New Xi Plus™ Precast Concrete Wall Systems Showcased by Superior Walls® at 2013 International Builde

             NEW HOLLAND, PA – Attendees of the 2013 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas will be able to view the newest product from Superior Walls of America, the Xi Plus^™ product line of insulated precast concrete wall systems. Custom-made for the exact needs of each project, Xi Plus panels feature superior strength and insulation for the creation of dry, warm and energy-efficient foundations. 

            Along with other Superior Walls products, the Xi Plus walls will be on display at booth N2556 during the January 22 – 24, 2013 trade show. 

            Building on the success of the popular Xi^™ walls from Superior Walls^®, the enhanced Xi Plus walls feature the additions of Dow^® THERMAX^™ reinforced polyisocyanurate insulation covering rigid foam insulation and a four-inch insulated footer beam. A four-inch standard floor slab may be poured equal to the height of the footer beam eliminating the need for an additional screed board, which saves time and money in the construction process. Xi Plus panels are now available with a built-in insulation value of R-21.3 and can be insulated up to R-42+. 

Energy-Efficient Foundations

            Top-of-the-line Xi Plus wall panels are based on the proven design of the Xi wall system and provide builders and homeowners with additional superior benefits. Each custom-made panel is manufactured to the specific needs of a project. Features include: 

• 5,000+ PSI concrete reinforced with rebar and polypropylene fibers
• Horizontal steel rebar inside top and bottom beams
• Four precast and insulated access holes in each standard stud to provide greater ease in wiring and plumbing
• Vertical steel rebar inside each stud
• Insulated corners, studs and bond beam
• Galvanized steel stud facing
• Thermally isolated/insulated from exterior 

            "All Superior Walls products are resource efficient, using up to 70 percent less concrete in a new home than conventional foundations," says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. "The custom-made walls include precast openings for windows and doors while stud facings eliminate the need for additional wood framing prior to interior finishing. Using fewer materials helps reduce the carbon footprint of the new home's construction process." 

            For homeowners, the benefits of Superior Walls foundations systems are substantial. The energy-efficient walls help lower energy costs and reduce energy leakage while providing increased living space in a comfortable setting. Builders also benefit from saved job site time and labor when certified Superior Walls installation crews set the walls in place in less than one day, so that home construction can immediately begin the following day. 

            Xi Plus wall panels provide R-values that meet or exceed energy conservation values from both the IECC and the IRC. The foundation walls can help in the construction of an ENERGY STAR^® qualified home. As a custom wall assembly, Superior Walls products contribute to the overall home insulation value and reduce air infiltration into the home, thereby making a huge impact on the overall energy efficiency rating of the home. 

Builders Earn Points

            Builders starting new home projects can earn up to 13 potential points towards National Green Building Certification when using energy-efficient Superior Walls insulated precast concrete foundation panels. Superior Walls is the first and only foundation manufacturer whose products are approved to contribute points toward certification of a building under the National Green Building Standard™. 

            The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center first awarded the Green Approved designation to Superior Walls Xi and R-5 foundations in 2009, allowing builders the chance to earn up to 10 program points towards National Green Building Certification. The organization now has approved the opportunity for builders to add three additional points for practice #903.2.2, "capillary break is added on footing" when foundation walls are set on a minimum of four-inch thick gravel beds with appropriate foundation drainage. 

            The Green Approved Products Certificate #00071 provides builders the following points for the use of Superior Walls foundation systems:

• Practice 601.2 – 3 points – Structural systems/advanced framing techniques optimize material usage.
• Practice 601.5 (1-3) – 4 points – Precut/preassembled components, panelized, or precast assemblies are utilized for a minimum of 90% of floor, wall, and/or roof system.
• Practice 607.1 – 3 points – Products containing fewer materials are used to achieve the same end-use requirements as conventional products.
• Practice 701.4.3.1 (1) – Mandatory – Insulation is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or local code. Mandatory for certification.
• Practice 903.2.2 – 3 points – Capillary break is added on footing.

Evaluated for Use in Canada

            The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) has declared that Superior Walls Xi precast concrete insulated wall panels are now evaluated for use in Canada. The evaluation report was issued on November 8, 2012 and opens the door for sales of the popular foundation system throughout Canada. 

