I found this on irrigation from http://www.snwa.com
Irrigation Tips
Your irrigation system is the key to creating a healthy, water-efficient landscape. Use the tips in this section to know how to water and when.
Manage your clock
You should have an irrigation clock that has a program A, B and C. Using these programs correctly will save water and money.
Program A — Sprinkler Irrigation For each assigned day of watering, water your lawn 3 times a day, 4 minutes each watering. Schedule start times at least one hour apart. See the cycle and soak and sprinkler watering tips pages for more information.
Program B — High-water use plants on a drip system Drip irrigation is usually needed less frequently than sprinkler irrigation. How much you water on your designated drip day(s) depends on the type of drip emitter you use, the types of plants you are watering and the condition of the soil. See the drip emitter page for more information.
Program C — Water-efficient plants on a drip system If your plants appear stressed, check the soil moisture. If the soil is wet, your plants may be over watered. If the soil is dry, check that all emitters are working. Flush the drip irrigation lines and filters every time you change your irrigation schedule.
Set your clock
You should change your irrigation clock settings each season, both to comply with mandatory watering restrictions and for the health of your landscape.
How to set sprinklers (Program A):
Watering days - Find your "watering days" function and adjust it to ensure it is watering only on your assigned day(s) each season.
Start times - Find your "start times" function and adjust it so you run three sprinkler watering cycles, each about an hour apart. In warm weather, run cycles before sunrise.
Run time - Find your "run time" function and set it to four minutes per cycle.
How to set drip irrigation (Program B):
Watering days - Find your "watering days" function and adjust it to ensure it is watering only on your assigned day(s) for each season and no more than three days a week in the summer.
Start times - Find your "start times" function and adjust it so you run just one cycle in the early morning.
Run time - Find your "run time" function and set it to a single run time of 30 to 90 minutes.
You also can access many irrigation clock manuals online.
Know your flow
Knowing the rate of flow of your irrigation system is essential to determining how many emitters can be placed on each valve. Use the Designing Your Irrigation System worksheet to determine the capacity of your irrigation system.
Mandatory watering restrictions
Landscape irrigation is limited to assigned days per week. Watering restrictions also apply to drip irrigation. Sunday is not an optional watering day. Make sure you know your watering group and the mandatory watering restrictions.
Trade in your old clock
Replace your old irrigation clock with a smart controller or add a rain sensor. SNWA offers instant rebate coupons for these water-saving devices.
Fast fixes for irrigation
A quick, weekly check of your irrigation system can help sprinklers make the grade and ensure you don't run into bigger problems later.After mowing, use the "manual" setting on your clock to turn on each sprinkler station for a couple minutes at a time. Check these items:
Misaligned heads: Adjust sprinkler heads that have shifted and are watering the street or driveway.
Obstructed heads: Taller grass around sprinkler heads will block your intended spray pattern. Make sure you have 3- or 4-inch pop-up sprinklers to fully clear taller grass.
Broken parts: Look for parts broken by your mower or foot traffic. Replace with identical parts for peak performance.
Head-to-head coverage: Each sprinkler's spray should just reach the next sprinkler head. Under-spray may result in dry spots, while over-spray wastes water.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Home Energy Audits
I found this information from the US Department of Energy. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov
A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. An audit may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough audit.
A professional auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of a structure. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
Here you'll find the following information:
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits
Professional Home Energy Audits
A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. An audit may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough audit.
A professional auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of a structure. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
Here you'll find the following information:
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits
Professional Home Energy Audits
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tips to reduce electricty consumption
Here is something I found on http://hubpages.com
Great information on saving electricity.
LCD monitor saves 50 % more electricity than a CRT monitor so use LCD monitor in office and in home
If you switch off fridge for 2 hrs (6.30 pm to 8.30 pm ) you can save electricity used for defrost
Use electronic chock instead of common chocks
Don’t use zero watt bulb it actually consumes 10 watts
when you switch of TV , VCR or DVD player using the remote then also there is power loses so switch of these equipments after usages
Don’t keep on your computer and other PC equipments on while there are not in use
Walls in your house which get considerable natural light should be painted in lighter/pastel shades to reflect light. This way, artificial lighting won’t be needed during the day.
