Blog Posts By Month: May, 2009
I am always on the lookout for information on success. I found the following in "the Bottom Line Newsletter:"
1. Seek out the top experts and get their advice.
As I have developed my career over the years I have followed this advice regularly. McRae Anderson, Barbara Helfman, Mary Golden and Vicky Cate have all helped me at one time or another with my interior plantscaping business and Charlie Miller, Chris Lyon, Paul Kephart and Jennifer Sprout have lent me their advice on the green roof side.
2. Think Big, Plan carefully, Execute Perfectly.
I'm not as good on this one. I think BIG all the time. Planning carefully has been an issue as I get impatient and want to achieve my BIG goal right away. Executing perfectly, well... if I planned better...
3. Follow up and follow up again.
This is a strong area. I am often struggling between feeling good about being persistent and worrying that I am becoming a pest.
4. Never accept "no" and make it easy to say "yes."
It's sometimes hard to say "no" to a client or potential client. And if I am in the process of winning a bid, I don't take "no" until it's the only option left. I've managed to get myself into some interesting projects that way and more often than not, came out looking good!
5. Keep it simple.
I heard the KISS acronym years ago "Keep It Simple Stupid" and try to remember it anytime we get bogged down in minutiae.
6. Seek constant incremental improvement.
It's the mantra of total quality management and one we look at regularly.
7. Show appreciation.
I'm not sure we do this enough, but it's always a good thing to send a thank you note. I am confident that most of the time a client gets the message of our appreciation.
8. Never compromise integrity.
I've only really fallen down on this one as I was focused on my personal life during a time of great personal upheaval and allowed someone to run my business for me. Despite an excellent reputation and high profits, this person turned out to be a horrible choice and nearly ruined me as she alienated clients and beat up on employees. This has been one of the most embarrassing moments in my career. Now I keep that valuable lesson in mind as I move forward.
1. Seek out the top experts and get their advice.
As I have developed my career over the years I have followed this advice regularly. McRae Anderson, Barbara Helfman, Mary Golden and Vicky Cate have all helped me at one time or another with my interior plantscaping business and Charlie Miller, Chris Lyon, Paul Kephart and Jennifer Sprout have lent me their advice on the green roof side.
2. Think Big, Plan carefully, Execute Perfectly.
I'm not as good on this one. I think BIG all the time. Planning carefully has been an issue as I get impatient and want to achieve my BIG goal right away. Executing perfectly, well... if I planned better...
3. Follow up and follow up again.
This is a strong area. I am often struggling between feeling good about being persistent and worrying that I am becoming a pest.
4. Never accept "no" and make it easy to say "yes."
It's sometimes hard to say "no" to a client or potential client. And if I am in the process of winning a bid, I don't take "no" until it's the only option left. I've managed to get myself into some interesting projects that way and more often than not, came out looking good!
5. Keep it simple.
I heard the KISS acronym years ago "Keep It Simple Stupid" and try to remember it anytime we get bogged down in minutiae.
6. Seek constant incremental improvement.
It's the mantra of total quality management and one we look at regularly.
7. Show appreciation.
I'm not sure we do this enough, but it's always a good thing to send a thank you note. I am confident that most of the time a client gets the message of our appreciation.
8. Never compromise integrity.
I've only really fallen down on this one as I was focused on my personal life during a time of great personal upheaval and allowed someone to run my business for me. Despite an excellent reputation and high profits, this person turned out to be a horrible choice and nearly ruined me as she alienated clients and beat up on employees. This has been one of the most embarrassing moments in my career. Now I keep that valuable lesson in mind as I move forward.
My assistant, Pari, attended the May USGBC GreenMeet last night at the CCSE building. The speaker detailed the process Sweetwater Union High School District went through to use Proposition O funding to build 1-4 buildings on 9 campuses while targeting LEED Gold certification and CHPS Program compliance.
She was really impressed.
It was a very frank discussion on the use of LEED as a guide, not a driver, for creating sustainable buildings. By 2011, all nine campuses should have at least one new building to call home, creating a new environment for their students, and an example to build into their curriculum for how campuses and other facilities such as theirs can (and should!) look like in the future.
The District is perhaps the only one of its kind in the state that is making these changes on such a large scale. What an example to set for school districts in the region, and around the nation! While they made it clear that it is an endeavor only attainable by a large team of professionals with varying backgrounds: architects; LEED, environmental, photovoltaic, power purchase agreement consultants; and project and construction managers, just to name a few, it is not impossible!
The speaker from Gilbane/SGI, Jaime Ortiz, went through the basic steps necessary to initiate and design a project of this size. It sounded like they are close to submitting all their plans for approval, so they still have a long way to go, but Pari definitely appreciated the basic breakdown and walked away with many helpful tips.
