Contributed by Steve Schwartz

For years, a buzz in the commercial building arena has been centered around buildings providing air conditioning from beneath the floor rather than from overhead ducts. Throughout the region, it has been proven that constructing a new space with underfloor techniques can be no more costly than overhead. Long term, the benefits are impressive. Reduced energy cost for running fans, improved indoor air quality, individual user control, and the ability to install power and data beneath the floor vs. embedded into walls. Cool (and cost effective) way to provide COOLING.

SF Green Project is teaming up with our partner The First National Bank in Sioux Falls to coordinate Earth Hour in our community. In a bold statement of collective concern for our country, our planet and our future millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour–Earth Hour–on March 27, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. local time.

Help send a powerful message that environmental sustainability is a priority for all of us.

The Green Project and The First National Bank in SF are proud to be official supporters of Earth Hour 2010. On March 27, we will be going dark along with many other companies, organizations and families in Sioux Falls, including the City of Sioux Falls, Cherapa Place, Hoawlt McDowell Insurance, Koch Hazard Architects so far.

Click here to see what people, organizations, cities, schools and companies from South Dakota have pledged to go dark on March 27 for Earth Hour. We encourage you to join with us and millions of Americans in making Earth Hour 2010 the biggest effort yet. Getting involved is easy:

1. Sign up at EarthHour.org
   Show your support, find out what Earth Hour events are happening near you and get tips on organizing fun events in your community.
2. Spread the Word
   Invite your friends and family to join the movement, become a fan on Facebook and post a link to EarthHour.org on your profile page.
3. Turn off the lights
   Turn off your non-essential lighting at 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 27.

Notable U.S. landmarks such as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, Sea World in Orlando, the strip in Las Vegas, New York’s Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral, California’s Santa Monica Pier and the Space Needle in Seattle are among the hundreds of sites that will turn off non-essential lighting for the hour, in what is expected to be the largest-ever call to action on climate change.

For more information, or to be sure your company, organization or family name is on the list, contact Joe Bartmann.

Green Project intern Jamie Horter is on a plane today on her way to Copenhagen, Denmark. She’ll be spending the next two-plus weeks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference working as part of a team of 10 Midwest youth delegates sponsored by the Will Steger Foundation. The group will join other leaders from around the world, where they will join in negotiations to create a new world climate treaty. They will share their experiences online during the conference, and in public gatherings when they return home.

Jamie believes South Dakota and the rest of the Midwest can play a key role in driving national climate policy and the renewable energy revolution.

You can follow along with Jamie on her blog at http://jamiehorter.blogspot.com.

Leaders from across the globe will gather in December at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. One of those leaders will be a Green Project intern and South Dakota college student–if we all pitch in to help get her there.

Jamie Horter is a Sioux Falls Green Project intern and a senior at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Jamie has been selected to be part of the Will Steger Foundation’s Expedition Copenhagen, a Midwest youth delegation to the Climate Change Conference led by internationally renowned polar explorer Will Steger. Jamie has been interacting with South Dakotans and gathering up hopes and dreams of our state’s future, to deliver in person to world leaders in December.

Obviously, this is big news for Jamie and for all of us. We will be there, represented by her. This may be the most important meeting ever for the future of our planet as we know it, and it’s huge for us to have a seat at the table. Jamie’s message will be heavy on South Dakota’s integral role in the clean energy future of planet Earth, as well as our love of the land, rural communities and agriculture (see her video on YouTube). What else is important for Jamie to talk about with world leaders? It’s up to you to voice your dreams for South Dakota’s future. You can follow along and participate as Jamie prepares for Copenhagen on her Expedition Copenhagen blog. If you would like to schedule a talk or meeting with Jamie before the trip, or a presentation after she returns home to South Dakota, contact her at jamieh@willstegerfoundation.org.

Please help us raise enough funds to cover Jamie’s travel expenses from South Dakota to Copenhagen and back. You can click on the Chip In widget below, or contact me directly to donate to the Expedition Copenhagen fund we’ve set up at the Green Project. Every dime will be used to help Jamie connect us to the talks in Denmark December 7-13.

Every dollar and every idea counts. Please help however you can. Thanks.