Electronic Waste

Electronic waste is beginning to gain widespread attention as our society continues to mass produce and mass dispose of electronics. As of late, electronic waste, also known as electronic scrap, has been discarded to third world countries, where impoverished scavengers cut and burn old electronics to profit from the valuable materials within. In addition to putting their own health at risk by taking apart electronics without proper safety gear, these electronics hounds are endangering the health of their homes by releasing contaminants into the surrounding air and water.

Solar panels have obvious benefits for the environment, and environmental scientists are currently experimenting with more and more uses for them, from heating conductors to cars. But on the downside, solar panels also contain the same harmful materials found in many electronics, including cadmium, silicon tetrachloride, selenium, and sulfur hexafluoride. Of course, green-conscious solar power producers are hoping to maintain the eco-credibility of their solar products.

Solar Panel Recycling

Fortunately, there is some motion towards solar panel recycling, but it is still very limited.  Arizone-based First Solar, the world’s number one PV-cell manufacturer, has initiated an end-of-life solar module collection and recycling program. It currently recycles 95% percent of metal-rich semiconductor materials and 90% of module glass. But while the recycling program is free-of-charge, it is only applicable to First Solar products. This seems to be a common drawback with electronic waste recyclers. If they were truly concerned with the current state of electronic waste, wouldn’t they accept any form or brand of e-scrap? Yes, I’m more likely to buy new First Solar products, knowing they offer free recycling, but where does that leave me with my old, unusable solar panels?

Unfortunately, First Solar does not expect much solar recycling business any time soon. Though the company believes the service should pick up within the next ten to fifteen years, they might also want to consider producing solar products with waste-conscious updates in the meantime. As one of the premier solar recyclers, First Solar needs to set an example for other solar manufacturers. The addition of solar recycling plants around the country will not only benefit our earth, but create countless jobs in a struggling economy. Solar panels also are embedded with numerous precious materials, including pure silver. An effective recycling system could assist in the protection of our Earth’s valuable natural resources. Creating a solar panel from recycled materials costs nearly the same amount as creating a solar panel from new materials and requires only one-third of the energy. With these statistics, it’s obviously time to start recycling solar panels. Let’s not hurt our earth with the very products we use to protect it.

Written by Lynn Jackson

The three-day conference include educational programs, green product exhibits, local green home tours and the Muddy Boots Mixer, which is a networking and awards event.

“These awards recognize the best and most innovative builders and remodelers in green building”, said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “The demand for green building is growing in leaps and bounds, and these winners set a great example of what can be accomplished in terms of sustainable and energy efficient building practices.”

Five single-family home projects were honored:

• Purdue University of West Lafayette, Ind., for Project of the Year, Single-Family Concept and Research- Academic
• Meritage Homes of Goodyear, Ariz., for Project of the Year, Single-Family Production Builder
• TC Legend Homes/Zero-Energy Plans LLC of Coupeville, Wash., for Project of the Year, Single-Family Concept and Research- Enterprise
• Chandler Design-Build Inc. of Mebane, N.C., for Project of the Year, Single-Family Small Volume Builder
• MGM Construction of San Francisco, for Project of the Year, Single-Family Custom Builder

Two remodeling projects and one multifamily project were also honored:

• Trifecta Construction Solutions of Fort Meyers, Fla., for Multifamily Project of the Year
• G HOME of Rocking Horse Redevelopment of Phoenix, Ariz., for Remodeling Project of the Year Under $100,000
• G HOME by Rocking Horse Redevelopment of Phoenix, Ariz., for Remodeling Project of the Year Over $100,000

Two awards were given to individuals or organizations for their efforts in green building advocacy:

• G STREET of Scottsdale, Ariz., as Remodeler Advocate of the Year
• The Mungo Companies of Irmo, S.C. for Builder Advocate of the Year

A new award, NAHB Green Outstanding Contribution Award, was also presented to T.W. Bailey, of WaterMark Custom Builders in Frisco, Texas.

