News
Green Building & Eco Friendly News
We are excited to share green building industry developments, news about our Member Companies, and of course current Rate It Green information. Please feel welcome to submit interesting news you have found. Note that Rate It Green does include news announcements as a part of some sponsorship offerings.
You can also learn more by following Rate It Green on social media. We greatly appreciate your likes, follows, and general votes of support.
Project Green Schools is Now Accepting Nominations for Green Difference Awards 2018
Nominate Green Schools Leaders for the 10th Annual Green Difference Awards!
Nominate a Green Difference Maker!
Project Green Schools honors and recognizes Outstanding National Environmental Education & STEM Education efforts led in our Schools & Communities at Project Green Schools' Annual Green Difference Awards in May, 2018.
Green Difference Makers can be: Principals, Teachers, Advisors, Citizens, Schools, Students, or School Groups/Clubs.
&nb… Show more
Pearl's Premium was recently featured on The Water Zone!
Jackson Madnick and Pearl's Premium grass were recently featured on the award winning radio show, The Water Zone.
To listen to the episode featuring Pearl's Premium on January 4:
http://podcasts.kcaastreaming.com/water/20180104.html
To learn more about The Water Zone:
http://podcasts.kcaastreaming.com/water/20180104.html
Learn more about Pearl's Premium on Rate It Green!
https://www.rateitgreen.com/green-building-directory/sustainable-building-companies/pearl-s-premium/603
p.p1… Show more
ZeroEnergy Design Makes Dwell's Top 10 Design Pros AND ARCHITECT Magazine's Top 50!
Congratulation to ZeroEnergy Design for not only making it to ARCHITECT Magazine's Top 50 Firms List, but coming in at #2 for Sustainability and #12 overall. Additionally, Dwell named ZeroEnergy Design a Top 10 Design Pro at #7! Swell credits ZeroEnergy Design with theconsistent ability to create a "beautiful, high-performance home that holistically matches the owner's lifestlye, aesthetic desires, and environmental ideology."
For more about the ARCHITECT 50: http://www.architectmagazine.com/architect-50/20… Show more
New Book by Jeff Dondero: "The Energy Wise Home: Practical Ideas for Saving Energy, Money and the Planet"
How do you make your home energy wise? Where do you start? What aspects of home living can affect and be affected by, our energy choices?
In The Energy Wise Home: Practical Ideas for Saving Energy, Money, and the Planet, Jeff Dondero walks the reader through a home’s walls, doors, windows, and roof, room by room and appliance by appliance, breaking them down into simple terms so that readers can make the smartest energy and resource choices possible. He also covers gardens and garages, explaining what household items cost … Show more
Denver's Green Rooftop Initiative Takes Effect
Late this fall, the City of Denver passed a Green Roof Initiative that took effect as of January 1st. Denver joins London, New York, Paris, San Francisco and other cities with a new code that requires green roofs or solar panels for most buildings 25,000 square feet or larger. Unlike some other cities, Denver's initiative applies to many existing buildings when and if they are retrofitted or roofs are replaced.
According to the Denver Green Roof Initiative, green roofs last 2-3 times as long as traditional roofs and ca… Show more
A Carbon Free City is Being Built from Scratch in Colorado
Colorado is planning to build a 400-acre carbon-free city from from scratch. The project called Peña Station Next in Colorado will rely on solar energy, a massive lithium-ion battery, and energy efficiency schemes. The city is an experiment by Panasonic with the support of Denver and Denver county to promote zero carbon cities.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, part of the Department of Energy located nearby in Golden, Colorado agreed to serve as a consultant. Other companies became interested in the project as we… Show more
NESEA Announces Partnership with VSECU to Expand Member Access to Green Loans
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association has launched a partnership with VSECU, a Vermont-based credit union, to expand access to VSECU's VGreen loan program, a line of loan products and services designed to make residential sustainability projects affordable.
Those who live in Vermont have access to the program, but this partnership expands access to everyone who is a NESEA member.
This partnership helps meet the need to reduce the cost of financing energy efficenct and renewable energy projects and prod… Show more
New Buildings Institute Releases Model Stretch Building Code
New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently developed a new model stretch code that targets 20% better efficiency than the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 national model energy code. The new 20% Stretch Code offers jurisdictions a set of energy-saving building strategies that cover design aspects such as envelope, mechanical, water heating, lighting and plug loads.
With increasing pressure to deliver on energy and climate action goals, cities and states are turning to more stringent building energy codes as an effective strategy to increase building energy… Show more
YouthBuild USA CEO John Valverde Named an “Influencer” by the Chronicle of Philanthropy
The Chronicle of Philanthropy has named YouthBuild USA CEO John Valverde "an Influencer" in the nonprofit world - someone who is “flying under the radar yet having a big impact on society’s toughest issues.”