Check the working condition of your equipments (mostly A/C and Water Heater) once in year
Don’t try to use complained equipments
Buy efficient electric appliances. Before buying an equipment check that it is 5* product a symbol of energy saver
Set the monitor to automatically shut off or switch to standby mode when idle
Turn off the monitor when your computer is unattended, for instance when downloading files overnight
Do not charge the phone overnight. Besides wasting power, it will damage the phone, too
Great information on saving electricity.
LCD monitor saves 50 % more electricity than a CRT monitor so use LCD monitor in office and in home
If you switch off fridge for 2 hrs (6.30 pm to 8.30 pm ) you can save electricity used for defrost
Use electronic chock instead of common chocks
Don’t use zero watt bulb it actually consumes 10 watts
when you switch of TV , VCR or DVD player using the remote then also there is power loses so switch of these equipments after usages
Don’t keep on your computer and other PC equipments on while there are not in use
Walls in your house which get considerable natural light should be painted in lighter/pastel shades to reflect light. This way, artificial lighting won’t be needed during the day.
Check the working condition of your equipments (mostly A/C and Water Heater) once in year
Don’t try to use complained equipments
Buy efficient electric appliances. Before buying an equipment check that it is 5* product a symbol of energy saver
Set the monitor to automatically shut off or switch to standby mode when idle
Turn off the monitor when your computer is unattended, for instance when downloading files overnight
Do not charge the phone overnight. Besides wasting power, it will damage the phone, too
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Top 10 Ways to Reduce Water Use and Save Money
This is some good information I found on saving water on http://www.aboutmyplanet.com.
The aricle was written by Ianto Everett
These changes will also result in a lower water bill so should benefit your home finances as well: 1. Consider cutting a little water usage from your morning routine. Keeping a timer in your bathroom will remind you to wrap up and get out of the shower faster.
2. If a home renovation is in the cards, splurge on low-flow and water-efficient appliances they'll save you money in the long-run. A front-loading washing machine, for example, uses 40-60% less water than top-loading machines.
3. A new toilet can save you water too, but if you can't install a low-flow toilet, reduce the amount of water used by placing a jar or other closed container full of water into your toilet tank.
4. Install low-flow shower heads and sink spigots, which can both be purchased at your local hardware store, or contact your water utility company to find out if they distribute them for free.
5. When running the dishwasher, make sure it's full to get the maximum use per drop. There's no need to pre-rinse, since most of today's models can handle any kind of grime.
6. Check for--and hastily repair-- leaky pipes and faucets. The tiniest leak has far greater impact than you'd think.
7. Don't use your sinks and drains as trash cans, and dispose of oil and other toxic materials properly. Just one gallon of oil reaching the sewer can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.
8. Reduce water use in your own yard: Try collecting rainwater by placing containers at the end of each gutter. It's perfect for watering your garden; water your lawn or garden in the morning or the evening when the water will evaporate less rapidly, and limit pesticide use, as they'll eventually be carried into our freshwater supply by runoff.
9. Take the easy way out and hit the car wash. A car wash typically uses about 32 gallons of water per vehicle, but the EPA estimates that washing it yourself can use up to 500 gallons of water.
10. Take advantage of recreation opportunities on local lakes and rivers, and learn about the wildlife they support. It will help you understand what we could lose if we don't manage our water wisely.
The aricle was written by Ianto Everett
These changes will also result in a lower water bill so should benefit your home finances as well: 1. Consider cutting a little water usage from your morning routine. Keeping a timer in your bathroom will remind you to wrap up and get out of the shower faster.
2. If a home renovation is in the cards, splurge on low-flow and water-efficient appliances they'll save you money in the long-run. A front-loading washing machine, for example, uses 40-60% less water than top-loading machines.
3. A new toilet can save you water too, but if you can't install a low-flow toilet, reduce the amount of water used by placing a jar or other closed container full of water into your toilet tank.
4. Install low-flow shower heads and sink spigots, which can both be purchased at your local hardware store, or contact your water utility company to find out if they distribute them for free.
5. When running the dishwasher, make sure it's full to get the maximum use per drop. There's no need to pre-rinse, since most of today's models can handle any kind of grime.
