Clearly this isn't a green building issue, but seriously how is it possible that the Republican-led House of Representatives made it an immediate priority to cancel the House cafeteria’s four years of biodegradable food and beverage packaging and bring back the Styrofoam?  This is a case of flipping the bird to former Speaker of the House - Nancy Pilosi, Dem's, the environment and clearly showing some lack of  initiative on the the GOP's part to create jobs and work on some serious budget issues.   

Given our current high and rising oil prices, producing these products that will take a half a millennium to break down, what is this high minded decision all about?  Clearly bio-degradable products are key, but if composting is not available, these products can't be placed in the recycle bin.   The initial cost is higher, but the long term goals of producing and composting everyday take-out products that are corn-based are a much better option the petroleum based products that may be cheap on the customer end of the production cycle, but cost more over  our lifetime. 

REMODEL GREEN              

Following ten years of planning last week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approved a controversial offshore wind project off the coast of Cape Cod. This project will provide 420 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.  In average winds, this project known as  Cape Wind will provide three quarters of the cape and islands electricity needs.

Of course with every project their are vocal critics and this one no doubt will be caught up in the courts for some time.  With many locals decrying the potential loss of view along with a tribe of Native American's  citing sacred grounds, I am sure this project is dead in the water.   While I can see both sides, I’d much rather see wind turbines than oil rigs.
As a native of Santa Barbara, a small town 90 miles north of Los Angeles that experienced a large oil spill 40 years ago that inspired the birth of Earth Day a year later, oil derricks still dot our shoreline.  We see them every time we drive in town, visit the beach, kayak, sail or take a trip to the Channel Islands.  While the lights at night are nice, I’d love to see a moon lit ocean than these beasts working 24/7 to quench our thirst for oil.  Not to mention that the quality from our coast isn’t pure enough to fuel cars, just clean enough to make water bottles and plastic bags.

Our lapse in memory to the risks of offshore drilling was awoken late last month with the horrific BP blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is well known that all off-shore wells are not the same.  At depths below 30,000 feet, such as the drill site in the gulf, extremely high pressure and high temperatures make drilling a considerably high risk and a blow-out’s ticking time bomb.  

While the cost of clean up is BP’s responsibility to a certain extent, no where near the cost of clean up or restoration.  The minimal amount of cash from the oil company and the associates, can’t possibly cover the cost on the environment, clean up, loss of jobs as well as the quality of life for years to come..  We can no longer depend on the status quo of our current energy supplies.  

While implementation of clean energy projects will take time, I hope that we start now and not look back in 5 years after another horrific  event takes place and we wonder why again accidents like this have happened again.
I challenge us all to to conserve energy, fight for policy change and think of creative solutions to our dependence on the status quo for our energy needs.

New Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for lead paint take effect today, which just happens to be Earth Day.   These new guidelines require contractors involved in the removal of lead based materials to be certified and follow stringent work practices to prevent lead contamination.

This new regulation will apply to all contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects in target projects constructed prior to 1978, when the federal government banned the use of lead-based paint.  Failure to follow these new guidelines will result in fines of up to $37,300 and or jail time. Target projects are those that involve any renovation, removal or repair of painting projects in homes, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.  The EPA is expecting that more that 125,000 contractors will enroll and become certified in lead safe practices this week alone.  This one day course at a cost of $300 dollars has it’s equal share of fans and critics.  

While the EPA might not be bleeding edge on environmental concerns, many vocal participants in  the construction field have voiced their complaints from the cost of the classes, increased regulations, and the issue that new regulations will increase the cost of lead paint removals for consumers, thus reducing their job prospect's.  

The removal of lead materials is known to increase exposure to lead contaminated dust, which is associated with developmental and behavior problems in children as well as high blood pressure and hypertension in adults, among other associated physical and environmental risks. So, I don’t why this minimal cost of training is a concern considering the health risks to homeowners and construction employees to warrant negative feedback.  

Disposal of these materials is a whole other issue.  Where we live, we are fortunate to have a local drop off location for hazardous waste, which will also supply you with materials to package waste free of charge, ensuring that this waste doesn’t enter the local landfill.  I’m not sure how it works in other communities, but would love your input.  Looking forward to reading your comments.

Making a better connection with the sun and making efficient use of the sun's energy could solve a lot of social and economic problems. The 20th Century visionary, Buckminster Fuller, is best known for his discovery of the Geodesic Dome that makes efficient use of construction materials.He coined the phrase doing more with less and introduced the world to this concept of synergy; unfortunately the roof of a dome is not well suited for a harvesting sunlight. Bucky believed we have wondered too far from the roots and have detached ourselves from the basic forces of nature that make life possible. Photo-voltaic applications are becoming more affordable for some, but PV is still a long term investment for most people. This article was written for the do-it-yourself, handyman interested in making a cost effective connection with the sun.

Batch Heaters for warm climate

Are you contemplating a “green movement” with your organization? The sustainable shift has outlasted fad status and proven that green practices make sense for healthy living, environmental stewardship and improving a business’ bottom line. If you’ve not stepped into the green world, now is a great time to consider what strides you can make to create a greener company.