Embassy Row is going green. Cuttingedge technologies reduce greenhouse gas emissions for new buildings, but renovating and retrofitting vintage mansions gives energy efficiency, too. For most, simple changes in daily life help create smaller carbon footprints. “We do not have to wait for new technologies,” said European Union Ambassador John Bruton. “We can use already existing ones,” like wind power, the complete energy source for the Ambassador’s Kalorama residence and half of the energy for the EU Commission’s M Street, N.W. chancery. The House of Sweden is sealed with tempered glass to help control temperatures inside this “glass box,” and green policies there include serious recycling, double-sided printing, a filtration system instead of bottled water and no DPL cars left idling. But the Finns were first. In 1994 when Finland’s “Green House” was built, only three trees were felled. The Finns boast energysaving design and landscaping: the vine-covered entrance for summer shade and lots of glass for more natural light. Finnish “green” policies include using phone and video conferencing to reduce travel costs and encouraging bike riding, walking and public transportation for daily commutes. Free bus passes, embassy bikes and even showers at work encourage this healthy lifestyle. The Embassy uses only products produced in a sustainable way, organic and local, and all these simple environmentally friendly policies have saved over $100,000. The Norwegian Embassy’s building engineer suggests day-to-day environmental policies, and the embassy has always been a leader in global warming research and conferences. Denmark

varieties and three weeks to create. Prince Philip put in the final plant during the Royal Visit last May. This roof is similar to the one on the new Swiss Residence, which is planted with succulent plants for insulation, keeping the Swiss cooler in summer, warmer in winter. Germany is making green reforms in the upcoming two-year renovation of its 1964 chancery, and held a global warming conference in March. The Dutch were recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for purchasing wind energy and along with serious recycling, the embassy has participated in the Environmental Film Festival for the past 15 years. If you want to help, “Restore Mass Ave” is a group working to re-green Embassy Row by planting trees. The organization works with over 20 embassies to plant and care for trees both on

the Embassy grounds and on the famous avenue.
RELUCTANTLY FIFTY
Cafe Milano was the setting for Afghan Ambassador Said Jawad’s 50th birthday bash given by his wife Shamim. High ranking diplomats included Chief of Protocol Nancy Brinker, U.N. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Monaco’s Gilles and Ellen Noghès, Liechtenstein’s Claudia Fritsche, former U.N. diplomat Esther Coopersmith, former Jordanian Ambassador Karim Kawar and Meridian House International’s Stuart and Gwen Holliday along with Senator John Sununu who noted in his toast, “Ambassador, it’s better to be 50 and look 35, like you do, than to be 42 and look 50, like I do!”
IN MEMORIAM
On Sunday, March 2nd, Sweden’s beloved press counselor, Anders J. Ericson, died of a fatal heart attack just before pedaling over the finish line of a bike outing he had organized for over 200 participants. Fellow bikers and Embassy staff, fellow E.U. press and cultural counselors and friends around the world were shocked and greatly saddened. Anders, an experienced biker and hiker, was a distinguished Swedish journalist before joining the foreign ministry. On Monday, March 10, the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco suffered the loss of Aurélien Seydoux de Clausonne, who played an important role in the development of the first Embassy of Monaco in the United States. Aurélien was greatly appreciated for his strong sense of professionalism, enthusiasm, and graciousness. He will be greatly missed by Ambassador and Mrs. Noghès and by all his friends and colleagues.