Energypath 2015

What do you get when you place hundreds of students, educators, and professionals from all over the country on one campus? Energypath 2015! The week-long camps and conference, held from July 19-24th, were filled with attendees from all ages and backgrounds, creating a diversely creative environment of skills and ideas. 

Pre-conference camps focus on Sustainable Energy, including Passive House, Biomass, Micro-Hydro, Solar Power PV, and Wind Power. The camps culminate in a two-day conference with dozens of sessions on renewable energy. Industry professionals lectured on numerous topics, including energy policy, energy storage and financing, power sources, and more. Many lectures were supplemented with real case studies, launched by the presenters themselves, providing comparative and critical analysis.

Energypath 2015 at the University of Scranton was overflowing with enthusiasm for energy! I chose to participate in the Solar Camp. For the first three days of the conference, fellow campers would gather and we received a lecture on solar energy (diving into technical installation as well as political, cultural, and social implications!). Instructors Vera Cole and Bill Hennessy, both sustainability and solar professionals based in Pennsylvania, and whose work in the field is incredibly extensive, shared their passion.

At the end of three days, we had the structural racking set up, solar panel assembly complete, and the grounding/wiring finished. We tested our panels' output! Here's a snap of the completed array: twenty-four modules facing South, on the sprawling University of Scranton campus.

We split into twelve teams, measuring voltage output, current, ambient and module surface temperature, array angle, and more, while working on the assembly.  

Keynote speakers framed the context in which building industry professionals actively engage in. 

John Hanger, Pennsylvania Secretary of Planning and Policy, kicked off the conference by outlining the goals of Pennsylvania state. "Our goal is to be a top five clean energy state," Hanger said proudly. "Active citizens," he emphasized, could help bring this change, speaking directly to the audience. Hanger also stressed the need for bigger support in policy-making, better data, good science, and good analysis, citing environmental examples. While improvement is needed in these areas, Hanger pointed out that natural resources that are abundant in Pennsylvania- its gas, nuclear, and natural gas production are among the top in the country.

"Without the sun, we do not exist." The next Keynote's attention to the natural environment was clear from the start. Bill Maclay, Principal at Maclay Architects, and author of The New Net-Zero, brought many years of design experience to the table, as he listed numerous projects his firm has actively worked on. His support for renewable energy, and the role business plays within sustainability, was evident, claiming that net-zero buildings are now cheaper than "fossil-fuel buildings": "You make money the first day you shift to renewable energy," Bill exclaimed boldly. 

Click the left and right arrows below to check out some of the seminar and keynote highlights.

One of the conference highlights was meeting Keynote Speaker Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect (Building Technologies Office) of the U.S. Department of Energy! Rashkin stressed the basics of design, taking human comfort into play, and explained how we could achieve these tactics. He focused on zero-energy buildings, highlighting Risk Management (including an optimized comfort system, water protection, indoor air quality) and Differentiation (utilizing advanced technology, having health protection, and following building code). Regarding the energy industry, Sam's wise words rang loudly in my ears: "If you chase this field or it chases you, you will likely feel both the fast and slow pace." As a government professional in energy, and having worked in three city agencies in New York now, I can attest to this statement!

Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect, U.S. Department of Energy

I also test drove the Nissan Leaf... loved the experience! The brake and accelerator were very sensitive, so it took me a few blocks to get used to.. but other than that, it is a very quiet vehicle and the ride was incredibly smooth. Its operation was also simple, as shifting into gears is simple and user-friendly. Verdict? I would love to own an electric vehicle. New York City, we need more charging stations!

Instructors Vera and Bill demonstrated the power of solar through fun micro-applications: the manual Solar Pathfinder to calculate cast shade on the site and determine PV placement, cooking popcorn with solar, and a solar cooker for bread! Scroll through with the left and right arrows below.

More conference snapshots! Scroll through with the left/right arrows below.

In addition to the conference, we had the opportunity to take part in two tours: one emphasizing the sustainability of the University of Scranton campus, and the other was a beautiful architectural/historical tour of Scranton! I'll blog on these next!

2015 New York Solar Summit

The annual New York Solar Summit took place this year at CUNY's John Jay College. Announced was the soon-to-be released CUNY's New York Solar Map and Portal. Homeowners and business owners now have increased access to knowledge of solar capabilities, including the ability to determine whether their roofs have solar potential and what solar opportunities may be available in their region.

The summit included a series of moderated talks about solar technologies, including smart inverters, storage, and forecasting the future of the grid for solar. New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB) Commissioner Rick Chandler provided a powerful keynote on NYC DOB's role in facilitating the anticipation of solar, providing a streamlined process for its customers, its integrated role with the city, and its sustainability initiatives.

I particularly enjoyed the 'Utility Conversation' with representatives from ConEdison, PSEG-LI, Central Hudson, and National Grid. They spoke of the future of solar and the roles utility companies can play to alleviate the stress off the power grid. They agreed that they need to "engage technology partners and embrace stakeholders" in order to light the way for solar's integration. Utility companies need to play a cooperative role by leveraging technology and developing a stronger relationship with their customers. They also agreed that solar will play a huge role in transmission and distribution.

Organizations present at the event included: Sustainable CUNY, New York Power Authority, Solaire, Grid Alternatives, SolarCity, and more.

In the meantime.. For those living in New York City, check out the city's solar map here to see your roof's potential!

Building Energy Exchange

Building Energy Exchange (BEEx) is indeed an open forum of exchange for intellectual chatter, critique, and conference on energy efficiency! Nestled in the beautiful Surrogate's Courthouse Building in lower Manhattan, the organization opens its doors to the public for visits on weekdays and is regularly a host to industry events and exhibitions. 

