Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, announced on Thursday that it would cut some 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain by the end of 2015 — the equivalent of removing more than 3.8 million cars from the road for a year.

The company plans to achieve that goal by focusing on popular product categories with the highest embedded carbon—milk, bread, meat, clothing—and by pressing its suppliers to rethink how they source, manufacture, package and transport those goods. Essentially, suppliers are being asked to examine the carbon lifecycle of their products, from the raw materials used in manufacturing all the way through to the recycling phase.

Wal-Mart’s sustainability executives will work with suppliers to help them figure out what measures to take. Any costs related to making products more energy-efficient—redesigning packaging or using a different fertilizer—will be the responsibility of each supplier, not of Wal-Mart.

Jim Stanway, who oversees Wal-Mart’s supplier initiatives involving energy, said in an interview on Thursday that suppliers would be willing to spend money if “it’s an investment where everybody’s sure it makes the supplier more profitable. ”

And while the initiative may be good for the environment, it may also be good for Wal-Mart. Driving costs out of the supply chain could result in savings for Wal-Mart that can be passed along to consumers — enabling the company to uphold its reputation as a destination for rock-bottom prices.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/energy-environment/26walmart.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1268186609-n5LWxx39/l5Tqd8O7ptGLg

Keep it real
You know what they say about Mother knowing best? Well, Mother Nature never needed to steal sips from a chemical cocktail of pesticides, weed killers, and chemical fertilizers to keep her act together. Nix the poisons and layer on some all-natural compost, instead. Call in beneficial insect reinforcements to wrestle pesky garden pests to the ground. Who needs to play Command & Conquer when you have battlefield drama unfolding before you in real time?

Make compost from kitchen scraps
Compost like a champ by throwing in your vegetable waste, instead of allowing it to be trucked off to the landfill. Known as “gardener’s gold,” compost enriches soil fertility by giving it a shot of high-powered, plant-loving nutrients. Aside from stimulating healthy root development, the addition of rich and earthy compost also improves soil texture, aeration, and water retention. Why waste your hard-earned cash on commercial products when the real deal is free for the taking? Speed up the process with the help of earthworms or go wriggle-free (if you’re the squeamish sort).

Buy recycled
If your delicate aesthetic sensibilities balk at the idea of reusing yogurt or takeout containers to house your hydrangeas, check out the myriad environmentally friendly planters and raised-garden kits now available. It takes less energy to recycle something than to mine virgin materials, so whether you choose recycled copper, plastic, or even rubber to anchor your tender shoots, it’s all copacetic. Admire your handiwork and eco-smarts while lounging on recycled lawn furniture.

Grow your own food
Buying organic produce can admittedly get pricey, so how about growing your own food instead of painstakingly manicuring that lawn for the umpteenth time? An estimated 40 million acres of the 48 contiguous American states are covered in lawns, making turf grass the United States’ largest irrigated crop. American homeowners apply a cringe-worthy tens of millions of pounds of fertilizers and pesticides to their lawns, often at many times the recommended levels. All that for little more than ornamentation. It’s time to return to the use of gardens as food sources—you won’t find fresher (or cheaper) eating anywhere else.

Join a community garden
Urban dwellers bereft of a yard shouldn’t fret: You can still get in on the hoeing and growing action by signing up for a plot at your local community garden. Community gardens typically have a communal composting area, as well, so if you don’t have room for one of those triple-duty rotating barrel composters in your home, here’s your hookup.

Go native
Now that you’ve learned some of the merits of “de-lawning” your home, consider replacing the ol’ putting green with native and indigenous plants, whether they’re cactus gardens in Arizona or bottlebrush grasses in Northern Michigan. Already adapted to local conditions, native plants are easy to grow and maintain, generally requiring less fertilizer and water, as well as less effort to rein in pests.

Harvest rainwater
Adding a rain barrel is an inexpensive and effortless way to capture mineral- and chlorine-free water for watering lawns, yards, and gardens, as well as washing cars or rinsing windows. By harnessing what’s literally raining from the sky, you’ll not only notice a marked dip in water costs, but also a reduction in stormwater runoff, which in turn helps prevent erosion and flooding. Pop a screen on top of your barrel to keep out insects, debris, and bird missiles, and make frequent use of your water supply to keep it moving and aerated.

Water with care
While we’re on the subject of water, adopting a few smart-watering habits will do much to stretch out your supply, especially during dry, hot spells in the summer. Adding mulch and compost to your soil will retain water and cut down evaporation. Plus, soaker hoses or drip irrigation only use 50 percent of the water used by sprinklers. Water early in the day so you can avoid evaporation and winds. And the best place to drench your plants? Directly on those thirsty roots.

Bring on the butterflies and bees
Provide a pesticide-free sanctuary for our pollinator pals, such as butterflies and bees, by growing a diverse variety of native flowers they’re particularly drawn to, such as wild lilac, goldenrod, and lemon balm. (Gardens with 10 or more species of attractive plants have been found to entice the most bees.) If you haven’t already heard, we’re in the throes of a major bee-loss epidemic, which is causing beekeepers in North America and Europe much hand-wringing. Because pollinators affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production—and increase the output of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide—extending a little hometown hospitality could go a long way.