            "We've had intense product interest from builders in Canada for many years," says Costello. "This is an exciting opportunity for us to provide Canadian builders with the top-quality foundation systems they desire. In conjunction with this product evaluation, our company will now move forward in searching for a new manufacturing facility location in Canada. Our goal is to produce Xi panels in Canada to directly supply Canadian builders with our energy-efficient foundation system." 

            Originally created in 2003 as an energy-efficient alternative to traditional foundation methods, Xi panels have revolutionized the home building industry. Available for installation year-round, the foundation panels provide warm, dry basements for homeowners - even in the harshest and coldest northern climates. 

             For more information visit www.superiorwalls.com or call 800-452-9255.

Energy-Efficient Garage Remodel Features LED Lighting from EnvironmentalLights.com

Energy-Efficient Garage Remodel Features LED Lighting from EnvironmentalLights.com

San Diego homeowners convert garage into a guest house with a focus on green remodeling and energy-efficiency

EnvironmentalLights.com, a leading source for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting, recently teamed up with local San Diego residents to complete a green garage remodel. The nonfunctional garage was transformed into a finished guest house, complete with LED lighting, energy-efficient windows, insulation, a tankless water heater, water conserving toilet and low-voltage heating/cooling unit.

"We wanted to incorporate sustainable, durable and energy-efficient materials into our garage remodel," said Justin Brown, homeowner. "By paying attention to the details and paying a little extra for the upgraded materials we knew that we would be adding resale value to our home."

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) climbed to 50 in the third quarter of 2012, up from 45 in the previous quarter. The RMI is at its highest point since the third quarter of 2005, tracking the positive trends recently seen in the rest of the housing sector.

With only 840 square feet in their 1930s-era house, the additional 320 square feet that the garage added to their living space provides them with not only an additional bathroom, but also home office and family room.

"From our initial drawings and concepts, the garage has every detail we wanted down to the custom closets and fun color-changing LED lighting" said Stacy Brown, homeowner. "The lighting and appliances also help to cut down on additional costs we may see in our utility bills."

A detached garage conversion is also a perfect way for a homeowner to make a little extra money by using the space as a rental property. In this case, the homeowners also added a private gated entrance from the driveway so future owners could consider this option.

By properly insulating the garage, adding windows and also installing an energy-efficient heating and air conditioning unit in the space, the new guest house complies with local ordinances and building codes and is guaranteed to be warm in winter and cool in summer.

Why Go Green?

The National Association of Home Builders states that the top ways to increase energy efficiency are:

• Install appropriate insulation in area to be remodeled.
• Install high-efficiency windows instead of those that minimally meet the energy code.
• Seal all exterior penetrations in areas being remodeled.
• Purchase only ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances.
• Install only low-flow water fixtures.
• Upgrade to at least an ENERGY STAR®-rated water heater, or better yet, a tankless water heater.
• Purchase the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford and make sure it is correctly sized for the area you want to condition.

 

Energy-Efficient Lighting

LED lighting was installed in the entire guest house to help save on extra energy costs - and to add a little extra flair. The LED light bulbs in the ceiling lights are wirelessly controlled by a Lutron Pico Wireless remote synced to Lutron Maestro Wireless Electronic Low Voltage dimmers. This allows the user to turn all the lights on/off or dim them from any area in guest house at the same time.

A Lutron Pico wireless remote was also synced up to the outdoor lighting so that the homeowners can turn on the lights from inside their home before walking out to the guest house.

The built-in cabinets in the laundry and wet bar area really bring the room alive with their color-changing capabilities. RGB Double Density LED strip light was installed above and below the cabinets and are controlled with an RGB LED Touch Controller.

"Everyone that visits the house loves to play with the new color-changing LED lights," said Brown. "I can't believe how energy-efficient they are. They use less than 50 watts of power!"

The LED controller allows them to use the color wheel to select any color they desire or choose one of the 11 pre-programmed modes, which includes flipping through all the colors. White light can also be created with this strip light for standard lighting use.

View a video of the color changing LED strip lighting: http://youtu.be/EdpIlvximYc

About EnvironmentalLights.com 

EnvironmentalLights.com is a leading resource for sustainable, energy-efficient LED lighting products to meet the needs of business, commercial and residential clients. Founded in 2006 by Greg and Anne Thorson, their in-house sales engineers provide expert advice in the selection and design of lighting systems, as well as technical support throughout the installation process.

EnvironmentalLights.com offers a broad spectrum of LED light bulbs, strip and rope light, under cabinet light systems, Christmas lights, dimmers, controls and necessary hardware for any lighting project.

