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The Importance of talking to your Staff and Clients about Building Green

Newsletter Editor — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:00:00 GMT

by Ricky Critchfield
Owner and President
Critchfield Construction

While it has grown in recent years, the number of local contractors interested in, or educated about, green building and remodeling remains relatively small. It’s ironic that here in Silicon Valley, the center of the universe when it comes to innovation, our industry continues to lag behind the times. Few contractors seem inclined, or have the time and resources, to educate themselves.

In my opinion, there’s never been a better time to hire a Certified Green Building Professional. It’s as simple as this: the healthier my industry is, the happier we’ll all be. There is so much misinformation being fed to our clients that something must be done every day to show them (and my fellow contractors) that there’s really no mystery. We show prospective clients, and reluctant contractors - every day - that a project can be planned and executed using responsible methods/materials AND create a well-functioning and attractive product as a result. Everyone wins when we conduct business this way. But even though green building and remodeling practices are a very important topic these days, very few homeowners – or contractors! – know exactly where to begin.

If you've been paying attention, you've been watching the construction industry undergo some sobering changes as economic and seasonal cycles swing (as they tend to do) from one extreme to another and back again. The go-go days of new construction sprouting everywhere are fading for now, as residential and commercial owners look to improve what they have rather than “buy up” to bigger and fancier digs. They are thinking hard about where and how to spend their construction dollars and need to be sure they'll get what they want in the end.

Organizations associated with Build it Green lead the way in sustainable remodeling and new construction options that make a direct difference to the planet and to your home. This is in light of the fact that, to date, there are few intelligible national standards on what constitutes a green remodel, or guidelines for appraisals that award homes with environmentally friendly technologies more value than their neighbors. I have always believed that remodeling or building a home that uses less water and energy, improves indoor air quality, uses Forestry Service Council certified lumber, takes advantage of recycled or salvaged materials and minimizes construction waste while on the job, makes the most sense for our planet and our clients.

Building or remodeling green protects residents’ health, provides a comfortable indoor environment, saves hard-earned money, and makes an important and timely contribution to saving our environment. Using green materials will ensure the cleanest possible air quality. These materials minimize the “off-gassing” of volatile organic compounds that harm everyone, and a remodeled green home suffers less air leakage because it’s properly insulated and sealed for the greatest year-round comfort.

We need to tell our clients that remodeling/building green provides much-needed relief for homeowners with high utility bills. Taking advantage of the latest products can cut utility costs significantly. Some products are inexpensive and easy to use like a programmable thermostat and Energy Star appliances. Others can take clients “off the grid” (or nearly) entirely like a new photovoltaic system. Green homes reduce, re-use and recycle materials, keeping waste products out of our local landfills. We promote the use of non-toxic materials which help clean the air that we all breathe. Green homes are much more energy efficient and depend less on the fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.

I believe in conducting client relationships with integrity, responsibility and generosity. The natural extension of this is to craft a relationship and a project for them that cares for the earth, their pocketbook and their desire for beautiful and functional living space all at once.

# # #

Ricky Critchfield is owner and president of Critchfield Construction. Critchfield Construction is a Build It Green Silver Sponsor.

The company has earned a Bay Area-wide reputation as a no-nonsense, no-problem builder and remodeling contractor.

Sep 9, 2010 8:00 PM

Residents cash in on greening

Erin Sherbert — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:15:00 GMT

Photo Coutresy of bisgovuk

SAN FRANCISCO — Even if the momentum for green financing has slowed during the recession, residents should not shrug off the idea of energy savings just yet.

This week, The City is launching a new tax credit that will give residents a good reason to retrofit their houses so they are more energy efficient.

Residents can score up to $2,000, depending on their income, once they receive an energy audit and implement changes to their homes that, at the very least, can cut energy use by 20 percent, said Raymond Manion, energy specialist for the Department of the Environment.

The new funds, which amount to roughly $650,000, are being funneled through the federal stimulus program, allowing as many as 430 homes in San Francisco to make energy improvements, officials said.

Homeowners only can get the money back once they have an energy audit and complete the improvements, Manion said.

The City is piggybacking on PG&E’s rebate program, which offers up to $3,500 to residents who make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

The two tax credits combined could save the average homeowner as much as $8,000, said Matt Golden, president of Recurve, a San Francisco-based green-retrofitting firm.

“It’s meant to drive rapid adoption in The City,” Golden said. “This is the first program to really promote energy efficiency in residential buildings.”

The new program comes on the heels of The City being forced to suspend its $150 million green-financing program, which would have helped thousands of property owners lower their utility bills.

The program, called Property Assessment Clean Energy, is funded through a citywide Mello-Roos special tax district. The loans have no cap and are attached to the property, not the individual owner. They are repaid through property taxes during the life of the loan.

Sep 9, 2010 11:15 AM

Recommendations for Local Green Building Ordinances

Website Assistant BIG — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Dear Public Agency Council Member:

As you are aware by now, California has become the first state in the nation to adopt a statewide Green Building Code, known as CALGreen. It is composed of several parts. The basic CALGreen code, which is mandatory, must be adopted by all local jurisdictions prior to January 1, 2011. Optional portions for adoption include Tier 1 and Tier 2; these each include a series of measures that go beyond the basic CALGreen code, also referred to as ‘reach codes’.

As your local government considers how to adopt the new code, Build It Green would like to offer recommendations developed in conjunction with the Bay Area Climate Collaboration, a public-private initiative launched by the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose to accelerate the clean energy economy and make the Bay Area a national model.

Please review the recommendation letter and accompanying documents here. They can be found under the CALGreen heading.

Summary of Recommendations

Prioritize education and enforcement of the CALGreen mandatory provisions.
Where a local leadership standard is desired, continue to apply GreenPoint Rated and the LEED rating systems.
Should a local government adopt a CALGreen Tier, also accept third-party certified LEED or GreenPoint Rated in lieu of the Tier requirements.

Build It Green is also collaborating with other organizations throughout the state (including the American Institute of Architects/California Council; the US Green Building Council; the AIA/San Francisco Chapter; San Francisco Department of the Environment and Alameda County’s StopWaste.org) to develop and distribute additional comparison documents and provide education to the industry. This collaboration, Green Building Code Educational Collaborative, met with the state agencies that created and published the new code (the California Building Standards Commission-CBSC and Housing and Community Development-HCD), to discuss potential clarifications of the CALGreen Tiers 1 and 2 relative to the established 3rd party programs of LEED (USGBC) and GreenPoint Rated (Build It Green).

The comparison documents formulated through the Green Building Code Educational Collaborative will be distributed within the next week and will be available on Build It Green’s website.

