2009 Green Round Up

As an environmental advocate, Green has been a way of life for me for many years. I have also made it away of life for my business management and operations. In 2010, Urban Aesthetics will help other businesses owners and organizations make Green a reality.

Following are Green Accomplishments for Urban Aesthetics during 2009:

• Urban Aesthetics created our own “Green and Sustainable Ethics Policy”.
• Urban Aesthetics became a committed Green Business with the Greater Philadelphia Green Business Program, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. (www.phillygreenbiz.com)
• Urban Aesthetics has completed Green Community Service Projects in both 2008 and 2009. C.A.M.P. Sustain.Ability, sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects - Urban Aesthetic's annual 3^rd Quarter Community Service Project. The camp is designed to teach urban youth about Architecture and Green Design. (philanoma.noma.net)
• In 2009, Urban Aesthetics completed three Green Projects, providing the following Green Services to Clients.

1. Housing Co-Op Historic Presentation Project in Philadelphia, PA reusing bricks and other exterior building products.
2. Residential Renovation Historic Presentation Project in Norristown, PA.
3. Kitchen Design Project – Incorporating used materials into the kitchen renovation including reusing kitchen cabinets and appliances pulled from another property.
4. Urban Aesthetics Green Client Services – Design and permit drawings created without paper transfer between Urban Aesthetics and the Client.

In addition to our regular business goals, we have laid out our Green Goals for 2010. Our Green Goals are challenging but we plan to keep you informed as we accomplish each one.

Thank you for joining in with U A Greenie and in the Green Movement.

In 2010 we at Urban Aesthetics would like to urge you to challenge your friends and neighbors with the question: "Are U A Greenie?"

Urban Aesthetics would like to wish you a Green and Prosperous New Year!

Historic Preservation and Renovation

Did you know that Historic Preservation and Renovation of buildings are both types of green building?

Historic Preservation is the process of preserving and conserving an existing building in its original state.
In Historic Preservation, materials including bricks, floors and trims, are often reused from the existing building or recycled from another property or architectural salvage.

Renovating is the process of restoring a building to a better state than its present condition.
Renovation projects can be greener by using recycled materials and reusing existing materials including doors, windows, hardware, bricks, studs, and floor joists. Additional green practices include remodeling, donating or reusing kitchen cabinets, sinks, countertops and appliances. Did you know that it was this easy to be green when renovating?

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Credit MRI. I-1.3 states that building reuse is to maintain 50-70% of an existing building.
Credit MR 2.1 and 2.2 discusses the diversion of materials from the waste stream through recycling building materials.

Both Historic Preservation and Renovating include the following:

• Reusing the existing building
• Reusing existing materials

Many simple practices in home renovation and remodeling help save and preserve the environment:

• Reusing materials
• Recycling construction debris
• Installing energy efficient windows
• Using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood for studs and floor joists

Urban Aesthetics has completed two historic preservation projects in 2008 and will continue to take part in the preservation of buildings and the environment. We also have an interest in saving the environment and will continue to invest in this interest through completing green projects, promoting green products and educating the public about green practices.

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Change the Color of Your Home!

You schedule an Interior Designer to help you remodel your home and the first thing you hear from them is: “Make your home green, inside and out”.
Do you look in horror, imagining a completely green home?
Or
Do you smile and say: “You’re hired!”?
Of course, I am not referring to the color “green”. Although I love green, I love it more as an adverb than an adjective.
Make your home green. You will love the color change in your home, green can be easy and affordable:

• Green cleaning products are becoming easier to find and are more affordable than ever.
• Green home cleaners will offer cleaning services with an environmentally friendly touch.
• Weatherize your home. The government is currently offering tax incentives for home owners who weatherize.
• When remodeling, use zero VOC paints.
• Install energy efficient windows. Current tax incentives save home owners a lot when installing energy efficient windows.
• Donate or sell used kitchen cabinetry to Developers, Landlords or first time home owners who want to spruce up their home.

What color is your home? What color do you want it to be? Contact Urban Aesthetics at 215-776-8795 and let us help you change the color of your home. Our current Green projects include:

• A kitchen remodel, replacing existing cabinets with used cabinets.
• A Historic Preservation Project, reusing existing brick.
• Ongoing Green Client Services, where no paper is transferred between Urban Aesthetics and the Client during the course of the project.

Urban Aesthetics is a Committed Green Business offering LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional Services; Green Design and Construction and Permit Services.

http://www.urbanaestheticsdesign.com/

info@urbanaestheticsdesigns.com

What is your Sustainable Potential?

How great can you be? Ask yourself that question then look around you at areas where you can be more sustainable. Besides recycling, do you seek to reduce the waste that you produce?

What is your carbon foot print?

Urban Aesthetics is in the process of assessing this value in order to be even more sustainable.

If we all refused to accept Styrofoam packaging and made a statement to businesses that use them (restaurants in particular); we could have an affect on the purchasing and eventually the manufacturing of the product.

If we turned off lights in every room when we left the house and unplugged chargers, we could save energy and reduce bills.

If we walked those short distances as opposed of driving we could save gas usage and get in some exercise.

We all have the potential to darken our shade of green. Urban Aesthetics can help you to achieve those goals. We can specify green products; offer environmentally friendly design solutions; suggest ways to reuse products when remodeling and help you save energy.

We can help you towards reaching your sustainable potential.

You A Greenie?