The industry has provided a positive, engaging response to the educational and interdisciplinary hub. Ellen Abramowitz, Project Associate at BEEx, explains, "Since we work with manufacturers, energy service providers, public utilities, the State and the City, as well as real estate organizations," BEEx has become a "place where members of many different industries can connect and exchange ideas."

BEEx has over 2,000 square feet of exhibition space. The entryway and adjacent classroom greet the visitor with informative lighting displays, complementing the efficient lighting fixtures hanging up above and illuminating the work and public areas. The fixtures are a part of their ongoing Lights, Center, Action! exhibit and save BEEx 4,000 kWh each year! Read more and check out their models, as you'll be sure to learn some valuable statistics and visually understand how day-lighting and occupant controls can save you both energy and money.

June will be an actively busy month for BEEx, which you can be a part of! For more details, visit their events here.

• This upcoming week, BEEx will host events on Passive House and the impacts of light on health.
• On June 18th, BEEx launches their newest study, Retrofitting Affordability, which, as Ellen describes, "uses newly available city data to determine low-cost, high-impact energy efficiency retrofit opportunities for large multifamily buildings."
• June 19th is Daylight Hour, BEEx's global social media campaign that highlights the availability of daylight in commercial spaces (Over 80 organizations, including the Mayor's Office and NYSERDA will participate!). Your company can register for free, within a few clicks, to engage in a one hour energy conservation measure.

BEEx is growing! It will expand in the future as an energy efficiency resource center, to include a larger classroom space and additional exhibition and demonstration areas. "We will also be working closely with the City's new Retrofit Accelerator initiative, which seeks to scale up energy efficiency retrofits," Ellen explains. "BEEx will provide a neutral space for customers to learn about energy efficiency opportunities for their buildings through timely events, exhibits and trainings." 

BEEx's educational platform is visible in other ways. It has conducted energy projects, researched case studies, and produced reports on its results. These are available for the public to explore among other resources.

Scroll through the photo gallery below to get a virtual tour of what you'll find at BEEx and plan your visit soon!

Classroom- lighting includes dimming and multi-color controls.

Classroom

Classroom

Boardroom

A Brooklyn-based manufacturer donated this creative light to BeeX, which hangs over the boardroom.

Ellen demonstrates the use of the lightshelf at BeeX.

Lightshelf

Lightshelf

Entryway- original antique brass lighting fixtures, with LED bulbs.

NYC Mayoral Service Recognition Program

Thank you New York City for this recognition!

LIGHTFAIR International 2015

Lightfair International, at the New York City Javits Center, was equipped with high-tech gear all around! Wirelessly connected lighting systems, energy analysis software, and LEDs stole the show. With two wide floors and over 500 exhibitors, one could easily spend hours in a labyrinth of lighting and design technologies. The convention included a learning center with seminars and six pavilions including: Building Integration, Daylighting, Design, Exterior & Roadway Lighting, Global Light + Design, and New Exhibitor. Integrated Design, the thread of the conference, linked together methodology, applications research, technology & tools, and inspiration.

Having worked on lighting myself, of course my fascination gravitated towards the various fixture designs. I saw a range of lighting controls- including dimming options and user-friendly interfaces to tune light intensity, color, etc. Pendant and sleek metallic stems seemed to be a popular fixture choice along the convention floor, suited for both residential and commercial applications. I could not help but notice that LEDs had taken over, by far, this year. Even wall washes (such as those from Amerlux) were LED! Industrial lighting also reclaimed aesthetic features- no longer the 'ugly' metallic eye-sores you normally see on city streets, but rather, tastefully designed components. I was also relieved to see that high bay lighting has been 'granted' aesthetic appeal- YES to slimmer profiles, please!

While there are too many manufacturers for me to cite, I will give you a few of my personal favorites below and within the photo gallery. Browse through, and feel free to shoot a comment below if you need more information on anything pictured.

OCL Architectural Lighting provides beautiful, sleek solutions. 'Dash' is an aluminum strip that can be hung or wall mounted (acting as either a pendant or sconce). 'Glowstick' is a similar aluminum fixture which comes in a cluster of light strips, or can be mounted as a single light source. Both are space efficient, have a high lighting efficacy (with Dash delivering upto 100 lumens/watt), and have a modern aesthetic versatility- it would look amazing in any space in the office or home. Bristolite's Daylighting Systems harness sunlight to flood in natural lighting. Their Energy Star skylights possess a simple design and their structural polycarbonate panels allow for high light transmission. Their products come in a variety of shapes and glazings, in order to suit your needs.

Are you a lighting enthusiast? Does your company engage in lighting design, specification, installation, etc? Catch Lightfair International on the West Coast next year, if you want to stay on top of the newest prototypes. Check out more information here.

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Scoring Greener Goals

Hands down: the NYC FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC game, on Sunday, May 3rd at Yankee Stadium, was one of the top games of the season. Star studded sporting event! Several soccer celebrities, two amazing teams, and one iconic venue!

First, we have the newly debuted New York City Football Club (NYC FC) featuring Spain's highest goalscorer, the world renowned David Villa and United States Men's National Teams' (USMNT) Mix Diskerud. Competing against NYCFC were the 2014 Open Cup champions and arguably the best club of the MLS, Seattle Sounders Football Club (Sounders FC), the 2014, featuring a dynamic duo: Clint Dempsey, captain of the USMNT, and Obafemi Martins, a Nigerian footballer who has played for several international teams.

