green roof

If you were asked, “What are you doing to ‘grow green (plant/profit)’ your market share,” what would you respond? Would you similar to my colleague Ed Snodgrass of Emory Knoll Farms, http://www.greenroofplants.com/, be recognized as an eco leader, a person who is growing green their market share?
Nationally coined by media as the ‘Green Roof Man of the Year’, Snodgrass, a committed conservationist, has supplied plants for over one million square feet of green roofs in 20 states and the District of Columbia. And, perhaps more importantly, if you look behind his commercial commitment, you will see that it extends far beyond a business focus. He applies his philosophy, ‘don’t take more out of the Earth than we are able to put back’, to all facets of his lifestyle.
While it can appear difficult to identify ‘eco-biz greening strategies’, in most cases it is a matter of applying effective core business strategies such as efficiency of scale: create maximum output from minimum eco resources input. In a prior blog/column - http://blog.thewrightscoop.com/2011/03/21/eco-biz-leadership.aspx - I identified the nation-wide lack of recognized eco leadership. So, through writing a series of blog/columns, I hope to initiate discussion of ‘how to’ resolve this issue.
For the present, let me share a few ‘grow green market share’ tips -
• Become a steward of the land because ‘green matters’.
• Be aware research has revealed 8 of 10 consumers prefer a green product, service or information; regardless of age, green matters. Consumers are willing to pay more (usually 5 to 10%); and, prefer to deal with a company that has an established ‘greening’ reputation.
• Provide ‘green’ products or services defined as ‘made/provided with little environmental harm’: goods or services produced in environmentally and ecologically friendly ways, e.g. by using renewable resources.
• Strive to create ultimate ‘green’ products or services that meet present-day consumer demand without impacting future generation resources.
• Understand the Ps – product, publicity, promotion, people, planet & profit – as each influence ‘greening’ market share; and then, develop vision/mission statements and green initiatives which enable media formats that support brand recognition.
• Use mechanics involved in creating branded images and identify communication formats that create a differentiated message, an industry appropriate image sustained by viable ‘green’ products or services.
• Inject the market place with a unique, consistent, desirable ‘green’ persona position that reigns over a consumer’s mind and is so highly valued that you and/or your product are not simply seen as “a” product but “the” product.
• Become the recognized niche product or service eco-brand, create a brand name - you!
If a colleague in your region were asked the question, “pause for moment, who do you consider to be an eco leader,” would he/she visualize you? Could you be coined by media as an ‘eco man/woman of the year’? Are you participating in activities that ‘green (planet/profit)’ your market share?

To share comments, ideas or strategies related to this subject or other communication topics, contact Sylvia@TheWrightScoop.com. Contribute to a series of topics that are helpful to the Industry.

About the author – Sylvia Hoehns Wright, author of Seven Steps to Grow Green Market Share, http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/seven-steps-to-grow-green-market-s... and The ABCs of Green Industry Communications: assess, brand & communicate, http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-abcs-of-green-industry-communi..., challenges all to ‘grow green their market share’. To acquire Wright’s books or her assistance as an eco-biz communications specialist, link to www.TheWrightScoop.com Sylvia’s Store option or contact (804)672-6007.

Are you and your product or service a steward for the land? “Sustainability – the ultimate green,” says Green Industry colleague Ed Snodgrass “means we don't take more out of the Earth than we are able to put back.” Recognized nationally by media as the ‘2007 Green Roof Man of the Year’, Snodgrass, a committed conservationist, has supplied plants for over one million square feet of green roofs in 20 states and the District of Columbia. And, if you look behind his commercial commitment, you also see that it extends far beyond a business focus. He has applied his philosophy, ‘don’t take more out of the Earth than we are able to put back’, to all facets of his lifestyle; for additional details, link to web site www.greenroofplants.com.

Similar to the concept of individual accountability, ‘growing green’ a product or service starts with measuring eco-foot prints, www.conservation.org/ecofootprint to determine how both you and/or your employees presently fall short related to ‘green’ choices. Then, the concept expands to measure overall impact of a product or service as it relates to creating carbon footprints, www.carbonfootprint.com .

While it may appear difficult to identify ‘greening strategies’, in most cases it is simply applying core business strategies such as efficiency of scale: create maximum output from minimum input. So, related to the distribution of your product or service, think outside of the box.

For example, through reviewing delivery routes, United Parcel Service (UPS) saved millions of dollars in fuel cost, reduced employee overtime and improved their customer service. How did this event occur? By developing delivery routes that took advantage of ‘free right turn during red lights’, with little or no start up cost, the new routing system immediately reap reward.

