Everyday Green Home – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Wicked problems are significant issues with no single, straightforward answer, and they are everywhere!

Transportation is a wicked problem that touches every aspect of our lives, whether we realize it or not. It affects what we have on our dinner tables, the clothes we wear, and everything we have inside our homes. It even affects where we work, how we get there, and how we spend our vacations. Yet, we tend to take it for granted.

I'm Marla, the Green Home Coach, coming to you live from Shock City Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. I am delighted to have my occasional co-host, Tony Pratte, join me today to discuss the wicked problems surrounding transportation. 

The transportation system is undeniably complex and multifaceted. I invite you to listen in as we journey through the evolving world of our transportation system and explore the wicked problems it presents. 

Impact of COVID-19 

The absence of commuters and students traveling to school during the pandemic highlighted a significant shift in how we perceive transportation. I found it eye-opening to see the streets resembling quiet Sunday mornings when it used to be rush hour.

Electric Cars and Infrastructure

A noticeable change after the pandemic has been the proliferation of electric cars, even in states like Oklahoma, traditionally associated with fossil fuels. The increasing presence of electric vehicles is encouraging. But we must recognize that the infrastructure to support them is evolving, and supply chains for materials like copper and lithium must grow exponentially to meet the 2035 EV goals. 

Mining

Mining, especially overseas, raises concerns about environmental and ethical practices. Those considerations are essential as we make the shift to electric transportation.

Transparency in the Supply Chain

Many pieces get hidden from the average consumer within the supply chain for energy and transportation. With both gasoline for cars and the materials used in the batteries of electric vehicles, transparency remains a challenge. We need better labeling and reporting to know where our products come from, because that awareness allows us to make informed choices, not only for environmental reasons but also to support ethical and responsible sourcing.

Public Transportation

The lack of robust public transportation networks, especially in the Midwest and Southeastern United States, forces many to rely on personal vehicles. However, expanding and improving public transportation could significantly reduce congestion, pollution, and the need for massive parking lots in urban areas. Achieving a well-balanced transportation system that combines individual and public options remains a challenge yet to be overcome.

Walkable Cities

The issues with transportation issue also extend to city planning and the use of land. Deciding whether we want to continue sacrificing valuable space for parking lots or promote walkable cities that will reduce our reliance on cars is a balancing act, and the choices we make today will have consequences for future generations. This complexity highlights the need for thoughtful, integrated solutions, considering the environment, society, and economics.

Maintaining Existing Infrastructure

We often rush into building new infrastructure before adequately maintaining existing systems. We must prioritize maintenance and repair to ensure the longevity of our transportation networks and reduce costs and environmental impact in the long run. In essence, addressing the wicked problem of transportation requires a multifaceted approach, incorporating sustainability, ethical considerations, and urban planning for a better future.

Maintenance in Transportation

Maintenance for transportation still tends to get overlooked in the planning process, leaving far-reaching implications. It is easier to secure funds for capital budgets than to get funding for ongoing operational expenses. Capital expenditures have the allure of job creation and development, making them more appealing to budget approvers. Unfortunately, maintenance often falls by the wayside despite its critical role in preserving and extending the life of our transportation systems.

Unforeseen Consequences

The bias towards capital expenditure, driven by political and economic factors, is concerning. When creating impressive new structures gets prioritized, it is easy to lose sight of the need to maintain existing systems. The consequences of this negligence are evident on the roads. A simple blowout caused by the poor condition of a road can lead to severe consequences, from inconvenience to accidents and increased healthcare costs. That is a stark reminder of the vital role of maintenance in ensuring our safety and well-being.

Extreme Weather and Infrastructure Challenges

Many regions, like St. Louis and Oklahoma City, face extreme weather conditions that wreak havoc on their transportation infrastructure. Asphalts expand and contract under temperature extremes, creating fissures and potholes. These constant shifts necessitate research into more resilient road materials that can withstand the stresses. 

Shifting Transportation Modes 

Considering the most efficient modes for moving goods is crucial. Shifting from road transportation to rail can reduce the number of trucks on the road and the associated pollution. Trains are known for their economical and environmentally friendly tonnage transportation, as they can carry a considerable load with minimal fuel consumption. Exploring the potential for rail transportation can significantly impact the overall efficiency of our transportation systems.

Collaborative Planning

Transportation decisions should prioritize the greater good, not the preferences of the few. Fostering collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including federal and local governments, businesses, and the general public, remains a challenge. Those stakeholders often vie for their share of the transportation budget, further complicating the decision-making process. Budget allocation is influenced by political interests, so the focus must shift from individual gains to what is best for the collective community. We need a comprehensive master plan that does not cater to personal preferences or political influence. 

The Complexity of Transportation

Transportation is a wicked problem that is more intricate than housing and buildings. The many parties involved, from government agencies to private industries, and the relentless battle for funding require a multifaceted approach. 

Collaboration

The wicked problem of transportation demands our unwavering attention and collaboration to ensure a safer, more efficient future for all.

Have a great green day!

Links and resources

Green Home Coach Workshop - How to Sell the Value of Green Homes and Features 

How do All Electric Cars Work

Building the electric-vehicle charging infrastructure America needs

The EV Battery Supply Chain Explained - RMI

Transportation Trends 2022-2023 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics 

It is hard to talk about how our homes impact our health, well-being, and climate when so many people still struggle to afford the cost of buying their own homes.

Today, I bring you a solution cultivated by Kerry Langley, an industry colleague I have known for quite some time. 

