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January 2011 Newsletter


Dave Feldman
Executive Director Dave Feldman
Support
Bethesda Green

Bethesda Green relies on corporate sponsorships, grants, in-kind donations and individual contributions to develop programs and outreach that support the local economy, create a healthier community and provide information about innovative sustainable businesses and living solutions. Businesses can participate at a variety of commitment levels.

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Sponsor Shoutout

Thank you to renewing Champion Sponsor Consolidated Green Services for the continued support.

We also want to acknowledge the EverGreen Home, which keeps us supplied with wonderful fresh-roasted coffee beans.
Upcoming Bethesda Green Events
BG 101 -- Thursday, Jan. 27, 4 - 5:30 pm. A Bethesda Green orientation and review of upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. [email protected].

First Thursday Happy Hour
-- Join us at Vapiano
for casual conversation and networking, Thursday, Feb. 3, 5 - 8 pm.  More >>

Incubator Open House -- Tuesday, Feb. 8, 10:30 am - noon.  Learn how you can join the Bethesda Green Business Incubator.

Changing the Way We Eat -- Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 am - 6 pm. A free TEDx Viewing Party at Bethesda Green, potluck lunch and discussion of local food issues.
More >>

EOM Meeting -- Thursday, Feb. 10, 4 - 5:30 pm.  Education, Outreach and Marketing Group.  Newcomers welcome. Contact Dave Heffernan.

Check the
Events page regularly for updates.

More >>
News
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Green Is Good
Persuasive arguments about why going green can improve our quality of live -- a Going Green guest column by Bethesda Green Communications Director Dave Heffernan published in the Dec/Jan 2011 issue of 270inc.com magazine.

Garrett Park tries to drop its temperature

Environmental effort highlights groups advocating for climate change. See article by Alex Ruoff published in the Gazette.

Impact of smart growth in Maryland scant so far, study says

Researchers 
say more time may be needed for conclusions. See article by Margie Hyslop published in the Gazette.

To see past Newsletters.
WGreen New Year's Resolutions
 

Attendees at the January 6, 2011 Happy Hour at Ri-Ra (see event write-up by Beverly Firme in Patch.com) identified their Green New Year's Resolutions.  Here's a few examples:

  • Find a Green Job so I contribute back to the environment
  • Use my compost in window box planters
  • Make one trip to run all my errands so I use less gas and am more efficient with my time
  • Drive less by biking more, and recycle everything
  • Do a home energy audit and recommended remediation
  • Start my long awaited rain garden project
  • Install low flow toilet flushing gadget
  • Keep sun shining on my brand new solar panels

Thanks to everyone for their submissions. The prolific Ms. Firme also offers these great ideas

Social Media
Bethesda Green Blog

New upload on YouTube
A tribute to the Bethesda Green Leadership Team

Follow us at our NEW Twitter address and stay connected with other Bethesda Green supporters on our Facebook Fan page.

You can also network with us through the Bethesda Green group on LinkedIn.

Contact us

From the Executive Director

This month marks three years since Bethesda Green was launched (January 23, 2008) and 16 months since opening our Green Business Incubator. The business incubator is now more important than ever.

Designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies -- there are currently 11 at Bethesda Green -- we support start-ups focusing on renewal energy; energy efficiency; pollution reduction; recycling and reuse; natural resources conservation; and education, training and public awareness services.  In short, we help create "green jobs."

 

Green jobs, a commonly used term, refers to "people that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources," or "jobs in which workers' duties involve making their establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly."

Green jobs can be found in traditional environmental sectors like solar, wind and biomass energy, as well as architecture, construction and landscaping.  Jobs related to green building practices are predicted to increase into the millions and contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy over the next four years, according to a study by Booz Allen Hamilton.

 

On February 8, we will celebrate with an Open House the next stage of our incubator. Thanks to additional space generously donated by Capital One Bank, we will add 4-5 new full-time offices of which we already have two exciting companies, Savenia Labs and Mark Leisher Productions.

With the addition of a new incubator manager, Robert Snyder, and some soon-to-be-named partners, we aim to do our share to create a vibrant local green economy. 


Dave_Feldman_signature
 
Dave Feldman
Executive Director

New Leadership for Bethesda Green

BG Board officers 2011
New Bethesda Green Board officers: Joseph Chirico, Ilaya Hopkins, Jeff Burton and Rosalie Grazzini.


New leadership took the helm of the Bethesda Green Board of Directors January 7, 2011 with community leader Ilaya Hopkins starting her tenure as Board Chair.  Other new officers elected by the Board at its December meeting include Vice Chair Jeff Burton, Deputy Executive Director at Bethesda Urban Partnership; Treasurer Joseph Chirico, Senior Vice President with Capital One Bank; and Secretary Rosalie Grazzini.


Bethesda Green Co-Founders and former Board Co-Chairs Seth Goldman (President and TeaEO of Honest Tea) and George Leventhal (Montgomery County Councilmember, At Large) championed the growth of the non-profit collaborative of residents, businesses and government since its inception in 2008 and will continue serving as Board Members.

"An important test for any young enterprise is whether it can continue to grow and evolve once the founders step aside.  I'm confident that Bethesda Green is in good hands," said Goldman.
 

More >> 

Valentine Red meets Bethesda Green

First Thursday Happy Hour, Feb. 3, 5 - 8 pm

Join us at Vapiano for casual conversation and social networking

 

Vapiano Bethesda
4900 Hampden Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-215-7013

  • Hear about Bethesda Green's community outreach plans
  • Enjoy stromboli, bruschetta, antipasti and a wide variety of pizzas
  • Happy-hour-priced beer, wine and specialty drinks
  • Raffle for Vapiano gift cards

RSVP through Meetup.

 

Thanks to our event sponsors:

 

 

TEDx Farm pic

Changing the Way We Eat
 
 

Cheryl Kollin, Principal, Full Plate Ventures is hosting the TEDxManhattan "Changing the Way We Eat" Viewing Party at Bethesda Green on Saturday, February 12, 10 am - 6 pm. The one-day event will highlight several aspects of the sustainable food movement and the work being done to shift our food system from industrially-based agriculture to one in which healthy, nutritious food is accessible to all.

 

Join us for viewing the New York City based-event, potluck lunch, and discussion about our own burgeoning local food movement in Montgomery County.  

 

See calendar page for more details.  RSVP through Meetup.

BG Launches Greening Condos Series
 

Mark your calendars. Starting Wednesday, March 2, Bethesda Green, ecobeco, and event sponsors will present a free series of panel discussions focusing on greening condGreening Condos logoominiums. The five monthly sessions are scheduled at Bethesda Green on the first Wednesday every month through July. Sessions will start at 7 pm with networking and light appetizers. Formal presentations begin at 7:15 pm and conclude at 8:30 pm.

The Greening Condos series targets residents, boards, property managers, and companies that provide green services to condominiums. The goal is to make it easier for residents to take action to improve their building's environmental impact, to save energy, and to lower their utility bills for both units and common areas.
 
Session 1 will cover: Introducing Energy Audits. Stay tuned for more information about reserving a seat.

Spotlight feature by Joyce Siegel: The Challenge of Pursuing Energy Conservation in Condos.