Energy Awareness Tips

Here are some good tips for anyone living in a house – whether you own a house, rent one or are building a new home. Doors are a huge source of energy loss or, if you follow the tips below, energy savings. Enjoy!

MAUMEE, OHIO – How many times have you heard someone call out, "close the door, you're letting the cold air in!" This common refrain has been heard in households for years. Now, during October's Energy Awareness Month, experts at Therma-Tru offer tips on how to keep the cold air outside while keeping energy bills low.

"Doors are a critical part of the housing envelope, so it's important to evaluate and maintain their energy efficiency throughout the year," says Derek Fielding, senior product manager for Therma-Tru Corp. "Along with your main entry door, you have side doors, sliding and hinged doors, garage doors and doors leading from the home to the garage. That's a large number of openings that need attention to maintain energy efficiency in the home."

According to Fielding, homeowners should always purchase an ENERGY STAR® rated door for their specific geographic area. In addition, there are several ways homeowners can assure their doors are helping support the overall energy efficiency of the home, including:

Tip #1 – If you're looking for door, be sure to select one made of fiberglass. A solid fiberglass door is up to four times more energy efficient than a solid wood door, plus you get the benefits that fiberglass has to offer, including resistance to rot, rust, dings and weather. Available in an assortment of styles, Therma-Tru_® Classic-Craft_® doors can come with woodgrain for staining or a smooth surface that can be painted to accent any home design.

Tip #2 – If you're replacing an entry door and want one with decorative or privacy glass in the door or sidelites, take time to research your options. Try to select doorlites and sidelites that have triple paned glass, which helps make the entire door more energy efficient. If only a two-paned glass is available, request a Low E coating on the glass that can enhance the energy efficiency of the unit.

Tip #3 – Reach out and touch your door on both hot and cold days. If you feel the exterior temperatures on the inside surface, then your door may not have adequate insulation and you should consider upgrading it with a replacement that is more energy efficient and has an ENERGY STAR qualified rating for your geographic area.

Tip #4 – Inspect the weather stripping around all sides of every door in the home to make sure it has not worn out. On a bright day, stand inside near your door and look for daylight flowing through the door perimeter. If light is coming in, then so most likely, is external air and possibly moisture. That means it's time to determine if your foam-filled weatherstripping may have lost some of its compression, cracked or has flatted out and needs to be replaced. An easy way to determine what weatherstripping you may need and order on line is to visit the door replacements parts section of the Therma-Tru website at http://www.thermatru.com/customer-support/replacement-parts/index.aspx.

Tip #5 – Open and close your doors --- on both dry and wet, humid days. If your door fits tightly on humid days, then it's most likely leaking air on dry days. You may want to consider a high-performance door made of fiberglass to prevent this type of swelling and add more energy efficiency to your home.

Purchasing a New Door

If your older entry door serves as a leaky energy drain on your home, then it's time to invest in a new high-performance entryway. Many homeowners in the past 25 years have embraced both the energy-efficiency and beauty of durable fiberglass doors.

According to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), fiberglass products are known for their reliability, customization aspects for style design, and energy efficiency. Fiberglass doors have an abundance of features outlined by AAMA at

http://www.aamanet.org/general/1/437/fiberglass-product-reliability-and-durability.

Constructed as a complete system of components, Therma-Tru fiberglass doors are designed and engineered to work together for lasting performance, security and energy efficiency. Multi-point locking systems that engage a series of locks at several places on the frame, impact-rated decorative glass options, plus the adjustable security strike plate that withstands up to three times the force of a standard strike plate, are key factors in creating Therma-Tru's dependable entry door system.

Homeowners looking for durability in their doors can also rely on the Tru-Defense® Door System. This system maximizes the seal between the door and the frame to help keep out the damaging effects of wind and rain, while increasing energy efficiency. Within this optional upgrade system, the weatherstripping, corner seal pad, door bottom sweep and profiled sill all work together to provide a door system that can withstand severe weather conditions along with day-to-day family activity.

Homeowners interested in researching fiberglass door design options for their own homes can use the free "Door Designer" program (located at www.thermatru.com/products/door-designer/) and the "My Saved Doors" tool (located at http://www.thermatru.com/MyThermaTru).

