Posted on Mon, Oct. 23, 2006

Letter to Editor

Growing awareness
of green issues is great!

I thoroughly enjoyed the [Oct. 16] piece regarding green building in South Florida. Your coverage of this issue is much appreciated by those of us in the green community.

As the co-founder and executive director of Dream in Green (www.dreamingreen.org), a Miami nonprofit focused on developing projects that promote energy conservation, environmental sustainability and the use of renewable energy, I know firsthand that it is not easy being green.

That said, I am encouraged by the rising tide of awareness of, not to mention interest in, green issues and projects in our community. I honestly feel that we are near the tipping point mentioned in [Matthew Haggman's] article.

My organization has partnered with the City of Miami to develop and implement the Green Schools Challenge, which enlists K-12 students in an effort to conserve energy, reduce waste and increase the use of renewable energy in their schools -- all within our unique framework for reducing/offsetting carbon dioxide emissions. Although the GSC is currently being implemented on a pilot basis, we are receiving strong interest from Miami-Dade County Public Schools, not to mention firm support from Mayor Manny Diaz and his team at the City of Miami.

I want to underscore the fact that green building is only one issue among many in the green infosphere. My organization, although very much involved in green building issues, is currently focused on greening measures in existing buildings . . . since this will have a far greater immediate impact than new green buildings.

Nick Gunia

Dream in Green

Miami Beach