USGBC: Long Island Chapter

I am now a member of the Long Island Chapter of the United States Green Building Council.

The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.

This is the place to:

Certify your green building
Join USGBC as an organization
Join a chapter as an individual»
Sign up for courses and workshops
Purchase LEED Reference Guides
Learn about Greenbuild 2009
Sign up for e-newsletters
Become a LEED AP
Learn about green building

The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

USGBC's core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. USGBC-LI works to bring these values to the communities of Long Island.

The Strategic Plan 2009-2011

Vision:
The purpose of the Long Island Chapter of the US Green Building Council is to mirror and advance the core purpose of the US Green Building Council locally; to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

Mission
The USGBC-LI is committed to working with our fellow Long Islanders to improve our quality of life by improving the quality of the structures we build, and the environment in which we all live, work, and play. We are committed to leaving the world a little better than we found it so that future generations have an unfettered opportunity to do the same.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Long Island’s economy has been driven by the real estate and building sectors. With these sectors at the core of the economic meltdown, the challenges for Long Island are particularly pronounced. The Presidential blueprint for addressing these challenges features energy efficiency in the built environment. Energy efficiency opportunities are abundant on Long Island. Both the interior and exterior atmosphere benefit as a result. Existing buildings account for 40% of U.S. energy use. A 25% improvement in efficiency would lower our carbon footprint by 10%, equivalent to the total output of the United Arab Emirates, the world’s third largest oil producer. To the list of efficiency benefits add energy independence and security. Over the last decade, the U.S. Green Building Council has set the bar for the new built environment. USGBC national has marked 2009 as the year for expanding its influence with the theme for Greenbuild 2009 being “Main Street – Beginning the Conversation.” The Long Island chapter of the USGBC has already established itself at the forefront, with eleven out of thirteen municipalities requiring Energy Star standards plus a role in crafting one of the country’s most rigorous municipal LEED standards for new commercial construction. Now, having supported the development of Long Island Green Homes, the residential energy retrofit program, the chapter is poised to establish itself as a model for suburban Main Street and partnered with the Town of Babylon to launch The Babylon Project. This project was designed and positioned to take this Long Island Initiative nationally.

The members of the USGBC-Long Island have come together to change Long Island’s status from the “birthplace” of suburban sprawl into one of leadership in environmental stewardship, through the construction of environmentally sound, healthy, and profitable buildings.

HISTORY OF CHAPTER
The Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council owes its foundation to the vision, and initiative of Catherine Shawn. Catherine Shawn was instrumental in assembling a group of like minded professionals and instilling in them the belief that together they could make a difference. It was her inspiration and driving force that propelled Peter Caradonna to believe that he could help start a local Long Island Chapter.

On August 9th, 2005 the Long Island Chapter Organizing Group held a successful Inaugural Event that helped begin the process of membership leading to the first official Board elections.

In November 2005, the first Board of Directors of the newly recognized Long Island Chapter of the USGBC was elected to a term beginning January 01, 2006.

I: Challenges
Many challenges face the Long Island community and must be responded to by the Long Island Chapter. Not only do we face the political and economic issues of the era, but how do we educate the community in the benefits of green construction and change the perception that green does not have to cost more.

The challenges for the chapter are both organizational and operational in responding to the community’s needs.

Challenges include:
Continuity in administrative staffing with integration of paid staff with our volunteer members

Increased value to membership

Change perception from “green costs” to “green saves” to address perceptions that green building is not cost effective and to make an effective case for green building to the financial community.

Expand knowledge and education programs.

Meet the demand for green building with regards to increasing the capacity and training of many sectors such as building trades, designers, developers, and code officials.

Meet the educational needs through the address the education needs for building owners, operators, and occupants on how to manage, operate, and inhabit green buildings.

Creating and maintaining consistent revenue streams to the chapter to maintain programs and operations.

Expand membership base and community involvement.

Developing meaningful and productive relationships with other Long Island not-for-profit organizations.

II: Principles
Promote triple bottom line by promoting and creating solutions that clarify and strengthen a healthy and dynamic balance between environmental, social and economic prosperity.

USGBC-LI will strive for honesty, openness and transparency.

Promote Design with nature - harmonizing human activities and natural systems.

Support efforts to develop affordable LEED-certified housing (in conjunction with municipalities, LIHP, Sustainable Long Island, and Habitat for Humanity).

Support efforts of other organizations in helping to expand ‘green’ residential development (such as LIBI, Neighborhood Network, Vision Long Island)

Reconfigure workplaces, homes and communities in consonance with eco-systems to mitigate building impacts.

Increase access of populations to the benefits of green building by educating building owners and occupants in mobilizing public and private capital for green building projects.

AGENDA: Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Serve as the portal for USGBC national and the go-to organization for green building on Long Island.

Objectives:
1.1 Transform our web-site into a resource-rich, go-to destination for green searches from throughout the nation. Launch the national web-zine and blog-site, Green Burbs as a core attraction

1.2 Create Resource directory providing access to relative links and a directory of local providers.

1.3 Clearinghouse for policy makers and other advocates.

1.4 Develop relationships with media contacts at the local and regional level.

1.5 Develop replicable process for disseminating information to media contacts.

1.6 Build off the energy efficiency retrofit operations of Long Island Green Homes through directorship of The Babylon Project to promote Green Homes’ operations in other municipalities across Long Island and around the state.

Goal 2: Education - Increase the awareness and level of education to the general and professional communities on the benefits of green construction. Educate professionals and trades in green construction processes and techniques as well as occupants in green building operations and maintenance policies.

Objectives:
2.1 Provide education to building owners and users about the role of the built environment in climate change and resource depletion and the tools available to reduce carbon footprints and resource use associated with the built environment.

2.2 Promote the use of LEED programs, particularly Homes, Neighborhood Development, and Existing Buildings.

2.3 Offer technical training for both professionals and tradespersons in the region, work to promote good sustainable practices in their day-to-day businesses, and provide materials and resources to designers and builders at all levels in support of LEED guidelines and process.

2.4 Encourage the integration of relevant aspects of green building into the curricula of secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education.

Goal 3: Reach out to develop alliances with the building community, i.e. LIBI, AIA, etc.

Objectives:
3.1 Establish a steering committee of building stakeholders and NGOs who work in this area like Neighborhood Network, Sustainable Long Island, LIHP, Habitat for Humanity (provide not just a seat at the table, but entire table at the gala).

3.2 Partner with industry trade associations, professional societies, and other organizations. USGBC will continue to work with an ever‐widening range of public, private, and non‐profit organizations in pursuit of its strategic goals and objectives.

Goal 4: Organizational Stability and Growth

Objectives:
4.1 Develop consistent financial resources in order to provide capacity for growth in order to fully achieve our mission

4.2 Development of specific indicators and metrics to measure organizational growth with respect to; finances, LEED projects, program developments, membership perceived value, outreach and institutional involvement.

4.3 Develop a paid administrative staff.

4.4 Evolve the board of directors’ role, structure, and composition to provide the vision, high‐level strategic guidance, organizational direction, financial resource development, and diplomacy necessary to achieve USGBC-LI’s strategic priorities. Diversify the USGBC-LI board.

Goal 5: Expand the green building market

Objectives
5.1: Analyze, aggregate and disseminate information that demonstrates the environmental, health, social, and economic benefits of green buildings.

5.2 Identify gaps in the green building delivery chain and build capacity to bridge them.

5.3 Analyze the market and identify key stakeholders by researching comparable markets, identifying and incorporating elements from other municipal initiatives.

Goal 6:Increase advocacy efforts for the voluntary inclusion of green building procedures in new construction, existing buildings, and major renovations

Objectives:
6.1 Assess City and County policies and resources and advocate for; Low impact development requirements, Preferential permitting for green buildings, Develop incentives for green building practices, and Reduce barriers to green building.

6.2 Develop "starter kit" for states/local governments including model guidelines, model legislative language, and common indicators, utilizing USGBC resources and tools.

6.3 Develop database of information on state/local successful initiatives.

6.4 Serve as a resource to local businesses of all sizes and functions on greening business operations, products and services.

