3/20/2008 Women in Green: a Participatory Panel and Discussion “Is there a Greener Gender?” Kira Gould, co-author with Lance Hosey, of Women in Green – Voices of Sustainable Design, posed that question on the role that gender plays in issues of sustainability. According to the panel, most women do not have a linear career path and have been on a more supportive roles path versus most men. Most men are focused on getting to the top of their careers and are more skeptical of newer ideas or ways of doing things that might detour them off this path to success. Because most women typically take on many roles or jobs during their careers, they are more open to changes in their lives if it means that it will be richer. By being in more supportive roles, they are also more likely to listen and to thrive in integrated/team settings, both of which are important to succeeding in the sustainability movement. The ideas of sensitivity and inclusiveness also arose in conversation. Many of the panelists felt that sustainability needs to include everyone, not just those who can afford to buy a hybrid or the new fluorescent light bulbs. Green should not be driven by materialistic items and consumerism, but should be integrated into daily living allowing everyone to participate. Sponsored by AIA Kansas City, Kira Gould led and moderated the discussion with a panel of women professionals that included Kath Williams, Laura Lesniewski, Lori Ryker, and Simran Sethi, all from diverse backgrounds and careers that have led them down green paths. 8/24/2007 Straw Bale Construction Jobsite Tour The August Kansas City Emerging Green Builders meeting featured a jobsite tour of a 4,000-square-foot veterinary clinic currently under construction. The architect of record on this project is Rothers Design-Build; the general contractor is Haren Laughlin. About 20 of Kansas City’s young green professionals and student architects, engineers, contractors, developers and realtors gathered to learn about the property’s sustainable features: post and beam structure infill at exterior walls, Structural Insulated Panel System (SIPS) used for roofing, centralized daylighting, rain garden bioswales surrounding the building, stained concrete floors, and low VOC paints. In addition, the project architect and contractor worked together to create opportunities for future “greening” of the facility, for example radiant floor piping for future mechanical upgrades. Greg Rothers, our tour guide, demonstrated the sequence for constructing with straw-bales, provided descriptions of lessons-learned and construction details, and answered the group’s questions about the project. Tour Guide: Greg Rothers, Rothers Design-Build 8/24/2007 Living like a canary in a coal mine: The earth’s warning signals of global warming A Summary of The Climate Crisis: Science & Solutions “We are living in the mine and the canary is dying,” said Leigh Smith in reference to today’s society and our collective contributions to global warming. Smith and Ruth Siress, from Leawood and Overland Park, respectively, are both involved with past Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Project Group. Trained by Mr. Gore himself, they spoke at USGBC Kansas City’s August event held at the Discovery Center. Their presentation, “The Climate Crisis: Science & Solutions”, addressed earth’s warning signals of global warming and the severity of its consequences if society does not react. Smith and Siress compared the earth to a coal mine, indicating that three main ‘canaries’ serve as a warning of global warming. These canaries include the melting land ice of the South Arctic, Antarctica and Greenland. The recent increase in melting of these land areas has contributed to heightened releases of carbon monoxide, a shift in temperature and seasons, and an increase in sea levels. To convey the severity of these results even more, Smith and Siress said that if all of Greenland or West Antarctica melted, sea levels will rise at least 20 feet – enough to cause all of the maps to be redrawn due to mass flooding. Smith referenced three main factors that contribute to this rising conflict between our civilization and earth. These include the population explosion, scientific and technological revolution, and our way of thinking. Because of our recent population explosion over the past century, more people are using up natural resources. The scientific and technological revolution created access to more machines and inventions that make life “easier” for people; however these “conveniences” also consume a lot of energy and can release harmful gasses into the earth’s atmosphere. None of this will change, they said, unless our way of thinking changes, to rethink how we approach a problem, to examine how nature operates. A good example of this is geothermal power. All in all, concluded the speakers, it is not too late to react to the canaries’ or earth’s warning signs. A common misconception is that if we accept global warming as real it may be too big to fix. In reality, there are many things a person can do at home or at work to make a difference such as public transportation, energy efficient appliances and fixtures, and recycling. All of these are simple acts that require little effort but can lead to big outcomes. Speakers: Leigh Smith, Ruth Siress The Climate Project