Last week I mentioned meeting someone from Oxfam at GreenDrinks NYC who was here to help promote action on climate change. During the event he gave his “2 minute pitch” for an event in Central Park that would kick off the global movement all calling for an fair, ambitious, and binding climate change agreement. The idea was to create a human sculpture in the form of Earth sitting in the top of an hourglass, then pour down to form the campaign’s name Tck Tck Tck. Since I was free for the day I decided to head over to check it out.

Showing up around 1pm, I was expecting to simply help form the hourglass. When I saw someone handing out the green t-shirts and hats to help out with the dance routine, I eagerly accepted. I soon found my way into Group #3 which would form the African continent. After a quick google map check I figured out that my new friend Cara and I were representing Namibia.

It couldn’t have been a nicer day in Central Park, and although the sculpture took several hours to practice and film, everyone was in wonderful spirits. What struck me most about the day was the diversity in the crowd. I was expecting to join a bunch of college age bearded environmentalists. There were a few, but in total the crowd more closely resembled a cross-section of NYC itself than  a Greenpeace rally – young and old, of all ethnicity – all together to take part in this momentous occasion. I myself am not much of an activist. Perhaps disenchanted by the politics of the past 8 years, I spent my time studying and working to prepare for action. But the time is now. It’s time to act!

– Kevin Banahan

After walking almost the entire length of the Chelsea Market, a restored indoor industrial space turned high-quality marketplace, I found myself walking into the T Salon where the group had already gathered around listening to T Salon COO Kristi Hall explain the sustainable aspects of their operation. This was my first time to a Net Impact event after recently joining this network of leaders who are trying to the change the world through business.After additional remarks by Tim Woodall, the co-president of Net Impact’s NYC chapter, the cozy space opened up into a collection of interesting conversations. In about 90 minutes I had met a number of individuals passionate about using business for good. A few include:

• Elizabeth Gould, with Bloomberg and also a Net Impact NYC chapter organizer, who works in the News division at Bloomberg and is developing a series on green business professionals (she may even be interested in interviewing yours truly!)
• Evan Samek, who recently joined startup SpeakLike, a translation service provider poised to take that industry into the 21st century through the use of web 2.0 technology.
• George Gosieski, a partner with sustainability consultancy Business EcoSystems, who spoke enthusiastically about market based approaches to corporate sustainability, giving several examples of clients he helped to save millions while reducing their footprint.

I also spoke with a number of people looking to break into green jobs or currently pursuing graduate studies to shift into this type of role. If you are a believer in the power of business to drive positive change in society, this group would definitely be worth checking out. You could sign up for their Leading Business newsletter for free, but for only $55 a year (or less for students) you can enjoy member benefits such as access to the online community, job postings and webinars. Check it out!

– Kevin Banahan

This is a momentous season for humanity with a new round of climate talks in Copenhagen coming up and a forward thinking US administration. I will admit that at first I was skeptical of the impact this campaign could have. I mean: what difference does 1 hour make anyways? But after after seeing Andy Ridley, the executive director of Earth Hour, present a few weeks ago, I realized the real power of this campaign lies in bringing together the entire world for action. Check out the video above and join the global movement by voting earth!

– Kevin Banahan

This article describes two strategies for reducing occupational mold exposure: a high-risk and population-level approach. An argument is made that rather than waiting for a moisture intrusion event to occur and promptly responding, it may be a more cost-effective use of resources to address this risk factor during the building design phase and through ongoing operations and maintenance.

Background

Occupational exposure to indoor molds is now a topic of great interest in both the scientific literature and building industry. Research has drawn a link between exposure to mold and the onset of illness including fungal infections, allergic rhinitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis among others.¹ Mold exposure has also been found to contribute towards the development of occupational asthma.² Several organizations have published guidelines on the prevention, assessment and remediation of microbial contamination in buildings.^3,4

In terms of a prevention strategy, any individual working in a building would be considered within the “at risk” population. Mold growth requires moisture and a nutrient capable of supporting growth, such as organic building materials.³ Therefore, the presence of moist building materials is an important risk factor for occupational mold exposure and many preventative strategies involve limiting these conditions.

