Practical Eco

Crabtree Area Office Builing Going Green

Private investors last week paid $3 million for the 32,000 square foot Navigant building at Creedmoor Rd and US 70, known for its time-temperature display.  Greg Sanchez, a partner in the ownership, said the renovation is aiming for a LEED certification, but the details are still being worked out. Sanchez is also president of Durham commercial real estate services firm Tri Properties, which will manage the building and conduct the renovation.

A LEED certification could attract new tenants who are happy to pay a premium for green offices because of lower operating costs and a healthier environment. "A lot of tenants want to be in an energy-efficient building," Sanchez said.

See the full story in the News and Observer here.

New Energy.Gov site offers home efficiency tips

The Federal Government wants us to save energy so they've set up a cute new site to show us how.

The new site at www.energy.gov, by the Department of Energy (DOE), shows a cutaway of a house with clickable points that offer up energy saving tips. Tips like, install CFLs, get an EnergyStar dishwasher, or EnergyStar windows.

Much of the advice at the main page is pretty basic. But as you dig in a bit to the DOE site the information gets more advanced. The tips are categorized by Automobile, Appliances, Heating & Cooling, Insulation & Air Sealing, Landscaping, Lighting, Summer, Water, Winter. And they're pretty well considered.

Celebrate Earth day

Here in the Triangle we had two major celebrations this past Saturday, and two more this coming Saturday. But today is the actual Earth Day.

One special way to celebrate is to give the gift of Co-op America.  It's a meaningful way to share the true spirit of Earth Day with your friends and family--while acknowledging that our choices can make a big impact on people and the planet.

Celebrate Earth Day by giving the gift of Co-op America membership!

Today only they have a Special Earth Day Offer with big savings:

Your first membership will cost just $15 (for yourself or as a gift). The second and third are only $10 each. The fourth is $5, and the fifth is free.

Charlotte Clean & Green

I'm off to Charlotte to give a presentation on Green Remodeling. It's at the first annual Charlotte Clean and Green event being held at the Central Piedmont Community College campus.

For those who attend and those who can't I've drafted my own set of green remodeling priorities here.  It is broken down into small, medium and large projects plus a number of small but important behaviors which I think are important to maintaining a green home.

I know there's debate on certain issues like powered attic ventilation and several other issues. So go on and tell me what you think the most important remodeling issues are. Comment here or email me at pjnery (at) practicaleco.com.

Here's a more detailed summary of my presentation with links to documents I mentioned to help you seal and insulate more effectively.

Obama & Clinton Advisors in Environmental Forum April 25th at Duke

Top advisors to Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama on energy and environment will discuss the candidates' positions on environmental issues at a free public forum at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25, at Duke University.

Dan Utech, environmental advisor for Clinton, and Jason Grumet, environmental advisor for Obama, will take part in the moderated 90-minute forum at Love Auditorium in the Levine Science Research Center on Duke's West Campus.

Following their discussion, the advisors will field questions from the audience.

The event is hosted by Duke's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. It is being organized by Nicholas School students. Tim Profeta, director of the Nicholas Institute, will moderate.

A reception will follow.

For more information, contact Megan Dawson at megan.dawson@duke.edu.

Permaculture Workshop at Pacifica in Carrboro, April 26th

A Permaculture Homesteading Skills Workshop will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 10 am to 6 pm at the Pacifica Cohousing Community in Carrboro.

The workshop will highlight permaculture basics, including ethics and principles, chickens, and a mobile permaculture demonstration.

Everyone is welcome; there is no cost. Donations will be accepted to help defray costs of the tour. Participants are encouraged to bring a vegetarian dish to share for lunch. RSVP to tejisa@gmail.com or 919.724.5311.

The Earth Activist Training (EAT) PermiBus will be there. It is a 40-foot mobile permaculture demonstration project bus in progress; complete with solar power, greywater systems, composting toilet, three dogs and clutch of chickens. The goal is to teach practical skills that can be used to make communities more sustainable.

Pacifica Cohousing Community is located on Viburnum Way, which is at the end of Hanna Street off North Greensboro Street.

R-Anell wins award for its downtown Asheville Lexington Station project

R-Anell Homes has won the 2008 National Modular Housing Council Design Award for the modular multi-family category with its Lexington Station project.

Lexington Station is located in downtown Asheville. It integrates 70 residential condos, 25,000 square feet of office and retail space on the first level, a restaurant and 100 underground parking spaces across three multi-story buildings.  It also features outdoor plazas and courtyards.

The condominiums range in price from $170,000 to $500,000. Inside, the condominiums feature hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, gourmet-style kitchens and thermal windows.

Lexington Station was built using elements of R-Anell's Build It Green construction program. R-Anell has modeled its Build It Green program to incorporate many of the requirements of the North Carolina Healthy Built Home program, the NAHB Green Building Standards and the USGBC’s LEED program.

Chapel Hill Greeks Going Green

Ford Eubanks is out to green the Greek establishment. Of course the "Greeks" here are the Fraternities and Sororities who have houses dotted around the periphery of the campus. These houses don't enjoy the same level of loving care that many personal homes get because the residents are in constant flux and they have a lot of more urgent priorities than home maintenance. Most being older buildings are very inefficient to say the least. So Ford and several partners in the venture have set up a non-profit to tackle the challenge of making the Fraternity and Sorority houses greener.
Their first step was to contact an energy auditor, who as it happens was my friend Bill Klotz - which is how I came to hear about it.

The first round of audits have shown how much room there is for improvement, and came with a detailed list of suggested actions.

So far it's a pilot project focusing on houses in the local area. But Ford and his colleagues have national ambitions for the program. And already they're getting great feedback from national fraternity directors.

