Written by Brandon G. on June 2nd, 2010
Powered Green has been blessed to have some amazing help along the way. This entire blog was put together by our fantastic team of interns over the last year, and I can’t extend enough thanks to those who have helped us grow Powered Green.
A long overdue shout-out is to one of Powered Green’s finest contributors, Mr. Zach Davis. The Good Badger left us for sunny San Diego, but continues to produce great content with his extremely witty blog. Zach has gone on to do some wonderful work within the realm of this thing we call the world wide web, and his entertaining blog is no exception. If you’re in the mood for some humorous social commentary and tips to make your life less painful and more hilarious pay his blog a quick visit. Also, be sure to follow him at @zrdavis for all the updates and videos you can handle.
Posted in Happenings, Lifestyle | No Responses »
Tags: Blogs, The Good Badger
Written by Liz on May 20th, 2010
Since its founding in 1998, Google has become much more than a basic online search engine. It has become a worldwide brand, Google Inc. The company boasts a variety of products and services, dealing with and extending beyond the Internet. Examples of their products include Gmail, Google Earth, and the Android line of smartphones. Along with their impressive list of convenient web services and fun gadgets, Google has also recently invested in an experimental highspeed internet project, Google Fiber. According to Rick Needham, the Green Business Operations Manager of the company, Google Fiber will provide an internet connection to one lucky community in the U.S. (ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 individual homes and businesses) at an astounding speed of one gigabit per second, roughly 100 times faster than the average Internet connection most Americans have access to. Madison is one of the lucky cities being considered for the project.
As one of the most rapidly growing businesses in the world, Google needs a tremendous amount of energy to power their various enterprises. On April 30, Google Inc. purchased two wind farms in the plains of North Dakota. According to Google’s official blog, the company calls this significant investment their “first direct investment in a utility-scale renewable energy project.”
According to the website Alternative Energy News, Google’s $38.8 million dollar investment in these two windfarms will yield 169.5 megawatts of energy, which can power up to 55,000 homes (which is also the minimum target group for Google Fiber). Google claims that “the turbines can continuously adjust the individual blade pitch angles to achieve optimal efficiency and use larger blades with 15 percent more swept area than earlier generations, allowing capture of even more wind energy for each turbine.” In addition to the high caliber output of energy, the state of the art technology these turbines run on provides a record low-cost sources of renewable energy.
Through Google.org, the philanthropic branch of the company, the company has announced that they plan on pushing for further reliance on renewable energy for future large-scale projects. Alternative Energy News reports that Google Inc. has indicated to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, that it will help buy and sell electricity on the wholesale market. Needham confirms Google Inc.’s intentions to invest further in clean energy by stating: “Smart capital includes not only these early-stage company investments, but also dedicated funding for utility-scale projects. To tackle this need, we’ve been looking at investments in renewable energy projects, like the one we just signed, that can accelerate the deployment of the latest clean energy technology while providing attractive returns to Google and more capital for developers to build additional projects.” Google has already followed through on this promise by investing in companies, such as BrightSource Energy and eSource, that focus on developing clean energy technologies.
Google is not only a pioneer of Internet related technologies–the company acts as a strong example for other large companies to follow in the journey towards reliance on clean energy.
Posted in Energy Topics, News & Information | No Responses »
Tags: Alternative Energy, Energy Topics, Google, Wind Farms
Written by Sarah on May 11th, 2010
Note: This is a guest post by Chris Thorman. Chris blogs about property management software at Software Advice, a free online resource for software buyers. You can view all of his property management articles at the Property Management Blog, including this one: Ask Your Landlord About Their Green Property Management Credentials.
The next time you’re searching for a rental property, throw out this question to your potential landlord and gauge their reaction: “What are your green credentials?”
The response you get probably will range from a quizzical look to a mumbled sentence about switching to new light bulbs. The reality is, sustainable practices haven’t caught on as quickly in property management as in other industries.
Fortunately, there is a growing trend towards certifying “green” property managers and it’s being led by organizations such as the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA), and National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI). NAR offers a property management track within its Green Designation and NAHMA and NAAEI jointly offer the Credential for Green Property Management. Both programs are designed to increase knowledge of sustainable practices among property managers.
Let’s delve deeper into what these credentials entail; why green property management is important; and what the future of green property management looks like…
To continue reading this article, bounce on over to Chris’s blog here.
Posted in Lifestyle, News & Information | 1 Response »
Tags: energy, housing, innovation, sustainability
Written by Sarah on May 5th, 2010
Note: This is a guest post by Dan Grifen. Dan is a student at the University of Utica pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He is an active member of the political blogosphere (check him out here and here) and a follower of all things green and progressive.
With some of the brightest young engineers coming straight out of The University of Illinois, it’s no wonder why Chicago is at the forefront of all major green initiatives. This includes the development of land conservation, efforts driven by the Chicago Department of Environment, and many more environmentally friendly projects. Amongst these are the significant advances in green space and architecture during the 21st century.
Chicago’s demand for greener jobs is being answered by companies like the West Pullman plant, which is the largest urban solar plant in the United States. In an article from the Chicago Sun Times, Jim Amedeo, Lead Supervisor, states “Solar plants are only going to get smaller and more efficient, and solar energy will get cheaper to use.” He continues on to discuss the implementation of multiple plants within the city, adhering to the idea of expansion and job openings.
Residential areas are progressively doing their part to ensure a smarter, energy efficient planet by exploring solar alternatives. With the housing tax credit extension, homeowners are more inclined to enhance their efficiency and find new ways to go green. Reports substantiated by NBC of Chicago find that American homes generated twice as much power from rooftop solar panels. Hopefully with the expansion of plants like West Pullman, America will see an increase in solar powered homes and renewable energy.
Leading the way in green civil design in large is Niranjan Shah, CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation out of Chicago, IL. Globetrotters has been granted monies in excess of $13.7 million, all for city consulting and engineering contracts since March, 1994. According to their website, “For over three decades, the Firm has provided a full range of professional architectural and engineering consulting services. [They] have also been active in program management, construction and energy management; property and facilities operation and maintenance; and technology integration and development.” In building, Globetrotters abides by USGBC guidelines, further promoting sustainability.
With the passing of Earth Day 2010, it’s important that the rest of our nation keep a close eye on the initiatives being taken in Chicago. Even the smallest individual lifestyle changes, such as brushing your teeth with the water off, are a step in the right direction. With the implementation of land conservation and living landscapes, Chicago, along with the rest of the nation will effectively see energy costs go down in the long-term. This will in turn lead to a relatively fast economic incline, not to mention a more sustainable planet.
Posted in Energy Topics, Lifestyle, News & Information | 1 Response »
Tags: Chicago, engineering, sustainability
