22 Search Results for "utility"

• Energy Star Homes Reach 1 Mill

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Energy Star Homes Reach 1 Million, EPA Says
    
    One million energy-efficient homes qualifying for the Energy Star rating have been built in the U.S. since the program was launched in 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency said.
    
    This year, Energy Star households will save $270 million -- or an average of $200 to $400 each -- on utility bills. The homes, which tend to be at least 15% more energy efficient than standard homes, will also avoid more than 4 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
    
    Nearly 17% of all single-family homes built in 2008 qualified for Energy Star, compared with 12% the year before.  Across the country, more than 6,500 are building to the program’s standards.
    
    The EPA also released a list of the top 20 cities for Energy Star homes, lead by the Houston area, with 144,420 total homes built. Following were Dallas, Las Vegas and Phoenix regions, with the Los Angeles sprawl rounding out the top five with 53,673 homes.
    
    1.Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas: 144,420
    2.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas: 102,872
    3.Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.: 79,929
    4.Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.: 73,021
    5.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario: 53,673
    6.New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.: 25,168
    7.Tucson: 18,970
    8.San Antonio: 18,847
    9.Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif.: 18,208
    10.San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos: 17,515
    11.Columbus, Ohio: 17,396
    12.Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa: 16,400
    13.Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.: 13,675
    14.Austin-Round Rock, Texas: 13,232
    15.Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.: 12,454
    16.San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont: 10,523
    17.Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass., and N.H.: 10,192
    18.Denver-Aurora, Colo.: 7,809
    19.Orlando-Kissimmee, Fla.: 7,619
    20.Oklahoma City, Okl.: 7,498
    
    

    Energy Star is run jointly by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.
    
    Posted By: Jamie--GreenBuildingTalk.com on 11/10/2009  - Source: Los Angeles Times

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• APS Lowers Premium for Green C

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    APS, an electricity utility serving about 1.1 million customers in Arizona, announced it has lowered the price premium for its voluntary renewable energy offering, APS Green Choice Rates, from 1.0¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 0.4¢/kWh. Under the program, customers can purchase Green-e certified renewable energy from wind and geothermal resources in specific increments or as a percentage of their monthly electricity use. Customers also have the option of purchasing solar energy equivalent to half or all of their monthly electricity needs for 16.6¢/kWh.

    
    The 60 percent drop in Green Choice Rates reflects the reduced difference in cost between conventional generation (mostly natural gas) and renewable generation last year when program supplies were purchased. APS expects to have enough renewable energy to meet the needs of residential customers, but may not have sufficient supplies to meet non-residential customer demand. The utility is encouraging nonresidential customers that want to participate to sign up by October 30, 2009.
    
    Full Press Release - Rate Decrease Makes Renewable Energy More Affordable for APS Customers

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• High Tech Greens the Internet

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    High Tech Greens the Internet: Net Neutrality and the Smart Grid

    
    The high tech industry will play a significant role in the battle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as long as the Internet remains a level playing field. The opportunities for software companies to innovate in the energy generation and energy efficiency sectors are substantial if the priority of traffic over the Internet remains neutral (i.e., the FCC adopts net neutrality rules).

    The smart grid is the main prerequisite to the Internet’s involvement in energy. The Obama Administration recently announced $3.4 billion in the development of the smart grid and related technologies. Much of these funds went directly to utilities to provide smart meters in homes and businesses. Southern California Edison has already started its rollout of smart meters under a program called SmartConnect; they hope to have 5 million smart meters active by 2012.

    The fundamental breakthrough of smart meters is the ability to communicate information bidirectionally. Like a normal power meter, the smart meters can measure the energy consumption of the consumer, but they also can send that and other information to the local utility as well as to devices located on the property of the customer (e.g. smart thermostat, smart refrigerator, etc.). A completely new market for energy efficiency products will exist when users begin connecting these smart meters to the Internet. This connection will remove the shackles from energy software outfits such as OPOWER [view some of their current clean tech job openings on the CleanTechies Job Board] and Google.org.

    The Internet has an infrastructure capable of revolutionizing energy use both at home and at the workplace. For instance, we all have widgets staring at us on our computers these days. Imagine having a widget that was giving you a real time view of the electricity consumption at your home or in your office and the ability to reduce that energy use from the convenience of your office chair. One could also schedule consumption levels based on their personal preferences and real-time electricity rates. Companies have already started sprouting up to focus on these emerging technologies and this market will only grow as utilities create the smart grid. Another dependency not often included in this discussion is a free and open Internet, more commonly referred to as net neutrality.

