Green Technology

85 acre Brooklyn Bridge Park was built with sustainability in mind ... from EV service vehicles to reused / recycled construction materials from prior buildings on the site.

" ...  Designed and built by BE, ... the first solar-powered charging station in New York City and one of only a few in the world. ..."

Over the projected 25 year life of the EV chargers will save "... more than $200,000 in gasoline costs ... More than 530 tons of CO2 ..."

The EV charging system has 24 PV panels with battery storage for 7 x 24 availability can produce 5.6 Kw. 

Via:  Beautiful Earth Group  LINK

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will test new technology applications in real world scenarios, centralize the results, and facilitate on-going conversations among the participants.  …

…   “First, it will provide companies with opportunities in buildings to test their innovations in operational buildings, which will help them improve their products as well as collect data on their performance, both keys to marketing their products. In exchange, participating building owners would be eligible to employ the technologies at discounted rates.

Second, it will develop an information and data clearinghouse to track building technology costs, benefits, and lessons learned from deployments underway throughout the City.

Third, it will host stakeholder discussions with private sector and academic institutions on green building entrepreneurship, financing and City-specific challenges.”   …

Via IBM: New York City Technology Innovation Center, Press Release.

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New green roof planting at NYC condominium delivers landscape for the seasons to create a more energy efficient and appealing building.  …

…   “Witch hazel will burst into small yellow flowers in January, and striking plants like Japanese maple will have brilliant red foliage throughout summer and fall.”   …

Via New York Times: Green Roof Design.

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Bank of America's One Bryant Park in Manhattan NYC has achieved LEED Platinum certification.  This is a first for a US high rise commercial building - achieving LEED platinum.

" ...  glass curtain wall permits maximum sunlight ... under-floor air delivery system ... power comes from an on-site cogeneration plant, which works in concert with an ice storage system ..."

The building reuses most all rainwater and sink water saving millions of gallons of potable water yearly. 

Via:  Bank of America  LINK

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Brooklyn may not be the first place you thing of when ROOFTOP gardens come to mind ... BUT Roof Top Farms grows pumpkins, peas and other produce - organically.

" ...The garden, 15 m above the Greenpoint sidewalk, is like a peaceful oasis in an otherwise throbbing industrial district. ..."

" ... Rooftop Farms project started in 2008 ... About 90 tonnes of specially mixed soil from Philadelphia was spread on the roof in March 2009 ... The garden users receive organic waste for their patches from the restaurants who by some of the vegetables, enabling them to avoid the use of artificial fertilisers."

Other benefits include controlling water runoff and less water treatment needed as well as possible reduced heating / cooling loads on the buildings.

Via: Sustainable Cities  LINK

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There is a new Green building in NYC - at the southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park City.  Read about the Visionaire - it is one very green building - though a very expensive place to live with pricing startling at just under $700,000 and going to a little over $6 million.

" ...  the Visionaire ... a testing ground for urban green architecture."

" ... saves an estimated 42 percent in energy costs against a base-line average. This is largely the result of efficient building systems and the building envelope ... goal was achieved through exhaustive attention to detail ... "

Via:  Greensource  LINK

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... "The drive-in station was built by Beautiful Earth (using recycled shipping containers) on land it owns just blocks from company headquarters. " ...

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You cannot manage what you cannot measure ... everyone is hearing about the increasing carbon / greenhouse emissions .. but just how big a number is it?  How fast is it growing?

To get a real time view take a look at the 10 character - 70 foot "meter" in New York's Times Sq on the Deutsch Banks billboard.

" ...displays the amount of equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in terms of carbon in the atmosphere, and is constantly updated based on measurements from NASA, NOAA, and supporting research from MIT. ... the number is a reflection of all greenhouse gas emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) by their impact equivalencies in carbon. It even accounts for dips and rises in the amount of carbon in the atmosphere due to seasonal changes so not to appear to be slowing down certain times of the year.

"Before ... the information was only updated every five years. ... displaying the count in real time "allows people to begin to engage in the debate around the issue." ... the counter creates a sense of urgency, a call to action, and is intended to spur action to take the steps necessary in saving our planet."

Track the carbon count in real time on your PC ... download the Carbon Counter widget ... LINK

Via:  SustainLane  LINK

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... "New York State has subsidies both for roofs with succulents spread out over a thin layer of soil and for edible plants covering a smaller area. " ...

