Green is the new cool

Director Luc Besson was a full decade ahead of the trend when he foresaw the importance of the word "Green" in his 1997 movie "The Fifth Element."  In that Sci-Fi action thriller, the world is in danger of being annihilated by an evil power and can only be saved by the Fifth element - love - embodied in a woman. There is a character in the film, a DJ, named Ruby Rhod, played by comedian Chris Tucker, who defines the epitome of coolness using the word "green".  When he checks with his minions if someone or something is acceptable, they categorize them as "Green!" or "Super Green!" to indicate approval.

It's true. Green has entered the vernacular as the ultimate cool. Environmental awareness no longer belongs to the fringe elements, it has entered cultural consciousness. Even though it is easier for people who are gainfully employed to focus on lowering their carbon footprint, there are movements across the globe that indicate this is not just an 'elitist' interest. Witness Kenya's Wangari Maathai's Green Belt movement.

Each of us can make a difference.

Recently, an event on our campus caught my eye. Someone found a way to hand out free four-packs of CFLs (Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs) to employees. If you don't know, CFLs last for many years, use far less electricity than regular light bulbs, and are one way people are trying to lower power consumption. (Although everyone should know how to properly handle and dispose of these energy-saving bulbs.) I did a little research and discovered this wasn't a corporate-sponsored event. Two employees had taken it upon themselves to make a difference. It's the kind of story that might inspire others to take steps toward change in their own office, so I asked Rafferty Lengle and Josh Henretig to share how they went from employees to evangelists. See my Q & A with Rafferty below.

Office Online: Microsoft is a huge company. What motivated you to promote environmental awareness and try to make a difference? What obstacles did you face?

Rafferty Lengle: Two things. I'm a new father and with the addition of my son in this world I find myself thinking about the environment more than ever. I think about the rate at which we (people) consume, and it scares me to think what my son will be up against as he grows older. Two, I have an entrepreneurial spirit. Josh and I meet frequently to discuss ideas, and when this idea came up it seemed like such a no-brainer. We felt like it was an attainable goal and we challenged ourselves to not just talk about it, but to take action.

OO: Could you briefly explain for our readers what you accomplished, what form your action took?

RL: Josh and I reached out to Greenlite USA and pitched our idea of giving away CFLs. They loved it and things moved rapidly forward from there. We were able to have Greenlite provide CFL's at near cost pricing to local Utilities in the area, who signed up to fund the purchase of 32,500 CFLs so we could distribute them to Microsoft employees at no cost. The event was wildly successful - we gave them away at lunch time in cafeterias across main campus. Employees were not only happy to get a free 4-pack of CFLs, but they also stopped to have discussions about the advantages of CFLs vs. incandescent light bulbs. We felt that the event heightened awareness and got people thinking about things they can do to lower their carbon footprint.

OO: What did you learn from this that you would want to share with others who aspire to attempt something similar at their own company?

RL: My biggest lesson was that there are things we can all be doing to make a positive impact on the environment. Whether it is a big event like ours, or just small changes within your household, everyone can do something. "Green" is a very hot buzzword now, so if there was ever a time to ride the momentum and get your company to support your idea, now is the time! Partner with someone who shares your passion. It was a tremendous experience to work on this project as a two-man team.

OO: This was an ambitious grassroots initiative. What's next?

RL: Josh and I are thinking about what to do next but it's all top secret. . . stay tuned!

Not sure what you can do to make a difference? Why not start March 29th by participating in Earth Hour.

Be green.

-- Nancy

You can learn more about Microsoft's approach to environmental sustainability here.

Like this post? Share it!