In my book - The ABCs of Green Industry Communications: assess, brand & communicate, http://www.lulu.com/content/6083320, - I share the ‘who, what, when, where, why, how and benefits of ‘growing green (profit/planet)’ market share’. I as well as other Industry professionals provide tips related to identifying a niche market, developing sustainable business strategies and implementing communication activities that enable market share - not simply the mechanics but examples of activities proven to create market presence.

Let me share a few ‘greening’ tips -
• Become a steward of the land because ‘green matters’.
• Be aware research reveals 8 of 10 consumers prefer a green product, service or information; regardless of age, green matters; so, consumers are willing to pay more (usually 5 to 10%); and, prefer to deal with a company that has an established ‘greening’ reputation.
• Understand the P’s – product, publicity, promotion, people, planet & profit – as each influence ‘greening’ market share; and then, develop vision/mission statements and green initiatives which enable media formats that support brand recognition.
• Provide ‘green’ products or services defined as ‘made/provided with little environmental harm’: goods or services produced in environmentally and ecologically friendly ways, e.g. by using renewable resources.
• Strive to create ultimate ‘green’ products or services that meet present-day consumer demand without impacting future generation resources.
• Use mechanics involved in creating branded images and identify communication formats that create a differentiated message, an industry appropriate image sustained by viable ‘green’ products or services.
• inject the market place with a unique, consistent, desirable ‘green’ persona position that reigns over a consumer’s mind and is so highly valued you and/or your product are not simply seen as “a” product but “the” product.
• Become the recognized niche product or service eco-brand, create a brand name - you!

So, considering the relationship of planet and profit, are you ‘growing green’ your business? Are you contributing to sustainability, ultimate green? As my colleague Ed Snodgrass says, “Don’t take more out of the Earth than we are able to put back.”

Author’s Note - In anticipation of the 2010 DC Green Festival, I’ve implemented a 5-step sustainable landscape program. All steps are posted on www.TheWrightScoop.com blog, twitter ID WrightScoop and facebook group The Wright Scoop. A final step invites all to the DC Green Festival Saturday, October 23, from 12:30 to 1:15pm held at the Organic Gardening and Urban Farming Pavilion located in the DC Convention Center to hear my speech Gardening Green: the sustainable landscape. A signing/sale of my book From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: landscape green is host by Washington Gardener magazine and held at their exhibit booth. For details, see Green Festivals http://www.greenfestivals.org/index.php?option=com_mtree2&task=viewlink&... .

Green Living Technologies and THE GREEN LIVING NEWS:

Current March Issue:

• Go Green Philadelphia...Free Tickets
  
• The FAQ... What about winter?
• GLT Maui Distributor Greg Lee to Present at GRHC 
• The cleaner of the two...GLT storm water...
• Whats Coming Up?
• GLT Educational Opportunities
  
• Its M'm, M'm, Good, Join us LIVE Satellite Feed
  
• Spring Stock Available, Plant Connection is Taking Orders NOW!

Go Green Philadelphia....Free Tickets to GLT Fans..

Go Green Expo, the nations premier eco-friendly trade show, is coming to
the PA Convention Center March 13th - 15th!  We would like to invite you to visit George Irwin as the "Green Wall Editor" on Sunday, March 15 at 3pm discussing Green Homes 101. Go Green Expo, Green Living Technologies and the "Green Wall Editor" are  pleased to offer you complimentary admission, simply visit http://www.gogreenexpo.com and use promo code PAGREEN when registering for tickets.

 

The FAQ ......
(Send us your question about Green Roofs or Green Walls and we may feature it in our news letter and may become part of the next column by "The Green Wall Editor" at www.greenroofs.com)

Q. "All the pictures I see of green roofs are always in the height of bloom or in the warm regions of the US. I live where we get lots of snow and temperatures drop below freezing, What does the green roof or green wall look like in the winter"?.... (Sandy, Rutland VT)

A. Both green roofs and walls when constructed properly, account for the correct vegetation for the geographic area and are maintained as specified will perform throughout the winter. Not only do the GLT Green Roof systems  perform they add beauty, color and texture to an otherwise barren landscape.

Green Living Roof Panels Summer                      

 

Green Living Roof, Summer Data Collection

 

Green Living Roof, February 2009 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't be fooled, not all systems are created equal. If you utilize the wrong plant in relation to the depth of the media the plant will not survive the winter. This is more true with green walls. This is exactly why we have a 3", 4" and 6" depths for a variety of plants. There is no such thing as a standard mix of plants to choose from for your green walls. If someone hands you a list without consulting with you about the lighting, elevation, depth and anticipated expectation....buyer beware.

 

 Green Living Wall - Summer

 

Green Living Wall - Winter Interest

 

Sandy, you also can choose a few varieties that provide an almost evergreen look year round...

