New York EcoSpaces

Greenpeace Takes a Step in the Right Direction Against Climate Change

2009-07-13T12:32:00.003-05:00

A new campaign launched by environmental campaign group Greenpeace is calling on consumers to take steps to help increase awareness about the detrimental effects that the footwear industry can have on the world’s rainforests.

The ‘Every Step Counts’ campaign, which picks up on the issue of
leather produced at the cost of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil
highlighted in Greenpeace’s ‘Slaughtering the Amazon’ report published
last week, calls on consumers to help put pressure on footwear
manufacturers to end their contribution to the rainforest
deforestation caused by the creation of ranches that supply leather to
these companies. Greenpeace points the finger at companies known to
source leather from suppliers such as those in Brazil that are
destroying the most valuable carbon sink on the planet, such as
Clarks, Timberland, Nike, Reebok, and Adidas.

Greenpeace is hoping that by spreading the word about this
unsustainable practice that could have devastating consequences in
terms of man-made climate change and the loss of a valuable natural
resource and ecosystem, that consumers will join the campaign and put
pressure on retailers and manufacturers to take a greater level of
responsibility for the materials used in the production of their
shoes.

The ‘Slaughtering the Amazon’ report highlights the importance of
stopping rainforest destruction altogether, not only to help reduce
the effects of climate change, but to ensure security of biodiversity.
The rainforest is home to a vast array of species that depend on the
ecosystem to support them. If deforestation continues, the amount of
endangered species could skyrocket. The report explains that cattle
ranches in Brazil are responsible for 80% of rainforest destruction,
and 14% of the world’s annual deforestation.

Partnership for Sustainable Communities

2009-06-30T12:43:00.001-05:00

Doesn't it sometimes feel like each part of the federal government is pursuing its own separate agenda, sometimes green sometimes not? Well, it's nice to see some real cooperation between government agencies, especially if it's for an environmental cause, which is the case with the new Partnership for Sustainable Communities. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan have teamed up to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

LaHood, Donovan, and Jackson outlined the six guiding "livability principles" they will use to coordinate federal transportation, environmental protection, and housing investments at their agencies. According to Donovan, "These principles mean that we will all be working off the same playbook to formulate and implement policies and programs. For the first time, the federal government will speak with one voice on housing, environmental, and transportation policy."

The six livability principles are:

Provide more transportation choices. Develop safe, reliable and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health.

Promote equitable, affordable housing. Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.

Enhance economic competitiveness. Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services, and other basic needs by workers as well as expanded business access to markets.

Support existing communities. Target federal funding toward existing communities—through such strategies as transit-oriented, mixed-use development and land recycling—to increase community revitalization, improve the efficiency of public works investments, and safeguard rural landscapes.

Coordinate policies and leverage investment. Align federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding, and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.

Value communities and neighborhoods. Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods—rural, urban, or suburban.

Creative Energy in the UK

2009-06-23T15:08:00.001-05:00

You might think that all supermarkets are born equal; the same
blueprint for design and layout. But a new supermarket being built in
Gloucester, England, is challenging convention by fitting kinetic road
plates in its parking lot. These plates will generate electricty that
can be used in the store’s checkouts, which will help reduce the
store’s carbon footprint.

Although not widely known about, the technology isn’t new; the kinetic
plates are on trial in a number of distribution warehouses, but this
is the first time they have been put to use in a supermarket parking
lot. Developed by Peter Hughes of the British Highway Energy Systems,
the kinetic road plates are designed to transfer energy from the the
tires of cars as they pass over them. The cars create a rocking motion
in the plates that drives a generator to produce the electricity --
electricity generated from energy that would otherwise be lost.

The supermarket chain estimates that this technology will produce 30KW
of electricity every hour, more than enough to power the checkouts in
the store, and would additionally go a long way to powering more
energy-sapping appliances like fridges and freezers.

The kinetic plates are only one eco-friendly aspect of the new store.
It will also feature a rainwater collection system, which will collect
water for use in the store’s toilets, solar thermal panels meeting the
store’s hot water requirements throughout the summer, ’sun pipes’ and
large windows in order to take advantage of natural light and cut
electricity usage, and installing blinds to reduce the amount of
energy lost from freezer areas. The company, Sainsbury’s, is looking
to roll out the kinetic plate technology across a number of other
stores as it strives to lead other supermarkets in the fight for
energy efficiency.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on creative energy in New York City.

Power Out of Africa

2009-06-17T11:09:00.005-05:00

A consortium of German firms is planning a massive solar energy
project in the North African desert. The goal is to provide
electricity for German households, said a spokesman for
electro-engineering giant Siemens. The project is expected to cost 400
billion euros (552 billion dollars) and start providing the first
electricity in 10 years.

About 15 firms and institutions have expressed interest in joining the
consortium, among them Siemens, Deutsche Bank, insurer Munich Re, and utilities giants RWE and E.ON. They plan to meet on July 13, 2009, in Munich to formalize the plan, a spokesman for Siemens said.

