GreenBuild Blog

Google’s Green Agenda and Real Energy Savings

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Sitting on $14.5 billion in cash, Google has made more than $45 million in investments in solar, wind and geothermal technology companies. Can a search engine company produce better results than the venture capitalists in Silicon Valley? Should the U.S. Government’s energy investment priorities be different than Silicon Valley’s?

First net zero energy commercial green building in the Northeast

Friday, November 28, 2008

A small 5,500-sq.ft. commercial office/warehouse for a solar power installation company has declared itself the first net zero energy building in the Northeast, through “banking” enough surplus power from PV panels in the summer to overcome the power consumption during the winter.

Green Building Construction Skills Lacking, Says WSJ

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal claims that green building is being hindered by lack of skills among architects, general contractors and subcontractors. We’re likely to see this gap grow as green building growth exceeds the ability of building industry professionals to get trained on green construction issues and to learn new skills.

900 U.S. Mayors Sign Climate Protection Agreement

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, more than 900 U.S. mayors representing more than 81 million people (equivalent to the population of Germany, for example) have now signed a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from their cities to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Location of Land-Intensive Renewable Power Sites Stirs Controversy

Monday, November 24, 2008

As I have been predicting, where to locate new solar and wind power plants, along with associated power lines, stirs all kinds of controversy. In Arizona, it’s with desert lands protection advocates, according to a recent story in the Arizona Republic.

Yudelson UK Column Predicts How New Obama Presidency Will Handle Green Issues

Monday, November 24, 2008

My column in the UK’s Building Magazine predicts how the new Obama administration will begin treating green building issues.

Green Building through Integrated Design Reviewed

Monday, November 24, 2008

Take a look at the following site for a review of Jerry’s new book, Green Building through Integrated Design.

Daytime Cleaning in Green Building Cuts Carbon Emissions 28 Percent

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Can something as simple as daytime cleaning cut carbon emissions nearly 30 percent from every building? Sometimes we get so entrenched in habits that the commonplace looks rational, when it’s not! Read on…

Is Solar Power a Grave Mistake?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A densely settled town in Spain has solved the problem of where to install a solar power system by using the tops of mausoleums in a cemetery. Read more about this grave undertaking…

GreenBuild Expo Shows Growth of Green Building

Saturday, November 22, 2008

More than 26,000 people attended the U.S. Green Building Council’s seventh GreenBuild International Conference and Expo in Boston last week, setting new records in spite of the economic turmoil of 2007. This attendance shows that green building will continue to grow and take market share no matter what the economic circumstances.

Green existing buildings using LEED for Existing Buildings to upgrade the value of real estate

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Canadian developers are seeing the benefits of using the LEED-EB standard to add value to existing real estate by creating a “green brand” while saving operating costs.

Yudelson Illuminates Green Building in Entrepreneur Magazine

Saturday, November 15, 2008

In the November issue of Entrepreneur magazine, Jerry spells out three important tips for contractors wanting to get into the business.

As Green Building Speaker, Yudelson Makes the Business Case for Green Buildings

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

As a green building speaker, one of the highlights of 2008 for me has been the opportunity to present the business case for green buildings in a number of keynote speeches to business audiences. Most people still believe that green buildings cost 10 percent more to build, with little additional benefit except energy savings. I show them there’s lots more to the business case for green buildings and green development.

Carbon Footprint Tracking and Sustainability Planning Go Hand in Hand

Monday, November 10, 2008

Europeans are all over the carbon footprint tracking issue, requiring a certificate showing the carbon footprint for each new and existing building, based on estimated and/or actual energy use. Yudelson Associates is launching a new carbon footprint analysis as part of its sustainability planning services. Getting your carbon footprint to fit into a smaller “earth shoe” will likely become de rigueur in few short years. Here’s how to understand what a carbon footprint represents.