Ellen Honigstock Architect PC launches the Toeprint Project

Welcome to the Toeprint Project.

Toeprint definition: a very tiny footprint; a small part of your larger footprint.
Project definition: a temporary collective endeavor involving research and design, carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.

The Toeprint Project will be a year-long process meant to bridge the gap between the desire to make our homes and businesses more sustainable and actually having the tools and capability to do so.

Each week for 52 weeks, we will publish a different strategy aimed towards making buildings more efficient, durable, healthier for the occupants or otherwise more sustainable. We will interview experts and bring you relevant up-to-date information about pricing, the pros, cons and trade-offs inherent in various strategies and even offer discounts and giveaways whenever we can make it happen.

We chose the period of a year because while reducing energy, water and material consumption, it is very difficult to chart progress on a daily or weekly or even monthly basis. Stick with us and we will provide metrics for you to measure your progress throughout the Project.

Who are we and why are we doing this?

We are a small architectural firm based in Brooklyn in New York City. Our residential and commercial projects are generally on the small side and it seems like no matter how green we make them, the resulting improvements to the environment are barely noticeable. We know that reducing consumption of resources is not an easy process. It takes work and commitment and plenty of tools and expertise.

Over the past 18 months, we have published various findings that interest us at Brooklyn Green but our reach was limited. We want to share our knowledge in order to have a more significant impact on the environment.

We often give talks teaching people how to make their homes and lifestyles more sustainable and the one response we almost always get is an appreciative thank you for “putting all that information in one place”.

We’re firm believers in well-roundedness so the Toeprint Project will touch on areas of Energy Conservation, Water Conservation, Community, Food, Health, Indoor Air Quality, Material & Resource Consumption, Water Conservation and Zero Waste.

As you will see, the strategies will range from minor lifestyle changes to fairly complex infrastructural analyses. We hope to make all the strategies interesting and accessible to anyone without previous expertise in these areas so as to “spread the sustainability” and reduce each of our carbon footprints to a mere toeprint.

You can subscribe to the feed here. Join us!

Ellen Honigstock, RA, LEED AP
Ellen Honigstock Architect PC
www.ehapc.com

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke speaks out about Global Warming

A press release written by our Congresswoman Yvette Clarke recently caught our attention.

Written with Eva Erbskorn, Greenpeace Field Organizer and titled “Climate Change threatens New York City and Long Island; It warns about some of the more severe but ultimately expected effects of climate change:  rising ocean levels.

Congresswoman Clarke also highlights the “good news” in the situation at hand:  the possibilities for economic development in the fields with green jobs opportunities. Her highest hope is that we pass green economy legislation that minimizes U.S. global warming pollution by at least 34% by the year 2020.  This, she says, is the minimum amount scientists believe is necessary in order for us to avoid a “planetary catastrophe”.  She ends by noting that the only way to “protect our citizens and the planet is to pass strong climate legislation as soon as possible”.

We wholeheartedly support these issues and we’ll be watching to see what future legislation Congresswoman Clarke supports.

Read the full press release below:

Climate Change threatens New York City and Long Island; Congressional representatives have a responsibility to protect their constituents 
By: Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and Eva Erbskorn, Greenpeace Field Organizer 

The results of the climate crisis are already being seen around the world through the increasing intensity of Hurricane Katrina type storms, melting ice caps, and millions of refugees fleeing extreme weather and increasing desertification.  New York City and Long Island are especially sensitive to the impacts of out-of-control global warming.  A one-degree rise in temperature could more than double heat related deaths in New York City, and a new report by a Florida State researcher shows that rising sea levels and massive coastal flooding would impact New York coasts more than others.  The Battery Tunnel in lower Manhattan, the Lincoln Tunnel entrance, the subway system and LaGuardia and Kennedy airports are all at risk as hurricanes intensify and sea levels rise.

