Apartment of the Future Will Boast Smaller Units and Green Features

The Apartment of the Future Will Boast Smaller Units, Green Features

Demographics, Not Destiny: A Look at the Design Needs of the Future Renter

• From: MULTIFAMILY EXECUTIVE 2010
• Posted on: October 7, 2010 8:13:00 PM

By:

Rachel Z. Azoff

What will the apartment of the future look like to accommodate the needs of the looming wave of Echo Boomers and Gen Y renters? Expect to see buildings in urban areas with smaller units with trendy finishes (ditch the traditional crown molding and granite countertops for the Gen Yers); plenty of green features including electric hook-ups for cars; shared amenity spaces; and less parking spaces, according to a panel of architects at the MFE Conference last week in Las Vegas.

Moderated by Sharon Dworkin Bell, senior vice president of multifamily at the Washington, D.C.-based NAHB, the panelists included Manny Gonzalez, principal of Irvine, Calif.-based KTGY Group; Mark Humphreys, CEO of Dallas-based Humphreys & Partners Architects; and John Lahey, chairman of Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

"We've reached the beginning of another boom," Humphreys said, noting an influx of 70 million active adults and this past June marking the largest high school graduating class in history with three million students. To accommodate these renters of tomorrow, Humphreys designed the eMAX multifamily concept. One such model offers four-stories over parking with 176 one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 340 square feet to 1,080 square feet. The project achieves 86.6 percent efficiency with 70 units per acre.

Smaller units are also expected to be the trend in high-rise product, as well. "High-rises have really evolved," said Lahey, whose firm specializes in high-rise design. "What does the high-rise renter want? Before they wanted privacy and security. Now, as people move from the suburbs back to the cities, they want a sense of community and plenty of amenities." In fact, smaller unit sizes allow the firm to design better amenities—everything from fully-loaded fitness centers to clubrooms and green rooftops with entertainment areas.

Lahey did warn the audience not to build units too small. "In the next cycle, as people earn more money, they will want bigger units," he said. "High-rises are up for 30-plus years so we have to be sure to think of tomorrow, too."

Gonzalez offered several tips for how to outfit smaller-sized units including installing shower stalls instead of tubs, moveable closets, and stacked washers and dryers. He also suggested partnering with nearby vendors to offer residents discounts at gyms, for instance, if space doesn't allow for an on-site fitness center.

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Upcoming Events- Wind Power America

Upcoming Events

WPA Webinars
The WPA team hosts live Webinars on a variety of themes on the third Wednesday of every month. The Webinars will be posted on the Wind Powering America Web site after the events.
Join us on November 17 at 1 p.m. Mountain Time for a discussion on wind energy ordinances and new tools being developed by WPA partners to educate local planners. Speakers include:

• Tom Tuffy, PennFuture
• Erica Heller, Clarion Associates
• David Loomis, Illinois State University.

Audio Access Information:
Toll-free #: 800-369-1845
Toll #: 1-630-395-0408
Participant passcode: 6332912
Web Access Information:
https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW8599404&p=6332912&t=c
Save the dates for future Webinars:

• December 15: Market Acceptance
• January 19: Workforce Development.

Nebraska Wind Power 2010 Conference
Kearney, NE - November 9-10, 2010
This year's conference includes three tracks, 27 sessions and presentations, and 70 wind experts, including keynote speakers James A. Walker (vice chairman of the enXco board of directors and past president of the American Wind Energy Association board) and Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy. Experts will present on wind transmission issues, wind incentives in other states, types of farmer- and community-owned wind structures, small wind, and Nebraska's rapidly expanding wind education and training opportunities.
Windustry - Community Wind across America Conferences
Windustry is hosting regional community wind networking and educational conferences. Attendees will meet and learn from experts and colleagues about practical "how to" issues including permitting; local, state, and national policies; new business models; and options for financing community wind and small wind. Two more conferences are scheduled:

• Midwest region: St. Paul, Minnesota, November 15-16, 2010
• Mid-Atlantic region: State College, Pennsylvania, February 8-9, 2011.

AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium
Phoenix, AZ - November 17-19, 2010
This event provides an opportunity to share successes and lessons learned with wind industry peers while developing and enhancing professional relationships. Exchange ideas and experiences with industry leaders through networking opportunities.
AWEA Utilities and Wind Power Seminar
Phoenix, AZ – November 17, 2010
AWEA is offering an all-day seminar on the key, critical issues facing electric utilities as they integrate more wind power into their systems.
South Dakota Wind Energy Association Annual Meeting
Mitchell, SD - November 30, 2010
Contact Steve Wegman, South Dakota Wind Energy Association, for more information. Phone: (605) 295-1221
AWEA Small and Community Wind Conference and Exhibition
Portland, OR - December 7-9, 2010
The AWEA Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition unites wind industry leaders with economic development groups, municipalities, and consumers eager to play a bigger role in the use and expansion of wind energy and its economic potential.
Please visit the WPA Events Calendar to learn about more upcoming events.


