Net-zero construction gains ground in U.S.

Apollo 11 touched down on the Sea of Tranquility with the world watching.

The date was July 20, 1969.

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed," the spacecraft announced. Some hours later Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong took man's first steps on the Moon followed closely by fellow spaceman Buzz Aldrin.

Their footprints at Tranquility Base likely remain, a small sign of a massive accomplishment.

NASA's back in the historic footprint game again but in an entirely different way. The space agency, now somewhat redirected and fiscally leaner with the closure of the Space Shuttle program, has been constructing a facility that takes inspiration for its name from Tranquility Base and seeks to be a landmark in another sense, leaving as little footprint as possible.

Here on Earth

Sustainability Base, at Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., has been dubbed NASA's latest mission on Earth. The facility has received LEED platinum certification, the highest level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating by the U.S. Green Building Council. Its design incorporates natural lighting, shading and fresh air. The interior boasts non-toxic materials and is, according to NASA, "a living prototype for buildings of the future."

UC Merced sets sustainable bar way, way up

The newest campus in the University of California system is quietly becoming a sustainable model and developing a reputation as a center for world-class research.

The University of California, Merced just had its seventh building certified gold by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program.

Its long-range plan, which embraces economic, social and environmental sustainability in campus facilities, was named to the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment Top 10 Green Projects program.

And physics professor Sayantani Ghosh, along with Richard Inman, Georgiy Shcherbatyuk, Dmitri Medvedko and Ajay Gopinathan recently won recogntion of their research in renewable energy in the clean energy press.

Renewable research leader

Zachary Shahan of cleantechnica.com explains the research breakthrough as an effort "to redesign luminescent solar concentrators in order to make them more efficient at sending sunlight to solar cells."

Trend to slash high-rise electric bills sweeps industry

King Kong immortalized the Empire State Building -- more than once.

And while its status as the biggest and tallest has been eclipsed a number of times since Pres. Herbert Hoover turned on the lights May 1, 1931, the iconic skyscraper continues to lead the nation. However, now it's gaining fame as perhaps the best known energy efficient high-rise.

Others have followed, drawn by the prospect of saving money in a turbulent economy through relatively simple and cost-effective upgrades that can pay off in a matter of years. The U.S. Green Building Council says green commercial building retrofits actually exceeded new construction some months in 2011.

"Deep energy savings (30 percent to 40 percent) can be mined from existing buildings," says a July 2011 study by Vancouver, Wash.-based New Buildings Institute.

Energy Star fast tracks

A barometer of the trend has been the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of cities with the most buildings qualifying for Energy Star status. Energy Star certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings. Buildings are responsible for about 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, while commercial buildings make up half that.

WET Center Tour and Presentation!

Please join us on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 for an overview and tour of the Water, Energy, and Technology (WET) Center at California State University Fresno, home to the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology Incubator and the testing facilities of the International Center for Water Technology.

We will kick off the evening with a USGBC Central California Green Social (with snacks!) at 5:30pm, followed by a WET Center Tour, Presentation, and Video from 6:00pm to 7:45pm. Don't miss this great opportunity!

Flyer and More Information Here! 

Location: 

Water, Energy & Technology Center

at California State University, Fresno

2911 Barstow Avenue

Fresno, CA 93711

Time: 

5:30pm Green Social

6:00pm Tour/Presentation Begins

Expect to learn about:

• The BlueTechValley – it’s mission, goals, impact, initiative, and next steps. 
• The Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center, its role in the BlueTechValley and how it’s supporting the development of (clean) sustainable technologies and the triple-bottom line companies that commercialize and make these technologies available to the mass market.
•  The support resources for new and developing technologies and businesses available through the WET Center – and how to connect.

Upcoming Presentation! Designing a Net Zero Project

Please join us 

for an evening presentation:  

Designing a Net Zero Project 

 June 5th!!!

5:30pm - 7:30pm

Relax and connect with others at our evening Green Social, followed by an exciting informative Presentation about Designing a Net Zero Project by esteemed Architect and LEED AP, Edward Dean, who will discuss the modeling and design of a net zero library in Berkeley, CA.  To bring relevancy to the uniqueness of the Central Valley, Edward will model Fresno specific data and discuss the strategies that work in our climate! This event promises to be amazing and we look forward to sharing it with you! 

Information for the event will be available the USGBC-CC website very soon! 

 First 2012 Solarthon coming up on April 21st in Madera!

Families in the Parksdale community of Madera are getting excited for the Central Valley Solarthon! On April 21st, their streets and roofs will be jam packed with individual volunteers, job trainees and corporate sponsors, working together to bring solar power to their homes while raising money for clean, affordable energy and green job training around the Central Valley. Haven’t signed up yet? Hurry, just a few spaces remain!

www.solarthon.org/centralvalley

2012 Fresno Earth Day!

Fresno Earth Day is April 14th! Please join us to celebrate!

USGBC Central California Chapter is participating in the upcoming 2012 Fresno EarthDay Celebration! Come join the fun! We are expecting over 1000 participants this year! 

When: Saturday, April 14th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

Where: 2672 East Alluvial Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720 

Activities include a variety of excitement, from a Bike Blender to Composting Worms to taking Tours of a Green Building to a Green Car Show! There will be plenty of activities for children, live music, exhibitor booths, food, and more. 

The mission of Fresno Earth Day is to inspire people to make changes in their daily lives to improve the health of our valley and planet. Through collaboration with partner organizations, businesses and individuals, Fresno Earth Day promotes education, networking, individual and collective action, and celebration.

Find more information at  http://www.fresnoearthday.org/ 

Help power Earth Day 2012 by pledging an ACT OF GREEN!