Why Not Concentrate On Available, Sustainable, Normally Acceptable “Green” Methods Currently Instituted?
March, 26 2010
RHewitt
What a Beautiful Spring Day here in the mountains of Colorado, U.S.A. Once again we’ve survived all that our “Mother Earth–TerraMadre” has demanded that we endure in Her most “Winter-est”(new word–we claim it here first, although we could be wrong) fashion, including all of the cold, snow, wind, highway snowplow noise and chemicals, frozen Platte River dangers, cougers, deer, bighorns, elk, and yes, skunks, weasels, voles, yep–all of ‘em seem to want to move in with us. And just how are we to handle this alleged onslaught of our co-habitants in our cozy little canyon??
Simple. Why not just let ‘em? Why not welcome all that Nature gives us in a normal, natural, and yes, “environmentally correct” manner? How? Again, quite simply. My old great, great, great Grand Pappy Daniel Boone used to say “Make Sure That You’re Right, Then Go Ahead!”, and “If A Feller Needs A Hand, Go Ahead And Offer It To Him”. That’s kind of him to share that wisdom with us. If you’re sure about something, really, in your heart, no B.S., then just “Go Ahead!”. If you are really, genuinely, 100%, no B.S., caring about the future of our beloved nurturing Mother Earth, then for your own sake and for all of the rest of us, GIVE!! Just clean up after yourself-change small things like your synthetics, motor oil, food, fuel usage, damn near everything!–But only a bit here and little there–That’s really all that it is going to take to right the wrongs that we seem to willfully inflict upon our benevolant “TerraMadre”! Once Again, Your Friend Rick Hewitt, Founder, The TerraMadre Foundation
Bio-fuels, Earthday, Environment, Global warming, Hydrogen Fuel CellTechnologyell, Uncategorized, carbon footprint, deforestation, energy, green, recycling, solar voltaic (future of), sustainable business | 0 Comments »
Important Green-Related Trade News
March, 9 2010
RHewitt
Happy New Spring Season!
A friend of ours, Houston Neal, who has worked with us before through mutual blogging efforts, has recently produced an important and very visionary article regarding the future of electrical contracting as it moves into the future. New and exciting alternative sources of electrical energy production will certainly change the ways a contractor approaches his trade, and while good old “black wire to black wire, white to white, green to ground” will always be the basic foundation, perhaps more important will be the tradesman’s ability to fully understand the concept that mechanically generated alternating current may not always be the most efficient method to produce electricity.
Please visit Mr. Neals website, http://www.softwareadvice.com, and check out his article “The Coming Renaissance of Electrical Contracting”. You’ll find it very enlightening!
And as always, let’s keep it “GREEN & CLEAN”!! Your Friend, Rick Hewitt, The TerraMadre Foundation
Bio-fuels, Earthday, Environment, Global warming, Hydro-electric power, Hydrogen Fuel CellTechnologyell, carbon footprint, deforestation, energy, environmental control, green, greenwashing, ocean conservancy, recycling, solar voltaic (future of), stewardship, sustainable business | 0 Comments »
We Have Environmental Issues
March, 5 2010
RHewitt
What is going on with all of this SNOW, BLOWING COLD WIND, EARTHQUAKES, RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES…?? Just as we thought. Mother Earth is, as SHE always is, telling us that we are mere spots, irritating bugs, nuisances sent by some greater Being (perhaps a God), to suffer the consequences of the abuse that we continuously administer to the giver of our needs. Global Warming? No chance. Natural progression, normal selection? You betcha! Logic dictates, as surely as as the morning Sun, that as we continue to rape and molest our wonderful planet, She continues to cry out for us to stop, or at least stifle ourselves, to keep from smothering Her to death with our willful, premeditated intentions. THINK ABOUT THE SMALL SPECK OF GALAXIAL DUST THAT WE INHABIT! What the Hell is wrong with you? Please, just think first before acting “Human”. Your Friend at The TerraMadre Foundation, Rick Hewitt
Bio-fuels, Earthday, Environment, Global warming, Hydro-electric power, Hydrogen Fuel CellTechnologyell, Uncategorized, carbon footprint, deforestation, energy, environmental control, green, greenwashing, ocean conservancy, recycling, solar voltaic (future of), stewardship, sustainable business, tidal electricity generation, wind power | 0 Comments »
Earth to Major Tom (Copenhagen to Humanity)
November, 16 2009
RHewitt
Hey!! Does anyone care about what’s going on regarding the upcoming “Summit”?? Have you noticed how the major players are essentially down-playing its’ importance, not to mention the deafening silence from the media (usually a true friend where climate and environmental issues are concerned)? What is causing our world leaders to effectively thumb their noses at what we believe to be one of the most important gatherings of our time?