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... "The program is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 38 percent and will provide a replicable model for similar projects around the world. Work has already commenced, and building systems work is slated to be completed by year-end 2010. The balance of the work in tenant spaces should be concluded by end of 2013. Work that is scheduled to be completed within 18 months will result in over 50 percent of the projected energy savings. The balance will be an additional 36 months completed by 2013. The project will prove the viability for energy efficiency retrofit projects to dramatically increase building energy efficiency and reduce its overall carbon output with sensible payback periods and enhanced profitability. At the end of the project definition process, the team analyzed the steps to be taken in conjunction with other steps towards sustainability as part of the Empire State ReBuilding program within the framework of the existing USGBC LEED rating system. Internal calculations show that the Empire State Building will be able to qualify for GOLD certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings ... " ...

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Go Green Expo for NYC (April 17 - 19) and Atlanta (June 26 - 28) are on the way.  Go Green Expo has already been to LA and Philadelphia ...

The Green Dude and Green Tech both visited the Phila show and came away impressed by the information available.  Among the neat things I saw were ... 

- solar powered garbage can ... when the trash level crosses a light beam it is crushed down ... it can be equipped with a wireless devise to alert  you when full ...

- paper made from elephant dung ... used for business cards and fine writing paper ... 

- several manufacturers of dry cleaner garment bags ... you take your dry cleaning to the cleaners in these bags and they are returned in the same bag -- eliminating the need for plastic bags.  There were several models available ... from organic cotton to bags made with recycled plastic bags (though a much heavier fabric).

>>> QUESTION to our readers ... I am considering getting one of the dry cleaner bags (permanent end to plastic bags) ... have any of you tried these and how hove your cleaners responded?

Via:  Go Green Expo   LINK

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Earth Day 2009 is fast approaching ...

" ... As "America's Largest Earth Day Action", the fourth annual Green Apple Festival ... focuses on the environmental volunteerism of thousands of participants in cities across the nation. ... "  Check out the web site for events in numerous cities including New York City, Washington DC and Seattle.

What can you do about climate change?  Click LINK to see many simple and easy and cheap things we can all do ... 

Via:  Green Apple Festival  Link

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Rockefeller Center has solar powered lights on its huge tree.  Just like last year the popular tourist attraction in NYC has solar powerred lights. 

" ... the solar-powered Christmas tree ... is sending a good clean message to cities and towns far beyond the city limits ..."

Via:  energyrefuge / godcleantech  LINK

Continue reading "Rockefeller Center's Solar Powered Christmas Lights" »

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The very popular Mini (by BMW) is set to come out in a plug in version.  Dubbed the Mini e ... the first 500 are planned for the greater LA area and NYC.

"introduced the MINI E electric vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show ... MINI E is a pure electric ... runs on lithium-ion batteries. ... "

" ... have set up a special website where you can put your name on the list. ... taking reservations until December 10, 2008 ..."

" ... the MINI E will be the first lithium-ion powered electric to hit the streets in any quantity. This is just the start of more electric happenings to come. "

Via: Examiner.com LINK

Continue reading "BMW MINI E (electric)" »

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With all that us going on in the GREEN TECHNOLOGY space (new technology, alternative fuels, etc.) there are still PLENTY of ways to make an impact by saving energy.  Not all are expensive and many are D-I-Y type projects.

Here are a few that deal with home winterizing - not to late for those in the northeast ...

"Weatherization ... cut your heating and cooling costs by 15 to 30 percent and increase your comfort at the same time."

" ... do-it-yourself energy audit. With a simple walk-through, you can spot many problems on your own. Learn how at http://www.eere.energy.gov"

" ... Use caulk or weather stripping to seal up any air leaks from window frames, baseboards, ... and other openings, such as pipes and wiring coming through ceilings, floors, and walls."
   
"When purchasing new windows and doors, look for the ENERGY STAR label."
 
" ... ceilings and walls are properly insulated. Learn more about insulating your home at http://www.eere.energy.gov and http://www.ornl.gov "

Via:  ConEd  LINK

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The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative held the first US Carbon auction int he US on September 25th, 2008 with two more scheduled for December 17th, 2008.

RGGI is a non profit corporation incorporate in Delaware and based in NYC, NY.

"Ten states participate... Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. ...are implementing the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"Regulated power plants will be able to use a CO₂ allowance issued by any of the ten participating states to demonstrate compliance with an individual state program. In this manner, the ten individual state programs, in aggregate, will function as a single regional compliance market for CO₂ emissions."

