Green Business Council

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May 26, 2010 Green Business Council Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:50:00 +0000

Location: Paypal Campus at 17700 East Port Grace Blvd, La Vista, NE 68128

Paypal has been making great green strides as of late. At an organizational level, they have a corporate objective with eBay to reduce their carbon footprint by 12% by 2010 while still expanding their operations. Locally, they have 535 employees enrolled in the Omaha Green Team at the PayPal Omaha campus. All of this activity and focus and resulted in several global initiatives focused on renewable energy (installing one of the first fuel cells in Silicon Valley), green roofs, energy efficiency retrofits of facilities, recycling, community gardening, etc. etc.

Needless to say, there's is a lot going on at Paypal and we at the Green Business Council thought it might be a great opportunity to hear what they've been up to, where they've succeeded, what obstacles they've overcome and how it might relate to your organization.

We'll also be updating you on how the Green Business Certification beta testing is coming along, what's new with the GOC's 'Bridging the Gap between Earth Day and World Environment Day initiative, and all other things green in Omaha. The GBC meeting will be followed by an optional tour of the Paypal facility to see some of the things discussed during the meeting.

Latest Version of the Green Products Compilation is Now Available on FedCenter

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Version 5 of OFEE's green products compilation spreadsheets is now available on the FedCenter web site at http://ow.ly/1vBmbThis version includes updates to the Building Construction and Miscellaneous spreadsheets. In the first quarter of 2010, FEMP published revised standards for commercial clothes washers and small motors, and the effective dates have been added to the product listings in the respective spreadsheets. Contact: Dana Arnold, Senior Program Manager, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, arnold.dana@ofee.gov

Kristi Wamstad Evans speaking at March 24 GBC meeting

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:13:00 +0000

Kristi Wamstad-Evans, the City of Omaha's first Sustainability Coordinator, will update the GBC at the Wednesday, March 24 meeting.
3:30 start time at the Whole Foods 10020 Regency Circle, in the education room by the coffee bar.

GreenerByways Program in Nebraska offers certificate and Mar 31 webinar for tourism industry!

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:33:00 +0000

Who knew about the Greener Byways Program? What looks to be a good initial effort is available for many Nebraska businesses tied to the travel industry. Tourism is the third largest industry in Nebraska. The certificate is available to destinations and all hospitality services. The Greener Byways certificate http://ow.ly/1osOw is in place, offering an on-line sign-up form that I presume is reviewed and evaluated prior to receiving the certificate, window cling, press release form, and informational booklet. Participation in the program is free and voluntary. I can't tell from the site if this is a self-certification only, or if there is some review of the reporting mechanism. Or a public reporting of the score. It looks like a great start! There's also a facebook page, http://ow.ly/1oti8

The March 31 webinar appears to be more geared to answer "Why?" and provide benefits from a couple of green facilities. I wonder how they have scored on the certification? From their description of the webinar:

"Wondering whether green is the way to go for your business? Find out how organizations within Nebraska's tourism industry have taken advantage of environmentally friendly practices during our free webinar, "Green Matters: How going green can benefit your business." Listen as representatives from Ponca State Park and the Arbor Day Foundation discuss why they chose to go green and how it has affected their bottom lines. You'll also get a chance to ask questions and get firsthand advice from these industry experts
Wednesday, March 31 | 2 p.m. CST."

Green Business Council Beta Tests Certification Program

noreply@blogger.com (ktorpy) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:53:00 +0000

The GOC�s Green Business Council (GBC) has developed the Green Business Certification program for local businesses and nonprofit organizations. Following current beta testing, the program should be complete and ready for any business this spring.

To become green certified by the GBC, businesses must self-certify that the company is conducting certain basic environmental practices that help reduce their environmental impacts. Participants must report progress annually and strive to improve their environmental performances over time. Businesses are encouraged to develop environmental programs and goals that create accountability for progress and achievement.

There is no fee for the program, but the organization should be a GOC member.

