News Room : Archives : April 2010

The South Could Save Billions With Energy Efficiency

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

DURHAM, North Carolina, April 13, 2010 (ENS) – Energy-efficiency measures in the southern United States could save consumers $41 billion on their energy bills, open 380,000 new jobs, and save 8.6 billion gallons of water over the next 10 years, finds research from Duke University and the Georgia Institute of Technology released Monday.

On average, each dollar invested in energy efficiency over the next 20 years will reap $2.25 in benefits, concludes the study, which also shows that the construction of dozens of new power plants could be avoided.

New appliance standards, incentives for retrofitting and weatherization, upgrades to utility plants and process improvements were among the policies researchers considered.

“We looked at how these policies might interact, not just single programs,” said researcher Etan Gumerman at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.

Sustainable Fellwood, a new mixed-use, mixed income development in Savannah, Georgia, won a National Homebuilders Assn. 2010 Energy Value Housing Award for energy efficiency. (Photo courtesy Sustainable Fellwood)

“The interplay between policies compounds the savings. And it’s all cost-effective,” he said.

The average residential electricity bill would decline by $26 per month in 2020 and $50 per month in 2030, the study projects.

In total, the study concludes that investing $200 billion in energy efficiency programs over the next 20 years could return $448 billion in savings.

If the measures studied were implemented, it would reduce the need for new power plants, the study concludes. Almost 25 gigawatts of older power plants could be retired and the construction of new power plants generating up to 50 gigawatts of power could be avoided.

Thirty-six percent of Americans live in the study region. With its low electricity rates, which encourage consumption, the South consumes an super-sized portion of American energy, 44 percent, and supplies 48 percent of the nation’s power.

Yet energy-efficient products have a lower market penetration in this region than elsewhere in the country, and these states spend less per capita on efficiency programs than the national average.

To achieve their results, the researchers modeled how implementation of nine policies across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors might play out over 20 years in the District of Columbia and 16 southern states.

They generated a business as usual scenario, without any policies, and compared it with scenarios that included specific sets of energy-efficiency investments, to capture the cost savings.

The region’s economy is anticipated to grow by $1.23 billion in 2020 and $2.12 billion in 2030. Yet the study found that the reduction in power plant capacity would save southern regions of the North American Electrical Reliability Corporation 8.6 billion gallons of fresh water in 2020 and 20.1 billion gallons in 2030.

“An aggressive commitment to energy efficiency could be an economic windfall for the South,” said researcher Dr. Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Such a shift would lower energy bills for cash-strapped consumers and businesses and create more new jobs for Southern workers.”

The utility Georgia Power says it is already promoting energy efficiency to help customers save money and to reduce the need for power plants. In total, the company plans to invest almost $500 million over the next 10 years on demand-side programs such as free in-home energy audits that show residential customers how energy efficient their home is and ways to save energy.

The company is providing some funding to help low-income customers make home improvements for increased energy efficiency and has a recycling program for older refrigerators and freezers.

Funded with support from the Energy Foundation, the Kresge Foundation and the Turner Foundation, the study, “Energy Efficiency in the South” is available on the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance website: www.seealliance.org/programs/research.php.

State profiles are also available through the Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency in the Southeast.

Visit ecofactory.com to read the full eco news story.

Original post:
The South Could Save Billions With Energy Efficiency

USGBC’s Green Home Guide Beta

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Many of us are familiar with the LEED rating system from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which is a third party green building rating system for commercial and residential buildings. The LEED rating system has been adopted by the U.S. government and is used with all new construction and major renovation of federal buildings. LEED certifies buildings on a point based system in the areas of Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Locations & Linkages, Awareness & Education, Innovation in Design, and Regional Priority. Points are then added up to achieve Silver, Gold, or preferably Platinum certification. While mainly regarded as a tool for commercial building, there is also a LEED for Homes section that allows you to certify your home or neighborhood.

Recently, USGBC has launched a Green Home Guide. The site is an awesome resource for those of you looking to remodel or build a home in the near future. The site contains a myriad of resources for the casual and the serious green homemaker alike. The “Know How” section guides you through green building advice and educational articles to help you make better-informed decisions. They cover a diverse range of topics, and the content is growing everyday. With the rapid growth in the green building world, it’s a great resource if you need to get an idea of what’s out there.

