Wisconsin lake house integrates cool, modern design with sustainable, LEED platinum capabilities. The house deploys geothermal and solar photovoltaic systems. …
… “one of two homes in Wisconsin to gain platinum LEED certification for its green features … ” …
Las Vegas is well known for the Strip and night life ... it is also becoming known for Sustainability.
Las Vegas has a number of sustainability initiatives underway ... the City's Sustainability Web site lists a number of information resources for learning about and implementing sustainability. Topics listed include Green Building, Recycling and Energy Efficiency.
There are also programs for low income families and incentives to build green (new or retrofits).
" ... pilot program with Green Chip ... to perform energy audits and retrofits for ... qualifying low income households ... "
" ... expanded its Green Building Program ... incentives to stimulate new green building construction and provide energy efficiency retrofits to existing buildings ..."
Via: Sustaining Las Vegas LINK
Students will live in a sustainable environment as they move in for the school year. The new building has been constructed to LEED Silver standards. …
… “With solar panels on the roof to heat water and touch screens in the hallways for monitoring energy usage, Wake Forest University’s new residence hall has the latest in green technology.
First-year students will move into South Residence Hall Aug. 19. ” …
Via Wake Forest: Sustainable Living.
Wake Forest South Residence Hall.
LEED Silver Standard.
Wake Forest University Sustainability Leadership.
The Physalia concept integrates mobility and sustainability into restoring European waterways. Vincent Callebaut is the architect that developed this concept to ply the waters of Europe cleaning as it goes. …
… “It’s the same technology used in certain high-tech concrete that breaks down airborne particulates. As the vessel whips along, purifying waterways, it can draw on both solar and hydro power. ” …
Via Popular Science: Green Architecture.
Calstar bricks and pavers are targeted to the green market. Among their features are that they use recycled materials and generate less CO2 when produced and they are priced to b e competitive with their non-green competing products.
" ... architectural facing bricks and durable pavers for the green building market. ...contain 40% post-industrial recycled material, use 90%" less energy ... generate 90% less CO2 than traditional fired clay brick and pavers."
To hear move about the technology and sustainability ... CLICK
Via: Calstar LINK
St. Mary’s University engineers rise to the challenge and create 1.4 kW solar panel system to demonstrate that the local event can be accomplished with a lower carbon footprint. The engineering students are being recognized by the City of San Antonio during their Green Building awards. ….jpg)
… “The St. Mary’s students built the solar panel system in response to the Mayor Julián Castro’s Fiesta Verde campaign, which was the Mayor’s idea to make Fiesta more green by promoting recycling efforts at most of the major Fiesta events.
Churchwell, Srinivasan and Crowell answered that call and one upped it by building a solar panel system equipped with a backup battery that lit 14 food booths for 40 hours—even with the cloudy skies and rain leading up to and during Fiesta Oyster Bake!
It took the awesome threesome just under a month to build the impressive eight solar panel system …” …
Via St. Mary’s University: Green Building Award (Link).
Engineering students are addressing the renewable energy challenge:
Two engineering students from MIT and a business school student from Harvard pursue biofuel from microbes process.
Team of PhD chemical engineering students has developed a carbon nano-based transparent electrode that will increase the efficiency of thin film photovoltaic solar panels.
Oregon Institute of Technology student, who is majoring in Renewable Energy Engineering, receives project funding support from Portland General Electric for monitoring the performance of a wind and solar power system.
Intel's first GOLD LEED certified site is scheduled to open in June 2010 in Haifa, Israel. The site is called is a design center called IDC-9 and is " ... first facility in Israel ... with a (LEED) certification. ... Intel’s first ... has a Gold certification pending for its Octollio campus in Chandler, Ariz."
" ...natural lighting, ... available to about 75 percent of the “populated” areas of the building ... individually controlled lighting for a higher degree of energy efficiency"
Via: ZDNet LINK
Montana State student teams will collaborate with suppliers to build an ecoSmart home in the Bozeman area. The house will feature a number of technologies, but will focus on passive heating. …
… “Because of REHAU's involvement, a variety of other suppliers joined in the project, which will feature such sustainable building technologies as geothermal ground loop heat exchange, ground-air heat exchange; radiant heating and cooling; solar thermal energy for hot water; and insulating concrete forms.” …
Via Montana State University: Bozeman Sustainable House.
Onset introduces wireless sensing hubs that communicate with centralized monitoring to understand energy use and environmental conditions in buildings. …
… “HOBO ZW Series data nodes reduce the cost and complexity of data collection by measuring, recording and transmitting real-time energy use and environmental data – from dozens of points – to a central PC. Different from traditional data loggers, HOBO data nodes work together in a self-healing wireless network to transmit logged data to a PC at regular intervals.
This eliminates the need of having to spend time retrieving collected data from individual data loggers deployed throughout a facility. The wireless nodes can measure temperature, relatively humidity, kilowatt hours, CO2, AC voltage, amps, gauge pressure, and a variety of other parameters. ” …
Via Onset: Wireless data nodes.
Pythagoras will commercialize a solar power generating window that can be integrated into green buildings, BIPV. …
… “Pythagoras Solar leverages a combination of patent-pending optics, high-efficiency crystalline silicon, advanced materials science and simulation software to create a highly efficient photovoltaic glass unit (PVGU), a new category of green building material. Unlike existing BIPV products, Pythagoras Solar curtain walls, skylights and windows simultaneously block solar radiation; concentrate sunlight and convert it into solar power; and deliver a high level of transparency for optimal daylighting and aesthetics.” …
Via Pythagoras Solar: Green building material.
About a week ago I wrote about the cool roof project in Philadelphia [LINK]. The winning block was just announced ... the 1200 Block of Wolf Street.
The residents on this block showed tremendous enthusiasm and community spirit in their quest to become the 'Coolest'. Plus, every roof on the block is suitable for a 'cool roof' coating!
"In the coming weeks, ... this block ... receive its prize-an energy audit and energy-efficient upgrades, such as insulation, air sealing and a 'cool roof'! And we'll celebrate with a block party in June!"
" ... check out their winning essay!"
"Cool roofs reflect the sun's heat ... are about 50-80 degrees cooler than typical asphalt roofs and come in a variety of colors. White is the "coolest" because it most efficiently reflects the sun's rays. "
Via: RetroFit Philly LINK
Real Estate developers are seeing the value in being able to offer sustainable green buildings.
"Aegis Property Group ... integrating energy and environmental leadership principals and practices into its development management services capabilities. ...Corporate commitment to LEED program. ...an active leadership role ... in the Green Building Council ... continuing education in green principles and LEED ... Advocacy of green principles ... as appropriate in our client’s projects."
"Sustainable design, construction and operation ... is no longer a luxury - it is an absolute necessity."
Via: AEGIS Property Group LINK
" ... RetroFIT PHILLY "Coolest Block" contest ... with product and technology contributions from The Dow Chemical Company ... invites row home owners to enter to win energy-saving cool roof, air sealing and insulation upgrades for their entire block."
"... Greenworks Philadelphia goal is to retrofit 15 percent of the city's row home roofs, and the 'Coolest Block' contest is jumpstarting this effort," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter...."
