"Next for conservatory: garden 'campus'" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Next for conservatory: garden 'campus'
Tim Feran
The Columbus Dispatch
June 4, 2008

The Franklin Park Conservatory will break ground today on a community-garden "campus" -- the second major project in the first phase of the venue's $75 million expansion plan.

Developed with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, the 4-acre attraction will occupy the southeast corner of Franklin Park.

"I think the timing . . . is really critical because it does provide an educational platform to address such current issues as rising food prices, concerns about food safety and where food is coming from," said Bruce Harkey, executive director of the conservatory.

When it opens in the summer of 2009, the $4 million campus will serve as headquarters for the nonprofit American Community Gardening Association, which has promoted civic gardening for almost 30 years...

"Central Ohio's carbon footprint ranked No. 18" Business First of Columbus

Link: Central Ohio's carbon footprint ranked No. 18
Business First of Columbus
May 30, 2008

The Columbus area ranks near the top of a nationwide list for its per-capita carbon emissions, according to a study released this week.

A study by the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution titled "Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America" quantified the per-capita emissions from transportation and residential energy use in 2000 and 2005. The think tank found Columbus' per-capita carbon emissions were the 18th-highest among the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas.

Not included in Brookings' calculations: emissions from factories, commercial buildings and transportation via air, rail and sea...

Mayor Coleman and Councilmember O’Shaughnessy Unveil details of Bicentennial Bikeways Plan during Bike-to-Work-Week

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2008
For more information:  Mike Brown, Mayor’s Office, 614-645-6428
Ruth Milligan, Consider Biking, 614-348-0760

(Columbus)  Dozens of bike riding commuters came together at the Ohio Statehouse this morning with Consider Biking, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and City Councilmember Maryellen O’Shaughnessy to hear details on the City’s 20-year Bicentennial Bikeways Plan.

“The soaring price of gas is helping jump start a transportation revolution in Columbus, and we are proud to promote biking as an alternative to the automobile for commuters as well as recreation,” said Mayor Coleman, who biked from his Berwick home to join today’s rally.  “We’ve committed $20 million by 2012, and are looking to making biking a safer, easier way to get around Columbus’ neighborhoods and to jobs and activities downtown.”

The Mayor and Councilmember outlined many of the elements of the Bikeways plan, which will be available on-line later today at:  www.altaprojects.net/columbus.  The City engaged Alta Planning and Design, the company that guided Portland, Oregon’s bike planning, last summer to guide local planning efforts, in partnership with MORPC, MetroParks and the Departments of Public Service and Recreation and Parks.

"The first policy recommendation in the new bike master plan is to adopt a ‘Complete Streets’ policy for the city, to assure that roadways are built to accommodate not only cars, but pedestrians, transit and bikes," Council member Maryellen O'Shaughnessy said. "I hope to gain the support of my Council colleagues in support of a ‘Complete Streets’ resolution."

Today the City has some 87 miles of routes and trails, and by the 2012 Bicentennial, the City will add 31 miles of off-street trails, 58 miles of on-street bike lanes and route, with signs and striping to make biking safer, as well as installing hundreds of new bike racks and other amenities.  Regional partners will add another 49 miles of trails and routes.  The 20 year plan will get the community to a total of nearly 728 miles of marked routes and new paths by 2028.  The funding for Columbus’ investment will come from the Capital Budget and the Bicentennial Bond Package going before voters in November.

Consider Biking is sponsoring Columbus’s first Bike-to-Work-Week, May 12-17, as an initiative to educate, advocate and encourage biking. The full week of activities is open to the public and includes the kick-off event, a corporate challenge effort, and a Friday afternoon Pit Stop in the OSU campus area.

“World class cities have world class accommodations for moving people by means other than a car.  This week of activities and the Bicentennial Bikeways Plan are helping to promote and encourage our community to move in that direction,” said Jeff Stephens, Executive Director of Consider Biking.

Details of the events are available at www.considerbiking.org.

Some Columbus bikeway projects planned for construction between now and the end of 2012 from the Department of Public Service:

• Turning Milton Avenue in Clintonville into a Bike Boulevard, providing connection to two sections of the Olentangy Trail;
• Connecting the Olentangy Trail to the Alum Creek Trail, with 14 miles of bike lanes and paths;
• Constructing 1 mile of bike lanes on Kimberly Parkway, from Hamilton to Courtwright roads;
• Transforming Sullivant Avenue in to a 12.6 mile bike corridor, from the Main Street Bridge to Georgesville Road;
• Building 5 miles of bikeways in 8 Downtown alleys;
• Adding 1.8 miles of bike lanes on State Route 161, between Sawmill and Linworth roads;
• Building 1 mile of bike lanes on Lockbourne Road, from Livingston to Frebis avenues;
• Designing a share-the-road campaign for an 8-mile stretch of High Street, from Downtown out to Morse Road.

The Department of Recreation and Parks will add new neighborhood connections on bike paths and improve 7 major bridges to make room for cyclists and pedestrians.  Some of the major projects include:

• Building a 3-miles of the new Big Run Trail;
• Completing a 4-miles of the Alum Creek Trail from Ohio Dominican to Innis Park;
• Adding 1.5 miles to the Scioto Trail from Berliner Park south towards Grove City;
• Adding 2 miles to the Big Walnut Trail.

The City also is planning to create a downtown “Bike Station” where cyclists who commute to Downtown jobs will be able to change clothes and store bikes.

"Fertilizer prices soaring in U.S." The Columbus Dispatch

This article may seem off topic, but in relation to higher fuels costs and some of the outlying effects it has on other markets, we can see some results of the chain reaction in the agricultural world.

The fact that growers are moving towards ethanol, and given the reports out there that ethanol is not a viable alternative since the supply, it is suggested, could never meet the demand, means we are seeing some prices inflate in markets that are not sustainable.

