Green your meetings May 29, 2007

Not all of us can control our work environment. However, there are some things that we can do at the office to help our organization be more eco-friendly. This blog entry focuses on some easy steps you can take to help green the meetings you are leading or participating in (and, as I’m sure you know, most organizations love meetings, so take note!):

1. Send the materials to attendees prior to the meeting via email; let them know you’ll be going through an electronic version during the meeting — they can print out a copy for themselves if they want to.
2. If copies need to be made, make them double-sided and use 100% processed chlorine free (PCF) and 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled paper — you can find recycled paper at any large store, including Staples and Office Depot, so no excuses! Oh yes, and for presentations, it’s ok to have two to three slides on one page.
3. For those who are lazy, make sure paper and beverage recycling bins are easily accessible so there is no excuse that they didn’t know where the recycling bins were (I’ve heard it even from employees not just visitors to the buildings!)
4. Use a projector during the meeting to present materials instead of handing out copies; this will also provide you with the flexibility to make changes on the spot if needed.
5. Message boards can be used instead of flip charts to note information or, better yet, ask someone to take notes on their laptop.
6. Take advantage of natural lighting in the room instead of turning on the lights, and turn off lights & equipment when the meeting ends!
7. Finally, collect agendas and any unused paper and use it for scrap paper or for the fax machine.

And since you might be serving coffee at some of these meetings to make sure everyone stays awake, choose Fair Trade brands!

Green housing: it’s now, not in the future! May 21, 2007

I was reading an interesting article about a green town that is being considered in the Florida Panhandle. The idea is to make it a model of green living for the future. I like the idea, especially for new developments. Now, we just need to update the older ones and convince developers across the globe that green is the way to go!

In the meantime, if you’re thinking of moving and wondering where you could find a place that is ‘green’, either LEED- certified or otherwise, check out Listed Green, which touts itself as the ‘ MLS for Green, Sustainable, Energy Efficient Homes and Developments Worldwide’, or Green Home for Sale, the ‘Green and Healthy Home Marketplace’, or Modern Green Living. There are also state-specific sites out there, so jump on Google, or, may I suggest Blackle (more energy-efficient version of Google) and take a look.

Install a greener roof, even without plants! May 15, 2007

Summer is just around the corner, and with it, increased energy bills from the AC going full-blast. Especially if you’re living in the city, where it can be up to seven degrees warmer due to the heat island effect (read: concrete and other materials that retain heat), this is an issue. One way to decrease your energy consumption and cool your house naturally is through the installation of a ‘green’ roof. However, only do this if you need a new roof! It isn’t too environmentall-friendly to change roofs without reason, and have the remains sit in a landfill!

When most people think of eco-friendly roofs, more think of grass or plants growing on theroof. Those are not the only options, though these should be included in your review of roofing alternatives. As with a regular roof, an environmentally-friendly roof should: protect you from the elements, provide temperature abatement, be fire-safe, and of course, look good!

Below are some of the more eco-friendly roofing options (not insulation), though some are more friendly than others. Consider your climate, dollars you want to spend, its weight and durability, and eco-friendliness in making the decision and note that the costs are approximations and may vary based on your area and the type of roof.

Roof Type	Description	Price	Comments
Green roof	Vegetated roofs with a membrane and soil, plantings and insulation.	$500/square*	Reduces rainwater runoff and heat island effect. Requires a strong structure.
Fiber-cement composite roofing	Made of Portland cement, sand, clay and wood fiber, it is recyclable, durable (up to 50 years) and fire-proof.	$500/square	Can be expensive to replace and is not suited for colder climates though it is a good choice for homes in hot and humid climates. It can last up to 60 years.
Metal roofing (lead-free kind)	Usually made from copper, steel or aluminum, it can be made of 100% recycled material, and most can be easily recycled. It is easy to install, lightweight, rigid and long-lasting.	$150+/ square	Better than asphalt shingles in terms of decreasing heat radiation, especially if use a white painted or galvanized finish on the metal to deflect heat.Cost quotes is for corrugated steel roofing; others may cost more. Relatively inexpensive but may require metal coatings, factory-finished panels, or watertight construction detailing.
Clay tile	Durable and weighty.	$300-$600/ square	Great for warm climates but doesn’t do well in cold climates, and it’s tougher to install solar panels on it (if that is a consideration).
Recycled synthetic shingles	Durable recycled rubber and plastic shingles (again, 40-50 years) and sturdy.	$300-$600/ square	Works in colder climates and earthquake areas. Some insurance companies offer discounts if installing these.
White EPDM rubber	During and after installation, it doesn’t release odors and fumes, as some other types of roofing materials do	$120-$160/ square	EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer and is a single-ply roofing membrane. Commonly used for low-sloping roofs, and simple to install, it also has relatively low maintenance costs. White is recommended because it has a higher reflectance (69% vs. 6% for black).
Cast-concrete tiles	Fire-resistant and look similar to fiber cement roofing. Some contain recycled material and generally last a long time, require low maintenance, and are fire-safe. In addition, they have great insulating properties.	$250 to $300/square	May need stronger structure. Also, freeze-thaw cycles can damage the tiles unless treated for it.
Slate	Long-lasting (up to 100 years!), fire-resistant, and can be reclaimed and reused.	$900 – $1200/ square	Comes from the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states and Europe, so tranportation costs may make it more expensive, depending on where you live. Requires minor maintenance.
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)	coated with a film that converts sunlight into electricity. The shingles or tiles snap together, and the electrical current flows at the edge of the roof. The shingles look like slate or can be applied to standing-seam steel.	$7,000+/kW or square	In terms of solar energy options, this is an expensive options (a square of BIPV generates only about 1 kW of electricity).
Recycled-content asphalt shingles	Made up of recycled, mixed paper; some use reclaimed minerals in the surface aggregate. Can last up to 50 years.	$150+/ square	Asphalt shingles are generally not eco-friendly — they are made from oil products, off-gas chemicals into the air when hot, and not recyclable; however, because these are made of recycled content, and last 50+ years, they have been included here. That being said, avoid products containing built-in moss inhibitors as many contain zinc, copper and other toxins that harm aquatic life.

* A square = 100 square feet

Top 10 Green Buildings in 2007 May 7, 2007

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released its 2007 list of Top 10 Green Building Awards. AIA began doing this about 11 years ago, and received the most entries this past year, totaling about 90+ submissions versus 40-50 per year in the past. The criteria for choosing the greenest building included water conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable building design, and many others. It’s great to see that there LEED as well as non-LEED certified buildings included.

Winning buildings spanned the entire country from California (predictably) and Oregon to Texas, Hawaii, Washington, DC, and New Jersey. The buildings also ran the gamut and included a school, a library, a courthouse, a water treatment plant, and even a private residence.