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Treasurer McCord: PA Homeowners Can Finance 'Whole Home' Improvements Through Money-Saving, Energy Efficiency Loan Program

December 30, 2010

Required energy audit creates demand for local approved contractors HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord today announced new, innovative financing options available through the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). Qualified Pennsylvania homeowners can now take advantage of lower-rate, fixed-term loans for whole home energy efficiency projects – upon completion of a home energy audit designed to identify the most effective energy conserving improvements in each home. The new Conservation Audit and Performance Protocol (CAPP) Loans can be used for qualifying activities such as insulation and air sealing, as well as other ENERGY STAR improvements involving heating and cooling equipment. Unsecured loans up to $15,000 are available under CAPP for 3, 5, or 10 year terms at an interest rate of 2.99%, the lowest rate HELP has ever offered for unsecured loans.
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Power Efficiency Corporation Granted New Patent for E-Save Technology®

December 29, 2010

AS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Power Efficiency Corporation (OTCBB: PEFF), a clean tech company focused on efficiency technologies for electric motors, announced today that it has been granted a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a core algorithm incorporated in its revolutionary E-Save Technology® platform. The patent encompasses the method, system and apparatus for controlling electric motors and optimizing their energy use. Power Efficiency Corporation’s E-Save Technology platform was developed to reduce electric motor energy consumption by matching the power supplied to the motor with its load. Most electric motors are sized for the worst case operating conditions of the equipment it is powering. Since most equipment does not operate constantly at its peak potential load, it is common to see a motor operate at less than 40% of the rated load for significant periods of time. E-Save Technology allows for variation in the load profile and adjusts the amount of energy required to optimize the energy use of the motor. This typically results in energy savings of up to 35% in appropriate applications.
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KYOCERA to Supply 204 MW of Solar Modules for One of S.E. Asia's Largest Solar Power Projects

December 28, 2010

6MW solar power plants to be constructed at 34 locations in Thailand KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) today announced that it has agreed to supply roughly one million solar modules equivalent to 204-megawatts (MW) for Thailand's largest solar power project, which is being implemented by Solar Power Co., Ltd. Under the project, 6MW "Solar Farms" are to be constructed at 34 sites concentrated in northeastern Thailand. The Solar Farm Project is being planned, constructed and managed by Solar Power Co., Ltd., and the power generated from the project will be routed to the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA) and then supplied to homes and businesses. The project plans to build 34 individual 6MW Solar Farms for a total output of 204MW.
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Critigen Debuts Solar Map for Salt Lake City

December 27, 2010

Company Leverages Work with CH2M HILL and U.S. Department of Energy to Bring Latest Generation of Solar Map Online DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Critigen, a global technology consultancy, today lifted the veil on its latest solar map, which has been built for the citizens of Salt Lake City. The map, which can be viewed at: www.slcgov.com/solar/, was developed in collaboration with The Solar Salt Lake Project, an innovative partnership among Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Clean Energy and other partners; as well as through work with CH2M HILL and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities program. Debuting today, the solar map gives the citizens of Salt Lake City the ability to visit the site, enter in a property address and see a visual snapshot of the property rooftop and its suitability for solar panels. Critigen has an extensive history of developing solar mapping technologies, including development of solar maps in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles County, Anaheim and Portland.
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KYOCERA Celebrates One-Millionth Solar Module Produced in North America

December 22, 2010

Global expansion targets capacity of one gigawatt annually TIJUANA, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera today announced that its manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico, has produced its one-millionth solar module. More than 400 employees gathered for a celebration by signing the back of the module to commemorate the event. he millionth module testifies to Kyocera’s early involvement in solar manufacturing. In December 2004, nearly 30 years after manufacturing its first solar modules in Japan, the company commenced module production in Tijuana. In response to rising demand, Kyocera expanded that facility with a second plant in 2009, increasing the capacity in Tijuana to 240 megawatts (MW) per year. In June 2010, the company began its first U.S. production of solar modules, with an initial capacity target of 30MW per year in San Diego. Solar energy is now one of Kyocera’s fastest-growing businesses globally, with the company targeting global production capacity of 1,000 megawatts annually (equal to one “gigawatt”) by March 31, 2013. In addition to the operations in San Diego and Tijuana, Kyocera currently has solar module manufacturing facilities in Japan, China and the Czech Republic. As an illustration of Kyocera’s global expansion plan, the one-gigawatt capacity will allow the company to supply 3.5-kilowatt solar-electric systems for about 285,000 homes each year.
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Solar By Weller Offers Economical Electricity Alternative in Shadow of PA Deregulation

