Thinking Energy
News
December 22, 2008
- Another Greenhouse Gas to Watch
The word is that nitrogen trifluoride is more of a problem than previously thought, and it's used to manufacture all kinds of high-tech equipment, including thin-film solar panels.
- 15 days
source: (Renewable Energy) - BD+C White Paper Takes a Hard Look at Green Building, Climate Change
Last month, while everyone was still coming down from presidential election frenzy and ramping up for Greenbuild, Building Design + Construction offered up another distraction: their annual white paper on the State of Green Building. This is the sixth in an annual series that was initially inspired by the success of Greenbuild 2002. While reports from the early years included remarks on the chances for the green building movement to keep rolling, the editors get a little more definitive this time around, starting on page four: "...no matter where you stand personally on the social, economic, political, or environmental issues related to climate change, you will soon have no choice but to factor it into your professional work."
A Decree: Factor It In
More than a rallying cry: this is a decree. Not that it’s breaking news –- but the editors at Building Design + Construction were taking a step beyond echoing the observation that the green building movement is on its way to mainstream. They were attempting to motivate their readers.
The white paper, entitled "Green Buildings + Climate Change," embraces a much more outward facing agenda than past years’ reports, which always focused on analyzing the green building movement itself (topics included Life Cycle Assessment and Green Buildings and the Bottom Line). This year’s table of contents reads like a What’s What in Sustainability, with reporting on major national, regional, state, and local climate change initiatives, current possibilities for a cap and trade system, and a discussion of the prominent studies and suggested mitigation strategies that have jarred the environmental movement in recent years.
A Matter of Degrees
To introduce all of this, the editors dedicated Chapter One to a cliff notes version of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4, 2007), put out by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change –- "...the most scientifically valid and politically unbiased resource on climate change available." AR4 removes reasonable doubt that human activity warms the planet, and shows us that all those scary numbers, percentages, and estimated future degrees Celsius are ... getting scarier.
This information is carefully tied into green buildings, the crucial role the built environment could play in mitigating climate change (approximately 40% of the nation’s energy is sucked into buildings), and the fact that the AEC industry has hardly begun to wield its power. To quote, "only a small percent of new commercial buildings, and an even smaller percentage of new homes, gets any kind of green treatment ... the situation is even more distressing when it comes to existing buildings, which represent about 98% of the square footage in place in any one year." It would be nice to have some firmer numbers on the rate with which market transformation isn’t happening, but the idea is pretty clear. Green Buildings + Climate Change pounds out the message: We have a problem here and, building industry folks, you’ve got to start helping to fix it.
22 Suggestions to Green
Readers are left with a comprehensive, well-thought out list of 22 suggestions for AEC professionals to green their practices. There is also a section dedicated to the virtues of building commissioning, which is demonstrated to pay for itself many times over in umpteen studies, but just hasn’t caught hold yet: “Only about 1% of buildings are commissioned,” says the U.S. Department of Energy. The authors aren’t preaching to the choir. Greening isn’t happening on a large scale yet because the building industry (the audience for this white paper) isn’t making it happen, isn’t convincing clients.
Although BD+C’s climate change survey of 900+ AEC professionals showed that 95% of respondents said they had acted to "address climate change in their personal lives," there was a “vocal” contingent of skeptics (again, unfortunately, we didn’t get numbers on this). Says a project manager in Tennessee: “The so-called environmental movement is not based on sound principles, but as a means to redistribute wealth and move our civilization backwards.” So, it’s not just inertia or the perceived expense that’s holding green building back. A lack of personal motivation is another serious hurdle that needs to be overcome. Green Buildings + Climate Change puts forth a good effort on addressing that situation.
White Paper Download
[+] Green Buildings + Climate Change [PDF, Download w/ free registration]
- 15 days
source: (Jetson Green) - BD+C White Paper Takes a Hard Look at Green Building, Climate Change- 15 days
Last month, while everyone was still coming down from presidential election frenzy and ramping up for Greenbuild, Building Design + Construction offered up another distraction: their annual white paper on the State of Green Building. This is the sixth in an annual series that was initially inspired by the success of Greenbuild 2002. While reports from the early years included remarks on the chances for the green building movement to keep rolling, the editors get a little more definitive this time around, starting on page four: "...no matter where you stand personally on the social, economic, political, or environmental issues related to climate change, you will soon have no choice but to factor it into your professional work."