6.5 Develop Speakers Bureau available to businesses and organizations interested in how to be more sustainable.

6.6 Assess and promote municipality integration of sustainable design principles into the core competency skill-set of the County/Town planners, architects, engineers, and project managers.

6.7 Survey stakeholders to identify most important information needs, gaps and sources; generate additional data from regional summits.

6.8 Develop media-oriented materials to expand visibility and impact with building industry and mainstream consumer press.

6.9 Maintain and strengthen working relationship with New York Chapters (Upstate and NYC) on statewide issues.

Goal 7: Transform the programs committee into the nerve center for all programs, salons, workshops and events where previously little coordination and logistical support existed.

Develop a brand identity and consistency that positions the chapter as the experts in the field within our region through interesting topics and programs.

Objectives:
7.1 Create a committee structure with tools and procedures that were previously lacking.

7.2 Create Monthly Salons - Develop monthly salons that recur consistently throughout the year as opposed to ad hoc. Salons are an intimate classroom style atmosphere about 2 hours in length (45 minutes networking and 1 hour and 15 minutes for presentation and Q&A. Salons are usually topical and product and technology related.

7.3 Monthly Salons serving two regions - USGBC-LI membership is drawn from Nassau and Suffolk counties covering 1,200 square miles of some of the most populous and congested regions in the nation. USGBC-LI recognizes that travel considerations to salons during peak rush hour times would be difficult at best. Therefore, the chapter will host two salons, one serving Central/Western Long Island and the other serving Eastern Long Island. This strategy will maximize the ability for all members to enjoy the educational value of the chapter salons.

7.4 Create Salon 1 - Audience is generally Nassau County and Western Suffolk. Salons will be held the first Wednesday of every month.

7.5 Create Salon 2 - Second presentation for the east end membership comprising Central/Eastern Suffolk County including the North and South Forks. Salon 2 presentations are scheduled ad hoc.

7.6 Create Programs - Programs are major evening presentations often with a panel discussion and multimedia presentation. Programs are 3 hours in length (1 hour networking/dinner and 2 hours for presentation and Q&A.

7.7 Develop a sales package that excites and entices potential presenters that USGBC is the premiere organization to show their products, services and technologies.

7.8 Change the negative revenue structure into a profit center by charging appropriate fees to presenters and membership alike.

7.9 Recruit new committee members to support the stated goals and objectives.

7.10 Develop quarterly workshops in conjunction with USGBC National.

7.11 Organize tours of LEED Certified properties
7.12 Offer coordination and logistical support by serving as the conduit for other USGBC-LI committees’ program activities

IV: IMPLEMENTATION [years 1-3]
Develop action plan for operation to ensure sufficient income to meet or exceed financial plan.

Recruit Chapter and Program Sponsors.

Continue Annual Awards ceremony.

Hire a full/part-time administrative assistant and Executive Director.

Host regional summits and local programs to expand the local membership base, provide networking opportunities for existing and potential new members, address issues of national and regional interest, and heighten awareness and support for green building efforts at the regional level.

Develop and distribute Annual member satisfaction survey that will provide dynamic feedback to the benefits of local Chapter membership.

Spread energy efficiency retrofits for existing building retrofit operations to municipalities across Long Island and the state.

This Day In Tech: August 18th, 1868

Helium Discovered During Total Solar Eclipse

By

Hadley Leggett

Wired.com Aug. 18th, 2009

1868: A French astronomer spots an unknown element, now known as helium, in the spectrum of the sun during a much-anticipated total eclipse. The event marks the first discovery of an “extraterrestrial” element, as helium had not yet been found on Earth.

Astronomers had been eagerly awaiting a total solar eclipse since 1859, when German physicist Gustav Kirchhoff figured out how to use the analysis of light to deduce the chemical composition of the sun and the stars. Scientists wanted to study the bright red flames that appeared to shoot out from the sun, now known to be dense clouds of gas called solar prominences. But until 1868, they thought the sun’s spectrum could only be observed during an eclipse.

French astronomer Pierre Jules César Janssen camped out in Guntoor, India, to watch as the moon passed in front of the sun and revealed the solar prominences. Like other sun-gazers that morning, Janssen discovered that the prominences were mostly made of super-hot hydrogen gas. But he also noticed something extra: Using a special prism instrument called a spectroscope, he determined that the line of yellow light everyone had assumed to be sodium didn’t match up to the wavelength of any known element.

Janssen wanted to keep studying the mysterious line, and he was so impressed by the brightness of the sun’s emission lines that he felt sure they could be seen without an eclipse, if he could just figure out how to block other wavelengths of visible light. Working feverishly over the next few weeks, Janssen built the first “spectrohelioscope,” a device specifically designed to examine the spectrum of the sun.

Unbeknownst to Janssen, a second scientist was also working on the same problem 5,000 miles away. English astronomer Joseph Norman Lockyer succeeded in viewing the solar prominences in regular daylight in October 1868. In stunning scientific synchronicity, the two scientists’ papers arrived at the French Academy of Sciences on the same day, and today both men are credited with the first sighting of helium.

At the time, however, Lockyer and Janssen got ridicule rather than accolades for their discovery. Other scientists didn’t believe the astronomers’ account of a new element … until 30 years later, when Scottish chemist William Ramsay discovered a perplexing earthly gas hidden inside a chunk of uranium ore.

Ramsay sent the sample to Lockyer for confirmation. The scientist was thrilled by the element’s “glorious yellow effulgence,” which he described in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London in 1895. Finally vindicated, Janssen and Lockyer were honored by the French government with a gold medal bearing both their faces.

Staffers See the Need for LEED

by

Bernadette Starzee

Long Island Business News

Published: July 21, 2009

Nine architects and engineers at the Hauppauge office of Stantec recently became LEED accredited professionals. Stantec, which has more than 130 locations in North America, provides consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design and other disciplines.

According to Joe Lamagese, a senior architect who is one of the nine, getting employees certified fits with the company’s overall philosophy. “One of our company’s goals is to be the North American leader in sustainable design, and with 75 LEED certified projects in North America, we’re getting there,” he said.

More than 100,000 people have become LEED APs since the accreditation program was launched in 2001, said Paul M. Meyer, education chair for the Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, which administers certification for green buildings. Most LEED APs are directly involved in building design and construction.

VHB Inc., an engineering, planning, environmental and transportation firm with an office in Hauppauge, has 77 LEED APs among its 800 employees in 18 offices on the East Coast.

“It’s important for our staff to be familiar with the latest requirements and techniques so that we can contribute more effectively in our interactions with architects, building owners and others,” said Leo Pierre Roy, a principal of the firm. “The LEED program has led to a more integrated design process, in which many different professionals come to the table to determine how to make buildings that are more efficient, that use fewer natural resources and that have a healthful environment.”

E.W. Howell, a general construction and construction management firm with offices in Woodbury and New York, has three LEED APs on staff as well as three LEED certified projects under its belt, including two Brookhaven National Laboratory facilities in Upton.

“Having LEED APs is both a marketing and an operational tool for us,” said Dominic Paparo Jr., vice president of business development. “It’s an important element in our presentations when we’re competing against other firms. A lot of clients want to see LEED AP involvement on jobs.”

This is especially true among government concerns, universities and other institutions, he said. “The number of private companies that request it is in the minority, but it’s moving in that direction,” he said.

“Building codes will eventually be written to encourage sustainable design, and products are becoming more sustainable,” Lamagese said. “If a company doesn’t keep up, it will find itself out of the market.”

LEED APs understand the LEED rating system and how to handle documentation, and they can identify which areas to focus on to ensure that a project will be eligible for certification, Paparo said. The company’s APs are on the operations side of the business, but Paparo said E.W. Howell expects a couple of employees on the estimating side to become accredited by the end of the year. “It’s important, because there are costs involved with LEED,” he said. Besides knowing how to apply the point system, LEED APs bring a certain level of expertise to the table. “Going through the accreditation process opens the door to all the options that are available to improve the sustainability of a building, including all the resources that the USGBC offers,” Lamagese said.

