Very interesting presentation on the Innovation Potential in Power Generation
Bill Gates on energy: Innovating to zero! | Video on TED.com
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Standardizing the Green Building Standard
It seems every major market in the world is developing some type of GreenBuilding Standard by which to measure the effects on the environment of developing, constructing,and managing building structures.
Traditional measures of such standards include a concern for developing in such a way that it does not impact the existing environment in a negative way. Issues addressed in these green building standards include that the building have a higher level of energy efficiency, that it has some level of renewable energy capacity, that its water use and management is exemplary, that materials employed are sustainable and recycled and other factors impacting the indoor quality, productivity and livability factor of the building are addressed.
However, it seems that as more markets see the potential to develop a green building standard, they are also creating confusion, and potential market cannibalization amongst the differing Green Building Standards.
In the US alone there is LEED, Energy Star, NAHBgreen, and countless state standards developed in tandem. Globally, the confusion continues:
Some examples of green building environmental assessment tools currently in use:
* Australia: Nabers / Green Star
* Brazil: AQUA / LEED Brasil
* Canada: LEED Canada / Green Globes
* People's Republic of China: GBAS
* Finland: PromisE
* France: HQE
* Germany: DGNB
* Kong Hong Kong: HKBEAM
* India: GRIHANational Rating System developed by TERI /LEED India
* Italy: Protocollo Itaca
* Malaysia: GBI Malaysia
* Mexico: LEED Mexico
* Netherlands: BREEAM Netherlands
* New Zealand: Green Star NZ
* Portugal: Lider A
* Singapore: Green Mark
* South Africa: Green Star SA
* Spain: VERDE
* Switzerland: Minergie
* The United States: LEED /Living Building Challenge / Green Globes Build it Green/NAHB NGBS
* The United Kingdom: BREEAM
So as you can see, there really is no such thing as THE Standard for Green Building Standards. It's a myriad of labels, brands, ratings that leave those of us "Accredited Professionals" wondering if we must master all these standards to be globally competitive. Furthermore, what really matters is which standard or label creates the most bang for the buck. Meaning by applying which attributes of these standards will our buildings gain the most energy efficiency, renewable energy, maintain a level of financial competitiveness and marketability, and offer the best inddor and quality standards. In other words become THE STANDARD of Standards.
Recently, to address this parade of standards three of the most widely known green building labels, the UK's BREEAM rating System, the US Green Building Council's - LEED certification, and Australias, Green Star Label signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing them to work together to develop common standards for measuring the environmental impact of new and existing buildings. Yet I wonder if they trully represent the best...
The prized global STANDARD of GreenBuilding is still up for grabs, or maybe there is room for all these labels, standards, schemes, templates to work together...
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Traditional measures of such standards include a concern for developing in such a way that it does not impact the existing environment in a negative way. Issues addressed in these green building standards include that the building have a higher level of energy efficiency, that it has some level of renewable energy capacity, that its water use and management is exemplary, that materials employed are sustainable and recycled and other factors impacting the indoor quality, productivity and livability factor of the building are addressed.
However, it seems that as more markets see the potential to develop a green building standard, they are also creating confusion, and potential market cannibalization amongst the differing Green Building Standards.
In the US alone there is LEED, Energy Star, NAHBgreen, and countless state standards developed in tandem. Globally, the confusion continues:
Some examples of green building environmental assessment tools currently in use:
* Australia: Nabers / Green Star
* Brazil: AQUA / LEED Brasil
* Canada: LEED Canada / Green Globes
* People's Republic of China: GBAS
* Finland: PromisE
* France: HQE
* Germany: DGNB
* Kong Hong Kong: HKBEAM
* India: GRIHANational Rating System developed by TERI /LEED India
* Italy: Protocollo Itaca
* Malaysia: GBI Malaysia
* Mexico: LEED Mexico
* Netherlands: BREEAM Netherlands
* New Zealand: Green Star NZ
* Portugal: Lider A
* Singapore: Green Mark
* South Africa: Green Star SA
* Spain: VERDE
* Switzerland: Minergie
* The United States: LEED /Living Building Challenge / Green Globes Build it Green/NAHB NGBS
* The United Kingdom: BREEAM
So as you can see, there really is no such thing as THE Standard for Green Building Standards. It's a myriad of labels, brands, ratings that leave those of us "Accredited Professionals" wondering if we must master all these standards to be globally competitive. Furthermore, what really matters is which standard or label creates the most bang for the buck. Meaning by applying which attributes of these standards will our buildings gain the most energy efficiency, renewable energy, maintain a level of financial competitiveness and marketability, and offer the best inddor and quality standards. In other words become THE STANDARD of Standards.
Recently, to address this parade of standards three of the most widely known green building labels, the UK's BREEAM rating System, the US Green Building Council's - LEED certification, and Australias, Green Star Label signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing them to work together to develop common standards for measuring the environmental impact of new and existing buildings. Yet I wonder if they trully represent the best...
The prized global STANDARD of GreenBuilding is still up for grabs, or maybe there is room for all these labels, standards, schemes, templates to work together...
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Are we Destroying ourselves from Within..
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
My answer to the following article...
