“Hempcrete” Material is Sustainable & Efficient-

Anthony Brenner has designed a house made with true sustainability in mind, simply using hemp, lime and water. Dubbed “hempcrete”, the innovative building material is said to act as a “built-in air filter”, which actually helps improve air quality and does not contain any toxic substances. Not to mention, is inexpensive and more efficient than conventional building alternatives. “The insulating factor and thermal capabilities are fantastic,” Brenner tells CNN. Russ Martin, the owner of the home, says that it only cost them $133 per square foot to construct and helps them to save considerably on energy bills. Video below showcases the modern hemp home, courtesy of CNN Money.

SPE’s Culver City Lot Project Fulfills the USGBC’s Stringent Standards-


Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) recently announced that it has been awarded the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for the studio’s Lot and Office Transformation (LOT) Project. “We are proud to receive this designation for our newest buildings on the lot,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “It’s our belief that we have a responsibility to help create a greener world for our community and future generations, and this project is an important part of our overall sustainability efforts.” The LOT Project included two new 100,000 square foot office buildings, named after Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn, and a parking structure located at the studio’s historic lot in Culver City, California. The Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn buildings were awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for an all-around conservational approach in design and construction.

Criteria factors in the SPE Lot Project include: the use of local, recycled building materials; avoiding over 16,128 tons of construction waste material from being thrown into landfills; the use of motion detector lights and energy efficient light bulbs; the installation of an on-site filtration system for storm water runoff as well as low-flow toilets and urinals; the use of low-emitting carpeting, paint, sealants, adhesives and wall coverings; the enforcing of “Green Housekeeping” building maintenance standards; and the availability of preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles as well as car pools and van pools. To boot, the LOT Project incorporated a high-tech, energy efficient central cooling plant. “Naturally, a project of this size and scope was undertaken with a great deal of thought and care,” said Jeff Hargleroad, Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations. “We recognized early on this was a great opportunity to pursue design and construction practices that would map to our core values as a company; it became obvious that this was the right thing to do.” Last summer, SPE’s Culver City lot was the first and only studio to achieve ISO14001 certification, with energy and environmental initiatives that encompassed nearly all aspects of the studio’s operations. As a pioneer in the green movement, the possibilities are endless in what sustainable projects they will take on next.

Company Creates Vine Canopies for Buildings that “Eat” CO2 Emissions & Protect Against Heat-

Kyocera Group has begun using viney plants to create “green curtains”, which are formed over trellises to shade portions of windows and outer walls of buildings at 20 different locations in Japan, Thailand and Brazil. These curtains create a canopy over the buildings to prevent direct sunlight from raising the temperature of the building’s interior, helping to reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning. Not to mention, the plants also help to protect the environment by absorbing CO2. Taking their conservation efforts another step further, the company has even created a comprehensive how-to website dedicated toward helping consumers fashion their own eco-curtains around offices and homes. Kyocera’s “green curtain” idea began at its Okaya Plant in Nagano Prefecture, Japan as part of its effort to conserve energy and environmental resources. According to their website, these “green curtains” will absorb roughly 23,481 lbs of CO2 — or approximately the same amount as 761 cedar trees.

Pluggable Solar Panel Kit to Lower Cost of Solar Installations-

Installing solar modules is typically a job reserved for certified professionals — however with renewable technologies advancing at such a rapid pace, solar panel installations may soon be as simple as 1,2,3. The “Sunfish”, designed by Chad Maglaque and Clarian Technologies, is a comparatively inexpensive solar module kit anticipated to release in stores by spring 2011. To begin installation, consumers would need to purchase a power module, circuit monitor and pluggable solar panel(s) from their local hardware store. Next, they must swap out a regular electricity outlet for the circuit monitor (which is as easy as installing a grounded outlet), plug in the 18-kilogram solar panel into the power module and mount it on the most sun-exposed side of their residence. The power module must then be synchronized with the circuit monitor using power metering software, such as Google PowerMeter. Once setup is complete, renewable energy will be readily available. “We’re talking about a [do-it-yourself] handyman on the order of cable guy level of installation,” Maglaque says. Depending on the consumer’s budget, one to five panel arrays may be implemented and can generate as much as 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month — enough electricity to offset one major appliance, such as a refrigerator. According to the company, one panel, with the module and circuit monitor will cost around $799. “I see that being $599 in the not-too-distant future,” Maglaque adds. “Solar continues to come down in price.” Although, to be realistic, it would take as much as four years to pay back that cost in electricity savings even with government rebates and tax credits. The system price is nominal when compared to a solar installation using a licensed contractor, however, which can skyrocket the total cost to around $20,000. Not to mention, an added benefit of the “Sunfish” system allows the consumer to tote the entire system with them if they happen to relocate to a different residence. The power modules, circuit monitors, and panels that make up the “Sunfish” are set to undergo thorough UL testing to certify the endurance and efficiency of the system.

