Exploring The Future of Green Housing – Solar Decathlon 2009 September 10, 2009

For the fourth time since 2002, the U.S. Department of Energy will be hosting the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from October 9th-18th. The purpose of the Decathlon is two-fold: 20 universities from around the world compete to design and build the most sustainable solar-powered single-family home, while the public gets a chance to tour the complex of houses, catching a glimpse of what housing may look like in the future. The competition was founded as a means of helping solar-power technologies break into the mainstream market.

Two years before the competition begins, the student-founded teams begin to design their entry into the competition, then build it on site, and later transport it to the National Mall (some from as far away as Madrid, Puerto Rico, and Munich), where it will be judged in ten different fields, including architecture, lighting design, communications, hot water, comfort and market viability. While the competition is taking place, the public is encouraged to walk through the houses and better see what scientists, engineers, and designers are envisioning as the building norms of the future.

The number one reason that the competition has been made public is to show the greater population that it is possible to power every part of a home through wind and solar energy, as each house is built entirely off the grid. Building materials also play a huge role in the competition. Many entries from previous years relied heavily on recycled materials like shipping crates, as well as sustainable materials like bamboo to earn extra points from the judges. Passive heating and cooling measures, as well as solar water heaters, are staples in the design of most of the houses.

For more information about the houses, the universities involved, or the Solar Decathlon in general, visit the USDoE’s website.

Keeping Cool Without Harming the Environment July 24, 2009

Keeping cool can be a challenge, especially in the hot summer months. It is automatic for most Americans to turn to their thermostat and hike up the air conditioning to stay cold. But the environmental impact of blasting the air conditioning is large, not to mention the impact it has on your electric bill.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy the key to staying cool is not blasting the cold air, but concentrate on “the movement of air over the skin.” You can stay cool by noting which way the wind is blowing and getting a breeze flowing throughout the house.

If the natural breeze through open windows is not enough, fans can add additional wind, especially if strategically placed in front of windows. Ceiling fans can also be beneficial. It is also important to think about if you really need your air conditioner at night because the nighttime air is normally much cooler.

If you do not deem any of these options “cool” enough for your home, there are air conditioning options that are especially energy efficient. You can install single room air conditioning units and turn them on as need be, instead of cooling rooms in your house that you are not being used through central air. Also, if buying a new air conditioner, it is important to find federally labeled energy efficient models to save on the amount of electricity used. All of these methods are up and coming ways to keep cool without causing harm to the environment.

Check out some resources from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Waxman-Markey Climate Bill Introduced in the House May 20, 2009

Economic recession, swine flu, and war in the Middle East dominate the headlines, but historic climate legislation is currently being introduced in the House’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee. The Waxman-Markey climate bill must pass through the subcommittee in order to get the opportunity to be passed through the Energy and Commerce Committee.

In general, it seems that the bill is much as you’d imagine – a good start, but not all that we hoped for. It has decent targets, a 20% less carbon from 2005 levels by 2020, 42% less by 2030, and 80% by 2050. Of its problems, one of the major ones is 2 billion tons of carbon offsets, a large number considering that U.S. green house gas emissions were 7.2 billion tons. Another important component of the bill is 15% of the cap-and-trade allowances will go to industries which are most likely to be negatively affected because of international competition. This wise measure protects vital metal, glass, chemical, and paper industries, to name a few.

This is an extremely important piece of legislation to closely follow as it moves through subcommittee and committee. It would invigorate an already robust and growing renewable energy market, change consumer behavior, and slow and minimize the drastic climatic changes we’re facing. It is also a timely piece of legislation, considering we are getting closer to the Copenhagen meetings as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. One of government’s roles is to make regulations to ensure the safety of the community when there is a market failure; this bill provides the framework for such action.

