Zwahlen's Ice Cream Goes Green With SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile
Zwahlen's is a local (Audubon PA) ice cream and chocolate establishment that just so happens to have the first commercial use of SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile Roof.
I was driving past the store last evening when my son told me about the sign on the front that said --- something along the lines "the best ice cream under the sun is now powered by the sun". I needed to check this out ...
" SRS Energy, ...installed ... the first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for curved roofing systems, ... the first commercial installation of the Sole Power Tile(TM) system ..."
"T...a great example of how time-tested traditions and cutting-edge technology can meet to create something beautiful," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy and owner of Zwahlen's. "
" ... designed to blend seamlessly with several styles of US Tile's clay tiles, providing energy without the use of traditional solar panels that can compromise a building's roofline and curb appeal. ... preserves Zwahlen's charming Swiss chalet look."
"SRS Energy recently introduced the Sole Power Tile(TM) system to the greater Philadelphia region at the PV America show, held at the Pennsylvania Convention center during the week of June 7, 2009."
SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile can generate 500 Watts per sq ft.
Via: EarthTimes LINK
Via: SRS Energy LINK
Philadelphia is a city of row houses ... unfortunately many are in blighted condition and when they are town down the newly created "end units" are poorly insulated. Cleaning up the blighted homes causes the other homeowners to have basically little or no insulation on a large surface of their home.
hts on.
One possible way to save energy is to paint your roof white ... or some other light color. This would keep buildings cooler and lessen the need for air conditioning. Same for roads and other dark surfaces ... which would reflect heat back into space instead of warming the earth. Concrete could be used instead of painting road a lighter color ... 
vironmental responsibility."
The former Strawbridge and Clothier flagship department store in Philadelphia is being remodeled in a green way. PA. REIT has posted window signs and made green dioramas in the store's street side display cases (most of the building has been closed for some time).
eBay has many green aspects to its business model ... including the basic eBay design - helping people sell unneeded / unused stuff ... 
Comcast's HQ in Philadelphia is now LEED Gold certified ... and the tallest such building in the US.
I was in Washington DC this past weekend and saw some small buses with the Smithsonian log on the side - promoting them as green hybrids. This prompted me to see what else our nations museum is up too in the green space. 
Check out this BBC video of a prefab house ... some neat ideas that make for green living ... 
"Greenbuild365 expands USGBC's Greenbuild Conference to a year-round interactive green building learning portal. Educational opportunities ... are now available to anyone, anywher
e. It is through green building education, outreach, and the sharing of best practices that USGBC's mission of a sustainable built environment within a generation will be achieved."
Timberland has a solid green business policty and their store on Broadway in NYC is another good example ...
"Located at 474 Broadway,... our newest specialty store incorporates salvaged industrial elements with a modern, sustainable aesthetic. ...Green building practices included using materials salvaged or reclaimed from previous occupants, energy-efficient lighting, a more eco-conscious HVAC system, and wall paints and sealants containing reduced chemicals.
Via: Timberland 
Want to become certified in Green Building or looking for a Green Certified Contractor?
s client prefers structures that are ... energy and water efficient, ... healthier and environmentally friendly. Green Advantage® certifies your knowledge of the latest in "green" building practices, technologies and techniques. ..." 
" ...20 percent – of building materials were from recycled content and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled. ... drought tolerant landscape and a portion of the power used for operations will be green power supplied by wind energy."
Starbucks opens green roasting plant in South Carolina. The new facility has achieved the level of LEED Silver for New Construction. ...
Radnor Township has a number of "green" sites: a new school has a green roof, restored wetlands at Villanova University and leaf pick up / composting by the township. Now they are presenting a series of lectures on Sustainability in Radnor. 
As part of their 2020 Low Carbon Roadmap .... PECO opened their first "green" building in West Chester (Chester County) Pa. 
renovating to become GREEN.
The California Academy of Sciences is an example of GREN design - from solar cells, to green roof, to skylights to reused literature ...
See the Video for more ...
Via: ZDNet 
Newly opened condominiums in the Western Suburbs of Philadelphia combine energy efficiency, LEED design standards, a green roof and is within easy walking distance of 2 t
rain stations.
" ... buildings have heating and cooling systems that employ heat pumps connected to extensive underground thermal pipe systems for tremendous energy efficiency. ..."
Today Pittsburgh has one of the nation's greenest buildings ... " ... trying to shed its image of a gritty, grimy steel town one building at a time. Its convention center is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings of its size in the entire country. ... boasts an organic garden, its own water reclamation plant, and a smart cooling system. The building was awarded gold-level certification on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ratings scale set up by the U.S. Green Building Council."
See the video for more information
Via: ZDNet 
One of Roofscapes "green roofs" is at the Schuykill Valley Nature Center - just outside of Phyioladelphia PA. The roof is not irrigated and covers 2,000 sq ft.
Radnor Township (Delaware Country, Pa) recently opened their new Middle School. It was designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly as well as to provide a healthy environment for the students and staff.
now a lot and just want some ideas?
Some schools are already green. Others are just getting started. Many need help with a structured program to guide them. 
Here is an interesting idea ... harness the body heat from commuters to warm a building. instead of radiating into the air ... an interesting idea in Sweden uses that heat to heat a new nearby office building. 
With a hot real estate market, Atlanta sees strong interest in green construction. Real estate agents must 
" ... As much as 5% of fresh water consumed is currently used to carry away urine. Each Falcon Waterfree ... saves an average of 40,000 gallons (151,000 liters) of fresh water per year. ... No energy need be used to treat this water, nor does it produce carbon dioxide emissions as a byproduct of its treatment. ... "
What is a green home?
Want to know more about Green building materials and services? Looking for that special green product or service? 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Oct 7th, 2007!