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach, and I invite you to lean in and pay attention as you discover how his financial modeling tools and software can help you unlock the doors to a brighter financial future and lead you to the home you deserve!

I am so excited to have Kerry share his insights today! They will allow you to approach your housing journey with a fresh perspective and attain outcomes you may never have thought possible.

Getting to know Kerry 

Kerry Langley is a financial math enthusiast. With a career spanning 38 years in mortgage banking, he used to cater to millionaires with complex financial dealings. However, the 2008 recession took him from thriving to struggling and led him to re-evaluate his approach. After talking to a friend who worked at Merrill Lynch, he felt inspired to explore opportunities that could benefit a broader audience. So he transitioned to high-performance homes and green buildings, even though he had limited knowledge about green and energy-efficient concepts. 

Making Green Living Financially Accessible

Kerry began a mission to make sustainable, green living financially accessible. He partnered with various organizations to create EarthCraft House, a certification program promoting green homes. That endeavor led to the development of his green mortgage software, Home Bucks, to help consumers identify ways to improve their homes, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce the total cost of ownership.

Creating Home Bucks

Even though he lacked experience in software development, Kerry still embarked on developing a software tool. The result was a groundbreaking tool called TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), which he later trademarked under the name Home Bucks. This innovative tool aims to empower consumers to live in homes that may seem out of their budget range by optimizing financial aspects. 

Making Green Choices affordable 

Through Home Bucks, Kerry demonstrated how buyers could incorporate items like solar panels into their mortgage, lower their interest rates, and ultimately reduce their total cost of ownership without straining their initial budget. His practical approach dismantled the misconception that sustainable living was financially out of reach and reinforced the idea that green choices could, in fact, be affordable.

The EarthCraft House Certification Program 

After being approached by the Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Southface Institute, Kerry partnered with them to develop a green mortgage and got involved with the EarthCraft House certification program. 

Enhancing Energy Efficiency

Kerry's approach to green homes includes the integration of solar panels, improvements in insulation, installation of energy-efficient appliances, and upgrades to windows. He aims to demonstrate that achieving sustainability and energy efficiency does not necessarily come with a higher price tag. 

Addressing Misconceptions About Green Homes

One of the challenges Kerry encounters is the prevailing misconception that green homes are expensive and unattainable. Through his meticulous financial modeling and calculations, he debunks that myth. 

Creating Long-Term Wealth

Kerry helps his clients make informed decisions about their homes, which is their most significant investment. He firmly believes that with careful consideration and a comprehensive understanding of the financial aspects, individuals can build long-term, multi-generational wealth through homeownership. His approach also involves smart financial planning.

The Importance of Thoughtful Home Buying

Kerry emphasizes the importance of thoughtful consideration when buying a home. He points out that people often spend significant time and effort choosing appliances or home decor, yet they fail to pay the same attention when buying a home.

Indoor Air Quality Matters

Indoor air quality frequently gets overlooked unless health issues arise. However, as families grow and parents become more concerned about the health of their loved ones, questions about indoor air quality, chemicals, and other factors come to the forefront.

Empowering Families

Young families, in particular, are challenged in the current housing market due to rising home costs. Kerry believes that by optimizing their budget and considering energy-efficient options, families can make more informed decisions and create a better living space for their loved ones.

Maximizing Resources

Starting a family tends to trigger a shift in priorities, so parents are more inclined to question the safety of chemicals in the home, off-gassing from cabinets, and other potential hazards. Aware of the lack of resources and guidance for addressing those concerns, Kerry understood how young families navigating the housing crisis could benefit from learning how to maximize their resources.

A Wise Investment

It is wise to invest in an asset that appreciates over time rather than investing in items that can depreciate. A home is generally the most substantial investment people ever make. Therefore, making thoughtful decisions that provide a comfortable living space and contribute to long-term financial stability is crucial.

Exploring the Home Bucks Model

The Home Bucks model takes several factors into account, including the price of a home, the commission structure, the current home performance, and potential improvements in energy efficiency and sustainability. It aims to calculate the total cost of ownership while considering all of those elements.

Driving Down Interest Rates

A key aspect of the Home Bucks model is its ability to lower interest rates, which significantly impacts the overall cost of homeownership. By optimizing various financial factors, Home Bucks can often reduce interest rates by one to one-and-a-half percent, resulting in substantial long-term savings for homeowners.

Flexible Financing Options

Home Bucks evaluates all possible financing options, not limiting itself to traditional mortgages. It considers point-of-sale financing for home improvements and various strategies. By analyzing their financial picture, Home Bucks helps its clients make the most cost-effective choices for their circumstances.

Paying Off the Mortgage Faster

A unique feature of the Home Bucks model is how it helps clients pay off their mortgages faster without additional payments. So, some homeowners can save money by shaving off significant years from their mortgage term.

A Unique Model

The Home Bucks model is unique in that it has the ability to transform people's financial outlooks while also enhancing the feasibility of green and energy-efficient homeownership.

Have a great green day!

Links and resources:

Green Home Coach Workshop - How to Sell the Value of Green Homes and Features 

Do You Know Your Total Home Ownership Cost 

3 Ways Real Estate Pros Can Be Change Agents 

TCO Flex (Total Cost of Ownership) 

Connect with Kerry and Homebuck$

HomeBuck$

What is the green home industry?

If you’d like to learn more about it, find out how to connect with people within it, and get to know about all the new things coming out in it, you’re in the right place because you will hear all of that today! 

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach, and I am excited to have Allison Friedman from Rate It Green with me today to talk about all the wonderful work she is doing! I love what Allison has built by tying her product, company, and service together! 