" ... White cool roofs, ... bounce off solar energy to prevent it from being absorbed into the roof and house in the summer. ... they reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the living space and bring the cost of cooling a home down by as much as 20 percent."" ... cool roofs are a proven way to combat urban heat island effect. The roof's exterior is 50 – 80 degrees cooler on hot summer days, helping to lower high temperatures and improve air quality. ..."
Via: The Dow Chemical Company LINK
Great example of the talented graduates of architecture education, who are prepared to address the world’s challenges. …
… “We’re also looking at how to implement biogas, solar panels and wind turbines, says Bukowski, who earned her LEED accreditation last year.” …
Via Washington University in St. Louis: Tegan Bukowski, Architect.
Redmond, Washington creates a set of indicators to track trends in the community. Urban development trends are tracked through the volume of LEED rated buildings. …
… “To qualify for LEED certification, a development must earn a certain number of credits, each linked to a green building practice. Eight buildings were LEED certified in Redmond during 2009.” …
Via City of Redmond, Washington: Community Indicators 2010 (PDF).
Sonoma State offers education opportunity in green building …
… “This Certificate Program is designed with the working professional in mind. It is a yearlong program focused on developing the understanding necessary to enable sustainable building decision making within a corporate, institutional, non-profit, municipal or individual setting. ” …
Via City of Petaluma: Resources for Building Professionals (PDF).
through leveraging investment and legislative options. …
… “This report presents an extensive menu of options, spanning across a wide range of programs, which the Administration could begin implementing immediately to advance a high performance, efficient green buildings agenda. All told, the programs identified in this report have the potential to directly provide or facilitate over $72 billion in funding or loan guarantees,2 and can leverage hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment through instruments such as mortgage insurance and regulation of the real estate lending market. Even a small fraction of this funding would, if directed to high-performing energy efficient and sustainable buildings, stimulate significant new “green” investments and job creation. “ …
Via US Green Building Council: Greener Buildings (PDF)
With Google Earth you can "Tour 3D models of Green Buildings around the United States. ... includes campus buildings, parks, offices, homes, and schools that were designed and constructed using environmentally sensitive design techniques ... start the tour, double-click the "Start tour here" link in the Places panel and make sure the "3D Buildings" layer is checked. The models are also located in the Google 3D Warehouse at http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse "
Via: Google LINK
Intel's new design center in Haifa, Israel is LEED Gold certified. It opened in June.
Some of the highlights ...
"...received LEED Gold certification ... for ... Intel Design Center – IDC 9 – ... in Haifa, Israel ..."
" ... Intel's first certified green facility, IDC 9 is the first building in Israel to receive LEED Gold-level recognition."
" ... was built on land previously occupied by a parking lot to not damage any natural resources. ... "
" ... rooftop garden to enhance thermal insulation and prevent the building from retaining excessive heat ... A method for capturing and recycling condensate water from the air conditioning system for irrigation. ..."
Via: Intel LINK
Folks in Sonoma, California are working to design and refine a Passive House ... but what exactly is a passive home?
" ... a building that has a minimal impact on its surroundings. ... as systems unto themselves. ... well-insulated — virtually airtight — ... most of the “heat” ... comes from the humans and appliances and other stuff running in them. Heat exchangers are used to circulate it. ... in the United States ... focus has been certifying according the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED framework ...."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Darden Restaurants - owner of Red Lobster and other restaurant brands - is embracing the USGBC LEED Standards.
" ... launching a sustainable restaurant design initiative ... will require that all new restaurants be built to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards ... need to be built following the LEED Rating Systems code when feasible."
" ... launching with eight restaurants that have been built, or are in the process of being built, to achieve LEED certification."
Via: FORBES LINK
" ... The number of affordable, energy-efficient modular homes continues to increase as Pennsylvania-based builder Excel Homes offers a new line aimed at first-time buyers ... targeted to be sold for under $100,000, and depending on region, for as low as $60,000. ..."
" ... Excel Homes ... has built 28,000 modular homes since its founding in 1984 ... built in sect
ions ... in Liverpool, Pa., and Marlboro, N.Y., and transported ... where they are assembled... come with the government's Energy Star label for energy efficiency ... prices do not include the cost of land...."
Via: USAToday LINK
The UTS Tower in Sydney, Australia is may get a proposed upgrade - a solar skin. This PV "wrap" would turn the tower into a very green and energy efficient structure.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Tower "upgrade" is " ... Fueled by the university’s sustainability drive ... turn the building into a “landmark environmental tower” by wrapping it in a photovoltaic skin."
"The sustainable energy system, devised by postgraduate students in 2008, has been funded to allow students to build and test the project."
There are a number of propose upgrades including wind turbines and cogeneration ... the solar skin " ... stretches around walls and roof elements ... the building is covered in a lightweight composite mesh textile that can collect rain water, generate electricity and complement the plan’s passive ventilation system that uses natural convection."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
The GSA is renovating the 18 story federal building in Portland, Oregon. Green features include a vertical green wall and reduced water usage with low flow fixtures and recycled roof water.
"... part of a $133 million renovation, the General Services Administration wants to grow “vegetated fins” on the western facade of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building ... save energy year-round using one of Mother Nature’s own tools."
" ... will use 60 to 65 percent less energy than comparable buildings. That translates to an energy cost savings of $280,000 per year."
"Solar panels could also provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. Energy use for lighting will be halved."
"... building in question was already slated for an energy efficiency upgrade, but funds from last year’s federal stimulus package stressed projects that were environmentally friendly."
... "75,000-seat stadium will be the first LEED-certified building in the NFL and will capture the luxury and drama of the world’s entertainment capital. The project will be completed for the 2011 season. " ...Via Aedas: Los Angeles NFL Stadium
Green buildings and designs are being found all across the country ... the Housing Authority Administration building in Newport, Tennessee is green. Read about the many green features and technologies used.
" ... 8,585 square foot administration building ... Design included multiple "green" features: photovaltaic solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, premium insulation package, Energy Star windows and lighting, low flow faucets and toilets and low impact site design. Project cost was $1,000,000.00."
Via: McGraw-Hill Construction Community LINK
There is a new Green building in NYC - at the southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park City. Read about the Visionaire - it is one very green building - though a very expensive place to live with pricing startling at just under $700,000 and going to a little over $6 million.
" ... the Visionaire ... a testing ground for urban green architecture."
"... All building fixtures reduce use of potable water, and a blackwater treatment system means that all toilet water in the building is recycled, treated wastewater. Stormwater collection reserves irrigate the green roofs, which cover 70 percent of the roof surface ... a natural gas-powered microturbine on the structure’s roof harnesses its own waste energy to heat water."" ... saves an estimated 42 percent in energy costs against a base-line average. This is largely the result of efficient building systems and the building envelope ... goal was achieved through exhaustive attention to detail ... "
Via: Greensource LINK
" ... data center developer Verne Global ... announced it is constructing the first international data center in Iceland ... converting a former NATO command center into a data center."
" ... designed to take full advantage of Iceland's infrastructure and environment ... the data center, whose total footprint is about 430,600 square feet, will be designed around LEED Gold standards ... will deploy innovative practices of HVAC and adaptive reuse of the world-class facilities already in place."