As Ariel Durant once stated, “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” We are facing a transcendental moment in our time. If we do nothing about Energy independence we will continue on a dangerous path maybe worse than what we experienced with 911. If we do no move towards developing a competitive stance in REnewables, the United States will continue to slide, and fall from a position of leadership in innovation, technology positioning and lose to Germany, China, Japan and other countries who have made a moral, and strategic decision to be the leaders, and break the chains of slavery to oil and fossil fuels. If continue to bicker like children, and avoid the reality that we are living in a world where Climate Change is ever more palpable, we will simply succumb to our demise, and "destroy ourselves from within."
My answer to the following article...
As Ariel Durant once stated, “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” We are facing a transcendental moment in our time. If we do nothing about Energy independence we will continue on a dangerous path maybe worse than what we experienced with 911. If we do no move towards developing a competitive stance in REnewables, the United States will continue to slide, and fall from a position of leadership in innovation, technology positioning and lose to Germany, China, Japan and other countries who have made a moral, and strategic decision to be the leaders, and break the chains of slavery to oil and fossil fuels. If continue to bicker like children, and avoid the reality that we are living in a world where Climate Change is ever more palpable, we will simply succumb to our demise, and "destroy ourselves from within."
Monday, December 15, 2008
SolarPathfinder - finding the SUN
I came across this cool little company who makes a very useful tool for finding the Sun. The Solar Pathfinder™ gives an entire year’s solar potential for a given site in just seconds. This non-electronic instrument will optimize solar energy extraction. AWESOME :-) Check it out. 
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Thursday, November 20, 2008
SOLARMOBILE - from the TrueGreen Automotive Group
From Solar Power to Cars -
So if Opel is to be sold to SolarWorld, then why can't we sell Ford and GM to SunEdison? or EverGreen? I think this would propel forward the TrueGreening of the Automobile industry and create a SolarMobile we can all dream of. No more nasty, stinky gasoline and ending our dependency of foreign petroleum. FINALLY - we would would re-invent the car after 100 years of engine stagnation.
The excuse that "there is no capital" is unacceptable"..
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Thursday, September 18, 2008
DRILL BABY DRILL.. YUCK.. How about USE YOUR BRAIN BABY USE YOUR BRAIN!!!!!!
The Battle Between our political "leaders" continues on the issue of Energy Independence. Take a look at this video...
Some "Highlights" of what is up for grabs:
House of Reps. passes bill that allows more offshore drilling, repeals tax cuts for oil industry
Lifting of offshore drilling ban a top Republican priority
White House says bill is full of "poison pills" that show "lack of seriousness"
Prospects for bill in the Senate are unclear; time is running out before elections
Why don't we change the message and stop thinking about Drilling, and move towards Inventing.. Inventing and innovating on all fronts. Unleashing an entrepreneurial deluge of ideas, visions, and execution. Why are we still thinking about Drilling when we could invent so many other ways to generate energy independence? Is our country that incompetent that we still believe our only solution is oil? NO NO NO..I have faith in our ability to create "INTELLIGENT-ABUNDANCE." I am convinced that if our Government creates a framework of incentives that will drive investors, research and entrepreneurs to move forward we will truly unleash - THE GREEN MONSTER and thereby create a GREEN RIGHTS MOVEMENT.. I HAVE A dream!! Sound Familiar?? :)
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Some "Highlights" of what is up for grabs:
House of Reps. passes bill that allows more offshore drilling, repeals tax cuts for oil industry
Lifting of offshore drilling ban a top Republican priority
White House says bill is full of "poison pills" that show "lack of seriousness"
Prospects for bill in the Senate are unclear; time is running out before elections
Why don't we change the message and stop thinking about Drilling, and move towards Inventing.. Inventing and innovating on all fronts. Unleashing an entrepreneurial deluge of ideas, visions, and execution. Why are we still thinking about Drilling when we could invent so many other ways to generate energy independence? Is our country that incompetent that we still believe our only solution is oil? NO NO NO..I have faith in our ability to create "INTELLIGENT-ABUNDANCE." I am convinced that if our Government creates a framework of incentives that will drive investors, research and entrepreneurs to move forward we will truly unleash - THE GREEN MONSTER and thereby create a GREEN RIGHTS MOVEMENT.. I HAVE A dream!! Sound Familiar?? :)
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
Monday, September 8, 2008
SurVival
Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader
“Every morning a Squirrel wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest car or it will be killed. Every morning a Vulcher wakes up. It knows it must hope the slowest Squirrel does not outrun the slowest car or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Squirrel or a Vulcher... when the sun comes up, you'd better be praying.”
Is this what we want the race for OIL to be? A hideous race? STOP our dependency on Foreign Oil, STOP our dependency on Dirty Energy sources, STOP playing Squirrel or Vulcher - Let's reinvent our SURVIVAL capacity - let's learn and be the SWAN!
Music by: David Rivera http://www.dapperandspruce.com
“Every morning a Squirrel wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest car or it will be killed. Every morning a Vulcher wakes up. It knows it must hope the slowest Squirrel does not outrun the slowest car or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Squirrel or a Vulcher... when the sun comes up, you'd better be praying.”
Is this what we want the race for OIL to be? A hideous race? STOP our dependency on Foreign Oil, STOP our dependency on Dirty Energy sources, STOP playing Squirrel or Vulcher - Let's reinvent our SURVIVAL capacity - let's learn and be the SWAN!
Music by: David Rivera http://www.dapperandspruce.com
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