Youthbuild USA is the parent organization for Youthbuild's Green Inititative, a Rate It Green Community Member Organizarion and Resource Partner. The Green Initiative was launched in 2005 to bring green building practices into the YouthBuild USA network, as green skills training… Show more
Mayor Marty Walsh Launches "Carbon Free Boston" - Can the City Become Carbon Neutral by 2050?
Mayor Walsh announces the launch of Carbon Free Boston and the first steps to look at options for the city to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Carbon Free Boston will analyze the cost and benefits of technology and policy options to reach Boston’s carbon neutral goal. Working with the Green Ribbon Commission and Boston University, the team will quantify how various actions, policies and technologies can reduce Boston’s greenhouse gas emissions. The results should be released in a report by the fall of 2018 a… Show more
Clean Vapor Becomes a Land Science Certified Applicator
Congratulations to Rate It Green Gold Company Member Clean Vapor for becoming a certified spray-applied barrier applicator for the Land Science family of products!
According to Rick Gillespie, Senior VP, Land Science, a division of Regenesis, "Clean Vapor's long track record of vapor intrusion mitigation expertise aligns perfectly with Land Science's industry-leading advanced composite barriers. Being a certified applicator for Land Science requires a commitment to quality installation and we are confid… Show more
School Air Quality and Sustainability Fellowship Opportunity, The Center for Green Schools, Apply by July 18
K-12 school professionals pushing for sustainability in schools, this program is your chance! The Center for Green Schools is accepting applications through Monday, July 18 for fellowships for School Air Quality and Leaders in Sustainability. Those chosen for the fellowship will gain access to networking opportunities, professional development and leadership training, and professional learning events to provide these advocates for environmental health with the resources to create change.
Children spend so much time in schools, but the actu… Show more
NRDC Petition: "Stop the Fossil Fuel Industry’s Cynical Exploitation of War in Ukraine to Expand Oil and Gas Drilling"
At Rate It Green, we agree that the unjustifiable and tragic war in Ukraine can not ethically or environmentally logically be used as an excuse to argue for more fossil fuel exploration and exploitation. Instead, we should of course be taking the opposite actions, to reduce our dependence on these fossil fuels which are a significant part of the tensions that lead to hostilities.
Why would we make backwards decisions that are bad for our health, the environment, and that threaten our best opportunities for&nb… Show more
For Sale: Healthy, Energy Efficient Micro-Farm in Concord, Massachusetts
After 45 years of careful renovation and maintenance, Rate It Green Member David Bearg, P.E. is looking to entrust his amazing healthy and sustainable home to the right new owners.
David and his family have grown the original small cottage on the property into a thriving mico-farm with a heat-storing greenhouse, a vegetable garden, raised bed gardens, a green, energy efficient house, and outbuildings that all take advantage of passive solar architecture.
Click to learn more about David's hom… Show more
ZeroEnergy Design Featured in Ocean Home Magazine
Congratulations to Rate It Green Member ZeroEnergy Design for the firm's recent feature in Ocean Home Magazine!
The magazine profiled Mt. Hope Modern, ZED’s green coastal 4,700 SF modern home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
The piece includes interviews with owners Kerry Tyson and Zack King, who discovered the home while it was still under construction. The couple was particularly excited about the modern, energy efficient design as well as the stunning views of Mount Hope Bay.
Visit Ocean Home Magazine to re… Show more
10 New and Exciting Green Building Jobs Posted!
Are you looking for a new job centered around sustainability? Look no further — these 10 jobs are suitable for individuals with some experience in green building. For more environmental-related job postings, visit http://www.greenjobs.net.
California
Clean Power Alliance
Electrification Program Manager
https://cleanpoweralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Electrification-Program-Manager_Paychex-Version.pdf
Massachusetts
Solect Energy
Multiple Positions
https://solect.com/company/careers/
… Show more
Low Carbon Multifamily Retrofit Playbooks - Available Online for Free!
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Steven Winter Associates and the Building Enegy Exchange (BEEx) have published a series of five free low carbon multifamily retrofit playbooks.
The playbooks are organized by common building types: Pre-War 4-7 stories, Post-War 1-7 stories, Post-War 8+ stories, Post-1980 8+ stories, and Garden Style 1-3 stories, and include retrofit strategies to maximize comfort while saving energy by transitioning to electric-based HVAC and hot water heati… Show more
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta - 2021 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund - Apply by June 4!
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta - 2021 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund - Apply by Friday June 4!
Do you work for a financial institution or a community housing partner? Is your company located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, or the District of Columbia?
Are you looking for a way to widen your customer base, offer community-oriented lending, and/or facilitate residential development?
Are you seeking to fund the construction, rehabilitation, or financing of housing for low… Show more
Parsons Healthy Materials Lab - 6th Annual Healthier Design Innovation Contest! Submission Deadline: Monday May 17!
Parsons Healthy Materials Lab - 6th Annual Healthier Design Innovation Contest - Apply by Monday May 17th!
Does your work exemplify healthy materials innovation and advocacy in design?