So I could probably write an entire essay about the game- scoring logistics, teamwork, well- coordinated plays, some terribly missed chances, etc etc etc. I'll dive into some stats soon. First, let me tell you about a couple of signs that flashed across the large screens in the stadium which REALLY caught my eye.

Well, it's certainly pleasing to see that 'green' really IS everywhere! Upon further research, I found out that Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States is taking strides to advocate for the environment. By launching it's educational campaign and encouraging sustianable behaviorial practies, MLS encourages it's fans to get involved. MLS partners with the Green Sports Alliance and the Natural Resources Defense Council. These organizations help instill greener stadium/office operations and greener sporting events.

Conclusion? It is wonderful to see a huge franchise like MLS, which makes millions of dollars, invest in a social cause that is beneficial for the public community as a whole. So while you're waiting for those passes to turn into a goal assist, take a look at the flashing screen and maybe you'll learn a thing or two.

A bit more about the game itself! NYC FC dominated the first half of the game, holding majority possession and staying on the offensive. However, Martins with his fast paced aggression and ability to take advantage of every opportunity, eluded NYC FC and managed to score one goal in the middle of the first half. Mehdi Ballouchy was voted as Man of the Match at the end of the game, scoring NYC FC's only goal, and tying the game during the second half. NYC FC's intensity did not carry through to the second round, as both Dempsey and Martins each managed a goal. Final score? 3-1, Sounders FC. I'm still cringing as NYC FC missed some fantastic opportunities to score in the second half. Villa nearly scored a goal, too. I don't know whether to attribute it to terrible luck or poor coordination.

I finally broke out my newest toy, the Canon EOS Rebel T5, and managed to capture some interesting shots from front row field seats! Here are a few of my personal favorite action shots.. click the photo below to see the entire gallery.

For more on soccer + sustainability, you can click here to check out my previous article, at Proud Green Home!

Earth Week 2015!

Nothing quite like Earth Day to bring me back to my college days... back in 2012 when I helped organize the campus-wide Earth Day at The City College of New York on the upper west side, as a student leader for CCNY Green! 

I believe it was around this time I contrived the true meaning of Earth Day, at least for a personal point of view. There is a social and moral responsibility we all must share to take care of our planet! Earth Day: characterized by waves of activism- the time of year which recognizes the individual's actions in a chaotic global climate crisis. 

This year, I chose to commemorate Earth Day by attending the New York City Green Festival and visiting the Empire State Building. In the hopes of educating myself on my built environment, I set out to two sites. 

The New York City Green Festival was held at the LEED Certified Javits Center. It clearly pulls in different interests. I was definitely pleased to see a handful of renewable energy vendors, hear talks on climate change, and read about local projects implementing environmental initiatives. However, the festival gravitated more towards 'green living.' A variety of organic food products (gluten-free, all natural) were available to the delight of many tastebuds. 

I wanted to highlight several organizations who are doing amazing work for the environment! Click on their titles to learn more.

-Earth Day Initiative-  Earth Day New York is an education awareness, event planning, and advocacy collaboration with community groups, businesses, and government groups. Year-round programming stir up the "wake-up call" for environmental advocates.

-Cafeteria Culture- Zero-waste New York City cafeterias are the mission of this waste-reducing group that partners with NYC Department of Education! Say goodbye to polystyrene (plastic foam) waste.

-Hell's Kitchen Farm Project- What could be cooler than an urban rooftop farm that produces 400 pounds of food annually, donates it to a local food pantry, and promotes composting? You're going to have to visit the rooftop site to learn more! Volunteer and become a part of the movement!

-Sustainable Fashion!: Mujus is environmentally conscious of it's materials and fashions beautiful jewelry and accessories from organic, raw materials: mujus, or 'seeds'. EcoPlum selects sustainable products- organic, recycled, fair-trade, vegan, low-toxicity, you name it!- and rewards it's shoppers for supporting the environment. 

The Empire State Building (ESB) is one of the tallest LEED Certified skyscrapers in the world, and I felt it appropriate to finally pay a visit and cross it off my New York City bucket list. What better week to go than during that of Earth Day? I urge you to climb up, and check out their sustainability exhibit on the 2nd floor to learn about it's recent energy retrofit. Near the top, you'll come across an architectural and engineering exhibit too with accompanying historical timeline and photographs. Replacing windows, adding insulation, updating HVAC, creating better controls, and adding sensors... these are a few of the many upgrades the ESB has seen in recent years! The result? A whopping 38% in energy savings and over $4 million annual cost savings. Learn more here. In addition, I'll share a research presentation I've worked on regarding ESB Sustainability soon!

An American's Journey in Pakistan

Click image above to access article on the American Pakistan Foundation website.

Fund A Ticket to Freedom

Imagine being locked up in a cold, concrete cell- a cage of confusion. Silenced by strangers and held fully accountable for unspeakable actions. This is the unfortunate reality of 16 years for Adnan Syed, now 34, accused of murdering former girlfriend Hae Min Lee back in 1999. The launch of Serial, a national podcast, has disrupted the long silence and highlighted critical flaws: to this day, no physical evidence has linked Adnan to the crime. Serial also brought to light wavering testimony from the prosecution team, faulty forensics investigations, and a failure to bring forth key witnesses and testimony. Consequently, a new wave of 'Free Adnan' supporters has arisen across the country and around the world.

