On Saturday October 2nd, for the tenth time since coming into existence GreenHomeNYC presents its Green Building Open House tour! Participants get a chance to see green buildings all over New York City and absorb information about sustainable building methods and materials. As in the past the tours are part of the Nation Solar Tour put on by ASES.

The tours are an opportunity to learn about energy efficient and sustainable building methods directly from building professionals such as architects, engineers, developers or owners. You will experience firsthand the inner workings, building systems and design details, as well the challenges and accomplishments that were faced by the professionals involved with these commercial and residential buildings.

This year the tours will be complimented by a larger day of action called The New New York block party. It will include numerous DIY activities, educational events and fun that will bring to the street new ideas for a better, brighter future.

Previous tours have given participants valuable insight into a variety of green building concepts and features such as:

* energy-saving solutions
* photovoltaic and solar hot water technology and integration
* water-saving fixtures and appliances
* green roofs
* solar heating (”passive solar”) techniques
* allergy/asthma-sensitive building materials
* variety of green materials including paints, insulation, carpeting, renewably- harvested wood products, reclaimed and recycled materials

(more…)

August’s forum will discuss working with contractors in both residential and commercial projects. Along with teams of architects, designers, and specifiers, the future of green construction is in the contractors’ hands. Please join GreenHomeNYC on August 18th to hear how these innovative people are greening our skyline, one building at a time.

(more…)

Curious about what’s in Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, commonly know as “Cash for Caulkers”? Construction Software Advice has a excellent and thorough run down of everything in the proposed legislation, including details of each of the thirteen retrofit types eligible for funding.
(more…)

Coming this fall… The New New York, GreenHomeNYC’s revolutionary interpretation of the typical New York street fair. Get it in your schedules now: Saturday, October 2, 2010, all day. Third St between Bond and Hoyt in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

We’re bringing to the street the latest education, products, and visions for a greener New York City, and we’re practicing what we preach. This event will serve as a prototype to “green up” all future New York street fairs by minimizing trash, composting/recycling waste, using biofuel, and more. Visit greenhomenyc.org/thenewnewyork for more.

Be a part of this paradigm-shifting event that will bring a deeper understanding of what a truly green New York City can be by involving the residents of New York to TAKE ACTION. (more…)

On June 8, Mayor Bloomberg and Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri, in conjunction with Sustainable CUNY, announced the creation of three Solar Empowerment Zones in the City. The zones have excellent potential for solar power. Being inside one of the zones gives technical assistance, and streamlined paperwork for getting solar installations authorized. (more…)

On June 9, 2010 the City Council released nine bills, accomplishing a milestone towards greener building construction and retrofitting, geared towards water and lighting energy conservation and efficiency. This effort has been led by the NYC Green Codes Task Force, initiated by Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn. The taskforce is charged with changing the building code to tackle urban environmental issues on a larger scale. Here are short summaries from New York City Council, with links to the draft bill text.
(more…)

GreenHomeNYC board member Alison Novak reflects on behavior and green buildings.

Recently I’ve been hearing too much of the same depressing argument: we can’t solve climate change through technology alone but the masses of consumers won’t alter their behavior until there is a direct economic cost to them, such as vastly higher fuel costs. Then I was fortunate enough to attend the latest of the Garrison Institute’s “Climate, Buildings and Behavior” conferences (a GreenHomeNYC Partner-in-Practice was also in attendance, Miquela Craytor, representing Sustainable South Bronx). Re-examining the tenets of neoclassical economics in light of data provided to us by behavioral economics and neuroeconomics, gave me a glimpse of an alternate way of looking at the problem of getting people to change how they live without waiting for dire circumstances.
(more…)

Tuesday’s New York Times discussed the economics of green retrofits, and the Deutsche Bank/Living Cities Building Energy Efficiency Data Report –

The practice of retrofitting buildings with simple, environmentally friendly technology like more-efficient boilers and better-quality windows has been around for years, but there is little research on how much energy these changes actually save — and by extension, how much money they can save landlords and lenders.

In an effort to supply that information, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the German bank, is financing the creation of a public database of several hundred retrofitted buildings in New York City and a companion report to determine the savings from such moves.

(more…)

A green building news update from Capitol Hill, by GreenHomeNYC volunteer Adam Szlachetka.

Despite trouble with the larger energy policy overhaul on Capitol Hill, on May 6 the House and Senate advanced bills to improve energy efficiency in homes and other products nationwide.
(more…)

GreenHomeNYC volunteer Brian Rahm’s final reflections on his path to becoming LEED AP. Read parts one and two.

I realized after taking the exam that, whether you are new to the principles of green building or have sustainability expertise already, my advice is the same. The Green Associate exam is not so much a test of your sustainability or building knowledge as it is a test of your familiarity with the LEED process, AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF THE USGBC. You are essentially becoming their representative, and the Green Associate exam is a form of Boot Camp. You must know their rules and play by them.
(more…)