Rate It Green

Rate It Green is an open directory network for the green building industry or anyone interested in green building, from beginners to experts, including trade professionals, consumers, and advanced DIY-ers. They are both residential and commercial and have individual members, as well as organizational and company members. The aim is to get people together to shorten the learning curve by engaging, collaborating, sharing information online, and talking about their experiences building sustainable and healthier places to live.

It’s all connected

People are finally beginning to understand that health, sustainability, and living better lives are all connected. It is a learning process, and we all need to know that we are not alone and can help each other.

Where it all started for Allison

It all started in 2006 when Allison decided to renovate her home. It did not start out as a green project, and she made several mistakes along the way. She learned that it is hard to renovate sustainably while learning on the job- particularly back when it was hard to find any information on sustainable building practices.

A learning process 

Renovating her home was a learning process for Allison. If she had known when she started the project what she now knows, she would not have done it. However, she hopes all she has done and is still doing make her the best steward for building green homes.

The future

Allison is optimistic about everyone living healthier and more sustainably in the future, but moving the needle has been more difficult than was predicted.

Sharing information   

Allison would like to make the experience of sharing information online more human. However, she still prefers to engage with people and share information in person whenever possible.

Sharing her journey

Allison would like to use her resource to share her journey with others. She would like to talk more about improving indoor air quality, reducing the energy load, having clean water, and the things we are unaware of that could endanger us or cause health problems.

Health and energy assessments

The Inflation Reduction Act requires energy audits and assessments for some rebates. Unfortunately, there are very few companies doing those assessments. Free energy audits are available in Massachusetts. 

Tighter homes and indoor air quality

People have been getting excited about energy efficiency over the last few decades. Many have been tightening up their homes and learning to make do using less energy. As a result, better indoor air quality management is necessary to avoid any health risks associated with air pollutants getting trapped inside tighter homes. 

Advancing indoor air quality systems

Advancing indoor air quality systems happens on a level above the regular kind of energy audit, and Allison is working toward finding that.

Initial energy assessments

For an initial assessment, find someone with either a BPI or a HERS certification. Many utilities also offer some type of energy assessment, but they tend to vary from municipality to municipality or state to state. You can also go to www.energystar.gov  and www.energy.gov to learn more and find resources.

Content

Rate It Green has five key types of content:

1. Discussions
2. Groups
3. Articles
4. News
5. Open Events Calendar

Feedback and member content

Rate It Green is a member-driven community that depends on member content and questions to thrive. So they like to know which features, information, and resources the members want. 

How to get started on Rate It Green

To get started on Rate It Green, go to www.rateitgreen.com and click “Join the Community”.

Have a great green day!

Links:

Plastic is a wicked problem! We are finding bits of it everywhere!

Plastic was a great invention. It has become an integral part of our convenience lifestyle, so we can’t seem to do without it. But it is filling our landfills and oceans, and we even find it in our food and water! 

It was exciting when plastic soda bottles came out because they were light and did not break. Since then, however, plastic has gone in unanticipated directions. 

So what can we do now?

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! Today I am super excited to have my son, Trent, joining me on the podcast to explain how he uses recycled plastic to make filament for 3-D printing and talk about recycling different types of plastic.

Circular solutions

Trent is the co-founder of a St. Louis-based company called Printerior Designs. They focus on creating circular solutions for the industry by turning recycled plastics into 3-D printing filaments that can get used for creating new objects. They have developed three types of materials that have impacted the waste created in the industry, and they hope to continue reducing the enormous amount of waste the industry creates. 

Plastic lasts 

Plastic lasts for a long time. It does not deteriorate, and it does not biodegrade. We find it everywhere because it is lightweight and convenient. It does not break. It can easily be formed into any shape, and it costs much less than many other materials.  

Versatility

Plastic is versatile and useful. So billion-dollar corporations continue researching and finding innovative ways to create new types of it. 

Single-use items 

Items like plastic grocery bags, water bottles, and straws are all wasteful because they only get used once before we throw them away. Then they last an extremely long time in a landfill!

There are two main kinds of plastics:

1. Thermoset Plastics – They never break down
2. Thermoplastics – They break down and can be recycled

Thermoset plastics

The use of thermoset plastics has decreased drastically over the last twenty years or so. There is something in them that can get reused, but we still need to figure out how to do it. 

Recycling different types of plastic

Five of the seven most commonly-used plastics are easy to recycle. However, there are many different ways that each type of plastic gets formulated for specific applications. That makes it very hard for recyclers because each formulation within the same category of plastic has to be recycled separately. 

Polypropylene plastics (PP Plastics)

Hundreds of different types of polypropylene get manufactured because companies require different formulations to fit their specific applications. 

A vast array of different plastics

There is a vast array of different plastics. That causes problems for companies like Printerior because their machines can recycle some formulations but not others. 

TerraCycle 

TerraCycle is a company that has been researching hard-to-recycle materials. It is one of the few companies in the US that tries to recycle 3-D print filament. You can pay them to send you recycling boxes for specific categories of materials, like candy wrappers or lipstick tubes. Some vendors may even sponsor recycling boxes for their products!

Pay attention

We need to pay attention when recycling. If we put all our plastics together in one bag before putting them in a recycling bin, those items will likely end up in a landfill since the plastic, a film rather than a solid, cannot get processed by most single stream recyclers.

Making it easier for recyclers

Only about 9% of all the items intended for recycling get recycled. Certain municipalities still allow items for recycling to get sorted and separated. That makes things a lot easier for recyclers and increases the amount of recycling!

The future

In the future, recycling may get done chemically rather than mechanically.

