The American Meadow Garden

In his new well-illustrated book, The American Meadow Garden, John Greenlee has targeted the Great American Lawn – that notorious sink of fossil fuels, water, chemicals and spare time – for destruction. “The revolution is clearly on,” he says, adding: “It’s a one-garden-at-a-time revolution.” Greenlee describes one of the most exciting new directions in horticulture and design, yards made of combinations of grasses and compatible accent plants for different kinds of meadows. One chapter catalogs grasses and grasslike plants now available in the horticultural trade; another showcases outstanding domestic meadows, including some of Greenlee’s own designs.

[via the San Francisco Chronicle].

City Offers Matching Grant to Businesses for Energy & Water Conservaiton

The City of Longmont is offering $60,000 in matching grants to local businesses to help pay the cost of energy and water efficiency improvements in commercial buildings and equipment.

The Commercial Efficiency Matching Grant Program offers financial assistance in addition to existing energy and water efficiency incentive programs available to Longmont businesses. Grant funds will be awarded to match the business or property owner’s investment after other incentives are deducted.

Matching grants are limited to the lesser of $5,000 per project or combined incentives and matching funds not to exceed 70% of total project costs.

Eligible efficiency improvements are those already approved for incentives or rebates under existing programs offered by Longmont Power & Communications, Platte River Power Authority, Public Works and Natural Resources, and Xcel Energy. Eligible measures include lighting, cooling, heating, compressors, refrigeration, motors, insulation, windows, roofing, toilets, urinals, spray valves and others.

Grant applications are being accepted through July October 31. For more program information and application materials, visit http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/lpc, or call 303-651-8386.

via Longmont Downtown Development Authority LDDA  528 Main Street Longmont.

USGBC Hawaii Renewable Energy Tour and Greeen Mixer

August 1, 2009
5–8 p.m.
Ma’alaea Grill, Maui Ocean Center
300 Ma’alaea Rd.

This networking event is intended for anyone interested in green building and sustainability. It is a chance to engage in conversation and network with like-minded green building and sustainability community members.

The USGBC (United States Green Building Council) is the nation’s leader in green building and sustainable development. The creators of LEED, the USGBC is setting the benchmark for green building in the United States. Here is your chance to interact with local USGBC leaders and members, and experience what opportunities exist to make a difference in green building and sustainability in Hawaii.

Follows USGBC Hawaii Chapter’s Maui Renewable Energy Day Tour (9:00am-3:00pm) which will visit the Kaheawa Wind Farm (First Wind), Maui Ocean Center (Small Wind), and Makena Resort PV Powered Wastewater Facility. Fee for tour includes free entry to the Green Mixer

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Architects • Designers • Consultants • Engineers • Developers • Home Owners • Community Members • Building Owners • Business Owners • Students • Contractors • Manufacturers • Anyone with interests in alternative energy, green building, and sustainability.

See details..

‘Complete Streets’ can pave way for aging population to move around

Viewpoint from Maui News, July 5, 2009 by Mike Morris*

Some are calling the aging of Hawaii the “silver tsunami,” a demographic shift in the next 20 years that will result in 22 percent of our state’s population being 65 years of age or older. This increase in older citizens is going to mean the need to change some of the ways we do business, including making our streets safe for them to walk or cycle.

Unfortunately, Hawaii is already ranked as the most dangerous state in America to be a pedestrian or cyclist over the age 65. We have our work cut out for us. It is going to take a major culture shift in both state and county transportation departments and our community as a whole to make Hawaii’s roads safer and more convenient for people of all ages and abilities, not just the elderly.

Today our roads are designed to accommodate as many cars as possible at the highest speeds and in the shortest amount of time. Many of our communities lack sidewalks and bike lanes, and too many crosswalks require a multi-lane sprint against oncoming traffic.

As our population ages, demand for a greater variety of mobility choices such as walking, cycling and mass transit, is likely to grow. The challenge for planners is to design roads that are safer for mixed use by cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

That is where the concept of “Complete Streets” comes into the picture. The Hawaii state Legislature passed Act 54, the Complete Streets Act, in 2009. It requires state and county transportation departments to accommodate access and mobility for all users of public highways, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists and persons of all abilities. This law could pave the way for better transit services, safer walking facilities and better mobility options for all those more likely to try to move around our communities without a car.

