Community Archives - Page 3 of 8

WE SIGNED THE CLIMATE DECLARATION – AND YOU SHOULD TOO

We are excited to have signed the Building and Real Estate Climate Declaration! Ceres, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Carbon Leadership Forum, has launched the campaign of the Climate Declaration.

More than 1,500 U.S. businesses have signed on to the Climate Declaration – but the buildings and real estate sector is underrepresented. Becoming a signatory is more than just words — it underscores our view that climate change is a serious global challenge that represents a major economic opportunity in terms of energy savings. And we are happy to be a part of it!

The Building and Real Estate Climate Declaration provides an opportunity for the entire sector –architects and engineers, building product manufacturers, contractors, developers and real estate investors – to take a stand on climate in an impactful way. The Climate Declaration will demonstrate strong business support from building-sector companies for taking action on climate change and energy policy at all levels. And it will spotlight the critical role that companies in the buildings and real estate sector play in advancing energy efficiency and distributed renewable energy, reducing embodied carbon in materials, and developing other innovations that reduce carbon emissions throughout building life cycles.

Spread the word and sign the declaration!

GUEST POST: GENERATION DROUGHT

Post by Kayla Imhoff from TreePeople LA

Even after 42 years, TreePeople’s message has remained the same. We exist to help nature heal our cities.

However, we’ve shifted our methods to carry out our mission as we strive to ebb and flow with ever changing environmental challenges in Los Angeles. Our education program is a prime example. TreePeople has always been a force for effective environmental education. The original Eco-tour program, which started in the late 70’s, still exists today. Every day, students visit Coldwater Canyon Park to experience the wonder of nature firsthand. Today, TreePeople is proudly recognized as the largest environmental education provider in the state, seeing well over 10,000 school kids each year.

In 1985, when the City of Los Angeles struggled to motivate residents to adopt a curbside recycling program, who did they turn to? TreePeople. Using a combination of school assembly presentations, as well as the Eco-tour program, we were able to influence students on the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling. Furthermore, children walked away inspired to implement these skills in their homes. As a result, the city saw the recycling movement soar.

Amidst a four year drought, our concerns have shifted from waste to water. As busy parents struggle to understand the implications of drought and new water restrictions, TreePeople is raising up a generation passionate about conservation. Kids get it. In fact, educating kids about LA’s urban watershed has been our focus since the early 90’s—years before the drought began.

What started as a simple, tangible model of our water cycle using paper cups has become a much more sophisticated operation. We now have an entire urban watershed garden, complete with live models, allowing students to watch rain journey from the sky to storm drains, carrying pollutants to the ocean. Their faces often express their shock. How could “grown ups” build such a problematic system? On the flip side, our “sustainable solutions house” lets students see the potential for stormwater capture. That same rainfall can be collected in rain-barrels and used into mulched climate-appropriate landscaping.

I love seeing kids leave, feeling empowered to make a difference in their households. We even get fan mail. Children send us thank you letters, and update us on how they’re employing their new skills. We hope they’ll inspire their parents. And they often do.

As an organization, we aim to solve urban environmental issues. This work has several branches. We work on the policy level with city agencies, facilitate a hands-on forestry restoration program, offer community workshops, and maintain our commitment to our K-12 education program. We know kids are they key to change. They are our future. When you invite them to make a difference they don’t just listen. They act. Let’s learn from them!

TreePeople just launched a campaign for the LA2050 competition and they need support in the form of votes. Click here and see what it’s all about.

If you want to know more about the organization and how you can help head on over to their website. We also love connecting with them through social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

311 CITIES. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST?

Hello readers, today we’re introducing a new series on the blog. After almost two years (!!) of content, the team decided it was about time we put some faces to the articles we develop for you.

To start off, we would like to welcome – and introduce – Liam Dow. Liam plays the roll of our Government Affairs Coordinator, and steers the wheel when it comes to California’s water conservation initiatives. Without further ado, here is Liam with a little update on what we’re seeing in Southern California.

