Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Where does it all come from – the paper you print your articles on, for the newspaper, for receipts and brochures? Is it recycled? Is it taken from illegally logged forests?
The November EcoHour focused on sustainable forestry and featured Amy Smith and Lisa Stocker who helped us to answer some of these questions. Amy Smith is the Senior Program Officer with the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Forest and Trade Network-North America (GFTN-NA) program. Amy kicked off her career working in Columbia and Peru, experiencing firsthand the biological and socioeconomic impacts of deforestation and illegal logging. After working with local communities to transform sustainably forested products into high value products, Amy began working more globally on sustainable forest trading systems as a whole with GFTN-NA.
Lisa Stocker is the Sustainable Business Manager at Domtar, a member of the GFTN-NA that works to facilitate Forest Stewardship Council certification for the private landowners who provide the bulk of their fiber. Lisa got her start in forestry as well, managing forest lands as a forester with International Paper. She saw firsthand wood procurement practices, the impact of logging, and the lack of a solid connection between forest practices and manufacturing in the paper industry. Following her work with Rainforest Alliance and communities directly impacted by logging, Lisa came “full circle to engage with consumers and users.”
Tracking paper supplies from forest floor to printing floor is one of the critical steps in creating a sustainable system to better manage our global forests and cut back on illegal logging. Amy works to connect the dots on the supply chain so that companies interested in sustainable forestry can be linked with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified logging operations. From the supplier’s perspective, Lisa emphasized the multiple benefits that Domtar has had since working with GFTN-NA and becoming the first company to have FSC certified land in the Adirondacks. As Lisa stated, it has impacted “our understanding of the global implications of what we do.”
By connecting the dots in the supply chain, and ensuring that a sustainably harvested log gets FSC certification and goes to a company that values FSC certified wood or paper products, a more sustainable and responsible system is created. When you buy FSC certified paper, you can be fairly certain where it came from and the practices that were allowed.
Although as Amy pointed out, “you can wrap around the world 10 times all the logs that are logged illegally,” today ten percent of forests are FSC certified. As Domtar and other companies are discovering, “good forest management is a driver of economic return for communities.”
In other words, a sustainable forest trading system can be sustainable for the environment, but also sustainable financially.
Today Marks the Day….
Today’s Google Doodle reminds us that today we celebrate Marie Curie‘s 144th birthday. Is her name not ringing a bell? Think radioactivity…. Not only was Curie a groundbreaking physicist and chemist, but her accomplishments are also noteworthy because she was a woman scientist working in the early 20th century. Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1903 and is the only woman to ever win two (not to mention they are in separate fields). Among her scientific achievements, this Polish woman was also the first female professor at the University of Paris.
Marie Curie put forward a theory for radioactivity and developed techniques for identifying isotopes. Later in her career, she discovered two elements, the first of which she named “Polonium” after her native country. After establishing the Curie Institute in Paris and Warsaw, she inspired the first scientific research exploring the medical application of radiation to treat tumors. She shared her first Nobel Prize with her husband, as her daughter then did with her own husband many years later. Science runs in her DNA to be sure!
Despite celebrating her birthday today, we should remember that she only died a mere 80 years ago. Only 100 years ago we were just beginning to understand the radioactivity of the elements on earth. The evolution of science is really an incredible thing to witness. Each day, grad students, professors, and research technicians return to lab benches or computer monitors or field sites and search for answers. The small bits of information that they gather feeds into an ever-growing scientific body of knowledge.
Thanks to Google for reminding us to take a few moments today to celebrate a brave and dynamic woman who contributed to the past and future accomplishments that shape our world. While this dedication is worthy of praise, it really takes a visionary innovator to completely challenge accepted theories or even synthesize the information that is gathered to create something meaningful. The Curie family did this but across disciplines and fields to provide groundbreaking perspectives. While it seems that progress is slow, it was only 100 years ago that women did not teach science in universities around the world. Who knows what social or environmental injustices might be eradicated by science and social change in the next 100.
Mark your calendars for the eco-party of the year for DC’s green gals and guys! There will be light hors d’oeuvres, prizes and happy hour prices on food and drinks all night.
Wednesday, December 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm @ Local 16 (a few blocks from U Street Metro).
Jessica Barnhouse, one of the female student architects of the award-winning Empowerhouse designed for the 2011 Solar Decathlon has been making houses since she was six. ‘I’ve always wanted to be an architect,’ she said. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. This year’s Solar Decathlonran from September 23 through October 1 on the National Mall’s West Potomac Park.