Build It Green and the other members of the collaborative laud the CBSC, HCD and the State of California for adopting CALGreen. We fully support the basic code and look forward to its ability to raise the bar further for green building in our state.

In addition, we are pleased to announce that the GreenPoint Rated New Home checklists have been modified to better align with CALGreen and respond to our multiple stakeholder needs. The GreenPoint Rated Checklist now incorporates these code required (mandatory) measures to facilitate compliance with the code and to allow for verification of the code by GreenPoint Raters upon jurisdictional approval. The modified Checklist will allow the enforcing agency to easily verify compliance with CALGreen for projects utilizing the GreenPoint Rated Checklist and third party verification. Download the Checklists from our website.

We appreciate your consideration of these well-vetted recommendations. Please feel free to contact either me or Tenaya Asan here at Build It Green if we can be of further assistance or answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Robert Lee Chase, AIA
LEED AP/CGBP
Build It Green
Director of Government Relations
510-590-3360 ext 110
rchase@builditgreen.org

Tenaya Asan
GPR/CGBP/GC
Build It Green
GreenPoint Rated Program Manager
510-590-3360 ext 118
tenaya@builditgreen.org

Sep 8, 2010 3:00 PM

Debate Sought Over Merits Of Calif. Climate Law

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:00:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) ― Supporters of California's global warming law said Tuesday that they want a debate with one of the Texas oil companies that is bankrolling the effort to undermine the legislation on the November ballot.

San Francisco investment banker Thomas Steyer said in a letter to Valero Energy Corp. Chairman and CEO William Klesse that the two should argue the merits of suspending AB32 because they are the two top donors supporting and opposing the law.

The 2006 law seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide to 1990 levels over the next decade.

Valero, based in San Antonio, has spent $4 million so far in support of Proposition 23, which would suspend the law until the state's unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters.

California Employment Development Department statistics show the jobless rate has fallen that low three times in the last three decades.

Steyer, a manager of Farallon Capital Management L.L.C. and a longtime Democratic donor, has contributed $2.5 million so far in an attempt to defeat the initiative.

"I believe that Proposition 23 will move California backward and cost us clean energy jobs — one of the few growing sources of employment in California," Steyer said in the letter.

Steyer said Klesse can choose the date and time to debate whether the ballot measure would help or hurt California's economy.

"Any sort of debates would be handled by the campaign, not by its supporters, I would imagine," said Valero spokesman Bill Day, who had not seen the letter.

Anita Mangels, a spokeswoman for the Yes on 23 campaign, said the debate challenge is a diversionary tactic and an attempt by opponents to set Klesse up as a villain in the clean-energy debate.

Mangels said there is no question AB32 will cost California jobs overall, at least in the short run.

Sep 8, 2010 11:00 AM

12 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Green Building Product

Rick Schwolsky — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:00:00 GMT

While the industry has made real progress in providing us with green products and backing up their performance claims, product selection will continue to be one of the most critical challenges you will face in meeting your green missions—and that puts your business and reputation at risk.

As a former high-performance home builder, I know what this feels like. You’re stuck in a gray area between innovation and risk, caught between a commitment to build high-performance homes and your responsibilities to ensure those homes still perform their most basic functions without creating problems—or liabilities.

“Nobody,” builders often say, “wants to be the first to try out a new product,” and yet we’re driven to embrace change and improve the way we build. This dilemma puts pressure on every decision you make, whether it’s detailing a wall section, specifying ventilation equipment, or selecting finishes.

You have to find a reliable level of confidence in your decisions and balance the trade-offs associated with them. But how can you gain the confidence you need?

Here are the first 12 questions you should ask about any green building product you’re evaluating—before you make your selection:

How will it perform its basic function as a building material or product?
How does it compare with products I use now?
Is it code approved?
Is it third-party certified?
Will it contribute toward project certification?
Is it available?
How will it affect my pricing?
Will it increase my level of risk or liability?
How will it improve the level of performance of my homes?
How will it contribute toward sustainability?
Will it require new sequencing or installation skills/trades?
Is it worth the investment for the benefits?

After answering these 12 questions, apply your own experience and expertise to filter out products that would put you outside your comfort zone in terms of unknowns and risks.

Only after evaluating potential selections for their application as viable building products can you focus on their green attributes and performance benefits and how they’ll integrate with the other elements of your green projects. At that point you can ask: “What makes these products green?” “How can I avoid greenwashing?” and “How can I verify the manufacturers’ performance claims?”

This last question leads to third-party certifications, which we regularly cover in EcoHome. For more on how to navigate product certifications, check out “Keeping Them Honest: Searching for Truth Behind Green Product Claims.”

Rick Schwolsky is Editor in Chief of EcoHome.

Aug 31, 2010 12:00 PM

Governor tells Goleta chamber he supports carbon limits

Stephen Nellis — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:00:00 GMT

During a stop in Goleta on Aug. 24, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger voiced full-throated opposition to Prop. 23, the November ballot initiative that would suspend a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions set to take effect next year.

Schwarzenegger spoke at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport at an event organized by the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce. He described the proponents of Prop. 23 as oil companies, automobile companies and tire companies seeking to dismantle the legislation, which aims to sharply reduce the state’s carbon emissions.

“It’s the oil companies from Texas that hate our environmental laws,” Schwarzenegger said. “Why? Because they will have to stop polluting.

“We have to be on the forefront, and be a shining example for the rest of the country,” said the Republican governor, who is in his last year in office.

Kristen Amyx, president and CEO of the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce, said it was helpful to hear the governor’s opinion on the proposition because her group has not come to a decision about whether to support it, oppose it or remain neutral.

“We’re struggling with it, to tell the truth,” Amyx said.

Like many business groups, the Goleta chamber is concerned about the bill’s potential economic impact. An analysis conducted by the state said AB 32 would produce a net benefit to the economy, but that view was later questioned by other economists.

Supporters of Prop. 23 claim it would hurt job growth in the state. Opponents say the cap-and-trade system could benefit the state by helping it become a leader in green and clean technology.

But Amyx said that many county and local governments have begun laying the ground work for a cap-and-trade system and that a switch now — and perhaps another switch in the future, given California’s ballot initiative system — could be more disruptive than letting the regulations take effect.

Capriciousness can be more troublesome to business than cost, Amyx said. Stability “is all we’re every asking for from government in the business world,” she said.

Aug 25, 2010 9:00 AM

San Carlos begins Painting the Town Green

Shaun Bishop — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Green points: Under a Build It Green program, developers can win approval to build under San Carlos code by reaching 50 points on an environmental checklist. (AP file photo)

SAN CARLOS — Developers in San Carlos will need to install efficient water fixtures, use alternative roofing materials or employ other environmentally friendly techniques starting next year to meet the city’s newly adopted green building standards. City Council members last week approved the city’s first green building ordinance, which officials say will reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions while allowing builders flexibility to meet the new requirements.

