Source: jetsongreen
Friday
What a great design! Solar powered canopy for properties
Turns out the Rhône Alpes team from France with the Canopea house won Solar Decathlon Europe held in Madrid. Their home is actually the top of a conceptual “Nanotower” that the team proposed to bring single-family style living back to the urban core. The top level acts like a rain forest’s canopy — hence the name — by collecting 95% of all solar energy and 30% of rainwater for the tower. Canopea was built of a prefab CORE, site-built SKIN, and a SHELL capable of off-site fabrication as well.
Wednesday
Yahoo Survey shows People Want More Green Homes
Despite historic problems plaguing the U.S. housing market such as tumbling values, record foreclosures and tight credit for buyers, a new Yahoo! Real Estate survey of current and aspiring homeowners indicates that owning a home is still a major part of the American dream.
But, unlike bullish years gone by, the so-called American dream home isn’t a supersized McMansion – it is a “green,” energy-efficient home built with “sustainable” materials that yield a lower carbon footprint. Or, more often, it is a home remodeled with energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly home products.
Four out of five of those polled in a Yahoo! Real Estate study of 1,545 U.S. adults say that owning a home is still a part of the American dream. The Yahoo! Home Horizons 2012 study, fielded on the Web in October, is mapped to the American population of homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters.
The study finds that optimism about homeownership is widespread despite the massive downturn that has so far claimed six million homes in foreclosure and threatens to sink even more in the future. Yet, given the record inventory and dropping housing prices, buyers realize that their dream home is more attainable. In the study, 72% of homeowners and renters believe that they live in their dream home, or it will be their next home, or they will own it someday.
Yet, there is a growing consensus that the dream home must be more energy efficient. Take Marilyn, a middle-aged renter inTopeka, Kan. who is in the market to buy a home. She says that her conception of a dream home has evolved in the past five years. She seeks a brick house with four bedrooms, a large kitchen and “environmentally efficient appliances to conserve energy.”
Green Dreams
But, rather than build or buy new homes, many eco-conscious homeowners seek to lower their carbon footprint by purchasing more energy efficient appliances or making other home modifications that may include the addition of solar panels to offset other energy costs.
According to the Home Horizons 2012 study:
50% of people consider green/energy efficient appliances/materials are a requirement of their dream home – it is more popular than perennial favorites such as “building a custom home” (38%); “water views” (38%) and “mountain views” (32%);
60% of those in the market say that green/energy-efficient appliances are amenities they’d like to have in their next home;
27% of those in the market say that looking for a greener, more energy-efficient home is a significant reason they want a new home.
Asked about their dream home, respondents indicated that they like various styles of home, but size was also a factor. One woman surveyed said that her dream home is “Small, environmentally friendly, very energy efficient.”
Higher Cost of Green
Although green homes are designed produce a smaller carbon impact that result in reduced home energy costs, even advocates concede that they have garnered a reputation as more expensive and not a little bit eccentric.
“Green homes have gotten a bad name because most stories are told about super energy efficient homes,” explains Sarah Saranka, architect and author of several “Not So Big House” books. Hyper-efficient, eco-friendly homes, the ones most closely associated with green living, “consume almost no energy – they’re essentially off the grid,” she says.
But there’s an emerging class of green homes that reduce energy consumption in cost-effective ways, yet haven’t drawn much attention because “they’re not astounding,” says Saranka. “Yet, they’re in the realm of possibility for an average home buyer.”
Increasingly homebuyers are willing to pay a bit of a premium for green or energy-efficient homes. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says that baking in green construction materials and energy-efficient appliances typically adds 2% to 4% to construction costs, but that can translate to higher sales prices depending upon what local markets will bear.
To some extent this rise in interest by consumers is arguably a surprise considering that there are few if any standards about what constitutes a ‘green’ home, apart from the widely accepted EPA Energy Star standards for appliances. EPA is now moving into certifying homes. Energy Star-certified homes are reportedly 20% to 30% more energy efficient than standard homes according to the EPA – leading to average savings of about $200 to $400 per year on utility costs.
