Tuesday, October 30, 2007

A new light wave

Lately I've been hearing a lot about LED lights. It seems this is the next new thing in lighting. We are already seeing it being used in televisions and other applications. Now LED is making its way into standard lighting applications.

It is perfect for things such as holiday lights because they don't get hot like other bulbs. Right now, LED is primarily used in architectural fixtures like rope lighting, track lighting and step lights, but bulbs that fit a standard socket are available. (The standard socket bulbs are very expensive, but that will change in the next few years, just as the compact flurescent bulbs have gotten cheaper s they grew in popularity.) More and more decorative lighting companies are designing accent lighting using LED technology.

What is LED?
LEDs (light emitting diodes) are solid-state semiconductor devices that can convert electrical energy directly into light.
Features and Benefits of LEDs

1). Save money and energy. Generally, a LED consumes less than 0.1 watts to operate. This low power consumption means you save on your energy costs.
2). No heat output. LEDs can convert almost all the energy used into light creating a highly efficient light source. In
contrast, today's incandescent bulbs emit a lot of energy in the infrared spectrum which can't be seen. We know this wasted energy as the heat today's bulbs give off.
3). Long lifetime. A LED can last up to 100,000 hours. High Power LEDs can last up to 50,000 hours. In comparison an incandescent lifetime
is about 1,000 hours and a halogen is about 2,000 hours.
4). Environmentally safe. LEDs are made from non-toxic materials unlike flourescents which contain Mercury. Can also be recycled.
5). Durable. No loose or moving parts. Able to withstand cold, hot, and magnetic environments.




Using almost 90% less electricity than standard bulbs, lasting up to and beyond ten years, and producing an even spectrum of light that is unparalleled; the future of lighting is Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The Department of Energy has stated a goal to reduce electrical lighting energy consumption by 50% percent by the year 2025 through the use of LEDs. Market studies predict that by 2040 LEDs will have replaced all other sources of artificial light in the developed world. When LEDs are universally implemented there will never be a need for another power plant. By far LEDs are the most dramatic change and realistic way for each of us to conserve energy and save our natural resources.
When the light emitting diode was invented in the 1968, it was not even considered as potential competition for incandescent light. It was not nearly powerful or bright enough. However, over the last 35 years, Moore’s law has continued to be proven true. LED luminosity has doubled every 18 to 24 months since and is now finally ready to overtake the entire lighting market. LEDs can be used in any residential and commercial space. Equally as important, LEDs are made of plastic making them nearly indestructible.
Nearly everyone experiences the benefits of LED lighting several times a day, whether they realize it or not. Televisions, VCRs, billboards, Christmas lights, cell phones, car lights, stoplights and walk signals are all built with LEDs. At our current rate of progress, LEDs will be able to replace every light bulb in existence by 2010. Although LEDs may cost more up front, analysts estimate they pay for themselves within the first two years of their eleven-year lifespan. For some consumers the initial cost continues to be a barrier, in the near future this will be eliminated. Like the advancement of computers, LEDs are not only growing in power and capacity, but consistently dropping in price.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Report on Scottsdale Green Building Expo

Featured Keynote speaker, Edward Mazria, AIA highlighted the building industry's role in creating global warming issues and thus our responsibility and ability to impact the impending climate crisis in a big way. Buildings and the building industry account for more than half of all energy consumption and Carbon emissions. By making small changes in every project, and bigger changes whenever possible we can start to alter the future. However, the "silver bullet" which can really reverse the trend toward disaster is coal - specifically coal burning power plants.


WHY?
Coal is the only fossil fuel plentiful enough and supposedly ‘cheap’ enough to push the planet to 450 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere - an event which will trigger potentially irreversible glacial melt and sea level rise. 53% of Americans live in and around coastal cities and towns and, beginning with just one meter of sea level rise, many of these cities and towns will be inundated. For more info, read the article at Inhabitat.com.


Get involved - tell your congressman to stop the building of new coal power plants - there are approximately 150 in process now! Forward this to anyone and everyone you know. There is power in numbers - more than money even, and we can make a difference if we let them know we don't want any more coal. Let's explore solar, wind, geo-thermal and other options.

Other news from the expo-

The 10th Annual Green Building Expo was bigger and more exciting than ever. The Phoenix Tri-city metro area is making great strides in green building and sustainability.

