I would like to share some of my pictures of me acting like some sort of groupie with the heroes of Sustainability... In Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart argue that the conflict between industry and the environment is not an indictment of commerce but an outgrowth of purely opportunistic design. The design of products and manufacturing systems growing out of the Industrial Revolution reflected the spirit of the day-and yielded a host of unintended yet tragic consequences. Today, with our growing knowledge of the living earth, design can reflect a new spirit. In fact, the authors write, when designers employ the intelligence of natural systems—the effectiveness of nutrient cycling, the abundance of the sun's energy—they can create products, industrial systems, buildings, even regional plans that allow nature and commerce to fruitfully co-exist. Cradle to Cradle maps the lineaments of McDonough and Braungart's new design paradigm, offering practical steps on how to innovate within today's economic environment. Part social history, part green business primer, part design manual, the book makes plain that the re-invention of human industry is not only within our grasp, it is our best hope for a future of sustaining prosperity. In addition to describing the hopeful, nature-inspired design principles that are making industry both prosperous and sustainable, the book itself is a physical symbol of the changes to come. It is printed on a synthetic 'paper,' made from plastic resins and inorganic fillers, designed to look and feel like top quality paper while also being waterproof and rugged. And the book can be easily recycled in localities with systems to collect polypropylene, like that in yogurt containers. This 'treeless' book points the way toward the day when synthetic books, like many other products, can be used, recycled, and used again without losing any material quality—in cradle to cradle cycles.
Jerome Lingo is President of the Apollo Alliance.
Like the USGBC, the Apollo Alliance is a supporter of energy independence and new technologies that create new jobs and ensure good stewardship of both the economy and our natural environment.
Jerome Ringo and Gene McDonald at Sustainable Tampa Bay Conference
Jerome Ringo strongly suggests, that we all watch the movie
"An Inconvenient Truth" with Al Gore...one reason he says because it's
the truth and very informative...the second reason is because he's in it...LOL
Gene McDonald, Eric Corey Freed, and another attendee at the
Surface Fabrication Convention in Las Vegas
Eric is well known for his book Green Remodeling for Dummies..
I am a fan of his book, so technically I just graduated to Green dummy
(John Wiley & Sons)
Eric Corey Freed is a principal of organic ARCHITECT, a design and research firm in San Francisco, Ca. with 15 years experience in green building. Eric teaches the Sustainable Design program he developed
at the Academy of Art University of California Berkely. He is on the
boards of Architects, Designers & Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), Green Home Guide and West Coast Green.
He is also one of the founders of ecoTECTURE: The online journal of Ecological Design. His monthly colum at GreenerBuildings.com is syndicated to over a dozen other publications. If you really want to be a
bit more informed about Green building...please read this book
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is one more book another one of my favorite books...Cradle to Cradle
This book should help you understand what goes into making a product, Its life cycle and many more interesting pages...
William McDonough's book, written with his colleague, the German chemist Michael Braungart, is a manifesto calling for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design. Through historical sketches on the roots of the industrial revolution; commentary on science, nature and society; descriptions of key design principles; and compelling examples of innovative products and business strategies already reshaping the marketplace, McDonough and Braungart make the case that an industrial system that "takes, makes and wastes" can become a creator of goods and services that generate ecological, social and economic value.
Now at the same Surface Fabrication Expo this year, I was recognized for my "Fire and Ice" Bar-Top for entering in the Fabrication Contest.
The winners this year were outstanding and deserved to win, to help stimulate innovative ideas and interest in the industry , most of us in the industry will eagerly submit new projects again..
The Surface fabrication this year has been so helpful in offering seminars
to me so that I can do better work, work in a healthy environment, and be the best at Designing, fabricating and Installing your projects...I understand that if Refresh Interiors, Inc. looks good in doing your work...
You will look good.
I have listed below the Courses, Events, & Seminars that I have registered and attended to further enhance my education in
Green-Build Interior Contracting.
I am sure this will help Architects, Designers, Builders, Home, & Business owners to feel more comfortable working with a
Contractor who is familiar with
Green-Build Compliance, Practice, & Procedures.
A Green Interior Contractor is not just somebody who
sells you recycled products and services. They Should be able to show you how to Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle in the Design Phase. For example, If I supply you with tons of recycled
Cabinets and Countertops that you do not need, that might not
be considered a good Green idea ...It also might affect your project
if you were looking to have it certified by LEED for Homes or some other Green Certification system.
