ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MetLife, Inc. announced today that its office at 13045 Tesson Ferry Road has earned an ENERGY STAR rating from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its superior energy performance and management.

This latest achievement marks MetLife’s 13th ENERGY STAR-rated owned and/or operated property. Additionally, six company owned and/or operated properties have received Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certifications from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). MetLife’s energy management policy as well as other sustainability initiatives have enabled the company to reduce its energy consumption by more than 16% since 2006.

“MetLife’s energy management program is just one of the many initiatives the company is focused on, reducing its overall global impact,” said John Vazquez, vice president, vendor sourcing and corporate services & chief procurement officer. “We are pleased to be recognized once again by the EPA for our continued environmental leadership and commitment to long-term sustainability.”

ENERGY STAR facilities use less energy, operate in a more cost effective way and generate less greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) than other buildings. To earn the rating, MetLife took several steps to improve the building’s performance and reduce its environmental impact, including installing occupancy sensors in conference rooms as well as energy efficient lighting and water fixtures.

 

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt Lake County has chosen NexGen Energy and Bella Energy to develop a solar installation on the roof of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The team presented a plan to install up to 2.6 megawatts of solar modules on the structure. If built to that capacity, the Salt Palace will host the largest rooftop solar facility in the United States, generating more than 3,330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year, while reducing the building's consumption by 25%.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy team won a competitive RFP process that took four months and began with twelve applicants. The county informed NexGen Energy of its decision late last week. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

NexGen Energy, a leading owner and operator of distributed renewable energy systems, will own and operate the facility and sell the power to Salt Lake County at a fixed rate. Bella Energy, a highly respected solar electric systems integrator based in Colorado, will design and install the project.

"Today the Salt Palace is setting a national example for renewable energy," said Ted Rose, Vice President of NexGen Energy. "With a ground-breaking public-private partnership driving it, this project will place Utah at the forefront of solar development. It proves once again that large rooftops can successfully provide power from the sun that benefits both the environment and the bottom line."

"Bella Energy has worked diligently to make the project a reality," said Andrew McKenna, Vice President of Bella Energy. "Our three decades of experience in solar installation will serve Salt Lake County well. Bella Energy is committed to growing Utah's distributed solar generation and will employ as many as 35 local workers and subcontractors during the construction of this project."

 

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt Lake County has chosen NexGen Energy and Bella Energy to develop a solar installation on the roof of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The team presented a plan to install up to 2.6 megawatts of solar modules on the structure. If built to that capacity, the Salt Palace will host the largest rooftop solar facility in the United States, generating more than 3,330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year, while reducing the building's consumption by 25%.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy team won a competitive RFP process that took four months and began with twelve applicants. The county informed NexGen Energy of its decision late last week. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

NexGen Energy, a leading owner and operator of distributed renewable energy systems, will own and operate the facility and sell the power to Salt Lake County at a fixed rate. Bella Energy, a highly respected solar electric systems integrator based in Colorado, will design and install the project.

"Today the Salt Palace is setting a national example for renewable energy," said Ted Rose, Vice President of NexGen Energy. "With a ground-breaking public-private partnership driving it, this project will place Utah at the forefront of solar development. It proves once again that large rooftops can successfully provide power from the sun that benefits both the environment and the bottom line."

"Bella Energy has worked diligently to make the project a reality," said Andrew McKenna, Vice President of Bella Energy. "Our three decades of experience in solar installation will serve Salt Lake County well. Bella Energy is committed to growing Utah's distributed solar generation and will employ as many as 35 local workers and subcontractors during the construction of this project."

 

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt Lake County has chosen NexGen Energy and Bella Energy to develop a solar installation on the roof of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The team presented a plan to install up to 2.6 megawatts of solar modules on the structure. If built to that capacity, the Salt Palace will host the largest rooftop solar facility in the United States, generating more than 3,330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year, while reducing the building's consumption by 25%.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy team won a competitive RFP process that took four months and began with twelve applicants. The county informed NexGen Energy of its decision late last week. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

NexGen Energy, a leading owner and operator of distributed renewable energy systems, will own and operate the facility and sell the power to Salt Lake County at a fixed rate. Bella Energy, a highly respected solar electric systems integrator based in Colorado, will design and install the project.

"Today the Salt Palace is setting a national example for renewable energy," said Ted Rose, Vice President of NexGen Energy. "With a ground-breaking public-private partnership driving it, this project will place Utah at the forefront of solar development. It proves once again that large rooftops can successfully provide power from the sun that benefits both the environment and the bottom line."

"Bella Energy has worked diligently to make the project a reality," said Andrew McKenna, Vice President of Bella Energy. "Our three decades of experience in solar installation will serve Salt Lake County well. Bella Energy is committed to growing Utah's distributed solar generation and will employ as many as 35 local workers and subcontractors during the construction of this project."

 

Candice Olson and The Portuguese Cork Association Introduce the Natural Beauty of Cork Flooring to North America

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- New York, a city already famous for high style and a cosmopolitan culture, got a little more chic with the launch of the North American Decor(k) Tour in Herald Square today, courtesy of the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR).

The goal of the Decor(k) Tour - which will visit 16 cities across the United States and Canada - is to educate consumers about the different styles and varieties of Portuguese cork flooring, and will feature a 53 foot-long mobile showroom designed by "Divine Design" host Candice Olson. Inside the showroom, visitors will enjoy a "feet on" experience of cork flooring's unique comfort and resiliency while viewing different room layouts and flooring applications designed by Olson. Additional displays will allow visitors to see how cork stands up to moisture, heavy foot traffic and allergens, providing users with durable, comfortable flooring that can last years.

Another important benefit is that cork is the most environmentally friendly flooring choice because it is completely renewable, 100 percent natural and recyclable -- three essential qualities for a modern and environmentally friendly society. Incredible inherent properties, including sound and temperature insulation, cushioning and water resistance provide homeowners even more reasons to choose cork as a flooring option.

"The choice of flooring is always an integral element in my designs," said Olson. "When homeowners are building their nests, they must think about how much time will be spent on their floors. Cork flooring is a perfect choice for the home because it can provide a desired, stylish look while remaining functional and environmentally friendly."

Through Olson's beautifully designed settings for the Decor(k) Tour, it is easy to see that cork flooring is the ultimate in eco-chic. With inspirational designs ranging from traditional and vintage to artistic and modern, luxurious textures and shades, classic patterns and elegant finishes, the options available for cork flooring in North American homes are truly limitless. It has become a viable contender as the centerpiece of any home.

Cork is more than 50 percent air, which makes it lightweight and highly resilient. Consequently, cork often does not show dents or grooves the same way wood flooring can. It has excellent insulating properties and is warmer under foot than a cold tile. It is also allergy free and easy to maintain - great for a healthy, safe home.

"Cork has been used as flooring for a very long time because of its natural beauty, durability and renewability," said Piet Dossche, chairman of APCOR North America Flooring Group and president & CEO of USFloors, Inc. "New finishing techniques and improved technologies have revived an interest in cork flooring. No other floor covering can match the combined benefits of cork."

Cork's journey begins in the montado (the Portuguese cork oak forest) where the time-honored tradition of the cork harvest takes place. Only after a maturation period of 25 years have these majestic giant cork oak trees carefully transformed their outer shell into a thing of beauty. This natural process gives way to cork flooring. During the harvesting of the bark, which can only take place every nine years, the tree is never cut down or harmed. The quality of cork actually improves with every harvest.

The cork oak forest has been developed and maintained to sustain a triple bottom line industry - one that is good for the people, for the planet and for the economy. Portuguese cork makes for authentic, high quality and eco-efficient cork flooring that is created with true craftsmanship and care.

