The Energy Services Coalition announced that Hawaii leads the nation in per capita energy savings investment for public buildings.
Hawaii’s overall conservation investment totals more than $150 million.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie says this type of investment is what will propel the state toward its goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030.
A study conducted by Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technology Division suggests that lighter-colored cars are 2% more efficient than darker-colored cars.
Here’s where the fuel savings come in. If a cooler-colored car stays 9 to 11°F cooler inside on a hot, sunny day than a dark-colored car, it should require a smaller, more efficient air conditioning system to cool the cabin down to a comfortable temperature of 77°F within 30 minutes, which is an industry standard for vehicle air conditioning performance. The researchers then used a vehicle simulation tool to estimate the potential energy savings of using more reflective-colored paint to downsize air conditioners and found that switching from black to white or silver would increase fuel economy by 0.44 mpg, or 2.0 percent.
Regional studies suggest that energy-efficient homes sell faster and for higher prices than those that are not energy efficient.
In a study covering existing and new houses sold from May 2010 through April of this year, the Earth Advantage Institute, a nonprofit group based in Portland, Ore., found that newly constructed homes with third-party certifications for sustainability and energy efficiency sold for 8% more on average than noncertified homes in the six-county Portland metropolitan area. Existing houses with certifications sold for 30% more.
35,000 square feet of rooftop space in Manhattan’s Lower East Side will be painted with reflective white paint to conserve energy.
The paint, which reflects 90% of sunlight, is expected to reduce cooling costs and electricity bills for tenants at 20 buildings managed by the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, a low-income housing management company that helps to preserve and develop affordable housing.
California-based Zilowatt is teaching conservation to children in grades K to 12. Kits distributed to schools include superhero characters called Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, and TIO (Turn It Off).
While some members of Congress lament the prospect of switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, one California nonprofit, Zilowatt, is spreading the energy conservation message at a grass-roots level. The group, whose motto is “Start Small,” wants to change energy habits by teaching consumers in grades K to 12 that the best light bulb is one that’s turned off.
The University of California Davis plans to build the largest zero-net energy community in the country, with the first phase expected to be completed this year.
The buildings are all designed to optimize their use of solar energy, and the appliances within are not only energy efficient, but many will also be made from renewable sources. In addition to the efforts made to reduce energy use for the buildings, the community is designed in such a way so that the residents should have little need for automobiles within the community as well.
The entire community’s electricity demand will be powered by a 4 megawatt solar power system created by the SunPower Corporation. The system includes rooftop solar power installations and solar canopies in the parking areas.
Philippe and Thao Jeanty used Google Sketchup, a free software, to design their energy-efficient house in Fairview, Tennessee.
Their new one-story, 2,700-square-foot home and the adjacent 700-square-foot apartment they designed for Philippe’s mother, renowned surgeon Madeleine Lejour, are almost completely self-sufficient. The main house is situated facing magnetic north and south so a rooftop 5-kilowatt solar array can provide most of the electricity for both structures. They are tied to the grid for power after dark, but Philippe says the electric bill is just pennies per day. When their solar system produces more electricity than they need, they sell it to the local power company.
German scientists at Berlin’s Alan Laboratory report that popular eco-friendly light bulbs, CFLs, or compact fluorescent lightbulbs, contain cancer-causing chemicals and should not be used for long periods.
But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.
Andreas Kirchner, of the Federation of German Engineers, said: “Electrical smog develops around these lamps.
California governor Jerry Brown signed a law requiring utilities to obtain 33% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
As part of the fight against global warming, California already requires its large, investor-owned utilities to get 20 percent of their electricity from the sun, the wind, and other renewable energy sources, a goal they have not yet met. Developers are racing to build wind farms and solar power plants across the state, often using technology developed by California companies.
In commemoration of Earth Day, April 22nd, Target is kicking-off a month of eco-friendly events.
The grand prize of Target’s Earth Month sweepstakes contest is a “Refresh Your Nest” home makeover, worth $50,000. The winner will receive a visit from Target’s home style expert and LEED-accredited designer Sabrina Soto, who will re-decorate using earth-friendly products.
Other sweepstakes prizes include $5,000 worth of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, eco-vacations including travel and hotel accommodations, the opportunity to design your own line of eco-friendly cleaning products, and giveaways of other green products.
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