Fresh AIRE

Quick and Easy Money - AND ENERGY - Savers!

The Alliance to Save Energy recently shared "Five Energy Savers for $15 or Less."  These items are not just sure energy savers, but they are cheap and easy too!  Whether you're a novice or an expert fixer-upper...check em out! 

Keeping Up with the Latest Trends

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its latest national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory.  While this 463-page document makes for an easy, breezy beach read, we thought we’d touch on some of the key points…

 

• In 2008, total U.S. GHG emissions were about 6,960 Tg carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalents.  There’s some good news and bad news here.  The bad news is that since 1990, emissions have risen 14%.  The good news is that since 2007, emissions have declined 3%.  (This decline is thought to be due to the rather pricey gasoline costs we saw in 2008.  Also, electricity demand decreased in 2008, due to the increase in the cost of fuels used to generate electricity.)

 

• In 2008, total sequestration in the U.S. (what we, for lack of a better term, ‘sucked up’) was 940 Tg CO₂.  This sink represents an offset of 14% of total GHG emissions in 2008.  This sequestration came mainly from our forests – even those in urban places like Arlington, so hug a tree near you! 

 

• By source category (as established by the International Panel on Climate Change), energy-related emissions (those related to stationary and mobile energy), accounted for 86% of the country’s total emissions.  About 84% of this energy came from fossil fuels.

The report is also full of interesting source and sink trend data for specific GHG for those of you more partial to methane or nitrous oxide.  (Hydrofluorocarbons, anyone?).  It also provides detailed graphs and tables for those of you who prefer a more visual approach, and breaks emissions down by source category, as well as economic sectors. 

 

Though certainly not a quick read (okay, so maybe not bedtime story material), this report contains invaluable data and it’s certainly worth checking out the still-very-detailed executive summary. This should give you a good idea of the latest trends in GHG emissions.  Enjoy!

 

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads10/US-GHG-Inventory-2010_ExecutiveSummary.pdf

Green Home in Westover Earns LEED Platinum

As architecture and construction become more and more green, residential buildings that significantly reduce energy use and incorporate other environmentally friendly features will hopefully become more common in our urban areas. One builder in Arlington has created an innovative and effective green home in a residential neighborhood in the Westover neighborhood.

Builder Patty Shields of Metro Green Home built the home depicted in the drawing here. It is the first home in Virginia to receive a LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

This home was built on an odd-shaped lot that had not previously been built on. Due to its unusual triangular shape and small size, it required zoning waivers for setbacks and other requirements. As part of the overall project, Ms. Shields renovated the farmhouse next door, also incorporating significant green practices in order to gain approval from the county to develop this lot.

This house incorporates a modern architectural palette, which is in contrast with the ubiquitous colonials surrounding it. Roger Lewis of the Washington Post recently wrote an article discussing modern architecture for residential construction, which is generally shied away from for a number of reasons he mentions--particularly risk aversion to change. In this case, I believe the builder has been sensitive to the community, created a more modern home while pushing the envelope a little toward integrating more modern ideas into traditional neighborhoods. More significantly, she took a holistic approach towards the sustainability aspects of the house, incorporating better design, materials, systems and components in from the very beginning (for details and lots of photos, see her web site).

The home is also located in a walkable neighborhood one block from a bus line that serves Metrorail and about a 20-minute walk to the East Falls Church metro stop. The earlier in the process sustainability is brought in, the more effective and less expensive it is to incorporate. Intelligently designed green construction can cost very little extra or sometimes no more than traditional building, and energy cost savings virtually always swamp any additional costs. Getting local governments to put more muscle into residential construction programs could be a very effective way to make environmental progress.

Arlington has developed a Green Home Choice program to try to encourage builders to incorporate more sustainable practices in their new homes. However, it offers very little incentive: the only real one (and minor at that) is front-of-the-line plan review. Everything else is just informational or promotional. Commercial buildings, on the other hand, can receive significant density increases by meeting LEED certification levels. That said, Arlington's web site claims that they are reviewing the Green Home Choice program.

Montgomery County has taken a different tack. In 2008 they passed legislation that would require all new homes built in the County, starting this year, to meet ENERGY STAR requirements. However, the County Energy Code has not been updated to reflect this, nor does the MoCo Department of Environmental Protection mention it on their web site. DC also incorporated new energy codes in January of this year, but has no specific residential construction program. Nor do Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince George's Counties, as far as I can tell. New construction is down due to the current economic conditions. That might make this the best time to develop effective new building programs, so that they are in place and operating when new construction picks back up.

The home featured here at 5803 16th St. N. in Arlington sold last July for $1,175,000
-------------------------------
Steve Offutt previously worked at EPA on its ENERGY STAR programs

Community Energy Plan Town Hall - April 17th

I'm sure you saw our recent post about our Community Energy Plan project that launched back in January.  Now is YOUR TIME to get involved!

Don't miss the county's first Community Energy Town Hall meeting on April 17th!  Mark you calender now and plan to attend this historic event.  Do you have an opinion on energy intensity of local food, how your condo can go green,  how sustainable redevelopment can occur in Crystal City or Columbia Pike, or maybe you have other opinions to share.  

WE WANT YOUR INPUT and plan to facilitate the discussion at the upcoming April 17th meeting.

The Community Energy Plan project will establish energy goals and strategies for the entire County. This project will ultimately result in an energy plan that addresses the places where we use energy in our community – in homes, shops, offices, public buildings and other institutions – and offer strategies to:

• Enhance Arlington’s economic competitiveness
• Ensure reliable and affordable energy supplies
• Demonstrate the County’s long-term commitment to environmental responsibility

The process for developing the Community Energy Plan includes two equally important elements:

• Community Dialogue: Arlington will host two Community Town Hall Meetings in 2010 to give Arlingtonians a chance to share their thoughts on energy challenges and opportunities in our community.
• Community Energy and Sustainability (CES) Task Force: County Board Chairman Jay Fisette convened a group of local energy and business leaders to form this task force. Together, with the input of the community, County staff and a consulting partner, Task Force leaders will recommend short and long term energy goals and identify actions needed to meet these goals. The Task Force meets every other month and each meeting is open to the public.   

  

For more information please visit the following resources:

• CLICK HERE to view the invitation to the Community Energy Town Hall Meeting
• WHEN: Saturday, April 17 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• WHERE: Washington-Lee High School, Commons Room, 1301 N Stafford St; Arlington, VA 22201 

• Arlington County Community Energy Plan Website