Posts Tagged ‘renewable energy’

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Jun

1st

Green Jobs Rise as Sustainable Building Increases


resized_green_construction_sustainable_buildingIn the Energy Policy Examiner, Clifford Bryan writes about the many green jobs that are showing up as sustainable building practices increase demand for green construction workers.

The factors that differentiate “green” construction derive from a new set of expectations relating to structures and their function. Green buildings aim to maximize efficiency in their use of water, energy and other resources, to minimize waste, pollution, or other contributions to environmental degradation, and to create environments that contribute to health and productivity.

The Green Jobs Guidebook (Environmental Defense Fund 2008), thought by many to be the definitive green jobs report to date, lists 41 job classifications directly related to green building. Among them: Green Building Project Design and Development; Green Building Design and Engineering; Green Building Operations; Energy Efficiency Services and Installation. Other green jobs that relate to construction include: Solar Power Installation; Maintenance, Development and Manufacturing; Wind Power Installation; Geothermal Operation and Development; Plant Environmental; Health and Safety Facility Positions; Environmental Consulting; Municipal Waste Treatment and Recycling.

In addition to new methods and materials, the culture of the green construction site can be different. According to Bill Stough, “maximizing energy efficiency and material efficiency so there is less waste being generated on a construction site – the waste that is generated on the construction site is reused to the maximum extent possible.” For example, deconstructing a building in preparation for new construction is another aspect of high performance building standards that requires special training. Recycling of building materials and debris left over from clearing the site earns points for green building certification through programs such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. In addition, secondary jobs are created in the marketing of the refuse – jobs for processing the material and making it ready for use in other, less valuable products, called “downcycling”

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May

30th

Cool House Tour June 6-TX Solar Energy Society


It’s a wonderful, unique opportunity to see some of  the way’s that Austinites have made their homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  You’ll be inspired and impressed, and have fun in the process.

Sponsored by the Texas Solar Energy Society and Austin Energy Green Building, the annual Cool House Tour is coming this weekend, June 6.  Go here for details and ticket instructions:  http://www.txses.org/solar/content/cool-house-tour

cool house tourOne of your stops will be this renovated 1917 cottage at 607 Deep Eddy Avenue featuring sustainable materials such as renewable eucalyptus cabinetry and recycled paper countertops.

 

 

AD Stenger Cool House TourOr how about this updated AD Stenger home at 440 Ridgewood Drive? 

Get your guidebook/ticket at any Central Market, and google map your favorites!  Hope to see you there!

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May

13th

Proposed Bill Applauded by US Energy Leader


WSJ’s Market Watch posted an article saying that the CEO of the nation’s Number One renewable energy provider, applauded the proposed new energy  and climate bill. mw-logo-240x70

Lew Hay, chairman and CEO of FPL Group, a top-five electric power company and No. 1 producer of renewable energy from wind and solar power, issued the following statement today on the energy and climate bill introduced by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.):

“Senators Kerry and Lieberman deserve tremendous credit for crafting a proposal that would move the country in the right direction on energy and climate issues. After years of debate and half measures, the United States still lacks a long-term national energy strategy, leaving us behind other countries in building and exporting the clean energy economy of the future. If we are to continue to lead the world in technological advances, job creation and economic security, we need a new approach. The most essential step — which is at the heart of the American Power Act — is to set a price on carbon dioxide emissions. With a gradually escalating price on carbon that begins to reflect the full social costs of emitting greenhouse gases, the country will make a smooth transition from the high-carbon fuel sources of the past to the next generation of low- and zero-emitting domestic energy sources. No legislation is ever perfect, this bill included, but Sens. Kerry and Lieberman have shown true leadership in their efforts to reach a balanced solution that all parties to this debate should be able to support. We applaud their efforts and look forward to working with them to get a bill signed into law.”

Read the full article: http://tinyurl.com/2avojo2

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Apr

14th

What is Texas’ Piece of the Stimulus Pie?


