Before the recent Whisky Fest in San Francisco, a select group gathered for a whisky tasting of the Bowmore whisky which in itself should be deemed a special treat especially when sipping on the 25 year Bowmore single malt and the 44 year old (older than most us in the room) Bowmore Gold, which up until that moment had only been savored by a few ones in the U.S. Toss in the fact that we sampled this whiskey at the classic power lunch spot meets oh la la One Market and everything seemed to be going as smooth as the and Bowmore 12 and the Tombo Tuna (we hope wild caught).
But of course, being in San Fran, we struck up the whole Green thing as far as Bowmore and whisky production. The Bowmore crew being from Scotland aren’t exactly strangers when it comes to Green or sustainable practices. After all, we would have to say that whisky might be one of the ultimate slow foods. A few tastes later only spurred the spirited dialogue. The fact that Bowmore came in second in the Green Apple award a few years ago impressed us. We even liked the fact that they got downright innovative in the fact that they use the waste heat generated from the stills plant to not only dry the barley but heat the local public swimming pool as well. They also use the generated hot water to pre-heat the facility that works like a form of radiant heating.
Now we can’t over look the fact that the distillery runs on petroleum and they do emit healthy amounts of peat burning smoke into the air but each year they maintain stricter CO2 emissions than the government targets.
The mention of organics caused another stir. Not that organics represents the be all and end all of whisky ingredients but the topic opened up another barrel of whisky that we will post shortly. Where does the barrel wood originate? Are there GMOs in whisky?
We’re not going to mess with 200 plus years of tradition and think that whisky distilleries will change green overnight. Meanwhile, we got back to the task at hand. We need to savor the Bowmore Gold and the pear dumpling with brown butter caramel sauce.
No matter who attends the BSR conference, we always seem to find a balance between the people who legitimately wish to improve sustainability, not just for their company but the planet, and those who set out to further their profits by subtle or blatant greenwashing.
During the Thursday morning breakfast, Zhang Yue, chairman and CEO of China-based Broad Air Conditioning woke the crowd up as he spoke through an interpreter. A few minutes before that, I found myself asking a colleague “Who is this guy?” After 10 minutes, I changed my mind. More people should listen to this guy. True, I haven’t done due diligence on his company but if his company does half the things that he says they do then I’m on board. Yue created China’s first “non-electric chiller” and insists on showing consumers how triple paned windows will reduce their need to use air conditioners. Consider that their business revolves around making air conditioners.
Even the fact that his sustainable company philosophy has dropped his income from the top five richest people in China to the top 500 doesn’t bother him. He’d rather save the planet and make slightly less. Although he became the first CEO to fly regularly on a private corporate jet, he soon realized how detrimental his private jet trips were on the environment, so he changed his corporate jet policy to use it only in special situations and now he normally flies commercial. Maybe the Big 3 (or is it Big 2?) CEOs can get a clue.
The conference not only offers big speeches but interactivity as well. One Thursday morning session tackled the topic of Sustainability of a Budget: Sharing Cost (and Risk) through Government Partnerships and included a diverse panel including Shari Berenbach of Calvert Social Investment Foundation, Sanjay Raman of Howcast Media and Michael de Soyza of Dialog Telekom. After some eye-opening discussion about how PPPs can combine with private companies can increase their impact on social and environmental issues, the attendees broke into groups. We then brainstormed in breakout groups (our group contained people from Visa, ESPN, USAid) about how to create a partnership with various issues and tasks. It’s surprising how many dynamic ideas can be created in 15 minutes.
Ah, it feels good to have the BSR conference back in San Francisco. Even though the economy has gone to hell, it is good see that probably close to 1000 attendees hit the conference so the sour economy has not killed the whole notion of notion of sustainability and companies.
Good start -- as we walked in and registered the staff handed me a recyclable, biodegradable, compostable lanyard.