Indeed, according to Columbia University, the Rockaways, Coney Island, much of southern Brooklyn and Queens, lower Manhattan, and parts of Eastern Staten Island could be under water. Unless we take action immediately, that means more flooding of basements, more disease, and more drinking water shortages (and worse).  Another report estimates that the impacts of climate change will cost American families an average of $2,000 every year as they try to reinforce their houses and taxpayer funds are spent to build giant, unsightly flood walls, and have to pay more to cool their homes. Under this scenario, people without extra cash floating around to pay the extra costs will be hit hardest. In this economy, that’s a lot of hard working people. 

The good news is that we can avoid the worst of these impacts by answering President Obama’s call to solve the climate crisis and shift to a green economy. We can start by investing in efficiency and clean energy sources like solar and wind power, as well as in smart transportation, like more subways and buses. President Obama’s stimulus package was a great start, but we need to do more to meet this challenge

First and foremost, we must pass green economy legislation that cuts U.S. global warming pollution at least 34 percent by 2020– the minimum amount scientists say is necessary to avoid a planetary catastrophe.  The community in my congressional district in Brooklyn is one of the nation’s most vulnerable. Given how hard the economic crisis has hit our district, it’s also one that most desperately needs the green economy to kick into high gear. Green jobs are already putting people back to work in my district.  EcoLogic Solutions, Inc.  manufactures and distributes over 100 non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-polluting cleaning products to major hotels, property management companies, and restaurants throughout the country.  The small business also provides environmental sustainability consulting services to companies that wish to “go green” cost effectively.  But to restore true eco- prosperity, we need 100 more of20these companies – and need them fast.

Delay and excuses won’t get us there. If our country is serious about protecting its citizens and the planet – and creating a new era of prosperity – we’ll pass strong climate legislation as soon as possible.

For more information on green businesses in New York City, visit greenspacesny.com. Information on green initiatives and resources in Brooklyn can be found on greenbrooklyn.com and [brooklyn green] www.ehapc.wordpress.com 

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke represents New York’s 11th Congressional District in central Brooklyn. Now in her second term, Rep. Clarke sits on three House committees—Education and Labor, Small Business and Homeland Security, where she is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cyber Security and Science and Technology. Congresswoman is also a Senior Whip for the House Democratic Caucus and Whip for the Congressional Black Caucus.

 

 

Teen Green: what iPods can do, besides play music

Not only can an iPod play music, but I’ve discovered an application called Go Green that gives eco-friendly tips and facts. Some of them are vague such as “volunteer in your neighborhood” or “start a recycling program”, but some of them are surprisingly interesting. Here’s a few that stood out to me:

- If every U.S. home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star bulb, we’d save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year.

- Instead of sending old rugs to the landfill, check with local animal shelters to see if they can use them. Old towels, blankets and sheets could also be appreciated as well.

- Washing clothes in cold water eliminates 2 pounds of CO2 per load.

-Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket and you’ll eliminate 1,000 pounds of CO2 a year. Eliminate another 550 pounds by lowering the thermostat to 120°F.

- Paying bills online saves time, postage, and trees. If everyone switches to online banking, we would cut 1.6 billion tons of waste and 2.1 million tons of CO2 a year.

- If every U.S. citizen recycles half of their annual waste, we’ll recycle a 280-million ton mountain of trash — the equivalent of 550 Empire State Buildings!

- Use 100% post-consumer copy paper. It saves five pounds of CO2 per ream. A ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees — and those trees absorb 60 pounds of CO2 a year.

Teen Green: Where to Find Really Yummy Peanuts

Whenever I’m at my friend’s house, I always go straight for the big bag of peanuts in the cabinet above the sink. They are hands down the best peanuts I’ve ever tasted, and unfortunately for her (and her family) I gobble them all up in one visit. Where do these magical peanuts come from you may wonder? The Park Slope Food Coop.

Since 1973, the coop has been providing cheap, local, and organic foods to Park Slopers, Brooklynites, New Yorkers, and even people from out of state. The coop takes pride in its abundance of healthy yet cheap products, estimating that their prices can save members 20-40% off their weekly grocery bill. In return for these unbelievable savings and yummy food, my friend’s mom only has to work at the coop once a month for around a measly 2 and a half hours.

Also, the coop has a very extensive environmental policy pertaining to their products and their store’s upkeep. For that information (along with any other questions you have about all Park Slope Food Coop-related things), go to this website.

