Blog / News ― Sunlink Solar LLC http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:30:57 -0600 New Kentucky elementary school saves energy and money

Tom Eblen: New elementary school saves energy and money

Western Ky. school district shows that going green conserves energy and money

Tom Eblen - Herald-Leader columnist

RICHARDSVILLE — This rural community near Bowling Green looks like a tableau of 20th-century Americana, down to the stone-covered WPA school.

But the week after next, the 500 students and teachers of Richardsville Elementary will leave their 1930s building for a new one next door that is the latest in environmentally friendly 21st-century design. It will be the first school in Kentucky, and one of the first in the nation, to be "net-zero" — generating as much energy as it consumes.

Expect to see more like it. That's because this 77,000-square-foot school cost about the same to build as a conventional one but will be substantially cheaper to operate.

 
    "The important thing this school shows people is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a sustainable building that saves energy and money," said the architect, Ken Stanfield of the Lexington firm Sherman Carter Barnhart.

Richardsville might seem like an unlikely place to be on the vanguard of "green." But this school is the result of years of collaboration between Sherman Carter Barnhart and a forward-thinking Warren County school system. The fast-growing county has built and renovated many schools in recent years, and each has experimented with energy-saving materials, design and construction techniques.

Thanks to those experiments, Warren County has saved $5.3 million on its utility bills since 2003, said Jay Wilson, the school district's energy manager. That's enough to pay a year's salaries and benefits to 79 teachers, he said.

Richardsville Elementary brings together all of those energy-saving lessons: It will consume only 26 percent of the energy used by a conventional school its size. The building is oriented with the sun, and windows are strategically placed, including an insulated clerestory window that runs across the center of the roof to let sunlight into the interior gymnasium and lunchroom.

Mirrored tubes reflect light from the roof into the school's second-story classrooms and hallways. Automated systems balance natural and artificial light throughout the day, but teachers can override them when necessary.

The school's Insulated Concrete Form walls — in which concrete is poured into polystyrene forms — were economical and efficient to build, and they produce superior insulation. And because they can withstand winds of 250 mph, "you're looking at a safer structure for the kids to be in during a storm," Wilson said.

Most floors are stained and polished concrete, which will save substantially on janitorial costs, Wilson said. The gymnasium floor is made of fast-growing bamboo rather than hardwood.

The geothermal heating and cooling system saves electricity, as does the lunchroom kitchen. In a typical school this size, Stanfield said, the kitchen consumes about 22 percent of the entire building's energy. That will be dramatically reduced by using energy-efficient ovens and steam cookers.

"We've been trying so many things over the years that building a net-zero school wasn't pie in the sky," Stanfield said. "It was the next logical step."

That next step involved installing two kinds of solar panels to generate electricity: a thin film attached to the roof with industrial-strength Velcro and 1,200 square feet of panels in one corner of the parking lot. The school will feed excess power into the Tennessee Valley Authority's grid on sunny days, drawing it out on cloudy ones.

State guidelines say new schools should cost no more than about $200 per square foot to build, Stanfield said. Richardsville Elementary cost $156, and the solar-panel system was an additional $39, for a total of $195 per square foot. The solar-panel system will pay for itself in 14 years but is warranted for 20 years, he said.

For all of its practicality, the school also is attractive, especially considering that "it's really just a two-story box," Stanfield said. The building is filled with light and space, and it has architectural elements and interior stone trim that echo the 1930s school. (The old school will be demolished, and the rubble will be recycled as fill for a new ball field.)

Richardsville Elementary is designed to be good for the environment and the school district's bottom line, but it also will be a conservation lesson for students. The solar panels' performance will be shown on video screens in the front hallway, and the school's design and other systems will be incorporated into the curriculum.

"Not every school district is going to want to run out and put solar panels on the roof tomorrow, but everything else we did here is really simple," Stanfield said. "The big thing is convincing people you don't have to step out of your comfort zone too far."

