Practical Eco

Innovating for Better Buildings

An Opportunity Disguised as a Meltdown

I came across this report which I think might be interesting to many people in the building industry, particularly architects. It seeks to answer the question of how to innovate for better buildings. Nth Power and the Fraunhofer Institute have put it together because they believe the new construction sector in the US offers a timely opportunity to innovate. They assert that the market downturn is a favorable dynamic for the adoption of innovation.

Because the inefficient, compartmentalized construction processes so common in the US building industry (and many other countries) has consistently produced energy wasting and low quality buildings, the industry has essentially set itself up for disruption.

Now several drivers are converging to force the industry to deliver cheaper, greener, and better performing buildings. This is transforming the industry to more collaborative, efficient, and economical processes which are better suited to adopt innovation. The authors view this as a Perfect Storm which is nothing short of a revolutionary for the building industry.

Click here to download and view the full report as a PDF file.

Living Buildings

The concept of the “living building” is emerging as a new ideal. The Cascadia Region Green Building Council (CRGBC) in the Pacific Northwest defines a living building as a structure that “generates all of its own energy with renewable non-toxic resources, captures and treats all of its water, and operates efficiently and for maximum beauty.” The group has been pushing the concept and helped launch the International Living Building Institute to promote the concept internationally.

“We view our role as the organization that is meant to ask the really tough questions, to push the boundaries as far as possible,” says Jason McLennan, CEO of CRGBC. To this end, in 2006 the group launched its Living Building Challenge (LBC), a “call to the design and construction community to pursue true sustainability in the built environment.” So far 60 different projects around North America are vying to meet the high standards of the LBC, which exceed even the highest status of LEED certification.

The first building to be completed for consideration under the LBC program is the Omega Center for Sustainable Living, in Rhinebeck, NY. The 6,200 square-foot, one-level building, which serves as headquarters for the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, features a geothermal heating and cooling system, solar panels, rain gardens that direct water run-off to irrigate plantings, a 4,500-square-foot greenhouse that helps filter wastewater for reuse, “daylighting” design that brings natural light indoor to minimize electric light usage, and eco-friendly building materials all around. It was designed—per LBC criteria—to be “net-zero,” meaning it uses no more energy than it generates itself. Once the building has been in operation for a full year next summer, CRGBC will audit it to see if its performance lives up to the green hype. Dozens of other LBC contenders around North America will be audited as well.

Of course, the costs of creating a living building today are very high. Achieving net-zero can be especially costly, and stands out as one of the biggest obstacles to greater interest in the living building concept. Another challenge is finding materials that meet LBC standards, since many common building materials—such as PVC piping for wastewater transport—off-gas chemicals and have other hazardous attributes. LBC also expects builders to source locally as many materials as possible to boost local economies and make efficient use of nearby natural resources. McLennan remains confident that costs will come down as green materials, technologies and methods become more commonplace within the general building industry.

Image thanks to Omega Center for Sustainable Living.

EarthTalk®

Duke University Aims to be Climate Neutral by 2024

Duke University announced its intention to become "climate neutral" by the year 2024. The university’s current inventory is about 300,000 metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Most of this comes from energy and transportation uses, and includes commuter travel, air travel and the campus fleet of buses.

The plan means making reductions by making smarter choices about energy use, transportation, among other daily actions.  Duke said it will mitigate the impact of emissions it cannot reduce by investing in “carbon credits.” Projects such as methane capture and specialized forest management to avoid, reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere. But they will "specifically target regional offsets rather than distant ones,” said Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III of the Nicholas School of the Environment.

Trask said. “This will help us address our carbon footprint as well as improve the local environment and quality of life here in North Carolina.”

Duke has launched its Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative and officials hope the venture will spur innovation and further research in this emerging market. These offset projects will provide academic opportunities for faculty and students. 

As one of its first major actions, Duke will soon reopen its historic East Campus steam plant, which has been converted from coal to natural gas. This cleaner fuel will mean Duke can reduce its coal consumption by 70%.

View the complete plan and further details here.

US government pushing a boom in green retrofits, according to the Pike Research

Pike Research has released a study called "Energy Efficient Retrofits for Commerical and Public Buildings." It shows that the business of greening commercial buildings is booming. This is driven mainly by strong activity in the federal sector. The report predicts growth will continue at least up to 2013, and emphasises that high-performance buildings command premium rental and sales prices.

According to the report, commercial building retrofits range from less than $1 per square foot up to $40 per sf. At the low end owners gain a simple energy efficiency program that can save 10% of their energy costs. At the high end, from $10 to $40 per sf owners can get up to 40% savings on energy costs and also performance enhancement for the occupants.

For more information on the report see Pike Research here.

It Pays to Install Green Roofs

Nate Kline's post on The Green Economy Post summarizes the many tax credits and incentives available for the installation of a green roof. Several locations including NYC, Chicago, LA, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC. Plus, there are proposed programs for Boston and the state of Pennsylvania as well as a Federal bill that proposes a 30% tax credit for green roofs that cover at least 50% of the roof area.

A study by a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, from last year suggests that white roofs across all major cites would curb climate change. See the story here on the Christian Science Monitor.

Clearly, either greater use of both white and green roofs has major benefits and is comparatively inexpensive. Of all the things that can be done with the tops of buildings, it's a shame that black is such a prevalent choice. There are several green roofs here in the Raleigh/Durham area and a few people I know have gone with white for their home roofs. One person I've spoken with has painted black shingles with white acrylic paint and is very happy with that. I'd love to hear from anyone planning a green roof in the area.