"The goal is to establish an industrial initiative to press ahead with
idea of providing electricity from the desert for German households,"
the spokesman said.

The project calls for a string of solar plants to be linked together
in what the newspaper called one of the biggest privately financed
ventures of its kind. The plants use mirrors to bundle the energy from the sun's rays, heat special oil and use the heat for steam to power turbines.

According to a spokesman, the plants would be located in countries
that are politically stable, although the countries were not named.

A special power grid would have to be constructed to transport the
energy to Europe. The project could provide for some 15 per cent of
Europe's energy needs, according to a report released by the
consortium.

Uganda Goes REALLY Green

2009-06-16T17:51:00.001-05:00

If you don't think the government is doing enough to promote green
shopping habits, you might want to call your representatives and
suggest they take a look at what Uganda's up to!

Any person caught using plastic bags in Uganda, in East Africa, from
early 2010 will be jailed for three years or be fined an equivalent of
1,500 dollars, according to government environment lawyers there. The
penalties fall under the country's revised law on the waste management
act, which will be put into effect in January 2010 by the state-owned
National Environment Management Organization (NEMA).

Uganda's finance minister announced a ban on the sale or use of
plastic bags during the reading of the country's national budget on
Thursday and ordered all factories manufacturing the plastic bags to
start closing up shop.

Discarded plastic bags - too thin to be reused - are a major polluter
in many African cities, where they clog up rivers and pile up in huge
heaps.

The government further said that taxes of up to 120 percent will be
levied on plastic materials imported into the country.

Wow!

English Eco Housing

2009-06-11T11:41:00.002-05:00

A new 195-house eco village has been approved for a former hospital site near Bristol in southwest England. The Hanham Hall development, which is being built by Barrett Developments PLC, will include a Sustainable Living and Energy Centre, which will house a permanent exhibition on the sustainable design behind the project and will serve as an educational resource for those interested in green design and development.

The planning proposal also includes 2.5 hectares of agricultural land that will be split into allotments and for community amenities. A combined heat and power (CHP) plant within the eco village, powered by a biomass boiler, will be responsible for providing the village’s hot water and electricity supplies, and will be a key component of the zero-carbon development.

The houses will be built to level 6 of the English Partnerships’ Code for Sustainable Homes and is the of their first Carbon Challenge site. The code imposes challenging restrictions that the developers must adhere to, including zero- or low-carbon emissions and efforts to ensure the eco village is energy efficient and provides low-impact living for its residents, without having a negative impact on their lifestyles. They will incorporate a renewable energy micro generation, as well as pioneering new technologies to make them even more efficient.

It is hoped that this development will become a flagship site to show how level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes can be achieved successfully, especially at a time when reducing the carbon footprint of developments is so crucial, as well as demonstrating the affordability of such projects. Every cause, however, has its champions and its critics. Eco villages such as this are often questioned in terms of the real impact they are having in reducing carbon emissions. After all, houses are still being built where once there was no need for them, and they are not always in the right places or for the right reasons.

Green Game

2009-05-05T16:22:00.002-05:00

On April 22, National Geographic and Merscom, a global video and games publisher, launched ‘Plan It Green’, a new computer game that
challenges players to create their own green and sustainable cities.

Kirk Owen, Merscom’s CEO, believes that the game has been launched at the right time, with green issues and sustainable living being so high on the public agenda, saying,

“This is the right product for the times. Not only is it a fantastic
game, but it integrates a theme we all hear hundreds of times a week.”

The game puts the player in the role of mayor of Greenville, a city in
need of green renovation. Players can build eco-homes and businesses, complete with solar panels on their roofs, attract green industries to move into the city, and create green jobs for their inhabitants in order to boost their Greendex. Kirk adds,

“By working with National Geographic, we were able to go beyond pop
green ideas and make a game that truly conveys the possibilities of
the future.”

The game is currently only available as a download for PC users from
sites such as Amazon and Big Fish Games. A Mac version is currently
being developed and is expected to be available within a month and
versions in French, German, Spanish and Japanese available online in
the next three months.

Biofuels: Eco-Advantageous?

2009-04-21T08:07:00.000-05:00

Biofuels have been getting a lot of press recently, and many organizations and governments have been promoting the eco-advantages of this fuel source. But not everybody is convinced. Last week, after the British government declared that a small percentage of biofuels would be added to the make-up of gas and diesel in the UK, Friends of the Earth, a British environmental campaigning organization, released a research paper stating the biofuels may be contributing up to twice the amount of CO2 as the fossil fuels they have replaced in the fuel mix.

The extra CO2 emitted by the biofuels has been estimated at roughly 1.3 million tons, or the equivalent of the output of half a million cars. The CO2 calculations were based on the amount of rainforest that is being destroyed to make way for the growth of biofuel crops to supply the UK. The biofuel crops are not as efficient at removing CO2 from the atmosphere as virgin rainforest, resulting in a net increase in CO2.

The British government does not currently account for this in their figures, prompting FOE to call for a temporary halt to the biofuels obligation until the full scale of the situation has been assessed. Friends of the Earth wants the government to look at the statistics to see if the biofuels are worth adding to the fuel mix if the overall CO2 emissions actually end up being higher.

