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Green house: Students aim to meet LEED Platinum standards with eco-friendly house |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 07 July 2007 03:54 |
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2009-05-13
By: Sarah Benson
Stephanie Winn stands atop a two-story, wood-paneled, boxy structure in a quiet Kansas City, Kan., neighborhood near the KU Medical Center. She bends over to attach a Volkswagen-sized solar panel to the roof of what could soon be one of the most eco-friendly homes in America.
This house, designed and built by Winn and fellow University of Kansas architecture students, provides all its own energy. Those solar panels, a wind turbine in the backyard and a geothermal heating and cooling system coordinate to capture energy from the environment and put it to work inside the home.
Because of their efforts, the graduate-level Studio 804 class expects to be the first in the Kansas City area to build a home that earns LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Only 287 homes in North America claim that Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design distinction, which means they use an average of 60 percent less energy than conventional homes.
The students designed and built almost every inch of this house at 3716 Springfield St. with sustainability in mind. The exterior has a modern, rustic aesthetic — hardwood rain screen, expansive windows, a minimal shape — and the interior is light and airy, with a hint of utilitarianism. The rain screen, the windows, the concrete floors — all serve a green purpose.
For more information, go to KU Students, KC Green House
Source: Ink KC |
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 September 2009 00:40 |
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An Earth Day Challenge from USGBC |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 07 July 2007 03:54 |
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2009-04-22
By: Rick Fedrizzi
Dear friends,
I'm writing to you on Earth Day to share two very important milestones with you that resoundingly answer a question we hear every day: Has the economic crisis crushed the green movement?
The short answer is a loud and resounding "no."
The long answer is this: As of April 2009, USGBC is proud to count 20,000 organizations among its national membership, and more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals around the globe. Since January 1, 2009, we have broken records every month in new memberships and new LEED AP candidates – exceeding our best projections and demonstrating that green building, and the green movement, are here to stay.
The fact that the green building movement has continued to grow despite the economic crisis isn't lost on us. "Going green" may not make a lot of headlines these days, but the fact remains that sustainability as a fundamental goal of any enterprise – large or small – is a smart strategy that saves money, water, and energy and creates jobs.
Last year at Greenbuild, we challenged ourselves to focus our efforts where it really matters – our existing homes, schools and offices. The new construction marketplace may have slowed to a halt, but between existing residences and commercial buildings, there are more than 120 million energy hogs out there that need to be retrofitted for high performance. It could save more than $160 billion in energy costs, and it could put our industry and a lot of other people back to work.
The federal government, many of our cities and icons like the Empire State Building have already pledged their commitment to green building operations and maintenance and have put money on the table. The emergence of this new market for green building is not only good news in troubled times, it's an opportunity to bring the scale of change to the built environment that we must to preserve our climate and fulfill our vision of sustainability.
Today's green building movement is as vital as it's ever been, but it isn't just about big sexy new architecture anymore. It's about that 1950s ranch that needs new insulation. And that school where the teachers open the windows to control the heat. And the 99 out of 100 buildings that we still haven't touched.
So in closing, I'd like to challenge each and every member of USGBC to identify an existing building within your own portfolio to green. Start with the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance checklist, identify the low-cost/no-cost improvements, and get on the path to greater gains. Adobe Systems Inc. is saving $1.2 million annually and getting a 121% ROI on their commitment to green operations and maintenance. How much can you put back in your bottom line?
Happy Earth Day,
S. Rick Fedrizzi
President, CEO & Founding Chair
USGBC
For more information, go to USGBC
Source: U.S. Green Building Council
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 September 2009 00:38 |
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Kansas City workshop focuses on wind energy supply chain |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 07 July 2007 03:54 |
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2009-05-12
The Missouri Partnership and the Great Lakes Wind Network hosted The Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City's Business & Technology Campus.
The event was intended to showcase the benefits and opportunities for Kansas City and Missouri through new business development in the wind energy sector, the organizations said in a release. The workshop was designed to help Kansas City companies discover how to diversify and become leaders in wind energy's high-growth potential.
Missouri Partnership CEO Chris Chung said in an interview that the workshop included presentations that gave an industry overview looking at the wind energy segment's "growth curve," the anatomy of the wind turbine and technical specifications, especially how to work with European original equipment manufacturers that produce wind turbines.
For more information, go to Wind energy supply chain
Source: Kansas City Business Journal, May 12, 2009 |
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 September 2009 00:39 |
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Energy efficiency subject of Senate Committee |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 07 July 2007 03:54 |
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2009-03-27
KCP&L's Bill Downey journeyed to Jefferson City this week to support energy efficiency legislation spearheaded by his company. The bill, SB 376, was before the Senate Commerce, Energy, and Environment Committee Tuesday afternoon. Senator Brad Lager presented the language which creates the Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Investment Act.
According to this act, the Public Service Commission must allow electric and natural gas companies to implement and recover costs related to PSC-approved energy efficiency programs aimed at customers. The primary goal of this legislation is to provide an avenue for the PSC to develop cost recovery methods that provide incentives for the companies to further increase their investment in energy efficiency programs. The PSC may reduce or exempt energy efficiency costs for low-income customers, and no customer of any rate class shall pay more than $5,000 per month for energy efficiency-related costs.
The hearing went extremely well, and several committee members agree that energy efficiency is good public policy. Several entities attended the hearing to support the language including KCPL, The Chamber, and numerous energy-related associations. Like the House version of this language, the bill was opposed by the Office of Public Council and the AARP.
For more information, go to Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Investment Act
Source: Kansas City Chamber of Commerce |
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 September 2009 00:37 |
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