"Green Valley" Sustainability

GREEN VALLEY NETWORK - Connecting Sustainability's Innovators

www.greenvalleynetwork.org is a non-profit coalition that fosters collaboration and commercialization of sustainability technology. Join to find, analyze, distribute, develop, and capitalize practical sustainability technology. We envision a better world as a result of quicker application of sustainable business practices, and we want to help bring the people, ideas, and resources together to facilitate advancement.

CaseStack's entry into the Northwest Arkansas economy is being herald by many as a milestone for Fayetteville's push to become a "green Silicon Valley. "Now that sustainability has a "spokesman," Steve Rust, President/CEO of the Fayetteville Economic Development Council, said he hopes to use CaseStack's momentum to recruit additional sustainable companies and further develop Fayetteville's dream of becoming the nation's green Silicon Valley."

October, 2007 Washington Post article - "Green Valley In Wal-Mart's Back Yard - Start-Ups Set Out to Sustain Giant's Eco-Friendly Focus"

A wave of start-ups developing the technology to help suppliers prove their green credentials has swept into this sleepy college town, half an hour from the company's headquarters in Bentonville.

University of Arkansas Launches 2008 Campuswide Sustainability Initiative

The Environmental Stewardship Mission initially identifies a dozen broad sustainability categories that cover issues ranging from the university's use of energy and water, to the food served on campus, to ways academic and research resources can be used to promote and develop sustainable practices. Sustainability is also envisioned to become an element of most course curricula over the next few years and potentially a new evaluation factor in our future investment strategies. The mission will serve as a blueprint to coordinate efforts by all the groups on campus that are working to address an already wide but still growing spectrum of sustainability issues.

Wal-Mart Foundation Gives $1.5 Million to Fund Applied Sustainability Center. Click on link below for August 29, 2007 press release:

The center will be an umbrella organization and a clearinghouse for ideas to help businesses incorporate sustainability into best practices that will increase long-term profitability and at the same time benefit society.

Green Building Initiative provides complimentary use of Green Globes, making University of Arkansas first school in country to use system in design, construction. For full story, click on link below:

"We applaud the University of Arkansas and the members of its [Facilities Management] group for taking a leadership role in making our country's academic institutions more sustainable," said Ward Hubbell, executive director of the Global Building Initiative. "Their policies set an example that we hope universities across the country will follow with their own sustainable initiatives." "This support from the Green Building Initiative is a wonderful development that will help the University of Arkansas take on an even greater national leadership role in the broad application of green design techniques in our campus facilities," said UA Chancellor John A. White. "As a university, we have a responsibility to incorporate principles of sustainability throughout our curricula and, through research, advance the state of knowledge regarding sustainability principles and practices. Our emphasis on green buildings is not only good for the environment, but it's also supportive of renewable products and other materials produced in Arkansas. Most importantly, we must apply principles of sustainability in everything we do."

Supporting the UA's effort to become a model for a sustainable university is one of the recommendations in the "Raising the Bar" report of the 2010 Commission. Visit the university's sustainability website linked below:

BioBased Headquarters in Fayetteville - click on link below for full story:

"Insulation is absolutely a cornerstone to a well-built, healthy home," said David Stitt, of Stitt Energy Systems. "We use BioBased Insulation in 100 percent of the homes we build." BioBased Insulation has garnered attention across the globe, with certified installers working throughout the United Kingdom, as well as in parts of Korea, Australia, Argentina and more.

Fayetteville is a national model of 21st century sustainability. Read full article on link below:

The city received an EPA environmental stewardship certificate of leadership in recognition of its "efforts toward making the city of Fayetteville, AR, a model for environmental stewardship."

2007 U.S. Conference of Mayors Award to Fayetteville

Mayor Coody was honored for the City of Fayetteville's Alternative Transportation and Trail Master Plan. The plan created a network of multi-use trails in and around the city that encourage residents to walk or bike to popular destinations, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

Fayetteville featured in U.S. Conference of Mayors June, 2007 article from USA TODAY

Newsweek Magazine - Technology & Science section April 16, 2007 Issue - America's Greenest Mayors - Leadership and the Environment Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody is interviewed in this important article on Sustainability. Click on link below for full story:

CITIES: The federal government has been dithering on climate change and energy conservation for years. Lucky for us, America's local leaders are filling the vacuum.

City of Fayetteville and it's residents currently rank #2 in nation for number of regular incandescent lightbulbs changed out to energy effecient CFL lightbulbs since January 2007. The state of Arkansas is ranked #1. Check out this link for daily changes...

Change a Bulb - Change Everything. It only takes 18 seconds to change a light. Save energy and cash now by switching to Energy Star CFL bulbs. What kind of difference can one CFL make? Consider this: If every American swapped just ONE bulb for an ENERGY STAR labeled CFL, it would collectively save more than $8 billion in energy costs, prevent burning 30 billion pounds of coal, and remove 2 million cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions from our atmosphere. Just imagine the difference we could make if we replaced all of the lights we use most!

The city of Fayetteville is one of the many local and national sponsors for the annual Solar Splash. City tourism officials see it as an event that fits in with Fayetteville's passion for sustainability. It is an unique attraction for local people, and a great way to bring visitors to Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas is defending world champion in the Solar Splash competition, and this year's team hoped to maintain their championship, however, had to settle for second place. Read entire story at this link:

Solar Splash, in its 14th year, is the world's only international, intercollegiate solar electric boat design and race competition. Teams from 18 schools, including one from Canada and another from Turkey, are scheduled to attend. Each team is responsible for designing its own boat and power system. Boats are scored on how they look, how well they are built and how well they operate, in addition to their performance on the lake.