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- HGTV will build its fourth HGTV Green Home in Stapleton, Denver, Colorado's eco-progressive community created on the site of a former airport in Denver. Stapleton is reusing/recycling 4,700 acres of land and reconnecting it to Denver's urban fabric. Over the past decade the community has emerged as one of the country's most ambitious examples of sustainable development. The 2,400-square-foot, custom-built "green" home being built there will be given away as part of the HGTV Green Home grand prize package next spring.

"The HGTV Green Home gives us an opportunity to display the latest products and highlight the newest practices for the ever-evolving standards of sustainable living," said Jack Thomasson, HGTV House Planner. "The combination of a spectacular eco-healthy home design, built in a vibrant community, will undoubtedly make this our most dynamic HGTV Green Home ever."

The HGTV Green Home will feature open spaces that flow together to create an interactive environment. The home's exterior mix of hipped and cantilevered roof forms gives a feel of a winged structure, recalling the site's airport past. By not replicating a traditional house style, the HGTV Green Home of 2011 looks to the future with a modern prairie look and does not try to reproduce the past. Constructed by Infinity Home Collection of Denver, it will feature construction and design elements that are known to contribute to an energy efficient, cleaner and healthier living environment.

"We're honored that HGTV has selected the Infinity for the construction of its 2011 HGTV Green Home," said David Steinke, general manager, Infinity Home Collection. "We love building smart homes for smart people and to us, building green is practically second nature. It gives us great pleasure to have our work featured as part of this year's HGTV Green Home Giveaway."

"In Stapleton, we've worked to create a community that is founded on sustainability," said Denise Gammon, Senior Vice President of Development for Forest City Stapleton, the master developer of the Stapleton Community. "We'll be delighted to welcome the lucky winner of the Green Home Giveaway to the neighborhood."

 

MORRISTOWN, N.J. & LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schindler Elevator Corporation, the North American operating entity of the Swiss-based Schindler Group, the world’s second largest elevator company and the world’s leading escalator supplier, and Power Efficiency Corporation (OTCBB:PEFF), a clean tech company focused on efficiency technologies for electric motors, announced today the signing of an agreement for Power Efficiency to supply its private label Motor Efficiency Controller (MEC) for use on escalators.

The Schindler Energy Efficiency Manager is a unique motor efficiency controller that incorporates Power Efficiency’s proprietary E-Save Technology® to improve the efficiency of electric motors in escalators. The Energy Efficiency Manager is manufactured by Power Efficiency Corporation exclusively for Schindler. The Energy Efficiency Manager is a complete motor control device that soft starts a motor, bringing it from rest to full speed, and then protects the motor from adverse conditions, such as voltage and amperage spikes. Most importantly, when the motor is operating at full speed, Power Efficiency’s E-Save Technology monitors the motor and reduces its energy use when it is lightly loaded, typically reducing energy consumption by 20-35%. Schindler plans to incorporate the Energy Efficiency Manager as an energy saving option for customers purchasing repairs and modernization for escalator upgrades.

Bill Fiacco, executive vice president, Field Operations for Schindler Elevator Corporation America, said, “Helping our customers reduce costs, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a priority for Schindler. We pride ourselves in being an industry leader and are excited to work with Power Efficiency to offer our customers the Energy Efficiency Manager. Energy saving solutions such as this are a win-win – good for our customers and good for the environment.”

“Schindler is also a leader in reducing energy use within our own operations. The US Department of Energy has honored Schindler’s Gettysburg manufacturing facility with a 2010 Save Energy Now Award for its energy reduction activities.”

Steven Strasser, Chairman and CEO of Power Efficiency Corporation, said, “We are extremely pleased that Schindler will offer its customers the Energy Efficiency Manager based on Power Efficiency’s E-Save Technology for escalators. We look forward to working very closely with Schindler to address their customers’ desires to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.”

 

20 Company Sites Worldwide to Generate over 1.8MW Total

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera Corporation today announced that it will install solar power generating systems using the company's own solar modules at six domestic plants by March 2011, generating a total of 593kW, as part of its activities to promote environmental protection. Kyocera already has a number of solar power generating systems installed at its group companies inside and outside Japan, which combined with the new systems, will boost the company's total output to 1,815kW (1.8MW). At present, Kyocera has solar power generating systems installed at 14 of its group company locations around the world — which is contributing to the preservation of the environment by helping to reduce CO2 emissions.

Among the six plants to be equipped with new systems are the Yasu Plant (Shiga), which is the company's new solar cell manufacturing plant; the Kitami Plant (Hokkaido), which mainly manufactures mobile phone handsets; and the Sendai Plant (Kyushu), which mainly manufactures ceramic components and ceramic knives. The six new systems are expected to generate 591,000kWh in total per year — equivalent to the annual power consumption of approximately 125 standard households.

In Japan, Kyocera's solar energy field-testing facility — the Sakura Solar Energy Center located just outside of Tokyo near Narita airport — is equipped with a 43kW solar power generating system that was installed in 1984. The system has continued to perform efficiently for over 25 years, and has provided unprecedented, long-term field-test data. In 1998, the company's new global headquarters was constructed in Kyoto with a 214kW solar power generating system installed on the southern-facing wall and roof.

In 2005, KYOCERA MITA Espana S.A. installed a solar power generating system on its facilities in Madrid. In the same year, the Kyocera Group's North American headquarters, KYOCERA International Inc. in San Diego, installed a solar power generating system built in the unique design of a grove of solar trees in the staff parking lot. The system generates electricity under the Southern California sun, while also acting as a shade to keep the sun off of cars.

Kyocera will continue to make contributions to the promotion of solar power as a solar module manufacturer and strive to reduce environmental burden in the course of its business activities by installing solar generating systems at more of the company's sites.

 

New Buildings on Historic Lot Built to Strict Environmental Standards

CULVER CITY, Calif., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that it has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification for the studio's Lot and Office Transformation (LOT) Project by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The LOT Project included the construction of two new 100,000 square foot office buildings, named after Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn, and a parking structure located at the heart of the studio's historic lot based in Culver City, California.

"We are proud to receive this designation for our newest buildings on the lot," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. "It's our belief that we have a responsibility to help create a greener world for our community and future generations, and this project is an important part of our overall sustainability efforts."

"We're excited to be recognized by such a respected international body," said Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures. "We're also gratified that the buildings and the park area between them have become a new 'center of gravity' for our lot, a place where employees and visitors come to eat, exercise and meet with one another in an atmosphere that can be both relaxed and refreshing." The LEED Green Building Rating System(TM) is the nationally accepted benchmark for evaluating water, energy and atmosphere efficiency; material and resource selection and indoor environmental quality of sites for sustainability.

The Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn buildings, which were designed for Sony Pictures by Gensler Architecture with developer Georgetown Company and general contractor CW Driver, were recognized by USGBC for a number of factors related to their design and construction. Elements rated positively by USGBC include: the use of local and recycled building materials as well as diverting over 93 percent (16,128 tons) of construction waste material from landfills; the incorporation of onsite filtration system for storm water runoff and low-flow toilets and urinals; the use of low-emitting carpeting, paint, sealants, adhesives and wall coverings; the installation of motion detector lights and energy efficient light bulbs; the implementation of "Green Housekeeping" building maintenance standards; and the availability of preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles as well as car pools and van pools. In addition, the LOT Project included the construction of a state of the art, highly efficient central cooling plant.

Led by Lynton and Pascal, the studio's emphasis on the pursuit of environmental sustainability has taken on a new energy in the past two years. Goals announced in the fall of 2008 include a commitment to go "zero waste" on the studio's main lot. A composting program in partnership with the City of Culver City has helped move the company significantly forward to meet that goal. In addition to the LEED building project and other facilities and operations initiatives, the studio is pursuing sustainable practices across production, consumer products, employee programs and community outreach.