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DIY Design Assistance for Creating your Dream Home-Green and Eco Friendly

DIY Design Assistance for Creating your Dream Home
using Eco Friendly Materials that are LEED Approved
Scotts Contracting is a Certified Certain Teed Installer
After you finish with the Color View Program feel
free to contact Scotts Contracting for the Installation
of your Green and Eco Friendly Building Project. 
Click Here to email Scotty for a Free Green Estimate.

• perfect combination of products
• Vinyl Siding
• Insulation
• Roofing
• Fiber Cement Siding
• Trim
• Fence
• Railing
• Deck

ColorView helps you visualize your home by allowing you to create your own custom exterior from CertainTeed's extensive library of residential building products and colors. Creating your dream home has never been easier!

After you find the perfect combination of products, ColorView allows you to share your choices with a friend or your building professional. Your building professional can supply you with specific product information, samples and an estimate.

Choose from a variety of homes and use ColorView to mix-and-match products and colors from these product categories:

NOTE: ColorView supports all major web browsers, however, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later is recommended for optimal performance.

If required, ColorView will automatically upgrade your computer with the latest Flash Player. Should you experience a problem with the Flash Player installation, visit ColorView Troubleshooting.

If you use a pop-up blocker, it may need to be disabled. With some blockers, this can be accomplished by holding the "Ctrl" button while clicking the link.

After you finish with the Color View Program feel free to contact Scotts Contracting for the Installation of your Green and Eco Friendly Building Project.  Use the Following links and Scotty will respond asap.

Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Green and Eco Friendly Driveway Sealer Info

Can you help me find an eco-friendly asphalt driveway sealer?

Asked by Jane
Encinitas, CA

I am looking for a nontoxic, eco-friendly asphalt driveway sealer. Are there other products besides AFM Safecoat out there?

Answer

Enviroseal's LAS-320 Asphalt Sealer is a product that stands out amongst all of the other environmental asphalt sealers.

• It was recommended to me first by someone who works for a manufacturer of environmental sealants.
• It was developed for use on asphalt pavement at airports, parking lots, fuel storage areas and private driveways.
• After doing a little research, I found that it is one of the three non-coal tar, fuel-resistant sealers that is recommended for airfield pavement in a study funded by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2009.

Quoting the FAA's report:

"the material is identified as a proprietary polymeric inorganic acrylic co-polymer with two percent carbon black and is classified as a non-hazardous material by EPA. The sealer forms a molecular bond with the oxidized asphalt surface, penetrating distressed areas, such as cracks, and renders the surface impervious to water, petroleum products, and most common chemicals." (p. 7)  

The manufacturer classifies it as a low-VOC sealer (less than 70g/L) that has been tested for freeze-thaw cycles typical of a cold climate. As you live in Southern California, you will appreciate that it contains UV blockers, which will extend its life in your climate.
It is easily applied with a brush, roller or spray unit and dries in minutes. It comes with a three-year, 100% product replacement warranty.

I was also able to find a Material Safety Data Sheet, done by the Environmental Network, which recommends that rubber gloves and splash goggles be worn when applying the product.

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Scott's Contracting
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WITS Computer Give-A-Way-300 Computers to Needy Families

WITS/KMOV Partner to Help Low-Income Families Through Green Giving! Do you know a family that would benefit from the gift of a computer? Nominate them at HOLIDAY COMPUTERS - St. Louis, MO In partnership with KMOV WITS is donating 300 computers to families this holiday season. Nominations must be received by December 3, 2010, at 5:00 pm. See below for nomination qualifications. Any additional questions please call 314-382-3158. For Individuals nominating themselves or another family NOT part of an "Angel Tree" program: Last name of family and names and ages of children (if any). Include full residential address. Address/Phone of contact person for computer pickup/distribution if different. Proof of low income or government subsidy status (section 8 housing or childrens lunch assistance program does qualify). Reason family needs/wants computer - give us your story. How many computers or laptops already in household or any owned previously - and if you need training. For nominations from Non-profits, Businesses, Churches, or Groups as part of the "Angel Tree" or "Giving Tree" or "Family Adoption" program: Letter on letterhead with name of family or individual "adopted" including names and ages of children (if any). What program they qualify for in your organization. Organization's contact name, title and contact number. Family situation and why you believe they would benefit from a computer. Address/Phone of contact person for computer pickup/distribution. Send all information to: WITS attn: Holiday Computers 647 E Holly Avenue St. Louis, MO 63147 You can also fax to 314-382-1730 attn: Holiday Computers