For Ava Amrieh, an electric engineer at Stantec who also became accredited, an important takeaway was learning more efficient ways to accomplish sustainability. “I learned that it doesn’t have to cost that much more to build green if you’re cautious with the design from the beginning,” she said.

Because it is becoming increasingly important to have LEED APs on staff, companies generally pay for their employees to take preparatory courses and the accreditation exam as part of their professional development. However, according to Meyer, some companies only pay for the exam if the employee passes it.

While LEED APs have an advantage over their non-accredited counterparts when seeking a job, they generally do not command a higher salary simply because they have the credential.

“We see this credential as something folks should have as part of their training,” Roy said. “So we don’t offer a salary increase to someone who gets their LEED AP, unlike what we would do if someone earned a Master’s degree or passed the PE [Principals and Practice of Engineering] exam.”

In addition to those professionals who work directly in building design and construction, some in related fields are becoming accredited, as well. According to Meyer, LEED APs include real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, interior designers, attorneys, building managers and moving and storage providers.

“Being a LEED AP gives someone some credibility when dealing with other members of a project,” Meyer said. “For instance, if you have a roof salesperson that says he is offering a green roof, and he’s a LEED AP, you’ll know he knows what he’s talking about.”

John T. Proscia, president of Sutton & Edwards Management, a property management firm in Lake Success, recently received his LEED green associate certification, a new certification level that the GBCI began offering in June.

“With my new, intimate knowledge of the LEED certification process, I have a unique understanding of how to manage a LEED certified building,” said Proscia, who has an accounting background. “For those owners that do not have a green certified building, I can use my LEED knowledge to advise them on how they can make their buildings more efficient and, as a result, lower their operating costs.”

Two Levels, New Specialties
Significant changes to the LEED accreditation process went into effect in June. Those individuals interested in becoming a LEED AP must take two exams instead of one.

Individuals who pass the first test become accredited as a LEED green associate, which demonstrates general knowledge of green building practices.

Qualified GAs can then sit for a second specialty exam that corresponds to one of the LEED rating systems. The specialized exam categories are Building Design & Construction, Interior Design & Construction, Operations & Maintenance, Homes and Neighborhood Development.

“An interior decorator would probably go for the Interior Design & Construction exam,” Meyer said, “while a property manager would probably opt for Operations & Maintenance.”

In late August, the USGBC-Long Island Chapter will begin offering a seven-week course, with a two-hour session each week, to prepare individuals for the green associate exam. Preparatory courses for the specialty exams will follow.

Really Cool New TV Channel: Planet Green TV

Ever since Advanced Restoration Corp. sent me to the Green Risk Professional Course a few weeks ago, I have been fascinated by the Green Building Movement. It is going to be the future and I have been trying to learn and educate myself as much as I can. Because now that I am a certified Green Risk Professional, that qualifies me to apply to get my LEED Green Associate certification by the United States Green Building Council. Which I am in the process of right now. That is the only LEED certification I am qualified for because to be a LEED AP or even a LEED Builder I have to have some experience working on a LEED green project. As of now I have none. Eventually I will get another certification but I hope to use the LEED Green Associate designation to open the door for me in this new industry. An industry I think all insurance agents, insurance adjusters, and insurance companies should learn more about.

What I wanted to share with everyone was that I found a new channel dedicated to the green movement, Planet Green TV. Now when I say new, I mean new to me. It might have been up for awhile, I have never noticed it before or noticed it but didn't pay it much attention. There are some very interesting shows on there that highlight all the different aspects of the green movement. Here are the links to the shows I have programmed into my DVR:

• Greenovate: Saving over 40% on energy bills while also increasing property value by 25% sounds impossible, but Greenovate shows viewers just how to make this lofty dream a reality in their own households.
• G Word: Being green is no longer just for granola-loving hippies. It's a lifestyle, an attitude, a state-of-mind, and it's shaking up the pop-culture landscape. Forget what you think you know about what being green means and get ready for G Word...
• Renovation Nation: T he green home building movement is unfolding in real time on each hour-long, information-packed episode of Renovation Nation, which answers the burning questions that every homeowner in America has about going green.
• Total Wrecklamation: Wrecklamation follows one determined demolition auctioneer, Jodi Murphy, as she tracks down a treasure trove of Chicago homes doomed for the wrecking ball that are full of recyclable materials she auctions off for deeply discounted prices. Viewers are exposed to the entire demolition auction experience, starting with the house scouting process, where Jodi culls through hundreds of homes to find the rare few that are full of premium content.
• Wa$ted!: This eye-opening half-hour reality series makes shrinking your ecological footprint appealing and virtually effortless. What's an ecological footprint? It's a way of describing the scope of the damage that each household does to the planet. (I have applied to have the Wa$ted show come out and shoot at Advanced Restoration Corp.)
• World's Greenest Homes: Be prepared to be taken deep inside the most stunning eco-friendly dwellings on the planet while watching World's Greenest Homes. Design expert Emmanuel Belliveau guides this whirlwind global tour of breathtaking green and glam residences.

Cablevision offers Planet Green on channel 172, as well as Planet Green HD on 846 as part of its HD service.
Verizon Fios offers Planet Green on channel 168, as well as Planet Green HD on 668 as part of its HD service.
DIRECTV offers Planet Green on channel 286, as well as Planet Green HD (coming soon) as part of its HD service.
DISH Network offers Planet Green on channel 194, as well as Planet Green HD (coming soon) as part of its HD service.
Hope you guys enjoy them and get as much out of them as I have.

"Don't take any s*** from anybody," Billy Joel

Short-Term Green Tips For Home

Here is some short-term quick and easy steps to help you get started on the road to green in your home


Tip 1:"Green" your laundry.
Detergents, fabric softeners and bleaches can be toxic to your family and to the environment. Some surfactants and fragrances in laundry detergents contain hormone-disrupting chemicals that can't always be removed by wastewater treatment plants and end up harming local wildlife. Chlorine bleach is not only poisonous for humans, but can create dangerous byproducts, such as dioxin, when flushed down the drain. Get your clothes clean without all of the pollution by switching to eco-friendlier cleaners. The companies Ecover, Sun & Earth, Seventh Generation and OxyPrime make less-toxic alternatives to traditional laundry detergents. Try nonchlorine bleach such as OxyBoost or Ecover's hydrogen peroxide-based option.

$ Factor: The eco-friendlier detergents and bleaches cost no more than standard products.



Tip 2:A little warmer, a little cooler.
About 47 percent of the average household's annual energy bills stem from heating and cooling. Every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer will reduce air conditioning bills by about 2 percent. Lowering the temperature by one degree in winter will save you 3 percent on heating bills. Regular maintenance and a tune up every two or three years will keep your heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system operating efficiently, saving energy and money. A programmable thermostat -- excellent for a family that spends a good part of the day at work or school -- will shave 10 percent off your bill.

$ Factor: Adjusting your thermostat is free, easy and can yield big savings. A programmable thermostat starts about $30 and produces an annual savings of about $100.



Tip 3:Switch to cold water.
Almost 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Save money and energy. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water, instead of hot, using a detergent formulated for cold-water use.

$ Factor: Turning the dial from hot to warm will cut your energy use by 50 percent per load, and save you up to $63 a year, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.



Tip 4:Line dry -- like grandma used to do.
Dry your clothes on a laundry line rather than throwing them in the dryer. Clothes dyers are the third-largest energy users in the home, behind the refrigerator and washing machine, costing more than $100 a year to operate, according to Project Laundry List.

$ Factor: Drying your clothes on the line can save you as much as $10 a month, said Brad Stroh, co-founder of Bills.com. Laundry lines vary in cost, from about $5 for a simple rope line to $500 or more for deluxe models.



Tip 5:Stop the junk mail.
Each year, 100 million trees are cut down and turned into junk mail, with Americans receiving a total of 400 million tons of it every year. Earthworks Group, an environmental consulting firm, said cutting out junk mail is one of the most effective things people can do to reduce pollution. There are several ways to stop the flow of junk to your house.