The Summit has the potential to be by far the most resounding victory in our environments’ favor in history, yet the vast majority of essential players have been virtually mute about their attendance, let alone the agendas that will be discussed. What is going on? Please join us here and everywhere else to voice your concerns, and yes, anger, to these folks so that we might actually achieve some progress towards the repair of our beloved Earth.
Enough of the all talk and no action syndrome–it’s time to get the word out to let our leaders know just how serious the problem is! Your Friend, Rick Hewitt, Founder, The Terramadre Foundation, Grant, Colorado, U.S.A.
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Obama
October, 30 2009
RHewitt
What is being legislated to insure the future of our planet? Why hasn’t he started the wheels in motion to prove to the world that we can save ourselves with strict rules and hefty restrictions on pollution-emitting corporations to make them pay for all of the damage that they cause? The Constitution gives us the rights and powers to vote for the laws to live by, so with Obama in power we should be able to change the world to better be able to heal her-self. Now is the time to call for action, while he’s President, because it might not last long!
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Mother Earth is Really All That Matters. Green This, Carbon That, Hybrid Whatever.
September, 14 2009
RHewitt
We TerraMadrians are often stymied and confused at the incredible amount of misinformation and misdirected sputum that constantly barrages us from all sides. It seems that only occasionally are we blessed with some actual, bonafide, TRUE facts! Why, we wonder, do folks seem to feel the need to speak less than the whole truth when expounding their concerns and/or agendas? We all should realize that when, as we all were taught by our parents, lying and deceiving when communicating inevitably leads to distrust and ambiguous friendship, and hence a base-less relationship. Treehuggers, Ocean-lovers, Grassland Protectors, Avian and Bovine, Equine and Reptilian, Anthropromorphic, Arachnidian and just plain Dog and Cat lovers–Please just stop all of the seeming infatuation with embellishment! Just the TRUTH, PLEASE!! We have a very simple task to take care of–Heal up our beloved Earth!! The assignment will prove much simpler if you all will just speak HONESTLY!! Your Friend, Rick Hewitt, Founder, The TerraMadre Foundation
Bio-fuels, Earthday, Environment, Global warming, Hydro-electric power, Hydrogen Fuel CellTechnologyell, Uncategorized, carbon footprint, deforestation, energy, environmental control, green, greenwashing, ocean conservancy, recycling, solar voltaic (future of), stewardship, sustainable business, tidal electricity generation, wind power | 0 Comments »
Track LEED v3 Credits in Project Management Software
July, 28 2009
GuestBlogger
Given the recent deadline for registering LEED v2.2 projects, we were reminded of a post we wanted to write: how construction project management software can be used to track LEED credits.
Tracking LEED credits requires software functionality similar to that required for more traditional construction project management. Consequently, a few leading vendors have re-purposed their technology to make this possible; others have customers who have developed their own work-arounds.
We expect to see a lot more software development as the number of annual LEED projects continues to grow. In the meantime, we’ve researched what’s available, how it works and how you can benefit from it. Here’s the scoop.
To Start, LEED Requires Strong Document Control
Tracking LEED credits is a document-intensive process. Just ask any experienced LEED Accredited Professional (AP). Submittal documentation includes drawings, receipts, product spec sheets, photos, commission plans and more. Adding to the clutter, numerous project members will access and edit these documents.
Project management software, especially web-based systems, act as a repository for the storage and retrieval of critical project documents. Simply upload a document into the system, then attach it to the appropriate LEED-credit log. From there you can track the history of a document, see every change that has been made and who made it.