Out of the frying pan into the fire:

Link: Fertilizer prices soaring in U.S.
The Columbus Dispatch
April 23, 2008

...In the United States, high gasoline prices are prompting growers to plant fertilizer-dependent corn for the manufacture of ethanol fuel. High energy prices also have affected the availability of natural gas, a key ingredient of nitrogen-based fertilizers that can now be sold more profitably as fuel...

"City's green efforts have a ways to go" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: City's green efforts have a ways to go
The Columbus Dispatch
April 20, 2008

...The successes have been big and small: from paper-saving electronic-payment options for parking tickets to an ordinance requiring builders to recycle tons of construction debris.

But Get Green Columbus has fallen short in significant areas, too. City government has fewer cars and trucks on the road but bought 232,000 more gallons of fuel last year. And the residential recycling rate remains among the nation's worst, inching upward from 3.8 percent before the campaign started to 5 percent in 2007...

MORPC Clean Air Fair

Stop by the Clean Air Fair during your lunch break, featuring:

• Free ice cream and music thanks to CD101.
• Hybrid cars thanks to Clean Fuels Ohio and Central Ohio Toyota Dealers.
• Great raffle prizes, including a new bike thanks to Cyclist Connection; and gift certificates thanks to Buca di Beppo, Chipotle, Consider Biking, Cotters Restaurant, Earth Share of Ohio, Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar, Gordon Biersch, Max & Erma's, Rise & Dine Restaurant, and V Power Yoga.
• 15 exhibitors, including organizations representing the health, environmental and transportation sectors—emphasizing the importance of clean air.
• Clean Air Awards presentation at Noon, awarding three local businesses/individuals for their dedication to reducing air pollution in central Ohio.  To view those winners click here. 
• A press conference following the Clean Air Awards from The Breathing Association, announcing their new Clear the Air Initiative.

To reduce waste, very few promotional materials have been printed for this event.  Please help spread the word electronically. 

http://www.cleanairfair.org/

"Edible Estates" New York Times

Link: Edible Estates
Melena Ryzik
New York Times
March 7, 2008

...Mr. Haeg is the creator of Edible Estates, which aims to persuade homeowners to grow not grass but fruit, vegetables and nuts in their yards. The campaign began in 2005 with a commission from the Salina Art Center in Salina, Kan., the geographical center of the United States, where Mr. Haeg helped plant a mini-grove in the yard of a local couple. He was attracted to the area, he said, as a way to take a break from the ''cultural ghettos'' of New York and Los Angeles, where he had lived. More gardens were sown in New Jersey, California (above, his ''Edible Estates Regional Prototype Garden No. 2: Lakewood, Calif., 2006'') and London; Baltimore and Austin, Tex., are next. (Mr. Haeg hopes to do nine in all.)...

"OSU, agricultural groups launch food-supply database" Business First of Columbus

Link: OSU, agricultural groups launch food-supply database
Business First of Columbus
March 21, 2008

...Ohio State University's Agricultural Research and Development Center this week said a collaboration with the state Department of Agriculture and other organizations has launched Ohio MarketMaker, a Web-based tool that gives free information on buyers and sellers of food products along with locations and other detailed demographic information.

The Web site, ohiomarketmaker.com, was designed to connect farmers with food retailers, grocery stores, processors, caterers, chefs and a range of other industry players. On the site, a detailed search function narrows access to market areas, which can be broken down into a range of demographic information, and types of businesses, each attached to profile and contact information...

"Recyclable wastes from business clogging landfill" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Recyclable wastes from business clogging landfill
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
March 9, 2008

...Businesses account for 60 percent -- more than a half-million tons per year -- of the trash dumped locally.

Few of us are recycling at home. But few businesses are even giving workers the chance at offices, shops, restaurants, warehouses and factories.

"A lot of them don't get it -- or they're just starting to get it," said John Remy, spokesman for the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio...

...Lessner estimates that she has been involved in about a dozen efforts to boost recycling by restaurants and other businesses. Most recently, she's on a panel convened by Downtown's Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District that is trying to coordinate businesses into a single waste-hauling contract that would make recycling more affordable...

"City will no longer foot the cost of curbside recycling" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: City will no longer foot the cost of curbside recycling
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
February 26, 2008

Columbus residents who want their recyclables picked up at the curb will have to pay more starting in June.

City Council members voted last night to end a $389,000 annual subsidy for curbside recycling, which means nearly 12,000 households using the service must pay an extra $39 a year if they want to continue.

"We can no longer afford the subsidy," said Public Service Director Mark Kelsey, who noted that just 5 percent of his department's customers are curbside subscribers...

EfficienCity: A Climate-Friendly Town

Great piece of edutainment put out by Greenpeace on the parts and pieces that can make up an energy efficient city. Very interesting stuff.

"City sues man for canceling trash service" Examiner.com

Go green...just not too green:

Link: City sues man for canceling trash service
Tamara Barak Aparton , Eddie House
Examiner.com
January 29, 2008

A man who claims to have reduced his waste to nearly nothing out of concern for the environment now faces a lawsuit from San Carlos for canceling his garbage-collection service.

Eddie House, 53, says he was shocked when he was served with a lawsuit Sunday at his Cedar Street home.

The lawsuit, filed by San Carlos Deputy City Attorney Linda Noeske in San Mateo Superior Court on Jan. 22, seeks a permanent injunction forcing House to maintain garbage service. City officials are also seeking to recoup from House the costs of the lawsuit...

Columbus, County Set Recycling Record

press release
SWACO is reporting record amounts of material recycled at its 190 drop off recycling locations throughout Columbus and Franklin County. For all of 2007, 10,756 tons of bottles, cans, paper and cardboard have been recycled. That is over 1,100 tons better than 2006. Also, the December totals are over 200 tons better in a year to year comparison.

SWACO Executive Director Ron Mills credits the people of Greater Columbus. “It is clear our citizens want to do what is best for our community. We have explained to them that recycling helps the environment, can save tax dollars, and is convenient. They have responded by recycling in record amounts.”