Recycling plants

Some recycling plants use high-end robotics to do their sorting. But many still use basic machines and rely on people to sort things by hand.

Single-use plastic

Many people prefer to buy items with less packaging because a lot of single-use plastic gets used for packaging that just goes to waste.

From industrial waste to high-value products

Industry produces a lot of plastic waste! At Printerior, they use clean industrial waste PLA and PETG plastics to produce their 3-D print filaments. That helps them know what they are working with, have a clean stream, and create a high-value product! 

Post-consumer plastic

They are moving toward using post-consumer plastic and turning it into new items. They are currently doing some tests and preparing to launch their new material. 

Who Printerior work with

Printerior works with consumer waste. They collect waste from hobbyists, school districts, universities, and maker spaces, process it, and turn it into high-quality 3-D filament.

A first 

When their new product comes out, Printerior will be the first company in the 3-D printing world to bring filament made from recycled post-consumer plastics to market. They are also about to launch several other first-to-market post-industrial materials.

PLA

Most people use PLA filament for their 3-D printers. PLA is a recyclable bioplastic that is usually made from corn. Most compostable single-use utensils and food trays get made from PLA. Printerior currently uses industrial waste from the companies producing those items. They are working towards using post-consumer items as well. 

What you can do to help with the plastic problem

• Use less single-use packaging
• Use more reusable items
• Recycle what you can
• Buy items made from recycled materials

Something to look out for 

Don’t fall for marketing schemes that say items are “recyclable” rather than “recycled”. 

Ways to recycle

Go to the website of your local municipality and look up the best ways to recycle for their facilities. Many municipalities also have drop-off locations. Those locations are usually where most recycling happens.

Have a great green day!

Links

About Printerior Designs  

https://printeriordesigns.com/ Use code GreenHomeCoach for 10% off your first order.

Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse 

Recycling 101 from Waste Management

What is Plastic Recycling and How to Recycle Plastic 

7 Types of Plastic That Are Most Common 

Addressing the (sic Waste) Problem 

Managing Waste from GreenBiz

We are facing so many challenges in the labor and workforce and the construction industry right now, and people want to know why there aren’t more women employed in construction, the home-building industry, and the skilled trades. 

I am a huge advocate for workforce development, women in construction, and women in the skilled trades, and I have come up with a solution! It’s a phenomenal project called The House That She Built.

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! I have Natalie Miles joining me today to discuss The House That She Built project and why it is so important, and explain how you can learn more about it.

Professional Women in Building

Natalie is a member of Professional Women in Building (PWB) and part of the council in Utah. She jumped on board after being invited to a kick-off event and meeting all the amazing women who worked in different areas of construction.

About Natalie

Natalie grew up in construction. After having her kids, she started a home staging company. Her customers often asked for her advice on various aspects of their homes. That motivated her to become a new construction designer. So she sold her home staging business about ten years ago and went into designing new construction full-time. Now, she works exclusively for a builder, doing their designs and managing their projects. Last spring, she became a general contractor.

Learning on-site

Natalie did not learn anything about the work she does at school. She took it upon herself to learn everything while she was working on-site.

The House That She Built

The goal of Utah Professional Women in Building was to get more women into construction. So they decided to start a scholarship fund to encourage girls to get into construction work. As a fundraiser, they decided to have a house built entirely by girls. That was how the concept for The House That She Built was born. 

A non-profit

Natalie went all-in, volunteered to be the materials coordinator, and managed to get almost all the materials for the project donated! They operated as a non-profit, and the money they made from The House That She Built project got used to create their scholarship fund.

An incredible experience

It was an incredible experience for all the Utah members of PWB to be involved in the House That She Built project and learn all the new skills that the project required! About 100 women worked on the house. They had skilled women from all over the US joining them. By the end of the project, they had all formed a lasting bond as a sisterhood! 

The time-frame

It took about two years to coordinate the project before they started breaking ground. Then it took them less than a year to complete the construction. It was a challenging project, but they were successful!

Designers

Many designers were working on the house, so they divided the home into various spaces and allocated each area to a different designer. In the end, all the design aspects flowed together beautifully!

Healthy practices

They built the house using many practices required for healthier and better homes!

Impressive women

In the garage, they created a collage of all the photos of the women working on the house. That impressed the younger generation who came to see the house after the construction had been completed!

A children’s book

Mollie Elkman was so impressed after seeing the house that she wrote a children’s picture book called The House That She Built!

Girl Scouts

Natalie and another designer went to a Girl Scouts troop meeting to read The House That She Built picture book, speak about construction, and help the girls build some birdhouses. Afterward, the girls posted pictures on social media, and the next day, Natalie had about 30 Girl Scout troops asking her to do the same thing! 

Girl Scouts can now earn a patch for The House That She Built!

Changing the face of construction

The Utah PWB successfully created a significant scholarship fund that will expose many women to the skilled trades. They hope to inspire other PWBs to start similar projects across the nation. In doing that, they hope to change the face of construction! 

Have a great green day!

Links and resources:

The House That She Built - Utah PWB 

The House That She Built Book 

Meet the Real-Life Women from The House That She Built 

The House That She Built Girl Scout Patch 

The House That She Built on Instagram

Wicked problems have been a huge part of our lives!

Most of us know that the housing market has been a little crazy for the past few years. Some of that has been due to wicked problems like labor shortages, supply chain issues, and even land shortages in many parts of the country.  

The labor shortage has been of interest to many people, me and my guest co-host for today included. So, we decided to do something about it! 

