Jodi Summers = Santa Monica Real Estate

CALIFORNIA TRIES FOR ZERO NET ENERGY BUILDING

September 9, 2008 on 5:52 pm | In Fascinating Information, Green, Market Trends, Problem Solving, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

LANDMARK GREEN BUILDINGS BILL PASSES FIRST HURDLE
First in the Nation Zero Energy Measure Would Dramatically Reduce Carbon Emissions from California Homes

The California Assembly Natural Resources Committee is trying to pass AB 2112, the Residential Buildings Zero Net Energy Bill. The bill, sponsored by Global Green USA and authored by Lori Saldaña (D- San Diego) will require all new residential buildings to be net zero energy by the year 2020.

“Energy use in buildings is the largest single global warming pollution source in the United States–accounting for 48% of all greenhouse gas emissions nationally,” said Global Green policy director Mary Luevano “Urgent action is needed to address the climate crisis and AB 2112 is a huge step in the right direction.”

The term “zero net energy building” describes a building that implements both energy efficient design features and clean onsite energy generation that combine to result in no net gas or electricity purchases annually.

“The state is committed to reducing greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power generation,” Saldaña said. “Incorporating energy saving technology and onsite renewable power generation like solar into new residential construction will make a significant contribution to the achievement of those objectives.”

Net zero buildings also significantly lower utility costs for residents. Lower energy consumption means less stress on the power grid, reducing the vulnerability to the rolling blackouts Californians experienced in 2000.

AB 2112’s next test will be in the Assembly Appropriations Committee where it will be heard next month. The model for this legislation is the Solara project in Poway, California; the first apartment community in California fully powered by the sun. Global Green USA was the primary green consultant on the Solara project.

http://globalgreen.org/press/15

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[...] Original Jodi Summers [...]

Pingback by CALIFORNIA TRIES FOR ZERO NET ENERGY BUILDING — September 9, 2008 #
Great to see you are working in the green area!As a contractor for many years I know that Real Estate agents are the key gate keeper when people are buying homes and building,and promoting green will be a great way for you to have an impact on the environment.Do you want to do a link exchange?I get about 60 hits a day,and I do some work in LA as a consultant mainly.I know Brendon Mceneaney quite well[he is the head of the Santa Monica green building program]and I really respect the work he is doing….Groundbreaking!

Thank you,

Chris Hurst
Hurst Construction
16987 Country Road
Sonora, Ca 95370
Ph#209-743-2638
chris@zeropowerhouse.com
Green and Sustainable Construction
http://www.zeropowerhouse.com

Comment by Chris Hurst — September 21, 2008 #
I just wanted to say thank you for speaking with me at our booth at Solar Power International last week. I have added you to our press release list
and hope that we will be able to work together. Please let me know if you have anything that we can help you with and I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Thanks so much,

Marisa Applestein
Associate
360jmg
718 Seventh Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20001
P: 202.204.2187/ F: 202.204.2191
http://www.360jmg.com

Comment by Marisa Applestein — October 27, 2008 #
Subject: David Joseph Kennelly House

Hi,

I read with great interest your historical inventory of early Santa Monica Landmark Properties, especially the profile of the First Roy Jones Home, when it was located at 1007 Ocean Avenue, because it makes reference to the residence of Captain David Joseph Kennelly being under construction in 1894. Do you know of any information or photographs of the Kennelly house? I am working on a biography of Captain Kennelly and his family who were all quite famous. I have a photograph of Captain Kennelly.

Please contact me.

Regards,

Neil libbey

Comment by Neil Libbey — November 9, 2008 #
With a new administration in Washington comes a strong emphasis on renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. In the January/February 2009 issue of SOLAR TODAY magazine, Denis Hayes, long-time ASES member, ASES Board of Trustees Chair and President of the Bullitt Foundation, authored Charting a Bold New Course, which takes a look at what the U.S. needs to get out of its carbon fuels-based sinkhole.

