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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My Green Job: Chad Sanders, solar installer
Chad W. Sanders, 34, Lakewood, Colorado
What I do:
I work for Metro Solar, a solar thermal and photovoltaic installation and service company. We specialize in solar thermal heating and high efficiency boiler systems, but also install PV (photovoltaics). Since we are one of the few companies that service old systems, the majority of the work I do is in this area. There were many solar thermal systems installed in the Denver area back in the ‘80s and Metro Solar has stayed in business maintaining these systems during the last three decades. Now that there is a renewed interested in solar we are starting to install new systems.
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Tags: · Chad W. Sanders, Colorado, Denver, Lakewood, Metro Solar, My Green Job, Photovoltaics, Solar Power, solar roof installations, solar thermal
Wal-Mart’s next green steps: a green demo store, solar roofs and reduced phosphates in laundry soap
By John DeFore
Green Right Now
Wal-Mart has drawn fire over all sorts of issues through the years, but the company certainly is pushing to be a leader on environmental matters. Just this month, the company announced two green ventures representing serious investment and another initiative that could greatly influence the eco-friendliness of common household products.
First came the announcement that the retailer is following the lead of REI with the opening of its first-ever “Environmental Demonstration Store.”
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Tags: · geothermal heating, phosphates, Photovoltaics, solar roof, Wal-Mart
10 Percent Solar by 2025?
By John DeFore
Migrating from coal- or gas-produced electricity to solar power is a dream for most of us, but we’ve always been told that equipment costs make it an option only in the distant future. That’s about to change, according to some solar boosters who think with the right steps the United States could [...]
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Tags: · Photovoltaics, Solar Power
