Wheego Electric Cars is a small company with a big, green vision. Wheego hopes to be the first car company in the U.S. to offer an affordable, all-electric car across the country. President Obama has committed to buying the first 100 cars off the assembly line from any company who can accomplish that goal, and Wheego is determined to bring that prize home to Georgia.  Wheego is headquartered in Atlanta, just west of the Georgia Tech campus. CEO Mike McQuary was previously the president of Georgia-born Internet company MindSpring Enterprises.

Wheego’s home state is a great place to introduce Electric Vehicles. Georgia has some of the most progressive tax credits in the country for EV drivers: in addition to the $7,500 Federal tax credit, Georgia residents are entitled to up to $5,000 in State Tax Credits for a full-speed electric vehicle, and can drive alone in the HOV lane in their all-electric car. The problem is, up until this summer the only all-electric car widely available in the U.S. that qualified (fully crash tested and highway-ready) was the Tesla, at a hefty $100,000+ price tag. I haven’t seen one of those in the HOV lane of I-75 yet! That all changes this summer, as Wheego rolls out its highway-ready all-electric car in September, followed by the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt later this year. So while the tax credits have been available for years in Georgia, this will be the first time anyone has actually used the deduction. Why is this important? Well, a “theoretical” tax credit doesn’t actually take any money out of the state coffers. Oklahoma offered a whopping 50% State Tax Credit on electric vehicles in 2009, and were caught off guard by the number of drivers who took advantage of the credit – in Oklahoma, some electric golf carts qualified. The state budget took a huge hit, and the tax credit was discontinued, just as the cars it was meant to encourage are ready to hit the road. Now that Georgia residents will start taking that $5,000 deduction, we need to make sure our state legislators are prepared and supportive of the “green” investment the state is making.

Georgia also offers a tax credit to businesses for buying (or leasing) and installing a charging station: 10% of the cost of the charging station, up to $2,500. This is important because it opens the EV ownership door to city dwellers who don’t have a garage. The Wheego LiFe electric car is a 2-seater with a range of 100 miles per charge, perfect for commuting to and from work. Most drivers will plug the car into the charging port in their garage at night and be good to go for another 100 miles the next morning. But a huge, young, and enthusiastically green slice of Atlanta’s population live in areas that are perfect for an EV – within a 50-mile commute of work – but don’t have a garage. Apartment and condo dwellers, and residents of older intown neighborhoods are perfect candidates for an at-work charging station. They’ll drive their car to work, charge it while they work, and be good to go for another 100 miles. Over the next few years, we’ll see more employers offer charging stations as part of a benefits package, and we’ll see additional charging stations pop up as retailers embrace this new way to attract consumers to stay longer. Anywhere that currently offers wi-fi is a good candidate for a charging station, since the theory is the same: offer a service that brings the consumer in, make them comfortable and hopefully they’ll drink more coffee, stay at the same hotel next time, buy more books. The charging technology is evolving.  When “rapid-charge” stations are the norm and you can fully charge your car in 20 minutes, retailers will jump on this chance to offer a valuable service to their shoppers. You’ll be able to charge while you’re in the grocery store, getting a haircut or watching a movie … not just sleeping or working

What has to happen for all of this to become a reality? You’d be surprised how far the technology has come. Coulomb Technologies is making a charging station that companies or municipalities can purchase and install on a stand, like a parking meter. As an EV owner, you join the “club,” and get a credit card that can be swiped at the charging station. The charge port door pops open, you plug your car in, and you (or your company) are billed for the charge.  A web page and an I-phone app will help you find an available charge station.

Major cities in five states (Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington) are part of the federally-funded EV Project. The Department of Energy is spending $100m to build out the charging infrastructure in targeted cities in these five states. In order to get a free charging station installed in their home, EV drivers agree to provide data on their driving habits and EV usage. The information gleaned from this 3-year project will help the rest of the country prepare for widespread use of EVs. It’s coming!  A community’s rewards for encouraging EV use are great: no emissions, less noise pollution, less dependence on foreign (or domestic!) oil.  As a Georgia resident, you can be an active participant in your community’s EV planning, encourage your employer to install a charging station, and let local businesses know you’d support their initiatives to offer EV charging. Encourage Georgia lawmakers to push for our state’s inclusion if and when the EV Project expands.