As a closing note, when I asked my friend if she felt satisfied with the coop, she replied (loudly, I may add) with an enthusiastic “YES, EXTREMELY HAPPY!”.

Updated alternative energy incentives in the stimulus package

Once again, heeeere’s Anthony on the updated alternative energy incentives included in the Obama stimulus package.

In a nutshell:  Lots more money to make installation of alternative energy systems more affordable to homeowners.

carbon footprint of food

just thought we’d pass this along.  I signed up for Random Graphic of the Day from Environmental Knowledge for Change, a project of the UN.

Updated Solar PV incentives

I’ll let Anthony do the talking…

Greeninharlem.com is a blog written by two of our favorite clients about the trials and tribulations of doing a green restoration of a historic brownstone in a NYC landmark district.

Click here to see an excellent post of the current status of incentives as related to solar PV.

Persuasive (I hope) reasons to weatherize

Several of my friends and neighbors commented that after reading the previous post about the cost of weatherizing my house, they considered proceeding with the improvements but then wrote it off as too expensive or couldn’t convince their Co-Op partners to spend the money.

Another interesting phenomenon I noticed is that when there is a government incentive involved, there is this immediate psychological desire to game the system somehow to get something for free. I feel it too but I also realize that there is no “free” in construction (there aren’t even an bargains in construction but that’s another post entirely). When I asked Jimmy how busy they were, expecting them to be booked for months ahead, he mentioned that a lot of people only do the work covered by the incentives, sometimes ignoring safety measures and doing fewer measures than would lead to maximum efficiency (for example, insulating the roof but not replacing single-pane windows).

I’m neither judging nor criticizing those who decide not to weatherize for cost reasons but here’s one last attempt to change your mind.

Here are my top 6 reasons to weatherize.

1. Weatherization adds value to the house.
2. Close your eyes and imagine all the heat and air conditioning that you pay for just wandering out of the house. Imagine dollars just floating out the window and through the roof.
3. While your eyes are closed, imagine your house during the winter, now imagine it with a sweater on. Doesn’t that feel better? A well-insulated house is more comfortable.
4. The improvements will be paid back eventually via lower heating and cooling bills. The payback period will probably be less than anticipated because energy costs will only rise over time.
5. The incentives are in place now. Government incentives are a moving target. Who knows how long they will last?
6. Our electricity comes mostly from coal. Look at these great graphics if you want more detailed information. The less energy we consume, the fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants we emit and the less money we’ll have to pay as a society for new power plants. Conservation can be our newest source of cheap energy!

Teen Green: Ice Skating Efficiently

Winter’s coming, which means that uncountable New Yorkers will be putting on their skates and skating around in endless circles on the city’s many rinks. But when skating, people tend to forget one important factor about the rink: it takes a ridiculous amount of energy to keep them frozen. In fact, it is estimated that a typical small rink requires about $30,000 worth of electricity a month to operate. Not only is this expensive, but it readily contributes to Global Warming as well. The constant energy that is required to keep the rink frozen makes ice skating one of the most energy intensive forms of recreation there is out there.

The Natural History Museum is doing something about this. Opened to the public until February 28th, the “Polar Rink” is open for business. This is not any ordinary skating rink, though. It is made out of a recyclable synthetic surface (100% recyclable and non-toxic materials), still giving skaters the impression of skating on ice. This rink is more efficient because it requires no maintenance or refrigeration, the risk of melting is eliminated.

If you’re worried that this surface won’t give you the full ice skating experience, trust me, it really does feel like skating on ice; it’s almost surreal how realistic it is.

To get details on ticket pricing and business hours, go to the Polar Rink Website.

Results from Energy Audit

As you can imagine, I was so excited to receive the results from the
energy audit we had done on November 4th. Jimmy from ASK construction came over to review the list of recommended measures and the related costs.

As I mentioned in the previous post about the audit, ASK came to us very highly recommended so I’m not particularly concerned about being taken advantage of but since the repairs will be completed by the same company that performed the testing, there is a serious opportunity for customer-gouging. I’ll put in a call to NYSERDA to see what their response is about this. But I digress.

