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Weekly Energy Newsbriefs

Articles for March 16, 2009


ENERGY NEWSBRIEFS is a weekly current awareness service provided by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program Library and written by Angela Santamaria, WSU Energy Library Manager, to assist users in tracking developments in the energy field. To view past issues or to subscribe to receive an email notification of the publication of a new issue, go to Energy Newsbriefs archives at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.

Please be aware that although every URL is checked for accuracy prior to the publication of Energy Newsbriefs, URLs are, for various reasons, subject to change. Further, servers sometimes fail to connect to working URLs.




BIOFUEL

"Turning Organic Waste into Automotive Fuel," by staff, tells about the European practice of using biomethane from organic waste for transportation fuel. It suggests that Canada and the United States ought to engage in this type of effort and are, possibly, on the verge of doing just that. See this article in North American Clean Energy, January/February 2009, at http://www.nacleanenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1603:turning-organic-waste-into-automotive-fuel-&catid=54:biomass-feature-articles&Itemid=121 .


BIOPOWER

"Zoo Launches 'Poop to Power' Plan: Researchers Using Elephant Waste to Generate Energy" is an article about how a zoo and a university are collaborating to make biopower out of the separated solid and liquid wastes instead of landfilling them. The potential savings to the zoo in avoided energy and landfilling costs may reach as much as $200,000 a year. See this article in KOAT News, web-posted March 2, 2009, at http://www.koat.com/green-pages/18836353/detail.html.


BUILDINGS

"EPA Unveils Top 25 U.S. Cities with the Most Energy Star Buildings" is a March 3, 2009, press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It explains the energy savings in Energy Star buildings and links to related information including the complete list of 25 cities. See the press release at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/01fe9c479e0648248525756e00596c16!OpenDocument .


CODES

The Building Code Assistance Project (BCAP) has web-posted its newest maps reflecting the building energy codes for the commercial and residential sectors. The commercial map is available at http://www.bcap-energy.org/node/21 ; the residential map is at http://www.bcap-energy.org/node/123.


POLICY

"A Closer Look at Spain's Success: A Renewable Energy Source for the U.S." was authored by José Luis Briceño, Director of Industry and Technology, Trade Commission of Spain. The article points out several policies that have made both the solar and wind industries in Spain successful and, possibly, serve as models for the United States. See this article in North American Clean Energy , January/February 2009, at http://www.nacleanenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:a-closer-look-at-spains-success-a-renewable-energy-source-for-the-us&catid=41:rotator-news .

"Legislating Green Communities" was authored by Cassius Pealer, Assoc. AIA, Assistant General Counsel (Real Estate), District of Columbia Housing Authority. The City Council of Washington D.C. passed "green" legislation covering buildings in both the commercial and residential sectors. A Green Policy Toolkit is available for policy makers in other cities who wish to develop similar legislation. Go to http://www.practitionerresources.org/showdoc.html?doctype=Website&id=64541&topic=Supportive%20Housing to see the preview page for the Toolkit which includes a brief explanation and a link to the Toolkit. A "Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods" is also mentioned in the article; go to http://www.greenplaybook.org/ for more information about it. View the article, itself, in GreenSource, January/February 2009, at http://greensource.construction.com/features/policywatch/2009/01_GreenCommunities.asp.


SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS (RESIDENTIAL)

The January/February issue of GreenSource includes seven case studies of new, single- and multi-family residences designed with keen attention to sustainability:

  1. "Dockside Green" by Sara Hart, describes a mixed-use development in Victoria, British Columbia, which, it is expected, will receive Platinum-certification from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). See this case study at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_DocksideGreen.asp.

  2. "Ehrlich Residence" by Aric Chen, explains the site challenges that were overcome in the design of a large (3800 sq. ft.) home and garden in Santa Monica. Read this case study at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_EhrlichResidence.asp.

  3. "The Galleries at Turney" by Nancy Levinson, are interestingly-designed, 2000 sq. ft., barely-detached, townhouse-condominiums in Phoenix. They are LEED Certified. This case study is at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_Galleries.asp.

  4. "Gish Family Apartments" by Jessica Boehland, are low-income, sustainable, LEED-Gold, housing units, located next to a light-rail station in San Jose. View this case study at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_GishFamilyApartments.asp.

  5. "Gunning House" by Sarah Amelar, is an unusually-designed, site-challenged home that is expected to earn LEED Silver certification. It is located in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles. See this case study at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_GunningHouse.asp.

  6. "Judkins Park House" by Josephine Minutillo, is a new home in Seattle that is, in part, attached to a small home right next to it. The new home was actually built in the other home's driveway. The design includes sustainable materials and a solar-radiant heating system in lieu of roof solar panels. Greywater from shower and tub is filtered and re-used in the home's toilets. This case study is at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_JudkinsParkHouse.asp.

  7. "Thin Flats" by David Sokol, is a new, sustainable, multi-family residence in Philadelphia , near the downtown and public transportation. It is part of a re-development of an entire, blighted area. Platinum LEED is a goal of the developers. View this case study at http://greensource.construction.com/projects/2009/01_ThinFlats.asp.


Past issues of Energy Newsbriefs are available at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.

Generally, subscription information for the journals cited above can be found at the home page of their web sites.

© 2009 Washington State University Extension Energy Program. This publication contains material written and produced for public distribution. Permission to copy or disseminate all or part of this material is granted, provided that the copies are not made or distributed for commercial advantage, and that each is referenced by title with credit to the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Copying, reprinting or dissemination, electronic or otherwise, for any other use requires prior written permission from the Washington State University Extension Energy Program.