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Daniel Island citizens come out for green drinks
By Steve Ferber
Jan 27, 2009 - 9:10:02 AM

A Tucson, Arizona Green Drinks event. In the U.S. alone, such events are held in some 223 cities every month, bringing together local people of varied ages, backgrounds and careers to network around mutual interests in environmental issues. A group meets on Daniel Island the last Tuesday of everyoy month at Quenn Anne’s Revenge.

They meet at coffee shops and cafes the world over and now here on Daniel Island – passionate citizens bidding to bring environmental sensitivity to this island town and beyond.

The Daniel Island contingent is part of a worldwide movement called Green Drinks, founded two decades ago in London, England by citizens who knew that, as stewards of the planet, we need to pay closer attention to our choices. Today, there are Green Drinks chapters in more than 460 cities around the globe – with chapters freshly minted in Oslo, Shanghai and Tokyo.

The man behind Green Drinks/Daniel Island is Jason Cronen, a vibrant 28-year-old entrepreneur who, in his sparse spare time, seeks every opportunity to trumpet sustainability. In November 2006, Jason and a colleague formed the first Green Drinks chapter in South Carolina, in downtown Charleston. This past fall, Jason initiated a second area chapter, right here on Daniel Island (the state of South Carolina now has six).

Why Daniel Island? "It’s a new community, so it presents a great opportunity," explains Jason, noting that it is easier to go green from the start. Jason talks about enhancing recycling sensitivity, creating walk-able environments, sustainable infrastructure, and homes and office buildings built to environmental specifications.

"The island is only 60 percent built out, so there’s a great opportunity here," he said.

Are citizens interested? Jason smiles when he thinks back to that first meeting in 2006 – a mere five people showed up and his disappointment was apparent. Just two years later, the two Green Drinks sister chapters (downtown Charleston and Daniel Island) boast more than 750 active members and over 100 area businesses. At monthly meetings downtown, it’s not uncommon to have more than 100 people drop in for drinks, and discussion. Out here on Daniel Island, the last meeting drew 35 interested citizens, more than double the previous month. Change is afoot.

But Jason is quick to point out that Green Drinks isn’t an advocacy group (it’s non-partisan, with no dues). Instead, it’s a forum where people can turn to learn about and promote environmental-friendly actions. As such, the group has two simple goals: (1) to create a low-key setting where residents and businesses can discuss, and learn about, energy efficiency; and (2) to foster environmental initiatives, large and small, throughout the Charleston community.

"It’s about creating a networking opportunity to affect sustainable changes," Jason explains.

Here on Daniel Island, and surrounding communities, Jason sees enormous possibilities: creating a community bent on bicycles and foot traffic; building new county parks; teaching young people to care about their environment; keeping a close eye on water quality (which he anticipates will be a major island challenge in coming years); and helping homeowners and businesses go green, or, at the least, educate themselves about the possibilities.

And changes are taking place. Take the Charleston Battery, one of the more environmentally sensitive area businesses, explains Jason. Last year the Battery undertook a comprehensive energy audit, and then moved into action with dozens of changes. Key among them: adding solar panels, altering fertilizers, eliminating plastic water bottles and installing more energy efficient lighting.

How do you learn more about Green Drinks? A visit to www.greendrinks.org will begin the education, but for social networking, consider attending one of these upcoming sessions:

• Downtown Charleston – Green Drinks meets downtown on the second Wednesday of every month, with the next meeting set for Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Yo Burrito, 77 Wentworth St. The February 11 session will feature Atlantan Jeff Cole, a nationally recognized expert on energy efficient mortgages and sustainable financing.

• Daniel Island – meetings on the island are held on the last Tuesday of each month. The February session will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Jason typically opens the meeting with a short introduction, then distributes environmentally provocative questions for members to debate. And, of course, participants are permitted to order drinks that aren’t green.