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Principal's Word
Summer is in and triple
digit heat is placing a toll on energy use. It is imperative that electricity use is conserved by turning off
lights, running the AC only when needed, taking short showers, and unplugging
electronical devices. Other ways to conserve energy is through light bulbs that are
energy efficient such as CFL bulbs. They use 75% less energy, last 10x longer and saves the
home owner $30 or more over the life of each bulb, or about $81 a year in
savings. A single 18 watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will
save about 570 kWh over its lifetime. These tips are just the beginning, there are innumberable ways in which you can help the environment and lower costs.
Here at RESCUE Green we
believe that cutting edge ideas, technology, design, and ever more
importantly, people with the right attitude can help save the
environment and their pocket books. Society might not have all the
answers just yet but individuals do have the power to "RESCUE Green"
the planet. Millions of people doing the right thing is at best a
positive and progressive start.
July 22, 2009
Joseph Blanco and DeAundri Abbott
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SB 375: WHAT IT PORTENDSBy: Bill
Warkentin
July 15, 2009
Implementation
is underway and it will change the reality of land use decision-making in California.
Trying
to predict SB 375's impact is at best an educated assessment, at worst pure
crystal ball guesswork. So much depends on actions yet to be taken, policies
and programs yet to be defined. Following is my best guess based on personal
review and discussion with a number of folks currently involved in those yet to
be taken actions.
AB
32 requires the State of California to reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels no later than 2020. SB 375 implements that program
with regard to passenger vehicles and light trucks, the bill asserts "In addition, automobiles and light trucks
account for 50 percent of air pollution in California and 70 percent
of its consumption of petroleum. Changes in land use and transportation policy,
based upon established modeling methodology, will provide significant
assistance to California's goals to implement the federal and state Clean Air Acts and to
reduce its dependence on petroleum. The Legislature intends, by this act, to
build upon that successful process by requiring metropolitan planning
organizations to develop and incorporate a sustainable communities strategy
which will be the land use allocation in the regional transportation plan."
SB
375 shifts the focus from a local land-use allocation paradigm to a clean air
and transportation based paradigm. The plans overall success is a function of
creating reasonable and achievable GHG reductions targets that can be measured
and plugged into the SCS analysis methodology.
The
bill creates a new General Plan level Land Use Plan called a Sustainable
Community Strategy (SCS) based on "current
planning assumptions" which presumably includes the base data in existing
General Plans. This process officially begins Sept
30, 2010, the day the GHG emissions targets are due from the California Air
Resource Board.
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Designate a development pattern for the region including
housing areas for all of a region's population growth including employment
generated growth and including all economic segments of the population;
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Identify
a transportation network needed to meet the region's transportation needs;
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Achieve
GHG emission reductions from the land use/transportation sector needed to
meet the region's GHG reduction target
set by the ARB to the extent feasible;
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Gather and consider the best available information on the
region's farmland and habitat.
Source
of bullet points: California League of Conservation Voters and the NRDC
SB
375 shifts development toward Transit Priority Projects (TPP) on infill sites
to avoid CEQA. TPP sites must be less than 8 acres in size, contain no more
than 200 units, have a density of at least 20 du/ac and be within 1/2 mile of a
major transit station or corridor. These are, by definition, infill projects
served by existing transit systems.
Peter
Templeton, Principal of the Templeton Planning Group points out that large
scale planning projects all must go through the CEQA process, prepare EIRs with
regional impact assessments and are conditioned with all manner of
environmental mitigation and monitoring programs. These SR 375 criteria can
only apply to smaller TPPs that are part of a larger master planned community
and the key question is whether a future planned transit system meets the
criteria?
SB
375 initiates the first state-wide regional planning regime in California history. By linking land use
to transportation funding and GHG reductions, the issue of local land use
control has been shelved, local control is still viable so long as it agrees
with the GHG reductions and meets the criteria of the SCS.
I
recall a decade old analysis that speculated not more than 10% of development
could reasonably be accommodated on infill sites. SB 375 intends to increase
that factor substantially and whether the home buying consumer is ready for
limited choices and fewer greenfield development options remains
to be seen.