    The reliability of software that uses the smart grid and the Internet is dependent on net neutrality to ensure Internet Service Providers (ISP) deliver bidirectional data as quickly as possible. If the Internet did not operate on a level playing field (e.g., PG&E’s Internet traffic was given priority over data from a personal web server), then the growth of distributed generation and other electricity control options could stagnate. How can someone make his car’s batteries available for use by the smart grid if ISPs constantly push the control signals to the back of their data transfer queue?

    The free and open flow of data on the Internet is not only important for individuals and small companies looking to spread their message. Net neutrality is an important issue for those trying to combat climate change through improvements in energy generation and energy efficiency.

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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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• GridPoint Providing Software F

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    GridPoint Providing Software For SMUD's Smart Grid Solar Project
    
    GridPoint Inc., a provider of smart grid software, will provide storage management, renewable integration and home energy management solutions for Sacramento Municipal Utility District's (SMUD) smart grid solar project, a recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.
    
    GridPoint worked with the utility to draft the proposal, which is part of $117.6 million allocated by the U.S. Department of Energy in support of high-penetration solar deployment projects.
    
    SMUD's project will evaluate how the integration of energy storage could enhance the value of distributed photovoltaic resources for the community, the utility and the grid by reducing peak loads, firming capacity and maximizing overall system efficiency. The project will integrate energy storage into an existing PV environment, a residential solar community in Rancho Cordova, Calif., and test new consumer control concepts and PV inverter control within an advanced metering infrastructure system.
    
    GridPoint's software will monitor and control solar production and storage assets in real time, allowing SMUD to determine how to make them a predictable and more valuable energy resource, GridPoint notes. GridPoint's software will be used to dispatch stored energy from advanced batteries to reduce peak demand, power or back up homes' critical loads, charge the batteries or export solar into SMUD's distribution system.
    
    by Solar Industry Magazine Staff on 11/04/2009 source: GridPoint Inc.

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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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• 3-in-1 Recycling Event - Nov.

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Citizens encouraged to recycle tires, household hazardous waste and electronic waste to protect the environment
     
    Delaware residents are encouraged to recycle scrap tires, free of charge, during Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine, Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Frawley (Blue Rocks) Stadium, 801 S. Madison Street, Wilmington.
     
    Up to 10 tires – passenger car or light duty truck tires – can be dropped off per Delaware household; larger tires, tires on rims or bicycle tires will not be accepted.  Scrap tire drop-off is limited to residents; tires from commercial dealers will not be accepted.  Proof of residency is required – either a driver’s license or utility bill.
     
    Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day is being held in conjunction with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Goods Collection Day and the Clean Wilmington Committee’s Shredding Event.
     
    DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch manages the state program created to eliminate large, unsightly scrap tire piles that can pose hazards to human health and the environment.  Tire piles can spawn dangerous fires that produce toxic smoke and the oily liquid runoff from melted tires can pollute groundwater.  In addition, tire piles can be the dominant source of a local mosquito problem.
     
    Delaware producers more than 750,000 scrap tires a year.  While many of these tires are recycled or properly disposed, some end up in stockpiles or in illegal dumps around the state.  The state program helps defray the cost of cleanup of scrap tire piles created before June 30, 2006 and comprising more than 100 tires. This is the third scrap tire drop-off event held by DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch.
     
    The Delaware Scrap Tire Cleanup and Control Program is funded by a state fee of $2 per tire on the sale of new tires.  Enacted Jan. 1, 2007, the fee is diverted to the Scrap Tire Management Fund, a matching fund and program created to clean up existing scrap tire piles statewide.
     
    For more information on DNREC’s Scrap Tire Control and Cleanup Program, visit www.awm.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/ScrapTire.aspx  or call 302-739-9403.
     
    For more information on Delaware Solid Waste Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Goods Collection Day, contact the Delaware Solid Waste Authority at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com.
     
    For the Clean Wilmington Committee’s Shredding Event, contact the City of Wilmington at 302-576-2489.
    
    --Oct. 16, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 413 -- News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

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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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• Fenwick adopts 33-foot height

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    By Monica Fleming, Coastal Point Staff Reporter

    

     

    Coastal Point • Monica Fleming
    The windmill at Nantucket’s stands at approximately 53 feet tall. The Town of Fenwick Island recently passed an ordinance regarding small wind-energy systems that caps their maximum allowable height at 33 feet.

