All of the cities in the Keys are making progress towards reducing their energy consumption (and costs). Key West and Marathon have joined the international organization known as ICLEI. This group helps municipalities walk through the process of discovering how much energy they are consuming and then finding ways to reduce that usage.
Unfortunately, though Islamorada has made efforts and recommendations to reduce its energy consumption, the council voted down a proposal to join ICLEI.
In addition, members of GLEE are working closely with these cities to assist in the process. Both efforts will begin this month
To find out more about this exciting process click here.
The Key West City Commission passed a resolution to join ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Program on Aug. 7. Starting on Oct. 1 GLEE steering committee member Jody Smith Williams will be assisting the city by conducting Step one in the ICLEI program: the important baseline emissions inventory. Smith-Williams will be working with Annalise Mannix, who has been reassigned as Deputy Assistant City Manager. Mannix will work as the staff liaison for the city’s energy reduction efforts.
The mayor appointed a committee "Green Key West, Coalition for Sustainability" and it has been meeting for about two months. That group will be meeting monthly and holding "lunch and learns" at the Eco Discovery Center in Key West. The sessions will cover various topics on sustainability. The first such session will be Nov. 7 and 10th (same program, one weekday and one weekend). The first session will act as a prelude to GLEE's Recycling Fair on Nov. 17 and will focus on recycling and waste reduction.
The GLEE recycling proclamation was submitted to the city manager and it’s hoped that it will be on the Oct. 16th agenda, proclaiming November as Keys Recycling Month. There is talk about a mandatory recycling ordinance for residences, the city manager is supportive.
There is a city-wide clean-up on Oct. 6 which will include recycling pick-up as well as trash. This is a project of Clean Key West (yet another committee).
Steering committee member and newsletter editor Michael Welber will work with the staff in Marathon to begin the audit process. He’ll be collaborating with Projects Manager Susie Thomas, who will provide guidance about connecting with the different city departments.
In addition, Mayor Chris Bull is scheduled to appoint a Green Team that will provide support for Welber and assist with the multiplicity of projects that will result from conducting the local audit. Members of that team were not available at press time.
Laura Comer from the Florida Green Lodging Program spoke recently to the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce. At the luncheon, which over 40 people attended, Comer described how hotels, motels and guest houses can achieve green status.
Through the Green Lodging Challenge, GLEE will be choosing Expo “hosts” from those hotels that have enrolled in the Florida Green Lodging program. GLEE will give referrals to those hosts through our newsletter, advertising and website and will rank its referrals by how far a Green Lodging applicant hotel has progressed on its “going green” plan.
This is important for cities such as Marathon because GLEE is expecting 5,000 visitors to its third Expo in May of 2008. The $18.5K that GLEE received from the Tourist Development Council (TDC) to advertise the Expo in South Florida will help attract these visitors more effectively.
According to Daniel Samess, the executive director of the Chamber, “We did have one group who owns and operates Deer Run Bed & Breakfast on Big Pine Key that expressed serious interest. They seemed very eager and really enjoyed the presentation.
Samess went to comment that the most important fact that caught the audience’s attention was how going green can save hotels, resorts, and businesses money every month.
Samess said that the Marathon Chamber of Commerce is a big supporter of GLEE and helps sponsor the annual Expo in Marathon. He hopes that GLEE will also reach out to the vacation rental market, a segment that predominates in Marathon. This is especially true because Green Lodging also applies to vacation rentals as well.
The Florida Green Lodging Certification is a new way to attract business and cut costs. To learn more about the Florida Green Lodging Certification program, go to www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging (Back to top)
Last year’s GLEE Expo at the Stanley Switlik School in Marathon drew more than 3000 people. All those who attended got a firsthand look at ways to conserve energy, tap into renewable energy and conserve our beautiful islands.
The 2008 Expo – to be staged May 9 –11, 2008 in Marathon --promises to draw even more visitors as the interest in greening our planet increases dramatically.
Now is the time to join other businesses and individuals who are committed to promoting sustainability in the Keys. As a sponsor you will receive a great deal of media and marketing coverage as well as other valuable benefits.
The Expo is loaded with events that will provide sponsors, exhibitors, businesses, an opportunity to exchange information, and ideas with potential new clients, partners, distributors and interested parties.
On Saturday, Expo attendees can choose to attend over 30 presentations and professional workshops, browse the wares of 50+ exhibitors and sample healthy organic foods at the Farmers Market.
Sunday provides a variety of opportunities, depending on your energy level. Sponsors can attend the Networking Brunch with the movers and shakers in the Keyswide Sustain-Ability Project, tour a variety of Keys green homes or take the day off and go on a kayak trip with a local ecotour operator.
Support GLEE now by becoming a sponsor of the 2007 Green Living & Energy Education Expo. Just fill out the sponsor form and indicating your category of support. For more information, contact Melanie Elder, EXPO Coordinator at
1 (305) 743-7551 ext. 17 or melder@keynoter.com (Back to top)
Bad for our Energy Security, the Environment and Government Budgets
• More than 100 million trees’ worth of bulk mail arrive in American mail boxes each year – that’s the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. (New American Dream calculation from Conservatree and U.S. Forest Service statistics)Incredibly Popular with Industry, Not with Citizens
• U.S. companies sent 35 billion pieces of direct postal mail in 1980, 64 billion pieces inOne Solution: Citizens have the right to post a ‘No Soliciting’ sign on their driveway, turn off the TV and radio when unwanted ads come on, and sign up for the popular DoNotCall.gov telemarketer registry. Likewise, they should have the right to opt out of ad mail with an easy-to-use Do Not Junk registry. Governors can help build momentum toward such a registry, or draw attention to other junk mail solutions, by endorsing and publicizing
National Junk Mail Awareness week. (Back to top)