Federal Stimulus: Creating the New Economy April 23, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been hailed as an environmental triumph. Specifically, the stimulus package’s promise is in its potential to create green jobs, principally in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. And to most environmentalist’s joy, money for two hotly contested environmental issues, nuclear power and clean coal, were dropped from the final bill. Green jobs, in an energy industry which boasts more potential than IT, were going to simultaneously lift us out of an economic recession and fend off climate change. For the past month, however, the economy has shown signs of picking back up without the help of stimulus funds.

In the past month, the stock market has increased and the beginning of first quarter reports has been quite encouraging. A few days ago, Wells Fargo announced a big first quarter profit, an excellent sign from the troubled banking industry. The remainder of first quarter reports will have a big impact on whether investors think the market has bottomed out yet or not. This could very well be a short-term trend or perhaps an authentic road to recovery. At first blush it would seem the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had started to make changes. However, as NY Times Columnist and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman explained on NPR, the act was signed six weeks ago so only an insignificant amount of stimulus money is in the economy; the positive outlook is due much more to the Federal Reserve board’s robust interest rate cuts.

It seems that green jobs might not be an economic savior. After all, the current economic crisis was thought by some to be the inevitable result of a fossil-fueled, speculation-based, over-consuming economic system. Terrible as the direct impact of the recession has been on the average American, it could have been a correcting measure for the economy as a whole. Americans were driving less and growing more gardens. But if everything returns to normal, very few results have been gained.

The fact remains, however, that even if the economy can rebound to its old form, its lifespan is limited. And even if the economy recovers without the salvation of green jobs and the clean energy sector, it is difficult to think that the federal government’s investments and the current administration’s priorities will let things go on as normal. Consider the Washington Post’s breakdown of the $48.9 billion spent on energy and water:

- $8 billion in federal loan guarantees for renewable energy systems and electricity transmission

- $18.5 for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs

- $ Other, including modernizing the electricity grid

Additionally, Obama’s climate change stance, energy policy, and the upcoming climate meeting in Copenhagen all set the stage for an unprecedented next couple of years.

We could wish that green jobs will bring our economy back to what it was a year ago, but really we should wish that green jobs create a better economy altogether. The changes that the stimulus package implements must be independent of the current economic model if it is truly to be sustainable. An economy that matures, that experiences growth to a limit, is sustainable. One that uses energy endlessly and is based upon constant growth is not. An economy that builds durable houses for people, not just for a developer’s profits, is itself durable. That is part of the appeal of stimulus funds for creating green jobs – it is based on programs like weatherization for low income homeowners, improved energy efficiency and conservation, and local transit systems. These are programs which can change our economics.

Federal Stimulus Provides Green Energy Incentives April 3, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a significant and historical spending bill that was recently passed by the 111th Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama.  This stimulus package is an aggressive and hopeful attempt to get the heartbeat of the American economy pumping again.  Among the various tax cuts, provisions, benefits, and programs are significant investments for renewable energy and energy efficiency that are meant to create a greener and more productive economy.
Of course, within the renewable energy sector, solar and wind power have much to offer for a cleaner future since they have the ability to produce electricity without pollution.  However, one of the great impediments that have limited the growth of these viable energy sources is the feasibility for system installation.  There were tax incentives in select states such as California to promote the growth of renewable energy, particularly for solar power that has helped the industry to expand, albeit in a limited fashion.  At the beginning of the year, the federal government changed the tax credit to 30% of the cost of the solar system, but capped it at $2000.  However, this measure made in the heat of the economic downturn has hardly advanced the solar industry.
Fortunately, the stimulus package brings various clean energy businesses to the forefront of the economy with additional tax incentives, bonds, grants, and loan guarantees.  For example, two measures that will help renewable energy, and solar in particular, are the grants and the loan guarantees.  The stimulus permits those installing solar systems to apply for a cash grant instead of a tax credit and receive the money back in 60 days.  These grants are meant to ensure industry growth by bringing investors back into solar and wind, whereas tax credits in the current economy would not allow for profit.
The stimulus package also makes more credit available by providing loan guarantees.  Solar energy is considered one of the safest and lowest risk investments, which should provide access to less stringent credit.  However, the recent credit crunch made if quite difficult for even safe investments like solar to obtain credit.  The government gets lenders to start lending again by backing up the loans, which should lead to the installation of more systems.
In addition, the stimulus package provides incentives for low-income families to make their homes more energy efficient through projects like adding insulation.
The benefits should percolate the economy.  The efforts that the government has put in place should provide green sector jobs and businesses with the means to operate, while creating a more sustainable economy.
The following link by the New York Times is a categorized breakdown of the 787 billion stimulus package. Following are additional web-sites provide more detailed information and other links:

• http://www.recovery.gov/
• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s1

It Makes Sense to Build Green – Part 4 of 6 (Energy & Atmosphere) January 29, 2009

Creating an energy efficient and clean atmosphere in a building is perhaps the most complex aspect of building green. Reaching optimal energy levels and employing clean and renewable energy systems which in turn reduces ozone depletion and global warming is the overall intent of the energy and atmosphere credits. To achieve points in this category all parties must be on the same page and establish precise energy goals.

In order to be eligible for any points in this section, three prerequisites must be met and they all revolve around planning and management. First, a Commissioning Authority must be assigned to the project to review, plan, and report on the project. It is vital that the owner’s project requirements and the basis of design are followed and commissioned in order to perform and meet expectations. Proper commissioning allows a project to establish minimum energy performance requirements and install adequate refrigerant management systems. Once the prerequisites are set in place you should use your energy baseline and construct optimal energy performance goals for your building.

There are 17 possible points amongst 6 credits in this section. To get points in this section, you must take your baseline building performance rating and increase it by 10.5 percent just to get 1 point, then to earn more points you can add 3.5 percent to the 10.5 percent performance and earn 1 more point per each 3.5 percent increase. You may earn up to 10 points in this section by reaching 42 percent total. (The performance percentages above the baseline will vary depending on the building). Meeting this requirement is essential to greening your building and can drastically cut your energy cost each month. To increase your energy efficiency you should install appropriate HVAC systems, recover your wasted energy, harvest free/renewable/clean energy, and reduce your demand for energy.

Commissioning your building early and thoroughly along with using proper refrigerant management can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your building if you measure and verify your energy use and energy systems over time. It is very important to commit to using renewable energy / green power in your building. Engaging in very available renewable energy sources will not only save you money but will most importantly create a low impact sustainable building and a healthy atmosphere.

Earning points in this category is a must, and working with a third party to meet these low impact requirements can make the task much easier. Consulting is available for energy commissioning and we recommend you use a third party to meet the Energy Star performance standards. More information is provided by the Department of Energy and the USGBC.

Green Cooking December 29, 2008

Environmental friendly cooking involves making many choices that go beyond picking the right ingredients.  It includes green kitchen utensils, eco-cooking methods, efficient water usage and proper disposal of food leftovers.   Here are some simple green cooking tips to help you make more informed choices.

Shopping for a Green Cuisine

The best foods are local and organic since organic standards prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers, toxic pesticides, and antibiotics. Growing and transporting food not only consumes a significant amount of water and energy, but also contributes to air pollution and global warming.  Therefore, buying locally and eating with the seasons promotes many environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing carbon emissions and supporting small farms.   To locate a farmers market near you, check out the local harvest website.  Also consider joining a CSA.

When shopping at the grocery store for your ingredients, your environmental impact can be significantly reduced by adhering to these basic rules:

• Buy as few things in plastic as possible– opt for metal or glass containers whenever you can (and don’t use a plastic bag for fruits or veggies – you’ll need to wash them anyway when you get home).
• Buy in bulk.   Remember that buying many little packages wastes paper and plastic.
• Use your own shopping bags (I know you’re heard this one many times, but it bears repeating).
• Buy less meat.