I also noticed in Nate's own GreenDldgBlog.com a recent story that neatly lists all the various tax incentives already in place for energy efficiency measures. This is useful for anyone considering energy efficiency renovations.

Induction Street Lighting Evolved

I posted an item a few weeks ago about induction lighting with a video that explains the technology.  Click here to see that post.

Everlast Lighting now has its newest generation of Cobra Head fixtures (the ones you often see on street lights) which is exciting on many levels.

Energy savings are incredible at about 50-70 percent lower than the typical metal halide bulbs.

Lamp life is the next big benefit. At 100,000 hours you're looking at 5 times the life of a metal halide - or more. So, if it runs for 12 hours per day, every day, it will last for 23 years before someone has to get the bucket truck out to go up and replace the bulb.

Light quality is also a major benefit. They bulbs put out a light at 5000 Kelvin and 85 CRI,  which is much whiter than other street lights and enables clearer vision, rendering colors more like natural sunlight does.

Some of the major improvements in this new type III fixture include a lightweight polycarbonate housing for better durability, a specular reflector optimized for induction lamp geometry, an integrated heat sink system for extended life, an acrylic lens with Type III, medium throw prescription and an electronic ballast with flicker free instant re-strike.   

It also includes a ballast that can dim to 50% power for greater energy savings.

So while LED lights at street level are making headlines everywhere for now, their inherent weaknesses like low usable light output, overstated longevity, pin-point bright spots, sensitivity to heat and high cost will surely impede their wider implementation. Meanwhile, the recent improvements in Induction lighting like their superior longevity, incredible lumen/watt efficiency and outstanding value will mean they start outshining LEDs, HIDs and all other types of lights for a wide range of applications.

See the full spec on the new Everlast cobra head lights here.

10 important green building studies

Tracey de Morcella, writing for The Green Economy Post summarized 10 relevant studies relating to green building.

The various studies referenced address issues such as:
- social and psychological barriers to green building
- the use of impact fees to encourage green building
- the use of mandates and incentives
- the risks that come with green building
- global green building trends
- green practices by facilities management professionals
- reshaping municipal and county laws

To read the full round up click here.

Also see my older post on the Costar Group study that shows the better financial performance of green commercial buildings.

Fresh - the movie, screening on Friday 31st at 7pm at ERUUF

The members of the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) invite you to a free screening of FRESH -- the movie.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system, including Michael Pollan, Joel Salatin, Will Allen, George Naylor, and Andrew Kimbrell. As the reviewer at Eco Salon said, "If Food Inc. was your wake up call, FRESH is your call to action."

Scott Marlow will lead a discussion following the film. Scott is the Director of the Farm Sustainability project at RAFI-USA (www.rafiusa.org). RAFI -- the Rural Advancement Foundation International -- cultivates markets, policies and communities that support thriving, socially just, and environmentally sound family farms.

Refreshments will be served from 6:30. The program will begin at 7pm sharp. The movie is just over an hour long and we expect the discussion afterwards to last about 30 minutes.

This screening is being sponsored by the sustainability committee at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (www.ERUUF.org) . We will show FRESH on the big screen in our Fellowship Hall at 4907 Garrett Road, Durham.

Finally, please consider supporting ERUUF's and RAFI's efforts to promote sustainable agriculture by inviting lots of friends. 

The event is free, but donations will be accepted to cover the film licensing fees and other costs. Any amount collected in excess of our costs will be shared with the Rural Advancement Foundation International to help promote environmentally sound and local farming.

EcoGeek's cap and trade video

As a public service to anyone who doesn't understand what it all means, EcoGeek made a great 3 minute video explaining the fundamentals.
And if you do know what it means, it's still a good quick video.

Report claims Southeast could produce 25% of its energy from renewables

More than 25 percent of the U.S. Southeast region’s electric power could come from locally-available renewable energy by 2025, according to a report released today by the World Resources Institute (WRI), Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), and Southface.

This new report, Local Clean Power, can be found by clicking here.

Prompt policy action to develop these resources can also create tens of thousands of new jobs, attract more regional energy investment, and help protect regional air and water resources.

“The Southeast has a strong portfolio of renewable energy resources that offers several economic and environmental advantages over traditional electric power generation,” said Eliot Metzger, a project manager at WRI and an author of Local Clean Power, the first in a three-part series of reports about energy opportunities in the Southeast United States.

The report estimates that investments in local renewable energy resources - like biomass, solar, wind, and hydropower - can meet more than a quarter of future electricity needs in the region by 2025. That amount would be sufficient to meet national renewable energy targets currently being discussed as part of upcoming federal energy legislation.

The expansion of current renewable power production from its current level of about five percent will be a critical step towards meeting future electricity needs with cleaner supplies and increasing energy independence.

Stephen Smith, executive director at SACE, another research partner, added, “Right now we are depending on other regions of the country, and foreign countries like Columbia and Venezuela, to supply us with coal. Doesn’t it make more sense to be producing cleaner power, closer to home? Our research suggests we certainly have sufficient resources. It’s just a matter of recognizing and capitalizing on these home-grown energy supplies.”

