Florida Water Star is a water conservation certification program for new and existing homes and commercial developments. Standards and guidelines for water efficiency are included for:

Indoor fixtures and appliances Landscape design Irrigation systems

If you want to apply for certification or just want to update your home or business, following program guidelines make it easy for anyone to save water resources. The program outlines standards for a broad range of homes — from a condominium with no yard to an older home on a half-acre lot with an aging irrigation system — and commercial properties and community developments. An independent certifier inspects each project prior to certification.

Florida Water Star can be effectively integrated into projects along with other programs such as ENERGY STAR, the Florida Green Building Coalition’s (FGBC) green standards, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED program. Florida Water Star’s performance-based approach can enhance projects by providing a suite of efficiency practices that focus on water use areas specific to Florida.

Join us as we get up to date with Jim Harrington with Rainwater Pillow.

Jim Harrington developed The Original Rainwater Pillow" in 2008 as a response to the drought in Georgia. Owner of Jim Harrington Garden Designs, one of the Atlanta Area's top landscaping companies, he recognized the havoc that a lack of available water could wreak on his customer's gardens and the potential for rainwater harvesting as a solution.

The result is The Original Rainwater Pillow, an innovative way to take advantage of heavy downpours and provide ample water for flowers, gardens and other outdoor and indoor water needs. The pillows are hidden in horizontal wasted space already availble in many homes and buildings so you do not have a hard-to-disguise tank or the excavation expense required for cisterns!

We build custom pillow sizes and foot prints up to 200,000 gallons to fit your available space. This allows you to utize all your avialble space and maximize your rainwater collection volume.

Jim and his wife, Cecie are both accredited by The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association.

Brian Carr joined The Clean Air Campaign as communications director in April 2008. Prior to becoming communications director, Brian worked for Primerica Financial Services (part of the Citigroup network of companies), where he created successful internal and consumer campaigns.

Earlier in his career, Brian managed print and broadcast advertising during the launch of Cingular Wireless for BBDO Atlanta, an advertising agency. He also founded and ran his own firm for a time, providing grassroots marketing, design and interactive media services for e-commerce and retail clients.

Brian graduated from the University of Georgia in 1996 with a degree in journalism.

How a Non-Profit’s projects with Business Partners provide environmental and other public benefits with a Madison Avenue impact.

Bob Harris is president and one of three founders of Black Bear Solar Institute, a unique non-profit based right outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in East Tennessee.  The Great Smoky Mountains receive eleven million visitors each year, so Black Bear Solar Institute concentrates on education through demonstration to teach visitors and residents of the area lessons in ecology, sustainable living, environmental stewardship, and successful coexistence with our wildlife neighbors.  Using technology to teach ecology, Black Bear Solar Institute strives to show in tangible ways what is possible for people to achieve right now using today’s technologies and practices.

With a background in renewable energy, electric transportation, manufacturing automation, and wildlife rehabilitation facility operation, Bob combines this experience with another of the founder’s 22 years in wildlife rehab to plan construction of a sustainability showcase for Park visitors, centered around a solar-powered wildlife center to care for orphaned or injured animals, from bears to bunnies.  Black Bear Solar Institute operates an Educational Center in Townsend, Tennessee, and additionally owns and operates around 8% of the public Electric Vehicle charging stations in Tennessee, including all of those installed in the Tennessee State Parks.  You can find more information about projects and programs which are expanding from Tennessee into surrounding States, including Georgia, at www.BlackBearSolarInstitute.org and www.Facebook.com/BlackBearSolarInstitute

Southface is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that for 34 years has promoted sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance. Shan Arora has been with Southface for three years and focuses on community-based sustainability initiatives, transit-oriented development, and energy efficiency / renewable energy policy. The first sustainability plan he worked on, the DeKalb County Long-Range Comprehensive Energy and Sustainability Plan, received the Georgia Planning Association’s 2012 award for Outstanding Planning Process for a Large Community. He currently manages GeorgiaEnergyData.org, an initiative by Southface to provide comprehensive information regarding Georgia’s conventional energy, renewable energy, and energy efficiency infrastructure.

Prior to Southface, Shan worked in the international trade / international tax field for a decade, first with a software company in Washington, DC and then with Deloitte Tax in Atlanta. He received his Bachelors and Law degrees from Emory University. In 2012, the Atlanta Business Chronicle selected Shan as one of its “40 Under 40” leaders.