Jessica Barnhouse
Empowerhouse, which Barnhouse helped design and build, as part of the 45-person team from Parsons New School for Design and the Stevens Institute of Technology, not only won the competition’s affordability award but will also become a home for a Habitat for Humanity family in DC’s Northeast neighborhood of Deanwood. Empowerhouse is a site net zero energy home using as much energy as it produces, eliminating electricity bills for its Deanwood occupants. The home is designed to occupy just 1,000 square feet and cost less than $230,000 to construct. Learn more about the energy efficient design of the house. The house is one of 20 built by Solar Decathlon competitors and the only one ever to remain in DC.
The Empowerhouse team worked in partnership with the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development, Groundwork Anacostia and Habitat for Humanity of Washington D.C. a volunteer – led non-profit working to build affordable, energy and resource –efficient homes for people in need.
‘We partnered with Habitat for Humanity, because we wanted to push green energy forward. Habitat for Humanity is interested in changing the way they build to incorporate more Passive House standards,’ Barnhouse commented.
Empowerhouse - Back Porch View
The collaboration with the non-profit organization and the Deanwood community added a layer of complexity to an already demanding project. ‘We came to Washington several times to meet with community stakeholders and incorporate their input into the design of the house. As a result of community feedback the Parson’s students added a north porch facing the street that invites residents and neighbors to congregate as well as private south porch with composting and a cooking surface. The team knew they had to be extremely practical with their design and building approach, Barnhouse said. ‘We as students had to physically build the house and Habitat volunteers had to be able to build it.’ Working with the organization was ‘an inspiration,’ according to Barnhouse.
The project was not without its challenges, she said. The Decathlon required students at times to work outside of their comfort zones. ‘Architects rarely do the actual construction on what they design,’ she said. ‘As students we didn’t all come to the project knowing how to install sprinkler systems or every detail of electrical codes, but we taught ourselves. If we can do it than others can do it.’
In fact, one of the best parts of the competition to Barnhouse was stretching herself. ‘Personally, I’ve gotten interested in civil engineering as a result of the competition,’ she said. The energy efficient house is scheduled to be moved to the Deanwood neighborhood later this month where the Parsons team hopes ‘it will serve as an educational tool to inspire community members to incorporate affordable green practices into their everyday lives. For Barnhouse, it’s now back to the books. She anticipates finishing her Master’s degree with Parsons in 2012.
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This post discusses our September EcoHour with Monica Murphy, Manager of the Advanced Technology Demonstration Program at General Motors.
DC EcoWomen got a peek under the hood of hybrid car technology during its September Eco Hour when General Motors executive Monica Murphy brought two new Chevrolet Volts for the group’s inspection outside of Teaism in downtown DC.
The women’s hands-on exploration of the two new electric cars followed Murphy’s talk outlining GM’s new market strategy where Murphy also touched on her personal experience in a male-dominated field during her 21-year career with GM. She worked with Chevrolet dealer groups on marketing and advertising programs in the Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia areas and distinguished herself by persuading the dealers to order new inventory.
‘It’s not surprising that a field like automotive is male dominated. For 10-15 years of my career I felt like I was the only woman in the group. I felt like I had to work harder than my male colleagues to be noticed. I’m competitive so I liked making those sales quotas,’ she said.
Murphy moved from Sales to Research and Development where she said she felt more like ‘one of the guys.’ As the Manager of the Advanced Technology Demonstration Programs for the Eastern Region, she currently manages GM’s fleet of Chevrolet Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles and the new Chevy Volt electric vehicle. ‘It’s great to be on the forefront of two new technologies.’
She was very involved in GM’s ‘Project Driveway’ the company’s 30-month long, live market test of the Chevrolet Equinox beginning in 2007. For the test, GM loaned out 100 hydrogen fuel cell –powered cars to volunteers in cities around the world and drivers blogged their experiences. ‘As a result of the learnings of Project Driveway’, Murphy said ‘GM was able to reduce the size of the system in the Equinox and use about a third of the platinum from the original.’ The company is currently testing a production-intent hydrogen fuel cell system that can be packaged in the space of a traditional four-cylinder engine and be ready for commercial production in 2015.
‘Part of GM’s current market strategy is to have a car for everybody, from gas-friendly to gas-free’ Murphy said. The company is working to improve fuel efficiency in the combustion engines of small cars and introducing hybrid technology in its larger vehicles such as the Denali and Yukon SUVs. GM is also very focused on ‘getting women into our cars,’ Murphy said.
