June 30, 2016

June Forum Recap: Community Solar Comes to New York State

by Pamela Berns   community solarAccording to Dennis Phayre of EnterSolar, even if we utilized all currently available sources, we’d only have about 100 years of energy left on the planet. But New York State isn’t waiting one more second to embark on innovative partnerships that will not only extend that timeframe but also significantly reduce the State’s carbon footprint.   On June 15, at the host offices of the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), GreenHomeNYC introduced three key players in these new collaborations for an instructive and exciting program about community solar. Community solar brings together customers, utilities, solar companies, and the state government to develop an interconnected approach to electrical power that will not only impact the way in which we create and move energy, but also the way in which consumers participate in the energy marketplace.   (more…)

April 1, 2009

A Green Lining in a Down Market

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

A Green Lining in a Down Market Converting to an Energy-Efficient Building By Erik D. Nevala-Lee The realities of a depressed real estate market have finally settled upon New  York City. We’ve seen a significant drop in sale prices over just the past few months. This  has been coupled with a rapid increase in inventory levels as units stay on the  market longer, further exacerbating this downward spiral in price. While there  are many reasons for the slump in the housing market that can and have filled  many other articles and columns, the real question is what can a building do to  attract new buyers and to keep existing owners in their units in the future.  Green design and energy efficiency improvements provide an opportunity for  buildings to address demand for and price of their units on the market.   Read on at The Cooperator

November 1, 2008

Finding the Money

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

Finding the Money Green Building Financing By Erik D. Nevala-Lee Taking the plunge and renovating an existing multi-family building to be more energy-efficient is an important and exciting endeavor. The long-term financial payback from increased energy efficiency in a building is well documented. These significant potential savings, while tempting, doesn’t always seem to be enough to encourage people to make the necessary upgrades to their own buildings.  Read on at The Cooperator
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September 1, 2008

Understanding What You Use Helps to Conserve

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

Understanding What You Use Helps to Conserve Reviewing Your Con Ed Bill By Sharon Brind With the constant rise in energy costs, the use of “peak generating plants” and increased individual energy consumption, we are seeing a direct impact on our monthly electricity bill. According to Con Ed, July 2008 set a new record of 6.7 billion kilowatt hours, or approximately 350 kWh hours per customer. Going forward it will cost more and more to light, heat, cool, and live in our homes. What can we do to lower our bill, become more energy efficient in our homes and essentially become more “green”? Read on at The Cooperator
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August 1, 2008

Green Building Insurance Practices

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

Green Building Insurance Practices The Climate is A-Changing By Erik D. Nevala-Lee One impact of climate change is being felt as natural disasters of increasing frequency and strength are causing extensive damage to homes and businesses. The four hurricanes of 2005—Katrina, Rita, Wilma and Dennis—caused more than $57 billion in insured losses from 3.3 million claims—the largest losses on record for the insurance industry. This sort of loss quickly makes insurers reevaluate the market and its potential risks. One way the insurance industry is dealing with the increased risk due to climate change is to leave the market. Read on at The Cooperator
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June 1, 2008

Tracking Building Energy Usage

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

Tracking Building Energy Usage Energy by the Foot By Aaron Yowell Recent studies of energy usage in multifamily buildings have revealed that the least efficient buildings use up to seven times the energy of the most efficient—even when those buildings are otherwise similar. It should surprise few readers to hear that a large number of buildings waste significant amounts of energy. In these days of high-profile environmental initiatives by Hollywood stars, mainstream hybrid cars and “green” lifestyle television programming, environmental awareness is at an all-time high. Read on at The Cooperator
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May 1, 2008

Emerging Faces in Sustainable Development

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

Emerging Faces in Sustainable Development Designer and Developer By Erik D. Nevala-Lee New Yorkers are obsessed with real estate development. We all pause to stare at the listings in our local real estate office window, and everybody knows the average price of an apartment in Manhattan (currently $1.7 million). Citywide, massive building and construction proposals like the World Trade Center, Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards and Manhattan’s West Side Rail Yards dominate the news. Read on at The Cooperator

May 1, 2005

The Power of Green: Bringing Your Building Up to Speed

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums. The Power of Green Bringing Your Building Up to Speed By Norma Dunkelberger For the past couple of decades, interest in the environment and “greening” of residential buildings has been creeping into our daily lexicon; nowadays, the theories have become practice, and renewable or “green” power is now more accessible than ever before. With planning and guidance, just about any building can inject a little environmentally friendly, money-saving green into its daily operations. Read on at The Cooperator

October 1, 2004

Green Building Saves the Green

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums. Green Building Saves the Green Cost Benefits of Green Buildings By Erik D. Nevala-Lee The environmental benefits of “green” buildings have never been questioned. The reduced intake of resources and the reduced output of waste accomplished through environmentally sensitive building reduce the negative environment impact of a building. Although the environmental benefits of green buildings are clear, how to afford a more environmentally sustainable living environment is not. Cost is a frequent excuse against building green. While it is true that the initial cost of green building can be more – an extra $3 to $5 per square foot, by some estimates – the life cycle cost of a green building is significantly less. Read on at The Cooperator Web Site.
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September 1, 2004

Renewable Energy

Since 2004, GreenHomeNYC has presented monthly articles on green building construction, renovations, and management in The Cooperator, a Yale Robbins newspaper serving 3,300 New York City cooperatives and condominiums.

Renewable Energy Now Available for Delivery in New York City By Joshua Radoff In New York City, electricity is a lot like Chinese food. It’s ubiquitous, available for delivery right to your home, and is made with lots and lots of oil. But unlike a good Chinese restaurant, Con Edison, the electricity provider for almost all of New York City, has a menu with only one choice. And until recently, if you didn’t like that choice, well that was just too bad. Theirs was the only gig in town. But the days of one-electron-fits-all have come to an end. Now anyone who thinks that their electricity should come from sources that don’t pollute, don’t come from the Middle East, don’t contribute to climate change, and don’t double as weapons of mass destruction, can pick up the phone and order a new utility product called “Green Power.” Read on at The Cooperator
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