It’s time to evaluate your driving habits and see whether an EV would work for you. On average, do you drive fewer than 100 miles each day? Do you have an enclosed garage to charge your car? If you routinely pile five people in your car and drive 500 miles, the Wheego LiFe would not be a candidate for your only car. But if you use your car primarily for commuting each day, Wheego could be a great fit. To learn more about Wheego and reserve your LiFe, visit www.wheego.net.

Natural gas is known as one of the ‘cleaner burning’ fossil fuels.  Burning natural gas produces less sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter when compared to coal and oil combustion.  However, methane (the main component in natural gas) is a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming.  So how are the natural gas companies using sustainable practices to optimize energy output while minimizing environmental impact?  By harnessing and recycling landfill gases, Georgia Natural Gas is reducing the amount of methane landfills emit into the atmosphere and reusing it in your home.  In this article, Georgia Natural Gas explains their “Green and Blue” program initiatives, and we welcome your feedback about their efforts.

Over the years, customers of Georgia Natural Gas^® (GNG) have associated the Georgia-based natural gas provider with its trademark blue on billboards and advertisements. But today, many are also beginning to associate the company with another color: green for sustainability.

“For years we’ve been extolling the virtues of clean-burning natural gas as the very best energy choice for homes, businesses, and the environment, says Maurice Baker, GNG’s manager of community relations. “Well, now it seems like everyone is listening — and that’s a good thing for the world we all live in.”

In 2009 the company was the first and only natural gas marketer in Georgia to obtain recycled natural gas from a landfill, helping to conserve Georgia’s precious natural resources.  Specially designed equipment at the Live Oak Landfill in DeKalb County collects methane gas and makes it ready for consumer use. The gas is then injected into the existing natural gas distribution system and is delivered to homes and businesses.

“GNG customers are making a difference without noticing one, says Baker. “Simply by being GNG customers, they are supporting the landfill initiative.”

“Turning landfill waste material into a clean-burning resource helps preserve our natural resources,” says Mike Braswell, president and CEO of GNG. “Natural gas is already one of the cleanest, most plentiful energy sources.  It burns cleaner – emitting fewer carbon emissions than other fossil fuels. And now, and with the availability of recycled natural gas, natural gas is more compatible than ever with the country’s energy goals.”

Even before GNG’s recycled natural gas initiative, the company’s employees were already volunteering for programs that promote sustainability.

In 2003 employees from every department of the company joined forces one Saturday to help weatherize the home of a low-income senior in Atlanta. “Often seniors live in older homes that have not been updated with insulation and energy-saving appliances. By assisting them with their weatherization needs, we are making a positive, lasting impact on the seniors and communities that need it the most,” says Baker. The company’s employee volunteers have been hands-on with volunteer weatherization projects ever since, completing their most recent project just last month.

Recognizing a need in the community, the company funded the weatherization of more than 300 homes beginning in 2007, partnering with four Atlanta-based nonprofit organizations to complete the work during 2008. Nearly 100 percent of the consumers whose homes were weatherized reduced overall energy usage. In some months, energy consumption went down 50 percent compared with the same months prior to weatherization.

Weatherization is important, Baker says, but the company’s sustainability efforts go beyond that. “We knew that it was time to make some changes in our Midtown offices,” Baker explains. A group of concerned employees formed a sustainability committee and developed a program they dubbed Green & Blue. As a result, the employees have implemented single-stream recycling, placed paper recycling bins at most desks, worked with building management to install low-flow faucets in the office facilities, and more. Each quarter, guest speakers from local universities and government offices have joined the committee to discuss new trends and offer their insight.

