Passive Houses Come to America

Upon first hearing the term “passive house,” one might think, “Aren’t all houses passive?” I mean, they do just kind of sit there. They don’t really make a scene or step on any toes. In reality, the homes we live in are often inflicting some kind of footprint onto the environment with high energy consumption. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states buildings are responsible for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions each year and that 76% of all electricity generated by power plants in the United States goes towards the building sector.

A passive house, on the other hand, seeks to conserve energy, while also functioning as a livable home. PassiveHouse.us says:

“A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides a uniquely terrific indoor air quality.”

Or, in other words, it’s a building which follows the German Passivhaus standard for energy efficiency, one which focuses on reducing its ecological footprint resulting in ultra-low energy for heating and cooling. The U.S. is taking interest in this standard, however slowly. As of 2010, there were under 20 houses in the U.S., but across the global map there are around 25,000.

Inhabitat reposted an article on their Facebook and Twitter pages of an amazing Williamsburg, NY passive house above a creative shop. The space had been transformed from a standard Brooklyn apartment to a modern, energy efficient home, and the effects are quite stunning. A family in Utah also completed the project last year, to suit their family’s needs. The family bungalow is now an open, welcoming area, perfect for entertaining. See more at OurPassiveHouse.org.

For more information on the passive house movement, visit the Passive House Institute website as well as Passipedia – there is a wiki for everything. And now, more photos!

Where the Trees Are

Researchers at the Woods Hole Research Center, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Geological Survey created the map pictured above, an inventory of the United States’ concentrations of biomass. The darkest greens on the map show areas with the densest and most robust forest growth.

According to the NASA Earth Observatory, the map provides perhaps the most detailed “view of forest structure and carbon storage ever assembled for any country.”

The purpose of the map is to take an accurate, current inventory of the nation’s forests in order to know how best to manage and preserve forests.

Trees fill our air with oxygen. They provide shade on sunny days, prevent erosion and slow a harsh wind. They provide us with raw materials, food, medicines and more. What actions have you made in your daily life to protect our forests?

Holiday Best Sellers at Organic Bug!

It’s not too late to shop OrganicBug.com and ship 2 Day Express or Overnight in order to receive your products in time for Christmas!

For 2 Day Express, please order by TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20th at 1:00 pm EST. For Overnight shipping, please order by WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21st at 1:00 pm EST and call for availability. Read the holiday shipping guidelines.

Here are a few of our Top Sellers this holiday season!

Green Technologies Far From Fringe

Sustainable technology was a fairly new concept less than ten years ago, at least in the way we think about it now. Solar panels? Even five years ago, reliance on the same old, same old fuels and “best practices” were the most desirable technologies to implement. Now it seems many more start-ups and entrepreneurs, as well as some big time names, are seeking to out-green the rest, moving green-tech out of the fringe and into the limelight.

Popular tech blog Engadget has been posting a series called “Inhabitat’s Week in Green” to highlight the innovative, and downright cool advances where technology meets sustainability. Inhabitat is a blog keeping their eyes on the green prize, and so was a natural outlet for Engadget to pump up its own sustainable chops. Some of the more eye-catching developments from the latest round up included solar cars from GM, Ford and Chrysler who teamed up with a some engineering students; Facebook’s sustainable server farm to naturally cool the system that keeps millions of us tapped in; and Phillips’ fascinating bacteria powered lamps.

Also in the news for green inclinations is a little known company called Google, who was recently recognized by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as a company putting in the hard time to find  and utilize renewable energy sources. From the blog Earth Techling:

“Google’s green power accomplishments include purchasing green power from NextEra Energy Resources, Renewable Choice Energy and Puget Sound Energy. Additionally, the tech superpower helped to create the largest residential solar fund in the U.S. and has invested in several renewable energy projects, including what’s planned to be the world’s largest wind farm…”

Huffington Post has picked up on this thread and released a list (compiled by Newsweek) of the “Greenest Tech Companies,” with Google at number 30. Apple came in at number 27, trumped by Microsoft at 23. Toshiba ranked number 10, toppling companies I’ve never even heard of, followed by Dell at number 9. Mobile companies Nokia and Samsung took 8 and 7, with Hewlett-Packard at number 5. Who had the top spot? IBM. Here’s Newsweek‘s methodology to see why these companies were favored over others. It involves a score for environmental management, how green they are and what their environmental impact is.

