Staging an Event? See What You Can Learn from Green Initiative at the U.S. Open

Staging an Event? See What You Can Learn from Green Initiative at the U.S. Open

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GE's NET ZERO HOMES

Story from the Commercial Record

If massive Norwalk conglomerate GE gets its way, by 2015 all homes will generate as much power as they consume, thanks to residential wind power, next generation solar technology and smart power management, among other technologies.

GE said by 2015 it intends to develop a turn-key product portfolio that will empower both new homebuilders and existing homeowners to build or modify so-called "zero net energy homes."

The GE net zero energy home offerings will be comprised of three major groups within the company's product portfolio: energy efficient products, energy management products and energy generation/storage products.

Energy efficient products include GE Energy Star-qualified appliances and lighting products.

Energy management products will enable consumers to manage their costs and energy consumption while helping reduce utility demand peaks, thereby reducing the need for more power generation. In a statement, GE said it plans to be the first manufacturer to offer a full suite of demand response appliances that will work with utility smart meters to help shed load from the grid, while helping consumers save money during peak demand usage and pricing times.

Lastly, the company's GE Energy unit plans to incorporate products like solar PV, advanced energy storage, next generation thin film solar and small wind generators to help homes generate their own power independent of the grid.

"We have a long, trusted relationship with consumers, strong presence with homebuilders, demand response appliance technology and the extremely critical smart grid technology leadership of GE Energy that makes the GE net zero energy home an exciting prospect for our future growth," said GE Consumer & Industrial President and CEO James Campbell.

Protect Our Local Wetlands

Image via Wikipedia

Fairfield County, Connecticut has some of the most inspiring natural lanscapes an artist could ever desire to paint. From coastal vistas to splendor in the grass, the land we are stewards of provides amazing beauty. Our wetlands are an asset not only to our eyes, but to the very planet we depend on for survival.

Please take a moment to learn more about wetlands in this video from BobVila.com

Watch this at Bob Vila

$15.4 Million for Going GREEN

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $204 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in ten states. Connecticut was one of the states receiving the funding. Under DOE's State Energy Program (SEP), states have proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Connecticut will use its $15.4 million in SEP funding to create or protect jobs and save energy with several projects, including in-home energy audits and the deployment of a variety of technologies, such as alternative-fuel vehicles. In one project, Recovery Act funds will enable more residents to take advantage of inexpensive in-home energy audits designed to reduce energy bills and encourage energy efficiency. For each home, a specialist will perform an energy assessment, find and professionally seal critical leaks and drafts, replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps, provide and install water conservation devices, and check insulation and appliances.

The state will also use funding to support four Clean Cities coalitions—Greater New Haven, Clean Cities of Southwestern Connecticut, Norwich Clean Cities and Capital Clean Cities—to support their efforts to facilitate the adoption of alternate fuels and petroleum-reducing technologies in Connecticut.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive an additional $19 million, for a total of $38 million.

CLICK HERE to read full press release

Up On The Roof

Image by pnwra via Flickr

Green roofs are everywhere these days. What, you've never heard of a "green" roof? I am not talking about a new trend in shingles or mold growing where it should not be. Green roofs are actually, well, gardens on your roof. A green roof reduces the amount of heat on the roof from the sun. This reduces heat in the building as well as the heat the structure generates which creates a "heat island" warming the surrounding air.

There are additional benefits, other than being a great insulator, to having a green roof. It conserves energy used by home heating and cooling. They help clean storm water so the runoff doesn't pollute our oceans, lakes and streams. They abate the heat that roofs generate and warm the local community and green roofs help to improve air quality.

Check out the video below for more Green Roof information.

"Secret Benefits" from Energy Conservation

Image via Wikipedia

I often use the analogy of the car buying process to help explain how I believe one should look at the greener home buying process. Like a car, a home has an effect on the air we breath. Like a car, a home has energy-consumption and maintenance costs that continue through the life of your ownership. These costs should be factored in a buying decision.

However, reducing energy-use cost in a home is much easier these days than in a car. Most of us don’t have the knowledge and resources to redesign our existing cars engine to have greater fuel efficiency. We also find it difficult to reduce our consumption of auto fuel after we work to eliminate unnecessary trips and plan our errands more efficiently.

The easy, low cost changes we can make in our homes can reduce our monthly bottom line and help our planet in numerous ways. I recently read a white paper entitled The "Secret Benefits" From Energy Conservation and it added another dimension to my car/home analogy.

The authors state that "It is logical that a car driven 25% less each year will last longer. The same is true for most energy-consuming equipment, such as lights, motors and even digital equipment......It doesn't matter how energy-efficient an organization is, there are savings from turning equipment "off" when it is not needed." Like a car, "It's not the age....it's the mileage"

Once can reduce their utility budgets by conserving energy. By reducing equipment operation, the need for replacement is reduced. When equipment runs fewer hours, maintenance costs are reduced. By reducing energy-consumption one is also buffering themselves from sudden fuel cost spikes and suprise increase in utility bills.

The secret it out!

Click the link below to read the white paper referenced above.
http://www.instituteofgreenprofessionals.org/associations/9228/files/SecretBenefitsfromEnergyConservation-2008.pdf

Downsizing is in, Greensizing is BETTER

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Recently, the Today Show on NBC ran this video about the trend to downsize your home. While I do think the trend is an important one to note,I would also add a mention of GREENSIZING your home. Greensizing is all about the 3 R's of the green movement. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

It doesn't take long to go through your home and reduce the clutter, reuse what you find and recycle (donate, sell, give away) things that you no longer need. If you throw things away, remember to recycle that which can be recycled in your community! Every bit helps the cause....