Rick Yoder, co-chair of the GBC and director of P2RIC, the Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center, explained the reasons a business should consider certifying.
?
�They would want to certify to find that market niche that�s green and then serve that market,� he said. �The program allows a business to show that it�s not just stating that it�s green, but that there is a group of people locally that can say it is green and why. It�s not saying it�s the greenest business in the world, but that the business has taken steps, is showing transparency and is following steps to address environmental concerns.�?

Yoder said the program provides a self-certifying function, but another party, such as WasteCap Nebraska or P2RIC, eventually may be able to analyze organizations and verify higher degrees of certification.

To view the beta version of the Green Business Certification application, visit http://bit.ly/GBCApp.

For more information, contact Yoder at ryoder@mail.unomaha.edu or 402.554.6251.

-Wendy Harrison

__________________________________________________________________

Visit Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) for Energy Efficiency Incentive Database

Did you know that small businesses pay more than the sector average for energy? Small manufacturing firms pay 35 percent more while small commercial businesses pay 30 percent more. Businesses are interested in saving energy for several reasons, including:

� Improving efficiency and productivity
� Reducing operating costs
� Reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil
� Responding to current consumer green trends

Many times, there are low- or no-cost options for businesses to reduce energy consumption. These include turning off equipment at night or when it�s not being used, reducing leakage of the building by weather-stripping, caulking and sealing leaks and setting back the thermostat when the building is unoccupied.

There are also many energy efficiency incentives currently available from local utilities, the state and federal government. Incentives range from replacing existing T-12 fluorescent lamps with T-8 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts, to installing programmable thermostats, new heat-pumps, more efficient motors or using renewable energy. Lighting is typically about 30 percent of building energy costs, so reductions in this area can be significant.

The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) developed and maintains an extensive database of energy efficiency incentives at http://www.nbdc.unomaha.edu/energy/index2.cfm. From this site, you simply click on the graphic of Nebraska, then choose your utility company. You will see all the energy efficiency incentives offered from that utility company, the state of Nebraska and the federal government, with links to the location on their Web sites so you can get more information and application forms.

The NBDC energy site also has some basic energy saving information (Bank Your Power) plus links to two excellent tools from Energy Star. Energy Star Portfolio Manager allows you to benchmark your building�s energy usage and track your improvements. It automatically accounts for the weather, so you can see real changes in energy use. A score of 75 or greater means you are in the top 25 percent of efficiency for your classification of business. If you receive that score, you qualify for Energy Star recognition. You may use Portfolio Manager to easily track improvements as you become more efficient.

Another tool is Energy Star Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator. Use this tool to determine whether it�s better to invest in new technology now or to wait.

For more information, contact Jean Waters, jwaters@unomaha.edu; 402-554-6259.

- Jean Waters

__________________________________________________________________

The Four Most Important Things Your Business Needs to Know Right Now About Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:43:00 +0000

I grow increasingly appreciative of the Marten Law Group's blog about such things. Their four things:
1. Track and Report GHG Emissions
2. Consider Climate Risks in SEC Reporting
3. Anticipate GHG Limits in Clean Air Act Permits
4. Incorporate Climate Change In Environmental Reviews

More here: http://ow.ly/16mdU

NYT: SEC Issues Climate-Risk Guidance Despite Tough Political Environment

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:57:00 +0000

SEC issues climate risk requirement in 3-2 vote

"The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday said companies must disclose to investors the physical impact that climate change has on assets and the consequences of regulations curbing greenhouse gas emissions. The SEC public disclosure guidance on climate-related risks is seen as a major victory by an army of environmental groups and institutional investors that have pressed the issue since 2007."

More: http://ow.ly/11yQn

GBC Green Business Certification Form: Beta Testers Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who helped develop this process and form. Now the rubber hits the road - please download, test and give feedback to the team who worked to bring your ideas to life. The form is linked below and the feedback should go to either GBC co-chairs. Thanks!
application_green_business_reader.pdf

Report Claims Consumers Want To Buy Verifiably Green Goods

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:04:00 +0000

It's too expensive for me to order, so I'll have to trust the summary.� According to the BBMG Conscious Consumer Report for 2009: Redefining Value In a New Economy http://www.bbmg.com/ (look under News & Insights) 77% of� Americans say they can make a difference by purchasing goods from social and environmentally responsible companies, but they want assurances that such claims are backed up with legitimate practices.