Renewable power potential is well distributed throughout the region, though differences in total electricity sales mean that states like Mississippi and Alabama can meet much more than 25 percent of electricity needs with renewable resources (see table). Some electric power utilities are starting to develop renewable resources in the region, but additional policy action is needed to drive investment and carefully manage the transition to new energy resources.

“A focus on developing our own renewable energy resources will create good-paying jobs that cannot be exported from our region,” said Dennis Creech, executive director at Southface, which was a partner on this research. “However, we need public policy to remove market barriers and encourage these investments in the Southeast.”

“Additional policy action and investment in a clean energy future translates to new growth opportunities - which for us means the creation of more jobs,” noted Tim Blackwell, president of OneWorld Sustainable, a company specializing in efficiency and renewable energy in the Southeast.

The report's recommendations to advance renewable energy in the region include: firm targets for renewable power production; flexible incentives to advance local investments in renewable resources; and comprehensive state-level resource assessments, economic analyses, and regulatory guidance to integrate renewable power into the electricity grid.

Caravan Village Aims Higher Than Green

Caravan Village is the vision of architect Tim Watson, as an eco-restorative community of homes. This community, in Franklinville NC, will go beyond the usual concepts of green building. It aims to put more back into the environment that it takes out. That's an almost unheard of idea for housing developments - even so called green developments.

Caravan Village seeks to create a positive inter-generational community by accommodating the needs of aging and infirm in inclusive ways that integrate them into the wider community. So it goes beyond usual concepts of Universal Design or Aging In Place too. It will create a place where people of all ages and abilities can live happily in harmony.

Some of the amenities planned for the community include:

• Solar Photovoltaic Golf Cart charging
• Golf cart lanes
• Shuttle bus stop to other areas
• Space for communal or individual gardening
• Rain Gardens
• Living retention pond
• Permaculture systems
• On site utility co-op

One of the things I particularly like about it is the utility co-op concept where several homes can share resources like solar photovoltaic, solar hot water, air conditioning, rain water storage etc. This can lower the up-front cost for each home to enjoy these benefits which offer cost savings, security and social improvements.

Plus, Tim intends for one in every five homes to be partly subsidized with the occupant taking responsibility for upkeep of the utility co-op in return.

see www.tlwarchitect.com for more information

Six Green-Economy Solutions for the Economy

Green America (previously known as Co-op America) just ran an article suggesting six green-economy solutions to rectifying the economic weakness we're experiencing now.

Clearly, with a bold new President taking office today we have a leadership in place that finally places sustainability at the top of the agenda. So there's enormous hope that something quite similar to these suggestions will come to pass in time to make a difference.

The six ideas are:
Green Energy & Green Jobs
Clean Energy Victory Bonds
Reduce, Reuse, Rethink
Go Green and Local
Community Investing
Shareholder Activism

See the full article here.

Cork: a cool green option

I remember thinking of cork as a cheap flooring somewhat industrial material. But nowadays, cork comes in such a wide range of colors that it can look positively elegant or cutting edge cool. There are several good cork manufacturers out there. The company I represent, APC Cork, offers 36 different colors. And they come in engineered click-lock panels, rolls or squares.

In so many situations cork provides an outstanding floor. Its resilience and give make for a comfortable walking and standing floor that's ideal in many commercial environments, kitchens, play areas and much more. And the wide range of colors means you'll get the right look for just about any space.

The green credentials are clear and simple because the trees are never felled to produce cork. They simply strip the bark every 9-14 years. A totally sustainable system. Plus, as more and more wine stoppers are made of plastic or metal, using cork for flooring helps support this niche industry which is mainly in Portugal.

I've got beautiful cork, bamboo and FSC certified Teak flooring available. If you're considering remodelling or if you're specifying a job anywhere in North Carolina take a look at our prices and product range, or contact me to discuss your needs.

Key behaviors to maintaining a green and healthy home

Most people don't give much thought to how their behavior can impact the sustainability, health or energy efficiency of their homes. I was speaking with someone last night who I know to be a pretty green minded person and he was a bit surprised by some of the ideas I'm going to highlight here.  Granted he's not a building scientist or a builder but it showed me that it's time to shine a light on this subject.

There are two inter-related issues, health and energy efficiency. And much of it has to do with water or moisture - which is the number one energy of your home.

Health-wise the key points are:
1. Use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms. Particularly here in the South, these fans are there to remove moisture from the home - not just smells. Taking a shower? Use the fan! Boiling water? Use the fan! Humidity, particularly in the warm months, can lead to mold and mildew which is a serious health hazard. And it will increase the load on your air conditioner, so this is also an energy issue.
2. Be sure to get rid of any moisture quickly. This includes practices like wiping up spills immediately, drying yourself in the bath or shower to keep the water where it can run down a drain and using a squeegee to get water droplets off of shower walls and into the tub where they can run down the drain.

3. Maintain your HVAC return filters. Clean or replace them regularly to ensure you are breathing clean air in the home.

4. Remove your shoes in the house. This simple practice can really reduce the amount of dirt and dust in your home. This will not only keep your home cleaner for longer but is altogether healthier.

Energy-wise the key points are:
1. Maintain your HVAC return filters. Clean or replace them regularly to ensure the unit gets free-flowing air and doesn't have to struggle to intake air which will increase the load on your unit.

2. Maintain the HVAC units twice yearly to ensure they are performing optimally. This also helps avert breakdowns during peak heating or cooling seasons which will be extra inconvenient.

3. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when not in the room. They use energy and output heat which can add to the cooling load in Summer. Studies have shown that the energy used by the fan plus the energy needed to get rid of its heat is greater than the energy saved through circulating air. Enjoy its cool breeze when in the room, but turn it off if you leave.

4. Unplug external power supplies (wall-warts) as much as possible. These have been estimated to add about 10% extra electricity load to the typical home.

5. If you have a heat pump take care to avoid sharp temperature increases in Winter. Stick to 3 degrees or less when you change the temperature. Greater increases will trigger an electric heating strip in most units that uses markedly more energy.

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.         

Green Building the Cheapest Way to Slow Climate Chaos

You've got to respect the report in Scientific American saying that green building is the cheapest way to slow global warming.  You probably know that anyway, if you're reading this blog. (Notice how I'm calling it "climate chaos" now? Global warming sounds to benign.)

The article in SA is good read, but the statement comes originally from  the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), which was established under NAFTA.

According to their statistics "Green Building" represents only 2 percent of commercial 0.3 percent of new homes in the US. That's just not enough.

They mention the fact that conventional building benefits from volume discounts that keep prices lower. So when green building reaches 50% (why not 100%?) then the cost differential should shrink. 

Of course that doesn't take into account the fact that much of green building is simply about mindfulness and attention to how things are not. It's not all about the materials.

But as more of this sort of news gets out the snowball will keep growing and perhaps soon all building will be high-performance (see my post from last year about why I don't like to call it "green" anymore).

Duke campus expansion will be green

In last night's public meeting about the Duke Central Campus expansion plans, the architects of the plan claimed that the project will be green. It will encourage walking and cycling and will disrupt as few trees as possible. Though the project is still conceptual, Duke wants to complete it within four years.

Duke has engaged the firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects as master designers of the plan charged with developing the overall vision for the campus.  The firm also created the sports "quad" and the area known as Krzyzewskiville" at Duke.  Other works they are known for include the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Reagan National Airport and work at several other universities.

There will be further public meetings as the plans evolve, the next one will be in May to address more specific designs.

Ecoterrorism in Washington Sadly Misguided

I read this morning in the NY Times that Eco terrorists have torched five "green" luxury homes built in rural Washington state. I'm certainly no supporter of McMansion style building of mini mansions with green features, but there's just no sense in this or any violent act, no matter how justified the perpetrators think they are.

It reminds me of a story back in 1998 when I was in the UK, about an animal rights activist releasing 6000 minks from a farm. Of course, most of them died because they were unprepared for life in the wild and many of them killed local wildlife in their attempts to survive.

This case is a similar fiasco since the burning of 5 homes will have release huge quantities of CO2 and toxins into the air.

See the full story in the New York Times here.

New Report on Government Incentives for Green Building

Yudelson Associates, a green building consulting firm, has released a new study titled, "Green Building Incentives That Work: A Look at How Local Governments Are Incentivizing Green Development."

There are hundreds of different incentive programs across the country.  Developers need to research what each local jurisdiction offers and need to become involved where incentives are being discussed and adopted. This new survey shows that while developers may be aware of incentives, they often don’t take advantage of the.  That may often be that they need to make quick decisions while governments move too
slowly to enable them. 

This report may, among other things, help local developers lobby proactively by pointing to the sorts of incentives that are working in other areas.

The study is available by free download from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties web site, downloadable here.

Eco Friendly mobile homes

In another lift from Roland Piquepaille's Technology Trends, I've found a story about an initiative to develop eco-friendly mobile homes. This idea is being driven by a professor of architecture at Mississippi State University (MSU).  His idea of a GreenMobile home is an ultra-affordable and ecological-minded, factory-built housing unit. The first prototypes are expected to be build this March and should sell at about $50,000. They could be used either as regular homes or disaster relief housing.

This story struck me as interesting particularly because I just drove down to the coast and back yesterday and it really is amazing how many mobile home and modular home sales companies there are lining the highways. I'm sure there were at least 10 on my drive, which just underlined for me how popular manufactured homes are.  That would suggest this idea has some real merit.

Top Ten Eco Business Ideas of 2007

I quite like to read Springwise, a newsletter and website that explores new business ideas sprouting around the world. I particularly enjoy their Eco category and the inspiration that comes with knowing about the many clever things that people come up with.

They've done a round up of their top ten ideas from 2007 which is a great read. I recommend it to one and all. My favorite is Eco Assessments for Homes and Businesses. Back in the UK, a few years ago I met with the team behind Encraft which was doing a similar thing but focused on renewable energy. They seem to be doing well, and I think their narrower focus may make for a better business.

And for anyone local that wants to try their hand at one of these, or another eco idea, get in touch. I'm always interested in chatting with entrepreneurs and love exploring new possibilities.

Brick making emmits as much CO2 as the Airline industry

Apparently the world's brick making industry accounts for about 2% of global CO2 emissions, about the same as the airline industry. This is according to a story in The Daily Green, which takes its news from Deutsche Presse-Agentur and in turn an article in Wellington's Dominion Post.

I find this a bit startling but not altogether unbelievable. The article refers mainly to handmade bricks out of India and China which are coal fired.  So, I have to wonder where US brick manufacturers stand environmentally speaking.

According to the Brick Industry Association, "The actual embodied energy of brick (the energy required to mine, manufacture and transport it), is approximately 4000 BTU’s per pound or 14000 BTU’s per standard brick. According to the AIA Environmental Resource Guide, that’s less than concrete, glass, steel, or aluminum! And it’s far below the embodied energy of EIFS and fibercement products."

