Green Building Articles
Buildings source of energy draw
Data generated by the USGBC reveals that buildings are responsible for a significant percentage of resource impacts, which may be summarized in the following table. Clearly the founders of the USGBC were accurate when looking for ways to dramatically reduce the impact of developed and developing societies and focusing on buildings was the right choice.
Resource Impacts of Buildings in the United States
* Energy consumption: 72 percent
* Waste output: 30 percent
* CO2 emissions: 38 percent
* Raw material use: 40 percent
* Water Use: 14 percent
Google's PowerMeter - Free
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it." - Lord Kelvin
Google PowerMeter enables utilities to provide customers access to their electricity information through a Google gadget on their iGoogle homepage. Once the customer has opted in to the program, Google PowerMeter will receive information from your smart meters or other energy management devices and provide it online to the customer.
We think Google PowerMeter offers more useful and actionable feedback than complicated monthly paper bills that provide little detail on consumption or how to save energy. But Google PowerMeter is just a start; it will take a lot of different groups working together to create what the world really needs: a path to smarter power.
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Sustainability News
Where the 'green' is going?
Earlier this year the General Service Administration (GSA) released details on the allocation of the $5.55 billion they will receive under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funds they will disperse are primarily focused on energy improvements. Below is a list of the programs GSA plans to fund:
1. $1.03 billion in new construction initiatives for 17 projects including federal buildings, courthouses and land ports of entry.
2. $3.17 billion in full and partial federal building renovations. More than 40 projects were selected from a list of over 200, with final selections based on energy conservation opportunities, the ability to start projects within 120 days, the ability to control project risk, financial returns and historic significance. All projects must comply with the 2007 Energy Act and Executive Order 13423, which mandate the use of green and energy efficient technologies.
3. $807 million in limited scope renovations. Approximately 200 limited scope renovations were selected on the basis of needed energy improvements (the worst-performing buildings were selected first). Projects will be equipped with advanced metering devices and buildings that need roof replacements will be equipped with integrated photovoltaic membrane material (solar film), vegetation or cool roof membranes.
4. $298.5 million in additional projects including small renovations.
5. $200 million in funds not related to energy improvements.
Energy conservation is a key component in sustainable building, and most energy conservation strategies include weatherization, insulation and tightening of the building envelope. In such projects, it is imperative to include indoor air quality considerations in the renovation efforts. A tighter building envelope, reduced ventilation rates and the use of potentially high-emitting insulation materials increase the potential for serious indoor air quality problems. GREENGUARD Certified products and materials should be used in all weatherization and building insulation projects to adequately control sources of VOC emissions. For more information on energy and IAQ, visit www.aerias.org to read "Energy Conservation and Indoor Air Quality: Benefits of Achieving Both in Homes."
EU sets new ecodesign rules for freezers, TVs
Reuters, 22 July 2009 - The European Commission on Wednesday targeted industrial motors, television sets, refrigerators and other appliances with new eco-design rules aimed at improving energy efficiency.
The Commission said four eco-design regulations that included circulators, found in buildings' boiler or heating systems, and freezers will save about 190 Terrawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year by 2020 if fully implemented.
This is comparable to the combined annual electricity consumption of Sweden and Austria, the Commission said.
"It will save impressive amounts of electricity, CO2 emissions and electricity costs, while creating jobs," EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said in a statement.
The EU has pledged to cut carbon dioxide emissions to a fifth below 1990 levels by 2020.
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