$ Factor: For a $15 one-time fee, Green Dimes will send you a junk-mail opt-out kit that will remove your name from mailing lists for junk mail and catalogs. They then monitor the lists to make sure your names stay off of them, potentially reducing your junk mail by 90 percent. Green Dimes also plants 10 trees for each kit sold. Or, you can contact the Direct Marketing Association, and pay a $1 fee to be removed from some mailing lists.



Tip 6: Switch to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL).
Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They're more expensive than traditional light bulbs, but it only takes about 3 months to make up for the higher sticker price in energy savings.

$ Factor: You will save $85 over the life of the bulb for each 60-watt light bulb you replace with a 15-watt CFL. You'll also save 543 kWh of electricity and reduce your CO2 emissions by 833 pounds.


Tip 7: Kill 'vampire' electricity.
Many appliances use electricity even when they're turned off. It's called a phantom load, or vampire electricity, and as much as 75 percent of the electricity used by home electronics and small appliances is used while they're turned off. The Ohio Consumers Council estimates that it costs consumers $40 to $100 a year.

$ Factor: The simple solution is to unplug small appliances and electronics when you aren't using them. Or, plug them into a power strip and turn the power strip off when you aren't using those items. Power strips cost $10 to $20 each, and can save you up to $100 a year, depending on how many electronics you have. Simply unplugging one television, computer monitor and fax machine when you aren't using it will save you about $6 a month, Stroh said.



Tip 8: Set up a compost bin.
Composting is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to reduce the amount of garbage your household produces. Through composting, yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings and food wastes such as vegetable scraps can be turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that reduces the need for commercial chemical fertilizers in home gardens.

$ Factor: Compost bins vary in cost, from a few dollars for a simple, homemade bin up to several hundred dollars for a ready-made system. Composting at home can make a significant dent in household waste. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, estimates that about 25 percent of the 245 million tons of garbage going into U.S. landfills come from yard clippings and food.



Tip 9: Run full dishwasher loads.
You'll save up to 20 gallons of water per load, or 7,300 gallons a year. That's as much water as the average person drinks in a lifetime.


$ Factor: You can save even more money by running your dishwasher during off-peak hours, usually from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Many utility companies offer off-peak energy rates. And don't pre-rinse if your dishwasher can handle it.



Tip 10: Don't preheat.
Don't bother if you are broiling, roasting or baking a dish that will cook for an hour or more. Don't preheat for more than 10 minutes for breads and cakes. And when roasting meats or baking casseroles, turn off the oven 10 minutes to 15 minutes before cooking time runs out; food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity.

$ Factor: By reducing the time your oven is on by one hour per year, you'll save an average of 2 kWh of energy. If 30 percent of U.S. households did this, 60 million kWh of energy could be saved.



Tip 11:Watch that pot.
Use the right-size pot on your burners.

$ Factor: You could save about $36 annually for an electric range or $18 for gas.



Tip 12:Filter your water.
Buy a water filter for your kitchen faucet and put to good use yet another way to do away with those plastic water bottles that are clogging landfills and burning up energy in recycling plants. About 1.5 million tons of plastic are used on the bottling of 89 billion liters of drinking water each year.

$ Factor: You can buy a water filter for as little as $29, or about a month's worth of bottled water.



Tip 13: Don't run while you brush.
Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You'll conserve up to five gallons of water per day -- which could add up to 1.5 billion gallons that could be saved across the country each day -- more than enough for all of New York City.

$ Factor: You could save time and money on water, up to 1,825 gallons of water per person each year. This much water would fill your bathtub more than 35 times. A family of four could save almost 7,500 gallons a year.



Tip 14: No hint of lint.
Clean your dryer lint screen with every use and don't overload the dryer.

$ Factor: You'll save up to 5 percent on your electricity bill -- which could mean an energy-equivalent savings of 350 million gallons of gasoline per year if everyone did this. Also, run your dryer during off-peak hours. Check with your utility company to see if they offer discounted rates during off-peak hours and verify when those hours are. Better yet, use a clothesline.



Tip 15: From warm to cold.
Set warm wash and cold rinse cycles and save 90 percent of the energy used when using hot water only. And run your washer during off-peak hours.

$ Factor: Together, all U.S. households could save the energy equivalent of 100 thousand barrels of oil a day by switching from hot-hot to warm-cold cycles. Check with your utility company to see if they offer any discounted rates during off-peak hours.




Tip 16:Use low-flow water devices.
Wherever you use water, there's a low-flow device to fit it -- from hose nozzles, to showerheads, to faucet aerators. Handy products, such as the WaterMiser Waterbroom, use water and air pressure to remove dirt from outdoor surfaces, reducing water use by up to 60 percent. Low-flow nozzles save about 5 gallons a minute for a standard garden hose, and a low-flow showerhead uses as little as 2.5 gallons of water or less each minute and would save 25 gallons of water per 10-minute shower. Toilets made after 1996 use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush, while earlier versions can use from 3.5 to 7 gallons.

$ Factor: Low-flow hose nozzles cost less than $20; showerheads cost about $12 at home-improvement stores. Low-flow items can save you about 750 gallons of water each month per person in showers alone. They also cut your hot-water heating bills by up to 50 percent. New toilets -- from as little as $100 -- can reduce water use by up to 73 percent per flush. An even cheaper tactic: Put a water displacement bag -- about $2 -- or even a 2-liter plastic bottle filled with water in the tank away from the mechanism and you'll save almost a gallon of water per flush. Faucet aerators cost about $2 each and can cut water use from as much as 2.75 gallons per minute to as little as half a gallon a minute. Households using low-flow aerators save an average of 1,700 gallons of water each year.



Tip 17: Watch the Watts.
Gadgets such as the Kill-A-Watt and the Watt Minder help you find the biggest energy users in your home. Plug an appliance into one of these devices and it will tell you how much energy it uses per hour, month, or year, and how much it's costing you.

$ Factor: Wattage meters cost about $20 to $30. If you are interested in the bigger picture, rather than monitoring one device at a time, the Power Cost Monitor tracks, in real-time, the electricity use in your entire house and shows how much it is costing you. The monitor costs about $130 and attaches to your electric meter.



Tip 18:Make your own cleaners.
Household chemicals, including some cleaners, contain volatile organic chemicals, which contribute to indoor air pollution and may cause disease. A cost-effective way to make your home greener is to make your own household cleaners. Many homemade cleaners use non-toxic ingredients and clean just as well as commercial cleaners.

$ Factor: Making your own cleaner costs about 10 percent of the price a bottle of commercial cleaner, according to Karen Logan, author of "Clean House, Clean Planet." She says a bottle of her all-purpose cleaner costs 23 cents to make, versus a price tag of $2.69 for the off-the-shelf equivalent. If making your own cleaners isn't an option, look for cleaners carrying the Green Seal. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that certifies products based on their environmental impact, biodegradability and other factors.



Tip 19:Reuse your water.
Water is a precious commodity, and too much of it goes down the drain. Install a rain barrel that attaches to your downspouts and collect rainwater off your roof. Rainwater is relatively free of contaminants and can be used instead of tap water for all kinds of outdoor uses: watering gardens and lawns, cleaning sidewalks and washing the car. Add to the benefit by reusing your gray water -- the waste water from doing dishes, laundry and showering. It's fine for watering plants.

$ Factor: Rain barrels cost $100 to $300 and collect from 50 to 100 gallons of water each. Savings on your water bill will likely be nominal. Recycling gray water can be as simple as reusing the water last night's pasta dinner boiled in to water your plants. More sophisticated systems, such as the Aqus from WaterSaver Technologies, disinfects, stores then and reuses the water from your bathroom sink to flush the toilet. It costs about $200 and reduces wastewater by up to 5,000 gallons per year in a typical household.



Tip 20:Zap your meals.
Microwaves are between 3.5 and 4.8 times more energy efficient than traditional electric ovens. Cooking and reheating with a microwave is faster and more efficient than the stovetop or oven.

$ Factor: Cooking with microwaves can reduce up to 70 percent of energy use for cooking. What's more, using microwaves extends the life of your oven significantly. And one more thing: Cleaning a microwave oven is a snap and saves even more of the cash you would spend on energy with a self-cleaning oven or on toxic-chemical oven cleaners.



