ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) has promulgated internationally-recognized standards for specifying and testing materials, products, and systems since 1898. Since 2008, ASTM has included Committee E60, a committee dedicated to developing and improving standards particularly related to sustainability. This committee and its subcommittee on Building and Construction have recently released ASTM Standards for Sustainability in Building, 4th edition, a compilation of (more…)
As noted in a previous blog entry, one of the key programs established under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) offers loan guarantee funding under a Department of Energy solicitation covering energy efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced transmission and distribution technologies (the “Section 1703” and “Section 1705” programs, in shorthand). This multibillion dollar program has been criticized for its slow pace in distributing funds, particularly with the original deadline for applications fast approaching – August 31, 2010. (more…)
Carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”), while as yet an undemonstrated technology in its entirety for climate change mitigation, is composed of relatively established industrial methods of capturing, liquefying, transporting carbon dioxide (“CO2”) (in gaseous and liquid form), injecting it into deep, stable geological formations, and monitoring the storage areas to ensure minimal leakage. This summer, at the fifth symposium of the Dutch national research and development program for CO2 capture, transport and storage — CATO2 (a consortium of public, private, academic, and nongovernmental entities) — Judd Swift of Swift Global Results (formerly the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Delegate to Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum) provided an overview of the U.S. and Canadian experience with CO2 transport and injection. (more…)
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System has become the industry standard for high performance, green buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed version 1.0 of the LEED Green Building Rating System in 1998. On April 27, 2009 USGBC launched LEED version 3.0. LEED certified buildings are in high demand as green buildings are increasingly mandated by the government and demanded by tenants. However, successfully obtaining LEED certification can be a complex process. Therefore, it is important that individuals who are seeking LEED certification for their projects assemble a team of professionals who are knowledgeable and have experience managing the LEED process.
One way to ensure that team members have proven expertise with the LEED certification process is to engage professionals with LEED credentials. (more…)
Click here for a recent New York Times article on recycling land to create green energy. And click here for a link to a recent Pepper Hamilton discussion of this issue.