The power of 4
Get hip to four “R”s of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenScapes program: Reduce, recycle, reuse and rebuy. You want to reduce your output of waste to ensure you’re using materials efficiently. Reusing compost and tree clippings for mulch, or rainwater for watering take up little time and energy, but offer plenty of environmental bang for your buck. Recycling saves resources, while rebuying means seeking products that meet your needs, but are more environmentally friendly than your usual purchases—take, for instance, solar outdoor lighting versus electric-powered fixtures.

The energy efficiency program is the first comprehensive approach that integrates many steps to use energy more productively. The program is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 38 percent and will provide a replicable model for similar projects around the world. Work has already commenced, and building systems work is slated to be completed by year-end 2010. The balance of the work in tenant spaces should be concluded by end of 2013. Work that is scheduled to be completed within 18 months will result in over 50 percent of the projected energy savings. The balance will be an additional 36 months completed by 2013.

The project will prove the viability for energy efficiency retrofit projects to dramatically increase building energy efficiency and reduce its overall carbon output with sensible payback periods and enhanced profitability.

At the end of the project definition process, the team analyzed the steps to be taken in conjunction with other steps towards sustainability as part of the Empire State ReBuilding program within the framework of the existing USGBC LEED rating system. Internal calculations show that the Empire State Building will be able to qualify for GOLD certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, and ownership intends to pursue such certification.

“Commercial and residential buildings account for the majority of the total carbon footprint of cities around the world – over 70 percent in New York City. Beginning in February 2008, the Empire State Building has been used as a test bench to create a replicable process to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts,” said Anthony E. Malkin of building owner, Empire State Building Company. “Most new buildings are built with the environment in mind, but the real key to substantial progress is reducing existing building energy consumption and carbon footprint.”

“This innovative process, which has developed new techniques for modeling and organizing an integrated program, offers a clear path to adoption around the world, leading to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” according to Malkin. “Along with other steps taken, in recycling waste and construction debris, use of recycled materials, and green cleaning and pest control products, the model built at the Empire State Building will meaningfully speed the reduction in energy consumption and environmental impact and allow more sustainable operations – while simultaneously enhancing profitability and tenant comfort. This is a real program, happening in real time, creating real green jobs.”

The project partners used existing and newly created modeling, measurement and projection tools in a new and repeatable process to analyze the Empire State Building and establish a full understanding of its energy use as well as its functional efficiencies and deficiencies. This provided actionable recommendations along a cost-benefit curve to increase efficiency and without harming bottom line performance. In reviewing more than 60 optional activities, the team identified eight economically viable projects, applicable to building-wide renovations, electrical and ventilation system upgrades and tenant space overhauls that will provide a significant return on investment, both environmentally and financially.

“Not only will this project dramatically reduce the Empire State Building’s environmental impact, but now we’re able to do it in a way that provides meaningful costs savings to the building as well as its tenants,” said Raymond Quartararo, International Director, Jones Lang LaSalle.

With an initial estimated project cost of $20 million, additional savings and redirection of expenditures originally planned in the building’s upgrade program, and additional alternative spending in tenant installations, the Empire State Building will save $4.4 million in annual energy savings costs, reduce its energy consumption by close to 40%, repay its net extra cost in about three years, and cut its overall carbon output through eight key initiatives, including:

There are a wide variety of professions available in the renewable energy industry. This fact can make it challenging to find the right professional niche, but it also provides the opportunity for individuals with many different types and degrees of training to get involved with renewable energy.

Some jobs—such as those in communications, community outreach, sales/marketing, and business support (e.g., corporate planning and finance, accounting, human resources, law, and information technology)—can be found in almost every renewable energy field. Other jobs are specific to individual renewable energy technologies, as shown in the following discussion of the five main renewable energy power sources: wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydropower.

Wind Power

People have been using energy from the wind for hundreds of years. Windmills have been used for pumping water or grinding grain. And today, the windmill’s modern equivalent—a wind turbine—can use the wind’s energy to generate electricity. A single, small- or intermediate-sized wind turbine can generate enough electricity to power a house or farm, while a number of large, utility-scale wind turbines can form wind plants or wind farms that generate enough electricity for tens of thousands of homes.

As the cost of generating electricity from wind power continues to fall, many electricity providers are starting to view wind as an attractive, renewable alternative to fossil fuels (such as coal and natural gas), which are not renewable. The wind industry has grown at a rate of 25 percent per year, making wind power the fastest-growing source of electricity-generation in the world during the 1990s. Although Europe has experienced the majority of growth in the wind industry, the United States installed 905 megawatts (MW) of capacity in 1999—a record year for new wind projects. The nation’s total wind capacity reached 2500 MW in December 1999 and is expected to approach 5000 MW by the end of 2001.

