The Department of Energy announced $10 million has been awarded to 16 cities for 40 new Solar America Cities Special Projects. The funds, made through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will enable the cities to increase solar energy use in their communities through innovative programs and policies that the government believes can be replicated across the nation.

The cities chosen for these awards came from the group of 25 large U.S. cities that are part of the DOE’s Solar America Cities program, which recognizes the participating cities as partners highly committed to solar technology adoption at the local level. Those cities already have been given millions of dollars in funds and technical assistance to accelerate solar adoption.

To this point, the cities have used the funding to develop solar financing models, improve solar permitting processes, and create training courses for solar installers, among other uses. The DOE said this new award will enable the cities to scale up their most promising projects and concepts to overcome key barriers to urban solar energy use. The DOE plans to share the lessons learned and best practices from these projects with local governments throughout the nation through a substantial outreach effort planned to launch in early 2010.

The DOE has selected the following Solar America Cities Special Projects:

Austin, TX

• Solar Curriculum Development and School Demonstration Projects

Berkeley, CA

• Smart Solar Regional Expansion and Solar Map Enhancements

Boston, MA

• Solar Evacuation Route

Madison, WI

• MadiSUN Community Solar Financing
• Target Marketing Solar to Businesses
• Solar Business Center

Milwaukee, WI

• Solar Hot Water Business Council
• Solar Water Heating Demonstration Projects and Best Practices Manual
• Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing
• Solar School Swap

Minneapolis – Saint Paul, MN

• Solar for District Heating and Cooling

New Orleans, LA

• Third Party Solar Tax Credit Implementation
• Sustainable Energy Financing District Implementation

New York City, NY

• Smart Solar City Data Acquisition System
• Community Solar Financing
• Smart Solar Virtual Community

Portland, OR

• Solar Now! Regional Outreach Campaign
• Neighborhood-Based Volume Solar Purchasing
• Residential Solar Power Purchase Agreement Model for Utility-Bill Financing
• Neighborhood-Scale Distributed Energy Systems

Salt Lake City, UT

• Solar Rebate Program Expansion and Third Party PPA Legal Analysis
• Financing Options for Mid to Large Scale Solar Systems

San Diego, CA

• Solar Financing Options for Multifamily Affordable Housing
• Solar-Powered Fire Shelter Integration into Disaster Response Planning

San Francisco, CA

• Debt-Financed Solar Water Heating Retrofits for Affordable Housing
• San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program (SF²)
• Commercial Solar Power Purchase Agreement Model
• Solar Financing for Public Schools

San José, CA

• Property Assessed Solar Financing through Joint Powers Authority
• Solar Loans for City Staff
• Qualified Energy Conservation Bond Financing for Revolving Solar Loan Fund
• Streamlined Regional Solar Permitting Process
• Solar Train the Trainer Internship Program
• Solar Career Training for At-Risk Youth
• Green Vision Education and Demonstration Center

Santa Rosa, CA

• Clean Energy Advocate

Seattle, WA

• Community Solar Financing through Municipal Utility

Tucson, AZ

• Creative Financing for Municipal Solar Installations
• Solar One Stop Shop
• Solar Integration into Green Building Codes and Infrastructure Planning

(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 around West Campus used to be scarce.  Now the area is bustling with places to live, study and relax.  Eleanor McKinney is a landscape architect and is the first certified green roof professional in Austin.  She came up with something unique for one student housing rooftop, and now it’s covered in plants; a literal definition of “going green.” >> Read the full story

One or two of the seven dwarfs would enjoy these houses, but certainly not all of them, and forget about Snow White. In Peter Pan, the lost boys made such a house for Wendy. And when Alice landed in Wonderland, she too experienced the tiny house phenomenon.

So, now in 2009, what’s the appeal of a home that ranges 100 to 800 square feet? Is there a market for them? Are people really downsizing to this level?

The economy may be one factor, but most folks who are attracted to these miniature homes are seeking a simpler, scaled down lifestyle –one that is kinder to the environment. Such a home uses less energy and takes advantage of renewable resources.

Simon Hare, a designer/builder in the Boston area, has resurrected an 150-year-old former gunsmith workshop and is now living in a very efficient 750-square-foot home in the dense urban setting of Roxbury, Mass. Dubbed the Pratt House project, the house is being constructed by Placetailor Inc.,  a design/build company that renovates city environments. Hare is one of five associates who work at Placetailor. The house, says Hare, “is named after Henry Pratt, the 19th century gunsmith who used it as his workshop when Roxbury was still mostly a rural settlement on the outskirts of Boston.”

Through the Looking Glass

“We just moved in this summer,” says Hare, who lives here with his engineer wife and one-year-old child. “In fact, the house isn’t finished yet. We live on the top floor, while the downstairs is being completed. We like small spaces — we’ve lived in studios before. It’s good for the environment, it’s easier to control and it’s good financially.”