New Prefabricated Homes are Affordable and Environmentally Sustainable-

Michelle Kaufmann, a leading green architect and designer, has recently unveiled her newest line of prefab sustainable homes. The line consists of three models, the Ridge0™, the Vista0™ and the Contours0™, which range in size between 422 and 2643 square feet. The Contours0™ and the Vista0™ have interior and exterior rooms which were designed with the utmost efficiency in mind, emphasizing natural ventilation and lighting through large windows, glass doors and skylights. The Ridge0™ uses the Passivhaus basic principles of sustainable design — with good levels of insulation, an air-tight building envelope, passive preheating of fresh air to minimize need for heating and cooling, southern orientation with shading, efficient windows and frames, as well as energy star appliances and lighting. Not to mention, the homes employ energy generating solar power systems, gray water systems which recover and filter used water for use in toilets or garden irrigation, and rainwater harvesting systems. Kaufmann’s Zero Series also use green materials and products, and conform to standards of LEED certification. They can even be customized to incorporate other green home certification program standards, such as the NAHB Green Building Standard, Build it Green, or any local green rating program. The new prefab Zero Series homes are made available exclusively through Studio 101 Designs and built by Blazer Industries. Prices start at $66,500.

Environmentally-Friendly Home Debuts in Lancaster, Calif-

A house powered by batteries and solar panels, featuring a “smog-eating” roof, was unveiled earlier this month in West Lancaster, California. “This remarkable new house is truly the home of the future,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris in an announcement of the prototype built by KH Home and BYD, a manufacturer of clean energy technologies. According to USA Today, the city waived local development fees and expedited approval for its construction. This green home touts energy storage batteries, BYD’s solar panels, LED lights, an electric vehicle outlet for charging, and tiles that reduce smog-creating nitrogen oxide pollution. The roof tiles have an embedded catalyst that, when exposed to sunlight, speeds up oxidation and reduces the nitrogen oxide pollution that creates smog. Created by MonierLifetile, they are the first-ever in the United States and are said to reduce as much pollution as the average car creates while driving roughly 10,800 miles annually. This four-bedroom, two-bath, 1519 square-foot home meets the EPA’s Energy Star guidelines and is now open daily for public tours. It will eventually be offered for sale in the low $200,000 range, according to a KB Home spokesman.

C-Crete Technologies Wins MIT $100k Competition-

C-Crete Technologies won both the Energy track and the overall award in the 2010 MIT Entrepreneurship Competition on May 12, taking home combined prize money totaling $120,000. The company, the brainchild of two MIT graduates, claims that its nano-engineered cement will not only cut down on carbon dioxide emissions, but is both stronger and cheaper than existing cement. Natanel Barookhain, an MBA graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management worked with Rouzbeh Shahsavari of the MIT School of Engineering on what began four years ago as a class project. Barookhain described the genesis of the C-Crete’ idea as a goal long sought by the world, a “simple scalable solution to reduce the global carbon footprint.” By concentrating on so common a building material, Barookhain and Shahsavari believe they have a major answer to that problem. “We at C-Crete Technologies have developed a method for tackling [reduced emissions] by targeting the production of cement, one of the most widely used materials on earth, while improving all of its core properties,” he said. The 204 teams of MIT graduates who entered the contest competed over six tracks, with a winner awarded $20,000 of business seed money in each of the categories of Products and Services, Web and IT, Energy, Development, Mobile, and Life Sciences.” Other finalists included Privo Technologies, which won the Products and Services track with an insulin-delivery chewing gum, and SolSource 3-in-1, the winner of the Development track. SolSource created a device to capture solar energy for cooking, heating, and other electrical applications to limit indoor pollution from traditional gas system. The MIT $100K is considered to be a barometer of economic investment in emerging technology markets and is closely watched by venture capitalists. Both the C-Crete and SolSource entries are indicative of the number of green energy start-ups with innovative ideas that lack both the media exposure and the necessary capital to bring their ideas to fruition. Barookhain said the prize money would be a significant help to his company, but that the amount was not enough cash to accomplish the next step; the development of a marketable prototype. He did not give an exact figure required, but indicated it could be in the millions. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the MIT competition which has facilitated the birth of approximately 130 companies with aggregate exit values of $8 billion captured and a market cap of more than $15 billion. Past winners have included the web acceleration company, Akamai, and Levant Power, which developed an energy-producing shock absorber.

How To Save Electricity
Explore easy low cost techniques to save on your electric bill. For the serious conservationist, we cover advanced topics such as solar energy and powering your home with a residential wind turbine.