City & Omaha by Design to Host Public Meeting on Resource Conservation Jan. 20

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:55:00 +0000

From Teresa Gleason, program manager at Omaha by Design http://www.omahabydesign.org/

OMAHA � What can Omaha do to better conserve the resources it relies on for daily life in the metro?
City officials and Omaha by Design are hosting a public meeting to begin addressing this issue Wednesday, Jan. 20. The event, which serves as the kickoff of the resource conservation component of Environment Omaha, will be held from 6:30 to 8:00pm at the Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine St. It is free and open to the public.
Environment Omaha, launched in November 2008, is a new policy development initiative that's creating an Environmental Element for the city's master plan. It's addressing five major content areas � the natural environment, urban form and transportation, building construction, resource conservation and community health.
The guest speaker for the Jan. 20 event is Amy Malick, Midwest regional director for ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. The organization, founded in 1990 as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, is an international association of local, regional and national government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development.
Malick opened the organization's Chicago office in 2007, which services its Midwest membership across 13 states. Prior to her arrival at ICLEI, she worked for the Chicago Transit Authority and the City of Seattle's Strategic Planning Office. She holds a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington at Seattle with specializations in environmental design and community development.
Malick's presentation will be followed by an information open house. A series of information stations pertaining to water, air and climate, energy, materials and human resources will be set up. City staff and members of the Resource Conservation Advisory Committee will be available at each station to answer questions and record comments. The Resource Conservation Advisory Committee is chaired by Marcella Thompson, ConAgra Foods Inc.
Funding for Environment Omaha, which is receiving significant city staff and resource support, is provided by grants from the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and the City of Omaha's Stormwater Management Plan Program Grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Services.
Parking for the meeting will be available in Lot 9 across the street from the Scott Conference Center. Carpooling, walking, cycling or taking the bus is also encouraged. Metro Area Transit Route 11 stops at The Peter Kiewit Institute. For more information on the bus schedule, visit www.metroareatransit.com.
For members of the public unable to attend the meeting, it will be webcast live on www.environmentomaha.com. Questions and comments can be submitted to www.environmentomaha.com.
For more information, contact Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or info@omahabydesign.org

EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge Web Course 2010 Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:15:00 +0000

EPA Resource Conservation Challenge Web Academy
Solid Waste Management and Recycling Education Series 2010
http://www.epa.gov/waste/rcc/web-academy/index.htm

February 18, 2010	Recycling Markets Update
March 18, 2010	Green Casinos/Venue Sustainability Practices
April 15, 2010	Rural Recycling�Bridging the Gaps
May 20, 2010	Social Marketing-Changing Behavior in Your Community
June 17, 2010	Multi-Family Dwellings Recycling
July 15, 2010	Recycling & Market Development of Unique Materials
August 19, 2010	Food Waste/Organics Reduction and Recycling
September 16, 2010	Greening University Campuses
October 21, 2010	Sustainable Materials Management

New this year, you will be able to receive Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) if you are a member of SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America). Just download the form on our Website and fax it to the SWANA contact listed on the form.

We look forward to your continued participation. You can count on EPA's RCC Web Series to bring you the latest information offered by top experts in the field.

Cordially,

Janice Johnson,
RCC Web Academy Manager

Eco-officers are moving into executive suites

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:21:00 +0000

At many companies, sustainability officers are placed in the upper echelons of companies, where they are highly visible. In some cases, the CEO has taken on the extra duty.
By Tiffany Hsu, The Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2009

As companies grapple with climate change, try to attract eco-conscious customers and develop alternative energy agendas while complying with regulations, a new kind of administrator is moving into the executive suite to help out. Sustainability officers and green supervisors, some say, are successors to the diversity managers and innovation specialists of the 1990s -- with their focus equal parts corporate responsibility, public relations and profit. "Our clients expect this," Pogue said. "A company of our size doesn't have the luxury any longer of not participating."

