What Grows On in Rhode Island News

National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot: Project Update ~ April 5, 2011

NESEA RI MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT:

 The bad news - residential energy use accounts for 21% of US usage and 75% of those houses will still be standing in 2050.
 
The good news - National Grid is offering a limited pilot program to help RI homeowners and future generations live in healthier and sustainable homes - that save money.
 
Please join us at the next NESEA RI meeting for an update on RI's Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Project by Dave Legg, principal analyst and residential building science specialist at National Grid.
 
When:  Tuesday, April 5 at 6pm
 
Where: BRAVO (Downtown PVD)
123 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
 
Get ready to discuss:
- National Grid’s Deep Energy Retrofit Program in other states and what is in store for Rhode Island.
- National Grid’s other energy efficiency programs available to Rhode Islanders.
- What's next for National Grid and energy efficiency in the residential sector.
 
This event is free and open to the public.  Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

HopeEcoCenter ~ A Greenhouse Dream for Providence!

 On March 16 at about 11:15pm, after 4 hours of testimony and discussion, the Providence Zoning Board voted 4 to 1 to deny an application for a variance that would allow a drive-thru coffee shop at 398 Hope Street, the most recent location of Clarke Florist. This property has been used as a florist since the 1880s.

The Board said that they had received the third-highest number of opposing letters ever for any zoning application regarding this variance request. Sixty-one folks showed up to speak in opposition.

Wind Energy, Carbon Footprints, Sustainable Building ~ Noon, March 17, 2011

Brown University Center for Environmental Studies

Capstone Presentations
THURSDAY, March 17th, 2011
Urban Environmental Lab, Rm 106, 135 Angell St, Providence, RI
Starting @ Noon

12:00 - 12:25pm :: Emily Alvarez :: Topic - BI Wind

12:25 - 1:05pm :: Adam Maynard /  Mark Towill :: Topic - Campus Conservation Nationals Dorm Energy Capstone

1:05- 1:30pm ::  Sylvia Stone :: Topic - Managing the carbon footprint of the Australian Open , plus application to regional events in NE

1:30 - 1:55pm :: Robert Warner :: Title - Sustainable retrofitting/repurposing of historic buildings

NESEA RI Meeting Canceled Tonight ~ February 2, 2011

UPDATE - NESEA RI Event Tonight
 
We're canceling the event tonight but that doesn't mean you have to miss the early bird discount for NESEA's BuildingEnergy 2011 (BE11) - the industry leading conference on renewables, energy efficiency and whole systems thinking.

March 8-10 at the Boston Seaport World Trade Center

Sign up before rates go up next week.
 

You'll recognize a number of the BE11 speakers, exhibitors and organizers from NESEA RI events including:

• Paul Eldrenkamp - Byggmeister Inc (PassiveHaus)
• Chris Benedict – Architecture and Energy Limited, NY
• Joe Haskett/Peter Gill Case – Box Office
• Robert Leaver – New Commons
• Ken Payne – RI Office of Energy Resources
• Fred Unger – Heartwood Group
• John Jacobson – JTJ Investments
• Kurt Teichert – Brown University Environmental Studies
• Karina Lutz – People Power & Light
• Bob Chew – Alteris Renewables

Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your career by networking and learning from the best and the brightest in the industry.
 
If you have any questions, please let me know.  Hope to see you there!

Jo Lee
Green Machine PR
NESEA Board Member
http://www.greenmachinepr.com
401.338.5445

A Better World By Design Conference ~ October 1-3, 2010

Brown U and RI School of Design students have organized the 10th "A Better World By Design" conference to be held October 1-3, 2010, in Providence, RI.

A Better World by Design is a three-day internationally acclaimed conference in Providence, RI that connects students, professionals, and individuals from a variety of disciplines in order to build a global community of socially conscious and passionate innovators. Presenters share engaging stories, workshops teach creative skills, and discussions reframe perspectives. A Better World by Design is an immersive experience, one that deepens our understanding of the power of design, technology, and enterprise to reshape our communities and sustain our environment. See the website for details, and register today!

Green Building Tours throughout RI ~ October 2, 2010

Several green buildings will be open for touring in Rhode Island as part of NESEA’s Green Buildings Open House – many designed to the USGBC’s LEED™ standard and others that feature high efficiency, net zero energy systems.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) of RI and NESEA are partnering to bring the Green Building Open House to RI.  This event will give Rhodies a unique opportunity to tour over a dozen green buildings and renewable energy projects across our state.  Just to name a few:

• A Gold LEED BioTech Center at URI
• A wind turbine in Narragansett
• Jamestown’s Environmental  Packaging, Inc eco‐friendly facility.

The complete list of sites in RI is searchable by building type and energy type. You can also reset the state field and see the list of sites in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other northeastern states.
 

Sustainable Urbanism: A European Perspective ~ September 25, 2010

Meet RI's Green Cos & Orgs at NESEA Annual Meeting, THIS Saturday
 
You’ve probably heard that the NESEA Annual Meeting will include a presentation by one of Europe’s leading sustainable urban thinkers, Joachim Eble, a tour of the new $85M Providence Technical & Training Academy building, a mentoring table manned by NESEA luminaries, and a post-event party at JJ’s award-winning Wolcott Building.
 
But you might not have seen the stellar list of companies and organizations that will be exhibiting.  These are the entities that are reimagining and creating a more sustainable RI, America and world. 

Green Office Guide Published ~ July 2010

The Green Office Guide™ is a roadmap for businesses that want to transform their workspaces into more environmentally friendly places. It features 100 money-saving and money-making alterations that any business can make. The Guide is organized by topics, including

• Infrastructure & Construction
• Office Supplies
• Reduce + Re-Use + Recycle
• Corporate Kindess
• Vendors & Business Partners
• Energy Consumption & Production

The format is straightforward, leading readers to assess their current setup and explaining why they should consider making changes. Most topics have links to further information.

It is produced annually by Green Earth Corporate Kindness Organization (GECKO).

Passive House ~ NESEA Meeting

Ring in the the first Tuesday of the year with RI’s resident expert on Passive House, Paul Eldrenkamp.

Learn about the origin of the Passive House (Passivhaus) movement in Germany and how Paul, a leading green building expert and founder of Byggmeister, is promoting this standard in New England.

When:  Tuesday, January 5 at 6pm Where:  Everyman's Bistro - 311 Iron Horse Way, Providence RI

More about Paul Eldrenkamp Paul is president of Byggmeister, Inc, a residential design-build remodeling company he founded in 1983. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, a graduate of Harvard University, a former board member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, was the chair of the residential working group of the Massachusetts Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force, a frequent speaker at a range of industry conferences and a contributor to the Journal of Light Construction. As a long time "green building" leader, Paul offers unique insights into the challenges and opportunities of quality building.

More about Passive House http://www.byggmeister.com/passive_house.shtml

For more information about NESEA RI, please visit http://www.neseari.ning.com

Remember, if it's the first Tuesday of the year, it's time for NESEA RI.

Hope you all can make it!


-- Jo Lee Green Machine PR NESEA Vice Chair Twitter: @GreenMachinePR http://www.greenmachinepr.com Cell: 401.338.5445

Last LEED Workshop ~ November 23, 2009

From US Green Building Council RI Chapter:

LAST LEED WORKSHOP OF 2009

USGBC - RI Hosted Events

LEED Core Concepts & Strategies Workshop   LAST CALL!! Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 For anyone pursuing the non-technical Green Associate or the more advanced LEED AP+ credential, this course is a must! Take advantage of the last USGBC faculty-led class in the Northeast for 2009.