You a greenie? This is not a judgment, just a question I am asking of people I talk with on occasion. If your answer is yes, that's great! I enjoy associating myself with socially conscious, like minded individuals. Some people have even asked me to help them become greener. I welcome this challenge also because it reveals the individual’s desire to make a change. Being a “greenie” starts with a conscience, then an act.

I believe that it is every Entrepreneur’s responsibility to be socially responsible.
So, as my business plans became more focused, I decided to step up my own efforts to be even greener. I took stock of my efforts to help the environment and looked for additional changes that I could make. The simple ideas that materialized are this week’s green tips:

• I changed all the light bulbs in my home to energy saving bulbs. The initial investments were a little more but some bulbs have lasted more than a year.
• I utilize Mass Transit and car sharing - Philly Car Share (Hybrid Vehicles Only) for business travel.
• I gave my support to groups and businesses that truly support green and sustainable causes.
• When visiting cafes, I request mugs, plates and non-disposable utensils.
• I signed up to have my name removed from ‘junk mail’ lists. Check out:
  www.thegreenmailbox.com.

Urban Aesthetics is a “Greenie”. The title of this blog is “U A Greenie” which stands for Urban Aesthetics [is a] Greenie. I took the same efforts that I utilized on a personal level and added them to my business practices. During this year's planning process, I created a “Green Initiative” for my business. In addition, we have added additional green services including Green Product Specifications and Green Client Initiatives with plans to add Home Energy Audits in the near future. We employ LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) AP personnel including Designers, Engineers and Architects.
Urban Aesthetics is a proud supporter of the following green groups:

• Sustainable Business Network
• Delaware Valley Green Building Council
• The Greater Philadelphia Green Business Program
• C.A.M.P. Sustain.Ability

So, I ask one last time, you a greenie? If not now, I hope you are on your way!

It’s Not Easy Being Green

It’s not easy being green but if you are advertising as a “Green” business, I hope that you, yourself are practicing a green lifestyle, no matter how difficult. Do you recycle? Do you reduce waste? Do you seek to reuse items as much as possible? Being green is not an easy task. However, as you start the change in your habits, it will begin to feel more normal. Old ways of living are difficult to change but with the right mindset and effort, being green is possible.

I will admit, it is not easy being green. It is easier to through your water and / or soda bottle in the trash while you are out instead of taking it back home to your recycle bin. It is easier to have an item placed in a plastic bag in the store instead of refusing the bag and placing the item in your briefcase, pocket or purse. Now I will admit, all items cannot fit in your purse or briefcase or should be without a bag but if we start to think about it, many items that we purchase do not require a bag.

It’s a challenge being green. Purchasing recycled paper and printing on recycled business card stock requires additional thought and money. You have to be committed to the cause in order to take on the responsibility. You have to want to be different than before; want to make a difference and want to help the cause.


It’s really not that easy being green. Especially in my business. We have a bad habit of using a lot of paper. It’s the nature of the business. Normally, we make a practice out of printing drawings, checking the prints and reprinting. Over the years, the level of difficulty in cutting back on these practices has gone up and down. In the early years, I made a conscious effort to cut up unused drawings into scrap paper to make small tablets. Recycling the paper was always a general practice. In the present, I offer “Green Client Services”, where drawings are not printed, they are emailed.

Although it’s not easy being green, here is:

This Week’s Green Tips for You and Your Business:

• Carry a refillable mug with you to your favorite coffee house.


• Read emails online as opposed to printing them. If printing is required, print on a sheet of paper that has been used on one side.


• Recycle Batteries and then invest in rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.


• Recycle printer cartridges. Staples offers a return on investment for all recycled printer cartridges.


• Purchase recyclable paper.
  

It’s not easy being green. But I hope you will join in and make the color change. For real.

GREEN

Being green is not a marketing campaign. Green is a way of life. To be truly green, your thinking changes, your day-to-day lifestyle changes and your habits change. Greening is a process which goes beyond taking a class, an exam and declaring your business green. Being green means that you truly care about helping the environment and you are doing your best to make it better.



I have been green for more than a decade. In college, while studying subjects such as Environmental Science, Urban Planning and Sustainable Design, I made the choice to be an Environmentalist. I had a green job before it was popular to call jobs green. I worked as an advocate for the Delaware Valley Citizens Council for Clean Air (Clean Air Council). While employed at the Clean Air Council, I headed the office Waste Reduction Team and also operated the Recycling Hotline. I also worked on the Pollution Prevention Program, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

During my senior year at Temple University, I also completed an Internship researching Environmental Injustice and Brownfields. For a period of time, I abandoned my thinking about the Environment because I was employed in a profession where we not only used too much paper but at the time, there was not a great concern for Sustainable Design. But green has proven to be something that is not going away. As I made my journey back to green, former Vice President Al Gore helped to solidify my thinking. He brought awareness to an extremely important topic. Now, I Am Greener Than Ever!!!

My thinking is green, my lifestyle is green and my business is green.

Yes, Urban Aesthetics is Green. Gold + Blue does make green!

This Week's Green Tip: Install a tankless water heater. Help save the environment by cutting back on energy usage. Conventional water heaters utilize energy (gas, electric, etc.) to consistently heat a tank full of water in order to keep steady temperature. In contrast, tankless water heaters have a heating element that heats water on contact. This cuts back on the continuous energy used to heat water in a tank. An added benefit is the constant flow of hot water as opposed to using all of the water heated within your hot water tank.