EADOC (Demo | Price Quote) is a web-based system that offers LEED tracking functionality. This example screenshot shows LEED credit details for Indoor Environmental Air Quality (IEQ) 7.1. The page includes information on what materials were used, the project location and status of approval. More importantly, notice the attached submittal and drawing documents. These files provide a paper trail for proof of compliance. Click the image for a closer view.
Tracking Credits with Reports by Category
Here’s another example from Procore (Demo | Price Quote), developers of web-based construction project management software. The example below is for Materials and Resources (MR) Credit 2, construction waste management. This credit requires contractors to recycle and/or salvage 50% to 75% of nonhazardous construction debris.
Procore’s LEED detail tracking page includes a brief description of the credit and a table with the requirements. Users can upload related documents (in this case a disposal ticket from the waste management company), then log specific details in each column (weight of material disposed).
Achieving a Single View of LEED Progress
We spoke with Tooey Courtemanche, CEO of Procore, to understand how his system allows users to track progress toward LEED qualification. Using his system, project managers can track credits on a per-project basis. After selecting which LEED version the project is working toward (e.g. v2.1, v2.2 or v3), the software returns a dashboard-view of all credits available.
From here, users can monitor the credits they’re applying for and the corresponding documents. Clicking on a link takes them to the detail tracking page for that credit. Submittals can be emailed, faxed or uploaded into the system, then attached to the credit. This is especially handy for LEED APs and construction managers that need to log files from the field.
When it comes time to apply, all files will be safe and secure in a single place. Users can then generate PDFs to submit to the LEED-Online system.
Additional Benefits
Aside from the aforementioned benefits, project management software can be used to schedule and coordinate important project dates (e.g. commissioning sessions), it can give you a competitive edge to win more LEED projects and it provides the document tracking required to get AP accreditation.
Finally, project management software mitigates risk. There are big financial ramifications if you fall from a gold to silver, or off the podium entirely. As Courtemanche explained to us, “Just as accounting software has become a ’source of truth’ for financial reporting, project management software is a source of truth for LEED certification.”
Future Potential
In terms of development, we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg. There is great potential for software vendors to create advanced features and functionality to make LEED tracking a less complicated process. Maybe we’ll even see a “click to submit” function for companies to submit electronically to the USGBC.
In the meantime, here are a few of our ideas. Feel free to leave a comment if you have other suggestions.
- Executive dashboard – Shows up-to-date LEED scorecard and latest project activity
- Portfolio roll-up – Ability to look at a “portfolio” view of all past and current LEED projects
- Resource database – Share best practices and case studies with other APs and contractors
- ROI/IRR Analysis – Calculate internal rate of return for a building based on discounted cash flows and investment costs
- Submittal templates – Use templates to generate indoor air quality (IAQ) plans, construction waste management plans, credit interpretation requests (CIR) and other submittals
“This article originally published on Software Advice at: Track LEED v3 Credits in Project Management Software.”
Environment, sustainable business | 2 Kommentare »
New Green (and hopefully sustainable) Friends of TerraMadre!
April, 3 2009
RHewitt
Howdy Friends of the Earth, We have recently been blessed with input from around the globe chatting with us and offering some very insightful platforms from which to expand our communicating abilities! Please check out www.shinesolar.net, a very successful producer of Solar Panels and related equipment, based in China, and www.organiccoupons.org, an Earth-Friendly source of information and news regarding many aspects of environmentally safe and eco-friendly green products sure to aid you in your efforts to heal our beloved TerraMadre! As always, we are quite proud and honored to serve as a catalyst and responder to all things green and environmentally healthy! Green is not a NEUTRAL COLOR!! Your Friend, Rick Hewitt Founder, The TerraMadre Foundation, P.O. Box 61, Grant, Colorado, U.S.A. 80448
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Ahh, Springtime in the Rockies! Green, Clean, an environment to die for!