Make Me Greener, Please

By MIREYA NAVARRO
Published: June 10, 2009

NYTimes.com

GEORGE BRYSON and Alina Sanchez flunked the test on water consumption.

They had hired a consultant to tell them how they could do better at home in helping the environment, and although they did very well on energy use, water was another matter.

“I do a lot of thinking in the shower,” Ms. Sanchez offered as a possible explanation. (The culprit turned out to be the sprinklers.)

Environmental savings can be elusive, and the benefits and costs confusing. To help households wade through the information, consultants armed with stepladders and gadgets are selling advice on energy efficiency, indoor air quality and even methods for creating an eco-conscious wardrobe.

The field of personal and home eco-consultants is relatively new. GenGreen, a Colorado company that offers a national directory of businesses marketing themselves as green at gengreenlife.com, says it has just over 3,000 listings under the umbrella term environmental consultants, up from 657 when the database was started in 2007. They include energy auditors, health and wellness experts, interior designers and “eco-brokers,” real estate agents who specialize in green homes. While real estate agents can get training and certification as “eco” or “green” by trade organizations, and states like New York run energy audit programs with accreditation rules, there are no industry standards for most eco-consultants, who can range from environmental engineers to the self-taught.

READ MORE http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/garden/11consult.html?_r=5

Acting locally, in the local manner - Energy conservation, local innovation | TerraPass: Fight global warming, reduce your carbon footprint

Erin Craig June 8, 2009

http://www.terrapass.com/
From Japan to Australia, regionally appropriate tricks for conserving energy

I was chatting with a friend in Sydney, Australia not long ago and came away with an enhanced appreciation of what it means to act locally.

My Bay Area was suffering an unseasonable heat wave while hers was unusually rainy, so we talked about how the weather affected our households. “At least I get my water heated for free,” I noted, explaining that we installed a solar-heated hot water system. While she was duly impressed, she replied that systems like that weren’t very practical in her neighborhood because she, like most of her neighbors, has on-demand gas water heating and no hot water tank. Without a tank, solar hot water is problematic because you can’t moderate its temperature.

On the other hand, she wasn’t complaining about the rain. “We have a rooftop rainwater cistern directly plumbed to the clothes washer,” she said. “It rains about the same amount here as there, but it’s distributed all year-round instead of dumping it all in the winter. We almost never need to supplement the cistern.” I found this idea quite enchanting, but such a system would only be useful to me five months of the year.

As we discussed our efforts to save electricity, she reminded me that in Australia, all outlets have switches built in so saving on stand-by power is a little easier. Her challenge is to make the switches more convenient: the ones in the kitchen are fine as they’re at counter height, but the switches behind the TV cabinet are too hard to reach.

These local flavors reminded me of a lecture given by a university professor known for his energy conservation ethic. He had recently visited Japan armed with energy management and measurement devices. When visiting traditional Japanese homes, he had expected to find them horribly inefficient, as they do not feature much insulation. What he found instead is that Japanese approach heating very differently than American. Some rely on micro-heat located where needed instead of central heat. When he joined a family for dinner, he basked in the warmth of a small heater attached to the bottom of the dining table.

In a similar way, I discovered one of my favorite “appliances” in a bed and breakfast kept fairly cool during a New Zealand winter: a mattress pad heater, perfect for a room where sleeping comprised 90% of the room’s use.

Which leads me to wonder what else I might be missing in my immersion in the American version of living lightly, and a West Coast version, at that. Any local practices employed which people would like to share? CLICK LINK BELOW
Image by Flickr user tomsaint11.

Acting locally, in the local manner - Energy conservation, local innovation TerraPass: Fight global warming, reduce your carbon footprint

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Purify Air - Surprising Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

The most widely quoted statistic about air quality is this: The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air can be two- to five-times more polluted than the air outdoors. And while the EPA is responsible for cracking down on outdoor pollution -- the smog, ozone and other chemicals that spew from tailpipes and smokestacks -- protecting the air indoors is largely the responsibility of homeowners.

While many sources of indoor air are fairly obvious and well-known -- second-hand smoke, carbon monoxide and radon, to name the most prominent, and deadly -- there are more insidious, secret sources of pollution that any concerned homeowner or parent should consider. Below are some of the most surprising. For tips on reducing indoor air pollution from these and other sources, see 25 Indoor Air Quality Tips from the American Lung Association. (www.thedailygreen.com/indoor-air)

Purify Air - Surprising Sources of Indoor Air Pollution - thedailygreen.com

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Federal money helps Fairfield go green

By Genevieve Reilly
staff writer- Connecticut Post

FAIRFIELD -- More than one-half million dollars in federal money will be used to save the town some green when it comes to conserving energy.

The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday authorized First Selectman Kenneth Flatto to accept a $545,100 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant awarded through the federal stimulus and energy independence acts.

Projects the town is looking to fund with the grant money include two reciprocating natural gas generators for the main library and police headquarters; financial incentives and public awareness programs; a geothermal study of Stratfield School; and a $23,000 hybrid vehicle for the town car pool.

The generators, budgeted at $360,000, generate electricity and use waste heat to warm the buildings, according to Ed Boman, assistant public works director. The equipment would save the town about $70,000 yearly for each building in heating and electrical costs.

