Green eco-activism in the Washington DC area exposing corporate waste.wmv

http://twitter.com/LEEDtheWay Green building standards and how operations factor into them really do matter. I'm a former journalist, University of Maryland College of Journalism grad, a former Marine, and a USGBC LEED AP who witnessed something during the past few weeks' DC-area heat emergency. The Washington Post saw this and here is a link to the article http://lnkd.in/Aj5qBn
What I saw blew my mind. Is it corporately-sanctioned waste? I don't know and I hope not.
What I saw was retail store doors propped open in multiple locations on days where temperatures ranged from 95 to 100 degrees.
Why?
I asked the same thing and recorded the responses here.
The answers ranged from an embarrassed, "Our district manager told us to do it to attract customers," to "that's our corporate policy" or "we do that so the scent of the candles flows over the sidewalk."
Incredulous, I persisted and asked, "Does it bother you... the energy wasted?"
Apparently not, but that just means it's time to educate. The Post article does a great job of that and the online version has some very good links.
Those of us who have devoted our lives to improving energy efficiency and eco-awareness experience many ups and downs.
But this one simply left me speechless.
The fact that it could be nationwide corporate policy got me mad enough to take action.
It's a perfect example of why the US Green Building Council gives weight to occupant education in its LEED rating system.
What good is a green building if the end-users undermine the features that make it so?
Not much.
Needless energy use increases pollution and places undue burden on the grid.
This abuse also overworks the HVAC system, causing premature failure.
In fact, three days after my first visit to one of the stores, I went back to find the door propped open again.
This time it was for another reason -- the system had broken down.
Well go figure!
I'm not happy that this happened, but it really makes the point in a very concrete way.
I write this in hopes that someone else will share in my shock at what I saw (with my son, incidentally, in the first instance) and do something.
I've written letters to corporate offices, gotten opinion articles published in local newspapers, and spread the YouTube video link throughout my network of green professional friends.
Let's drill, baby, drill... into the facts.
All the best,
Chris
For more information, visit http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9964-DC-Green-Building-Examiner~y2010m7d16...

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• green
• activism
• leed
• dc
• corporate
• waste
• chris
• moline
• usgbc
• victorias
• secret
• bowie
• town
• center

[webmindset]

What would an energy auditor say about this? I'm going to ask a few friends who do energy audits and make another video with some solid information. Does anyone else think it's ridiculous to leave exterior doors propped open on hot days to try to encourage business traffic? Please tell me I'm not alone...

[webmindset]

@webmindset August 11, 2010... hot as heck outside with heat index over 100... Rave doors open and, surprise!!! Victoria's Secret doors are open again. Same goes for the UPS Store in Arlington, VA. Wow

[AlexandriaCarpetOne]

Have to post the text of the speaking so everyone can hear and get the message.

[freakyps]

Nice vid