December 21, 2010

BOYERTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar By Weller – solar panel installer in Southeastern, PA – continues to offer the economical alternative of capitalizing on renewable solar energy with the deregulation of the Pennsylvania electricity markets looming throughout Pennsylvania in 2011. The deregulation is expected to cause an increase in electricity rates for businesses, federal agencies, non-profit organizations and residents alike as it has in other states. It can be argued that electricity deregulation helps to promote competition and market efficiency. However, California residents experienced quite the opposite with a deregulated electricity market in 2001. Unpredictable electricity prices and frequent blackouts became prevalent when there was not ample electricity available during peak demand hours. Many concur that the best solution for Pennsylvania residents is to incorporate renewable energy resources such as solar, which reduce dependency on energy from the electric companies and produce energy during times of peak demand. Currently, customers can still capitalize on remaining rebates available through the Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program, providing $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric (solar photovoltaic) and solar hot water (solar thermal) projects for homeowners and small businesses in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection which oversees the program, rebates are being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to approved applicants while funds remain. Households may receive one solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate for up to 10 kilowatts (kW) of installed PV generating capacity plus one solar thermal rebate not to exceed $2,000. A small business may submit one PV and one solar thermal application at a time and must complete the project and rebate process prior to submitting another application.
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ECC Wins Guam Contractors Association (GCA) Excellence in Construction Award

December 16, 2010

BURLINGAME, Calif., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ECC was recently awarded the 2010 GCA Excellence in Construction Award as a Project Category Winner in Environmental/Public Works for executing a $35 million time-critical remediation/civil construction project using indirect thermal treatment to treat contaminated soil at multiple sites throughout Guam. ECC excavated and thermally treated more than 34,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil at the Former Building 3009, a former Navy transformer maintenance shop on Naval Base Guam, and Navy electrical utility sites located throughout Guam for NAVFAC Pacific. The GCA award recognizes ECC's ability to maximize local participation, to implement value engineering, to use innovative thermal treatment technology, and to overcome obstacles.
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Hines’ Zielo Shopping Pozuelo the First European Shopping Center to Achieve LEED® Gold for Core & Shell

December 16, 2010

MADRID--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hines announced today that Zielo Shopping Pozuelo has received Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® for Core & Shell (CS) rating system. The property is the first shopping center in Europe to attain this designation. It was originally pre-certified to the Silver level. Designed by Alberto Martín Caballero, the three-level, 172,000-square-foot retail center, which opened in October 2009, houses more than 60 shops and restaurants. The property features a large central atrium, which is flooded with natural light, and rooftop terraces with impressive views of the Casa de Campo and the Madrid skyline.
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L.J. Star Announces LED Sight-Glass Luminaires that Cut Costs for Green Initiatives

December 16, 2010

TWINSBURG, Ohio, Dec. 15, 2010 – L.J. Star has slashed the cost for company green initiatives by introducing two LED-based sight-glass luminaires (lights) at less than half the price of its previous LED models. The new luminaires use a newer LED technology that can be changed out like a halogen bulb, unlike LED luminaires that must be discarded or rebuilt after the LED component reaches the end of its useful life. L.J. Star's Lumiglas® USL 16-LED and USL 36-LED sight-glass luminaires outshine conventional lights by providing low energy consumption, outstanding reliability and low maintenance. They incorporate an LED light source that consumes only 7 Watts of electricity, emits an equivalent of a 45 Watt halogen, and lasts up to 50,000 hours (five and a half years of service in typical operation). The affordable LED component fits a standard E27 or GU10 socket and is easily replaced. In addition, the luminaires produce light without heat and are not susceptible to shock and vibration, making the new luminaires ideal for heat-sensitive and vibration-prone processes. Both models have a crevice-free, stainless-steel design and may be used in sanitary and washdown applications in pharmaceutical, food processing, biotech and industrial facilities in non-hazardous areas.
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Abound Solar Secures Indiana Facility to Build Largest Thin-Film Solar Module Manufacturing Plant in the United States

