Orlando is considered to be a top tourist destination, but it has never been considered to be a green destination. But the U.S. Green Building Council’s Central Florida Chapter (USGBC) has implemented a program that will turn Orlando’s hospitality industry into a sustainable industry.

The program is called Green Destination Orlando (GDO) and it was created about two years ago after Orlando lost the chance to host a USGBC conference due its lack of sustainability.

“We didn’t get it [the conference] because the community in general wasn’t sustainable enough. We didn’t have a community-wide message,” says Dina Belon, the USGBC Central Florida Chapter advocacy chair who is responsible for the GDO program.

After losing the conference, the Central Florida Chapter’s Hospitality Advocacy Committee came up with a pilot program that would provide Orlando tourists with a complete sustainability experience. The goal is to envelop tourists in the green experience from the moment they step off of the plane.

Belon says that tourists, and people in general, are more environmentally conscious these days and they want to know how businesses they patronize are participating in the green movement.

Orlando’s hospitality industry has recognized that need for green and has been supportive of the program, which is open to any business in the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants, shopping facilities and transportation companies.

After signing up for the program, businesses have a year to fill out a detailed questionnaire on their sustainability, energy, water efficiency and more. The questionnaire is based on a point system and if a business receives 10 out of 20 points, they can be rated either blue, teal, green or evergreen. Belon says that many of the businesses have received a teal rating after the first questionnaire, which is a great start.

After completing the first questionnaire, the businesses must fill out a second, more detailed questionnaire. Belon says that, although the questionnaires are fairly easy, they do take time to complete. She says it’s important for businesses to know that will have to commit at least four or five years to the program. At that time, businesses will be ready to apply for a Silver LEED Certification.

“GDO is designed [for businesses] to take baby steps to get LEED certified. If we can get facilities to that level of sustainability, it will have a terrific impact,” says Belon.

The impact is already starting to show at the six businesses that participated in the pilot program. The Peabody Hotel, Rosen Hotels, Hilton Orlando, Pointe Orlando, Universal Studios and the Orange County Convention Center completed the pilot program last year and have already made strides in going green.

Pointe Orlando, for example, has installed two electric car charging stations in its parking area and has switched over to low-flow sink faucets and hands-free soap dispensers. Even before the program, the shopping area took measures to preserve foliage and created a recycling program. Enrolling in the GDO program, was just the next step in going green.

“Not only is it good for us to do as a member of the community, but it’s the right thing to do,” says Susan Godorov, vice president of marketing and general manager of Pointe Orlando.

Pointe Orlando will continue its efforts to go green as will Rosen Hotels. Rosen, like Pointe Orlando, made efforts to go green before joining the program such as maintaining an herb garden and recycling used cooking oil as fuel for the golf equipment.

Dee Dee Baggitt, director of engineering for Rosen Hotels, says that the program rejuvenated their efforts to go green and brought an awareness to the Rosen team.

“I really try to emphasize that this is not just a program, it’s a way to do business,” says Baggitt.

By Marisa Ramiccio

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and family activities every day that we miss out on meeting some extraordinary people doing remarkable work here in East Orlando. For example, how many times have you driven down Goldenrod Road from University Blvd toward Colonial Drive? Have you ever noticed a beige sign with blue lettering designating the Threshold Center for Autism? If not, look for it next time and remember what you’re about to read here. The Threshold Center team does outstanding work with a unique clientele and meets our criteria of a business that goes the “extra mile.”

Threshold Center for Autism is located at 3350 N. Goldenrod Road and serves as the location for the Threshold Academy, Threshold Medical and Dental Center, as well as Threshold’s Behavioral Services (includes both Residential Services and Adult Day Training), and Educational Services (Career Education) centers.

Threshold Center was started by Teena Willard in 1979 when she noticed her son, Ben, was having some problems. When Willard asked what help was available for her son she was told to put him away and that nothing could be done for him. “Mrs. Willard actually began taking children into her home at first before starting Threshold at this location,” says Jim Dennis, the executive director of Threshold. “She found out there were more children in the area with the same issues, and that is when she opened Threshold.”

The Threshold Academy is a school for children with significant emotional and behavioral problems. It was founded in 1985 as the Childhood Development Center with two programs: a school for children and youth, and a teacher’s academy. The Academy’s school helps pre-school, elementary and middle school students that have not previously reached their potential, many of which have learning disabilities or ADD/ADHD diagnoses.

All 130 employees at Threshold are not there simply for the paycheck. “You have to like what you are doing here and have a heart for our clients,” says Dennis. “We used to have a 300 percent turnover until we had our existing employees talk to job applicants about the type of work we do and what a workday looks like. After that, our turnover has dropped to roughly 50 percent. People know what they are getting into, so we attract passionate people.”

The newest facility, the Medical and Dentist Center, treats patients that cannot get treatment elsewhere. “These are patients that your normal dentist cannot or isn’t willing to spend the hour or so necessary to examine a child with special needs,” says Dennis. “A lot of our patient’s parents have tried everywhere else before finding us. Our dentist, doctor, and staff have an eagerness to help the patient relax enough to receive an examination and treatment.”

