E-Update

Did you know 13 million deaths could be prevented every year by making our environment healthier? The fact is, public health is intricately connected to our environment regardless of where we live. This link between health and the environment has increasingly become a focal point for the medical community, policymakers and the general public.

An enlightening perspective on how our health is impacted by where we live, work and play will be presented by an interactive panel of local healthcare experts at our upcoming luncheon on Tuesday, April 3, sponsored by Total Transit.

Dawn Gouge, Ph.D., entomologist specialist at University of Arizona, will talk about how public health is affected by pests and pesticides, including the rising bed bug crisis our nation is facing. In addition, Fred Karnas, Ph.D., president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, will spotlight health impacts in relation to the built environment and what constitutes livable, walkable communities. The program moderator is Bob England, M.D., director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Dr. Gouge will talk about asthma as the primary reason for school absenteeism, accounting for more than 12.8 million missed school days in a single academic year. Every day, nearly 40,000 people miss school or work. Household pests contribute to health problems with German cockroaches and dust mites a key risk factor for asthma development and exacerbation of asthma symptoms. (If you are bugged by graphic images, please be warned that her visual presentation isn’t for the faint of heart, but you will learn a plethora of useful, practical information.)

Dr. Karnas will highlight how green building creates healthier and more comfortable living and working environments along with how the built environment contributes to reduced levels of physical activity. An important element of sustainable design is the preservation of natural environments, which variety of recreation and exercise opportunities.

Register today to hear how you and I are products of our environment.

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Want to really make a difference this month? Join us for our third annual Green Up event to help clean up three areas of the Rio Salado Restoration Habitat on Saturday, March 24. Contact Jhenifer Krutz at jkrutz@arizonaforward.org or (602) 240-2408 to sign up today.

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WHY HAVE AN OFFICE?

That’s the question that Goodmans is asking its customers. If technology is so effective at allowing people to work from anywhere, why should a company invest in real estate?

Goodmans' newly renovated showroom gives the company's point of view on that provocative question. Once you take the tour, you can decide for yourself if you agree with its perspective and more importantly, how your answer influences your office interiors. To schedule a tour, contact Mary Carnes at mcarnes@goodmans.info.

Third-generation owner Adam Goodman has established a vision that “Goodmans will change the community." This might seem far-fetched, but every Goodmans employee can attest that the work it does with hospitals improves patient healing, the work it does with universities improves learning outcomes, the work it does with governments to reuse existing furniture directly lowers the cost of government and the work it does with corporations makes them more competitive.

Most importantly, Goodmans is a socially responsible corporate citizen that exists to serve all stakeholders, including the community, the environment and the employees. Because of this commitment beyond just the shareholders, Goodmans is one of the first B Corporations in the state, a five-time winner of “Best Places to Work” award, one of Arizona’s “Most Admired Companies” and its headquarters is in a 40-year old LEED-CI building. In 2011, the Office Furniture Dealer Association named Goodmans as “The Best Office Furniture Dealer” in North America.

BREAKFAST, NETWORKING AND VIP
TOUR OF THE DESIGN FOR A LIVING WORLD EXHIBIT

Valley Forward members and guests enjoyed breakfast and VIP tour of the Design for a Living World exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden. The program featured two of Arizona’s most prominent environmental leaders: Ken Schutz, executive director of the Desert Botanical Garden and Pat Graham, state director of The Nature Conservancy, who discussed how the exhibit compels us to think about the products we use – where they come from, how they are made and the impacts they have on people and places.

STATE PARKS ADVOCACY DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Arizona Forward partnered with the Arizona State Parks Foundation to host Arizona State Parks Advocacy Day 2012 at the State Capitol last month. Stakeholders advocated for Arizona’s natural assets, meeting with legislators to communicate the economic impact of parks and open space to the state. They rallied support for HB 2362, a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Karen Fann (at podium) that protects earned income from parks from any further budget sweeps. Kurt Wadlington of Sundt and chair of the Arizona Forward Advisory Board (second from right) and Michael Pinckard of Total Transit and chair of AZF’s Parks Committee (far right) spoke at a press conference on the lawn.

ARIZONA CLEAN CITIES COALITION

Valley Forward promoted its 43 years of advocacy on environmental issues at Arizona’s Legislative Breakfast and Clean Fuel Vehicle Display at the State Capitol earlier this month. Members of VFA’s Energy Committee attended to hear an awards presentation by Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett and preview a display of alternative fuel vehicles ranging from an all-electric Vespa to a hybrid cherry picker that lined 17th Avenue.

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Arizona Forward partnered with Pinal Partnership to host the Renewable Energy Economic Summit and Conference last month with more than 200 industry professionals in attendance. Held in Casa Grande with a sold out crowd, the conference featured four expert panel sessions covering a variety of topics including public policy, energy efficiency, untapped renewables, job creation and the future role of solar in Arizona’s economy.

The centerpiece of the forum was the release of a study on the economic and employment impact of renewable energy in Arizona by Elliot D. Pollack & Company. Arizona's renewable energy sector is a $2 billion industry with an estimated 16,800 jobs created in 2011, according to the report, which confirms that recent job growth from the industry has helped replace lost construction jobs in Arizona. The study concludes there is still a lot of opportunity to grow this number significantly by adding up to 6,400 jobs annually. Click here to read the entire presentation.