Reach Tom Eblen at teblen@herald-leader.com or (859) 231-1415 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1415. Read and comment on his blog, The Bluegrass & Beyond, at Kentucky.com.


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/25/1405963/tom-eblen-new-elementary-school.html#ixzz0yNsvX1Lg]]>

Tom Eblen: New elementary school saves energy and money

Western Ky. school district shows that going green conserves energy and money

Tom Eblen - Herald-Leader columnist

RICHARDSVILLE — This rural community near Bowling Green looks like a tableau of 20th-century Americana, down to the stone-covered WPA school.

But the week after next, the 500 students and teachers of Richardsville Elementary will leave their 1930s building for a new one next door that is the latest in environmentally friendly 21st-century design. It will be the first school in Kentucky, and one of the first in the nation, to be "net-zero" — generating as much energy as it consumes.

Expect to see more like it. That's because this 77,000-square-foot school cost about the same to build as a conventional one but will be substantially cheaper to operate.

 
    "The important thing this school shows people is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a sustainable building that saves energy and money," said the architect, Ken Stanfield of the Lexington firm Sherman Carter Barnhart.

Richardsville might seem like an unlikely place to be on the vanguard of "green." But this school is the result of years of collaboration between Sherman Carter Barnhart and a forward-thinking Warren County school system. The fast-growing county has built and renovated many schools in recent years, and each has experimented with energy-saving materials, design and construction techniques.

Thanks to those experiments, Warren County has saved $5.3 million on its utility bills since 2003, said Jay Wilson, the school district's energy manager. That's enough to pay a year's salaries and benefits to 79 teachers, he said.

Richardsville Elementary brings together all of those energy-saving lessons: It will consume only 26 percent of the energy used by a conventional school its size. The building is oriented with the sun, and windows are strategically placed, including an insulated clerestory window that runs across the center of the roof to let sunlight into the interior gymnasium and lunchroom.

Mirrored tubes reflect light from the roof into the school's second-story classrooms and hallways. Automated systems balance natural and artificial light throughout the day, but teachers can override them when necessary.

The school's Insulated Concrete Form walls — in which concrete is poured into polystyrene forms — were economical and efficient to build, and they produce superior insulation. And because they can withstand winds of 250 mph, "you're looking at a safer structure for the kids to be in during a storm," Wilson said.

Most floors are stained and polished concrete, which will save substantially on janitorial costs, Wilson said. The gymnasium floor is made of fast-growing bamboo rather than hardwood.

The geothermal heating and cooling system saves electricity, as does the lunchroom kitchen. In a typical school this size, Stanfield said, the kitchen consumes about 22 percent of the entire building's energy. That will be dramatically reduced by using energy-efficient ovens and steam cookers.

"We've been trying so many things over the years that building a net-zero school wasn't pie in the sky," Stanfield said. "It was the next logical step."

That next step involved installing two kinds of solar panels to generate electricity: a thin film attached to the roof with industrial-strength Velcro and 1,200 square feet of panels in one corner of the parking lot. The school will feed excess power into the Tennessee Valley Authority's grid on sunny days, drawing it out on cloudy ones.

State guidelines say new schools should cost no more than about $200 per square foot to build, Stanfield said. Richardsville Elementary cost $156, and the solar-panel system was an additional $39, for a total of $195 per square foot. The solar-panel system will pay for itself in 14 years but is warranted for 20 years, he said.

For all of its practicality, the school also is attractive, especially considering that "it's really just a two-story box," Stanfield said. The building is filled with light and space, and it has architectural elements and interior stone trim that echo the 1930s school. (The old school will be demolished, and the rubble will be recycled as fill for a new ball field.)

Richardsville Elementary is designed to be good for the environment and the school district's bottom line, but it also will be a conservation lesson for students. The solar panels' performance will be shown on video screens in the front hallway, and the school's design and other systems will be incorporated into the curriculum.

"Not every school district is going to want to run out and put solar panels on the roof tomorrow, but everything else we did here is really simple," Stanfield said. "The big thing is convincing people you don't have to step out of your comfort zone too far."

