Archive for July, 2008
July 31st, 2008
Plug-in Hybrid Drivers Are Charged Up
In 1971, a bright engineer, Dr. Andy Frank, was looking to the future. He knew that oil production had peaked in the U.S. and that cheap oil would later peak globally. He calculated how to get 100 miles per gallon, and then he built a hybrid-electric car.
A few years later there was a crisis in the Mideast. Oil tankers stopped moving through the Suez Canal. There were hour gas lines in the United States with engines fuming emissions and drivers fuming with anger. Gasoline was rationed. The crisis intensified Andy Frank’s commitment to build great vehicles with outstanding fuel economy. He has been on that mission ever since.
Andy Frank took me for a ride in a big GM Equinox SUV that got double the fuel economy of a conventional SUV because he converted it to a plug-in hybrid. The ride was the same as in any other SUV except it was more quiet. Fuel economy doubled because much of the time the vehicle ran on electricity with the engine off.
This vehicle was typical of many projects. The large engine was removed. An engine less-than half its size was put in its place. His team saved hundreds of extra pounds by replacing the standard GM transmission with a smaller and lighter continuously variable transmission. Even with an added electric motor and lithium batteries, the vehicle weighed less than a standard Equinox. The air conditioning and other accessories ran electrically, instead of placing mechanical demands on a large engine. Converted to be powered electrically, the air conditioning could run with the engine off.
Andy Frank is the father of plug-in hybrids. His students at U. C. Davis have gone on to be some of the brightest minds in automotive design and transportation management. Over the past 15 years, he and his students have built over ten different plug-in hybrids. They have ranged from sport cars to full-sized SUVs. Typically these PHEV can go over 40 miles (64km) in electric-only range and weigh no more than their standard counterparts. U. C. Davis Team Fate Vehicles.
The idea of plugging-in is not new. We are in the habit of recharging our mobile phone every night. Soon, we may also be recharging our vehicle every night. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) look and drive like regular hybrids. They have a large battery pack that captures braking and engine-generated energy. Like hybrids they have computer chips that decide when to run only the electric motor, using no gas, when to run the gasoline engine, and when to run both. Many plug-in hybrids are programmed to run on only electricity for ten to forty miles before engaging the engine. Heavy duty vehicles, and eventually some passenger cars, will use more efficient diesel engines, not gasoline.
Andy Frank was all smiles as a crowd of 600 applauded at the Plug-in 2008 Conference in San Jose, California, last week. Many in the crowd now drive plug-in hybrids as part of their fleet demonstration programs. A number in the crowd had converted their personal Toyota Priuses or Ford Escape Hybrids. This was a crowd of plug-in converts.
Some visionary fleet managers have accelerated the development of plug-in hybrids. Rather than wait years for major vehicle manufacturers to offer plug-ins, these fleets have contracted for conversions then used their own maintenance teams to keep the experimental vehicles running. For example, Google is getting 93 miles per gallon (mpg) with its converted plug-in Priuses, over double the 48 mpg of its normal Priuses. Google uses solar power to charge the cars. Google’s RechargeIT.org.
In Southern California, 24 million people live in an area where the mountains trap smog and damage people’s lungs. South Coast Air Quality Management District plans to reduce emissions by contracting the conversion to plug-in of 10 Priuses, 20 Ford Escape Hybrids, and several Daimler Sprinter Vans. The vehicles are being put into a variety of fleets with hopes that “a thousand flowers will bloom.”
Fleets are piloting plug-in conversions around the country. These fleets include the City of New York City, the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, King and Chelan County Counties in Washington, Minneapolis and the City of Santa Monica.
Electric utilities have started a variety of plug-in hybrid pilot projects involving everything from cars to large trouble trucks. These utilities include Southern California Edison, Austin Power, Duke Energy, Wisconsin Power, and Pacific Gas and Electric to name a few. At a time when there are desperate discussions about being more dependent on oil, including taking ten years to get oil from environmentally sensitive areas, electric utilities are coming to the rescue by increasingly powering our vehicles.
