The $11.4 million building was constructed as part of TPS’s Building for Success program, which aims to rebuild or renovate more than 50 area schools during a 12-year period. It opened in January.

The building was designed by The Collaborative, a consortium of local architectural and engineering firms formed to work together on the Building for Success program.

The 60,000 square foot building now houses almost 500 students, teachers and staff. Oriented to optimize the penetration of natural lighting into the building, the building also features a host of other measures that enhance its sustainability, including the integration of local materials into the building’s construction; high-efficiency windows; the recycling of 75 percent of the project’s waste during construction; an onsite helix turbine that helps light the lobby and corridors when light levels are low; a white reflective roof that reduces the building’s heat island effect; and an ice storage unit that allows the school to utilize ice as part of its cooling system.

Outside, a rain garden and bioswale filters storm water runoff, while inside the school utilizes low-flow water fixtures and waterless urinals. Together, these two water conservation measures allow Hawkins to save 40 percent of the water than a similar conventionally built facility would.

School officials hope that the building’s green features, as well as its location adjacent to the Toledo Botanical Garden, will help it act as a laboratory, educating students about environmental science and energy efficiency.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

The 36,000 square foot facility is the first new building in the state prison system to receive a LEED certification. The facility was recognized for both its green a cost-efficient features. For example, the facility is projected to reduce its water consumption by 56 percent compared to a similar conventionally built facility, while simultaneously reducing energy use by 37 percent and lower sewage conveyance by 70 percent through a state-of-the-art vacuum plumbing system.

The facility, which provides housing and inpatient mental health care for 74 residents, opened in April, 2009. The facility earned a score of 33 points from the LEED rating system, out of a possible 69 total points.

The facility’s LEED certification is part of a larger statewide initiative, spearheaded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to certify all new state-owned facilities. In addition, though the construction of the facility predates the adoption of CALGREEN in January of this year, the building integrates measures that are compliant with both LEED and CALGREEN. Specifically, energy performance measures, construction waste management plans, and the reduction of water and material resource use, and building commissioning satisfy both certification systems, according to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) press release.

“CDCR has shown leadership in conserving energy on a grand scale, through reducing electricity usage to saving water,” said CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate, in the press release. The Salinas Valley State Prison staff and contractors worked hard to make sure this new facility was LEED certified, our first prison to achieve such a designation in California. Our goal is to make all future prisons LEED certified, a standard.”

The facility was designed by Nacht & Lewis Architects of Sacramento.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

Despite its generous size (5,000 square feet), the home exceeds the California Energy code by 40 percent and is not expected to generate an electricity bill outside of standard add-on fees, the article notes.

The 7 bedroom, 7 bathroom Costa Mesa Green Home, as the residence is known, was designed by architect David Gangloff, and is the brainchild of developers Steven and Karen Blanchard. Green aspects of the home’s design include durable, sustainable, and non-toxic materials; ventilation design that optimizes indoor air quality; use of high-efficiency HVAC equipment and Energy Star-rated lighting; construction with highly insulated walls and windows; a no-water, native landscaping scheme; and reuse of shower gray water for toilet and irrigation purposes. On the roof, solar photovoltaic panels power the home’s entire electrical load.

A showcase worthy of even the most discriminating buyer, the home is currently available for purchase.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

The study was conducted by the Iowa Policy Project (IPP), a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization based in Iowa City. IPP researcher and co-author of the study David Osterberg points out that Iowa’s example proves that action can be taken on climate change: “Those people who tell us we can't do anything about global climate change because it will be too expensive are wrong, Iowa is proving it wrong.

According to the study, wind power produced 3,670 megawatts of electricity in the state, enough power to run 940,000 homes. This makes Iowa the second-largest wind producing state in the country, after Texas. If the power were used solely within the state’s confines, three quarters of the state’s homes could run on wind.

The state’s unique combination of weather and geography play in its favor: nearly three quarters of the state consistently has enough wind at 80 meters above the ground to reliably produce wind energy.

At the moment, coal-powered plants produce about 75 percent of the state’s electricity, and there is one nuclear plant in the state, the article said.

The study found that Iowans paid about 6 cents per kilowatt hour in 1998, climbing to to 7 cents per kilowatt hour by 2008. Over the same time period, national average electricity costs went from 7 cents per kilowatt hour to nearly 10 cents.  “Amidst Iowa's massive expansion of wind power, our average electricity prices have remained below the national average and in fact have not increased as quickly as the national average price in the last four years,” the study’s authors noted.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com



Climate positive strategies include clean energy generation, sustainable building techniques, enhanced waste management, transportation, water management, and outdoor lighting systems.

Below, a video featuring former President Bill Clinton explains the Climate Positive Development Program effort.

Thus far, a number of significant development projects around the world—from Florida to India to South Africa, Canada, and Sweden—have committed their efforts to becoming "climate positive."

