Green Building & manufacturing News
In the Eye of a BIMStorm
Onuma's online platform facilitates collaboration on recovery and reconstruction projects in Haiti.
A storm is brewing in Haiti. It's been brewing since early February. Unlike the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the impoverished country on January 12, this storm is expected to last months, perhaps years.
But this is not a natural disaster; this is a manmade storm, driven by building information modeling (BIM) and collaboration technologies, aimed at delivering relief to the quake-ravaged region. Modeled on several successful BIMStorm exercises of the past, Plan Haiti BIMStorm would let emergency responders, planners, architects, government agencies, and citizens view the damage to their cities, coordinate with one another, participate in brainstorming sessions, and help rebuild the country's broken infrastructure.
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DOE Announces $29 Million in Recovery Act Awards for Weatherization Training Centers
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that 34 projects in 27 states have been selected to receive $29 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to develop and expand weatherization training centers across the country. These projects will provide green job training for local workers in energy efficiency retrofitting and weatherization services. With this training, skilled workers can help expand the use of energy efficient practices in America's homes and businesses.
"A well-trained workforce will be a crucial part of America's clean energy economy in the years ahead," said Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. "These investments in efficiency training programs will help build a foundation for long-term growth in America. Energy efficiency improves the competitiveness of our economy, benefits the environment, and puts Americans back to work."
Using innovative approaches to weatherization training and standardized training curricula, these projects will help prepare weatherization workers, supervisors, and inspectors to maintain a high degree of quality in weatherization projects and to work in the growing field of energy efficiency retrofits. The centers and programs will offer training using a combination of classroom, online, and hands-on learning tools.
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First Solar says can't meet demand for modules
(Reuters) - The market for solar modules, a key element in solar power systems, is so strong that industry leader First Solar will not be able to meet demand this year, a senior executive was quoted as saying on Saturday.
Business is likely to pick up strongly in the fourth quarter after slowing in the third on planned cuts to subsidies in Germany, the world's biggest solar market, Stephan Hansen, responsible for business in Europe, the Middle East an Africa, told Swiss paper Finanz und Wirtschaft.
"In 2010 we will not be able to produce enough modules to meet demand," Hansen said in an interview with the paper.
Business has been very good in the first half, with orders extremely high ahead of the German solar subsidy cuts due on July 1, he said.
Germany's upper house voted on Friday against the cuts, but government sources said this was only likely to delay them, and they would be applied retroactively.
Hansen noted subsidies would fall again in 2011.
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Towards energy performance buildings
Energy performance in buildings is a key issue in achieving Malta's and the EU's climate and energy objectives. Buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of EU energy consumption and 36 per cent of CO2 emissions.
Improving energy performance of buildings is a cost-effective way of fighting climate change and improving energy security, while also creating jobs. The issue is deemed crucial in Europe, so much so that the EU has issued a directive aimed at achieving 'zero energy buildings'.
The Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) forces member states to apply minimum requirements to energy performance of new and existing buildings, ensures the certification of their energy performance and requires regular inspection of boilers and air-conditioning systems.
Our country still does not have a clear, feasible action plan as to how to maximise on energy performance in buildings. Thehrefore, we neither have adequate incentives nor the whip to encourage people to adapt to better insulation within buildings.
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Green proposal debated; bill on building codes getting mixed reviews
Local cities have mixed reactions toward impending environmental regulations set by the state's Global Warming Solutions Act.
The act, A.B. 32, which requires the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, has motivated some cities to embrace new environmental laws, while others have come out in favor of a ballot initiative to suspend it.
A few cities are taking a "wait and see" approach before addressing A.B. 32.
The Chino Hills City Council recently adopted the California Green Building Code, which would apply to new residential and non-residential construction. Officials said adoption of the building code would lower energy demand and water consumption in the city, but would increase construction costs on homes and buildings.
Adoption of the green building code is expected to increase new construction costs in the city by 1.5 percent to 2 percent, or by about $2,500 or $3,000 for every new home constructed.
Officials said, however, they expect the additional costs to be recovered within 10 years through lower utility costs.
The code, developed by the state Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development, becomes mandatory under state law on Jan. 1.
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LEED's downplaying of human health should be corrected as the gold standard for sustainable design becomes more accepted
a group of environmental health scientists warn in a new report.