 

State-of-the-art facility will be built to LEED specifications and use industry-leading green practices

WAYNE, Pa., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Crothall Laundry Services, a division of Crothall Healthcare, has announced that it has signed a build-to-suit lease for an 82,950-square-foot building on a 5.64-acre site located in the Creekside Corporate Park, Oak Creek, WI, to be used as a central laundry processing facility. The building will be developed by CenterPoint Properties.

"Crothall is excited to be investing in the Oak Creek community to build our first laundry facility from the ground up and to LEED specifications. This commitment would not be possible without the support and partnership of Aurora Health Care. We anticipate that this will be a great opportunity to share in their future success and that of the area's other great healthcare providers. This state-of-the-art facility will utilize the industry's most environmentally friendly equipment, processes, and chemicals, and will support the community by creating jobs at a time when they are most needed," said Crothall Healthcare President Steve Carpenter.

"We are pleased that Crothall Laundry Services has selected CenterPoint Properties to develop their first ground-up laundry facility. The Creekside Corporate Park is ideally located in Oak Creek and provides excellent access to Ryan Road and I-94. Crothall's facility will be developed using current environmental friendly construction techniques. We are delighted to partner with them and help meet our client need for an environmentally responsible facility," says Edward Harrington, Senior V.P. of Development of CenterPoint Properties.

Scott Furmanski, First Vice President of real estate brokerage firm CBRE said, "I knew CenterPoint not only had a great site, but also the expertise and financial wherewithal to deliver to our client, Crothall Laundry Services, a state-of-the-art facility that will be among the country's most technologically advanced and environmentally advanced facilities of its sort in the United States."

 

NIEUWEGEIN, The Netherlands, August 30, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ballast Nedam has signed a contract with A2SEA A/S for the use of the Heavy Lift Vessel (HLV) Svanen at the Anholt offshore wind farm in Denmark. A2SEA is providing the Danish energy company DONG Energy with the vessel for the installation of the foundations in this wind farm. DONG Energy will consequently make the HLV Svanen available to the contractor (who has yet to be chosen) that will supply and install the foundations.

DONG Energy obtained the concession for the Anholt offshore wind farm this summer. The wind farm consists of 111 turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW. The foundations consist of a tubular steel pile (known as a monopile), and a transition piece that connects the monopile to the wind turbine's tower. The HLV Svanen will commence operations on this project at the end of 2011, and the work will continue into the third quarter of 2012.

Ballast Nedam has also entered into another contract with Walney Offshore Windfarms (DONG Energy and SSE) for the second quarter of 2011 to install monopiles using the HLV Svanen at the United Kingdom's Walney II offshore wind farm. Weighing an estimated 800 to 1000 tonnes each, the monopiles will be the heaviest ever installed at an offshore wind farm.

 

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MasTec, Inc. today announced that its CEO, Jose Mas and J. Marc Lewis, Vice President-Investor Relations, will be in Zurich presenting at the Barclays Global Renewables & Clean Technology Conference on Thursday, September 2nd, at approximately 8:05 a.m. Eastern time. One-on-one meetings with institutional investors and MasTec's senior management are also being arranged as a part of the conference.

The presentation audio and slides may be accessed through a link on the investor relations page of MasTec's website at www.mastec.com. Interested parties should check the Company's website for any schedule updates, or time changes. The presentation will also be available for replay on the MasTec website for approximately 30 days.

MasTec is a leading national infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout the United States across a range of industries. The Company's core activities are the building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of energy, communication and utility infrastructure, including electrical utility transmission and distribution, wind farms, solar farms, other renewable energy and natural gas and petroleum infrastructure, wireless, wireline, satellite communication, industrial infrastructure and water and sewer systems.

 

Competition celebrates achievements in sustainability and the progress of rebuilding
NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. Green Building Council:

WHAT:Final judging for USGBC’s 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition

USGBC's 2010 Natural Design Competition, in partnership with Salvation Army’s EnviRenew Initiative, is focused on the rebuilding effort in New Orleans. Approximately 360 student and emerging professional teams from around the world submitted designs for an 800-square-foot home, built in the traditional New Orleans shotgun style. Priced affordably and functional for elderly occupants, the homes meet the design requirements of LEED Platinum. Four designs will be chosen to be built in New Orleans’ Broadmoor neighborhood.

Once the homes are built, they will enter a measurement and verification phase in which they will be graded on energy efficiency, water reuse and indoor air quality among other categories. The design team whose home performs best during measurement and verification will be awarded the final grand prize at Greenbuild 2011.

WHO:Jurors for the 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition

-- Bob Berkebile, Principal, BNIM
-- LaToya Cantrell, President, Broadmoor Improvement Association
-- Valerie Casey, Founder & CEO, Designer’s Accord
-- Rick Fedrizzi, President and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council
-- Rose Jackson Flenorl, Manager of Social Responsibility, FedEx
-- Captain Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander, Salvation Army New Orleans
-- Kurt Hagstette, Associate Director, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Architects
-- Lindsay Jonker, Executive Director, Salvation Army’s EnviRenew
-- Liz Ogbu, Associate Design Director, Public Architecture
-- Cameron Sinclair, Co-founder, Architecture of Humanity

Read bios for the distinguished panel of jurors here.

WHERE:The Wilson School – 1111 Milan Street, New Orleans, La., 70115

WHEN:Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 at 5 p.m. – The four finalists will be announced

VISUALS:The 49 semifinalist designs in digital form, B-roll of judging and interviews/commentary with the judges are available. Site tours to the Broadmoor neighborhood where homes will be built are also available.

 

Upscale Jeweler Transforms Showroom with D-LED & Future Lighting Solutions

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New solid-state under-and-in-cabinet fixtures that are 1/10 the height of comparable non-LED luminaires have helped transform an upscale Israeli jewelry store with sleek new showcases featuring a more open appearance, better product lighting and 85% lower power consumption. The fixtures – built with LUXEON® Rebel LEDs – have reduced electricity costs by $1,300 per month for Royalty Jewelry’s 430-square-foot boutique in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Aviv Mall.

The Source Linear System fixtures were created by D-LED Illumination Technologies in collaboration with LED solution specialist Future Lighting Solutions. Their ultra-slim 49mm wide x 24mm high (1.9” x 0.9”) profile – stemming from the small LUXEON Rebel package plus D-LED’s no-secondary-optic design – shaped the open look of Royalty’s new showcases by shrinking the amount of wood trim required to conceal the interior lighting apparatus.

The new luminaires have also eliminated the jeweler’s problems with previous cabinets, including uneven light distribution, poor color quality, frequent bulb replacement, and high heat generation that scorched the wood and made the jewelry too hot to touch. Special engineering in combination with the small LUXEON point source produces a uniform beam spread over an exceptionally wide 100° x 110° angle, evenly illuminating merchandise without hot spots.

Future assisted D-LED in the fixture design by supplying sample LEDs from different bins to identify the optimal color temperature and color rendering combination for the application. Future also provided extensive engineering support, including optical simulations to determine the light spread of D-LED’s proposed design, on-site light readings to measure the light output, and expert input on issues ranging from heat dissipation and board assembly to driver electronics.

D-LED’s Source Linear System luminaires are available in multiple lengths and three color temperatures, and usable in environments including retail, kitchens, bars and hotels.

 

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cutting energy costs and improving building performance is of paramount importance for today’s building owners and operators. In response to these challenges, Green Building Services Inc. (GBS) and BOMA Portland (Portland Metropolitan Building Owners and Managers Association) developed a new Web-based technical solution – Building Insights O+M Track™ – which supports ongoing operational improvements and maintenance processes critical to high-performance buildings.