Like similar ordinances adopted in recent years by other Peninsula cities, including Redwood City, Belmont, San Mateo and Hillsborough, developers can win approval under the San Carlos code by getting at least 50 points on a commonly used green building checklist.

A developer could get four points for using a solar water heating system or three points for an efficient toilet, according to the checklist developed by the nonprofit Build It Green.

Developers can also pass muster by having the building LEED-certified, another widely accepted standard. But San Carlos’ code is unique because it allows a third way to comply — regardless of the point method, developers have to show the building is 15 percent below state energy-effiency standards.

The ordinance, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2011, applies to new buildings and some remodels. It also makes the city one of the first on the Peninsula to bring its code in line with mandatory statewide green building standards that will be implemented next year.

City officials plan to track the ordinance over the next year to see if it poses a hardship for developers, said Building Official Chris Valley. “The intent of this ordinance is to be workable and fair and balanced,” he said.

A study found that the ordinance would increase the cost of a small single-family home by 82 cents a square foot and a commercial project by $1.50 a square foot, though energy savings would recoup those costs.

“We anticipate that financially, the cities and residents will ultimately benefit from implementing green building standards,” said Rafael Reyes, director of the Bay Area Climate Collaborative.

Being green

A sampling of points available under the Build It Green checklist, one of three ways to have a building pass San Carlos’s new green building ordinance:

- 2 points: Home within a half mile of a major transit stop

- 3 points: 75 percent of plants are California native or Mediterranean-climate species

- 1 point: Uses 75 percent recycled content for wall and floor insulation

- 4 points: Uses environmentally preferable flooring

Aug 19, 2010 3:30 PM

Americans Don't Have a Clue About How to Save Energy

Ariel Schwartz — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Think you can save lots of energy by turning off the lights when you leave the room? Think again. That's just one of the energy-saving fallacies that many Americans buy into. A new survey (PDF) from the Earth Institute at Columbia University of 505 participants across 34 states reveals that by and large, Americans don't have a clue about how to conserve energy. While more involved actions like buying a hybrid or shelling out for insulation save significant amounts of energy, turning off the lights provides a negligible benefit.

An embarrassing 20% of all respondents believed that switching off the lights is the best way to save energy, while only 3.2% cited more efficient appliances, 2.8% chose more efficient cars, 2.8% believed sleeping more would save the most energy (fair enough), and 2.1% cited home weatherization as the most effective approach.

Unsurprisingly, respondents who identified as pro-environment had more accurate views about energy conservation. But participants who engaged in more energy-saving activities actually had less accurate perceptions about what helps the most.

The reason for the spread of misinformation? The study theorizes:

Many people’s concerns about energy are simply not strong enough, relative to their other concerns, to warrant learning about energy conservation. Although it may be appropriate to criticize the media for not presenting the case for climate change more strongly and for not presenting the implications of individual behavior more clearly, scientists share at least some of the responsibility for the current state of affairs. For example ... scientists may have failed the public by not providing information in a credible and comprehensible manner to facilitate better climate-related decisions.

But all hope is not lost. If the government ramps up energy information campaigns and changing gas prices to more accurately reflect the environmental cost of CO2 emissions, Americans might slowly get the hint that, say, insulating homes from extreme heat and cold will save more energy than flicking off the lights.

Ariel Schwartz can be reached on Twitter or by email.

Aug 18, 2010 8:00 AM

New Build It Green Office in Jack London Square

Project Manager GreenPoint Rated — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Build It Green has moved to a new location in Downtown Oakland's Jack London Square! Not only will our new location be more accessible to our stakeholders, but it will also soon be LEED Silver Certified.

Our new address will be 160 Franklin St, Suite #310, Oakland Ca 94607.

Our new phone number: (510) 590-3360

Our new fax number: (510) 590-3361

Thank you for all your support!

Aug 17, 2010 3:00 PM

Marin County EnactsModel Green Building Ordinance for Residential

Project Manager GreenPoint Rated — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:00:00 GMT

From: http://www.MarinGreenBuilding.org

Requirements for sustainable design and construction techniques (green building) have been developed by the Community Development Agency in collaboration with a task force of experts in the fields of construction, architecture, energy consultation, building performance, building inspection, planning, and real estate. The intent of this effort is to establish standardized green building regulations throughout the cities, towns, and unincorporated areas of Marin County. On February 9, 2010, the Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance updating Marin County’s Green Building Requirements based on the recommendations of this collaborative effort.

Applies to all residential and commercial projects effective JUNE 18, 2010.

Documents, requirements and links available at:

http://www.MarinGreenBuilding.org

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/sustainability/greenbuilding/gbs/gb_standards.cfm

Aug 17, 2010 3:00 PM

SB 375 "most ambitious attempt [to] forge closer link between transportation investments and land use" Fact Sheet

Project Manager GreenPoint Rated — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Senate Bill (SB) 375, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, was signed into law on September 30, 2008. SB 375 is the most ambitious attempt by any state in the country to forge a closer link between transportation investments and land use decisions. The bill integrates planning processes that are currently disjointed for transportation, land use, and housing, with the goal of reducing the amount that people have to drive, along with associated GHG emissions. The major provisions of this lengthy and complicated bill are listed below.

TransForm California has published a fact sheet on SB375 and updated their website with additional information:

http://transformca.org/files/TRANSFORM-SB375-fact-sheet.pdf

http://transformca.org/campaign/focus

Aug 17, 2010 2:00 PM

Proposition 23 Backers Among Biggest Polluters in California

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:00:00 GMT

The Ella Baker Center and the California Environmental Justice Alliance today released a study that reveals that Valero and Tesoro, the two Texas oil companies bankrolling Proposition 23 to repeal California's clean air and energy standards, have been repeatedly cited for producing deadly chemicals at their refineries that are exposing millions of California families to harm. The two companies have contributed more than $4 million to put Proposition 23 on the November ballot.

Download the study.

The study, titled "Toxic Twins," found that not only does the two Texas-based companies' oil refineries in the Bay Area and Los Angeles regions "annually produce hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals, but also "the people who bear the biggest health burdens from these facilities are disproportionately people of color." Populations residing within 2.5 miles of Valero and Tesoro's toxic facilities in Los Angeles and the Bay Area were 63 percent African American, Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander.

The study goes on to demonstrate that Valero and Tesoro have repeatedly violated pollution laws in California by releasing chemicals into the air. Over 44 violation notices within a three year window have been settled between Tesoro and the Bay Area Quality Management District. This January, "Valero disclosed that it had 29 outstanding Violation Notices from the South Coast Air Quality Management District and is pursuing a settlement," according to the report.