Jobs in Wind Power
The wind industry employs both professional and skilled workers in a number of different capacities. New wind projects require people with business, meteorological, and engineering experience to plan and build projects. Meteorologists help engineers identify appropriate sites with suitable wind conditions. Engineers then design the wind plant, working with the utility companies and communities. Construction workers are needed to build the wind plant. And mechanical and electrical technicians, called “windsmiths,” are required to operate and maintain the wind turbines.

Both industry and research laboratories constantly try to improve the design and efficiency of wind turbines. These research and development (R&D) groups generally employ mechanical, electrical, and aeronautical engineers with advanced degrees, as well as experienced technicians. However, others with technical backgrounds may also find jobs.

Solar Power

Anyone who has visited Florida in July knows that the sun can produce heat. And in 1839, French physicist Edmund Bequerel discovered that sunlight could also produce electricity (known as the photoelectric effect). Knowledge of the sun’s ability to produce both heat and electricity has led to the invention of numerous technologies for capturing the sun’s energy. The most common technologies produced and used in the United States today include photovoltaics, concentrating solar power (also known as solar thermal electric) systems, solar hot water systems, and passive solar building design.

Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic (PV) cells, also known as solar cells, produce electricity directly from sunlight. When a PV cell is exposed to the sun, the cell, which is made of semiconductor materials, absorbs a portion of the light that strikes it. If the energy from the absorbed light strikes electrons in the outer shell of an atom, these electrons are freed from their parent atoms. Free electrons can then travel into a circuit in the form of electricity. PV cells can be hooked together to meet many different types of electricity requirements, from pumping water to operating calculators and watches, and lighting homes and communities.

PV has traditionally been used in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through power lines. An increasing number of utility companies are experimenting with using PV to fill their small or more expensive power needs. Some homeowners and commercial building owners are integrating PV systems into their building designs to offset utility power demand and improve power reliability.

The growing demand for reliable electricity internationally has contributed to the growth of the U.S. PV industry—approximately 70 percent of PV systems manufactured in the United States are sold to other countries.

Concentrating Solar Power
Although the mechanics of each method differs, all three concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies—parabolic troughs, power towers, and parabolic dishes—use mirrors to focus incoming sunlight onto a receiver. The receiver collects the sun’s energy in the form of heat, which can then be used directly or converted into electricity using a generator.

These technologies are currently in different stages of development. Troughs have a proven track record as a technology that can function effectively for large-scale power needs (such as those of a utility company) and are currently the least expensive way to produce solar electricity. Power towers have also demonstrated an ability to function on a large, utility scale, while parabolic dish systems, still under development, show promise for small-scale projects.

CSP technologies have caught the attention of some U.S. utility companies, as well as others interested in tapping into the projected consumer demand for green power supplies, even though the cost of using these technologies to generate electricity is still somewhat high.

Solar Hot Water
Energy from the sun can also be used to heat water for buildings and swimming pools. Solar water heating systems for buildings typically include a solar collector, in which fluid is heated by the sun, and a storage tank, which holds the hot fluid after it has been heated by the collector. Systems using fluids other than water require the additional step of passing water through a heat exchanger to heat the water. Swimming pool systems are very simple; they generally consist of collectors made of black plastic or rubber through which pool water is pumped to be heated.

Advances in solar hot water technology for buildings have dramatically cut the cost of solar water heaters from about $.20 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 1980 to $.08 to $.10 per kWh in 2000. As a result, solar hot water systems are increasingly being installed in schools, hospitals, prisons, and other government-owned facilities across the country. However, the number of solar hot water systems purchased in the United States is still quite small compared to the number purchased in the rest of the world. In 1997, for example, Americans purchased approximately 25,000 systems. Of the systems purchased, the majority were for heating residential swimming pools.

Passive Solar Building Design
Building orientation, types of construction materials, glass selection, and architectural features all affect the overall energy performance of a building. For a passive solar building, designers consider these features early in the design process along with taking advantage of solar energy to heat and light a building. They also design the building to be cool in summer.

It may cost more to design a passive solar building, but the savings achieved from decreasing the size of the mechanical and electrical systems to heat/cool and light the building, as well as energy cost savings, more than make up the difference.

Jobs in Solar Power
Growth of the solar power industry creates high-wage, skilled jobs throughout the country for individuals with many different types of training. R&D groups at national laboratories, universities, and private companies develop and continually improve solar products to lower their costs and improve their reliability. Individuals employed in solar R&D generally have professional degrees in electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering; materials science, and/or physics. Many of the people involved with technologies that are still under development, such as parabolic dish systems, focus on R&D.

As each technology progresses from the R&D phase toward full-scale commercialization, an increasing number of both professional and skilled workers are needed to sell, manufacture, design, install, and maintain equipment. The PV and solar hot water industries currently employ the majority of these workers, including electricians, engineers, technicians, and technical managers. As utility-scale CSP technologies become commercially viable, the CSP industry will eventually require an increasing number of these workers, as well as engineers and construction workers to design and build power plants. The passive solar industry involves many of these professions as well, but also employs architects and builders.