In other words, Green is not so much a noun to me. I would
much rather look at it as a set of Practices and
Compliance Procedures. We can also look at it as Good Common sense blown up Real Big.
Sincerely, Gene McDonald
MY SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION
Avonite Certification Training 8 hrs
Avonite Advanced Training 8 hours
Dupont Corian Training 16 hrs
Avonite Advanced Training 8 hrs.
Pinske (Solid Surface Seminar #1) 8 hrs
Pinske (Solid Surface Seminar #2) 8 hrs
Solid Surface International Expo
Surface Fabrication & Design Expo
3/17 06 Ten Common Mistakes Fabricators Make & How to Remedy Them 1 hr
Surface Fabrication & Design Expo
3.16/07 Paper Tigers (Sandpaper Characteristics)
Pinellas Living Green Expo
Green Trends 2007
9/19/07 The Gallery of Innovative Surfaces Tampa, Florida
The Fabricator Strategy 1 hr Todd Apple, Regional Director of Americas
Find Yourself In Corian 1hr Micheal Buri, Communications Specialist
Counterpartners 1hr Maureen McGeehan, Specialty Retail Marketing
The Story of Color 1hr Todd Apple, Regional Director of Americas
Dupont Building Innovations
9/1/07 Professional Training & Consultants Clearwater, Florida
Design/Build for Contractors 2 hrs
Construction Contract Essentials 2 hrs
Workplace Safety 1 hr
Basic Workmans Compensation 1 hr
Chapter.489 Review 1hr
9/22/07 Professional Training & Consultants Clearwater, Florida
Overhead & Cost of Doing Business 2 hrs
Design/ Build for Contractors 2 hrs
Why Estimating Doesn't Work 3hrs
10/3/07 The
Annual member meeting ~The new 2008 Board held at IADT,
International Academy of Design & Technology in
10/4/07 Vision~ Sustainability by Design ~
Moderator: Dr. Larry B. Thompson ~ President of
Speaker: Clive Roux ~ CEO of Green, LLC (Innovative Consultancy)
10/11/07 A Conversation with Green Building ~
Joshua Bomstein ~ Creative Contractors, Inc.
John Dingfelder ~ City Of Tampa Councilman, Member of
Dr. Charles Kibert ~ Professor, UF ME Rinker School of Building Construction
Jennifer Isenbeck ~ LEED AP Mechanical Engineer, USF Facilities
Trey McDonald ~ LEED AP
10/17/07
Discussions on the Construction Techniques and applications, then followed by a Tour of
the Facility with the USGBC
10/18/07 A Look behind the LEED Curtain ~
Speaker: Jason Buch lead into USGBC & LEED, Integrated Design, The Certification
Procedure, LEED Online, Creating a Good Submission, & The Review Process
10/23/07
Speaker: Economist, Joe Cartwright from
Upcoming Green events I’ll be attending:
Topics will explore Housing, Public Realm & Environmental Amenities and how good
design makes a difference, This Forum will focus on sustainable communities and
include a sustainable products exhibition.
11/17/07 Efest :
*All Day Event at Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota, Florida
12/4/07 High Performance Hospitals & Medical Research Facilities
Speaker: Alan Whitson, Rpa Whitson is also a member of the Healthcare Financial
Managers Assn. and BOMA Intl's Energy & Environment Committee.
This course taught us that capital is expensive and the competition is fierce.
Even the best projects can lose when improperly presented to administrators fixated
on the revenue side of the income statement. Did you know that $1.00 in costs savings
is equivalent of $25.64 in revenue? We discovered the common phrase which is
guaranteed to kill a project and which metrics win approval. we learned How to
convert your project's benefits into an ROI and explain it in language that carries
the day with healthcare CFO's
12/11/07 How Green is your Tree? St. Petersburg , Florida 3 hrs. $65.00
The speaker was Tony Gale, who is the Corporate Architect for
Starbucks Coffee.
This presentation taught us what Starbucks will be doing in the near future with Green
Building practices, very efficient designs were being shown to those of us who attended.