To handle the volume created by the community’s response SWACO has increased pick up schedules. In addition some sites are now seeing daily collection on the part of SWACO drivers.

Director Mills adds, “We hope people will continue to increase what they recycle. In turn we will respond with the quality service the community has come to expect from SWACO.”

SWACO recently added 121 new recycling locations at most Columbus City Schools in cooperation with The City of Columbus and The Columbus City School District. Residents can drop of their recyclables at City School locations between 5pm & 9pm Monday-Friday, and between 9am & 6pm on weekends. Other SWACO drop off recycling locations are available at anytime.

For a complete list of what is recyclable and the closest SWACO recycling location, residents can log on to www.swaco.org.

Columbus’ First Green Neighborhood wins National Efficiency Award

press release
(Columbus) The city’s first energy efficient and environmentally friendly “green” neighborhood, GreenView Estates, this week earned MiraCit Development Corporation and partners the “Inspiring Efficiency IMPACT Award” by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.  Located on the city’s North Side, the green development is part of Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman's "Get Green, Columbus" initiative.

“This is a nice honor for MiraCit, our BIA builders and the City of Columbus,” said Mayor Coleman.  “Greenview’s construction and sales are proof that you can build green and sell green.  Families are demanding green products and homes, and we hope this sends a signal to other builders to use more green construction practices.”

GreenView Estates, at 1940 Woodland Avenue, is being developed by MiraCit  along with Sovereign Homes who is using the latest techniques in energy efficiency design, construction and appliances, homeowners can save and estimated $900 per year on utility bills per year.

“Creating sustainable, long-term solutions to our nation’s energy needs is a key component driving our 21st century economy,” said Development Chair Maryellen O’Shaughnessy.  “Columbus, Ohio is an example to all American cities that these goals can be met in a business friendly way.”

Under the leadership of chairman Bishop Edgar Posey, MiraCit has spearheaded the redevelopment of its surrounding community through housing development, job and entrepreneurship training, childcare, education, and programs for seniors and youth.  Greenview Estates has transformed an abandoned former housing project into affordable, energy efficient new homes.

“We appreciate having the opportunity to participate in the development of Columbus’ first ‘green’ community with the support and help of the City, the Mayor, Sovereign Homes and our funding partners,” said Bishop Posey.  “The new homes at GreenView not only benefit the community’s landscape, but provide options and opportunity for those who want to live in quality, energy efficient homes, right here in the inner city.”

The goal of Greenview Estates is to demonstrate that high performance or “green” housing can be built affordably. Each of the high performance specifications or requirements aims to achieve at least one of the following objectives:

• Increase energy efficiency
• Reduce construction cost or waste
• Improve indoor air quality
• Improve building durability
• Improve occupant comfort
• Reduce the environmental impact of the building

GreenView is a unique partnership between the City, MiraCit Development Corporation, the Building Industry Association, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., the State of Ohio Office of Energy Efficiency, the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County.

Other winners include:  (from http://www.mwalliance.org/ )

Inspiring Efficiency EDUCATION Award—Schools for Energy Efficiency for implementing programs to save energy and money by changing behavior throughout school districts by increasing energy awareness among students, teachers, and administrators. The program is in 250 schools, resulting in average energy savings of 10-20% and avoiding $6.7 million in energy costs in its first three years.

Inspiring Efficiency MARKETING Award—Rochester Public Utilities for developing a Commercial Communications Plan to maximize commercial customers’ participation in efficiency programs.

Inspiring Efficiency INNOVATION Award—George Bialecki for founding Alternative Energy Builders, a corporation that builds energy efficient communities, and for founding Alternative Energy Living, a non-profit foundation focused on research and energy efficiency education.

Inspiring Efficiency LEADERSHIP Award—Minnesota: Senator D. Scott Dibble, Representative Jeremy Kalin, Sheldon Strom from Center for Energy and Environment, and Christy Brusven of the Department of Commerce for their coalition effort to lead the first, most comprehensive energy policy adoption in the Midwest.

Inspiring Efficiency LEADERSHIP Award—Illinois: Senator Don Harmon and Anne Pramagiorre from Commonwealth Edison for their leadership to gain adoption of the Affordable, Clean Energy Standard, creating a 2% efficiency standard for Illinois.

Inspiring Efficiency LEADERSHIP Award—Ann Arbor, Michigan: The Ann Arbor Energy Office for its long-standing commitment to sustainable energy use. The Energy Office manages projects and programs, develops information resources, and provides expert advice to move the city toward more sustainable energy use.

Inspiring Efficiency CHAIRMAN’S Award—Sara Ward: Retiring Director of the Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy Efficiency, a founding and active member of the MEEA Board of Directors and stalwart supporter of energy efficiency and renewable energy policy in the Midwest.

MiraCity will be honored at MEEA’s Inspiring Efficiency Awards Ceremony on January 10, 2008.

"Berkeley to finance solar arrays for homeowners" Green Wombat: Environment + Technology

Link: Berkeley to finance solar arrays for homeowners
Green Wombat: Environment + Technology
Todd Woody
October 31, 2007

...Now the city of Berkeley has devised an innovative plan that could dramatically increase that number and turn the nascent solar industry into a mass market if replicated. Under a solar initiative to be considered by the city council on Tuesday, Nov. 6, Berkeley would finance the installation of solar arrays and solar hot water systems (more on that later) for any homeowner or commercial building owner. You choose an installer from a city-approved list and retain ownership of the solar system, paying back the cost over 20 years through an assessment on your annual property tax bill. “Over next decade we could have solar on 25 percent of the buildings in Berkeley,” Cisco DeVries, chief of staff for Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, told Green Wombat. The federal government is supporting the Berkeley initiative — the first of its kind — and California’s largest utility, PG&E, backs the plan...

City, SWACO and Columbus Schools Team Up to Expand Drop-Off Recycling in Columbus Neighborhoods

press release
(Columbus)  It is getting easier to recycle in Columbus neighborhoods at free drop boxes this fall, thanks to a partnership between the City of Columbus, Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio and Columbus City Schools that is placing 121 new recycling drop boxes at most public-school locations.