" ... will benefit from the large amount of free cooling available in Iceland, as well as its renewable energy sources and constant power rates."
" ... Verne Global is breaking new ground in using Iceland's natural green resources to mitigate both increasing emissions and rising energy costs."
Via: Web Host Industry Review LINK
Puppy Toys have gone GREEN.
We recently got a puppy and have noticed there are lots of GREEN puppy (and cat) things to be had ...
" ... In an age of disposability, these products stand the test of time. ... Utilizing eco friendly materials, such as reclaimed cotton, organic cotton, eco fabric and stuffing made with IntelliLoft™ recycled fibers, reyclable Zogoflex, and recycled fabric that can be recycled again ... "
" ... developed a manufacturing process that minimizes waste (currently as low as 2.4%!) ... our state-of-the-art building ... was constructed using the latest developments in energy efficient design in 2001 ... building expansion in 2009 and 2010 ... reclaiming 30,000 lbs of concrete."
" ... Reclaimed and reused old boxes are utilized to store finished goods rather than plastic manufacturing totes ... also incorporate recycled material in our shipping boxes."
Via: West Paw Design LINK
... "The school building's features include tall, north-facing windows that control enough light and heat gain to reduce the school’s need for electricity by 50 percent. In addition, classrooms and many other areas in the building rely on naturally occurring convection currents rather than noisy, high-maintenance and energy-hungry ventilation systems. " ...Via University of Califonia at Berkeley: Livable Buildings, 2009
PNC is well known for their green projects ... one of their ads says they have more green buildings than any other bank ...
In addition to having green buildings - PNC now has a GREEN WALL. " ... the largest green wall in North America ... 2,380 sq. ft., soil-based wall - similar in size to a doubles tennis court - features a variety of regional plants grown into living art on the south-facing wall of One PNC Plaza ... in downtown Pittsburgh." " ... estimated that each of the 602 panels, with 24 plants in each 2x2 sq. ft. space, will offset the carbon footprint of one person. ... similar to a green roof, will help to cool the 30-story building ... wall is a fitting reminder that PNC is the world leader in green building ...".
" ... has more newly constructed buildings certified by the United States Green Building Council under its LEED® program than any other company in the world ... includes 64 trademark Green Branch® locations and two office buildings. About 20 environmentally friendly branches and two other major buildings are under construction or awaiting LEED certification." Via: PRNewsWire LINK
Ever wonder why office building always seem to be lit up at night ? Often if is because the lighting controls do not allow for fine lighting control .... lights are either on or off for the whole floor ... or a large portion of the floor. I recall this when I worked in office buildings past the automatic "lights out" time programmed into the lighting relays.
"Commercial office buildings are one of the main culprits of the current climate crisis ... consume large amounts of electricity and release excessive carbon emissions ... Adura Technologies has developed a mesh-based lighting system that is reducing costs and consumption inside buildings. The technology consists of wireless radios that plug into florescent light fixtures giving employees more control over their personal lighting space. ... also created a dual motion sensing-personal control system that is being used at UC Berkeley that allows students to break the hard-wired connection and control their lighting from their desktop PCs."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Looking to add a green roof? Lots of building are now sporting green roofs. There are a number of environmental and economical reasons to green the roof. A green roof can even help get a LEED certification.
"Urban Heat Island Mitigation ... Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify. ... Noise Reduction ... Plants, soil, and air trapped in the soil are great acoustic insulators. ... green roofs can reduce indoor sound by as much as 40 decibels ... Fire Prevention ... Succulent green roof plants help reduce the risk of fire. ..."
"Water Conservation/Reduction of Storm Water Runoff ... green roof systems acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water ... green roof systems can reduce runoff by up to 90+% annually ... Habitat Recreation
Plants and soil help recreate habitat for butterflies, insects, and songbirds. "
Check out LiveRoof for more information.
Via: LiveRoof LINK
... "The Cronkite building was constructed with numerous sustainable features, including an east-west orientation for solar control, exterior overhangs and sunscreens for shading windows, energy-saving materials to help optimize building-energy performance, low or no-water landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures, building materials that meet LEED low-emitting product requirements and occupancy sensors for lighting control. " ...Via Arizona State: LEED Cronkite building
"HP recognizes the important role that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector will play in enabling carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions ... committed to reducing our own contribution to climate change as well as developing IT solutions that can help lower or reduce the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as CO2 into the atmosphere. ... In most countries, buildings are the largest driver for both energy use and CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions. The 160 million buildings of the EU, for example, are estimated to use over 40 percent of Europe’s energy and to drive over 40 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions ..."
"HP’s Intelligent Building Competence Center (IBCC) offers the BuilDog solution for the next generation of fully managed and optimized buildings ... manage a buildings heating and cooling and electricity use as well as security, facilities, inventory, telecommunications and more. Smart management ... can result in reductions of 25-35% (in cost) through optimization of the facility as well as resource use and purchase."
Via: HP LINK
Along with Net ZERO energy houses folks are now talking about Net ZERO Water homes. The idea is to be self sufficient - self sustaining and off the "water grid".
" ... Water ... requires energy to deliver, so excess use compounds our energy problems ... many renewable sources of power, such as solar, require massive amounts of water as an input, creating further pressure on limited resources."
"Net Zero water is an analogous concept to net zero energy. Through ... rainfall harvesting, aggressive conservation, and water recycling, buildings can achieve self-sufficiency from the water “grid.”"
" ... divide available sources of water into categories and treat them accordingly. Rainwater is relatively clean, and can be converted into drinking water with a minimum of processing.... grey water can be cleaned by filtering it through a biological wastewater treatment system ... "
While not yet achievavle for more that a few select instances ... Net ZERO water ..."makes as much sense as energy efficiency, and net zero water provides an admirably ambitious goal."
Via: TerraPAss LINK
It's always nice to save some energy (energy = money). Sometimes these are really easy low cost ideas. Check these out ...simple, easy and low tech ... 
" ... Put a timer on your hot-water heater ... no need for your hot water heater to keep running 24/7. ... if you're going away for a few days, turn your hot-water heater off altogether ... change the last of your old bulbs to CFLs. It's getting darker earlier, and than means we need more lighting. Be green and save energy. ... LED flashlights. ..."
Via: SustainLane LINK
... "the only visible sign of what the owners hope to be an environmental model for the world is a pallet of dirt and sedum on the tower's 90th floor roof, the beginnings of a green roof so high that only mountain vegetation can grow there. " ...Via Chicago Tribune: Willis Tower
Here is an interesting approach toi reducing waste and CO2 at the same time. Using fly ash (waste and high in CO2) to make bricks solves both.
Read about CalStar's approach >>>
" ... CalStar directly addresses global climate change and CO2 emissions ... Brick is an energy- and carbon-intensive industry ... U.S. demand for brick is almost 10 billion units in a typical year. At 1.3 pounds of CO2 per brick, the industry footprint equals almost 13 billion pounds of CO2 per year. ..."
"Our commitment to green extends to product safety ... to ensure they are safe throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture to placement to use (and reuse) to end-of-life disposal ... process for making fly ash into bricks binds the materials within a strong crystalline matrix that holds even if exposed to the intense acids found in landfills. ..."