Reach Tom Eblen at teblen@herald-leader.com or (859) 231-1415 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1415. Read and comment on his blog, The Bluegrass & Beyond, at Kentucky.com.


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/25/1405963/tom-eblen-new-elementary-school.html#ixzz0yNsvX1Lg]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:53:34 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/9/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/9/ Designing with natural light: Good for your health and your wallet (ARA) - Nowhere does the green movement and uplifting design meet and marry better than in the concept of "daylighting" - bringing natural light into a space to both brighten it and reduce dependence on electric lighting. Decorating and designing with natural light is not only energy efficient, but psychologically beneficial as well.

A number of studies have linked ample exposure to daylight to multiple emotional and physical health benefits, including improved learning in students, reduced Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in adults, and improved cognitive and motor skills in older people. And by using less electric lighting in favor of more natural light, you can cut energy bills and reduce your home's impact on the environment.

If you're into the idea of daylighting, be sure to consider how any design or decorating change you make will affect the quantity and quality of natural light entering your home. You can increase the amount of natural light your home receives in a number of ways. Some are as simple as replacing heavy, light-blocking drapes with lighter sheer curtains that allow in more light.

When it comes to providing all the benefits of natural light - in terms of both energy and design - it's hard to beat the impact of energy efficient skylights.

"I love the drama of skylights," says Priscilla Ulmann, founder of the New York design firm Scott-Ulmann Inc. "There's nothing like walking into a room drenched in natural light with a view to the sky."

While it's possible to do an adequate job of naturally lighting your home through ample, well-placed doors and windows, "if you really want to add beauty, style and better lighting to your home, lift your spirits and visually expand your rooms, consider the additional natural light that skylights can provide," advises Joe Patrick, senior product manager for VELUX America, makers of Energy Star-qualified skylights.

Consider these advantages of skylights:

* They provide abundant natural light. Because skylights channel sunlight from above, they are unobstructed by trees or other buildings. You get the full effect of natural light flooding a room - but at your complete discretion. Accessories like built-in blinds or shades make it possible to control exactly how much natural light enters through your skylight.

* They solve a number of design problems, like how to get more natural light into a bath or bedroom - two spots in the house where you want both light and privacy. If you're finishing an attic to improve your home value or give your family more space, adding a skylight or roof window to the existing roof is more cost-effective than adding a dormer to accommodate windows. In kitchens, venting skylights not only brighten the mood of the room, they are a great way to naturally vent cooking odors, heat and moisture from the room. Finally, skylights allow you to naturally light a room without sacrificing any space that you may need for storage units, furniture or fixtures.

* Skylights can be a healthy, cost-effective alternative to electric light. Not only do they provide the benefits of natural light, once installed they cost little if anything to operate. Venting skylights are an energy efficient alternative to venting fans for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors and humidity from rooms.

Now it's possible to reap all the benefits of having skylights in your home without the worry of leaks. "Quality units offer matched, pre-engineered flashing kits for shingles, tile or metal roofing materials," says VELUX's Patrick. "They are designed and engineered to prevent leaks over the full life of the roof and, properly installed, simply don't leak." In fact, VELUX markets an Energy Star-qualified product line dubbed the "No Leak Skylight."

You can learn more about the benefits of natural light and how to select the right skylight for your needs at www.veluxusa.com. Or call (800) 283-2831. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org or www.efficientwindows.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Nowhere does the green movement and uplifting design meet and marry better than in the concept of "daylighting" - bringing natural light into a space to both brighten it and reduce dependence on electric lighting. Decorating and designing with natural light is not only energy efficient, but psychologically beneficial as well.

A number of studies have linked ample exposure to daylight to multiple emotional and physical health benefits, including improved learning in students, reduced Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in adults, and improved cognitive and motor skills in older people. And by using less electric lighting in favor of more natural light, you can cut energy bills and reduce your home's impact on the environment.

