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Saturday, April 18, 2009
Clean Tech: Is the Bloom Off the Rose?
The huge drop in investment ($154 million in 33 companies, an average of less than $5 million per investment) indicates either a lack of belief in the industry’s future and/or a lack of good new ideas coming to the front. Either way, it does indicate a slower growth of green jobs a few years out. Time to go back to the basics of energy and water conservation and intelligent land use and not depend on technology to bail us out of the global warming bucket?
Posted by Jerry on 04/18/2009 at 07:51 AM
This entry has been viewed 323 times.
Green Building News • PermalinkWednesday, April 15, 2009
Green thinking for a more Sustainable Los Angeles
Here’s some of the text of the speech, outlining a fairly comprehensive action program for local government sustainability, even in the midst of economic setbacks.
“With our Solar L.A. plan, we’re working to cut our carbon footprint and to transform L.A. into a clean energy powerhouse. With the nation’s most far-reaching green building ordinance, we believe we can create America’s most vibrant job site in sustainable construction. And at the Port of Los Angeles, I’m proud to say tonight that we’ve sent 2,000 dirty diesel trucks to the junk yard and replaced them with vehicles that run on natural gas and electricity.
I believe L.A.’s economic future starts right here, in places like Balqon, where the next generation of electric trucks are being designed, tested and manufactured; where we are literally revving up the engines of our Clean Truck Program; where the wheels of a clean, green port are turning; and a new high-tech venture is producing clean fuel vehicles IN L.A., for the betterment of LA.
This facility will serve as the model for our Harbor Clean Tech Center; for investments in the latest vessels for green development; for the San Pedro Bay Port Technology Development Center -– home of green companies serving our port.
A few miles up the 110, we are building a literal “Clean-Tech Corridor.” A business corridor bringing together researchers, designers and manufacturers from around the world dedicated to sustainable solutions and to creating green-collar jobs.
Located just outside of downtown, this corridor will house our Clean Tech Manufacturing Center, a catalyst for smart growth that could create as many as 1,000 high-paying jobs.
It will host our Clean Innovations Research Center, where the world’s leading experts will come together to define future renewable energy sources, water conservation strategies and green building advances.
The Clean Tech Corridor will rest alongside the Cornfields Arroyo Seco – the first and only LEED-pilot neighborhood by any big city in the United States of America. A cluster of pedestrian-friendly streets sitting along public transit lines. A model for future communities where residents walk more, drive less and have access to quality jobs and affordable housing.
This is a unique moment of opportunity. It’s an opportunity to stand at the forefront of the clean-tech revolution; to transform our old industrial core into ground zero for green jobs and sustainability.
Posted by Jerry on 04/15/2009 at 07:23 PM
This entry has been viewed 291 times.
Green Building News • PermalinkThursday, April 09, 2009
Green Buildings Go International
The article in the State Department’s official magazine quotes Jerry as promoting at least wholesale relamping of all embassies and consulates, given the generally higher electricity costs overseas and the ease of re-lamping inside a conventional maintenance budget. As I am quoted as saying, “revamp via relamp.” New embassies in Sofia, Bulgaria and Panama City, Panama, showcase State’s approach to greening new building design.
Posted by Jerry on 04/09/2009 at 08:18 AM
This entry has been viewed 287 times.
Green Building News • PermalinkSunday, March 29, 2009
Is There a Climate Change Tipping Point? Green Buildings May Provide an Answer
In today’s New York Times, there is a good review article on the debate among climate scientists, about the probability of a climate change tipping point. “Whether the probability is high, medium, or low, I think the response is the same: climate cannot be stabilized without an energy technology revolution,” said Christopher Green, an economist at McGill University in Montreal . “One way or the other, we just need to get busy.” Society in general doesn’t respond well to emergencies, except to rescue and comfort survivors from infrequent natural disasters. But we do need to get busy. That’s why I find it so strange that architects and engineers are so resistant to setting absurdly high goals for energy efficiency in new buildings. Even a 50 percent reduction in current levels of building energy use can be done without sacrificing comfort or health, so why don’t most projects at least aim that high? It’s really because no one wants to leave their (current) comfort zone and try new things. I think the future of building design will belong to the bold, not the timid, so most of my work is aimed at trying to encourage people to set bold “stretch” goals for each new project.
Posted by Jerry on 03/29/2009 at 07:18 AM
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