The DC EcoWomen audience quizzed Murphy about the safety, pricing and mileage of the Volt. The car sells for about $40,000, which can be offset by government rebates of up to $7,500. The Volt also features a 10-year, 10,000 warranty. Learn more about how the Volt works and see a comparison chart of the Volt versus other electric vehicles.
The number one question she gets from women about the Volt, Murphy said is ‘how does it work?
‘One of the unique features about the Volt is the range extending generator allowing drivers to go about 300 additional miles after the battery is depleted.’ Murphy said. ‘Meaning you won’t be left at the side of the road when the battery runs out.’
DC EcoWomen also asked Murphy about the availability of charging stations, which Murphy asserted that GM is encouraging localities to provide. ‘I encourage you to ask your community leaders to consider provisions for charging electric cars.’ GM can’t regulate the cost of the energy charge from the stations as the power is provided by local utilities, Murphy said
Beyond introducing fuel-efficient cars, GM is saving energy corporate-wide, according to Murphy. ‘From 2005 to 2009 we reduced energy consumption across the company by 40 percent; we have the largest rooftop solar installation in the U.S. at our California facility. Many plants use solar energy. We have reduced non-recycled waste by 49 percent at plants and many of our automotive plants are landfill free.
—TA Clifford
Join us for EcoHour next month, where we’ll learn about urban planning from Kennedy Smith.
When: Saturday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: George Washington University–University Yard. H Street between 20th and 21st Sts. in N.W., DC
Metro: four blocks from the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro station
More info at: http://dcvegfest.com/
Enjoy free food samples, cooking domes, exhibitors, dynamic speakers, including:
- Wayne Pacelle, HSUS CEO and President
- Isa Chandra Moskowitz, cookbook author
- Wendy Rieger, NBC-4 anchor
- Michael Greger, HSUS and clinical nutrition physician
- Jonathan Balcombe, animal behavior expert
- Aruna Miller, Maryland Delegate
- Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, cookbook author
- Jim Motavalli, environmental writer
- Brennan Gerald, Dffrnt Wrld Deli and vegan chef
- Dawn Moncrieffe, A Well Fed World
- Cherylyn Tompkins, FabuNOLA
Pledge to UnCar for a Day!
Join DC EcoWomen to celebrate Car Free Day (Thursday, Sept. 22), a worldwide event that encourages all of us to rely less on cars. Take the Pledge to UnCar today!
Car Free Day is an international event celebrated every September 22nd in which people are encouraged to get around without cars and instead ride a train, bus, bicycle, carpool, subway, vanpool, walk or telework. Car Free Day is open to all commuters, students, homemakers and seniors in the Washington metropolitan area.
Take the Pledge today for your chance to win an Apple iPad, a bicycle or SmarTrip cards!
Celebrate the Capital Bikeshare Birthday!
Join Capital Bikeshare to celebrate their birthday and Car Free Day with live music, food, games, moonbounces, giveaways and more! The festivities take place at Yards Park on Thursday, September 22 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Hello EcoWomen!
It’s that time of year again, when the city empties out and everyone seems to be on vacation! I wanted to quickly update you all on some new and exciting changes for DC EcoWomen in the upcoming year.
Earlier in August, our new and returning members of the DC EcoWomen Executive Board took a break from city living for a weekend and headed to Hard Bargain Farm in Maryland to plan out our vision for the upcoming year. Keeping pace with the exciting growth of DC EcoWomen, the Board added two new committees and adopted a new more flexible structure to promote leadership opportunities and foster greater team building. Meet our new Board members here on our new and improved Website.
Over the course of the next year, we will be reinventing EcoHour to keep them relevant to our members and making small but important changes to our Eco-mmunity groups which we hope will keep our events fresh and inviting. We are also excited to lay the groundwork for a new mentoring program, beginning with intimate opportunities for members to meet and interact with women leaders in the environmental field. More details coming soon!
We have lots of great events and speakers in the works, starting with September’s EcoHour speaker Carolyn Markey, the Manager of Public Policy and Washington Communications for General Motors.
Mark your calendars for EcoHour on Tuesday, September 20 and our upcoming Lunch on the Lawn event on Sunday, October 16 at Rock Creek Park. Keep an eye out for details on both events in your inbox next week!
Here’s to another amazing year!
Jess Lubetsky
President, DC EcoWomen
DC EcoWomen Executive Board at Hard Bargain Farm.
