Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ROOFING SYSTEMS CAN HELP HOMEOWNERS GET TO ZERO ENERGY CONSUMPTION

PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ROOFING SYSTEMS CAN HELP HOMEOWNERS GET TO ZERO ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Kudos to the solar roof kit introduced by Luma Resources – it was chosen the best new product at this year’s the International Roofing Expo, in Las Vegas. This winning kit uses photovoltaic technology, and consists of 60 solar shingles and a converter along with the wiring and flashing for full installation.

Luma Resources is a sister company of Allen Brothers Roofing, in Rochester Hills, Mich. The product was bought to market by Gary + Robert Allen, one of two brothers who co-own Allen Brothers Roofing.

Robert shared these thoughts on the Luma solar roof kit:

What is the demand for a solar roofing kit?

Robert Allen: In Orlando, the local government just voted not to build a coal-fired power plant. That means Orlando-area homeowners will be using renewable energy, like solar, rather than fossil fuels. Long term, there’ll be more and more demand as states and municipalities, then homeowners, turn to renewables.

How does a homeowner get ahold of a solar roofing kit?

Robert Allen: Typically, we want to set up a relationship with a roofer. The roofer or roofing company would have to qualify. I have to know that this guy is going to take the product and install it the right way.

Why will this solar product be successful now?

Robert Allen: In the ’70s, solar roof panels were regarded as ugly and inefficient; it wasn’t good enough. Now, with all the improvements, it’s quickly becoming a product that can hold its own. It has to be driven by demand….that’s what we’ll see happen as electricity rates continue to go up and consumers realize that solar power does pay for itself in a short period of time - and they have a secure source of energy for the home.

Will your system supply all the power that a home needs?

Robert Allen: What you are trying to do is to provide the homeowner with enough power to get as close to zero consumption as possible. The question is how many years does it take to repay the investment in buying and installing the system. It’s like any other investment. In this case, you’re investing in a system that allows you to save the money you’d otherwise be spending on electricity off the grid.

How much does your product cost and how long does it take to install?

Robert Allen: Let’s assume a house of, say, 2,400 square feet. Our 2 kilowatt system could be installed by a two-man crew in a day, with another half-day for the electrician. We timed it. The labor cost would be $1,500 and the total installed cost of the job, to the homeowner, would be $13,000.

http://replacementcontractor.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=0&articleID=743122

REASONS TO GO GREEN ON INDUSTRIALS

REASONS TO GO GREEN ON INDUSTRIALS

Warehouses are going green. Owners have noted that environmentally friendly big buildings can see big savings.

“The LEED ratings system has been geared more toward office than industrial. These buildings are physically different–you have all these docks that open,” says Thomas Bisacquino, president of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.? “You have two major motivators: it?s the right thing to do, and the business case.”

But those in the know say that greening industrial properties is simplier than other commercial properties.? Greening an industrial entails a reassessment of all building systems and materials. The techniques and materials used to make buildings more sustainable include an increased use of natural light and renewable materials, to photovoltaics and plug-ins to accommodate hybrid trucks.

http://www.energycoalition.org/

http://www.energycoalition.org/

THE ENERGY COALITION

The mission of The Energy Coalition is to mobilize, educate, inform and empower communities to change the way they use and think about energy. We accomplish this by forging close partnerships among cities, utilities, businesses, schools, individuals, and environmental organizations.The Energy Coalition’s focus is bottom-up, working with communities to identify their individual energy needs and usage patterns. The goal is to develop and implement plans and initiatives which achieve energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing the need for new power resources.As a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, The Energy Coalition has been developing energy initiatives with partners in the United States and Sweden for almost thirty years. Our strength lies in our ability to facilitate nontraditional partnerships and bring together a variety of resources to develop innovative demonstration projects, thus decreasing the demand for energy by educating and empowering consumers to strengthen their relationships with serving utilities and take control of their energy futures.

The Energy Coalition’s principle tenants are to:

Educate people from all ages and walks of life about energy, its environmental impacts, and what they can do to reduce their consumption

 Promote energy efficiency (reducing overall usage of electricity and natural gas) and renewable generation

Reduce the demand for energy during peak hours (when electricity generation is most costly and environmentally damaging)?

 Establish replicable initiatives which expand the boundaries of traditional energy utility/consumer/community relationships For more information about The Energy Coalition please contact us at (949) 701-4646 or info@energycoalition.org

 http://www.energycoalition.org/

Meruelo Maddux Closes $84M Construction Loan For Green Multiunits

Meruelo Maddux Closes $84M Construction Loan For Green Multiunits

Meruelo Maddux Properties has closed on an $84 million construction loan for the locally based development firm’s 35-story, 214-unit multifamily project at 717 W. Ninth St. The project, due to be completed in September 2009, is under way near the Staples Center and L.A. Live projects.

The project, which is seeking a Silver LEED designation, is located at the corner of Flower and Ninth Streets in downtown Los Angeles, across the street from Downtown’s only major supermarket, Ralph’s, adjacent to the financial district and near the new L.A. Live entertainment and dining complex and the Staples Center.