Key among the improvements the Green & Blue committee put into practice was working with the Clean Air Campaign and the Midtown Alliance to implement a groundbreaking telecommuting policy at GNG.  The policy enables qualifying employees to work from home to help reduce carbon emissions in the environment.

The telecommuting program has benefited employees like Stephen Taylor, a GNG accountant who lives in Bremen, Georgia. “I’m able to do much of my work from home now, without the commute into Atlanta. And that’s one less car spewing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.” The program has been so successful that the company was awarded the Clean Air Campaign’s Pace Award in 2009 for employees’ collective telecommuting efforts.

Across the country and indeed the globe, sustainability will be a major topic of interest for the foreseeable future. “I’ve admired what other cities and states have accomplished with the help and support of the corporate community. And I’m proud that Georgia Natural Gas is at the forefront — working for a more sustainable future in Georgia,” says Baker.

….

Electric and hybrid cars are not as ‘new’ as you might think.  Thomas Edison researched and developed prototype alkaline batteries in an attempt to power automobiles, and by 1900, nearly one-third of the cars manufactured in the United States were powered by electricity.  As the state and federal governments funded the expansion of inter-state highways, the viability and popularity of electric vehicles waned in favor of the convenience, mileage capacity, and increased horsepower provided by gasoline-powered engines.  In recent years, the social, economic, and environmental costs associated with fossil fuel technologies has spurred a renewed interest in developing alternative energy sources for our most popular mode of transportation.  The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 set aside $2 billion for research and innovations associated with electric vehicle batteries and similar alternatives, and new prototypes have come a long way since Thomas Edison.

A group of students at Georgia Institute of Technology are pushing the envelope even further.  Instead of designing the typical gas/electric hybrid cars, the Solar Jackets have retrofitted existing vehicles to run on electric batteries and solar power.  By converting the sun’s energy into additional electric power, the roof-mounted solar cells help to power the car’s secondary systems.  In this article, the student group presents their mission and current projects.

In early 2008, as gas prices approached $4.00 per gallon, a small group of engineering students from the Georgia Institute of Technology founded the Solar Jackets. As a student organization that is interested in both the optimization of solar technology for grid parity as well as its potential for transportation applications, the Solar Jackets strives to formulate creative and powerful solutions to the energy problems facing modern society.
The team is a dynamic group of multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate students that builds solar and electric vehicles for exhibitions and competitions. The Solar Jackets operates with two key objectives – to advance green energy technology while cultivating formidable, hands on engineering and leadership experiences for undergraduate and graduate students of all majors. Georgia Tech is one of fifteen universities to have received a top score in 2010 from the Princeton Review for their break-through green efforts, and, likewise, Techʼs ongoing green initiatives attract national attention. The Solar Jackets is a student-run organization, built on the dedication and ambition of its members. Their projects promote cross-disciplinary learning and interaction, necessitating engineering excellence, leadership, and teamwork from all students involved.
The Solar Jacketsʼ first project is an electric vehicle (EV) conversion – they converted a 2001 Audi TT sports car into a Solar-Assisted Electric Vehicle (SAEV). Utilizing a unique blend of solar and stored-electric power, a conventional 120V outlet charges the SAEVʼs primary battery pack while thin film solar cells on the carʼs roof and hood charge the batteries for the 12-Volt auxiliary system, which includes electric power brakes and steering, headlights, radio, windows and much more. The modifications preserve the agile and sporty feel of the original gas-engine car, which now costs under $2.00 to bring to a full charge. The current lead-acid battery pack will provide an estimated range of 50 miles, although the team hopes to upgrade to a lithium-based technology in the future.
Since its inception in 2008, the team has tripled in size and jumped into a more experimental genre of green transportation known as competition solar racing. Unlike an EV conversion, which uses electricity from a wall outlet, a solar race car is powered by the sun alone via an integrated six square-meter solar array, and the carʼs chassis and composite body are designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency and endurance.
The car will compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia. A 3000km, six-dayrace across the Australian outback, the World Solar Challenge is the pinnacle of solar racing events worldwide. They will be an important competitor among several universities and companies gathered to showcase the worldʼs premier solar-electric vehicle technology.

