Innovative Financing Mechanisms

Check out Kansas and their Energy Efficiency Model.

Albany is getting it together as well. "Innovative financing mechanisms" can make these models happen all over the country.

Silicon Valley + Patience + Policy

"In the old days you could start an Internet company and go public 15 months later. With a clean-tech company, 15 months later you're still working on a prototype."

The quote is from an article about what's happening in Silicon Valley these days.

Two Hands for One Building at a Time

Exactly what I'm talking about when I say, "natural building" (what I'd like to study for my thesis in grad school some day soon). "Handmade Building" is another name.

Enjoy the prize winner's quote: "For me, sustainability is a synonym for beauty." Anna Heringer

Read about what she's doing in Bangladesh.

Gadgets Going Green

Can't wait until upcycling, cradle-to-cradle design, and beyond "green" are completely vogue with all manufacturing processes and consumer goods. Here's an article about what's happening now.

Smart Trash

This is a very cool approach to trash that could be a tremendous help to our landfills.

"‘Smart Trash’ functions using two key elements: a Universal Product Code (UPC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to identify specific merchandise and a retrofitted recycling center where valuable items can be processed and proceeds sent directly back to consumers. A Wi-Fi connection provides the bridge between the trashcan and the recycling service."

New Home Green Building Product Superstore

This is SO cool! New Home is a green building product superstore. The article linked talks about them moving headquarters, but we need some of those stores in the South, especially New Orleans. I wanna go! This is coming from a man who can't leave Home Depot and can't even imagine a green version.

White House Wants to be LEED

Pretty cool I have to say. Not sure what LEED rating system they are using, but it's a developing story. Can't wait until it's certified.

Whoa! Smart Grids!

Fascinating article full of jargon, but very much worth reading:

"The term 'perfect storm' has been used many times recently in the Smart Grid and Building Automation communities. Utilities know their businesses will change significantly, creating risks but giving them a chance to recreate themselves. And many in Silicon Valley liken today to 1992, a couple of years before the Internet went mainstream, when all of the technologies and drivers were in place for what was then to follow."

Retro-fit-it NYC

This wonderful article about inefficient New York buildings just goes to show the largest part of the big answer to fixing suck low-hanging fruit, policy concerning energy efficiency:

"the bill would enable state energy regulators to loan out funds to cover the upfront costs of improving the energy efficiency of a home or business — as much as $13,000 for residential customers and as much as $26,000 for qualifying businesses. The loan would then be paid back through monthly deductions culled from the energy savings arising from the retrofit."

Win-win situation. Go NYC!!

Update on 9/23:
All NYC gov't buildings must be LEED cert by August 2010.

Jevons Paradox

I think about this a lot and finally come across an article that talks about it.

"The Jevons Paradox takes many forms:

• Because of improvements in refrigerator efficiency, consumers can afford more and larger refrigerators.
• Because of improvements in vehicle efficiency, car owners can afford to drive more miles per year.
• Because of improvements in airtightness, window performance, and insulation techniques, homeowners can afford to build larger houses.
• Savings resulting from energy-efficiency improvements — or even savings resulting from giving up meat in one’s diet — allow consumers to take more vacations, resulting in greater energy use."

Interesting huh? Higher energy taxes (and/or properly valuing environmental damage as a consequence of a product) and "the voluntary adoption of a simpler lifestyle: one with less work, fewer possessions, and more leisure time." America needs this!!! I need this.

Teens Build LEEDH Platinum House

Now this is cool, teens build a LEEDH Platinum home with the help of their teacher/contractor. House is $150 per sq ft. Stands at 1495 sq ft. Will be an education center for two years. Read the statistics to the right of the article. Seriously cool, no wonder the kids worked weekends and vacations. Inspiring!

How Not to Greenwash

As you are probably aware, it's important to research a "green" building product to see how actually "green" it really is. Here are some tips coming from the production side to think about:

All of these come from, "How Not to Greenwash Your Building Product" by Joel Bittle, from 2008, but still relevant.

"1. Make sure your product satisfies at least one green building requirement.

2. Do not claim credits that do not apply to your product or to the current building project.

3. If you are not unique, don’t try to sell yourself as unique.

4. Don’t claim that yours is a local product if it’s not harvested/extracted or processed locally.

5. No product is a LEED certified product.

6. Your manufacturing practices do not affect LEED credits.

7. Don’t sell yourself short."

There is much more to this story, but this is a start.

Earth911

Earth911.com is the place for finding recycling centers in your area.

TVA is Testing Homes!

Very cool of TVA to start this project!

Remember that the Southeast has lower energy costs than the rest of the country because of TVA and the abundance of coal blown off Appalachian mountain tops.

Alternative Loans to Energize

Interesting article about California:

"Through AB 811, a government entity or jurisdiction — such as the county — can voluntarily develop a program that essentially loans money to property owners to make energy efficiency improvements and/or add a solar system to their home.

The loans can come from various sources, and are one way to funnel federal stimulus dollars into the pockets of local residents."

We need alternatives! Upgrading is expensive for many, many people. Incentives are huge.

Garbage Warrior

The man portrayed in this doc is my new hero. He went up against New Mexico to experiment with sustainable building. It's an amazing doc and worth owning!!



He created Earthships. Amazing! I want to build one so bad.

Real Dirt on Farmer John

Recently I watched an amazing doc about an unusual farmer. If you get a chance, rent it from your public library. Here's a preview:



Learn more about Community Supported Agriculture.

Fellowship

This upcoming Sunday, I'll be moving to New Orleans for a spectacular new job! One that will definitely keep this blog flowing. I'm going to the be the Energy Efficiency Fellow for a big non-profit helping Katrina survivors and low-income families. From giving twice monthly workshops to consultations, I'll be doing a little bit of everything. I'm super excited! So excited that can't even research because I won't stop.

Speaking of workshops, tomorrow morning I've been asked to come speak to a Agriculture class on Renewable Energy and give an over-view of energy auditing. Met a professor today who asked and I said yes! It's going to be very cool no doubt. It'll be good to practice. Of course, I need to get better updating this blog because before long, it'll be on business cards.