Why are wood windows better?
Tampa Preservation Inc created a great video which addresses, via lego-like droids, the assumption that vinyl windows are better than repairing original wood windows. Its a must watch!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Historic Preservation: Revisited
This video presents today's version of historic preservation- how it goes beyond the velvet ropes and irate blue-haired ladies stereotype to deliver community-building results that are good for our heritage, planet and yes, people. Rhonda Sincavage, National Trust for Historic Preservation, may just be my new hero!
Community development: Access
Those pesky potholes in Columbus, Ohio may get fixed faster thanks to some bright engineering students at Ohio State. Residents of the city will soon have a new tool at their disposal thanks in part to students of The Ohio State University computer science and engineering program.
Software engineering students were tasked with establishing a proof of concept and fundamental development of the app in conjunction with the City of Columbus Department of Technology.
The “My Columbus” app suite features four sections:
• 311, which allows residents to report issues like graffiti and potholes, with the capability of uploading a photo;
• My Neighborhood, which provides quick information about government services, private sector services, entertainment and local shops;
• GreenSpot, which offers tips on how to be more environmentally friendly; and
• GetActive, which gives locations of local parks and recreation centers, walking and biking paths, exercise tips and health advice."
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Historic Preservation: Bath house revisited
I suppose it’s hard to expect anything different in late July from a blogger located in the Southeast … the thought of heat, the dealings with the temperatures, the slow broil as you walk outside for lunch. The exhaustion. The last minute “make that iced” to the barista. It’s hot out there. …I can’t help but wonder how others found their reprieve....which brings me to the bath house.
The bathhouse is an age old public use, that in my humble opinion, is one of most interesting ways historically and communally people gathered. Throughout civilization, bath houses have played some role in socialization and cleansing rituals. Some societies even attached religion to the practice. In Japan Misogi, is the ritual purification with water. In Greece the practice of bathing was ritualized, becoming an art – of cleansing sands, hot water, hot air in dark vaulted "vapor baths," a cooling plunge, a rubdown with aromatic oils. In Portland, Oregon the Oasis is a transportable bath house built out of an airstream trailer, complete with grey water management systems and a tankless water heater ....By golly, water is just plain fun.
I suppose it’s hard to expect anything different in late July from a blogger located in the Southeast … the thought of heat, the dealings with the temperatures, the slow broil as you walk outside for lunch. The exhaustion. The last minute “make that iced” to the barista. It’s hot out there. …I can’t help but wonder how others found their reprieve....which brings me to the bath house.The bathhouse is an age old public use, that in my humble opinion, is one of most interesting ways historically and communally people gathered. Throughout civilization, bath houses have played some role in socialization and cleansing rituals. Some societies even attached religion to the practice. In Japan Misogi, is the ritual purification with water. In Greece the practice of bathing was ritualized, becoming an art – of cleansing sands, hot water, hot air in dark vaulted "vapor baths," a cooling plunge, a rubdown with aromatic oils. In Portland, Oregon the Oasis is a transportable bath house built out of an airstream trailer, complete with grey water management systems and a tankless water heater ....By golly, water is just plain fun.
Well, one creative group has found a unique way to cool off America’s Big Apple and raise awareness for the River- floating pools! So I ask, is this the next generation of public bath houses?
Sustainability: Tool box
These bonds can be used to finance expenditures related to:
1. Reducing energy consumption in publicly‐owned buildings by at least 20 percent,
2. Implementing green community programs,
3. Rural development involving the production of electricity from renewable energy resources,
4. Any qualified facility……which include wind facilities, closed‐loop and open‐loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, small irrigation power facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash to energy facilities, hydropower facilities and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities
5. Expenditures with respect to research facilities, and research grants, to support research in –
a. Development of cellulosic ethanol or other non‐fossil fuels,
b. Technologies for the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide produced through the use of fossil fuels,
c. Increasing the efficiency of existing technologies for producing non‐fossil fuels,
d. Automobile battery technologies and other technologies to reduce fossil fuel consumption in transportation, or
e. Technologies to reduce energy use in buildings
b. Technologies for the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide produced through the use of fossil fuels,
c. Increasing the efficiency of existing technologies for producing non‐fossil fuels,
d. Automobile battery technologies and other technologies to reduce fossil fuel consumption in transportation, or
e. Technologies to reduce energy use in buildings
6. Mass commuting facilities and related facilities that reduce the consumption of energy, including expenditures to reduce pollution from vehicles used for mass commuting.