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Las
Vegas Takes
the Plunge with its Springs Preserve
By: James L. Broeske
July 6, 2009
In Las Vegas, where there is no shortage of
neon and glamour-or dreams of big winnings-a cultural institution just a few miles
from downtown reminds that sustainability is no gamble.
The Springs Preserve spans 180 acres, and includes a
state of the art visitor's center called Origen Experience. (The name is derived from the words,
"original" and "generations.") In its
displays and landscaping-and in its design-Origen pays homage to the desert's
most precious natural resource: water.
The Preserve has the distinction of being listed on
the National Register of Historic Places-a status it has enjoyed since 1978. This is no small feat considering Las Vegas's reputation for imploding its
history. But in fact, the town known for
architectural feats/follies (depending on your "take" on Sin City) such as the
Luxor pyramid, Paris's scaled-down Eiffel Tower, Caesars Palace, The
Stratosphere and New York, New York-as well as the Sands, the Dunes, the
Hacienda and other ghosts of gamblers past-wouldn't have happened, were it not
for the artesian pools of the Las Vegas Creek, which trickles up onto the
Preserve. The availability of water made
the region's growth possible.
Some 3,000 years ago, migrating native Americans
gathered at the creek, growing crops on its banks. The creek later served Spanish travelers and
their horses. In the 1890s, as "modern" Las Vegas took root, the creek was the
site of social gatherings.
As Las Vegas grew, the Las Vegas Valley
Water District purchased the property that had been so pivotal to the area's
development. Over the years, as Las Vegas grappled with its water needs,
the site was recognized for its archeological and historic significance. In June 2007 the Springs Preserve was opened.
Its features include a Desert Living Center, which
has interactive exhibits and classroom and meeting areas, gardens and trails,
and a Wolfgang Puck café that is the site of a monthly networking group-a
"green mixer"-that promotes sustainability.
In paying tribute to the springs-which continues to
provide five per cent of the water utilized by a thirsty Las Vegas-the Preserve
stresses the need for eco-consciousness through its very buildings, which are
certified Platinum LEED. For instance,
the public restroom toilets release only a trickle of water upon flushing. And the plantings outside are
drought-resistant.
In a city known for anything goes lavishness, the
center reminds that liquid gold is to be used wisely.
The Origen is featured in an article in Green Source
For more on the Springs Preserve,click here
Let's hope that the message this
center imparts doesn't just stay in Vegas.
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Green
Vacations/Ecotourism
By:
Geri Fox
July 1, 2009
Summer
vacation time has finally arrived; however, many families are cutting back on
their travel expenditures in this economy, or eliminating their vacation travel
plans entirely.
Never
underestimate the fun and fond memories a family can create by just pitching a
tent in your backyard, and hiking or biking to explore the local parks and open
spaces in your area. I grew up in a
family of seven, and some of my favorite vacations were our backyard campouts!
The
U.S. National Park Service is offering three fee-free weekends at over 100
national parks that usually charge entrance fees; one of which is the Grand Canyon! Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends
this summer. Click here for more info:
http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
How
would you like to swim with wild dolphins or manatees? Play with wolves or walk with wild
horses? What if you could have a
vacation adventure while supporting animal sanctuaries at the same time? Some
great vacation packages can be found at Gordon's Guide, a travel website that
offers several travel options suited to your interests and your budget, while
still being Earth-friendly. You can search for Ecotourism packages from $200 or
less; $200-$500; $500-$750; $750 - $1000, and in $1000 increments all the way
up to $10,000 and above. Click here for
more information:
http://ecotourism.gordonsguide.com/index.cfm
Also, here's a link to
Fodor's Editor, Cate Starmer's, article "Ecotourism on a Budget: 6 Simple Eco-Conscious Tips for Saving
Money"...
Gordon's Guide
We'd
love to hear from you if you have other sites or ideas you'd like us to publish
in one of our upcoming newsletters.