That's interesting but doesn't tell me the CO2 emissions related to US brick manufacture compared to Indian hand made bricks. I'm going to postulate, go ahead and correct me anyone, that Indian and Chinese handmade brick making is far less energy efficient. If that's true then there's a meaningful project for someone to come up with more efficient firing techniques or machinery. Or to come up with some viable alternatives to brick in developing countries, and I'm sure there are many.

Fiber optic daylighting - a revolutionary technology

Sunlight Direct, a company in Tennessee,  has created a way of capturing sunlight and piping it indoors exactly to where it's needed. They even integrate sensors into light fixtures that dim bring on electric lighting as skies darken and therefore provide a constant light level for the indoor spaces.

A solar tracking mirror collects the light and concentrates it. Light is then carried via 127 1/8th inch plastic fiberoptic lines. Two lines offers the equivalent of a 50 watt bulb. 

At the ends of the fiber optic lines are hybrid luminaires that integrate the natural light with either fluorescent or incandescent lighting.  A sensor maintains a constant amount of combined illumination regardless of sky conditions.

The complete system can save building operators considerable money and energy.  Not only are there direct savings in electricity and indirect savings due to less heat output from the lights but there is a considerable advantage to having more natural daylight as it dramatically improves occupant moral and health.  For retail customers this system can improve sales - according to this study conducted by the California Board for Energy Efficiency.

Hycrete named one of 2008 Tech Pioneers by WEF

Last week the World Economic Forum selected Hycrete Inc. as one of 39 Technology Pioneers for 2008.
 

Hycrete manufactures a water-based chemical admixture that integrally waterproofs concrete, preventing corrosion of reinforcement bars. This system of waterproofing can eliminate membrane and coating methods of waterproofing, which improves the recyclability of the concrete.

Hycrete is Cradle-to-Cradle certified, meaning the concrete remains a recyclable and sustainable building product. When demolished, Hycrete treated concrete can be readily crushed into coarse aggregate, to be reused as a component in new concrete. Usually the waterproofing membranes are permanently bonded to concrete rendering it unsound for use as an aggregate so a lot of concrete ends up in landfill.

Hycrete has also won other environmental recognition such as one of the Going Green 100 top private companies for 2007. "

The company's CEO, David Rosenberg, describes the business as, "It's a water-based molecule that repels water.

The molecule consists of a water molecule with a long hydrocarbon attached that links up to metallic ions in whatever it's mixed into. In the right circumstances, the molecule behaves like an oil and pushes water away.

So far, contractors have mixed the substance into 53 major projects, including sound barriers on a freeway in New Jersey. In the future, the company may mix its material into drywall to prevent moisture seepage. You could also mix it into roofing material and then put a green roof on without worrying about trickle down.

NC producing a disproportionate amount of CO2

According to the Southern Environmental Law Center, North Carolina's coal-fired power plants produce a disproportionate amount of pollution that causes global warming. NC ranks 14th in the nation for CO2 output.

The SELC is a Charlottesville VA-based organization that pushes for conservation. They say that North Carolina's many coal-fired plants are the prime cause of the state's 77 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually. This is very nearly equal to California's 79 million, which is shocking in itself.

The report goes on to identify Duke Energy as the nation's third largest CO2 producer with 41 million of its total 108 million tons of CO2 coming from its plants in NC.

full story in Biz Journals

The candidates' positions on renewables, energy etc.

The League of Conservation Voters, who describe themselves as "the independent political voice for the environment," has put together a website at www.heatison.org where they track the positions of the presidential candidates on key environmental issues.

There's an excellent table on this page, that summarizes every candidate's stance on issues like a Carbon Cap, Fuel Efficiency, Renewable Electricity, Efficiency Targets and Coal Power Plants. This is a great high level view and the LCV did a great job of putting everyone. But I still find it nearly impenetrable with so many candidates and so many nuances.

However, what comes through clearly are the candidates I don't want to vote for. Though I might have guessed who they were without much study since most are from the GOP.

Is Concrete Green?

I caught this article on Greener Buildings and it has got me thinking again about this marvelous material.

Not long ago I was on the fence about concrete. I think a lot of people see concrete as a cold and hard material so therefore not very "green". Then there's the issue of embodied energy, or the energy that it takes to make and transport the product.

Concrete just doesn't have the warmth and natural feeling of wood, brick or a lot of other building materials. But then it also isn't a source of food for mold which is essentially a plague on buildings here in the Southeast. It also can provide a pretty air tight envelope quite easily, which can mean better air quality indoors as part of a complete well designed system.

Plus, it's fire proof, pest proof and super strong.This means as a home owner you'll save money on insurance and pest protection year after year. Not to mention that a concrete building will likely far outlast stick built homes even if you don't have hurricanes, tornadoes or other disasters that will demolish the typical home.

We offer insulated concrete forms, or ICFs, which is a great way to achieve a quick build, good insulation and all of the great properties of concrete.  And we also offer E-Wall which is perhaps my favorite build system now. E-Wall is a hybrid of structural insulated panels, SIPs, and ICFs. It's a panelized system that is assembled quickly on site then filled with a concrete pour to produce a solid monolithic wall.

GE's new Homebuilder program?

