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 June 2013
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NYC: Zero-Cost Clean Heat Conversions - Is Your Building In the Zone?
 Your building might be eligible for zero-cost Con Edison connections to natural gas conversions if it falls within one of the 12 zones in NYC that Con Edison has identified for expansion of its existing natural gas infrastructure in 2014. According to Con Edison, 95% of participants in 2013 were offered a zero-cost option.
Check now to see if your building in Manhattan or the Bronx is in the zone and take note of the deadlines. Incentives for conversions may not be available to late applicants.
Note: Con Edison delivers all natural gas within Manhattan and the Bronx but additional suppliers may be sought for commodity pricing. Great Forest is also helping clients work with local contractors who are equipped to offer low-cost project financing and on-bill financing of conversions.
Remember, clean heat is the law in NYC. Buildings are required to convert from heavy forms of heating oil to cleaner fuels. Ultra low sulfur #2 fuel oil is also a clean-burning option. When boilers convert from oil to gas, savings per BTU are estimated today at over 30% (over #4 and #6 heavy oils).
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Boston: Latest City in Energy Benchmarking Drive
If you have properties in Boston, note that it is the latest city to require buildings to disclose their energy use.
Boston now follows seven other cities (NYC, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Austin, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Seattle) and two states (California and Washington) that have energy benchmarking laws.
Leading by example, the City will annually disclose energy and water use. Click here to download data on 295 municipal facilities for the year 2012.
Note that while the law does not penalize buildings based on their energy efficiency, there are penalties for failing to report.
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Clearing Backlogs of E-waste
 A typical building usually generates close to one ton of e-waste every few months. But an astonishing 18 tons of e-waste was collected from one building alone in the first two weeks of a new e-waste program. The building was one of over 70 facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region that had new e-waste recycling programs developed and installed by Great Forest, working with Capital Asset Recovery, an R2 certified responsible recycler. "In many offices, old computers and other electronics are often just stored away, taking up valuable space. Sometimes they even end up in the trash, " says David Troust, vice president of business development at Great Forest. With many states now banning e-waste from landfills, e-waste recycling is a key component of every recycling program Great Forest designs and implements.
"We make it easy for you to get rid of all that e-waste in a responsible way. We provide metrics reporting for all recycled items, from batteries to bulbs, with full supply chain accountability. So there is no reason at all not to recycle your e-waste, even if it is not mandated in your state. Plus you might even increase your diversion rate." Great Forest's regional experts keep tabs on regulations, cost and e-waste facilities that vary from state to state. They also negotiate with area venders to secure the best terms. For example, the new e-waste service in the mid-Atlantic region is not only affordable, but it even takes into account high value waste, which recyclers pay for if the items can be refurbished and resold.
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Five Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
 Studies show that indoor air is 2 to 5 more polluted than outdoor air, due in part to the carpeting, paint, and other chemicals standard in our modern lives. What can you do in your office to minimize indoor air pollutants? Here are five ideas.
1. Add Plants - Add some greenery to your office environment in the form of healthy plants. Many plants filter out contaminants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are known to be a class of pollutants that may cause irritation to building occupants. Some of the best options: aloe vera, spider plant, or dracaena varieties.
2. Upgrade Ventilation - Stale air that isn't flowing through your building properly can cause problems for occupants such as nausea and headaches. Ensure that ventilation systems are up to current code and that all bathrooms and showers are ventilated properly. Current ASHRAE standards (Standard 62-89) states that appropriate ventilation guidelines are 20 CFM (9.2 L/s) per person in an office building, and 15 CFM (7.1 L/s) per person for schools.
3. Test Air - Intake air can be tested for contaminants such as mold, bacteria, VOCs, and more. This will help you decide on solutions for your specific air quality issues.
4. Detect Co2/Radon - Carbon dioxide and radon are easily detected with affordable tests. Different states have different rules about radon testing. Find your state's local radon office at the EPA link below.
5. Survey - Learn what building occupants want through comfort surveys. Ask their opinion on airflow, drafts, temperature, as well as their general sense of well-being when in the office. While it's impossible to please all of the people all of the time, small changes may be able to help people feel more comfortable in the building, and tenants will appreciate being asked their opinion.
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Great Forest Raises Money to Clean Polluted Site in India
 | | Great Forest staff at the benefit |
As part of our giving back pledge, Great Forest supported the nonprofit Blacksmith Institute's first benefit for India, which raised hundreds of thousands for pollution cleanup, including over $30,000 to launch a new project in Khan Chandpur, a village of 1,200 people in Kanpur.
Located in the leather hub of India, the village is one of about 30 surrounded by some 350 tanneries that have polluted the region's water source with toxic chromium, the same type of carcinogen made infamous in the movie Erin Brokovich. Great Forest is a proud supporter of the Blacksmith Institute, an international NGO established by Great Forest founder Richard Fuller that identifies and cleans up some of the world's worst polluted places. Over the past decade, Blacksmith has grown to become the leading voice in global pollution cleanup, working with the World Bank, the UN and other international agencies and governments. |
Q&A: Will Cicadas Hurt My Property?
 Depending on where you are in the country, the 17-year cicadas may have already come and gone, or you may still be seeing and hearing the effects of their short-lived lives. Property managers, especially those with sensitive landscaping, have asked us whether cicadas will have any ill effects on their properties. Fortunately, the answer is no.
Because adult cicadas rarely eat during the four-to-six weeks after emergence from the ground, there is no concern about cicadas attacking your landscaping like a plague of locusts. However, younger trees and saplings can suffer from the egg-laying females who make tiny slits in the branches to lay their eggs. While a single cicada won't do much harm, heavy infestations can cause young branches to bend over. Damage to mature trees is rarely serious but you can protect younger trees and saplings with 1/4-inch mosquito netting. Generally, avoid planting new trees during the spring of a known cicada brood emergence. You also don't need to worry about cicadas burrowing into building eaves or siding. Fortunately for property managers in big cities, cicadas tend to avoid buildings altogether.
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Great Forest Inc.
212.779.4757
2014 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10035
A pioneer in the industry with over 20 years of experience, Great Forest is one of the leading sustainability consultancies in the country. We improve environmental performance and reduce costs for clients nationwide ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to property management companies, hotels, retailers, financial and educational institutions, and municipalities.
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