January 25th, 2009
Energy Challenge Issued to Employees
Stumble it!
Written by Dawn Killough, courtesy of Green Building Elements.com
Energy Star challenges all employees to reduce the energy use at their places of work, through its newest promotion, “Bring Your Green to Work.” The corresponding web site offers employees the chance to register themselves and their company for the challenge and learn more about how to reduce energy use.
The child in me likes the “virtual office” application that offers several tips for lowering energy use. Ideas include unplugging cell phone chargers when not in use, using window shades to block or allow light and heat into the space as necessary, and, of course, using Energy Star rated equipment. It is presented in an easy to use interface, in which users click on blue stars placed throughout the “office” to receive the tips.
Other features of the site include, as I mentioned above, the opportunity to register individuals or companies as participating in the challenge. There are also several areas full of resources and ideas for lowering energy use in a commercial setting. Once a company joins the challenge, more resources are available, including logos, brochures, and web banners to post on web sites.
There is also a guide to starting a “Green Team.” These committees are started by companies to assess and work with employees and management to lower energy use. They also can work on improving the environmental footprint of a company in general. Their duties may include assessing manufacturing processes and materials, office procedures, and starting awareness and recycling programs.
With all these wonderful resources available, there are no more excuses for continuing “business as usual.” Energy Star and I challenge you to “Bring Your Green to Work!”
Popularity: 2% [?]
January 21st, 2009
Home Energy Audit Giveaway: Win a $550 Eco-session with Sears
Want a more energy-efficient home — but don’t know where to start? Here’s a chance to get detailed, professional advice that’ll save you money on utility bills and lower your carbon footprint! Low Impact Living and green LA girl are teaming up to give one lucky Los Angeles or Orange County homeowner a FREE Home Energy Audit from the Sears Blue Climate Crew!
This audit, which usually costs $550, will put your home through a complete workup. The Blue Climate Crew will come over with an array of high-tech gear: infrared cameras to check for gaps in your insulation and gauge the efficiency of your windows, giant fans to test just how well your doors really work, and the like. The Crew will also look over your appliance usage, combustion safety, and energy bills. In the end, you’ll get a complete checklist of recommendations you can follow to improve the energy-efficiency of your home — and save up to 40% on your utility bill!
To win, you must be a home-owner living in either Los Angeles or Orange county. Simply leave a brief comment on this post letting us know which county you live in, and why your home needs an audit. (Those details won’t affect your chances of winning; we just want to make sure you’re eligible for the prize!)
Make sure you get your comment in by 11:59 pm on Sunday, January 25. One winner will be selected on Monday, January 26, 2009 out of the combined entries on both Low Impact Living and green LA girl.
Want to improve your chances of winning? Then get to the Go Green Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend. Once there, stop by the Sears booth (#134) to enter a sweepstakes for a free energy audit. You’ll also be able to sign up to get a Home Energy Audit for $275 — 50% off the regular price. And if you decide to get any follow-up work done in your home by the Blue Climate Team, you’ll be able to apply the $275 you spent toward your greening project.
And if you don’t live in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, you can find a home energy audit service near you here. Get 2009 off on the right foot by getting your green home in order– and you’ll save money in the long run!
Popularity: 2% [?]
January 18th, 2009
Green Tax Credits Available in 2009
Written by Dawn Killough, courtesy of Green Building Elements.com
(NOTE: We’ve just published an update (as of March 2 2009) on some of the tax credits included in the final stimulus bill here.)
As was previously reported on Green Building Elements, Congress was contemplating how to include the continuation of energy efficiency tax credits in the “economic bailout.” Well, they did it, and even managed to increase some of the incentives.
Here is a brief run-down of the credits available in 2009:
* Purchase of hybrid car or SUV: $250 to $3,150, depending on vehicle weight and fuel economy.
* Purchase of central air conditioner or heat pump: $300, only some Energy Star products qualify.
* Furnace or boiler: $150, only some Energy Star products qualify.
* Windows: up to $200, all Energy Star windows qualify.
* Insulation and sealing: up to $500, must meet model building code as installed.
* Ground source heat pump: up to $2,000, only Energy Star models qualify.