One thing that might surprise you is that during the month of August California exceeded its reduction target by 3 percent, but water suppliers representing roughly 131 cities fell short of their targets. These 131 cities have continued to fall short with the majority having never met their conservation targets set forth by the State. To address these challenges the State has sent violation letters, urging non-compliant cities to implement new policy changes, provide rebate funding, and host educational initiatives.

In my day to day role, I get to see these initiatives up close and personal and while some efforts have helped with conservation, frankly I think most of these cities are not demonstrating a sense of urgency and creativity. In these circumstances, I see the Public Works – or comparable – departments working diligently on water conservation suggestions from the State. However, rarely does a city unanimously demonstrate a willingness to go above the state recommendations and confront the urgency with action. In addition, it seems that cities are justifying missed targets by blaming hotter months while, at the same time, hoping for colder ones.

But that’s not going to solve our drought. We desperately need action! We can learn from initiatives taken by cities that surpass their compliance targets, such as San Francisco and Pismo Beach. Where I have seen leadership take a more active role to implement new policies that effectively save thousands of gallons of water. Pismo Beach recently issued a city ordinance that mandates all existing and new buildings install high efficiency water conservation devices by February, 2016. Alongside San Francisco which implemented an ordinance that provides significant rebate funding for high efficiency restroom devices and requires cities to be in compliance by 2017.

That type of urgency is what California needs to bounce back from a drought like this. We need more cities to take immediate action and think through innovative solutions that include both the business community and non – profits. Together we can effectively tackle challenges that threaten our most precious natural resource, and rise above the worst drought California has ever seen.

IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER

If you read something about “our infrastructure is falling apart,” you probably picture the usual potholes in the road and rusted bridges that need replacing. But that is just the infrastructure you can see on a daily basis. What about the one that is under your feet and you rely on constantly? According to National Geographic, the U.S. has 1.2 million miles of water mains and many of those pipes were built way back in the 1800s or early 1900s. Many that were built based on how cities were structured back then, not for modern metropolises.

We see broken pipes all around our city and the water waste related to it is huge – a scenario that definitely shouldn’t be occurring when we are so focused on decreasing water usage due to the drought – and if those systems failed us one day, Los Angeles would wake up to a very unpleasant morning. Imagine a day without water. You wouldn’t be able to brush your teeth, flush the toilet or take your usual morning shower. And that is just the residential use. Commercial use is a huge component of water consumption as well. Water keeps our economy growing – and we need to use it wisely!

At Falcon, we focus our work on preserving the most important natural resource, and that includes bringing awareness to the infrastructures related to water as well. That is why we are part of a nationwide educational effort called “Imagine a Day Without Water.” Dozens of other business leaders, engineers, contractors, water agencies, and community members are joining the effort, because not only do we have to use water wisely, but the underlying infrastructure of it is often forgotten. Water is essential, invaluable, and needs investment. Not only in technology to preserve it, but in what brings safe, reliable, and affordable water to customers – the underlying infrastructure.

Let’s bring the conversation to sight and talk about the importance of water for our livelihood! Join the hashtag #ImagineADayWithoutWater through October 8th, and share your thoughts.

WATER USE IN CITIES IS CHANGING

The water system that supplies California’s household, businesses, and industries is vast and complex. Nearly 400 large utilities supply more than 90 percent of the state. Most are public agencies with locally elected governing boards, however there are some privately owned utilities as well. Both large and small face similar water supply and quality challenges.

With the dry spell California has been facing the past year, it is clear to see changes being made to urban water consumption, however the total water use began to flatten in the mid-1990s, based on per-capita use. Cities now consume about 10 percent of California’s available water compared with 40 percent for farming.

Let’s take a look at a few things that have changed in the past few years:

Per capita use is declining due to the adoption of low-flow plumbing fixtures and water saving appliances. The average restroom uses a ton of water daily and when regular toilets, urinals and faucets are being substituted by waterfree and water efficient fixtures, major savings become a factor.
Outdoor watering also accounts for most of the urban water usage especially in inland areas. Despite that, public utilities have started enforcing watering schedule, more efficient irrigation systems, and replacement of thirsty lawns with more drought-tolerant plants.
In January 2014, Governor Jerry Brown called on Californians to reduce water use by 20 percent. With that mandate in state, local government are having to adopt water restrictions – some more than others. We are seeing local utilities unite and try to modify their water consumption patterns.