Tips for living green abounded - for instance, some simple ways to conserve everyday include:
  • Keep water in the fridge rather than let it run to get cold
  • Use cold water in the washer to lower utility bills and energy use - there are even new detergent formulas specifically for this
  • Water your yard early in the morning or late in the evening when evaporation rates are at their lowest
  • Repair or purchase used items instead of buying new ones
  • Donate unwanted items to consignment or re-sale shops so they can be used again
  • Choose household cleaning products that are the least harmful to the environment
  • Buy local whenever possible to save the energy used in transporting goods
  • Buy a reusable water bottle to avoid disposable cup waste
  • Avoid products with lots of packaging or those in plastic or Styrofoam containers
  • Recycle paper products, and buy recycled products to help complete the cycle




Friday, September 28, 2007

Do blue hats cause global warming?



For a bit of Friday afternoon fun,


Check out Polar Bears on YouTube - a great short video on the causes of climate change with a liberal dose of humour (as in British).

Have a fantastic weekend!






Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Eco-Friendly and Tres Fashionable Modular Clothing


In the world of eco-friendly fashion, there is DePLOY; a sustainably and DIY-focused fashion line. We love their DIY approach to sustainable style- they have a core collection that is infinitely customizable with secondary elements and continually cool as the seasons change.
Founded by Bernice Pan, an MA graduate and PhD holder from London’s Royal College of Art, DePLOY offers a more ethical approach to reinventing one’s wardrobe. Their collection of customizable clothing is a radically new concept, and offers endless options to the consumer. For instance, you can interchange bodice and sleeve styles to let a tank top become a dress, or turn a suit jacket into a trendy bolero.
An additonal benefit of their sytem is that you can adapt your existing wardrobe rather than buying all new pieces every season - a great boon to ever increasingly conscious buyers. They are sourcing their fabrics from certified sustainable suppliers and they are also working on making the supply chain more efficient.

This approach takes a different sustainable strategy than just material greenness, promoting the idea of cutting back on consumption and adding to or subtracting bits from old garments, to make them multipurpose and fresh, depending on the context or occasion.
For more info:

Friday, September 14, 2007

Green Mansions - a growing trend?

It seems there is good news out there for the luxury custom home designers who are also environmentally conscious. There is a growing trend among buyers of new luxury homes to include sustainable features into the homes they are building.

I just read an article on CNNMoney.com about the emergence of luxury homes utilizing sustainable design and building practices.

The article highlights many of the beautiful ways green can be built into a home, without sacrificing any of the details, quality or style traditionally put into custom homes. We regularly use reclaimed wood, recycled glass tiles, low-energy appliances and low-water plumbing fixtures, etc. In the Valley of the Sun (as Phoenix is known), solar is a no-brainer that we haven't fully taken advantage of yet - but it is growing. Using "gray water" (recycling dirty water from showers/sinks to flush toilets and water landscaping) is also a great practice we should be doing more of here in the desert.

Our firm bases our practice on making wealthy homeowners aware of the options and opportunities to incorporate eco-friendly materials into their new homes. It is one way of reducing the impact we have on the environment, while providing our clients with the luxury and amenities they want in their homes.

Read the entire article here -
Live the good life in a green mansion
As demand grows, multi-million mansions that are both indulgent and eco-friendly emerge.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

What is the cost of Green Design?

There is a new survey out that discovers eco-friendly design doesn't cost nearly as much as people commonly believe. The survey asked 1400 professionals, and found that most people thought green design costs were 300% higher than they actually were, or about 17% of the total construction cost. The reality is that most buildings only cost 5% more than standard construction, and some are less than that.

To read the survey from The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, visit http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/LgTO9cOXAeq991jXcwx0/EEBSummaryReportFINAL.pdf

For more info, see the article THE COSTS OF GREEN ARCHITECTURE by Jorge at Inhabitat.com.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Greenwashing



This cartoon by Tom Fishburne was just too funny to pass up - so I had to pass it on. It really highlights the struggle we face as we try to identify which companies are truly "green" and which ones are just trying to jump on the bandwagon.

Fortunately, we have a new resource locally in Scottsdale who is working with designers to provide products which are certified eco-friendly. I look forward to using them often in the coming months - check them out at www.naturalterritory.com.


Have an inspired day!