6. Check for--and hastily repair-- leaky pipes and faucets. The tiniest leak has far greater impact than you'd think.
7. Don't use your sinks and drains as trash cans, and dispose of oil and other toxic materials properly. Just one gallon of oil reaching the sewer can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.
8. Reduce water use in your own yard: Try collecting rainwater by placing containers at the end of each gutter. It's perfect for watering your garden; water your lawn or garden in the morning or the evening when the water will evaporate less rapidly, and limit pesticide use, as they'll eventually be carried into our freshwater supply by runoff.
9. Take the easy way out and hit the car wash. A car wash typically uses about 32 gallons of water per vehicle, but the EPA estimates that washing it yourself can use up to 500 gallons of water.
10. Take advantage of recreation opportunities on local lakes and rivers, and learn about the wildlife they support. It will help you understand what we could lose if we don't manage our water wisely.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Green Your Office in Ten Easy Steps
This is a great article found on the http://www.coopamerica.org Co-op America Site for bringing Green awareness to your office.
1. Make your office 'Climate Cool' through Co-op America’s partnership with NativeEnergyYou can offset the carbon dioxide emissions associated with your office’s energy use and business travel by joining a “green tags” program. Green tags are energy credits created by renewable energy facilities that represent the environmental benefits of green power generation.
At Co-op America’s offices, we offset 100 percent of our global warming emissions through a green tag program with NativeEnergy, which is helping to build a 10MW wind farm on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.
If your office holds conferences or other events, be sure to consider offsets for all the travel to the event. We make offsets available for all of our events including Green Festivals, our Green Business Conference, and our annual social investing conference.
Be sure to do an annual energy audit. Many utilities around the country offer them for free. If your office rents its space, encourage your landlord to do the audit and require it as a condition in your next lease negotiation.
2. Switch your office paper use to 100% recycledDid you know that the average US worker uses 12,000 sheets of paper per year?
Paper accounts for roughly 40% of all municipal solid waste in the United States. Whether you work in an office or telecommute from home, chances are you use a lot of paper. Co-op America committed to switching our paper for our publications and our member letters to 100% post consumer recycled paper.
To find Co-op America's Green Business Network™ members that supply recycled paper, check out the National Green Pages™ and search under the category “Paper.”
Learn more about eco-papers through our WoodWise program »
Find more green office products in the National Green Pages™ »
3. Introduce Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffee and tea into your workplace.Co-op America is encouraging workplaces all across the country to become Fair Trade Workplaces by switching their office coffee to Fair Trade Certified™. Go the extra step by looking for Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffee.
Check out the National Green Page™ to find green business that carry Fair trade coffee as well as tea, cocoa, and other Fair Trade products.
Do you already work in a Fair Trade Workplace? Sign up to be a member Co-op America's Fair Trade Alliance, a national network of workplaces, faith congregations, schools, and community groups working to promote Fair Trade in their communities.
Sign up now for the Fair Trade Alliance »
4. Invest in reuseable plates, cups, and utensilsAsk people in your office to bring in some items from home. Or, check out a yard sale on the weekend to find second hand items for office use.
5. Make sure your office recycles paper, aluminum, glass, and plasticIf your building does not already offer the service, look for an independent recycling firm that can come and pick up your office recyclables on a weekly or biweekly basis. If this isn’t an option in your area, work with individuals in your office to encourage people to take their recyclables home with them to put in their own residential curbside recycling.
6. Switch office light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbsWhile the initial investment may cost more than conventional bulbs, CFLs last longer-- so over time your office will save money and save energy.
Find energy efficient lighting options in the National Green Pages™ »
7. Start an office compost programAt Co-op America, we keep a sealed compost container in our office kitchen and individual staff members take turns taking the compost home to add to their own compost piles. You can also chip in to get a worm composter for your office kitchen.
Read about worm composting in Real Money »
8. Encourage use of green transportation to and from workOffer incentives to encourage people to take public transportation, walk, bike, or car pool.
9. Buy green giftsWhether you are buying a special gift for a client or a present for an office baby shower, make sure you buy green or Fair Trade items to show that you care about your customers and co-workers as well as people and the planet.
