Must be green...must be green...

If you have not heard the big news, I have accepted a new job. I will be leaving CZS/Brookfield Zoo after 12 years to handle communications for the new Midwest office of the NRDC. The timing is good for me not just professionally, but in terms of my feelings on the environment. CZS takes a long-term view of making an impact---we are engaging little kids and grooming them to work on behalf of the natural world down the line. This is absolutely essential and I completely agree with the organization's mission. But, there are immediate needs for change too. I'll be tackling issues threatening the Great Lakes today and helping to fight off coal power plants that will present a real contribution to global warming (not to mention air quality). Now is the time to fight those fights. In my interviews, I talked a lot about the "green wave" of marketing out there at the moment. It is cool to be green---but how do we use this to make fundamental changes, as opposed to seeing it pass like just another fad. How do we get folks to make big changes---as well as small ones, like turning off the light...? That is what I will be focused on.

In the meantime, this whole change has me thinking more about the the house project. How can I get greener? I've been looking a lot online and especially at the NRDC Web site. What could be done differently? I've been largely rebuffed on the roof. You've read my confusion on the wood for flooring. We are using metal studs, so I guess that is something. A lot of our finish choices are likely to be green (counters, the melamine boxes for the cabinets, use of LED lights, integrating rain barrels, etc.). In fact, the project, to some extent does it by making our house much more energy efficient. But in the grand scheme of things, despite the huge outlay of cash, we would be nowhere near LEED standards on the house (not that this is a reasonable outcome for something with this scope). And we simply can't afford to do a lot of the other stuff. I look forward to learning more from my new co-workers---the experts at NRDC. I'll let you know as I learn...

In the meantime, maybe this stuff is timeless---afterall, Lincoln's Tomb is going green...