Comment by Carolyn Beach — January 28, 2009 #
SEPA Releases “Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales”
New White Paper Outlines Options for
Addressing Utility-Solar Disincentive

Washington, D.C–The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is pleased to announce the release of the white paper, “Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales: Issues for the Photovoltaic Industry,” providing valuable insight into a regulatory policy option that addresses the business disincentive that some investor-owned utilities face when their customers install a solar electric system and, as a result, purchase less electricity from the utility. Decoupling changes the way a utility’s revenues are structured so that profits are no longer explicitly tied to electricity sales. The full report may be downloaded for free at http://www.solarelectricpower.org.

Comment by Josephine Mooney — February 2, 2009 #
The thrust of the Clean Energy Stimulus and Investment Assurance Act of 2009 is to create green-collar jobs and revitalize the economy through clean energy investments. Section 506 of the bill, offers property owners a 30 percent tax credit for qualified green roof expenses. The tax credit applies to both new and retrofit projects, but it requires that at least 50 percent of the roof area be covered with vegetation.

Comment by Nigel F. Maynard — February 7, 2009 #
Special announcement for
Santa Monica Residents
Would you like to share what you are doing to help the environment? Are you a Santa Monica resident? If you answered yes to both questions this is for you.

Natalie Horton, the producer of Be Green with City TV is looking for Santa Monica residents that are doing their part to help the environment.

They are shooting the first episode this coming Monday the 9th, and need your help. So if you are composting or have you just installed solar panels or energy star appliances or any other green lifestyle changes, help inspire others. Please contact Natalie Horton ASAP.
Email nataliejhorton@gmail.com
Call (310) 780-8737

Comment by Natalie Horton — February 14, 2009 #
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, aka the stimulus bill, will create a nationally managed, regionally executed program management office to support regional teams delivering the projects. The Act also directs $750 million to renovate and construct federal buildings and courthouses, $300 million to renovate and construct land ports of entry and $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings to high-performance green buildings.

Comment by Erika Morphy — February 24, 2009 #
Fallout from the housing collapse spread to other areas. Builders cut spending on commercial construction projects by 21.1 per cent and house builders slashed spending at a 22.2 per cent pace.

Comment by Times Online — February 28, 2009 #
This summer, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage offered a new-construction solar home program that allows builders in California to transfer a rebate offered by the California Energy Commission’s New Solar Home Partnership directly to buyers at closing, which they can use for the down payment or as a permanent interest-rate buy-down to lower their monthly mortgage payments. The offer applies to conforming and non-conforming loans for new single-family homes, including condominiums, that will be used as the buyer’s primary residence. The rebate amount depends on the size of the solar system installed.

Comment by Rich Binsacca — March 5, 2009 #
If state Assemblywoman Lori Saldana has her way, buyers of California homes built a little more than a decade from now would not have to worry about paying big electricity bills. The homes would produce power themselves.

The San Diego Democrat has introduced legislation that would require all homes built starting in about 2020 to be so-called zero net energy buildings. That means they would be extremely energy efficient and produce enough power to offset any electricity they draw from the grid.

That homegrown power would probably come from solar panels. But it also could be generated by nearby wind or geothermal plants, said Bernadette Del Chiaro, a clean energy advocate with the group Environment California, which supports the bill.

Comment by STEVE LAWRENCE — April 24, 2009 #
A recent study by researchers at UCLA has affirmed Berkeley’s reputation as being one of the country’s most environmentally conscious cities.

The report, titled “Green Market Geography,” ranks Berkeley as one of California’s “greenest” cities, second only to its northern neighbor, Albany.

Comment by Nick Moore — June 18, 2009 #
Dozens of “net zero” and “near net zero” developments — projects designed to use only about as much power from the public grid as they can save or produce on their own — have sprung up across the U.S. over the past five years.

In Greenfield, Mass., nonprofit Rural Development Inc. has completed eight of 20 planned duplex homes that use almost no net energy. In Berkeley, Calif., ZETA Communities Inc. plans to build a 30-unit net-zero apartment building after opening a factory that can construct 400 to 500 prefabricated net-zero homes a year. And in Green Valley, Ariz., builder Pepper Viner Homes says it plans to incorporate green techniques into a senior housing community so that it reduces energy use more than 50%. U.S. officials are working to wean federal buildings off fossil fuel by 2020, a step they say will help the buildings become almost net-zero energy users.

Comment by JIM CARLTON / WSJ.com — January 7, 2010 #