Thursday, November 18, 2010

Solar Energy: An Alternative Energy Source

Solar Energy: An Alternative Energy Source, by wobuiltCollage: Solar Energy Is An Alternative Energy Source
Credits: MS Office ClipArt - mh900437932

In keeping with our commitment to "green" building and design we are always looking to expand our knowledge of environmental issues such as energy efficiency. Here is an article about one alternative energy source.
What is solar energy? Solar energy is the light produced by the sun. Once the sunlight ray traveling from the sun hits an object on the earth it produces heat or energy. A very interesting fact that has come to light (no pun intended!) is that in just one hour, enough sunlight reaches the Earth to provide our energy needs for almost an entire year! This is especially important because the sun can provide us with an infinite supply of energy for a long, long, long time to come.

Up until now most of our energy has been derived from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas. Where it is becoming problematic is that the majority of fossil fuels have already been extracted from the earth. This means that as time goes by, our present resources will be depleted and we will have to look for new sources of energy. This in turn will drive up the cost of energy, making it much more expensive for consumers. And there is also the environmental damage caused when burning the fossil fuels to consider. Greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere which then leads to global warming. Therefore it is in everyone's best interest to start looking at other sources of energy.

Although residential solar systems are still quite costly, the possibilities for solar energy are incredible. Solar electricity, solar heating and solar lighting are all possibilities. At present, there are 3 kinds of solar energy. Passive solar energy requires no mechanical devices to create energy, active solar energy uses mechanical devices to create energy and thermal solar energy is created by converting solar energy into heat. Solar energy is becoming more important at this time because it can provide energy for us in the future as our supply of fossil fuels start to dwindle; it can save consumers money in the long term by reducing or eliminating your electrical bill altogether; and it can also have a positive effect on the planet by saving irreplaceable resources and reducing greenhouse gases.

As a "green" builder, we at Wo-Built are always interested in new ideas and other alternatives that helps us all to be more eco-friendly as well as saving the earth's resources.

Lonya Miller,
Writer
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

New Ideas and Practical Solutions for Green Building: National GreenBuilding Conference

Green Building Conference, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, December 1-3, 2010, by wobuilt
Screenshot: National GreenBuilding Conference
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, December 1-3, 2010
Credit: nationalgreenbuildingexpo.com

As we brought out in our article about the upcoming HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo 2010, the National Green Building Conference is one of the magnetic poles which attracts our attention with new cost saving ideas for green building and practical green residential building solutions.

National Green Building Conference: New and Green Products & Services Recognition, a conference dedicated to the whole building process from a green perspective.

Here is detailed information for some seminars focusing on design, economies, technologies, project delivery models, and products that lead to energy efficient, green houses that minimize their impact on the environment.

Date: Dec 1, 2010
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Lessons Learned in Green Residential Building & Renovation
W123
Speakers: Shervin Akhavi, Senior Program Manager, GreenSaver
John Godden, President, Clearsphere Inc.
Jamie Shipley, Senior Research Consultant, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation

Description: The speakers will discuss the lessons learned from two alternative building philosophies, CMHC EQuilibrium sustainable housing demonstration and the Passive House.
The CMHC EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration initiative is a national showcase for sustainable housing design and building solutions across Canada. Talented and visionary teams selected through a national competition are literally opening the doors to the next generation of clean and green Canadian housing – healthy, super energy efficient, very low environmental impact, with integrated on-site renewable energy systems to achieve net-zero energy use on an annual basis.
A Passive House is a building in which a comfortable interior climate is maintained without a conventional heating system. The house heats and cools itself for most of the year, hence "passive". The cost savings from eliminating a full-fledged heating and distribution system is used to fund the supper-insulation of the building envelope. Any remaining heat demand during extreme cold and cloudy days (~20 to 30 days/year) is provided by an extremely small source comparable to a hairdryer. The result is a house that saves up to 90% of space heating and cooling costs. There are over 10,000 Passive Houses built in Europe and North America.


Date: Dec 1, 2010
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Renovation Options for Energy Efficient Housing Projects
W124
Speakers: Christopher Timusk, Professor, Centre for Construction & Engineering Technologies, George Brown College

Description: Existing buildings are responsible for over 40% of the world’s total primary energy consumption, and much of the housing stock of our larger cities consists of old buildings and are our least energy efficient buildings.
The retrofit of these vintage homes is not altogether straight forward if we wish to make them energy efficient, comfortable and have them last for another 100 years.
Before tackling the retrofit of an older house, you should have an understanding of the building's structure, materials, and the governing building science principles, as well as some patience, which will be discussed in this presentation.

Date: Dec 2, 2010
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
New & Green Product for Residential Construction
T120
Speakers: Paul Caverly, Principal, Myhaven GreenVision Homes Ltd.
John Godden, President, Clearsphere Inc.