Article Features 5 Green Retrofits Electricians Should be Promoting-

In a fantastic article written by Houston Neil with the Construction Blog, the importance of green retrofits in the rapidly expanding green building sector is emphasized. Neil discusses 5 green retrofits in particular which he says electricians should be promoting to stimulate business and help save consumer cash in the long haul. The first improvement mentioned is inexpensive and maintenance-free lighting retrofits. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of all electricity used in the United States, so replacing old bulbs with energy-efficient LED fixtures will help save cash and energy for years to come. The second retrofit mentioned is daylight harvesting – the practice of eliminating artificial light in a room when sunlight is readily available, which can include installing skylights, more windows, even dimmers, motion sensors and/or timers. According to a study performed by the NRC Institute for Research in Construction, applying practical use of sunlight during daytime hours can reduce energy costs by a whopping 20 to 60 percent. Third on Neil’s list highlights energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofits, which offers high payback, outstanding efficacy and, to boot, can be coupled with government tax credits to help push the product to consumers. Next on the list are solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and wind turbine installations. Grid-tie solar systems, according to Neil, will have the most success among consumers, particularly in areas where sunlight is not ample. Moreover, building owners may be able to receive payment or energy credits from their local utility company if more electricity is generated than necessary. Likewise, wind turbines – depending on the region – can reduce electricity bills by 50 to 90 percent; although they certainly aren’t for everyone, as residential zoning laws restrict turbines in certain neighborhoods. The last green retrofit references energy management systems and monitoring devices, which supervise and control energy consumption. In fact, research proves that offering consumers detailed information regarding their home energy-efficiency can result in 5 to 15 percent savings on monthly electricity. For detailed information on these vital and cost-effective retrofits, please visit Houston Neil’s Construction Blog.

-by Houston Neal with Software Advice

Product Review: Freshwave Green Home Kit-

The writers at Green Energy News recently completed a 7-day trial of the Freshwave “Green Home Kit” by OMI Industries, which consists of one 6.25 oz. soy candle, one 8 oz. spray, and a 16 oz. odor-neutralizing crystal pack. All products in the kit utilize 100 percent all-natural, non-toxic ingredients and contain no perfumes or dyes. We were somewhat skeptical of the claims, mainly because chemical-free, intensive odor removal just seemed too good to be true; however we are genuinely surprised by the deodorizing power behind these products. The odor-neutralizing crystals had our entire 450 sq. foot living room smelling remarkably clean, and is still over three-quarters full after being open for more than 7 days. Not to mention, we have two dogs that can smell quite funky after a couple weeks without a soak in the tub – but the crystals lived up to their name and kept the air around our home smelling fresh 24/7. The spray is a life-saver on the dog beds, couches, and dog-soiled rugs, and adds a very light and calming woodsy scent that is head-and-shoulders over fake-smelling, chemical-ridden fabric sprays. It was especially useful and kept our furniture smelling brand new. Only a few sprays get the job done, and after a little longer than 7 days, the spray is also more than three-quarters full. The soy candle is an excellent bonus to the kit but, due to its light deodorizing strength, it would be better suited for smaller areas like the bathroom or kitchen. Both my fiancée and I have severe allergies that can become irritated at the slightest harsh aroma, but we had absolutely no issues with any of the products in the kit. Altogether, I’d recommend the Green Home Kit to anyone who is looking for strong deodorizing capability mixed with an appealing scent – without forsaking your health, or the environment. **UPDATE: A little under two months later, the odor-neutralizing crystal pack is still halfway full and the odor-neutralizing spray is a little less than halfway full. The soy candle was completely used after 30-days.

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New Technology Could Offer Solution to Seemingly Unreliable Renewable Energy Technologies-


An avant-garde technology is being implemented into wind turbines and solar panels which may potentially offer secure energy storage even when wind and sunlight is not readily available. By allowing electricity to be stored while environmental elements are out of reach, giant-sized batteries made with gravel are anticipated to improve renewable energy generation and will dampen constant criticism of opponents who claim that the renewable energy technology is not economically viable. “If you bolt this to a wind farm, you could store the intermittent and relatively erratic energy and give it back in a reliable and controlled manner,” says Jonathan Howe, founder of Isentropic and previously an engineer at the Civil Aviation Authority. The gravel-based battery would, according to Isentropic, be capable of storing energy equal to that of the former all while using less space – and cash. The company’s technology begins with two silos filled with a pulverized rock such as gravel. Then, electricity is employed to heat and pressurize argon gas which is fed into one of the silos; and, by the time the gas escapes the chamber, it has cooled to an ambient temperature while the gravel itself is heated to 500°C (or 932°F).

The gas is then directed into the second silo where it expands back to normal atmospheric pressure. This stage acts as an oversized refrigerator – causing the gas and rock temperature inside the second chamber to drop to -160°C (or -256°F). Any energy originally produced by the wind turbines is stored as a temperature variation between the two rock-filled silos – so to release the energy, the cycle is reversed, and as the energy changes from hot to cold it powers a generator that makes electricity. Isentropic guarantees an energy efficiency of up to 80 percent and, because gravel is inexpensive, the cost of a system per-kilowatt-hour of storage would be between $10 and $55. According to Howe, the energy in the sizzling silo can be easily stored for extended periods of time; and by his calculations, a silo that stands 50m tall and was 50m in diameter would only lose half of its energy through its walls if left undisturbed for three years. David Bott, director of innovation programs at the Technology Strategy Board, one of the sponsors of the 2010 Clean and Cool trade mission said: “Isentropic have done something very exciting, by revisiting scientific theory and coming up with a new technology that answers the need to match the generation of electricity with its use. For instance, the system could enable the more efficient use of wind power, by storing the energy generated by a turbine until it is needed. We need ways to store the energy we generate when we have a surplus, so that it can be used when we need extra and this innovative new system could provide the answer.”

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