Green Building Initiative Recognizes Poudre School District's Bethke Elemtary School for Sustainable Design and Construction Achievements»» 9/13/08 05:00:00,
Solar Leasing Funds Thriving in Economic Downturn»» 6/29/10 23:00:00,
Despite current economic conditions, solar leasing firms have secured hundreds of millions in investment dollars. SolarCity has secured a $150 million fund and SunRun has secured a $100 million tax equity fund. Read more..
American University Buys 100% Green Power»» 6/20/10 23:00:00,
American University announced the purchase of RECs equivalent to 100 percent of its 53 million kWh of annual electricity usage. The RECs are supplied by Renewable Choice Energy through the Langdon Wind Energy Center. Read more..
Cascades Tissue Group Doubles Commitment to Wind»» 6/16/10 23:00:00,
Cascades Tissue Group is purchasing 20 million kWh of wind energy, which is equivalent to 100 percent of the electricity used for the production of its North River products. The RECs will be supplied by Community Energy. Read more..
Office Depot to Offer Copy Paper Manufactured with 100% Renewable Electricity»» 6/16/10 23:00:00,
Office Depot purchased 15.5 million kWh of RECs from NextEra Energy Resources and joined Green-e Marketplace by purchasing enough renewable energy to meet 100% of the annual electricity needs for its headquarters and by ensuring its 100% Recycled Envirocopy is manufactured with renewable electricity. Read more..
Datapipe Greens New Jersey Data Centers»» 6/16/10 23:00:00,
Datapipe is purchasing nearly 9 million kWh of RECs annually, the equivalent of 100 percent of its total purchased electricity use for its New Jersey data centers, from Constellation NewEnergy. Read more..
EERE Network News
DOE-Funded Clean Energy Projects Win Eight R&D 100 Awards for 2010»» 7/14/10 00:00:00,
DOE-funded research projects have won 39 of the 100
R&D 100 awards for 2010, including eight for energy
efficiency and renewable energy. Read more..
EPA Proposes Percentages for 2011 Renewable Fuel Standards»» 7/14/10 00:00:00,
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
proposed the renewable fuel standard (RSF) for 2011 under
the agency's RFS2 program. The RSF covers biomass-based
diesel, advanced biofuels, cellulosic biofuels, and "total
renewable fuels." Read more..
Swiss Solar-Powered Plane Makes First Night Flight»» 7/14/10 00:00:00,
In a flight over Switzerland, a solar-powered aircraft flew for
more than 26 hours, completing the first full day-and-night
flight for a piloted solar-powered airplane, said organizers of
the flight who are preparing for a zero-emission flight around
the world.
Read more..
Report: U.S. Utilities Must Embrace Clean Energy to Remain Competitive»» 7/14/10 00:00:00,
Current trends in energy costs, policies, and regulations are
making it imperative for U.S. electric utilities to shift toward
low-carbon energy sources, according to a new report
prepared by Navigant Consulting and released by Ceres. The
report also notes barriers to that clean energy shift. Read more..
Department of Energy Awards $92 Million for Groundbreaking Energy Research Projects»» 7/12/10 00:00:00,
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced 43
cutting-edge research projects that aim to dramatically
improve how the U.S. uses and produces energy. Read more..
Green Home Guide General Feed
When does MDF offgas? When the heat is on in the winter or throughout all seasons?»» 7/12/10 21:35:19,
The off-gassing issue with MDF (medium density fiberboard) comes from the use of urea-formaldehyde as a binder holding the fibers together. Your symptoms can indeed be caused by formaldehyde, but you should keep in mind that they also may arise from other contaminants or germs.
Formaldehyde off-gassing does appear to have a relationship to indoor conditions, but should actually decrease in colder temperatures. According to the FDA, “Formaldehyde tends to double its level of outgassing for every 10°F increase in temperature.” Humidity can also have an effect.
Some questions about your MDF:
Is it exposed, or is it painted, sealed or laminated over?
How long has it been there? Formaldehyde off-gassing will diminish over time. If it’s new, does its introduction coincide with your symptoms?
Do you know whether your particular MDF contains formaldehyde or not? There are several manufacturers who now produce MDF with "no added formaldehyde."
Ideally, you’d try to determine if the MDF is indeed the cause of the problem. If the wood is relatively new and if it is exposed and unsealed, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends sealing the surfaces: "You may use a vapor barrier such as some paints, varnishes, or a layer of vinyl or polyurethane-like materials. Be sure to seal completely, with a material that does not itself contain formaldehyde. Many paints and coatings will emit other VOCs when curing, so be sure to ventilate the area well during and after treatment."
Another part of the remedy may be “dilution” by increasing the ventilation in the space. That doesn’t get rid of the cause of the problem, of course, and also runs the risk of increasing your heating and cooling loads, but may improve your home air quality and alleviate some of your symptoms.