December 15, 2010

LOVELAND, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abound Solar, a manufacturer of next-generation, cadmium telluride, thin-film photovoltaic solar modules, today announced that it has leased a 781,750 square foot facility in Tipton, Ind., where it will be establishing a solar module manufacturing plant. Abound Solar was able to complete the transaction following the closing of a previously announced $400 million U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee and $110 million equity investment. The facility, located at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Ind. 28 and comprising 104 acres in total, has been purchased by an investment group led by the W.W. Reynolds Companies, a real estate development firm based in Boulder, Colo., from the trust of contractors that has held the property since the 2009 bankruptcy of the former owner, Getrag Transmission Manufacturing LLC. Abound Solar has entered into a long-term lease with the W.W. Reynolds Companies that enables the company to make the necessary property improvements to facilitate the development of a solar module manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 640 megawatts per year. Development of the site is expected to begin in 2012 and will bring over 1,000 full-time jobs to the area.
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Cyclone Power Technologies Successfully Powers-Up Small-Scale Waste Heat Recovery Pilot

December 15, 2010

POMPANO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets: CYPW) has completed the installation and successfully powered-up its initial waste heat power generator at the facility of its customer, Bent Glass Design. The event marks an important milestone for Cyclone, as well as demonstrating the viability of small-scale waste heat recovery as a clean, renewable power source capable of off-setting fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Cyclone’s waste heat power generator – called the WHE-GEN-10 – utilizes the company’s scalable piston-based waste heat engine (WHE) to power an electric generator, up to 10kW per unit. This first WHE-GEN-10 is currently converting exhaust heat from Bent Glass Design’s furnace into grid-tied electric power. When fully optimized, this alternative power source can help reduce peak electricity usage and corresponding demand charges at industrial facilities. Small-scale waste heat recovery has been an elusive goal since the 1970s, primarily because the turbines capable of powering these systems required massive amounts of thermal energy to be cost effective. The WHE-GEN-10 is designed to provide an efficient, revenue producing green power system for tens of thousands of smaller industrial facilities in the U.S. and around the world.
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Outdoor Kiosks Going Green

December 15, 2010

New kiosk technology cuts power consumption in half LOUISVILLE, Colo., Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Bike sharing, recycling, and other eco-friendly applications are gaining in popularity and familiarity throughout the US. As the manufacturer of these nationwide deployments, KIOSK Information Systems has provided substantial design advances for clients committed to achieving the lowest possible footprint in their outdoor kiosk initiative. This month, KIOSK is introducing an innovative fan cooling system that virtually eliminates the need for an internal air conditioning unit in an outdoor kiosk deployment. This proprietary fan system exchanges internal cabinet air with external ambient air at 15 times the rate of previous industry standards, consistently maintaining the specified operating temperature range ( Read More

Standard Energy Solutions to Audit More Than 30 District Heights Homes for Energy Efficiency

December 14, 2010

Audits and Performance Retrofits Part of City’s Program to Help Homeowners Across All Income Levels Become More Energy Efficient ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Standard Energy Solutions, a professional energy auditing firm and performance retrofitting contractor serving the Mid-Atlantic region, today announced it will audit and retrofit approximately 33 homes in the city of District Heights and install solar panels on one of these homes. The work will be funded by the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) and residents receiving audits will be chosen based largely on financial need. The audits and installation are part of the District Heights Energy Efficiency Program (DHEEP), a community-wide effort that aims to increase energy efficiency and provide energy-use education to qualified residents of the city of District Heights. The program provides financial assistance to homeowners through various incentive programs.
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Repair Deteriorated Concrete with MEADOW-CRETE® FNP EXTENDED