* There is a limit of $500 in tax credits for home improvements.
Homeowners should also check the DSIRE website for applicable state tax credits.
Businesses can also get in on the act. They are eligible for the hybrid vehicle incentives and incentives for energy efficient buildings. Businesses that sell new energy efficient homes (through 2009) or efficient appliances (through 2010) can take tax credits on these products that may reduce the cost to consumers.
For more on tax credits for businesses, builders, and consumers, see Tax Incentives Assistance Project, or The Alliance to Save Energy. Of course, you should check with your tax preparer for more information on how these credits effect you, and what paperwork needs to be completed.
Popularity: 8% [?]
January 15th, 2009
Dear President Obama: Let’s Turn The White House Green
President Obama, we humbly beseech you to make your new home, The White House, a model green home. You have an incredible opportunity to make it a home from which all Americans can learn, and of which we can all be proud. What better way to start our country off on a bright new green path to the future than by making The White House the Great American Green House?
We’ve been encouraged by some of the things you’ve said about your intentions to make your home more eco-friendly, and we’d like to offer some thoughts on how you might flesh-out your green home renovation program.
First, let’s ground ourselves in some numbers. The White House is over 55,000 square feet and has 132 rooms. There are over 35 bathrooms and the building has three kitchens. Using our Household Environmental Impact Calculator, (and a few resources like the CBECS data for commercial buildings as your house doubles as an office building) we estimate that that The White House has a carbon footprint in the range of 1.2-1.5 million pounds of CO2 per year, uses somewhere around one million gallons of water, and generates over 50,000 pounds of trash each year. As a point of reference the average 2000 sq. foot American home has a carbon footprint of 65,000 pounds, uses 90,000 gallons or water and generates 3,800 pounds of trash per year. So The White House is no low-impact house! We have our work cut out for us.
Fortunately your predecessors have already taken some steps in a positive direction. President Carter famously installed a solar water system in 1979, which was then unfortunately taken down by President Reagan. However, in 2002 a new solar system was installed to power lighting for the grounds. Apparently the toilets have been changed to low-flow models and many of the water fixtures have also been upgraded. President Clinton commissioned the Rocky Mountain Institute to do a study on the White House and make recommendations for environmental improvements. We’re not sure how many of those got made– you’ll want to kick the tires on that one. (Perhaps someone from RMI could comment here?)
Here are some ideas we’d like you to explore for turning The White House a nice shade of green:
1) Let’s get the entire building off the grid. You could install more solar panels, and/or augment the system with a wind turbine. You could also look at geothermal energy options. We think it would quite feasible to generate enough power for the building using renewable energy sources. This would serve as a great example of clean-power living, and would actually save the government money in the long run.
2) How is the insulation situation? I’m sure you have attic insulation but let’s have a look inside the walls. I read that there are hundreds of year’s worth of copper wiring in many of the walls– let’s clean them out and blow in some soy foam or denim insulation. Full insulation could reduce heating and cooling costs by 5-10%.
3) Let’s turn part of the lawn into an organic vegetable garden. Encouraging Americans to eat fresh, local, organic produce will cut down on carbon emissions and also help us live healthier lives. That green grass is lovely, yes, but it sure sucks a lot of water for a low return on investment. Eleanor Roosevelt started a Victory Garden at your house long ago…let’s bring back that wonderful tradition! Author Michael Pollan has also advocated this idea. It would be a great treat to serve visiting dignitaries “Roasted White House Garden Vegetables” with their meal, would it not?
4) Speaking of organics, let’s make sure there’s a composting system in place. What happens with all of the food trash from the kitchens today? Well a composter could reduce the building’s trash load by 25-25%. It would be easy to set up, and your gardeners could use the compost mulch on your vegetable garden.
5) We hear Michelle has picked her decorator… and we hope that they’ll choose to use plenty of eco-friendly product in your decoration choices. How about some cork floors? They are sustainable and absorb sound. Or some reclaimed American wood flooring could look very nice. For furnishing we recommend antiques (anything used is more sustainable than newly made) or eco-friendly furniture made of sustainably-harvested woods and other recycled materials. For paints, obviously make sure to use no-VOC varieties, so that you and your family don’t breath toxic fumes. We need you to stay healthy for at least eight years!
