What a great week of meetings in Sacramento. I’ve really been enjoying getting to know the riches of this region.
Innovation: I took a tour of Ternion Bio Industries (www.ternionbio.com) space and learned about their Photo Bioreactors that provide a controlled, scalable environment in which harmful emissions, notably carbon dioxide, are used to “feed” any strain of algae, producing high-quality raw material for beneficial algae-based products. As a result, Ternion Bio helps emitters of carbon dioxide, such as power plants and petroleum refineries, more easily and cost-effectively meet tightening requirements for sequestering greenhouse gases. Also check out the picture of my tour of the 200,000 sq ft SIMS Recycling Solutions center in Roseville. Sims Recycling Solutions provides electronics recycling, precious metal refining, remarketing and asset management solutions. We’re standing outside their enormous “shredder” that begins the process of turning electronics back into piles of plastic and metals for reuse.
Leadership: I sat down with LPA (www.lpainc.com) and Lionakis (www.lionakis.com), two leading architectural firms that are focused on sustainable building. LPA has completed eight LEED® certified project in California. They have eight projects under construction, and more than thirty in design/construction documentation all seeking LEED certification, surpassing any other architectural firm in the state. Lionakis is committed to the quality of the built environment and a better future for our communities. Their team finds creative ways to integrate sustainability into any type of project.
Service: Volunteer Sacramento is a city wide initiative on volunteering led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, in partnership with Hands On Sacramento (www.handsonsacto.org) and Honorary Chair Congress woman Doris Matsui, to encourage volunteerism and service in our community. With the goal of making Sacramento the number one city in California for Volunteering, Volunteer Sacramento asks every resident to donate a minimum of 10 hours each year. Their goal is to have over 500,000 hours of community service logged by the end of 2009, which will translate into an economic contribution of more than $10 million back into our community. The BetterWorld leadership with the Sacramento Sustainability Forum and our growing body of volunteers is now being tracked as part of this effort.
Pure Heart: Shriners Hospitals for Children (www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Main/) is a one-of-a-kind international health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no financial obligation to patients or families. Alan Anderson took me on a full tour and from the medical care to the family facilities and incorporation of schools and re-integration of their patients, it is truly incredible how they serve and support the children, their families, and communities through these very difficult situations. Their work is deeply inspiring and heart-warming.
Inspired in SAC ,
Jacob
Posted in: General Blog