High-risk Strategy

A high-risk population for mold exposure could be defined in two ways:

1. Exposure to environments with a high-risk factor for mold contamination, i.e. current or historical moisture intrusion issues.
2. Perceived mold exposure: either through complaints of mold odors or symptoms that suggest an exposure.¹

The strategy for preventing mold related illness in this high-risk population is through the prompt removal of moisture-affected building materials before mold growth can occur. This is often performed by a drying contractor with industrial size fans and dehumidifiers. The goal of a drying operation is to remove moisture within the 48 to 72 hour window required for mold colonization to occur.³

Population-level Strategy

A second, potentially more effective approach would be to apply a population-level strategy to preventing mold exposure is based on the principle of preventing the “cause of the cause”, preventing moisture intrusion before it occurs. Many facilities management professionals are taking this proactive approach by working with environmental consultants to develop building-specific mold operations and maintenance programs. This includes routine checks of areas prone to moisture intrusion, maintaining equipment to prevent condensation and looking for early signs of moisture issues.⁵ Preventative measures can also be implemented further upstream by considering moisture intrusion early in the building design process. Barriers isolating areas of potential moisture intrusion and sensors to detect pipe leaks are installed. All of these measures are aimed at preventing moisture damage to building materials and mold growth.

High-risk vs. Population-level Approaches

The high-risk strategy of responding to a moisture leak has the benefit of focusing efforts on the most obvious problem. However, only a qualified drying contractor will be capable of making the difficult decisions of removing materials that will not be able to dry in time. Assessing moisture intrusion in a building can be a difficult process involving inspection of inaccessible areas including test probes, borescopes and moisture meters. In many situations, by the time an environmental consultant is involved, there is already substantial mold growth. As a result the careful removal of contaminated materials must be undertaken by specialized remediation contractors. If building staff were better prepared to respond, many resources can be saved by effective drying in-house. Removing moist materials could then be performed by less costly general contractors before mold contamination has occurred.

The high-risk strategy of moisture response illustrates the prevention paradox. Focusing efforts on the most grossly contaminated areas benefits only the small number of individuals within these environments. Due to the potential for chronic exposure to slightly elevated mold and for those who are genetically pre-disposed to allergic reactions, a large number of mold related illnesses will develop amongst individuals with a lower building moisture risk factor. Therefore a greater benefit may occur from a population strategy of lowering every person’s risk factor by preventing moisture in the first place.

Conclusion

Promoting education and preventative maintenance among building management is a population strategy that will impact anyone working in a building. Added awareness and practice to reduce moisture intrusion will effectively shift the entire distribution of mold exposure. However, in the absence of regulations and building codes, much is left to the judgment of individual building managers and environmental consultants. The limitations of this strategy often arise from the inconsistent interpretation of available guidelines and a lack of knowledge among decision makers. The adoption of a federal regulations or building codes aimed at moisture prevention would help overcome this limitation. Looking upstream and redefining mold prevention in terms of moisture can create effective strategies that are clearly understood and implemented.

Acknowledgment

Supported by the Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health CDC/NIOSH grant award T42/OH008416 at the Harvard School of Public Health (grantee: Kevin Banahan, 2007-2009).

References

1. Storey, E et al. Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors. University of Connecticut Health Center, Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Center for Indoor Environments and Health. September 30, 2004.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can control your Asthma: A guide to understanding Asthma and its triggers. September 6, 2005. Online at www.cdc.gov/asthma/pdfs/asthma_brochure.pdf  September 21, 2007.

3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. June 25, 2001. Online at http://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldremediation.pdf  September 17, 2007.

4. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments. January 2002. Online at www.ci.ny.us/html/epi/moldrpt.html September 17, 2007.

5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Managers. U.S. Government Printing Office. December 1991.

Two weeks ago, I was at Mashable’s Summer of Social Good conference, when all of a sudden it clicked. Surrounded by an inspiring crowd of individuals using social media to create positive change, I saw the tide change. These web 2.0 tools will redefine our relationships and be the means towards improving our world. Using social networking, we can participate in a more sustainable, even restorative society.

Prior to the conference, I had been nurturing a growing interest in the use of social networking platforms for more than figuring out what color M&M you are or which TV show your friends were currently watching. I’ll admit, I was a late adopter. I never had an account with Friendster or even Myspace. But when I went back to grad school, I decided that if I didn’t sign up for Facebook, I might end up appearing like someone who still didn’t have an e-mail address back in 1999. Soon, I discovered what a powerful tool social media could be. Posting information about events I was attending and learning about the interests and backgrounds of classmates right after meeting them – this new media made me more, not less, social in real life. I even began creating groups for some student clubs I was leading and using them as a hub to promote guest lectures – continuing the dialogue long after the event had passed.

Towards the end of the conference, Mashable founder Pete Cashmore, mentioned how he donated his September birthday the year before to raise funds for charity. At that moment, my ears perked up. I thought, “Wait a second… my 30^th birthday is only a few days away!” Pete described the inspiration he gained from Scott Harrison, who started charity:water and borninseptember.org to make his birthday really matter. Within 3 years Scott had raised over $10 million, providing water for 650,000 people.

This year they stepped it up a notch by launching mycharitywater.org. This site allows you to donate your birthday – or any other special event – so that your friends and relatives could contribute to your very own campaign. I went home and did my homework. I reviewed their financials, business model and project selection criteria. I learned how 100% of the funds donated go directly to water projects in developing countries. As an environmental professional with over a decade of experience, I was happy to endorse this charity for my 30^th birthday.

