52 Search Results for "sustainable"

• How Do I know Something is Gre

  • From: susanp
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    HOW DO I KNOW SOMETHING IS GREEN? 

    Now that "green has become such a buzzword we are continually being flooded with  products, building materials, buildings, and services advertising their green product. 

    This now requires the buyer to do due diligence in order to insure that the product or service is really as advertised.

    Fortunately there are now groups (usually non-profit) who offer strict third party certifications Looking for seals such as these can help insure your product is truly green. For consumer products the best option would be Good Housekeeping Green. It still can be a challenge to find the right builder since LEED and NAHB do not have builders listed on their site. 

    ENERGYSTAR                                                                               This blue and white symbol can be found on products, applainces and now homes that have qualified as more energy efficient. To earn the ENERGY STAR, products must meet strict energy criteria that have been set in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy. These products include refrigerators, dish washers and light bulbs. You will see many builders advertising themselves as EnergyStar, to check this go to the website where you will find a list of all builders who are currently rated as EnergyStar. It is also important to understand that many ES products are only as good as the people who install them
     

    USGBC  (LEED)

    The United States Green Building Council is an internationally recognized green building certification system,  providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. There are four levels of certifications certified, silver, gold and platinum. There are only a few of these in lower Delaware (look at the Center for the Inland Bays). Unless you are passionately commited to building a completely sustainable home, this designation carries larger costs.

    
     

    NAHB GREEN

    NAHB's National Green Building Program is the first residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive American National Standards Institute approval. The four threshold levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald - allow builders to achieve entry-level green building, or the highest level of sustainable "green" building incorporating energy savings of 60% or more. Single-family & multi-unit homes, residential remodeling projects, and site developments are all covered in the Standard.You will find that many of the fine builders in this area have added NAHB Green to their credentails.
    
    

    Good Housekeeping Green Seal - This label bares a strong resemblance to its famous counterpart with the distinction of it's color (green). The Green Good Housekeeping Seal will debut later this year, after the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and a consultancy firm complete development of product evaluation criteria. To be eligible for the green seal, a product must meet the criteria for the original seal of approval, as well as meet standards related to product composition, manufacturing and packaging.

     

    GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality                                           These planet-toting logos can be found on building materials that are manufactured to help "improve indoor air." The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is a nonprofit organization that oversees the certification programs for building materials and indoor products. These logos let a consumer know that the products are regularly tested to meet chemical and particle emissions acceptable under IAQ pollutant guidelines and standards.

     

    Scientific Certification Systems -  This independent company gives certification of environmental, sustainability, food quality and food purity claims for products across the globe. Their extensive network covers consumer goods such as produce, fisheries, forestry, eco-products and floral.

     

    ARE YOU BAFFLED YET?

    If this seems a little baffling.... that's because it is and it has taken me quite a while to get a handle on it. As part of the services Green Realtors offer their clients is the ability to help them decide what kind of home they want and recommend those professionals who would be the best person to help them.

    The myth that an energy efficient home or green home is only for those who can spend a lot of money is really...just a myth

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• Book Review: Sustainable Energ

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Book Review: Sustainable Energy -– Without the Hot Air, by David JC MacKay
    
    I recently finished reading  a book I strongly recommend to anyone interested in sustainable development and energy. It is packed with figures and findings that I believe will easily start discussions among CleanTechies.
    
    The author, David JC MacKay, is Professor in the Department of Physics at Cambridge University and was recently appointed Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change responsible for the Low Carbon Transition Plan.
    
    One of the main findings of this book is that electrifying our cars and installing heat pumps in our buildings would enable us to cut significantly both our greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption. Both solutions are much more efficient than the current traditional ones and could benefit from massive electrification to answer all our energy needs.
    
    Below is a selection of the book’s key findings:
    
    Sustainable Electricity: MacKay believes that the UK and Europe in general can’t count solely on renewables. He shows that wind, biofuels, hydro, solar PV and other energy sources don’t add up enough energy to answer our current needs and will do so to an even lesser extent in the future, once we have a strong electrified transport sector.
    
    So we need a plan that provides additional resources, for example concentrated solar (like the Desertec project), or nuclear, or a combination of both. Clean coal may also add up enough electricity if proven viable.
    
    North American Energy Consumption: The author notes that the continent should first and foremost decrease energy consumption from 250 kWh per person per day to the current European or Japanese levels of 125 kWh. This could enable the continent to rely solely on renewables with the installation of concentrated solar in its deserts.
    
    European Energy Consumption: With Europeans consuming the equivalent of 125 kWh per day per person, we see a breakdown of transport accounting for 40 kWh per day, and heating for another 40 kWh. Delivered electricity amounts to 18 kWh but due to the inefficiencies of the system, this comes from 45 kWh of energy. With improved efficiency, we could go from the current 125 to around 80 kWh, a figure similar to that of Hong Kong. (This simplification for the sake of the argument doesn’t take into certain factors that are are tackled in detail in the book.)
    
    Future Scenarios: In chapter 27, the author gives five examples for plans that add up enough electricity. The baseline plan is as follow: Clean coal 16 kWh per day per person, nuclear 16, tide and wave 5.7, hydro 0.1, waste 1.1, pumped heat 12, wood 5, solar thermal 1, biofuels 2, solar PV 3 and wind 8. The four other plans give more or less importance to each of these energy sources. In one plan, nuclear accounts for 44 kWh when in another plan, wind energy accounts for 32 kWh.
    
    Transportation: Today, electric cars need as little as 15 kWh for 100 kilometers while models running on oil need 70 to 90 kWh. Hence, electric cars are already five times more efficient than current conventional models. (Side note: SUVs – also called spaceships by the author – need around 120 kWh…) High speed rail and other sustainable alternatives also have to be pushed forward. A full high speed train only consumes as little as 3 kWh per passenger, and biking consumes even less: 1 kWh.
    
    Housing and buildings: The author is an advocate of both retrofitting and reducing the winter thermostat from 20°C to 17°C, which alone brings savings of 30% (page 292). By combining both solutions, David MacKay halved his heating bills. With a coefficient of performance (COP) of 4 to 5, heat pumps retrieve the heat contained in the outside air or soil and distribute it indoors. Another advantage of this solution is that it can bring air conditioning during hotter days.
    
    The book is available for free on the official website. You can download it in one document or read it per chapter. The paper version can be bought for around $32 / €22. Published this year, it is up to date and explains simply but most effectively (and with a good sense of humor) how we can create a low carbon energy economy.
    
    Grade : 20/20. A must read.
    
    Readability: Maximum as it brings a lot of data.
    
    Further information: MacKay in a recent article on the BBC – most interesting.
    