Bioenergy

The energy stored in biomass (organic matter) is called bioenergy. People have been burning biomass, such as trees and straw, to cook and warm themselves for thousands of years. Today we not only heat 25 million homes with wood, we also produce 10.2 billion watts of electricity (less than 1 percent of what we use as a nation) from wood waste and waste from other biomass. And we derive up to 0.4 percent of all our transportation fuels (about 1.5 billion gallons) from corn, which is used to produce ethanol.

While we have always used wood and other biomass for heat, the production of electricity and fuels has grown from virtually nothing 20 years ago to what it is today, helping bioenergy become second only to hydropower as the largest source of renewable energy in the world. In addition, we use biomass instead of petroleum to produce between 11 to 15 billion pounds of consumer products, including plastics, glues, furniture, paints, and chemicals.

But as bioenergy technologies and biobased products stand poised to help achieve energy independence for our nation, the conversion of biomass into fuels and products still remains more difficult than the processes used for petroleum or coal.

Jobs in Bioenergy
Universities, national laboratories, and industry are working together to find solutions to the difficult problems surrounding the production and use of biomass for energy and products. These R&D efforts require chemists, agricultural specialists, microbiologists, biochemists, and engineers, just to name a few.

Biofuel, biopower, and biobased product plants are most cost-effective when located near their source of biomass. Thus, bioenergy industry development has a special appeal because it creates direct and indirect jobs in rural areas of the country, and may prove to be a profitable complement for many existing agricultural and forestry businesses.

Engineers and construction workers are needed to design and build bioenergy plants, while electrical/electronic and mechanical technicians, engineers (mechanical, electrical, and chemical), mechanics, and equipment operators are needed to run and maintain these plants. Some may even require individuals cross-trained in areas such as engineering and biology, or chemistry and agriculture.

Jobs in bioenergy today cut across a wide spectrum of specialties and skills. And if R&D and industrial efforts succeed in making bioenergy more commercially profitable, we may see a dramatic increase in the number of bioenergy-related jobs. We’ll need more farmers and foresters to produce and harvest biomass resources, more truckers to transport the resources to the power and fuel plants, and more operators to run facilities.

Geothermal Energy

Heat from the earth, called geothermal energy, is yet another renewable energy resource that people have used over the years. Geothermal energy heats water seeping into underground reservoirs, which can then be tapped for a variety of uses.

Low to medium temperature (70° to 225°F) water reservoirs can be used directly to heat buildings, grow and dry crops, melt snow on sidewalks, and for fish farms. This is called the direct use of geothermal energy. The energy produced from high temperature reservoirs (225° to 600°F) can spin a turbine to generate electricity.

Current drilling technology limits the development of geothermal resources to relatively shallow, water- or steam-filled reservoirs, most of which are found in the western part of the United States. Researchers are developing new technologies for capturing the heat in the deeper, “dry” rocks, which would support drilling almost anywhere.

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) allow us to take advantage of the Earth’s constant temperature (around 55°F) just a few yards beneath the surface to heat and cool buildings, and to produce hot water. GHPs transfer heat between the building and the ground by circulating fluid through underground pipes. Currently, the majority of GHPs produced in the United States are purchased domestically, primarily in the Midwest. But as technology improvements reduce the costs of installing GHPs, the demand for this technology will continue to grow throughout the country.

Jobs in Geothermal Energy
The geothermal industry employs both skilled workers and those with professional degrees.

Developing hot water reservoirs requires geologists, geochemists, geophysicists, hydrologists, reservoir engineers, mud loggers, hydraulic engineers, and drillers to locate, assess, and access the reservoirs. Environmental scientists prepare environmental impact studies, and permit and leasing specialists obtain the land rights.

Geothermal direct-use technologies create jobs for heating engineers, and in the building and agricultural industries. For electricity production, engineers (electrical and mechanical) and construction workers—along with electrical technicians, electricians, electrical machinists, welders, riggers, and mechanics—are needed to design and construct power plants.

Mechanical engineers, geologists, drilling crews, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors are needed to manufacture and install GHPs. In addition, mechanical and electronic engineers, geologists, chemists, and materials scientists are required for ongoing R&D.

Hydropower

Hydropower, which uses the energy of flowing water to produce electricity, is the largest and least expensive source of renewable energy produced in the United States today. In fact, hydropower now generates approximately 10 percent of the electricity used in our country (wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass combined produce less than 1 percent). Most hydropower projects use a dam and a reservoir to retain water from a river. When the stored water is released, it passes through and rotates turbines, which spin generators to produce electricity. Water stored in a reservoir can be accessed quickly for use during times when the demand for electricity is high. Other hydropower plants, called “run of the river” projects, do not require dams. Instead, a portion of a river’s water is diverted into a canal or pipe to spin turbines.