A domestic hot-water pipe in our kitchen wall freezes in very cold weather. Solutions?»» 7/12/10 21:23:54,
This is a classic "house as a system" problem, and if I am correct, the fix will be simple and will not cost very much. Some would wonder how adding a ridge vent on the roof could create a problem with a water line in a wall. The answer is cold air is getting brought into the wall cavity and freezing the pipe.
The "stack effect" is the cause of what you have here. In simple terms, the stack effect is when warm air rises in your house. You probably have a very leaky ceiling. Seal all the gaps in your attic -- seal around all top plates, attic access, pipe and wire penetrations, can lights, etc. All the hot air is rising in your home and getting into the attic where these penetrations occur.
Once air leaves at the top, new air must be brought in at the bottom -- hence the increased amount of air entering your wall cavity. It would also help to seal up the same holes at the bottom of your house. How to do this will differ if you have a crawl space or a slab. I would of course focus on the area where you are having the problem -- there are probably large holes where the pipes enter the floor system.
Of course if you can access the pipes, it will help to put insulation on the exterior of the pipes and you could always run some heat tape on them as well.
Hiring a BPI-certified company will ensure that you have a contractor who understands the "house as a system" concept. Doing these few low-cost measures will also significantly improve your thermal envelope and reduce your energy consumption.
I live in a Santa Fe style house, the kind with a flat roof and no attic crawlspace. Is there a way to improve attic insulation?»» 7/11/10 15:35:42,
We find this situation in homes that we provide energy audits for in Southern California. The homeowner is usually concerned about the comfort level, and this is what we typically recommend:
If the ceilling has some space between the drywall and the roof, your best bet is to "drill and fill." This is done by an insulation company that will create small holes in your ceiling or even in walls and will fill the cavity with dense-pack cellulose insulation.
If it's a post-and-beam ceiling, you can remove the roof, install rigid foam insulation from above, and then re-roof. We have had good customer feedback with both techniques.
If you choose to go ahead with one of these insulation methods, check Green Home Guide's service directory to find a green professional near you.
What type of wood products are best to use for kitchen cabinets?»» 7/11/10 14:57:34,
Amanda,
Cabinetry has two primary construction components: the carcass or box and the decorative door and drawer fronts. The boxes are typically made of plywood (with a veneer or melamine interior finish and a veneer exterior finish), particleboard (with a vinyl or melamine interior finish and a veneer exterior finish), or medium density fiberboard (MDF, with a veneer or melamine interior finish and a painted or veneer exterior finish).
Your concern about added formaldehyde is legitimate due to the fact that it is a known carcinogen, but realize that formaldehyde is a chemical compound found in nature, including wood. What you don't want is added formaldehyde.
So if you are making the cabinets yourself or having them custom-made by a local shop, you will want the cabinet-boxes constructed of a no-added-formaldehyde plywood such as PureBond from Columbia Forest Products; a no-added-formaldehyde particleboard such as SkyBlend from Roseburg Forest Products; or Sierra Pine's Arreis MDF.
As for the decorative doors and drawers, there is little variance in natural formaldehyde content between wood species. However, if you are considering a painted cabinet, you will want to select either maple or a no-added-formaldehyde MDF.
With regard to finishing your green kitchen cabinets, the most important aspect of the finish is durability. This has been a tough criterion to meet with most low-VOC finishes (note: stains typically are applied under the finish or, alternatively, you can "tint" the finish for added color enhancement).
It is extremely challenging to get a quality, particle-free, durable finish on cabinetry in a home workshop. A "factory finish" or that provided by a small professional cabinet shop will be far superior to what can be accomplished in the average home workshop.
Considering that cabinetry typically comprises 40% of a kitchen remodel budget and most people want to get the most for their home improvement dollar, my recommendation is that you leave it to the pros. However, if you are set on doing it yourself, consider AFM Safecoat's Safe Seal finish. As for stains, water-based stains such as Saman or Osmo Park Lane stains are good choices.
If you would prefer to work with a production custom manufacturer, you are in luck. The number of environmentally responsible cabinet lines continues to increase each year. Look for manufacturers who hold the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) certification from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).
Can you recommend a green concrete sealant and an adhesive for bamboo flooring?»» 7/8/10 13:35:11,
It’s not often that an excellent, green and healthy wood floor adhesive shows up on the market that is formaldehyde-free, isocyanate-free, glycol-free, and almost no-VOC, but I’m happy to report that for your application, Taylor's MS Plus Wood Floor Adhesive may be a great option.
When applied to slab on grade, it acts as a moisture inhibitor as well, so you don’t need a separate sealer. It’s also easier to apply than urethane glues. For tech support and local distributors, call 800-397-4583 or go to wftaylor.com.
First, check perimeter drainage and moisture-test the slab.