Because some plug-ins will go up to 40 miles in electric mode at slower speeds, it is possible to get over 100 miles per gallon. With short trips in cold weather, little improvement might be seen. Driving on freeways without recharging will not help. However, for most driving cycles, plug-ins can dramatically reduce the need for expensive gasoline fill-ups.
July 30th, 2008
Is Home Automation Key to a Low Carbon Lifestyle?
Home automation systems (such as Colorado vNet and Control4) are becoming a necessary amenity in any high-end home, but are they also a new tool in our fight to reduce energy use and global warming? After all, these systems are designed so that you can control your high-end AV components, home security system, lighting and HVAC from one device (or via the web from somewhere else), so why not add energy conservation to the mix, right?
The idea is that these high tech systems will minimize or eliminate the wasted energy from lights left on by accident, vampire loads from home equipment in the “off” state, thermostats set too high or low for usage patterns or climate conditions, etc - the automation systems themselves will set things right even if you forget. We’ve certainly written about how important it is to kill of these wasteful elements, but are they big enough to warrant buying one of these systems just to reduce them?
There are some reasons to be skeptical. Above all, they’re expensive. The New York Times, in an article on these systems, said:
“Good home automation networks, which run all of the electronic and technologic gizmos in a home, have traditionally cost more than $30,000. Now, thanks in part to companies like Control4 and Colorado vNet, these systems can be had for as little as $5,000, says Sam Lucero, an ABI analyst.”
I don’t know about you, but to me $5,000 is quite a bit of money. You could argue that the electrical controls are only a small portion of the functionality and thus the effective investment is much less than $5K, but that’s not really true. You HAVE to install most of the components of such systems to get the energy-saving functionality to work (the central controller, a new thermostat, and special switches / outlets (costing $75+) at EVERY outlet of switch that is to be controlled), so you don’t really have an option of buying a $500 energy-only module.
In researching this post, I found quotes for $1,400 for a three-switch / one-outlet package ($350 per end use) and $3,600 for a ten-switch / one-outlet package ($330 per end use). At these prices, you’d have to save around 330 kilowatt-hours a year for each switch or outlet for the system to pay for itself in less than ten years. Just for comparison, that means if you had a 100-watt bulb on that circuit you’d have to SAVE 10 hrs of use every day of the year - impossible unless you regularly leave your lights on 24/7. Ouch! Why not get motion-sensing or timed switches and outlets for less than $50 apiece?
Also, these systems only really measure your electricity use, and in most homes electricity is less than 50% of the overall energy use and carbon footprint - the balance comes from other fuels used for heating, hot water and appliances such as heating oil, natural gas and propane.
Last, what about the many other simpler ways to save energy? We’ve cut our energy bills by 50% by installing LED and fluorescent lighting, buying energy-efficient appliances, improving insulation and using low-flow water fixtures (and we’ve spent far less than $2,500 so far). This quote also comes from the NY Times piece:
“Even energy-conscious people can go only so far in managing their home energy use. Sure, we can fiddle with our thermostats, shun incandescent light bulbs and bring in Energy Star appliances. Watching that new L.C.D. TV, however, might wipe out all those gains. But we just don’t know.”
Actually, we do know. If you’re serious about understanding and reducing your energy use, you can easily get 40-50% savings using pretty inexpensive techniques and gadgets. Unless you live in a 500 square foot apartment, a new LCD TV is not going to undo your energy conservation efforts!
So, don’t wait until you can afford a home automation system or solar panels to begin lowering your impact (although if our utilities ever kick in with rebates that make smart metering systems much more affordable, jump on them!). And don’t throw in the towel if you happen to have one or more large TVs. Install some fluorescent light bulbs and a programmable thermostat, and seal up leaks and cracks. Buy those low-flow water fixtures and replace dead appliances with high-efficiency Energy Star versions. Use light-sensing, power-sensing or timer-based switches or outlets. And measure it all using one of these simple devices. You’ll be amazed at the savings.
