Green Technology

Continue reading "Research the best green roof" »

Posted by Green Tech at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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."

" ... 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

Posted by Green Dude at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

Posted by Green Dude at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

Posted by Green Dude at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "New York State has subsidies both for roofs with succulents spread out over a thin layer of soil and for edible plants covering a smaller area. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "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 ... " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "On Brushaber Commons’ highest level is a 6,500 square foot green roof, one of the largest of its kind in the Twin Cities. Benefiting both energy efficiency and ecology, the roof has vegetation planted over a waterproofing membrane --- a design that serves as insulation as well as a storm retention system. " ...

Continue reading "Energy Efficient Green Roof" »

Posted by Green Tech at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "One of the main areas of the building to be studied will be the green roof. A green roof is typically partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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." »

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Posted by Green Tech at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "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 ... " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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 train 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

Posted by Green Dude at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roofscapes, Inc. is " ... an engineering firm dedicated to developing the most elegant and efficient performance-based green roofs. ..."  Roofscapes is in Germantown, Pa (greater Philadelphia, Pa).

" ... 2” thick ...vegetated cover was selected to complement the other sustainable development technologies in this project. ... was required to be very thin ... Runoff from the green roof is channeled into the rain garden below on the ground. ..."
 

Via:  Roofscapes  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Some of the energy saving features include: " ... Geothermal heating and cooling, ...'green roof' with plants that absorb storm-water, keep the building cool, and give off oxygen, Waterless urinals and motion-activated sinks, Motion sensors that adjust / turn off classroom lights reducing electrical load..."

" ... is the only green-roof school in Delaware County [PA]  ... . is eligible to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council ..."

Via:  PhiladelphiaSustainabilityAwards.com   Link

Continue reading "Radnor (Delaware County, PA) Schools Go Green" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Fencing Academy of Phildelphia has a " ...3000 square foot green rooftop ... of perennial sedum varieties ... installed ...  in the spring of 1998.  ... was a retrofit design with the performance objective being the restoration of the pre-development hydrology for the 2-year return-frequency storm."

" ... reached a mature stage of development, creating a meadow-like setting of perennial Sedum varieties ...  selected to withstand the range of seasonal conditions typical of the Mid-Atlantic region without then need for irrigation or regular maintenance. ..."

" ... cover is only 3.4” thick, including the drain layer, and weighs less than 5 lb/sf when dry, with a maximum saturated weight of under 17 lb/sf. ..."

Via:  LIP Urban Design  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Want to go green and not sure how to start?  Know a lot and just want some ideas?

Check out GREENABLE.

" ... is Philadelphia's premier resource for interior and exterior green building products and services for residential & commercial projects."

"... a can of paint, a green roof installation, or an entire residential or commercial design project, Greenable does it all. ... located in Old City on Market Street between Front and 2nd."

Via:  Greenable.com   Link

Continue reading "Green Building Ideas and Design Studio in Philadelphia, Pa" »

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Rohm and Haas (NYSE: ROH), a Philadelphia, Pa based global chemical company, is updating the roof on their corporate HQ building.  The roof is approx 40,000 sq. feet and and is being coated with a polymer to reduce the heat impact of the roof. 

Via:  Rohm and Haas.com   Link

Continue reading "Chemical Company Adds Environmentally Advanced Green Roof" »

Posted by Green Dude at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The white roof coating helps reflect sunlight and reduces energy usage by lowering the building's cooling needs. " ...

Continue reading "Green Bio-Roof Uses Soy Polymer Coating" »

Posted by Green Tech at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New Jersey's Clean Energy Conference,on September 27 - 28, 2007 will honor nominees that are saving energy and advancing the state of clean energy in New Jersey.  The winner will be named at the conference. 

Nominees include Home Builders, Colleges and Universities, and Vendors. 

The annual conference is in it's 3rd year.  " ...brings together ... leading energy professionals and businesses to learn, network, and discuss the issues shaping the energy market and the New Jersey energy market in particular."