 

Thanks to Sandy for her question. If you have a question related to green roofs and green walls email the "Green Wall Editor" at george@agreenroof.com and be sure to visit www.greenroofs.com for the most up to date green wall information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Living Technologies, Maui, Distributor - Greg Lee, 1st Look Exteriors to present at GRHC in
Atlanta June 3rd -5th

We are proud to exemplify the work of GLT Distributor Greg Lee and 1st Look Exteriors (Maui, Hawaii). Greg will presenting another GLT first. Hawaii's first Green Living Wall incorporating native and wild tropical plants utilizing the Green Living Wall system.

Thursday, June 4, 2009
Track 2 Case Studies and Design
Room: Hanover FG
Session 2.2 Green Wall Design
11:30 - 1:00 pm

Be sure to visits Greg's work in our gallery page at www.agreenroof.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Can't be Real....Yes it is Real...Real Clean
Storm water that is....

We had the chance in the past to show the storm water cleanliness after it was filtered through the Green Living Roof Panels. Here are some additional authentic pictures taken just last Friday. The Green Living Roof Panels are a long term solution and a short term expense. Pre-vegetated delivered mature and installed immediately the benefits are instant. The remaining data on this roof will be held until I present it to the "Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference" Click here for the link If you need immediate information for a project please feel free to contact us....the Green Living Roof panel is less than 15 lbs per square foot saturated and can hold up to 8 gallons of water in a 10.5 square foot section!

Green Living Roof Panel and the Control Roof

 

Storm Water Collection Tanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whats coming up?
Can't tell all the details but the Spring of 2009 is shaping up to be a home run and the end of the year may be the start to the Olympic dream...

Go Mets! Opening day of the new Citi Field will sport the Green Living Roof Panels....

Other Headlines in the making...

Green Living Wall on the Greenest Building in the World?..
Edible Green Living Walls and Urban Farming in Costa Rica & the Philippines....?
Going for Gold in Vancouver...?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Living Technologies Educational Opportunities

 

Cal Poly Students, San Luis Obisbo

 

GLT SCHOOL:

Most may not know this but Green Living Technologies CEO George Irwin is also a certified teacher. Education has played a roll in the success of GLT. Our philosophy is working with our installers and reps very closely like a living classroom. Here's the facts, not everyone can learn in a controlled classroom, in fact we will not accept our installers being certified without having real authentic hands on experience. It is not the same unless you learn on a real project. No one installer is certified until a GLT supervisor signs off on an actual installation without the help of GLT. Our growth and expansion has been controlled, the people we have as our installers, agents and maintenance technicians are 100% the best in the industry. We work with them personally, teaching hands on. It is not fair to the agent that we sit you in a 4 day class and say good luck out there. We don't just accept anyone. This is why everyone in the GLT organization, hands on or not, has to attend GLT School. Everyone has to know our systems and how they are installed.

K-12 Green Roof and Green Wall Unit Plan and The Harley School (Rochester NY)

One of the very best things about our company is they way we give back to society. We have a hands on approach with the population we are trying to impact. This means not just educating architects but students, teachers and others in our society. Licensed teacher George Irwin, aka "The Green Wall Editor" and CEO of Green Living Technologies has developed a 9 week unit plan that can be tailored for Kindergarten through college. The current class meets for 2 hours a week as the unit takes the students through the education and hands on approach to green roofs and green walls. Complete with a 95 page teachers guide to complement the 75 page student handbook, rubrics and assessment materials, the unit was designed around the National Learning Standards and provides plenty of curriculum interaction including math, science, social studies and writing. At the end of the unit the students have to prepare a persuasive argument complete with facts and research, present it to the group to decide what project their class will install for an additional 3-4 week hands on lab. The same presentation is graded by their peers using the provided rubric. The students will conduct an installation of a green roof or green wall and perform basic data collection or prepare an edible garden as part of the Urban Farming Food Chain. The pilot program goes into effect late March at the Harley School in Rochester NY, upon revisions the Unit Plan will be available to the public.

Rochester Institute of Technology and Green Living Technologies....

have agreed to conduct some of the first technical data around green living walls. Late March, Josh Goldwitz, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator Environmental Management & Safety will oversee a 9 month study involving the Green Living Wall systems. Without disclosing the specifics it will be ground breaking research, the first of its kind to be available specifically around green living walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urban Farming, Green Living™ Technologies and Campbell's® ......Its M'm, M'm Good!®

Live Global Satellite feed from 6 am - 12 pm April 16th is the date for a Campbell's soup edible crop wall to be part of the Urban Farming Food Chain in collaboration with Green Living™ Technologies and the Green Living™ Wall. Live from Harlem in New York City. "This project really demonstrates the next step for the Green Living™ Wall as a viable resource to revolutionize the way we think about crop production. With less fertile land and declining agriculture professionals we have no choice but to think outside the box." (George Irwin, The Green Wall Editor) Look for additional updates next month!