A Decree: Factor It In
More than a rallying cry: this is a decree. Not that it’s breaking news –- but the editors at Building Design + Construction were taking a step beyond echoing the observation that the green building movement is on its way to mainstream. They were attempting to motivate their readers.
The white paper, entitled "Green Buildings + Climate Change," embraces a much more outward facing agenda than past years’ reports, which always focused on analyzing the green building movement itself (topics included Life Cycle Assessment and Green Buildings and the Bottom Line). This year’s table of contents reads like a What’s What in Sustainability, with reporting on major national, regional, state, and local climate change initiatives, current possibilities for a cap and trade system, and a discussion of the prominent studies and suggested mitigation strategies that have jarred the environmental movement in recent years.
A Matter of Degrees
To introduce all of this, the editors dedicated Chapter One to a cliff notes version of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4, 2007), put out by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change –- "...the most scientifically valid and politically unbiased resource on climate change available." AR4 removes reasonable doubt that human activity warms the planet, and shows us that all those scary numbers, percentages, and estimated future degrees Celsius are ... getting scarier.
This information is carefully tied into green buildings, the crucial role the built environment could play in mitigating climate change (approximately 40% of the nation’s energy is sucked into buildings), and the fact that the AEC industry has hardly begun to wield its power. To quote, "only a small percent of new commercial buildings, and an even smaller percentage of new homes, gets any kind of green treatment ... the situation is even more distressing when it comes to existing buildings, which represent about 98% of the square footage in place in any one year." It would be nice to have some firmer numbers on the rate with which market transformation isn’t happening, but the idea is pretty clear. Green Buildings + Climate Change pounds out the message: We have a problem here and, building industry folks, you’ve got to start helping to fix it.
22 Suggestions to Green
Readers are left with a comprehensive, well-thought out list of 22 suggestions for AEC professionals to green their practices. There is also a section dedicated to the virtues of building commissioning, which is demonstrated to pay for itself many times over in umpteen studies, but just hasn’t caught hold yet: “Only about 1% of buildings are commissioned,” says the U.S. Department of Energy. The authors aren’t preaching to the choir. Greening isn’t happening on a large scale yet because the building industry (the audience for this white paper) isn’t making it happen, isn’t convincing clients.
Although BD+C’s climate change survey of 900+ AEC professionals showed that 95% of respondents said they had acted to "address climate change in their personal lives," there was a “vocal” contingent of skeptics (again, unfortunately, we didn’t get numbers on this). Says a project manager in Tennessee: “The so-called environmental movement is not based on sound principles, but as a means to redistribute wealth and move our civilization backwards.” So, it’s not just inertia or the perceived expense that’s holding green building back. A lack of personal motivation is another serious hurdle that needs to be overcome. Green Buildings + Climate Change puts forth a good effort on addressing that situation.
White Paper Download
[+] Green Buildings + Climate Change [PDF, Download w/ free registration]
source: (Jetson Green) - Another Greenhouse Gas to Watch
Thanks to constant 2008 election coverage, many Americans missed important news stories this fall. ForeignPolicy.com came up with a list of 10 articles people may have missed, one of which found that one type of solar panels might actually be harmful to the environment.
A research study by Scripps Institute of Oceanography based out of the University of California, San Diego was the first to measure the amount of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) in the Earth’s atmosphere. NF3 is used for cleaning microcircuits in flat-screen televisions, iPhones and thin-film solar panels.
NF3 is a gas 17,000 times worse for the environment than carbon dioxide (CO2) in causing global warming, and it stays in the atmosphere about five times longer. But NF3 was thought to be a better alternative to CO2 because, according to industry estimates, only 2 percent of NF3 ever makes it to the atmosphere. This encouraged companies to use NF3, as did the fact that it wasn’t considered dangerous enough to be covered by the Kyoto Protocol — the 1997 agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions signed by more than 150 countries.