“O+M Track provides genuine value to owners and managers with infrastructure to help identify cost-of-ownership savings and streamline the reporting process into one efficient tool.”
According to Elaine Aye, IIDA, USGBC Faculty, Principal at GBS, this O+M tracking framework includes plans, programs, logs, surveys and calculators as well as best practice policies in categories such as green cleaning and purchasing. “O+M Track provides genuine value to owners and managers with infrastructure to help identify cost-of-ownership savings and streamline the reporting process into one efficient tool.”

O+M Track offers a comprehensive view of operations and maintenance activities and aligns with LEED EB: O+M reporting requirements, encouraging compliance under LEED for Existing Buildings.GBS and BOMA Portland created the secure-host, Web-based delivery system for easy information upload into the central tracking database.

“This partnership with GBS is helping to develop a tool that addresses a clear need in our industry and for our membership,” explains Susan Steward, executive director of BOMA Portland.

 

RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nevada Solar Works LLC, a partnership between Q&D Construction, CleanPath Renewables and Alternative Energy Solutions, has won a contract to build 1.3 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects for the City of Reno. The Reno City Council announced the contract today, approving a 1 MW fixed tilt ground mount system at the Reno-Stead Water Treatment Plant and 295 kW in fixed tilt roof and ground mount installations at five other locations throughout the city.

“Nevada Solar Works LLC applauds the City of Reno for investing in new jobs and clean, affordable sources of energy,” said Tim Kretzschmar, Senior Vice President of Q&D Construction. “The Nevada Solar Works team has vast experience building PV projects both in Nevada and throughout the United States, and we are confident we will deliver this project on schedule for the citizens of Reno.”

These projects are being built at no additional costs to the City of Reno. Funding is being provided by a combination of rebates from NV Energy, federal tax incentives and payments for the energy produced by the array. It is estimated that these arrays will save the city $2.5 million over the next 20 years, while generating more than 60 jobs in design, engineering, materials fabrication and construction.

“Nevada has a tremendous opportunity to create a sustainable green collar economy, and these projects are a great example of the potential for solar in Nevada,” said Scott Gerz, Director of Business Development at CleanPath Renewables.

The City of Reno solar project is the first statewide request for proposal (RFP) to build renewable energy that takes advantage of AB 186, a Nevada state law passed in October 2009 which allows for third-party ownership of renewable energy generation systems. The new law effectively allows businesses, institutions and governments to purchase solar arrays without up-front capital costs. They can save money by paying long-term fixed rates on the energy generated. In concert with NV Energy’s RenewableGenerations Program, AB 186 has paved the way for clean renewable energy projects to be realized across Nevada.

Construction on the first of the seven projects is scheduled to begin in October 2010.

 

Retail Sales to Debut on QVC®

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Toad, the innovative ergonomic pivoting paint brush system that makes it easy and comfortable for anyone to paint quickly and accurately, will be debuting its biodegradable and compostable paint system on QVC Thursday, August 26th. The Green Toad System (QVC Item #V30066) is scheduled to air during QVC's (Fall Clean Up with Dave James) broadcast at 7:00am EDT.

The QVC appearance marks the introduction of Green Toad's ergonomic grip. Designed in consultation with physical therapists, the Green Toad System combines a contoured-grip handle with a 360-degree pivoting brush head to minimize the physical discomforts associated with do-it-yourself painting and varnishing projects using a traditional paintbrush. The non-traditional contoured grip was designed to fit any size hand and possess the feel and performance of a durable hand tool. Moreover, the 360-degree rotating brush head locks securely in eight different positions. This not only reduces hand and wrist strain, but also improves accuracy in tight spots and challenging trim work. A quick release button on the ergonomic handle makes switching attachments a snap.

In addition to being comfortable and convenient, the Green Toad is also actually, well, green. All plastic parts, including the handle, brush heads, bristles and most internal parts, have been treated with Earthgreen(TM) polymers, which makes them biodegradable and compostable.

"The Green Toad is incredibly versatile. You can change brush sizes or paint colors by simply snapping a new brush head into place--no more stopping to clean the bristles between colors," said Lou Schiesz, CEO of Margco International LLC and inventor of the Green Toad. "And when you're ready for a roller, just click it into place and paint from eight different angles without twisting your wrist... The paint brush hasn't evolved much in the last 50 years," said Schiesz, "but, this product is revolutionary in terms of both comfort and the environment."

 

Beautiful, Broader Glidehouse Features Sleek Lines, Panoramic Views, Plentiful Natural Light and Elegant Accents

WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Green home builder Blu Homes, Inc., today announced the launch of the first product in its mkDesigns line, the Glidehouse. Nationally recognized for setting the standard in beautiful prefabricated architecture, Glidehouse, has previously only been available to a limited, west coast market and is now available nationwide.

"The Glidehouse is an elegant and innovative green design, and we are delighted to offer this spectacular home," said Bill Haney, CEO of Blu Homes, Inc. "Artfully harmonizing indoor and outdoor living, the Glidehouse truly proves that sustainability can be both beautiful and cost-effective."

The Glidehouse is designed for clean, green, contemporary living. Using the most modern and environmentally friendly building methods and materials, the Glidehouse is now constructed entirely in Blu's state-of-the-art 80,000 square-foot Massachusetts factory. The Glidehouse is now also built with Blu's proprietary steel and wood hybrid framing, making it more spacious than ever before, able to handle the most challenging weather conditions and quickly and conveniently completed on site. Available with two or three bedrooms and two full baths, and with optional features including additional bedrooms, carports, garages and fireplaces, the Glidehouse brings custom-home beauty and features to prefab in this single floor home.

This high performance home is airtight, energy efficient, and built in a controlled factory environment to maintain the highest construction standards. In addition, non-VOC paints, clean and beautiful glazing like Andersen® or NanaWall® windows and doors, FSC certified wood and bamboo flooring, water-saving fixtures by Kohler®, and Paperstone countertops are a few of the high-quality, eco-friendly finishes Glidehouse features.

The Glidehouse also uses water-saving plumbing fixtures, on-demand water heaters, and a mechanical ventilation system that is significantly more efficient than typical forced-air systems. Optional radiant hot water flooring is the standard for colder climates.

The Glidehouse meets the Energy Star® program standards for energy efficient homes and the performance standards of the American Lung Association Health House program. Blu can work with your local green rating program, as well.

Each Glidehouse home is solar ready. Other renewable energy systems such as geothermal, wind generator or hybrid systems can also be added to your Glidehouse design.

 

PLANO, Texas, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Perry, Ga., facility today became the state's first building to be awarded LEED® for Existing Buildings (EB) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), as verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

"Achieving LEED EB Gold certification is a major achievement on an already stellar year here at Frito-Lay Perry, which was named Georgia's Manufacturer of the Year," said Craig Hoffman, technical manager, Frito-Lay Perry. "Our associates and business partners worked diligently to enable our 22-year-old facility to be recognized nationally as an environmentally-friendly site. It makes it even more special that we are the first facility to receive this award in the state, and we can assist others in their pursuit of minimizing their environmental footprint."

"PepsiCo's Frito-Lay business unit is leading the way in helping USGBC realize our vision of a sustainably-built environment within a generation," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "This is the company's fourth LEED for Existing Buildings Gold certified building and others are on track to become members of the LEED family of green buildings."

To achieve LEED EB Gold certification, the company's Perry sustainability strategy included implementing a number of green design and construction features, water reduction technologies and practices, as well as improved waste management.

Energy reduction: The Perry facility has reduced its natural gas consumption by 35% and its electricity use by 27% per pound of product since 2000 by implementing changes such as installing waste heat recovery boilers, improved maintenance systems, and upgraded oven burners.