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! Today I am joined by Will Blake, of Vesta Foundation Solutions in Oklahoma City. Will and I have worked together on several projects. 

Today, we are talking about workforce development, particularly in the building industry and skilled trades. 

Plumbers

Lately, it could take weeks or even months to get a plumber to come out unless it’s an emergency, and you are willing to pay double. 

A cascading labor shortage

The labor shortage in the new build and remodeling industry is cascading! That’s because there aren’t enough people in the trades, especially the licensed trades. 

Licensed trades 

We are greying out in the licensed trades. That means that those who have been trained to become the backbone of the industry are retiring. So, why are there no people behind them as they choose to move on with their lives?

A shrinking workforce

Will’s construction company specializes in an unlicenced trade, and even so, they are still experiencing issues with supplies, rising costs, and a shrinking workforce. 

Three categories

Most people we converse with fit into one of three categories:

1. Nobody wants to work in this category. (This is the largest category.)
2. People in this category are trying to identify generational workplace inequalities or issues with safety, diversity, and inclusion. 
3. People in this category want to know what we are going to do about the situation. (This is the smallest category. Will and I fit in here.)

2025

Almost 20% of our workforce will be aging out by 2025. Many of them will be taking all their knowledge, wisdom, hard skills, operational knowledge, and understanding of vendor relationships with them. Nearly 12% will come in to replace them, but that will be spread across all industries.

Additional issues

We did not get the population increase we were hoping for after Covid. Closing the borders and slowing down the movement of migrant workers into the country has also added to the problem of not being able to build enough houses.

Technology

Technology can provide some innovative new housing solutions, but there are still many missing pieces, and technology will not solve the hands-on labor problem.

A difficult business

Construction is a difficult business. 50% of businesses go out of business in the first five years. But in construction, it happens with 75% of businesses.

Purpose

Will’s company does foundation repair, concrete lifting, wood floor system repair, crawl spaces, and drainage. As a company, they tie its purpose back to the concept of the broken window theory, which is all about caring for infrastructure. So even if their efforts do not directly help the company, they are meant to indirectly support the industry and fix the problem with staffing, supply chain issues, etc.

No one to do repairs

If no people are available to do the necessary repairs to our homes and businesses, it means that either they won’t get done, or the homeowner will have to DIY them.

What is the problem?

The message for getting people into the construction trade has either been lost or skewed dramatically. Schoolchildren are encouraged to go to college rather than explore careers in the trades even though many people in the trades are earning a lot more than their college counterparts.

Build My Future

Build My Future OKC is an event put on by the Central OKlahoma Association of Home Builders and it’s Professional Women in Building Council. It is a one-day hands-on interactive construction career fair. When I moved back to Oklahoma City from St. Louis, and we got Professional Women in Building going again after being dormant, I told the other members about Build My Future and suggested we make it our signature project. They all agreed. Currently, there are between 25 and 30 Build My Futures taking place across the country to help young people learn about careers in the skilled trades and building industry.

Build My Future

Build My Future is an event put on by the National Association of Homebuilders. The events are one-day hands-on interactive construction career fairs. When I moved back to Oklahoma City from St. Louis, and we got Professional Women in Building going again after being dormant, I told the other members about Build My Future and suggested we make it our signature project. They all agreed. Currently, there are between 25 and 30 Build My Futures taking place across the country to help young people learn about careers in the skilled trades and building industry. 

Interesting career opportunities

There are some exciting and fulfilling career opportunities within the skilled trades, from marketing to sales to administrative to the production side to manufacturing, that provide a great living above the national average without any student debt loans.

Go younger

One thing that has come up is that we need to go younger because high school students pick a track to follow in the eighth grade.

A week-long camp

A group of like-minded construction business owners suggested doing a week-long free camp, Construct My Future, to allow kids to learn about various things they can do in the trades. Although they had good intentions and good support initially, things only worked out when they started focusing on seventh and eighth graders rather than high school students. The seventh and eighth graders were very engaged, and their parents also got involved. 

Great possibilities

A big part of our mission with the Build My Future and Construct My Future programs is to help more people- especially teachers and parents, understand the great possibilities in the skilled trades industry.

Will’s advice

The world is full of opportunities. Will suggests that young people keep an open mind to learning a specialty skill that will be useful everywhere and give a lot of value.  

Have a wonderful October and Careers in Construction Month!

Resources

Careers in Construction Trades 

Careers in Construction Month Toolkit 

Build My Future OKC 

Build My Future - Get Involved 

Build My Future Trainings and Resources 

Construct My Future Camp 

3 Reasons Workforce Development is Now a (Big) Part of My Work 

Eco-renovate is a term a business friend coined while doing a project on a historical building in Chicago, Illinois. 

We all have the opportunity to up-level our home, a home we are buying, or homes we are selling. There is so much we can do to improve our health and that of the world while we make our homes a whole lot better!

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! I’m thrilled to have Sheridan Foster joining me today to talk about the cool eco-renovation project she and her team did in the historic Chicago building! 

Starting EcoRenovate

Starting EcoRenovate was a big deal for Elemental Green because it was the first renovation they ever took on from start to finish. It involved a lot of learning and many interesting insights. It allowed them to expand their focus and look beyond the materials used for the building and the furnishings they brought in.

The historical Chicago building

The striking historic modernist building is near the Chicago University campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood. I.M. Pei and Araldo Cossutta designed it, and it was built in 1961. It was built as apartments and is now condominiums. The building has curtain walls and big, beautiful windows with delicate arches. It has been registered on the national register of historic places. 