Mr. Gale also shared with us some historic green architecture from the early 1800's that
is still standing today and runs as efficiently as it did back then. For over 30 years Tony
Gale has been a prime motivator in the development of environmentally sensitive design
at the building and city scale. his reputation in this pursuit promoted him to City Architect
for Seattle, Washington in May 1999. Tony was elected representing Starbucks Coffee
Company to a 3 year national term by member organizations to the Corporate Retail Seat
on the US Green Building Council's Board of Directors.
LEED AP EXAM REVIEW COURSE AND STUDY GROUP The U.S. Green Building Council - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter hosted 3 review sessions and study groups to assist me in preparing for the LEED AP Exam. Format: Three, 3-hour Review Sessions Dates: January 8, 15, and 22, 2008 6:00 – 9:00 PM Location: Federal Building - City of Sarasota 111 S. Orange Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 COST: $150 – USGBC Florida Gulf Coast Members $250 – Non-Members Fee includes study materials and dinner at each meeting. LEED v2.2 Reference Guide must be purchased separately. We will review of all sections of the LEED NC v2.2 Rating System. Attendees will receive helpful study materials. In addition we will discuss logistics of the LEED AP Exam including exam format and content. The instructors will assist you with tips on how to prepare for the exam and provide you with practice test questions. This review session is intended for those individuals that are serious about preparing for and PASSING the LEED AP Exam. This is not a course that will provide you with “all the answers to the exam.” You will need to spend a considerable amount of study time outside of this review course in order to prepare for this exam. For those that put in the effort, this course will help you study smart and feel more confident in your exam preparation. Taught by LEED Accredited Professionals
The documents above do not make me a LEED AP (Accredited Professional)
They are simply documents that I participated in the Study Course... I have enjoyed this course...it was taught by Christopher Davis, Micheal Carlson, and Joshua Bomstein.
This class is not to be missed, the way each presenter discussed the process was outstanding....I am Not a LEED AP...............YET!!!! It is very apparent that when I pass the test, I will make sure it will be posted in neon lights all over my website...
January 16th, 2008~
Rethinking Water Management in The 21st Century
Hosted by the RAYS at Tropicana Field (2.5 hour course) 25.00
Florida will face many existing and new water challenges in the future-sustainable water supply,
water quality, floodplan management, and natural system restoration. Mr. Suau will present what is on the horizon for water management and demonstrate how multi-disciplinary collaboration and a whole-systems or water shed approach can provide complimentary solutions.
Presented by Stephen Suau,P.E.
Progressive Water Resources
Watershed-Based Community Design
Low Impact Development
Building Green: The Contractor's Role by Terry Miller, LEED AP
February 7th, 2008
as Project manager for Green Building Services, Terry directs project teams and assists clients in the successful implementation of sustainable development strategies.
This training covered the General Contractor's role throughout the integrated green design and construction process, including the key responsibilities in a LEED project, various tools to help track the required data, and insight to avoid common pitfalls. (4 hour course)
Optimization = Sustainability : LEED + Commisioning
by Jefferey J. Conley, AAIA, LEED AP February 7th, 2008
as the managing principal of SEQUIL Systems Inc. a commisioning consultancy in
Delray Beach, Florida which focuses on sustainability in the built environment.
This training exposed us to the Building Commisioning process and shared how it
can be articulated successfully on LEED projects to create low-energy, high-performance sustainable structures that provide an optimal environment for occupants and users.
With increasingly stringent LEED requirements for Energy Optimization, Commisioning
takes on an even greater role for ownership, design and construction teams. ( 3 hour course)
The Sustainable Urban Center
by John Knott, CEO of the The Noisette Company,LLC February 8th, 2008
This case study provided us with a glimpse of the current collaboration with the City of Noth Charleston, SC, in the sustainable restoration of 3,000 acres of the city's historic urban core and areas of the former Charleston Naval Base Here we learned the community rehabilitation to guide multi-faceted development projects. ( 2 hour course)
The Future of Facilities is Painted Green:
Modern IAQ & Good Maintenance Practice
by Anthony R. Febbraro, CIAQP, President of Facility Environmental Partners
February 8th, 2008
Here we learned that property managers have competing pressures to maintain a healthy indoor environment . Often resources for best maintenance practices are diverted to other priorities.