New York City based supporters are launching a fundraiser April 19th at The Parlour in upperManhattan and invite you to become a part of the #FreeAdnan rally. 100% of funds will go towards Adnan’s rising defense costs. Saad Chaudry, Adnan’s best friend who was featured on the Serial podcast, will be at the event to speak! Live music, refreshments, and networking will accompany a larger message: the search for criminal justice. Attorney Rabia Chaudry, who has spearheaded Adnan’s defense campaign, urges you to join the efforts. “Millions were moved by Serial and Adnan's story, but we need more than hearts moved - we need tangible support to deliver him the justice he deserves. Adnan has been in prison since the age of 17 and has waited for justice for 16 years. Your monetary gift will help us cover the costs of a thorough investigation and legal fees, help exonerate an innocent man, and reunite a shattered family."

Fundraiser organizers Jia Wertz and Marion Loguidice want to raise awareness of Adnan’s story and illustrate that this is just one wrongful case of many. They want to uphold the “moral responsibility of fighting against these injustices” and encourage the public to engage in this social cause. To “keep this story alive” and “keep the conversation going collectively” Marion says we can share Adnan’s story with others and unveil the tragedy of over 100,000 innocent sitting in jail in the United States.

With the highest incarceration rate in the world, and known precedents of evidence fabrication and exculpatory evidence, the United States court system has wrongfully placed innocent beings in prison for years and even decades on end. “Adnan still sits in a maximum security prison today,” says Jia. “How can one fathom being both innocent and locked up?” With this fundraiser, “we can raise money for Adnan’s trust fund, bring awareness, and show the public that there are many ways to aid this cause.”

Give Adnan a voice. For those who cannot attend but still want to support the cause, you can rock a “Free Adnan” t-shirt. Check out event ticket information and Studio 15’s apparel below.

- To purchase your event ticket, visit https://freeadnanconcert.eventbrite.com. *For those who cannot attend, you can make a donation at this link as well! Remember, 100% of funds go towards this cause.

- To request information on the fundraiser and future events, contact Jia Wertz(jiawertz@live.com) or Marion Loguidice (marionsmusic@optonline.net).

- To purchase a T-shirt, visit:

Men’s: http://www.shopstudio15.com/free-adnan-men-s-t-shirt

Women's: http://www.shopstudio15.com/free-adnan-tee

Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2015

The Architectural Digest Home Design Show was a visual treat for my eyes! The options were endless, the creativity inspiring, and the craft alive. While I would honestly admit the show was more 'commercial' than preferred- there were many imitated trends and replicas- I managed to find true ingenuity in one-of-a-kind, almost 'lost' handiwork.. specialized design that one would not always find marketed so gaudily, but rather humbly displayed. Check out my article at Proud Green Home and scroll below to see photo gallery of show.

As a 'green' advocate, I've written my report on residential wood products, which you can check out at Proud Green Home magazine, by clicking here.

Spotted at the show... Jonathan and Drew Scott of HGTV's Property Brothers!

There were many other products in various categories which I decided I needed to include here. The following products have at least one facet which I felt were truly design-worthy. Bravo to all the designers, craftsmen, and manufacturer representatives who exhibited!

Here are some other products that caught my eye:

- Wonderwall Studios' wide array of exotic wooden walls merge with unique textures for different appearances. The varied 3-D patterns really 'pop' and are an exquisite finish for any space!

-Give your kitchen a retro feel: your refrigerator will literally become a magnet of attention, thanks to Big Chill. On display were vivacious pink, blue, green, and plaid tones. Fume hood, cooktop and oven combinations, some of which are Energy-Star rated, are also available in industrial finishes. 

-JM Lifestyles’ furniture will fool you. The texture of their wood-form will have you doing a double take when you realize that their primarily material is actually concrete! The smooth finish, non-porous and stain-resistant properties of concrete are indeed ideal for kitchen and bathroom areas. Their massive pieces serve to make a statement. On display was a beautifully crafted concrete table with a central water-filled depression, and floating candles to set the mood!

-Martha Sturdy’s home furniture and accessories utilize a playful integration of brass and resin to achieve their elegant pieces. Dark tones of resin, a non-porous and smooth-to-the-touch surface, complement brass nicely to provide a classy and sophisticated style for your home.

-There was no shortage of lighting fixtures at the show. A common trend at the show was tubular lighting. James Dieter has created a flexible, transformable structure that allows for tube lighting in different configurations, and for light to be dispersed in several ways.

- Amongst the big commercial corporations were a treat of independent artists who not only represented their products, but also engaged in the craft themselves! Heather Kocsis creates 3D wood-work paintings that are very accurate, scaled, and detailed depictions of real world settings. These pieces will easily transport you to another world as they are creatively vivid places etched in wood.

-Kino Guerin’s sculpted wooden seating & wall pieces are well crafted. Elegantly curved pieces of wood- I know personally that curving wood is very, very tricky!- create floating space-efficient storage nooks on your wall. Similar styles create playful seating.

-Apropos Furniture has a wonderful Darcy Bed suited for NY apartments. The built in storage compartment is ideal and space-efficient! Simply lift your bed up, to find a fabric-finished storage whose surface finish can be customized to your desire. Deeper frames allow for more recessed storage.

Click each photo below to scroll through PHOTO GALLERY.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Shrien Dewani. Amanda Knox. Adnan Syed. They hail from different walks of life, but a single correlation connects the three: they have been tormented by the trials and tribulations of the court of law. Scant justice overshadowed by the eye of evil- the power of persuasion through simple storytelling in court.