And once the initial audits and building improvements are made there's still more. They plan to create a online shop for Greek clients can purchase green and energy efficient products. And they'll provide ongoing training programs too, since as we all know, behaviors are essential to maintaining a green home.

This is a fantastic enviro-vision that I think shows great promise of reducing CO2 emissions and increasing efficiency in the short run. In the long run it's also a great way to instill an environmental consciousness in college students that will continue paying dividends.

Branding For Good

Learn how branding can help grow your sustainable business and increase your bottom line.

BASE, the UNC Business Accelerator for Sustainable Entrepreneurship is holding its first event on April 16^th from 12:45 to 1:45 pm.  It's called: Branding for Good, and is hosted in partnership with The Change.

This is a panel discussion about successful branding strategies for sustainable entrepreneurs with the following:

• Moderator: Jerry Stifelman, Founder of The Change
• Scott Blackwell, Founder, Immaculate Baking Company
• Maria Kingery, Co-Founder, Southern Energy Management
• Daniel Whittaker, Owner/Manager, Green Planet Catering

For details, visit: www.cse.unc.edu/base/events

This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Jessica Thomas

Dollars and Sense of Going Green - Urban Land Institute event

April 16th from 8am to 9:30 am, the local Urban Land Institute is and event on creating value through sustainability. The keynote speech is by Tom Darden, CEO of Cherokee Investment Partners, and will explore national and international trends. This is followed by three speakers,  Roger Perry, Diana Permar and Michael Lemanski talking about their experiences in developing some of the first LEED projects in the Triangle area.
See the flyer here for full details including costs. 
Or go to the Urban Land Institute site here for online registration.

Rainwater Pillow: Going Beyond Rain Barrels

It has been raining quite a bit recently so it's easy to forget that we're still facing quite sever water shortages around North Carolina. Rain barrels are great, but quite limited in their capacity. If you want to go big but aren't ready for a big cistern here's an alternative.   

The Rainwater Pillow™ is basically a great big heavy duty water bag that you can keep in your crawlspace, or under a deck or porch. They come standard in 1000, 2000 and 3000 gallon kits which measure 10x10, 13.5x12.5 or 15.5x14.5 feet by 2-2.5 feet high. The kits come with the "pillow", filter, pump, remote control, ground fault protector and all necessary fittings.  And they're made nearby in Alpharetta Georgia where they know a thing or two about drought conditions too. 

Since you can easily collect 1000 gallons or more of water from just an inch rainfall on a typical roof, this is a great way to save water and still be able to maintain a healthy garden or lawn.

Nano Technology Zero-VOC Surface Sealant

A number of people have asked me about green sealants.  Well I've found one that's appropriate for stone, brick, travertine, concrete, grout and other porous masonry materials.   

 NANO1000 uses zero VOC nanotechnology chemistry to seal surfaces. The nanometer-sized molecules bond below the surface, well into the pores of  the material, to give a long lasting bond that can't peel off.

The finish is invisible and transparent once fully cured.  Just apply it on with a high quality 3/8 -1/2” nap roller, nylon or polyester brush, or clean pump sprayer to a clean dry surface. It dries to touch in 1 hour, can be walked on in 2 hours, and is fully cured in 7 days. 

The image above shows a brick with one side treated. On the treated side water beads up, while on the other side it has soaked in.

Honda's Aircraft facility in Greensboro on track for LEED

Honda say they're trying to reduce their environmental footprint. They're specifically focused on factories and buildings through a "Green Factory and Green Buildings" initiatives.

They're on track to earn four more LEED Certifications from the USGBC for the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, Calif., the Midwestern Consolidation Center in Troy, Ohio, the Honda Data Center in Longmont, Colo., and the Honda Aircraft facility in Greensboro, N.C. 

Each facility features innovative sustainable concepts in its design,     construction and operation.

• A significant portion of construction materials were harvested and manufactured locally, reducing fuel use and emissions associated with shipping.
• Rainwater harvested from the roof is stored and used to flush the low-flow toilets, reducing potable water consumption
• Renewable bio-diesel fuel is used to power the emergency generator with up to a 75 percent reduction in emissions compared to mineral-based diesel.
• Other innovative design features include passive heating and air conditioning system, intelligent lighting system, extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials, and a radiant underfloor heating system.         

Triangle Earth Day Celebrations

Earth Day is officially April 22. Here in the Triangle area there are several events. I already mentioned the Raleigh Event in a previous entry. But Durham and Chapel Hill are both doing events.

Durham's event is April 19th concurrent with the Raleigh event. It's being held at Durham Central Park all afternoon that day. There will be a sustainability expo, solar powered entertainment and a water expo.

Chapel Hill's Earth Action Festival is on April 26th from 11am to 4pm at the plaza atop the James C Wallace parking deck on Rosemary St. There will be demonstrations, rain barrels a bicycle parade and lots more.

There are also numerous events all month at Duke, UNC and at NC State universities.

Vanguard Homes participages in educational tour for Raleigh students

The VP of Construction for Vanguard Homes, Robert Smart, held an educational tour about green building for downtown Raleigh’s Exploris students.  The event was hosted at Blount Street Commons, a new community  under development downtown.

Mr. Smart taught students what green building is and why it's important. He also introduced a number of key green building terms such as energy efficiency, indoor air quality and water conservation.

This was all part of the Exploris Middle School Green Fair and included tours moderated by local companies which included Starbucks, Whole Foods and Progress Energy. Nearly 200 people attended the Green Fair to learn about Green Practices from displays produced by the students.

Read the full story on Triangle dBusiness News