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About Therma-Tru

Therma-Tru is the nation's leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of entryway doors. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms, and door components. The company also offers low-maintenance Fypon urethane and PVC products. Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, Therma-Tru is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security. (NYSE: FBHS). For more information, visit www.thermatru.com, www.fypon.com or call (800) 537-8827.

Images at: http://thermatru.com/news-events/media-resources/entry-door-images/

Planning a Sustainable Plantation for Wood Production

REPORT OFFERS SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND SUSTAINABLE TROPICAL WOOD PRODUCTION

FOREST PLANTATIONS ARE AMONG SOLUTIONS

WASHINGTON (Sept.4, 2012) – The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) today released a report, "Wood for Good: Solutions for Deforestation-Free Wood Products," analyzing tropical wood production's effect on deforestation and offering solutions for sustainable production. According to the report, governments and businesses must begin using sustainably established plantation forests to minimize the toll logging is taking on tropical forests.

Many of the products used every day by American businesses and consumers are made from tropical wood, including paper, furniture, building material and shipping supplies.

"The demand for tropical wood is growing globally, while more and more of the world's tropical forests are disappearing," said Pipa Elias, UCS consultant and the report's author. "It is 100 percent possible to harvest timber in the tropics profitably and sustainably. The main roadblock is a lack of political will. Businesses and consumers must demand responsibly manufactured products – giving governments and wood producers an incentive to expand sustainability efforts."

The report outlines a threefold solution. Firstly, wood producers and businesses should turn to responsible plantation forests to harvest wood. Plantation forests established on previously degraded lands should be used for wood production and sustainable forest management practices – such as protecting water and wildlife – should be followed. Plantations forests tend to grow faster than timber in natural forests and more of the wood can be harvested. Using already-cleared areas would help meet market demand for wood, while protecting primary forests. Secondly, the report also calls on governments to institute policies that make sustainable forest management practice attractive to businesses.

And finally, governments, businesses and consumers should demand products certified by programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. While these programs do not prohibit logging from old growth forests, they are the best option currently available for maintaining the profitability of the wood industry while protecting forests.

"Consumers certainly have an important role to play in safeguarding tropical forests," said Elias. "Small, everyday choices like recycling and reducing the demand for new wood absolutely help to protect tropical forests."

In addition to purchasing products that were made, packaged and transported using sustainably sourced wood, decreasing paper use at home helps reduce demand, Elias said. Consumers should buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste, swap paper towels for washcloths, pay bills electronically, and request to be removed from unwanted mailing lists.

Tropical forests are not only home to plants, animals and indigenous communities, but these habitats also purify air and water, and provide food and medicine for millions of people.

Cutting down natural forests also contributes to climate change. Tropical deforestation is responsible for about 15 percent of the world's heat-trapping emissions – more carbon pollution than the emissions from every car, truck, plane, ship and train on Earth.

"Tropical forests should be filled with the sound of howling monkeys and chirping birds, but when these resources are unmanaged, such sounds are replaced with buzzing chainsaws and falling trees," said Elias. "To reverse the damage caused by deforestation, governments and businesses must work together to integrate sustainability and profitability."

###

"Wood for Good" is the third installment in a UCS series of reports highlighting business, government, and consumer solutions for deforestation-free goods. The first report, "Recipes for Success," gave solutions for deforestation-free vegetable oils. The second report, "Grade A Choice?" examines solutions for deforestation-free meat.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world.  Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.ucsusa.org.

New Solar Products Reduce Payback Time

 ecoSolargy Launches Top-Efficiency Solar Module Lines That Reduce Payback Time by Up to Five Years 

Nanotechnology engineered panels resist buildup and guarantee maximum performance 

IRVINE, Calif. – July 24, 2012 – ecoSolargy Inc., a full service solar solutions provider, announced today the release of its Lotus, Apollo and Zeus series, the company's new high-performance solar module lines. The new series have been designed to improve customer experience by maximizing efficiency and reducing investment payback time by up to five years. In addition to providing high-quality solar products, ecoSolargy develops strategic and installation solutions to fit the business needs of contractors, project developers and building owners.

"An increasing number of businesses have begun recognizing the environmental and cost-effective benefits of going solar," said Alan H. Lee, CEO at ecoSolargy. "ecoSolargy's objective is to facilitate the use of renewable energy through the provision of reliable and affordable solar solutions. The features in our new lines embody our commitment to sustainability, quality and cost-savings for our customers."

