Alliance For Sustainable Colorado
Earlier this week I helped translate for a wonderful organization in Denver called Alliance For Sustainable Colorado. A group of 35 business 
professionals from Japan’s largest hypermarket, JUSCO, came to Colorado to learn about green business and volunteerism. Alliance asked me to help out with interpretation during the group’s tour of the building.
The historical six story building was originally built as a warehouse in 1908. Three years ago Alliance purchased the building and using modern green materials as well as keeping as much of the original building structure as possible has received both a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for Existing Buildings and a LEED Silver Certification for Commercial Interiors. Recycled furniture, self dimming super-efficient lighting, low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) carpeting that can be replaced tile by tile and uses a TacTile ‘grabbing’ system which avoids the use of toxic glue, water free urinals and wall insulation made of old blue jeans are just a few of the innovative materials and resources used in the building.
Social sustainability was thought out too by the Alliance and includes centralized mail boxes to increase social interaction, a shared services program that utilizes shared phone systems, internet, photocopier, printers, meeting rooms (both for tenants and non-tenants) and lunch room. Most of the tenants comprise of NPOs ranging from animal rights to the rights of the blind. The philosophy is together they can make a bigger change than going at it alone. Further, the center is a short bike ride from the state capital
. 
Overall, the hour tour went very well and with the help of another interpreter, we were able to discuss new ideas and concepts with JUSCO members. The tour concluded with an exchange of gifts, re-usable shopping bags for them and decorative chopsticks and silk table clothes for us. A quick picture was taken before the group was on their way to another tour.
Some things, such as automatic light sensors, water faucets and low flush toilets are common in Japan. However, concepts such as single stream recycling, environmentally friendly cleaning products and muffled dividers and ceiling tiles to dampen noise pollution were relatively new ideas to the group. Some innovations are concepts that once or still are long rooted traditions. For example, the versatile bamboo has been used for a wide range of things in Japan for thousands of years. Tatami (woven straw floor mats) are still common in Japanese homes. No glue is used to lay tatami mats and are replaceable mat by mat. Unfortunately, many of these sustainable building materials are being replaced in Japan by “modern” building practices. If we look back to our own history and further back in Japan’s history, we’re sure to find an abundance of other sustainable practices that have long been buried and are now ready to be recycled.