Tip 21:Get picky on phosphates.
Pick laundry detergents without phosphates, which deplete the oxygen in water and as a result kill aquatic life. And while you're at it, buy only powdered detergent in cardboard packaging as opposed to a liquid in plastic packaging. The liquid contains water, which you already have, so it takes more fuel to ship that heavier container of detergent and water, not to mention the energy and petroleum used to manufacture the plastic container. The cardboard container also requires energy and resources to produce, but many are now made from post-consumer recycled paper and the trees they originate from are a renewable resource.

$ Factor: The cost-per-load comes out pretty much the same for powder and liquid, so going with the non-phosphate powders give you the chance to help the planet without any real cost to you.



Tip 22:Use commercial car washes.
Getting your car washed at a commercial car wash is better for the environment than doing it yourself. C ommercial car washes not only use significantly less water per wash -- up to 100 gallons less -- but they often recycle and reuse the rinse water.

$ Factor: If every American who currently washes a vehicle at home chose instead to go to a professional care wash -- just once -- up to 8.7 billion gallons of water could be saved, and some 12 billion gallons of soapy polluted water could be diverted from the country's rivers, lakes and streams.



Tip 23:Clean air filters.
Check air conditioning filters monthly to either clean or replace them. This will help the unit run more efficiently. Better yet: buy a permanent filter that can be washed and re-used. This will save you money over the long run and keep all those disposable filters out of landfills. If your unit is outdoors, check to make sure the coils are not obstructed by debris, plants or shrubs.

$ Factor: Clogged filters can make electric bills skyrocket and eventually cause extensive, expensive damage to your air handler.

LEED for Homes Point Categories

The LEED for Homes voluntary rating system awards certification based on point totals in eight categories. (Download the checklist for point requirements.) The categories and requirements are developed through a rigorous consensus-based process, including a period of USGBC member balloting.

Innovation & Design Process
Location & Linkages
Sustainable Sites
Water Efficiency
Energy & Atmosphere
Materials and Resources
Indoor Environmental Quality
Awareness & Education

Innovation & Design Process
Sustainable design strategies and measures are constantly evolving and improving. New technologies are continually introduced to the marketplace, and up-to-date scientific research influences building design strategies. Occasionally, a strategy results in building performance that greatly exceeds that required in an existing LEED credit. Other strategies may not be addressed by any LEED prerequisite or credit but warrant consideration for their sustainability benefits.

Green home-building strategies and techniques are most effectively implemented as part of an integrated design process, with input from individuals involved in each phase of the project. Good design can keep costs down and ensure proper integration of green techniques and achievement of project goals.

One aspect of home design that is often overlooked is the assessment and mitigation of long-term durability risks to the home. Durability failures are a significant cost and cause of stress for both builders and homeowners, but many easy and low-cost strategies are often overlooked because builders do not consider durability in the up-front design.

The Innovation & Design Process (ID) credit category encourages project planning and design to improve the coordination and integration of the various elements in a green home.

Credits can be earned for innovative designs, exemplary performance or regional best-practices that can be shown to produce quantifiable environmental and human health benefits.

The three Innovation & Design Process credits in the LEED for Homes Rating System are:

Integrated Project Planning
Durability Management Process
Innovative or Regional Design.


Location & Linkages
Home-building projects have substantial site-related environmental effects, in terms of both the impact to the site itself and the impacts that stem from the location of the site. The Sustainable Sites credit category focuses on the former; Location & Linkages addresses how builders can choose site locations that promote environmentally responsible land-use patterns and neighborhoods.

Location & Linkages (LL) credits reward builders for selecting home sites that have more sustainable land-use patterns and offer advantages over conventional developments. Land is used more efficiently, reducing the acreage needed for new housing. Fragmentation of farmland and forest and other natural areas is minimized. Well-sited developments need less infrastructure, especially roads and water and sewer lines. And such developments promote a range of sustainable transportation options, including walking, cycling and mass transit, thereby reducing dependence on personal automobiles.

LL credits can be earned in either of two ways:

Pathway 1: LL 1, LEED for Neighborhood Development.
The LEED for Neighborhood Development program certifies “smart-growth” housing development. The pilot phase of this program is expected to conclude in late 2008, after which new projects can register and receive credit for selecting a home site in a certified development.

Pathway 2: LL 2–6.
Projects that either cannot or choose not to participate in the LEED for Neighborhood Development program can earn points in this category by pursuing the following strategies:

LL 2: Site Selection
LL 3: Preferred Locations
LL 4: Infrastructure
LL 5: Community Resources
LL 6: Access to Open Space


Sustainable Sites
Green building goes beyond the built structures because the use of the site and its natural elements can have a significant environmental impact. The Location & Linkages category awards projects for choosing a preferable site; the Sustainable Sites category awards projects for minimizing site impacts.

Early decisions about how to incorporate the home into the site can have significant long-term effects on local and regional ecosystems, as well as demand for water, chemicals and pesticides for site management. Good design decisions can result in attractive, easy-to-maintain landscaping that protects native plant and animal species and contributes to the health of local and regional habitats.

Depending on how a home is integrated into the site, normal rainfall can be a problem, causing soil erosion and run-off of chemicals and pesticides or an opportunity to offset potable water demand and recharge underground aquifers. Surrounding plants can be a burden, requiring regular upkeep, watering and chemicals, or an enhancement that provides shade, aesthetic value, habitat for native species and a mechanism for absorbing carbon and enriching the soil.

Site design should take into consideration the aesthetic and functional preferences of the occupants, but also long-term management needs, preservation principles and potential impacts on local and regional ecosystems.

The six Sustainable Sites (SS) credits in the LEED for Homes Rating System:

Site Stewardship
Landscaping
Local Heat Island Effects
Surface Water Management
Non-toxic Pest Control
Compact Development


Water Efficiency
In the United States, approximately 340 billion gallons of fresh water is withdrawn per day from rivers and reservoirs to support residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and recreational activities. This accounts for about one-fourth of the nation’s total supply of renewable fresh water. Almost 65 percent of this water is discharged to rivers, streams and other water bodies after use and, in some cases, treatment.

Additionally, water is withdrawn from underground aquifers. In some parts of the United States, water levels in these aquifers have dropped more than 100 feet since the 1940s.

On an annual basis, the water deficit in the United States is currently estimated at about 3,700 billion gallons. In other words, Americans extract 3,700 billion gallons per year more than they return to the natural water system to recharge aquifers and other water sources.

Water for domestic use may be delivered from a public supplier or be self-supplied isby a well. Self-supplied domestic withdrawals are an estimated 3,590 million gallons per day.

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of water-conserving plumbing fixtures and fittings to reduce water use in residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Water efficiency measures in new homes can easily reduce water usage by 30% or more. In a typical home, savings of 30,000 gallons of water a year can be achieved very cost-effectively. This results in average annual water utility savings of about $100 per year.

As communities grow, increased demand for water leads to additional maintenance and higher costs for municipal supply and treatment facilities. New homes that use water efficiently have lower water use fees and reduced sewage volumes. Many water conservation strategies involve either no additional cost or rapid paybacks; biological wastewater treatment, rainwater harvesting and gray water plumbing systems, on the other hand, often involve more substantial investment.

The Water Efficiency (WE) category in the LEED for Homes Rating System has three kinds of credits:

Water Reuse
Irrigation Systems
Indoor Water Use

Energy & Atmosphere
Data from the home-building industry indicate that close to 1.5 million new homes are built each year, and that the average size of new homes has doubled in the past 50 years. As a result, total U.S. fossil energy use in homes has been steadily increasing. The average American consumes five times more energy than the average global citizen, 10 times more than the average Chinese person, and nearly 20 times more than the average Indian.

