DON KNOTT'S CONFERENCE HOMEWORK
Drum roll please.... And here are the responses from John Knott's "homework" given during his closing address at the Bren School Green Building Conference. Thanks to Sharon Leeds for compiling these, and especially thanks to you fantastic people who responded.
This and other tidbits can be found at
also linked from
www.bren.ucsb.edu -> People -> Committees & Orgs -> BuildGreen
QUESTIONS
1) What are three things I've learned?
2) What is one thing that I'm going to do differently?
3) What is something I'm still frustrated about?
CARL BROWN
Thanks again for your friendly hospitality at the Conference.
My homework as assigned by John Knott follows.
Three things learned:
1) the existence and achievements of the Dewees Island and Noisette
developments,
2) the existence of another form of biomass energy (besides crop
tailings) that promises less air pollution, solves a ground water
pollution problem, and leaves quality fertilizer at the end of the
product cycle (i.e. manure), and
3) how a waterless urinal works.
One thing that I will now do differently:
I will now be even more likely to focus my attention on people (rather
than projects or programs) as agents of change.
What I am still frustrated about:
1) Our inability to remove the "double-standard" of scrutiny that
is
almost automatically put on energy -efficiency and other sustainable
building features proposed for inclusion in building projects (e.g.
life-cycle cost analysis as a constraint and not a tool).
2) Our lack of focus on the fundamental problems that we are trying to
solve: pollution, poor long-term economic viability, poor indoor
environmental quality.
3) The general lack of "systems" thinking or an integrated approach
to
design in any process that we encounter.
Karl Brown
Deputy Director, California Institute for Energy Efficiency
Karl.Brown@ucop.edu
510/643-1617
DOROTHY GREEN
The three things I learned are:
1. That it will not be government or big corporations that make the changes
needed, but each of us working at small scale local solutions. This is true
in water policy as well as with building standards, distributed energy, etc.
2. Using our own local resources efficiently provides security, reliability,
and is cheaper, because of avoided transit costs.
3. The need to build partnerships, collaborationships is growing more
important by the minute.
Biggest frustration: All the folks who are threatened by partnering and
cooperation since it means giving up just a little authority or
responsibility to the group. They cannot see beyond their own narrow self
interest.
Thanks for the whole event. It was wonderful.
Dorothy Green
Watershed Council
DorGreen@aol.com
CATHERINE WOODMAN
3 things learned.1 thing I'll do different. Frustrations I still have.
The 3 things I learned from the conference.
- In building a sustainable business the sky is the limit in terms of new
creative ways to care for people and the environment.
- Connecting with other like minded individuals and hearing their stories is
the best way for me to recharge and find inspiration.
- That perhaps, just maybe the future health of the planet and the health of
humans are not mutually exclusive.
One thing I've already started doing differently is trying very hard to find
groups to link up with up here that will help lead and inspire me as well as
be an outlet for trying to get positive work done towards sustainable
economy goals. (Too bad the Social Venture Network seems so challenging to
get into).
The frustrations I still have are the present attitudes - especially in my
industry where the idea of people first, profits second is still novel at
times - taking it a step further and asking for financial institutions to
see the world that they're helping to fund. That blank expression on most
faces is what is still frustrating.
Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it.
Catherine Woodman
Financial Consultant
Direct: (415) 955-1542
Toll Free: (800) 227-5152
Fax: (415) 955-1505
E-mail : catherine.woodman@rssmb.com
Website: www.ssbfcs.com/woodman
BARRY GILES
But first....a big BIG thank you to all of you guys for putting on such a
good seminar, the chance to visit the new building and the opportunity to
remeet friends and contact new people..
So what did I learn....well that the art of conversation is not
dead...that everyone had a chance to say something...that fuel cells are still
a few
years away from viability....that wind power is looking better than I thought.
One frustration...that there are still some people who are unwilling to
allow some of us to take small steps towards renewable energy....
One thing different......Beginning today Moss Landing Marine Lab will be LEED
orientated.
Ok so when's the next seminar??
Kindest regards to all,
Barry Giles
Building Services Engineer
Facilities Supervisor
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, CA, 95039
831-632-4407
831-632-4403 (fax)
ROBERT LAUGHTON III
Three things I learned.
1. All systems in a certified building live in a symbiotic relationship with
each other.
2. Design professionals are elitist.
3. All living systems are in a state of decline, and the rate of decline is
excelerating.
One thing I will do differently.