The new high-efficiency, black-on-black Lotus solar modules come in three different wattages to fit a variety of solar projects. The Lotus panels are engineered at the molecular level using state-of-the-art nanotechnology. Unlike regular solar modules, nanotechnology-built panels have a smooth surface that prevents water, dust and dirt accumulation, making them self-cleaning, anti-fading, anti-fogging and anti-bacterial. The modules' buildup resistance improves solar energy absorption by up to six percent and increases efficiency by 35 percent over a 20-year period. This feature also eliminates the need for periodical cleaning maintenance and ensures the panels are always performing at maximum efficiency, resulting in cost savings equivalent to a three to five year decrease in payback time.

The Lotus series also offer excellent performance under low light conditions and the black aluminum frames withstand the severest environmental conditions.

ecoSolargy's Apollo and Zeus mono-crystalline photovoltaic modules come in five different wattages that adapt to many budgets and project sizes. In addition to durability benefits –including corrosion and high wind loads resistance – both Apollo and Zeus panels rank high in performance. The Zeus 300W module has the second highest PTC[i] rating out of all 300w mono crystalline PV modules in the market; the Apollo 250W module, when combined with a M215 micro inverter, delivers one of the most efficient system performances in the market.

ecoSolargy is also revamping three of its existing module lines. The Alpha, Orion and Titan series have been improved for maximum efficiency and cost-savings. All the updated panels have more power, are more efficient and ensure quicker investment payback.

ecoSolargy's photovoltaic modules are highly efficient and reliable, and are designed to fit solar projects of all scales. Each panel undergoes meticulous quality inspection, which has earned them a 99.9 percent success rate. The company's racking and inverters are provided by industry leading partners that meet strict quality requirements.

All ecoSolargy solar panels now come with a ten-year workmanship warranty, as well as a 25-year performance guarantee, and can be financed through the company's financing program.

ecoSolargy has on-hand inventory and offers manufacturer-direct pricing on all its products, regardless of the order size. For ecoSolargy products specifications, please visit www.ecoSolargy.com.

About ecoSolargy
ecoSolargy is an American-owned full solar service solution headquartered in Irvine, CA. ecoSolargy's name combines the terms ecology, solar energy and technology and reflects the company's mission—to offer the latest in solar solutions to deliver affordable, clean and renewable energy to businesses and homes striving to achieve economic sustainability. The company has evolved from being a solar (PV) manufacturer to being a comprehensive solar solutions provider to meet the expanding needs of contractors, project developers and building owners.

For more information about ecoSolargy, please visit www.ecoSolargy.com. Follow on Facebook, facebook.com/ecoSolargy, and Twitter, twitter.com/ecoSolargy.                                                                                     

Community College Retrofits Lighting with LED Tube Lights

Seesmart Embarks on $2.3 Million Lighting Retrofit of Pasadena City College
Over 34,000 LED tube lights to be installed across campus of third-largest community college in U.S.

Simi Valley, CA, USA — 7 March, 2012 – LED lighting manufacturer Seesmart, Inc. has secured a $2.3 million contract with Pasadena City College for a lighting retrofit to further its reputation as a leader in sustainability.  The retrofit will replace more than 34,000 fluorescent tube lights in campus buildings with high-efficiency, long-lasting Seesmart LED tube lights.

Pasadena City College’s anticipated LED retrofit benefits include significant energy savings of $720,000 and 3.7 million kilowatt-hours per year, and its carbon footprint will reduce by 5 million pounds per year.  Additionally, the college expects an $850,000 rebate from Pasadena Water Power for this energy-saving project.

“Pasadena City College is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in sustainability,” remarked Richard van Pelt, CFO and assistant president of Pasadena City College.  “The move to replace all fluorescent lamps on campus with LEDs represents what we are about—global leadership in everything we do.  Not only will this save more than 55 percent of electrical consumption for lighting, but it saves in manufacturing resources and disposal costs and impacts.  We start saving money on the first day the LEDs are installed, so the payback is instantaneous.”

In the course of Pasadena City College’s lighting retrofit, classrooms, offices, stairwells, parking structures, gymnasium, and mechanical rooms of 26 buildings will be converted from fluorescent to LED lighting.  The contract for this massive project was issued using the California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS). 

"Integrating Seesmart LED lighting products into Pasadena City College’s infrastructure will not only save energy, it will bring cost avoidance opportunities,” said Ray Sjolseth, President of Seesmart, Inc.  “The long lifespan of our LED products obviates the need for frequent replacement of individual lamps.  This minimizes maintenance costs and facility waste and means that on-staff labor will be available for other servicing needs.”