"CalStar ... promotes pragmatic solutions to climate change .... reducing the carbon footprint of cement, the biggest lever for industry has been and continues to be substitution of fly ash for CO2-intensive Ordinary Portland Cement. "
Via: Calstar LINK
White roofs are the "hot" thing in roofing ... allowing for a lowed burden on a/c systems.
But dark colored roofs can bring solar gain to warm buildings ... if only roof tiles were smart enough to know ...
The next "hot" thing in roofing might be roofing that can change color based on outdoor temperature to maximize or minimize solar gain.
"MIT researchers have developed roof tiles that change color based on the temperature, turning white when it’s hot to deflect heat and turning black when it’s cold to absorb it ... the tiles can reflect about 80 percent of sunlight when they’re white and 30 percent of sunlight when they’re black. ... white state ... could save as much as 20 percent of present cooling costs ..."
" ... system ... made of a ... polymer in a water solution ... encapsulated between flexible plastic layers, with a dark layer at the back. When the temperature is above a certain level ... the polymer ... produce a white surface and scatter light. ... Below that temperature, the polymer stays dissolved, revealing the tile’s black backing and absorbing the sun’s heat ..."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Sometime low tech is the way to go ... painting a flat roof white can reduce the A/C load on a building and keep it cooler ...
This low tech solution " ... can act much like earth's snow covered poles; reflecting the sun’s light and heat as opposed to absorbing it ... keeps buildings cooler, reducing the problem of urban heat islands and saving energy (and money). ... we could counteract global warming simply by increasing the Earth’s total reflective surface. ...
"
" ... Changing from a dark shingle ... to a light-colored (titanium-based white or terra cotta red) shingle can cut air conditioning costs by up to 40%. Georgia has been a leader in pushing cool roofs, passing a state law encouraging the shift. ... other states and regions also provide incentives, and the federal government is considering adding heat reflectivity requirements to housing regulations. "
Oberlin College's Living Machine® is a waste water treatment system that teaches students how nature purified water for years ... but is unlike most modern systems.
" ... treats wastewater using a system of engineered ecologies that include microbes, plants, snails and insects, and is designed to treat up to 2,000 gallons of ... wastewater daily in a beautiful, garden-like atmosphere. ... Upon completion of a water- pressurization system, the treated wastewater will be recycled back through the building for non-potable re-use."
"Invented by Dr. John Todd, of Living Machines, Inc. ... Wastewater flows from the building into two underground reactors ... an anaerobic biological process begins digestion of the wastes. ... wastewater flows through two closed aerobic reactors ... where the remaining organic compounds are further degraded. ...[then] ... enters the Living Machine® solarium and flows through three open aerobic reactors. ... plants such as papyrus, calla lilies and willows root into the planted aerobic reactors and assist in the treatment process."
" ... biosolids are settled out of the wastewater in a clarifier. ... then flows through a constructed wetland surrounding the open aerobic tanks for final ‘polishing.’ Ultraviolet disinfection is the final step prior to the treated wastewater being reused in the buildings’ toilets."
Continue reading "Solar Decathlon Germany House Technology Showcase" »
are smaller, efficient models to draw a lower load on the electrical system, which is powered by 4KW solar panel array.
Continue reading "Solar Decathlon Rice University ZeROW House Designed for Affordability" »
I heard about recycled blue jeans being used as building insulation at the 2009 Solar Decathlon in DC this past Saturday (Oct 10th).
"UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber insulation ... revolutionary patented manufacturing process that has created a superior and safe product. ... made from high quality natural fibers. ... 
DOES NOT ITCH and is very easy to handle and work with."
" ... contains no chemical irritants ... requires no warning labels ... no VOC concerns ... it is safe for you and the environment."
" ... meets 
the highest ASTM testing standards for fire and smoke ratings, fungi resistance and corrosiveness. ... contains 85% post-industrial recycled natural fibers making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to use a high quality sustainable building material."
" ... available to purchase nationally on The Home Depot website or through your local distributor."
Via: Bonded Logic LINK
Solar Decathlon 2009 is in full swing on the Mall in Washington DC.
With the US Capital on one end and the Washington Memorial on the other it is an amazing site. Sponsored by the U.S. DOE there are 20 houses showing what is possible with green technologies - using current off the shelf products and some very creative thinking.
Most of the teams are from US colleges with several international entries ... including Spain and Germany.
Given parameters of 800 sq ft there are some very creative solutions. Some stress extreme insulation, all have some sort of garden area, all have solar PV and some have solar hot water. Most interesting is the creative use of 800 sq ft ...
As of this writing RICE is in the lead ... thought the difference between top and bottom on the ranking is not all that great. Yesterday was very sunny so anyone with LOTS of PV was sure to get extra points ...
Look for more posts and some GREENTECHNOLOG pictures ...
Via: Greentechnolog.com LINK
Concrete is everywhere and is a key component of modern infrastructure .... used in roads, buildings, bridges, etc. It is also anything BUT green. Not only is it typically gray - its manufacturing process is quite dirty.
"MIT Prof. Franz-Josef Ulm is obsessed with concrete and how to make it greener ... behind the reinvention of this backbone material ... that happens to contribute up to five per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. "
production by 83 per cent over the next 40 years." " ... 25 billion tons of concrete are produced annually on a worldwide basis versus 3.3 billion tons of lumber. ... production ... emits carbon dioxide (CO2) in two ways. Cement forms the glue in concrete and is made from limestone. However, limestone isn’t cement until the CO2 is baked out, a process that makes up half of concrete’s carbon emissions. ... other 50 per cent ... comes from fossil fuels used to heat the limestone up to 1,300 degrees Celsius. ..."
The Dow Chemical company is active in the green energy space with several innovative products. They recently announced their entry into the solar cell market with the " ... POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, ... panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. ... expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and ... more widely available in 2011, ..."
"... integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, ... design reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors ..."
"... addresses two of the biggest challenges associated with solar power – cost and acceptance. "
... "The U's ICON house, named for how its asymmetrical roof may come to symbolize solar homes in the future, is powered entirely by the sun. It has solar panels aplenty plus the latest in energy-efficient materials. " ...Via University of Minnesota: Ready to Compete in the Solar Decathlon
Continue reading "Univ Minnesota Solar House Design, ICON-ic" »
... "Natural Fusion is the first residential project to utilize the Solyndra cylindrical photovoltaics, which captures more sunlight throughout the entire day than traditional flat panels, which can only capture the most intense sunlight in the middle of the day. It's a system called Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaics (GRIP V) where the properties of the green roof beneath the panels create greater efficiency in powering the house. " ...Via Penn State: Solar-powered home design
Boston's entry in the Solar Decathlon is called Curio House and is built mostly from off the shelf technologies and powered by the sun. Cobuilt by Tufts University and the Boston Architecture School the building will be on its way to the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, DC in October.
See related post on the Solar Decathlon.
" ... designed to run entirely from solar energy. ..."
" ... team has focused its design on affordability, making an 800-square-foot building using almost entirely off-the-shelf products and technologies. ... lined up a buyer for the home in Cape Cod where it is supposed to be the first unit in a green housing development. ... projected cost of the building, big enough for two people and a small child, is about $200,000. ..."