WITS Missouri, 647 E Holly Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63147, Phone: 314-382-1650, www.WITSinc.org/St Louis WITS Illinois, 1017 Griggs Street, Danville, IL 61832, Phone: 217-442-9487, www.WITSinc.org/Danville

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Climate blogs, cable news and some inconvenient truths

Tags: bloggingClimatecommunicationmediasocial media

November 8, 2010 by SimonDonner

6

There is a storm brewing in the climate change world. Climate policy efforts are in disarray. There's a chance that the Congress, energized by new leadership that questions the scientific evidence for climate change, will hold hearings to investigate scientific practices. Climate scientists are preparing to defend their field.

Will the climate blogs help mediate this coming debate? Or amplify it?

I began thinking about this after seeing highlights from the Rally to Restore Sanity. If there is one forum that needs some sanity restoration, it is the climate blogs (science and political ones). Blogs highlight the extremes of the other side. Bloggers call each other names. Bloggers get grandiose and self-righteous.

Yes, absolutely, you can blame the medium. It is impersonal. It is easy to be extreme when the opponent is a collection of pixels and text rather than a living, breathing person. Plus, blogging only works if you have readers. And more controversy equals more page views.

But add it all up, and what do you get?

Cable news. Steve McIntrye as Bill O'Reilly? Joe Romm as Keith Olbermann? Anthony Watts as Glenn Beck? (plus a lot of folks hoping to be Jon Stewart?)

Just as political pundits focus on political maneuvering rather than actual policy debates, many bloggers focus on bashing each other rather than discussing the issues. We do so because it appears that shouting is the best way to get heard. So just as cable news channels have trended towards the extremes and trumped-up scandals to capture the dwindling audience and dwindling advertising dollars, many bloggers end up focusing on the controversies rather than the consensus in part just to stay afloat in a crowded online sea.

If you write nice, reasoned posts, you are less likely to get a gang of dedicated readers. If you insult the skeptics or question the scientists, the readers will come. Michael Tobis has been caught up recently; he wrote a very reasoned critique of misguided uncertainty discussion by another blogger – but it was the vitriol at the end that drew all the attention. The personalities become the subject. The medium becomes the... ok, a Canadian can never get far into a media conversation without quoting Marshall McLuhan. No particular person is to blame for the dynamic and no one is entirely immune. I've fallen in myself on a number of occasions.

The question we have to ask is this:

What do we hope to accomplish by blogging? Do we want to play "inside baseball", or do we want more people to pay attention to the game? I may be wrong, but I'd guess that most of the science bloggers began their blog with an aim to educate people about climate change and to foster discussion on science and policy. Sure, there's some subconscious pleas for attention and what not at work, but I'll trust that bloggers of every stripe honestly believed their blog would improve the public discussion.

Is it working? I'd argue that the escalation of tone is not expanding the conservation on climate change. Everyone in the room is just shouting louder at each other. There's no better way to alienate the broader public.

Behind the name calling and vitriol lies some neglected, one might even say inconvenient, truths.

You can think climate "skeptics" (or "alarmists") are wrong, without thinking they are evil and/or in it for the money.

You can deconstruct an argument, without abusing the source.

You can trust the scientific consensus, but not be an alarmist.

You can agree with many of Joe Romm's arguments, but disagree with his abrasive style.

You can disagree with Roger Pielke Jr. or Judith Curry most of the time, but agree with them sometimes.

You can know that the East Anglia e-mails have zero impact on the science of climate change and did not warrant one percent of the media coverage, but still be irritated with some of the scientists involved for the tone they used in a few of the messages.

You can agree with public statements by climate scientists about climate action, but think they are the wrong people to make such statements.

You can agree with the findings of a new study, but disagree that the findings are worthy of publicity.

You can trust the scientific consensus on climate change, but not believe that action is necessary. That may not be my personal judgment on the matter but I accept that the decision on climate action is about more than science.

And, yes, you can disagree with this post (and claim I've set up a straw blogger), but still give it some thought.

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

China Energy Use to Soar

China Energy Use to Soar, Driving Demand for Coal, Oil & Clean Energy Alike

Tags: Alternative EnergychinaClimateElectricity GridEnergyEnergy Collective ExclusiveEnergy SecurityFaith Birolinternational energy agency (iea)Nuclear PowerOilRenewablesSmart GridSolar PowerWind

November 10, 2010 by Jesse Jenkins

0

China's demand for energy will soar 75% by 2035, according to the latest world energy forecast from the International Energy Agency (IEA), released Tuesday. The growing economic aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese, who today use just one-third the amount of energy consumed by an average European or North American, will put pressure on global energy markets, driving demand for both clean and dirty energy alike.

