Embracers & Harvesters

From the desk of Bryan Astheimer 

For three years running, MITSloan Management Review Magazine and the Boston Consulting Group have organized a survey of business execs and managers to develop a better sense of how and to what extent businesses are implementing and developing sustainability practices.  The survey is evaluating businesses with operations across the globe and the trajectory is generally positive. The report defines some companies as “Embracers”, those that “see sustainability as necessary to be competitive, have made the business case and have put sustainability permanently on the management agenda”, and “Harvesters”, “organizations that say their sustainability activities are contributing to their profits”. Informative charts abound!

Save Energy, Win A Prize:

From the desk of Jenn Rezeli

For our behavior change work, this is an interesting article on motivating people to use less energy…

The Earth Is Full:

From the desk of Neil Young

Cuddle up by your digital device, turn out the lights and enjoy a terrifying reality check.

Ending Climate Change Begins In The City:

From the desk of Drew Lavine

This is nothing we all don’t already know, but it is presented  here in a great graphic that’s fun to scroll through: Click to see the graphic (use your mouse wheel and scroll down through the site to see the graphic animation)

Afterwards, check out the C40.org website – C40 is a network of the world’s megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  And Philadelphia is a member…c40.org

Healthy Building Network:

From the desk of Alex Vondeling:

The Healthy Building Network in conjunction with Building Green is launching Health Product Declaration (HPD) as a format for reporting product content and associated health information related to building materials.

One of the goals is to encourage product transparency (much like food manufacturers being required to list ingredients). Several manufacturers have signed on as being willing to participate. See who has signed up here…

For those of us specifying products, both this web site and Pharos’ are great places to start for product selection.

Net-Zero Building Program Certifies First Two:

From the desk of Mike Cronomiz

Remember that post back in February? The Living Future Institute has just certified the first two Net-Zero buildings under the new Net Zero Energy Certification Program. Read more…

Sites for Inspiration:

From the desk of Neil Young

For anyone that suffers from creative block, I have compiled a short list of sites that offer a source of visual inspiration.

Space Invading. A wonderfully designed site that is easy to navigate and contains architecture and other design related (graphic, photography, crafts, etc.) ideas. My only complaint about this site is that it hasn’t been updated for a year, or more.

Visit SpaceInvading.com

 

 

Architizer. If you’re looking for project inspiration, look no further. Architizer makes it easy to find a project by: Location, Type or Aesthetic. Soon you will also find Re:Vision’s work on the site.

Visit Architizer.com

 

 

 

Inhabitat. While this site is more mainstream and consists of a little greenwashing, it is still a source of great ideas. What I like about the site is that it offers new developments in multiple areas like Architecture, Technology, Energy and others.

Visit Inhabitat.com

Reduce, Reuse, Peecycle?

From the desk of Chris Lee

Learn more about ACT’s Sewage Recycling System.

Cradle To Cradle To Become A Non-Profit:

From the desk of Drew Lavine

It seems like everybody who knows the Cradle-to-Cradle principles thinks they’re brilliant, yet adoption of the methodology and design philosophy seems slow. What is holding it back? Can we expect a breakthrough in the near future? (Read on…)

Bill McKibben At Swarthmore College:

From the desk of Neil Young

I first heard of Bill a month or so ago when Drew loaned me a book titled “Eaarth”. It was eye opening and inspirational. If you haven’t hear of Bill, you can learn more by visiting 350.org. If you do, than I don’t have to tell you that this will be an exciting event. I included the details below, but you can also download the event flyer here.

When:    Lang Concert Hall at Swarthmore College
Where:  Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 7:30–9:00 pm