Greenbuild ‘09

Opening day of Greenbuild ‘09 was full of excitement and anticipation. Crowd control was good as the more than 25,000 attendees processed through registration. I reminded myself several times that everyone working Greenbuild is a volunteer so all minor misunderstandings could be overlooked. The trade show was packed Wednesday morning and the four people in our booth were rarely without someone to talk to. My afternoon was highlighted by meeting “notre dame killer” Anthony Johnson.

We scurried out of the booth to head to Chase Field for the opening session. All the way there were trying to find somewhere to grab a quick bite but can’t seem to. To out surprise Chase Field had been turned into a giant gourmet diner complete with any local organic good we could want. All of the proceedings were great but Sheryl Crow was the best.

Today we’re all set for another session of meeting people and sharing ideas on the green revolution!

 

Energy Incentives

As incentives and rebates continue in a constant state of flux, it can be difficult to navigate finding out the best materials for different building locations.  One great resource is the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy) which keeps an up to date list of energy incentives by region.  Simply click on your state and review the numerous discounts, tax credits, and rebates available for your state.

In addition, information on the Federal Tax Credit of up to $1.80 per square foot for commercial building owners can be found at www.efficientbuildings.org This deduction is available for lighting, A/C, and (ofcourse) cool roofing technologies.

Still, what is the real impact of your roofing choices?  How much money can you really save?  One last website that calculates your energy savings with your new roofing selection is the Energy Star Roofing Calculator. Using this tool to determine the energy savings over your existing roof system is a great way to find out what the true life cycle cost of your roof will be.

And if you’re in West or South Texas, send us a shout so that we can put together a life cycle cost analysis at no charge just for you!

 

Ad Spending in a Slow Economy

As news of an economic slowdown loomed last fall, I googled “depression” to get some ideas on how to stay at the top of the tide.  I found interesting details about Chevrolet’s ability to make it through the great depression by boosting advertising and appealing to specific markets.  Now the very same company has entered bankruptcy.  But the auto industry is far from dead.

Yesterday’s USA Today made this point clear highlighting VW, Mercedes & Kia who are all experiencing growth despite the economic downturn.  Why?  All have increased their advertising budgets by nearly 40%.

The moral of the story?  More than just hard work will keep us on top.  Don’t allow fear to close our pocketbooks.  Its time to spend.

 And the great thing is advertising costs are at record lows, especially TV & radio.  Don’t allow this historic chance to get your name out there slip away.

So the next time you hear someone complain about their business being down, ask them by what percentage they’ve increased their advertising!

 

Save Water=Help Save the Planet

Who knew simple things could make such a big difference in the overall scheme of life?  Check out these extremely easy ways to save water in your house:

1) Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing your teeth.

2) Check your toilet tank for leaks by adding food color to the tank.  If the toilet is leaking, color should appear within 1 hour.  Also check the toilet for worn out and rusty parts.  Or upgrade to a new water saver toilet (the one with 2 flush options)

3) Replace your shower head with an ultra-low-flow version.

4) Take shorter showers!

5) Install instant hot water on your kitchen sink.  They’re available at places like Costco for less than $200.

6) Insulate your hot water pipes.  This will also save energy from your water heater.

If you live in Indianapolis call my brother in law Mr. Bathtub and he’ll give your bathroom a “green” upgrade!

 

Green Globes

While the spotlight on sustainable building programs sits squarely on the USGBC LEED program, another green rating program is gaining momentum in the construction world.  It is the Green Building Initiatives’s Green Globes program.  What makes this program different?

First off it is more cost effective than the USGBC version which has attributed to much of its rise in popularity.  Second, it has an extremely user friendly web interface and the ability to use online to tools to accomplish the building designers goals.

If you’ve ever wanted a LEED certified building but felt it was out of reach, please check into Greenglobes.  Click here for a list of buildings that have achieved the certification status.

 

Bulldogs Score A Touchdown on Green!

For the first time on November 29th, 2008, electricity for the University of Georgia Bulldogs football game was soley provided by renewable sources, replacing traditional sources like coal and natural gas

For more information on the commitment of the University of Georgia, or if your college or university is interested in learning more about what you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and save money, please visit www.southeastrebuild.org

 

5 Tips to Go Green on Your Roof – Guest Post!

Our world is being rapidly pushed to the brink of extinction because of the indiscriminate usage of natural resources. We’re facing a global warming crisis like never before, and if each of us doesn’t play our part in stopping or delaying this imminent carnage, we’re going to be left with a situation that’s a lot worse than we could imagine. We’d not only have no roofs over our heads, but no world to live in itself. So if you’re planning on building your home, here’s how you can contribute to the environment by going green in your choice of materials:

Use a light color or reflective coating: It’s a simple fact of nature that lighter colors tend to reflect heat while darker shades absorb it. So choose colors depending on the climate of your region. Lighter shades and reflective coats help keep your house naturally cool while the right kind of insulation prevents you from having to spend thousands on your heating bill. Some builders tend to prefer radiant barriers to reduce the heat inside the house and save on energy consumption. 

Use materials that have longevity: By reducing the number of times you replace your roof, you save on the energy used to manufacture, transport and install your new roofing as well as that used to dispose your old one. So choose material that’s been proven to last long even when exposed to the harshest of elements. 

Use materials that are recyclable: If you live in regions where you’re forced to replace your roof often because of the damage caused by incessant rainfall, snow or wind, choose materials that can be recycled. By doing this, you can ensure that you don’t contribute to the additional usage of fossil fuel or increase in pollution. Recycled materials reduce the energy used in manufacturing and shipping and also reduce pressure on landfills. 

Use coating materials that are low in VOC: The volatile organic compounds present in paints and other kinds of coating materials are one of the biggest pollutants of the atmosphere. So choose one that’s eco-friendly and has little or no VOC. 

Use eco-friendly wood: By choosing to use engineered wood for your framework rather than the traditional solid sawn lumber, you’re reducing the amount of wood waste that’s generated. Engineered wood is eco-friendly and saves more trees from being cut because it’s made from wood fibers that are bound together with adhesives. 

By-line:

This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of an online construction management degree. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com

 

NYTimes Reports on Snow Covered Solar

Solar power (a.k.a photovoltaics) are leading the way as the green revolution reaches full force … put sometimes mother nature gets in the way.  Today the New York Times had an interesting article about snow covering solar panels in the northeast.  Click here to read more.

 

UPS Turns To Pedal Power

@NYTimes put up this link on Twitter today and its a great story.  It reminds me of our FedEx man a few years ago.  We had 2 bikes that had been sitting on our front porch for like 3 years.  They were getting rusty and we never had time to ride them.  He had mentioned them a few times in the past and one day I said “Hey would you like to have those bikes?”  He was stoked and took them home with him.  We were happy that someone would be getting use out of them.  I’m sure there are some people who won’t like the sudden change to riding a bike but what a dream job for a lot of other outdoor types.  And imagine the environmental impact.

 

It is Cheaper to Buy Green

If you could get a Mercedes for 1.6% more than a Yugo would you do it?  What if the Mercedes got 100 mpg and the Yugo 5?  That is the difference between conventional building and building to LEED standards according to this article in building.co.uk

Green building is here to stay.  Now the industry must continue to move forward to raise standards earthwide.  And we in the manufacturing side must also work to be on the cutting edge of continuing to make our products as environmentally friendly and energy saving as possible.