1. Remodel, Reuse, Renew and Restore with the RE-Store – Green Home Furnishings
2. Green Materials for Eco Friendly Design – Sustainable Materials and Green Building Products
3. Plyboo Bamboo Plywood and Durapalm Palm Tree Sustainable Flooring

My favorite part of the site is the “Ask a Pro” section, which allows you to connect to green building experts from around the country and get answers to questions. Perhaps you’ve been shopping around for a countertop, and you’re wondering which is more environmentally friendly. Or maybe you want to know what solar power options exist for those of us living in apartments or condos. The site has many LEED accredited professionals ready to answer your green building questions.

If you’re ready to have someone come in and do the work for you, there’s the “Find a Pro” section. This directory of green building LEED accredited professionals is your key to getting green-minded professionals working on your new home or remodel. They have everything from green cleaning services and interior designers to architects and electricians.

Although the site is still Beta, I feel like it has the potential to grow into a valuable resource for the eco-conscious homeowner. As green building has become more mainstream, it has made quality green building easier to access for the average person. The site is still growing, but I was satisfied with the information that I did find. Also, the ability to ask the pros questions has made it easier for me to feel secure with my decisions and has cut down some of the research time for my home projects. Remember, USGBC is just one of many sites out there to help you remodel your house in a green way. Use as many resources as possible to ensure that you come to a well-researched, unbiased conclusion. Hopefully USGBC’s Green Home Guide will provide you with a great start.

Original Post by The Chic Ecologist

Standard 189.1 to Provide a Strong Foundation for High-Performance Green Buildings

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

ATLANTA—A new standard for the design of high-performance green buildings is set to revolutionize the building industry. Published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United States.

The standard, published Friday, provides a long-needed green building foundation for those who strive to design, build and operate green buildings. From site location to energy use to recycling, this standard will set the foundation for green buildings through its adoption into local codes. It covers key topic areas similar to green building rating systems: site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy ef­ficiency, indoor environmental quality and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources. For complete information on the standard, including a readable copy, visit www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.

The energy efficiency goal of Standard 189.1 is to provide significant energy reduction over that in ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007. It offers a broader scope than Standard 90.1 and is intended to provide minimum requirements for the siting, design and construction of high performance, green buildings.

“The far-reaching influence of the built environment necessitates action to reduce its impact,” Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. “Provisions in the standard can reduce negative environmental impacts through high-performance building design, construction and operations practices.  Ultimately, the aim is not just energy efficiency but a balance of environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well being and community sensitivity, all while supporting the goal of sustainable development.”

“IES is pleased to be a cosponsor of this standard that will have a significant impact on requirements for high-performance green buildings and the building industry as a whole,” Rita Harrold, director of technology for IES, said. “We congratulate the Project Committee for the tremendous effort and dedication of its members in the fast track development of a consensus standard.  We look forward to continuing the partnership with ASHRAE and USGBC as the standard continues to evolve through future continuous maintenance proposals.”

“Greening the building code is fundamental to the U.S. Green Building Council’s goal of market transformation and is also a critical factor in how the building industry is working to mitigate climate change,” said Brendan Owens, VP, Technical Development, U.S. Green Building Council. “We’re extremely excited to see our collective efforts over the past three years come to fruition in the form of this important standard.”

Standard 189.1 has been written by experts representing all areas of the building industry, including engineers, lighting designers, sustainability experts, building owners, designers, architects, code and compliance officials, utilities, materials experts and equipment manufacturers. The technical requirements in the standard were also supported by input from the building industry during the public review process.

To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

The cost of Standard 189.1 is $119 ($99, ASHRAE members)
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Standard 189.1 to Provide a Strong Foundation for High-Performance Green Buildings

Recent Survey Suggests Brick is Siding Of Choice

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

I found the following suvey very interesting, because brick is very prevelent in the Atlanta market.  Using a life cycle costing approach on this type of exterior clading, it is clearly the top choice in the homes that I build. 

Roswell, Ga. (Dec. 18, 2009) – According to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Boral Bricks, 59 percent of all homeowners with a siding preference would choose brick for their homes. The study was commissioned by Boral Bricks, Inc. to determine current consumer preferences for siding.

The survey, conducted in October, asked participants which type of siding they prefer on a home. Possible answers included brick, vinyl, stucco, fiber cement/composite and other; participants were allowed to choose more than one option. For the 1,144 homeowners with a siding preference, brick was the leading choice with nearly two of every three respondents selecting it. Vinyl came in second (37 percent), followed by stucco (19 percent), fiber cement/composite (14 percent), and other (11 percent).