Water reduction: The facility has reduced its water consumption by 38% per pound of product since 2000 through a company-wide low water corn cook process, and installing low-flow solar-powered faucets and flush valves. Also, none of the site's process wastewater goes to the sewer; 100% of the process wastewater is used to irrigate the facility's massive 1,500-acre lot.

Recycling: As of July 2010, less than 1% of the Perry facility's solid waste goes to landfill. The site has achieved this through an employee-led plastic recycling program reusing cardboard shipping boxes multiple times, and allocating waste product for use in animal feed.

Frito-Lay Perry has earned numerous industry awards in the past two years, including Georgia's Manufacturer of the Year and a consistent rating by OSHA as one of the Safest Workplaces in North America, a classification achieved by less than 1 percent of all U.S. facilities in every industry.

Frito-Lay Perry has been a part of the Houston County community for more than 20 years and employs more than 1,300 associates. The nearly 990,000 square foot building sits on 1,500 acres of land. Frito-Lay Perry produces some of America's favorite snacks including Lay's and Ruffles potato chips, Fritos corn chips, Tostitos tortilla chips, Doritos tortilla chips, and SunChips multigrain snacks.

Frito-Lay North America now has four LEED EB Gold certified buildings, including its corporate headquarters in Plano, Texas, and three manufacturing facilities in Casa Grande, Ariz., Topeka, Kan., and now Perry, Ga.

 

U.S. company solves industry-wide problems of wood waste, carbon emissions, toxic materials and more

GROVER, N.C., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In recent years, by introducing eco-friendly recycled flooring products to the market, the wood flooring industry has made significant strides in setting and upholding new standards for sustainability. Nonetheless, eco-savvy architects, designers and consumers who are wary of greenwashing are now scrutinizing which companies are truly taking the lead on earthy-friendly products. That is why more and more turn to Staybull Flooring(TM), a Grover, N.C.-based business that has quickly earned a reputation as a progressive leader in genuinely green wood flooring. Most notably, Staybull Flooring produces a one-of-a-kind recycled wood product with a variety of eco-advantages. Recycling strips of lumber that mills worldwide would typically discard, Staybull Flooring also solves the problem of wood waste.

"Traditional solid-plank flooring manufacturers choose not to use 40 to 50 percent of the wood that each log produces," says Rosi Lehr, Director of Marketing for Staybull Flooring. "These practices produce countless tons of waste that get burned onsite or mechanically ground into sawdust. These processes are dirty and produce needless carbon emissions. Staybull Flooring eliminates these practices and creates edge-glued, wide-plank flooring that has more benefits than solid hardwood, bamboo, and even engineered flooring, making our product verifiably eco-friendly."

Staybull Flooring recycles over 20 species of domestic and exotic hardwoods, providing an alternative to the rustic look associated with reclaimed wood for contemporary and transitional interiors. Moreover, the construction of Staybull Flooring planks produces a multi-faceted surface that camouflages wear and enhances durability.

Installers can lay the VOC-free & R.E.A.C.H.-compliant flooring over concrete and refinish it repeatedly. For builders seeking LEED certification, Staybull Flooring, which happens to be 100 percent biodegradable, can come in FSC certified woods.

"Considering everything -- from the quality of Staybull Flooring to its ability to meet strict eco-friendly criteria -- many people assume that our product must be exorbitant in cost," Lehr says. "So it's a big surprise when they learn it's actually very affordable compared to many reclaimed and high-end flooring options. This affordability is an even bigger shock when people discover that we make the planks right here in the United States. Our commitment to providing domestic jobs perfectly complements our company's mission to create earth-friendly flooring through a sustainable manufacturing process."

 

MiaSole's thin-film modules to be installed on rooftops throughout Germany

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- MiaSole, the leading manufacturer of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, today announced purchase agreements to supply juwi Solar GmbH with CIGS photovoltaic modules.

The larger agreement is for 7.5 MW of MiaSole's CIGS thin-film modules and will be used in Q3 and Q4 of 2010 for ground mounted and rooftop projects throughout Germany.

This follows 1MW of CIGS modules delivered to juwi in Q2 2010 for projects in Germany and San Antonio, Texas.

"We are very encouraged that MiaSole is supplying its proven and bank financeable modules for a number of projects developed by juwi solar," said Lars Falck, Managing Director of juwi Solar GmbH. "We expect that our relationship with MiaSole will grow to help us meet the increasing needs for solar power together."

The MiaSole module incorporates a glass-glass design, suitable for the most rigorous snow load requirement and design features such as a low open circuit voltage and interconnecting cables that reduce owner's balance of systems cost versus comparable thin film modules.

"MiaSole is proud to be supplying panels to one of Germany's leading renewable energy companies, juwi solar," said MiaSole CEO Joseph Laia. "MiaSole modules are the cost effective solution for utility scale installations, both roof top and ground mount, and this is the beginning of what we hope to be a long term partnership focused on large scale solar deployments."

 

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern California Edison:
WHAT: Southern California Edison (SCE) will hold a grand opening event for an innovative exhibit featuring the latest tools and technologies that are helping to create a cleaner, smarter and more reliable electric grid.

The Smart Energy Experience is one of the first exhibits in the country to provide a live demonstration of how smart appliances work with a smart meter by communicating over a home area network. The center is designed to resemble a typical Southern California home, with displays that provide a glimpse into the future of energy distribution and consumption. Demonstrations include the future of power delivery via smart grid technologies, energy efficient devices and smart appliances, as well as plug-in electric vehicles.

SCE will highlight some of the features at the event, including the ability to monitor real-time fluctuations in electricity usage and cost as various appliances are turned on or off. Attendees also will learn how new smart grid technology will reduce the length and number of customers affected by power outages in the future by observing the impact of a simulated lightning strike and subsequent restoration of power.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Aug. 24.

WHERE: SCE’s Customer Technology Application Center,
6090 N. Irwindale Ave., Irwindale.

 

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Energy Management Services, Inc. (“GEM”), a provider of proprietary environmentally friendly, energy saving technologies for municipalities, building owners and large-scale power consumers, announced today that it has completed its previously announced reverse merger with CDSS Wind Down Inc. Pursuant to the merger, GEM became a wholly owned subsidiary and sole operating entity of CDSS and CDSS will be changing its name to Green Energy Management Services Holdings, Inc.

As a result of the merger, Michael Samuel, the Chief Executive Officer of GEM, was appointed as Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of CDSS, Robert Weinstein, the Chief Financial Officer of GEM, was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of CDSS, William D’Angelo, a director of GEM, was appointed as a director of CDSS, and all of CDSS’ officers and directors prior to the merger resigned from all of their positions held with CDSS.

"We are excited to have completed the process to become public," said Michael Samuel, Chief Executive Officer of GEM. "We are seeing strong interest from public and private entities looking to reduce their cost of energy and energy management. This interest is leading to promising opportunities for GEM to provide both the technology and management expertise that will result in its customers dramatically lowering their energy costs."

 

DOTHAN, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--XcelPlus Global Holdings, Inc.,an alternative energy and renewable energy solutions company, today announced that it has acquired Sunfield Technologies North America, Inc. (Sunfield N.A.), making XcelPlus the exclusive U.S. supplier of Sunfield solar thermal collectors.

“This solar thermal collector is the key component of our new line of products to retrofit traditional hot water heaters to substantially boost their efficiency," said David Poston, Chief Operating Officer of XcelPlus Global. "Sunfield thermal collectors are well known for quality and performance. These units are durable and efficient, and our installed test units have performed flawlessly. We are preparing to market and sell these systems throughout the southeast.”

Solar continues to be the number one technology supporting the movement to utilize renewable sources in energy production. State and Federal mandates continue to encourage the energy sector to use alternative/renewable sources. Thirty-two states have renewable production standards in place that require specific percentages of energy to be produced under these alternative guidelines. XcelPlus Global plans to seize the solar opportunity and capitalize on this business trend.