Read more about this awesome new technology

Corbin Klett, President
Email: cklett3@gatech.edu
Phone: 770.718.8510

Georgia Power partners with Waste Management on renewable energy facility.
Someday soon, everyday trash from a landfill and recycling center in Savannah, Ga., may help generate the electricity you use to power your home or business. Georgia Power recently signed a 10-year contract with Waste Management Renewable Energy LLC for electricity generated from household trash at Waste Management’s new energy-generating facility at its Superior Landfill and Recycling Center. The contract will take effect after Georgia Public Service Commission approval. This agreement will provide Georgia Power with 100 percent of the renewable energy annually from the 6.4 megawatt facility, as well as the associated renewable energy credits. One megawatt is enough energy to supply a Super Target store or approximately 250 Georgia residences.

The landfill gas used to generate energy is produced when microorganisms break down organic material in the landfill. The resulting gas is comprised of approximately 50-60 percent methane. Waste Management collects methane and uses it to fuel on-site engines or turbines, generating electricity to power surrounding homes and neighborhoods. “Landfill gas is a clean energy resource that has been endorsed by the U.S. EPA as an environmentally wise alternative that reduces our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Paul Pabor, vice president of Renewable Energy for Waste Management.

Georgia Power is working to increase its renewable energy portfolio through the purchase of energy from renewable generators and through investments in self owned renewable generation. The energy from Waste Management’s facility will help grow Georgia Power’s Green Energy program. “By tapping into the landfill gas to produce electricity, Georgia Power is both continuing to diversify its expanding renewable portfolio throughout the state, and doing what’s good for the environment,” said Jeff Burleson, director of Resource Policy and Planning.

In addition to increasing its renewable energy sources, Georgia Power also will invest $43 million annually in 18 different demand response and energy-efficiency programs. These programs are expected to reduce electricity demand by 900 MW by 2013, or enough electricity to power 225,000 homes using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month.Turning trash into energy treasure.

To our readers,

In articles made available to our blog readers, Ga Power will talk about some of the programs and processes it is delivering or intends to deliver to meet the goal of a more sustainable model.  We hope that it will answer some of the questions people have about what is happening, but also will give all of us some insight into what opportunities there are in terms of implementing a green energy product in our state while also providing consistent delivery.

In September 2007, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution, sponsored by District 5 Commissioner Emma I. Darnell, to establish the Fulton County Green Team.
The purpose of this team was to take a consolidated examination of Fulton County Government’s environmental policies and practices and to advance environmental goals within Fulton County Government.
The resolution calling for creation of the Green Team stipulated that membership should include representatives of the finance, procurement, general services, health & wellness, human services, personnel, facility management, public works, and public affairs departments. In addition, the Information Technology Department has been included to the team to provide information on technology solutions to environmental issues.
The report herein provides a snapshot of current environmental practices at Fulton County Government with the purpose of providing a baseline for future expansion. It is the intention of the Green Team to provide quarterly updates on environmental initiatives.

Green Team Members

• Suzanne Alliegro, Deputy County Manager
• Corlette Dennard Banks, Environmental Quality and Education Manager, Public Works
• Jessica Corbitt, Public Affairs Manager, Office of Community Relations
• Gerry Easley, Deputy Director, Human Services
• Tina Emerson, Environment Specialist, Health & Wellness
• Demetria Mills, Senior IT Human Resources Coordinator, information Technology
• Danny PulTish
• Denise Pinto, Assistant Manager for Risk Management, Finance
• Michael F. Director of Jail Services, General Services
• Felicia Strong-Whitaker, Deputy Director, Purchasing

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Paper Reduction

Create a countywide paper reduction campaign with the following activities: formation of a committee to plan and carryout the campaign; conduct a waste management assessment; establish goals and develop an action plan; select and obtain education material for the campaign; publicize campaign and motivate employees to participate; measure savings realized by campaign; and perform follow-up assessments and publicity.
Develop paper reduction policies and procedures with input from the Information Technology Department and General Services. Expand the use of technology and other resources available through training and education.

