Department of Energy Commits Support for Landmark Rooftop Solar Project

U.S. Department of Energy will provide a partial guarantee for a $1.4 billion loan to support Project Amp.  This project will support the installation of solar panels on industrial buildings across the country, with the electricity generated from those panels contributing directly to the electrical grid, as opposed to powering the buildings where they are installed.   Supported by funding from the 2009 stimulus bill, the solar generation project includes the installation of approximately 733 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which is nearly equal to the total amount of PV installed in the U.S. in 2010.

For the complete article, click here.

Source: Energy.gov

Big Steps In Building: Stop Ignoring Orientation And Sun Control

There are some very simple moves one can make to reduce the amount of energy a house uses, that any builder in America could do without adding much to the cost of a house. Builders ignore orientation, window placement and cross ventilation, all of which can make a huge difference. Customers buy plans or houses and don't even think about which way they are facing.

For the complete post, click here.

Source: TreeHugger
Photo credit: Florida Solar Energy

Inquiries for new projects drop to slowest pace of growth since February 2010

AIA, Washington, D.C. – On the heels of a sizeable decrease in April, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slowed even further in May. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the May ABI score was 47.2, a slight decrease from a reading of 47.6 the previous month. This score reflects a continued decrease in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 52.6, down from a mark of 55.0 in April, its lowest level in almost a year and a half.

For the complete article, click here.

Source: AIA

House Bill Would Cut Clean Energy and Efficiency Programs by 40 Percent

A 2012 energy and water appropriations bill would set renewable energy and efficiency funding about $1 billion below current levels, roughly equaling the amount allocated to such programs in 2005. The bill cuts $1.9 billion from the White House request for investments in research into energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal, fuel-conserving vehicles, weatherization, biomass and other programs. That is more than 40% below current funding levels. The bill passed in committee by a 26-20 vote. The full House of Representatives will consider the measure after July 4.

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Source: REUTERS

NYC Energy Code: Form + Process Changes

The PW1, TR1, TR8 and EN2 forms have been updated to reflect the 2011 New York City Energy Conservation Code and amendments to 1 RCNY §5000-01.

To see what was changed and how this will affect your project, click here.

Source: Department of Buildings

NYC Parks Administrative Building Installs Green Roof

Randall's Island is home to the NYC Parks Department's Five Borough Administrative Building, the central hub for our Citywide Operations division as well as our renowned Parks fleet. On Earth Day 2007, Mayor Bloomberg released a comprehensive sustainability plan for the City of New York titled PlaNYC. In response to this visionary initiative, the Five Borough Technical Services division adopted its own sustainability task force. After extensive research, Five Borough discovered that installing a green roof can contribute significantly to the city's sustainability effort.

In spring 2007, the Five Borough Technical Services Division began a program of installing green roofs of various designs atop the Five Borough Complex on Randall's Island where it is headquartered. To date, the division, together with Parks' Green Apple Corps, has installed 24 systems covering over 29,000 sf of roof on the west wing of the building. Taken together, the systems installed at Five Borough will, arguably, comprise the fifth largest green roof in New York City.

For the complete article, click here.

Source: Greenroofs.com
Photo: Greenroofs.com

Department of Energy: $70 Million to Advance Geothermal Energy Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In support of President Obama's goal of generating 80% of the country's electricity from clean energy sources by 2035, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the availability of up to $70 million in new funding over three years for technology advancements in geothermal energy to accelerate development of this promising clean energy resource. Innovations in exploration technologies to locate geothermal energy resources and improvements in resource characterization, drilling, and reservoir engineering techniques will enable clean energy from geothermal sources to be a key contributor to the nation's renewable energy supply. By targeting funding to research and develop these innovative technologies, the Department aims to reduce the upfront cost of geothermal energy systems, expand their use, and enable the United States to tap the huge potential of this renewable energy resource.

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Source: Department of Energy
Photo: NYSERDA

Sixty-Three Percent of Architects Surveyed Report Stalled Projects

Almost two-thirds of architects surveyed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) last month report that they have at least one project that is stalled due to lack of financing, despite record low interest rates. Of the 63% of firms surveyed with stalled projects, the average value of each project was almost $50 million per firm. Among the survey's major findings is that the availability of construction project financing remains a major issue for many architecture firms. In April, 57 percent of survey respondents rated the issue as very or extremely serious, and an additional 30 percent indicated that it is a somewhat serious issue. Nearly half of respondents (45 percent) think that the availability of credit has become more restrictive over the past year, with just 16 percent seeing an easement in credit availability.

For the complete article, click here.

Source: AIA
Photo Source: Wikipedia

General Liability Insurance - UPDATED

New General Liability (GL) insurance requirements for construction or demolition projects go into effect on June 13, 2011. When pulling permits, contractors must provide proof that the new insurance requirements have been met. See RCNY §101-08 for complete information.

Source: NYC Department of Buildings (link)

International Energy Agency says gas in golden age

Increasing gas supply and demand for the fuel could set off a "golden age of gas", the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.
An IEA report claimed that demand for gas could outstrip coal by 2030, and get close to demand for oil by 2035.
The agency pointed to the uncertain future of nuclear energy as one of the main reasons for gas becoming so popular.
Growth in the sector would be led by China and the US, the IEA said.

To read complete article, click here.

Source: BBC
Image source: Wikipedia (Natural gas extraction by countries in cubic meters per year)

IEA report shows how to achieve dramatic energy savings in the buildings sector by 2050

A new report from the International Energy Agency released today shows how heating and cooling technologies that are energy-efficient and that emit little or no carbon dioxide can dramatically reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions within residential, commercial and public buildings, a sector that currently accounts for around one-third of total final energy consumption.

The report focuses on four key technology options for heating and cooling in buildings:

• Active solar thermal systems, wherein water is heated by the sun for space, or, more commonly, for sanitary hot water use
• Combined heat and power systems, which simultaneously produce heat and electricity for use in the building or for sale to the grid (the heat produced can be used for space or water heating, and even cooling with a thermally driven chiller)
• Heat-pump systems (such as air conditioners), which have high end-use efficiencies and can be designed to produce heat and/or cold, and depending on system design, produce these simultaneously
• Thermal energy storage, which facilitates greater use of renewable energy, enables optimal operation of heating and cooling systems, and provides increased flexibility in balancing energy systems.

To read complete article, click here.

Source: International Energy Agency
Image Source: Treehugger.com

Olympic site prompts "greener" building in UK

The environmentally friendly credentials of London's 2012 Olympic venues are already fuelling "greener" building in Britain and will influence future global events, said the Olympic Development Authority. In a recent sustainability report, London's ODA said that it had met nearly all of the "green" targets, particularly around carbon emissions and water usage. The sustainability practices, such as innovation around waste management and water efficiency savings through treating sewage water, developed at the 2.5 square kilometer site in East London will also be the blueprint for future Olympic sites.

To read complete article, click here.

Source: Reuters/Lorraine Turner
Image credits: Reuters/Toby Melville