Carbon Neutral?

Hey there all!

I was very intrigued by something I heard on the radio last week . A team in the UK just built what is apparently the first "carbon neutral" home in that country. That generally means that the carbon emissions from the home, those that contribute most infamously to the "greenhouse effect" we are all beginning to understand, are less than the energy the structure generates. Energy generation can be through solar or wind power, or in the case of the UK home, through a biomass boiler among other sources. Here in Central Oregon, some areas are blessed with great geothermal capabilities. The jury is still in deliberation about what exactly constitutes a "carbon neutral home". Should the calculations take into account only the final building, or the energy used to build it? Should it take into consideration the energy used to commute to and from the building? These are interesting and exciting things to debate. In the meantime, my company, Aspen Meadows Construction, is beginning to look into building a carbon-neutral home here in Oregon. It will be a real team effort, but it's an idea and project whose time has come.

Here's a link on the UK home: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6735715.stm.

Thanks for reading! And remember, Green is Good!

Eric

JUNE 18 - JULY 18 IS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE MONTH!

Thanks to the tireless work of 3e Strategies, ENERGY INDEPENDENCE MONTH is JUNE 18-JULY 18!

· Energy Independence Month (EIM) is an initiative to empower the citizens of Central Oregon to begin the process of creating a model energy independent community. EIM will feature a series of events, publications and action campaigns that address practical ways to reduce fossil fuel dependency, increase energy efficiency, increase development of local renewable energy resources and establish community and economic development practices that reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Upcoming Events for Energy Independence Month include:

o Commute Options Week (June 18th – 24th)
o Redmond Sustainable Development Summit (June 21st)
o Film: "Who Killed the Electric Car". (June 25th)
o Central Oregon Community College Course. Global Warming: Great Challenge, Great Opportunity (June 26th)
o Film: "Kilowatt Hours" and "Arctic Quest". (July 10th)
o Renewable Energy for the Future: Central Oregon Compared to New Zealand (July 12th)
o Creating an Energy Independent Home (July 13th)
o The Business Challenges and Opportunities of Global Warming / Climate Change (July 13th)
o Energy Independence Fair (part of Bend Summerfest) (July 14th and 15th)

Learn more about EIM at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=zopwtacab.0.xhw7tacab.hq7vfzbab.1254&ts=S0254&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.energyindependencemonth.org, pledge to take personal action and keep an eye out for the Central Oregon Energy Independence Guide coming out in the Source Weekly this month.

Founded last year by 3EStrategies, Energy Independence Month is being implemented by a collaboration of nonprofit organizations that make up the Central Oregon Climate Alliance, including: 3EStrategies, Central Oregon Environmental Center, Commute Options for Central Oregon , reSource and the Oregon Environmental Council. The Central Oregon Climate Alliance has come together with a shared mission of reducing dependence on out-of-state coal and foreign oil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through measures that improve health and strengthen the local economy.

To aid our efforts, the state of Oregon had officially declared the month of July Oregon Energy Independence Month!

It is the intent of the organizations implementing Energy Independence Month that our efforts will be taken up by communities in other parts of the state and country. For more information: http://www.energyindependencemonth.org/.

See http://www.energyindependencemonth.com/ for more on how you can declare your independence from energy!

Aspen Meadows Construction, a member of the 3e Strategies Builders Board is proud to bring you this info. For more, go to www.3estrategies.org!

Green is good-

Eric

Living Green - Easy, Accessible & Affordable

Green, or Sustainable Building, is a constantly evolving field. People worldwide are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that traditional building practices have on our earth. As a result, a market has been created - a green, growing, thriving market – that caters to the needs of these individuals.

Forward-thinking Builders have begun to experiment with new materials that have far less impact on the ecology of the planet versus traditional stick-framing. What’s even more exciting, many of us are beginning to turn our heads back – back to Old World, traditional materials and methods. And in some instances, old concepts such as passive solar are becoming increasingly effective as we learn what works and what does not in terms of the livability of the home.

Moreover, those of us concerned with such things realize that there can be great differences in energy efficiencies within homes. A Green Builder will take time early in the planning process to make your home as energy efficient as possible, using the newest - or oldest - technology available. Just as any Builder needs the tools to physically build your home, your Green Builder must have the latest knowledge about what can be done to make your home as green as you want it to be.

Green Too Expensive? Get A Better Builder

Recently I read an Associated Press article entitled, “’Green’: A Tough Sell for Home Builders”. The article (Bend Bulletin, March 8, 2007), stated “the National Association of Home Builders predicts a rise in green building to 10% of homes by 2010 from 2% today. However, experts say that large residential builders have been slower to respond to this trend.” According to the head of one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, consumers have been unwilling to pay for green features, assuming “green” technologies cost substantially more than traditional, non-sustainable building practices.

As a builder specializing in green – or sustainable - building practices, I take exception to the implication that consumers are not ready to adopt green technologies. I believe homeowners are willing and able to embrace green technologies into their homes to preserve Central Oregon’s environment.

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of touring and volunteering at the 3e Strategies annual Building Green and Solar Homes Tour, the largest of its kind in the nation. The homes on tour featured energy-saving mechanical systems, solar hot water or supplemental power, low VOC interior finishes, or all of the above. These homes demonstrated dozens of measures that can be taken to make a home green and perform to higher standards.

Building green just does not have to be that complex or expensive. Green building can be defined in many ways and can fit literally any reasonably conceived home-building budget. It’s often simply a matter of finding the right mix of options. If your home builder only offers options that seem too far-flung or expensive, then find a builder that will work with you to stay within your budget to build a green, more efficient home.

Green technologies are within reach of homeowners. There are builders in Central Oregon who will construct quality green homes, educate you about the options available to you, and provide outstanding customer service in the process. The Central Oregon environment and homeowners will benefit from green, sustainable technologies.