If you're into the idea of daylighting, be sure to consider how any design or decorating change you make will affect the quantity and quality of natural light entering your home. You can increase the amount of natural light your home receives in a number of ways. Some are as simple as replacing heavy, light-blocking drapes with lighter sheer curtains that allow in more light.

When it comes to providing all the benefits of natural light - in terms of both energy and design - it's hard to beat the impact of energy efficient skylights.

"I love the drama of skylights," says Priscilla Ulmann, founder of the New York design firm Scott-Ulmann Inc. "There's nothing like walking into a room drenched in natural light with a view to the sky."

While it's possible to do an adequate job of naturally lighting your home through ample, well-placed doors and windows, "if you really want to add beauty, style and better lighting to your home, lift your spirits and visually expand your rooms, consider the additional natural light that skylights can provide," advises Joe Patrick, senior product manager for VELUX America, makers of Energy Star-qualified skylights.

Consider these advantages of skylights:

* They provide abundant natural light. Because skylights channel sunlight from above, they are unobstructed by trees or other buildings. You get the full effect of natural light flooding a room - but at your complete discretion. Accessories like built-in blinds or shades make it possible to control exactly how much natural light enters through your skylight.

* They solve a number of design problems, like how to get more natural light into a bath or bedroom - two spots in the house where you want both light and privacy. If you're finishing an attic to improve your home value or give your family more space, adding a skylight or roof window to the existing roof is more cost-effective than adding a dormer to accommodate windows. In kitchens, venting skylights not only brighten the mood of the room, they are a great way to naturally vent cooking odors, heat and moisture from the room. Finally, skylights allow you to naturally light a room without sacrificing any space that you may need for storage units, furniture or fixtures.

* Skylights can be a healthy, cost-effective alternative to electric light. Not only do they provide the benefits of natural light, once installed they cost little if anything to operate. Venting skylights are an energy efficient alternative to venting fans for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors and humidity from rooms.

Now it's possible to reap all the benefits of having skylights in your home without the worry of leaks. "Quality units offer matched, pre-engineered flashing kits for shingles, tile or metal roofing materials," says VELUX's Patrick. "They are designed and engineered to prevent leaks over the full life of the roof and, properly installed, simply don't leak." In fact, VELUX markets an Energy Star-qualified product line dubbed the "No Leak Skylight."

You can learn more about the benefits of natural light and how to select the right skylight for your needs at www.veluxusa.com. Or call (800) 283-2831. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org or www.efficientwindows.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Sunlink Solar is a Velux dealer and is happy to assist you with all your lighting needs.

]]> (ARA) - Nowhere does the green movement and uplifting design meet and marry better than in the concept of "daylighting" - bringing natural light into a space to both brighten it and reduce dependence on electric lighting. Decorating and designing with natural light is not only energy efficient, but psychologically beneficial as well.

A number of studies have linked ample exposure to daylight to multiple emotional and physical health benefits, including improved learning in students, reduced Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in adults, and improved cognitive and motor skills in older people. And by using less electric lighting in favor of more natural light, you can cut energy bills and reduce your home's impact on the environment.

If you're into the idea of daylighting, be sure to consider how any design or decorating change you make will affect the quantity and quality of natural light entering your home. You can increase the amount of natural light your home receives in a number of ways. Some are as simple as replacing heavy, light-blocking drapes with lighter sheer curtains that allow in more light.

When it comes to providing all the benefits of natural light - in terms of both energy and design - it's hard to beat the impact of energy efficient skylights.

"I love the drama of skylights," says Priscilla Ulmann, founder of the New York design firm Scott-Ulmann Inc. "There's nothing like walking into a room drenched in natural light with a view to the sky."

While it's possible to do an adequate job of naturally lighting your home through ample, well-placed doors and windows, "if you really want to add beauty, style and better lighting to your home, lift your spirits and visually expand your rooms, consider the additional natural light that skylights can provide," advises Joe Patrick, senior product manager for VELUX America, makers of Energy Star-qualified skylights.

