This week in Jetson Green Energy News, studies show the benefits of green and sustainable building, assistance is being provided to Hurricane Sandy victims for energy-efficient solutions, Walgreens is building a net-zero store, a California city may require solar on new homes, the U.S. government wants your opinion about LEED, and a new feature to this column: upcoming green events.
New Study Identifies Benefits of Sustainably-Built Schools
A recently released study from McGraw-Hill Construction, which can be downloaded for free, reveals that faculty and students who work and attend schools that have been built with sustainability goals in mind are healthier and happier. According to the New and Retrofit Green Schools SmartMarket Report (2013), students are more attentive, get better grades, and have higher attendance rates.
New Report Details Benefits of Green Buildings
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has released its new report, The Business Case for Green Building: A Review of the Costs and Benefits for Developers, Investors and Occupants, which analyzes the costs and benefits of building green, demonstrating the operational cost savings that can be recouped from investments, including increased productivity in workplaces. It can be downloaded for free from the WorldGBC website.
Low-Income New Yorkers Can Get Free Energy-Efficient Services
A new program from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) EmPower New York program, with the help of Queens non-profit, Community Environmental Center (CEC), will help low-income homeowners in Staten Island, and other New York areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, to obtain “insulation, heating system upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, carbon monoxide testing, the replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers with high-efficiency models, and strategic air sealing.”
Largest U.S. Drugstore Chain to Build Net Zero Store in Illinois
With the goal of becoming the United States’ first store to consume no more energy than it can produce, Walgreen Co. is demolishing a twenty-year old store in Evanston, Illinois, and recycling a vast majority of the structure to build a net-zero energy replacement towards an effort “to reduce energy usage by 20 percent across all of its more than 8,000 stores by 2020.” Over 800 solar panels will be installed on the roof and additional energy will be generated by two wind turbines.
Lancaster Mayor Wants Every New Home in the City to Install Solar by 2014
A new law is in the works for the city of Lancaster, California that will modify its residential zoning requirements with a variety of provisions for green building, include the specification that new construction on single family homes include solar energy systems.
United States Federal Government May Abandon LEED Standards?
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has opened up the floor for comments from the public regarding a recommendation on green building rating systems to encourage federal agencies to make individual decisions about which rating system to use: LEED, Green Globes, or the Living Building Challenge. The comment period ends on April 6, 2013 at www.gsa.gov/gbcertificationreview.
Mark Your Calendars for these Upcoming Green Events
11th Annual New York State Green Building Conference 2013: Hosted by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – March 11-12, 2013 at new SUNY-ESF Gateway Building
Sustainability in Packaging 2013: Driving Innovation through the Supply Chain – March 13-15, 2013 in Orlando, Florida
ENR FutureTech West: Technology Innovations in Design and Construction – March 14, 2013 in San Francisco, California
Impact Investing Summit 2013: Increase Involvement in Impact and Sustainable Investments – March 14-15, 2013, in Huntington Beach, California
Compostmodern Resilience: DESIGN TO IMPROVE SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT – March 22-23, 2013 in San Francisco, California
Tenth Annual AltBuild Expo: Alternative Materials and Design Expo – May 10-11, 2013 in Santa Monica, California
Pacific Coast Builder Conference (PCBC) 2013: The Art, Science + Business of Housing – June 5-6, 2013 in San Diego, California
Got news or events that you want to see reported here? Fill out the contact form and select “Submit a tip” or “Submit a press release” and ask that it be directed to Lynne.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
The World’s Greenest Commercial Building Now Leasing for Spring 2013 Opening
New Venue for Solar Decathlon 2013
Energy Efficiency is Pervasive These Days
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