The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will send over $290 million to SECO, the Comptroller’s State Energy Conservation Office.  SECO is dividing these funds up into four programs, and the largest chunk of that cash goes to fund the Texas State Energy Fund.  That money funds Texas SEP, our state energy program which promotes energy conservation and efficiency and reduces energy demand by developing and implementinghome-img comprehensive plans.  The fund allows technical assistance, training, education, project implementation of commercially-available energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, but can’t be used for research activities or construction.  Lots of good work will be accomplished through this program and funding. 

The Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate program was part of the total funding package, with over $23 million allocated by SECO to give rebates to people who upgraded to Energy Star rated appliances.  That program went into effect on April 7, and the waiting lists filled almost immediately with an unexpected and overwhelming response from energy and money conscious Texans!  If you aren’t already on the list, I hate to say it, but you’ve missed out already.  Want to read more?  http://www.secostimulus.org/  has all the details and links you could possibly want to understand how much and who got it…

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Mar

26th

Are Green Jobs Putting America to Work?


Can green jobs spur an economic recovery? There’s no doubt about it. Just ask the veterans in Denver who once crawled around attics and tight spaces in Iraq and Afghanistan seeking terrorists but now crawl through homes in the United States to track down air leaks and find places that need insulation. After having graduated from a green jobs training program, they are among a new wave of workers who have found employment improving the energy efficiency of America’s residential and commercial buildings.

greenjobsgroupOr ask the manufacturing workers in the Midwest who, because their companies successfully transitioned into clean energy manufacturing, escaped the job loss that befell millions of their brethren over the past decade. In Ohio, a business that once manufactured packaging materials now produces harvesters that transform algae into fuels and plastics. Another that produced large-diameter bolts for construction projects is now making bolts for wind turbines. Not only do these jobs provide the income and stability that Americans want, but they also contribute to U.S. energy independ­ence and fight global climate change.

The statistics don’t lie: Even without a comprehensive national policy, clean energy jobs in the United States have grown at more than twice the rate of overall jobs over the past decade, according to a 2009 study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Passage of a federal clean energy and climate bill will increase these job numbers exponentially by unleashing a torrent of economic innovation that has the potential not only to save our environment and climate but also to revive the U.S. economy.

By Jerome Ringo in US News and World Report

Jerome Ringo is the former president of the Apollo Alliance, a coalition that promotes clean energy and green jobs. He is currently senior executive for global strategies with Green Port, a private company that focuses on establishing sustainable “green” ports around the world.  Full Article available at:  http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2010/02/22/green-jobs-are-putting-america-to-work.html

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Feb

12th

Energy efficiency to shine in 2010


Solar and Wind will continue to grow, but energy efficiency will be a strong focus in 2010.

Solar and wind power will get headlines and attention, but green-tech experts say 2010 will be dominated by energy efficiency, the mundane but critical process of cutting the amount of gas and electricity that homes and offices use.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu regularly describes himself as an “energy-efficiency nut.” Sixteen states, including California and New York, have passed legislation enabling homeowners to finance energy-efficiency upgrades through their property taxes. President Obama even declared insulation “sexy” at a Home Depot last month.

Venture-capital investment in energy efficiency hit a record in 2009: at least 115 deals worth nearly $1 billion, according to a preliminary tally by the Cleantech Group and Deloitte. That’s up 39 percent from 2008.

Energy efficiency generally refers to a wide range of technologies designed to cut energy use such as improved lighting, greener building materials and sophisticated software that monitors power consumption.

And it’s increasingly seen as an effective way to create desperately needed jobs, save struggling consumers money, wean America from its dependence on foreign oil and reduce carbon emissions — all at the same time.

Home energy use accounts for 21 percent of the nation’s carbon footprint — roughly twice the carbon emissions of passenger cars, according to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. There are 100 million homes in America, and energy-saving measures like insulation, caulking, and heating and cooling system upgrades can reduce household energy consumption by 10 percent to 40 percent, according to a memo by the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.

Kevin Surace has seen the shift firsthand. For years, the CEO of Serious Materials, which makes energy-saving windows and drywall, was the only energy-efficiency executive at industry conferences. 

