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.

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.

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!

GreenPrisons Gears Up for 2012

It's been a busy couple of weeks since my last post but I thought this would be a good week to share with you what we're planning for the new year before everyone got caught up in their holiday festivities.

First and formost I met in Indianapolis last week with representatives of the Indiana Department of Correction, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, the Bluegrass Recycling Center (KY) as well as Johnson Controls, WESTCO Distributors, and Designaire Engineers for the purpose of initiating planning for next year's National Symposium on Sustainability in Corrections. Following on the heels of our very successful innaugural event we will return to Indianapolis for 2012.

So mark your calendars for October 29 - November 1, 2012, for this important event. A call for presentations, participant registrations, and exhibitors will be available on www.GreenPrisons.org shortly after the first of the year.

In addition to planning next year's conference we have also been busy preparing for the first issue of a new quarterly journal on sustainability in corrections. We will have copies available online and at ACA. Be sure you are on our mailing list to be able to download your free copy! Advertisers and contributors for stories for future issues are also wanted. Send me an email at Tommy@GreenPrisons.org for more info.

Also be sure to look for us in the NAAWS suite at ACA in Phoenix.

I was recently contaced by a vendor who has a large quanty of CFL lightbulbs available at deep discounts. If you can use them send me an email and I will put you in touch with the vendor.

Finally, as we approach the holidays I want to thank eveyone for your support. GreenPrisons is barely six months old but we have managed to become the voice for sustainability in corrections. While it would be impossible to identify all the individuals, agencies and companies who have lent their support to get us started. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the support we have gotten from the Indiana Department of Correction and Commissioner Bruce Lemmon. Both in his former life as the warden of the Pendleton Correctional Facility and now as Commissioner of the Department he has been a leader in this movement. Our vendors, particularly Johnson Controls, I-CON, Energy Systems Group, Solaris, and Portion-Pac have been with us since the beginning and continue with their support and we sincerely appreciate it.

I also want to acknowlege all the members of the Clean and Green Committee of ACA and particularly Former Commissioner John Rees and former Secretary Richard Staler for giving me the opportunity to get invloved with this important work. The contributions of Paul Sheldon have been incalcuable. His expertise in this field continues to boggle my mind every day.

Finally, I have to acknowledge the contribution of my daughter Ann as the Marketing Director for GreenPrisons. She is the one who inspite of a full time job in a totally different field, regularly Tweets about our activities, maintains our Facebook page, publishes the newsletter and all other things electronic. GreenPrisons would simply have no voice with out her, and I am very greatful for her contributions.

2012 will be a big year for us. Hopefully we will achieve 501 (c) non profit status with the IRS, expand our webinar offerings, activate our vendors data base, and host another stellar conference.

Merry Christmas and a Green New Year!!!

Planning for 2012

Thanksgiving is barely over and we have more than a month until Christmas but here at GreenPrisons we have already begun planning for a number of activities for the new year.

On the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving Ann and I spent the day checking out possible locations for the 2012 Symposium. Our goal was to find a location that provided as much meeting and exhibit space as the Hilton but to do it more economically. We think we've done it. We won't announce the location until after a planning meeting the week of December 5th but we believe this venue will provide more space, upgraded accommodations, and reduced costs for participants and vendors alike. Keep an eye on the website for all the details.

Speaking of next year's Symposium we have options on two dates, one in late September and one in early November. What is your preference? Let us know before the planning meeting and we will include that in our discussions.

In addition to the Symposium and the webinars we will begin conducting Sustainability Surveys for agency's in 2012. If you would like us to assist you in getting started or maximizing your current efforts shoot us an email and we can talk details.

Success in Indianapolis at the first National Symposium on Sustainable Corrections

June 17, 2011
For Immediate Release

Media contact:
Ann Norris, Director of Marketing
Ann@GreenPrisons.org; 317-384-3637

Symposium participants touring
the Putnamville facility

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Greenprisons.org concluded a hugely successful first-ever National Symposium on Sustainable Corrections on Thursday, June 16th. The three-day Symposium focused  on cost saving sustainable practices and training inmates in “green collar” jobs to ensure they are prepared for 21st century jobs upon reentry. Two days of workshops concluded with a tour of the Putnamville Correctional Facility where participants saw green practices in action.

