Green building innovator to speak in DC

Posted on November 9, 2010 by quest

Robert Frechette who was principal design engineer on the world’s tallest building and man-made structure the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai will be keynote speaker at the DC Economic Partnership’s (WDCEP) 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting Luncheon in Washington DC. Frechette, President of PositivEnergy Practice LLC will address the attendees on high performing buildings, the process for de-carbonization, and on innovative engineering models.

Frechette was also principal engineer for the Pearl River Tower, the world’s most energy efficient office tower now under construction in Guangzhou, China, where he used advanced wind-powered, solar-collecting, breathable-skin, and cold radiation comfort innovations in the design. Additionally he was the principal engineer for the greening of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the Chicago DeCarbonization & Implementation Plan.

Frechette’s body of work also includes a wide range of projects from government buildings and museums, to laboratories, airports, hospitals, academic buildings and corporate offices, including several in Washington DC, such as the National Museum of American History, RFK Stadium Renovation, Department of Transportation HQ, Oracle Headquarters, Mary Switzer Building, and the Star Spangled Banner Lab. Frechette is a Senior Fellow with the Design Futures Council, a global network of design community professionals, and a frequent lecturer on high-performance design and green engineering. He is the co-author of Nantucket Principals (2002), which focused on trends and issues influencing green building and sustainable design. In 2004, Frechette was recognized by the United States Congress for his work in sustainability and his work on the Pearl River Tower was featured on a Planet Green episode (Power Tower) this past June.

Featured at this year’s Development Showcase will be Tesla Motors, which will have on display its Roadster that features 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, 245 miles per charge and 0 emissions. The WDCEP’s Annual Meeting and Development Showcase (AMDS) is Friday, November 19 at the Washington Convention Center, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit wdcep.com to register, or call 202-661-8670.

Colin Powell to Give Keynote at Green Conference

Posted on November 6, 2010 by quest

Former Secretary of State and retired Gen. Colin L. Powell will give the keynote address at the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo being held Nov.17-19, 2010, in Chicago, Ill. The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council that is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With its 80 nationwide affiliates, 16,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. General Powell will deliver the keynote address. Greenbuild 2010 will feature an array of inspiring speakers and more than 100 education sessions and the world’s largest exhibit hall devoted to green building with over 900 exhibiting companies with over 1,800 booths showcasing the latest in innovative, cutting-edge products and services. “General Powell has made another career of sharing his lessons of leadership.” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “His keen insights and global perspective are especially relevant to our movement in these times of great challenge and change. He exemplifies that leadership is about more than a title: It’s about taking charge during times of great crisis.” As a sign of General Powell’s wide-ranging leadership and the powerful message he will bring as Greenbuild’s opening keynote speaker, a LEED Platinum affordable housing building in his childhood neighborhood bears his name. The General Colin L. Powell Apartments in the South Bronx, N.Y., is a cutting-edge 50-unit multifamily project resulting from a partnership between Habitat for Humanity-New York City and Blue Sea Development. General Powell participated in the LEED certification ceremony.

BUILDING GREEN

Madrid completes first green apartments

Posted on November 3, 2010 by quest

Telvent a leading real-time IT solutions and information provider, announced that a project it collaborated on with Cisco, in building Madrid’s first green dwellings, received recognition at the eighth annual Sustainable City Awards. Telvent and Cisco partnered with the Municipal Housing and Land Company of Madrid on the project. The development culminated in a public building located at 52 Las Margaritas Street, where young adults live in rental units. The two companies created all of the building’s connectivity and network infrastructure, enabling residents to control energy use, thereby contributing towards a cleaner Madrid.
“These apartments are equipped with an energy efficiency manager that enables residents to monitor carbon dioxide emissions and make decisions regarding energy use, individually and at the community and urban environment levels,” explained Telvent CEO Ignacio González. “The system can be accessed from inside the home, using any Internet-connected device.”