All the info @ http://www.globest.com/news/1213_1216/losangeles/172900-1.html

Interesting Local Websites

Interesting Local Websites

www.Gasbuddy.com links to the local gas prices in your neighborhood. Consumers report in real time the price they paid to fill up their tanks. This tool is another excellent way to motivate people to visit your site each time that they need to fill up.

www.Everyblock.com offers Los Angelenos a wealth of information, including business reviews, permits, crimes, liquor licenses, real estate listings from Trulia and Redfin, restaurant inspections, zoning agenda items, as well as maps pinpointing relevant locations.

www.walkscore.com, as you know, we like www.walkscore.com. (Check out post http://www.santamonicapropertyblog.com/?p=303) Walk Score allows your Web visitors to determine the “walkability” of various neighborhoods. Plug in your address (or the address of any of your listings) and you’ll receive a score between 1 and 100 rating how “walkable” that address is. The site grades walkability based upon the convenience of various businesses to the residents, income mix, parks and public space, nearby schools, bike paths, and a “pedestrian-centric” design. They also evaluate how accessible the area is for the disabled, what the flow of the traffic is, and how comfortable and/or convenient it is to use mass transit if available.

Highlight Interesting Architectural Properties in Your Area with www.Ourbania.com - a site for real estate enthusiasts who want to share pictures and other information about “the buildings that shape our cities worldwide — innovative existing and future projects, from bridges to skyscrapers.” www.Ourbania.com is an excellent sightseeing resource if you’re traveling to major cities both inside and outside the United States.
www.Eventful.com boasts being the “world’s leading events Web site” and has a comprehensive list of events occurring near your local address.

CALIFORNIA’S FIRST EXISTING MULTITENANT OFFICE BUILDING GOES LEED

The first existing multitenant office building in California to achieve LEED certification from the US Green Building Council in Sant Francisco. The acclaimed building, located at 100 Pine, is a 35-story 440,500-sf Downtown office tower here owned by the Alaska Permanent Fund and its minority, operating partner, Unico Properties of Seattle.

The only other buildings in San Francisco to carry LEED-EB status are a pair of single-tenant headquarters buildings—Pacific Gas & Electric’s HQ at 245 Market St. and construction contractor Swinerton Inc.’s HQ at 260 Townsend St.

Built in 1972 of steel, concrete and glass based on the design of Hertz & Knowles, 100 Pine has known for its stingy water and energy use for some time. It was one of the first buildings in San Francisco to receive an Energy Star label and was voted Commercial Recycler of the Year for seven straight years starting in 2000 in a program sponsored by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

The sustainable measures employed at 100 Pine include:

• LEED-compliant Tenant Improvements (TIs): a commitment to green is emphasized by incorporating sustainability into its TI design and construction process. This allows a conversation with the customer about the environment to begin immediately.
• Energy Conservation: 100 Pine conducted an overhaul to its heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and added digital controls to make it more efficient.
• Energy Conservation: 100 Pine conducted an overhaul to its heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and added digital controls to make it more efficient.
• Water Efficiency: 100 Pine reduced the building’s water usage by approximately 50% by converting to “low flow” toilets. The HVAC upgrade also reduced water usage.
• Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Products: The building replaced its cleaning chemicals, equipment and restroom paper products used by the janitorial staff with sustainable, environmentally preferred products which meet or exceed the CA EPA guidelines.
• Environmentally-Friendly Landscaping: 100 Pine worked with their landscaping company and shifted from annuals (which require continual change) to perennials and also uses only native, local plants that require less watering.
• Recycling: 100 Pine has been a leader in recycling for the past 10 years and has consistently been diverting 75% or more of its waste from landfill. Unico also has partnered with Green Citizen, a company that promotes “responsible” electronic recycling.
• Motion Sensors in Emergency Stairwells: Since emergency stairwells are rarely used, 100 Pine installed lights that operate with motion sensors instead of having these stairwells lit continually.

The whole story @ http://www.globest.com/news/1213_1214/sanfrancisco/172835-1.html?type=pf

FREE HOUSE PLANS @ www.freegreen.com

FREE HOUSE PLANS @ www.freegreen.com

Thinking about building a green home? Get free house plans @ http://www.freegreen.com/.

The mission of FreeGreen we hope to encourage progressive building practices by making green home designs free for everyone.

Why Free? www.freegreen.com developed a new business model because they believe green design should be accessible to all. Today’s homes are assembled from a combination of products and raw materials. If you are building a new home, or even renovating an existing one, then you have a lot of decisions to make. At FreeGreen, our team of engineers and designers works with industry-leading product manufacturers to present you with different combinations of products, materials, and vendors. We also provide 3-dimensional images, energy simulations, and written descriptions to help you find the right fit for your lifestyle. Ultimately you and your builder will choose the products and materials that are right for your house. We just hope that our designs help you build the home you want.

ALL THE SOLAR YOU WANT – SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2008

ALL THE SOLAR YOU WANT – SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2008
REGISTER BY FRIDAY, AND GET THE DISCOUNT

Solar Power International 2008: North America’s Largest Solar Event
Save The Date - 10/13-10/16

Top vendors presenting the state-of-the-art in solar energy technologies and services; 60+ conference sessions and workshops; full range of solar energy technologies, including photovoltaics, concentrating photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, and solar hot water and space heating and cooling.

Register by September 5th - Get the discounted early rate and save - Don’t get closed out - the conference is expected to sell out in advance - Receive your name badge in the mail and avoid long lines in San Diego

Date: 10/13-10/16
Location: San Diego Convention Center

For more information, please visit Solar Power Conference & Expo’s website.
http://www.solarpowerconference.com/