The study, funded by NASA, was the first to test the amount of NF3 in the atmosphere, and it found that it is more prominent than previously thought. It had been estimated that less than 1,200 metric tons of NF3 was in the atmosphere in 2006. The new research by Scripps shows the actual amount was 4,200 metric tons. In 2008, about 5,400 metric tons of the gas was in the atmosphere, a quantity that has increased at a rate of 11 percent a year.
“This is a significantly higher percentage than has been estimated by industry, and thus strengthens the case for inventorying NF3 production and for regulating its emissions,” the published research said.
But not all solar panels are made with NF3; the problem only applies to thin-film solar panels. According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2006 thin-film solar panel represented 30 percent of photovoltaic cells made by the U.S. solar industry.
However, thin-film solar panels have recently gained popularity though because they are generally cheaper to produce.
It looks like we need to take another look at the manufacturing process for thin-film solar since it isn’t quite perfect, darn it.
- 15 days
source: (Energy Matters) - U.S. DOE awards tens of billions for energy performance projects
U.S. Department of Energy awards sixteen contracts for up to USD80 billion in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects at federal facilities. The new Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) help to meet the federal government’s goals which include a 30% reduction in energy intensity and a 16% reduction in water use by 2015, and an increase of renewable energy to 7.5% of electricity needs by 2013 for federal facilities. Under an ESPC, the contractor obtains the necessary financing for an energy savings project, and the agency makes payments over time to the contractor from the savings reduction in the utility bills. The federal government is the largest single user of energy in the U.S. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Former Bathhouse Gets LEED Platinum
Located in a formerly desolate area of downtown St. Louis, the William A. Kerr Foundation building is a showcase for sustainable renovation strategies. It started out in the late 1800's as a bathhouse (it sits above a natural mineral spring), and thereafter as a paint warehouse -- over time, it fell into disrepair. The neighborhood was blighted when it was acquired by the owners, and they wanted to restore the building for the foundation's offices and educational activities. Subsequent to remediation and renovation, it was awarded 58 out of a possible 69 points by the USGBC and received LEED Platinum certification. The William A. Kerr Foundation building has the following green features:
- The first wind turbine in the city of St. Louis
- 3.5 kW PVL system and solar hot water heating
- Raised access-plenum HVAC floor
- A green roof, bioswales, and rain barrels
- Bicycle racks and interior showers
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Solatube Light tubes for natural lighting
- Rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, cork, and Marmoleum
According to Vertegy, a full-service sustainable consultancy, the 4,800 square foot building was renovated at a cost of $1.5 million. In addition, last May, ED+C published a case study of the building and described the building's unique restoration.
Image credits: Trailnet (top); Urban Review STL (bottom three).
- 16 days
source: (Jetson Green) - Former Bathhouse Gets LEED Platinum- 16 days
Located in a formerly desolate area of downtown St. Louis, the William A. Kerr Foundation building is a showcase for sustainable renovation strategies. It started out in the late 1800's as a bathhouse (it sits above a natural mineral spring), and thereafter as a paint warehouse -- over time, it fell into disrepair. The neighborhood was blighted when it was acquired by the owners, and they wanted to restore the building for the foundation's offices and educational activities. Subsequent to remediation and renovation, it was awarded 58 out of a possible 69 points by the USGBC and received LEED Platinum certification. The William A. Kerr Foundation building has the following green features:
- The first wind turbine in the city of St. Louis
- 3.5 kW PVL system and solar hot water heating
- Raised access-plenum HVAC floor
- A green roof, bioswales, and rain barrels
- Bicycle racks and interior showers
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Solatube Light tubes for natural lighting
- Rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, cork, and Marmoleum
According to Vertegy, a full-service sustainable consultancy, the 4,800 square foot building was renovated at a cost of $1.5 million. In addition, last May, ED+C published a case study of the building and described the building's unique restoration.