“We’re making it easier to recycle around Columbus, and you can’t beat the price when it is free,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman.  “This partnership puts recycling within easy reach of where families live, and is an opportunity to start teaching our children good habits like recycling to build a more sustainable future.”

Download Recycling Location List

The additions will boost the number of free, drop-off recycling locations in Franklin County from 69 to 190.  The expanded program will be a win for Columbus and for the environment, with Columbus saving $20 in landfill costs for every ton of paper, plastic, glass and metal that is recycled.

“We also save tax dollars when we divert more from SWACO’S Franklin County Landfill,” SWACO Interim Executive Director Ron Mills said. “The longer our publicly owned landfill lasts, the more we save in costs related to locating a new landfill and transporting our trash to it.”

SWACO and the Columbus City School District have had an ongoing recycling relationship for the last three years.  In conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, SWACO placed recycling containers in every one of the 5,500 Columbus City School classrooms.  In the last two years, district students have recycled about 1,500 tons.  That breaks down to 27 pounds per student during the school year.

“We have long believed our Columbus Schools are a magnet for the neighborhoods in which they are located,” Superintendent Gene Harris said. “By offering another service to the nearby residents, we can continue to grow our relationship with taxpayers.  We are proud to partner with the City and SWACO as we all work toward a better environment and an increased standard of living for Central Ohio.”

Recycling at the neighborhood school could also mean green, with cash prizes for the neighborhood and school. Giant Eagle supermarkets will be providing $1,000 cash prizes to the elementary, middle and high school drop-off locations with the best recycling record between October 1, 2007, and December 1, 2007.  In an effort to spur neighbors to bring recyclables to the schools, the contest also will feature a $500 top prize for the neighborhood association aligned with the top-recycling location.  Neighborhood associations can log on to www.swaco.org/BeGreen.aspx for contest details.

The new Columbus City School locations will be open for residents use from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The traditional drop-off locations throughout Franklin County are available 24 hours a day.

There is no cost to residents to use drop-off recycling.  Paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and other recyclables are accepted at the boxes.  However, the recycling locations are not designed for the dumping of unwanted furniture or other bulk items.  Columbus residents can schedule bulk pick up by calling the 311 Service Center at 645-3111 or going on line to 311.columbus.gov .

Quick Facts

• The City of Columbus, SWACO and Columbus City School District are working together on the project.
• ODNR provided a grant of $50,000 to help with the purchase of equipment for the project.
• Children should not be sent to school with recyclables.
• Locations of the nearest recycling drop off locations will be in “The Bag” on doorsteps in the City of Columbus & Columbus School District the weekend of October 6 & 7, 2007.  Residents should look for the “green” flyer. A list of recycling locations is also available via www.swaco.org.  By typing in a zip code underneath the picture of the green recycling containers, residents will be directed to the nearest recycling location.
• Recyclables collected at SWACO drop off sites in the last two years has increased by 17%.  In 2006, close to 10,000 tons of recyclables were collected at SWACO recycling locations.
• The “Put It In The Bin & Win” contest is sponsored by Giant Eagle.  Contest details at www.swaco.org/BeGreen.aspx

'"Green" Lazarus building gets national accolade' Business First of Columbus

Link: "Green" Lazarus building gets national accolade
Matt Burns
Business First of Columbus
September 25, 2007

In going green, Columbus' renovated Lazarus building has taken home the gold.

The 1 million-square-foot downtown landmark, which now features a rainwater filtering system and a 15,000-square-foot "green roof," has garnered national attention from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. The group called Lazarus one of the two best ecofriendly development projects in the nation and the single best speculative building...

"Lazarus project a model of 'green' renovation" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Lazarus project a model of 'green' renovation
The Columbus Dispatch
September 24, 2007

...The National Association of Office and Industrial Properties named the Lazarus building one the two best examples of environmentally friendly development in the country. Master planner Georgetown Co. used "green" building principles in updating three-fourths of the 1-million-square-foot office building. The U.S. Green Building Council certified the project this year.

The association said the building -- which added the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as a major tenant this year -- is the best speculative office building in the country for green design. A warehouse built by Liberty Property Trust in Milwaukee is the top build-to-suit project.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman made the Lazarus building a cornerstone in his Get Green Columbus program to advocate for environmental issues...

"Looking at the big picture" Charlotte Business Journal

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

An ecologically considerate "green" home is great, but if the rest of the neighborhood doesn't head in the same environmentally conscious development direction than that one lone-green home's effectiveness in the battle is hobbled:

Link: Looking at the big picture
Bea Quirk
Charlotte Business Journal
July 6, 2007

One of the basic principles of ecology is that everything is connected -- that no part of the environment exists in a vacuum.

So while the growing emphasis on creating green buildings is viewed as important, architects and planners say the neighborhood or development where a structure is situated must also include sustainable design features.

Their argument: One-third of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by buildings, but an equal amount is generated by transporting people between them...

"State promising grants of $5M for Ohio wind farms" Business First of Columbus

Link: State promising grants of $5M for Ohio wind farms
Business First of Columbus
August 31, 2007

The state is putting its money where its mouth is on promoting alternative energy by making $5 million in grants available to two upcoming wind energy projects.

Gov. Ted Strickland said the state is awarding up to $3 million to a proposed wind farm near the borders of Union and Madison counties and up to $2 million for another project in Wood County. The announcement comes two days after Strickland unveiled his Energy, Jobs and Progress for Ohio plan, which aims to make about 13 percent of all electricity sold in Ohio generated by renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal methods by 2025...

"Green Roofs: An Introduction with Pretty Pictures" EcoGeek

This is one of the clearest and simplest overviews that I've come across to date that explains green roofs and their benefits at various levels, which include 1) heating and cooling benefits to the home or building with the roof, 2) reducing the heat-island effect of the sun which would otherwise be cooking traditional black shingles heating up the area and atmosphere 3) and absorbing excess rainwater runoff which in cities like Columbus ends up in our combined stormwater and sewage system which overloads our processing plants and dumps raw sewage into the Scioto in times of heavy rain such as we had this week.

