Go green with your building project

– How to build your green building business –

In the building industry, green business is the only good news that is left for the consumers. Are you a promoter who is looking for constructing buildings and still struggling within the sluggish market conditions? Though traditional buildings may no more seem to be a hot cake anymore, you must try your luck in going green. Sustainable business firms can boost your profits as it has been said that getting into green building can certainly boost your income during tough economic times. Here are some green home building tips that you must consider if you're interested in going green with your building.

1. Do enough research: Every salesman wants to know about the most important skill that he may need in order to make extra profits. You have to make a market research so that you get to know what the actual things are that are needed in order to boost their profits. See what your competitors are doing so that you may get an idea regarding your faults and try to make your weaknesses your strengths.

2. Know what is selling in the market: The recession has got a very diverse impact on every part of the economy and you must make sure that you clearly know what are the products that are selling in the market so that you may comprehend the inabilities of the market and the according steps that you're supposed to take in order to make the most out of the market situations.

3. Specialize in the subject: When you're looking for ways to start off with green home building, you must always make sure that you specialize in this particular field so that you do not fall short of ideas that can make your building a sustainable one. You must get to know all the details that can help you with the business project and make you earn better returns.

4. Get yourself certified: After you have all the plans in your head, you need to get yourself certified and getting the Green Advantage certificate is a necessity. Remember that doing green things doesn't make your house green and thus you have to be a witty and a better builder in order to be a true green builder.

Therefore, if you're planning a sustainable home building project, make sure you follow the tips mentioned above. Every bank and financial is adopting green methods so as to save money and energy. Green building is an important way of handling your talent and using it to its best.

 Article by: Mr Peter Harper

Regards,
Peter Harper
Marketing Head & Editor
Chicago, Illinois – 60607, USA
Phone :  9167458161
Skype name : peterharper99
mail : peterharper99@gmail.com

Guest Post provided by Scotts Contracting

Monitoring Clouds in Real Time; SUNPATH Solicitation; and Standards and Conformity Conference

On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 6:47 AM, DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program <eere@service.govdelivery.com> wrote:

One of two new Total Sky Imagers at Copper Mountain Solar captures a nearly cloudless day in Nevada. Credit: Sempra                 Fast Fact Survey on 2011 Financed Projects Deadline Today NREL is seeking input from energy developers and financiers as part of an ongoing effort to collect and share quantitative data on renewable energy financing terms, and to assess barriers to renewable energy development. The current Renewable Energy Finance Tracking Initiative questionnaire—for projects financed during the first half of 2011—is available online through August 18.

New Sky Imagers Monitor Cloud Activity in Real Time  One DOE collaboration has resulted in the deployment of two Total Sky Imagers (TSIs) at the Copper Mountain Solar power plant in Boulder City, Nevada. TSIs are the latest technological innovation in the solar resource assessment arena and are designed to capture real-time cloud activity to manage variability and inform solar plant operations. The work is part of DOE's SunShot Initiative which is a collaborative national effort to make solar energy technologies cost-competitive with other forms of energy by reducing the cost of solar energy systems by about 75% by the end of the decade. During the last year, the DOE solar resource team has collaborated with the California ISO, FirstSolar, University of California at San Diego, Sempra, and the California Energy Commission to provide expertise on solar resource assessment. The collaborative team plans to calculate historical solar forecasts and develop a real-time solar forecasting model for the facility in 2012.  SUNPATH Targets Industrial-Scale Demonstration  DOE is requesting applications for an industrial-scale demonstration of photovoltaic (PV) module, cells, substrates, or module components. Part of the SunShot Initiative, SUNPATH (Scaling Up Nascent PV AT Home) will demonstrate lower cost targets over the next 2 years and enable the path to solar energy systems that are cost competitive with other energy sources. Learn more about the SUNPATH financial opportunity. Solar Conference on Standards and Conformity Assessment On September 15-16, 2011, in San Francisco, California, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is hosting an event on standards and conformity assessment for solar technologies. Conference topics include policy frameworks in support of solar technology, standards development, navigating regulatory frameworks, solar technology deployment, and APEC trade. Register today.

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Future Fighters

 Sustainable Living Education at Unity College

Say the words, "renewable energy" or "sustainable living" to the average person on the street, and you are liable to get a furrowed brow, and a cobbled together response about the environment and solar energy.  Most people have a vague idea of what those terms mean, but very little understanding of how those terms can apply to their daily lives.  A growing number of people, however, are beginning to recognize the importance of actively seeking out forms of renewable energy and ways to lower humanity's impact on the Earth.  A number of these people are young men and women in their late teens and early 20s, who, unlike generations before them, recognize that if they do not care for the planet, it might not be able to sustain the lives of their future grandchildren.  This generation of young environmentalists are actively seeking ways to understand and positively alter the world around them.  Enter Unity College, a small liberal arts college in Unity, Maine that is wholly dedicated to the study and practice of sustainable living.

