December 19, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Energy, Renewable Energy
Tags: Resources, Solar
Back in 1979, President Jimmy Carter did the unthinkable: He installed solar panels on top of the White House. The panels were used to heat water for the staff eating era and more importantly usher in a new era in American innovation and independence from foreign fossil fuels.
Carter said. America was to harness “the power of the sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.”
Carter, in his State of the Union Address the year the panels were installed, presented an ambitious plan to put America on a clean energy path: 20 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2000. Part of his idea was to go far beyond simple hot water solar collectors and direct government research funds towards the development of photovoltaic cells, the kind that could put energy into the grid.
HALT SCRATCH SCREECH
And Regan had the panels removed during a roof in repair in 1986 — and as a symbol of where we are today, never had them reinstalled… They were later found in government storage.
30 years later, the United States still get only 6 or 7 percent of our energy from renewable energy sources.
To prove his point President Reagan had declared government the problem, not the solution. That meant no energy credits. That also meant no solar panels. Ronald Reagan helped tear down the Berlin Wall, and he also helped tear down the White House’s solar panels.
The scramble is on again across the country to renew Carter’s old efforts, as venture capital pours into solar and wind energy. About $5.2 billion of North American venture capital poured into carbon-reducing and environment-friendly technologies in 2007, according to the industry-affiliated Cleantech Group
But if it all feels we are inventing something that should have already been invented, maybe that’s because, well, it should have been. Least we are headed back in the right direction again!!
December 18, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Energy, Uncategorized
Tags: Energy, Energy Star
The Huffington Post has this great article that speaks volumes to energy efficiency and a great way to battle the United States current economic situation.
Please click here to read the plan that Architecture 2030 has helped devise and hopefully they’ve masterminded a way out of this crisis we’re in.
December 18, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Green Building, LEED, Uncategorized
Tags: Compact Development, Green Building, LEED
Inherently urban infill sites are green
Inherently suburban high density TOD (Transit Oriented Design) sites are green
With that said, not everyone will be able to live in these higher density, condo/apartment like spaces.
So what should they do? Well an important factor for these people to consider when thinking about social, environmental and enconomic issues is this idea of how much do I need and where am I willing to get it.
If you need a lot and don’t want to be all that burdened in getting it then at least live in an area where those services you use most are close by. For example, live in an area where you have the ability to drive an electric or hybrid car (or golf cart for that matter) to town to get your essentials. Consider getting the remainder of the larger items online instead of driving to the mega supercenter to park in a heat island and support wasteful corporate ideologies.
So before I get too far off tangent, review below the LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot Program and please feel free to let us know what you think
LEED’s Neighborhood Pattern and Design, Compact Development, intends to “Conserve land. Promote community livability, transportation efficiency, and walkability,” and while it sounds ideal in theory it has caused some stir. On Green Life Smart Life, the author points out how LEED penalizes the size of everything and highlights a point system used by LEED for single-family homes:
- 4 Points from LEED if you build 20 units on a 1-acre lot
- 3 Points from LEED if you build 10 units on a 1-acre lot
- 2 Points from LEED if you build 7 units on a 1-acre lot
Others on TreeHugger commented on the system and complained about the close proximity of the homes if they were to follow the LEED guidelines. Is the trade off a good one? In order to gain these LEED points, single-family homes would be close to one another within this one acre but the acres surrounding the homes might then be open spaces. They would also likely be near public transportation if the builders are trying to attain LEED points, thus reducing the need for driving and increasing efficiency. While it may seem hard to sacrifice our own personal space, building near our neighbors allows us to save valuable farm land and preserve forests all while building communities.
December 15, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Green Building, Renewable Energy
Tags: Build It Green, Green Building, GreenPoint, Sustainable Site
The California Air Resources Board cam out with this press release after a unanimous decision to cut greenhouse gas emissions was approved.
Science News release an article shortly afterward that goes further in depth and can be found here
And if Carbon Emissions is your real target then please read the StopWaste.org website which has this Climate Calculator – a really cool tool to help push the green building message a bit more.
All of this speaks volumes to California’s initiatives to go green and reduce global warm potential state wide. Now only if people will listen and other states will adopt. . .
December 12, 2008
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Green Building, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized
Tags: Green Building, Renewable Energy
What do you think the tipping point will be? Most trends start in the west and head east.
GREEN BUILDING is spreading everywhere and quickly: San Francisco, Oakland, New York, Miami, colleges like Duke and Harvard, towns such as Greenbergs Kansas, Boulder Colorado, and even resorts like Aspen are just a few examples. These areas are all a head of the curve, but many neighboring areas are developing similar and even more stringent plans.
I think the tipping point is soon and it will be when the neighboring towns that aren’t implementing green plans realize they can’t compete with a cleaner more economical way of living.
Recent Comments