 

JIASHAN, China, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company"), a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers and provider of solar module original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") services, today announced that it has signed two wafer supply agreements to provide two major Taiwan-listed solar companies with approximately 836 MW of monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar wafers.

The Company signed a wafer supply agreement with Neo Solar Power Corp ("NSP"). Under the terms of the contract, ReneSola will supply NSP with approximately 293 MW of multicrystalline wafers from July 2010 to December 2013 and approximately 141 MW of monocrystalline wafers from October 2010 to December 2013.

The Company also signed a wafer supply agreement with Solartech Energy Corp ("Solartech Energy"). Under the terms of the contract, ReneSola will supply Solartech Energy with approximately 402 MW of multicrystalline wafers from July 2010 to December 2013.

Mr. Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer, commented, "We continue to leverage the strength of our core wafer business in securing new long-term contracts with key downstream solar companies. Our competitively priced and cost-efficient wafers help to attract strategic global customers and are an important part of many companies' solar solutions. We remain committed to building our core wafer business as we strive to be the industry leader in high-quality solar wafers."

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The new GE® hybrid heat pump water heater, recently named GeoSpring™, is an Energy Star-qualified electric heat pump water heater that will reduce water heater operating expenses up to 62 percent, saving as much as $320 annually* -- that’s $3,200 in savings over a 10-year period based on a national average electricity rate of 10.65 cents per kWh. The GeoSpring is so innovative and energy efficient that it recently received the Popular Science “Best of What’s New Award” for 2009.

The GeoSpring hybrid electric heat pump water heater is ideal for energy efficiency and low-income weatherization programs, offering easy replacement of a standard electric water heater and offering a Savings to Investment ratio (SIR) of between 2.0 and 2.8 for the 10-year warranty period. According to the Department of Energy, weatherization programs typically create an average energy savings of $350 per year for their program recipients.** Since the GeoSpring can save up to $320 per year, it can nearly double the program savings with minimal additional program cost.

It is designed for easy retrofit installation, because it uses the existing water heater’s plumbing and electrical connections and occupies the same footprint as a traditional 50-gallon tank water heater.

Many Affordable Housing, Community Action and Weatherization Agencies have already taken advantage of the tremendous energy savings offered by the GeoSpring and have incorporated it into their programs. “We’ve been really impressed with GE’s new GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater,” says John Dennis, Cattaraugus County Weatherization Manager and member of the New York State Weatherization Directors Association (NYSWDA). “The product is very easy to install, and the energy savings are a big contribution to the complete energy efficiency solution we are providing to our weatherization program participants.”

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the water heater is the second largest energy-consuming appliance in the home behind the HVAC system. Since the water heater consumes approximately 14 percent of the energy used by the average household, the GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater has been designed to reduce this energy consumption by 62 percent, which means that the GE water heater could reduce total household energy consumption by 8 to 9 percent.

Jeff Waller, Program Manager for Community Housing Partners in Virginia, has been equally impressed with the energy savings and support he has gotten from GE. “We were initially impressed with the energy savings opportunity offered by GE’s new GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater, and its ability to help us meet our program goals of providing affordable, green, sustainable housing opportunities for our communities. But I’d have to say that we’ve been most impressed with the support we’ve gotten directly from GE. Heat pump water heaters are relatively new to the industry, and GE has a terrific technical support group that has answered all of our questions and helped us get very comfortable with this new innovative technology very quickly.”

GE’s GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater was the first heat pump water heater to meet the Department of Energy’s Energy Star criteria for heat pump water heaters. The product became available in November 2009 and is currently available through Lowe’s, Sears, local independent retailers, plumbing distributors, and directly from GE.

 

Some Bright Ideas for Saving Money, Living Better and Helping the Planet

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Based in the land of sunshine, where no one seems to actually worry about light, perhaps it is ironic that one Florida-based company is finding a way to integrate energy efficiency and cost savings via a home’s lighting. In difficult economic times, people are always looking for ways to save money without sacrificing too much or changing their lifestyle. Yet, all of this is achievable simply by changing a light bulb.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, The Green Savings Company specializes in providing a wide range of lighting products that meets the rapidly expanding consumer demand for eco-friendly, yet cost-efficient lighting. According to Scott Raybin, President of The Green Savings Company, the latest technologies in the design and development of lighting products allows even the least eco-centric person to be kind to the planet while going easy on the check-book. According to Raybin, accomplishing these myriad goals is “literally as easy as changing a light bulb.” With the flip of a switch, The Green Savings Company and its most popular product, the T5 Retrofit Kit, helps people reduce their electrical expenses and convert their home or business from a noxious, ozone eating, planet-altering weigh station to a money saving-eco-friendly dwelling or place of business.

Green Savings Company’s flagship product – The T5 Retrofit Kit - dramatically improves efficiency for consumers by using 60 percent less energy to provide the same light output as a traditional T12 fluorescent lamp. “Better quality light coupled with monthly cost savings is a pretty powerful combination,” says Raybin. Over the last few years, state energy rebates and federal tax incentives have made “going green” more appealing for consumers and businesses alike. “We’re talking about real savings,” says Raybin. To prove his point, GSC has created a “green calculator” that can estimate in under 30 seconds, exactly how much money a homeowner or business owner saves when swapping existing lighting instruments for a T5 Retrofit Kit.

“This is truly one of those rare situations that is a big win-win for everyone involved – saving money, living and working in conditions that are better lighted, which contributes to higher productivity and morale in the work place, reducing the carbon footprint, and being eco-friendly and socially responsible.” The way Raybin sees it, “it’s one of those cases where you hear about something that is too good to be true, and it actually is.”

 

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brookfield Office Properties announced today that its Bank of America Plaza office tower in Los Angeles has achieved the prestigious LEED EB:OM (Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification signifies environmental excellence in real estate in five key areas: carbon emissions reduction, water efficiency, energy savings, sustainable materials selection and indoor air quality.

Bank of America Plaza is an iconic, 55-story office tower located in the Bunker Hill section of downtown L.A. The building is 95% leased.

“The LEED certification process was truly a collaborative effort between Brookfield staff and our accommodating tenants,” said Robert Cushman, Brookfield’s vice president of Operations for the Southern California region. “The fact that innovative, sustainable methods and technologies have been instituted into a building that is 36 years old makes this feat all the more impressive.”

Some of the features and systems upgrades that helped Bank of America Plaza achieve LEED certification include:
-A new cogeneration plant which lowers energy demand charges and utilizes waste heat for cooling;
-Indoor and outdoor water efficiency that resulted in a 22% reduction in water consumption;
-Indoor air quality enhancement through a new EMS (Energy Management System) and efficient HVAC system ventilation filtration utilizing 100% use of outside air for cooling;
-High-efficiency lighting systems and occupancy sensors;
-Use of sustainable cleaning products, materials and procedures;
-A new garage carbon monitoring system to ensure proper ventilation; and
-Education guidelines for tenants on utilization of sustainable renovation materials and practices both in operations and tenant construction.

Prior to achieving LEED certification, the building had received the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR award every year since 2006, and currently has an ENERGY STAR score of 92 out of 100.

 

NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PetersenDean Roofing and Solar announced today that it is set to roll out a new innovative solar mounting hardware that will improve curb side appeal, increase system output and drive down installation cost by as much as twenty percent. This new hardware is set to launch in September 2010.

At a time when solar installation costs are rising as a result of declining utility rebates, the engineers at PetersenDean are actually making solar power more affordable by using their years of actual “building experience” to drive down the cost, while improving quality and adding years to the installed roofing and solar warranty.

