This particular blog was very impactful and informational for me. I was fortunate to be able to interview my office manager at Southeast Fort Worth, Inc where I am the Executive Director. She is a Millenial SM and a very efficient user. She has worked for me for over 4 years and I have informally had the opportunity to observe the impact and use of SM tools. In addition as a young mother of 2, SM plays a major part both in her communication and educational tool use everyday. As I interviewed her about her use of SM, she let me know that I could not function without her knowledge.

Specifically, I would say that my office manager uses SM over a third of the day in some form or fashion. Her experienced use of You Tube and Facebook  are primarily for purposes of talking to friends and family some of whom live throughout the United States. As a young lady with brothers and sisters, Facebook supports her ability to communicate with each of them regularly along with other family members. In addition, Facebook lets her see the latest hair styles and weekend parties that friends are having in the community. Her use of YouTube along with her friends includes girlfriends with newborns or birthday pictures of their children. She does not seem to be so concerned about SM privacy or security of profile information. Her trust in each of the 2 Sm platforms that she use is very apparent. Unfortunately, I think that Milennial peer SM pressure use outweighs any real threat of privacy matters. Her Milennial peer group are using the various SM platforms like another brain nerve. I will say that that she understands the linking process between Facebook, e-mail address, Fan page composition , and the linking to a 4G AT&T Android phone like the back of her hand. It just seems like the Milennial generation has been wired to the new technology like breathing.

On the other hand, I am less trusting of the new SM platforms due both to the unknown and my own inexperience. As a late Baby Boomer, I was only e-mailing and using Facebook rarely. My confidence in the SM platform has grown more due although slowly to this Social Networking and Communication Strategies course. However, my Baby Boomer peer group are more open to change and the use of technology for productive purposes and not just recreation. Productive time management is a key measurable for me on a day to day basis. As a result, I have not been able to work into my schedule Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging on a daily or weekly basis. I do not use SM regularly to find anyone including a family member. I have most recently decided to add Facebook to our Southeast Fort Worth. Inc website. Yes, who do you think I asked to set up our Facebook account. I am learning to productively and purposely use SM platforms to support my outreach of developers and other “stakeholders” within the sustainability of economic development.

As a BabyBoomer working with a Milennial everyday, our SM challenges consist of how I communicate to her about how we should reach our constituents. I am learning the capability of  SM platforms that can best deliver my message. I depend on my office manager to find the best SM platform whether it be YouTube, Facebook or in other SM platform. I am not always in agreement with her on which SM platform to use. Most recently, we argued about linking our Facebook to the CIty of Fort Worth city page. However, I thought that it would be better to link to our website. Obviously, as the Executive Director, my decision was final. Once I am more comfortable and confident in Facebook and YouTube, linkend, and Twitter I may reconsider.

Ultimately, I am much better off by having a Millenial as my office manager. She provides me with a greater appreciation of the vast SM platform landscape that is available. SHe assist with attracting more potential constituents to our website and advance the cause of creating sustainable economic development in southeast Fort Worth.

The specific goals of the Charleston Parks Conservancy are to increase the use of greenspace and parks within Charleston, SC. More importantly, these SM goals are to connect the community to the park. They have been successful in creating connectivity campaigns like Garden in the Parks and various park events. In addition, they have formed the Charleston PArk Angels that is composed of Charleston residents (joggers, bloggers, neighbors) who are park advocates. The different SM platforms are FB,TW, FLK, You Tube, and Foursquare. This campaign has been effective in getting the word out through SM.

The Randon Buzzers site provides a literary style with associated marketing features. This media campaign is very random in nature and provides a buzz about the latest books,movies, stores, writing contest, or summer fling. It seems to be successful in announcing about the less popular products and services that may have interest to the general public also. This site uses my space, Digg, Stumbleupon, FB,TW, and Google Buzz to get the word out. The effective of this site seems to be limited to those bloggers and twitters who are more Walmart type shoppers. Those who are members are looking for the discounts. They may have improved on limiting so many product types and focus on specific areas.

The Communication Overtone Case Study for Sea World San Antonio is evidence of the effective use and reach of SM platforms. The purpose of building relationships and awareness of Sea World were 2 campaign objectives. Finally, also bringing more visitors to the park was a key goal.