I've always held an intriguing curiosity for criminal justice... while it initially stemmed from watching fascinating criminal shows on television (ie America's Most Wanted) an alternate facet fixated my interest. After studying Forensics in high school and personally following high-profile cases, I learned of an increasingly popular discourse- exonerations that DO occur in the United States for the innocent, thanks to advanced DNA testing, further highlighted by the Innocence Project. By the way, it's a great cause and I urge you to check it out. Criminal law practitioners... check it out and become familiar with it!

I've also developed a strong riposte to the critics who affiliate guilt to any of the above three names- do not base your verdicts on emotions, eschewing presented evidence. Examine rock-hard evidence, look at patterns of behavior. Of course, I'm not a lawyer or investigator. However many legal experts would agree that, in each of these cases, a horrid caricature was concocted BY prosecution... an exaggeration that does not boil down to the basic ingredients the case began with!

It is in my firm opinion that all three are truly innocent of the crimes they were accused and convicted of. Court transcripts, documentaries, interviews, research studies, podcasts.. I've pored hours into analyzing whatever has been made publicly available, whatever I could grasp for each of the three cases, from the perspectives of both the defense and prosecution teams. Read on below for a brief synopsis.

In 2010, Shrien Dewani was accused of murdering his wife Anni Hindocha on their honeymoon trip in South Africa. Four years after the murder took place, in December of 2014, courts ruled there was not enough evidence to place a conviction on Shrien. It is true, there is not a single ounce that would tie Shrien to Anni's murder. What that translated to for the Dewanis were four years of torturous extradition hearings- a terrible living nightmare Shrien and his family had to ride around in, mourning the death of Anni and answering to the public's outcries of guilt. 

This year, the coroner continues investigation into Anni's death and Shrien will most likely have to answer in a public questioning.

My belief? The newlywed Dewanis were targeted as a wealthy couple while vacationing and unfortunately were the pinpoint of a robbery gone awry. This documentary provides eye-opening insight into Dewani's innocence.

In 2007, Amanda Knox supposedly killed her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy, while studying abroad. The murderer, a man with a criminal background, was caught and jailed. Italy prosecuters have boldly claimed that Amanda supposedly 'took part' in facilitating Kercher's death. That same year, Amanda was sent to jail for four years, after which she was finally acquitted. However, the nightmare did not end. In January 2014, a higher court in Italy convicted her.

This year, Amanda is set to return to Italy this year for an appeals hearing. It will then be decided whether another trial will launch for the killing of Kercher.

My belief? Amanda Knox found her roommate dead and Italian courts lumped together pieces of her personal life in Italy to essentially fabricate a motive for the crime.

In 1999, Adnan Syed was convicted of murdering ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, with no evidence directly linking him to the crime. The reason? A poor defense team and a prosecution who used racist tactics to drive the jury, based on a fabricated painting of the scene. The man who testified against Adnan, Jay Wilds, has changed his story three times.

My belief? Jay Wilds was rehearsed by investigators, and there is plenty of evidence to support this, believe it or not. Those who know me, know how strongly I believe that Adnan was victimized and received an unfair trial. I could go on and on about the numerous visible and hidden layers of this case, but I urge you to check out the Serial podcast. If you can't get enough, visit the blog of the woman who has launched the biggest awareness campaign for his case. Adnan's case has become a national 'phenomenon' thanks to the podcast Serial, which detailed the case week by week. It even includes recorded phone calls directly from prison, as well as key witnesses who were not asked to testify in trial! The podcast has been a useful social legal tool- it raised useful theories, spurred independent investigations across the country from listeners, and uncovered new evidence! 

Adnan has been locked up for sixteen years, he is now a 33 year old man. This year, Adnan was granted a motion to appeal his case. I wrote to Adnan last month and received a heartwarming and thoughtful reply the day before this update. This Spring, a NYC fundraiser to help his legal defense costs, will take place. I hope to see you there! Check it out here. If you can't attend, then you can donate and sign the petition for his innocence. Remember, mass public attention has helped bring a once languishing case to a newly revived state, so be a part of the cause. 

2014

2014: The year I launched this website, my personal treasure of recollections, resources, and records.

As a journalist, artist and real sentimentalist, I have thoroughly enjoyed expanding my digital archive! I hope you have found my references and musings informative, inspiring, or at the very least, intriguing. Through farahnazahmad.com, I have tried to capture those people and places that propelled passion and provoked emotion! Figures who influenced my mind, faces so warm and kind, feelings oh so divine....! 

2014, you reached into my soul and enlightened a piece of my being to the wonders of the world. You preached that success = living a dream!

2014, you expanded my horizons beyond my career, to understand the social, cultural, economic, and political context of the world I breathe and work in!

2014, here are my top ten highlights! THANK YOU for these opportunities.

1) The opportunity to fundraise for charity:water.

Thanks to my family, friends, colleagues, a few anonymous strangers + the power of social media, my initial goal was more than doubled.. at a whopping total of $2400+. All to support the development of water infrastructure in Ethiopia. Click here to view the campaign results. 

(Do yourself a favor- take three minutes of your time to watch this video and learn about the global water crisis. I promise, you won't regret it).

2) Language and music

The excitement of expanding my Spanish and Russian language skills, as well as spending time on my music producing (FL Studio) and guitar hobbies. But, next year, I promise I'll be even more fluent and more musical!

3) Connecting with the Pakistani community

Through involvement in the American Pakistan Foundation, I interviewed Nafis Sadik and Cynthia Ritchie, pioneers of the Pakistani spirit, with the chance to meet both in New York. These women were born to lead! #inspiration

Pakathon 2014 was brilliantly motivating- young entrepreneurs taking the leading edge to further develop innovative platforms for Pakistan. 

4) Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) Launch at New York's Asia Society

Seeing and hearing a historical figure... whose name I had only read in textbooks- Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State, delivered brilliant responses to the moderator. Meeting and speaking with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was a real honor, too. Read about the experience here.

5) The 2014 Social Good Summit

A convening of professionals and leaders to establish one commitment: simply make the world a better place.

I met Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof, who even autographed my copy of 'A Path Appears.' I highly recommend this read, as it has influenced me to 'give back!' Power celebrities who have committed to social good through their ventures participated in panels or presented. Amongst those I was honored to hear speak were: Michael Dell, Juju Chang (ABC News correspondent), Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Connie Britton, Melinda Gates, Richard Curtis, and more.

It was also truly memorable when Alicia Keys took the stage with her piano, preached and sang why "We Are Here", and pledged $1 million for social good!

Read more here.

6) 500 Days of Action at the United Nations

..to hear U.S. Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon and Malala Yousafzai. Read about my experience here!

7) Becoming A World At School Global Youth Ambassador

Getting involved in the cause of education and connecting with other passionate peers around the world. 

8) FIFA world cup

The absolute thrill of the FIFA World Cup and the sense of community it established everywhere! The USMNT made me absolutely proud with their brilliant performance! #1n1t #onenationoneteam #Ibelieve

9) becoming a green building professional

These credentials broadened my framework of green building design and construction. Read about my journey here.

10) The return of the Solar RoofPod

...back to The City College of New York campus. The Solar RoofPod, our 2011 entry for the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, beautifully rests atop The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture. Read about the Roofpod's return here.

The Gift of H2O #water1215

Nearly one billion people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water. It's time to play a role in this crisis.

Click here to watch this quick 3 minute video to learn about this crisis. If this doesn't break your heart, I don't know what will. Help out your fellow members of humanity, and at least get informed. This impacts so many corners of the globe, its hard for us to ignore it.

charity : water

charity : water is a nonprofit organization that has funded over 13,000 water projects in 22 countries, in Africa, Asia, Central and South America.

charity : water  works "with more than 22 implementing partners around the world to assess and determine areas and communities in need of clean water and sanitation. We choose the countries where we work based on water scarcity, poverty, political stability -- and the availability of strong local organizations in which we can partner with for major change. charity: water can’t accommodate requests from donors to work in certain countries. We honor the chance to be good stewards of your fundraising efforts – and we take it very seriously. You can be sure that 100% of the money you give or raise will go to a community that’s very much in need."

where will my donation go?

Ethiopia

My particular campaign will fund a project in Ethiopia.

As charity:water explained to me, my campaign is part of Keurig Green Mountain's (KGM) "matching initiative that will help fund water projects in Ethiopia."

In other words, whatever donation you make will be matched by KGM, thereby helping you double your impact. Ex: Your $25 donation will actually be a $50 donation!

See where charity: water currently works here > http://www.charitywater.org/projects/projects.php

how much can I donate?

ANY amount- no matter how big or small- helps! 

can I view the impact of my donation?

Yes. As of October 2014, the estimated timeline for charity:water's partners to complete the projects and report back to charity:water (and thus for charity:water to report back to ME) is 21 months. So in 21 months, I will send each of you a complete report about the projects that were implemented to provide clean water, as well as the exact location.

my campaign

This year, I turn the big 2-5, Quarter of A Century. After attending the United Nations Social Good Summit in New York City, my 'activist' persona was inspired. Moreover, as an Environmentalist, I cringed at all the water being dumped during the Ice Bucket Challenge. A thought sparked. For every ounce of water dropped, why couldn't we also utilize social media to donate wasted water to those who REALLY do not have it?

I also had the opportunity to meet journlists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. After meeting them and purchasing a personalized copy of their book, A Path Appears (I was stoked!) I learned about charity:water. After doing more research about charity: water and its extensive field work, I am inspired to tap into my network- each and every one of you. We can end 2014 knowing that we MADE a difference.

I recently learned that millions of kids around the world don't live to see their fifth birthday because they don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. We can help change that. So, for my 25th birthday this year, instead of birthday gifts, I'm asking for you to donate to this cause. Every penny of the money raised will directly fund clean water projects in developing countries. Even better, charity: water will show us exactly which projects we funded once they've been fully completed (which takes about 21 months). That means we'll know the locations and names of the communities we helped.

Help me reach my goal by my birthday, December 15th. Please donate to my birthday campaign- give the gift of water!

In one minute and a few clicks, you can donate to my birthday campaign and give the gift of H2O by clicking here

Pakathon 2014

It's always great to bring together critical and cunning minds to the roots of a greater cause. Pakathon 2014 takes on this dynamic challenge by fostering sustainable development initiatives for Pakistan, and I was thrilled to attend its launch in New York City. Pakathon is a ‘hackathon’-style event, in which a large number of people meet to discuss and focus their ideas. Their mission? To help the “entrepreneurship ecosystem” of Pakistan through a collaboration of participants and mentors.

Pakathon NYC is one of sixteen cities around the world taking part in the global Pakathon, a three day venture that asks entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and more to brainstorm and hash out their innovative ideas to serve the greater good of Pakistan by tackling its social issues. Teams essentially compete for prizes of upto $10,000 that will help them launch their idea into practical business plans, while receiving the guidance that allow them to shape their approaches and solutions.

On the third and last day, teams present their pitches to the panel. Judges and mentors of Pakathon hail from different backgrounds, creating a fascinating interdisciplinary environment. It also allows social entrepreneurs and the global Pakistani community to share their areas of expertise. Judges for this year’s New York City Pakathon include Batool Hassan, Tina Israni, and Yusuf Jan. These are all Directors and/or Principals of successful entrepreneurial experiences whose insight is critical for this year’s teams.