Via:  Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative  Link

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... "The New York City Economic Development Corporation, on behalf of the City, today released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) that will call for innovative ideas to help New York City develop sources of renewable energy. In addition to off-shore windfarms, these ideas could involve wind turbines on top of New York City's bridges and skyscrapers and the generation of tidal power, solar power and geothermal energy. Responses to the RFEI are due September 19. " ...

Continue reading "New York City Renewable Energy Developments" »

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Making steel creates a lot of environmental impact ... illegal guns cause a significant societal impact ... so recycling illegal guns into storm drain covers and manhole covers is good for both society and the environment.

In NYC, " ...  periodically takes the guns it gathers ... to a scrap metal processing plant in Elmsford, N.Y. There they are chopped up into tiny pieces and sold for about 25 cents a pound. " 

Rather than just destroying illegal guns / guns from crime after they are not needed for evidence ... (shredding, etc.) they are recycled and do not take up dump space ... or as once done ... thrown into the ocean (I guess that criminals finally caught on to this one!!)

Via: Freepublic.com Link

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CFL last longer and use less energy for an equivalent light output.  Manufacturers tout them as very suitable for locations where changing bulbs is difficult ...  So ... the NYC Transit is using CFL in Subway tunnels.

Read on for more ...  

" ... replacing its incandescent train signaling lights with ... light emitting diode (LED) Signals. ... a 60 percent savings in energy compared with traditional incandescent light. ... improve brightness 150 percent, and they decrease greenhouse gas emissions substantially ... also have an extremely long life, which reduces landfill use and saves labor.To date we’ve replaced 47,000 of our 60,000 signal lights with LED."

" ... replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in subway stations ... When NYC Transit switched to T12 fluorescent bulbs, station lighting increased 750 percent and power consumption decreased 28 percent. An additional change to T8 bulbs kept lighting as bright as before, but reduced our energy use by an extra 26 percent."

"Compact fluorescent bulbs in this tunnel will last 7,500 to 10,000 hours. Formerly, incandescent tunnel bulbs burned for only 750 hours."

Via:  NYC MTA    Link

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How do you recycle old subway cars?  Many have already been re purposed into artificial reefs off the coasts of NY and NY.

NY City's MTA  " ... made more than 1,200 “retired “Red Bird” subway cars available to Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Delaware and New Jersey.  [for] a new purpose-- to help form artificial reefs and become habitats for marine life. After we stripped the subway cars of components that float (oils, solids, etc.) and decompose, NYC Transit steam cleaned the cars, which were loaded on barges and “buried” at sea."

Via:  NYC MTA    Link

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New York City is hosting the Greener Gadget Conference on Feb 1, 2008.  The one day event details:
 

10am - 6pm
McGraw-Hill Conference Center
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York City, NY

"... industry leaders, entrepreneurs, [and others] ... will gather to discuss the business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. ... featuring ...  consumer electronics companies ..., innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups ... and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech."

" ... will showcase revolutionary design and tech innovations that will shape the future of the consumer electronics and change your world... for the better."

• "Environmental initiatives from leading consumer electronics companies, such as take-back and recycling programs"
• "New environmentally sensitive materials, product lifecycle and design for sustainability"
• "Innovations in renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells, kinetic energy, wind and solar power"

Via:  GreenerGadgets.com  Link

Continue reading "Greener Gadgets Conference in N.Y.C. Feb 1, 2008" »

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"The Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn has just installed a 76,000-sq-ft solar roof, ... touted to be “one of the most sustainable mass transportation sites ever built in the U.S.,”..."

" ... 2,730 building integrated photovoltaic panels that create a shelter  ... panels are each 5′ by 20′, made of silicon thin-film, which is less costly to install than other solar panels because it requires minimal framing.  

"... providing 250,000 kilo-watt hours of power to the station each year, ... and ... the transparent roof of panels that lets in plenty of natural light."

Via:  Inhabitat  Link

Continue reading "Solar Subway Stop in Coney Island, NY" »

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For approx. 100 years, the custom in NYC is to watch the "New Years' Eve ball drop in Times Square to "ring in" the new year.

For 2008 (midnight on 12/12/2007) the ball was new, able to produce millions of colors ... and - energy efficient! 

" ... new solid state lighting technology ... 9,576 Philips Luxeon LEDs replaced the 600 incandescent and halogen bulbs of the previous Ball.  ... the entire Times Square Ball will be lit with approximately the same amount of electricity as it takes to power ten toasters or a single oven/range."