Via: ZDNet LINK
The Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, NY is " ... a state-of-the art education center and natural wastewater treatment facility. "
" ... is a pioneering project in the Living Building Challenge and is expected to be the first building in the United States to receive the Living Building designation in addition to receiving LEED Platinum certification."
" ... the Living Building Challenge requires buildings to be informed by their eco-region's characteristics; generate all of their own energy with renewable resources; capture and treat all of their water; operate efficiently; and be designed for maximum beauty. ... six performance areas—site, energy, materials, water, indoor quality, and beauty & inspiration—and certain criteria to be met in each category in order for a building to be designated a Living Building."
Via: Omega Center for Sustainable Living LINK
... "The residual heat released is used to heat the building. In addition, an innovative Borehole Energy Storage (BES) system is being laid. The system uses 100-metre-deep boreholes to temporarily store cold energy deep underground. This air is then transferred to the building via an ingenious, energy-conserving piping network, for climate conditioning. Solar panels are placed on the roof to preheat warm water for the building’s restrooms." ...Via Imtech: Green head office in Brussels
Serious Materials produces a line of green environmentally friendly building products that help homeowners save energy ...
"... develops and manufactures sustainable green building materials that dramatically reduce the impact of the 'built environment' on the climate."
" ... aim for breakthroughs in product performance, without requiring changes in customer behavior or in how products are used – thus speeding market adoption."
" Serious Windows high-performance insulated windows and glass, which can reduce heating and cooling energy costs and emissions up to 40% ...QuietRock soundproof drywall & QuietHome Windows, which can reduce material use, GreenRock™, a green alternative to standard drywall ... uses 80% less energy to produce its core, resulting in 80% lower CO2 emissions. ... "
" ... manufacture products in ... Sunnyvale, California; Newark, California; Boulder, Colorado; Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. ... to create thousands of green collar jobs ... in the U.S. Products are widely available through building products dealers in the U.S. and Canada."
Listen to Marc Porat, Chairman of the Board of Serious Materials, discus issues surrounding green homes ... from the Greentech MEdia's Green Building Summit ... how many can be built / retrofitted per year ... what does this do for energy savings and job creation ...
" ... Serious Material Chairman Marc Porat discusses the challenges associated with building "green" residential homes. He believes it's important for the green industry to persuade governments to mandate environmentally sustainable buildings in order to speed up construction."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Prairie Bunkers LLC is repurposing WWII ammunition depots into secure energy efficient data centers. These structures are built to withstand force 5 tornadoes.
In addition to the green aspect of repurposing an existing building ... there are others green features.
"Saves approximately 5000 cubic tons of carbon emission which would be produced by construction of a similar structure ... electrical provider .... has a high percentage of renewable energy, including hydro, wind and nuclear ... On-site solar and wind energy systems in planning stages ... Air Economizers to use “free cooling” from average annual temperature of 54 degrees ... Optional active geothermal ... heat pump system ... Passive Geothermal, provided by the bermed earth covering on three sides and top of bunkers ..."
" .... Native vegetation landscaping minimizes irrigation ... Fire suppression agent has zero carbon foot print ... UPS Options including flywheel technology ... Recycled building products including flooring tiles and cable trays ..."
Via: Prairie Bunkers, LLC LINK
Imaging a ZERO energy home. Sound realistic? GE thinks so !
GE's “Net Zero Energy Home” ..." ... combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, GE’s new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies. ... together, the system will enable a homeowner to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015."
" ... the Home Energy Manager, the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home. ... smart thermostats will also be introduced ... to work in tandem with the energy manager. ... plans to develop residential power generation products like solar PV and residential wind products that will also contribute to the net zero concept."
" ... respondents in the U.S. and ... in the U.K. say they are willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology if there is a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15 percent."
Via: GE LINK
A current trend in office space for smaller companies or those looking for a remote presence is to rent by the day. the HUB offers "GREEN Meeting and Event Centers" on an as needed basis.
" ... only privately-held LEED Silver Rated Meeting and Event Facility in the U.S. ...[LEED is] ... nationally accepted standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, ... less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce environmental footprint ...achieved a LEED-CI Silver rating at its Cira Centre location ..."
There are many GREEN design elements incorporated including use of recycled materials, reduced water usage, brownfield redevelopment, and use of local materials.
"... The Hub is 100% wind powered, ... aggressively recycles ... discontinued the use of plastic water bottles in all of its facilities ... More than 15% of the new materials ... were recycled ... More than 20% of the materials ... are of local origin (manufactured within 500 miles of the location) ... constructed on a rehabilitated "brownfield" railyard ..."
Via: the HUb LINK
New Belgium Brewing is a green brewer ... read about some of their efforts and innovations in green brewing ... there are many many more on their web site.
Green building ... " ... using UV blocking windows, sun-tubes, and light shelves. .. evaporative coolers, we can condition our 55,000 square foot packaging hall with no compressors, using much less energy ... "
Green energy ... " ... methane produced by process water treatment is used to fuel a ... co-gen—which creates electricity and heat for the brewery. ... co-gen ... full-time, it can supply 15% of our electrical needs ... In 1999, New Belgium became the first wind-powered brewery ..."
Walk the Talk ... " .... members of 1% For The Planet ... through donations and fund-raisers, 1% of our revenue goes to environmental non-profits ... encourage sustainable transportation, every employee gets a custom cruiser bike after one-year of employment."
Berkeley, California is into solar and wants to help residents and businesses make the move to solar. To help they offer two tools ...
> One tool is a solar portal that allows property owners to look at their roof and determine both the solar potential and the cost.
>A second tool provides financing paid by by taxes
" ... Solar Mapping ... estimate the solar potential of their rooftops and view existing solar installations. ... get an estimated size of a photovoltaic (PV) system that would fit ... obtain detailed information on tax rebates and choose from a listing of available installers ... map reflects elements such as rooftop structures, the slant of the roof, shading ... and ... azimuth of the sun for PV panel placement."
" ... Berkeley FIRST program, a solar finance program ... provides property owners an opportunity to borrow money ... and repay the financing through property tax bills."
Via: MatterNetwork LINK
In an earlier post of this blog (June 25th,m 2009) I wrote about Microsoft hohm, a new beta software application that would help homeowners better understand their energy usage and give suggestions to save money.
Yesterday I got the link inviting me to try it ... here are some of the details ...
hohm is a web application that develops a detailed "picture" of your home and its energy use using a very detailed series of questions. Questions cover ... the direction the front of your home faces ... and includes details about all major systems and about the number of windows and square footage of widows on each side of the house. See graphic to the right for pictures of the categories of questions.
After filling out 75% of the questions I was able to get a list of "best ways to spend
50, 100, and 500 dollars".
So far I found hohm easy to use and informative ... and the initial Q & A took about 20 minutes.
More details as the "experiment" continues !
Via: Microsoft hohm LINK
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.
"In the interest of creating local green jobs, the city hopes to find a local manufacturer." " ... product consists of layers of insulating foam (for thermal protection), high-density foam (to absorb impact), fabric (to prevent penetration of sharp objects), and a latex-stucco finish. ... produce it in 2-by-4-foot panels that will be affixed to a wall with a foaming adhesive."