    
    --by Edouard Stenger - source: blog.cleantechies.com

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• Ford to Develop Wheat Straw Re

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Ford Teams Up To Develop Wheat Straw-Reinforced Plastic To Be Used In 2010 Ford Flex
    
    This application alone reduces petroleum usage by around 20,000 pounds and reduces CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year
    
    Ford Motor Company, working with academic researchers and one of its suppliers, has developed and used environmentally friendly wheat straw-reinforced plastic in a vehicle.
    
    The first application of the natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20% wheat straw bio-filler is on the 2010 Ford Flex's third-row interior storage bins. This application alone reduces petroleum usage by some 20,000 pounds per year, reduces CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year, and represents a smart, sustainable usage for wheat straw, the waste byproduct of wheat.
    
    Patrick Berryman, a Ford engineering manager who develops interior trim, said: "Ford continues to explore and open doors for greener materials that positively impact the environment and work well for customers. We seized the opportunity to add wheat straw-reinforced plastic as our next sustainable material on the production line, and the storage bin for the Flex was the ideal first application."
    
    The company's new-age application for wheat straw joins other bio-based, reclaimed and recycled materials that are in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Ford's sustainable materials portfolio also includes soy-based polyurethane seat cushions, seatbacks and headliners; post-industrial recycled yarns for seat fabrics; and post-consumer recycled resins for underbody systems, such as the new engine cam cover on the 2010 Ford Escape's 3.0-liter V-6 engine.
    
    Ford works with the Ontario government-funded project, which is seeking to advance the use of more plant-based materials in the auto and agricultural industries. Ford is advancing a strategy to migrate this bio-based material to numerous other interior, exterior and under-hood applications for multiple product lines.
    
    --source: automotive-business-review.com

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• Safe Green Toy Gift Ideas

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    With the holidays fast approaching and recent health scares relating to childrens' toys, ensure your little ones receive safe, happy, and dare I say educational, toys. Check out the Safe Green Toy Gift Ideas list (courtesy of TheDailyGreen.com) for cool finds like this Eco-House complete with recycling bins, solar panels, wind turbine and rain barrels (and it's made from sustainable materials).

     

    

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• Eat Local (and sustainable!)

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    One of the most popular food trends in the past year or two has been local food. So why is eating local all the rage, and what can you do to be part of this growing movement?

    What is local?

    We need to start by defining the word local. It has different meanings to different people, but I define local as being as close to home as possible. With food, that would mean buying food raised or produced as close to your home as possible.

    To purists, or locavores, local means buying food within a set radius, such as 50 or 100 miles. To others, local means as far as a day’s drive from where you live. Because geography and growing is different around the country (and world), I opt for a more flexible definition.

    Technically, this means that any food you buy close to your home is local, even conventional or industrially produced food. So inherent within the local label is the concept of sustainable. Try to avoid food from a large industrial operation, no matter how close to your home it is. The best way to tell if a farm is industrial is to find out how big it is and how diverse its products are. A very large farm producing only one crop is most likely industrial – when you plant the same crop on many acres, you attract pests, which means you have to use pesticides. So focus on smaller farms, ones that have different types of crops, and find out what their growing practices are.

    When you’re shopping for local food, look for local sustainable food from a small independent family farm. That means minimal chemical pesticides and fertilizers were used, the land and everything on it was treated with respect, and every effort was made to provide you with the most wholesome, nutritious food. In general, smaller farms are more sustainable because they tend to grow a variety of crops and undertake conservation practices such as crop rotation, so they usually have less problems with pests. But it’s always wise to find out exactly how your food was produced before you make the decision to buy and eat it.

    Why buy local?

    There are many reasons to buy local, including –

    - Taste. Local sustainable food is most often picked when ripe because transport time to market is so small. It is also usually grown with minimal inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This provides you with better tasting food.

    - Better for you. Food raised close to home will not be shipped long distances so will be harvested when ripe, giving you optimal nutrition. Industrial food shipped long distances is harvested before ripe, shipped, and sometimes sprayed with chemicals to preserve or forcibly ripen it.

     

    - Helps the environment. By not shipping food such long distances, less pollution is emitted and less waste is created. There is a debate over whether individual farms driving to markets pollutes more than shipping food in large containers on trains or ships. The key problem with long distance shipping is the processing and packaging necessary to transport the food such long distances – processing uses more energy than the shipping – so you’re still better off buying local.

    - Supports family farms. 80 to 90 percent of the money you spend at a local farmers market goes to the farmer, thus helping to provide a fair wage. Most farmers now hold off-the-farm jobs in order to pay the bills – by supporting the farmer directly, you are helping to support one of our oldest American traditions.

    - Helps local communities. Small family farms are much more likely to spend their money locally, both on feed and farming inputs, and also on regular services like restaurants and stores. Studies have shown that local farms help boost local communities. Industrial farms tend to get their farm inputs from outside the community with the owners often living off the property.

    Be local

    Below are ideas on what you can do to join the local revolution.

    - Farmers markets. Farmers markets have sprung up all around the country. According to the USDA, farmers markets in the U.S. increased from 1,755 in 1994 to 5,274 in 2009. Between 2008 and 2009 alone, the number of farmers markets increased 13 percent. Check out the USDA’s site to find a farmers market near you.

    - CSA’s. CSA stands for community supported agriculture. You purchase a share in a farmer’s crop before the season starts. This helps the farmer buy seeds and necessary supplies. You then reap a portion of the season’s bounty. Visit the Eat Well Guide to find a CSA near you.

    - Buying Clubs. Less well known but increasing in popularity are buying clubs. These are simply a group of people – from a little as a few families to 100 people – who purchase food together in order to buy in bulk at wholesale prices. You can go through a distributor or with a little extra effort, work with local farmers to set up your own distribution network. Buying club members work together to purchase, pick up and distribute the food. How to Create a Neighborhood Food-Buying Club can give you some information on how to start one up. You can also ask at your nearest health food store to see if they are involved with or know of any local buying clubs in your area. It’s usually best to join an already existing club rather than start up your own because they can take some work.

    - Farm stands. Farm stands range from a bench with tomatoes alongside the road to an enclosed structure that sells many types of produce, meats and even baked and processed foods. During the height of the summer when vegetables are abundant, you can still find small stands at the side of the road with vegetables and a cash jar, so customers can pay what they want. Some even leave signs encouraging people to take the food. Large farm stands can resemble stores and do not always sell local goods — check the labels or ask if you aren’t sure.

    - “Pick your own” farms. Some farmers, especially berry and orchard growers, allow consumers to pick their own produce. Usually for a set price by the bushel or pint, families can go into the farmer’s fields and pick their own crops. This is good for individuals interested in freezing or canning. Some farms also allow consumers to come to the farm and choose which animal they would like, before slaughter.

    - Grow your own. Probably the biggest trend today is growing your own food. From planters on window ledges to taking over a front lawn, gardens are springing up everywhere. I’ll be focusing on this in more detail in a future post, so stay tuned!