Placetailor has managed to eliminate a traditional heating system (see picture right), amazing for anyone who has experienced a New England winter. “We keep the heat from a hot shower and the heat emitted by a refrigerator, by having great insulation. We also seal the building to make it airtight and situate the openings to best take advantage of the sun. By putting windows on the correct sides of the building, we minimize the amount of heat that is lost. We use no oil or gas, in fact, the house is designed to consume no energy.”

“Our walls,” says Hare, “are made of 12-1/4″ thick Styrofoam sandwiched between two layers of plywood. This is one of the many construction details we used to make the most of our house, both energy wise and otherwise.

“We don’t have a lot of appliances,” says Hare. Their washer-dryer is one unit and contains a condensing dryer, which is very efficient. It fits beneath the counter, similar to a dishwasher. “The clothes go in dirty and come out dry and clean,” says Hare. The unit does not emit exhaust like a typical dryer, so no heat is lost. As for cooking, the Hares use a convection microwave oven and a small cook top range, designed for a sailboat. Their fridge is measures 10 cubic feet.

The plumbing system consists of an electric tank less and instantaneous hot water heater located in a special wall cavity between the bathroom and kitchen, which are back to back. There are three lines, one goes to the lavatory, says Hare; the others go to the shower and the kitchen sink. There is no traditional water heater, “so we avoid having water standing around,” says Hare.

Basically, it’s a big house condensed into a smaller one, he says. “We’ve cut out a lot of things. And it’s taken a lot of trips to the local thrift shop to donate what we don’t use. There’s no room for storage.”

The second floor has two areas for sleeping, but no partitions. “The house is good for our small family, but would also work for empty nesters,” says Hare. In addition, he says, “we’ve found that people put out heat themselves and now with the addition of our baby, that helps…

“Of course,” he says, “there are other reasons for having kids!”

What I do:

I am fortunate to have experienced a “calling” or vocation, and I have been a baker most all of my adult life, except for a brief three years working in Mexico in agriculture.  When I was 20 I went through a baker’s apprenticeship in Hanover, Germany, and I have been fascinated by the magic of turning simple ingredients like flour, water, salt and yeast into something deliciously edible. My lifelong interest has been whole grains, and this is my second bakery. Here at Dr. Kracker we concentrate on organic whole grain and whole seed flatbread crackers that are not only over-the-top great tasting but also good for you!

How it helps:

Dr. Kracker bakes with organic grains and seeds. Part of our mission is sustainable farming. By providing a ready destination for the grain, we keep the organic farmers doing what they do best: preserving the soil and the environment for future generations.

How I got here:

If you are in baking, it really helps to be a baker.  And I’ve rolled more dough and pulled as many loaves of bread out of the oven as any baker.  What has made my career and life so gratifying is that I also picked up a degree in business and have accumulated a wealth of information about nutrition and diet. In my job at Dr. Kracker, I no longer bake the flatbreads, but I do combine my passion for diet and nutrition with my instincts for great flavor combinations.  Now I am in marketing, sales and promotion, and I actively promote the message of improving health and nutrition via better food. The world is waiting for solutions to the dietary decline, and Dr. K provides one of the best solutions to diabetes and chronic heart disease. (The crackers are available online and in retail stores and natural food markets across the country.)

Where I’m going:

While business in these times are challenging, consumers are becoming more health careful and looking for those foods that will satisfy their palates and their nutritional needs. Dr. Kracker continues to expand and we will find more ways to satisfy customer demand for food that both nourishes and tastes great!

How I’m doing:

As a partner, I retain 1/3 of the Dr. Kracker profits. We are doing well and I expect to be able to put my two kids through college and retire as well, some day.

Advice:

Look for a need that is not being filled adequately, such as good whole grain food in our case. Then find a way to do better than anyone else and at a better price.

See more profiles at MY GREEN JOB

See Recent Green Jobs Listings

Earth Day isn’t just a date on the calendar or an annual do-good commitment; it’s a way of life, a state of mind, a mission even – and certainly an intention. The date itself, April 22, merely reminds us that, January through December, all days  should be “earth days” in our respective, collective communities.

You know this is true when mainstream news giants like Time magazine feature cover stories declaring the eminent demise of millions of species. Climate change is real, and potentially catastrophic. Still, there are loads of things we can do to stem climate change, or even help reverse it. Which is why each year Earth Day gathers more meaning and momentum, urging us to expand our green consciousness to 365 days a year.

Eva Radke, founder of Film Biz Recycling in New York City – a nonprofit committed to greening the film industry – grasps that idea.

“This might sound trite, but everyday is Earth Day in my book,” she says. “I think it’s stupendous to heighten awareness, and these events across the country (which number in the tens of thousands) get more and more people involved and I salute everyone involved, truly. But to me personally, it’s just another day. … We have to think about what we do to the planet as a result of our daily lives — daily.”

