california

California, perhaps the most ambitious state with respect to adopting green building standards, can add another feather to its cap. On April 22, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragos signed an ordinance establishing green building standards designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tons by 2012. Approved unanimously by the City Council, the Private Sector Green Building Plan makes L.A. the largest city in the nation to adopt such a program.

The new law requires projects 50,000 square feet and larger and residential buildings with over 50,000 square feet of floor space, 50 or more units, or over six stories high to meet the LEED-Certified standard. The law offers expedited permit processing for projects pursuing LEED-Silver. The law also calls for a slate of other environmentally responsible initiatives, including a review of all city codes to ease the use of environmentally sound materials and processes, the creation of a cross-department Sustainability Team to review and revise green building policies and projects, and staff training and certification in green building methods.

This law follows on the heels of an ordinance introduced last month in San Francisco that would require projects involving more than 25,000 square feet to meet the LEED-Gold standard, which the SF City Council is set to vote on shortly. While we can quibble with some of the specifics of these laws, there is no doubt that by passing them, it mainstreams green building techniques, something that is good for everyone.

The 'Sonoma House' is a gorgeous, barn-style, 1200sqft granny home with a modern interior that is healthier, more energy efficient, and better for the environement! Additional environmental products featured with the home are: reclaimed local wood installed for floors, PV solar system, rainwater catchment system, built in recycling system, ICF foundation forms, smart vents, cool metal roof (as seen in example photo), lime plaster, and more! In 2002, Nichoel Farris founded American Home Sales, a local prefab home design company specializing in factory built custom homes and cottages. Because of the lack of affordable green building options available to the average family, she worked with the EPA's Energy Star New Homes program to design and develop the first Green Manufactured Model Home. The Sonoma House will be open daily for tour at the Spring Auburn Home Show. May 16- - May 18 For more info or to tour the other Green Model Homes on display: American Home Sales 530.885.4555. Custom Home Design Services and Full Construction Available Serving California and some neighboring states.

My husband has been a contractor in California for over 20 years and has built many homes, both ours, and for others. Since he was born and raised in Germany, he has a lot of experience as to how build more efficiently as well as eco friendly. There's a lot of resources on this site and I'm going to take time to research all of it, as we'll be building our first Green Home this year. Hopefully, completely off grid, sewer and water. Any tips and even warnings would be helpful!

Thanks,
JoAnn

Still dreaming of a solar powered house but think you can't afford it? Even with State and Federal assistance, installing a full solar system on your house can run you upwards of $10,000, depending on your location.

A new collection of companies are taking a lesson from the auto industry and are renting solar panels to consumers. Based out of San Francisco, Sun Run is one of the key companies in this new solar trend.

But just how does it work? Sun Run's solution is the first all-inclusive residential solar electricity package, offered for less than your current electric bill. You will lock in a below-market rate for the electricity the panels generate on your roof, and you can relax knowing that Sun Run will optimize, monitor, and maintain the system they install at no extra cost.

Such a sustainable and affordable option was one we couldn't resist investigating. Sun Run President Nat Kreamer was nice enough to take some time to chat with Building Green TV about his unique company and everything they offer for customers. Keep reading for details about Sun Run's beginnings, actual customer savings, expansion plans, and solar misconceptions. This is one interview you won't want to miss!

Italian food has firmly staked its claim as one of the world's most popular cuisines. A treat for the eyes, nose, and taste buds, it's easy to see why the kings and queens of pasta live such happy and healthy lives.

The sights and smells of the Italian countryside serve as inspiration for California based Nomine's line of soy candles. Pronounced "noh-mi-neh", Nomine "simply means 'name' in Latin and was chosen to celebrate the power of the meaning behind names."

Started by Nancy Covello as part of her dedication to alternative health therapies and a vegetarian lifestyle, all of Nomine's burning beauties are made from only soybean wax and essential oils - 100% free of petroleum ingredients found in "traditional" paraffin candles.

Our wax burns longer, cooler, and clearer than paraffin candle waxes, with little to NO carbon build-up. Soy wax does not produce black soot, which can leave residue on furnishings and walls. The wax is made predominantly from domestically grown crops supporting U.S. farmers and the economy.

Available in both jars and as tea lights, there are four scents in the Nomine collection, each representing one of the four seasons. You can buy each candle individually from the Nomine website, or as set of all four seasons (shown above, includes a box of matches). Each of the candles in the "Botanical Jar Collection" feature a beautifully applied image on their glass jars, adding both pleasant smells and sights to your own eco-abode.

