These presentations represent the variety of facets coming together
throught the Doan Brook Partnership. These (large) Powerpoint
presentations give you a broad perspective.

This morning’s PD cited a Michigan research paper that concluded that economic cars, hybrids and the like, will generate a stronger economic return for European manufacturers, who have adapted to meet the more aggressive, European environmental standards and are now poised to reap the economic benefit of this growing market in the US. As a result, the study says, the US government should assist, despite the current $400+ billion budget deficit, in the retrofit/reengineering of the US plants to be able to compete. Of course, the industry could have also asked for assistance in meeting the environmental demands decades ago to seize the leadership mantel now held by European manufacturers, but for decades, US auto industry opposed stronger environmental standards, rather than adapt. Another significant, unmentioned lesson also warrants noting: Sound environmental policy, environmental leadership, can generate economic leadership in a very short time.

Close to 200 people gathered Tuesday evening at the Great Lakes Brewing Company's Tasting Room for 2005's kick off meeting for Entrepreneurs for Sustainability.

The organization's founder, Holly Harlan, set the stage by having local entrepreneurs, like Kathleen O'Neill Web of the Coit Road Farmer's Market and Jim White of CLEER TEC, perform a skit sharing how their work is contributing to the vision of a Sustainable Economy in Northeast Ohio.

Does residential real estate development play a significant role in economic development? In effect, my question is whether real estate development can serve as a catalyst for the transformation of citzens' economic condition or whether it is merely a lagging indicator of other successful economic development activity such as job creation. Can a builder/developer be a source of added economic vitality to the community, or must the community's value be raised by other means before his/her activities can be supported?

If you have a yard, you need to talk to Alec and his crew - poisoning your plants is not a solution to anything, except killing your yard and the environment... learn better ways from cool champions...talk to Jean about your pool/pond too, and you're cool.

At the E4S awards party, transportation sustainability champion Jim Sheehan stressed that Ohio City Cycles has lots of great gift for the holidays - from recycled bikes to cool eco-cycle art objects and other great stuff so after you shop local and organic at Champion Basketeria, at the West Side Market, swing by Ohio City Cycles for all your other holiday shopping... if you see a solar and biofuel powered van parked out front, that's probably the other transportation champion, Matthew Harris - great people!

E4S Champions address all aspects of the building industry - one "winning" champion, also proclaimed Champion of Champions, it seems every homeowner should know - read the praise for Jim LaRue the HouseMender below - another Building Champion recycles construction waste - which would otherwise become wasteful landfill - and other building champions are green builders and supply green building products - if you own buildings or are building then look these sustainability leaders up... especially cool sounds Harvest Build, for strawbale construction!

Every home and business owner in NEO can be part of the sustainability and green building movement by being smart about energy efficiency - demand side management. The E4S champions described below can help us live and work smarter - we just need to be smart enough to get in touch with them first!

Processed and industry-grown food harm body
and Earth, and most supposedly fresh food travels over 1,500 miles to reach us,
at great harm to the environment. Enlightened NEO shoppers seek outlets for eco-friendly
food - ideally organic and locally grown. While our choices are limited, the
Champions below work untiringly to improve our lot. Support them, and help seed
sustainable developments in the food "industry" for a healthier
future for all. You can support the *winner* by shopping at the West Side
Market - their stand is in the short wing of the produce stand, by the flowers
- support all these champions, thank them, and spread the word!

Entrepreneurs
for Sustainability is an organization whose mission is to support a
community of entrepreneurs who will implement sustainability
principles in their new or existing businesses and encourages new
ventures, which will capitalize on emerging opportunities in a sustainable
economy in Northeastern Ohio.

To find Ohioans walking the walk to make NEO a Green region by a blue lake, one needs look no further than the non-profit organization E4S. Learn more about this fantastic organization and contribute related insight here

NEO leaders increasingly care about sustainable development, shaing a viewpoint expressed by Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston: "Green building
is
good for your wallet. It's good for the environment. And it's good for
people." Large industrial cities like Cleveland may find insight and best practices from initiatives like the Green Building Task Force of Boston - read on…