"This is a home run," Flatto said of the proposed projects and the grant funding. There is no town match required for the grant money.

Another $115,100 will be used for the financial incentives and public awareness programs. Uses for this money will include reimbursements to residents and small business owners for purchases of energy-efficient equipment, reusable bags and 10 new bike racks around town. READ MORE......

Solar in the News

A fellow EcoBroker Certified real estate agent, Simone Healey, had an exceptionally informative interview on CNBC recently. Simone is an agent with Vikki Healey Properties in Maywoood, NJ. In this interview she speaks about a rennovation of an antique home c.1767.

The home is having an addition built as well as an energy-efficiency upgrade to the older part of the home. The energy-efficieny measures include added insulation, heating and cooling equipment upgrades and solar panels to generate electricity.

The interview centers around the associated costs of the "green" upgrades. It demonstrates how quickly those upgrades can provide a return on your investment. It also talks about solar incentives from the government to make the payoff sooner and longer lasting.

The video is 3 minutes as 45 seconds.

Connecticut's First LEED Gold Home

By Rob Wotzak

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/

An Efficient Design and a Carefully Detailed Envelope Add up to Big Energy Savings

Craftsman bungalows are celebrated for being comfortable, practical and carefully crafted from local natural materials. This LEEDGold home in South Glastonbury, Connecticut, incorporates all of these qualities and more. To meet the home owners' goal of creating an enjoyable and economical place to retire, CK Architects penned an attractive, efficient, and adaptable plan. A meticulously detailed building envelope, a discretely mounted photovoltaic array, and a geothermal HVAC system keep the home affordable.

Let nature work for you. Beneficial natural conditions paired with good design choices helped maximize the project's sustainable features. An L-shaped house plan and a central screened porch let cooling breezes pass right through the house. An existing clearing made it easy to install the geothermal loop and then cover it with a meadow of wildflowers. The landscaped portions of the site contain large beds of noninvasive, drought-tolerant plants, minimizing the need for irrigation and yard work.

Designed for easy living. Farmed white cedar shingles, fiber-cement siding, and cellular PVC trim ensure that the house is equally maintenance free. CK Architects left the core living area open with plenty of south-facing windows, creating a bright, functional, and efficient space. Less frequently used, the guest rooms are deliberately isolated from the rest of the house, allowing John and Karen to reduce their heating demands when visitors aren't around.

Early actions pay off. The build team's commitment to environmental responsibility made joining the LEED for Homes pilot program an easy decision. Doing this early in the process guided smart choices on everything from initial site preparations to interior finishes. Architect Russell Campaigne estimated that the green building methods added about a 5% premium over a comparable home built to code. With utility bills for the first year averaging less than $100 a month (pretty good considering Connecticut has some of the highest electric rates in the country), it seems that the investment is paying off.

CLICK HERE to read full article

Photo and story courtesy of Green Building Advisor

Awesome Solar Options in Connecticut

By Jeffrey Clonts

In an effort to reduce my electricity bills and to promote clean alternative energies, I decided to look into the Connecticut Solar Lease program. The program, one of the leading solar programs in the country, is brought to us by The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and CT Solar Leasing, LLC.

Combining the power of CCEF’s innovative Solar Rebate program with a leasing option creates an unbelievable opportunity for qualifying homeowners who are customers of CL&P and UI. If you qualify, this program helps you add solar energy to your home at the lowest possible cost. Qualification is based on where you live and your annual gross income. For Fairfield, the AGI limits are $162,000 for a family of 4. For Westport the AGI limit is $235,600 for a family of 4. Click here to see if you qualify.

What the program really does is reduce your monthly utility costs. You save money and the planet at the same time. Trinity Solar, my solar installer of choice for the program, came to my house to do an evaluation. The goal was to see if my home had solar potential.

Ken Nastri took me through the evaluation process and the results were shocking to say the least. It was not shocked to hear that a few trees would have to come down around my place before solar was practical. The real slap in the face was the total cost of my electric bill over the next 20 years.

Using my current annual electric usage and the assumption that electric rates will continue to grow at the rate of 8% per year, my total electric utility costs for the 20 year period would be $157,275.00. I felt sick to my stomach once I saw that number. That is just my electric bill!!!!!!! Yikes.

The good news was that with the removal of a few trees and the CT Solar Lease program I could save $47,345.00 over that 20 year period. In addition to the dollar savings I would be reducing my CO2 consumption by 15,510 lbs. and conserving 5,598 gallons of water. All of this has the same effect on the planet as planting 776 trees. Who new?

Unfortunately the trees that need to be removed to make my home solar friendly are on my neighbor’s property. I have a good relationship with them so we’ll see how eco-neighborly they are feeling. The end result…Solar or not, I have to reduce my energy consumption. My next step is a home weatherization audit through the HES program. More to come…..

If you want to know more about the program or have me arrange for a consultation at your home by Trinity Solar (authorized provider for the CT Solar Lease progam) email me at http://www.AskJeff@prudentialct.com

Beach Season is Coming....

Beach season is quickly approaching in Fairfield County. While we all enjoy the sun and fun of our coastal community, remember the cost of leaving garbage behind on our families and the environment. Take a couple of minutes to view this video from National Geographic to remind us of what we can do to minimize the impact of our love for the beach on the environment.

11 Homes Made Out of the Darndest Things, from Treehouses to Missile Silos

Green buildings can come in many different shapes and sizes, including recycled shipping containers.