Now with the emphasis on green products, there is a tendency to believe that maintenance
can be reduced even further. This session demonstrated to us how modern IAQ combined with sustainble materials and practices now enables building personal to address concerns through
normal routine maintenance with existing resources. ( 2 hours)
Dinner and Keynote Speaker Jerome Ringo
February 8th, 2008
Jerome Ringo brought us his role as president of the Apollo Alliance. His first-hand experience
about environmental challenges gleaned from more than 20 years in Louisiana's petrochemical industry.
As he began observing the negative impacts of the industry's pollution on local
communities- primarily poor, minority communities. Ringo started organizing community environmental justice groups.
Like USGBC, the Apollo Alliance is a supporter of energy independence and new technologies
that create new jobs and ensure good stewardhsip of both the economy and our natural enviromnment.
Solid Surface on the Cutting Edge by Jon Olsen from Sterling Surfaces
February 21st, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Solid Surface is rapidly becoming a designer's playground for both commercial and institutional applications. here we found out why. We took a virtual tour of some of the new products and applications now emerging and learn how you can take advantage of the opportunities created by increased interest in Solid Surface from the design community.
What is Green and Why Should I Care?
by Eric Corey Freed Organic Architect
February 21, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada
This seminar taught us that the Green Movement is gaining momentum and will soon touch every corner of the countertop industry, including the residential sector. Specifiers and designers are already
engaged and will require their partners to be knowledgable, respectful and compliant .
We learned about what it means to be Green, what LEED points are how they impact you, as well as other essential information on this all-important subject. (1 and half hour seminar)
Job Installation and Project Management by Bill Wolle, Director of Education & Certification of the International Solid Surface Fabricator Association, held in Las vegas, Nevada on February 22, 2008
During this seminar we learned that Kitchen and Bath projects can be installed correctly and profitably - by incorporating internal systems and procedures that demonstrate a full understanding
of the process. This seminar spotlighted the 16 Steps of perfecting installations, as based on the
best practices of more than 750 successful designers, dealers and contractors. ( 1 and a Half hours)
Removing stains in Granite and Quartz by Fred Hueston
February 22, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada
An Extremely Unusual Look at Green Building
by Eric Corey Freed, Organic Architect February 23, 2008
During this class we discovered the issues and problems associated with green Buildings and sustainability. Drawn from the most advanced research into green building, these solutions
provided us with a road map to green our buildings.
Using rich graphics, multimedia and never before seen research, this seminar changed our
views of green building. This was an energetic and lively discussion on green architecture
from one of the pioneers of the field.
Avoiding Common Mistakes with Granite by Kevin Padden, Fabricator & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry
February 23, 2008
This seminar was great to me, I am in the Green business, I like to repair countertops so they do not end up in our landfills, that is why I went to this class to find out where the problem might originate from...This was a class that I am glad I did not miss.
Mistakes with sink cut-outs, rodding, sink removal and replacement are all potential catastophes waiting to happen if fabrication techniques were not done properly. Here we learned the Industry standards for strengthing natural stone for delivery and installation that are quick and painless.
Trends and Economic Indicators
by Dave Fielding, Eliot Sefrin & Joseph Kavanaugh, Ph.D
February 23, 2008
This seminar was excellent in my humble opinion as to finding out what today's customers are looking for, the trends they shared and their own personal experiencegave me tips to help
Refresh Interiors, Inc. that much more knowledgable in economic design... for example some trends are here but if the economy cannot support the trend, we have to design the ones
the economy can.
LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) Tour/ Speaker: State REP. Keith Fitzgerald
May 15th 2008 Sarasota, Florida
State Representative Keith Fitzgerald spoke of Sustainability in Florida, as it relates to the recently concluded legislative session.
Immediately following the program, Carlson Studio Architecture (CSA) will open for tours for those who are interested. CSA offices are the adaptive reuse and renovation of a 1934 Grocery Store that recieved LEED CI Certification in December 2007, and is the third LEED CI Certified project in the State.
If anyone has any seminars relating to the Green Industry , Construction and/or Remodeling...
Please send me information. I personally give full permission to send me events and seminar listings to refresh@knology.net or call me: Gene McDonald 727.527.0206
Thank you and remember the best time to learn about Green build is way back when, the second best time is now...get educated and make our world be a little more sustainable for
the generations to come ...