Dennis tells the story of a boy brought in to get examined by the doctor. The boy would not take a blanket off of his head. His mother said that he always wears the blanket. A staff member asked the mother what kind of music the boy liked. When she told her, the staff member gave her iPod to the patient and played his favorites for 45 minutes until the boy eventually came out from under the blanket and allowed the doctor to examine him. This is one of thousands of stories of the wonderful work they do, and anyone is welcome to their services.

Currently, Threshold’s greatest need is for reliable vans, a new roof, and funding to tie into the county’s sewer system. If you would like to donate these and more, visit their website (www.Threshold-Center.org). There you will find a list of needed items such as Post-It Notes, clothing, mop buckets, toys and more. If interested, you can also call to set up donations: 407-671-7060.

Johnny Duncan, President of Duncan Consulting, Inc., partners with business owners to provide workforce management solutions including personalized training, job analysis, people-to-job matches, customer service training and conflict resolution. He can be reached at johnny@duncanconsult.com or by calling 407-739-0718.

By Johnny Duncan

Lovers of chocolate, cupcakes, sugar and everything sweet, rejoice. The Fourth Annual Festival of Chocolate is coming to our very own backyard April 27-29 at the University of Central Florida (UCF) Arena.

This year marks the first time the arena will play host to the event, which promises to be larger and more chocolaty than ever before. The event will feature oodles of local vendors and events for kids and adults alike, taking an attendee’s love of chocolate to the next level. Everything from competitions featuring top chefs to a chocolate-themed fashion show will be on display, and don’t forget about the home-made armpit fudge (more on that later), gourmet chocolate and a traveling museum to boot.

Aileen Mand, producer of the event, says this year promises to offer more fun-filled activities and attractions than ever before. Friday night will feature a live Coco Couture fashion show; the garments from which are created exclusively from candy wrappers and judged based on creativity, originality, construction, “inspiration to creation”, and “chocolitiousness.” The dresses will be on display Saturday and Sunday for attendees to vote on.

Attendees will also be able to experience various unique chocolate products, including chocolate brewed coffee, chocolate balsamic dressing and barbeque sauce, as well as chocolate covered jalapenos.

“Anybody who has any interest in chocolate will find something that will catch their interest or tickle the taste buds. If they like chocolate, this is the place.” says Foster Lanenga of Farris and Foster’s Famous Chocolate, a local vendor that will be present at the show.

There will also be several hands-on activities for attendees as well, including the opportunity to create your own chocolate lip balm.

So, what on earth is armpit fudge?

“It sounds gross, but it tastes amazing,” says Mand. A sign at the event will display that same exclamation to skeptics passing by. You make the fudge, place in it in a bag, and use the heat of your armpit to create the final product. Mand says the DIY activity attracts kids, dads and grandfathers alike.

If more traditional chocolate fare is what you crave, don’t fear. The tons of local vendors that will be present at the event will be fully equipped with the customary favorites we know and love.

One such vendor, Cupcake Crazy, who recently opened a store off of Alafaya Trail near Stoneybrook, will offer their Madagascar Vanilla cupcakes in addition to the chocolate ones, and are a sort of melt in your
mouth, thick wonder.

Karen Alvarez, owner of Cupcake Crazy, is excited for this year, and the increasing momentum this event promises. “Last year I couldn’t even believe how many vendors were there and how much activity was going on. It increased like 250 percent every year,” she says.

This increase-in vendors, excitement, attendance, everything-is part of the reason contributing to their move from the Orlando Science Center last year to the larger venue this year.

“By moving to UCF, we now make ourselves really accessible to the people of East Orlando,” says Mand. “We really wanted to introduce ourselves to East Orlando, and it’s a great opportunity.”

If you’re interested in attending the event, Mand suggests buying tickets early online. Tickets are available online at www.FestivalOfChocolate.com, and if you make the purchase early, you receive two complimentary chocolate coins which act as a means of purchasing products at the event.

“I think it allows everybody, whether you’re 2-years-old or 102, for an entire weekend to feel like a kid in a candy store,” says Mand.

By Jessica Inman

A handsaw, hammer and nails may be some of the tools needed to build a home, but what tools are necessary to build a community? More specifically, what tools are needed to build a green community?

Southeast Orlando seems to have the answer as it’s been building a full-fledged green community for the past few years now. A big part of that community is Lake Nona, which is known for its eco-friendly housing and its emphasis on healthy living. Lake Nona is also known as the home of Medical City, which is a green community unto itself.

The Sanford-Burnham Institute, for example, is the largest independent scientific building in Florida that has received a Gold LEED Certification. Several other buildings at Medical City also have energy-efficient features and are LEED certified or on track to be LEED certified.

Not too far from Medical City is Laureate Park, which is one of the greenest communities in the United States.