The group also stated that the government should be doing more to support local public transport systems and promoting the increase in overall efficiency of vehicles.

Empire Green Building

2009-04-21T08:01:00.003-05:00

You may have heard about the plan to green the Empire State Building from the inside out (not just for St Patty’s Day). Here’s the story:

The Empire State Building is taking advantage of green technologies to reduce emissions. Beginning this summer, $20 million will be spent to reduce energy usage by 38 percent annually by 2013. The building was constructed in 1913 and although renovation work has been carried out over the years, the efficiency of the building has been rather low compared to newer buildings in and around the New York area.

This project, which is being funded by the Clinton Climate Initiative, is set to show that eco-retrofitting very large buildings can be cost-efficient. The Empire State Building could recoup the costs incurred in as little as three to four years, and because large buildings account for a significant proportion of emissions in large cities such as New York, renovating them with green technologies would save them many millions of dollars in wasted energy costs.

The project will reportedly produce energy savings of $4.4 million per year and cut energy demand by 38 percent and should enable the building to be LEED Gold certified. Johnson Controls, the company in charge of upgrading the efficiency of the skyscraper, chose eight projects out of 60 possibilities:

Window Light Retrofit: Refurbishment of approximately 6,500 thermopane glass windows, using existing glass and sashes to create triple-glazed insulated panels with new components that dramatically reduce both summer heat load and winter heat loss.

Radiator Insulation Retrofit: Added insulation behind radiators to reduce heat loss and more efficiently heat the building perimeter.

Tenant Lighting, Daylighting and Plug Upgrades: Introduction of improved lighting designs, daylighting controls, and plug load occupancy sensors in common areas and tenant spaces to reduce electricity costs and cooling loads.

Air Handler Replacements: Replacement of air handling units with variable frequency drive fans to allow increased energy efficiency in operation while improving comfort for individual tenants.

Chiller Plant Retrofit: Reuse of existing chiller shells while removing and replacing “guts” to improve chiller efficiency and controllability, including the introduction of variable frequency drives.

Whole-Building Control System Upgrade: Upgrade of existing building control system to optimize HVAC operation as well as provide more detailed sub-metering information.

Ventilation Control Upgrade: Introduction of demand control ventilation in occupied spaces to improve air quality and reduce energy required to condition outside air.

Tenant Energy Management Systems: Introduction of individualized, web-based power usage systems for each tenant to allow more efficient management of power usage.

New York’s finest building will show the rest of the world that upgrading large buildings to be energy efficient does not mean expense and compromise.

California Green Corps

2009-03-25T05:10:00.002-05:00

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has created the California Green Corps, a program to train at-risk young people for technical, construction and other skilled jobs in eco-friendly industries that are expected to help fuel economic recovery.

Announcing the corps on March 16 in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger said he wants 1,000 16- to 24-year-olds from across the state to enlist in the pilot 20-month training session, which will begin this summer.

The corps will be funded with $10 million of the federal stimulus money destined for California via the U.S. Labor Department and with $10 million in matching money that's to be raised in public-private partnerships. CaliforniaVolunteers, headed by state Secretary for Service and Volunteering Karen Baker, is to oversee the program, which would the first of its size and scope in the country. Schwarzenegger announced the program after meeting with U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to talk about stimulus funding and job creation.

"This is exactly the kind of program that President Obama has envisioned when he put together his economic stimulus package, which is to create jobs, jobs and jobs," Schwarzenegger said. "The Green Corps will help underprivileged young people learn job skills while we create a well-trained workforce for clean technology and for the green economy."

Green Corps recruits will be expected to continue their education and contribute to communities through volunteer work in exchange for receiving job training and help with placement.

The program draws heavily on concepts forged by the groups that established the Oakland Green Jobs Corps -- a coalition of social justice, environmental and other community organizations, trade unions, private companies and the city of Oakland -- this past October. Chief among its principles are that access to and engagement with a new green economy should be open to all comers -- and that participation by the poor and other at-risk segments of the population will help spur recovery.

"This is exactly the thing we've been calling for for some time -- I couldn't be happier," said Ian Kim, director of the Green-Collar Jobs Campaign of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, which played a leading role in establishing the Oakland Green Jobs Corps.

Getting the Most out of your Travels...

