Governor leads the way for the state as South Florida goes green - South Florida Business Journal:

http://www.scamuzziarte.it/index.php-dn=article&to=art&id=28.htm
Gov. Charlie Crist's Summit on Climate Change in Miami this summer, featuring California Gov. Arnold kicked off an ambitious agenda togreen "We are here to take action," Crist said at the following through minutes later by signinhg three executive orders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt energy-efficient building standards. Cristr created a 21-person action team to implemenftgreen programs, starting in 2008.
The Energy Action team has alread y made recommendationsregarding Florida's energy including legislative initiaties to enhance energy and and diversify fuels used to generate The flurry of legislative action and public interes in all things green has pushedd business toward eco-friendly agendas. Architects and developers are receiving more interest for greenbuilding projects, and consultantss are educating themselves about the 'd Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificatiobn system.
Adorno & Yoss land use attorney Alfredo Gonzalez is studying for his LEED certification exam so he can guide real estatse clients through green building contracts and help them get the most of greenmbuilding incentives. "It'll be very important to know about greem buildings and how you can get crediytfor them," he said. "It'xs coming up with almost every new development on anationaol level." Estrellita Sibila, of , is LEED certified and reaping the rewards of new "This has helped both our private developer as well as our municipalk clients," she said.
"It has helped my as I have been involved in consulting on varioud green developments throughoutthe state." Local green buildingy pioneers William Holly and Lorett Cockrum instoduced major green building projectsz to South Florida's Holly's Miami Green office condo in Coralk Gables is nearing completion, and Cockrum's 1.5 million-square-foor Brickell Financial Centre is slated to open in 2009. LEED-certified architect Gustavo Berenblum saidhis firm, , has seen a surgee in demand for green building services. "A coupl of years ago, it was us architectd and engineers trying to convince clients to make aprojecft green," he said.
"Now, it's a huge thing that everyone istalking about." Another area that has flourishedr in South Florida is the introduction of alternativew fuels, primarily ethanol. The region's abundance of biomass and boominfg trade with Brazil have made the fuel alternative particularly worthwhilse forlocal business. "You've got companies and scientists cominb into Florida and they see it as a stronghols for moving their renewableenergt forward," said Gaston Cantens, VP of , whicnh partnered with to build an ethanol plant on the grounds of its Bellr Glade sugar plant.
"I thinlk people are excited, and it's a new frontiee for a lot of As green business gathers locallybased groups, including the Inter-America n Ethanol Commission and the , are kickingv education and outreach effort into high gear. More than a doze n local conferences were heldthis "This year, we've done really considering that we startedf later than most other said Sean O'Hanlon, executivew director of the American Biofuels Council. "Not only are we goingb to catchup rapidly, but, from what I see, we're goin to wind up really taking the leadership position in biofuels and goinyg green.
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