May 15th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
 New York City was built up a long, long time ago when energy efficiency wasn’t part of the plan. So nowadays buildings consume a lot of power, costing owners millions of dollars each year.
That’s why New York is all set to retrofit skyscrapers to help reduce carbon emissions, most notably the Empire State Building, which is slated to get a $20 million green makeover:
On the outside, the building will get 6500 windows refurbished into triple-glazed insulated modules, dramatically improving summer and winter efficiency. On the inside, the 78 year-old building is getting upgraded lighting, lighting controls and lighting design; upgraded or overhauled furnaces, chillers, and air-handlers. There will also be an emphasis put on demand-side management systems, allowing tenants to use their energy efficiently.
“Commercial and residential buildings account for the majority of the total carbon footprint of cities around the world – over 70 percent in New York City,” said Anthony E. Malkin of building owner, Empire State Building Company. “Most new buildings are built with the environment in mind, but the real key to substantial progress is reducing existing building energy consumption and carbon footprint.”
Actually, New York has been very active in the green revolution, such as instituting a statewide recycling program for plastic bags, subway rides that donate money to environmental programs and an apartment building in Brooklyn just got a solar roof.
Via CleanTechnica.
Read More: Empire State Building to Slash Energy Consumption
Tags: energy, recycling, solar
Posted in The Environment | Comments Off
March 18th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
It’s always weird to see what mundane things like phone booths, parking meters and trash cans look like in other countries. Recycling bins are no different. Here’s a snapshot tour from around the world, including places like Austria, England, Australia and many more.
Now, if you’re wondering how all those plastic bottles and aluminum cans go from useless throwaways to brand new bottles and cans, RecycleBank has animated the whole process. It reminds me of the board game Mouse Trap, minus them mini bathtub and plastic cheese.
In related news, big cities are taking aim at plastic bags. New York has established a statewide recycling program for plastic bags and Washington, D.C. is wants to impose a fee on plastic shopping bags. Eh, just use reusable bags, I do.
Via TreeHugger.
Read More: World Tour of Recycling Bins
Tags: plastic bags, recycling
Posted in Green Living, The Environment | Comments Off
March 6th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
 I eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. So I’m at the supermarket fairly often and I always bring my reusable bags with me. But I still see plenty of people opting for plastic shopping bags, even double bagging it.
Now, I’m no eco-fascist. I wish people didn’t use them, but it’s their choice. So I don’t preach. I just hope they’ll change their mind some day, but many cities are being more proactive.
Washington, D.C., wants to impose a fee on plastic bags.
District of Columbia lawmakers are considering a 5-cent fee on plastic or paper shopping bags used at retail centers, including grocery stores, liquor stores and other businesses. A portion of these funds would be used to distribute free reusable bags to old folks and residents of low-income neighborhoods.
Our nation’s capital isn’t the first to crack down on plastic bags. Last year, San Francisco banned plastic shopping bags and Seattle legislators are now looking to charge 20 cents for each paper or plastic bag; ENN reports.
New York City and New York State have taken action too, requiring all retailers to offer collection bins for recycling plastic bags and wraps.
Read More: Washington, D.C. Debates Fee for Paper, Plastic Bags
Tags: plastic bags, recycling
Posted in Green Living, The Environment | 3 Comments »
February 20th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
You see that! That’s my giant pile of free address labels. You know, those things you get from all sorts of nonprofits asking for donations. Even the groups that say all the garbage humans leave behind is straggling mother earth! And it seems I’m not the only one fed up with it.
Cat Lincoln of GreenDaily is really annoyed! Despite her efforts, like signing up for Green Dimes, a pay service that gets you off mailing lists, Cat still gets bombarded with free gifts, i.e. address labels, and she points out, even the one’s printed with soy ink, can’t be recycled.
Okay, I’m all for charity, but even on a bad year, I don’t send a billion letters, or bills. Stop it!
Read More: Enough with the Free Labels!
Tags: earth, recycling, soy ink
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January 27th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
 In Brooklyn, an old building, originally constructed in the 1880s and newly renovated into 25 commercial spaces, gets a green overhaul.
The Nassau Brewery, once called the Budweiser Brewery until a lawsuit by the more well-known Budweiser forced a name change, is the first commercial net-metered solar power array in New York City.
Net-metering allows customers to use their own power generation systems to offset energy costs, by sending excess electricity back into the grid, i.e. spinning their electric meters backwards.
Green builders Big Sue, LLC renovated the Nassau Brewery, located at 925 Bergen Street in Brooklyn. In addition to its 40 kilowatt solar panel system, the building features radiant heating, a 4,000 square foot green roof and locally salvaged materials, such as lights and sinks.
Nassau Brewery’s sister building at 1024 Dean Street, once used as an ice house, now houses 6 residential apartments and also sports a green roof, solar system, radiant heating and recycled amenities.
Actually, New York has really taken the green bull by the horns, other eco-innovations:
Via TreeHugger.
Read More: Brooklyn Rooftop Goes Solar
Tags: green roof, LED, plastic bags, recycling, solar
Posted in Green Living, The Environment | 1 Comment »
January 5th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
 Governor David Paterson has signed a new law requiring all New York grocers and retailers that offer plastic shopping bags to provide collection bins for plastic bags and wraps.
New York City has already passed similar legislation.
Statistics show nationwide plastic bag recycling has increased 24% since 2006. New York’s new law, along with legislation passed in California, is expected to significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste headed to landfills.
Recycled plastic bags can be used to make consumer products, like shopping carts and new bags. So retailers across the nation have stepped up efforts to educate consumers and promote in-store recycling programs.
Now, to see how recycling works. RecycleBank breaks down the process step by step, from paper and metal to plastic and glass. It’s actually pretty cool!
Via ENN.
Read More: New York Establishes Statewide Recycling Program for Plastic Bags
Tags: California, law, New York City, plastic, recycling, shopping bags
Posted in The Environment | 5 Comments »
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