7. Demonstration projects designed to promote the commercialization of –
a. Green building technology,
b. Conversion of agricultural waste for use in the production of fuel or otherwise,
c. Advanced battery manufacturing technologies,
d. Technologies to reduce peak use of electricity, or
e. Technologies for the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide emitted from combusting fossil fuels in order to produce electricity.
b. Conversion of agricultural waste for use in the production of fuel or otherwise,
c. Advanced battery manufacturing technologies,
d. Technologies to reduce peak use of electricity, or
e. Technologies for the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide emitted from combusting fossil fuels in order to produce electricity.
8. Public education campaigns to promote energy efficiency.
Given that this federal subsidy is structured a lot like the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) and that that program is arguably the most successful of all federal affordable housing programs, I see nothing but good fortune in tea leaves for it.
More information on the QECB allocation process visit http://www.nctreasurer.com/NR/rdonlyres/767B4001-1AA6-4F39-B3C9-A25006440AC5/0/QECBOverviewLetter.pdf
For more general information about QECBs, visit: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/solutioncenter/webcasts/default.html (search for QECB)
Source: Mary Tiger, UNC Environmental Finance Center.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Sustainability: Policy development
On Friday, June 24, 2011, Governor Beverly Perdue signed SB 708 into law and, with it, approved a new Energy Conservation Code for the residential and commercial buildings in North Carolina. This new code, the fruit of over two years of work (discussions polarized entire sectors of the building trades), aims to save home and business owners money on their monthly energy bills and will work to retain and create jobs in every region of our state. It delivers significant improvements in insulation levels, window performance and building envelope air leakage reduction. The new code also includes the High Efficiency Residential Option (HERO) Appendix which delivers a 30% improvement in minimum energy efficiency over the state’s current energy code.
The new NC Energy Conservation Code has an effective date of January 1, 2012.
Go NC!
The new NC Energy Conservation Code has an effective date of January 1, 2012.
Go NC!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sustainability: wind farming
Have you ever driven on Hwy 10 through the eastern slope of California, near Coachella Valley? Its lovely country. The mountains rise 9,000 feet up, with deep passes and slopes. Its not green, rather dusty and barren. Just like what you would imagine a meeting of mountains and deserts to look like.
If you drove blindly in like I did there's a chance you were surprised, maybe even awestruck, by the sight of a massive wind farm on the San Gorgonia mountain pass. It’s one of the windiest places in southern California. I remember that day fondly.
We had been driving for hours. It was hot. Our car lacked air conditioning. The tape deck was jammed with Modest Mouse's first album "This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About Nothing". It was one of those travel days where the only thing left to do is focus on the road. But even that gets tiring. Maybe you're thinking about nothing. Maybe you're thinking way too much (I usually fall into this category)....And then BAM.... out of the blue -these massive wind turbines pop up...They move slowly. Methodically. Amazingly, they hum. It’s extraordinary.
I clearly remember that moment. Captivated. That’s what I was.
Well, looks like North Carolina is going to have the chance to surprise some folks, too. Both Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties Board of Commissioners approved a wind farm capable of producing enough electricity to power 75,000 homes. Atlantic Winds will begin producing power by 2013. The project straddles county lines and will result in landowners receiving $1million annually in leases...for fifty years!!!
Now thats rural development.
If you drove blindly in like I did there's a chance you were surprised, maybe even awestruck, by the sight of a massive wind farm on the San Gorgonia mountain pass. It’s one of the windiest places in southern California. I remember that day fondly.
We had been driving for hours. It was hot. Our car lacked air conditioning. The tape deck was jammed with Modest Mouse's first album "This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About Nothing". It was one of those travel days where the only thing left to do is focus on the road. But even that gets tiring. Maybe you're thinking about nothing. Maybe you're thinking way too much (I usually fall into this category)....And then BAM.... out of the blue -these massive wind turbines pop up...They move slowly. Methodically. Amazingly, they hum. It’s extraordinary.
I clearly remember that moment. Captivated. That’s what I was.
Well, looks like North Carolina is going to have the chance to surprise some folks, too. Both Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties Board of Commissioners approved a wind farm capable of producing enough electricity to power 75,000 homes. Atlantic Winds will begin producing power by 2013. The project straddles county lines and will result in landowners receiving $1million annually in leases...for fifty years!!!
Now thats rural development.
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