A blog about general ideas

Luis Salazar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:34:19 GMT

Its easy to get overwhelmed by the increasingly poignant information we read and hear about the state of the Earth and the projections for future generations. However, videos like the one below remind us in a creative and entretaining manner that our individual efforts can make a difference, and they can. As a matter of fact, there is nothing more important we can do that harness our passions and our potential to create the world we dream of seeing.

Telecommuting Credit

David Eckmann — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:15:22 GMT

I've added some information on the idea of creating a telecommuting tax credit to encourage employers to let employees work from home where it makes sense to do so. I believe that this fits well into the green agenda of Governor Crist and the Energy Office of the Governor would be a logical champion of this idea.

Here's the link: http://fl2igreen.spribo.com/discussions/-/message_boards/category/43561

Please let me know your thoughts - I would be particularly interested in comments from the state government people.

Thanks!

David

Welcome to FL2i Green

Alfredo Sanchez — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:47:07 GMT

Florida 2.0 Initiative (FL2i) promotes the use of next-generation Web technologies in the State of Florida. FL2i’s role is not about creating just another social network, but to develop an online community that interacts with the most popular Web 2.0 sites, creating and sharing unique content about Florida and fostering innovation. FL2i works with Advisory Groups formed by thought leaders from across the State in various areas of common interest. FL2i launched a beta program to test the technology platform and develop examples of social software use (e.g., blogs, discussions, polls, RSS feeds, member’s wall, messaging center, web conferencing for virtual meetings and webinars). Featured news, articles and videos have been included around relevant topics throughout the FL2i wiki pages. The FL2i beta sites were not intended to be fancy in terms of design at this stage of the project, but flexible in order to adapt to requirements and innovation as the project advances. FL2i beta deployment does not consider promoting membership until FL2i's infrastructure and sustainability model are in place. All pilot efforts during this phase have focused on small groups with temporary but relevant objectives. Initial topics of interest and discussion categories have been defined by the FL2i Advisory Groups while the core technology is being tested during the FL2i beta program.

The FL2i Green wiki offers a first sample of relevant seed content around energy and environment that can be extended by FL2i members once the community is launched. Relevant videos featured by FL2i have been included on various green topics throughout the wiki pages. The FL2i Green site enables workgroup and community collaboration via representative discussion categories and blogs and compiles relevant information about sustainable development and energy and environment stimulus opportunities in Florida. Following transparency principles promoted by the Federal Government, the FL2i Green site can be used as a central collaborative repository to provide a Florida view and perspective of stimulus funding available for renewable energy and environment protection, gather survey data, develop educational webinars, publish green project results and find other useful purposes around sustainable development. States like Vermont, Michigan and Oregon have already started to create energy & environment stimulus social networks to promote communication and collaboration.

FL2i wants to motivate Florida energy & environment stimulus stakeholders (e.g., representatives of hospitals, schools, libraries, local government agencies and community leaders) on the use of social media tools to communicate and collaborate online. The objective is to exchange tacit knowledge about tax incentives, energy efficiency, weatherization, clean energy projects and other components of the ARRA programs. FL2i offers useful tools such as member walls with personal spaces for contributions and communication, messaging center, blogging and discussions on different topics of interest for the green community. FL2i surveys enable FL2i Green workgroups to collect brief key information for stimulus projects. Workgrous can also post polls asking simple questions with multiple options on the site to receive quick direct feedback from members online. SEFLIN Connect (published on the main FL2i Green page) is a web conferencing service provided by the South East Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) that enables web conferencing for authorized members, and it supports chat, notes, desktop sharing and audio/video recording. Virtual meeting room access is restricted to authorized workgroups and recorded content is stored on the SEFLIN servers. FL2i Green allows members to subscribe to content and receive notifications via e-mail or RSS:

When a member invites a person to join (e-mail)
When a member writes a message on other members’ wall (e-mail)
When a member receives a message on the Message Center
When a member subscribes to a discussion forum and a new message is posted by another member (e-mail and RSS)
When any member replies to a blog (RSS)

Web 2.0, the Social Web, is a valuable resource for sustainable economic development. Florida has an opportunity to innovate in this space. The first phase of the FL2i project has focused on developing connections with thought leaders and environment- and energy-related organizations to identify priorities and purposes that can benefit from the use of a Florida social network.

FL2iGreen

A blog about general ideas

Telecommuting Credit

Welcome to FL2i Green