So like I was trying to saw, green roofs are good and here's what they are and why:

Link: Green Roofs: An Introduction with Pretty Pictures
Philip Proefrock
EcoGeek
August 21, 2007

...Why are green roofs such a great idea?

First, they help to reduce roof stormwater runoff. In some cases, this can help reduce the size of stormwater pipes, and the amount of stormwater that needs to be treated by municipal water treatment. In a light rainfall, a building with a vegetated roof can have no stormwater runoff at all...

"Reducing My Carbon Footprint" CEOS for Cities

Excellent point in there regarding the option of mass transit. Our lack of mass transit options here in Columbus "is a shame" and it is we the fighters for the urban cause that need to figure out a way to educate the masses on the importance of mass transit, what we need to to to get it going and WHY it is so important for even those that will never use it:

Link: Reducing My Carbon Footprint
CEOs for Cities
August 10, 2007

...Yes, we own a hybrid. But even better, it is the ONLY car we own. And most of the time, it stays parked behind our townhouse. That’s because I live a block and a half away from Washington’s Metro. My husband commutes exclusively by rail. I can walk out my door and across the street to the bank, the grocery store and restaurants. A few more blocks and there are movie theaters and shopping.

Most people, unfortunately, do not have this luxury and are slaves to their cars. I lived most of my life in a city like that. If we still lived there, we’d certainly have two cars that we would use every day. Not because we don’t like transit, but because the transit is unreliable and almost non-existent. We simply weren’t afforded the option. And it is a shame...

We need to work towards bridging the huge gap that exists in the realm of urban education and why the economic viability of Columbus' Central Business District (CBD) is of paramount concern to everyone that utilizing Columbus public services.

With so much of Columbus' tax base coming out of the CBD in relation to it's physical size (13% of the tax base in 1% of the land mass or something to that effect), we need to better utilize downtown's assets and infrastructure to maximize the tax dollars it can generate - which just so happens to provide services for everyone, urban and suburban alike.

This is not urban vs. suburban and if that is where your thinking lies, I ask you to shift your perspective and think about building up downtown in a manner that does not rely on belittling people for moving to the suburbs, having two cars and sending their children to better schools. If you want to effect the suburbs, you can't start by attacking the lifestyle. You'll surely lose.

Forget the suburbs (for now) and let that sleeping dog lie. Instead, focus your thoughts and energies on ways to bring downtown's benefits and assets to the folks that don't live in the core in such a manner that they want to come visit on a regular basis.

Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative (yes...I too want to puke being that I just said that but I can't think of a better way to communicate the concept)

"Audubon Center to sport environmentally-friendly design" Suburban News Publications, Columbus, Ohio

The soon-to-be-constructed Audubon Center on the Whittier Peninsula will be touting some true "green" technology which will significantly reduce it's operational cost given the limited power requirements it will have:

Link:  Audubon Center to sport environmentally-friendly design
Jennifer Nobilt
Suburban News Publications.
August 8-15, 2007

...Along with the donation, the Audubon Center also released renderings for the building, which is planned to open in early 2009.

The renderings include "green" features such as geothermal heating and cooling, solar power and construction from recycled materials...

...The renderings include a green roof for parts of the center. The roof built to support vegetation is said to reduce heating and cooling as well as increase the roof's lifespan.

Starck said the way the center deals with storm water and the addition of native plants will also help the environment in the area...

There are various types of "green" technologies that are used in green building that range from paints that use fewer chemicals and give off less emissions (called low VOC paints, for volatile organic compounds), to solar panels on the other end of the spectrum that not only reduce the effect of a building on the environment but can actually benefit the environment by creating their own source of energy.

There are a lot of varying levels at which any given project can be considered "green". I'm sure there is some sort of a classification level derived out of how great an individual item that is used in the building process impacts the environment, but for me, the biggest hitters are the ones that have both immediate economic benefits to the consumer, on top of their benefits to society.

The realities of the economic feasibility for any consumer-based green home technologies need to be able to come into play in order for more widespread adoption. Some technologies are easier than others to achieve profit with for their respective manufacturers, but for the most part green takes extra green...of the dollar sort.

It's a simple and quick lesson economics centered on supply and demand.

Let's take solar photovoltaic for instance:

The panels are expensive to manufacture because much of the R & D into making the panels more efficient at grabbing energy from the sun is quite costly and the production and materials are expensive too.

One way for production costs to go down for the manufacturers, and in turn for the retail prices to go down, is to have an increase in the demand so that technologies for manufacturing the products become more efficient as a function of a competing market.

When multiple companies are supplying more panels to the market, the competition between the businesses creates an ongoing effort to be the company that can offer the best panels at the lowest cost. To do that, you need better raw material supply chains for the parts and pieces you make the panels with and you need better manufacturing processes to build the panels better, faster and cheaper than the next guy.

Demand means competition. Competition ultimately leads to better and cheaper products. Cheaper products means a higher level of adoption and absorption into the retail market.

Right now, the general consumer market won't bare the expense of solar panels as they are priced today, let's say for the average home. It takes too long to recoup the cost of the systems, leaving solar panels system implementations to those folks who feel a bit of an altruistic, good-for-the-environment motivation within themselves to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000. We could also call those folks the early-adopters who are willing to fork out the additional dollars.

Now if the cost of energy triples, then the factors in my supply and demand scenario above obviously change, but until that happens, we either have to wait for the slow and natural evolution of the demand for solar technology to take place as manufacturers slowly evolve the technology with limited financial inputs OR we figure out how to stimulate the market another way.

I won't go into the other ways to stimulate the market, such as tax credits and grants, but hopefully the illustration painted a general picture for you.

Until green technologies see a higher demand on an ongoing basis, the costs are likely to remain high.