Yet, industry groups such as NAHB and organizations such as U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) with its LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications, also seek to popularize certifications and guidelines, which may help build trust for consumers wading into uncharted waters and provide direction to the home industry itself. You can even find some green-certified realtors in certain pockets of the country.
A Greener Future
For about one in four of those surveyed in the Home Horizons study, living in a more energy-efficient home is a major reason why they plan to move. In support of this groundswell of interest, the government offers a small tax incentive to spur growth in demand for energy-efficient home materials and appliances.
Homeowners can earn up to a $500 U.S. tax credit for making energy-efficient upgrades by Dec. 31st in one or more of these areas: home insulation; windows, doors and skylights; and non-solar water heaters among other projects, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
Still, there are plenty of other reasons why people plan to move in 2012 and it’s not all about saving on energy costs or living on a more sustainable planet. Nearly half of those planning to move simply want to live in a larger space or in a home better suited to their “life phase.” And some want to live closer to public transportation, city services or their job.
“During the height of the housing boom there was [an attitude among buyers of] drive until you qualify and I don’t care about the consequences of commuting time,” says Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow. “Now people are aware of the cost of commuting personally in terms of time, resources and gas, but also longer term about environmental degradation.”
Though 57% of homeowners and renters say they are very satisfied with where they live, some homeowners may never be completely satisfied with their home. “I recently bought my dream home, but there are always things that could be done to improve it,” one respondent said. “We need décor more than anything. And a hot tub, wine cellar, basement bar, laundry sink, and patio.“
With a record number of foreclosed and short-sale properties crowding the market, and historically low interest rates available to those buyers with outstanding credit and a sizable down payment, there has rarely been a better time to buy.
The Yahoo! Real Estate Home Horizons study indicates that 2012 is the year that demand for green homes, energy-efficient appliances and low-carbon impact home building materials reaches a tipping point in America.Yahoo
60% of those in the market say that green/energy-efficient appliances are amenities they’d like to have in their next home;
27% of those in the market say that looking for a greener, more energy-efficient home is a significant reason they want a new home.
Asked about their dream home, respondents indicated that they like various styles of home, but size was also a factor. One woman surveyed said that her dream home is “Small, environmentally friendly, very energy efficient.”
Higher Cost of Green
Although green homes are designed produce a smaller carbon impact that result in reduced home energy costs, even advocates concede that they have garnered a reputation as more expensive and not a little bit eccentric.
“Green homes have gotten a bad name because most stories are told about super energy efficient homes,” explains Sarah Saranka, architect and author of several “Not So Big House” books. Hyper-efficient, eco-friendly homes, the ones most closely associated with green living, “consume almost no energy – they’re essentially off the grid,” she says.
But there’s an emerging class of green homes that reduce energy consumption in cost-effective ways, yet haven’t drawn much attention because “they’re not astounding,” says Saranka. “Yet, they’re in the realm of possibility for an average home buyer.”
Increasingly homebuyers are willing to pay a bit of a premium for green or energy-efficient homes. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says that baking in green construction materials and energy-efficient appliances typically adds 2% to 4% to construction costs, but that can translate to higher sales prices depending upon what local markets will bear.
To some extent this rise in interest by consumers is arguably a surprise considering that there are few if any standards about what constitutes a ‘green’ home, apart from the widely accepted EPA Energy Star standards for appliances. EPA is now moving into certifying homes. Energy Star-certified homes are reportedly 20% to 30% more energy efficient than standard homes according to the EPA – leading to average savings of about $200 to $400 per year on utility costs.
Yet, industry groups such as NAHB and organizations such as U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) with its LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications, also seek to popularize certifications and guidelines, which may help build trust for consumers wading into uncharted waters and provide direction to the home industry itself. You can even find some green-certified realtors in certain pockets of the country.
A Greener Future
For about one in four of those surveyed in the Home Horizons study, living in a more energy-efficient home is a major reason why they plan to move. In support of this groundswell of interest, the government offers a small tax incentive to spur growth in demand for energy-efficient home materials and appliances.