    If you can’t buy local

    If, for whatever reason, you can’t buy local, buy as close to your home as possible. If you live in Virginia and want to buy an orange, buy one from Florida, not California, or from anywhere in the US as opposed to overseas. Why would we buy an apple from New Zealand when most states can grow them also? Don’t feel pressured into labels and definitions – however you define local is fine. The point is not to deprive yourself – the point is to enjoy the freshest, best-tasting food possible, and eating local is the best way to do it.

    If you’d like to learn more about the local movement, check out Sustainable Table’s Eat Local, Buy Local, Be Local section.

    (Diane Hatz is the Founder of Sustainable Table, Executive Producer of The Meatrix movies and co-Founder of the Eat Well Guide. This is the 22nd installment in her series, Sustainable Table’s Guide to Good Food.)

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• LEED Gold in Rehoboth (Tour 11

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    A public tour of this LEED® Certified home will be Saturday, 11/14 1-3pm.

    (November 3rd, 2009) Lewes, DE - Today, 11 Southwood Shores in the Glade was awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievement in green homebuilding and design. This is the first LEED® home in Rehoboth, and it is also the highest rated single family LEED home in Delaware.
    
    LEED for Homes is a green home certification system for assuring homes are designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and healthy for occupants. LEED® certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live. Green homes have substantially lower utility bills and may qualify for advantageous financing, lower insurance rates and government incentives. The home was designed by Element Design Group and built by EcoConstruction, which is known for their quality green homebuilding. A public tour of this LEED® Certified home will be Saturday, 11/14 1-3pm.
    
    
    Specific Information about the Home
    11 Southwood Shores may look like just another home, but being a Gold LEED® certified home, it is more efficient than 95% of homes in the country.  The home focuses heavily on health and reducing energy use.  This custom green home features panelized construction, active and passive solar design, low-e windows and doors, high efficiency lighting fixtures, energy star appliances, and soy based foam insulation.  Other energy efficiency upgrades include on demand water heaters, programmable thermostats, rain water capture and irrigation systems, high efficiency geothermal heating and air conditioners, and an array of Solar panels. Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, recycled material doors, flooring, and 90 percent Forest Stewardship Council-certified sustainably harvested wood content moldings have been used throughout the house.

    

    
    Quote from USGBC
    “As a LEED certified home, 11 Southwood Shores serves as a model of greener living for the entire community,” said Nate Kredich, Vice President of Residential Market Development for the U.S. Green Building Council. “The home is at the national forefront of quality; and their example can help us all to live better by reducing our environmental footprint, cutting our utility bills, and coming home to a healthier place to live.”
    
    
    About the Builder
    Eco Construction – Green Luxury Homes is a full service general contractor specializing in homebuilding and/or remodeling, build healthier, energy efficient homes that meet the highest green certification in the nation. As one of the few LEED® qualified builders in Delaware, EcoConstruction – Green Luxury Homes is leading the pack in green homebuilding. “EcoConstruction is excited to bring a Gold LEED® certified home to Rehoboth,” said Buck McLamb, Owner, Eco Construction – Green Luxury.  “Our mission is to build custom eco-friendly homes using the most advanced practices, materials, and technologies available at a affordable price all while exceeding customer expectations. A LEED® Certified home is just a way to prove it.”
    
    Quote from Homeowner
    "Choosing a builder to undertake the construction of a new home is really all about trust.  There are legions of stories about remodeling and building disasters.  From the start our experience was always positive.  Buck selected a design team that was totally responsive to the features that we wanted in our new home.  Construction proceeded on schedule and with close supervision by Buck.  Since we were not in the area during most of the construction, we were kept fully informed of the progress several times a week.  This close communication we feel is one of the strongest parts of dealing with EcoConstruction.  The recommended use of eco-friendly products and systems from solar panels to soy based insulation to non-toxic paints made our home the first LEED certified home in Rehoboth Beach qualifying for a Gold level certification.  We have a home that is beautiful, functional, and ecologically state of the art.  If you are planning on building a new home or remodeling an existing one, we give our strongest recommendations to Buck and all those associated with EcoConstruction."    --Jeanne and Arne Jerfsten
    
    About USGBC
    The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Since USGBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 20,000 member companies and organizations and a comprehensive suite of LEED® green building certification systems. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations all sharing the Council’s commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. For more information, please visit www.usgbc.org
    
    About LEED® for Homes
    LEED® for Homes is a third-party certification system for building and designing high-performance green homes that are energy-and-resource-efficient and healthy for its occupants.  Developed and administered by USGBC, LEED® for Homes awards points to projects in eight categories of environmental performance: Innovation & Design Process, Location & Linkages, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Awareness & Education. To date, more than 2,200 homes have been LEED-certified, and over 14,600 are registered and under development.  For more information, visit www.thegreenhomeguide.org.
    
    
    Eco Construction – Green Luxury
     www.EcoConstruction-GreenLuxury.com
    email:Buck@BuildingDelmarva.com
    email:Nate@BuildingDelmarva.com
    Tel: 302.858.8430 | 302.462.5871

     

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• Commercial Property Marketing

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Green Paradigm Institute – Commercial Property Marketing Exchange

    
    

    Participate in a 90-minute coordinated marketing exchange on Wednesday, 4 Nov 2009, for REALTORS®
    
    Hosted by Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, Green, EcoBroker, e-PRO, Broker of Record for Green Paradigm Realty LLC
    
    $10 at the door - Register now at www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com
    
    Wednesday, November 4, 2009       8:30 am –  10:30 am   
    
    Light Breakfast provided by Green Grille       (Program starts promptly at 9:00 am)
    
    Why:  Expose your client’s commercial property to other Commercial REALTORS®.  Find commercial properties for your client.  Open discussion on marketing of green properties.
    
    Where: Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park (Bldg 322)
    300 Route 130, Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
    Salem County - six miles south of Commodore Barry Bridge | six miles north of Delaware Memorial Bridge
    
    How:  Bring 20 copies one-page sheet to share with all attendees.  Bring several full marketing packages to share with those specifically interested.
    
    Must be a REALTOR® to attend!
    
    RSVP:   RSVP@GreenParadigmInstitute.com  or  www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com
    
    Promotional Flyer and Agenda for above event available at http://www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com/archives/
    
    Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, GREEN, EcoBroker, e-PRO
    Green Paradigm Institute – Tomorrow’s Real Estate Education SM
    Green Paradigm Realty LLC – Tomorrow’s Real Estate Experience SM
    Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park – Bldg 322
    322 Artillery Ave (Use “300 Route 130” for GPS)
    PO Box 420
    Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
    856 981 2973
    856 385-7061 (green fax)
    JScarpa@GreenParadigmRealty.com
    
    
    Green Paradigm Realty LLC is a real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in green building, renewable energies, and sustainable development.
    
    Visit www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com on first Wednesday’s of the month (check web site often for course topics, directions, and times).