As cities, state and the country move to more aggressive energy policies maybe there will be some mandates that will see the demand for green tech increase. Once that happens, the cost for the products will come down and their implementation into the traditional building practices will become the norm.

Should be an interesting 10 years in the world of green tech.

"Gardening up on the roof, where it's peaceful and practical" Salt Lake Tribune

Link: Gardening up on the roof, where it's peaceful and practical.
Dean Fosdick
Salt Lake Tribune
July 12, 2007

...These roof gardens help manage storm rainfall and insulate against city heat buildup, he explained.

In pioneer days, "They didn't have a heating and air conditioning guy in the neighborhood back then," Snodgrass said. "They had to find a way of using nature to their advantage. Now we're doing the same thing, but we're moving intentionally away from total dependence on mechanical systems."

Builders classify modern green-roof designs as "intensive" or "extensive."

Intensive roof gardens require a great deal of structural support for such things as trees and trails, seating and a growing medium more than 6 inches deep. They also require irrigation and frequent maintenance, in showcasing trees, shrubs and flowers.

An extensive garden, meanwhile, is built on a thin layer of growing material, requires little to no maintenance and supports drought-tolerant plants capable of surviving long periods of heat or winter cold...

"Carbon-neutral push warming up around the world" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Carbon-neutral push warming up around the world.
Kevin Kidder
The Columbus Dispatch
July 22, 2007

...Defining carbon neutrality is simple: It means that you live in a way that -- on balance -- doesn't add to the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Achieving that goal is not simple.

The average central Ohio home adds about 39,186 pounds of carbon dioxide to the environment annually, according to Terry Smith, director of Cornerstone Energy Conservation Services in Columbus...

...In Britain, the government has proposed that new homes be carbon neutral by 2016. New regulations would tighten building codes and create a rating system for every property in the country...

"Only 12 Percent of New U.S. Homes are Energy Efficient" Green Wombat

Link: Only 12 Percent of New U.S. Homes are Energy Efficient.
Tom Woody
Green Wombat
July 12, 2007

...So depending on your perspective, it's either heartening or appalling that just 12 percent of new single-family homes built in the United States in 2006 qualified for the EPA's Energy Star high efficiency designation. The 200,000 homes winning the Energy Star rating last year are 20 percent to 30 percent more efficient than standard dwellings. That brings the total Energy Star homes in the U.S. to about 750,000. The states with the most Energy Star homes are Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Vermont...

"The Living City" CEOS for Cities

Link: The Living City.
CEOS for Cities
July 14, 2007

...While most of us imagine idyllic rural America as the epitome of sustainable living, conventional wisdom is exactly backward. "Cities are bastions of environmentalism," according to West and his collaborator Luis Bettencourt. "People who live in densely populated places lead environmentally friendly lives. They consume fewer resources per person and take up less space. And because efficiency scales with the size of the population, big cities are always more efficient than small cities."

Bottom line: The secret to creating a more environmentally sustainable society is making our big cities bigger. We need more metropolises.

The researchers also found that as cities got bigger, each individual got more productive. "A doubling of population led to a more than doubling of creative and economic output. A bigger population means more economic activity for each person, which encourages more people to move to the city, which results in more economic activity, and so on."...

There are numerous study, surveys, polls and market analyses regarding the benefits and drawbacks of both urban and suburban development. More often than not though, the articles and arguments that come from either camp are completely polarized. Black or white. One or the other.

Even in local blog posting, comments and discussion forums you are more likely to see a conversation catalyzed by an urban vs. suburban issues in which opinions run very hot and cold, very pro and con.

Take for example Bill Todd's indirect comment in a video on his website regarding streetcars (thanks to a lead from underducky on columbusING). The comment is tucked away in the tail end of a video on safety. He didn't say much, but in a statement that referred to issues he felt were not as important as hiring police he felt that "choo choo trains and sidewalks" were not important.

Maybe he has a point about the priorities, maybe he doesn't. That is not my concern and it's not an issue I want to open up in this conversation.

His comment is an illustration of a polarized statement against streetcars that clearly relays his position. I'd prefer to hear his full perspective on the topic as opposed to hearing it used as emotional cannon fodder in an unrelated issue (all city issues are related since they are competing for dollars, but you get my point). We are sure to see much more of this as it gets closer to election time but my major concern is that the ONLY exposure many citizens may end up getting to streetcars may be through over sensationalized statements used as gorilla tactics in a political campaign.

As I go forward and decide on issues that I think are important for me to spend time on, of which streetcars are one, I know that I can't proceed in a fashion that summarily dismisses other competing initiatives with an abundance of emotionally evoking words and a complete lack of factual information. In other words, I can't depend on the media to ensure the success of transit issues in Columbus.

Again, I was just using the statement as an example because it has been on the top of my mind today and the streetcars are an initiative that may suffer intense attacks in this year's mayoral election.

"Homeowners Who Go Green Face Neighbors' Objections" RealEstateJournal.com

Link: Homeowners Who Go Green Face Neighbors' Objections.
Sara Schaefer Munoz
RealEstateJournal.com
July 13, 2007

In neighborhoods across the country, there's a battle brewing: the environmentalists vs. the aesthetes.

As "green"-minded homeowners move to put in new energy-efficient windows, solar panels and light-reflecting roofs, they are bumping up against neighbors and local boards that object, saying the additions defy historic-district regulations, will look ugly or damage property values...

I've been thinking about this lately with some of the green technology we've integrated into our North Block condominiums where we are using Solar Photovoltaic panels on our roof. We didn't run into any real difficulties with the Italian Village Commission since the panels essentially lay flat on the roof 60 feet up.

I'm curious as to how a homeowner might fare in the neighborhood trying to get a solar panel array approved for a more modest home.

"Portland's Green Dividend" CEOS for Cities

Link: Portland's Green Dividend.
CEOS for Cities
July 13, 2007

...Critics have long characterized Portlanders as “depriving themselves in the name of saving the environment.” Some have argued that “planning, policies and regulations that restrict use or access to resources impede growth and lower household income.”