Consider these advantages of skylights:

* They provide abundant natural light. Because skylights channel sunlight from above, they are unobstructed by trees or other buildings. You get the full effect of natural light flooding a room - but at your complete discretion. Accessories like built-in blinds or shades make it possible to control exactly how much natural light enters through your skylight.

* They solve a number of design problems, like how to get more natural light into a bath or bedroom - two spots in the house where you want both light and privacy. If you're finishing an attic to improve your home value or give your family more space, adding a skylight or roof window to the existing roof is more cost-effective than adding a dormer to accommodate windows. In kitchens, venting skylights not only brighten the mood of the room, they are a great way to naturally vent cooking odors, heat and moisture from the room. Finally, skylights allow you to naturally light a room without sacrificing any space that you may need for storage units, furniture or fixtures.

* Skylights can be a healthy, cost-effective alternative to electric light. Not only do they provide the benefits of natural light, once installed they cost little if anything to operate. Venting skylights are an energy efficient alternative to venting fans for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors and humidity from rooms.

Now it's possible to reap all the benefits of having skylights in your home without the worry of leaks. "Quality units offer matched, pre-engineered flashing kits for shingles, tile or metal roofing materials," says VELUX's Patrick. "They are designed and engineered to prevent leaks over the full life of the roof and, properly installed, simply don't leak." In fact, VELUX markets an Energy Star-qualified product line dubbed the "No Leak Skylight."

You can learn more about the benefits of natural light and how to select the right skylight for your needs at www.veluxusa.com. Or call (800) 283-2831. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org or www.efficientwindows.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Nowhere does the green movement and uplifting design meet and marry better than in the concept of "daylighting" - bringing natural light into a space to both brighten it and reduce dependence on electric lighting. Decorating and designing with natural light is not only energy efficient, but psychologically beneficial as well.

A number of studies have linked ample exposure to daylight to multiple emotional and physical health benefits, including improved learning in students, reduced Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in adults, and improved cognitive and motor skills in older people. And by using less electric lighting in favor of more natural light, you can cut energy bills and reduce your home's impact on the environment.

If you're into the idea of daylighting, be sure to consider how any design or decorating change you make will affect the quantity and quality of natural light entering your home. You can increase the amount of natural light your home receives in a number of ways. Some are as simple as replacing heavy, light-blocking drapes with lighter sheer curtains that allow in more light.

When it comes to providing all the benefits of natural light - in terms of both energy and design - it's hard to beat the impact of energy efficient skylights.

"I love the drama of skylights," says Priscilla Ulmann, founder of the New York design firm Scott-Ulmann Inc. "There's nothing like walking into a room drenched in natural light with a view to the sky."

While it's possible to do an adequate job of naturally lighting your home through ample, well-placed doors and windows, "if you really want to add beauty, style and better lighting to your home, lift your spirits and visually expand your rooms, consider the additional natural light that skylights can provide," advises Joe Patrick, senior product manager for VELUX America, makers of Energy Star-qualified skylights.

Consider these advantages of skylights:

* They provide abundant natural light. Because skylights channel sunlight from above, they are unobstructed by trees or other buildings. You get the full effect of natural light flooding a room - but at your complete discretion. Accessories like built-in blinds or shades make it possible to control exactly how much natural light enters through your skylight.

* They solve a number of design problems, like how to get more natural light into a bath or bedroom - two spots in the house where you want both light and privacy. If you're finishing an attic to improve your home value or give your family more space, adding a skylight or roof window to the existing roof is more cost-effective than adding a dormer to accommodate windows. In kitchens, venting skylights not only brighten the mood of the room, they are a great way to naturally vent cooking odors, heat and moisture from the room. Finally, skylights allow you to naturally light a room without sacrificing any space that you may need for storage units, furniture or fixtures.

* Skylights can be a healthy, cost-effective alternative to electric light. Not only do they provide the benefits of natural light, once installed they cost little if anything to operate. Venting skylights are an energy efficient alternative to venting fans for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors and humidity from rooms.