Find thousands of green gifts in the National Green Pages™ »
10. Get a Co-op America membership for your office You'll get even more ideas about how to green your office purchasing choices. You’ll receive a free copy of the National Green Pages™, a subscription to our green living newsletter Real Money, and much more! Join now »
1. Make your office 'Climate Cool' through Co-op America’s partnership with NativeEnergyYou can offset the carbon dioxide emissions associated with your office’s energy use and business travel by joining a “green tags” program. Green tags are energy credits created by renewable energy facilities that represent the environmental benefits of green power generation.
At Co-op America’s offices, we offset 100 percent of our global warming emissions through a green tag program with NativeEnergy, which is helping to build a 10MW wind farm on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.
If your office holds conferences or other events, be sure to consider offsets for all the travel to the event. We make offsets available for all of our events including Green Festivals, our Green Business Conference, and our annual social investing conference.
Be sure to do an annual energy audit. Many utilities around the country offer them for free. If your office rents its space, encourage your landlord to do the audit and require it as a condition in your next lease negotiation.
2. Switch your office paper use to 100% recycledDid you know that the average US worker uses 12,000 sheets of paper per year?
Paper accounts for roughly 40% of all municipal solid waste in the United States. Whether you work in an office or telecommute from home, chances are you use a lot of paper. Co-op America committed to switching our paper for our publications and our member letters to 100% post consumer recycled paper.
To find Co-op America's Green Business Network™ members that supply recycled paper, check out the National Green Pages™ and search under the category “Paper.”
Learn more about eco-papers through our WoodWise program »
Find more green office products in the National Green Pages™ »
3. Introduce Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffee and tea into your workplace.Co-op America is encouraging workplaces all across the country to become Fair Trade Workplaces by switching their office coffee to Fair Trade Certified™. Go the extra step by looking for Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffee.
Check out the National Green Page™ to find green business that carry Fair trade coffee as well as tea, cocoa, and other Fair Trade products.
Do you already work in a Fair Trade Workplace? Sign up to be a member Co-op America's Fair Trade Alliance, a national network of workplaces, faith congregations, schools, and community groups working to promote Fair Trade in their communities.
Sign up now for the Fair Trade Alliance »
4. Invest in reuseable plates, cups, and utensilsAsk people in your office to bring in some items from home. Or, check out a yard sale on the weekend to find second hand items for office use.
5. Make sure your office recycles paper, aluminum, glass, and plasticIf your building does not already offer the service, look for an independent recycling firm that can come and pick up your office recyclables on a weekly or biweekly basis. If this isn’t an option in your area, work with individuals in your office to encourage people to take their recyclables home with them to put in their own residential curbside recycling.
6. Switch office light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbsWhile the initial investment may cost more than conventional bulbs, CFLs last longer-- so over time your office will save money and save energy.
Find energy efficient lighting options in the National Green Pages™ »
7. Start an office compost programAt Co-op America, we keep a sealed compost container in our office kitchen and individual staff members take turns taking the compost home to add to their own compost piles. You can also chip in to get a worm composter for your office kitchen.
Read about worm composting in Real Money »
8. Encourage use of green transportation to and from workOffer incentives to encourage people to take public transportation, walk, bike, or car pool.
9. Buy green giftsWhether you are buying a special gift for a client or a present for an office baby shower, make sure you buy green or Fair Trade items to show that you care about your customers and co-workers as well as people and the planet.
Find thousands of green gifts in the National Green Pages™ »
10. Get a Co-op America membership for your office You'll get even more ideas about how to green your office purchasing choices. You’ll receive a free copy of the National Green Pages™, a subscription to our green living newsletter Real Money, and much more! Join now »
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Five Reasons Why Schools Go Green
This is another great article about how the public has an impact on Green Building. This is from http://www.edcmag.com Enviornmental and Design Construction Magazine.