Residents are able to set energy consumption limits, and compare them on a regular basis, helping to lower their domestic impact on the environment. This also allows them to manage energy costs at the same time. These benefits were critical factors for the judging panel in selecting the project, which was executed under the Connected Urban Development Program — a finalist in the Sustainable City Awards. “It is a pleasure for Telvent to participate in projects that make energy efficiency available to citizens,” said Ignacio González, at the awards ceremony held at the Rose Garden Pavilion in Madrid’s West Park. Also in attendance were Crown Princess Letizia and Mayor of Madrid Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

CAREERS

New solar solutions to offer lower costs and options

Posted on October 20, 2010 by quest

New advancements in solar technology continue to find their way to the market. From the recent Solar Power International show comes “stick on solar introduced by Lumenta a California roofing and solar developer. The stick on the roof solar mounting system called Power Ply “Peel and Stick Solar” means no more drilling holes in your roof to install solar panels. Lumenta also designs solar panels systems that integrate into tiled roofs.

From MIT researchers are creating a device that will help manufacturers design window systems that bring more daylight into buildings while controlling incoming solar radiation. The result should be significant energy savings and more contented occupants and the new solar blinds business. Solar blinds and spray on solar options are part of the next generation of solar solutions that offer some alternative energy creation.

More than a third of the energy used in the United States is consumed in buildings, and 25 to 40 percent of that third is used to run electric lights. In many cases, daylight could be used instead. “Depending on the building and how it’s used, a good daylighting strategy can reduce the need for energy-consuming electric lighting by 20 to 80 percent,” said Professor Marilyne Andersen of the MIT Department of Architecture.

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

The White House will go Solar

Posted on October 5, 2010 by quest

Maybe the White House was listening after all. It was just a few weeks ago that member students from 350.org went on a solar mission along with environmentalist Bill Mckibben to ask the White House to reinstall solar panels that Jimmy Carter had installed in the 70′s and that were later removed by Ronald Reagan. Just announced today Steven Chu US Secretary of Energy said, “As you know, President Obama (Weekly Address) has a strong commitment to American leadership in solar technologies and the jobs they will create. Through the Recovery Act, we’re supporting the deployment of today’s solar technologies. And we will double our renewable energy generation capacity by 2012. We’re also investing in the next generation of solar power through the R&D programs at the Department of Energy.

Today, we’re taking an important next step. As we move toward a clean energy economy, the White House will lead by example. I’m pleased to announce that, by the end of this spring, there will be solar panels and a solar hot water heater on the roof of the White House.These two solar installations will be part of a Department of Energy demonstration project. The project will show that American solar technology is available, reliable, and ready to install in homes throughout the country. Around the world, the White House is a symbol of freedom and democracy. It should also be a symbol of America’s commitment to a clean energy future.”

On 10/10/10, 350.org will be holding a Global Work Party to celebrate climate solutions and send our politicians a clear message: “We’re getting to work—what about you?

Presidio goes for green neighborhood LEED

Posted on September 26, 2010 by quest

San Francisco continues to hold its own as one of the great green cities in the world. Up there with Vancouver BC, Portland, OR and Malmo Sweden. Malmo incidentally is Sweden’s third largest city and is known for its extensive parks and has been an “ekostaden” eco city for sometime now. Vancouver gets nearly 90% of it’s electricity from hydropower and was green long before the 2009 Winter Olympics which further showcased its green reputation.

Now one of San Francisco’s oldest neighborhoods, the Presidio is moving toward a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the neighborhood; after decades of debate over the district’s future some of which had been off limits to the public. The once abandoned Marine Hospital and a handful of residences in the 42-acre district located at 15th Avenue and Lake Street on the southern edge of the Presidio, have now been converted.

Writing for San Francisco Press Victoria Schlesinger states “The district now contains roughly 170 new rentals units, the lion’s share of which are in the converted Marine Hospital. A row of tony new townhomes stand along Belles Street and 11 former physician residences on Wyman Avenue have also been restored.” The Presidio Trust just hosted tours of the new green neighborhood.