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• DE Striving to make TOP 10

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    DELAWARE ANSWERS CHALLENGE TO MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ‘TOP 10’
    
    New Report shows state energy efficiency ranking improves; SEU spotlights connection to new jobs, and improvements in the economy and environment
    
    Delaware was designated one of the “most improved” states in an energy efficiency scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  While good news, Sen. Harris McDowell, co-chair of the Sustainable Energy Utility’s (SEU) Energize Delaware said the state must and can do much better.
    
    “Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are the gateway to creating more new jobs, reviving the economy, and improving the environment,” said McDowell, who welcomed the challenge from Gov. Markell to move higher in the report’s rankings. “Delaware is in a race to the ACEEE report card’s ‘top ten’ and we can do it.”
    
    Now in its second month the SEU’s Energize Delaware program is a one-stop resource to help Delawareans save money by cutting energy waste and tapping clean energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. The SEU’s Energize Delaware aims to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015, cut CO2 emissions by 33 percent by 2020, and create thousands of new jobs.
    
    According to the 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released this week each of the 50 states were ranked in six categories to measure their efforts to make the most of energy efficiency as the first, best, and cheapest way to realize savings, meet demand and foster economic growth. Delaware moved up from 32 to 20 since last year’s report, the most improved of any other state.
    
    Sen. McDowell noted that the path to the top ten ranking is well marked. Per capita Delaware uses more energy than any of its neighboring states and pays more for its energy.
    
    Programs offering residents and businesses the opportunity to save money and energy include the SEU’s “Energize Delaware” Appliance Rebate Program, which provides rebates ranging from $25-$100 for ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dehumidifiers. A rebate form can be downloaded at www.energizedelaware.org.  More programs are scheduled to roll out in the coming months, including a commercial and industrial lighting incentive program, renewable energy grants for homeowners and businesses, and community-level and home performance initiatives to maximize and combine renewable energy and efficiency.
    
    Several state and municipal governments are studying Delaware’s comprehensive approach to achieving significant energy and dollar savings, job creation, and improvements to the environment.

    -----------------

    Energize Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), a unique nonprofit organization created to foster a sustainable energy future for the state. Under the program banner of Energize Delaware, residents and businesses in Delaware will have a single point of contact for education, resources and programs that will include low and no‐cost steps to save thousands on energy bills, boost the economy and improve the environment through new clean energy sources. The Energize Delaware programs will focus on conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal. www.energizedelaware.org

     

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• Green Day Spa Opens near Elsme

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Delaware’s First Green Day Spa Opens!

    

    Bliss Elements located at 2400 Kirkwood Highway just outside of Elsmere is the result of a powerful shared vision of co-founders Sherell and Michael Flagg. With almost 2 decades of experience in the field of Cosmetology they have created a sustainable oases for their guests to be pampered and just “BE”.
    
    Intrigued by change and the inherent belief that making small changes will eventually lead to making a big difference, they patiently worked toward their goal of one day operating a Green Day Spa. Sherell has always been interested in decorating and design. Michael possesses an innate inquisitiveness and ability to figure out how to implement ideas. Together along with their children they call themselves “Team Flagg.”
    
    Their dissatisfaction with the quality of products that were currently available, Michael and Sherell began researching natural ingredients and their attributes. After much due diligence, they now produce their own line of high quality, eco-friendly beauty care products using as many sustainable ingredients and as much reusable packaging as possible.
    
    Earlier this year they revisited a site they had consider but passed on a few years ago. Suddenly, with remarkable synergy, everything seemed to “just fall into place.”  They acquired the space and Team Flagg went to work. In less than a month they had built their dream. Doing the majority of the rennovation work themselves gave the Flaggs the opportunity to choose the most environmentally friendly and sustainable products available;  from the lighting to the flooring, from no-VOC paints to their business cards, even the water that they offer their guests to drink.
    
    Bliss Elements is a full service salon and day spa with extra touches, such as a computer cafe for their guests and a private room for clients with alopecia or others who simply want a little more privacy.
    
    The attention to detail and the genuine concern for their guests' well being is tantamount to the Flaggs. The atmosphere is infused with their positive energy. When you walk through the door, you are immediately transported to, dare I say it, a blissful state.

    

    
    What’s next for Team Flagg? They hope to be a model for other Green Day Spas and to teach others what they have learned. One thing is certain, they are truly on a mission and will continue to live their powerful shared vision.
    
    Find out more about Bliss Elements Day Spa ,A place where you can just “BE”, visit BlissElements.com or call for an appointment at 302-543-5469.
    
    Bliss Elements Day Spa
    2400 Kirkwood Highway
    Wilmington, DE 19805              
    
    -- by Christine K. LaMonica

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• Ford Accelerates Its Electric

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Nancy Gioia to fill the new position of director of Global Electrification
    
    Ford has named Nancy Gioia, formerly Ford's director of Sustainable Mobility Technology and Hybrid Vehicle Programs, North America, as the director of Ford Global Electrification.
    
    In her new position, Ms. Gioia is expected to direct strategy and planning for Ford's global electric vehicle portfolio, including product planning, supplier partnerships and collaboration with the energy industry and government.
    
    Reportedly, Ford has announced plans to develop three distinct types of electrified vehicles - hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure battery electric vehicles. They include battery electric transit connect commercial van in 2010, battery electric focus passenger car in 2011, hybrid vehicle in 2012, and plug-in hybrid in 2012.
    
    The company seeks to take advantage of rapid advancements in electrified vehicle technology, particularly lithium-ion batteries, while leveraging the scale of global vehicle platforms to ultimately reduce the cost of new electric vehicles.
    
    Ford Motor Company is a manufacturer and distributor of automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo.
    
    -- courtesy of Automotive-Business-Review.com -- Published:09-October-2009

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• Delaware Bay Oyster Restoratio

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    DNREC created habitat on 241 acres of natural oyster beds
    
    The Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project was honored with a Coastal America Partnership Award during a bayside ceremony organized by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at the University of Delaware’s Coast Day festival in Lewes. The award is the only environmental award of its kind given by the White House.
    
    The award recognized the partnership efforts of Delaware and New Jersey organizations that successfully provided oyster habitat that will help restore and stabilize the oyster population in the Delaware Bay. The multi-agency task force strategically planted 2.1 million bushels of clam and oyster shells onto historic reefs in Delaware Bay, thanks to $5 million in federal funding.
    At the ceremony, Coastal America Director, Virginia Tippie and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Policy and Legislation) Terrence Salt presented Secretary Collin O’Mara with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control plaque, certificates and task force congratulatory letters from President Barack Obama.
    
    "The Delaware Bay is a recreational treasure and an economic engine for our region," said DNREC Secretary Collin P. O’Mara at the ceremony. "The Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project supports both the ecological restoration of our native oyster and the revitalization of our commercial oyster industry. The project’s outstanding success reflects the close cooperation between New Jersey, Delaware and all partners and the dedicated commitment to improving the health and sustainability of the Delaware Bay."
    