Apparently going green isn’t just for the casual recyclers or the rare entrepreneurs. Large mega-companies are working on improving their “green” name, at least, as far as we can tell. Now, let’s just keep small green-tech afloat, shall we?

13-Year-Old Discovers Way to Make Solar Energy More Efficient

Young naturalist Aidan Dwyer applied the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical principle found in nature, to solar panels and discovered a way for them to produce 20 percent more energy.

Aidan was awarded a patent for his invention, and one more thing, he’s only 13 years old. The idea was sparked during a hiking trip Aidan took in the Catskill Mountains. He noticed the Fibonacci sequences among tree branches. The sequence states, “Starting with the numbers 0 and 1, each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two – 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…. These numbers, when put in ratios, happens to show up in the patterns of branches and leaves on trees.”

Aidan knew that tree leaves collected sunlight energy for photosynthesis similar to how solar panels take in energy. Therefore, he hypothesized and sought to find out whether their Fibronacci sequences helped them take in more sunlight and thus produce more energy.

Aidan’s hypothesis was correct, and he applied his findings to solar panels.

To sum up his conclusions, Aidan wrote,

“The tree design takes up less room than flat-panel arrays and works in spots that don’t have a full southern view. It collects more sunlight in winter. Shade and bad weather like snow don’t hurt it because the panels are not flat. It even looks nicer because it looks like a tree. A design like this may work better in urban areas where space and direct sunlight can be hard to find.”

Do you know a young naturalist who will also someday change the world? How do we keep kids engaged in science?

Composting 101

Composting is an environmentally-friendly way to reuse organic waste. This waste is gathered outside in a pile and under the right conditions, it will decompose. The decomposition process happens because of millions of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that live in the compost. The end result after composting is a rich, organic fertilizer that can be added to soil in gardens or other places where vegetation grows.

However, many people don’t realize there is more to composting than just choosing an area of land where fruit rinds and leftover food particles can be thrown and forgotten about.

Here are some things to take into consideration when starting a compost.

Aeration

The bacteria and microorganisms living in the compost require air. To aerate the compost, turn the material over with a pitchfork or shovel often.

Temperature

An efficient compost pile will produce temperatures upwards of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature to ensure a healthy compost.

Water

Bacteria living in the compost needs sufficient water to survive. However, adding too much water can create a swampy mess. Judge based on appearance, and the more green material you put in, the less water you will need to add. For some large outdoor composts relying solely on rain water works.

Greens

Be sure to add grass clippings to the compost pile. Grass adds much needed Nitrogen to the pile.

The World’s Water Crisis and What You Can Do

One in six people do not have access to clean water. On top of that, millions of people die every year from drinking contaminated water.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 2 billion people live in areas of the world that are classified as “water stressed”, meaning “the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use”.

Some have predicted that the world’s lack of clean water will be the next oil crisis where nations will fight over clean water.

There are a host of contributors to the world’s water problems. The health of our oceans is one major concern. Ocean acidification and dead zones are driven by pollution. Water supplies are being contaminated with pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, pesticides and other waste products. People are also simply using more water than ever before. Farm subsidies pay farmers to produce more crops than will be used, which causes those farmers to irrigate crops with water that will end up just going to waste. According to Water.org, agriculture is the largest consumer of fresh water with about 70% of all fresh water withdrawals used for irrigated agriculture.

How you can help:

• Contact your representatives in Washington to end massive subsidies that encourage farmers to overproduce crops.
• Recycle and dispose of your waste products according to your state’s environmental guidelines. Do not flush pharmaceuticals down a drain.
• Use natural fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on your lawn and garden.
• Use natural, organic cleaning products in your house.
• Compost foods rather than using a garbage disposal.
• Take fewer and shorter showers.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
• Only run your dishwasher or laundry machine when you have a full load.
• Reuse any leftover water from cooking to water plants.
• Avoid bottled water.
• Eat more plants.
• Fix any leaking faucets.

