An interview with Will Paul, creater of PlanetShifter.com, a green focused, “innovation network”.

I started PlanetShifter.com with developer Cheth Rowe and graphic artist Andrea Fuenzalida over six months ago because we need everybody’s ideas and vision to re-build a healthier, sustainable and just world. We need to take risks. I want us to reach past our self-interest and fears to risk and share in new sustainable solutions.

Somebody just asked me if I would have started this project if I had known where the world economy would be. I told her, Yes! We need to come together, now!  Read more... (490 words, 2 images, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

Last May, I found a new American flag, still folded in its box, in a pile of trash on the curb. The instructions for flag etiquette in the box say, “The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, or water.” Does that include trash?

I rescued it, of course. We’ve debated for years whether desecrating the flag should be a crime or is protected speech. But I doubt many would argue that it wasn’t disrespectful and wrong to put the flag on the trash pile.  Read more... (887 words, 2 images, estimated 3:33 mins reading time)

We often talk about air quality, but not so often is it focused on your living and work space. Green building, with an eye on energy conservation also, when done right, improves the interior space of your home, office or retail business. From natural light to better air handling, the ergonomics of a building impact every person who walks in. And on the of the simplest things you can do to clean up your inner spaces, involves a new coat of paint. But not just any paint.

It turn out, most indoor paint gives off toxins. Mythic Paint, offering newer cleaner paint, has just landed in Fort Lauderdale.  Read more... (411 words, 2 images, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Every day we take for granted the gas we put in our cars to get us where we’re going. For over 30 years, we’ve ignored crisis. And yet, pretending it’s not a problem hasn’t made it go away. Current financial times are gloomy. And the rapid rise of the cost of oil, and the scarcity of it, have driven us to the brink.

And as we prepare to elect a new President, neither of the candidates are offering anything new. Empty campaign promises won’t carry us into a brave new world. Dealing with America’s energy deficiencies require a plan. And I think the Pickens Plan is a giant step in the right direction.  Read more... (407 words, 2 images, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Many small businesses contact us, and ask what they can do to ‘green up’ their business. Community Greenhouse Foundation has developed a program to help you reduce electric and water usage, to encourage recycling and use of recycled materials, and to reduce the amount of solid waste your organization produces. And to launch their efforts, they announce the Greening America Business Challenge.

More than just green-washing, they’ve partnered with Energy Star (the US Department of Energy) and WasteWise (US Environmental Protection Agency) programs. Using nationally recognized third party tools and criteria, CGF helps you understand what your organization is doing, individually, and then prescribes a variety of efforts you can undertake to reduce your impact.  Read more... (994 words, 2 images, estimated 3:59 mins reading time)

Program takes undersold homes, renovates them to be energy efficient, and works with municipalities for workforce housing.

The Community Greenhouse Foundation has been working for months on a program which is targeted to assist in the rehabilitation and sale of the “glut” of houses being dumped into the market resulting from foreclosures. The Greening of America’s House Stock program is a pro-active economic stimulus program that has been developed due to the current economic position of America. Never in our countries history has energy, housing and the environment been seen as critical issues at the same time.  Read more... (482 words, 2 images, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

The Community Greenhouse Foundation is proud to announce a new Strategic Partner serving the South Florida communities to delivery it’s Greening Residential America program. The program helps to provides communities with the resources to bring green, attainable housing to their communities. New and renovated energy efficient green homes can be offered to City, County, governmental employees and the public through the program along with the opportunity for local community builders to tap into products and training to build greener and more energy efficient.  Read more... (346 words, 2 images, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

With Memorial Day and the summer travel season approaching, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) encourages Florida residents and guests to travel close, clean and green with the launch of a new green travel Web site and Florida Green Lodging Program locator map. The newly launched green travel Web site offers resources for families and travelers looking to get away without depleting their wallets, gas tanks or the environment.  Read more... (943 words, 2 images, estimated 3:46 mins reading time)

Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change. The conference will be held June 25-26, 2008, at the Intercontinental Miami. Building on the foundation for Florida’s energy future began at last year’s summit, the 2008 summit will focus on stimulating economic development in clean technologies as well as greeningFlorida’s business community.

“Florida’s businesses continue to demonstrate that there is gold in green, and climate-friendly energy sources –like ethanol and solar energy–are bringing new prospects for our state,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “Encouraging companies to do business the green way as well as building a strong market in renewable energy technologies in the Sunshine State will strengthen our energy and economic future and protect our natural environment for generations to come.”  Read more... (497 words, 2 images, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

When Bunney Brenneman, Chair of the Utility Advisory Committee, contacted the Community Greenhouse Foundation some four weeks ago, asking if we would like to help to put together the first GREEN Living Expo in Fort Lauderdale, our answer was a resounding: Yes.

We knew that the time was short and that we would be underwriting a majority of the cost to put it together, but we welcomed the opportunity. Our mission is facilitating Green America, one community at time, and with our roots in South Florida, the timing was perfect to launch our Green Communities program with www.greenftlauderdale.com.  Read more... (553 words, 2 images, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)