An opportunity

During Covid, Sheridan saw an opportunity to renovate one of the top-floor corner units in the building. So she decided to jump in with EcoRenovate and see what she could do with the space.

Staying true to the design

Sheridan wanted to stay true to the original design. So she and her team decided to keep existing architectural elements and update and modernize the condominium.

The kitchen

They decided to start with the tiny, closed-off kitchen and tie it in with the rest of the condo. They took down part of two of the walls to connect the kitchen with the main living area. 

The bathroom

The bathroom still had all the original quirky and charming fixtures. They had to change the wall tiles because they were plain and not very nice. But the floor tiles were lovely, so they retained them.  

Color

Color affects our moods and energy levels, so Sheridan and her team deliberately added pops of color to the space. The view of Lake Michigan inspired them, so they brought lots of blue into the interior space.

Eco-friendly building practices

To ensure they were not compromising the eco-friendly building practices, they judged everything they brought in, from building materials to furnishings, against the standards of what makes a good and sustainable product. 

Mindful and eco-friendly building practices

Refusing to compromise enabled them to identify some great companies to work with that used eco-friendly products, treated their employees fairly, and used mindful and eco-friendly building practices.

Circularity

They evaluated everything they did against the concept of circularity and focused on assessing the impact of all the materials used to ensure that they were making things better rather than worse for the planet.

Making the connection  

People are starting to make the connection between their personal health and the health of the world at large.

Paint

Sheridan repainted everything in the condo using paint from a company called Recolor. Recolor is a woman-led company looking to solve the problem of waste paint because paint is toxic, so it cannot get thrown away in the garbage. Recolor filters and reprocesses leftover paint so that it can be reused. As a result of the reprocessing, Recolor’s paint is lower in VOCs than regular paint. It is available from Amazon or through Habitat for Humanity stores in a range of colors. 

Sheridan’s favorite part

The part of the renovation Sheridan enjoyed most was re-doing the kitchen with hand-made and hand-painted tiles from Fireclay Tile! They also put in bamboo plywood fronted cabinets and a large island workspace.

Indoor air

To improve indoor air quality, they put filters over all the vents. They also put Molekule air filters in all the rooms. (The Molekule is not just a filter. It uses electricity to destroy unwanted air particles.)

Taking on a renovation

Taking on a renovation may seem overwhelming, but it will feel great once you have accomplished your goal! Sheridan points out that it is vital to keep your goals for the project in mind when looking for the right products. 

Have a great green day!

Links and resources:

EGH Earlier Episode with Sheridan 

Elemental Green 

Affordable Green Homes Hub 

Video Interview

Buy stuff for your home curated by Marla 

#ECORENOVATE BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO AN ARCHITECTURAL ICON 

#ECORENOVATE GUIDE TO SELECTING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS 

#ECORENOVATE REVEAL: AN ECO-FRIENDLY BEDROOM DREAM

#ECORENOVATE REVEAL: A SUSTAINABLE LIVING ROOM COMES TO LIFE 

#ECORENOVATE REVEAL: SUSTAINABLE UPDATES TO A 1960S KITCHEN 

#ECORENOVATE REVEAL: TWO BATHROOMS UNDERGO A GREEN MAKEOVER 

The term wicked problems describes some of today's most challenging social issues. Wicked problems require a reframing of success because they might never be fully solved. Success with wicked problems means having an impact on or making a difference toward improved outcomes and reduced risk.

Today, we dive into the wicked problem of people-ism.

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! I am recording live at Shock City Studios with my co-host, Tony Pratte, today!

People-ism 

I recently found a book on Amazon called PEOPLEism: A Re-emergence in the Belief in People, A Chance to Humanize Ourselves Again. The notion of people-ism is central to many of the wicked problems we have been discussing on the show.

Everything in nature is interconnected 

As I learned more about nature, I discovered that all natural systems are interconnected. If, for example, I help save polar bears, it will also help save me and others. 

Human welfare

We all tend to be concerned about our welfare, how we will continue to thrive, and how we will survive any particular occurrence. Unfortunately, something that tends to get lost in that conversation is me caring about what is in it for you as well as for me. 

Surviving and thriving as a collective

It can be challenging for individuals or small groups of people to survive in our modern-day world. To thrive and survive as individuals, we need everyone to survive and thrive. 

Our natural world affects us

Our natural world affects us. Everything in nature is tied together, yet we tend not to talk much about the people aspect. 

It’s all about the people

I realized that having a green or sustainable home that promotes better health and a better life is all about people. A home is really just a place to enhance people’s living experience.

Building a house

When a house gets built, it is not just about the builder and the homeowner. There are also suppliers, neighbors, people in the subdivision, and others you may not even realize are stakeholders who have to consent to the project.

Studies 

There are studies on how people assess the companies with which they do business. A key indicator is how well the people within a company get treated. Fair wages and social justice get considered nowadays before people engage with a company.

A shift

The shift started with groups of people looking to companies to represent their values. As we began to experience the great resignation, companies' values became an even sharper area of focus.

Why are people leaving companies?

• People feel comfortable now because money got pumped into the economy.
• People want flexibility.
• People prefer working from home.
• People who kept working during the pandemic saved money because there was nothing to spend it on. They can now afford to leave their positions.
• Some people feel it is just not worth working anymore.
• The younger generation is getting into a freelance mindset. So if something does not work out, they leave and go elsewhere.
• Fewer companies are offering benefits like pension schemes to anchor their people.

Experience

Lately, attracting employees has become more about the experience and less about money.

Mental health

Mental health has become part of the public conversation. People are paying more attention to their work-life balance and happiness quotient lately.