This campaign focused on those roller coaster riders and created a coaster community to market Sea World. The branding of coaster bloggers was very effective in identifying a segment of Sea World customers that began to talk about their experience through Sm platforms like YouYube, Flicker , an Veoh. This linked these coaster bloggers to more coaster enthusiast.

The elements in all 3 campaigns were the major SM media platforms. Each of these campaigns had specific products, a park and and amusement park to create a buzz. The Random Buzzer was just that a random buzzer hoping to catch those persons who are normally window shopping and may find a good book or movie.

I think all 3 campaigns could be translated into SM efforts.

  As an economic developer, my blog statement is

   There is a value impact of social media on economic development and economic development organizations: I believe that this is a true statement based on the articles that have been included. Economic Developers believe that in order to measure the economic impact social media helps to provide that resource tool. I do not think any thing other than data validation would change the importance. 

   You Tube links are the followings:

     http://youtu.be/W2AsoiWsenY

    http://youtu.be/dZ-9HJ5hDbg

Associated articles are, as follows:

http://developmentmarketing.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-are-economic-developers-using.html

http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Understanding_Social_Media - Webseminar is also scheduled by the International Economic Development Council

  www.social-smart.com

Frito-Lay has always been the consumer chip and snack food manufacturing leader. As a pat of the Pepsico family, Frito Lay has no true competition and none in site. “Green” operational practices were only implemented on a non-mandatory basis. However, generic chip competition and increasing facilities cost over time have required a cost savings change.

Our presenter Mr. George Guck, Director of Facilities and Corporate Services, was the architect of a $10 mil sustainability overhaul of the 580,000 sq ft. Frito Lay headquarters in Plano,Tx. Thus turning this 25 year old building into a LEED Gold certification for an existing building. The incorporation of daylight harvesting, an earth station that monitors moisture content, motion and daylight sensors, increased recycling programs, and the relocation of single glass windows all contributed to a cost savings of $800 million annually. In addition, the use of a Direct Digital Energy Maintenance System has increased the ability to measure and monitor the energy , water use, air temperature and demand flow throughout the entire building. The sustainability savings has resulted in a 25% reduction in energy use, a 50% reduction in water use, and a 75% reduction in waste management cost.

Whether you are number one or last in your industry, it is imperative that companies need to think “green” to survive in todays economy. More importantly, an industry leader like Frito Lay has an environmental responsibility to be a sustainability leader to maintain its competitiveness. It is Frito Lay’s goal to reduce the amount of energy per bag by 45% through its Green Team Initiative.

It was encouraging to know that Mr. Buck was a part of a sustainability team that was led by a Chief Personnel Officer. This assured all of us that this position was permanent and not temporary with measurable outputs. Sustainability processes  as we know are permanent and must never be compromised whether it has to do with chips or crackers.

Texas Instrument has always been equated to an industry leader to me. After meeting at the TI – Richardson Fab facility, I have to increase my opinion of their technological impact within their industry. It is obvious that their commitment to “green” building and sustainability surpasses all standards. The presentation was not just about one LEED Gold certified 1.1 million sq. foot building. This was about a culture within TI that obviously practices sustainability daily throughout the entire company.

The two presenters, Paul Westbrook and Paul Ruiz were the bona fide change agents as sustainability development manager and RFAB Facilities manger, respectively. The operational ability to fabricate 300 mm wafers in a LEED Gold semiconductor manufacturing facility is a first. The manufacturing cost savings directly impacts the accuracy of each silicon wafer that is produced. Every amount of energy from water, electrical, solar, air all play a major component in the production process.

As we toured the facility, we observed or listened to examples of various “green” designs or functions. This included reflective roofing, light shelves, faucets with sensors, on-site retention pond, solar water heater, and light and motion sensors. More important was the orientation of the building location thus capturing natural lightning from the outside. In addition, the importance of clean and pure air was quite evident when we entered the area where the wafers fabrication was taking place. I had never smelled that type of clean air in a long time. It validated for me that cleaner air control could be accomplished.

