Hey friends, I'm guilty of blog neglect! Been crazed busy, but will pledge to check in at least weekly. See below for info on generating your own power.

CENTER FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Center for Green Technology

The City of Chicago for Green Technology (CCGT) has been educating the public and building professionals alike about green buildings sustainable design since it open in May 2002. Managed by the Department of Environment CCGT offers nearly 400 free public seminars two or three times a week the building and campus at 4445 N Sacramento Blvd, are open six day a week guided and self-guided tours. Housed on a 17-acres sire that was once a construction and demolition scrap yard, the Center’s 40,000sqft building was one of the first to receive the highest award (Platinum) of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program. Its significant green features include solar panels, rainwater collection irrigation, recycled building materials, smart lighting, a vegetated roof, and a geothermal exchange system. Also located on the site are WRD Environmental a sustainable landscaping company, Greencorps Chicago, the city’s community gardening and job training program and Whitney Wood Works, a sustainable wood and cabinet company.

Green Permit Program

The City of Chicago Green Permit Program, administered by the Department of Buildings, allows building projects form single-family home to high-rise office building to qualify for fast permit approvals by meeting certain green guidelines. It takes an average six weeks to obtain approval for a green permit while traditional permits can take 12 or more weeks to be approved.

Through September 2007, the City had issued a total of 158 green permits. For smaller projects, such as single-family homes the Green Permit process can also be helpful in guiding the owner to other City departments for technical services. Projects qualifying for green permits fall into one of three tiers. Each tier require a certain level of certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating program, plus one or more “extras” from a menu administered by the Department of Buildings. Some or all consultant review fees may be reimbursed for Tier II or Tier III projects.

If you are interested in utilizing the program visit www.cityofchicago.org/buildings.

Plan for green permitting early in the design of your project.

Focus on team coordination-the designer, contractor, subcontractors, and other who will be involved in the project.

Chicago Green Homes Program

Chicago Green Homes is a voluntary program managed by the City of Chicago, to encourage the building of healthy and environmentally responsible single-family and multi-family homes in the city. Both newly constructed and renovated homes are eligible.

To participate start by downloading the Chicago Green Homes Programs Guide and the Chicago Green Homes Checklist from the Department of Environments website at www.cityofchicago.com/enviroment. These documents provide details regarding the materials and procedures needed to build a green home.

The Green Homes Program is modeled on the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes national certification program but, is specific to Chicago. Like LEED, Green Homes uses a point system. Specific green features may earn a certain number of points in the following categories sustainable sites, energy efficiency materials, health and safety, resource conservation, homeowner education, and innovation. Based on the number of points earned, homes can achieve a one, two or three star rating.

Approved projects will receive a Chicago Green Homes Certificate. Certified Green Homes will also be recognized on the City of Chicago website. Homes in the program may also be eligible for an expedited Green Permit from the Department of Buildings. The Chicago Green Homes Program is partnership of the Departments of Housing, Buildings and Environment. For information visit www.cityofchicago.com/enviroment

GENERATE YOUR OWN JUICE!

CONSIDER REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT….and slash utility bills at the same time. With rebates and tax incentives in some areas, renewable resource costs can be offset. Find more info on rebates at: www.dsireusa.org and www.engerytaxincentives.org

SOLAR…You will need 400 sqft of solar panels per 2,000 sqft of house to provide 4-5 kilowatts of energy. Cost of these panels is around $40-60k, before rebates and credits. Check out www.findsolar.com to see about the viability in your area.

COMPONETS…So called inverters allow you to sell extra electricity back to your local utility company. Average cost for a good component is $2500. See Xantrex www.xantrex.com.

WIND…Good turbines last 20 years or more, once you make the investment, wind can give you free energy for decades, of course you will need to check your local zoning ordinances. Generally these will run between $30-70k but the more wind that can be harvested the sooner you recapture your investment. Go to www.firstlook.3tiergroup.com to help find how much wind hits your property; the generating capacity you need in your turbine depends on your wind strength and consistency. A turbine will have static noise; look for a bigger turbine with a low tip speed ratio (TSR).

GEOTHERMAL…These systems use the Earth’s near-constant temperature to eliminate the need for carbon-intensive, oil-base heating. It can also cool your home in the summer. Geo is better on larger lots and is cheaper if it’s part of a house’s original construction. New construction cost is around $25k. Retrofit would run $40k based on a 2,000sqft home. For more info go to www.geoexchange.org.