General News
Lorax’s Annual Innovation Blog is Published.
Our annual Innovation Blog, which we publish near the Chinese New Year was published on February 8, 2016. This year we focused on transportation with information on Remix, a transit planning tool for municipalities, the Copenhagen Wheel, a devise to make cycling more convenient to a broader segment of the population, and Volta, an electric…
Read MoreIs our consumerism “Green-Washing” Out Earth Day? Not anymore…
By: Leyla Balimtas When it comes to saving the environment, a single person can feel pretty powerless in making a change, but partnering with a group of people can make anyone feel like a lot is actually possible, even when everyone has not adopted the same opinion about conservation or environmental issues. Earth day will…
Read MoreWhat do Buildings have to do with Corporate Social Responsibility?
By: Lorraine Doo Not too long ago, folks were asking what buildings had to do with health. Following that question, and over the past five years, more architects, building owners, developers and manufacturers have come to understand that some of the materials or the process of manufacturing the materials that make up the building, its…
Read MoreSocial Media Advocates Sustainability
By: Leyla Balimtas How social media changes the conversation of sustainability in business… The environmental issues in our world are nearly inevitable. We as humans will always be using our environments because they are not only readily available to us, but they also provide the resources that we need to survive. And the main users…
Read MoreHappy Chinese New Year 2015 – Year of the Green Wooden Sheep
Welcome to the Year of the Green Wooden Sheep. As we say farewell to the Year of the Wooden Horse (2014), with its promise of travel and movement, we hope your ride over the past twelve months took you where you wanted to go. We welcome 2015, the Year of the Green Wooden Sheep, that…
Read MoreEcoDistricts – Hype or Opportunity for Change in Baltimore?
Talk of establishing an EcoDistrict in Baltimore has gained traction over the past year, with proponents suggesting the locations of Harbor Point, Lexington Market and the State Center project. The articles so far have focused on the potential for energy savings and storm water management at the district level. These benefits are obviously positive for…
Read MoreNot So Fast
At recent blog post on the Green Building Law Update titled “Maryland Sidesteps LEED in Favor of the IgCC” suggests that “fewer, if any, Maryland state and local government projects will be LEED certified in the future.” But, I say, “Not so fast!” Yes, the Maryland legislature just passed an amendment to the State’s green…
Read MoreWishing you a Lucky, Prosperous and Happy Chinese new Year
February 10, 2013 starts the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Snake. Snake years are predicted to be a time for reassessing our personal situation regarding finances, career and relationships. It’s also a mysterious year that suggests it pays to be cautious when making commitments. Lorax has committed itself to sharing resources to…
Read MoreEarth Day 2012: Green Businesses, Green Buildings, And Greenbacks – Part 2 of 2
Does a LEED building make financial sense? In the current market, this question is discussed actively between development, property management and building professionals. Of course, energy efficiency upgrades and water-saving measures do lower utility costs. And less construction waste can save money during construction. So, these savings help in making the case for LEED. But,…
Read MoreEarth Day 2012: Green Businesses, Green Buildings, And Greenbacks – Part 1 of 2
How is business for you in 2012? For companies with a congruent commitment to sustainability, and with LEED-certified buildings (see Part 2 of this series), it seems business is very good. Empirical studies reveal that companies that have chosen to put sustainability high on their priority list outperform their competitors. Those for whom the bottom line…
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