Home

The way people view their homes and what they require for their homes has shifted during the pandemic.

Struggling to find workers

Some of the places struggling to find workers include restaurants, retail, and essential services where people do not have the option to work from home. Many people in those industries jeopardize their health and safety to provide their services, so they feel it is not worth working there anymore.

A new normal

People must understand that the old normal does not align with the new normal.

Grace and patience

We need to practice patience and grace when dealing with people. 

Thinking about others

We need to think about others. Things that we think will affect just us do not. If, for example, we buy something unhealthy for us, the chances are that it was also unhealthy for those involved in producing it.

Putting people first

The notion of putting people first is hard. Putting people first has become even more challenging as our society has become more divisive, but we all need to do it anyway.

A bigger conversation

It can be harder to listen and be part of a larger conversation than to be right or have your way. 

Acts of people-ism

Putting your problems in front of you rather than between you and others is an act of people-ism. Another one would be to understand that there are many different points of view, and there are no absolutes.  

Temper tantrums

Lately, having public displays of temper tantrums has become normalized in places like restaurants. That is because people are focused on themselves and do not take the time to seek to understand the bigger picture related to the situation. Those tantrums also affect those to who they are directed and those who witness them. That is how the notion of people-ism came about for me.

Empathy

I am grateful for the empathy I developed during the pandemic because it enabled me to come from a gentler place when dealing with others. As a result, I have become a better mentor and coach. I sincerely hope that more of us will experience that too!

Change

Change is afoot! Change in the workplace usually starts with the new generation entering the workforce and then filters its way into the older generations. That is a good thing because everyone needs to learn to talk about things that make them feel uncomfortable.   

How common purpose relates to people-ism

We all have a purpose. When people who work together understand their purpose and understand how they can contribute to the overall purpose, that’s people-ism!

Have a great green day!

Links and resources:

What Makes a Green Home Green Audio Program

Wicked Problem Definition 

Helping People: The Living Well Toolkit with Tony Pratte 

What Are We Afraid Of and What that Means for Corporate America, Blog from Shelton Group 

A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World

Science Moms On Climate Change — Now It’s Personal!

by Katharine Hayhoe

It can be hard to find good products that also have great packaging. 

Several years ago, I started using a great set of products with amazing packaging that gets specially delivered. 

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach, and I have Lindsey McCoy from Plaine Products joining me today! Plaine Products is a company with a unique delivery system for sustainably packaged vegan bath and body products!

Plaine Products 

Lindsey and her sister started Plaine Products in 2017.  

About Lindsey

Growing up, Lindsey wanted to save the planet. Back then, business was not the way to do it, so she joined the non-profit world and spent the next twenty years working at various non-profits. 

Environmental education

Her last non-profit position was doing environmental education in the Bahamas. She was not an environmental expert at that point. She only knew what recycling was, and she had heard the term zero-waste before. 

Plastic

Lindsey spent time with many scientists and environmental experts on the island. While showing them around, she kept on seeing plastic piling up everywhere. She did not want to add to it. So she started using reusable bags and water bottles and tried to buy less. 

Starting a company

In May 2015, when she and her husband moved back to the US, Lindsey asked her sister to help her start a company to help people accumulate fewer plastic bottles. They launched their business in February of 2017.

A subscription system

Lindsey and her sister created a subscription system where they send out bottles of bath and body products with pumps. When their customers run low, they send out refill bottles. They pay for the return of the empty bottles, which they then wash and reuse.

Finding the right manufacturer

Lindsey’s sister is picky, so she made Lindsey go through several manufacturers before they found one they both liked. 

Ingredients

They had to learn a lot about ingredients! They settled on using only clean vegan beauty ingredients in all their products. Before that, Lindsey had no idea how bad most of the bath and body products she used were or what was in them.  

Connection

Many people tend to miss the connection between their health and the health of our world.

Poor communities

The plastic problem is worse than we realize. Most plastic gets recycled in places with poor communities. The people living there have to breathe toxic air and plastic fumes. 

We have a choice

Many people know that plastic can be bad for their health. Yet they continue to use it because it is so convenient. Fortunately, we have a choice. Even though millions of dollars have been spent convincing us that we should value convenience above all else, we can still decide how we want to live.

Reducing waste 

There are many solutions out there for reducing the amount of waste that gets produced.

Word of mouth

Hearing from someone you trust has been proven to be the best recommendation for trying new products. Hopefully, people will also learn from others how to make more mindful decisions.

Why is there so much plastic?

Plastic is a by-product of fossil fuels and is very cheap to produce. In the US, fossil fuels are subsidized. That makes plastic even less costly to produce. 

Plastic has many good qualities. It is indestructible, durable, and can get molded into any shape. Still, it does not make sense to use something that lasts for hundreds of years for five minutes and then throw it away. 

Cancer

Plastic is one of the first things most people with cancer eliminate from their lives because there are too many health questions surrounding it that are just not worth asking.

Recycling plastic

Plastics can get recycled, but the process is complicated. One of the biggest problems is that most cities do not have the facilities to recycle more complex types of plastic.

Metal

Metals are infinitely recyclable. That means that the aluminum bottles used by Plaine Products never need to be thrown away. 

The Plaine Products system

Plaine Products has a circular approach. They try to create as little waste as possible in every aspect. After making something, they send it out to be used. Then the packaging gets returned to be washed, refilled, and reused. Even their cardboard boxes were designed to be reused many times over. 

No perfect solution

There is no perfect solution to the plastic problem. Lindsey gets frustrated with organizational nit-picking and finds the term zero waste a little intimidating. She prefers to simply do the best she can with whatever comes up each day.