It’s imperative for any wood flooring installation, even if the slab is sealed, that the slab is dry and stays dry. So be sure to have your floor installer test your slab first for moisture vapor, per the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions on the link above, to make sure it meets the requirements for this adhesive. Given that you are in Scottsdale, AZ, the water table in your local area is probably low, but it’s still best to check.
As you are in a desert environment, and a green-minded person, you probably are not irrigating much, but in general, for slab-on-grade wood floor applications, it’s prudent to make sure you also have excellent perimeter drainage from rain and irrigation. Sealing the top side of an existing slab only goes so far, because moisture next to a slab can wick into the concrete horizontally as well. For other areas of the country or on properties where rain or irrigation is not possible to completely divert, or the water table is too high, a wood floor is not a good option overall.
Finally, if your concrete slab is new, moisture testing is also imperative, to make sure enough moisture vapor has cured out of the concrete before installing wood flooring. For tips on concrete slab and moisture prevention, including for other areas of the country where moisture in slabs may be a greater concern, the Building Science Corporation provides free articles for both homeowners and professionals.
Make sure to ventilate well during and after installation.
Bamboo can be a good green flooring option, but ventilate well with as much fresh air exchange as possible for the first few months after installation, particularly if you are chemically sensitive or have small children.
I’ve been hard-pressed to find bamboo flooring that is guaranteed to be 100% phenol and urea-formaldehyde-free, and even the best-rated bamboo floors may still emit very low levels of phenol formaldehyde when new. For the lowest formaldehyde levels, look for bamboo flooring that meets the CARB 2009 and 2012 regulations, and Europe's E1 standard, is urea-formaldehyde-free and FSC certified.
If you are chemically sensitive or have small children, it would also be prudent to ask the manufacturer if the finish is biocide-free and has a no-VOC, UV-cured, baked-on finish, so that potentially toxic glycol chemicals in the finish (which are exempt from being classified as VOCs) will have completely outgassed prior to installation.
If you are sensitive to odors, call the flooring manufacturer for a new sample before you make your final decision. Keep in mind that although aluminum oxide finishes are generally healthy, if the floor is refinished in the future, the aluminum particles from sanding may release potentially toxic levels of aluminum into the indoor environment, and so special deep-cleaning, equivalent to lead-paint remediation, may be necessary after refinishing.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of? A. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2010, Office Depot joined with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce to launch the Office Depot Green Office Makeover Contest. With the contest, Office Depot was looking to identify and reward the businesses taking actions to be green. Entrants were asked to submit an official entry with essays related to their achievements in the area of environmental sustainability. We received a number of entries from small and medium sized businesses (Office Depots primary customer base) in the South Florida market and utilized a judging panel to choose a winner and two runners-up. The winner of the Office Depot Green Office Makeover Contest received a prize package worth over $4,000, including greener office furniture, technology, supplies, and a consultation with Office Depots Director of Environmental Strategy.
This program garnered local and national attention and did a fantastic job to highlight what businesses are doing and can do to reduce their environmental footprints and save money at the same time. Office Depot received feedback from chambers and other organizations across the country hoping to roll-out the program with their respective constituents and we are looking to do just that!
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment? A: It is critical that professionals in the communications field are aware of what their companies are doing to be green first and foremost. At Office Depot, I spend a significant amount of time talking about how Office Depot is implementing green practices in our own operations (i.e. building LEED certified stores, piloting fuel-efficient vehicles for deliveries, purchasing and using recycled paper and other supplies in our facilities, etc.) Once it is clear that Office Depot is taking the steps to increasingly buy green and be green, we can talk about how we are selling green to our customersand how we can help them be green (and of course save green)! Some of those latter conversations incorporate Office Depots selection of 9,200 products with environmental attributes, variety of environmental solutions (tech recycling, ink and toner cartridge recycling, tech trade-in, etc), and our catalog of green products (The Green Book). Customers can learn more at www.officedepot.com/greeneroffice .
Interview with Colin Rohfling, Sustainable Design Leader with HOK Chicago»» 7/14/10 15:10:47,
Colin Rohfling, Sustainable Design Leader at HOK Chicago, has many talents and made significant contributions to the design and building industry. Not the least of which was his critical role in facilitating the LEED NC Platinum Certification of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. For those of you who doubt you can save significant amounts of water and energy in tough climates, think again. Colin took a few minutes out of his very busy day to share with us some thoughts about the state of sustainable design:
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
A: They have made my presence necessary in every one of our (HOK's) marketing meetings. Whether the sustainable scope of a project is minimal or comprehensive, there is always a sustainable project requirement mentioned in the majority of RFPs that we receive.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: I am most excited about my projects that have the potential to influence the future of their particular industries and locations. They are exemplar projects or large scale and complex program. These characteristics have typically been accompanied by a large carbon footprint. By working on projects of this size, I am able to mitigate a larger amount of potential harm to the environment. Two such projects are the 6.5 millions square foot KAUST project in Saudi Arabia (the worlds largest LEED Platinum project) and the 1 million square foot Ohio State University Cancer and Critical Care Center (which upon completion will be one of the worlds largest LEED health care facilities in the world).