For more on the Climate Positive Development Program, visit the Clinton Climate Initiative’s website.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

An adaptive reuse of an auto mechanic shop, the site surrounding what is now the 7-Eleven was previously covered in an impermeable asphalt surface. However, a third of the site now includes landscaping that includes drought-tolerant, native plants, and permeable surfaces. The plants are fed by an efficient drip irrigation system, while an outdoor eating area with cypress pergolas and arbors allows customers to enjoy the store’s leafy surroundings.

In addition to the building’s landscaping and irrigation system, DeLand’s new 7-Eleven stands out for other sustainable features, including light-colored concrete parking areas and roofing surfaces that work together to reduce the heat island effect; a high-efficiency HVAC system with a UV system that eliminates viruses, bacteria, and mold from interior air; LED signage and lighting that minimizes energy demand and heat output; skylights that bring natural light deep into the store’s interior; high-efficiency restroom fixtures; low-VOC interior finishes; and high-efficiency Greenblock Insulated Concrete Form walls, which also protect the building under extreme conditions, such as hurricane-force winds. In addition, many of the store’s construction materials were sourced from an area within a 500-mile radius, and much of the store’s construction contains recycled content. Half of the word used in the store was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the article notes.

The store was designed by architecture firm Burke Hogue Mills and TLC Engineering for Architecture of Orlando.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

In fact, it plans to be so thoroughly energy-efficient so as to capture the title of tallest Zero Energy Building (ZEB) in the world. Creating more power than they take from the energy grid, ZEBs are usually quite small. The Pearl River Tower will be the first ZEB at such a large scale.

Two examples of the Pearl River Tower’s commitment to the ZEB title: the building’s rainwater collection system utilizes solar heating to provide hot water for the building, while the body of the building incorporates wind turbines into its design. These wind turbines are uniquely designed to operate at lower wind speeds, doing more than just generating electricity: the openings help reduce the overall wind load on the skyscraper.

Another green attribute is the building’s cooling system. Upon completion, Pearl River Tower will become the largest radiant-cooled office building in the world, with raised floor ventilation, heat sinks, and vertical vents.

Throughout the building, solar panels will feed power to window blinds that open and close automatically in sync with the sun. The exterior walls are designed with an 8” gap, wherein heat that enters through the building’s windows will be trapped and rise to heat exchangers located on upper floors. Working in tandem, these features enabled building architects SOM to install a heating system that is 80 percent smaller than in conventionally built skyscrapers.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

The dramatic building—instantly recognizable for its superscale depiction of the sidra tree, a traditional Qatari symbol, along its front façade—will feature a whopping 3,700 square meters of solar panels, in addition to its other resource-saving features. Designed by Yamasaki Architects, the building is based on a concept by well-known Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, and has a total budget of $720 million.

The building will contain 40,000 square meters of exhibition space; a conference hall for 4,000 delegates; a 2,300-seat lyric style theater; three additional tiered auditoria; theatre-style seating, and banquet space for up to 10,000 people in exhibition halls; a total of 57 meeting rooms; lounges and hospitality suites; a business center; and media rooms. The massive building is located in Education City, a new global educational hub under development.

The aforementioned rooftop solar panels will provide roughly 12 percent of the building’s total power, according to the article. Inside, the center will be outfitted with occupancy sensors, water-efficient fixtures, LED lighting, carbon dioxide monitors, and variable air-volume systems that minimize the use of resources and improve the center’s indoor air quality. The center will also boast a special wireless convention management system that reduces the need for paper while providing convention delegates with free Internet access.

Learn more about the Qatar National Convention Center on its website.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

Located in downtown Peoria, Illinois, the building is the first in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area to earn the LEED-EB certification, and is the second Caterpillar building to earn the recognition, the article said. The Cat Financial Center in Nashville earned a LEED-EB certification in April of 2009.

Notable among the building’s sustainable retrofits: decreased energy consumption by 40 percent (or $800,000) through the use of improved control systems, operating methods, and lighting automation; a new irrigation system for all landscaped areas that cuts water use by 50 percent; a green cleaning program that employs new environmentally-friendly chemicals, and an improved pest management program that uses the least toxic methods available; and waste stream audits that help inform efforts toward reducing the company’s environmental impact.

“Every day members of Team Caterpillar look for opportunities to apply their expertise, technology and common sense to address environmental issues,” said Greg Folley, vice president of Caterpillar’s Human Services Division. “Successfully identifying and managing our environmental footprint reduces environmental impacts where we all live and work, makes good business sense and is simply the right thing to do for our community, employees, customers and shareholders.”

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com



Developed by the California Building Standards Commission (BSC) over the last three years, the standards include sustainable requirements for residential, commercial, and public building construction.

Notable among CALGreen’s requirements are a provision that every new building constructed in the state will have to reduce its water consumption by 20 percent, divert at least 50 percent of construction waste from the landfill, install low pollutant-emitting materials, and include separate water meters for use in non-residential buildings. The CALGreen codes are organized into two tiers, with Tier 1 including the above basic requirements, and Tier 2 requiring enhanced commitments to these requirements, such as a 65 percent waste-diversion standard.

