Greetings From ACA

ACA kicks off its 142nd Congress of Corrections today in Mile High Denver CO. There is lots of buzz about sustainability and about GreenPrisons. Our first official activity is this afternoon at 1:30 when the Clean and Green committee convenes. If you're at the conference be sure to come by room 301 of the Convention Center. We've already met a number of folks new to corrections eager to learn more about what correctional agencies are doing to promote sustainability. They will have ample opportunity during more than six workshops examining the topic from any number of angles. Yesterday Superintendent Keith Butts of the Pendleton Correctional Facility in IN and I visited the headquarters of Community Power Corporation to learn more about their garbage gasification project. Currently they have a version designed to meet the Department of Defense's commissary needs to dispose of food and cellulose waste in areas with high tipping fees and/or high utilities cost. They will be doing a feasibility study to determine its applicability in corrections. You will learn the results of that study here on GreenPrisons.org and at our Symposium in October in Indianapolis. More tomorrow from the exhibit floor at ACA

Water Webinar Scheduled for Wednesday

Join GreenPrisons on Wednesday, June 11 at 11 AM EST for our free webinar on Effective Water Management in the Correctional Setting. Learn more about controlling water flow, waterless urinals, and rainwater management for some of America's foremost. Register at www.GreenPrisons.org

ACA Hosts SIX Sustainability Workshops at this Year's Summer Congress

ACA is going"Green" at this summer's Congress with SIX workshops on sustainability topics. From a facilitated workshop on sustainable projects around the country to saving $1000 per inmate these are sessions you won't want to miss. Don't forget to come to the conference in time to attend the "Clean and Green" committee at the Convention Center on Saturday at 1:30. Check the program for the room number. We will be making new proposals for the committee to submit to President Epps when his term begins in January. And remember vendors are always welcome to join us. Once again GreenPrisons will pair up with the North American Association of Warden's and Superintendents (NAAWS) for a place to meet and greet. Come by the NAAWS suite in the Hyatt Regency starting Saturday night to meet the largest group of senior decision makers in corrections. If you are not familiar with NAAWS you can learn more at www.corrections.com/NAAWS. If you're not a member consider joining. More next time on our growing program for the 2nd National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections. Watch www.GreenPrisons.org for more information on the Symposium.

GreenPrisons at Ohio Wardens and Superintendents Conference

GreenPrisons was invited to present the advantages of sustainability to the Ohio Wardens and Superintendents Association (OWSA)Conference in Berlin, Ohio May 17. With over 100+ wardens and superintendents from the adult and juvenile systems from around Ohio and many of their administrators an informative discussion was held including numerous projects ongoing in the Buckeye state. In his opening remarks Director Gary Mohr talked to the group about the importance of developing new management strategies whose results can be measured. Sustainable initiatives by their nature are measureable whether in dollars saved, pounds recycled, inmates trained or electical loads reduced. As part of their training intiatives the warden's association has assigned a team of wardens to monitor the savings generated over the next six months from the sustainable efforts and report back to the Director. GreenPrisons will work with the wardens committee to make sure they are regularly informed of new products and practices. The program also included presentations by Commissioner Chris Epps of Mississippi and Warden Burl Cain of Angola.

GreenPrisons Salutes Correctional Workers Week

As Correctional Workers week comes to an end, and I reflect back on the last 40 years and my career in corrections I am reminded of the many exceptional people I've met along the way. From my peers and friends that I went through training with to those first few nights on the job not really having a clue about what to do and the Supervisors who always seemed to walk through the door just when I needed them most. My time in corrections has been challenging, a little bit scary and yet the most fulfilling I could imagine. Today's correctional workers have an equally daunting task if not more so. They have the advantage of being better trained, and better equipped but the challenges of working with incarcerated individuals can be as difficult today as it was back then. Technology in some ways has made. The job easier but at perhaps the expense of inhibiting interpersonal skills. We can never forget that the job is about people, those we confine, those we protect. And those we stand next to, to get the job done. This isn't a very "green" message this week but I would argue it is all about "sustaining" the profession and the people who work in it. Be safe, take care of yourself, thank your family for their support,and take care of each other

NAAWS Kicks Off With Great Crowd

Hello from the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents (NAAWS) Annual Training Conference in Springfield, MO. Conference coordinator Pat Keohane has put together a great training event that kicked off with a great reception in the exhibit hall. Tomorrrow's feature speaker will be General Mark Inch, Commander of the Military Police Corps.

GreenPrisons will be well represented as we co-present with the Indiana Department of Correction. If you aren't here with us be sure and check back with GreenPrisons.org to see the powerpoint presentation.

More from the conference tomorrow.

April Webinar Delivers Strategies to Generate More Revenue from Recycling and Advantages of Green Cleaning

Join GreenPrisons on Wednesday, April 11 at 11 AM EST for our next webinar in our Sustainability in Corrections series. This month we focus on materials management and specifically on ways to maximize the revenue generated from recycling efforts and the fundamentals of cleaning with green chemicals and why they are so well suited for the corrections environment.

