October 2009 SLDI Newsletter - http://www.sldi.org/newService/SLDIOct2009.html
Dan Brown’s new book, “The Lost Symbol,” is the fastest selling adult novel of all time in both hardback and eBook versions, eclipsing the initial global success of Brown’s earlier book, The Da Vinci Code, which ultimately sold over 80 million copies. This sequel (and the movie, which is already scheduled for release in 2012) is guaranteed to cause a tremendous and lasting groundswell of public interest in the book’s subject matter – which intertwines the history of Washington D.C., the secrets and symbols of Freemasonry, and the hidden meaning of George Washington’s life - each of which have deeply rooted connections to land development.
Even as the book’s clever and fast-paced plot concludes, what may not be apparent to many readers is the connection between the SLDI mission and the meaning of “The Lost Symbol” - The Apotheosis of George Washington - painting on the ceiling of the Capitol Rotunda. According to Brown’s story, “This ceiling’s spectacular collection of images was indeed a message… The founding fathers had envisioned America as a blank canvas, a fertile field on which the seeds of the mysteries could be sown. Today, Washington - a soaring icon – the father of our country, ascending to heaven – is hung silently above our lawmakers, leaders, and presidents...a bold reminder, a map to the future, a promise of a time when all people, like George Washington, would evolve to complete spiritual maturity.”
“The Lost Symbol” connects the meaning of George Washington’s life to the achievement of our human potential as creators on earth. Now this is something to which we in land development can relate and aspire! Interestingly, SLDI made that very same connection almost four years ago. As first written in the December 2005 Land Development Today magazine article by SLDI entitled, “Breaking New Ground”: “When you look at the history of our industry in America, one is hard pressed not to conclude that George Washington, the Father of our Country, also grew to become what can only be described today as the Father of our own land development industry, as well as a visionary prophet of sustainability.”
Further, the May 2007 SLDT magazine article People, Planet, & Profit, which originally unveiled the need and concept for SLDI, again documented George Washington’s unique leadership qualities, and addressed the multitude of problems facing our profession with this advice – “What Would George Washington Do?... Understanding the life and times of perhaps our country’s greatest hero, George Washington, can help to light our way down a path of true sustainability – one where people, planet, and profit all are considered equally in a decision model.”
Now, once again following the visionary philopsophy of George Washington, SLDI is pleased to be able to disclose the world’s first sustainable land development best practices system – The SLDI Code.™
Your participation and comments are welcome.
Terry Mock
Executive Director
Sustainable Land Development International
www.SLDI.org
Saturday, October 24, 2009
World's First Sustainable Land Development Best Practices System Introduced
September 3, 2009 – http://www.sldi.org/Pressreleases/index_090209.html
Sustainable Land Development International (SLDI) announced today that it has completed and is releasing the world’s first comprehensive sustainable land development best practices system. After undergoing an extensive review by a number of experts in the industry, SLDI is announcing that Phase 2 implementation – pilot testing – is underway. Currently, a number of projects throughout the United States are serving as pilot projects and testing the system.
The SLDI Best Practices System is not just another set of industry standards or certification program. Tony Wernke, president of SLDI, describes the system as “descriptive rather than prescriptive.” In other words, it guides decision-making throughout the process toward more sustainable results rather than requiring specific practices and/or products be utilized during design and construction.
“Historically, there is widespread inefficiency with land development projects throughout the planning, design, approval and construction processes,” said Wernke. “Combined with the conflicts between private and public interests that often occur on projects, it is not surprising that the desired – and anticipated - environmental, economic, and social benefits that are often promised have not been typically accomplished.”
“We are thrilled to bring a breakthrough decision model, with accompanying information resources and technologies, to enable the achievement of truly sustainable results on projects.”
The Best Practices System helps align the interests of all project stakeholders, including financial, social, and environmental. It helps project teams increase productivity and build trust among professionals, and also can help project teams better promote their projects to financial and community partners.
“The SLDI Best Practices System complements other ‘green’ programs and has the built-in flexibility to fully incorporate them,” said Wernke. “The SLDI system is completely holistic in that it incorporates the full breadth of goals for any project, including social, environmental and financial objectives that may be part of other certification programs. Its uniqueness and value is that it aids and streamlines development processes as opposed to adding to them.”
Another unique quality of the SLDI Best Practices System is that it is applicable for all project types and sizes. In fact, the Best Practices System is currently being implemented on a number of pilot projects including a residential greenfield project, a commercial brownfield project, a mixed-use urban revitalization project, and a mixed-use rural conservation project.
About Sustainable Land Development International (SLDI)
SLDI is a member-owned technology and knowledge resources organization delivering strategic solutions to land developers, builders, planners, engineers, architects, landscape architects, investors, attorneys, brokers, and other professionals in the land development industry. SLDI publishes the industry-leading publications Sustainable Land Development Today, Sustainable Urban Redevelopment, and SLDI News Service. It also produces the Land Development Breakthroughs conferences and workshops and develops technologies and certification programs which promote and enable land development worldwide that balance the needs of people, planet and profit – for today and future generations. http://www.sldi.org/
Sustainable Land Development International (SLDI) announced today that it has completed and is releasing the world’s first comprehensive sustainable land development best practices system. After undergoing an extensive review by a number of experts in the industry, SLDI is announcing that Phase 2 implementation – pilot testing – is underway. Currently, a number of projects throughout the United States are serving as pilot projects and testing the system.
The SLDI Best Practices System is not just another set of industry standards or certification program. Tony Wernke, president of SLDI, describes the system as “descriptive rather than prescriptive.” In other words, it guides decision-making throughout the process toward more sustainable results rather than requiring specific practices and/or products be utilized during design and construction.
“Historically, there is widespread inefficiency with land development projects throughout the planning, design, approval and construction processes,” said Wernke. “Combined with the conflicts between private and public interests that often occur on projects, it is not surprising that the desired – and anticipated - environmental, economic, and social benefits that are often promised have not been typically accomplished.”
“We are thrilled to bring a breakthrough decision model, with accompanying information resources and technologies, to enable the achievement of truly sustainable results on projects.”
The Best Practices System helps align the interests of all project stakeholders, including financial, social, and environmental. It helps project teams increase productivity and build trust among professionals, and also can help project teams better promote their projects to financial and community partners.
“The SLDI Best Practices System complements other ‘green’ programs and has the built-in flexibility to fully incorporate them,” said Wernke. “The SLDI system is completely holistic in that it incorporates the full breadth of goals for any project, including social, environmental and financial objectives that may be part of other certification programs. Its uniqueness and value is that it aids and streamlines development processes as opposed to adding to them.”
Another unique quality of the SLDI Best Practices System is that it is applicable for all project types and sizes. In fact, the Best Practices System is currently being implemented on a number of pilot projects including a residential greenfield project, a commercial brownfield project, a mixed-use urban revitalization project, and a mixed-use rural conservation project.
About Sustainable Land Development International (SLDI)
SLDI is a member-owned technology and knowledge resources organization delivering strategic solutions to land developers, builders, planners, engineers, architects, landscape architects, investors, attorneys, brokers, and other professionals in the land development industry. SLDI publishes the industry-leading publications Sustainable Land Development Today, Sustainable Urban Redevelopment, and SLDI News Service. It also produces the Land Development Breakthroughs conferences and workshops and develops technologies and certification programs which promote and enable land development worldwide that balance the needs of people, planet and profit – for today and future generations. http://www.sldi.org/
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