#PakathonNYC took place at New York University, with teams focused on one of five tracks: health, education, retail, human rights, and finance.  Zack Brisson, of Reboot, provided a compelling presentation about designing technology for social impact, for the first night. During the three days, 40 intense hours of hard work culminate into the finished products of the teams.

There was no lack of ingenuity and ambition in New York City’s Pakathon. Educational ideas ranged from a programmatic approach for translating Urdu text to English, to self-learning systems for tablets and a mobile platform for gender equality education. Other technological concepts that incorporated public health explored a smart stethoscope that eliminates manual data entry, a platform for professional medical collaboration, and an SMS-based medical prescription compliance service. Also found amongst the roundtable discussions were the implementation of a car ride service with female drivers for female passengers, as well as an alternative credit scoring system for financial inclusion.

Many thanks to this year’s Community Partners: American Pakistan Foundation, Indiegrove, NY Acumen, Open New York, Pakistani Students Association at NYU, The Citizens Foundation-USA as well as this year’s Sponsors- Desi Shack, General Assembly, Impact Hub NYC, Insomnia Cookies, Lyft, Soho Tiffin Junction, and Symtera Analytics. Thank you also goes to the dozens of individuals who donated their time, talent, and finances, as well as the organizers of the event: Ali Chaudhry, Amna Khawar, Hamdan Azhar, Hamed Ijaz, Hassan Ahmed, Minza Zahid, and Safwan Ghori.

For more information on the upcoming global judging in Boston on October 11th, check out: http://www.pakathon.org/ In the meantime, follow updates at: https://twitter.com/PakathonNYC.

American Pakistan Foundation

I wanted to share my account of several seminars I attended in New York City during my commitment to the American Pakistan Foundation. Click the below image to learn about some awesome organizations that are broadcasting their causes!

Climate Change Isn’t Coming… It’s Here

As an Architect and Activist, I felt the heat of the flames surrounding the hot topic of Climate Change at the 2014 Social Good Summit. The Environment is a subject that impacts us all, whether you wish to face it or not. For all the critics, or to those who simply pretend that it doesn’t exist, tree-huggers like me aren’t the only ones harassing you. The weather patterns and subsequent natural disasters of the last four years are attesting to you that we are destroying our planet at an exponential rate with dangerous consequences. Experts at this year’s Summit unanimously agreed on this subject.

“Science is telling us we are running out of time,” says Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, Achim Steiner. What can and will happen within a century if we continue our current behavior towards the environment, he says, is beyond our imagination. Seth Schultz, one of several Directors at C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, has however, seen progress. C40 works with cities to identify and mitigate climate risks, and maintains a database of information provided by cities, that details their progress towards climate change. Schultz has witnessed through the program that the amount of effort that cities are placing, to alleviate such dangers, have doubled.

Personally, I was relieved to see the ‘social good’ in several business initiatives.  Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Solazyme, had a vision to make low carbon, renewable fuels. In today’s technology-fascinated world, he used innovation to create sustainable oil derived from microalgae. Michael Dell also conveyed how Dell products are created with the conscious awareness of their energy consumption, as well as the 100% recyclability of its packaging materials.

In order for change to happen, EVERYONE needs to get involved in some shape or form, even if it is as simple as becoming aware of your carbon footprint and accompanying consumption patterns.  Andrew Freedman, Senior Climate Reporter for Mashable, joked about the United Nations Climate Summit this week, questioning how every expert fit into one room at the United Nations. However, I find this to be a hopeful statement, as it is clear everyone wants to get involved in the conversation to create some action! This was simply not the case a decade ago.

Niall Dunne, Chief Sustainability Officer of BT Group, boldly asserted at the Summit that ‘Sustainability Needs a Makeover’ and I could not agree more! We have to change the way we think about going green. I do not believe we need to expend more time, money and energy in developing tools. The technology exists. Rather, we need to recognize our current attitude, begin implementing existing solutions, and applying it in a larger scale. We need to start expecting “sustainability to be the new normal,” insisted Dunne.  Our “conspicuous consumption” he says, needs a shift in order to abate carbon emission.

As heard during the #2030 NOW conversation, “Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature.” So it is time to start giving it the respect it deserves. Environmental Activist Kumi Naidoo declared at the Summit , “The time for words are over.” We need to act now, and, I believe, plan for the short-term, in order to positively impact the long-term.

Click each image below to scroll through gallery.

What is Social Good?

I’ve been shaken and awakened, as flashes of light flooded into my eyes today, and booming voices bursted through my eardrums. As a 2014 Social Good Summit Blogger Fellow for the United Nations Association, I had an amazing opportunity to play a part in United Nations history this week!  You see, this week the United Nations is host to the General Assembly, the Climate Summit, and more. These events comprise a larger trend- to coerce conversation and raise a response on social reform issues that require humanity’s attention. The 2014 Social Good Summit kicked off the movement, that I am completely confident sure will continue throughout the coming year.

What is ‘Social Good?’ To me, social good is the application of our inherent cores and values- those that are not influenced by external factors, such as a monetary greed and gain. I believe that in a corporate model, social good is a responsibility held by individuals or entire enterprises.  Social good in the business world, through our everyday careers, would simply make the world a much better place to live and thrive in. How can we achieve this? As Musician Pharrell Williams viral video ‘Happy’ indicates, setting a good example entails “scaling back on judgment and placing more emphasis on intention.” I firmly believe successfully transferring such ‘morality’ -without viewing the financial gain as a preliminary goal, but as a result- can propel social good forward.

