Institute for Environmental Solutions

Volume Four, Number Three, September 2011

IES International Conference Presentation on Contaminants

Carol Lyons, IES Executive Director, presented the results of IES’s Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) pilot project to an international scientific conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on August 24. The Third International Conference on Occurrence, Fate, Effects, and Analysis of Emerging Contaminants in the Environment (EmCon 2011) was held in late August at the University of Copenhagen, and included presentations by CEC researchers from around the globe. IES’s presentation, “Eliminating Emerging

Contaminants Upstream: Education and Prevention,” reported on the efforts of our CEC Project to reduce the use of personal care and household products that contain contaminants, such as BPA, BHA, parabens, and triclosan. Conference attendees were particularly interested in IES’s implementation of community-based social marketing (CBSM) to foster sustainable behavior and increase the use of CEC-free products, including household cleaners, soap, shampoo, and skin lotion. Many of the 150 scientists at the conference provided IES with useful recommendations for advancing the CEC project. For a copy of IES’s EmCon 2011 presentation, please contact Carol Lyons, Carol@i4es.org.

On the Campaign Trail

IES is proud to participate in 2011-2012 Denver Area Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Colorado Combined Campaign (CCC). These workplace campaigns give federal and state government employees the opportunity to donate to nonprofits of their choice. Employees can make a one-time donation or donate via payroll deduction. All donations are tax deductible. Both campaigns host education events in September and October to inform employees about the work of participating local nonprofit organizations.

IES has produced portable informational material (referred to as IES-in-a-box) including educational brochures and wallet cards, a poster and banner, buttons and stickers featuring the IES logo. The national CFC is the world’s largest annual workplace charity campaign and the most successful. Between October 3 and November 18, federal civilian, postal and military employees attend one or more CFC nonprofit fairs. Following the fairs, employee representatives may invite nonprofits to give short presentations to their department. Employees have until December 15 to designate a nonprofit of their choice to receive their individual donation.

CCC caters to Colorado state government employees and highlights charities that directly benefit Coloradoans. IES was one of 14 nonprofits chosen to attend the CCC kickoff event at the Colorado Department of Transportation on August 16. IES graduate interns met with state employees, introducing IES and the Tree and CEC Projects, and handing out free buttons reading “Trees Make Sense” and stickers proclaiming “10 out of 10 doctors recommend clean air and water.” Colorado state and federal government employees: Please contact Amory Ledyard (amory.ledyard@i4es.org) to schedule an IES presentation at your workplace!

“Oh Man That Was a Great Workshop”

That was one of many positive descriptions that participants provided following the IES Non-Toxic Cleaning and Living Workshop. Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association, the Workshop took place in Fort Collins last May, and was presented by IES team members Brandon Singletary and Carol Lyons. Participant Amy Alcorn summarized the experience in her blog: “I feel like I am much better equipped now. I have an understanding of what to avoid when purchasing cleaning products and also know how to make my own!” The 90-minute Workshop included background information about Contaminants of Emerging Concern in everyday household and personal care products. This was followed by hands-on preparation of three different cleaning products using ordinary non-toxic ingredients. Participants also received samples of many commercial, contaminant-free products. For information about future IES workshops, please contact Solutions@i4es.org.

Trees for Healthy Community and Economy

IES is planning for the spring 2012 Trees for Healthy Community and Economy tree planting in Broomfield’s emerging city center. This tree planting project will optimize both environmental and economic improvement. The IES Trees for Healthy Community and Economy project will use strategic tree selection, siting, and planting to improve environmental quality and provide economic development opportunities in the target area. With generous funding provided by the Xcel Energy Foundation, IES is partnering with the City and County of Broomfield and local businesses to establish a collaborative funding model based on the shared values of expanded tree canopy.

Properly selected and planted, urban trees can provide net environmental benefits. In addition, city trees can positively affect shopping districts by improving business. According to research conducted by social scientist Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D., at the University of Washington, “Survey participants from all regions of the United States favor trees in retail settings. . . The highest ratings (based on visual attractiveness, product value and quality, and merchant responsiveness) were granted to places having full, mature tree canopy.” Such perceptions prompt consumers to shop longer and more frequently, and pay more for all categories of goods.

IES encourages Broomfield businesses and community members to participate in this unique project. For more information, please contact IES Project Coordinator Amory Ledyard, Amory.Ledyard@I4ES.org.

Colorado Urban Forestry Carbon Credit Guidelines in Review

IES’s Colorado Urban Forestry Carbon Credit Guidelines introduce community urban forestry projects, their ability to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and their potential to provide integrated environmental improvement and financial benefits for project undertakers. The Guidelines are intended to help municipalities and other potential project stakeholders decide if a community forestry carbon credit project is right for them, while also providing project developers with the practical knowledge to plan and implement such projects with optimal results.

Carbon credits are a relatively new type of financial instrument for offsetting GHG emissions; newer still is the concept of community urban forestry as a source of these credits. Although public and private sectors have expressed interest in producing, selling, or purchasing urban forestry carbon credits in Colorado, few resources on the subject currently exist. IES sees this as an opportunity to provide practical information and assistance in this area. The Guidelines serve as a starting point from which to expand IES’s involvement in Colorado community urban forestry and include a new group of stakeholders in tackling local environmental concerns. For more information about the CUFCC Guidelines, please contact Ryan Moore at ryan@i4es.org.

IES is on Facebook! Please visit our page and "like" IES to receive more news.

IES is proud to be a member of 1% For The Planet, the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE), the Colorado Nonprofit Association, the Colorado Tree Coalition, the Colorado Watershed Assembly, and Giving First. If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you wish to subscribe, please e-mail Newsletter@i4es.org. The Institute for Environmental Solutions does not sell, rent, exchange, or give away any contact information. To unsubscribe, please e-mail Newsletter@i4es.org with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line.