Yet another successful USGBC event!
She was really impressed.
It was a very frank discussion on the use of LEED as a guide, not a driver, for creating sustainable buildings. By 2011, all nine campuses should have at least one new building to call home, creating a new environment for their students, and an example to build into their curriculum for how campuses and other facilities such as theirs can (and should!) look like in the future.
The District is perhaps the only one of its kind in the state that is making these changes on such a large scale. What an example to set for school districts in the region, and around the nation! While they made it clear that it is an endeavor only attainable by a large team of professionals with varying backgrounds: architects; LEED, environmental, photovoltaic, power purchase agreement consultants; and project and construction managers, just to name a few, it is not impossible!
The speaker from Gilbane/SGI, Jaime Ortiz, went through the basic steps necessary to initiate and design a project of this size. It sounded like they are close to submitting all their plans for approval, so they still have a long way to go, but Pari definitely appreciated the basic breakdown and walked away with many helpful tips.
Yet another successful USGBC event!
A slide show attachment to an email I recently received about the perils of bottled water got me thinking. We've all seen the statistics of course; particularly when the news of BPAs leaching into our water reared its ugly head a year or so ago. But it never hurts to look over the numbers again as a reminder, right?
According to www.Earth911.com, Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year and nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill. In 2006, it took more than 17 million barrels of oil (excluding the oil used in transporting the plastic) to produce plastic bottles. The manufacturing process of creating bottled water created more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. It also takes more than three liters of water to create one liter of bottled water. In the end, only 13 percent of water bottles were recycled in 2006.
In looking over the email attachment, I found the above website to have a range of resources for the home (www.Earth911.com) and business (www.Earth911Business.com) to help us all as we strive to make environmentally friendly changes to the way we live and work. There are definitely some fun tips that will re-energize your family and coworkers' efforts. It also helps link you with local resources to help you recycle e-waste, paper, metal, plastics, organics and hazardous materials. Check it out!
According to www.Earth911.com, Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year and nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill. In 2006, it took more than 17 million barrels of oil (excluding the oil used in transporting the plastic) to produce plastic bottles. The manufacturing process of creating bottled water created more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. It also takes more than three liters of water to create one liter of bottled water. In the end, only 13 percent of water bottles were recycled in 2006.
In looking over the email attachment, I found the above website to have a range of resources for the home (www.Earth911.com) and business (www.Earth911Business.com) to help us all as we strive to make environmentally friendly changes to the way we live and work. There are definitely some fun tips that will re-energize your family and coworkers' efforts. It also helps link you with local resources to help you recycle e-waste, paper, metal, plastics, organics and hazardous materials. Check it out!
I found this quote from Steve Jobs of Apple fame. Makes me a little more comfortable for not having followed the rules and being somewhat crazy...
Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
- Steve Jobs
Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
- Steve Jobs
On Tuesday night I had the opportunity to be one of the respondents at UCSD's Sustainable Solutions Institute's Greenovation program. The theme this year is water, and Tuesday's talks centered around "The Water That We Eat." The first speaker was Professor Ayelet Gneezy who spoke on the behavioral changes required to get everyone on board with the responsible use of our diminishing resources. The second speaker was Scott Murray who runs the Academy Agriculture Program in San Pasqual Valley. They tend a large organic farm run by foster kids and appear to have an amazingly successful program. I think I see a green roof or living wall in their future!
During my 5 minute talk, I touched on the lack of distribution of the purple pipe reclaimed water and the frustrating lack of legal gray water in San Diego. I was also pleased to describe my first harvested salad from our green wall! I think it cost me about $1,000...
During my 5 minute talk, I touched on the lack of distribution of the purple pipe reclaimed water and the frustrating lack of legal gray water in San Diego. I was also pleased to describe my first harvested salad from our green wall! I think it cost me about $1,000...
I've paraphrased an article written by Michael Kanellos about a new green building planned for China. How come they seem to be so far ahead of us in understanding what it will take to make an urban environment hospitable and comfortable? What a concept!
New for Green Buildings: City Parks in the Sky
The second tallest building in the world will include city parks on most floors.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Shanghai Center, due to open in 2014, won't just be the world's second tallest building at 632 meters. It will also be a set of neighborhoods stacked on top of each other.
"The building will contain eight separate neighborhoods each 14 stories tall," says Dan Winey, managing principal for the Asia Pacific office of the architectural firm Gensler, which designed the building. These neighborhoods will contain retail outlets, office space and residences. But at the outer perimeter of each floor of these neighborhoods will be city parks complete with trees, tables and all of the other stuff (except bums) one would expect in a city park.