Ultimately, TI will continue to be the leader in semiconductor technology and manufacturing. This will be achieved with capital cost savings through energy and water efficient measures.  In addition, the educational industry will continue to be a beneficiary of TI’s sustainable advances. University Texas of Dallas received a $300 million grant for engineering research. The future impact is what sustainability is really about. RFAB will be producing 300 mm wafers in the # 1 LEED Gold “green” building well into the future.

Communities and neighborhoods deserve to be clean, safe and environmentally healthy. As we know, this is not always the case. Such was the case with an area near the community of Pleasant Grove.  Illegal dumping had been a common practice throughout 1970 to 1990. Located in the Great Trinity Forest, the City of Dallas following a environmental discrimination suit, created a 120 eco-system development in 2008. This is area is now known as the Trinity River Audubon Center, (TRAC). This 21,000 sq ft. center provides an example of how to save our economy on a daily basis on behalf of a neighborhood and natural resources. Operated by the City of Dallas and the National Audubon Society, you observe a natural habitat with  various “green” components.

The aerial  structural design of a bird provides the natural meaning of the building. The recycled bamboo floor, recycled steel in the structure, recycled cotton on the ceiling, man made ponds, and methane gas flare station, and vegetated slant roof have certified this $12.3 Mil facility as LEEd Gold. The capture of rainwater run-off, restored wetlands, native prairies, and recycled building insulation all are evidence of the commitment of the City of Dallas. This is first City of Dallas LEED Gold Park and Recreation facility.

More importantly, the educational services provided by TRAC with classroom instruction, nature tours, Children Discovery Room, and various nature exhibits are the true sustainable features of this facility. The facility is an example of structure and community that provides another step in the “Green” direction. I had never toured this location but was humbly impressed. Walking through the trees and brush you felt nature speak to you. It let you know that it was going to be our responsibility to take care of nature to ensure its survival. My classmates and I must use our learned and common sense knowledge to maintain our natural habitat.

As I walked into the Granite Uptown Office building on McKinney Ave. in Dallas, Tx, I realized that building seemed to operationally be on auto-pilot. This was evident in the cooling, heating, and lighting of the building. This LEED GOLD building had all of the bells and whistles that you could imagine. The USGBC had identified the various core and shell areas that met the LEED standards for the building. The USBC also recognized Huitt Zollars as a LEED Gold tenant of the building. These specified LEED designations was based on sustainable sites water efficiency,energy and atmosphere,materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and design process, and regional priority process. Our tour guide Jackson Murphy was the ultimate “Green” Ambassador in my mind. As a member on the USBC council, he felt that it was his mandate to provide each of us on the tour with an appreciation for the current and future of the USGC and the need for more “sustainability change agents”.

The tour of this 19 story LEED Gold building was sustainably impressive. The first LEED Gold High rise in Texas. Public transportation access, parking, capacity, site selection, water efficient landscaping, and enhanced refrigeration management all provided were elements of the LEED Gold building. This building seemed to be alive and breath on its on. The Huitt-Zollar office space also was a living a breathing area of sustainability from the office space to the employee kitchen. As I toured the offices, I would step into the break room and the lights would come but I had not turn them on. I would step in to the bathroom and the lights and a/c fan came on. The optimization of energy was quite apparent. The use of daylight and motion to operate the building lightning let me know that “green” meant energy savings and ultimately cost savings also. It was obvious that energy savings analysis and construction cost were brought together to create Gold.

Jackson Murphy is another one of those change agents in the battle to conserve energy at all cost. His sustainability presentation provided a meaningful purpose for all of us within the class.

Historical residences and manicured lawns, Ryan Place has maintained its neighborly elegance since I was a child. As we drove up to the Newburn home, I had to do a double take. The LEED Platinum home appeared to have been dropped into the neighborhood as an architectural display that would be moved to a new location in the morning. This obviously was not the case. The lot was purchased with no deed restriction or historical overlay requirements. This enabled the Newburn’s to create a 1,950 sq ft truly “green”  home that set itself apart from the community. Buffalo grass in the front yard, structural insulated panels for the exterior walls,tankless hot water heaters, CFL lightning,low pitch roof with single ply membrane, and energy saver appliances provided for a complete and functional sustainable home. The landscaping which was still under construction had sustainable potential. The driveway from the front to the rear was composed of gravel. The sloped lot provided for sufficient drainage from back to front. I was concerned that the water would not flow freely in the back yard. However, Mr. Newborn assured us that there was no drainage problem. Also, Mr. Newburn who looked to be in his thirties was very knowledgeable of the architectural and complimentary energy savings qualities. I was impressed with his natural resource consciousness and concern for future sustainability.