The theme for this year’s conference - Sustainability in a Reset World
After admiring our lanyards and breakfast we jumped into packed conversation with Pamela Passman of Microsoft. Of course we considered today’s launch of Windows 7.
The discussion centered on the sustainability of Microsoft. Now, most people will admit that the technology business isn’t the least sustainable or “dirtiest” business. But that doesn't mean that they don't press a heavy carbon footprint. Passman discussed that companies need software to track their own carbon footprint.Microsoft may have many ideas for other comanies but they need to look in the mirror as well.
She admitted the two most pressing issues that Microsoft needs to improve in so far as reducing their carbon footprint that includes:
1- Traveling (lots of it)
2 – Data centers --- The data centers continue to be electric and water intensive. Microsoft claims to be attempting reduce the footprint of these data centers.
Besides environmental sustainability the talk shifted to information and human rights. Besides the separate Gates Foundation, Microsoft creates technological literacy for various NGOs and donates much money to various create technological literacy for people who don’t have educational/technological access. However, when discussing human rights and technology Pressman seemed to get a little defensive when discussing China, privacy issues, and human rights in other counties where the masses often don’t get access to certain technology.
Like so much of the conference, often we need to read between the lines to determine who or what companies enact true sustainability controls or who just spin fancy greenwashing, or maybe a combination.
As an onslaught of crowds hit Golden Gate Park for Pearljam and other notable bands last week, I, along with other Green minions checked out the Ouside Lands Green scene just as West Indian Girl hit one of the numerous stages.
Don't say that we didn't warn you but those who are short on cash should consider the Global Inheritance sponsored recycle booth in the Eco Lands section. They offered a similar booth last year but not many people seemed aware of it. The deal here is that anyone who wants nifty Outside Lands shirt (for free) just needs to bring 75 empty cans or bottles to the booth. For 250 bottles you can snag a pair of Loomstate organic jeans and 150 gets a recycled record vinyl clock. Those not as inspired can get some Fuel TV sunscreen (and boy is sunscreen mandatory today) for just eight bottles.
On the food front, we like the local and/or organic slant on food. The chow lineup includes local faves like El Huarache Loco, Eos Wine Bar, Fated Calf, Hog Island Oyster Co among some of the tasty local purveyors. They even offer fresh organic fruit from local farmers markets. Think anyone will miss the fried corn dogs and dried out, mass market chicken sandwiches? We think not.
The Refillable Water Program marked the most curious thing (so far) that we spotted. Simple enough that people can refill their reusable water containers for $1 with water sourced from the large five gallon bottles. Yes, we people could just go to the park fountains and get the good old Hetch Hechy H20 but no biggie. The curious thing is that at the same booth they sell plastic bottles of Sprite and Coke. We understand that everyone has to make a buck but if you're trying to make a point then make it. Don't go half way.
More Green and Sustainable action from Outside Lands to come.
It was a one in 20 chance encounter. I felt like a paparazzi who got a chance to spy a celebrity but in this instance my camera caught a shot of the Tango, the car that makes look the Smart Car look like a Lincoln Continental. Only about 10-20 Tangos exists which makes the sighting more special. Actually my neighbor (a solar guy who already drives an EV-4) had the thing in his driveway in the Lower Haight and a crowd of passersby, tourists, and green auto enthusiasts formed around this electric only car.
As they say, looks can be deceiving. My neighbor said that the Tango can beat a Tesla in terms of acceleration. The Tango can accelerate from zero to over 130 mph in one gear. It accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. We say Zoom to that.
Don’t think that just because this little guy is small that it isn’t safe. Okay, relatively safe. It contains a crash tested roll cage (like they use for race cars). More importantly is comfort. You’d think that anyone sitting in the back would be subjected to eating their knees but the back seat allows more room than one might guess with the running boards for legroom.
The little guy offers two main downsides. One of which is the charging radius which goes about 50 miles give or take. Okay for a big city (except LA) but not a cross country trip. The only thing- like the Tesla– the price tag on this sustainable bolt of energy isn’t exactly suited for everyone – think six figures.