"This study reveals what Prop 23 is really all about," said Mayor Newsom. "Prop 23 is a deceptive ballot measure that will harm the emerging clean energy industry, negatively impact the health of Californians, and discourage innovation."

"We have known all along that Proposition 23 was a deceptive ballot measure," said Tom Steyer, co-chair of Stop Proposition 23. "While Valero and Tesoro are making their greatest profits in years, the people of California are suffering due to the negligence and dirty business practices of these Texas oil companies."

"Proposition 23 will hurt all of us - and will be particularly bad for people of color, who live disproportionally close to oil refineries," said Kim. "We already have too much pollution and too much poverty in California, especially in communities like the Bayview. Clean energy standards have led to hundreds of thousands of jobs and are leading our economic recovery. Californians will not allow out-of-state companies to come in and take these jobs away."

This study builds on a report by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) "Toxic 100 Air Polluters" report which named Valero and Tesoro as the #12 and #32 polluters in the nation.

We released at a press conference at San Francisco's Bay View Park attended by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; No on Prop 23 Campaign Committee Co-Chair Tom Steyer; DeAnn McEwen, California Nurses Association; Jane Warner, President, American Lung Association in California; and Ian Kim, Director of the Green-Collar Jobs Campaign, Ella Baker Center.

Other organizations at the press conference opposing Proposition 23 were the American Lung Association of California, the California Nurses Association.

Aug 11, 2010 12:00 PM

New Report Impugns Texas Oil Companies Funding CA Prop 23

Matthew Ross — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The fight against Proposition 23, which qualified for the November ballot and if passed would suspend California's pioneering climate law AB 32, got testy today as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom called out Valero and Tesoro, the Texas oil companies spending the lion's share of the money for Prop 23, and said political candidates like Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina were standing in the way of progress for cheap political gain.

Mayor Newsom joined with the No on Prop 23 campaign, the California Nurses Association, and the California chapter of the American Lung Association at a press conference in the Bayview to highlight a new report, "Toxic Twins" by the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the California Environmental Justice Alliance. The report details the numerous environmental violations perpetrated by Valero and Tesoro as well as the toxic chemicals they spew legally and illegally into the air.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, No on Prop 23 Chair Tom Steyer, and Ella Baker Center Green-Collar Jobs Campaign Director Ian Kim at the microphone. Photo: Matthew Roth.

As the report shows, Tesoro and Valero combined have four facilities on the list of the top 15 worst polluters in California, with Valero's Benicia refinery at number 4 and Tesoro's Martinez refinery at number 8. Both companies have also repeatedly violated pollution laws in California and continue to do so, settling with government agencies like the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The report also notes the people most impacted by the pollution are people of color and low-income communities.

"Just like BP cut some corners in the Gulf Coast to make a little extra money with disastrous consequences, we know with this report today that these nasty Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro are cutting corners in California every day to make a little more profit," said Ian Kim, the Green-Collar Jobs Campaign Director for the Ella Baker Center.

Kim said in California 63 percent of people living within two and a half miles of oil refineries are black, Latino, Asian and pacific islander. In some communities, like Wilmington, CA, 85 percent of people living near the refineries are people of color, 25 percent below the poverty line.

"We know It's going to hurt low-income communities and people of color first and worst because the people behind Proposition 23 are hurting low income communities and people of color first and worst," said Kim.

"We cannot let these companies pull us backwards as we try to move forward in the future," said Tom Steyer, a noted hedge fund manager with Farallon Capitol Management and co-chair of the No on Prop 23 Campaign with former Secretary of State George Schultz. "They're trying to weaken the rules to make it easier for themselves. They're going to roll back energy and air quality standards for their own sake. It makes sense for them. Their kids don't live in California. Their kids are not going to feel the results of this."

Jane Warner, President and CEO of the American Lung Association in California said the impacts of air pollution affect nearly all Californians. "Here in California 91 percent of us are living in counties where we're breathing air that has gotten failing grades. Those of us in urban areas are breathing over 100 days of polluted air every year, that's about 3 months out of the year dirty air," she said.

Warner said there are 300,000 respiratory illnesses reported each year in California and 19,000 die prematurely because of air pollution. "Prop 23 will do nothing but cause more air pollution, cause more children to have asthma, send more seniors to the emergency room, and take more lives of Californians," she said.

Just after official press conference, Newsom lashed out at the oil companies, as well as Whitman and Fiorina.

"Here we are in California that's a mecca for environmental stewardship, that's really raised the bar over the last 30 years and you have Texas-based oil companies that are disproportionately funding an initiative that absolutely affects our future and our economy and our environmental stewardship as well as our health and well-being," said Newsom, who asked rhetorically what their motivation could be for spending millions, possibly tens of millions, to support Prop 23.

"The idea that their spokesperson would say we want to help the California economy by rolling back AB 32 is laughable," he added. "Do you think private corporations out of Texas in the oil business actually want to spend tens of millions of dollars to help the California economy? That's nonsense. This is purely about their bottom line.They are impacting the one thing that's working in California and that's our green jobs sector"

As for the Republican candidates for governor and senator, Newsom said Whitman was backing away from Prop 23 because she realized it was a bad policy and he questioned whether Fiorina really understood the impacts.

"California has the opportunity to lead not just this nation, but the world and the only thing stopping that is politicians like Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina," he said. "They're wrong on this and they're playing to a political base that, with all due respect, is in my rear-view mirror and is not the future of this state."

Aug 10, 2010 4:00 PM

California college is first to go 'grid positive'

Daniel de Vise — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Click here to read the press release

Dozens of colleges in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond have become community leaders in sustainability, producing alternative energy en masse and scaling back energy consumption dramatically.

American University, for one, says it will be carbon neutral by 2020. The University of Maryland made Princeton Review's Green Honor Roll for raising its recycling rate past 50 percent. Johns Hopkins University has pledged to halve its emissions over 15 years. The list goes on and on.

This release, though, caught my eye. Butte College in Northern California says it has become the first and only "grid positive" college in the nation, producing more clean energy than it uses.

Butte College is poised to become the largest collegiate producer of solar power in the world, generating enough electricity to power 9,200 homes.

The final phase of its solar project, to be completed in May, will "provide enough clean renewable energy to cover all of our electricity needs and generate slightly more than we use," said Diana Van Der Ploeg, college president.

There are solar panels mounted on the ground and on rooftops, and more will be placed atop covered parking areas and walkways -- solar power requires some serious square-footage.

