New Year Mojo

Don't mean to slow down the good momentum after that terrific Forum at Ebsco with Tim Collins and Tom Wheeler, but the first Wednesday of next month is January 2.

So, we'll skip January and have our first Forum of 2013 on February 6. More news coming soon on that.

Meanwhile, doing something good for New Year's!

BusinessWeek

Time to get down to business. Ironically, climate change was not brought up in our presidential debates for the first time in 24 years. See you at the Forum.

 

Oct. 3 Forum Examines Commerical Energy Use

Sustainability Forum Discusses Commercial Energy Use

Featuring Panelists from Cummings Properties & Cleantech Start-up SES

What:         North Shore Technology Council’s Sustainability Forum on Wed., Oct. 5, takes a close look at commercial energy issues. Featuring Sustainability Manager Gary Gresh from the Cummings Properties and President Paul Laskow of Save Energy Systems.

                  (Note: November 7 the Forum looks at Residential energy use)

Focus:        Combined annual energy costs for U.S. commercial buildings and industrial facilities are $202.3 billion. That accounts for 45% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Consider the fact that 30 percent of that energy is used inefficiently or unnecessarily. (Source: EnergyStar.gov)

                  In light of these facts, we’ll take a close look at the commercial industry and energy use. Our guests include:

Gary Gresh, Sustainability Manager, Cummings Properties. Headquartered in Woburn, Cummings leases nearly 10 million square feet of commercial space, representing 82 buildings in 10 greater Boston communities.

Paul Laskow, Founder and President, cleantech start-up Save Energy Systems (SES). SES is focused on reducing the costs associated with HVAC (heating, ventilation and A/C) -- the number one source of commercial energy use.

When:        Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. Coffee begins at 8 a.m.; presentation at 8:30.

Where:       Cummings Center

                  Suite 221-E, Bldg. 100

                  Rte 62, Beverly, MA 01915

RSVP:        Forum meetings are free to members of the NSTC; $10 for non-members. All are encouraged to register here at NSTC.org.

The Sustainability Forum is a special interest group within the North Shore Technology Council (NSTC).  Its active membership is dedicated to the understanding and promotion of clean-technology and sustainable practices within our region.  Monthly meetings offer lively discussions and special guests. Visit:  http://northshoretechcouncil.blogspot.com/

About the North Shore Technology Council

The North Shore Technology Council (NSTC) is an all-volunteer, non-profit technology trade association with a mission to build a community for collaboration and advancement of technology industries in northeastern Massachusetts.

For more information call NSTC at 978-335-5234.

Big Sustainability Month on the North Shore

We had to let you know that there's a worldclass speaker coming up at the North Shore Tech Council September 19. Big month. Rob Day at the Forum on Sept. 5. Dr. Carl Safina two weeks later.

You may’ve seen his "Saving the Ocean" series on PBS.  Or something else. Carl Safina has been profiled in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and on Nightline; National Public Radio; Democracy Now; Bill Moyers’ special Earth on Edge; Martha Stewart; and not least: The Colbert Report.

Safina is author of 6 books and roughly 200 scientific and popular publications, including features in The New York Times, and National Geographic and a new Foreword to Rachel Carson’s The Sea Around Us.

His first book, Song for the Blue Ocean, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Eye of the Albatross won the John Burroughs Medal and the National Academies’ Science Communication Award for year’s Best Book.

Voyage of the Turtle was a N.Y. Times Editors’ Choice. So was The View From Lazy Point; A Natural Year in an Unnatural World, which won the 2012 Orion Award.

Safina is founding president of Blue Ocean Institute at Stony Brook University, where he also co-chairs the University’s Center for Communicating Science.

More?

Next Forum with NE Hydropower

Sustainability Forum on Wed., August 1, presents Michael Kerr, co-founder and COO,
New England Hydropower Co.

Focus:        The New England Hydropower Company, LLC (NEHC) develops, operates and manages small-scale regional and local hydroelectric facilities. It is an innovative approach that reflects the idea that sustainable, renewable energy is important to strong economies and healthy environments.  NEHC has identified small-scale hydropower as a critical facet of a mix of diverse energy sources. Leveraging its expertise in hydro-generation it is developing a regional program of non-invasive--fish and wildlife friendly--electric generation.

Michael C. Kerr— Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer—As Managing Principal, Michael’s leadership has guided NEHC through its founding. Michael has leveraged his experience with venture-backed technology companies for the clean tech, software and industrial product markets to develop NEHC’s model. His extensive research into low-impact hydro in the UK demonstrated its application to the New England region. Michael spent his early career with Shell Oil in London. He has since worked in Europe, the U.S. and Latin America for United Technologies Corporation, Wang Global and Getronics. 

When:        8 a.m., Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Where:       Cummings Center

                  Suite 221-E, Bldg. 100

                  Rte 62, Beverly, MA 01915

RSVP:        Forum meetings are free to members of the No. Shore Tech Council; $10 for non-members. All are encouraged to register here at NSTC.org.

Global Climate Issues: What do you think?

Reminder: the Sustainability Forum is taking July off. Next Forum is Wed. August 1st.
Meanwhile, take a few minutes to catch this video of Sen. Kerry's speech this week urging some action on global climate issues. Some of our leaders call it all 'bunk' but provide no scientific evidence to the contrary. Kerry calls them out. 
Let us know what you think.

Sustainability School

Longtime Forum member, Vera Struck is leading two classes in sustainability that are coming up this summer at North Shore Community College. Looks like a great opportunity to learn more, whether for your current job, new business opportunities or personal satisfaction. Classes are held at the Cummings Center in Beverly from July 11 thru August 15.

Sustainability & You: Design a Sustainable Lifestyle - Part 1

Wednesdays 3:00- 5:30 PM  

This fun, practical participative workshop will baseline your carbon and water footprint, introduce the benefits and best practices of sustainability and nurture the student toward becoming a sustainability practitioner. Geared for residents, professionals and all those interested in becoming a sustainability practitioner and engaging others to create a more sustainable world.

Register here for Sustainability and You -- http://bit.ly/ItQ9LL

Sustainable Practices for the Entrepreneur - Part 1

Wednesdays 6:30- 9:00 PM  

Learn to use sustainability frameworks to increase your small business return on investment, achieve cost savings, increase market share and successfully attain resiliency in today’s disruptive marketplace.

To register for Sustainable Practices for the Entrepreneur -- http://bit.ly/IJM9qQ

The Forum Presents: "Green Revolutionary" Jhana Senxian

What if our urban challenges could be transformed into opportunities for innovation and economic, environmental, and social sustainability?

Join us for this special Forum with our prominent guest Jhana Senxian, founder and CEO, Sustainability Guild International, who will provide insights into the thinking behind the Guild’s vision for creating a Sustainable Metroscape. It’s a bold plan to develop replicable models that transform inner cities into centers of sustainability, innovation, and social enterprise.

Harvard-trained social anthropologist, Jhana has been honored by the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry as a “Green Revolutionary." She has collaborated with the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development and in 2009 helped formulate the UN international sustainability outreach and communications strategy. Jhana has analyzed the sustainability and green performance of over 6,000 organizations from various industries and geographies and has published major reports on sustainability outcomes and leading practices. She has written for numerous publications and is co-author of “Green IT for Dummies.”

When:        8 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Where:       Cummings Center

                  Suite 221-E, Bldg. 100

                  Rte 62, Beverly, MA 01915

RSVP:        Forum meetings are free to members of the NSTC; $10 for non-members. All are encouraged to register here at NSTC.org.

For further info: John Coulbourn, Ipswich River Media, john[at]IpswichRiverMedia.com. Tel: 508-277-7356