Learn more at Water.org.

Summer’s Here: Eat In-Season for Better Health

With the wide availability of grocery store produce, it’s easy to forget, or not even be aware of, which foods are in season. In fact, younger generations may not have enough grown up with a garden in their backyard. They may not have experienced the first summer asparagus that pop up or know the feeling of picking strawberries straight from the plant. Modern food processing and international distribution ensures that even in the winter months, fresh strawberries from Florida will be available in grocery stores nationwide.

Of course, it would be very difficult to eat only in-season foods. However, by focusing your eating foods that are grown in the particular season you are in, it is more likely that the foods will be fresh and contain a higher amount of nutrients.

Although it can vary depending on what part of the world you are in, here are some general guidelines to use for choosing in-season foods.

In spring, focus on:

• Leafy greens
• Swiss chard
• Spinach
• Parsley
• Basil

In summer, choose light options including:

• Strawberries
• Apples
• Pears
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn

In the fall, looks for fall harvest foods such as:

• Sweet potatoes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Squash
• Pumpkin

In winter, when many gardens are bare, choose easily-stored root vegetables including:

• Potatoes
• Onions
• Nuts

Local farmers markets or Community Supported Agriculture programs are the best sources for in-season, fresh foods. On average, a food product travels around 1,500 miles to reach your plate from the spot where it is harvested. Along the way, fuel is consumed and nutrients are lost. In addition, farmers have to pick the foods well before they are ripe, which is when they reach their peak nutrition and taste. In a country where raw, whole fruits and vegetables seem to be eaten sparingly, consuming them at their peak taste level could do wonders for upping fruit and vegetable consumption.

A Billion Acts of Green

The “A Billion Acts of Green” campaign saw an influx of green pledges last week for Earth Day. The goal of the campaign is to inspire individuals and organizations to perform green actions that support a reduction in carbon emissions and a sustainable way of life. It is sponsored by the Earth Day Network.

The Earth Day Network hopes to register one billion pledges before the 2012 Earth Summit, which is held in June 2012. There are just over 100 million pledges so far.

Some of the 100 million pledges include:

• “I pledge to fertilize my grass and plants using compost and not chemicals.”
• “I pledge to water my garden using rain barrel water.”
• “I pledge to recycle liquor bottles.”
• “I pledge to use paper carefully and make other people do this sincerely.”
• “I pledge to help one million children make rainbows of vegetables and fruits on their lunch trays every day at school.”
• “I pledge to switch off the tap while brushing.”
• “I pledge to take shorter showers.”
• “I pledge to lower my use of bottled water.”
• “I pledge to eat more local food.”
• “I pledge to eat a sustainable, healthy, pure vegetarian, vegan diet.”
• “I pledge to turn down the heat in the house every night.”

Have you made a pledge yet? What would your pledge be? Please post on our comments and record the pledge on the A Billion Acts of Green page.

Robert Redford is Honored for Environmental Work

Longtime environmentalist Robert Redford has been named the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservationist of the Year. Redford will be honored at the NWF’s 75th Anniversary Gala to be held on April 13, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

“As a dedicated conservationist and environmental leader, Mr. Robert Redford has focused the public’s attention on the importance of developing renewable energy, safeguarding clean water, and protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while warning against the harsh impacts of global warming,” said Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation.

The NWF adds that Redford has been committed to protecting the environment for over 35 years. He has participated significantly in the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, the Sundance Institute, and the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness. Recently, Redford took action in opposing new coal-fired power plants, supported gulf oil restoration projects and fought to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Redford uses his fame to lobby for environmental causes. He has lobbied Congress for environmental issues including renewable energy, the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge preservation and against global warming.

“I believe the efforts of the National Wildlife Federation are more necessary now than ever to protect our natural resources and to prepare the next generation of environmental stewards,” said Robert Redford. “I am truly honored to celebrate the Federation’s 75th Anniversary and all of their profoundly significant accomplishments. I am very moved to be acknowledged by it in conjunction with this important occasion.”

Previous award recipients have included former Vice President Al Gore, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, author Thomas Friedman, Lady Bird Johnson, and the Anheuser-Busch Companies.

Next Page »