A field monitor checks a gas meter for leaks. (Photo: Department of Energy)

From Green Right Now Reports

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced today that the first installment of $123 million in federal Recovery funds for weatherization will begin to be released Nov. 2, part of $253 million that the state will use for this purpose.

The Governor said the funding represents an unprecedented level of investment that will help to create new, “green” jobs, save money for struggling families, and stimulate local economic activity as weatherization agencies buy required material, vehicles and equipment.

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By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

When it comes to saving water, we all know that the commode is key battleground. In a typical household – unless people are obsessively washing clothes or taking large baths — more water is used to flush the toilets than for any other single use.

Experts estimate that toilet water consumes from 25 percent to 40 percent of all the water used in a house.

You’ve likely heard about potential solutions. You could enact a household rule, “When it’s yellow…” If you’ve got the constitution for it. You could stick bricks in the back of the tank, but conservation experts advise against that, saying the clay flotsam that will be released could cause a bigger problem by getting caught in that pesky flap mechanism. Then a running toilet would run away with all your water savings.

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By Bill Sullivan
Green Right Now

The next time you take a stack of old newspapers to the recycling bin, you might be helping make your home a more comfortable — and efficient — place.

Cellulose Insulation. (Photo: National Association of Certified Home Inspectors)

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By Bill Sullivan
Green Right Now

If you’ve ever thought about going solar to take a bite out of your utility bills, you may want to take another look: A perfect storm of events, policies and programs currently makes solar more affordable than ever.
The problem: He who hesitates may miss the best deals.
“People say, ‘It’s too [...]

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From Green Right Now Reports

Significantly more Gulf Coast homes and businesses are at risk of disastrous flooding from hurricane-related storm surges than previously recognized by property owners or policymakers, a new study says.

The study also found that government minimum flood elevation requirements for properties vulnerable to storm surge throughout the Gulf Coast region are woefully inadequate. The report comes one year after Hurricane Ike struck and wiped away many of structures on the Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston last September.

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By Hosea Sanders and Sylvia Jones

CHICAGO (WLS) — More people are deciding to save energy by installing solar panels — even while the debate continues over whether they are worth the investment. One way to live green while saving money is to conserve energy. If you’ve ever wondered whether solar panels are really the best way to do that, you can find out through an upcoming “solar tour.” >> Read the full story

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Reported by Susan Vessell
KEYE
(AUSTIN) — New restaurants, bars, office and residential buildings and parking garages are transforming downtown Austin every day.  With all these new structures come new rooftops.  While most of us would think of a roof just being a roof, others see potential beauty.

Austin company turning roofs green… literally

The student housing [...]

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By Tom Kessler
Green Right Now

When it comes to clogged drains, it’s been a struggle to find an effective alternative to the many harsh chemicals that most people rely on to break up trapped debris. But a Houston company has developed a product that is brilliant in its simplicity and has the added benefit of being as green as you can get where brownish goop is involved.

The PermaFLOW Self Cleaning Drain by PF WaterWorks has already won the Best of What’s New Award from Popular Science. It replaces an existing P-trap — that curved section of pipe just below your sink — with an improved version that has been engineered to eliminate the need for secondary maintenance products and procedures such as plunging, caustic drain cleaners and messy drain disassembly.

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From Green Right Now Reports

Rheem Water Heating says its new heat pump water heater achieves an industry-leading Energy Factor of 2.0, or more than twice the energy efficiency of a standard electric storage water heater. The company says the energy-saving design of the integrated air-source HP-50 will help a family reduce its carbon footprint by nearly two tons annually.

Intended for new or replacement residential applications, the unit has a storage capacity of 50 gallons and meets the qualifications for an ENERGY STAR listing. It measures 21 inches in diameter and 75.5 inches tall, making it easier to install in spaces with restricted access such as attics and basement mechanical rooms.

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From Green Right Now Reports:

In the frenzy over the “Cash for Clunkers” program that rewards drivers with up to $4,500 for ditching their old gas-guzzlers in favor of a new fuel-efficient model, many consumers appear to missing a similar though smaller deal on their homes.

ConstructionDeal.com, a Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based web site that helps homeowners find contractors for home improvement projects, did a survey that found nearly 40 percent of respondents were not planning on taking advantage of the $1,500 federal tax credit for energy efficient home improvements. The survey of about 5,000 project owners — primarily homeowners — also found that 25 percent were completely unaware of the tax credit.

Still, 10 percent of those surveyed said they had already taken advantage of energy efficient home improvements. And ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy that helps consumers save money and protect the environment traffic, says traffic to its tax credit web page is skyrocketing.

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By Melissa Segrest
Green Right Now
They’ve been around for hundreds of years, but when you think of a metal roof, energy efficiency and attractive, colorful design may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
Forget about the tin roof on Grandpa’s farmhouse. In recent decades, the industry has evolved to the point that metal roofs [...]

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By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

New green homes can awe-inspiring, both for their groundbreaking designs and their show of techno-muscle. Those tubular daylights, state-of-the-art solar panels, sleek recycled flooring, dehumidifying HVAC systems, complex gray water reclamation systems, louvered light “shelves” and heat-reflecting metal roofs can leave the common homeowner gaping — and wishing.

The truth is most of us won’t be building a brand new green castle, at least not anytime soon — and perhaps there’s something to be said for the alternative; let’s call it “greening in place”.

Almost any home can become more energy friendly, and this “in fill” project can occupy a very important spot in the urban landscape: your own lot!

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