by Eric Bloom

It’s probably a safe bet to assume you’ve never been in or even passed by a zero energy building. The U.S. Department of Energy lists only eight zero energy buildings in the U.S. on its high performance building database (though there are a few others scattered across the U.S.). A number of developers, such as Meritage Homes, have started building zero energy developments around the U.S. In Europe, the Passivhaus standard has been used to build over 40,000 residential and commercial buildings, and the city of Frankfurt, Germany requires it in construction of new public buildings. Still, these represent only a tiny fraction of the total building stock and, for most of the construction world, zero energy design represents an all but unattainable challenge given the up-front costs of deep energy efficiency and renewable energy systems.

Zero energy building, however, is expected to increase dramatically in the construction industry in the next few decades as a set of regulations around the world come into effect. As soon as 2016, the United Kingdom will require zero carbon construction for all residential buildings. Newly constructed dwellings will need to achieve deep levels of energy efficiency (45-60 percent lower than a comparable building built in 2006). That’s just four years away.

Major plans for zero energy buildings are underway throughout the European Union, too, as the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) will require all new commercial and residential buildings to achieve “nearly zero energy” design for public buildings starting in 2019 and all new building construction in 2021. Individual EU Member States are busy defining “nearly zero energy” today and, by the end of the decade, will be implementing nearly zero energy building codes for all new buildings. Assuming that construction activity in the EU rebounds to or near pre-recession levels by then, this will become a more than $1 trillion market, as described in Pike Research’s Zero Energy Buildings report.

Similar legislation targeting specific sectors has been proposed around the world, including Japan and the states of California and Massachusetts, as shown in the above chart. While voluntary zero energy building will continue to grow outside these regions, demand for it will be guaranteed when zero energy is the law of the land, and regions with zero energy codes will represent the largest markets.

Given the new and innovative design approaches required to deliver a zero energy building, companies on many sides of the building industry, from developers and contractors to building equipment and materials vendors, are already developing new strategies to address these markets when these regulations come into effect. This shift is particularly notable in the construction industry, which is hardly considered fast-moving and responsive to change. As these laws come into effect, though, there will be little choice for the industry but to evolve toward zero energy building design.

by Kristy Hessman

When Kaiser Permanente talks about improving the health of its communities, it’s not just talking about doctor visits. The health plan provider has rolled out a lofty plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from its 2008 levels within the next eight years. It plans to meet those goals by making use of renewable energy sources and decreasing energy consumption through conservation.

Greenhouse gas emissions are not only linked to climate change, but can also contribute to a rise in pollution and diseases. For instance, ground-level ozone, created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight, can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Kaiser’s 2008 greenhouse gas emissions were an estimated 819,000 metric tons. That amount jumped to 837,000 by 2010. Under its new plan, Kaiser wants to reduce its emissions by 264,000 metric tons by 2020.

“Kaiser Permanente is committed to creating healthy communities, and it’s critical we work to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment,” Bernard Tyson, president and chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente, said in a statement. “We all take pride in our focus on prevention at Kaiser Permanente, and that includes taking a stand to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

To meet those goals, the company plans to focus on green building techniques to help conserve as much energy as possible. It will also look to renewable energy sources like solar and fuel cell energy to provide cleaner energy for its operations.

Already, Kaiser is working on initiatives in California with Recurrent Energy. Through that partnership Kaiser has installed 11 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation at 11 of its facilities. In terms of fuel cells, the company has agreed to implement 4 MW of fuel-cell generation at seven of its facilities in California by the end of 2012.

The company said it is already supporting wind power by purchasing renewable energy credits that resulted in the a reduction of 12,700 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2011. Additional changes include investing $2.4 million in new lights and window-film installations expected to save roughly $1 million each year in energy costs.

The healthcare company has already garnered acclaim for its green industry practices in the IT world. Computerworld named the company No. 1 in its “User” division of Green IT Organizations. Kaiser stood out for its green data center in Napa, Calif. By using cooling efficiency measures, electricity costs savings at the data center totaled $450,000. The company also earned a $300,000 incentive from the local utility.

“We recognize that, as a health care organization, it is our responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment so that we can better protect people’s health,” Raymond J. Baxter, senior vice president for Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy at Kaiser Permanente, said in a statement. “Our efforts to minimize our impact on the climate reflect a commitment to the total health of our members and our communities.”

by Vivian Nelson Melle

While some eco-warriors may choose to go Grizzly Adams and let their hair grow wild, some of us can’t brave the world with that much hair. Hair deploritories are full of chemicals and disposable razors provide enough plastic to landfills to create a billion-pound Barbie. For those who are not yet ready for Wookie mode, take heart, there are still some methods for hair removal that aren’t too taxing on Mother Earth.

Here are four eco-wise hair removal methods that are simple to use and easily performed at home.