" ... Philadelphia University's help was enlisted after the city determined that existing exterior-wrap products were too expensive and not sufficiently durable."
Via: Philadelphia University LINK
... "Derive 50 percent of the energy used in company-operated stores from renewable sources by 2010; Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making company-operated stores 25 percent more energy efficient by 2010; Achieve LEED certification for all new company-operated stores worldwide by late 2010; " ...Via Starbucks: Store Experience Reinvention
One easy way to save energy and money is to turn off the lights when no one is around. Older buildings often have lighting that can only control half or a quarter of a building's floor. That is why so often you see all the lights on in a large section of an office building at night ... one person working and all the lig
hts on.
Lightolier's iGEN is one way to fix this problem ..." ..flexible lighting control solutions, whether you are connecting a few luminaires in a private office or hundreds in a building-wide system. ...building owners and architects seek effective digital lighting technology for intelligent buildings and green building design... iGEN delivers the means and the materials for sustainable, cost-efficient lighting practices ..."
Via: iGEN / Lightolier LINK
Wired Magazine has created their Smart Home .. which is Green + Wired. The design uses green materials and techniques along with tools to allow you to be GREEN with energy.
" ... high-design demonstration homes ... technologies we present aren't stuck in beta, but are available now. Trends driving the developments? Environmentally smart architecture, affordable automation systems, and real-time energy monitoring."
" ... use prefab construction ... automation systems we use are affordable, and upgradeable ... same access to energy data as the latest car dashboards, showing daily and weekly electricity and water consumption, as well as up-to-the-minute electricity pricing to help homeowners make smart decisions."
The Wired Home is open from March 19th, 2009 through January 3red, 2010. If you are in Chicago and want to tour the home ... CLICK FOR DETAILS.
Via: Wired Link
Green living options are increasing in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. Manayunk is accessible to the R6 regional rail line to center city and is a very walkable village ...
Sheldon Crossing is a new Platinum LEED (to be certified) development ...
" ...16-unit carriage home development in Manayunk, PA, ... to meet and surpass green standards, which will earn us a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum level of certification. As we are redefining eco-conscious living, we have not lost sight of the importance of design. ..."
" ... less energy and resources consumed ... will result in significant savings for the homeowner as utility bills dwindle. ... Sheldon Crossing homes will use less energy, water, and natural resources. They create less waste, have less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. ... features to highlight are PV solar panels, green roofs, Icynene insulation, high efficiency heaters, WaterSense plumbing fixtures, water purification, heat recovery ventilators, smart home technology, Energy Star appliances, windows and doors and much more. ..."
Via: SheldonCrossing LINK
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 ...
" ... solution to climate change could be as simple as a big bucket of whitewash, ... Steven Chu believes that painting the world's roofs, roads and pavements white would keep buildings cooler as temperatures rise and cut the need for air conditioning."
"... the U.S. Secretary of Energy and a Nobel prize-winning scientist, said the low-tech solution would be as effective at reducing global warming as taking all the world's cars off the road for 11 years."
Via: DailyMail LINK
... "The pavement surrounding the building is porous and will absorb almost all storm runoff. Waterless composting toilets will eliminate a major use of water and enable the collecting of waste that will be used as fertilizer for the surrounding grass. A 17-kilowatt photovoltaic system will power the facility. " ...Via Washington University in St. Louis: Greenest building opens
Taiwan has built a solar powered stadium that can generate 100% of it's powder needs and can send power to the grid when the stadium is not hosting an event.
" ... solar-powered stadium that can generate 100% of its electricity from the sun. ... can hold 50,000 spectators and is made with over 8,000 solar panels."
"...will officially open in July for the 2009 World Games. ... ntegrates many other sustainable features such as permeable paving and maximum use of domestic materials and local labor."
" .... [when] not being used, the government plans to feed surplus energy into the local grid, where it will meet approximately 80% of the neighboring area's demand. This equates to approximately 660 tons of carbon dioxide per year! "
Via: WholeTravel blog LINK
One of the easiest ways to make you home more energy efficient ... and save on your heating and cooling bills is to insulate to the proper levels. A poorly insulated (or not insulated) house is just letting your heat or air conditioning pass through the house.
Recommended minimums for walls and ceilings are based on your geographic location ... LINK to see the appropriate R-Values for your location.
" .. high-efficiency thermal insulation and effective R-value. ... Reduce nuisance noise when used in walls. ... made from 85% recycled paper fiber. ... Support energy conservation programs focused on en
vironmental responsibility."
" ... forms a monolithic blanket of protection—blocking air infiltration and convection currents that are both primary causes of energy loss. ... ... remains consistent through a greater temperature and application range than that of loose-fill fiberglass, ... can increase a wall's fire resistance by 22-57%. ..."
Via: greenfiber LINK
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).
" ... bring together 16 state agencies in a former retail space, a 13-story historic building on Market Street, bringing renovations and modernizations throughout the space. ... the arrival of the state agencies will bring 750. employees to the Market East section of Center City, as the state consolidates agencies ... PREIT, which controls everything from the sub-basement to the sixth floor, will renovate vacant space to make room for retail on the first, second and third floors, while maintaining the historical aspects of the building and complying with LEED silver certification requirements."
Photos to follow ...
Via: Phila Biz Journal LINK
eBay has many green aspects to its business model ... including the basic eBay design - helping people sell unneeded / unused stuff ...
They are also greening their campus by making the most of available sunlight, using a smart irrigation system, recycling / using recycled materials, using SOLAR and designing for and achieving LEED ... ...
" ... newest building, in San Jose, California, was designed and built to the ... (LEED) Gold standard."
" ... automatic dimming system detects the amount of natural light ... and adjusts the electric light accordingly, resulting in an estimated 39% energy savings.... Recycled materials are used throughout, including 95% recycled structural steel, 38% recycled carpet tiles and 100% recycled workstation fabric. ... smart irrigation system ... monitors weather conditions, including forecasts, dewpoint and relative humidity levels to determine the optimal and most efficient irrigation pattern."
" ... a 650 kW solar installation at our San Jose North location ... 3,248 panels cover more than a football field of roof space and will take up to 18% of our energy demand at that campus off the grid completely."
Via: ebay Link
... "Located on the 110-acre campus of SAP North America and adjacent to its existing LEED-certified building, the new building features a floor-to-ceiling glass exterior and an open-space plan that takes maximum advantage of daylight. The green grass roofs, the use of native and regional vegetation species in landscaping and the maintenance of extensive open space highlight SAP's goal of integrating the building with the surrounding natural environment. The new building also incorporates numerous innovative features to reduce water use. Rainwater from the green roof and other areas is collected in a 50,000-gallon cistern, which supplies water for landscape irrigation and the flushing of toilets in some of the building's bathrooms. Additionally, low-flow bathroom fixtures will greatly reduce water usage, with an expected saving of over one million gallons of water per year. Energy-efficient features abound in the building. Geothermal wells use the constant ground temperature of the earth to both heat and cool areas of the building. Lighting systems based on the concept of daylight harvesting are controlled by sensors that dim the lighting levels and raise or lower window shades based on the level of sunlight coming through the triple-glazed glass exterior wall. A hybrid air conditioning system produces ice during the overnight hours when energy demands and electric rates are lowest, with the chilled water from the melting ice used to cool the building during the heat of the day. " ...Via SAP: New LEED Platinum Building
Comcast's HQ in Philadelphia is now LEED Gold certified ... and the tallest such building in the US.