Many large-scale dam projects have been criticized for altering wildlife habitats, impeding fish migration, and affecting water quality and flow patterns. As a result of increased environmental regulation, the National Hydropower Association forecasts a decline in hydropower use through 2020. R&D efforts have succeeded in reducing many of these environmental impacts through the use of fish ladders (to aid fish migration), fish screens, new turbine designs, and reservoir aeration. Although funding has been limited, current research focuses on the development of a “next generation turbine,” which is expected to further increase fish survival rates and improve environmental conditions.

Jobs in Hydropower
As with many of the other renewable energy technologies, the design, construction, and maintenance of hydropower plants requires electrical and mechanical engineers, technicians, and skilled workers. If the hydropower project also involves managing the reservoir and the surrounding land, the developer will also hire recreation planners, resource managers, and educators. In addition, state and federal licensing laws now require current or prospective hydropower plant developers to assess the environmental effects of their operation. Thus, the hydropower industry now also employs environmental scientists (biologists, hydrologists, ecologists, and wildlife habitat specialists, for example) to assess environmental impacts and address environmental remediation. Environmental scientists, as well as engineers, also participate in R&D efforts through private companies, national laboratories, and universities.

A career in renewable energy is a valuable way for individuals with a wide range of skills and interests to help guide the United States toward a secure, environmentally conscious energy future. For more information on energy careers, specific renewable technologies, and market forecasts, consult the resource list below.

Developer Tony Case is thinking about hanging onto the green building plan for the long term because we really felt like it’s in our interest to create as sustainable a building as we can,” Case, the owner of Seattle-based Case Design & Project Management said Tuesday.

Case green building plans to build a four-story building with five apartments and six live-work units. More interestingly, he plans for it to meet a strict green building requirements, including that it is energy efficient and produces at least as much energy as it consumes, reuses the water that falls as rain on the site for toilets and laundry, offsets the carbon footprint of its construction, uses local materials, diverts nearly all construction waste from landfills and includes “design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place appropriate to the function of the building.”

There are at least 60 proposed Living Buildings in design or under construction in North America, including Case’s project.

A new study says the Living Building Challenge criteria pay back their added cost within a reasonable period in most cases, compared with buildings with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification, which is the second-highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating program.

Another new Washington study, however, says new green schools are not energy efficient to recover their extra costs.

The Cascadia Region Green Building Council’s created the Living Building Challenge in 2006 in “the belief that our society needs to quickly find a state of balance between the natural and built environments,” according to the challenge guide.

The new Living Building Financial study tries to put a price on the challenge by calculating how much more it would have cost to build nine different types of LEED Gold buildings in four U.S. cities to Living Building standards, and how much those buildings would save in the long run.

The study looked at different types of buildings in different climates, with Portland coming closest to Seattle. It found that Portland had a slightly higher energy use than warmer cities like Phoenix and Atlanta, but its lack of extreme temperatures and relatively abundant rainfall saved on systems, reducing the extra cost.

A university classroom building in Portland would have cost 4 percent to 9 percent more, with payback in two to seven years, the study found.

“The combined impact of Portland’s mild climate, plus existing and upcoming incentives for green building and net-zero energy projects, make the incremental costs almost zero,” study manager Lisa Petterson, of SERA Architects, said in a news release.

“The study clearly demonstrates that we can increase green jobs, greatly enhance our energy security, and most effectively utilize federal stimulus money by constructing Living Buildings, especially for those in the public sector where taxpayers are going to own and operate a building for the long-term.”

But the other new study questions the wisdom of extra spending to make schools green.

Schools built to the energy efficiency standard of 2005’s state “High Performance Buildings” law cost about 6 percent more than other new schools, but: “In virtually every school district, there was at least one non-green school that used less energy per square foot than buildings that met the standards passed four years ago,” wrote Todd Myers, director of the Center for the Environment at the Washington Policy Center.

“In Tacoma, where supporters touted the energy savings of Giaudrone Middle School, the building has consistently used about 30 percent more energy per square foot than another Tacoma middle school built the same year but without mandated green standards,” he wrote. “In Spokane, none of the three ‘green’ elementary schools are as energy efficient as Browne Elementary, built in 2002, prior to passage of the ‘High Performance Buildings’ law. This is the pattern elsewhere as well.”

Even in schools that do save energy, he wrote, “the energy savings are too small to cover the higher initial construction cost.”

Much of the savings that advocates of green measures tout is compared with older buildings, those erected to minimum standards or ones with different uses, not with similar, recently built structures, Myers wrote. “Those comparisons are not useful in understanding the true benefits of spending taxpayer dollars on these projects.”

The report comes as the Legislature is considering a bill that would ask voters to authorize the state to issue up to $3 billion in bonds to pay for safety, health and energy efficiency improvements to public schools, colleges and universities. Repayment would come, in part, from the saved energy costs.

“Some investments may make sense, like ground source heat pumps. Other costs will never be recovered, like purchasing solar panels, because the cost-recovery period is longer than the life of the building,” Myers wrote. “Others may cost more, like increasing fresh air and air circulation, but have other beneficial impacts like improving indoor air quality. Without an analysis of the costs and benefits, simply spending money on energy projects does not guarantee future savings.”

