5 Questions With: Lori Cunniff

Posted May 19, 2009, 11:34 am in Living
Credit Katy Widrick

Years ago, if you told someone you were going green, you probably got a funny look – after all, eco-friendly hasn't always meant fun, stylish and economical. But with more and more leaders getting behind the green movement, you're more likely to get that funny look if you don't reduce, reuse and recycle!

But many of us have the desire but not the knowledge. Green Cities is trying to change that, by organizing conferences across the country (Orlando, Florida; Huntsville, Alabama; New York City) to bring together people who specialize in green business, design, innovations and more, with people who can spread the word.

Lori Cunniff, the Manager of the Orange County (FL) Environmental Protection Division, has devoted her career to helping the environment. She's worked all over the country, and has been in the field for more than 25 years. So we decided to put her to the test, in a special “green” version of 5 Questions With!

1. Devil's advocate question -- why bother going green? I'm only one person ... does it really make a difference whether I recycle my soda cans or bike to work instead of driving?

Of course 1 person can make a difference. Those landfills didn’t fill themselves, they are the accumulation of individuals. So yes, each one of us has a responsibility and can make an impact. Start small, you don’t have to be perfect, but you do need to get involved. Ride your bike, make your next car gas efficient or try an alternative fuel vehicle, try using mass transit such as a bus, install a solar water heater, make your home more energy efficient, change your incandescent bulbs to CFLs, hang your clothes on a clothes line instead of using the dryer, buy local food and goods, give up single use bags and bottled water and try reusable bags and refillable bottles instead, and recycle that soda can! The choices are endless and you just need to start with one.

Let's look at a simple example, changing an incandescent light bulb to a compact fluorescent (CFL). This one action can use 75 to 80% less electricity yet emit the same light. The cost of CFLs are now very reasonable, making the switch easy and remember CFLs last 5 to 7 years. EPA states that a CFL will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. Ok, so if each individual, say in 110 million homes in America, replaced one 60 watt bulb, the energy saved could power a city of 1.5 million people or almost all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island! So, a small action by an individual can make a difference because when several individuals do this, the effect is compounded. This one bulb changed, could save enough electricity to close two power plants, or better yet, not build two more. So, now if you have not already made the change to CFLs, go count how many bulbs you could replace in your home and imagine the impact you can have as one person and oh yeah, you’ll save money too.

Each individual taking action is the way we can make a difference.

2. What is the biggest misconception about your work? What is the biggest challenge?

Perhaps there is a misconception that doing things in an environmentally sensitive manner costs too much. Let’s look at green buildings. It may cost more initially to add certain features, but many of them, especially ones that make the building more energy efficient actually save money! Therefore, a green building is more valuable and studies have shown that green buildings have reduced operation and maintenance costs, increased health benefits and productivity and that the energy, emissions, water and waste benefits all contribute to the increased value of a green building.

The biggest challenge is educating people on the impact their activities can have and the difference they can easily make. For example, if you over-fertilize your yard, you are wasting money and contaminating our waterbodies. Cleaning up these contaminated waterbodies costs millions of dollars and we all end up paying for that. However, if you properly fertilize your yard, you save money, get the nice yard you seek and keep our waterways clean.

3. Describe a great moment in your life, as it relates to the green movement. Was there an "aha" moment, or a project that you're particularly proud of?

I am finding this question hard to answer as I don’t know if there was an “aha” moment. If there was, it was a very long time ago. However, I have lots of projects I am proud to have been involved with. Most recently, Orange County installed a 1 MW photovoltaic (solar electric) system on the rooftop of the Orange County Convention Center.

Many partners were involved with this project and the overall project also included 4 experimental photovoltaic systems and a Climate Change Education Center, at the Convention Center. We really feel solar is viable in central Florida and are trying to make a statement to encourage others to join us. That is what makes this project so exciting!

4. Who are your role models when it comes to going green and helping the environment? Who "gets it?"

There are so many people that have influenced me. I am going to pick two to tell you about. One is the Mayor of Orange County, Richard Crotty.

I am picking him because when I brought up the issue of climate change, he not only understood the vulnerability of Florida, but he understood that the changes we should be making were good for the environment, good for the economy and thus good for our community.

He held a Climate Change Summit in September 2007 and there we shared our carbon emission inventory or “carbon footprint” of county operations and our goals with specific plans on how we were going to reduce that carbon footprint. So, call me a cheater for picking my top boss, but leadership in the green movement is important and he is leading the way!

The second person I am going to pick is my father. Why? Not because he is a great environmentalist, but because he is very frugal and conservative. He does not waste things. I am sure you all know folks, like my father, that grew up in the Great Depression, and learned to “use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” That equates to “green” in a big way.

5. Other than your work in the green movement, what makes you happy? What motivates you? How do you relax?

I like to kayak or take out my electric boat and go birding. I love to travel (yes, I know that creates a larger carbon footprint) and I love seeing new places, especially national parks or innovative cities where I can easily use mass transit. Seeing some beautiful scenery or wildlife is very motivating. Kind of reminds me that I am part of a bigger picture.

Want to learn more? Click here to see what Green Cities is doing in your area, as well as a list of leaders and companies that are making going green cool, and click here for other articles in our 5 Questions With series.

If you need more inspiration, or examples of going green while Growing Bolder, check out our World Warriors and Making a Difference channels.


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