2009-03-12T13:30:00.003-05:00

Every year around this time, air and road travel is increased due to the throngs of students and adults alike looking for an escape from the long winter. While a cross country trip that takes 60 hours by car seems as if it would be more detrimental to the environment than a 5 hour plane ride, think again. A mile is a mile, in terms of carbon dioxide output according to an article on independent traveler.com. a 60-hour cross-country car trip burns up about the same amount of fuel PER passenger, and has the same "carbon footprint.” Companies are springing up to help travelers go carbon neutral, paving the way for more eco-friendly practices making your travel experience even more worth while!
(visit http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=736&category=13 for more information)

Traveloctiy dedicated an entire section of its search site to eco-friendly travel called “The Green Directory- Travel Responsibly.” Use this as a resource for a number of eco-friendly destinations, and hotels. http://leisure.travelocity.com/Promotions/0,,TRAVELOCITY5019mkt_main,00.html?WA1=01010&WA2=GL&WA3=eco-friendly+travel&WA4=B&WA5=NT&WA6=Gen&WA8=56161545_38.98.66.90%3A1198009721715

Virgin America’s fleet of planes that are 25% more fuel and carbon efficient lead the airline industry in green initiatives. The company has formulated Sustainability Principles to guide it in becoming not only first class in its service but also to lead the industry to more environmentally and socially sustainable practices.
(See their sustainability principles mission statement http://www.virginamerica.com/va/html/sustainability.pdf)

Headed South? The Miami International Airport is a leader in environmental achievements aiming to reduce its environmental footprint in the air and on the ground. Everything from computers to plane tires has a second life there. For example, marginally contaminated soils are sold to be used in roadbeds, all water in around the airport is tested for quality assurance for the protection of travelers and local wildlife, energy conservation and emission reduction initiatives are in place, green cleaning and office products are used, bio diesel fuel vehicles are used on airport grounds and green building techniques has been utilized in new terminal construction. In 2008 alone, 100,00 ft of fluorescent lighting and 90 tons of tires were recycled, allowing for the prediction that in 2009, these an other green projects will save enough electricity through their practices to power 1,400 homes.
To view an original report…http://www.miami-airport.com/pdfdoc/MIA_Env_Report.pdf… much more to come for 2009!)

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. launches its flagship Element Hotel. It is the first Starwood hotel to earn GOLD LEED certification from the US Green Building Council and was the first hotel in Massachusetts to receive this prestigious rating. Launched is 2006 it made history by ensuring that all of its hotels meet LEED certification standards. “Cost-efficient, environmentally friendly building construction and operations were at the core of the development of the Element hotel concept with the goal of creating a healthier, greener environment to benefit both guests and associates.” (Hotels.com, 12/19/09). Some of its green features include reduced water consumption, reduced energy usage, and improved indoor environmental quality by use of low-VOC paints and 100% recycled-content carpeting. They also offer recycling bins to their guests for all paper, plastics and glass. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/element/experience/green_vision.html

All this travel making you hungry? Stop and grab a bite at Chipotle Mexican Grill; working to serve you healthier fast food options, they are also upping their eco-consciousness. In Gurnee, Illinois a six-kilowatt wind turbine has been installed on the roof supplying the restaurant with 10% of its power. They also utilized reusable products in the construction of the building along with LEED certified lighting, energy star kitchen equipment and high efficiency faucets and toilets, not to mention an underground water tank that can hold up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater to be used to water the native plants; the parking lot asphalt also works to reflect sunlight and keep the area cooler. Their Millbrae, California branch now implemented usage of green cutlery which will eventually become practice at all of its other 800 locations.
http://chicagoist.com/2008/10/14/gurnee_chipotle_goes_green.php
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/12/22/chipotle-introduces-green-cutlery/

So enjoy your travels… while doing good for yourself, you can do something good for the environment…

The Fate of Eco-Friendly / Organic Products in a Down Market

2009-03-10T14:05:00.002-05:00

What is to happen to the superior eco-friendly products that once were in demand by consumers but which are now shunned as an unnecessary luxury item in this down economy?!
Rob Walker examined this issue illustrating that while the penny-pinchers are the new buying savvy, they are looking for reasons to justify each purchase. What better reason to buy a product than its earth saving capabilities!

Large retailers tailoring to the initial eco-friendly/organic demand, such as Whole Foods and Target, paved the way for smaller companies like Recycline to make their presence known. Both have become the biggest retail distributor for Recycline’s colorful kitchen and bathroom products made from recycled plastic. Although the products are fairly inexpensive, think $2 for a toothbrush and $10 for a cutting board, Walker points out that “shoppers who value frugal over eco can clearly find a cheaper alternative.” Recent polls do show that the eco-friendly trend lives on however these only reflect consumer intent as opposed to consumer behavior which is reflect in sales data. But, Eric Hudson, founder and C.E.O, predicts sales to continue to rise for Recycline in 2009 as 2008 data showed a double digit increase even in the face of Whole Foods’ tough year.
The key is that companies like Recycline, can benefit from the downturn in some way. Given today’s economy, demand for plastic and other recycled materials has drastically reduced making it much cheaper for Recycline to acquire. More importantly, it is the fact that a product has a unique story that attracts customers rather than it having the lowest price. Walker offers the example of Whole Foods setting up a recycling place for No. 5 polypropylene plastics which Preserve collects and uses to make it products. It’s a win-win; Preserve gets products for barely any cost and it gives consumers another reason to visit Whole Foods. Due to its “wow” factor as Hudson terms it, these products will get recognized in any kind of market. Many other retailers are clamoring to gain such stories and take advantage of the endless opportunities that Preserve and others can not fill. Hudson claims that consumers now ask themselves “How can I feel really good about 5 things I’m going to buy in the store today versus the 25 that I used to buy seven months ago?”
While these initiatives are promising, it comes down to us making sure they pay off!