"All of the parks will be open to the public," he said, during a presentation at the Scaling Up conference sponsored by the Asia Society (see The Beijing Watercube: Better Than Solar Panels). Putting the park inside of a building might have dystopian overtones - but it's a natural extension of the green building concept and the evolving sense of urbanism. To save energy and resources, people are increasingly going to move toward cities. And with real estate at a premium, it makes sense to build up.
"In China, cities are about survival. For the Chinese it is not a lifestyle choice, and it is rapidly becoming the same for America itself," said John Kriken. China has taken some steps toward energy efficient urban planning, he noted. Many of the developments by Shui On Land get rave reviews for blending lifestyle comfort into projects. Generic residential structures are aligned east to west to get two hours of natural sunlight a day. If an apartment gets less, it is reclassified as a workspace.
If people are going to be crowded in cities, they will need open space. Also noted is that the center would use far less energy and water than conventional buildings (see Investors High on Water). Rainwater recovery and grey water recycling systems will cut water use by a minimum of 40 percent, he said. The owners may even include black water treatment. This involves taking sewage and purifying it to drinking level standards - Singapore, which imports half of its water from Malaysia, does this already for a small percentage of its water supply. The country officially calls it NEWater.
The 632 meter high tower, which will sport 5.4 million square feet of floor space, will also have wind turbines to run the exterior lights. Cooling and heating, two of the big energy hogs in the world today, will be provided in part through geothermal systems and thermal mass storage, i.e., giant ice machines that will produce ice at night for cooling in the day.
New for Green Buildings: City Parks in the Sky
The second tallest building in the world will include city parks on most floors.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Shanghai Center, due to open in 2014, won't just be the world's second tallest building at 632 meters. It will also be a set of neighborhoods stacked on top of each other.
"The building will contain eight separate neighborhoods each 14 stories tall," says Dan Winey, managing principal for the Asia Pacific office of the architectural firm Gensler, which designed the building. These neighborhoods will contain retail outlets, office space and residences. But at the outer perimeter of each floor of these neighborhoods will be city parks complete with trees, tables and all of the other stuff (except bums) one would expect in a city park.
"All of the parks will be open to the public," he said, during a presentation at the Scaling Up conference sponsored by the Asia Society (see The Beijing Watercube: Better Than Solar Panels). Putting the park inside of a building might have dystopian overtones - but it's a natural extension of the green building concept and the evolving sense of urbanism. To save energy and resources, people are increasingly going to move toward cities. And with real estate at a premium, it makes sense to build up.
"In China, cities are about survival. For the Chinese it is not a lifestyle choice, and it is rapidly becoming the same for America itself," said John Kriken. China has taken some steps toward energy efficient urban planning, he noted. Many of the developments by Shui On Land get rave reviews for blending lifestyle comfort into projects. Generic residential structures are aligned east to west to get two hours of natural sunlight a day. If an apartment gets less, it is reclassified as a workspace.
If people are going to be crowded in cities, they will need open space. Also noted is that the center would use far less energy and water than conventional buildings (see Investors High on Water). Rainwater recovery and grey water recycling systems will cut water use by a minimum of 40 percent, he said. The owners may even include black water treatment. This involves taking sewage and purifying it to drinking level standards - Singapore, which imports half of its water from Malaysia, does this already for a small percentage of its water supply. The country officially calls it NEWater.
The 632 meter high tower, which will sport 5.4 million square feet of floor space, will also have wind turbines to run the exterior lights. Cooling and heating, two of the big energy hogs in the world today, will be provided in part through geothermal systems and thermal mass storage, i.e., giant ice machines that will produce ice at night for cooling in the day.
Well, it only took two years, but earlier this week, we finally got our green roof building permit approved!
"But, Jim, you already have your green roof built," you say.
Yes, we went about the process a bit backwards. But the process itself was not without its challenges. To start, the process to permit a green roof did not yet exist in the City of San Diego! But working with the good people in the building department, we've not only helped to educate and excite them on this innovative tool in the sustainable toolbox, but we've done a complete 180 from having an un-permitted structure, to soon presenting a green roofs "how-to" to the City's building department!
While green roofs do exist in the region, they are usually approved through the permitting of a new building as a whole. But to obtain a permit to retrofit your existing building to add a green roof, that step had yet to be taken.
Needless to say, we are so proud of the legwork. It was a tough road, but having been through it, we are all the more prepared to help our future clients and partners as they navigate the process.
- Getting the final stamps for Structural -
- Getting the final approval stamp -
Our first "harvest" from our herb and veggie living wall!
Spring salad a la Good Earth! Includes Parsley, Lemon Mint, Pineapple Mint, Purple Sage, Peppermint, Oregano and those vibrant mini greens with the purple leaves, tossed with a cool Poppy Seed Vinaigrette. Yummy!
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