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Lack of education and understanding on all fronts, including internal design management, external consultant management and client management. If all parties involved do not have a collective wisdom about the benefits of a sustainable design project, then the project will not be executed appropriately. If only everybody on the team had the time to acquire a degree in economics and run life cycle cost reports for every design decision, it would make things a lot easier.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: Reinvent and re-engage in new and creative ways as often as possible. In a market that is ever-changing, your approach and cache of knowledge needs to change just as often. Be sure to engage different stakeholders in ways that speak to that unique group of people. One rusty old sustainable design benefit presentation may work for design professionals that are new to the movement, but it wont work for the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or your engineering partner for the project.
Q: What is your favorite source for sustainability/environmental trends or information?
A: The HOK Sustainable Design workspace. Where else can you find the collective knowledge from 30-40 other design professionals that share the same passions that you do? With over 500 posts in the past 2 years, I still havent had time to read and incorporate all of that knowledge into my projects.
Interview with Curtis Ravenel, Head of Global Sustainability Initiatives for Bloomberg»» 7/14/10 15:10:47,
We interviewed Curtis Ravenel for The Green Workplace book a while back and he impressed us tremendously. His energy and passion for sustainability along with a real business savvy are clearly the right combination for making green things happen in any company, but especially a company like Bloomberg. We caught a few minutes with Curtis who shared some thoughts on where he is today:
Q: What is your current role at your organization? A: I run our Sustainability Group. We manage our sustainability initiatives - aggressively integrating sustainability considerations into all firm operations and leveraging the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL Service to evaluate sustainability-related investment risks and opportunities for its 300,000 customers.
Q: What would you say are current trends when it comes to organizations adopting green strategies or principles? A: The current trend I see is graduation. Firms are graduating from looking at sustainability as a risk management program to one that drives innovation and opportunity.
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues? A: No. We are headed down this road with or without legislation. It just makes good business sense.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of? A: We have just completed a contract to install 1.7 MW of Solar power at a facility in NJ and 5 MW Cogeneration Plant in NY. Plus we've developed a robust Environmental, Social and Governance Data offering to complement our Equity platform.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment? A: ALWAYS leverage your environmental work to the objectives of the business. You can't do it alone and if you make that connection, it will all come together.
Q: What is your favorite source for sustainability/environmental trends or information? A: Bloomberg of course! (OK, I guess this wasn't a fair question)
What if there were no air conditioning?»» 7/14/10 15:10:47,
No joke, it's been MISERABLY hot here in Washington, DC - I'm sure you've heard about our heat wave on the news. But, it's summer in DC, which was brilliantly built on a swamp...that means, every year it is miserably hot and humid for at least a portion of the summer.
We've adapted by developing buildings with air conditioning and massive refrigerators. It's worked out OK for the workers, but it uses unfathomably huge quantities of energy. I ran across a great article in the Washington Post about what would happen if we didn't have AC. I mean, the founding fathers didn't have any when they located the capital city here, so it must be possible, right?
Read on to see just how very possible it might be...and a couple of great tips for how to cool off:
We all know that elevators use a fair bit of energy and it's healthier for us to take the stairs, right? Right. Of course, sometimes that's just not possible due to personal ability or, simply the number of floors in a building.
I recently wrote about the San Francisco Federal Office Building's every-third-floor elevators - which I think are great. Today, I learned about another trend in elevator operations: a destination-dispatch system.
Basically a user inputs his/her destination into a kiosk/touchscreen. The touchscreen then directs the user to the speific elevator. The user enters the elevator and is taken directly to his/her floor with minimal stops.
This sytem improves the efficiency for both the user (not having to stop at every floor), and for the elevator system (fewer stops, more passengers per destination).