About Seesmart
Seesmart, Inc. is a division of Seesmart Holdings, Inc.  Seesmart, Inc. is a complete LED lighting solutions company with decades of experience in research and development, manufacturing and distribution.  Seesmart offers a broad product line to meet most commercial or residential needs and delivers a rapid ROI, high-quality products backed by up to a five-year warranty, immediate energy savings and true retrofit solutions.  For more information, please visit www.seesmartled.com.

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, expectations, intentions, strategies and beliefs regarding the future.  All statements contained herein are based upon information available to the management of Seesmart as of the date hereof, and actual results may vary based upon future events, both within and without the control of the management, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
 
Management does not take any responsibility to update the contents of this News Release in case new aspects arise or new conditions change the facts available.

Greenblock Insulated Concrete Forms

Greenblock Insulated Concrete Forms: More Than Energy Efficient and Resistant to Forces of Nature

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Habitat for Humanity is well-known for developing affordable housing, but its design and construction volunteers are also finding job sites fun as they learn how to build more sustainably with insulated concrete forms (ICF).

“One of the things I like with the product is our people enjoy their time on the job site,” said Habitat for Humanity of Seminole County’s Executive Director Penny Seater. “I just think there are so many plusses for our families and our volunteers,” she said.

The reduced weight of the forms during assembly means, there are less fingers smashed compared with other construction materials, and a lot fewer sore muscles, as well as less overall volunteer safety concerns for Habitat Seminole.

Greenblock Worldwide, LLC, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., was the manufacturer chosen for the Insulated Concrete Forms for two recently completed single-family, green and affordable homes for Habitat of Seminole County.

These homes are located in the Central Florida neighborhood of Altamonte Springs. John Riddle, Greenblock’s LEED Accredited Professional and Southeast Territory Manager, was present from pre-construction to final punch list, offering the project’s volunteers both technical and moral support.

The two homes were built side by side each with 1,556 sq. ft. of Greenblock ICF wall, one to the Florida Green Building Coalition’s (FGBC) green building rating system and one to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED rating system. The LEED Home is anticipated to achieve Gold certification. Greenblock 2-4-2/4 inch core product was installed. The designer was Baker Barrios Architects, Inc., and the structural engineer was JHR Consultants, Inc.

Riddle, who serves as chairman of the USGBC’s Central Florida Chapter, and his chapter’s volunteers donated many hours of sustainable design and construction consulting time to the project team.  The structures are Habitat Seminole’s first LEED and FGBC registered projects. Nearby Evergreen University provided many of the volunteer ICF installers on one of the homes while local Habitat Seminole volunteers rolled up their sleeves to build the other one.

Once the households were occupied during the summer of 2011, the new home owners reported more than a 75 percent drop in utility bills compared to their last residences, going from over $400 per month to less than $100 electricity bills.

“That’s a tremendous savings,” said Seater, adding: “In low income housing, lower utility bills can be the difference between food on the table or not.” Deeper savings can be achieved with lower insurance costs due to reduced property damage during natural disasters in an ICF home.

In Florida, termites and hurricanes are also concerns but with Greenblock walls those worries are gone as well, she noted. A Greenblock ICF wall has a solid concrete core providing a hurricane, tornado, and seismic resistant home.

Numerous savings were recognized with Greenblock ICF, including time of construction because it can be installed faster than concrete blocks or wood frame construction methods. The ease of fitting blocks together and factory produced pre-engineering means less construction site waste. Furthermore, furring strips are built-in from the inside and outside; the self-contained vapor barrier eliminates the need for a house wrap.

You can even downsize the HVAC system for additional savings up front and for the long-term as less cooling cycles are required by the unit and that lowers utilities cost while providing less ongoing worn parts to replace and an overall longer life span for the heating and cooling units.

Greenblock President Jimmy Myrick explained the speed and ease of building with Greenblock ICFs helps affordable housing project developers achieve very efficient design and construction schedules while reducing the need for job training.

“These recent projects provided Habitat’s volunteers with a fulfilling experience as they learned how to work with a new wall system with just a few hours of training,” Myrick said. He added, “This helps Habitat keep its volunteers working on schedule and until the home is completed, plus they often come back for the next project.”