I thought when I read this item that GE was positioning itself to offer the next green building program. With something like 80 programs out there across the country, why not another one? GE's new Homebuilder Program claims to be "groundbreaking".  Hey, it offers 20% savings in household energy and water costs versus the average home. Pardon me if I'm not impressed when I know builders who are doing much much better than that around here.   

On the other hand, I've made the point several times that someone who can paint a pale shade of green across a wide area can do much more good than many small dark green efforts. And if anyone can paint green across a wide area it's GE. So, perhaps I won't write this off with snide remarks just yet.

Still, when I look into the program a bit more I realize that it's mainly just a way of dressing up their appliances and electronic gizmos, like their new eco-dashboard, and selling them as a package deal.
 

To make it happen they've partnered with Environments for Living who are verifying the homes at their "guaranteed performance" level.  I've got pretty mixed feelings about this and a sense of foreboding at the idea of a giant like GE stepping into the green homebuilding arena. Will it help things to move along or will it be a great big greenwash?

Water conservation becoming more and more important

One of my regular reads, Treehugger, carries a post today titled A New Era of Water Conservation, and it makes specific reference to North Carolina.

That puts me in the mind of an excellent product, Brac grey water recycling systems.  There are simply no other viable competitors in North America for what they offer, apart perhaps from Aqus, which is simpler but doesn't offer nearly as much savings or as much safety. Brac's systems not only capture water from sinks, baths, showers and even laundry if needed, but they have state of the art purification in place to deliver clean water to be used for either toilet flushing or irrigation.

It should, and may someday, become mandatory to have such systems in place for new construction. Certainly builders today have every reason to consider using either a grey water recycling system like Brac or a rain water collection system, like Brae or both.

Climate Change a Boon for NC?

Today's News and Observer ran a story about a new study from Appalachian State University which asserts that fighting global warming could be a boon for North Carolina's economy.  If the state implements a host of strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, more than 325,000 jobs and $20 billion could be added to the state's economy by 2020, says the study.

The findings were part of a study that will help state lawmakers decide whether to join 17 other states that have set standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The N.C. Climate Action Plan Advisory Group, one of two statewide panels studying the issue, last week recommended a set of 56 strategies that would return the state to 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions within 13 years. The strategies include reducing tailpipe emissions, tightening efficiency standards for new buildings and appliances, upgrading to cleaner technologies at power plants and preserving farm- and forestland.

Read the full story in the News & Observer here.

Forbes' Greenest States Rankings

I'm seriously disappointed that North Carolina came in smack in the middle of the rankings table at No.26. Forbes' ranking of States for greeness is constructed from six equally weighted categories: carbon footprint, air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management, policy initiatives and energy consumption. Their full table puts us above our neighbors to the South and West but just a few notches below Virginia. We should be making an all out effort to increase our standing in this table over the next few years. Anyone want to float this idea to the State Senate?

Greenbridge development breaks ground in Chapel Hill

Greenbridge, broke ground this past Monday. If you’re not from around here or just don’t know, this is a mixed use residential development in the heart of Chapel Hill. It has been designed by William McDonough and will offer 98 condos and retail establishments, green roofs, solar panels, rainwater runoff systems, and a community learning center.

The six partners behind this development are all local with strong ties here. Still there has been ongoing debate about the appropriateness of a 10 story structure in this little university town. And the units carry a pretty steep price tag with 1 bedroom apartments starting at just over 300k.  However you can’t really argue the benefit of a green flagship development to attract attention to the issues.

Pledge to Stop using Bottled Water

The Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3) group at the New American Dream are raising awareness of the rapidly increasing impact of plastic water bottles. I have to admit I was a bit numb to this issue until recently. After all, I can only focus on so many eco issues at one time.  But I'm now convinced it's real, relevant and takes very little effort to change.  My wife and I bought ourselves reusable water containers and have completely stopped buying bottled water.  Along side, we installed a Multi Pure water filter to ensure we've got the purest tastiest water straight from the tap.

Here are the key facts surrounding bottled water.  Americans consumed more than 31 billion liters of bottled water in 2006 – nearly 28 gallons for every man, woman, and child. Manufacturing all those bottles required 900,000 tons of plastic, which in turn required 20 million barrels of oil, and emitted as much greenhouse gas as 500,000 cars. Trucking a bottle of water 500 miles can double its climate impact – and some are shipped much, much farther. Water is a very heavy product to ship and trucks can not carry a full load of it.

We also know that both Coca Cola and Pepsi have owned up to selling tap water in their bottled waters at thousands of times the cost. Democracy Now did an interesting story on this recently, which is full of compelling facts.

So join me in rejecting bottled water and saving millions of barrels of oil and millions of tons of CO2 emissions. Take the C3 pledge.

Retailers Flocking Toward Green ?

The first one I noticed was Best Buy, then Staples and Office Depot very quickly were saying they would build stores to LEED standards. What great news. Retail may not be the worst contributors to energy consumption, or CO2 emissions but their efforts will be very visible and get good publicity for the causes of green building and energy efficiency.

Then I noticed a story that Kohl's would be putting rooftop solar PV on 63 or its 80 California stores. Hey what about NC and the other 754 stores they run?  Next I read that JC Penny is about to open a store in Denver in a LEED certified shopping center development and that they will seek LEED certification for two more stores opening over the next two years.

All great news. So it seems the new LEED for Retail program is working well. The program consists of two rating systems - new construction and major renovations version 2.2 plus LEED for commercial interiors 2.0.  It's still in pilot but the 2nd draft of the program was issued this past April.