On the other hand, if you want to stream John Coltrane throughout your house but Jack Johnson out by the pool, and if you want to turn your lights on and open the garage door when you’re still five minutes from home, then by all means invest in home automation! And please invite us over to enjoy it …
July 29th, 2008
The Costs of Not Building Green
Written by Joel Bittle, courtesy of GreenBuildingElements.com
Despite the narrowing gap in cost between green building and traditional “to-code” building, most builders and home buyers still perceive the green option to be significantly more expensive. The reality is that due to increased builder education and an influx of affordable green building products, a building can be built green within the same budget as a non-green building. According to Clark Wilson, CEO of Austin based Green Builders, Inc., “It’s our job as builders to find those green products that don’t drive up the price of the home.”
Rick Hunter of the St. Louis green building firm Sage Homebuilders agrees: “With proper planning and a little experience, building green, even certified green, can be done for about the same cost. We are building certified green homes at the highest levels of certification for less than 1% cost increase.“ For an informative breakdown on how green buildings cost from 0 to 2% more than non-green buildings, check out “The True Costs of Building Green” from the folks at Buildings.com.
Now that green building is an affordable option, it’s time to change the way we frame the affordability debate. Too long have supporters of green building been on the defensive, forced to justify the costs of building more energy efficient, healthier, more sustainable homes. Instead of focusing on the costs of making your building green, let’s talk about the costs of not building green.
Energy
For those strictly interested in a financial reason to go green, the energy savings of a green building speak for themselves. With the help of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, advances in energy efficiency have resulted in savings of 40 to 60% over non-green buildings. Greater focus on appropriately sized HVAC systems, tight construction and ducts, effective insulation, and energy efficient windows can save a significant amount of energy and money. Add in the water savings from low-flow fixtures, tankless water heaters, very efficient appliances, greywater systems, water-friendly landscaping, and rainwater collection systems and it’s clear how wasteful a non-green building can be. Save a little bit of money now by ignoring these green options and you could be throwing away money for years.
Health
You wouldn’t buy baby bottles with potentially harmful chemicals or toys with toxic paint, so why would you buy a whole house with both? Paints, adhesives, and caulks can all contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs,) the greatest causes of indoor air pollution in the home, which have been tied to increased asthma rates. Wood products in the home can contain urea-formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that is banned in Canada and Europe and soon will be on its way out in California. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory studied indoor air pollution in homes and “found moderate to strong increases in respiratory and allergic health effects among children in homes with higher concentrations of selected VOCs.”
Companies that still manufacture products with urea-formaldehyde or other VOCs continue to do so because it costs them less to produce and consumers continue to choose the less expensive, but less healthy, choice. I’d like to think this is because of a lack of awareness of the health risks of such chemicals, rather than a conscious choice to expose their families to toxic chemicals. A green building not only reduces, if not eliminates, such toxic chemicals, it constantly cleans the air through efficient HVAC and ventilation systems.
The potential health risks of non-green buildings are reason enough for many to choose to build green.
Sustainability
Third in the green trinity is sustainability, the environmental cost of your building project. Green builders start by significantly reducing waste on building sites. While building materials that are not recycled or made from renewable materials might seem less expensive, the cost to the environment must be considered. And it’s not just the sustainability of the product that should be considered, but the company’s manufacturing process as well. Naysayers point out that individuals can do little to nothing to affect the environment, but if consumers begin to favor environmentally friendly products made from companies that have cleaned up their manufacturing process, including reducing waste and using renewable energy, then other companies will be forced to follow suit. Companies that have earned the Cradle to Cradle certification represent the height of sustainability.
If products were forced to label their environmental impact and embodied energy, consumers would think twice about many products. Green builders seek out durable materials that leave a lighter impact on the environment.