Visit http://www.preserveproducts.com/

Content Provided by:
NY Times Magazine – Consumed -3/8/09
“Revalued: Recycline Preserve Products”
By Rob Walker
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/magazine/08wwln-consumed-t.html

A Green President

2009-02-13T09:28:00.003-05:00

Finally, a president who is taking the environment seriously! President Obama seems to be making good on many of his campaign promises to make the environment a priority:

He signed an executive order directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to re-examine whether states should be allowed to impose their own tougher auto emission standards rather than a less onerous national standard. California sought to impose its own standard which was tougher than that imposed by previous administrations, and 13 other states agreed to adopt similar legislation.

He has also announced a task force whose mission is to find ways to create new jobs, reduce pollution, and decrease America’s reliance on foreign oil.

He has ordered quicker and new efforts to make appliances more energy efficient. The thinking is that more energy efficient-appliances will save consumers money and help stimulate the economy. While the appliances may be more expensive in the short term, the White House estimates that the tighter standards could save consumers more than $500 billion over the next 30 years.

Obama, in his first days as President, said that he would strive to have the amount of electricity generated by renewable resources equal 10% of US usage by 2012. This goal has strong support among the environmental community.

The question is: Can the US really turn around its past reluctance to embrace environmental issues? If so, what is each of us willing or able to do to help?

Moving Towards Energy Efficiency, Finally...

2009-02-12T16:23:00.001-05:00

So maybe everyone is finally catching on?
In today’s Wall Street Journal, an article by Jim Carlton focused on the rising interest of both home builders and buyers in green, energy saving, products and homes. For a long while, we have not seen buyers being particularly motivated by green properties and although feelings are still mixed, rising energy costs are causing consumers to look for more efficient homes.
Back when the market was at its peak, green construction was sold at premium prices due to its rarity and to cover increased costs incurred by the builders. Carlton interviewed Kevin Enyeart, a home builder in Missouri who told him that it would cost about “$3500 or more after credits and other offsets to build an energy-efficient home, forcing him to transfer funds from his marketing budget.” Without the demand, it was not profitable for builders to go that route.
Now however, with premiums reduced and power bills having more than doubled, customers are looking to make an investment to save money on energy costs in the future. Five years ago, energy efficiency was not even part of the list of 12 top influences for home buying in a survey put out by the National Association of Home Builders, but now it is number 2. Also promising for the industry was dominance of green materials at the International Builders Show held in Las Vegas one month ago. In one case, Carlton presents a story about a family that invested in a new energy efficient home that was 600 square feet larger than their previous one. Due to such features as a radiant barrier roof and a dual thermostat cooling system that adjusts temperature by floor, their power bills were cut by more than half from $400 to approximately $192.
However, in light of all heightened attention towards green, the current market is so bad that even such a selling point as saving on energy is not palatable to consumers. Also, Carlton makes an important point about how builders can not afford the extra 2% or so of costs for green buildings with the credit market being as tight as it currently is.
But builders especially are determined to make it work and see the great upside to energy efficient products and homes. The Department of Energy issued a builders challenge hoping for 220,000 ultra-efficient homes to be built by 2012. Ultimately, anything that will help consumers save money, once they start spending again, will be a huge selling point. Many builders are even entering into the arena of retrofitting current homes, by sealing them properly and the like and reducing homeowners’ energy costs by almost two-thirds. Those companies creating and selling energy-saving products are truly benefitting during this time as well and will continue to benefit from these endeavors in the future. Georgia-Pacific LLC, a company based out of Atlanta told Carlin about its new XJ 85 Joist which uses up to 50% less wood and leaves space to run ductwork for heating and cooling more efficiently.

Stay tuned for what’s to come…

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
2/12/09 – Family Finances
Homebuyers Go Green to Cut Bills
by Jim Carlton

Green Buildings and Food Production

2009-02-10T14:47:00.004-05:00

Our existing food production system is rife with problems. The average mouthful of food travels 1,500 miles before reaching your plate, losing nutrition and flavor while consuming a huge amount of energy. Agribusiness has created vast monocultures of grains, corn, and soybeans, decreasing biodiversity and necessitating the use of vast amounts of pesticides and other chemicals. The mammoth, centralized operations that produce our food, especially meat and poultry, mean that a single contamination event can put huge numbers of people at risk. We need a new model of food production.

Green building could play a role in producing healthier food closer to home, even in urban and suburban areas. In suburbia, we can garden our backyards as our grandparents did with their Victory Gardens during World War II, when up to 40% of vegetables were home-grown. In cities, we can create productive gardens out of abandoned and unused vacant lots, which account for an average of 15% of our urban landscapes. On land that may be contaminated, we can follow the model of City Farm in Chicago, which uses a layer of clay to isolate contaminated substrate from a rich, compost-based soil for growing crops.

