http://www.federalsustainability.net/images/fnslogorss.gif http://www.federalsustainability.net Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:23:23 -0400 Sustainable Practices Update http://www.federalsustainability.net/archives/sustainablepractices.php webmaster@federalsustainability.net (Laura Kemp) en-us 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 23 24 Saturday Sunday Former University English teacher Keith Taylor created a website, “Modest Needs,” in 2002 on which he personally offered to help others with small portions of his $33,000 salary. The “Modest Needs” initiative has expanded now to a 5-person operation that last year gave away almost $900,000 to over 1,500 people with one-time needs such as a month’s rent, a doctor bill, or to buy new tires for a single mom’s car. Prospective donors go on-line and elect to support the modest need of their choice. Payment goes to the bank, landlord or business that needs to be paid. Twenty percent of the 2,000 applicants per month win final approval and, once their need is met, 7 out of 10 recipients log back in to the site as future donors. (Forbes, August 11, 2008) Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 1188 360 http://www.federalsustainability.org/archives/SP/spcatresult.php?issue=360 Asking “What is our business going to look like in 2015?” and “What happens if oil is $200 a barrel?” Procter and Gamble (P&G) is reframing its business model towards more local production of its products. The world’s largest shipper of consumer goods has seen its storage and transportation costs exceed the operating expenses of its factories. Its long supply chain model was established when oil was $10 a barrel, a model that is now “upside down” according to the head of Global Supply at P&G. The Company is also moving toward reduced product size, sustainable packaging, and future demand and production based on regions, rather than the current centralized structure. (Financial Times, June 27, 2008) Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 1189 360 http://www.federalsustainability.org/archives/SP/spcatresult.php?issue=360 The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Minnesota has released a tool to help affordable housing owners and contractors integrate green building and energy efficiency into the upgrades of their multifamily properties. Developed with Build It Green, a California organization, the 58-page guide - free for downloading - contains four sections: Site condition and systems; Building construction; Mechanical systems, and Interior spaces. The Guide describes dozens of specific measures for how to incorporate energy efficiency, water conservation, resource conservation, and healthy indoor features into rehab projects. It also looks at the cost and cost-effectiveness of green strategies to assist affordable housing developers in making decisions about which measures to include in their rehab projects. (Local Initiatives Support Corporation, 2008) Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 1190 360 http://www.federalsustainability.org/archives/SP/spcatresult.php?issue=360