     

    Special allowances for wind-energy systems might seem like a no-brainer in an overtly “green” town like Fenwick Island has been in recent years, but town council members paused this week to really delve into the logistics of wind turbines in a residential area.
    
    The Town of Fenwick Island, known for its Environmental Committee and ahead-of the-curve residents who are outspoken on everything from recycling to the Indian River power plant’s coal-ash pile, put its collective foot down on tall wind turbines at their public hearing and council meeting on Friday, Aug. 28, capping the town’s allowable height for turbines at a firm 33 feet – just 3 feet higher than the town’s overall maximum building height.
    
    There were six exasperated “aye” votes to pass the ordinance and one very unhappy “nope.”
    
    Todd Smallwood, the lone dissenter, said he couldn’t bring himself to vote for the ordinance, even with a cap of 33 feet. In its original state, the ordinance had the height limit for wind turbines set at 40 feet. By way of comparison, the newly erected wind turbine and tower at Nantucket’s restaurant, which is just outside of town limits, is 53 feet high.
    
    “I’ll take the arrow here,” said Smallwood, a member of the town’s Environmental Committee and the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Center for the Inland Bays, and an avid recycler.
    
    “I don’t want to act anti-green,” he emphasized. “But we have kept the 30-foot height limits as sacred. And the one at Nantucket’s is an eyesore. I don’t like it. It’s a visual blight on our town.”
    
    Citing the state’s recently enacted, albeit vague, law that states that municipalities, county government and home owners’ associations cannot enact new bans on wind- and solar-energy systems, Smallwood said, “We can certainly hold our ground on the 30-foot height limit.
    
    “And it’s not our fault if they don’t work” at that height,” he said. “It’s not our problem.”
    
    The standard for residential wind turbines is that they be installed 6 to 8 feet above nearby structures in order to catch winds and work efficiently.
    
    Smallwood noted that he has also called four manufacturers about the systems’ requirements, and all recommended a lot size of at least a half-acre.
    
    During discussion of the ordinance, Mayor Audrey Serio mentioned the exception for solar panels that had been made to the town’s height limit. They can be 36 inches, or 3 feet, above the 30-foot building height restriction, and she asked why the town might disallow turbines if they made an exception for the panels.
    
    “It’s two totally different things,” countered Smallwood. “It’s 3 feet on a flat-panel roof to a free-standing 40-foot windmill.”
    
    As written, the ordinance specifies that the base of a wind turbine’s tower has to be set back from all property lines, public rights-of-way and public utility lines at least a distance equal to 1.1 times the total height of the tower, in addition to the 33-foot height cap. As it stands, there a only a handful of lots in the town that would be able to meet all those requirements.
    
    Serio said the purpose of the ordinance was to have something on the books.
    
    “We had to start somewhere,” she said.
    
    Former Mayor Pete Frederick brought up several points during the public hearing, which was held right before the monthly council meeting. He asked if the Sussex County Association of Towns was responding to the state law in some way, and he encouraged Fenwick Island to be “a part of that.” Frederick said he questioned whether the state had the right to “dictate to municipalities regarding the safety of their residents.”
    
    He also brought up a proposed communications tower that, if it had been built, would have exceeded the town’s height limit and was ultimately scrapped for other reasons. And he asked about chimney height restrictions.
    
    “If 1.1,” he asked, citing the distance a tower must be from property lines, rights-of-way and utilities, “why not 2?”
    
    “We are not drafting it to prevent turbines,” emphasized Councilman Bill Weistling Jr. “If we say 2, we might as well not draft it. It would be virtually impossible.”
    
    “Why would we want to do that?” asked Serio.
    
    “To make sure you don’t end up with turbines on every lot,” answered Frederick.
    
    “The whole purpose is to protect property owners, and if they are going to install it, to try to make it work. We need to get something that protects our residents who want to put one up and also protects the neighbors.," said Mayor Serio.
    
    Even though several of the council members talked about changing the height limit from 40 feet to 33 feet, Smallwood was unwavering in his discontent with the ordinance.
    
    “Seems now like we are just passing it to pass it,” he said.
    
    “We need to proceed. If you don’t like it, don’t vote for it,” replied Weistling.
    