Other strategies for local food production are much newer, higher-tech, and less familiar. The nation’s 4.8 million commercial buildings have about 1,400 square miles of nearly flat roof, an area the size of Rhode Island. On those roofs, green roofs or rooftop greenhouses can be constructed and planted with edible crops. New hydroponic greenhouses can achieve significantly greater yields than soil-based greenhouses, with far less weight. A hybrid system called aquaponics merges aquaculture (fish production) with hydroponics, so that the waste from the fish fertilizes the plants, providing an integrated, balanced system.

What do you think? As the green building movement evolves, should the integration of food production be a consideration? In an increasingly urbanized world, should our buildings and the landscapes around them become a part of our agricultural system?

Environmental Priorities

2009-02-08T14:34:00.000-05:00

Among the many groups looking forward to change under President
Obama's administration, environmentalists perhaps have the most to
worry about. We may have increased support for climate change
legislation in Congress and the Executive Branch, but have we lost
some of the public's support at the same time? A new Pew survey
reveals that the environment not only remains low on the list of
priorities for Americans, but has dropped lower still. Protecting the
environment was a top priority for 56% of Americans last year, and
this year it is at only 41%.

How about you? Given the current state of the economy and everything
else that's going on in the country and around the world, has the
environment slid down in your priority list? If not, why? If so, what
has taken its place?

Going Green in Harlem

2009-01-29T10:39:00.002-05:00

In an article release by GlobeSt.com late yesterday afternoon, we were informed that a 10-building housing project in Harlem was acquired by a green investment fund. This fund, the Rose Smart Growth Investment Fund I, L.P., established by Jonathan Rose Cos., is the first real estate fund in the nation to focus on acquiring and greening existing properties. Although they have made their mark in other parts of the nation, this is their first acquisition in New York City for $26.5 million from the West 135th Street Associates. The New York City Acquisition Fund (NYAF), which is comprised of funds from the City of New York, major foundations and New York’s banking industry, provides loans to “developers committed to the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the five boroughs” and provided the financing for the Rose Fund’s purchase of the property.

However, a major concern was how this would affect the current affordability of this housing project since the Section 8 contract for the West 135th Street Apartments (comprising 107-145 W 135th Street) is set to expire in 2010. Nathan Taft, director of acquisitions for Jonathan Rose assured that their goal was to
“…preserve the project’s affordability in the long term while rehabilitating it with a green capital investment program. The program will focus on unit renovations and base building improvements aimed at improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality...”
Keeping to their word, they are currently working with the US Department and Housing to obtain a 20-year section 8 for the 4,500 sq. ft. of ground floor retail and 198 apartment units.
In additional to greening the property itself, part of the funds model is that these properties are located near transportation and can be walk able communities. Given its proximity to subway lines, the Harlem YMCA, Harlem Hospital and a New York Public Library research center, this property fit the bill.

Information from GlobeSt.com “Fund Acquires Harlem MF to Green It” by Paul Bubny, 1/28/09 to view the full article visit: http://www.globest.com/news/1336_1336/newyork/176585-1.html

It's Big Easy Going Green

2009-01-28T11:21:00.006-05:00

New Orleans is going green. In the post-Katrina rebuilding, many homes are being fitted with solar panels, organic farming is catching on, and the city's got a new fleet of hybrid buses.

Katrina created a testing ground for ideas and initiatives. Before the storm, government officials rarely talked about renewable energy or green building. Environmentalists were shut out of Louisiana politics for decades. Now, it seems like things are starting to turn around.

For example, in the Lower 9th Ward, hit particularly hard by Katrina, some 20 energy-saving homes are using solar panels.

"I never knew nothing about solar panels until after the storm," said Mable Howard, an 80-year-old doll maker whose five-room home was flooded.

The solar panels were donated and installed for free, and Howard's electric bill has been cut at least in half during some months.

There is also renewed focus on restoring habitats that protected New Orleans from storm surge before the destruction of wetlands by the oil industry, timber companies and levee construction. Near the Lower 9th, for example, there are plans to plant hundreds of bald cypress in a bayou to help restore wetlands.

For decades, Louisiana's state budget has been dependent on oil revenue. But some policymakers and investors say a more open attitude could have a big payoff. The state, they say, is rich in water, wind and sunshine — just the stuff for emerging cap-and-trade energy markets, which are aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Under a cap-and-trade program, utilities that exceed the cap for emissions must either make pollution reductions or buy additional allowances. Those who cut emissions below the cap would be able to sell allowances.

"Louisiana could be a very large source for carbon credits," said Jon Guidroz, director of project development for Free Flow Power Corp. The Massachusetts company is in talks with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about harnessing power from the Ohio and Mississippi rivers with turbines.

In 2008, the New Orleans City Council approved an energy-efficiency program to improve 2,800 properties a year by installing insulation, weather stripping and compact fluorescent light bulbs. The new 39 hybrid buses — operating on a blend of biodiesel, gasoline and electric power — were obtained with a $15 million federal grant.

In 2007, New Orleans became one of about two dozen cities nationwide to be named a "Solar American City" by the U.S. Energy Department, which gave the city a $450,000 grant to establish solar programs.

