Update on LEED Conference!
Last week during a webinar (posted here), Robert Watson shared the results of the 2009 Green Building Impact Report. Watson is the Editor of GreenBuildings.com and the ” Father of LEED,” ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
At the conference, Johnson Diversey CEO and President, Ed Lonergan, announced that their company has tripled their WWF Climate Savers commitment of an 8% absolute GHG (green house gas) emissions reduction, to a 25% reduction target for the same time period (by 2013). The company announced it will invest $12 million to achieve the changes, and anticipates operational savings of $32 million, demonstrating that sustainability is the right approach for both the environment and the bottom line. Lonergan emphasized the company’s integrated bottom line- clarifying that Johnson Diversey sees no separation between People, Planet, and Profit.
In the last year, Johnson Diversey has shown, the evolution of the triple bottom line, or old way of thinking. In the old way of thinking, in regards to business, People were the human impact, The Planet, was the environmental impact, and Profit was a companies financial profit. Now, the shift is to an integrated bottom line, that combines both growth and cost savings, achieved by reduced operational costs.
Ed Lonergan states that, ” We’ve found addressing climate change, is not only good for the environment, but it also makes really good business sense. And, I think when that happens, the world changes.”
We cannot rely upon government alone, to make the changes we need to save our planet. Voluntary commitments by major corporations such as Johnson Diversey, show us that the private sector and individuals can make a big difference. So, I am inviting you to triple your commitment to the environment. If a multinational corporation operating in 175 countries can do it, so can we, your average everyday people!
At this link, you can take action now on climate change, as well as view a flash video player of the Building a Sustainable Future Webinar, access both the 2008 and 2009 LEED Green Building Impact Reports, and much more.
Now, we can all do our part on working toward a better tomorrow, and a “green” future. “Let the clean economy begin.”