Green Kitchenware

Equip your kitchen with “green-ware” and utensils made from porcelain enamel, glass and bamboo.  When possible, purchase kitchenware that is reusable and/or made from recycled materials.   By using reusable housewares, you not only save money, but also conserve natural resources.    Examples of reusable kitchenware include:  cloth towels, cloth napkins, reusable baking pans, reusable lunch box containers, glass jars and cloth bags for grocery shopping.

Make sure your dinnerware is lead-free.  Plates and dishes now sold in the United States are subject to federal regulations for the maximum amount of lead they may contain. The federal standards require that plates contain no more than 3 ppm (parts per million) lead, and pitchers and other “hollow ware” that hold liquid can contain no more than 0.5 ppm.  If unsure of the lead content of your dishware, contact the manufacturer. Check out our kitchen gadgets blog for more thoughts on this.

Ovens

The best way to conserve energy in the kitchen is to use the smallest oven possible since it takes less energy to heat it to the proper temperature.   To ensure that heat is not wasted when the oven is in use, make sure that the burner fits the pan and use a lid when heating items on the stove. If you have a smaller item to heat or cook, consider a toaster oven – these use about a third of the energy of conventional ovens. Here are some tips for buying a new oven.

Water conservation

Reducing water usage in the kitchen before and after cooking has both financial and environmental benefits.  These are the easiest ways to conserve water:

• Don’t let the sink water run when rinsing dishes.
• Install a water saving aerator on your kitchen sink’s faucet.  Water saving aerators are helpful in reducing the amount of water you use when rinsing your dishes.
• Install a water efficient, Energy Star rated dishwasher.
• Repair leaky water faucets.  If your faucet is dripping one drop per second, you’ll waste as much as 2,700 gallons in a year!

Leftovers

If you do all of the above, but throw out your leftovers in the garbage, you are skipping one of the most important steps in green cooking.   Food debris has no access to oxygen once it reaches the landfills and therefore emits methane, a toxic gas.  The best way to get rid of food waste is by composting it – recycling food scraps by allowing it to naturally break down and turn into nutrient rich soil.  Donating your food waste is another option; there are food rescue programs that specialize in redistributing leftovers.

To test your green-cooking skills, take the following quiz, “How Green is Your Cuisine?” from the Sierra Club. So…are you a Green Chef?

Tax Credit for Renewable Energy November 20, 2008

If you are planning to install solar panels or wind turbines, this is the time to act fast. In January 2009, Federal tax credits will be given to the U.S. homeowners who have invested money in renewable energy sources. So in addition to the savings in utility bills, these tax credits make renewable energy sources more lucrative.

On the installation of new gadgets for utilizing renewable energy, you can save up to 30%. The upper limit of tax credit is $2,000 for solar water heating, whereas solar electric systems are not capped. The tax credits are also available for reducing the energy consumption by adding insulation to homes, energy efficient windows or heaters. There is 10% tax credit available, up to a total of about $500, for these energy efficient measures. This will encourage people to join the energy policies of new administration.

Similar tax benefits were given in 2006, but they expired in 2008. The details of the program can be found on Energy Star website. Now, as a part of economic bailout package, tax credits are announced, starting from January, 2009. Last time, these tax credits were available only for solar energy, but now the benefits are extended to wind turbine with an upper limit of $4,000. Home fuel cells, geothermal heat pumps and biomass stoves are also included. If you want to lower the gas bills along with electricity, there are options for that too. The tax credits are available for plug-in hybrids of GM and Nissan. Some states also offer similar benefits to the homeowners for renewable energy initiatives. So collect the information and read the fine print to join the fight against global warming. For state incentives, check out the Database for State Incentives on Renewable Energy (DSIRE) website.

Climate Change and the Bottom Line November 14, 2008

Under pressure from the Attorney General of New York, Dynegy Inc. recently became the second power-plant operator to agree to disclose pertinent environmental data and related business risks. As part of their standard SEC financial filings, Dynegy and Xcel Energy Inc. must now publish current and forecasted information on carbon emissions, as well as present and future measures taken to stem these emissions. New York will follow up on these feats by trying to convince a handful of other similar companies to agree to such reporting guidelines.