December 13, 2010

Hampshire, IL – MEADOW-CRETE FNP EXTENDED is a one-component, pre-extended, shrinkage-compensated repair mortar for structural repairs and reinstatement of concrete elements. The product can be formed and poured or formed and pumped, utilizing a suitable concrete pump. MEADOW-CRETE FNP EXTENDED contains 3/8” nominal size aggregate and is suitable for applications requiring cathodic protection, impressed systems, or sacrificial anode applications.
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Alcoa Kawneer Products Help Put Innovative Colorado Courthouse on Track for LEED Gold Certification

December 10, 2010

NORCROSS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa (NYSE: AA) announced today that its Kawneer business has supplied architectural aluminum products that are integral to the new Lindsay-Flanigan Courthouse in Denver meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements. Kawneer’s 1600 SS Unitwall™ curtain wall helped the project with maximum daylight goals and several LEED requirements in the Materials & Recourses category. Kawneer also used recycled aluminum billet, which contributed to recycled content requirements. The new, five-story, 317,000-square-foot courthouse is on track for LEED Gold certification and also won the 2010 American Institute of Architects Denver Honor Award for design excellence. Architectural firm klipp Architecture Planning Interiors selected Kawneer curtainwall for the East side of the building to represent the transparent nature of justice. To maintain the integrity of the design and the concept of transparency and light, the architect did not want to incorporate a steel support behind the wall, but rather have it appear to float. The complex wall design incorporates several setbacks, folds and slopes.
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Whirlpool Corporation Account Managers Achieve Certified Green Professional Designations From NAHB

December 10, 2010

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Whirlpool Corporation recently announced that Cyndi Smith and John Talman, account managers for the Southern States Contract Sales Division, have earned Certified Green Professional (CGP) designations from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The CGP distinction recognizes Smith and Talman as building industry professionals with knowledge of the best strategies for incorporating green building principles into home building. Smith, a nine-year member of the Whirlpool Corporation team, serves as the liaison between the Earthcraft green building certification programs and Whirlpool Corporation. In addition, Smith devotes her time and sustainable knowledge to a number of industry groups, including the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Women of NARI Networking. An eight-year Whirlpool Corporation employee and member of the Homebuilders Association of Greater Savannah, Talman understands that being a respected source for information is imperative to fostering long-term relationships with customers.
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Cyclone Power Technologies to Present Its Small-Scale Waste Heat Recovery System at Power-Gen International

December 09, 2010

POMPANO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets: CYPW) will present its small-scale waste heat recovery system at the Power-Gen International conference, December 14-16 in Orlando, FL. The WHE-Gen 10 prototype to be unveiled at Power-Gen provides up to 10kW of renewable power per unit from the waste heat of small industrial furnaces, ovens, kilns and flares. This is the first system of its size that can provide facility owners with an attractive financial payback by creating electricity from otherwise wasted thermal energy. Multiple units can be coupled together to provide up to 100kW of green power, and modified systems are being designed to run off the exhaust of diesel engines and turbines, as well as biomass combustion.
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GE’s Nucleus™ Energy Manager is First Energy Gateway to be ZigBee®-Certified

December 09, 2010

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE announced today that its Nucleus™ energy manager with Brillion™ technology will be the first ZigBee®-certified home energy gateway for smart grid communications and home energy management. Nucleus is the first ZigBee device to act as both an in-premise display device and energy services gateway that can communicate inside and outside of the home. In this regard, consumers need only to connect the Nucleus to the utility smart meter, and then have the option of connecting smart home devices, and a smart phone interface that is currently under development, to the Nucleus. Using the ZigBee communication protocol, GE’s Nucleus will be capable of communicating with the smart grid and allowing consumers to manage their smart appliances and thermostats in response to utility price signals and take control of their energy consumption and costs. ZigBee is a standards-based (IEEE 802.15.4), wireless communications protocol that is embedded in, and compatible with, a wide-range of energy-management devices in the home. ZigBee enables smart technologies – like appliances, thermostats and energy gateways – to receive signals from the utility through the home’s smart meter. Products that receive ZigBee certification are able to communicate with a broad range of devices, ultimately providing flexibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness.
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Lighting Science Group Sponsors U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