A good read from the LATimes, http://ow.ly/SH6z

Are your Electronic Purchases Green? Then Say So!

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:57:00 +0000

Interested in 'greening' your electronic purchasing? Already doing so? Please take a short (10 question) survey on the EPEAT green electronics rating system to help us support environmental purchasing of electronics. In observation of this season of giving, we'll enter all completed survey respondents' names into a drawing for a $25 donation to a charity of your choice. Click this link to start the survey, which shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes of your time: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229ZW5MY8RX

EPP: Version 4 of OFEE's Green Products Compilation is Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:43:00 +0000

Version 4 of OFEE's green products compilation spreadsheets is now available on the FedCenter web site,www.fedcenter.gov. It's in the Acquisition section, in the Databases/Software Tools section. This version includes the nine additional biobased products recently designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and new ENERGY STAR standards for audio/visual equipment and geothermal heat pumps. On each page where steel products are listed, there is a new note about the current percentages of recovered materials in steel products. The Steel Recycling Institute announced in December that all new steel manufactured in North America contains at least 28% recycled content. For more information, contact Dana Arnold, Senior Program Manager, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, arnold.dana@ofee.gov, 703-780-4481

Worth a Look: "Green Teams: Engaging Employees in Sustainability"

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Posted at GreenBiz, this new report explores and outlines the 10 best practices for bringing all your employees on board with your company's sustainability projects. From the executive summary of the report:
"Green teams are self-organized, grassroots and cross-functional groups of employees who voluntarily come together to educate, inspire and empower employees around sustainability. They identify and implement specific solutions to help their organization operate in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. Most green teams initially focus on greening operations at the office, addressing such issues as recycling in the office, composting food waste, reducing the use of disposable take-out containers and eliminating plastic water bottles.
This focus on operations is evolving and some green teams are beginning to focus their efforts on integrating sustainability into employees' personal lives, while others are aligning their efforts to support broader corporate sustainability objectives. The business value of integrating sustainability into these three levels includes: cost savings by integrating energy efficiency into the workplace and products and services; attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent who want to work for companies with an authentic green commitment; and increased market share and revenues resulting from a stronger brand and new, innovative green products and services."

Green Business Council Meeting Jan 27, 3:30-5 pm

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Event Location: Whole Foods Education Room
10020 Regency Circle, Omaha

It's a great agenda. We're lucky to have Marcella Thompson, former chair of the Green Business Council in to speak to us in her capacity as the Director of Sustainability at ConAgra Foods. At that job she is responsible for managing the corporate greenhouse gas inventory, and will share her experience with us to provide an overview of Carbon Footprinting. The presentation will include key terms and concepts, what emissions sources are included, and free tools to assist you in calculating your emissions.
After that, the staff from P2RIC will offer the beta Green Business scorecard for use by members of the Green Business Council. This is a process that was developed in conjunction with the member of the GBC. As with any beta, we'll be looking for early adopters in the group to try the scorecard on for size and become the first businesses in town who can say they've met the criteria set by the Green Business Council to call themselves Green Businesses.
As I've mentioned before, the GBC is proud to announce it's new chair is Craig Moody, principal of Verdis Group, http://verdisgroup.com/ We're lucky to have his time - I very much look forward to his leadership.
There will be a Green Drinks at Whole Foods afterwards; please feel welcome to stay and talk with other members of the Green Omaha community.
The next meeting will be Weds, March 24. The City of Omaha's Sustainability Coordinator, Kristi Wamsted-Evans will be presenting.