    For centuries, oysters have provided a sustainable food supply and contributed to the economies of Delaware and New Jersey communities. During the 1930’s, more than one million bushels were harvested every year from the Delaware Bay. However, in the 1950’s and again in the 1990’s the oyster population was plagued by parasites that nearly caused the industry to disappear. Over the years, oyster populations were further reduced by the shortage of natural surfaces for oysters to attach or “recruit” and grow.
    
    The Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Task Force, a collaborative partnership of 12 public and private agencies from Delaware and New Jersey, was formed in 2005 to leverage and combine resources to provide new oyster habitat and enhance the survival of the oyster populations in the bay.
    The project successfully stabilized shell losses from the oyster beds and substantially increased the survival of juvenile oysters. The bay-wide projected quota for oysters reared in 2008 is the third highest since the mid-1980’s, and the estimated economic impact to the industry of the 2007 fiscal-year program alone is $90 million – estimated at $40 for every federal dollar invested.
    
    DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife manages Delaware’s state-owned natural oyster beds, and task force members, Rick Cole, Michael Greco, and Mike Garvilla, planted approximately one million bushels of shell on 241 acres of natural oyster beds in Delaware waters. The scientists monitored planting operations to ensure that the shell was planted in the best locations to achieve maximum oyster larvae or “spat” attachments. They continued to monitor the sites after spawning season to document the level of spat retention and compare it to sites that were not planted with shell.
    
    DNREC’s monitoring program determined that oyster spat recruitment on Delaware’s natural oyster beds has increased six fold in those sites that were planted with shell in 2007-2008. The scientists found that the amount of shell being replaced on the beds has returned to equilibrium levels – after at least a decade of shell loss. The findings indicate that improvements in habitat conditions from the shell plantings have increased oyster abundance in those areas.
    
    For more information on DNREC’s oyster restoration project, visit www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries. Coastal America is a partnership of federal agencies, state and local governments, and private organizations whose mission it is to protect, preserve, and restore the nation’s coasts.  For more information, visit www.CoastalAmerica.gov.
    
    Oct. 8, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 402
    Contact: Richard Cole, Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-4782; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

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• Lewes Yacht Club certified as

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Ceremony recognizes environmental stewardship of Delaware’s coastal waterway

    LEWES, Del., Oct. 3 – In a special ceremony, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Deputy Secretary David S. Small presented the Clean Marina flag and certificate to the Lewes Yacht Club for adopting pollution prevention measures and sustainable practices that will have significant benefits for Delaware’s environment.
    
    “The Lewes-Rehoboth Canal has served as an important waterway to the Delaware Bay for generations of boaters and commercial fisherman,” said Deputy Secretary Small. “By voluntarily implementing environmental stewardship practices, the Lewes Yacht Club has taken a leadership role in protecting the recreational and economic benefits of this beautiful canal. The marina’s efforts will not only improve the cleanliness of the canal but demonstrate that environmental responsibility is good for business.”

    The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary, incentive-based initiative that encourages marina operators and recreational boaters to reduce the sources and impacts of pollution and protect water quality. By adopting cost-effective pollution prevention measures and sustainable practices, marinas enhance their public image, reduce operational costs and generate new sources of revenue.

    The Lewes Yacht Club, located on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, joins with Pilottown and Canalfront Park marinas to become the third marina on the Canal to receive the Clean Marina designation. Since the program’s inception, thirteen marinas across Delaware have been certified.

    To meet Clean Marina requirements, the Lewes Yacht Club developed an Operations and Maintenance Plan that includes updated emergency procedures and a spill kit and requires boating patrons to follow strict marina guidelines regarding vessel maintenance and fish cleaning. The marina installed environmentally-sound floating docks that can be easily removed from the water for maintenance and repair. The docks were constructed of composite decking which will not leach chemicals found in traditional treated wood decking. In addition new plumbing and utility towers were installed, and a marina office building was constructed that has improved overall marina operations.

    To reduce stormwater runoff, paved surfaces were kept to a minimum and grass buffers and landscaping have been maintained. The Lewes Yacht Club has an agreement with the city of Lewes for shared access to the marine pumpout unit at Lewes Canalfront Park. The Lewes Yacht Club’s full line of services exceed Clean Marina high standards.
    
    The Delaware Clean Marina Program provides marina owners and operators with comprehensive information on pollution prevention practices, offers training workshops and provides technical assistance to help marinas meet certification requirements. The Delaware Clean Marina Program is a cooperative effort between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the University of Delaware Sea Grant Marina Advisory Service.

    For more information, visit DNREC’s website, http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/p2/Pages/DelawareCleanMarinaProgram.aspx.                          
     
     
    Oct. 4, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 397

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• Seattle - South Alaska Street

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    style="color: #888888;"

    Dwell Development-South Alaska Street Residence
     
    Seattle, Washington.  Dwell Development is one of a select group of Seattle Design/Build firms that have risen to the top during a very challenging period in the local and national real estate markets.  In a short period of time they have established a strong brand identity and have set a high bar for residential infill development with their skillful blend of design, location, environmentally friendly building practices and community involvement.
    
    Their recently completed home on S. Alaska Street in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood stands as a testament to their vision for urban infill done right.  This 3100 square foot single-family residence boasts artful, light-filled living spaces and a 486 square foot rooftop deck from which to enjoy the beautiful views of Genesee Park, Lake Washington, and Downtown Seattle.
     
    Designed and built with the environment in mind, the home proudly wears the choices for sustainable materials on its sleeve featuring reclaimed fir and polished concrete floors, bamboo cabinets, and fiber cement siding.  Dwell's commitment to green building practices is also evident in the homes Low/No VOC interior finishes, its radiant floor heat, and the extensive use of operable windows promoting passive ventilation instead of air conditioning during the warmer months of the year.  From the inside out this home is designed to lessen its resource demands through the use of low flow plumbing fixtures, compact fluorescent lighting, permeable paving surfaces, and drought tolerant plantings.
    
    As with many of Dwell's projects the walkability of the neighborhood and connection to public transportation are high on the list of priorities.  The South Alaska Street home is mere blocks away from the heart of Seattle's vibrant Columbia City neighborhood and is just a short walk from the city's new light rail system that connects the area to Downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport to the South.  Completed and occupied in late 2008 this home has been host to educational green building events and is a fixture on the evolving architectural landscape of the area.
     
    Dwell continues to create hip, urban homes and is under construction on their latest project Dwell on the Park, scheduled for completion in late spring 2010.  These homes are the focus of the Seattle Green Building Series which can be found on the GreenDwellingSeattle website and will serve as the location for public tours both during and after construction.        
    
    Media Contact: Matt Muhsam, Email: matt@greendwellingseattle.com
    
    September 15, 2009

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• Green Jobs & Clean Energy in D

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    At the White House sponsored Clean Energy and Economy forum in Bensalem, PA, Gov. Jack Markell remarked that "As we move toward a more sustainable future, we are creating incredible market opportunities for entrepreneurs and existing business". Markell was joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Energy Secretary Stepen Chu in leading the forum to promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and clean energy technologies. 

