***4/27/07: Prior to the chat with Carlton it was announced that one Gather member would receive a gift from the Sundance Channel for his or her participation. I would like everyone to congratulate Lori F.for being selected! Thank you Lori for your participation!
On Tuesday, April 24th @ 3PM, Gather will be hosting a live chat with Carlton Brown who will be featured on the "Build" episode of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet". "Big Ideas" is part of an hour called "The Green" which is original programming on The Sundance Channel that is dedicated to the environment and sustainable living.
Carlton Brown is a real estate developer whose company, Full Spectrum, is bringing green buildings and amenities to low-income neighborhoods including Harlem. Carlton and his company's visions include the following:
- Develop urban communities – not buildings, but social solutions
- Deliver product that is friendly to the environment, and reduces cost and disease
- Create financial gain for all stakeholders.
Find out more about Carlton's approach to sustainability by joining the chat! One participant will receive a free gift from The Sundance Channel. You can also learn more about the your housing's impact on the environment by clicking here and tuning into "The Green", Tuesday @ 9PM.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To participate in the chat, here are some helpful tips:
1) Use the comment tool below to post your questions and comments. To see new comments and keep up with the discussion, you will need to periodically refresh your screen. You may refresh your view by using the refresh button on your browser, or the F5 key on your keyboard, or through the Ctrl+R key (on Windows) or CMD+R (On Mac) key combination.
2) Once you have posted a comment to the conversation, refresh your screen (see above). Don't worry about accidental double-posting of comments, as Gather technology prevents doing so without a screen refresh between posts. This will ensure that you can more quickly "chime in" with your thoughts.
------------------------------------------------------------
Do you have a "Big Idea" for the environment. Join The Green to learn more about Robert Redford's new television series about sustainable living. To join, click here.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 46
I hope I dont forget this. I really want in on this chat.
Is it really cheaper to build using products that are friendly to the environment?
I understand that it would be cheaper in the long run but is the initial investment cheaper?
Do you think companies will ever start manufacturing inexpensive products for the older home? I looked into solar panels for my small rented home, but the prices were beyond my reach. And what do you think is the most energy efficient change everyone could make to their homes?
Again, I commend you for your amazing, wonderful work in New York!
I have been concerned about the environement since Love Canal. I studied architecture at Princeton and came to believe that architects should be the stewards of the environment. 1996 Habitat II Conference in Istanbul was probably the definitive event that started me to really focus on inter-relationships among class-race-economics-culture-the environment and sustainable human habitat
There is not a significant cost if you do it thoughtfully. If you think of it as an additive process, it is costly. If you think of it as re-inventing the process of building, it will cost the same or less than typical construction.
Better insulation and CFL lighting fixtures will probably reduce your energy consumption by 15 to 25%. Its not rocket science. As opposed to incredibly advanced gadgets, basic insulation goes a long way.
My question: when looking to build or renovate a home, short of going competely "green" what are some of the basic things someone can do to make their house more eco-friendly? You mentioned insulation and lighting fixtures but are there certain building materials that are better to use from an environmental standpoint?
I dont know what else you can do. Have you looked closely at the vehicle you drive; how often you use mass transportation; when you run your electric appliances; how much you consume; Everyones footprint is different. Some of it has to do with location some with habits
Typically, who are the main stakeholders in Full Spectrum's projects? What are the conflicts of interest you and the firm have come across, and how were those dealt with?
Google Green Home and you will find a lot of information. Also go to the USGBC web site and to NRDC website
Thanks for the great questions you all asked during the chat with Carlton Brown. Carlton is a new member to Gather (and using the chat) and he received a lot of questions, which he tried his best to answer. I'm sorry if anyone was skipped over, but I hope you all enjoyed it and were able to take away some great information!