The gold standard for certifying "green" buildings fails to place enough emphasis on human health and needs to be upgraded, according to a new report from an environmental health group.
The standard - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED - is weighted more heavily toward energy conservation and not enough toward health protection, skewing green-design criteria, concluded Environmental and Human Health, Inc., a Connecticut-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms.
"They have to be given great credit for work on energy conservation. And there clearly are environmental quality and health benefits that will accrue from conservation efforts," said John Wargo, professor of risk analysis and environmental policy at Yale University and a lead author of the report, released in May.
"But (LEED) has got some serious problems with respect to environmental quality and human health."
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Hold the Salt: Engineers Develop Revolutionary New Desalination Membrane
ScienceDaily (Apr. 5, 2010) - Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have unveiled a new class of reverse-osmosis membranes for desalination that resist the clogging which typically occurs when seawater, brackish water and waste water are purified.
The highly permeable, surface-structured membrane can easily be incorporated into today's commercial production system, the researchers say, and could help to significantly reduce desalination operating costs. Their findings appear in the current issue of the Journal of Materials Chemistry.
Reverse-osmosis (RO) desalination uses high pressure to force polluted water through the pores of a membrane. While water molecules pass through the pores, mineral salt ions, bacteria and other impurities cannot. Over time, these particles build up on the membrane's surface, leading to clogging and membrane damage. This scaling and fouling places higher energy demands on the pumping system and necessitates costly cleanup and membrane replacement.
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T3 Motion Unveils Its GT3 Plug-in EV.
T3 Motion, of Costa Mesa, California, a manufacturer of cost-effective, clean-technology electric vehicles, is set to debut its GT3 plug-in electric consumer vehicle. The proprietary rear-wheel design of the GT3 features a patent-pending, single, wide-stance wheel with two high-performance tires sharing one wheel. The revolutionary two-tire design improves traction, stability and handling, while the low rolling resistance and rounded profile of the rear tires increase energy efficiency. In addition, the multi-link, dual-shock rear suspension in the GT3 is similar to suspension systems found in today's Formula One race cars. Due to its three-wheeled design, the GT3 is classified as a motorcycle.
With its aerodynamic styling and proven T3 Motion intelligent power management battery system, the two-passenger GT3 combines driving pleasure and environmental responsibility into a very stylish package with a top speed of 70 mph. The GT3 is quiet, comfortable, fun to drive and environmentally friendly with an operating cost of just pennies per mile. The vehicle's AC induction motor is powered by lithium-polymer battery technology and has a range of 80-100 miles per charge. GT3 will be priced between $35,000 and $42,000.
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KYOCERA Commences U.S. Manufacturing of Solar Modules.
Kyocera has announced that it has begun manufacturing solar modules in San Diego, California to serve the U.S. market's growing demand for clean, sustainable solar electric generating systems. The U.S. module production line will support a new milestone for Kyocera's solar energy business - global production volume targeting 1,000 megawatts (one "gigawatt") of solar cells per year by March 2013.
The new solar manufacturing line has an initial production target of 30 megawatts per year. It leverages Kyocera's world-class U.S. manufacturing capabilities to produce the company's most powerful and efficient solar power products. Initial production includes solar modules ranging from 210 watts to the company's latest flagship 235-watt modules.
"High-quality, high-efficiency solar modules from Kyocera's San Diego plant fulfill the 'Buy American' provisions enacted by the U.S. government, while meeting the rising demand for renewable energy that has accompanied the current administration's 'Green New Deal' measures," stated Tatsumi Maeda, vice president and general manager of Kyocera Corporation's Solar Energy Group. "Kyocera expects these products to extend the power benefits of the sun to an unprecedented number of people."
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Hybrid Turbines Gas-Wind System Provides 24/7 Power from Wind Turbines.
Hybrid Turbines, of Lafayette, Colorado, has announced their SmartGen(tm) hybrid gas-wind turbine system. The patent-pending design burns biogas or natural gas to spin wind turbine generators 24/7 if the wind isn't blowing.
"Large wind turbines, even in good wind resource areas, typically generate rated power only 30% of the time because the wind blows intermittently or at a low wind velocity," states Hybrid Turbines' President Nick Verini. "This SmartGen™ system, which can be retrofitted to existing wind turbines, enables them to generate power at their rated capacity 100% of the time. It can also be incorporated into new wind turbine designs. The SmartGen(tm) design can scale up to very large 4 MW onshore and offshore wind turbines."