Case said he hoped to meet the Living Building standard with an added cost of 10 to 15 percent and did not know how long it would take to recoup the extra spending.

“We just wanted to make sure we got a competitive rate of return on our investment, and it does do that,” he said.

The fact that Case isn’t sure he’ll end up making more money off a Living Building shows that, for him, its not just about the savings

Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product. Depending upon project-specific goals, an assessment of green materials may involve an evaluation of one or more of the criteria.

Overall material / product selection criteria:

• Resource efficiency
• Indoor air quality
• Energy efficiency
• Water conservation
• Affordability

Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

• Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial content with a preference for postconsumer content.
• Natural, plentiful or renewable: Materials harvested from sustainably managed sources and preferably have an independent certification (e.g., certified wood) and are certified by an independent third party.
• Resource efficient manufacturing process: Products manufactured with resource-efficient processes including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases.
• Locally available: Building materials, components, and systems found locally or regionally saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site.
• Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured: Includes saving a material from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product.
• Reusable or recyclable: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.
• Recycled or recyclable product packaging: Products enclosed in recycled content or recyclable packaging.
• Durable: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life expectancies.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

• Low or non-toxic: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.
• Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions.
• Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards.
• Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of biological contaminants in buildings.
• Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-toxic, or low-VOC methods of cleaning.
• Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality.

Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

• Materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities.

Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

• Products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped areas.

Affordability can be considered when building product life-cycle costs are comparable to conventional materials or as a whole, are within a project-defined percentage of the overall budget.

Green Building Materials for your home
Many environmentally conscious home builders are crafting homes by using green building materials. Even if you’re not in the market to buy a new home, though, you can help to stop global warming and protect the environment when you replace old appliances or remodel.

My husband never quite forgave me when I gave the buyers of our last home the new front-loading washer. But it was a stickling point for them, and I wasn’t going to blow the sale over a $1,000 appliance.

So when the washer / dryer combo unit that came with our present home broke down and parts were unavailable to repair it, our home protection plan offered to replace it for free. Except the appliance they were going to give us was a replica of our existing model, which wasn’t energy efficient. A little known aspect of many home protection plans is the company will generally credit you the replacement cost and let you pay the difference for an upgrade at wholesale pricing.

This was an opportune time, I figured, to make amends with my husband and give him the front-loading washer and dryer of his dreams. After all, he does the laundry in my house. But buying green appliances isn’t the only way you can green your home. Here are a dozen other ideas

Go to any home improvement store, and you’ll find aisles reserved for green building materials. Some of these green building supplies are legitimate and others could be considered questionable, depending on which environmentalist you ask. If you are like most Americans — concerned about global warming and protecting the environment — do your homework and investigate the origin, harvesting methods and production of green materials before purchasing.

Green floors are typically made from renewable or recycled products. These non-toxic flooring materials are said to be safe for the environment and for people, and can be installed in an eco-friendly manner without harmful gas emissions.

• Cork Floors. – Cork is made from stripped tree bark, leaving the trees intact. It is warm and inviting, but cork can yellow in sunlight, scratches easily and cannot come into contact with water.
• Bamboo Flooring – Bamboo is a grass, not a wood. It renews itself every 3 to 5 years. Inexpensive bamboo is generally younger and not very durable, so ask for premium bamboo, made from adhesives that do not contain formaldehyde. Bamboo can be nailed, glued, stapled or floated, and comes in horizontal or vertical patterns. Do not install in areas that get wet.
• Recycled Carpeting – Most green carpeting is made from recycled plastic food and beverage containers. Their vibrant color options tend to last longer than nylon carpets. This shock-free static product does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are part of the typical “new carpet smell” but can irritate the lungs, and recycled carpets are stain resistant.
• Linoleum Flooring – Linoleum is a manufactured product made from natural raw materials such as linseed oil, a binding agent obtained from pine trees (without harming the trees), renewable wood products, ground limestone and jute, which is a plant fiber. Linoleum floors are stain resistant, do not absorb water and are biodegradable at the end of its useful life, generally around 40 years.
• Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring – Certain types of exotic hardwoods such as Brazilian Cherry or White Tigerwood are grown in South America. These are harvested from well-managed forests with renewable resources. Brazilian Cherry is engineered wood made from 3-ply construction using formaldehyde-free adhesives. It is generally more expensive but resilient and harder than oak.

Green Building Materials
Reclaimed or salvaged lumber can be used to build walls, as support beams or in roof construction. Many green companies specialize in obtaining building materials from older homes that are about to be torn down or dismantled. Instead of filling up landfills, previously used lumber is put back into new construction.

Environmentally conscious home owners can buy hand-hewn wood beams or rough sawn lumber such as oak, cherry, maple or pine, many of which are aged to a density and hardness that you cannot find in new lumber.

Solar Energy
Solar means sun in Latin. Solar energy uses the sun’s power, either in passive applications such as heating water in swimming pools, or directly converting it to electricity using photovoltaic cells. It works through a process called photovoltaic energy. When bits of solar energy, called photons, are absorbed by a solar cell, electricity is generated.

