Comments on: A critical moment in time for the environment and organizations. http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/06/a-critical-moment-in-time-for-the-environment-and-organizations.html Just another weblog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:22:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jota Efe http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/06/a-critical-moment-in-time-for-the-environment-and-organizations.html#comment-5022 Jota Efe Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:06:55 +0000 http://asmarterplanet.com/?p=610#comment-5022 If the recovery really is on its way, I hope we do not abandon the talk of "green recovery" and a new, smarter infrastructure to replace the old one. It's also really important to emphasise the fact that (as people cut expenses) green does does mean more expensive. It's not a sacrifice, it's a change, a different choice, and a better one at that. Waxman-Markey just barely made it through Congress and still needs help getting through the Senate. But it undoubtedly marks a big shift in US policy -- and does two things: gives hope to those who want action and signals that all corporations (and individuals) will need to think and act differently. @Svejk: If you can't find Soma, you have lots of other choices for pick-me-ups. But based on your comments, I'm not so sure you need one! Are you really not concerned with climate change? If the recovery really is on its way, I hope we do not abandon the talk of “green recovery” and a new, smarter infrastructure to replace the old one. It’s also really important to emphasise the fact that (as people cut expenses) green does does mean more expensive. It’s not a sacrifice, it’s a change, a different choice, and a better one at that.

Waxman-Markey just barely made it through Congress and still needs help getting through the Senate. But it undoubtedly marks a big shift in US policy — and does two things: gives hope to those who want action and signals that all corporations (and individuals) will need to think and act differently.

@Svejk: If you can’t find Soma, you have lots of other choices for pick-me-ups. But based on your comments, I’m not so sure you need one! Are you really not concerned with climate change?

]]> By: Svejk http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/06/a-critical-moment-in-time-for-the-environment-and-organizations.html#comment-4928 Svejk Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:41:23 +0000 http://asmarterplanet.com/?p=610#comment-4928 Re: Melissa June 25, 2009 12:20 pm You meantioned: "...and then there is the digestive system ... ...we mingled and chewed on these questions, and then shared the results." I must say ... eeeeaaauuuuuuuuwwwwww .... that is just gross And then you said: "And we are all about moving from ideation to action." I must ask ... did you misspell "idiotion"? Re: Melissa June 25, 2009 12:20 pm

You meantioned:

“…and then there is the digestive system …
…we mingled and chewed on these questions, and then shared the results.”

I must say … eeeeaaauuuuuuuuwwwwww …. that is just gross

And then you said:

“And we are all about moving from ideation to action.”

I must ask … did you misspell “idiotion”?

]]> By: Svejk http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/06/a-critical-moment-in-time-for-the-environment-and-organizations.html#comment-4927 Svejk Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:16:20 +0000 http://asmarterplanet.com/?p=610#comment-4927 I am concerned about climate change. This is the coldest June on record. It is dark now and colder than 12 hours ago when the sun was up. Where's my soma? I am concerned about climate change. This is the coldest June on record. It is dark now and colder than 12 hours ago when the sun was up. Where’s my soma?

]]> By: Melissa O'Mara http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/06/a-critical-moment-in-time-for-the-environment-and-organizations.html#comment-4760 Melissa O'Mara Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:20:49 +0000 http://asmarterplanet.com/?p=610#comment-4760 As Rich says, it's imperative that we work collectively through public and private partnerships, and entirely new kinds of partnering structures to drive whole systems change. While individual companies can enable their clients to install more efficient building management systems, or HVAC equipment, or high efficiency motors, lighting, solar panels, water metering, etc... it take a coalition of like-minded companies with a common purpose to drive breakthrough change at a whole systems level. Think about a building, or a manufacturing plant, a city neighborhood, or a major medical complex... each of these actually run more like the human body, with interconnected systems that trigger (ideally) other systems to manage the health of the whole. In the human body, the muscular-skeletal system, integrated with the nervous system, which is consists of chemical and electical system, as well as structural components (and then there is the digestive system, etc...). The health of the whole cannot be optimized without understanding how all these "sub-systems" work together. This is why we have formed the Green Sigma Coalition, with founding members ABB, IBM, Cisco, Eaton, ESS, Honeywell Building Solutions, Johnson Controls, SAP, Schneider Electric, and Siemens Building Technologies Division. While not all parts of the eco-system are included, this is a terrific start, and many more are lining up to join this coalition aimed at accelerating the move to enterprise sustainability. Instrumented, Interconnected, Intelligent - smarter partnering for a smarter planet. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this coalition is the palpable excitement and engagement in the first Green SigmaTM Coalition meeting in San Francisco on Tuesday. We started out with just two questions - what are the greatest impediments to enterprise sustainability, and what is your greatest hope for the coalition? In a room of about 20 people, we mingled and chewed on these questions, and then shared the results. The greatest outcome was a sense of alignment and common purpose. These individuals from (often times) competitive companies became members of the same team, and we began to formulate the kinds of showcase projects that we believe will truly demonstrate what's possible. It's a learning organization, this coalition. And we are all about moving from ideation to action. Stay tuned, and reach out to any coalition member (including me) to find out how to become part of this. Faint-hearted need not apply. As Rich says, it’s imperative that we work collectively through public and private partnerships, and entirely new kinds of partnering structures to drive whole systems change. While individual companies can enable their clients to install more efficient building management systems, or HVAC equipment, or high efficiency motors, lighting, solar panels, water metering, etc… it take a coalition of like-minded companies with a common purpose to drive breakthrough change at a whole systems level. Think about a building, or a manufacturing plant, a city neighborhood, or a major medical complex… each of these actually run more like the human body, with interconnected systems that trigger (ideally) other systems to manage the health of the whole. In the human body, the muscular-skeletal system, integrated with the nervous system, which is consists of chemical and electical system, as well as structural components (and then there is the digestive system, etc…). The health of the whole cannot be optimized without understanding how all these “sub-systems” work together.

This is why we have formed the Green Sigma Coalition, with founding members ABB, IBM, Cisco, Eaton, ESS, Honeywell Building Solutions, Johnson Controls, SAP, Schneider Electric, and Siemens Building Technologies Division. While not all parts of the eco-system are included, this is a terrific start, and many more are lining up to join this coalition aimed at accelerating the move to enterprise sustainability. Instrumented, Interconnected, Intelligent – smarter partnering for a smarter planet.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this coalition is the palpable excitement and engagement in the first Green SigmaTM Coalition meeting in San Francisco on Tuesday. We started out with just two questions – what are the greatest impediments to enterprise sustainability, and what is your greatest hope for the coalition? In a room of about 20 people, we mingled and chewed on these questions, and then shared the results. The greatest outcome was a sense of alignment and common purpose. These individuals from (often times) competitive companies became members of the same team, and we began to formulate the kinds of showcase projects that we believe will truly demonstrate what’s possible.

It’s a learning organization, this coalition. And we are all about moving from ideation to action. Stay tuned, and reach out to any coalition member (including me) to find out how to become part of this. Faint-hearted need not apply.

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