Westchester County Green Map

From WestchesterGov.com:

In 2006, Westchester County GIS entered into a partnership with the Green Map System. Green Maps are locally created maps that chart the natural and cultural environment and highlight “green” living resources. Westchester’s project is a perfect complement to County Executive Andy Spano’s Global Warming Task Force which is developing a countywide action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development throughout the county.

The interactive Green Map highlights dozens of sustainable green projects and programs throughout the county and encourages residents to identify similar efforts in their neighborhoods and communities. You can click on different categories reflected in the map to see what others are doing to be more energy efficient and what steps you can take to have less of an impact on the environment. There is also information on where you can go to see natural beauty (gardens, parks, trailways, etc.) and how you can take advantage of more fuel-efficient travel alternatives.

Scenery v. Clean Energy

From The East Hampton Star:

With prices of crude oil reaching new highs and advances in technology nudging solar power and other nonpolluting energy sources out of their “alternative” slots, the idea of harnessing wind for energy production here on Long Island’s eastern end is taking hold.

Greg Zwirko, an East Hampton architect, applied to the town three years ago for approval to place two small wind turbines on his house on Shore Drive West on Napeague. According to the town code, installation of “wind energy conversion systems” requires a special use permit to be issued by the town board. The board must consider whether the system would pose a safety hazard, hurt the “natural environment and character of the community,” or cause “either excessive noise or radio and television interference to adjoining property owners.”

But faced with Mr. Zwirko’s proposal, and anticipating that others might follow, the board decided that the installation of wind energy systems should be reviewed by the planning board under a set of specific guidelines. A change to the town code was drafted last June but never acted on, leaving Mr. Zwirko — and not his energy-producing windmills — well, twisting in the wind.

Read more…

Benefits of an Unvented Attic Assembly

From Icynene.com:

An unvented attic is a space between the ceiling joists of the top story and the roof rafters where an air impermeable insulation is applied directly to the underside of the structural roof deck and is tied into the insulation located in the walls, such that the roof system becomes part of the insulated building enclosure. This attic space becomes indirectly conditioned space as a result of air leakage, heat transfer and vapor diffusion through the uninsulated attic floor. There are no supply or return vents from the HVAC system located in the unvented attic space.

This design practice benefits situations where space limitations require HVAC equipment and duct work to be located in the attic. In this situation, modifying the attic to create a conditioned attic space has generated significant reductions in energy consumption. This paper reviews unvented attic construction, briefly discusses its history and reviews the benefits in terms of energy efficiency in hot humid climates and cold climates. Sections on cathedral ceilings, condensation control and historic buildings are also included.

Read more…

Check out Icynene’s Air-Seal Demo here.

Uni-Solar

From Uni-Solar.com:

SOLAR SUCCESS STORIES

Searching For The Right Solar Energy System

When a pair of filmmakers from New York City went looking for a solar system to power their new home, they found just one that met every requirement.

Escape From New York

Campbell Daiglish and Catherine Oberg wanted to escape their Manhattan apartment.  And when they found a wooded lost in East Patchogue, Long Island near wetlands, a lake, and bordering on a bird sanctuary – they fell in love.

Early on, Campbell and Catherine decided their home would feature solar technology. “Solar is really catching on,” said Campbell.  “But most people are conservative about the look of their homes. When you mention solar, they picture unsightly panels that are snuffed out by a passing cloud.  We wanted to show that solar has come a long way.”

Form & Function

Campbell and Catherine set three criteria for the solar energy system they would choose.  It had to be effective.  It had to be attractive.  And, it had to be affordable.

They were also determined to have minimal environmental impact.  “We didn’t want to cut down any extra trees.”   But time and again, they were told they’d have to cut down trees to ensure sufficient sunshine reached the solar panels.

However, there was one exception.  The UNI-SOLAR^® system from United Solar Ovonic. “When they told us the installation wouldn’t require the felling of a single tree, it made our decision very easy.”

Saving Money, Saving Trees, Saving Energy

UNI-SOLAR^® systems also met the rest of their requirements. Once installed, the system was almost indistinguishable from the standing seam metal roof. “The panels become part of the roof.  It’s a beautiful installation.  People can’t believe it’s a solar power system.”

Most importantly, United Solar Ovonic’s unique systems generate efficient power when the shade from all those still-standing trees obscures a large portion of the roof.  On days when the home uses little electricity, the extra power generated by UNI-SOLAR^® will be sold back to Long Island Power Authority, turning the electric meter backwards.