The Social Good Summit was about highlighting the achievements of successful key players in social reform. My personal faith in humanity, in a seemingly money-hungry corporate world, was quite literally restored after today! The summit was also about finding common ground, to share solutions. As Pharrell concluded, “We have to find a connective tissue if we are going to be one body.” The Social Good Summit was the perfect forum for us to do so, to discuss our differences on one platform and understand each other’s point of view for the greater common good.

There was a tremendous display of ‘social good’ on Sunday, September 21st. It manifested itself in the powerful voice of leaders and activists, and in the wide range of social corporate responsibility policies that were presented.

Social Good was transparent in the mindsets of several speakers. Humanitarian and Mozambican leader Graca Machel swept me away with her thoughts. She took a clear stance on women’s rights, explaining that this issue has sadly taken a second stage in worldly affairs, and that it is necessary for critics to look at the “value ofa girl.” Speaking on poverty, Graca urged us to revisit what ‘no one left behind’ truly means and to really map out the areas in need of help, down to the micro-level of community. Perhaps Graca’s most profound attitude in human mindset was that of our ability to create tradition. “Traditions are manmade. We need to dismantle this manmade device.” Such a subjective statement should be left to your own interpretation. Dr. Donald Hopkins, Director of Health Programs at The Carter Center also provided inspiring insight- “We must ourselves not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good [in making progress].” In stating so, Hopkins pushes us to achieve a measure far beyond what our imagination believes is possible.

Social Good was highly visible through action, in business model. Director and Producer Lekha Singh, stated “In the darkest moments you see the most light.” Through her film, ‘Beyond Right and Wrong,’ she utilizes visual media to capture the ‘human’ in all of us by creating a connection we can all relate to. She taps into the strings of our heart to convey a message about social justice through the power of storytelling. Academic and University Administrator, Michael Roth’s course “How to Change The World” shows us social good through activism. He questions, how can we, on the basis of education, learn to change the world? “We go to college to set our hearts aflame. When you learn, you learn how to make the world alive.” In other words, we gain an education not simply to consume information, but to understand why we should care about what matters most.

So I simply ask of my peers, can we each take our college degrees and make a vow to commit to some form of social good? It can be related to our fields of study, or it can simply be a cause that sparks our passion. After all, as the summit proves, a little social good can go a very long way!

Click each image below to scroll through gallery.

500 Days of Action

On a clear and sunny day, I followed the buzz of chatter swarming the air on the edge of Manhattan's east coast. My sense of purpose perked slightly as I walked towards a line that was forming in front of the revered United Nations building. I quickly found my colleague, Jocelyne, surrounded by dozens of youth, all of whom were anticipating the event to follow in just minutes. After all, Malala Yousafzai and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were in the house, and well, who wouldn't be stoked?

I had never stepped foot into the United Nations, and as an architect and volunteer for the American Pakistan Foundation, I have become incredibly wrapped up in social reform and simply learning more about the politics of culture around me! So what better way than to join my peers in the conversation and spark the inspiration necessary to contribute to society? 

You see, beyond the parameters of my office cubicle, I feel an urgency to reconnect with the world- to step outside the boundaries of a standard architect, and gain a sense of real world issues. Consequently, as an architect, I can become better equipped to design for others! Why should I have the responsibility to enhance living spaces if I cannot grasp the quality of life?

I'll just say it boldly- I don't have any interest in becoming a starchitect, I want to work for the people. The number of people living under the poverty threshold? Absolutely unbearable. As Ban Ki-moon stressed soon after his arrival, and which I carefully noted, “Many people have passion, but not many have compassion for others.”

Those next two hours were certainly captivating, as Malala Yousafzai shared her journey of the last year. Malala, who stood upto Taliban’s gunpoint in 2012 in order to demand a school education, narrated her recent ventures to combat global ignorance. Ban Ki-moon also declared his support for the 500 youth in the room, including Malala. He urged us all to act. Both declared the priority of education as governmental priority! Malala’s zeal for education stems from her personal beliefs- she stated that she did not know she held rights. The simple act of knowing was inherently liberating.

Their accounts are part of a larger message- the Millenium Development Goals. This particular event marked the 500 remaining days to conquer this mission. The eight Millenium Development Goals were set forth at a UN summit in 2000 by world leaders, and mark a 15 year venture for education, health, women’s empowerment, environment, poverty, and more.

While acting out for the will of others may seem daunting, Ban Ki-moon urged that we should not trivialize our role. In fact, we each play an important role. Even he said, so simply and quickly, “I’m one of you.” Powerful few words, which show that one person’s actions can go a long way. We can each influence a community, a classroom, or a childhood friend.

Coming out of the conference, I was incredibly thrilled to see how many of my peers are involved in reform- critical thinking and questioning are key, to awaken the beast of change! I also look back upon my education and realize I can foster my formal training into basic necessities for humanity. I hope one day I will receive the chance to step away from the glamourized world of architecture in New York City and work on projects that will benefit the members of society who need it most.

As a side note, I must also add that Ban Ki-moon’s appeal to the environment awakened the ‘green’ in my soul! In fact, he even mentioned the United Nations Climate Change Summit Meeting, which will take place at the United Nations this September. Please join in the conversation if you are interested!

Click below to scroll further through gallery.

Photo credit: Jocelyne Jeannot

Tor Pekai Yousafzai

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Malala Yousafzai w/ ABC News Anchor & Ban Ki-Moon