May 13, 2009 at 8:35PM by Brian Clark Howard

Green building -- designing homes and businesses to maximize energy and water efficiency and minimize harm to the environment -- has been gathering steam across much of the world. In New York City, architects are exploring the exciting potential of growing fresh food in the urban landscape through green roofs and vertical farms. In the heartland, more folks are taking advantage of home energy tax credits to tighten up their home's seal, invest in more efficient systems and install renewable energy. In Hawaii, new single family homes built in 2010 or beyond will be required to heat their water via the sun's rays. Shoot, folks are even taking green digs on the road with them!

There are many ways regular folks can green up their current residences, from swapping out those light bulbs to planting shade trees, sealing leaks and so on. This article isn't about those things. It's also not about the latest green dream homes, from modular designs to LEED-certified construction. This article is more along the lines of the famous "hobbit house," which combines elements of the old-fashioned prairie sod-house with a whimsical, aspirational attitude of "why not?"
We don't expect most people will be moving into reclaimed trains, planes and automobiles anytime soon. But we do think these home designs are a lot of fun. They show what's possible if we think outside the ticky tacky box, and dream of something different. You may not be reusing an airplane wing today, but maybe you can reuse some used lumber or furniture, or perhaps switch to paints that are better for your air quality. CONTINUE READING at The Daily Green

Click to read more from www.thedailygreen.com

CT Schools and Green Cleaning

By Jeffrey Clonts

On Wednesday May 6, 2009 the Connecticut House of Representatives approved a bill that would require state school systems to use “green” cleaning products by July 1, 2011. The legislation passed 124-19 and now moves to the Senate.

Green cleaning products are those that do not contain harsh cleaning agents like ammonia and bleach. Standard cleaning products also often have chemicals and ingredients like benzene and formaldehyde that have been suspected of causing illness, including cancer. Many chemical cleaners also contain unnecessary antibacterial compounds, which may lead to antibiotic resistance.

In fact, indoor air quality in our homes and schools is a growing health issue. The EPA studies show that levels of air pollution inside our homes and schools are two to five times greater than outdoors. Cleaning products are not the only culprit when it comes to indoor air quality. Off gassing from building materials, paint, carpet and mechanical systems all contribute to the problem.

Those who opposed the House bill were mainly concerned about the potential for expensive unintended consequences. Rep. John W. Hetherington, R-New Canaan expressed his concern over increased liability lawsuits if the green products are mandated.

There was some additional concern over cost of green cleaning products. The bills supporters noted that the cost of such products have gone down due to more demand from consumers and broader availability.

There are several green cleaning products available for your home. Check out Dr. Bronner (www.drbronner.com), Earth Friendly Products (www.ecos.com), Ecover (www.ecover.com), Method, which even has a “Detox Kit” to detox your home (www.methodhome.com), Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com), and Shaklee (www.shaklee.com) and WOW Green (www.wowgreen.net). You can also make your own with common ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. You can find recipes at The Daily Green.

If you are interested in more information on green cleaning products for your home, check out this video from ABC News.

No VOC's, Baby!

By Jeffrey Clonts


One of the advantages of being a real estate professional is that you get to see beautiful homes (and some not so beautiful) all the time. Some of the areas greatest interior designers are hired to make the house a home and, in some cases, a showplace. To me it is free decorating advice. I often see things I like and try them in my own home.

This months project is a repaint of my kitchen. After the torture of finding the right shade of Sea Foam, I had my local Benjamin Moore store mix up a gallon of their Natura low/no VOC paint.

Because low- or no-VOC "volatile organic compound" paints have a lower odor and less impact on air quality than higher VOC-content paints, they are excellent for use in homes to help maintain good indoor air quality. It is also great for other buildings such as hospitals, schools, and workplaces as well.

Recent EPA studies estimate indoor air quality to be 3 to 5 times more toxic than outdoor air largely caused by toxic emissions of paints and finishes. Paint manufacturers realized the need to develop paint that contains lower VOC yet maintain high levels of performance and durability. The carpet manufacturing industry has also created low VOC products for the same reasons.

I am absolutely thrilled with the Natura® paint thus far. It was great doing the work and not feeling faint from the odor. In addition, the paint was great to apply and it’s coverage as good as any I have used before.

When you are planning your next home improvement project that involves paint, I encourage you to try a no/low VOC paint. There are many brands out there. I can only attest for the two I have tried to date. Your family’s health and well being is worth exploring the options. The planet will thank you as well!

Read more about Volatile Organic Compounds and indoor air quality.

Go Green, Live Rich

Going green is about making common-sense, everyday choices to improve the quality of your life and the quality of the planet. Going green will save you money as well.

Reduce, reuse and recycle is not only the mantra of the eco-friendly movement but the key to putting money in your pocket. Think about it. If you're using less and reusing more you save money every day! Thinking about your daily actions like walking vs. driving (walking is cheaper, healthier and more eco-friendly) and keeping an eye on your thermostat (adding a programmable thermostat is a small investment for a big return on your $$$) or reducing your home water consumption (turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth)you can continue to add value to your bank account and add value to the planet.

Planet Green has some great tips to enRICH your life. Check them out by clicking here.

Water Conservation Video

Here is a 3 minute video on water conservation from National Geographic. Take a few minutes to learn and conserve one of our most precious resources.

US Military Goes Green

April 28, 2009
Military Adopts Green Technologies

The U.S. military is implementing several green initiatives including the use of alternative energy such as solar and wind that officials estimate could save millions, cut their heavy environmental boot-print and save lives in war zones where fuel convoys are frequent targets, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The testing ground for these green initiatives is Ft. Irwin in San Bernardino Country, which houses the Army’s training center for troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.