Image credits: Trailnet (top); Urban Review STL (bottom three).
source: (Jetson Green)
December 21, 2008
- Renewables and energy efficiency - Finland's tools to combat climate change
Finnish government approved in November a new, ambitious climate and energy strategy with detailed insights into the related policy measures up to 2020, and suggestions up to 2050. "The main measures for reduction of emissions include promotion of renewable energy and enhancing the efficiency of energy consumption," says Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs, who chaired a ministerial working group that has been responsible for the preparation of the strategy. The objective set by strategy entails halting and reversing the growth in final energy consumption so that in 2020 final energy consumption is almost equal to the current level. Another main goal is to increase the share of renewable energy to 38 percent by 2020, in line with the EU climate goals. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Finland - a world leader in combined heat and power
Finland is a world leader in combined heat and power with high levels of development in district heating, industrial energy production and use of biofuels, praises the International Energy Agency's (IEA) report that awards Finland with the highest possible number of points. In 2007, co-generation produced 74 percent of the heat needed for district heating and generated 29 percent of the country’s electricity supply and 34 percent of production. The roots of co-generation are in the country's forest industry, that started to utilize its byproducts for producing heat and electricity since several decades ago. The co-generation plants plants reduce emissions, secure power supply, and benefit the local economy. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Helsinki - a home for eco-efficient co-generation
Helsinki Energy, City of Helsinki’s energy company, has since decades been a forerunner in combined heat and power generation efficiency. Today district heating covers more than 93 percent of the city's heating energy demand, and generated electricity being feed to the national grid. The efficiency rate of fuel consumption exceeds 90 percent. In the summer, unused district heat from power generation, which would otherwise be led to the sea, is utilized in district cooling. This model has been accepted as a Best Available Technology (BAT) by the EU. Helsinki Energy's solution was also awarded the European Regional Champion Award. In addition, it was also acknowledged this year by the IEA. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Finnish biofuel company seeks partners to waste based bioethanol production
St1 Biofuels's technology is an unique way to produce transportation ethanol from organic waste while having the capability to produce animal feed and fertilizer as by-products. The technology has experienced rapid acceptance in Finland with three plants already in action and two new units entering production by the first half of 2009 alone. St1 Biofuels won Silver Prize in the European Environmental Press Award 2008 for its concept technology. The EEP panel praised the fact that the company solved an important environmental problem and had the potential to make a real impact in Europe. The company has already signed letters of intent to establish joint ventures in Germany and Japan. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Simulation system helps to reduce emissions from transport
A simulation based method, developed by a Finnish company Vemosim Ltd, determines direct impacts of traffic congestion and other traffic disturbances. For example, how much the congestion causes extra fuel consumption, emissions and driving time, and how much the taxation authorities receive extra fuel tax. The results of impact analyzes help to calculate the cost-benefit ratios for each route, and thus to find out the most feasible investment and improvement targets. This information is of value for decision makers in reducing emissions from transport. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - European grid operators join their forces to combat climate change
European transmission system operators responsible for running the highest voltage interconnected grid have established a new organization to respond to the future challenges. These come from connecting large amounts of wind power, increased volatility of production and increasing share of generation in the distribution networks. In addition to increasing capacity of the grids, control systems and electricity markets need to be reshaped to allow for secure, efficient and economically optimal output. "Upgrading the existing grid, building new infrastructure and introducing new technology in large scale are needed. Transmission system operators have a major role to play in this," said EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. - 16 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Polished Turds, Economic Opportunity, Golden Era, + GSA Green Buildings
- Top 3 sustainability trends for 2009.
- The cost of polishing a turd.
- Green building economic opportunity in the wings.
- Sustainability already high on GSA priority list.
- Green glass buildings lead to fatal bird collisions.
- Get ready for a 'golden era' of green building.
- Sustainability emerges as a business model.
Blogs worth reading: Green Building Law Update + Bright Green Blog.
- 17 days
source: (Jetson Green)
December 20, 2008
- U.S. President-elect boosts climate issues by top nominations
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has underscored his intent to push initiatives on climate change by naming John Holdren as the new White House science adviser, reports Reuters. Holdren has focused on the causes and consequences of climate change and advocated policies aimed at sustainable development. In addition, Obama also announced that marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco of Oregon State University would be his nominee for head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Earlier this week, Obama chose as his energy secretary a Nobel physics laureate Steven Chu who is a major promoter of alternative fuels. Chu will work closely with Carol Browner, whom Obama named to a new post that will coordinate White House policy on energy and climate change. "It's time we once again put science at the top of our agenda," Obama said.
- 17 days
source: (Energy & Enviro Finland News) - Marine power to get tips from aviation, oil sectors
The clean marine energy sector is to benefit from the expertise of the carbon intensive aviation and oil industries in a bid to cut the cost of generating electricity from the seas.