Transportation is one of the keys to making sure that people are able to live independently and in their homes and communities as they get older. A recent study by AARP’s Public Policy Institute warns that two-thirds of American transportation planners and engineers have yet to begin addressing the needs of older people.

“Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America” recommends that federal, state, and local highway and street design guidelines serve older people by 1) reducing vehicle travel speeds at intersections where older drivers and pedestrians need more time to make decisions and execute changes, 2) making the physical layout of roads, crosswalks and sidewalks easier to navigate and 3) making it easier for older drivers and pedestrians to notice, read, understand and respond to visual cues and information.

Because of the time required to make such improvements, Hawaii should plan now for the coming age wave. Federal, state and local transportation planners and traffic engineers should focus on adjusting our roads to become safer and more user-friendly for everyone.

To help kick-start a statewide conversation on transportation planning for the silver tsunami, Jana Lynott, the principal author of the AARP study, will visit Hawaii this month to meet with key stakeholders to engage the public and policymakers on Complete Streets, lay the groundwork for successful implementation of Act 54 and prepare the public for involvement in the pedestrian master planning process and transit oriented development.

A free forum on Complete Streets will be co-sponsored by the AARP and the Maui County Nutrition & Physical Activity Coalition Tuesday at the Maui Beach Hotel from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The time has come to prepare our streets for an aging Hawaii. The unprecedented growth in the number of older residents demands that we act now. This is a great opportunity for Hawaii to become a leader in implementing Complete Streets’ policies. You can get involved in this effort by participating in the Complete Streets discussion at the Maui Beach on Tuesday.

* Mike Morris is president and CEO of the Maui Family YMCA and chairman of the Maui County Nutrition & Physical Activity Coalition, a project of the UH-Manoa Office of Public Health Studies, John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Green Jobs: Hope or Hype?

David Brancaccio of NOW on PBS talks with environmental activist Van Jones, founder of “Green for All,” an environmental group dedicated to bringing green jobs to the disadvantaged.

In March, Jones was appointed as special advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Now that he has the President’s ear, will Jones be creating a new career frontier for America?

Related links:
Whitehouse.gov: Council on Environmental Quality

Green for All: What are green collar jobs?

YouTube: Van Jones Keynote at Powershift 09

Associated Press: Govt announces money for green jobs and training

The New York Times: Study Forecasts 297,000 Green Jobs

NPR: What Kind Of Green Jobs Will Stimulus Spawn?

Green Home—New Sierra Club Sustainable Home Website

This new Sierra Club website has useful information about making your home more sustainable.
C02: Ways to reduce your C02 footprint
Solar: Information about solar electricity and hot water
Home Health: Health hazards, Healthy lawns and gardens, raising healthy children, eating well and air qualitiy.
Learning center: An extensive library of articles on air, clothing, appliances, bed & bath
Videos with tips about greening your home.
Blog for discussions.

Green Hawai’i – Online Magazine

Green Hawai’i is an online magazine published by Hawaii Home + Remodeling, an established Hawai’ian home-improvement and remodeling magazine.

Berkeley FIRST Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology

Berkeley FIRST is a solar financing program operating in the City of Berkeley. It provides property owners an opportunity to borrow money from the City’s Sustainable Energy Financing District to install solar photovoltaic electric systems and allow the cost to be repaid over 20 years through an annual special tax on their property tax bill. The tax will only be paid by Berkeley property owners who voluntarily participate in the Berkeley FIRST program.

Berkeley FIRST is intended to solve many of the financial hurdles facing property owners who want to install solar systems. To calculate the cost benefit of the Berkeley FIRST program for your household energy needs please see the UC Berkeley RAEL calculator on the UC Berkeley website. The advantages of the Berkeley FIRST program are:

* There is relatively little up-front cost to the property owner.
* The cost for the solar system is paid for through a special tax on the property, and is spread over 20 years.
* The financing costs are comparable to a traditional equity line or mortgage.
* Since the solar system stays with the property, so does the tax obligation—if the property is transferred or sold, the new owners will pay the remaining tax obligation. Read more.

Green Initiative NYC video – Charlie Rose

An April 22, 2009 conversation about Green Initiative NYC with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council and Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.

“Green Builders” video

A quiet green revolution in the building world is evolving, and a first wave of innovative green design projects large and small has already hit the ground. Green Builders, a one-hour high-definition special, profiles a cast of green-building pioneers who have taken the leap into making their part of the “built environment” a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly place.

Green Builders website..