Dr. M. A. Sanjayan Looks Forward in Powering the Future»» 7/14/10 15:15:00,
Image Credit: DCI
Conservation is the main subject of focus for Dr. M. A. Sanjayan, who has co-hosted documentaries for the BBC featured in National Geographic TV, and has published a dense body of work in conservation genetics, conservation planning, wildlife corridors, wildlife sampling, conservation policy, and conservation measures. ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Want to Kick Our Oil Addiction? Let's Get Our Priorities Straight First»» 7/14/10 14:52:00,
photo: Joost J Bakker via flickr
You'd have to be living in a cave since the beginning of the BP oil spill to not have heard, or made, statements about never letting this sort of environmental disaster happen again and kicking our oil addiction. There have even been checklists 50 items deep of ways you can use less oil. Before we act on that sentiment, (and let me be clear that we will be using less oil in the future, ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Who's Cleaning Up the BP Spill & How Much Has it Cost? (Infographic)»» 7/14/10 14:47:00,
Image via Boston
Here's a handy infographic to bring you up to speed on the cleanup operations following the April 20th explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. Also included are easily digestible stats on how much, approximately, operations have cost thus far. It's brief and to the point, and makes for a solid quick reference point. Infographic is after the jump: ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
And the Senate Climate Bill Gets Weaker Still . . .»» 7/14/10 14:22:00,
As expected, the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill has grown weaker still, relinquishing an economy-wide cap on carbon emissions and instead targeting only the utility sector for greenhouse gas reductions starting in 2013. And that's still apparently too controversial for this Senate, as the conventional wisdom says not even a utility-only bill can get enough votes to pass. So here's what evidently remains of the mess that's left on the table in terms of clean energy and climate legislation this year: ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
The Emerging Politics of Food Scarcity»» 7/14/10 14:06:34,
Image credit: Mr. Kris/Flickr
A dangerous geopolitics of food scarcity is emerging in which individual countries, acting in their narrowly defined self-interest, reinforce the trends causing global food security to deteriorate. This began in late 2007 when wheat-exporting countries, like Russia and Argentina, attempted to counter domestic food price rises by limiting or banning exports. Viet Nam banned rice exports for several months, and several other minor exporters also restricted exports. While these moves reassured those living in the exporting countries, they created panic ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Become the Next LEED Certified School»» 1/4/10 09:58:24,
Proponents of the Green movement insist that making environmentally conscious decisions will not only encourage a safe and ecologically friendly atmosphere, but are good for business and will also save money in the end, thanks to a streamlined spending structure.
Five schools across the country have become LEED certified in order to provide the cleanest and most energy-efficient learning environments for their students.
Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, CO has been certified LEED Silver. By following standards outlined by the USGBC, the Poudre School District saved about $11,500 annually on their water bill. They also incorporated as much natural light as possible, simultaneously saving money on artificial light and creating a more favorable learning environment for students.
Sidwell Friends Middle School in Washington, D.C. received a LEED Platinum certification, the highest award a school has received from the USGBC. They constructed an artificial wetland in between the new and old wings of the school, which serves a dual purpose: allow for efficient, recyclable water, and provide a hands-on learning environment for science classes. Solar panels and natural light systems take full advantage of sunlight while saving on energy costs.
Clearview Elementary in Hanover, PA - certified LEED Gold - is also bathed in natural light thanks to huge windows along its long corridors. According to studies by the California Board for Energy Efficiency, tests scores were 15%-26% higher in classrooms with plenty of natural light versus classrooms with lower levels of sunlight.
Rosa Parks Elementary in Portland, OR - certified LEED Gold - selected paints, carpets adhesives and sealants were selected for their low carbon emissions.
Finally, the LEED certified West Brazos Junior High School in Brazoria, TX, saved 18% on construction costs compared to the average middle school while using 55% locally manufactured materials.
Going Green doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. Whether you have a home you’re looking to turn Green or a local school you’d like to recommend, it can be affordable with government Green tax credits and debt consolidation. With some smart planning and energy efficiency, any school can become the next LEED-certified school.
The event, which is targeted towards both building industry professionals (10/8 and 10/9) and homeowners (10/9 only), will showcase energy-efficient and environmentally responsible products and services. Additionally, the event will feature a variety of interactive seminars from leaders in green building and design. Think of it as a more navigable version of GreenBuild.
The USGBC has awarded a LEED EB O&M Sliver certification to the BASF Construction Chemicals - Building Systems headquarters in suburban Minneapolis.
The 50,879 square foot Shakopee, Minnesota facility was originally constructed in 1972 and has since three renovations and one major addition. Highlights of the LEED-approved program include landfill waste reduction, an improvement of IAQ for the 100+ on-site employees and a sustainable purchasing program.
“As a supplier of products and solutions to this market, our decision to certify our building is an outward expression of our commitment, and has allowed us to more fully understand what it takes to participate in green and sustainable construction and renovation projects,” said Doug MacRae, Head of Building Systems.
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008.
The University of Minnesota Gophers’ new 58,800-seat football stadium has been awarded LEED Silver by the USGBC. The Minneapolis venue was designed by Populous is officially named TCF Bank Stadium and hosted its first game on September 12th to rave reviews from fans and players.
During a two year construction period, general contracted by M.A. Mortensen Construction Co., the following sustainable features were incorporated:
90% recycled steel, primarily locally produced
A high Albedo roof system
Low-VOC paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives.
A comprehensive storm water management system that harvests, filters and drains runoff to the Mississippi River.