Read on for more >>>
" ... received LEED Gold certification for the building's core and shell from the national organization. ... using 40 percent less water than a typical office building, with fixtures that save more than 3 million gallons of drinking water annually and waterless urinals in all restrooms that save 1.2 million gallons."
" ... a shaded plaza reduces the heat-island effect caused by pavement by 70 percent and ... low-E coating ... blocks 60 percent of heat while allowing in 70 percent of the sun's visible light, reducing energy used for air conditioning while using natural light to its fullest."
Via: Philadelphia Business Journal LINK
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.
Turns out quite a bit ... Read on for more >>>
" ... in 2008, 3.7 percent of our electricity came from renewable energy sources. ... reducing our carbon footprint [by]... 4.2 metric tons of greenhouse gases..."
" ... Smithsonian manages a fleet of over 700 vehicles ... As we finished 2008, over 76 percent of that fleet is now either hybrid electric or capable of working off of alternative fuels."
" ... have several people on staff who are LEED accredited professionals, ... design managers, architects and some engineers and are there to assist Smithsonian in seeking these LEED certifications."
Via: Smithsonianmag.com LINK
... "Achievement of this highest documented level of sustainable design continues to be highly sought after, although a true Living Building has yet to be completed and certified. The purpose of this study is to provide much needed, up-todate information on the incremental cost between LEED Gold buildings and Living Buildings, and answer the questions regarding the anticipated payback. " ...Via Cascadia Region Green Building Council: THE LIVING BUILDING FINANCIAL STUDY (PDF)
... "Every building or building addition constructed after January 30, 2010 with a Gross Floor Area of 5,000 square metres or greater shall include a Green Roof with a coverage of Available Roof Space ... " ...Via Toronto, Canada: Green Roofs Required (PDF)
... "Babcock Ranch is the first city planned to be powered by the sun, with the majority of its electric needs generated from the largest on-site solar photovoltaic energy facility powering any city on earth. " ...Via Babcock Ranch: Southwest Florida City
Check out this BBC video of a prefab house ... some neat ideas that make for green living ...
" ... One of the exhibits at the TED2009 conference is a pre-fabricated house that boasts state-of-the-art technology and a sustainable design that promotes a green way of living. ... Peter Bowes was given a look inside the home. "
>>> To see the video "Inside the new 'green' house" ... LINK
Via: BBC Link
... "The program is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 38 percent and will provide a replicable model for similar projects around the world. Work has already commenced, and building systems work is slated to be completed by year-end 2010. The balance of the work in tenant spaces should be concluded by end of 2013. Work that is scheduled to be completed within 18 months will result in over 50 percent of the projected energy savings. The balance will be an additional 36 months completed by 2013. The project will prove the viability for energy efficiency retrofit projects to dramatically increase building energy efficiency and reduce its overall carbon output with sensible payback periods and enhanced profitability. At the end of the project definition process, the team analyzed the steps to be taken in conjunction with other steps towards sustainability as part of the Empire State ReBuilding program within the framework of the existing USGBC LEED rating system. Internal calculations show that the Empire State Building will be able to qualify for GOLD certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings ... " ...Via Johnson Controls: ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PROJECT AT EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
"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."
"Resources ... are organized into four primary categories, [ALSO] ...Course Catalog – Search for USGBC's core LEED offerings, ... Green Bytes – Download short videos, podcasts and articles to expand your knowledge even while you're on-the-go. ... Greenbuild Expo Media Library – Watch videos of Greenbuild's keynote speakers ..."
Via: USGBC LINK
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 Link
Want to become certified in Green Building or looking for a Green Certified Contractor?
Check out Green Advantage >>>
"Green Certification Available for Building-Related Practitioners ... environmentally consciou
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. ..."
" ... homeowners directly benefit from green building practices: lower energy bills, lower water bills, and healthier longer-lasting homes. ... cumulative effect of large-scale green building can have enormous benefits for the community, the nation and the planet. ..."
To find a Green Advantage certified contractor ...LINK
Via: Green Advantage LINK
EPA identifies the Top 25 ranked cities with EnergyStar rated buildings. ...
... "1. Los Angeles, CA 2. San Francisco, CA 3. Houston, TX 4. Washington, DC 5. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 6. Chicago, IL 7. Denver, CO 8. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 9. Atlanta, GA 10. Seattle, WA 11. Boston, MA 12. New York, NY 13. Austin, TX 14. Detroit, MI 15. Milwaukee, WI 16. San Antonio, TX 17. Philadelphia, PA 18. Charlotte, NC 18. Portland, OR 20. Grand Rapids, MI 21. Sacramento, CA 22. Phoenix, AZ 23. Miami, FL 24. Riverside, CA 25. Madison, WI " ...Via EPA: EnergyStar Labelled Buidlings
Starbucks Shared Planet is " ... commitment to doing business in ways that are good to the earth and to each other ... it's using our size for good....committed to minimizing our environmental footprint, tackling climate change, and inspiring others to do the same"
One shining example of this is their new (Feb 19th - 2009) South Carolina " ... state of the art roasting plant ... an example of the company's global commitment to green design and has been awarded LEED® Silver certification for New Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)."
" ...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."
Via: Starbucks Link
... "The type of solar-panel roof Westphal is using -- known as integrated because the panels are built into the roof rather than superimposed -- is booming in France thanks to legislation creating 20-year contracts with strong incentives to sell electricity to the grid. " ...Via Reuters: French Solar Farmer
Starbucks opens green roasting plant in South Carolina. The new facility has achieved the level of LEED Silver for New Construction. ...
... "The facility employs 100 full-time Starbucks partners (employees) and supplies coffee to the company’s southeastern U.S. stores. The facility is also is an example of the company’s global commitment to green design and has been awarded LEED Silver certification for New Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Using green design components certified by a third-party organization is part of the company’s strategy to help achieve the Starbucks Shared Planet goal to significantly reduce its environmental footprint by 2015. Starbucks invested in a variety of green design elements to help reduce the energy and waste generated by both the construction and operation of the facility. A significant amount – 20 percent – of building materials were from recycled content and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled. The facility features efficient, state of the art lighting and water fixtures, drought tolerant landscape and a portion of the power used for operations will be green power supplied by wind energy. " ...Via Starbucks Coffee Company: LEED Certified Coffee Roasting Plant
Continue reading "Starbucks LEED Coffee Roasting Facility" »
... "Lindner Hall will also be Elon’s greenest building, using photovoltaic solar power cells and low-flow plumbing. According to E-Net, much of the building’s materials contain recycled materials and local products. " ...Via Pendulum, Elon University: Evolution
Sustainable home workshop begins this week. ...
... "This four-part workshop series begins Tuesday, January 27th with Green Homes 101: An Introduction to Green Building and features a panel of noted experts in the field of green building and home design ... " ...Via Audubon Greenwich: Green Homes Workshop
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.