To provide solar power, solar companies install large, flat panels on top of roofs, and each panel contains grids of solar cells. It works best in wide, open locations that get plenty of sun. Some systems can store energy for use at night or on cloudy days.

Many utility companies, especially in California, offers rebates and credits to home owners who install solar panels. In addition, excess electricity can also roll-back the solar power owner’s electrical meter — in essence, sending electricity back to the utility company — netting home owners a credit.

Energy-Efficient Windows
Sunlight comes through windows in a visible and invisible spectrum. The light we can see spans all the visible frequencies. You can use a prism to see how white light is actually made up of a spectrum from red through blue and violet. The light humans cannot see are infrared and ultraviolet, which fade furniture and floors. Low-e is a hard glaze coating on windows that block some of the damaging rays, while reducing heat loss in the winter and keeping homes cooler in the summer.

Dual pane windows offer insulation against the elements and soundproofing qualities. After I installed dual pane windows, I no longer woke up when the sprinklers came on in the morning. Many energy-efficient windows qualify for rebates and credits.

Energy-Efficient Products
ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that identifies energy efficient products, from compact fluorescent bulbs to computer monitors to air conditioners. ENERGY STAR says compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than regular light bulbs. Some people don’t like them because the spiral design is ugly and they cost more than incandescent bulbs. But not all compact fluorescent light bulbs are squirrelly looking. And the initial expenditure to buy energy-efficient light bulbs is actually a lot less in the long run when compared to the life expectancy of regular light bulbs.

Consumers are also offered energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, washers and dryers. Wisdom says buy appliances that sport the ENERGY STAR label.

Green building is definitely part of the solution to get real estate and construction sectors up and going again.

Consider some of the compelling numbers and opportunities the White House has been eye-balling:

There are currently 120 million homes, 5.1 million commercial buildings and legions of government office structures in the U.S. today. These structures account for approximately 40 percent of the nation’s carbon emissions and consume 60 percent of its raw materials, so if even a reasonable percentage of them were retrofitted and became more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, we’d be setting a major and super-Keynesian economic multiplier in motion.

Legions of Good-Paying Green Jobs
A recent report from the International Labor Organization indicates that Investments in improved energy efficiency in buildings could generate an additional 2 to 3.5 million green jobs in Europe and the United States, with the potential much higher in developing countries.

Touching Industries Across the Board
Another reason to think green buildings will serve as a dynamic foundation for a broad-based economic recovery is because they touch a wide area of domestic industry sectors and technologies – including steel, solar, software, semiconductors, building materials, lighting, windows, HVAC and construction.

Green buildings could lead us back to prosperity because the retrofitting revolution will enable the battered and broken down real estate sector to survive and hang in despite the property value across the nation.

Getting the Economy Airborne Again
Retrofitting isn’t going to end the foreclosures; but it is going to offer the macro economy a positive jet that will eventually help it get airborne again.

Silicon Valley and the software industry could gain renewed momentum from the green building stimulus, too. Every eco-structure that is built or retrofit will require digitalized automation services and systems to manage the energy efficiency standards and goals on each floor. And, once green buildings start proliferating, I think we’ll look back and agree that they serve as an early adopter market, a proving ground, for a wide range of green technologies that can be applied in other industry sectors across the economy.

Another thing to consider is that green building stimulus is such an important macro-economic driver because of its impact on the global material science market. The development of a cutting-edge clean cement, for example, will almost certainly spur a fresh round of significant infrastructure projects around the world.

The Role of Government
Finally, green building has the potential to kick-start the struggling economy because it brings together the best of the public and private sectors on both the demand and supply sides. The driving and differentiating factor here is the fact that the government owns such a large percentage of the existing building stock in the form of offices, schools and defense department facilities.

The profound impact that green buildings can have on the economy is already evident in the wake of the stimulus bill, which has quickly brought a host of multinationals into the market looking for efficient lighting companies to acquire.

I’m also encouraged by the findings in Turner Construction Company’s “Green Building Barometer,” which indicates that 75 percent of commercial real estate executives won’t let the credit squeeze or shaky economy get in the way of their green initiatives.

Setting Standards
The real and immediate challenge, however, will be making sure that the recently allocated stimulus monies targeted at green building activity actually get spent – and spent efficiently and effectively. I’m especially impressed by the stimulus standards and scorecard that Smart Grid News has done for smart grid projects, and I think the green building sector should adopt and adapt something similar for best practices and best results.

In the end, though, I have confidence in President Obama because I think he knows that re-constructing the deteriorating economy starts at the ground floor and continues all the way up to the penthouse – and the soon-to-be green skies above and beyond.

With your knowledge of Going Green Facts, Homemade Energy can be made with ease to save you money and put the cashola back into your pocket.

The statistics prove that there is non-renewable energy that we consume in our daily lives that can be reversed by a few simple things that can be implemented by consumers with the knowledge of how to utilize what the earth has provided for us with wind, biodegradable materials and solar power. Below are a few shocking statistics that will open your eyes on what we are taking and not giving back.