Unity College was founded in 1965, and is tucked away in a small community surrounded by a lake, lots of trees, and not much else.  The 500 students and 60 staff members of Unity College like this relative isolation, as they are free to experiment, innovate, and create on the 225 acres of farmland that make up the campus.  The school is invested in sustainable living and environmentally sound practices from the ground-up, utilizing low-impact housing, solar energy, growing their own food, and helping all students retrofit their cars to run on grease from the dining hall, among other initiatives.  The college recently opened its first Passive House dorm facility and they are committed to going carbon neutral as well.  Rather than a standard orientation experience, relaxing in catnapper recliner in the lounge and doing the occasional "community building" activity, first year students spend a week in the woods together, hiking, camping, and discussing environmental issues as they apply to the region where they will be spending their next few years.  They perform trail maintenance, do research, and began to formulate a more concrete idea of the direction they hope to take their studies while at the school.

The academic program is wide-ranging, and more majors are being offered each year.  There are currently 22 majors at the school, along with study abroad, Outward Bound, and seasonal law enforcement options for those seeking a career in park ranger service.  The school also offers certifications in a number of wilderness preparedness and survival skills.  Courses of study at Unity include, Wildlife; Wildlife Biology; Wildlife Conversation; Adventure Education Leadership; Adventure Therapy; Parks, Recreation, and Ecotourism; Sustainable Design and Technology; Teaching and Learning; Agriculture, Food, and Sustainability; Aquaculture and Fisheries; Forestry; Landscape Horticulture; Marine Biology; Captive Wildlife Care and Education; Conservative Law Enforcement; Ecology; Environmental Writing; Environmental Science; Environmental Policy and Law; Environmental Education; Environmental Biology; Environmental Analysis; and Ecology.

The need for people versed in environmentally conscious practices is growing, and consequently,Unity College alumni have gone on to quite successful careers in a number of environmentally related fields, including serving as resident biologists, resource analysts, educational and environmental directors, forestry technicians, and a host of other positions as related to sustainable living.  One of the few colleges of this type in the world, Unity College is devoted to creating a generation of men and women who consider the environment as important as turning a profit.

Call for Entries Extended! Artwork, Architectural Designs, Community Projects Sought for Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region

On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM, USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter <usgbc-stl@mobot.org> wrote:

Call for Entries Extended to September 16! MULTIPLE  APPROACHES ACCEPTED Visual Art Architecture & Design Community Projects MORE INFORMATION Download the Prospectus JOIN USGBC Join us in our efforts to transform the built environment! Chapter Membership National Membership Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region An art exhibit presented by the St. Louis Artists' Guild & USGBC-Missouri Gateway Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region is an all-encompassing, all-media exhibition exploring where we stand, as a culture of consumption, and where we may be headed in the future.  Examples of artwork illustrating the biggest consumers and the best conservationists is currently being sought.    Several different approaches to the themes of consumption, conservation, and sustainable living will be included in this exhibition: VISUAL ART: Artwork in all media dealing with themes of sustainability, consumption, environmentalism, and green living. Paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, video and film, installations...all are accepted. This is an opportunity to explore the concept of sustainability through an artistic lens.     ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN: Architectural and design projects within the St. Louis region that are examples of sustainable design. Both real projects and speculative ones are accepted. Submitted work can be displayed in our galleries as photographs, architectural and conceptual drawings, models and videos.     COMMUNITY PROJECTS: Grassroots and community projects that seek to create more sustainable lifestyles within the St. Louis region. Can be documented with photographs, videos, drawings/sketches, etc.  This exhibition is juried by Chris Jordan.    CD SUBMISSIONS DUE:  September 16, 2011 · 5 pm   OPENING RECEPTION:  Friday, November 11, 2011 · 6-8 pm   EXHIBITION ON VIEW:  November 11- January 6, 2012   Click here for more information! "Sustainability 2011 Award" Will Honor Three Artists The "Sustainability 2011 Award," conceived by USGBC-Missouri Gateway for this premier exhibition, recognizes architecture as art and artists as champions of sustainability. Three participating artists will be honored with the "Sustainability 2011 Award," based on their expression of sustainability in the following categories: Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Innovation & Design Regional Priority Awareness & Education These award criteria have been adapted from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system developed in 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council.   The "Sustainability 2011 Award" is not a commentary on the artistic or purely aesthetic value of the artwork. The focus, instead, is on the artwork as an expression of sustainability efforts and opportunities.