Campbell and Catherine went into the project as advocates of solar power and came out as fans ofUNI-SOLAR^® systems. “We absolutely believe we got the best system.”

For local Westchester installations contact;

SunWize Technologies
Contact: Customer Service
1155 Flatbush Road
Kingston, NY 12401
Toll Free: (800) 817-6527
Fax: (845) 336-0457
www.sunwize.com

How ‘Green’ Can a Huge House Be?

From The New York Times:

The steeply sloped cedar-shingled roof of the model home at Windermere on the Lake shelters roughly 7,000 square feet of living space, a respectable amount of room in this privileged suburban corridor between Pound Ridge, N.Y., and Darien.

The house has five bedrooms and four baths, as well as fancy features like a home theater, wine cellar and mirrored exercise room.

It is the first of 24 homes planned for a development named after an area in the English Lake District, and built in a style meant to evoke 19th-century English country houses.

Set on 74 partly wooded acres with a private lake, Windermere promises to be very lavish and, believe it or not, very green — as in energy-saving and preservation minded.

Windermere is the first project of NRDC Residential, a new division of the National Realty and Development Corporation of Purchase, N.Y., which wants to develop a niche as a builder of “architecturally driven, planned communities with an environmental consciousness,” said Mark Robbins, the division president.

With the help of the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, known by its acronym, LEED, NRDC Residential hopes to present large luxury homes as environmentally friendly.

Read more…

LiveRoof Green Roof System

From LiveRoof.com:

LiveRoof is the first prevegetated modular green roof system developed by growers and specifically designed to grow plants on a rooftop environment.

LiveRoof system advantages:

• Instant green roof –arrives to the job site with full-grown plants.
• Invisible Modules – modules are subterranean for an instantly mature monolithic green roof.
• Saves money – minimal maintenance compared to other methods.
• Immediate benefits – mature plants generate instant evaporative cooling effect, maximum storm water detention, and optimal aesthetic. No need to wait years for all the benefits of a green roof.
• Easy to handle – needs only one person to carry.

Be sure to check out their LiveWall too.

As Green As It Gets

Over at Living Well, I shared a link to an Inhabitat post about the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center designed by The Kubala Washatko Architects. The project is the first LEED-Platinum Carbon Neutral building on the planet. Its about as green as it gets.

Interestingly, I received several skeptical comments and emails about the project. Mostly referring to the separation of buildings, how the energy usage is calculated and how the lack of trees on the site effect heat gain.

Well, the Internet is an amazing thing…

A few days later, Joel (Krueger), the project’s architect responded with his own comment.

Here’s what he had to say:

The buildings are disconnected by function. This was done strategically as not all areas have the same thermal needs. Two of the disconnected building do not have heating or cooling, only natural ventilation thru operable windows and a small wood burning stove to be used as needed. Energy consumed by all buildings is measured against that produced by the one p.v. array. The trick is to reduce consumption.

The site had a ‘bald’ spot on top of a small hill surrounded by ’scrubby’ growth. The land was occupied previously.

Cutting trees is not a bad thing if done properly. The overall health of the forest will be increased if selective and systematic cutting is employed. Healthier and faster growing trees will produce more oxygen and hold more carbon. Carbon is then sequestered in all that we build, walls, furniture, cabinets, etc.

Read the Almanac, therein lies a great understanding of how we can live on the land a better way. The Leopold gang is in the business of restoring marginal land back to native condition. Come visit the site in a few years and you will see the fruits of this well considered labor.

The building is a laboratory, the design team was given an opportunity to try, fail and try again. Actual performance will be monitored, the building will be “tweeked’, lessons will be learned and shared.

Stay tuned…

I am looking forward to hearing how the project performs over time. Keep us updated Joel… and thanks again for your thoughts and comments.

***

(BTW: It looks like WordPress is upgrading their site. I will add links and a photo when the interface returns to normal.) UPDATE: Links are included above.

How to Green Your Recycling

TreeHugger has a great recycling guide, How to Green Your Recycling.

From TreeHugger:

Almost four decades ago, a US paper company wanted a symbol to communicate its products’ recycled content to customers. The design competition they held was won by Gary Anderson, a young graphic designer from the University of Southern California. His entry, based on the Mobius strip (a shape with only one side and no end) is now universally recognized as the symbol for recycling. To many people, recycling conjures up the blue plastic bins and bottle drives. But recycling is a design principal, a law of nature, a source of creativity, and a source of prosperity. For anyone looking to make recycling a more integral part of their lives, this guide is an overview of the basic legwork as well as some of the finer and more advanced concepts that have emerged in recent years.

Thanks Annmarie.