GreenPrisons.org chose Indiana as the location for the first Symposium because of the efforts of former commissioner Buss and current commissioner Lemmon’s actions to save taxpayer  dollars by supporting green efforts. “Sustainability makes sense for Indiana,” stated IDOC Commissioner Bruce Lemmon. “Governor Daniels has charged the Department to measure effectiveness and efficiencies, and sustainability has given us a great starting point.”

“Indiana was an obvious choice to host this inaugural symposium,” said GreenPrisons.org founder and CEO, Tommy Norris. “Commissioner Lemmon’s commitment to seeking out and implementing renewable and sustainable solutions to energy consumption is an example for the industry to follow.”

The Greenprisons.org Symposium focused on products and providers who play key roles in taking first-steps in greening the corrections community. Johnson Controls and NORESCO, two leaders in sustainable energy practices, gave special targeted workshops.

The Symposium also explored trends in training inmates in “green collar” jobs. Among the topics explored, Dr. Raquel Penderhughes, of San Francisco State University spoke on how to harness green business growth to fight both pollution and poverty and provide youth and adults with pathways to prosperity.

Paul Sheldon, Senior Advisor at Natural Capitalism Solutions, presented innovative, proven effective strategies to save as much as $1,000 per inmate through implementation of "green" technologies and strategies. Sheldon addressed lighting, water, appliances energy, waste disposal, recycling materials management, security and safety concerns, and employee and inmate transit among other topics.

Visit www.GreenPrisons.org for more information on the specific accomplishments of the Symposium.  Commissioner Lemmon has volunteered to host  the 2012 GreenPrisons.org Symposium on Sustainable Corrections again in Indiana; dates TBD.

GreenPrisons.org and Corrections.com team up to offer the Sustainable Corrections Blog

Hello, my name is Tommy Norris, Executive Director of GreenPrisons.org, and I am the editor of Corrections.com’s newest blog, Sustainable Corrections.  This new blog is the result of a collaboration between Corrections.com and GreenPrisons.org.  GreenPrisons.org is the only source on the web dedicated exclusively to sustainable products and practices in corrections.

In the coming weeks you will find a series of articles about what’s happening in corrections relating to sustainable products and practices.  From sophisticated energy conservation efforts, LEED construction and what it means, to recycling and composting.  

The blog will have three focal points.  First and foremost, generating cost savings through adopting a variety of sustainable practices and the use of more efficient, sustainable products.  Secondly, we will examine the evolution of training programs designed to prepare offenders for 21^st century “green collar” jobs.  Finally, we believe that the adoption of sustainable practices and products will make corrections a better neighbor and contribute significantly to an improved environment in the communities where correctional facilities are present.

This blog and the GreenPrisons.org website are an outgrowth of the “Clean and Green” committee created by the American Correctional Association some 18 months ago.  Readers will be asked to suggest topics for that committee and we will keep you apprised of the actions of the committee. 

Unlike other blogs on Corrections.com this one will not have a single contributor, but rather a series of experts in the field who will offer their opinions about the products and services utilized by institutions around the country.  You are encouraged to provide your comments to each of the articles which will be published about every two weeks.  If you would like to contribute an article it should be 500-1,000 words and address a sustainable practice, product or service utilized in corrections.  You can address your article to me at Tommy@greenprisons.org  and I will respond to you directly.

You are also encouraged to visit GreenPrisons.org for an expanded discussion on sustainability in corrections.  There you will have the opportunity to learn about specific efforts from agencies in our featured program as well as check out the links to many other articles focusing on sustainability in corrections.

Join us in the coming weeks to learn how you can save $1,000 per inmate per year by adopting sustainable practices, or the latest in “green”, environmentally neutral cleaning solutions.  We will explore links between accreditation and sustainability including the latest standard adopted by the Commission on Accreditation of Corrections requiring every correctional function to at least examine ways they can develop more sustainable practices.

There will also be something for vendors as well.  Providers of sustainable products and services will hear first hand from senior agency managers what a vendor must do to successfully contract with government, and how they can ensure that the uniqueness of their product is explained in a way that does not compromise the procurement process.

By visiting GreenPrisons.org you can also learn how to register for the National Symposium on Sustainable Corrections to be held in Indianapolis, June 13-16.  In addition to national speakers, the Symposium will also include a tour of an Indiana correctional facility to observe a variety of sustainable practices and programs.

Be sure to check back here beginning May 16, for Correction.com’s newest blog and to learn the latest in sustainable practices and products in corrections.

Tommy Norris

Executive Director