US Green Building Council - St. Louis Regional Chapter | 3617 Grandel Square | St. Louis | MO | 63108

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September is full of Surprises - Local Events not to Miss

Donate Now   Become A Member   Volunteer      Follow us on:     Facebook       Twitter     Upcoming Events and Call for Volunteers    Do not miss out on some of these first-time ever events. Stay active and involved.   *All listed events are in the St. Louis, Missouri area   Audubon Center at Riverlands & the Missouri Botanical Garden Premier "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our Time" Friday, August 26 from 6:30pm Missouri Botanical Garden, Monsanto Hall 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110 Movie begins at 6:30pm with a cocktail reception following at 8:00pm. Cost: $20 per person.   Delmar Loop's First Annual ChalkFest Saturday, September 3 from 9:00am-5:00pm Delmar Loop MCE will be having a Chalk-Off Contest featuring local artists asked to 'chalk-out' an interpretive design of an environmental issue. Enter into the contest or forward flyer. Either way, do not miss this first time event. Children uner the age of 12 can join in on the fun at Chalk Land. To volunteer, email dfarrand@moenviron.org.   MCE will do LIVE Debate with Ameren on "Nuclear Risks" Tuesday, Septmeber 6 from 7:00pm-9:00pm Ethical Society in Clayton MCE's very own Ed Smith will debate a representative from Ameren about the risks of nuclear power. The second hour is dedicated to questions from the audience. Learn more about the economics of nuclear power. We need 2-3 volunteers so please email showmenoswip@gmail.com to volunteer. Follow on Twitter and Facebook    Earthtones Festival Saturday, September 17 from Noon-10:00pm Alton, IL Riverfront Amphitheater Join the celebration of Illinois Watersheds through education, recreation, and conservation. To volunteer, email bawalker@hotmail.com.   Green Homes and Green Health Festival Saturday, September 24 from 9:00am-5:00pm Missouri Botanical Gardens Bring your home improvement ideas and talk with over 100 green product and service exhibitors. Enjoy local foods and live music, yoga, Tai Chi, and solar car races. Take advantage of free health screenings and shop the Green Marketplace. To volunteer, email dfarrand@moenviron.org.     Save the Date: Poured - A Taste of Space Friday, September 30 from 5:30pm-8:30pm Space, LLC Architecture Firm MCE's 2011 Wine and Cheese Event in St. Louis, Missouri. Join us the Coalition for a night of delicious wine and cheese tasting, wine appreciation sessions, live music, auction and more.  Get your tickets now.

Missouri Coalition for the Environment | 6267 Delmar Blvd., Ste. 2E | St. Louis | MO | 63130

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EPA News: Grant of $30,000 to Help Chemical Facilities in MO Comply with Regulations

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

 

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

Grant of $30,000 to Help Chemical Facilities in Missouri Comply with Regulations

 

Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

Environmental News

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 9, 2011) - EPA has awarded the Missouri State Emergency Agency (SEMA) $30,000 to assist with outreach, education and implementation of the Clean Air Act's Risk Management Program. All chemical facilities that handle, process or store a threshold quantity of 500 to 20,000 pounds of regulated chemicals are subject to EPA's chemical accident prevention requirements.

 

"This grant is part of an ongoing effort to protect human health and the environment by preventing chemical accidents," said Karl Brooks, regional administrator. "SEMA is receiving this funding to conduct on-site audits at chemical facilities in Missouri."

 

The grant is designed to identify chemical facilities that have not reported under this regulation and enhance communications with state agencies and regulated facilities. Facilities were first required to be in compliance with the Risk Management Program in 1999. EPA then started facility inspections and enforcement of the program, which includes five components: hazard assessment system, management, accident prevention, emergency response and submittal of a risk management plan.

 

EPA's chemical accident prevention regulations cover approximately 140 hazardous chemicals including anhydrous ammonia, chlorine and highly flammable substances such as propane.

 

# # #

 

Learn more about chemical accident prevention

 

Learn more about the risk management program

 

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

 

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

 

 

View all Region 7 News Releases

 

 

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A haunting look at the future of radioactive waste

Share  Join List  Videos Twitter  Website Donate "Into Eternity" - A haunting look at the future of radioactive waste Into Eternity, is a mind-bending film that explores the utter impossibility of storing nuclear waste for 100,000  - or even one million - years. It is, on the one hand, a documentary about the Onkalo storage facility presently under construction in Finland, and on the other hand, a startlingly beautiful work of art and an urgent provocation that ponders the question of who – or what – will remain on this earth when that time frame has elapsed. Beyond Nuclear is proud to announce that we are the non-theatrical NGO distributor of Into Eternity, hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a rare hybrid: an information-packed documentary crossed with an existential art film . . .  one of the most provocative movies of the year." We invite you to collaborate with us – and our partner, Specialty Studios – to screen this important film in your community – whether at a house party or at a larger public venue. Please log on here to learn more about screening the film and the resources available to you. Please also contact us directly at info@beyondnuclear.org, to let us know you will be showing the film, so that we can provide you with our materials, any talking points needed and, if desired and feasible, a speaker. As The Guardian critic, Peter Bradshaw asks: "Why isn't every government, every philosopher, every theologian, everywhere in the world discussing Onkalo and its implications?" Thanks for taking action. And please also consider making a donation to Beyond Nuclear today. Your support will help us build a grassroots movement to close dangerous nuclear plants and create a safe energy future for our children. Thank you for working with us for a nuclear-free world. The Beyond Nuclear Team www.beyondnuclear.org

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