In the tradition of the Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World annual summary, Greener World Media producers of GreenBiz.com (among other websites), last month released their first annual State of Green Business 2008 Report.  Joel Makower and his team of editors examined multiple categories in the green business arena from alternative energy vehicles to toxic emissions to determine the true state of green progress.  Although the report provides a mixed review, green building was identified as one of the more tangible signs of forward progress.  This is especially important given the downturn in the construction economy.

According to the report, the “green [building] market, [expanding] for years, began soaring in 2007, as several marquee projects opened their doors and some big-time initiatives were born.”

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I really hate to do this, but I’m giving away a new, autographed copy of a book that I really like.  You know the drill:  leave a comment, and after 48 hours, I’ll pick a winner based on the number of your comment.*  This book is particularly hard to let go, because I keep referring back to it for different pieces of information.  It’s called The Green Building Revolution by Jerry Yudelson.  Yudelson is a serious expert in the industry and maintains an information-rich website at www.greenbuildconsult.com — plug it into the feed, you’ll be happy you did.  The book itself is loaded up with information, but it’s not a chore to read.  It’s accessible on the one hand and super thorough on the other.  Seems hard to do, but Yudelson finds a way to deliver the straight facts without leaving you lost.  Particularly, I was engrossed by three chapters:  the business case for green buildings, the costs of green buildings, and the future of green buildings.  He delivers a compelling case for green buildings and our future, and it’s not just about the money. 

*Open commenting ends at the end of the day on Saturday, midnight MST.  Say anything you want, but if you’re shy or don’t know what to say, tell us where you’re from.  Ex: Salt Lake City, Utah in the green house.  Offer only available in the U.S. for shipping reasons.  Shipping is on me.  I will email you for a mailing address and after shipping it, the winner will be announced in the comments.   

• Wind Power booms with 45% growth in 2007!
• GE Financial targets $6 Billion in renewable energy investments.
• N. Cali homebuilder group mandates 50% energy reduction by 2020.
• Natural Home Top 10 green housing developments.
• Going green can attract and keep employees.
• Greening developers may not be that easy.

*WIR = Week in Review; a Saturday showcase of excellent links.

I know, I know.  I’m treading on thin water with this one, what with all the haters and anti-sprawlsters out there.  But strictly to make the point that businesses can use less and save money, I like this story.  Next week, Wal-Mart will open the first store of the company’s next generation of green stores in Romeoville, Illinois.  Where their first generation of two green stores saved about 20% energy, this store will save about 25% energy.  The energy savings result from experimentations in refrigeration and heating/cooling systems in their first generation of green stores. 

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There’s major action in the data center world, with all sorts of facilities aiming for energy-efficient centers and LEED buildings.  Cisco, led by the undeniably approachable CEO John Chambers, is embarking on a plan to green their business.  It kind of feels like a revival of the old Japanese, waste-elimination era, but there’s progress in areas other than efficiency.  Here’s what they’re doing:

• 17,400 sf office in Chesterfield Ridge Center (St. Louis Regional Sales HQ) received LEED certification;
• Their Carbon to Collaboration Initiative aims to reduce company GHG emissions from air travel by 10 %;
• They hired Paul Marcoux, one of the founders of The Green Grid, to drive green initiatives inside and outside the company – he’s become known as the company "Green Guru." 

Yes, the greening of business is something we’re going to keep seeing.  ##