Let’s start with the related to Health|Safety work. The following measures are related to isolating the boiler room and insuring adequate fresh air for the equipment.

1. Install 1 fire-rated door at Boiler Room
2. Seal ceiling of Boiler Room
3. Install fresh air louver (required since we’re isolating the Boiler Room)
4. Install additional Carbon Monoxide/Smoke detectors

The total for this work is $2,065. These are all very important items we have been meaning to do for a long time and I’m so happy we’re finally doing then. Since this work is not directly related to energy conservation, it is not eligible for rebates or incentives (more about this later).

Now to the sexier stuff: Energy Conservation Measures:

1. Insulate Main Roof with cellulose to R-43 value (including the roofs of the front and rear previous additions which are really cold in the winter). Cost: $1,890.00
2. Insulate crawl space at Basement below the front room with High Density foam to R30 (foam allows it to stick to the underside of the ceiling). Cost: $1,350.00
3. Insulate exposed basement wall with cellulose to R-12 value. Cost: $140.00
4. Air sealing including: Seal at back wall of meter room, Install new interior vestibule door and install louver at exterior Basement entry door to make a weatherproof vestibule at the Basement, weatherstrip at front entrance door, close up and insulate existing opening at 2nd floor ceiling. Cost: $1,350.00
5. Install CFL’s (compact fluorescent lights), I’ll specify them after I figure out which ones we need. Cost: $250.00
6. Replace the Kitchen exterior door with new door and storm door. Cost $1,250.00
7. Install chimney cap & liner. Cost: $250.00
8. Remove and repair roof at abandoned skylight. Cost: $300.00
9. Replace two sections of bent gutter that was not draining properly. Cost: $1,250.00

We’re also going to add an air exchanger for approx. $1,200.00. We currently have an in-line exhaust fan which is basically a fan inside a little duct located in an 8″ diameter hole in the Basement wall that sucks air out of our house when it is turned on. The fan is uninsulated and pulls unconditioned air back into the house through various existing openings. An air exchanger is a mechanical ventilation system that exhausts all the air in a particular area of the house replaces it with fresh air 6x/ day (these are called air changes). Since most of the year, the air outside is too hot or too cold to bring into the house directly without heating or cooling it and thus adding energy costs, an air exchanger will pre-heat or -cool the air to allow fresh air to come in without terribly impacting the heating/cooling system and will help remove moisture from the Basement.

The sub-total for all this work is approx. $11,295, less the $350 we paid at the audit for a total of $10,945. Of this, $8,880 is eligible for incentives as follows:

National Grid: 20% of work up to max. $750

NYSERDA (Tier 3): 20% cash back up to max. $4,500

$8,880 – $750 (National Grid) – $1,776 (NYSERDA 20% of $8,880) = $6,354.00 for the energy conservation work + $2,065 for the Health | Safety work for a total of $8,419.00

That is a hefty savings for this amount of critical work. As for energy savings, they calculate approximately $489/year in electrical and gas savings for a payback of about 13 years which will certainly come sooner as energy prices rise.

More about the incentives:

NYSERDA has 3 tiers of incentives:

If your project includes 2 of the following types of measures, the incentive is 10% cash back.

If your project includes 3 of the following types of measures, the incentive is 15% cash back.

If your project includes 5 of the following types of measures, the incentive is 20% cash back.

1. Air sealing
2. Insulation
3. Domestic hot water
4. Heating equipment
5. Windows and eligible doors
6. Mechanical ventilation
7. Appliances
8. Lighting and fixtures
9. Distribution system
10. Cooling equipment.

Hitting 5 (or more) of these categories of measures is not difficult if you have an old leaky house like ours.

In addition, since we’re doing this work during 2009, we’ll be eligible for an additional $500 Federal Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit but we won’t see that money until 2010 tax time.

And they gave me a nifty report – all the site-specific items were incorrect though (age of home, size of home, age and efficiency of boiler) but these items were not relevant to the repairs so I’m putting this down to Architect’s persnickityness.

Stay tuned. Repairs expected first week of January.