Getting a New Kind of Green from Banks

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders honored Bank of America with the annual City of San Diego Climate Protection Champion Award for its efforts in Reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Bank of America. In 2007, Bank of America a $20 billion dollar initiative to address climate change by addressing for four key areas: Lending, Investments, Products and Services and Operations. From finding ways to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions to investing in companies that address climate change, Bank of America provides this 10 year initiative as proof that “Bank of America understands that we have a tremendous …responsibility to address global climate change…”

“Before we buy their shares, we want them to share our values.” PAX World

World Bank uses its connection to help the environment

By drawing on its lending experience and policy dialog with developing countries, the World Bank is identifying, preparing and implementing projects with 3 goals. The goals are to simultaneously reduce poverty, improve the local environment and benefit the global environment.

This opportunity is available to them as one of the three implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The GEF finances projects that address 6 threats to the global envirionment:

1. Loss of Biodiversity
2. Climate Change
3. Degradation of International Waters
4. Ozone Depletion
5. Land Degradation
6. Persistent Organic Pollutants

Since beginning in 1991, the GEF has provided $6.2 billion and grants. This along with the over $20 billion in co-financing has allowed them to support over 1,800 projects which benefit over 140 developing countries and countries in economic transition.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank

Hotel Industry Moves Beyond GreenWashing.

Jay Westerveld, a New York Environmentalist, spotlighted the hotel’s industry’s practice of placing “green” placards in each room and promoting reusing guest towels. Coining the term “Greenwashing“, he implied such practices are a facade and are not a serious attempt by the hotel industry to “save the environment”.

Times have changed. Top hotels are aggressively tackling the issue and pulling out all the stops to lower their impact on the environment. By 2009, Westin will open 20 of its new Elements hotel. Elements will be a chain of “green” hotels that meet and pursue LEED certification. Hilton and Marriott all have presented action plans to reduce their impacts. Marriott’s plan includes adding solar panels to some hotels by 2017. The Intercontinental Hotel Group even launched a virtual hotel. Innovation Hotel allows visitors to look at the news ideas in “green” hotels and give feedback.

“Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.” Alfred Adler

“Green” Is Taking LEED In Carbon Footprinting Race.

“If the U.S. built half of its new commercial buildings to use 50% less energy, it would save over 6 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, for the entire of the buildings-the equivalent of taking more than 1 million cars off the road every year.”

This Statement of The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on Green Buildings details the impact of building on the health of the environment. In the statement, LEED breaks down the benefits of LEED certified building for The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The USGBC points out how LEED focuses on ENERGY, WATER and MATERIALS to mitigate Climate Change.

LEED version 3.0, expected to require Carbon Footprinting, was also previewed. “LEED Version 3.0, which will harmonize and align the versions of LEED, as well as incorporate recent advances in science and technology.” Reportedly premiering November 2008, 3.0 is especially signficant since the GSA now requires all its new building to meet LEED requirements. Reporting to Congress, the GSA said “(LEED) continues to be the most appropriate and credible sustainable building rating system available for evaluation of GSA projects.”

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, asking if he has the means to complete it?” Luke 14:28

Students Choosing Green Schools

Berkeley and George Washington Universty are among two institution of higher education addressing sustainability issues. With Eco-Conscious students, recognition of their unique resource for research and activism, and coupled with a desire to compete with academia as thought leaders, higher education is making an impressive drive in all topics environmental.

AASHE is proof that students are no longer choosing soley based on name, reputation or the ability to land the “job-o-choice” after school. A university or college’s commitment to this issue will be a key factor among idealist and realist alike. Eco-Commerce is a viable and growing business market. Many schools have environmental departments as part of their business and law majors, as well as “stand alones“. No longer do students have to decide between “making a difference” and “making the rent”. Correcting past errors and preventing future ones now will put food on the table. It is a choice that is seemingly energizing the current generation of students.

“…a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree…” – Khalil Gibran

Bush’s Plan: Stop Growth of U.S. GHG emissions by 2025

Prefixed by the “complicated ” science of climate change, the debate around the issue and an oddly positioned link of his administration’s progress in lowering GHG emmissions with a 17 percent growth in the economy, President Bush began his speech on the climate from the Rose Garden this Wednesday. The root of his words was an announcement of “a new national goal: to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.”

The hinges of this plan are:

• Energy Legislation for new fuel economy
• Increased efficiency of lighting and appliances
• Technologies and tax incentives for states to increase renewable power and building code efficiency
• International agreement to accelerate cuts in HCFC emmissions

President Bush provided three areas as the suffix to his plan. He nodded to what has been done so far, what type of regulations is useful and what is not and spoke of the best system of incentives for these changes.

“The difference between offering the exceptional versus the acceptable is in communicating that the receiver is valued rather than an obligation.”

Tax Credits For Renewable Energy Threatens U.S. Deficit?

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Jeff Bingaman, doubts the House will accept the extension of a tax credit for wind and solar-energy projects. The bill would give a company 30% of what it spend on solar equipment as a tax credit. Due to what is seen as possible damage to the U.S. deficit, the House is unlikely to pass the bill without “some corresponding offsets”.

A 7% surge in solar energy company stocks and options showed optimism for Bingaman and Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Max Baucus’s ability to negotiate a compromise measure offsetting the budget shortfall the bill will create. However, it seems the optimism was premature. Reportedly, talks have reached an “impasse”.

“A Simple Wisdom: Sharing is a wise tool for accumulating wealth.”

Gore’s New Timetable for Climate Crisis

Providing a new slide show as evidence that the rate of climate change is faster than recently predicted, former Vice-President Al Gore calls for an “urgency” that mimics the “generational mission” of the civil rights movement. Gore speaks on a new reality of climate change backed by slides of figures, charts and graphs. This was followed by period of Q & A. Allow yourself about 30 minutes to view the entire clip.

“Many hands make light work.” – Irish Proverb

Introduction: Clear CO-OP

The challenge of this, both, honors and humbles us. “Honors us” because we are part of the solution. “Humbles us” through realizing we are only a part. We recognize that changing the globe will take a global effort.

This is why Clear Standards offers Clear CO-OP; a proposed partnership of our resources and your insight. The vision is a Green-centric business blog supplemented by your real world knowledge via a discussion forum. Think of it as “an interactive Green news exchange” where you share with international colleagues as we all go about changing the planet. The virtual “Give a penny. Take a penny.” of eco-strategy.

“Perhaps each of us can make it on our own. Question is: ‘Are we brave and wise enough not to?’”