Via:  Time Square Alliance   Link 

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Yahoo picked 10 Cities that "in no particular order -- ...  putting residents first. That means they're obsessed with clean air and clean water, renewable energy, reliable city buses, trams, streetcars and subways, a growing number of parks and greenbelts, farmer's markets and, very important, opportunities for community involvement."

"Portland, Oregon - ... More than 30 years ago, ... tore down a six-lane expressway to make room for a waterfront park. ... set an urban growth boundary to protect 25 million acres of forest and farmland, started a solid-waste program that recycles more than half of the city's trash and erected more than 50 public buildings that meet tough standards set by the United States Green Building Council. ..."

"Austin, Texas - Home to the first Whole Foods Market ... 205 parks, 14 nature preserves, and 25 greenbelts. ... plans to meet 20 percent of its energy needs with renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2020. ... a recycling center that dates back to 1970, a dozen outdoor farmer's markets, city buses that offer free rides on 'high ozone' days and an innovative "pay-as-you-throw" trash collection program that rewards residents for being less wasteful ..."

"Boulder, Colorado - ... city planners started preserving parkland in 1898. ... more than 90 percent of residents recycle, where new water meters are not allowed above certain elevation, thus protecting ridgelines and peaks, and where, when recent federal tax cuts gutted city budgets, residents voted themselves a third sales-tax hike to raise $51 million to buy and protect even more open land."

"Burlington, Vermont - ... More than one-third of all energy used in the city comes from renewable resources, ... laws don't allow the use of pesticides on public parks, land or waterways. ... residents formed an extensive network of citizen-based groups that take on everything from environmental programs to clean up toxic sites to watchdog groups to monitor pollution in Lake Champlain. ..."

"New York, New York - ... More than 80 percent of NYC residents use public transportation,... New Yorkers burn gasoline at the rate the U.S. did in the 1920s. ... ... Per capita, New Yorkers use fewer resources and put less pressure on their surroundings than any other city of its size. ..."S

"Santa Monica, California - ... Three of every four of the city's public works vehicles run on alternative fuel, ... among the largest such fleets in the country. All public buildings use renewable energy. ... the city has cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 10 percent, ...  an urban runoff facility catches 3.5 million gallons of water each week that would otherwise flow into the bay. ..."

"Chicago, Illinois - ... has 42 green-certified building projects, with more to come. ... city's nine museums and the Art Institute ... converted to run partially on solar power. ... one-third of all residents use public transportation to get to work. ...energy goals, likely to be met, is buying 20 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources this year. ... give tax incentives to homeowners who invest in Chicago's many historic  homes and retrofit them with energy efficient heating and cooling systems, as well as water-saving plumbing. ..."

Via:  Yahoo.com  Link

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Go off the grid with your own solar powered backpack!

"... Voltaic solar bags are mobile power generators, designed to charge your devices without tying you to a power outlet .."

"Included ...is a Li Ion battery pack which stores any surplus power generated, so it is available when you need it - not just when the sun is up. ... can also be charged using an AC travel charger or car charger (both included). This makes the Voltaic bags just as useful on the grid as off."

Via:  voltaicsystems  Link 

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The ubiquitous plastic bottle of water is everywhere. 

While there are many questions about the relative merits of tap vs. bottled water such as taste, quality, etc. there are the facts that bottled water can have a significant impact on the environment:

- the petrochemicals used to make plastic bottles
- the energy used for transport; sometime across the world
- the remaining waste if not recycled.
- the depletion of local water supplies

Granted; some areas have better water than others and plastic bottles are handy (and safe) to use while traveling) but .... some major cities like Philadelphia and New York are quite proud of the taste and quality of their tap water ....  

"The City of New York is trying to persuade its people to give up bottled drinks and consume tap water instead to help protect the environment."

"City officials say their campaign will save people money, and reduce waste."

"According to environmental groups, four out of five plastic water bottles end up on landfill sites and the production process contributes to global warming. ... Distribution process sometimes involves shipping water halfway around the world."

"But the Bottled Water Association says it is unfair to single out an industry that is promoting recycling and introducing biodegradable packaging."

Via:  BBC News   Link

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... "The new standards will be phased in over a four-year period and will reduce the carbon emissions of New York City's taxicab and for-hire vehicle fleet by 50% during the next decade, and will also save individual operators an average of $10,000 a year in fuel costs. Also today, internet giant Yahoo! donated 10 hybrid taxicabs to fleet operator Team Systems in recognition of New York's leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. " ...

Via NYC: MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES TAXI FLEET TO BE FULLY HYBRID BY 2012

Posted by Green Tech at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)