms for vertical farms, and building community in the process. 6. Water – While irrigation is the largest use of freshwater in the US, 48% of our water goes to power plants, and these are also our biggest sources of water pollution. So moving to clean energy, and smarter farming will save enormous amounts of water, which will save hundreds of billions of dollars spent on water and wastewater facilities. Using rainwater harvesting, graywater systems, stormwater gardens, and urban forests, innovative firms like Sherwood Design Engineers are using water to engineer ecological public spaces that improve the environment and boost the economy. Once again, green innovations are proving to be simply smarter, cheaper, cleaner, healthier and more beautiful. 7. Business – Old business models of profit at all cost are giving way to B-Corps, and Flexible Purpose Corporations which blend money and mission. The Presidio Graduate School’s Sustainable MBA program, and UC Berkeley’s professional certificates in Sustainable Design are just two examples of the dozens of schools training the next generation of creative business professionals. Social entrepreneurs and innovators around the planet are filing patents, making inventions and writing business plans every day, while organizations like the Green Chamber of Commerce are rewriting the rules of business to promote both purpose and prosperity. 8. Leadership & Communication – In our constant, interactive media environment, advertizing is giving way to corporate engagement and interaction. Recent developments in psychology are teaching us the science of inspiration, and how to shift worldviews through better communication. Constant media scrutiny is making governments and institutions more transparent. Old-school community activism has grown up into savvy global campaigns for social and environmental justice – see 350.org’s 10.10.10 campaign. Traditionally “feminine” leadership strategies like consensus building, collaboration, and long-term solutions are proving invaluable for sustainability, and increasing women’s impact in leadership. 9. Finance – The Wall St. collapse proved that even banks can create “toxic assets.” Now Socially Responsible Investors are demanding that their money create positive social impact, not just high quarterly returns. Firms like Adam Capital are finding better ways of financing the clean energy and innovative technologies we need; and ethical banking models are emerging to create a New Wall Street in Silicon Valley. 10. Urban planning – The cities of the future are linking all these systems together. Sustainability strategists like Jim Heid of Urban Green are taking the same principles that produce healthy ecosystems, including connectivity, diversity, resilience; and using them to guide urban revitalization. Josiah Cain of Design Ecology is exploring what he calls “ecological bionics,” combining natural infrastructure and high design to improve urban areas. By renovating public parks, plazas and waterfronts, designers like Hargreaves Associates are unpaving America, making urban spaces where people want to shop, eat and relax. This makes our cities healthier and more prosperous. Each of these ten major aspects of life are getting better through green innovation. At West Coast Green we call this “The Power of 10!”, and we’re showcasing each of these strategies at our annual conference Sept 30 – Oct 2 in San Francisco. Everything you just read, and many of the companies and designers mentioned, will be at West Coast Green this year along with over 175 leading visionaries, like Van Jones and Bill McDonough, along with policymakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. A better future is truly emerging all around us, and together these changes are creating exponential positive impact.   Blogs 2010-09-25T22:10:43-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/latest_release_smart_grid_innovation_to_electrify_west_coast_green_2010/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/latest_release_smart_grid_innovation_to_electrify_west_coast_green_2010/#When:22:39:34Z Smart Grid Innovation to Electrify West Coast Green 2010! Announcements From Industry Leaders IBM and Intel; West Coast Green is the Platform for Moving Sustainable Business Solutions to Market SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--West Coast Green, the world's leading interactive conference on green innovation for the built environment, will open its doors at San Francisco’s iconic Fort Mason Center on September 30th. The West Coast Green 2010 event will be the launch pad for new companies focused on sustainability and the premier platform for industry leaders rolling out strategic green initiatives. This powerful combination forms the foundation for community-scale solutions! West Coast Green is the rare opportunity to interact with more than 175 industry leaders and see more than 300 cool tech and hot products in the green space. This landmark event is also an exclusive opportunity to hear “what’s next” from the technology and industry leaders creating business solutions that will shape our sustainable future, including: Intel: As a featured sponsor of West Coast Green, Intel will have a substantial presence at the show. On Thursday, Sept. 30, Intel Vice President Doug Davis will take the stage for a keynote address covering Intel’s vision for the continuum of computing, its leading efforts in corporate responsibility, the impact of Intel technology on the energy efficiency of homes and offices, and Intel’s venture capital investments in energy. Additional Intel leaders, including Lorie Wigle, the general manager of eco-technology, Carrie Freeman the director of sustainable business innovation, and Ryan Parker, the director of marketing for embedded computing will be participating in panel sessions. IBM: These experts in software-driven innovation are collaborating with leaders in a range of industries—from power companies, to automakers, to health care providers — making