Existing Energy Efficiency Technologies Could Provide Major Savings

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Energy efficiency technologies that exist today or that are likely to be developed in the near future could save considerable money as well as energy, says a new report from the National Research Council. Fully adopting these technologies could lower projected U.S. energy use 17 percent to 20 percent by 2020, and 25 percent to 31 percent by 2030.
Achieving full deployment of these efficiency technologies will depend in part on pressures driving adoption, such as high energy prices or public policies designed to increase energy efficiency. Nearly 70 percent of electricity consumption in the United States occurs in buildings. The energy savings from attaining full deployment of cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies in buildings alone could eliminate the need to add new electricity generation capacity through 2030, the report says. New power generation facilities would be needed only to address imbalances in regional energy supplies, replace obsolete facilities, or to introduce more environmentally friendly sources of electricity.
Many cost-effective efficiency investments in buildings are possible, the report says. For example, replacing appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, and hot water heaters with more efficient models could reduce energy use by 30 percent. Opportunities for achieving substantial energy savings exist in the industrial and transportation sectors as well. For example, deployment of industrial energy efficiency technologies could reduce energy use in manufacturing 14 percent to 22 percent by 2020, relative to expected trends. Most of these savings would occur in the most energy-intensive industries, such as chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, iron and steel, and cement.
Although there is great potential, many barriers exist to widespread adoption of energy efficiency technologies, the report points out. The upfront costs can be high, which can deter investment despite the possibility of long-term cost savings. Volatile energy prices can cause buyers to delay purchasing more efficient technology due to a lack of confidence that they will see an adequate return on their investment. In addition, there is a shortage of readily available, trustworthy information for consumers hoping to learn about the relative performance and costs of energy-efficient technology alternatives. Investments in energy-efficient infrastructure are particularly important, as these can lock in patterns of energy use for decades. Therefore, taking advantage of windows of opportunity for infrastructure is crucial.
Overcoming these barriers will require significant public and private support, and sustained effort. Many energy efficiency initiatives have been successful, such as the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star labeling program. Efforts undertaken by California and New York have yielded large energy savings for those states. These experiences provide valuable lessons for national, state, and local policymakers on enacting effective energy efficiency policies.
This is the final report in a series from the National Academies' America's Energy Future project, which was undertaken to stimulate and inform a constructive national dialogue about the nation's energy future.
Copies of Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States are available from the National Academies Press. http://j.mp/8uPxZS

New Report: Efficiency is the Best Policy to Achieve Climate Change Success

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:35:00 +0000

What? Efficiency is the best strategy? That's hardly news; it's been U.S. national policy since the P2 Act of 1990.
From the World Business Council for Sustainable Development: "Governments around the world could make rapid, substantial and relatively cheap cuts to carbon emissions by pursuing energy efficiency in place of more ambitious, but expensive, technological solutions, says a new study." http://j.mp/5n7BT9
From the NY Times "A new report on energy efficiency from the consulting firm McKinsey found that the United States could save $1.2 trillion through 2020, by investing $520 billion in improvements like sealing leaky building ducts and replacing inefficient household appliances with new, energy-saving models." http://j.mp/bwVgv
The report from McKinsey & Co is available here: http://j.mp/6vhvJ

New CBO Report: "The Costs of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions"

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:00:00 +0000

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) last week published a new issue summary examining the likely economic burden to be imposed by the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. "The Costs of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions" specifically discusses the economic costs of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in the U.S., describing the main determinants of costs, how analysts estimate those costs, and the magnitude of estimated costs. The brief also illustrates the uncertainty surrounding such estimates using studies of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 which was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year. The study found that the costs of reducing emissions would depend on several factors: * The growth of emissions in the absence of policy changes; * The types of policies used to restrict emissions; * The magnitude of the reductions achieved by those policies; * The extent to which producers and consumers could moderate emission-intensive activities without reducing their material well-being; and, * The policies pursued by other countries. After examining the incremental cost, aggregate cost and distribution of costs of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, CBO concluded that policymakers face a basic choice: "whether to adopt conventional regulatory approaches, such as setting standards for machinery, equipment, and appliances, or to employ market-based approaches, such as imposing taxes on emissions or establishing cap-and-trade programs. Experts generally conclude that market-based approaches would reduce emissions to a specified level at significantly lower cost than conventional regulations. Whereas conventional regulations impose specific requirements that may not be the least costly means of reducing emissions, market-based approaches would provide much more latitude for firms and households to determine the cost cost-effective means of accomplishing that goal." The entire 12-page CBO report is available athttp://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/104xx/doc10458/11-23-GHG_Emissions_Brief.pdf
Thanks to Robert Rains at ASME for the information.