Hopefully, the in future these little bad boys will have a lower price tag and more acceptance. How about some cross promotion with some of those power forwards in the NBA?
A seemingly paranoid, ex-dolphin trainer slowly drives through a foreign land while being pursued by police and other locals may appear to be the start of a riveting spy thriller and in some cases that’s exactly what this film is but instead of drawing from the mind of Robert Ludlum, this situation comes from a real life deep dark cover up. Four years in the making, The Cove, surrounds the slaughter of thousands of dolphins in Taiji, Japan instantly thrusts viewers into a sort of Flipper espionage that not only rivets the audience but sends them on an emotional and educational rollercoaster.
The Cove refers to a sea inlet of the coast of Taiji where on the surface the town seems to embrace dolphins but in reality some of the local politicos as well as a handful of fisherman keep the dolphin slaughter a secret to not only most locals but the rest of Japan as well.
The Cove not only captures disturbing, bloody footage of the carnage (via various stealthily hidden high-tech cameras, lenses and sound equipment) but uses former TV show Flipper trainer Richard O’Barry as an emotional through line. Director Louie Psihoyos, co-founder of the Oceanic Preservation Society, and his crew expose the local fisherman slaughtering dolphins but they also show how the government allows mercury filled dolphin meat to be mislabeled and sold in Japanese markets, and for a time allowed local school children to eat the toxic dolphin as part of the school lunch program. The film also delves into utter bureaucracy, toothlessness and corruption of the International Whaling Commission (picture a watered down UN council meeting) to regulate or offer any solutions to the ongoing dolphin slaughter.
As the original trainer for various bottlenose dolphins who played Flipper, O’Barry blames himself for the dolphin craze (dolphin theme parks, shows) where all over the world dolphins suffer in confined conditions. Blaming himself for the dolphin demise, O’ Barry risks personal well being in an effort to tear off the veil of secrecy that this one area of Japan has covered up (and continues to hide) for many years.
The Cove captures not only startling footage of the dolphins (although one of the producers admits that they could have shown more gruesome scenes) but cleverly swims through various meetings (many with hidden cameras) and old TV footage to not just entertain but to thrill and enrage anyone who watches it.
People interested in more information or campaigning against the dolphin slaughter can visit TakePart.com/TheCove
It's kind of exciting to be around some of the top bloggers, social media giants, and computer media gurus at the 2009 Inman Connect. It would be silly to search for significant Green aspects within this conference, but the as they say it’s about people, planet, profit. Of course, the real estate industry here remains about profit but much of the new innovation deals with people.
Being a green blogger, the location of the grand old Palace Hotel doesn’t exactly scream Green, and curiously the conference did offer actual glasses for the Blogger Connect but for the main conference downstairs the hotel dragged out the paper cups.
Lot’s of buzz surrounded the social media mix. Many different sites and start-ups will integrate things like social rental search, local community, and other forms of social networking, and company culture. Several companies at the IC displayed how they treat people well (such as Zappos.com) which equates to social justice, something that many companies lack.
Some of the conference speakers actually brought ideas outside of the normal technology, real estate and economic gain realm. San Francisco’s own Craig Newmark (the Craig's List founder and consumer service guru) started his presentation by showing a little bird in the back yard of his home near Sutro Forest. Craig mentioned, “I like nature when it is convenient.” He also mentioned that he Twitters a lot but that much of it is related to nature. Craig talked about his big push to help the returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who have been shortchanged on their education benefits. You can get the full scoop at the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, IAVA.org.
A lot of people, including us, learned that it isn't about competetion. The words that stuck with many people and that other speakers referred to are the wise words of Craig Newmark, “If we don’t collaborate, we’re dead.”
For some people the act of walking in to a shopping mall during a huge sale makes them sort of shake like they are on crack and for me and my friend Mouse, walking into Scrap for the first time, it caused a similar reaction. How could I not have known about this place? True, the location could not be less in the middle of nowhere and in San Francisco that is quite a trick. But still, I have no excuse.
