Green Technology

"... U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) and Siemens Corporation has presented the 3rd Annual Siemens Sustainable Community Award ... to the City of Philadelphia. ... recognizes Philadelphia’s outstanding efforts to achieve complementary economic, environmental and social goals, ..."

"... training our workforce to install solar panels and cool roofs, and we’re putting Philadelphians to work weatherizing homes and installing green stormwater management infrastructure."

Via: City of Philadelphia LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

Posted by Green Dude at 03:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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."

Posted by Green Dude at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is amazing that there are so many energy using  devices in our homes.  What many fail to realize is that some devices, like TVs, and PCs may still be drawing power when "turned off".

You can save energy by changing the type of appliance - if old it may be worth upgrading to an energy efficient (Energy Star) model.

Sometimes you just need to "turn if off".  Sometimes you can made simple substitutions like CFL for incandescent bulbs.

Read on for the 5 Big Energy Hogs in your home ... and how to ZAP them !

" ...  Turn down your thermostat to 68 or 69 degrees in fall and winter, and to 76 in the summer ... Heating and cooling are the top uses of energy ... consider upgrading ... to Energy Star ..."

" ... refrigerator runs constantly. It can pay off to recycle your current model and buy a new EnergyStar rated model."

" ... likely have an inefficient hot water tank  ... tankless water heater ... save energy and money by not keeping water hot 24/7. Rather ... heat your water when you demand ... make sure your tank heater and the pipes supplying the water to it are insulated."

" ... swap out the incandescent bulbs in the most used areas of your home ... replace them with CFLs. Here’s a trick you may not have heard of for CFLs: once you’ve installed the fluorescent bulb, turn on the light and leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Doing so “burns in” the lamp, which improves its function, and its lifespan. ... dispose of them properly when they burn out in 7 years!"

Via:  SustainLane  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

Posted by Green Dude at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

Posted by Green Dude at 05:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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 environmental 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

Posted by Green Dude at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)