LEED to Tackle Green Neighborhoods

 

The official name for the certification is LEED-ND, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development. This new concept takes the techniques used to make greener buildings, and applies it to whole neighborhood development and subdivisions.

The idea began back in 2004, when the U.S Green Building Council looked to expand the concept of LEED, working with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Congress for New Urbanism. The goal is to create neighborhoods that have a gentler impact on the environment, while reducing carbon emissions and meeting a broader social and quality-of-life goals, such as housing affordability and locating jobs near homes. Developers can score higher in the new ratings system by preserving wetlands, enabling community gardens and farmers markets, and meeting other goals.

LEED-ND organizers recently launched training sessions so a developer, architect or other professional can obtain credentials as a LEED-ND specialist. Some 400 people applied within the first couple days.

Over the last decade, it has been found that buildings that are LEED certified have attracted more tenants and higher rents than non-LEED certified buildings. It will be interesting to see if the same is found with LEED certified neighborhoods. While smart growth planning and land use has been pushed by planners for year, hopefully this will be a push in the right direction for new neighborhoods and developments across the United States.

 

For a full article on LEED-ND, CLICK HERE

Earth Hour: March 27th, 2010 8:30 PM

On March 28th, 2009, the world united in a single act of sustainability, when 4,000 towns and over 800 countries turned off their lights for Earth Hour. Coordinated by the World Wildlife Fund, this act proves that now is the time to focus on climate change, before it is too late. This Years Earth Hour is slated for Saturday March 27th at  8:30 PM and Pennsylvania is one of the official U.S states participating in the event.

U.S. landmarks such as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, Sea World in Orlando, the Las Vegas Strip, the Empire State Building, Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral, and the Space Needle in Seattle are a few of the national landmarks shutting down all non-essential lights for the event.

While powering down for an hour is a great symbol, it also points out that there is so much more we can do to make every hour an Earth hour. This is just one tiny step in the right direction.

A simple tip to save energy every day is to start turning off electronics when not in use. The simple act of turning lights on when not in a room, or powering down computers when not in use can not only save hundreds of dollars, but help the environment as well.

For more tips on reducing energy use CLICK HERE.

Technorati Tags: Earth Hour,energy,savings,sustainability,green

Recovery Act- Funded Rebates to Make PA Homes More Efficient

Starting in April, funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will make it possible for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians to reduce their energy consumption and save money through a new rebate program for home heating equipment, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

The $11 million program will provide rebates of between $100 and $500 on the purchase of new, Energy Star-rated non-electric residential hot water heaters, furnaces and boilers. The higher the equipment’s efficiency rating, the larger the rebate will be.

“Last fall, the U.S. Department of Energy asked all states to develop rebate programs for items that would help residents achieve the greatest energy savings,” said Governor Rendell. “Because the average Pennsylvania household spends 44 percent of its energy budget on heating and cooling, offering these rebates will provide a real and lasting benefit for consumers.”

Governor Rendell added that the rebate program could benefit 33,000 Pennsylvanians and could create 120 jobs by boosting demand for heating equipment and related installation work. It could also save more than 257 trillion British thermal units of energy.

Once finalized, the rebate program's guidelines and applications will be posted on www.recovery.pa.gov.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on Energy Rebates.

To learn how federal Recovery Act funds are being invested to benefit Pennsylvania residents, businesses and communities, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

Google Unveils New Biking Directions

The bright minds of Google have done it again. This time helping people plan trips that do not involve automobiles. Google recently launched their bike directions applications to over 150 cities in the US. Along with turn-by-turn directions, users can utilize the already existing features of Google maps to preview bike paths/lanes, preview their route and even look for local bike shops.

The directions presented by Google's new application are very detailed, and tailored to bikers. The application even takes slopes of roadways into consideration when formulating the most efficient paths for bikers. One can now get directions to their destination by Car, Mass Transit, Walking and riding a bike through Google Maps.

For more information on this program, visit googlemapsbikethere.org or Google "bike there".

Going Green With Peco

PECO has taken a strong focus on not only becoming more energy efficient, but literally becoming a greener company. Recently installing a green roof on their Philadelphia headquarters, they hope to be an excellent example within the city of how easy it can be to go green. They replaced their crown lights with LED energy efficient lights and recently opened their first LEED Certified Silver building in West Chester, PA. They have also began using more energy efficient vehicles in their fleets, utilizing hybrids and biodiesel trucks and vans. Below is a short video on all the green techniques currently being pursued by PECO.

Pennsylvania Set to Invest Over $5 million in New Solar Power Projects

Pennsylvania is set to invest over $5 million in 13 new solar power projects, continuing their efforts to become a leader within the United States in solar growth. The projects were made possible by more than $5 million from the Alternative Energy Investment Fund, made available by federal ARRA funds earmarked for renewable energy.

 “We have made remarkable progress in making Pennsylvania a leader in renewable energy in a very short period of time,” said Governor Edward G. Rendell in a press release. “We’ve invested nearly $1 billion in projects that put more than 8,300 people to work. And now…we’re able to achieve even more growth.” Adding that by December of 2010, Pennsylvania will rank in the top five states for solar power capacity.

The 13 projects announced earlier this week will produce enough solar energy to power some 500 homes. They’ll also increase Pennsylvania’s solar capacity to just shy of 60 megawatts, enough to power 7,200 homes. This includes solar paneled parking garages in West Chester Borough and Integrys Energy Services’s 387kw ground mounted solar panel array in Chester County.

“Pennsylvania’s commitment to creating a vibrant solar industry will reduce the consumption of costly, traditional fuels, with clean, efficient sunlight that doesn’t cost a penny,” said Rendell. “That provides savings to businesses and municipalities, and ensures that the commonwealth remains a leader in the development and deployment of green technologies.”

For a link to the individual projects being funder, Click Here or visit Newpa.com

Philadelphia Firm to Build Greenest U.S Embassy

The KieranTimberlake building, which will cost $500 million to construct,  will fill a roughly five-acre site along the southern edge of the Thames, in a district called the Nine Elms opportunity area, and replace Eero Saarinen's 1960 embassy in Grosvenor Square.

The all-glass office block is a welcome contrast to the defensive crouch of most American embassies, though it looks as if it is covered in high-tech tufted upholstery.

The pliable plastic material, called ETFE, will stretch tent-like over rods projecting from the outside walls. It will form insulating pillows that taper into vertical and horizontal fins. Tuned to optimal sun angles, the fins will harvest daylight when useful and shade when needed.

Photovoltaic film will be laminated onto the ETFE to collect solar energy when sun makes a rare appearance.

It is also highly responsible from an environmental point of view. "We wanted to create a building that would be an environment for diplomacy, but also serve as diplomacy for the environment," Timberlake explained.

The project will break ground in 2013 and be completed in 2017.

For more on the new building, Click Here

Bridgeport Eyes New Recycling Program

Bridgeport Mayor Thaddeus Pruskowski asked council to consider implementing a proposed paper recycling program, The Paper Retriever, which promotes recycling by placing green and yellow Paper retriever bins in highly visible areas at schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations, which are then paid for by recyclable paper they and members of their surrounding community collect.

According to www.paperretriever.com, organizations use the money they earn for playground refurbishing beautification efforts, library enhancements, scholarships, field and mission trips and team uniforms.

More information on the Paper Retriever process can be on their website.