When oil prices spiked last summer, the Defense Department’s energy budget rose from about $13 billion per year in 2006 and 2007 to $20 billion in 2008, consuming 4 billion gallons of jet fuel, 220 million gallons of diesel and 73 million gallons of gasoline, reports the LA Times.

As a result, reducing consumption and embracing energy alternatives became national security imperatives by defense officials. At Ft. Irwin, they are testing ways to power the desert training area — which replicates combat conditions — using wind, solar and organic waste-to-fuel technologies, reports the LA Times.

READ MORE at EnvironmentalLeader.com

Marion Webb on Going and Saving Green

My friend and colleague in Georgia, Marion Webb, was featured on CNN for Earth Day. Marion is an expert at saving money through inexpensive energy and resource saving measures.

History of Earth Day

From TreeHugger.com
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.13.09

For anyone in the green movement under 30 in the US, Earth Day has always just...been. It's existed as a day when you head to the park or zoo with your parents for activities that have to do with recycling, gardening, and saving endangered animals. Or if you're in high school or college, it's the day you go plant trees or participate in a river clean-up and get some extra community service credits. But, how did it start? Really, it's an example of grassroots environmentalism at its best.

In 1962, Senator Gaylord Nelson decided the environment needed to take a bigger priority in politics, so he convinced President Kennedy to do a national conservation tour. It was a five-day, eleven-state tour in September of '63. And the result...a big, “So what?” from every other politician.

On to plan B.
Six years later, in 1969 when war protests were all the rage, Senator Nelson came up with the idea of holding a national protest against the destruction of the environment.

"I was satisfied that if we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force this issue onto the political agenda. It was a big gamble, but worth a try."

He was right. The event, held on April 22, 1970 and organized through grassroots, word-of-mouth methods, was a massive success with over 20 million people taking part across the nation. Imagine that...20 million people gathering around green, and all well before Twitter and its Twestivals, or Facebook and its Cause Badges.

CLICK HERE to read more at TreeHugger.com

Shop Amazon.com for Earth Day Discounts

Fairfield Celebrates Earthday

Residents of Farifield will have a busy schedule this week if they plan to attend all of the Earth Day activities in the area. Here is a small sample of some of the major events to celebrate the planet.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, will participate in a discussion on energy and environment from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. The town hall-style meeting will include Roger Smith, executive director of Clean Water Action; Richard Johnson, president of the Fairfield Prep Political Awareness Club; and Kathleen Casey, president of the Fairfield Ludlowe Democrats.

Fairfield University will host "More Green Cleaners Party," a free event to educate the public on why it's a healthy and smart move to whip up eco-friendly homemade cleansers using benign components, such as olive oil and castile soap. The event will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. April 21 in Bannow 319 on the university campus. To reserve a spot, contact msregan@mail.fairfield.edu.

The Sacred Heart University Marketing Club is hosting an Earth Day celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. April 22. There will be a number of demonstrations, and one of the highlights will be the planting of the "Giving Tree" in the garden outside of Seton and Merton halls.

The Watermark at 3030 Park is hosting Tisha Ferguson, director of outreach at Connecticut Fund for the Environment, who will lecture on the need for clean water in Bridgeport and Long Island Sound, storm water, legislative help given to older cities regarding watershed lands and the protection of river banks. The lecture will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. April 22 in the auditorium. To reserve a seat, call 374-5611.

The Fairfield and Sasqua Garden Clubs are sponsoring the symposium "Going Green in Your Own Back Yard" at 7 p.m. April 22 at the Southport Congregational Church. The event will feature Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides and Chip Osborne of Osborne Organics. For information, call Alice Cooke at 847-7109 or Courtenay Hardy at 259-7865.

Ecologist and economist Robert Constanza, Ph.D., will deliver Fairfield University's Earth Day lecture on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kelley Center.

The Sasquanaug Association for Southport Improvement will conduct its annual cleanup of Southport Village on April 25 starting at 10 a.m. at the entrance of Southport Park.

And finally, the town of Fairfield's annual Earth Day celebration will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 at Fairfield Warde High School. The event is still being organized but it will include a number of exhibitors as well as demonstrations and entertainment. One of the highlights is the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority's residential electronics collection, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information on the town's annual event will be published in the Fairfield Citizen in the next few weeks. Residents can visit www.fairfieldearthday.wordpress.com for more information.

For more information go to the Fairfield Citizen online
Fairfield Earth Day logo courtesy of http://www.fairfieldearthday.wordpress.com/

Ideas for Greener Home Finishes

This is a fantastic, relatively short, video about a home in the San Diego area that was built with Green Building techniques and earth-friendly products as interior finishes. It is brought to us by Kohler who has been a leader in developingwater conserving and eco-friendly products for the home.

Remember that these greener products can be used in any home, newly built or remodeled. The "style" of the home is not important. Green homes look no different than others unless you can spot a solar panel or two on the roof or in the yard.

In Love....With A Car

And so it begins, a love affair with my new car. It has happened before and will likely happen again. But there is something different about this time.

This time, the object of my affection is a hybrid vehicle. I have been waiting for a hybrid car to be introduced that stirred my emotions. The Prius, the goddess of all green cars, just didn’t do it for me. I am getting old and fat and the idea of getting in a gas sipping Mini Cooper never worked. Camry and Altima were nice. Honda is good and Lexus Hybrids are just plain expensive. Hybrid SUV’s, puh-lease.

