Chattanooga' Second LEED Fire Station

Check out Chattanooga's second LEED Gold Fire Station.
Below are some of the Green features of Station 4:

Energy conservation measures include: ultra-efficient mechanical systems, appliances and lighting, heat reflective roofing, natural light and occupancy sensors

Energy efficient measures should equate to a 23 percent savings in utility costs compared to a standard fire station

Water conservation measures include the use of dual flush toilets, low flow faucets, and pint flush urinals. Consumption of potable water was reduced by 47 percent below standard fixtures. Two bioswales and a landscape swale were installed to retain the rainwater. Even the run-off from the truck washing area is channeled into the bioswale.

A cistern is used to capture rainwater from the roof and then pumped to a spigot for the purpose of washing the fire trucks. Using this system is estimated to save more than 14,000 gallons of water each year.

All interior finishes and cabinetry have little-to-no volatile organic compound (VOC) content

Landscaped with native trees and plants to reduce watering needs

The roof has a highly reflective surface and insulation was added to reach a total R value of 30.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_212672.asp

First Leaf electric car in Nashville!

Tuesday, Dec 21st, Nissan turned over the keys to the first Tennessee buyer of its new Leaf at a Nashville dealership to become the world's first automaker to introduce a mass-market, highway-capable electric car. The Heeren family of Nashville were the first to receive a Leaf in Tennessee by virtue of being the first to sign up to buy one on a Nissan website in August.
See more

TVA wants to use smaller nuclear reactors by 2020

TVA has announced to nuclear regulators they may begin using new and smaller nuclear reactors by 2020. TVA will have to get approval through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This brings up a whole set of issues that need to be discussed: environmental impact of several more power plants on the landscape; is this the direction we need to go or should we be looking at alternative energy?
See article

Review: 2011 Nissan Leaf electric car is a treat to drive

This is a good article on the good and bad of the new Nissan Leaf. I'm still concerned about the short distance between re-charges.
Read the article

Tennessee offers a $2,500 incentive for Electric Vehicle Purchases

The state of Tennessee offers a $2,500 incentive to early buyers of electric vehicles via a program that could later be extended to buyers of other alternative fuel vehicles.
"There's no reason Tennessee can't take the lead … in the development of electric vehicles," the Governor Phil Bredesen said. "We want their components to be made here and sold worldwide with a 'Made in Tennessee' label."
Read More
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100909/BUSINESS01/9090349/2221/BUSINESS

EPA Releases Final Specification for WaterSense New Homes

This will help homeowners increase water efficiency and save on their utility bills

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final WaterSense single-family new homes specification today, creating the first national, voluntary, water-efficiency specification for an entire new home.

“Home builders can now partner with EPA and earn the WaterSense label for their newly built homes, helping to create livable communities and quality homes that are easy to maintain,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “These homes will save homeowners as much as $200 a year on utility bills compared to their current homes.” See WaterSense

Printable Batteries Made From Paper

Scientists have made batteries and supercapacitors with little more than ordinary office paper and some carbon and silver nanomaterials. The research, published online December 7 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, brings scientists closer to lightweight printable batteries that may one day be molded into computers, cell phones or solar panels. >>Read More

Recovery Through Retrofit program offers numerous homeowner benefits

October 20, "Phoenix Green Business Examiner" by Brian Coppa.

On Monday, Vice President Biden released a new report entitled “Recovery Through Retrofit,” which expands upon related green building programs in the Recovery Act to increase job opportunities and offers numerous homeowner benefits such as dramatically enhanced energy savings nationwide by improving the energy efficiency of residences. The Department of Energy (DOE) also announced $454 million under the Recovery Act will be available through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program to support this endeavor.
>>More

Hamilton County: Health Department To Get "Green Roof" Through Federal Grant

October 15, 2009
Hamilton County has received a $616,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy of $616,500 to develop and implement projects to improve energy efficiency, including a new "green roof" at the Health Department.

The grant is also aimed at reducing energy use and fossil fuel emissions.

Initial projects approved by DOE also include an energy audit for county buildings; light bulb replacement in county parks; and a “Go Green” educational campaign for county employees and in elementary schools.
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_161037.asp

Tennessee to Hold Series of Hearings on Prospective New Energy Code

After the passage of legislation in June updating the state's energy codes, the Tennessee Fire Marshal's office will be holding public hearings (schedule below) throughout the state on the prospective regulations. Among the proposed changes:

1. The state Fire Marshal's office will adopt the new state commercial and residential energy codes, which will be based on a combination of the IECC and either the IBC (commercial) or IRC (residential). This combination will be chosen from either the 2006 or 2009 code series.
2. In local jurisdictions that have already adopted codes equivalent to or exceeding the 2006 IECC, the new state codes are not required to be adopted.
3. The state will enforce the IECC for residential and commercial buildings in jurisdictions that do not have inspection programs, but only in those that do not choose to opt out of the state code with a two-thirds vote of the local governing body.
4. Jurisdictions that do have their own inspection program may adopt any edition of the IRC within 7 years of the latest published edition of the IRC. They can enforce any edition of the IECC that is within 7 years of the latest published edition or enforce Chapter 11 (energy efficiency) of an edition of the IRC that is within 7 years of the latest published edition of the IRC.
5. The provisions of the new state code will sunset in 2014.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE:

Knoxville: October 8 at 1:00pm ET
University of TN Conference Center, 4th Floor dining Room
600 Henley Street

Chattanooga: October 9 at 9:00am ET
Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center Ballroom H/I/J
Two Carter Plaza

Jackson: October 13 at 1:00pm CT
West Tennessee Ag Research and Education Center, Room 150
605 Airways Boulevard

Nashville: October 15 at 1:00pm CT
Davy Crockett Tower, Room 160
500 James Robertson Parkway

Duke Energy to Build Ninth U.S. Wind Farm

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) continues to add to its renewable power portfolio with the announcement that it will build and operate a 200-megawatt wind energy project near Casper, Wyo. The Top of the World...
Windpower Project will be the company's ninth U.S. wind farm and its fourth in Wyoming.

Duke Energy will construct the Top of the World project on approximately 17,000 acres of private and public land it holds under long-term lease in Converse County. The project - expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2010 - will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 50,000 to 60,000 homes on an annual basis. >>More

Residential In-Home Energy Evaluation

Middle Tennessee Electric Corporation, MTEMC, in partnership with TVA, offers the In-Home Energy Evaluation. Reduce your power usage and receive cash incentives or financing assistance for installing energy-efficiency improvements.
Participants pay an up-front fee of $150 for the evaluation. If any recommended improvements are made over $150, the fee will be reimbursed. Plus, you will be reimbursed 50% of the installation cost up to $500 (thanks to Miles for reminding me about this).>>More Info

Nashville Electric Service, NES
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit
Just complete a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit and you’ll receive a free Energy Conservation Kit in the mail!(I've done this!) >>More