For more information on this year’s awards, visit the National Green Building Awards website.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed during a ceremony at Georgia Perimeter.

WHO: Gwen Keyes Fleming, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4;
Dr. Anthony Tricoli, President, Georgia Perimeter College
Hank M. Huckaby, Chancellor, University System of Georgia Board of Regents
Karla Drenner, Georgia State Representative

WHAT: EPA and Georgia Perimeter College Sign MOU on Campus Greening and Environmental Careers

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. EST

WHERE: Georgia Perimeter College – Clarkston Campus
Atlanta Center for Civic Engagement & Service Learning
555 N. Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA

For more information, contact Dawn Harris-Young at 404-562-8421 or harris-young.dawn@epa.gov.

Equifax Finance Blog writer Mechel Glass shares some tips in her article Need Extra Cash? Host a Yard Sale.

First, you need to pick a date for the yard sale. Some last for the entire weekend while others are a one-day affair. Once you select the date, make sure and get any necessary approval from your homeowner’s association or local government. Also, some neighborhoods designate a specific weekend or two each year for yard sales and do not allow yard sales at any other time.

Second, try and recruit neighbors to help. Turning your yard sale into a multi-family yard sale can increase traffic and allow for greater advertising.

Third, be sure and promote your yard sale heavily. You can check your local newspaper for yard-sale specific ads. Online sites like Craigslist.org or garagesalesource.com have resources to help with advertising. Be sure to be descriptive about some of the key items you have – baby items, collectibles, furniture, etc. If there are many families taking part in the sale, use terms like “multi-family” or “neighborhood sale” to help let buyers know.

To ensure that your yard sale is a success, be sure and read Glass’ full article.

Moving Planet is a day in which the entire world is asked to make a call for climate action and move beyond fossil fuels.

On that day, people are urged to bike, skate, march, run or walk to send out the message that our climate needs help.

There will be groups moving around national capitals, state houses and city halls, and others hosting their own Moving Planet Day events.

One such organization will be taking participants on a bike tour of metro Chicago real estate that promotes sustainability to the neighborhoods of suburban Oak Park.

You might know that Oak Park, Illinois, was the city in which the greatest architect of the 20th century, Frank Lloyd Wright, spent the first 20 years of his career.

But did you know that the term “organic architecture” — the practice of building a structure to unite seamlessly with the nature around it — is a term that was coined by Wright? The practice is widely used in green building today.

While Wright’s Oak Park home and studio are not on Saturday’s tour, the event is sure to inspire all homeowners to add green initiatives to their own abodes.

To learn more about the Oak Park bike tour or Moving Planet Day, please check out our story at ChicagolandRealEstateForum.com.

Happy moving!

HomeAid will work alongside Decatur Cooperative Ministry and WellHome in the project.

The project also has national significance. This particular retrofit is the first undertaking of HomeAid America’s national Environmental Sustainability Program. Funded by a $600,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, the program aims to benefit existing facilities for the homeless by retrofitting and installing energy-efficient upgrades.

Decatur Cooperative Ministry, a nonprofit organization serving homeless families in the Decatur and DeKalb area, operates the home that will undergo the retrofit. DCM and HomeAid’s partnership is a longstanding one as the two are united in their efforts to provide for the temporarily homeless.

To-do items include air sealing, insulating the attic and crawl space, adding a radiant barrier to the roof rafters, tightening ducts, installing energy-efficient lighting and repairing the roof.

General Electric has donated energy-efficient home appliances and lighting that will be installed to make the house greener.

When the retrofit is finished, the home’s energy efficiency will be increase, cutting down on operating costs and utility bills. The modifications from the retrofit are estimated to reduce the home’s energy usage by about 40 percent.

For more information about HomeAid Atlanta or The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, visit the organizations online.

“We worked with our suppliers to identify affordable energy-efficient products that will provide a good return on investment over the life of the home,” said Mitch Block, marketing director for The Orchards Group.

Thus the Eco-Comfort home was born! Ground has been broken on this home at its popular Forsyth County community The Orchards of Brannon Oak Farm.