" ... provides an excellent forum ... to learn more about the economics of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and how to hedge against rising energy costs, to leverage the financial and environmental benefits of clean energy."

" .. Conference ... has been expanded to 2 days. New workshops and programs are being added ... A special Municipal track and evening networking session will be the focus of day 1. Day 2 will have new workshops and sessions and the luncheon presentation of the Clean Energy Leadership Awards. ... "

"... Special workshops include:"

• "New Jersey's Energy Master Plan"
• "Energy Project Financing"
• "Combined Heat and Power"
• "Renewable Energy Certificate Markets"
• "Green Building Design"
• "Clean Energy Strategies to Reduce your Carbon Footprint"
• "Energy Programs for Municipalities"
  

Via:   NewJerseyCleanEnergy.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tredyffrin Township (Chester County, Pa.) is expanding and upgrading their Strafford-Wayne library branch. 

Part of the project includes plans to install a green roof.  "Green roofs are layers of living vegetation installed on roofs".  The new roof is "expected to increase energy performance ... , reduce airborne emissions, extend the life of the roofing material beyond its normal life span, help manage stormwater, and serve as a model to educate and encourage the public about the benefits of green roofs".

Via:  Tredyffrin Twp Newsletter Vol. 21 Issue 3 Fall 2007  Link (not yet posted as of 9/4/2007)

Posted by Green Dude at 05:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Green companies want to be "green" throughout their supply chain ... including their ISP.

>>> Read on to lean more and see the profile of one Green ISP ....

"AISO.Net is a ... green web hosting company. We have made a strong commitment to help fight pollution and preserving our natural resources. Solar panels run our data center and office, not energy credits."

"Solar tubes bring in natural light ... during the day. AMD Opteron powered servers use sixty percent less energy and generate fifty percent less heat. These are just some of the ways AISO.Net is becoming the world's most responsible green web hosting company."

"... data center is environmentally friendly in design. It is completely steel framed with no wood at all except for the door frames on the interior of the building. Our walls are over 12 inches thick and filled with insulation that has recycled content. We built our data center, network and servers from the start to use the lowest amount of energy possible using the latest green design techniques, no other hosting company can do what we do without starting from scratch. We use solar tubes to bring in natural sunlight which eliminates the use for conventional lighting during the day. Our cooling systems are water cooled which reduces the amount of electricity because of the unique setup."

" We are in the process of designing a green roof for our data center. The green roof is a layer of dirt 3 to 4 inches thick with drought resistant plants. The new green roof will reduce our cooling and heating requirements by over 50%."

 Via:  AISO.com  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Chicago Illinois' City Hall has a GREEN ROOF.  

"As part of an EPA study and initiative to combat the urban heat island effect and to improve urban air quality, ... City of Chicago began construction of a 38,800 square foot (total roof area) semi-extensive greenroof in April 2000. It was completed at the end of 2001 at a cost $2.5 million, funded by a settlement with ComEd."

"Encompassing one square block and twelve stories high, ... serves as a demonstration project and test greenroof. ... will monitored for plant survival as well as other environmental features. Chicago City Hall's greenroof saves $5,000 a year on utility bills, according to Michael Berkshire."

""This is unique to Chicago," ... "No one else has looked at rooftop gardens to mitigate urban heat island effect, which is a process whereby highly urbanized areas with hard surfaces tend to be degrees hotter than green areas," (ENN.com, May 2000)."

"According to a March 1, 2002 article in The Wall Street Journal, "The garden's origins can be traced back ten years, ...  to support Chicago mayor Richard Daley's vow to make Chicago "the greenest city in America." 

"The 20,300 square foot ... garden has over 20,000 herbaceous plants installed as plugs of more than 150 varieties including 100 woody shrubs, 40 vines and 2 trees - a Cockspur Hawthorn and Prairie Crabapple. Although rainwater will be collected and saved from the 7,700 square foot penthouse, a supplemental irrigation system will aid in establishing the plants as well as provide supplemental water during extreme periods of drought (Landscape Architecture Magazine, September, 2000; John Beaudry, June, 2000)."