In addition to information on emissions, the power companies must report their perceived financial risks stemming from four sources: regulations handed down by government agencies, legislative measures, civil lawsuits, and environmental degradation. The disclosures are aimed to help investors stay abreast of the information that plays a role in their investment decisions.

This type of mandatory reporting is significant in a number of ways, both symbolic and material. Reporting emissions and environmental risks as part of SEC filings is a clear sign that environmentalism and sustainability are deeply intertwined with the bottom line. Sound environmental practices are now linked to the corporation’s fiduciary duty to its shareholders in the most critical ways—the ways that affect investors’ wallets. In the wake of the recent macroeconomic financial crisis risk is taken increasingly seriously, a fact which could compound the effects of these reporting guidelines. That is, reporting a risk in 2009 could have more profound implications than it would have had in 2007.

Detailing how an energy company itself would be negatively impacted by the impact its operations have on the environment transcends regulatory matters. Legislation and regulations are subject to change every time Congress, the White House, and State Houses turn over. But no amount of lobbying dollars can solve such environmental harm. If energy companies see and show that environmental damage could, in turn, damage everyone’s bank accounts, then greener practices will rapidly follow suit.

Maintaining a double- or triple-bottom line is laudable and important. But at the end of the day, company executives will always care most about the bottom line. If these reporting guidelines continue to gain traction in the business community, they could mark a significant step in using the business world to affect positive change.

Geothermal heat pumps – a hot way to heat and cool your house! November 7, 2008

Have you ever thought of using the natural heat of the earth to heat your house? It’s actually not a new idea but dates back to the time of the Roman Empire, when people used sources of hot water and steam that were near the earth’s surface to heat buildings. Because of modern technology, people can now use geothermal resources anywhere in the world to heat and cool their houses in an cost-effective way with a geothermal heat pump system!

What is a geothermal heat pump system?

A geothermal heat pump system is a heating and/or cooling system, which uses the earth either as a heat source in the winter or as a heat sink (to put the heat into the ground) in the summer. This is possible because ground temperatures remain stable throughout the year, at around 50-60 F.

This system is also known as “GeoExchange” system and “ground-source heat pump”. Geothermal usually requires a length of buried tubing on the property, a liquid pump back, and a water-source heat pump. There are both open loop systems and closed loop systems. Closed loop systems are more commonly used in households and circulate the fluid through the pipes and exchange heat between the fluid and the earth across the pipe.

Benefits

• Cut your electricity bills. Geothermal heat pumps systems save from 30% to 70% more energy than conventional systems, because they simply use electricity to move heat from the earth into buildings instead of burning fuels to generate heat. Geothermal heat pump systems thus bring in higher efficiencies, and can be up to 400% more efficient than conventional systems. Studies shows these systems can save the average family from US$400-1400/ year. In the summer, water is heated for free and only for a small cost in the winter.

• Save money in the long run. Geothermal heat pumps systems have a longer life span than conventional systems. Most loop fields are warranted for 25 to 50 years and are expected to last at least 50 to 200 years. You do not have to worry about replacing the system in the short term and once installed, systems can last twice as long as conventional systems.

• Convenient and safe. A closed loop system means no freezing of the flue vents in cold weather when you need heat the most. In addition, there are no gas lines, and therefore no potential for a gas leakage or fire.

• Friendly to the environment. The switch from fuel to geothermal reduces greenhouse gas emissions. There are more than 1,000.000 geothermal heat pumps already installed in the U.S. and the technology has reduced an estimated more than 5.9 million metric tons of CO2 annually and more than 1.6 million metric tons of carbon equivalent annually.

Cost
The initial cost of installing a geothermal heat pump system is usually two or three times than of a conventional heating system. However, some electricity companies offer special rates to customers who install geothermal systems, simply because it helps reduce their peak load due to the increased efficiency of heat pumps.

Want to know more?

• U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Geothermal Technologies

• GeoExchange