On a related note, I came across a study on the City of Seattle website which shows that stores with increased daylighting, not only save energy costs, but enjoyed increased sales - 30% or more $/square foot improvement in fact. I found that interesting since I've heard retailers say they must have certain types of electric lighting to showcase their wares effectively and achieve better sales.

More anecdotally, I've heard of a few smaller retailers putting up solar hot water around NC, so it must be going on a lot. After all it's practically a no-brainer given the accelerated depreciation and uncapped tax credits available to commercial applications of solar, and the fairly rapid payback period for solar thermal.

Local NC countertops made with New River aggregate

I've finally found a locally made sustainable counter top solution. The New River Concrete Countertops company makes beautiful counters in Jefferson NC using local gravel and sand which is collected from the regular low impact dredging of the local dams on the New River.

The company typically takes a template onsite then makes a mold in their shop to pour the slab from a mix that includes the gravel, sand and recycled materials such as fly ash and fly ash iron oxides. The slabs are ground down to expose the beauty of the aggregate. They can then be sealed with either a no-VOC sealer, that will need regular waxing or a low-VOC sealer which requires no maintanence.

The company do installations throughout NC and VA. They are the latest addition to my growing list of building heroes who do great, local, sustainable work bringing beauty and integrity to home building.

Cleaning Your Home the Natural Way

The Scrap Exchange in Durham is holding a course on Wednesday October 10th from 7-8pm on how to make your own less-toxic cleaning products.
 

Learn how a few simple ingredients can be combined to form a wide range of products to meet all of your cleaning needs. Save money and reduce the toxic chemicals in your life.

Everyone who takes the class will receive a course pack with information and recipes.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007
7:00-8:00 pm
$15 per household (bring your housemate for no extra charge!)

APT permeable pavers stop storm water runoff

The Advanced Pavement Technology (APT) Ecological Paver System reduces storm-water run-off while it promotes rainwater infiltration and natural groundwater recharge.  The Permeable Pavement System is engineered to support heavy axle loads for roadways and parking lots. Yet, it's a flexible, paver system that adapts to changes in the ground and changes in the weather that would damage conventional pavements.

The Bio-Aquifer Storm System, BASS™, method of construction integrates specifically designed pavers in an engineered system that will allow for collection of stormwater runoff and support heavy axle loads for roadways and parking lots. In addition, due to the types of aggregate used, a natural filtration process will occur and pollutants that are removed from the runoff will be broken down by bacteria contained in the aggregates.

For housing developments this system can reduce the requirement for retention ponds and make more land available for building. That means it can far more than pay for itself and that should be music to the ears of developers and municipal storm water personnel too.

Recycle Laser and Inkjet Cartridges

• It takes about a gallon of oil to make a new laser cartridge.

• 70 percent of used printer cartridges throughout the world are currently being thrown out.

• Almost 8 cartridges are thrown away per second in the United States alone. That's over 350 million cartridges per year straight into our landfills, and that number increases by 12 percent annually.

• A laser cartridge thrown into landfill can take up to 450 years to decompose. Some components made of industrial grade plastics will take over a thousand years to decompose.

It is important that the message gets out to the 70% of printer users who dispose of their printer cartridges.

Recycle and save!  Most printer cartridges can be remanufactured, refilled or reloaded. Take cartridges to Cartridge World, or Rapid Refill Inks  shops for collection and recycling. You can buy remanufactured or refilled cartridges for substantially less than the price of the name brand ones at these places too.

 

Save money on hot water

Your hot water heater accounts     for about 20% of all the energy used in your home. There are a few simple things you can     do to save energy and save money.

First, turn your water heater down to 130 degrees F, which is     hot enough to kill deadly bacteria, and still save energy. Also, insulate your heater with     a pre-fab 'blanket,' but be careful not to block off air vents on gas heaters. This can     save you 7-8% of your energy usage.

Another idea is to wash hand in cold water. Letting the tap run till it gets hot wastes water and energy. Unless you've been handling meats you will probably get your hands just as clean with soap and cold water anyhow.  And it's surprising how much water is wasted as we let the tap run while brushing our teeth.

But if you're in the market for a new water heater consider a tankless heater from Rheem. In most cases this will save considerable energy, plus you'll save space too. The water is heated instantly as you require it rather than keeping a tank hot all day and night. Contact me for more information.

The Alternative Energy Store

I'm very impressed with the Alternative Energy Store and sorry I didn't discover it sooner. For anyone in the US it's a great resource for the whole range of products related to renewable energy and eco lifestyles. Even for those of us residing in Europe and elsewhere out of the US, they can air freight smaller items and can still come out less expensive. They have excellent prices and a surprisingly wide range of products. I just wish I lived nearer so I could drop in a browse regularly!

Click here to visit the Alternative Energy Store for discount prices on solar panels, wind turbines and  renewable energy equipment for your home.

Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate

Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP-6) concluded their inaugural two-day meeting in Sydney earlier today.

Ministers from the Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and the USA, as well as over 100 executives from big businesses were gathered to discuss new tactics to flight climate change. However they said they would neither sacrifice economic growth nor reduce their use of fossil fuels.

"We recognised that fossil fuels underpin our economies, and will be an enduring reality for our lifetimes and beyond," the six nations, who together generate about half of the world's greenhouse gasses, said in a statement.