Five Reasons Why Schools Go Green by Katrina Shum Miller LEED AP March 3, 2008
K-12 schools are unique among building types. As facilities that house children, schools have an inherent responsibility for occupant health. Public schools must demonstrate sound fiscal management and benefit their communities, and these are goals that many private schools also willingly adopt. As centers of learning, schools also offer a prime opportunity to teach by example. Sustainable design and construction practices help achieve all these objectives. The decisions driving sustainable facilities may vary, but the following points highlight the five of the main reasons why schools are going green:
Performance
Pedagogy
Community
Responsibility
Operating Cost
Performance
An optimized learning environment that provides daylight, thermal comfort, good IAQ, and enhanced acoustics enhances student performance. Kristin Heinen, assistant director of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS, Inc.) asserts that the biggest benefits of going green are the positive affects on students learning. Cesar E. Chavez Education Center in Oakland Calif., is a CHPS Demonstration School that showed the greatest academic performance index increase out of 150 schools in its district in one year.“The school reports a 20 percent increase in math performance at or above grade level,” Heinen says. “Sustainable practices are proven to improve student test scores and speed learning progress. In addition, they help create healthier learning environments that lower illness and absenteeism.”Building performance benefits too from efficient HVAC systems and durable, low-maintenance materials.
Pedagogy
Visible sustainable elements provide an interactive and experiential learning environment for kids. At Rosa Parks School in Portland, Ore. a monitoring system offers students real-time data on the building’s solar panel energy generation and bioswales teach kids about on-site stormwater treatment.When Kersey Creek Elementary School in Hanover County, Va. was built in 2006, Moseley Architects worked with the faculty to write curriculum about project strategies that promote environmental responsibility.“By using the school as a teaching tool, it makes these concepts come alive for the students,” says Bryna Dunn, director of environmental planning and research at Moseley Architects.
Community
Anja S. Caldwell, Architect, LEED green building program manager at Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland views her role as an advocate of parents’ interest. As knowledge of the health and environmental benefits of green buildings are becoming commonplace, the communities are increasingly requesting that schools adopt sustainable practices. At the opening of Great Seneca Creek Elementary, Caldwell says that the school’s assistant principal said the building made her proud of her tax dollars.In fact Caldwell says that in her county, students often approach officials with an environmental agenda. Caldwell got fifth graders at Great Seneca Creek involved in spreading the message to the community by creating a virtual tour of their building.“The tour was so popular, we’re taking the students and their presentation on the road to help educate the greater community about sustainability,” says Caldwell.
Responsibility
Our society is facing issues of climate change, energy crises, water shortages, and environmental pollution. Schools want to be a part of the solution to these challenges and demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. Punahou School is a private school in Honolulu that not only builds sustainable facilities, but also finds innovative ways to operate responsibly. For example, cooking oil used at a recent carnival was recycled and converted into biodiesel fuel.“Our school is on an island that relies on imports for almost a 100 percent of our needs, so we see the importance of maximizing our resources,” explains Randy Overton, assistant director of facilities at Punahou.At the public Sherwood School District in Oregon, Superintendent Dan Jamison believes that schools have a moral obligation to be great stewards of the environment.“By providing good sustainable models with our schools, we educate a generation that will deliver even more profoundly efficient and environmentally friendly structures for generations to come,” he says.
Operating Cost
Energy efficiency can generate tremendous savings in operating costs. For example, California schools currently spend nearly $700 million on energy, but the average district-wide savings from participants in the CHPS program is 30 percent.Reduced operating costs also can open the door to incorporating other sustainable measures. The Ohio State Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) is in the process of helping to replace or repair all K-12 schools in the state. Last September, the Commission mandated that, moving forward, all schools will meet a minimum LEED for Schools rating of silver certification and should target gold. At least 250 buildings will meet these requirements over the next two years.“One convincing factor for the state’s chief financial officer was that buildings constructed to LEED silver standards will generate a $1.4 billion return on investment over 40 years,” says Franklin Brown, AIA, LEED AP, OSFC planning director.Money saved on operating costs can pay back initial costs incurred for green features within a few years and, with the rising costs of energy and water, the savings become even more valuable.