To help cities get to where they need to be with water savings, utilities have made rebates available for residential and commercial buildings. From landscape to plumbing fixtures, they are offering a multitude of ways for you to help save water!!

STORY OF A RETROFIT: DOWNEY POOL

Welcome back to our series of post where we will be showing before and after pictures of some of our installations. Have you ever wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes of a bathroom renovation? Well you have come to the right place. Today we will be taking you inside the Downey Recreation Center, in Los Angeles, California.

Just across the Los Angeles River, you can find the Downey Rec Center as well as the Downey Pool. A few years from now residents be able to experience a full-on, 6.3 acre, river-adjacent park, with much needed green space, a soccer field, stormwater treatment features, and a bicycle hub for the park. For now, residents are able to use the pool across the street. It is one of the oldest public swimming pools in the city of Los Angeles and we were able to retrofit three of their urinals from water-fed to waterfree.

The Downey Rec Center was the venue to the Empty Pool Party last Saturday. While the party was fueled by good times, the heart of it laid with the concern of the drought affecting Los Angeles and surrounding areas. To bring awareness to water conservation, the non profit Dig Deep hosted the party alongside partners such as the LA mayor Eric Garcetti’s office, Falcon and Change the Course.

Together we saved 550,335 gallons of water at the Empty Pool Party, with:

Pledge to save 44,746 gallons with the tickets; vegan, water-friendly tacos from Whole Foods saved 103,432 gallons needed for beef; the drinks were made with recycled pool water; Falcon’s waterless urinals saved 150 gallons and using an empty, seasonal pool saved us 402,000 gallons. And trust us when we say, that after spending a hot day in an empty pool, we felt this one the most!

More about the party here.

Happy weekending guys!

SPOTLIGHT: JENTRI JOLLIMORE FROM BADGER BALM

Welcome back! It is time for our Spotlight series. Today we will be featuring a New Hampshire based B Corp that we had the pleasure of getting to know through amazing online Twitter chats. We chatted up PR and Social Media manager, Jentri Jollimore, and got a some great insights. In this interview you will see how B Corp has the power of changing business relationships and how striving to work for better companies has become a common path to follow.

Tell us a little bit more about Badger Balm and the story behind the company.

Badger Balm started about 20 years ago when Bill Whyte was a carpenter building sustainable housing in New Hampshire. His hands were cracked, rough, and even bleeding! He concocted a balm to soothe his hands and a business was born. (You can read a longer version of the story here.)

We’ve grown into a company of about 70 people, and we manufacture almost all of the products here in Gilsum, New Hampshire. We are a USDA certified organic company, and we use only the highest quality, sustainably sourced ingredients.

In addition to making awesomely natural products, Badger also focuses on social responsibility. Every employee is offered a free organic lunch every day, and the company has a Babies at Work program and off-site, affordable child care.

What is your roll in the organization and what interested you in joining a “good company”?

I am Badger’s PR & Social Media manager, and most of my time is spent in the digital realm connecting with our customers and spreading the word about B Corps. I was interested in joining the Badger team because it’s important to me to work for a company that is aligned with my beliefs.

First off, congratulations on making the B Corp “Best for the Environment” list! Why did Badger Balm become a B Corp and what are the benefits the certification brings to the company?

Thanks for the congrats!

I believe Badger’s primary motivation for becoming a B Corp was measurement. From the beginning of Badger’s existence to the present Bill, Katie, Rebecca and Emily (family-owners) were focused on being sustainable and socially responsible. But there comes a point when you say, “ok, what’s next?” The B Corp certification provided not only a benchmark, but a group of like-minded businesses to share ideas with. Its collaborative system, and I think it’s a really healthy way to do business. Badger’s mandate has always been “Healing Products, Healthy Business” so from the beginning being a B Corp was a perfect fit.