US Energy Consumption By Source

Non-Renewable

• Petroleum: Used for transportation and manufacturing——— 38.1%
• Natural Gas: Used for heating, manufacturing and electricity – 22.9%
• Coal: Used for electricity and manufacturing ———————– 23.2%
• Uranium: Used for electricity ———————————————- 8.1%
• Propane: Used for heating and manufacturing ——————— 1.7%

Renewable

• Biomass: Used for heating, electricity and transportation ——- 2.9%
• Hydro-power: Used for electricity —————————————- 2.7%
• Geothermal: Used for heating and electricity ———————– 0.3%
• Wind: Used for electricity ————————————————- 0.1%
• Solar & other: Used for light, heating and electricity ————– 0.1%

Did you know that if your purchase a hybrid car, plans and build a wind generator or solar panels with Obama’s home energy grant program you can be rewarded by the Federal Government by receiving funding to help with their plan on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels? This is one of their top agenda items for 2009. Depending on what you do, there has been reported funding of anywhere from $600-$2000. That’s a lot of ching! You must have a receipt for your purchase of course, and apply for grant funding at the home energy grants website.

If you are eligible, you will receive a check in a month or two. You can’t however apply for multiple energy grants. For example, if you own a hybrid car, solar panel and a wind generator you can specify the information in the grant kit if you qualify to receive it. What a way to get some of those hard earned dollars put back into your pocket.

Do your research and find out how you can help convert your home into renewable energy and put money back in your pocket. When you educate yourself on the Going Green Facts Homemade Energy is where to start. Whether you choose wind, solar, or both will be the best thing you will ever do for the crisis that all of us are faced with on a daily basis. Green living is not as hard as it sounds and with a little knowledge and a few items, you could get off the grid and let the power company pay you.

With today’s energy crisis you can not afford to waste energy. Let the Sun and the Wind give you all the energy you need. Why Wouldn”t You Want To Learn How To Build Your Own Solar and Wind Energy? Get a jump start on today’s energy crisis with Homemade Energy

1. More Work, Less Energy
For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day ( “standby” settings will continue to draw power even when not in use ). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch [or a smart power strip], the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once [make sure to power down inkjet printers before killing the power—they need to seal their cartridges]. Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.

2. Digitize
It does seem a bit strange that in the “digital age” we still consume enormous amounts of mashed up, bleached tree pulp, most of which gets used once or twice and then tossed or recycled [“downcycled,” as McDonough and Braungart would call it]. The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets [this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office]. Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. New software like Greenprint helps eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and can also convert to PDF for paperless document sharing.

3. Don’t Be a Paper Pusher
When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Even recycled paper gobbles up a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing [toxic pulp slurry is the paper recycling industry’s dirty secret]. When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material.

4. Greening the Commute
American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. We can ease some of this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof. If there’s no good way to phase out your car, consider getting a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle, scooter, or using a car sharing service like Flexcar or Zipcar. See How to Green Your Car for more depth on the subject. Some employers are even giving a bonus to bike and carpool commuters and special perks to hybrid drivers. For those who think bike riding is for kids and tattooed couriers, consider a high-tech folding bike or an electrically assisted one (see below for more).

5. Green Sleeves
You might be amazed how sharp work clothes from thrift stores can look. If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local “green” dry cleaner. See How to Go Green: Wardrobe for more tactics on greening those work duds.

6. Work From Home
Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It’ll save you the time you would have spent on the trip as well as sparing the air. As a bonus, you get to work in your pajamas. Telecommuting works for 44 million Americans (not to mention the TreeHugger staff). Also, consider the possibility of working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a consolidated workweek), cutting the energy and time spent on commuting by 20% and giving you some lovely three-day weekends.

7. Use Green Materials
Some paper use can’t be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff. Buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, and reuse the shipping boxes. Recycling printer cartridges is often free, and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones.

8. Redesign the Workspace
Greening the space in which you work has almost limitless possibilities. Start with good furniture, good lighting, and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials as well as recyclable. Herman-Miller and Steelcase are two groundbreaking companies that have adopted the Cradle-to-Cradle protocol for many of their office chairs. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy (see How to Green Your Lighting). Not only is natural daylight a free source of lighting for the office, it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction (as well as boost sales in retail settings). Workspace air quality is also crucial. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials (such as furniture and carpet) will keep employees healthy (look for How to Green Your Furniture coming soon).

9. Lunch Time
Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost inevitably ends with a miniature mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order (more efficient than many separate ones). Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of driving.

10. Get Others in on the Act
Share these tips with your colleagues. Ask your boss to purchase carbon offsets for corporate travel by car and plane. Arrange an office carpool or group bike commute. Trade shifts and job duties so that you can work four long days instead of five short ones. Ask the office manager to get fair trade coffee for the break room and make sure everyone has a small recycling bin so that recycling is just as easy as throwing paper away. Ask everyone to bring in a mug or glass from home and keep some handy for visitors so that you reduce or eliminate use of paper cups.