    Resident Lynn Andrews spoke on the subject and thanked Smallwood for “taking the arrow.”
    
    Councilwoman Diane Tingle said she had heard lots of positive statements about the turbine at Nantucket’s, adding that people have said to her, “What a beautiful sight.”
    
    “Not everybody’s anti-windmill,” she added.
    
    Ultimately, the council decided to pass the ordinance but changed the maximum height allowed from 40 feet to 33 feet.

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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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• Cash Back for ENERGY STAR® Qua

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    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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• Green Lodging in Delaware

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    The Delaware Green Lodging program is a joint initiative by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association to promote pollution prevention (P2) practices in the tourism and hospitality industry. Green Lodging encourages hotels, resorts and other hospitality operations to be aware of their impact on the environment and to take steps to reduce these impacts while at the same time saving their facilities money.
    
    Delaware Green Lodging is a self-certifying program where facilities must verify that they are at least practicing the Green Lodging "Basic Practices" and hopefully are doing much more.
    
    Participating facilities in the program are encouraged to tell us about all of the "green" activities they are taking part in  – and these will be included in the facility's profile elsewhere on the Delaware Green Lodging web site. Guests can then assess them and choose to stay at a hotel, motel or inn which offers the "green" amenities that they value.
    
    Why practice Green Lodging?
    
     Average-sized hotels purchase more products in one week than 100 families do in a year. We want at least 50 percent of those purchases to be environmentally preferable products.Delaware Green Lodging logo
    
    Waste generation can be as high as 30 pounds per room per day; as much as 80 percent of these materials can be recycled.
    
    Hospitality industry spends $3.7 billion a year on energy. Electricity use accounts for 60-70 percent of the utility costs of a typical hotel. We can introduce you to energy-efficient products and practices that will reduce energy consumption, therefore lowering energy costs.
    
    A significant portion of Delaware’s food waste comes from the hotel and lodging industry. This food waste can be composted and/or donated to charities.
    
    Typical hotels use 218 gallons of water per day per occupied room. Water-efficient fixtures can reduce water and sewer bills by 25-30 percent.
    
    Click here for more informtion on the Delaware Green Lodging Association and a list of participating hotels.

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• UD V2G: Vehicle to Grid

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    UD V2G: Newark first to license electric cars to provide power

    The City of Newark became the first electric utility in the United States to approve the use of an electric vehicle to store and provide power for the local electric grid on Friday, Jan. 9.

    The vehicle, which runs on electricity alone, is specifically designed to store energy and improve grid reliability. University of Delaware researchers helped develop the concept, called Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), by working with a consortium of industry partners over the past decade to establish the communications protocol between the vehicle and the grid operator.

    Industrial partners in the consortium include Delmarva Power and its parent company Pepco Holdings Inc; PJM, the regional grid operator; California-based electric vehicle manufacturer AC Propulsion; and others.

    The action was celebrated during a press conference held Monday, Jan. 12, on campus and attended by U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) and U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.)

    With the City of Newark's approval, the University of Delaware team is now conducting V2G testing at two outlets within the city's service territory.

    Willett Kempton, associate professor of marine policy in the University of Delaware's College of Marine and Earth Studies, explained how the technology benefits the grid operator. Currently, there is no energy storage built into the electric grid system, meaning that electricity usage and electricity generation must be simultaneous.

    As fluctuating, non-dispatchable renewable sources, such as solar and wind power, become a larger fraction of our electric generation, energy storage will help grid operators smooth power output fluctuations.

    “Wind tends to blow stronger at night when the electric load is low,” he said. “If electric vehicles charged at night with wind power, the grid operator could use the energy in the batteries, when vehicles aren't needed for driving and are plugged in, to help maintain grid reliability. The vehicle owner would then be paid for providing these energy services at a greater value than what they paid for the electricity.”

    The City of Newark's approval process for V2G electric vehicles is similar to the process used to certify solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on residential rooftops.

    In both cases, the city is responsible for ensuring that the energy source will not feed power back to the grid when the power lines are down.

    This requirement is critical to maintaining the safety of line workers during a power outage.

    The University of Delaware and Delmarva Power conducted initial testing of this safety requirement before the vehicle was thoroughly tested to IEEE standards at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

    Sam Sneeringer, the city's assistant electric director, describes the reasoning behind the certification process by saying, “Solar PV systems and V2G vehicles are tested to the same standards and treated the same within the city's approval process because electricity from the car's batteries or from a solar panel is indistinguishable to the electric grid and presents the same potential safety risks to linemen.”