Conventional fossil-based generation of electricity releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global climate change. Coal-fired electric utilities emit almost one-third of the country’s anthropogenic nitrogen oxides, the precursor of smog, and two-thirds the sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain. They also emit more fine particulate material than any other activity in the United States. Because the human body is incapable of clearing fine particles from the lungs, these emissions are contributing factors in tens of thousands of cancer and respiratory illness-related deaths annually. Natural gas, nuclear fission and hydroelectric generators all have adverse environmental impacts as well. Natural gas is a major source of nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear power increases the potential for catastrophic accidents and raises significant waste transportation and disposal issues. Hydroelectric generating plants disrupt natural water flows, resulting in disturbance of habitat and depletion of fish populations.
Buildings consume approximately 37% of the energy and 68% of the electricity produced in the United States annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2006, total emissions from residential buildings were responsible for 1.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, or 20% of the U.S. total.

Scientists predict that left unchecked, emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases from human activities will raise global temperatures by 2.5ºF to 10ºF over the 21st century. The effects will be profound and may include rising sea levels, more frequent floods and droughts and increased spread of infectious diseases. To address the threat of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be slowed, stopped and reversed. Meeting the challenge will require dramatic advances in technologies and a shift in how the world economy generates and uses energy.

Absent significant improvements in environmental performance, the residential building sector will be a major contributor of global CO2 emissions. Homes have a lifespan of 50 to 100 years, during which they continually consume energy and produce CO2 emissions. Further, the U.S. population and economy are projected to grow significantly over the coming decades, increasing the need for new homes. To meet this demand, approximately 12 million new homes are projected to be constructed by 2015.

Building green homes is one of the best strategies for meeting the challenge of climate change because the technology to make substantial reductions in energy and CO2 emissions already exists. The average certified LEED home uses 30% to 40% less electricity and saves more than 100 metric tons of CO2 emissions over its lifetime. Modest investments in energy-saving and other climate-friendly technologies can yield homes and communities that are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, energy efficient and environmentally responsible places to live.


Materials & Resources
The choice of building materials is important for sustainable homebuilding because of the extensive network of extraction, processing and transportation they require. Activities to produce building materials may pollute the air and water, destroy natural habitats and deplete natural resources. Construction and demolition wastes constitute about 40% of the total solid waste stream in the United States. Good design decisions, particularly in the framing of homes, can significantly reduce demand for framing materials, as well as the associated waste and embedded energy. Without even changing the home design, a project can save framing materials and reduce site waste by planning appropriately and communicating the design to the framing team through detailed framing documents and/or scopes of work.

Sources should be evaluated when materials are selected for a project. Reclaimed (i.e., salvaged post-consumer) materials can be substituted for new materials, saving costs and reducing resource use. Recycled-content materials reuse waste products that would otherwise be deposited in landfills. Use of local materials supports the local economy and reduces the harmful impacts of long-distance transport. Use of third-party-certified wood promotes good stewardship of forests and related ecosystems. Use of low-emitting materials will improve the indoor air quality in the home and reduce demand for materials with added volatile, toxic compounds.An increasing number of public and private waste management operations have reduced construction debris volumes by recycling these materials. Recovery activities typically begin at the job site, with separation into multiple bins or disposal areas. In some areas, regional recycling facilities accept commingled waste and separate the recyclable materials from those that must go to the landfill. These facilities can achieve waste diversion rates of 80% or greater.

The Materials & Resources (MR) category in the LEED for Homes Rating System has three components:

Material-Efficient Framing
Environmentally Preferable Products
Waste Management



Indoor Environmental Quality
Americans spend on average 90% of their time indoors, where levels of pollutants may run two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Similarly, the World Health Organization reported in its Air Quality Guidelines for Europe that most of an individual's exposure to many air pollutants comes through inhalation of indoor air. Many of the pollutants found indoors can cause health reactions in the estimated 17 million Americans who suffer from asthma and 40 million who have allergies, contributing to millions of days absent from school and work.

Homeowners are just beginning to realize the link between their health and their homes. Hazardous household pollutants may include carbon monoxide, radon, formaldehyde, mold, dirt and dust, pet dander, and residue from tobacco smoke and candles. Many homeowners also store various chemicals inside their homes as well, including pesticides, fertilizers, solvents, grease, oils, degreasers, gasoline, antifreeze, strong detergents, thinners and oil-based paints.
Over the past 20 years, research and experience have improved our understanding of what is involved in attaining high indoor environmental quality and revealed manufacturing and construction practices that can prevent problems from arising. Preventing indoor air quality problems is generally much less expensive than identifying and solving them after they occur. Generally, there are three types of strategies: source removal, source control and dilution.

Source removal is the most practical way to ensure that harmful chemical compounds are not brought into the home. Evaluating the properties of adhesives, paints, carpets, composite wood products and furniture and selecting materials with low levels of potentially irritating off-gassing can reduce occupant exposure. Scheduling deliveries and sequencing construction activities can reduce exposure of materials to moisture and absorption of off-gassed contaminants. (Low-emissions materials are addressed under Materials & Resources.)

Source control strategies focus on capturing pollutants that are known to exist in a home. For example, filtering the supply air stream removes particulates that would otherwise be continuously recirculated through the home. Protection of air-handling systems during construction and a building flushout prior to occupancy further reduce the potential for problems.

Dilution involves the use of fresh outside air to ventilate a home and exhaust pollutants to the outdoors. This may also help control moisture within the home. Most new homes in the United States do not have mechanical fresh-air ventilation systems. The typical air-handling systems in new homes merely recirculate the air within the home, continuously pumping indoor pollutants through the home rather than exhausting them.

Another aspect of indoor air quality is occupant comfort. The proper installation of automatic sensors and controls to maintain proper temperature, humidity and ventilation in occupied spaces helps maintain optimal air quality. Surprisingly, sensors to alert a home’s occupants to deadly carbon monoxide concentrations are frequently not required by current codes but should be included in all new homes. Letting occupants fully and effectively control their thermal environment can reduce hot-cold complaint calls and generally raise satisfaction levels.

The Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) credit category encourages builders to prevent air pollution and improve air quality and comfort in the homes they build.

Alternative Compliance PathwaysThe two parallel pathways through the 10 EQ credits in the LEED for Homes Rating System are illustrated in Table 1 and summarized below.

Pathway 1: ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package

Projects that participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package initiative automatically qualify for 13 points. Up to 7 additional points are available if the following credits are also completed:

EQ 4.2: Enhanced Outdoor Air Ventilation
EQ 5.2: Enhanced Local Exhaust
EQ 5.3: Third-Party Testing
EQ 7.2 or 7.3: Better or Best Air Filters
EQ 8.2: Indoor Contaminant Control

Pathway 2: Prescriptive Approach

The following strategies can earn points in this credit category:

EQ 2: Combustion Venting
EQ 3: Moisture Control
EQ 4: Outdoor Air Ventilation
EQ 5: Local Exhaust
EQ 6: Distribution Systems
EQ 7: Air Filtering
EQ 8: Contaminant Control
EQ 9: Radon Protection
EQ 10: Garage Pollutant Protection


Awareness & Education
The LEED for Homes Rating System addresses the design and construction of new green homes — roles that are the responsibility of the home designer and the builder, respectively. But the environmental impact of a home continues throughout its life-cycle, well beyond the initial design and construction decisions. Most new homes are expected to last 50 to 100 years, during which the occupants will consume energy, water and other resources. They therefore play a substantial role in the resource use of a home over its lifetime.

Some homebuyers may know very little about green home construction. They may be unaware of the green features in the home, or they may be unfamiliar with how to use and maintain them. Without adequate training, the full benefits of the LEED measures likely will not be achieved.

This credit category promotes broad awareness among homebuyers and tenants that LEED homes are built differently and need to be operated and maintained accordingly. Because the operations and maintenance tasks in multifamily buildings may be performed by a building manager, this credit also addresses the need for appropriate education of building managers.

The two Awareness & Education (AE) categories in the LEED for Homes Rating System are Education of the Homeowner or Tenant and Education of the Building Manager.

How Politics, Backstabbing Can Ruin the Office

by

Ambrose Clancy

Long Island Business News

Published: August 7, 2009

A veteran devil gives an apprentice in the trade a description of hell on earth, telling him to picture a place “where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance and resentment.”