December 09, 2010

Company's Ultra-Efficient LED Lighting Products will be Offered to Competing Teams SATELLITE BEACH, Fla., Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Cutting-edge solar houses would not be complete without state-of-the-art LED lighting, so Lighting Science Group (OTC Bulletin Board: LSCG) has become a proud sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon 2011. The Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in the U.S. 2005, 2007, and 2009. The next event will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2011. Open to the public free of charge, visitors can tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today.
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FOAMGLAS® Insulation Selected as a BuildingGreen Top-10 Product

December 08, 2010

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation, manufactured by Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, has been selected as one of BuildingGreen.com’s Top-10 products of the year by the editors of Environmental Building News and the GreenSpec® directory. This ninth annual award recognizes the most innovative and exciting green building products added to the GreenSpec® Directory during the past year or covered in Environmental Building News. BuildingGreen.com was founded 25 years ago and is an independent publishing company providing unbiased green building information resources such as the GreenSpec® Directory, LEEDuser web tool and more. Advertising and/or payment from manufacturers is not accepted by the organization. FOAMGLAS® insulation is 100% glass, made primarily from silica sand along with smaller amounts of limestone, soda and some trace minerals. The production process is also free of harmful blowing agents, and the material’s high compressive strength (without creep or deformation) and resistance to water and water vapor make it for a better option than extruded polystyrene (XPS), for example, which contains the brominated flame retardant HBCD and is produced with HFC blowing agents that have a high global warming potential. FOAMGLAS® insulation is noncombustible (without using flame retardants), resistant to corrosion in any environment, resistant to termites and rodents, dimensionally stable and has a high compressive strength.
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McGraw-Hill Construction Announces 2010 Best of the Best Awards

December 07, 2010

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw-Hill Construction is pleased to announce the winners of its third annual Best of the Best Awards, a national competition that recognizes design and construction excellence based on regional winners of McGraw-Hill Construction's 10 regional publications' Best of 2010 Awards. Winners will be profiled in the January 24, 2011 issue of Engineering News-Record. Out of 255 regional winners, an independent jury of design and construction professionals selected 64 national finalists and 21 winners in categories ranging from green building to transportation. Projects were judged on safety, innovation, contribution to the industry/community, aesthetic and functional quality of design, and construction craftsmanship.
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McKinstry Helps First Idaho Schools Achieve LEED for Schools Certifications

December 07, 2010

Caldwell School District earns two LEED for Schools certifications BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McKinstry, a national leader in the development of smart building systems, recently helped two schools achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Schools certification, marking the first time any school in Idaho has achieved such a qualification. Van Buren Elementary received LEED for Schools Silver certification and Washington Elementary received LEED for Schools Gold certification. n addition to being the design/build contractor for the schools, McKinstry worked with the Caldwell School District to develop a curriculum for K-12 students to learn about energy use and efficiency. The goal for the school district is to create a healthier environment for the students, teachers and staff – while simultaneously teaching the children about environmentally-friendly practices.
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Novelis Receives Architectural Environmental Award in Dubai