Description: Existing economic climate and increasing focus on efficiency and sustainability has forced the construction industry and materials manufacturers to develop products and systems that respond to expectations and requirements.
Learn about the latest innovations, trends, systems, and techniques that can make your projects more appealing to your customers, and affect your bottom line. A virtual house tour reviewing new products for the building envelope, HVAC systems, water efficiency, materials for finishes and renewable techniques.

Date: Dec 2, 2010
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
An Energy Retrofit of Your Building Is Your Best Investment: The ROI Beats the Stock Market
T300
Speakers: Kevin Day, Project Manager, Business Development, Halsall Associates Limited
Rob Detta Colli, TowerWise Conservation Incentives Advisor, Greater Toronto Apartment Association
Tim Stoate, Associate Director of Mandate Related Finance, Toronto Atmospheric Fund

Description: There are not many investments that you can make that give you the returns. That can come from an energy retrofit of your buildings.
Let Kevin Day from Halsall, and Tim Stoate from Toronto Atmospheric Fund and Rob Detta Colli from Tower Wise walk you through the process step by step to maximize your return.
Kevin will discuss building renewal options, Rob will present an overview of various incentives and rebate opportunities, and Tim will describe the financial benefits.
All three presenters have long-standing experience helping building owners and managers achieve returns on their building renewal investments.

Date: Dec 2, 2010
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
When Does a Green Roof Make Sense? What Have We Learned About Green, White, and High-Performance Roofs?
OAA Accredited Continuing Education Sessions
T115
Speakers: Peter Kalinger, Technical Director, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association

Description: The use of white roofs (also known as reflective roofs), green roofs (also known as garden roofs) and high performance roofs has increased significantly in Canada.
It has been extensively discussed due to marketing, governmental policies, and the presumed role of these types of roofs in providing energy savings and reducing the urban heat island effect. Many of these attributes are associated with the colour of the roof’s surface (e.g., white, green or black) and are all linked in some way to sustainability or sustainable development.
This presentation will cover the definition of sustainable roofing as we know it in today’s market (preserve the environment, conserve energy and extend the service life) and examine what we have learned over the past few years as an industry in terms of best practices with green, white, and high performance roofs.
This session has been approved for 1.25 CORE learning hours under OAA.

Date: Dec 2, 2010
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Future-Proofing Your Building
T305
Speakers: David House, Principal, earthdevelopment
David Jansen, Partner, Adamson Associates Architects
Mark Johnson, Principal, earthdevelopment
Alex Lukachko, General Manager, Building Science Corporation

Description: The myth of the green building premium is over. Sustainable buildings can now be delivered with less capital outlay and lower operating costs, resulting in lower gross rents and higher investment yields.
Gain an insider's perspective on how to make green buildings competitive and stand up to the demands of the institutional investors, tenants and market forces.
Join a world-class panel representing the architecture, development, and building technology communities and learn how to model a superior pro forma that captures the benefits of short and long-term financial results.
Topics will include the basic physics of building performance (The Perfect Wall), the future of gross leases, and the impact of energy costs on the real estate industry. Walk through a proven decision-making process that Old Money knows will mitigate risk and deliver results to all stakeholders.

links:
Going Green in the City: Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind:
Part 1 - Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
Part 2 - Going Green Is Becoming Mainstream
Part 3 - Living Rooftops - An Environmental Alternative for "Green" Building
by Lonya Miller

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Got a ClimateSpark Green Business Idea? It Could Worth $10,000 Cash!

ClimateSpark.ca + Toronto Atmospheric Fund online challenge for climate change starts November 3, 2010, by wobuilteco
Screenshot: ClimateSpark.ca + City of Toronto Atmospheric Fund
Get started + Pitch your business + Comment & vote on pitches

"ClimateSpark is modeled partially on VenCorps, a form of community-powered venture capital that believes the crowd can both filter the global wealth of opportunities and channel more intellectual horsepower into making each investment successful."

We have great news! The ClimateSpark.ca Online Challenge for the best business idea to address climate change starts today, November 3rd, 2010.

What's it going to take to save our planet - and make profit?

Your answer could be worth $10,000!

Dozens of great prizes just for being part of the conversation!

Over $15 million in finansing available for eligible businesses.

The concept can be put into practice in Toronto.

The business should be headquartered in Canada.

Do you have a business-ready concept for a product, service or process that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions?


About Toronto Atmospheric Fund
The Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is a leader in developing cutting-edge climate solutions.

About ClimateSpark.ca
ClimateSpark is an initiative of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund designed to advance solutions to climate change and build a green city.
Follow @tafclimatespark on Twitter

link:
twitter.com: "Weekly prizes for voting & commenting on ClimateSpark.ca. Join now to support innovative #green solutions. #cleanTech #ClimateSpark #Canada"