The devil, in C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters,” is talking about a bureaucratic office, and if any of the above dysfunction describes where you work, take cold comfort, you’re not alone.
Ellen Cooperperson, president of Hauppauge’s Corporate Performance Consultants, said in her 25-year career she’s calculated that 80 percent of offices are dysfunctional, with that figure backed up by management research.

We asked her and other experts why good places go bad.

Nobody’s Talkin’
Cooperperson consulted on the Bank of New York-Mellon Financial merger in the summer of 2007. A chief concern was how the newly combined company would function once the bell rang on Wall Street. But people at both firms panicked they’d be pink slipped or, if they survived, what roles they’d have, who they would report to, etc. The panic was expressed by deafening silence.

So Cooperperson invited employees into a room where six elephant piñatas hung.

“Literally making them recognize the elephants in the room,” Cooperperson said. “After smashing them, everyone’s concerns were addressed.”

She described offices as a “network of conversations,” and healthy offices embrace debate as part of those conversations. Fear of debate means a lack of trust; with no debate, gossiping and backbiting are the only conversations remaining. Therefore managers have to upgrade the quality of those conversations.

Trust has to be established by management, but the employee can take the bull by the horns, said Vicky Oliver, author of “Bad Bosses, Crazy Co-Workers & Other Office Idiots.”

“Nothing’s served by being passive. Don’t ignore situations,” Oliver said.
'
Matthew Cordaro, Dean of Dowling College’s Townsend School of Business believes in regularly scheduled meetings.

“And nothing should be sugarcoated,” he said, meaning the present and the future of the organization must be discussed regularly. Another toxic form of communication is private huddling and criticizing people not present.

Fish Rot From the Head Down
Leaders are responsible for an office’s atmosphere, and a poisonous office usually means no accountability at the top, Cooperperson said.

“The ultimate consequence of avoiding accountability is inattention to results until it becomes systemic,” she said. “Goals are not achieved but there are a lot of excuses why.”

Robert Riggio, author of “The Practice of Leadership,” has written about clueless leaders such as the one played by Steve Carell on TV’s “The Office,” who are blind to an awful situation. Then there are managers who simply don’t care. They’re worse, since they delegate poorly and reward incompetency.

Cordaro believes leaders must fight for their people. He recalled 1987 when the Long Island Lighting Co. was melting down, and how employees suffered from the company’s terrible image. Leaders ignored staff morale and that made the situation even more catastrophic.

Another leader working the dark side is one who believes in the concept of divide and rule, said Robert Bornstein, a professor at Adelphi’s Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies.

“Pitting staff members against each other to motivate them creates sibling rivalry and is a great distraction,” Bornstein said. “There’s confusion about roles and responsibilities.”

It’s the System, Stupid
Cooperperson once had an assignment to work with an aloof and arrogant manager running sales at the Long Island headquarters of an international corporation. She found a division with such resistance to this manager that people were making fun of him to the point where an unofficial part of orientation for new hires included hearing negative stories about him.

“It was a mutiny, with the office dead in the water,” she said.

The solution was to work with the manager, who made amends and then took on the larger challenge of “fixing” the organization.

“When someone says, ‘Fix him,’ I know it’s a much larger problem,’” Cooperperson said.

No Plan, Stan
“A good office takes a lot of work, but it also takes a theory,” Bornstein said. “It’s not just being clear, communicative and consistent in your behavior, but having an underlying framework for what you do.”

There are two successful approaches, he added, one Japanese and one American.

“A successful Japanese office is where everyone is nurtured,” Bornstein said, referring to studies published in “Psychology Applied to Work,” by Paul Muchinsky.

A successful American model is one where goals are crystal clear and incentives are completely spelled out and delivered.

In an MBA program run by Professor James Freeley at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, students study Continuous Process Improvement, a technique that constantly identifies the causes of problems, avoiding the need to merely put out fires all week long. One of CPI’s principles is a Japanese principle known as “kaizen,” which means every person in the office is involved in problem solving. Most importantly, no blame is assessed for problems. The focus is entirely about finding a solution. CPI is also forward looking, and thus helps avoid dead ends or over-the-cliff disasters in offices. It also strives to remove all work that has no positive impact on the organization’s goals.

But office systems are like exercise; no matter if you practice yoga or jumping jacks, it’s not going to work unless it’s done every day and reviewed regularly.

Principally It’s About Principals
Leaders have to set an example by acting ethically, not only with all of their employees but with everyone who interacts with the office, Cordaro said.

“Being successful is of course essential, and having a good reputation as a principled company creates a good working environment to achieve that success,” he said.

Silk Purse From A Sow’s Ear
How do you remediate a toxic office? Author Oliver believes offices should start with the concept that youth must be served. Serious mentoring programs should be installed to keep the office from devouring its young.

“It’s enormously important for a young person to find an older person who takes an interest in their career development,” she said. And it focuses on both the veteran employee and the newbie.

“Mentoring should be part of the organizational system, but unfortunately, in most offices, it’s not.”

Cooperperson believes “courageous conversations” should commence immediately.

“People are scared in the beginning,” she said. “It’s, ‘Oh, my God, we’re going to have to tell the truth?’ But you must get the old conversations, the old stories out of the way and put them to rest to make way for the future.”

Paul Brennan, Prudential Douglas Elliman Hampton’s regional manager, said a real estate office differs in some ways from other offices, but there are enough similarities to learn something.

“Changing an office full of wounded egomaniacs is difficult,” Brennan said. “You have to be an example and practice humility to keep people’s egos in check.”

If the theory of squeaky wheels getting the grease is in place, it will be a chaotic mess. “That’s a nightmare when everyone catches on to it,” Brennan said. “You have to be fair to everyone and turn it around by again acting with some humility.”

And if that doesn’t work?

“Get yourself into therapy,” Brennan said.

What Does 'Green' Really Mean?

If trying to figure out what "green" means is causing you to see red, you're hardly alone.

For two decades, words like "natural," "organic" and "recycled" have been used to attract the interest of eco-conscious consumers. "Green" is the new tag to promote everything from paper to building materials that are good for — or from — the environment.

But for consumers, it can be almost impossible to tell exactly what "green" means.

"There's no 'green' stamp of approval that we all agree on at this time," says Nicole Goldman, owner of 'g' Green Design Center in Mashpee Commons. Her store sells green products of all kinds for the home, from building and furnishing materials to biodegradable trash-can liners and light bulbs, towels, cleansers and fabric. But, in general, for a product to be considered green, she says, it has to be ecologically sound, healthy, energy-efficient, renewable, reusable, have recyclable content or be highly durable.

Part of energy-efficiency, too, involves not only the amount of fossil fuels it might take to use a product but also to produce or transport it.

Consumers are starting to get interested, and the bigger picture encompasses climate change, overburdened landfills, increasing energy costs, water scarcity, and diminishing air quality.

Connect all those dots, and you can see a huge potential, not just in the U.S. but globally.

You hear a lot of talk about saving the environment in the news, on talk shows and just about everywhere you turn these days. Terms like "green friendly", "green energy" and "green technology" are often used among others. What do these "green" terms really mean?

The sole purpose of "going green" is to use products and methods that won't negatively impact the environment with pollution or deplete natural resources. While there is still some skepticism about the dangers of global warming no one can't doubt the fact that pollution and diminished resources can (and has) affect on the delicate balance of the planet our very lives depend on.

While the debate over the future consequences continues more people are siding in favor of preservation over risk. Choosing alternative methods or other options that eliminate or reduce the need for natural resources can only result in a positive outcome, regardless of belief, so it's the responsible choice.

Some simple "green friendly" changes are easy to do and can be done with little or no sacrifice. Certain changes can actually enhance the quality of life and not diminish it as some fear.

One good example of taking advantage of the green living lifestyle is paperless billing. When a bill has to be mailed trees are destroyed to create the paper. In addition fuel and natural resources are used to manufacture the paper. Electronic billing online completely eliminates the need to destroy any trees and use natural resources for production. Online billing is easy, convenient and sensible option.

Other examples is the use of eco-friendly supplies such as bamboo flooring or supplies made of recycled goods. More cost effective measures are using thermostat and light timers and energy efficient CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs.