The 35 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind power capacity in America could be producing grid power 24/7. The SmartGen(tm) system utilizes a ground-based turbo-compressor to compress air and this compressed air is used to drive a turbo air motor directly connected to the wind turbine generator. Compressed air is used because it is safe, non-flammable and efficient when used in combination with the turbo air motor. The turbo air motor is one-tenth the size of the electric generator it is driving. Using the existing wind turbine generator saves considerable money since the generator itself represents a significant cost of the wind turbine, and is already in place and connected to the grid.
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Making Solar Technology a Competitive Force
In an effort to hreframe the renewable energy conversation in the U.S., many pundits have resorted to good old-fashioned competition.
And who better to serve as antagonist? The one country that seems to make everything these days: China.
China currently makes nearly half of the world's solar modules and is far and away the world's leading producer of the silicon-based cells.
But by exporting 98 percent of that product, the country hasn't made much of an effort to power itself with the sun. Until now.
China has set an audacious goal of 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2020. Putting that into perspective, the world today has, in total, a little over 6 GW of installed solar photovoltaics. Similar growth in wind production can also be expected, judging by the country's aggressive expansion in the sector.
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Imagine a nation in need of no oil; Rocky Mountain Institute says it could happen by 2050
Unfortunately, Amory Lovins is at a loss, too.
The 62-year-old cofounder and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute is among the world's most innovative thinkers on energy. But methods for shutting down the undersea gusher and cleaning up the mess in the Gulf of Mexico are beyond even his expertise.
Instead, Lovins, who Time magazine calls one of the world's 100 most influential people, figures his highest and best use is to focus on the root cause of the horrendous disaster: Our dependency on oil.
"As [best-selling author] Tom Friedman points out: A crisis is a terrible thing to waste," Lovins says from his office in Snowmass, Colo. "The way not to spill oil is to not need it in the first place."
The experimental physicist believes profit motivation will find the solutions.
"We're running an advanced industrial economy on the remains of primeval swamp goo and dinosaur poop," Lovins says. "There are more modern ways to do this that actually work better and cost less. The transition will be very advantageous for the businesses that lead it."
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Report: Renewables revolution to provide 95 per cent of global electricity by 2050
The world could produce 95 per cent of the electricity it needs from renewable sources by 2050, cutting greenhouse emissions from the energy and transport sectors by 80 per cent without jeopardising economic growth.
That is the conclusion of a major new 260-page report from a coalition of environmental groups that has been orchestrated by Greenpeace. It aims to show that it is economically and technically feasible to cut global greenhouse gas emissions in line with the latest recommendations from climate scientists.
The report, entitled Energy [R]evolution – a sustainable energy outlook, estimates that the transition towards a low-carbon energy infrastructure would require total investments worth $18tn (£12.4tn) by 2030, equivalent to almost five times the US federal budget for 2011.
However, speaking to BusinessGreen.com, report lead author Sven Teske said that the price was affordable and would deliver net economic benefits over the next two decades.
"Under the business-as-usual scenario set out by the International Energy Agency we are going to have to invest at least $11.3tn in energy infrastructure by 2030," he explained. "And the extra money needed for our scenario can be entirely financed through fuel cost savings – $18tn sounds like a lot, but if you look at the investment that will be required anyway, it is not that much extra."
Teske said that under the report's scenario, renewable energy would also be able to compete on price with fossil fuel-based energy by 2020. "The only reason renewable energy is more expensive is that at the moment it is more labour intensive than fossil fuels," he explained, adding that increased investment would create six million new renewable energy jobs by 2020 while ultimately leading to lower energy prices.
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Australia gives green light to first smart grid
Australia's first commercial-scale smart grid was given the go-ahead late yesterday, in a project that the government says will help Australians to save power and connect domestic renewable energy to the grid.
The AU$100m (£46.3m) Smart Grid, Smart City demonstration project will commence later this year in Newcastle and parts of Sydney, running until 2013.
Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong said Smart Grids could give Australian households and businesses the tools to reduce their energy use and energy bills into the future.
"Smart Grids give households the ability to manage their own energy use, because they give consumers information about how much energy they are using and the costs at any time," she said. "Consumers can also use Smart Grids with energy efficient 'smart appliances' that can be set to run on off-peak power."