Water Conservation Within County Operations

• Establish funding to retrofit all County buildings with water-saving fixtures including automatic flush valves, waterless urinals, and automatic faucets. Public Works to coordinate with General Services to conduct water audits of all County buildings and report findings/recommendations by the end of 2008.
• Public Works to coordinate with Grounds Department to promote water efficient (i.e., Xeriscape, native plants and drought tolerant) landscaping objectives and to ensure that all irrigation systems are equipped with an automatic rain sensor shut-off device.
• Public Works to coordinate with Communications and Personnel Departments to provide educational and outreach information to County employees, through the webpage, newsletter, new employee orientation and training curriculum.
• Visit and tour the Emory University campus to observe and evaluate the use of enthalpy and heat
  wheels, seek recommendations for waterless urinal manufacturers.

In the Community

• Design and construct a demonstration garden of water efficient landscaping at the South Fulton Maintenance and Operations Center (SFMOC). The proposed project consists of three demonstration areas: Xeriscape and habitat landscaping, water reuse landscaping and bog area, and a rain garden area. The work will also include plans and details for soft surface paths linking the landscaped areas, landscape drainage and signage for the areas adjacent to the SFMOC building and parking areas. The garden would be an educational resource for schools and citizens of Fulton County.
• Public Works and Environment and Community Development departments coordinate to develop marketing strategies for homebuilders encouraging the industry to incorporate Xeriscap. ing materials throughout home landscapes and common areas in neighborhoods.
  Develop a Public Education Plan to inform Fulton County citizens, business owners and other customers of Fulton County’s water system of the benefits of using reclaim water for irrigation purposes.
• Develop a Conceptual Plan to make reclaimed water available commercial, industrial and residential users. Conduct a Risk Assessment related to the use of reclaimed water for irrigation.
• Develop a Fee Schedule for reclaimed water users

Employee Commutes & Employee Communications

• Develop guidelines for departments to successfully implement telework, flextime, or compressed schedule programs, where possible without interrupting work flow.
• Explore direct payroll deduction payments for employees to purchase passes from other transit agencies
• Continue and expand marketing of carpool-match and transit services to employees.
• Expand the area of the Employee Portal currently dedicated to Commute Alternatives to include all environmental programs related to employees.
• Begin distribution of a Green Team Tip Sheet for employees, through electronic means to current employees
  and as part of new Employee Orientation beginning in 2008.

Purchasing

• Mandate that Departments, Offices, and Agencies of Fulton County shall, whenever/wherever practicable,procure products that have fewer or reduced negative impacts on human health or the environment.
• All Departments, Offices, and Agencies shall first consider office equipment that meets the 0. S. Energy Star and/or EcoLogo standards when purchasing new office equipment such as appliances, computers, scanners, copiers, and printers and shall include such specifications in the solicitation documents.

Land Use and Preservation

• Coordinate with Fulton County Parks and Recreation to submit potential greenspace projects for grants from the Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP). The GLCP was started in April 2005 by Governor Perdue and is a revamped Georgia Community Greenspace Program. The GLCP is statewide and unlike the Georgia Community Greenspace Program which was geared to fast growing counties, this program is available to all local jurisdictions. The GLCP does not require a countywide plan and does not require a greenspace protection goal.
• Coordinate greenspace planning efforts with Fulton County Public Works alternative transportation projects.

Solid Waste

• Continue research into productive uses and alternative for the County’s closed landfill sites
  fif Maintain adequate landfill post closure management in accordance with environmental sound practices.

Health

• Hold additional “Scrap Tire Amnesty Days” in 2008.
• Plan and initiate surveys and community clean ups starting in the spring of 2008.