So I’m asking you to join me on this path forward where we can celebrate each other’s special events by helping someone less fortunate. I’d love to connect with all you on Twitter. If we’ve ever met feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. And please check out my campaign page to take a look. I would really appreciate any presents– no matter how small–collectively we can make a huge impact. Let’s build a well together!

– Kevin Banahan

Still time to register! The Urban Green Council is the newly re-branded NY chapter of the US Green Building Council. This event will feature a keynote by sustainability legend Amory Lovins. Not to be missed.

– Kevin Banahan

Posted in Miscellaneous Tagged: built environment, events, green, LEED, nyc, urban ]]> http://okbana.com/2009/09/11/2009-urban-green-expo-report-to-follow/feed/ 0 Kevin urban green green expo 2009 http://okbana.com/2009/09/10/can-a-company-do-well-by-doing-good/ http://okbana.com/2009/09/10/can-a-company-do-well-by-doing-good/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:31:50 +0000 Kevin Banahan http://okbana.com/?p=56 ]]>

Environmental strategy matrix

Can a company do well by doing good? This is a question that often comes up when talking about solutions to environmental issues. The traditional notion in business used to be that environmental interests and profits are on opposite sides of the balance sheet. Expenditures on environmental items were treated as losses to be controlled and minimized. It is difficult to explain the flaw in this logic when speaking in terms of parts per million or exposure odds ratios. Instead, business leaders want to hear proposals with return on investment in line with financial objectives.

Luckily, there is a growing body of literature describing how environmental programs can be aligned with business interests. Recently, Daniel Esty and Andrew Winston have presented a framework that visualizes how companies can use environmental strategy to gain competitive advantage in their book Green to Gold.

To start off, let’s refer the two-axis continuum above. The horizontal axis represents time on the planning horizon. Going from the short-term to the long-term, the uncertainty of the outcome increases as we plan into the future. The vertical axis represents the upside and the downside considerations. The idea being that a good strategy will work by either minimizing downsides and benefiting from increased upside opportunities.

Traditional approaches towards environmental initiatives fall largely in the bottom left corner of cost control.  Programs that reduce injuries and associated losses have an immediate positive impact to the bottom line. Further out on the planning continuum are the more indirect benefits of risk reduction. These are often difficult to predict but can pay off big in the end.  Some examples of risks to minimize include avoiding environmental or human health catastrophes.  The potential costs of these events could be devastating.

On the upside of environmental strategy there is a similar break down by planning horizon.  On the more immediate side is increased revenue than can be realized by reacting to consumer demand, such as recent consumer concern over worker conditions in developing countries.  Fair trade and sweatshop free certified products provide an opportunity for increased sales among conscientious consumers.

The longer term upsides of a good environmental strategy are a bit more difficult to measure but can offer a huge pay-off for the investment. Examples of these intangibles include increased brand value and employee loyalty.  As the economy becomes more service-driven, the best companies are realizing that one way to build competitive advantage is to attract and hold onto the most talented employees. A demonstrated commitment to progressive environmental initiatives is one more selling point to offer when recruiting.

In conclusion, this framework provides a tool for presenting initiatives from a perspective that business managers will understand and appreciate.  Instead of seeing these programs as red line items that bite into the bottom line, the business case can be made to demonstrate the value added. By speaking a common language we can make the case that a company can do well by doing good.

– Kevin Banahan

Water Taxi Beach

September is here and I can feel the urge to get back to work. Right now I’m still looking for opportunities after recently graduating. What better way than to dive into one of NYC’s premiere venues for networking with green professionals?

Last night’s Green Drinks NYC event was held at the Water Taxi Beach at the Southstreet Seaport. At first when I received the newsletter I thought this was at the Long Island City location. But this turned out to be much more convenient. Upon arriving I had a name tag waiting for me and a ticket for a free organic cocktail (it’s $15 when you pre-register; $20 at the door).

2 minute pitches

Within a few hours I met a number of fascinating individuals doing inspiring work. Some included:

• Petz Scholtus, an eco designer and treehugger columnist here from Barcelona for a few months.
• Gia Machlin, President and CEO of EcoPlum, an environmentally friendly products site that gives rewards similar to frequent flyer miles.
• Eva Radke, Founder of Film Biz Recycling, an organization that seeks to reuse set materials from the film industry. They even have a retail store.
• Stuart McWilliam, Climate Change Campaigner with Oxfam, who is organizing a event at Central Park on 9/20 to raise awareness in this important time for climate change action.

A great social networking event. Highly recommended. Maybe I’ll see you there next time.

– Kevin Banahan