Read on for more >>>
" ... Sustainability Series: Issues in Sustainable Living and Growth in Radnor Township ... GREEN BUILDING 101 ... Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 7 to 9 pm ... Radnor Township Municipal Building (also aired live on Comcast Cable Channel 10 and Verizon FiOS Channel 30)"
Topics covered include " ... What is Sustainability and Green Building ... How Green is Green? ... Promoting Green Building ... Making it Real in Radnor, a Success Story ... "
Via: Radnor Township LINK
Continue reading "Sustainability Series - Radnor Township (Pa)" »
Office Depot achieves LEED Gold for Green retail store pilot. The store has demonstrated green building performance through significant energy savings, use of solar photovoltaics to offset electricity from the grid, efficient lighting and water conservation techniques. Kudos to Office Depot for their commitment to sustainability. ...
... "Office Depot received the Gold Rating for the Company's Store Prototype as well as for its first Green retail store in Austin, Texas which opened during the summer of 2008. The Office Depot Austin store was the first location the Company constructed following its environmentally preferable prototype design or master set of drawings. The prototype, which will be utilized for future stores where Office Depot manages the new construction process from the ground up, has now been recognized with Gold Certification, obtaining one of the highest levels of environmental sustainability. " ...Via Office Depot: Retailer Receives LEED Gold Certification from U.S. Green Building Council
AMD's Lone Star campus in Austin, TX achieves LEED gold certification through renewably-sourced electricity, rainwater reuse, recycled construction materials, and native landscape plantings. ...
... "The Lone Star campus, which is home to AMD’s business operations and the Austin design engineering center, was designed and constructed by a diverse team of internationally recognized architects, engineers, ecologists and sustainability experts. The site development plan for the 58-acre, 870,000 square foot campus was based on three key tenets: limit site impact, protect water quality, and use innovative sustainable design. " ...Via AMD: Campus Receives LEED Gold Certification
As part of their 2020 Low Carbon Roadmap .... PECO opened their first "green" building in West Chester (Chester County) Pa.
" ... $2 million, 8-month project to open PECO's first 'green building' at the company's service site in West Chester, Chester County. ... expected to use about 20 percent less energy and 40 percent less water. ... the use of reflective roofing materials; low flow water devices; recycled construction materials, ... energy efficient lighting, ... and more .."
Via: PECO LINK
PECO is installing a green roof at it's Phila HQ location at 23rd and Market Sts. The planned 45000 sq. foot roof will " ... reduce the summertime temperature of a dark roof by 60 to 80 degrees, saves on heating and cooling costs, and grows without conventional soil..."
" ... green roof development ... is part of the company’s recently-announced comprehensive environmental initiative with a range of programs over the next several years.
Via: PECO PECO
Continue reading "PECO Green Roof in Center Citry Phila, Pa." »
Here is the first I have read about Green Dentistry ... an established practice (over 50 years) in Aston, Pa that is 
renovating to become GREEN.
" ...Dental Health Care Associates ... undergoing a major renovation ... and will soon become the first LEED certified "green" dental office on the East coast."
"... measures are being taken to create a state-of-the-art facility that will meet or exceed the Gold certification standards for LEED ... buildings. ... renovations include, but are not limited to:
" ... recycled building materials ... Geothermal HVAC ... Solar and wind-powered energy ... No-VOC cabinetry, carpets, flooring, and paints ... rainwater collection tank ... Water-free landscaping ..."
Via: PAGreenDentist.com Link
Honda has always been known for its fuel efficient and low emissions vehicles ... it is now known for its LEED cetrified data center in Longmont, Colo.
" ... 61,000-square-foot data center, ... certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system for green building construction. ... selected building materials based on proximity to the data center's location and ... recycled 73% of the construction waste ... left much of the site undeveloped and replanted trees and shrubs indigenous to the area."
" ... administrators were ... advised to decommission unused equipment quickly and to use management tools to ensure that servers are optimally provisioned...."
Via: Informationweek.com LINK
Penn State baseball field achieves LEED through green design features, such as waterless urinals, gray watering system, and intelligent lighting. ...
... "Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the baseball facility home to the Penn State team and the short-season Class A Spikes, has been certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as an environmentally friendly facility. " ...Via The Daily Collegian: The Med
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 LINK
... "Doubled its commitments for LEED buildings from $1 billion to $2 billion; Increased the number of LEED buildings it has financed by 125 percent; Expanded its reach from financing LEED-certified buildings in 11 states and the District of Columbia to 19 states; Increased the type of LEED buildings financed to include a cold storage facility, data center and community center, in addition to office, mixed-use, industrial, retail, schools, multifamily; " ...Via Wells Fargo: Financing for LEED-Certified Green Buildings
" ...the first solar panels have been installed on the Paul VI auditorium at the Vatican. ... BBC News reports Pope Benedict has become the first pontiff to harness solar power to provide energy for the Vatican."
"Roof tiles on the Paul VI auditorium, ... are being replaced by 2,700 solar panels ... photovoltaic cells ... generating enough power to light, heat or cool the 6,000 seat hall ..."
" .... When ... not in use, the surplus energy produced will reportedly be fed into the Vatican's power network."
Via: CathNews.com Link
The Center for Architecture Science and Ecology has been created by RPI and a leading architecture firm to develop advanced green strategies for building design by pushing the frontier of material use and building configuration. ...
... "CASE participants will explore the use of natural dehumidifying materials, the naturally cooling properties of terra cotta walls and ways in which a structure can be modified to harness wind energy. " ...Via New York Times: Green Building Design
While we would enjoy an unbeaten season as much as any other fan, Penn State contributes to the advancement of green roofs with its research into species, growth rates, and maintenance. This green roof was installed on the roof of an old building, a root cellar. ...
... "The roof is divided into 6 equal size sections each with it’s own drainage that runs into the building and through a series of flumes to measure runoff flows. Four of the roof sections have an average of 4in of medium and the other 2 have 8in of medium. The sections are planted with sedums and other green roof plants and will be used to evaluate potential green roof species ... " ...Via Penn State University Center for Green Roof Research: Root Cellar
... "Dave Sommer, business leader for Trane Indiana, discusses how green architecture incorporates innovative designs and technologies to significantly reduce a building’s negative impact on the environment." ...Via Trane: Ball State University Indiana University visit
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.
" ... highly efficient energy and mechanical systems meet stringent environmental certification requirements ... making Pembroke North the first multi-family residential buildings to be registered for LEED-certification in the Philadelphia area ...".
" ... buildings have heating and cooling systems that employ heat pumps connected to extensive underground thermal pipe systems for tremendous energy efficiency. ..."
"LEED FEATURES ... High-Efficiency Window Glass ... Well-Insulated Roof and Exterior Walls ... Natural Light and Views ... Geothermal Heating and Air-Conditioning ... Tankless Hot Water Heaters ... "
Nearby Radnor Middle School also has a green roof ... that's 2 green roofs (at least0 in Radnor, Pa!
Via: Pembroke North Link
... "This year's Green Building Open House features 27 homes in Tompkins, Tioga and Schuyler Counties. Homeowners and/or green building professionals will be on site to answer questions and describe their green building features ... " ...Via Cornell University: 2008 Green Buildings
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 Link