Households in the Newcastle area will be able to access information online about the amount of energy used at any time in their home, making them more likely to turn off power-hungry appliances and to use power at off peak times.
They will also be able to disable some appliances in their homes remotely via the internet should they wish.
As part of the pilot project a small fleet of electric cars, acquired by the City of Sydney, will also be used to assess the best places to locate plug-in recharge points.
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A New Twist on the 'Smart' Window
The Department of Energy estimates that commercial and residential buildings consume 40 percent of our nation's energy. Most of this energy is used for heating and cooling, but much of it is wasted because of leaky walls and windows.
Adding proper insulation can help, but increasing the windows' ability to control the flow of heat in and out of the building is the most effective improvement, according to Wil McCarthy, co-inventor of a new "smart" window technology.
His company, RavenBrick, has developed a smart film that when applied to a window can vary its tint (like transition lens sunglasses) based on the outside temperature. During the cold months, the film remains clear, allowing the infrared spectrum of sunlight to pass through and provide heat. During summer, the window film tints to block unwanted heat, lowering cooling costs.
Based on early testing and computer models provided by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, RavenBrick estimates that its smart window film can reduce a building's energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent.
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LEDs Poised to Outshine All Others in $4.4B Lighting Market
LAS VEGAS, NV - Dutch giant Royal Philips Electronics took the wraps off its 12-watt EnduraLED light bulb last week at the Lightfair International tradeshow and heralded the latest addition to its EnduraLED line as the "industry's first" light emitting diodes replacement for the commonly used 60-watt incandescent light bulb, bringing a new measure of energy efficiency to everyday lighting applications at work and in the home.
Osram Sylvania, a subsidiary of Geman powerhouse Siemens AG, countered the following day with its alternative. It introduced attendees at the tradeshow in Las Vegas to the dimmable, mercury-free Sylvania ULTRA LED A-line 12-watt bulb, which its maker calls "the brightest LED replacement" for the traditional 60-watt bulb.
Taiwan-based GlacialTech Inc., a diversified manufacturing firm specializing in cooling, power and lighting, debuted LED products in announcements bracketing Taiwan's International Lighting Show in March and the Lightfair expo. GlacialTech's new offerings include a 19-watt portable LED outdoor floodlight and low-power T8 LED tubes.
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New Emissions Measurements Show "Green" Consumerism Failing
Has "green consumerism" reduced climate emissions? Not according to John Barrett.
Last week Barrett (from the Stockholm Environment Institute's York (England) office) gave a talk in Seattle titled "A Sustainable Consumption and Production Approach to Climate Change Mitigation." Barrett presented his team's latest research on consumption-based, community-scale greenhouse gas emissions inventory methods, policy implications, and lessons learned from his work with the United Kingdom government and over 40 local governments throughout Europe.
The most intriguing part of his presentation was his exploration of 'consumer emissions,' which are not usually included in emissions reporting. His central question was, "Who's responsible for emissions: the producers or the consumers?"
25-30% of emissions come from products and services that are produced in one country then traded to another, according to Barrett. How we source those emissions as a global community is important... especially if we're serious about creating a pathway to a future in which total global emissions level off, then decline. The clearer we are about where emissions come from, the better prepared we'll be to correctly target where reductions need to be made, and the scale at which we'll have to tackle those reductions.
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BIM in Action
Some professionals in the construction industry may still see the topic of BIM (building information modeling) as being a lot of hype but little action. But the truth is there are a lot of real world examples out there-from sports stadiums to hospital projects-where contractors, trades, and owners are finding more practical uses for BIM.
Take for example, sports stadiums. These arenas are typically unique structures, with complicated rooflines, curved beams, and heavy structural steel design. Recently, a total of five new stadiums were built for the FIFA World Cup, and two were modeled using BIM techniques and software.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has a unique roof structure-made of teflon-coated fiberglass, held up with 36 steel girders, and a total weight of 2,500-tons of futuristic curved beams. CadMax, www.cadmax.ca, Boisbriand, Que., the steel detailers, used Tekla Structures, www.teklastructures.com, Espoo, Finland, to model the project.
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3D and BIM guidance available
The Specialty Contractor's Subforum of the AGC BIMForum has created the MEP Spatial Coordination Team Requirements for Building Information Modeling. This document provides guidance to companies and individuals involved in 3D MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection) spatial coordination. Its aim is to help the MEP spatial coordination process using 3D and BIM technology and to assist in developing team structures, definition of roles and responsibilities, recommendations for technical and IT considerations, social structure, and accountability. The document is available as a PDF file.