Cities in the Golden State that already have standards exceeding those delineated in CALGreen will not be required to change their codes to comply with the code’s Tier 1 requirements. Approximately 400 jurisdictions in California currently lack green building rules. The code will apply to all buildings in the state, with the exception of federal buildings and those constructed on Native American land, the article said.

Some building industry professionals predict a future in which buildings under construction in California will earn both designations. For example, Bryan Jackson, partner at the law firm Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis, anticipates that the CALGreen designation may become a supplement to a LEED certification:  “I predict people will pursue both CALGreen and LEED and hang both plaques with pride.”

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

The setenergy.com post notes that wind power grew by 9.9 GW domestically, an increase of almost 40 percent, extending the American lead as the top producer of wind power in the world. While solar figures are expected next month, the news will probably be similar, according to the post.

Globally speaking, the wind power market grew at a rate of 37.5 percent, with China’s annual growth leading the pack with 13 GW. China’s growing power needs and developing wind power capacity propelled it into the #3 spot behind the US and Germany. The post notes that China will likely become the 2^nd biggest wind power producer in 2010, and may overtake the US in 2011.

Meanwhile, the 35 GW of wind capacity now produced stateside provides roughly 2 percent of US electricity demand. While this may seem low, three states (Wyoming, Iowa, and North Dakota) already rely on wind for over 20 percent of their power needs. The post projects that by 2023, wind may well provide 20 percent of the whole country’s electricity needs.

Solar power will also play a significant part. The post projects that solar power could provide up to 12.5 percent of electricity needs for the entire country, assuming a rate slightly higher than that of recent years. These numbers compare favorably with current percentages for nuclear power, natural gas, and coal (20 percent, 23 percent, and 45 percent, respectively). As the post’s author points out, with dropping prices for wind and solar power, coupled with an increase in the cost of oil, natural gas, and coal, signs point to an acceleration toward increased wind and solar capacity in the near term.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
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The 157,000 square foot building, staffed by a workforce of 130 and topped by over 1,000 photovoltaic solar panels, is the latest showcase of Smucker’s commitment to sustainable business practice. In fact, the warehouse generates 94 percent of its total energy needs the article said. Outside, landscaping and fixtures reduce water needs by more than 526,000 gallons yearly, while a solar water heater provides more than half of the building’s hot water needs, and photovoltaic solar panels offset energy use by 56 percent. 94 percent of construction waste materials were recycled during construction.

Brands distributed at the warehouse include R.W. Knudsen Family, Santa Cruz Organic, Natural Brew, and ME. Juice boxes, peanut butters, fruit sauces, organic and natural sodas, Fair Trade teas, and organic chocolate syrups are also distributed at the warehouse, the article said.

Company-wide, Smucker’s is also seen as a recycling leader, having achieved a 98.5 percent reuse/recycle rate. In California, the company already owns two solar arrays, methane turbines, and natural gas microturbines, which generate additional kilowatts. The company’s operations are 94 percent off the grid, allowing for significantly reduced reliance on conventional electricity, the article said.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

Divided between online resources for teachers, internet offerings for K-12 students, websites aimed at college students, and links to green organizations, the article’s links include both well-known organizations (The Nature Conservancy, the National Geographic Society) and those that may be less widely known, though no less vital (Facing the Future, Roots and Shoots). The article also offers a valuable list of green games and tools online (LogiCity, WolfQuest); a diverse selection of open courseware classes (MIT’s Ecologies of Construction, Notre Dame’s Environmental Philosophy); and a selection of online lectures on sustainability, by many eminent figures whose work is helping drive the green movement forward.

The article offers a helpful list of ways that K-12 teachers can reduce the impact their classrooms make on the natural environment, including the use of Power Point instead of paper; setting up a worm bin; and holding a cell phone and toner drive.

The article also provides a list of ways that college educators can also help the environment in daily practice, through such large and small moves as assigning electronic textbooks, encouraging volunteering for the environment, and emailing the course syllabus rather than printing it.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com

The design of what is currently called the Los Angeles Stadium incorporates a plethora of green design moves, ranging from vegetated rooftops to initiatives to reduce storm water runoff and extensive recycling efforts. Built into the existing topography of a rolling site adjoining the Diamond Bar Creek restoration area in the City of Industry, the bowl of the stadium will be built on grade, thus reducing the amount of steel needed for structural support by 40%, according to the article. This reduction in materials alone computes to a significant savings: the stadium is projected to cost approximately $300-$400 million less than other recently proposed NFL stadiums.

The stadium will include 1.49 million square feet of commercial office space, 833,000 square feet of retail shops, 162,000 square feet of restaurants, a 5,000 seat, 60,000 square foot live theater, a 1,200 seat, and a 60,000 movie theater, according to the project’s website. Also planned for the site are 45,000 of team offices, a 115,000 square foot NFL team training facility, and a 100,000 square foot medical center and clinic.

Intended to be fully convertible to other purposes, the stadium will be designed to accommodate soccer games, prep and college football, and concerts. Altogether, the stadium is planned to seat 75,000 people, including 11,000 club seats and 175 suites, according to the project website.

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Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com