Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA recently hired The Alpha Group, Alpha Energy to install a 21kW solar power system to be commissioned on October 3.

“It is exciting to see educational institutions getting involved in renewable energy projects like this,” said Drew Zogby, President and COO of Alpha Technologies. “By showing their own commitment to going green, Whitman College is leading by example and encouraging their students to follow the same path. By providing Whitman with high quality system design, installation and innovative monitoring systems, Alpha Energy is demonstrating our own commitment to the best at what we do. This turnkey system is something Whitman and their students can be proud of.”

The 2,500 sq. ft. rooftop installation includes 120 photovoltaic panels, and is one of the largest solar arrays in Walla Walla County and in the Washington territories of Pacific Power and Light (PPL) company. The system will generate an estimated 25,000 kWhs annually, which constitutes about 20% of the Bratton Tennis Center’s power needs. A solar monitoring station will be located on the first floor of the Hall of Science allowing students and the general public to monitor the system’s output.

“The educational aspect of the project is a vital component,” said Bob Carson, Grace Farnsworth Phillips professor of geology and environmental studies. “And Whitman is ideally suited to educate members of the Whitman and Walla Walla communities about the importance of alternative energy solutions. This project shows students and community members that what needs to done, can be done. It’s a public acknowledgement that we can’t continue to get all of our power from fossil fuels, because we do have alternative energy solutions.”

The monitoring Web site for the system is currently online, and an official dedication of the solar panels will be held Saturday, Oct 3, at 3:30 p.m. in Kimball Theatre, Hunter Conservatory.

The rankings here are especially useful because they explain the criteria used and the method of scoring: air quality, energy production and conservation, environmental standards and participation, green building, green space, recycling, transportation, standard of living, and water quality and conservation.

Cities are rated for each criterion and the 15 top ranked cities for all categories are highlighted in each group. Seattle, Washington is the top large city. Madison, Wisconsin is the top medium city. Bellingham, Washington is the top small city.

In addition, there is ranking for each criterion. For example, in the small city category Bellingham has the cumulative top ranking and individual top ranking in air quality and green space. Mountain View, California, is ranked highest for transportation, energy production and conservation, and water quality. Petaluma, California is ranked top in standard of living. Beaverton, Oregon is rated highest for green building. Fayetteville, Arkansas is ranked top for environmental standards and participation. Mission Viejo, California is ranked highest for recycling.

You can add your city if it is not already included in the database.

According to the Department of Agriculture website, US Agriculture Secretary Vilsack declared August 23 – 29 National Community Gardening Week. “Community gardens provide numerous benefits including opportunities for local food production, resource conservation, and neighborhood beautification,” said Vilsack. “But they also promote family and community interaction and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods. Each of these benefits is something we can and should strive for.”

Your city can benefit from the ‘The People’s Garden,’ a USDA demonstration plot designed to teach how to develop and maintain healthy landscapes that demonstrates and educates environmentally responsible practices. USDA plans to reduce stormwater runoff with rain gardens and green roofs, reducing its impervious surfaces and enhancing the USDA’s Farmers Market.

The People’s Garden demonstrates how to provide healthy food, air and water for people and communities as well as food and shelter for wildlife. These practices improve soil health and water quality. Information about The People’s Garden initiative is available at www.usda.gov/peoplesgarden or follow ‘The People’s Garden’ at www.twitter.com/peoplesgarden

States spend about 10 percent of their operating budgets on energy bills, and EPA says those costs can be greatly reduced through adoption of well-designed state energy management and greenhouse gas reduction programs.

The Clean Energy Lead by Example (LBE) Guide highlights key strategies, resources, and tools
to help states identify the suite of options best suited to their needs. Each of the strategies promoted in the guide, which include facility-level energy efficiency, green power purchases, clean distributed generation, is road-tested and cost-effective.

The LBE guide is provided through EPA’s State Climate and Clean Energy Program, which assists states in developing and implementing clean energy policies and solutions to climate change.

Montana State University in Bozeman is employing roof tiles that include 80 percent recycled content to put the lid on its Zero Energy House Project. The house, a project of the university’s Extension Housing and Environmental Health Program, is designed to educate builders, architects, engineers, homeowners, students and the general public about resource efficiency.

The Majestic Slate tiles were donated to the project by EcoStar, a Carlisle, Pa.-based division of Carlisle SynTec and a leading manufacturer of sustainable, environmentally friendly steep-slope roofing products. The tiles are made from 80 percent recycled materials and contain little to no inorganic filler material.

“We were excited about the roofing tiles because they are made from recycled materials,” Project Coordinator Jennifer Grossenbacher explained. “We hope to show people that using building products that rely less on natural resources can cost less than traditional building approaches.”

The tiles will be featured on the renovated, World War II-era, Family and Graduate Housing home that showcases practical and financially feasible ways for homeowners and builders to conserve energy and water while saving money and building a healthier home at the same time. In addition, the project will serve as a regional link to credible and sustainable national building information, research, technologies, resources, demonstration and technical/training support for the housing industry.

Billings, Mt.-based MacArthur Company supplied the nails and underlayments necessary for a long-lasting roof. Timmer Roofing of Bozeman is donating labor to install the roofing tiles.

Majestic Slate tiles are half the weight of traditional slate, yet offer superior durability and long-term protection backed by a 50-year Gold Star Warranty.

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SightlineDaily reports on a potentially good idea: Washington state Representative Hans Dunshee proposes that the state issue bonds for $3 billion, which would employ some 90,000 people to make “safety, health, and energy efficient improvements to public facilities in all public K-12 school districts, community and technical colleges, state universities, regional universities, [and] The Evergreen State College.”

The bonds would be paid back from energy savings. Besides the health and learning benefits of green schools to the occupants, the lower carbon footprint, permanent savings on energy costs, the tens of thousands of jobs and increased business in the state, the sales and business taxes earned back by the state both directly and indirectly, the economic stimulus to any number of local businesses in every community statewide, the green skills gained by workers and contractors statewide, and the great example, would it work? Ah, the pesky bureaucratic details.

“As large property owners and civic leaders, cities are in a unique position to make something happen in high performance buildings,” said Dave Hewitt, executive director at New Buildings Institute (NBI). “And many of them already have or are getting ready to.”

Buildings are responsible for about two thirds of U.S. electrical consumption and nearly half of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Fewer than one in 1000 new buildings meet readily achievable high performance standards. Cities and counties wanting to go green can take a good look at their policies related to commercial buildings and start improving this score by understanding the high performance building continuum.

Read the whole article: The Spectrum of High Performance Buildings