But the new study found that assumption is simply not true. There is, in fact, a Green Dividend that accrues to cities willing to make certain choices about urban form and transportation...

"An easier way for homeowners to go green" CNNMoney.com

Link: An easier way for homeowners to go green
Want to go green but don't know how? A year-old startup promises to help you pick the right mix of alternative technologies for your home. Business 2.0 reports.
By Erick Schonfeld
CNNMoney.com
July 3 2007

Will a wind turbine provide more wattage in your neighborhood than a roof full of solar panels? What about installation costs, state rebates, and federal tax credits? How about just better insulation?...

...That's where Standard Renewable Energy comes in. The year-old startup is rolling out a nationwide service that figures out what combination of green technologies makes the most sense in a given location. The company will audit you for free and then bid to install what it recommends.

Price: roughly $30,000 for homes and $200,000 for businesses. "We sort through the chaos for the consumer," says John Berger, a former Enron energy trader who founded Standard Renewable...

"Eco-friendly building materials firm set to break ground at landfill" Business First of Columbus

Link: Eco-friendly building materials firm set to break ground at landfill
Susan Deutschle
Business First of Columbus
July 6, 2007

Columbus will start to get a little greener by August when construction begins on a 27,000-square-foot factory where 700 ecological-friendly building panels will be manufactured daily - enough for two average-sized houses - once the plant is fully operational by next spring. Approximately 50 new jobs are expected to be created within the first three to four years.

The facility, to be located on a leased 3-acre site near the Franklin County landfill, will be owned and operated by Rastra Technologies Inc., a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based building products company...

"Price of electricity poised to increase" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Price of electricity poised to increase.
Deregulation taking effect in '09, stirring interest in savings
Sunday,  July 8, 2007 3:44 AM
By Spencer Hunt
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

So far, the electricity companies are the ones who have to pay extra for all the power we use during summer heat waves. But when a rate freeze expires in a year and a half, we, too, could be paying premium prices to run the dishwasher when demand is at its peak.

"It can be as much as 10 times more than what you pay on average," said Dan Johnson, policy and market analysis chief for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio...

More reasons for staying the course of where thinking green will take us...

Not too many projects, specifically urban residential projects, have already factored the electric costs into the equation by providing electricity alternatives in the form of solar photo voltaic systems.

When I say not too many, I suppose I really mean one that I know of so far: northblock.com

I can honestly say that being in the middle of a huge project that is already far ahead of the curve when it comes to working on integrating green technologies in a real-world scenarios is a great learning experience. I'm lovin' it.

I can also say that as someone working under a real estate developer, it's not easy to try and factor in green technologies into the price of a unit and still make it affordable while simultaneously being able to generate a profit enough to justify the costs.

Developers have to make a living too and the process of moving from traditional building techniques and technologies to those that are green require a certain element of on-the-job training alongside a lot of learn-as-you-go effort. It's a green education that doesn't come cheap.

Good news is that the more developers that start employing green technologies in their products, the more demand there will be for the green technologies - which will eventually create more companies who will provide the technologies and in turn, introducing significant gains in the ability to efficiently and affordably produce the green products. Ultimately this means that the green technologies that are very expensive to build into the homes that developers build will soon be coming down in price in repsect to the growth in the demand for them.

Oh, and yes, that was a blatant plug for one of my companies projects at Jeffrey Place. I have no shame.

"Why Be Anything Other Than Green?" CEOS for Cities

Link: Why Be Anything Other Than Green?.
CEOS for Cities
July 7, 2007

...One astute banker made the point that it is past time for the need to justify investments in green buildings. “Why would we finance anything else?” he asked. “We are financing building over a 30 year life, and it is clear that the demand for green buildings is growing rapidly. If you wait to build green, you are going to be outpaced by those who do. It may be a few years from now, but it won’t be long”...

"Officials go for gold standard with a 'green' courthouse" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Officials go for gold standard with a 'green' courthouse.
By Barbara Carmen
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
July 3, 2007

...Instead of volatile organic compounds that release gasses, visitors to the contemporary, seven-story building will get a whiff of the future.

Every inch is being designed to produce Ohio's first "green" county courthouse. County commissioners envision their building as a showcase of environmental responsibility...

...Commissioners will break ground this morning on the building at Mound and High streets. This common pleas courthouse, to open by 2010, is designed to replace the old Hall of Justice across the street...

...The building's spans of windows are positioned to take advantage of the path of the sun, bringing in natural light and helping with heating and cooling.

"Passive solar techniques can save between 20 (percent) and 25 percent of energy costs," Brehm said...

The DesignGroup's building at 515 East Main Street also employs passive solar heating and cooling advantages.

As folks put together their comments about the building's design, one thing to keep in mind is that in some cases we may be seeing form-over-function when considering the amount and placement of windows. FInding a balance between the two (form vs. function) is not without without it's challenges, especially when trying to take advantage of passive solar benefits.

Regardless, it seems the "green" movement which has been around for decades has finally reached a position of prominence high enough to gain the attention and interest of the masses, enough so to make its way into the way we are going about building our public facilities.

"How green is your neighborhood?" CoolTown Studios

Link: CoolTown Studios: How green is your neighborhood?.

A few months ago we wrote that neighborhoods can now be green certified, via the US Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development program.

Now that green building is becoming more of an expectation for emerging populations, here's their criteria for what a green neighborhood should have, with (R) representing requirements and others below it being assigned points for ratings:...

"The (Too High) Price of Being Green Deters Homeowners" RealEstateJournal.com

Link: The (Too High) Price of Being Green Deters Homeowners.
Jeff Opdyke
Realestatejournal.com
May 21, 2007

To quote a famous frog, "It's not easy being green."

I'm finding just how accurate that is after having shopped recently for a new car, and as my wife, Amy, and I remodel our bathroom. Where possible, we're trying to think environmentally. But I have to say: Kermit was right. Green isn't easy.