    The issues covered at Thursday's venue are many of the same issues Gov. Markell has emphasized for quite some time, including clean energy generation, creating businesses and jobs around emerging green technologies and better utilization of Delaware's natural resources. According to Secretary Chu, the White House administration has made green energy a priority in the allocation of funds from the recovery act.

    Recently passed legislation requires Delaware to reduce electricity usage by 15% statewide by 2015, as well as new energy-efficiency building code and natural gas use reduction goals. To help Delawarean's achieve this energy and fuel saving measures, the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) has implemented programs to help defray the cost of weatherization projects and rebates for energy efficient appliances. Through Energize Delaware residents and businesses can access a host of programs to help save on their energy bills, boost the economy and improve the environment. Energize Delaware Programs will focus on conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources, like solar wind and geothermal.

    Blueprint for a Better Delaware by Jack Markell

    --posted Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

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• Auction Proceeds Fund Renewabl

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Fifth RGGI auction expected to yield $1.78 million for Delaware’s investment in renewable energy and efficiency programs
     
    DOVER  - Sept. 11, 2009 -– Governor Jack Markell and DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara announced today that Delaware expects to receive $1.78 million for investment in clean energy projects from the state’s participation in the fifth regional auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances Wednesday, Sept. 9.  The auction marks the one year anniversary of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auctions and brings the total amount of proceeds to more than $432.7 million since September of 2008.
     
    CO2  is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. The 10 RGGI partnering states hold quarterly allowance auctions and invest the proceeds in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other programs that benefit energy consumers and create green jobs.
     
    “This funding will create jobs to help our economy and pay for programs to help our environment,” Markell said.
     
    All of Delaware’s 763,842 allowances offered for sale in this auction were sold at a clearing price of $2.19 per allowance.  In a parallel offering, Delaware sold 66,698 allowances for the 2012 vintage for $1.67 per allowance.  The 2012 vintage offering provides power plants and other entities that must comply with Delaware regulations the first look at future market prices for RGGI (CO2) allowances.
     
    “RGGI auction proceeds can boost Delaware’s leadership in transitioning to a green economy by fostering investments in clean energy sources and green jobs,” said Secretary O’Mara.
     
    Under legislation passed last year by the Delaware General Assembly, approximately $1.16 million or 65 percent of the auction proceeds will be directed to the new Sustainable Energy Utility, the non-profit entity tasked to provide energy efficiency and renewable energy programs for households and businesses. The SEU’s new program, Energize Delaware, has begun to offer rebates on certain Energy Star appliances using RGGI proceeds from previous auctions.
     
    A total 15 percent of auction proceeds will be directed to low income consumers through programs administered by the Department of Health and Social Services. Up to 10 percent will be used for greenhouse gas reduction projects and the remaining 10 percent may be used to administer RGGI and climate change programs in DNREC.
     
    Delaware is one of ten Northeast states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) pioneering RGGI – the first market-based, mandatory cap-and-trade program in the U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
     
    The participating states adopted regulations to cap and then reduce the amount of CO2 that power plants in each state are allowed to emit, limiting the region’s total contribution of atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. Under RGGI, the 10 states will stabilize power sector carbon emissions at their capped level, and then reduce the cap by 10 percent at a rate of 2.5 percent each year between 2015 and 2018. The groundbreaking program may serve as a model for a possible federal cap-and-trade program.
     
    Since last September, over 100 bidders, including electric utilities, manufacturers, financial institutions, environmental groups and individuals have participated in the RGGI auctions for CO2 allowances. Every major power plant in the 10-state RGGI region now reports quarterly CO2 emissions to the public in an emissions and allowance tracking system.
     
    A CO2 allowance represents a limited authorization to emit one ton of CO2 emissions to demonstrate compliance at the end of each 3-year control period. The first control period for fossil fuel-fired electric generators under each state’s CO2 Budget Trading Program took effect on January 1, 2009 and extends through Dec. 31, 2011.
     
    The sixth auction will be held Dec. 2, 2009.
     
    For more information on Delaware’s RGGI program, visit http://www.awm.delaware.gov/AQM/Pages/RegionalGreenhouseGasInitiative.aspx or for RGGI, Inc., visit http://www.rggi.org.
    
    
     
    For more information contact:  Phil Cherry, Office of the Secretary, 302-739-9068; or Melinda Carl, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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• REI Turns to Offsets to Neutra

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    SEATTLE, WA — A growing adventure travel division helped drive overall greenhouse gas emissions up 11 percent in 2008 for the one of the country’s best-known outdoor equipment retailers.
    
    That in turn led to a jump in the amount of carbon offsets purchased by Recreational Equipment, Inc., the Washington-based cooperative that set a goal of achieving carbon neutral status by 2020. Air travel is the only segment of REI’s business for which the company buys offsets -- a situation that is unlikely to change in the near-term, the company said Tuesday.
    
    “As previously noted, no viable climate-neutral solution currently exists in the travel industry to eliminate the negative climate impact generated from air travel,” REI said in its 2008 Stewardship report released yesterday. “Perhaps someday, the use of biofuels or other improvements in technology may be viable options. As REI Adventures continues to grow, the climate impact of travel associated with this portion of our business will continue to be our largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions.”
    
    Corporate travel at REI declined nearly 16 percent due to efforts in cutting expenditures.
    
    In a bid to achieve carbon neutrality, as well as make progress on a 2009 goal of cutting emissions by a third below 2006 levels, the company launched a retail solar initiative in 2008 that resulted in the retrofit of 11 company stores, or 10 percent, including seven stores in California, three in Oregon, and its new prototype store in Round Rock, Texas, which recently won a sustainable design award from the Association for Retail Environments. Green power comprised 24 percent of REI’s electricity needs.
    
    Electricity and natural gas account for 27 percent of the company’s overall carbon footprint. Electricity use at the company grew 10 percent in 2008, partly due to the opening of a new distribution center and nine new stores.
    
    Other highlights of REI’s Stewardship Report include:
    
    •  Products sporting REI’s ecoSensitive label ballooned from 40 in 2007 to more than 250 last year. The company strengthened the criteria last year for the label, which dictates that a product is made from a high percentage of organic and/or renewable fibers, such as hemp, bamboo, or post-industrial recycled polyester.
    
    •  REI recycled about 82 percent of its operational waste by weight in 2008, and 73 percent by volume. The company has set a zero waste-to-landfill goal by 2020, and a 50 percent reduction in waste-to-landfill between 2006 and 2009.
    
    •  Single-occupancy commuting shrank from 66 percent in 2007 to 50 percent in 2008. Its carbon dioxide impact per employee declined 21 percent. Total commute-related emissions grew 7 percent due to an increase in the number of REI employees.
    