The project also achieved a 50% reduction of potable water use in landscaping (30% indoor use reduction) and diverted 98 percent of construction waste from landfills. Further, in a testament to the true sustainable nature of the facility, it can be expanded to just over 80,000 seats.
Metal Roofing for LEED 2009 Credits»» 7/22/09 16:01:44,
Metal roofing is an often-overlooked product to help (i) attain LEED credits and (ii) produce a more sustainable building. While the material can’t be used in every circumstance, it does greatly assist when it can.
Specifically Applicable LEED 2009 Credits:
SS 7.2 Heat Island Effect: Roof - High albedo metal roofing can significantly contribute to the 75 requirement of this credit.
MR 4.1/4.2 Recycled Content: 10%/20% - Metal roofing can contain a high percentage of recycled content, assisting in total RC totals.
MR 2.1/2.2 Construction Waste Management: Divert 50%/75% from Disposal - Any excess material is easily recycled, elevating the percentage of recycled construction waste.
MR 5.2/5.2 Regional Materials: 10% / 20% - Properly purchased metal materials assists in the regional materials credit.
MR 1.1 Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof - Depending on age, it may be possible to reuse the actual roofing material but, given the longer useful life of a properly maintained metal roof vs. a traditional roof, the roof decking may be in better condition.
Other Sustainable Benefits:
There are also some benefits that, while not directly related to LEED, should be considered from a sustainability perspective. First, length of service. Metal roofing materials generally also have a longer warranty (up to 50 years) and, again, useful life than a traditional roof system. Secondly, at the end of this longer useful life, the roofing materials are more easily recycled than traditional materials. Today, the materials can, in many cases, be hauled off for free.
Special thanks to Adam from GreenIsGlobal.net for the post idea. Be sure to check out his metal and solar laminate roofing blog.
Bounce Energy Can Help You Save Even More Money»» 7/14/10 07:00:30,
Bounce Energy is always looking for new and innovative ways to provide value for our customers. That’s why we’re pleased to offer our customers BounceEnergyDeals.com.
Bounce Energy Deals is a place for customers to find the biggest discounts and best deals on the internet. If you’re looking for the best place to get your home connected with satellite television, phone, and internet, Bounce Energy Deals is the place to start. Bounce Energy Deals can also help you find local professionals to help you with projects around your home or to do a home energy audit. You’ll also find coupons for grocery stores, restaurants, and gift cards to department stores at a discounted price.
Save a Tree Opt for Paperless Billing»» 7/13/10 14:12:58,
Bounce Energy is taking another step to make the Earth a greener place by making paperless billing available to its customers. Customers now have the option to receive their bill online instead of in the mail. Each month, you’ll receive an email notification saying your statement is ready to view online. No more having walk to your the mailbox to get your electricity bill; now all it takes is to log into your Bounce Energy account.
By signing up with paperless bills, you’ll eliminate the necessity of having to write checks, the need for stamps and envelopes. 38,500 paper bills is equivalent to one ton of paper. If 38,500 customers switch to paperless billing, they’ll save close to 16,450 gallons of water, 1,941 pounds of solid waste, and 5,058 pounds of green house gasses.
The convenience and ease is a major benefit of paperless billing. For customers who are interested in reducing paper wastes and the energy associated with paper billing, they should sign up for paperless billing by logging into their Bounce Energy account.
Bounce Energy Plan Spotlight: Terrific 12»» 7/12/10 07:00:24,
The Bounce Energy Terrific 12 energy plan is a 12-month fixed rate plan for customers who are looking to lock in a low energy rate for 12 billing cycles.
If you don’t know which Bounce Energy plan to choose from, here are some highlights of Terrific 12:
You don’t have to worry about your rate fluctuating because your electric rate will be locked in for the next 12 months.
You’ll have the peace of mind knowing you’re protected from rising energy prices.
You’ll get rewarded for on-time bill payments.
That’s right, don’t worry about your energy rate for the next year by signing up with a low fixed rate plan.
Aside from reliable electric service at a low rate, you will get a choice of 5 different gift cards, compliments of Bounce Energy. You can choose from popular retailers such as GAP, Target, and Wal-Mart, or you can choose a Shell gift card or a $25 bill credit from bounce Energy. In addition to the gift card, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Bounce Energy Rewards Program where you’ll receive even more bonuses. For on-time bill payments, you can receive movie tickets, a companion airline ticket, access to our VIP customer service line, bill credits, and even a free month of electricity.
If you’d like an energy rate you can rely on for the next 12 months and be rewarded for paying your bills on time, choose the Bounce Energy Terrific 12 plan.
10 Steps for a Smoother Move This Summer»» 7/9/10 07:00:39,
Moving to a new home for most is exciting. However, Ive noticed that once the excitement wears off, you are left with the overwhelming realization of all the chores that lie ahead. After just going through a move myself, I know how intense moving can be. So, to help you with this matter, I suggest you read an article from Bounce Energy titled, 10 Steps to a Smoother Move This Summer. It should improve your moving experience by making it more manageable and less stressful.