Submit
your ideas toinfo@rescuegreen.com
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iCeL Green MotionBy: Keith Gifford
July 17, 2009
The fog shrouding the future of
energy production is beginning to lift. Today, solar and wind powered electrical
generation systems are providing more and more of the power we rely on. Yet one
inherent problem has continued to persist with these technologies. The energy
they produce is intermittent. Solar only works when the sun shines, and wind
only produces power when it is blowing. What has been needed is a reliable
means to store this energy for use at later times. iCeL Systems, of Van Nuys California,
has developed a high density energy storage device based on lithium-ion
technology. The product is scalable, (from one kilowatt to multiple megawatts)
reliable, (the storage packs have been cycled over 15,000 times with 80%
capacity retention) and almost infinitely versatile in their applications. Most
anything requiring energy can be powered by an iCeL.
Now, energy generated by
the sun and wind can be stored efficiently and made available 24 hours a day.
Presently, both grid-tied and grid independent users are benefiting from the
iCeL. The core product is the model 714, a compact, one kilowatt hour storage
unit. Several other models of various sizes are currently under design and
testing. Full scale production is expected to begin by second quarter of 2009.
The first manufacturing site will be located in California's
Inland Empire city of Riverside.
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The Green Funny Bone!
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Dark Sky
By: Ian Davidson
July 16, 2009
With the vast expansion of suburbs,
we are quickly losing our view of the universe.
In addition to this loss, the environmental and health effects of light
pollution are immense, and surprisingly, overlooked.
Light pollution is wasted light that
does nothing to increase nighttime safety, utility or security. It produces glare, clutter, light trespass
and pollution, while wasting energy, money, and natural resources in the
process.
According to the International
Dark-Sky Association (IDA) website, wasted outdoor lighting that shines
directly upward is estimated at 17,400 gigawatt-hours a year, adding up to a
cost of approximately $1.74 billion per year, and environmental waste adding up
to:
9.1 Million Tons of coal; or
32.3 million barrels of oil; or
600 million gallons of gasoline
All for light that is wasted.
You can help prevent this waste by
using the light you need for a particular task in the most efficient manner
possible. Unfortunately, lack of awareness, rather than resistance is the
biggest problem in controlling light pollution. IDA gives these tips for
dealing with Light Pollution:
·Use night lighting only when
necessary. Turn off lights when they are not needed. Timers can be very
effective. Use the correct amount of light for the need, more is not better.
·Direct the light downward, where it
is needed. The use and effective placement of well-designed fixtures will
achieve excellent lighting control. When possible, retrofit or replace all
existing fixtures of poor quality with the goal of using fixtures that control
the light, and minimize glare, light trespass, light pollution, and energy
usage.
·Use low pressure sodium (LPS) light
sources whenever possible. LPS lamps are the most energy-efficient light
sources that exist. Areas where LPS is especially good include street lighting,
parking lot lighting, security lighting, and any application where color
rendering is not critical.
·Homeowners, businesses and cities
should shield and lower the wattage of all outdoor lighting. And finally,
·Use only the light you need t o get
the job done
You can learn more about the effects
of light pollution, how you can help, and find solutions to lighting problems
at the IDA website
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LED's: Shedding
Light on the Shadowy Unknown
The right and wrong applications for LED's
By: Leonard Maya
About a year ago I was asked to evaluate whether LED (Light
Emitting Diodes) could be used effectively to light an interior office
space. It is no secret that LED's have
hit the mainstream lighting world with brute force, but not much data has been
published about their performance and where they should be used. One of the biggest challenges facing
architects and lighting designers trying to specify LED light fixtures is the
lack of information regarding the performance of LED's.
Most manufactures will tell you that the performance is
based on the type of LED's used along with the light fixture optics. This means there is really no way of comparing
LED's "watt to watt" with the more traditional types of lighting, including incandescent,
fluorescent, or HID lamped fixture.