“PetersenDean is a construction company first and foremost. It is our vision to design and construct a solar energy system on every home and building nationwide. To accomplish this goal, we intend to drive installation cost down to the point where every building owner will have the opportunity to own this type of clean, renewable and reliable energy,” said CEO/founder Jim Petersen.

 

Garrett-Evangelical at Northwestern University Campus gets Energy Efficient, Renewable Heating and Cooling with Indie Energy Smart Geothermal(TM)

EVANSTON, Ill., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary on the Northwestern University campus -- U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky convened a meeting with representatives of Indie Energy, Garrett-Evangelical, Northwestern University, and the Evanston Chamber of Commerce to discuss the economic benefits of using renewable energy to create highly energy efficient buildings for campuses and communities.

The meeting was preceded by Schakowsky's visit to the joint Garrett-Evangelical and Indie Energy Smart Geothermal(TM) project on the lakefront campus of Northwestern University. The project will provide renewable heating and cooling for two Garrett dormitories undergoing major remodeling.

"Congresswoman Schakowsky's initiative to promote this public-private dialog around jobs and renewable energy was extremely timely and beneficial," said Daniel Cheifetz, Indie Energy CEO. "It became clear to all the participants that by tapping the clean energy incentives now in place, it is feasible to accelerate adoption of technologies like smart geothermal so that our buildings can become engines of energy efficiency," Cheifetz added.

Why Smart Geothermal(TM) for Buildings?

Although advances have been made to generate grid electricity with renewable energy like wind, solar, and hot rock geothermal, we still heat and cool buildings by burning expensive and dirty fossil fuels, and this consumes 45% of all the energy used in buildings, and creates 35% of all greenhouse gas emissions. That's hundreds of billions of dollars burned annually, and gigatons of carbon dioxide emitted every year. Indie Energy has developed a Smart Geothermal technology system to radically cut buildings' heating and cooling costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Smart Geothermal is based on connecting the building to the invisible energy asset of a site: its sub-surface thermal mass - whether under the building, garage, parking lot, or greenspace - and developing that connection into a renewable source of heating and cooling.

The Missing Link Technology

But that connection alone usually isn't enough for a commercial building to "go geo". More technologies are needed to optimize and control the interaction of the building to lower build costs and guarantee performance. The Indie Energy Smart Geothermal System(TM) is the missing link. It is budget-friendly, plugs seamlessly into architectural and engineering designs, and has monitoring and controls to prove and improve performance. Smart Geothermal technologies enable buildings to be engines of energy efficiency.


"With geothermal technology that heats and cools buildings more efficiently than our traditional systems, Indie Energy is a wonderful example of an innovative small business that can help grow our country's evolving clean energy economy," said U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. "I am very pleased to see a business, right here in my district, that is creating energy efficient technology - a critical new sector of the global economy," Schakowsky added.

 

Proven, Customized Architectural Solutions Provide Customers with a Wide Variety of Performance Levels to Meet Their Needs

AUSTELL, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today YKK AP America and Project Frog formed a strategic relationship to provide YKK AP’s architectural aluminum products to Project Frog for use in its sustainable building solutions. This partnership enables Project Frog to provide its customers with proven, customized architectural solutions to meet a variety of performance levels up to and including net-zero, based on the customer’s specific needs. The collaboration demonstrates YKK AP and Project Frog’s commitment to deliver on its sustainable promises while meeting a strong need to develop cost-effective, energy-efficient and rapidly deployable buildings for a variety of building owners.

“We are committed to aggregating the best materials on the market for our building projects and YKK AP is just one example of our ability to deliver on our promise,” said Ash Notaney, vice president, supply chain at Project Frog. “YKK AP’s longtime environmental philosophy and its products align perfectly with our goal of building better, greener, faster and smarter. Not only is this a strategic move for both Project Frog and YKK AP, it also represents a transformation within the construction industry by using technology to advance the building.”

Project Frog offers a highly effective and proven solution for schools, retail outlets, healthcare facilities, parks and recreation, and government institutions that are often under financial and time constraints that conventional construction methods cannot address. Project Frog’s goal is to develop these buildings in a sustainable manner, in a shorter amount of time and at a much lower cost than typical commercial building applications. By collaborating with YKK AP, Project Frog is now able to incorporate the highest quality energy-efficient fenestration systems available to compliment their own stringent standards for sustainability and quality.

“Project Frog is a remarkable organization and one in which we feel both proud and privileged to work with. We are excited to support such an exciting initiative and to further promote sustainability to the industry at large,” said Oliver Stepe, senior vice president of YKK AP America. “By working with Project Frog, we are opening up a strong opportunity for our energy efficient architectural products, expanding their use to additional smarter, green building projects. We look forward to a long-standing relationship with Project Frog and to successfully completing many innovative and sustainable projects together.”

 

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) has been selected to receive the 2010 EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Grant from the Maryland Energy Administration to provide energy efficient audits, weatherization, and retrofits to Prince George's County residents' homes.

UCAP will provide additional training to twenty participants who have completed the Green Industry Certification Program (GICP). GICP is the only program of this type in the county, which is a collaborative green workforce initiative between United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP), U.S. Green Building Council, and Prince George's Community College. The graduates of the GICP program have earned the following certification: 10-hour OSHA, CPR, First Aid, Weatherization, Flagging and LEEDs Level I. The additional training will give the GICP graduates training in Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification which will allow participants the opportunity to become energy auditors.

Once the participants complete UCAP Clean and Green Communities Program and receive their BPI certifications, they will perform energy audits, weatherization and retrofits to at least 61 homes in Prince George's County. To qualify for this FREE program you must live in target zip codes (20710, 20743, 20746, 20747, 20748, 20772, 20782, and 20771). All work will be at no cost to homeowners.

This is a joint partnership with Taurus Renovation and Construction, who will inspect heating and cooling equipment, check for air-leakage using a blower door test, and provide opportunities that will improve the home's insulation, windows, appliances and lighting. Homeowners will receive an explanation of what improvements can be made, and information which may qualify homeowners for a federal tax credit.

 

DENVER, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- 1800 Larimer, the Denver Central Business District's first high-rise office in more than 25 years, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Westfield Company, Inc. announced today. The certification makes 1800 Larimer one of the first high-rise office buildings in the United States and the largest west of the Mississippi River to receive LEED Platinum status - the highest awarded. In addition, the property is the first building in Colorado to be awarded LEED Platinum certification based on the LEED Core/Shell version 2.0, which has more stringent requirements than earlier versions.

Completed in May 2010, 1800 Larimer ushers in a new class of technologically-advanced 21st Century corporate office towers, employing state-of-the-art systems and design features, which provide a healthier, more productive business environment. It's also one of the largest office buildings begun and completed in the United States since the commercial real estate market crash of 2008.

Developed by Westfield, designed by international architectural firm RNL, and built by Mortenson Construction, the 500,000-square-foot glass-clad high-rise offers a next generation business environment. The 22-story building is 80% leased and is the regional headquarters for Xcel Energy. Frederick Ross Company, Apartment Realty Advisors, Westfield Company and Citywide Banks are also tenants in the building.

"1800 Larimer is a great addition to Denver's skyline and its LEED Platinum certification is a significant achievement, not only for Westfield, but also for Denver and the City's Greenprint program," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. "The building will serve as a model for future development as demand for green buildings grows. It beautifully illustrates how tenants can save money on their utilities while reducing their environmental impact."

Rich McClintock, Westfield's Chief Executive Officer, said: "1800 Larimer represents how leading edge building design can help create a healthful, high-performing, and environmentally-sound workplace - what most tenants will require in the future. Westfield is proud to have achieved the highest LEED certification and we believe that 1800 Larimer is the standard for next generation office buildings."