And there's an opportunity to train builders, too. A 2,000-square-foot BuildSmart Learning Center that includes a replica of an energy-efficient home, offers free workshops to teach "green building." The center also has a showroom of gadgets like dual-flush toilets and low-flow shower-heads.

New state and federal tax credits are driving a niche solar technology market.

"We're up to 15 employees now," said C. Tucker Crawford, a salesman at South Coast Solar, a company that had three employees a year ago.

The business installs solar thermal, solar pool heating and solar panels in New Orleans. Crawford credits the boom in business to tax breaks, which allow a homeowner to spend as little as $5,000 for about $25,000 worth of solar technology.

"We're a little behind the curve," said city energy manager John McGowin, whose office was set up after Katrina with a Clinton Foundation grant to promote solar and hydropower use. "But we're catching up."

Eco-friendly Moving

2009-01-26T15:46:00.002-05:00

So how many times have you moved and saved those storage boxes which haunt you from the back of your closet? Or waste time and money purchasing new ones and throwing away the used with each move?
Emily Hager’s article n Thursday’s NY Times “Homes” Section, "Moving Day Without All the Waste" offers the perfect solution, Rentagreenbox.com. This three year old company, owned by Spencer Brown simply shows up with a truck full of rentable plastic bins made from recycled plastic called Recopacks which you pack up, the movers move them and a week later, Mr. Brown picks them up empty.
What is surprising is how new of a concept this is to residential moving when Fortune 500 companies have taken part in this process for many years whether for relocating or shipping their merchandise. Due to rising consumer desire and the convenience, efficiency, monetary savings and environmental friendliness of the process, it is son to be a big hit. Mr. Brown predicts that in the next 10 years there will be hundreds of companies in this business; “4,000 more crates are used today up from 3,500 in 2006”.
Here on the east coast, Movers Not Shakers is a Brooklyn based company that has been renting and moving bins for 7 years. To further the green moving effort, their owner, Mark Ehrhardt started the website GreenmoversUSA.com in an attempt to create a listing service for eco-friendly movers nationwide.
And while these companies are helping us green our daily activities, they are also taking action into their own hands; many companies have begun to switch their trucks to bio diesel fuel, are setting up free cardboard box exchanges and are even offering biodegradable substitutes for packing such a bubble wrap and foam with products made of cornstarch and recycled paper sludge.
Movegreen, founded by Patrick Wilkinson is continuing this movement by having his two year old west coast trucking company plant 10 trees for every move with the help of Trees for the Future. Wilkinson also plans to design and order its own plastic bins by June.
With all this excitements there are those who see its downfalls such as increasing expenses. As Mr. Ehrhardt points out in Hager’s article, “When a person is moving, they want to cut out any kind of potential surprises… They just want things to go smoothly because they are transitioning already. So they don’t’ want any kind of surprises or New Age thinking.” Overall though, the key is the sustainability of a product as opposed to manufacturing a new one. And while its eco-friendliness is important, the convenience of the long lasting bins is also a big draw. It’s a win-win for all...

to view Hager's full article visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/garden/22moving.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Green MetroCards

2009-01-13T09:01:00.002-05:00

While transit-users in NYC are bracing for big fare increases, the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority is hoping that eco-conscious
riders will voluntarily give more money to help green MTA operations.

As part of a proposal to get mass transit a bit earth-friendlier,
commuters could be given the option to donate money to green the
transit system. Details are still being figured out, but a report has
outlined ideas like green certifications for new transit buildings,
lighter subway cars that use less electricity to run, and involving
the MTA in offshore wind farms to supplement its capability usage

The ideas sound great, but asking transit users to shell out more cash
to help pay for them isn't going to be easy. Big budget short-falls
have led to talks about raising fares from $2 to $3 and monthly passes
from $81 to $103. That news is going to be annoying to transit users
as it is. Fare increases and the constant news of an imploding economy
might keep even eco-conscious transit users from voluntarily opening
their wallets to support a greener commute. But Ernest J. Tollerson,
the MTA's policy director, thinks that, despite all this, some might
be willing to give the MTA more cash for the privilege of crowding
onto the subway, saying:

"I think people may be willing to contribute something like the cost
of maybe going to the movies one night to helping green the M.T.A."

Hope you're right, Ernest.

Real-Estate Company in Green Agreement

2009-01-07T13:47:00.003-05:00

Cushman & Wakefield, the global real-estate company, is signing a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--reportedly the first such agreement by a real-estate services firm. The MOU, which seeks to green C&W’s offices and managed properties, was announced Tuesday morning by Joseph Harbert, COO of C&W’s New York metro region.

The agreement encourages several goals, including the evaluation of energy saving opportunities, as well as beginning energy efficient pilot programs at several offices and an overall result of decreasing energy consumption at the company’s offices and managed properties by 30% by 2012.

Further, the MOU will work to track water usage, waste and recycling while fostering the use of reusable industrial materials along with the implementation of sustainable landscaping practices. The agreement also encourages the seeking of LEED certification, or a similar green certification for new corporate office space.