December 03, 2010

New cladding product helps achieve sustainability goals DUBAI, Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Novelis was honored in November with a Silver Gaia Award at the Big 5 international building and construction exhibition in Dubai. The award recognizes the environmental benefits of the company's pre-painted cladding sheet ff2ECOplus, which was developed to meet the low-carbon requirements of the Masdar City project in Abu Dhabi. The Big 5 is the largest building and construction trade show in the Middle East. The aim of the Gaia Awards, now in its third year, is to raise the profile of environmentally responsible building products and services in the Arabian Gulf region that reflect the growing desire to "build green." Novelis' ff2ECOplus is a high performance, pre-painted aluminum facade product that meets the Masdar City requirements for building materials with the lowest possible carbon footprint, taking into account production and end-of-life recyclability. Recycling saves 95 percent of the energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of primary aluminum. Furthermore, ff2ECOplus, with its high strength and excellent formability, is extremely durable with low life-cycle maintenance requirements.
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USAA Real Estate Company Obtains LEED EB GOLD Certification for the Colonnade Centre in San Antonio, TX

December 03, 2010

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- USAA Real Estate Company is pleased to announce that the Colonnade Centre, a multi-tenant, class A, office building located in San Antonio, Texas has earned a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED EBOM) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) at the GOLD level. USAA Real Estate Company's commitment to improving the efficiency and comfort of the portfolio is evidenced by the achievement of LEED EBOM GOLD at the Colonnade Centre, as well as being named Energy Star Partner of the Year (eight times) and partnership with USGBC in the development of the LEED Portfolio Program.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Eco-friendly Solutions for Better Environment and Personal Health

December 02, 2010

Kitchen cabinets have an impact on the environment and the personal health of the individuals that occupy the kitchen; cupboards that are not eco-friendly can release toxins that can have adverse effects on the air quality in a home SEATTLE, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- When homeowners are looking into replacing their kitchen cabinets, they should research eco-friendly options and manufacturers. This is important for the environment but also for the health of occupants of the home. Kitchen cabinets that are not environmentally friendly can place a strain on the environment and can cause adverse health effects by affecting the indoor air quality. There are toxins in the particle board, which is a common item found in many cupboard parts, especially in inexpensive ones. The wood veneer that is often attached to the top of particle board contains formaldehyde resin, which is a carcinogen. These items continuously emit gasses, which only become more potent when in contact with heat from steaming water, baking and stovetop cooking. Eco-friendly kitchen cabinets are cupboards that do not release toxins into the air because they are made of formaldehyde-free materials. Though not made specifically for this purpose, these include stainless steel, metal and glass cabinets. Wood cabinets from manufacturers that are committed to minimizing their impact on the environment with the use of certain products and methods should also be researched. Manufacturers of green kitchen cabinets should produce certification showing that their products are made with no VOCs or low VOC content.
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National Home Performance Council Announces Release of Key Ingredient to Successful Rebate Programs: Model Forms

December 02, 2010

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Home Performance Council released a set of model forms that are designed for use by a national, state, or local government to provide rebates to consumers who make energy-efficiency improvements to their home. The model forms were originally designed for the program detailed in the Home Star Retrofit Act of 2010, H.R. 5019, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last year and has been introduced, with bi-partisan cosponsors, in the U.S. Senate. In this legislation, the NHPC was tasked with providing recommendations on the forms that would certify the rebates to the U.S. Department of Energy. The NHPC worked with a group of stakeholders to develop these forms, which can now be used by any government, large or small, to put forward a cost effective energy rebate program.
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Energy Results Launches Its Innovative Home Energy Solutions Platform

December 01, 2010

Introduces a Complete Set of Tools to Make Saving Energy Easy CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy Results LLC today announced the launch of it’s innovative new platform designed to help homeowners evaluate, implement, finance and track energy saving home upgrades. The company’s approach is unique in that it not only educates homeowners on upgrade alternatives, but also makes it easy for them to capture these savings. Through the company’s website, homeowners can take a free Virtual Home Energy Audit™, which generates a personalized energy savings plan. This savings plan provides a customized set of upgrade recommendations, including details on the expected savings, costs and tax incentives associated with each potential upgrade. From there, Energy Results offers a full range of energy saving products and services, managing the upgrade process for the customer from start to finish. Completed upgrades are archived in the homeowner’s EnergyRegistry™, providing a quick and easy way to track and verify upgrades and savings. This ensures that homeowners receive the value for their energy saving home improvements.
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