That said, Radke – recognized as April’s “Industry Star of the Month” by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting – concluded, “I will probably do nothing different from what I do everyday, which is build Film Biz Recycling as an environmentally and socially responsible model for every industry, not just the film business. If New York City’s film community can alter its thinking and methods, even slightly (to the tune of 62 tons since Radke started FBR in June 08), then so can the hotel industry, clothing and auto makers, chemical companies, grocery stores, conventional farmers, carting companies, toy companies, the U.S. government, banking, Renaissance festivals, construction companies, land developers, space programs, day-care centers. … On Earth Day, I’m just gonna keep on keeping on.”

But – you ask – how can I do something as meaningful? Something that can truly change my immediate community?

Let’s say you don’t have the time or resources to commit to a 24-7 venture, as Radke did. But ask yourself these things: How can I convince my family, my kids’ school, my neighbors, or my government to be more pro-active? Well, like any grassroots movement, these things start by applying our imaginations – and a few of those little gray cells.

Here are three potential approaches:

• Plant trees. Join a tree-planting campaign in your town or city; make your community look more lush, and help Mother Earth breathe mo’ better.

• Grow food: Carve out a plot in your yard (it’s easier than you think!) or join a community garden. If your burg doesn’t have one, then start one.

• Promote Pedal Power. If your town doesn’t have designated bicycle lanes, grease the wheels at City Hall to help the town lower its carbon footprint.

From Green Right Now Reports

Daimler has announced it will bring its car2go mobility concept to the U.S. by fall of this year. The first international pilot will start in Austin with an initial fleet of about 200 fuel-efficient smart fortwo cars.

The car2go concept is based on a fleet of smart fortwo vehicles that are available for rent to registered members, making city driving as easy as using a mobile phone. Unlike other car-sharing programs, Daimler says its car2go program offers the freedom to get in a car and drive at any time of day without reserving a car in advance. The vehicle can then be used for as long as required and returned to any available parking location within the defined area of operation – a mobility solution offering maximum flexibility.

The U.S. introduction coincides with the expansion of the pilot in Ulm, Germany, where the company opens the service to the public on March 26 after the internal test which started last October.

> Read more at KVUE-Austin

> Watch KVUE video

Related video:

Daimler press announcement

From Green Right Now Reports

Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Network have released the 2009 line up for the free “Green Apple Thank You Concerts” for volunteers in major cities across the country over Earth Day Weekend (April 17 through 19).

Performers at the flagship event “Earth Day on the National Mall” in Washington D.C. will be announced soon, festival organizers said.

This year’s Green Apple Festival has grown to 10 cities and will focus on environmental volunteerism. Volunteers who participate in the activities over the weekend will be given tickets to attend the free “Thank You” concerts.

Here are the artists announced for each festival city:

• Atlanta, GA – Galactic & Friends with opener Victoria George at Variety Playhouse
  Galactic is a leading funk and jazz instrumental band from New Orleans, Louisiana. George is a country/rock singer/songwriter.
• Austin, TX – Travis Tritt & Friends at Antone’s (on Monday April 20)
  Tritt is a Grammy Award-winning Country star who has charted more than 30 singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, including five #1’s
• Boston, MA – Soulive & Friends at Paradise Rock Club
  The funk/jazz trio originated in Buffalo, New York, and is known for its solos and catchy, upbeat songs Chicago, IL – Cracker & Friends at The Metro Cracker is an Alt-rock favorite founded by former Camper Van Beethoven member David Lowery with Johnny Hickman
• Denver, CO – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk & Friends at Cervante’s Masterpiece
  Led by Ivan Neville, a member of legendary Neville family and his popular funk band from New Orleans
• Los Angeles, CA – The Hotel Cafe Presents Cary Brothers & Friends at The Roxy
  The Hotel Cafe venue in LA helped launch the careers of top singer/songwriters, including Brothers, an indie rock singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee
• New York City – Deep Banana Blackout featuring Fred Wesley & Friends at Bowery Ballroom
  The Soul legend from the James Brown Band joins this long-time NY funk favorite
• San Francisco, CA – BassNectar & Friends at Slim’s
  BassNectar is an electronic music freeform project based in San Francisco, known as a top DJ and collaborator
• Seattle, WA – The Blue Scholars & Friends at The Crocodile
  The Northwest’s Top Hip-Hop group will be playing their hometown
• Washington, DC – artists will be announced soon for Earth Day on the National Mall

If you’d like to volunteer, go to www.PlanetGreen.com to sign up.

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Next month we celebrate Earth Day, the calendar hub of environmental action in the United States and around the globe.