Five Reasons Why Schools Go Green by Katrina Shum Miller LEED AP March 3, 2008
K-12 schools are unique among building types. As facilities that house children, schools have an inherent responsibility for occupant health. Public schools must demonstrate sound fiscal management and benefit their communities, and these are goals that many private schools also willingly adopt. As centers of learning, schools also offer a prime opportunity to teach by example. Sustainable design and construction practices help achieve all these objectives. The decisions driving sustainable facilities may vary, but the following points highlight the five of the main reasons why schools are going green:
Performance
Pedagogy
Community
Responsibility
Operating Cost
Performance
An optimized learning environment that provides daylight, thermal comfort, good IAQ, and enhanced acoustics enhances student performance. Kristin Heinen, assistant director of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS, Inc.) asserts that the biggest benefits of going green are the positive affects on students learning. Cesar E. Chavez Education Center in Oakland Calif., is a CHPS Demonstration School that showed the greatest academic performance index increase out of 150 schools in its district in one year.“The school reports a 20 percent increase in math performance at or above grade level,” Heinen says. “Sustainable practices are proven to improve student test scores and speed learning progress. In addition, they help create healthier learning environments that lower illness and absenteeism.”Building performance benefits too from efficient HVAC systems and durable, low-maintenance materials.
Pedagogy
Visible sustainable elements provide an interactive and experiential learning environment for kids. At Rosa Parks School in Portland, Ore. a monitoring system offers students real-time data on the building’s solar panel energy generation and bioswales teach kids about on-site stormwater treatment.When Kersey Creek Elementary School in Hanover County, Va. was built in 2006, Moseley Architects worked with the faculty to write curriculum about project strategies that promote environmental responsibility.“By using the school as a teaching tool, it makes these concepts come alive for the students,” says Bryna Dunn, director of environmental planning and research at Moseley Architects.
Community
Anja S. Caldwell, Architect, LEED green building program manager at Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland views her role as an advocate of parents’ interest. As knowledge of the health and environmental benefits of green buildings are becoming commonplace, the communities are increasingly requesting that schools adopt sustainable practices. At the opening of Great Seneca Creek Elementary, Caldwell says that the school’s assistant principal said the building made her proud of her tax dollars.In fact Caldwell says that in her county, students often approach officials with an environmental agenda. Caldwell got fifth graders at Great Seneca Creek involved in spreading the message to the community by creating a virtual tour of their building.“The tour was so popular, we’re taking the students and their presentation on the road to help educate the greater community about sustainability,” says Caldwell.
Responsibility
Our society is facing issues of climate change, energy crises, water shortages, and environmental pollution. Schools want to be a part of the solution to these challenges and demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. Punahou School is a private school in Honolulu that not only builds sustainable facilities, but also finds innovative ways to operate responsibly. For example, cooking oil used at a recent carnival was recycled and converted into biodiesel fuel.“Our school is on an island that relies on imports for almost a 100 percent of our needs, so we see the importance of maximizing our resources,” explains Randy Overton, assistant director of facilities at Punahou.At the public Sherwood School District in Oregon, Superintendent Dan Jamison believes that schools have a moral obligation to be great stewards of the environment.“By providing good sustainable models with our schools, we educate a generation that will deliver even more profoundly efficient and environmentally friendly structures for generations to come,” he says.
Operating Cost
Energy efficiency can generate tremendous savings in operating costs. For example, California schools currently spend nearly $700 million on energy, but the average district-wide savings from participants in the CHPS program is 30 percent.Reduced operating costs also can open the door to incorporating other sustainable measures. The Ohio State Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) is in the process of helping to replace or repair all K-12 schools in the state. Last September, the Commission mandated that, moving forward, all schools will meet a minimum LEED for Schools rating of silver certification and should target gold. At least 250 buildings will meet these requirements over the next two years.“One convincing factor for the state’s chief financial officer was that buildings constructed to LEED silver standards will generate a $1.4 billion return on investment over 40 years,” says Franklin Brown, AIA, LEED AP, OSFC planning director.Money saved on operating costs can pay back initial costs incurred for green features within a few years and, with the rising costs of energy and water, the savings become even more valuable.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Top 10 Reasons For Green Homes
Hi, I found this on the Homescape website. http://www.homescape.com
Great informaion on Green Homes.
By Nichole L. ReberHomescape.com
There are many benefits to eco-friendly living. Here are 10 big ones:
1. Lower utility and water bills. Having energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen and media room can reduce monthly utility bills. Tankless water heaters mean less time and water wasted waiting for water to warm up in the sink or shower.
2. Healthier indoor air quality. Green-certified homes offer reduced exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. This is especially beneficial to sufferers of asthma and bronchial disorders.