The reason: Green is expensive. Hybrid cars are pricier than their equivalent counterparts and require years of operation before you recoup that cost -- assuming you own the car long enough. Solar panels are insanely pricey and make no sense economically. Even the tankless water heater I recently bought was much costlier than a traditional unit...

"LEED-ND Pilot Launches" Congress for the New Urbanism

Link: LEED-ND Pilot Launches
Congress for the New Urbanism
February 7, 2007

...With the release of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-Neighborhood Development pilot rating system this week, it is clearer than ever that green building design and community form shouldn't go it alone. The most powerful strategy for achieving environmental sustainability is incorporating high-performance buildings in compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that reduce driving by making walking and transit attractive options for commuting and other trips.

A joint venture of the Congress for the New Urbanism, the US Green Building Council, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, LEED-ND acknowledges that more than a third of greenhouse gases and a similar share of other environmental impacts are generated by buildings (primarily heating and cooling them) but another third is generated transporting people and goods to and from those buildings. Through a multi-year research and review process, the LEED-ND partners have identified draft criteria that will guide developments to achieve significant improvements in sustainability on both of these fronts, as well as related ones such as water management and habitat preservation...

Mayor, SWACO & Columbus Public Schools Team Up to Get Green with Neighborhood Recycling Drop Boxes

press release
Getting Green is getting easier thanks to a new partnership that will be placing dozens of new recycling bins in neighborhoods where they will be easy to access for Columbus residents. SWACO is working with Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Columbus Public Schools to place drop off recycling centers at every CPS school building, adding 132 new neighborhood drop locations (for a total more than 200 SWACO drop off centers in Franklin County).

“We believe that more families will recycle if we make it free and easy, and that’s what our neighborhood drop locations are all about – letting families Get Green close to home,” said Mayor Coleman. “This is an opportunity to teach our children valuable lessons about recycling and building a more sustainable world for the future. I’m grateful to our partners for the work they’ve done to nearly double the number of neighborhood recycling drop locations.”

The additional equipment involved in the expanded recycling drop program will be funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The drop boxes will be part of SWACO’s recycling program with Columbus Schools.

“SWACO believes this added convenience will spur those who have been hesitant to recycle into joining the growing number of residents who do,” says SWACO Executive Director Mike Long. “We have seen an increase of 17% in the last two years at our 70 drop off recycling locations,” adds Long. “What’s even more encouraging is that during the first four months of 2007, usage is up another 9%!”

Long also points out there is a potential savings to the City in avoided costs. Currently the City pays $46.50 to deliver a ton of trash to one of SWACO’s transfer stations. It will cost the City just $25.00 a ton to process a ton of recyclables through SWACO. The goal of the program for the first year is to double the amount of recyclables collected by SWACO. In 2006, the figure was almost 9,600 tons (9,593 tons). SWACO will collect the bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and other recyclables and will deliver everything to the Rumpke Material Recovery Facility on Fields Avenue near the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

Columbus Schools Superintendent Gene Harris welcomes the expanded program and sees a great benefit for students. "We are very pleased to partner with SWACO and the City of Columbus on this project. Recycling is an easy way to protect our environment, reduce litter, and conserve natural resources. It's my hope that today's students can learn from what we've started here today and become even better stewards of our world."

Columbus Schools will use the recycling containers as well. Previously the district’s trash hauler managed the recyclables. The SWACO/Columbus Public Schools recycling program started in October 2004. Through the assistance of another ODNR grant, SWACO was able to place recycling containers in each of the 5,500 Columbus Schools classrooms. It is projected that for the 2006-2007 school year, Columbus Public Schools will recycle approximately 1,000 tons.

Quick Facts

Expanded Recycling

► Program will add 132 drop box locations. Currently SWACO has 70 locations in Franklin County for free recycling.

► In 2 years, usage at SWACO drop boxes has increased by 17%. For the first 4 months of 2007, usage is up 9%.
► Drop boxes will be placed over the summer and available for school use with the new school year. Kick off of the public program will start shortly after the new school year.

► City currently pays SWACO $46.50 a ton for trash disposal at SWACO transfer stations. The charge to the City for a ton of recycled materials through this program will be $25.00.

► The program goal is 10,000 tons of recyclables annually. In 2006, close to 9,600 tons of recyclables were collected at SWACO drop box locations in Franklin County.

► City residents also have the option of subscribing to curb side service with Rumpke.

"IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GREEN" The Other Paper

Link: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GREEN
Joe Recchie thinks there’s big money in environmentally friendly condos
By Sara Smith
The Other Paper
May 10, 2007 

...“The North Block phase will be the largest solar array in a residential building in Ohio,” Recchie said as he strolled through the development, pointing to an empty clump of land. “It’s also the largest number of units with geothermal heating and cooling in Ohio.”

Recchie said the North Block is a natural extension of the development’s holistic approach to creating a green community. Other eco-friendly elements include shorter, more walkable blocks and carport roofs covered in plant material. And, he said, green isn’t just a figurative concept...

http://northblock.com

"Development industry says, 'Building green is here to stay'" CoolTown Studios

Link: CoolTown Studios: Development industry says, "Building green is here to stay".

Last week the leading real estate developers around the world gathered at the ULI's Developing Green: Integrating Sustainability with Success conference to better understand the future of green building. Their summation? Not only is green building here to stay (as this official conference summary is titled), but it's fast becoming a standard, and that's a good thing considering 40% of the carbon gas emissions released in the U.S. comes from commercial buildings...

"Turn on common sense" The Columbus Dispatch

Link:  Turn on common sense
Americans' dogged dislike of compact fluorescent bulbs defies reason
The Columbus Dispatch
May 5, 2007

...The big picture is just as impressive: Over its lifetime, one bulb generates 450 fewer pounds of greenhouse gases from power plants than the number of incandescent bulbs needed for that same fixture would consume in that same period.

The U.S. government's Energy Star program estimates that if