Green and clean products for household use such as lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar are excellent natural cleaning substitutes for harsh chemicals. Many times simple and environmentally eco friendly supplies are less expensive too so there is a two-fold advantage.

If we all do a little something toward the goal of achieving a "green" and healthy environment it will go a long way to stop the detrimental effects of the past and produce a better future for all of us.

Years ago no one seemed overly concerned about the environment. I've always been a little frugal so I always thought it made sense not to waste but I didn't impose my beliefs on anyone. In recent years since these issues have come to the forefront I'm glad to see more people who want to do their part to help. I've dedicated three web sites to the green living causes, eco friendly supplies and green and clean ideas for the home.

I am an avid reader and researcher. I like to learn about new things. I don't claim to know it all but I know about a lot of topics and I'm learning more all the time.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Insuring Green Risks

Industry Questions

The "Green Revolution" has brought about many changes to not only the building industry but to others including the insurance sector. The insurance industry is certainly not without questions when it comes to insuring green risks. Which companies are going to underwrite these risks? What coverage will be available? What are the unknowns with insuring green risks? What outcomes can we predict? Will new types of claims result from these exposures? Will insurance professionals need formal training for green risks? I can go on and on with these questions but the state of the current building iindustry requires answers from insurers. Green risks are here NOW and building owners, property managers, risk managers and the restoration industry among others are looking at the insurance industry NOW to offer market solutions to the very special characteristics of these green risks.

The level of "green" involvement by the insurance industry ranges from two extremes: those doing absolutely nothing to companies selling policies created to specifically insure the materials, methods, and processes featured in green risks. In the middle there are insurers who have begun to encourage some green measures in only their business operations (recycling, carpools, van pools, etc...) while others are in the early stages of researching and developing green insurance products to offer their clients. Those companies who are ahead of the others in this market are already offering some kind of coverage, i.e. Travelers, CHUBB, and Farmers insurance companies.

Even for those writing green policies, there may be questions lurking. Frankly, insuring green risks is new territory for the industry and insurers will need time and experience protecting these risks to truly understand all their implications and be able to accurately rate these policies. It is reasonable to say that no one has the clear answers yet on what outcome the insurance industry will see. Will total claim expenses be lower on these risks than non-green ones? Will premiums be lower on green risks compared to non-green risks? Will green buildings/homes harm non-green buildings/home values by making them obsolete? What issues will be tested in court over green coverage?

For the claims professional assigned a loss on a green risk, there will be questions? Is there a green policy in effect? What special provisions does it offer? are limits adequate to rebuild a green risk in the event of a large catastrophic loss? What special expenses will the insurance policy in force cover? will commissioning or recommissioning expenses be covered? Will the policy cover re-certification costs on green risks? will the policy cover added delays to in rebuilding due to the re-certification process? Will qualified restoration contractors in green buildings and green programs be available? Again, the list of questions could go on and unfortunately some of the answers to these questions must come later after the industry is more committed and claim experience develops. It may be too unrealistic to suggest that claim issues we face today won't be the same exact issues we will address in a few years as this section of the market evolves, adapts, and matures. As long as the industry can offer consistent reasonable coverage for green risks at a reasonable premium, then green insurance should expand and be around as long as green risks remain. What must happen in the meantime to get us there is yet another question.

Insurance Industry Response

The following is just a snapshot of products being offered by property insurers in the United States. The following review of policies/endorsements should help illustrate the current types of coverages in the market. Some insurers offer green policies or endorsements at additional premium and may require other underlying coverage. It is important to mention the products offered by various insurers are not standard policies or endorsements; not every company offers identical coverages.

The information below is only a summary review of the current green market and are not the titles or actual endorsement/policy. Limits, special provisions, and special deductibles could still apply.

Homeowner

- Coverage for loss of income or extra expenses resulting from physical damage to alternative energy systems:

These endorsements may provide limited coverage when net metering is lost because of a covered peril and the insured has to purchase electricity that otherwise would not be needed because the structure is generating its own electricity. There could be coverage to inspect, reconnect (and permit fees) assessed by a utility company or other when the alternative energy system is back on.

- Enhanced coverage to landscape - trees, shrubs, plants:

Some endorsements increase the limit of liability for covered trees, shrubs, and plants (in the aggregate and per item) and offer greater limits to "eco-landscaping" which includes plants that provide shade to the home, hardscape, HVAC or other to reduce energy costs.

-Upgrade to green coverage:

Covers costs to upgrade green components in the event of a partial or total loss. Areas which may focus on include energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainability. These upgrades include Energy Star lighting, appliances, HVAC, windows, low or dual flow toilets, low flow faucets, no VOC interior paint, and recycled content building materials. Sustainability coverage may upgrade the home to a green program standard such as the Energy Star Home (builders Option Package), pay for testing, and more. some of these endorsement may provide the homeowner to keep any rebates or other government/utility incentives for upgrading. Other companies may offer endorsements to upgrade to LEED for Home standards, hire Leed AP, and certification fees if total loss occurs.

Some companies may offer a premium discount when insuring an existing LEED certified or other home.


Commercial

- Green upgrade coverage:

Covers cost to upgrade standard materials with green components such as no VOC paints, Green Label carpet, Energy Star products, Energy Star roofs, and Water Sense fixtures to name a few. If a total loss, some policies may cover the cost to rebuild the property under the criteria of a green rating program.

- Green certified building coverage:

Covers buildings already certified under a green program. Coverage may include provisions for vegetative roofs, alternative power systems and water systems. In addition, coverage may be available to hire a LEED AP, recoup loss of income from net metering losses, and recycling debris. Finally, there may be coverage to hire an engineer for commissioning and perform other tests. Some companies may offer coverage fr certification with other rating systems like Green Globe.

- Green manufacturers property endorsement:

May cover the cost for non-green manufacturing facilities to upgrade to green equipment, materials, and business personal property after partial or total loss.

- Green certified manufacturing property insurance:

May cover the cost of green manufacturing facilities to be restored to their original LEED rating and may cover the upgrade to a higher LEED rating too.

- Green coverage for business personal property:

Covers the cost to replace non-green business personal property with green products or materials.

- Debris removal expense endorsements:

Pays additional debris removal expenses incurred to salvage and recycle debris from a covered property loss. These endorsement may have limited amounts of coverage.

- Delay in completion of a project:

May provide some coverage for loss when a project completion is delayed due to the certification process from using a program like LEED.

- Energy efficient tax credit endorsement:

May provide coverage for tax credits lost on certain qualified energy efficient components following covered causes of loss to covered property. These endorsements may have limited amounts of coverage.

Claims Checklist

Some strategies in green building programs have little effect on the claims professional. There isn't much we can do to alter the orientation of a building for passive solar design, but that decision might have counted towards the buildings certification. Decisions made to manage soil erosion and preserve natural habitats during construction are again areas which may have no real implication s for insurers. However, decisions such as to lay Green Label carpeting, install recycled content materials, use only low or no VOC building materials, or install an Energy Star roof system will concern the claims person eventually. Furthermore, the implementation of high efficiency appliances, plumbing, lighting, ad electrical systems will affect us too. Finally, we cannot rule out that claims adjusters will be exposed to solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy systems and water saving systems.

The green measures that are anticipated to affect our industry are the ones insurance professionals should be familiar with and be prepared to assess loss to. Green building programs are "climate-specific" and tailored for conditions in particular regions. What may be a common green practice in the northeast U.S may not be a good practice in the southwest U.S. Following this logic, claims professionals should be familiar with the green measures and programs in their market/region. The knowledge a claims adjuster in New York obtains over time may vary from the knowledge a claims adjuster in San Diego receives. While the fundamentals of many green building programs are similar, the methods to achieve common goals in these are not.

Another borrowed idea from green building programs that the claims professional can use is checklists. Most green building programs utilize a checklist when designing and constructing projects. Checklists help ensure the project meets its goals and certification. This process should also be followed by the claims professional when assessing a loss on a green risk. The claims person should have a prepared list of specific questions to address on claims involving green risks.