March, 21 2009
RHewitt
Hello Again, Friends ‘Tis the time of renewal, recovery, development. It feels good to shake off the residue of a long, moderate Winter. “Moderate”?? Yep. Compared to several previous winter seasons, the one that we just bid adieu to was, in most locals minds, downright warm! Record minimum precipitation, record warm temperatures, heck, even the birds and bugs are arriving earlier than normal.
Truly a season to die for when Mother Earth usually provides us with all of the tools and ingredients that give Life to the inhabitants of our fragile planet. We need moisture in the worst way (for that matter, in any way possible!). Our wildlife and friendly plant life appear to be suffering, with almost longing, pathetic gestures to the TerraMadre benefactor seemingly desperately crying for sustenance. Not a pretty sight at all!
So the question is, and actually always has been, how can we address these problems in an eco-friendly, sustainable, environmentally friendly assortment of tools of stewardship? In the first place, poke your head up and have a look around. Any bad vibes? Perhaps a slight feeling of uneasiness? Maybe simply a primordial urge to mate, but with some unnerving concerns about the future ramifications of your actions? Don’t feel alone. There’s something in the air (literally) that seems to forbode a sense of impending doom.
“The Never Ending Story” may have had a premonition of “The Nothing”. Who knows, Mount Redoubt in Alaska may blow her top, allow the cameras to get some awesome shots for our nightly news before going crazy on volcanic steroids for months or years to completely blot out the Sun and end our simple suffering. Just a thought.
But I digress. Spring has sprung, the birds and bees have questioning looks, the TerraMadre shrugs and ponders how She will deal with Her issues. And we simple humans had best learn how survive.
GREEN IS NOT A NEUTRAL COLOR! Your friend, Rick Hewitt www.theterramadre.org
Bio-fuels, Earthday, Environment, Global warming, Hydro-electric power, Hydrogen Fuel CellTechnologyell, carbon footprint, deforestation, energy, environmental control, green, greenwashing, ocean conservancy, recycling, solar voltaic (future of), stewardship, sustainable business, tidal electricity generation, wind power | 0 Comments »
Renewable Energy? Now’s the Time! Sustainable? As Certain as Our Sun! Eco-Friendly? No “Eco” Without Our Friendly Solar Giver of Life.
March, 12 2009
RHewitt
Hello Again, Environmentally Friendly Citizens of Mother Earth–
Yes, you all have become the eco-friendly benefactors most important in our drive to rehabilitate, rejuvenate, and sustain the environmental well-being of our fragile galactic home. We here at The TerraMadre Foundation have been swamped with the out-pouring of desires and the genuine concerns voiced by you all, and may it never go unnoticed. With the refreshingly new and considerate minds and efforts recently coming forward to express ideas and plans to promote innovation in all areas of sustainable and renewable energy resources, we believe that we honestly have a truly valid chance at the ability to wean ourselves of our dependence on carbon-based energy sources!
Our most important supply of natural energy is, of course, the Sun. Without it, we would not exist (DUH!). Yes, wind power is definitely a viable alternative energy resource, as are hydro-electric generation, wave and tidal resources, bio-mass and bio-diesel fuels, hydrogen fuel-cell technology, as well as any and all new ideas already in the works or yet to be invented (I actually have two or three up my sleeve, and will publicize all of my discoveries as they evolve!). I suppose what matters most is that we utilize the Sun’s immense capabilities to the maximum, and enjoy the new governmental aids that are being rejuvenated to promote the study, development, and finally the actual installation and utilization of the newest state of the art Solar technologies.
To find out all you can about all of the latest incentives for “going Solar”, please visit www.namastesolar.com, www.ases.com, www.nrel.gov., or any other renewable energy resource website that you may be fond of. Believe me, in DOES make a difference!! GREEN IS NOT A NEUTRAL COLOR!!
Your Friend, Rick Hewitt
Founder and CEO, The TerraMadre Foundation
Bio-fuels, Environment, Global warming, Hydro-electric power, Hydrogen Fuel CellTechnologyell, carbon footprint, deforestation, energy, environmental control, green, greenwashing, ocean conservancy, recycling, solar voltaic (future of), stewardship, sustainable business, tidal electricity generation, wind power | 0 Comments »