- 18 days
source: (Renewables) - Offshore grid connection could cost £10.4bn
Work should commence immediately to ensure that renewable electricity generated offshore is transmitted to the National Grid, according to a new report.
- 18 days
source: (Renewables)
December 19, 2008
- EKLA HOME: Impressive Green Furniture
Emily Kroll, CEO and founder of upholstered furniture company EKLA HOME, has furniture design and environmentalism in her blood. The granddaughter of a furniture designer on one side, and an architectural and scrap metal recycler on the other, Kroll says she is "passionate about changing the way the furniture business works in the United States." She plans to do this by eliminating toxins, limiting waste and using sustainable materials. And EKLA certainly has a very impressive list of sustainable practices, perhaps one of the most impressive on the green furniture market today.
ELKA is a member of the Organic Trade Association, Sustainable Furniture Council, and Co-Op America. They have third-party certifications by FSC, Oeko-tex, KRAV, SCS Gold, and GREENGUARD. Their practices include using raw materials sourced as close to manufacturing facility as possible, producing all products in the U.S., and using only organic and non-toxic materials and the lowest VOC finishes possible. EKLA also uses reclaimed wood whenever possible and, otherwise, the wood is FSC Alder, a sustainable crop.
Other small details are paid attention as well such as recycling packing materials and operating the workshop on as much natural light as possible. One aspect that I particularly like is that no chemical flame-retardants are used, which can be highly toxic and are found on products ranging from pillows to children's pajamas.
Their website is currently only displaying five style options at this time, but the pieces are modern and attractive, especially the Camille, Kristina, and Milano (pictured in this article). I have listed the specific eco-elements of some pieces below the photo. EKLA is certainly making an outstanding effort to create green furniture. A sentence on EKLA's website states their goals beautifully : "Our devotion to craftsmanship and quality produces pieces that last a lifetime, and are lush and luxurious but never compromise our dedication to the environment." Visit their website for more information.
MILANO SOFA ROUGE - 100% organic wool, dyed with fiber reactive low impact, non-toxic dye. Construction: Natural Rubber, 100% organic US grown and milled wool, 100% organic cotton barrier cloth, FSC alder frame and legs, recycled steel springs, Safecoat no VOC stain.
KRISTINA SECTIONAL CITRUS - 100% organic wool, dyed with fiber reactive low impact, non-toxic dye. Construction: Natural Rubber, 100% organic US grown and milled wool, 100% organic cotton barrier cloth, FSC alder frame and legs, recycled steel springs, Safecoat no VOC stain.
Image credits: Elka Home.
- 18 days
source: (Jetson Green) - Rock Row Small Lot Eco Town Homes
Last month, Heyday Partnership began construction on a slick small lot development called Rock Row. Located in the Eagle Rock area, which is north of downtown LA, Rock Row will feature town home-esque (no party wall) properties at affordable-ish ($475k-$550k) prices. Believe it or not -- those of you outside of New York and California, Rock Row is considered one of the first, reasonably-priced, green housing projects in Los Angeles. The development team includes an architect, developer, and builder working in collaboration, so Heyday is able to pass on affordability to future home buyers.
Rock Row was designed and will be built for certification under the LEED for Homes program. No doubt, it'll be in the lighter green realm as compared to some developments we've focused on, but some green features incorporated into the development include a water permeable grass pave system for the driveway; tankless water heaters and low-flow fixtures for water conservation; flooring of strand woven bamboo; green roofs and water efficient, drought tolerant landscaping; and pre-wiring for a rooftop solar array.
When complete, Rock Row will have 15 modern homes ranging from a two-story 2/2 at 1300 square feet to a three-story 3/3 at 1540 square feet. These sizes are just right actually, what with the national average loafing around at 2400 square feet or so. So it's probably safe to say that Rock Row will be the perfect place for green leaning professionals looking for a modern, green pad with a small footprint. Can't wait to see the finished development ...
Rendering credits: Heyday.
- 19 days
source: (Jetson Green) - Landfill gas power for Belfast
Landfill gas is to be harnessed to generate gas that will power the equivalent of 6,000 homes in Belfast.
- 19 days
source: (Renewables)