Parting Thoughts
The energy, health, and environmental costs make traditional, “to-code” building much too expensive. It will also be expensive for the builders themselves. As Rick Hunter points out, “Most builders have still not fully realized that we are entering a whole new era of building; the builders that make the changes now will be the ones that prosper, those that take the wait and see approach, will ultimately be hurt.”
The builders I know don’t like to be associated with anything shoddy or cheap, much less unhealthy, so it’s only a matter of time before green building practices are adopted as the norm. The term “builder quality” is used to describe the cheapest and lowest quality material available while still within code. Isn’t it time for builders to take back the term “builder quality” and make it something positive? Here’s your new slogan: Green: The New Builder Quality.
Related features:
Green House Plans from FreeGreen
Get with The Program: Green Building Trainings
Green Homes Made Affordable
Find green builders across the United States
July 27th, 2008
Green Events Across the U.S. in Late Summer and Fall
Here is a guide to green events taking place acrosss the United States in the coming months. Enjoy!
Build It Green green building trainings, various dates & cities in California
Build It Green is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. Build It Green offers trainings for green building professionals, green home tours, and more. Click here to learn more about events, locations and dates. **Note they have trainings at the end of July and early August, so check quickly!
Ecohaus Grand Opening, Bellevue, Wa, Aug. 8
Ecohaus, formerly known as the Environmental Home Center, has had two wonderful locations in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA and is now opening a THIRD outlet in Bellevue. Ecohaus offers a wealth of green home materials and solutions, and they also educate the public about green home alternatives. They are having special Gran Opening Events throughout August, so be sure to visit!
Slow Food Nation Festival, San Francisco, CA Aug. 29-Sept. 1
The inaugural Slow Food Nation event will be held on Labor Day Weekend 2008, at Fort Mason and San Francisco City Hall. The world’s most pressing questions regarding health, culture, the environment, education, social justice and the global economy are all deeply connected to the food we eat and how it is produced. Slow Food Nation is an event at the center of a movement with national impact and global implications. It will engage tens of thousands of attendees in learning how everyday choices affect our wellbeing, our culture and the health of the planet, and will bring hundreds of farmers and food artisans from across the country to present an extraordinary range of foods and preparation techniques. It will offer activities for all ages, including food, music, talks, forums, workshops, films and exhibits.
Rethinking Food, Health, and the Environment: Making Learning Connections New York City, Aug. 9-13
Numerous teams of teachers from schools across the United States have already applied for the Center for Ecoliteracy’s Summer Institute, “Rethinking Food, Health, and the Environment: Making Learning Connections.” The five-day residential institute, put on by Ecoliteracy, is co-sponsored with Teachers College Columbia University.
West Coast Green, San Jose, CA Sept. 25-27
West Coast Green is the premier green home expo, in its third successful year. Exhibitors include builders, architects, home materials manufacturers, and much more. It is a great place to learn what you can do to have a more green home and lifestyle and to see all the latest and greatest in materials advances. It’s such an important event that Al Gore is giving the keynote addres!!! To be held at the San Jose Convention Center.
** Your Low Impact Living friends will be exhibiting, so come by and say hello!
2008 Ohio Green Living Fayre, Johnstown, OH Sept. 1
Workshops and vendors focus on four main areas of interest: Alternative Building & Energy; Healthy Food & Agriculture Practices; Sustainable Living & Lifestyles; and Wellness & Healing. At the Flying J Organic Farm in Johnstown, just east of Columbus.
Going Green Expo Portland, Maine, Sept. 13 & 14
At the Howard’s Sports Arena. Green Energy, Green Building, Appliances & Decor, Green Advocates, Green Kids Zone, Green Food Court, Eco-Fashion Show, Green Book & Film Festival, Green Bazaar - Gifts & Products, Green Jobs & Degrees Fair, Green Transport Test Track, Energy & Living Workshops…and more.
