April/May 2009
Special
C O N T E N T S
Executive Director's Corner: Standing with Giants, by Deb Kleinman
Special: Remembering Greg Franta, by Annette Stelmack
LEED: Aardex Receives Second Platinum LEED Certification from the USGBC, by Mike Hehir
Energy Incentives: Xcel Announces New Incentives, by Erine Mathe
Sustainable Development: Grassroots Efforts Support a Sustainable Ethic, by Sarah Martinez
Government: Greening the Government: State Leads by Example, by Angie Fyfe
Case Study: Extracting Value From NAIOP's Highly Criticized Building Cost Report, by Courtney France
Go Green, Save Money: Rep. Perlmutter Legislation Promotes Going Green To Save Green, by Christopher Votoupal
Colorado Building Green is the official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter, and is published bi-monthly. If you are interested in submiting a story, ideas or other information for publication, please contact the editor at sarah@usgbccolorado.org
In Memory of Greg Franta - A Legacy of Love, Laughter and Sustaining the World
Flying With Greg
Greg, it seems wrong to be sharing these thoughts without you being physically present; I had imagined it the other way around. When the news came that you had been found in your car, I was angry that your incandescent life, like the light bulbs you railed against, had gone out too soon. But I know you are with us. You were so good at giving and receiving love that I’m sure you have been enjoying all the love and accolades coming your way since the accident took you from our sight.
Since I emailed the sad news of your disappearance to our friends, I have had the great joy of receiving countless, incredible tributes to you over the last month, so I’ll share a few of them for your family and friends:
“Greg had a huge impact on my life! He was an amazing man, a giant, my big brother, my mentor, most importantly my friend!” You offered us a quality, a spirit that defies description. Rob Watson captured some of it by borrowing a phrase from the Dalai Lama. When asked what was necessary for people to solve the environmental crisis, his reply was “Radical Confidence.” For us you were the embodiment of radical confidence; our industrial strength optimist.
When we first met I was hungry for your knowledge about daylight, glazing and energy conservation strategy, and you were a generous and effective teacher, as you have been for thousands of us on every continent. But as I reflect on this, I realize that while having more access to daylight was good, I became addicted to your light, your spirit, your bear hug, those silly cork tricks, and those Swedish/Norwegian stories and skits with Nancy. Thank you for all you have done to change the world for our children, and thank you for two decades of laughs, hugs and for your infectious presence in my life.
I had a dream while the police were looking for you. Some of us decided to rent a plane to search a larger area, but this plane was different. It was a collection of parts. Each of us was flying and holding a part of the plane. At some point we concluded that we could fly higher and faster without each carrying part of an airplane with us. As we dropped all the parts and could see one another, we realized that you had been flying with us all the time. You had connected us and taught us to fly. They discovered your body the next day.
You have changed my life, and you have strengthened my resolve to be fully present, to live each day, each moment, to the fullest. I will smile more, laugh more, hug more, play more and spend more time with the people I love. I will visualize and prayer for the time when Jana and your girls find acceptance and peace and I will remind Jana that Buddhists believe that Jana is the ability to enter into a profound state of silence to open the door to illumination and peace.
I love you. We love you.
Bob Berkebile