John C. Santora, president and CEO of the Americas for C&W, says the company is "committed to enhancing the environmental performance of its business operations and to proactively engage and support its clients on the efficient use of energy, water and materials and reductions of greenhouse gas emissions."

The agreement came about through ongoing outreach from the EPA to public and private entities. According to an EPA spokesman:

"Through outreach, we seek to establish agreements with businesses and currently have several memorandums of understanding, but this is our first with a corporate real estate firm."

Energy consumption in commercial buildings accounts for 17% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

UN Green Economic Initiative...and Bjork!

2008-12-29T09:46:00.004-05:00

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently launched its new Green Economic Initiative, a $4 million plan that seeks to shift the focus of the global economy towards environmentally-friendly investments in order to address climate change and trigger employment expansion. The initiative is based on the idea that boosting investment in clean technologies and natural resources is the best way to spur real global economic growth.

According to UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, 2008's financial, fuel, and food crises have been partly due to speculation and to governments' failure to "intelligently manage" markets.

Hooking on to this trend is singer Bjork ... who has a flair for identifying with whatever is in vogue and capitalizing on the movement. In this case, she’s putting her money to work in Audur Capital, a venture capital firm in Iceland (her chilly homeland declared bankruptcy this fall). An article by Claire Cain Miller in the NY Times reports:

The Bjork Fund will invest in early-stage businesses concentrating on green technology, with the goal of helping to spur a recovery of Iceland’s economy.

Bjork has previously sung about feminism and other political issues, but has lately switched her focus to address climate change and environmental goals that can impact Iceland’s economy. The UNEP’s Achim Steiner seems to be singing the same tune, stating:

The flip side of the coin is the enormous economic, social and environmental benefits likely to arise from combating climate change and re-investing in natural infrastructure – benefits ranging from new green jobs in clean tech and clean energy businesses up to ones in sustainable agriculture and conservation-based enterprises.

Energy from Above

2008-12-23T13:04:00.007-05:00

Who says the Catholic church is behind the times?

Pope Benedict, the first pope to comment on the "unbalanced use of energy" in the world, is increasing his green cred with the installation of a 2,400-panel photovoltaic (PV) array on top of Nervi Hall in the Vatican.

The project, which cost $1.6 million, is expected to generate about 300 MWh per year. The energy will light, heat, and cool Nervi Hall, an auditorium used when the pope speaks to general audiences. When the building is not in use, the energy will be fed into Vatican City's grid.

The project, funded by German companies SolarWorld and SMA Solar Technology, will prevent the emission of 200 tons of carbon dioxide every two weeks.

The new panels are part of the Vatican's new commitment to use renewable energy for 20 percent of its energy needs by 2020. The solar panels are not visible from the ground, leaving the iconic Vatican skyline unchanged.

Lighten Your Load

2008-12-14T15:42:00.004-05:00

There's a lot of talk about upgrading to LEDs, but what about holiday lights? LEDs are definitely more energy efficient, but what should you do with that old string of incandescents? It's not likely that curbside recycling will take them, but that doesn't mean they're destined for the landfill.

That's where HolidayLEDs' free recycling program comes in. Because it's a mail-in program, you do have to be willing to pay postage, but it's a great option for those who would rather not throw their old holiday lights in the trash. As an added benefit, the company will send you a coupon for a 15 percent discount on its website.

As an alternative, Earth911 has suggestions for those who would rather donate or reuse decorative lights.

If you're in the market to buy LED holiday lights, look for strings that have the Energy Star stamp of approval and those that have been certified by Underwriter Laboratories. LED holiday lights are about 90 percent more efficient than traditional lights so you'll save money on your electric bill.

Every little bit helps, especially at this time of year. The Sierra Club reports that energy usage goes up 27 percent during the holidays. LED bulbs last a long time, are difficult to break, and are less likely to cause fires because they don't get as hot as conventional bulbs.

The Greenhouse: NYC Green Nightclub

2008-12-14T14:35:00.005-05:00

New York City has finally got its first eco-friendly nightclub – The Greenhouse at 150 Varick Street in Soho. As suggested by its name, the club hosts a plethora of green features to lure eco-activists to come have a ball. The bi-level, 6,000-square-foot club is the first in NYC to apply for LEED certification.

The walls are made of sustainable bamboo, and the LED bulbs used consume one-thirtieth of the energy of regular incandescent bulbs. Uniforms are sustainably made in Africa by Edun, a clothing company owned by Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson. Electricity for the club is said to be 100 percent wind-powered. The use of waterless urinals and low-flow toilets will make for a big reduction in water use, with at least 15,000 gallons estimated to be saved annually. The featured spirit is organic Vodka 360, which is made in a green distillery and served in a reusable, recycled bottle.

The Greenhouse continues the trend of green-themed nightclubs that have opened around the world, including Temple in San Francisco, Surya in London and Watt in RotterdamAntonio Di Oronzo of Bluarch Architecture and Interiors of New York City was responsible for the design of the space.