Then came the Ford Fusion Hybrid. I read about it while reading about new energy-efficient vehicles. I saw it on American Idol. I contacted my local dealer via the internet*. I went for a look and test drive. I bought it.

The Fusion Hybrid has good looks, est. 41mpg city driving, loads of gadgets, plenty of room, good acceleration (which I thought would be a fatal issue for me with hybrids), and it teaches you to drive in ways that save gas. I could go on about the fantastic gadgets but I am going to have to spend a day or two at the wheel in the driveway to figure them all out. I love new technology and this vehicle is packed with it.

But….what I am in love with is the feeling I get while I’m driving it. Driving it makes me feel Responsible, Hopeful, Proactive, Humble, Giddy, and Proud that an American company came up with this car. (OK, so it’s assembled in Mexico by Ford but I try not to let that get me down,)

More to come I am sure….

*Congrats and thanks to Richard Agudo at McMahon Ford for working my internet lead and actually following through. I first inquired weeks before the first Fusion Hybrid hit the lot in CT. He kept me informed and let me know when it finally arrived. Excellent internet customer service!

Eco-friendly News for Chocolate Lovers

This Easter Cadbury unveiled a range of ‘eco-eggs’ called Cadbury Treasure Eggs, which rather than being sold in a box is simply foil wrapped. The Treasure Eggs represent a reduction of over 75 percent plastic and 65 percent less cardboard than previously used in standard eggs, according to the company.

As well as the new range of eco-eggs, the company has also pledged to cut packaging in its existing range of small and medium boxed eggs.

Cadbury says that the amount of plastic used this Easter will be reduced by 247 tonnes and cardboard by 115 tonnes, saving over 2,000 trees as a result. In total, as a result of the combination of launching the un-boxed Treasure eggs to avoid excessive packaging and reducing packaging on the standard eggs, Cadbury will save 1130 tonnes of packaging this Easter.

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GO GREEN EXPO IN MANHATTAN

The GoGreenExpo is coming this weekend in Manhattan. It is the largest environmentally-focused consumer show in New York’s history. Big name exhibitors such as Disney, Honda, DELL, Home Depot, Sundance Channel, Food Network, Con Edison and the Sierra Club will all be there. Actress and Eco-celebrity Mariel Hemingway will be discussing "How To Green Your Life."

The Expo is scheduled for April 18th and 19th at the Hilton New York located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas / 6th Ave at 53rd Street. The hours for Saturday are 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-5pm. The Expo also catrers to businesses with a green minded philosophy. There is a Business to Business event on Friday April 17th from 12pm to 6pm.

Tickets are $10.00 which covers entry for the entire weekend. Seniors and Students are admitted for free.

Click here for more info on the Expo and to register.

Easter Eggs = Less Energy Use?

From NYTimes.com, Green Inc.

By Kate Galbraith

On the evening of March 28, people around the globe turned off their lights in observation of “Earth Hour” — an event aimed at drawing attention to energy conservation.

But it’s actually a bit later in the year — usually April or May — when Americans, with little fanfare, use the least amount of energy. Indeed, in terms of daytime usage between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., the day of the year with the lowest electricity consumption has fallen in April or May every year since 2000, according to New England’s grid operator.

The single lowest energy-use day has coincided with Easter Sunday on three of those years.

“Temperatures moderate and the daylight hours grow longer in the months of April and May,” said Erin O’Brien, a spokeswoman for I.S.O.-New England, the grid operator, in an e-mail message. “This combination prompts customers and business to use less electricity for heating, cooling and lighting.”

Because of the lull in demand, many power plants often shut down for maintenance, ahead of the hot, air-conditioned summer.

Said Paul Rosengren, a spokesman for P.S.E.G., an energy company based in New Jersey: “Spring is a time when you try to get a lot of your summer prep done.”

CLICK HERE to go to the article in the NY Times.

Survey: Do You Care about the Earth?

In a recent survey from Pangea Media and Quibblo, less that 20% of teens reported that they or their families are doing enough for the environment. While it appears we are teaching our children well, we adults are not leading by example.

Click here to take the quiz yourself and see how you compare to others in terms of how you care about the Earth!

Energy Overhaul at Empire State Building

April 6, 2009 courtesy of http://www.environmentalleader.com/

The mother of all office buildings is getting the mother of all energy retrofits.

To make an example of how existing structures can be refitted to improve energy efficiency and sustainability, the Empire State Building is receiving a $20 million overhaul. Planners say the upgrades should result in $4.4 million in energy savings annually, or a 38 percent energy reduction.

The energy upgrades are part of a larger $500 million refurbishing of the building, which was constructed in 1931.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Weatherizing older homes: a win-win-win stimulus that creates jobs, cuts carbon emissions, reduces energy consumption, and revitalizes neighborhoods

The following is a blog post from Barry Katz of GreenWorks Consulting in Westport, CT. You can read his blog at http://www.greenworks.typepad.com/

Weatherizing older homes: a win-win-win stimulus that creates jobs, cuts carbon emissions, reduces energy consumption, and revitalizes neighborhoods

Posted using ShareThis

Click here to read the NY Times Op/Ed that inspired this conversation.

Green Remodel Video

This is a wonderful 15 minute video presentation about doing a Home Energy Remodel on your current or future home. It has tips and information on ways you can save $$$$$$$$ in reduced energy costs. It is one of the first steps to living a more comfortable, healthy, properous and earth friendly life. Enjoy!

