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Supporting "Energy Independence 2020" Publications to Inform and Inspire Data Collection Begins at EP Research Station at SilverCup Studios Preparing for a Spring Bloom Atop Earth Pledge Exploring Waste Solutions for Yale University Top Designers Join Board of Advisors for FutureFashion
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This year, with your generous support, we at Earth Pledge have accomplished our 2005 goals and look forward to a growing and expanding list of successes in 2006. Thus we ask once a year for your continued support of Earth Pledge. We strongly encourage and hope you can visit www.earthpledge.org to support us with a tax-deductible contribution, or send a check to Earth Pledge, 122 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016. Help us continue to bring innovative approaches to communities, and the professionals who service them, to create a healthier planet for tomorrow. Supporting "Energy Independence 2020" Executive Director Leslie Hoffman joined Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and governor of Pennsylvania Edward Rendell in unveiling the Energy Independence 2020 agenda on December 12. The event kicked off a series of forums focusing on alternative energy sources. "We need to put America on the path to energy independence with policies that promote advanced energy technologies,” said Sen. Clinton. “We also have an urgent need to help millions of Americans who will face the highest heating bills they have ever seen this winter.” Leslie presented EP Green Roofs and Waste=Fuel initiatives as innovative approaches that will enable all of us to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Publications to Inform and Inspire Earth Pledge’s latest publication, Green Roofs: Ecological Design and Construction was featured in Metropolis magazine’s Design 05 “Bookshelf”: “In this beautiful and well-researched book, Earth Pledge calls on all citizens to restore the balance between human and natural systems by promoting the installation of green roofs. Through case studies of 40 buildings and seven municipalities, it outlines the positive impact green roofs have on cities. Examples range from a three-inch-deep sedum roof in Madrid to an installation supporting the growth of fir, pine, and aspen trees atop a Salt Lake City church. The breadth and ingenuity of examples will both impress and inspire." Order to read about how green roofs are reviving urban landscapes from Berlin to Tokyo to Mexico City, as well as a number of US cities. The fifth printing of Sustainable Architecture: White Papers, Earth Pledge’s acclaimed collection of vibrant and diverse readings exploring the critical link between our built and natural environments, is now available. Continuing a tradition that began in eighteenth-century England, where white papers provided a forum for important social and political issues, Earth Pledge has gathered essays from cutting-edge architecture, design, planning and education leaders. The papers illustrate the emergence of a new architectural strategy where creative processes are used in conjunction with social, cultural and environmental systems to meet the aesthetic and practical requirements of today without compromising the needs of future generations. Data Collection Begins at EP Research Station at SilverCup Studios After verifying instrumentation accuracy, Earth Pledge started data collection at our research station at Silvercup Studios to quantify the value of the benefits of green roofs in New York City. Using green and conventional roof replica platforms, EP is monitoring and comparing thermal performance and stormwater management capabilities to determine the impact of green roofs on energy usage and stormwater overflow. Over the winter, stormwater management data will not be collected; collection will resume in early Spring 2006. Monitoring will be continuous for the thermal performance experiment, as the equipment is not sensitive to ice buildup. We will expand our research in 2006 to establish the lifecycle costs of green roofs. Preparing for a Spring Bloom Atop Earth Pledge Freshly planted with new perennials, EP’s green roof was photographed in November for HGTV as part of a documentary about green roofs. In addition, two Japanese magazines, My Lohas [pdf] and Casa Vogue [pdf], and New York’s The Villager, photographed the roof for articles featuring Earth Pledge. The replanting was made possible by generous support from Richard Heller, principal of Greener By Design, who donated the plants and installed a new irrigation system. Exploring Waste Solutions for Yale University Earth Pledge has completed phase one of evaluating the feasibility of installing a four-ton a day anaerobic digestion facility at Yale University. This project was funded by a Sustainable Cities grant from United Technologies Corporation. EP’s work is part of Yale’s ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the university by 15% below their 1990 level. Top Designers Join Board of Advisors for FutureFashion Earth Pledge is pleased to announce three leaders in the design industry have joined FutureFashion’s board of advisors, including designer Oscar de la Renta, Loomstate designer Rogan Gregory, and Loomstate co-founder Scott Hahn. Mr. De la Renta has offered to bring his experience and expertise to the table as chairman of the board. Mr. De la Renta’s talent for developing couture from sustainable materials was apparent in his FutureFashion gown design, featured as one of fall’s most collectable items in The New York Times Style Magazine [pdf]. Mr. Gregory and Mr. Hahn’s insight will be a tremendous asset to FutureFashion, as Loomstate is a leader in using organic cotton in high-end fashion. Executive Director Leslie Hoffman participated in two speaking engagements at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City recently. The panel discussion on November 1 focused on “The Growing Significance of Environmental and Social Compliance,” and included Shona Quinn, FIT professor; David Uricoli, senior director of global human rights compliance at Polo Ralph Lauren; and Andre Raghu, global corporate social and environmental responsibility managing director at Intertek CSR Group. The discussion offered a glimpse of industry realities and future trends in the international apparel and textile trades. On November 8, Leslie presented on Earth Pledge’s initiatives, focusing on the FutureFashion Initiative’s past accomplishments and current goals. Leslie’s insights were met with marked enthusiasm from students and faculty alike, reflecting a growing need and desire from students and professors to gain access to the cutting edge of eco-fashion. Leslie delivered a green roof seminar for affordable housing on November 4 at the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association conference in Niagara Falls, Canada. With an extensive review of Earth Pledge’s Viridian projects to date, Leslie shared her experience developing green roofs on affordable housing projects through partnerships with developers. Greg Loosvelt, EP’s COO, joined Richard Heller, president of Greener by Design and Signe Nielsen, American Society of Landscape Architects fellow and principal in Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects to present green roofs at the NYC High-Performance Green Building Design Salon at the Center for Architecture. Greg opened with an introduction to green roof technology, the Greening Gotham vision, new developments in the Viridian Project and a look at creative green roof applications from around the world. Mr. Heller presented green roof system and vegetation considerations, referencing his experience on projects such as Silvercup Studios and the Solaire. Ms. Nielsen discussed green roof benefits, including cooling load reduction for buildings, heat island mitigation, stormwater management, roof durability and various other benefits of different rooftop treatments. Executive Director Leslie Hoffman appeared on MSNBC’s “Aftter the Bell” to discuss alternative energy in light of recent energy cost increases. During the program, she drew on her own experience, highlighting various solar systems, costs and how homeowners can use local utility credits and grants to offset the initial cost of photovoltaics. After the program aired, numerous emails and calls for assistance and advice poured into EP’s office from around the US. In an interview with Town & Country [pdf], Leslie brought sustainable choices into perspective, pointing out that often environmentally friendly products are also life enhancing. The Star Tribune echoed her point in an article, “Eco-Chic: Organic Clothing, from boho to sleek.” Your generosity helped us make 2005 a great year. As we branch out in new directions, strengthen our core initiatives, and work to inspire and facilitate a holistic transition to sustainability, we need your support more than ever to make 2006 an unprecedented success. Best wishes for a joyous holiday season and New Year,
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