Are you a design activist creating innovative design while promoting equity? Are you using healthy materials and addressing climate change? Parsons Healthy Materials Lab is hosting the 6th annual Role Models Contest to award design innovations for material use that have no negative impact on the planet.
Win $1,000 , and socia… Show more
ZeroEnergy Design Featured in Boston Magazine's Spring Edition
Congratulations to Rate It Green Member Company ZeroEnergy Design for their feature in Boston Home's spring issue! The magazine profiles fhe firm's Hingham, Massachusetts "eco-oasis" in a piece called, "Everything you Need to Know to Design a Greener Home."
The 4.200 square foot home, designed by ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz and John Mucciarone, features continuous insulation, triple pane windows, air-source heat pumps, and a 36-panel solar electric system, all contributing to net zero energy per… Show more
What Happens In Vegas... (Will We See You There?) Let's Create Some Great Green Building Content!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
I know, the leading image for this email shows some serious wattage and doesn't really make me think first about green building. And yet, suddenly it seems like everyone I know is heading to Vegas next week for the International Builders' Show. That includes Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc.! I encourage you to connect with Matt to say hello, or to share your expertise or to introduce your company and what y… Show more
Looking Forward - Engaging Together as a Green Building Community
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Thank you for being a part of our green building community, and welcome to our first newsletter of 2024! With this email, we bring you so much positive energy and a reaffirmation of the spirit of what we do. As Green Builder and Rate It Green Content Partner Matt Hoots said the other day, "The only way we are going to keep progressing toward solutions is to continue the conversation and share.” I wholeheartedly agree!
I am excited to report that I am&n… Show more
Happy New Year, 2024!! Looking back at Top 2023 News, and Some Sneak Previews for 2024!
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do, and here's to an AMAZING 2024!
We expect great things from this new year! Whether you celebrate recent COP28 Results or feel anxious about insufficient progress, perhaps we can agree that 2023 was a year of foundation building and stage setting. We can then think of 2024 then as a year of great framing, where the structure and promising opportunities really come together more rapidly, where we can see tangible gains… Show more
Reframing Perspective: What Can "Positive" (Nature Positive) Look Like?
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
There are so many pressing crises, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first or next. At a time when we need to take immediate and drastic action to mitigate the worst climate change consequences, some of which have already arrived, how is it possible that there are ongoing and disastrous wars and famine, extreme weather crises, raging fires, disease, and areas that are literally becoming uninhabitable for human life, among other global challenges which are hard to fully i… Show more
Making Smart Window Choices for Meeting Comfort, Health, Energy & Sustainability Goals
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Do you have window questions? We've got some information and answers! Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. has been busy answering Rate It Green Member questions and also interviewing manufacturers to learn about their energy efficient window and doors as well as the latest technological advances.
Matt recently recorded a series of conversations to answer key window questions, including:
How do you decide when and whether to replace windows? &n… Show more
Understanding The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Introduction and Update
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Hello to everyone gathering at Greenbuild this week! I had hoped to attend in person but had some schedule complications. As much as I think we absolutely need to connect and share information online when we can’t be together, I of course believe it’s meaningful and impactful to gather and build community in person. I’ll be attending as I can online, and I’ll hope to ”see you” there!
I have spent a good deal of time in the past weeks &ldq… Show more
Strategies for Staying Cool: Air Sealing and Insulation
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
It’s quite an understatement to say it’s been hot this summer. Playfully, and yet deadly seriously, Vox declared that this scorching summer might just "be one the coolest summers of the rest of your life." Scientists at the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service estimate current summer temperatures as not only the hottest since modern record keeping began, but possibly in the last 120,000 years. And summer&rsqu… Show more
The Perfect Wall - Explained
It feels a bit funny to describe a product or practice as "Perfect," but that's our task as we explore "The Perfect Wall." In a recent video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. explains this important concept and also shows how he and his team are applying theory to practice at the #1920sMakeoverATL deep energy retrofit project in Ansley Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
As Matt explains, along with fellow Rate It Green Membe… Show more
Future Proofing Homes - Building Right from the Start
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
Fixing problems later sure costs a lot more than building right the first time, and sometimes a repair or retrofit is just impractical or not even possible. Future Proofing Homes or really any building involves planning and building to account for the scenarios one might reasonably predict for as people and even future occupants live and evolve throughout their time living in a structure. And the time to start planning is right at the beginning, when the project is first envisio… Show more
Build It Tight, Build It Right - A #1920sMakeoverATL Update and our Latest News
Rate It Green Members and Friends -
We are excited to share some hot-off-the-press updates from Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. and the #1920sMakeoverATL Deep Energy Retrofit team! In our last project update, we focused on the "Forgotten Side of Buildings." This news, we're moving up from ground level to talk about "Building It Tight and Right," with a great set of content about air and moisture management for beginners and experts alike. Do you want to know more about what ACH mean… Show more