Clayton Campbell of PABS Management will discuss strategies for increasing your revenue from recycling and reducing cartage fees by managing the institution waste stream more effectively.

Burt Klein of PortionPac chemicals will explain the fundamental advantages of cleaning with green chemicals. PortionPac has a history of working with corrections since 1985 and has been a major supporter of the accreditation process as well as providing training programs for offenders who use PortionPac products.

To register go to www.GreenPrisons.org and click on the webinar article.

Maryland Secretary Gary Maynard Confirmed As Keynote Speaker for Symposium

Maryland Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections to Keynote Second National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections
Maryland Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections, Gary Maynard will be the keynote speaker at the opening luncheon for the Second National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections. Secretary Maynard has an extensive background in correctional management including serving as a warden and regional director. He has served as Commissioner or Director in Iowa, South Carolina and Oklahoma before being selected to lead the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
In addition to his correctional experience Mr. Maynard retired from the Oklahoma National Guard as a Brigadier General after 32 years of service. He is past President of the American Correctional Association, a Commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation of Corrections, and served on the ACA Standards Committee. He is an author, adjunct professor and a truly dedicated public servant.

A Conversation With Sarah Patterson of Lettuce Grow

I recently had the opportunity to have a long conversation with Sarah Patterson of LettuceGrow.org. This innovative program with its roots in Oregon has the potential to grow into a national movement. OK I'll quit with the puns now, because this unique approach to inmate horticulture programs has more than proven itself in the Oregon Department of Corrections.

In a nutshell it has taken the standard inmate horticulture program and turned it into a certification program with the local university agricultural extension office "Master Gardener" certification program. The Oregon program provides fresh vegetables for the institution food service operation, producing a healthier, less expensive diet.

In addition to the produce, inmates are involved in a 400 hour, nationally recognized certification program. Graduates of the program learn skills they can take back to agriculture, plant nursuries, or their own backyard garden.

You can learn more about this innovative program at www.lettucegrow.org and hear a live presentation by Sarah at this year's National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections.

NIJ Publishes Greening Guidebook

The long awaited NIJ publication on sustainability in corrections is now available. Download your free copy at https://www.justnet.org/our_centers/COEs/PDFs/Greening-Corrections-Technology-Guidebook-final-0229.pdf

The "Greening Corrections Technology Guidebook" was authored by Paul Sheldon and Gene Atherton. You will recognize many of the topics because our current webinar series is based on Paul's "Seven Steps to Sustainability in Corrections". The guidebook contains lots of additional information on each of the seven steps with plenty of practical applications from Gene.

There is still time to register for our free webinar series. Just go to the GreenPrisons home page at www.GreenPrisons.org and sign up today. This month's topic is HVAC and space in the webinar is limited.

Registration is also now open for our fall symposium. Register before June 1
and you could be the winner of a free registration (individual registrations only).

Lighting Webinar Shines A Bright Light

Our lighting webinar last month was a big hit and received a number of positive comments in the post-webinar evaluation. With more than 30 states participating again this month it demonstrates the continued interest in hearing from practitioners in the field about what other agencies are doing to save energy and dollars.

MagnaRay one of the systems presented during the webinar has announced that they will be coming to the NAAWS Conference in Springfield, MO April 15-18. You can follow this link http://www.magnaray.com/images/catalogpdf/25.pdf to see the case study they have on the Thumb Correctional institution that was mentioned during the webinar. Come by our booth at NAAWS to pick up additional materials.

Our next webinar is March 21 at 11 AM and will examine the effect new HVAC systems can have on your utility bill. We are still looking for one more agency to spotlight so if you have recently revamped your HVAC system or if you are a vendor who would like to see your products featured please contact me.

Register now to join us on March 21.

Savings and Security Through Enhanced Interior and Exterior Lighting Modifications

Be sure to join us on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 11 AM Eastern time for our next webinar exploring various lighting options that enhance security while resulting in significant utility savings. Kevin Orme and Jim Basinger from the Indiana Department of Correction will talk about new technology employed by the Department and the performance contracting process that was used. Ed Vallad of the Michigan Department of Corrections will also present new Florescent technology.

Register for the webinar at www.GreenPrisons.org and remember it's free.

Upcoming Events

We have a busy two weeks ahead. The latest edition of the newsletter will be out this week and we are currently finalizing the detail on our next webinar, Feb 15. Be sure to register soon as slots are limited and they are filling up quickly.

As we noted in the last blog we had a busy week at ACA. We learned this week that the workshops GreenPrisons was involved in were the best attended of the conference reflecting the growing interest in sustainability by the corrections community. We have been asked to propose additional workshops for the Congress in Denver. If you would like to join us and talk about your sustainability program let me know ASAP. Our proposals are due to ACA by Feb 13.