Total funding for the project is $17 million, of which $13 million comes in low-interest bonds earmarked for clean energy. Once complete, the solar complex will actually earn the college a modest amount of revenue.

Please follow College Inc. all day, every day at washingtonpost.com/college-inc.

And for all our college news, campus reports and admissions advice, please see our new Higher Education page at washingtonpost.com/higher-ed. Bookmark it!

Aug 9, 2010 2:00 PM

Butte College Set to Become First Grid Positive College in the U.S.

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

OROVILLE, Calif., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Butte College, located in Northern California and resting on a 928-acre wildlife refuge, has been recognized over the last few years as a national community college leader in sustainability. By May 2011, the college will move to the head of its class—as the only college in the nation that is grid positive—producing more clean energy from sustainable on-site solar power than it uses.

The college recently received approval from its Board of Trustees to complete its Phase III solar project, which adds approximately 15,000 solar photovoltaic panels—or 2.7 MW DC—to its current 1.85 MW or 10,000 solar panels—which will ultimately make the college the largest solar producing college in the world –for a system total of 4.55 MW DC of clean renewable energy generation capability. The college will generate over 6.381 million kW hours per year – enough electricity to power over 9,200 average-sized homes, or the equivalent of removing over 6,000 passenger cars from the roadways.

"Once this solar project is completed, Butte College will provide enough clean renewable energy to cover all of our electricity needs and generate slightly more than we use--which will be a source of additional revenue for the college," said Dr. Diana Van Der Ploeg, Butte College President. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Being the first grid positive community college in the country demonstrates our commitment to the sustainable practices we're modeling for our students and our communities."

Van Der Ploeg credits the college's transformation to a national leader in sustainability due to student engagement both at the college and in the community, infusion of sustainability into the curriculum, workforce development focused on green jobs, LEED certified buildings, sustainable land use management, and operation of the largest community college student transportation system in California.

The new 15,000 solar panels will be placed atop rooftops and will create covered parking areas and walkways, in addition to being mounted on the ground. The total funding for the project is $17 million, which $12.65 million is made possible by federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) which are low-interest loans that can be used for clean energy projects. The remainder, up to $4.35 million, will be funded by college.

According to Miller, the funding to pay for all of the solar projects, is the funding budgeted annually to purchase electricity from the grid, and for Phase III, almost $1 million in rebates from PG&E, the California Solar Initiative, and benefits from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act/CREBS allocations.

The Clean Renewable Energy Bonds for the project were arranged and funded by Bank of America as part of its 10 year, $20 billion business initiative to address climate change.

"Butte College is taking a true leadership role in helping California meet its clean energy goals," said John Rudberg, Energy Services sales executive for Banc of America Public Capital Corp. "We work with schools, colleges, public institutions and private companies across the country in energy efficient projects. We are pleased to continue helping Butte College on its path to becoming the only sustainable energy grid positive college in the nation."

The first component of the Phase 3 solar project includes the construction of 1,639 solar panels that will create covered parking spaces at the Butte College Chico Center and will generate 450kW DC. The installation of the 13 new solar arrays has started at the Chico Center campus and will culminate at the main campus. This project is scheduled to be completed by May 2011.

"This project directly employs local people, local vendors and provides a huge economic shot in the arm for Butte County. This is a sustainable project for everyone and saves money for taxpayers. All of Butte College's solar projects are projected to save the college over $150 million net over 30 years," said Mike Miller, Butte College Director of Facilities, Planning and Management.

When all of the college's solar projects are combined, the college will have a yearly reduction of over 6.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), 27,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 20,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide (NOX).

"This solar project helps the college come close to being climate neutral and allows the college to offer solar training classes, in addition to reducing energy costs and generating revenue," said Van Der Ploeg.

Chico Electric and DPR Construction, Sacramento formed Chico Electric DPR Energy JV for this project. The two companies bring expertise in LEAN project delivery and sustainable energy. LEAN construction is the collaborative design and construction methodology that incorporates all of the separate professional sub-groups, design disciplines and trade contractors into a cohesive management team. Norm Nielsen, owner of Chico Electric, is an alumnus of Butte College and has installed other solar projects at the college.

"This is a landmark project for Butte College and will make the college grid positive. Using solar will ultimately save the college money and help the environment. We're also excited that a number of the workers on this projects are apprentices who went through the college's solar installation training program," said Norm Nielsen, owner of Chico Electric.

Over the past several years Butte College has earned a number of national awards for sustainability leadership including the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 2009 Campus Leadership Award, the 2009 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership Award, the 2008 National Wildlife Association Campus Chill-Out Award, and several Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council, 2010.

"This project serves as a model for other colleges and universities in meeting energy needs and supporting a green jobs economy," said Mark Cirksena, Regional Manager for DPR Construction in Sacramento. "According to the Environmental Information Administration's energy outlook a couple of years ago, buildings represented 72 percent of U.S. electricity consumption. Butte College should be commended for taking a leadership role and setting new standards for environmental responsibility."

Butte College, a single campus district, is located near the geographical center of Butte County, California. It has centers in Chico, the largest city in the district, and Orland in Glenn County. Because of its rural location, the college is unique among California Community Colleges because it operates as a self-contained city. To this end Butte College has its own water system, maintains its own sewage treatment facility, and operates the largest community college transportation system in California. The college implemented its first solar energy project in 2005 and its second in 2008.

In addition to the solar projects the college has developed sustainability-related career and technical education programs; infused sustainability into existing curriculum; created a sustainability studies certificate; conducted numerous student-led green events and activities; gained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification on its Arts Building and is awaiting final approval of Gold Certification on Student and Administrative Services; developed and implemented a number of sustainability-related workforce development activities; recycles over 75 percent of its waste stream; and operates the largest community college transportation systems in California.

Butte College, www.butte.edu, provides quality education, services, and workforce training to students who aspire to become productive members of a diverse, sustainable, and global society. We prepare our students for life-long learning through the mastery of basic skills, the achievement of degrees and certificates, and the pursuit of career and transfer pathways. The college has an annual enrollment of 21,000 full and part time students.