Homeowners can earn up to a $500 U.S. tax credit for making energy-efficient upgrades by Dec. 31st in one or more of these areas: home insulation; windows, doors and skylights; and non-solar water heaters among other projects, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
Still, there are plenty of other reasons why people plan to move in 2012 and it’s not all about saving on energy costs or living on a more sustainable planet. Nearly half of those planning to move simply want to live in a larger space or in a home better suited to their “life phase.” And some want to live closer to public transportation, city services or their job.
“During the height of the housing boom there was [an attitude among buyers of] drive until you qualify and I don’t care about the consequences of commuting time,” says Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow. “Now people are aware of the cost of commuting personally in terms of time, resources and gas, but also longer term about environmental degradation.”
Though 57% of homeowners and renters say they are very satisfied with where they live, some homeowners may never be completely satisfied with their home. “I recently bought my dream home, but there are always things that could be done to improve it,” one respondent said. “We need décor more than anything. And a hot tub, wine cellar, basement bar, laundry sink, and patio.“
With a record number of foreclosed and short-sale properties crowding the market, and historically low interest rates available to those buyers with outstanding credit and a sizable down payment, there has rarely been a better time to buy.
The Yahoo! Real Estate Home Horizons study indicates that 2012 is the year that demand for green homes, energy-efficient appliances and low-carbon impact home building materials reaches a tipping point in America.Yahoo
Monday
30 Ways to Go Green at the Office
As the days go by and we step into the role of adult supporting self, so a life of routine begins to take shape. We live to work to eat to sleep to wake to live to work again: the cycle continual and constant.
With the average work week tallying up to 40 hours per week, one has to begin to think about the effects our energy consumption and operational habits has on the world around us.
As we begin to train our brains into conserving energy, so we need to maintain that momentum whilst at the office.
Below is a list of simple things we can do to ensure we go green at the office
1. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
2. Shut off electrical equipment when you leave work.
3. Reuse items such as envelopes, folders and paper clips.
4. Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
5. Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
6. Use e-mail instead of paper for correspondence.
7. Make use of recycled paper.
8. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
9. Encourage your company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are considerably less toxic.
10. Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.
11. Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
12. Recycle printer cartridges.
13. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
14. Avoid slow-burning, smouldering fires as they produce the largest amount of pollution.
15. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
16. Use solar power for office and water heating.
17. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
18. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
19. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternatives to lighter fluid.
20. If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990.
They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.
21. Consider purchasing items from a second-hand store.
The fact that toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown means that one can get rid of the clutter, and sell those unwanted items at second hand stores. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them.
22. Invest in a reusable coffee cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time.
23. Consider if you really need a paperback phone book.
If not, ensure you make provision for the phone book delivery to cease and desist; instead, make use of an online directory. Some estimate that telephone books make up almost ten percent of wastes at dump sites.
24. Use an e-ticket when flying! The cost of processing a paper ticket is approximately ten times the cost of producing an e-ticket.
25. Download your software instead of making use of CD-ROMs.
26. Pay your bills online! Eliminate the waste produced by paper statements; go the online route instead!
27. Make use of rechargeable batteries!
28. Encourage your business to reduce emissions
29. You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging others to take action.
30. Consider the impact of your investments.
Check out SocialInvest and Ceres to can learn more about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change.
Begin introducing these simple practices into your everyday work life, and before you know it you will see that going green in your office has become nothing less than muscle memory, and soon you will find that saving the planet has become second nature to you, something you do without even thinking twice.
Source: Drive South Africa
With the average work week tallying up to 40 hours per week, one has to begin to think about the effects our energy consumption and operational habits has on the world around us.
As we begin to train our brains into conserving energy, so we need to maintain that momentum whilst at the office.
Below is a list of simple things we can do to ensure we go green at the office
1. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
2. Shut off electrical equipment when you leave work.
3. Reuse items such as envelopes, folders and paper clips.
4. Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
5. Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
6. Use e-mail instead of paper for correspondence.
7. Make use of recycled paper.
8. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
9. Encourage your company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are considerably less toxic.
10. Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.
11. Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
12. Recycle printer cartridges.
13. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
14. Avoid slow-burning, smouldering fires as they produce the largest amount of pollution.
15. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
16. Use solar power for office and water heating.
17. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
18. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
19. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternatives to lighter fluid.