Registration for the 2nd National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections is now open. That means you can also propose a workshop and if it is selected you can attend the Symposium for free. If you have any questions give me a call at 859-629-6116.

If you have a program you would like featured on GreenPrisons.org be sure and send an email to info@GreenPrisons.org

ACA Recap and Upcoming Events

We just finished up a super ACA conference in Phoenix and sustainability is rapidly becoming the watchword of the profession. We had the chance to speak in three different workshops along with our friend Paul Sheldon, we also provided training to ACA auditors on the new sustainability standard, and thanks to John Rees had the opportunity to speak to the policy committee of the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA).

In every presentation folks had more to share about what they were doing in their agency and were equally eager to hear what was happening in other parts of the country. There was genuine enthusiasm for what we are doing and support for the overall goals of sustainability.

We attended a workshop early on Saturday morning presented by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that focused on a model that can be used to assist agencies to determine what makes sense for them regarding sustainability when considering new construction or retrofit. It is a model I think that could be utilized by large and small institutions alike. We hope to have it available on GreenPrisons.org in the coming weeks to share with you.

We are indebted to a lot of individuals and companies who made our travel to ACA possible. First on the list is the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents (NAAWS) and their leadership Art Leonardo, Gloria Hultz and Pat Keohane, and President Daryl Vannoy. They gave us space to operate out of and encouraged their membership to check out what GreenPrisons had to offer. We will be presenting at their conference in Springfield, Mo in April along with Commissioner Bruce Lemmon of Indiana and we hope you can be with us for this very special event.

CorrectPac, Solaris, I-Con, Pabs Management, Energy Systems Group and Zone 3 all, not only helped us to get there, but were ready and willing to answer questions and informally discuss their products and services. I encourage you to visit each of their websites to learn how they can not only save you money but in some instances create revenue streams as well. All of these companies have a true commitment to corrections and in addition to their products have developed training programs that can help prepare inmates for green collar jobs. We encourage you to check them out and support the companies who support GreenPrisons.

Our next webinar is only two weeks away and registrations are limited. We have almost maxed out the number we can accommodate. Register now for any of our upcoming webinars by going to www.GreenPrisons.org and clicking on the link on the home page. February’s webinar is on Lighting and Energy. Be sure to join us!

Thanks to all of our amazing sponsors and friends!

GreenPrisons.org at the ACA Winter Conference with Sponsors and Friends, Jack Hanley of Solaris, Gregg Riphagen with I-Con Systems, Greg Johnson with Zone 3, and our friends at Portion Pac.

Thanks for making this ACA a green success!

GreenPrisons Is At ACA Winter Conference

Greetings from Phoenix! GreenPrisons arrived in beautiful Phoenix this afternoon, the weather is great and folks are starting to stream in. This year's Winter meeting will have a minimum of four workshops on sustainability. The idea is catching on. GreenPrisons will also be providing training on the new standard on sustainability giving accreditation auditors first hand information on the background of the new standard and ways agencies can demonstrate their compliance.

On Wednesday, January 18th GreenPrisons launched our 2012 webinar series with Paul Sheldons "Seven Steps to Sustainability in Corrections". Pauls "7 Steps" will serve as the outline for the series. Join us on Feb 15 to look at energy and lighting.

Our January newsletter will be delayed slightly so we can bring you all the information from this year's Winter Conference.

Registration is NOW OPEN !!! for the Second National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections. Register early to get the discounted rate and possibly win a free registration. The call for presentations is also out and we encourage you to propose a workshop and share your experiences with sustainability. Check out the GreenPrisons homepage for registration information.

Watch for more updates from Phoenix!!!

GreenPrisons Announces New Webinar Series

As promised before we took a little break at Christmas, we are back with our popular webinar series beginning Wednesday, January 18 at 11 AM EST. This first webinar will kick off the series exploring the Seven Steps to Sustainable Corrections developed by Paul Sheldon.

This is one you won't want to miss because we will outline how you can learn ways to begin saving your institution money and resources tomorrow!!! In the following months we explore each one of the Seven Steps in depth with presentations by practitioners and providers of the technology.

Based on requests we received from a number of vendors who would like to share information with you about their products and services we will offer them the opportunity to have exclusive vendor webinars. If you would like more information on how you can schedule a webinar contact me at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org.

We will continue to offer these webinars as a free service to the corrections community if we can get support from advertisers. If you would like to sponsor one or more webinars and help support this effort please contact me.

Finally, if you are going to be at the winter conference of ACA be sure and come by the Clean and Green Committee meeting on Saturday at 1 PM in room 122B of the convention center or visit with us in the NAAWS suite and learn more about their upcoming conference in Springfield, MO in April.

If you would like to present in a future webinar please shoot me an email at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org or call me at 859-629-6116.