Scrap, which their pamphlet calls “a creative reuse center and workshop space” came about in 1976, way before recycling and Green became trendy, as a resource for artists and teachers. Scrap also set out to promote environmental awareness and creative reuse.
The non-profit Scrap, receives numerous donations from business, individuals, and various groups in their warehouse space. The groups not only keep these items from the landfill but they receive tax credits. This source for the resourceful also draws numerous artists, burners, and other just looking to re-use materials at a discount. Who needs some office warehouse when you can pick up a ream of freshly donated paper for about $3? Need envelopes, frames, textiles, flooring, jewelry at a discount then this place will serve for many, like me, as a shopping heaven.
Scrap also offers classes and workshops where people lean to reduce, reuse and recycle in various media and techniques. Apparently, New York City has there own version of Scrap. But with all of the waste and overflowing landfills, it would seem a no brainer to open Scrap like places in other cities. My idea - Scrap, the non-profit franchise. Shop on!
The new flick 500 Days of Summer, which generated much buzz as the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, rolls out in limited release today. Lot’s of people are talking about it as a romantic comedy meets Momento which in film terms means that those with ADD or short attention spans might be confused by this rambunctious romantic romp. But for us, the buzz doesn’t just lie in the zigzagging sex talk but rather in the architecture talk. Even more specifically in the Green architecture talk.
Now Tom Hansen, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) isn’t exactly Howard Roark but his some of the film’s core revolves around Hansen’s progressive architecture thinking. Even more he talks about density in Los Angeles as he admires Pershing square. Density in Los Angeles of all places. We can hardly stand it.
Even later in the film after the romances goes South, Hansen picks up a Green architecture book and delves into it. Maybe this film won’t be an LA Story or When Harry Met Harry film for the ages but now we have sustainable architecture thinking sneaking into progressively solid romantic comedies. For us, that’s better than a tub of organic popcorn and a soda without high fructose corn syrup.
Did you know that if you install a Biomass Stove – wood, pellets, etc. that you can nab a 30% tax credit ($1,500 max) up until 2010? Who knows that homeowners can get a 30% tax break for installing Solar Hot Water Heating until 2016? Maybe the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which was signed into law by President Obama in February 2009 isn’t as complicated as the IRS tax code but does anyone really want to delve into the 400 pages of legislation to figure all the ins and outs about how to qualify for the green tax credits available to homeowners?
We ploughed through some of the well organized and highly useful guide and discovered that beyond the tax credits, homeowners can save even more money through rebates as well as a breakdown to many money and environment friendly loans for energy efficient home improvements. One loan that we like is the Energy Star Loan which homeowners can use for installation of qualifying improvements that are Energy Star rated or meet program standards.
Here are some of the details: The Loan Amount: $1,000-$15,000 Rate and Term: 6.99% Fixed Rate; 3, 5, or 10 year term. ii. Unsecured, no lien. iii. No Fees or closing costs. iv. No pre-payment penalty.
Not too shabby.
Finally, the politicians have created some far reaching incentives to truly get on us on the Green road to recovery. This downloadable decoder makes it easy to navigate down that Green road.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Before the recent Whisky Fest in San Francisco, a select group gathered for a whisky tasting of the Bowmore whisky which in itself should be deemed a special treat especially when sipping on the 25 year Bowmore single malt and the 44 year old (older than most us in the room) Bowmore Gold, which up until that moment had only been savored by a few ones in the U.S. Toss in the fact that we sampled this whiskey at the classic power lunch spot meets oh la la One Market and everything seemed to be going as smooth as the and Bowmore 12 and the Tombo Tuna (we hope wild caught).
It's kind of exciting to be around some of the top bloggers, social media giants, and computer media gurus at the 
Now Tom Hansen, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) isn’t exactly 
Did you know that if you install a 
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