Postponed: Green Business Council Meeting Dec 9, 3:30-5 pm

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:39:00 +0000

Event Location: Whole Foods Education Room
10020 Regency Circle, Omaha

It's a great agenda. We're lucky to have Marcella Thompson, former chair of the Green Business Council (did I mention we have a new chair?) in to speak to us in her capacity as the Director of Sustainability at ConAgra Foods. At that job she is responsible for managing the corporate greenhouse gas inventory, and will share her experience with us to provide an overview of Carbon Footprinting. The presentation will include key terms and concepts, what emissions sources are included, and free tools to assist you in calculating your emissions.
After that, the staff from P2RIC will offer the beta Green Business scorecard for use by members of the Green Business Council. This is a process that was developed in conjunction with the member of the GBC. As with any beta, we'll be looking for early adopters in the group to try the scorecard on for size and become the first businesses in town who can say they've met the criteria set by the Green Business Council to call themselves Green Businesses.
Alas, because of the reschedule, there will not be a planned Green Drinks at Whole Foods afterwards. I'm sure they wouldn't mind an impromptu gathering of customers after the meeting - we'll check the space for availability.
As I mentioned above, the GBC is proud to announce it's new chair is Craig Moody, principal of Verdis Group, http://verdisgroup.com/ We're lucky to have his time - I very much look forward to his leadership.
The next meeting will be Weds, January 27. The City of Omaha's Sustainability Coordinator, Kristi Wamsted-Evans will be presenting.

The Green Business Council is part of the Green Omaha Coalition. http://www.greenomahacoalition.org/articles/greenbusiness/ The GBC mission is to create a network of businesses interested in sharing sustainable practices and recognize leading green businesses in Omaha. The GBC invites interested businesses from all industries to improve the sustainability of their operations. The GBC addresses a wide variety of environmental programs, including but not limited to: procurement, resource efficiency (energy and water), waste reduction (solid and hazardous), climate change, and green building. The GBC seeks to involve two business groups: (1) those already implementing sustainability programs and (2) those interested but lacking the resources to pursue and implement sustainable strategies.

Sustainable Networking Event Weds, Dec 16, 6-8pm

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:59:00 +0000

LISTEN, TALK AND ENJOY ORGANIC WINE TASTING AT THE SUSTAINABLE NETWORKING EVENT AT THE PIZZA SHOPPE COLLECTIVE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16TH, 2009, 6-8pm, free to all

Small Businesses and Sustainable Organizations Collaborate! The Greener Omaha Coalition, Verdis Group, The Benson-Ames Alliance, Element Distributing, and The Pizza Shoppe Collective have teamed up to provide faster, more efficient networking for those interested in supporting environmentally-friendly activity
within the Omaha community.
How we started: After surveying 65 'green' organizations (community advocates, entrepreneurs, non-profits), we have discovered that the challenges of these various sustainable groups were similar, i.e., they all need particular support and connections in order to achieve their goals. From this we have developed a free, casual networking event, which allows guests to have some assistance with their needs.
Those attending will have the opportunity to discuss sustainable business practices with our special guest speaker, Kristi Wamstad-Evans, The Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Omaha. The latter half of the event will be specific 'breakout sessions' to assist those involved with the following areas of focus: 1. Marketing 2. Business planning c. Financing/funding d. Sustainable Solutions
There will be facilitators representing each component who will be able to direct guests to the proper channels in order to ease and expedite the process of growth for sustainable interests.
Craig Moody of Verdis Group, states, "This event was created to provide the sustainable community with more of what they need to be successful. By focusing on these four areas, we are targeting the most common obstacles and hoping to help attendees break free from the restraints that are holding them back."
There will also be an organic wine tasting with Republic National Distributing Company.