David Eves, President and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, Xcel Energy's operating company in the state, said: "We were able to consolidate three offices into the building, so there are definitely efficiencies for us. But the appeal of 1800 Larimer was also the prospect of moving into a LEED Platinum office tower. We wanted to have an office building and space that reinforces the environmental commitment that we have as a company, and we have achieved that."

In addition to the LEED requirements, 1800 Larimer earned additional credits for offering new solutions and exemplary performance through the following achievements:
-- Water-saving strategies reduce building water use by nearly 45%.
-- 100% covered parking.
-- Green housekeeping practices.

McClintock added, "Not only is 1800 Larimer the most sustainable office building in Colorado, it also enjoys AAA amenities like concierge security and a hotel-style conference facility that accommodates nearly 300 people."

 

Multiple Solar Arrays to Support University’s Sustainable Energy Efforts, Largest Rooftop Installation in State of Delaware

NEWARK, Del. & ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Standard Solar, Inc., the East Coast’s premier full-service developer, integrator and installer of solar electric systems, today announced that it will install solar power at the University of Delaware (UD). The array will be installed by Standard Solar and jointly developed, owned and operated with its joint venture partner Perpetual Energy Systems LLC (PES), a comprehensive financier of solar powered renewable energy systems.

UD’s initial solar array will include more than 2000 panels to yield an 850-kilowatt solar electric system. Once completed, UD’s system is expected to generate approximately 1035 kilowatt hours of electricity each year and result in 1,810,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide being emitted annually. The avoided emissions will be the equivalent of reducing the use of 93,363 gallons of gasoline each year.

“The University of Delaware is pleased to partner with Standard Solar on this solar power initiative,” said UD President Patrick Harker. “This project is another example of idea leadership and is in keeping with the Path to Prominence Initiative for the Planet and our ongoing efforts to become ‘The Green University’.”

UD’s system will be funded in part from its 2009 senior class gift, which was earmarked for solar initiatives on campus. UD was a pioneer and continues to lead in the field of photovoltaics, with a wide range of research both technical and in energy policy. The university’s research in solar energy has resulted in the development of 10 new technologies, eight of which are now patented, and 60 percent of these solar innovations have been licensed, all to U.S. companies.

UD’s panels will be installed over three buildings throughout the school’s main campus in Newark: the Delaware Field House at the David Nelson Athletic Complex off South College Avenue, at Clayton Hall on the Laird Campus off Route 896 and at 461 Wyoming Road. The largest array of solar panels, which is planned for the Delaware Field House, will be the largest single rooftop installation in the state of Delaware.

“Designated by the U.S. Department of Energy as a 'national center of excellence' in solar electric power, the University of Delaware 'walks the walk,’ using the technology to assist its effort to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2020,” said John Byrne, Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy who led a campus carbon inventory study released in fall, 2008. “This is an important step, which I hope will soon be followed by additional actions to meet the plan's goal of installing 6 megawatts of solar power on campus.”

“Having seen the University's solar program grow since the early 1970s, it is very exciting to see solar energy become an important part of our community,” said Newark Mayor Vance Funk.

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- ProudGreenHome.com, a new website dedicated to the green home sector, will officially launch on Sept. 1, 2010.

Homeowners are more passionate than ever to live in homes that are as friendly to the earth as they are to the families that reside in them. That's why NetWorld Alliance, publisher of multiple news and information websites across numerous industries, developed the ProudGreenHome.com web portal.

ProudGreenHome.com has a vision to help its audience respect the earth and create more energy efficient and sustainable homes that honor the human experience. To make that vision a reality, the website publishes the most thoughtful and deepest content available, in a format designed to communicate information in a way that educates and inspires.

The site focuses on expanding green knowledge related to residential development, home construction, home remodeling and energy efficiency, conveyed through the experiences of green homeowners and a panel of carefully chosen industry experts with a variety of backgrounds in the green building industry.

"The green home industry is a special place to be at this time. The market is young with enormous promise for many years ahead, as enthusiastic homeowners turn to green housing to help our world be greener and healthier," says Bob Fincher, publisher of ProudGreenHome.com.

 

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A combination of ingenuity and technical expertise among CertainTeed Corporation employees is making waves at the company's manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Kan. The facility, which produces fiberglass insulation, made important changes to help reduced its water usage by more than 35 percent.

To help conserve water, the Kansas City plant made adjustments to spray systems to reuse water and eliminate the need for valuable city water. The sprayed water is used to keep the rotary screens clean during the manufacturing process. Through installation of new equipment, controls and piping, the water is now captured, cleaned and re-circulated back into the spray system.

"While the new, more sustainable approach in cleaning the rotary screens required an initial investment in equipment, we were able to recoup the costs in less than one year," says Jeff Chevalier, process engineer for CertainTeed Insulation. "This water conservation project is a perfect example of how working together to reduce our environmental impact can also improve our bottom line."

A part of the community since 1951, the CertainTeed plant in Kansas City manufactures a broad array of insulation products, including fiberglass batts, rolls and blow-in insulation that help make homes more sustainable and energy efficient. The plant is also an active participant in the Saint-Gobain International Environment, Health and Safety Day, an annual event dedicated to environmental awareness, emergency preparedness, healthy living and workplace safety.

"In addition to offering energy efficient products with renewable and recycled content, and reducing our energy consumption as recognized by the 2010 Energy Star Partner of the Year award, we are proud of important milestones like these results in Kansas City," says Paul Valle, president of CertainTeed Insulation. "Our ongoing sustainability efforts will continue to reduce environmental impacts in all areas of our operations."

 

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A project to make the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence more energy-efficient has earned the 42-year-old building Gold LEED-EB Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council, the Department of General Services announced today.

"The greening of the Governor's Residence underscores our commitment to make state-owned buildings as energy-efficient as possible," said DGS Secretary James P. Creedon, who also serves as co-chairperson of the Governor's Green Government Council. "By using fewer resources, we are saving taxpayers' money while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a healthier environment."

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the nation's preeminent certification program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The rating system measures new and existing buildings for performance in six categories, including sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovations in upgrades.

Energy-efficient improvements to the Governor's Residence included the installation of an automated energy management system, a geothermal ground-source heat pump system, a humidification system and high-efficiency motors for ventilation fans and water pumps. In addition, insulation was adding to the attic and incandescent lights were replaced with fluorescent lighting.

Overall, Pennsylvania's Governor's Residence earned 51 credits, making it the most credits achieved over any of the LEED-EB-certified Governor's Residences in the nation.

 

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its residential business serving Sacramento to Paramount Energy Solutions. The Company’s Roseville-based operation, doing business locally as Yes! Solar Solutions®, serves the residential solar market in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties. The transaction marks a sharpened focus for Solar Power, Inc., on large-scale distributed generation and utility-scale solar developments.

“The residential solar business can be challenging in the current economic climate, especially with respect to financing residential solar systems through conventional means,” said Steve Kircher, Chairman and CEO of Solar Power, Inc. “Paramount Energy Solutions has developed innovative and successful financing solutions for homeowners,” Kircher pointed out. “This agreement is a win-win for all involved. We’re proud to share an exclusive alliance with Paramount Energy Solutions in the development of the residential solar market. This allows us to focus on our core competencies and operational strengths as we continue to pursue a growing number of distributed generation and utility-scale solar developments,” Kircher concluded.

PES aims to make going solar simple for its customers. The company provides financing, custom design, solar installation, permits, rebate paperwork, and ongoing solar system monitoring from a single source through its partnership with SolarCity®. With PES’s innovative financing options, customers are able to start saving money on their energy bills in the first month of service with no upfront costs.

The transaction was executed on August 12th between Solar Power, Inc., and Paramount Equity, Paramount Energy Solution’s parent company. PES will begin working with Yes!’s prospective customers immediately.