Sugaring

Believed traceable back to the Egyptians, this hair removal system uses items found in the average kitchen. One of the simplest recipes calls for two cups of sugar, 1/4 cup water and a 1/4 cup lemon juice. Place the ingredients into a saucepan and heat to 250 degrees. Use a candy thermometer and maintain vigilance to avoid boiling over. Once you hit the correct temperature remove from heat and allow to cool. use a canning jar to place warm sugar for storing. This sugar syrup will be heated later so canning jars are the best storage choice. Once the syrup is cool enough to place on skin, slather it on using a spoon. You will then take one inch strips of cotton and place on the syruped skin. You’ll allow the strips to set for two minutes and then rip them off like you did a bandage as a child. Hold the skin taught before removing to avoid some discomfort. While this may cause some stinging, the results last much longer than shaving making it a popular choice.

{cc photo courtesy of Mait Jüriado on Flickr}

Threading

This hair removal methods traces back to India where it is still very popular. Because of it’s simplicity of items needed, it is available to most unless, of course, you pay someone to do it for you. Many salons are now offering this method of removal especially for eye brow shaping. All that’s needed is cotton thread and a knowledge of how to hold and roll the thread across the skin. You’ll take about 20-inches of thread and tie it to form a circle. Form an “X” by twisting the thread and then move the center of the “X” to the right then move it to the left. Practice this basic maneuver until it becomes easy. When ready, gently repeat this movement over the skin where the threads will pick up and remove hair as it moves back and forth. This will take some practice but you are sure to find a method and speed which are comfortable for you.

{cc photo courtesy of litlnemo on Flickr}

Shaving

When we discuss shaving, we’re not talking about the disposable razors many have become accustomed to. The old fashioned razors our grandfather probably used are what we’re looking for and they are becoming easier to find. Like the example above, you’re looking for a razor that takes the standard razor blades which are made of stainless steel or similar metal. You need to use caution with these shaving aids and definitely need a shaving lotion or oil to ensure a slick surface for the blade to sweep across. Take your time and use caution on the knees and other curves. We’ve gotten quite use to the razor doing all the work so this method may take some getting use to but the close shave is worth it. To dispose of old blades, tape the edges in masking tape and place them in an old tin container like those Altoids come in. You can also use old cans and add a slot for placing the blades safely. Some older house may still have a slot in the medicine cabinet for sliding the old blades. The used blades simply fall behind the wall.

{cc photo courtesy of scottfeldstein on Flickr}

by Tina Casey

ARPA-E, the federal agency charged with propelling the U.S. into an alternative energy future, has just announced a new round of $150 million in funding for new energy projects that transform the way we generate, transport and store energy. As always with ARPA-E, the point is to connect the best brains in the energy business with financial resources to develop new technologies that don’t make sense to private investors.

New Energy, Old Energy

The new round of funding may reassure ARPA-E watchers who were disappointed in the last round. Announced just last week, that one included $30 million in funding for new technologies related to natural gas vehicles, specifically for lightweight tanks and other equipment that would make natural gas a more viable fuel for passenger cars and other small vehicle. Given the water contamination issues and other concerns involved with natural gas fracking, that doesn’t exactly sound like a long term solution, though on the other hand renewable sources of natural gas are beginning to emerge including landfill gas, sewage gas, manure gas, and gas from cheesemaking and other food processing operations.

More and Better Wind Power

Speaking of brains, some of the best brains in the private investment community are beginning to pump more money into wind power and the Department of Energy just launched a new $180 million effort to develop offshore wind farms, so the time is ripe for new technologies that get more energy bang for the buck out of wind. Aside from more efficient ways to capture wind energy, ARPA-E is also looking for new motors, magnetic materials, electronics, and other turbine components that lead to more efficient conversion of wind energy to electricity.

Future Energy: All of the Above

In addition to covering new renewable energy technologies, the latest round of funding also looks for new technologies that help ease the transition from fossil fuels, including new high efficiency power plants, fuel cells systems that are compatible with fossil fuels, carbon capture, water treatment, and new energy conservation technologies and strategies.

Future Energy: None of the Above

Of the eight categories and dozens of subcategories described in the new funding round, perhaps the most interesting proposals will come under Category 8, “None of the Above,” which has only one subcategory, “Technologies That Do Not Fit In Any Of The Above Categories and Subcategories.” Or, as ARPA-E director Arun Majumdar said in announcing the new funds:

“Today we are calling on our nation’s best and brightest to catalyze energy breakthroughs in all areas imaginable through this Open Funding Opportunity Announcement, which illustrates the true purpose of ARPA-E.”

by Rhonda Winter

The Washington legislature has unanimously passed HB 2349, a bill concerning the sustainable management of beavers. The new law will help to improve the state’s water management infrastructure by relocating and maintaining healthy beaver populations. This proposed law is not only sensible, but also cost-effective. Instead of spending billions to construct concrete dams, this bill supports utilizing natural mechanisms to improve and restore Washington’s riparian ecosystems with families of beavers.