“This research shows brick is still the overwhelming choice for homeowners who have a say in their exterior cladding,” said Bob Kepford, president, Boral Bricks, Inc. “Coming out of the recession, homeowners will likely be in their homes longer than in recent years, and they should insist their builders use the most sustainable siding option to ensure it holds up to the elements. Brick has also proven to help homes increase in value, which is important with slower real estate appreciation expected in the future.”

According to U.S. Census data on siding for new homes, builders have increasingly opted for lap siding products over the last ten years. These products may provide more ease of installation; however, they don’t offer the consumer benefits homeowners appreciate with brick – including the fact that it is virtually maintenance free, extremely durable, locally sourced and sustainable.

Australia Has The Biggest Homes in the World

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Chart: CommSec

The recent discussion on the size of living space, both for New Yorkers and TreeHugger writers reminded me of a report out last month indicating that Australia has now overtaken the United States in the size of new homes. In figures obtained by CommSec (the country’s Australia’s largest discount stockbroking firm) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that “the average floor area of new homes hit a record high of 214.6 square metres (2,310 sq ft) in the last financial year.” Whereas, for the first time in decade American homes are apparently getting smaller, with new homes coming in at 201.5m2 (2,169 sq ft).

The ABC report CommSec’s chief economist Craig James saying, “Our newly built homes are 7 per cent bigger than those in the US, double the size of those in Europe, and triple the size of those in the UK.”

Table: Commsec. Photo: UK Housing by Warren McLaren / Inov8

It seems Australians weren’t content with just being the world’s largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases. Being a competitive, sports-loving nation, we had to up the ante.

Interestingly though, the number of inhabitants appears to be rising. Back in 1911, when Australia completed its first Census there were 4.5 people in each house, but almost a century later this had nearly halved to 2.4 persons. Yet this might be now trending upwards with ABS estimates for 07-08 suggesting 2.56 persons per home.

Chart: CommSec.

Thoughts for such figures include that the population is getting older, younger generations are staying at home longer, and that people are moving house less, choosing instead to increase their existing homes. The Australian Reserve Bank, for instance, observed that “alterations & additions [...] now account for around half of all investment (spending) on dwellings.”

Referring again to the ABC article, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Professor Stuart White, said, “The increased size of houses … [will] very often … increase the energy taken, sometimes also the water take of those houses so the environmental impact as well as the social impact.” He further suggests that many Australians aspire to larger housing as they are concerned about their status relative to the rest of the community.

According to Professor White urban sprawl results from the extra land required to accommodate larger house. This then puts pressure on public transport services and infrastructure.

So, if the housing trend continues, looks like we stand a good chance of also retaining that crown of world’s best carbon emitters. Oh, well, if the possible funding cut for Olympic athletes eventuates, maybe the nation can focus instesad on being world champion energy and land gluttons.

:: CommSec Housing market trends (PDF)

Original Post by Warren McLaren, Tree Hugger

Green Builders’ Study Forecasts Job Growth

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Building green could add hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy, according to a new report released by the United States Green Building Council.

The study, conducted by consultants Booz Allen Hamilton, predicts that over the next four years, green building practices will create 7.9 million jobs and contribute $554 billion to the gross domestic product of the United States.

The report, which was released at U.S.G.B.C.’s annual Greenbuild conference last week, also estimated that spending on green construction already supports more than 2.4 million jobs from 2000 to 2008 and generated more than $120 billion in wages over that time.

“This study validates the work that the 25,000 people who gathered at Greenbuild and every member of our movement do everyday,” said Rick Fedrizzi, the president and founding chairman of the U.S.G.B.C. “Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete by making all building and retrofits green.”

 

The study argued that the terms “green jobs” and “green collar jobs” are not well defined, and are often limited to professions such as wind turbine designers and architects.

Its own employment estimate, the study stated, includes everyone “from the architects who designed the building to the construction laborers who poured the building’s foundation.”

In figuring out the estimated impact on the gross domestic product of the United States, the study included the direct effects, which includes the contractor who built the building; the indirect effects, such as the companies who provide the supplies to the contractor; and the induced effects, such as when an employee of the supplier uses “their additional income from green construction spending to purchase products and services.”

Original post by C0lin Miner, NYT:
Green Builders’ Study Forecasts Job Growth