6) Let’s review the lighting. Is everything running on LED and/or compact fluorescent lighting? The Pentagon has just announced they’re switching to LEDs– so should The White House. And we’d also want to make sure that we had maximized the use of light sensors– no need to light uninhabited areas. Perhaps there is even an option for increased day-lighting? We could install some new solar tube lighting to save energy and money.
7) How about getting all of your vehicles to run on biodiesel? There are a lot of big SUVs rushing around you and your home… it would be wonderful to have them running on American biodiesel fuels. Energy independence starts at The White House! You could have a biodiesel pumping station right there on the White House lot. Maybe one day even Air Force One will run on biodiesel!
Those are just some initial ideas. We here at Low Impact Living can’t wait to see you inaugurated and we hope you settle into your new home very nicely. We’ll look forward to hearing news of your Green House plans!
Popularity: 7% [?]
January 11th, 2009
Aptera Electric Car Available in “Volume” by October 2009
Written by Karen Pease, courtesy of Gas2.org
For those who haven’t heard of it, the Aptera 2e is the first vehicle from Aptera Motors, a Carlsbad startup with funding from Idealab, Google, and other sources. (Also for those who hadn’t heard of it: it’ll look great in your cave.)
The all-electric, three-wheeled 2e weighs in at around 1,500 pounds due to high-strength composite construction, has a small fraction as much aerodynamic drag as a Prius, goes 100-120 miles with a top speed of 85-90mph, and boasts normal car safety features, impressive crush test results, and crash testing (TBA).
With a price ranging from the mid $20s to the mid $40s (depending on options), Aptera is aiming to produce 10,000 a year in 2010 and 100,000 by 2015, including a subsequent four-wheel, four-seater code-named Palomar.
Now, they’ve announced what many have been long awaiting: a basic production schedule.
As Aptera has neared production, the details have been coming in fast and furious. Aptera officially announced what many had been suspecting for a long period of time — the production version is front-wheel drive. Founder Steve Fambro also stated in an interview that there will be an optional fast charger to charge it in 2-3 hours.
On Tuesday, those on the Aptera waiting list received a letter including some news:
“Our most recent corporate commitment was that we would deliver the first production Typ-1, now known as the 2e, by the close of 2008. Despite our well-intentioned efforts, we were unable to complete that vehicle before the close of the year, so it’s now slated for January 16. However, unlike prior plans, this vehicle will not be delivered to a retail customer. We will continue our builds but at a much slower rate starting with a small test fleet of the enhanced vehicles, then moving to our volume production launch on October 1, 2009.”
To put the delay into perspective, Aptera’s original production goal to deliver in late 2008 was set over a year ago, so a shortfall of a couple weeks isn’t bad. The wording is unclear as to whether all unit production will go toward the test fleet or whether unit production will commence for customers before mass production commences, but it is clear that the launch date for mass production will be this fall. Aptera goes on to explain that the delay and the use of a test fleet before full production was due to changes brought about due to customer expectations of ease of use and the advice of automotive professionals in Aptera’s ever-growing staff.
The other main piece of news is a “lock-in” proposal. As they near production Aptera says, “it has become equally important for Aptera to properly model our operations to meet demand.” As a consequence, they’re giving depositors an option: keep your $500 reservation refundable, as it always was, or change it to be non-refundable (but still escrowed) and get a $250 discount when you make your purchase. They note that they’re moving toward production “in the face of this challenged economy,” and having more firm commitments will help them with forecasting demand — a model that, they hope, “maybe Wall Street will see … as a role model for offering these types of returns on investments.”
Aptera concludes with their pledge:
“We will manufacture the most efficient vehicle on the road and continue to apply the input we receive from our consumer.” As we fly in the face of this challenged economy and write a new page in transportation history, we simply can’t afford to cut corners. We are going to do what it takes to get it right, and we cannot get there without your help and continued support. You have stood with us faithfully and we promise that our vehicles will be worth the wait.”
“We look forward to sharing our dream with you as Aptera introduces the world to the most energy efficient solution for personal mobility.”
Image credit: Aptera Motors
Popularity: 2% [?]
