Goal For The Green

Just to let you know, On Thursday, November 5th at 12:30 EST, you are invited to a free sneak-preview Webinar, hosted by Robert Watson, GreenerBuildings.com Editor, and “Father of LEED.” It’s called “Building a Sustainable Future: Progress and Trends Toward Improving the Environmental Footprint of Commercial Buildings.”

In case you didn’t know, LEED means, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  It is the Green Building rating system.

The webinar starts at 12:30 pm EST. Here’s the Registration link

During this 60 minute webinar, Robert Watson will present the findings of the soon to be released, 2009 Green Building Market and Impact Report that was sponsored by Johnson Diversey. This report is an integrated assessment of the land, water, energy, material and indoor environmental impacts of the LEED for New Construction (LEED NC), Core & Shell (LEED CS) and Existing Building (LEED EB) standards.

All registrants will have access to a download of the report.

Johnson Diversey President & CEO Ed Lonergan, opens the webinar by highlighting the importance of sustainability in today’s business environment.  He is offering insights and examples, of the company’s work toward improving the sustainability of its customers’ facilities, as well as its own. This presentation will detail Johnson Diversey’s own focus on LEED certification for many of its facilities worldwide.

In these fast-changing times, and with the ever changing economy, it is imperative, that  we have measurement around whether green building choices provide a very high return on investment, and a significant decrease in environmental impact.

I hope you can help in spread the word about this event. Tell anyone  you think would be interested in learning more about green commercial buildings, and corporate sustainability.

Go here to register for the Green Building Webinar.

Sure, hope you can attend.  They are working toward a better and greener tomorrow for us all!

On September 10, 2008, World Wildlife Fund announced that Johnson Diversey, which is one of the world’s largest providers of commercial cleaning products and services, had joined their Climate Savers Program.

Johnson Diversey announced their plan to invest $19 million over the next five years, to achieve their commitments, but they anticipate an operational savings of about $31 million over the same time period.  This proves that sustainability is the right approach for both the environment and the bottom line.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to speak with Jon Matthews, of Johnson Diversey.  Given the recent award by WWF, and all the accomplishments Johnson Diversey has achieved, I could only come up with these three questions.

1. Where do you go from here when,  you are already at the top?

2. What plans does Johnson Diversey have for further and future sustainability?

3. Did you know that you were being considered for such a prestigious award?

During the interview, Jon Matthews, stressed that ” Our objective has always extended beyond financial growth to promoting the health and well being of our planet and the people who share it. We are excited about helping customers and our clients to become more sustainable, by helping them provide a cleaner and healthier environment.  It is our goal and commitment to reduce our individual carbon footprint and CO2 emissions.  On the path of sustainability, we are never done.”

Johnson Diversey was called upon to help fight the MRSA scare last year, that showed up in several high school sports locker rooms.  There was a high demand for sustainable solutions to eradicate the viral and bacterial germs.  Johnson Diversey makes a solution that contains excellerated hydrogen peroxide. During this time they found that they could not keep the product on the shelf. They discovered that they needed to treat the schools like a health care facility. They took on the job, and were successful in treating the spread of MRSA in the affected schools.  It has also been proven that the use of toxic free solutions in a school environment, enhances student performance and over all health and well being.

Johnson Diversey, was one of 18 companies world wide, to be considered for the award from the WWF. The entire process was two years in the making.  WWF hired an analytical firm to review the applications, collect and validate data, set a baseline, and test emissions. The entire process required meeting certain criteria and third party approval.