The video is courtesy of www.gogreentube.com

Eco-friendly Landscape Options for Spring

The local nurseries along Bronson Road in Fairfield, CT are brimming with the promise of spring. In the past week, truck loads of greenery have been unloaded and placed on nursery lots awaiting the rush of garden enthusiasts and landscape experts to begin the planting season. As you think about your personal landscape projects this year, be aware that with landscaping and gardening you can reduce your energy costs, avoid overconsumption of water resources, save money on your food bill and help the planet.

Reduce your home heating and cooling costs by planting trees and evergreens on the east, west and south sides of your home. Trees planted in strategic locations help create a windbreak for the home from the cold winter winds. In addition, well-placed deciduous trees can shade your home during hot summer months while allow warming sunshine to enter a home when warmth is needed in the winter.

When planting beds and gardens consider trying Xeriscaping. Using native and indigenous plants that are accustomed to the local climate can significantly reduce the need for watering, fertilizers and herbicides. Also, consider reducing the amount of grass on your property. Having that big, beautiful green lawn takes its toll on the earth’s resources and the environment.

If you really want to keep that lawn there are a few tips that can lessen its negative environmental impact. Switch to a push-type mower instead of a power mower. Lawn mower engines emit high levels of carbon monoxide and produce up to 5 percent of U.S. air pollution. Avoid cutting the lawn too short. The shorter the grass the less shade it provides the soil and increases the need for watering. Taller grass has a deeper root system which results in less water required to keep it healthy. Finally, leave the grass clippings on the lawn after you mow it. You won’t add to the town’s landfill and the clippings decompose and put nutrients back into the soil for a healthier lawn.

If you have a nice, sunny and protected area in your yard, consider planting a vegetable garden. The Obama family, taking the lead from former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, is planting a vegetable garden on the White House lawn to remind us all that “growing more food locally, and organically, can lead to more healthful eating and reduce reliance on huge industrial farms that use more oil for transportation and chemicals for fertilizer.” You also save money at the grocery store produce aisle!

Now go out and get dirty………….



Please visit:

Oliver's Nursery, 1159 Bronson Rd., Fairfield, CT 203-259-5609

Colonial Gardens, 1174 Bronson Rd., Fairfield, CT 203-259-2722

Greenfield Hill Garden Center, 1285 Bronson Rd., Fairfield, CT 203-259-6828

GREEN HOME OF THE WEEK

"EARTH HOUSE" IN NEW CANAAN

As I drove up the drive to visit the "Earth House" I was stuck by it simple elegance. Perched on the side of a tree covered hill, it stands proudly as if it held the wisdom of the ages within it's walls. Perhaps it does!

As I took in the beaty of it's natural surroundings in I was reminded of the Anasazi Cliff Dwellings I had seen so many times while living in Arizona. Some of the earliest examples of sustainable or green building techniques come from the Anasazi Indians.

Anasazi Kin Ti’ish House

Anasazi Cliff Dwellings

A LITTLE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING HISTORY LESSON

The Anasazi Indians lived in the Four Corners region of the US (where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet) from about 1AD until 1300AD. Originally cave dwellers, the Anasazi began to aggressively build above ground structures of mud and stone called adobe sometime around 700-750AD. These structures were built in the sides of cliffs and eventually on the tops of mesas.

This form of architecture became known as “the pueblo.” Both the cliff dwellings and the mesa-top dwellings were built on south-facing ledges. The southern exposure allowed the sun, which was low in the sky at that time of year, to provide heat in the winter. Those pueblos that were built into the cliffs used the cliff overhang to provide cool shade in the summer when the sun was high in the sky. They knew about passive solar energy and used it to their advantage.

Using only natural stone, mud and wood to build their dwellings the Anasazi made homes that were healthy and used no toxic substances. Several dwellings were built next to each other in village configurations for social interaction and safety. They first built rectangular walled rooms then added others, in rectangular blocks, that housed many families. It is also thought that they used the structures to capture rainwater for irrigation as it was a valuable commodity.

BACK TO THE "EARTH HOUSE"

Anasazi Dwelling, Earth House Interior, Earth House in New Canaan

When I got inside, I found that the exterior is not where the Anasazi influence ended. The “Earth House”, as it has come to be known as, was the dream of Henry and Betsy Noble and was designed by Architect Donald Watson. At the time Mr. Watson was teaching at Yale University’s School of Architecture where he was the chairman of the masters program in environmental design. He was also the author of a book “Designing and Building a Solar House” which was published by Garden Way publishers in 1977 and revised in 1985.

Like the Anasazi, Mr. Watson designed a structure that is a concrete shell covered with earth. The home has a south-facing orientation and uses the sunlight for heat, daylighting, electricity, and hot water. The geometric angles designed into the structure along with light-shelves strategically placed near the windows helps maximize the winter sun gain and shade the windows in summer. Environmentally conscious landscaping, designed by Friede Stege, uses deciduous trees and native plantings to help shade the home from the heat of the sun in summer.

Mr. Watson had an advantage that the Anasazi did not. He added energy-saving technologies that are enviable even today. The home includes solar hot water panels and solar panels providing photovoltaic electricity which are located on the grassy roof which provides 3 feet of earthen insulation. It includes a heat pump for back-up heating and cooling, low-e glass windows, skylight and doors, a fireplace that provides a large thermal mass for heat retention, and an air-movement system that provides fresh air throughout the house.