1. Recylcle at home.
My continuing gripe is that design professionals dont include all the players
into planning process. I believe in the LEED system. But, by and large all
these buuilding will be at commercial status in less than 3 years. And not
because maitenance staff doesn't know how to do maintenance. Thats like
blaming the mechanic because your car isn't maintained. Its because we dont
know what your building. Nor does most of the future occupants. (no one reads
maintenance manuals) A perfect example would be when something goes wrong with
the reflective roofing, and the staff calls a roofer that proposes to replace
it with a nonreflective roof. No one knows that the sizing of the HVAC
equipment was dependent on the attic temp. being reduced by reflective roofing
(the design pro is long gone at this stage)Now the demand is to great on the
equipment, it burns up. The HVAC guy says that "Some idiot designed to
small
of a unit and replaces it with a bigger one. End of LEED building. Design
professionals are doing this because they believe in it. You need to get the
rest of the people envolved to believe. You cant abandon a project when the
notice of completion is filed. In order for this to work you have to stay
envolved for some time. Or bring the facilies people and site administrators
in at an earlier stage. Craft people, by and large have a dim view of design
pros, and vice versa I think. This needs to end, in order for these buildings
to become a reality. Both sides have a lot to learn from the other.
Robert E Laughton III
rlaughto@laschools.org
WALKER WELLS
Here is the follow-up list from the Bren School Conference on Sustainable
Building
3 things I learned:
1. That regular cars can run on hydrogen (not just fuel cells)
2. That 60% of the available funding for projects is not in the commonly-know
sources
3. That a comprehensive process is essential and can add real value to any project.
1 thing I will do differently:
From now on I won't qualify or feel the need to justify the green building
aspects of a project. In other words, stop being self-conscious about green
building
Frustrations I still have:
Getting people in influential potions to understand that the time is nigh for
a change in standard practice.
Getting the budget people to think more than 5 years into the future.
Hope this helps,
Best,
Walker Wells
Global Green USA
MICHAEL ELIZONDO
1) What are three things I learned?
1. Water will continue to be one of the world's biggest challenges.
2. Technology offers part of the solution to sustainability, but local level
politics and community cooperation promises a broader solution.
3. Sustainability may best be realized through entrepreneurship and business,
rather than by government and enforcement.
2) What is one thing that I'm going to do differently?
Actively seek and promote opportunities to use sustainable alternatives at home
and work.
3) What is something I'm still frustrated about?
I am frustrated by the inequity that occurs when one group conserves and another
does not. It seems that soon our global ethic will have to turn away from "the
have's and have not's" to "share and share alike."
I enjoyed this conference very much. Thank you for inviting the Monterey Bay
Aquarium, and we hope that we can attend future sessions to share our experiences.
Thank you for your hard work organizing this program.
Michael A. Elizondo, AIA
Project Manager
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: 831-648-7964
FAX: 831-647-4506
mailto:melizondo@mbayaq.org
www.montereybayaquarium.org
KLAUS REICHART
Here my thoughts Mr. Knott has asked us to get to you.
I believe the conference was a hugh success and I do hope that this is just
the beginning for more cooperation and exchange of thought, plus following action.
I believe that the three things I learned were:
1) People can come together for a common cause
2) Positive Energy makes a lot of things happening
3) Sustainability is here to stay
What would I do different?
Get more people to come at a lower fee
What frustration do I have?
How to better market sustainability. One solution may be to market the whole
approach more to kids , ages 8-15.
This could be done by having sustainability taught for 2-4 hrs as part of a
regular curriculum, such as in geography or home room classes , 2-4 hrs per
school year.
Regards
Klaus
Klaus@waterless.com
KEVIN HYDES
1.What ONE thing did we learn at the conf that was new, or different to prior.?
In my case I was really re charged by the excitement and currents facts regarding
renewable.
Obviously the technologies have been around for a long time in some cases but
what I heard at the conference was:
a. There is significant re-commitment to moving ahead in these areas by state
and Fed govts vis a vis grants/incentives or programs.
This is heartening and will help the market transformation process.
b.The technologies themselves are in fact more cost effective than generally
cited, especially large scale wind.
This will be taken back into our firm and used to help the transformation process
on real projects with our peers and clients.
2.What SINGLE thing do I plan on doing differently as a result of this conference.?
In the spirit of "You get what you give" I have decided to rededicate
my role withing KEEN and our extended community to be a "Info Hub"
of sorts, and encourage others to take on the same personality. Specifically
all of us who attend/present at such conferences are privileged. It is so important
that the knowledge gained at unique events be distributed as far and as wide
as possible.
This is now my #1 job.
3.Suggestions for Future Bren confs ?
a.Do it Annually
b.Rotate venue within UC system?
I think you guys have established a forum that will set the tone for
discussion at the highest level on a Regular ..perhaps yearly basis.
Great Job The organization was outstanding.
Thanx again for a great great event.
Kevin R. Hydes, P.Eng.
President
LEEDTM Accredited Professional
Keen Engineering Co. Ltd.
Direct Line 983-4011
Toll Free (877) 311-5336
Ph (604) 986-5336
Fax (604) 986-5920
kevin.hydes@keen.ca
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