    •  Although nearly 26 percent of the company’s paper products were FSC-certified, the company acknowledged its goal of purchasing less than 7 percent of paper products from unknown or undesirable paper sources will be hard to meet due to lack of supply. Total paper use grew by 5 percent, compared to 7.3 percent business growth.
    
    •  The company’s Bedford, Pa., distribution center earned LEED Silver certification in 2008. REI also opened new prototype store in Round Rock, Texas.
    
    By GreenBiz Staff
    Published September 09, 2009

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• Stone Balloon Hosts Local Harv

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Stone Balloon Winehouse Hosts Slow Foods Dinner Featuring Blackbird Heritage Farm - Thursday September 24th 5 PM - Close

    Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

    The Stone Balloon Winehouse welcomes special guests Andy & Sherri Roddick of Blackbird Heritage Farm for a local farm-to-table dinner. In conjunction with the Ark of Taste, a catalog of over 200 delicious foods in danger of extinction, Blackbird Heritage (a 100% sustainable farm in Townsend, DE) and Slow Food USA are dedicated to saving cherished foods and promoting forgotten flavors. By promoting and eating Ark products we help ensure they remain in production and on our plates.

    Sustainable farming and responsible living are a way of life at Blackbird Heritage farm. No hybrid or genetically modified seeds are planted. The farm's plots are in a three year rotation; animal pasture on year one to vegetable production in year two to beneficial grasses in year three, then back to animal pasture. This process naturally recycles the fertility of the soil and eliminate the need for any off-farm fertilizers. This, coupled with seed saving practice, creates plants resistant to local disease and insects. 

    
    
    Please join us for this very special event. Details: A la carte menu of “Slow Food” $8-$38 per plate (Small & Large Plates featuring Blackbird Heritage) Reservations are suggested/ Walk-ins are welcome Please contact the Stone Balloon @ (302) 266-8111 for reservations

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• Cash Back for ENERGY STAR® Qua

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    DELAWARE APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM SAVES MONEY AND ENERGY 
    Cash Back for ENERGY STAR® Qualified Refrigerators, Freezers, Washers and Dehumidifiers 
    
    (WILMINGTON, DE) – Delawareans interested in energizing their savings on their energy bills now have a new incentive to upgrade their older, energy-sapping appliances for new, high-efficiency models. Today the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility’s (SEU) “Energize Delaware” initiative is providing mail-in rebates ranging from $25-$100 for ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dehumidifiers.
    
    The SEU’s Energize Delaware Appliance Rebate is the first of many programs to help Delawareans save money, create new jobs and protect the environment. The Delaware SEU is a non-profit, one stop resource to help residents and businesses save money by conserving energy, and tapping clean energy sources like solar, geothermal and wind.
    
    “The appliance rebate program offers Delaware residents a win-win-win proposition,” said Sen. Harris McDowell, whose legislation created the SEU. “There are environmental benefits, energy-efficiency benefits, and significant pocketbook benefits.”
    
    Old appliances are some of the biggest energy users in homes, and replacing the old with more efficient models can save customers hundreds of dollars a year on their energy bills. If every household in Delaware had a 2009 ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator instead of a standard model, the lifetime savings in our state would be more than $49 million.  The kilowatts saved would be enough to supply electricity to nearly 250,000 homes in Delaware for a year.
    
    The rebates offered through the SEU’s Energize Delaware Appliance Rebate Program include:
    
    Refrigerators – $100 for qualified ENERGY STAR® models. Customers usually select a new refrigerator based on the design (top freezer, side-by-side, etc.). The $100 rebate is designed to help the customer to make a selection that combines the preferred style with ENERGY STAR® qualifications.
    
    Freezers – $50 for qualified ENERGY STAR® models. The rebate is also designed to help customers realize they can find their choice in a high-efficiency model.
    
    Clothes Washers – $75 for qualified front-load, ENERGY STAR® models. The savings on ENERGY STAR® front load washers is the highest of all the typical household appliances due to the energy savings of the unit and the hot water heater as well as the water usage.
    
    Clothes Washers – $50 for qualified top-load, ENERGY STAR® models. These washers are nearly as efficient as front-load washers
    
    Dehumidifiers – $25 for qualified ENERGY STAR® models. These dehumidifiers save energy, and by buying the right size model for your home can help reduce heating and cooling costs by taking high moisture content out of the air.
    
    Additional appliances will be eligible for the rebate program early next year.  The SEU is also looking into a recycling program to ensure inefficient models are pulled out of service. Currently Delawareans won’t need to turn in their old appliances to benefit from the program.
    
    To get their rebates, consumers can go to www.energizedelaware.org and print the rebate form or visit any of the 50-plus participating appliance retail stores throughout Delaware. Stores will continue to sign up for the program throughout the month of September.  Upon making their qualifying purchase, consumers will fill out a rebate form and send the completed form along with the printed sales receipt to the address on the form. Once the application has been submitted and approved, consumers should expect a debit card with their rebate amount within 4 – 6 weeks. The rebate card makes it easy for consumers to immediately access and use their rebate dollars without having to cash a check. A toll-free number, 877-624-4448 has been established to respond to information requests. Consumers can find additional details about the program at www.energizedelaware.org.
    
    The appliance rebate program is particularly well suited for Delaware.  Research commissioned by the SEU to identify the best opportunities to save money found that two-thirds of homeowners want to improve their home efficiency, but only 42 percent have plans to do so.  Money was cited as the biggest barrier.
    
    “We know if Delaware’s residents and businesses are given the information and the tools to save money and energy, improve the economy and find new sources of green energy, they will do their part,” said Dr. John Byrne, SEU Board Co-Chair. “The timing could not be better or more urgent. By leveraging state, federal and private bond money and incentives, the SEU will be able to reduce or remove many of the barriers that currently prevent Delawareans from taking action to save money and energy.”
    
    Other new Energize Delaware programs designed to help residents and businesses save money and energy, create new jobs and improve the economy and environment will start to rollout this fall. They include::
    
    Commercial/Industrial Lighting, which will offer incentives for high efficiency lighting installations and retrofits.
    
    Renewable Energy Grants, which will assist  homeowners and businesses with renewable energy resources . 
    
    Sustainable Communities Initiative, a community-level program to combine renewable energy and efficiency.
    
    Comprehensive Home Performance Initiative, providing a top-to-bottom approach to efficiency and clean energy sources in Delaware homes. This initiative is slated for 2010.
    
    ###
    
    Energize Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), a unique non-profit offering a one-stop resource to help residents and businesses save money through clean energy and efficiency. The SEU was created by the state of Delaware to foster a sustainable energy future for the state. The SEU model is the first of its kind to be established in the U.S. Under the program banner of Energize Delaware, residents and businesses in Delaware will have a single point of contact for education, resources and programs that will include low and no-cost steps to save thousands on energy bills, boost the economy and improve the environment through new clean energy sources.  The Energize Delaware programs will focus on conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal. It is supported by tax-exempt bonds, not Delaware taxpayer money, and will be self sustaining through savings in energy initiatives, and investing a portion of the federal economic stimulus package devoted to efficiency and renewable energy.