“This neighborhood is a GE ecomagination community. There are maybe seven or eight in the country, but this is the only one in Florida,” says Kathy Hereford, senior sales consultant for David Weekly Homes, a builder at Laureate Park.

All of the homes in the neighborhood come equipped with appliances and devices that save energy, water and, of course, money.

“All of the homes include a GE Nucleus device, which looks like a car charger. You plug it into the wall and can hook up to 12 things into it,” says Hereford. Through a GE Nucleus smartphone app, homeowners can control their home’s heating and air conditioning from just about anywhere in the world.

An added bonus for Laureate Park residents is the rebates that can save additional costs on their utilities bill. The OUC recently announced that it would be starting a rebate program with the neighborhood that could save residents a chunk of change.

“When someone moves into Laureate Park and transfers their utilities, they can get just under $1,000 rebate on their bill,” says Hereford.

David Weekly Homes also provides rebates to residents who move into one of its homes. According to Hereford, they are the only builder that gives residents a guarantee on the amount of money they’ll spend each month on heating and air conditioning. For example, homeowners who live in a 2,700-square-foot home won’t pay more than $93 a month on the heating and air conditioning portion of their bill.

Lisa and Paul Stiling are the first homeowners in Laureate Park and have enjoyed green amenities such as the water recycling system, energy-efficient appliances and water conserving sprinklers. The Stilings are from Chicago and say they enjoy the area and look forward to new developments in the future.
“I would rather live there than anywhere else in Orlando, says Lisa.

But Laureate Park isn’t the only green neighborhood that’s been developed in Southeast Orlando. Eagle Creek, which is near Lake Nona and Medical City, is also a sustainable community that places an emphasis on land and wildlife conservation. The community has preserved more than 400 acres of open land, lakes and forests, and has preserved natural habitats and ecosystems.

Eagle Creek is involved with the Audubon Signature Program, which provides communities with the tools to design, build and sustain a community that preserves land and wildlife. Recently, Eagle Creek was designated a Certified Silver Audubon International Signature Sanctuary for its commitment to conservation.

Between Eagle Creek, Laureate Park and Medical City, it seems that conservation, preservation and a dedication to the environment are just a few of the tools Southeast Orlando is using to build a green community that will continue to grow in years to come.

By Marisa Ramiccio

Certified by the National Wildlife Federation, Myrtle Glen is a Certified Wildlife Habitat. But unlike most wildlife habitats, this one doubles as the backyard behind Evelyn and Todd Peterson’s house in Avalon Park. The garden is more than mere beautification for their yard, for them the habitat serves as a hobby and sanctuary complete with sustainable gardening, a website and a blog dedicated to their ventures.

The Peterson’s began the project in 2003, a joint effort where Evelyn did most of the designing and Todd completed most of the heavy labor.

“At the time we bought our property in Avalon Park the area was all wilderness. I realized what it meant for the wildlife was that we were ‘moving in,’” says Evelyn. “I watched the Sandhill Cranes wander around between the houses under construction, the turtles getting lost trying to find their way, etc. I realized I wanted to do something, and if just a little, to make up for it.”

This idea coupled with Evelyn’s innate love of gardening and the result is Myrtle Glen, now a mix of native and tropical plants. There are fruiting trees such as lemon, orange, nectarine and avocado that bloom in conjunction with ornamental plants like antique roses and bromeliads. All of which are strategically laid out.

“The landscaping and flower beds enhance the hardscape features, such as goldfish and koi ponds, porches, a sunken terrace, pergolas and a garden path,” she says. The goal was to divide the garden into different “garden rooms.” For example, they have placed a “meditation corner” by the koi pond, with wind chimes and a statue of Buddha. Plants are strategically positioned to hide what’s next as you keep walking along the garden path and find what surprises await.

With so much sustenance available to local critters, it’s little wonder why Myrtle Glen is home to much wildlife such as Red Cardinals, Ruby throated Hummingbirds, blue tailed skinks and more.

Todd describes this as the most rewarding part of maintaining Myrtle Glen. He says, “…It’s amazing watching things grow and all of the interesting plants and wildlife. Every morning Evelyn does a garden walk and I join her on the weekends, on any given morning you never know what you may see.”

As far as the future of Myrtle Glen is concerned, the couple is considering adding a picket fence to their front yard, an addition Todd says will add for more planting since space is limited.

The couple also offers garden tours of Myrtle Glen in addition to classes, workshops, and fundraisers, such as one coming in May as a collaborative effort with a friend to raise money for cancer. The “Tea in the Garden” event had a great turn out last year, and Evelyn hopes for even greater success this year.

Additional information for all of these events is posted on Myrtle Glen’s website and blog which can be found at www.MyrtleGlen.com. The user friendly site has an entire page dedicated exclusively to gardening in Avalon Park, a result of neighbors seeking advice in combination with Avalon Park’s unique soil.

The blog is rich with photographs from Evelyn and Todd’s backyard as well as additional information for the intrigued gardener.

By Jessica Inman