The 9th Annual Sustainable Living Fair, Ft. Collins, CO Sept. 20
The Sustainable Living Fair is a solution based, hands-on, family oriented event designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about Sustainable Living Practices, Renewable Energy, Environmental & Social Responsibility, Natural Health, Green Building, Alternative Vehicles, Organic Agriculture, Local Economies and more.
Opportunity Green Sustainable Business Conference, Los Angeles, CA Nov. 7 & 8
Opportunity Green 2008 at UCLA is an unprecedented gathering of the prime movers and shakers transforming the world of green business. The best and brightest entrepreneurial CEOs, executives, professionals, designers, and investors focused on building profitable, socially responsible and sustainable enterprises will convene on the UCLA campus.
To find more green events going on across the country, check out Ecopalooza.net.
July 26th, 2008
BMW Mini Electric Cars Coming to U.S. in Summer 2009
Written by Andrew Williams, courtesy of Gas2.0
BMW has announced plans to sell all-electric versions of its popular Mini car in the U.S., starting from summer 2009.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mini USA Vice President, Jim McDowell, said that the company is still deciding whether to sell or lease the vehicles. He remained tight-lipped over exactly where in the country the cars will be available, and declined to comment on other aspects, such as range, power, charging time and price.
He also said that speculation that Mini will sell 500 EVs in California next year was premature, since no exact plans have yet been finalised. Mini will apparently make a further announcement later this year, possibly to coincide with the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Commenting on the trend for U.S. buyers to move towards smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, he said, “The world is moving in our direction. The overall market is down 10 percent, but small car sales are up 11 percent. People are trading in Ford F-150’s and Hummer’s for Mini’s.”
Mini join a growing band of car-makers planning to sell electric cars over the next few years, including global brands like Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Mercedes, as well as new start-ups and independent companies such as Tesla and Th!nk. Given the Mini’s style credentials and proven customer demand, this announcement is bound to ruffle a few feathers amongst the competition.
Related Features:
Solar Prius Is Coming to Market in 2009
Turbo Diesels Take on Hybrids
Volkswagen to Produce Plug-in Electric Hybrid Cars
Honda Launches Zero-Emission Hydrogen Car
July 24th, 2008
Do Your Countertops Glow in the Dark?
OK, you can accuse me of choosing a sensational-ist title, but I did come across a NY Times article this morning that was quite illumating! We’ve often advocated for green countertops for the environmental benefits, but now there’s another very important reason to choose green as well: some of the traditional granite countertops emit high levels of radiation!
It sounds pretty crazy at first glance. However, the earth’s crust is filled with minerals that emit small amounts of radiation, and granite is one of the types of rock that contains radioactive elements. Uranium deposits, for instance, are often found at the boundaries between igneous rocks (such as granite) and other layers of rock. As uranium decays, it emits radon gas. In fact, much of the radon gas that seeps into homes in certain parts of the country comes from the decay of uranium in underground granite deposits. Granite quarried in the US is most likely safe because of better testing and sourcing, but with today’s explosion of granite options from all parts of the world some less-than-safe choices have slipped in.
So, should you call in your local radon surveyors or rip out that granite countertop? Not so fast … even when decorative granite does contain high levels of radiation relative to your average granite slab, it still isn’t nearly as bad as the cosmic radiation you’re bombarded with when flying in a commercial jet. That being said, no radiation is good radiation, especially when you have young kids around. So, if you are thinking about a remodel or choosing new counters for your dream home, consider the many eco-friendly countertop options that DON’T contain minerals from deep within the earth. And, if you have granite already, consider using an inexpensive test kit (several options here) to check before making any expensive decisions.
Oh, and if you really do want countertops that glow, check out EnviroGLAS surfaces made with EnviroGLO aggregate. They are VERY cool. (Pictured at left.) You can see an example on TV on my Greenovate episode (on Discovery Channel’s Planet Green network) starting tomorrow night, for Adam and Suzan used it in their home’s flooring to amazing effect! Click here for a schedule of upcoming shows - the Adam & Suzan Greenovate show is at the bottom.