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• SEU Announces Energize Delawar

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    SUSTAINABLE ENERGY UTILITY LAUNCHES ONE-STOP RESOURCE
    TO SAVE MONEY, CREATE JOBS AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT 
    
    Residents and Businesses Can Save Thousands Through Education and Incentive Programs
    
    August 31, 2009  -  (WILMINGTON, DE) –Delawareans can soon save thousands on their energy bills through a one-stop resource providing low- and no-cost steps to save money, create jobs and improve the environment. Today the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) launched the new “Energize Delaware” campaign to help residents improve the efficiency of their homes and businesses and tap new clean energy sources. New research commissioned by the SEU points the way to the most effective payoffs: educating the public and targeting actions toward the biggest return on investment.
    
    “Sustainable energy is the largest, cheapest, cleanest way to save money and create in-state jobs,” said Sen. Harris McDowell, whose legislation created the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). “A tough economy is exactly the right time to take aggressive action toward a sustainable energy future, and everyone can reap the benefits. Through the SEU’s Energize Delaware Program, we can be a model for the rest of the nation and world to follow.”
    
    Starting September 2009, Energize Delaware, an initiative of the non-profit Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will provide businesses and residents financial incentives and an online toolbox that provides information and guidance to help Delawareans achieve the biggest return on investment for their energy dollars.
    
    Programs to be launched throughout the Fall of 2009 will include:

    • ENERGY STAR® Appliance Rebates, providing “cash for clunkers” type incentives for homeowners to replace energy-gorging old appliances with updated high efficiency household appliances.
    • Commercial/Industrial Lighting, which will include rebates for businesses installing high efficiency lighting.
    • Renewable Energy Grants, which will include rebates for renewable energy sources located at home and business sites.
    • Sustainable Communities Initiative, a community-level program to combine renewable energy and efficiency.
    • Comprehensive Home Performance Initiative, providing a top-to-bottom approach to efficiency and clean energy sources in Delaware homes. This initiative is slated for 2010.

    Research findings
    
    The program offerings were based on SEU research released today, which provides a comprehensive, zip-code level snapshot of energy use in the state and surveys Delawareans’ attitudes toward sustainable energy. The findings pinpoint the opportunities to save money, energy and tap new clean energy sources:

    • 41 percent of homes in the state are more than 30 years old. Simply sealing and insulating these homes could save up to 30 percent or about $700 on heating and cooling bills.
    • Two-thirds of homeowners identified a need to make one or more energy efficiency improvements, but only 42 percent plan to take action. Similar gaps persist among business owners.
    • Homeowners and businesses cite lack of money as the number one barrier to achieving more energy efficient homes and businesses and tapping clean energy sources.
    • Refrigeration represents 65 percent of energy use in Delaware grocery stores and restaurants. Upgrades could save up to 35 percent on annual utility bills.
    • Delaware hospitals and clinics use more energy per square foot in lighting than any other type of commercial space. More efficient light bulbs provide just as much and sometimes better light at a significantly lower cost.

    
    With a median age of 49 years, Delaware school buildings represent a host of savings opportunities.  Inefficient space heating and cooling consumes 47 percent of energy use in schools. Heating and air conditioning upgrades would keep students and teachers comfortable and save taxpayers money.  The effort can also provide students with a valuable model for responsible citizenship.
    
    Research also found a common lack of knowledge and money to take action in areas that represent the largest return on investment. When asked to list in priority order desired ways to improve home energy performance, Delawareans surveyed prioritize them as follows: more efficient air conditioning; more efficient heating, insulation, new windows and a water heater upgrade. Although all of these will save money, upgraded insulation is often the most cost-effective first step.
    
    “Per capita, Delaware uses more energy than any of its neighboring states and pays more for its energy.” said Dr. John Byrne, Univ. of Delaware professor and SEU Board Co-Chair. “Today we have the opportunity to not only reverse this condition, but pioneer a much smarter way of doing business.”

    Helping Delaware Capitalize on Savings, Job Creation and Cleaner
    
    SEU’s Energize Delaware programs for residents and businesses are all focused on reaching a set of ambitious goals, including:

    • An average 30 percent reduction in energy consumption for each participant by 2015.
    • A 33 percent cut in CO2 emissions by 2020.
    • By 2019, installing over 300 MW of customer-sited renewable energy – including geothermal, wind, solar, electric and solar thermal – a at homes and businesses

    
    “By aggressively pursuing energy conservation and efficiency and adopting clean, renewable sources of power, we can strengthen our economy, improve our competitiveness, and create a more sustainable environment,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara.  “The SEU’s Energize Delaware has the potential to help thousands of residents and businesses save money and stabilize their energy costs, while creating thousands of jobs and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”
    
    SEU’s Energize Delaware will use no Delaware taxpayer money. It is a nonprofit supported by tax-exempt bonds and will be self sustaining through savings in energy initiatives and investing a portion of the federal economic stimulus package devoted to efficiency and renewable energy. The SEU will track both energy savings and program budgets in monthly public reports.
    
    ###
    
    Energize Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), a unique nonprofit organization created to foster a sustainable energy future for the state. Under the program banner of Energize Delaware, residents and businesses in Delaware will have a single point of contact for education, resources and programs that will include low and no-cost steps to save thousands on energy bills, boost the economy and improve the environment through new clean energy sources. The Energize Delaware programs will focus on conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal. www.energizedelaware.org

     
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• New Study Into Sustainable Foo

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    August 19, 2009 - In a joint study across 20 foods and beverage categories by the Hartman Group and Packaged Facts, sustainability-minded consumers had some interesting habits worth noting. Even though they've tightened their spending like others, they're also less likely to modify their purchases in product categories they see as essential to their quality of life; that being food. A range of individuals were willing to pay up to a 20% cost premium.
    
    These findings fall in line with the Hartman Group's previous studies and beliefs on consumers' prioritized values, in which people care in geographic zones about: what goes in the body, followed by on the body, in the home, the local community, and then the world. So if people become gradually more knowledgeable about the environmental, social, and economic implications that foods and beverages carry, it's inferred that their purchases will increasingly include sustainable attributes complementary to their primary health benefits. Also noteworthy is that many attributes of what people described as quality eating experiences, particularly freshness, also came up as properties of sustainable foods and beverages.
    
    So in these more challenging economic times, in order to save money and buy sustainable food, many people are increasingly shopping at discount retailers. Supermarkets in response are seeing the value of sustainable attributes in their private-labels which typically have lower price points and higher margins - thus making the mental space for what the study calls "sustainable-at-a-discount shopping." This would also allow for additional categories that could also fit the agenda, including those that may fit the concept of "local."

    -- from SustainableLifeMedia.com

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