Their products 

Plaine Products strives to make fewer products that can do lots of different things. All their products are chemical-free, so they are safe for everyone to use, including children. The products are all aloe-based and super-thick. You only need to use very little, so they last for ages!

New products

At Plaine Products, they do their best to respond to whatever people ask for without creating any extra items to be thrown away. Lately, they have been embracing more hair products. Their newest products are a deep hair conditioner and a styling gel, and they will soon be adding a scented handwash.

Environmentally friendly products

Environmentally friendly products have come a long way! There are some excellent products available today. Remember that by supporting businesses that support your values, you are helping support our planet for the future! 

Have a great green day!

Links and resources:

Links and resources:

Plaine Products COUPON CODE GreenHomeCoach

Plaine Products - GHC Trusted Brand 

Sustainable Products and Packaging 

Circular Economy, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Designing Out Plastic Pollution 

Hear Lindsey's first podcast episode on the Green Coach Show

Recommended book:

Cancer as a Wake-Up Call by M. Laura Nasi

The term “wicked problems” describes some of the most challenging social issues of this time. Those problems require a reassessment of success because being successful with wicked problems means making a difference toward them or influencing improved results and diminished risk, even though the problem may never be fully solved.

Consumerism, or focusing on economic improvement based on things people buy, could be another wicked problem. 

I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! My co-host Tony Pratte and I are recording live today at Shock City Studios in downtown St. Louis Missouri!

Challenges

Many challenges and issues are tied to the topic of consumerism.

Consumerism and waste 

One reason consumerism is problematic is that our focus on buying things leads to large amounts of waste. Creating those products also speeds up the use of our natural resources.

Retail in Oklahoma City

I recently read an article about the glory of retail in Oklahoma City, a city dependent on the sales tax generated by the sale of goods. That made me wonder if the same thing happens in other places too, and whether that drives the push for people to keep on buying things.  

Municipalities

Each municipality has its source of income that gets written into the by-laws, and the local city governments determine how those funds get used.

Property tax

Part of the property tax charged by municipalities goes to the fire and police districts, and some of it goes to the county for infrastructures like parks, forests, and museums.  

Stuff

People tend to use a lot more stuff today than they did in my mother and grandmother’s time. 

My parents and grandparents

My grandmother grew up in the depression, so she had a waste not, want not mentality. My parents grew up during World War 2 and were teenagers in the 1950s. So they went from a scarcity of materials to a booming economy in the next decade where money and products were abundantly available. 

The economy

The economy was put back on track in the 1950s by pumping money into manufacturing goods and creating jobs for the soldiers returning from the war. 

Plastic

We were excited when soda came out in plastic bottles because they did not break. At the time, we had no idea of the impact it would have, and how that convenience would later merge with consumerism. 

Two kinds of companies

A marketing theory asserts that two kinds of companies exist. One notices a need and develops a product or service to solve it. The other develops a product or service and then creates a need for it.

Convenience

In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a growing feeling of coming of age because of all the new products and innovations that were coming out, and people thought they needed those things to have a good life. As life began to speed up in the following decades, people thought they needed more convenience items.

Innovations

It takes time for society to evolve. Most of the innovations between the 19th and 20th centuries showed up toward the end of the 20th century. Today, innovations are happening all the time. 

Overload

There are so many more product choices available today than we need. I prefer smaller local grocery stores with fewer items to choose from.

Costs

Many unseen costs are associated with everything we buy.

Circle 

Today, companies should use a circular rather than a linear way of thinking when looking at the things they produce. 

Responsibility

We are slowly changing from a linear economy to a circular economy. A circular economy means you remain responsible for the products you have produced throughout the life cycle.

Nature

Everything in nature is used. Nothing gets wasted. We can use a similar life-cycle assessment for things we produce.

Generations 

It’s interesting to see how differently younger generations look at things. There seems to be less emphasis on stuff with younger people. 

The experience

There currently seems to be less emphasis on things and more on the experience.

A simpler life

Living a simpler life with fewer things to maintain leaves you with much more time to do the things you want.

Flaws in the system

The toilet paper shortage during the pandemic exposed some major flaws in our system.

Psychology

Consumerism was built on psychology and the understanding of human behavior. The psychology behind buying things is immense! 

Economic wellbeing

The amount of stuff people buy is a measure of our economic wellbeing. That will need to change going forward. 

A solution

We need a solution that does not rely on things being produced, sold, and disposed of but still encourages economic growth.

Things changed

In the 50s and 60s, things were produced locally and built to last. Jobs got produced around the repair and maintenance of those things. In the 70s and 80s, more imported goods became available that were cheaper, did not last as long, and could not be repaired. Even though those goods cost to buy in the short term, they ended up costing more in the long term because they had to be replaced- often several times.

A shift

Many wicked problems stem from short-term thinking. We need to shift from short-term thinking to long-term thinking. We also need to understand the unintended consequences and trade-offs of every decision.

A new normal

During the pandemic, when things were in short supply, people were happy to substitute one thing for another. Now, many people have gone back to wanting what they want again without understanding that they are not in alignment with the new normal. 

Be mindful

I urge you to be mindful about the things you use and buy and only use what you need. 

Have a great green day!

Links and resources:

EGH Shop 

Trusted Partners 

The 4th R - Refuse 

Shop Your Values 

Right to Repair 

Good Better Best: Cutting Your Consumer Carbon Footprint 

Right to Repair Revisited

Flushing Trees Down the Toilet 

Study.com