It is a relative quick construction method, the team can put up the home in a very short time. When using volunteer time, this is a very important factor, since most have other jobs and are available for short periods of time; therefore getting the home finished quickly also helps retain volunteers.

In fact, Seater said the next home they build is scheduled for ground breaking in January 2012 and will utilize the Greenblock ICFs which weigh approximately 3 pounds. The future homes will be following the same design executed on the Altamonte Springs homes, including installation of Greenblock ICF walls, as Habitat Seminole strives to replicate the same sustainable building performance with volunteers from nearby religious institutions and many satisfied helpers returning.

As the green initiative continues to gain ground with homeowners it is projected that when these homes sell they will be in greater demand for their safety, savings and sustainability. Your home is your castle and the new homeowners plan on being there for a long time. Building with Greenblock means the home will outlast any other method of construction out there.

 

HVAC Motors Can Be More Efficient

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) — Energy efficiency efforts tend to focus on things such as lighting and insulation. But, in fact, motors that run heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are the largest user of energy in buildings.

At the same time, motor related efficiency requirements are relatively lax. There is no independent verification of motor efficiency, the equivalent of cutting out the Environmental Protection Agency and allowing car makers to say how many miles per gallon their vehicles get.

Sadrul Ula, who is research faculty at the University of California, Riverside's Bourns College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), is trying to change that. He recently received a $385,000 grant from the California Energy Commission to evaluate the efficiency of HVAC motors in building through testing on-site and in a soon-to-be built facility at CE-CERT.

"Everyone turns off lights or bathroom fans," said Ula, who is also managing director of the Winston Chung Global Energy Center at CE-CERT. "But, no one turns off motors. The awareness is not there."

In recent years, large-scale clean energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, have generated many headlines, pushing energy efficiency efforts to the side. But those relatively simple energy efficiency steps can have a large impact. A 2009 report by McKinsey & Company found the United States could reduce annual energy consumption by 23 percent by 2020 by deploying energy efficiency measures.

In California, nearly 47 percent of electrical energy consumption was used by commercial buildings. Motors that create that energy tend to operate at 5 to 10 percent below optimal efficiency, Ula said. Increasing that efficiency can have enormous implications.

To view full press release and downloadable illustration and photo visit: http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/3078

Largest Solar PV Install in the World

New York skyscraper uses MAGE POWERTEC PLUS modules 50 stories above ground; 122.4 kW system also largest in Manhattan.

Dublin (Georgia), February 07, 2012. – MAGE SOLAR, part of the globally operating MAGE GROUP, announced that its MAGE POWERTEC PLUS modules are part of a 122.4 kW rooftop PV-installation in Manhattan. The solar array is at the elevation of 737 feet, making the building the tallest in the world with a solar PV-installation on its roof.

The installation on top of the 50-story commercial building in the heart of Manhattan was recently completed using highest-performance MAGE POWERTEC PLUS modules. With their industry-leading 30-year 80% power output guarantee, they are a highly visible, long-term commitment to corporate sustainability and additionally a sound financial investment and innovative business model as well. Since MAGE SOLAR modules exclusively feature positive tolerances (0 to +5 Watts) the system will produce with optimal efficiency for a maximum amount of time.

"MAGE SOLAR is proud to be part of this enormously exciting project," says Joe Thomas, President and CEO of MAGE SOLAR USA. "Whenever a company decides to add sustainability and innovative technology into their business plan, there are economic drivers behind it as well. With MAGE SOLAR's premium performance modules the owners are guaranteed maximum power efficiency and yield for the longest amount of time. But this innovative PV-installation also proves the great adaptability of solar PV systems, be it a homeowner's roof in the countryside, utility-scale trackers, or almost 1,000 feet above the ground in the middle of one of the most exciting cities in the world, solar works everywhere in America."

Photo Caption: The MAGE POWERTEC PLUS modules are part of this 122.4 kW rooftop array. At an elevation of 737 feet from the ground, this is the world's tallest building with a solar PV-array on top of it. © Vanguard Energy Partners

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MAGE SOLAR – The Sun on Your Side
MAGE SOLAR USA, headquartered in Dublin, Georgia, specializes in complete solar systems and provides high-quality photovoltaic modules, intelligent mounting systems and high-performance brand inverters. As a subsidiary of the international MAGE GROUP, it uses the Group's 40 years of know-how to develop optimally coordinated system solutions. A competent partner network guarantees profitable solar energy systems for customers throughout the Americas and in fourteen more countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

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