"Due to the very high visibility factor ... numerous articles have been presented to the public, a few of which can be accessed from NEWS LINKS and Archives. Click the following to link to read more about monitoring the project from thee City of Chicago's site and learn more about the urban heat island effect problem and how they are creatively dealing with this subject of global importance. You may also view a PDF booklet prepared by the City of Chicago entitled "Chicago's Green Rooftops: A Guide to Rooftop Gardening" under How To's.".

Via:  GreenRoofs.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Steve Glenn (founder of PeopleLink Inc.) has built the first LEED Platinum certified residential house in the US.  It offers many unique features - though the house was not inexpensive. 

"... house is the prototype for LivingHomes.  ... sells prefabricated houses with this design by architect Ray Kappe, for about $250 per square foot (not including land, site development, or transportation).  ...  green features add about 20% to the base cost of the home and generate about $1,500 in savings per year.  (disclaimer: these are all estimates, but if you take these figures seriously, there is no breakeven on a 30 year mortgage...but this calculation comes with a load of assumptions.)"

Among the features and approx costs:

• "Recycled Water System:  $20,000
  

• Ventilation (whole house ceiling fan from Tamarack Technologies):  $1,200
• Fireplace (EcoSmart fireplace from Fire Co. is flue-less):  $?
• Hot Water (radiant heating system by Apricus Solar):  $33,000
• Living Roof (garden & deer grass roof by Great Outdoors Landscaping):  $8,000
• Electricity (Scott Corp. photovoltaic panels for up to 80% of house needs):  $12,000 (after $13,000 in state rebates & federal tax credits). 
• Lighting (bright bars of light diodes from American Permalight):  $95 per bar
• Windows (double-pane glass from Pilkington Group & sliding doors from Fleetwood Windows and Doors):  $33,000 for entire house.

  

To see a slide show follow the Link to a BusinessWeek site. 

To see a video of the the home being build follow the Link to www.livinghomes.us

Via:  BusinessWeek   Sept. 11, 2006   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 06:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Seattle's Ballard Library is GREEN.  Here's the details:

"The new 15,000 square foot library, ... key features ... including the gently arched roof, which is capped with green plants and solar "green" power."

"While the sod roof provides roof insulation and helps retain rainwater to slow stormwater flows, the solar modules act as a sponge for solar energy, helping to reduce the building's electricity requirements."

Some of the features that make THIS LIBRARY GREEN:

• "18,000+ low-water-use plants on the "green roof" The plants provide insulation and reduce water that otherwise would rush into storm drains."
• ""Notch and tab" furniture designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The tables and chairs are cut from a single sheet of laminated wood to reduce waste. The furniture slides together - no screws, no nails, no hardware."
• "Sleek exterior metal chairs.  The chairs are formed by bending a single sheet of metal into the right shape, which reduces waste."
• "17 solar panels on the roof and solar film in the windows of the adjacent Neighborhood Service Center. The Seattle City Light Green Power Program, which provided the solar equipment, will monitor how much electricity it produces."
• "Rooftop scientific devices that measure wind speed and direction, sunlight and the sound of rain. The artwork - LED (light-emitting diode) displays and an audio composition of Ballard-area sounds - is derived from the weather data."
• "Building designed to shade harsh light and take advantage of natural daylight, decreasing need for artificial light. Seven skylights at key points."
• "Occupancy sensors that automatically control lights in offices and enclosed spaces. Recycled carpet, glass, ceramic and ceiling tiles."
• "Environmentally friendly adhesives, sealants, and paints."
• "Ventilation systems that monitor indoor air quality."
• "Waterless urinals in restrooms."
• "Light wells in the parking garage that provide pools of natural light to help with way-finding and security."
  

Via:  www.Seattle.Gov   Link

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