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The RCGA's environmental initiative is called the St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project which unites the region's economic competitiveness with sustainability. St. Louis was chosen by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund as one of seven pilot regions to participate in this national initiative. The Climate Prosperity Project advances the idea that innovation, efficiency, conservation in the use and reuse of resources can increase jobs, incomes, productivity and competitiveness of a region. The three pillars of the Project are "green savings, green opportunities and green talent". The mission of the St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project is to help lead the St. Louis region toward a "Green Belt" economy that fosters green savings, green opportunities, and green talent. The Climate Prosperity Project will hold seminars to inform businesses on sustainability strategies, energy efficiency solutions and clean-energy options. On December 7, 2009, the RCGA and the U.S. Green Building Council - St. Louis Regional Chapter launched the St. Louis High Performance Building Initiative with the mission to green every building in St. Louis. The Initiative kicked off with a seminar on the national outlook and the local impact on high performance buildings. U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan (D-Missouri), Co-chair of the Congressional High Performance Building Caucus, provided the keynote address and spoke of federal support and legislation regarding green buildings. Robert Lane, Executive Director of Green The Capitol of the Chief Administrative Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives, described the extensive steps taken to transform the U.S. Capitol to a more sustainable environment for Congressional members, staff, and millions of Capitol visitors. Christine Ramsdell, Manager, Space Planning and Design for Enterprise Holdings, explained why Enterprise Rent-A-Car renovated their Fleet Management Center in Maplewood to a LEED-certified building. The event was moderated by Tracy Hart, President of Tarlton Corporation and Chair of the RCGA Energy and Environment Committee.
Introduction of the High Performance Building Seminar introduction by Tracy Hart, President, Tarlton Corporation (Click here for audio - 3 minutes) U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan's keynote address (click here for audio - 11 minutes) Presentation (click on below graphic) by Robert Lane, Executive Director, Green The Capitol with introduction by U.S. Rep. Carnahan. (click here for audio - 26 minutes)
Presentation (click on below graphic) by Christine Ramsdell, Manager of Space Planning and Design, Enterprise Holdings with introduction by Emily Andrews, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council - St. Louis Regional Chapter (click here for audio - 17 minutes)
The High Performance Building Seminar ended with a question and answer session with U.S. Rep. Carnahan, Robert Lane and Christine Ramsdell, moderated by Tracy Hart (click here for audio - 19 minutes) For the full audio of the High Performance Building Seminar click here (1 hour 17 minutes) On October 7, 2009, the RCGA hosted "Discovering Green Savings" a seminar featuring tools for companies to measure and reduce their energy costs. Candice Derks-Wood, Sustainability Manager and Darrell Butler, Project Manager for Burns & McDonnell explained the need for a greenhouse gas inventory and their firm's performance contracting process. Pat Justis, Senior Program Manager for Missouri Business Efficiency at AmerenUE and Tom Schultz, Utilization Engineering Manager at Laclede Gas, presented their utilities' energy efficiency programs and incentives. Nick Hennen, Area Business Manager for Missouri Enterprise, discussed their new "Show Me Green" Energy Assessments that help businesses and manufacturers identify energy savings. The seminar concluded with an example by Mark Lawson, Founder of Information Security Networks , on how energy resource management and information technology can eliminate the burden of energy cost management. Click on the images below for the full presentations by these speakers.
On September 2, 2009, the RCGA hosted "Greening On A Shoestring". Mary Ann Lazarus, Firmwide Sustainable Design Director for HOK and Glenda Abney, Director of Missouri Botanical Garden's EarthWays Center presented low-cost sustainability strategies, and Blake Salger and Craig Jung of EcolifeStl.com discussed their website and local resources available for companies to purchase green products and services. To view the sustainability presentation click on the graphic below.
For a listing of sustainability resources in the St. Louis area regarding programs on energy efficiency, renewable energy, transit, vehicle alternatives, green building, recycling, alternative energy research, air quality resources, alternative energy research, air quality resources, stormwater reduction programs and government environmental resources, click here. Environmental policy discussions occur every two months at the RCGA's Energy and Environmental Council meetings. Council members come from industry, small business, environmental engineering and consulting firms, law firms, local governments and higher education institutions. Participation is open to all RCGA members. Topics at past Council meetings have included regional sustainability, renewable energy, air quality, water quality, energy efficiency, and brownfield redevelopment. The RCGA Energy and Environmental Council also has subcommittees devoted to air quality, brownfields, and water quality. In addition to those committees, a number of ad hoc workgroups are convened throughout the year. RCGA Energy and Environmental Leadership |
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