The result of this “green” residential project should be a tour site for the community. The sustainable value of this project will be appreciated more if the entire community has an opportunity to experience its “green” qualities. It should be on the tour of homes every year forever. Yes, sustainable means for a long time. Each and every Ryan Place residence should understand how the value of their home will appreciate over time with a Newborn type home. You may say how, because this home will reduce the energy usage and ultimately help our natural resources last longer. All those who have an opportunity to visit hopefully will go home and evaluate their energy savings opportunity within their home.

Well, now I know why the water supply is leaving in the gallons. Mr. Chaney, CEA Horticulture Tarrant County provided detailed reasons and examples of why the Texas region is losing gallons of water on an annual basis. His years of experience in various capacities have given him a vast knowledge of water quality and water conservation. I appreciate his matter of fact presentation which put drought impacts, lawn watering, water harvesting, storm water, and irrigation in the proper perspective. His comments on the development impact of water quality further solidified for me of why water conservation is critical. His specific information on fertilizers, pesticides, sediment, and toxic contaminants provided evidence about development impacts on water supply. Pretty flowers, bushes, manicured lawns seem to continue to be of more importance than the source of the natural resource than makes everything look pretty.

I am not sure how much more evidence we need of a future U.S. water shortage when the projected population growth and water supply over the next 20 years is a  33% increase and a 10% decrease respectively. in addition groundwater and surface water irrigation and municipalities compose a majority  of the water usage. Are greener yards and plants more important than the water supply? This is a question that we all need to answer including myself. Water sprinklers made need to be policed on a 24 hour basis if we cannot do it ourselves. Summer time seems to be a time when watering is increased from 25% o 60% along with lawn mowing increases.

850 million gallons of water annually used for watering looks like a huge number to me. Also, based on a 1.7 Mil acre-feet of water available today, we will need 3.3 mil acre – feet by 2060. Mr. Chaney also informed us that in 5 years, two -thirds of the states will be short of water even in non-drought condition. I just hope that Texas is not one of those states. A Public Service Announcement should be made about our future population and water supply projections. Cost – benefit analysis about major water users ( water utilities, residential developments, etc.) should be mandatory beginning now. Storm water maintenance and treatment will continue to be important. All homeowners must be responsible water conservationist.

Time is of the essence or we will be asking where did the water go.

As we traveled from the TCC  Trinity River Campus to the next “GreeN” site, I began to to realize that “Change Agents” would be needed to make a sustainable difference. As we pulled up to the home in the Arlington Heights addition, there was no noticeable difference on the outside of the “green” house that we were going to visit . The homes in the neighborhood were built around 1950 and displayed various historical exterior features. The Heather Ferrier family, were very proud and open to discussing the various “green” home conversions within and outside of their home. The home had a very natural and functional feel that further defined “green” conversion. Most impressive was the convergence of the next generation with conservation and “green” building. Heather seemed to enjoy the challenge of changing the character of this house from normal to historically sustainable. We were able to see the incorporation of tankless water heaters, class IV roof,  E glass windows, dual flush toilets, and low flow plumbing fixtures, roof insulation, and use of scrap material, along with recycle landscaping. All of these “green building premiums” have provided sustainability without compromising the historical features of the home. In addition, the “green” cost impact was 4% of construction cost and created a very liveable environment.

Ultimately, the opportunity to create the  green “critical mass” for the Arlington Heights neighborhood has increased as the result of the renovation of this home. Ferrier Builder has provided the opportunity to display the home to visitors. Whether or not the neighbors decide to visit is to be determined. I hope they do just like our class was able to visit. In addition, this “green” home visit provided me with further details of specific types of green materials and the applicable energy savings. I am considering incorporating a few of these green materials in my grandmother’s home within an older urban neighborhood. The Arlington Heights neighborhood is a more sustainable place, because this particular lot will not be vacant and boarded up like so many other neighborhoods.

Green Luck