Now it's possible to reap all the benefits of having skylights in your home without the worry of leaks. "Quality units offer matched, pre-engineered flashing kits for shingles, tile or metal roofing materials," says VELUX's Patrick. "They are designed and engineered to prevent leaks over the full life of the roof and, properly installed, simply don't leak." In fact, VELUX markets an Energy Star-qualified product line dubbed the "No Leak Skylight."

You can learn more about the benefits of natural light and how to select the right skylight for your needs at www.veluxusa.com. Or call (800) 283-2831. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit www.energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit www.nfrc.org or www.efficientwindows.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Sunlink Solar is a Velux dealer and is happy to assist you with all your lighting needs.

]]> Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:51:00 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/8/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/8/ Ford Hybrids To Be Built With Solar  

Ford Hybrids To Be Built With Solar

Published: August 13, 2010

Michigan -- People often talk about electricity technologies like solar and wind as alternatives to oil. Actually, oil is hardly used for electricity production – deploying renewable electricity devices won't cut petroleum use. Unless, of course, you move toward electric vehicles that are manufactured and charged with clean electrons.

Ford is also installing 10 charging stations at the facility to test batteries and better understand how to use renewable energy to keep a fleet of cars charged.
 

Ford has taken one small-but-important step in this direction. The company said this week that it's going to install a 500-kW solar PV system with a 750-kW back-up storage facility at a plant in Michigan. The plant will be used to manufacture the Focus and the new Focus electric hybrid that is being released in 2012.

The Michigan utility Detroit Edison is installing the system, and the energy storage company Xtreme Power is installing the back-up power management system. (Late last month, Xtreme got $29 million from venture investors in a series C round of funding).

Ford said the project is designed to make the manufacturing plant a “smart car plant,” that will have more control over how and when it uses power. While the solar system is small, Ford plans to add on to the facility in the near future.

Ford is also installing 10 charging stations at the facility to test batteries and better understand how to use renewable energy to keep a fleet of cars charged.

If we actually want to use renewables like wind and solar to move away from oil, projects like this will help us get there one step at a time.

]]>  

Ford Hybrids To Be Built With Solar

Published: August 13, 2010

Michigan -- People often talk about electricity technologies like solar and wind as alternatives to oil. Actually, oil is hardly used for electricity production – deploying renewable electricity devices won't cut petroleum use. Unless, of course, you move toward electric vehicles that are manufactured and charged with clean electrons.

Ford is also installing 10 charging stations at the facility to test batteries and better understand how to use renewable energy to keep a fleet of cars charged.
 

Ford has taken one small-but-important step in this direction. The company said this week that it's going to install a 500-kW solar PV system with a 750-kW back-up storage facility at a plant in Michigan. The plant will be used to manufacture the Focus and the new Focus electric hybrid that is being released in 2012.

The Michigan utility Detroit Edison is installing the system, and the energy storage company Xtreme Power is installing the back-up power management system. (Late last month, Xtreme got $29 million from venture investors in a series C round of funding).

Ford said the project is designed to make the manufacturing plant a “smart car plant,” that will have more control over how and when it uses power. While the solar system is small, Ford plans to add on to the facility in the near future.

Ford is also installing 10 charging stations at the facility to test batteries and better understand how to use renewable energy to keep a fleet of cars charged.

If we actually want to use renewables like wind and solar to move away from oil, projects like this will help us get there one step at a time.

]]> Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:08:14 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/7/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/7/ See how celebrities are Going Green - one mansion at a time See how celebrities are helping to save the planet - one mansion at a time

  

(ARA) - What do big-name celebrities like Ed Begley Jr., Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have in common?

Aside from being ridiculously good-looking and having more money than they know what to do with, these celebrities have all taken steps to significantly "green" their homes. The excessive size of most celebrity mansions - and the fact that they own multiple places around the world - doesn't really lend itself to the idea of green interior design. However, many stars have made a concentrated effort to reduce the carbon footprint caused by their extravagant houses.