Efficient, attractive design is at the heart of modern culture. The basis of all Swedish creations is that it has to be both beautiful to look at and useful in a straightforward way. Embracing the advantages of intelligent design is helping to move the green lifestyle even more mainstream than it was in the 1960s.

But where do we go to buy all of these products with smart design and sustainable features combined? One of my personal favorites is the Branch online store, based right here in San Francisco.

As a social activity, shopping gets us out into the various neighborhoods in our city, allowing us to connect with other people along the way. As a cultural excursion, it gives us a chance to discover what’s new and interesting in the world. At the same time, there’s an element to shopping that we find quite troubling. We buy things that appeal to us—we love a product’s styling, for example—though we may have little idea of where a product comes from. Instead of asking people to stop shopping (which is, of course, pretty darn impractical), what if we changed the paradigm of shopping itself?

Everything from larger items; like furniture and lighting; to home and lifestyle accessories; such as pillows, plates, and dog toys; are available in this easy-to-navigate web store. Well-known eco-brands like Amenity, Bambu, Ting and K Studio are featured. Looking for something special? Check out the smaller, local collections such as Perch!, Esque and Dwelling. Ready to outfit your sustainable abode? Then Branch is your one-stop-shop for modern interiors.

Remember when you were a kid and nothing could cool you down on a hot summer day like a frozen popsicle? One California company is taking that same concept and applying it to residential and commercial energy systems: ice-based air conditioning.

California/Colorado-based Ice Energy has been developing and marketing this technology since 2003. Most recently, they teamed up with California public ulitity company PG&E as part of their new "Shift & Save" program.

In collaboration with vendor technologies such as Ice Energy's Ice Bear hybrid air conditioning system, the "Shift and Save" program provides incentives that cut air conditioning peak electrical demand on light commercial and institutional buildings.

The ice-based air conditioner uses cheaper nighttime electricity to make ice and then uses that ice for daytime cooling needs. The units cooling looks almost identical to a standard AC unit. The systems lowers peak daytime demand significantly, shifting the energy load up to 95%.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find much information on just how much a system like this costs to install in an average home, but it is a technology very much worth looking into for eco-minded homeowners. 

Do you use any alternative methods to say cool on hot days? Personally, here in San Francisco, I just turn on a few fans and open all the windows, but in many locations, that would not be nearly enough. 

[via ENN]

Tattoos, non-toxic inks, and tugboats - a uniquely crafty combination for a successful business. In my search to find San Francisco-based small businesses that use traditional letterpress machines, I stumbled upon the Tug Boat Press website. Originally, I was simply seeking out more information about the letterpress process since I wanted to give it a try myself.

With any new hobby that I hope to dive into, I ponder if there is a sustainable, eco-friendly option to embrace. To my surprise, Tug Boat Press has embraced the green aspects of printmaking by using soy inks and handmade, tree-free, and recycled papers. Started in the mid-90s, TBP has been printing custom nature- and alternative-inspired wedding invitations, business cards, and fine artistic prints in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.

Not one to shy away from a chance to learn more about this unique business and creative art, I talked with Tug Boat Press’ founder Jonathan Palmer recently about green business, the lost art of letters, zombie greeting cards, and more - keep reading for all the juicy details!

Started by Marin County, California's Kimberly Rider, Atmosphera is a full-service, broad-range interior design firm. In particular, they specialize in working with homeowners, real estate professionals, and developers to create personal, custom designs.

"People are becoming aware that design is all around them, ...not only in retail environments, but on the web, on television and in the growth of home improvement”, says Kimberly. “They understand they have the power to change their environments. I built this company to provide the guidance and resources necessary to help clients realize their own sense of style."

A featured guest expert on HGTV's "Curb Appeal", Kimberly has also authored two green living books for Chronicle Books of San Francisco. The first, published in 2006, is titled "The Healthy Home Workbook" - which leads the way to creating a space that is friendly to the environment, reflects the owner's personal style, and won't break the bank. Released in February of this year is her second non-fiction book, titled "Organic Baby" - offering parents dozens of solutions that fit their priorities and their lifestyle—and their budget.

The range of services Atmosphera offers includes (but is not limited to): detailed landscaping; color consultation; space planning; light remodeling; and custom furniture, window coverings, bedding, and textiles. As a Co-op America Approved Green Business and a Registered Bay Area Green Business, Atmosphera is truly dedicated to making sustainable living beautiful and beneficial.