Critics have said the conference was designed purely to divert attention from the US and Australia's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Some have said it is nothing more than a trade pact.  The Ministers from China and India seemed to corroborate that assertion when they said that technology transfer would be the most important element of the agreement.

So what ARE they doing? They said they want to "...work together to develop, demonstrate and implement cleaner and lower emissions technologies that allow for the continued economic use of fossil fuels while addressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions...." 

The group announced they would form eight public-private sector task forces covering cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy, power generation, steel, aluminium, cement, coal mining and buildings and appliances.  They will study anti-pollution technologies and develop action plans "for cooperation, and wherever possibile, ambitious and realistic goals".

Well it does seem a lot more like hot air than action. Particularly their refusal to cut fossil fuel use or to assign any hard targets.

Sunday Times Greener Lifestyle story

The Sunday Times today had a piece in their Health section with numerous tips for a greener lifestyle and links to a variety of products and sources. Anna Shepard reminds us that packaging waste is bad and composting is good as are energy efficient appliances, organic cosmetics and clothes made from organic cottons.  For some there won't be a lot of surprise but there are certainly several excellent links for finding good products.

I was disappointed that while she mentioned solar panels, she didn't point out the easier solution for urbanites like me which is to go with a green energy supplier like Good Energy. Remember, if you sign up to their supply to mention my name and post code (E8 1DN) and you'll get a free bottle of organic wine - and so will I!

Full article in the Sunday Times

Next Generation competition for Big Ideas

  I'm a bit late with this one but for any designers out there with big ideas, Metropolis magazine is offering a $10,000 prize for its Next Generation competition. They're looking for a Big Idea that will make our designed environment better, safer, and more sustainable.  The deadline fortunately has been extended to the 20th of January. Click here for the entry forms and other details.

Grow your own and save

Why is it hardly anyone grows their own vegetables any more?  My grandmother used to grow loads of things and can them every year. Her pickles were legendary. And of course, the fresh picked corn on the cob was a delight.  No, she didn't live on a farm, it was a typical suburban house in Tulsa with less than half an acre plot.  And my friend Mag grows fantastic tomatoes, beans, peas, berries and more on a much smaller plot here in London.

Just about anyone can grow their own veg and delight in its freshness and knowing exactly what went into it.  It doesn't take much land, just a bit of time and attention.  The current issue of Back Home magazine includes an article about growing your own food on a small suburban plot. Read it here.

Planting Trees May Do More Harm Than Good

A report published in Science magazine on 23rd December suggests that where fast growing conifer plantations have been planted there is often significant damage to local water supplies.  Sometimes that damage can be long-term reducing local water supplies, and making them saltier and more acidic.

I've long been suspicious of tree planting schemes as a way of supposedly offsetting Carbon emissions.  Wouldn't many of those trees have been planted anyhow? I have too often seen these offsets used as a means of greenwashing a business and easing consciences. Well here's another good reason to steer clear of tree-planting schemes and focus on real measures that genuinely reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   

Read the full story in Science

Willie Nelson's BioWillie brand of biodiesel

I remember reading a few months ago that Willie Nelson was gettin behind biodiesel.  As a fan of biodiesel I had to be supportive but didn't initially get how good a combo this is.  Willie has a huge following among truck drivers so it's a natural brand association that gives biodiesel, and hopefully broader environmental concerns, much greater credibility with the people who need to be using this green fuel. And living in London, as I do, I hadn't realised that there really are no diesel passenger cars in America, so it really is only the trucks that can make this particular difference there. Anyhow, this article in the New York Times, tells the story about Willie Nelson's new BioWillie brand.

SiliconValley.com places "Clean Technologies" in their top-ten for 2006

I'm pleased that SiliconValley.com has chosen to rate "clean technologies" among their top ten list for next year. It shows that business is finally starting to take the possibilities seriously. And that can only happen when business people believe there is a market out there. So, evidently, there are enough people who care to start making a difference.  Could that mean we're finally starting to hit critical mass?

Prince Edward Island shows the way

Canada's Province of Prince Edward Island has made a bold visionary step enacting new legislation that requires utilities to source at least 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by the year 2010.  But the really bold step was to require 100% renewable power by 2015 - a positively aggressive timeline. Sure, it's a small place but they had the vision to realise that 100 percent renewable power is achievable. 

The UK, who is on track to meet their Kyoto obligations, recently issued a study saying that Micro-generation could contribute up to 30-40% of the nations electricity needs by the year 2050. Nice enough thing to say, and even though I'm a big fan of micro-generation I can't help bringing to mind the phrase "poverty of ambition."  If you're going to water down your conclusion with a major caveat like "could", then why pull your punches?  Frankly I'm absolutely certain that micro-generation could deliver 100 percent - yes, ALL of it. And a lot sooned than 2050 - let's say 2020. Why not? Bigger changes have happened faster in recent memory. 

For instance today I'm handling almost 90% of my communication with people who are more than 10 feet away, via the internet. Just 10 years ago that would all have been by phone or mail.

With the right economic and lifestyle incentives and people embrace change rapidly.  The money spent on the war on Iraq could have been spent more wisely incentivising renewables in the US and would have delivered new technological developments that could easily have ended our dependence on Middle East oil within 10 years. But I doubt any of Bush's friends would have benefited from such a move. So instead we continue pouring money down a drain that disrupts world peace and perpetuates our dependence on oil.