Now Surace is the keynote speaker at many of the conferences he attends.

“All the cleantech conferences are efficiency, efficiency, efficiency,” said Surace. “When you really break it down, every dollar spent on energy efficiency pays back the investment four or five times. It saves people money and creates jobs. And it has bipartisan support.”

Another company riding the surge of interest in energy efficiency is San Francisco-based Recurve, which provides detailed home energy audits and green energy remodeling to Bay Area homeowners.

“Five or six years ago, energy efficiency was such a backwater,” said co-founder and President Matt Golden, who remembers the days of being met with blank stares when he would talk about insulation and duct-system leakage. “Everyone was like: There’s no money in energy efficiency.”

The company, which had 12 employees in 2007, has grown to 65. It is creating customized software that it plans to license to other contractors in the energy-retrofit industry and is actively hiring software engineers. Golden is so sought after as a public-policy leader that he spends much of his time in Washington these days.

For info on how to find tax incentives for any efficiency upgrades you’d like to do, see our library for a pdf of information, or contact a Stanberry Green Team member for help.

Adapted from an article by Dana Hull, San Jose Mercury News

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Jan

18th

Overview: Green Energy in 2009


This is an excellent overview article written by Max Rutherford, Editor of BioFuels Watch.com.  It is worth noting that investment in green energy went up 2% in Europe last year, and down 8% in the US:

There is no question that green energy is a coming force. Economic and environmental necessity have pushed such sources of energy to the very forefront of public, corporate and governmental concern, making such energies the growing and coming sector. In fact, during 2008 and 2009, green energy overtook fossil fuels in terms of power generating investment attraction-the first time that this has ever happened. Clean technologies, including wind and solar, drew more than $140bn of investment during this period, compared to $110bn for coal and gas meant for electrical power generation. More than one-third of this ‘green money’ ended up in Britain and the rest of Europe.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their starting points, the largest growth in renewable energy investments were seen in India and China-along with several other developing countries, as they look to match the West by switching from fossil fuels in order to improve energy security and address issues relating to climate change, which will directly and immediately impact developing world countries.

The Executive Director of the UN’s Environment Program, Ache Steiner, has postulated that such indicators suggest that a tipping point has been reached, where renewable energy is perhaps even more important than fossil fuels in the global energy mix. It is indeed encouraging that, up to the end of 2009, a wide variety of renewable energy sectors have attracted significant capital, and many different regions are entering the sector in a serious way. Up to the end of 2009, more than $155bn of new money had been invested in clean energy concerns and projects-despite the fact that the capital raised on public stock markets dropped by 51% to $11.4bn. Over this period, green firms also saw share prices drop dramatically by over 60%.

Wind energy is the current global leader of green energy sources, attracted the highest levels of investment globally at over $51bn. Next comes solar power at over $33bn. As of the end of 2009, however, the solar power sector saw Y-O-Y growth of 50%, whereas wind power only saw an annual growth of 1%. The next most-popular green energy source is biofuels, attracted an investment of almost $17bn, down 9% on 2007 levels. This was principally due to overcapacity issues and political opposition to the sector, with ethanol being squarely blamed for rocketing food prices.

Europe remains the principal center for investment in green energy and power, seeing over $50bn directed into continent-wide projects-an increase of 2% on 2008 figures. The figure for the US was $30bn-down a total of 8%.

Many countries have seen a number of “Green New Deals”, designed with the intention of re-igniting recession-depressed economies and tackle climate change-related problems. The first quarter of 2009 saw a slump in renewable investment globally, and this trend has troubled the UN. The second quarter of 2009 has shown recovery, but indications are that the year would end at least a quarter down on 2008 figures. Many analysts are encouraged by the green shoots, but insist that politicians and policy-makers should do more to ensure continued growth.

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Jan

8th

Doggett Announces $4.8M for Green Jobs


U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett announced a $4.8 million grant Wednesday to train 1,000 local workers for jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

“Green’s the word in Austin, and today greenbacks are on their way to further strengthen our commitment to clean energy,” said Doggett, D-Austin. “Green jobs have the ability to not only transform the way we do business, but re-power America; this training will provide workers with the nuts and bolts to construct a thriving clean energy economy right here in Central Texas.”