Ed Begley, Jr. may be one of the most well-known "green" celebrities. He has an entire TV show dedicated to his green lifestyle, and he took his home entirely off the electrical power grid by using solar panels and wind power to keep it running. He even cooks his home-grown food in a solar oven and created his own line of non-toxic green cleaners to keep things sparkling clean.

But Begley isn't the only Hollywood hunk to step up and take one for the planet by adopting green interior design tactics. These three men all understand how important it is to make their homes as environmentally friendly as possible:

* Johnny Depp hired an environmentally-conscious interior designer to help turn his 35-acre island home into a self-sustaining habitat that runs on solar-hydrogen power.

* Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the original eco-celebs. In 2008 he made a big move by purchasing a condo in Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building that overlooks the Hudson River. Most recently he is recognized for purchasing a $3,200 green toilet.

* Orlando Bloom worked to make his London home as green as possible by using the newest technology and installing everything from solar panels to energy-efficient light bulbs.

Many other celebrity studs have worked hard to reduce their impact on Mother Nature by greening their homes, but the men of Hollywood are not the only ones stepping up to the plate. There are plenty of women making big moves to go green as well:

* Daryl Hannah is a leading force in the green celebrity movement. Her converted-stagecoach home in the Rocky Mountains is solar-powered and made with salvaged materials. Hannah takes going green to a whole new level with her interior designing - her guests are encouraged to sit on a couch made from moss-covered stone that she waters to keep alive.

* Julia Louis-Dreyfus shares an energy-efficient home with husband Brad Hall that boasts a retractable roof to stimulate air flow, daylighting to reduce the use of electric lights, solar heating and salvaged wood.

* Julia Roberts did a $20 million green renovation on her Hollywood mansion to help reduce its potentially massive footprint. Renovators used recycled tiling, sustainable building materials and three roofs of solar panels.

As you can see, many stars are putting their millions to good use to help save our planet. Large-scale green renovations like those mentioned above probably aren't within the budget of the average American, but there are plenty of smaller steps you can take that will make a big difference. Get inspired by your favorite green celebrity, and start implementing environmentally-friendly changes in your home today.

Information in this article was provided by Harrington College of Design. Contact Harrington today if you're interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program. (Harrington College of Design does not guarantee employment or salary.)

Courtesy of ARAcontent

 

]]> See how celebrities are helping to save the planet - one mansion at a time

  

(ARA) - What do big-name celebrities like Ed Begley Jr., Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have in common?

Aside from being ridiculously good-looking and having more money than they know what to do with, these celebrities have all taken steps to significantly "green" their homes. The excessive size of most celebrity mansions - and the fact that they own multiple places around the world - doesn't really lend itself to the idea of green interior design. However, many stars have made a concentrated effort to reduce the carbon footprint caused by their extravagant houses.

Ed Begley, Jr. may be one of the most well-known "green" celebrities. He has an entire TV show dedicated to his green lifestyle, and he took his home entirely off the electrical power grid by using solar panels and wind power to keep it running. He even cooks his home-grown food in a solar oven and created his own line of non-toxic green cleaners to keep things sparkling clean.

But Begley isn't the only Hollywood hunk to step up and take one for the planet by adopting green interior design tactics. These three men all understand how important it is to make their homes as environmentally friendly as possible:

* Johnny Depp hired an environmentally-conscious interior designer to help turn his 35-acre island home into a self-sustaining habitat that runs on solar-hydrogen power.

* Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the original eco-celebs. In 2008 he made a big move by purchasing a condo in Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building that overlooks the Hudson River. Most recently he is recognized for purchasing a $3,200 green toilet.

* Orlando Bloom worked to make his London home as green as possible by using the newest technology and installing everything from solar panels to energy-efficient light bulbs.

Many other celebrity studs have worked hard to reduce their impact on Mother Nature by greening their homes, but the men of Hollywood are not the only ones stepping up to the plate. There are plenty of women making big moves to go green as well:

* Daryl Hannah is a leading force in the green celebrity movement. Her converted-stagecoach home in the Rocky Mountains is solar-powered and made with salvaged materials. Hannah takes going green to a whole new level with her interior designing - her guests are encouraged to sit on a couch made from moss-covered stone that she waters to keep alive.