Eco-Friendly Home & Business Products from LetsGoGreen.biz»» 7/6/10 08:00:29,
A quick glance @LetsGoGreenBiz from the window of my twitter feed shows a common theme:
Green products … and lots of them.
The eco-commerce shopping site at LetsGoGreen.biz features a wide array of everyday home and office products, from natural dog and cat treats to bamboo coasters and plates. The home page displays featured items of the month, including particular sales items for the thrift-concious shopper, and the product categorization overall is relatively straightforward (making it easier to hone in on the type of green product you are looking for).
Project: Greenify | Guide to Going Green in Your Home, Office & Life
Updating Project Greenify: Top 10 Posts for Going Green in 2010»» 7/14/10 15:10:44,
It's been a productive year for us over at FrugalBabble (helping the www and families alike save money in multiple ways) and the Bounce Energy Blog. Our endless quest to provide comprehensive, sensible tips for going green at home, at the office and just about anywhere we can offer up tips means that it's only practical to share the best of the best.
With that being said, here is a rundown of the top 9 green posts over at the Bounce Energy Blog, all for the eco enthusiast in us all, big and small:
Everyone loves infographics! Here's one from Infrastructurist.com about ways people in different cities commute to work.
No surprise, the majority of the people who live in Houston drive themselves to work. For Houston commuters, sometimes there's no other option than to drive yourself to work because the city is so sprawled out. I guess that's the benefit of living in a densely populated city such as New York. Since New York is so compact, such as people and locations being so close together, the need for automobiles is reduced and makes efficient public transit possible. New Yorkers have the smallest carbon footprint in the nation. 82% of Manhattan residents travel to work by public transit, bike, or by foot and the city has the lowest rate of automobile ownership in the nation. Yale Environment 360 has ranked New York as one of the greenest cities in America because of this reason.
Carbon Fast for 40 Days and 40 Nights»» 7/14/10 15:10:44,
Lent started this past Wednesday and it's a period of 40 days and 40 nights or repentence, reflection, and sacrifice for Christians. Instead of chocolate or t.v., the Church of England is asking followers to cut down their carbon footprint for Lent this year. They've come up with a 40 day plan where you reduce your carbon footprint each day.
Although the participants of Lent are Christian, anyone can take part
in this 40 day carbon fast. If you've ever thought about going green
but didn't know where to begin, this is a good list to follow.
Here is a full list of the carbon fast:
Day one (Ash Wednesday.) Remove one light bulb and live without it for the next 40 days.
Day two Check your house for draughts with a ribbon or feather. If it flutters, buy a draught excluder.
Day three Tread
lightly whether that's by foot, by bike, on to a bus or on the gas as
you drive. Find a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions when you
travel today.
Day four Are you recycling everything possible? Really everything? Look into it today.
Day five Can you talk about your Carbon Fast at church today? Encourage others to join in.
Day six Turn your central heating thermostat down by one degree.
Day seven Say
au revoir to standby. Check that all electrical equipment is switched
off when not in use. The TV alone will save a hefty 20kg of carbon
dioxide per year.
Day eight Unplug your mobile phone charger: it uses electricity even when it's not charging.
Day nine Climate
change isn't a distant threat it's affecting poor communities now.
Pray for Tearfund's work to help vulnerable communities adapt to the
changing weather.
Day 10 Give your dishwasher a day off or promote it to a Grade A energy efficient appliance.
Day 11 Use local shops or farmers' markets (farmersmarkets.net) instead of driving to out-of-town shopping parks. They will thank you; supermarkets won't notice your absence.
Day 12 Tell politicians to take action on climate change today. Check out Tearfund's campaign work at tearfund.org/climate.
Day 13 Put the heat on your electricity or gas suppliers and ask them if they have a green plan. Make the switch and feel cosy.
Day 14 Take a shower instead of a bath: you'll heat less water.
Day 15 Snub
plastic bags. Get into the habit of taking your rucksack to the
supermarket or go retro with a trolley. Ask your supermarket to remove
unnecessary packaging.
Day 16 Switch off lights as you leave the room.
Day 17 Only fill your kettle with as much water as you need.
Day 18 Cut the air miles. Don't consume any food that you know has been imported by plane (apart from Fairtrade products).
Day 19 Grace
Maglasey and her husband Andrew struggle to grow enough food because
their village in Malawi is caught in a cycle of floods and droughts.
Join in with Grace's prayer today: "We pray that those of us who farm
should harvest a lot of food so that this year we will not have hunger.
In the name of Jesus, Amen."
Day 20 Compost. Put the nutrients from food waste back into the soil not into a methane-emitting landfill.