3. Tax benefits. DSIRE is a database of state incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government offers several tax breaks and incentives for efficiency upgrades to homes. The Department of Energy offers federal tax incentives. The USGBC lists local tax breaks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also offers sources for green funding, as does the Energy Star program.
4. Higher real estate resale value. According to an article in Business Wire, on the one-year anniversary of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service's addition of green-design search features to its property listings database, analysis shows that new and existing green-certified homes in King County sell in up to 18 percent less time and for 28 to 37 percent higher value per square foot.
5. Improved durability and less maintenance. Certain green building materials such as bamboo floors are easy to clean or require less maintenance than traditional carpet flooring.
6. Reduced waste sent to landfills. Modular homes are built in factories that recycle the waste generated during the construction process and leave less waste at the construction site. Many green homes often use recycled building materials.
7. Enhance and protect biodiversity and eco-systems. Using xeriscaping and native landscaping reduces needed irrigation.
8. Conserve and restore natural resources. Harvesting gray water saves on water bills. Composting saves money ordinarily spent on fertilizer and sends less waste to landfills. Alternative energy sources means a home neither contributes to rolling blackouts nor is it as badly effected by them.
9. Better for the environment. In the U.S., homes are responsible for 21 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the USGBC. Living in a green home means that you’re helping reduce the causes of climate change. Using local materials means less fuel is used when shipping exotic materials from other countries and ensures fair trade and labor issues.
10. Optimize life-cycle of a home. The greenest homes are sustainable, meaning they were built to last and work effectively for generations.
Great informaion on Green Homes.
By Nichole L. ReberHomescape.com
There are many benefits to eco-friendly living. Here are 10 big ones:
1. Lower utility and water bills. Having energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen and media room can reduce monthly utility bills. Tankless water heaters mean less time and water wasted waiting for water to warm up in the sink or shower.
2. Healthier indoor air quality. Green-certified homes offer reduced exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. This is especially beneficial to sufferers of asthma and bronchial disorders.
3. Tax benefits. DSIRE is a database of state incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government offers several tax breaks and incentives for efficiency upgrades to homes. The Department of Energy offers federal tax incentives. The USGBC lists local tax breaks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also offers sources for green funding, as does the Energy Star program.
4. Higher real estate resale value. According to an article in Business Wire, on the one-year anniversary of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service's addition of green-design search features to its property listings database, analysis shows that new and existing green-certified homes in King County sell in up to 18 percent less time and for 28 to 37 percent higher value per square foot.
5. Improved durability and less maintenance. Certain green building materials such as bamboo floors are easy to clean or require less maintenance than traditional carpet flooring.
6. Reduced waste sent to landfills. Modular homes are built in factories that recycle the waste generated during the construction process and leave less waste at the construction site. Many green homes often use recycled building materials.
7. Enhance and protect biodiversity and eco-systems. Using xeriscaping and native landscaping reduces needed irrigation.
8. Conserve and restore natural resources. Harvesting gray water saves on water bills. Composting saves money ordinarily spent on fertilizer and sends less waste to landfills. Alternative energy sources means a home neither contributes to rolling blackouts nor is it as badly effected by them.
9. Better for the environment. In the U.S., homes are responsible for 21 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the USGBC. Living in a green home means that you’re helping reduce the causes of climate change. Using local materials means less fuel is used when shipping exotic materials from other countries and ensures fair trade and labor issues.
10. Optimize life-cycle of a home. The greenest homes are sustainable, meaning they were built to last and work effectively for generations.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
What is Green Construction?
This is a good definition of "Green" I found on the Green Building Solutions website.http://www.greenbuildingsolutions.org
Sustainable or ‘green building’ design and construction is the opportunity to use our resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes. Although there is no magic formula, success comes in the form a leaving a lighter footprint on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy-efficient, cost-effective, low-maintenance products for our construction needs. In other words, green building design involves finding the delicate balance between homebuilding and the sustainable environment.
Sustainable or ‘green building’ design and construction is the opportunity to use our resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes. Although there is no magic formula, success comes in the form a leaving a lighter footprint on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy-efficient, cost-effective, low-maintenance products for our construction needs. In other words, green building design involves finding the delicate balance between homebuilding and the sustainable environment.
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