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Wind Companies to Buy More U.S. Parts in Agreement With Unions
June 10 (Bloomberg) -- Wind-energy companies agreed to buy more parts from U.S. suppliers, and a labor union promised to join in lobbying Congress for a requirement to use more renewable energy.
The accord announced today by the American Wind Energy Association and the United Steelworkers union grew out of objections by lawmakers that federal money was being spent to purchase clean-energy components made abroad.
The agreement "sends a very positive message" to Congress that the clean-energy industry is trying to build an industrial base in the United States, following the example set earlier by Japanese automakers, Christine Tezak, senior energy and environment policy analyst at Robert W. Baird, a Milwaukee-based asset management fund, said in a phone interview.
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Toledo reinvents itself as a solar-power innovator
TOLEDO - This city is trying to swap its Rust Belt image for a new identity as a hub of solar-energy research and production.
The mission is being led by an unusual partnership of business, academia and government that could be a model for other aging industrial cities. "We are ready to do anything; we are ready to try anything," says University of Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs.
Like many manufacturing cities, Toledo has struggled with the loss of jobs and tax revenue, but it has taken pieces of its past as the glass capital to create a new future in solar energy.
The payoff so far: At least 6,000 people work in the area's solar industry. First Solar (FSLR), which makes solar panels, was founded here and employs more than 1,000 at its 900,000-square-foot plant here. There are more than a dozen solar-related start-up companies in the area. The University of Toledo is home to top solar researchers and has a business incubator that provides business services to solar entrepreneurs. It has graduated four solar companies and is working with six more. Owens Community College, which had 13 students in its first solar class in 2004, has trained 255 solar installers.
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Lennar home buyers can rent their solar equipment
The builder offers a financing option that allows buyers to lease their energy-generating cells, paying for the power they produce.
One of the country's largest home builders is offering a new financing option that could make it easier for people to afford solar-powered homes.
Calling it the first large-scale program of its kind, Lennar Corp. plans to announce Tuesday a partnership with solar panel manufacturer and installer SunPower Corp. to lease panels rather than requiring home buyers to purchase the technology outright along with the house. Last year, Lennar and SunPower launched a successful test run of the leasing option in 150 Sacramento homes.
Under the program, customers would essentially buy the electricity produced by the solar panels, making monthly payments to SunPower that the company says will average $65 over 10 years, or about $7,800 total.
Previously, the roughly $20,000 cost of the system was automatically folded into the price of a new home and added to the mortgage. The actual out-of-pocket cost was less because of rebates and tax credits.
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Europe's New Wind Power Rivals Gas
The amount of power generated by new wind turbines in the European Union this year will be about the same as the amount from new gas plants, according to the European Wind Energy Association, an industry group.
"It is too early to say whether, for a third year running, there will be more wind energy capacity installed than any other electricity generating technology, but it is clear that wind energy will be competing for the top spot with new gas power plants," Christian Kjaer, the chief executive of the wind association, said on Monday.
Gas installations far outpaced wind installations four years ago in Europe, with nearly 20 gigawatts of new capacity compared with 9 gigawatts of wind, according to figures from the association. But the gap narrowed sharply the following year and, by 2008, wind had overtaken gas for the first time. Last year there were 10 gigawatts of new wind capacity compared with 7 for new gas.
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Highly-Insulating (R-5) Windows and Low-e Storm Windows Volume Purchase Program
The program is now officially launched!
The U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Program coordinated a volume purchase opportunity for R-5 windows, and low-e storm windows, to expand the market of these high efficiency products.
The selection of vinyl windows includes a website interface with a very wide price range for each window size within which a large group of vendors fall. An accurate price still requires a quote from each vendor, however because of the commitment and competition, prices are likely to be lower than on the open market.
You have accessed this website because you are interested in purchasing high performance R-5* windows or low-e storm windows that are available through a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) volume purchase program.
High performance R-5* windows and low-e storm windows are available for purchase through this website from a number of vendors who have qualified to participate in the volume purchase program.
Each vendor of windows products has met the minimum specifications established by DOE. The qualified vendors have agreed to sell window products to customers that meet the minimum purchase quantities as identified in the minimum specifications.
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