Introduction

In 2008, a notice came across the Property Manager’s desk that the City of Atlanta has mandated recycling for all multi-family residences.  From this notice, a Green Team was founded at the Windsor over Peachtree.  The first effort was to implement a recycling program from ground zero.  Starting with a blank slate and one clear goal resulted in much research with many hours on the phone with recycling company.  It was a rough process, but the recycling program successfully started in July 2008 with 5 bins and has expanded to 10 bins today.  To save you the struggle that we went through, this article details how the Windsor over Peachtree started our recycling program and includes guidelines on how you can start a recycling program at your own condominium or business.

Beyond the recycling program, the Green Team also successfully implemented a low-flow showerhead campaign, a Community Reuse Center, bike donation days, and many more eco events to promote and increase the sustainability of the Windsor over Peachtree.

Do you live in a multi-family condominium or apartment building?  Do you want your work to offer recycling?  Believe it or not, in the City of Atlanta and many places, the process to achieve both of these goals is very similar.  In both of these situations, you’ll want to work with appropriate individuals, including the Property Manager for your condo or apartment, and your Facility Management or other department for your office.  Read on to find out more.

Where?

Before finding a company for your recycling program, you’ll need to survey your property to see where you’ll house the recycling containers.  Each company has a different size container that they use, sometimes standard 95-gallon rollers, or up to 1-ton dumpster bins.  When you start talking with companies, it’ll be helpful to know where the containers will go, how much space you have, and if there are any obstacles (i.e. height obstructions from low garage floors).  If you’re confused about where exactly to put the bins, the recycling company may be able to help out later by coming to the property and locating their preferred placement.

Who?

Check your current waste management contract to see if there is any clause requiring that this company handle all waste management, including recycling, for your building.  If there is such a clause, contact the waste management company to find out how to start the program.  Depending on the company, there may be an additional charge to add the recycling service.  Also, some companies may not have a recycling department, so they’ve partnered with specialized recycling companies who they can still require you to use.

If your contract doesn’t state that recycling must also be conducted through your waste management company, it’s a good idea to call them just to double check – you don’t want the headache of breaking a contract!  If indeed, you have no obligation to recycle through a certain company, this is good news.  Do an internet search for local recycling companies and start calling them.  You’ll want to ask questions like what their pick-up schedule is, how frequently they pick up recycling, if they offer emergency pick-ups when the recycling is overflowing, what size containers they use, and of course what their price is.  In this day and age, there are several recycling companies out there and you may be able to get a good deal given the stifled economy.

Involvement

Once you’ve chosen your company and signed the contract, they should drop off recycling bins in the location you’ve designated for them.  Physically, you have a recycling program, congratulations!  Now comes the hard part… making the recycling program successful by getting resident or employee involvement and participation.  Spreading information about the program is the first step to take.  You may be able to get informational pamphlets from the recycling company, or find eager individuals willing to help you prepare such pamphlets.  Make sure to include information on what types of materials can be recycled, how to properly clean these materials prior to recycling, and other requirements that the recycling company may have for you.  Distribute these pamphlets (or e-pamphlets) to building occupants and provide contact information for any questions people may have.

Second, locate areas where recyclables are frequently tossed in the trash and place smaller recycling bins there.  One good example is the mail room, where most of the waste produced is recyclable paper.  Look around your building and see what you find.  On any recycling bins that you place, clearly mark what items are to be placed in the bin (see example below).

Maintenance

Now that you’ve taken all the steps to get your recycling program started up, you’ll be able to switch your focus to maintaining the program.  Continue to look around for areas where recyclables are tossed in the trash and add new recycling bins.  Having trouble with people putting trash in the recycling bins?  Distribute information through emails or other media reminding people what items are to be put in the trash.  Redesigning the flyer on your recycling bins may also help raise awareness or make people more alert to what they’re throwing out.

Good luck, stay perseverant, and remember… every little step you make is helping your building, building occupants, and the Earth be a little bit greener!

