The Week in Green: August 13-19, 2011

Jean Danielson

Jean Danielson

As Kermit the Frog has said, it’s not easy being green.

We at Green & Main are here to make that statement not true. Part of knowing how to make being green easier is to see the vastly different areas that are impacted by sustainable technologies and innovations.

Below is a roundup of green technology, building science and sustainability news locally grown and wherever green news happens.

***

Renewable Energy Magazine is an online magazine of nearly ten years that centers on clean energy journalism, predominantly within North America and South America. Toby Price in “Green Light for Hybrid Solar and Geothermal Project” writes of a Nevada-based project being developed by Enel Green Power. This renewable energy plant, located in Churchwater County, combines solar and geothermal power. States Price, “While solar and geothermal energy have been combined in small hybrid residential systems, the Stillwater project is the first of its kind in the US, and will make a significant contribution to achieving Nevada’s goal of generating 20% of its electricity from renewables by 2015.” To read the complete article, click here.

ConstrucTech Magazine on “Educating the Next Generation on Efficiency” writes about the Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, Colorado. The science center is a non-profit organization that provides environmental science education for schools, day camps and other groups to learn not only about the environment but about green building science. The Center is equipped with meters and energy monitoring devices so that students may have immediate feedback on energy usage. To read the complete article, click here.

GreenBuildingAdvisor.com has a podcast called Green Architects’ Lounge. The current podcast (with transcripts) is an interview with Martin Holladay. Martin talks about his off-the-grid life, how he would build a house for himself and what is on the horizon for green building technology, science and construction.

When asked about a prediction in green construction, Holladay notes, “I think what we really need to do is educate builders and designers about basic air-sealing techniques — getting the basics down, which we’re still not doing. I don’t see any whiz-bang technological inventions ahead, and I’m very bad at predicting trends. I think the only thing that will change people’s attitudes is a doubling or tripling of energy costs, which is quite possible — although I’ve said that for years and have been wrong most of the time. But if and when energy prices take another huge leap, that will change residential construction in America very quickly. But, that’s about all I’ve got for predictions.”

To read the complete article, click here.

 

– Jean Danielson is director of operations for Indigo Dawn. She looks forward to seeing the Butter Cow deep fried and on a stick at the Iowa State Fair.

Speak Your Mind

*