We live in exciting times. President Obama has repeatedly declared his intention to “repower” America by cutting our dependence on foreign oil, investing in renewable energy and green jobs, and creating a new infrastructure that will rehabilitate our economy and pave a path to continued prosperity. Our mayor here in New York, Michael Bloomberg, has launched an ambitious plan to green the city called PlanNYC which is already up and running in the five boroughs. And individuals all across the country are joining their neighbors to take steps to reduce their impact on the environment.

I came to Green Irene by a rather circuitous route. While a performer with Blue Man Group (I’m an actor by trade, and have been performing with them going on ten years now), I helped to found their environmental committee, finding ways to reduce energy consumption, create less waste, and inspire our audiences to follow suit. This led me to found the Green Theater Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring and helping theaters to go green, and through which I have begun consulting theaters on comprehensive green action plans. It grew out of my passionate belief that going green is not merely a way of soothing our worried consciences, but also a means of saving money, improving our short- and long-term health, reviving our economy, and ensuring a sustainable future for the generations that will follow us.

Green Irene is a wonderful way for me to turn that belief into action. I’m very excited to be able to work with Green Irene to help families in the five boroughs join their neighbors as they start to green their lives. I’m equally excited to talk to families about local environmental issues that affect all of us. In particular, New York faces the challenging problems of air pollution and rising sea levels, as well as a dearth of open green space where we can go to reconnect with nature. Luckily, the city’s native pluck and determination will undoubtedly lead us to unconventional, far-thinking solutions to many of these problems, and hopefully lead us back to a time of peaceful prosperity.

If you like somewhere in the five boroughs and are interested in a Green Home Makeover, give me a ring! I’ll be excited to help work with you to create a green action plan — one that will not only save you money, but improve your family’s short-and long-term health, ensure your safety, reduce your environmental footprint on the Earth.

Gideon Banner
718-431-3160
gideon.nyc@greenirene.com
www.greenirene.com/gideonnyc