Now that you guys have been a B Corp for a while what are the values you’re seeing for your business?

We’re growing as a business, and I believe having a structure around how we grow is helpful.

From my end it’s very helpful with customer communications. There’s a lot of jaded folks out there who are being over-marketed to. And since being “green” and “sustainable” has become big business, it’s become increasingly difficult for sincere little companies to communicate to them that we are the real deal. B Corp certification helps with this. Of course as the B Corp certification is still relatively new and requires a little education – but that’s win-win. Customers learn that we are a great company that is actually transparent, and they learn that there are many other businesses and services out there who are also working for the greater good.

“Business” is not a bad word. But there are businesses that could do better for their communities and the world at large. It’s up to public demand to determine this. And it’s up to the public to demand that these businesses not only tell us that they’re doing good, but to prove it by being totally transparent. So by encouraging Badger customers to learn about and support B Corps, we are doing our part to shift the tides a little.

How has the B Corp community affected how you do business and how do you interact with other like-minded companies?

Certainly we try to connect and source materials and services from other B Corps.

I like to connect with other CPG B Corps and spread the word through fun stuff like social giveaways. We recently did a spotlight and giveaway on Cuppow, which is a really cool company from nearby Somerville, MA. I’m a big fan of comradery in business – so we’ve even partnered with other body care companies like S.W. Basics to promote the B Corp movement on social media. It’s fun, which makes it more engaging.

Can you share a few next steps you guys are taking towards using business as a force for good?

We’re having a supplier’s day – well, 2 days actually – next week! I’ve attached the press release, but in short we’re inviting our partners here to encourage them to become part of the B Corp movement. I think that is one of the biggest impacts we can make as a company right now.

There you have it! Thank you Jentri, for taking the time to answer our questions and being a part of our blog. Don’t forget to check Badger Balm out on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Their website is pretty great as well.

MEASURING MOISTURE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA

The Sierra Nevada’s blue oak trees can tell many historical facts of the region, however the one scientist are focusing on is the amount of snowfall California has seen in the past 500 years. They have developed a method of measuring moister accumulation based on the blue oaks tree rings, and despite the current drought, the outcome of the study came as a surprise to the paleoclimatologist Valerie Trouet. “We expected (the results) to be bad, but we certainly didn’t expect it to be the worst in the past 500 years.”

To determine the result, the research team developed a model where the combination of two data sets of blue oak tree rings showed historical precipitation levels from more than 1,500 trees. By tracing a time frame and comparing the data, they came to the conclusion that the winter of 2015 was the driest in the 500 year spam.

When winter comes to California, these trees utilize the moisture stored in the soil to grow, therefore the width of their rings reflect the amount of precipitation from that season. The wider the ring, the wetter the winter.

This comes to show how we are migrating into a different world – one where temperatures are higher and there is a decline in precipitation. We have to adapt to the changes around us. A decrease in snowpack will automatic result in lower levels of water in California’s reservoirs. Even though El Niño is promising a rainy season, will the blue oaks in the Sierra Nevada tell a different story come winter 2016?

Read more about the importance of California’s snowpack here.

FALCON WATER FACT

California’s success in slashing water use in July by 31 percent — smashing the goal set by Gov. Jerry Brown — shows residents have come to terms with what four dry years have done to the state’s water supply.

The dramatic savings, reflected in state data on urban water use released Thursday, marks the second straight month in which Californians met or exceeded the 25 percent statewide target, dodging potential fines for water districts that fall short.

Brown lawns are the norm in many places and unwashed cars the expectation as the state’s big rivers and reservoirs have shriveled amid the drought.

#keepsavingca

JASON GORE IN THE MEDIA

Last weekend was a pretty exciting time in the PGA Tour – and for Falcon as well! If you’ve been reading our blog for a while now, you probably know that Jason Gore is our guy. And by that we mean, that since January he has been Falcon’s ambassador.

We want to wish our local CA guy lots of luck this Labor Day weekend as he continues to move up the FEDEX Cup points. Should be great weather in Boston and will be great to watch him go low and end his winning drought.