The grant is a significant gain for the region’s green work force, as community and business leaders continue to eye plans to grow the sector in Central Texas, which has lost jobs in manufacturing and other key industries in the downturn.

The Central Texas plan, funded by the federal economic stimulus program, will train 1,000 workers for jobs at solar power plants in Austin and San Antonio and projects in nearby cities and states. The training will prepare workers for a variety of jobs, including in solar installation.

The grant will go to Austin’s Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee , which is sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 520 .

Gilbert Ferrales , training director for the JATC, said the training will provide workers with immediate employment opportunities in Central Texas.

The Austin IBEW will partner with ImagineSolar LLC, an Austin-based company that does job training for the solar energy industry, and the Austin Workforce Investment Board.

The training will begin as early as March and take place at JATC’s training facility in Southeast Austin over the following months.

“This grant represents a major step forward in developing the solar energy industry for Central Texas,” said Michael Kuhn, president and chief executive of ImagineSolar.

The region got one of 25 grants totaling nearly $100 million from federal stimulus funds announced Wednesday by the Labor Department.

It’s part of a larger $500 million federal initiative to train workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

“Our outstanding award recipients were selected because their proposed projects will connect workers to career pathways in green industries and occupations through diverse partnerships,” Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said in a statement Wednesday.

Article courtesy of Austin American Statesman

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Nov

15th

Study Says Energy Policy=1.9M Jobs


From GreenBeat:  The Obama administration’s progressive support for renewable energy will result in about 1.9 million green collar jobs, according to a new report published by three U.S. universities. It will also elevate the average household income by more than $1,000 and America’s GDP by $111 billion by 2020.       

This sets Obama on track to create 5 million green (not just renewable energy) jobs over the next decade. Granted, he made this promise early in his campaign, all the way back in the spring of 2008. At that point he planned to spend $150 billion total to stimulate the green economy.

The estimates in the report depend on several conditions that could be a bit of a stretch — namely that all U.S. utilities will be able to generate 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020 and that a carbon emissions cap and trade system becomes a reality. It also anticipates that billions of dollars will be invested in cleantech research and development.

Considering that most utilities aren’t approaching 20 percent renewables in their energy mix, and the climate bill that would establish cap and trade has stalled in the Senate, this may be a little far-fetched.

But if these criteria are fulfilled, all 50 states will have an opportunity benefit economically from the green stimulus packages being given out one industry at a time — so far solar, Smart Grid, biomass, wind and advanced batteries have each received up to billions of dollars, mostly through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The study was produced by the University of California, in tandem with Yale University and the University of Illinois.

Another study, presented earlier this week by Booz Allen Hamilton at Greenbuild 2009, predicted that the green building industry alone will generate or support 7.9 million jobs and infuse the U.S. GDP by $554 billion in just the next four years.

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Oct

27th

AISD #1 Green Powered Schools Says EPA


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership has ranked the Austin Independent School District No. 1 in its list of the top 20 Green Powered Schools.

Round Rock Independent School District was a close second on the list.

The EPA looked at primary and secondary schools nationwide that use the most power from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and low-impact hydropower.

The EPA said that together these top schools are buying nearly 113 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, equivalent to carbon dioxide emissions from generating electricity for 11,000 American homes for one year.

“Our green-powered schools are giving kids a brighter future in more ways than one. They’re leading the way in protecting our health and environment, and moving the country into the clean energy economy of the 21st century,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “This is a great lesson on how we reduce harmful pollution in our skies and get America running on clean energy.”

The top five schools using the greenest power are:

• 1 — Austin Independent School District

• 2 — Round Rock Independent School District

• 3 — Rochester City School District, Rochester, N.Y.

• 4 — Bullis School, Potomac, Md.

• 5 — The Dalton School, New York, N.Y.

Info from Austin Business Journal.  Thanks, ABJ!

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