The home is 4,310 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths and 1 half bath, all on 5.87 acres of professionally landscaped property. It has a great flexible floor plan and a fabulous studio with it's own bath and door to the outside. Great views from the terraces, gazebo and grassy roof. The property also has the possibility of a 2nd building lot that would not interefere with the beauty and serenity of the current home. Click here for more information and pricing.

"Earth House" is truly an home that nurtures it's inhabitants and respects the planet at the same time. It sets a high standard for the homes of the future and stands as an icon for the sustainable living ideals of today.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON "EARTH HOUSE"

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON ANASAZI ARCHITECTURE

Property information and history provided by the current owners and Dody Whitehurst of William Ravies, New Canaan.

Earth Hour in Fairfield

This Saturday, March 28th at 8:30pm local time (wherever you are on earth), tens of millions of people from all over the earth will be switching off their lights to make a statement against global warming. EARTH HOUR is your opportunity to use your light switch as a voting mechanism. As the organizers put it “Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming.”

The town of Fairfield, CT will be supporting this event by encouraging town residents to participate and turn off the lights for 1 hour between 6pm and 11pm. The town plans to turn off the lights at Old Town Hall and Sullivan Indepence Hall from 7pm to 8pm.

First Selectman Kenneth A. Flatto said "By doing our part in turning off our lights, the town of Farifield and its residents will take a stand in seeking to find solutions to climate change."

Flatto quote courtesy of the Fairfield Sun. http://www.fairfield-sun.com/

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT EARTH HOUR

Go Greener and Save $1,400.00

Would you be interested if I told you that by making a small change in your habits you could help save the planet? Would you also be interested in I told you that the same small change could save you $1,400.00 per year? According to an article in the New York Times, it is so.

“Those eight daily glasses of water you're supposed to drink for good health? They will cost you $0.00135 -- about 49 cents a year -- if you take it from a New York City tap.”

Or "you could spend 2,900 times as much, roughly $1,400 yearly, by drinking bottled water. For the extra money, they say, you get the added responsibility for piling on to the nation's waste heap and encouraging more of the industrial emissions that are heating up the planet.” NY Times

So once you have saved the $$, think of the other ways you are helping to support a cleaner environment and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

And how about this, “1.5 million barrels of oil are used every year to manufacture disposable plastic water bottles for the U.S. market. That's enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year…” The Daily Green

To calculate how much money you can save by using tap or filtered water, go to NewDream.org and use their nifty bottled water cost calculator. Then sit back and enjoy thinking of that extra cash and the good you are doing for the planet.

Photo courstey of NYTimes.com, AP Photo/Larry Crowe

Green Retailer Wars

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle incentives are everywhere!

It is wonderful to see what is happening in the retail sector in regard to “going green.” The big and small retailers alike are thinking of ways their companies can promote efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle.


Staples, the office products retailer, is offering some great incentives in honor of Earth Day. Now through May, 2 2009 you can get free printer recycling and a $50.00 rebate with a purchase of a new printer. The printers eligible for the rebate are regularly priced at $179 and up.

Staples offers a $3.00 rebate in Staples Rewards® for any brand of ink and toner cartridge you recycle with a limit of 10 per month. Staples has also become more environmentally-friendly by building LEED-certified stores, using recycled paper in their copy centers, offering green consumer products, and investing in clean energy and offering free recycling of cell phones, PDA’s Dell Computer equipment and all computer accessories . Among their consumer products are a line by HP and exclusive to Staples called EcoEasy Editions. There are 2 OfficeJet wireless printers and 2 LaserJet printers in the EcoEasy line-up.

Best Buy is in the green spirit as well. They are using incentives to get customers to recycle as well. Best Buy offers free recycling for most consumer electronics. The exception is for TVs 32" and under, CRTs, monitors and laptops. For these items there is a $10 charge which is offset with a $10 Gift Card. TVs over 32” cannot be recycled at Best Buy.

Best Buy was also the recipient of the 2008 Energy Star Award for excellence in appliance retailing. They offer many Energy Star qualified products — home electronics, office products, appliances, and more – which help reduce energy cost/use and helps prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy

Click Here for Staples Press Release

Click Here for Best Buy Green Info

Click Here for Staples Green Info

GREEN HOME OF THE WEEK

Luxury Oasis fit for a Sultan, but without the Oil!

Tucked away in “The Berries” of Huntington, CT is a veritable oasis of family fun. It is a 5,292 square foot contemporary home that boasts 13 rooms, 6 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half-baths, home office suite, big family kitchen, open floor plan and an additional 2,350 square feet that is finished in the lower walk-out level. It is surrounded by professionally landscaped 1.82 acres of lush gardens, pool, tennis court, and a play yard that is the envy of every kid in the area.

OK…so what am I doing talking about this house on a Green Home/Living website? This home has Geothermal Heating/Cooling and Solar Hot Water. In addition to these FANTASTICALLY GREEN features, the home is oriented on the property for the optimal benefits of passive solar heat and natural ventilation. The landscaping uses native plants that make it beautiful to look at and is in keeping with the local environment. It also protects the home from the suns heat in summer and provides windbreaks in the winter.

Imagine this much space and luxury with features that help offset your carbon footprint and vastly reduce your energy costs. This home allows you independence from oil (foreign or otherwise) and gas, lower utility bills, and a place to enjoy a family to the fullest.

Click Here for MORE PROPERTY INFO and Price

Property information and photos courstesy of Connie Belush, Prudential Connecticut Realty, Trumbull, CT.