Butte College's Sustainability Facts:

Sustainability is included in the college's mission statement and is one of five initiatives in the college's strategic plan.
Butte College was one of the first community colleges to sign the American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
Butte College operates the largest bus transportation system for any community college in California—taking approximately 1,300 cars off the road each day.
The college recycles 73-93 percent of its waste. Additionally, Dining Services partners with the Agriculture Department to compost approximately 1,500 pounds of pre-consumer food waste from the landfill per month.
In 2008, Butte College implemented a credit Green Building Certificate Program using funding provided by the National Science Foundation. In 2009, the courses that comprised this program were reformatted into a hybrid format. This program, which was the college's first step in developing comprehensive green technology career pathways, included the following courses: Green Building Technologies and Practices; Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and Certification Test Preparation – geared toward LEED Advisor and Build It Green - Green Building Professional.
The college infuses sustainability into career and technical education programs. For example, the college's Auto Technology Department recently partnered with Pacific Gas & Electric to develop a statewide Electric Hybrid Vehicle Technology training program for PG&E fleet vehicle mechanics to service electric and hybrid vehicles.
In 2009-2010, the college used two grants obtained through the California Workforce Investment Board to develop and implement training programs for displaced workers in areas such as Solar Photovoltaic Design and Installation Principles, Green Building, Solar Hot Water Installation and Design Principles, and Energy Fundamentals. This training was delivered in Spring 2010.
Over the past two years, students in the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program have worked as interns on a Biofiltration Wetland Education Learning Laboratory (BeWELL) Project. This real-world project takes place on the Butte College campus and students are able to monitor stormwater runoff from a parking lot, identify chemicals in the runoff, calculate the amount of bioswale needed to biofilter these chemicals, construct the project, and monitor the results.
Butte College is an annual participant in the National Teach In on Global Warming Solutions—a major educational initiative that coordinates faculty and students at over 1,000 colleges, universities, and high schools in the U.S. to engage in a national, interdisciplinary discussion on "Stabilizing the Climate in the 21st Century.
The Sustainability Resource Center, funded and staffed by the Associated Students, features a wide variety of books, journals, magazines, and videos. The goal of the center is to be a hub of information for students, faculty, and staff to learn about various topics related to sustainability as well as practical guides on how to live and work more sustainably.
The Agriculture Department has gained organic certification on 26 acres where it grows fruit, hay, and wine grapes
The Clear Creek Riparian Restoration Project uses goats to consume 90% of the non-native vegetation and noxious weeds growing along 2.5 miles of Clear Creek.

Aug 9, 2010 2:00 PM

Judge changes Prop. 23 ballot description

Margot Roosevelt — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

A Sacramento Superior Court judge Tuesday amended the ballot description of Proposition 23, the November initiative that seeks to delay the state's global warming law.

Judge Timothy Frawley agreed with backers that parts of the original language were misleading and would prejudice voters. The new language changes the description of the law's intended target from "major polluters," a term Frawley criticized as having "an obvious negative connotation," to "major sources of emissions."

Frawley also ordered removed a reference that Proposition 23 would cause the state to "abandon" its law to control greenhouse gases. The new language will say the initiative would "suspend" the law.

The ruling came in a lawsuit by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Assn. against state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who drafted the title and summary of the initiative for the ballot. Brown, who is also the Democratic nominee for governor, called the judge's ruling reasonable and said he would not appeal.

The tussle over a handful of words might seem arcane. But the title and summary printed on ballots can influence the outcome of an election when it comes to voting on a slew of complex initiatives, which is why the language often ends up in court.

Anita Mangels, a spokeswoman for the Yes on 23 campaign, called the ruling "a tremendous victory. It is much clearer now that Proposition 23 is not a blanket repeal of every anti-pollution measure the state of California has ever enacted."

But Jane Warner, president and chief executive of the American Lung Assn. in California, countered: "Despite the court's changes, the simple fact remains: Proposition 23 is a deceptive proposition bankrolled by Texas oil companies that will kill California's clean air and clean energy standards, resulting in more pollution."

The initiative was launched by San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. and Tesoro Inc., which operate refineries in California. It would suspend AB 32, the greenhouse emissions law that is the strictest in the nation, until the state's unemployment rate drops to 5.5% for at least a year, which has not occurred in three decades.

Under AB 32, emissions from transportation, industry and other sources would be slashed about 15% from today's levels by 2020. Its suspension would delay such regulations as a low-carbon fuel standard to reduce greenhouse gases from gasoline and a renewable energy standard designed to move the state toward solar and other alternatives to fossil fuel.

Proposition 23's new title reads: "Suspends Implementation of Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) Requiring Major Sources of Emissions to Report And Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops to 5.5% or Less for One Full Year."

The new summary reads: "Suspends state law that requires greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, until California's unemployment drops to 5.5% or less for four consecutive quarters. Suspends comprehensive greenhouse-gas-reduction program that includes increased renewable energy and cleaner fuel requirements, and mandatory emissions reporting and fee requirements for major emissions sources such as power plants and oil refineries...."

margot.roosevelt@latimes.com

Aug 4, 2010 2:00 PM

Senate Democrats punt on spill bill

Coral Davenport — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Senate Democrats on Tuesday punted their oil spill response bill to next month, but the extra time doesn’t guarantee the measure will pass — far from it.

The delay virtually ensures that strategists from both parties will use the congressional recess to hone their plans, talking points and poison-pill amendments for any floor debate, all with an eye toward the midterm elections.

Majority Leader Harry Reid’s decision to pull the plug on offshore drilling is the latest blow to Democratic efforts to move energy legislation, beginning with the deaths of a sweeping climate change bill and then a scaled-down renewable energy bill.

It initially appeared that the slender offshore drilling package was a must-pass bill with political momentum, but it became evident over the past week that the Nevada Democrat lacked the votes within his own caucus to force the issue as the Republicans held firm against it.

Some Democrats and environmentalists said they are optimistic the extra time will allow them to revisit the broader renewable energy provisions they had to jettison earlier, in hopes of folding them into the drilling bill.

“It may be a good thing,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn). “Maybe we can get some support for a renewable standard and do a little more. If there’s any hope of strengthening it and adding [a renewable electricity standard], that’ll only happen if we wait until September.”

But lobbyists and staffers close to the energy bill process said that, if anything, the partisan dynamics that led Reid to pull the bill this week will only get worse the closer lawmakers come to the midterm elections.

“Reid has got to craft a very narrow bill. He’s going to have to go as narrow as possible,” said a former Senate Democratic aide now closely involved in the Hill energy debate. “Getting broader just makes it harder. He’s going to have to go as narrow as possible, given that he’s got some Democrats against the liability cap. It’s a terrible box.”

Central to the offshore drilling reform bill was a title to eliminate the $75 million liability cap on damages oil companies must pay in the case of spills and other disasters. Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska), both close allies of the oil industry, made clear they opposed that provision.

The deeply partisan atmosphere in the Senate ensured that there would be no opportunity to amend the bill with a scaled-down, compromise liability title. Reid’s staff had made clear that if the bill were to come to the floor, it would be subject only to a straight up-or-down vote.