Quick Steps

1. Check your current waste management contract to see if there is a specific recycling company that you must use.  If so, contact the recycling company to start your program.  If not, follow step 2:
2. Call multiple recycling companies that service your area and receive quotes for price and service.  Choose the recycling company that offers you the best price and service.
3. Engage residents and building occupants with informational pamphlets, sessions, and signs.
4. Locate recycling bins in areas that result in recyclables frequently being thrown in the trash (i.e. mail room).

Live-Thrive-Atlanta

A small group of people have gathered together in the name of making Atlanta a more desirable place to “live and thrive”.  We want to start with the health and welfare of our city-Atlanta-as it is today.  Then, we want to ask big questions about how to make an even better city.  We want to know who is doing what and give them a pat on the back by telling you about their projects and ideas.  Finally, our real goal is to connect these talented people, projects, ideas and entities to each other to provide a lively ecosystem of thought and action that celebrates and rewards existing local recourses and aids the development of an exciting new network.

Our ultimate goal is to facilitate efforts and projects that will make Atlanta a healthier and more desirable city to live in.  The first step in this journey is to get to know our environment, what it does well, and where it wants to go from here.  This is where we will need your help.

To begin, we have designated our major areas of interest as the following:

• Energy sources
• Proper waste disposal & Recycling
• Carbon Footprint
• Water quality and conservation
• Transportation
• Pollution

Over the next few weeks, we will take some time to talk about what these mean in the context of Atlanta and our region.  We will also highlight projects that are addressing these particular issues and asking experts where they see good and where they see a need for more work.  We see our issues as basic Quality of Life matters.  Our desire to address them comes as much from wanting to know the local population has clean and available water as it does from knowing that a good water supply is a key element to economic stability and development.

We don’t know where our search will lead us.  We do know that it will require:  time, money, more people, better ideas. . . it might even require YOU to pipe up and tell us something.

Right now there are many systems of thought of how to be better:

• Basic energy conservation and its potential for greater productivity.
• A better supply of better quality stuff.
• Advances in technology that allow more accurate measurement.

There are many organizations that have been developed to advance and measure progress:

• LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System
• One World
• Earth Craft
• Chicago Climate Exchange
• Climate Leaders
• Upper Chattahoochee River Keepers
• Trees Atlanta
• The Ocean Conservancy
• The GA Conservancy
• The Nature Conservancy of GA
• Captain Planet
• Environmental Defense Fund

All of these systems provide insight and a stock of tools that can be extremely helpful and educational.  But as a wise woman said to me last year:  Our problem is one of such magnitude that the solution will not come from one system, one idea, one person or one effort.  We MUST come together and we MUST use all the tools at our disposal.

We, Live Thrive Atlanta (LTA), have chosen NOW as the time to come together.  This blog will be a record of our efforts to research our environment for tools.  Here you will see:

• Commentary from us about our meetings and projects we observe
• Guest Blogs by people & groups to explain their projects
• Information about efforts that want to expand and what they need
• Information about how to get started or do a little more
• Event Postings

Of course, since this represents a search for information our scope will evolve as we go.

The heroic efforts in sustainability and environmental action have thus far been in educating people about issues, starting projects and acquiring funding.  LTA would like to see the next steps in our community and region aimed at seeing the process as a whole organism.  This means that instead of connecting supplies and information, we want to connecting initiative and thought into the larger matrix of the city as a whole.  Although we are talking about specific projects, the real goal is to identify where we want to go and how to get there.  This will mean the results of our conversations and research are aimed at future support needs that require bridging between groups, organizations, resources and needs and knowledge and talent.

We invite you to read along with us.  First, to get an idea of what is happening in Atlanta and the metro area, but secondly, we really want to hear what you think.  Are there projects out there that we aren’t talking about?  Is someone doing something great that people REALLY need to know about?  And what do you see as the issues toward Atlanta being a model of progressive action in energy, waste disposal & recycling, transportation, water and pollution.

Next :

The focus of the blog will be on a local, neighborhood-scale program for better conservation and environmentally sound practices. Peachtree Hill’s Neighborhood Green plan from George Hornbein & Lewis Engle shows a system for getting started and measuring success.