Day 21 Only run your washing machine when you have a full load.
Day 22 Find one way to save paper today: re-use an old envelope or print double-sided.
Day 23 Turn the taps off. In one day a hot, dripping tap could fill a bath.
Day 24 Counsel your local council. Thank them for their recycling facilities but ask them if they could provide any more.
Day 25 Who
works hardest in the house? Mum? Dad? No, the fridge. It's churning
away 24/7. Treat it to a good de-icing to make sure it's running
efficiently.
Day 26 "Love does no harm to its
neighbour" Romans 13:10. But while our lifestyles consume more and more
energy, our poorer neighbours are suffering. Reflect on ways to love
our neighbours in our increasingly connected world.
Day 27 Pressure a car owner to check their tyre pressures. Low tyre pressure means high fuel consumption.
Day 28 Do a home energy check at energysavingtrust.org.uk or call 0800 512 012 for a paper copy. You could save up to £250 a year on bills.
Day 29 Run your washing machine at 30 degrees. This uses 40% less electricity than running at 40 degrees.
Day 30 Find out a new fact about the impact of climate change today. Amaze your friends.
Day 31 Fit aluminium foil behind your radiator allowing you to turn the radiator down and save £10 a year per radiator.
Day 32 Any
old iron? If they're on their last legs replace old electrical
appliances with energy-efficient models. They could save a third of the
energy.
Day 33 Have an embrace-the-silence Sunday. Turn off everything. No TV, no radio, no ringtones, no cars. It'll be good for the soul.
Day 34 Tell the Mailing Preference Service that you want to stop junk mail. Call 0845 7034599 or visit mpsonline.org.uk. Sign up to Tearfund's e-newsletter Twelve at tearfund.org/twelve
Day 35 Put
an insulation jacket on your hot-water tank. If everyone does, we'll
cut enough carbon dioxide to fill 148,000 hot-air balloons.
Day 36 Re-use an item you would have thrown away such as a jam jar, an envelope or an ice-cream container.
Day 37 Put a lid on it. That's pans when cooking; and use a kettle to boil water.
Day 38 Draw the curtains to keep the heat in.
Day 39 Could your church be greener? Talk to your church leaders. Tearfund can help visit the site.
Day 40 Replace
your missing bulb with an energy-saving lightbulb. Over its lifetime,
you will save 60kg of carbon dioxide per year and up to £60. Make a
personal pledge to serve others by pursuing a more sustainable way of
life.
It seems that there are certain times of the year where my allergies seem worse than others. I've also noticed that I'm not the only person in the household who is affected by allergies, so is my seven month old daughter. I've heard that one way to help with indoor allergies is to use an air purifier because it removes allergens from the air. After looking around, I found an interesting and innovative air purifier that looks different then all of the rest.
It's called the Andrea Air Purifier and it absorbs toxic gases from your home or office. The difference is that it removes toxins in the air by using live plants. This purifier is designed to work with any live household plant and can work in any room in the house (I kill plants like it's a sport so this sounds like a good solution for me and our poor plants). It works by drawing air in with a quiet fan and then moves the air through the plant's leaves and root system. Next the air is pushed through the water and soil and then finally is pushed back into the room. Not only is it ozone-free, which helps the environment, but it biochemically transforms and eliminates waste and pollution instead of only collecting it through filters like other purifiers.
Because I haven't tried this product, I can't tell you if or how well this purifier works, but it seems like it could be a green and decorative alternative to the rest.
For more information on this product go to www.andreaair.com.
Think Before You Recycle - Precycle!»» 7/14/10 15:10:44,
Everyone knows about recycling, but have you heard of precycling? Precycling is the practice of reducing wastes
by thinking about the products you buy and the packaging they come in. Recycling
may be the first and easiest step for all green do-gooders but it still
contributes to pollution. A large amount of energy is required to break down
materials and make them new again. This creates toxins that are sent into the
air to re-manufacture a product.
Precycling focuses more on the other "R's" of recycling: reduce and reuse. Recycling is still better than disposing items in the
garbage but we can lower the amount of things we recycle by reusing, repairing,
and donating what we already have. For things that are recyclables, we should
consider purchasing products with minimal packaging and something we can reuse
often.
Here are some tips to help you pre-cycle:
Buy more items that can be reused or refilled
such as Tupperware, cloth napkins, razors, cigarette lighters, or batteries.
Buy plastic, aluminum, steel, glass, or cardboard that are marked with a 1 or 2 because those can be recycled more easily.
Instead of having your paper delivered to your
house, opt for a digital copy.
Bring your own bags when shopping.
Drink from refillable bottles or mugs. There are coffee shops that use recycled cups but its still better if you
bring in your own to be filled.
Donate items that arent being used and repair
items that are broken instead of throwing them away. Don't forget to join the Freecycle Network to exchange items with people in your area.