From South Africa to the Americas, we’re on the news!

On Cape Town’s SAfm Enviro Show, host Nancy Richards interviewed designer Philip Todres on the wonderful Cape Town Green Map and Wendy Brawer about Open Green Map and progress in NYC on Thursday 5th Jan 2012. Both are linked here.

Carlos Martinez, formerly Green Map staff and now our Board Treasurer is creating radio segments for Radio Diaspora, a public affairs program on the issues and experiences of recent migrants from Caribbean and Latin America hosted by WRFG in Atlanta USA. This segment includes Campinas Green Mapmaker Leonardo Freire de Mello, along with director Wendy Brawer, Board member Thomas Turnbull and others on the Power of Maps. Enjoy! read more »

We are happy to share the good news that Open Green Map has won the NetSquared Invitational!

Green Map System is really thrilled that our little video has received lots of votes and the jury's support. This award comes with plenty of help for our social mapping platform's ongoing development in the coming months, which is really great because we have big plans!! Thank you voters, NetSquared, TechSoup, our staff and technical team as well as the Green Mapmakers who have now published more than 250 diverse Open Green Maps!read more »

December 13th is the 20th anniversary of a great idea!

I was with a group of New York activists at the United Nations, planning side events in New York during meetings leading up to the Earth Summit, which was held in Rio in 1992.

I thought about the individual’s experience during their 5 weeks in NYC – and realized a map would help people of all backgrounds discover signs of progress toward sustainability. I knew it was possible to make a fresh view of the city in a few weeks, and that it would be resource-efficient and fun!

That very day, I named the project the Green Apple Map and had 10,000 copies donated, thanks to the Municipal Art Society (Curitiba Brazil’s eco-innovations was their next exhibit and the Green Apple Map would highlight local examples). read more »

We are pleased to announce the debut of three new videos highlighting our tools, engagement, and icons.

These short videos demonstrate how Green Mapmakers can guide communities towards sustainable living choices both globally and locally.

Special thanks to the videography team at Dedicated Lane – Allie Compton and Christopher Fenech – for creating these 1 minute videos using images and clips made around the world by Green Mapmakers. Feel free to share them with your friends, family, and community, or embed them in your website, blog, and presentations.

We’ve also embedded the wonderful hour-long documentary about “4BsHive” project, highlighting outstanding teamwork over the last two years by four European cities. Created by the noted German filmmaker, Bjela Probowsy, it’s really a delightful way to experience the process developed by Green Mapmakers from Berlin, Bristol, Budapest and Bistrita.

Find out more about this great project at this poston our website or at 4bshive.wordpress.com/ where you can download the terrific new 4BsHive Guide to Green Mapping, explore photos and much more.

Find more Green Map videos on youtube.com/greenmapsystem!

We are proud to share the news that the Open Green Map is a Winner of the first Victor J. Papanek Social Design Award!

As Victor's groundbreaking work helped to inspire the inception of Green Map System, we are delighted to be one of the four recipients of this prestigious new 2011 international award. Our Director will take part in the awards ceremony and exhibition opening in Vienna on November 9, followed by a conference celebrating the new Papanek Foundation. More details about the New York Design for the Real World Redux exhibit will be added here soon. read more »

As a Resource economics and Geography major at the University of Connecticut, I am very interested in mapping environmental and communal sustainability. Green Map System pursues this field with intelligence and commitment. I recently came in contact with Green Map System when I decided to direct the creation of a Green Map of my university, located in Storrs, CT.

During the summer of 2011, I am working as a summer intern at Green Map System. I enjoy working at an organization that diligently promotes environmental consciousness and sustainability.

Recently, the summer intern team has been mapping energy development in New York City. Thorough research has been done and many new energy sites have been added to our Open Green Map (which includes, among others, sites from the 2006 Powerful Green Map). The updated map will display certified LEED buildings, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy sites, city parks and farmers markets throughout the five boroughs.

As part of my research, I have developed a guide that shows various energy maps of New York City. This guide contains maps that display the solar energy potential for every building in the city, such as the NYC Solar Map, developed in late June at the City University of New York. There are also maps that show the renewable energy potential for New York State, including Wind and Solar maps developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The new interactive Energy Green Map will debut during Climate Week (which starts on September 19).

In addition to the research I have been doing on renewable energy, I have also been working with Local Spokes to promote sustainable transportation, green infrastructure and urban design. Local Spokes is the Lower East Side/Chinatown Bicycling Coalition. I have put together a presentation for the Youth Ambassadors demonstrating Manhattan Island’s historical evolution and efforts to preserve and further maintain the natural environment.

Download the NYC Renewable Energy Guide

Download my presentation on Historical Evolution of New York City.

As soon as the new map debuts, a link will be added here.

Aaron Miller read more »

Introduction

With support from the Geraldine R Dodge Foundation we are delighted to be able to work with a ground-breaking organization, Sustainable Jersey to create a series of programs and resources to support Green Teams throughout the state of New Jersey. So far, 356 of New Jersey’s cities, towns and townships are actively addressing sustainability in myriad ways, following a checklist of over 100 Actions towards certification in an exciting program that has been likened to a ‘LEED’ for communities. To date, 96 communities have been certified.

Green Map System's role is to strengthen community engagement -- a key to reaching Sustainable Jersey's bronze, silver or gold status -- by connecting participants with our award winning resources for youth, printed and interactive Green Mapmaking. Download a chart matching Sustainable Jersey's Actions to Green Map's iconography here. Find a blog by Donna Drewes of Sustainable Jersey and more articles here.

Events

All New Jersey Green Teams can take part. Seats are limited, be sure to register. Find project overviews and downloadable resources below, along with a Green Map of the Green Teams involved in the Sustainable Jersey initiative. Past events are on the bottom of this page.

Princeton Environmental Film Festival/Sustainable Princeton "Great Ideas Breakfast" read more »

Merging sustainability and culture, the Festival of Ideas for the New City took place in Green Map’s neighborhood in early May 2011. Organized by the New Museum, we took part in a busy street festival, along with many local organizations involved in green culture, sharing ideas, products and experiences with thousands of residents, visitors, press and media people.

Our booth was popular as we offered people a chance to learn what Green Map is all about, and gave them Composting Green Maps of Manhattan as well as cards about our global program. We created buttons using recycled New York Green Maps, and many visitors made their own ‘permanent nametag’ – a small but important way to reduce waste and make a statement about personal interests using Green Map Icons. Especially for children, it was a great chance to produce a special Mothers Day nametag, created with utmost sincerity. It’s Time to Mother Earth!read more »

On April 28, we hosted the GEL 2011 Conference 'All Around the Map' workshop at Green Map System's studio. Our space was filled with more than 30 conference attendees - our interns and colleagues participated in the event as well. We had 3 stations; mapmaking with map painter Connie Brown in our conference room, nametag button making in our special projects space and the Green Map slideshow was presented in Wendy's office. Attendees could explore the gallery of Green Maps and work at our desks as desired, there were also two ‘around the block’ tours to see local green sites. Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands and several US states were in the house!read more »

We are delighted to share this good news from the Cape Town Green Map project leader, Arne Purves, Professional Officer in the City's Sustainable Resource Management division:

"The Cape Town Green Map is proud to have been a part of the award winning 2010 Green Goal program, the environmental programme for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup that was held in South Africa June/July 2010. Recognition from the IOC is a huge honor and has ensured that the City of Cape Town's 2010 Green Goal programme really sets the standard for "Greening" large sporting events into the future."read more »