Staffers close to the Republican leadership said that if the bill had been left open for amendments, Republicans would have hijacked the debate with amendments designed to prolong partisan arguments and revive GOP attacks on the broader Democratic energy initiatives, including cap-and-trade climate legislation. Many said Republicans’ desire to use the energy debate to put Democrats on the spot on those issues closer to elections will prevail next month as well.

“While the conventional wisdom is the Senate has to do something about the spill, the R’s are licking their chops to get on an energy bill in September and then just bring up amendment after amendment,” said a lobbyist close to the debate.

Both sides blamed the deadlock on partisan politics.

“It’s a sad day when you can’t find a handful of Republicans to support a bill ... that would hold BP accountable for the worst oil spill in history,” Reid told reporters.

“We tried jujitsu, we tried yoga, we tried everything we could to get Republicans to come along,” he added.

For their part, Republicans said Reid failed to approach the spill bill on a bipartisan basis.

“Sen. Reid is predictably blaming Republicans for standing in the way of a bill that he threw together in secret and without input from almost any other member of the Senate,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Process alone guaranteed its failure, although substance would have as well had Sen. Reid actually brought his bill up for debate or a vote.”

New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, the author of the language lifting the liability cap and the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, sounded a partisan message about the stalled bill, outlining the talking points Democratic strategists had prepared to use in August campaigns after the spill vote.

“The key question is, Whose side are you on? ... Are you on the side of Big Oil, or are you on the side of citizens in coastal communities?” Menendez said. “I hope citizens spend the month of August asking Republicans why they oppose holding BP accountable.”

Environmentalists slammed the chamber for failing to act. “It’s shameful that more than 40 senators are such slaves to Big Oil that they want taxpayers — and not BP — to be liable for cleanup costs from this disaster and future blowouts,” said Daniel Weiss, director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

“Thanks to the Senate Republican leadership, they are popping champagne corks in Big Oil offices from Houston to London,” Weiss added.

Oil industry representatives said they are indeed celebrating the death of the bill but are likewise gearing up for more fighting in the fall. “We’re glad to see that the Senate did not act on a bad bill with job-killing provisions,” said Jack Gerard, head of the American Petroleum Institute.

The House passed its spill response bill last week, 209-193.

Aug 4, 2010 11:00 AM

HOME STAR Legislation Idled Until Fall as Energy Bill Stalls in the Senate

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that he will postpone a vote on the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010 until after the August recess. Reid told reporters that the scaled-down energy bill, which includes the proposed HOME STAR retrofit incentive and financing program, lacks enough votes to pass this week. Here’s how Politico summed up the situation:

It initially appeared that the slender offshore drilling package was a “must-pass” bill with political momentum, but it became evident during the past week that Reid lacked the votes within his own caucus to force the issue as the Republicans held firm against it.

Central to the offshore drilling reform bill was a title to eliminate the $75 million liability cap on damages oil companies must pay in the case of spills and other disasters. Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska), both close allies of the oil industry, made clear they opposed that provision.

The deeply partisan atmosphere in the Senate ensured that there would be no opportunity to amend the bill with a scaled-down compromise liability title. Reid’s staff had made clear that if the bill were to come to the floor, it would be subject to a only straight up or down vote.

Supporters of the HOME STAR legislation are now focusing their efforts on a renewed push to get the law enacted in the fall when Congress is back in session.

Read the full Politico report here: www.builditgreen.org/en/art/146.

Aug 4, 2010 11:00 AM

The Green Post - August 2010

Newsletter Editor — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:08:44 GMT

The Green Post
August 2010

In this Issue

We're Moving!

Build It Green's New Board President: Michael McCutcheon

Build It Green Strongly Opposes Prop 23

Updates on the PACE Program's Legislative Struggle

Build It Green Now Offers BPI Training

Webinar: Green Building Marketing

Examining Customer Participation in Home Energy Retrofit Programs

Price Premium Advantage for Homes with Green Ratings

Notes From the Build It Green Community: The Path to Net Zero, Smarter Home Appliances, and 30% Discount for Build It Green Members to West Coast Green

Get Involved: Build It Green Job Announcement, Spotlight on Sun Light & Power, & the Benefits of Membership

Build It Green

About Us

Green Building Benefits

Tools & Resources

Trainings & Events

Councils & Guilds

Upcoming Events

Build It Green

Note: There are no Green Building Professionals Guild Meetings in August

Green Building Professional Training
August 16 - 17, 2010
Dublin, CA

Green Home Retrofitting and Remodeling
August 24 - 25, 2010
Santa Rosa, CA

GreenPoint Rated Existing Home Training
August 26 - 27, 2010
Sacramento, CA

Green Building Professional Training
August 31 - September 1, 2010
San Rafael, CA

Green Building Professional Training
September 1 - 2, 2010
Redding, CA

Green Building Professional Training
September 13 - 14, 2010
South San Francisco, CA

Green Home Retrofitting and Remodeling
September 15 - 16, 2010
South San Francisco, CA

BPI: Building Analyst
September 20 - 22, 2010
Sacramento, CA

Certified Green Building Professional Training
September 21 - 22, 2010
Downey, CA

Certified Green Building Professional Training
September 23 - 24, 2010
Santa Cruz, CA

Webinar: Green Building Marketing
September 23, 2010

Other Events

Truitt & White Presents: Remodeling for Performance with Integrity Windows
August 14, 2010
Berkeley, CA

Truitt & White Presents: Leveraging Tax Credits with Integrity Windows
August 18, 2010
Berkeley, CA

Bay-Friendly Landscape Conference
September 17, 2010
San Francisco, CA

Please see Build It Green's Online Events Calendar for more green building related events

We're Moving!

On August 13th, we are moving to a (soon to be) Certified Silver LEED building in Oakland's busy Jack London Square. Please note our new address for any correspondance after August 13th:
160 Franklin St, Suite 310 Oakland, Ca 94607

From the Executive Director's Desk
Build It Green's new Board President: Michael McCutcheon

Local builder and long-time supporter of green building, Michael McCutcheon, is Build It Green's new Board President. Read more about Michael, and join us in welcoming his leadership.

GreenPoint Rated and Legislative Updates

Build It Green Strongly Opposes Prop 23
If you follow us on Facebook, you've seen our posts denouncing Prop 23, a proposition on this November's ballot that would suspend AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act. We've joined the Ella Baker Center's community wide coalition against Prop 23, and the statewide No on 23 Coalition. Long-time Build It Green board member, Donald Simon, argued strongly against Prop 23 at the Bay Area Council's forum on AB 32. And our new Government Relations Director will be representing our viewpoint at the public hearings in Sacramento. Stay tuned for updates and ways you can help support AB 32.