In unrealated news, the Arizona Forward Advisory Board approved a 2012 Strategic Plan, which is in the early stages of implementation. Additionally, an Arizona Forward logo and branding materials are expected to be unveiled within the coming months.

Demonstrate your leadership and join Arizona Forward today! Click here for membership information. Click here to download the membership application. To discuss your involvement, call Diane Brossart at (602) 240-2408 or email dbrossart@arizonaforward.org.

Charter members of Arizona Forward include: Arizona Community Foundation, Cox Communications, First Solar, Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold, National Bank of Arizona, Solon Corporation, Sundt Construction, The Nature Conservancy, Total Transit and Wells Fargo.

Be sure to like our Arizona Forward page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Recently, the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) and METRO light rail Boards, representing local municipalities and Maricopa County, selected Stephen Banta to lead both agencies as a single CEO. His initial charge is to work towards greater efficiencies in local public transportation. Prior to his 2010 arrival in metro Phoenix to serve as CEO of Valley Metro Rail, Banta worked at several large public transit systems in the U.S.

The reorganization marks a new era for public transportation in the Valley.  Banta will combine and streamline the agencies, which have intense day-to-day operations, serving more than 245,000 passengers daily. In addition, this year METRO light rail breaks ground on its first extension in Mesa, adding 3.1 miles to the existing 20-mile line, and the unification of RPTA and Tempe transit operations will be underway.

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Diane Brossart is a regular guest blogger for KTAR 92.3 News Talk Radio and AZ Big Media. Check out our her recent postings:

KTAR Guest Blog

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF ARIZONA PARKS

AZ Big Media Guest Blog

ARIZONA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY GENERATES $2B, THOUSANDS OF JOBS

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Check out our latest guest blog:

• MINDFUL DRIVING, by Steve Krum of First Solar

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REMEMBERING A LEGACY…Frank Albert Bosh, founding executive director and longtime supporter of Valley Forward, passed away earlier this year. He advocated for mountain preservation, the Rio Salado Project, managed Project "Pool It" and VFA's Beautification Awards, and led the effort to renovate Pioneer Cemetery and develop the Arizona Capitol Mall. His efforts and impact on the Valley will not be forgotten.


FIX-A-LEAK WEEK...this week is the designated time each year that the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and its partner organizations remind residents to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Leaks account for 13 percent or more of the water used by an average household, approximately 22 billion gallons in Maricopa County annually.


ENERGIZING TALIESIN...Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert home and studio in Scottsdale and the school’s winter campus, is attempting to go "net-zero" through energy efficiency renovations.


TOD PROJECT...Sustainable Communities Working Group member LISC Phoenix closed the first loan utilizing the Sustainable Communities Fund that was launched in June 2011. The project is the first mixed-use Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project financed by LISC and is being developed by MetroWest Development. The TOD Initiative’s goal is to develop affordable and mixed-income housing and community development connected to key light rail stations, in partnership with local station area plans. 


ENERGY BLUEPRINT...The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the draft plan for the Restoration Design Energy Project, which seeks to identify lands across Arizona most suitable for wind and solar power projects with a focus on areas that are previously disturbed or have low natural and cultural resource conflicts. These areas include former landfills, brownfields, mines, isolated BLM parcels and Central Arizona Project canal rights-of-way.


SOLAR GROWTH...SRP and Colorado-based juwi solar Inc. signed a 20-year power purchase agreement for 19 MW of solar photovoltaic energy from a facility to be built in Queen Creek. SRP will purchase all of the solar energy produced at the Queen Creek power plant, which is expected to be online by the end of 2012.


AQUISITION…Microsol, a United Arab Emirates based cell manufacturer, has acquired essential components of SOLON to form SOLON Energy GmbH. The main sites, including Tucson, will be maintained and the U.S. will continue to be a strategic growth market for SOLON.

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We'd like to thank the following companies and organization for renewing their membership and showing their support for Valley Forward in 2012. If your organization has not yet renewed, please do so today!

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LAND USE/OPEN SPACE
Next meeting:
9 a.m., Tuesday, March 20
Join us as we discuss our 2012 proposed activities and deliverables, as well as hear a briefing on the Ro2 Lot program and process.


ENERGY
Next meeting:
9 a.m., Thursday, March 22
Join us for a briefing on demand side management, which encourages consumers to use less energy during peak hours or to move energy use to off-peak times such as nights and weekends. 

Featuring: Jim Wontor, Manager of Demand Side Management Programs at APS

 
WATER
Next meeting:
9 a.m., Wednesday, April 4
Join us as we tour the Scottsdale Water Campus. The plant treats tertiary effluent, as well as Colorado River Water, prior to Reverse Osmosis (RO), for groundwater recharge.

Scottsdale Water Campus Tour
8787 Hualapai Drive, Scottsdale


TRANSPORTATION/AIR
Next meeting: 
9 a.m., Thursday, April 12
Join us as we continue working on our statewide Transportation Primer. The goal is to provide unbiased facts, background information and answers to frequently asked questions on statewide issues relating to our transportation infrastructure and funding.


CANALSCAPE
Next Meeting:
9 a.m., Thursday, April 19
The committee has identified four primary work areas for 2012, including pilot projects, grants, design guidelines and mapping.


To register your participation on an Issue Committee for 2012, click here and login to your individual profile page using your email address and password. To RSVP to attend any of these committee meetings, contact Vicky White at vwhite@arizonaforward.org or (602) 240-2408.