    Kempton and his team of researchers plan on having a fleet of six vehicles by the end of 2009, two at the University of Delaware and four operated by the state of Delaware.

    The test fleet will be used to demonstrate multiple V2G vehicles working together and supplying energy as a single power plant. The City of Newark's approval paves the way for larger-scale adoption of V2G electric vehicles nationwide, helping to advance the electric grid infrastructure and reduce consumption of oil.

    For more about the V2G industrial consortium, visit the Mid-Atlantic Grid Interactive Cars Consortium Web site.

    For more about the University of Delaware's College of Marine and Earth Studies, visit the Web site.

    -- posted 10 a.m., Jan. 14, 2009--by University of Delaware -  UDaily
    Article by Elizabeth Boyle and Scott Baker. Photos by Kathy Atkinson

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• SEU Announces Energize Delawar

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    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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  • 3 months ago
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• What a Green Realtor can do fo

  • From: susanp
  • Description:

    It's a tough time to sell a house.

    Prices are down and homes are remaining on the market for 300 plus days. The best thing you can do when considering selling your home is to call in an "certified sustainable realtor" for recommendations. My goal is to help my clients distinguish their home from the rest by making some smart changes that they can show future buyers. Then I have a package to present every potential buyer (and 90% of them are concerned about this) that you may qualify

    Home buyers are looking for added value in every purchase they are making. They either want a very low price or extras - such as those found in a more energy-efficient house. More and more new builders are adding EnergyStar certifications to compete in the challenging market.
    
    Here are ways to make your house stand out from the rest.
    The first step I take is have an energy auditor in to evaluate energy usage, check out the tightness of your house, the state of your attic and crawl space and make recommendations. This does not involve solar panels or geothermal heating. Sometimes adding more insulation can drop electrical bills radically.
    
    Get started by replacing as many light bulbs as you can with CFLs (compact fluorescent). They can account for 10% of your homes energy.
    
    Document how the monthly bills change over time. Highlight the savings to your broker and any potential buyers, and provide comparisons to typical bills for similar-sized houses in your region (call your utility for details)
    
    Are you going to paint or put down new rugs? Then use no VOC paint and recycled carpets with no VOC glue. You have just created a much healthier air quality
    
    Upgrade any old or questionable appliances with new Energy Star-certified models. Some of them may qualify for tax credits or rebates. There is a definite payoff with Energy Star. The EPA's blue and white label indicates models must be 10% to 50% more efficient than standard offerings. It's also a good idea to install a programmable thermostat and motion detectors.

    I will be writing about working with buyers, the challenges facing green realtors, greenwashing in our industry and teaming with other realted industries. And come on....if you have something to write about, please blog on it. We all want to learn from each other.

     

     

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  • 3 months ago
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• Is biogas the way to San Jose'

  • From: GreenTV
  • Description:

    San Jose has given the go-ahead to negotiate the building of a $20 million biogas plant to turn waste into electricity.    
    
    --By Danny Chaitin, USA TODAY,  8/3/2009 --

    San Jose is moving closer to becoming the nation's first totally energy independent city.
    
    The California city is pushing forward with its "Green Vision" of getting all its electrical power from clean, renewable sources, as well as diverting 100% of its waste from landfills and converting it into energy.
    
    In mid-June, the City Council gave the green light to start negotiating plans that could lead to the nation's only organics-to-energy biogas facility.
    
    Renewable biogas, which contains methane, will help power the nation's 10th-largest city, which hopes to reduce its per capita energy use by 50% and get the remaining 50% from renewable sources, says Jennifer Garnett, spokeswoman for San Jose Environmental Services Department.
    
    "This project not only demonstrates San Jose's leadership in the production of renewable energy but will help us meet the economic development, zero waste and energy goals of our city's Green Vision," Mayor Chuck Reed said in a statement.
    
    After three years, the Zanker Road Biogas facility would start processing up to 150,000 tons of organic waste that would otherwise be destined for a landfill to create biogas in addition to high-quality compost that could be used to enrich local soils, says Richard Cristina, president of GreenWaste Recovery. The company is partnering with Zanker Road Resource Management to develop the biogas facility.
    
    The biogas will be produced by the biological breakdown of food waste, as well as the organic share of the municipal solid-waste system, in a process called dry anaerobic fermentation.
    