sustainability a 21st century business imperative. On Friday, October 1st, Al Zollar, general manager, Tivoli Software, IBM Software will be a featured Keynote, introducing new innovations in eco-efficiency for managing business operations and integrating their systems with smart urban infrastructures like smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, and advanced water systems. “Innovation with a purpose has been a hallmark of West Coast Green since our conception. We are emboldened by the active collaboration of marquee technology companies such as IBM and Intel, forward-thinking entrepreneurs and investors, as well as community leaders who are driving the future and success of the green economy,” said Christi Graham, CEO and founder of West Coast Green. West Coast Green Sponsors include: Intel, IBM, Fast Company, Home Depot Foundation, Sun Light & Power and Jones Day. Follow West Coast Green for updates on the conference and the built environment: Twitter (http://twitter.com/WestCoastGreen) Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/West-Coast-Green/124650658231?ref=search) LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/west-coast-green/14/54/1b4) Media interested in attending this year’s West Coast Green please visit www.westcoastgreen.com or call (800) 724-4880. About West Coast Green West Coast Green is an event unlike any other. It is the world's leading conference dedicated to green innovation for the built environment and the only place where the entire chain of industry professionals, entrepreneurs and government leaders gather to set the agenda for the green economy and drive its success in the coming year. West Coast Green presents the single largest opportunity to see, share, learn and participate in green innovation and design for the communities of the future. www.westcoastgreen.com   Contacts Media Contact for West Coast GreenKaty Garlinghouse, 415-512-0770westcoastgreen@schwartzcomm.com   Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100922005607/en/Smart-Grid-Innovation-Electrify-West-Coast-Green Blogs 2010-09-22T22:39:34-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/2010_iphone_app_at_west_coast_green/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/2010_iphone_app_at_west_coast_green/#When:22:17:39Z West Coast Green's 2010 iPhone & Android Apps are HERE! Many thanks to our friends at ThoughtWorks, who are back in action again this year! The 2010 West Coast Green iPhone app provides the full conference schedule, session abstracts, and site maps of Fort Mason PLUS a way to give live feedback about the sessions, the ability to list which talks you plan to attend, and this app shows the current WCG Twitter feed while you tweet your own highlights! Click here to download your WCG 2010 iPhone App Now! - - - Have a Droid phone? Check out the Android App here!   No iPhone and no Droid? Have no fear . . . we will have earth-friendly conference guides present on-site!   Blogs 2010-09-07T22:17:39-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/an_open_letter_to_the_president_the_535_members_of_congress_and_thousands_o/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/an_open_letter_to_the_president_the_535_members_of_congress_and_thousands_o/#When:22:36:12Z Dear Legislators: Tell us the truth. We can handle it. I'm willing to overlook your past ridiculous stunts like the Birther Bill or claims of Death Panels. After all, that's just the game of politics. I would like to believe you don't really believe some of these things you say. Politics is, after all, a form of theater, and in the world of a 24 hour news cycle, we need an endless supply of theater. But lately there have been a series of sorely missed opportunities in regard to our survival. And your actions just don't add up. So this leads me to think there must be something else at work, something you're not telling us, and so I am asking for the truth. Honestly, we Americans can take it. For example, take a look at the UN Climate Change Conference that took place this past December in Copenhagen, Denmark. When it was first announced the U.S. was going to participate, some of us optimistically referred to it as HOPEenhagen. This was a real chance at a global, comprehensive policy toward controlling climate change. But the lack of an adopted accord by the conference quickly had many referring to it instead as NOPEnhagen. Or the continued drive for more natural gas at the expense of our health and safety. Gas companies control the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by pushing out the tired, old (and proven untrue) threat that regulations stifle competition and will eliminate jobs - so you better not hold us to any. Eighteen members of the Colorado State Legislature sent a letter (PDF) to the EPA demanding they ignore their own two-year study and stop regulating the hazardous drilling practice of "fracking." I suggest you watch a new documentary entitled, Gasland currently on HBO. One of the more vivid scenes in the film shows tap water lighting on fire due to poorly regulated nearby drilling. How do you think your constituents will feel about reelecting you if this happened to them? Or the way Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) publicly apologized to BP (you know the company that dumped 5 millions barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico?). This came as no surprise. Barton is the ranking member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and one of the chief authors of the Cheney Oil Act that gave BP the exemptions to drill Deepwater Horizon without the required impact reports. Barton himself has received $14.4 million from oil and gas companies over his career. That's why his committee is referred to as the "Honey Pot" on Capitol Hill, receiving $42 million in the 2010 Election Cycle alone. Barton's apology was echoing the real loyalties and feelings of Congress. Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) labeled it a "shakedown" and a “redistribution-of-wealth fund,” with 100+ other House members just the day before. Unfortunately, there is always a loser in these games you are playing. We cannot wait any longer for a substantive bill combating climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), our planet has just finished the warmest decade, the warmest 12 months, the warmest six months and the warmest April, May & June on record. In response to this horrific news, the U.S. Senate decided... to do nothing. Seriously. They preserved thirty years of bipartisan inaction on what the Defense Department referred to as the "greatest threat facing our country." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) decided to not even bother to schedule a vote on legislation that would have capped carbon emissions. Both Democrats and Republicans continue to play these games while the American people are headed off a cliff. Some of you even invented a fun, new derogatory term to describe anyone who dare want to do something about climate change: “carbon taxer.” Last month, the NOAA called climate change "unmistakable." The IPCC issued their judgement back in 2007, calling climate change "undeniable" and "unequivocal." Even some of the politicians themselves are getting sick of the partisan games, as seen last week with a passionate Anthony Weiner (D-NY) venting his frustration over a partisan vote on a bill that would provide healthcare to 9/11 workers. "If there was ever a bill that I thought would be above partisan politics," he said, "that was it." The explosion and subsequent oil spill aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig should be a wake up call. The thousands of miles of decimated shoreline and millions of destroyed families should shake you into action. Historically, disasters have always driven sweeping legislation. The BP oil spill should have done for Climate Legislation what the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill did for the EPA; what the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire in Cleveland did for the Clean Water Act and what the 1979 Ixstock Gulf Oil Spill did for drilling regulations. This is a critical turning point and we are missing it. President Obama's address from the Oval Office on June 15th was another missed opportunity. He did not once mention the words "carbon," "emissions" or "greenhouse." This was his first speech from the Oval Office and he failed to provide one tangible idea on how to solve this problem. George Will called the speech "magnificently awful." This is more confounding given the progress his administration has made in having the EPA regulating climate pollution under the Clean Air Act. (Side note: for an incredible version of what Obama's speech should have and could have been, watch Rachel Maddow's take on it.) You may think that by doing nothing, you are playing it safe, but your inaction is having consequences. Private sector companies are stalled in their decisions by an uncertain future for the price of carbon. As Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defense Fund, recently wrote, "U.S. utility companies today are sitting on billions of dollars in job-creating capital — but they will not invest in new energy projects until they have certainty on what their future carbon obligations will be...” Jobs, investments and private stimulus is waiting for you to do something. This is why my fellow environmentalists are taking matters into their own hands. This is why the West Coast Green Conference, one of the largest green building conferences in the country, has changed its' theme this year to "Innovation & Convergence." Thousands of the most respected leaders in sustainability, planning, public policy and design will meet for three days in San Francisco to share ideas and determine the next course of action. So, please, Legislators, please explain these crazy actions of yours. I am hoping you have a good reason. I am hoping it is more than mere ego and hubris and that you wouldn't dare play a game of chicken with our future in the balance. Take advantage of this Gulf Oil Spill by leveraging it into some tangible and effective policies. We can't wait any longer. It's ironic that the first half of 2010, the same year we removed all hope of having a true climate change bill, turned out to be the hottest year on record. I propose we turn off the air conditioning in the Capitol Building until you emerge with some real legislation. Sincerely yours, Eric Corey Freed Blogs 2010-08-24T22:36:12-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/epa_green_power_partner_rankings_are_in/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/epa_green_power_partner_rankings_are_in/#When:21:59:50Z The EPA has released its latest list of the 50 green power partners using the most renewable electricity generated from resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. The Green Power Partnership’s top purchasers use more than 12 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Intel Corporation, 2010 Platinum Sponsor for West Coast Green, remains the partnership’s largest single purchaser of green power, using more than 1.4 billion kWh. See the last rankings here.   