The power of green goo

Germany debuts the first-ever algae-powered building. A residential complex in Hamburg, Germany, known as the BIQ House, has made its debut with algae as the main power source. It is a net-zero structure. Surprisingly, it only took three years to be completed.

Like fermented grapes? Like public lands and wildlife? You may have to choose…

Changing temperatures have cascading effects. Growing areas for wine-producing regions are in jeopardy as temperatures rise. Wine-producers from around the world explore alternate lands for vineyards. Not surprisingly, prime vineyard lands happen to fall in primo regions like the already densely inhabited Mediterranean or wildlife corridors of the Yellowstone to Yukon ranch land.

Why go hybrid when methane is cheaper?

Russia deals with “pain at the gas pump” by adopting natural gas cars which run on methane. Despite fears that cars will explode while using natural gas in tanks on cars, the savings is enough for people to install aftermarket conversion kits. One user reportedly gets 140 miles on about a gallon of gas, which costs him the equivalent of $3.80 in Russian rubles.

Honeybee in peril

Dramatic decreases in honeybee populations across Spain and the United States have prompted evaluation of the die-offs. Many signs point to the use of neonics, a class of pesticide that is widely used. However, disparities exist as honeybee populations in Canada and Australia – both countries that use pesticides – seem to be unaffected. Recently, a new Harvard Study was released and links widespread colony collapse disorder to a specific pesticide called imidacloprid.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) governs the LEED rating systems which it describes as a “voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven program that provides third-party verification of green buildings.”

Now 13 years old, the LEED rating systems have been used to certify projects in 135 countries. LEED rating systems can be applied to a variety of building project types including home construction, commercial buildings, existing building operations and maintenance, community development and more. The program offers certifications at four levels (certified, silver, gold, or platinum) depending on how many rating “points” the project earns.

The specific green building requirements vary depending on the rating system a project applies under, but the main categories in which projects can earn credit towards certification include: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Projects can also earn bonus credits for particularly innovative techniques, or for addressing environmental issues specific to their location.

LEED is frequently updated based on continued research and input from USGBC staff and volunteer committees. LEED Version 4 is next up and according to USGBC, is anticipated to include changes like new market sectors (for example, data centers), increased technical rigor (for example, life cycle analysis of materials), and streamlined services including an improved LEED Online platform for applicants.

Living Building Challenge

A relative newcomer, the Living Building Challenge was launched in 2006 as a standard available to the public. The Living Building Institute (LBI) was founded to administer the challenge and certified its first projects in 2010. The LBI describes the challenge as “the built environment’s most rigorous performance standard. It calls for the creation of building projects at all scales that operate as cleanly, beautifully and efficiently as nature’s architecture.”

The program offers three levels of certification (petals, net zero energy, or full certification). The challenge takes seven building performance categories into account including: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty. Projects must be operational for 12 months prior to being evaluated for certification so that the certification can be based on actual performance. The challenge includes 20 requirements, most striking of which include the requirement that the project be energy and water self-sufficient.

Example – Green Roof Anacostia Gateway courtesy of GarberDC via flickr creative commons.

As the New York Times reported this week, the Bullitt Center in Seattle claims that it will be the greenest commercial building in the world when it officially opens on April 22, 2013. The project is seeking Living Building Challenge certification and includes water-related features like a green roof, composting toilets, grey-water treatment, permeable pavement and green stormwater infrastructure, all in the name of protecting nearby Puget Sound. The building will use solar arrays to generate as much power as it uses, with strict metering for tenants.

While every green building rating system has its critics and proponents, these two seem to be continually raising the bar in building performance. Considering that buildings can take a significant portion of a country’s resources (39% of U.S. energy use goes to buildings (PDF)) and that there is a growing/modernizing world population, a continued effort to improve building performance will be critical to resource and environmental protection efforts in the future.

How “green” is your home or office? Have you ever worked with a green building rating system? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons!

 The Baltimore Tree Trust has designed the TreeKeepers program to train and certify interested city residents in certain aspects of tree care. After completion of a series of classes, hands-on training, and tree planting workdays, TreeKeepers will be permitted to do minor pruning of street trees on their own block and lead small groups of volunteers for tree plantings in their neighborhoods.

Image courtesy of TreeBaltimore

Baltimore averages one tree for every six residents, which is about half the number of trees per capita as in most other large cities. About 4% of our trees are lost annually to destruction, natural decline, and removal. In order to reach the goals of Tree Baltimore, the City’s plan for increasing the tree canopy from 27% to 40% by the year 2040, at least 25,000 trees must be established annually. In reality, actual planting rates fall short– the combined efforts of organizations working towards this goal within the city limits plant less than 10,000 trees per year. They need help and they’re turning towards citizens that are passionate about trees, empowering them to be partners through the TreeKeepers program.

TreeKeepers 101 provided a broad overview of trees in Baltimore’s urban landscape. As a shameless tree-hugger with a deep appreciation for the value of education, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to learn about my city and the agencies and organizations that are working to make it greener, and how I can help. Maybe most important, it was energizing to be in a room filled with people who are passionate about the same issues that resonate with me.

TreeKeepers 101 will be offered again this summer, dates TBD. For more information on the TreeKeepers program, check out the Baltimore Tree Trust website.  Washington, DC has a similar program (Citizen Forester) run by Casey Trees. Stay tuned for my report on TreeKeepers 102: Science of Trees – coming soon to a blog near you!

Earth Month is in Full Swing!

Earth Day is April 22nd, and this month will bring a host of environmentally focused activities around the world!

In honor of Earth Day, the Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging people to “Pick 5” for the environment, which entails pledging 5 environmentally focused actions. For example, you might pledge to “help keep water clean by using biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products” or “learn about composting, try it out! ” Check out their interactive map to see what people have pledged so far!

Sowing the Seeds of Healthy Eating in DC

First Lady Michelle Obama continued the tradition of planting the White House Garden this week. She had help from school children from around the nation. All of the schools that joined the First Lady have made significant improvements to their school lunch programs under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The garden will feed the First Family, White House Guests, and local charities.

Aging Pipeline System May be to Blame for Spill in Arkansas

Updates on the ExxonMobil Oil Spill in Arkansas continue and while the exact cause is still unknown, the spill is calling attention to potential risks of aging pipeline systems. The Pegasus pipeline, where this spill occurred near Little Rock, is 65 years old.

The Andes create a rain-shadow effect as moist air rises on one side of the mountains (orographic precipitation) leaving no moisture when the air passes over. (Chile and Argentina as seen from Space December 24, 2001 courtesy of NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr. Photo Credit Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC)

Watering the Desert in Peru

In a massive engineering project, plans are in place to divert water from the Huancabamba river on the water-rich side of the Andes in Peru to the drier Olmos Valley over the next several years in order to expand opportunities for irrigated agriculture. The coastal side of the Andes currently lies in the “rain shadow” of the mountain, receiving less than 2% of the country’s fresh water.

Shy Cherry Blossoms in DC This Year

Peak bloom time for Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms is now estimated to occur from April 6th – 8th. This is the second time the date has been pushed back. According to the National Park Service, recent colder temperatures in Washington, DC will delay the peak bloom, but 70% of the blossoms should be in bloom during the new peak estimate.

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