* Julia Louis-Dreyfus shares an energy-efficient home with husband Brad Hall that boasts a retractable roof to stimulate air flow, daylighting to reduce the use of electric lights, solar heating and salvaged wood.

* Julia Roberts did a $20 million green renovation on her Hollywood mansion to help reduce its potentially massive footprint. Renovators used recycled tiling, sustainable building materials and three roofs of solar panels.

As you can see, many stars are putting their millions to good use to help save our planet. Large-scale green renovations like those mentioned above probably aren't within the budget of the average American, but there are plenty of smaller steps you can take that will make a big difference. Get inspired by your favorite green celebrity, and start implementing environmentally-friendly changes in your home today.

Information in this article was provided by Harrington College of Design. Contact Harrington today if you're interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program. (Harrington College of Design does not guarantee employment or salary.)

Courtesy of ARAcontent

 

]]> Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:47:11 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/6/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/6/ Is your house GREEN? Find out here! National Geographic’s Cool Home Energy Audit Tool


Is your house a green dream or an energy nightmare? Find out when you step inside our interactive "green" house and take your energy I.Q.


http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/greenhouse/index.html

]]> National Geographic’s Cool Home Energy Audit Tool


Is your house a green dream or an energy nightmare? Find out when you step inside our interactive "green" house and take your energy I.Q.


http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/greenhouse/index.html

]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:48:55 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/5/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/5/ Ky Energy Rebates on Solar Heater Still Available http://www.kyappliancerebates.com/Default.aspx

 

Now accepting applications for unclaimed funds!

To participate in the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate program, you must first purchase the appliance and then apply for the rebate.

Kentucky residents who replace an existing appliance with a new ENERGY STAR qualified appliance purchased on or after April 22, 2010 are eligible to apply for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate. Approved applicants will receive a Visa® Prepaid Card via mail. Purchases must be made in Kentucky. Online purchases are not eligible for the rebate. ACT NOW! This program ends as soon as funds are exhausted. Please note that you must make the appliance purchase before applying for the rebate. If you have made your purchase and wish to apply for the rebate, please select the category below. You may apply online at www.KYappliancerebates.com and then print your application confirmation page. If you do not have internet access or you have any questions, please call 1-877-813-3669.

IMPORTANT: please note you must have your paperwork (application confirmation page and proof-of-purchase receipt) postmarked within 48 hours of completing your online application. For phone applications, the 48 hour period starts once the customer has received the application confirmation page in the mail

]]> http://www.kyappliancerebates.com/Default.aspx

 

Now accepting applications for unclaimed funds!

To participate in the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate program, you must first purchase the appliance and then apply for the rebate.

Kentucky residents who replace an existing appliance with a new ENERGY STAR qualified appliance purchased on or after April 22, 2010 are eligible to apply for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate. Approved applicants will receive a Visa® Prepaid Card via mail. Purchases must be made in Kentucky. Online purchases are not eligible for the rebate. ACT NOW! This program ends as soon as funds are exhausted. Please note that you must make the appliance purchase before applying for the rebate. If you have made your purchase and wish to apply for the rebate, please select the category below. You may apply online at www.KYappliancerebates.com and then print your application confirmation page. If you do not have internet access or you have any questions, please call 1-877-813-3669.

IMPORTANT: please note you must have your paperwork (application confirmation page and proof-of-purchase receipt) postmarked within 48 hours of completing your online application. For phone applications, the 48 hour period starts once the customer has received the application confirmation page in the mail

]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:16:37 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/4/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/4/ Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

]]> http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

]]> Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:41:48 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/3/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/3/ Do-It-Yourself Environmental Home Inventories http://keec.ky.gov/homeaudits.htm

]]> http://keec.ky.gov/homeaudits.htm

]]> Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:39:15 -0600 http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/2/ http://www.sunlinksolar.com/sunlink_store/blog/2/