20. If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990.
They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.
21. Consider purchasing items from a second-hand store.
The fact that toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown means that one can get rid of the clutter, and sell those unwanted items at second hand stores. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them.
22. Invest in a reusable coffee cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time.
23. Consider if you really need a paperback phone book.
If not, ensure you make provision for the phone book delivery to cease and desist; instead, make use of an online directory. Some estimate that telephone books make up almost ten percent of wastes at dump sites.
24. Use an e-ticket when flying! The cost of processing a paper ticket is approximately ten times the cost of producing an e-ticket.
25. Download your software instead of making use of CD-ROMs.
26. Pay your bills online! Eliminate the waste produced by paper statements; go the online route instead!
27. Make use of rechargeable batteries!
28. Encourage your business to reduce emissions
29. You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging others to take action.
30. Consider the impact of your investments.
Check out SocialInvest and Ceres to can learn more about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change.
Begin introducing these simple practices into your everyday work life, and before you know it you will see that going green in your office has become nothing less than muscle memory, and soon you will find that saving the planet has become second nature to you, something you do without even thinking twice.
Source: Drive South Africa
Sunday
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT UNLOCKS GREEN OPPORTUNITIES
Recently launched development Nedbank financed Allandale View in Kaalfontein, Midrand, is set to benefit end-users not only from an affordability perspective, but also from a reduction in electricity usage
“Each house will be fitted with an SABS approved 100L, high pressure theremosiphon solar geyser which comes with a 10-year warranty,” “As a result, home owners benefit from an immediate saving in electricity and a reduction in their carbon footprint, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment,”
With over five hundred contracts signed since launch, the Allandale View development demonstrates the need for quality affordable housing. Allandale View is the second such development in the Kaalfontein financed by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance and further demonstrates the bank’s commitment to the affordable housing market.
Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, says that the bank partners with credible developers to deliver quality homes “Not only has our relationship with developers grown on this basis, but their philosophy on sustainability is closely aligned to that of the bank evidenced in the societal and green benefits of this project,” he says.
Kaalfontein forms part of the greater Midrand area on the northern periphery of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan area and is close to Grand Central airport. Surrounding townships are Tembisa, Ivory Park, Glen Austen, Clayville, Birch Acres, President Park and Jukskei.
In terms of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF), Kaalfontein is part of an area known as ‘Greater Ivory Park’ and stands to benefit from the ‘Upgrading of Marginalised Areas Programmes’. This programme aims to provide viable and efficient socio-economic and engineering infrastructure within the marginalised, but formal townships of the City.
During the past two years, we established an excellent working relationship with the local community and through the development of Allandale View was able to create employment opportunities during the construction of the civil and electrical infrastructure.
“Each house will be fitted with an SABS approved 100L, high pressure theremosiphon solar geyser which comes with a 10-year warranty,” “As a result, home owners benefit from an immediate saving in electricity and a reduction in their carbon footprint, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment,”
With over five hundred contracts signed since launch, the Allandale View development demonstrates the need for quality affordable housing. Allandale View is the second such development in the Kaalfontein financed by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance and further demonstrates the bank’s commitment to the affordable housing market.
Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, says that the bank partners with credible developers to deliver quality homes “Not only has our relationship with developers grown on this basis, but their philosophy on sustainability is closely aligned to that of the bank evidenced in the societal and green benefits of this project,” he says.
Kaalfontein forms part of the greater Midrand area on the northern periphery of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan area and is close to Grand Central airport. Surrounding townships are Tembisa, Ivory Park, Glen Austen, Clayville, Birch Acres, President Park and Jukskei.
In terms of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF), Kaalfontein is part of an area known as ‘Greater Ivory Park’ and stands to benefit from the ‘Upgrading of Marginalised Areas Programmes’. This programme aims to provide viable and efficient socio-economic and engineering infrastructure within the marginalised, but formal townships of the City.
During the past two years, we established an excellent working relationship with the local community and through the development of Allandale View was able to create employment opportunities during the construction of the civil and electrical infrastructure.
Source: eprop
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