Ram Shrivastava, CEO, Walks the Talk of Sustainability!

Meet Ram Shrivastava, CEO of Larsen Engineering, a leader who walks the talk in sustaining our environment. Ram leads Larsen Engineering which focuses on sustainability of our resources. The firm has grown under his amazing leadership over many years. His interest in the environment is not new, but is part and parcel of his lifeblood. He described Larsen's recent commitment to sustainable energy...

"For over 50 years the Larsen mission has been to assist in the creation of Sustainable Communities. Larsen's past work with the public and private sector in the service areas of water and wastewater treatment, storm water management and high performance buildings reflects this commitment. Today, we recognize the value of ‘walking the talk.’ Energy is a key element of sustainability. Buying ‘green power’ is one way to support the development of renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar power. Larsen's purchase of ‘green power’ encourages investment in wind and solar power at suitable locations. Each KWH of ‘go green power’ produced and connected to the power grid removes a KWH of conventional power production. We are happy that this commitment to serve 100% of our annual need at Larsen through 2010 will benefit not only today's society, but our children and grandchildren."

Is your firm willing to make a similar step?...Here's the impact on the environment...

• An annual avoidance of the emissions of 104.400 pounds of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of 10 passenger cars NOT driven for one year. US EPA data shows the average US passenger car is driven approximately 12,000 miles per year and emits 10,185 pounds of carbon.


• The equivalent of
  * 16 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled
  * 39 acres of pine or fir forests storing carbon for one year
  * 6 households electricity use for one year

Shrivastava leads the pack in implementing sustainable green design to meet "Green and Clean" requirements under LEED Certifications. At one point Ram's path crossed with Dr. Ellen Weber's, CEO of the MITA International Brain-based Center, and mine. Ram is keenly interested in the brain and how it functions. Ram once mused, "You can create the Taj Mahal around a person ... but it's not much help if he's bored to death inside." Ram recognizes the quality of the building's not only important to keep brains functioning at top level, but learning takes on new life through brain-based approaches that tap student's curiosity and problem solving.

For instance, at one high school renovation project Ram's envisioned capturing rainwater to replace some of the city's water supply. Ram named several ideas for MITA learning projects that tap science teachers and students' intelligences. The hands-on sustainable projects inspire teacher/student collaborative research.

Here's what Larsen Engineering currently has on tap...

Black Diamond Trail Master Plan - a proposed 15-mile, multiple-use trail through Ithaca to Ulysses in Tompkins County, NY. The trail will connect four state park facilities, including Robert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls, Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls Parks.

Larsen's scope of work included gathering background data; preparation of a detailed work plan; developing goals and objectives; public coordination and outreach; preparation of schematic plans for trail route, surface, and infrastructure; preparation of cost estimates; proposing management, operations, and implementation recommendations; evaluating the environmental impacts of the project; and preparing a combined Master Plan / Environmental Impact Statement document.

Ram Shrivastava's a long standing member of Rotary International, where he shares his vision to reduce water pollution in New York State. Rotary currently has many worldwide projects to help bring fresh drinking water to small villages in third world countries.

We can all make a difference today on Blog Action Day and every day following. If you sit at the feet of Ram Shrivistava and learn, you will soon help bring a rich legacy for your grandchildren and future generations. Thanks Ram, for holding your torch high and for walking your talk!

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