Usually a $10,900 upgrade on the Winston, the smart buyer who purchases this demonstration home at Brannon Oak Farm will pay only $7,900.  Specific upgraded features are available individually or as a package.

The Eco-Comfort Home package includes:

• A tankless hot water system with a re-circulating pump providing instant hot water.
• A high-efficiency heating and air conditioning system.
• A radiant barrier between the roof shingles and the attic which keeps the attic (and house) 20% cooler.
• Increased insulation for greater hot and cold protection.
• Water saving Dual flush commodes.

The home features the Winston plan. This floor plan features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a room that can be a parlor or a third bedroom.  The model has a living and dining room open to the kitchen, a sunroom, a screened porch, a large master bedroom with walk-in closet and true walk-up attic storage. Eco-Comfort features, availability and pricing may vary in other floor plans.

For more information on the Eco-Comfort home, visit The Orchards Group’s website.

Several important topics and courses that will be offered include:

• Advanced Green Building: Building Science (two-day session)
• Advanced Green Building: Project Management (two-day session)
• Business Management for Building Professionals
• Green Building for Building Professionals (two-day session)
• Power Hour Breakout Sessions with product demos

People who attend the Advanced Green Building sessions will be happy to know that they count towards receiving the new Master Certified Green Professional designation. In addition to these sessions, there are networking opportunities, breakout sessions and over 100 exhibits for people to meet other green building professionals and learn about the latest trends. Attendees will also be taken on a Home Tour where they will see real-world examples of green principles. And for those who want to see who’s been making a splash in the industry, the NAHB Green Building Awards Dinner will be held at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center.

Whether you’re a builder, remodeler, developer, product manufacturer or home inspector, the National Green Building Conference & Expo can benefit you. The conference takes place at the Salt Palace Convention Center  from May 1 through 3 with pre-conference courses on April 27 through 30.

For more information and to register, visit the NAHB website.

On the surface, social media may not seem like an integral or even necessary piece of green building marketing. However, more and more, consumers are turning to the internet to find out about the latest in energy efficiency and green building practices. Those in the green building industry who use tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs and Twitter to promote their products and services will find that they can drive more traffic to their sites and set themselves apart from their competition.

To help RESNET attendees navigate through the world of social media, Mitch Levinson, mRELEVANCE, LLC managing partner, is presenting a seminar today. During his discussion, Mitch will teach participates how to use social media and key words to promote their businesses and develop relationships with consumers.

The session will teach:

• How to increase exposure through the use of social media tools
• What social media tool are out there and what works best based on individual needs
• Real-life examples of social media and their influence on the marketplace

For more information about RESNET, visit the website. If you’re unable to attend the conference, but still want to incorporate these tools in your marketing plan, contact Mitch at mRELEVANCE.

About the Project:
Project Location: 3310 Shoshone St in NW Denver

Owner / GC: Urban Green Development

Project Goal: A fundraising project to showcase and network sustainable building contractors and green suppliers.

Background: Being built in one of Denver’s “hot spot” building neighborhoods, NW Denver’s historic Highland area, “The Green Cube” will be the city’s first LEED Platinum single family home, the highest sustainable/built green rating possible. When complete the home is expected use just 40% of the energy of a code built home.
The home is scheduled to open in late fall off 2011 as a Green Built Show Home in conjunction with U.S. Built Green Council, and will be featured on the DIY Network throughout the process. The home will bring together area contractors, suppliers using sustainable and reusable products as well as serve as a fundraising project to support an annual scholarship fund enabling North High students to pursue careers in the Green Building Industry. When complete the Show Home will host tours, open houses, seminars and special events all raising money for North High career scholarships.

The Show Home will host 3,000-5,000 trade professionals and consumers during the month of July 2011 The project offers the opportunity to partner and network with the nearly 100 green trades, suppliers and services required to build the home from start to finish. Please contact Brett Robben at 303-433-6212 or email brettrobben@comcast.net