A consultant to national account, commercial, industrial and institutional clients on financial and technical issues related to electric, gas, and water utilities.  He develops energy management strategies for clients and has prepared them for electric and gas deregulation.  His efforts have reduced clients’ energy costs by lowering energy consumption, tariff & contract negotiation, and competition in deregulated markets.  Mr. Segars has 26 years experience in the utility industry.  Currently, he consults for Expo Energy & Environmental, Inc. and is a principal of Consensus Energy, LLC, a firm that implements energy efficiency concepts.  Prior to consulting, he worked 12 years at Southern Company as a National Account Manager and a Power Sales Representative. 

Mr. Segars has won several industry awards for projects to improve energy efficiency.  In addition, he has made presentations and been recognized in publications on energy topics and the decision to outsource energy consulting services.  In 2007, he testified as an expert witness on behalf of a customer group in the Georgia Power Rate Case.  His education includes an MBA and MS in Marketing from Georgia State University and BS in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech.  He has earned the designation of Certified Energy Manager from the Association of Energy Engineers. 

On a personal level, Mr. Segars is a passionate advocate for the environment and young people.  He serves as the chairperson of the Green Team at his church and as a Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scout troop.  An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys camping, hiking and kayaking.  He has been married to his lovely Wanda for 29 years and they have one son, who is a freshman at Georgia Tech.

Vegan chef and author Mark Reinfeld offers a variety of best selling vegan cookbooks. He specializes in vegan, vegetarian, raw food and gluten freeplant-based diets. He offers a series of vegan cooking classes, including 2 day workshops, teacher trainings, 5 and 10 day immersions, as well as retreats, tours and vacations in both America and Europe. He further offers vegan fusion cuisine recipe development and consulting.

You know what it’s like when you take home a brand new box of shoes? Imagine giving that feeling to someone who really needs them; the stories they hold, and the new stories, memories and opportunities that await them.

Scour your home for as many shoes as you can find and put them into a gigantic box; more is definitely better. Print out a bunch of SoleMate notes because now it’s time to share all of your shoe stories. You’ve done the hard work; we’ll cover the shipping costs.

Zola's mission

Zola is committed to offering solutions to environmental challenges and empowering those who want to make a difference in their community.

Embracing a grassroots approach, Zola Coordinators educate individuals about small changes they can make to improve their lives and the environment.  Inspired by this message, guests will then have the opportunity to purchase high-quality, affordable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible products. We believe that when people know better, they do better.

Beth Remmes, Founder

Think of me as your personal eco-shopper for some of the best environmental products on the market today.

For years, I have recycled and sent e-mails to my representatives, but beyond that I thought there wasn’t much more I could do to really make a difference. Then I heard the statistic that said, “If everyone just changed one light bulb to a CFL, it would be the equivalent of taking a million cars off the road.”  It reminded me that small steps, taken together, can have a big impact.

I wondered why everyone did not change their light bulbs, and I came to the conclusion that either they didn’t hear the message, or they did not have the time or know-how to act on the information.  That is why I created Zola; to carry the message, and then provide you with easy, affordable solutions, so that together we can help create a healthier environment.

Lastly, as a mother, I feel compelled to do everything that I can to ensure a safe and healthy future for my children.

Sam came to the Global Soap Project with a background in international nonprofit management, fundraising, and consulting.  He worked for several years at the consulting firm Transformation Force International, serving as a strategic planning and fundraising consultant to nonprofit organizations around the world.  During that time, he also served as an Adjunct Professor of Management at Virginia Tech.   Following that, he led fundraising, communications, and senior service programming as Vice President of External Relations for Volunteers of America, based out of Salt Lake City.  After his tenure there, he served in Washington DC as a Director at Beyond Borders, a human rights organization, and then as Executive Director at The International Center for Sustainable Fundraising, a capacity-building organization.   Sam joined the Global Soap Project as Executive Director in February 2012.  He has an MBA in International Management and is also a licensed pilot.  Over the past 15 years, he has served on boards of directors for dozens of nonprofit organizations. He’s had the privilege of working and traveling extensively in nearly 50 countries worldwide.