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