The top 10 Green Power Partners are: - Intel Corporation - Kohl’s Department Stores - Whole Foods Market - City of Houston - Dell Inc. - Johnson & Johnson, - Cisco Systems, Inc. - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - U.S. Air Force - City of Dallas. Read the full article from Environmental Leader here. --- Stay tuned for more impactful stories and features from around the globe and around the corner.Learn. Share. Repeat. Blogs 2010-08-03T21:59:50-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/can_we_use_this_crisis_to_create_new_systems/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/can_we_use_this_crisis_to_create_new_systems/#When:16:51:39Z Our Education Director, Andy Mannle's, latest column on why we need a new set of institutions to protect the ecosystems we all depend on:Why the BP Oil Spill is a Tragedy of the Commons In 2008, I published an article titled “Why the Wall St Meltdown is a Tragedy of the Commons.” Now in 2010, as oil washes ashore in five states, we are witnessing another great tragedy of the commons, and the similarities are scary. Can we use this crisis to create systems which protect our shared resources in a way that is fair, transparent and profitable for all of us? Here’s why we must try. Wealth and Illth As oil continued to pour into the Gulf, the BP disaster is a stunning example of how we all lose under our current system when something inevitably goes wrong. And it is also a reminder of how much more there is to lose in the next inevitable disaster.Lives, livelihoods, coastlines, and wildlife are all at stake here. The reality is that our current system produces profits by taking things from nature, but there are two sides of the economic coin: wealth and illth. We all know what wealth is, but what is illth? This is the term economist John Ruskin gave to the negative effects of an economic system; what economists refer to as “negative externalities” – like poverty, pollution, disease and desperation. The concept of externalities is a good reminder that economic systems operate within larger social and ecological systems. The problem is that while the economic profits are private, the social and ecological illth is public. The question is – what can we do about it? There is an ongoing struggle between political power and corporate power that has gone on for years. It is a cycle in which money leads to political influence; highly-paid lobbyists fight for lax oversight; risky profits are prioritized over safety; and the result is a crash, disaster, or failure. Then the inevitable public outcry spurs outraged politicians to drag recalcitrant CEO’s to Capitol Hill; apologies are accepted, new rules are written, and the cycle quietly starts all over again. But what if we could design institutions that would protect natural resources from both the fickle winds of politics and the relentless profit motive of corporations? Institutions that would combine the transparent legal structures and revenue-generating potential of business, with the mission of politics to protect the public interest? And beyond that, institutions that could also represent the needs of other species, ecosystems, and future generations? Thankfully, these institutions already exist. --- Stay tuned for more impactful stories and features from around the globe and around the corner.Learn. Share. Repeat. Blogs 2010-07-21T16:51:39-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/a_story_worth_listening_to/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/a_story_worth_listening_to/#When:16:41:57Z From Annie Leonard and the makers of a very noteworthy short film "The Story of Stuff" comes a new story - one that we all need to hear - "The Story of Bottled Water"  "We're trashing the planet, we're trashing each other, and we're not even having FUN!"This story is important and imperative that we not only listen to but repeat to our friends, neighbors, and all we come in contact with. Watch and learn the truth – where the water comes from, what it contains, and where the bottles go. Enjoy the story and then pass it on!   A Few Facts:-    In 2008, bottled water was the second largest selling drink in the U.S. market-    24 percent of the bottled water found on American shelves is actually purified tap water-    In 2008, Americans consumed approximately 8.6 million gallons of bottled water.-    The recommended daily water requirement for sanitation, bathing, cooking and consumption is approximately 50 litres per person per day-    Even though Americans make up the majority of the bottled water market, in 2008, 53 billion gallons were consumed globally-    Over 1.5 billion people do not have access to clean, safe water.-    Over 1 billion people use less than 6 litres of water per dayRead more: Bottled Water Statistics | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5125376_bottled-water-statistics.html#ixzz0tD0H26cN and http://matadorchange.com/40-shocking-facts-about-water ---Stay tuned for more impactful stories and features from around the globe and around the corner.Learn. Share. Repeat. Blogs 2010-07-09T16:41:57-08:00 http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/connect/blog_entry/intel_read_our_minds/ http://www.westcoastgreen.com/ee/index.php/site/intel_read_our_minds/#When:22:09:12Z . . . and has joined us as a Platinum Sponsor at West Coast Green 2010! Join us Sept 30th - Oct 2nd, to be a part of not only the leading speakers, education, and exhibitors that West Coast Green offers - but the incredible addition that Intel brings to the event! Witness innovation at its ultimate best with Intel's latest technological advances. One example can be seen in their recent showcase of " 'mind reading' brain-scan technology" "Software that uses brain scans to determine what items people are thinking about was among the technological innovations showcased by Intel Corp., which drew back the curtain on a number of projects that are still under development. The software analyzes functional MRI scans to determine what parts of a person's brain is being activated as he or she thinks. In tests, it guessed with 90 percent accuracy which of two words a person was thinking about, said Intel Labs researcher Dean Pomerleau. Eventually, the technology could help the severely physically disabled to communicate. And Pomerleau sees it as an early step toward one day being able to control technology with our minds. 'The vision is being able to interface to information, to your devices and to other people without having an intermediary device,' he said" Read the full article here. This looks like one more step towards a future we can all get excited about! --- Stay tuned for more impactful stories and features from around the globe and around the corner. Learn. Share. Repeat. Blogs 2010-06-28T22:09:12-08:00