California Energy Commission (CEC) Acts to Protect and Expand Property-Assessed Clean Energy Financing Options
PACE would hugely impact our mission to bring energy efficient, green retrofits to existing buildings in California, so we are keeping close watch as the PACE debacle unfolds. Read the CEC's latest announcement supporting California's authority to provide PACE financing. Click here for a summary of the program's legislative struggle.

Tools and Resources

New Training Offering: BPI – Building Analyst Training
We are now a training affiliate organization for the Building Performance Institute, and will begin offering Building Analyst Trainings in September. Build It Green’s version of the BPI training has more material, including how to reduce energy by conserving water and how to enhance your business. Read more and sign up for a training today!

Webinar: Green Building Marketing
Join Build It Green and MIG, Inc. on September 23 at 11am for a special webinar discussing the latest in marketing for the green building industry. FREE for Build It Green Members, only $10 for non-members. Register today!

Study Examines Customer Participation in Home Energy Retrofit Programs

A study commissioned by Build It Green, funded in part by the EPA, examines the behavioral barriers and motivators for homeowner participation in state-wide home energy retrofit programs. Downloads of the entire study or a truncated presentation are available on the Build It Green website.

Studies Show Price Premium Advantage for Homes with Green Ratings
Two studies over the past year and a half demonstrate that homes with an environmental rating such as Build It Green's GreenPoint Rated or the USGBC's LEED for Homes program, sell quicker and for more money than equivalent non-rated homes. We've made the two studies available on our website:
Study by Earth Advantage in Portland
Study by Built Green in Seattle

Notes From the Build It Green Community

The Path to Net Zero: Renewable Energy Generation
Gary Gerber, founder and president of Sun Light & Power, a Build It Green founding sponsor, calls on designers and builders to incorporate solar into their toolkits as a pathway to Zero Net Energy. With current rebate programs and financing programs, says Gerber, onsite renewable generation is more accessible than ever. Read the full article. Contact Sun Light & Power.

Smarter Home Appliances: A Key Component of Emerging Smart Grid
Build It Green Bronze Sponsor, Whirlpool, examines the role of the Smart Grid in a more sustainable energy future. In combination with Smart Grid Compatible Appliances, the Smart Grid strategy will reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills, and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full article. For more information visit insideadvantage.com.

Build It Green Members Receive 30% Discount for West Coast Green

Join us at West Coast Green September 30 – October 2 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. West Coast Green is the world’s largest symposium on green innovation. Our Members receive a 30% discount on Full Conference passes. Members can access the discount through the Benefits page. Not a Member? Join now!

Build It Green is Now on LinkedIn
We hope you’ll connect with us there! Check out our profile and start following us today.

Get Involved

Job Announcement
Build It Green is seeking a Southern California Division Director to establish a Build It Green satellite office in Southern California and expand Build It Green programs in the region. Read the full job description.

Build It Green Sponsors - Spotlight on Sun Light & Power

Sun Light & Power is a Build It Green founding sponsor whose mission, goals and core values are closely aligned with our own. Gary Gerber, president of Sun Light & Power and one of the pioneers in solar energy, founded the company back in 1976. “It’s amazing how far the industry has come in the past 34 years, with more and more builders incorporating green building practices into their projects, but it’s nothing compared to the changes that we will see in the next 34 years,” he says. The company’s many years of experience in both PV and Solar Hot Water systems, and the depth and expertise of their engineering department, have established it as a premier solar integrator, providing custom solutions for the most complex projects.

Build It Green relies on the support of sponsors like Sun Light & Power. “We’re happy to support Build it Green,” Gary adds, “as it develops metrics and awards like the GreenPoint Rating Sytem, enhancing consumer confidence in this rapidly growing building segment”. Contact Sun Light & Power.

Become a Build It Green Member

Your Membership helps support Build It Green's programs and initiatives to promote healthy, energy and resource efficient building practices in California. Sign up for Build It Green Membership and start taking advantage of benefits, including discounts on our trainings and Guilds, today!

Volunteer

Build It Green offers work exchange programs for our Certified Green Building Professional Training or free admission to a regional Guild meeting. Contact Volunteer@BuildItGreen.org for more information.

Contact Us

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Aug 3, 2010 5:08 PM

Newsom blasts oil companies trying to suspend emissions law

John Cote — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Mayor Gavin Newsom and his environmental allies came out swinging today, vowing to defeat a November ballot measure that would suspend California's landmark climate change law, which requires major polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The measure qualified for the ballot Tuesday after a signature-gathering effort funded by $3 million from Texas-based oil companies Valero and Tesoro.

"They say don't mess with Texas," Newsom scoffed. "I say this, don't mess with Californians."

Newsom, campaigning for lieutenant governor under a banner of creating jobs by growing the green economy, said opponents of the state's greenhouse gas reduction law are being "manipulative and misleading."

The effort backed by the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and out-of-state oil companies is being billed as the "California Jobs Initiative." Proponents of suspending AB32, California's landmark environmental law, say requiring companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will hike the cost of gas and electricity for consumers while depriving the state of up to 1.1 million jobs. But proponents acknowledge that number isn't firm, saying: "while estimates vary as to their extent, it's clear that jobs will be lost as a result of AB32."

"There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that," Newsom countered today at a press briefing with members of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. "In fact, the evidence is overwhelming that the real job growth in this economy is in the green sector."

An analysis in March by the nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst's Office said AB32's impact on jobs would be mixed, "with gains in some occupations and industries (including so-called 'green' jobs) and losses in others (primarily involving fossil fuel-related energy production)."

In the short term, the likely impact would be a net loss in jobs, but in the long term the impact is unknown, the report said. In both the near and long term, the impact will "probably be modest in comparison to the overall size of the state's economy."

The mayor contends the climate legislation will actually stimulate the economy, pointing to figures indicating green jobs have grown 10 times faster than the statewide average since 2005 and a $9 billion cumulative venture capital investment in California's clean technology industry from 2005 to 2009.

"If (the) defense boom was the godsend of the economy in the '80s, and IT was in the '90s and biotech was in the last decade ... green tech will be for the next, I argue, century in California," Newsom said, adding that the oil companies simply "want to continue to pollute."

Anita Mangels, a spokeswoman for the opponents of AB32, said attacking oil companies that provide jobs in California was a smokescreen for flawed legislation that wouldn't actually reduce global warming.

"It's understandable that they apparently don't feel that they can sell the merits of AB32," Mangels said. "Instead, they try to vilify a couple of entities that are supporting the initiative, but it has nothing to do with the reality of what AB32 will and will not do, and what the measure will or will not do."

She added that "no one is saying global warming isn't a problem," but said it wasn't an issue California can tackle alone.

"We need to address it in such a fashion that we don't bankrupt our state," Mangels said.

Aug 3, 2010 1:00 PM