Oil prices will rise to $113 per barrel (in constant 2009 dollars) by 2035, as oil producers struggle to keep pace with soaring global demand, according the IEA, the world's global energy watchdog, based in Paris.

Oil markets will remain tight through much of this period, the agency expects, writing that "short‐term price volatility is likely to remain high."

Much of the pressure on global energy markets will come from China, which will account for more than one-third of all global energy demand growth over the next 25 years, according to the IEA.

"Chinese energy demand will grow by such huge terms it will put pressure on the global energy markets in terms of oil, coal and, to a lesser extent, natural gas," said Faith Birol, the IEA's chief economist, speaking to the New York Times.

All told, the IEA expects virtually all (93%) of the increase in global energy demand will be driven by developing (non-OECD) nations. After China, the next largest driver of energy demand growth will be India, accounting for 18% of the rise in global demand by 2035.

China recently surpassed the United States as the world's largest energy user, after doubling energy consumption since 2000. And China's soaring energy demand may be the single greatest factor dominating global energy markets and driving up global oil prices and climate-destabilizing carbon dioxide emissions over the next quarter-century.

"It is hard to overstate the growing importance of China in global energy markets," says the IEA report.

But China's thirst for energy may also transform the global clean energy landscape, dramatically expanding markets for clean technologies and prompting major state investments in low-carbon energy alternatives.

So while China continues to build new coal plants at a staggering pace and purchase oil assets throughout the world, the country has also become the world's most vibrant market for renewable energy, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage technology for fossil-fueled power plants, high-speed rail, smart grid technologies, high-voltage transmission lines, and is even home to a growing domestic market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The Chinese government aims to build at least 40 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2020, and has roughly two dozen new plants under construction, the most in the world. More plants are planned, and the government may double the target for nuclear power.

The country also set targets of 100 gigawatts of wind power and 20 gigawatts of solar by 2020. Each target is supported by feed-in tariffs and other financial incentives for renewable energy projects, and in 2009, China surpassed the United States as the world's largest market for wind power.

Alongside a major expansion of alternative energy sources, China is also making substantial investments in a modern electricity grid, pouring $161 billion of the country's 2008 stimulus package into grid expansion. China's state-owned China Grid Corporation is also planning to invest $44 billion in ultra-high voltage transmission technology by 2012, making China the world's largest market for these advanced transmission lines. Meanwhile, the country has undertaken aggressive smart grid expansion projects aiming to help integrate the variable output of renewable energy sources more effectively.

When it comes to high-speed rail, China has no global contender, with plans to expand the nationwide high-speed rail network with over 8,000 new miles of track by 2012 and 16,000 miles by 2020, an effort backed by $300 billion in state funding over the next decade. In recent years, China has secured joint partnerships and technology transfer agreements with German, Canadian, French, and Japanese firms and has domesticated production of five different models of high-speed trains. Soon, China may be a global exporter of the advanced technology, even as a growing share of domestic markets are supplied by Chinese-built high-speed trains.

China's major push into clean technology markets will be backed by a planned investment of roughly $740 billion (5 trillion yuan) over the next decade, a massive outpouring of capital that could redraw the map for global clean energy markets.

"Given the sheer scale of China's domestic market, its push to increase the share of new low-carbon energy technologies could play an important role in driving down their costs through faster rates of technology learning and economies of scale," the IEA noted.

So while China's rise will push up global prices for oil and coal and increase pressures on already tight markets for fossil fuels, the country's insatiable appetite for energy may also fuel a revolution in clean technology over the coming decades.

A silver lining perhaps in the dark cloud of particulate emissions now hanging over China's notoriously polluted cities...

About the Author

Jesse is currently the Director of Energy and Climate Policy at the Breakthrough Institute where he helps develop and advance new energy solutions to power America's future, secure our energy freedom, and halt global warming. Jesse joined the Breakthrough team in June 2008 to co-direct the Breakthrough Generation Summer Fellows Program, and previously worked as a Policy and Research Associate at the Renewable Northwest Project. He is the founder and editor at www.WattHead.org - Energy News and Commentary and writes regularly at theBreakthrough.org, and his work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Grist.org, Forbes.com, and in the San Francisco Chronicle and Baltimore Sun. A full bio can be found here: http://www.thebreakthrough.org/staff.shtml#jesse

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com