Oct. 5, 2010

Site Visits: 1:00-4:00 p.m., (carpooling is encouraged as no transportation will be provided)

Stormwater Management in Puget Sound

Kitsap County Water Quality Specialists will lead visits to three sites and offer interpretation of different approaches to stormwater management and low impact development. Meet at Olympic College, Poulsbo Campus, 1000 Olympic College Place NW, Poulsbo, WA, at 1 p.m. Directions to the site here.

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Ocean Acidification and Impacts to Puget Sound

While more dramatic impacts from excess carbon in our atmosphere like sea level rise may be years away, our oceans are the biggest carbon sinks on Earth and are feeling the impacts now. The carbon imbalance has caused pH levels in the oceans to shift threatening many organisms, especially shellfish. Learn how ocean acidification is impacting Puget Sound and its shellfish industry. The tour will meet in front of the hotel at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort at 1 p.m. One stop will be at the Taylor Shellfish Farms Dabob Bay Hatchery.

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Reception: Peter Donaldson, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Keynote Address: Anita Burke, Founder, Catalyst Institute, 9:00 -10:15 a.m.

DETAILS COMING SOON

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Track 1: Climate Change/Energy Efficiency - “Community-Level Planning for the Northwest’s Industrial Future," 10:30-noon

• Scott Hutchins, DOE: “Energy, Economy, & the Environment”

• Andreas W. Koenig, Re-tem Corporation: "Eco Industrial Development in Seattle"
  Eco-Industrial Development (EID) is a concept and set of tools to make our industrial systems sustainable. A number of initiatives are using EID principles for planning new sites, so called Eco-Industrial Parks. In Seattle however the challenge lies in introducing EID practices to a large existing industrial district. This presentation will introduce the EID concept through practical and outline the challenges for its application to Seattle industrial districts and its communities.

• Cameron Hewes, General Biodiesel: Community Scale Energy

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Track 2: Green Chemistry/Toxics Reduction - “Implementing Toxics Reduction Strategies in the Northwest,” 10:30-noon

• Tom Boucher, WA Dept. of Ecology: "Toxic Metals Prevention Campaign:  How's it Going in WA?
  An overview of a recently-started toxics prevention campaign focused on the persistent, bioaccumulative toxins mercury, lead and cadmium: where it came from, how it works and where it’s going.

• David Livengood, OR DEQ: “Priority Toxic Chemicals Work. How’s it going in Oregon?”
  Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is developing a Toxics Reduction Strategy. The goal is to use a comprehensive, integrated approach to reduce the greatest threats to human health and ecological life from toxic pollutants in Oregon's environment. An external stakeholder group is providing invaluable input, while staff is conducting internal program reviews and preparing to examine strategic actions to reduce toxic chemicals. The presentation describes the Strategy and how Oregon is making all this happen in fiscally challenging times.

• Claire Tonry , StormwateRx: "Storm Water in Puget Sound"
  Industrial runoff is a significant source of toxic pollutants flowing into the Puget Sound. This presentation will identify the pollutants of concern in Puget Sound area stormwater and regulations and enforcement actions targeted at toxics. Case studies will highlight industrial sectors with special stormwater concerns related to toxic and best management practices to control these pollutants.

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• Mike Mann, Cyan Strategies: “Seattle’s Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Program”
  The energy used to heat, cool and light buildings accounts for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions.  To get a handle on how to reduce these global warming gasses, we need to understand how buildings can operate more efficiently.  We need, in essence, to measure what matters.  For buildings, this means utilizing ratings—like EPA’s Portfolio Manager—to introduce a yardstick into the commercial real estate market.  The City of Seattle is a leading municipality in establishing mandates for energy efficiency reporting.  Come hear about Seattle’s experience in measuring the energy efficiency of its commercial and multifamily building stocks.

• Robert Drake, EPA:  “Energy Star: Beyond Appliances and Building Energy”
  Learn about web accessible, self service, Energy Star tools and resources that can assist P2 assistance providers.

• Natalie Hummel, EPA: "GHG and Cost Calculators"
  Review of the P2 GHG and Cost Savings Tools, designed to calculate GHG reductions and cost savings from P2 activities.  These tools were designed to assist those on the ground, grantees, businesses, and and others in the P2 community in reporting outcome performance measures.