This important restoration work is already being done on a regional scale by the Spokane-based Beaver Solution, a successful program of The Lands Council. The organization works educating the public about the vital role that beavers play in our environment, as well as live trapping entire families of “nuisance” beavers, and safely relocating them to areas where they are needed.

Millions of beavers once populated Washington, but the species was nearly entirely decimated by humans. Beaver dams help to store rainwater, increase groundwater levels, create wetland areas which retain snowmelt, while trapping sediment and making streams much cleaner. Beavers are also a keystone species, whose work helps construct diverse habitats for fish, birds and other wildlife.

Representative Joel Kretz, Neil Beaver, Amanda Parrish, The Lands Council and many others have all been working together to craft and pass this much needed legislation. HB 2349 now awaits the governor’s signature.

In a good sign that solar plant developers will be able to use bonds to finance projects, a bond offering for Topaz Solar Farm has been oversubscribed.

After its successful bond offering of $850 million, Warren Buffet's utility arm is planning a second one to finance its $2.4 billion Topaz Solar Farm in California.

The bond offering was the first for a US solar PV project that's not backed by a Dept of Energy loan guarantee.

Originally, MidAmerican Energy planned to offer a bond for $700 million, but there was so much interest it upped it to $850 million. That too was oversubscribed by over $400 million even though the bond was rated BBB-, the lowest investment grade rating.

It was the first renewable energy project to be rated by the big three rating agencies. The second offering is expected to be for about $450 million.

It's not clear why the project didn't get a higher rating, given the high likelihood that the project will be completed and a power purchase agreement is already signed.

In a time when income investments are scarce, institutional investors are becoming more interested in renewable energy projects because of their reliable income from long term power purchase contracts.

Investors will receive 5.75 percent interest and reach maturity in September 2039. They begin paying this month.

In January, the utility created a separate renewables arm, MidAmerican Renewables. Among investor-owned utilities, MidAmerican has the most installed wind power in the US, totaling 2,284 megawatts when current projects are completed. Besides the two solar plants it recently bought, it plans to invest geothermal and hydro.

In December, 2011, MidAmerican bought one of the world's largest solar PV plants - the 550 MW Topaz project under development in southern California. Immediately after that, it bought a 49 percent stake in the 290 MW Agua Caliente project in Arizona, which is expected to come online in 2014. First Solar is building both projects.

"We can make this sort of investment because MidAmerican retains all of its earnings, unlike other utilities that generally pay out most of what they earn," says Buffett in his annual shareholder letter. "Many more wind and solar projects will almost certainly follow."

Photo by First Solar

A $100,000 electric car (actually, plug-in hybrid) with super style, the Fisker Karma — it’s not the worst present you could receive on your 18th present, and I’m sure (somewhat) greenie Justin Bieber isn’t complaining, after receiving it from his campaign manager for his 18th birthday.

Scott Braun, Bieber’s manager, actually presented Bieber with the car on Ellen (the Ellen Degeneres Show) today.

“We wanted to make sure, since you love cars, that when you’re on the road you are always looking environmentally friendly,” Braun said as DeGeneres smiled large. “And we decided to get you a car that would make you stand out. I think you know where I’m going, and you’re kind of freaking out right now. That’s a Fisker Karma.”

Bieber looked pretty surprised and enthused. Watch the video below:

The Fisker Karma is, of course, a fancy electric car. It’s also, just released in December, reportedly the first luxury electric car with extended range. You may have also noticed that the car includes a solar panel in the roof. But the Fisker Karma isn’t actually the greenest car in the world. The car only gets 30-50 miles on electricity alone.

Chris DeMorro of sister site Gas2 thinks a lot more support should be going to the even more popular, better-performing, and greener electric vehicles made by competitor Tesla than to Fisker, which is facing a bit of trouble with Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantees:

“If anything, Obama needs to cut off Fisker’s funding and double down on Tesla. I know that sounds harsh, but so far Tesla is the only company with the means to build electric cars with the range and performance of conventional gas-powered cars.”

Interestingly, Chris was quite into the Karma back in March 2011 (one year ago). At that time, he wrote: “It seems like its been a decade since Fisker first introduced the world to its super-sexy plug-in hybrid, the Karma (though it’s only just over three years). Finally though, the first Karma is complete, with more to come…. This has been a long time coming, and the Karma is at the top of the list of cars-I’d-give-up-beer-but-not-bacon-for. Never giving up bacon (and there’s always whiskey!)”

Chris now thinks that despite its very sexy look, after a less-than-spectacular release, it won’t come close to meeting its sales targets. He says he’ll be surprised if Fisker sells half of the 10,000 Karmas is expects to sell in 2012. We’ll see. I imagine Bieber getting the car might inspire some others in his income bracket to do so as well.. of course, it might also deter Bieber-haters from getting one. What are your thoughts on this?

Reprinted with permission from Planetsave