The event, launched back in 1970, has enjoyed enduring life, inspiring countless mid-April tree plantings and “trash offs.” No doubt many adults today remember canvassing a ditch for soda cans and paper litter sometime during their childhood.

Lately, Earth Day has been enjoying a resurgence as green aspirations break out in corporate offices, Jaycee meetings and kindergarten classrooms everywhere.

But with the movement focused on April 22, you might be asking yourself, is it too late to sign up?

Not at all, says Raquel Garcia, communications manager for the Earth Day Network. “It’s never too late. We encourage actions no matter how small. There are many things you can do. You can plan a community event, maybe with just your neighbors. Maybe you call up your representative or senator or state official and ask them to put pressure on the federal government to help curb global warming by cutting carbon emissions.”

Garcia had other suggestions when we spoke Wednesday, noting that you also could:

• Search for an event on the Earth Day Network and sign up with something already planned.

• Watch an Inconvenient Truth

• Pledge to not eat meat for a month, which would have a tremendous effect on reducing global warming, according to Garcia, pointing out as many experts do that producing meat is resource-intensive.

• Organize a day at school to teach children about renewable energy.

“The actions are really infinite; there are so many things you can do,” she said.

Last year, EDN, based in Washington D.C., sponsored events in eight key U.S. cities. This year, they’ve increased that to 10, though the tenor of the events will be a bit different. There will still be a full day-long festival on the National Mall in D.C. But instead of a day-long festivals in the other cities, the Earth Day weekend celebrations (April 17-19) will focus on volunteer projects; a “nationwide weekend of action”.

Yes, that means you’ll gather with others to work — cleaning up parks, laying garden beds, scouring beaches, planting trees or perhaps helping weatherize low-income housing. (We might be unemployed in America, but we’re not out of work!) The details have not been announced yet, but soon. Look for more at the Green Apple Festival site.

Participants at the ten sponsoring city events will be treated to a free concert that Sunday. Again, watch for details. We’ll keep you posted here as well.

So if you live in one of the ten sponsor cities: New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, get ready for a busy weekend.

If you dock your boat in a smaller hamlet, you can check out planned events at the Find An Event search area on the EDN website.

You also can register community or group events, large or small, with the EDN.

Garcia is certain that even with the focus on work – which seems in keeping with the times this year – Earth Day will enjoy tremendous turn out. She sees more mainstream involvement than ever, having recently fielded calls from places not always associated with environmental action, such as military bases and a New York branch of the Homeland Security Office.

People are realizing that protecting the environment is not partisan and it’s not particular, she said. The environment is, by definition, all that surrounds us. It’s clean air, healthy food, unspoiled land and a future for our children. We all have a stake.

“We’re very happy to see more and more people seeing that (for) one, we don’t have any more time to waste. If we keep waiting for a miracle to happen, it’s not going to happen. We better stop reducing (our emissions and waste) now, or we’re going to go to the point of no return a lot sooner than a lot of people realized. ”

(Sponsors for the large city events include: Disneynature Earth (the movie opens in theaters April 22); Timberland: Join the Earthkeepers^TM movement; Motorola, Inc.: Offering the first carbon neutral mobile device, MOTO^TM W233 Renew and Clear2GO^TM: Drink Clean & Go Green.)

Photo credit: Justin Kase Condor, Noofangle Media,

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

From KVUE-Austin

Millions of women put on makeup every day, but you don’t think it could be hazardous to your health. Visit www.susanjeske.com for more information.

> Watch Now

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• Color me natural: The search for good organic cosmetics
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• Do ‘natural’ and ‘hair color’ ever go together?

AUSTIN — A company that has been given the go ahead to build a solar power plant for Austin says the plant will stimulate the local economy, but some nearby residents are not so sure.

Thursday, the Austin city council approved of plans for Gemini Solar Development Company to build a 30-megawatt solar power plant on 350 acres of city owned land near Webberville. Austin Energy General Manager Roger Duncan said it’s a significant step.

> Watch Now

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Spa guests, already conscious about the health of their bodies, are starting to choose pampering experiences that keep the well-being of the environment in mind as well.

They still want to be indulged, say spa operators, but some are opting for experiences and products that soothe and improve, without nature-damaging ingredients.

Rona Berg, editor in chief of Organic Beauty magazine, says spa guests now look at what is in the products, where it comes from, who produces it and whether it is sustainable. Some even want to know if the company they’re supporting is giving back to the community.

“Consumer demand for healthier, eco-friendly and organic products isn’t showing any signs of stopping,” Berg says. “We’re undergoing a cultural paradigm shift and organic beauty is definitely one aspect of it.”

Americans have spent $7 billion on natural and organic personal care products over the past year, according to the Organic Consumers’ Association, and mainstream beauty brands are, in some cases, removing chemicals like parabens and sulfates, making quality products that skip the toxins.

What does going green really mean? We talked with a few spa operators to find out.