Because of the lack of performance data, and because there are so few
existing installations using LED's as the main source of general lighting, I
decided to mock up a typical office space using (6) 12 Watt LED downlights,
which are advertised as being able to replace a 65W incandescent. Before I get into the results, I would like
to discuss some of the Pros and Cons with LED technology and provide a little
more explanation on what an LED is.
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Upcoming Events |
GREEN TECH CONNECT FORUM 2009
Mon August 3 - Tues August 4 - Pasadena, CA
The AQMD invites you to participate in this Forum & Expo which
offer a variety of networking opportunities for cleantech developers
and investment companies. The goal is to offer a helping hand to
environmental stakeholders dealing with a difficult economic cycle and
expedite the introduction of new, low-emission technologies needed to
produce both economic and environmental benefits.
To register Click Here
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FIRST ANNUAL SAN RAMON ECO-FESTIVAL 2009
Sat August 29 - Sun August 30 San Ramon, CA
Eco-festival events are designed to engage consumers of all ages through interactive entertainment and exhibitions that make learning how to minimize harm to our environment fun.
For more info Click Here
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SMART ENERGY WEST COAST CONFERENCE 2009
Mon August, 31 - Tues Sept, 1 - San Diego, CA
A unique opportunity to
gain in-depth, comprehensive knowledge and first-hand
experience of the benefits and challenges, technologies and
implementation techniques of smart metering, giving attendees
a strategic and practical approach to the smart grid and green
efficiency initiatives.
This event is the only
executive platform available on the West Coast that enables
companies to take advantage of the global surge towards
smarter, greener energy infrastructure, implementation and
communication.
To register Click Here
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RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCE FORUM - WEST 2009
Tues Sept 29 - Wed Sept 30 - San Francisco, CA
The conference focuses on finance and investment for clean energy technologies, with a particular emphasis on the Western US, and covers both large scale projects and the development and commercialization of new technologies.
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WATER & LAND FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE SOUTHWEST
Thurs Oct 22 - Fri Oct 23, 2009 - Tucson, AZ
Renewable energy is coming to the Southwest. How will it impact our natural resources? Topics:
- Issues and opportunities for renewable energy in the Southwest
- Incentives and barriers to renewable development
- Federal, state, and utility roles
- Land and water requirements
- The permitting process
- Costs and benefits of various technologies
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Featured Green Product
The EnergyMax® Intersect is a 2-lamp,
energy efficient, louvered luminaire designed to provide full distribution and
energy savings in a crisp new look.
- Typically qualifies for EPAct
tax deduction
- Integral hinges and latches on louver
- Rolled fixture edges for safe
handling
- Corner hinging for easy
insertion
- Housing ends secured by
unique corner interlock and screws
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Plant of the Month
 The Red Bird of Paradise is a very large accent
shrub that grows well in the desert heat when most other vegetation fades. The
deciduous shrub attracts hummingbirds with its incredibly showy blossoms of
orange and red. This plant grows well in alkaline to acidic, well-drained
soils. It benefits from pruning and can be shaped to tree or shrubby bush
form. Click Here For More Info |
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Get Trained: Green Building in 2009
RESCUE Green has invested substantial resources in developing Training programs that are relevant, as well as rigorous.
RESCUE Green utilizes its Professional Collaborative as well as other experts in green building and psychometrics to prepare and approve the RESCUE Green materials, and to ensure state-of-the-art environmental training certification for commercial and/or residential practitioners.
NOW AVAILABLE! Green Building for Real Estate Professionals!
Sign up today for our next class and Earn Continuing Education Credits.
Next class: August 26th. Space is limited.
If you are interested in up to date Green Building training, email your contact information to info@rescuegreen.com and we will send you a list of training classes in your area. |
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Teasers on Next Month's Issue
In The August Edition
"The International Green Movement"
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Quote of the Month
"What we need to do is really improve energy efficiency standards, develop in full scale renewable and alternative energy and use the one resource we have in abundance, our creativity."
- Dr. Alon Tal, Professor at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
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We offer an array of green services from project managing, comissioning, and charrettes to educational seminars and environmental auditing. Go to GREEN SERVICES on our website to collaborate with RESCUE Green on your next project.
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