Amy Ryan/Pizza Shoppe Collective
Phone: 402.884.8680
Email: amy@pscollective.com
Web site: http://www.pscollective.com

WasteCap Nebraska's Omaha Regional Green Team Roundtable Meeting Dec 9

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:52:00 +0000

When: Wednesday, December 9th from 11:30am-1pm
Where: Omaha recycling facility (8616 G Street)

LifeSpan Recycling is hosting WasteCap Nebraska's Omaha Green Team Roundtable. The Roundtable provides businesses an opportunity to network, sharing their stewardship ideas, successes and environmental challenges and solutions. The gathering will begin with open networking, a short environmental educational segment from UNL Engineering College's P3 program on "What it Means to be Green: Operating a Sustainable Business using the Easy and Profitable Techniques of Pollution Prevention," followed by a presentation and facility tour by LifeSpan Recycling. LifeSpan is a certified computer and electronics recycler.
WasteCap is a member based, non-profit, environmental organization, dedicated to assisting business develop and adopt green practices- that improves their profitability. WasteCap helps business with simple issues like setting up recycling plans and green teams to high tech issues dealing with energy, water, and air issues. WasteCap is where conservation meets common sense.
LifeSpan is providing lunch. As a result attendees must RSVP by calling with WasteCap at (402)436-2383 or email rbeckman@wastecapne.org.

Message from NWF: Show Business Support for Climate Legislation

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Nebraska businesses big and small can join the fight for strong climate legislation! � American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE) is a new initiative to support action on clean energy and climate change policies, by offering a platform for U.S. businesses to express their support for meaningful and effective solutions that will drive clean technology innovation, create jobs, and address the threat of global climate change. � ABCE shows the breadth of support among businesses of all sizes, from all states, for moving America forward with clean energy that will strengthen our economy, make us more secure and reduce pollution. � ABCE supports strong, comprehensive clean energy and climate policies will drive investment in cost-lowering and energy-saving technologies, create a new wave of industrial growth that is supported by millions of new business opportunities and jobs here in the United States, restore our technological edge and increase security here at home by reducing our dependence on energy sources from overseas. It doesn't matter what kind of business you have -- big, small, or sole proprietor -- or what business you are in -- doctor, lawyer, clean energy, chimney sweep, whatever -- you can add your name to the list of businesses supporting strong climate change legislation. Tell Duane Hovorka you are interested (HovorkaD@NWF.org) and he will send you the sign-on letter to review, and pdf of a poster you can put in your window showing your support for good legislation. The National Wildlife Federation is collecting names for the business sign-on to demonstrate support from the Nebraska business community for strong legislation -- add your business's name today!

Comment Period ends Nov 30: EPA's DfE Criteria for Safer Cleaning Products

noreply@blogger.com (P2RIC) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:28:00 +0000

USEPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program crafted changes to "EPA's DfE Criteria for Safer Cleaning Products (CSCP) in the Form of a Standard" ("DfE Criteria"). DfE initiated the changes in response to comments and suggestions from a broad spectrum of stakeholders who support these new provisions. The changes are intended to enhance the DfE Criteria and DfE Safer Product Labeling Program, which prevents pollution at its source by guiding and encouraging the replacement of chemicals of concern with safer alternatives in a variety of chemical-based products.
The comment solicitation is here: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/enhancements_to_dfe_criteria.html
The full criteria document (31 pp, 175K) that contains the changes in context and highlighted is here: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/formulat/dfe_criteria_for_cleaning_products_10_09.pdf
To make it easy to get your comments included, you should send them directly to David Difiore (difiori.david@epa.gov) as the government site is virtually impossible to figure out� DfE has made it known that sending comments to David will be considered "officially" included in the public comments.