Wednesday, February 18, 2009

It’s not easy being green

Auden Schendler to present talk on going green


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

The idea of being green is not just a household word, it's a change of life. At the 2008 48 Straight "Green Your Scene" symposium, Aspen Skiing Co.'s executive director of sustainability, Auden Schendler, spoke on how a community can work together to create green change. Schendler gave a charismatic and poignant talk at the Community Library in Ketchum and will return to the library on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. to talk about the reality of being green. He will also discuss his new book, "Getting Green Done: Hard Truths and Real Solutions from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution."

"Achieving sustainability is not going to be easy," Schendler said. "And, that's OK. We need to do it for the benefit of our businesses and the planet, and we're going to do it. But, we shouldn't be deluded. And we shouldn't be afraid to be honest."

Schendler will explain why green consultants are clueless and how everyone is deluded if they think recycling our soda cans will solve our problems. At Aspen Skiing Co., Schendler oversees the company's environmental efforts, corporate contributions and civic engagement. He also serves as director of Aspen Sustainability Associates, a green business-consulting practice. 

Schendler was a research associate in corporate sustainability and newsletter editor at Rocky Mountain Institute, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization. He has worked as a residential energy auditor, high school math and English teacher, Outward Bound instructor, emergency medical technician, planning and zoning commissioner and energy efficiency researcher. 

Schendler was named a "climate crusader" in Time magazine's 2006 special issue on climate change, and was also a recipient, along with Robert Redford, of the 2007 EPA Climate Protection Award. His writings on sustainable business, life in the West and mountaineering have been published in a wide variety of magazines, newspapers and specialized publications.

Schendler's talk is presented in conjunction with the Sun Valley Center for the Arts' Domestic Life project and in coordination with the Community Library. For details, call 726-9491.

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.