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• Shari Franjevich, Clean Production Action: "An Introduction to Green Screen for Chemical Alternatives Assessment"
  Chemical alternatives assessment is an approach to compare chemical options across a spectrum of human health, safety and environmental attributes while considering life cycle impacts. It is emerging as a useful framework for driving continual improvement in product and process design and material selection.  In this session we will provide a context for use of chemical alternative assessment tools and their unique niche within the broader framework of sustainability tools and metrics, and an introduction to one such tool, namely the Green Screen for Safer Chemicals developed by Clean Production Action. We will discuss the Green Screen approach, how the tool is currently being used, and forthcoming improvements with version 2.0 of the method and supporting implementation structures. 

• George Thompson, Chemical Compliance Systems, Inc. : “Web-based Alternative Greener Chemical Product and Process Analysis Case Studies”
  The development of alternative greener chemicals, products and processes can be a quantitative and objective process, when based upon specific, but comprehensive, criteria that utilize publicly available data. This presentation will describe the availability of such Web-based databases, "green" criteria, and analytical compliance systems, and their application to skin care, paint, automotive, household and cleaning products, as well as manufacturing processes and the automated identification of greener alternative chemical constituents/reactants. It will also illustrate how these systems have been integrated into quantitative and objective lifecycle and sustainability systems.

• Kirk Myers, Social Responsibility Manager, REI

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Plenary Session: “Advancing Your Green Business Priorities: Navigating the Soft Patch," 3:15-4:30

The onset of the financial crisis and the subsequent recession has dramatically changed the landscape for businesses and business owners. Firms are now faced with a new onset of challenges in this business climate that include: limited access to financing, an increased regulatory environment, higher taxes, and compressed operating margins. To help navigate this new economic climate businesses will need to draw upon a revised “tool kit” of strategies. The objective of the panel discussion is to provide business owners an outline of some best practices to adopt from a financial and tax planning perspective.

• Pete Miller, Clark Nuber
  While conditions have been turbulent over the recent economic downturn, many companies have been able to navigate their way through. When the economy recovers there will be incredible opportunities for companies that are poised to act. How will the economic uncertainty affect your business plan? The success stories of the eventual economic recovery will be found in those companies that take the time to plan for their actions, develop a strategy, and identify resources to put their company in the optimal position?

• Patrick Drum, UBS Financial Services, Arbor Group
  The overall trend toward slower growth has become even more pronounced with the increased probability of a "double dip" recession having increased in over the past few months. Given all the news, economic data and the government's actions toward stabilizing the economy where do we stand and what are the relevant trends that businesses should keep in mind throughout the current economic climate.

• Larry Baker, ShoreBank Enterprise
  During the “Great Recession” access to conventional capital dried up for many small businesses, with banks tightening their underwriting standards to comply with a stricter regulatory environment.  Although the worse of the crisis has passed, lenders are much more circumspect now. What are some ways that entrepreneurs can secure capital in challenging times? 

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Directions to Olympic College, Poulsbo Campus, 1000 Olympic College Place NW, Poulsbo, WA

From Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort:

From Suquamish Way NE, turn right onto WA 305 NE. Pass the Highway 3 North exit at Adele Ferguson Bridge and continue straight onto B Street. Follow the road as it curves up the hill to the campus. (Note: You will not be able to see the building until you have almost reached the college grounds.)

From Bainbridge:

Follow Highway 305 North. Pass the Highway 3 North exit at Adele Ferguson Bridge and continue straight onto B Street. Follow the road as it curves up the hill to the campus. (Note: You will not be able to see the building until you have almost reached the college grounds.)

From Hood Canal:

Follow Highway 3 South towards Poulsbo. Take the Highway 305 South/Poulsbo/Bainbridge Island exit. From the exit ramp, turn right onto B Street. Follow the road as it curves up the hill to the campus. (Note: You will not be able to see the building until you have almost reached the college grounds.)

From Bremerton/Silverdale:

Follow Highway 3 North. Take the Highway 305 South/Poulsbo/Bainbridge Island exit. From the ramp, turn left and travel under the Hwy 3 overpass (Adele Ferguson Bridge) and follow straight to B Street. Follow the road as it curves up the hill to the campus. (Note: You will not be able to see the building until you have almost reached the college grounds.)

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