    The dry process, done in the absence of oxygen, is new to the USA, says Michele Young, organics manager of San Jose's Environmental Services Department.
    
    There are similar operations nationwide, but they involve "wet waste," which is easier to recycle than dry waste, Young says. Dry waste is what usually ends up in landfills.
    
    The proposed new technology is already in use in 12 facilities in Germany and Italy. Thirteen more are planned for this year, Young says.
    
    The plant will be built on a 40-acre site near the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant.
    
    The energy produced could be used to feed power to the water pollution plant, as well as sold as energy for the utility power grid.
    
    The facility will be located between two solid-waste recovery and recycling facilities owned and operated by Zanker Road Resource Management.
    
    The company, together with GreenWaste Recovery, plans to create a "fully integrated waste management system ecopark," Barnett says. Young says she can think of no drawbacks to the project — not even a NIMBY (not in my backyard) argument.
    
    "A running joke we have here is that if we had a bed-and-breakfast, you're not really going to want to do that" between two waste-management plants, she says.
    
    Zanker Road Biogas' plans will be reviewed to determine that they adhere to the California Environmental Quality Act, Young says.
    
    The operation's impact on the habitat and neighborhood will be examined to make sure there is no imminent environmental threat.
    
    With any project that might seem too good to be true, there are often pitfalls, says Nathanael Greene, director of renewable energy policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
    
    "One challenge is dealing with leftovers with concentrated sludge containing pathogens, intact nutrients and antibiotics," Greene says.
    
    Poorly handled byproducts could lead to leaks and runoffs that could be devastating to local plant and wildlife, he says.
    
    "This is exciting technology," he says. "But we should not assume (it's a) technological panacea."
    
    One of San Jose's Green Vision program goals is to create 25,000 clean tech jobs.
    
    About 30 to 40 people would be needed to develop the biogas facility. Once the plant is fully operational, another 50 to 60 positions would need to be filled, Barnett says.

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• Energy Savings Seminar @ Lewes

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    ENERGY EXPERTS OFFER VALUABLE ENERGY SAVINGS SEMINAR AT LEWES LIBRARY

    Local residents are invited to a free seminar about the problems and solutions to rising residential energy costs at the Lewes Library on Wednesday, May 6th at 6:00 pm. Lance Manlove, President of Zero Energy Builders, Allen Luzak, President of JCN Home Performance and Susan Pomerantz , Ecobroker at Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty  will be holding a presentation and slide show on the following topics:

    • The value of an energy efficient home in the current real estate market.
    • The availability of green homes in many different price ranges.
    • Evaluating professionals in the ”green” field.
    • Important steps for buyers and sellers to take when evaluating property.
    • How and when to have a complete audit of your home’s performance.
    • Tests, remedies and recommendations for current residential problems.
    • Building and buying sustainable homes.
    • Construction techniques and new technology.

    
    After the presentation, the group will address questions from the audience.

    Allen Luzak, earned a degree in Solar Engineering from Colorado Technical College and was involved in energy consulting and contracting for builders and homeowners, performing energy audits for both residential and commercial buildings. Luzak has extensive experience in project management and overseeing jobs from single
    buildings to large development projects throughout the Eastern Shore area.

    Lance Manlove is a Certified Green Professional through the NAHB Green Building Program and earned a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware. While at the University he worked for Astro Power, now GE Solar. He attributes that experience to developing his passion for building green homes and introducing renewable energy systems with a goal of achieving net zero energy consumption.
    
    Susan Pomerantz is a Realtor® and an Ecobroker ®, specializing in sustainable housing. She became interested in energy efficiency several years ago as she watched utility costs started to rise. Her goal is to provide home buyers and sellers with up-to-date information on green guidelines, sustainable retrofitting, qualified professionals, tax incentives and real estate valuations.
    
      www.thegreenroadshow.com, a new blog, will be online after the seminar to provide an open forum to the public for information, questions and comments on energy and environmental issues, awareness and education.

    For further information call 302.339.6024 or email susanpomerantz@comcast.net

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• Delmarva Power

  • From: GreenTV
  • Description:
  • 7 months ago
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• Sustainable Energy Utility

  • From: GreenTV
  • Description:

    Senator Harris McDowell tells how the SEU will provide immediate relief to consumers.

  • 8 months ago
  • Views: 528